2024-25 Off Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

I just look at the last 25 years (literally) with you guys so I don't feel it but I'll be hitting the big 5-0 in February.

I've spent half my life with you mooks, and I'm still ornery and salty as shit. That's why I don't feel almost 50.

With your buddy in February too, we should go 3 times between us.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Missed this one, TA and grading teams' contract efficiency. I'm sure moving PLD played a big role in elevating them this high, but I believe they should have been closer to the bottom third because they failed to mention the nuances like eating Provorov to dump Petersen.

The ramifications from those exorbitant contracts is what prevented LA from being a big player in FA which connects to having to move assets if they wanted to make a significant trade to upgrade the roster.

Definitely think they're being generous here foe whatever reason.


11. Los Angeles Kings

Last season: 17th

The freshly minted Quinton Byfield extension was so good it moved the Kings up six spots in these rankings. He may not be a $10 million player yet, but a rising cap for a 21-year-old showing star upside means he’s on track to get there — and then some.

Byfield’s deal gives the Kings four A-level deals and things look pretty good for them, especially up front. But there are some troubling spots, especially with some of the work they did this summer. Tanner Jeannot is an overpaid reclamation project, Darcy Kuemper is probably over the hill and Joel Edmundson’s deal would’ve only looked acceptable if it was $3.9 million total — not per year.

The Jeannot and Edmundson combination feels especially poor because together they cost about as much as Matt Roy did for nowhere near the same effectiveness.

The thing I hate about this is it's so clearly a regular season stats rating. Like how Matthews is far and away the guy because he puts up 50-70 a year, and Marner is compared to Matthews as a superstar. Talent-wise, no argument whatsoever. But playoffs are more gritty and Marner specifically got shit on for just not wanting to go into the corners. Just coasting and becoming a nonfactor in the playoffs. Regular season, you can pretty much pencil him as a top 20 scorer in the league, but that completely dismisses your main goal of winning it all. The cup that is.

Byfield has the pedigree, draft position, and early production for those models. But he needs to find an edge and find a way to use his body more. Look, if he pulls a Hughes this year and just dominates, then Kings are got a steal for sure. But it looks like Kings paid for his potential and his value is already built in. I think the value of his signing is fair, honestly, but it's not an "A" just because of potential.

I could see Kings pulling a Vancouver this year. Games and early success fall their way, and they could ride a hot start into the playoffs. Avoid Edmonton and maybe win a round or two. Feels like that is their cap. Avoid the high end teams and they could do something. Even last year, it felt like if they could've just matched up with Vancouver, they could've been a different story.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The thing I hate about this is it's so clearly a regular season stats rating. Like how Matthews is far and away the guy because he puts up 50-70 a year, and Marner is compared to Matthews as a superstar. Talent-wise, no argument whatsoever. But playoffs are more gritty and Marner specifically got shit on for just not wanting to go into the corners. Just coasting and becoming a nonfactor in the playoffs. Regular season, you can pretty much pencil him as a top 20 scorer in the league, but that completely dismisses your main goal of winning it all. The cup that is.

Marner has been a PO no show for years so I completely agree with your statement. The POs is where your mettle is built and shown, and that TO core simply fails that test every single year.

But I also feel that could be applied to the Kings. The only consistent performer I've noticed who's willing to bull his way around is Kempe in all 3 years. Just this morning on NHLN they showed some of the WCQF game (not sure which one) between the Oilers and Kings this season and Kempe clearly stood out. That guy was trying to will his team into battle, drag them into the fight. Nope. Nothing. And it showed with a meaningless OT win, they essentially got swept.

I also belive this is why Kempe, not Anderson, will be the next captain of this team. Blake won't be here to piss him off or screw the pooch roster building wise so I fully expect Kempe to stay in LA on a big dollar deal, he's been an absolute steal on this contract. I'll give Bowlby that one, one of his very few home runs.

Byfield has the pedigree, draft position, and early production for those models. But he needs to find an edge and find a way to use his body more. Look, if he pulls a Hughes this year and just dominates, then Kings are got a steal for sure. But it looks like Kings paid for his potential and his value is already built in. I think the value of his signing is fair, honestly, but it's not an "A" just because of potential.

