Jason Lewis: Confidence in the Kings

That really was a full blown collapse last year. Weren't you up like 18 points in the division after Christmas or something like that? And now the team is much thinner than they were even last season with no real impact prospects to call on.

I'm really going to enjoy this inevitable rebuilding period. Unless of course DL has some more circumvention specialties up his sleeve.

last i checked, the ducks didn't go any farther in the postseason. you could argue that after winning the pacific, its an even greater collapse to lose in the first round and have to fire your coach, only to hire another one you fired before the last one. good luck with that.

as for cap gymnastics, i still question if LV would even want someone like brown or gaborik and their horrific deals, but stranger things have happened. if dean has to deal a pick to LV to ensure they take one of them (even a first rounder), its worth it in my book.

Yeah it kind of went from "In Dean we trust" to "what are you doing Dean?". His signings lately have been a head scratcher. In a league where speed is king he goes and signs Scuderi and Lecavalier. He gave Kopitar too much money and Doughty will need a new contract in 3 years. With all the picks traded rebuilding is not going to be pretty. They better pray Las Vegas picks up Brown.

"On paper the Kings 2016-17 team arguably looks stronger than that of the 2015-16 team that ended last season."

Please elaborate. Losing Lucic was significant.

I'll take the two cups for those trades anyday!

"On paper the Kings 2016-17 team arguably looks stronger than that of the 2015-16 team that ended last season."

Please elaborate. Losing Lucic was significant.
- quackup

Went over it in decent detail here:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...t-Re-Sign-Lucic/179/77760

But in short, Kings saved money, will be able to sign players ala Pearson/Shore/McNabb/Toffoli in the future, and were able to allocate space to signings like Latta, Trotman, and RFAs Forbort, Dowd.

It will hurt right now, but in the long game it's a much safer deal to let him go rather than committing too much for too long on term.

"On paper the Kings 2016-17 team arguably looks stronger than that of the 2015-16 team that ended last season."

Please elaborate. Losing Lucic was significant.
- quackup

defensive depth is better, with more options. being forced to play scuderi 23 min hopefully won't happen again.

offensively, you do lose points from lucic, but is it a stretch to say purcell could score 15 goals? the delta isn't as big, plus there are young options that should challenge for time like mersch or perhaps even kempe down the stretch that weren't ready last year.

i just hope that sutter uses the reg season to get meaningful minutes for some of the younger players so they're ready to take on the challenge in the postseason.

Went over it in decent detail here:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...t-Re-Sign-Lucic/179/77760

But in short, Kings saved money, will be able to sign players ala Pearson/Shore/McNabb/Toffoli in the future, and were able to allocate space to signings like Latta, Trotman, and RFAs Forbort, Dowd.

It will hurt right now, but in the long game it's a much safer deal to let him go rather than committing too much for too long on term.
- Jason_Lewis

Fair enough. It's just that you stated the team looks stronger 2016-2017 then it did the end of last season. Above you state it will "hurt right now". It seems the two comments contradict each other. I have zero doubt the Kings will be far better off letting Lucic go, just not convinced it will be as soon as this season. That's all. Time will tell.

Fair enough. It's just that you stated the team looks stronger 2016-2017 then it did the end of last season. Above you state it will "hurt right now". It seems the two comments contradict each other. I have zero doubt the Kings will be far better off letting Lucic go, just not convinced it will be as soon as this season. That's all. Time will tell.
- quackup

Yea fair point. I guess it really just depends on people's personal outlook of younger players stepping in or elevating.

Trotman
Gilbert
Dowd
Mersch
Forbort
Gravel
Latta
Greene

vs.

Lecavalier
Schenn
Scuderi
Versteeg
Lucic

Lucic is obviously a big loss, but one could easily argue that the rest are better than what existed by the end of the season in their given roles.

