The Rebuild

[KingsFan7824]

The time to do a deal trading Johansen for Kopitar has passed. The Kings should have been looking at this before Kopitar signed his last deal when it would have been Johansen + a 1st/good prospect for Kopitar.

People can scoff at the idea of trading Kopitar back then, but I will let history be the judge.

The Kings were 1st in the Pacific by 8 points, tied for 3rd in the West with the Blues with 5 games in hand, and tied with the Panthers for 4th overall with 2 games in hand, the day Kopitar signed his deal. It should've been done, had they had the opportunity to get all that in return, but you won't find too many examples in history of a team doing that in that sort of scenario.

 

[KINGS17]

And I'll still scoff at it because Kopitar's worst year is still = RyJo's AVERAGE year. And if we would have moved him when you said to, he'd likely have a Cup and that MVP season with Nashville.

Go ahead and start a poll and see who people would still prefer--Forsberg-Ryjo-Arvidsson or Forsberg-Kopitar-Arvidsson. Good lord that 2nd one.

RyJo is arguably the worst 1C in the league given he's got one elite winger and another good winger at all times. RyJo and a 30th overall pick wouldn't have helped us any more than Kopitar did.

You can scoff all you want, but Ryjo + whatever else the Kings would have received in return are better assets than Kopitar and his boat anchor contract.

 

[KINGS17]

The Kings were 1st in the Pacific by 8 points, tied for 3rd in the West with the Blues with 5 games in hand, and tied with the Panthers for 4th overall with 2 games in hand, the day Kopitar signed his deal. It should've been done, had they had the opportunity to get all that in return, but you won't find too many examples in history of a team doing that in that sort of scenario.

Should have been moved in the off season before he signed his retirement contract.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Should have been moved in the off season before he signed his retirement contract.

That's still a lot to get for a 1 year rental before he's going to sign some huge UFA contract. Plus Johansen was 23 coming off of 2 really good years. Kopitar was coming off his, at the time, worst offensive season. Are the Jackets giving you Johansen and a 1st/good prospect for that, when they have to then re-sign him? The Jackets also finished 23rd overall in 14-15. Jones was eventually better value too, and a straight 1 for 1 trade to boot.

Should've been dealt no later than the summer of 2015, and earlier if possible, but I'm not sure Columbus would've been the team though. At least not for Johansen. You'd want to add Kopitar to him, to get a nice 1-2 punch. Don't want to just go lateral, and get older, and more expensive. Hell, even less productive, with Johansen at 71 points in 14-15, and Kopitar with a stick swinging against a post worthy 64 points.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

On paper, obviously it would have been the right move to trade Kopitar for a huge haul back then. But it’s one of those things that only works in theory and not in application.

No GM in the entire history past present and future of hockey would trade a 28 year old #1 C a year or so removed from two Cups. It’s just not going to happen. Ownership would step in and stop it.

And that’s sort of what happened with Dean and Kopitar. Dean was playing hardball, they were apart, and Luc stepped in to seal the deal.

 

[KingsFan7824]

On paper, obviously it would have been the right move to trade Kopitar for a huge haul back then. But it’s one of those things that only works in theory and not in application.

No GM in the entire history past present and future of hockey would trade a 28 year old #1 C a year or so removed from two Cups. It’s just not going to happen. Ownership would step in and stop it.

And that’s sort of what happened with Dean and Kopitar. Dean was playing hardball, they were apart, and Luc stepped in to seal the deal.

Same with the twins in Vancouver. They signed their last contracts in Nov 2013. Should've been traded no later than the summer of 2013, if not right after the Kings ran them out of the building, but they both wanted to stay. When players want to stay somewhere, they usually do, because talent is hard to find. Even old and declining talent. Teams will want to hold onto any hope of competitiveness. Buffalo should've traded Drury and Briere back in the summer of 2006. They held onto them, did ok, but circumstances led to their loss in the 3rd round. That was the risk they took. Then they both left, and only now, a decade later, are they close to recovering. Had they gotten something for Drury and Briere when they could, instead of worrying about the short term, it may not have been a decade of crap.

