Matt Ross: You're the GM

Offer both to NJ for 1st overall.

Offer both to NJ for 1st overall.
- Billstamp

Could you imagine? Haha.

Buyout Doughty to eat 5.5m until 2034

Bowen Byram (D)
Alex Turcotte (C)
Trevor Zegras (C)
Dylan Cozens (C)
Vasily Podkolzin (RW)
Kirby Dach (C)
Matthew Boldy (LW)
Peyton Krebs (C)

Matt: I see you left the best player in the draft out of this group, you animal. Cole will remember this.

If Byram is available: take him. If not, move down. Depending on how far down the Kings move, 1 or 2 of the aforementioned guys will still be available.

As for trades, dump anyone not named Kopitar or Doughty.

Matt: I see you left the best player in the draft out of this group, you animal. Cole will remember this.

If Byram is available: take him. If not, move down. Depending on how far down the Kings move, 1 or 2 of the aforementioned guys will still be available.

As for trades, dump anyone not named Kopitar or Doughty.
- Only_A_Ladd

Good catch and my bad, Only_A_Ladd - thanks for looking out, you animal!

Got him added in the blog. I think I accidentally deleted him when I was doing some edits.

This team needs to try and rid themselves of bad contracts and do a total rebuild. Doughty could be a trading piece to get a decent return of "A" prospects and draft picks as I can't see him wanting to hang around for a rebuild.

This team needs to try and rid themselves of bad contracts and do a total rebuild. Doughty could be a trading piece to get a decent return of "A" prospects and draft picks as I can't see him wanting to hang around for a rebuild.
- islansjet

Islansjet -

Fancy meeting you here over on the Kings blog, man. Haha. Glad you in chimed in.

Good point. I gotta believe he probably doesn’t want to stick around. I feel like he’d be one of the easier guys of the core to move, since teams usually want seasoned defensemen. But, that contract of $11M for the next 7 years is massive and has to be a turnoff for teams when looking at the 29-year old.

buyout Phaneuf
Trade Toffoli for whatever
Trade martinez for anything
Trade Frobort
if someone would take Quick or Brown trade them too
Keep both picks draft hopefully byram or Turcotte worst case Caufiled

Get Kovalchuk to convince Panarin that LA has the best life for him.
If that dont work ship Kovy back russia.

Islansjet -

Fancy meeting you here over on the Kings blog, man. Haha. Glad you in chimed in.

Good point. I gotta believe he probably doesn’t want to stick around. I feel like he’d be one of the easier guys of the core to move, since teams usually want seasoned defensemen. But, that contract of $11M for the next 7 years is massive and has to be a turnoff for teams when looking at the 29-year old.
- Matt.Ross

Hey Matt. I agree about some of the cap problems teams could have, but a player like Doughty rarely come on the market. I can see a three way trade with the third party picking up some of his contract and the Kings keeping some as well. The team getting Doughty would have to compensate two teams but if the can get his contract for around $8 mil per there would be a wider range of teams wanting Doughty

Hey Matt. I agree about some of the cap problems teams could have, but a player like Doughty rarely come on the market. I can see a three way trade with the third party picking up some of his contract and the Kings keeping some as well. The team getting Doughty would have to compensate two teams but if the can get his contract for around $8 mil per there would be a wider range of teams wanting Doughty
- islansjet

That’s not a bad thought. But...could they find some dance partners to pull it off?

We’ll just have to see. But I agree that Doughty would be an excellent pickup.

Honestly - I think the Panthers could have some nice picks/prospects to offer a rebuilding Kings and FLA is in win-now mode and could use a blue liner like DD.

buyout Phaneuf
Trade Toffoli for whatever
Trade martinez for anything
Trade Frobort
if someone would take Quick or Brown trade them too
Keep both picks draft hopefully byram or Turcotte worst case Caufiled

Get Kovalchuk to convince Panarin that LA has the best life for him.
If that dont work ship Kovy back russia.
- KW519

Good thoughts, man.

Feel like Kovy probably wants out of LA, though.

Good thoughts, man.

Feel like Kovy probably wants out of LA, though.
- Matt.Ross

Doubt it. His family is here. His son is an outstanding soccer player and plays for Galaxy. I'm thinking Kovy is pretty happy collecting a check, living in Beverly Hills, and winding down his career.

This team needs to try and rid themselves of bad contracts and do a total rebuild. Doughty could be a trading piece to get a decent return of "A" prospects and draft picks as I can't see him wanting to hang around for a rebuild.
- islansjet

Drew has movement control. It is up to him if he wants to stick around or not. Doubt the team would stand in the way of a trade considering the club hasn't quite hit bottom yet with all the vet contracts still on the books.

Doubt it. His family is here. His son is an outstanding soccer player and plays for Galaxy. I'm thinking Kovy is pretty happy collecting a check, living in Beverly Hills, and winding down his career.
- Only_A_Ladd

Did not know that about his son. Pretty wicked.

I remember seeing some “rumors” during the season that he was unhappy and could be looking to get out. But that probably just had to do with the ice time he was being given, etc.

