2022 Offseason Thread

[Statue4Deano]

Any word on contract discussions for Durzi and Anderson?

I wouldn't be all that surprised if they end up both signing their qualifying offers and getting their multi year contracts done next offseason when Blake has some more wiggle room under the cap. Upside is they're on cheap deals for at least one more season. The downside is they could both have big years and get significantly bigger raises next offseason vs. this one.

 

[HeadInjury]

Once we hit this time in the offseason, things tend to slow down a bit. I'm sure Anderson and Durzi want more than their qualifying offers and I'm sure JAD does not. Vilardi may want more, but he's unlikely to get it.

With JAD and Vilardi, it's a big deal if they can get one-way contracts. Vilardi's qualifying offer is $874,125. If you were him, would you want a two-way contract paying that amount if you make the team, but only $60,000 to $70,000 if you end up in Ontario? Taking a one-way contract at less than the QO might result in a lot more money for you if you don't end up making the team. However, Vilardi's viewpoint might be that if he's waived he'll get claimed and earn his QO money on another team. Or maybe Vilardi looks at the roster and his progress and think's its time to move on. So he doesn't accept his QO, holds out for more and hopes he ends up being moved (or asks for a trade). In the end, the Kings have all the leverage and Vilardi may have no better option than accepting his QO.

I suspect that that Kings are looking into a bridge deal for Anderson. One potential issue with that is whether the Kings are still looking into a trade for LD or not. They might end up needing some of the remaining cap space if they make a trade. They could already have an understanding with Anderson on a new contract, but waiting to see how the rest of the offseason plays out before signing the deal. Anderson seems to be that team-type player who would be understanding. If they end up needing some of that cap space, he signs a one-year deal for less and then they negotiate the bridge deal next year, probably for more than what they could have gotten this year. Or perhaps we get a press release today on a new contract for him. Who knows?

With Durzi, I don't think he's worth as much as some here do and I suspect he gets a one or two-year deal near his QO which is $787,500. A one-way contract may be a big deal for him, but again perhaps he thinks the odds that he would ever be waived and not claimed are quite low. But to me, he has real deficiencies in his game defensively and while he was a really pleasant surprise last season this does not necessarily equate with being a good long term option. I think management loves he attitude and sees him in the lineup this year, but Clarke will have something to say about that.

 

[gokor84]

If I am Vilardi, I will look to get out of the Kings asap. The the top two lines are pretty much set unless Arvi is not ready to start the season. The third is going to be pretty much Kaliev/Iafallo/Byfield most likely. Where does Vilardi play on the 4th line wing with Lizzote and Lemioux/Grundstrom ? . There is so much you can bury the kinds in the minors. I am sure it was worth playing the Journeymen players just to make the playoffs and chase something that wasnt attainable. Let hope they dont double down but hey its TMAC anything is possible.

 

[Helvetica]

Once we hit this time in the offseason, things tend to slow down a bit. I'm sure Anderson and Durzi want more than their qualifying offers and I'm sure JAD does not. Vilardi may want more, but he's unlikely to get it.

With JAD and Vilardi, it's a big deal if they can get one-way contracts. Vilardi's qualifying offer is $874,125. If you were him, would you want a two-way contract paying that amount if you make the team, but only $60,000 to $70,000 if you end up in Ontario? Taking a one-way contract at less than the QO might result in a lot more money for you if you don't end up making the team. However, Vilardi's viewpoint might be that if he's waived he'll get claimed and earn his QO money on another team. Or maybe Vilardi looks at the roster and his progress and think's its time to move on. So he doesn't accept his QO, holds out for more and hopes he ends up being moved (or asks for a trade). In the end, the Kings have all the leverage and Vilardi may have no better option than accepting his QO.

Not totally sure about Durzi, but i don't believe JAD or Vilardi can easily be sent down. I'm not sure a 1-way contract really matters, because if LA tries to send them to the Reign, i'd expect either of them to be picked up by another team. The issue, for both of these guys, is that their time is almost up with the Kings. Im sure both would like something higher than a QO, but neither of them deserve it. I had asked recently if perhaps they're still being dangled as part of a trade, in which case maybe there isnt a reason yet to worry too much about negotiating a contract, since they may not be with the Kings to start the season.

These two guys are problematic in that they cant be sent down, but likely won't start the season in the lineup. I think this is an issue i do fault Blake for. We've known for a while now that we need to move some assets or lose them, and here we are, in a bit of a bind. Ideally, you'd like to have at least 1-2 guys in the box that you can move up and down between the Kings and the Reign without waiver issues, because having them not play any games is terrible for their development. Andersson is your first guy sitting in the box, which is fine because we've sort of seen what were going to get from him, and he's played enough to show he can be consistent when his name is called to play. JAD and Vilardi are slightly younger, and have played less with the Kings, so there's still more development time in their game.

