2023 Off Season Thread

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

This dude does not lack confidence, I will say that. 8 year contract and he's running around like he won the cup. I'm going to actually assume this is a good thing and go with it.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kings sign forward Trevor Lewis to one-year contract (AAV: $775,000) - LA Kings Insider

The LA Kings have signed forward Trevor Lewis to a one-year contract carrying an AAV of $775,000 at the NHL level. Now there’s a familiar face! Lewis returns to the Kings organization after three seasons away, the most recent two with the Calgary Flames from 2021-23. Lewis also spent the 2020-21...

lakingsinsider.com

I didn’t know this until now.

The return of HOS II. When the Kings traded Iafallo the PK took a hit, which was bad as it was so he was brought in on a low cost deal to help there. The fourth line will most likely be Grundstrom/The Lizard/Lewis.

I was a little surprised to see him back again as well, but he played B6 minutes in Calgary and did fine as well as the PK there.

He will be sporting his original #61 again apparently that he wore with LA when he broke into the league.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

This dude does not lack confidence, I will say that. 8 year contract and he's running around like he won the cup. I'm going to actually assume this is a good thing and go with it.

Either that or his whole master plan has been to move around to cities under the guise he plays NHL hockey every few years to collect stamps on his passport.

=)~~

 

[PuckinUgly57]

MacEwen signs with the Senators, 3 years/$2.325 million ($775,000 AAV, one way contract). Good deal for a B6 forward.

I was hoping the Kings could have kept him around for the physicality factor with some young guys projected to make the roster for protection or see how he fit in the B6 here but with a slightly over $1.1 million MQO he was going to be too rich for LA especially if he was looking for term.

Don't think a 3 year deal was ever on the table from LA, if any deal at all. Don't blame him for taking that deal at all, best one of his career so far.

So the Kings trade Lemieux, who I liked, for him on an expiring contract, barely play the guy and don't tender him an offer and he becomes a UFA. Not sure what that trade was all about, Lemieux played hard for LA but rumor has it he wanted more playing time so they moved him to the Flyers.

Ottawa Senators sign Zack MacEwen to three-year, $2.325M contract | TSN

The Ottawa Senators signed forward Zack MacEwen to a three-year, $2.325M contract on Thursday. The contract will carry an average annual value of $775,000 for MacEwen, who was an unrestricted free agent.

www.tsn.ca

 

[CaptHowdy00]

'I’m extremely happy': Pierre-Luc Dubois gets reacquainted with L.A.

There's a vibe about L.A. Dubois dug well before the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Kings from the Jets.

theathletic.com

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Martin Chromiak wants to 'play on another level' and other Kings development camp notes

Chromiak, a fifth-round pick in 2020, hopes he can earn a spot on the Kings' radar next season when it comes to potential NHL call-ups.

theathletic.com

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Read this one yesterday, he is one of the "sure shot" prospects Teh Blog knob gobbles on a constant basis.

Truth is, the forward lines are basically set for the upcoming season with Buster/Kopitar/Kempe, most likely Fiala/PLD/Arvidsson-Arty Retardy, Moore/Dunno/Arvidsson-Arty and Grundstrom/The Lizard/Lewis.

It's nice to hear he is progressing but barring a stellar performance in camp, Chromiak will not make the club this fall and will spend a full season in Ontario. Same goes for Fagemo and Turcotte. If Turcotte does not make the team (which I am expecting) or at the very least isn't one of the final cuts it's time to cut bait and admit it was not a good 1st round pick, which sucks.

Also saw Zampelli made an appearance on Teh Blog, I didn't even realize that dude was still around. He was plugging LGK 2.0, I'll have to stroll over there today at some point and check it out. Not expecting anything different than 20+ years ago.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

MacEwen signs with the Senators, 3 years/$2.325 million ($775,000 AAV, one way contract). Good deal for a B6 forward.

I was hoping the Kings could have kept him around for the physicality factor with some young guys projected to make the roster for protection or see how he fit in the B6 here but with a slightly over $1.1 million MQO he was going to be too rich for LA especially if he was looking for term.

Don't think a 3 year deal was ever on the table from LA, if any deal at all. Don't blame him for taking that deal at all, best one of his career so far.

