2024-25 Season Thread

[Kings4OT]

I think Marner is a scapegoat inTor. 50p in 57 games is ok....he can dish the puck, thats mostly his thing....while he can score I think those numbers are inflated because of his team mates who I think are more to blame for Tor failure. I do agree he isntbuilt for playoff hockey but still can make a good play if the other guys can fight into the crease he will get them a pass....but he isnt gonna overcome checking in the playoffs so maybe you spend your 14m differently if your close.

 

[Kings4OT]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed. The Kings look to have about $26.5m in cap space going into next season. How do you see them using that money? Below is the list of the current players being FA's.

Kuzmenko
Jeannot
Laferriere (RFA)
Gavrikov

This is assuming they dont do anything with Rittich and Lewis is finally gone.

How much money is left and who do they go after and for how much?

I like them all, but im in the "see if they beat the Oil finally" boat. If they can and make a showing then work on some resigns. If they crash and burn, then I think its time to take a hard look at everyone.

 

[Kings4OT]

Can the Flames overcome the Blues? Crazy if they do and good for most everyone else in the PO IMO

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

McDavid sitting tonight. Sort of weird to me. You assume EDM has a good shot tonight with him in. Then LA needs two points still. Against Seattle they just lost to a week ago, and then a very hungry Calgary team that always gives LA problems.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed. The Kings look to have about $26.5m in cap space going into next season. How do you see them using that money? Below is the list of the current players being FA's.

Kuzmenko
Jeannot
Laferriere (RFA)
Gavrikov

This is assuming they dont do anything with Rittich and Lewis is finally gone.

How much money is left and who do they go after and for how much?

I really hope we see Jeanot for playoffs. Be easier to make an assessment. You see how much Tampa gave up for him, then LA.sent a 2nd to Tampa for him. No idea where his cap and term are going to be. Probably a guy I have the least understanding of his value. But since he's a UFA, I assume he'll want to push to play, and LA might benefit from his wanting that next contract. Maybe I'm just hoping that's the case.

Laferriere a lock, especially with how he's played lately, and his growing chemistry with Byfield and Fiala. Kinda feels like an Iafallo type, but he keeps getting better and I like his ceiling.

Kuzmenko you already know how I feel. Dude has a gear we haven't seen in awhile. If he looks like this in the playoffs, his value should skyrocket. Hoping he does well and gets locked him into a friendly deal. To me he's awesome and been the perfect fit for that too like and PP. Has settled the other lines in.

Gavrikov same. I'm cool with anything under $6mil. I know they say Blake overpaid, but Gavrikov is legitimately a top 2 defenseman. He thrives in the Top 4, but he can play Top 2 and go against the top guys. With the cap going up, I don't have a problem with that. $6m/year by 6 years. Pretty okay with that. I keep seeing his demand around the league going up, so I don't like letting that go to full FA bidding war with the league.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I think Marner is a scapegoat inTor. 50p in 57 games is ok....he can dish the puck, thats mostly his thing....while he can score I think those numbers are inflated because of his team mates who I think are more to blame for Tor failure. I do agree he isntbuilt for playoff hockey but still can make a good play if the other guys can fight into the crease he will get them a pass....but he isnt gonna overcome checking in the playoffs so maybe you spend your 14m differently if your close.

I think beyond points. I've seen those clips of Nylander yelling at him whining during the playoffs. Like "This isn't f-ing Bantam", like hunker down and find a way to get something going, rather than whine to the refs. He's undeniably talented, and well over a point per game guy in the regular season, but I don't think he has that ability in him to play playoff hockey. At least not as the focal point. He'll still get his chances on the PP and could do it that way. Ironically, I think Toronto looks primed to finally do something though. Finally got solid goalie they like, and they're winning a lower scoring brand of hockey. Tavares has been crushing it lately, and I suspect Matthews was hurt for that 4-Nations tournament and might finally be getting his step back. They're stuck in a bracket with Florida and Tampa is the only thing. Probably the only team that hates the 1-4 brackets as much as the Kings.

Kings get Marner, would I be mad? No. Just my honest feeling would be to spend that money elsewhere.