Potential success can be a vile temptress though. It can make you do things. We saw that with how much Lombardi had to trade just to get the team he built out of the 1st round. Start trading those 1st round picks, and it snowballs on you. He messed up with the Penner deal, then had to double down, and then had to do it again. Then he did it again, and then even one more time. All because he didn't do the best he could in 2006, messed up in 2007, messed up one of the 2008 picks, traded the 2009 pick, and messed up the 2010 pick.

Winning is tough man. So much has to go right.

 

[KINGS17]

On paper, obviously it would have been the right move to trade Kopitar for a huge haul back then. But it’s one of those things that only works in theory and not in application.

No GM in the entire history past present and future of hockey would trade a 28 year old #1 C a year or so removed from two Cups. It’s just not going to happen. Ownership would step in and stop it.

And that’s sort of what happened with Dean and Kopitar. Dean was playing hardball, they were apart, and Luc stepped in to seal the deal.

Yes, and Dean was right, and Luc is a doofus.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Same with the twins in Vancouver. They signed their last contracts in Nov 2013. Should've been traded no later than the summer of 2013, if not right after the Kings ran them out of the building, but they both wanted to stay. When players want to stay somewhere, they usually do, because talent is hard to find. Even old and declining talent. Teams will want to hold onto any hope of competitiveness. Buffalo should've traded Drury and Briere back in the summer of 2006. They held onto them, did ok, but circumstances led to their loss in the 3rd round. That was the risk they took. Then they both left, and only now, a decade later, are they close to recovering. Had they gotten something for Drury and Briere when they could, instead of worrying about the short term, it may not have been a decade of crap.

Potential success can be a vile temptress though. It can make you do things. We saw that with how much Lombardi had to trade just to get the team he built out of the 1st round. Start trading those 1st round picks, and it snowballs on you. He messed up with the Penner deal, then had to double down, and then had to do it again. Then he did it again, and then even one more time. All because he didn't do the best he could in 2006, messed up in 2007, messed up one of the 2008 picks, traded the 2009 pick, and messed up the 2010 pick.

Winning is tough man. So much has to go right.

Buffalo circa 2006 was just a total failure of forward thinking management. Drury and Briere should have both been locked up.

The 06/07 Sabres were ridiculously loaded, but not loaded enough to absorb the loss of their top two centers. Part of the problem was that management felt they could keep chugging forward with Roy, Vanek, and Afinogenov as their top forwards. They also had a very talented but injury prone center in Tim Connolly.

In the end, they made a choice to give big money to Vanek instead of Drury/Briere.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Buffalo circa 2006 was just a total failure of forward thinking management. Drury and Briere should have both been locked up.

The 06/07 Sabres were ridiculously loaded, but not loaded enough to absorb the loss of their top two centers. Part of the problem was that management felt they could keep chugging forward with Roy, Vanek, and Afinogenov as their top forwards. They also had a very talented but injury prone center in Tim Connolly.

In the end, they made a choice to give big money to Vanek instead of Drury/Briere.

Didn't Drury want to go to the Rangers? I forget. Sort of a childhood dream or whatever? I think it was more of a Panarin situation than not, right? I think Buffalo was forced into giving Vanek that money, or else they would've lost all 3 in a week.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You can scoff all you want, but Ryjo + whatever else the Kings would have received in return are better assets than Kopitar and his boat anchor contract.

No offense K17 but all other things aside, in this particular case, you're going to have a really hard time selling me the idea that a 22-goal, 55-point center and Sam Steel/Trent Frederic/Brett Howden are somehow better for the Kings just because the center is 5 years younger.

 

[KINGS17]

No offense K17 but all other things aside, in this particular case, you're going to have a really hard time selling me the idea that a 22-goal, 55-point center and Sam Steel/Trent Frederic/Brett Howden are somehow better for the Kings just because the center is 5 years younger.

