The Dean Lombardi stuff from today is pretty long — you’re surprised, I know — so I’ll break it into two parts, the first covering trade-deadline issues and the second covering team-development issues. Lombardi spoke just a few minutes after the noon roster freeze took place…
Question: Did you come close on anything?
LOMBARDI: “No.”
Question: With this roster freeze now, does it give teams a chance to step back and get a fresh look at this?
LOMBARDI: “Unless something has happened here in the last five minutes, because sometimes it does — like the real trade deadline, sometimes they come across later — it’s kind of what I expected. We all say we want to do these things earlier, and then every year it always goes to the deadline. The second part is, there’s still the issue that you’ve got too many teams that are in it. There’s not a lot of sellers. Figure it out yourself. How many sellers are there? So, even from a seller’s standpoint, he’s looking at it and saying, `You know what, I might get more later.’ Then, for the buyers, there’s not a lot there.
“The one thing I think the stop will do is take the emotion out of it. Too many times, people think, `Well, we’ve got four games this week. If we don’t win two of them, I’m selling.’ It’s really not looking at your team. It’s like you’re caught within this. As we see, you win three in a row and you’re in third place, and you lose four in a row and you’re in 14th. Particularly in the East, it’s ridiculous. Boston loses 10 in a row, and at the end of it they’re two points out. So it’s really hard for people to `define’ themselves as sellers. So like I said, now there’s this deadline and you’ve got (two) weeks off and people can step back and say, `OK, what are we?’ So there’s going to be a lot of talk during this. It doesn’t mean people can’t talk.”
Question: So what are you?
LOMBARDI: “I’m a buyer. I’ve made no bones about that. I’m done trading veterans for picks. You never say never, but…”
Question: There have been some guys out there on waivers. Is there any interest there?
LOMBARDI: “I think some people are trying to create cap space. Now we’re losing guys on waivers. We just lost Segal. So nothing for us at this point, certainly, no.”
Question: Where are you with Frolov right now?
LOMBARDI: “Trying to sign him? No. I think we decided to put that on the back-burner. I think after Toronto — we met there, when we were back East — I’m fine with that.”
Question: What about in terms of keeping him, and risking losing him for nothing in July?
LOMBARDI: “Yeah, but we’re at this stage, where we don’t want to do anything that doesn’t make our team better. We’re not at that stage where, `OK, we’re going to lose him, so let’s get a first-rounder’ or something. That’s not fair to the team. At this stage, they have worked hard and I think they’re learning every day. I don’t see ourselves making that room worse, in terms of personnel.”
Question: Terry talks about being happy with this team. Would you have to be blown away in order to make a deal?
LOMBARDI: “I wouldn’t say `blow away.’ It’s fit. It has to fit. Not only the player, in terms of what he brings to the table. Like Ryan Smyth and Scuderi. I’ve always said, it’s not so much that they’re good players. It is, but they fit. And they also fit in terms of the way they approach the game in the room. It’s not so much that I need to be blown away. It’s got to be the right fit. Unlike two years ago, where I was looking for everything — just give me a body that can play — you’re getting closer now in terms of what you want. There’s more things out there, but it ain’t what I’m looking for.”
Question: If this team stays intact after the trade deadline, will you be happy with it?
LOMBARDI: “Yeah, because you can’t make a deal unless it fits and it’s the right deal. When you hear GMs use the cliche, `You’re always looking to make your team better,’ you really are. We’re not really (lying to) you. It’s the same thing as the guy said on `Wall Street.’ You look at 100 deals and choose one. All the work that goes into the other 99, you throw away. You probably spend more time on the one you do. Are you happy? I don’t know how to answer that. Kenny Holland, they were winning Cups right and left, and he said, `I’m never happy.’ So I don’t think you’re even happy when you win four Cups in a row, in terms of trying to get better. It’s just that your avenues get more and more limited. Not a lot of things fit.”
thank you…rich…!
and thank you, d.l….!
most of us have had it right all along…great to hear…
[Reply]
Rich -
Anyway to get a better explanation of why Segal was placed on waivers? Was this a move to get him more playing time in Manchester? To switch places with Clune?
