2024-25 Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

Who is Todd McLellan? Red Wings are veteran coach's fourth NHL team

The Detroit Red Wings hired Todd McLellan to replace fired coach Derek Lalonde. Here's the background on the Red Wings' new head coach.

www.usatoday.com

McClellan is now going to try and save the Wings.

Was just about to post this, interesting move is Trent Yawney was also brought in as an AC. Obviously the same tandem in LA.

He will be good for them to set structure and discipline but not enough to win a Cup. Wish him well and will be watching to see what parallels to LA he brings in. He should get them competitive again.

Full circle for him, he was an AC under Babcock in 2005 in Detroit.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kings wish list, can't say I disagree with any of it.

Five Things on Kings Christmas Wish List for 2024

mayorsmanor.com

Crazy to think of the 6 goals TOTM has scored half were EN goals. Definitely a trade chip IMO.

 

[Kings4OT]

Kings wish list, can't say I disagree with any of it.

Five Things on Kings Christmas Wish List for 2024

mayorsmanor.com

Crazy to think of the 6 goals TOTM has scored half were EN goals. Definitely a trade chip IMO.

Problem with career years, is sometimes thatswhat they are...and Kings had a few at once. I think I mentioned trying to sell TOTM....hes not bad, but that was going to be his best draw

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Problem with career years, is sometimes thatswhat they are...and Kings had a few at once. I think I mentioned trying to sell TOTM....hes not bad, but that was going to be his best draw

TOTM had a very quiet 31 goal year. He isn't a 30 goal scorer, reminds me of when Cheechoo hit 56 being on Thornton's wing. He is a 15 goal scorer tops, had a career year like you're referring to.

That said, he is still serviceable, a good defensive presence. At his hit ($4.5 million or whatever?) and skillset, I'd move him. Blake has sold so low on some deals and so overpaid on others, this is a good time move him. Get what the Kings need.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Thought this was funny, out and about today.

Said to myself that's the minimum number of mistakes Bowlby has made as GM.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

My honest opinion on Moore is he loves being a King. Obviously from the area. Dude has a lot of heart and work ethic, but he is an unbelievably bad matchup for Edmonton. He's undersized by a lot, so when you're undersized you gotta be stupid fast and creative, and he's only mildy quick. Edmonton has like 12 forwards faster and bigger than him and there's just no amount of heart that can overcome that. He had amazing chemistry with Danault that first year LA played Edmonton, and with Arvidsson, that was LA's best line that whole series. Since then....not so much. Could be a combination of things.

So it comes down to heart piece vs actual production. He's one of those dudes where maybe of LA doesn't play Edmonton, maybe he gets something done and buried a few big goals to put LA over the top. But I'm looking at the standings and it's honestly probably gonna be Edmonton for the 4th year in a row.

You move Moore or Danault if you get something good, but you don't move him to move him. He's not bad. Really he's not. I'd love to see him paired with a few guys with some size to see if they can create some room for him too.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Lak.Daily on Instagram: "Trevor Moore has been placed on IR. Arthur Kaliyev has been activated off IR and recalled from AHL Ontario. Kaliyev played in 5 games for Ontario, recording 1 goal and 1 assist. Kaliyev was a -2 and took 13 shots. #GoKingsG

183 likes, 17 comments - lak.daily on December 28, 2024: "Trevor Moore has been placed on IR. Arthur Kaliyev has been activated off IR and recalled from AHL Ontario. Kaliyev played in 5 games for Ontario, recording 1 goal and 1 assist. Kaliyev was a -2 and took 13 shots. #GoKingsGo".

www.instagram.com

And Trevor Moore to IR...

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kaliyev activated. Man oh man.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kaliyev activated. Man oh man.

Wonderful, my first game in 21 months and Arty Retardy is going to ruin it for me.

=)~~

Don't screw it up pal.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Lak.Daily on Instagram: "Drew Doughty is on the ice for the first time since fracturing his ankle back in September. It is a light skate and he is not wearing full gear, but this is a MASSIVE step for his return. #GoKingsGo"

942 likes, 33 comments - lak.daily on December 30, 2024: "Drew Doughty is on the ice for the first time since fracturing his ankle back in September. It is a light skate and he is not wearing full gear, but this is a MASSIVE step for his return. #GoKingsGo".

www.instagram.com

Doughty on the ice for first time since injury. No pads though

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Interesting read on the Flyers Kings history highlighting some trades, I completely forgot the Kings had to send a 2nd round pick to Philadelphia for hiring him.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/exploring-the-star-studded-trade-history-between-the-kings-and-flyers

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Lak.Daily on Instagram: "Drew Doughty is on the ice for the first time since fracturing his ankle back in September. It is a light skate and he is not wearing full gear, but this is a MASSIVE step for his return. #GoKingsGo"

942 likes, 33 comments - lak.daily on December 30, 2024: "Drew Doughty is on the ice for the first time since fracturing his ankle back in September. It is a light skate and he is not wearing full gear, but this is a MASSIVE step for his return. #GoKingsGo".

www.instagram.com

Doughty on the ice for first time since injury. No pads though

My concern is team chemistry even though he is the D1 on this team. Hope it doesnt disrupt things but he won't be sitting.

The question is who is he paired with and who can he mentor and who sits?