100%. Like I said before, he needs to hit 60-70 points minimum to prove he's worth it not to mention the Kings made a good decision. Anything less or he doesn't eclipse last year's 55 will not be good.

He definitely needs to bring an edge to his game consistently, him laying out McJesus gave me a boner. I want to see more of that and be more of a factor every shift he is out there.

I could see Kings pulling a Vancouver this year. Games and early success fall their way, and they could ride a hot start into the playoffs. Avoid Edmonton and maybe win a round or two. Feels like that is their cap. Avoid the high end teams and they could do something. Even last year, it felt like if they could've just matched up with Vancouver, they could've been a different story.

I don't know man, you're far more optimistic than I am. Teams that missed improved this summer and you know Vegas and Edmonton will still be top 3 in the division. Vancouver petered out in the end, but they'll be more hungry after going two rounds deep.

Then of course you have Nashville loading up, Dallas will be strong again as will Colorado and I don't have my hopes too high for this season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA had a fan poll last week about confidence in the front office, needless to say the Kings scored very poorly (31/32). Last season they ranked 13th, no doubt the PLD deal plummeted that but it's been tye overall body of work from Bluc that earned this ranking and it's deserved.

I voted and laid out the same things most people did - cap mismanagement, lack of drafting impact players and failure to produce quality NHLers, horrific or ill times trades and free agency. Just utter incompetence from the FO resulting in a capped out mediocre team. Brutal.

31. Los Angeles Kings

Last year: 13th

“Blake has made mistakes that have hampered the team’s ability to build out a proper roster. The large deal handed to Petersen blew up in the team’s face and the PLD signing was a disaster. They managed to unload that contract, but it stung.”

“Strategy was always to build around what was left from the championship teams. It hasn’t worked and now we are stuck in the mediocre middle.”

The luster surrounding the Rob Blake era has officially worn out. Three straight first-round exits at the hands of the same team will certainly have that effect — a showcase of exactly how far away the Kings are from contending. Being stuck in the middle was the biggest concern around meshing two eras and that seems to have come to a head over the last year. The public views the Kings front office as borderline bottom five and the internal feeling from the team’s own fan base has sunk precipitously. No team saw a bigger drop in confidence than the Kings, with 92 percent of their fans less confident than they were a year ago.

That hinges almost entirely on the trade and subsequent signing of Pierre-Luc Dubois, a move that seemed fine at the time but ended up as one of the most disastrous decisions in recent memory.

The rest of the work here is a mixed bag, with Quinton Byfield’s new extension an obvious highlight and the Joel Edmundson deal a lowlight. But the Dubois deal casts a massive shadow over everything and anything else this front office has done over the last year.

 

[Kings4OT]

Well deserved 31/32 ranking. Obviously I will probably watch most every game, But I will probably be yelling a lot and not in a good way

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Well deserved 31/32 ranking. Obviously I will probably watch most every game, But I will probably be yelling a lot and not in a good way

Many of us had our reservations when these two jokers took over, I was one of them. Blake's lack of experience was a huge concern of mine but more so his character than anything.

Sure he was under Dumbo's wing for years but his actions and behavior throughout his association with the Kings raised a huge red flag for me. The hold out in 1998 for a new deal, the supposed self removal of the captaincy going into 2000-01, his shit play from 2006-08 coming back for $12 million after the Avalanche chose not to exercise the sixth year option on his summer 2001 deal, just his overall demeanor doesn't settle well with me. Went to a stacked team in Colorado by forcing his way out, wanting to be a highly paid mercenary as a UFA, then his complete implosion as a team builder here, I could go on and on. He's just a selfish guy and has zero acumen how to build a team because he did that patterned on his own behavior over his career if you really look at it. And I hate to see my prediction come true but it has, he has screwed up this franchise as a GM.

We will slog along this season, I'll get more gray, drink a lot of beers all pissed off on game nights and hopefully next summer we never hear from this clown and his association to LA ever again.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Blues with two offer-sheets on two Oilers players. Oilers have 7 days to match but one comment said they're already $300k over the cap. Should be an interesting week for Edmonton.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Wow, not too often we see Offer Sheets let alone two to the same team forcing their hand. I think the last one was 3 years ago with Carolina and Montreal.

