The other teams thread

Rumor making the rounds that Brandt Clarke could be in the trade block.

It makes 0 sense to trade the highest scoring defenseman on a team that cannot score to save their lives.
I have not heard about any rumor on this, not to say I’m discounting it.
Is this just bloggers overreacting to the scratch or is there something to it?
Teams like mixed pairs with R/L and who is the third R if Clarke is traded? It really can’t be Burroughs, can it?
Of course a R defenseman could come in the package but this seems really far out of left field.

Re the Kings, while they had a stretch of puck luck on their side for a bit the last couple weeks the Kings haven’t had any. No bounces. No breaks. No calls. Add in the team wide scoring slump and it’s no surprise they are losing.
I don’t want to sound like a beggar but this has got to change, right??
 
Yeah, I don’t like the idea of trading Fiala for a rental and I’m not sure I would want to trade him anyway. He brings something the Kings need. Yep, he can be frustrating. But he is signed long term with a decent cap hit.

The Gavrikov situation is real and needs to be addressed quickly.
You are correct that his last contract was not easy.
Before this season I was not onboard with resigning him. I thought last season was a bit below par and that he would want an increase in salary.
But this season he has been good, real good. But I just don’t see how the Kings should or would pay him more than 6M. And he’s gonna get multiple offers for more than that.
I think Gavy is gonna leave which means the Kings need to decide to trade him or lose him for nothing.
If this team is a contender you have to keep him for the playoff run. If they are a pretender you deal him. Blake needs to tune it all out and make the right decision.
It’s a tough decision. And I’m curious what the acquisitions would be if Gavy was dealt.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to trade Gavy. With Moverare and Edmundson proving to be very solid and dependable and with Englund as depth option at LD the Kings should seek to convert Gavrikov into an asset that will stay with the team...therefore Boeser should be considered but only if he agrees to sign at a reasonable amount (which IMO should be possible considering he's having a down year).
 
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to trade Gavy. With Moverare and Edmundson proving to be very solid and dependable and with Englund as depth option at LD the Kings should seek to convert Gavrikov into an asset that will stay with the team...therefore Boeser should be considered but only if he agrees to sign at a reasonable amount (which IMO should be possible considering he's having a down year).
I’m getting there too. And throwing even more money at Gavi next contract isn’t going to help the scoring this team so clearly needs.

On that note, as the team is constructed it has top 9 wingers who can score, just no one is. Who do we lose next year to make room for an upgrade? Not sticking Turc on the 4th line.

it’s clearly between Moore and Fiala. I lean Moore. Fiala is having a down year but season over season you want that production.

Biggest issue perhaps is the centers aren’t scoring. Not making scoring plays, not getting goals. I wonder about Turcotte replacing Danault sooner than later. Not this season soon, but depending on how it ends up, what do you do there? Could be Danault who’d get moved over Moore.
 
I am on the r"esolve the Gavrikov issue" bandwagon. Try to extend him at around 6M. If he wants unreasonable money the trade him for a forward or pick/prospect. Unfortunately, Blake has had awful asset management to date so he'll probably maintain his usual MO of letting people walk for nothing.

Right now the Kings have 7 D for 6 spots-- Doughty, Mikey, Gavi, Joel, Clarke, Spence, and Mo. So they should move someone for assets rather than scratch someone who deserves to be playing. Especially if the someone is Clarke. Get a forward who can contribute while freeing up a roster spot. Or get a pick/prospect and then we can use the 6-7M of cap space over the summer to fill a hole.

What I expect is Mikey will have a broken hand and Blake will do nothing because we need Gavrikov on LD for the next 6 weeks.
 
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I’m getting there too. And throwing even more money at Gavi next contract isn’t going to help the scoring this team so clearly needs.

On that note, as the team is constructed it has top 9 wingers who can score, just no one is. Who do we lose next year to make room for an upgrade? Not sticking Turc on the 4th line.

it’s clearly between Moore and Fiala. I lean Moore. Fiala is having a down year but season over season you want that production.

Biggest issue perhaps is the centers aren’t scoring. Not making scoring plays, not getting goals. I wonder about Turcotte replacing Danault sooner than later. Not this season soon, but depending on how it ends up, what do you do there? Could be Danault who’d get moved over Moore.
I’m just about there on Gavrikov. He’s a fantastic d-man but just like Matt Roy, he’s not the d-man this team needs moving forward. What the Kings have shown is they know how to limit scoring chances almost regardless of who is on the blue line. It’s pretty impressive actually.