No offense taken RJ. You are never going to convince me the aging, yo-yo performing, Kopitar is worth a cap hit of $10M a season until he reaches age 37.

I would have much rather had the younger assets, which would have given the organization more flexibility. Now they are stiff as a board.

This whole mess is classic Luc Robitaille though, and Uncle Phil never should have put him in charge. I understand why Dean Lombardi was fired and even support it to some degree, but I don't think he would have continued on this road with this core group of players. He knew they were done, he just recognized it too late.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

No offense taken RJ. You are never going to convince me the aging, yo-yo performing, Kopitar is worth a cap hit of $10M a season until he reaches age 37.

I would have much rather had the younger assets, which would have given the organization more flexibility. Now they are stiff as a board.

This whole mess is classic Luc Robitaille though, and Uncle Phil never should have put him in charge. I understand why Dean Lombardi was fired and even support it to some degree, but I don't think he would have continued on this road with this core group of players. He knew they were done, he just recognized it too late.

Similarly, you're not going to convince me the younger-but-only-consistently-mediocre Johansen is worth 8.5 a year until he's 33

 

[KINGS17]

Similarly, you're not going to convince me the younger-but-only-consistently-mediocre Johansen is worth 8.5 a year until he's 33

2013-14	21	CBJ	NHL	82	33	30	63	3	43	26	7	0	5	17	13	0	237	13.9	390	1447	17:39	682	611	52.7	37	114	39	40
2014-15	22	CBJ	NHL	82	26	45	71	-6	40	17	7	2	0	26	19	0	202	12.9	354	1599	19:30	850	787	51.9	33	84	60	53	AS-13
2015-16	23	TOT	NHL	80	14	46	60	6	61	10	4	0	2	28	18	0	185	7.6	300	1405	17:34	652	594	52.3	30	115	38	42
2015-16	23	CBJ	NHL	38	6	20	26	-4	25	5	1	0	0	10	10	0	88	6.8	156	659	17:21	322	294	52.3	12	58	20	22
2015-16	23	NSH	NHL	42	8	26	34	10	36	5	3	0	2	18	8	0	97	8.2	144	746	17:46	330	300	52.4	18	57	18	20
2016-17	24	NSH	NHL	82	14	47	61	1	60	9	4	1	3	28	19	0	154	9.1	276	1545	18:50	803	669	54.6	28	77	38	51
2017-18	25	NSH	NHL	79	15	39	54	13	78	14	1	0	3	23	14	2	129	11.6	211	1466	18:33	810	651	55.4	35	87	46	41
2018-19	26	NSH	NHL	30	5	20	25	5	16	5	0	0	2	13	7	0	52	9.6	79	584	19

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Guess I am not seeing any "inconsistency", or consistently mediocre when he is putting up 60 points every season. Johansen may not be worth the $8.5M in cap hit a season, but it isn't far off. At least his contract is done at age 33.

He is looking to have one of the most productive season of his career this year. On pace for around 15 goals and 50 assists. The guy is consistent from year to year. You would sing Kopitar's praises if he did that.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Didn't Drury want to go to the Rangers? I forget. Sort of a childhood dream or whatever? I think it was more of a Panarin situation than not, right? I think Buffalo was forced into giving Vanek that money, or else they would've lost all 3 in a week.

As far as I can remember, they offered both Drury and Briere identical five year extensions. In the end, both knew they could get more money on the open market, and split. It was just a money decision in the end.

Looking back, they should have let Vanek walk, and split his money between Briere and Drury to keep them happy. Could have continued to roll Drury-Briere-Roy-Gaustad down the middle.

