I want Kovy for another year. Just to see what a real coach can do with him.
Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season
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Master Yoda
LA Legends
It sounds like he means guys turning pro/AHL/ECHL, not necessarily the NHL club. So guys like Kupari, JAD, Anderson, Phillips, Durzi, Lizotte, Vilardi, Prokhorkin, etc
This, exactly,
I think you have locks on the team in Kopitar, Iafallo, Brown, Clifford, Wagner, Grundstrom, Kempe, that leaves 5 spots for players like Carter, Kovalchuk, Amadio, Lewis, Toffoli, Luff, JAD, etc, I expect some of those to shake out over off-season (trades) and during the season (injuries/trades)
On D, you have Doughty, Forbort, Martinez, Phaneuf, then Walker, Roy, Ladue, I think that is more set.....unless theirs a Muzzin like deal for Martinez, I don't know if you see any movement on D there...
G, would love to see Peterson and Campbell next year, but it might be Quick Cambpell until trade or injury,
Kings can be a REALLY REALLY good team again in 2020-2021, 2021-2022, etc, 2020-2021 might be optimism at best, but a lot of it hinges on, Vilardi, JAD, Kupari, Anderson, Phillips, Durzi, Lizotte (loved the way he played in his ONE game) whoever they get at 5 etc....
I don't think we are in 4-6-7 years of dark ages......but it depends on the development of the kids, and if you trust the Kings development team.
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
- Mar 5, 2015
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I agree. But Blake doesn't want this logjam of: Wagner, Luff, Amadio, Walker, Roy, Ladue, MacDermid vying for roster spots and half of them healthy scratches.
There are few, like Grundstrom - that just claim a spot and start getting 14 ice from day one and he's locked into a spot. Yes, they want youth to battle and earn spots,
but it's ridiculous that some of these make it to the big show and are scratched for 2-3 games in a row, even after playing well...Amadio scores in 5 out of 6 games
and it sent to Ontario. That's BS. He was one of the best 3 or 4 forwards those games.
Now add all the others coming in - Kupari, JAD, Lizotte, Vilardi, Anderson, Clague*, Brickley* Durzi, Phillips and possibly Prokhorkin...and it's worse.
Should the youth earn spots and push someone else out? Of course! But there's the 'entitlement' thing. Amadio may have outplayed Carter and Toffoli and
Lewis...but WD was not going to scratch them. So I have a feeling Blake will be trying to remove at least 4 off this roster - maybe 5 or 6, in any way possible.
* = not new, but pushing for spot now.
1. 8-10 coming in
2. "we have to be better at #2 center"
3. no more entitilement
4. we want to get down to 24-25 age team.
Those 4 things Blake said, mean that probably 4, 30+ players are goners. Carter, Lewis, Phaneuf for starters. And he said he's going to sit down with Kovy and see where they go...there has to be buy-in....if Kovy buys in, he's probably coming to camp...if Kovy wants to be traded, he'll be traded. I don't think Blake wants 7 - 30+ year olds at camp and trying to get down to 24-25 age range. And give the new coach this same mix given to WD. He said 'we changed the plan around Christmas" and that's what they're doing. I'm sure he wants to give the new coach a different team than WD stepped in with.
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Piston
Fire Luc and Blake
Why is Iafallo a 'lock' in all these possible line combinations. Sure, he is a nice player, but we've probably already seen his ceiling, and he is not enough of a scorer to be a Top 6 and lacks the grit to play on the bottom 6. He does nothing particularly well even though he won't necessarily hurt you. Except for generating turnovers, he is just does not bring enough. On the other hand, he is a perfect trade candidate to a team that thinks Alex might still have some upside playing a more limited role with complementary line mates. You won't get much in return, but he was a free asset signed out of college, and moving him will give players like Wagner, Luff and Grandstrom with more up side more ice time. I just don't believe Iafallo is a guy who will be on our next Cup contending team.
Let me ask you this.....ever wonder why Hyman is playing with Matthews?
DoktorJeep
Luc and Rob are a waste of time and money.
No.
Because it doesn’t matter who rides shotgun with Matthews and Nylander. Problem is the Kings have no one like those two anymore. It’s not on Iafallo that Kopitar and Brown have regressed and need better talent around them to make their contracts a good value.
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
- Mar 5, 2015
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Because Babcock loves him...but Hyman produces, Iafallo does not. Hyman had 21 goals, of which 20 were even strength.