I’ve been thinking about it, and I can’t seem to really make sense out of it. If I missed it somewhere, sorry for the redundant question.
Thanks for all of your hardwork on this blog.
[Reply]
Im glad to have someone at the helm who understands this is still a rebuilding year and we’re looking forward to 5-10 years of excellence, so no point weakening the foundation just to put the gold accessories on when the building isnt finished.
[Reply]
Thanks, Rich! Now I can ease myself out of DL quote withdrawal.
Seriously, this confirms a couple of assumptions I’d made about what’s going through his head right now. Disappointing that there are no negotiations with Frolov’s camp right now, but not surprising.
[Reply]
Hmm, lemme guess, he didn’t actually say “lying to”. I love DL.
[Reply]
I just love these DL interviews.
[Reply]
Montreal trade rumors re. Frolov not true, as I’ve said before….makes sense to me….GO FRO!!!
[Reply]
I would hope we don’t see Frolov for a bag of pucks and an Ice Girl to be named later.
[Reply]
Good questions on Fro. Only time will tell.
[Reply]
the frolov issue was most revealing…but, yeah, no surprise…we’ve been saying this all year long…
i still think they will try to re-sign him, but it’s not sounding like a very likely scenario…
my fro odds of staying the rest of the season have increased to 90/10…
however, my odds of him being a king next season are dipping to about 30/70…
[Reply]
DL is pretty Slick………..
Question: So what are you?
LOMBARDI: “I’m a buyer. I’ve made no bones about that. I’m done trading veterans for picks. You never say never, but…” <<<—-
Question: Where are you with Frolov right now?
LOMBARDI: “Trying to sign him? No. I think we decided to put that on the back-burner. I think after Toronto — we met there, when we were back East — I’m fine with that.” <<<—-
[Reply]
If Dean is serious about making the team better, I don’t see how they can just let Frolov walk and get nothing in return. But, we just might see it happen anyway.
[Reply]
NOW, I hope that’s not the case. Fro deserves to stay in LA and win a CUP in LA…. Fro did state that he wants to STAY in LA……. but, we all know DL is DL…..
[Reply]
So instead of trades… they make line changes.AhhhOkkkk
[Reply]
Can someone please explain this to me, im a little confused right now. What’s the fit? What happened to the boxes, Rich? Does he mean money? There’s some guys out there that fit. Standup dmen, hard charging wingers. I don’t get it. Aloha, and thanx Rich
[Reply]
Looks like we’ll lose Fro for nothing in the summer.
Trades take balls.
[Reply]
As long as frolov is no longer a king next year, I’ll be happy
[Reply]
I would love to see Frolov remain a King
[Reply]
When I think of the Fro situation it reminds of the Bernie Nichols trade. The one for Sandstrom and Granato. I was so pissed at that trade because so was he. As soon as the team was going good he got moved. But now that I look back, no way the Kings make the same run in 93 without Thomas and Tony. So now do you turn Fro into two pieces or sign him? Do we even need two pieces?
Am I showing my age?
[Reply]
Mark 1 -
Just like Jack Johnson was asking for $5.5 million last year? Why not wait and see what actually happens before you start whining about it? Just a thought….
[Reply]
Fit – Look at Smyth and Scuds how they FIT into the Kings. We don’t want a “i’m the s**” player”
[Reply]
Thanks Rich! Not surprised that Dean followed through on what he said earlier about not making any moves until the ACTUAL trade deadline next month. Lots of conversations to be had over the next few weeks.
[Reply]
Why are people freaking out when no moves have been made and we still haven’t passed the trading deadline? What is the difference if he made a trade and we got that player on the roster for saturdays game? Cmon people, trust DL. Does he sound like he’s confused? I love reading his interviews.
[Reply]
I haven’t read the above yet, but if anyone is listening to Bill Clement and the boys on xmradio right now…. WOW! All of your ears should be burning right now…. and if not yours, then the Kings franchise.
