Rob Blake is out.

[Statue4Deano]

Even when Gretzky was here it was hard to get players to want to come play. He could get oilers that wanted out of Edmonton. Dionne and Rogie were basically blackballed to the Kings. For whatever reason it's not just playing style, but there's a mythos about LA that most players somehow hold near Winnipeg proportions.

I always found it funny when Lombardi made multiple comments about being suspicious of players who were eager to sign in LA as free agents. Clearly there was/is a belief with some players that signing in LA is all about spending your days off at the beach.

 

[Statue4Deano]

• For all Euros, and most Canadians, the geographic location puts them considerably further away from home.
• Taxes and cost of living are high
• This is not a "hockey culture" city. Hockey is very much an afterthought. For many players who grew up in places where hockey is life, it's a big turnoff.
• LA does not have a reputation as a safe or family friendly city in the outside world and it seems particularly true in hockey circles. Gavrikov talked about being worried about his family when he was traded. The bus ride to Crypto does not help counter that perception at all.
• All those things could be overcome to a large extent if the team was going deep every season, but they haven't gone to the 2nd round in 11 years. For a lot of players, that was when they were kids. Ancient, dusty history.

The question is not why do UFAs not want to come here. The question is why would they?

All those things may be some degree of true for LA but they’re equally true for any large city in the NHL. Yet, every summer players sign in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, DC, Denver, Pittsburg, Philly and even Newark…

 

[santiclaws]

All those things may be some degree of true for LA but they’re equally true for any large city in the NHL. Yet, every summer players sign in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, DC, Denver, Pittsburg, Philly and even Newark…

All of those cities are much more of a hockey culture places, many of them have a winning culture/history, and all of them are closer to the East Coast/Europe, if not just on the East Coast. Not to mention that reality aside, most of those cities do not have "drive-by shootings central" reputation. So no, not equally true at all.

 

[Johnnysuede71]

• For all Euros, and most Canadians, the geographic location puts them considerably further away from home.
• Taxes and cost of living are high
• This is not a "hockey culture" city. Hockey is very much an afterthought. For many players who grew up in places where hockey is life, it's a big turnoff.
• LA does not have a reputation as a safe or family friendly city in the outside world and it seems particularly true in hockey circles. Gavrikov talked about being worried about his family when he was traded. The bus ride to Crypto does not help counter that perception at all.
• All those things could be overcome to a large extent if the team was going deep every season, but they haven't gone to the 2nd round in 11 years. For a lot of players, that was when they were kids. Ancient, dusty history.

The question is not why do UFAs not want to come here. The question is why would they?

• For all Euros, and most Canadians, the geographic location puts them considerably further away from home.

Like....say...Tampa? Or Dallas? Vegas of all places??

• Taxes and cost of living are high

I'll give you that...although as I mentioned in my previous post on the subject...the Rangers and Devils both seem to attract high-end talent and the NY is worse than LA on both counts.

• This is not a "hockey culture" city. Hockey is very much an afterthought. For many players who grew up in places where hockey is life, it's a big turnoff.

Again...see Tampa or Dallas or South Florida or Carolina or Vegas...the list goes on.

• LA does not have a reputation as a safe or family friendly city in the outside world and it seems particularly true in hockey circles. Gavrikov talked about being worried about his family when he was traded. The bus ride to Crypto does not help counter that perception at all.

OK...I can see your point....however these guys all end up right on top of each other in Manhattan Beach. There are an infinite number of places with a lower quality of life than a sleepy beach community in Southern California. I don't buy the dangerous urban enviornment argument.

• All those things could be overcome to a large extent if the team was going deep every season, but they haven't gone to the 2nd round in 11 years. For a lot of players, that was when they were kids. Ancient, dusty history.

No argument here. But it's a snake eating it's tail...or a Catch-22...or the chicken and the egg...or whichever one works the best to describe the concept of not being able to have one without the other.

 

[santiclaws]

Retort:

Maybe they need to give all the players sceptres, crowns and thrones. I mean, if Sasaki could demand that the Dodgers install full on Japanese toilets in the locker room, why not?

 

[santiclaws]

• For all Euros, and most Canadians, the geographic location puts them considerably further away from home.

Like....say...Tampa? Or Dallas?

• Taxes and cost of living are high

I'll give you that...although as I mentioned in my previous post on the subject...the Rangers and Devils both seem to attract high-end talent and the NY is worse than LA on both counts.

