If gaborik doesn't score another goal or get another point from here on out, I'm cool with it. I'm sold.
WCSF Gm 5 ... too little too late
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If gaborik doesn't score another goal or get another point from here on out, I'm cool with it. I'm sold.
Winger23
Registered User
- May 3, 2007
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Mitchell and RR kill penalties in which I think the ducks were 4 of 7 in this series or something like that. Yes they are slow, but Mitchell is quite good on the PK. Having to have voynov and muzzin kill penalties is hurting....
Reclamation Project
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Winger23
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Reclamation Project
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KK is not a big game player. When the going gets rough he buckles like a soda can in traffic.
DocWest
Rock Bottom
I think I'd go as far as 3 years for Gaborik, but anything longer than that is risky. Re-signing him is so important because it's bigger than just him. While Gaborik has contributed a ton of goals for us in the Playoffs, he's also allowed Kopitar to play much better.
Lombardi also needs to find one more player for that line and then it will be one of the most dangerous lines in the whole league.
Lombardi also needs to find one more player for that line and then it will be one of the most dangerous lines in the whole league.
Reclamation Project
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Herby
How could Blake have known?
I hope I'm wrong, but I have already set myself up for disappointment when it comes to signing Gaborik. Not only has he put up the numbers but he has looked fantastic, not only in open ice but he has been winning puck battles along the boards and looks adequate defensively.
I just feel like if he hits the open market someone is going to open the vault for this guy, he is a legit star sniper on the wing, yes he has injury concerns in the past but when healthy he is the most dynamic player we have had here since Ziggy. His position also scares me because we know DL's previous stance on wingers.
I just feel like if he hits the open market someone is going to open the vault for this guy, he is a legit star sniper on the wing, yes he has injury concerns in the past but when healthy he is the most dynamic player we have had here since Ziggy. His position also scares me because we know DL's previous stance on wingers.
Yeah no one is gonna keep a player solely for their PK abilities. That's something the kings can learn without them in the off season and other new players. Not gonna keep Mitchell because he's good at PK.
DocWest
Rock Bottom
I wonder if the fact that Lombardi talked to Gaborik's agent before trading for him will help him lean our way? I would hate to lose him. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
Reclamation Project
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I think he stays. He seems very happy here and loves playing with Kopitar. Dean has also said numerous times that he wants to re-sign him. We'll see soon enough how much he wants to play for a contender.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Sorry to single you out, but it just shocks me that someone would actually want 10 and 77 together in any capacity. Like I tell RP, they are like bleach and ammonia when paired together.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Those talks were also before Gaborik's end of season and playoff performance.
I think I know what his value will be around the league, and while he may give the Kings a small discount he is not going to leave millions on the table in what is likely going to be his last significant payday as an NHL player.
I just don't know if Dean is going to have the space to match what others will be offering. We know Dean's #1 priority is going to be fixing the defense and then it's going to be fixing the team down the middle. And while to me it's obvious where the cap space should come from and while it appears to be a no brainer I still question whether Dean will be able to actually cut loose one of his "boys" from 2012, no matter how far their game has fallen.
Reclamation Project
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Trim the fat on this team and there would be zero problems re-signing him. Hopefully he doesn't get away at the expense of keeping some others.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
If the Kings are successful in re-signing Gaborik, they have 12 signed forwards, 5 signed defensemen, and 2 signed goaltenders returning.
We don't know what the cap ceiling is going to be yet, but if it is $68M, then the Kings would have about $10M in cap space to re-sign Gaborik and to make upgrades throughout the roster.
If the cap is at $71M, they'll have slightly over $13M in cap space to make improvements and retain Gaborik.
Before we get to July 1, I think Lombardi takes care of Gaborik and then on July 1 will make some pitches towards the top UFA dmen.
We don't know what the cap ceiling is going to be yet, but if it is $68M, then the Kings would have about $10M in cap space to re-sign Gaborik and to make upgrades throughout the roster.
If the cap is at $71M, they'll have slightly over $13M in cap space to make improvements and retain Gaborik.
