Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[YP44]

It's not necessarily unreasonable... But it's also not necessarily the end of the world that he isn't at this stage a Berniers or even Stutzle level player.

Would it have been great if he had been one of those young stars that steps in and immediately looks like a stud?? Sure, of course.

But just because he hasn't doesn't mean he won't turn into a great or potentially even elite player in the future.

Some players take time. Obviously in a perfect world everyone steps in and immediately lights the world on fire but it doesn't always work out like that... And that's OK.

If he busts (doesn't pan out too be at least a top 6 center) then yeah, that sucks. But that hasn't happened yet. So we wait.

Look at Sillinger in Columbus too. Sometimes guys hit the ground running then take a step back. Does not mean the Blue Jackets should give up on him, it's just a different path

 

[BigKing]

The "just cap" argument regarding Kovalchuk has always been a free pass for Blake.

If AEG isn't paying Stevens, Phaneuf and Kovalchuk to not be here, maybe they are okay with buying a 1st round pick in exchange for taking the Marleau contract.

 

[Herby]

maybe they are okay with buying a 1st round pick in exchange for taking the Marleau contract.

What do you think they would have done with that pick? Just a wild guess but, maybe a center?

Oh yes, of course...the players who actually have taken on 'major roles' don't actually count with your argument. Sorry, I thought you wrote 'none of the players' drafted by Blake. Whoops, I need to be better.

You and I have a much different definition of what major roles are. Just to clarify I was talking about drafting players to replace Kopitar, Doughty and Quick.

Is anyone even close? Heck, we couldn’t even develop a 2C by now, so they had to pay one in FA.

 

[Bandit]

It’s amazing to me that people are still defending Blake after six years of zero playoff series wins.

Yeah but check out all our awesome up and coming young talent!!!!

 

[Bandit]

Do you ever write anything that doesnt simply criticize other peoples takes?
Basically you just talk shit without ever saying an original idea.

This is what the ignore list was made for.

Oops guess I ended up on page 1 somehow. Point still stands.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

What do you think they would have done with that pick? Just a wild guess but, maybe a center?


You and I have a much different definition of what major roles are. Just to clarify I was talking about drafting players to replace Kopitar, Doughty and Quick.

Is anyone even close? Heck, we couldn’t even develop a 2C by now, so they had to pay one in FA.

How often do players like Kopitar, Doughty, Quick type players get drafted?

 

[BigKing]

How often do players like Kopitar, Doughty, Quick type players get drafted?

Your 1C/1D/1G might not be at the level of those you listed but you'd like to have a #1C after spending four first rounders on centers along with some second rounders.

To be fair, he might have drafted a 1D in Clarke. Byfield *might* still become one but the early returns are not good and said returns aren't as early as before when he was being doubted.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Your 1C/1D/1G might not be at the level of those you listed but you'd like to have a #1C after spending four first rounders on centers along with some second rounders.

To be fair, he might have drafted a 1D in Clarke. Byfield *might* still become one but the early returns are not good and said returns aren't as early as before when he was being doubted.

Who’s to say you don’t have a 1C in Byfield or maybe even Vilardi.

We still don’t know what we have with Kupari or Turcotte. You guys just keep going around in circles with this shit. When are you going to realize it’s too early to make these rash judgements on Blake’s drafting performance?

 

[bland]

Who’s to say you don’t have a 1C in Byfield or maybe even Vilardi.

We still don’t know what we have with Kupari or Turcotte. You guys just keep going around in circles with this shit. When are you going to realize it’s too early to make these rash judgements on Blake’s drafting performance?

I bet that kool-aid tastes like black licorice.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I bet that kool-aid tastes like black licorice.

Can’t talk right now, I’m on the phone with Pete DeBoer. Trying to talk him into coming to the Kings, we need a coach who knows how to win.

(Cue Herby to inform everyone I’m lying in 3….2….)

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Your 1C/1D/1G might not be at the level of those you listed but you'd like to have a #1C after spending four first rounders on centers along with some second rounders.

To be fair, he might have drafted a 1D in Clarke. Byfield *might* still become one but the early returns are not good and said returns aren't as early as before when he was being doubted.

That's how it read....but to what you speak of....1C/1D pretty rare to get those without top 10 picks, we potentially have them in Clarke, Byfield, Vilardi, Turcotte etc, as time passes potential turns to stone.... 1G....is a freaking crapshoot....Jack Campbell, top 10 drafted G.....took a long roundabout way....and even now, people question if he's a #1, same with Spencer Knight etc...

 

[FeartheFur]

Who’s to say you don’t have a 1C in Byfield or maybe even Vilardi.

We still don’t know what we have with Kupari or Turcotte. You guys just keep going around in circles with this shit. When are you going to realize it’s too early to make these rash judgements on Blake’s drafting performance?

