Statue4Deano
Super Star
Mikko Ratanen is potentially a free agent this summer. 28 years old. Two 100 point seasons on pace for his 3rd this season. Stanley Cup winner. He should be target number 1. I would give him literally any number he wants.
***LA Kings @ Edmonton Oilers GDT 1/13/25 6:30pm on FanDuel***
- Thread starter Nyssa42
- Start date
Congratulations to Nyssa for shutting all of us out just like the Oilers did to the kings, nobody guessed 3 points.
Not sure what to say to a game like this, they brought it in the first and deserved better than a 0-0 first intermission. Held Edmonton to 0'fer on their PP. Losing on a 4v4 sequence where arguably our slowest D-man is in deep forechecking during a line change....well I'm not sure Hiller had ever covered that scenario, but its up to him to determine just how likely that is a detail that needs attention. They threw the house at them on the road and it shows the most in Mikey and Gav's deployment. Not sure who else saw Q as the leading forward with ice time but I will say THANK f***ING GOD he was. He looked like the only one capable of out playing their dynamic duo. Not how excited I was that Fiala played only 1 second less than him. Also not sure how I feel about Laff being benched for dropping McDavid. (Shift chart here ShiftChart - Hockey Shift Data Visualization)
Not sure what to say to a game like this, they brought it in the first and deserved better than a 0-0 first intermission. Held Edmonton to 0'fer on their PP. Losing on a 4v4 sequence where arguably our slowest D-man is in deep forechecking during a line change....well I'm not sure Hiller had ever covered that scenario, but its up to him to determine just how likely that is a detail that needs attention. They threw the house at them on the road and it shows the most in Mikey and Gav's deployment. Not sure who else saw Q as the leading forward with ice time but I will say THANK f***ING GOD he was. He looked like the only one capable of out playing their dynamic duo. Not how excited I was that Fiala played only 1 second less than him. Also not sure how I feel about Laff being benched for dropping McDavid. (Shift chart here ShiftChart - Hockey Shift Data Visualization)
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
I just don't think Kopi and Kempe can drag this team behind them all season. I am glad Byfield seems to be developing as a 2 way player quite well, but we need goals, obviously. I do not understand benching Laffy, I thought flipping McD was brilliant, and playing Lewis out there while running 3 lines was just frustrating. I mean did Turcotte even play in the 3rd? Playing a guy with 7 points over a guy with 26 for some kind of lesson I guess - whatever, the Oilers gonna draw penalties either way. Might as well get one for flipping a guy. I get moore and moore frustrated watching Moore and Danault play - what happened to those 2.. Danault can at least play defense but.. again, GOALS. I'd not be surprised if they can somehow move Doughty and the last two to anyone for a goal scorer. I wish we could move Fiala because damn he sucks this year.. -10 at 40gp, the closest at 40gp is Danault at +5.. just brutal liability - and I liked him a lot last year.
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Hiller was pretty clear about eliminating needless penalties and to that degree I get benching Laf for a retaliation penalty. I mean if he got 2 for slashing we'd all be bitching about him being selfish like Fiala was earlier this year. The only reason we as fans like it was he physically picked McDavid up and dropped him. So from that standpoint I get Hiller sitting Laff, he's focused on the team not backsliding on needless penalties. Lets face it the team isn't equipped to go play goon style hockey, it's probably the right call going forward. I kinda hope Hiller was like James Gammon in Major league talking to Wesley Snipes "Great catch, don't ever f***ing do it again".
DryKing
Power Forward
Agreed. Question is, would you need to trade Doughty in order to do it? Otherwise where would the cap space come from? We could also get there by trading Fiala and not re-signing Gav potentially. Out of our upcoming RFA/UFAs only Laf is due to a significant pay raise. Between the options, I'd look to move Doughty.
We have also seen a history of top players in Colorado re-signing at a home town discount to stay with the team. I wouldn't be surpised to see a deal done before Rantanen becomes a UFA, but he's exactly the type of player we need.