Kings coming into this season with no Matt Roy and no Doughty for 45 games while adding a statistically terrible Joel Edmundson but somehow the defense is actually better vs. last season. That’s bigger than the personnel. That’s the system. So why commit so much money to Gavrikov when we have much bigger needs?
 
I am on the r"esolve the Gavrikov issue" bandwagon. Try to extend him at around 6M. If he wants unreasonable money the trade him for a forward or pick/prospect. Unfortunately, Blake has had awful asset management to date so he'll probably maintain his usual MO of letting people walk for nothing.

Right now the Kings have 7 D for 6 spots-- Doughty, Mikey, Gavi, Joel, Clarke, Spence, and Mo. So they should move someone for assets rather than scratch someone who deserves to be playing. Especially if the someone is Clarke. Get a forward who can contribute while freeing up a roster spot. Or get a pick/prospect and then we can use the 6-7M of cap space over the summer to fill a hole.

What I expect is Mikey will have a broken hand and Blake will do nothing because we need Gavrikov on LD for the next 6 weeks.
Unfortunately this feels about 99% accurate. Mikey’s hand is a real tough blow.
I’m just about there on Gavrikov. He’s a fantastic d-man but just like Matt Roy, he’s not the d-man this team needs moving forward. What the Kings have shown is they know how to limit scoring chances almost regardless of who is on the blue line. It’s pretty impressive actually.

Kings coming into this season with no Matt Roy and no Doughty for 45 games while adding a statistically terrible Joel Edmundson but somehow the defense is actually better vs. last season. That’s bigger than the personnel. That’s the system. So why commit so much money to Gavrikov when we have much bigger needs?
Seriously impressive. Makes me feel that much better about keeping Mo and letting him just plug in at his bargain rate over Gavi. This system insulates that drop off.

I don’t think Hiller strictly handcuffs creative players, Fiala and Clarke get to Fiala and Clarke often enough. But this roster is showing it needs more threats to keep other teams guessing. Just feels like the Kings are very predictable on offense with these current players.
 
And now is Dallas going for it with the trade for Granlund & Ceci, the same with Calgary and Vancouver WHO is trying to strengthen their teams. Meanwhile Blake does nothing…
 
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Rentals are great if you believe you have a shot to make a run. With the makeup of this current Kings team, I don’t believe Blake or anyone believes they have any chance to make a run so he most likely will wait until the off-season to make a major move.
 
And now is Dallas going for it with the trade for Granlund & Ceci, the same with Calgary and Vancouver WHO is trying to strengthen their teams. Meanwhile Blake does nothing…
The teams that have a legitimate shot of making a run are now making moves.
 
The teams that have a legitimate shot of making a run are now making moves.
There is no way Calgary and Vancouver has a better shot at the cup than we do! And still their GMs are doing what they can to get their team better.

I know the Miller situation wasn’t something the Nucks GM planned, but when taken care of that he still went on and got Marcus Pettersson to get better.
 
And now is Dallas going for it with the trade for Granlund & Ceci, the same with Calgary and Vancouver WHO is trying to strengthen their teams. Meanwhile Blake does nothing…

Dallas making moves. What are your plans Rob? Oh, that is right. You probably do not have any.

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Dallas making moves. What are your plans Rob? Oh, that is right. You probably do not have any.
Right shot top 6 scoring forward is the need... but Rob doesn't have the pieces to make it happen this season. He's not giving up Greentree, George, or Slukynsky right now. I would think Portillo and Burroughs could be involved along with draft picks.
 
Right shot top 6 scoring forward is the need... but Rob doesn't have the pieces to make it happen this season. He's not giving up Greentree, George, or Slukynsky right now. I would think Portillo and Burroughs could be involved along with draft picks.

Yep, that was a need last year as well. I was just bringing up the fact that teams are making moves and Blake is screwed and probably has no plan. I am thinking he has more flexibility this year. Last year I was asking him to sell Roy and Arvy at the deadline. Get something for them rather than just lose them. This team is looking to be in that same position. Was thinking of moving Gavi and the deadline, but with the increased cap space, maybe they can afford to over pay him.
 
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