FA 2025 (lets get the discussions in one thread)

[DarkLeftHand]

This is a good point and why a trade to enhance our backend corps is still needed. Spence was a jack of all trades and with that one of the better offensive defensemen on our team (which illustrates how low the bar has been). By moving him and replacing him/Gav with two defensive defenseman it compounds the problem even more.

If the Kings are able to pull off a trade for Byram, for instance, who has to go the other way?

Word is Dumo was a key part of the Penguins Cup runs, then got slowed down due to injuries. He's briefly discussed at the beginning of the below Devils podcast (1:38 mark)

The Byram situation looks complicated, given that our LD is Mikey, Edmund, Dumo. Do you ship out Mikey and put Byram on the top pair with Dewey? Probably not. Can you swap him out for Eddy on second pair with Clarke? Highly unlikely. Not to mention, Buffalo has the reverse problem as their puck movers are all LD.. Dahlin, Power, Byram.

So I would think the most likely scenario is that Buffalo and Kings can’t really make a D for D swap, and instead, they ask for something like Laferriere(or Turcotte) and a very high draft pick. However, I also feel that Buffalo is probably not keen on the idea of draft picks, and are actually looking for impact players to slot in immediately. I’m not sure if they would even want to swap Clarke into their D lineup, because that means they’re playing him beside Dahlin or Power. I get the feeling they traded for Kesselring specifically to play on powers RD side, given Power apparently plays like a cream puff.

 

[Clif]

Add to that our drafting / development in the past 5-6 years is certainly in the bottom 5 of the league.

Based on what metric?

 

[santiclaws]

The Byram situation looks complicated, given that our LD is Mikey, Edmund, Dumo. Do you ship out Mikey and put Byram on the top pair with Dewey? Probably not. Can you swap him out for Eddy on second pair with Clarke? Highly unlikely. Not to mention, Buffalo has the reverse problem as their puck movers are all LD.. Dahlin, Power, Byram.

So I would think the most likely scenario is that Buffalo and Kings can’t really make a D for D swap, and instead, they ask for something like Laferriere(or Turcotte) and a very high draft pick. However, I also feel that Buffalo is probably not keen on the idea of draft picks, and are actually looking for impact players to slot in immediately. I’m not sure if they would even want to swap Clarke into their D lineup, because that means they’re playing him beside Dahlin or Power. I get the feeling they traded for Kesselring specifically to play on powers RD side, given Power apparently plays like a cream puff.

Putting him on the top pair is the very reason for trading for him. That's why he wants out of Buffalo and you're looking for your No. 1 young LD who can move the puck and chip in offensively. He can't play with Clarke because Clarke needs a defensive D-man to play with, and it would be insanely dumb to play him on the third line.

That said, Buffalo really doesn't need Anderson. They've got Dahlin and Power.

 

[Statue4Deano]

The only hope for the Kings is for one or two of their "no name" (basically anyone except Greentree...) prospects to come on to the scene guns blazing. You see 3rd / 4th / 5th rounders on virtually every team across the league come in and beat expectations, excel. It's such a key component to building a successful team because of the financial flexibility it can give you.

Unfortunately, there is no room to give anyone a decent chance, on top of an organization zealously prioritizing veterans over youth. Add to that our drafting / development in the past 5-6 years is certainly in the bottom 5 of the league.

Heleinius is basically the best candidate for that kind of ascendancy. Maybe he shows something on the 4th line next year that says he could be a successful 3rd liner. If he even get the bona fide starting spot on the 4th line...

Laferriere is that prospect.

Woolley will be one of those guys. Ziemmer will get a look at some point. Conmy is my dark horse for bottom six regular within 2 seasons.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

Laferriere is that prospect.

Woolley will be one of those guys. Ziemmer will get a look at some point. Conmy is my dark horse for bottom six regular within 2 seasons.

Agreed that this could be a breakout season for Laff. Hopefully we can sign him to a team friendly 3-4 year deal and he surpasses that value right away. That would be huge.

But if by some miracle Helenius or Turcotte can show they can handle 3C we can package Phil with a couple other pieces to improve elsewhere.

Those would be 2 huge steps forward. One more fathomable than the other, of course.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Laferriere is that prospect.

Woolley will be one of those guys. Ziemmer will get a look at some point. Conmy is my dark horse for bottom six regular within 2 seasons.

Wasn’t it Kaleb Lawrence who really surprised the heck out of the staff at our prospect camp last year, and earned himself a 3 year entry level contract? He’s a very big body, and if I’m not mistaken, a fairly rough ‘n tumble type like Helenius. Not predicting a wild breakout this season for him, or even NHL consideration, but I think he’s on the radar for our bottom 6 in a season or two. Would love to see one of our very large youngsters eventually blossom into a top 6 role, a la Tom Wilson

 

[Statue4Deano]

Agreed that this could be a breakout season for Laff. Hopefully we can sign him to a team friendly 3-4 year deal and he surpasses that value right away. That would be huge.

