Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season

[HeadInjury]

I personally think we should just keep Martinez. He arguably has more value to the Kings than anyone else.

You still need NHL caliber defensemen in a rebuild. If you throw out Doughty and a bunch of kids, they’ll get torched every night, which will ruin confidence and stunt development. Need some kind of veteran presence, especially on the blue line.

I agree with this. Martinez has character and the experience from the Cup runs. Better to keep him around both as a player and a mentor.

Don't agree with keeping Dion. Just buy him out and move on.

 

[verbalkint47]

I personally think we should just keep Martinez. He arguably has more value to the Kings than anyone else.

You still need NHL caliber defensemen in a rebuild. If you throw out Doughty and a bunch of kids, they’ll get torched every night, which will ruin confidence and stunt development. Need some kind of veteran presence, especially on the blue line.

Forbort is a better candidate to move, IMO. Grab a mid-low pick and be done with it. That leaves Doughty, Martinez, and Phaneuf as the veterans. Other three spots are up for grabs on a nightly basis depending on who is performing well.

I agree. Throwing young players to the wolves is the Edmonton way. I would only move Martinez at the draft if someone makes an offer you can't refuse.
Forbort can be moved at the deadline. There are always injuries and teams want depth on the blue line for playoff runs.

 

[kings11]

I am not sure the Kings can get what you are asking for in a trade involving Martinez. At this point I am willing to trade Martinez at the draft in the best deal available and tough it out with guys like Walker, Roy, MacDermid, and LaDue next season.

Now that we officially have the 19th pick... maybe package Amart in there and move up? especially if Podzolkin falls...

 

[YP44]

Now that we officially have the 19th pick... maybe package Amart in there and move up? especially if Podzolkin falls...

Nothing is set on this yet

 

[kings11]

Nothing is set on this yet

Craig Button's new mock seems to think it is

Edit: also, all but 2 of the teams elimated had better records

 

[KingsFan7824]

If we retain 50% 2 million for a top 4 D that can play both sides would benefit the Leafs. The add if any would be small IMO. I just feel we need to start thinking about making moves to get NHL talent and not only rely on picks that may never pan out.

I would rather move AMart for a younger top ceiling Defense prospect.

I think you guys have to be a little more realistic. Martinez is a borderline top 4D. Since he's been forced into that role, have the Kings been better? You're not getting all this stuff for a 32 year old 4th-6th defenseman, depending on the team in question. A top ceiling D prospect? Not a chance. Toronto could probably do better for Kapanen. Even if it's a cap space move, they can probably do better.

But a much better player whose looking at 1-2 year deal.. which is perfect to help mentor some of the kids that will come up especially if Amart is moved..

As much as we may not like Phaneuf, he's played over 1000 games. If some guys need a mentor, he's likely as good as any. He may not be able to play, but he knows what it takes to play. If the Kings are going to suck anyway, I'd rather have Phaneuf in the press box than Coburn taking actual minutes away from a guy he's supposed to be mentoring, if he is in fact a better player than Phaneuf. Just seems needlessly inefficient. You already have the old dude there.

 

[kings11]

I think you guys have to be a little more realistic. Martinez is a borderline top 4D. Since he's been forced into that role, have the Kings been better? You're not getting all this stuff for a 32 year old 4th-6th defenseman, depending on the team in question. A top ceiling D prospect? Not a chance. Toronto could probably do better for Kapanen. Even if it's a cap space move, they can probably do better.



As much as we may not like Phaneuf, he's played over 1000 games. If some guys need a mentor, he's likely as good as any. He may not be able to play, but he knows what it takes to play. If the Kings are going to suck anyway, I'd rather have Phaneuf in the press box than Coburn taking actual minutes away from a guy he's supposed to be mentoring. Just seems needlessly inefficient. You already have the old dude there.

An old dude that cant play and thats the difference.. Coburn is still very good defensively whereas Dion is pretty much done though I do love the toughness he brings

 

[YP44]

Craig Button's new mock seems to think it is

Edit: also, all but 2 of the teams elimated had better records

I imagine he just had to put teams somewhere

 

[kings11]

I imagine he just had to put teams somewhere

I actually looked at Tankathon and of the teams eliminated, 3 had worse records
16th- VGK - 93pts
17th- Jets - 99pts
18th- Pens - 100pts - 44 wins
19th- TML -> KINGS - 100pts - 46 wins

 

[YP44]

I actually looked at Tankathon and of the teams eliminated, 3 had worse records
16th- VGK - 93pts
17th- Jets - 99pts
18th- Pens - 100pts - 44 wins
19th- TML -> KINGS - 100pts - 46 wins

doesn't matter though if the teams in the 2nd round that have less points than Toronto get eliminate in the 2nd round. only conference final teams get moved into last 4 picks in the first round.

