GDT: Offseason game thread

[Kingsfan1]

I doubt the expansion occurs this summer, but if it did, here's who I keep:

7F, 3D, 1G:

Kopitar, Carter, Pearson, Toffoli, Clifford, King, Andreoff

Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez

Quick

Those last 3 ??? Cant be serious . Those are all replaceable players .

 

[bob77]

With respect to the 5 year plan, we can go one of two routes: (1) treat this team now as the 2009 Kings team and develop our players while being first round exits for a few years; or (2) do a full rebuild. As good as DL is with offseason deals, I just don't see anyway he can make our team cup contenders next year. The critical problem is that we don't have cheap and young players coming up that are going to be dynamic. We were blessed with that in Toffoli and Pearson, but we simply don't have anyone like that. The best DL can do is get washed up vets and hope they rediscover themselves because there is absolutely no team that will trade a top prospect/rookie in this cap era. The only way you get a player like that is if a cup contender wants to trade such a player for the likes of an established top guy, like Toffoli, Carter, Kopitar etc. But if we make that trade we just go back to square one.

I predict that this team is just going to like Detroit and possibly make the playoffs for a few more years and be first round exists.

Sounds reasonable. The plan should take into account how truly good or bad we are, and believe in the right balance of giving younger players legitimate shots with low cap hits and having cap room to bring over experienced vets when needed. For the last couple years under DS, we have gone straight to bring over experienced vets. To me its somewhat ironic that a team whose minor club wins the Calder cup has no room for any player off of it to be given a long hard look when the parent club has just missed the playoffs. That was last summer. God forbid all these kids win it again, and we dont give anyone a look again. So much for Ontario being close to LA this year. It might as well have been Ontario, CAN. Ran Ehrhoff through, ran McBain through, ran McNabb through, ran Schenn through, ran Scuderi through!!! Not one of these players actually had to do anything to be placed on this team. All they had to do was just show up. And I hear people mention all the time about the Kings way is you have to earn it?? Maybe that happened for the Forwards, but not really for the D. Maybe awhile back Muzzin and Martinez earned it, and Drew is just, well, Drew. I think it's time to slow down a bit here and stop thinking there's some magic solution out there. DL and DS remind me of younger days when something as simple as a softball team always needed more players, or a different player, or a better player, and no one was really any good anyway. The point is, sometimes you just have to play the cards your dealt, and see if you end up winning. In many ways, DL might have thought he was getting closer to this strategy by not going to big at the deadline this year, or just prior. But the clock is ticking on some of our assets. Next year should be more about showcasing many of them. Mersch should get 40 games, Kempe should get 40, Gravel and Forbort should get 60, as should Dowd. Use the spots in Ontario to play young kids. Dont sign Schultz, Raine, Loverde, etc. They already take away too many minutes from guys like Ebert and Leslie this year. They really need to think more long term again. Hopefully thats what DL 5 yr plan is about. Imo

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

We should try for Darren Helm or Frans Nielsen as our third-line center if Shore isn't going to cut it. Shore is so soft, and he doesn't make up for that with speed or soft hands, unfortunately.

Dont think Frans Nielsen will be moved.

NYI love him and he loves Them. Almost sure he will take a team friendly deal..

 

[BigBrown]

Next season is gonna be rough due to a potential expansion. What's the point in going after another d-man if you can only protect three? Unless you can grab one in free agency but if history has taught me anything it is that good free agents generally pass on LA.

 

[Trolfoli]

Easy....
-Dump Brown, ok not happening
-Trade Muzzin + Pearson for a high draft pick (NHL ready FWD) and near ready/damn good D.
-If Yandle can be signed move Martinez for a wing/C.
-Sign Schenn for 2nd pairing next year... can't protect more then 3D drop to 3rd when Greene retires.
-Trade for Regehr2.0: Methot/Markov/Chara. Someone on the cheap to hold down the fort for a year to 2.

-After expansion draft go after RHD to bump schenn down.

Year 1
Regehr2.0/Doughty
Yandle/Schenn
????/Greene

Year 2
(Muzzin Trade)/Doughty
Yandle/UFA
Regehr2.0/Schenn

The forward group is kinda up in the air. I expect Gaborik to retire soon... so
????/Kopitar/Gaborik(Kempe)
????/Carter/Toffoli
????/3C/Brown

Depends on if Brown is bought out, Lucic resigned, add a wing and 3C from the Muzzin + Pearson and Martinez trade.

