Marner Watch

[AngelEyes]

This.

The Oilers are two players and a bunch of spare parts. They have to overplay those two players, and the handful in the next tier, and that wears them out. McDrai does not have their usual jump this late in the playoffs and in this series. The playoff TOI tells the tale. The Panthers are rolling 4 lines, and are playing their top players an average of 4 minutes per game less than the Oilers top 6.

I’d argue that the Doughty and Kopitar contracts hamstrung us the last 10 years.

Basically, we should avoid 8 figure contracts.

Would you rather pay Marner, or use that money on Gavrikov, and 2 Warren Foegle’s?

Don't forget that you have to put butts in seats. Neither Gavrikov nor 2, 3, or 4 Foegles do that. Bottom line for Anschutz is exciting successful regular season and one round of playoffs.

 

[VCRW]

Brad Richards would’ve been interesting. No Mike Richards trade but Brad was the better player and we keep Simmonds and Schenn to either use in other deals or to help with forward depth.

Mike was acquired because he was a winner - and did so at every level. He was put on the team to teach the homegrown players how to win. To “take responsibility for winning “ as Lombardi loved to say. #10 soon became the conscience of the team. Every player had to look him in the eye right before taking to the ice. Brad Richards was very talented but not the kind of guy to push the Kings up the hill and over the top the way Mike, Stoll and Greene did. No Mike Richards = no Stanley Cups.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Mike was acquired because he was a winner - and did so at every level. He was put on the team to teach the homegrown players how to win. To “take responsibility for winning “ as Lombardi loved to say. #10 soon became the conscience of the team. Every player had to look him in the eye right before taking to the ice. Brad Richards was very talented but not the kind of guy to push the Kings up the hill and over the top the way Mike, Stoll and Greene did. No Mike Richards = no Stanley Cups.

I think it’s true to claim Mike Richards impacted the team, culture and locker room. And it’s true to include Stoll & Greene.
But it’s also Justin Williams, Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown (who was a Captain who never imo got the credit deserved). There were a lot of guys from those championship teams who were winners.

 

[Halfwall]

I think it’s true to claim Mike Richards impacted the team, culture and locker room. And it’s true to include Stoll & Greene.
But it’s also Justin Williams, Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown (who was a Captain who never imo got the credit deserved). There were a lot of guys from those championship teams who were winners.

The true impact player to the cups was Carter. Richards really had little impact (the kings were heading out of the playoffs with the leagues worst offense until Carter was acquired). If people want to credit Carter's contribution to Richards being on the team--sure.

 

[hokiecat]

Since Florida have players like Bobrovsky, Barkov, Reinhart, Bennett, Thachuk, Ekblad, Forsling, Jones and Marchand can you please help me understand which of these are the 3 good players and which are just spare parts?

Because I would love if Kings had ”spare parts” like that!

Yes, Florida struck gold getting Forsling via waivers but we could have got him for free too, but we didn’t. And Zito really have proved he’s a GM wizard trading for Reinhart, Bennett, Thachuk, Verhaeghe, Jones, Mikkola and Marchand! That’s undeniably some extremely good asset management!

Exactly! Florida goes about 8 players deep with legit players compared to Edmonton's big 3. Even with Tkachuk banged up, they've still got top guys. You forgot Lundell who is pretty much Baby Barkov. A Verhaeghe is a 2-time Cup winner who historically has scored big OT game winners. He hasn't done that this playoffs so Florida has to settle for only his 3 GWG.

Zito has done an amazing job. I still wish the Kings would have gotten Reinhart. I thought we could have gotten it done but Levi was someone Buffalo wanted along with the first round pick. The ability of the Panthers staff to get defenseman after defenseman is amazing. They turned Montour into a star, rescued OEL from the scrap heap and then did replaced his bargain contract with with Schmidt this year.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Mike was acquired because he was a winner - and did so at every level. He was put on the team to teach the homegrown players how to win. To “take responsibility for winning “ as Lombardi loved to say. #10 soon became the conscience of the team. Every player had to look him in the eye right before taking to the ice. Brad Richards was very talented but not the kind of guy to push the Kings up the hill and over the top the way Mike, Stoll and Greene did. No Mike Richards = no Stanley Cups.

