Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread part VII

[bland]

I would love to see Connor Garland next to Byfield. Kids a little buzzsaw, a perfect line driver for Quentin. I'd pay big to get him here.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I think these 3 are untouchable, period: Byfield, Clarke, Kaliyev. Kaliyev gets better week to week and will be top 3 in points on the Kings for years...by 24-25. I think they know this and will not part with him.

Either way, whatever. I'm just saying, if they're going to get a real player in a trade, the concern about blocking someone doesn't exist. And I think the Kings already showed that by getting Danault and Arvidsson. They are clearly blocking younger players from being in the roles that everyone wants them in.

 

[lumbergh]

A few fun stats for you to chew on.

Over the past 25 games (pretty much 2 months):
Kings are tied with Bruins and Maple Leafs for 7th best record in the league with a 16-7-2 record. The Avalanche lead with an absurd 21-2-2 record over the last 25.
The Kings have the 7th worst PDO (tie) in the league, but make up for it by leading the league in Shots for %.

The Kings' current forward leader in Goals For % at even strength this season is... Carl Grundstrom (11 for, 6 against)
The Kings' current defenseman leader in GF% at even strength this season is... Olli Maatta (30 for, 19 against)

I know everyone likes to crap on Olli Maatta, but he's quietly put together a good season. Playing next to Matt Roy doesn't hurt. Matt Roy is right up there in GF% with Maatta.

 

[Docgonzo]

Getting into interesting territory where Blake might really start overthinking.

Team is hot right now, JAD and Vilardi are hot in the AHL. Spence is producing, they love Faber, and Clarke is Clarke. They seem like they don’t want to embarrass Brown so they won’t scratch him this season. But JAD and Vilardi are no longer waiver exempt next season. Where do they fit and where do Faber, Spence, Grans and Clarke fit.

Ideally get another top line winger to push Iaffalo down, but the only 2 really out options at forward are AA and Brown. They’re definitely going to be running out of spaces. At the beginning of the season the possible other open spots were Moore and Lizotte but their play this season has been great.

 

[Trash Panda]

The way I see it, LA can have a pretty straightforward off-season and still be a very competitive team:

Anthanasiou & Brown ride off into the sunset.

Gabe & AD hopefully earn a roster spot out of camp.

Kupari and Durzi are guys who are looking like very viable trade assets. Especially with the emergence of Spence & our various forward projects. Could very well lump in guys like Walker and Grundstrom into that group depending on who seizes a spot next year in camp.

Guys like Faber & Grans get more time to marinate in the AHL/college. Clarke either earns it in camp, or he plays another year of junior.

Lots of chips on the table, lots of flexibility, and depending on performances next season we could absolutely see an acquisition next deadline too.


This is an obvious oversimplification, and contingent on a lot of things, but it’s really looking like the organization has things laid out reasonably well for the time being. With all the talk about a high cost acquisition at forward or D, I’d really like to see a good goalie prospect or two added to the cupboard in some fashion more than anything.

 

[Lt Dan]

Konecny is a total spaz and I love it. He'd bring some extra energy that's for sure.

The only person we could bump for him is Brown and they won't do that.
There is really no point is acquiring a forward IMO

 

[johnjm22]

Hypothetically, if the Kings were going to add a forward, a guy who I think fits the Kings really well is Alex Tuch.

Fast. Big. Great shot. Can play either wing. High energy/motor. Two-way game. 25 years old and is signed to a low cap hit for 4 more seasons after this one.

He has had a couple injuries though.

The Sabres aren't at all looking to trade him, but organizationally they really need RHD's and C's. That's just what we happen to have a lot of.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Hypothetically, if the Kings were going to add a forward, a guy who I think fits the Kings really well is Alex Tuch.

Fast. Big. Great shot. Can play either wing. High energy/motor. Two-way game. 25 years old and is signed to a low cap hit for 4 more seasons after this one.

He has had a couple injuries though.

The Sabres aren't at all looking to trade him, but organizationally they really need RHD's and C's. That's just what we happen to have a lot of.

Imagine Tuch next to Byfield, rofl.

Good luck world.

 

[kilowatt]

Getting into interesting territory where Blake might really start overthinking.

