GDT: Offseason game thread

[Kingsfan1]

Depends. I should have qualified the amount that Lewis and Schenn would have to sign for. Assuming they want outrageous salaries, I agree. I don't think Lewis is worth more than $1.75MM a year and Schenn is worth less than $2.5MM.

Lewis is a 4th liner and nothing more. Id be happier to see him gone and we can save cap space because one of the Kids from Ontario will bring more energy to the lineup at 1/3rd of the price. This team needs to get rid of the plugs like King and Lewis and Brown and replace them with youth with speed and skill.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I'm not ready to fully give up on him but we'd need to get a deal in place that makes sense.
He's never been required to play D like the Kings do and coming in mid season trying to learn and do it.
I think a full training camp with the team and just the growth of what is fully expected he could turn out. Of course he might be a bust anyway.

I saw more upside to Schenn's game than McNabb's. That said, I think both players are fine in the bottom pairing. Neither should be playing in the Top 4.

 

[Kingsfan1]

I saw more upside to Schenn's game than McNabb's. That said, I think both players are fine in the bottom pairing. Neither should be playing in the Top 4.

Agree. I know lot of people here dont like Schenn but i wouldnt mind him at a relatively low cost so he can play 15 mins a night on the 3rd pairing. Maybe our development team and coaches can tighten up the loose ends in his game a little bit

 

[scramble91]

The biggest concern is DL and then give Lewis a deal comparable to Kruger. Those glue guys are important....just not at that cap hit.

Since we are struggling capwise I do agree the staff needs to be on a youth movement with the bottom 6 and 3rd pairing d. We might not be full contenders but some of them may be a surprise. Gravel and Forbort on the 3rd pairing would be ideal IMO as their skating and length would be a little better than the pylons we saw in the playoffs

I am not in favor of bringing back Schenn. His physicality is good but his first pass is horrific (always hesitating).

I know the Kings identity is a big heavy team, but we seemed to lose that over the past few seasons. Maybe time for a new identity with a more aggressive transition approach like Chicago.

 

[DOSKI]

Perhaps you should have also quoted the sentence before this?

OK.

Although "... shown the door" is an unusual description of the effect of age upon athletes. It might be taken, in this context, to have a different meaning.

 

[DOSKI]

I can see Lombardi signing Lucic. He checks off too many boxes in the top 6. Can't see any reason to bring Schenn back. Rather have AHL D-men playing especially the first three of four months of the season. No reason to use assets to get a Top 4 D. That would just expose more of the roster in the Expansion Draft. Keep McNabb, he's got the possibility of getting better. If not, then he'd provide some protection for other players during expansion.

Gravel, Shore, Dowd, and Mersch all got significant time with the big club this year. Prospects throughout the system need to see their personal efforts pay off with big club roster time so they'll have a positive example to follow. Plus, might as well get as much of their sophomore slumps as possible out of the way. The earlier in a season the better.

Lewis might take a bigger offer. Hope not. Kempe is going to be a very interesting player to watch. He may be one of those guys who actually gets better when playing with better players. Good execution rewards speed. And NHL players have better execution, right? But, he may need another year of physical development. He's what 18 or 19? Be okay if he stayed down another year. Maybe he should get 10 in November or so, get sent back, and then be brought up for the playoffs. That's worked pretty well in the past.

The biggest issue is "wtf is going on ?" Has this core temporarily or permanently lost it's mojo? Were core players overworked the last few weeks? How many miles does Kopitar skate in a year, playing a 200' game. Is there a better body hack available? WTF is mojo, anyway?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Lewis is a 4th liner and nothing more. Id be happier to see him gone and we can save cap space because one of the Kids from Ontario will bring more energy to the lineup at 1/3rd of the price. This team needs to get rid of the plugs like King and Lewis and Brown and replace them with youth with speed and skill.

I agree. My comment pertained to what Dean will actually do, rather than what I would like to see him do.

 

[YP44]

Agree. I know lot of people here dont like Schenn but i wouldnt mind him at a relatively low cost so he can play 15 mins a night on the 3rd pairing. Maybe our development team and coaches can tighten up the loose ends in his game a little bit

it just depends what he signs for. He would have to sign for a lot less than what he will be offered on the open market.

