Matt Ross: Kings Stay Quite...Almost

From what I've read, Frk has a little bit of potential because he has a cannon of a shot. He scored 11 goals with the Wings a season ago and some of their fans think that he has more in him if he finds the right opportunities and chemistry. Other than that one asset, though, he's not remarkable. He's a likable guy who plays hard, though. He sounds to me like an Andreoff replacement, an AHL/NHL tweener, but one that can contribute more at both levels than Andy could.

Ryan sounds like more of a defensive defenseman, which I like hearing. He won't contribute much to the offense, but he'll be decent enough in his own end, sort of like Folin, I'm guessing.

Depth signings to let everyone season in the AHL as necessary.

I am so happy we didn't sign Perry. I don't think I could deal with that.

Quite what?

Matt Ross: Kings Stay Quite...Almost
- Matt.Ross

One of the better free agent signing days the Kings have had in awhile. No stupid over priced contracts

Quite what?
- SolGoode

lol

Quite what?
- SolGoode

HA! Good catch. That what happens when you rush and don’t spell check.

Fixed now. Thanks

Depth signings to let everyone season in the AHL as necessary.

I am so happy we didn't sign Perry. I don't think I could deal with that.
- KingsFan67

Agreed, man.

From what I've read, Frk has a little bit of potential because he has a cannon of a shot. He scored 11 goals with the Wings a season ago and some of their fans think that he has more in him if he finds the right opportunities and chemistry. Other than that one asset, though, he's not remarkable. He's a likable guy who plays hard, though. He sounds to me like an Andreoff replacement, but a guy who could maybe contribute a bit more.

Ryan sounds like more of a defensive defenseman, which I like hearing. He won't contribute much to the offense, but he'll be decent enough in his own end, sort of like Folin, I'm guessing.
- Osprey

Are we talking Sheldon Sourjay style cannon?

Liking the "defensive defenseman" aspect of Ryan that you point out. Always a good thing - especially in today's NHL.

The moves are fine. No long term contracts. Embrace the tank, hit bottom, and rebuild. This is smart management.

I didn't expect the Kings to make moves for any top tier players since they need to rebuild, but a little concerned that Quick has not been traded yet (likely because no team wants him) which likely means he will be playing 90% of the games again causing Campbell to want to go to a new team and will be like Jones all over again. Was also hoping at least maybe Carter and/or Brown would have been traded too. Brown, because a team might want him now since his last 2 seasons have been good and might have value again.

I didn't expect the Kings to make moves for any top tier players since they need to rebuild, but a little concerned that Quick has not been traded yet (likely because no team wants him) which likely means he will be playing 90% of the games again causing Campbell to want to go to a new team and will be like Jones all over again. Was also hoping at least maybe Carter and/or Brown would have been traded too. Brown, because a team might want him now since his last 2 seasons have been good and might have value again.
- Bojangle

Campbell is going to want to go to a new team anyway, unless he has some assurance that he will be the Kings starting goaltender. There are plenty of teams out there that are desperate for a starting goaltender (Columbus, Edmonton, Calgary, Carolina) that would make him the clear-cut #1. The Kings won't even be able to make Campbell any assurances that he will be the goaltender protected in the expansion draft, as the Kings would likely use that protection slot on Petersen instead.

Safe bet that Campbell isn't in the Kings organization anymore as of March 2020. July 2021 he'll sign a multi-year $4M AAV contract with a team that needs a starter (my guess is Calgary).

To say that no one wants Quick is pretty presumptuous and silly imo. He's a two time champion with a pretty decent cap hit. Sure he's been injured but he's one solid season away from re-establishing himself as an elite goalie, barring injuries of course. As much as I think it makes sense to trade him, the fan in me would love to see him retire as a king. I also think it's silly to think we should've kept Jones over Quick - Jones has won so much in SJ after all.

As far as the signings, I like it. No risk whatsoever and these guys will push the young guns to battle for spots. Always good to add competition. I'm excited to see what coach McL does with the young guys.

In my opinion, one more year of developing the kids, maybe adding one good veteran on D. Another solid draft next year and then I think they can compete to get into the playoffs. Probably another 1 or 2 years after to go deep. I say kings make the final after 3 years. So for 22-23 season. Personally I would love to see Brownie and Kopi have one more run at the cup before they hang em up.