• This is not a "hockey culture" city. Hockey is very much an afterthought. For many players who grew up in places where hockey is life, it's a big turnoff.

Again...see Tampa or Dallas or South Florida or Carolina...the list goes on.

• LA does not have a reputation as a safe or family friendly city in the outside world and it seems particularly true in hockey circles. Gavrikov talked about being worried about his family when he was traded. The bus ride to Crypto does not help counter that perception at all.

OK...I can see your point....however these guys all end up right on top of each other in Manhattan Beach. There are an infinite number of places with a lower quality of life than a sleepy beach community in Southern California. I don't buy the dangerous urban enviornment argument.

• All those things could be overcome to a large extent if the team was going deep every season, but they haven't gone to the 2nd round in 11 years. For a lot of players, that was when they were kids. Ancient, dusty history.

No argument here. But it's a snake eating it's tail...or a Catch-22...or the chicken and the egg...or whichever one works the best to describe the concept of not being able to have one without the other.

You list places which have SOME of the same issues, but certainly not all of them. No state taxes is a BIG selling point for places like Dallas and Florida and Vegas. Florida is on the East Coast last I checked, and Tampa Bay, Dallas, Florida and Vegas are legit contenders year in and year out. So yeah, a huge advantage over LA.

Rantanen just refused to sign with Carolina, told the Kings he wouldn't sign if they traded for him, and signed with no state tax Dallas (which is still closer to Europe than LA). Over the life of the contract, he's going to keep around $10M more than he would in LA.

 

[What party?]

Maybe they need to give all the players sceptres, crowns and thrones. I mean, if Sasaki could demand that the Dodgers install full on Japanese toilets in the locker room, why not?

Oooweee, somebody's got to spend that Dodger money, good for him.

As a jersey (as in sweaters) guy I thought you'd be more receptive to the implication that Kings' logo was a selling point. Truth be told, I just love that quote and that scene (Sherlock) with Andrew Scott. Win-Win.

But, I think all of us here had this same kind of discussion when Travares was leaving the Island. Whatever "it" is...we don't got it. Relegated to ugly step-sister with less tax breaks, meh, there are worse things to be. =)

 

[Illegal_Stick]

The “second” time you are citing was a LGK invention. Lombardi was definitely not re-signing him before Blake accepted the San Jose offer.

He was considering it but looking at another signing - forget what it was. Blake told Lombardi he had an offer from SJ because he was waiting for the Lombardi offer. Lombardi, not wanting to potentially screw him over, said he’d better take it.

 

[Statue4Deano]

You list places which have SOME of the same issues, but certainly not all of them. No state taxes is a BIG selling point for places like Dallas and Florida and Vegas. Florida is on the East Coast last I checked, and Tampa Bay, Dallas, Florida and Vegas are legit contenders year in and year out. So yeah, a huge advantage over LA.

Rantanen just refused to sign with Carolina, told the Kings he wouldn't sign if they traded for him, and signed with no state tax Dallas (which is still closer to Europe than LA). Over the life of the contract, he's going to keep around $10M more than he would in LA.

No state tax can be mitigated to a large degree. The Dodgers already figured this out. The top free agent they signed this past offseason is a resident of a state with no income tax (WA). His annual salary is front loaded with a signing bonus paid out before the season starts. The smallest portion of his salary is paid while in California/LA.

There’s also deferrals. The Hurricanes used deferrals on Jaccob Slavins contract.

The point is creative accounting can get these free agents near the same net payout as a no income tax state if the Kings front office gets creative.

 

[Statue4Deano]

All of those cities are much more of a hockey culture places, many of them have a winning culture/history, and all of them are closer to the East Coast/Europe, if not just on the East Coast. Not to mention that reality aside, most of those cities do not have "drive-by shootings central" reputation. So no, not equally true at all.

If a player is worried about drive by shootings in 2025 he’ll be definitely be happier signing in Salt Lake City.

 

[Bollocks]

I think you missed Aaron's point. After Slats, the Oilers had Lowe and Mactavish as GM's with Steve Tambellini in between. All mediocre and 2 of the 3 were big pieces in their Cup years. The Oilers weren't hiring the best, they were bringing back their legends.

Now look at the Kings. Blake as GM. Nelson Emerson assistant GM. Glenn Murray leading player personnel. Armstrong, Donnelly, Greene, Odie, and Stoll in the development office. I'd love to work with my best friends, but I think the outcome would be better if I had more co-workers outside of my friend group.

