As has been noted, Jay Grossman, Kovalchuk’s agent, has “tweeted” that Kovalchuk is looking to make his decision today. A quick text from Dean Lombardi just encouraged me to “take the day off.” Well, thanks. It’s a nice thought, anyway. Common sense dictates that if Kovalchuk really is making his decision today, it would seem pretty unlikely that he would return to the offer from the Kings, the same one he rejected within the past couple days.
Incidentally, something I neglected to mention in the previous post is that according to a team source, the Kings no longer consider themselves in the market for Philadelphia’s Simon Gagne. So everything is right…back…to…square one.
dude this whole thing is way to confusing.
[Reply]
Rich Hammond Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@andy, Very true. I feel like I’ve spent four days watching a David Lynch movie.
[Reply]
Frolov Rocks! Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@Rich Hammond, Lol! No joke.
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:34 am
@Rich Hammond,
I’m exhausted.
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
@Kingsfanone, I need some pie.
@sec12 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:36 am
@Rich Hammond,
Thanks for the great coverage, now and all year long. I’ve read a lot of east coast team blogs and they seem to suffer from east coast blinders (like I had too when I lived in MA and NYC). They continually report leaks of ridiculous trades like gagne for simmonds and brown; or signing IK and then dumping cap space in the shape of Kopi, Brown, JJ, and Quick.
Forget that if they paid any attention, they’d know DL didn’t build this team slowly to rip it apart quickly. They should at least have enough hockey sense to know your team, like any other sport, has to be strong down the middle, from center to d to goalie. We also can’t give up Simmer, not just because he’s a rising star, but because without him we lack any toughness except Brown.
I wish DL had signed Michalek or another D who knows how to get the puck out of his own end – a LAK shortcoming — and then gone after IK. but maybe it was a longer-term cap decision, wanting as much money as possible for DD, JJ and a few others.
No one should underestimate chemistry; I don’t think DL does, so I’m in favor of DL being very conservative in his decisions this year. None of us really knows what we’ve got in this team and the kids coming up. One first round playoff loss doesn’t make for going for a cup next year at all costs.
[Reply]
garry Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
@@sec12,
Great post!!
Darko25 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@andy, here it is:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326655
Kovi to the Devils!!!
Now can we poach Bobby Ryan pleeeeease!
[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@Darko25, wow, 10 goals in 27 games projects to 30 goals for a season. 9M for 30 goals, hmmmm
[Reply]
brandyn Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@Darko25,
fake. we did make a formal offer. thats garbage and do you think they have the cap space do do that ? no
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:44 am
@Darko25, If Kovi signs a 7 year contract for 60 million, then Dean let a good one get away. He just might be worth that price.
[Reply]
Darrell Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED, You don’t know he would’ve signed with the Kings for the same amount of money. Lou may have swayed him with the “Marty has a couple of good years left in him” argument.
Uggh! Not looking good.
[Reply]
Are we absolutely sure July 1st isn’t tomorrow? Maybe the past 5 days was a dream.
[Reply]
Resign Frolov and let the kids continue to develop….I think the Kings have a few thirty goal scorers coming up in the few couple years…..one player does not win championships…..it was a nice tease though…..
[Reply]
deelo Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@slugger,
Sure…we have potential for 30-goal scorers in a few years.
Doughty could be gone in 5 years…and other core players before him.
When it comes to re-signing Doughty, I am sure that making sure we get Forbort extended a few years down the road will be more of a priority.
Pessimistic and sarcastic I know…but why should we believe otherwise at this point.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
@deelo,
Ummm seriously??
No disrespect intended, but you cannot possibly think Forbort could take priority over Doughty in the forseeable future.
[Reply]
UGH!!!
[Reply]
Back to square one. Some disappointed Kings fans today.
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We’re gonna sign someone totally off the wall…I can feel it….
[Reply]
Danny Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@Rookie, who is left? LOL
[Reply]
Bring back Frolov?
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:47 am
@Tompa,
Hopefully Fro hasn’t went anywhere but down,on his price.lol
I don’t think an insentive contract will look very good to him playing a deffensive roll all season long though.
I say pay him strait up for a good 2 way forward,and stop expecting him to put up Kopi #’rs from the third line.
[Reply]
kacie Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@Tompa, no
[Reply]
Seems legit…
Kovalchuk expected to re-sign with Devils today
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/nhlblog/kovalchuk_expected_to_sign_with_6bXr165ziolHuq8eWQQKLO
[Reply]
mrk Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:19 am
@wavesinair,
If true, I don’t see how DL can’t top or match the Devils’ offer. It seems like to outsiders, the Kings are just another Islanders.
[Reply]
andy Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@mrk, The outsiders didn’t make the playoffs last year dude, they haven’t held the draft in like 50 years, and their arena is bar none the crappiest in the league. We’re 10 times more appealing than the Islanders and “outsiders” must not know anything about the current NHL.
[Reply]
mrk Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:55 am
@andy,
Exactly my point. It seems like there’s a stigma for being a King. We made the playoffs, the future looks bright, and we still can’t get big time UFA’s. 7 years for 6 mil ain’t bad in terms of being affordable, I like to think that DL has offered him a much better deal than that and still no dice.
mrk Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Wow. Big reality check. We’re not as good as we think we are. Real deal FA’s still shun us. We might do just as bad as St Louis next year.
BluLiner Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@wavesinair,
NY Post?
[Reply]
Simon Gagne is one my favorite NHL players. He has been on every fantasy team that I’ve had for the past several years. There’s no doubt that he’s a pure goal scorer and can produce in the playoffs when he is healthy.
That said, he’s been injured a LOT in the past few seasons and although I’d love him to play for LA, in this salary cap era, I can’t justify $5 million AND a player(s) and/or pick(s). Maybe a trade deadline pickup?
And PS…Kovi at 10 mil. Let him go to the Isles.
[Reply]
If we don’t bring ANYONE in and don’t resign Frolov AND Modin, we are 100 % NOT making the play offs next year. Our kids are good, some are GREAT, but not if our ENTIRE time is gonna be filled with kids. No way we can win with that young a team.
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Otto Ped Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:39 am
@USCG, Thats exactly what they said about the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team….isnt it?
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dabronx Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@Otto Ped,
nice thought but that team didnt play 82 games
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Leaves me sick to my stomach
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sometimes the best move to make is no move at all…
if dl isn’t bluffing and really is out of this craziness, you would have to believe that now his efforts are focused on completing a trade(s) to get what we need…
i wouldn’t be surprised in being “surprised” by what comes next…
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:41 am
@variable,
and Quisp’s too. You guys have the ‘zen’ that I’m working on bringing into my own form of expression. I have a little ways to go yet 
, but I’m getting there.
Hi var. I’ve had a bunch of posts here lately that I thought were pretty ‘reasonable’ (whatever that means) but you know I always look forward to seeing your byline
Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes the best move is no move at all.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@number 6,
hey, buddy…
great to hear from you too…
stay reasonable, my friend…:)
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Puckin-A Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@number 6, Except we have players with NHL experience leaving and lost out on any UFA worth having.
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next year for deadline day and fa day…i’m going to go on vacation. kings just can’t do anything on these days. very fustrating
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DucksGoQuack Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:30 am
@john, I’ve been on vacation since the 2nd in Havasu, and all I’m doing is checking my phone every 30 min. And when I’m out on the water I’m just waiting to get back into a service area to check again. Very frustrating
[Reply]
Wish we could have been agressive for a defenseman.Totally understand DL’s position,but it would of been nice.
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Cynic Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@Dominick,
Well, waiting for Kovy totally screwed that up. I’m sure DL would have done something knowing what his cap space was after Kovy. Kovalchuk dragging his feet ultimately cost us any FA defenseman worth having.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@Dominick, Didn’t DL go after Martin and someone else? They just didn’t want to come here. We’re up and coming, yes, but still…we’ve only made the playoffs once in the past 7 seasons. We’re just not that big of a lure yet.
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@wavesinair, I agree. Martin turned down at least one higher offer to sign with the Pens. I know we all believe in the Kings’ future here, but can you blame him? We’re getting there. We’re not there yet. That, I trust, will continue to change.
Hamhuis is from BC, that might also have been a factor. It’s one of those things — do we sign a guy at all costs? Do we even know what kind of contract from our side he passed up on? And if we missed out on Kovy in favor of a defenseman, how many people would be howling now?
I don’t know all the answers, but those are interesting questions.
[Reply]
Crash Davis Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@wavesinair,
I wouldn’t say WE”RE NOT THAT BIG OF A LURE YET as a desirable location to play in the NHL. It’s changing. Proof is by Ryan Smythe waving his no trade clause last summer to come here…and Rob Scuderi leaving the Penguins to sign here (albeit he got a great contract offer). And both Modrin & Halpern were excited about being traded here last Spring.
The culture (winning) & the core of talent (JJ, Doughty, Brown, Kopi, et al) are changing the perception of the Kings.
That said, we won’t know for a bit what Defensemen DL was going after at the same time he was playing poker with IK. My bet he was after Hamhuis, Martin, Michalek…but the $$$’s or length of contract (6 years!!!) might have been too much.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@Crash Davis, I think the proof is in the pudding this year. Going back to LAST year, Ryan’s no spring chicken and we overpaid Scuds. I’m not saying we aren’t attractive to some, just not the Kovi’s and Martin’s of the world.
So yeah, I stand by my lure statement.
Alen Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@Crash Davis, You just named a bunch of B options when option A failed. So we are not getting who we want. Who wouldn’t be happy to leave Columbus or Tampa Bay last year? Scuderi? Well yeah, he won a cup so we overpaid him the year after. We overpaid him when the guys we wanted went to other teams.
Dominick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:49 am
@wavesinair,
All I was trying to say was that the situation dictated the course of action.I don’t hold DL responsible for not getting Kovi(which in the coming weeks some fans will).I have gone on record stating that my only worry is that FA’s will slip away by the time we find out about Kovi.
As to being attractive,I think we’re unique in that we’ve slowly been built to win,but have’nt made that big push yet,but are more than willing to,if the move makes sense.Anyone can see we’re headed in the right direction,the question is have we arrived.
I’d say we’re just as attractive if not more than Minnasota,Colorado,Philly,Montreal,ect. ect,but Washington,Pittsburg,Detroit?I think we still have some work to do.
It’s not like these guys don’t know anything about us,were just not good enough for a player to do anything to be here.That day will come and let the league beware.I’m happy that were not on a path of self destruction.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:54 am
@Dominick, I’m with ya. Agreed. (except for the kings being as attractive as philly and the habs)
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@Dominick,
i totally agree…
[Reply]
Were not doing anything? Not one damn thing..
We have to get someone? Right?
[Reply]
Jonathan H Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:22 am
@KH,
Hard to get someone when they flat out refuse to play for our club even at more money (see: Hamhuis)
[Reply]
KH Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:35 am
@Jonathan H, I don’t understand why we really are contenders if we added one or two pieces we could have a cup run but people have to take a chance on us?
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Darrell Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
@Jonathan H, Hamhuis turned down more money from other places as well, not just LA. He wanted to play at home.
[Reply]
Well, that doesn’t sound too encouraging from DL. Well played DL. Thanks for your efforts. Keep on improving our team the right way.
[Reply]
Man this is worse than getting coal for Christmas…
[Reply]
Buster Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
@CMcNab,
It’s even worse than getting a fruitcake.
[Reply]
Sounds like Dean wants company in taking the day off. He probably needs it more than any of us. Ak him where he’d like to go to lunch Rich.
No problem being out of the Gagne race. I think that was a hit or miss thing anyway. Risky for the kind of scratch he makes.
Kovy can go jump in one of the number of bays on the island. He wants money more than a Cup, not a problem. He just doesn’t belong here then.
Go talk to the Ducks GM about the rights for Bobby Ryan in a trade. Might not cost as much as 3 1st rounders. I know the Ducks are 99% positive they won’t give him up, but if BR wants a 3 year deal and he won’t move from that, then he does the Ducks no good as a holdout. They might as well get something for him and move on. I’m pretty confident Dean would have no problem signing Bobby to a 3 year deal @ 5mil per. Could cost us some D- prospects, but worth it I believe. Just a thought.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:27 am
@Cynic, Just a bit of a reality check.
1. Kovi did reject all that cash from atlanta.
2. We are not yet a destination for potential cup seekers.
3. It would be taking a big risk coming here hoping this team gels into a perennial winner.
4. NJ is a perennial winner and I think he takes less money to go there.
5. If I were him, I’d probably do the exact same thing. (then again, if I were him, I’d love LA and the Kings so I’d take that chance.)
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:38 am
@wavesinair,
5 for 5…:)
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@wavesinair,
Not sure I agree with all here Waves:
1) Maybe Kovi just was sick of living in Atlanta. If he can get the money elsewhere, why stay?
2) Disagree COMPLETELY! What was Chicago’s finish in the 2007-2008 season? In 2 years years, they went from worse than us to a Cup. The Kings have been touted by the league as major up and comers.
3) Disagree here too. There are at least 20 other teams in this league that are bigger risks than we are to gel into perrenial winners. We’ve got a stacked young core and prospects galore (Yes it rhymes).
4) Agree here. He’s already there. I can see the logic here.
5) If I were him, I’d listen to my wife and come to LA, but Russians are stubborn. What’re gonna do?
Fun discussion….
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
@Cynic, LOVE the optimism. I just think we Kings fans imbibe a bit too much on our own kool-aid. As for the scoreboard, we are very much on the lower-tier of the results column since our one shot at glory against the habs.
16 seasons. 5 playoffs.
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Also, it’s as close to a Gretzky type move since, well, since Gretzky. And if you listen to 99 when asked point blank, he thinks he could have won 5 more cups if he stayed in Edmonton. I don’t think he’s come out and said he regretted it, but it makes you think he might. Kovi just might be thinking the same thing.
[Reply]
NO this whole thing was a waste of time and we lost out on some good d-men… I freaking knew this was going to happen.. Every year it’s the same BS on how we need this and that. And Every year we come up empty handed. I could care less about Kovy, Just pissed we waited on his greedy punk ass.
[Reply]
Was Chicago signing Hossa crazy? They just won the cup. Sure they are shedding a few players, but they will have thier core together.
I just can’t believe we are throwing in the towel on this entire free agent class. That is crazy.
