Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[Kudelski37]

Agreed. It's one thing to want to get out of a bad environment. When you start trying to get out of multiple environments, then eventually you weed out the common denominator.

What if PLD decides after a year he's not happy in LA? Or what if Blake fires McLellan and... okay, we know that's not going to happen. But what if PLD just... wants to leave? And so LA either has to deal with a dude phoning it in until he gets what he wants or they have to deal with trading him for even less value.

Heck, people are convinced Byfield won't improve enough as a 20 year-old to build a respectable career but are ready to hitch their wagon to a 25 year-old with a history of malcontentment to grow up emotionally?

Add in the possibility PLD might become a beach bum. He might like the area and the money and still phone it in.

 

[Piston]

He’s part of the problem though on fostering toxic cultures, wanting out of two cities in a short period of time is a HUGE red flag. The Kings seem to be the only one falling all over themselves over PLD and that’s because management is desperate, Montreal is lukewarm about it.

I wouldn’t trade a bunch of assets + sign him to an anchor contract.

Let's get real. Winnipeg is in Manitoba which is roughly the size of California and Oregon combined. The province has 1.3 mm people of which 60% live in the city. The average January temperature is 12 degrees Fahrenheit. And, someone is getting on PLD's case because he wants out when he has the opportunity? That's before we talk about Canadian taxes (the main reason no Canadian team has won a cup in 30 years). I feel sorry for fans of the team, but the NHL ideally would not have a franchise in Winnipeg. It's 470 miles from St. Paul, the only city remotely close to the Jets. How they are able to keep any players there is a mystery to me. Should I call anyone on this board a malcontent because they want to have a better quality of life and have the ability to change locations?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

He’s part of the problem though on fostering toxic cultures, wanting out of two cities in a short period of time is a HUGE red flag. The Kings seem to be the only one falling all over themselves over PLD and that’s because management is desperate, Montreal is lukewarm about it.

I wouldn’t trade a bunch of assets + sign him to an anchor contract.

Disagree with your first part, agree with your second.

I don't think the kings should trade a bunch of assets for him and then sign him to a massive contract... But I also just don't agree with all the 'he has an attitude problem' narrative.

He went from the least desirable team in the NHL (and playing for the least desirable coach) to like the 2nd least desirable team in the NHL.

When you start trying to get out of multiple environments, then eventually you weed out the common denominator.

But those multiple (2) environments are Columbus and Winnipeg. Environments that repeatedly have players wanting to leave.

Add in the possibility PLD might become a beach bum. He might like the area and the money and still phone it in.

I mean you could say this about literally any player coming to LA.


Look, I'm not saying he's perfect or has amazing character or anything I'm just saying half the fan base is making all these points about him having character issues, being a headcase, having attitude problems, etc etc... And I just don't see it. Most of us would want tf out of WPG and CBJ too if we were forced to play there.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Anyone else completely black pilled on Blake and the Kings right now regardless of what happens?

We aren’t contenders with PLD, and we’re not contenders with Vilardi/Iafallo.

At this point I just have the popcorn out until the Blake/Luc era is mercifully over.

 

[King'sPawn]

But those multiple (2) environments are Columbus and Winnipeg. Environments that repeatedly have players wanting to leave.

Who has asked for a trade out of Winnipeg, aside from Evander Kane (who has his own issues and worn out his welcome multiple times)? Who requested a trade out of Columbus aside from Dubois? Carter was pissed he signed a long-term extension with his best friend and was traded away - are you holding that against Columbus?

 

[Piston]

Disagree with your first part, agree with your second.

I don't think the kings should trade a bunch of assets for him and then sign him to a massive contract... But I also just don't agree with all the 'he has an attitude problem' narrative.

He went from the least desirable team in the NHL (and playing for the least desirable coach) to like the 2nd least desirable team in the NHL.

But those multiple (2) environments are Columbus and Winnipeg. Environments that repeatedly have players wanting to leave.

I mean you could say this about literally any player coming to LA.


