2024-25 Off Season Thread

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

The last thing the Kings need is to get older. They’re pretty long in the tooth now.

Not really. Doughty and Kopitar yes. Danault kinda. Beyond that? Now Kuemper.

Byfield, Moore, Kempe, Fiala. The entire defense. Turcotte.

It gets down to identity. Felt this team wanted to be competing for a cup in Kopitar and Doughty's twilight years, which doesn't feel like the case. Do need a right handed goal scorer, so that's why Stamkos isn't the worst idea ever. 34 years old on a 3 year deal. Maybe. Lightning offered him 8 years, which was clearly to frontload and add money they don't have now.

If this team is not contending, it doesn't really make sense to keep Doughty and Kopitar and it would be more in line with giving them the Jonathan Quick treatment and maybe send them to a contender.

 

[Kings4OT]

Got rid of PLG, should be a contender now

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Here's why a Tyler Toffoli reunion with the Kings makes senseNHL free agency: Here’s why a Tyler Toffoli reunion with the Kings makes sense

LAS VEGAS – The conditions are ripe. The sentiment should be real. The fit might be fantastic.

Tyler Toffoli can become a Los Angeles King again. And that can do more than bring back a warm feeling.

That’s up to Toffoli and the Kings, of course, as free agency opens on Monday. There’s an opportunity for the Kings to reunite with their second-round pick from 2010 who hoisted the Stanley Cup four years later, in his first full season, and has gone on to score 260 goals across parts of 12 seasons.
At this point in his career, Toffoli, a 32-year-old free agent, wouldn’t be blamed for looking for the best chance to win the Stanley Cup again, or for finding a role fit and a financial fit. The Kings, as currently sculpted, probably won’t give him the best chance at the Cup again but they can offer him the other two. Maybe that’s enough.

Will the Kings pursue Toffoli? It’s possible they won’t. They could go in many directions. Toffoli and his agent, Pat Brisson, are going to market to see what it bears. And there will be a market for a right wing who is coming off a 33-goal season split between New Jersey and Winnipeg, and who has 67 goals over the last two years.

But the Kings should throw their hat into the ring, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported that there is interest. The Kings are not rebuilding, but after three consecutive first-round playoff losses, they’re trying to stay out of the NHL’s mushy middle — that uncomfortable space where a team is too good to be a bottom-feeder but not nearly good enough to drink from the Cup.

At least they’re operating with a chance to make moves and improve. PuckPedia has the Kings with a projected $18.9 million available after Saturday’s acquisition of rugged winger Tanner Jeannot. That’s welcomed breathing room after a season of being cap-scrapped.

A confluence of factors created that space. The rise of the cap to $88 million provided a $4.5 million boost. General manager Rob Blake’s fix of his Pierre-Luc Dubois mistake, by offloading Dubois’ massive contact to Washington for Darcy Kuemper, saved another $3.25 million. Negotiations to retain defenseman Matt Roydidn’t result in an extension, and the Kings appear ready to also walk away from oft-injured winger Viktor Arvidsson. Those two combined to eat up approximately $7.4 million of cap space. And Anze Kopitar’s extension, which kicks in on Monday, comes in at $7 million instead of the previous $10 million.
(Additionally, the Kings on Sunday did not issue a qualifying offer to fourth-line center Blake Lizotte but did so for Quinton Byfield, Jordan Spence and, interestingly, the often-scratched Arthur Kaliyev.)

One area of need is on the wing, where Arvidsson’s significant missed time due to back surgery and another lower-body injury contributed to the Kings’ offensive drop-off in the second half of the season. They finished 17th in scoring. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fialaare their top wingers, while Trevor Moorebroke out with a 30-goal season and Byfield became a 20-goal scorer. But it drops off greatly after that, and Byfield may return to center.

Blake spoke on Friday after the Kings drafted power forward Liam Greentree of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires with the 26th pick. Earlier in the week, Blake dealt winger Carl Grundstrom to San Jose for veteran defenseman Kyle Burroughs.

Burroughs, 28, is a right-hand shot who won’t be a replacement for Roy. That will be Brandt Clarke’s job, or Spence’s, within the Kings’ top four if coach Jim Hiller opts to ease Clarke in and not hand him prime even-strength minutes right away. “The physicality and the compete level” are things Blake said he likes about Burroughs, who had 233 hits and 134 shot blocks for the Sharks but also carried a grisly minus-42 rating.

“I think last year, for the most part, we were pretty healthy but for the past couple years there’s always been different injuries there,” Blake said. “Added depth on the defense. He plays hard.”

Speaking with The Athletic on Friday, Blake turned away from discussing potential roster movement and focused on increasing opportunities for Clarke, Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas, and even proven AHL goal scorer Samuel Fagemo.

“They’re at the stage of their career where we got to get them in the lineup,” he said. “That’s part of our focus here also in roster spots.”
The next day, Blake got Jeannot from the Tampa Bay Lightning for two draft picks, one of them a second-rounder in 2025. Jeannot could be an upgrade from Grundstrom, and should be, if he can be more like the scrapping complementary scorer from the start of his career in Nashville, instead of the one who struggled after his trade to the Lightning.

Jeannot, 27, burst onto the NHL scene in 2021-22, when he scored 24 goals and added 17 assists in 81 games as a rookie. The Lightning acquired him in 2023 for five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote, but he didn’t fit well there and he hasn’t found his offensive game since his first season. In 2023-24, Jeannot had seven goals and seven assists in 55 games.

The Kings are absorbing Jeannot’s $2.665 million cap before he’s UFA-eligible next summer. But between that and Burroughs’s $1.1 million number over the next two years, that shouldn’t keep them from adding a bigger roster piece that might help them get out of the first round.

“We’ll look at different options,” Blake said. “I wouldn’t say a clear direction right now on that.”

