Prospect Info: Kings sign Sean Durzi to his 3-year ELC

[lumbergh]

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves with Sean Durzi. In his rookie season he has the worst goals against per 60 minutes at even strength on the team. And it's not even close. And it's not like he's offensively dominant out there. He's a bottom pairing defenseman/power play specialist being forced to play top pairing minutes because of injuries.

Paying him $4 million per year is not a good play here. I don't really care what he gets, but it shouldn't be more than $2 million per year.

 

[bland]

Definitely being asked to play FAR over his head and we're lucky he's got balls the size of the rink. I forget who had it but I love the Kris Letang comparison even down to the brain death in defensive coverage, I think @bland covered it really well above--it looks like he's ripping Durzi to shreds but I actually see it as complimentary. He's an extremely flawed player as we saw at the AHL level, but what we didn't get to see there is the pure guile/guts the guy has, he's basically the ultimate teammate, and is a perfect example of a guy who is taking the opportunity and instead of playing tentatively, embracing the challenge and going for the throat every single night.

Imagine this guy being able to 'settle down' and play 18 minutes again. He'll be fresh and ready to rage.

He has the absolute best attitude and approach to the game you will see. All heart, appreciates and takes his chances, just the kind of player you can rally around. No different than Richards or Williams, team first guys that can provide emotion when needed.

It will be interesting to see how he develops, because you could make legitimate arguments that he is necessary, expendable, replacable or indispensable. His defensive work might not even be fixable as it is below AHL level quality, and he will likely be outproduced by Doughty, Clarke and Spence. He is slow and small, easily pushed off of the puck, but combative and fights like hell in certain moments and will make some nice individual defensive plays.

I can't wait to see how he handles the playoffs, as the speed gets ratcheted up and every play is under the microscope. Will his limitations be brutally exposed or will he rise and meet the occasion? Probably one or the other, less likely the in-between.

 

[regulate]

Personally, I'd sell high in the off-season with a player like Durzi, who despite his deficiencies has no doubt helped the team turn around the season. Kings need help on the left side, and Durzi would be a good asset to dangle in a package for LHD help with Spence, Clarke, possibly Faber if he signs and Grans around on the right side waiting in the wings. Maatta and Edler are UFA's, Mikey is having some trouble staying healthy, just leaves Bjornfot and Moverare.

 

[King'sPawn]

Given the depth on the right side, Durzi may actually benefit more from playing on the left side with a stay-at-home defenseman in the back-end. This reduces the level of defensive responsibility by giving him a better anchor-type, AND, with him playing on the left side, he'd have a better angle offensively to put the puck on net.

 

[lumbergh]

Personally, I'd sell high in the off-season with a player like Durzi, who despite his deficiencies has no doubt helped the team turn around the season. Kings need help on the left side, and Durzi would be a good asset to dangle in a package for LHD help with Spence, Clarke, possibly Faber if he signs and Grans around on the right side waiting in the wings. Maatta and Edler are UFA's, Mikey is having some trouble staying healthy, just leaves Bjornfot and Moverare.

I could get behind this if the UFA dollars saved go towards a Forsberg signing.

 

[kingsfan28]

I could get behind this if the UFA dollars saved go towards a Forsberg signing.

Forsberg= 10 mil plus... for a guy turning 28. Pipedream

Durzi should get 2.5-3.0. No more

 

[bland]

Given the depth on the right side, Durzi may actually benefit more from playing on the left side with a stay-at-home defenseman in the back-end. This reduces the level of defensive responsibility by giving him a better anchor-type, AND, with him playing on the left side, he'd have a better angle offensively to put the puck on net.

Well, its not like we would have to worry about it affecting his defense...

I have been wondering what he might look like on the wing.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Some people are talking like we have to move a RD so let's move Durzi...

...and I'm over here like Durzi has the biggest brass balls on the entire team GTFO!!!

 

[Telos]

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves with Sean Durzi. In his rookie season he has the worst goals against per 60 minutes at even strength on the team. And it's not even close. And it's not like he's offensively dominant out there. He's a bottom pairing defenseman/power play specialist being forced to play top pairing minutes because of injuries.

Paying him $4 million per year is not a good play here. I don't really care what he gets, but it shouldn't be more than $2 million per year.

