I think he has expressed wanting to play in LA for a long time.
- BobbyKittleberger

Ya pretty sure he wanted to play with the Devs when he signed that insane 17 year contract as well........

. I cant remember a legitimate one-time threat that the Kings' had... Nichols? Kurri? Palffy, maybe?
- Stu17

Boucher. He had the biggest heaviest shot for the Andy Murray years.

I think Kovi overall plays top line minutes with top PP usage, on the LW. He likes to set up in Ovies office area.
As far as Iafallo, he can play up and down the roster. He did a lot of the dirty work for that top line. Digging out puck, retaining possession, etc. Probably a good fit with Kempe and Lewis. Lewis also adds insurance to face offs that was lacking with Kempe. I would not be surprised if Iafallo and Kovi trade spots to give Kovi rest as he needs it.
The biggest question as far as lines go is if Vilardi makes the team and where he plays. If he impresses, what say you to Carter playing wing on a more permanent basis?
This is a possible pipe dream, but something to think about.
Kovi- Kopi- Carter
Iafallo- Vilardi- Toffoli
Pearson- Kempe- Brown
Clifford- Lewis- Mitchell- Amadio- Brodzinski

Boucher. He had the biggest heaviest shot for the Andy Murray years.

I think Kovi overall plays top line minutes with top PP usage, on the LW. He likes to set up in Ovies office area.
As far as Iafallo, he can play up and down the roster. He did a lot of the dirty work for that top line. Digging out puck, retaining possession, etc. Probably a good fit with Kempe and Lewis. Lewis also adds insurance to face offs that was lacking with Kempe. I would not be surprised if Iafallo and Kovi trade spots to give Kovi rest as he needs it.
The biggest question as far as lines go is if Vilardi makes the team and where he plays. If he impresses, what say you to Carter playing wing on a more permanent basis?
This is a possible pipe dream, but something to think about.
Kovi- Kopi- Carter
Iafallo- Vilardi- Toffoli
Pearson- Kempe- Brown
Clifford- Lewis- Mitchell- Amadio- Brodzinski
- Byronbuff34

I agree his shot was hard and heavy but not very accurate. He's a poster boy for those that left the org and became better all round players... I also agree with what you say about Iafollo. He did a lot of the work that didn't make the scorer sheets, but people look to advanced stats and the score sheets to cut players down...

There is no doubt that he will start the season on the first power play unit, probably on left wing/left point, in a revolving fashion to get him open to take shots. There is really zero reason to play him anywhere else. The Kings acquired Kovalchuk to score goals and generate offense.

As for even strength - that's another question. We really don't know. That's going to depend on his chemistry with his new teammates, and how quickly he'll adapt back to NHL hockey. He is supremely talented, but Kovalchuk is not a kid anymore. And Father Time is undefeated. I'd say if Kovalchuk can crack 30 goals and get anywhere from 60-65 points, then the season will be a success.

They did it with Richie. haha but I agree. He's a top 6 for sure. How is Lewis still playing?!?!?!
- bikeguy99

???

I would expect him to play in any position in which he is not expected to play any defense all .

I remember a Pens/Devils game where the Pens got the puck and took it into the NJ zone. Kovy skated off the ice as the puck was crossing the blue line, apparently because he didn't feel like playing defense. This gave the Pens a de facto power play 5-4 situation, on which they scored. It was great. Kovy was the exact opposite type of player as a typical NJ Devils player from the 1995-2010 time frame.

Ya pretty sure he wanted to play with the Devs when he signed that insane 17 year contract as well........
- bikeguy99

He didn’t sign that contract because he wanted to play in NJ, he signed that contract because it was the highest contract he was offered by far and it was a dumb amount of money. His wife wanted LA and so did he but LA along with any other smart team weren’t going to try and match that ridiculous contract.

Ya pretty sure he wanted to play with the Devs when he signed that insane 17 year contract as well........
- bikeguy99

Money talks. Kings weren’t dumb enough to sign a player to a 17 year contract. The devils on the other hand were.... if you can’t beat’em, join’em

KHL

I like you already. Such honesty is refreshing. I was getting a little tired of the platitudes last season, to be honest. The worst was Jim Fox suggesting that Iafallo would lead the team in 3rd assists, which some fans took to repeating every time that his production was pointed out. I like Alex, too, but you put a player like him on the top line only when you're decimated with injuries. The 3rd line is where he belongs for now. Ideally, I'd like to see him hit his last season mark of 25 points playing from the 3rd line, instead. Then, I'd be happy to praise him and interested to see if he could improve on that with better linemates.

As for Kovalchuk and the powerplay, I'd like to see him as the 4th forward on the 1st unit, not at the blue line, but dropped down a little to the top of the circle. Doughty, cheating a little to the center ice to cover, could feed him for the one-timer or Kovalchuk could pass to teammates on either side of the net. Such a setup will produce the occasional odd-man rush, since Kovalchuk will be in a little deep and isn't a fast skater, but the setup would probably pay off a lot more often than it would bite them.
- Osprey

I appreciate this a lot. Thanks for the kind words.

He didn’t sign that contract because he wanted to play in NJ, he signed that contract because it was the highest contract he was offered by far and it was a dumb amount of money. His wife wanted LA and so did he but LA along with any other smart team weren’t going to try and match that ridiculous contract.
- LAkings96

From what I understand, this is fairly accurate. He's been linked with LA for a long.

Money talks. Kings weren’t dumb enough to sign a player to a 17 year contract. The devils on the other hand were.... if you can’t beat’em, join’em
- KINGS67

You speak the truth. It was a brutal contract. But here we are and he is still playing and for more money!!!!! Granted his Devils contract was set to expire when he was 41, yours when he is 39.

You speak the truth. It was a brutal contract. But here we are and he is still playing and for more money!!!!! Granted his Devils contract was set to expire when he was 41, yours when he is 39.
- bikeguy99

He’ll be fine in LA.... only reason it’s “more” is because of the idiotic 17yrs the league just so happened to approve which helped the cap.

He’ll be fine in LA.... only reason it’s “more” is because of the idiotic 17yrs the league just so happened to approve which helped the cap.
- KINGS67

Absolutely. Not disagreeing with you guys. But if Sutter were still coaching, a simple benching is all it would take to get Kovy booking his flight back to the mother land.