 

[The Tikkanen]

it just depends what he signs for. He would have to sign for a lot less than what he will be offered on the open market.

NHL teams covet responsible 2 way centers especially those with 2 Stanley Cups on their resume. Once upon a time these kind of players were talked about all the time cause all the Kings had was grinders who had limited offensive potential like Derek Armstrong/Eric Belanger. Thankfully, Dean Lombardi has developed a roster where the Kings could lose players like Lewis, Schenn and Versteeg and it's not that big of a deal because the top 6 is already there (of course the Lucic UFA thing is a big deal). The bottom 6 is a mix and match where you can try to pick off UFA players you really want and they really want to come here or you have youth chomping at the bit to get out of dreary Ontario.

 

[Kingspiracy]

OK.

Although "... shown the door" is an unusual description of the effect of age upon athletes. It might be taken, in this context, to have a different meaning.

Declined and shown the door, richards and stoll were two of the players listed, both of their games fell off and they were also shown the door ( drugs bs) I didn't realise it was that cryptic.

 

[Reaper45]

Lewis is a good glue guy. The Kings are really going to miss him when say the Red Wings get him for more than 3 million.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

it just depends what he signs for. He would have to sign for a lot less than what he will be offered on the open market.

On the third pair, sure. But what does the team do with Greene then?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

There's too much dead weight on this team, especially on the blueline. We have like five bottom pairing defensemen in the system. Insanity.

 

[lumbergh]

I saw more upside to Schenn's game than McNabb's. That said, I think both players are fine in the bottom pairing. Neither should be playing in the Top 4.

There's upside to Schenn's game?

McNabb had a really solid season next to Doughty. I would definitely keep McNabb over Schenn.

 

[mattgkg]

There's upside to Schenn's game?

McNabb had a really solid season next to Doughty. I would definitely keep McNabb over Schenn.

people forget to look into how players were in leadership situations (especially on underdog teams) coming into the pro game. mcnabb has been captain material his entire time upcoming into pros. he's got one hell of a work ethic compared to schenn who has had it all on a platter going 5th overall in a draft that featured doughty just 3 choices before him.

there are all the positives and more that are there in mcnabb that existed in muzzin. mcnabb has a lot more to prove than muzzin who got an easier ride behind mitchell, scuderi and even martinez before he was even a real pro. get some condifence like muzzin got and look out. you can't teach 6' 5" 220 with leadership qualities.

 

[Kingsfan1]

NHL teams covet responsible 2 way centers especially those with 2 Stanley Cups on their resume. Once upon a time these kind of players were talked about all the time cause all the Kings had was grinders who had limited offensive potential like Derek Armstrong/Eric Belanger. Thankfully, Dean Lombardi has developed a roster where the Kings could lose players like Lewis, Schenn and Versteeg and it's not that big of a deal because the top 6 is already there (of course the Lucic UFA thing is a big deal). The bottom 6 is a mix and match where you can try to pick off UFA players you really want and they really want to come here or you have youth chomping at the bit to get out of dreary Ontario.

We were talking about Luke Schenn not Lewis.

On the third pair, sure. But what does the team do with Greene then?

Greene has been derailed with injury after injury i hope they convince him to retire and he joins the front office.

There's upside to Schenn's game?

McNabb had a really solid season next to Doughty. I would definitely keep McNabb over Schenn.

Mcnabb was terrible. Schenn was a 5th overall pick one upon a time but that doesnt mean anything. He is just about to hit his prime and i believe our management can do some magic with him. They do covet big grinding defenseman who like to dish out hits and that he does ! I think he is ideal for the bottom pairing and if signs for cheap could be a replacement for Greene. He is also younger and could fit into Deans new 5 year plan and could see him playing 15 mins a night. I think a Martinez-Schenn 3rd pairing could be great !

