Confirmed with Link Kings name Holland their 10th GM in History

While I don’t disagree that Gavrikov was real good this past season and we don’t currently have a replacement for him, I get a little worried about the litmus test part of this.
As a FA Gavy will get offers. Would you give him an 7-year deal with a cap hit of 8-9 million?
I wouldn’t, although some could make a compelling argument in favor of that deal.
I would give Gavy a 5-year offer with a cap hit of around 6.5. But is that enough to get him to stay?
Whatever Holland does with Gavrikov isn’t a stand-alone decision. It’s going to be the collection of moves that he makes.
But I do not disagree at all with the premise that Gavy has been an important player for the Kings.
I would give Gavy 6 x $7 million or 7 x $6 million. I might even go up to 7 x $7 million. I wouldn't go higher than that. As great as he is, he's still a defensive defenseman. And they don't get more than that, even with the cap rising.
 
"Fun" thoughts time: Ken gives Gavrikov 8 million for 6 years, Kuzmenko 6 million for 5 years and Kempe 11 for 8 years and trading Greentree, Mikey and a 1st for Morgan Rielly. I consider this scenario much more likely than him pulling 3 great aces out of his sleeves.

I'd LOVE to be wrong though...
So you're mad at him for something that's all in your head?
 
What if at the end of the season Hiller admitted to his mistakes and said he learned from them and would not react in the same way next time. Why fire him? He has improved this team since he took over as the HC. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt, IMO.
I dunno, it seems like the old "give the guy the benefit of the doubt" has been what quite a few kings fans have done for years with Rob as GM, and his coach roulette.

IMHO the Kings need to start with clean, fresh eyes. New GM with his own pick for a coach and system.

The "benefit of the doubt" strategy IMHO is what got the Kings 1 round and out for years now.

Time to change.
 
Hiller gets one more year, then gets washed if we don’t advance.

Priority 1 is Gavy. Beyond that, plugging hole on 1st line, finding a replacement for Kopitar, upgrading Spence, and filling out the 4th line with the right players.

Speed in the back end is less
Important than being physical and defending.
 
Organization reached a new low.

My guess is part of being hired was AEG stating that they are not willing to pay for yet another coach after going through Blake's coach roulette.

I guess Holland will be a company man just like Luc.

I dunno, it seems like the old "give the guy the benefit of the doubt" has been what quite a few kings fans have done for years with Rob as GM, and his coach roulette.

IMHO the Kings need to start with clean, fresh eyes. New GM with his own pick for a coach and system.

The "benefit of the doubt" strategy IMHO is what got the Kings 1 round and out for years now.

Time to change.
I would have cleaned house also. President, GM, and without question the coach. In fact, I would pass the C to Kempe or Mikey next year as well. Kopitar is my all-time favorite King, but he should have the A and not the C.
 
I would have cleaned house also. President, GM, and without question the coach. In fact, I would pass the C to Kempe or Mikey next year as well. Kopitar is my all-time favorite King, but he should have the A and not the C.
Kopi has one season left, let him pass it along after next season.
 
I like the hire. I don't love keeping Hiller, but I do trust KH to pull the trigger if there are signs of trouble. I was impressed that he fired Woodcroft so quickly, even though he had done some good things. It wasn't good enough so he made a change that has worked.

As for those guessing what he's going to do and getting mad about it... maybe wait and see what he actually does? Crazy thought, I know.
 
I like the hire. I don't love keeping Hiller, but I do trust KH to pull the trigger if there are signs of trouble. I was impressed that he fired Woodcroft so quickly, even though he had done some good things. It wasn't good enough so he made a change that has worked.

As for those guessing what he's going to do and getting mad about it... maybe wait and see what he actually does? Crazy thought, I know.
He waited as long as he could with Woodcroft. They lost in the SCF in Game 7.

And the reality is, changing the coach mid season works. Teams have proven to not only go deep, but win after they make an in season coaching change. Not just with us, but going all the way back to Robinson in New Jersey in the 90s.
 
Hiller gets one more year, then gets washed if we don’t advance.
Though I didn’t believe a word they said, the players showed great respect and support by not throwing Hiller under the bus for his horrendous playoff strategies. And by taking the blame for losing the first round series, the team showed a strong tight room. For those reasons, I would give him one more year… but on a short leash.
 
I don't know why anyone would be so negative about the hiring & the press conference. Unless it's that you favored another GM candidate.

