2025-26 Season Thread

[Kings4OT]

LA needs a real #1 C. NJ14 is a good 2/3 at that position (better served on wing IMO), Buster isnt even close to a C even if he gets FO over 40% (LOL) and 80 points.....he doesnt play the f.ucking position guys he is a roaming do whatever he wants dude. Holland needs to address some huge issues for this team to be anything more than a bubble.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

LA needs a real #1 C. NJ14 is a good 2/3 at that position (better served on wing IMO), Buster isnt even close to a C even if he gets FO over 40% (LOL) and 80 points.....he doesnt play the f.ucking position guys he is a roaming do whatever he wants dude. Holland needs to address some huge issues for this team to be anything more than a bubble.

Buster needs to be either traded for that 1C or moved back to wing, he is not center material. The issue moving him back to wing however is it still leaves a hole in the center depth.

He is the most valuable chip they have for a trade because around the league he still has hype but the longer the Kings wait the more depreciated he gets as an asset.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA on WC off season moves, no kid season stuff so no Dunno on this one either:

Los Angeles Kings

Notable additions: Cody Ceci ($4.5 million x four years), Brian Dumoulin ($4 million x three years), Corey Perry ($2 million x one year, plus performance bonuses), Joel Armia ($2.5 million x two years), Anton Forsberg ($2.25 million x two years)

Early return: The Kings’ puzzling offseason moves have all but killed the team’s chances of emerging as a Stanley Cup contender. They’re boxed into the league’s mushy middle with no escape.

After disastrous starts, Ceci and Dumoulin have performed significantly better over the last 20 games. Both of them are driving a positive share of shots, scoring chances and goals during this stretch. However, they’re ultimately just bottom-pair-caliber defensemen, and the decision to spend a combined $8.5 million of cap space on them remains confounding. Between Ceci, Dumoulin and Joel Edmundson, the Kings are too old, slow and unskilled on the back end. L.A.’s lack of mobility and dynamic offensive skill on the blue line limits this team’s ceiling.

Up front, the additions have thankfully worked out better. Perry is tied for fourth on the Kings with 21 points in 35 games. He’ll likely cost at least $3.5 million against the cap once his performance bonuses are hit, but he’s still been well worth that price.

Armia, on pace for 18 goals and 32 points, has been a handy pickup as well. He’s been especially outstanding on the penalty kill — he’s scored four short-handed goals and the Kings have only been outscored by one goal during the 64 minutes he’s logged on the PK.

Forsberg has been a reliable backup, playing far better than his 6-6-3 record might indicate. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is rocking a sturdy .901 save percentage and has saved 7.3 goals above expected.

Pretty much what we have all daid and expected. Armia by far has been a pleasant surprise.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, top under 23 players and prospects currently. They can be on an NHL roster or property of a team. 137 total players.

No surprise Celebrini is nunber one, look who is number three. Buster didn't make this list because the qualifier is they need to be under 23 by Jan 1 2026 (he will be 24 this year) but he probably wouldn't have made it anyway. Kings had one player:

Tier 1 - Elite NHL Player

#3
Leo Carlsson
C
Ducks
DOB:
12/26/04
Ht:
6' 3''
Wt:
203
Shoots:
L

Profile

Carlsson's tools are elite. He's a big center with a ton of skill and hockey sense who routinely makes difficult plays with the puck. He sees the ice at a very high level and hits a ton of seams. The plays he makes for a big man are unique, especially at the pace he can do them at. He's not going to run over opponents, but he competes hard, gets to the net to create offense and plays on both special teams. He can run a first power-play unit, while also being able to drive offense at a top level at even strength. He projects as a star No. 1 center you can build a winner around.

Tier 7
Middle of the lineup player

#89
Brandt Clarke
D
Kings
DOB:
2/9/03
Ht:
6' 2''
Wt:
200
Shoots:
R

Profile

No profile.

"No profile" - freaking gold.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

And in other news, Dunno still hasn't scored a goal this season. A total of 40 games (9 with Montreal), 8 total assists.

His last RS goal was 3/20/25 against SJ and his last as a King was in the POs on 4/21/25 (two goal night) against Edmonton.

I didn't think anyone in a forward position who gets top minutes could top Buster's 17 game goalless streak but Phil says hold my beer.

 

[Fox4Kings]

Lot of Ducks in that article. I think I probably would put Schaefer ahead of Leo in Tier 1 personally, Schaefer is unreal and has completely changed that team which is pretty rare for a defenseman to come in and do that at such a young age. He is the total package.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Lot of Ducks in that article. I think I probably would put Schaefer ahead of Leo in Tier 1 personally, Schaefer is unreal and has completely changed that team which is pretty rare for a defenseman to come in and do that at such a young age. He is the total package.

