No need to insult me...keep it civil. I know we won't agree on much because you are in the 7 year rebuild camp and I am not but we can argue our points without insults.
I could give you a pretty good explanation for my reasoning on DL but that is not constructive to the current conversation so I'll let it go. History is what history is and DL got two Cups. I recognize that.
Regarding Blake...I go back to what the expectations were at the beginning of this rebuild. He told (as far as I know) the STH that the Kings would be poised to return to the playoffs in 2022. That would have been AEG's expectations as well. Unless he makes significant moves this summer the playoffs are a fantasy and Blake is on the hot seat. You'll notice that most GM's who start a rebuild (willingly or unwillingly) are not around to finish it. That's because it's easy to destroy a franchise but much tougher to build it back up...even with lots of draft choices. Most GM's aren't talented enough to do the tear down and the build back up. Blake for sure has given no sign that he has any talent to sign key free agents or make team improving trades. If you don't see that then we are truly at loggerheads on this discussion.
Again, I'll be very interested to see what he says to the STH this summer. If the rebuild is extended for another couple of years then he owes the fans an explanation. And at the same time he owes Doughty and Kopitar an explanation and a way out as well. And once the rebuild is extended and Doughty / Kopitar are gone then you are looking at a real Detroit/Ottawa/Buffalo/NJ situation. A 7 year rebuild if not longer and a new GM to fix what Blake started.
Just curious where you have the thought Kings are in year 7 of a rebuild. Yes, they were swept by Vegas in 2017-2018, the Kings still achieved 98 points and made the playoffs. In 2015 they also made the playoffs with 102 points. That to me is not rebuilding. If anything, Kings were looking like a paper tiger, with Kopitar/Doughty/Quick dragging the team into the playoffs but unable to advance due to lack of depth, Sutter being outcoached, ect.
If you look at team totals starting 2018, I could believe adding Kovalchuk could add an element needed. Flawed, yes; but this was the start of Rob Blake. After that awful season it was clear LA could not contend.
Since then LA has started to stockpile prospects. Athletic ranked the Kings as #1 prospect pool in the league. Most rankings will have LA in the top 5.
LA still needs a top line winger prospect. A #1 defenseman to replace Doughty. Then have to give those prospects time to properly develop.
Given LA is spending at the floor of the cap, with contracts coming off the books (along with Buyouts), and a shortened season with empty crowds; Blake should be safe for 2-3 more years.
A few players have graduated to the NHL team (JAD, Bjornfot, Vilardi) but I only see Byfield making it next year. Not enough to move the needle in my opinion.
Don't see UFA players coming to LA who would get the team into the playoffs. But Blake has done a decent job bringing in unexpected talent (Iafallo) and managed to trade away players to open up spots for the youth (Carter).
Cheers.