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Let's get to work.
This looks to be one of the more significant offseasons in recent years. While the team's future is looking up, so too are the other Pacific teams that made the playoffs. Plus Vegas and Vancouver will presumably be in the mix next year. It may prove even harder to make the playoffs next season.
With Brown retiring, we gain $5.8 million in cap space, but Petersen's new contract will take up a little over $4 million of that. Carter's salary retention is off the books, providing about $2.6 million in relief. (After one more offseason, we will gain another $1.25 million as the Phanuef buyout ends and the Richards settlement drops a bit.)
UFAs:
AA:
They each had their moments, particularly Maatta, but I think they are all gone. With Anderson and presumably Bjornfot on LD and an upgrade needed, I think we pass on Maatta, particularly since he should be seeking a multi-year deal. Also, when you look at our RD depth, Durzi may start next season as our 7th-defenseman, and we have to have a roster spot for him as he is not waiver exempt.
RFA Forwards
Kempe:
Obviously, Kempe is the big one here, probably getting a new contract in the $5.5 to $6 million range. Grundstrom will get a bump up, but the rest I think just get qualified. Including JAD here as he, like Vilardi, will no longer be waiver exempt.
RFA Defensemen
Anderson:
There will be a big increase for Anderson. I doubt Durzi gets as big a raise as some think, given the depth on the right side and the fact the Kings can just wait him out in negotiations.
With Doughty, Arvidsson and Walker (at least temporarily) back in the mix, with Brown gone (huge drop off this year), with Byfield getting another offseason and training camp under his belt, and with Clarke probably coming in, the roster should be better. Trade some assets for a solid LD and add a forward via free agency, and it should be a fun team to watch.
They won't do anything with Todd, but Trotz is available right now. Just saying.
I think fixing the back end will help the penalty kill, but the power play killed us this year and everything about it needs to be changed.
This looks to be one of the more significant offseasons in recent years. While the team's future is looking up, so too are the other Pacific teams that made the playoffs. Plus Vegas and Vancouver will presumably be in the mix next year. It may prove even harder to make the playoffs next season.
With Brown retiring, we gain $5.8 million in cap space, but Petersen's new contract will take up a little over $4 million of that. Carter's salary retention is off the books, providing about $2.6 million in relief. (After one more offseason, we will gain another $1.25 million as the Phanuef buyout ends and the Richards settlement drops a bit.)
UFAs:
AA:
$2.7 million
Edler:$3.5 million
Maataa:$3.33 million
Stecher:$1.7 million
Strand:$771,000
They each had their moments, particularly Maatta, but I think they are all gone. With Anderson and presumably Bjornfot on LD and an upgrade needed, I think we pass on Maatta, particularly since he should be seeking a multi-year deal. Also, when you look at our RD depth, Durzi may start next season as our 7th-defenseman, and we have to have a roster spot for him as he is not waiver exempt.
RFA Forwards
Kempe:
$2 million
Grundstrom:$725,000
Lemieux:$1.55 million
Andersson:$874,000
Vilardi:$894,000
JAD:$747,000
Obviously, Kempe is the big one here, probably getting a new contract in the $5.5 to $6 million range. Grundstrom will get a bump up, but the rest I think just get qualified. Including JAD here as he, like Vilardi, will no longer be waiver exempt.
RFA Defensemen
Anderson:
$925,000
Durzi:$809,000
Moverare:$750,000
There will be a big increase for Anderson. I doubt Durzi gets as big a raise as some think, given the depth on the right side and the fact the Kings can just wait him out in negotiations.
With Doughty, Arvidsson and Walker (at least temporarily) back in the mix, with Brown gone (huge drop off this year), with Byfield getting another offseason and training camp under his belt, and with Clarke probably coming in, the roster should be better. Trade some assets for a solid LD and add a forward via free agency, and it should be a fun team to watch.
They won't do anything with Todd, but Trotz is available right now. Just saying.
I think fixing the back end will help the penalty kill, but the power play killed us this year and everything about it needs to be changed.