Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season Part 2

[kilowatt]

That's the sound of Mitch Marner tightening the vice on Dubas' pants-area.

We just don’t get it and have bad management. Why wouldn’t every player on the team take a massive discount?

 

[SCARFACE909]

I want to see:

Kupari, Luff, Anderson-Dolan, Anderson-Mikey (his new name) Matt Luff, Kale Clague, Daniel Brickley, and yes, Mike Amadio come to camp pumped and
in top condition physically and mentally with uber drive to take positions from veteran scrubs.

I would love to see Luff rise up and take Toffoli's spot, for one. And for Clague to take Forbort's spot. No entitlements!

Kings definitely would like to see Kupari earn a spot out of camp, though it's likely he starts in Ontario, same with Anderson, he needs some AHL exposure first. Anderson-Dolan I see on the opening night roster in a 3rd line role likely. Clague is coming off a injury, so I expect him to start in Ontario but by November or so be called up and hopefully stick with the team.

Camp will definitely be interesting this year for sure.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I hope a lot of the kids start in Ontario and develop together. Some guys like Kempe, Gundstrome, Amadio, and Brodzinski are already too old to be in the AHL. But players like Kupari, JAD, Akil Thomas, etc. should just play together and develop chemistry. We can then call them up for a few games in 2020.

 

[tomd]

I think the Nylander saga from last year will be the new way that cap strapped teams deal expensive RFA's. Just let them sit through October and November. Both sides will come to the table before the deadline and the team will save two months of cap space. No player (at least very few) will want to lose a full year of salary by sitting out the entire season.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Kings definitely would like to see Kupari earn a spot out of camp, though it's likely he starts in Ontario, same with Anderson, he needs some AHL exposure first. Anderson-Dolan I see on the opening night roster in a 3rd line role likely. Clague is coming off a injury, so I expect him to start in Ontario but by November or so be called up and hopefully stick with the team.

Camp will definitely be interesting this year for sure.

As of right now, and there's not a ton of reason to think it'll change significantly, the Kings have 11, probably 13 forwards that have spots, and 10 of them are all basically set in their role. As much as we may not want guys that are making over $1m to be in the lineup, as long as they're here, they're going to be in the lineup. If Carter were to move to RW, then there's really no place for a guy like Luff on the team. If Carter stays at C, or Prokhorkin moves to C, there's no room for a guy like JAD. Unless he beats out Amadio, but he has to clear waivers, JAD doesn't, so JAD is going down unless he's better than Kopitar. Even if the Kings suck, the contracts realities are still going to shape the team.

I think the Nylander saga from last year will be the new way that cap strapped teams deal expensive RFA's. Just let them sit through October and November. Both sides will come to the table before the deadline and the team will save two months of cap space. No player (at least very few) will want to lose a full year of salary by sitting out the entire season.

You'll have to have some excess talent to do that like Toronto did. Nylander came back and scored 7 goals and 27 points in 54 games. Few teams can throw a year away like that. Especially if all you get for the effort is a guy that still takes up $7m on the cap for the next 5 years.

 

[kilowatt]

Which prospects can’t play in Ontario next year?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[tomd]

As of right now, and there's not a ton of reason to think it'll change significantly, the Kings have 11, probably 13 forwards that have spots, and 10 of them are all basically set in their role. As much as we may not want guys that are making over $1m to be in the lineup, as long as they're here, they're going to be in the lineup. If Carter were to move to RW, then there's really no place for a guy like Luff on the team. If Carter stays at C, or Prokhorkin moves to C, there's no room for a guy like JAD. Unless he beats out Amadio, but he has to clear waivers, JAD doesn't, so JAD is going down unless he's better than Kopitar. Even if the Kings suck, the contracts realities are still going to shape the team.



You'll have to have some excess talent to do that like Toronto did. Nylander came back and scored 7 goals and 27 points in 54 games. Few teams can throw a year away like that. Especially if all you get for the effort is a guy that still takes up $7m on the cap for the next 5 years.

