Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[RayMartyniukTotems]

So LA makes a deal with Winnipeg to acquire Dubois,Hellebucyk and Stanley...they give up Vilardi,Lizotte,Moore,Iafallo,Bjornfot,Grundstrom, Kupari,JAD,Spence, and a signed Korpisalo together with LA's first rounder in 2025 and 2026 and Fagemo,Lias,Madden and the rights to Hrenak

 

[The Butcher]

He definitely plays with a bit of an edge, and there's tons of videos of him doing so.












This is something the Kings could certainly use in their top six.

I'm not saying I don't want him but a lot of these examples seem like a guy getting frustrated and reacting impulsively rather than dictating play idk.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Top 10 LHD in hits:

1. Jeremy Lauzon 250
2. Martin Fehervary 217
3. Simon Benoit 216
4. Brayden McNabb 201
5. Alexander Romanov 198
6. Brenden Dillon 198
7. Nikita Zadorov 174
8. Jake McCabe 163
9. K'Andre Miller 162
10. Mikey Anderson 162

Potentially Available/UFA Forwards in hits:

1. Garnet Hathaway 268 UFA
2. Noel Acciari 244 UFA
3. Nick Ritchie 218 UFA
4. Ryan Reaves 196 UFA
5. Mathieu Olivier 176 RFA
6. Milan Lucic 168 UFA
7. Austin Watson 165 UFA
8. Nick Foligno 147 UFA
9. Brendan Lemieux 131 UFA
10. Trent Frederic 105 RFA

Players to look into...

 

[Johnny Utah]

Anyone except 2 and 7.

 

[robitaillefan]

I think we give byfield a full look if he can play the whole season next year. U can see the flashes of his potential. It’s there. His size and skill is a rarity. If he plays a full year , and still can’t hit 20 goals or 40 pts then it’s time have a real hard look at what the options are for him. Can’t give up on him yet. Let see a full 82 out of him

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ah yeah that would be wonderful, guy boarding someone every shift. Seriously look at those clips, it's all selfish penalties and hits from behind.

The first time he hits someone face to face will be the first time and that's the 10% of the time he's bringing ANY effort

That's not a guy that plays with an edge any notable amount of time, it's a selfish lazy predatory hitter.

I'm not saying I don't him but a lot of these examples seem like a guy getting frustrated and reacting impulsively rather than dictating play idk.

The Kings need a huge dick to out-dick Edmonton's resident dickhead, Leon Draisaitl. Pierre-Luc Dubois is a bit of a loose cannon, and this team can use a little bit of the edginess that he brings, but without the selfish penalties. Kempe and Fiala already have reputations for committing those types of penalties.

 

[Sol]

Or maybe he’s in panic mode because he knows Kopitar has one year left and we know he’s bent over backwards trying to get him and Doughty another cup. It says nothing about Byfield and everything about Blake’s rush to end the rebuild prematurely.

Do you think he’d be in panic mode if Kopitar had a successor? Be realistic.

 

[johnjm22]

Potentially Available/UFA Forwards in hits:

1. Garnet Hathaway 268 UFA

I've mentioned him multiple times, but no one seems interested. It makes infinitely more sense than spending prime assets on Tom Wilson.

He brings size and physicality, and also he CAN ACTUALLY PLAY GOOD HOCKEY. That combination is very rare. He'd make a lot of sense on the 4th line.

Although at 30, players like him start to burn out. I wonder how much gas he has left.

 

[Nasti]

Do you think he’d be in panic mode if Kopitar had a successor? Be realistic.

Whether or not Kopitar has a successor is irrelevant. What successor is ready to carry a cup contender at 20/21? Kopitar could retire next year for all we know. If that’s the case, this year is his last chance. You’re looking at a Crosby level prospect to be able to be a successor that quickly.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I've mentioned him multiple times, but no one seems interested. It makes infinitely more sense than spending prime assets on Tom Wilson.

He brings size and physicality, and also he CAN ACTUALLY PLAY GOOD HOCKEY. That combination is very rare. He'd make a lot of sense on the 4th line.

Although at 30, players like him start to burn out. I wonder how much gas he has left.

I think it's more so because he's a rat and not really an intimidation factor. Sure he'll step in when needed but he often gets his ass whoooped.

 

[BringTheReign]

The problem with signing a guy like Hathaway is that the best teams find players like that while they're still nobodies on ELCs or on vet minimums. They don't sign them for too much money after they've made a name for themselves. The Rangers signing Goodrow and the Flames signing Coleman after Tampa won two rings is a perfect example of this.

 

[FSL KINGS]

I've mentioned him multiple times, but no one seems interested. It makes infinitely more sense than spending prime assets on Tom Wilson.

He brings size and physicality, and also he CAN ACTUALLY PLAY GOOD HOCKEY. That combination is very rare. He'd make a lot of sense on the 4th line.

Although at 30, players like him start to burn out. I wonder how much gas he has left.

I'm all for this guy.

