Definitely but this is a team that will be very young on the blue line and still doesn't have a #1 goalie. He's doing it the hard way, but I like the way Hextall is building this team. I just think they need more scoring if he's serious about making the playoffs in 2018. Once the D corps matures, I think this will be a fine team for a nice long while.
- fls13

Ok. But the window for this team is not next season. In 2018 there will be better FA that if they see a need maybe they play in that market.

The window for this team is still a little away. Like 18-19 season.

Is Ryan Gosling still available?
- YuenglingJagr

Not IRL! (frank)ing Eva Mendes......

But yes his character Sebastian is available. I had promised it to Toby Flenderson, but just between us, he is no Sebastian. I should tell you now though: I already am playing the Emma Stone role. I don't want to make things awkward.

Ok. But the window for this team is not next season. In 2018 there will be better FA that if they see a need maybe they play in that market.

The window for this team is still a little away. Like 18-19 season.
- J35Bacher

I agree . . . to a point, but I'm not running around saying this should be a playoff team now. Hextall is. I think he could be right but needs to get busy with the forwards corps STAT.

I agree . . . to a point, but I'm not running around saying this should be a playoff team now. Hextall is. I think he could be right but needs to get busy with the forwards corps STAT.
- fls13

What do you want him to say. We (frank)ing suck and need big changes?

I mean if they played consistent hockey they could have beaten out the leafs for that wildcard. they just were terrible after the 10 game winning streak.

What do you want him to say. We (frank)ing suck and need big changes?

I mean if they played consistent hockey they could have beaten out the leafs for that wildcard. they just were terrible after the 10 game winning streak.
- J35Bacher

Hahaha, well they don't suck and they don't need big changes but they do need help up front . . . and they need a goalie. That HAS to happen.

I agree . . . to a point, but I'm not running around saying this should be a playoff team now. Hextall is. I think he could be right but needs to get busy with the forwards corps STAT.
- fls13

I don't think Hextall is far off saying we should / could be a playoff team this season. It's not like we lost anyone from last year's team that helped us reach the playoffs. We added TK and Provy to the team (and Weise) which I'm sure Hexy thought would make us better but inconveniently we had sucky goaltending and an injured Claude Giroux. And a team wide 5V5 scoring plague. But there is a difference between playoff team and contender. We def need more pieces to reach that status.

I hope Lyubimov lights it up.

Definitely but this is a team that will be very young on the blue line and still doesn't have a #1 goalie. He's doing it the hard way, but I like the way Hextall is building this team. I just think they need more scoring if he's serious about making the playoffs in 2018. Once the D corps matures, I think this will be a fine team for a nice long while.
- fls13

You keep mentioning making the playoffs in 2018. You do understand that Hextall's vision is building through the draft and is a long term view to hopefully build a team that contend for a number of years. He won't have an issue trading older players and adding a short term player to the mix to help the team now if there is no cost of the future, but his priority is to build the team for the future. I don't think ensuring that the team makes the playoffs in 2018 is as much as a priority as you're giving it.

Hahaha, well they don't suck and they don't need big changes but they do need help up front . . . and they need a goalie. That HAS to happen.
- fls13

Expansion is causing the game with Goalies. I'd wait until after the expansion draft to panic about that position.

I don't think Hextall is far off saying we should / could be a playoff team this season. It's not like we lost anyone from last year's team that helped us reach the playoffs. We added TK and Provy to the team (and Weise) which I'm sure Hexy thought would make us better but inconveniently we had sucky goaltending and an injured Claude Giroux. And a team wide 5V5 scoring plague. But there is a difference between playoff team and contender. We def need more pieces to reach that status.
- arichardson22

A few things went the wrong way last year but I think we have to be realistic about how far bounce back years from Giroux and Voracek will go. This team does have a ways to go to be a legit contender but I'm all for them getting into the playoffs next year and maybe catching some lightning in a bottle. That kind of experience is invaluable.

