What should LA do at the deadline?

[johnjm22]

Kempe-Kopitar-XXXX
Moore-Danault-Arvidsson
Grundstrom-Byfield-Iafallo
Lemiux-Lizotte-Kalyiev
Brown, Athanasiou

Anderson-Doughty
XXXX-Roy
Bjornfot-Durzi
Maatta

Quick
Petersen

Two players away from being a contender? As crazy as it sounds, it might be true.

Kings are in a weird spot. They might regress next year because they're so dependent on older players. Short term moves to make this year's team a potential contender could put them in a hole for upcoming seasons.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

If you believe Boeser is worth 7 million a year then you trade for him.

 

[LAKings88]

Kempe-Kopitar-XXXX
Moore-Danault-Arvidsson
Grundstrom-Byfield-Iafallo
Lemiux-Lizotte-Kalyiev
Brown, Athanasiou

Anderson-Doughty
XXXX-Roy
Bjornfot-Durzi
Moverare

Quick
Petersen

Two players away from being a contender? As crazy as it sounds, it might be true.

Kings are in a weird spot though. The team might regress next year because they're so dependent on older players. So if you make short term moves to make this year's team a potential contender, you could put yourself in a hole in the coming seasons.

Brown isn’t coming out unless injured.

I wonder if Durzi can switch to the right side when Edler returns?

 

[KingsFan7824]

Something substantial, or nothing. The roster already has all kinds of fringe UFA rental types. No real reason to add just to add. Package some prospects for, not necessarily a game changer, unless one were somehow available, but someone that would actually move the needle. As much as we may not like it, this team is not really built on youth. They are obviously trying to win with the old core still doing their thing. There are some younger guys sprinkled in, but the youngest guy making a real impact up front is 25. Not old, but not young.

Kopitar, basically a pt per game. Kempe, a great year. Arvidsson, everything the Kings wanted. Doughty, almost a pt per game. Danault, tremendous. Has been everything you gave him the contract for. Moore, Iafallo. Durzi has been great. Quick has had a resurgence. As long as something would make sense, that's too much going your way to not try and take advantage of it. Again, if all they could get is another Modin, do it or don't, whatever, who cares. If there's a chance to get a real player though, give that extra decent asset to get it done. Doughty wanted a better team today, and he's backed up his talk so far.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Do nothing. Nothing at all. Why f*** with this chemistry? The team is one of the two hottest teams in the league right now (the other being Calgary).

It's a good point plus we have 3ish weeks.

Zdeno Chara

I think he's still getting off the ice, that poor dude.

 

[DoktorJeep]

There is no roster size limit after the trade deadline right?

 

[tkb81]

It really depends on what the move is. Are we talking about trading something like Kupari, Walker, and a 1st for a guy like JT Miller? Don't think twice. Do that trade. I love our prospects and want them all to succeed, but I'd be just fine with Turcotte, Byfield, and Vilardi all breaking into the league as wingers. Adding JT Miller makes us an elite cup contender.

I think adding a sturdy depth defenseman is important too. I've advocated for Soucy, but someone in that mold would be good. Something like Lias Andersson and a second or third would probably do it.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Iafallo - Miller - Kaliyev
Lemieux - Lizotte - Brown

Anderson - Doughty
Bjornfot - Roy
Soucy - Durzi

Quick
Petersen

That center depth is as good as — if not better than — our cup years with Kopitar, Richards, and Stoll. If teams were reluctant to face Kopitar and Danault in the playoffs, imagine how they'll feel adding JT Miller to that mix. Sheesh.

The only prospects I could see us potentially trading are Andersson, Grundstrom, Kupari, Madden, and Grans. Not interested in trading Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Fagemo, Clarke, Faber, or Spence. Don't want to trade any of them unless the trade makes sense though.

that defense is not elite ...

 

[KingsHockey24]

Depth veterans in case of injury. Players that would cost nothing of substantial to obtain.

John Moore, Ryan Murray, Kyle Clifford, etc.

 

[kingsfan]

Depth moves that bring in character and playoff leadership. I'm not saying we don't have that with Kopi, Quick, etc. but sometimes the best motivator for a team that is playing as well as LA is is to bring in guys to play for as well. I'd be calling NYI about Chara and Parise, both bring depth and can still play in all situations (albeit limited amounts for sure) and are likely done after this year following storied careers. I'd imagine having them in that locker room would provide a little extra motivation at a very low cost if they wanted to come to LA and would address some needs for a physical defenseman and veteran forward depth. It'd also give the 'Bourque' affect of playing not just for yourself and your team, but also for a guy universally respected so you can see him leave on top.