 

[Kings4OT]

I put DD with Clarke, leave Gav/And. If those 4 can eat up most of the time, let em. Edmonson/spence call it good maybe see if you can get something for spence and use mover...

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I put DD with Clarke, leave Gav/And. If those 4 can eat up most of the time, let em. Edmonson/spence call it good maybe see if you can get something for spence and use mover...

That means one of Doughty or Clarke plays their off side, I wouldn't want Clarke doing that this early in his career. But breaking Anderson Gavrikov doesn't make sense either because they've been playing well.

Id actually see if Doughty can take Moverare under his wing to start and see if Moverare is capable of handling T2 minutes. He's solid, nothing flashy and plays a sound defensive game.

That keeps 84 44 and 6 92 together as is, just have to see if Moverare can handle that load (my guess is no, just throwing ideas out there) to minimize too much shuffling since these pairs have been together all season without Doughty in the line up.

That leaves Spence, Burroughs and Englund as spares and I think one of them will be moved either to the AHL or by trade.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I'm personally not a fan of the Doughty/Anderson pairing. Don't want that back. Def don't fix what's not broken. Gavrikov/Anderson keep. I think Spence is more ready for bigger minutes. Moverare odd man out. Or they'll run the 11-7. Maybe that was the plan all along. I don't think Doughty gets in game shape for quite some time, so you pair him and Spence or him and Clarke on a modified 3rd pairing (3rd line but maybe play minutes closer to a split with the other 2nd pairing), then those guys be their respective specialists for.special teams. Doughty still runs PK1 and you try to have Clarke run PP1.

Also, it's Gavrikov contract year and we've heard nothing. Feels like maybe 3rd year in a row Kings lose a top 4 defenseman for nothing if he walks as a FA. Seemed like he didn't really want to be here with him only signing the two year to begin with. But maybe wanted to see how the team was gonna look. I really don't know.

 

[Kings4OT]

Clarke sucks on D, so I dont think side is gonna matter lol. Dd probably wont be at speed and will end up behind the play anyway and that allows Clark more leway jumping in....but like you just throwing shit out there. Spence kinda took a step back this season both on D and O, more mistakes than last year IMO, but I dont think that is worrisome and I think he will be just fine. I do like Mover and dont want to see him go, one of burroughs/englund sure....but thats getting you nothing. Unpopular would be send Clarke while still hyped as I hate Forwards on D and he just screams that to me, Im skeptical he will ever play D well but will be a fan favorite because points!

 

[Kings4OT]

Zibanejad is willing to waive his NTC to goto a contender. Doubt theres a deal there but he would give LA a real #2C. He is always in the conversation for Selke and lady bing, can put up points and not a slouch in FO or backchecking. Instant upgrade that would actually worry the Oil if it could be pulled off.

Just wishful thinking on my part haha

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Also, it's Gavrikov contract year and we've heard nothing. Feels like maybe 3rd year in a row Kings lose a top 4 defenseman for nothing if he walks as a FA. Seemed like he didn't really want to be here with him only signing the two year to begin with. But maybe wanted to see how the team was gonna look. I really don't know.

Sure does seem that way. He was a bit of an unknown in Columbus prior to his coming to LA, the tone being he was playing over his head as a D1 but clearly he has shown he can handle T4/2 minutes. My guess is he wanted longer term, Kings weren't willing because of said skepticism and they both settled on a 2 year deal.

He is 29 and IMO will be looking for a big LT contract which I don't know if LA would be willing to hand out but they have approximately $17.6 million in space available in 2025-26 with no other big contracts due (Laferriere being the other biggest as an RFA). He also has a full NMC so he won't be moved unless he wants to and if so that signals he is priced out of LA, Blake knows it and gets the best offer he can or he doesn't move at all and hits the market July 1.

That creates a hole though so it seems Gavrikov holds all the cards. He's really built his value up this season after a down year in 2023-24.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Zibanejad is willing to waive his NTC to goto a contender. Doubt theres a deal there but he would give LA a real #2C. He is always in the conversation for Selke and lady bing, can put up points and not a slouch in FO or backchecking. Instant upgrade that would actually worry the Oil if it could be pulled off.

Just wishful thinking on my part haha

Good 200' player who is having a down year but basically who in NY isn't? He will be 32 in April and would have 3 years/$25.5 million left on his current deal ($8.5 million AAV), making him the second highest paid King (Doughty). But he would be here for 2 years after Kopitar most likely retires and could be a decent stop gap hoping Buster arrives or some other 1C isn't acquired.

Still boggles my mind how badly Ottawa got ripped off in that deal back in 2016, it was him and a 2nd round pick for Derek Brassard and a 7th round pick. Ouch.

 

[Kings4OT]

Good 200' player who is having a down year but basically who in NY isn't? He will be 32 in April and would have 3 years/$25.5 million left on his current deal ($8.5 million AAV), making him the second highest paid King (Doughty). But he would be here for 2 years after Kopitar most likely retires and could be a decent stop gap hoping Buster arrives or some other 1C isn't acquired.

Still boggles my mind how badly Ottawa got ripped off in that deal back in 2016, it was him and a 2nd round pick for Derek Brassard and a 7th round pick. Ouch.

Im not to worried past a season or 2 right now. Once DD and Kopistar retire it will almost be full rebuild time IMO no matter how Buster turns out at this point. So try to win now, just dont get any long, old uy contracts so a GM can spend cap correctly with rebuild