Look, I'm not saying he's perfect or has amazing character or anything I'm just saying half the fan base is making all these points about him having character issues, being a headcase, having attitude problems, etc etc... And I just don't see it. Most of us would want tf out of WPG and CBJ too if we were forced to play there.

I would rank least desirable places to play in the following order:

Winnipeg - no other city is even close in terms of isolation and horrible weather
Phoenix - who wants to play in that arena?
Buffalo - was a great town, once, over a century ago
Ottawa - cheap owner, terrible arena location
New Jersey - have you ever enjoyed the aroma in nearby Elizabeth, NJ? Newark is a slum.


Columbus is the Garden of Eden by comparison, lol.

 

[johnjm22]

If I was Blake, I'd wait until July 1 and inquire about some of the UFA centers.

I know it's wishful fan-think or whatever, but I like Toews. He has bad underlying metrics, but I suspect it has a lot to do with him playing for nothing. Put him in a situation where he's playing 3C in meaningful games. The Athletic projects he'll get 2 years at 3.7M.

Other discount UFA centers:
Statsny
Bjugstad
Staal
Drouin
Eller
Suter
Domi
Blueger
Brassard

It's not a great list. But just about anything is an upgrade over Kupari as our 3C, and it puts Lizotte at 4C where he belongs.

 

[Kudelski37]

Anyone else completely black pilled on Blake and the Kings right now regardless of what happens?

We aren’t contenders with PLD, and we’re not contenders with Vilardi/Iafallo.

At this point I just have the popcorn out until the Blake/Luc era is mercifully over.

If he makes this trade, I'm probably gone until October.


The Kings are likely worse as a team with PLD. The Kings weren't contenders with Durzi and a bad coach. Simply changing coaches could make the current team a contender. Being aggressive leads to being physical and better penalty killing. Being passive doesn't regardless of the size of players.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Who has asked for a trade out of Winnipeg, aside from Evander Kane (who has his own issues and worn out his welcome multiple times)? Who requested a trade out of Columbus aside from Dubois? Carter was pissed he signed a long-term extension with his best friend and was traded away - are you holding that against Columbus?

Laine.... Checkmate. (lol jk don't actually tell me I'm wrong)

Idk man I don't have the time to go pull an exact list and maybe there isn't even one to be pulled but it's no secret Winnipeg is a pretty undesirable place to play in the NHL. Same with Columbus... That's my main point.

The guy went from bad to also bad, but in a different location. Also..... He's an RFA.... It's within his rights to choose whether or not he signs with the Jets. He's choosing no, and has made that clear to the team so that they can trade him and bring some assets back as a return. It's not like he's quitting on the team or anything. He just doesn't want to play in Winnipeg, and I can't really blame him.

 

[Piston]

Lots of players wanted out of Columbus

Bobrovsky
Panarin
Seth Jones
Carter

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

If I was Blake, I'd wait until July 1 and inquire about some of the UFA centers.

I know it's wishful fan-think or whatever, but I like Toews. He has bad underlying metrics, but I suspect it has a lot to do with him playing for nothing. Put him in a situation where he's playing 3C in meaningful games. The Athletic projects he'll get 2 years at 3.7M.

Other discount UFA centers:
Statsny
Bjugstad
Staal
Drouin
Eller
Suter
Domi
Blueger
Brassard

It's not a great list. But just about anything is an upgrade over Kupari as our 3C, and it puts Lizotte at 4C where he belongs.

The Kings could make 0 moves and Lizotte already doesn't have to be our 3C.

Personally, I'd rather move QB back to center sooner rather than later. Give him all of next year at 3C (2C if he balls out) and see what he can do. He played well as 3C for the first couple weeks of the year. Then he came back and struggled a tiny bit so they put him with Kopi to try something out / get his confidence going and it worked so they stuck with it.

Come October it's a new season and Byfield would've had a full summer to train, put back on the weight he lost, etc etc. Kopitar 1C, Danault 2C, Byfield 3C, Lizotte 4C.... That's solid. Let's do THAT and go get a goalie instead of PLD.