- May 9, 2014
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Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Wait, we're dumpstering Iafallo now? I've seen everything.
That's our 6th leading scorer this season, a guy who has shown some upside and the ability to play and make plays from every line for relatively cheap, as well as improvement. "lacks the grit to play the bottom 6" isn't a good assessment and that's putting it nicely. That's your cheaper Pearson replacement. Plug him anywhere in the lineup and he'll be fine, it's folly to take him out though.
This place has extreme shiny new toy syndrome.
And Iafallo had 15 goals on a team that scored almost 100 less goals....14 of which were even strength which put him 2nd to Kopitar.
Iafallo is getting an extremely raw deal from this board.
That's our 6th leading scorer this season, a guy who has shown some upside and the ability to play and make plays from every line for relatively cheap, as well as improvement. "lacks the grit to play the bottom 6" isn't a good assessment and that's putting it nicely. That's your cheaper Pearson replacement. Plug him anywhere in the lineup and he'll be fine, it's folly to take him out though.
This place has extreme shiny new toy syndrome.
And Iafallo had 15 goals on a team that scored almost 100 less goals....14 of which were even strength which put him 2nd to Kopitar.
Iafallo is getting an extremely raw deal from this board.
Iafallo isn't a great player but I think the organization likes him and his work ethic so he will most likely will stick around. As much as we are looking for skill, there probably will be some guys who are kept because they want to build a culture within this moving forward. No guarantees but I don't see Iafallo as part of the problem. He may not be here for more than 1-2 years but for now, he is a bridge player.
DryIslandBartender
KCCO
- Jun 30, 2006
- 5,632
- 2,520
Carter and Kovy will be traded. Phaneuf will certainly be bought out. I don’t think Lewis goes, but with the emergence of Campbell and Petersen, you have to think Quick gets moved. Although his contract is somewhat of an anchor.
That’s what 20 million or so off the cap? You can get some interesting UFA’s to help on D and get some energy guys. I wonder if long time King favorites like Simmonds and/or Williams gets an offer. They can be bridge guys between the kids coming up the ranks and the veterans that have been in LA for awhile. This locker room also needs some juice, need players that give a 150 percent every night.
KingCanadain1976
Registered User
Its simple the haters half full doomsayers cant pick on clifford and lewis been hurt all year Got to find someone new to dump on. A better question for u mr mod is there anyone this fan base hasn't dumped on? okay maybe bailey
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
- 32,583
- 11,777
I like Iafallo as a bottom sixer on a very good team. This next part is going to bug you a bit maybe. At 25 years of age, is he going to be a big part of any future success the Kings will attain? I say this because the Kings are not drafting in the top 2, and most pundits acknowledge that any player taken outside of the top 2 will probably take 2-3 years to develop.
I think trading Iafallo to a very good team for an asset that is much younger and will not need to be protected in the next expansion draft may be the correct approach with him. I like his game a lot, just not sure given his age he is a good fit for the organization at this time.
I know many posters believe the Kings can turn this around in 2 years, because they want to get some value out of the Kopitar and Doughty contracts. I don't see it happening given the other teams in the Western Conference starting to get younger and better. All three California teams are going to be struggling for a while for the same reason they used to be on top. All three were getting younger and better while Colorado, Vancouver, Detroit, etc. were getting old.
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
- Mar 5, 2015
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I agree with all of this....re: Quick, if Roberto Luongo can play at 40 and Rinne at 37?...Quick can play at 33. But the year he just had, will make it hard to trade him.
I'm fine if he stays or is traded, but don't want to see a deal in which the Kings retain anything. May be best if there are no real offers, to let him play this coming
season. He may just come back to form...but I am also good with giving the reigns over the Campbell and Petersen.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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If the Kings received a 2nd round pick in a trade for Iafallo, Blake will have done a great job in my book.
I know people think Dean Lombardi did a pretty good job at building the roster and organization when he was first hired. One of Dean's big things when he would talk about his "boxes" was a player's birth year. He would look at a box and say something like we're going to need a "88" through "90" for that spot. I don't think 3-4 years down the line Blake is looking for the slot Iaffalo currently occupies to be filled by a "93".
