Friedman: Andrei Kuzmenko to LA

I don't like getting a rental so this feels like a waste of a pick.
I will give Blake positive points that I was suggesting he make a hockey trade for a rehab player like Zegras or Mittelstadt. If the Kings could get Kuzmenko back to where he was 2 years ago, this would be a good trade along those lines. But I don't like trading for him with no term left after this spring.
Statue4Deano said:
That’s fine. He fills a need and the cost is nothing significant.
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We did need a right shot forward so there is value in having someone besides Laffy on the PP.
 
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I think this is the biggest "move" of the deadline so far.

Just the wrong kind of "movement" 💩

Torts could only take 7 games with the guy. Blake seems to like these guys that have great first seasons then turn to garbage (healthy scratch/4th line). Kuzmendo had a 27% shooting percentage when he scored 39 goals. Hard for a player to keep that up. Maybe Rob thinks it worked out so well with Jeannot that he should try it again?

Well, at least Blake did not give up much, and Kuzmenko could help the PP.
 
If Symbology doesn't like the deal, then I'm inclined to not like the deal. I do feel like the Flyers regularly extract a trade deadline pick out of the Kings for a crappy player. Hopefully the trend stops today.
 
hokiecat said:
If Symbology doesn't like the deal, then I'm inclined to not like the deal. I do feel like the Flyers regularly extract a trade deadline pick out of the Kings for a crappy player. Hopefully the trend stops today.
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DRGinLBC said:
Couldn't get much worse...right?
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LOL, yeah.

I can see this guy helping on the PP, but probably hurting everywhere else. Probably should not play him with Kev, if that happens we could see compounding minuses start to pile up. Might be best to get him on the 4th line and use him on the PP.
 
He will replace Turcotte on the top line, which is fine for a few months. Kopitar was rarely in the same camera frame as his linemates, so it will help him to have another slow skater on his line.

Turcotte will be a lot more effective as the #4c than deferring to Kopitar and Kempe on the wing.

Its a return to the Jussi Jokinen type deal, which is a welcome relief from the big deals that generate the same results.
 
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Sultanic said:
He will replace Turcotte on the top line, which is fine for a few months. Kopitar was rarely in the same camera frame as his linemates, so it will help him to have another slow skater on his line.

Turcotte will be a lot more effective as the #4c than deferring to Kopitar and Kempe on the wing.

Its a return to the Jussi Jokinen type deal, which is a welcome relief from the big deals that generate the same results.
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I'd like to see Turcotte move to center but I don't think that happens. If we turn the 4th line into a physical checking line Turcotte will need to stay as far away from it as possible as he still appears to be made of glass. I'm really surprised he has stayed as healthy as he has this season as some of the hits he has taken into the boards have been brutal.

Once Kopi retires or if Danault should ever leave team, hopefully Turcotte will get a shot at center. At some point, I expect to see Turcotte make Danault expendable.
 
DryKing said:
I'd like to see Turcotte move to center but I don't think that happens. If we turn the 4th line into a physical checking line Turcotte will need to stay as far away from it as possible as he still appears to be made of glass. I'm really surprised he has stayed as healthy as he has this season as some of the hits he has taken into the boards have been brutal.

Once Kopi retires or if Danault should ever leave team, hopefully Turcotte will get a shot at center. At some point, I expect to see Turcotte make Danault expendable.
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Its either 4c or he is out of the lineup entirely.

Kuzmenko-Kopitar-Kempe
Fiala-Byfield-Laferriere
Moore-Danault-Foegle

That's unquestionably the top 9, in this or in any other configuration.

There really is no natural 4th line here, so let's look at the options:

I like Helenius up the middle. Jeannot may not be worth his deal, the price they paid, or be able to play in the top 9 - but he has been a very good 4th liner. Lewis will give everything of the very little he has left. Thomas has been in the doghouse since summer, but he has the speed the rest of that group is lacking.

Where does Turcotte fit in? The bench? Platooning with Helenius? I am a huge fan of what Turcotte can bring - high speed interconnectivity that funnels pucks to the net. Yes, he should replace Danault eventually - and Anze will be leaving at the same time but those spots are a year away.
 
I think Blake’s page on hockeydb.com didn’t load past 2023. So he had 1 good year & not much else. Is he going to be in the top 6? Is he going on the 1st PP unit? The only good things are he’s a right shot & is a UFA.
 
Sultanic said:
Its either 4c or he is out of the lineup entirely.

Kuzmenko-Kopitar-Kempe
Fiala-Byfield-Laferriere
Moore-Danault-Foegle

That's unquestionably the top 9, in this or in any other configuration.

There really is no natural 4th line here, so let's look at the options:

I like Helenius up the middle. Jeannot may not be worth his deal, the price they paid, or be able to play in the top 9 - but he has been a very good 4th liner. Lewis will give everything of the very little he has left. Thomas has been in the doghouse since summer, but he has the speed the rest of that group is lacking.

Where does Turcotte fit in? The bench? Platooning with Helenius? I am a huge fan of what Turcotte can bring - high speed interconnectivity that funnels pucks to the net. Yes, he should replace Danault eventually - and Anze will be leaving at the same time but those spots are a year away.
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Yeah it's a conundrum for sure. We need to align our two Right shots to RW so it looks like we end up with something like this:

Fiala-Byfield-Kempe
Foegele-Kopitar-Kuzmenko
Moore-Danault-Laferriere
Turcotte - Helenius - Lewis

Turcotte needs to get stronger, and work on his faceoffs, before moving to center (imo).

I don't know enough about Kuz's two-way game to know if he's better with Kopi or Danault (would like to get Laf with Kopi/Foegele if possible
 
He’ll play on the top line for 2 periods, then Hiller will throw up his hands and he’ll go to the end of the bench, then sit in the Pressbox for the remainder of his time here.

Rakell was the play, and Blake couldn’t close the deal.
 
Birdman said:
He’ll play on the top line for 2 periods, then Hiller will throw up his hands and he’ll go to the end of the bench, then sit in the Pressbox for the remainder of his time here.

Rakell was the play, and Blake couldn’t close the deal.
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Nope. Rakell has lots of term left, Pens can wait for an overpay.
 
DryKing said:
Yeah it's a conundrum for sure. We need to align our two Right shots to RW so it looks like we end up with something like this:

Fiala-Byfield-Kempe
Foegele-Kopitar-Kuzmenko
Moore-Danault-Laferriere
Turcotte - Helenius - Lewis

Turcotte needs to get stronger, and work on his faceoffs, before moving to center (imo).

I don't know enough about Kuz's two-way game to know if he's better with Kopi or Danault (would like to get Laf with Kopi/Foegele if possible
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He has been benched for a lack of defensive commitment by his last 2 coaches, so anything other than the Kopitar or Byfield lines would be shocking
 
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