 

[kings11]

doesn't matter though if the teams in the 2nd round that have less points than Toronto get eliminate in the 2nd round. only conference final teams get moved into last 4 picks in the first round.

doesn't matter though if the teams in the 2nd round that have less points than Toronto get eliminate in the 2nd round. only conference final teams get moved into last 4 picks in the first round.

Dammit, back to 23 it is

 

[Kingsfan1]

With this years Playoffs being any indication I truly believe the Kings can win the cup sometime In next 2-3 years . We are battle tested , have previous champions and last year did not do that bad against Vegas just couldn’t score . It’s will and grit that takes you far in playoffs . Skill and speed is for regular season just to get in and obviously you need some speed and skill in playoffs but play with heart , hit and compete .

By end of next year I think we see Kupari, Anderson, Clague , JAD , Prokhorkin hopefully all on the team. Exciting times ahead , I look forward to seeing the Kids play. Somethings got to give though .

I’m sure Kupari and the others will start in the AHL but nowadays it seems more and more that teams are allowing players to make the NHL sooner rather than spend the entire year down in minors . It’s been working and I hope we do the same .

Kovy-Kopitar-Brown
Grundstrom-Kempe-Carter
Prokhorkin-Amadio-Toffoli
Iaffalo-JAD-Wagner
Luff,Clifford

 

[SettlementRichie10]

With this years Playoffs being any indication I truly believe the Kings can win the cup sometime In next 2-3 years . We are battle tested , have previous champions and last year did not do that bad against Vegas just couldn’t score . It’s will and grit that takes you far in playoffs . Skill and speed is for regular season just to get in and obviously you need some speed and skill in playoffs but play with heart , hit and compete .

By end of next year I think we see Kupari, Anderson, Clague , JAD , Prokhorkin hopefully all on the team. Exciting times ahead , I look forward to seeing the Kids play. Somethings got to give though .

I’m sure Kupari and the others will start in the AHL but nowadays it seems more and more that teams are allowing players to make the NHL sooner rather than spend the entire year down in minors . It’s been working and I hope we do the same .

Kovy-Kopitar-Brown
Grundstrom-Kempe-Carter
Prokhorkin-Amadio-Toffoli
Iaffalo-JAD-Wagner
Luff,Clifford

I don’t know what you see in this lineup, but I definitely don’t see a contender. The “battle hardened” identity is long gone. There are only a handful of players left who went through 2012-2014, and they sure didn’t look battle hardened as they coasted to a 30th place finish.

I think it’s fair to expect a nice breakout year from Kempe. Grundstrom is still a complete unknown. He put up some points in a handful of meaningless games at the end of the season. That doesn’t mean he’s now a bonafide top six forward.

Kovalchuk, Brown, and Carter will be another year older. Any one of them can struggle with injuries throughout the year. The only lock for 50+ points is Kopitar.

So many question marks on this team remain. We have no idea how Vilardi, Kupari, Thomas, JAD, etc. will pan out. If history is any indication, at least two of those prospects will bust.

The Kings need several impact players to appear out of nowhere to contend. It’s not impossible, but it’s highly improbable.

Kings are still old, and lack an identity and a ton of depth. I don’t see them contending for another 4 years at the bare minimum.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So, Derek Forbort for William Nylander?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

So, Derek Forbort for William Nylander?

Sheesh. Harsh words from Babcock when he was out coached at every opportunity.

 

[kovacro]

So, Derek Forbort for William Nylander?

Babcock during that presser took ownership for absolutely nothing that went wrong with the Leafs this season. Not what I would want to see from a guy of his supposed stature. Overrated coach.

Dubas pretty much put it all on himself.

As for Nylander, I personally don’t think he’s worth/going to be worth what he is making.

 

[BigKing]

First step to planning for next season is watching this when it is finally available in the US on May 7th. Just a heads up for everyone:

 

[KingsFan7824]

An old dude that cant play and thats the difference.. Coburn is still very good defensively whereas Dion is pretty much done though I do love the toughness he brings

I would get it if the Kings were going to be competitive.