This is honestly not a great situation at all. You cant send them down to play games. They are unlikely to get playing time on the Kings. And you cant call anybody up from the reign no matter how well they're doing, because you have no way to move a guy down to open a roster spot.

 

[HeadInjury]

Disagree. We have 16 forwards for 14 positions. Three are waiver exempt (Kaliyev, Byfield & Kupari). Andersson might clear waivers if waived at the end of the preseason. You make everyone earn a roster spot. If someone like Byfield doesn't earn it, you send him down and don't think twice about it.

Assuming they waive Andersson and (for argument's sake) send Kupari down, the reality is players get injured. Vilardi and JAD, even if the extra forwards, will get into games. They can also play in Ontario on conditioning assignments (assuming they agree). Kupari would end up being recalled, probably several times. An in-season trade could open a roster spot for him.

I love the idea of competing for a roster spot and having to earn it. There is also nothing "bad" about being sent down while still waiver exempt. The best thing Jack Johnson ever could have happened in his career would have been to spend his first full season in Manchester. He was perceived as being too good to do that being the third overall pick and "JMFJ", but he would have had a better career had he done that as his free wheeling style at Michigan did not work at the NHL level.

 

[Helvetica]

I think Kupari will almost certainly start in ontario because he has to, even though he's probably above vilardi or JAD in terms of "earning it". Kaliyev has clearly earned his spot. And if im not mistaken, Byfield cannot be sent down due to his age? Even if he can, i think he's also earned a spot above vilardi and JAD. At the minimum, Kings have already shown they want him on the team playing games.

And yeah, certainly players can and will get injured, but banking on injuries as a way to get guys like Vilardi and JAD some playing time is a pretty precarious decision. At the end of the day, Blake has put this team in a bind, with limited flexibility, and some less than perfect asset management. Maybe he finds a way tho thread the needle here, but it's obvious this is not an ideal situation.

 

[DryKing]

I think Kupari will almost certainly start in ontario because he has to, even though he's probably above vilardi or JAD in terms of "earning it". Kaliyev has clearly earned his spot. And if im not mistaken, Byfield cannot be sent down due to his age? Even if he can, i think he's also earned a spot above vilardi and JAD. At the minimum, Kings have already shown they want him on the team playing games.

And yeah, certainly players can and will get injured, but banking on injuries as a way to get guys like Vilardi and JAD some playing time is a pretty precarious decision. At the end of the day, Blake has put this team in a bind, with limited flexibility, and some less than perfect asset management. Maybe he finds a way tho thread the needle here, but it's obvious this is not an ideal situation.

Yeah it's an off-putting situation. To me Kupari and Vilardi have both earned a spot, JAD is on the cusp and Andersson should be with the Reign. I agree with you that Kupari likely starts with the Reign as he is the only one out of the four who can, and Kaliyev is a no brainer to stay with the Kings, but the Kings really need to trade some assets to make room. I believe Byfield is old enough to play in the AHL so perhaps he starts the season there as well to build some success and log prime minutes before coming up.

Based on current roster salary, I don't see how the Kings will be able to sign both Durzi and Vilardi and remain under the cap ceiling so I really hope Blake has a beneficial trade lined up.

 

[Clif]

I fully expect multiple players to be traded prior to the season starting because I can’t see Blake putting the team in a Thomas Hickey situation. If I had to guess I’d put JAD and Durzi at the top of the list.

That said I’d be concerned that Blake painting himself into a corner like this can diminish asset value.

 

[Helvetica]

Yeah it's an off-putting situation. To me Kupari and Vilardi have both earned a spot, JAD is on the cusp and Andersson should be with the Reign. I agree with you that Kupari likely starts with the Reign as he is the only one out of the four who can, and Kaliyev is a no brainer to stay with the Kings, but the Kings really need to trade some assets to make room. I believe Byfield is old enough to play in the AHL so perhaps he starts the season there as well to build some success and log prime minutes before coming up.

Based on current roster salary, I don't see how the Kings will be able to sign both Durzi and Vilardi and remain under the cap ceiling so I really hope Blake has a beneficial trade lined up.

The problem is that Andersson cannot be sent down without risking losing him. He's probably the least likely to be snatched up, but if i was placing my bets, i think it's more likely than not he gets taken. So, for the sake of argument, if you start Byfield and Kupari in Ontario, you cant call up either of them until an injury occurs. And if Vilardi and JAD demonstrate they cannot perform, then what?

I still think at least one of JAD/Vilardi needs to be traded soon.

 

[HeadInjury]

I see the we-have-no-cap-space argument being made by some, but this is inaccurate. Capfriendly says we have $2,338,333 available. But it also says the roster is a 21 players, which is incorrect. It is using the salaries of 23 players to come up with the available cap space. It isn't counting Doughty and Walker on the roster as they are listed under IR still. But their salaries are being counted.

