2018-19 Off Season Thread

[LoCal Kings]

Well, he is French Canadian - answer your question? And I agree, he is a pretty crappy GM as a whole.

I also agree one of the contracts you mentioned were on the table but I do think it was Carter because they need a 1C badly. From what I have read, Vilardi and other higher end prospects were not part of any deal.

Maybe Kempe? The Stevens and/or Robitaille comments that "we see Kempe as a Centerman" could have been used as bait to up his trade value. As high as the Kings are on Vilardi, they have got to temper their expectations of what he can do in the next 1-3 years. That is what makes me doubt Carter would be traded. Can't expect to contend with a rookie as your 2C.

I think part of the reasoning for the 3 years on Kovalchuk's contract, is that it will be up the same time they'll need to re-sign Vilardi. Let him grow into a role, and hopefully he earns a bigger contract in 3 years.

"Potential" is the most over-used term for players/prospects this time of year. That said, it sounds like the Kings are also high on Anderson-Dolan.

 

[Kings4OT]

Can he still skate well enough to play in the NHL? That's to be determined. Los Angeles Kings president Luc Robitaille told me he can. TSN analyst and former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button, who watched Kovalchuk at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, said he can't.

One guy is a HOF player, highest scoring left wing in NHL history, the other is Craig Button.

=)~~

It was said one of those guys couldn't skate either

 

[Psych3man]

Jack (not MFJJ) Johnson to sign for 5 yrs with Penguins?!?!?

Sid is good friends with him. Have fun with that Sidney. We King fans remember the disaster of acquiring all of Gretzky's friends (Fuhr, Coffey, etc)…

I cannot believe they want him, esp for 5 years

Reports: Penguins to sign D-man Jack Johnson

 

[davnlaguna]

Jack (not MFJJ) Johnson to sign for 5 yrs with Penguins?!?!?

Sid is good friends with him. Have fun with that Sidney. We King fans remember the disaster of acquiring all of Gretzky's friends (Fuhr, Coffey, etc)…

I cannot believe they want him, esp for 5 years

I remember talking with Luc and Jack senior in Feb2009
Jack jr was skating after practice due to injury ( taking shots with a new stick).
Crosby was injured at the same time.
Luc made a joke about it. He also made a joke about talking to Sid about coming to the Kings. The black and white uniforms were just made the third jersey. I thought about Wayne as well.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Maybe Kempe? The Stevens and/or Robitaille comments that "we see Kempe as a Centerman" could have been used as bait to up his trade value.

Maybe, but I don't see the Kings moving Kempe just yet. He is on his ELC of $894,167, no question there were other big pieces in play to make room for Pacioretty because Kempe's money wouldn't have come close to clearing enough room. That's why I think Carter was involved, he checked off a lot of the boxes that would be needed to complete a deal.

Could have been posturing but I honestly believe they don't know exactly where he fits in yet long term as a wing or center. He has some top end speed and skill, needs a lot of consistency however. Being a young player that will take some time but I can see him being a key member of this team in a few years.

We saw it with guys like Toffoli and Pearson in recent years, they came out busting balls, hit some rough patches and the ups and downs/lulls and successes, hit a stride only to fall again, etc. It took about 3 years for each of them to make it as every day NHLers who are now counted on to be contributors to the team and part of the long term core (and they both failed, but for Pearson it was his first shot, Toffoli his second which is concerning).

I think they should just leave him at LW with Carter and let him learn from a veteran without having the additional responsibilities of a center although Kempe is very good on that side of the puck already. Pearson is a good M6 guy and can play either 2LW or 3LW, I also see Kempe this way as well so those two can interchange depending on how the chemistry goes or as situations dictate.

With Rieder gone, my lines look like this currently:

23 11 17
9 77 73*
70 52 19
13 44 22

I think there is a good balance of speed, dirty work and skill on first 3 lines and the fourth line is the usual disturber line. Would be nice to get an upgrade there but easier said than done. At the very least shut the other team down with that line, any offense would be gravy.

As high as the Kings are on Vilardi, they have got to temper their expectations of what he can do in the next 1-3 years. That is what makes me doubt Carter would be traded. Can't expect to contend with a rookie as your 2C.

The funny thing is I am not seeing the Kings laying on the expectations on him, it's the fan base. Blake and company have been cautiously optimistic from what I've seen, with Blake saying from he has seen he expects Vilardi to battle for a spot on the team in the fall. That's about as far as I've seen it, I haven't seen any "can't miss prospect", "future superstar" talk that I am seeing/hearing/reading within the fans.