Before we get to July 1, I think Lombardi takes care of Gaborik and then on July 1 will make some pitches towards the top UFA dmen.
Buddy The Elf
Kings!
This is going to limit the market for him and this year's trade deadline is case and point.
Gaborik has played one 82 game season in his career and had a few in the high 70's. The bottom line is he is a major injury concern. So while he is a very productive player when healthy, a lot of teams aren't likely willing to gamble on him being healthy. Hell, the Kings are probably one of them. That fits right into DL's cheap mindset of buying low. That is probably why he traded for him. He probably knows the market is depressed, knows Gaborik wants to be on a winner and Gaborik (and his significant other - if he has one) has had the past 3 months and maybe some of the upcoming summer to fall in love with the area.
I would wager money on two things this summer: Gaborik will re-sign with the Kings and Richards won't be bought out. Gaborik is playing with (arguably) the best center he has ever played with and one of the better (or best) teams he's ever played on it. When you include what I wrote above, there are a lot of reason for him to stay here.
Richards likely still has value to be traded and will be moved to another team if DL chooses to move him. If Shawn Horcoff can be moved, so can Richards. That's my opinion. I know you don't agree with it so no need to argue with me. The Kings may have to sweeten the pot but a team like Edmonton or Calgary would more than likely take a gamble on him returning to some semblance of the player he was.
deeshamrock
Registered User
The positves are that he seems to like it in LA, the team, the area, etc. He's playing on an elite team with one of the best centers on the planet. And I think that 6.5 is fair.
The thing is, at his age, most players want stability. He'll be 33 next year and I'm guessing, like most players who are shopping, he'll want 5 or 6 years. I'm not sure DL would bite, as Gaborik has only played one complete season in about 10 years and DL is not the type to sign somebody that long at that age.
But that might be what keeps him in LA, that GM's know his long list of injuries. And the Kings do have a physical style, more than he's been used to and it might affect him.
I think 3 years would be the most DL would go. Hopefully, Gabby sees it that way as well.
But I think he'll at least field offers, to see if anybody else is biting. And they might...
bmr
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- Jan 23, 2013
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It's pretty obvious to me at this point what this team's deficiencies are:
1. Not enough skill in the bottom 6. Lewis had a pretty below average regular season, but boy does he step up in the playoffs. We have to believe that Dean understands what he has in this player. Aside from that, the Kings are really not getting the production they need from their other guys. Clifford/Stoll/Richards/King are not doing much. I don't care as much with Stoll since he's a great faceoff guy, good leader and was very physical in the San Jose series..but those other guys - not good. There is a lot of pressure on Kopitar/Gaborik to score and they can't do it all the time. I think it makes sense for us to offer Moller a contract. I think smaller guys are underrated and can still provide a lot to the team. Look at how well Weal/Obrien/Oneill did on Manchester and those guys are SMALL. Theo Fleury proved that you can be a small guy and thrive in this league.
2. Not enough speed on defense. The Kings get exposed against teams like Chicago, Anaheim and Colorado with the lack of speed/puck movement in the backend. Kudos to Murray for adding guys like Vatanan and Lindholm. Those guys are gonna be great in this league for years to come. Next year, i'd like to see the Kings change it up. Regehr, Greene and Schultz drive me nuts. I'd keep Mitchell if I was going to keep anyone. McNabb/Bodnarchuk/Campbell should get looks next year. Muzzin and Martinez had a couple boneheaded plays last night, and aside from Doughty..Voynov has looked pretty average at best. Disappointing. I'll tell you one thing - defense wins championships. As unbeatable as Colorado looked with MacKinnon and company, it was ultimately Minnesota's defense that won that series. Kings need to focus on getting back to that.
It is obvious to me that if the Kings somehow manage to get by the Ducks, they will not get by Chicago with their current lineup. If Sutter has the cajones, I would insert some different defensive pairs for the next game and throw a monkey wrench at Boudreau. Need to see something different out there.