ICE24
Super Star
The Kings did not do enough to win a game. I am not blaming any one player because the Kings had 60 minutes to score, and they failed to do so. The Oilers will score eventually. Teams get in slumps and quite frankly, most of us thought the swoon would happen sooner in the season.
There is no need to panic, as any trade or acquisition will not take them to the promise land this season. Quite honestly, I did not expect them to be in 3rd place at this point of the season. I'm enjoying the ride right now.
There is no need to panic, as any trade or acquisition will not take them to the promise land this season. Quite honestly, I did not expect them to be in 3rd place at this point of the season. I'm enjoying the ride right now.
Clif
Super Star
Limiting the Oilers to 1 goal should be cause for celebration.
It’s necessary to push back on the Oilers, but that looks much more like Game 4 last year than it does dropping McDavid as Laf did. But yes I loved it. I loved it so much it’s almost worth the loss. And yet, seems McDavid didn’t care at all given he went right out and scored. So I’d have to say Hiller was right. Kings also got outhit last night. I miss Helenius.
It’s necessary to push back on the Oilers, but that looks much more like Game 4 last year than it does dropping McDavid as Laf did. But yes I loved it. I loved it so much it’s almost worth the loss. And yet, seems McDavid didn’t care at all given he went right out and scored. So I’d have to say Hiller was right. Kings also got outhit last night. I miss Helenius.
Has there been any word he might go to market?
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Salary cap is going up to a minimum of 92.5M.
I would love to move on from Fiala. Unfortunately has a NMC through 25-26. Then it turns into a 10 team NTC. Trading Moore’s 4M should be easy enough. So there would be enough money for Ratanen but probably not enough for Gavrikov. I can live with that trade off.
JayWells24
Top Forward
Moore was horrible last night and looked like a fool on the Edm goal. I wouldn't have a problem with moving on from him. Danault, Jeannot, Fiala, etc all invisible again. Hard to believe giving up 4 goals in 3 games has resulted in 2 losses on this road trip, but that is where we are. Hopefully the boys can battle back in the final 2 games and bring back some wins. An offensive outburst is due.
Go Kings!!
Go Kings!!
Rog or Reg?
Super Star
Just got back from Phoenix. Long drive, great game! About 50/50 Vikings/Rams fans.
So, the Kings held Edmonton to one goal and still managed to lose? Brutal.
So, the Kings held Edmonton to one goal and still managed to lose? Brutal.
VCRW
Classic player
Doughty should have been traded 3 years ago when he was bitching to Blake about the rebuild. Trading him then would have brought back a massive haul in players, prospects and/or picks. Instead, Blake gave into Kopi and Drew, and opted to re-tool. We have all seen how that has turned out. Sadly, it seems this team will remain a pretender, and not a contender. Trading Doughty now still makes sense, but the return will be diminished from what could have been realized in 2021.
DryKing
Power Forward
Maybe there is a deal to be had with NYR. Not sure anyone would be willing to trade for Drew, though, without the Kings retaining salary.
When you take into account that Spence is 23 years old, has 2 goals, 13 points, and is a +10 all for a low cap hit of 1.5m, I'll take that all day long.
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
He’s likely going to command 12 million per, for 7 seasons. Would you do a sign and trade with Colorado, that sent Byfield and Moore back the other direction?
DryKing
Power Forward
I agree with you that we need a puck moving defenseman, but between Doughty (once he returns) and Clarke we should be in decent shape. Come playoff time, though, I feel the D is still undersized.
I get it with Spence. The two big things I see with him are: getting out-muscled on the puck / in the crease and not being able to finish checks due to size/weight. I think with experience, and some additional weight, he will be a very good defenseman for the length of his career.
I used to get on Modry during their first stint with the Kings, but when he came back to the team, later in his career, he was a very effective defenseman who could be trusted in any situation. I see Spence in this mold, but likely even better. The intangibles he has are pretty stellar.
