gnarls barkley
Registered User
Hard to say it was "better" than 2012, but 2014 felt like living in a goddamn movie with how it played out. Seriously could not have been scripted any better.
Lucic and Kings begin extension talks
- Thread starter kingskring
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Hard to say it was "better" than 2012, but 2014 felt like living in a goddamn movie with how it played out. Seriously could not have been scripted any better.
TonySCV
Golden
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
The kings just made the entire Bruins board say "trade everything and go for a draft pick".
Congrats. You USED to be my second favorite team.
PS: I'm on my phone and I don't know how to put in a sarcastic face. Love Lucic. Good game Ya'll
Congrats. You USED to be my second favorite team.
PS: I'm on my phone and I don't know how to put in a sarcastic face. Love Lucic. Good game Ya'll
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
Martyros
Allow me to retort
cyclones22
Registered User
Just read that Players Tribune article by Lucic. The best part is he said the Kings have "sick jerseys". I guess the players like them more than the fans.
I don't mind the jerseys it's the home plate logo I do not like. Should have kept the crown and just took out the purple.
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
cyclones22
Registered User
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
Actually, it's take over payments.
Shhhhhhhhhh! That's the hidden shipping and handling fee!
Sybil227
Registered User
I think that if we had brought a fully healthy team to that series, we could have beat the Hawks. Don't forget how beat up Brown was, and I'm sure Stoll played with a concussion. We were good.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
We were a MESS that series. Richards getting KOed by Bolland, Doughty on an obviously wrecked ankle from the SJ series, Brown, Stoll...not to mention normal bumps and bruises from two nasty physical series with SJ and STL
SettlementRichie10
Registered User
- May 6, 2012
- 10,239
- 8,526
That was the year Kopitar was relegated to what was essentially third line checking duties because of his ankle, as well. Toffoli/Carterwas carrying us by the WCF along with Richards line. When Richards went down, that was it.
I loved the Lucic acquisition at the time and love the way he has played for this team.
However, Lucic is the type of guy you do not sign to a lucrative long term deal.
You knew this was the type of play you were going to get from him. A power forward in his prime in a contract year. It was the perfect type of mercenary top six winger this team needed to improve the offense.
But you're likely never going to get this type of effort from him again. This is his all-in effort by him to secure his last big contract of his career. Once he gets that long term deal, there will be a natural regression. Less incentive to train and work as hard. Less incentive to throw the body around and recklessly go into the corner. Less inclined to take a beating in front of the net. Less inclined to play the physical style that makes him so valuable. You cannot underestimate the effects of playing for a payday. Just ask some Boston fans. He has some dog in him.
On top of that, you also have a Power forward getting towards his late twenties with a style that is not sustainable. We've seen guys that play like this before burn out in their early thirties because there is only so much the body can take.
As great as he plays and as much as he contributes to hopefully another Cup run, Dean cannot get caught up in the emotion of it. Giving a long term deal to a guy like this is something the team will wind up regretting.
If you can get him on a three year deal, sure. But i can't see that happening. Some team will throw big money at him, and the Kings have to let him walk in that case.
However, Lucic is the type of guy you do not sign to a lucrative long term deal.
You knew this was the type of play you were going to get from him. A power forward in his prime in a contract year. It was the perfect type of mercenary top six winger this team needed to improve the offense.
But you're likely never going to get this type of effort from him again. This is his all-in effort by him to secure his last big contract of his career. Once he gets that long term deal, there will be a natural regression. Less incentive to train and work as hard. Less incentive to throw the body around and recklessly go into the corner. Less inclined to take a beating in front of the net. Less inclined to play the physical style that makes him so valuable. You cannot underestimate the effects of playing for a payday. Just ask some Boston fans. He has some dog in him.
On top of that, you also have a Power forward getting towards his late twenties with a style that is not sustainable. We've seen guys that play like this before burn out in their early thirties because there is only so much the body can take.
As great as he plays and as much as he contributes to hopefully another Cup run, Dean cannot get caught up in the emotion of it. Giving a long term deal to a guy like this is something the team will wind up regretting.
If you can get him on a three year deal, sure. But i can't see that happening. Some team will throw big money at him, and the Kings have to let him walk in that case.
Who replaces Lucic on in the top 6? I've seen what Brown/Lewis looks like for an extended period of time in the top 6 and that's not an answer.
This is a valid point that I've been thinking about. Look at similar players Brown, Callahan, Backes and even Ladd. Their numbers have or are declining. These types of players begin their decline around 30-31. Is smart to sign Lucic to a 5-6 yr deal, knowing that his skills will diminish in 3 years. That's not even taking in to account that Lucic is playing contract year hockey.
Winger23
Registered User
- May 3, 2007
- 5,759
- 623
Imo people are too concerned about 4 years from now and beyond. The window will be closed by then, rebuild will most likely be starting so the cap hits won't matter.
They need to do every thing they can for a shot at winning the cup again the next few years, and this team is way better with Lucic than without.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Agreed. He's also a very unique player who can't be replaced.
I agree that this group of guys are the 30-year-old running backs of the NHL, though.
I agree, it's about winning this season and in the next 2-3 years. I agree LA is much better with Lucic than without. And maybe that's how they play his contract. Off a higher yearly at 3 or 4 years instead of stretching it out to 5 or 6. Pay a premium for 3 seasons of quality Lucic rather than a slight discount for 3 premium and 3 declining. Knowing the difficulty in moving declining asset contracts. Just food for my thoughts, thinking out loud.
AlphaBravo
Registered User
You are absolutely right and wrong in the same post. Lucic will regress because of his playing style and will not be as effective in his late 30s, as you mention in your post. I 100% agree. But it is worth giving him a 7 year deal just to get good two or three years from him because that is the length of our cup window. How he plays 3 years from now is not very important because we wont be competitive anymore and will start dumping players for assets if we can. And if no one is willing to take Lucic off our hands because of his cap hit, so be it. He will be a good leader to the younger players coming in.
Further, if we do not sign Lucic, replacing him in the offseason will be very difficult. We can likely find someone that can put up the same numbers as Lucic, but there wont be many players available that are true competitors, physical, can put up numbers, and are a great locker room leader like Lucic (I heard Sutter mention that a few times in post game interviews). These qualities are essential for us to be competitive for the cup, considering many of our leadership group left the past few years.
After this season, our core group should be Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, Muzzin, Toffoli, Lucic, and Carter. Everyone else on the roster can be replaced (if necessary) except for these guys.
For some reason this post made me realize that we truly are on the back 9 of our cup window. This team has represented what will likely be the most successful stretch in Kings history.
hard to believe the core of the team is now around 30. I remember in 2012 when LA had the youngest average age, and the biggest average size.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Still are one of the younger teams due to the age of our d-core, and we're still the heaviest team and i think 2nd tallest. But this is certainly the back 9, let's just try to enjoy it before we have to go back to become self-deprecating lovable failures again!
