Can someone please explain why the Kings must "dump" AA? The guy who's younger than Iafallo, has blazing speed, great hands and is a +4. Just asking.
Yeah AA gets a bad rap around here. I think he's a tweener 2nd/3rd line winger, but he's fast, has some hands and has a scoring touch. I think the Kings hold onto him. The lines would be this next year. Turcotte isn't coming up anytime soon, guy needs to work on conditioning. Vilardi is a project player too, so:
Kempe - Byfield - AA/Kupari
Arvy - Kopi - Iafallo/Brown
Moore - Danault - Iafallo/AA/Kupari/Brown
Lemieux/Grundstrom - Lizotte - Kaliyev
Doughty - Anderson
Bjornfot - Roy
Durzi - Edler
Quick
Petersen
Assuming Brown will be gone or in a very reduced role by 22-23, that leaves Kupari and a host of other players for that 3rd line spot. I think Kupari could use some more time in the AHL so I'd like to see him in Ontario, and I hope mgmt sees it that way too. I like Kupari a lot. The only problem we have is a log jam at forward, especially middle 6 forward. I suspect Maatta won't be back. This lineup, ladies and gents, gets us deep into the playoffs.