Offseason GDT III

[funky]

The Conn Smythe was a lifetime achievement award for Williams.

The 2 shorthanded goals.
-PP against Chicago, face off at the offensive blue line. Kings wins face off. Williams sits on the blue line, can't figure out if he wants to pass it, skate it, dump it, and he coughs it up for a Toews short hander.
-Williams has the puck in the offensive zone (LW) on the PP. He is frustrated he can't make a play, chucks a bouncing puck to the defenders backhand. Didn't bother to look up. It's the PP the defenders had changed sides. Puck bounces over Voynov's stick on the backhand. Voynov loses the puck battle at the Kings bench. Boyle gets a short handed goal off a partial deflection from Doughty trying to get a stick on the puck. The whole sequence started with a Williams special, bouncing pass to the point.

The Lucic trade worked out great. He brought a physical game, was great offensively and stuck up for teammates.

Was it good for the long run? If he's not brought back it seems a little shortsighted on Lombardi's part. Then Lombardi was still in "all in" mode. Lombardi seems to have shifted since the trade was made.

I'd rather have a GM that takes a swing for a homerun then one that's afraid when it's time to bat.

Summed it up well, Williams was playing so poorly I wanted him traded for assets at the trade deadline. Instead we got Sekera. If DL would have traded Williams and left Sekera, the Lucic deal would have been gold. Plus he is not out the door just yet.

 

[KopitarFAN]

do you remember the what our team was like a decade ago?

Yea, but look where it led. I'd rather be bad, stock pile draft picks and develop players over a period of a few years with the goal of getting back to where they were in '12 and '14 (not necessarily winning the whole thing, you can't bank on that, but trending toward contender status) instead of being mediocre and outclassed regularly like the last 2 years (specific to the last 10 games and playoffs in 2016). Mediocrity was the problem for years, remember all those years in a row they had picks picks between 11-20 it took the amazing 03 and 05 drafts for them to get any players (with a few exceptions).

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think you need to take a minute. Nobody here is saying management or players are beyond criticism. What is being said is your hyperbole is unnecessary. You started out just fine and your final paragraph is fine. However, your third paragraph has four solid sentences to start ... then you go off the deep end. To call this team an "embarrassment" is ludicrous. Edmonton is an embarrassment. The Kings of the mid 00's were embarrassments. Missing the playoffs due to fluky seasons from Calgary and Winnipeg is extremely frustrating but not an embarrassment. Trading for Brent (expletive deleted) Sopel and Mark (expletive deleted) Parrish in an already lost season is an embarrassment. Trading for Sekera and Lucic both make sense at the time of the trades.

You are certainly free to criticize but others are certainly free to defend the logic of the trades.

The embarrassment line was hyperbole, I agree.

 

[YP44]

Yea, but look where it led. I'd rather be bad, stock pile draft picks and develop players over a period of a few years with the goal of getting back to where they were in '12 and '14 (not necessarily winning the whole thing, you can't bank on that, but trending toward contender status) instead of being mediocre and outclassed regularly like the last 2 years (specific to the last 10 games and playoffs in 2016).

(bolded)So you are basing it on 15 games?

This team as constructed is not mediocore. As evidence more hockey reporters were picking LA to win the cup this year than 2014 and definitely more than 2012.

You cannot bank on finishing with high picks and winning cups. Sure it has happened (chicago, LA, Pittsburgh) but there are also cases where teams just keep spinning around (Colorado, Edmonton, Florida).

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think the Conne Smythe was awarded to Williams because of how he preformed in elimination games. He deserved it for his play in the 2014 playoffs, not because of a anything he had done previously. Personllay he was not my #1 choice for the conne ( Kopitar was) Williams was a very solid pick.

The rest of this post I agree with.

If Kopitar had scored just a couple goals in the Chi and NY series, he would have won it.

 

[YP44]

If Kopitar had scored just a couple goals in the Chi and NY series, he would have won it.

Doesn't matter..Williams won it and deserved it. Like I said my vote would have been for Kopitar and he would have deserved it too.

At the end of the day it is a great problem to have, one that I hope LA has again

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If Kopitar had scored just a couple goals in the Chi and NY series, he would have won it.

Yep. He was just roasted after three 7-game series with other top centers. Toews especially, those guys really did a number on each other throughout the best series in recent history. Was a bummer because through the end of the Ducks series he was scoring at the same rate as Malkin's Conn Smythe season, just ridiculous

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

And I don't think this team is immune from criticism, I think there are many fair criticisms to be made. But lots of the current concerns were, unfortunately, built on things out of DLs control--aging and departure of Scuds, Regehr, Mitchell and especially Voynov's stupidity. The problems were just compounded by moves that looked good but didn't work. It is what it is. And I'm sure glad this GM's mistakes-in-hindsight were aggressive moves, not failure to operate a fax machine properly. I would rather have a guy who recognizes the window and attacks it aggressively than one who sits on his hands. And now the focus has apparently changed again--the moves made this offseason and upcoming season will mean more to me than the ultimate results; DL has talked about an organizational refocus and tonedown of the borderline arrogance they've been operating with. I want to see what that looks like.