The forward market drops sharply after Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel and Steven Stamkos, if they make it to free agency. (Guentzel reportedly is set to sign with Tampa Bay.) But there are useful scorers. Jonathan Marchessault might be the next-best bet if Vegas can’t re-sign him. Jake DeBrusk is only 27 and puts up numbers despite his inconsistency. Jeff Skinner could come cheaper after being bought out by Buffalo. Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t what he once was, but he can still contribute key goals, as he did while becoming a Stanley Cup champion again with Florida.

But the list of quality pure snipers is short. The Kings can’t reunite “That 70s Line” with Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson, but one member of it is still going strong. Toffoli is a career 11.5 percent shooter who has 68 power-play goals — 21 of them the last two seasons — and has topped 200 shots on goal on seven occasions.
The Kings traded Toffoli in 2020, two days after a memorable final game with them, in which he had the first hat trick in an NHL outdoor contest, as Los Angeles got a 3-1 win over Colorado at the Air Force Academy. That ended an eight-year run in L.A., in which he scored 139 goals. Since then, the well-traveled hired gun has scored for Vancouver. He’s potted goals for Montreal. Calgary. New Jersey. Winnipeg.

That’s what he does. He’s now in his 30s, but Toffoli doesn’t play the taxing, physical game that can take a toll on one’s body. His success was never predicated on speed. He has scored goals because of his anticipation and sense, when he finds the quiet space at the right time, and the variability of his shot-making. Plainly speaking, Toffoli still has his hands.

And he’s durable. He’ll be in the lineup every night, save for the occasional minor injury. Which is what the Kings need that Arvidsson couldn’t provide last season. The Jets acquired Toffoli for their playoff push, and while he wasn’t a difference-maker for them, he still scored his 19th and 20th career postseason goals in their five-game series loss to the Avalanche.

Toffoli finished off a four-year deal that he originally signed with the Canadiens. He hasn’t made it through two full seasons with another team since. Last year was split between the Devils and the Jets. While players who have proven to fill the net usually get paid, Toffoli hasn’t made more than $5.125 million in a single season, and is coming off a deal that had a $4.25 million average cap hit.

The Kings can handle that, and also get extensions done for Byfield and Spence — it won’t be a surprise if those are bridge deals for the youngsters. Toffoli will be a hot commodity outside of the very top free agents — a reunion in Vancouver could be possible if the Canuckswatch Guentzel sign with the Lightning. L.A. shouldn’t overpay or overcommit on term, but it can make a nice offer to Toffoli over three or four years.

They’re more than a Tyler Toffoli away from winning the Cup. They’re still short on star power. But they need another player who can flat-out put the puck in the net. Bring him home.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

os Angeles Kings: C+​

Liam Greentree is a very good prospect who has a chance to score in the NHL and be a legit middle-six winger. Carter George is a small goalie, but he had a very strong season in the OHL and at the U18s for Canada. It looks like he has a real chance to make it despite his frame.

Read the full analysis of Los Angeles’ draft class here.
Kings NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysisLos Angeles Kings NHL Draft picks tracker: Grades, fits and analysis

2024 Draft Grade: C+​

Liam Greentree is a very good prospect who has a chance to score in the NHL and be a legit middle-six winger. Carter George is a small goalie, but he had a very strong season in the OHL and at the U18s for Canada. It looks like he has a real chance to make it despite his frame.

Draft Class​

26. Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

January 1, 2006 | 6′ 2″ | 214 pounds

Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Player comparable: Dominik Kubalik

Analysis: Greentree was a top-scoring winger in the OHL this season although his play for Team Canada at two tournaments wasn’t that impressive. The appeal of his game is that he’s a large winger with legit offensive skills. He makes difficult plays often with the puck as a handler and passer and possesses high-end creativity. He competes well enough and can use his size to get to the net although I don’t think he’s the type who is going to run people over. He can score at the net and is able to finish from the faceoff dots. The main concern on Greentree is his skating. He lacks NHL footspeed and he will need to prove the rest of his game is good enough to overcome those issues. Given his size/skill combo, I think he will, and he has a chance to be a top-nine wing who can help a power play.
(If I can compare this kid to a past King, it would be Luc. He was also knocked for poor speed and foot work, yet he scored a lot from the slot and in front of the net.)

Pick grade: B

Thoughts on the pick: Greentree is a talented, big winger with a lot of skill and natural goal-scoring ability. I actually mocked him to the Kings when they had the No. 21 pick, as I thought he was a fit for the kind of player they like, adding some size/skill to their forward group.

57. Carter George, G, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

May 20, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 194 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average

Analysis: George was Canada’s starting goaltender at the Hlinka Gretzky and U18s and has been very good in the OHL. He is a very quick goaltender with a twitch in his lower half to easily get across the crease. He often reads the play very well and squares up a lot of pucks. I like a lot of things about his game, but as a barely 6-foot-1 goalie, I wish I was blown away by one aspect of his game. I don’t think his hockey sense or athleticism are high-end and despite his junior success, I have skepticism on how his game will translate to the pros, although there is backup goalie potential.
164. Jared Woolley, LHD, London Knights (OHL)

February 27, 2006 | 6′ 4″ | 207 pounds

Analysis: Woolley joined the London Knights after spending the first half of the season in the GOJHL. He is a big defenseman who can make a decent first pass and the ocassional tough play. I wouldn’t call his puck play great, though, and his skating is an issue, although it’s OK for his size.

198. James Reeder, RW, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

October 6, 2005 | 5′ 10″ | 168 pounds

Analysis: Reeder was an important part of a top USHL team in Dubuque and was very good at the World Jr. A Challenge. Reeder is a high-skill type who makes a lot of plays. What scouts like about him is that despite not being the tallest, he creates in the hard areas. He gives a good nightly effort and has shown he can PK in junior, too. Reeder’s issue comes down to his feet. He lacks NHL footspeed, which is suboptimal for his size.

Beat writer’s analysis​

The Kings wound up where they started when it came to total draft capital as they made only four selections. But they used a fourth-round pick to acquire rugged winger Tanner Jeannotfrom Tampa Bay and made other moves to maximize what they could do with their limited picks.