The rub is that with 4 players still to sign, each time a player signs from now on, one player has to be dropped from the roster. Sign Anderson, drop Spence. Sign Durzi, drop Moverare (or Bjornfot).

There's more cap space than it may appear.

 

[HeadInjury]

For those concerned about JAD and Vilardi getting playing time, they can play now if they outplay the likes of Grundstrom, Lemieux and Lizotte. While TM may have a boner for Lizotte the same isn't true for the others. If JAD and/or Vilardi can't earn playing time, I'm not sure what the concern really is. Not everyone makes it to the NHL and not everyone who can play is a fit for our roster.

If you want to worry about a roster crunch, consider next year when Turcotte, Thomas, Madden and (I think) Fagemo all lose their waiver-exempt status. Development of the first three has all been seriously impacted by injuries and Covid. Still, I think the likelihood of Turcotte and Thomas clearing waivers is close to 0.

Having too many players is a problem you gladly accept. We traded a third overall pick (Johnson), a fifth overall pick (Schenn) and a second round pick (Simmonds) the year we won the Cup. Different team and circumstances than today for sure, but the fact that some talented players end up elsewhere is just a natural part of the roster building process.

 

[Helvetica]

For those concerned about JAD and Vilardi getting playing time, they can play now if they outplay the likes of Grundstrom, Lemieux and Lizotte. While TM may have a boner for Lizotte the same isn't true for the others. If JAD and/or Vilardi can't earn playing time, I'm not sure what the concern really is.

the concern is asset management and roster flexibility. The longer Vilardi and JAD sit in the press box, the lower their value. Im not fretting over whether they make it on the Kings or not. Im fretting over the potential to waste an asset, and to stunt a players development by having them sit, rather than play.

And to your point, which is precisely what im getting at... we have a glut of players that likely wont make the roster. Now is the time to consider moving a couple. Asset management is a big issue with any team. It's not an easy ask, but good GM's need to know which players to hold, develop, and find playing time for versus which ones they need to trade and recoup some assets for.

 

[jgs]

The kings are not that talented that their assests have to play lights out to make the team. If their top assests cannot crack the line up maybe those assests are not that good and they won't have high trade value. There is something wrong, it should not take 3 or more years for your top picks to maybe crack the line up.

 

[gokor84]

The problem with the Kings prospects is the deployment. We were a rebuilding team instead of easing the youngster with the establish players, The vets get the best players while the Rooks play with the likes of AA/Brown. By bringing in Fiala Blake should have already traded iafallo. Again I like lizzote but we saw how he was manhandled in the playoffs. Kings are taking very slow cooking approach with the prospects which is not the way to go any longer. We cant expect them to play checking and grinding roles when they were drafted to be offensive players .

 

[santiclaws]

I think management loves he attitude and sees him in the lineup this year, but Clarke will have something to say about that.

From the tidbits I've read about development camp, it would seem that him making the roster for next season is a pretty long shot. We'll see if he makes the Canadian WJC team and if he does, what he looks like against his peers.

 

[Ice24]

The assets the for the Kings, have not separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Not one standout with all these draft pieces. Maybe a player will step up this coming season otherwise the deepest draft choices in the league are just that.

 

[HeadInjury]

I got something wrong in my post above. Turcotte is waiver exempt for 2 more seasons fortunately.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

The assets the for the Kings, have not separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Not one standout with all these draft pieces. Maybe a player will step up this coming season otherwise the deepest draft choices in the league are just that.

Amateur scouting is going to need to be completely blown up if it keeps going the way it is. There is still time and still hope, but just saying - we haven't had a mind blowing player from the draft in quite some time.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Amateur scouting is going to need to be completely blown up if it keeps going the way it is. There is still time and still hope, but just saying - we haven't had a mind blowing player from the draft in quite some time.

Do you think perhaps there's a reason the conventional wisdom within actual NHL circles and the media figures who talk to those NHL circles recognize the Kings as having one of if not the best group of prospects in the entire league? You're talking about cleaning house of the entire scouting department because you aren't happy with the speed at which the prospects are developing. Maybe that's a you problem and not a problem of the scouting dept?

 

[jammer06]

I wouldn't be all that surprised if they end up both signing their qualifying offers and getting their multi year contracts done next offseason when Blake has some more wiggle room under the cap. Upside is they're on cheap deals for at least one more season. The downside is they could both have big years and get significantly bigger raises next offseason vs. this one.

Wouldn't both Anderson and Durzi become arbitration eligible next year if they do their one year of QO? That alone would probably be worth it to Blake to get something done a little longer. At least in Mikey's case. I don't know it really matters for Durzi.