Great point, it is very rare for an 18/19 year old defender to do that. We saw that in Doughty which is why I was expecting more out of Buster at the same 2OA spot.

And yes, lot of Ducks on that list. But when you draft guys like Lacombe and Carlsson and make savvy moves like cutting ties with an injured and underachieving Drysdale and taking advantage of a situation where the player doesn't want to be there (Gauthier) that's going to happen.

Meanwhile we get "we were right there" and the oldest, slowest underachieving team in the league.

 

[Kings4OT]

Meanwhile we get "we were right there" and the oldest, slowest underachieving team in the league.

Yea,but at least we had our chances !

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Yea,but at least we had our chances !

Kings currently on pace for 87 points, will not get you into the POs. The only way would be because the PD is weak, and even if they do they probably have a date with Colorado who would win that round.

That would be the worst showing in a full season since 2018-19 (64 points), Bowlby started selling off veterans at that point like Martinez, Toffoli, Muzzin, etc.

But then he either botched the picks or went on his spending spree bringing in guys thinking this team was better than they were. That seven game series against Edmonton was a surprise more than a prediction.if where this team was headed.

May be on that road again, in fact they probably should be but make it a proper rebuild this time.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Happened yesterday but the BJs fired Evason and hired Bowness:

Blue Jackets part ways with Evason, hire Bowness as new head coach

The Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy of their duties and hired Rick Bowness as the club’s new bench boss, the team announced on Monday.

www.tsn.ca

 

[xis]

Happened yesterday but the BJs fired Evason and hired Bowness:

Blue Jackets part ways with Evason, hire Bowness as new head coach

The Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy of their duties and hired Rick Bowness as the club’s new bench boss, the team announced on Monday.

www.tsn.ca

No. Since 2015 he and the Kings have the same amount of playoff round wins. Zero.
I like him as he is a hardass coach but these weak sucks in todays NHL just don't respond to that. He would be a good regular season coach with good defensive coaching but that's about it. No playoff success.

 

[Kings4OT]

No. Since 2015 he and the Kings have the same amount of playoff round wins. Zero.
I like him as he is a hardass coach but these weak sucks in todays NHL just don't respond to that. He would be a good regular season coach with good defensive coaching but that's about it. No playoff success.

As much as I hate Jill, i see no benefit if roster gaps are not addressed quickly. Jill same roster = go nowhere, Jill fixed roster = go nowhere, new coach same roster = go nowhere, New Coach fixed roster = "maybe" something different...but realistically making the playoffs is slim to none chance only because the West is weak.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Have NHL Now on, topic was the state of CA teams and both Rupp and Boyle said one team from CA will make the POs and both were extremely hesitant to pick the Kings. You could tell they weren't confident choosing LA, the league is aware they aren't a good team.

Boyle said they have what, 12 regulation wins? and Rupp had to look at his notes. He didn't address it one way or the other but for some reason I think it's less than that (I'll look it up in a bit).

Both also said Kings are in lace for under 90 points (87 by my calculations that I posted last night) and they said that will not get LA in.

Rupp also said Celebrini will win the Hart, Boyle said only if the Sharks are sniffing around a PO spot or in when the season ends. The guy is on par with McJesus and McKinnon.

And in other news, Ms Puck II got her learner's permit today. Wonderful, can't wait to see what insurance costs me.

 

[xis]

As much as I hate Jill, i see no benefit if roster gaps are not addressed quickly. Jill same roster = go nowhere, Jill fixed roster = go nowhere, new coach same roster = go nowhere, New Coach fixed roster = "maybe" something different...but realistically making the playoffs is slim to none chance only because the West is weak.

I think I mentioned this to Puck the other day on the phone. If the Kings make a change this year in coaching it's going to be promoting DJ Smith as interim head coach then go shopping in the offseason. I don't see them hiring an experience big name coach during the season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I think I mentioned this to Puck the other day on the phone. If the Kings make a change this year in coaching it's going to be promoting DJ Smith as interim head coach then go shopping in the offseason. I don't see them hiring an experience big name coach during the season.

At this point and where the Kinga are, barring some epic collapse - like sub .400 the rest of the way - Jill ain't going anywhere. We can give up on that dream.

I think Holly's plan is the cleansing will begin after the season - players, coaches, whoever.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

My actual fear is that Robitaille and Holland aren't fired, and they take whatever new Kopitar+Cap Going Up money and immediately blow it on a subpar center replacement this summer that just saddles LA for a decade. Maintain mediocrity.

This team is pretty bad, and somehow the only reason they're still even sniffing the playoffs is because of how bad the Pacific is. Which has sort of been the case for a few years, it just feels so much worse this year. And the Central having 3 teams that all decided to beef up.

