Bollocks
Super Star
If that was the case, Ken should've been calling them much sooner to sell high and demand a 1st rounder instead of a 2nd.
Hiller Hotseat Thread
- Thread starter Birdman
- Start date
If that was the case, Ken should've been calling them much sooner to sell high and demand a 1st rounder instead of a 2nd.
Bollocks
Super Star
That's too much.
If that's the price for Thomas, I'd rather take a leap of faith with Elias Petersson for half (or a bit more than half) of that price.
Clif
Super Star
Agreed. Can’t trade George until Slukynsky has an ELC signed. Can’t trade Bruschetta period because he’s the only legit RD in the pipeline.
2 firsts, Cihar, and a second maybe? But Blues could likely get a better prospect elsewhere.
I think Petterson will be more expensive than people are expecting. But I’d be happy with getting him for a first, second, Turcotte and a reach prospect like Pinelli or Salin.
ICE24
Super Star
I believe all our prospects are a reach. Kings for a while have failed to draft have a real gem.
Clif
Super Star
I favor trading picks and prospects when you’re actually trying to win as teams overvalue picks and get easily enticed by D+1 and +2 players. COL and VGK have succeeded so well there - they have not traded gems but have gotten gems in return. But with only one passable RD in the system and LD also questionable, I cannot get behind trading Wooley and Bruschetta.
I would argue Slukynsky is a gem. He has been elite at every level and won an NCAA title as a freshman. His stats that season were 1.90 GAA and .922 SV% in 25 games. He was a freshman, if I didn’t mention that.
My bigger fear with him is that his agent will correctly tell him he can write his own ticket and he never signs an ELC with the Kings.
KH did good getting a 2nd.
Due had 0 goals and half dozen assists.
Jesus would need to be y0ur GM to get a 1st
But is it our drafting or our forward offensive development, maybe both?
DryKing
Power Forward
I actually think Slukynsky is the best of the goalie prospects, currently. The positive is that the Kings run a very goalie friendly system so I don't have much concern that he will sign.
Woolley the Kings should hold on to, especially as I believe his value may have dropped a bit since being traded to Kitchener. Out of all the prospects we have left, he is the one I am the most excited about. He likely won't turn out to be the best of all those we have in the pool, but he may just address the most needs currently out of any prospect within the Organization.
Brzustewicz looks stellar offensively but the Kings could potentially seek to trade him as his value is high and they may feel he is redundant with Clarke already in the system. If Brz can strengthen his game in the defensive zone, though, he will be exactly the type of D we have been searching for - a puck moving potential top pairing defenseman. That said, I think there is a fair chance the Kings will look to move him as he's not a pylon.
Pretty much anyone outside of Slukynsky, Carter, Woolley and Brz I would consider as having low impact should the Kings choose to move them.
Bollocks
Super Star
Please learn to understand what you read. I meant that if there was tension during the summer and/or in early season already, Ken should've traded him before Phil's value tanked to the minimum. Yes, he did well all things considered, but Phil did not struggle out of the gate without some background tensions.
DryKing
Power Forward
Totally agree if there was behind the scene tensions as play Ken should have looked to move him this past offseason and found a suitable replacement. Given how he played in the playoffs last season, he would have netted at least a 1st round pick in a league currently desperate for Centers.
That said, I'm not yet sold that he is doing much better in MTL as of yet. Sure his offensive numbers have boosted a bit, but his defensive stats have also fallen. These changes seem to be more driven by the team/structure than by his play.
I don't think you can assess that very well as a new Gm coming in.
You are going to want to assess your team and players in person and not have a feel or want to make assumptions.
Ken Holland is a hockey GM, he is not a psychic in a gypsy road show.
I understand exactly what I read, some people just wanted to write off my response. LOL
DryKing
Power Forward
Fair point and that does seem like Ken's style (move initially slow and methodically, ensuring he understands the details before making a change).
That said, if it was as bad as some are assuming it was, it would be glaring and something Ken would need to address right away (you'd think others like Hiller and Luc would make it a point to brief him). If it's been overblown however, or Ken felt he could salvage it, then it makes sense for him to wait.
Luc and Holland breathe a sigh of relief.
They now have another excuse to blame the poor season: Fiala injury.
You can just see it in your mind's eye now: End of season press conferences with Luc, Holland, & Hiller all talking about what could have been if not for Fiala. Trust us, next season will be better with Fiala back.
They now have another excuse to blame the poor season: Fiala injury.
You can just see it in your mind's eye now: End of season press conferences with Luc, Holland, & Hiller all talking about what could have been if not for Fiala. Trust us, next season will be better with Fiala back.
symbology
TEAM LGK
Yep, I can hear it now. They were "right there" and the move to get Breadboy had them in position to get to the "top of the division" and make a "deep playoff run".
They were right there!
santiclaws
I was in the pool!!
Imagine how I feel with my brand new "LA Kings 2026 Stanley Cup Champions" tattoo
VCRW
Classic player
Is it true that Dean Lombardi has asked to see that tattoo?
santiclaws
I was in the pool!!