[Reply]
JHawks Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:23 am
@5thLine,
How do you get a player to sign with a team when they say no regardless of how much money you dump on their laps (see: Martin, Hossa, Hamhuis)
LA is still establishing itself as a destination for free agents that want to win – not simply an autumnal victory lap for players past their prime.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:41 am
@5thLine, A few players?
1. Bfuglien
2. Versteeg
3. Ladd
4. Fraser
5. Barker (yes, he wasn’t there, but was part of the cap issues).
6. Eager
7. Burrish
Those are just the one’s I can remember off the top of my head.
Basically, their team has been gutted. Yes, they have Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Hossa back.
But, they have now gone from one of the most physical teams in the NHL to one of the softest teams in the NHL, overnight.
Big contracts and big name free agents look pretty, and yes, it worked, but the previous 6 years of work they put in, will need to be repeated.
[Reply]
Dean made a fair offer last year to Hossa, this year looks like Kovi’s not coming unless we break the bank. Can someone explain to me why nobody wants to play in LA?
[Reply]
andy Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@Pesus, cause they’re greedy europeans.
[Reply]
the suppposed deal from the devils is 7 years for $60 million. i wouldn’t have minded paying that
[Reply]
Stop the Puck Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@Graeme,
amen
DL is delerious b/c this probs confirms that he offered LESS for kovy than hossa, which is insane. what a wasted opportunity if that is indeed the price.
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@Graeme, What makes you think we didn’t offer that — and were turned down?
Helene Elliott says that four different offers from the Kings were rejected before DL said enough. We’ll have to see.
[Reply]
Rich, thanks for all the updates. I certainly prefer the info that I get here, rather than the dozen Enquirer sites out in the ether.
[Reply]
this is one wacky high school dance…
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Just reported on ESPN….Kovalchuk will Not sign with the kings…..UUUHHHGGGGG
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Are there any 30+ yr old wingers with bad knees left?
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Oops, Sorry….NHL Network
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Frack! This isn’t looking like a good summer. Can we have some good news soon please?
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Seems like the Kings are always back to square one.
Then again DL knows what he is doing!
Go KINGS!!!
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7 years 60 mil is a far cry from the 10 years 100 mil people have been talking about. In all honesty that seems about right for a 27 year old free agent with his skills. Why can’t we pay that much? we have the cap space? THIS IS WHY IT SUCKS TO BE A KINGS FAN. why should it be hard to get players to come to la
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:35 am
@kingsOLY, 8.5 million/year for a 1 dimensial player?
No thanks.
[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@mrbrett7, Hey Brett what’s up? I used to talk Kings with you on Myspace. Anyway just wondered why you are still digging DL’s master plan? I think his drafting is way over rated with DD being the exception, and @ #2 overall how hard was that decision? He can’t sign a top tier UFA to save his life(job) and misses out on the rest of the UFA’s while trying to nab the big fish. What are your thoughts????
[Reply]
Just for once, as a season ticket holder for the past 14 years, I would like to see the Kings sign a big name via trade or UFA instead of just “being in the hunt”. I’m tired of the early ticket renewal requirements and promises of “we’ll be active this year” and “we’re one or two players away” and then just as history shows, the Front Office lets its season ticket holders and fans down yet once again. I’m not saying “sell the farm” or “break the bank”, but you must have top tier talent and a strong supporting cast to win a championship and until we pull the trigger, this team will continue to just be a team that “hopes to make the playoffs year after year”.
[Reply]
blckbsct Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@KingTitan, So I take it you are not renewing your tickets then?
[Reply]
KingTitan Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
@blckbsct, Already been suckered into renewing to get the playoff tickets for last year at a reduced price! If what NJ is paying Kovy is accurate, then DL needs to check himself in the mirror for not paying just a little more to get him.
[Reply]
GOKINGS75 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@KingTitan, i could not agree with you more. this makes me sick
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:39 am
@KingTitan, Spoken like a true Kings fan. You just have to learn to accept it, then everything will be easier.
[Reply]
KingTitan Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@wavesinair, Please pass the Kool Aid, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth and need to get another frustrating offseason rinsed out!
[Reply]
check it out if devils get kovy get zack parise…i am telling you devils will be over cap and need some room plus hes cheap.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
@ryan, Would love to get Parise.I was half hoping if we don’t get Kovi,that he’ll atleast go to NJ for that exact reason.
[Reply]
Seriously?? This is not good, this has been so public every GM knows what we need and will now rape our prospect nest egg to get what we need.Also great job on drafting 38 defensemen the last 4 years Deano , maybe could of gotten a 20-30 goal scorer then?????
[Reply]
Enjoy your day off Rich and thanks for everything over the last 4/5 days your the best and we are lucky to have you.
[Reply]
Typical offseason for the Kings. It’s like bad sex…all the build up but no follow through, leaving you asking yourself, “is that it?”
[Reply]
KingTitan Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:37 am
@Kristie,
Nice!!!!
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Oh man. The places I could take this comment…
[Reply]
Kristie Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am
@wavesinair, It applies in so many situations, but especially for us Kings’ fans!
[Reply]
D B COOPER Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Kristie,
it looks like the only straight male at a sheepherders convention. we’re going to get it in the end, just like the kings do to us at every FA time.
gene Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@Kristie, I take it you have had alot of bad sex?? What is bad sex to you?
[Reply]
Kristie Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
@gene, Nah…just what I’ve heard it’s like
[Reply]
It’s disappointing to think that the team won’t have a chance to improve with the addition of “proven” free agents, but I really don’t like the idea of one player taking up so much of your cap space for the next ten years (Kovi).
Does anyone else think one of the reasons the team is so concerned about the cap a few years down the line is that Dean offered Kopitar superstar money (7+ million a year) maybe just a little early…before he’s even come close to 100 points in a season ONCE? If every guy that scores 80-85 points a year were to get 7 million a year the league is going to back in a financial crisis in no time.
[Reply]
grega11 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@Bill,
6.8 cap hit for AK
[Reply]
Another wasted free agency period, another let down by the Kings organization. Sure we may have 30 goal “Snipers” coming up down the road , bit that’s the problem it’s DOWN the road….again. As fans we are tired of “one more year”, “well be ther in a couple years”, “our rebuilding is almost there” etc… With Kovy we had a chance to GET a proven 40+ goal scorer, not have to wait for one to develop. Take a chance for once. After last year it appears that the future is now and if Deano continues to be gun shy the future will once again be just that.
[Reply]
60 mil for 7 years
roughly 8.5 a year.
completely reasonable in my book.. and it sounds like he went waaaayyyy below the 100 mil. asking price. Looks like DL gave up too soon.
this. is. very. frustrating.
i’m not surprised though. I have NO idea what options are left for DL. Let’s hope he pulls a miracle somewhere because this team needs help.
[Reply]
This is sort of the same decision Kobe had to make in 2004 sign with the Clips who had better talent but bad history or Lakers who had worse talent but an owner and managment with strong trak records. Kobe signed with the Lakres and is on his second championship. Now Kings history is not as bad as the Clips and NJ’s is not as good as the Lakers but the analysis is simillar.
[Reply]
Qmungous Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@B, that’s ok cause we’re getting lebron!
[Reply]
Devils it is!
[Reply]
There is still time but if the team heads into next season without having brought in a top 6 and a dman, then I will not be happy that DL was signed to an extension. Building a base is one thing, completing it another and DL has yet to demonstrate that capability.
[Reply]
I’d rather give Luc a 1-year deal worth $1 million to try his creaky knees on the ice just one more time!
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The more and more I think about it, the more I realize I’m right.. We’re the St. Louis Blues & Columbus Blue Jackets of last season, we’re going to regress and not keep going.
The ‘Hawks signed Hossa last year and it helped them win the cup. What are WE going to do? Lombardi’s going to be known as a flop, I hate to say it because I’m one of his biggest supporters, but it’s just hard to not be disappointed.
Brière, Drury, Chara, Kovalchuk, Hossa, Gaborik.. the list goes on and on.. I don’t know how he’s going to fix up this top 6 winger and top 4 defenseman problem but he better do it soon before all these fans go nuts on him
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@AK47,
I also think we very well COULD regress this season, but when you say, “WE’RE GOING TO REGRESS” it comes off as over the top.
I think it’s great we didn’t sign Kovi. I do wish we had a top Dman in the fold by now, but I’m not worried about picking up speed and scoring right now.
Give Doughty the big bucks and let’s continue on this path. If we don’t make the playoffs next year, I will be sorely disappointed, but I also think it isn’t the end of this team. Still, I will be very pissed.
[Reply]
@blckbsct
I’ve already renewed to get the deals on Playoff tickets last season and just too afraid to give them up when the team is so so close to becoming a powerhouse for years to come. I didn’t suffer through 14 years of crappy teams to turn away when they are looking like a contender. I just want management to own up and pay up to bring a Championship to Los Angeles that doesn’t belong to the Lakers or Dodgers.
[Reply]
Ughhh… Not what I wanted to hear.. I can’t say I’m not disappointed landing Kovi and I know it would unreasonable to sign him at a crazy price but it still hurts knowing we had a chance to get him. We lost out on FAs, now we need to give up assets to get players, just disappointing..
I remember fishing with my dad and not catching crap and seeing the guy next to us pulling in the big fish. I guess it’s the same in hockey, it’s always the guy next to us…
[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:30 am
@Matt Fig,
Basically 8.5 for 7 years. How was this not possible…
[Reply]
Ownership should not have forced the Kovi issue on management. There were other free agents we could’ve signed right away. Waiting for this Russian has caused us to pass on the others that most likely would’ve helped our team more with what we needed…leaderhship and character…..I felt DL was pressured when this is not the player he wanted.
[Reply]
Kovalchuk to NJ, 7-years/$80M ($8.57M cap hit)
Per Pierre LeBrun
[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Sorry, $60M (other numbers still right)
[Reply]
scott Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Kevin Y, how does 80 mil come to an 8.7 cap hit over 7 years
[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@scott,
Sorry… as you see above, I corrected that.
The numbers look too damn alike
[Reply]
Rich, enjoy your day off! He’s re-signing with NJ.
[Reply]
Hopefully we go after Roenik and Brindamour now, I mean if we are gonna repeat Kings FA history. I knew this was not gonna happen because for years we have been the UFA’s bargaining chip to get a better deal elsewhere. Drury( glad on that one lol),Briere,Gomez,Hossa,the list goes on even our own players do it like Rob ” traitor” Blake.
[Reply]
LA Kings report card score since July 1st? “F”
[Reply]
Someone explain to me how we couldn’t afford the $60m/7 years?
[Reply]
Sydor25 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@Zeus,
Perhaps Kovalchuk said,”No” to the Kings?
[Reply]
Another bad day as a kings fan. 29 years of following this team is painful…..nobody is ever going to take a discount to play for the Kings……….Wake up Dean! I like DL but he just went down quite a few notches. He has completely struck out every year with ufa’s.
[Reply]
What… a… blanking… waste… of… an… offseason.
Didn’t sign Kovalchuk (who “supposedly” loved LA and wanted to play here).
Didn’t sign Martin (who “supposedly” just didn’t want to play here).
Don’t mind Hamhuis, as he’s a Vancouver guy, but…. damn
DL passed on other guys because he wanted Kovalchuk, and I feel he never had a Plan B. Once again, he got completely shut out, and I’m wondering how much longer ownership will allow this to continue.
DL had BETTER do something, or he’s gonna be public enemy #1 in Los Angeles.
[Reply]
I was just reading these comments and thinking about something. Yes, we absolutely are in need of a ‘pure goal scorer’. That being said, beyond not getting IK, the thing that bothers me isn’t so much that we don’t get his goals…. it’s that we don’t get his speed. I’ve said it over and over and over here. This Team Needs Speed.
I’ve watched a lot of the World Cup Soccer and just as in the new nhl, speed is BIG! Look at the Germans.
It was pretty clear from last years playoffs that while the Kings could have won, at the same time, teams don’t need to respect their speed, because they don’t have much of it…. which allows them to defend us differently. That to me is a bigger issue than whether or not we get (or didn’t get) Kovalchuk.
[Reply]
Ersberg Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@number 6, Nailed it.
We’re in real danger of regressing.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:02 am
@number 6,
the speed issue is still a major concern…
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Kariya
Belanger
then go from there.
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
@wavesinair,
I don’t think we can snag Belanger since the market for centers is this and he can be a 3rd line guy. We got ours already so do we really overpay for a 4th line center?
Kariya…not another old injury prone winger.
[Reply]
Relax everyone…
[Reply]
Darren Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
@Steve S., do you know how long we have been told to “relax?”
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Steve S. Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am
DL should not do something stupid out of desperation.
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@Steve S.,
DL hasn’t done anything
Just wanted to mention to all the recently depressed Kings fans that we have really not missed out on anyone. The majority of teams that didn’t throw the bank at free agents on the 1st have been waiting for Kovi do be done. Look at the transactions, barely anything. Kovi will sign with another team and that team will lose to Sid or Ovechkin in the playoffs and we will get a good forward and defenseman. Stop freaking out because DD will be extended soon and we will be better off.
Some of the post sound like a certain blogger on that hockey rumour blog site. I guess what I am saying if it is that bad don’t buy tickets this season. I’d love to sit you seat, lol.
Just ranting here, please don’t be offended.
[Reply]
I agree.
As far as the thread goes..
So, no Gagne? What next? Sign Belanger? Haha, we’re f’d.
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Well its on tsn.ca now as well about the report he is signing. They usually dont post things like that unless its a done deal. Oh well i guess ill start training and learn how to skate better and the kings can sign me for league minimum!
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http://twitter.com/darrendreger
Yes, just posted something about being close to finalizing w Devils. So looks like almost a done deal. Well, being in ny I can watch him on tv all season and root against him
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Will DL ever sign his option A free agents and not have to go to option B’s every summer? How can you not attract players to LA. It’s freakn LA! The weather is great, the girls are hot and the team is young and dangerous with a few editions. DL is good at rebuilding but I’m starting to think he’s afraid of pulling the trigger on anything big. This is why San Jose fired him. It’s like San Jose all over again.
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If this signing is true then Dean needs to go. That contract for Kovi is reasonable for a 27 year old sniper. Enough excuses how we were in it. Point is he can not get ot done.
