Confirmed with Link: [PHI/LA] Vincent Lecavalier & Luke Schenn for Jordan Weal & 3rd round pick

[driller1]

One thing I noticed about Lecavalier's play last night that I really liked was his play behind the opponents net. He created quite a few good chances with his passes, and adding an offensive element to the bottom six was something that has been sorely lacking, especially at center.

Having both Lewis and Shore at center is just way too redundant. Shore is a clone of Lewis. Eventually I think he will find his way as a regular in the lineup, and given Dean Lombardi's comments in the conference call, they're also high on Dowd potentially filling a center role in the near future. Adding Lecavalier just bides them some time. Hopefully by next season Shore finds some confidence in his abilities and solidifies himself as the #3C and Dowd can be eased in as the 4th line center.

And FYI, Trevor Lewis was at a team low 33% on the dot last night and has the worst faceoff percentage on the team at 41%. While he performs admirably in his efforts, he just isn't very good at winning draws.

Even Sutter mentioned in last nights press conference that Lewis is not a natural center.

I hope when the King-Lewis-Brown line slows down, we see Shore back in the lineup with Lewis moving to wing and Nolan going to the press box.

King-VL/Shore-Brown
Mersch-VL/Shore-Lewis

 

[Trolfoli]

The Sekera trade wasn't my point at all. My point was DL is fantastic at finding value on struggling teams that fits here like a glove when they're sometimes the 'worst players' on those teams, and because of that, our trades often get trashed until we get results out of those players because they're surrounded by much better support and structure for their skills. DL is still playing Moneyball in many ways.

In fact, the Sekera one is against the norm--we went after the best UFA d-man available and landed him, keeping him away from Chicago in the process. The rest of the moves are often out of left field or moves that weren't the 'first option' talked about in regards to the Kings...like Penner, Gaborik, Regehr (more predictable), McNabb, Carter, Richards as examples.

That's putting it lightly. The entire team structure is built on what it takes to be successful with those Moneyball players. You can get great deals on guys that can't keep up on teams like Philly for instance.

Toffoli, I remember reading how he couldn't skate and would have trouble because of that. He works fine in the Kings system.

The Kings have been so good at drafting in the second round because they go after guys who's warts won't show up in the Kings system.

Why? Everything it cheaper... easier to find/draft those players, easier to trade for those players, players cost less on the cap. May get a deal with L.Schenn if it works out because he knows he may not fit on another team as well if he goes there UFA.

May also be why Lombardi moves so many first round picks... didn't need a high profile fancy center last year... just meat and potatoes big winger. Mid first round picks seem to be a place where high skill boom bust picks go, and Lombardi is probably better off picking up his guys for his system at the end of the first start of the second.

It's great seeing Lombardi take another teams cast offs and finding a way to make it work for the Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That's putting it lightly. The entire team structure is built on what it takes to be successful with those Moneyball players. You can get great deals on guys that can't keep up on teams like Philly for instance.

Toffoli, I remember reading how he couldn't skate and would have trouble because of that. He works fine in the Kings system.

The Kings have been so good at drafting in the second round because they go after guys who's warts won't show up in the Kings system.

Why? Everything it cheaper... easier to find/draft those players, easier to trade for those players, players cost less on the cap. May get a deal with L.Schenn if it works out because he knows he may not fit on another team as well if he goes there UFA.

May also be why Lombardi moves so many first round picks... didn't need a high profile fancy center last year... just meat and potatoes big winger. Mid first round picks seem to be a place where high skill boom bust picks go, and Lombardi is probably better off picking up his guys for his system at the end of the first start of the second.

It's great seeing Lombardi take another teams cast offs and finding a way to make it work for the Kings.

Yeah that's exactly what I was getting at, thanks for putting that into better words. No one (but DL) wants some of these guys so similar to getting a 2nd round pick who is supremely talented but has skating issues, you can pick up a good defensive d-man who may be undervalued because he'd be a third pairing guy for you (but with upside still) but as a 2nd pairing guy he didn't meet expectations/draft pedigree. Where teams like the SHarks are trying to pick up Kings castoffs to enhance their teams with 'winners', we're picking up 'losers' and turning them into winners. It's insane.

Re the draft, it's often said that 2nd/3rd round picks are just first rounders with 1 issue. Luckily, we don't 'need' first rounder top-sixers frequently, because we'll either use that first rounder to trade for one or turn a 2nd rounder into one. WE're capitalizing on turning high picks into IMMEDIATE roster help--and the kind we need immediately--instead of drafting, for example, a defenseman when really our need at the deadline will be a center. It's basically turning a 1st--who SHOULD be a roster play but at some point--into an immediate roster player that is a known quantity. I have zero problem trading 1sts when those firsts are (usually) yearly additions to our roster.