Yes. And I told him he cannot.
Bollocks
Super Star
So, the wise thing to do now would be to:
- trade Kuzmenko to a contender with the silent agreement he signs with the Kings for next season to team up with Breadman; the Kings could easily net a 2nd rounder for him, maybe even a late 1st, especially if they add a later pick (4th round and above)
- trade Perry to a contender, again similarly to Kuz a late 1st if they add a later pick (4th round and above)
- maybe trade for a bad contract too (or two)
Teams in biggest need for cap space are Canadiens, Panthers, Oilers, Stars, Leafs, Bruins, Tampa and Vegas.
All of these teams are going to be fighting hard for the Cup (or playoffs to begin with).
Of these teams, good prospect depth is only a reality for Bruins and Canadiens.
Canadiens have Josh Anderson on their roster taking up 5,5 million until 26-27 (so, one more year). He's not as bad this season as he was last year, but definitely struggling. And Montembeault at 3 and something million who sucks this year.
Canadiens will want to go all in this season and the next.
So, here's a thought:
The Kings trade Foegele (Danault's linemate buddy and a LW which the Habs lack) and Forsberg with 1-2 million retained for each (in total let's say 3 million, which the Kings can "survive" without for one season) for Anderson, Montembeault and Reinbacher. And maybe a 3rd or a 2nd rounder, too.
The Habs get a cheaper struggling forward that could reignite his form with his former linemate and in a different environment and a capable goalie (which they don't have right now), and give up 2 overpaid struggling players and a talented right-shot D-man who had his development stunted a bit by an untimely injury.
The Kings realistically don't screw up their playoff aspirations this year that much more than they had them screwed by Fiala's injury. TBH Hiller's system would have a hard time "hiding" two players in the mold of Fiala and Breadman. Anderson should do well within Hiller's system and along with the addition of Breadman to replace Kevin's offensive prowess, and considering Foegele is struggling anyways, it's more or less a wash. Montembeault could struggle less with the Kings' stable D and less pressure. Kuz would be missed, Perry also to an extent, but neither are irreplaceable this season. Give the some more ice time to Lee and Ward and make them prove their worth. Maybe even Chromiak.
Breadman-QB-Kempe
Moore-Kopitar-Laf
Armia-Turcotte-Anderson
Lee/Malott-Helenius-Ward
Habs get a goalie that's in good form this season and Danault's LW linemate buddy with decent upside of resparking the playoff production of both Foegele and Phil, and almost 4 million in cap space that they could use to improve their roster elsewhere, with a more high-end pickup.
- trade Kuzmenko to a contender with the silent agreement he signs with the Kings for next season to team up with Breadman; the Kings could easily net a 2nd rounder for him, maybe even a late 1st, especially if they add a later pick (4th round and above)
- trade Perry to a contender, again similarly to Kuz a late 1st if they add a later pick (4th round and above)
- maybe trade for a bad contract too (or two)
Teams in biggest need for cap space are Canadiens, Panthers, Oilers, Stars, Leafs, Bruins, Tampa and Vegas.
All of these teams are going to be fighting hard for the Cup (or playoffs to begin with).
Of these teams, good prospect depth is only a reality for Bruins and Canadiens.
Canadiens have Josh Anderson on their roster taking up 5,5 million until 26-27 (so, one more year). He's not as bad this season as he was last year, but definitely struggling. And Montembeault at 3 and something million who sucks this year.
Canadiens will want to go all in this season and the next.
So, here's a thought:
The Kings trade Foegele (Danault's linemate buddy and a LW which the Habs lack) and Forsberg with 1-2 million retained for each (in total let's say 3 million, which the Kings can "survive" without for one season) for Anderson, Montembeault and Reinbacher. And maybe a 3rd or a 2nd rounder, too.
The Habs get a cheaper struggling forward that could reignite his form with his former linemate and in a different environment and a capable goalie (which they don't have right now), and give up 2 overpaid struggling players and a talented right-shot D-man who had his development stunted a bit by an untimely injury.
The Kings realistically don't screw up their playoff aspirations this year that much more than they had them screwed by Fiala's injury. TBH Hiller's system would have a hard time "hiding" two players in the mold of Fiala and Breadman. Anderson should do well within Hiller's system and along with the addition of Breadman to replace Kevin's offensive prowess, and considering Foegele is struggling anyways, it's more or less a wash. Montembeault could struggle less with the Kings' stable D and less pressure. Kuz would be missed, Perry also to an extent, but neither are irreplaceable this season. Give the some more ice time to Lee and Ward and make them prove their worth. Maybe even Chromiak.
Breadman-QB-Kempe
Moore-Kopitar-Laf
Armia-Turcotte-Anderson
Lee/Malott-Helenius-Ward
Habs get a goalie that's in good form this season and Danault's LW linemate buddy with decent upside of resparking the playoff production of both Foegele and Phil, and almost 4 million in cap space that they could use to improve their roster elsewhere, with a more high-end pickup.
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