Liam Greentree isn’t going to win a bunch of races and readily said that skating is something he’ll continue to work on, but he’s got a power forward’s frame and was the clear top offensive force for a struggling Windsor Spitfires team after leading all OHL rookies in goal scoring in 2022-23. Kings scouting head Mark Yannetti loves that Greentree, who had 36 goals in 64 games this season, has “a wicked shot” and will drive hard to the net.

Moving down five spots to No. 26 allowed them to get into the second round and draft Owen Sound Attack goalie Carter George. It will help appease those who feel the Kings don’t prioritize finding long-term homegrown solutions, although they’ve now added George to the pipeline with current heir apparent Erik Portillo, Jacob Ingham and Hampton Slukynsky.
Jacob Woolley, who emerged on defense with the OHL’s London Knights, was a target as the Kings moved up in the sixth round by swapping picks with the Ducks. James Reeder is a smallish forward with a high-paced competitive game that will attend NCAA power Denver next season.

If Greentree can emerge down the line as a top-six winger who can be a solid offensive option capable of 20-25 goals and makes plays down low in the attacking zone, the Kings will do well with this first pick in the opening round since Brandt Clarke in 2021. — Eric Stephens

I think a C or less is the de facto grade the last several years because the Kings can't turn out NHL players. They could have drafted a superstar at 1OA and would still get an average score, just the product of their poor drafting.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Here's why a Tyler Toffoli reunion with the Kings makes senseNHL free agency: Here’s why a Tyler Toffoli reunion with the Kings makes sense

LAS VEGAS – The conditions are ripe. The sentiment should be real. The fit might be fantastic.

Tyler Toffoli can become a Los Angeles King again. And that can do more than bring back a warm feeling.

That’s up to Toffoli and the Kings, of course, as free agency opens on Monday. There’s an opportunity for the Kings to reunite with their second-round pick from 2010 who hoisted the Stanley Cup four years later, in his first full season, and has gone on to score 260 goals across parts of 12 seasons.
At this point in his career, Toffoli, a 32-year-old free agent, wouldn’t be blamed for looking for the best chance to win the Stanley Cup again, or for finding a role fit and a financial fit. The Kings, as currently sculpted, probably won’t give him the best chance at the Cup again but they can offer him the other two. Maybe that’s enough.

Will the Kings pursue Toffoli? It’s possible they won’t. They could go in many directions. Toffoli and his agent, Pat Brisson, are going to market to see what it bears. And there will be a market for a right wing who is coming off a 33-goal season split between New Jersey and Winnipeg, and who has 67 goals over the last two years.

But the Kings should throw their hat into the ring, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported that there is interest. The Kings are not rebuilding, but after three consecutive first-round playoff losses, they’re trying to stay out of the NHL’s mushy middle — that uncomfortable space where a team is too good to be a bottom-feeder but not nearly good enough to drink from the Cup.

At least they’re operating with a chance to make moves and improve. PuckPedia has the Kings with a projected $18.9 million available after Saturday’s acquisition of rugged winger Tanner Jeannot. That’s welcomed breathing room after a season of being cap-scrapped.

A confluence of factors created that space. The rise of the cap to $88 million provided a $4.5 million boost. General manager Rob Blake’s fix of his Pierre-Luc Dubois mistake, by offloading Dubois’ massive contact to Washington for Darcy Kuemper, saved another $3.25 million. Negotiations to retain defenseman Matt Roydidn’t result in an extension, and the Kings appear ready to also walk away from oft-injured winger Viktor Arvidsson. Those two combined to eat up approximately $7.4 million of cap space. And Anze Kopitar’s extension, which kicks in on Monday, comes in at $7 million instead of the previous $10 million.
(Additionally, the Kings on Sunday did not issue a qualifying offer to fourth-line center Blake Lizotte but did so for Quinton Byfield, Jordan Spence and, interestingly, the often-scratched Arthur Kaliyev.)

One area of need is on the wing, where Arvidsson’s significant missed time due to back surgery and another lower-body injury contributed to the Kings’ offensive drop-off in the second half of the season. They finished 17th in scoring. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fialaare their top wingers, while Trevor Moorebroke out with a 30-goal season and Byfield became a 20-goal scorer. But it drops off greatly after that, and Byfield may return to center.

Blake spoke on Friday after the Kings drafted power forward Liam Greentree of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires with the 26th pick. Earlier in the week, Blake dealt winger Carl Grundstrom to San Jose for veteran defenseman Kyle Burroughs.

Burroughs, 28, is a right-hand shot who won’t be a replacement for Roy. That will be Brandt Clarke’s job, or Spence’s, within the Kings’ top four if coach Jim Hiller opts to ease Clarke in and not hand him prime even-strength minutes right away. “The physicality and the compete level” are things Blake said he likes about Burroughs, who had 233 hits and 134 shot blocks for the Sharks but also carried a grisly minus-42 rating.

“I think last year, for the most part, we were pretty healthy but for the past couple years there’s always been different injuries there,” Blake said. “Added depth on the defense. He plays hard.”

Speaking with The Athletic on Friday, Blake turned away from discussing potential roster movement and focused on increasing opportunities for Clarke, Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas, and even proven AHL goal scorer Samuel Fagemo.

“They’re at the stage of their career where we got to get them in the lineup,” he said. “That’s part of our focus here also in roster spots.”
The next day, Blake got Jeannot from the Tampa Bay Lightning for two draft picks, one of them a second-rounder in 2025. Jeannot could be an upgrade from Grundstrom, and should be, if he can be more like the scrapping complementary scorer from the start of his career in Nashville, instead of the one who struggled after his trade to the Lightning.

Jeannot, 27, burst onto the NHL scene in 2021-22, when he scored 24 goals and added 17 assists in 81 games as a rookie. The Lightning acquired him in 2023 for five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote, but he didn’t fit well there and he hasn’t found his offensive game since his first season. In 2023-24, Jeannot had seven goals and seven assists in 55 games.

The Kings are absorbing Jeannot’s $2.665 million cap before he’s UFA-eligible next summer. But between that and Burroughs’s $1.1 million number over the next two years, that shouldn’t keep them from adding a bigger roster piece that might help them get out of the first round.

