Correct. It's re-build time, not go for it time.
At age 29, Kempe isn't young enough to last to the next Cup window.
Kempe Contract Watch Thread
- Thread starter LAKingSteve
- Start date
At age 29, Kempe isn't young enough to last to the next Cup window.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
There’s no such thing as a rebuild while Luc is in charge.
symbology
TEAM LGK
It is his way of doing things which caused me to pretty much start to ignore him. Whether he is right or wrong in his view, I just ignore him.
Funny thing is, I have noticed if someone calls him out, or corrects him he disappears from the conversation. Anyway, I recommend to folks just to ignore him and do not strike up a conversation with him.
symbology
TEAM LGK
I can easily see the Kings missing the playoffs this year. The forward depth is better, the D is worse. The biggest factor is the improvement of of the other Pacific and Western Conference teams.
This is not a year to just sit and wait for the playoffs. This will be a battle just to make it.
Clif
Super Star
UT, CAL, and VAN are all 1-2. ANH is 1-1. They will be improved teams when they prove they are improved teams.
Kings were outclassed by COL but mostly they’ve taken too many penalties. It’s a competitive conference. There’s room to fail. But CAL did nothing this offseason and VAN is banking on their team getting along better to succeed. ANH took on old man Kreider. I find some of the talk about how much other teams improved to be unsubstantiated.
Pretty much. Once Dean got the boot, the franchise reverted back to the "old days" of mediocrity
The franchise operates today very similar to how it did when Vachon, Beverley, McMaster, & Taylor ran the show. (other than that one run to the Cup final)
The front office is more interested in a mediocre patchwork team build, that promises a bright future while being competitive in the moment (you can't have both if you want a true winner)....while all the while fleecing the fans for $$$. They avoid a legitimate re-build because they fear the fanbase heading for the exits during the rebuild.
McSorleyFan
3rd Line Winger
The team had the assets for a rebuild with picks and players a few years after the Cup runs under Deano. Didn't really pan out. Mgmt wanted another Cup run for Doughty and Kopi so those assets were either traded or wallowed in the minors and didn't really develop. Then we ran into a strong Edmonton team in the playoffs (now I know how Calgary felt in the 80's). Now we're stuck with what we got. I like QB and Clarke ... and I'm hoping one of those tender prospects turns out (if not 2) ... but, it'll be a LONG time IMO before this team is a legit contender again.
symbology
TEAM LGK
I get it, it is early. However, this is how I see things.
The Kraken are leading the Pacific with a 2-0 record. They made some changes up front, but still have questions in goal. They should be improved.
The Canucks got rid of a team issue when they traded JT Miller last year and added skill and toughness by making a killer trade for Kane. They should be improved.
Sharks and Ducks improved but both teams are still young and have a lot of ground to make up. They should be improved, but not enough. They should take more points away from other Pacific Division teams though.
Flames are burning, this is true.
UT made some moves, but probably is in the same, or worse position than last year. They need some young players to setup up. Cannot say they have improved much.
Top 3 in the Pacific is not as much of a lock for the Kings as in the past few years. IMO. The Central is looking strong again, so the fight for a wildcard spot will be tough.
The chances of Kuemper having another Vezina caliber year are not great. The chances that Forsberg outplays Big Save Dave are pretty good. Goaltending may be similar overall this year for the Kings, that would be great from them. Kings lost Gavrikov, one of the leagues best defensive defensemen last year (per pretty much everyone). Kings gained Cody Ceci who sucks (per pretty much everyone).
BTW, the talk of the Kings being an improved team are as unsubstantiated as any talk about other teams.
santiclaws
I was in the pool!!
Everyone forgets that they gained a healthy Doughty who didn't play at all for most of last season and was nowhere near 100% when he did play. Even at his age he's still a better all-around defenseman than Gavrikov.
This may actually be a decent time to start a nearly complete rebuild--but only if the Kings are out of a playoff spot come the trade deadline. Talk Kopitar into doing the team a solid and accepting a trade at the deadline (same for Perry). Kuzmenko will need to go. Move Drew next year unless he doesn't want to waste next year on a rebuild and he leaves sooner. Also, this or next year for Moore, Danault, Kemper, Foegele, Armia and if Fiala wants out. Of course, not all would happen and they do have a salary floor to worry about. Instead, the Kings will desperately tried to hang on to a spot like a hair on a biscuit.
symbology
TEAM LGK
Kopitar will go play with his buddy Draisitl and win a 3rd cup.
symbology
TEAM LGK
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Axl Rhoadz
3rd Line Winger
Most fans have no clue what a ‘full rebuild’ even means.
