Thread: Murray era over

This team needs more Big Strapping Bodies.

As other posters have stated, Brown is not the problem. I also fully recognize the fact that Brown at times can be frustrating to watch play. Regardless, you do not trade the Captain of a team that just won the Stanley Cup 12 games into the following season. I know Quick was probably the main factor they Kings won, but Brown was an absolute beast last Spring.

In a couple of years, perhaps we can have this debate.

I need a nap after reading this thread.

Lets face it, the Kings are built with a bunch of guys who are streaky. Brown, Kopitar, Richards, Carter, Williams....all streaky. When we don't have the big shut down D and great goal tending, this team can't handle the down streaks. When just two of those guys are clicking, and we have solid D, the team can win the freaking Stanley Cup. I wouldn't trade anyone except smaller pieces to fill out the hole at defense. The core will be just fine. And yes, missing Greene and Mitchell can make the Stanley Cup favorite look like the Maple Leafs. It has certainly made Quick look pretty darn average.

Originally Posted by capsnbottles

Wouldnt trade Brown straight up for Kessel

really? i make that deal in a second. or are you saying tor wouldnt make that deal? i sure as hell would if im dean.

Originally Posted by Mr.Hockey 2.0

really? i make that deal in a second. or are you saying tor wouldnt make that deal? i sure as hell would if im dean.

Talk about "what have you done for me lately". Without Brown the Kings would not have won the Stanley Cup just 11 games ago.
Brown's value is waaaaaay above Kessel's right now.

You wouldn't do Richards straight up for Matt Moulson, would you?
Or fire Sutter and bring back Marc Crawford? His teams always scored a lot of goals.

When Kessel knocks a Sedin on his ass and sets the tone for a whole playoff series, no a whole playoff run, then we can talk. But I think he's going to have to become Captain first, and then actually make the playoffs.

The problem, as demonstrated by the last several regular seasons, is that the Kings don't have the raw skill to compete among the elite teams in the NHL for division titles and better playoff seedings. They have just proven that they have a roster that is competitive enough to best any team if they can avoid injury and have key players play above their established levels.

Brown is that lead key player. He proved that he can play winning hockey when need be. But he reverts back to a level of play that is simply not up to snuff as a top line player.

I don't see the Kings rising to an elite regular season team with Brown, Williams, Carter and Gagne/Penner/Clifford as top 6 wingers. It will continue to be a struggle until they can either add wingers capable of creating their own quality chances, or until they get more playmaking out of their center ice position. Richards looks like he no longer has the hands to be the player he was in Philly, and playmaking isn't a real strong suit of Kopitar.

This team has everything it needs, when healthy on the back end, except for wingers who can back off the defense. Moving Brown for say Kessel robs an inconsistent Peter to pay an unproven Paul. But you might need to do something like that in order to take the next step as a team. The best bet us to sign a quality UFA.

Originally Posted by Mondo Blando

The problem, as demonstrated by the last several regular seasons, is that the Kings don't have the raw skill to compete among the elite teams in the NHL for division titles and better playoff seedings. They have just proven that they have a roster that is competitive enough to best any team if they can avoid injury and have key players play above their established levels.

Brown is that lead key player. He proved that he can play winning hockey when need be. But he reverts back to a level of play that is simply not up to snuff as a top line player.

I don't see the Kings rising to an elite regular season team with Brown, Williams, Carter and Gagne/Penner/Clifford as top 6 wingers. It will continue to be a struggle until they can either add wingers capable of creating their own quality chances, or until they get more playmaking out of their center ice position. Richards looks like he no longer has the hands to be the player he was in Philly, and playmaking isn't a real strong suit of Kopitar.

This team has everything it needs, when healthy on the back end, except for wingers who can back off the defense. Moving Brown for say Kessel robs an inconsistent Peter to pay an unproven Paul. But you might need to do something like that in order to take the next step as a team. The best bet us to sign a quality UFA.

I completely agree with your evaluation of this team's makeup Mondo, and it is why I felt both happy and bitter about last year's Cup run.

I honestly hated last year's team all through the regular season and still dislike the current team, but I am a Kings fan and of course I want them to have success, so naturally I enjoyed every second of the playoffs. However, when I look at the moves and positioning that Lombardi has put the team in order to have that success or to try and "keep the team together", I am discouraged.

