Congrats to QB!!!

[Bollocks]

It is not so much a complaint of QB's play. He is going to grow and be the player he is going to be. The expectations were pretty high, that he would take over for Kopi. As you said there were times last year where he was arguably the best player on the team. Have not seen that from him so far this year. You bring up another point, which is something I have brought up a lot. If QB does not elevate his game and become a decent 1C, the Kings are cooked (well done) for years to come. They may be cooked no matter what.

Another thought I had........

In the 2012 cup run, the Kings were able to trade JJ for JC and Voynov came up from the AHL and took over for JJ on the 2nd pairing. That year they also brought up Nolan and King. So, 3 players brought up to the NHL from the AHL and all of them were a part of the cup winning team.

In 2014 the Kings brought up Toffoli and Pearson. Those two were important players in the 2014 cup run.

Here we are in 2025 and the Kings have no players that are ready to step into the NHL. The Kings are losing Kopi and there is no replacement. If QB does not take a big step up soon, the Kings are done. We all know good 1C/2C centers do not grow on trees.

This year the Kings have, similarly as to 2012, a coach that fails to bring out the best out of the players on a regular basis.

This year the Kings have Andre Lee and Kenny Connors in the AHL who are making themselves noticed. But they need a coach with b*lls and a vision to call them up and give them a chance. And a GM that can take advantage of the surplus of NHL-ready talent to acquire assets.

If that's not done both Lee and Connors will eventually leave for nothing like Bjornfot and quite many others...


This team is most likely still in dire need of a shakeup. Coach is the main guy that needs to go, but there should be some roster turnover, too. Foegele is largely useless this year, but that could be in part due to Danault...but if he continues his ineffectiveness, he needs to go. Moore hasn't impressed much either, though similar questions arise regarding the role of Danault in his struggles, too.

Hiller was coach last year and the team was good, now they’re not good. Danault was good too, and this year he was so miserable, disinterested, and unproductive he asked to be traded.

A couple stats on money puck that correlate with what i’m seeing:

Last year Kings ranked 15th in hits. So far this year 31st.

Last year Kings were first in rebound goals for. This year they’re 31st.

This team is not going to the hard areas or the net the way a competitive team needs to.

Again what you’re saying is accurate. And I appreciate that you recognize the strides Byfield made as a full-time center last year. Not everyone here gives him even that credit.

I also recognize it feels awfully simplistic and unsatisfying to fall back on the “he still has time/potential” yet again. But something is wrong with this team and for me that all points to Hiller more than individual players. Like, Hiller is absolutely washed here.

If it's not Hiller, then what/who is the problem? Are the new guys Ken brought in locker room cancers? The team has put forth the effort that was not seen before this season in the past two games. Did they just need a breather over the holidays break due to Hiller's overloading of the top guys? Then the Olympic break should be a boon for this team.

Was perhaps Danault a very big problem this year? Maybe the whole team was frustrated with the poor effort from him and his "seniority"+Hiller's stubbornness preventing Turcotte from getting the ice time he needs and also deserves at this point.



The team has some time left before the Olympic break to get out of funk, and then a couple of games before deadline to confirm they are, indeed, out of the funk. If they fail to do both, Ken absolutely needs to act. He was brought in to improve the team and so far he's failed. But of course, if his hands are tied by the ownership skimping (not wanting Hiller's contract to go to "waste") we're likely screwed as I really don't think these struggles are mostly on the players.

The fact that most of the team is having a subpar season offensively says that Hiller is the biggest problem with the team. They're going to win games & probably get to the playoffs. But they'll never win anything with him as head coach.

But I think questions have to be asked about QB. I don't know if the pressure of being Kopi's eventual replacement has gotten to him or what. But this season has been a disaster. Now the question is if he's even a good center. I want to see how he does with Moore & Foegele. But if he doesn't put a good stretch of games together, maybe he should move up with Kopi & Kempe. And unless we get someone in a trade, then we try out Laffy at center for the rest of the season.

But this team is starving for centers at any level. That's why I half-jokingly said to trade Carter George. Not necessarily him but one of our goalie prospects. The only center in our system who has a chance at being a 1 or 2C is whoever we pick in the 2026 draft. I was looking at all the centers we drafted in the 1st or 2nd round since Kempe in 2014 - Vilardi, JAD, Kupari, Thomas, Turcotte, Byfield, Pinelli, Helenius, Hughes. We've not done well at either drafting them or keeping them. Turcotte, Byfield, & Helenius are on the team but are still trying to prove themselves. Pinelli & Hughes are with the Reign. Everyone else is gone. And Kempe's great but he's not even a center anymore. I don't know what's worse. How we've handled the center position or right shot defensemen. And those are 2 of the most important positions.

