The Kings are.. oof

[Choralone]

While they have a competitive roster now, they've obliterated their pipeline. Its basically just Byfield and Clarke. The Kings have some critical thinking to do.

Liam Greentree is looking promising, too, but yeah, pretty much.

 

[BaileyFan]

The kings are built to be the NSH Preds of 2019-2024 where they were mostly a good reg season team but got out in R1 of playoffs.

Most people outside of LA don’t know this but Blake said very early on into his “rebuild” that he envisioned the Predators as the franchise that he wanted to model the Kings after. Almost a decade later, he sure seems to have succeeded.

 

[byrath]

No one is going to blow up a playoff competitive team, not even worth discussing outside the hockey sim forum

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

I think the Kings are a good team and made intelligent changes in the prior off-season and in-season, IMO they were far more competitive and scary this season then they were last season and wouldn't take much more to break through.

I think stylistically the Kings lock down defense style just doesn't work against the Oilers, it's one of the few teams that can seemingly overpower and break nearly any defensive gameplan, the Oilers weakness is more fast and aggressive forechecking, rather than trap defense.

Then the secondary issue is the mental toll repeated losses to the Oil have had on the team, their confidence seems fragile when things aren't going their way (especially against the Oil).

Thirdly just some dumb decisions by Hiller these playoffs, really made it extra hard on the Kings.

I know in the East the Kings are talked about as some joke team cause they keep getting bounced in the first round, but in the West I feel like there is a lot more respect for what is a very capable team.

IMO the Kings are good enough that based on the respective 1st round performances this season I think they could of beaten: WPG (Hellebuyck sucked), STL, MIN, OTT, MTL, NJD (critical injuries), and WSH (the last one is controversial, but I generally bet against teams with unsustainably high PDOs).

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think the Kings are a good team and made intelligent changes in the prior off-season and in-season, IMO they were far more competitive and scary this season then they were last season and wouldn't take much more to break through.

I think stylistically the Kings lock down defense style just doesn't work against the Oilers, it's one of the few teams that can seemingly overpower and break nearly any defensive gameplan, the Oilers weakness is more fast and aggressive forechecking, rather than trap defense.

Then the secondary issue is the mental toll repeated losses to the Oil have had on the team, their confidence seems fragile when things aren't going their way (especially against the Oil).

Thirdly just some dumb decisions by Hiller these playoffs, really made it extra hard on the Kings.

I know in the East the Kings are talked about as some joke team cause they keep getting bounced in the first round, but in the West I feel like there is a lot more respect for what is a very capable team.

IMO the Kings are good enough that based on the respective 1st round performances this season I think they could of beaten: WPG (Hellebuyck sucked), STL, MIN, OTT, MTL, NJD (critical injuries), and WSH (the last one is controversial, but I generally bet against teams with unsustainably high PDOs).

This is the biggest things really

This season was a much much better version fo the Kings...but it's too little too late to get this kind of result regardless of opponent.

Someone earlier asked if they'd fare better against anyone but edmonton and the answer is 'yes,' Edmonton even during the season routinely destroyed their system. The other team that does similar is Colorado--McDavid/Draisaitl and MacKinnon/Makar just dismantle the Kings all by themselves. But I would have liked their chances vs. any other playoff team--they won the season series vs. all the top contenders. 3-0 vs. winnipeg with 10 goals for and 3 against. 3-1 vs. Vegas. 2-0 vs. Carolina. 2-1 vs. Dallas. 2-1 Minny.

None of that is an excuse--like I said, too little too late. It's a results oriented business and the Kings have the longest streak in their history and the third longest in the league without a playoff round victory.

But to OP--there is one very big very obvious difference between the Kings and Leafs and until that changes you can stuff it with the critique of other franchises' lack of success being an oof.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Honestly I could see the Kings going on a deep run if they could just avoid the Oilers, they are absolutely owned mentally by McDavid and Draisaitl

 

[Peasy]

Gee, I wonder what spawned this thread. Probably some envy that your favorite team's "best" player isnt as good as Kempe despite having double the cap hit

Put this version of the Kings in the east and they'd have an ECF by now.

