Statue4Deano
Super Star
Large lads.
FA 2025 (lets get the discussions in one thread)
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I saw this the other day. Everyone complaining about how we got older fail to realize that if you look at that list you can argue 7 of those 12 teams were top 10 teams last season. And our numbers for Exp, Height, Weight, and Age are almost identical to Florida and Edmonton the two cup teams from last year. While everyone wants young players I don't think the mix we have is some kind of deal breaker. Also like i said in my last post, we were a 105 point team last year and you can argue the defense(at least defensively), 4th line, and definitely backup goalie are considerably better than last season. More importantly hopefully our coach learned the value of running four lines and all three defensive pairs and our top end scorers don't get exhausted and we can finish all these wins we let slip away in the post season. Hopefully it will translate on the ice.In case you're wondering how the Kings physically stack up vs. the rest of the league:
Elite Prospects - Team Comparison in NHL
Compare average height, weight and age in NHL.www.eliteprospects.com
View attachment 12452
Keep in mind this is without Laf on the roster.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
What the advanced cumulative age means is the organization has a talent gap. There’s simply no young players ready to fill the NHL roster. Look at the players in the AHL. Hell look at the press box from last season. Those aren’t NHL ready players.
This is terrible news for the short term future but next season the team will be fine.
DryKing
Power Forward
Height/Weight/Experience/Age are all very good for us.
We definitely got weaker defensively (lost some back-line offense in the moves, got worse defensively [which also includes the probability of Clarke getting better and Doughty getting worse with age]), offensively we stayed the same, size/weight/experience we got a good deal better, overall talent was a wash.
Overall we should be slightly better. I do still worry about speed and offense regarding the back-end.
What is not being factored in is how much better or rivals will be vs last year (SJ, ANA, UT all will be significantly better this year and SEA should be slightly better).
105 points was great last year, but did we do enough to move the needle? Possibly if the younger players take a step forward, Kopi and Doughty do not decline significantly, we stay healthy and the new additions play well. Either way I would rather sneak into the playoffs and actually go past the 1st round, which is what this team is constructed to do.
symbology
TEAM LGK
This team had an issue at LHD last year. No mobile/skilled player on the left side. So, what does the coach do? He puts Kempe the best goal scorer on the team at the left point on the PP and any time the Kings were pushing for a goal late in a critical game. Why was he played there? No LHD option and he is probably the best forward to play the point (defensively). What a waste of his skill set though.
Lets hope that Perry can keep up the good play from last year. Trevor Lewis was "kind of" ok in 2024, but was not so good in 2025.
The team has only improved slightly IMO. However, if that little improvement allows Hiller to play the entire bench and not shorten it, this team will be better for it.
What party?
Taxi Squad
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
Not to derail anyone from the Kings roster moves and discussion, but does anyone know where Greentree will be playing next season? He qualifies to play in the AHL, yes?
On another note, do the Ontario Reign know something we don’t? I see Jack Hughes on their webpage listed on the roster, but puckpedia does not have him noted as having signed contract with the Kings. I recall a post by Hoven stating that the org was likely to reverse course, and sign him after all, but I did not see anything official regarding this.
As far as other players on the Reign roster, is there anyone in particular you guys are most looking forward to seeing at the AHL pro level?
On another note, do the Ontario Reign know something we don’t? I see Jack Hughes on their webpage listed on the roster, but puckpedia does not have him noted as having signed contract with the Kings. I recall a post by Hoven stating that the org was likely to reverse course, and sign him after all, but I did not see anything official regarding this.
As far as other players on the Reign roster, is there anyone in particular you guys are most looking forward to seeing at the AHL pro level?
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Greentree does not qualify for the AHL. His only realistic options are NHL/OHL.
Hughes signed a 2 year AHL only contract. Technically he is not Kings property. Seems like he didn’t get much traction around the league and decided to stay in the organization. Smart move imo. He’s physically very undeveloped and will need to put in lots of work on and off the ice.
I think the Reign will have a handful of interesting players next season. Kenny Connors, Jared Wright, Koehn Ziemmer and Aatu Jamsen are all forwards to watch. Defensemen to watch are Angus Booth, Kirill Kirasanov and Otto Salin. It’s also a make or break season for Erik Portillo.
