Attn: Rob Blake

[Ice24]

There are way too many uncontested goals for Carolina. I don't blame Quick when your entire team backs off and allows an offensive player to skate through the middle. Remember the Celtics of the 80's you didn't drive through the middle to the net unless you want to get drilled.

 

[JWR]

I truly think that we need a few major changes to the roster rather than a coaching change. We have skill but lack size and it is shows each time we play a bigger team.
I would pay the Coyotes price for Jeff Chychrun (rumored to be 2 1sts + a NHL ready player and a prospect) Trade the firsts , Durzi , Anderson-Dolan & Fagemo.
I would bring up Byfield a put him on the 1st line between Kempe and Vilardi
2nd line would be the same Moore Danault Arvidsson
3rd line Kaliyev Kopitar Fiala
4th Grundstrom Lizotte Kupari (till Iafallo or Lemiex come off IR then rotate till a group establishes itself)

D pairs Anderson Doughty
Chychrun Clark
Elder Roy

Extra Bjornfot Walker (forward who ever shakes out of the 4th line battle)

I would also take Doughty off the powerplay units and use Chychrun & Clark on pp1 & 2

 

[DryKing]

I would pay the Coyotes price for Jeff Chychrun (rumored to be 2 1sts + a NHL ready player and a prospect) Trade the firsts , Durzi , Anderson-Dolan & Fagemo.

Personally I think that is way too much to give up for Chychrun - two first make sense perhaps if you are Colorado, but not for the Kings. Also while I think he is a very good player he is extremely injury prone and therein not someone I would market the Kings future on. Reality is we can do much more to improve the team with the two first round picks.

Now it's time to start trading the vets and weeding out prospects we likely won't be moving forward with. Time to go young and start infusing some size and grit (high level skating still required).

 

[JayWells24]

I agree the Kings need to get bigger on the back end. Not scaring anyone and as someone mentioned, too many scoring chances against going uncontested. Season is going to slip away if some type of change is made or an identity is not fulfilled.

Go Kings!!

 

[jgs]

This team has taken on the personality of Kopitar. Absolutely no physical presence. They don't hit anyone.

 

[JWR]

Personally I think that is way too much to give up for Chychrun - two first make sense perhaps if you are Colorado, but not for the Kings. Also while I think he is a very good player he is extremely injury prone and therein not someone I would market the Kings future on. Reality is we can do much more to improve the team with the two first round picks.

Now it's time to start trading the vets and weeding out prospects we likely won't be moving forward with. Time to go young and start infusing some size and grit (high level skating still required).

Chychrun is 24 6' 2" with a cap hit of 4.6 mil for the next 3 years plays Lt D , PP QB and is physical in front of the net . He is the kind of D player to build around like Drew was for us.
As far as the 2 1st's I believe it would be worth it for if we can improve our D play with him we can improve our playoff position and make those picks show up later in the 1st rounds.

 

[Ice24]

I understand the Kings troubles as my sports teams went 0-4 this weekend! Horrible sports weekend!

 

[orpheus]

Attn: Rob Blake

Boo!!

 

[DryKing]

Chychrun is 24 6' 2" with a cap hit of 4.6 mil for the next 3 years plays Lt D , PP QB and is physical in front of the net . He is the kind of D player to build around like Drew was for us.
As far as the 2 1st's I believe it would be worth it for if we can improve our D play with him we can improve our playoff position and make those picks show up later in the 1st rounds.

Yeah I'm not saying he's not a good player, but you do not build around an injury prone player unless they have top of the league talent. Until he shows the injuries to be a fluke, he doesn't demand the same trade value PHX was asking for. Additionally, as good as he is he is another offensive defenseman and though a sizable upgrade is not quite what we need right now (funny that we traded potentially our best stay at home RD prospect over the summer).

There are two good LDs in the upcoming draft that we could take a run at if we are looking at someone like Chychrun. Will they be better? Only time will tell, but they would come at a fraction of the price of what is being asked in that trade proposal.


Mikhail Gulyeyev

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/700461/mikhail-gulyayev

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2023-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Mikhail-Gulyayev

Theo Lindstein

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/704824/theo-lindstein

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/theo-lindstein-shows-strong-play-on-day-three-of-hlinka/

 

[JWR]

Yeah I'm not saying he's not a good player, but you do not build around an injury prone player unless they have top of the league talent. Until he shows the injuries to be a fluke, he doesn't demand the same trade value PHX was asking for. Additionally, as good as he is he is another offensive defenseman and though a sizable upgrade is not quite what we need right now (funny that we traded potentially our best stay at home RD prospect over the summer).

There are two good LDs in the upcoming draft that we could take a run at if we are looking at someone like Chychrun. Will they be better? Only time will tell, but they would come at a fraction of the price of what is being asked in that trade proposal.


Mikhail Gulyeyev

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/700461/mikhail-gulyayev

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2023-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Mikhail-Gulyayev

Theo Lindstein

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/704824/theo-lindstein

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/theo-lindstein-shows-strong-play-on-day-three-of-hlinka/

My only drawback I see is that we are supposed to be heading into a phase where the team is to be at the end of the rebuild and start making some noise in the playoffs. Staying put and instead drafting one of those prospects who may or may not develop right away (most young D men take at least 3 years) to me is a step backward. I would rather pay for a known commodity that as proven to be elite to help us now and in the future.