There's absolutely no f***ing way you're talking his agent down to $2 million or less. Look at Sean Walker and Matt Roy, I mean I hope to the stars we get a bridge deal, but he is putting up $4+Million value on the ice. Maybe you get him in the 3's +/- $500k, but you know they are coming initially in the $4's. The Athletic has him at $4.2M:

https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/29112431/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-10.52.58-AM.png

 

[kilowatt]

You don’t f***ing trade this kid. Say whatever you want about his performance on ice (he’s very good though), he makes his team better.

Trade Roy, Walker, Anderson, Doughty, whatever. Don’t trade Sean. He has the heart required to win cups.

 

[kenito7]

Can't see why the Kings would offer more than 2 million. Durzi has no
leverage he is RFA who can be qualified for less than a million with no arbitration rights. While he has done a good job when the King's D gets healthy most of his minutes go away. If Drew comes back his PP time gets cut by alot and if he is not scoring as much his value goes down.
In tight checking playoff games its hard to see him as a top option.

 

[kings11]

You don’t f***ing trade this kid. Say whatever you want about his performance on ice (he’s very good though), he makes his team better.

Trade Roy, Walker, Anderson, Doughty, whatever. Don’t trade Sean. He has the heart required to win cups.

He might have the heart but his lack of defense is a second round exit..
I know you’re being emotional because of who you noted should be moved before Sean but he absolutely goes before Doughty and maybe even before Roy..
Based on a small sample, Jordan Spence is looking like a much better player..
We still don’t know what we have in Clarke, Faber and Grans..

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah, Durzi is getting a 1-2 year 'show me you're better than the rest' bridge.

I guess someone could offer sheet him for 4.1 but

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Durzi is on track to earn $4M/year+ Yeah, he isn't perfect defensively and is showing cracks in his game when being forced to play as a #1 Drew Doughty replacement, but honestly, he is the best offensive weapon we have on the D line right now until Drew comes back or Clarke gets promoted and shows us something. I'm very happy with the kid. I see him as the Alec Martinez replacement we need on that 3-4 pairing or the underrated 5-6 that can push us over the edge when competing in the postseason.

I think that’s ($4M) a little high, but he is in line for a significant increase this summer. Sure wish they could more him over to the left on a permanent basis. As noted several times on these boards, that right side looks like a murderer’s row.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He might have the heart but his lack of defense is a second round exit..
I know you’re being emotional because of who you noted should be moved before Sean but he absolutely goes before Doughty and maybe even before Roy..
Based on a small sample, Jordan Spence is looking like a much better player..
We still don’t know what we have in Clarke, Faber and Grans..

With respect, I disagree. They can't ALL be shutdown guys; Durzi brings an element we've lacked since...I can't even remember a comparable. He's a Letang, Hamilton, Shattenkirk-type guy--can eat big minutes but you don't want him to be THE guy as he's got defensive deficiencies but can run a powerplay and juice your offense. We have enough DEFENSIVE d-men, keep a guy like Durzi around (especially on a killer possession team) and deploy him as the offensive specialist he is. Right now people are eating him up becuase he's playing Drew's minutes and that's unfair criticism, he's not a #1 all-around dman and he shoulnd't be PKing, he's just getting by on sheer balls. Slot him appropriately and he's a beast and he'll be even better for this experience.

Now I agree with your last slot, though--does Clarke replace him? Grans? Fortunately, we have time to find out.

 

[kings11]

With respect, I disagree. They can't ALL be shutdown guys; Durzi brings an element we've lacked since...I can't even remember a comparable. He's a Letang, Hamilton, Shattenkirk-type guy--can eat big minutes but you don't want him to be THE guy as he's got defensive deficiencies but can run a powerplay and juice your offense. We have enough DEFENSIVE d-men, keep a guy like Durzi around (especially on a killer possession team) and deploy him as the offensive specialist he is. Right now people are eating him up becuase he's playing Drew's minutes and that's unfair criticism, he's not a #1 all-around dman and he shoulnd't be PKing, he's just getting by on sheer balls. Slot him appropriately and he's a beast and he'll be even better for this experience.

Now I agree with your last slot, though--does Clarke replace him? Grans? Fortunately, we have time to find out.

Spence is a better Dman right now with limited games and brings the same offensive flair with a better shot..
With that said, we have 5 kids that play RHD.. decisions will need to be made

 

[Statto]

I think that’s ($4M) a little high, but he is in line for a significant increase this summer. Sure wish they could more him over to the left on a permanent basis. As noted several times on these boards, that right side looks like a murderer’s row.

