Quoting: Bf3351
Doughtys contract isn't horrible because we aren't hurting cap wise. The last 5 games this season he had t points. His production decrease is the result of being on a rebuilding team like most good players on rebuilding teams. He was worth every penny when he signed the contract. Just came off of a 60 point season back then. You'll see him progress next season and the season after not decline. This season was proof he is not decline. If you look at his production game by game this year you will see that there was lots of hot and cold streaks. He would get 5 points in 5 games then get 0 points in 5 games and went through that cycle pretty much the whole year. Declining players dont do that. Decline players have cold streaks and that's about it. No hot streaks.
I have no idea who the Kings will actually pick, I am not in their office. If they pick Byfield they'll have to trade Kopitar in like 1 year. I dont think that's Blake's style. If they draft Stutzle they can trade Kopitar later in his career or wait till he retires. Kopitar hasn't really decline either. I project Byfields ceiling being an 80/90+ point player. I project Vilardi Vilardi being our future 1C and being a 70/80+ point player.
Stutzle is the better player IMO and has the same ceiling production wise. Which makes him the more logical choice and gives us the rare ability to actually draft for need, LW. We dont need more centers. Turcotte as is, will have to play LW for his first 1 or 2 seasons.
I don't really want DeAngelo anymore. I
Doughtys contract isn't horrible because we are not hurting cap wise. He was worth every bit of that money when he signed. He just came off a 60 point season back then too. Doughtys drop in production is a result of being on a rebuilding team like most good players who are on rebuilding teams... people who say he's declining dont know what they are talking about. If you look at his production this year game by game you'll see he's having hot and cold streaks. In 5 games he'll get 5 points then he'll get 0 points in 5 games. He continued that cycle all year. Decline players dont have hot streaks. They only have cold streaks. Next year and the year after you'll see his production increase significantly.
I have a clue on who the Kings might draft out of the two, I don't have a seat in the Kings office. If we draft Byfield we will have to trade Kopitar in about a year. That's not Blake's style. I want Stutzle. He is the better in my opinion. Byfields ceiling is 80/90+ points IMO. Vilardi will be a 70/80+ point player. Stutzles ceiling production wise is about the same as Byfield. The Kings have the rare ability to pick based on position. They should pick Stutzle. Kings already have to play Turcotte on the LW for his first season or two.
I dont really want DeAngelo anymore. I still want Sergachev, but I think I would rather wait and draft Brandt Clarke instead and trade up for him if needed.
Nice, finally you can read, it's a progress... !!! I hope you will draft well
I can't wait to see for a surprise pick. (that's my feeling). Maybe you guys just draft Rossi
I really like Rossi.
Vilardi so far projection wise:a middle top6 center, he hasn't proved in the NHL yet.
Getting 10 points in the NHL doesn't mean his next 500 games he will get the same point percentage.
So far he looks like a good player... but noone knows him so he has an easier time. No injuries etc...
Yes he can improve and become a 1st line center but that's just wishful thinking right now(see lots of teams who failed to get over the year to get a true number # 1 center like crosby/matthews etc...), that he will beat Kopitar anytime soon in the next 3 years...
Obviously you hope that's the case, but it's like the odds not on your side... i will watch carefully Vilardi next year, so we can discuss about his developments, but seeing how kotkaniemi struggles in the NHL, Vilardi : with him it can happen the same time... If he develops slowly in like 4 years, than it still doesn't mean success the other 3 years...
And thats the problem.Blake should trade away Kopitar(but this trade has a huge downside which i will discuss later) until he gets value for him... so in 3 years you have so many good talents, that only 1 or 2 need to work. If you draft Byfield and he gets to be only a 60 point player? Do you think that's enough? Will you still praise him? Or will you be disappointed? First 3 seasons all 60 points or lower...
Remember in LA much harder to get 100 point seasons, than in for example Toronto or Tampa, which teams are full 100% offense/ 0% defense = much more points in general...
I will tell you example: Kucherov in tampa = 120 points. Kucherov in 2020 in LA = 90 points... The difference is insane... These teams never played the same way...
I have never seen any LA team, which cares about offense at all. Dustin Brown = all about toughness/grind... Yes Doughty is good now i agree with your statement. The problem is that it will not be always like that. Next 2 years super good Doughty = not good for your team... In 2023 you still expect Doughty be amazing top tier defender? I for sure not... Decline will start sooner or later... With Hedman it will happen too... thats why we need to win until he becomes mediocre... couple years we have left, he is close to 30
So back to Byfield:I would consider him a bad pick then at #2 place...(first 3 years = struggle) Don't forget that he is a big guy, so while he is crushing low level leagues = not a guarantee he will crush NHL, when Bergeron will try to defend vs him or Mark Stone... It's easy to reach 100 points in low level leagues and really hard to reach 90 points in NHL: see Goudreau this season.... You thought Goudreau is a 100 point superstar, guess what he isn't...
One 80 points season also really doesn't help your franchise.
You need to be consistent, like Kopitar(almost always beat the opposition).
Like look what Patrick Kane did over the years. If Vilardi is only 60% of that it's not good enough... like 110 points vs 70 points = not a ture #1 line centre... If this draft doesn't have a true #1 line centre, then you need to hit the lottery later years or trade for one(borderline impossible).
Kopitar i think won't get traded, beacuse of the "teaching" value, if you know what i mean... I thought about Kopitar a couple times while playing NHL 20... he will stay imo for a while, because of teaching all those young kids how to defend as a forward... that value is really good... but that means next 3 years is in the trash bin... will you be happy with a .550 win % in 3 years? like a Columbus? (no real shot at cup).
I think Byfield will be that player... who helps you get better... but not great... if you know what i mean... great = 80-90 points + no leaks in game...
In other words Byfield for sure will be a worse version of Kopitar which is not good enough to win cups... all GM's goals should be = only win cups. ( + fill stadiums for profits which is in corona times is hard
)
TLDR: I would skip Byfield --> or trade down --> = get multiple picks = more chance of finding that true #1 centre- maybe trade with ottawa for #3 + 5# pick for a (pick #2 + something package)
What do you think about Rossi + Askarov? #3 + #5 if ottawa willing to trade for #2 pick? Maybe Stützle/Raymond + Askarov?
A good goalie, like old quick = for sure playoffs when in prime
Askarov i think will be really good... Do you think LA has a good goalie yet for future? Without a good goalie, all teams are hopeless in the playoffs...
Doughty's contract will be horrible(it's mediocre/bad now) in 2023 most likely... that was my point when u guys starting to get compete... maybe... when those bad "other" contracts expire...
Move Doughty and/or Quick next year? Keep Kopitar for full contract?(to teach the young studs)