 

[Schmooley]

Depth moves that bring in character and playoff leadership. I'm not saying we don't have that with Kopi, Quick, etc. but sometimes the best motivator for a team that is playing as well as LA is is to bring in guys to play for as well. I'd be calling NYI about Chara and Parise, both bring depth and can still play in all situations (albeit limited amounts for sure) and are likely done after this year following storied careers. I'd imagine having them in that locker room would provide a little extra motivation at a very low cost if they wanted to come to LA and would address some needs for a physical defenseman and veteran forward depth. It'd also give the 'Bourque' affect of playing not just for yourself and your team, but also for a guy universally respected so you can see him leave on top.

Chara looks worse than any Kings dman really hope they dont bring him in. Islanders fans think hes a pylon.

 

[King'sPawn]

A Calder is nice and all but that has no real bearing on the NHL club’s direction.

Yes and no. Ideally you put your prospects in that high pressure situation, and there's higher intensity and checking.

It's why the WJCs and league playoffs are very important - get them in game situations and headspaces not available to all.

I think I understand what you meant about it not having a bearing in the NHL team, but it's experience you still want prospects to get before coming to the NHL, so I figure to expand on it.

 

[respD]

I think the time for making big deals is still a year or two away, so I'm in favor of doing nothing or very little. Swap out AA plus a pick for a gritty reliable vet on an expiring contract to have around for insurance?

I think this is a teaching season and the team as constituted should be allowed to test themselves and see how far they can take it in late-season/post-season play.

I also think that it's not clear yet which prospects will emerge as the most valuable, and so there's more to be gained by keeping them in the system and letting them develop further.

 

[Herby]

I'd like to see the Kings trade for a player they may be interested in trading for this summer but instead do it at the deadline. This may not have been the plan originally, but with Vegas and Edmonton looking very average this season the Kings are probably the 2nd best team in the division. If you have home ice in a playoff series you have a pretty good chance to win it, and then beyond that, who knows, plenty of teams get hot at the right time. The Kings have been a Top 8 team in the league the last 40 games.

I think Vancouver and Arizona present solid options for the Kings to address some of the holes on the roster. Which are very clearly a left handed top 4 d-man and/or a right shot goal-scoring forward.

Depth veterans in case of injury. Players that would cost nothing of substantial to obtain.

John Moore, Ryan Murray, Kyle Clifford, etc.

Come on man, first Avery and now Clifford? If the Kings want AHL players they can just promote from our own system.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

First,

Don't think the lines are going to change, as much as you guys want them to, unless something HUGE happens, the lines are gonna be the way they are barring injury etc.

Second, IF they make a move, it's GOTTA be a hockey move, shouldn't be a rental unless the price is cheap....

I don't mind a trade for Chycrun, young, term, position of need,
I don't mind a trade for Miller/Boeser, young term etc, adding scoring depth, Boeser with his QO though is tricky...

No idea what else is possibly out there, but a depth D, sure.....

I don't see the need to add a forward unless it's significant improvement of whats there.

 

[All The Kings Men]

First,

Don't think the lines are going to change, as much as you guys want them to, unless something HUGE happens, the lines are gonna be the way they are barring injury etc.

I'm assuming you mean the 9 dudes on lines 1, 2 and 4 right?

Cus line three literally just changed.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I'm assuming you mean the 9 dudes on lines 1, 2 and 4 right?

Cus line three literally just changed.

Yea, should have been more specific....

 

[LAKings88]

Guys I wouldn’t mind:

Chychrun: Price has to come down tho.

Ghost: Having a rebound year.

Miller/Boeser: Miller more so but the cost may be too much.

Konecny: I just think he fits in with identity.

Sanheim/Soucy: Solid fits that won’t break the bank.

If they do make a move, I bet it’ll be something not even on the radar.

Secret dark horse is: Giordano-Always liked him and could be a RR type add.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

I think their big deadline move is getting Edler back healthy and moving Maatta back to the 7th D-man (even though he has played decent the last couple of games). The forward group looks kind of locked in with the exception of the 3rd line with different 4 guys. I think they should wait to make their big moves at the draft and in the offseason for their Top4 LHD and Top6 winger from teams that need to get cap compliment. I.e. Sergachev, Theodore, Smith, Boeser, Laine, Provorov, Konecny, Tarasenko and of course Chychrun.