[Reply]
Trade time, baby!
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hiway39 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
@Count RockuLA,
that’s the annoying part, we’ll have to move assets to get someone in the door who likely will be an overcompensation. patty o for williams doesn’t look horrid now, but i’d like to have that second round pick back. or the pick for halpern.
so many reports noted the kings could’ve traded assets for kovy at the deadline, but its widely known he wants to play in LA once he’s an UFA, so why bother giving up anything? this is why. clearly in his short time in NJ, lamoriello was able to convince him to stay.
yet another year passes and kings management swings and misses on their stated target(s).
[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@hiway39,
I couldn’t agree more. This was the arguement at the trade deadline. You make a move when you have the opportunity. Or else you lose.
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Resign Frolov and Modin and bring in Modano or Kariya for one or two years. Seven years at $60 million is not that far out of line. I do wonder what the Kings offered.
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Alen Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@kingrussell, A bag of pucks.
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Very disappointed. We obviously didn’t offer enough. DL better explain why we couldn’t match or beat that reasonable contract. I’ll be even more upse t if we spend that eight mill on injury prone players (gagne) or players who disappear and don’t care (I’m talking to you, frolov). How are we going to improve on 5on5 scoring! Another disappointing offseason. I’m keeping the 8k I was going to spend on season tix if we signed him in my pocket and just go to select games. I’m so disappointed.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@Carol vadnais, So, you know for a fact that he didn’t offer the same amount or more? Please, provide a link for this fact Carol…you can’t, I know you can’t. Don’t let sour grapes get in the way of what is otherwise a very good post.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:47 am
@Carol vadnais, Let me save you from yourself. You don’t want Kovi on this team. I know you think you do, but you don’t. Be happy he isn’t coming here. There are many other ways to help out team speed which will improve 5on5. Kovi is not the answer.
Now call your rep and drop the cash for a seat.
[Reply]
In all probability DL offered more than NJ but it didn’t come down to a question of how much, but more the moves that NJ made (Russian defenseman), he knows the players already and it’s a proven winning team.
Not much DL could do vs. that imo.
[Reply]
Count RockuLA Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@number 6, Same Agent helps, too!
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@Count RockuLA,
Same agent?? Oh…. same agent as Volchenkov?
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Alen Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@Count RockuLA, I’m tired of giving DL excuses. We always give him excuses. This summer something needed to be done. If you can’t attract anybody to LA after having a winning team you are doing something wrong. Who the hell would rather live in NJ over LA? Yes they are a proven winner but they got an aging goalie who will be gone soon. Of course Lou will replace him and they won’t miss a beat. Lou > DL. I’ll say it a million times, DL can rebuild very well but he doesn’t do so well after that.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:47 am
@Alen, Hmmm…no sales tax in New Jersey. Cheaper (much cheaper) cost of living. Closer to home (Russia).
I don’t know…but maybe you want to ask the average of 500k/year LEAVING Los Angeles for other parts of the country.
8.5 million in New Jersey is 8.5 million. 8.5 million in LA is more like 7 million, because of cost of living.
Not to mention…New Jersey has been winning for 18 years straight now, meanwhile the Kings have had one good season in the last 7 years…it’s not much of a choice.
TSN reports kovy back to the devils… just as well.
[Reply]
Why is everyone so certain DL didn’t offer at least the same contract to Kovi? Who is to say Kovi didn’t just use DL to get a better offer from NJ? Kovi just chose NJ over the Kings. If he doesn’t want to be here, oh well, move on.
[Reply]
Curious to see how much Dean offered. 8.6 seems reasonable for Kovi. Unless he just wanted to be in NJ.
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I could kiss someone right now…we’re not signing Kovi…best news I’ve heard since this whole thing started. This was the huge fork in the road and I’m 100% positive choosing to sign Kovi would have gained us nothing but a few more highlight goals and couple more wins during the regular season.
I’ve watched guys like Kovi disappear in the playoffs all my life… almost 30 years of watching the Kings and the NHL. He doesn’t have the size or strength and more importantly the WILL to play the type of game in takes to win a cup. I’ll take a player like Brown over Kovi any day!
Give Frolov what he wants, add another veteran dman and trade for a Carter/Gagne/??? and we are right there. I believe with the pieces we already have in place and the experience this team gained last year in the playoffs, we are closer than most might think. Kovi would have been an $8M or $9M albatross around our necks for the next 6 or 7 years.
[Reply]
mrk Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@Barry’s Mullet,
Brown over Kovi? Now you’re just sounding bitter.
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Puckin-A Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
@Barry’s Mullet, Didn’t you also watch Carter disappear in the playoffs as well?
[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
aaahhh Hollywood, either you are a big name celebrity (IK) or you are worthless
Conn Smyth this year (drafted)
Best Player, Keith – Drafted
Second best forward, Kane – Drafted
2nd line centre, Sharp – acquired from Philly
Dissapointing playoff performer/hurt during most of the season – Hossa.
The bulk of Chicago’s success came from the same methods Dean is using. And Chicago did not pay Hossa 8.5-10 Million.
So in my opinion the Chicago/Hossa comparisons are moot.
Standing firm like Dean did is what separates him from bad GM’s. You don’t cave in to players/ agents demands, you work as hard as possible to make it fit. But you do not force pieces to fit togeher, simple puzzle logic.
[Reply]
flex Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, …Brown over .WHO ??
.are you the guy who is selling hot dogs in Staples.
a few more fans like you..than we we are what we deserve.
IF WE NEED TO IMPROVE THIS TEAM…THEN
#1 ..we need replace the browny…or play him in 3d or 4d line!!!
[Reply]
Barry's Mullet Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
@flex,
You completely missed my point. I’ll try and break it down a little more simply…Kovi is a free wheeling player who doesn’t play ANY defense. You do that and you are going to score 40+ goals every year.
He didn’t do jack for NJ, but because they gave up the farm just to get him and have the first option to sign him…they will thankfully take the possibility of signing him off our hands, giving us the opportunity to go out and get the player(s) we need to win a championship.
Brown is the type of player that gives you everything he’s got night after night and that’s playing both ends of the ice…these types of players win you championships!
[Reply]
On a lighter note…
Matt Moulson headed to arbitration. Quite a switch from being ‘Let go’ last year.
http://twitter.com/ChrisBottaNHL
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:23 am
@Cynic,
he’s got a good shot of winning his case, i think…
[Reply]
This the usual BS from the kings management a day late and a dollar short, Kovi wasn’t the solution we should of been active the first day shore up a top 4 dman and solid right or left winger. Look what this does to team chemistry management sucks in this organization. It has in the past and it will in the future. All they want to do is sell tickets and go through the motions. Everyone in the league knows the kings are cheap will lowball you.
[Reply]
as far as i know and has been reported…:
the 2010-11 season is NOT going to be the last nhl season ever played…
visionaries see things before others…
i’m not gonna ever question kovy’s on-ice vision – it’s superb…but his “off-ice” vision is up for debate…
we don’t know what we don’t know about this whole deal…but one thing i know…:
this, too, shall pass…
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@variable,
Hi Var!! Left you a little note somewhere else in the blogosphere. Don’t know if you saw it. Hey, this has been quite something hasn’t it?
And you’re exactly right…. visionaries do see things as they’ll develop possibly down the road.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@number 6,
got it…!…see above on yr thread…:)
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@variable,
Got em! Thanks var!
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:17 am
“this, too, shall pass”
You must be referring to Parse. Man he can pass.
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NY post did change the post, now saying Devils have inside track to signing him. Interesting, they just want to play this out a little bit longer. Im pretty sure he is staying with the devils though.
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NJ needs to dump Elias and his 6 mil for 3 more years at 34 years of age. Or???????
They have currently 2+ in cap space and Kovi is 8.5 hit.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Kings-say-they-re-no-longer-in-the-running-for-S?urn=nhl,253740
As far as Gagne goes, thats off the table too. Poor Dean. I actually feel for the guy. I have no doubt he’s doing his best so it must be a difficult moment for him.
But re: Gagne I’m not upset at all. I’ve seen enough of Richard Martin, or Reeechar Mar-tan for you purists, Jason Allison, Adam Deadmarsh, Justin Williams and God knows who else to satisfy that craving (maybe this one ‘ll work out) for a lifetime.
I mean, maybe Gagne will score 40 this year and 37 next year. Very possible. But I’m not rushing anywhere to bet on it.
[Reply]
Interesting Puck Daddy blog comment re: Kings no longer in the running for Gagne: “why is it no player wants to play for the La Kings? Is it the management and ownership?
Ducks or Sharks don’t seem to have that problem…” Things that make you go hmmmm….
[Reply]
Sydor25 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
@alma,
Smyth waived his NTC to come to the Kings. I just think it is the perception that the franchise is a loser. This is the biggest thing that Dean is trying to turn around.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:22 am
@alma, it’s no mystery.
Ducks: 7 seasons, 5 playoffs, 1 cup
Sharks: 7 seasons, 6 playoffs
Kings: 7 seasons, 1 playoffs
[Reply]
I know it seems dissappointing…but trust me, you will be glad you don’t have Kovi on this team….he is a overrated gaff…
[Reply]
No point to hit the panic button just yet. There are still plenty of options for DL & Co. Maybe not for Kovalchuk, but we all knew that DL would not try to break the bank. The numbers thrown around doesn’t really mean anything if Kovalchuk had NJD in mind all along. It’s possible that he was just waiting for NJD to come up a bit from their initial offer.
[Reply]
If this is true that the Devils signed him for 8.5M per year, then this would be an epic fail on the part of the LA Kings.
[Reply]
Rene Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Belexes,
Thank You!!
[Reply]
So what happens if the Devils sign him and nobody wants to take players they wanna dump to get under the cap? I hope DL isn’t one of them taking on guys like Elias. Now Parise is a different story haha.
[Reply]
What is weird is that with who the Devils currently have under contract, they are 4 million under the new cap. So how will they afford Kovalchuk at the 8.5 million annual cap hit?
Do the Devils trade a few players?
Is this all one big dog and pony show?
[Reply]
so looks as if kovy is going to the devils. Actually that is a good thing cause now we know that the devils will need to shred some salary. Good time for dean to get zack parise man that would be a huge win for us. Go jump on that dean. ps. hes only making a bit over 3 mil a year.
[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@ryan peralta,
No way we can get Parise. Even though he is an RFA next year and NJ has to shed some serious salary to retain him.
If Lou is thinking to move Parise, Dean has to compete with 28 other GM’s who would kill for the kid. You want to put your money on LA for that one?
[Reply]
Booby Ryan… Have to try and get his rights or send him an offer. If Kings can lock up Ryan, they will have the best group of young players in the NHL. Imagine what a time with Kopi, B. Ryan, Doughty, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Schenn, Clifford, ect.. would look like in 3 years???
[Reply]
alma Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@lakingsfan19,
that’s a battle of California I really, really don’t want to see….
[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@lakingsfan19,
Lay off the RFAs of other teams — especially the Ducks. They’re still waiting to get revenge against Edmonton for snarfing Dustin Penner.
Incidentally, the bad blood from that Penner affair was so nasty that I can’t think of a single RFA that has been picked by a team other than his own since then. Let the Kings not be the first.
[Reply]
KINGS 5 : DEVILS 0
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I am convinced that even if there isn’t someone “big” signed, we are still in good shape. The core is intact. Okay, yes I agree we do need a scorer, but it is not the end of the road at this point. There is organizational depth and alot of talent. Someone is going to step up and impress. Be patient and don’t panic. The Kings are still in the drivers seat. Perhaps a trade????
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@The Kinger, im sick of hearing the core is intact…okay cool we have 5 good players. look at the rest of our players…they are either really young and developing or are really old and on their way out. WE WILL NOT BE A CONTENDER IF WE DONT MAKE SOME MOVES!!! what we shouldve done is gotten players during free agency because when we trade we have to lose players to gain players instead of gaining players and not losing anyone…its a lose lose situation
[Reply]
The Sharks let Lombardi go because he couldn’t take them to the next level. He is great at building a core through the draft but he doesn’t know how to take a team to that elite level. I hope he can manage something via trade soon, but I think we missed out on a huge free agent that could have provided 40-50 goals next year…how many one goal games were there last year? 40-50 goals sounds like a much needed addition to the Kings offense.
[Reply]
tellmeY Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Eric, that is not the reason why DL is no longer with the Sharks…you don’t know what you are talking about….and…you don’t know why we missed on Kovi…no one does…but chalk it up to greed for sure.
[Reply]
exponentially Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@tellmeY,
Greed, greed, greed…not just the players, but their agents. Wouldn’t 10 or 15 % of 100 mill make a nice payday? Remember POS’ agent urging him to ask for more $$ than he was worth! And Cammy,too. Their agents inflate egos already inflated in order to get a bigger piece of the pie for themselves.
If the agent reall cared for his client, he would urge his client to think in terms of the real world…not the emperyean mists.
[Reply]
Typing with my hard hat on, because apparently the sky is falling! Relax, take a breath and think things through before you fire off knee-jerk reaction posts. We don’t know what DL offered Kovalchuk, so to say that because he signed a contract of 60mil at 7 years automatically means DL offered less is ridiculous! Also, it doesn’t mean that not getting Koivalchuk dashes hopes of a cup run. I’m glad we didn’t get him, the guy all but disappered in the playoffs last year. He has proven he can score goals, but hasn’t proven he can WIN. Big difference there. If you think we should have broke the bank and traded away the youth we have for one guy, then seriously go seek counseling. I don’t want to get Kovalchuk at the risk of losing players like, Kopi, DD, JJ, Brown, Simmer, etc. Not worth it! One player does not a team make! GM’s who cater to the will of the fans regarding FA signings, destroy their teams! I’m glad DL isn’t one of them.
[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Nitrohockey,
And this is what I don’t get. Are you saying that signing Kovy would cost us our entire core, or 1 or 2 players from it? Does a player like Kovy not deserve to be added to our “core”? Is any player (outside Kopi and DD) seriously a more valuable piece to any team than a player like Kovy?
