Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season

[YP44]

I'd take Lucic back if Edmonton includes their first round pick.

even then Lucic would have to agree to cancel his NMC so that he does not have to be protected in the expansion

 

[BigKing]

Both things can be true. But people here sticking up for Tkachuk? Give me a break.

It's hypocritical as **** to say "we'd love Tkachuk on this team" and then go in hard mocking Doughty.

Dumba KO's a Flames player with a cheap hit at the end of a game. Very next time they play, Tkachuk goes after Dumba in a square-up fight 40 seconds into the game.

I'd love Tkachuk on this team and I will mock Doughty for continuing to look like a clown ever since the elbow occurred. His hissy-fit at Staples last season with Tkachuk was unbelievably embarrassing. I wouldn't have a problem with Doughty not fighting him--even if I think he should regardless to square up for the elbow--if Doughty would act like Tkachuk doesn't bother him but he keeps flapping his gums while Tkachuk keeps running him.

This isn't the NBA: it is a sport where guys can settle things and move on. Tkachuk is not a good fighter. The odds of Doughty getting hurt in a fight against Tkachuk v. simply getting run by Tkachuk are much lower. Doughty keeps stoking the fire and then generally gets clowned on the ice in this rivalry. I mean, at least line him up for a big hit even if it interference...you're in last f***ing place and a -29. Let's set a tone from the leadership level on down that the Kings won't be pushed around.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Wow, a lot to try and stomach in that Spector article.

Kopitar’s career average of 68 pts is outside the current NHL Top 50 scorers. Brutal production for $10m cap hit. And sends a bad message to incoming prospects.

Maybe the Kings can leave Carter, Phaneuf and Lewis at home every road trip next season, like what’s happening to Kovy. Those guys could help out in El Segundo with the Reign and injured player practices. And the team could just play with 18 skaters and use a quick flight to get one of the stiffs back if necessary.

As hideous as it sounds, I could see Blake trading Kovy for Lucic, assuming the players agree to move. Why wouldn’t Lucic want to come back to LA over staying in Edmonton? And with McDavid, I could see a reason for Kovy to want to play there.

If Edmonton included this years first, that’s looking like a top ten pick. Lucic makes a little less than Kovy, and has 5 years left vs 2. But he’s 5 years younger and you could see BLuc spinning this as a veteran who will teach the kids the right way to play and patrol the ice. If he beats Matt Tkachuks face in once a year, that might be worth it.

Obviously, won’t happen for a million reasons, but I’m not closing the door while Keith Gretzky is the oilers GM.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Dumba KO's a Flames player with a cheap hit at the end of a game. Very next time they play, Tkachuk goes after Dumba in a square-up fight 40 seconds into the game.

I'd love Tkachuk on this team and I will mock Doughty for continuing to look like a clown ever since the elbow occurred. His hissy-fit at Staples last season with Tkachuk was unbelievably embarrassing. I wouldn't have a problem with Doughty not fighting him--even if I think he should regardless to square up for the elbow--if Doughty would act like Tkachuk doesn't bother him but he keeps flapping his gums while Tkachuk keeps running him.

This isn't the NBA: it is a sport where guys can settle things and move on. Tkachuk is not a good fighter. The odds of Doughty getting hurt in a fight against Tkachuk v. simply getting run by Tkachuk are much lower. Doughty keeps stoking the fire and then generally gets clowned on the ice in this rivalry. I mean, at least line him up for a big hit even if it interference...you're in last ****ing place and a -29. Let's set a tone from the leadership level on down that the Kings won't be pushed around.

Re: the last point, I agreed as much in a follow up post above:

Frankly Doughty-Tkachuk is a fair fight, too. He should be eager to take it. Because most of the time it's scrubs trying it. I remember Steve Downie trying to rip his head off. Of course it's dumb for a 30-min, top 3 d-man to be fighting anyone else but a stud player, especially given the joke of a blue line behind Drew, but that's obviously not the why he's not, given our standings this season.

Re: loving Tkachuk on this team, he's a hell of a player, I just think it's hypocritical to think Doughty's a rat and puts people in danger but that Tkachuk doesn't. Again, both things can be true.

