Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[SmytheKing]

He played almost 30 for the Kings last year. 36 games total with both teams, so having him play 30 isn't a stretch. I think thats the Rangers plan with him.

He played 30 last year because one, the Kings didn't have a starter that was doing well and, two, he was traded to a team who's top two goalies were injured. Now he's on a team who has an established #1 who played almost 60 games last year. They aren't going to sit him for 10 more games to play a guy who almost gave up 4 goals a game. The Rangers are playing him for probably ~20 games and he's not winning at a 95% clip. If he plays more than that, it means the Rangers are in a whole lot of trouble.

 

[Little Psycho]

I am not looking forward towards this season. It’s very strange that the problems we have have yet to be addressed properly. All we got is more offensive power which wasn’t the issue. Pk is still gonna suck, goaltending is weak, defense isn’t sturdy, and our 4th line is still gonna get bitched around

 

[kings11]

I am not looking forward towards this season. It’s very strange that the problems we had have yet to be addressed properly. All we got is more offensive power which wasn’t the issue. Pk is still gonna suck, goaltending is weak, defense isn’t sturdy, and our 4th line is still gonna get bitched around

Ok so either you’ve been hitting the bottle this morning or you just flat out don’t know our roster..
offense… Improved
PK.. we’ll have Gavrikov for a full season and Lewis will help immensely there! Improved
Goaltending… I’ll dare to say we’re starting better this season than we did last year. Petersen/Quick vs Talbot/Copley? Is there even a reason to compare?? Improved!
Defense… Edler & Durzi gone, that’s a plus..
Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Roy
Englund/Bjornfot-Clarke/Spence
This is a giant leap in talent! Improved
4th line.. yes it’ll still get bitch slapped but we now have 3 complete lines that’ll reduce the need to overplay the 4th.. same

So why aren’t you looking forward to the season again??????

 

[Mats26]

I am not looking forward towards this season. It’s very strange that the problems we have have yet to be addressed properly. All we got is more offensive power which wasn’t the issue. Pk is still gonna suck, goaltending is weak, defense isn’t sturdy, and our 4th line is still gonna get bitched around

Not even so sure about that. We moved out 150pts from the players we traded. If PLD is good for 65-70pts where do we get the other half? The kids need to all have break out seasons. I do think we might be better defensively though. Just having Gavri here all season with help immensely.

 

[BigKing]

What do you expect from a 3rd line of Athanasiou-Lizotte-Brown?

What's most likely the problem with that line? That the wingers and the fact that it's the 3rd line? Or Lizotte? I think it's the former. I can't imagine any 4C doing well in that scenario.

Lines have to be setup correctly, with players playing in their proper spot.

In 2023 he was playing 3C and having back spasms. In 2022 he was playing 3C and paired with a completely spent Dustin Brown.

For Lizotte the fall off from regular season to playoffs has been largely coincidental. In 2022 him and Lemieux were having great success, then Lemieux fell off a cliff, and Kupari couldn't hold down 3C, so Lizotte was put there (along with incompetent linemates). Thus the problems.

Blaming the issues on size is odd considering there's plenty of smallish players who do fine in the playoffs.

In these series against Edmonton, the main problem has been only one or two functioning forwards lines at any given time. Lizotte playing too far up in the lineup is part of that. The PLD acquisition, in theory, should bump everyone down into their proper spot.

You can spin excuses for him falling off a cliff in the playoffs if you'd like. You believe in him so I understand why you would want to.

I have two playoff series in a row where he has been useless. If he isn't scoring as much and the lines are a problem, at least he is winning faceoffs and throwing hits? Nope. Line mates aren't the reason for that FO% implosion. Even if he were to hit more, it is a toss-up if the hit hurts Lizotte more than the opponent.

If he is the 4C, does that make it better? I can get behind that 100% as long as 4th line = major reduction in minutes and responsibility.

 

[johnjm22]

Damn. I totally forgot about Brian.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Wasn't Dean's reasoning for signing Brian Willsie based on the fact that he helped Alex Ovechkin out in his rookie season in Washington? I think he theorized Willsie would have a positive impact on the young players on the Kings.

