Phil Danault - Called in Sick against the Flames? Asked for a trade? UPDATE: TRADED

[VCRW]

A fine dream, but with what? What do the Kings trade away to first get Tuch and then 1C after the season?

If they trade QB for Tuch, they're left with 1 good and 1 unproven-but-possibly-good center. Not enough to make a push. If they trade for a capable rental C this season, too, that's already a lot of assets going out.

To then also trade for a 1C after Kopi retires, they'd need to scrub their asset cupboard to the bare bones.

I mean, no, I don't think Ken is incapable of doing this. But I do think it would be foolish...

Where did you get all these trades? I want Tuch for this season. That’s the only trade I am advocating for now. Whatever happens after the season is not something I am speculating about. I thought I made that clear. There will be lots of cap space. That’s all I know. This roster could look completely different next year.

 

[Bollocks]

Where did you get all these trades? I want Tuch for this season. That’s the only trade I am advocating for now. Whatever happens after the season is not something I am speculating about. I thought I made that clear. There will be lots of cap space. That’s all I know. This roster could look completely different next year.

Ah, I mixed it up a bit with a commenter above you that's willing to trade QB. I assumed you then meant you trade QB for Tuch.

Losing QB and Danault and adding Tuch means you're one capable center short of having a competitive team. From that standpoint it makes more sense to trade QB for Tage, who is also on a very reasonable long-term contract. You kill two flies with 1 stone with this - you add Kopitar's replacement, too.

I guess Ken could go gung-ho (Ken-ho?) and trade QB+Moore+Greentree+a 1st+...? for Tuch AND Thompson, with Tuch agreeing to a new contract upon making a deal. That would be a big statement of a trade, too, and you get two players who are already familiar playing with each other.

Fiala-Tage-Tuch
Kuzmenko/Armia-Kopitar-Kempe
Foegele-Turcotte-Laf
4th line is in this case irrelevant anyways.

 

[symbology]

The destination seems curious. Perhaps this is similar to the Ryan Smyth acquisition, and subsequent trade some years back? Edmonton boy leaves Edmonton for the bright lights of LA, misses home, and basically requests a trade back to Edmonton. Perhaps Phil and his wife mutually decided they wanted to return to Quebec asap. It would make sense that Alan Walsh(phils agent) chided the reporter who leaked the trade request, especially if the Kings were only going to send him back to MtL IF the return was relatively decent.. perhaps the agent was involved in the request to try and broker a fair deal between Montreal and the Kings, to ensure Phil could get back home.

This trade request talk had me thinking of Smyth leaving LA as well.

 

[Statue4Deano]

The destination seems curious. Perhaps this is similar to the Ryan Smyth acquisition, and subsequent trade some years back? Edmonton boy leaves Edmonton for the bright lights of LA, misses home, and basically requests a trade back to Edmonton. Perhaps Phil and his wife mutually decided they wanted to return to Quebec asap. It would make sense that Alan Walsh(phils agent) chided the reporter who leaked the trade request, especially if the Kings were only going to send him back to MtL IF the return was relatively decent.. perhaps the agent was involved in the request to try and broker a fair deal between Montreal and the Kings, to ensure Phil could get back home.

Montreal needs a #2 Center so they’ve got minutes available if Danault can re-Discover his game. Plus he loved his time there. It’s a fit for him professionally and personally. I don’t think it needs to be much deeper than that.

 

[VCRW]

Ah, I mixed it up a bit with a commenter above you that's willing to trade QB. I assumed you then meant you trade QB for Tuch.

Losing QB and Danault and adding Tuch means you're one capable center short of having a competitive team. From that standpoint it makes more sense to trade QB for Tage, who is also on a very reasonable long-term contract. You kill two flies with 1 stone with this - you add Kopitar's replacement, too.

I guess Ken could go gung-ho (Ken-ho?) and trade QB+Greentree+a 1st+? for Tuch AND Thompson, with Tuch agreeing to a new contract upon making a deal. That would be a big statement of a trade, too, and you get two players who are already familiar playing with each other.

Fiala-Tage-Tuch
Kuzmenko/Armia-Kopitar-Kempe
Foegele-Turcotte-Moore
4th line is in this case irrelevant anyways.

Buffalo has stated many times and in many places that they are not taking offers for Thompson. While anyone can be traded in theory, I don’t think they are bluffing about Tage. Tuch would cost a lot less as well as he is on an expiring contract. And his $4.75 million fits under the cap right now.