But if by some miracle Helenius or Turcotte can show they can handle 3C we can package Phil with a couple other pieces to improve elsewhere.

Those would be 2 huge steps forward. One more fathomable than the other, of course.

Laf needs to start the year off hot. If he doesn’t I can very easily see Hiller moving Perry up full time and moving Laf down. If Laf ends up on the 4th line he’ll never get out of Hiller’s doghouse without an injury to a winger in the Top 9.

It’s also a massive season for Turcotte. If he can develop further and stay healthy there’s a chance he could be our version of Conor Garland. Undersized but max effort 20 goal 50 point guy who can move up the lineup when needed. He must stay healthy and if he can scratch 20 goals he’s a keeper.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Wasn’t it Kaleb Lawrence who really surprised the heck out of the staff at our prospect camp last year, and earned himself a 3 year entry level contract? He’s a very big body, and if I’m not mistaken, a fairly rough ‘n tumble type like Helenius. Not predicting a wild breakout this season for him, or even NHL consideration, but I think he’s on the radar for our bottom 6 in a season or two. Would love to see one of our very large youngsters eventually blossom into a top 6 role, a la Tom Wilson

Lawrence seems more in the lineage of Andre Lee and Jacob Doty. It’s extremely rare for a forward prospect to play in the ECHL and ever get a call up to the big club.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Laf needs to start the year off hot. If he doesn’t I can very easily see Hiller moving Perry up full time and moving Laf down. If Laf ends up on the 4th line he’ll never get out of Hiller’s doghouse without an injury to a winger in the Top 9.

It’s also a massive season for Turcotte. If he can develop further and stay healthy there’s a chance he could be our version of Conor Garland. Undersized but max effort 20 goal 50 point guy who can move up the lineup when needed. He must stay healthy and if he can scratch 20 goals he’s a keeper.

Regarding Turcotte, I would be fairly pleased at that type of comparable, especially with the setbacks he’s had to begin his pro career.

As far as Laff is concerned, I agree, a hot start for him is imperative. He cooled off at the end of last season, and I think it definitely caused Hillers confidence in him to falter.

 

[Halfwall]

Regarding Turcotte, I would be fairly pleased at that type of comparable, especially with the setbacks he’s had to begin his pro career.

As far as Laff is concerned, I agree, a hot start for him is imperative. He cooled off at the end of last season, and I think it definitely caused Hillers confidence in him to falter.

Wut? Despite that "cooling off" he finished with an almost identical points per game % as Foegele, Moore and Danault. I would rate his chances of falling to the 4th line as near zero.

 

[DryKing]

Wut? Despite that "cooling off" he finished with an almost identical points per game % as Foegele, Moore and Danault. I would rate his chances of falling to the 4th line as near zero.

Problem is that he is young and Hiller clearly doesn't trust the younger players and, therein, it takes very little for the young players to find themselves relegated to bottom line, or press box.

Neither Laf or Turcotte should be on the 4th line if the Kings truly care about their development.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

Wut? Despite that "cooling off" he finished with an almost identical points per game % as Foegele, Moore and Danault. I would rate his chances of falling to the 4th line as near zero.

The top 9 is basically set in stone. So it's either Turcotte or Sammy at 4C. Baring a trade...I think they have to look at moving Phil for a nice young piece or two and pray one of Sammy or Turc can step up. Risk / reward...

We will roll 4 consistent lines next season, well, way more consistent / balanced than most teams. The exact opposite of the Oilers essentially. Our 4th line will get more ice time than 25 other teams' at least, I would imagine. 1st line can't be beat into the ground with Kopi next season...

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Wut? Despite that "cooling off" he finished with an almost identical points per game % as Foegele, Moore and Danault. I would rate his chances of falling to the 4th line as near zero.

I was referring to his goal scoring. He had 13 in the first three months of the season, then 6 goals in the final 4 months. It looked like he was gonna be nearly a 30 goal scorer last year, but his ability to finish tapered in the latter half.

 

[Birdman]

Problem is that he is young and Hiller clearly doesn't trust the younger players and, therein, it takes very little for the young players to find themselves relegated to bottom line, or press box.

Neither Laf or Turcotte should be on the 4th line if the Kings truly care about their development.

Hiller loves Laffy

 

[Dr. Tran]

To answer both you and DryKing, I think management had begun to question exactly what they were going to get with Byfield and Turcotte. I do think the early prognostication was a 1c/2c result, but Turcotte’s set backs from injury, and byfield’s slow development(and injury plus illness) left the team with some question marks about if/when. Thus, the PLD trade was made to fortify that position, should Byfield take several more years to emerge as a true #1. Especially with the potential for Kopitar retiring soonish, and Turcotte not establishing himself as a full time NHL center. So they opted to hedge their bets and roll the dice on PLD, who, like Byfield, vacillates between looking like a 1C and a 2C.

I get all that. But him?