Gravel is going to surprise many and i think he makes it full time next to Doughty by the end of next year. They always nissed Mitchell type player and we have one in our system who is homegrown and developed. He is a great prospect and im really ecstatic to have him. He is just so positionally sound and uses his stick well , has great footwork and speed and also reads the play well. Kid deserves to be up with the team

 

[Bandit]

Schenn is Matt Greene with the added negative of being too stupid to not continually screen Quick.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Mcnabb was terrible. Schenn was a 5th overall pick one upon a time but that doesnt mean anything. He is just about to hit his prime and i believe our management can do some magic with him. They do covet big grinding defenseman who like to dish out hits and that he does ! I think he is ideal for the bottom pairing and if signs for cheap could be a replacement for Greene. He is also younger and could fit into Deans new 5 year plan and could see him playing 15 mins a night. I think a Martinez-Schenn 3rd pairing could be great !

Gravel is going to surprise many and i think he makes it full time next to Doughty by the end of next year. They always nissed Mitchell type player and we have one in our system who is homegrown and developed. He is a great prospect and im really ecstatic to have him. He is just so positionally sound and uses his stick well , has great footwork and speed and also reads the play well. Kid deserves to be up with the team

McNabb started great for the first 1/3, started cracking in the middle third, and was terrible in the last 1/3, but even in those moments he showed me more upside than anyone on our farm. The one thing I think Gravel already has on him is poise/IQ, but again limited showing, and if you saw only 20 games of McNabb from the beginning of the year, you'd think he's a sure fire #2 as well. Let's be careful anointing guys before they take over. I want him on the squad as well because he can learn, but McNabb is a perfect example of a guy who was miscast and now is having people turn on him because of it to the extent they completely ignore his positives and upside.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Schenn is Matt Greene with the added negative of being too stupid to not continually screen Quick.

I said earlier that Matt Greene at least stuck his guy in front to a fault as well. Schenn is there but he just floats there defensively.

Seriously, if we're going to play Schenn, I recommend he gets specific deployment--he can only go along the wall and in the corners and not behind the net because that's too confusing. That way he can just hit people and plug the puck up the wall. All that open ice is scary.

 

[lumbergh]

Under no circumstances should Schenn be re-signed. Kings need to get smarter and faster on the back end.

 

[kingskring]

ummm.. Why have Sutter and DL still not had exit interviews?

 

[YP44]

On the third pair, sure. But what does the team do with Greene then?

leave him on LTIR

 

[YP44]

Lewis is a good glue guy. The Kings are really going to miss him when say the Red Wings get him for more than 3 million.

I agree the kings are going to miss him but I think he will be overpaid. I hope he goes somewhere and makes a difference. Liked him here, but just cannot afford him

 

[The Tikkanen]

With Scuderi and Greene under contract and McNabb RFA I'd like somebody to explain how the Kings can afford to pay UFA Schenn. Lombardi would have to be in love with the guy in order to make 2-3 moves to then be able to be in position to sign a 5-6 dman? Schenn will get a nice contract from a bad team and I'm sure he's after more money and more minutes which he will not get in LA. For those of you who don't play hockey the whole ice time thing is a mystery but sitting on the bench for most of the game isn't what most NHL players strive for. Let's not forget Sekera, who took more money, more ice time from a bad team and moved on without hesitation. Say goodbye to Schenn now, Lombardi and Sutter have more pressing issues with this team than locking up a bottom pairing dman with 2 bottom pairing dmen already under contract.

 

[YP44]

With Scuderi and Greene under contract and McNabb RFA I'd like somebody to explain how the Kings can afford to pay UFA Schenn. Lombardi would have to be in love with the guy in order to make 2-3 moves to then be able to be in position to sign a 5-6 dman? Schenn will get a nice contract from a bad team and I'm sure he's after more money and more minutes which he will not get in LA. For those of you who don't play hockey the whole ice time thing is a mystery but sitting on the bench for most of the game isn't what most NHL players strive for. Let's not forget Sekera, who took more money, more ice time from a bad team and moved on without hesitation. Say goodbye to Schenn now, Lombardi and Sutter have more pressing issues with this team than locking up a bottom pairing dman with 2 bottom pairing dmen already under contract.

I agree 100%..only way would be if he signs for way below his market value. Which I highly doubt will happen.

I thought Sekera was being offered similar money and term from LA just no no trade clause, and LA needed to wait on Voynov and Richards situations to pan out before making official.