We can also credit Willsie for helping the Kings secure the #2 pick in 2008.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I’ll always remember the summer of Nagy, Handzus, and Preissing.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I’ll always remember the summer of Nagy, Handzus, and Preissing.

Don't forget Kyle Calder and Brad Stuart. The previous year they had signed Scott Thornton and Alyn McCauley, oh and also acquired Dan Cloutier.


Such painful memories.

 

[funky]

Not even so sure about that. We moved out 150pts from the players we traded. If PLD is good for 65-70pts where do we get the other half? The kids need to all have break out seasons. I do think we might be better defensively though. Just having Gavri here all season with help immensely.

I got 150points but that is spread between 6 players.

Vilardi for PLD
Iafallo for Kaliyev
Kupari for Lewis
Durzi technically for Gavrikov (2nd pair)
Edler for Englund/ Bjornfot - no points
Walker for Spence/ Clarke

If PLD hits 70, that is 80 points out of Kaliyev, Lewis, Gavrikov and Spence/Clark


That on average is 20 points each position.

Last year Lewis hit 20, Gavrikov 19, Kaliyev 28 in 58 games and Spence/Clarke should close in on 20.
With ice time and games given to Kaliyev, and the offence out of Spence/ Clark we should be okay.

I also believe Byfield gets more then 22 points and Fiala should hit 80 plus staying healthy. Whatever Kopi regresses I am sure Byfield produces.

I actually believe that Fiala well help add to PLD’s totals. He likes driving please and PLD likes finishing.

 

[Sol]

I am not looking forward towards this season. It’s very strange that the problems we have have yet to be addressed properly. All we got is more offensive power which wasn’t the issue. Pk is still gonna suck, goaltending is weak, defense isn’t sturdy, and our 4th line is still gonna get bitched around

Yeah. Important things haven’t been addressed and as far as we know, we didn’t get more offensive firepower, we shipped off our arguably most talented forward for a guy who can play center.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Don't forget Kyle Calder and Brad Stuart. The previous year they had signed Scott Thornton and Alyn McCauley, oh and also acquired Dan Cloutier.


Such painful memories.

Those beachball pictures are stuck in my mind

 

[Sol]

Definitely a sinking feeling that Blake will go into the season with Talbot and Copley.. hopefully he isn’t as dumb as he looks. I know he started the season with no LD and no back up plans for goaltending. He can’t be that dumb to do the same thing.

 

[bouncesonly]

Goaltending should be average. There should be a slight improvement in GAA but that's mostly due to dropping the tire fire that was Quick/Peterson, along with Edler/Durzi. PK should continue to be shit, cause you know...Todd. Also think it's pretty idiotic to have one PK system for 31 teams. What worked against 30 other teams clearly did not work against Edmonton, that idiot.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Not even so sure about that. We moved out 150pts from the players we traded. If PLD is good for 65-70pts where do we get the other half? The kids need to all have break out seasons. I do think we might be better defensively though. Just having Gavri here all season with help immensely.

By not trying to win games 9-8. It is possible to score fewer goals & have a better, harder to play against team. That was Sutter's whole premise & further demonstrated by that guy scoring 150 regular season points & flaming out in the second round.

2012 they brought up King & Nolan, then traded for Carter. The team going into the season can be adjusted during the season.

Kings now have a solid defensive D core with young puck movers, Clarke & Spence on their way. They have solid center depth. The team is in a similar position to where it was in '12. Find a little toughness & a goalie by the deadline & they're in a good place.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Kings must be signing Tarasenko.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Those beachball pictures are stuck in my mind

 

[BaileyFan]

I am not looking forward towards this season. It’s very strange that the problems we have have yet to be addressed properly. All we got is more offensive power which wasn’t the issue. Pk is still gonna suck, goaltending is weak, defense isn’t sturdy, and our 4th line is still gonna get bitched around

The sad thing is PLD and Fiala are probably going to run roughshod over other teams' poor 3rd liners and put up huge regular season numbers. Then when the Kings get waxed by the Oilers or Knights again in the playoffs because of the issues you mentioned, Blake stans are going to point to PLD's point totals as justification for the trade and how he's actually a secret genius for pulling it off.

