Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[johnjm22]

UPDATED CAP SPACE SITUATION

FORWARDS:
Byfield (.894) - Kopitar (10) - Kempe (5.5)
Moore (4.2) - Dubois (8.5) - Kaliyev (.894)
Fiala (7.9) - Danault (5.5) - Arvidsson (4.25)
Grundström (1.3) - Lizotte (1.7) - XXXXXX
Anderson-Dolan (.825)
Fagemo (.875)

DEFENSE:
Anderson (4.125) - Doughty (11)
Gavrikov (5.9) - Roy (3.15)
XXXXXXX- Clarke (.863)
Spence (.820)

GOALTENDERS:
XXXXX
Copley (1.5)

RETAINED / TERMINATED:
Provorov (2.025)
Richards (.700)

DETAILS:
Roster Size: 20
Salary Cap: $83,500,000
Cap Hit: $82,346,667
Cap Space: $1,153,333

 

[funky]

I feel sorry for the GM next year that is saddled with this contract and so few young players. Are there any generational talents coming in 2025?

Holy crap. He’s a proven number 2 Centre that has the potential to be a great number one center. He turned 25 this week, it’s not like he’s ancient. Everybody talks about Vilardi’s’s potential, but this guy is all of a year older, with a way higher draft, pedigree and approve and past. It frees up a space for a 21 year old sniper in Kaliyev end, it allows 20 year old Byfield to marinate with Kopitar and Kempe on the top line, where he had very good success

We have one of the top defensive prospects in the game cracking our lineup this year and another very good defense of prospect feeding him for the spot.

Other than in goal , we still have youth coming at every position. Yes, some of them might not be the exact fit for the team as it’s constructed now, but that doesn’t diminish their value.

I love Vilardii to death. Go back in the threads and see how much I supported him when others were down. You can’t tell me you didn’t take a massive gasp and pucker your asshole when he got hit into the boards and missed numerous games afterwards at the end of the year, there will always be that stigma attached to him regarding his health. I hope he goes out and puts up 80 points a year.

Maybe give the new guy a couple weeks in a kings uniform before putting a nail in his coffin

 

[Schrute farms]

Ultimately, all jokes and trolling aside, I’m fine with this. I wholly disagree with how Blake has constructed this team, but at least he’s not pretending to rebuild anymore.

At the very least, being a Kings fan is exciting these days. That is, you know, before the first round exit depression kicks in.

+1 well said

 

[BigBrown]

The Kings are giving up a 2nd round pick also the main board is saying?

Yup, seems like it:

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They called the return for Winnipeg "a boatload", I can't say I disagree.

 

[funky]

If we’re giving up a pic, I wonder if part of the contract is a Winnipeg resigning him for this year and then eating some of the cap? Probably not but it’s hopeful thinking.

 

[Sol]

He's not out a spot. He is a $895k cap hit wing for this season.

Kopitar is in the last year of his deal. Does he want to play more? He's already down two of his buddies and he's made a nice chunk of change.

Let’s break down the possible outcomes of this trade and their motives.

1. Blake is panicking and he feels if he can give Kopitar and Doughty whatever they might need that they can get a cup before they retire but most importantly Blake can save him from himself.

2. Kopitar is indeed retiring and PLD is here to fill a void left by Kopitar but that implies that Byfields expectations are very low.

3. Blake knows Kopitar is not retiring and he wants to put Byfield at his side as a permanent fixture because center is not doable for him.


One thing is clear from this trade though, the kings dont trust byfield. You have to ask yourself why even if you’re a byfield hopeful.

Kings don’t make this trade if they think Byfield is good.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Yup, seems like it:

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They called the return for Winnipeg "a boatload", I can't say I disagree.

Vilardi is good

Iafallo was likely (or Arvidsson) to get dumped for cap purposes anyways..

Kupari could be something in the future, but with Lizotte at 4C, isn't needed.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

If we’re giving up a pic, I wonder if part of the contract is a Winnipeg resigning him for this year and then eating some of the cap? Probably not but it’s hopeful thinking.

Would be insane for them to retain cap for 8 years.

Is Wheeler part of the Winnipeg leadership problem? He'd be awesome on the Kings 4th line of he's bought out.

 

[funky]

Would be insane for them to retain cap for 8 years.

No, I meant re-sign him for his RFA year and retain on that one year. I would have to look up the rules but now that I think about it, I don’t think it would actually be legal to sign a one year then immediately by an eight year contract.

 

[jokesondee]

You'll love PLD if he's engaged and focused. Something he couldnt do consistently enough here for whatever reason. He can take over a game. The guy is a beast when he's "on".

 

[johnjm22]

I could still see Arvidsson being moved.

 

[SmytheKing]

If we’re giving up a pic, I wonder if part of the contract is a Winnipeg resigning him for this year and then eating some of the cap? Probably not but it’s hopeful thinking.

