Free agency/off season

Bollocks said:
I think the plan should be resigning Laughton AND going after a legitimate #2C, or even Nylander/Matthews/Hischier/Thomas type of player.

Laughton can IMO play in a #2C role. He put up 43 in 78 on (then) very s***y Philly team with bad linemates. If Phil could do it, so could he. That would be a very risky scenario when it comes to trying to win, though, and Laughton is best suited as a #3C. But even in that role he's worth 5 mil IMO, with the rising cap. That's just how it is nowadays with inflated prices.

Do not forget that he has other intangibles apart from putting up 3rd line points. Shutting down opposing team's top players, killing penalties and perhaps most improtantly he's apparently a great locker room presence.

A far bigger issue than 5 million 3rd line center are the 8,5 million tied to the bottom pairing D-men. Add Joel's 4-odd million to that number for 3rd pairing D-men as I can't see him keeping up his last season's play, though I'd rather keep him over Dumo or Ceci. I'm afraid Ken will be unwilling to admit his own mistake(s) after only one season...
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I really don't want to give up Laf, Byf or Clarke so I would not be going for a 1c and we have enough wingers.
2c is very important as Danault demonstrated.
Laughton is not going to cut it for any real team progress.
Joel's has been way underrated especially with his partnership in developing Clarke, Dumo has be wrongly maligned.
Ceci is the main problem and no one wants that contract.
So I think you are stuck on D.
 
What party? said:
I had to google that reference (not a football person) because I thought it was (and maybe still is) the player that had a fake girlfriend that died who was not a girl, it was a thing, or a 30 for 30 episode, or maybe just a deadspin article. =)
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high fiving you in spirit.
 
The Nuts said:
Hoping Ken holds all goalie prospects , to get more value later, foster competition and see how they shake out.
Its there best cards so its important.
This is why its important to get rid of Kuemper, due to his age and poor form after injuries.
Portillo needs his chance at NHL backup, level because he can be lost on waivers next season. Hampton , George and Rimpanen are right behind.
I have been happy with Ken's mindfulness about the future and not dump assets.
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3 of the goalie prospects are roughly the same age. That means that if Portillo proves capable of playing at a high level, it's going to be really tough to test them all out. This "prove yourself" test phase could end badly. Not to mention that making an "industrial line" for selling goalies immediately after they achieve some semblance of success at the NHL level doesn't seem like an environment a young prospect would want to be in and where one would develop well, with trust that there's a future at the club he trains hard for...

I'd also avoid getting "rid of" Kuemper. His trade value ATM is likely very low (very bad form second half of the season + considerably higher cap hit, and he's older), whereas Forsberg had a stellar performance against the best offense in the league and is very affordable, younger and probably won't be too expensive to extend if the buyer wanted to do so. IMO it's more sensible to sell high on Forsberg and hope either Kuemper bounces back or either Portillo or Slukynsky prove worthy of a starter job than to sell low on Kuemper.

Kuemper was also a real trooper these past 2 seasons for the Kings. I'd like to see loyalty shown where the risks involved aren't that big. "We'll trade you for a bag of pucks because you were unlucky to get injured mid season and then you sucked" is kind of a sh***y thing to do. His confidence was further shattered because the injury screwed him over for the Olympics, too. It's not like he flopped out of form for no apparent reason like Quick did...and even that trade was highly questionable from a loyalty standpoint.
 
dannybuoy1 said:
high fiving you in spirit.
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*laughing* Thanks Dan, those deep cut dork posts are my favorite to type. And when they get a laugh, even better but a high five? Cherry on top. My guy.
High Five Parks And Rec GIF



I wrote a joke yesterday with Jimmy Carter, a defunct satellite and aliens that dropped like a stone but a college kid getting catfished, lands? This place is weird. =)
 
Bollocks said:
Kuemper was also a real trooper these past 2 seasons for the Kings. I'd like to see loyalty shown where the risks involved aren't that big. "We'll trade you for a bag of pucks because you were unlucky to get injured mid season and then you sucked" is kind of a sh***y thing to do. His confidence was further shattered because the injury screwed him over for the Olympics, too. It's not like he flopped out of form for no apparent reason like Quick did...and even that trade was highly questionable from a loyalty standpoint.
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To be fair...it is his second time as a King, so...=)

B, for clarity sake, your first post about how you'd tweak the team, was that cap friendly or just painting with a broad brush? Not asking you to show your work because I know you can and will but just gauging the intent. Gawd knows you've done more work on the future of the team than anyone on the payroll.

My fear/guess: Drew gets the "C", superficial changes and those 19 ties turn to actual losses---top 3 lottery pick.