You are correct sir. All these other negative guys need to learn to be a REAL fan

 

[King'sPawn]

I bet that kool-aid tastes like black licorice.

Sounds like the better site wasn't better.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

You are correct sir. All these other negative guys need to learn to be a REAL fan

Or just some serious therapy to work on not being so miserable.

 

[Sol]

What do you think they would have done with that pick? Just a wild guess but, maybe a center?


You and I have a much different definition of what major roles are. Just to clarify I was talking about drafting players to replace Kopitar, Doughty and Quick.

Is anyone even close? Heck, we couldn’t even develop a 2C by now, so they had to pay one in FA.

That’s why I think there’s a lot of delusional people on this board. None of the players have shown anything close to Kopitar level potential. Not even close. The Kings have Vilardi who looks like a top 6 winger, Byfield who looks like a third liner, and Clarke hopefully becomes doughtys successor. Clarke is legit the only player who has potential to replace one of the big roles.

I kid you not I saw some kings fan say that Byfield needing another 3-4 years is normal. I can’t imagine a world where a top 2 overall player needing accumulatively needs 6 years to become good. Do people not realize how crazy that is?


I can understand the argument saying that he will be the best version of himself in 5 years. Sure. I just think that people conflate that into his ceiling being a high end center. if he was going to be a high end center we'd know by now.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

That’s why I think there’s a lot of delusional people on this board. None of the players have shown anything close to Kopitar level potential. Not even close. The Kings have Vilardi who looks like a top 6 winger, Byfield who looks like a third liner, and Clarke hopefully becomes doughtys successor. Clarke is legit the only player who has potential to replace one of the big roles.

I kid you not I saw some kings fan say that Byfield needing another 3-4 years is normal. I can’t imagine a world where a top 2 overall player needing accumulatively needs 6 years to become good. Do people not realize how crazy that is?


I can understand the argument saying that he will be the best version of himself in 5 years. Sure. I just think that people conflate that into his ceiling being a high end center. if he was going to be a high end center we'd know by now.

Remember folks, this is the same guy who was obnoxiously confident that Kempe would regress. But tell us more about who's delusional...

 

[Sol]

Remember folks, this is the same guy who was obnoxiously confident that Kempe would regress. But tell us more about who's delusional...

I mean I think it was a pretty safe bet to assume that the guy who was playing infinitely better on his contract year is doing so for a fat paycheck. But if you think thats a bad take.. Oh my goodness.

I think this narrative of TM being this famous, playoff loser is extremely overblown.

Now this is by far the worst take of all time. Saying the guy who has been reverse swept and hasn't won a series since... when..? When he left edmonton the oilers became a lot better... weird. Or do you think the "Marco Sturm isn't a problem" take is your worst one? Which one do you think is a worse take because boy you have many lmfao.

 

[Schmooley]

I mean I think it was a pretty safe bet to assume that the guy who was playing infinitely better on his contract year is doing so for a fat paycheck. But if you think thats a bad take.. Oh my goodness.

Kempe did show signs earlier on. I remember he had some great moments here and there and was a bright spot on the Willie D team. He was really inconsistent though and finally broke out last year when he started in a top six scoring role.

 

[Statto]

I mean I think it was a pretty safe bet to assume that the guy who was playing infinitely better on his contract year is doing so for a fat paycheck.

On this specific point, I think it’s a bad take for 95% of players.

In Kempes case there were specific details in his game that had change. He wasn’t simply just working harder, in fact there has never been an issue with his work rate.

That doesn’t alter the fact there are some genuine concerns with the roster make-up and balance. This summer is huge (not the first summer I’ve said that either). The players going out are probably more important than those coming in because we need ELC guys further up the line-up.

 

[Sol]

On this specific point, I think it’s a bad take for 95% of players.

In Kempes case there were specific details in his game that had change. He wasn’t simply just working harder, in fact there has never been an issue with his work rate.

That doesn’t alter the fact there are some genuine concerns with the roster make-up and balance. This summer is huge (not the first summer I’ve said that either). The players going out are probably more important than those coming in because we need ELC guys further up the line-up.

Kempe did show signs earlier on. I remember he had some great moments here and there and was a bright spot on the Willie D team. He was really inconsistent though and finally broke out last year when he started in a top six scoring role.

Showing signs and establishing yourself are two very different things. Kempe had shown signs for a variety of years that he had a special skillset undeniably. His biggest issue was consistency. Everyone knew that once Kempe got hot that there was an ice cold dryspell coming up. Yes he showed signs but his contract year is where he took an undeniable leap in productivity. And for me seeing a player who lacks consistency putting such a career year on his contract year made it seem like to me that he was going all out for a payday.

