So, who do we keep, trade or promote?

[DyslexicTom]

I would love to move on from McLellan. Kempe has good value in a trade for a defensemen; I feel like we have a similar and better player in Fiala. I'd try to keep as many of the young guys as possible; their value is low and the Kings don't yet know what they have with them because they won't play them in meaningful minutes.

I think a coach with different line deployments and a handle on how to adjust to in-game situations would be a good change. Too often we've seen McLellan stick with the same line combos even when things are bad, and then going back to his ideal line combos and favorite players after a few games when he does mix it up. He's also had a history of coaching teams that underperform (Oilers) or choke (Sharks). The whole good ol' boys mentality of management has got to change.

 

[Ice24]

wait until the off-season to make a trade. There is zero urgency as this team is not ready to compete this season. Be sellers if you want to do something positive.

 

[hokiecat]

wait until the off-season to make a trade. There is zero urgency as this team is not ready to compete this season. Be sellers if you want to do something positive.

I agree with most of this. Kings definitely need to make a hockey trade and not just a rental if they are adding pieces. We're not Boston/Carolina/Colorado 2022 so there's no reason to push chips in just for this post-season. That said, the 2 times when deals are happening the most are trade deadline and summer/FA period so if Blake gets the right call then make the deal.

 

[VCRW]

I would love to move on from McLellan. Kempe has good value in a trade for a defensemen; I feel like we have a similar and better player in Fiala. I'd try to keep as many of the young guys as possible; their value is low and the Kings don't yet know what they have with them because they won't play them in meaningful minutes.

I think a coach with different line deployments and a handle on how to adjust to in-game situations would be a good change. Too often we've seen McLellan stick with the same line combos even when things are bad, and then going back to his ideal line combos and favorite players after a few games when he does mix it up. He's also had a history of coaching teams that underperform (Oilers) or choke (Sharks). The whole good ol' boys mentality of management has got to change.

Agree about McLellan. But disagree about your comparison between Kempe and Fiala. Juice has become a very solid defensive player as he has matured. You don’t get that with Fiala. That said, I have had the feeling the Kings may move Juice since his breakout season 2 years ago. He has actually become so good now that a one-for-one trade for a top 4 LD may be realistically considered. I’d hate to lose the guy though. RW1 with Kopitar has been such a difficult spot to fill since Stick left.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Agree about McLellan. But disagree about your comparison between Kempe and Fiala. Juice has become a very solid defensive player as he has matured. You don’t get that with Fiala. That said, I have had the feeling the Kings may move Juice since his breakout season 2 years ago. He has actually become so good now that a one-for-one trade for a top 4 LD may be realistically considered. I’d hate to lose the guy though. RW1 with Kopitar has been such a difficult spot to fill since Stick left.

Kempe's our 2nd best player IMO behind Fiala (in pure skill), no way I'd let go of him. And he's also the future leadership after Kopi is gone. I believe he's been glued to Kopi for a reason (to learn the all around game, and it's working). No way he goes.

I don't see any big moves happening, besides maybe coach going if we completely skip the playoffs.

 

[VCRW]

Kempe's our 2nd best player IMO behind Fiala (in pure skill), no way I'd let go of him. And he's also the future leadership after Kopi is gone. I believe he's been glued to Kopi for a reason (to learn the all around game, and it's working). No way he goes.

I don't see any big moves happening, besides maybe coach going if we completely skip the playoffs.

I hope you are correct. And I am, of course, not advocating trading Kempe!

Juice has been my favorite King to watch since he joined the big club. But other teams are going to ask a high price for the player the Kings need. Hope Blake has enough pieces to package without diminishing the top talent. But some team may demand starter for starter.

On the positive side, I’m thinking Kempe hits 40 this year…

 

[santiclaws]

On the positive side, I’m thinking Kempe hits 40 this year…

He'd really have to catch fire. 18 goals in 29 games. Not impossible, but difficult.

 

[Ice24]

He'd really have to catch fire. 18 goals in 29 games. Not impossible, but difficult.

What's crazy is 29 games left.

 

[VCRW]

He'd really have to catch fire. 18 goals in 29 games. Not impossible, but difficult.

High hopes for sure, but he does have the most multi-goal games on the squad. It could happen...

Was Gretzky the last King to hit 40? Kopi hasn't. Ziggy only hit 40 for the Islanders. Carts and Gaborik didn't score 40 in L.A either.