Let's not forget the Hawks had two major setbacks before they re-entered the contender picture. Yes, they're younger, and there are a lot of other differences, but they're also proof that with a strong core, you'll always be in the picture, and with the right moves, you can rise from the dead.

 

[KopitarFAN]

(bolded)So you are basing it on 15 games?

This team as constructed is not mediocore. As evidence more hockey reporters were picking LA to win the cup this year than 2014 and definitely more than 2012.

You cannot bank on finishing with high picks and winning cups. Sure it has happened (chicago, LA, Pittsburgh) but there are also cases where teams just keep spinning around (Colorado, Edmonton, Florida).

So media members banking on them "flipping the switch" should make me feel better?

Of course, I am not making a 1 to 1 comparison of high picks to cups, but if they aren't gonna win (or even come close) why bother? If they are going to rely on Mersch, Dowd, Gravel etc to fill major roles in the bottom six and on the blue line, by the time those players have grown enough to contribute in a relatively significant way, Kopitar, Carter and the rest (except Doughty and Toffoli) will be on the downside of their careers, if they aren't already.

 

[kings11]

I have accepted that we as fans got to see a few exceptional years and two championships.

I have also realized that I will enjoy this team no matter what the outcome of a season.

If Lucic doesn't resign, I wouldn't be surprised if DL tries to fill holes with lesser lights.

Ive been trying to figure out how he would improve our bottom 6 with around $10 million in cap space( depending whether we have Greene on LTIR and waived/buyout Scuds)...Brown is obviously staying and i would love Versteeg back on the 3rd line..

BROWN-KOPITAR-GABORIK
PEARSON-CARTER-TOFFOLI
KING-SHORE-VERSTEEG
CLIFFORD-LEWIS-ANDREOFF

DOUGHTY-MCNABB
GRAVEL/FORBORT-MUZZIN
MARTINEZ-HAMHUIS

QUICK

sorry for all the caps...but i find guys like King $1.95mill, Clifford $1.6mill and Nolan $950K completely useless and expendable but would DL be able to move them and who would replace them other than maybe Mersch/Kempe/Dowd or a UFA... I'm not worried too much about the cap since we can get the wiggle room for a Hamhuis but we also need to address that bottom 6......

BROWN $5,875,000-KOPITAR $10,000,000-GABORIK $4,875,000
PEARSON $1,400,000-CARTER $5,272,727-TOFFOLI $3,250,000
MERSCH $786,667-???????????-VERSTEEG $1,750,000(low balling)
SHORE $600,000-DOWD $575,000-LEWIS $2,200,000
Total: $38,834,394

DOUGHTY $7,000,000-MCNABB $1,700,000
HAMHUIS $3,500,000-MUZZIN $4,000,000
MARTINEZ $4,000,000-GRAVEL $667,500
FORBORT $700,000
Total: $21,567,500

QUICK $5,800,000
back-up??
Total: $5,800,000

Mike Richards $1,570,000

grand Total: $65,071,894...without a backup goalie and not including King, Clifford and Nolan plus waiving/buyout of Scuds and moving Greene to LTIR.....I know it looks like dog poop but it give a clear picture of where the team needs to upgrade and how the monies could be allocated....

 

[YP44]

So media members banking on them "flipping the switch" should make me feel better?

Of course, I am not making a 1 to 1 comparison of high picks to cups, but if they aren't gonna win (or even come close) why bother? If they are going to rely on Mersch, Dowd, Gravel etc to fill major roles in the bottom six and on the blue line, by the time those players have grown enough to contribute in a relatively significant way, Kopitar, Carter and the rest (except Doughty and Toffoli) will be on the downside of their careers, if they aren't already.

no what should make you feel better is this is not a mediocore team. A lot of pundents were picking LA not because of some magical switch, but because of puck possession numbers, experience and skill.

San Jose ran over LA, but this team was and is really good.

 

[Fishhead]

DOUGHTY $7,000,000-MCNABB $1,700,000
HAMHUIS $3,500,000-MUZZIN $4,000,000
MARTINEZ $4,000,000-GRAVEL $667,500
FORBORT $700,000
Total: $21,567,500

Hamhuis has a low salary, but a cap hit of 4.5M because of his signing bonus. It's likely going to take $5M+ to get him to leave Vancouver given his current cap hit. That, and he's one of the few good UFA options at D.

 

[YP44]

Why do so many like Versteeg? I wasn't overly impressed with him in his time in LA, but cannot really say one way or another as it seemed like he was injured and then when he came back like he was still recovering from the injury.

 

[kings11]

Why do so many like Versteeg? I wasn't overly impressed with him in his time in LA, but cannot really say one way or another as it seemed like he was injured and then when he came back like he was still recovering from the injury.

he brought a lot to that 3rd line and made it respectable...scoring is needed and he brings that at a low cost... Versteeg or King/Nolan/Clifford??????

