Matt Ross: King for a Day

Hey Matt! Great to have a new blog.

Marleau to Kings is fine if it involves a 1st coming our way in 2020. I suspect Toronto would be willing considering they need to sign Mitch and they are loaded with young talent. I have no problem with the Kings stinking again next year to gather assets. This team isn't going anywhere for the next couple of seasons.

Hey Matt! Great to have a new blog.

Marleau to Kings is fine if it involves a 1st coming our way in 2020. I suspect Toronto would be willing considering they need to sign Mitch and they are loaded with young talent. I have no problem with the Kings stinking again next year to gather assets. This team isn't going anywhere for the next couple of seasons.
- Only_A_Ladd

Hey Only_A_Ladd -

Thanks!

That’s an interesting thought about scooping up Marleau of a high pick in 2020 is involved.

Do you know what the money situation would be like? I think Marleau has something like 3-years and close to $19 M with the Leafs.

What are your thoughts on Marleau being park of a package deal with one of their kids that they won't be able to sign, like a Marner or Nylander, and we send a package like a Martinez, prospects and picks? And then we just buy Marleau out, he becomes a FA, and it costs us nothing because of his age (35+)

There is no way the leafs part with a 1st round pick to deal 1 year of Patrick Marleau.

This isn't a David Clarkson, Nathan Horton, of pavol datsyuk situation here. Marleau will play this year and the contract isn't a "dead" contract.
He isn't worth 6.25mil, but the cash payout after July 1st is 1.25mil .... its not bad.

I can see the leafs offering up an Andreas Borgman or Pierre Engvall along with a 3rd or 4th round pick for a low salaried depth player...

Leafs won't be as up against the wall as everyone seems to think when Horton goes on LTIR, which they haven't put him on since acquiring him.

What are your thoughts on Marleau being park of a package deal with one of their kids that they won't be able to sign, like a Marner or Nylander, and we send a package like a Martinez, prospects and picks? And then we just buy Marleau out, he becomes a FA, and it costs us nothing because of his age (35+)
- Bernie9

Hey Bernie9,

Not too shabby. What do you think the Leafs are looking for for Nylander? I wonder what their needs are?

I’m not too familiar with the 35 + claus. What’s the skinny on that, my man?

Hey Only_A_Ladd -

Thanks!

That’s an interesting thought about scooping up Marleau of a high pick in 2020 is involved.

Do you know what the money situation would be like? I think Marleau has something like 3-years and close to $19 M with the Leafs.
- Matt.Ross

He has a year left at 6.25mm, but 4.25mm salary. They still need to sign Mitch, Kapanen, and they have only 5 defenders signed going into 19/20.

*Edit: wasn't aware of the bonus structure on Marleau's contract.

There is no way the leafs part with a 1st round pick to deal 1 year of Patrick Marleau.

This isn't a David Clarkson, Nathan Horton, of pavol datsyuk situation here. Marleau will play this year and the contract isn't a "dead" contract.
He isn't worth 6.25mil, but the cash payout after July 1st is 1.25mil .... its not bad.

I can see the leafs offering up an Andreas Borgman or Pierre Engvall along with a 3rd or 4th round pick for a low salaried depth player...

Leafs won't be as up against the wall as everyone seems to think when Horton goes on LTIR, which they haven't put him on since acquiring him.
- aries1976

Hey Aries1976 -

Thanks for chiming in.

I’m curious to see what the Leafs do with Marleau and some of those other guys they need to sign and what their cap situation will look like as the month leads up to FA Frenzy.

He has a year left at 6.25mm, but 4.25mm salary. They still need to sign Mitch, Kapanen, and they have only 5 defenders signed going into 19/20.

*Edit: wasn't aware of the bonus structure on Marleau's contract.
- Only_A_Ladd

Wow...sounds like they have some decisions and signings to do, man.

I love this time of year...can’t wait for the trades and signings to start up! Only a month until the FA Frenzy 👍👍👍

Hey Aries1976 -

Thanks for chiming in.

I’m curious to see what the Leafs do with Marleau and some of those other guys they need to sign and what their cap situation will look like as the month leads up to FA Frenzy.
- Matt.Ross

Hey Matt.

Once Horton goes on LTIR, which he will for the first time this year, leafs will have about $13mil, give or take a few..... exact number I don't know, but it stands around $8mil at the moment.

Mackenzie has Marleau going this week, along with a few other insiders with some contacts... Zaitsev demanded a deal, so he will be gone too... what Marner gets will determine a lot for Johnsson and Kapanen, the only other notable RFA's.... Kadri could go too, after his exploits again....