It's too soon to judge Ken the GM. It's not too soon to judge the guy who hired him and his motives, however, since I don't think this team is in a good situation to hire a win-now GM.

I'm not sure who decides what kind of direction this team will follow, maybe it's someone above Luc to blame more than him...I usually say "upper management". Whatever/whoever that is...

So you're mad at him for something that's all in your head?

Why do people translate "I have doubts about this hire and I'm concerned for this team's future" into "I'm mad at him"?

As I wrote - I consider that scenario considerably more likely than a stroke of genius that would make this team into an actual Cup contender. Which should be the ultimate goal of a win-now hire.


Everything in this thread is all about predictions, ideas about potential moves and gut feelings based on his history, which is 180° different in case of Detroit and 90° different in case of Edmonton, so his past success is debatable how it will translate to this tenure. Some of you are optimistic, some of us are more pessimistic about predictions. Once he gets to work I will be immediately more optimistic if he starts out well.

This is what this thread is all about. If this thread should only be about facts about his work, let's copy and paste his resume in it and close it for discussion.
 
It's too soon to judge Ken the GM. It's not too soon to judge the guy who hired him and his motives, however, since I don't think this team is in a good situation to hire a win-now GM.

I'm not sure who decides what kind of direction this team will follow, maybe it's someone above Luc to blame more than him...I usually say "upper management". Whatever/whoever that is...



Why do people translate "I have doubts about this hire and I'm concerned for this team's future" into "I'm mad at him"?

As I wrote - I consider that scenario considerably more likely than a stroke of genius that would make this team into an actual Cup contender. Which should be the ultimate goal of a win-now hire.


Everything in this thread is all about predictions, ideas about potential moves and gut feelings based on his history, which is 180° different in case of Detroit and 90° different in case of Edmonton, so his past success is debatable how it will translate to this tenure. Some of you are optimistic, some of us are more pessimistic about predictions. Once he gets to work I will be immediately more optimistic if he starts out well.

This is what this thread is all about. If this thread should only be about facts about his work, let's copy and paste his resume in it and close it for discussion.
I don’t see how this team is not in a win now mode. We had 105 points, 2nd in the Pacific & 6th overall. And it’s likely Kopitar’s last year. That matters.

And you made up a scenario where he overpays everyone & trades away our best young prospects for a mid player. Maybe that’s not mad. Maybe it’s overly pessimistic & seeing the worst of someone before it even happens. And I did say he won’t be judged on what he says but rather what he does.
 
I would give Gavy 6 x $7 million or 7 x $6 million. I might even go up to 7 x $7 million. I wouldn't go higher than that. As great as he is, he's still a defensive defenseman. And they don't get more than that, even with the cap rising.

Gavy way walk. As good as Gavy is, he is a redundant piece on the left. There are those among us who have been asking for more mobility from the D especially on the left side. Gavy is not that player. Gavy for all the things that he does well, is not great at exiting the zone. It is hard to get up the ice with speed if you struggle to get out of your own zone.

I would much prefer Gavy over Edmundson, both the hand that Blake delt may see us loose Gavy, depending on how KH feels on the subject.
 
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Hiller gets one more year, then gets washed if we don’t advance.

Priority 1 is Gavy. Beyond that, plugging hole on 1st line, finding a replacement for Kopitar, upgrading Spence, and filling out the 4th line with the right players.

Speed in the back end is less
Important than being physical and defending.
I agree with this, but it is not only about speed on the back end. The ability to quickly move the puck up out of the zone is critical and this team is not great at that, especially on the left side.
 
I agree with this, but it is not only about speed on the back end. The ability to quickly move the puck up out of the zone is critical and this team is not great at that, especially on the left side.
Agreed. This team couldn't effectively break out of their own zone. That to me was the the single biggest factor in yet another early exit in the playoffs.
 
Gavy way walk. As good as Gavy is, he is a redundant piece on the left. There are those among us who have been asking for more mobility from the D especially on the left side. Gavy is not that player. Gavy for all the things that he does well, is not great at exiting the zone. It is hard to get up the ice with speed if you struggle to get out of your own zone.

I would much prefer Gavy over Edmundson, both the hand that Blake delt may see us loose Gavy, depending on how KH feels on the subject.
And replace him with whom? A mobile defenseman who can pass and actually defend? That's basically an upper tier 1D. Where are you going to get one?
 
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