I didn't expect the Kings to make moves for any top tier players since they need to rebuild, but a little concerned that Quick has not been traded yet (likely because no team wants him) which likely means he will be playing 90% of the games again causing Campbell to want to go to a new team and will be like Jones all over again. Was also hoping at least maybe Carter and/or Brown would have been traded too. Brown, because a team might want him now since his last 2 seasons have been good and might have value again.
- Bojangle

In addition to a 5.8mm cap hit this year, Quick is owed 7mm in salary. That's a bad business move in a league where space is a premium for a bunch of teams who could use his services. The next three years, his salary goes from 3.5mm to 3mm and then to 2.5mm in his final year. He'd be a good candidate for Seattle if they follow the model Vegas appeared to be utilizing until they got good and found themselves at the top of the division.

Are we talking Sheldon Sourjay style cannon?
- Matt.Ross

I'm not sure if we're talking about a slapshot or a wristshot, but I assume that it's a slapshot. Allan Walsh called it "a lethal weapon of a shot" and quite a few fans have called it "insane," "sick" and a "cannon." It's not very accurate, though, obviously, or else he'd have more goals and the Wings probably wouldn't have given up on him.

I'm not sure if we're talking about a slapshot or a wristshot, but I assume that it's a slapshot. Allan Walsh called it "a lethal weapon of a shot" and quite a few fans have called it "insane," "sick" and a "cannon." It's not very accurate, though, obviously, or else he'd have more goals and the Wings probably wouldn't have given up on him.
- Osprey

I’ve always related the “cannon” description moreso with a slapshot, too.

It’ll be interesting to see if he can get the accuracy working. Looking forward to paying attention to his shot now.

I found a video of all of his goals from 2017-18:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OprktYkon3M

It looks like his slap shot and wrist shot are both pretty fast. A few of his slap shot bombs were from Ovechkin's position on the powerplay. If he makes the Kings, it might be worth trying him there on the #2 PP unit. It's not like that unit can get much worse, anyways.

If he doesn't cut it with the big club, at least he'll be an asset for the Reign, since he scored 27 goals in the AHL in 2015-16 and in 2016-17 and was a PPG player in his limited time there last season.

Thinking about creative ways to add scoring to the team without mortgaging the future. What about working a deal with Vegas to get the rights to Nikita Gusev from Vegas? This guy was the KHL MVP last year and is supposed to be the best player not in the NHL. He is still relatively young at 26. Sounds like he wants around $4M which is more than Vegas can affort based their cap situation. What if we take on all of Clarksons $5.3M cap hit next year and give them a 3rd or 4th rounder for his rights. We sign him for the $4M and have an instant impact player for not a lot. Vegas gets what they desperately need over $5M of cap breathing room and a little wiggle room to add a rental the trade deadline for a cup run. What does everyone think? Crazy? I would be looking into this if I were Blake.

Thinking about creative ways to add scoring to the team without mortgaging the future. What about working a deal with Vegas to get the rights to Nikita Gusev from Vegas? This guy was the KHL MVP last year and is supposed to be the best player not in the NHL. He is still relatively young at 26. Sounds like he wants around $4M which is more than Vegas can affort based their cap situation. What if we take on all of Clarksons $5.3M cap hit next year and give them a 3rd or 4th rounder for his rights. We sign him for the $4M and have an instant impact player for not a lot. Vegas gets what they desperately need over $5M of cap breathing room and a little wiggle room to add a rental the trade deadline for a cup run. What does everyone think? Crazy? I would be looking into this if I were Blake.
- KingsFan67

I'm not sure about Gusev (don't know much about him but the KHL numbers look nice), but I do like the idea of taking on a team's dead cap space for picks/prospects. With Vegas in particular, though, don't they just burry Clarkson on LTIR and they don't take the full hit?

Rob Blake is not creative at all to move guys and change this team now,
he is basically forcing these core guys to earn their money and turn it around after the worst season in many years. He should have done way more than this, and why sign 2 fillers at all if he thinks hes so deep with youth to win spots on the team this season...goes to show he is not confident in that. His GM time is running out. I am not happy with his effort to come up with some clever moves and signings that can help us. This team is not going to change. ToddMac has a lot or work to do to get these millionaires to buy in and compete after winning two cups. Good luck.

