Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread
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Schrute farms
LA Kings: new GM wanted -- inquire within
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exactly. I'm not sure what's so exciting about PLD....except that he did wel when he first arrived in the NHL at a young age (19?). But he really hasn't gotten any better. He's gotten more entitled and costs ALOT more.
ScoreZeGoals
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Things are getting absolutely ridiculous around here
KingsHockey24
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Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
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I don't think QB can be fairly judged, until he has a full, healthy year.
How many high profile forwards had a broken ankle to begin their 19 yr old year and
then have an illness at the beginning of year 20? I kind of shrugged that one off, to a degree...
as 'he's got a bad flu and will be ok in a month'...but he needs every ounce of his 6'5" 218?
frame and body....and actually; 10 lbs more than that, to be at the man strength he needs to
begin to excel at the NHL level. He lost over 20 pounds! I don't think it's even possible to
add those 20 lbs and strength back in even 2 months. He said he was in bed and had no energy
and could do nothing...at his exit interview
In my mind, the ankle break sounds devestating and some virus sounds not so bad.
But for QB, having the virus may have been worse. At least the ankle, he could maintain
upper body workouts and keep his weight.
He then goes to the Reign and had 9 goals in 16 games. Not bad. At all.
Then called up and very soon playing LW1 and never looked out of place.
Was strong on the boards, made some great passes and plays. Kept many
plays and pucks alive. He was absolutely a better overal player, than his first year.
He struggled to put pucks in the net...but many of his shots were very good and
accurate...got snake bitten a few times....but he lost some confidence.
He's 20 and had 2 bad injuries at the start of each of his seasons.
He's going to be good to great. It took Kempe 3+ years and it's taken Gabe as many
as well. QB would be further along without the 2 setbacks.
If he plays a full year, LW1 , 3C and is scoring 10 goals and not progressing,
then that's time to judge him. If you're judging fairly, taking into account
what he's gone through and other players and calling him a potential bust,
then you're a harsh judge and forgot what Gabe was like the yr he was 2C and
Kempe's lean years. "sure can fly out there....have some swagger, but sure can't
score goals"
He still cannot go into a bar and buy a beer. lol.
How many high profile forwards had a broken ankle to begin their 19 yr old year and
then have an illness at the beginning of year 20? I kind of shrugged that one off, to a degree...
as 'he's got a bad flu and will be ok in a month'...but he needs every ounce of his 6'5" 218?
frame and body....and actually; 10 lbs more than that, to be at the man strength he needs to
begin to excel at the NHL level. He lost over 20 pounds! I don't think it's even possible to
add those 20 lbs and strength back in even 2 months. He said he was in bed and had no energy
and could do nothing...at his exit interview
In my mind, the ankle break sounds devestating and some virus sounds not so bad.
But for QB, having the virus may have been worse. At least the ankle, he could maintain
upper body workouts and keep his weight.
He then goes to the Reign and had 9 goals in 16 games. Not bad. At all.
Then called up and very soon playing LW1 and never looked out of place.
Was strong on the boards, made some great passes and plays. Kept many
plays and pucks alive. He was absolutely a better overal player, than his first year.
He struggled to put pucks in the net...but many of his shots were very good and
accurate...got snake bitten a few times....but he lost some confidence.
He's 20 and had 2 bad injuries at the start of each of his seasons.
He's going to be good to great. It took Kempe 3+ years and it's taken Gabe as many
as well. QB would be further along without the 2 setbacks.
If he plays a full year, LW1 , 3C and is scoring 10 goals and not progressing,
then that's time to judge him. If you're judging fairly, taking into account
what he's gone through and other players and calling him a potential bust,
then you're a harsh judge and forgot what Gabe was like the yr he was 2C and
Kempe's lean years. "sure can fly out there....have some swagger, but sure can't
score goals"
He still cannot go into a bar and buy a beer. lol.
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He royally f***ed up the drafting, especially picking Byfield. But the exact strategy worked for Vegas so I'm holding out hope.
Difference is Vegas won most of their trades
Herby
How could Blake have known?
PLD isn't a perfect player, he's not a star by any stretch, but not many wanted the star when one was on the market either.
He is entering his age 25 season, he's been in the NHL since he was 19, he's scored 25+ goals and 60+ points three times and last year scored at close to a a 70 point pace. You bring this guy in and you have him center Fiala on your 2nd line with two Selke-caliber centers above and below him you have at least the foundation for a contending team (goaltending is still a huge question mark).
