Ken Holland Press Conference

[King of Pentacle5]

This is a big problem with Drai, on Edmonton, as well. While McDavid has been willing to take less to improve the roster, Drai continues to want top dollar.

Just can't build a lasting dynasty that way.

On the flip side, look at Colorado and the willingness for several of their core players to take less.

The 2012-2014 Kings were also all on reasonable contracts. That’s how Dean was able to afford Kopi, Richards, Carter, Brown, DD, Greene, etc. A winning team with talent spread across all lines is a team with reasonable contracts.

 

[symbology]

This is a big problem with Drai, on Edmonton, as well. While McDavid has been willing to take less to improve the roster, Drai continues to want top dollar.

Just can't build a lasting dynasty that way.

On the flip side, look at Colorado and the willingness for several of their core players to take less.

And the Panthers.

 

[symbology]

Got it, he’s not the best dman on the team….in fact every team has one of em. He also plays PK and not PP…gee, wonder if that contributed to +/-.

The $$$ is a different story, blame Holland….but Ceci’s play is far from the biggest problems this team has today.

LOL, um, when on the PK or the PP points do not count towards a players +/-.

Ceci was brought in to help the PK. It unfortunately was the worst it has been in a long time. Yes, the money for Ceci sucks as well. It is all negative with Ceci and that is on Hiller and/or Holland.

 

[VCRW]

LOL, um, when on the PK or the PP points do not count towards a players +/-.

Ceci was brought in to help the PK. It unfortunately was the worst it has been in a long time. Yes, the money for Ceci sucks as well. It is all negative with Ceci and that is on Hiller and/or Holland.

I smell a buyout. They would have the cap space to do it if they don’t plan to target elite players at 1C and LD1.

Buyout Cap Hit Breakdown

A buyout would significantly alter the team's salary cap situation for the next six seasons but may be worth it in the era of the rising cap.

• 2026-27: $3,562,500 (Savings of $937,500)
• 2027-28: $2,562,500 (Savings of $1,937,500)
• 2028-29: $1,062,500 (Savings of $3,437,500)
• 2029-32 (3 years): $1,062,500 annual "dead money" cap penalty

 

[Statue4Deano]

I smell a buyout. They would have the cap space to do it if they don’t plan to target elite players at 1C and LD1.

Buyout Cap Hit Breakdown

A buyout would significantly alter the team's salary cap situation for the next six seasons but may be worth it in the era of the rising cap.

• 2026-27: $3,562,500 (Savings of $937,500)
• 2027-28: $2,562,500 (Savings of $1,937,500)
• 2028-29: $1,062,500 (Savings of $3,437,500)
• 2029-32 (3 years): $1,062,500 annual "dead money" cap penalty

Buyout is almost certainly in his future but I believe it won’t be an option until next offseason.

Savings/Penalty
27-28 1.75M
28-29 3.25M
29-30 -1.25M
30-31 -1.25M

 

[Ice Rhino]

Got it, he’s not the best dman on the team….in fact every team has one of em. He also plays PK and not PP…gee, wonder if that contributed to +/-.

The $$$ is a different story, blame Holland….but Ceci’s play is far from the biggest problems this team has today.

The kings defense is one of the slowest and least mobile in the league. Our numbers completely tanked from the prior year. We have one mobile puck carrying defenseman.

The effect this has on overall offense is tremendous.

I'm curious what problems you see the Kings having that are "far" bigger than Ceci, the epitome of what I described. I find him easily the worst player on the roster, and one of the worst defensemen in the league.

 

[hokiecat]

Buyout could be the plan but I think part of the reason KH signed the 2 old men was because the pipeline was so bare. He figured he'd nail down the 3rd pair for 3 years and then would only have to worry about Drew retiring.

 

[dannybuoy1]

Holland's moves this past season reduced the Kings point totals by 15 points and I believe 13 wins. I hope Fiala can come back and save the organization. I also believe that QB will be a + on the 1st line. I like his speed. I do agree with Waynet about getting the pucks out of the zone. If that doesn't change, the Kings will struggle terribly.

I will say this. As much as the team had issues this year, imagine if they won half or 3/4 of those OT games this year or did not give up their 3rd period leads that led to OT. This is an absolute different team we are talking about not just here, but nationally.

Which of course would they have lost in the 1st round.

Its like last year at this time and for somebody who hates this team, they need the right tinkering and Holland knows it.

They need on D. A 1c or 2c and/or one dude that is a god damn difference maker on this team. We have not had one in 10 years and that includes Kopi.

 

[The Nuts]

I get the hate for DD but he is still a top defensive damn, especially with MA.
Clarke is the got to go for offensive situations already as Ken said.

I'm willing to take that bet.


Naming Doughty as Captain means he will put his full force behind trying to win the Cup before he retires at the expense of trading away all of our young roster players, prospects and future picks over the next few years (essentially leaving the cupboards bare upon his retirement).

This does not match your prediction of the Kings missing the playoffs the next 7 years.