 

[Kings4OT]

I think the Oil are smart to rest McJesus. Ultimately they dont care that much about home ice other than taking it away from LA. Rest McJesus, if the Oil win its a kick in the teeth to LA going into the POs against them and the cant even beat em without their best player. If LA wins, there is still doubt because they didnt beat McJesus and didnt really see the Oilers playoff lineup. IMO Oil have everything to gain and not much to lose

 

[Kings4OT]

Wow Rat face2 gonna retire due to health....hate him, but a great career

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I really hope we see Jeanot for playoffs. Be easier to make an assessment. You see how much Tampa gave up for him, then LA.sent a 2nd to Tampa for him. No idea where his cap and term are going to be. Probably a guy I have the least understanding of his value. But since he's a UFA, I assume he'll want to push to play, and LA might benefit from his wanting that next contract. Maybe I'm just hoping that's the case.

Laferriere a lock, especially with how he's played lately, and his growing chemistry with Byfield and Fiala. Kinda feels like an Iafallo type, but he keeps getting better and I like his ceiling.

Kuzmenko you already know how I feel. Dude has a gear we haven't seen in awhile. If he looks like this in the playoffs, his value should skyrocket. Hoping he does well and gets locked him into a friendly deal. To me he's awesome and been the perfect fit for that too like and PP. Has settled the other lines in.

Gavrikov same. I'm cool with anything under $6mil. I know they say Blake overpaid, but Gavrikov is legitimately a top 2 defenseman. He thrives in the Top 4, but he can play Top 2 and go against the top guys. With the cap going up, I don't have a problem with that. $6m/year by 6 years. Pretty okay with that. I keep seeing his demand around the league going up, so I don't like letting that go to full FA bidding war with the league.

I dont know. Gavrikov is already at 5.8m. I think he is going to be north of $6m maybe closer to $8M. Not sure of the years wanted.
Kuzmenko is at $2.7m. I am wondering if he is going to want something close to $5 depending on his PO's performance.
Laferrier will be interesting to see if there is a bridge deal involved. Not to sure what to make of his money but he has more than proved himself.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I think the Oil are smart to rest McJesus. Ultimately they dont care that much about home ice other than taking it away from LA. Rest McJesus, if the Oil win its a kick in the teeth to LA going into the POs against them and the cant even beat em without their best player. If LA wins, there is still doubt because they didnt beat McJesus and didnt really see the Oilers playoff lineup. IMO Oil have everything to gain and not much to lose

Pretty good assessment. Would be very vintage of Kings to lose tonight.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I dont know. Gavrikov is already at 5.8m. I think he is going to be north of $6m maybe closer to $8M. Not sure of the years wanted.
Kuzmenko is at $2.7m. I am wondering if he is going to want something close to $5 depending on his PO's performance.
Laferrier will be interesting to see if there is a bridge deal involved. Not to sure what to make of his money but he has more than proved himself.

If he gets $8mil/year I don't see there being the same term. From what I've heard, people think Blake overpaid on this little two year bridge deal, which is $5.875mil/year for the two years. The thinking is it would come down in order to add more term, but I wonder with the overall cap ceiling going up, he won't get more. $8Mil/year is a good chunk for sure. Rather that term come down to a few years if that's the case. Definitely a different conversation in $8mil vs $6mil.

 

[Kings4OT]

Kuz at 2.7 is 50% retained I believe.

I dont mind Grabrikov at 8 for a few years, problem is they all want 8 or more and that hurts

 

[histkng23]

Kuzmenko is at $2.7m. I am wondering if he is going to want something close to $5 depending on his PO's performance.

Kuz is actually already @ $5m, Philly has 50% salary retention in the trade, so the Kings are on the hop for $2.75m

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/player/_/id/78104/andrei-kuzmenko

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Damn, you boys blew this thread up today. Well done, will catch up in a bit.

