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Blake inherited a mess.
Signing Kovy for 3 years messed it up even further.
Brown's play has improved, but his contract is still an anchor.
Phaneuf is barely serviceable as a 3rd pair guy.
Kopitar is not playing like a $10M player.
Carter has been INVISIBLE. Same as Toffoli.
We're paying Mike Richards until 2069.
There is no short-term fix available. Right now, there isnt even a long-term fix available.
But hey, at least MATT GREENE comes off the books this year.. so there's our bright side!
The Future is Bright?
Again, the biggest bane in the Kings organization is the utter failure to develop the players. Here is their development and coaching staff:
Director of player development: Glen Murray
Player Development: Mike Donnelly, Sean O'Donnell, Jarrett Stoll, Craig Johnson
Goalie Development: Dusty Imoo
S&C: Jeremy Clark
Ontario Reign Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Mike Stothers
Assistant Coach: David Bell, Jaroslav Modry
LA Kings Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Willie Desjardins
Assistant Coach: Dave Lowry, Marco Sturm
Goalie coach: Bill Ranford
There aren't a whole lot of people involved in development or coaching which inspires talent or has shown results. And I still don't see how Adam Oates, who was hired as a consultant, has had any tangible results for players getting better.
I still maintain the Kings have made some good picks, which suggest good scouting, but the development staff (especially with forwards) has yet to show a reliable ability to bring the best out of the staff.
I disagree with Dusty Imoo and Bill Ranford, I think they have an excellent track record with developing goalies
I would agree with this. Aside from the goaltending coaches, we don't have staff with proven pedigree. I also don't like how most of the development team is part of the good old boys network of 90s/00's Kings. I worry about the hockey equivalent of academic inbreeding when most of the staff was on the same team. I'd like to see more outsiders to make sure there are various viewpoints.Originally Posted by King'sPawn
The Kings need to develop young, inexpensive talent if they are to return to the top of the standings. You look at the pieces that were added to the lineup in 2012 and 2014 to get us over the top. Where is the next wave of players like Dwight King, Jordan Nolan, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez, and Martin Jones?
Seems like Nelson Emerson and Mike O'Connell had quite a bit more on-ice involvement, along with Donnelly, when the program was churning out quality NHL players. Not sure if face off specialist Stoll and skating specialist Johnson are working wonders at this point.
In any case, my long term concern dating back 10 years now is similar to yours, I think. They knew how to teach 3rd liners to play the possession game, but they never knew how to develop top 6 players, specifically homegrown centers. Kopitar didn't need much, and since then you're looking at Shore, Dowd, Vey, and now Kempe and Amadio who haven't exactly hit potential.
If he would embrace it like Moulson has, he'd be great there. More likely, he'd take the Scuderi/Setoguchi route and show up when/if he feels like it.
And the Mike Richards' recapture penalty has only one more year to go!
But then there is a $700K-$900K salary cap hit that kicks in for him until 2024-2025.
It's worse than that. It actually goes until the 2031-2032 season. And the settlement payments were designed to increase after the recapture penalty ends. Still, there will be some additional cap room available beginning after next season.
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