No, I don't, I absolutely agree with what you are saying, BUT he's 25, not 35, you have to have SOME veterans....especially if they get rid of Carter, Phaneuf, Quick, Lewis, Toffoli, Kovalchuk, etc.... you want the kids to step in, but you also have to have the right people guide them, Iafallo I believe is one of those, a Brown light, in terms of doing things the right way etc....
I think he's lock for next season, that said, if someone wants to offer a 1st for him, I think you do it.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
At 25 years of age he has probably about 10 years of career left so I'm not sure I agree but I can just chalk it up to a difference in philosophy, which is fine.
I just disagree that you dumpster everyone over 25 years of age otherwise you're left with an Oilers situation.
You need some bridge vets, especially ones with motors and good attitudes.
I have absolute zero problems with Iafallo. Dude gives 100% each game even when his linemates don't. Is he a first line guy? Nope. But if he's on the 3rd line, I'm sure no one would be complaining.
DryIslandBartender
KCCO
- Jun 30, 2006
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Yeah you need some bridge guys but they need to come from outside the org. There shouldn’t be too much familiarity with the players after the season they just had. You need some new voices/faces to get the losing stink out of the locker room and turn the page.
That being said, I know it won’t happen anytime soon but the Kings need a new core. The current core lacks any kind of accountability for years.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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Why do you think a player like Iafallo has another 10 years left in his career? Odds are it's more like 4-5 years.
Iafallo isn't the next coming of Justin Williams, or any other player like Williams who has had a long career playing in the NHL. You don't think there will be another college free agent come along, or a kid drafted last year who will be taking his job in a few years? Younger and better, that is the mantra you want to follow.
Look at it from another angle. In 2012 when the Kings won their first cup Lewis was 25, Fraser was 27, Richardson was 26. Iafallo is 25 today. I get that Richardson is still playing, and Iafallo might scratch out a longer career than I am estimating, but don't you think Richardson at 32 years of age is done being a useful component on a contending team? These are valid comparisons in my view, and I don't see Iafallo playing in the NHL more than another 4-5 seasons.
I persoanlly have zero problems with parting with Iafallo, Toffoli, Martinez at the Draft, waiving Phaneuf and moving one of Quick, Campbell, Petersen... Some have mentioned Grundstrom has a guaranteed spot?? the hell he does, he was easily outperformed by Amadio, Wagner and Luff! so if those two forwards I mentioned above aren't move at the draft theres no harm in sending him to Onatrio to play on what looks to be on paper atleast a much improved team possibly even a dominate one if GV comes back.. JAD, Kupari, Grundstrom, Clague, Anderson, Grundstrom, Vilardi(hopefully), Phillips, whatever youngster we get back from those trades...
I'd move Carter to the RW up with Kopi and Brownie.. He's untradable and the team isnt taking his cap hit especially if they cut Phaneuf. If anything Kovalchuk has shown he has plenty in the offensive tank and who knows what happens if Prokhorkin comes over and they end up on the same line either with Kempe or Amadio...
Brown - Kopitar - Carter
Prokhorkin - Amadio - Kovalchuk
Wagner - Kempe - Luff
Clifford - Iafallo - Lewis
Toffoli is a momentum killer that hold the puck way too long and way too often
Phaneuf is done as an NHL regular
Martinez is who he is but a thin build and a shot blocking career have betrayed his body so he needs to go before he falls off a cliff
I'd move Carter to the RW up with Kopi and Brownie.. He's untradable and the team isnt taking his cap hit especially if they cut Phaneuf. If anything Kovalchuk has shown he has plenty in the offensive tank and who knows what happens if Prokhorkin comes over and they end up on the same line either with Kempe or Amadio...
Brown - Kopitar - Carter
Prokhorkin - Amadio - Kovalchuk
Wagner - Kempe - Luff
Clifford - Iafallo - Lewis
Toffoli is a momentum killer that hold the puck way too long and way too often
Phaneuf is done as an NHL regular
Martinez is who he is but a thin build and a shot blocking career have betrayed his body so he needs to go before he falls off a cliff
Mats26
Vet Movement - What's the Maatta?
- Sep 16, 2005
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Can't believe what I read on these boards sometimes.
Iafallo's points and goals went up from last season on the worse offensive team in the league. 25 and will be getting better as the team gets more talent. I expect a cheap 3 year deal from the Kings.
Iafallo's points and goals went up from last season on the worse offensive team in the league. 25 and will be getting better as the team gets more talent. I expect a cheap 3 year deal from the Kings.
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