Since winning two cups and making the WCF in between over 2011 to 2014, the LA Kings have alternated between first round exits and missing the playoffs. While they have a number of good players in key positions (Kopitar, Doughty, Quick), last year it looked like this is a team that needs to enter a rebuild, or at the very least a significant re-tool around those three players. GM Rob Blake has to decide if the way forward is to scratch and claw their way into the playoffs this season, or continue the sell off that began last year to reset this club and be a yearly contender once again.
Personally, I think the Kings will hold off on a total blowup and attempt to make the playoffs with what they have. If they are out of it early, they continue to sell off of pending UFA's and perhaps look at moving out a core piece. They go short term with their RFA/prospect re-signings to see what they have in them before making them a core part of the club and pass on big game UFA signings. I could see a couple off season trades to make room for their younger players to get more playing time as part of the process of evaluating them, but I don't think they'll make a major move until they see if last year was just a one season face plant, or if they are in fact trending towards being a bad team.
RFA's
Iafallo - Extension 1 x $2.5M
Kempe - Bridge deal 3 x $2.5M
Leipsic - Extended 2 x $1.25M
Amadio - Extended 2 x 750k
Roy - Extended 2 x 925k
Petersen - Extended 2 x $975k
Sherbak - Signed in the KHL
Lintuniemi, Rempal, Brickley sign one year qualifying offers.
UFA's
Kings let their pending UFA's go without a contract offer.
To truly compete for a playoff spot LA should look to UFA to find a defenseman that can take some of the load off Doughty and/or perhaps an upgrade to the top 6 to allow Carter to share Center responsibilities with a LW that has experience up the middle as he slows with age. With ~$5.6M left after putting together my lineup I looked at Dzingel and Johansson to upgrade on Grundstrom but decided to not spend on any UFA's as depending on how next season goes the team may be entering a re-build. I was also priced out of the Myers / Gardiner market but those are guys that would help LA's lineup if they were indeed in win-now mode.
Trades
Comments included with each. Overall LA looks to make room for prospects that are pushing their way up the depth chart in the off season and deals pending UFA's if they fall out of the playoff picture. Candidate UFA's to move include: LaDue, Clifford, Lewis, Campbell, Forbert, Toffoli (though I expect LA pushes to extend him).
Lineup Changes
MacDermid draws in as an enforcer periodically. Roy, Walker, and Lintuniemi compete for two lineup spots throughout the year (Phaneuf and Martinez can both play LD & RD). Similarly, Prokhorkin, Leipsic, Grundstrom and Wagner's spots are fluid and these guys will draw in and out of the lineup based on who is playing best. PP#1 LW spot is up for grabs between Prokhorkin, Leipsic, and Grundstrom. For now I've assumed they pair the Russians on both a scoring third line and the PP, and that they keep 3 LS's & 3 RS's for the defense.
the penguins are not a cap dump team. They aren't going to take your aging forward that is only a bottom 6 player. They have enough cap issues of their own.
The reality of it is, if there is a cap dump team between the two of them it's LA. Which would take the penguins cap dump for a pick to rebuild.
the penguins are not a cap dump team. They aren't going to take your aging forward that is only a bottom 6 player. They have enough cap issues of their own.
The reality of it is, if there is a cap dump team between the two of them it's LA. Which would take the penguins cap dump for a pick to rebuild.
I don't think Lewis is a cap dump (he makes only $2M for a 3rd/4th line player that can play all three spots and get 25 point at minimum). I see the Penguins making the move as they are in win-now mode. Lewis is the exact player you acquire for a cup run at the deadline for a mid round pick.
I also looked at sending him to Florida as their bottom 6 depth is trash, or to Washington who like Pittsburgh had a bad performance from their fourth line in the playoffs. I will edit to send him to Florida as it is likely the better fit.
I don't think Lewis is a cap dump (he makes only $2M) for a 3rd/4th line player that can play all three spots and get 25 point at minimum. I see the Penguins making the move as they are in win-now mode. Lewis is the exact player you acquire for a cup run at the deadline for a mid round pick.
I also looked at sending him to Florida as their bottom 6 depth is trash, or Washington like Pittsburgh whose fourth line was not good. I will edit to having Florida's third.
the penguins don't have cap space for an aging 3rd line forward with falling production. They need to drop cap to even be compliant.
I think Lewis is better suited elsewhere, but the value on the trade and signings are good.
What's missing is that LA should make an attempt at trading Forbort, Martinez, Phaneuf, Toffoli and Carter.
In my AGM, they cross this bridge based on how the first few months of the season go. I think Montreal or Chicago would have interest in Forbort/Martinez at the deadline if they are in the mix and LA is out. Toffoli/Carter could be a fit out in Washington or Carolina depending on what they do with their UFA's/RFA's but again I expect the move would happen closer to deadline. I think Carter is here the whole year even and moved next off season with two years left on his deal if LA elects to do a full rebuild. Nobody is going to have any interest in Phaneuf unless perhaps the rumored trade to Toronto for Marleau goes ahead and that requires both of them to waive their NMC's. I have him rehabbing his value on the bottom pairing and maybe PP#2 for a few months to see if that gets anyone to be interested in him as a deadline acquisition (with retention by LA).
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
OldNYIfan liked this.
CapFriendly
CapFriendly