Leafs have issues, but if Marleau goes, and Zaitsev goes, without a lot of cap coming back, cap isn't an issue, albeit the D will still be an issue.

Nylander won't be dealt, if Dubas is true to his word.

Grunnstrom has looked good as a king... maybe another Marlie prospect could look good in a black/white jersey.

Hey Matt.

Once Horton goes on LTIR, which he will for the first time this year, leafs will have about $13mil, give or take a few..... exact number I don't know, but it stands around $8mil at the moment.

Mackenzie has Marleau going this week, along with a few other insiders with some contacts... Zaitsev demanded a deal, so he will be gone too... what Marner gets will determine a lot for Johnsson and Kapanen, the only other notable RFA's.... Kadri could go too, after his exploits again....

Leafs have issues, but if Marleau goes, and Zaitsev goes, without a lot of cap coming back, cap isn't an issue, albeit the D will still be an issue.

Nylander won't be dealt, if Dubas is true to his word.

Grunnstrom has looked good as a king... maybe another Marlie prospect could look good in a black/white jersey.
- aries1976

Fantastic breakdown. Thanks for that!

Grundstrom is def cool and the type of young/talented player I think Blake and McLellan are looking to get more of over the next couple years.

Out of curiosity, what is the feeling about Kadri (since you brought him up) amongst Leafs fans?

Here we go...

Don’t Call it a Rebuild......"But the Kings brass feel otherwise."
Us fans KNOW its a rebuild, so this sugar coating has got to stop.

If we get some Marleau deal, the season is over as a rebuild. No playoffs.
I don't care what we get with him, or let go, Blake & Luc can get tf out of town.

Get real with this vet CORE here. They are way past done, from Amart
to Lewis, Clifford, Carter and Quick. Brown, Kopy, Doughty are slowly dwindling down to barely alive. We were snowed with Kovy, Phaneuf is terrible, Forbort a joke in a top pairing and a waste of time, Toffoli is NOT the answer.

The Kings style of play..lol...they have NO IDENTITY since the 2014 Cup.
They have NO STYLE with the current NHL teams killing it from 2015-2019
and no adjustments from DL+DS era, to the now coaches and GM.
Mitchell, Regher, Williams, Scuderi, Penner, Gagne, Richards, Voynov,
Fraser, Richardson, Stoll, Greene, Nolan WERE heart and soul guys, all gone.
Gabby was good for scoring, then he fleeced us with fake news injury's.
Richards and Voynov.....screwed us over, but after 2 cups.

The Kings had the chance to keep it going after 2014 and see into
the future, but these so called brains like Futa and crew basically
drafted horribly from 2013 on, ruining our future.

What Do You Guys Want to See?
ALL YOUTH and THE RIGHT STYLE moving forward.
Trading the core, moving on from the memory of 12' & 14' is overdue.
Guys need to be put on waivers, or moved to a cap ceiling team that would
do it, we need space for YOUTH NOW, chances for them to make the team
NOW. The Kings are tired, the fans even more tired of waiting.
Blake & Luc better make changes necessary THIS SUMMER or THEY
ARE A COMPLETE HIRE FAILURE.

Here we go...

Don’t Call it a Rebuild......"But the Kings brass feel otherwise."
Us fans KNOW its a rebuild, so this sugar coating has got to stop.

If we get some Marleau deal, the season is over as a rebuild. No playoffs.
I don't care what we get with him, or let go, Blake & Luc can get tf out of town.

Get real with this vet CORE here. They are way past done, from Amart
to Lewis, Clifford, Carter and Quick. Brown, Kopy, Doughty are slowly dwindling down to barely alive. We were snowed with Kovy, Phaneuf is terrible, Forbort a joke in a top pairing and a waste of time, Toffoli is NOT the answer.

The Kings style of play..lol...they have NO IDENTITY since the 2014 Cup.
They have NO STYLE with the current NHL teams killing it from 2015-2019
and no adjustments from DL+DS era, to the now coaches and GM.
Mitchell, Regher, Williams, Scuderi, Penner, Gagne, Richards, Voynov,
Fraser, Richardson, Stoll, Greene, Nolan WERE heart and soul guys, all gone.
Gabby was good for scoring, then he fleeced us with fake news injury's.
Richards and Voynov.....screwed us over, but after 2 cups.

The Kings had the chance to keep it going after 2014 and see into
the future, but these so called brains like Futa and crew basically
drafted horribly from 2013 on, ruining our future.