……. and if anyone out there still has doubts about TM and DL, well, I think you should listen to Bill Clement (who I LOVE to listen to cause he’s so damned intelligent). He doesn’t have any doubts about DL or TM. Said DL is a much better GM now than he was when w Sj. Also said three players on team who are the glue to the team are…. anyone wanna guess? Matt Greene, SOD and The Piece. Voila. There you go.
[Reply]
NOW – He is talking about making the team better now. If he trades Frolov for picks, he has made the team worse, today. Sure, we could get some nice prospects, but how does that help the team right now? He has the future, today he is focused on ‘the now.’ That philosophy is what he has been building for since 2006, to be in the position to deal from strength.
I want Frolov to stay a King, but if he walks that is his right.
[Reply]
Macdup, who is Bernie Nichols? (i kid, i kid)
[Reply]
Oh, and still w/o reading the DL interview, he feels (Bill Clement) that they should steer the current course they are on for the time being.
[Reply]
We have to move Fro for somebody or something. He is not signing with us nor is he worth what he will be asking (reportedly 4mil).
Hope we can get somebody good for him. He disappeared once again versus Edmonton.
As for the state of the team, I’m fine where we are. I obviously wanted Kovy, but besides him, unless there is someone I’m unaware of, I’d sit on the sidelines.
Of course, if there is a cap dump and we can pick up a Scott Gomez/Chris Drury type of play for 50 cents on the dollar, you have to look at that very seriously.
[Reply]
It’s quite possible that Dean doesn’t give out too much regarding Frolov so that another GM doesn’t offer him an insane contract like we’ve had recently. DL has to think of our young guys who’ll have contracts coming up in the coming years and not mortgage the farm on one guy. Just thinking out loud.
[Reply]
Frolov’s contract coming soon!!!
[Reply]
DL seems to be expressing loyalty to the players for what they have accomplshed this year, taking Frolov out of the room wouldn’t be any kind of reward for the mostly high level of play they have all achieved.
[Reply]
Man olympics starting out on a sad note… poor luger just died cause of the crazy corse. My thoughts go out to his family and friends…
[Reply]
Question: Did you come close on anything?
LOMBARDI: “No.”
—The shortest Lombardi answer ever?–
Someone should mark this day in the record books.
[Reply]
Besides, what GM is out there thinking Fro is sizzling FA property after the year he has had? DL has to be thinking that there won’t be any big offers for him and that will adjust his (Fro’s) reality a bit and improve the Kings chances to re-sign him.
[Reply]
My instincts (and evidently Bill Clement’s) completely link up with what DL said – now that I’ve read the interview. He is a Smart guy and understands chemistry. No offense to prior King’s regimes, but the difference in my eyes here is that DL has built a real foundation. When you have a good foundation it doesn’t tip over easily.
Also, xmradio again… just said that Jonathan Quick playing the best of the 3 American goaltenders.
[Reply]
Fro saying he wants to stay in LA is meaningless. Every agent in history with a player in his position tells the player to say they want to stay. That is just a ploy to draw things out and put himself in a better position to deal.
Trouble is, Fro is having perhaps his worst season at exactly the worst time in his career. Says something about the man IMHO.
[Reply]
Iansez, that’s a good point, you may be right. But I’m sure they’re still be some action from other interested GM’s.
[Reply]
6…
thanks for the billy c. commentary…always respect clement…he knows his hockey, provides excellent color on games and has a great voice…
plus…he’s mr. deep woods off…
i hope fro stays, too…
IANSEZ…
great meeting you last night…and i hope yr observations come into fruition…
[Reply]
KC…
good stuff, too…
[Reply]
So it is a slow day at work….
Here is a classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YduHuYJMIoc
I like with all the pads and helmet on Vernon still looks like Mike Tyson just hit him.
and another classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYK_KAq7NSM
Coincidently with Vernon victimized again. I remember watching this game and thinking Duchesne did that on purpose.