I agree that you will a challenge contending with a rookie anchoring a line, especially as a 2C, but it's not unheard of at all. If Vilardi is as talented, ready and mature as Kings' brass says they may have been banking on him to make the team and moving Carter opens up that slot for him while addressing the scoring issue on the wing.

It happens often it seems:

- this POs, 50 rookies tasting their first PO experience and many delivered - Vrana, Djoos, Cirelli, Gourde, Sergachev, Tuch, Connor, there were many. The 50 this season was the most since 2005-06 (54 rookies) and Cirelli actually anchored a defensive line as the center in Tampa Bay after only about 18-20 RS games.

- going back further Matt Murray in 2016, Marchand in 2011, Henrique in 2012, Potvin 1993, Brodeur 1994. You have flash in the pan guys but all the guys above were rookies and established themselves afterwards as NHL players.

Personally I don't put any stock into prospects until I see them about 2 years after, see where they are, who they are playing against, where they are playing, where they ranked in the draft (vs where they were taken), etc. All kinds of factors because they are so young.

Until I see them at the NHL level - even at preseason you can get an idea if they are ready or not early on - I don't put much into them although I do see how they're progressing along.

I think part of the reasoning for the 3 years on Kovalchuk's contract, is that it will be up the same time they'll need to re-sign Vilardi. Let him grow into a role, and hopefully he earns a bigger contract in 3 years.

The length definitely coincides with Vilardi,but if he makes the team this season that automatically burns the first year off his ELC so he would need a new contract a year sooner in 2020. The Kovalchuk signing is good because he could potentially have three skilled centers during the entire contract.

My guess is Vilardi will make the NHL club but be sent back to the OHL before the 9 game trial run. It's unfortunate he can't play in the AHL but dems are the rules.

"Potential" is the most over-used term for players/prospects this time of year. That said, it sounds like the Kings are also high on Anderson-Dolan.

Agreed. I learned my lesson with a "sure shot can't miss defender" named Wayne McBean in 1987 (1st Round, 4th overall). Dude was awful and then was traded within 18 months of being drafted for Kelly Hrudey. And yes, the Kings are high on him too, seems like a talented player.

PS - what's with the influx of hyphenated names in recent years in the NHL?

=)~~

*Toffoli needs a bounce back year in a big way, he's working himself off the team IMO. By default he gets the 2RW spot but if he sputters coming out of the gate as a continuation of 2017-18, Blake would be smart to move him early in the season. They cannot afford to give him too much time to see if he will get it going after his disappointing last 2 years, all hands need to be on deck from the get go.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Jack (not MFJJ) Johnson to sign for 5 yrs with Penguins?!?!?

Sid is good friends with him. Have fun with that Sidney. We King fans remember the disaster of acquiring all of Gretzky's friends (Fuhr, Coffey, etc)…

I cannot believe they want him, esp for 5 years

Reports: Penguins to sign D-man Jack Johnson

Reportedly between 5 years/$15 million and 5 years/$17.5 million.

That's an AAV of either $3 or $3.5 million, which is considerably less than the $4-4.5 million I tabbed him for and nowhere near the $6-7 million McKenzie blasted out last week. I have no idea where he got that number because it was so out of line for his performance, not to mention the thin UFA crop as is and McKenzie is generally pretty even keeled so I was surprised to hear that and how he got to that number.

They moved out Hunwick earlier this week who was making $2.25 million, I am assuming they wanted to upgrade the back end in terms of mobility and puck movement because Hunwick can't score even though he can skate, logged big minutes and is a shot blocker but is smaller than Johnson. Johnson can't score AND is terrible in his end but he is a few years younger. It's a bit puzzling but whatever, enjoy JMFJ and his unfulfilled hype.

Maybe the Kings can sign Johnson as a UFA and then trade him to Columbus, seems like LA has some luck with deals over there.

=)~~

 

[PuckinUgly57]

You know the UFA market is bad when Nick Shore is listed as one of the Top 75 Free Agents:

#TavaresWatch: J.T. inching closer to where only one man has gone - Article - TSN

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Rieder drawing interest from 4 of the 7 Canadian teams:

Rieder getting strong Canadian interest - Article - TSN

DSP signs in Washignton after not being qualified, 1 year/$1 million:

There were better offers, but Devante Smith-Pelly wanted to stay in the city that embraced him

That's more in line of the deal I see with Rieder than the $2.45 million.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Doughty/Kings finalizing 8 year extension:

Doughty, Kings finalizing 8-year extension

Should b announced Sunday, he is going to be the highest paid King.