The Kings are at the point now where they need guarantees and not question marks. Expecting QB to be the 3C is a huge question mark and even his strongest supporters are talking "40-50 points" is that enough contribution to put the Kings over the top? Vilardi having the same pace is also a question mark, QB had some poor luck with shooting % that is likely to improve, but Vilardi is very unlikely to shoot 19% either, there are also past injury concerns and the contract issue, for all we know Gabe may want to be paid more than the Kings are comfortable paying.
Byfield (21) - Kopitar (36) - Kempe (27)
Fiala (27) - PLD (25) - Kaliyev (22)
Moore (28) - Danault (31) - Arviddson (30)
That is a championship caliber Top 9, and it's not ancient by any stretch either.
I just have a tough time building a better lineup without making huge leaps of faith, remember this is for a team that is trying to win now. Do you guys think a SC can be won with the Kings current group of centers?
He is entering his age 25 season, he's been in the NHL since he was 19, he's scored 25+ goals and 60+ points three times and last year scored at close to a a 70 point pace. You bring this guy in and you have him center Fiala on your 2nd line with two Selke-caliber centers above and below him you have at least the foundation for a contending team (goaltending is still a huge question mark).
The Kings are at the point now where they need guarantees and not question marks. Expecting QB to be the 3C is a huge question mark and even his strongest supporters are talking "40-50 points" is that enough contribution to put the Kings over the top? Vilardi having the same pace is also a question mark, QB had some poor luck with shooting % that is likely to improve, but Vilardi is very unlikely to shoot 19% either, there are also past injury concerns and the contract issue, for all we know Gabe may want to be paid more than the Kings are comfortable paying.
Byfield (21) - Kopitar (36) - Kempe (27)
Fiala (27) - PLD (25) - Kaliyev (22)
Moore (28) - Danault (31) - Arviddson (30)
That is a championship caliber Top 9, and it's not ancient by any stretch either.
I just have a tough time building a better lineup without making huge leaps of faith, remember this is for a team that is trying to win now. Do you guys think a SC can be won with the Kings current group of centers?
Nasti
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They won a cup that year. Dean was on the verge of being fired had they missed the playoffs. But they won. Blake hasn’t done that in the same amount of time.
FSL KINGS
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Schrute farms
LA Kings: new GM wanted -- inquire within
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Agreed -- looking at the top nine in a vaccum.
Now how about you do the Kings Goalies, 4th line and D? The first two are horrible and not SC winning level AT ALL. The D has potential, but relying a lot on youth, an aging DD and it's weak AF.
WHOneedsSOX
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bland
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No he isn't. Same thing, discount "stars" with huge paychecks not fit for the responsibilities of first liners. Good players who take you nowhere.
bland
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Subbing PLD and Kaliyev for Vilardi and Iafallo somehow takes them from first round Red Shirt cannon fodder to "championship caliber"?
Gimme a break, Herby. Its a team weaker along the wall and weaker in spirit.
deaderhead28
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Little Psycho
I solemnly swear I'm up to no good
deaderhead28
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Peter James Bond II
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So...soon to be, 35 year old, Wayne Simmonds is the new, tough winger.
Brendon Dillon is the new, tough, 3rd LHD
Pierre Luc Dubois is the Kopitar heir apparent
35 year old Semyon Varlamov is the 1A/1B goalie?
would just 'have preferred' to sign Gabe and Joonas...and 'keep' Iafallo.
but I like the Durzi deal!
Brendon Dillon is the new, tough, 3rd LHD
Pierre Luc Dubois is the Kopitar heir apparent
35 year old Semyon Varlamov is the 1A/1B goalie?
would just 'have preferred' to sign Gabe and Joonas...and 'keep' Iafallo.
but I like the Durzi deal!
deaderhead28
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Herby
How could Blake have known?
Up front, yes. I can answer my most pressing need, getting better players in the Kopitar/DD window.
They have two scoring line centers and it lets Danault play the role expected of him and not having to count on unproven lines to score.
You seem to have a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that the vision that we both shared was abandoned 2 years ago. There is no more slow rebuild, letting youth develop the way most teams do.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
So what you are saying is there are still plenty of question marks?
How many contending teams are going into the year counting on faith down the middle.
Also, this trade doesn’t have much effect on QB other than locking him in at wing the next year or 2.
You would think PLD is a 32 year old 45 point center the way some are describing him.
I’ve heard on this forum that he’s not as good as Iafallo and Vilardi and not a 2nd line center, it’s crazy.
DryIslandBartender
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No, but this idea the Kings are in a championship window with PLD is crazy talk. PLD is coming with some baggage and isn’t considered a leader. Kings management doesn’t know what they are doing other than playing whack a mole.
I will say though, the addition of PLD will make the team more dynamic. The PLD/Fiala combo will be something to watch.
DryIslandBartender
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