Ya the Kings danced with the devil and came away with 2 cups and a conf finals that was pretty hard fought regardless of the games it took -

If I were a Kings fan I would have gladly taken that -

Make no mistake a team with Carter - Toffoli - Kopi - Drew - Quick and some of the kids they have is going to be just fine -

Yeah it kind of went from "In Dean we trust" to "what are you doing Dean?". His signings lately have been a head scratcher. In a league where speed is king he goes and signs Scuderi and Lecavalier. He gave Kopitar too much money and Doughty will need a new contract in 3 years. With all the picks traded rebuilding is not going to be pretty. They better pray Las Vegas picks up Brown.
- SimmerDown17

He traded for those guys. Didn't sign them. Vinny was a very solid trade. Mostly because you knew he was going to retire. And he played his ass off. It was a low risk high reward trade. Id take that trade over Versteeg anyday.

Yea fair point. I guess it really just depends on people's personal outlook of younger players stepping in or elevating.

Trotman
Gilbert
Dowd
Mersch
Forbort
Gravel
Latta
Greene

vs.

Lecavalier
Schenn
Scuderi
Versteeg
Lucic

Lucic is obviously a big loss, but one could easily argue that the rest are better than what existed by the end of the season in their given roles.
- Jason_Lewis

Mersch

He traded for those guys. Didn't sign them. Vinny was a very solid trade. Mostly because you knew he was going to retire. And he played his ass off. It was a low risk high reward trade. Id take that trade over Versteeg anyday.

That's funny, because I personally feel the Versteeg trade was alright if Versteeg was used in the top 6.

Lecavalier upset the center balance the team had, and Schenn kind of messed up the defensive stuff. You wouldn't have got Schenn without taking Lecavalier.

Downside to the Versteeg deal is that Zykov is reportedly having a monster camp with Carolina, and may have the inside track making their team out of camp. Weal and a 3rd wasn't much to give up for Schenn/Lecavalier.

That's funny, because I personally feel the Versteeg trade was alright if Versteeg was used in the top 6.

Lecavalier upset the center balance the team had, and Schenn kind of messed up the defensive stuff. You wouldn't have got Schenn without taking Lecavalier.

Downside to the Versteeg deal is that Zykov is reportedly having a monster camp with Carolina, and may have the inside track making their team out of camp. Weal and a 3rd wasn't much to give up for Schenn/Lecavalier.
- Jason_Lewis

I would agree if Versteeg was used properly. But I knew he wouldn't have. They should have just went for a more grittier guy who can chip in. Hard for Vinny to really mess up the Center balance though. Its only Shore, Lewis, Andreoff and Dowd a few times playing Center right? Shore while sound defensively isn't bringing much yet. Vinny is a huge upgrade over him I feel. And guys like Lewis and Andreoff are really good as playing Wing and Center.

I also wouldn't be opposed to keeping Schenn for a project. To see if you can get his game close to where his potential was supposed to be. But With Green not being bought out. It makes no sense to resign Schenn. The Gilbert signing concerns me. But atleast its not long term.

I was also a Zykov fan. Was hoping we were keeping him to develop him. Same for Fasching.

I would agree if Versteeg was used properly. But I knew he wouldn't have. They should have just went for a more grittier guy who can chip in. Hard for Vinny to really mess up the Center balance though. Its only Shore, Lewis, Andreoff and Dowd a few times playing Center right? Shore while sound defensively isn't bringing much yet. Vinny is a huge upgrade over him I feel. And guys like Lewis and Andreoff are really good as playing Wing and Center.

I also wouldn't be opposed to keeping Schenn for a project. To see if you can get his game close to where his potential was supposed to be. But With Green not being bought out. It makes no sense to resign Schenn. The Gilbert signing concerns me. But atleast its not long term.

I was also a Zykov fan. Was hoping we were keeping him to develop him. Same for Fasching.
- poisondhearts37

still burns me that king was used in game 5 on kopi's wing and not versteeg. cmon now.

zykov was intriguing for sure. fasching i get was the price to pay for mcnabb, and the need on defense remains, even with him.

