Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[Johnny Utah]

2 fighters on this team next season minimum.

No.. Kempe, Danault, and Durzi do not count.

Exactly.

 

[Mattias]

No they wouldn't. Toronto isn't trading Matthews for players that aren't immediate difference makers. If they trade him now, they're looking for someone with term and someone who will be able to contribute to cup aspirations.

They're not trading him for Doughty, but if he was three years younger you bet your ass they'd consider it.

That's a great point. They want to win now with the roster.

Maybe something like Kempe + Clarke + 1st. I would disagree on Clarke not being an immediate impact with any roster.

 

[johnjm22]

I wouldn't trade Kempe for Matthews straight up.

 

[Mattias]

Same, Kempe has a terrific value for his contract.

From Toronto’s perspective, that would be the ask.

Not worth gutting a team over.

 

[fsanford]

I wouldn't trade Kempe for Matthews straight up.

Well no based on what each is making $$ wise. Kempe is signed for a bargain. But I would trade Kempe in a second if Matthews came in at Kempes salary it's a no brainer

 

[funky]

Matthew's is going to be the highest paid player in the league. He is one hell of a talent and would fit a major need after Kopitar's contract is up.

Wait the year until he is UFA.

See if Byfield takes that next step. If somehow he does it will fill a major void, however it will cost major money to retain him.

If Byfield becomes Bustfield and Kopi ages out look at the UFA Matthews.

Sell him on being close to home. Hell after his recent commercial roles sell him on being close to Hollywood.

I am not trading for the guy but there may be a need to throw money at him in free agency. Frig imagine Fiala setting Matthew's up.

 

[Bandit]

Meanwhile Rob Bleak and Todd Macf***face failing their way into the worst matchup possible and “anything can happen”.

 

[unicornpig]

futa suggested tavares for doughty. at first i thought no way the kings would do it but....

vilardi/kopitar/kempe
fiala/tavares/byfield
moore/danualt/kaliyev
JAD/lizzote/grundstrom

anderson/roy
gavrikov/clarke
bjornfot/spence

looks good to me, top things off it gets out of the doughty contract 2 years early.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

We won more playoff games last year without Doughty.

 

[lumbergh]

We won more playoff games last year without Doughty.

Doughty was no bueno this postseason. I thought for sure he would make a difference defensively against McDrai and boy was I wrong. They ate him alive.

 

[ibleedkings]

futa suggested tavares for doughty. at first i thought no way the kings would do it but....

vilardi/kopitar/kempe
fiala/tavares/byfield
moore/danualt/kaliyev
JAD/lizzote/grundstrom

anderson/roy
gavrikov/clarke
bjornfot/spence

looks good to me, top things off it gets out of the doughty contract 2 years early.

I'd do it.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Anyone think Doughty would accept a trade to buffalo?
Close to his home, but still in the US.
Buffalo is up & coming
Doughty could endlessly troll the Tronto Media.

 

[johnjm22]

Anyone think Doughty would accept a trade to buffalo?
Close to his home, but still in the US.
Buffalo is up & coming
Doughty could endlessly troll the Tronto Media.

Give up on the idea of trading Doughty.

If it ever does happen, it certainly won't be this year.

 

[bouncesonly]

Matthew's is going to be the highest paid player in the league. He is one hell of a talent and would fit a major need after Kopitar's contract is up.

Wait the year until he is UFA.

See if Byfield takes that next step. If somehow he does it will fill a major void, however it will cost major money to retain him.

If Byfield becomes Bustfield and Kopi ages out look at the UFA Matthews.

Sell him on being close to home. Hell after his recent commercial roles sell him on being close to Hollywood.

I am not trading for the guy but there may be a need to throw money at him in free agency. Frig imagine Fiala setting Matthew's up.

Pretty unlikely Matthews is available on July 1 as a UFA. He's getting traded somewhere for assets if he doesn't resign with Toronto.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Doughty isn't getting traded anytime soon (if it ever happens), it's not even worth discussing at this point

 

[kovacro]

futa suggested tavares for doughty. at first i thought no way the kings would do it but....

vilardi/kopitar/kempe
fiala/tavares/byfield
moore/danualt/kaliyev
JAD/lizzote/grundstrom

anderson/roy
gavrikov/clarke
bjornfot/spence

looks good to me, top things off it gets out of the doughty contract 2 years early.

Tavares has a NMC. He's not going anywhere which sucks for the Leafs because he looked pretty bad, especially in the playoffs.

 

[fivehole32]

I believe I read somewhere Matthews has a NMC that kicks in this summer. So if they are going to unload him it might be sooner than later.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Give up on the idea of trading Doughty.

If it ever does happen, it certainly won't be this year.

This year (23-24), King's can bring back Gavrikov or sign another D. They're still going to have Cal on the books & Lizotte holding down the 3C.

The season after that Cap goes up, that's eaten by Roy's UFA raise.

Arvidsson's 4AAV comes off the books. Arvidsson will be resigned or someone brought in to fill his role. Not filling that space will move the roster backwards. Maybe 2M frees up, but probably not.

Kopi, probably re-signs around 6. 4 M freed up.

Any leftover money from Cal buyout will be invested in a starting goalie.

Maybe 5-6M to improve the center position. Danault, Kopi (aging), JT Compher? That's not enough to compete. Even if Byfield or Vilardi breakout it's unlikely they'll be able to defend some of the top forwards in the league.