I don’t disagree about Mike Richards but let’s not forget who Brad Richards was as a player. He was also a winner. Won the Q Cup, the Memorial Cup, 2004 World Cup Gold Medal and 2 Stanley Cups. He carried the Lightning on his back to their first Cup in 2004. He led the team in points and tied for the team lead in goals. He still holds the NHL record for most GWG in a single postseason with 7. He won the Conn Smythe for good reason. The guy was considered a leader on every team he played. In fact his leadership and professionalism off the ice were two of the primary reasons Lombardi went all out for him as a free agent. Was he a better leader than Mike Richards? Not sure how anyone could quantify that. Maybe not?

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Kings could’ve won the Cup with Brad Richards. The guy was a great player. Hell he helped the Rangers get to the Finals in 2014…

 

[VCRW]

I think it’s true to claim Mike Richards impacted the team, culture and locker room. And it’s true to include Stoll & Greene.
But it’s also Justin Williams, Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown (who was a Captain who never imo got the credit deserved). There were a lot of guys from those championship teams who were winners.

I agree about Stick (and Willie Mitchell), but as Lombardi himself often said, Quick and Brown also needed lessons in winning from outside the group of players drafted by the Kings.

 

[VCRW]

I don’t disagree about Mike Richards but let’s not forget who Brad Richards was as a player. He was also a winner. Won the Q Cup, the Memorial Cup, 2004 World Cup Gold Medal and 2 Stanley Cups. He carried the Lightning on his back to their first Cup in 2004. He led the team in points and tied for the team lead in goals. He still holds the NHL record for most GWG in a single postseason with 7. He won the Conn Smythe for good reason. The guy was considered a leader on every team he played. In fact his leadership and professionalism off the ice were two of the primary reasons Lombardi went all out for him as a free agent. Was he a better leader than Mike Richards? Not sure how anyone could quantify that. Maybe not?

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Kings could’ve won the Cup with Brad Richards. The guy was a great player. Hell he helped the Rangers get to the Finals in 2014…

Absolutely agree he was a great player. Disagree that he was the right player for that particular Kings roster.

 

[symbology]

This.

The Oilers are two players and a bunch of spare parts. They have to overplay those two players, and the handful in the next tier, and that wears them out. McDrai does not have their usual jump this late in the playoffs and in this series. The playoff TOI tells the tale. The Panthers are rolling 4 lines, and are playing their top players an average of 4 minutes per game less than the Oilers top 6.

I’d argue that the Doughty and Kopitar contracts hamstrung us the last 10 years.

Basically, we should avoid 8 figure contracts.

Would you rather pay Marner, or use that money on Gavrikov, and 2 Warren Foegle’s?

The lightning were two offensive players and a bunch of spare parts. Having that 100+ point Stamkos guy really ruined that team. That Kucherov guy also impacted their ability to go on deep runs in the playoffs. Without those two guys I am sure sure that the Bolts could have won some cups and make the finals 3 years in a row.

That being said, I am not sold on the Idea that a $14mil+ Marner is THE answer. I am also not sold on the idea that signing him to a contract like that means the team will not win the cup for 7-8 years.

The Kings have many needs, IMO.

The Panthers are able to get the puck out of their zone and down ice to start their forecheck. Something that the Kings were not able to consistently do. Now, IMO, and just throwing this out there.... I would say the Kings overall rate a 4 out of 10 for having mobile D that can quickly move the puck out of the zone. The Panthers are more like 7-10. Even the big Niko Mikkola can skate and pass better than probably all LHD on the Kings (Mikey is close). Getting the puck out of the zone consistently is huge. It is what the Kings could not do against the Oilers when pressed, and what the Oilers cannot do consistenlty against the Panthers. Making McDrai defend much of the game is going to wear them down even faster.

