Not nearly as good.

I’m writing this part to point out why I did this. Obviously Armchair is here so we all can have fun, try new things. Obviously I much prefer Kopi and Doughty on our team.

But to respond to your statement now.

I definitely will always respect your opinion. However, personally I think we are a little better. Our 4 lines will match up perfectly against any team in the NHL.

Offensively (Kane, Taresanko, Toews, Sundsqvist > Kopitar, Grundstrom, Lewis) “Roster Players”

Defensively (Doughty > Murray and Bear) without a doubt. Clarke is young and will be nowhere close to Doughty this season. Doughty is a 2 time Stanley cup champion, a Norris winner and very experienced defenseman. But maybe Clarke can put some offensive numbers.

Goaltending- Miles better with Helly in net.

And Kane being one of the best playmakers in the game, he will only help Byfields numbers and give QB more confidence.

And I just realized something too.

Every forward line has a Stanley Cup Champion

Line - 1 Kane
Line 2 - Taresenko
Line 3 - Arvidsson
Line 4 - Toews

When did Arvy win a stanley cup? In his dreams? Cause he didnt do it with the Kings or Nash......

Kopitar plays 22 minutes every night in every situation. He is the single best penalty killer on the team, and among the very best in the league. He also has been the team's leading scorer for every season except one since 2007-08. You're not going to be able to replace him by committee.

Doughty plays more per game than every single player in the league not named Cale Makar. He's one of the very best defensive defenseman in the league, while also being a guy that regularly puts up 50 points per season.

This team is both offensively and defensively inferior to the team the Kings iced last season. The only improvement is at goaltender, and even that's debatable since Hellebuyck would be playing behind a team that's significantly inferior defensively than Copley and Korpisalo had to play behind.

For a team whose biggest problem during last postseason was the PK, getting rid of your two best PKers doesn't seem like a great idea.

I think the argument that I believe has merit is would the Kings be better able to ice a Stanley cup contender without the money we are giving Doughty. Let's say he was on LTIR for his career. $11M could be redistributed to get us Hellebuyck at $6M and Orlov at $7.5M. I believe we are worse defensively with a huge boost at goalie.

The part where you lose me is Kopitar. Kopitar is a legit 2-way threat who must be a part of the Kings for at least the next two seasons to stay playoff competitive. Patrice Bergeron at 37 still eats 22 minutes a night and is the backbone of the Bruins, this is very much the case with LA (for now). To move Kopitar $10M and use that cap space to get Tarasenko and Kane for $11.75M collectively really doesn't move the needle. You just lost the primary playmaker for Kempe, and will require Byfield to take on minutes and a position he just isn't ready for. If the Kings were about 2-3 years from now, a win now sort of strategy could make sense. But even then, Kopitar's best contract will be next season, where he signs for half his cap hit and produces like a top-6 selke center, who can imprint on PLD and Byfield the characteristics of a shut-down elite playmaker.

Appropriately timed Kopitar extension announced...

I would sooner gouge my eyes out than watch Kane and Toews in a Kings uni.