“We’ll look at different options,” Blake said. “I wouldn’t say a clear direction right now on that.”

The forward market drops sharply after Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel and Steven Stamkos, if they make it to free agency. (Guentzel reportedly is set to sign with Tampa Bay.) But there are useful scorers. Jonathan Marchessault might be the next-best bet if Vegas can’t re-sign him. Jake DeBrusk is only 27 and puts up numbers despite his inconsistency. Jeff Skinner could come cheaper after being bought out by Buffalo. Vladimir Tarasenko isn’t what he once was, but he can still contribute key goals, as he did while becoming a Stanley Cup champion again with Florida.

But the list of quality pure snipers is short. The Kings can’t reunite “That 70s Line” with Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson, but one member of it is still going strong. Toffoli is a career 11.5 percent shooter who has 68 power-play goals — 21 of them the last two seasons — and has topped 200 shots on goal on seven occasions.
The Kings traded Toffoli in 2020, two days after a memorable final game with them, in which he had the first hat trick in an NHL outdoor contest, as Los Angeles got a 3-1 win over Colorado at the Air Force Academy. That ended an eight-year run in L.A., in which he scored 139 goals. Since then, the well-traveled hired gun has scored for Vancouver. He’s potted goals for Montreal. Calgary. New Jersey. Winnipeg.

That’s what he does. He’s now in his 30s, but Toffoli doesn’t play the taxing, physical game that can take a toll on one’s body. His success was never predicated on speed. He has scored goals because of his anticipation and sense, when he finds the quiet space at the right time, and the variability of his shot-making. Plainly speaking, Toffoli still has his hands.

And he’s durable. He’ll be in the lineup every night, save for the occasional minor injury. Which is what the Kings need that Arvidsson couldn’t provide last season. The Jets acquired Toffoli for their playoff push, and while he wasn’t a difference-maker for them, he still scored his 19th and 20th career postseason goals in their five-game series loss to the Avalanche.

Toffoli finished off a four-year deal that he originally signed with the Canadiens. He hasn’t made it through two full seasons with another team since. Last year was split between the Devils and the Jets. While players who have proven to fill the net usually get paid, Toffoli hasn’t made more than $5.125 million in a single season, and is coming off a deal that had a $4.25 million average cap hit.

The Kings can handle that, and also get extensions done for Byfield and Spence — it won’t be a surprise if those are bridge deals for the youngsters. Toffoli will be a hot commodity outside of the very top free agents — a reunion in Vancouver could be possible if the Canuckswatch Guentzel sign with the Lightning. L.A. shouldn’t overpay or overcommit on term, but it can make a nice offer to Toffoli over three or four years.

They’re more than a Tyler Toffoli away from winning the Cup. They’re still short on star power. But they need another player who can flat-out put the puck in the net. Bring him home.

Can we pass on bringing back ex Kings who are just older now?

 

[Kings4OT]

Can we pass on bringing back ex Kings who are just older now?

No

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Not really. Doughty and Kopitar yes. Danault kinda. Beyond that? Now Kuemper.

Byfield, Moore, Kempe, Fiala. The entire defense. Turcotte.

According to Left Wing Lock the Kings are the 11th oldest team in the league:

NHL Team Biometrics: Average Age, Height, and Weight | leftwinglock.com

NHL Team Biometrics: Average Age, Height, and Weight.

leftwinglock.com

That's actually pretty high but I'm sure the ages of Kopitar, Doughty, Kuemper and somewhat Dunno increase that average because of the age swing (Kopitar will be 37 next month, Buster 22 also in August. That's a +15 year swing right there). If some of the Turcottes, Artys, etc panned out some of these acquisitions don't happen keeping the team average age low.

The Kings were the youngest team in the league in 2020 I think, in 4 short years they've considerably gotten older because of those trades and signings which again is a result of the draft picks not producing.

It gets down to identity. Felt this team wanted to be competing for a cup in Kopitar and Doughty's twilight years, which doesn't feel like the case. Do need a right handed goal scorer, so that's why Stamkos isn't the worst idea ever. 34 years old on a 3 year deal. Maybe. Lightning offered him 8 years, which was clearly to frontload and add money they don't have now.

I think money would definitely be the issue, he took a team friendly $8.5 million deal in 2016 and he delivered on that contract, I can't see him taking anything less than $9.5 million this time around. Would be nice but way too rich for LAs budget. Thanks Robert.

Looks like the Stamkos dollars are going to Guentzel whom they traded the rights for over the weekend.

If this team is not contending, it doesn't really make sense to keep Doughty and Kopitar and it would be more in line with giving them the Jonathan Quick treatment and maybe send them to a contender.

I get your point but yikes, can you imagine the backlash? It took some time for the Quick situation to quiet down, if this were to happen I could see Bowlby handling it a lot better this time to avoid the public ass kicking he got for the way it was handled. It will also cement him in Kings lore as probably the worst GM in franchise history even though this time he would have probably handled it with class and through no fault of his own.

This is based on the assumption the Kings look wonky or appear to not make the playoffs this season, last under Blake. And if that's the case, I could finally see Kopitar and Doughty wanting to go to a contender for one last kick at the Cup.

 

[Kings4OT]

Interested to see if that devil's team actually comes together.

I realLy don't see any player left that makes the kings any sort of contender, I'm sure someone like Stamkos could help.... But the lineup would need to play better than last year and I think most of them played A bit over there heads.....and Kuemper Needs to play at least as good as talbot did

 

[Kings4OT]

Stamkos to Preds....

Kings in on titties...no thanks, If we still had PLG ok.... But what do we do with him now

Foegle.... No thanks, Mister penalty at the wrong times.

