How does Kyle Conner help the Los Angeles Kings win in Stanley Cup in 2016?
He doesn't. I shouldn't have brought up the Lucic deal....when post should have been only about the state of assets to deal now...but the Voynov debacle led to having to trade an top asset #1 pick to replace him with Sekera and then Williams needed to be replaced and Lucic was an upgrade, but took a #1 and Jones and Colin Miller to get him...so assets were dealt to keep up with departures. Since Richards and Stoll were about worthless last year, even Shore / Andreoff could replace them.
The above left DL short of assets to do something now, as the #1 picks in 15 and 16 were to help replace Voynov and Williams....the only thing that could have helped, is if some players emerged to a higher level...be it ANYONE. Not one of Pearson, King, Lewis, Clifford, Nolan, McNabb, Shore, Andreoff, at the NHL level, or supposed high ceiling types like Zykov has raised their game this year. Guys like Forbort, Gravel, Dowd, Auger have developed somewhat...but not a leap by anyone.
Shouldn't even mention Lewis or Nolan, cuz they will not get any better...there was hope that Clifford would become more. His skating improved the last 2 years, but that's all.
I mean a 'leap' like Muzzin, Voynov, Toffoli type of leap that they made by their 2nd year. The Kings have needed 1 or more to make that kind of leap and no one has.
As in King or Pearson emergng to a 20 goal scorer. If one of them was producing like that, may not even need a top 6 forward now...or Zykov stepping into Ontario and scoring 20 goals and ready for a callup, ala Toffoli of 3 yrs ago. Sure, even if Zykov was scoring 20 in Ontario, he may not be ready to make an impact, but at least he would be able to be a top tradeable asset. Mersch may have improved some, but not by a leap, since last year. Most every NHL team has 1-2 players that really emerge to the next level every year and no one on the Kings has. This has not helped the situation.