What Do You Guys Want to See?
ALL YOUTH and THE RIGHT STYLE moving forward.
Trading the core, moving on from the memory of 12' & 14' is overdue.
Guys need to be put on waivers, or moved to a cap ceiling team that would
do it, we need space for YOUTH NOW, chances for them to make the team
NOW. The Kings are tired, the fans even more tired of waiting.
Blake & Luc better make changes necessary THIS SUMMER or THEY
ARE A COMPLETE HIRE FAILURE.
- Kings fan since72

I hear you.

In some ways, it reminds me a lot of the Hawks after their success. There were a lot of moves made that were kind of odd. A big one was Bowman giving out massive contracts and lots with NMC deals attached - which has made it hard for them to move guys (especially with an aging core).

Welcome Matt! It's been a long time since we had a blog to call our own. What's your take on the Voynov situation? I'd personally like to see him playing Dion's minutes.

regarding the current state of the team, while a rebuild is necessary, I don't believe it needs to be blown up to happen. What this team needs is to get rid of Forbert and Dion asap. I believe a big frame defenseman is still needed to stay at home and clear the crease.

What I am really hoping for is a better plan for the PP attack. Doughty is not a QB and should not be given the puck to make decisions at the point. And for (frank)s sake, they need to practice all aspects of one-timers!! They cant make a one-time pass nor get a one-time off. Toffoli needs to find his scoring touch and then be dangled, he is way too inconsistent.

I see the problem with this team being that they are not willing to play this game in the hard areas anymore. They know what it takes and they also know the toll it takes and they just don't have the will. I don't know that they can be coached back in to having it, either. Next season will suck again but strides can be made.

Fantastic breakdown. Thanks for that!

Grundstrom is def cool and the type of young/talented player I think Blake and McLellan are looking to get more of over the next couple years.

Out of curiosity, what is the feeling about Kadri (since you brought him up) amongst Leafs fans?
- Matt.Ross

Kadri is an enigma. He is a legit 2c, that may never be a 2C again in Toronto.

I think getting suspended for the 2nd straight postseason might be his undoing in leafland.

I rather keep him as he has a very nice contract for a guy that can score 30 goals with playing time... but I think management will move him if they get that offer they want for him....

Welcome Matt! It's been a long time since we had a blog to call our own. What's your take on the Voynov situation? I'd personally like to see him playing Dion's minutes.

regarding the current state of the team, while a rebuild is necessary, I don't believe it needs to be blown up to happen. What this team needs is to get rid of Forbert and Dion asap. I believe a big frame defenseman is still needed to stay at home and clear the crease.

What I am really hoping for is a better plan for the PP attack. Doughty is not a QB and should not be given the puck to make decisions at the point. And for (frank)s sake, they need to practice all aspects of one-timers!! They cant make a one-time pass nor get a one-time off. Toffoli needs to find his scoring touch and then be dangled, he is way too inconsistent.

I see the problem with this team being that they are not willing to play this game in the hard areas anymore. They know what it takes and they also know the toll it takes and they just don't have the will. I don't know that they can be coached back in to having it, either. Next season will suck again but strides can be made.
- Stu17

Hey Stu17 -

Thanks for the welcome!

In regards to your Voynov question, last week it was announced that the Kings have officially cut ties with him after the independent arbitrator's ruling regarding his suspension.

I think your thoughts about play in the tough areas is spot on, man. They have seemed to become an "easier" team to play against these past few years.

My three favorite teams are the Hawks, Panthers and Kings. There's a lot of similarities between them when comparing/contrasting at different times throughout their histories (but maybe I'm just making connections that aren't there, haha). The Kings and Hawks have followed similar paths to me these past X amount of years.

Chicago was never a "grind 'em down" team, but they had some guys that could play the different roles needed and it helped tremendously. LA has lost some of those "hard areas" and board-battling types of players and it's benefited the opposition - at least from my observations. Haha.

Thanks for a little Kings talk on HB. One note: if I'm not mistaken, the Kings conditional 2020 pick from Washington was contingent on the Caps getting through a few rounds in the playoffs, which they did not; so they only get the third rounder this season.

Thanks for a little Kings talk on HB. One note: if I'm not mistaken, the Kings conditional 2020 pick from Washington was contingent on the Caps getting through a few rounds in the playoffs, which they did not; so they only get the third rounder this season.
- jkaflagg

Hey Jkaflagg -

Thanks for the clarification

I'm not the strongest when it comes to certain things on the business end (cap stuff, trades with clauses, etc.), so it's always cool to have people who are savvy in that realm chime in and discuss it.