[Reply]
Nitrohockey Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@Lloyd Christmas, potentially, yes. If you do the breakdown on Kovi’s contract, maybe it costs you 1-2 players next year, and a few more the year after that. There was breakdown done and next year I believe it put the Kings 4 mil. over, year after that, over 5 mil over the cap. It happens right as the contracts of our core players come up. I’m not willing to risk it. He’s not worth it. Hope that explains it a little better. I’d rather keep the guys who show up every night than have a guy who could be a 40 goal scorer, but only shows up when he wants to.
[Reply]
It’s reportedly 7 years at 8.5 million dollars a year …
Nobody good wants to come to play in LA.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@tsaiguy, bite your tongue
Doughty loves LA. Future HOFer right here.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@tsaiguy, If he was so good, then Atlanta would have been a perrenial cup contendar, or at least in the playoffs every year.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. 8.5 million/season for a one dimensional player like Kovy is nuts.
[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
@mrbrett7, That is a slippery slope , you know 1 player doesn’t make a team. He had 1 line, 1 decent D pairing and garbage in net in ATL. He is a puzzle piece that completes a puzzle, just like Hossa( 3 years 3 Cup appearances ). His type of offensive contribution is needed when all the rest of the pieces are in place, like we have here now or almost have.
[Reply]
Ooops…Link is here. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326655
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@tsaiguy, yes, this is tsn reporting what the ny post said which is posted above.
and around and around we go.
[Reply]
brandyn Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@wavesinair,
the NYP has changed the title.
Look here:
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/nhlblog/kovalchuk_expected_to_sign_with_6bXr165ziolHuq8eWQQKLO
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:50 am
@brandyn, exactly. which makes tsn’s report obsolete.
on another note, espn, believe it or not, is going to comment on the kovi situation soon…
Sounds like maybe Kovalchuk had no real intention of signing here, but used the Kings (and Islanders to some extent) to leverage a matching deal money-wise from NJ. No one’s at fault, time to move forward. For all the hand wringing, the Kings’ future remains bright.
[Reply]
If NJ signs kovi, thats perfeft considering there no way capable to keep rolostin , zuburus , parise , langenbrunner. Not all 4 will go, but thats a good pool. I think if DL went after parise and got him, i would definately tip my hat. Not a bad bet in the making.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:42 am
@Michael_DD8,
No way on God’s green earth they give up Parise. Sorry….. this one’s been beaten to death. DT had a shot at him in the draft, then in all probability might have been able to give up his last two first round picks that year to move up to grab him? That’s obviously speculative, but in any case, Parise is a Devil and I assure you will stay a Devil. Nice dream though.
[Reply]
Do worry guys, DL is interested in bringing back ex-flyer John Leclaire
[Reply]
like i said earlier, 2 20 goal scorers is equal to 1 @ 40 goals. we saved our contract budget for the core and what’s available thru trades.
we need more team speed. lets trade for some speed that won’t disappear in the Playoffs. speed is JUST as important as the ability to pick a corner of the net. speed forces turn-over, dman backing up, dman scrabbling, makes linemates better players, etc. we certainly could add a speedy 20 goal scorer thru our assets, and from a team who tapped-out at the cap currently.
we could also find a solid dman to trade for. perhaps it will happen after the season starts when teams realize they may be able to keep next years FA.
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guys it was reported by the newyork post first, it seems like one final push by Jay Grossman to up the price.. how reliable is the new york post?
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:44 am
@brandyn,
As for tabloid stuff I don’t know, but wrt hockey I’d say probably pretty reliable.
[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:48 am
@brandyn, That’s the only site that has reported and I don’t even think they have a source. Lebrun hasn’t said nothing about it and I believe Lebrun more than most sites unless it’s Rich.
[Reply]
And the Kings sign…Lee Stempniak!
[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:53 am
@Hockey Jesus, Knowing this team I’d say that’s a good bet. Seriously.
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The GM who cried wolf lol . Each year it is getting harder and harder to believe a word out of DL’s mouth regarding UFA’s. We are the NHL’s UFA arbitrator, we show the rest of the league what to pay a UFA so they can sign him. Sick of hearing how great he is @ drafting as well, wonder what forwards we could have if no Tuebert in the same draft as DD, with Hickey the year before and with the aquisistion of JMFJ , seems kinda dumb.
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Well this sucks.
Now what?
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It’s days like this where I feel like becoming a Quacks fan….
.
.
.
.
.
Well…..not really.
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unreal…
if i didn’t already know beforehand how some of you were already predisposed to supposition and illusions of reality, then this thread has eliminated all doubt…:
IF THE REPORTS ARE TRUE AND A PLAYER TURNS DOWN $8-9 MILLION PER YEAR FROM A TEAM THAT REALLY, REALLY WANTS HIM, HOW CAN YOU BLAME THE GM…???
SHOULD DL OFFERED HIM $10 MILLION…? (CRAZY!)
SHOULD DL OFFERED HIM A CHAIN OF LUXURY HOTELS SO THAT HE HAS HIS OWN RESORT TO OCCUPY FOR AWAY GAMES…?
i could go on…
but…
WHEN IS IT ENOUGH…?
WHEN IS IT “TOO MUCH” FOR ONE PERSON…?
HOW MUCH OF THE FUTURE DO YOU WANT TO MORTGAGE ON JUST ONE COMMODITY…?
gretzky couldn’t make it happen out here – and he had a great supporting cast…
kovy is no gretzky…
next season WILL NOT be decided because of free agency – they still have to play the games…
THERE’S STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THIS TEAM BETTER…CONSIDERABLY BETTER…WITHOUT KOVY…(!!!)
[Reply]
Alen Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:55 am
@variable, Year after year after year when you cannot attract the guys you want and you have to fallback and overpay guys who were always OPTION B’s, people will get frustrated with the GM. I mean San Jose fired the guy cause of it. DL is great at rebuilding a team but he hasn’t proven at any point in time in his career that he can build a Stanley Cup winner. You’re right, if DL did offer him 8mil or 8.5 mil you just can’t simply blame him and expect him to go Garth Snow stupid. Let’s see what happens I guess. If DL’s idea of improving the team is trading for another aging guy past his prime, we might just have a problem or two.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
@Alen,
Get your facts straight. That is Not why San Jose fired him. I’m quite certain (no I don’t Know but have a pretty good hunch ) that the Kings offered him more if not a good bit more than NJ. As variable says above, where does it stop. Unrelated, but similar: it’s like this Lebron craziness. Where does it stop. Now it’s just become plain ridiculous. I used to live overseas, and now living again in the US it really makes me wonder. Nothing whatsoever wrong with following this stuff, but you get the impression that no one does anything with their spare time than watch ESPN which just jacks up the stakes. I apologize to you if there is a shred of anger in this thread, but it does make me angry.
I’m now officially OD’ed on Lebron to say nothing of our Russian friend.
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variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
@Alen,
i don’t care how many years it takes to make the “right” deal…you don’t make a deal simply because people are frustrated…
i, for one, am glad that the likes of glen sather and darryl sutter are not running…or ruining…this team…
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@variable,
Watch out people! The Vman is throwing down. This is the variable I love. Excellent comment. Spot on.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
@wavesinair,
Yes it is
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variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@wavesinair,
right back at ya’, my man…!
[Reply]
Danielle Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
@variable,
Thanks for being a voice of reason, even if you had to shout it since everyone is running around trying to dodge the falling sky.
Just because Kovi is allegedly willing to take 8.75/year to be with an Eastern team doesn’t mean he would take that for a Western team. I’ve read a number of comments over the last few days about the possibility that he is taking the travel side of things into consideration.
Everyone keeps pointing to the Ducks and Sharks but who are their biggest free agent acquisitions (up until the last couple of years when they had some established veterans)? Sharks got Thornton and Heatley via trade. Most of their other high caliber players were home-grown. Ducks got Niedermayer as a free agent, but his brother played for the team. They signed Selanne, but he was a former Duck. They traded for Pronger. Their top scoring players – Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan – were all home-grown.
So if you want to compare with the Ducks and Sharks, you should be commending Lombardi for not overpaying for a big free agent.
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Danielle Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@variable,
Augh. I just wrote a reply commending yor comments only for it to disappear.
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variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
@Danielle,
thanx, DANIELLE..:)
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The post has change their story. Now saying NJ is in the mix not on the verge of signing. Still says he signs with the Kings. Grossman will call Dean in the next hour to tell him he is ready.
Watch
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 11:56 am
@Jeff,
Man, I hope so.
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Wrongo. NJ.
[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
@Jeff,
Nope. LeBrun still saying Kings out, between NJ and NYI.
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KellyHrudey Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Jeff, You are the eternal optimist
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Having good depth only gets you so far. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams of recent years have premier players that they’ve added through Free Agency … and trouble staying under the cap. And we have the young players that we could easily jettison some veteran players to make room for Doughty and JJ’s extensions. Look, if was just Kovalchuk, I can understand why he would go play for less than we offered in NJ (though that once again seems to indicate how much respect premier players have for the LA Kings and Dean Lombardi, that they will play for less for other teams). But Dave Lombardi has shown time and time again that he just is not capable of pulling in a premier player.
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Mtlkings Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@tsaiguy,
you mean Dean
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jason Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
@tsaiguy, “Dave” Lombardi? Hmmm…
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It’s time to move one, Kovalchuk is done… Let’s keep the core together for a long time and work on developing the kids or signing players that want to be here.
I rather be a contender for years to come instead of a one and done deal.
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Do hope that Kovalchuk signs soon so that the Kings can get on to renegotiating an extension with Doughty so that when it takes a week or more to happen all of you can start bitching about what a selfish SOB that little punk is because he’s only trying to get what he thinks he’s worth.
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Kovalchuk stays in NJ 6 years for 70 million
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@tsaiguy,
Dave Lombardi? Pretty good hybrid. Thanks for the laugh, I certainly needed it.
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tsaiguy Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@mrk, lol … more revealing than I intended… Dave and Dean … One and the same … No matter whos the GM, Kings are too cheap to seal the deal.
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I tend to agree with the naysayers… Honestly what has DL done in terms of bringing in GOOD players. Drafting is one thing, but any top 10 pick is pretty much a good bet to be decent – see, Doughty, Bernier, Hickey (or not so much), Schenn (perhaps).
But.. hes only brought in one real decent player.. Smyth.. Williams.. boo… his wire pickups.. boo…He can’t sign any top talent because he is too old school. Wears them down too much in negotiations I reckon.
Anyhow. Just upset with all the hype that we have taken a step backwards. I like GM’s who have the balls to do things to improve. We cant wait forever.
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Barry's Mullet Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@kingo,
What do you want him to do…players simply don’t want to come to LA!
You want him to beg and gravel to get players to come here? Maybe he should start stalking a few players until they agree to sign with us.
Dude…they just don’t want to come to LA and this is not DL’s fault…this has been going on since Wayne left…almost 15 years ago. DL is building a winner and he and the team just need to prove it to the rest of the NHL.
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MOVING ON…I think we should resign Fro or take a look at Kariya maybe. I know Fro is inconsistent, but we need his two way play and dynamic O-zone play. Kariya would be good for PP and i think would play well with Kopi and RS. We also need some toughness after losing our ‘battleship’ and OD. I dont think westie is the answer…he needs competition. we need a more toughness on D and I think souray would fill nicely. I think we could get him for cheap!
[Reply]
Otto Ped Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
@tornado12, JOHN SCOTT
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@tornado12 said
I think souray would fill nicely. I think we could get him for cheap!
I’m gonna pretend I didn’t read that bit.
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tornado12 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
@number 6, any better ideas?
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
@tornado12,
Trade for Gleason
David Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
@tornado12, Well considering he passed through waivers…
While it would be nice to get Kovi, the price is very steep & for a team in which ownership has proven to be cheap would lead to future problems. However with this management they have turned the corner & need to make the necessary steps forward. Lombardi needs to make a little splash & try & poach Bobby Ryan. A very talented scorer. At this point in the FA game the King’s are loosing the battle but lets just hope it is just this one battle & not the war.
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NO Frolov please. The guy is talented but has no capacity of understanding. How many times do we see him trying to pull fancy moves instead of just attacking. And hes a bit slow on his stakes too. The guy to me doesnt deserve to be a king….
On the other hand. NO TRADES !!!!!! thats just stupid. We need to add kovi and our scoring. And i dont know why no one has not brought up a question about bringing in a veteran goalie.
Do you feel that quick is Stanley Cup capable?? curious all on our thoughts !!
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In the end, you only want players who want to be here. Hossa didn’t. Kovi doesn’t. So now we have to see DL’s plan B. Good news is that the core is intact and all that rebuilding hasn’t been derailed. (yet)
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I have lost any faith in DL’s ability to sign a top tier UFA. We might as well have Burke if we’re going to trade assests to fill holes. Just sign Frolov and give him more than 5 games on a top line this year. So frustrated with another disappointing offseason.Wonder if Priessing,Nady,and Calder are still available????? Get a pair DL!!!F@$#!!!!
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Why blame DL? You dont know the numbers yet. He offered more to Hamhuis and to Martin. Did not get out bid. The guys choose other teams. Martin presumably because of eastcoast, Hamhuis wanted to go home and took less. Gaborik, before you start ranting on that, had a great year. But with his injury history, you dont offer more than 2 or 3 years.
I believe its the travel and non hockey atmosphere thats the problem.
But if you all want a skape goat go ahead. Rant on.
[Reply]
tsaiguy Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@src,
But you make the other sides point … Gaborik, Kovi, Hossa, Hamhuis, Martin … the list of Free Agents that we are losing on goes on and on …
[Reply]
src Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
@tsaiguy,
Again, Same numbers for martin, he choose Pitt. Better numbers for ham, he choose VAN. Same numbers for Hossa, he choose CHI.
Your left with Gaborik, more years got him. At the time more than 3 years would have been a big risk. And still maybe.
Kovi at more than 8 mil cap hit is ridiculous for future signings of our RFAs.
You have according to some eastcoast guys 60 more home days with your family during the season. That is worth giving up some pretty good bank unless you hate your wife and kids.
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guys listen…..when you put the ball in the players court….you’re at a disadvantage. Kovi is a top-tier UFA that’s not gonna take a discount, so that’s even worse. DL didn’t have much wiggle room when it came to ante-ing up.
BTW, what was the biggest UFA the Kings have ever signed in their history? I can only think of one guy…Marcel Dionne.