[Reply]
KC23 your 10000% right, coming from the stand point to tell his client in this case Fro to say i want to stay, i love the fans, love the team, all that BS.. When in fact he is having the worst year ever. I wish he step up his game, and then we could maybe resign the guy, but if not, i say trade him and get what you can get, hey you never know he could change with that new team, and the come july 1st resign Fro.
Love the line from Dean “NO” i think it’s a world record for shortest response to a question..
[Reply]
Carol et. al.
Everyone disappeared against Edmonton-except Ersburg and perhaps Clune who at least tried.
Flu in the ranks perhaps? I hope so because it looked like the 07-08 season and the last 30 games of last season.
[Reply]
Interesting stuff from DL on Fro. If they’re not confident we’re going to lose him, then I guess the focus is to resign him as DL won’t have much time to trade him after the freeze.
We discussed this a lot last night in the suite. (That sounds dirty). What are we going to pay him? It’s pretty clear now that he is no longer a top 6 forward ON THIS TEAM. He is a puck possession 3rd line grinder (And a damn good one too). If his role is indeed redefined and Fro accepts that here, I can’t see paying him more than 3 Mil/year and it would have to be long term. Handzus gets 4 mil a year and no matter how good and valuable I think he is, his role on the team is not worth that much, especially if you want to sign DD & JJ & Simmer long-term. You need cap room for them now, not later.
I think the ideal would be to have Fro and Handzus locked up at $3 million each, fro for 4 years and Handzus (Next Year) for 3 years. You would solidify an important role on the team on your 3rd line that would still make it cost effective for us to sign our young talent long-term. Problem is getting Frolov to bite as he is getting $4 mil this year while his cap hit is 2.9. To give him a reduction and have him accept it I think will be difficult at his age and skill level. He’s just so inconsistent as a top 6, but when his expectation is changed to a possession/cycle/grinder guy, he his totally consistent.
It’ll be Fro’s call. If he wants the pressure of being a top 6 for the money, I think he’ll go elsewhere and I think he’ll fail miserably (Sorry Fro). IF he accepts his new role and takes the paycut but is given that price long-term for stability, he stays and flourishes. Could even be a King for life! Just my opinion. If what I’ve heard before is true about Fro not liking change, he might just accept a long term deal at 3mil per with a new role. At least I would hope so.
[Reply]
Hey Cynic…. wow, you’re good. Well, maybe it was collaborative discussion that turned out like that, but makes sense what you said when you put it all in perspective. Saw the photos of you. You don’t look to cynical to me
Smile goes here.
[Reply]
if Fro walks, he Frees UP money, funds, which are an assest, too. just like the player. you can now spend that on another free agent: maybe Kovi. maybe on a long term deal to tie a current player up, maybe doughty.
i like alot of things about Fro, but he has shown in the past to take nights off, and not play in the hot zone in front of the net. if he stays and we loose him, DL has kept a winning team together thru the year, which has value in itself; he doesn’t want to make a rash decision based on the thought of getting nothing Now.
[Reply]
Here’s a perfect example of the sort of trouble we’ve already seen. “It’s not that they’re good players.” Of course, he covered his tracks after that, but if he hadn’t, and he was dealing with at JJ type, some ahole reporter would have spun that into a controversy. It’s too bad the guy has to worry about that kind of crap, because I love how blunt he is when he’s interviewed.
[Reply]
Anybody else out there surprised with Clune?
I expected some slow, over amped goonish type running into anyone, getting out of position and taking stupid penilties.
What I saw with Clune was a very quick kid, picked his spots with hits and pretty good with the puck. He was like having another Brown out there.
[Reply]
rabid– here is a repost of my take on Segal. Not revolutionary, but different from everyone else.
jet says:
February 11, 2010 at 7:06 PM
I also like Segal, I think the Kings are past the stage of development where they can invest games in a player going on 27. Clune is going on 23, so it will be easier for the Kings to recoup their investment.
I was surprised that 15 teams passed on him.
KC23 — I like Dobe (clune), because I would be troubled defending against him (small quick skater, enforcer, top defensive forward?). I love to disrupt the other team’s typical strategy. Dobe does that.
