2018-19 Off Season Thread

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Interesting read from Bernstein:

Not Your Daddy's Kings

If Kovalchuk had not signed in LA, there was a deal in place for Skinner with he Hurricanes and possibly one for Pacioretty. With the Habs he suggests it was Muffin and Anderson-Dolan, no word on the Skinner deal.

He's also saying Blake is not done and they may be moving a defender - as many of us have figured they would - for reinforcements up front.

Good read. Some grammatical errors were distracting, but I like it because I see more and more stuff written by bots, and this actually adds a human element in a weird way.

Would be nice to get some more scoring help. I was looking at Cap Friendly, and you see within the pay structure how much the Kings needs production from Toffoli and Pearson, and that's a scary prospect to just assume they'll produce again.

From what I understand in the article, the Kings might looks to add defensive help just to make Muzzin or someone else available for a larger trade.

I guess I just appreciate Blake/Robitaille trying. Been very active in their first 18 months.

 

[davnlaguna]

Interesting read from Bernstein:

Not Your Daddy's Kings

If Kovalchuk had not signed in LA, there was a deal in place for Skinner with he Hurricanes and possibly one for Pacioretty. With the Habs he suggests it was Muffin and Anderson-Dolan, no word on the Skinner deal.

He's also saying Blake is not done and they may be moving a defender - as many of us have figured they would - for reinforcements up front.

He nailed Drew’s contract
I agree another scorer is needed and a contract would need to leave to make cap space.
Muffin is the likely target. Kings are flush with young D and the hope that one can step up has made him available. His play has made him worth something
I think the kings will start the season as is. Not that they aren’t looking, just that everyonewants to see what they have.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Good read. Some grammatical errors were distracting, but I like it because I see more and more stuff written by bots, and this actually adds a human element in a weird way

He's definitely not an English teacher but he does convey an emotional element to his work. I wasn't a fan of him when he worked for CBS (I think) but his op eds have improved over the years.

There are know only 2 writers who I simply can't stand for many reasons, Scott Burnside and Wyshynski of Puck Daddy. Turdside because everything he writes has an anti Kings slant to it even when blatant facts are slapping him in the face and Wyshynski because he too is like that but throws in politics in his writing as well. I think he is working for ESPN now too.

Keep that shit to yourself for another forum.

Would be nice to get some more scoring help. I was looking at Cap Friendly, and you see within the pay structure how much the Kings needs production from Toffoli and Pearson, and that's a scary prospect to just assume they'll produce again.

I'm not really worried about Pearson as much as I am Toffoli. Pearson's trajectory has been normal IMO, improving slightly every year until 2016-17 when he had his breakout season. He was due for a major slump and I think 2017-18 was it. He did all the immeasurable things right - effort, hustle, right place right time, trying to make things happen in both ends, he just experienced a strange lack of puck luck IMO.

His shot totals have increased every year he's been in the league except 2017-18, where he came close to 2016-17 (187 vs 180) but his S% dropped significantly from 12.8% to 8.3%, a 35% drop off. If you watch tape however, he was around the net a ton this season, it seems like more than in years past.

That presence helped others get goals - I specifically can recall a Phaneuf PP goal from the point, Brown wrist shot from the left circle and Doughty's OT winner against Ottawa (coincidentally Karlsson is on the ice and picked up the wrong man, color me shocked) and in all 3 Pearson was putting his corn hole right in the goalie's face. That guy took a beating all season long and it paid off for others, that is the consummate teammate (when Tkachuk elbowed Doughty in 2016-17, Pearson was the first, and only I think, guy to confront him and take him down. Pearson had to do this? Really? Come on guys).

Tofffoli however, totally different story. He is a perimeter player, doesn't go to the net and almost all his goals were slam dunks or skill plays where he got free and someone set him up. His best goal was obviously the buzzer beater in Boston but that was about it. He is weak along the boards, lost almost every battle at the blue line trying to clear a puck and many times it ended up in the Kings net where as a little more effort and 3' would have had it clear the zone, he isn't physical at all and isn't the best back checker. He is built for offense and if he isn't doing that he isn't contributing much. He relies on his teammates too much which is unacceptable for the type of skill set he has.

The issue is this is now 2 seasons straight where he has gone MIA for significant portions of the time where as they needed his contributions more than ever. He has been anointed part of the second wave of leaders to assume ownership of the team and honestly, I am not sure if he is that player. He was dominant in 2015-16 but has not come close to that performance since.

He lacks confidence and it shows, which is concerning because he isn't a 1 2 or 3rd year player - he is a veteran. I said before, if he sputters coming out of the gate they need to move him quickly because they cannot afford to have him slump for 3 seasons in a row. He makes too much money to essentially be a floater and has value around the league still, so it would be best to move him while that still exists.