100% agree with Aaron on Tulsky. He's been great.

There's a few hiccups on hiring "the best":
- who is "the best" and how do you know that?
- will he be willing to sign with LA?
- if he's available and has a really good (and recent) track record, you're very lucky. Kings aren't ATM (I've yet to see such a free agent GM suggestion)
- if he isn't available, the only realistic chance is to get someone who is an assistant GM or an advisor of some sort...again, that person would have to want to come here and have GM aspirations (some people prefer to work more in the background)...and even if it all checks out, if that person has never been an actual GM before, you don't actually know he'd be a good one.

You mentioned Oilers...did they hire "the best" and why not? Because they didn't. They keep icing a very incomplete, flawed team that can't be saved by two of the most talented players in hockey.

Aaron mentioned a "Godfather offer" for Tulsky. I see incredibly small chance he takes it given that he's just recently "inherited" the GM position of a very successful franchise. And then the Kings' upper management would have to be "all in" for such approach, which I don't see in them.

Be realistic, people... (not talking just to you, of course).

Oh and...time is of the essence. When do you want your GM to come and start sorting things out? Just before draft? Just before UFA deadline? Are successful people with at least some integrity, in key positions at successful clubs, willing to say "well, it was fun but I'm going to work in LA now" at this point of the season?





IMHO Rob is a good GM material. He seems to have a good rapport with the players, is a decent contract negotiator, he's been able to pull off decent trades and he seems really good at drafting (or listening to scouts, however you see it). And he did, in fact, improve this team, just not enough and too slowly, but...one has to wonder if Yzerman could've done much better with the same constraints Rob had?

His problem was that he was a rookie GM, he 100% wasn't given free reigns to do whatever he feels necessary in order to build a Cup winner and then Luc hired him a senior advisor with suspect resume who then almost assuredly proceeded to orchestrate perhaps the worst trade in the past 2 decades.


I'm willing to give the upper management a chance, but until I see it in writing I won't believe their vision is the same as yours, mine and of so many other avid fans and they just want a playoff team with the legends on the roster and maybe a suspect star here or there so that casuals fill the seats for that season and buy some merch.

 

[santiclaws]

No state tax can be mitigated to a large degree. The Dodgers already figured this out. The top free agent they signed this past offseason is a resident of a state with no income tax (WA). His annual salary is front loaded with a signing bonus paid out before the season starts. The smallest portion of his salary is paid while in California/LA.

There’s also deferrals. The Hurricanes used deferrals on Jaccob Slavins contract.

The point is creative accounting can get these free agents near the same net payout as a no income tax state if the Kings front office gets creative.

Again, that's just one issue. And there are lots of players who flat out have no interest in deferring. I think Rantanen was one. Deferred salary is generally something players will agree to if they want to come to/stay in a place already for other reasons. High taxes is most certainly a disadvantage and if you read any agent interview, it is one of the first issues they will look at.

P.S. For fairness' sake, I should mention that the weather plays a factor, too, and LA is desirable for that reason, but obviously has no advantage over FL.

 

[Bollocks]

Again, that's just one issue. And there are lots of players who flat out have no interest in deferring. I think Rantanen was one. Deferred salary is generally something players will agree to if they want to come to/stay in a place already for other reasons. High taxes is most certainly a disadvantage and if you read any agent interview, it is one of the first issues they will look at.

P.S. For fairness' sake, I should mention that the weather plays a factor, too, and LA is desirable for that reason, but obviously has no advantage over FL.

Isn't Florida disgustingly humid though? I'd hate that.

 

[Earl]

haha

Ha. Earl, that's not it at all, it's not an age thing, my sense of humor is more of a dry wit, like the brits. It may take a couple of posts but you'll either be like, oh I see what she's doing there, funny. Or, that is so horrible it's laughable. =) Big picture: We'll get there together (no pressure).

You made a reference to how Blake took a risk on the known coach killer, Kovy, my post's reply about PLD was he did not quite learn that lesson did he? I'd do the research but I think Pierre has killed (counting Todd) 4? Or is it 5 coaches?

Did PLD just upgrade to GM killer? Is Blake's blood on his hands?!!! Hmmm... He does check a lot of sociopathic boxes.