Team is hot right now, JAD and Vilardi are hot in the AHL. Spence is producing, they love Faber, and Clarke is Clarke. They seem like they don’t want to embarrass Brown so they won’t scratch him this season. But JAD and Vilardi are no longer waiver exempt next season. Where do they fit and where do Faber, Spence, Grans and Clarke fit.

Ideally get another top line winger to push Iaffalo down, but the only 2 really out options at forward are AA and Brown. They’re definitely going to be running out of spaces. At the beginning of the season the possible other open spots were Moore and Lizotte but their play this season has been great.

Assuming no trades are made, Spence, Grans, and Faber will still be in the AHL for the foreseeable future. Clarke takes over for Maatta, JAD and Vilardi take over for Brown and Athanasiou.

Kempe - Kopitar - Kaliyev
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Iafalli - Byfield - Vilardi
Lemieux - Lizotte - JAD

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Bjornfot - Clarke

Quick
Petersen

Not sure what we do with Walker or Edler though.

 

[Schmooley]

Assuming no trades are made, Spence, Grans, and Faber will still be in the AHL for the foreseeable future. Clarke takes over for Maatta, JAD and Vilardi take over for Brown and Athanasiou.

Kempe - Kopitar - Kaliyev
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Iafalli - Byfield - Vilardi
Lemieux - Lizotte - JAD

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Bjornfot - Clarke

Quick
Petersen

Not sure what we do with Walker or Edler though.

If they dont make any moves I can see this lineup coming into next season. Maybe switch Clarke and Durzi. But Turcotte, Kupari, Fagemo, Spence and Faber will have to be sensational in camp to earn a spot.
Grundstrom and Andersson as 13th/14th forwards and Moverare or Walker as 7th dman. They do have the assets to get a really good forward and defenseman in a trade if they want to though.

 

[kilowatt]

If they dont make any moves I can see this lineup coming into next season. Maybe switch Clarke and Durzi. But Turcotte, Kupari, Fagemo, Spence and Faber will have to be sensational in camp to earn a spot.
Grundstrom and Andersson as 13th/14th forwards and Moverare or Walker as 7th dman. They do have the assets to get a really good forward and defenseman in a trade if they want to though.

There’s almost no chance Kupari or Turcotte grabs a spot out of camp unless there are injuries. We can’t waive Vilardi or JAD, and I’m guessing the reason they haven’t been called up this season is to squeeze out every last drop of development time they can get.

Even then, we’re going to face a roster crunch in 2023-24 (so two offseasons from now) — Kupari, Thomas, Madden, and Fagemo will lose their waiver exemptions and the only free agent forward is Trevor Moore. Who knows where guys like Andersson, Lemieux, Grundstrom, and even Lizotte might be, but it’s definitely going to come to a head at some point. We bitched about losing Clague, just wait until we lose a Grundstrom, Durzi, or Fagemo.

 

[JeanBlanc]

Maybe switch Clarke and Durzi. But Turcotte, Kupari, Fagemo, Spence and Faber will have to be sensational in camp to earn a spot.

To be fair I think Clarke would need to be sensational to make the ten out of camp beyond a 9 game tryout.

I'm confused about people penciling him in as an NHL ready defenseman.

 

[Schmooley]

To be fair I think Clarke would need to be sensational to make the ten out of camp beyond a 9 game tryout.

I'm confused about people penciling him in as an NHL ready defenseman.

I thought I remember them saying he even had a shot to make it this year out of camp. They talk about him as if hes on Doughtys level and that usually means a high pick like that will be on the team sooner than later. I could be misreading the situation though.

 

[Steve Zissou]

The only person we could bump for him is Brown and they won't do that.

Then if not that can they make him a permanent fixture on the Yo Gabba Gabba live performance show?

 

[KingsFan7824]

The way I see it, LA can have a pretty straightforward off-season and still be a very competitive team:

Anthanasiou & Brown ride off into the sunset.

Gabe & AD hopefully earn a roster spot out of camp.

Kupari and Durzi are guys who are looking like very viable trade assets. Especially with the emergence of Spence & our various forward projects. Could very well lump in guys like Walker and Grundstrom into that group depending on who seizes a spot next year in camp.

Guys like Faber & Grans get more time to marinate in the AHL/college. Clarke either earns it in camp, or he plays another year of junior.

Lots of chips on the table, lots of flexibility, and depending on performances next season we could absolutely see an acquisition next deadline too.