DryKing
Power Forward
Jack signed a minor league deal
"Hughes signed a two-year, minor-league contract with AHL Ontario on Thursday, Russell Morgan of Hockey Royalty reports.
According to PuckPedia, Hughes will only remain on the Kings' reserve list until Aug. 15, so either the club needs to sign him to an NHL-level deal or he will technically become an unrestricted free agent. Still, the fact that the 21-year-old center is at least committed to the organization through the minor-league club is a good sign that there might still be a future with the second-round pick."
Greentree is ineligible to play on the Reign next season
"One quick rules explanation is worth noting. Greentree and George are both ineligible to play for the Reign next season. It will be either OHL or NHL for both (and everything points to the former at this time). Some have asked, ‘Then why can they play in the AHL this month?’ The short answer is because their OHL teams have been eliminated from playoff action, therefore their OHL seasons are over. In those situations, Candian junior players can be assigned to an AHL team. For more on this topic, including additional prospect rules, be sure to check out the article linked below."
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
That’s disappointing to hear that Greentree is not eligible. I thought puckpedia mentioned he was likely to start in the AHL. Same thing for George. A wasted season for both in the OHL in my opinion, and I don’t often feel that way about the young guys.
Bollocks
Top Forward
I don't think it's unfathomable that Greentree rips in the dev. and training camps and in the 5 "free" games and makes Moore expendable, thus maybe allowing the Kings to trade Moore+Edmundson for a more offensively gifted LHD. Should we bank on it? Of course not, but...it's not impossible.
Greentree has size and is a RW. With addition of Perry and Armia there would be less pressure for Liam to have a big impact right from the get-go.
I don't think rushing goalies is a wise idea. George can quietly and under a keen Kings' goalie development staff eye hone his skills further. Remember Bernier? Oozing talent and hype, he came for 4 "freebie" games from juniors and he s****d. Then he spent 2 season in the AHL before being deemed NHL worthy. And that was before Quick has established himself as the King of goalies.
And if anyone knew/knows how to handle goalie development it's the Kings staff...
Greentree has size and is a RW. With addition of Perry and Armia there would be less pressure for Liam to have a big impact right from the get-go.
I don't think rushing goalies is a wise idea. George can quietly and under a keen Kings' goalie development staff eye hone his skills further. Remember Bernier? Oozing talent and hype, he came for 4 "freebie" games from juniors and he s****d. Then he spent 2 season in the AHL before being deemed NHL worthy. And that was before Quick has established himself as the King of goalies.
And if anyone knew/knows how to handle goalie development it's the Kings staff...
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Clif
Super Star
My pipe dream is Edmundson gets traded to a mid team for a third or even fourth which is swapped alongside Moore and next year’s first for Byram. Premise being Greentree is good enough now to take that spot.
Given how much Hiller and Holland love rookies/young players, bank on it!
symbology
TEAM LGK
VCRW
Classic player
I believe Greentree was born 1 day too late to play in the AHL this season. He turns 20 on 01/01/2026. Like Clif, I believe he will take Moore’s spot on Danault’s line once all the dust settles.
Clif
Super Star
It’s a nice one, yeah. I think it’s borderline strapping. But even raising the question makes me wonder if Hiller only has room for one puck mover on D. What would Lemaire do?
It would seem the best place to get him going. I could see him getting call-ups next year and then Holland moving Moore a la Johnson when Voynov made him expendable. Holland has already said he likes trade deadline deals.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Greentree really seems like a keeper.
As a personal preference I wish Zach would take the lead on these and most interviews done by the official channel. I find his questions to be more focused and to the point. They generate more insightful answers and allow the subject of the video to be the subject of the video.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Ranking the NHL’s top 40 free agents of 2026: Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov and more
The 2026 class of free agents is incredibly star-studded and is led by a handful of the best offensive players in the NHL.
www.nytimes.com
Good list of the top UFAs in 2026. Not sure the Kings will target any of them in free agency but they certainly will be targets at the trade deadline.
Alex Tuch should be target #1.
LAKingSteve
Super Star
My guess is the top 4 stay putRanking the NHL’s top 40 free agents of 2026: Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov and more
The 2026 class of free agents is incredibly star-studded and is led by a handful of the best offensive players in the NHL.
Good list of the top UFAs in 2026. Not sure the Kings will target any of them in free agency but they certainly will be targets at the trade deadline.
Alex Tuch should be target #1.
