Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season

[KingsFan7824]

He's been a mysterious player for us for years, always hearing his name in whispers and legends, but can a 4th round pick from 7 years ago who has never played a minute in the NHL be considered a bust if he doesn't do anything in the NHL?

 

[YP44]

He's been a mysterious player for us for years, always hearing his name in whispers and legends, but can a 4th round pick from 7 years ago who has never played a minute in the NHL be considered a bust if he doesn't do anything in the NHL?

that's fair...I more so think bust compared to hype. What other 4th rounders have we heard as much about without them ever playing a minute in North America?

 

[crassbonanza]

LOL, no.

You do remember that he just put up a 92 points season, right? In that season, the next highest scoring player was Brown with 61 points. It is not lol worthy to think that Kopitar could hit 100 points in an offensive system with quality linemates.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As usual, I have more questions about our 2nd line than our bottom 6. We keep loading up the middle six, but who's up there up top right now?

 

[KINGS17]

You do remember that he just put up a 92 points season, right? In that season, the next highest scoring player was Brown with 61 points. It is not lol worthy to think that Kopitar could hit 100 points in an offensive system with quality linemates.

Yes, I remember the mirage season the first year that oppressive Daryl Sutter was finally out of the way and the Kings went all the way to Game 4 of Round 1.

Kopitar's contract is one of the reasons he will never play with "quality" linemates unless they are players on ELCs who miraculously kill it in the NHL their first few seasons. Besides with a cap hit of $10M a season, isn't Kopitar supposed to be the "quality" linemate?

Don't worry next season ends in an even-numbered year, Kopitar usually shows up for those and starts going to the net again.

Do you remember Wayne Gretzky taking shifts with McSorely and Miller and still putting points on the board?

 

[KINGS17]

As usual, I have more questions about our 2nd line than our bottom 6. We keep loading up the middle six, but who's up there up top right now?

Those top six guys already have contracts in the NHL. They just aren't out there to be picked up, so the Kings are going to have to train their own, and that takes time. Time they don't have with the Kopitar, and possibly Doughty's age.

 

[johnjm22]

he should have had more ice time this year...hopefully TM will give him that (assuming he still earns it)

I want to see one of our young forwards given the same opportunity that Iafallo has been given.

If they give Wagner the Simmonds treatment and never make an attempt to develop his obvious offensive upside I will lose my mind.

 

[crassbonanza]

Yes, I remember the mirage season the first year that oppressive Daryl Sutter was finally out of the way and the Kings went all the way to Game 4 of Round 1.

Kopitar's contract is one of the reasons he will never play with "quality" linemates unless they are players on ELCs who miraculously kill it in the NHL their first few seasons. Besides with a cap hit of $10M a season, isn't Kopitar supposed to be the "quality" linemate?

Don't worry next season ends in an even-numbered year, Kopitar usually shows up for those and starts going to the net again.

Do you remember Wayne Gretzky taking shifts with McSorely and Miller and still putting points on the board?

None of that has anything to do with my comment. We are not discussing his contract or what the greatest player to ever play the game did. I am saying that in a more high powered team, it is not ridiculous to consider that Kopitar could have increased his career peak another 8 points. I know you f***ing hate Kopitar, I get it. We aren't talking about how you are going to boo when his number is raised in the rafters, we are strictly talking about scoring potential.

 

[johnjm22]

Yeah, the D is a mess. It's Doughty, a honest 4/5 in Martinez, and then a lot of not a whole lot. Anyone not named Forbort or Phaneuf are total wild cards. If just 1 of them becomes an every day top 6 on a competitive NHL team, at this point, it'll be a win. Then there are still 3 more spots to fill, assuming Martinez doesn't go anywhere, and that Forbort and Phaneuf simply aren't good enough.

Add all the talent you want up front, nothing is getting better until they fix the defense, and if Doughty plays the way he did this year again, they're 100x further away than if he plays great. Of course good defenseman are the rarest of commodities, so nobody is going to hand you one. Have to find one in the haystack like Muzzin, or have a risk like Mitchell work out great. Regehr wasn't necessarily cheap, and he was already 33 when he got here.

Good team defensive structure and coaching can go along ways towards overcoming lack of defenseman.

That's how a team in the NHL can go from worst defensive team in the league one year, to the best defensive team the next year.

In modern hockey forwards are nearly as responsible for defense as defensemen.

