The Rebuild

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LAKings88

Formerly KOTR
Dec 4, 2006
14,075
6,392
Blackhole
This year has proven to me that the team and Stanley Cup era is officially done.

Aside from Kopi and Doughty, cause I doubt they are moved, everyone should be available and this team should start a full blown rebuild.

I believe it’s time for a youth movement and fresh start. This is the lineup I hope they roll with next year aside from trade additions.

With Hughes:
Kovy(if he stays) Hughes Kupari
Iafallo Kopi Brown (if he stays)
Kempe Vilardi Rempal
Luff JAD Wagner
Clifford

Clague Doughty
Amart Brickley
LaDue Phanuef(no one will take him)
????

Petersen
Campbell

*Hopefully a trade for a decent defenseman happens at the deadline

Trade:
Quick-still has some value to a contender- yep, I said it.

Carter for a late first/defenseman with promise

Muzzin
Forbort
Lewis
Hagelin
Toffoli

Let Thompson walk. Let Fantenberg Walk or trade him/who cares?

Without Hughes maybe you get a guy that can step in. Or slide Kupari back to center.
Probably give Amadio one last chance at center too.

Let the youth movement begin.
 
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This year has proven to me that the team and Stanley Cup era is officially done.

Aside from Kopi and Doughty, cause I doubt they are moved, everyone should be available and this team should start a full blown rebuild.

I believe it’s time for a youth movement and fresh start. This is the lineup I hope they roll with next year aside from trade additions.

With Hughes:
Kovy(if he stays) Hughes Kupari
Iafallo Kopi Brown (if he stays)
Kempe Vilardi Rempal
Luff JAD Wagner
Clifford

Clague Doughty
Amart Brickley
LaDue Phanuef(no one will take him)
????

Petersen
Campbell

*Hopefully a trade for a decent defenseman happens at the deadline

Trade:
Quick-still has some value to a contender- yep, I said it.

Carter for a late first/defenseman with promise

Muzzin
Forbort
Lewis
Hagelin

Let Thompson walk. Let Fantenberg Walk or trade him/who cares?

Without Hughes maybe you get a guy that can step in. Or slide Kupari back to center.
Probably give Amadio one last chance at center too.

Let the youth movement begin.
Right idea but you should add Quick and possibly Brown to guys they won’t move for various reasons... with that said, let’s give money to the Russians and have them come over and also give the kids a chance

Brown - Kopitar -Hughes (think Patrick Kane)
Prokhorkin - Vilardi - Kovalchuk
Kempe - Amadio - Kupari
Iafallo - JAD - Luff

Brickley - Doughty
Forbort - Voynov
Koekkoek - Phaneuf

Quick - Campbell
 
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Kopitar, Brown, Quick, Phaneuf, and maybe even Carter and Kovalchuk are immovable due to their contracts.

Ideally you move:

Carter, Kovalchuk, Toffoli, Muzzin

Kopitar, Brown, and Doughty are likely Kings for life. Brown is likely given a 3 year retirement deal at around 2-3 million when his current contract is up.

Doughty may ask for a trade. No one is taking on Kopitar’s contract.

Lastly, and most importantly, the NHL is not a development league. You can’t just throw a half dozen rookies and sophomores on the team and expect them to progress. They won’t. In fact, they’ll likely stagnate and end up in Europe somewhere.

Voynov will not wear a Kings sweater ever again. Get that out of your heads.

This team needs a major overhaul over a 3-5 year period. There’s no one season “retool” that will fix this team. Their core positions are still filled by aging players taking up too much cap. Maybe the next CBA gives us an out on Kopitar’s contract.

You need to dumpster dive in UFA through 2021 for stopgaps. This will allow prospects like Kupari and JAD plenty of time to develop and slowly integrate into the NHL. The only prospect who could potentially make an immediate impact at the NHL level is Hughes, if we do indeed get him. No one else is remotely close.

We cannot even think about contending again until 21/22. At the point, the following contracts will have ended (if we’re stuck with them):

Brown
Carter
Kovalchuk
Phaneuf

Quick’s contract does not come off the books until 23/24.

Hunker down, develop your prospects, sign your Handzus and Calder and Nagy to serve as stop gaps. It’s not pretty, but it’s the only way to do it.

And pray to god the next CBA gives you some get out of jail free cards.
 
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I would give Kupari and JAD every chance to make the team next year.

I think Carter is actually LA’s best trade chip this year.
 
People are super eager to go back too the black hole days when the Kings ruined just about every prospect trying to catch lightning in a bottle playing 18-19-20 year olds in the NHL with little development.
 
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You better add Doughty to that list...no way he doesn't ask for a trade if this team goes into rebuild mode. For the record, I'm all for blowing this thing up and starting over.
 
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People are super eager to go back too the black hole days when the Kings ruined just about every prospect trying to catch lightning in a bottle playing 18-19-20 year olds in the NHL with little development.
Game is changing. More and more young guys are stepping in and making an impact.
They would still have Kopi, Brown, Doughty, Amart, and Clifford as vets. Kupari is already playing against men. JAD is likely gonna have the WJC and an OHL playoffs.
Vilardi will have AHL/NHL experience. I’d give these guys serious consideration next year.
 