[Reply]
I really love his interviews because with him I never get the constant cliche feeling you get with other GM’s or coaches. I think both are GM and Coach are that way. They just give you the straitest answer they can. Are there going to be times they keep or hold some things back, sure they have to be that way too, but I never get the BS feeling you here from other guys hat run sports teams. That and the fact that he has done a great job building this team I hope he is here for a very long time!
[Reply]
I liked richardson”s hustle out there as well. By the way, I believe fro is having this type of year because of the team first motto. He’ll be special come playoff time. ALOHA
[Reply]
We also won’t have a deflated beachball on the books.
[Reply]
Frolov is an enigma. He has the style of a star scorer but is in reality more of a very good puck possession player.
He has plays well enough to be tantalizing to the point were a lot of GMs would jump at this man.
The reality is a Frolov deal would be like a woman marrying a guy thinking she can reform him….three days later he skips work.
I like him but wish he was more aggressive.
And, does anyone know what he looks like in the playoffs? (LoL)
[Reply]
JOnathan Cheechoo is on waivers.
[Reply]
I’d prefer to lose Fro for nothing and keeping him around the rest of the season than a trade. Of course, I’d prefer he gets signed to a 10 year, 30M contract. Actually, if he got the same contract he has now, but the salaries inversed for the year (higher now, lower later), he’d keep the same he made this year, and the Kings would only have a 2.9M hit. He’d only be 33 at the end of it too. Hardly old for arguably the best puck possession guy in the league. Those arent my words even. It makes sense to me. Who knows how he and DL feel about it.
There’s no one player out there that can do what he can and the teams that are looking for rentals probably won’t give up the player(s) that it would take to help the Kings.
[Reply]
@OhauKingsFan
How do you watch Kings games? I’ll be in Hawaii starting the 22nd and would like to see some games – and I do have NHL Gamecenter but I’m curious as to what you do.
Frolov needs to wait. What happens if Frolov rips it up in the playoffs? I’ll tell you what happens, we all scream bloody murder until he is signed. If he stinks it up – we say, let him go.
[Reply]
#6-
LOL Thanks! The handle actually comes from a progressive metal band I like from the 90′s. They have reformed and are touring Europe. Extremely talented bunch.
I thought the name fit because I try to be the opposite and I like to get people’s reactions to see if they react to my name or my substance…
But if I’m truly being honest, I just thought the name was cool.
With regards to the Fro speculation, yeah, our conversations last night had much to do with that. Some of the best hockey talk I’ve ever engaged in this side of Canada. Truly great!
[Reply]
PakiFro-
Loved your take on Parse earlier. Great point!
Re: Fro. I would take that inverted contract. That would be a great way to solve the cap space issue and keep him in a new role. I would even give him a slight raise on the front and drop it a bit on the back and extend it until he was 35 to average it out to 3 mil a year. An 8 year deal with a front loaded 3 mil cap hit for the best puck possessor in the league would be STELLAR! All this would hinge on Fro accepting his new role on the team as that 3rd line LW possessor/cycler/grinder. Good take man!
[Reply]
@Cynic: Bullseye. I think you’re absolutely right about Fro, all the way along. I hope the Kings do re-sign him, as he is working well in his current role, and he’s part of the Kings having multiple scoring threats, as was discussed in a thread a couple of days ago.
I don’t see Fro being traded because DL is now publicly saying that he’s shifting his emphasis from long-term construction to short-term improvement. He’s not going to weaken the Kings for the playoff push by getting rid of him, even if that means he walks as a UFA in July. Once the Kings into the playoff tournament, they have at the very least a puncher’s chance of winning the Cup.
[Reply]
@jet, KC: I remember Clune before he got injured in camp, and he was quite well-regarded as an agitator who also might be able to develop a little skill. In fact, I think he got nasty injuries in camp two years in a row(?).
But as jet says, he’s still young. He may still have some upside. Segal, not as likely.
