PLD Buyout

There a several excellent coaches available: Gallant, Berube, Boudreau, and possibly Brind'Amour which could take the currently roster and get them past the 1st round. That said, any trade we made needs to sizably move us forward.

Ullmark and Heinen do not when all things are considered such age, cap hit, value and what we'd be giving up to get them.

I do like your idea of flipping Moore while his value is high, hopefully for a large physical player with above average skating (winger or defensemen).

Not sure we will be able to resign Talbot as he has historically been known to be about the money and likely will be asking for a significant pay raise. That said, I'd rather bring back Rittich.
I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

I’d much rather see him use his assets on fixing the blue line. If there’s any way the Kings can move Gavrikov down the depth chart to the 3rd pairing I think that move pushes the organization closer to contender than any goaltender Blake could hope to acquire this summer.

If there’s any reasonable way to get Chychrun out of Ottawa, Blake needs to make it happen.

Chychrun and Spence would be a hell of a 2nd pairing. Gavrikov and Clarke would be a hell of a 3rd pairing. The strength of those two pairings would cut down on the minutes required of Doughty and Anderson. That top 6 is good enough to get the Kings out of the 1st round.

My ideal scenario is the lineup I mentioned above BUT you trade Moore in a package to get Chychrun and you sign Dakota Joshua for 2.5M X 4 years. Then you play him next to Danault and Laf on the 3rd line all season. Those four lines and those 3 d pair in an up tempo attacking offense could look a lot like what the Stars or Panthers look like 5 on 5. They won’t have the same ceiling as those teams but they will get out of the 1st round assuming everyone is healthy.

Bring back Rittich or Talbot or any tandem of competent vet minimum goalies really. It’ll take care of itself.
 
I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

I’d much rather see him use his assets on fixing the blue line. If there’s any way the Kings can move Gavrikov down the depth chart to the 3rd pairing I think that move pushes the organization closer to contender than any goaltender Blake could hope to acquire this summer.

If there’s any reasonable way to get Chychrun out of Ottawa, Blake needs to make it happen.

Chychrun and Spence would be a hell of a 2nd pairing. Gavrikov and Clarke would be a hell of a 3rd pairing. The strength of those two pairings would cut down on the minutes required of Doughty and Anderson. That top 6 is good enough to get the Kings out of the 1st round.

My ideal scenario is the lineup I mentioned above BUT you trade Moore in a package to get Chychrun and you sign Dakota Joshua for 2.5M X 4 years. Then you play him next to Danault and Laf on the 3rd line all season. Those four lines and those 3 d pair in an up tempo attacking offense could look a lot like what the Stars or Panthers look like 5 on 5. They won’t have the same ceiling as those teams but they will get out of the 1st round assuming everyone is healthy.

Bring back Rittich or Talbot or any tandem of competent vet minimum goalies really. It’ll take care of itself.
You’re hired.
 
I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

Baloney! We are like the Lightning, the Knights, the Islanders, the Predators, etc..,, playoffs but not quite over the hump. We did well against the best teams this year. I may not want a big money goalie either but not because we aren't close. So much depends on matchups and I'm still not convinced that goal-tending is our problem.
 
I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

I’d much rather see him use his assets on fixing the blue line. If there’s any way the Kings can move Gavrikov down the depth chart to the 3rd pairing I think that move pushes the organization closer to contender than any goaltender Blake could hope to acquire this summer.

If there’s any reasonable way to get Chychrun out of Ottawa, Blake needs to make it happen.

Chychrun and Spence would be a hell of a 2nd pairing. Gavrikov and Clarke would be a hell of a 3rd pairing. The strength of those two pairings would cut down on the minutes required of Doughty and Anderson. That top 6 is good enough to get the Kings out of the 1st round.

My ideal scenario is the lineup I mentioned above BUT you trade Moore in a package to get Chychrun and you sign Dakota Joshua for 2.5M X 4 years. Then you play him next to Danault and Laf on the 3rd line all season. Those four lines and those 3 d pair in an up tempo attacking offense could look a lot like what the Stars or Panthers look like 5 on 5. They won’t have the same ceiling as those teams but they will get out of the 1st round assuming everyone is healthy.

Bring back Rittich or Talbot or any tandem of competent vet minimum goalies really. It’ll take care of itself.
Possibly the worst idea since serious hockey.
 