Isn't Kenny Connors a center?

Besides, a proper roster shakeup could (or maybe should) involve moving Fiala and acquiring a 2nd line center if come deadline QB is still in a funk, so that he can play the left wing. Something will have to be done in that case...

 

[symbology]

This year the Kings have, similarly as to 2012, a coach that fails to bring out the best out of the players on a regular basis.

This year the Kings have Andre Lee and Kenny Connors in the AHL who are making themselves noticed. But they need a coach with b*lls and a vision to call them up and give them a chance. And a GM that can take advantage of the surplus of NHL-ready talent to acquire assets.

If that's not done both Lee and Connors will eventually leave for nothing like Bjornfot and quite many others...

Good points, however.....

Lee is having a great year and could/should replace Helenius. Though, remember, he lost the 4C role to Helenius at the start of the season. Also, keep in mind, his point totals are somewhat padded as he has 5 PPG (more than any King soo far this season) and his shooting percentage is 24.5. I don't see him getting PP time, or maintaining that shooting percentage at the NHL level.

Connors is having a good year for a rookie. He is a good two way player, but I am not sure he is ready to jump to the NHL yet, outside of being on the 4th line.

Either way, both players would be 4th liners and Perry and Armia were brought in to play in that roll. Bringing up either player does not provide an opportunity for the Kings to move a current roster player in a package for an upgrade in any position as neither player is ready to be a top 9 forward. I guess you could try Connors on the 4th line and move Armia up to the 3rd line. That could be the one opportunity to bring up a player in order to move another in order to make an upgrade to the top 9 However, Kings have no waiver exempt players and Connors is not proven at the NHL level and neither is Lee.

Again, Lee could replace Helenius and that could be an upgrade. I think it was Lee's defensive game that was part of the reason that saw him start the year in the AHL. Neither of these players are waiver exempt which could be an issue when trying to give Lee a chance.

I agree with your take on the coach, and maybe this org as a whole when it comes to young players. However, not sure Bjornfot was the right player to make your point. He is an AHL player at best. So far he has played 134 NHL games vs 180 AHL games. Out of those 134 NHL games he played 117 of them as an LA King. Once leaving the Kings he has played a whopping 17 NHL games while in the Golden Knights and Panthers orgs.

 

[What party?]

I've seen the future, the new coach drops Q off the top line and replaces him with Turcotte where he thrives. Blake hangs himself.

 

[Rogie-Vachon]

 

[VCRW]

Lee is a winger, not a center. But I agree he might be an upgrade over Malott right now. Gawdin is the center between Lee and Chromiak. Connors may be worth a look at center later in the season.

 

[KernCoKingFan]

in addition to losing HIller as a coach, or possibly moving to the wing, maybe he should consider changing numbers. His problem may just be sharing the same number as another bygone prospect that was highly touted:

Pavel Rosa

 

[Bollocks]

Good points, however.....

Lee is having a great year and could/should replace Helenius. Though, remember, he lost the 4C role to Helenius at the start of the season. Also, keep in mind, his point totals are somewhat padded as he has 5 PPG (more than any King soo far this season) and his shooting percentage is 24.5. I don't see him getting PP time, or maintaining that shooting percentage at the NHL level.

Connors is having a good year for a rookie. He is a good two way player, but I am not sure he is ready to jump to the NHL yet, outside of being on the 4th line.

Either way, both players would be 4th liners and Perry and Armia were brought in to play in that roll. Bringing up either player does not provide an opportunity for the Kings to move a current roster player in a package for an upgrade in any position as neither player is ready to be a top 9 forward. I guess you could try Connors on the 4th line and move Armia up to the 3rd line. That could be the one opportunity to bring up a player in order to move another in order to make an upgrade to the top 9 However, Kings have no waiver exempt players and Connors is not proven at the NHL level and neither is Lee.

Again, Lee could replace Helenius and that could be an upgrade. I think it was Lee's defensive game that was part of the reason that saw him start the year in the AHL. Neither of these players are waiver exempt which could be an issue when trying to give Lee a chance.

