Most teams have a cap dump or two that can go the other way. A lot will depend on what else is available.
***Florida Panthers vs. Los Angeles Kings GDT 11/06/25 >>7:00pm<< on ESPN+ & Hulu***
- Thread starter Nyssa42
- Start date
Pickle_Pucks
Top Forward
A really hope Hiler isn't fired because that would signal a dellusional desperation to make the playoffs which is not happening in lieu of the rebuild which is desperately needed.
If they do both and bring in a young coach, so be it.
If they do both and bring in a young coach, so be it.
waynet
Super Star
Watched them beat a good Dallas team in Dallas. When the camera panned their bench, I was amazed at the number of young, fresh looking faces. They have a bunch of motivated kids. Contrast that with the Kings bench of mostly aging vets with large contracts.
Oh, and Forsberg is really bad.
DryKing
Power Forward
Totally, let's strive for mediocrity and keep a coach in place who is hurting the development of our younger players, and simply not ready for NHL level HC duties.
That's all well in good if you are going to scrap the whole team, but letting a sore fester had both short and long term repercussions.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
I want to be upset at Laferriere for getting paid and completely losing his game but I just cannot blame any of these guys for being ineffective this season.
The Kings unquestionably have one of the worst tacticians in the league behind the bench. Now I can forgive a non-tactical coach *if* they’re particularly skilled at motivating or communicating with the players. Hiller seemingly can’t do that either.
I truly have no ****ing clue what purpose he serves coaching this team. He’s simply not an NHL level coach today. He is sub-replacement level. Meaning the Kings are losing games because of his coaching.
The Kings unquestionably have one of the worst tacticians in the league behind the bench. Now I can forgive a non-tactical coach *if* they’re particularly skilled at motivating or communicating with the players. Hiller seemingly can’t do that either.
I truly have no ****ing clue what purpose he serves coaching this team. He’s simply not an NHL level coach today. He is sub-replacement level. Meaning the Kings are losing games because of his coaching.
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
Kopitar to Florida for a 1st, retain half hit cap. They’re without Barkov, and this would give him a legitimate chance to win a 3rd cup himself, while helping propel Florida into rarified air of a 3-peat. Hopefully management could convince him to do the org a serious solid by accepting this type of scenario.
Doughty to Toronto for a first and low end prospect, also retaining half his cap hit(and taking back a trash contract). Toronto won’t challenge for a Cup either way, but it’s a hometown boy homecoming, so he’d probably be satisfied with an opportunity to play a full season in front of childhood friends and family.
Kempe to a bidding war for whoever pays the highest price. Same with Fiala, Danault, Moore, Keumper. This combo of players should easily net two 1sts, and 4 or 5 2nd round picks. Even better if the trades are for legit future blue chippers, the way Anaheim upcycled Zegras for Cutter Gauthier.
Make Forsberg/Copley the tandem for the next couple seasons to help ensure our own picks are top 3.
Play the hell out of Byfield, Turcotte, and Clarke the next 2-3 seasons, so we can see if these sh*tbirds are actually worth the draft capital we expended on them.
That all being said, this sort of rebuild is useless if the scouts fail to make astute picks, or the draft classes are generally weak, like they were when we took are last mini-dip to the basement.
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
VCRW
Classic player
Sharks kids looked incredible last night. The score did not indicate how dominant the Sharks were in that game. Really fun to watch!
Axl Rhoadz
3rd Line Winger
Wow, what a plan. Does Xbox also require you to sell a certain amount of tickets?
hokiecat
Super Star
One thing I have noticed is how much more fun the other teams are to watch.
After the Penguins debacle, the Kings offered a 2 for 111 (aka Kopitar deal) for lower bowl tickets. I passed on that and passed on my birthday club tickets. I'd rather spend the money on a nice dinner and just watch the game on TV (or not watch it and do something else with the game on in the background).
I think what will be most likely to shake up the team is if more people tire of watching the team like I am and also start staying home. AEG wants to make money, period.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Seems like every season some player on an opposing team makes it a point to say how boring the Kings are. It’s incredible really.
Bill Hicks
LGK Agitator
Boring = no fun. They are shackled to this antiquated style and it's time for change. Has been for a long while and after the Hiller implosion in the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised if they've tuned him out.
It would explain their (outsider's view) apathy on a majority of nights.
I sure do and could not possibly care less what he has to say.
He showed what he is and its borderline incompetence.
This is on Luc and management 100%.
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
It should come as no surprise to us, or anyone else, since Kopitar has long been the figurehead of this team’s identity. Everyone raves that he is a coach’s ideal player, and we know that coaches all love low event hockey, so… do the math.
It will be interesting to see if the front office changes its tune regarding tactics once he’s gone.
As much as I’ve ripped on Fiala, I think he’s totally underrated, which is unfortunate for his trade value. He’d be a machine on a good team.
See what I mean?
Bollocks
Super Star
Wait until you see the s*itbirds we would draft with all those picks if they are going to be worth the draft capital...which we would see in...what, 5, 6, 7 years?
For every Anaheim and San Jose there's a Sabres, Coyotes/Arizona/Utah, Columbus, Senators, Isles etc., either perpetual s*ckers or perpetual borderline playoff teams...besides - it's yet to be seen if Anaheim or San Jose are built for playoff hockey - and they need to get there, first. As we know, fun hockey usually doesn't amount to much in playoffs.
But, alas, it's better to watch fun mediocrity than boring mediocrity, I'll give you that.
Personally I'd prefer trying to emulate Vegas or Panthers than going into complete breakdown of the team. For the former you need a very capable GM and some luck, for the latter you need a very capable GM, scouting team AND a s*it ton of luck.
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DarkLeftHand
Super Star
It’s true, and I have long advocated for this as the general approach. You can take my word for it, or feel free to scour through my numerous posts, because they’re plentiful regarding this topic.. I’ve always liked the idea of trading of our own notable prospects or 1st round picks for players who may be on the cusp of emerging, or definitive producers on loser teams looking to rebuild. Obviously you are right, not every first overall or second overall pick is a Celebrini or a Leo Carlsson. That’s painfully evident, at this point. Just imagine what Byfield probably could have fetched a couple seasons ago in trade, when he still had tons of percieved ‘potential’? Possibly a player like Kadri,
Werenski, or some other mobile scoring defender that could have helped the Kings see themselves past the Oilers in first round playoff matchups, and probably much deeper. Anyways, that ship has sailed, Kopitar will be gone, Doughty soon to follow, and the Kings will have gaping holes at 1C and 1D that are going to be filled with notable downgrades from what we’ve been used to seeing for the last decade. It’s going to be bleak, especially if Kempe chooses to sign elsewhere.
Just as an aside, I feel there is some irony here that the Ducks are being lead in scorching fashion by two players who were drafted 2nd overall and 5th overall. Meanwhile, just a few miles north, it’s a much different story..