The oilers got caught not signing two RFA's to contracts and they allowed the Blues to pluck them away. That put a pretty good dent in their team. I sure hope the Kings do not hire a GM that allowed something like that to happen to their previous team.

Yes, it is true building a Cup winning team is not an easy task. There is no easy answer. Last year getting tougher was the big need. Trading for Jeannot and signing Edmundson were the cure for the Kings playoff woes. Nope, not really. Edmundson never really delivered on that toughness and nastiness. Not that he was soft. Jeannot was fine, played about as good as I was expecting, which was pretty much the 4th line. So, that deal was still an overpay IMO.

I apologize in advance.... for this long winded, somewhat rambling post.

 

[DoubleMinor]

The true impact player to the cups was Carter. Richards really had little impact (the kings were heading out of the playoffs with the leagues worst offense until Carter was acquired). If people want to credit Carter's contribution to Richards being on the team--sure.

I would absolutely say that the ‘12 Cup doesn’t happen without Carter and the ‘14 Cup doesn’t happen without Gaborik.

 

[jammer06]

I would absolutely say that the ‘12 Cup doesn’t happen without Carter and the ‘14 Cup doesn’t happen without Gaborik.

Certainly, one thing I also like to point out about that 14 team though. Jeff Schultz stepped into a 7 game series, played 19 minutes a night, then stepped right back out when they got Regehr back. The 12 team was remarkable in their consistency and virtual lack of injury. The 14 team really were cockroaches that came streaming from the walls.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Certainly, one thing I also like to point out about that 14 team though. Jeff Schultz stepped into a 7 game series, played 19 minutes a night, then stepped right back out when they got Regehr back. The 12 team was remarkable in their consistency and virtual lack of injury. The 14 team really were cockroaches that came streaming from the walls.

The resiliency of the 2014 team is almost completely forgotten beyond coming back from 0-3 vs. the Sharks.

 

[McSorleyFan]

The resiliency of the 2014 team is almost completely forgotten beyond coming back from 0-3 vs. the Sharks.

I will always look back fondly on giving it to my SJS fan friends after that series.

 

[Statue4Deano]

The lightning were two offensive players and a bunch of spare parts. Having that 100+ point Stamkos guy really ruined that team. That Kucherov guy also impacted their ability to go on deep runs in the playoffs. Without those two guys I am sure sure that the Bolts could have won some cups and make the finals 3 years in a row.

That being said, I am not sold on the Idea that a $14mil+ Marner is THE answer. I am also not sold on the idea that signing him to a contract like that means the team will not win the cup for 7-8 years.

The Kings have many needs, IMO.

The Panthers are able to get the puck out of their zone and down ice to start their forecheck. Something that the Kings were not able to consistently do. Now, IMO, and just throwing this out there.... I would say the Kings overall rate a 4 out of 10 for having mobile D that can quickly move the puck out of the zone. The Panthers are more like 7-10. Even the big Niko Mikkola can skate and pass better than probably all LHD on the Kings (Mikey is close). Getting the puck out of the zone consistently is huge. It is what the Kings could not do against the Oilers when pressed, and what the Oilers cannot do consistenlty against the Panthers. Making McDrai defend much of the game is going to wear them down even faster.

The oilers got caught not signing two RFA's to contracts and they allowed the Blues to pluck them away. That put a pretty good dent in their team. I sure hope the Kings do not hire a GM that allowed something like that to happen to their previous team.

Yes, it is true building a Cup winning team is not an easy task. There is no easy answer. Last year getting tougher was the big need. Trading for Jeannot and signing Edmundson were the cure for the Kings playoff woes. Nope, not really. Edmundson never really delivered on that toughness and nastiness. Not that he was soft. Jeannot was fine, played about as good as I was expecting, which was pretty much the 4th line. So, that deal was still an overpay IMO.

I apologize in advance.... for this long winded, somewhat rambling post.

All good points.