 

[FSL KINGS]

The sad thing is PLD and Fiala are probably going to run roughshod over other teams' poor 3rd liners and put up huge regular season numbers. Then when the Kings get waxed by the Oilers or Knights again in the playoffs because of the issues you mentioned, Blake stans are going to point to PLD's point totals as justification for the trade and how he's actually a secret genius for pulling it off.

Right, should have kept Lizotte at 3C.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

It’ll be equally comical to witness the silence from the smartasses whenever Vilardi regresses or is out with another debilitating injury.

 

[Sol]

Goaltending should be average. There should be a slight improvement in GAA but that's mostly due to dropping the tire fire that was Quick/Peterson, along with Edler/Durzi. PK should continue to be shit, cause you know...Todd. Also think it's pretty idiotic to have one PK system for 31 teams. What worked against 30 other teams clearly did not work against Edmonton, that idiot.

I don’t think that’s fairly realistic. There’s no reason to expect Copley to continue where he left off. He didn’t inspire hope either with how painfully bad he looked when Korpisalo got pulled. Copley came on and looked good comparatively to Quick and Petersen. However Copley was a nobody then and that doesn’t just go away. It’s fair to assume he had his Scrivens moment and he will fade into where he was before.

There’s undoubtedly a lot of reason for concern in goaltending.

 

[YAYSAY]

It’ll be equally comical to witness the silence from the smartasses whenever Vilardi regresses or is out with another debilitating injury.

Will you be just as silent if PLD never hits above 60 points or quits on the team within two seasons?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Will you be just as silent if PLD never hits above 60 points or quits on the team within two seasons?

He's had back-to-back 60 point seasons, and I'm sure that long-term commitment will be thrown out the window in two seasons as you described. These are things that are less likely to happen in your fantastical scenario. Are you holding out hope those two things happen?

 

[FSL KINGS]

It’ll be equally comical to witness the silence from the smartasses whenever Vilardi regresses or is out with another debilitating injury.

I'll be happy if Vilardi has a breakout year. He just wasn't a fit for what the King's needed. Also curious to see what he signs for. The Cap was probably a large reason for moving Vilardi.

I don’t think that’s fairly realistic. There’s no reason to expect Copley to continue where he left off. He didn’t inspire hope either with how painfully bad he looked when Korpisalo got pulled. Copley came on and looked good comparatively to Quick and Petersen. However Copley was a nobody then and that doesn’t just go away. It’s fair to assume he had his Scrivens moment and he will fade into where he was before.

There’s undoubtedly a lot of reason for concern in goaltending.

Yes, goaltending is a concern. I haven't seen any "fixes" in goal this off-season so far.

Hellebuyck would be a fix, but his ask of 9+ isn't workable. He may have to settle for less on a playoff team.

Korpisalo, while decent at 4AAV for 5 years is a lot for a goalie who is good, but isn't the solution.

Jarry went for 5 years at 5.375. that's not a fix either, just as good as it gets.

We are entering a time when they need to find a new starter. That's going to be stressful & probably come from just plugging guys into the position & see what works. Who had Quick as the starter when he was on the Reading Royals?

I suspect next year is kinda of a development year anyway as players like Kaliyev, Clarke & Spence adapt to the NHL.

 

[deaderhead28]

I'll be happy if Vilardi has a breakout year. He just wasn't a fit for what the King's needed. Also curious to see what he signs for. The Cap was probably a large reason for moving Vilardi.



Yes, goaltending is a concern. I haven't seen any "fixes" in goal this off-season so far.

Hellebuyck would be a fix, but his ask of 9+ isn't workable. He may have to settle for less on a playoff team.

Korpisalo, while decent at 4AAV for 5 years is a lot for a goalie who is good, but isn't the solution.

Jarry went for 5 years at 5.375. that's not a fix either, just as good as it gets.

We are entering a time when they need to find a new starter. That's going to be stressful & probably come from just plugging guys into the position & see what works. Who had Quick as the starter when he was on the Reading Royals?

I suspect next year is kinda of a development year anyway as players like Kaliyev, Clarke & Spence adapt to the NHL.

I remember a interview where Vilardi didn't seem to happy to resign with the Kings when asked about it. If you listen to the recent episode of Kings Of The Poodcast, Bernstein brings it up. People forget Vilardi interview where he talks about not liking to practice faceoffs and Kings management had to council him for the remarks.