 

[Model62]

Yeah that's exactly what I was getting at, thanks for putting that into better words. No one (but DL) wants some of these guys so similar to getting a 2nd round pick who is supremely talented but has skating issues, you can pick up a good defensive d-man who may be undervalued because he'd be a third pairing guy for you (but with upside still) but as a 2nd pairing guy he didn't meet expectations/draft pedigree. Where teams like the SHarks are trying to pick up Kings castoffs to enhance their teams with 'winners', we're picking up 'losers' and turning them into winners. It's insane.

Re the draft, it's often said that 2nd/3rd round picks are just first rounders with 1 issue. Luckily, we don't 'need' first rounder top-sixers frequently, because we'll either use that first rounder to trade for one or turn a 2nd rounder into one. WE're capitalizing on turning high picks into IMMEDIATE roster help--and the kind we need immediately--instead of drafting, for example, a defenseman when really our need at the deadline will be a center. It's basically turning a 1st--who SHOULD be a roster play but at some point--into an immediate roster player that is a known quantity. I have zero problem trading 1sts when those firsts are (usually) yearly additions to our roster.

One might still like to see the club maybe make a shift soonish and hang on to some picks to re-stock the pipeline, if only to have younger/cheaper replacements when those stars the system has made can fetch fatter contracts.

One might also like to see Lombardi do a better job with first rounders -- he wouldn't need to work his spreadsheet so hard to find a Luke Schenn if Forbort hadn't been so underwhelming.

That said, Lombardi is obviously really, really good at this NHL GM stuff.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah, it's almost like DL overcomplicates the first round, too many project-type, swing-for-the-fences picks there. That works in the second and beyond with our development system though.

 

[kilowatt]

Even Sutter mentioned in last nights press conference that Lewis is not a natural center.

I hope when the King-Lewis-Brown line slows down, we see Shore back in the lineup with Lewis moving to wing and Nolan going to the press box.

King-VL/Shore-Brown
Mersch-VL/Shore-Lewis

That's a good lookin' bottom six.

 

[LAKings88]

Did LA take Forbort over Tarasenko?

Why oh why?

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

I keep hearing people question Schenn's statement re. Being traded. He said he hadn't been traded in-season before. In-season.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Did LA take Forbort over Tarasenko?

Why oh why?

"Did Columbus take Brule over Quick?

Why oh why?"

 

[KingCanadain1976]

"Did Columbus take Brule over Quick?

Why oh why?"

rp you're the one bringing it every day imo

 

[kingsfan]

Is Schenn on the same level as Coburn? Is he a top 4D? Lombardi went out and got him to fill the spot on the 3rd pair. What would Polak go for? Gudas is another 3rd pairing guy that went for cheap.

Coburn was probalby traded for to fill in, in the top 4, I don't watch enough TB games to know how he's doing. Schenn was traded for to fill in on the bottom pairing. Probably somewhere between Gudas and Coburn.

Regehr was also brought in to play on the Kings top pairing.

I don't see Schenn = 1st, 3rd, Gudas - VL....

Schenn for a 3rd or Schenn for a 3rd + Weal with VL for free make more sense.

Edit: Anyways the notion that Lombardi had to take VL on in order to fill the bottom pairing D is just wrong. Kings could run Schultz/McBain if they didn't want VL.

I said if Coburn can fetch a 1st, 3rd and Gudas, Schenn can fetch more than a 2nd. I never said Schenn = Coburn value. Read before you flip out.

 

[TheSentinel]

I said if Coburn can fetch a 1st, 3rd and Gudas, Schenn can fetch more than a 2nd. I never said Schenn = Coburn value. Read before you flip out.

If that's what you're doing you're "HFboard"ing wrong

 

[kingsfan]

If that's what you're doing you're "HFboard"ing wrong

Lol, touche

 

[likid]

"Did Columbus take Brule over Quick?

Why oh why?"

Columbus at that draft actually promised Kopitar that they will take him and then changed their decision at last moment. Kopi already mentioned that few times in interviews for Slovenian press...

 

[Omni Owl]

Columbus at that draft actually promised Kopitar that they will take him and then changed their decision at last moment. Kopi already mentioned that few times in interviews for Slovenian press...

No matter, we would have traded for him in the future anyways. Prob would've only had to give up Pushkarev and Jamie Lundmark.

 

[ru4reals]

Columbus at that draft actually promised Kopitar that they will take him and then changed their decision at last moment. Kopi already mentioned that few times in interviews for Slovenian press...

Lumbus is the team that keeps on giving. Thank you Jackets for allowing us to get Kopi.