Going for young impact high draft picks with the trades. There is risk that they flop, but it's about the only way to get an impact player on a cheap contract to offset the cap issues the Kings have. The other choice is to swap a top 6 player to fix the D, while opening another hole.

This keeps the D about where it is this year, while bringing a couple cheaper forwards, and allows for cap space to bring in someone after the expansion draft. If all goes well and no one gets deported could get them back on track.

Need:
-Lucic (impact) replacement on top line.
-3C
-Muzzin replacment ready to be babysat by Doughty in 1-2 years
-Vet for Doughty paring for a year or 2.

Edit: Year 1 D probably requires both Brown/Lucic to be gone. If one is still here/back, Greene will need to be moved/retire.

 

[LAKings88]

Lewis walks for money.

Mersch/ Dowd/Forbort/Gravel are in the starting lineup

Kempe gets a long look at training camp

Scuderi/Greene are ????s

Lucic gets resigned

Shore/McNabb get traded for picks

One of King/Clifford/Nolan gets traded for picks

Schenn/Versteeg/Vinny/McBain will all walk or retire

 

[KingPuckChoo]

as is:

Doughty
Muzzin
Martinez
Greene
McNabb
Scuderi
Gravel
Forbort

are all in

 

[KopitarFAN]

I doubt the expansion occurs this summer, but if it did, here's who I keep:

7F, 3D, 1G:

Kopitar, Carter, Pearson, Toffoli, Clifford, King, Andreoff

Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez

Quick

It won't be this summer, if/when it happens, it will be in 2017.

Those last 3 ??? Cant be serious . Those are all replaceable players .

My thought as well, those 3 spots are where they will likely protect young guys who have 2+ years of pro experience (Mersch, Kempe etc).

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Yeah I'd rather they let Lucic walk and let the Canucks or some other team pay him more than they should.

Will sting knowing we gave up Jones for one season of Lucic but I don't think it'll be worth paying to keep him.

Even worse than giving up Jones - or about equal - was giving up that #1 pick...could have chosen Kyle Connor. insane 71 points his freshman yr at U of Michigan. Could probably have signed him in another year from now. Instant second line center and move Carter to wing. To me, it feels like we gave up Jones and Connor and Colin Miller for Lucic and that was much to steep.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=160546

 

[KingsFan7824]

Sort of forgot about the 5 year plan thing from Lombardi.

Let the UFA's all walk. If it costs a young player/pick to get rid of Brown, I'd rather keep him at this point. If Lecavalier wanted to stay around, that's fine. If Greene and Scuderi are both still around, that's fine.

I don't know what Lombardi can really do. Not much in free agency, not much in the way of trade value on the team that doesn't just shuffle the deck chairs. I don't know if Lombardi has to force himself. The Kings have looked just like another team for the last 2 years.

Rebuilding is out, because Kopitar/Doughty/Quick aren't going anywhere. Retooling? I don't know what Lombardi would be retooling. A team with 1 playoff win in the last 2 years? If we go by Lombardi's 5 year plan idea, that sounds more like a resetting. Guys who can leave go. Guys that are here go out and play, but with lower team expectations. Don't trade picks anymore. Try to open up cap space. Then at some point in the next 5 years, you go for it one more time, and then you rebuild.

Seems like it's done though. Last year might have been the last best chance. This year might have been the last last best chance. Now guys are just another year older. It's tough to get back up the mountain. Seems like it's just another NHL team.

2012-2014 is more than I ever thought I'd see. Some crazy moments. A wild ride.

 

[fsanford]

I'm over Brown, Lucic, Schenn, McNabb, Lewis. Time to get some fresh blood in the lineup, and maybe some guys who can actually skate

Lewis skates very well, his hands on the other hand, yikes

 

[The Night King]

Any word on if Carter has an injury? Doughty?

 

[Keith Sweaty]

The proof that management is to blame is the Red Wings and Chicago recently . They evolve and adapt and retool tremendously to stay competitive and bring more skill to the lineup like Panarin and others. Our management gets ******** over a kid like Prokhorkin playing few games. Ego is never good for business nor is not adapting to your environment .

It's amazing how much stuff you post that has 0 merit or real thought.

You do realize that the Red Wings were eliminated in 5 games too right and have been eliminated in the QF 4 of the last 5 years?

Think before you speak?

Just a thought....

 

[Johnny Utah]

Jake Muzzin was a monster on D the whole series. Even Jim Fox said so. You don't trade Muzzin.

Doughty, Muzzin and Martinez are untouchable at this point.

