GDT: Training Camp 2023

[KopitarGOAT420]

I wonder how many seasons it’ll take for Byfield to hit 100 career points.

He'll come close this year.

 

[tigermask48]

I will never forget how some here were convinced that the Canadian hockey media were participating in some conspiracy to trick Blake into taking Stutzle so Byfield would go to Ottawa. The way people talked about Stutzle at the time was just so odd, I could not figure out why so many people hated him before the draft had even happened.

Non-traditional hockey country bias. He was a German born player, playing in the DEL versus Byfield who was the good ole Canadian boy.

That's part of why Kopitar fell to the Kings as well. Slovenian born player that played parts of two seasons in Sweden before the draft. There were questions at the draft of how good he'd be seeing as he was from a non-traditional hockey country.

 

[johnjm22]

Byfield is a 6'5 center with speed. It's not hard to see why LA picked him.

I remember some in the hockey media were speculating LA would take Stutzle because Phillip Anschutz has German heritage.

I don't think the leagues these guys played in (DEL vs CHL) had any impact on the King's decision.

 

[Fishhead]

One thing to keep in mind about Spence and Laf, is that they have slightly lower cap hits than Clarke and Kaliyev.

LA's cap hit is about 62K lower with Spence+Laf than with Clarke+Kaliyev in the lineup.

Might sound like a small thing, but every little bit helps.

If anyone plays around with the cap/roster tool on capfriendly for the Kings this year, you'll see just how big this is. I would create a roster and would literally be over by 70K. Swap Turcotte or Clarke out for someone else and I was now compliant.

 

[johnjm22]

Overwhelming majority of us expected Byfield to be the pick:

View results: Who does LA pick at #2

forums.hfboards.com

Significant majority also gave the Kings' 2020 draft an A:

How Would You Grade the Kings' 2020 Draft?

What grade would you give the organization for this past draft? Just curious for thoughts now that we've had 24 hours to let it sink in. Feel free to add your own "+" and "-" to letter grades for more context.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[tigermask48]

The real solution to all these cap woes is Peter Harrold.

He made career of playing Wing and Defense kind of OK sometimes.

 

[johnjm22]

Lots of reasons Laferriere could get the spot over Kaliyev:

-Laf outplayed Kaliyev in camp
-Laf is a much needed right shot, while Kaliyev is a left shot
-Laf has a lower cap hit
-Kaliyev's dumb penalty did himself no favors with the organization.

 

[Fishhead]

Lots of reasons Laferriere could get the spot over Kaliyev:

-Laf outplayed Kaliyev in camp
-Laf is a much needed right shot, while Kaliyev is a left shot
-Laf has a lower cap hit
-Kaliyev's dumb penalty did himself no favors with the organization.

I would add playstyle to this list. Arty looks like a good fit with PLD and Fiala, but Laf looks like an even better fit.

 

[crassbonanza]

Overwhelming majority of us expected Byfield to be the pick:

View results: Who does LA pick at #2

forums.hfboards.com

Significant majority also gave the Kings' 2020 draft an A:

How Would You Grade the Kings' 2020 Draft?

What grade would you give the organization for this past draft? Just curious for thoughts now that we've had 24 hours to let it sink in. Feel free to add your own "+" and "-" to letter grades for more context.

forums.hfboards.com

That was my point. Everyone on here decided Byfield was the pick and decided they disliked Stuztle before the draft even happened. Then when some rumors popped up that the Kings were looking into Stutzle, people said it was only because the Canadian media was just trying to get Byfield to Ottawa. As if the thought of Stutzle possibly being considered was too outlandish to be real. I was open to either player predraft and found the conversation tedious at the time, it was presented as some sort of massive skill gap between the two.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Overwhelming majority of us expected Byfield to be the pick:

View results: Who does LA pick at #2

forums.hfboards.com

Significant majority also gave the Kings' 2020 draft an A:

How Would You Grade the Kings' 2020 Draft?

What grade would you give the organization for this past draft? Just curious for thoughts now that we've had 24 hours to let it sink in. Feel free to add your own "+" and "-" to letter grades for more context.

forums.hfboards.com

At the time, I thought Stutzle fit Blake’s direction. I assumed his top priority was to extend the cup vets window, so he’d take the kid who could step in right away by all accounts.

When QB was picked I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the long term thinking, assuming he would come in right away. But then, a month later, Danault signs. So, at that point, it’s like once again Rob Blake tries to do everything good at once and does nothing great at the end of the day.

 

[Sol]

Overwhelming majority of us expected Byfield to be the pick:

View results: Who does LA pick at #2

forums.hfboards.com

Significant majority also gave the Kings' 2020 draft an A:

How Would You Grade the Kings' 2020 Draft?

What grade would you give the organization for this past draft? Just curious for thoughts now that we've had 24 hours to let it sink in. Feel free to add your own "+" and "-" to letter grades for more context.

forums.hfboards.com

I think the reason most people expected Byfield to go second for the Kings was purely because he was tall and Canadian. There’s a big difference between who goes second vs should go second. I believed the Kings would take Byfield 2nd but I also believed Stutzle was the better player. I don’t know if that makes it easier for you to understand.

