2024-25 Season Thread

[Kings4OT]

They traded Necas but kept Jarvis. I actually like both those guys, and neither was very old. Not sure why Carolina can't put it together. Their goaltending has been an issue, and they say they lack the top end guys, but they do have some studs up front. But they squandered some years here, and their stud defensemen are only getting older. I know they don't want to lose Rantanen, but they might do well to just keep him and try to make a run. Tkachuk banged up for Florida, Rangers down right now. Tampa Bay still a threat. Capitals randomly good. But overall, East has some openings to maybe make that run.

Thanks for the correction, interestingly enough Necas has 4g since being traded...basically half of Busters total if you - the EN and the goal he got credit for when Seider? Shot it into his own net....that means Bust has 9! actual goals this season lol

Canes have had G issues, but my oppinion is if you get Burns and now Taylor....your not getting yourself a winning culture. I dont care what anyone says about either....they exude "not gonna win" to me

 

[Kings4OT]

Some how get Rantanen for Buster and Clarke, Nelson for TOTM would be my wishlist right now. I think Kings would be better if Buster stayed for PO's as that type of guy helps win a series if you have the top line guys in place. Kings are in that dead zone where its either or not both....so may as well go for the change imo. But I doubt Rantanen ends in LA.

Maybe a 3 team thing where Marner ends in LA is more likely lol

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I actually don't really know Jake Evans of Montreal, but seeing his name all over the place. Guess he's a legit faceoff guy down the middle. Not sure much else.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

LA Kings should trade for this former player before the NHL Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Kings have struggled as of late as they have lost three straight after a relatively strong February where they won five of the first six games.

rinkroyalty.com

I mean...a boy can dream. Haha. I wish they'd never moved him, but I can't see a scenario where he would want to come back and be around Rob Blake. Rangers seem to have turned a corner though. Looking like a playoff team again.

 

[Kings4OT]

LA Kings should trade for this former player before the NHL Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Kings have struggled as of late as they have lost three straight after a relatively strong February where they won five of the first six games.

rinkroyalty.com

I mean...a boy can dream. Haha. I wish they'd never moved him, but I can't see a scenario where he would want to come back and be around Rob Blake. Rangers seem to have turned a corner though. Looking like a playoff team again.

Only to retire, one of thse sign for a day things....uness Blaake is gne

 

[Kings4OT]

PLG already 1g 1a....over 50 points and a +22 as a 2c....amazing how a player used to his strengths can perform. Huge part of why the Caps are a top team

Just sucks because Kings fans wanted him gone so bad that LA dumped him....he was an asset weather you liked him or not and now not having a 2c or assets to get one are a franchise problem.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

LeBrun and Chris Johnston, TA on what they're hearing about every NHL team as the TDL approaches:

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are believed to be among the teams that checked in with Carolina on Mikko Rantanen, but nothing seems to be cooking there. If anything, the Kings are likely to swing for a single rather than a home run. There seem to be some encouraging signs in Los Angeles about the way the group is coming together. The current wish list includes a middle-six winger.

Clearly published before the ass whooping the Kings took later in the day. The only thing that's coming together is either a first round demolition by the Jets (how much would The Legend love that), a first round demolition by the Oilers or missing the POs altogether.

And hopefully the end of the Bowlby era.

Carolina Hurricanes

Unless someone steps up with a can’t-miss offer on Mikko Rantanen, the Hurricanes have likely already made their biggest moves. While they continue to field calls on Rantanen, a pending unrestricted free agent who has indicated the need for more time before considering his options beyond this season, the most likely outcome for Carolina is holding on to the big winger for a playoff run and another shot at contract talks afterward. Remember that Carolina also acquired veteran Taylor Hall in January. Don’t be surprised if he signs an extension in the near future. This is a front office that seems to be in the middle of everything, but that doesn’t guarantee more fireworks by Friday.

This is kind of what I felt all along, after giving up a ton for Rantanen I couldn't see them flipping him. Anything is possible of course but the Kings just don't have the assets for that kind of trade and if they purge even more roster players it creates even more holes.

This roster is built poorly and the organizational depth isn't anything that really would entice anyone for a big swing me thinks.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

PLD with 1G/2A in a 5-4 SO win over the Sens tonight putting him on pace for 20G/50A/70 points which would be a career high. He's going to have more assists than Buster has total points.

One thing I noticed is his stat line early in the season was very Buster, lots of assists but few goals. The last three months that has leveled off with him scoring way more and assists coming significantly lower.

A lot of his goals have come in the paint or within 5 feet of it, he's going to the net. Buster needs to take notes.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

PLG already 1g 1a....over 50 points and a +22 as a 2c....amazing how a player used to his strengths can perform. Huge part of why the Caps are a top team

Just sucks because Kings fans wanted him gone so bad that LA dumped him....he was an asset weather you liked him or not and now not having a 2c or assets to get one are a franchise problem.

You're sort of right. Def is an asset now, but the fear was that he was going to be a major liability. Staring down 7 more years of that cap hit and just bending LA over for almost a decade. So Blake panicked and moved him. It's all a shit show, and I hate the whole scenario.

But considering what Blake gave up for PLD, to abandon it a summer later is crazy. In hindsight.

On a personal note, I just hated PLD and his attitude. But his utilization was so poorly managed and McLlelan immediately banished him to the 3rd line coming out of camp. But I don't think PLD ever really fought for his spot or showed much of anything either.

