Brandt Clarke is the top scoring defenceman in the AHL

SaltyPuck said:
I think "Roy's Spot" next year might not be there regardless of what we might want.

Consider the following:
  • Next year we have several key pieces that need new contracts (Arvy, Byfield, Spence, Lizzo, Goalies, etc)
  • The AAV for both Gav & Mikey's contracts are both significantly big jumps from Roy's current contract (3.1 vs. 4.1 & 5.8)
  • Roy's performance has been and continues to be great, and the better he does the more other teams will be at the table come contract negotiation time.
I worry that Roy is pricing himself out of our price range unless the cap goes up significantly and he's open to a bridge.
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My back of the napkin calculation is that we’re sitting on $20M+in cap space next offseason. Most of the core pieces are locked up. There’s a bit of room.

I would much prefer that we don’t throw all our money at at the fringe pieces to “Keep the band together” as Lombardi did. That is part of what killed us (Gaborik) Let a few of them walk or trade an RFA or two away (Roy/Kaliyev) and bring in some fresh faces that are hungry.

Oh, and MOAR SIZE!
 
VCRW said:
Much depends on how much the cap goes up next year... and whether they want to re-sign UFA Arvy... and how much UFA Roy will want for his next contract. If they want Clarke and Roy on the ice next season, then Spence would be the guy in the press box. Seems like that would be a waste of a trade-able asset. Something has to give...

I agree that Spence's performance in the playoffs will decide his future on the Kings. Regardless of how far the team progresses in the next playoff rounds, the 2024 off-season is going be an interesting story to follow if Clarke keeps tearing up the AHL.
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Agree this is the major decision next year but with the talent in the pipeline I don’t see Arvy or Roy back. I know the goaltending has been good but is it really the future. Roy would certainly be a great return for something building to a goalie move. The window we’ve been waiting for is open need to step through it
 
kingnut said:
I hear you and agree wrt Roy. WRT Lizzo, with his UBI and JAD stepping in, can prob absorb his loss.

As much as I like Arvy also, he may be a casualty also.

Told my nephew in pre season, we need to keep Englund. That was a great add.
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I dunno man, I can't see JAD coming close to filling the role that Lizzo does... He's still young so perhaps he can but I haven't seen enough yet to make me think that's his path. While I dig the kids' story, he hasn't yet sold me that he's NHL caliber yet.
 
SaltyPuck said:
I dunno man, I can't see JAD coming close to filling the role that Lizzo does... He's still young so perhaps he can but I haven't seen enough yet to make me think that's his path. While I dig the kids' story, he hasn't yet sold me that he's NHL caliber yet.
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Agree, was thinking of $ aspect. Also have kids in the A that need to step up. Turcotte?
 
SaltyPuck said:
I dunno man, I can't see JAD coming close to filling the role that Lizzo does... He's still young so perhaps he can but I haven't seen enough yet to make me think that's his path. While I dig the kids' story, he hasn't yet sold me that he's NHL caliber yet.
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JAD can’t even hold Lizzo’s jock. I’d say our three best forecheckers are Lizzo, QB, and Thousand Oaks.
 
kingnut said:
Agree, was thinking of $ aspect. Also have kids in the A that need to step up. Turcotte?
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Turcotte in place of Lewis would be an interesting experiment, although I think the coaching staff is appreciating Lewis’ PK ability. Turcotte will no longer be waiver exempt next season either, and there is no doubt someone would claim him.

Fagemo could possibly end up being a poor man’s Arvy, with the way he’s been scoring goals in the AHL so far this season. I wouldn’t mind seeing him come up in place of Laferriere for a 5-7 game stint.

Clarke can’t really replace what Roy brings to our defense, but given rhe NHL trend of defenders becoming more like rovers, it’s possible he could be paired with Gavy, and they end make a dynamic D pair at both ends. He would clearly represent a massive cap savings over whatever Matt roy ends up garnering for himself, which I am guessing will definitely fall somewhere between Mikey and Gavy’s AAV.
 
JAD doesn't have it, will be gone. Turcotte can replace Laferriere right now, Thank You very much and why not, he's showing no signs of his last concussion and can come up to prove he belongs. If Turcotte has it let's see it. Clark will be up next year, but I miss Arviddson! Non Stop Motor, always disrupting the other team and with skill. Personally, I want a spot for that guy
 
Birdman said:
My back of the napkin calculation is that we’re sitting on $20M+in cap space next offseason.
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That sounds about right... and with a likely increase of 4M+ in the cap we should have 24M+ to use as we see fit. Of course we have no goalie (two UFAs) so that will take some cash.
 
aragorn said:
That sounds about right... and with a likely increase of 4M+ in the cap we should have 24M+ to use as we see fit. Of course we have no goalie (two UFAs) so that will take some cash.
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I’m of the opinion that we have to let 1 or both UFAs walk, sign QB55 to a bridge deal, sign some of our RFAs, and get a goaltender. Then, we see where we are.

It may make more cap sense to see Roy playing elsewhere.
 
Birdman said:
I’m of the opinion that we have to let 1 or both UFAs walk, sign QB55 to a bridge deal, sign some of our RFAs, and get a goaltender. Then, we see where we are.

It may make more cap sense to see Roy playing elsewhere.
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I’m surprised you are suggesting a bridge deal for QB, given your staunch support for him. What do you think a bridge looks like for him, similar to what Zegras got? Probably a fair comparable to hope for, if he ends up around the 60-65 point range this season. If I have already lost our wager by game 60, however, a Zegras type bridge deal might not even be possible, depending on what his agent is whispering in his ear.

It could make sense though for all parties, allowing the Kings to retain a more competitive roster, and give him a chance to get a much larger AAV down the line, once Kopitar and Doughty’s cap hits come off or are further reduced, plus salary cap increase, etc..
 
Climoman said:
JAD doesn't have it, will be gone. Turcotte can replace Laferriere right now, Thank You very much and why not, he's showing no signs of his last concussion and can come up to prove he belongs. If Turcotte has it let's see it. Clark will be up next year, but I miss Arviddson! Non Stop Motor, always disrupting the other team and with skill. Personally, I want a spot for that guy
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Turcotte can replace Laferriere right now? If he was that player, he would up with the Kings now. Laferriere may not be scoring but he is doing all the other things well. He has somewhat of a physical presence that the Kings have not had in a few years. I like Turcotte but he is not ready to take anyone's place on this roster. I am sure it will happen, however not this year, unless ...
 
kingnut said:
Can see Englund playing w Gavrikov and Clarke w Spence
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I don't believe McLellan would ever put 2 defensemen on their off sides. Was bad enough last year with 1. ANderson/Doughty. Gavrikov/Clarke. Englund/Spence.
 
You can never really tell how most AHL performers will transfer to the big show, especially goalies who typically mature around 26-28. But a D man with this level of dominance in the skill and physical department at age 20 is impressive. Future star potential.
 
ICE24 said:
Can’t lose the physicality that we have with our defense. Losing Roy will hurt.
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Agree, losing Roy will def hurt. B4 the resurgence was thinking of maybe Desharnais nxt yr, as he is FA after this yr also. Was watching the Kings podcast with Roy and Gavrikov, eerie how both careers are similar. Late rounds, same age, draft yr, points ....

That said, having clarke in the A is a good problem to have.
 
I cant see Clarke in the A again next year, just wouldnt make sense. Gavy/Clarke could quickly become the best 2nd pair in the NHL next year. Just saying.

And, I still think Englund/Spence is among the best 3rd pair ... hard pressed to find any other team with a better suited 3rd paring.
 
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