Buy Phaneuf out, that's fine, but don't replace him with an older player. It's unnecessary. Just keep Phaneuf in that case. Who cares if he can't play, the Kings can't win. Buy him out, creating dead cap space for 4 years, only to get another 34 year old for the same 1 or 2 years Phaneuf has left on his deal? To what end? Is Coburn going to be worth anything at a deadline when he's 35/36 years old? Is Coburn going to play every night? Why? Wouldn't it be better to see if the numerous 25 year old "prospects" have anything to offer at the NHL level? How much money would you have to give Coburn to get him to come to the Kings? The guy doesn't have a Cup, and he doesn't have many years left to get one. Between Phaneuf's buyout number, and the I don't know, $4.5m per year you would have to offer to get Coburn to even think about coming here, it's just a waste.

 

[LAKings88]

Phanuef and Carter need to get their heads out of their poop holes if they are gonna stay on the team. Dion wasn’t terribad his first 20 games.

Carter shouldn’t be as bad as he was last year. Get him going and he could be a big part of the team. Was last year a glitch or is he done?

Quick is in the same boat.

Lewis and Amart seem like the only two vets not with negative value nowadays.

I can’t see major movement happening at the draft. Next deadline will be interesting.

 

[Fishhead]

I don't expect much next year really, not because of Blake being incompetent but because there just aren't many options. I'm not going to get frustrated if they don't dump everyone they can. I actually think that would be worse as value would be terrible. Reality is the opposite, but even if teams wanted to help the Kings it would be difficult, most of them don't have the space to do it. Carolina has the most cap space of anyone, and they are only at $16M. Sounds like a lot, but they are still at 80% of the cap. Something like 21 teams are within $5M of the cap ceiling. There aren't those big gaps in spending like there used to be, and I expect it to get even tighter moving forward. The playoffs this year are fantastic so far, it's literally wide open. I think this is what was envisioned when the cap was implemented and it seems to be coming to fruition, at least for the present.

Make moves where you can - prudent ones where the team is better off either now or in a few years. All I care is that they have a vision and stick with it.

 

[Herby]

Phanuef and Carter need to get their heads out of there poop holes if they are gonna stay on the team. Dion wasn’t terribad his first 20 games.

Carter shouldn’t be as bad as he was last year. Get him going and he could be a big part of the team. Was last year a glitch or is he done?

Quick is in the same boat.

Lewis and Amart seem like the only two vets not with negative value nowadays.

I can’t see major movement happening at the draft. Next deadline will be interesting.

Carter and Phaneuf are both 34 years old. It's only going to get worse.

 

[Statto]

Carter and Phaneuf are both 34 years old. It's only going to get worse.

I think with Carter there is a chance he bounces back to be a factor. It wasn’t that long ago he was our best forward player (16/17), he then had a horrible injury followed by a year that was almost certainly impacted by the Achilles still. It is the only season where he hasn’t played to the level expected and that applied to most of the roster last year.

In general I’ve disliked the disrespect Carter gets on here, he’s not deserved it. He’s a good pro and I’d be certain that he will have gone away this off season and made adjustments to his preparations so he’s ready to go. Is a bounce back guaranteed? Maybe not, but it’s more likely than not IMO especially if we move him to Kempe’s wing with less defensive responsibility. That all said if we can move him at the deadline we should, but It would be because of where we are in the team development cycle not because ‘he’s finished’.

 

[KINGS17]

I think with Carter there is a chance he bounces back to be a factor. It wasn’t that long ago he was our best forward player (16/17), he then had a horrible injury followed by a year that was almost certainly impacted by the Achilles still. It is the only season where he hasn’t played to the level expected and that applied to most of the roster last year.

In general I’ve disliked the disrespect Carter gets on here, he’s not deserved it. He’s a good pro and I’d be certain that he will have gone away this off season and made adjustments to his preparations so he’s ready to go. Is a bounce back guaranteed? Maybe not, but it’s more likely than not IMO especially if we move him to Kempe’s wing with less defensive responsibility. That all said if we can move him at the deadline we should, but It would be because of where we are in the team development cycle not because ‘he’s finished’.

I think it's more likely Carter does not bounce back to his old self. Father Time always wins these battles.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

So, Derek Forbort for William Nylander?

Nylander would fit Luc’s #beachlife culture.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But a much better player whose looking at 1-2 year deal.. which is perfect to help mentor some of the kids that will come up especially if Amart is moved..

Braydon Coburn is just about toast at this point as well, plus he's redundant with Forbort at best and Phaneuf at worst.

I think it's more likely Carter does not bounce back to his old self. Father Time always wins these battles.

Yeah I think it's reasonable to expect carter to bounce back and that last year was as bad as it gets but his best years are certainly behind him. But I still think he can be an asset as a winger or 3C somewhere at worst. He'll give us a couple of mediocre-to-good years imo.