This is an obvious oversimplification, and contingent on a lot of things, but it’s really looking like the organization has things laid out reasonably well for the time being. With all the talk about a high cost acquisition at forward or D, I’d really like to see a good goalie prospect or two added to the cupboard in some fashion more than anything.

You'd trade Durzi in favor of Spence?

 

[Trash Panda]

You'd trade Durzi in favor of Spence?

Spence has a lot higher upside, and is a fair bit more polished in his own end. Durzi thrives on compete level & sheer will power, whereas Spence makes smart reads to be in good position

Both are going to be good NHL players, but I trade Durzi before Spence pretty handily, imo.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Both are going to be good NHL players, but I trade Durzi before Spence pretty handily, imo.

Going to be?? Durzi is a good NHL player RIGHT NOW. I have yet to see Spence play an NHL game...

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Going to be?? Durzi is a good NHL player RIGHT NOW. I have yet to see Spence play an NHL game...

Doesn't matter, Sega Genesis crowd has him rated as a 98 bud.......doesn't matter in real life he's barely a pro

 

[bland]

Going to be?? Durzi is a good NHL player RIGHT NOW. I have yet to see Spence play an NHL game...

Forest, trees.

 

[King'sPawn]

Spence has a lot higher upside, and is a fair bit more polished in his own end. Durzi thrives on compete level & sheer will power, whereas Spence makes smart reads to be in good position

Both are going to be good NHL players, but I trade Durzi before Spence pretty handily, imo.

I wouldn't trade Durzi until Spence actually outplays him. They're in similar age groups where there is a competition - that's the whole point of depth.

 

[Trash Panda]

I wouldn't trade Durzi until Spence actually outplays him. They're in similar age groups where there is a competition - that's the whole point of depth.

…which is exactly what I was implying with that post. I wholly think that soon as next training camp we will see it, making Durzi a valuable trade chip.

For the record, I really do love Durzi and what he brings to the roster, he is just such a raw competitor. It’s nice to see, but Spence is just so much more calming of a presence who has steadily gotten better at every level. It’s a good problem, having quality players in excess.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I wouldn't trade Durzi until Spence actually outplays him. They're in similar age groups where there is a competition - that's the whole point of depth.

Not how it works around here, when we have a true NHL player, he is always, always, always 2nd to what MIGHT be who has played 42 career AHL games, that guy is clearly better....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know it's easy to pile on because Durzi has been awesome in the NHL and Spence is in the AHL, but if you've followed his trajectory at all and paired that with our RHD depth, it's not THAT outlandish to think Durzi could move at some point.

I personally wouldn't until some of that D depth starts showing up in the NHL but it's just a different philosophy, some will want to move prospects, some will want to move players to make room for high end prospects, and if you're higher comparatively on Spence and Clarke (to say nothing of Faber and Grans), then Durzi becomes a chip in short order.

It's more than a little reductive to go "Durzi is an NHLer, Spence is not."

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Doesn't matter, Sega Genesis crowd has him rated as a 98 bud.......doesn't matter in real life he's barely a pro

You seriously have to piss off with this bullshit.

It's nice you have a fan club of 2 people that love to join you in insulting people instead of putting together grown-up sentences but there's a reason over 30 posters have you on ignore and you're skirting the infraction line constantly with this arrogant "I know better than everyone" tripe.

You can be better than this.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I know it's easy to pile on because Durzi has been awesome in the NHL and Spence is in the AHL, but if you've followed his trajectory at all and paired that with our RHD depth, it's not THAT outlandish to think Durzi could move at some point.

I personally wouldn't until some of that D depth starts showing up in the NHL but it's just a different philosophy, some will want to move prospects, some will want to move players to make room for high end prospects, and if you're higher comparatively on Spence and Clarke (to say nothing of Faber and Grans), then Durzi becomes a chip in short order.

It's more than a little reductive to go "Durzi is an NHLer, Spence is not."

It's more of the.....patience.....of each person.....all of them are chips....even Clarke..... but when people come right out and say, listen, we can move XXXXX (NHL player) because XXXXX (AHL/Prospect) will replace him....makes me think that, they don't know the game as well as they think they do, there is absolutely ZERO guarantee that Spence's game will translate to the NHL....it should...and it could.....but when absolutes are stated...it's kind of silly.... to me.