 

[Madness20721]

Happy to get anything for Phil. He was worthless this season.

 

[DryKing]

Buffalo has stated many times and in many places that they are not taking offers for Thompson. While anyone can be traded in theory, I don’t think they are bluffing about Tage. Tuch would cost a lot less as well as he is on an expiring contract. And his $4.75 million fits under the cap right now.

Problem with Tuch is that by all accounts he wants his next deal to have a higher AAV than what Kempe signed for. While I think Tuch is likely worth it, the Kings would be better served investing that money in a Center, rather than a winger.

Still tempting, though.

 

[Bollocks]

Buffalo has stated many times and in many places that they are not taking offers for Thompson. While anyone can be traded in theory, I don’t think they are bluffing about Tage. Tuch would cost a lot less as well as he is on an expiring contract. And his $4.75 million fits under the cap right now.

I just don't think he moves the needle enough this season. The Kings are then left with 2 1/2nd line centers and with only one 1/2nd line center after this season, unless Turcotte blossoms. And if Tuch signs for more than Kempe there's quite a chunk of cap space gone for filling that 1st line center gap that will have to be patched up one way or another, with the least painful (not paying a ransom in assets) being trading for a good, but overpaid center...which isn't really an option if you spend all that money on Tuch, at least not until DD retires.

 

[VCRW]

Problem with Tuch is that by all accounts he wants his next deal to have a higher AAV than what Kempe signed for. While I think Tuch is likely worth it, the Kings would be better served investing that money in a Center, rather than a winger.

Still tempting, though.

There is gonna be a sh*tload of cap space after this season - about $25 million. I agree Tuch should get paid. And Kempe set the bar for Tuch re-signing in L.A. so it may be a difficult negotiation. But I think it’s worth a try. Maybe he would take $11.5M… but Kopi gone, Kuzy gone and Perry gone is $13.3 million!

Clarke will be a RFA and will want a decent raise. But how much is reasonable because he is definitely still a work in progress? The big question is: Can he handle being RD1?

Because my advice to Ken is… Trade Doughty! Trade him for whatever his market value may be. Hopefully high draft picks and/or a younger RD would be included. Imagine the 1C his $11M and a little extra could buy!

$36M in cap space minus Tuch and Clarke gets you the 1C and another RD as a backup while Clarke tries to move up. Then Ceci takes Mo’s place as the 7th d-man. By the time the Dumoulin and Ceci contracts expire, Woolley and Brusty move right in.

They have to retool at the very least. Can’t wait for the Kings to get younger!

 

[DryKing]

There is gonna be a sh*tload of cap space after this season - about $25 million. I agree Tuch should get paid. And Kempe set the bar for Tuch re-signing in L.A. so it may be a difficult negotiation. But I think it’s worth a try. Maybe he would take $11.5M… but Kopi gone, Kuzy gone and Perry gone is $13.3 million!

Clarke will be a RFA and will want a decent raise. But how much is reasonable because he is definitely still a work in progress? The big question is: Can he handle being RD1?

Because my advice to Ken is… Trade Doughty! Trade him for whatever his market value may be. Hopefully high draft picks and/or a younger RD would be included. Imagine the 1C his $11M and a little extra could buy!

$36M in cap space minus Tuch and Clarke gets you the 1C and another RD as a backup while Clarke tries to move up. Then Ceci takes Mo’s place as the 7th d-man. By the time the Dumoulin and Ceci contracts expire, Woolley and Brusty move right in.

They have to retool at the very least. Can’t wait for the Kings to get younger!

Agreed, if we have the chance to bring in a high talent player, such as Tuch, we need to go for it. The fact that he is both a goal scorer and power forward (both areas of need) make it all the better.

If Doughty makes the Olympic team, and Canada does well, it may result in the best time to move him (possibly to a team like Toronto for a playoff run). I'd be surprised if the Kings actually do so, however, as they likely want to hold on to at least one member of the SC winning team as long as possible (mainly for nostalgiae which leads to revenue).

 

[kIngsX]

That's when a bidding war starts. That's if two or more teams are interested.

Well, I guess there was just the one

 

[Halfwall]

Agreed, if we have the chance to bring in a high talent player, such as Tuch, we need to go for it. The fact that he is both a goal scorer and power forward (both areas of need) make it all the better.

If Doughty makes the Olympic team, and Canada does well, it may result in the best time to move him (possibly to a team like Toronto for a playoff run). I'd be surprised if the Kings actually do so, however, as they likely want to hold on to at least one member of the SC winning team as long as possible (mainly for nostalgiae which leads to revenue).