 

[Getraer]

Chychrun is 24 6' 2" with a cap hit of 4.6 mil for the next 3 years plays Lt D , PP QB and is physical in front of the net . He is the kind of D player to build around like Drew was for us.
As far as the 2 1st's I believe it would be worth it for if we can improve our D play with him we can improve our playoff position and make those picks show up later in the 1st rounds.

I'm not a Chychrun expert, but I did do a little deep dive last year when the trade rumors started. At first I was all for it, but really, I see him as the type of player that a good team plays on the second pair. What bothered me is that he's never logged a lot of ice time killing penalties and at the same time, has never been on the top PP unit. Durzi has as many career PP assists as Chychrun. Clarke has more PP assists in 5 games this year than Chychrun had in 47 last year. He's not the Doughty type that plays in all situations, he's more of a luxury that you add when you're already a good team.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

When Edler is yer biggest, meanest defenseman,

you got problems.

 

[DryKing]

My only drawback I see is that we are supposed to be heading into a phase where the team is to be at the end of the rebuild and start making some noise in the playoffs. Staying put and instead drafting one of those prospects who may or may not develop right away (most young D men take at least 3 years) to me is a step backward. I would rather pay for a known commodity that as proven to be elite to help us now and in the future.

That's a totally fair point. Personally, though, I'd rather make a deal for a player like K'Andre Miller if we are going to give up a Kings ransom as he provides more of what we need and the NYR need centers, though less so than last year, and RWs which we have a supply of.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Chychrun on the team and really think Fox was leaning into that during the last broadcast when we played the Yotes, but only at a fair price.

 

[jammer06]

That's a totally fair point. Personally, though, I'd rather make a deal for a player like K'Andre Miller if we are going to give up a Kings ransom as he provides more of what we need and the NYR need centers, though less so than last year, and RWs which we have a supply of.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Chychrun on the team and really think Fox was leaning into that during the last broadcast when we played the Yotes, but only at a fair price.

I'd be gobsmacked if they made Miller available. I know the fanbase always has their players that they pick on but that seems to be a stretch. He would absolutely command a ransom. Definitely would be a coup for Blake.

 

[DryKing]

I'd be gobsmacked if they made Miller available. I know the fanbase always has their players that they pick on but that seems to be a stretch. He would absolutely command a ransom. Definitely would be a coup for Blake.

Totally agree. Only way I see it potentially happening is that NYR have some pretty hefty pay raises to give out next season and between Trouba and Fox they already have $17.5 in payroll tied up. Chytil is setting up for a breakout year, and Lafreniere should get a decent pay raise. Then they have Schneider coming up in 2024. Still, to your point, there are places to trim on the roster prior to giving up Miller but if we offered them low salary cost prospects and picks it could be possible (though agreed still unlikely).

Off topic, they could also choose to part with Laf who would also be a nice pickup if we could consolidate a few prospects / picks for him to clear the bottleneck a bit.

 

[AngelEyes]

This team has taken on the personality of Kopitar. Absolutely no physical presence. They don't hit anyone.

I'm going to disagree with you just a bit. I think if you polled d-men around the league, they'd agree that they don't like having to battle Kopitar along the boards. He is a handful.

And to be fair, I've seen Kopitar stick his nose into more scrums this season than in his entire combined career.

I have other issues with Kopitar's play, but I'm okay with his physicality.

 

[s7even]

I've got my qualms with Kopitar, but I'd also note that we've been lucky he hasn't been hurt a lot in his career. If he played a more physical brand of hockey, he'd be more injury prone...like a Crosby or Toews with their concussions. Do I wish he were more physical? Absolutely. But I'm more thankful that he's been able to stay healthy and not be the target of other teams.

 

[Clif]

I'm not a Chychrun expert, but I did do a little deep dive last year when the trade rumors started. At first I was all for it, but really, I see him as the type of player that a good team plays on the second pair. What bothered me is that he's never logged a lot of ice time killing penalties and at the same time, has never been on the top PP unit. Durzi has as many career PP assists as Chychrun. Clarke has more PP assists in 5 games this year than Chychrun had in 47 last year. He's not the Doughty type that plays in all situations, he's more of a luxury that you add when you're already a good team.

He also doesn’t hit as much as you want for that size and registers more giveaways than takeaways. The injuries are undeniable. AZ is demanding a huge sum for a player that’s still more potential than arrival. I’ve soured on the idea myself.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

I'm going to disagree with you just a bit. I think if you polled d-men around the league, they'd agree that they don't like having to battle Kopitar along the boards. He is a handful.

And to be fair, I've seen Kopitar stick his nose into more scrums this season than in his entire combined career.

I have other issues with Kopitar's play, but I'm okay with his physicality.

As you say, I have also noticed that Kopi has stuck his nose in more scrums THIS season than in all of the previous seasons combined.

 

[evacboy]

Originally Posted by jgs
This team has taken on the personality of Kopitar. Absolutely no physical presence. They don't hit anyone.

Kings are 10-4-1 with Lemieux in the lineup (and 3-6-3 without him). Just sayin'.