One more year at 11 mil, I would sign him if he signs a fair comparable looking ahead to anticipated slow down.
Either way you make him the C , we need to try a different type of guy that might start bitching if guys are not playing right.
Kens shown he is not mortgaging the future for a band aid.
He refuses trades for Q and Clarke.
Unless the Kings show themselves to be a contender, he won't dump assets.
Not Ken fault Gav left and Spence demanded a trade.
Had to sign who would sign.
I like his signings except Ceci.
QB is gonna be 1c he said.
So in my mind he goes after the best possible 2c.
Money left he tries for 3c.
If not Laf an Turc are 2 and 3C.

 

[DryKing]

I get the hate for DD but he is still a top defensive damn, especially with MA.
Clarke is the got to go for offensive situations already as Ken said.


One more year at 11 mil, I would sign him if he signs a fair comparable looking ahead to anticipated slow down.
Either way you make him the C , we need to try a different type of guy that might start bitching if guys are not playing right.
Kens shown he is not mortgaging the future for a band aid.
He refuses trades for Q and Clarke.
Unless the Kings show themselves to be a contender, he won't dump assets.
Not Ken fault Gav left and Spence demanded a trade.
Had to sign who would sign.
I like his signings except Ceci.
QB is gonna be 1c he said.
So in my mind he goes after the best possible 2c.
Money left he tries for 3c.
If not Laf an Turc are 2 and 3C.

Looking at the FA list, there isn't much out there at Center and maybe only a handful of UFAs who would be an upgrade over Laf/Turc (Laughton appears to be one of the best out of them so I'm sure his agent will be fielding above market offers). The RFA list has some good talent (Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Krebs, etc).

I'd love to see Holland take a swing at a player like Fantilli but I'm not sure it's wise to get into the UFA game. All the same, it worked out pretty well for STL.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The kings defense is one of the slowest and least mobile in the league. Our numbers completely tanked from the prior year. We have one mobile puck carrying defenseman.

The effect this has on overall offense is tremendous.

I'm curious what problems you see the Kings having that are "far" bigger than Ceci, the epitome of what I described. I find him easily the worst player on the roster, and one of the worst defensemen in the league.

The Kings ability to score goals regressed considerably, leading to trades of guys like Danault and Foegle. Byfield was a massive disappointment in first 60 games…

Sorry, you’re not going to convince that Spence would have fixed all that.

 

[symbology]

The Kings ability to score goals regressed considerably, leading to trades of guys like Danault and Foegle. Byfield was a massive disappointment in first 60 games…

Sorry, you’re not going to convince that Spence would have fixed all that.

You did not really answer Rhino's question and nobody is saying that Spence would have "fixed all that".

Consider this.... Over this season Spence was 12th in scoring for the Senators and would have been 9th on the Kings. He was 4th in +/- on the Sens and would have been 2nd on the Kings. Yes, different teams. Many folks remember Spence's last season as a King where Hiller was able to crush his confidence and never give me a chance to get it back. Spence is a better player than that. In 23-24 Spence was 10th on the team in scoring and 12th in +/-, all the while playing with Andreas Englund.

This past year Edmundson was 2nd on the Kings in +/- and Clarke was 4th. The pair defends well and Clarke helps generate offense by helping get the puck up the ice quickly. Once inside the blueline he is able to make plays/passes that help the offense. Spence would have helped the team with that as well. Spence was a young D and did get out-muscled at times. Ceci is older, slower and often had his head up his "backside" and was out of position. Ceci's mistakes over the past years were more frequent than Spence getting run over. Overall Ceci was a significant step backwards compared to Spence.

The big selling point for Ceci was helping on the PK. Well, 30th in the league says the purchase was a waste of $.

Spence over Ceci would have made a difference for the Kings this year IMO. Especially after DJ took over and they put Greene behind the bench.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Buyout could be the plan but I think part of the reason KH signed the 2 old men was because the pipeline was so bare. He figured he'd nail down the 3rd pair for 3 years and then would only have to worry about Drew retiring.

It’s very possible this was his plan but it’s such a bad idea that I sincerely hope it wasn’t. Clogging the 3rd pairing with old, slow vets creates a log jam for the next wave of young Dmen.

Best example of is someone like Alec Martinez. He was given 3rd pairing minutes and rotated in and out the press box after getting the up and down treatment for several seasons. He grew into what I would argue is the ideal 3rd pairing Dman role.

More recently we’ve seen it done with Matt Roy and Jordan Spence. If there were expensive vets on long term deals slotted for that 3rd pairing it’s going to be a very long shot for a low pedigree late round pick to get the edge when we’ve seen it time and time again that head coaches will default to playing veterans over young talent.

 

[Clif]

Went as expected.

You did not really answer Rhino's question and nobody is saying that Spence would have "fixed all that".

Consider this.... Over this season Spence was 12th in scoring for the Senators and would have been 9th on the Kings. He was 4th in +/- on the Sens and would have been 2nd on the Kings. Yes, different teams. Many folks remember Spence's last season as a King where Hiller was able to crush his confidence and never give me a chance to get it back. Spence is a better player than that. In 23-24 Spence was 10th on the team in scoring and 12th in +/-, all the while playing with Andreas Englund.

