2024-25 Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

Ya probably Kypreos, but he was the only one that called Rantanen...so theres that I guess. Trading Buster would be admitting they screwed up (yet fucking again)....I doubt they do that

Playing conspiracy theorist here, but maybe that was the point of the damage control - plump his value up including giving him a long term deal instead of a bridge. That would be the quintonsential (see what I did there) chess move, checkmate.

If so that means they decided last summer he isnt part of the long term plan and identified he most likely will not develop into that star 1C/2C. Locked him up.long term knowing the cap is going up and $6.25 million will be easier to absorb starting in 2025-26 for basically all teams vs if they moved him now. Cost certainty for any team who acquires him.

I think any trade involving Buster would be a summer move when teams have the most space. Only two pressing contracts this summer will be Laferriere and Gavrikov. But that's assuming Buster is available to begin with.

That would be something and if so fooled me to a T. But Blake isn't that smart so...carry on.

 

[Kings4OT]

McJesus blew his wad on that no cup goal. Oil not good and hes been barely around since

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Ducks did the Kings a solid and beat the Canucks 5-2. Granted it was a B2B for Vancouver but that keeps them away from PD3 some more. Canucks had a 2-0 lead early, similar to LA last night but Anaheim rattled off 5 in a row.

Big test for LA coming up tomorrow against Dallas, feels like forever since LA has won in that building.

Then as if the schedule makers didn't screw with LA as it was with such a road heavy schedule most of this season so far they play the Blues three times in a week with a stop against Chicago in between. Strange.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Yup, that's how I see it too. Rittich is a decent goalie but not a legitimate starter, plus he's also on an expiring contract himself. Clarke, Turcotte minimal value, TOTM not productive enough for the term and cash left on his deal.

Kempe would have to be the centerpiece but he has evolved into the Kings best player overall and is on a steal of a deal. He is eligible to sign an extension this summer, we will know what his ask is and if the Kings would be willing to meet it.

Blake signed Doughty to that 8 year/$88 million deal so I don't see why they wouldn't invest in their home grown star for $10+ million AAV but hes done some crazy things so who knows.

But the Canes would start with Kempe in the conversation and even for Rantanen that weakens the Kings moving Kempe.

I don't think Rantanen is having the same value right now. There is real talk that his stats have always been inflated by playing with Mackinnon, especially seeing what Martin Necas has been able to do since arriving in Colorado. I am trying not to be a homer, but I don't think even a 1 for 1 trade for Kempe is fair from the Kings standpoint. The point of working with Carolina is under the premise that they absolutely cannot afford to lose Rantanen in the summer like they just did to Guentzel last summer. They've been Rob Blaking assets into the league and don't have as much to show for it. They may be more likely to make a move. They are in their win-now window, but their goaltending is a massive problem, and they still haven't really separated themselves from the pack in any way.