 

[deaderhead28]

 

[Sol]

Don’t think it’s gonna happen. If it was it would have happened today. Usually when deals like this do happen it’s usually a bit more lopsided than 50/50. Judging by Blake’s desperation this is not going to be a good thing for the Kings.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Uhhhhhhh...... No? It's not.

We don't attract a lot of free agents here for a good reason and taxes aren't it. Players like to be close to family and friends. For most of these players that's in the north and east.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Anyone else completely black pilled on Blake and the Kings right now regardless of what happens?

We aren’t contenders with PLD, and we’re not contenders with Vilardi/Iafallo.

At this point I just have the popcorn out until the Blake/Luc era is mercifully over.

The 2006 Hurricanes weren't contenders
The 2007 Ducks weren't contenders
The 2018 Caps weren't contenders
The 2019 Blues weren't contenders
The 2023 Golden Knights weren't contenders

 

[SettlementRichie10]

The 2006 Hurricanes weren't contenders
The 2007 Ducks weren't contenders
The 2018 Caps weren't contenders
The 2019 Blues weren't contenders
The 2023 Golden Knights weren't contenders

I’m sorry you seem to be having a mild stroke.

Every single one of these teams were considered contenders besides the Blues. VGK literally won the conference last year.

 

[deaderhead28]

Dreger says Kings still front runners on Dubois trade and its starting to percolate.

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[deaderhead28]

Don’t think it’s gonna happen. If it was it would have happened today. Usually when deals like this do happen it’s usually a bit more lopsided than 50/50. Judging by Blake’s desperation this is not going to be a good thing for the Kings.

Lots of pieces and negotiations on a new multi year contact will drag things out.

 

[Kudelski37]

I’m sorry you seem to be having a mild stroke.

Every single one of these teams were considered contenders besides the Blues. VGK literally won the conference last year.

The Caps couldn't get passed Pitt in back to back years and lost several quality players for futures/nothing in the summer of 2017. Their starting goalie sucked and lost his job during the season. They were not contenders heading into the playoffs. They haven't won a playoff series since. It was lightning in a bottle

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

The 2006 Hurricanes weren't contenders
The 2007 Ducks weren't contenders
The 2018 Caps weren't contenders
The 2019 Blues weren't contenders
The 2023 Golden Knights weren't contenders

I’m sorry you seem to be having a mild stroke.

Every single one of these teams were considered contenders besides the Blues. VGK literally won the conference last year.

The Caps couldn't get passed Pitt in back to back years and lost several quality players for futures/nothing in the summer of 2017. Their starting goalie sucked and lost his job during the season. They were not contenders heading into the playoffs. They haven't won a playoff series since. It was lightning in a bottle

Again, I think we need definitions on contenders......anyone got some parameters they want to share ?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

So your saying the Kings should've moved 2022's 1st to get a guy that might've been there? That's a very risky game unless you're 100 pct sure he's going to be at the spot you trade at. Remember when Burke tried to move up to get Schenn and there were no takers? Everyone tries to get the guy the want, but you still need 2 to make a trade.

@King'sPawn and @Herby both covered it well for me

but in short what I was saying was the "well I tried to get Wallstedt" is being passed off as a 'mission accomplished,' 'well what was blake SUPPOSED to do?' excuse. Sure, you get a pass for a few months...but 6 years into a tenure having the goaltending stable we have is downright f***ing embarrassing, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like it in pro sports.

As it relates to PLD...here comes another 2-3 years of "well blake TRIED to improve the roster, whats he supposed to do?"

...he's paid millions and given unlimited support to get results. People need to stop feeling bad and offering sympathy, this isn't a guy in his first few weeks on the job, he's been in the organization a decade, and continues to offer a 6-month vision to save his job. With the shitshow mismanagement of assets and development, and the constant riding of veteran players, here's going to be a reckoning at some point soon, we're just hoping he doesn't irreparably damage things in the meantime. He's on borrowed time unless he can figure out what to do with players under 25 years old, and it seems like he's going to run out of ELCs/RFAs by this season since he's just band-aiding all his self inflicted gunshot wounds.

 

[JKG33]

I’m sorry you seem to be having a mild stroke.