Whatever success the Kings have had has been thru trades. Gretzky, Deadmarsh, Palffy, Allison, G. Murray, etc, etc etc…..
This isn’t DL’s problem, it’s LA’s problem. But then again, do we really need to go out and sign a UFA to win a cup? Not necessarily.
When you make a trade for a top player, the ball’s not entirely in his court, it’s up to the 2 GM’s involved. Even with a NTC, it’s easier to sell a player to go to the other team involved than it is as a UFA.
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SaveByCechmanek Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@Dorian,
great points. I correct myself in saying that the Gretzky deal was the last big King signing but that was a trade, not a UFA situation which this clearly is.
DL can only make the best offer he can based on his long term plan. If the UFA doesn’t want to fit in then it’s their prerogative.
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NY Post now reporting the Islanders never made a formal offer to Kovalchuk. PR Stunt ahoy!
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Great players do not want to come here because Dean treats his players like disposable paper plates (Kopitar excepted). Look at what happened to top tier talent willing to commit to LA for the long term (i.e., Demitra,Cammaleri,Visnovsky,etc.). No top tier talent will come here when Lombardi shows such disrespect for players by calling veterans “fillers”,giving away talent at the drop of a hat (Demitra…Moulson). Players fall from Lombardi’s grace very quickly. Contrast Lombardi to Lou Lamorellio. Case made.
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I understand the concept that people don’t want to give up the “core” group of kids like Kopi, Doughty, JJ, Brown, and Simmonds at the expense of signing one player to a huge and lengthy deal. I tend to agree with that, but at some point there HAS to be a big upgrade made via free agency. Not only does it look like the Kings are missing out on Kovalchuk, but they missed out on all the good defensemen as well. That is one thing people seem to be overlooking. The Kings have two huge needs they needed to fill, a top winger and a top four dman, and so far they have done……nothing.
Dean Lombardi has done a superb job in building this organization from within, and he still has the rest of this offseason to do something splashy. However, when all these big names keep going other places and the Kings are sitting idle it gets very discouraging as a true Kings fan. We do understand we can’t give up the farm for one guy, but there HAS to be a happy medium. That seems to be Dean’s biggest setback, that he just is too stubborn to give a player that little extra to bring him to LA.
This team is getting close, and Lombardi is a HUGE reason for that, but it’s time to make that big push and put this team into the true contention category. We fans have been waiting a long long time.
Keeping my fingers crossed here….
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Man if it’s true he goes at 7 yrs for $60 million that is depressing. Why couldn’t LA afford that $? 8.5 a year is not an obscene amount for a 50 goal scorer. If DL wasn’t ready to match that then never should’ve even wasted the effort. All this talk about guys that only really want to be here is crap.
LA is a great town but these guys can live where they want w/ the $ they make. Look at our guys. Only Brown and Greene live here. So what makes people think our guys want to be here anymore than a Kovy? Plus if his choice is NJ or LA then you have to figure he picks highest amount. Both teams are good but NJ is far better track record of at least winning than us and they have a HoF goalie.
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See…what worries me…
Our lack of bringing in “big time” help over the years and/or players not wanting to play here if that is the case might just start wearing on the “core” players like it does the fans. A lot of us are pissed right now…actually some of us have been pissed well over many years…won’t the core eventually get pissed and realize no help is coming here and want to leave and go play for a Detroit, New Jersey, etc. one day?
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@Bryan Agee,
You say “the core” as if they are one single unit.
sure, some may go, but any core player with half a brain understands that remaking an entire organization takes time. I don’t like it anymore than anyone else, but I do believe we will get to the promise land if we stay the course.
We made the playoffs FINALLY. We have to do it again a couple more times before anyone believes the Kings are for real.
Doughty is the core-est of the core and he’s here for good so I’m just tickled to death about that.
[Reply]
Given that the islanders never made a real offer to kovi he has now played his cards. THink about this. He says he is not signing with the kings, and the islanders are not in so all that is left is the devils? THat does not give him much bargaining power does it? It does not make sense. What does make sense is to publicly say you are not accepting the kings offer to stir the pot. We are still his only option…
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@Jeff,
You forgot to mention the KHL…
[Reply]
Here’s some dandy Kovi tweets from this morning…
BREAKING NEWS: Kovalchuk is retiring! Well, it is about as accurate as most of the “news” coming out today…
wtf Kovalchuk. Staying in NJ? Way to be an overdramatic poop face.
If picked, Ilya Kovalchuk would be the worst contestant in Let’s Make A Deal history. What costume do you think he’d be wearing?
My sources tell me Sarah Palin is hoping Ilya Kovalchuk signs in Russia so she can watch him play from her house.
Kovalchuk will sign with the Devils, unless he doesn’t.
This Just In: Kovalchuk to Cleveland Cavaliers.
Gotta love twitter…
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@wavesinair,
we are living in a world where the only facts that matter are the opinions of others as to what those supposed facts could be…
chasing our own tails has become a new acceptable american social custom…
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
@variable, critical thinking has gone the way of the dinosaur in this country. the entertainment value can’t be dismissed however!
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FOR ALL MY ‘INSIDER’ FRIENDS, YOU WILL PROBABLY FIND THIS ARTICLE QUITE INTERESTING WRT IK PLUS IT ECHOES ONE OF MY EARLIER THREADS WHERE I POSED THE QUESTION; between the money IK has already earned and another 70-90 or 100mil, what exactly does that change in terms of one’s quality of life?
Great Article
http://www.fromtherink.com/2010/7/5/1552840/are-ilya-kovalchuks-contract
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
@number 6,
I’M GONNA ECHO YR SENTIMENTS…
EXCELLENT TAKE ON IL BY MIKE CHEN…!
MUST READ..!
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The really stupid thing about all this, the big summer for UFA’s in both the NBA and NHL, all the top players are ending up staying put. We all got taken for a ride to nowhere.
..and how much you guys wanna bet LeBron James stays in Cleveland. Boring….
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
@SaveByCechmanek,
I’m not psychic, but I really have to believe that you are 100% right. Maybe not, but I’ve been feeling the same thing. To say that I am SO OVER THE HYPE regarding Lebron would be an understatement. I saw a clip of him last night on ESPN and yes he is beyond extraordinary! But so what!! There are many truly remarkable people on this planet that are never heard of by any one…. so twenty four seven about Any athlete is just too much!!
And we wonder why so many are spoiled prima donnas?!! Well, this last five days is a great lesson as to Why they are spoiled.
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So, should we go after Bobby Ryan? Or resign Frolov? Or both? I don’t see another player like Bobby Ryan out there but is he worth the draft picks we would have to forfeit? And still no dman… I’d like Souray but don’t like the injury past..
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
@The ol’ p,
haysuz creest…. do you not read the blogs??? sure we can go after bobby ryan…. no problem…. but PLEASE do not be the one on this blog complaining when the Ducks poach Drew Doughty. DL HAS WARNED GM’S NOT TO MAKE OFFERS ON HIS PLAYERS……, SO WHY WHY WHY WOULD HE THEN GO AFTER SOMEONE ELSE’S!!
Where is Variable? I need to get away lock stock and barrel from this site for a while.
@ Rich Hammond…. forgive me Rich for I know what I have done (lost my patience)… but it can’t be a walk in the park for you either!!
[Reply]
DCLHSKINGSFAN Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
@number 6,
his right DL did say those words
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
@The ol’ p, if by “go after bobby” you mean an offer sheet, it won’t happen. dl has stated very clearly he won’t do that. some other deal perhaps, but if i were the ducks, the last place i’d send bobby would be the kings.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@wavesinair,
Hey waves, that’s what gets to me about some of the thought processes here by some people. I mean, who cares about the little details, right? They’re only our most intense cross town rival, but who’s bothering about that right?
Thank you waves. Thank you.
[Reply]
Also, to all those people saying that the signing of Kovalchuk would be a “one and done” type of thing…what the hell are you talking about? Help me out here. Signing Kovalchuk means the Kings are making a run for the short term only? I don’t think so. So two or three of the kids would have to be let go and not resigned. Let’s take Simmonds for example. Doughty and Kopi would still be here if Simmonds couldn’t be afforded. And a core of Kopi, Kovy, and Doughty would still be a great team. And who is to say that Dean Lombardi wouldn’t keep restocking the minors with players ready to fill the Simmonds role? Those of you saying signing Kovalchuk would ruin this team are over looking many factors.
And the best argument of all is that Kings fans dont want to see the Kings end up like the Blackhawks and let a lot of people go. Last time I checked the Blackhawks are the STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS. What did they do? They built from within then made a huge addition by SIGNING Hossa. Just saying….
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Now here’s the part we’re good at, signing those 4th or 5th options, that never work out.
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Some people are saying that DL blew it if it is a 8.5 or so cap hit for kovy.. Really? Did you NOT read the reports that the kings LATEST offer that Kovy rejected that made DL say Forget it was their BEST offer they could give without hindering the future extensions of Doughty and Johnson… just a little FYI
[Reply]
I just want to be cup contenters for a few years and see the cup lifted by Brownie a few times
[Reply]
The Devils have been in the playoffs for what – 15 years straight? The Kings were out of the playoffs seemingly forever until last year. Now we see why. The Devils do what it takes to stay in contention. The Kings don’t. Another very sad day in this franchise’s history. Wnen you think about it, it was predictable, wasn’t it????
[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
@rick,
Lol, reading these ridiculous and barely coherent overreactions has been unbelievably entertaining
[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, As have been the posts of the excuse makers.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
@rick, sounds like you think the devils signing kovi is a good move by them. think again. they HAD kovi and lost. if they keep kovi, they will have to get rid of two players they had last year. how on earth does that move make them better? nj hasn’t done a gd thing since the lockout so they are still riding on their former glory. still a great organization but hardly what they were before. kovi’s not the answer to the kings problems.
[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
You’re only adding fuel to my fire. The Devils have to make some dramatic moves to keep Kovalchuk. They did it anyway. We had to move no one. We still couldn’t get it done.
No guts, no glory.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
@rick, if by adding to your fire you mean a very poor understanding of the salary cap and the future of this team, then yes, I’m adding a lot of fuel. clearly you’d be happy to overpay a sniper with no desire to play defense.
nj had kovi (and those “guts” as you put it) and still lost in the FIRST round of the playoffs. what part of that don’t you get?
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
@wavesinair,
No but he can score, something the Kings need a bit of. Players like this don’t become available too often. Having the opportunity to be the likely landing place of one is even rarer (especially when it’s only cap space, and not cap space and players). It is a risk, but it’s riskier thinking the Kings will get another one soon.
[Reply]
Nice little article outlining the pitfalls of Kovi staying in NJ…
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34391-THNcom-Blog-How-adding-Kovalchuk-impacts-the-Devils.html
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@wavesinair,
Hey waves…. you’re really sharp. I’ll read this article, but just responding to your comments above. Something that went thru my min (having nothing to do w IK btw) was about Brodeur. As I live in ny I might see more NJ than most of you guys out there…. and I really had to ask, just how many more years does Brodeur realistically have? Maybe 5 or 6? But I can’t imagine that he is now at a performance level that he was at five years ago. I mean in athletics, there is a point w age where performance just tails off a bit. So that’s something else to consider.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@number 6, thanks bud. i have my moments (and dumb ones too)
in that very article above, and i quote, “Franchise goaltender Martin Brodeur has but a few seasons left in his Hall of Fame pads and with the departure of Paul Martin, the Devils cannot count on their blueline for any offense.”
so yeah, you’re onto something there!
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@wavesinair,
another great take..:)
[Reply]
wow this makes so angry and seriously dean doesnt deserve that extension he just got if nj gets kovalchuck for 6 years i dont think they offered him more than 8 mil per year so why couldnt dean offer him that or a little bit more this is bull $*!^ . I hope im not the only one that sees that this was our chance if he doesnt sign with the isles then we could have got him . Now what do we have left nothing. This is the worst news ever thanks dean for bein a low ballin GM thats not going to take us anywhere so long for being cup contenders .
[Reply]
Are you kidding me? So now we arnt even looking to get Gagne? Dean what the hell are you doing??? He better do something to make this team better next season this is getting to be ridiculous especially with fans hopes so high I really cant believe this crap is happening
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Everyone’s throwing this “core” BS around pretty casually. This whole “we must protect the core!” is just second tier brainwashing, enabling Dean to take his annual swing and miss at not only players we want, but players we absolutely NEED. There has to be a reason that he fails everytime landing a key player in the offseason. What’s the point of building this core, if it can never be complimented properly, by those players who really put your team on the map? We’re always just going to be a fringe team if Dean’s willing to watch one.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@Nyck, Really? Okay.
Please…show me a Stanley Cup winner…a contender for that matter, who has NOT held on to their core, and was able to compete for the cup on a yearly basis.
I’ll help you out. There isn’t anyone.
[Reply]
The Bobby Ryan talk has me dying.
1- dean will not do an offer sheet
2- bob Murray will not trade him to Dean
Pump your brakes on this nonsense
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It’s typical management not getting anybody during these times. Hey people still come to see games, why should they be worries on bringing a big name to LA? This is getting old, I hope there is a trick up DL’s sleeve cause if not it’s the same thing we fans go thru each off season.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
@Airwaves, You act as if it isn’t a two way street. DL can’t MAKE the guy come here if he doesn’t want to. It’s not as if DL didn’t make a huge play for him. He made an offer and I will bet money it was a good one.
p.s. I hate that you chose a name so close to mine. I’m the only waves that matters.
[Reply]
Well, IK wasn’t so far out of our price range afer all which bolsters my thoughts that DL was never serious about IK. So, now that we had the wool pulled over our eyes with this one, what will DL do? I really don’t see how our boys could have played any harder or even better (except for Fro). At best I think we will do about the same as we did last year if things do not change significantly. It’s becoming clear that this isn’t a hockey club that wants to win the cup. This is a hockey club that just wants to make money by over-hyping and mass-merchandising a mediocre team. By September I will need to decide whether to pull the plug on this sick puppy. Glad I did not renew my lower bowl season tickets. Talk to you later guys. Bigger fish to fry.
