Fox4Kings
Active Member
I think most of us wanted Vegas in the first round, I know I did.
What do Kings do on defense? We've been feeling a trade coming for quite a while, I think they really need to pull the trigger. We seem pretty stacked and deep on D, would be great to get a nice forward in return. I know this has been talked about through this thread but assuming no trade, what do the Kings do? They will have some NHL caliber players sitting on the bench or playing in the AHL:
Drew Doughty - Obviously our #1
Alec Martinez - Solid top 4 guy
Jake Muzzin - Solid top 4 guy
Dion Phaneuf - Solid top 4 guy
Oscar Fantenberg - Kings just re-signed him to another 1 year deal. I was impressed throughout the season and I thought was stellar in the playoffs, especially game 2.
Derek Forbort - Had a fantastic season and a great partner with Drew.
Paul Ladue - I loved his play. Solid defender with a great shot, this is a guy who could see play top minutes on the Power Play at some point. For now I'd love to see him on the second power play unit. A lot of upside.
Daniel Brickley - Highly touted prospect, you wouldn't think he would sign with the Kings without a good opportunity to crack the starting lineup.
Christian Folin - Is a decent #6 guy, but being a UFA and with the other options, I don't see Kings re-signing him.
Kurtis Macdermid - Big guy you love having on the team, probably his skill compared to the other guys listed makes him the odd guy out, but I could see him being an NHL starter on a team.
Kevin Gravel - Showed signs of being an NHL starter. Is a RFA, will be interesting to see what happens there.
Kale Clague - Perhaps our top rated defensive prospect, maybe they keep him down in the minors another year?
That's a pretty hefty list, let's assume Folin and Macdermid are gone, that's 10 solid options on defense. Maybe I am being a homer and just too high on some of these guys.
I think the bigger test will be next year. Yes, the rules were changed for Vegas compared to any other team post-1967 Expansion but I will give credit to McPhee for drafting the players he did and more so to the players for doing their part. They have had one hell of a season and more power to them.
Their two biggest issues will be Colin Miller (thanks Dumbo!)
This is where Vegas is just too hard to beat right now. Their 4th line scored 3 goals in the 3rd period last night (Granted, one shouldn't have counted because a penalty should have been assessed and one was an empty netter).
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That Lucic trade really was the worst trade ever. Lucic for Martin Jones, 1st, and Colin Miller. Puck-moving defenseman we actually needed, 1st pick lost in a long line of not having a 1st round pick, and then Martin Jones beating LA in 5 games that very year (and helping SJ to their first Stanley Cup Final in their history). Gaaaaawd.
I will say, that I acknowledge what Lombardi tried to do. He got Boston to retain Lucic's salary, so he iced a team that was like $4mil OVER the cap (Ala, how Pittsburgh is able to have Kessel because Toronto is still retaining some of his salary). Only difference is, Kessel is actually able to produce, and that retention was for multiple years, not a one and done.
Still, what an awful trade for LA.
I think the Kings are going to push hard to get Voynov back.
Puck, if he does come back, are the Kings able to negotiate a new contract or would they have to pay him what he was making his last contracted year?
Fixed that for you.
=)~~
The bold I am referring to I'm sure everyone has read, that Ryan Reaves should have been called for a cross check moments before scoring the tying goal. Dude flat out decks Carlson within eyesight of the ref, gets the puck now that he's uncontested and roofs it.
Instead of the Capitals getting a PP and still leading 4-3 and potentially going up 5-3 the game is now tied 4-4 and that play shifted the game. Who knows, if the Caps lock it down with a PP goal and nothing else happens (although highly unlikely, this was a wide open game) that second Nosek EN goal potentially doesn't happen either. It was a disgrace of a non call, I actually agree with Mike Milbury for once.
And yes, I also think Wilson's hit was a late hit but he didn't target anyone's head so the interference or whatever was the right call. The issue I have there is there was no initial call (there should have been) but the refs convene when the whistle blows during the post-hit skirmish and decide to call one. Where was this on the Reaves non call resulting in a goal?
Vegas has been pulling all kinds of stick work, picks, dirty little plays and not getting called for them all POs long so I think the Caps said OK, we will police ourselves in that case and Wilson and Ovechkin started smashing guys. I haven't seen this but I read on a Cap fansite that moments before Marchessault got dropped he butt ended Ovechkin. If true, makes sense why Wilson sent him into next week.
An example of their stick work, Eller has a wide open net and clear cut gets slashed by McNabb - the same slashing they harped on all season long assessing penalties left and right - but no penalty. That would have tied the game 5-5.
The Capitals seem to be the most equipped team to give Vegas problems with their equivalent skill and speed so defense, goaltending and special teams will need to improve if they want to get back into this series.
Really problematic though that they are down 1-0 because of things like refs. I'm not claiming conspiracy, just call it fair both ways.
I know I've said it before, but I would move Muzzin. I don't want to move Muzzin just to move Muzzin, but because I think he has real value league-wide. His return will be nice. The prospect of him being up for a new contract in year seriously terrifies me (Increase salary/locked up for another 5-6 years? Who knows?).
I know what you mean on the call. Vegas has gotten a lot of benefits. They flop and embellish a lot, and they get away with a lot of extracurricular stuff as well. Add to that, their PP is very good, and you can feel why they're frustrating.
Last night, Colin Miller went down really easy on the TJ Oshie hit, which led to another Vegas goal (Making it 3-2). Neil getting hit in the face with his own glove.
But I guess my point is even having one goal from your 4th line is huge (Discounting the other 2 they had), and it really is their bottom 6 depth that has made them so effective. Empty net goal aside, the Knights had their 4th line out there to close out the game, which just wouldn't be the case for a lot of teams (*Cough* Kings *Cough*).