Even being $300K over the cap all teams can go 10% over during summer so I think the Oilers will match and then move some players to be compliant.

The timing is absolute genius, less than a month away from TC opening meaning the Oilers will have to scramble and probably take less in normal value on players they may trade.

The Oilers are in a serious situation with both McJesus and Draisaitl up for contracts in the next 22 months, this is great. Bunch of insufferable clowns.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Matthews to be named captain for the Leafs tomorrow taking over from Tavares:

Toronto Maple Leafs expected to name Auston Matthews captain on Wednesday | TSN

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to name Auston Matthews as team captain on Wednesday, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.

www.tsn.ca

Interesting, Tavares is in his final season of the 7 year/$77 million deal he signed in 2018, most likely means he won't be back next summer as a Leaf and they're transitioning the leadership now.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

Matthews to be named captain for the Leafs tomorrow taking over from Tavares:

Toronto Maple Leafs expected to name Auston Matthews captain on Wednesday | TSN

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to name Auston Matthews as team captain on Wednesday, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.

www.tsn.ca

Interesting, Tavares is in his final season of the 7 year/$77 million deal he signed in 2018, most likely means he won't be back next summer as a Leaf and they're transitioning the leadership now.

Lets all get ready for another Blake signing. A 7 year deal for Tavares. HAHA

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Lets all get ready for another Blake signing. A 7 year deal for Tavares. HAHA

7 years/$91 million to match his jersey number with immense publicity and fan fare, full NMC from day 1, AEG paid beach house in Manhattan and personal chef.

End result: 77 games, 61 points, none in the POs if they make and a skate to the head from Corey Perry all for a cool $13 million AAV.

 

[Kings4OT]

7 years/$91 million to match his jersey number with immense publicity and fan fare, full NMC from day 1, AEG paid beach house in Manhattan and personal chef.

End result: 77 games, 61 points, none in the POs if they make and a skate to the head from Corey Perry all for a cool $13 million AAV.

And will be Kings 1A netminder......still better than Peterson


Yes i know he doesnt play there.....

 

[PuckinUgly57]

And will be Kings 1A netminder......still better than Peterson


Yes i know he doesnt play there.....

I'm sure Petersen would rather be an NHL goalie but damn did Bowlby set him up for life. Playing AHL hockey at age 29 or whatever, guaranteed $5 million a year for 3 years, hopefully he invested it or plans to.

I don't believe he will ever have an NHL career in front of him again but he will never have to work a day in his life if he manages this correctly.

I wish I was friends with Bowlby and sucked at hockey.

 

[xis]

I'm sure Petersen would rather be an NHL goalie but damn did Bowlby set him up for life. Playing AHL hockey at age 29 or whatever, guaranteed $5 million a year for 3 years, hopefully he invested it or plans to.

I don't believe he will ever have an NHL career in front of him again but he will never have to work a day in his life if he manages this correctly.

I wish I was friends with Bowlby and sucked at hockey.

Well. At least you suck at hockey. ,.I..(-,-)..I.,

 

[Kings4OT]

Cant believe Greir took Ceci, he should be fired

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That dude is a black hole defensively where ever he goes.

I was thinking they'd keep Broberg and Holloway which is why they made the move space wise, nope. Declined the Offer Sheets and those two are now Blues. The money would have been an issue but they were had for a 2nd and 3rd round pick, 22 and 23 years old.

Blake couldn't have pulled that off? I like Laferriere but Holloway would have been an improvement on that L1.

 

[Kings4OT]

Blake couldn't have pulled that off?

It humorous at this point you even typed that

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Instead he's giving up seconds for guys like Lias Andersson. Just a complete imbecile as a GM.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Way too much to cut and paste but TLDR, TA ranked the Kings 21st in pipeline. No superstars in the pipeline, just a lot of M6 guys, several "poor" rankings in the skating department (Clarke, Greentree, etc).

Just 3 years ago it was first. Ouch.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

There's a pretty crazy rumor that has been unconfirmed for about 7 hours that Johnny Gudreau and his bro were killed by a drunk driver. There's just a ton of people speculating and nothing confirmed, but it's been trending for several hours now.