LA regressed in my mind - I really dont think PLD is a great player and he disappears.
100%.
And the players they gave up were very good. Durzi was 2nd in minutes on their defense core. Tearing him out for a replacement level player is a huge risk and makes them worse.
Kupari has a fair amount of potential.
Iafollo is just a good loyal soldier good for 30-40 points; was on pace for 50 points last year. Viliardi was a consistent loyal soldier with a ton of talent, could easily be better than PLD when it's all said and done; also on pace for 58 points.
They didn't get younger. PLD is 26. Viliardi is 23. Durzi is 23. Iafollo is only 28. Kupari is 21.
They spent more cap. Iafollo + Durzi + Viliardi is a lower cap hit than PLD + replacement D at league min + replacement forward at league min.
In terms of offense alone la traded 108 projected points or 79 actual points for 85 projected points or 78 actual points, assuming that the 750k replacement level player scores 15 points. In terms of defense, at times Dubois is more dubious than dutiful; he's not kopitar or Danault where you happy giving them a McDavid or Draisaitl diet for a game, let alone a series.
The kings lost depth, which was one of their biggest strengths, for not really a big gain in start power. Frankly PLD is only moderately better than Viliardi at best, and they just straight lost iafollo for nothing. That makes them an easier team to play against particularly since it was our depth that outshone them last season.
PLD is probably one of the most boom bust streaky players in the league. He's great when he's on... But you barely notice he's playing half the time. That's a far cry from Viliardi and Iafollo that just bust their ass for you all game every game. And the cherry on top as an Oilers fan is that PLD has been consistently bust against Edmonton; 7 points and -9 in 19 games versus Edmonton has got to be particularly hard to swallow for kings fans that know they'll run into us in the playoffs this year. Especially when Viliardi and Iafollo are more or less Oilers killers with how they produce against us compared to the rest of the league.
Rob Blake jumped the shark on this one, imo.