Blake in a panic? The team is stacked and a couple pieces away from being very good. Blake is going for it coming off of one of the better seasons in team history.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

So LA makes a deal with Winnipeg to acquire Dubois,Hellebucyk and Stanley...they give up Vilardi,Lizotte,Moore,Iafallo,Bjornfot,Grundstrom, Kupari,JAD,Spence, and a signed Korpisalo together with LA's first rounder in 2025 and 2026 and Fagemo,Lias,Madden and the rights to Hrenak

Is this some kind of strange performance art that I'm not aware of?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Is this some kind of strange performance art that I'm not aware of?

Just get him another cappuccino & a mic.

 

[KINGS17]

Whether or not Kopitar has a successor is irrelevant. What successor is ready to carry a cup contender at 20/21? Kopitar could retire next year for all we know. If that’s the case, this year is his last chance. You’re looking at a Crosby level prospect to be able to be a successor that quickly.

You are correct. It is totally irrelevant. For those who forgot, Kopitar took over for the likes of Derek Armstrong and Craig Conroy.

Robitaille and Blake have had ample time to prepare for what is coming after next season, and they didn't get the job done.

 

[RocketKing]

Maybe - but he hasn’t shown this yet. Vilardi is a game changer right now and looks to be getting even better. Until Kaliyev proves otherwise, he is just a specialist right now.

Gabe has made the grade and shown he’s an extremely smart player who makes others better. AK is an excellent shooter but he doesn’t have the IQ and impact on other players. Arty needs to be fed, he doesn’t make his own offense, and then he will deliver. Gabe to me is the one guy you keep, I’d even think QB could go first before Gabe and especially with a center coming back. I could see Gabe becoming a type of Mark Stone as his highest potential.

From where we are today, if a key asset has to go to get PLD, I feel like QB is the right one to send. I think it would be QB + but no Gabe and no Clarke.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I want to see if Vilardi can be the one of the team’s standard bearers going forward if he continues to develop, grow, and establish himself. He’s got skill, size, and a bit of pushback(more to follow?). Really would hate to see him moved.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I like Hathaway but agree with Bernstein’s take on KOP, McEwen isn’t a deterrent and Hathaway def isn’t.

Kings need someone teams are scared of.

We had that with MacDermid and before him Lucic and before him the combination of King, Nolan, Clifford, RR, Greene, Mitchell….and before that Westgarth and before that Ivanans….

I can go back further to the one year of Grimson, which might be the best year of Kings enforcer since McSorley two terms in LA. He was at his peak and players were scared to take runs at the Kings and were held accountable.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Kings need someone teams are scared of? Why? Put out a line up that can dominate Offensively,Defensively and that should scare the shit outta enough teams! Vegas doesn't have anyone that scares unless you're talking about Keegan Kolesar and "Michael Amadio" and of course William Carrier and ex-Kings Brayden McNabb

 

[Johnny Utah]

Kings need someone teams are scared of? Why? Put out a line up that can dominate Offensively,Defensively and that should scare the shit outta enough teams! Vegas doesn't have anyone that scares unless you're talking about Keegan Kolesar and "Michael Amadio" and of course William Carrier and ex-Kings Brayden McNabb

Hague is pretty tough as everyone saw in his beating of McEwen and draw with Nurse. He’s a hulking presence on D.

Nurse and the other Oilers said Hague was challenging them to fights (after all their cheap shots).

You think Kostin and Kane (broken finger) wanted to fight 6-6” Hague. No thanks. Kane got beaten badly by Chara and Kostin had his hands full with my boy Lemieux who is barely 6-0 and a middle weight.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Is this some kind of strange performance art that I'm not aware of?

With these 3 players the Kings win the Cup and Winnipeg gets players that puts them in the play-offs...and players that want to be there...well most of them cause Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg can be brutal come January/February

Hague is pretty tough as everyone saw in his beating of McEwen and draw with Nurse. He’s a hulking presence on D.

Nurse and the other Oilers said Hague was challenging them to fights (after all their cheap shots).

Never saw any Hague fights but I'll take you word for it

 

[Sol]

Whether or not Kopitar has a successor is irrelevant. What successor is ready to carry a cup contender at 20/21? Kopitar could retire next year for all we know. If that’s the case, this year is his last chance. You’re looking at a Crosby level prospect to be able to be a successor that quickly.

It’s not irrelevant. I don’t know if you’ve ever ran a business before but you always plan ahead ideally and also have contingency plans in case things don’t pan out as you wanted it to. Blake absolutely was trying to find Kopitars successor when he drafted all those centers or have someone competent to spearhead the next group. As it stands we have no centers from the draft that have shown any competency in the position. And here we are PLD inquiries. Try to follow along if you can.

There’s not one person. It’s relevant. Try to think as a businessman rather than an aloof fan.

 

[johnjm22]

Soucy and Hathaway are the UFA's Blake should go after.

Doughty can go on LTIR for a few months to accommodate their cap hits and Vilardi's extension.

That would go a long ways towards solidifying the bottom d-pair and 4th line. Some excess players who need a change of scenery can be moved hopefully for a few pics.

 

[Schrute farms]

I'd be pretty happy if we got a Soucy + Hathaway or Frederick type. Alas, Blake's tick-tac-toe GMing won't allow for anything close to that happening.

 

[kinghock]

I'd be pretty happy if we got a Soucy + Hathaway or Frederick type. Alas, Blake's tick-tac-toe GMing won't allow for anything close to that happening.

I would not mind Barbashev for< 4.5 million per year