 

[Kings4OT]

He pretty much got points every year in the league, in cbj...points, in the peg....points....something the Kings miss is his ability to draw a penalty as well. Why is Buster moved all over and given opprotunities? Flashy chains and looking like hes doing something while doing not much? If Kopi went to another team for 11m fo you think hes fighting for a spot? He just went 20games without a goal...Should he be dtuck as a 3rd liner?

PLG was hotten and signed to be 2c, you dont then make him fight for that with a rookie and a bunch of players your going to waive, that was just the stupidedt thing ever and Kings fans jumped on him right out the gate. For as much as everyone pumps up Buster they all did the opposit with PLG. Not 1 thing he did was ever right, fought for the puck in the corner snd made a great pass to the net to a guy who cant shoot, PLG sucks, fight in front of the net for position and never have the puck get to him because nameplate lost it and its going the other way already....PLG sucks, he draws a penalty...PLG sucks, he stops a scoring chance....PLG sucks, he still ended up with as many points as Dunno somehow and was 2nd on the team to Kempe in drawing penalties....PLG sucks. Even after that season he was still an asset and for Blake to not know that is exactly why this organization is in the shape its in.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Oilers acquire Trent Frederic (6'3/225) from Boston along with Max Jones (6'2/217) in a three way with Boston and NJ. There's double retention so Frederic only costs the Oilers $575,000 for this season. He will be a UFA at season's end.

That was a guy I was hoping Bowlby would have targeted because the Kings B6 is atrocious and he's a decent 4C. Frederick is a checker who can score and plays a heavy, heavy style of hockey. They added some size in both players although Jones was in the minors and is a depth option.

Exactly what LA needed, more punishing forwards to face in a WCQF match up should they even make it in at this point.

 

[Kings4OT]

Ya, pretty much a FU to LA lol

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Only cost them a 2025 2nd (Blues from the Offer Sheets last summer) and their own 2026 4th.

The exact same package got Tanner Jeannot at a much larger cap hit. Frederick is injured but not expected out long term and he put up 18G and 40 points just a year ago.

The Kings are going to get beat TF up if they face Edmonton.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I actually don't really know Jake Evans of Montreal, but seeing his name all over the place. Guess he's a legit faceoff guy down the middle. Not sure much else.

Been swamped with work, going to hit some of these posts today.

Evans is a B6 forward, RH center who is strong on FOs and a solid PK. Even as a B6 forward he has more goals (12) than Buster does this season. I'd have to look but I think he may have more goals than the Kings fourth line combined.

He's off the market, the Habs extended him 4 years/$11.4 million yesterday ($2.85 million AAV). Not bad for a 7th round pick in 2014.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

LA Kings should trade for this former player before the NHL Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Kings have struggled as of late as they have lost three straight after a relatively strong February where they won five of the first six games.

rinkroyalty.com

I mean...a boy can dream. Haha. I wish they'd never moved him, but I can't see a scenario where he would want to come back and be around Rob Blake. Rangers seem to have turned a corner though. Looking like a playoff team again.

He won't come back here while Blake is here, no way. I could see the next GM however signing him to a one day contract so he can retire a King. Freaking legend.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Also just an FYI, check out Frank Serivelli's podcast from yesterday. He pretty much confirmed what we all believe, Turcotte has very minimal value around the league from other GMs and won't net much in a trade.

Bowlby doing Bowlby things, holding onto diminishing assets but on this one Turcotte’s injury history definitely played a role.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I even wonder if Bowlby is even going to make any moves at all. His MO is typically making moves well before the deadline. I can actually hear him saying "our big move was Doughty coming back from injury" and we are happy where we are at. I really hope he doesnt just make a move for a B6 forward and say that its enough to make us a contender.
I hope I am wrong but I can see it happening. I do see the Kings are linked to a handful of players but what do they have to offer back? I personally do not like rental players and I dont like going after an older type player who is on the downside of his career.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I even wonder if Bowlby is even going to make any moves at all. His MO is typically making moves well before the deadline. I can actually hear him saying "our big move was Doughty coming back from injury" and we are happy where we are at. I really hope he doesnt just make a move for a B6 forward and say that its enough to make us a contender.
I hope I am wrong but I can see it happening. I do see the Kings are linked to a handful of players but what do they have to offer back? I personally do not like rental players and I dont like going after an older type player who is on the downside of his career.

Bowlby will make a move, but it will be the wrong one as usual. The way this team is constructed in terms of age, core and prospects is completely not aligned.

There are some good pieces here but not the right mix which is why I'd rather him not further deplete the organization of assets, ride out the season with what's here and when it blows up again in the WCQF fire Bowlby, Robotile and Bergevin and rebuild under a completely detached and objective management team.

Yes it's going to suck balls for us but Dunbo did that, identified who stays and who goes and subsequently got appropriate pieces at the appropriate time (key words there).

It was awful those first 3 years, I remember how elated we were the Kings made the POs in his third year even though we (I did anyway) knew they weren't ready to be a go deep team. But you could see the core form, why he targeted certain players and how he went about getting them.

I'd rather go through a proper, painful rebuild than whatever cesspool we have been seeing here for the last few years. SJ and Anaheim have been and it's bearing fruit, I would not be surprised to see them pass up LA in as little as the next two years. But they bit the bullet and did it right.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Monster trade between Tampa and Seattle

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Monster trade between Tampa and Seattle

There were rumors the Lightning wanted to reacquire Gourde. Seattle is going to miss the POs again and are clearly looking towards the future so the two 1sts is huge but if Tampa goes on their usual deep runs they will be later on in the round. But then again the Kings got Kempe at 29th, and I certainly trust damn near anyone else's drafting and developing departments over LA's so just watch, one of those picks will turn into a 40 goal scorer down the road.