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.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I completely forgot about this guy, a read on how the stretch run looks:

LAK Stretch Run: How will it be different? — The Fourth Period

Dennis Bernstein checks in on the LA Kings and touches on their approach heading into the trade deadline.

www.thefourthperiod.com

Thought this was interesting about Buster:

Quinton Byfield may never become the volume shooter required to become a big-time goal scoring center but his career-high four assists in the victory of Vegas indicates he’s becoming more comfortable as a facilitator.

Umm...he wasn't drafted 2OA to be a facilitator ans certainly not paid $6.25 million to be one. His job was to drive a line and score. Centers do pass, that's their job too, but he just doesn't seem to have a goal scoring mindset or ability.

 

[Kings4OT]

I completely forgot about this guy, a read on how the stretch run looks:

LAK Stretch Run: How will it be different? — The Fourth Period

Dennis Bernstein checks in on the LA Kings and touches on their approach heading into the trade deadline.

www.thefourthperiod.com

Thought this was interesting about Buster:

Quinton Byfield may never become the volume shooter required to become a big-time goal scoring center but his career-high four assists in the victory of Vegas indicates he’s becoming more comfortable as a facilitator.

Umm...he wasn't drafted 2OA to be a facilitator ans certainly not paid $6.25 million to be one. His job was to drive a line and score. Centers do pass, that's their job too, but he just doesn't seem to have a goal scoring mindset or ability.

A lot of his passes are just that, passes....not facilitating anything except getting the puck to a guy who drives to a danger area and makes the real pass to the shooter. He gets some good plays here and there, but at a rate of a b6. Not sure that changes.

2 of those 4 were good plays, 2 had zero to do with him in the play and his 5th A was awarded by me for his play when Vegas scored

 

[PuckinUgly57]

But but but...he's only 21.

Report: Dallas Stars Have Massive Offer on the Table for Pending RFA Wyatt Johnston

21-year-old Wyatt Johnston is proving that his impressive first two seasons in the NHL were no fluke, and the Dallas Stars are getting ready...

www.nhltraderumors.me

I could have lived with Buster's contract if he put up two solid seasons in a row, he's shown last season was a fluke and the previous seasons and this season is who he really is.

 

[Kings4OT]

Rumor is Kings are in on Rantanen, looking at Jake Evans to mitigate loss down the middle which points to Buster.

Kings fans who want Rantanen are in for a treat and dont watch him at all....he is basically the Finnish PLG or Pencakes. So those of you looking for miracles and 120 points while not working hard to back check or even look like hes expending energy are going to be on the hate train in 3 games.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Rumor is Kings are in on Rantanen, looking at Jake Evans to mitigate loss down the middle which points to Buster.

Kings fans who want Rantanen are in for a treat and dont watch him at all....he is basically the Finnish PLG or Pencakes. So those of you looking for miracles and 120 points while not working hard to back check or even look like hes expending energy are going to be on the hate train in 3 games.

I really hope that isn't true, he is going to cost an arm and a leg and the Kings simply are not contenders. One player won't push them over the top. But this is such a Blake move to save his job I could see it happening.