 

[KINGS17]

None of that has anything to do with my comment. We are not discussing his contract or what the greatest player to ever play the game did. I am saying that in a more high powered team, it is not ridiculous to consider that Kopitar could have increased his career peak another 8 points. I know you ****ing hate Kopitar, I get it. We aren't talking about how you are going to boo when his number is raised in the rafters, we are strictly talking about scoring potential.

It has everything to do with your comment. Kopitar does not make his wingers better offensive players. His contract precludes the acquisition of the "quality" wingers you desire. You think the Kings can go out and pay a guy like Panarin $10M a season now? I don't think so.

I don't hate Anze Kopitar, but I do think signing him to an 8-year deal was ill-advised. I won't boo Kopitar when his number is retired. The guy played great for the Kings. He just isn't a true leader, and has for years gotten by with his superior athletic build and skill.

What I really don't like is the flak anyone gets for criticizing Kopitar's contract or game when it is warranted.

 

[crassbonanza]

It has everything to do with your comment. Kopitar does not make his wingers better offensive players. His contract precludes the acquisition of the "quality" wingers you desire. You think the Kings can go out and pay a guy like Panarin $10M a season now? I don't think so.

I don't hate Anze Kopitar, but I do think signing him to an 8-year deal was ill-advised. I won't boo Kopitar when his number is retired. The guy played great for the Kings. He just isn't a true leader, and has for years gotten by with his superior athletic build and skill.

What I really don't like is the flak anyone gets for criticizing Kopitar's contract or game when it is warranted.

Come on, Kopitar gets ripped to shreds here non stop. Seriously, no one gets flak for criticizing Kopitar unless it is nonsensical. Like, believing there is not a chance in hell that Kopitar could possibly score 100 points, as if he was a maxed out 50 point player or something. You know this too, because you keep discussing his contract and deflecting.

 

[KINGS17]

Come on, Kopitar gets ripped to shreds here non stop. Seriously, no one gets flak for criticizing Kopitar unless it is nonsensical. Like, believing there is not a chance in hell that Kopitar could possibly score 100 points, as if he was a maxed out 50 point player or something. You know this too, because you keep discussing his contract and deflecting.

Did I say Kopitar has maxed out as a 50-point player? This is the kind of exaggeration I am talking about as being hyperbolic about my comments.

In case you haven't noticed, the NHL is a league with a hard salary cap. Each and every player has a contract that matters, some more than others.

 

[saintsnsoldiers]

Any update on Porky

 

[Choralone]

It has everything to do with your comment. Kopitar does not make his wingers better offensive players. His contract precludes the acquisition of the "quality" wingers you desire. You think the Kings can go out and pay a guy like Panarin $10M a season now? I don't think so.

I don't hate Anze Kopitar, but I do think signing him to an 8-year deal was ill-advised. I won't boo Kopitar when his number is retired. The guy played great for the Kings. He just isn't a true leader, and has for years gotten by with his superior athletic build and skill.

What I really don't like is the flak anyone gets for criticizing Kopitar's contract or game when it is warranted.

I don't think it's hyperbolic to note that you take a shot at Kopitar in nearly any post you mention him - and that's added up to quite a few posts. Your tone isn't vitriolic (like that of some on this board) but I think we all understand your opinion on his contract and his relative worth in comparison by now (seriously, we get it) so it's become Chinese water torture to some of us.

 

[Brodeur]

Any update on Porky

Seems like he's told Russian beat writers that he's signing. As I understand it, most European league contracts expire on May 1st, so we might not get anything official until after that. Gusev/Gavrikov were able to get permission to leave early, but they had financial reasons to do so. Since they were able to join their NHL teams for the playoffs, they were able to burn the first year of their ELC even without playing. Prokhorkin obviously didn't have that luxury.

Since it's Prokhorkin's first NHL deal, he's still subject to entry level rules. CBA says that a European player signing between age 24-26 has to receive a 1 year ELC. So we'll see what kind of bonuses he might be able to command.

 

[crassbonanza]

Did I say Kopitar has maxed out as a 50-point player? This is the kind of exaggeration I am talking about as being hyperbolic about my comments.

In case you haven't noticed, the NHL is a league with a hard salary cap. Each and every player has a contract that matters, some more than others.

