Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[Telos]

You and others can listen to Mark Yanetti’s lies on the podcast tour about the Kings not being worried, but no way do they make this trade if they weren’t extremely concerned.

There also is the other possibility that they may know more about Kopitar's future than we do. Blake certainly has proven that he isn't a victim of sentimentality. They may be preparing for Kopitar not being on the roster after this next season which would leave the 1st or 2nd line center spot vacant yet again. Danault was always supposed to be the future 3rd line center of a hopeful contender. It is still up to Byfield to make or break or else they could be back in the same place in a year's time. A center was needed regardless if Byfield or another center prospect hits or not.

 

[JTeller97]

I don't understand how people are jumping to the conclusion that Byfield a career long winger now lol. Kopitar is 36! Let QB break in as a winger and when Kopi inevitably retires in the next couple of years you move Quinton back to center when he's at the ripe old age of 23/24.

 

[Schrute farms]

Let's be honest. I am writing this as someone who has had chronic back issues for his adult life after sports injuries.
Vilardi is injury prone, and a winger. I like him but he is not some unmovable piece that will doom us to failure if he leaves. He is not a reliably healthy player, and if his agent wants some monster contract based on potential production that can only be reached with perfect health and attendance, then Blake should be looking at other options and has settled on this.
Kupari is a bottom 6 winger, there is no top end skill there, we wont even notice he is gone when someone else steps up into his spot.
Iafalol has been at the very top of the must-trade list here for a while now.
This is not some gutting of the franchise. Its three movable assets, only one of which, Vilardi, might actually be something special. One of the biggest mistakes GMs make these days is giving out monster contracts to middle 6 wingers. Gabe Vilardi is a middle 6 winger who appears to be looking for a monster contract.
This is not a huge mistake by Blake. It looks fairly sound. Details in full will be needed before I make an appraisal but on the face it might be solid.

I agree with all this from the Kings side of what they are giving up.
The issue is whether PLD is the right guy considering his up & down play the last couple years and the huge contract he's going to get using up valuable cap space. I don't think he is -- but maybe a change to LA, playing for TM with Fiala on your side, etc. will be what he needs and bring the best out of him. Blake's GM tenure likely depends on it.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Gabe Vilardi was such a resounding developmental success for Rob Blake he was traded the instant he cultivated some value.

Surely we can all hope Byfield follows in his footsteps, right?

 

[lexlavender]

There also is the other possibility that they may know more about Kopitar's future than we do. Blake certainly has proven that he isn't a victim of sentimentality. They may be preparing for Kopitar not being on the roster after this next season which would leave the 1st or 2nd line center spot vacant yet again. Danault was always supposed to be the future 3rd line center of a hopeful contender. It is still up to Byfield to make or break or else they could be back in the same place in a year's time. A center was needed regardless if Byfield or another center prospect hits or not.

This is the logic that makes sense to me about this deal. The Kings feel like they can progress Byfield's development as an nhler at wing, and hope that once Kopitar moves on Byfield can finally be placed at center.

Or, this makes no sense at all and they resign Kopitar to a twilight deal, and Byfield is a winger forever

 

[Martyros]

Turcotte should have been the one to go last summer when he had any value at all.

 

[Little Psycho]

 

[Herby]

Turcotte should have been the one to go last summer when he had any value at all.

Last summer was probably even to late to get any kind of value.

Should have been traded at the 2020 deadline or the 2020 draft, even after 1 season it was apparent that he was not going to be the type of player they expected.

But that would have required Blake to actually admit he made a mistake.

 

[LAKings88]

Gabe Vilardi was such a resounding developmental success for Rob Blake he was traded the instant he cultivated some value.

Surely we can all hope Byfield follows in his footsteps, right?

I still think his health is likely the biggest concern. They were awfully quiet about his injuries this year.

 

[Kudelski37]

I still think his health is likely the biggest concern. They were awfully quiet about his injuries this year.

They never talk about anyone's injuries.

 

[kingskring]

They never talk about anyone's injuries.

nor should they, unless the player specifically requests they do....

That goes for any sport

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This really is intriguing. Maybe the Kings are also getting Connor Helleybuck, Phil Housley, and Teppo Numminen.

 

[Master Yoda]

This really is intriguing. Maybe the Kings are also getting Connor Helleybuck, Phil Housley, and Teppo Numminen.

Can they get Byfuglien also?

 

[Johnny Utah]

Brendan Dillon please.

 

[bland]

This really is intriguing. Maybe the Kings are also getting Connor Helleybuck, Phil Housley, and Teppo Numminen.

No Doug Smail, no deal.

 

[kingskring]

 

[Johnny Utah]

If Kupari, AI, and Vilardi move out and PLD at 8.5 - how much money is left?

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Jets have to throw in Bobby Hull,Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson with Kenta Nilsson and Lars-Erik Sjoberg

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Yuck

 

[YAYSAY]

So because they want to compete for the cup right now, they're moving out Vilardi, a drafted center who was moved to wing and then proved himself, one of our best players all year and who contributes a lot to the team right now, but keeping Byfield, another drafted center moved to wing who has yet to prove himself and doesn't contribute as much to the team and thus is not helping the win the cup now idea. Can anyone explain this?

 

[Cook24]

If Byfield doesn’t pan out we’re fudged

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

If Kupari, AI, and Vilardi move out and PLD at 8.5 - how much money is left?

If this true Chevy should have held out for more...Moore plz go,Lizotte go back to St Cloud,Roy can go too since LA is not resigning him in 2024

 

[Gjwrams]

Can they get Byfuglien also?

8 years too late for that.

 

[Mats26]

It looks bad now, but I think in the long run we needed a young established center. I would prefer Kaliyev and JAD to be moved over Vilardi and Kupari but we'll see what the whole deal is.

In the end, I don't want to waste another year with Fiala playing with Lizotte as center. Byfield is simply not ready for a top 6 center role.

Alas my dream of having Byfield -Vilardi-Turcotte as our future centers are all but done.

 

[johnjm22]

If Dubois can start playing up to his potential 8.5M could look like a good deal in the long run. Cap close to 90M next season. It's a big risk though.

But for now it would leave the Kings in a tight spot with 3 main holes to fill: gritty defensive bottom 6 winger, stay at home LHD, and goalie.