Rob Blake is not creative at all to move guys and change this team now,
he is basically forcing these core guys to earn their money and turn it around after the worst season in many years. He should have done way more than this, and why sign 2 fillers at all if he thinks hes so deep with youth to win spots on the team this season...goes to show he is not confident in that. His GM time is running out. I am not happy with his effort to come up with some clever moves and signings that can help us. This team is not going to change. ToddMac has a lot or work to do to get these millionaires to buy in and compete after winning two cups. Good luck.
- Kings fan since72

I disagree. I think this move to sign these guys is aimed to drive the competition for spots. When you have a few guys with some experience coming in, it will put pressure on the kids knowing that they have to compete that much harder. I wouldn't look much past that as the reasoning to sign them.
Blake isn't ideal, but it's also unrealistic to expect a turn around of the team after one season. I'm pretty hopeful that the coach gets the players' buy in rather quickly and the core can get back to their ways. We still have a ton of talent on this team and under the right leadership they can compete in another year or two down the line.

I disagree. I think this move to sign these guys is aimed to drive the competition for spots. When you have a few guys with some experience coming in, it will put pressure on the kids knowing that they have to compete that much harder. I wouldn't look much past that as the reasoning to sign them.
Blake isn't ideal, but it's also unrealistic to expect a turn around of the team after one season. I'm pretty hopeful that the coach gets the players' buy in rather quickly and the core can get back to their ways. We still have a ton of talent on this team and under the right leadership they can compete in another year or two down the line.
- kororr

My thought is that we can still make the team better while still giving the youth their shot. I don't like the whole blow it up and field your AHL team approach. First I don't think season ticket holders want to pay for an AHL team but also remember back to when we won the cup in 2014. After the Sharks playoff collapse everyone was saying the Sharks are finished. The only thing they could do is blow it up get rid of their core and rebuild. Guess what they didn't do that and they ended up in the finals one year and one game from the finals this year. I would rather have a rolling rebuild like the Sharks did. I can't take a 10 year Edmonton type rebuild. I'm too old for that.

I disagree. I think this move to sign these guys is aimed to drive the competition for spots. When you have a few guys with some experience coming in, it will put pressure on the kids knowing that they have to compete that much harder. I wouldn't look much past that as the reasoning to sign them.
Blake isn't ideal, but it's also unrealistic to expect a turn around of the team after one season. I'm pretty hopeful that the coach gets the players' buy in rather quickly and the core can get back to their ways. We still have a ton of talent on this team and under the right leadership they can compete in another year or two down the line.
- kororr

Same concept when you see a team bring in a goalie (dependingnon the situation) to create healthy competition and try to get both guys’ play ramped up.

I found a video of all of his goals from 2017-18:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OprktYkon3M

It looks like his slap shot and wrist shot are both pretty fast. A few of his slap shot bombs were from Ovechkin's position on the powerplay. If he makes the Kings, it might be worth trying him there on the #2 PP unit. It's not like that unit can get much worse, anyways.

If he doesn't cut it with the big club, at least he'll be an asset for the Reign, since he scored 27 goals in the AHL in 2015-16 and in 2016-17 and was a PPG player in his limited time there last season.
- Osprey

Thanks for sharing. Going to check this video out tonight, man.

My thought is that we can still make the team better while still giving the youth their shot. I don't like the whole blow it up and field your AHL team approach. First I don't think season ticket holders want to pay for an AHL team but also remember back to when we won the cup in 2014. After the Sharks playoff collapse everyone was saying the Sharks are finished. The only thing they could do is blow it up get rid of their core and rebuild. Guess what they didn't do that and they ended up in the finals one year and one game from the finals this year. I would rather have a rolling rebuild like the Sharks did. I can't take a 10 year Edmonton type rebuild. I'm too old for that.
- KingsFan67

I get that, but aside from making the playoffs and yes making the finals the following year, the sharks didn't get anywhere with their strategy. I say next year san jose will be bad. Also, collapsing as a playoff favorite like they did isn't really in the same category as the kings finishing 30 out of 31 this year. Cant have that same approach for a different problem.
Personally, I would've loved to see them sign a tip 4 Dman to help bail out the back end and let the kids try to find their scoring touch led by kopi and brownie.