[Reply]
I know people focus a lot on goal totals, but the sentiment of “just a third liner” puzzles me. A shutdown line that can also sneak in some scoring is pretty damn useful.
They might have to go ahead and let Fro and Zeus walk, but we’d miss them.
[Reply]
Cynic, that’s so cool. Also, I’m envious of you guys. Especially you, var, quipsie and a few others. You guys really know and understand hockey. As you may know (or maybe not) although I’m from LA, I live in nyc (well, brooklyn) and it’s so great that I can interact w you bunch on this site. I’ve said it before and will say it again. We’re building something solid w this team…. whoops…. oh, Kovalchuk just hit the post… still doesn’t have his 1st as a Devil. Oh well. That’s their problem, fortunately not mine.
[Reply]
To sum it all up though, I guess I was saying that I wish I had people I knew who I could interact w person to talk hockey but very glad to have insider.
[Reply]
@DLB: I don’t think there’s any real question of Handzus and Frolov having real value to the Kings, and I definitely agree that we’d miss them. But the question of how much it would cost to re-sign them is, unfortunately, important because of the salary cap.
The thing is, it’s not often that a player who is truly useful will sign a new contract for less than he made before, or even the same money. And as was said already, Zeus and Fro are already making $7 mil/year between them. And DL will have to worry eventually about retaining Doughty, Simmonds and Quick once their contracts expire and they are due for big raises. Plus, if DL wants to bring in another veteran scorer and/or d-man, it will be tough to juggle all of those things.
[Reply]
#6- Posters such as yourself are the reason I know what I know about hockey. That and watching the Kings for 30 years now. I learn things every day from the posters here. That’s why it was so incredible to meet a lot of them in person last night and do the faces to names thing, but most importantly TALK some seriously great hockey for a few hours with others who love the game as much as I do. I cannot stress enough how everyone here needs to attend this event next year. It really is a great and rewarding experience. Keep posting, asking questions and giving your opinion. It’s all good!
And yeah, I feel for Kovi. He’s been a great teammate in NJ already, but has no goals to show for it. That’s gotta hurt him a bit. He really cares. Refreshing to see.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 – I haven’t said anything about the Matsuda thing one way or another, but from what I can tell, he didn’t include the original question when he originally published Dean’s response, and that context would have greatly helped people understand the quote better.
I’m not saying he was out to “get” Dean, sensationalize things, or stir the pot, but I do he think he made a mistake by not framing Dean’s answer with the original question.
[Reply]
I’m not going to argue that point Choralone, but ask yourself this.
When reading an article, other than what Rich does here, how many times is the original question, verbatim (sp?), actually written? Most of the time, it’s not.
Was it a mistake to not do the question/answer the way Rich does it? Perhaps…but it’s also not wrong to do so.
Blame needs to be placed where it should be, and I’m sorry to say it, but that’s with Deano…I love that he is so candid just about all the time, but, when your that candid, it can also get you into trouble like this. Matsuda is still a reporter afterall.
[Reply]
Well, I think it’s time to bury this whole business about the notorious JJ interview. Tempest in a teapot. If you look at Gann’s blog, he seems to have gotten some quotes from DL that date from the last road trip, so it certainly looks like DL is still giving him access. Which strikes me as a good sign that he’s over it.
And you haven’t heard a peep from JMFJ either.
[Reply]
Hey 54fighting, We have fsw and primeticket here in Hawaii. So I catch alot of theitr games as well as the lakers, and the dogers. The games in canada i catch on justin t.v. By the way if U want to hang out do things the kaimainna way let me know. Send me a email. Aloha
[Reply]
The last time kings played solid game was aganst NY.
I do not see anybody is worry about.Looks like there is
always excuse for this (from DL view and fro Tm…..?????)
We are sick to buy “we are still to young” or we are head of scedule” excuses.Chicago is a young team to and
got an less than average golie BTw.
Fro is making around 2m and he was highest scorer king
last year with 32.Now,
somebody is tryning to destroy him ,to make him sighn another cheap contract.The team has to much dept today
and trust me “WE” can aford to do thingd like that.