This past year Edmundson was 2nd on the Kings in +/- and Clarke was 4th. The pair defends well and Clarke helps generate offense by helping get the puck up the ice quickly. Once inside the blueline he is able to make plays/passes that help the offense. Spence would have helped the team with that as well. Spence was a young D and did get out-muscled at times. Ceci is older, slower and often had his head up his "backside" and was out of position. Ceci's mistakes over the past years were more frequent than Spence getting run over. Overall Ceci was a significant step backwards compared to Spence.

The big selling point for Ceci was helping on the PK. Well, 30th in the league says the purchase was a waste of $.

Spence over Ceci would have made a difference for the Kings this year IMO. Especially after DJ took over and they put Greene behind the bench.

There is no perfect player and everyone has flaws. Spence had a bad first half last year but he really settled once paired with Moverare. Still, getting knocked around in the 2 minutes he got in game 2 last season becomes shorthand for not an effective player for critics.

Before him Durzi and his 49 points, ultimate team guy intangibles and much needed sandpaper was dismissed because of his giveaways. And some of those giveaways were quite glaring, but who here wouldn’t gladly welcome Durzi back to this team today?

Ceci is so bad there’s not even anything positive to say about him unlike the flawed puck movers this team has lost for nothing. He’s gotta be the worst UFA dman signed here since Tom Preissing (sp?) except that contract wasn’t nearly as much of an anchor.

 

[Birdman]

Summer of 2028 people. Book it.

Try to make the playoffs until then, draft well, don’t be complete morons in FA

 

[Bollocks]

Ken's ego could well prevent the necessary moves this team needs in order to improve...if that's even possible after Kopitar retiring. Sure, he really showed his age this season, especially later on, but still...

 

[Ice Rhino]

The Kings ability to score goals regressed considerably, leading to trades of guys like Danault and Foegle. Byfield was a massive disappointment in first 60 games…

Sorry, you’re not going to convince that Spence would have fixed all that.

Hey, I appreciate the discussion. One of the points I'm making is that our ability to score goals is a direct reflection of our lack of puck moving defensemen. Is that the only reason? Of course not. Coaching, players, style of play, etc. It all plays a role. I do consider it a major part of our scoring woes, however.

Would Spence have 'fixed' our scoring? Who knows? I believe having a more mobile defense would have helped, though.

The only area I feel needs equal or greater addressing than our defense is acquiring a 1st or 2nd line center. That's it. Other than that, we need to find a way to escape these albatross defense signings in order to move into the modern NHL, and Ceci is the worst of the bunch.

Again, do you feel there is any greater need than one or both of the above?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Summer of 2028 people. Book it.

Try to make the playoffs until then, draft well, don’t be complete morons in FA

McDavid will be going to a team that has a very good chance to win. He’d sign with the ducks before the Kings.

 

[The Nuts]

Looking at the FA list, there isn't much out there at Center and maybe only a handful of UFAs who would be an upgrade over Laf/Turc (Laughton appears to be one of the best out of them so I'm sure his agent will be fielding above market offers). The RFA list has some good talent (Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Krebs, etc).

I'd love to see Holland take a swing at a player like Fantilli but I'm not sure it's wise to get into the UFA game. All the same, it worked out pretty well for STL.

We don't have the assets for a trade if Holland is holding Laf, Q and Clarke, which he should continue to do.
You can see why it's wait and see if you can get UFA C or its fall back on what you have.

You did not really answer Rhino's question and nobody is saying that Spence would have "fixed all that".

Consider this.... Over this season Spence was 12th in scoring for the Senators and would have been 9th on the Kings. He was 4th in +/- on the Sens and would have been 2nd on the Kings. Yes, different teams. Many folks remember Spence's last season as a King where Hiller was able to crush his confidence and never give me a chance to get it back. Spence is a better player than that. In 23-24 Spence was 10th on the team in scoring and 12th in +/-, all the while playing with Andreas Englund.

This past year Edmundson was 2nd on the Kings in +/- and Clarke was 4th. The pair defends well and Clarke helps generate offense by helping get the puck up the ice quickly. Once inside the blueline he is able to make plays/passes that help the offense. Spence would have helped the team with that as well. Spence was a young D and did get out-muscled at times. Ceci is older, slower and often had his head up his "backside" and was out of position. Ceci's mistakes over the past years were more frequent than Spence getting run over. Overall Ceci was a significant step backwards compared to Spence.

The big selling point for Ceci was helping on the PK. Well, 30th in the league says the purchase was a waste of $.

Spence over Ceci would have made a difference for the Kings this year IMO. Especially after DJ took over and they put Greene behind the bench.

Spence don't like Hiller's use of him and requested a trade.
No point in discussing further, once Holland decided to go with Hiller which was practically mandatory after a 105 point season and being 29 seconds away from putting Edmonton on the brink a couple playoffs ago.

 

[Halfwall]

McDavid will be going to a team that has a very good chance to win. He’d sign with the ducks before the Kings.

The Ducks would be crazy to give up their young talent for McDavid who turns 30 next year.