I agree with your take on the coach, and maybe this org as a whole when it comes to young players. However, not sure Bjornfot was the right player to make your point. He is an AHL player at best. So far he has played 134 NHL games vs 180 AHL games. Out of those 134 NHL games he played 117 of them as an LA King. Once leaving the Kings he has played a whopping 17 NHL games while in the Golden Knights and Panthers orgs.

My scenario applies if the team is in a funk close to the deadline. At that point any "safe moves" would simply be too ineffective from a shakeup srandpoint. You won't call up Burroughs to save the season, you call up unproven, hungry youth that will be motivated to make their career in a make or break season for this team as it is.

NEither King or Nolan proved anything before they got the call up in 2011-12. Both lost their spot in the roster after camp to the likes of Fraser, Loktionov, Parse and Westgarth.

Adding Lee as a winger gives Ken an opportunity to move Foegele and Kuzmenko, for example. Helenius is decent, but he needs backup. Malott isn't worthy of a full time roster spot.

Perry is old and fragile. Armia could easily play on the 3rd line.

All this in addition to a new coach ASAP.

Then find a way to add this year's Carter that gives you an option to move QB to the wing and replace Kopitar in the coming 2-3 seasons at least. Maybe Elias Petersson if Van retains a couple million of his salary.

Be honest, my plan is the only real way to give this team a fighting chance if they are still in a funk near the deadline. It worked in 2012, why couldn't it work this year?

 

[symbology]

My scenario applies if the team is in a funk close to the deadline. At that point any "safe moves" would simply be too ineffective from a shakeup srandpoint. You won't call up Burroughs to save the season, you call up unproven, hungry youth that will be motivated to make their career in a make or break season for this team as it is.

NEither King or Nolan proved anything before they got the call up in 2011-12. Both lost their spot in the roster after camp to the likes of Fraser, Loktionov, Parse and Westgarth.

Adding Lee as a winger gives Ken an opportunity to move Foegele and Kuzmenko, for example. Helenius is decent, but he needs backup. Malott isn't worthy of a full time roster spot.

Perry is old and fragile. Armia could easily play on the 3rd line.

All this in addition to a new coach ASAP.

Then find a way to add this year's Carter that gives you an option to move QB to the wing and replace Kopitar in the coming 2-3 seasons at least. Maybe Elias Petersson if Van retains a couple million of his salary.

Be honest, my plan is the only real way to give this team a fighting chance if they are still in a funk near the deadline. It worked in 2012, why couldn't it work this year?

I think moving Foegele, even Kuzmenko in order for Lee to replace them would be a mistake. This team is already to slow. Yes, you can move Armia up and let Lee replace him. However, Lee is going to be a downgrade compared to what Armia is bringing to this team. Could a move like that improve the team overall? Sure.... However, it will not have the same type of impact as the changes in 2012

King and Nolan were brought up under a different coach/system than what was in place to start 2012, so not a fair comparison IMO. Also, this team does not have players like Hunter/Loktionov to replace. King and Nolan were not really "downgrades" when they were called up.

Kings are cooked. Trade for a 1/2C to move QB to wing. That will be costly. Then, what do the Kings do for next year? How do they replace Kopi? They will have even fewer assets to make another big trade and time and time again.... it is proven that top UFA's want nothing to do with LA. Pettersson has had two down years in a row. Cannot blame Miller for his poor play/showing this year. I am not sure that I would want the Kings targeting him in a trade for anything of value.

I get what you are trying to do, but the Kings do not have the enough assets, or the right assets to make it work like 2012. They also do not have enough assets to fix this years issues, as well as next years. The Kings are cooked.

 

[Dr. Tran]

This year the Kings have, similarly as to 2012, a coach that fails to bring out the best out of the players on a regular basis.

This year the Kings have Andre Lee and Kenny Connors in the AHL who are making themselves noticed. But they need a coach with b*lls and a vision to call them up and give them a chance. And a GM that can take advantage of the surplus of NHL-ready talent to acquire assets.

If that's not done both Lee and Connors will eventually leave for nothing like Bjornfot and quite many others...


This team is most likely still in dire need of a shakeup. Coach is the main guy that needs to go, but there should be some roster turnover, too. Foegele is largely useless this year, but that could be in part due to Danault...but if he continues his ineffectiveness, he needs to go. Moore hasn't impressed much either, though similar questions arise regarding the role of Danault in his struggles, too.