Game is changing. More and more young guys are stepping in and making an impact.
They would still have Kopi, Brown, Doughty, Amart, and Clifford as vets. Kupari is already playing against men. JAD is likely gonna have the WJC and an OHL playoffs.
Vilardi will have AHL/NHL experience. I’d give these guys serious consideration next year.

People said that in 1990's....
 
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People are super eager to go back too the black hole days when the Kings ruined just about every prospect trying to catch lightning in a bottle playing 18-19-20 year olds in the NHL with little development.

People just want change. Even the black hole teams were more exciting to watch. This year is the first in longer than I can remember where i find myself caring less and less about them playing or not.
 
Kopitar, Brown, Quick, Phaneuf, and maybe even Carter and Kovalchuk are immovable due to their contracts.

Ideally you move:

Carter, Kovalchuk, Toffoli, Muzzin

Kopitar, Brown, and Doughty are likely Kings for life. Brown is likely given a 3 year retirement deal at around 2-3 million when his current contract is up.

Doughty may ask for a trade. No one is taking on Kopitar’s contract.

Lastly, and most importantly, the NHL is not a development league. You can’t just throw a half dozen rookies and sophomores on the team and expect them to progress. They won’t. In fact, they’ll likely stagnate and end up in Europe somewhere.

Voynov will not wear a Kings sweater ever again. Get that out of your heads.

This team needs a major overhaul over a 3-5 year period. There’s no one season “retool” that will fix this team. Their core positions are still filled by aging players taking up too much cap. Maybe the next CBA gives us an out on Kopitar’s contract.

You need to dumpster dive in UFA through 2021 for stopgaps. This will allow prospects like Kupari and JAD plenty of time to develop and slowly integrate into the NHL. The only prospect who could potentially make an immediate impact at the NHL level is Hughes, if we do indeed get him. No one else is remotely close.

We cannot even think about contending again until 21/22. At the point, the following contracts will have ended (if we’re stuck with them):

Brown
Carter
Kovalchuk
Phaneuf

Quick’s contract does not come off the books until 23/24.

Hunker down, develop your prospects, sign your Handzus and Calder and Nagy to serve as stop gaps. It’s not pretty, but it’s the only way to do it.

And pray to god the next CBA gives you some get out of jail free cards.

100% agree.

Real Damage being done to Kempe right before our own eyes. He is young so he can turn it around. But I bet the Kings have stunted his growth.
 
It would be a dream if Kopitar, Doughty and Brown demanded trades, but outside Doughty, who would take on the contracts without some other value leaving the Kings.

The only hope we have for getting out early from the anchor players is ltir.
 
Kopitar,Doughty,Brown,Quick.

I don't think these guys are the problem with the roster. They are bar none still high level players, well Quick is probably debatable.

It's the parts surrounding them that have just tanked for all sorts of reasons. The only thing these four players are stopping the Kings from doing is rebuilding due to salary.
 
He played a good amount of games on the wing in the AHL. The holes in his game remain the same on the wing or center. You iron those out in the AHL.
Kempe gets a lot of heat on these boards but the guy hustles and flashes some nice skills more often than not. I still think the potential is there. I think he is the guy that gets traded and blows up elsewhere.
 
Kempe gets a lot of heat on these boards but the guy hustles and flashes some nice skills more often than not. I still think the potential is there. I think he is the guy that gets traded and blows up elsewhere.

Kempe is going to turn it around, the kid is too talented. BUT.....The Kings have done real damage to him by playing him in the NHL too early.
 
Kempe was drafted in 14. Do you feel he should have stayed in Sweden?

I think one more complete season in the AHL would have done him wonders. It's too late now, you have to hope Kempe puts it together.

It's odd too, cause when I run into Kings development people, scouts, out and about talk hockey they always say "More AHL games has never ruined any prospect".
 
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He played a good amount of games on the wing in the AHL. The holes in his game remain the same on the wing or center. You iron those out in the AHL.

Just curious, was this being said last year when he was scoring 16 goals etc? Or is it now being brought to light because lack of production? He has holes in his game, of course...but circumstances seemingly change perspective
 
People are super eager to go back too the black hole days when the Kings ruined just about every prospect trying to catch lightning in a bottle playing 18-19-20 year olds in the NHL with little development.

Someone else mentioned bringing the Russians over too; I think this is the perfect time to bring Porkins over and guarantee him NHL time. once other guys are moved, anyway.

I think with the assets already in the system and a high pick this year (multiple high picks if guys are moved) this thing could get turned around in decently short order.
 
Just curious, was this being said last year when he was scoring 16 goals etc? Or is it now being brought to light because lack of production? He has holes in his game, of course...but circumstances seemingly change perspective

I have been consistent with my criticism of Kempe, and the Kings handling of him. Through this whole development process.
 

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