Clif
Super Star
Who said the Kings are an improved team? I saw one random account on Twitter claim that in a reply to something Russell said. I’m not exaggerating - it’s the only person I’ve seen say they’re better.
I don’t disagree with your takes on the conference though. As I said there’s room to fail and I don’t at all see a layup to a divisional seed. But I also see the Kings as more capable of pulling that off than the teams who finished below them last season. I’m in the camp that all in all they’re probably as good as last year. And that’s a good team. Though if I had to pick a finishing points total GDT style I’d say 99.
VAN is going to be interesting to watch but if I were a fan of theirs I’d be really disappointed. They lost a lot of points in JT Miller and are now banking on Petterson bouncing back because his feelings won’t be hurt. And yes they brought in Evander Kane - widely revered glue guy : / Also giving up on Dakota Joshua was just short sighted. They could make it because they were still close last year and good the year before. But what they did this summer would not instill any of us with confidence if this were the Kings we were talking about.
You said it’d be a big leap for the Ducks et al and I appreciate that. These teams have so far to go to actually get in - 20 points and above improvements. There is no set schedule for when a rebuild creates a playoff team but to hear people in hockey in general talk about them like it’s time is so lazy to me. Look at DET. Let’s not even talk about BUF.
Pickle_Pucks
Top Forward
I think he's a prime trade asset. His contract + term is suddenly manageable. Vet Dmen with his resume bring historically BIG returns. He'd be incredibly valuable to a contending team as a 1a 1b type guy.
I'm definitely in the panic / burn it down mode...I don't see what we really loose if we get 3-4 solid assets back.
It's just a matter of his NTC which I believe only allows him to block 7 teams...
That would be the first move for me.
Give Ceci his minutes and let's tank it for 3 years. What else is there to do? Hope and prayers?
symbology
TEAM LGK
You must not pay enough attention. Kings management told us they are an improved team.
Kings did make a slight mprovement to the bottom forward group. The D on the other hand.....
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I think the Kings demise is being a bit exaggerated. Am I disappointed with some of the moves we have made(Ceci and Gavrikov) Yes. But I do believe the Kings were good enough to win the cup last year. We had the Oilers on the ropes and if any of 20 separate things goes differently(Byfield clears zone, Poor Challenge, Missing empty nets, Playing the 4th line, Etc) we likely make a run last year. This year has been a disappointing start. But lets calm down a bit and let it play out. In our four games we have played 3 of the top 4 teams in the western conference as well as the Wild who have been one of the better teams in the west 3 of the past four years. Three of the games on the road. We played poorly against the Avs and that happens. Beat VGK on the road, lost by a single goal to a team who went 30-7-4 at home last year, and lost in a shootout to the Wild again on the road. Lets give it a few months before we decide we should cancel the rest of the season.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
It’s not about the Kings demise. It’s about the organization being stuck in neutral unable to take the next step. That’s the frustration. It’s not that the Kings aren’t a playoff team. The Kings are not a contender to win the Cup. They’re perennially a Top 5-8 team in the West.
Agreed.
Stuck in neutral versus deliberately putting the organization in neutral......it's a matter of perspective I guess.
It's a "demise" if you compare it to the Timmy & Deano days of creating and building a SC Contender/Winner.
It's not a "demise" since the Kings are not a draft team year over year.
Danny B is a bean counter.
Timmy was not.
Danny B hires peeps that toe the company line like Luc, Blake, Holland.
All of them tasked with priority #1: Make $$$
Timmy hired peeps that wanted to build a SC Contender.
All of them tasked with priority #1: Make a contender/winner
There is a STARK difference in this organization since the last Cup win.
Since Timmy left in 2013, that started the downward spiral.
Clif
Super Star
Pardon but this is so silly. I love Dean as much as anyone - how can you not? And he did deliver two Cups and he did build probably the best Kings teams we’ll ever see.
However, the team barely made it in in 2012. How many 1 goal games it did it take them to get there? I don’t know what the exact number is, but it could have been as close as 3 goals going the other way and they lose a stretch game or two and boom: they miss the playoffs and Dean is fired.
Three regular season goals separating humiliating failure and ultimate glory. That’s the razor’s edge Dean’s legacy danced on.
The Kings were potentially a Byfield clear away last year from a run to the finals. I am so tired of this yarn that a professional sports organization is content to be good enough to make the playoffs but not be good enough to win a round. It’s freaking absurd, especially since they sold fewer tickets last year.
Winning is a fine line. I’m more pissed at Hiller than I am anyone in the front office.