I'm glad he's got a couple more square-up fights (although almost every one of them has him literally jumping other players, getting the drop unexpectedly every time, and they're nearly always smaller) and he appears to be changing his rep bit-by-bit, but thus far, Doughty's just a mouth. Tkachuk is elbows, offlimits shenanigans like off-rink players, and duck behind refs to throw sticks and punches. I'll have to disagree with that endorsement.

Such a stand up dude, having the refs continually rescue him.

 

[KingsFan7824]

God Spector is such a blowhard. He talks about the Kings needing to get younger then throws out them trading Kovalchuk for Lucic. Kovy is a much better scorer on a much shorter contract and all the Kings would get is Bear? It's so ****ing clear that he doesn't pay any attention to the Kings.

Or he just wants the Oilers to be rid of Lucic's contract. Which would be worse for the Kings in all ways, if it's just Bear coming back, even if Kovalchuk just retires from the Kings after getting his next signing bonus. If Blake made that trade, he would have to be fired the moment it goes through. It wouldn't even be a "well, this could work out" kind of desperate Lombardi deal.

Kopitar’s career average of 68 pts is outside the current NHL Top 50 scorers. Brutal production for $10m cap hit. And sends a bad message to incoming prospects.

It does? What, that the Kings will hand out money? That's what every prospect wants. That's what every human wants.

As hideous as it sounds, I could see Blake trading Kovy for Lucic, assuming the players agree to move. Why wouldn’t Lucic want to come back to LA over staying in Edmonton? And with McDavid, I could see a reason for Kovy to want to play there.

What has Blake done so far that would lead you to believe that? Maybe trying to get Pacioretty, but he wasn't at 5 goals last year, and down from 10 the previous year.

 

[BigKing]

Re: the last point, I agreed as much in a follow up post above:




Re: loving Tkachuk on this team, he's a hell of a player, I just think it's hypocritical to think Doughty's a rat and puts people in danger but that Tkachuk doesn't. Again, both things can be true.

I'm glad he's got a couple more square-up fights (although almost every one of them has him literally jumping other players, getting the drop unexpectedly every time, and they're nearly always smaller) and he appears to be changing his rep bit-by-bit, but thus far, Doughty's just a mouth. Tkachuk is elbows, offlimits shenanigans like off-rink players, and duck behind refs to throw sticks and punches. I'll have to disagree with that endorsement.

Such a stand up dude, having the refs continually rescue him.

I'd also love Corey Perry if he was on the Kings when he was good.

I've loved having Doughty as a King but believe I'd hate him just like these other guys if he wasn't. Not because he is dirty but rather because he never backs up his talk.

He also doesn't back up sucker punches. Talk about hiding and looking like a total bitch: EDIT: Take a look at the four guys confronting Dubinsky at the 1 minute mark. This f***ing clip pretty much sums up where this team is at right now.

 

[crassbonanza]

As hideous as it sounds, I could see Blake trading Kovy for Lucic, assuming the players agree to move. Why wouldn’t Lucic want to come back to LA over staying in Edmonton? And with McDavid, I could see a reason for Kovy to want to play there.

Why though? Kovalchuk has 14 goals and 31 points in 60 games and only has 2 more years left on his contract. Lucic has 5 goals and 18 points and still has 4 years left on his deal. I for the life of me don't know how anyone would trade Kovalchuk for Lucic. Makes absolutely zero sense.

 

[kingsboy11]

 

[DoktorJeep]

Or he just wants the Oilers to be rid of Lucic's contract. Which would be worse for the Kings in all ways, if it's just Bear coming back, even if Kovalchuk just retires from the Kings after getting his next signing bonus. If Blake made that trade, he would have to be fired the moment it goes through. It wouldn't even be a "well, this could work out" kind of desperate Lombardi deal.



It does? What, that the Kings will hand out money? That's what every prospect wants. That's what every human wants.

It’s not what the owner would want and therefore ultimately unsustainable.

What has Blake done so far that would lead you to believe that? Maybe trying to get Pacioretty, but he wasn't at 5 goals last year, and down from 10 the previous year.

Why though? Kovalchuk has 14 goals and 31 points in 60 games and only has 2 more years left on his contract. Lucic has 5 goals and 18 points and still has 4 years left on his deal. I for the life of me don't know how anyone would trade Kovalchuk for Lucic. Makes absolutely zero sense.