[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@crashin’ da net,
Good riddance
[Reply]
i have been thinking about this.
i know the kings earned over points and made the playoffs last year but maybe players still don’t see the kings as a true contender as us fellow kings fans. perhaps we need another year or two to make the playoffs can open everyone’s eyes to the talent here. it’s clear players are not going to take a pay cut to come play here, we need to focus on what we have, and add some small peices until guys like schenn, lokie, hickey, etc get up to speed. it really sucks, a player like kovy could have really helped the scoring. so next year the next big fa will be rumored to come and then will sign else where….before signing dd, ws and jj the kings will have roughly 28 million in space so let’s see what dean can do.
[Reply]
Rich, I just read that sources are saying we only offered Kovalchuk a 12 year 6.5 million a year contract. This is less money per year than he made last season and it seems like a joke. Do you think these numbers are correct? Signing this monster player would drastically increase season ticket sales, media exposure, regular ticket sales, merchandise sales not to mention bring us much closer to the Stanly Cup the loyal patient Kings fans so greatly deserve. If DL and AEG blow this extremely rare opportunity to sign one of the top 5 players in the world, one of only a handful of true hockey super stars it is going to make this club look SO LAME!! I love the Kings no matter what, but it can be very painful…..
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Tick-tock people! It’s creeping up on 5pm eastern.
Not saying it WON’T happen today, but if Kovi doesn’t sign, I WILL laugh at all you suckers who misread Jay Grossman’s tweet:
“Ilya Kovalchuk LOOKING to make decision on his future today.”
Turned into:
“Ilya Kovalchuk WILL make decision on his future today.”
Gotta pay attention boys…
Day 6 here we come?
[Reply]
kngfan Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
@wavesinair,
Waves your a Sharks fan poaching on a Kings website…WE don’t want Kovi for What you have in Marleau and Thortonbum…
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@kngfan, try clicking my name. that might help.
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CBS Sports says Kings offer was in the neighborhood of 13 years @ 6.5 mil per.
Kovalchuk is only looking to satisfy an insatiable ego.
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Luke M Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
@Jonathon,
I think 6.5 is the cap hit, the contract was probably structured with way more money up front and the last two or three years significantly less to make the cap manageable and still pay Kovalchuk a significant salary (likely at the 8-9 million range at he beginning)
[Reply]
Chris Bond Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@Luke M, I hope DL did better then that….. I would expect him to drop 8 mil.
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Kevin Y Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
@Jonathan,
Not DL’s type of deal (13 years… front loaded), but that’s a pretty nice deal for us.
However, I suspect Kovalchuk (from 38-40 years old) still thinks he’ll be worth more that season than $1.5M at the end.
And besides, that’s $84.5M over 13 years, which is so far away from the $100M over 10 years he wanted, so there was no way I could’ve seen him accepting that offer.
[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
@Kevin Y,
Shoulda maybe tried 7.5
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How in the world are the Devils going to get Parise under contract if they sign Kovi along with all the other free agents. Maybe DL can swing a deal to get Parise who I would much rather have then Kovi.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
@corey,
have you ever heard of mirrors? smoke and mirrors my friend, smoke and mirrors.
stay magical my friend
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I’ve been a Kings fan for 25 years. If you look at the best teams in the NHL, year after year, 95% of the teams in the Stanley Cup finals have a Crosby/Malkin, Kane/Toews, Ovechkin, Hossa, Zetterber/Datsuk, etc., player on their team. I don’t want DL to do anything that will jeopardize what the Kings have built…but we need to add a PURE SCORER to the team if we want to make the jump. Hopefully in the next couple years we can do that…until then, DL…good job…but we’re still missing some big pieces.
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
For all those people ready to fire DL for not getting kovi, read this comment.
Very well said.
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If that offer i keep hearing is true, I am also disapointed. We could have offered him more, and maybe a shorter contract. He wouldnt take a paycut to come here, thats for sure. I get the feeling that DL does not want to sign Kovalchuk, he has never been especially keen on him to tell the truth. The management has been on his back about this, and it is almost as he felt obliged to try to sign him, hence the pathetic try.
Mathematically, the same squad as last year will make the playoffs this year. But hockey isn’t math. I think also the players (Kopitar, Brown) will get disapointe if not a scoring winger is aquired. I remember theese two players said that allready two seasons ago.
We have lost Frolov and O’Donnell, at least we have to find replacement for those!!
We have to add a defenseman and a scoring winger via trade at least. I would have settled for Gagne, even it if it is for only one season.
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Mark my words…we get Kaberle, trade away another forward, and then that’s it. So ridiculous.
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If I see one more post that says we need a D man I thinkn I will puke. WE NEED 5 on 5 SCOREING! Now our best puck protection guy is gone. (Fro) If we dont do something fast to bring in 40+ goals we are in trouble.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
@Chris Bond, We need a D man. (hehehehe)
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Chris Bond Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
@wavesinair, BLAHHHH (spit) (spit)
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Keith Berry Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
@Chris Bond,
We need a D man.
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David Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
@Chris Bond,
We need a D man.
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aaahhh Hollywood, either you are a big name celebrity (IK) or you are worthless
Conn Smyth this year (drafted)
Best Player, Keith – Drafted
Second best forward, Kane – Drafted
2nd line centre, Sharp – acquired from Philly
Dissapointing playoff performer/hurt during most of the season – Hossa.
The bulk of Chicago’s success came from the same methods Dean is using. And Chicago did not pay Hossa 8.5-10 Million.
So in my opinion the Chicago/Hossa comparisons are moot.
Standing firm like Dean did is what separates him from bad GM’s. You don’t cave in to players/ agents demands, you work as hard as possible to make it fit. But you do not force pieces to fit togeher, simple puzzle logic.
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Is this guy really worth 100 mil? Not in my book.
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
@Goring 19,
Is he worth more than 6.5? I would agree with that.
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Has anyone ever thought that all of this was a ploy and DL is signing IK today. Interesting how nothing has come down yet here on the east coast. Just a thought….
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
@Carolina Kings Fan, actually the ploy was by kovi’s agent grossman throwing everyone into a tizzy implying it was going to happen today. very solid agent move keeping your client in the forefront of everyone’s mind without really saying anything at all conclusive. shrewd.
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we (fans) called that plan A=kovi,
But ,after NJ contract I got some very serious dought,that was the same for DL(???)…
#1 thing this team needs know is a Sniper =much better 5×5 production!!!!
Plan B (Gane?)…was bad idea
If this organization do not want spend 60m to make us Winners (?)..than????…Do not tell me that Kovi do not want play here.He did!!! THE PROBLEM…DL offer was less
than NJ and this is NOT GOOD!!!
Do you know why,because for them this is business and they have enough sold out games no matter what.
Now ,we are facing the realty…Look at our needs and the list of FAs…without some difficult trade combination,there is no ways we can get some value…OR
plan C…lets continue our musterbetion about BR from ducks.
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Square one isn’t exactly horrible to be at. Eventhough I was hoping the Kings would net Paul Martin on day 1, the fact that we didnt overpay for any of the defensemen out there is for the best since we have our own RFAs to worry about this upcoming season. Do you want to see DD go the way Z. Michalek did? I sure don’t. As far as Kovi goes, ya it would have been awesome to see him in a Kings uniform but I’m sure DL knew exactly how much he would put on the table and how high he was willing to negotiate. Now we can focus on getting a couple of 20-25 goal scorers that will be able to spread the scoring out. Square one seems good to me, a little frustrating, but we made the playoffs last year with teh same core intact, we will do it again this year and in the years to come because we didn’t waste money on Kovi or the likes of Simon Gagne. Have faith in the team.
[Reply]
Report is that the Kings offered $84 million over 13 years.
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/13603084/after-kovalchuk-passes-on-kings-ransom-now-where
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@Sydor25, posted about an hour ago above.
http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/07/05/mid-morning-update/#comment-131433
[Reply]
Sydor25 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
@wavesinair,
Figured (350+ comments)…just thought I would put it out there to stop with the Kings owners are cheap.
$84 million would put Kovy #3:
Ovechkin: $124 million
Lecavalier: $101 million
Zetterberg: $73 million
Keith:$72 million
Backstrom: $67 million
Luongo: $64 million
Hossa: $63.3 million
Nash: $62.4 million
[Reply]
Apparently according to CBS Sports.com, the Kings offered 13 year/$84.5 mill contract. Now don’t know it that is true or not, but that’s a pretty damn good offer if you ask me.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@Scootty, posted about an hour ago above.
http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/07/05/mid-morning-update/#comment-131433
[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
@Scootty,
Broken down over 13 years, that’s averaging 6.5 million a year. I know the term of it would sound good to Kovalchuk, but that’s still less than Kopitar. Take that as you will
[Reply]
Jorgen Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@Traded for a Pick, when you average it out over 13 y3qrs, then yes; he would make less for the duration of Kopi’s contract. But, in todays capworld, the deal would have been frontloaded with Kovalchuck earning between 8-11 for 6-7 years and then less and less.
[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
@Jorgen,
Yes, likely that was the case. I was just pointing that out on average it’s less that Kopitar still.
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@Traded for a Pick, It should be more than Kopitar.
Why? Kopitar plays defense, and Kovalchuck does not.
Defense wins championships.
[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
@mrbrett7,
And when you have holes there still, you fill them. Didn’t do that exactly. Least not yet.
And goals wins games. And when lack of goals is a problem, it would be nice to address that also.
Everyone needs to realize something. The Kings could have offered that deal to Kovalchuk, and he still could have said no. Just because the price New Jersey’s set is one the Kings could have afforded doesn’t mean that the player would sign with LA for the same amount. For one thing, there is a large Russian community in the New York/New Jersey area. Maybe he just didn’t want to do all that traveling. We just don’t know all the details, but I’m not going to say Dean Lombardi failed here. The player has to want to be here, and if he only signs because of the money, chances are we wouldn’t want him in the locker room anyway.
Now, onto something else. According to EJ Hradek, New Jersey’s going to have to clear some room if these numbers are accurate. Whom does that make available? Travis Zajac (25-42-67)? Zach Parise (38-44-82)? They’re going to have to move someone. I say the Kings look to poach someone.
Bobby Ryan is also still an option. I say give him $6M/4 years, and see if he doesn’t want to stay here instead of Anaheim. He’d be worth the picks, and he’d leave enough room to sign Doughty, Simmonds and Johnson.
[Reply]
sad news today to pass along in the midst of the greed of the living…:
i’m getting tweets from tsn that bob probert has passed away at age 45…he apparently collapsed on a boat…
condolences…
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SaveByCechmanek Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
@variable,
Just saw it myself on TSN. He was tough as nails.
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Want to know how we’ll come out on top in this situation? We don’t need Kovi and we don’t need Gagne… all we really need is for Dean to sign “the most interesting man in the world.” So far as I know, no one has signed him yet, and since he’s back from swimming with the snow monkeys, he’d probably take a meeting with Dean. Besides, I hear he has never missed a slap shot from outside the blue line, and he does it both left and right handed. Sign him Dean. Salvage this miserable FA buildup……
Stay thirsty my friends!
[Reply]
KingMe20 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@Peter,
We call him Mikus.
[Reply]
Peter Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
@KingMe20,
Thanks Kingme. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the name Mikus when I was venting. I’m so tired of management that can’t seem to pull the trigger on the big deal. Every year it’s the same old buildup and nothing ever happens. You don’t pass up the chance for a fifty goal scorer… you just don’t! And all that whining about having enough to keep the others…at this rate, they’ll be only too happy to jump ship when the time to resign them comes just so they can go with a contending team.
[Reply]
Just looked at the schedule. October 30 is “Boo Ilya Night.”
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Hey DL there is another Russian we can sign at 4 mil a year and can score 30 goals a year he is only 25 years old????
His name is Nikolai Zherdev this kid has talant and meets are need of speed and goals and can score 40 goals with the right team mates!! Toronto and Bufflo are on the hunt for him maybe we should now that Kovi is gone.
Sign him for 5 years say at 4.25 mil a year and now Kings can go far in the playoffs. This guy can play LW/RW so are options are open and fills in the gap on the wings.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326649
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
@sammuch, hahahahahahahaha…
Thanks, I needed the laugh.
[Reply]
CBS Sports is reporting the deal Lombardi offered was…. 13-year offer at $6.5 million a season.. Seems like a pretty low ball bid from Lombardi. The years are ridiculous, he could have went up to 7.5 and more years. Also hearing the devils are having Cap problems that’s why he hasn’t signed there yet. He could be on his way to the KHL today. Oh yeah and they are reporting on the web that the ISLES never offered anything. They were only thinking about it…
[Reply]
Lakingsfan19 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
@lakingsfan19,
Expect Doughty to get some offer of 4.5 for 7 years and watch him walk on over to the ducks. Lombardi is known for low balling. He could have given him a 7.5 for 6 or 7 years. No wonder everyone laughs after Lombardi offers. I just hope he doesn’t let Doughty walk before someone replaces him that will sign Doughty long term. Seems like Kovi doesn’t have the ego problem, might be Lombardi…
[Reply]
vegas and a general manager…:
if you were to walk into a casino, which one of the following machines and scenarios would you be more inclined to pony up to and put yr coin in…?
machine no. 1…:
10 cents to play…
chances of winning on each spin…: 1 out of 2
maximum pay-out on a spin…: 25 cents
machine no. 2…:
$10 to play…
chances of winning on each spin…: 1 out of 1000
maximum pay-out on a spin…: $10,000
machine no. 3…:
$10 million to play…
chances of winning on each spin…: 1 out of 2
maximum pay-out on a spin…: $11 million…
because a player comes at a certain ratio of expense, it doesn’t necessarily translate to the better, long-term payoff for a team
in many ways, players and free agents are like slots…
of course, there’s a fourth choice, which takes fate out of the hands of the machines and brings it back to where it belongs…: the temporal plane..
leave the casino…(!)
and thankfully, we have a gm in dl that wears a watch and realizes that the same door that allows you to enter the casino is the same one that allows you to exit…J
[Reply]
If you stop and look at the numbers the Kings offer is much better than the Devils. Also keep in mind Broduer only has a few years left in the tank so how good will NJ be without him?
Look at it like this (assuming the reports are accurate)
NJ – He get’s $60m over 7 years which puts him at the age of 34 for his next contract. Not a terrible age but not great by any means.