If it's not Hiller, then what/who is the problem? Are the new guys Ken brought in locker room cancers? The team has put forth the effort that was not seen before this season in the past two games. Did they just need a breather over the holidays break due to Hiller's overloading of the top guys? Then the Olympic break should be a boon for this team.

Was perhaps Danault a very big problem this year? Maybe the whole team was frustrated with the poor effort from him and his "seniority"+Hiller's stubbornness preventing Turcotte from getting the ice time he needs and also deserves at this point.



The team has some time left before the Olympic break to get out of funk, and then a couple of games before deadline to confirm they are, indeed, out of the funk. If they fail to do both, Ken absolutely needs to act. He was brought in to improve the team and so far he's failed. But of course, if his hands are tied by the ownership skimping (not wanting Hiller's contract to go to "waste") we're likely screwed as I really don't think these struggles are mostly on the players.




Isn't Kenny Connors a center?

Besides, a proper roster shakeup could (or maybe should) involve moving Fiala and acquiring a 2nd line center if come deadline QB is still in a funk, so that he can play the left wing. Something will have to be done in that case...

I forgot about Connors. He’s listed as a forward but I saw later that he plays center. I still don’t think he’d be more than 4C this season. Maybe in a few years.

And I understand why we’d trade a winger for a center, even though I wouldn’t want to trade Fiala. But what team would want to trade a center for a winger? Not unless they had a glut of centers, which I don’t see happening. Or we’d have to give up a lot more.

 

[What party?]

***

I get where Bullocks is coming from, a purpose driven call up. And, kudos sir, everyone commenting on the cup teams is hitting me in the feels today.

Building off that thought, my joke about Alex Turcotte had a grain of truth to it being, that for the past decade I've been hoping to see a player that wants to take (not be given) Kopitar's job. Whether it be delusion, confidence or drive...the guy that NEEDS to be that guy. If Alex is that kind of player, let's see it dude. Do your thang big man.

And, in the process if you make the team better (or just QB from healthy competition) by having a 100 point season, killing two (dream) birds with one (projected fan delusion) heavy stone.



Aside: Hey, guys--still having fun wasting my life on a hockey board, happy new year everyone. =)

 

[DryKing]

I forgot about Connors. He’s listed as a forward but I saw later that he plays center. I still don’t think he’d be more than 4C this season. Maybe in a few years.

Agreed.

Not really sure what others see in Connors that I currently don't, but while he is having a decent first year with the Reign he entered the team at 22 with 3 years of NCAA experience and has put up 16 points in 29 games. His two-way game looks good this season, but he is essentially an overager in that league playing against mid-talent vets and youngsters.

Potentially I could see him come in as a 4th line winger towards the end of this season, but a 4th line Center seems like a real big stretch. Would be cool if he develops into a shutdown center in the future, but that would still be quite a ways off.

Lee looks good so far this season, but he would be best served with completing this season in the AHL. Imo he still has a lot of development to do before coming back up to the NHL (which hopefully he can accomplish in time to join the Kings next season).

 

[ICE24]

Connors, nicknamed the rifleman?

 

[DryKing]

Connors, nicknamed the rifleman?

Would be cool if Kenny was 6'5 like Chuck, but unlike Chuck his nickname is "he Ken do it" haha.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

It boils down to the EDM series. The entire world saw what an incompetent/arrogant
coach Hiller is. Last year he had the benefit of being an unknown quantity. Since that challenge
and refusal to adjust his ways, he's been exposed as the fraud he is. And he has just continued
into this season with few, if any, adjustments. The players certainly know this.
Why should they go balls out for this guy?
A new voice in the room could deliver the same message without the stink attached to it.

As for QB, maybe that botched clearing is still front and center in his head? Who knows.

It’s a culture thing too. Going into that first series everyone was like well he’s the coach but it’s not his system. No time to change the system etc etc. I had NEVER witnessed a coach get a free pass like that. You’re the coach, you’re the guy or don’t fire the other guy. Then his second series - no way you survive in Toronto, Boston, New York etc with those decisions. No way.

 

[What party?]

Would be cool if Kenny was 6'5 like Chuck, but unlike Chuck his nickname is "he Ken do it" haha.

Are you guys saying...he's not Kenough, for the NHL?