The team is definitely worse on paper than just a few months ago. The optimism to say that it's better comes completely from hope that the kids and new additions will adequately fill all of the holes. I think that that's too much to expect and a bit of wishful thinking. It's fortunate that the Pacific is so bad that even a weaker LA team might still coast into one of the top 3 seeds (emphasis on the coast).

The duck fans

You guys are funny...

On another note, DL has been a complete moron with the past few trades. Would have rather seen C. Miller than lucic, along with a few other picks and prospects with all the other horrible trades

The team is definitely worse on paper than just a few months ago. The optimism to say that it's better comes completely from hope that the kids and new additions will adequately fill all of the holes. I think that that's too much to expect and a bit of wishful thinking. It's fortunate that the Pacific is so bad that even a weaker LA team might still coast into one of the top 3 seeds (emphasis on the coast).
- Osprey

I wouldn't say worse, I'd say the same. They aren't better that's for sure. They lost lucic. That's it

The team is definitely worse on paper than just a few months ago. The optimism to say that it's better comes completely from hope that the kids and new additions will adequately fill all of the holes. I think that that's too much to expect and a bit of wishful thinking. It's fortunate that the Pacific is so bad that even a weaker LA team might still coast into one of the top 3 seeds (emphasis on the coast).
- Osprey

Not according to Tanner. Edmonton's a lock (every year he says it). He probably thinks Arizona playoff bound too. He's got the Ducks fighting for the #1 pick in next years draft. I just roll my eyes.

Jason makes his blogs look like a kindergarden homework assignment.

Not according to Tanner. Edmonton's a lock (every year he says it). He probably thinks Arizona playoff bound too. He's got the Ducks fighting for the #1 pick in next years draft. I just roll my eyes.

Jason makes his blogs look like a kindergarden homework assignment.
- quackup

Tanner is a oxygen thief. Hes such crap. Honestly not sure how hes got a gig blogging here. You cant even have a constructive conversation with him.

That really was a full blown collapse last year. Weren't you up like 18 points in the division after Christmas or something like that? And now the team is much thinner than they were even last season with no real impact prospects to call on.

I'm really going to enjoy this inevitable rebuilding period. Unless of course DL has some more circumvention specialties up his sleeve.
- gtrman09

Not nearly as much as I've both enjoyed and shall continue to enjoy watching the Ducks continually and inevitably squander their shrinking "cup window" with an aging Getzlaf and Perry. It's been beautiful to watch kiddo. At least our pain has been accompanied by the ultimate prize

The Kings have not improved, not by a long shot. They're older and slower. Gaborik is in decline, though I've always been a fan. They have no prospects. Pearson is still deciding if he's a player or not. The D is sketchy beyond the top three. Kopitar was over paid. Carter is getting on. They hardly have a high end top 6. Sutter's message is getting close to the expiry date, and their last two seasons ended in shame. I was at game 5 for the handshakes, they were pathetic and Quick sucked.

I'm a huge Kings fan but I don't live in a fantasy world. A lot of teams in the west are improving, the Kings are in decline. The window is closed.

The Kings have not improved, not by a long shot. They're older and slower. Gaborik is in decline, though I've always been a fan. They have no prospects. Pearson is still deciding if he's a player or not. The D is sketchy beyond the top three. Kopitar was over paid. Carter is getting on. They hardly have a high end top 6. Sutter's message is getting close to the expiry date, and their last two seasons ended in shame. I was at game 5 for the handshakes, they were pathetic and Quick sucked.

I'm a huge Kings fan but I don't live in a fantasy world. A lot of teams in the west are improving, the Kings are in decline. The window is closed.
- not_that_lanny

I'm hoping for that much needed youth movement with Dowd, Mersch, and Gravel making the team. Maybe LaDue and Kempe as long shots this year but hoping to see them in 17-18 for sure

Not nearly as much as I've both enjoyed and shall continue to enjoy watching the Ducks continually and inevitably squander their shrinking "cup window" with an aging Getzlaf and Perry. It's been beautiful to watch kiddo. At least our pain has been accompanied by the ultimate prize
- Woodysdemise

Dont forget that they have won the cup.