Edmonson...sure, A season or 2 to late

 

[xis]

Slafkovsky signed for 8-years, $60.8 million. 7.6 AVV if my math is correct. Hope Byfield isn't going to use that as a comp. I've been one of the biggest supporters of Byfield but I'm even I'm not ready to give him 7.6 for 8 just yet. He has to prove he's got his medical issues solved and have a solid FULL season. To me that's 25 goals 65-70 points, this season.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I get your point but yikes, can you imagine the backlash? It took some time for the Quick situation to quiet down, if this were to happen I could see Bowlby handling it a lot better this time to avoid the public ass kicking he got for the way it was handled. It will also cement him in Kings lore as probably the worst GM in franchise history even though this time he would have probably handled it with class and through no fault of his own.

This is based on the assumption the Kings look wonky or appear to not make the playoffs this season, last under Blake. And if that's the case, I could finally see Kopitar and Doughty wanting to go to a contender for one last kick at the Cup.

I'm just not really sure the direction this team wants to go or what it even thinks it is. Ride out twilight of Kopitar and Doughty's career as is? I guess I don't get why getting someone like Stamkos would've been a bad idea for a few years? Seeing that he got $8mil/year, for that in glad LA passed. Was looking at closer to $6mil, that seemed like maybe a decent play.

Now we got Kuemper, who I'm sure will be serviceable, but man. Copley re-upped today. Copley, Rittich, Kuemper is what it is I guess. Doesn't feel like contender stuff.

Defensive core is sorta yikes. I've soured on Mikey Andersen, and kinda feel is more of 4th guy than a top 2. Gavrikov was so money when he first came over, but he really struggled last year. I don't love it, but I'm also okay with LA not giving that money and term to Roy. Assuming they were to use the money on something decent, which we haven't seen yet. Signed a bunch of role players today. Did get a little bigger and tougher, which I like for rounding out the bottom 6 forwards.

Sort of need LA to make a big trade for real top Defenseman. Clarke feels like he's probably not the skater he needs to be to be elite at the NHL level (REALLY hope I'm wrong). Spence is okay. If he's paired with a big defensive stay at home dude, he could be okay. Feels like on that 2012 Kings team, a Spence would be a 3 pairing guy.

Just up and down the lineup. Feels like a ton of "okay" guys and it's so hard to get excited about this team.

 

[xis]

I'm just not really sure the direction this team wants to go or what it even thinks it is. Ride out twilight of Kopitar and Doughty's career as is? I guess I don't get why getting someone like Stamkos would've been a bad idea for a few years? Seeing that he got $8mil/year, for that in glad LA passed. Was looking at closer to $6mil, that seemed like maybe a decent play.

Now we got Kuemper, who I'm sure will be serviceable, but man. Copley re-upped today. Copley, Rittich, Kuemper is what it is I guess. Doesn't feel like contender stuff.

Defensive core is sorta yikes. I've soured on Mikey Andersen, and kinda feel is more of 4th guy than a top 2. Gavrikov was so money when he first came over, but he really struggled last year. I don't love it, but I'm also okay with LA not giving that money and term to Roy. Assuming they were to use the money on something decent, which we haven't seen yet. Signed a bunch of role players today. Did get a little bigger and tougher, which I like for rounding out the bottom 6 forwards.

Sort of need LA to make a big trade for real top Defenseman. Clarke feels like he's probably not the skater he needs to be to be elite at the NHL level (REALLY hope I'm wrong). Spence is okay. If he's paired with a big defensive stay at home dude, he could be okay. Feels like on that 2012 Kings team, a Spence would be a 3 pairing guy.

Just up and down the lineup. Feels like a ton of "okay" guys and it's so hard to get excited about this team.

When talking about the teams direction I'm starting to see a lot Bergevin's influence on this team after todays moves. If you guys think Blake is bad, better start the fire Marc Bergevin posts now.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Some insight into the thinking regarding this team. Caption says it all. Blake views the forward groups as pairs, Kopitar/Kempe, Danault/Moore, and Byfield/Fiala. The rest of the forwards will match with those guys.

Signed veteran defensemen to pair with Clarke and Spence.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

When talking about the teams direction I'm starting to see a lot Bergevin's influence on this team after todays moves. If you guys think Blake is bad, better start the fire Marc Bergevin posts now.

I'm trying not to be a full on hater, but I pretty much am right now. Down to fire everybody. Haha

 

[histkng23]

I'm just not really sure the direction this team wants to go or what it even thinks it is. Ride out twilight of Kopitar and Doughty's career as is? I guess I don't get why getting someone like Stamkos would've been a bad idea for a few years? Seeing that he got $8mil/year, for that in glad LA passed. Was looking at closer to $6mil, that seemed like maybe a decent play.

Now we got Kuemper, who I'm sure will be serviceable, but man. Copley re-upped today. Copley, Rittich, Kuemper is what it is I guess. Doesn't feel like contender stuff.

Defensive core is sorta yikes. I've soured on Mikey Andersen, and kinda feel is more of 4th guy than a top 2. Gavrikov was so money when he first came over, but he really struggled last year. I don't love it, but I'm also okay with LA not giving that money and term to Roy. Assuming they were to use the money on something decent, which we haven't seen yet. Signed a bunch of role players today. Did get a little bigger and tougher, which I like for rounding out the bottom 6 forwards.

Sort of need LA to make a big trade for real top Defenseman. Clarke feels like he's probably not the skater he needs to be to be elite at the NHL level (REALLY hope I'm wrong). Spence is okay. If he's paired with a big defensive stay at home dude, he could be okay. Feels like on that 2012 Kings team, a Spence would be a 3 pairing guy.

Just up and down the lineup. Feels like a ton of "okay" guys and it's so hard to get excited about this team.

I've been harping on whatever "direction" Blake & Luc have been taking since The Coup. His obsession with smaller players for the first few years of his "direction" really came back to bite him. Those types of players may be nice for stretches during the regular season, but come playoffs, your team better have meat on their bones to be able to withstand the tight checking, hitting and puck winning battles that are necessities!