Maybe a change of scenery would do him good. I could see Edmonton and Colorado as places for him because of the personnel and type of game they play. I have no doubt he has been brought up by Blake in trade talks although we won't hear it.

From what I understand in the article, the Kings might looks to add defensive help just to make Muzzin or someone else available for a larger trade.

I guess I just appreciate Blake/Robitaille trying. Been very active in their first 18 months.

They have done better than expected their first complete year. Haven't traded many assets if at all, have recruited coveted college players (Brickley, Rempal, Peterson, etc.) that other teams had a bead on as well, made some inexpensive low risk/high reward moves (Jokinen/Cammalleri), moved dead money (Gaborik) into everyday money (Phaneuf), moved dead weight (Jokinen/Cammalleri Part 2) and of course the coup in Kovalchuk which I think is a solid signing even at age 35 because of who he is, his base line skill set is still way higher than current NHLers.

With the stockpile on defense, I think one of the veterans is gone in that trade you are talking about for help up front. I think they are just waiting to see which younger defender will step up and make that veteran expendable.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Pacioretty won't be extended by Habs:

Report: The Montreal Canadiens will not be extending Max Pacioretty

This signals he will be traded sooner rather than later and without a guaranteed sign and trade agreement, that should lower the asking price unless he has agreed to a new deal with his new team.

Blake seems really keen on this guy, prior to this season he had 4 straight 30+ goal seasons, has good speed and hands. He would be a nice addition to LA for sure depending on the cost. If it was Muffin and Anderson-Dolan as Bernstein reported, I would be OK with that deal as long as any high (1st/2nd) round picks are not included as part of that package.

The length of his new deal is what concerns me with the Kings already having some long term deals still in place with Kopitar, Quick, Carter, Brown and now Doughty.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Nail Yakupov article, he signed in the KHL last week very quickly after he became a UFA:

The truth about Nail Yakupov, an imperfect prospect set up to bust

I think he takes the title from others as the worst 1st overall pick bust, guys like Stefan and Lawton are probably relieved. A few of us pegged him to end up like this, so it's not surprising, I think his NHL career is pretty much done but at 24 maybe he has time to turn it around.

I remember he scored a game tying goal against LA with about 5 seconds left in 2013 and then went bananas with a two knee slide through center ice for like 50 feet - it irritated the hell out of me with the showboating and still pisses me off when I see it. I guess when you're Edmonton though, scoring a GT goal against an NHL juggernaut is a highlight.

Wasn't wrong then, not wrong now, when you are a 1st overall but have been moved to 3 teams that speaks more about you than anything (also why Duclair has probably been passed up by a few teams recently and moved around, reportedly also has some character issues).

Also inside this article, a link redrafting the 2012 draft class:

NHL re-draft, 2012 edition: Oilers get a do-over on all-time bust Nail Yakupov

The Kings picked 30th having won the Cup and took Pearson, but he is redrafted as going 15th to the Senators (they picked Cody Ceci, who was paired with Karlsson and were absolutely terrible together).

The Kings redraft would have been Josh Anderson, who was picked 4th round/95th overall by Columbus who had a breakout season this year - big power forward with some hands (19 goals, very physical) and someone I mentioned in the Trade Deadline thread to target and keep an eye on.

Not sure if he will maintain that clip with the game changing but for LA hockey he would have been a good fit the last few years in the middle six.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The best contracts for every team:

The best contract for every NHL team

Save you the click - Muffo is the winner. More reason to move him.

=)~~

 

[LoCal Kings]

At this point, I'm thinking any moves will be unlikely until the Voynov situation is resolved in some fashion (reinstatement, reinstatement + suspension, contract terms, etc). Whether Voynov is traded (likely) as part of a larger deal(s), or whether they clear enough cap space to re-sign him. Gotta figure Kings want some definitive answer on their pending asset before anything else happens this summer.

Anyone read anything new on Voynov since July 2nd?

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Very likely scenario because that determines what they do, there are a few different options with him included and not included in the lineup.

Keep in mind too he does not have a contract, his old one was terminated ($4.17 million/season) so he can be signed to whatever deal he and a team agree to. I have read some stuff where it's been suggested he take a "prove it" deal, with one mention of the league minimum ($650,000) for a year. While that would certainly be helpful to the Kings because of their limited cap space a) I can't see that happening and b) I don't see the NHLPA allowing that to happen to a very talented player.

The facts are he has been he has been out of the NHL game for 3-4 years and was forced out because of a heinous crime. Well, Kovalchuk has been out of it for 5 years and just got $18.75 million at age 35 so there goes that argument, and using his crime to punish his earnings isn't right IMO since he already has been punished with his banishment, reputation tarnished for 3+ years and loss of about $20 million on the contract.