 

[ChiefsDdgersLakersKings24]

Doughty/Kings finalizing 8 year extension:

Doughty, Kings finalizing 8-year extension

Should b announced Sunday, he is going to be the highest paid King.

Various reporters saying 11 million! AAV.

 

[Kings4OT]

I think DD is about the best Dman in the league, still not a fan of this deal. oh well, got this year to get it done

 

[ChiefsDdgersLakersKings24]

Official
LA Kings Agree to Terms with Drew Doughty on 8-Year Contract Extension

 

[Kings4OT]

Nevermind

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Pretty insane deal but expected. I was thinking about $10.5 but $11 is doable too. I never believed it would exceed $12 million as reports speculated, that's just writers being unrealistic just like the whole "what if Tavares takes a max 1 year deal at $15.whatever????" - stupid.

The first contract was extreme value for LA, now he gets the real contract. I have no problem with it but next summer there will be some movement with some guys needing new deals - say goodbye to some players this year.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Happy UFA Day!

Bunch of links below, big news is Tavares is not returning to the Isles. Informed them this morning, can't say I blame him - 9 years of management mess and he is in the prime of his career.

I think if this was his intention he should have told them earlier in the season so they could have traded him for a lot but maybe he didn't feel that way at the time. Regardless, they will get nothing for him and the Isles are mostly to blame just like the last 30 years. Garth Snow should be getting a ton of backlash for leading up to this because he had a decade to get Tavares the pieces he needed.

UPDATE: as I'm typing, he signs: 7 years/$77 million with the Leafs. He becomes the 1C and Matthews becomes the 2C. Wow...that is some skill there, and Kadri is a good 3C. They will have some issues next year with the cap, with RFAs (Matthews being one, Marner, etc.) needing deals.

The Maple Leafs win big in landing John Tavares

Ex Kings:

Gravel signed in Edmonton, two way 1 year/$700,000. Good luck buddy, I always liked him and hoped he could have established himself here.

Good size and skater, but for the offensive ability he seems to have I don't understand why he wasn't more productive. Didn't do any one thing particularly well but maybe he gets a chance on the back end in Edmonton and gains some confidence and carve out SOME type of niche for himself.

Bernier: signs in Detroit, 3 years/$9 million.

NHL:

Stastny goes to Vegas, 3 years/$19.5 million and supposedly talks are heating up with Karlsson again. I can't wait to see them shit the bed this season and have all this payroll on the books. In 2 years I can see them being in trouble financially and the miracle/rigged 2017-18 season will seem like a distant memory.

Perron returns to the Blues - for the fourth time - at 4 years/$16 million. Overpayment for an injury prone, annual playoff no show player.

Flyers tried to trade for Hamilton with Simmonds as the piece going back to Calgry but it fell through. At some point Hextall has to be rave enough to pull the trigger on a major deal, too conservative.

Flyers tried to acquire Hamilton

The ESPN link is being updated as the moves come in, keep checking it.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Not even an hour after my UFA post and mentioning Vegas making stupid financial decisions, they sign Nick Holden to a 2 year/$4.4 million deal. That dude is nothing short of trash.

Good job!

=)~~

 

[PuckinUgly57]

More ex Kings:

Mersch signs in Dallas, 2 years/no dollar figure yet. Two way deal but I assume it'll be between $1.3 and $1.5 million. I'm sure that will be updated later.

Wedgewood signs with Buffalo, 1 year/$650,000. Looks like a two-way deal.

Nic Dowd sign with Caps, 1 year/$650,000. Also looks like a two-way deal.

The $650,000 is the league minimum for 2018-19. Blake has really cleared the house of prospects who didn't pan out, making room for the new ones coming in. Nice to see instead of Dumbo hanging onto guys forever who clearly showed they will not be with the big club any time soon if at all.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Rieder signs in Edmonton, 1 year/$2 million.

Overpayment but a franchise like that has to.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

James Neal to Calgary. That team is becoming pretty hateable. Tkachuk, James Neal, Mike Smith in net.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

This is pretty interesting. Tortorella is out of his mind in general, so even if he ever has a legit gripe, he has zero credibility (For me at least).

Tortorella rips J. Johnson for Blue Jackets slight

But we'll see how this all plays out. Jack Johnson signed for 5 years, and we'll see how that goes for the Pens.