2024-25 Off Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

Buster looks a lot more confident than he has, Im expecting big things from him. If he taps out again at 55 points or less, that'll be a step backwards and the bust talk will pick up again. I'm looking at him for at least 65 points especially now that he has solid wingers but ice time will be an issue being 3C. I'd rather roll him out than Dunno but you know how LA loves defensive hockey.

Maybe my theory is far fetched but if you look at last season, when did McLellan put him in a situation to succeed? He really didn't. That's what makes me think it was personal, not a best for the team decision. And people will not always get along, and maybe that's what it was. Personality differences.

Did see that, what a waste of a first round pick. Another Bowlby Special.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I dont think your theory was that far fetched. I guess I was just thinking out loud in regards to PLD.
I think Kopitar will have to get less ice time in order for him to be more effective. It will keep him fresher throughout the year. Maybe there is a way that they can get the top 3 lines close to equal ice time or have QB's line moved up to the 2nd line and drop Dunno drop to 3 as you mentioned.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Dunno is at best a 3C, his first year here was the anomaly. That's not a bad thing, but that's where he belongs. Buster should be 2C because he's an offensive player, not a shut down C like Dunno. Thus I think as the season moves along you'll see Buster and his linemates getting more and more ice time. But that will also impact TOTM, i don't expect 30 goals again from him this season.

Also looks like Lee was sent down to the AHL, so scratch him off the roster. Kings will open up with 22 with Doughty and Arty Retardy on IR. They have not been placed on LTIR yet.

Was just thinking about this, Bjornfot has a Cup before Bowlby does. Ouch. Gotta laugh at that one.

 

[xis]

Dunno is at best a 3C, his first year here was the anomaly. That's not a bad thing, but that's where he belongs. Buster should be 2C because he's an offensive player, not a shut down C like Dunno. Thus I think as the season moves along you'll see Buster and his linemates getting more and more ice time. But that will also impact TOTM, i don't expect 30 goals again from him this season.

Also looks like Lee was sent down to the AHL, so scratch him off the roster. Kings will open up with 22 with Doughty and Arty Retardy on IR. They have not been placed on LTIR yet.

Was just thinking about this, Bjornfot has a Cup before Bowlby does. Ouch. Gotta laugh at that one.

I think I'm in the minority if not the only one who has never down on Byfield. I'm just not that worried about his progress, 2nd overall pick and all.
He was almost a full year younger than Lafreniere (1st overall) and about 8 months younger than Stutzle. I know everyone wanted Stutzle 2nd overall but I'm confident that Byfield will turn into a better overall and more rounded player than Stutzle.

I see on most projected line ups Dunno's line is slotted as the 2nd line but I think the Byfield line will get more minutes. At least offensive minutes with Byfield getting more PP time whereas Dunno will see more PK time. So how the lines are listed means nothing really.

What I expect to see from Byfield this year is more consistent play through out the year. At least positive faceoff percentage (over 50%.) Better overall game, defense can't lack in favor of scoring. Look to shoot more and drive play instead of deferring to line mates. 65-70 points is fair to expect.

Lee will be on the opening night roster even if he doesn't play. The move was just a paper transaction to open up some cap space and he'll be placed back on the roster opening night. Whether he plays game one or not, is another question. It's either him or Thomas and I think as the season goes Lewis will sit some games with the all kid line as the 4th line.

I know most of you are down on the team, understandably so but this should be an interesting season none the less. Blake won't survive this season unless it's a trip to the cup finals and I doubt they get by both Edmonton and Dallas. I still think the playoffs are in reach and I have a feeling the Jets are the team that takes a step back this year.

There's my rant.

 

[Kings4OT]

To be fair to everyone, im the only one that wanted Stuetzle. Mostly based on getting someone that was NHL ready that could score (what Kings really needed at the time) and would be fun to watch....hes had 3 more productive seasons than Buster on a crappy team no matter how you slice up the ages. Grabbing Stuetzle for me was based on the team LA had, you get a t5 pick and imo if you have a chance at someone that can help you right now you take him. If the Kings have a 90pt guy over the last 4 or 5 seasons at least 1 of those playoffs might have gone differently. Hopefully your right and Buster arrives before Kopistar and DD are ineffective for their cap hit as they are who that t2 pick should have supported.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Good takes for sure from you two, solid work. My pick in 2020 was either Raymond or Sanderson over either Buster or Stuetzle, Raymond has developed nicely in Detroit and Sanderson is a borderline star of a defender.

Reason being is the Kings were loaded with C prospects at the time, all drafted to succeed Kopitar but we saw what happened and none of them have panned out. So maybe it was a good thing to take Buster after all.

I'd like to see consistency in his game this season, he got a lot of his goals and points in bunches including that 1 goal in the last 25 games of the season. That just cannot happen again, especially if he is going to driving his own line this season. His defensive game is coming along fine but his ability to consistently generate chances and more importantly cash in on them must be better this season if the Kings are going to be competitive.