 

[KingsKnight]

Columbus at that draft actually promised Kopitar that they will take him and then changed their decision at last moment. Kopi already mentioned that few times in interviews for Slovenian press...

I've never heard that. That's amazing. Glad he's a King!

 

[kingsholygrail]

Did LA take Forbort over Tarasenko?

Why oh why?

Coulda drafted Ray Bourque too.

 

[Trolfoli]

I said if Coburn can fetch a 1st, 3rd and Gudas, Schenn can fetch more than a 2nd. I never said Schenn = Coburn value. Read before you flip out.

I still don't see giving up more then a 2nd for a 3rd paring D.

There's always that chance some GM will do something crazy like throw an unprotected first round pick at a backup goalie.

If Lombardi can get more then a 2nd for Schenn at the deadline I say flip him.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I still don't see giving up more then a 2nd for a 3rd paring D.

There's always that chance some GM will do something crazy like throw an unprotected first round pick at a backup goalie.

If Lombardi can get more then a 2nd for Schenn at the deadline I say flip him.

People do crazy things to fill needs at the deadline though. Like Paul Gaustad for a 1st crazy. And rightly so, if you can go for it, you do. People on this site in particular overrate prospects and picks. But we've been there too, especially at rock bottom.

 

[Laveuglette]

Flyers fan, glad Vinny played well, and hopefully things will work out with LA. I also loved his comments on your team. As a Flyers fan, I must admit that our organization and fans treated him miserably and it's a shame. There was a lot of irrationnal hate over Vinny of the Flyers board, but the guy was never as bad as some of our posters said (even though he couldn't fit). I think he'll be a good player with you and I'm just glad for the guy. He deserves a decent ending to his career. A wonderful career.

 

[Laveuglette]

Guaranteed Schenn costs a lot more on his own. If Regehr can fetch two 2nds, Schenn can fetch a 2nd and something as well. If he fits in well here and we manage to resign him, could be a real solid deal for LA.

As for VL, I'm inclined to think he has more than what Philly got out of him. I'm not expecting a point per game centre here but he had 32 points in 39 games his final season in Tampa in what was the lock out shorted season. Then he goes to Philly and has 60 in 140 games (including playoffs), 39 of which came in his first season.

I'd like to think he is still capable of chipping in a little bit and maybe the situation just wasn't right in Philly. I believe someone mention how Lavy was a big reason he signed in Philly and they fired him three games into the next season after VL signed there, so it's not like he even got to play under the circumstances to which he joined the club.

At worst we got a big bodied, highly motivated former high end scorer to go plant himself in front of the net on the PP and eat up 8-10 minutes on the 4th line. At best we got someone who can chip in on the 3rd line and maybe pull a Handzus in the playoffs. As long as he does retire after the season, it's a win for us.

When he signed with us in 2013, he looked like our best player on the ice at the beginning of the season (Giroux was slumping at that moment), until Berube put him in a system where he had no chance to suceed. It wasn't that long ago. There was no logical reason of why he suddenly sucked, except the system. He's 35, not 40. I'm sure he can still play.

 

[mrkolice]

i think it wasn't mentioned here before: how could this trade affect lak's special teams, long-term? it feels like both lecavalier & schenn can get some decent toi here after a while. do their skills fit in lak's pp & pk game?

so many possible combos after just one game, lak is like a rainbow right now, i hope it will last.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Flyers fan, glad Vinny played well, and hopefully things will work out with LA. I also loved his comments on your team. As a Flyers fan, I must admit that our organization and fans treated him miserably and it's a shame. There was a lot of irrationnal hate over Vinny of the Flyers board, but the guy was never as bad as some of our posters said (even though he couldn't fit). I think he'll be a good player with you and I'm just glad for the guy. He deserves a decent ending to his career. A wonderful career.

When he signed with us in 2013, he looked like our best player on the ice at the beginning of the season (Giroux was slumping at that moment), until Berube put him in a system where he had no chance to suceed. It wasn't that long ago. There was no logical reason of why he suddenly sucked, except the system. He's 35, not 40. I'm sure he can still play.

Thanks for chipping in those comments. I didn't understand the trade but I'm hoping it works out for everyone involved.

 

[kingsfan]

When he signed with us in 2013, he looked like our best player on the ice at the beginning of the season (Giroux was slumping at that moment), until Berube put him in a system where he had no chance to suceed. It wasn't that long ago. There was no logical reason of why he suddenly sucked, except the system. He's 35, not 40. I'm sure he can still play.

Thanks for the feedback.

Was the line up truly filled with better players this season, or were they just trying to force VL to accept a trade/retirement/etc? He had a lot of healthy scratches.