This guy is uniqe ,strong on his feets,can play 82 game,basicly healty(VERY Important factor btw.Look at JW,remember Dedmarsh) CAN SCORE MORE THAN 30 GOALS ,with
righ use and FIT.When he is with brown ,our C looks much better.This are facts not just another opinion.
One more thing.If tommorow we play like last 3 games
expect A crush.1-4 Avs (OR EVEN WORSE)
[Reply]
I have always been a Frolov fan. Sure, he has bad games now and then, but every one of the Kings has done the same thing this year. Once you start looking for negatives, it is easy to only see that and overlook the positives. Like I said, the guy isn’t perfect, but to expect him to score 30 goals playing with Zus on the shut-down line is terrifically unrealistic. Fro is becoming what TM wants from all his players, even and especially Kopitar- concentrate on defense and your chances will come, but if you are good enough on D you won’t need as many chances anyway. Kopi’s numbers were down last year; this year he got new line mates and adjusted, but still look at his defensive work. Same with Frolov, he dropped the flash and is playing trench warfare with a few goals sprinkled in.
Re-Post regarding traders/off season acquisition/salary cap…
Since there is so much talk about lineup changes in this thread, I am following suit. Here is my lineup for 2010-2011-
FORWARDS-in lines as shown
Ryan Smyth($6.250m) Anze Kopitar($6.800m) Justin Williams($3.500m)
Saku Koivu($3.250m) Jarret Stoll($3.600m) Dustin Brown($3.175m)
Alexander Frolov($4.750m) Michal Handzus($4.000m) Wayne Simmonds($2.075m)
Oscar Moller($0.875m) John Madden($2.500m) Brad Richardson($0.587m)
Brandon Segal($0.550m)
DEFENSEMEN
Drew Doughty ($3.475m) Rob Scuderi ($3.400m)
Matt Greene ($2.950m) Jack Johnson ($1.425m)
Sean O’Donnell ($1.250m) Davis Drewiske ($0.600m)
Peter Harrold ($0.583m)
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Quick ($1.800m) / Erik Ersberg ($0.750m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $58.809m; CAP ROOM: $1.044m BONUSES: $3.053m
Give Frolov 4.75 mill (up from 2.9), sign him for three years. Get Koivu, sign him to 2 year deal at that money, or 3 year deal with lower money 3rd year. Give Simmonds a raise from 1.062 mill to 2.075 mill and sign him for 4 years. Get John Madden, sign him to two year deal at 2.5, (down from his Chicago deal at 2.750 for this year only) Platoon Segal and Moller depending on opponent, Segal for size and Moller for speed.
Drop Jones, keep O’Donnell, drop Purcell, drop Parse to Manchester and first in line for callup, keep Harrold for versatility and platoon with O’Donnell resting O’Donnell every 4th game.
Put Madden on 4th line and PK, Koivu at left wing (shoots left, he’s older and wing is less demanding than center), put Richardson back at R wing which is his more natural wing.
You are then super deep down center, which is never a bad thing. You add a Captain from Montreal and Stanley Cups from New Jersey. You keep Frolov, and with that line (Zus/Fro/Simm) (the other team sweats bullets imagining the fatigue and momentum loss when we keep the puck for 45 second shifts and then score on them).
You have options galore with so many centers, experience, and leadership. You own the faceoff dots with Stoll, Zus, and Madden. You have 1 mill in cap space if O’Donnell retires, to sign a 1.5 mill D-man from somewhere…
If you want to bring up Bernier, (as backup for his first year) you have cap space to do so and Ersberg would be a decent trade for a D-man, or a 2nd or 3rd round pick
I could go on and on, and usually would…
[Reply]
Loved this interview,
Cynic on Fro couldn’t of put it better myself.
I know its unlikely he will slide to where we could claim him as after Nov.1 waivers claim priority is based on the reverse of current standings points, but Cheechoo at 50% off this year & no compensation seems like a deal, and there were rumors DL was talking trade for him. The problem is next year at 3mil/yr, but under this system he may do better.