Every single one of these teams were considered contenders besides the Blues. VGK literally won the conference last year.

This. Vegas was one of if not the favorite coming out of the west this year. The caps have been a contender most of Ovi's career. The Ducks had two of the best d-men of all time and were one of the best teams in the league.

Even coming into the season I had the Blues as a favorite in 2019. Drafted ROR, Tarasenko, and Pietrangelo in my fantasy league. Needless to say, my season was over before they even started playing well lol.

 

[King'sPawn]

We don't attract a lot of free agents here for a good reason and taxes aren't it. Players like to be close to family and friends. For most of these players that's in the north and east.

Adding more specifics to this. Lombardi would say it's easier to attract younger, single players because of the lifestyle. Players with spouses typically had more reservations because the perception of LA as some crime-ridden smogfest makes it seemingly hard to raise a family.

Which is why Smyth lying about how unsafe the city is to perpetuate the stereotype was all the more annoying.

Laine.... Checkmate. (lol jk don't actually tell me I'm wrong)

Idk man I don't have the time to go pull an exact list and maybe there isn't even one to be pulled but it's no secret Winnipeg is a pretty undesirable place to play in the NHL. Same with Columbus... That's my main point.

The guy went from bad to also bad, but in a different location. Also..... He's an RFA.... It's within his rights to choose whether or not he signs with the Jets. He's choosing no, and has made that clear to the team so that they can trade him and bring some assets back as a return. It's not like he's quitting on the team or anything. He just doesn't want to play in Winnipeg, and I can't really blame him.

People are drawn to different locales for different reasons. People won't like LA due to cost of living and being so far away from home. People won't like Toronto for the media pressure. Some people may love Winnipeg's colder climate or Columbus' low cost of living (relative to other NHL cities).

I did see a poll from a few years ago where Winnipeg was the leading city that a player dreaded to play in (40+% of the responses had Winnipeg, 30+% said Buffalo). But again, he wasn't in a toxic situation. Just unfavorable living conditions.

And he's very well within his right to say he's not going to re-sign in Winnipeg. I'm not disputing his rights there. He may have a valid reason to want out of LA after a year or a week. Or never. We don't know. But we do know that he's twice vocalized he doesn't like the location he's playing in and it's to a degree that the best recourse is to relocate him. Twice in his 6-year career. Do you think it's impossible for him to find an unreconcilable issue with LA as well?

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Let's get real. Winnipeg is in Manitoba which is roughly the size of California and Oregon combined. The province has 1.3 mm people of which 60% live in the city. The average January temperature is 12 degrees Fahrenheit. And, someone is getting on PLD's case because he wants out when he has the opportunity? That's before we talk about Canadian taxes (the main reason no Canadian team has won a cup in 30 years). I feel sorry for fans of the team, but the NHL ideally would not have a franchise in Winnipeg. It's 470 miles from St. Paul, the only city remotely close to the Jets. How they are able to keep any players there is a mystery to me. Should I call anyone on this board a malcontent because they want to have a better quality of life and have the ability to change locations?

Sounds like excuses for PLD not pulling his weight. He didn’t like the coach in Columbus and didn’t put any effort into the playoffs in Winnipeg. He mailed it in for both teams. Odds are he will mail it in here when things don’t go his way and someone will have another excuse lined up for him.

PLD isn’t forced to live there in Winnipeg, 365 days a year, so let’s not be melodramatic about it. He can get an off-season home wherever he wants and do whatever he wants. I’m certain a lot of players have their offseason homes in cool/hip locations.

It should be about hockey culture, and teammates. The guys in the building moving in a direction to win games. PLD isn’t a leader and isn’t going to lead LA anywhere. Just like Kovalchuk, great player that’ll sell tickets but he’s not a guy that’ll carry your team to a cup.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Anyone else completely black pilled on Blake and the Kings right now regardless of what happens?

We aren’t contenders with PLD, and we’re not contenders with Vilardi/Iafallo.

At this point I just have the popcorn out until the Blake/Luc era is mercifully over.

Adding PLD makes no sense. Even if center was a need, I’d go after Matthew’s instead.