Kempe Contract Watch Thread {Signed 8-year, $85 million - $10.63 AAV}

[emsomaso]

It's not exactly that.

He just doesn't fit into this teams' timeline exactly. And frankly he may never get much better. It might make sense to take 1 or 2 steps back before trying to take steps forward.

This group of guys in general is absolutely cooked and going nowhere.

Dealing QB + Kempe + Moore + Danault could really jump start a rebuild. We have literally no skating prospects except one kid who could boom or bust.

We need to start rebuilding the pipeline.

I agree with the 1 step back before taking 2 steps forward, that we’re cooked and going nowhere and that we need to rebuild the pipeline. I just think that QB is young and good enough to be a part of the solution even if that may be 4-5 years away. Good luck drafting a center prospect that actually turns out to be a better player than him.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

I agree with the 1 step back before taking 2 steps forward, that we’re cooked and going nowhere and that we need to rebuild the pipeline. I just think that QB is young and good enough to be a part of the solution even if that may be 4-5 years away. Good luck drafting a center prospect that actually turns out to be a better player than him.

Either path involves a lot of "ifs", deal QB now for 3-4 high value assets (he'd certainly fetch that especially with his favorable contract...) therefore triggering the tank which will bring in more and more high end assets via more trades and high draft positions..

Or semi tank and watch QB continue to stall in his development and end up with a 2nd line center who you will have to pay 10 million+ to when his contract is up based nothing more than on his pedigree as a 2nd overall...

Or maybe he takes a huge leap in the next 18 months? And what if he does? He's not carrying the rest of this dead weight anywhere. Kopi is gone, Drew is cooked, Phil is cooked, absolutely no skaters in the pipeline (save for Liam..) I see this as the least plausible scenario.

I look over to ANA / SJ and see teams that have amassed a multitude of valuable assets, endured the pain for half a decade and are now set to dominate for a decade...

It's not an easy decision.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

Why do people here think Stuzle would have had the same trajectory in LA?

Because he oozes high end skill and hockey IQ and he's doing on a team worse than the Kings. He's a complete player. QB is far from it.

 

[santiclaws]

People want to "build" around a 30-year-old, very good but not elite, wing? OK

 

[DryKing]

Because he oozes high end skill and hockey IQ and he's doing on a team worse than the Kings. He's a complete player. QB is far from it.

It's silly to think he would have gotten the same opportunity to step right into a L1 position with the Kings. Kings would have slow burned him in the minors and then brought him up to limit him to 8-10 minutes per game. By now, he would be playing full time shifts, but his opportunity to develop would have taken a very different path.

Flip it, and Byfield would have jumped right into key minutes with Ottawa and likely have developed much faster in the process. I wouldn't be surprised had he gotten drafted by Ottawa he'd have already established himself as a regular point per game player.

 

[SirJW]

It's silly to think he would have gotten the same opportunity to step right into a L1 position with the Kings. Kings would have slow burned him in the minors and then brought him up to limit him to 8-10 minutes per game. By now, he would be playing full time shifts, but his opportunity to develop would have taken a very different path.

Flip it, and Byfield would have jumped right into key minutes with Ottawa and likely have developed much faster in the process. I wouldn't be surprised had he gotten drafted by Ottawa he'd have already established himself as a regular point per game player.

This, I was just too lazy to write it.

 

[What party?]

People want to "build" around a 30-year-old, very good but not elite, wing? OK

[Kevyn Adams has entered the chat]

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

I believe QB's game is a better fit on Olympic size ice.

I don't think QB will ever see Olympic size ice.

 

[VCRW]

It's silly to think he would have gotten the same opportunity to step right into a L1 position with the Kings. Kings would have slow burned him in the minors and then brought him up to limit him to 8-10 minutes per game. By now, he would be playing full time shifts, but his opportunity to develop would have taken a very different path.

Flip it, and Byfield would have jumped right into key minutes with Ottawa and likely have developed much faster in the process. I wouldn't be surprised had he gotten drafted by Ottawa he'd have already established himself as a regular point per game player.

LW1 at the time of that draft was Iafallo. Not a huge stretch to think a #2 overall rookie might have beaten him out.

 

[symbology]

Why do people here think Stuzle would have had the same trajectory in LA?

How different would his dev/growth been playing alongside Kopitar for 5 years. He is just finally coming around to being more of a complete player.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

For Kempe’s sake I hope he finishes the season with 50 goals, signs with the Sharks and wins a Cup in 2 seasons.