One POV is logical and one is emotional but the answer lies somewhere in between. He definitely shouldn't be paid as a T2 defender because he's a risk but he shouldn't be paid minimum wage either because he is far superior to that.

He is young enough, in his prime still, is a T2 defender with a RH shot, solid at both ends of the ice and a good skater; he holds the cards in that sense because that is what everyone is looking for so I can't see the NHLPA saying OK take that deal even in his situation.

I can see someone taking a flyer on him at around $3-3.5 million on a 1 or 2 year deal and then getting a bigger deal. The short term deal is the cost the team pays for taking on this sure shot PR nightmare but at that price point he isn't treated like a leper either. If things go well, he gets extended and gets that huge deal at 30 but the short term deal protects the team in the case of under performance or him doing something stupid again and also gives him a chance to prove he is still an NHL caliber defender.

Have not read anything new since 7/2, his conviction has been expunged and he has met with Bettman from what I understand but that's about it.

All I've been seeing is how no team should take him yet guys like Bertuzzi, Heatley, Varlamov, etc. didn't seem to receive this kind of treatment but then again society is more aware of these types of things than they were before too.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

As annoying as this guy is to me he brings up a good question:

The NHL still hasn’t figured out how to pay goaltenders - Article - TSN

I don't pay much attention to goalie salaries as much as I do skaters but it was surprising for me to see that Bobrovsky, Price and Lundqvist are all north of near $7.5 million (Price is at $10.5 million. Brutal) yet none of them have a Stanley Cup. They are good, and I wouldn't mind any of them (not at those prices however) but it looks like they were paid for individual accomplishments - all 3 have won Vezinas (Bobrovsky has won 2) - yet haven't won any team accomplishments.

I'll take Quick's two Stanley Cups and one Conn Smythe at $5.8 million versus any of these guys' hardware at that price not to mention what he brings to the team and on the ice in intangibles.

 

[Kings4OT]

Voynov should get every bit of 3-3.5m for 1 or 2 years of a "test" deal. He is fine even being out of the NHL, its not like the KHL is a joke or "not real hockey". Would be excited to see Muffin moved (have I mentioned that before?) and Voynov in his place.Totally agree with Puck on Pearson and TT, I think TT would get 40g on a team like the Oilers but is kind of a wasted spot in LA with his play reminding me more and more of Pencakes.

 

[LoCal Kings]

Hossa contracted traded to Coyotes??? I guess the Bowmans and Lamoriellos of the NHL can get away with manipulating the CBA and Cap a lot better than other folks. Then again, I guess Kings got a reduced cap penalty for the Mike Richards contract termination. Still, they are paying that cap hit for years to come. Hawks and Devils get out of albatross contracts for much less.

What would it cost to get rid of Phaneuf? Like I mentioned before, I am more or less cglass half full on the Phaneuf deal. However, if the Kings had a choice, would rather ditch his contract and sign Voynov instead.

 

[Deader2818]

Hossa contracted traded to Coyotes??? I guess the Bowmans and Lamoriellos of the NHL can get away with manipulating the CBA and Cap a lot better than other folks. Then again, I guess Kings got a reduced cap penalty for the Mike Richards contract termination. Still, they are paying that cap hit for years to come. Hawks and Devils get out of albatross contracts for much less.

What would it cost to get rid of Phaneuf? Like I mentioned before, I am more or less cglass half full on the Phaneuf deal. However, if the Kings had a choice, would rather ditch his contract and sign Voynov instead.

Theres a difference between taking on a bad contact for a guy that wont take up a roster spot just cap space than taking on a guy that is taking a roster spot and cap space.

 

[LoCal Kings]

All my in-laws are from Chicago, and thus, big Hawks fans. Plus, a handful of guys on my beer-league team are also Chicago guys. As much as I want to root for the Hawks when they aren't playing against the Kings, sometimes I just get fed up with too much Chi-town chatter in the family + friends.

My knee-jerk reaction to hearing Chicago all of a sudden has cap-space to after a Skinner, or Pacioretty, etc.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kovalchuk on why he signed with LA:


Getting back to this:

All my in-laws are from Chicago, and thus, big Hawks fans. Plus, a handful of guys on my beer-league team are also Chicago guys. As much as I want to root for the Hawks when they aren't playing against the Kings, sometimes I just get fed up with too much Chi-town chatter in the family + friends.

My knee-jerk reaction to hearing Chicago all of a sudden has cap-space to after a Skinner, or Pacioretty, etc.

Makes total sense, and yeah the Hawks have had their fair share of contract shadiness under the last few CBAs. But the rules are the rules, and any team can do it, they just happen to more often than not it seems because they doled out crappy contracts to begin with.