 

[Kingspiracy]

2013-14	21	CBJ	NHL	82	33	30	63	3	43	26	7	0	5	17	13	0	237	13.9	390	1447	17:39	682	611	52.7	37	114	39	40
2014-15	22	CBJ	NHL	82	26	45	71	-6	40	17	7	2	0	26	19	0	202	12.9	354	1599	19:30	850	787	51.9	33	84	60	53	AS-13
2015-16	23	TOT	NHL	80	14	46	60	6	61	10	4	0	2	28	18	0	185	7.6	300	1405	17:34	652	594	52.3	30	115	38	42
2015-16	23	CBJ	NHL	38	6	20	26	-4	25	5	1	0	0	10	10	0	88	6.8	156	659	17:21	322	294	52.3	12	58	20	22
2015-16	23	NSH	NHL	42	8	26	34	10	36	5	3	0	2	18	8	0	97	8.2	144	746	17:46	330	300	52.4	18	57	18	20
2016-17	24	NSH	NHL	82	14	47	61	1	60	9	4	1	3	28	19	0	154	9.1	276	1545	18:50	803	669	54.6	28	77	38	51
2017-18	25	NSH	NHL	79	15	39	54	13	78	14	1	0	3	23	14	2	129	11.6	211	1466	18:33	810	651	55.4	35	87	46	41
2018-19	26	NSH	NHL	30	5	20	25	5	16	5	0	0	2	13	7	0	52	9.6	79	584	19

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Guess I am not seeing any "inconsistency", or consistently mediocre when he is putting up 60 points every season. Johansen may not be worth the $8.5M in cap hit a season, but it isn't far off. At least his contract is done at age 33.

He is looking to have one of the most productive season of his career this year. On pace for around 15 goals and 50 assists. The guy is consistent from year to year. You would sing Kopitar's praises if he did that.

Is that column next to 'games played' for the number of goals or toys thrown out of the cot? If its goals that is pretty lightweight for a 1c isn't it?

 

[KINGS17]

Is that column next to 'games played' for the number of goals or toys thrown out of the cot? If its goals that is pretty lightweight for a 1c isn't it?

Perhaps, but the Preds probably have the most balanced scoring lineup in the NHL. I already said Johansen is a bit overpaid, but he fits under their cap.

 

[KingLB]

Kings17 has a hard on for Johansen I can't figure it out. His point isn't 100% invalid, but you completely lose the plot when that is your counter point. Everything "fits under the cap" so not sure how that is an argument, hell the max contract by rule only can be X percent of the cap

Johansen at 8.5 would be a brutal #1 center on most cup contending teams, but because they are lucky enough to have a decent defense, he all the sudden is more valuable than Kopi? Swap Kopi and Johansen the last few years and Nashville has a ring. And the Kings started their rebuild a year or 2 sooner.

 

[KINGS17]

Kings17 has a hard on for Johansen I can't figure it out. His point isn't 100% invalid, but you completely lose the plot when that is your counter point. Everything "fits under the cap" so not sure how that is an argument, hell the max contract by rule only can be X percent of the cap

Johansen at 8.5 would be a brutal #1 center on most cup contending teams, but because they are lucky enough to have a decent defense, he all the sudden is more valuable than Kopi? Swap Kopi and Johansen the last few years and Nashville has a ring. And the Kings started their rebuild a year or 2 sooner.

...and that would be fine, because with Kopitar on the Kings roster the last two seasons, where are the Kings? Well, this season they are DFL and paying Kopitar a contract with a cap hit of $10M.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

...and that would be fine, because with Kopitar on the Kings roster the last two seasons, where are the Kings? Well, this season they are DFL and paying Kopitar a contract with a cap hit of $10M.

And with Johansen on the Kings roster, we simply blackhole for 1.5 million cheaper, but at least we have another late 1st?

I think your point is strong in general but Johansen as an example is awful.

 

[KINGS17]

And with Johansen on the Kings roster, we simply blackhole for 1.5 million cheaper, but at least we have another late 1st?

I think your point is strong in general but Johansen as an example is awful.