As for the Defensive core, I've NEVER been comfortable with Anderson. Sure he may be a great teammate, say the right things in meetings, be positionally sound, but he's simply too small and not strong enough to hold on to the puck, or win it away from the opposition on the boards when it is necessary. A buddy of mine (who's a Season Seat holder) used to laugh at how I'd rag on Muzzin for his bonehead plays (especially in his early years), but he would lay the wood when necessary (Hello Marcus Kruger). Anderson has become the new player I rag on regularly. I've pointed out many a time when his "defense" involves falling on his ass, skates out, along the boards to "win" the puck back..

I agree about Gavy. When he first arrived, he was solid (he still can be). I just feel this past season, the knee he took from Anders Lee in early December, and the missed time as a result, really threw his play off this past season. Hopefully the offseason will help...

Clarke, I agree with the shared sentiment on this board, that he's too weak for the NHL. Maybe he evolves into an Erik Karlsson player, but dude needs to eat a few dozen cheeseburgers on a regular basis. The list him at 200 lbs on hockeydb.com, but I'm more inclined to feel he's closer to 170, than labeled 200...

Overall, the Defense has been a major lack of addressing from Blake on building this team, and why this team hasn't taken the next step. HIs lack of building a core of players on Defense, as well as seriously NOT maintaining the type of culture within the locker room of character players that Deano had masterfully built into the organization are the glaring missteps that Blake needs to look in the mirror and be held accountable by Ownership going forward.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Winners and losers of NHL free agency Day 1NHL free agency Day 1 winners and losers: Panthers impress while tampering rules fall short

How am I not surprised that the Kings are in the “Losers” section? More importantly it shows Blowby has no idea of what he’s doing.

Los Angeles Kings​

The Warren Foegele contract was one bright spot for the Kings today and works as an Arvidsson replacement. But the Joel Edmundson deal may be one of the worst-value contracts of the day.

Sure the 31-year-old is gritty and brings veteran experience. But Edmundson tends to be a negative on his team’s shot and expected goal suppression. That was the case in Washington last year and Toronto post-deadline. It was true during his three years in Montreal before that. Is that worth a four-year commitment?

With Roy’s departure, Edmundson could be a replacement for his matchup minutes, and that’s a real downgrade for Los Angeles. It is in terms of caliber play and handedness. Unless both Kyle Burroughs and Jordan Spence make the regular rotation, the Kings may only have two righties out of their six regular defensemen.

Defense is the Kings’ biggest strength, so they really can’t afford it to suffer — especially with questions in net and few improvements to the forward group so far.

 

[xis]

I'm not really into bashing a teams management team as there are lots of factors why a GM couldn't, wouldn't or didn't sign or trade for a palyer.
Having said that with all the FA signings you mean to tell me you couldn't find one JUST ONE right handed shooting forward that can maybe also play on the PP? You lost Arvidsson and you were already to heavy with left handed forwards with him in the lineup.

Who are the kings going to put on the PP that can play the left side? No one is talking about this it believe me it's going to be an issue going forward.

Kings better work on the PK all offseason and make sure they have best PK in the league all year. We're going to lead the league in times shorthanded.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

How did I miss this? Anyone else see this?

Maple Leafs hire Muzzin as scout, McElhinney as director of goaltending development

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made new additions to their front office staff with Jake Muzzin transitioning to a new role as a pro scout and Curtis McElhinney returning to the club as director of goaltending development and scouting.

www.sportsnet.ca

Should be great watching him teach young defenders how to give up pucks straight up the gut, trip over himself and land into the boards or take a slap shot with no lane and watch it ricochet back into his own zone.

I have been looking everywhere for that Muzzin "highlights" video and can't seem to find it. If you haven't seen it it's hilarious and sums him up to a T.

Hope everyone had a great Fourth.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Not sure where to post this, so I’ll post it here.

With free agency settling, can anyone say the Kings have improved?With NHL free agency settling, have the L.A. Kings improved much at all?

When it comes to the three notable moves the Los Angeles Kings made this week to address a roster that keeps coming up short in the playoffs, they shouldn’t be labeled as the good, the bad and the ugly.

More like the decent, the ho-hum and the frightening.

Plenty of summer remains for general manger Rob Blake to do more tinkering and pull off a bargain find (another words, to screw up even more). But as it stands now, the only way the Kings will be better than last season — or the two before — is if their young players provide more support for their aging leaders and their collection of solid-to-(sub-)elite performers who usually are at the front of their pack.
It will help if Quinton Byfield takes as big of a leap as he did last season and becomes a regular threat to be the best player on the ice, as he showed at times last season. Or if Brandt Clarke’s defensive play improves enough to earn the trust of coaches, so that the Kings can take advantage of his offensive gifts from the blue line. Or if Jordan Spence shows that he can be the quality, well-rounded minutes-muncher that Matt Roy was. Or if Alex Laferriere adds production to his effort, if Alex Turcotte stays healthy enough to hustle every night and if Akil Thomas builds on his impressive late-season audition.

Read more: NHL free agency report card: Grades for every team’s early offseason moves

The Kings need all of that (along with a wing and a prayer) in order to make an upward move in the Western Conference. Warren Foegele, Tanner Jeannot and Joel Edmundson alone aren’t going to cut it.

Blake often seems to confound with his moves ( because they’re mostly terrible). He’s only added to that of late. For starters, (Exhibit A) Jim Hiller was promoted from interim head coach, even though more accomplished options were available.

The miraculous escape from the Pierre-Luc Dubois blunder bought Blake some momentary goodwill. Additional cap space was created with a trade, the goaltending position was taken care of (in theory) with the addition of Darcy Kuemper (Exhibit B), and a massive contract was jettisoned. With the first bit of salary-cap space the Kings have had since last summer, they ate up half of it with the trade for Jeannot and the signings of Foegele and Edmundson.

Roy, Viktor Arvidsson, Blake Lizotte and Carl Grundstrom have departed, but the Kings didn’t win a playoff round with them. There’s no problem with changing things up. They tried it last summer with (Exhibit C) Dubois. That blew up in their faces, obviously, but they’re trying again, and there’s something to be said for that. But does anyone think they’ll take down a West contender with these new additions? (No)
Of course, 82 games must be played out, and seasons have their twists and turns. The unexpected often pops up. All we can go by for now is how these players have performed in the past, and then envision what kind of fits they might be in L.A. But if these are the primary moves designed to take this group to a higher level … well, good luck.

