Honestly, I like that we will have 3 solid centers to cycle over the boards against opponents. BUT was it the best asset and cap management? I have to say no. Looking at that list, I count 7 regulars on the roster last season. That's 6-7 NHL players. (I consider Kupari a regular as he played 66 games. And who knows if Peterson will ever get his head on right.) And I'd count any 2nd rounder as being good value.
Not only did all of the moves so far in 2023 deplete our depth, but Blake traded what adds up to an entire forward line and one D-pair, not to mention 2 goalies, and all of that for one forward and one defenseman -- one player we needed (an LD) and moved to upgrade our center. I just really do not like the loss of depth and future we've given up. I can grant you that Spence and Clarke have room to move up. But our forwards took a hit and we don't have tons of ready-to-go forwards knocking down the door to make the club in the same way the RD position had. We just hope they'll be ready to go. And people here are talking of getting rid of Arvidsson and Moore next.
The players shipped off, those with "negative trade value" will get plenty of time playing in the league next season. Iafallo is an excellent character player and 2-way forward. Vilardi put it together and proved all the doubters wrong here, and I am certainly disappointed to lose him. I hope Kupari proves himself and gets more of an opportunity. Walker will most likely get his minutes. Durzi... okay, fine, I hope he coughs the puck up to Byfield so the guy puts it in the net to shut some people up here. I hope Quick moves up the all-time wins column more. All things they will likely achieve elsewhere... playing in the NHL. If they were of not much value, then they'll be hanging in the AHL next year. As for what's "painful?" Seeing 30% of the team shipped off to fit 8% on it and we're still struggling to fit under the cap. That paired with the forever cronyist boys' club this management has grown into is painful enough.
There. I feel better now.
As of now, it's 5 NHL players (Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari, Walker, Durzi) for essentially PLD and Gavrikov. Vilardi is a long-term health question mark, so it's a TBD about him and whether or not he would be a feasible answer long-term in the top 6. With PLD this risk has been avoided at the risk Gabe becoming equal or better while healthy - though he'd never be a physical presence. Gavrikov wouldn't sign with the Kings had he not been traded for at the deadline. So a legit top 6 forward built for playoffs as a long-term solution and a top LD who is a known fit as a 2-year "rental" (maybe).
The cost seems high, yes, but especially because of Cal fiasco, which I hold A LOT more against Rob than the risk of PLD trade being lost on value.
But did all this really deplete our depth? Maybe it depleted the potential depth by not restocking the pick cupboard...but actual NHL level talent depth?
Iafallo was talked about being traded for a long time now. Had the Kings not needed cap space for PLD they would need it to resign Vilardi and they would probably target a more expensive goalie - perhaps even Korpisalo who got 4 million. Iafallo gone opens up a bigger role for Kaliyev and a chance for a prospect to prove himself in a long-term NHL role - Lias, JAD, Fagemo, Laferriere or Chromiak.
Kupari was a complete non-factor in playoffs and "a mix of Jesse Puljujärvi and Sebastian Aho" definitely seems on Puljujarvi's trajectory much more than Aho's. The Kings need either productive or gritty, relentless forecheckers and defensively gifted bottom six players, maybe an enforcer...and Kupari was none of that. If Kupari doesn't improve, he's the kind of player that's easily replaced via UFA without overpaying. Case in point, for next season he's replaced by Lewis which is a huge upgrade, especially with playoffs in mind.
Durzi gone opens up the space for Clarke. There's still Spence waiting on the depth list. No brainer. Potentially a significant upgrade, though not achieved by addition but rather substraction.
Walker was replaced with Gavrikov. Significant upgrade.
So this wheeling and dealing left the only real casualty in the pick cupboard. Everything else falls in place nicely and the team is - on paper - significantly better than last year and will most likely end up with a considerably better matchup come playoffs. So without a rebuild/retool being a realistic scenario from team owners/upper management POV, this is the next best thing - improve the team, get better seeding and make s*** happen come playoffs.
And should this not work in the next 2 years, Rob is likely getting fired. And again it's on the owners/upper management to decide the direction from there - another retool or a complete rebuild, which would be much more palpable given Kopitar's and DD's possible regression and questionable motivation.
Fact of the matter is, the "force a proper rebuild, get yourself some long-term elite players, win everything, rinse and repeat, build a dynasty" pipe dream that some fans keep thinking about is, in fact, so friggin' unlikely to happen it's not even funny. Even a rebuild to a
decent Cup pretender is - for quite a lot of teams - a pipe dream. Buffalo, Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, Anaheim, San Jose, Ottawa, Vancouver aren't even close after long suckages, heck even Edmonton, New York, Carolina etc. seem to be more like pretenders than contenders. There are so many factors with rebuilds and draft it's a total crapsh***, so that's why it's worth trying to retool (done) and then squeeze the most out of your "proven old core" that does actually know what it takes to win one last time before a proper rebuild for the post-Kopitar/DD era.