I’m higher on signing Marner than most simply because players of his caliber are almost never available in free agency and when they are LA is never their preferred destination.

I believe it’s easier and cheaper to find the other complimentary pieces than find those extremely necessary productive players like Marner (Jeff Carter/Marian Gaborik). I love Kempe and most nights I like Fiala but neither one of those two are on the level of Marner. Adding Marner raises the ceiling on the roster.

 

[VCRW]

The resiliency of the 2014 team is almost completely forgotten beyond coming back from 0-3 vs. the Sharks.

And surviving 3 7-game series before beating the Rags.

 

[santiclaws]

The resiliency of the 2014 team is almost completely forgotten beyond coming back from 0-3 vs. the Sharks.

They were down in seemingly every series and every game. Didn't bother them in the least. They'd go down a couple of goals and you could just feel the machine winding up. 2014 was the exact opposite of 2012, which was something of a walk in the park in comparison. It was a pretty remarkable run.

 

[DoubleMinor]

They were down in seemingly every series and every game. Didn't bother them in the least. They'd go down a couple of goals and you could just feel the machine winding up. 2014 was the exact opposite of 2012, which was something of a walk in the park in comparison. It was a pretty remarkable run.

Over the past decade I have found myself wondering which of the two Cup runs was most impressive.

Was it ‘12 when the Kings (as an 8th seed) rolled over every team and going up 3-0 in every series? It can’t really get more dominate or impressive than that.

But then of course I’m reminded of what the Kings endured in ‘14. Each series everything imaginable. Down 0-3 vs SJ. Up 2-0 vs ANA before that went the other direction. Up vs CHI before that changed, then the finals.

‘12 was pure exhilaration.
‘14 was exhausting. I remember not having the energy to feel happy. I was just relieved that it was over after the roller coaster.

I don’t know that two playoff runs could be so incredibly different.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Over the past decade I have found myself wondering which of the two Cup runs was most impressive.

Was it ‘12 when the Kings (as an 8th seed) rolled over every team and going up 3-0 in every series? It can’t really get more dominate or impressive than that.

But then of course I’m reminded of what the Kings endured in ‘14. Each series everything imaginable. Down 0-3 vs SJ. Up 2-0 vs ANA before that went the other direction. Up vs CHI before that changed, then the finals.

‘12 was pure exhilaration.
‘14 was exhausting. I remember not having the energy to feel happy. I was just relieved that it was over after the roller coaster.

I don’t know that two playoff runs could be so incredibly different.

I find myself still wondering about the 2013 season and playoff run. In theory the lock out shortened regular season should’ve played right into their hands perfectly but I don’t think that 2013 squad ever found their legs.

And I’ll never understand why Lombardi didn’t try to add another winger at the deadline. Instead he paid through the nose for Robyn Regehr. Classic Dean.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Rumour Roundup: Mitch Marner's camp 'not engaged' with Maple Leafs

With just over two weeks until free agency, it appears as though Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs are headed toward a breakup.

www.sportsnet.ca

And Marner may take his time in choosing his next team.
"It sounds like the possibility exists that this may not be a July 1 thing, that Marner's choice could be to set up Zooms, or if teams want in-person meetings, on July 1 or right after, and then maybe he goes and visits one or two places," Friedman said.
It is also not a given that Marner would take the maximum-term seven-year contract available to him in free agency, Friedman reported.
Instead, he could opt for a four-year deal as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews did and potentially re-enter the market at age 32.

Very interesting.

 

[McSorleyFan]

Rumour Roundup: Mitch Marner's camp 'not engaged' with Maple Leafs

With just over two weeks until free agency, it appears as though Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs are headed toward a breakup.

www.sportsnet.ca

Very interesting.

Well that bodes well for everyone else waiting for July 1st to come.
The 4 vs 7 year deal is interesting. Is that to ensure he doesn't get locked in with a team he sours on, or if he stays healthy and progresses his game, he can really cash in at 32 with another 4 year contract ...