LA – He get’s $84.5m over 13 years which puts him at the age of 39.
I would assume he would not be playing past the age of 39 so let’s focus on the ages of 34-39. How much do you think a guy like Kovalchuk would get at the age of 34? We could use Ray Whitney as an example (which is the best example I could think of). I beleive he made about $4m per season for a few years and last year was $3.5m & now signed a new 2 year deal for $3.55m.
Assuming this Kovalchuk getting:
34 – $4m
35 – $4m
36 – $4m
37 – $3.55m
38 – $3.55m
39 – $3.55m
He would total $82.65m over the next 13 seasons when you add in his $60m contract w/ NJ.
If LA is offering $84.5m over the next 13 seasons he should jump at it. With LA he does not have to worry about injuries preventing him from future contracts and can look to front load the contract so he is able to upfront money. In addition if LA throws in a player option at say age 31 or 32 this is a good deal for Kovalchuk. Kovolachuk much like A Rod could weigh the market and see if getting a new contract makes sense. This would leave LA with the cap hit of only $6.5m while they have him as a player whom they picked up for nothing. To me this deal makes sense for both parties. Kovalchuk can get paid and LA can keep their cap hit in a comfortable place which allows them to bring in players and retain current players. This is all assuming the CBA allows for these type of contracts and the cap hit. I do beleive the cap hit is automatic for a player over 35 so not sure how this plays in.
Any thoughts? Seems like we need to get a financial planner to sit down with Kovalchuk and beat him over the head. From a hockey stand point while NJ may have the edge now in terms of a better team on paper they will need to resign Parise, Brodeur is getting old, and they need to free cap space to even sign him. If I look at NJ as a stock and LA as a stock I am selling NJ and buying LA despite the background of the two companies. Hell if the player option works out Kolvalchuk is only in LA for 5 or 6 years and then can move on.
[Reply]
STRANGE GAME … The only way to win is not to play.
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Matt George Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
@blugator,
how about a nice game of chess?
[Reply]
blugator Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
@Matt George,
you got it!!!
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Global-Thermo-Kovi-War
They shoulda named that silly computer KOVI instead of WOPR.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@blugator,
exactly…:)
see my above ‘casino’ analogy…
beware of FALCON…(!)
[Reply]
blugator Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
@variable,
Yeah, you’re ‘casino door swings both ways’ thought is right on. DL may just be the smart one here, even if Kovi signs with NJ at a reduced price (which I doubt).
[Reply]
I am very frustrated with Lombardi right now and I’m going to explain why.
The only successes he has had basically have been in the draft. And what monkey couldn’t have chosen Doughty and Schenn? Even Dave Taylor picked up Bernier and actually made the amazing pick of Kopitar, not to mention selecting Frolov, Brown, and Cammallerri (yes I also hate Cammy but that doesn’t mean selecting him was a mistake). And so far Dumbo has had as many strikeouts as homeruns. 4 years later and Hickey has not played a single game in the NHL. 2 years later and Teubert isn’t even in the AHL yet.
Every single Free Agent signing Dumbo has made has been terrible. Nagy? Blake? Preissing? The only player he has signed who has been worthwhile is Scuderi and he overpaid for him.
His first coaching hire with the Kings was Crawford who was a terrible choice to coach a young team and had to be fired right away after 2 seasons and a record of 59-84.
His trades have been overwhelmingly bad.
•Acquiring Jack Johnson was good except that like usual he overpaid (Gleason and Belanger??).
•He gave up Pavol Demitra for Patrick O’Sullivan and a first round pick who ened up being Trevor Lewis who has yet to prove himself worthy of being an NHLer, so now we have Justin Williams who never does anything and an AHLer in exhange for Demitra who was still very productive at the time.
•The Justin Williams trade has not been too great either.
•Last year’s Ryan Smyth trade has turned into a total disaster now in pretty much preventing the Kings from getting Kovalchuk. Remove Smyth from the lineup and bring back Quincey and the Kings have 3.5MM more to spend on Kovy (6MM they pay Smyth minus the 2.5 they’d have had to fork out to Quincey to be that puck-moving defenseman Dumbo was unable to re-acquire last week when chasing Martin, Hamhuis, and Michalek). Yes, he got rid of Preissing in the deal, but he only had to do that because he had so stupidly acquired him in the first place.
Dumbo has publicly insulted both Jack Johnson and Alexander Frolov in ways that show off his massive ego. That is incredibly unprofessional and creates hostility between himself and the players that may well make it harder to re-sign them and may even have interfered, for all we know, with signing free agents this summer (or maybe even last summer when he failed to land Gaborik or Hossa, both of whom were supposedly interested in the Kings).
He completely mishandled the goaltending situation this season, handing the reins to Quick and allowing Murray to overplay him so he had nothing left in the playoffs, and absolutely refusing to call Bernier up to at least back Quick up when he was terrible in the playoffs.
And now he has failed to make the slam dunk signing of Ilya Kovalchuk, which we were all but promised, or make any other free agent signings at all this off-season. Oh, and looks like we’re gonna lose Frolov for absolutely nothing. If Frolov left and Kovalchuk was signed, it was one thing, but to lose him for nothing is preposterous.
Congratulations, Dumbo, you’re making the Kings an even bigger laughingstock than they have ever been.
[Reply]
bob Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@Garrett,
FAIL…you lost me at the 2nd paragraph, LOMBARDI drafted Bernier.
[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
@Garrett,
dude .. you … are … high.
That’s about as much time as i’m gonna spend on that.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@Garrett,
…?…
ehhhhhhh…..
“NO!”
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@variable,
Var… you make me smile. Was gonna say you crack me up, but I don’t like those words….
It’s not so bad after all, all of this. At least we’re havin a good laugh with it.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
@Garrett, Wow…where to begin.
To start with, I’m pretty sure Lombardi drafted Bernier, not Taylor.
Your complaining about the O’Sullivan deal, where he traded away a player who FAKED AN INJURY just to not play, who cost around 5 million/year, and is now out of the NHL (not wanted), and hasn’t played a full season in about 7 years? O’Sullivan was widely considered one of the top prospects in the NHL at the time.
Jack Johnson. Top 2 d-men do not grow on trees. So you trade Gleason, who is a top 4 AT BEST, a #3 center (who has been replaced), for someone who 4 years later is turning into a budding superstar? Um…okay.
One bad hire in Crawford, I’ll grant you that. One great one in Murray.
Bad FA signings? I didn’t realize that both Handzus and Scuderi stunk up the joint. Thornton did exactly what he was brought in to do (teach). O’Donnell at his age did exactly what he was here to do (teach). He had some duds…show me a GM who hasn’t, and I’ll give you a cookie.
Your going to blame the goaltending situation on him? Okay, I’ll grant you some of it, as he could have overpaid to get a veteren backup for Quick. That may have got you one more playoff round…is that worth it? To you, sure…not to me. I’m thinking 10 years down the road here. I want 25 years of conference domination ala Detroit…you want to just win one year. To each his own.
I’ll put money down that Chicago won’t even win their division, and they will be out of the playoffs by the 2nd round next year.
So, you know exactly what they could have gotten for Frolov? Do share. Not made up sharing, but actual sources stating what was available at the time for Frolov. It’s pretty telling that not only has Frolov not signed anywhere, but there isn’t a single report that anyone is even SPEAKING with him.
Complain all you wish, I don’t care, but at least make some sense. Not just you, but many are going around with this overinflated sense of entitlement for this team. This is an organization that has spent 40+ years as the joke of the NHL. Even when Gretzky was here, the only way to get people here was because OF Gretzky. LA is NOT a desirable location for hockey players. There is NO history here. There is NO reason to come here, until the players ALREADY here do something to prove to the rest of the NHL that there is a reason TO come here.
One first round series does NOT make a budding cup contender.
Open up your eyes, and deal with it. There are holes on this roster, that can be dealt with via trade thanks to great drafting over the last 5 years.
Chicago, Detroit, San Jose, Vancouver, etc…were ALL built through the draft and trades. Kovalchuck coming here would have helped, yes, but guess what. Hockey will still be played, and this team will continue to progress, IF, the correct moves are made via trade. Speed needs to be added, specifically into the bottom six. Physical toughness needs to be added across the roster. Someone needs to step up from defense and grab hold of a spot and keep it.
The sky is still up there, and it’s in no danger of falling, period.
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Garrett Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
@mrbrett7, where to begin, indeed. You do not know what you’re talking about at all. I never said the Kings could have gotten anything for Frolov or even suggested that they should have traded him. But they surely could have re-signed him; there is no question about that, as he has been reported many times to like LA and want to keep playing there.
And yes, bad free agent signings. You failed to address Nagy, Blake, Preissing, and McCauley (whom I neglected to mention before, but there you have it now).
Who cares how the Sharks and Canucks were built? Neither of them has accomplished anything except consistently being eliminated from the playoffs in the 2nd round. And the Hawks and Red Wings were both built through a combination that also included free agent signings- Brian Campbell, Cristobal Huet, Marian Hossa, etc on Chicago; Brian Rafalski, Todd Bertuzzi, etc on the current Wings, and players like Robitaille, Hull, and Hasek during their recent dynasty. Making smart free agent signings is absolutely key to winning a championship.
And to suggest that bringing in an overpriced vet goalie to back up Quick would have been the answer is stupid. There was no reason at all not to have Quick and Bernier both in the NHL with the plan for them to split the games at a near 50-50 ratio. What you’re talking about is the nonsense the franchise has fed us to make you think they did the right thing. They didn’t.
If players don’t want to come to LA because it has no history, explain to me why Jeremy Roenick and Pavol Demitra signed in ’05. Why did Ryan Smyth waive his no-trade clause to play for the Kings?
Terry Murray was hardly a “great hire”. He mismanaged the goaltending situation about as badly as would have been possible by never utilizing his back-up and playing a kid 70+ games who had never proven himself worthy of that kind of support. He doesn’t seem capable of using productive line combinations for more than a few games at a time. And his tactics with Frolov have been disastrous, dropping from a 65-70 point player down to 51 this season. Did Murray do an adequate job? Sure. Was he great? Not even close.
Tim Gleason is one of the most sought-after defensemen in the league and a top 2 with Carolina. Most hockey pundits would say he is a better d-man than Johnson at this point. Nevertheless, that was a good trade, but it probably should not have cost the Kings both Gleason and Belanger. The Kings had all the leverage in the world on that one since they were willing to wait for JJ bt the Hurricanes weren’t so just wanted rid of him for someone who could play right then and there.
Your analysis that I want the Kings to win once is offbase and stupid as well. Adding a guy like Kovalchuk for ten years to play on Kopitar’s wing would keep them contenders as long as they sign the young guys and at a reasonable price for Kovy there is no reason they couldn’t do that.
Right now the Kings cannot score goals. It’s as simple as that. The Canucks exposed this fatal flaw in the playoffs when the Kings could only score on the power play and almost never at full strength. Unless you add a goal scorer of some sort that is not going to change. Dustin Brown is not going to magically become a guy who scores at will. There are not many Kovalchuk-type players who can. And he does not have to be a team-changer; the Kings have those guys in Doughty and Kopitar. They need a game-changer who can come in and add some pop to their line-up.
Talking to some people though is like talking to a wall, pointless.
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Garrett Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@mrbrett7, but yes I admit I was mistaken, Lombardi did draft Bernier.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
@Garrett said…
The only successes he has had basically have been in the draft. And what monkey couldn’t have chosen Doughty and Schenn? Even Dave Taylor picked up Bernier and actually made the amazing pick of Kopitar, not to mention selecting Frolov, Brown, and Cammallerri (yes I also hate Cammy but that doesn’t mean selecting him was a mistake). And so far Dumbo has had as many strikeouts as homeruns. 4 years later and Hickey has not played a single game in the NHL. 2 years later and Teubert isn’t even in the AHL yet.
WOW MAN. YOU MY FRIEND ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE TODAY…. THE VERY VERY WRONG TREE.
How about DT’s draft choices of Matt Zultek, Jens Karlsen, David Steckl (all first rounders by the way) and then during one of the strongest drafts in history Brian Boyle and Jeff Tambellini when about six or seven other tremendous players were out there for the pickings in those spots.
I think you’d do real well to get your facts straight.
Want to look at another way? In that same 2003 draft he did take Brown, meanwhile Mike Richards, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and god knows who else was available when Brown was selected. Don’t get me wrong, I like Brownie, but it’s not like he struck gold with numerous other players of quality around.
I have nothing to add. Sorry to come down on you but like others here, I’m fed up with hearing about what a lousy GM DL is. Would you prefer Glen Sather or numerous others in his place?
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Garrett Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
@number 6, Dave Taylor was a horrible GM. I fully recognize that. He drafted worse than one would have believed possible. I would attack him for taking Brown in 2003 except that Brown is generally untouchable on these boards, so even though I don’t care for him, I usually leave him alone. There’s no question he did a bad job. Lauri Tukonen (sp?)? Brian Boyle? Terrible picks. Complete wastes of top picks that could have made the team contend years ago instead of waiting until now.
But Taylor’s craptitude does not mean that Lombardi’s easy picks are great, or his failures any less monumental. If Teubert and Hickey aren’t playing for the Kings by next season he has totally dropped the ball on a 4th and a 12th overall pick. And on a team already stacked on defense why did he take Forbort this year? Yes, he did a good job to get Simmonds in the 2nd round a couple years ago, but you have to admit, Doughty and Schenn are pretty much the guys people point to when applauding his work at the draft and anyone slotted where the Kings were in those drafts would have taken them. They were total no-brainers.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
@Garrett,
Garret, now the way you articulated the above is Completely different than the way you structured your original post. That’s what I mean about thinking these things out before we post…. and yes, I’m guilty of it too.
Erik Drury Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
@number 6,
So you think that contract extension for millions to DAN CLOUTIER was a good idea as well?????
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
@Erik Drury,
OMG (said in the voice of 15 yr old valley girl). Where did you see that I said that?!!! Everyone is entitled to a mistake or two. No one is perfect.