 

[santiclaws]

High hopes for sure, but he does have the most multi-goal games on the squad. It could happen...

Was Gretzky the last King to hit 40? Kopi hasn't. Ziggy only hit 40 for the Islanders. Carts and Gaborik didn't score 40 in L.A either.

Wow, you're probably right. That's a long time.

EDIT: Looks like Robitaille in 92-93. 63 goals. It's been 30 years.

 

[Ice24]

I'm bored already and we have another 7.3 days.

 

[Clif]

Wheeler in the Athletic ranked the Kings the 7th best prospect pool. Thought it’d be worse than that by now but let’s hope other GMs value Kings prospects as much and Blake can finally ship some talent out. I’m real aware of the Kings pipeline and yet looking at these names on paper it really strikes me how much the value looks like it would dip after Spence.

Here are the 15 listed:

1 Brandt Clarke
2 Quinton Byfield
3 Jordan Spence
4 Alex Turcotte
5 Alex Laferriere
6 Helge Grans
7 Francesco Pinelli
8 Martin Chromiak
9 Rasmus Kupari
10 Samuel Fagemo
11 Tobias Bjornfot
12 Jack Hughes
13 Kenny Connors
14 Kasper Simontaival
15 Otto Salin

JAD, Thomas, and Madden aren’t listed because they aged out at 23. Kaliyev isn’t aged out but apparently he’s considered a full-on NHL’er? True but Kupari is included and has 100 NHL games. Weird.

Surprised Helenius isn’t on there but I haven’t been paying much attention to the Reign. I’m excited about Pinelli’s potential down the line.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

I'm bored already and we have another 7.3 days.

Did anyone watch that skills .. thing? That was a disaster.

 

[VCRW]

Did anyone watch that skills .. thing? That was a disaster.

But it was great to see Fiala finish second in Fastest Skater. That's 2 years i a row a King has placed second. Wasn't so long ago that our Kings were old and slow.

 

[VCRW]

Wheeler in the Athletic ranked the Kings the 7th best prospect pool. Thought it’d be worse than that by now but let’s hope other GMs value Kings prospects as much and Blake can finally ship some talent out. I’m real aware of the Kings pipeline and yet looking at these names on paper it really strikes me how much the value looks like it would dip after Spence.

Here are the 15 listed:

1 Brandt Clarke
2 Quinton Byfield
3 Jordan Spence
4 Alex Turcotte
5 Alex Laferriere
6 Helge Grans
7 Francesco Pinelli
8 Martin Chromiak
9 Rasmus Kupari
10 Samuel Fagemo
11 Tobias Bjornfot
12 Jack Hughes
13 Kenny Connors
14 Kasper Simontaival
15 Otto Salin

JAD, Thomas, and Madden aren’t listed because they aged out at 23. Kaliyev isn’t aged out but apparently he’s considered a full-on NHL’er? True but Kupari is included and has 100 NHL games. Weird.

Surprised Helenius isn’t on there but I haven’t been paying much attention to the Reign. I’m excited about Pinelli’s potential down the line.

Can't wait to see Clarke in the NHL full time next season. Among the forwards, Chromiak, Pinelli and Laferriere seem to have the best chance to crack the big club in the near future.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

But it was great to see Fiala finish second in Fastest Skater. That's 2 years i a row a King has placed second. Wasn't so long ago that our Kings were old and slow.

That was neat, though I wish it was every player. I don't know if they just pack the already fastest dudes?

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Seems like the Kings would do well with two underpaid goalies actually competing for the crease, and who both make sub 2 mill. A true tandem scenario like Reimer/Copley. If they find their Vasilevsky or Shesterkin somewhere along they way, so be it, sign the guy to term.

Blake really needs to look at packaging some of those surplus forwards(who are almost subject to waivers) for future picks, although unlikely that they’re now able to be moved given the fact that other teams can have them for free come the start of next season. I could see quite a few of the teams with the low rated prospect pools picking over the Kings this upcoming waiver frenzy at the start of next season.

 

[Nyssa42]

That was neat, though I wish it was every player. I don't know if they just pack the already fastest dudes?

They just pick the ones willing to stay sober long enough to not fall down during the competition

 

[Ice24]

They just pick the ones willing to stay sober long enough to not fall down during the competition

It's all part of the experience

 

[Illegal_Stick]

Rumours here that Chycrun about to go the Leafs. Ottawa radio saying it’s basically a done deal.