You are correct about Brown, Williams, Carter, Gagne/Penner as the team's top 6 wingers. All of them possess the skill, but as someone stated earlier they are streaky players. Brown, Carter, and Penner all 3 suffer from lack of effort. Brown needs to play aggressively on the forecheck and cause turnovers. Carter has tremendous athletic gifts and great hands but he is one of the laziest players I have ever seen play hockey. The laziest guy I have ever seen play hockey is Penner. Richards isn't a winger, but this year he can be grouped into that same lethargic mold.

Doughty without a doubt can be an elite defensemen when he chooses to. His numbers have been flat out bad this year. He is a -10 and more frustrating for me is his complete lack of offensive ability, specifically on the powerplay.

I was outright pissed off when the Kings signed Quick to a 10 year deal. Quick is all-world, but 10 years for a goalie is insane.

I am a Jack Johnson fan, but that is because I think he can play exceptional hockey when Doughty is not around. When the Kings committed 8 years to Doughty I knew that he would be gone, because the two seemingly just cannot co-exist on the same team. I was okay with giving up Johnson, but I did not and do not approve of Carter. Including the first round pick that could possibly have netted the Kings another impact forward was overpayment in my opinion. Not only that, but the Kings were inheriting a lazy player who was booed out of town by Columbus. The only hope that I have is that when Carter's routine gets old, they will be able to flip him for an equal return.

Truthfully, I am still bitter about Lombardi not signing Gaborik too. He was the one and really only free-agent forward that I wanted on the Kings. Not that he alone would be the difference maker, but he is the key element that you are talking about that the Kings have missed since the days of Palffy.

It is my desire for the Kings to be an elite team year-in, year-out. I just don't see this team as having that capability with it's current composition. Key elements like Kopitar, Doughty, Quick are there but several of the veteran forwards that were added were not meant to be long term. The development of the Kings prospects is where the real future still lies. Which is why I disapprove so much of letting younger talent go in trades.

Originally Posted by KingFanMGM

I completely agree with your evaluation of this team's makeup Mondo, and it is why I felt both happy and bitter about last year's Cup run.

I honestly hated last year's team all through the regular season and still dislike the current team, but I am a Kings fan and of course I want them to have success, so naturally I enjoyed every second of the playoffs. However, when I look at the moves and positioning that Lombardi has put the team in order to have that success or to try and "keep the team together", I am discouraged.

You are correct about Brown, Williams, Carter, Gagne/Penner as the team's top 6 wingers. All of them possess the skill, but as someone stated earlier they are streaky players. Brown, Carter, and Penner all 3 suffer from lack of effort. Brown needs to play aggressively on the forecheck and cause turnovers. Carter has tremendous athletic gifts and great hands but he is one of the laziest players I have ever seen play hockey. The laziest guy I have ever seen play hockey is Penner. Richards isn't a winger, but this year he can be grouped into that same lethargic mold.

Doughty without a doubt can be an elite defensemen when he chooses to. His numbers have been flat out bad this year. He is a -10 and more frustrating for me is his complete lack of offensive ability, specifically on the powerplay.

I was outright pissed off when the Kings signed Quick to a 10 year deal. Quick is all-world, but 10 years for a goalie is insane.

I am a Jack Johnson fan, but that is because I think he can play exceptional hockey when Doughty is not around. When the Kings committed 8 years to Doughty I knew that he would be gone, because the two seemingly just cannot co-exist on the same team. I was okay with giving up Johnson, but I did not and do not approve of Carter. Including the first round pick that could possibly have netted the Kings another impact forward was overpayment in my opinion. Not only that, but the Kings were inheriting a lazy player who was booed out of town by Columbus. The only hope that I have is that when Carter's routine gets old, they will be able to flip him for an equal return.

Truthfully, I am still bitter about Lombardi not signing Gaborik too. He was the one and really only free-agent forward that I wanted on the Kings. Not that he alone would be the difference maker, but he is the key element that you are talking about that the Kings have missed since the days of Palffy.

It is my desire for the Kings to be an elite team year-in, year-out. I just don't see this team as having that capability with it's current composition. Key elements like Kopitar, Doughty, Quick are there but several of the veteran forwards that were added were not meant to be long term. The development of the Kings prospects is where the real future still lies. Which is why I disapprove so much of letting younger talent go in trades.

the only exceptional thing about Jack Johnson right now is the number of minutes he's playing.

and i pretty much, well no, completely disagree with the other parts of your evaluation as well.