Looking at Hossa's contract too, he has 3 years left at $5.275 million cap but his actually salary owed is $3 million total. The Hawks paid most of his contract up front, and we all knew there was a chance he wouldn't finish the deal so it's not a total surprise, and Phoenix is always trying to meet the cap floor it seems so the actual dollars aren't much but helps them hit the floor. They are a mess in themselves with all the movement and finances and stuff too.

What is surprising is that his skin issue seemed to have come out of nowhere, and not only that but he could have retired and wiped it off Chicago's books entirely because it wasn't a 35+ deal. But as any person, especially with that type of money, he would be leaving a lot of money on the table ($4 million total going back to the start of 2017-18) but he collected $59.3 million of the total already. I've also never seen anything official on what type of skin issue it is.

It certainly reeks of the usual salary dump but again, those are the rules. Maybe something to address in the next CBA much like they did with LTIR, cap recapture, etc. this time around.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Ray Emery found dead, accidental drowning:

Ex-Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery's drowning 'a case of misadventure,' police say

All reports say he was near the docks and pilings when he dove in, wouldn't be surprised if he hit his head on something when he went into the water. Sad story.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-rumors-july-14-2018/

Interesting bit on Karlsson. Lack of up front money might be key, and Ottawa was actually probably willing to get to $11mil/year cap.

Other notable part, is Leafs not signing their guys yet to try to get them to "buy-in" to the future (Which sounds like "Take a paycut" to me, because they are probably worried how to fit all these guys into their future cap). But also notable it the comments on Maple Leafs needing a Top 4 d. Maybe that's a potential deal to be made. Muzzin to Toronto for a deal involving Nylander.



Anyway. Just summer boredom kicking it...

 

[Psych3man]

All my in-laws are from Chicago, and thus, big Hawks fans. Plus, a handful of guys on my beer-league team are also Chicago guys. As much as I want to root for the Hawks when they aren't playing against the Kings, sometimes I just get fed up with too much Chi-town chatter in the family + friends.

My knee-jerk reaction to hearing Chicago all of a sudden has cap-space to after a Skinner, or Pacioretty, etc.

I live outside Chicago and I was all over this Hossa thing the second I heard about it summer '17. His inability to wear hockey equipment just happened to come when the $1m/year to Hossa kicked in and within three months of when he just played 90% of their regular season games and 100% of their playoff games. All of a sudden when he is owed only $1m/year but is a $5.5m cap hit he can't put on equipment??!! What a bunch of total horseshit!! And I called it the same to all my Blackhoser friends the second I heard about it. I was so pissed Cryotes took that contract off their hands as they were screwed for three more years. Hawks fans crying about losing local boy Hinastroza in the deal but I told them they are hugely benefitting from this pathetic scam. I hope the Hosers NEVER win another Cup and never come close. This Hossa thing smells awful from the get-go!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Haven't seen much of this site but a decent read for the dog days of summer:

Kings Relying on Kovalchuk for a Big Season - Featurd Stories

 

[LoCal Kings]

The worst part about Chicago dumping the Hossa contract is that they are supposedly in the running for Pacioretty or Skinner. At the very least, the Hawks are driving up the price for both players.

On that note....... I was thinking that the Kings (or any NHL team) may be a little more hesitant to part with good prospects in the next year or two. Not just for cap reasons or their "potential", but specifically I am thinking about the Seattle Expansion (2020??)

If I am reading CapFriendly correctly, I think these guys by be exempt from a 2020 Expansion (given same rules as Vegas Expansion, where a player with 2 yrs or less professional experience are exempt). If any of these guys would be exempt from a 2020 Seattle Expansion, you would think that places a bit higher premium on their value. As I think its reasonable to project these 4 prospects will be NHL players in 2-3 years.

• Vilardi: drafted in 2017, but didn't sign contract until March 1st 2018. 1st year pro 2018-19.
• Kupari: just drafted in 2018, 1st year pro.

Not sure about these two guys:

• Anderson-Dolan: drafted 2017, but listed as "Entry-Level Slide". I think that 2018-19 is considered 1st year pro?
• Clague: drafted 2016, first contract in 2017. But CapFriendly list his contract as a "Entry-Level Slide". Wondering if that means 2018-19 is his "1st-year-pro"?

Blake and Robo won't have to use a protected spot for anyone determined to be 2 years or less by 2020 (like Conner McDavid in 2017). However, that might be a moot a point as its likely going to come down to which goalie gets left unprotected by the Kings (Quick vs. Petersen).

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Damn it's been a slow summer, not much going on.

Iginla retires:

Iginla to retire after 20 NHL seasons - Article - TSN

Watson pleads no contest to DV:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...estic-assault-arrest-nhl-nashville/749002002/

This is a paid site but I think I saw the first 10 articles are free. Interesting comments from Bettman, sounds like a set up for a slap on the wrist.