Doms Second half predictions

[jt]

There is nothing better than going to LGK and getting hit with a loaded question from jt. LOL

No it's not impossible to make the playoffs I just don't see it happening. Like I said trading assets to help get to playoffs is fine....it just depends on the value of the assets....if you can get Yandle cheap, why not? Otherwise, I'm not getting into a bidding war with other teams. Besides, I hear Yandle has a NTC or whatever. I don't see him waiving that to come to the Kings.

Why not just keep whatever assets and see what happens?

Note: this is referring to trades other than JC.

jom

Fair post (evening the beginning).

I'm not a big stats guy, but The Athletic has them missing the playoffs by TWO points. They could probably make that up with a trade or 2 and if they did, IMO it's worth trading player assets to get the asset of playoff experience.

And to your point about just keeping assets, the answer is because some of them are diminishing assets. I sure don't know which ones but a couple could be JAD and Vilardi.

[jt]

Not to bust a bubble but I just read that Elliotte Friedman stated the Kings have backed off on JC. Who knows if it's true but that changes things I guess.

jom

Yeah but that could be posturing. Friedman isn't above being used.

Hoven just said on NHL radio that the Kings could be in on it for Turcotte + Bjornfot + the 2022 1st.

[jom]

Yeah but that could be posturing. Friedman isn't above being used.

Hoven just said on NHL radio that the Kings could be in on it for Turcotte + Bjornfot + the 2022 1st.

True....I just know what I read. We'll see soon enough.

jom

[jammer06]

Totally agree. Would you sub in Kaliyev to keep Bjornfot?

Yes, and I might be Kaliyevs biggest fan. Vital that in the move for chychrun they bolster the D and not take a peg put to put it back. I'd still prefer to talk them into Clarke.

[jt]

Yes, and I might be Kaliyevs biggest fan. Vital that in the move for chychrun they bolster the D and not take a peg put to put it back. I'd still prefer to talk them into Clarke.

That's an awfully hard call. Kaliyev's come a loooong way this season. Can you afford to trade a guy who might be a consistent 25-35 goal scorer who also plays a 200 foot game? The King's need BOTH a stud LD and a sniper wing.

I guess the question might be...would you trade Brjornfot for Clarke?

With the weakness on LD in the system and strength on RD I think I agree with you. A D of

Andersson/Doughty
Chychrun/Roy
Bjornfot/Durzi

Is probably better than

Anderson/Doughty
Chychrun/Roy
Wolanin/Durzi (or Walker/Durzi or Moverare/Durzi or 36 yr old Edler/Durzi or Maatta/Durzi)

But can they afford to lose one of the only scorers in the system? I have no answer but I sure as **** hope the Kings do.

[hokiecat]

I totally disagree. This team CAN make the playoffs and just making the playoffs has value in that it gives the kids experience of playing in meaningful games and shows them how different NHL playoffs are from the regular season or playoffs and tournaments at lower levels. They need this to learn and the Kings need to seem them in the playoffs to see how they respond to pressure - and then what they do in the offseason to get better. They have SO many assets they can afford to sacrifice some to do this.

Even if they can't get Chychrun, get a rental like Yandle if they can just to get in the playoffs...it will pay dividends in the long run.

Sorry, I am late catching up on LGK but no to Yandle. He sucks. There's a very valid reason that Florida almost scratched him to end the streak. Let him suck in Philly with all of the other crappy players. Durzi fills the offensively tilted player role and does it better than Yandle these days.

[hokiecat]

You might want to edit that last sentence out before you get suspended.

I'm actually not an advanced stat guy. I hardly even understand them, although I think they're a good tool. I'm more of a "listen to the hockey talking heads I respect" kinda poster.



I don't even think Yandle would waive his NTC to go west. He's such an East coast guy he'd probably only to it to go to a serious Cup contender like the Avs or Vegas. But IMO it's worth trading for SOME LD PP specialist to fix the PP, make the playoffs, and give the kids that experience. In my mind, the question is (if you agree with the premise). If not Yandle, then who? BTW, I did come across advanced stats that day Yandle is one of the top 5 PP specialists this year.

But the latest rumor from Hoven is it's Turcotte + Bjornfot for Chychrun, so if that happens Yandle (or any other D) doesn't matter.

I'd trade those 2 and a pick so dang fast it wouldn't be funny.

[jt]

Sorry, I am late catching up on LGK but no to Yandle. He sucks. There's a very valid reason that Florida almost scratched him to end the streak. Let him suck in Philly with all of the other crappy players. Durzi fills the offensively tilted player role and does it better than Yandle these days.

He might. The question is whether they need an offensive LD because they have NOBODY now.

[Dr. Tran]

I don't know about giving up Bjornfot to get Chychrun if the point is to improve the LD position. Because then our left side looks like Chychrun, Anderson, & Maatta with Wolanin, Phillips, & Moverare in the AHL, Edler maybe hopefully coming back, & Kirill Kirasonov as our best prospect. A better substitution would be either Grans, Clarke, or Faber in that order. Then again if it were only forwards like Turcotte & Kaliyev that would be the best scenario. Although I'd be sad about it 'cause I'm a huge Arty Party guy. And I'd rather give up one of our 5000 centers but if it came down to it I'd do it. What I don't know is what does Arizona need besides dumping salary? That's something we have to consider.

Edler should be back skating from a broken ankle by now so the fact that he isn't leads me to believe the damage is more than just bones. But you're the Dr., what do you think?

I'm not a doctor, I just play one on TV.

[Clif]

Somebody on the NHL SiriusXM channel was just talking about this yesterday in regards to the good teams in the east (can't remember who it was). He was saying they do coach it this way because you always end up with games, regardless of overall talent, where you meet the wrong team on the wrong day. He said the key to getting back on track was not letting mini-skids turn into mini slumps. Totally makes sense, especially with long road trips or home stands where monotony is a factor.

I think the kings have a better than 50% shot at the playoffs. With the addition of Danault in the top 6, and the emergence of Kempe as a consistent threat up there now too, the difference that is making this team legitimate is the contributions from the bottom 6. That Lemieux / Lizotte line changes games (usually for the better, heh). Even though all the young guys have been on constant rotation, getting goals from the checking lines and the 2nd PP unit makes us a lot harder to play against than when all you had to do was stop Kopi's line to beat us. If Byfield can get some points, and he sure looks poised and confident for a brand new NHL'er, I think we can definitely sustain this success.

I've also been looking for the right thread to mention how fortunate I feel like we were to have had those horrible, tragic Covid seasons arrive right in the middle of our rebuild. How annoying would it be to be like Tampa Bay and have your best seasons, with all your A-Listers peaking right in the middle of those bubble seasons playing only your own division over and over and celebrating in front of empty arenas. Those were perfect seasons to suck and just audition prospects.

I think improvement this season is still possible (even likely) and we sneak into a playoff spot this year.

Really interesting stuff. Totally gives you that feel for skids vs. streaks breaking the games up. And yeah some teams any given night are different than how they’d typically play. Today’s game against PHI has me nervous. And if Kings lose in OT normally I’d be let down but looking at this current 5 game series puts them right where they need to be. So I’m liking breaking it up.

I sure hope they make it, but I’m still worried about EDM and CAL coming around. WPG is the other concern plus I don’t want to see the Kings lose just enough against ANH and SJ to blow it. But they have a real fighting chance. Best part about this year is they went from being a one-line team last year to a 3-line team this year. Not great lines, but good lines. With Byfield we may even get a true 4-line team.

So true about the arenas, not to mention getting Kaliyev and Byfield AHL seasons last year. Incredible luck out of a horrible situation.