KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
- 32,397
- 11,343
Durzi is the kind of defenseman Brown used to blow up on a regular basis and we would all laugh.
Oshie did it this year and I laughed.Durzi is the kind of defenseman Brown used to blow up on a regular basis and we would all laugh.
Do you know what Gavrikov did before he joined the NHL? KGB counter-intelligence. There is no Gavrikov.Define next year. Blake will define it by opening night. So expect the path of least resistance to be traveled the whole way.
The big wild cards are Vilardi winning an arbitration case and Gavrikov’s best offer.
Basically the two most important items on Blake’s to do list. His MO is to kick the can down the road and look for quick fixes on low hanging fruit. My guess is he overpays for Gavrikov after doing nothing at the draft to clear space. Then he lets the assets under his control pound sand if they make a fuss when camp is set to open.
Blake has probably been put on notice about this issue and if it continues he will be gone. AEG is nowhere like the Leafs. Have a tight reign on their their money.I'm also willing to bet AEG is done eating money for Blake's mistakes, so don't expect guys to be bought out or buried, if they can't be traded, they'll just be played, furthering the issues.
I can hear this freeze frame
So he bitches and pushes? Explain how that’s helpful?You guys are tough on Durzi. Without him the Kings are really soft on D. If they trade him they need to add someone who will actually push back on D. Everyone else is a softy or small except Roy.
Weren't you laughing at how small the defense was 48 hours ago?You guys are tough on Durzi. Without him the Kings are really soft on D. If they trade him they need to add someone who will actually push back on D. Everyone else is a softy or small except Roy.
thats why I expect another full dose of Walkzi next year.. maybe a slight upgrade from Durzler.. the guy just blew 15 million for a #4 goalie.. he has to pretend these 2 guys are assets for 1 more year.I'm also willing to bet AEG is done eating money for Blake's mistakes, so don't expect guys to be bought out or buried, if they can't be traded, they'll just be played, furthering the issues.
I could put my skates in cement blocks and skate faster than Durzi... dont you ever tire of watching him get beat to every loose puck or never catch up to a defender try to break free. The dude is an AHL level skater that will never change unless there's some new PED out there. I like his moxie and thats about it.You guys are tough on Durzi. Without him the Kings are really soft on D. If they trade him they need to add someone who will actually push back on D. Everyone else is a softy or small except Roy.
I'm also willing to bet AEG is done eating money for Blake's mistakes, so don't expect guys to be bought out or buried, if they can't be traded, they'll just be played, furthering the issues.
Then I doubt they would agree to continue paying 5 million (the highest in the league) for a coach who cannot deliver a second round.
If there is no extension announced for Todd Mac, we have our answer.
Yea its hard to be excited about what comes next. Blake backed himself into a corner cap wise. Spent his last dollars and still has holes on the roster.Totally agreed...with Tmac at the helm and knowing there is a huge change the bottom pair is Durzi/Walker- ive never been more pessimistic to start a season. No Confidence in coaching and no confidence Blake will make the obvious necessary move.
2022-2023 Durzi completely lost his balls and was soft as shit himself. Just a completely different player than when he came up the previous seasonYou guys are tough on Durzi. Without him the Kings are really soft on D. If they trade him they need to add someone who will actually push back on D. Everyone else is a softy or small except Roy.
This is what appears to be the reality. Imo just the fact of and the timing of blakes panic moves indicates his interest level in his job is low or he is just incompetent.A competent GM would have done that a year ago.
An incompetent GM will say "run it back" after getting blown up despite playing not-to-lose, please-god-keep-it-close hockey instead of to their strengths.
A desperate GM will make the above moves nearly 2 years too late after next season starts and get fleeced just to save his job to look like he's doing something while we still have a parade of RHDs and nearly no LHDs or goaltending despite stupid message board fans begging for it since late 2020 While our average age increases but our overall ability decreases. and let's not even talk about development and depreciating assets. The toilet has just started to flush.
Trading away three first round picks in a row is inadvisable for Cup contenders, it should be criminal for a wild card contender.I think we need to accept the fact that the next 2-3 years are likely to be more of the same as the last two years. They should be a playoff team, and might make it past the first round if they get a favorable series where the bounces go their way. At this point, I wonder if they should just trade away next years 1st if it helps them move Peterson, that way they can use that money to ice the best possible team they can.
A rebuild is eventually going to come, and hopefully it will be a different regime than BLuc Mclellan orchestrating it.
The late-blooming Finnish defenseman has enough mobility to play either side. Skates and moves the puck well for a tall defenseman but needs to continue improving his zone exits and puck management. Breaks up plays well with his active stick. Is showing flashes of the physicality his height would indicate he should have on a consistent basis, but he needs to add more bulk and strength.
Long Range Potential: Improving, rangy defenseman.
Someone said LA asked about him at the deadline. Can’t remember who. Mayor maybe.Player Discussion - Niko Mikkola
I really like the guy and would love to keep him. He'll probably cost too much. If we make any kind of legitimate run and he plays well then he's definitely gone. He's one of those guys where a good playoff showing will vault him into big overpay territory. Like someone will give him 4x$4M or...forums.hfboards.com
Scouting Report:
Kings should take a look at Mikkola to replace Edler on the bottom LHD spot.
Big. Above average PKer. Low mileage. He's right at that age where a lot of late blooming dmen tend to start "figuring it out". He's under the radar. Should be relatively cheap.
I agree wholeheartedly. Blake has just put himself between a rock and a hard place with the Peterson contract. Bad idea constantly trading away 1st round picks, but also contenders can't have that much wasted cap space. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Unless they can find a way to LTIR Peterson.Trading away three first round picks in a row is inadvisable for Cup contenders, it should be criminal for a wild card contender.
Kings need a big nasty LHD on the bottom pair replacing Edler.
Relative to our team , yes.