Shorter term bridge contract for both.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Fiala/Kopi/Kempe
Byfield(5M)/PLD/Thomas (775K)
Moore/Danault/Laf
Lee (775K)/Turcotte (900K)/Vet Minimum (Austin Watson-type 775K)

Anderson/Doughty
Gavrikov/Spence(2.25M)
Moverare/Clarke
Englund

Talbot (1,000,000)

Salary Cap - 83,500,000
20 Players
According to Cap Friendly this lineup would give Blake $4,311,667 in cap space to fill the starting goalie slot.

Now I happen to believe Blake will use the #21 overall in this draft plus Moore (loses his NTC this summer and he sells high coming off a 30 goal season) to get a starting goalie. If he does trade Moore that's another $4,200,000 in cap space but it creates a hole on the 3rd line.

Something like this?
Trevor Moore
2024 1st Round Pick
Arthur Kaliyev
for
Linus Ullmark (5M Cap hit)
Danton Heinen (RFA. 2-3M cap hit)

This would leave the Kings with about 500K in cap space with 21 players.

I applaud your attempt to help Blake with his mess.

I know that Thomas played 5 games and looked good in his role. However, it is a big assumption that he is top 6 material. If he does play top 6, the team will probably be in trouble IMO. Maybe swap Laf with Thomas?

Also, that is a bit much to give up for one year of Ullmark and someone that will be a UFA on 7/1. Ullmark may want a raise for his next contract that the Kings will likely not be able to afford. Also, the rumor was that he wants to stay east. That is what was reported at the deadline. I am sure other similar proposals could be put together for other goalies.

If the Kings make a similar move for a goalie, that is not a very solid lineup IMO. Rather, that looks like a lineup that has a chance to be good, but will likey be primed to sell off assets at the deadline for more youth and pics. Which, Blake should have started doing this deadline, but most of us knew that already.

You never know though.
 
I don’t want to see Blake trade for a big money goaltender, period. The team isn’t close enough to be on the search for a the final piece.

I’d much rather see him use his assets on fixing the blue line. If there’s any way the Kings can move Gavrikov down the depth chart to the 3rd pairing I think that move pushes the organization closer to contender than any goaltender Blake could hope to acquire this summer.

If there’s any reasonable way to get Chychrun out of Ottawa, Blake needs to make it happen.

Chychrun and Spence would be a hell of a 2nd pairing. Gavrikov and Clarke would be a hell of a 3rd pairing. The strength of those two pairings would cut down on the minutes required of Doughty and Anderson. That top 6 is good enough to get the Kings out of the 1st round.

My ideal scenario is the lineup I mentioned above BUT you trade Moore in a package to get Chychrun and you sign Dakota Joshua for 2.5M X 4 years. Then you play him next to Danault and Laf on the 3rd line all season. Those four lines and those 3 d pair in an up tempo attacking offense could look a lot like what the Stars or Panthers look like 5 on 5. They won’t have the same ceiling as those teams but they will get out of the 1st round assuming everyone is healthy.

Bring back Rittich or Talbot or any tandem of competent vet minimum goalies really. It’ll take care of itself.
This, plus a good vet coach, would be truly idea.
 
I applaud your attempt to help Blake with his mess.

I know that Thomas played 5 games and looked good in his role. However, it is a big assumption that he is top 6 material. If he does play top 6, the team will probably be in trouble IMO. Maybe swap Laf with Thomas?

Also, that is a bit much to give up for one year of Ullmark and someone that will be a UFA on 7/1. Ullmark may want a raise for his next contract that the Kings will likely not be able to afford. Also, the rumor was that he wants to stay east. That is what was reported at the deadline. I am sure other similar proposals could be put together for other goalies.

If the Kings make a similar move for a goalie, that is not a very solid lineup IMO. Rather, that looks like a lineup that has a chance to be good, but will likey be primed to sell off assets at the deadline for more youth and pics. Which, Blake should have started doing this deadline, but most of us knew that already.

You never know though.
It’s a terrible lineup. I hate it. Unfortunately Blake has painted the roster into a corner and I genuinely do not believe he has a way out.
 
It’s a terrible lineup. I hate it. Unfortunately Blake has painted the roster into a corner and I genuinely do not believe he has a way out.

Yep, agree.

All this talk of new systems, well there is an issue with that. Blake stacked up slowish stay at home D on the left side and there are not really any great PMD on the right side either. Any change to the system is going to require some changes on the backend IMO. Clarke as a rookie should not be expected to be the leader of this D core from offensive stand point.