Agree. But players can't really afford to lose a full year of salary either so both sides have motivation. At the end of the day, if Toronto can't get under the cap with what Marner is demanding, what choice do they have?

 

[kingsholygrail]

So why is everyone high on Yawney? I don't know much about him.

 

[KINGS17]

So, let's say Toronto tells Marner they aren't giving him the golden ticket this time around. They instead tell him this time around it's going to be 5 years and $30M. What is he going to do sit out. Is another team going to meet his demands via an offer sheet and give up four first round picks? I doubt it.

For sure Marner is going to argue, but what about Matthews? Well, we made a mistake on that contract and think we want to go more of the Nathan McKinnon route on your deal. Is he going to sit out? Yeah, in spite of all the hype from the media and fans who think it's unfair, Marner isn't going to sit out.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So why is everyone high on Yawney? I don't know much about him.

He's given a lot of credit for helping with the development of a lot of the Ducks' defensemen that he coached from 2014-18. He also worked with Todd McLellan in San Jose from 2008-11.

 

[LAKings88]

He's given a lot of credit for helping with the development of a lot of the Ducks' defensemen that he coached from 2014-18. He also worked with Todd McLellan in San Jose from 2008-11.

Is he the first to complete the California trifecta?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

So, let's say Toronto tells Marner they aren't giving him the golden ticket this time around. They instead tell him this time around it's going to be 5 years and $30M. What is he going to do sit out. Is another team going to meet his demands via an offer sheet and give up four first round picks? I doubt it.

For sure Marner is going to argue, but what about Matthews? Well, we made a mistake on that contract and think we want to go more of the Nathan McKinnon route on your deal. Is he going to sit out? Yeah, in spite of all the hype from the media and fans who think it's unfair, Marner isn't going to sit out.

I say probably not, but it's that nuclear option that someone could that makes GMs bid against themselves for RFAs.

Hell, the thing is, TO keeps acting like they can just sit on it and collect 4 1sts--buuuuut is Marner worth TWO 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd? Probably. THAT'S what he'd be at under 10,568,589. I could see someone offering that to put to the screws to Toronto one way or another and I sure hope they do!

 

[KingsFan7824]

Which prospects can’t play in Ontario next year?

I believe it's Thomas and Sodergran. Is Amadio still a prospect? He has to clear waivers to play there.

Agree. But players can't really afford to lose a full year of salary either so both sides have motivation. At the end of the day, if Toronto can't get under the cap with what Marner is demanding, what choice do they have?

Marner is a bit of a different story than Nylander, so, I imagine the Leafs get rid of whoever they need to, even at a loss, to fit Marner in. He seems set on getting the money, which of course can change as time drags on, but the Leafs missed their ELC window. There's nothing they can do about that anymore. The might have to take a step back for a year or two, like Chicago after 2010, and then come back. If there's always a silver lining somewhere, their expensive core is at least young. If they have to lose a bunch of depth, they have some time to rebuild it. Tavares will be 30+ by then, which could mess things up, but I don't think they'll let Marner go. Unless they got a great offer.

The cap comes calling for everyone eventually. Usually before you're ready for it.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Is he the first to complete the California trifecta?

This sounds like a Kings Talk quiz question.

 

[KINGS17]

I say probably not, but it's that nuclear option that someone could that makes GMs bid against themselves for RFAs.

Hell, the thing is, TO keeps acting like they can just sit on it and collect 4 1sts--buuuuut is Marner worth TWO 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd? Probably. THAT'S what he'd be at under 10,568,589. I could see someone offering that to put to the screws to Toronto one way or another and I sure hope they do!

Well, when Toronto gets to that bridge they have a decision to make. How many GMs think Marner is worth two 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd, PLUS a cap hit of over $10M? How many organizations are in a position to make that kind of offer? You can probably count them on one hand, and then subtract a couple who wouldn't do it because they are budget teams.

