i dont want to take away anything from Durzi. I like his game, and as you mentioned, he's got some intangibles that the team could use. With that said, i've spent a decent amount of time going back and forth on whether he's the right fit here, and i think ive finally come to a point where i would probably trade him. It's not a simple, "he sucks, lets trade him". I like him. I like what he brings. I think he has room for improvement still. But...
Do i like him more than Doughty and Roy? Probably not. And we cannot move doughty. So that leaves Roy, who has established himself as a solid 2nd pair guy. So where does that leave Durzi, and the team? We need cap space. I also think that, despite the production, and the intangibles, i cannot simply ignore the reliability issues. I had also hoped to see him play much more assertive these playoffs, and that didn't happen. With both Spence looking for a spot (and probably being a cheaper option), and Clarke hopefully at least pushing for a roster spot, who do you keep? Durzi isnt a bad option, but given cap constraints and his poor defensive reads, i find myself strongly considering moving him. Im not saying the Kings do, but they have to be considering it. And just to maybe make a point here, they absolutely sheltered him on the 3rd pair. We've seen him play 2nd pair, and even first pair minutes in extreme situations, but he was definitely sheltered in the playoffs because he's a liability against strong opposition.
Do we definitely need to trade him away? No. Should we be considering it given the two prospects pushing for a spot, and the need for every bit of cap space we can get, and his defensive shortcomings? I think that's a yes. For me, it's about his role, and his overall contribution.