[Reply]
Forgot Cheechoo is 29 will be 30 in July, so age is not a problem. The 56 goal season may not be a judging point though as I seem to recall atleast 12 coming against us that year.
[Reply]
Cheechoo would only be good to us if he goes on re-entry waivers. I say the Kings go after Horton or Weiss from Florida
[Reply]
player X — Segal was sent to Dallas.
[Reply]
Yeah Jet, I did say it was a repost… Insert body of choice, 4th liner flavor of the week, whatever.
[Reply]
Let’s not even think we should trade Fro for picks or prospects just so we don’t let him walk really sends the wrong message to the rst of the team. But many here have already stated that so I will leave it alone.
If Fro wants to make some money and play on a strong team without the pressure of a top six forward I bet there will be a contract for him.
Player X…
Koivu? Madden?? I see where your going but don’t you think some of our youth in juniors or Manchester is ready to make an impact. We can pick up old guys like Koivu at th deadline.
[Reply]
I LOVE THE KINGS LOVE THEM!!!! LOVE THIS TEAM EVERY PLAYER EXCEPT PURCELL SO I LOVE 22 PLAYERS ON THE TEAM, BUT HERE IS THE REAL QUESTION..DO YOU FEEL THE KINGS CAN WIN THE CUP WITH THIS TEAM OR ARE WE JUST USING THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY THE PLAYOFF’S AS EXPERIENCE??? love the team just, sad that the kings fans have to wait another year. Wonder when we are a real “buyer,” when we really want to make a run for the cup cause this season has shown we need a scorer that simple.. Frolov is not that guy, but don’t really care where he ends up on the kings or on another team just hope we could get something for him and if we do the whole jack johnson deal where we sign fro for 1 or 2 years woo hoo we still are in the same place we were in this year except we are not fighting the coyotes for 3rd we are at 0 points with the rest of the nhl waiting to try it all over again.. sounds like another trade in the summer and another year of hopes and a lot of experience but once again no cup.
[Reply]
Excellent interview, Rich!
[Reply]
Player x — sorry about that. I thought you may have been out of town this week.
I do like the Madden idea.
[Reply]
For clarification, I was not accusing Gann. His interview was clear to me, and I think should have been to others–some of whom DID turn it to a controversy. Thanks!
[Reply]
just my two cents. i’ve been a kings fan for almost two decades. over the years i’ve seen them trade away good young talent for quick fixes over and over again. luckily DL has come in here and rebuilt this team with great picks. we got some good kids down on the farm that might start making contributions as early as next year (in addition to all the young guys on the current roster, amazing by the way). staying the course is the way to go. maybe a small tweak for a winger with speed and grit (we need to get a little tougher. if we run into san jose or detroit in the playoffs we can pound these guys into submission). we do have 2 2nd round picks this coming year.
[Reply]
They need to keep FRO,the Kings would be crazy to let one of our best puck handlers and set up guys go. He is still a great player,he’s just having a bad year,which is the first of his career.So the critics just need to get off his back,plus you never know he may turn it around statistically just yet,he has been taking shots on goal more often as of late. C’mon Lombardi be smart about this.
[Reply]
I like fro, but what we need is a top 6 forward. Somebody to light the lamp. This team is deep on talent. For this year we could trade away a pick, maybe a prospect for a good scorer. Remember the Blackhawkes need to get some cap relief. Let’s do a deal, keep our core players maybe even fro, but we need scoring.
[Reply]
mcking — we are 5th in the league in scoring. That is not too bad?
[Reply]
sounds like fro’s gone haha
[Reply]
I think depth is key. When you have Alexander Frolov on your third line, your a good team. He has great chemistry with Zeus and if Frolov leaves Handzus’s numbers will definetely suffer.
I think it’ll be a steal if the Kings can resign him for 3.5 mil. a year and thats exactly what they should do. Even though Frolov is inconsistent he has the ability to control a game and that is a quality you can only find in elite players. I am certain that if we keep him into the playoffs that he’ll step it up and play up to his potential.
[Reply]