Foegele, who’s on a three-year deal for $10.5 million, should be a solid addition. He plays a north-south game and is more than a crash-and-bang forward. He has the speed to work effectively with highly skilled players, the size to win puck battles and the kind of persistent work ethic that will please his linemates.

It is fair to question whether the 28-year-old winger will duplicate the career-best 20 goals and 41 points he had with Edmonton last season (No because the Kings aren’t the Oilers), especially given that he spent lots of five-on-five time next to Leon Draisaitl. He’ll give the Kings effort, even if he may not score as much as they would hope. Kings faithful will appreciate that after watching Dubois float way too often.

Blake traded a fourth-round pick and a 2025 second-round choice for Jeannot, which looks like a high price to pay for someone whose offense virtually disappeared in Tampa Bay and who essentially morphed into a fourth-line grinder. (Exhibit D)

Jeannot, 27, burst into NHL in 2021-22, when he scored 24 goals and added 17 assists in 81 games with the Predators. The Lightningacquired him in an infamous 2023 trade for five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote. He hits — he had 211 of them in just 55 games last season, and has 872 across his four seasons — but he scored only six times in 75 games with the Bolts after struggling in his follow-up year with the Preds.

The idea of Jeannot being an upgrade over the departed Grundstrom must be the thought here, which is fine. But for a $2.665 million cap hit, Jeannot must do more than bang bodies and fight. The saving grace with this move is that his contract ends after this coming season. It needs to work, but if it doesn’t, there’s no lasting damage.
The signing of Edmundson is … something.

There are prisms to consider when assessing the 31-year-old defenseman. Solely from the standpoint of him being a better option than Andreas Englund on the left-side third pairing, you can entertain that argument. Edmundson is far more accomplished. He’s got playoff pedigree as a Stanley Cup winner with St. Louis and as a Cup finalist with Montreal. He’s also facetiously (or accurately) been tagged as a cross-checking monster, but you know he’ll battle in front of the net and be a stay-at-home complement to either Spence or Clarke. Basically, he’s a mean SOB on the ice.

There is the matter of Edmundson’s health. Chances are, he will miss some games. His healthiest period came in the COVID-19-impacted 2019-20 and 2020-21 shortened seasons, when he missed only one of 124 regular-season contests. Otherwise, Edmundson suited up in only 53 games between Washington and Toronto last season and has played in no more than 69 games in any of his nine years. The Kings do have Englund and Jacob Moverare signed for this season, so they’ve got fill-ins if Edmundson is banged-up. (Did Blowby not look at his health history? Probably not.)

But if you look at it through the frame of having a defense that had a strong and underrated Roy behind Drew Doughty on the right side, and the group possibly being completed by Edmundson and depth piece Kyle Burroughs, it’s an underwhelming re-shaping. Clearly, the Kings weren’t going to pay Roy the six years and $5.75 AAV he got from Washington, and Clarke seems ready to step in for a full-time run. That’s fine, but is this blue line any better right now? (Nope) (Side note: One would think that a Norris winning D-Man, come GM can at least pick good defensive talent.)

And when you look at Edmundson through the frame of his four-year deal with a $3.8 million cap hit … yikes. Don’t hate the player for getting the bag when he can. He has a career to look after, and he deserves to maximize his earning potential. Multiple reports had Edmundson’s services being sought by several teams, so it’s possible that Blake had to up the ante to land him.
Edmundson got four years and $3.8 million on average. Another player who fits his profile, Ian Cole, signed with Utah for one year and $3.1 million. That type of money for a third-pairing defender might not be as alarming with the cap ceiling rising. That type of money for four years, given to someone who has been sidelined often over his career — by a team whose future as a consistent playoff team now appears questionable — is alarming. (Blake knows best, am I right?)

Think back to that 2025 second-round pick surrendered in the Jeannot deal. What if this season really goes sideways for the Kings? That’ll become a pretty good pick for the Lightning. And what if Edmundson is dogged by injuries? It wasn’t so long ago that Blake was fishing for Jakob Chychrun. Blake could be faced with trading Plan B pivot Vladislav Gavrikov at the 2025 trade deadline, while the once-possible partnership of Chychrun and Roy is together in Washington. If that happens, the Kings are back where they started in their search for a top-four left-side defender.

Irony, huh?

(Easy now, we haven’t forgotten about Arizona’s role in the Chychrun trade to Ottawa happening, and not L.A.).

The most damning part of Blake’s comments this offseason was his pointed summation that the Kings lacked the desire necessary to win in the postseason, and that they must be willing to get “uncomfortable” when battling for space in the toughest parts of the ice. The foursome of Foegele, Jeannot, Edmundson and even the sandpaper-laden Burroughs — if he winds up plays more than expected — are the Kings’ response to that.

There is still $10 million of cap space remaining, but new contracts for Byfield and Spence – and Arthur Kaliyev, if they don’t trade him – still must be worked out. And they still haven’t added any scoring.

The Kings got bigger. They’re brawnier. But are they any better?

At this point, no.

 

[Kings4OT]

Not sure where to post this, so I’ll post it here.

With free agency settling, can anyone say the Kings have improved?With NHL free agency settling, have the L.A. Kings improved much at all?

When it comes to the three notable moves the Los Angeles Kings made this week to address a roster that keeps coming up short in the playoffs, they shouldn’t be labeled as the good, the bad and the ugly.

More like the decent, the ho-hum and the frightening.

