GDT ***Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings GDT 1/12/26 7:00pm on FanDuel***

I ended up watching more of the football game (where I had no rooting interest) than the Kings game. And then dozed off during part of the Kings game. This is a very boring team to watch with nothing on the horizon.

The rebuild was a bust. The top draft picks of Kupari, Turcotte, Byfield, Toby, Kaliyev, Clarke, etc have yielded zero all-star caliber players. Getting Fiala was good but we traded the one all-star pick to get him. So basically we sucked during the pandemic era to end up middle of the pack (I said Islanders West during the summer).

We've got no future all-stars in the pipeline either. So what's the plan? Tank and count on the Kings unimpressive drafting and development team to build a winner or try to make some good trades and FA signings and hope for a miracle?
Our top 2 goalie prospects have all-star potential. So we’ve got our two best prospects near the same age and they’ll be vying for the position where only one can start. Not ideal.
 
As far as I am concerned, the season ended for the Kings last night. Until Hiller is gone, this team is just treading water. Their ceiling is another first round loss. Their floor is qualifying for the lottery. Right now, it would be better to choose the floor instead of dancing on the ceiling yet again.

What can we expect when 1/3 of the forward group is comprised of AHL'rs that only hope to make it in the NHL as bottom 6'rs. This team is playing better than expected IMO.
 
What can we expect when 1/3 of the forward group is comprised of AHL'rs that only hope to make it in the NHL as bottom 6'rs. This team is playing better than expected IMO.
I’d say that depends on your expectations. At this point, I have none. The return of the missing regulars (including Kopitar) will not move the bar at all. The retool was done very poorly. Blake and Luc made the wrong decisions 90% of the time. The biggest mistake, of course, was retaining Hiller.
 
I’d say that depends on your expectations. At this point, I have none. The return of the missing regulars (including Kopitar) will not move the bar at all. The retool was done very poorly. Blake and Luc made the wrong decisions 90% of the time. The biggest mistake, of course, was retaining Hiller.
I agree, the point I was making is that game against the Stars could not have been much better considering the roster. Not really a game to get mad at Hiller for. The team did play pretty well, for what it is.
 
Unless we keep the better of the two and get a C with the other one….
But goalies are the least predictable position in terms of projecting NHL success. And goalie trade value is typically very low, both for NHL players and prospects.

We needed one of the many many first and second round picks to hit and become an all star. Instead the Kings missed. It's going to be hard to go deep in the playoffs without a Celebrini or Carlsson or Mcdavid.
 
But goalies are the least predictable position in terms of projecting NHL success. And goalie trade value is typically very low, both for NHL players and prospects.

We needed one of the many many first and second round picks to hit and become an all star. Instead the Kings missed. It's going to be hard to go deep in the playoffs without a Celebrini or Carlsson or Mcdavid.
This may sound absurd to say, but over the next 5 - 10 years, I'm much more concerned about Celebrini than McDavid (who turns 29 today).
 
The only good thing about watching Kings hockey these days is the "Mindset/Mentality" drinking game. Take a shot anytime someone says those words and it makes it easier to forget the game.
 
The only good thing about watching Kings hockey these days is the "Mindset/Mentality" drinking game. Take a shot anytime someone says those words and it makes it easier to forget the game.
LOL....my friend who went with me last night said if she hears Jim Fox say "Shot mentality" one more time when she's watching on TV she's gonna lose it!! (I haven't watched a TV broadcast with sound on for quite a few games)
 
Ya gotta have someone to build around. Can't just go all in with young kids.
Kings need a 1C and a #1 defenseman. Not gonna come cheap. You have give to get.

And there are plenty of veterans, maybe too many, already on the roster. Kings are the second oldest team in the league. Even the guys from Ontario aren’t young. Malott is 29. Lee is 25. Ward is 27. Byfield is 23. Turc is almost 25. There are no young kids unless you think Clarke is still a kid at 22.
 

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