I was pretty disappointed for the Byfield pick because he seemed like a long term project and the concept of taking a project at such a high pick seemed moronic to me since it’s a gamble. Unsurprisingly it hasn’t seemed to pay off.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Kings assign Turcotte, Clarke and Laffy to Ontario.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That was my point. Everyone on here decided Byfield was the pick and decided they disliked Stuztle before the draft even happened. Then when some rumors popped up that the Kings were looking into Stutzle, people said it was only because the Canadian media was just trying to get Byfield to Ottawa. As if the thought of Stutzle possibly being considered was too outlandish to be real. I was open to either player predraft and found the conversation tedious at the time, it was presented as some sort of massive skill gap between the two.

You've said this twice now and it's untrue both times and you have linked an entire thread you can view for proof. MOST people said Byfield but it's close and no one 'disliked' Stutzle.

And the canadian media stuff was ottawa fans coming to our board to say dumb shit like "did you hear Stutzle got in an Anschutz limo in Germany" so of course we're going to call that out as stupid and having no impact on the actual decision

People made up their minds on which prospect they liked better and it doesn't mean they 'hated' the other one and I'm sick of this binary bullshit, it was a tough decision either way and you'll only find an extreme minority suggesting otherwise, really poor form to paint the entire forum with one brush especially given how many were vocally choosing Stutzle as well.

 

[Johnny Utah]

So just Riitch and one other player to send down and the Kings are ready.

 

[chris kontos]

Lots of reasons Laferriere could get the spot over Kaliyev:

-Laf outplayed Kaliyev in camp
-Laf is a much needed right shot, while Kaliyev is a left shot
-Laf has a lower cap hit
-Kaliyev's dumb penalty did himself no favors with the organization.

Best thing that could happen to kaliyev would be if this org traded him. Said this before, now after his suspention, he has commited the cardinal sin of exposing his bosses mistakes

 

[YP44]

Lots of reasons Laferriere could get the spot over Kaliyev:

-Laf outplayed Kaliyev in camp
-Laf is a much needed right shot, while Kaliyev is a left shot
-Laf has a lower cap hit
-Kaliyev's dumb penalty did himself no favors with the organization.

I mean $20K difference in cap hit is not really a reason is it? LA cannot do anything with that difference.
Right shot I agree with. I would rather see Grundstrom waived and then have room for both

So just Riitch and one other player to send down and the Kings are ready.

With Kaliyev suspended I normally would think it would be Spence or Clarke down to start. I think Laf earns the opening day start and LA will not want to lose JAD to waivers given they already lost Fagemo. However, LA does not have the cap room to carry an extra player, have laf in and Kaliyev suspended
So do they need to send a D, JAD and Ritich?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

So is LA keeping Spence over Clarke to start the year?

 

[kilowatt]

So is LA keeping Spence over Clarke to start the year?

It appears that Spence has locked up the #3RD spot, yes.

 

[johnjm22]

I mean $20K difference in cap hit is not really a reason is it? LA cannot do anything with that difference.
Right shot I agree with. I would rather see Grundstrom waived and then have room for both

Every bit helps. I don't know the exact calculation, but cap space accrues over the season so it would be more than 20K.

I could be wrong about that.

 

[King'sPawn]

Kings assign Turcotte, Clarke and Laffy to Ontario.

Nice to see Laferriere's hard work rewarded with a demotion. Can't even keep him up because Blake has pinned himself in a corner.

 

[kilowatt]

With Kaliyev suspended I normally would think it would be Spence or Clarke down to start. I think Laf earns the opening day start and LA will not want to lose JAD to waivers given they already lost Fagemo. However, LA does not have the cap room to carry an extra player, have laf in and Kaliyev suspended
So do they need to send a D, JAD and Ritich?

They already sent down Turcotte, Laferriere, and Clarke. All that remains is one of JAD, Bjornfot, or Englund, and then likely Rittich.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Riitch and JAD.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

It appears that Spence has locked up the #3RD spot, yes.

Was it notable for fans that Spence outplayed Clarke?

 

[kilowatt]

Was it notable for fans that Spence outplayed Clarke?

Define notable? I don't think either one was better than the other, but Spence has "paid his dues" and Clarke will be getting hopefully top-pairing minutes in the AHL (although we've seen how well that's worked out for some of our other prospects).

If we weren't so cap-strapped, Clarke would be with the team. We're only carrying 21 players. We still need to make more cuts. It wouldn't even totally surprise me to see Spence sent down as well and play one of Englund or Bjornfot on their off-side.

 

[johnjm22]

So the defense is pretty much set:

Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Roy
Englund-Spence

I really like that group. But I like Englund a lot more than most people so that might be part of it.

It's a balanced 6-man unit.