**I mean, it was right there.

 

[Bollocks]

I think moving Foegele, even Kuzmenko in order for Lee to replace them would be a mistake. This team is already to slow. Yes, you can move Armia up and let Lee replace him. However, Lee is going to be a downgrade compared to what Armia is bringing to this team. Could a move like that improve the team overall? Sure.... However, it will not have the same type of impact as the changes in 2012

King and Nolan were brought up under a different coach/system than what was in place to start 2012, so not a fair comparison IMO. Also, this team does not have players like Hunter/Loktionov to replace. King and Nolan were not really "downgrades" when they were called up.

Kings are cooked. Trade for a 1/2C to move QB to wing. That will be costly. Then, what do the Kings do for next year? How do they replace Kopi? They will have even fewer assets to make another big trade and time and time again.... it is proven that top UFA's want nothing to do with LA. Pettersson has had two down years in a row. Cannot blame Miller for his poor play/showing this year. I am not sure that I would want the Kings targeting him in a trade for anything of value.

I get what you are trying to do, but the Kings do not have the enough assets, or the right assets to make it work like 2012. They also do not have enough assets to fix this years issues, as well as next years. The Kings are cooked.

We agree the Kings are pretty much cooked, but...the management WILL do something if things don't go well towards the deadline. And I think it's better to turn Kuz or Foegele (for example) into assets you can then use to acquire a 2nd line center and move up Lee (Connors makes less sense, I agree) than to trade, let's say, Greentree and one of the goalies or a 1st for a center and then having to deal with surplus wingers that aren't producing.


And if the Kings don't acquire a center at any point via trade...who's the 5th center? It could be Connors. Is he really not waiver exempt??

 

[DryKing]

And if the Kings don't acquire a center at any point via trade...who's the 5th center? It could be Connors. Is he really not waiver exempt??

Pretty cool site linked below. To answer your question, he is currently waiver exempt.

Kenny Connors: Waiver Exempt​

• Waivers Age: 22
• Season exemption: 3 seasons
• Games exemption: 70 games
• Remaining seasons: 3
• Remaining games: 70 (as of the current season)

Waivers Checker - CapSpace

cap-space.com

 

[VCRW]

Like Trevor Moore, Connors played well at Denver and was on a NCAA national champion. Conners has been on a line with Jared Wright. Both guys are +15… by far the best on the team. Worth watching both guys develop as pros.

 

[symbology]

We agree the Kings are pretty much cooked, but...the management WILL do something if things don't go well towards the deadline. And I think it's better to turn Kuz or Foegele (for example) into assets you can then use to acquire a 2nd line center and move up Lee (Connors makes less sense, I agree) than to trade, let's say, Greentree and one of the goalies or a 1st for a center and then having to deal with surplus wingers that aren't producing.


And if the Kings don't acquire a center at any point via trade...who's the 5th center? It could be Connors. Is he really not waiver exempt??

I think a trade for any above average 2nd line center with term is going to be Moore/Foegele and a 1st, plus top prospect. That is what the rumored ask is by Nashville for 35 year old O'Reilly. The Kings should not be looking for players that are in the tail end their careers.

If QB does not start playing like a top center, the Kings will need to make 2 such deals. One this year to allow QB to be moved back to the wing and one in the off season to find a replacement for Kopitar. If the Kings trade for 2 quality 1/2 centers over the next 8 months they will have no first round draft pics for the next two drafts and an even worse prospect pool and would have lost decent roster players on decent contracts. Yes, this team is cooked, probably well done. QB really needs to get it together and become the top center we all hope he becomes.

Kuz if not playing well enough to stay with the Kings will at best get a late 2nd rounder at the deadline from a contending team. Heck, the Kings paid a '27 3rd and '25 7th rounder for him last year. He has no term on his deal like Moore / Foegele and he would be sucking at hockey, so a late 2nd would be a dream hall for him.

Yes, making some moves and bringing up Lee is change....... it is something. The net effect of such moves is not going to be as significant as similar moves back in 2012. Could you imagine if the Kings needed to throw in Toffoli in the trade for Carter? If that happened, I am not sure the Kings win their 2nd cup in '14.

This team is doomed for the foreseeable future. There is one bright spot though. Holland signed 33yr old Dumoulin @ 3x4m and 32yr old Ceci @ 4x4.5. Yay for Holland!!!!!

I am beginning to think that Luc did Blake a favor by letting him go. He got to step off the ship before it hits the iceberg.