I think it’s too small a sample size to give him that sort of deal. Personally I’d do 2.5 for 2 years and if it’s 3 I’d only commit to one year. I could see him getting over if Clarke makes the NHL roster though but that’s down the line. I think there’s an argument that Spence could do his role but to hit his upside he may need more time in the AHL. Any of the 3 could easily end up on the roster next year but it won’t be more than 2 of them.

It’s a great ‘problem’ and someone is getting moved in the near future.

 

[Telos]

To clarify, I don't believe the Kings will sign Durzi to a multi-year $4 million/season deal, but I don't think the Kings are going to get a sub $2M bridge deal either. What he's done on the ice is worth $4M, but he is an RFA; however, he has UFA years to potentially sell here.

There's no way Durzi is getting paid less than Lemieux & Co. He's been a top 4 D and has produced like one. Sean Walker had 34 points in 109 games and got a four-year $2.6M/season deal. Matt Roy signed a three-year $3.6M/season contract after putting up a little under 34 points total. Both straight from their ELC's.

People expecting a 2 year $1.6M bridge are crazy. I think Blake will go for something in-between Walker and Roy's deals and try to get him between $2.6M-3.6M and try to eat a year or two of UFA status.

 

[kilowatt]

If Clarke came in next year and put up the exact same season as Durzi, we’d be saying he’s untouchable and a future 1D.

 

[Statto]

To clarify, I don't believe the Kings will sign Durzi to a multi-year $4 million/season deal, but I don't think the Kings are going to get a sub $2M bridge deal either. What he's done on the ice is worth $4M, but he is an RFA; however, he has UFA years to potentially sell here.

There's no way Durzi is getting paid less than Lemieux & Co. He's been a top 4 D and has produced like one. Sean Walker had 34 points in 109 games and got a four-year $2.6M/season deal. Matt Roy signed a three-year $3.6M/season contract after putting up a little under 34 points total. Both straight from their ELC's.

People expecting a 2 year $1.6M bridge are crazy. I think Blake will go for something in-between Walker and Roy's deals and try to get him between $2.6M-3.6M and try to eat a year or two of UFA status.

How many years before he is a UFA?

 

[King'sPawn]

If Clarke came in next year and put up the exact same season as Durzi, we’d be saying he’s untouchable and a future 1D.

Well, yeah. But Clarke turned 19 in February. Durzi turns 24 in October.

Plus, Clarke would have another 2 years on his ELC to see how much he improves. Durzi has always been an adventure defensively.

 

[Telos]

How many years before he is a UFA?

I believe he has two more seasons under RFA status unless I'm mistaken. This means that a two-year bridge deal is possible, but also it is on the table to get a 3-4 year deal done and eat a couple of UFA years to help with other paydays around the team as the kids grow.

If he continues this offensive production, he could be looking at $5M+ long term after that so it could be lucrative to lock him in now; of course, if his defense worsens and he becomes too big of a liability then you aren't too committed and can still get away from the deal and player in a reasonable timeframe and price relative to the team, like a Sean Walker (not that his defense is abhorrent).

It's complicated because obviously, Durzi is in an elevated status due to injuries. Clearly, he isn't taking Drew's job away from him and Clarke is knocking on the door next season. A three-year deal would be good because Clarke will be on ELC during that time and worse comes to worst Durzi provides solid offense on the third pairing ala Alec Martinez.

 

[kings11]

If Clarke came in next year and put up the exact same season as Durzi, we’d be saying he’s untouchable and a future 1D.

Let me clarify that assumption for you…
If Clarke performs like Durzi, he’d be a disappointment. He’s expected to be a true 1D, an all around players with a high level offensive game. Durzi is a very good offensive Dman that gives his all but at the moment lacks the defensive acumen to be more than a 3rd pairing.. especially when you consider what we’ve all seen in an even smaller sample size from Jordan Spence.
Shit, this is going to be another Iafallo discussion

 

[JeanBlanc]

Durzi brings an element we've lacked since...I can't even remember a comparable. He's a Letang, Hamilton, Shattenkirk-type guy--can eat big minutes but you don't want him to be THE guy as he's got defensive deficiencies but can run a powerplay and juice your offense.

Aren't you describing a guy like Jakob Chychrun (cap hit is $4.6M)?

 

[JeanBlanc]

There's a pretty interesting discussion of the Kings defensive depth in the Hockey Royalty Podcast, Making It Reign episode 26, with Jacob Stoller:


Really interesting to hear what an outsider thinks about them, starting at 44:09.