I never insisted on Johansen being the only trade possibility for Kopitar. At least at his age, and with an expiring contract at the age of 33, he would be an asset that could be moved. We certainly can't say that about the captain of team tank. Kopitar barely has a pulse this season.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

And with Johansen on the Kings roster, we simply blackhole for 1.5 million cheaper, but at least we have another late 1st?

I think your point is strong in general but Johansen as an example is awful.

Conversely, over the Summer I posed a question about getting a younger player that had not exactly broken through, but may have untapped potential and could
be pried away in a trade....and it was RacoonJesus that said maybe "Elias Lindholm'...and so it came to pass....he was traded with Noah Hannifin for Michael Freland
and Dougie (i can't stand Dougie as a grownass man's name) Hamilton...and look at Lindholm now? On pace for 40 goals and part of one of the top 4
lines in the NHL! (with Monahan and Johnny Hockey) You know whats interesting about what someone said about Gaudreau? I was watching a Flames
game on Hockey night in Canada and they were talking about that line and showing highlights. Kris Versteeg was on the panel and said that he thinks
what makes Gaudreau so good, was he believes he is the quickest feet / instinct player he has ever seen. Ever. Interesting.

Anyway, RJ nailed it. Too bad the Kings couldn't trade for a player like Lindholm.

Got me to thinking...WHEN was the last time the Kings got a player in a trade UNDER 30 years old that was GOOD. The answer?
Jeff Carter, February, 2012. BINGO. This is a HUGE problem and 1 big reason why the Kings are where they are.

There have been perhaps over 1,000 posts now about what's wrong with the Kings? WHy are they 31st? Why is their offense last?
Why is their no heart? Etc etc. Ad Nauseam.

You can actually reduce the 1000's of posts and breakdowns to 4 things...but does not address the lack of heart, drive, part.

1. Not 1 single player under 30 acquired in a trade of HIGH VALUE since Jeff Carter, 2012.
2. Not 1 single HIGH QUALITY DRAFTED player on current roster since 2014 draftee Adrian Kempe. (and he's just a decent 3rd line player) - not impact player)
3. Not 1 single IMPACTFUL NHL Free Agent Signing since FOREVER. (Kovalchuk cannot count unless he comes back and scores at least 20 goals and should not count because 35 yrs old)
4 This team has COMPLETELY relied on the 2014 Cup core. 4 years on from that, of course EVERY ONE of those players has regressed some. Not 1 of them has improved.
Some should have been traded in the last 2 years!

Just look at those 4 things and that's your answer.

Had there been 1 quality player had in a trade, 1 quality draft choice since 2015 playing top 6 Offense or Top 4 D and 1 QUALITY Free Agent,
the Kings would probably be above 500 at this moment. But they have FAILED.

The only area they have done well in, is signing college and CHL free agents - Iafallo, Petersen and Luff...but none of them are really impact
players yet. Truth be known, there are hopes for JAD, Kupari, Thomas, Clague, Brickley....but that's to be seen.
RJ, why couldn't you have been ast GM and got Lindholm? Who are others out there now, like Lindholm? Under 24 and hovering
around 15 goals a year and can play....and needs a change?

 

[tomd]

Conversely, over the Summer I posed a question about getting a younger player that had not exactly broken through, but may have untapped potential and could
be pried away in a trade....and it was RacoonJesus that said maybe "Elias Lindholm'...and so it came to pass....he was traded with Noah Hannifin for Michael Freland
and Dougie (i can't stand Dougie as a grownass man's name) Hamilton...and look at Lindholm now? On pace for 40 goals and part of one of the top 4
lines in the NHL! (with Monahan and Johnny Hockey) You know whats interesting about what someone said about Gaudreau? I was watching a Flames
game on Hockey night in Canada and they were talking about that line and showing highlights. Kris Versteeg was on the panel and said that he thinks
what makes Gaudreau so good, was he believes he is the quickest feet / instinct player he has ever seen. Ever. Interesting.