I mean, you all recall the puck being fed to the LHD in the defensize zone about 70% of the time this past year. Not the guys you want in charge of getting the puck up ice in a hurry.
 
My ideal scenario is the lineup I mentioned above BUT you trade Moore in a package to get Chychrun and you sign Dakota Joshua for 2.5M X 4 years. Then you play him next to Danault and Laf on the 3rd line all season. Those four lines and those 3 d pair in an up tempo attacking offense could look a lot like what the Stars or Panthers look like 5 on 5. They won’t have the same ceiling as those teams but they will get out of the 1st round assuming everyone is healthy.

Bring back Rittich or Talbot or any tandem of competent vet minimum goalies really. It’ll take care of itself.
Joshua is my guy this season and really want him on the Kings. However he scored 18 goals in 63 games. Full season he passes 20. Despite 19 games lost, he was among the league’s leaders in hits with 245. UFAs get overpaid and I expect him to get 4M if not a little more. Agreed on the goalies if Talbot doesn’t think he’s worth more than 2.5 next year.

I applaud your attempt to help Blake with his mess.

I know that Thomas played 5 games and looked good in his role. However, it is a big assumption that he is top 6 material. If he does play top 6, the team will probably be in trouble IMO. Maybe swap Laf with Thomas?

Also, that is a bit much to give up for one year of Ullmark and someone that will be a UFA on 7/1. Ullmark may want a raise for his next contract that the Kings will likely not be able to afford. Also, the rumor was that he wants to stay east. That is what was reported at the deadline. I am sure other similar proposals could be put together for other goalies.

If the Kings make a similar move for a goalie, that is not a very solid lineup IMO. Rather, that looks like a lineup that has a chance to be good, but will likey be primed to sell off assets at the deadline for more youth and pics. Which, Blake should have started doing this deadline, but most of us knew that already.

You never know though.
Kempe Fiala and Byfield are the top 6 wingers. If Fiala plays with Danault then Moore is the 4th top 6 and and it means PLD back with young kids and another potential rookie. Same recipe for mediocrity all over again. I love the idea of playing some kids next year. Gotta slow down and build Colorado-style by actually playing these kids. Stick Turc with Danault and Moore and you’ve got a good 3rd line full of heart and pace and some dirty goals.

If Blake managed to get Joshua I’d put him with Kopi and Byfield. Let him or someone in that mold do that Iafallo job but on steroids. As for PLD, he’ll pass 60 pts again with Kempe and Fiala. Hell good chance he’d pass 70. Those guys are too good and he benefits from good players. So if you’re going to keep him, load him up.

Thomas and Laf make a good young 4th line. Will make mistakes but will learn and will hit. Who joins them, hell go all young and put Lee on there. It would be fun.
 
Joshua is my guy this season and really want him on the Kings. However he scored 18 goals in 63 games. Full season he passes 20. Despite 19 games lost, he was among the league’s leaders in hits with 245. UFAs get overpaid and I expect him to get 4M if not a little more. Agreed on the goalies if Talbot doesn’t think he’s worth more than 2.5 next year.


Kempe Fiala and Byfield are the top 6 wingers. If Fiala plays with Danault then Moore is the 4th top 6 and and it means PLD back with young kids and another potential rookie. Same recipe for mediocrity all over again. I love the idea of playing some kids next year. Gotta slow down and build Colorado-style by actually playing these kids. Stick Turc with Danault and Moore and you’ve got a good 3rd line full of heart and pace and some dirty goals.

If Blake managed to get Joshua I’d put him with Kopi and Byfield. Let him or someone in that mold do that Iafallo job but on steroids. As for PLD, he’ll pass 60 pts again with Kempe and Fiala. Hell good chance he’d pass 70. Those guys are too good and he benefits from good players. So if you’re going to keep him, load him up.

Thomas and Laf make a good young 4th line. Will make mistakes but will learn and will hit. Who joins them, hell go all young and put Lee on there. It would be fun.
Joshua shooting percentage was over 21% this season and 15.5% last season. Whoever signs him should expect 12-15 goals a season under the very best of circumstances. Paying him $4M is asking for disappointment but I won’t be too shocked if some GM does it.

Also something to be mindful of is the salary cap could bump up to $92M next summer. That means this is the summer to buy low before inflation hits. Unfortunately due to poor cap management the Kings can’t even take advantage of locking in some lower cap hit free agent deals.
 
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