PSG, my boy, where you at? I thoroughly enjoyed this courtesy of new LA Kings GM Rob Blake:

"You take that in steps, whether you take it from the d-zone, you take the neutral zone, the offensive zone, then you start adding the analytics to what you think you’re seeing, and you’re either going to be supported or it’ll going to go against it. I think it supported a lot – we were at the bottom of controlled entries, goals off controlled entries, we were near the bottom at getting the puck to the slot, whether you were skating it or passing it...

"Whether we’re going to be at the top of the league or not I can’t say that, but you don’t want to be at the bottom in those categories."

This sounds very advanced and well beyond anything I have ever seen. I have a lot of reading up to do.

Of course I saw the difference Filppula made, it's why my first option is adding another vet forward as a UFA. Gostisbehere to wing is a second resort. The status quo is a very, very last resort.
- fls13

You'd rather convert a defenseman to a winger before trading for one?

The Kings won the Corsi Cup, which is what counts in the end.

Yes, I'm well aware. I don't want to trade Ghost. Was just explaining why his name gets thrown into trade discussions on here.
- arichardson22

I agree. However, as of this moment, he's our most dynamic offensive blueliner. Until someone shows they can be similar at the NHL level, I'm not willing to trade him unless it's for a young top-line winger.

You'd rather convert a defenseman to a winger before trading for one?
- jmatchett383

Trade what for who? We're obviously not GMs here. If Hextall can match what he did with the Filppula trade, I'd be doing cartwheels. I think they need another guy on the wing, besides the unproven Lindblom, who can put pucks in the net. I really don't care how he gets that done.

Trade what for who? We're obviously not GMs here. If Hextall can match what he did with the Filppula trade, I'd be doing cartwheels. I think they need another guy on the wing, besides the unproven Lindblom, who can put pucks in the net. I really don't care how he gets that done.
- fls13

I'm not sure what the package would be, the same way that I don't know who this magic young, top-line left winger who won't want 6 years or 4+M per year we're going to sign in UFA. I would just make trading for one a more stomachable option than converting a defenseman to winger.

I'm not sure what the package would be. I would just make trading for one a more stomachable option than converting a defenseman to winger.
- jmatchett383

So would signing a UFA and that wouldn't cost you anything but cash. Hextall does have options, some we're obviously not aware of at the moment.

PSG, my boy, where you at? I thoroughly enjoyed this courtesy of new LA Kings GM Rob Blake:


This sounds very advanced and well beyond anything I have ever seen. I have a lot of reading up to do.
- Mononoke

Not IRL! (frank)ing Eva Mendes......

But yes his character Sebastian is available. I had promised it to Toby Flenderson, but just between us, he is no Sebastian. I should tell you now though: I already am playing the Emma Stone role. I don't want to make things awkward.
- Mononoke

Your voice is perfect for Emma Stone

Trade what for who? We're obviously not GMs here. If Hextall can match what he did with the Filppula trade, I'd be doing cartwheels. I think they need another guy on the wing, besides the unproven Lindblom, who can put pucks in the net. I really don't care how he gets that done.
- fls13

speak for yourself, please

PSG, my boy, where you at? I thoroughly enjoyed this courtesy of new LA Kings GM Rob Blake:


This sounds very advanced and well beyond anything I have ever seen. I have a lot of reading up to do.
- Mononoke

They have data that would make your Richard spin

So would signing a UFA and that wouldn't cost you anything but cash. Hextall does have options, some we're obviously not aware of at the moment.
- fls13

Never mind, make them all change positions. I don't care, you're right, you win.

speak for yourself, please
- YuenglingJagr

If you get any offers for Read, Raffl or Weise, let me know so I can sign off on it. Nah, just go ahead and do the deal.

PSG, my boy, where you at? I thoroughly enjoyed this courtesy of new LA Kings GM Rob Blake:


This sounds very advanced and well beyond anything I have ever seen. I have a lot of reading up to do.
- Mononoke

It sounds like he's saying, "We watched the tape, then we tried to make the numbers fit, and if they didn't, we disregarded them."

Your voice is perfect for Emma Stone
- YuenglingJagr