So the Kings trade Lemieux, who I liked, for him on an expiring contract, barely play the guy and don't tender him an offer and he becomes a UFA. Not sure what that trade was all about, Lemieux played hard for LA but rumor has it he wanted more playing time so they moved him to the Flyers.

Ottawa Senators sign Zack MacEwen to three-year, $2.325M contract | TSN

The Ottawa Senators signed forward Zack MacEwen to a three-year, $2.325M contract on Thursday. The contract will carry an average annual value of $775,000 for MacEwen, who was an unrestricted free agent.

www.tsn.ca

And the Canes sign Lemieux for 1 year/$800,000 after a short stop in Philadelphia after the trade for MacEwen.

This one still baffles me, I'd much rather have kept Lemieux over either MacEwen or signing Lewis for the fourth line. He showed some decent hands in a B6 role - dude has outscored Buster for example in goal totals as a King - and he stood up for his teammates and seemed well liked. Ive read playing time was the issue, he wanted more so they shipped him off to give him that opportunity.

He does have a rep and got no breaks from referees, he looked at someone funny and bam 2 minutes. I guess from that standpoint I can see it, with a piss poor PK reducing the penalties had to be improved and that likely wouldn't have happened with Lemieux in the fold.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Coyotes to terminate Galchenyuk's contract 12 days after signing

The 29-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the team on July 1.

theathletic.com

I wonder what happened?

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Has to be pretty serious if it's only 12 days after signing. Has to be some material/contractual breach like with the Richards situation where it violated a player's code of conduct. Dumbo ran with that because he made the mistake of not using a Compliance Buyout on him the summer before in 2014, and was vilified for it because there was like 5 years left on his deal but he was well within his rights to do so as a GM no matter what anybody says. I loved Mike Richards too but it was clear as day he was not the same player as the years went by with him in LA.

For some reason I was thinking this was the dude who didn't play for the Avalanche during the POs because of a drunk woman in his hotel room but that was Valeri Nichushkin (which we still don't know - at least I don't - whatever that was all about). Coincidentally Galchenyuk also played for the Nordalanche but that was as a rental this past season and became a GIII UFA on July 1.

Hard to believe this dude once hit 30 goals back in 2015-16.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Saw some stat that only 3 Kings on the current roster had fighting majors last year. Danault, Kempe, and Lizotte each had 1 and that's it....for the team.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Has to be pretty serious if it's only 12 days after signing. Has to be some material/contractual breach like with the Richards situation where it violated a player's code of conduct. Dumbo ran with that because he made the mistake of not using a Compliance Buyout on him the summer before in 2014, and was vilified for it because there was like 5 years left on his deal but he was well within his rights to do so as a GM no matter what anybody says. I loved Mike Richards too but it was clear as day he was not the same player as the years went by with him in LA.

For some reason I was thinking this was the dude who didn't play for the Avalanche during the POs because of a drunk woman in his hotel room but that was Valeri Nichushkin (which we still don't know - at least I don't - whatever that was all about). Coincidentally Galchenyuk also played for the Nordalanche but that was as a rental this past season and became a GIII UFA on July 1.

Hard to believe this dude once hit 30 goals back in 2015-16.

Here you go

 

[Kings4OT]

Has to be pretty serious if it's only 12 days after signing. Has to be some material/contractual breach like with the Richards situation where it violated a player's code of conduct. Dumbo ran with that because he made the mistake of not using a Compliance Buyout on him the summer before in 2014, and was vilified for it because there was like 5 years left on his deal but he was well within his rights to do so as a GM no matter what anybody says. I loved Mike Richards too but it was clear as day he was not the same player as the years went by with him in LA.

I remember arguing he needed to be bought out during that compliance buyout period. I was kinda pissed they didnt, i loved Richards and 100% think he is a huge reason the Kings finally became winners (not just the cups, but that Van series) it just seemed easy to see the cap hell the Kings where heading for and while they got "lucky" with him being a retard, that 7 or 800k is huge right now and will continue to be in this "window"

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Saw some stat that only 3 Kings on the current roster had fighting majors last year. Danault, Kempe, and Lizotte each had 1 and that's it....for the team.

View attachment 334202

That's depressing. I'm a lot bigger than Lizotte and would have no problem throwing hands, win or lose. There is zero reason for this team to be as pussified as they are and why a guy like Lizard shouldn't have to fight.