Arent the Leafs your favourite team too?

Maybe if Kempe could be half the player of Matthews 5 on 5 in the playoffs he might win a series.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Honestly I could see the Kings going on a deep run if they could just avoid the Oilers, they are absolutely owned mentally by McDavid and Draisaitl

They don’t have the high end players for that. They are third best team in a bad division. That’s basically all there is to it.

 

[TheNewEra]

rumor of the kings being interested in ken holland

if that happens all former ken holland players gain a lot in trade value

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Arent the Leafs your favourite team too?

Maybe if Kempe could be half the player of Matthews 5 on 5 in the playoffs he might win a series.

Kempe regular season pace - 25g, 52pts (over last few years since his emergence that's 35g 69p, to make it more fair maybe)
Kempe playoffs pace - 44g, 85pts

Matthews reg season - 52g, 94pts
Matthews playoffs pace - 33g, 73pts

One guy elevates, one wilts. One's on a 5.5 cap hit, one's on 13.25.

let's put down the delusions on 'half the player' stuff and watch some west coast hockey, Kempe had a bad year and STILL put up 4 goals and 10 pints in 6 games, this is the only season it was significantly PP instead of 5v5, hell everyone should know how bad the Kings PP was the last few years, suggesting he's feasting on the PP is just dishonest

Edmonton fans hate us and they'll still tell you the same.

 

[eojsmada]

To add to the "OOF", Sportsnet is saying that Ken Holland is emerging as a candidate to be their GM. LOL.

Ken Holland emerging as candidate to become Kings general manager

Former Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland has emerged as a candidate for the same role with the Kings, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's 32 Thoughts Podcast.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[acor]

Same as San Jose's and Chicago's step 2's.

Suck for 8+years?

 

[gary559]

Still think Clarke is going to be a stud.

 

[Osprey]

To add to the "OOF", Sportsnet is saying that Ken Holland is emerging as a candidate to be their GM. LOL.

I can't help but think that a large reason why he's a candidate is that he built the team that the Kings keep losing to in the playoffs. If you can't beat 'em, hire their former GM and hope he knows how to beat 'em, I guess. They did sign Warren Foegle last Summer, so they're definitely not above trying to emulate the team that they're having trouble with.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I can't help but think that a large reason why he's a candidate is that he built the team that the Kings keep losing to in the playoffs. If you can't beat 'em, hire their former GM and hope he knows to beat 'em, I guess. They did sign Warren Foegle last Summer, so they're definitely not above trying to emulate the team that they're having trouble with.

It would also be another Luc nepo-adjacent hire, because Holland was his GM in Detroit.

These guys just can't get away from their safety blankets.

 

[PeteWorrell]

It would also be another Luc nepo-adjacent hire, because Holland was his GM in Detroit.

These guys just can't get away from their safety blankets.

You have to keep your friends employed so that they may return the favor some day.

 

[Strangle]

Where do you think they finish next season after trading those players? Reminder that they had 105 points this season. As of right now, who would you picked in the 2025 draft with the 12th overall pick who will be a difference maker to (see below) in the rebuild around Byfield?

Cool. Step 2, they are now rebuilding around a player who scored 54 points in his draft+5 season. What's step 3?

Sign Mitch Marner in UFA and off sheet Matthew knies

 

[Dolemite]

For all the smack talk Leafs got about consistently losing to Boston, and running back with the same core “the definition of insanity”..

This kings team is brutal. 4 straight years of losing to the oilers who have started sieves in net, including this year where career backup/AHL goalie Calvin Pickard 4-0’s them.

Since 2015 they have either missed the playoffs or lost in the first round.

At what point do we stop ignoring this teams faults and ask if they should blow it up?

That’s why they cleaned house. That front office staff didn’t have the knowledge to build a winner. They never should have hired from within. They need an outside hire to take them to the next level.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Is the OP really comparing the Kings to the Leafs? People actually care about the Leafs. The LA media can't not find a way to put the Sacramento Kings logo on the screen when talking about the LA Kings.