Armchair GMs

mik999999 said:
Ok, I'm going to go against the grain and try to take a more positive look towards next season. We obviously need to figure out a top 2 C. But if we can figure that out and get a little more mobile out of the back I don't hate our team going into next year.

Panarin- 1C- Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Laffy
Moore - Laughton(Resign) - Kuz?
Wright/Ward- Helenius-Malott

I think the biggest thing is the coach. I like the aggressiveness and physicality we brought with DJ, but not sure if he is the best going forward. Half of me wants to give him a shot while the other half wants to go get a proven coach and roll. As far as the defense it would obviously be ideal if we could replace one or two of the slower guys with more puck movers. Trading Doughty isn't likely. Trading Kuemper however is a good option. I don't think things are quite as bleak as everyone else assuming we can get a coach and hopefully a first line center via FA or trade.
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I don't see Laughton resigning. He is a solid veteran, but I imagine he is looking to go to a team that has a legitimate chance at a cup run. I don't see Armia, so I am guessing he is one of your trades? Yes, Kuemper will most likely be traded, however, he did lose a lot of trade appeal due to his performance this season.

These are mostly the same players that won 35 games and got swept out of the playoffs. I like your positivity, however, I don't trust that Holland will or can do anything to improve this team over the offseason. He surely did not last offseason. Before Holland took over, the Kings won 48 games and had 105 points. The Kings dropped 15 points and had 13 fewer wins this season. I hope I'm wrong, however, I see a disaster of a season coming with a team like SJ taking over the Kings playoff spot.
 
ICE24 said:
I don't see Laughton resigning. He is a solid veteran, but I imagine he is looking to go to a team that has a legitimate chance at a cup run. I don't see Armia, so I am guessing he is one of your trades? Yes, Kuemper will most likely be traded, however, he did lose a lot of trade appeal due to his performance this season.

These are mostly the same players that won 35 games and got swept out of the playoffs. I like your positivity, however, I don't trust that Holland will or can do anything to improve this team over the offseason. He surely did not last offseason. Before Holland took over, the Kings won 48 games and had 105 points. The Kings dropped 15 points and had 13 fewer wins this season. I hope I'm wrong, however, I see a disaster of a season coming with a team like SJ taking over the Kings playoff spot.
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I’m open-minded as to what the Kings will do however I am not sold on San Jose yet until I see what they do also. There are going to be serious winners and losers this summer because the shallow UFA pool is going to force trades, and in a league with this much parity too many teams feel they are competitive.

Would love to see a volume of “hockey trades” and risky but bold moves leaguewide. Mix it up. One thing this season showed is there are few teams who can actually be considered good.
 
Panarin- Matthews/Thomas - Kempe
Tkachuk - Byfield - Laffy
Moore - Laughton/new 3C - Ward
Wright - Helenius - Malott

Anderson-Clarke
Edmundson-New D
Ceci-Booth

Goalie: Forsberg, Portillo

Doughty moves on. If he stays, he goes down to a 2D with less minutes. I could also see Moore and Laf being part of a trade for a 1C and you might see Connors, Lee, Chromiak, Guttman all make pushes for the roster...just not enough space for them.
 
symbology said:
Yeah, I think you are leaning towards it was more of a full rebuild than I am, but we are somewhat on the same page. Carter was not moved off until 2021. Maata and Athanasiou were acquired in 2020.

In 2018 the Kings brought in Hagelin, Kovalchuk, Thompson, Phaneuf (swap for Gaborik) and Pearson, Folin, Shore, Gaborik (swap for Phaneuf) were out. I would not classify these moves as a full on rebuild. That season the Kings sucked and landed the 5th overall pic. This top 5 draft pick was not acquired as part of a "full" rebuild. The team sucked. Many of the trades you mention had not happened yet. As I mentioned earlier, 2018 was more of a retool that failed and landed the Kings a top 5 pick.

The following year the Kings continued to suck. That is when Toffoli, Martinez, Forbort, Clifford and Campbell were moved at the TDL. They tanked enough that year to land QB at the draft. The "rebuild" phase was started and lasted a year. Before and after that it had been "retooling" IMO.

So, I would say a "full rebuild" was started, but it hardly even got going. IMO.
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Okay so we’re talking about a slightly different timeline. Yes everyone leading up to Kovalchuk was an absolute hodgepodge of trades. You did remind me though that the actual teardown didn’t start that season but the summer and two seasons after. People joke/theorize that Blake hired Wiilie D as an intentional saboteur to force a rebuild.

Major takeaway is that was a gutting of the roster of veteran players. If that were to take place now, it’d look like trading Kempe, Fiala, Panarin, Moore, Edmundson, one of Dumo/Ceci, Armia, Kuemper and Drew.

Some of the above must get traded this offseason anyway, but certainly not all.
 
Rebuilding is getting a new core. #1C, #1D (then #2C, then #2D). I don't count goalie because very few true game changers exist at the position. How are the Kings configured by that scale?

As for the 12-14 glory years, they were not the result of a rebuild. There was nothing standing. Kopitar, Brown, Quick were all drafted after bad years true, but that was incompetence rather than tanking. Doughty was the result of being patient and not taking a quick fiz. Dean got the go ahead to clean house, but that 2006-7 roster is terrible. Smart trades and drafting filled out the roster.
The view at the time

The latest "retool" netted Turcotte, Byfield, Clarke. Other players age 25 or younger: Laferriere. No other Nhl regular.
Are you happy with that core for the next 5-7 years? Clarke might be something. Byfield is limited. Turcotte is a bust for 5th overall and age 25. If you believe you can build a better team than Dallas or Colorado with the current pieces, good luck. You are going to need it.

If I could get unprotected draft picks for anything on the roster, I would take it. (I would have taken it for Kempe) Otherwise, it's going to take a year or 2 to just clear the dead weight.
 
Based on his last 15 games, Byfield will be the missing 1C. Management will prioritize acquiring a #1 LD, and then look for a bargain on a 2C instead. It may well be Kenny Conners.

Kuemper is done as a King. Portillo gets his shot.

Management’s greatest priority should be finding a new home for Doughty. If he wants to play until he is 40, then he needs to go elsewhere. Next highest priority is to re-sign Laughton.

Ceci and Dumoulin are Holland’s fault. He needs to rectify that mistake by getting rid of one or both. Sadly, Moverare will probably be gone too. If the Kings are gonna suck next season, I would be happy to see them bring in 2 of Booth, Woolley or Brz and let them grow up in the League.
 
Maybe the Kings should trade Forsberg? His stock will never be higher. Let Kuemper and Portillo tend goal. If Kuemper never regains his form, then here comes a lottery pick, which would not be bad.
 
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