 

[kings11]

Hamhuis has a low salary, but a cap hit of 4.5M because of his signing bonus. It's likely going to take $5M+ to get him to leave Vancouver given his current cap hit. That, and he's one of the few good UFA options at D.

Im sure he'd like a chance at a cup run.... I just randomly threw out that number to get an overall payroll but as you can see we could go there, although my worry is that both Gravel and Forbort take a step forward and force themselves in the lineup, then who goes??? FWIW, i love how Gravel and Forbort play together and could be a future shut down pairing...

 

[KopitarFAN]

no what should make you feel better is this is not a mediocore team. A lot of pundents were picking LA not because of some magical switch, but because of puck possession numbers, experience and skill.

San Jose ran over LA, but this team was and is really good.

I hope you're right, but for now, i'm expecting a 3rd place finish and another quick exit, that's if CGY doesn't address their goaltending.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Why do so many like Versteeg? I wasn't overly impressed with him in his time in LA, but cannot really say one way or another as it seemed like he was injured and then when he came back like he was still recovering from the injury.

Creativity, speed, and puck possession--basically a Justin Williams lite

As a bonus he seemed to have good chemistry with either top line or bottom line, didn't matter, he made players better. But then, like you said, he got hurt and didn't bring much after, so can't tell if it was just new-scene adrenaline.

 

[Fishhead]

Creativity, speed, and puck possession--basically a Justin Williams lite

As a bonus he seemed to have good chemistry with either top line or bottom line, didn't matter, he made players better. But then, like you said, he got hurt and didn't bring much after, so can't tell if it was just new-scene adrenaline.

Effort too. Even when he wasn't producing he put it all out there. Reminded me of Stoll a little in that regard.

I'm ambivalent on the guy, but we could do worse and would at least know what we were getting.

 

[YP44]

Creativity, speed, and puck possession--basically a Justin Williams lite

As a bonus he seemed to have good chemistry with either top line or bottom line, didn't matter, he made players better. But then, like you said, he got hurt and didn't bring much after, so can't tell if it was just new-scene adrenaline.

this is my concern. Could be a player who can fit in up and down the lineup or could be another Oli Joikenen

 

[kings11]

this is my concern. Could be a player who can fit in up and down the lineup or could be another Oli Joikenen

last 3 seasons he's average 67 games per and 30+ points, so for $2mill or less thats much better production than what we've gotten from King/Nolan/Clifford at $4 million....
The guys is nothing but production in his NHL career and I see no reason why that would end anytime soon so I would rather have Versteeg and Lewis over the 3 stooges any day...

 

[BigKing]

last 3 seasons he's average 67 games per and 30+ points, so for $2mill or less thats much better production than what we've gotten from King/Nolan/Clifford at $4 million....
The guys is nothing but production in his NHL career and I see no reason why that would end anytime soon so I would rather have Versteeg and Lewis over the 3 stooges any day...

The guy won't be able to sign for that $4.4MM cap hit he got on his last contract, but is he really going to go for $2MM or less on the open market?

 

[The Tikkanen]

I think it's amusing that fans think the Kings are gonna lose Lucic and Lombardi is just gonna sit on his hands. What the roster looks like now and what it looks like on Opening Night are two totally and unpredictable things. As a fan who went through the good and bad years I enjoy this regime, Dean always seems to pull something out of a hat and at the very least I know he is trying to win another Cup. The same can't be said of the bumbling fools who came before him. As of right now the Kings could lose Lucic to Edmonton or Vancouver and sign a guy like Ladd for less money, maybe, and I'd be just as happy as a fan (and I love Lucic and what he brings to the table).

 

[Peter James Bond II]

I recently met a Leaf fan in the course of doing business.
He asked what I thought about the #1 overall pick (Auston Matthews) plus a prospect, for Doughty. I responded, how about Muzzin, King and Kempe?

 

[tsanuri]

I recently met a Leaf fan in the course of doing business.
He asked what I thought about the #1 overall pick (Auston Matthews) plus a prospect, for Doughty. I responded, how about Muzzin, King and Kempe?

Now that proposal is funny.
In what world does a prime #1D get that little?

 

[BigKing]

I think it's amusing that fans think the Kings are gonna lose Lucic and Lombardi is just gonna sit on his hands. What the roster looks like now and what it looks like on Opening Night are two totally and unpredictable things. As a fan who went through the good and bad years I enjoy this regime, Dean always seems to pull something out of a hat and at the very least I know he is trying to win another Cup. The same can't be said of the bumbling fools who came before him. As of right now the Kings could lose Lucic to Edmonton or Vancouver and sign a guy like Ladd for less money, maybe, and I'd be just as happy as a fan (and I love Lucic and what he brings to the table).

Agree that they will do something with the money they would have given Lucic, just not sure if it will be a big splash or a couple of smaller signings while leaning on youth and keeping some cap space available.

I think it will be more of the latter as the Kings don't have the space to get into bidding wars with UFA players.