Attn: Rob Blake

[jammer06]

What’s the alternative? VAN apparently listening on just about anyone, but Demko would take a whole lot of assets needed for LD and not sure they ever trade him to the Kings. Similarly but even more uncertain, Freidman wonders often how deep AZ is willing to go in its fire sale and trade Vejmelka. That’d likely be worth what it takes to give up, but zero proof AZ is even willing.

Don’t see the good pending UFAs like Jarry getting that far.

BUF has some intriguing goalie prospects, including Devon Levi who is still playing college and hasn’t signed yet. A good college prospect unsigned by BUF - what could go wrong? But really, any of those prospects through sign or trade would still be some seasons away.

I’m not getting caught up in the all the comparisons with Copley who’s anyone from Sean Burke to Felix Potvin to Tim Thomas, but a small sample size though it is his play has been so head and shoulders above Quick and Peterson this year how can you not resign him at this point for the immediate term? Again barring anything Blake knows that we don’t about a trade. But as a fan, I don’t know what else you do.

As a matter of priority I put making decisions on Cal first, Quick second and then Copley third. The decision on Quick might be academic, but the focus is Cal. Once those decisions are made, if Copley is the right solution for a role great. Blake might even sign Copley first as a matter of transaction, but generally speaking if there is a trade for Markstrom or Demko thats all based on a decision about Cal. Note that Copley has to want to sign into whatever this situation is, as is his right.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Haha cheers to that, but would you resign him sober? We could likely get him cheap (making $825k this year) and worst case he would be a solid backup.

825k cheap.. **** my life choices.

 

[santiclaws]

I’m not that bothered of the fact that he will soon turn 33 years old, but I’m guessing the 6M salary is a problem for us too?

After just watching a 36-year-old goalie on a fat contract flail, you're not concerned about a 33-year-old goalie on a fat contract with four years left on it?

 

[emsomaso]

After just watching a 36-year-old goalie on a fat contract flail, you're not concerned about a 33-year-old goalie on a fat contract with four years left on it?

No! Because he’s from Sweden too and we swedes are built to last forever!!! ;-)

Just kidding, of course there is always a degree of uncertainty when players are on the back-half of their careers. And I didn’t say that I wasn’t worried at all, just that I wasn’t overly worried about his age and contract.

But I don’t think we will find a young starting goalie on a cheap contract that another team will gift us, so whoever we can realisticly get will have its faults.

 

[jammer06]

No! Because he’s from Sweden too and we swedes are built to last forever!!! ;-)

Just kidding, of course there is always a degree of uncertainty when players are on the back-half of their careers. And I didn’t say that I wasn’t worried at all, just that I wasn’t overly worried about his age and contract.

But I don’t think we will find a young starting goalie on a cheap contract that another team will gift us, so whoever we can realisticly get will have its faults.

The miser in me can live much easier with a cheap goalie that has faults

 

[hokiecat]

The miser in me can live much easier with a cheap goalie that has faults

Agreed. The Kings have played well above .500 getting average play from Copley. Anyone giving generic NHL starter level play (i.e GSAA around 0 or slightly above) should help this team to a playoff spot rather easily. Goaltending is the biggest problem going forward but I agree with the earlier comment that Blake needs to decide what he is doing with Cal and then move forward based upon that.

 

[jammer06]

When Cal was sent to the Reign, most thought he would be able to get his head straight. I believe it is the opposite. He is 7-5 with the worst GAA of any goalie on the Reign. He cleared waivers and that was clearly a sign of no confidence by teams in the NHL. You don’t pay 5 large for an average AHL goalie. Contracts are sometimes a gamble.

Is he really that far gone now? Holy crap

 

[DryKing]

When Cal was sent to the Reign, most thought he would be able to get his head straight. I believe it is the opposite. He is 7-5 with the worst GAA of any goalie on the Reign. He cleared waivers and that was clearly a sign of no confidence by teams in the NHL. You don’t pay 5 large for an average AHL goalie. Contracts are sometimes a gamble.

He also has the best save % on the team at .919 so it's not all gloom and doom. Reign went on a 6 game skid in which Cal lost 4 and Villalta lost 2 during which, with the exception of one game, the Reign's scoring was lacking (they averaged 1.6 goals over 5 of the 6 games).

Cal hasn't been the reason for the Reign's struggles - and how dare you make me defend Cal j/k

 

[Statue4Deano]

When Cal was sent to the Reign, most thought he would be able to get his head straight. I believe it is the opposite. He is 7-5 with the worst GAA of any goalie on the Reign. He cleared waivers and that was clearly a sign of no confidence by teams in the NHL. You don’t pay 5 large for an average AHL goalie. Contracts are sometimes a gamble.

Cal's GAA is 2.59 with a .919 Sv%

 

[Badfishtoo]

Cal's GAA is 2.59 with a .919 Sv%

Technically the worst GAA on the team, though! Without context that statement looks pretty scary.

Villalta 11GP, 24GA, 2.32GAA, 6-4-0, 1SO .918Sv%
Copley 11GP, 26GA, 2.48GAA, 6-4-1, 0SO .913Sv%
Petersen 12GP, 31GA, 2.58GAA, 7-5-0, 1SO .919Sv%

 

[santiclaws]

Cal started in the AHL like a house on fire with 3 or 4 straight wins, a GAA below 2 and and a .950 SV%. He's cooled since then, but so has the team. He had one presumably bad game in which he gave up 7, which has a lot to do with his GAA considering he hasn't played that many games. Still too early to tell whether he has righted the ship.

 

[Ice24]

Is he really that far gone now? Holy crap

I hope not but watching him play with a decent size lead and then losing giving up 7 to the Firebirds was disheartening. BTW, the arena in Palm Desert is a great place to watch a game. Expensive but nice atmosphere.

 

[Ice24]

Cal started in the AHL like a house on fire with 3 or 4 straight wins, a GAA below 2 and and a .950 SV%. He's cooled since then, but so has the team. He had one presumably bad game in which he gave up 7, which has a lot to do with his GAA considering he hasn't played that many games. Still too early to tell whether he has righted the ship.

And that was the debacle I witnessed in person. The Reign scored six that game and still lost, it happens.

 

[emsomaso]

Technically the worst GAA on the team, though! Without context that statement looks pretty scary.

Villalta 11GP, 24GA, 2.32GAA, 6-4-0, 1SO .918Sv%
Copley 11GP, 26GA, 2.48GAA, 6-4-1, 0SO .913Sv%
Petersen 12GP, 31GA, 2.58GAA, 7-5-0, 1SO .919Sv%

Personally I think that Sv% says more about a goalie than what GAA does. And if we look att Sv% he has the best on the team, so maybe we can’t draw any conclusions just based on the stats. As soon as the coaches thinks he is ready for the big league again he will be back on the team for sure, regardless of what the stats says.

Because he will most likely not be traded and as long we have both his and Quick’s contracts we basically can’t trade for someone else either. Blake is in a tough spot here for sure!