Confirmed Signing with Link: [LAK] Alex Iafallo signs extension with the Kings (4 years, $4M AAV)

[Perennial]

Wouldn't this be true for every team trying to sign their free agents at deadline time.

Generally, yes, but there are a lot of factors that go into it... not the least of which is if the team is a contender

Which the Kings are not currently

 

[Osprey]

Iafallo ranks in the top 30 in scoring among all left wingers in the NHL.

He's 29th in points among LWers (with 80+ games played), but 34th in goals and 35th in points per game, despite getting the 6th-most ice time. That suggests that he doesn't really belong on the top line. His production would be pretty good for a 2nd liner, but we can't assume that he'd produce the same on the 2nd line. Would less ice time (including PP time) and lower quality linemates drop his production outside of the top 60 LWers? We don't know, but it's possible, especially since he gets 30% more ice time than the vast majority of the top 30-60 LWers. It could be that the 3rd line is where he'd ideally be on a contender, kind of like Stoll. Stoll was a decent 2C and maybe you even similarly chided posters for suggesting that he was holding the Kings back, but it's easy to see now that upgrading his position and moving him down to 3C helped everything to click into place.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

He's 29th in points among LWers (with 80+ games played), but 34th in goals and 35th in points per game, despite getting the 6th-most ice time. That suggests that he doesn't really belong on the top line. His production would be pretty good for a 2nd liner, but we can't assume that he'd produce the same on the 2nd line. Would less ice time (including PP time) and lower quality linemates drop his production outside of the top 60 LWers? We don't know, but it's possible, especially since he gets 30% more ice time than the vast majority of the top 30-60 LWers. It could be that the 3rd line is where he'd ideally be on a contender, kind of like Stoll. Stoll was a decent 2C and maybe you even similarly chided posters for suggesting that he was holding the Kings back, but it's easy to see now that upgrading his position and moving him down to 3C helped everything to click into place.

No, I didn't chide other posters for suggesting Stoll was better suited for a checking role because he didn't produce like a top six center, whereas Iafallo has produced like a top six forward. Look at others in his position and tell me who is better suited to play in that spot on the Kings' roster. Until they bring in an upgrade, Iafallo is the best option the Kings have at Kopitar's LW, and he's produced as such. If he was sitting at 5 goals and 15 points, then you'd have a point.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Having players like him as a 1st line winger is what keeps us away from the playoff

No having no 2nd line a no offensive defenseman to help Doughty is what keeps them away from the playoffs. Iaffalo is the least of their concern.

 

[King'sPawn]

Iafallo has:
- produced like a top-six forward
- plays in all situations
- lines up well with Kopitar and complements his style

You don't overpay, sure, but you don't sell him short. And you don't just trade him away to get picks and prospects and expect him to want to re-sign with you after trading him away.

 

[Guitpik]

He obviously wanted to stay in Los Angeles, right?

Why wouldn't he sign there in the summer?

And if he didn't, well, the Kings have a pick and a prospect, plus 4 million in additional cap space

Seriously? If Blake, or any GM were to do that, they would have a damn near impossible time signing any FAs. If he did they would all DEMAND a NTC. I'd hate to think of the nightmare scenario that he would create when it comes to signing his own potential FAs in future. I seriously doubt if Iafallo signed a new deal and is immediately traded, he would want to come back to play for the person who back doored him a few months earlier.

 

[Osprey]

No, I didn't chide other posters for suggesting Stoll was better suited for a checking role because he didn't produce like a top six center, whereas Iafallo has produced like a top six forward.

Stoll had 90 points in 155 games, or 0.58 points/game, in his last two seasons as LA's 2C. Iafallo has had 68 points in 109 games, or 0.62 points/game, in his last two seasons as LA's 1LW.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He obviously wanted to stay in Los Angeles, right?

Why wouldn't he sign there in the summer?

And if he didn't, well, the Kings have a pick and a prospect, plus 4 million in additional cap space

Let's say the Kings are forced to pay 4.5...

They still come away with an additional pick and a prospect for just an additional 500k in cap space

The 3rd to last thing the Kings need is more middle picks. The 2nd to last thing the Kings need is more prospects. The VERY LAST thing the Kings need is more cap space.

You should familiarize yourself with the Kings' org chart, they're near the contract limit, near the cap floor, and near-overflowing at every prospect position. More of the same doesn't move the needle. It would be worse asset management to move Iafallo for redundancies and open up a hole no one else has been able to fill or will be able to fill for the near future.

That's a lot of money and term for a 27-year-old winger who's scored only 52 goals in the NHL, IMO. I'm not sure that fans will be quite so happy when they do feel that a kid is ready for greater opportunity and Iafallo, a coach's dream, isn't moved down the lineup to give it to him like they expected would happen.

Let's cross that bridge when we get there, 50-point players on the Kings don't fall from trees. Odds are someone replaces Brown before Iafallo.

 

[North Cole]

Terrible asset management...

Should've traded him for a pick and a prospect, and then signed him this summer when he hit UFA

Sure, then he gets the UFA bump and the Kings sign him to 5x5 or some equivalent nonsense and you'd be in there laughing about how they overpaid when they could have signed him before UFA status rather than drafting a player in the 3rd round that won't make the NHL. Narratives change more than underwear around here.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Yeah, it is sad...

Some people have a different philosophy than you when it comes to how assets should be managed in professional sports

So, so sad...

It is sad, glad we agree.

I can respect your opinion on trading a guy if you don't like him or want to move on or whatever. But the idea of trading a player that you want to keep, a guy that wants to stay there, and who is willing to commit to reasonable terms... Just to try to get him back in the summer.. Is just stupid.

This isn't one of those situations where if you love someone, you just let them go and if things are meant to be, they'll just come back. Just be happy he re-signed. This isn't terrible asset management, keeping a guy happy long term on a fair deal is excellent asset management.

 

[DrHansReinhardt]

Why? I'd be a valuable asset if I were managing the Kings...

great, the kings just traded you for futures. best of luck to you.