Plenty of summer remains for general manger Rob Blake to do more tinkering and pull off a bargain find (another words, to screw up even more). But as it stands now, the only way the Kings will be better than last season — or the two before — is if their young players provide more support for their aging leaders and their collection of solid-to-(sub-)elite performers who usually are at the front of their pack.
It will help if Quinton Byfield takes as big of a leap as he did last season and becomes a regular threat to be the best player on the ice, as he showed at times last season. Or if Brandt Clarke’s defensive play improves enough to earn the trust of coaches, so that the Kings can take advantage of his offensive gifts from the blue line. Or if Jordan Spence shows that he can be the quality, well-rounded minutes-muncher that Matt Roy was. Or if Alex Laferriere adds production to his effort, if Alex Turcotte stays healthy enough to hustle every night and if Akil Thomas builds on his impressive late-season audition.

Read more: NHL free agency report card: Grades for every team’s early offseason moves

The Kings need all of that (along with a wing and a prayer) in order to make an upward move in the Western Conference. Warren Foegele, Tanner Jeannot and Joel Edmundson alone aren’t going to cut it.

Blake often seems to confound with his moves ( because they’re mostly terrible). He’s only added to that of late. For starters, (Exhibit A) Jim Hiller was promoted from interim head coach, even though more accomplished options were available.

The miraculous escape from the Pierre-Luc Dubois blunder bought Blake some momentary goodwill. Additional cap space was created with a trade, the goaltending position was taken care of (in theory) with the addition of Darcy Kuemper (Exhibit B), and a massive contract was jettisoned. With the first bit of salary-cap space the Kings have had since last summer, they ate up half of it with the trade for Jeannot and the signings of Foegele and Edmundson.

Roy, Viktor Arvidsson, Blake Lizotte and Carl Grundstrom have departed, but the Kings didn’t win a playoff round with them. There’s no problem with changing things up. They tried it last summer with (Exhibit C) Dubois. That blew up in their faces, obviously, but they’re trying again, and there’s something to be said for that. But does anyone think they’ll take down a West contender with these new additions? (No)
Of course, 82 games must be played out, and seasons have their twists and turns. The unexpected often pops up. All we can go by for now is how these players have performed in the past, and then envision what kind of fits they might be in L.A. But if these are the primary moves designed to take this group to a higher level … well, good luck.

Foegele, who’s on a three-year deal for $10.5 million, should be a solid addition. He plays a north-south game and is more than a crash-and-bang forward. He has the speed to work effectively with highly skilled players, the size to win puck battles and the kind of persistent work ethic that will please his linemates.

It is fair to question whether the 28-year-old winger will duplicate the career-best 20 goals and 41 points he had with Edmonton last season (No because the Kings aren’t the Oilers), especially given that he spent lots of five-on-five time next to Leon Draisaitl. He’ll give the Kings effort, even if he may not score as much as they would hope. Kings faithful will appreciate that after watching Dubois float way too often.

Blake traded a fourth-round pick and a 2025 second-round choice for Jeannot, which looks like a high price to pay for someone whose offense virtually disappeared in Tampa Bay and who essentially morphed into a fourth-line grinder. (Exhibit D)

Jeannot, 27, burst into NHL in 2021-22, when he scored 24 goals and added 17 assists in 81 games with the Predators. The Lightningacquired him in an infamous 2023 trade for five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote. He hits — he had 211 of them in just 55 games last season, and has 872 across his four seasons — but he scored only six times in 75 games with the Bolts after struggling in his follow-up year with the Preds.

The idea of Jeannot being an upgrade over the departed Grundstrom must be the thought here, which is fine. But for a $2.665 million cap hit, Jeannot must do more than bang bodies and fight. The saving grace with this move is that his contract ends after this coming season. It needs to work, but if it doesn’t, there’s no lasting damage.
The signing of Edmundson is … something.

There are prisms to consider when assessing the 31-year-old defenseman. Solely from the standpoint of him being a better option than Andreas Englund on the left-side third pairing, you can entertain that argument. Edmundson is far more accomplished. He’s got playoff pedigree as a Stanley Cup winner with St. Louis and as a Cup finalist with Montreal. He’s also facetiously (or accurately) been tagged as a cross-checking monster, but you know he’ll battle in front of the net and be a stay-at-home complement to either Spence or Clarke. Basically, he’s a mean SOB on the ice.

There is the matter of Edmundson’s health. Chances are, he will miss some games. His healthiest period came in the COVID-19-impacted 2019-20 and 2020-21 shortened seasons, when he missed only one of 124 regular-season contests. Otherwise, Edmundson suited up in only 53 games between Washington and Toronto last season and has played in no more than 69 games in any of his nine years. The Kings do have Englund and Jacob Moverare signed for this season, so they’ve got fill-ins if Edmundson is banged-up. (Did Blowby not look at his health history? Probably not.)

But if you look at it through the frame of having a defense that had a strong and underrated Roy behind Drew Doughty on the right side, and the group possibly being completed by Edmundson and depth piece Kyle Burroughs, it’s an underwhelming re-shaping. Clearly, the Kings weren’t going to pay Roy the six years and $5.75 AAV he got from Washington, and Clarke seems ready to step in for a full-time run. That’s fine, but is this blue line any better right now? (Nope) (Side note: One would think that a Norris winning D-Man, come GM can at least pick good defensive talent.)

And when you look at Edmundson through the frame of his four-year deal with a $3.8 million cap hit …

Irony, huh?

(Easy now, we haven’t forgotten about Arizona’s role in the Chychrun trade to Ottawa happening, and not L.A.).

The most damning part of Blake’s comments this offseason was his pointed summation that the Kings lacked the desire necessary to win in the postseason, and that they must be willing to get “uncomfortable” when battling for space in the toughest parts of the ice. The foursome of Foegele, Jeannot, Edmundson and even the sandpaper-laden Burroughs — if he winds up plays more than expected — are the Kings’ response to that.

There is still $10 million of cap space remaining, but new contracts for Byfield and Spence – and Arthur Kaliyev, if they don’t trade him – still must be worked out. And they still haven’t added any scoring.

The Kings got bigger. They’re brawnier. But are they any better?

At this point, no.

Thats a lot of words to say what ive been saying haha. Those are great pickups for the Kings....2 years ago, heck even last year.....but now? We are hoping everyone has close to career seasons especially Kuemper.