He’s demonstrated a preference for overpaid players if they can stay in the lineup. He saw $5m for Phaneuf stinking up the ice as money better spent than Gaborik hanging out in tropical resorts. These moves get spun into quotes about earning ice time and being a professional. Kovy decided he doesn’t want to play. What if he starts to miss time due to mysterious injuries. That’s a lot more likely than BLuc brings in a coach that rejuvenates everyone’s careers.

 

[BigKing]

Blake never trades for Lucic unless there is a 1st coming back, preferably this year.

Even then, the Seattle expansion is problematic. If the Kings plan on being trash next year and possibly the year after, the cap won't matter too much until the final years of the Lucic deal. If the cap goes up--or a compliance buy-out gets tossed in to the CBA--then maybe it isn't as big of a deal.

I do know one thing: Lucic would waive his NMC in a nanosecond to come back here.

 

[KingsFan7824]

He’s demonstrated a preference for overpaid players if they can stay in the lineup. He saw $5m for Phaneuf stinking up the ice as money better spent than Gaborik hanging out in tropical resorts. These moves get spun into quotes about earning ice time and being a professional. Kovy decided he doesn’t want to play. What if he starts to miss time due to mysterious injuries. That’s a lot more likely than BLuc brings in a coach that rejuvenates everyone’s careers.

Gaborik and Phaneuf have essentially the same contract though. Lucic is miles worse than Kovalchuk. If Lucic had 2 years left, or Kovalchuk had 4 years left, I'd agree. Plus it's a winger and a winger, not a winger and d-man. I don't really see a good comparison.

Again, should Blake make that deal, and not get at least a couple quality young assets in return, he should be fired the second he puts the phone down.

 

[crassbonanza]

He’s demonstrated a preference for overpaid players if they can stay in the lineup.

Gabo and Neon Dion had the same exact contract after the Sens held some of the cap. Looch and Kovy have wildly different cap hits. Even if Kovalchuk was just as bad as Looch, there is no way you make that trade.

 

[Reaper45]

I would take Lucic back but Edmonton would have to pay us well or we send back shit contracts.

Kopitar and Carter for Draisaitl, top prospect and Lucic.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Blake never trades for Lucic unless there is a 1st coming back, preferably this year.

Even then, the Seattle expansion is problematic. If the Kings plan on being trash next year and possibly the year after, the cap won't matter too much until the final years of the Lucic deal. If the cap goes up--or a compliance buy-out gets tossed in to the CBA--then maybe it isn't as big of a deal.

I do know one thing: Lucic would waive his NMC in a nanosecond to come back here.

Not really, most of the guys who matter will still be on ELCs, and as of this moment, they have 5 guaranteed contracts for that season (2 going into their final season, making them prime buyout candidates if they are even still around) only Dewey will have to be protected.

As it stands, it could look something like this:

Iafallo
Grundstrom
Wagner
Luff(?)
Dewey
Walker(?)
Clague(?)
Roy(?)
(whichever goaltender is still around)

That's a freaking dogs breakfast with a lot of questions.
Everybody else (Kupari, Anderson-Dolan, Vilardi, this years picks, Thomas etc) will be exempt.

If anything, they could be dealing from a position of strength as they won't have enough players worth protecting, so a team could go to them and try to dump a contract.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Gaborik and Phaneuf have essentially the same contract though. Lucic is miles worse than Kovalchuk. If Lucic had 2 years left, or Kovalchuk had 4 years left, I'd agree. Plus it's a winger and a winger, not a winger and d-man. I don't really see a good comparison.

Again, should Blake make that deal, and not get at least a couple quality young assets in return, he should be fired the second he puts the phone down.

Gabo and Neon Dion had the same exact contract after the Sens held some of the cap. Looch and Kovy have wildly different cap hits. Even if Kovalchuk was just as bad as Looch, there is no way you make that trade.

The deal was Phaneuf and what ended up to be a years worth of Nate Thompson for MG. Lucic is like 5 years younger than Kovy, not subject to any 35+ yo cap penalty. That’s could be argued as value returned to the Kings before the pot is sweetened to make up for the extra 3 yrs, $17.5m.

If that deal was Kovy for Lucic, 2019 first and Bear, you’d have to consider it if it looks like Kovy is going to flee. When hasn’t Blake kicked the can down the road and if he did and it turned out bad, well he most likely won’t be around to deal with the fall out.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

From Pierre LeBrun in today's Athletic column.