1. Not enough skill in the bottom 6. Lewis had a pretty below average regular season, but boy does he step up in the playoffs. We have to believe that Dean understands what he has in this player. Aside from that, the Kings are really not getting the production they need from their other guys. Clifford/Stoll/Richards/King are not doing much. I don't care as much with Stoll since he's a great faceoff guy, good leader and was very physical in the San Jose series..but those other guys - not good. There is a lot of pressure on Kopitar/Gaborik to score and they can't do it all the time. I think it makes sense for us to offer Moller a contract. I think smaller guys are underrated and can still provide a lot to the team. Look at how well Weal/Obrien/Oneill did on Manchester and those guys are SMALL. Theo Fleury proved that you can be a small guy and thrive in this league.
2. Not enough speed on defense. The Kings get exposed against teams like Chicago, Anaheim and Colorado with the lack of speed/puck movement in the backend. Kudos to Murray for adding guys like Vatanan and Lindholm. Those guys are gonna be great in this league for years to come. Next year, i'd like to see the Kings change it up. Regehr, Greene and Schultz drive me nuts. I'd keep Mitchell if I was going to keep anyone. McNabb/Bodnarchuk/Campbell should get looks next year. Muzzin and Martinez had a couple boneheaded plays last night, and aside from Doughty..Voynov has looked pretty average at best. Disappointing. I'll tell you one thing - defense wins championships. As unbeatable as Colorado looked with MacKinnon and company, it was ultimately Minnesota's defense that won that series. Kings need to focus on getting back to that.
It is obvious to me that if the Kings somehow manage to get by the Ducks, they will not get by Chicago with their current lineup. If Sutter has the cajones, I would insert some different defensive pairs for the next game and throw a monkey wrench at Boudreau. Need to see something different out there.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
That is not very much space, because if this team wants to contend in 2015 they need a #2 or #3 d-man and the going rate for those guys starts at 4+ million.
Plus, we need to be forward thinking, Martinez is an UFA after next season and his re-signing looks pretty important, same thing with Muzzin.
Plus, even with Gaborik the Kings have a hole in the top six because I don't think we can count on Brown or Williams next season.
This is what I hope the template of the roster looks like...
FORWARDS
UFA Forward / Anze Kopitar ($6.800m) / Marian Gaborik ($6.500m)
Tanner Pearson ($0.736m) / Jeff Carter ($5.273m) / Tyler Toffoli ($0.717m)
Dustin Brown ($5.875m) / Jarret Stoll ($3.250m) / Justin Williams ($3.650m)
Andy Andreoff ($0.605m) / Linden Vey ($0.900m) / Trevor Lewis ($1.525m)
Jordan Nolan ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Drew Doughty ($7.000m) / Jake Muzzin ($1.000m)
Alec Martinez ($1.100m) / UFA Defenseman
Robyn Regehr ($3.000m) / Slava Voynov ($4.167m)
Brayden McNabb ($0.788m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Quick ($5.800m)
Martin Jones ($0.550m)
BUYOUTS
Mike Richards ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $70,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $59,934,394; BONUSES: $342,500
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $10,065,606
This gives the Kings anywhere from $8 to $11 Million in cap space to try and solve the defense and the hole on the top six. I have left wing as the hole but the Kings have quite a bit of flexibility with Carter being able to play C or RW, it gives Dean the option of pursuing a C or even a RW if he feels that is the best fit. The Kings could always have the new guy center Pearson and Carter for example and let TT play with Gaborik and Kopitar. Dean can sign any position and the Kings have the flexibility to make it work.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Buddy,
Very valid points about the injuries, but teams are so desperate for a guy like Gaborik that they are willing to roll the dice, especially coming off a dominant playoffs. He is certainly the type of player that could put a team over the top. Guys with his skillset just don't hit UFA much anymore.
