kingscourt26
Registered User
- Jul 19, 2010
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Pre-Game Talk: PDSF: (2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings (Schedule in OP)
- Thread starter Raccoon Jesus
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Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
I think the biggest concern, aside from the lack of physical response, is the old and slow blueline. Half the guys on the blueline are old and slow, the other half is young and still prone to making mistakes. The 2012 version of Mitchell is long gone, as is the 2012 version of Matt Greene. Regehr is slow as molasses, and Voynov, Muzzin and Doughty made some bad reads in the first 40 minutes of the game (Martinez as well, but he was mainly trying to bail out Mitchell who made a series of terrible decisions with the puck).
They need to be more decisive with the puck and also need more mobility and stability. They need defensemen who are physical to step in and replace the old folks who are on their last legs.
They need to be more decisive with the puck and also need more mobility and stability. They need defensemen who are physical to step in and replace the old folks who are on their last legs.
I believe one of: McNabb, Forbert or Gravel takes one of those spots and the
other by a veteran, via trade or signing. Of course, Gravel is not signed yet.
I would think McNabb, being 23 and having about 40 NHL games under his belt
is the logical guy. I do not think the Kings fill Mitchell's and Greene's spots with
2 vets, as the Kings need cap space and one rookie salary will help free up that space.
KingPuckChoo
Go kinGs Go !
- Jun 24, 2007
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makes sense, if it's via free agency though
do you think Orpik would be the logical target? at around $3-$4m?
or an attempt at Ehrhoff?
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Oh, I won't argue with that. These are competitive people and there are certainly plenty of guys who have started to mail it in after getting their big payday, but I disagree with the notion that it's stupid to give any of our guys who have earned it a big contract because that's the moment they give up on playing hard--especially Brown and Quick. I'm pretty sure their work ethics are beyond reproach. Declining talent, I disagree, but you can make that argument more than you can "don't give out big, long contracts because then the players suck."
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Jesus christ people, Orpik is just a faster Robyn Regehr with less brains. He's not an upgrade.
Trading Richards would be smart, I don't see him improving much, and we need to be strong down the middle. If the Kings can get Stastny that would be amazing. But if we are going via trade, it'd be more realistic to get after RNH.
Hopefully Colorado gets eliminated first round.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
- Jul 6, 2011
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If we're going to trade Richards, we don't need to go after Stastny or RNH or anyone like that. We'd have one of the best second line centers in the league, already on the team. Kopi-Carter-Stoll-Lewis would look pretty great. I was really hoping Richards would have a different gear come playoff time. Only one game but not looking promising
.If we're going to trade Richards, we don't need to go after Stastny or RNH or anyone like that. We'd have one of the best second line centers in the league, already on the team. Kopi-Carter-Stoll-Lewis would look pretty great. I was really hoping Richards would have a different gear come playoff time. Only one game but not looking promising
That's a weak second line if Carter has to center it giving up his wing.
Kings need a top 6 center more importantly than anything else. More that left wing or defense.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
A hypothetical: knowing that Spezza has one year left on his $7M cap hit (and owed $4M in the final year of his contract), would you swap Richards for him?
This could help the Kings improve their PP big time, gives them a legit playmaking center, could put Kopitar in a better position on the point on the PP as he's proven his shot is good enough and he's responsible enough to play the point.
This could help the Kings improve their PP big time, gives them a legit playmaking center, could put Kopitar in a better position on the point on the PP as he's proven his shot is good enough and he's responsible enough to play the point.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
- Jul 6, 2011
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BigKing
Blake Out of Hell III: Back in to Hell
Orpik would be a disaster.
McNabb is on the team next year barring a nightmare training camp. He has to clear waivers and Dean didn't just send Fasching and probably a legit 4th line NHL player for a guy they will lose on waivers. Insert his $1MM or less cap hit while letting Mitchell and Greene walk and the blueline provides around $5.45MM in space.
Richards needs to be moved though as you can't keep a guy at a $5.75M cap hit for 40 points and no defense.
What is completely being forgotten in all of this discussion is one Linden Vey. He is RFA and needs to be re-signed, but he will also provide cap savings and can give you Mike's 40 points. It would be criminal to not give at least a 10-game trial run to the best line in the AHL to see if they can replicate it at the NHL level.
McNabb is on the team next year barring a nightmare training camp. He has to clear waivers and Dean didn't just send Fasching and probably a legit 4th line NHL player for a guy they will lose on waivers. Insert his $1MM or less cap hit while letting Mitchell and Greene walk and the blueline provides around $5.45MM in space.