Anyway, RJ nailed it. Too bad the Kings couldn't trade for a player like Lindholm.

Got me to thinking...WHEN was the last time the Kings got a player in a trade UNDER 30 years old that was GOOD. The answer?
Jeff Carter, February, 2012. BINGO. This is a HUGE problem and 1 big reason why the Kings are where they are.

There have been perhaps over 1,000 posts now about what's wrong with the Kings? WHy are they 31st? Why is their offense last?
Why is their no heart? Etc etc. Ad Nauseam.

You can actually reduce the 1000's of posts and breakdowns to 4 things...but does not address the lack of heart, drive, part.

1. Not 1 single player under 30 acquired in a trade of HIGH VALUE since Jeff Carter, 2012.
2. Not 1 single HIGH QUALITY DRAFTED player on current roster since 2014 draftee Adrian Kempe. (and he's just a decent 3rd line player) - not impact player)
3. Not 1 single IMPACTFUL NHL Free Agent Signing since FOREVER. (Kovalchuk cannot count unless he comes back and scores at least 20 goals and should not count because 35 yrs old)
4 This team has COMPLETELY relied on the 2014 Cup core. 4 years on from that, of course EVERY ONE of those players has regressed some. Not 1 of them has improved.
Some should have been traded in the last 2 years!

Just look at those 4 things and that's your answer.

Had there been 1 quality player had in a trade, 1 quality draft choice since 2015 playing top 6 Offense or Top 4 D and 1 QUALITY Free Agent,
the Kings would probably be above 500 at this moment. But they have FAILED.

The only area they have done well in, is signing college and CHL free agents - Iafallo, Petersen and Luff...but none of them are really impact
players yet. Truth be known, there are hopes for JAD, Kupari, Thomas, Clague, Brickley....but that's to be seen.
RJ, why couldn't you have been ast GM and got Lindholm? Who are others out there now, like Lindholm? Under 24 and hovering
around 15 goals a year and can play....and needs a change?

What can the Kings give in return for that "change of scenery" player? You won't give picks or prospects so that leaves the current roster. Who is interesting on the current roster that would return the type of player you want? Toffoli? Older and more expensive...teams might as well keep the young player they have. Muzzin or Martinez? Maybe but would have to be the right team. Anyone else over 30? Forget about it.

So what would you be willing to offer for that next Lindholm that the other team would be willing to accept. Please be realistic. Don't insult us all by saying Carter.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

What can the Kings give in return for that "change of scenery" player? You won't give picks or prospects so that leaves the current roster. Who is interesting on the current roster that would return the type of player you want? Toffoli? Older and more expensive...teams might as well keep the young player they have. Muzzin or Martinez? Maybe but would have to be the right team. Anyone else over 30? Forget about it.

So what would you be willing to offer for that next Lindholm that the other team would be willing to accept. Please be realistic. Don't insult us all by saying Carter.

You're entitled to your opinion but it's not insulting at all to disagree with you. You've gotten progressively more aggressive with this and it needs to stop.

Frankly I can't think of someone like Lindholm right now, but I'm all ears for who it could be in theory, because that would make for a better discussion. Of course in retrospect Lindholm has a ton of value but leading up to his trade he was extremely that guy who may have plateaued at 40 points.

Assets on the current roster, keeping in mind that you need to consider the context, depressed production due to crap team:


--Toffoli is only 26 and in his production prime. Scored 24 last year in a 'down' year, former 30 goal scorer. Signed at a very reasonable 4.6 this season and next. I've seen much lesser players get a 1st.
--Carter--age and injury is a gamble, but you've seen my case for Carter.
--Quick--youth and situation is making him a potential target. Experience, great mentality, best money goalie in the league, and you've seen my case for similar goalies.
--Alec Martinez--Versatile, all situations, clutch, experience. Teams have been hunting top-4 guys forever, here's one that can fit almost any random hole, for 4 million for the next two years.
--Muzzin--less versatile, but better overall as a high-minute complement. Can't think of many contenders that need another LHD though. But he'd be the 2nd best d-man on most teams.
--Forbort--meh, depth, but you could do worse.
--Clifford--RIP
--Thompson--he's really pumped his value recently imo, shown he can play bigger minutes, probably wouldn't bring back a super high pick but a late 2nd would be gold for him.
--Trevor Lewis--versatile vet depth with the ability to pump in key goals
--Carl Hagelin--see above, but with rocket skates and even better defensive IQ
--LaDue--Could see someone gambling on upside, but most teams have better offensive d-men, but if he's not going to get used here might as well try to get something.