As for Richards, well you guessed it, I disagree. People are always quick to throw out Calgary and Edmonton, and perhaps if MR had two years left you would be right, but teams like Cgy and Edm, internally atleast, have to feel like they will be contenders in the next four years and the last thing a contending team needs is 34 year old Mike Richards (there is a scary thought) taking up all that cap space right as the team is ready to contend, look at the Kings for further proof we had Ryan Smyth a guy who could barely move taking up $6 million in cap space right as the team was ready to make a move towards contending, and had Smyth not been selfish and wanted out the Kings probably wouldn't have had the space to make the moves in 2012 that lead them to the cup. And you mention Horcoff being traded, Horcoff had two years and $11 million left, quite a bit different than 6 years at $34.5 left. Horcoff's contract was bad, MR's is hideous.
Let's just pretend for a second that MR was an UFA on July 1st, do you think anyone would offer him a six year, $34 million contract? I feel like the answer is an obvious no, so why would they give up assets for him? There very well could be a trade, but it's not going to be the Kings getting back a young defenseman to help us, it's going to be Dean swapping MR for another bad contract, and I am really not sure that helps the Kings, I'd rather just have the free almost $6 mill to spend.
Very valid points about the injuries, but teams are so desperate for a guy like Gaborik that they are willing to roll the dice, especially coming off a dominant playoffs. He is certainly the type of player that could put a team over the top. Guys with his skillset just don't hit UFA much anymore.
As for Richards, well you guessed it, I disagree. People are always quick to throw out Calgary and Edmonton, and perhaps if MR had two years left you would be right, but teams like Cgy and Edm, internally atleast, have to feel like they will be contenders in the next four years and the last thing a contending team needs is 34 year old Mike Richards (there is a scary thought) taking up all that cap space right as the team is ready to contend, look at the Kings for further proof we had Ryan Smyth a guy who could barely move taking up $6 million in cap space right as the team was ready to make a move towards contending, and had Smyth not been selfish and wanted out the Kings probably wouldn't have had the space to make the moves in 2012 that lead them to the cup. And you mention Horcoff being traded, Horcoff had two years and $11 million left, quite a bit different than 6 years at $34.5 left. Horcoff's contract was bad, MR's is hideous.
Let's just pretend for a second that MR was an UFA on July 1st, do you think anyone would offer him a six year, $34 million contract? I feel like the answer is an obvious no, so why would they give up assets for him? There very well could be a trade, but it's not going to be the Kings getting back a young defenseman to help us, it's going to be Dean swapping MR for another bad contract, and I am really not sure that helps the Kings, I'd rather just have the free almost $6 mill to spend.
KingsFan7824
Registered User
- Dec 4, 2003
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We'll probably know about Gaborik quickly. The closer it gets to July 1st, the more likely he'll test the market, and the more likely he'll go somewhere else. It's up to him. Same way it was up to Futa. I think Gaborik knows what he has with the Kings at this point. He's got a 1st line center. He doesn't have to be the only guy, although you wouldn't know that from this Anaheim series. He's got a team where too many guys haven't had even good years, and they still made the playoffs, still fought through a 1st round, and are still alive in the 2nd.
If Gaborik wants to be back, both sides will find a way to make it work.
If Gaborik wants to be back, both sides will find a way to make it work.
Ollie Weeks
the sea does not dream of you
- Feb 28, 2008
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I agree with everything you said. Gaborik was wanted, he was acquired under hopeful/positive circumstances, and he's been playing the hero for us ever since. I don't think he'll want to give that up. I also think its not so much about DL under-appreciating wingers, its more about him being allergic to unknown quantities, which Gaborik no longer is.
Richards will hold enough value to be moved somewhere, if that's the way the wind is blowing. Depending on the buyer, he'd be as little as a cap dump or as much as lateral acquisition, say for an unwanted defenceman we think we can make use of. That's the great thing about us, we can generally take unwanted defencemen and help them look acceptable again (Regehr, Schultz).
Well it will be smart to trade Richards for defense. Smid is a good target imo. But any acquisition for defense with Richards involved is good.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
Herby
How could Blake have known?
So you think trading Richards for Phaneuf or Richards for Campbell would be a positive for the Kings?
If a trade happens it's going to be bad contract for bad contract.
I'd still prefer the free cap space rather than taking on a bad contract. Lombardi delivered AEG a cup, he gets a mulligan with this buy out.