Ha. Earl, that's not it at all, it's not an age thing, my sense of humor is more of a dry wit, like the brits. It may take a couple of posts but you'll either be like, oh I see what she's doing there, funny. Or, that is so horrible it's laughable. =) Big picture: We'll get there together (no pressure).

You made a reference to how Blake took a risk on the known coach killer, Kovy, my post's reply about PLD was he did not quite learn that lesson did he? I'd do the research but I think Pierre has killed (counting Todd) 4? Or is it 5 coaches?

Did PLD just upgrade to GM killer? Is Blake's blood on his hands?!!! Hmmm... He does check a lot of sociopathic boxes...

Haha it's all good bro! It's funny I ran into an incredibly known scout at the Kings rookie tournament and I had to ask him about PLD and he told me cutting out some of the fat of what we talked about "on paper he's a great player but his problem is he never learned to play the game as he since Pee Wee has always been the best player on his team so he tries to do everything himself!"

I still like the trade at the time as to me we were never gonna beat Edmonton with Villardi,Iafallo(who I love)and Kupari. It obviously didn't work out and I knew we were in trouble with PLD's first interview when he said "I love the beach!" YIKES!

 

[What party?]

haha


Haha it's all good bro! It's funny I ran into an incredibly known scout at the Kings rookie tournament and I had to ask him about PLD and he told me cutting out some of the fat of what we talked about "on paper he's a great player but his problem is he never learned to play the game as he since Pee Wee has always been the best player on his team so he tries to do everything himself!"

I still like the trade at the time as to me we were never gonna beat Edmonton with Villardi,Iafallo(who I love)and Kupari. It obviously didn't work out and I knew we were in trouble with PLD's first interview when he said "I love the beach!" YIKES!

Whew! Okay good deal. It's pretty difficult to feel sorry for him, despite the fact that we should. Oo, is he the modern day: Jason Allison? Nah. PLD is probably more talented.

Just so we're on the same page, for future reference, I am in fact, a lady. But feeling the friendly tone that "bro" was vibing.

My avatar is Lady Olenna the Queen of Thorns smoking a joint with shades on!

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Isn't Florida disgustingly humid though? I'd hate that.

The absolute worst, with Texas not too far behind.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

• For all Euros, and most Canadians, the geographic location puts them considerably further away from home.
• Taxes and cost of living are high
• This is not a "hockey culture" city. Hockey is very much an afterthought. For many players who grew up in places where hockey is life, it's a big turnoff.
• LA does not have a reputation as a safe or family friendly city in the outside world and it seems particularly true in hockey circles. Gavrikov talked about being worried about his family when he was traded. The bus ride to Crypto does not help counter that perception at all.
• All those things could be overcome to a large extent if the team was going deep every season, but they haven't gone to the 2nd round in 11 years. For a lot of players, that was when they were kids. Ancient, dusty history.

The question is not why do UFAs not want to come here. The question is why would they?

What about Detroilet? sh*tcago? NJ? DC? Seattle? NYC? Columbus? Philly? St. Louis?

All of those cities are just as bad, if not worse, than L.A. in many categories. You couldn’t pay me to live in L.A. again. BUT…I’d say the same about many other NHL cities, as I mentioned above.

 

[VCRW]

He was considering it but looking at another signing - forget what it was. Blake told Lombardi he had an offer from SJ because he was waiting for the Lombardi offer. Lombardi, not wanting to potentially screw him over, said he’d better take it.

Don’t forget that Dean was at first not returning Blake’s calls about the offer from San Jose. It was a botched negotiation from the get go.

 

[Bill Hicks]

All those things may be some degree of true for LA but they’re equally true for any large city in the NHL. Yet, every summer players sign in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, DC, Denver, Pittsburg, Philly and even Newark…

It's a big city issue. Chicago and DC are awful in terms of violence.
I think it's more the culture. Fla and TB have the same allure as here minus the taxes, which matters a lot.
I'd have no issue living on the beach and playing hockey myself.

 

[Earl]

Whew! Okay good deal. It's pretty difficult to feel sorry for him, despite the fact that we should. Oo, is he the modern day: Jason Allison? Nah. PLD is probably more talented.

Just so we're on the same page, for future reference, I am in fact, a lady. But feeling the friendly tone that "bro" was vibing.

My avatar is Lady Olenna the Queen of Thorns smoking a joint with shades on!

First off I apologize, I honestly thought your Avatar was Mick Mars from Motley Crue. Won't happen again sista!