Ben Shelley: Reviewing the season: Blake Lizotte

I like how 6 people have voted so far and none of them live in California.

Who???

Who???
- bruceflyers

Kings 4th line center.

Sadly, I think Lizotte is going to get snagged by Seattle in the expansion draft.

Sadly, I think Lizotte is going to get snagged by Seattle in the expansion draft.
- tkecanuck341

I won't be sad if that happens. He was a free agent signing and he's just going to get less ice time and get pushed out of the lineup by prospects eventually, anyway. It's probably also better that a forward like him get taken than a defenseman like Roy or Walker (not that I'd really mind either of those being taken, but there's not as much depth at that position).

I won't be sad if that happens. He was a free agent signing and he's just going to get less ice time and get pushed out of the lineup by prospects eventually, anyway. It's probably also better that a forward like him get taken than a defenseman like Roy or Walker (not that I'd really mind either of those being taken, but there's not as much depth at that position).
- Osprey

I think Roy and Walker will both be protected, so that shouldn't be a problem. Realistically it's between Lizotte, Grundstrom, and Wagner. The Kings can only protect one, and I don't think it will be Lizotte for the reasons you described.

I think Roy and Walker will both be protected, so that shouldn't be a problem. Realistically it's between Lizotte, Grundstrom, and Wagner. The Kings can only protect one, and I don't think it will be Lizotte for the reasons you described.
- tkecanuck341

I was thinking about the defenseman that would need to be exposed, but I was forgetting about MacDermid. All that he has to do is get into 25 games next season (he somehow played 45 this past season) and he'll be eligible. His re-signing to a two-year contract makes a whole lot of sense now.

I was thinking about the defenseman that would need to be exposed, but I was forgetting about MacDermid. All that he has to do is get into 25 games next season (he somehow played 45 this past season) and he'll be eligible. His re-signing to a two-year contract makes a whole lot of sense now.
- Osprey

I'm sure whatever UFA defenseman they pursue this Fall will satisfy that requirement as well, but yes it will be nice to have MacDermid on the roster to satisfy that requirement as a redundancy.

I'm sure whatever UFA defenseman they pursue this Fall will satisfy that requirement as well, but yes it will be nice to have MacDermid on the roster to satisfy that requirement as a redundancy.
- tkecanuck341

It's a catch-22, though. A UFA that you would sign for two or more years (making him eligible for the expansion draft) would probably be good enough that you wouldn't want to lose him... and a UFA that isn't good enough for you to mind losing probably isn't one that you would give two years to in the first place. For example, if they sign Edmondson (a good UFA), they would hate to lose him to Seattle a year from now. On the other end, if they re-sign Hutton, they won't mind losing him, but giving him a 2-year contract might not be ideal and he doesn't improve the team any over last season, anyways. It's just good that they already have their expansion draft defenseman fodder (MacDermid) so that they don't have to be hamstrung by that during free agency.

It's a catch-22, though. A UFA that you would sign for two or more years (making him eligible for the expansion draft) would probably be good enough that you wouldn't want to lose him... and a UFA that isn't good enough for you to mind losing probably isn't one that you would give two years to in the first place. For example, if they sign Edmondson (a good UFA), they would hate to lose him to Seattle a year from now. On the other end, if they re-sign Hutton, they won't mind losing him, but giving him a 2-year contract might not be ideal and he doesn't improve the team any over last season, anyways. It's just good that they already have their expansion draft defenseman fodder (MacDermid) so that they don't have to be hamstrung by that during free agency.
- Osprey

They reportedly made that two year offer to Nikita Nesterov. My guess is that they want someone to come in to serve as a stopgap until Bjornfot is ready, but that they can let walk once the contract expires in 2022.