Much easier to poach an RFA like Kapanen in my opinion.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[KINGS17]

I believe it's Thomas and Sodergran. Is Amadio still a prospect? He has to clear waivers to play there.



Marner is a bit of a different story than Nylander, so, I imagine the Leafs get rid of whoever they need to, even at a loss, to fit Marner in. He seems set on getting the money, which of course can change as time drags on, but the Leafs missed their ELC window. There's nothing they can do about that anymore. The might have to take a step back for a year or two, like Chicago after 2010, and then come back. If there's always a silver lining somewhere, their expensive core is at least young. If they have to lose a bunch of depth, they have some time to rebuild it. Tavares will be 30+ by then, which could mess things up, but I don't think they'll let Marner go. Unless they got a great offer.

The cap comes calling for everyone eventually. Usually before you're ready for it.

Edmonton's expensive core is young too, but I think Toronto has it over them in terms of overall talent. I think unless Tavares ages exceptionally well, they made a mistake.

 

[Choralone]

Nice article. Reassuring for people afraid Blake is trying to take shortcuts or needlessly bring in vets.

 

[KingsFan7824]

It's going to be different. Management is, yet again, publicly saying the veterans are not good enough. For the most part, they're all babysitters now. Those guys haven't been fully engaged for years, and that was with management thinking they still had something to give in terms of success on the ice. I'm actually kind of interested to see what the vets do with this knowledge. How disengaged will they be? It's one thing to be professional and drive up on game days in a nice suit, another to give everything you have for the team that no longer really considers you viable. Most other managements don't either, which is why they're stuck wasting time in LA.

Kovalchuk and Martinez are the first to have their contracts end, then Brown and Carter, then Quick, then Kopitar. Doughty is in a weird place, and it's whatever with him. He should've asked to be traded, but he made his bed, and he likes the rich LA life. Which is fine.

Toffoli, Lewis, Clifford, Forbort, and Campbell should all be gone by the deadline, for whatever they can get, if anything. I know Clifford is a King, but since that era is over, there's no reason to re-sign him, since there are plenty of babysitters that aren't going anywhere. If you let Clifford go, someone younger is forced to take on that role, and if nobody can, then you just wait for the guy who can. There's no rush.

So the plan is ride out the bad contracts(really the only they they can do), and just keep stockpiling assets. It's going to be boring, and the babysitters might complain if they care enough, but it should be good. I'm completely pro-TM on this, so whatever he has to do, is fine by me.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Well, when Toronto gets to that bridge they have a decision to make. How many GMs think Marner is worth two 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd, PLUS a cap hit of over $10M? How many organizations are in a position to make that kind of offer? You can probably count them on one hand, and then subtract a couple who wouldn't do it because they are budget teams.

Much easier to poach an RFA like Kapanen in my opinion.

All 32 of them

 

[Basilisk]

If you believed that trading Toffoli and our 1st round pick in 2020 would get us another first round pick in THIS draft, specifically in the 7th to 15th overall position, would you make that trade? Discuss!!!

 

[Bandit]

YAWN(ey). We're being run by ex Sharks and ex Ducks... gross. Interesting though tat the article mentions Sturm is staying on. Not sure I'd seen that before.

 

[Bandit]

"An aspect of The Plan is the thrust to transfer to a sleeker, more pace-driven and skill-laced roster. Speed is important, and all players they target must grade at a certain level of skating."

That's not where speed comes from...

 

[DoktorJeep]

Good news, the plan is being written down and will be made available later this summer. At least BLuc are on the same page and delivering the message that they knew the team would suck, just not this fast.

So now the vision is getting younger and a new identity which focuses on winning by having skill throughout the roster. All fine ideas, but the challenge is how do you execute change.

The draft is another opportunity to make deals to turnover the roster. Given the lack of a lottery pick, the draft itself will have no real impact on next years team. So Blake needs to make a move and strike while the iron is hot. With multiple picks, he has the resources to improve next years team by getting rid of players from last years team.