I really don't see the reason why we should trade everyone now for a bag of pucks. You would all make bad investment managers as you are suggesting we sell low and buy high. If we know we are going to suck and rebuild for the next 2 years just keep everyone (except Dion) and their contracts will all expire. In the mean time as we continue to finish at the bottom we get lottery picks and stock pile young talent. Most of the players we draft now won't be ready for years anyway. I would do the following:

1. Kopy and Drew are staying. Both on long term No Movement Clause contracts
2. Keep Carter, Brown, Toff, & A Mart - Each have contracts expiring in the next 2-3yrs. I would say however, if any of them start playing really well we should trade them when their value is high. If none regain any value well then they helped us get to our goal of drafting as high as possible for the next 2 years. Also we may lose one in the expansion draft who knows.
3. Sign the young RFA's to reasonable short term deals (3-4 yrs) - Kempe, Alex I, Derek F, ect.
4. With Kovy get him on the top power play unit and pump up his stats for a good trade deadline deal. Someone who needs scoring for a playoff push and with only one year left on his deal at that point will take him and will get us back a young asset or pick.
5. Quick - This is difficult because I love the guy, but I think both sides should move on and we should give the younger guys a shot. This would also provide Quick another shot at winning a cup. Find him a home and eat a little of his salary to make it happen. Quick at $3.8M is a lot more attractive than $3.8M
6. With the 2019 draft don't try to get too fancy. I would love to take Byram with the #5 but we take whoever is left out of Byram, Turcotte or Dach. With the #22 I like Bobby Brink if he is still there.

I think I'm a pretty reasonable fan so with that in mind if I'm gm if Blake gets diarrhea from that hoagie I do:
-if Byram is availbable take him and if he's not Caufield. Now if Caufield is the option maybe you trade back 1-2 spots where you would still likely get him and maybe get another 2nd rd pick
-hard to say who I'd take at 22 but since the Kings have 2 pretty young goalies and Quick(whom I would shop)I would draft speed and the best available goal scorer.
-in terms of trades to me these guys are all on the table
Quick
Toffoli
Carter
and if Malkin would be available on my life I would make Doughty available which sounds crazy but you have to give to get.

Earl

*UPDATE*

Kings buyout Dion Phaneuf.

Per NHL.com:

”The LA Kings have bought out the contract of defenseman Dion Phaneuf, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.”

I think I'm a pretty reasonable fan so with that in mind if I'm gm if Blake gets diarrhea from that hoagie I do:
-if Byram is availbable take him and if he's not Caufield. Now if Caufield is the option maybe you trade back 1-2 spots where you would still likely get him and maybe get another 2nd rd pick
-hard to say who I'd take at 22 but since the Kings have 2 pretty young goalies and Quick(whom I would shop)I would draft speed and the best available goal scorer.
-in terms of trades to me these guys are all on the table
Quick
Toffoli
Carter
and if Malkin would be available on my life I would make Doughty available which sounds crazy but you have to give to get.

Earl
- Earl Skakel

Hahaha.

I really don't see the reason why we should trade everyone now for a bag of pucks. You would all make bad investment managers as you are suggesting we sell low and buy high. If we know we are going to suck and rebuild for the next 2 years just keep everyone (except Dion) and their contracts will all expire. In the mean time as we continue to finish at the bottom we get lottery picks and stock pile young talent. Most of the players we draft now won't be ready for years anyway. I would do the following:

1. Kopy and Drew are staying. Both on long term No Movement Clause contracts
2. Keep Carter, Brown, Toff, & A Mart - Each have contracts expiring in the next 2-3yrs. I would say however, if any of them start playing really well we should trade them when their value is high. If none regain any value well then they helped us get to our goal of drafting as high as possible for the next 2 years. Also we may lose one in the expansion draft who knows.
3. Sign the young RFA's to reasonable short term deals (3-4 yrs) - Kempe, Alex I, Derek F, ect.
4. With Kovy get him on the top power play unit and pump up his stats for a good trade deadline deal. Someone who needs scoring for a playoff push and with only one year left on his deal at that point will take him and will get us back a young asset or pick.
5. Quick - This is difficult because I love the guy, but I think both sides should move on and we should give the younger guys a shot. This would also provide Quick another shot at winning a cup. Find him a home and eat a little of his salary to make it happen. Quick at $3.8M is a lot more attractive than $3.8M
6. With the 2019 draft don't try to get too fancy. I would love to take Byram with the #5 but we take whoever is left out of Byram, Turcotte or Dach. With the #22 I like Bobby Brink if he is still there.
- KingsFan67

Thanks for sharing, KinfsFan67.

I agree that not everyone needs to be traded out, but if you can make the moves now and get the pieces back you need, you could potentially be ahead of the ball a bit in terms of the rebuild or “retool.”

Who knows, though. We’ll see, you know.

Carter and Quick get traded. Id hold onto the rest.

#5: Turcotte, Byram, Zegras (in that order)
#22: Kaliyev
#33: Vlasic

Trade Brown, Clifford, Roy & 22nd overall pick to Toronto for Nylander, Marleau, and either a prospect (maybe Brooks) or a 3rd round pick.

Get younger & faster

Trade Brown, Clifford, Roy & 22nd overall pick to Toronto for Nylander, Marleau, and either a prospect (maybe Brooks) or a 3rd round pick.
- JBP1802

If anything switch Brown with Carter and get Clifford with Lewis or Brodzinski. That would be pretty damn good especially if the rumors are true about Kadri being shopped. Carter could step in at the 2nd center, Roy is a decent d prospect and that 22nd overall would be a nice extra to help them with losing Nylander.