X good catch on Lee, indeed a paper transaction. The Kings have a whopping $547K available in cap space. Yikes.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, ranking all 32 team defenses. Kings in Tier 5, ouch.

Tier 5: Decent young talent but volatile and prone to injury risk

Los Angeles Kings
Mikey Anderson–Jordan Spence
Vladislav Gavrikov–Kyle Burroughs
Joel Edmundson–Brandt Clarke

Injured long-term: Drew Doughty

Extra defense options: Andreas Englund, Caleb Jones

Drew Doughty’s devastating ankle injury (out month-to-month) leaves the Kings vulnerable on the right-side defense, especially after Matt Roy’s departure. None of Jordan Spence, Kyle Burroughs or Brandt Clarke have experience playing top-four NHL minutes. In rating L.A.’s blue line, we’re assuming that Doughty will miss significant time but that he will eventually return this season.

These next several weeks will tell us a lot about Clarke and Spence. Both are talented, exciting players who could break out and seize all of the extra minutes available. Clarke, especially, has elite offensive potential and should seamlessly take on first-unit power-play responsibilities. It’s a lot of pressure on them to perform right away, though. Mikey Anderson, Vladislav Gavrikov and Joel Edmundson at least have the experience and defensive IQ to be the stabilizers for each of their pairs.

When Doughty’s healthy this profiles a solid, deep defensive unit. However, who knows how long it will be until we see the group healthy.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Nick Nickson announces his retirement will be at end of this season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Nick Nickson announces his retirement will be at end of this season.

That sucks, he was great on radio and I think that trio fed well off each other last season with him, Evans and Fox.

Miller gone, Nickson gone, craziness. I wonder if they'll stick with 3 or keep Evans and Fox only next season.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

That sucks, he was great on radio and I think that trio fed well off each other last season with him, Evans and Fox.

Miller gone, Nickson gone, craziness. I wonder if they'll stick with 3 or keep Evans and Fox only next season.

I cant imagine that they would keep Even and Fox only as neither of them are PBP just colors. They would have to bring someone like Faust or someone else to do the PBP. Unless I am misunderstanding what you meant.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

No, that's a good point. I don't know how either would fare in a PBP situation but I think for financial reasons they'd try to convert them into that duo.

But were they to add someone, I really hope it isn't another Faust. I just could not get into that guy at all.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I cant imagine that they would keep Even and Fox only as neither of them are PBP just colors. They would have to bring someone like Faust or someone else to do the PBP. Unless I am misunderstanding what you meant.

I wasnt as down on Faust as others but I do understand why there didnt care for him. I was reading elsewhere that he is going PBP and he was much better. If they were to reel him in a bit and not get so far away from the game he would fare better.
I think Fox and Evans would have some great insight but not sure how either one of their PBP would go.

 

[davnlaguna]

No, that's a good point. I don't know how either would fare in a PBP situation but I think for financial reasons they'd try to convert them into that duo.

But were they to add someone, I really hope it isn't another Faust. I just could not get into that guy at all.

They tried Fox PBP, he did not fare well. I think Evan’s did ok the couple of times he did it on the radio. Faust just signed in NY as radio guy.
I would say Puck should do it but the honesty and swearing might get him pulled before the first faceoff

 

[Fox4Kings]

Fox as a color guy is one of the best in the business, I like his homerism. When he has filled in at PBP, he is terrible!

 

[Kings4OT]

Fox as a color guy is one of the best in the business, I like his homerism. When he has filled in at PBP, he is terrible!

I lik Fox as well, he supports the Kings but is not blind or unrealistic when the fuck up

 

[PuckinUgly57]

They tried Fox PBP, he did not fare well. I think Evan’s did ok the couple of times he did it on the radio. Faust just signed in NY as radio guy.

I don't remember Fox doing that at all, was this when Miller was out sick prior to his retirement?

Good for Faust...and good for us. Stay on the EC brother.

=)~~

I would say Puck should do it but the honesty and swearing might get him pulled before the first faceoff

The first time I scream "f**king Buster, what the damn hell were you thinking?" I think AEG would have a talk with me...

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I lik Fox as well, he supports the Kings but is not blind or unrealistic when the fuck up

One of the better ones in the business, he isn't shy about calling the Kings out which is refreshing. Listening to the Ducks two buffoons, nothing has changed since they started.

 

[davnlaguna]

I don't remember Fox doing that at all, was this when Miller was out sick prior to his retirement?

I believe so
He said things like “nothing happening there” and “why did he do that?”
It was more reacting to what was going on and not describing what was going on. You could tell he was flustered. Maybe he will get some practice before he tries again.

 

[xis]

Yeah fox called a couple of games during that stretch and all he wanted to say all game long was "kick save and a beauty" 100% he'll say it 35 times this year as the color guy anyway. I kind of like John Forslund who's doing the Kraken games now.