Iafallo--Kopitar--Kempe
Moore--Danault--Arvidsson
Grundstrum-Byfield-Brown
Lemieux--Lizotte--Kaliyev
Andersson, AA

Anderson--Doughty
Bjornfot--Roy
Edler--Durzi
Maatta

Campbell
Quick

 

[DoktorJeep]

If internal improvement can carry the team to a #2 seed at the TDL, then I think you try and be opportunistic. Maybe injuries dictate the position of need you seek to address.

Blake said that rentals are not a target. But the window to improve shrinks to what’s in the system after the TDL. Do you want to count on the AHL or guys turning pro for the first time going into a playoff season? Remember Kopitar going down right before the playoffs?

Is Vilardi the answer to bet on with a forward out? Frk? Personally, I’d be intrigued by a kid getting an unforeseen spot and turning into a stud at crunch time. But on the D side, I’m not so sure. Spence has been a killer but it’s a lot to ask him to debut in the NHL this late in the season. Strand and Wolanin are serviceable and an improvement over Maata, maybe also TB.

But they’re a huge wild card in a series, especially if you don’t have home ice advantage. So your margin for error is uncomfortable with such a young D and the hope that Edler can pick things right up in the playoffs. Some depth defenseman makes sense. They have cap room. So a rental like Giodarno looks ideal to me.

I’d love for it to be Dudas, Wagner and a 2nd. It’s a trash package but Ron Francis has proven to be incompetent to date, so I’d like to think it’s possible. Or something akin to it where nothing of consequence departs.

 

[ibleedkings]

Sit Brown and bring up Vilardi. That’s it.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I'd like to see the Kings trade for a player they may be interested in trading for this summer but instead do it at the deadline. This may not have been the plan originally, but with Vegas and Edmonton looking very average this season the Kings are probably the 2nd best team in the division. If you have home ice in a playoff series you have a pretty good chance to win it, and then beyond that, who knows, plenty of teams get hot at the right time. The Kings have been a Top 8 team in the league the last 40 games.

I think Vancouver and Arizona present solid options for the Kings to address some of the holes on the roster. Which are very clearly a left handed top 4 d-man and/or a right shot goal-scoring forward.



Come on man, first Avery and now Clifford? If the Kings want AHL players they can just promote from our own system.

How dare you.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Roll with the players who have gotten them to this point. They are exceeding pretty much everyone's expectations. Let's see what they can do on their own and retool in the summer. At this point I think they stand a good chance to be in the playoffs but there is still plenty of time for them to fall flat on their face.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Deadline market is usually overpriced pieces for desperate playoff bound teams to overpay to make a run. The Kings are so balanced on their line contribution, that losing 1 guy is not going to destroy the team. There are a lot of highly capable players in Ontario if needed. Left handed 2nd pair is a need tho, and if something is available that isnt overpriced, its worth doing - not really a deadline deal, just a trade. The deadline will pass before we know anything about Edler - so maybe you assume he doesnt make it back and get back to where he was.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Roll with the players who have gotten them to this point. They are exceeding pretty much everyone's expectations. Let's see what they can do on their own and retool in the summer. At this point I think they stand a good chance to be in the playoffs but there is still plenty of time for them to fall flat on their face.

Yeah I'm pretty big on 'dance with who brought you' at this point.

 

[kinghock]

If internal improvement can carry the team to a #2 seed at the TDL, then I think you try and be opportunistic. Maybe injuries dictate the position of need you seek to address.

Blake said that rentals are not a target. But the window to improve shrinks to what’s in the system after the TDL. Do you want to count on the AHL or guys turning pro for the first time going into a playoff season? Remember Kopitar going down right before the playoffs?

Is Vilardi the answer to bet on with a forward out? Frk? Personally, I’d be intrigued by a kid getting an unforeseen spot and turning into a stud at crunch time. But on the D side, I’m not so sure. Spence has been a killer but it’s a lot to ask him to debut in the NHL this late in the season. Strand and Wolanin are serviceable and an improvement over Maata, maybe also TB.

But they’re a huge wild card in a series, especially if you don’t have home ice advantage. So your margin for error is uncomfortable with such a young D and the hope that Edler can pick things right up in the playoffs. Some depth defenseman makes sense. They have cap room. So a rental like Giodarno looks ideal to me.

I’d love for it to be Dudas, Wagner and a 2nd. It’s a trash package but Ron Francis has proven to be incompetent to date, so I’d like to think it’s possible. Or something akin to it where nothing of consequence departs.

No to Frk
"Fan asks about Martin Frk. Blake said “He had a tough year last year, where he could have fought for a spot. This year, we had some younger players step up and fill those roles. He’s doing exactly what we asked of him. He’s scoring in the AHL and providing leadership to our younger players.”