There’s been lots of speculation that Todd McLellan might be a candidate to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

It goes beyond that. My understanding is that the former San Jose and Edmonton head coach is the clear front-runner, pure and simple.

Kings GM Rob Blake played for McLellan near the end of his career in San Jose and he thoroughly enjoyed it and came away impressed with McLellan’s coaching style and structure.

However, McLellan may have other options on the table, when the season ends. After all, as we discussed on Insider Trading on Tuesday there are at least a half-dozen coaching situations up for discussion around the league.

And perhaps when Blake and McLellan sit down to exchange philosophies, things don’t mesh. You never know how those things go.

But McLellan to L.A. makes sense to me. Expect Blake to ask Edmonton for permission on McLellan as soon as the season ends.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I would take Lucic back but Edmonton would have to pay us well or we send back **** contracts.

Kopitar and Carter for Draisaitl, top prospect and Lucic.

This reminds me, it may have been after 2017, but I threw out the idea that trading Anze Kopitar for Leon Draisaitl straight up (which Edmonton wouldn't have done back then anyhow), yet some Kings fans scoffed at that idea. I would venture to guess those attitudes may have changed after this season. Either way, 'tis a pipe dream. If only Vilardi and his back held up. He could potentially be a similar style player.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I wonder if the Kings may opt to just let Brodzinski walk as a UFA in order to make room for Luff, who is four years younger and left more of an impression in his 30+ games we saw from him. Although Brodzinski may still have some untapped potential as well. He's like the modern day Scott Parse.

 

[BigKing]

Not really, most of the guys who matter will still be on ELCs, and as of this moment, they have 5 guaranteed contracts for that season (2 going into their final season, making them prime buyout candidates if they are even still around) only Dewey will have to be protected.

As it stands, it could look something like this:

Iafallo
Grundstrom
Wagner
Luff(?)
Dewey
Walker(?)
Clague(?)
Roy(?)
(whichever goaltender is still around)

That's a freaking dogs breakfast with a lot of questions.
Everybody else (Kupari, Anderson-Dolan, Vilardi, this years picks, Thomas etc) will be exempt.

If anything, they could be dealing from a position of strength as they won't have enough players worth protecting, so a team could go to them and try to dump a contract.

Then they should listen if they get a deal that is sweet enough.

Pretty hilarious though to be talking about Kovy as a cap dump. What a self-inflicted wound at this point.

Plexico Blake

 

[kingsholygrail]

This reminds me, it may have been after 2017, but I threw out the idea that trading Anze Kopitar for Leon Draisaitl straight up (which Edmonton wouldn't have done back then anyhow), yet some Kings fans scoffed at that idea. I would venture to guess those attitudes may have changed after this season. Either way, 'tis a pipe dream. If only Vilardi and his back held up. He could potentially be a similar style player.

I bet he wouldn't perform the same here because it's not the environment that allows for that. He also wouldn't have McDavid centering him. No, I don't think he's a product of McDavid, btw, but if we're losing Kopitar who is gonna be his center? Carter? lol

 

[DoktorJeep]

From Pierre LeBrun in today's Athletic column.

Jesus, it’s worst than thought, stupid McClellan is playing hard to get and trying to up his price through the media. My guess is BLuc expected Todd to take a pay cut,and now they’re sweating. I bet it’s less than a week before we here from a Kings mouthpiece of some other candidates.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Draisaitl actually has taken far more faceoffs than McDavid and is the team leader in faceoffs taken. Of course McDavid helps his production though, as he's had a hand in 63 of Draisaitl's 99 points. It's like when the Kings had Wayne Gretzky and Bernie Nicholls.

 

[Little Psycho]

Not liking this McClellan talk. He can't adjust during games.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Draisaitl actually has taken far more faceoffs than McDavid and is the team leader in faceoffs taken. Of course McDavid helps his production though, as he's had a hand in 63 of Draisaitl's 99 points. It's like when the Kings had Wayne Gretzky and Bernie Nicholls.

They help each other. Who is the Bernie Nicholls? Dustin Brown?

 

[King'sPawn]

Not liking this McClellan talk. He can't adjust during games.

It's still a step up from WD who hasn't adjusted since the cold war.