 

[Kings4OT]

Dallas really stinking going into the PO,

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I see tonight is Amarts last game....big part of 2 cups for LA and like Quickie got another. Great carreer Alec! Of course the 2OT winner for the cup was outstanding but his g7 OT vs Hawks is a competing favorite

His wife is due with baby two by Friday so he opted not to go on the road trip to Ottawa which is today, their last game of the season. Pretty classy move by the Jets to not only honor him but also Maroon who also retired in the same game. Pretty nutty watching these guys go one by one who we saw for over a decade in some cases.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed. The Kings look to have about $26.5m in cap space going into next season. How do you see them using that money? Below is the list of the current players being FA's.

Kuzmenko
Jeannot
Laferriere (RFA)
Gavrikov

This is assuming they dont do anything with Rittich and Lewis is finally gone.

How much money is left and who do they go after and for how much?

Theese are my guesses based on ages as of July 1 2025:

Kuzmenko 28 - 3 years/$12 million ($4 million AAV)
Jeannot 28- 4 years/$10 million ($2.5 million AAV)
Laferriere 23 - 4 years/$15 million ($3.75 million AAV)
Gavrikov 29 - 6 years/$39 million ($6.5 million AAV)
Lewis 38 - won't be resigned, there are younger better options already in the lineup making less than he is

Cap added: $16.75 million
Cap left: $9.75 million

Rittich is the interesting one, his $1 million comes off the books but he is 32 and took a little bit of a step back this season compared to last. Portillo is backing up Copley in Ontario who has gotten most of the starts and will be 25 when the 2025-26 season starts. It may be time to graduate him because Carter George was just assigned to Ontario on April 6 from his OHL Owen Sound Attack team so he looks like he will be in Ontario next season. If that is the case then I am assuming Portillo makes the Kings full time as Kuemper's back up and his cap hit is only $783,000 (3 years/$2.35 million signed August 2024).

Cap added: $17,533,000
Cap left: $8,967,000

That leaves plenty of room for a solid T6 winger via trade of UFA but maybe making a run at a Marner or what not is out of the question. All 2025 UFAs, a lot of these guys are long in the tooth:

https://puckpedia.com/players/search?q=2024-25-ufa

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Wow Rat face2 gonna retire due to health....hate him, but a great career

Hip issues. Good career but always a hateable face. This is arguably my favorite pic of him ever, 2014 playoffs.

 

[Kings4OT]

Theese are my guesses based on ages as of July 1 2025:

Kuzmenko 28 - 3 years/$12 million ($4 million AAV)
Jeannot 28- 4 years/$10 million ($2.5 million AAV)
Laferriere 23 - 4 years/$15 million ($3.75 million AAV)
Gavrikov 29 - 6 years/$39 million ($6.5 million AAV)
Lewis 38 - won't be resigned, there are younger better options already in the lineup making less than he is

Cap added: $16.75 million
Cap left: $9.75 million

Rittich is the interesting one, his $1 million comes off the books but he is 32 and took a little bit of a step back this season compared to last. Portillo is backing up Copley in Ontario who has gotten most of the starts and will be 25 when the 2025-26 season starts. It may be time to graduate him because Carter George was just assigned to Ontario on April 6 from his OHL Owen Sound Attack team so he looks like he will be in Ontario next season. If that is the case then I am assuming Portillo makes the Kings full time as Kuemper's back up and his cap hit is only $783,000 (3 years/$2.35 million signed August 2024).

Cap added: $17,533,000
Cap left: $8,967,000

That leaves plenty of room for a solid T6 winger via trade of UFA but maybe making a run at a Marner or what not is out of the question. All 2025 UFAs, a lot of these guys are long in the tooth:

https://puckpedia.com/players/search?q=2024-25-ufa

I can live with all that really....if they can beat the oil....otherwise this is an exercise in futility and no reason to sign em unless they can be moved for assets in a rebuild. Beat em or leave em IMO, this is the last and best shot I give this crew.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I can live with all that really....if they can beat the oil....otherwise this is an exercise in futility and no reason to sign em unless they can be moved for assets in a rebuild. Beat em or leave em IMO, this is the last and best shot I give this crew.

I'm with you 100%. This team is the best one iced in the four match ups against the Oilers and if they can't get it done, it's time to blow this up and go into a full rebuild.