Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[KingsFan7824]

You sure seem to forget how they played Kovalchuk lol. They put the most lethal shot from the slot in front of the net doing deflections and puck retrieval

"won't give him PP time"

The comment I responded to had nothing to do with where he played on the PP. It was that TM didn't give him time on the PP. He was given 5 seconds less per game than Kopitar, who led the forwards.

Blame TM for a lot, but the one thing he doesn't not do is give big money vets as much time on the ice as he pretty much can without driving them even further into the state of fatigue.

 

[johnjm22]

To be fair, 11 and 8 couldn't help themselves from trying to set him up on the PP ala Ovechkin for one-timers. Talk about a stale, predictable power play at the time.

That describes every PP Kovalchuk has ever been a part of.

It was completely foreseeable to anyone who took a deeper look at the numbers. Which makes me question management's judgement.

After Kovalchuk was signed, I made a post predicting that he wouldn't improve the Kings PowerPlay very much. I showed the stats of every PP he's been a part of going back to his Atlanta days as proof.

Similarly with PLD, he looks good on the surface, but a closer look reveals an empty calories player who's primed to disappoint. Although I have some hope for him that he can turn it around.

 

[Kudelski37]

That describes every PP Kovalchuk has ever been a part of.

It was completely foreseeable to anyone who took a deeper look at the numbers. Which makes me question management's judgement.

After Kovalchuk was signed, I made a post predicting that he wouldn't improve the Kings PowerPlay very much. I showed the stats of every PP he's been a part of going back to his Atlanta days as proof.

Similarly with PLD, he looks good on the surface, but a closer look reveals an empty calories player who's primed to disappoint. Although I have some hope for him that he can turn it around.

The number of back door pp goals I've seen PLD score where the goalie is already flopping on the ice before the puck is passed to PLD leaves me with little hope for him in LA. Kings have plenty of lefties that can score those goals. The Kings need pk and faceoff help. This trade would only result in the Kings having to play shorthanded more often. Not good.

 

[RocketKing]

a

Also didn't help that everyone was affraid to block shots. Vegas did that shift after shift and took them out of the series.

If we could get Amart on a cheap
deal after he gets bought out by VGK that would really help in that area.

 

[tbrown33]

The number of back door pp goals I've seen PLD score where the goalie is already flopping on the ice before the puck is passed to PLD leaves me with little hope for him in LA. Kings have plenty of lefties that can score those goals. The Kings need pk and faceoff help. This trade would only result in the Kings having to play shorthanded more often. Not good.

PLD's career shooting % is about 4 points lower than Vilardi's and his 5v5 s% fell off a cliff last 3 years. Kings finally have a player that can put the puck in the net, best hands on the team...can't have that.

Snapshot of Dubois' career 5v5 shooting percentage. Trend is going the wrong way last 3 years:

Vilardi:

 

[SmytheKing]

Because he was worse than those players.

Kovalchuk screwed the Kings, not vice versa.

It was always the likely outcome and Blake should have known better. Just like Phanuef. Just like Fiala. Just like PLD. The names are interchangeable, but the situation is the same: name players brought in regardless of fit - the plan changes to match the names he can't believe he gets to sign, how they are implemented is figured out on the fly.

I'm not saying he was better or worse than any of them. In fact, I'm agreeing. I'm saying that playing him on the 4th line and not giving him the chance to do what he was literally brought in to do is a stupid decision and a waste of cap space, a waste of a roster spot, and a waste of an asset.

 

[KopitarFAN]

How do you read these things? Meaning the order of these two comments. Is the top part first time-wise or the bottom one first? I don't do twit; nor any social media stuff.

The top is always more recent.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Ramus Kupari is part of the deal NooOOoooOOOOooooooOOOooOoo

 

[DyslexicTom]

It's funny, because I joked while talking with a friend that Blake's response would be to acquire more forwards.

Turns out I'm the clown.

 

[FSL KINGS]

 

[Trash Panda]

That is… f***in disgusting.

This reeks of some Rob Blake desperation, if true.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Lizotte back to the 3C and Helenius in the wings.

 

[johnjm22]

Isn't that guy pretty reliable?

 

[KingsHockey24]

I'm pretty sure Kupari led the team in hits after Lemieux was dealt. He was an ideal 4C for us with a wicked shot too.

Guess we'll just have no right shot forwards then. Cool. f*** you Blake.

 

[kingskring]

 

[Rick Knickleback]

That is… f***in disgusting.

This reeks of some Rob Blake desperation, if true.

Jesus, that would be a terrible trade.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Barf

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kupari sucks. Let them have him.

 

[johnjm22]

Hopefully Samberg or Dillon is coming back.

 

[Sol]

"won't give him PP time"

The comment I responded to had nothing to do with where he played on the PP. It was that TM didn't give him time on the PP. He was given 5 seconds less per game than Kopitar, who led the forwards.

Blame TM for a lot, but the one thing he doesn't not do is give big money vets as much time on the ice as he pretty much can without driving them even further into the state of fatigue.

Even though your argument was about PP time I would argue that he put him in a position to fail so it was all for not. Might as well not give him PP time if you’re going to be grossly negligent on how you use the guy who’s entire career was based upon roofing the puck a few feel below the blueline.

 

[Schrute farms]

Losing one guy who is one of the few that has moxie and goes into corners, etc. (AI). Maybe the one guy who has great hands and goal scoring shot (GV); and the one guy who is great at PK (Kupari).

Seems like we're losing areas of need -- making us even weaker in those spots. While solving what need? Does Blake understand how to evaluate team needs and fill holes? He did well with the LHD/G trade last TDL, but this....i'm confused.

 

[Sol]

I can’t believe we traded Vilardi. How can you justify trading your best forward from the rebuild? How? What the f*** man.

 

[kingsboy11]

What are we doing here? If you're dead set on playing Byfield on the wing for the foreseeable future and want to improve the 3rd line center you can do it without trading away 3 forward pieces. This potential trade is just baffling to me. I think Blake has been right on most of his trades so far, but if this deal goes through I think it will be one he will regret big time.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Losing one guy who is one of the few that has moxie and goes into corners, etc. (AI). Maybe the one guy who has great hands and goal scoring shot (GV); and the one guy who is great at PK (Kupari).

Seems like we're losing areas of need -- making us even weaker in those spots. While solving what need? Does Blake understand how to evaluate team needs and fill holes? He did well with the LHD/G trade last TDL, but this....i'm confused.

The Kings had one of the worst penalty killing units in the league. Trust me, Kupari is not a significant loss. He skates around aimlessly and turns the puck over and inopportune times due to his poor puck handling skills.

 

[SmytheKing]

Losing one guy who is one of the few that has moxie and goes into corners, etc. (AI). Maybe the one guy who has great hands and goal scoring shot (GV); and the one guy who is great at PK (Kupari).

Seems like we're losing areas of need -- making us even weaker in those spots. While solving what need? Does Blake understand how to evaluate team needs and fill holes? He did well with the LHD/G trade last TDL, but this....i'm confused.

It's eliminating redundancy (even if you think Moore is worse...he and Iafallo fit the same "box"), gives the Kings a slot to play AK more, and I guess it might give them some more cap space if they get fancy with a contract?

It's another trade that, in a vacuum, makes sense. However, I'm not sure it makes the team all that much better (if at all). They still need a goalie.