Doubtful on retaining.

I imagine it's the pick they just got for Durzi too. So the trade comes down to Durzi, Iafallo, Vilardi, and Kupari for PLD (and likely other stuff). Sounds about what some of us were suggesting the cost would be when you account for any other depth pieces that might be coming back.

I could still see Arvidsson being moved.

Probably have to for a goalie based on cap space alone.

 

[johnjm22]

You'll love PLD if he's engaged and focused. Something he couldnt do consistently enough here for whatever reason. He can take over a game. The guy is a beast when he's "on".

And what percentage of the time would say he's "on" ?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Let’s break down the possible outcomes of this trade and their motives.

1. Blake is panicking and he feels if he can give Kopitar and Doughty whatever they might need that they can get a cup before they retire but most importantly Blake can save him from himself.

2. Kopitar is indeed retiring and PLD is here to fill a void left by Kopitar but that implies that Byfields expectations are very low.

3. Blake knows Kopitar is not retiring and he wants to put Byfield at his side as a permanent fixture because center is not doable for him.


One thing is clear from this trade though, the kings dont trust byfield. You have to ask yourself why even if you’re a byfield hopeful.

Kings don’t make this trade if they think Byfield is good.

Or King's don't expect Byfield to be able to match up defensively against Eichel & McDummy by next year's playoffs? Doubt anyone drafted that year will be successful going against some of the top centers in the league by next year.

This move takes the pressure off Kopitar slowing down & will smooth the center transition process when Kopi retires.

 

[funky]

as I was running and becoming oxygen deprived, I started to wonder if maybe this is Kopitar’s last year and Blake is trying to go for it? Maybe Kopitar has had enough hockey and told Blake he is done after the year and Blake is ensuring that he’s got the center position filled for years to come.

No matter what happens. I don’t think this is Blakes last move. This off-season still needs to free up space for a goalie and a number six left shot defenseman with size.

 

[Kudelski37]

Holy crap. He’s a proven number 2 Centre that has the potential to be a great number one center. He turned 25 this week, it’s not like he’s ancient. Everybody talks about Vilardi’s’s potential, but this guy is all of a year older, with a way higher draft, pedigree and approve and past. It frees up a space for a 21 year old sniper in Kaliyev end, it allows 20 year old Byfield to marinate with Kopitar and Kempe on the top line, where he had very good success

We have one of the top defensive prospects in the game cracking our lineup this year and another very good defense of prospect feeding him for the spot.

Other than in goal , we still have youth coming at every position. Yes, some of them might not be the exact fit for the team as it’s constructed now, but that doesn’t diminish their value.

I love Vilardii to death. Go back in the threads and see how much I supported him when others were down. You can’t tell me you didn’t take a massive gasp and pucker your asshole when he got hit into the boards and missed numerous games afterwards at the end of the year, there will always be that stigma attached to him regarding his health. I hope he goes out and puts up 80 points a year.

Maybe give the new guy a couple weeks in a kings uniform before putting a nail in his coffin

PLD will go down as one of the few King players I hate. This is worse than Lucic trade bad.

 

[jokesondee]

And what percentage of the time would say he's "on" ?

The first half of last season he was easily our best player and was a force every night. He was the main reason we were flirting with 1st in the central for a long time. Just a beast. Fell off a cliff after the all-star break for whatever reason.

 

[Nasti]

Sounding like Dubois only for Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari, and basically Durzi since it’s the Montreal 2nd. FML.

 

[johnjm22]

The first half of last season he was easily our best player and was a force every night. Just a beast. Fell off a cliff after the all-star break for whatever reason.

His game has been up and down going all the way back to junior.

I suspect he's going to play really well for us initially. We see what happens after...

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

 

[Live in the Now]

Sounding like Dubois only for Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari, and basically Durzi since it’s the Montreal 2nd. FML.

This is a bad trade and they gave up way too much, but

A good often injured scoring winger
A guy everyone wanted off the team
A plug
Another guy everyone wanted off the team

 

[funky]

You'll love PLD if he's engaged and focused. Something he couldnt do consistently enough here for whatever reason. He can take over a game. The guy is a beast when he's "on".

We are more than used to that over here. Kopitar has had that reputation for years, Kempe has that reputation, what’s one more.

Hell, Doughty disappeared for two years

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Blake’s top secret plan is that he knows Kopitar is retiring and plans to dedicate his entire cap hit toward signing Matthews in 2024.

 

[johnjm22]

We're not getting anything else back? We need an LHD dammit. Jets seem to have an excess there.

 

[Nasti]

This is a bad trade and they gave up way too much, but

A good often injured scoring winger
A guy everyone wanted off the team
A plug
Another guy everyone wanted off the team

Terrible asset management regardless.