I understand that they really can't blow this up in Kopitar's final season, and it'd be nice to sneak into the playoffs for him (and Kuemper honestly), but if the final memory is just a 5th straight 1st round playoff ass pounding, is that a much better memory?

Anyway, I think this summer they should start their rebuild and clear house across the board. Usher in the new. Sharks and Ducks about to make their ascension the next few years.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

My actual fear is that Robitaille and Holland aren't fired, and they take whatever new Kopitar+Cap Going Up money and immediately blow it on a subpar center replacement this summer that just saddles LA for a decade. Maintain mediocrity.

This team is pretty bad, and somehow the only reason they're still even sniffing the playoffs is because of how bad the Pacific is. Which has sort of been the case for a few years, it just feels so much worse this year. And the Central having 3 teams that all decided to beef up.

I understand that they really can't blow this up in Kopitar's final season, and it'd be nice to sneak into the playoffs for him (and Kuemper honestly), but if the final memory is just a 5th straight 1st round playoff ass pounding, is that a much better memory?

Anyway, I think this summer they should start their rebuild and clear house across the board. Usher in the new. Sharks and Ducks about to make their ascension the next few years.

Spot on.

I will say I don't understand why Holly is getting so much heat, yeah he made some really poor decisions in moving Spence for peanuts and signing the two pylon replacements but 90% of the team he inherited is Blake's mess. Include 20 in that as well, completely inept executives. I called the Blake mess in 2017 when he was hired. Not a winner, doesn't know shit and learned nothing under Dumbo.

Gavrikov is excluded from this whole thing because it's apparent he had no intention of staying in LA, which then leads to Holly having to sign a LHD (Dummy) to replace him and a RHD (Peepee) to replace Spence. But keeping Spence, or at the very least getting a second for him would have been good value, but then Spence wanted more ice time so the player had a somewhat say in it, lot of variables but overall a mess. Holly had to pivot.

So I don't really blame Holly for this hot garbage team overall but he hasn't made any moves to really improve it either. Plus he has been on the job for like 8 months so I don't know how anyone can really be mad at him (not yet anyway - he moves any fiture 1sts for help in the upcoming 7 weeks and that's another story).

I'm secretly hoping he will do nothing, let the team fall on their face and either miss the POs (most likely) or get smoked in the WCQF (not likely because they won't make it) and the house cleaning begins.

As GM he needs to sit with ownership and push to get rid of a ton of people and that should start with Robitaille.

 

[Fox4Kings]

Spot on.

I will say I don't understand why Holly is getting so much heat, yeah he made some really poor decisions in moving Spence for peanuts and signing the two pylon replacements but 90% of the team he inherited is Blake's mess. Include 20 in that as well, completely inept executives. I called the Blake mess in 2017 when he was hired. Not a winner, doesn't know shit and learned nothing under Dumbo.

Really?! Holly inherited a playoff team with a TON of cap space, and somehow made the team even worse? It's pretty bad, I feel like literally anyone on this board would have made better decisions this off-season and how to use the money. And I say no way Hiller makes it through the season. Hopefully Olympic break he is tossed. I watched one of those post game locker room celebrations videos and he is awkward as hell.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Really?! Holly inherited a playoff team with a TON of cap space, and somehow made the team even worse? It's pretty bad, I feel like literally anyone on this board would have made better decisions this off-season and how to use the money. And I say no way Hiller makes it through the season. Hopefully Olympic break he is tossed. I watched one of those post game locker room celebrations videos and he is awkward as hell.

Yeah I don't feel that way. He had to replace Spence and Gavrikov and couldn't internally because nothing better existed (drafting and developing) and the Kings don't have any good chips to trade. Who else was available? Just playing devil's advocate here.

I just feel he hasn't been on the job long enough to be crucified although 40% of his additions have been garbage. I think he got a raw deal walking into this job but that's on him. He walked into a fake 105 point team and misjudged.

I will agree Olympic break is the time to can Jill, we've seen enough.

 

[Kings4OT]

I am in between those 2 thoughts.

Holland absolutely should have replaced Jill as priority #1, no excuse, nothing will change my mind. This decision alone destroyed this season in a few ways....least of which, Spence would have 100% stayed.

The signings, Armia i was good with from the start (still want someone to find how long a puck is on his stick in the dzone tho, very hot potatoe and no decision on flinging that puck)

PeePee- no excuse to sign this guy at all, NONE. Any signing or even scrub call up would have been better.

F.uck Corey Perry - Kings absolutely need a guy like this, just to late really.

Hollys #1 priorities should have been headcoach and a C (maybe 2). I absolutely believe a solid 2C at the least could have been acquired one way or another.

Other than that, yes the hodgepodge of a team is at the feet of Blake...but a few saavy moves imo would have given better direction IMO