I don't know what Lombardi is going to do with Scuderi and Greene because replacing Green with Schenn isn't changing the look of the D.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Lewis skates very well, his hands on the other hand, yikes

A guy who plays effectively in half the rink isn't worth close to the $3.5 or 4M that he will get on 7/1.

Jake Muzzin was a monster on D the whole series. Even Jim Fox said so. You don't trade Muzzin.

Doughty, Muzzin and Martinez are untouchable at this point.

I don't know what Lombardi is going to do with Scuderi and Greene because replacing Green with Schenn isn't changing the look of the D.

If it comes to it, they can send Scuderi to Ontario and he'll only count for $175K.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

LA could give Raffi Torres a look... he's had lots of time to heal his knee.

Thanks but no thanks. We are already hated enough as it is

 

[KOPITARRULEZ11]

Kings need a 3rd/4th line defensive specialist. Burnt Kopitar out having to handle every PK and every defensive zone draw.

Every good team has them. Kruger, Thompson, Boyle in TB, whoever it was for SJ cause Pavelski and Thornton didn't PK.

In nhl 16 I signed Fiddler to that role and it's done wonders not saying it would in real life but it's a thought

 

[funky]

Our Core is still young for the experience they have.

Kopitar, Doughty and Quick have years of strong play left
Carter with his deadly cap hit, and Muzz who is young, big, skilled and cheap can not be moved
Toffoli and Pearson are the next wave.

Build defence out like we used to

We need to sign Yandle for numerous reasons:

1. Doughty needs someone to QB the power play, Drew as awesome as he is is not that guy.

2. Doughty and Muezzin need to be split to anchor 1st and 2nd pairings, their minutes reduced. Handle gives Doughty a true puck moving partner instead of guys like Scuderi, McNabb etc where offence goes to die. Martinez and Muzzin make a deadly second pair.

3. Youth in Forbert/Gravel are introduced on the bottom pairing. If McNabb is cheap we keep him. We have Greene back for the bottom pairing as well.

That leaves a solid Defence of

Doughty - Yandle
Muzzin - Martinez
Gravel - Greene
Forbert - McNabb

1 of the bottom 4 may be moved for a cheap forward. But defence is Key to this team, and Quick needs a better defence. Handle helps address the Defence depth and minutes, the power play, and the offence

as for the expansion draft in a year keep 8 skaters and Quick.

Kopitar Carter, Toffoli, Pearson
Doughty, Yandle, Muzzin, Martinez

The Canadian dollar has rose to near 80 cents U.S so hopefully the cap does as well.

Toffoli and Pearson are the next raises. with cap inflation and some young prospects shuffling in we should be fine. I wish we could keep Vinnie L 1 more year

 

[SFKingshomer]

More hungry youth with speed and skill would do wonders. Mersch, Dowd, Gravel, Forbort, anyone ready or near ready should be given every opportunity.

 

[Omni Owl]

Shed the dead weight, as others have already said. I think its time for Sutter to part with the organization as well.

That Scuderi trade was a ****ing joke, DL wasn't thinking at all and now we're stuck with him another year. McNabb had better be ****ing gone too, trade him for a 7th I don't give a ****.

 

[Johnny Utah]

What do the Kings do with Greene?

When Greene comes back the Kings have 6 healthy D on NHL deals. Forbort will be waiver eligible so barring a trade...

Doughty-Scuderi
Muzzin-Martinez
McNabb-Greene
Forbort

 

[Omni Owl]

What do the Kings do with Greene?

When Greene comes back the Kings have 6 healthy D on NHL deals. Forbort will be waiver eligible so barring a trade...

Doughty-Scuderi
Muzzin-Martinez
McNabb-Greene
Forbort

Don't want to see these 2 anywhere near the roster next year. Greene is most likely done as well, but he might be well rested so who knows.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Shed the dead weight, as others have already said. I think its time for Sutter to part with the organization as well.

That Scuderi trade was a ****ing joke, DL wasn't thinking at all and now we're stuck with him another year. McNabb had better be ****ing gone too, trade him for a 7th I don't give a ****.

how was the Scuderi trade a joke?

it was a joke that it was his only move to address the D, yes

but trading Ehrhoff for Scuderi was a good move

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Scuderi was a fine acquisition as a depth move, the problem was the Kings used him as a regular in the lineup because their depth on the blueline was complete garbage.

 

[AlphaBravo]

The scuderi trade is bad because we weren't able to get someone better. His cap hit is irrelevant because he can either retire or we can bury him in minors for a 900k saving. Knowing DL and Sutter scuds, mcnabb, mcbain, and Greene will be back next year and playing major minutes. I honestly don't see them shaking things up.