Gracias Amigo (today is a quasi-holiday -Cino de Mayo-where we celebrate a battle that Mexico won against *checks notes* France-but any chance to shine a happy light on different cultures in 2026 'mercia, I'll take as a win).
 
The Nuts said:
Hi Clif.
Danault was actually targeted to be the 2 C when that contract was signed but slid down as QB progressed.
I want to see Ken go after the best possible 2 c, that is under 35 y old first.
After that, if you have $ left , sure sign Laughton, who I see as a 3 C.
I think you keep talks going throughout though.
One interesting thing is that Mayor said the Kings will have an internal cap in the low 90 mil.
So really the Kings will bring in three player or less, I believe.
But the coach search is on the front burner anyway.
Cheers
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What’s up Nuts. You’re right on Danault being the second center initially. I actually forget about that because he is the ultimate third line center but Kings had him punching above his weight and he actually delivered. That said, over his career he really is a Laughton comparable.

Kings’ center depth is bad. Like really bad. Which is why I say signing Laughton is more important to the Kings than scoring a third line center at a lower cap hit. Also Kings have the cap space, they have money they can shed on top of it, and paying Laughton 5M isn’t going to be the anchor that holds them back.

Because one other thing about players outside the organization is you never know how they will fit. Laughton clearly fit here perfectly. Keep with what works where you can because we all know there’s plenty here that doesn’t work.
 
As far as I'm concerned there are no untouchables on this team. They couldn't score to save their lives, stunk in OT and were a joke in the shootouts. Things will be better once Doughty and Kuemper's combined 16 million come off the books.
 
What party? said:
*laughing* Thanks Dan, those deep cut dork posts are my favorite to type. And when they get a laugh, even better but a high five? Cherry on top. My guy.
High Five Parks And Rec GIF



I wrote a joke yesterday with Jimmy Carter, a defunct satellite and aliens that dropped like a stone but a college kid getting catfished, lands? This place is weird. =)
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Your joke yesterday relied on references which were such deep cuts that I assume most people had no idea what you were talking about. I certainly didn't. We all remember poor Manti Te'o and his fictitious girlfriend, however.
 
santiclaws said:
Your joke yesterday relied on references which were such deep cuts that I assume most people had no idea what you were talking about. I certainly didn't. We all remember poor Manti Te'o and his fictitious girlfriend, however.
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Tommy Lee Jones I Dont Care GIF


I am making even MORE Cater space alien jokes!
Jimmy Carter Animation GIF by Chris Timmons
 
Clif said:
What’s up Nuts. You’re right on Danault being the second center initially. I actually forget about that because he is the ultimate third line center but Kings had him punching above his weight and he actually delivered. That said, over his career he really is a Laughton comparable.

Kings’ center depth is bad. Like really bad. Which is why I say signing Laughton is more important to the Kings than scoring a third line center at a lower cap hit. Also Kings have the cap space, they have money they can shed on top of it, and paying Laughton 5M isn’t going to be the anchor that holds them back.

Because one other thing about players outside the organization is you never know how they will fit. Laughton clearly fit here perfectly. Keep with what works where you can because we all know there’s plenty here that doesn’t work.
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Solid point but are you aware the Kings are going to keep an internal cap in the low 90 mil, per Mayors M.?
I want to go after the best possible 2c before we commit to a 3c which , I see SL as.
 
Halfwall said:
None. The only answer is to start the rebuild ASAP. Anyone that doesn't realize the Kings will be scraping the bottom of the WC with Vancouver next year is delusional.
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Did you text Ken, Luc, his bosses?
Claw21 said:
As far as I'm concerned there are no untouchables on this team. They couldn't score to save their lives, stunk in OT and were a joke in the shootouts. Things will be better once Doughty and Kuemper's combined 16 million come off the books.
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Kuemper is practically a guaranteed L in shootouts another reason he goes and Forsy and Ports roster.
 
hokiecat said:
They all seem like replacement level players.
Wright seems like Austin Wagner. Helenius is fine like you said-- not overly impressive and probably already at his ceiling.
Ward and Mallot are OK-ish.
Need more games from Connors. He might be good. He's older (22 already) but jumped into the AHL and produced.
Lee seems like Mallot with more skilll and less snarl. He looks like he could be a decent 4th liner but he's also 25.

I don't like paying Laughton is big salary to center the third line. That said, we were kind of doing the same thing with Daneault. So shruggie.
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Helenius was our best player against Colorado.
 
The difference between needing a 2nd line center and needing a 2nd AND a 3rd line center is a big one. We need Laughton to stay. If by some miracle we can land both a 2nd and 3rd line center that are both better and more affordable than Laughton then fine, but that's as likely as me playing left wing for the Kings next year.
 
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