Won't be moved:
--Dustin Brown--15 points in 20 games on the season is getting ignored, stanley cup captain experience, exactly the kind of heart a team would want. Imagine adding Brown to Tampa Bay or any other team that needs a presence like his.
--Kovalchuk is a hell of a wild card, I don't think he's getting moved for a variety of reasons.
-Doughty, Kopitar

Better not be moved: Iafallo, Kempe, Amadio, all the other 'true' kids like Luff

Everyone else can get f***ing bent.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Wow great post.

Still don’t know what Blake was doing when he traded Pearson for Hagelin.

He did the right thing by picking up two young guys on waivers especially one who is a former 1st rounder. If Sherbak sticks around it is almost as if the Kings had two firsts in 2014.

The only thing exciting is the young players like Wagner, Luff, Sherbak, Kempe. I was at the last two home games and only bothered watching those players.

The Kings have 5 D in there 20s but no one under 26. Does that seem strange that no other young D has consistently cracked the line up since Forbort? LaDue is in and out of the line up.

 

[Reaper45]

You're entitled to your opinion but it's not insulting at all to disagree with you. You've gotten progressively more aggressive with this and it needs to stop.

Frankly I can't think of someone like Lindholm right now, but I'm all ears for who it could be in theory, because that would make for a better discussion. Of course in retrospect Lindholm has a ton of value but leading up to his trade he was extremely that guy who may have plateaued at 40 points.

Assets on the current roster, keeping in mind that you need to consider the context, depressed production due to crap team:


--Toffoli is only 26 and in his production prime. Scored 24 last year in a 'down' year, former 30 goal scorer. Signed at a very reasonable 4.6 this season and next. I've seen much lesser players get a 1st.
--Carter--age and injury is a gamble, but you've seen my case for Carter.
--Quick--youth and situation is making him a potential target. Experience, great mentality, best money goalie in the league, and you've seen my case for similar goalies.
--Alec Martinez--Versatile, all situations, clutch, experience. Teams have been hunting top-4 guys forever, here's one that can fit almost any random hole, for 4 million for the next two years.
--Muzzin--less versatile, but better overall as a high-minute complement. Can't think of many contenders that need another LHD though. But he'd be the 2nd best d-man on most teams.
--Forbort--meh, depth, but you could do worse.
--Clifford--RIP
--Thompson--he's really pumped his value recently imo, shown he can play bigger minutes, probably wouldn't bring back a super high pick but a late 2nd would be gold for him.
--Trevor Lewis--versatile vet depth with the ability to pump in key goals
--Carl Hagelin--see above, but with rocket skates and even better defensive IQ
--LaDue--Could see someone gambling on upside, but most teams have better offensive d-men, but if he's not going to get used here might as well try to get something.


Won't be moved:
--Dustin Brown--15 points in 20 games on the season is getting ignored, stanley cup captain experience, exactly the kind of heart a team would want. Imagine adding Brown to Tampa Bay or any other team that needs a presence like his.
--Kovalchuk is a hell of a wild card, I don't think he's getting moved for a variety of reasons.
-Doughty, Kopitar

Better not be moved: Iafallo, Kempe, Amadio, all the other 'true' kids like Luff

Everyone else can get ****ing bent.

I want the Kings to keep the same group and add Quick, though I'm less than 100% on keeping Kopitar.