Richards needs to be moved though as you can't keep a guy at a $5.75M cap hit for 40 points and no defense.
What is completely being forgotten in all of this discussion is one Linden Vey. He is RFA and needs to be re-signed, but he will also provide cap savings and can give you Mike's 40 points. It would be criminal to not give at least a 10-game trial run to the best line in the AHL to see if they can replicate it at the NHL level.
Don't think Ottawa does a straight swap at all.
Good idea for the present, long term not so much.
Kings need a younger top 6 center.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Well the Kings still have to replace Mitchell and Greene (although Greene can be by a low paid rookie).
Gaborik is going to cost $6 to keep. The Kings also have to bring in a defenseman, just say it's Ehrhoff that is another $4 million (and that is best case, anyone else will be closer to $5).
The Kings also have Martinez, Muzzin, Toffoli and Pearson as FA's after next season, with AMart as an UFA.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
I don't mind lifetime contracts for guys in their late 20's or early 30's, but it has to be a special kind of player. I have no issue with the one Quick got or if Kopitar gets one after 2016. But assuming Kopitar signs a big deal, say a 8 year $64 mill a year deal that would give the Kings five players on the roster with essentially retirement contracts (Quick, Kopitar, Brown, Richards and Carter) and that doesn't even account for Drew Doughty who hits UFA at age 29 in 2019 and if his trajectory holds steady he will also get an 8 year deal and for probably more money than Kopitar got because he is a defenseman.
I just think having six guys on lifetime contracts is a recipe for disaster.
I just think having six guys on lifetime contracts is a recipe for disaster.
Rumpelstiltskin
Serial Ruminator
Regarding Stastny (and without getting into the rationale/viability of trading Richards in the first place to "make room" for him):
Short of Lombardi opening the figurative vault for him, what would be his motivation to come to Los Angeles?...and if that did happen, wouldn't the Kings be in basically the same position as before: having a grossly-long-term-overpaid #2 center?
Short of Lombardi opening the figurative vault for him, what would be his motivation to come to Los Angeles?...and if that did happen, wouldn't the Kings be in basically the same position as before: having a grossly-long-term-overpaid #2 center?
BigKing
Blake Out of Hell III: Back in to Hell
Especially when one of those players has already clearly regressed, one is about to be on the wrong side of 30 and plays a game built on constant physical contact and the other is a goaltender.
It is what it is though. It's the nature of the beast these days. Barring the "Richards switch" being turned on during this playoffs, Dean is going to have to really examine MR's role moving forward.
Kopitar deserves whatever he gets. I am glad he's still young. He seems like he's been here forever but he's still 26
Herby
How could Blake have known?
It depends on the cost. But Stastny is a much better answer at 2nd line center if the Kings wanted to add a center.
But with the way the roster is set-up I still think the best bet is going with Carter at C and having Toffoli move into his slot on the RW. Use the money saved on MR to upgrade the D and or the LW.
Wow. I was tossed off the boards during the Cup run year because I was only one of two posters doing any sort of Richards' trade bashing. Now the entire board is on it.
I knew this would happen. We traded Schenn and Simmons for 1 Stanley Cup...and that's it. Now we are stuck with 5-6 years of a old, slow, not physical Richards' who makes almost 6 million.
In turn, we gave up a younger version of Richards in Schenn, who makes a lot less and Simmonds, who has emerged as an elite power forward in the NHL...and makes less than Richards.
I knew this would happen. We traded Schenn and Simmons for 1 Stanley Cup...and that's it. Now we are stuck with 5-6 years of a old, slow, not physical Richards' who makes almost 6 million.
In turn, we gave up a younger version of Richards in Schenn, who makes a lot less and Simmonds, who has emerged as an elite power forward in the NHL...and makes less than Richards.
While I'm sure there are others somewhere out there that would trade the Kings first Stanley Cup for Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, I think it's time to move on..
It's time to..
kingscourt26
Registered User
- Jul 19, 2010
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I'm with you there. Dean kept preaching the patience thing because he wanted to be a contender every year yet sold off the youth for a cup (maybe he was under the gun).
Watching Schenn and Simmonds in Philly make me want to hit my head against the wall. Simmonds does what I hoped Brown would do night in and night out with better hands.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
I still trade Schenn and Simmonds for 1 Cup. As would the Flyers. Think the Rangers regret trading Weight and Amonte for their Cup in '94? Hell, Amonte never got a chance at a Cup and Weight got his as a depth forward on the Hurricanes (and I think he got hurt too).