I thoroughly despise this suggestion, because Kempe has been my favorite King since Jeff Carter left the building. However, I only hate it because of the destination, not the idea itself, and there can be no argument that SJ probably has the richest prospect pool to target. Perhaps if they’d be willing to part with Misa or Will Smith, you might have to consider the return above all else, and just ignore the fact that a former home grown elite talent will be terrorizing us four times a season, for the foreseeable future.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

LW1 at the time of that draft was Iafallo. Not a huge stretch to think a #2 overall rookie might have beaten him out.

Thanks for terrorizing me with the memories of AI as our LW1

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

I thoroughly despise this suggestion, because Kempe has been my favorite King since Jeff Carter left the building. However, I only hate it because of the destination, not the idea itself, and there can be no argument that SJ probably has the richest prospect pool to target. Perhaps if they’d be willing to part with Misa or Will Smith, you might have to consider the return above all else, and just ignore the fact that a former home grown elite talent will be terrorizing us four times a season, for the foreseeable future.

Misa or Smith? You have to be kidding.

But SJ would be a VERY logical trade partner, they have the assets and are rapidly on the rise. Kempe would be a turn key piece for them. Would we do business with SJ? I guess if it's the right deal, Holland probably doesn't give 2 craps...but they are not parting with Smith or Misa.

 

[Bollocks]

So if you think there's no way they part with Misa or Smith for Kempe, what makes you think QB would net 3-4 top prospects?

PS: imagine Will Smith in LA...the media would go crazy.

 

[DryKing]

LW1 at the time of that draft was Iafallo. Not a huge stretch to think a #2 overall rookie might have beaten him out.

Then why didn't Byfield get the chance to do so? Last I checked he was the #2 overall pick and had a ton more skill that Iafallo even on draft day.

The point again is the Kings were not the type to give rookies heavy minutes, or let them step straight to the NHL without first proving themselves in the AHL. Additionally, Iafallo was not on the top line due to skill - it was largely due to his ability to gel with Kopitar.

 

[DryKing]

So if you think there's no way they part with Misa or Smith for Kempe, what makes you think QB would net 3-4 top prospects?

PS: imagine Will Smith in LA...the media would go crazy.

Haha there should be a Will Smith on every LA team.

 

[aragorn]

It might make sense to take 1 or 2 steps back before trying to take steps forward.
Dealing QB + Kempe + Moore + Danault could really jump start a rebuild. We have literally no skating prospects except one kid who could boom or bust. We need to start rebuilding the pipeline.

Wait a minute. I can certainly see the reasoning in taking one or two steps back to take steps forward, but dumping QB + Kempe + Moore + Danault is not taking a step back, it's a dumpster fire. That's a gutting of the team that's like 4 steps back that will take 4-5 years to see if it even worked. There's a lot of guesswork and luck into choosing the replacements and if they will eventually be good fits themselves.

 

[Dr. Tran]

So we have a few losses mixed in with a few wins, and now we’re trading everybody on the team. Right right right.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

Wait a minute. I can certainly see the reasoning in taking one or two steps back to take steps forward, but dumping QB + Kempe + Moore + Danault is not taking a step back, it's a dumpster fire. That's a gutting of the team that's like 4 steps back that will take 4-5 years to see if it even worked. There's a lot of guesswork and luck into choosing the replacements and if they will eventually be good fits themselves.

What is the alternative?

 

[symbology]

It's silly to think he would have gotten the same opportunity to step right into a L1 position with the Kings. Kings would have slow burned him in the minors and then brought him up to limit him to 8-10 minutes per game. By now, he would be playing full time shifts, but his opportunity to develop would have taken a very different path.

Flip it, and Byfield would have jumped right into key minutes with Ottawa and likely have developed much faster in the process. I wouldn't be surprised had he gotten drafted by Ottawa he'd have already established himself as a regular point per game player.

I have to disagree with you here. Most folks were saying that Stutzle was ready to play in the NHL from the get go. Nobody was saying QB was ready. Not sure why it would be "silly" to think Stutzle would have started playing for the Kings right away. Not saying that it was a shoe in, but not a silly thought at all. Both teams were bottom of the league at this time.

NHL . com 2020 Draft analysis

NHL.com analysis: Stuetzle, who is versatile enough to play center or on the wing, has a skill set that some scouts compare to Patrick Kane. He also has the experience of playing against men in the DEL, where was rookie of the year this season. He should be able to step into a significant role for the Senators in 2020-21. Stuetzle matched Leon Draisaitl (2014 NHL Draft, Edmonton Oilers) as the highest-selected Germany-born player.

NHL.com analysis: Byfield is reminiscent of Joe Thornton at the same age: Great size but a bit thin (6-4, 215), top-end playmaking ability and outstanding skating. As Thornton got older and spent time working with NHL strength and conditioning coaches, he got stronger and became dominant, and it's easy to see Byfield doing the same with the Kings.