I don’t think it’s a bad take in reasoning that Person X will try when Y is on the line. Especially a player who would go red hot and ice cold. That’s effort related and him going all out on a contract year had all the makings for someone who wanted to get paid.

I was wrong but I don’t think it’s a bad take with the reasoning I had at the time. I think a bad take should consist of poor convictions to your conclusive statements.

I’ve been right many times and I’ve been wrong as well. However unlike some of the trolls on here I am willing to make a claim and justify rather than just shutting my eyes to antagonize people. Especially when they lack the conviction to make the argument because they know they will be ridiculed for their illogical reasoning. Rarely do the trolls justify their antagonistic comments because their reasoning is beyond the scope of reality. I assure you most people wouldn’t think of Axl as a babbling buffoon if he had the testicular fortitude to stake a claim and explain it.

 

[Statto]

Showing signs and establishing yourself are two very different things. Kempe had shown signs for a variety of years that he had a special skillset undeniably. His biggest issue was consistency. Everyone knew that once Kempe got hot that there was an ice cold dryspell coming up. Yes he showed signs but his contract year is where he took an undeniable leap in productivity. And for me seeing a player who lacks consistency putting such a career year on his contract year made it seem like to me that he was going all out for a payday.

I don’t think it’s a bad take in reasoning that Person X will try when Y is on the line. Especially a player who would go red hot and ice cold. That’s effort related and him going all out on a contract year had all the makings for someone who wanted to get paid.

I was wrong but I don’t think it’s a bad take with the reasoning I had at the time. I think a bad take should consist of poor convictions to your conclusive statements.

I’ve been right many times and I’ve been wrong as well. However unlike some of the trolls on here I am willing to make a claim and justify rather than just shutting my eyes to antagonize people. Especially when they lack the conviction to make the argument because they know they will be ridiculed for their illogical reasoning. Rarely do the trolls justify their antagonistic comments because their reasoning is beyond the scope of reality. I assure you most people wouldn’t think of Axl as a babbling buffoon if he had the testicular fortitude to stake a claim and explain it.

We can agree to disagree on the contract year… . Although I think this is the part I’m supposed to say you are crazy and not a real fan

 

[lumbergh]

Kempe did show signs earlier on. I remember he had some great moments here and there and was a bright spot on the Willie D team. He was really inconsistent though and finally broke out last year when he started in a top six scoring role.

Jim Fox repeatedly said during broadcasts that Kempe made a commitment to his shot, which happened during the 2021 offseason. Fox also mentioned that Kempe was happier setting teammates up for goals than he was to score goals himself. You can see it on his face when he gets an assist versus when he scores a goal. When he scored a goal he would hardly celebrate, but when he had a nice assist there'd be a great big smile on his face.

You can see in his season stats that his assist rate is pretty consistent from year to year. He's always had a very good shot that he was reluctant to use for five seasons. Something got in his head in 2021 that he could use his shot as a weapon to help the team win. They set him up on this off wing on the power play and made him shoot the one-timer ala Ovechkin. Kempe had to make a mental adjustment and become more selfish in order to become the player he is today.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Oh we talkin Kempe??? Sick player.. 41 goals last year and almost cracked the 70 point mark. And solid defensively for an offensive winger (probably in large part due to the time he spent at center early on in his career).

Andddddddddddddddd yet another example of how it can really pay off to be patient with 1st round picks / prospects & young players in general.

2 years ago, he looked like his ceiling was a 3rd liner (what some people are saying Byfield's ceiling appears to be now) and what do you know??? Now he's a 1st line winger with an elite shot and the first 40 goal scorer for the Kings since the Lincoln presidency.

CRAZY how some players can turn into REALLY good NHLers around the 24 years old mark even if they didn't seem to be all that special in their early 20s.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I mean I think it was a pretty safe bet to assume that the guy who was playing infinitely better on his contract year is doing so for a fat paycheck. But if you think thats a bad take.. Oh my goodness.


Now this is by far the worst take of all time. Saying the guy who has been reverse swept and hasn't won a series since... when..? When he left edmonton the oilers became a lot better... weird. Or do you think the "Marco Sturm isn't a problem" take is your worst one? Which one do you think is a worse take because boy you have many lmfao.

Sol, you know I'm just messing with yah...this board is very lucky to have you. Your hot takes and projections/predictions are second to none!

Have you ever considered changing your alt to BrokenClock69?

 

[Johnny Utah]

Just listened to an interview with Ryan Reaves - wish the Kings had someone like him. Sounds like the Wild have a bit of swagger because of him and he takes the young kids under his wings.

You think Nurse, Kane, Koistin, Dillon, Cogliano and every other player who bullied the Kings this past year would dare do that with Reaves in the line-up.

Byfield and Clarke could do whatever they wanted out there...