It's about the message, not backing down. Bowlby has built a glorified roller hockey team. PLD has a mean streak, I'm looking forward him punching some dude in the face when it's needed. Which is sad considering he is going to be groomed to be a very important part of this team for 8 years. This team needs overall toughness like the Cup teams, nobody took liberties with them.

I'm not an advocate for gooning it up, I'm an advocate for playing tough and standing up for yourself and your teammates.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Here you go

Oh boy...yup, player conduct violation. That's crap I would have pulled 25 years ago, come on man. You're a professional making a lot of money.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I remember arguing he needed to be bought out during that compliance buyout period. I was kinda pissed they didnt, i loved Richards and 100% think he is a huge reason the Kings finally became winners (not just the cups, but that Van series) it just seemed easy to see the cap hell the Kings where heading for and while they got "lucky" with him being a retard, that 7 or 800k is huge right now and will continue to be in this "window"

He altered the identity of the Kings, it was much needed. I will forever respect the guy for that and am so grateful he did because us as fans got two Cups. He was integral in 2012, not so much in 2014, but if he isn't here there is no first Cup let alone two.

But I agree, that mess is coming back to bite LA 8 years later and will continue to do so for almost another damn decade.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Way-too-early predictions for the NHL's 2023-24 season: Stanley Cup winner, dark horse, playoff field, awards, more

With offseason fully upon us and most of the big free-agent signings in the books, The Athletic asked our NHL staff for its 2023-24 picks.

theathletic.com

I’m putting this here only because it’s something to talk about.

They have the Kings making the playoffs, but they’re calling them the Dark Horse to win the cup. But in the Dark Horse category they have the Kings with the best shot.
Obviously, this is far off and such but still a good read.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Way-too-early predictions for the NHL's 2023-24 season: Stanley Cup winner, dark horse, playoff field, awards, more

With offseason fully upon us and most of the big free-agent signings in the books, The Athletic asked our NHL staff for its 2023-24 picks.

theathletic.com

I’m putting this here only because it’s something to talk about.

They have the Kings making the playoffs, but they’re calling them the Dark Horse to win the cup. But in the Dark Horse category they have the Kings with the best shot.
Obviously, this is far off and such but still a good read.

Looks like the article mostly focusing on early betting odds vs The Athletic's poll. The Kings darkhorse thing was specifically with the betting action I think. They love the bet where it stands right now for LA to win it all, but mostly because of the odds.

Yikes on this one though:



I am obviously Kings all the way, but I don't think it's good for hockey to have San Jose, Anaheim, and Phoenix all bad for so long. Teams used to go on roadtrips out west and just get annihilated. I actually think Phoenix is doing good things (Player-wise) and Anaheim is stockpiling some good talent. San Jose will somehow not admit they need to rebuild, which is crazy.

 

[Kings4OT]

Looks like the article mostly focusing on early betting odds vs The Athletic's poll. The Kings darkhorse thing was specifically with the betting action I think. They love the bet where it stands right now for LA to win it all, but mostly because of the odds.

Yikes on this one though:

View attachment 334223

I am obviously Kings all the way, but I don't think it's good for hockey to have San Jose, Anaheim, and Phoenix all bad for so long. Teams used to go on roadtrips out west and just get annihilated. I actually think Phoenix is doing good things (Player-wise) and Anaheim is stockpiling some good talent. San Jose will somehow not admit they need to rebuild, which is crazy.

This is a big reason the Kings window is now. You dont want other teams getting their shit together when you are "waiting for the right time" like next season for a G

 

[PuckinUgly57]

DeAngelo put on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. They had a deal in place with Carolina with 50% of his $5 million retained but the league ixnayed it for this reason. I love constantly learning about the CBA as you guys know, but I completely forgot about this rule. From The Athletic:

Briere tried to trade DeAngelo and came close to executing a deal to send him back to Carolina a few days before the NHL draft in June. The trade would have involved the Flyers retaining 50 percent of his $5 million cap hit for 2023-24 — leaving them with $2.5 million on their books for the coming season — and receiving a low-level prospect in return. However, the deal ultimately didn’t happen, due to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which did not permit a player to be traded back to his initial team within a year if the trade included salary retention — a rule intended to discourage cap circumvention.

The calendar year would have been July 9 when he was traded for but the Flyers will actually save close to a $1 million on a buyout vs 50% retention had the trade gone through but have an extra year with two $1.66 million cap hits.