2024-25 Off Season Thread

[xis]

Dont know him, someone you've watched?

Haven't watched him too much but have seen a few Calgary Hitmen games where he stood out. He's a big RD decent but not great skating but has good shot. He's got some edge with offensive upside. The thing is, this draft is deep with D-man and this kid is already 6'3" close to 200lbs. It's the kind of player this team is lacking.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Could signal Roy is walking, Spence is gone or a Plan B if Clarke flames out.

Grundstrom was making $1.3 million and is an RFA with the same MQO, Burroughs has another year left at $1.1 million so it's a net savings of $200,000 but clearly they made the trade to solidify RHD spot.

Clears out a forward spot too so the Kings are definitely banking on internal cheaper options to fill holes this season. They'll probably sign one of the UFA wingers for a T6 role with Turcotte, Thomas and maybe Fagemo filling in the B6.

Correction, $1.3 million AAV, actually salary was $1.6 million with the same MQO. So a $500,000 savings this season, swapped offensive depth for defensive depth, opened up a roster spot in the forward ranks and if he doesn't make the team as 6-7D his cap hit can be buried in Ontario without any NHL cap ramifications. Physical player who hits and not afraid to drop the gloves. Sounds very Englund but a RD.

Grundstrom was making too much for what he brought. Seemed like a good team guy but he never took his game to a level to justify spending that much on a B6 player.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Pierre the Freak saying Roy is going to hit the open market. The gap is too big between what he wants and what the Kings are offering. Not good news at all IMO, this is what we may be potentially looking at:

44 8
84 92/21
5 92/21
43 Burroughs

Yikes. That defense will not intimidate anyone, and will force Hiller to play Doughty all those excessive minutes again.

The more I think about this the more I think this was indeed done knowing Roy will not be a King. Wouldn't mind seeing Englund and Burroughs as the third pair, they'd go around being physical which is good. But something happened between Blake and Roy's camp to trigger this move.

But that means either Spence is gone (trade - he isn't Waivers exempt) or Clarke failed (Waivers exempt and in Ontario again). Not good either.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, ranking every team's cap situation:

15. Los Angeles Kings

2024-25 salaries: $64,550,000
RFAs estimate: $12.84 million
LTIR candidates: None
Dead money deals: Ivan Provorov retention ($2.025 million), Mike Richards termination penalty ($700,000)
Notable unsigned UFAs: Matt Roy, Viktor Arvidsson, Cam Talbot, Trevor Lewis
Problem contract: None
Projected cap space: $10.6 million

Rob Blake’s one-for-one trade to send Pierre-Luc Dubois to Washington for Darcy Kuemper helped the Kings get rid of an anchor contract and address the starting goalie position in one fell swoop. Now, L.A. enters the offseason with enough money to upgrade the skater group, especially up front.

Losing pending UFA Matt Roy would be a significant blow but with prospect Brandt Clarke coming on the right side, those cap dollars could be better spent on adding scoring pop. The Kings can also open up a bit more cap room than we’ve projected if they bridge Quinton Byfield this summer instead of extending him to a long-term deal.

Hoping it is a bridge deal to allow for some more cap flexibility. In 2 years Kopitar and his $7 million most likely retire/expire, if Buster proves it on a 2 maybe 3 year, bigger dollars await.

 

[xis]

Yakemchuk off the board at 7 to the Sens.

Stian Sollberg still on the board and would be good pick if he's still available

 

[xis]

Fucking ducks moved up and pick Sollberg. shit bags

 

[Kings4OT]

Ya, him and Beaduin who just went should have been targets for LA

 

[Kings4OT]

Not a bad pick, but i think Kings will look back and wish we took Solberg or Beauduin

 

[PuckinUgly57]

At least the Kings didn't take a 5'10" guy this year.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Fucking ducks moved up and pick Sollberg. shit bags

I was hoping he would have been the pick, saw his name called and just shook my head. Such an LA thing to do, trade down and then see your rival trade up and take a very good prospect who should have been a King.

 

[xis]

Don't like the pick. They just redrafted Kaliyev2.0. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Kings4OT]

So a 2nd in 25 gets the Kings Jeannot for a season @2.6....not bad for half a season b6 lol

 

[Kings4OT]

I mean , im glad we got a guy that can hit....seems like a wasted 2nd

 

[davnlaguna]

So a 2nd in 25 gets the Kings Jeannot for a season @2.6....not bad for half a season b6 lol

Traded a pick that would disappoint us in 3 years for a player that will disappoint us now.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Pretty sure they're hoping he scores 20+ again but he's definitely not a T6 player. Love the physicality, bigger thing to me is the winning attitude he will bring.

That 2nd burns though.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

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

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Shesterkin going to ask for 14% of Rangers cap.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82L38jvsqi/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And it's pouring rain for Panthers championship parade.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-make-lightning-captain-number-1-free-agent-target

Lightning letting Stamkos go to free agency. I feel like they just shed a bunch of cap with the Sergachev move, so they could still bring Stamkos back. Article saying Kings should make a push for him. Some decent points in the article but I don't know.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-make-lightning-captain-number-1-free-agent-target

Lightning letting Stamkos go to free agency. I feel like they just shed a bunch of cap with the Sergachev move, so they could still bring Stamkos back. Article saying Kings should make a push for him. Some decent points in the article but I don't know.

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