The Justin Williams appreciation thread

[Ron*]

That cap's really bleeding us of our special players. From Rich Hammond's Twitter:

If Kopitar gets $9M/season - not unreasonable - then you have $14M to spend on 9 players in 2016-17, with no Lucic. Then you'd give $3.25 of that $14M to a then-35-year-old Justin Williams?

Not sure where he is getting his numbers, but this isn't even close to being accurate. We have up to date numbers in the sticky organization chart above.

 

[Ron*]

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Maybe we're just a little too high on ourselves these days.

 

[gnarls barkley]

Maybe we're just a little too high on ourselves these days.

more likely that we never made a real offer to him, i don't really think we have as much actual cap space as you guys think between the Richards/Voynov situations + upcoming extensions

 

[Trolfoli]

Maybe we're just a little too high on ourselves these days.

Williams probably got a higher offer from a non playoff team (not LA), but chose to take less and a chance to win.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I'm sure playing time for Williams is a part of it too. Gaborik is hooked on Kopitar, and Lucic is going to hopefully bring some needed muscle to that line. Toffoli is the big young star for the Kings. That leaves the 3rd line for Williams, but Brown and King aren't going to the 4th line, and neither is Williams. It would be great if the Kings could have a Detroit 2002 set up, but it's just not going to happen.

Williams wasn't great last year. The Kings weren't great last year. Changes were coming. Williams, like most of the guys that have said goodbye to the Kings since the Cups started coming, was a free agent. Other then Richards so far, those are the type of players Lombardi reluctantly lets go of. Scuderi, Penner, Mitchell, Richardson, Stoll. And back up goalies, and 13th forwards.

Williams had his chance to stay. Could've signed a contract before the year ended. For whatever reasons, that didn't happen, the Kings missed the playoffs, and guys are going to go.

I have no issue with how it went down from the Kings point of view, or from Williams. Same as Mitchell last year. Same as Scuderi. Everyone has to do what everyone has to do.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Maybe we're just a little too high on ourselves these days.

Probably a little bit of that too, at least going forward. You can be a part of an up and coming team like TB, EDM, etc., or a team that's got cap issues due to already winning like Chi/La. Once you've won a cup, you're likely on the downswing...

I don't think that affected Williams in particular but I agree in principle.

 

[CowMix]

I'm curious what we were offering... Less than 3? Were we even offering at all?

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I'm curious what we were offering... Less than 3? Were we even offering at all?

We offered him a membership in the jelly of the month club. It's the gift that keeps on giving

 

[Fishhead]

That cap's really bleeding us of our special players. From Rich Hammond's Twitter:



Not sure where he is getting his numbers, but this isn't even close to being accurate. We have up to date numbers in the sticky organization chart above.

With Voynov's salary, won't Kopitar and Lucic leave the team at about 69M, while needing to resign or replace Lewis, a backup goalie, and McNabb?

Even if they drop to keep JW, I think it would be too tight.

Or am I reading the charts wrong? Thanks for doing those, btw, super informative.

 

[kingsholygrail]

In Williams phone interview as well, regarding LA, he simply stated "The salary cap is real." Just business. Said he will always have fond memories and his time in LA was the most success he's had in his career. really not a lot different from Lucic's phone interview.

Lotta looking forward. Excited to play a contending team. Praise for past team. Familiarity with area. etc etc Williams mentioned his kid wanted him to play with Ovechkin. Lucic mentioned his daughter going to Disneyland for the first time.

Actually kinda amusing how similar the calls were.