You do know DD has a 7 team trade list. The odds of finding a win-win is practically zero. The only realistic way to trade DD is if Holland goes for a rebuild and Drew wants to go.

 

[Birdman]

You do know DD has a 7 team trade list. The odds of finding a win-win is practically zero. The only realistic way to trade DD is if Holland goes for a rebuild and Drew wants to go.

The minute he is traded, we get $11M in cap space. That’s the only win we need.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

You do know DD has a 7 team trade list. The odds of finding a win-win is practically zero. The only realistic way to trade DD is if Holland goes for a rebuild and Drew wants to go.

It’s true, but that’s basically what a cold, calculating management staff has to do. Call his agent or speak to him directly and tell him hey, we’re trading everybody including the goalie so if you wanna play for a team that goes 25 and 57 for the next season, while playing extremely diminished minutes, be our guest. Or open up your list and let us find you a contender who wants you on the roster. Your choice.

 

[VCRW]

You do know DD has a 7 team trade list. The odds of finding a win-win is practically zero. The only realistic way to trade DD is if Holland goes for a rebuild and Drew wants to go.

We all know this.

With Kopi gone, there is no one but Drew left on the team from the Cup squads. Nothing but memories binding him to the Kings. It is the hope that Toronto could be his new home. God knows they need him! And I am sure the Leafs are on that hometown boy's trade list. He and Kopi forced the broken retool that Blake attempted. Perhaps DD can be talked into helping the team this time.

 

[DoubleMinor]

We all know this.

With Kopi gone, there is no one but Drew left on the team from the Cup squads. Nothing but memories binding him to the Kings. It is the hope that Toronto could be his new home. God knows they need him! And I am sure the Leafs are on that hometown boy's trade list. He and Kopi forced the broken retool that Blake attempted. Perhaps DD can be talked into helping the team this time.

The negativity with Quick being traded is not something this franchise wants to revisit.
Is it possible DD would accept a trade to Toronto? Maybe.
Toronto would not have the space to take his hit. So either Kings take on salary/dead weight to move Dewey or there’s enough that comes back to make it happen, which seems very remote.
But not much upside to see it being worthwhile.

 

[Birdman]

The negativity with Quick being traded is not something this franchise wants to revisit.
Is it possible DD would accept a trade to Toronto? Maybe.
Toronto would not have the space to take his hit. So either Kings take on salary/dead weight to move Dewey or there’s enough that comes back to make it happen, which seems very remote.
But not much upside to see it being worthwhile.

There is nobody on that roster we want.

Here Doughty, give us some draft picks. If you want us to eat cap space, then give us more draft picks.

 

[VCRW]

The negativity with Quick being traded is not something this franchise wants to revisit.
Is it possible DD would accept a trade to Toronto? Maybe.
Toronto would not have the space to take his hit. So either Kings take on salary/dead weight to move Dewey or there’s enough that comes back to make it happen, which seems very remote.
But not much upside to see it being worthwhile.

Not advocating for moving Doughty during this season... and it doesn't have to be Toronto. We only pick that because it's his home town. And Toronto's defense is not great. You know... the same way we picked Buffalo for years as a probable trade partner for Brown.

If Doughty makes the team Canada roster and plays well, there may be legit contenders seeking his services that may also be on his trade list. As I said, high draft picks and/or younger, unproven but high ceiling players. The goal is cap space.

If he wants another Cup, Drew may accept relocating cuz that sure as hell isn't happening here next year. But that $11M cap hit is a millstone around the neck of the Kings. No significant and meaningful change to the roster can happen if Doughty remains a King next season.

Kings need a 1C, a 3C, and a scoring right shot winger. Turc may well be that second center. Time will tell. But the 1C and the dominant right shot winger are essentials next year. Neither player exists anywhere in the organization.

I don't see Luc and AEG going for another Lombardi style rebuild. Retooling seems all we can hope for but I would rather the Kings didn't wait until the '27/28 season to actually commit to getting better.

 

[Halfwall]

The minute he is traded, we get $11M in cap space. That’s the only win we need.

Duh.

 

[Halfwall]

We all know this.

With Kopi gone, there is no one but Drew left on the team from the Cup squads. Nothing but memories binding him to the Kings. It is the hope that Toronto could be his new home. God knows they need him! And I am sure the Leafs are on that hometown boy's trade list. He and Kopi forced the broken retool that Blake attempted. Perhaps DD can be talked into helping the team this time.

Apparently not.