How do you get over the top & improve the team? Now you're looking at cutting Roy's ufa deal. Does that make the team better?

Option 1, find another cheap Danault clone.

Option 2, ask for Doughty's 7 team trade list & replace him by retaining Roy & Gavrikov.

Without a big move, just don't see how the playoffs are anything other than watching Lizotte go up against Eichel, McDbag, Berniers.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

View attachment 709680



Meanwhile Rob Bleak and Todd Macf***face failing their way into the worst matchup possible and “anything can happen”.

Steve Kerr is a winner down to his bones.

He is a completely different breed of human being than people like Rob Blake or Todd McLellan.

 

[Statto]

Doughty was no bueno this postseason. I thought for sure he would make a difference defensively against McDrai and boy was I wrong. They ate him alive.

Too many minutes in the regular season, that’s the issue. Second in D minutes p/g during the play-offs (by one second) and 2nd in the regular season behind only the much younger Makar who also played 21 fewer regular season games. It was predictable.

 

[bland]

This year (23-24), King's can bring back Gavrikov or sign another D. They're still going to have Cal on the books & Lizotte holding down the 3C.

The season after that Cap goes up, that's eaten by Roy's UFA raise.

Arvidsson's 4AAV comes off the books. Arvidsson will be resigned or someone brought in to fill his role. Not filling that space will move the roster backwards. Maybe 2M frees up, but probably not.

Kopi, probably re-signs around 6. 4 M freed up.

Any leftover money from Cal buyout will be invested in a starting goalie.

Maybe 5-6M to improve the center position. Danault, Kopi (aging), JT Compher? That's not enough to compete. Even if Byfield or Vilardi breakout it's unlikely they'll be able to defend some of the top forwards in the league.

How do you get over the top & improve the team? Now you're looking at cutting Roy's ufa deal. Does that make the team better?

Option 1, find another cheap Danault clone.

Option 2, ask for Doughty's 7 team trade list & replace him by retaining Roy & Gavrikov.

Without a big move, just don't see how the playoffs are anything other than watching Lizotte go up against Eichel, McDbag, Berniers.

Trade Roy for picks this summer, give Gavrikov a fair deal. Do not qualify JAD, let MacEwen and Edler go. Re-sign Vilardi and Kupari. Keep the cap space. Buyout Walker.

Do NOT re-sign Kopitar or Arvidsson.

Play Bjornfot and Doughty, Gavrikov and Clarke, and Anderson and Spence. Keep Durzi as the 7th defenseman, revolve into the lineup when the kids need to sit a bit. Roll with Copley and Peterson. Play the forward kids in the spots to promote growth.

Use the $19 million freed by Kopitar, Arvidsson and Peterson to attack the free agent/trade market in the summer. Change the uniforms. Promote a new, younger, more aggressive Kings team.

 

[bmr]

Accurate. Fiala plays well with scrubs because he needs the puck and they just need to get open.. they're decoys that just need to find space with a seem for a pass and keep their stick on the ice in ready to shoot body position (something QB apparently has never learned)

I love how the Kings have so many different attack vectors now w/ the addition of Fiala. You are dead on that he can be inserted into any line and find success.

 

[bmr]

They would want Byfield + Clarke + 1st. As a starting point.

Drew would have to have 40% of his contract held for any value. Fraid we are stuck with him.

The sad thing is his contract is definitely the worst on the team with the value it brings back. He didn't really add anything to the playoffs and I was a bit shocked to hear his assessment of himself as being pretty good.

I think it's not a good look when you see Vegas finish them off in 6. I get that every matchup is different, but that's a really good indicator of changes that need to be made.

I think if we really have a chance to compete and want to surround the team with enough talent, you need to find a way to keep Gavrikov and I wouldn't hesitate to find a trading partner for Durzi/Walker. Drew for Tavares...make it happen.

 

[johnjm22]

This year (23-24), King's can bring back Gavrikov or sign another D. They're still going to have Cal on the books & Lizotte holding down the 3C.

The season after that Cap goes up, that's eaten by Roy's UFA raise.

Arvidsson's 4AAV comes off the books. Arvidsson will be resigned or someone brought in to fill his role. Not filling that space will move the roster backwards. Maybe 2M frees up, but probably not.

Kopi, probably re-signs around 6. 4 M freed up.

Any leftover money from Cal buyout will be invested in a starting goalie.

Maybe 5-6M to improve the center position. Danault, Kopi (aging), JT Compher? That's not enough to compete. Even if Byfield or Vilardi breakout it's unlikely they'll be able to defend some of the top forwards in the league.

How do you get over the top & improve the team? Now you're looking at cutting Roy's ufa deal. Does that make the team better?

Option 1, find another cheap Danault clone.

Option 2, ask for Doughty's 7 team trade list & replace him by retaining Roy & Gavrikov.

Without a big move, just don't see how the playoffs are anything other than watching Lizotte go up against Eichel, McDbag, Berniers.

Yes, I'm aware of the cap situation and these issues, but Doughty isn't being traded. He has a NTC.

Whether or not this Kings team gets over the hump depends on Byfield, Clarke, Vilardi, and co. taking the next step.

 

[bmr]

Doughty isn't getting traded anytime soon (if it ever happens), it's not even worth discussing at this point

Don't be too sure. Toronto may be the perfect trading partner for this. They need to get some guys in there with Stanley Cup experience after so many disappointments and Doughty has history there. This would make a lot of sense for both teams. And the Tavares contract would end earlier than Doughty.