You did not say he maxed out as a 50 point player, which is why I used the term "as if he was". I was pointing out that you were seriously downplaying Kopitar's ability to score. You replied to someones assertion that Kopitar may have had a season over 100 points in the more free wheeling Eastern Conference with a "Lol, no". Which is kind of a ridiculous statement to make when he recently had a 92 point season during which he outpaced his second highest scoring teammate by 31 points. I still don't know why you continuously are bringing contracts into this conversation.

 

[kovacro]

So where are all the Porky gifs some of you have been saving up? Or are we waiting for the official announcement to unleash the fury?

 

[Jason Squirties]

You did not say he maxed out as a 50 point player, which is why I used the term "as if he was". I was pointing out that you were seriously downplaying Kopitar's ability to score. You replied to someones assertion that Kopitar may have had a season over 100 points in the more free wheeling Eastern Conference with a "Lol, no". Which is kind of a ridiculous statement to make when he recently had a 92 point season during which he outpaced his second highest scoring teammate by 31 points. I still don't know why you continuously are bringing contracts into this conversation.

And the playoffs aren't even over to boot.

 

[KINGS17]

So where are all the Porky gifs some of you have been saving up? Or are we waiting for the official announcement to unleash the fury?

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

It has everything to do with your comment. Kopitar does not make his wingers better offensive players. His contract precludes the acquisition of the "quality" wingers you desire. You think the Kings can go out and pay a guy like Panarin $10M a season now? I don't think so.

I don't hate Anze Kopitar, but I do think signing him to an 8-year deal was ill-advised. I won't boo Kopitar when his number is retired. The guy played great for the Kings. He just isn't a true leader, and has for years gotten by with his superior athletic build and skill.

What I really don't like is the flak anyone gets for criticizing Kopitar's contract or game when it is warranted.

Bolded and agreed. I think he seems almost as enigmatic as a leader as Frolov was a scorer at times. Great 2 way player but leadership...I just don't see it. I see Doughty as a better C; albeit a bit more unharnessed.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

You did not say he maxed out as a 50 point player, which is why I used the term "as if he was". I was pointing out that you were seriously downplaying Kopitar's ability to score. You replied to someones assertion that Kopitar may have had a season over 100 points in the more free wheeling Eastern Conference with a "Lol, no". Which is kind of a ridiculous statement to make when he recently had a 92 point season during which he outpaced his second highest scoring teammate by 31 points. I still don't know why you continuously are bringing contracts into this conversation.

Contracts are going to be a bit more concerning down the road if LA finds itself up against the cap and unable to be competitive and sign players when the team gets more competitive again. The whole team had an off year and if that continues, LA could find a few players that are not so tradeable because of a bad contract. It's a healthy concern in my opinion. Maybe there is a bit of doom in gloom in there, but I think it falls under checks and balances. It's a healthy concern.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

As usual, I have more questions about our 2nd line than our bottom 6. We keep loading up the middle six, but who's up there up top right now?

Depends on Training Cap and whether or not Carts or Toffoli get traded.

 

[crassbonanza]

Contracts are going to be a bit more concerning down the road if LA finds itself up against the cap and unable to be competitive and sign players when the team gets more competitive again. The whole team had an off year and if that continues, LA could find a few players that are not so tradeable because of a bad contract. It's a healthy concern in my opinion. Maybe there is a bit of doom in gloom in there, but I think it falls under checks and balances. It's a healthy concern.

I completely agree that contracts can be concerning and are something to watch for. I personally don't think the Kings are in any danger of losing out on any good players due to the current cap setup, but you are correct that it is a healthy concern. However, I again repeat myself, we were strictly discussing Kopitar's potential ability to score 100 points in the right situation.

 

[KINGS17]

I completely agree that contracts can be concerning and are something to watch for. I personally don't think the Kings are in any danger of losing out on any good players due to the current cap setup, but you are correct that it is a healthy concern. However, I again repeat myself, we were strictly discussing Kopitar's potential ability to score 100 points in the right situation.

Any idea what that is? That's right it's Halley's Comet.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

There are handfulls of teams that have multiple players making more than 9 million annually. Several teams with 3.

Kopitar's contract doesn't restrict the Kings from giving him talent. The Kings front office has. Kopitar earned his money. It's the foolish, lack of direction that doomed the Kings. Trading picks, prospects nothing killed them. Not using cap relief properly as other teams have.