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
@Garrett,
While I do say this is particularly scathing, I do have to agree with most of that. Some of the the moves were unforeseen at the time, but that’s a lot of whiffs. I really had hoped Dave Taylor would of been less liberal with dishing out draft picks and prospects with his trades, but at least he got names here. He got Deadmarsh, Demitra, Allison, and Conroy (back when that meant something). A lot of injuries of guys that really didn’t have history of such kinda sank his plans. Beats trading for players who are proven injury prone (Williams), are already on the decline (Smyth), or just simply are overpaid (pick a player, really).
Of course your farm system gets better when you tank for 4 straight years. You trade for a lot of picks, and you get higher choices when you finish in last. And now that the team had acquired prospects and drafted players that now have proven value are shipped out for, well, those aging injury prone players. Gaborik and Hossa last year, Kovalchuk and a whole slew of defenders, so 2011 will be interesting.
The only point I will say is a certainty right now is that the Kings appear to be regressing. There are more holes, and while everyone may be quick to say we can trade for guys, it will take a roster player or two to make things happen, along with those prospects. I guess this means we go back to drafting and trade those guys away also.
And can someone explain to me why it ever seemed like a good idea to have our starting goalie be DAN CLOUTIER?
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Chris Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
@Garrett,
This post had a lot of potential. Except for Bernier being drafted by the wrong person, your post has a lot of good points. If I may (I’m not really asking, just trying to be polite), my two cents:
I have a feeling that this emotional rollercoaster that has been the Kovalchuk Free Agent Frenzy has taken its toll on all of us that were led to believe through most media outlets (not you Rich, you have been stellar in sticking to the facts) that his signing with the Kings was a slam dunk. Since this has not developed, your frustration as a long-suffering King’s fan (as am I) has set in. I do not blame you, but offer a different point of view.
Perhaps we have not sat in Dean Lombardi’s chair and know what it takes to undo the complete garbage he was handed when he walked in that door. Perhaps he has been forced into taking a few deals he wouldn’t have otherwise made if not for pressure to put at least a competitive product on the ice while the team rebuilt. And overall, he has been able to build through the draft for 2 reasons – first being that the team was bad, but second was because he worked other GMs for draft picks/prospects by offloading players that did not fit the King’s future plans (O’Sullivan being a perfect example). As a result, his calculated methods (even if some of his picks were slam dunks) have led to a team with a VERY deep system and respected league wide for a turnaround built on defense, character, and valuing overall depth without breaking the bank to do so. I am not saying he is perfect, and perhaps his posturing has lost us a pure goal scorer, but his system of building this team has also got us to a point where we were in the running, and most teams in the league have much worse future prospects than the King’s do and didn’t have anywhere near the cap space to pull this off even if they had wanted to do so.
So to sum this up – Am I frustrated? Yep, I’m right there with you my friend. Do I blame Dean for this “mess”? No, I cannot, and I don’t think it is all that bad. In fact, my guess is that if one of these D-men prove themselves this year and a kid like Schenn or Clifton step in and contribute this year up front then all will be forgiven. And by next year at this time when we are all hailing the beginning of the Bernier era in goal, contract extensions for DD, JJ, and Simmonds, and laughing at the Blackhawks for their inevitable demise, all will be forgiven over this offseason’s lack of UFA signings.
Now if he signs Gagne, then I will be back on here toasting your post and proclaiming the Ducks my favorite NHL team (for all who know me, haha, for the rest of you, I would rather jump off a bridge).
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Garrett Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
@Chris, I definitely see your points, and a lot of what I said is definitely frustration setting in because ever since Wayne Gretzky was traded in 1996 this team has been in perpetual rebuild mode except maybe in 2000-2002 when they iced decent teams (and the 2004 season when they set the record for man-games lost to injury with guys like Allison and Deadmarsh missing the entire season and Palffy missing half of it, where they probably would have contended).
And I certainly agree that he was handed a franchise that was in complete disarray- nobody on the farm, not a choice destination for free agents, some sort of infestation in the training room causing all kinds of injuries (I recall finding it very interesting that one of his first tasks as Kings GM was to fire longtime trainer Peter Demers). But you also have to admit he has made some, let’s say errors in judgment. His comments to the press this past year about Jack Johnson’s development at UM were un-called for. The incident where he called Alex Frolov into his office to make fun of him– was it for not being selected to Team Russia or the Russians’ early ouster from the Olympics?– was juvenile and unprofessional.
Obviously no one is perfect, but Lombardi just seems like a guy who has a huge ego and has to be at the center of everything. I don’t know him, but that’s the impression I get.
And yeah, the team has a good farm system now, one that many call the best in the NHL, but part of that is just how bad they were for so long- Pittsburgh and Washington were equally bad for not as long and got some great young players too, it’s just that theirs have earned their way into the NHL. If the Kings’ prospects pan out then they should be ok, at least defensively- actually defensively they should be one of the most formidable units in NHL history– but that is still a big “if”. They are still going to have trouble scoring though. And that is why Kovalchuk was so huge. Maybe there was no way this deal was going to go down and we were all lied to and Lombardi himself was duped (if that’s the case though I’m more worried than before), but if we could have had him and he blew it he should have to answer for that, in my opinion.
I’ll just say this in closing for now. Yes, I still think the Kings are going to be good in the long run. They have so many prospects on defense and in goal that enough of them have to work out to give them a great top 7 (Doughty, Johnson, Hickey, Forbot, Teubert, Voinov, Muzzin, in addition to Scuderi, Drewiski, Harrold and Greene), but I am worried about goal-scoring because as it stands they will be counting on Kopitar even more heavily this season than last, especially without Frolov. The modern NHL is more about scoring than it is playing defense. Maybe the Kings will change that, but again that is another huge “if”. Now, you take Kovaluchuk and add him to this team with Kopitar and the strong defensive corps and wow, you get to remove a lot of “ifs” from the equation.
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Chris Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
@Garrett,
The JJ comments were uncalled for on his part, he has made a few mistakes that could have been his fault or could have been made by anybody, and the Frolov thing, well, I can’t go along there because Fro only shows up some of the time and is asking too much for a player that still has the “potential” tag.
I totally agree that a player like Kovalchuk would be a huge step forward for this team that could use some scoring help, yet I believe that their system is deep enough to get a useful player to come here either through trade during the summer, at the deadline, or both. And that is where we should agree to disagree. I believe that you are thinking that Lombardi has blown it if Kovalchuk goes free. I believe that to get a breakaway, you can pass up the middle, pass it off the boards, flip it out of your own end, grab a loose puck coming out of the penalty box, muscle the D off the puck and outskate everyone else (you get the point, many ways to achieve same outcome).
As for removing “ifs”, the only thing I know for sure is that whether you are right, or I am right, there will always be “ifs” in the equation. And those, not you, nor I, nor Dean Lombardi have any control over.
If we can get Kovy at 6.5 per…. taht would be a STEAL!
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A couple of years ago I admired Dean for how he did a major overhaul on this club. It has worked as far ad it can without taking the next step. If we want to move forward then sign players like Kovi. At 8.5m a year, it’s a damn good price for Kovi. He IS worth it. If we lose Kovi, I give Dean 2 years or less and he will be out of LA and it will be because of his lack of skills at landing the “big one”. I am a true die hard fan and have come to realize we needed Kovi to move forward. A lot of the teams in the western conference have made huge strides to improve their clubs, what have we done?????
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Hey kings fans,I have an idea. DL seems to have a problem bringing premier players to LA. What do you think of him making Luc his assistant GM in charge of landing future HOF players on the kings?
Pay him on a commission. Luc is former player, HOFer and he is better looking. Keep the faith.
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Someone tell me why this couldn’t happen.. I have been proposing this for a year now.
Kings acquire Evgeni Malkin, Alex Goligoski for Jack Johnson, Jarret Stoll, Dustin Brown & a high draft pick.
The Penguins NEED, NEED, NEED better wingers to play with Sid. They already have Jordan Staal also up the middle, and Jarret Stoll would fill it out. The reason they can never afford wingers is because of all the money they pay their centers. This would give them a quality winger along with some extra payroll flexibility to sign/acquire another. Jack Johnson is childhood buddies with Sid & everyone knows they would love to play together. Malkin could come & be the missing piece to our puzzle. Brown is our captain, & as much as we love that, I don’t think it’s unfair to say this is becoming more of Doughty’s team & Kopitar’s team, but mostly Doughty. Give Doughty the C in a year or two. This is why trading Brown makes sense. We absolutely have the flexibility to add a contract like Malkin’s especially if we send Stoll’s the other way. I’m sure I will get haters saying I am crazy, but following the game for a long time, I know this is not a bad deal for both sides. Maybe the Pens want us to throw in Parse or Moller. Or maybe Justin Williams goes the other way. But Lombardi should look into it.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
@Scot,
There was an editorial I just read the other day saying how in fact the Pens don’t need more goal scoring wingers, as they are already quite high in the offensive stats. Sure, take away Malkin and that negates what they get in the way of wingers. I’m sure they also realize that if they’re looking for a ‘goal scorer’ to play with Crosby, Brownie is surely not it. He doesn’t have the best touch around the net.
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Scot Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
@number 6, It’s a good point. Brownie could be a 2nd line winger with Stoll if they took him back, but with the cap space they save trading Malkin, they could acquire a scoring winger. I’m sure it would take a lot of negotiating, but I think all the salary they pay their centers hurts them a little bit.
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@Scot,
No question that as they have three very major league centers it’s gonna affect them in other areas regarding possible salary moves, but then being strong up the middle is a big thing in the nhl
Garrett Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 1:07 am
@Scot, the Kings would have to give up Kopitar or Doughty if they wanted Malkin. The Penguins aren’t sending Malkin anywhere. In fact, I’ve heard that to deal with their lack of a winger, Malkin will most likely move to the wing next season so that Staal is the 2nd line center behind Crosby.
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Anyway you look at it, the Kings offer is the best on the table. Doesn’t mean he has to sign it, but getting $24 million more than NJ is offering is huge. The closets comparible winger that I could find is the fact that Ray Whitney was able to get $16.65 million after the age of 34 (where Kovalchuk will be after the NJ deal). That is $7.35 million less than the Kings offer.
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thound Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@Sydor25,
Yes, but the Devil contract will take him to age 34, where he would probably be in line for one last big payday.. the Kings offer would take him to age 40, and would likely be the very last he signs.
I wouldn’t think Kovi is so much against the overall $$$ in the deal, as he probably is the length of the deal ( If true )
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Sydor25 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@thound,
I just don’t see him getting much more than $24 million after the age of 34. If he was a defenseman or center, maybe, but not too many wingers make big dollars after 34.
It will be interesting to see how much Kariya makes at 35 this year.
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@Garrett. I totally agree with you, you are 100^ right on the money. Deano is killing us. I absolutely hate Brian Burke but I can honestly say I would rather have him than Deano
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Matt George Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
@Timbo from Canada,
Yeah making the playoffs last year and getting 3rd highest points in team history was aweful.
fire him!
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
@Matt George,
That’s all well and good, but it appears the team is regressing. And don’t we really want a championship?
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just match NJ offer and he would come to the Kings…
DL whats wrong with you! He worth 8 mil tops, but we are close… match it! Or is Kings owners to cheap!
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I said I thought the high end for Kovy should be $8.5 for 10 years. I think he is worth that and I think that is what Dean should have used as his ceiling all along. If I find out it was anything lower than that I will be pissed. Ovechkin gets $9.5 I believe, if you look at the numbers IK is just below him in scoring over the past five years. If I am Grossman I am using that as a measuring stick. There has never been a better fit or a more glaring need for this team to make a legitimate run at the Cup for years to come.
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Rene Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@Krusher,
I agree with everything you just said.
That’s why Lamoriello wins cups and we are the Kings. I truly hope there is more to this story. This is the type of thing that gets a GM fired.
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
@Krusher, I’m sure Grossman is, which is why he’s probably not signed yet. Kovi is no Ovie, despite the numbers. And to say Kovi is a great fit is just not true. Kovi is NOT a defensive player. The Kings system is designed around defense first. He would more than fill the sniper role, but not at that price. No way, no how. And if you’re thinking D is no big deal, just ask that other guy Ovie…best team line league, out in the first round. Defense wins Cups.
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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@wavesinair,
Well, there is Chicago. Top pair of defenseman, then some defense first kids/vets behind them. A top line of powerhouse offense with Toews and Kane and Hossa (if you wanna get technical he was on the second line). Then 3 lines of more defense first mentality.
The Kings have 3 back lines of more defense sense. They have a top pair of defenders, then some kids and vets who are more defense first. Still need to get that filled that out. However, what we are lacking right now is that first line of offense. The Kings are lacking that offensive power currently. Really, we aren’t too close. We don’t have the offense of a #2 center, lack wing speed and scoring, and really true scorers. They have Kane and Hossa. The Kings have…Brown, Simmonds, Smyth, and Williams?
We got defense under control, and yes it is more important and we saw the improvement it can have on a team, but at some point the scoring issue needs to be addressed since that is what is needed to push them team the extra mile.
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
@Traded for a Pick, well said. i agree. there’s no doubt an Ilya Kovalchuk would be a fantastic offensive addition to the Kings. It’s just a matter of price. 10mil, 9mil, 8mil for a guy who doesn’t play both ends of the ice? I just wouldn’t spend too much on him. We must be able to sign our young guys in the next couple of years or it’s all for not.
Over It Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
@wavesinair, there is a reason that the Kings system was designed as defense first. That being we didn’t have the talent to run and gun with the top teams in the league, so you start off by playing a safe system that everyone can manage to play, and you aren’t embarrassed every night with 8-3 losses. As the talent level progresses, the more you allow your players to take charge in a game. Your bringing up Washington is valid, but who doesn’t think if they just added good goaltending and one or two stay at home defensemen, then they wouldn’t have a greater shot at the cup than the Kings? Most people around the NHL would pick the Caps in that scenario, vs. a Kovi-less Kings. Bottom line is, we have the goaltending and the D NOW, but we don’t have the finish that other teams have. How many times this year, was Brownie parked 3 feet to the side of a goalie, receive a pass, then wiff on a slam-dunk goal? I doubt Kovi would have that problem.
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. If this numbers are accurate (84m FOR years ?) then Dl
is playing a dirty game with us.Most of us agree ,kovi
is worth 8m and he is the one we need NOW.Sure,there is no garanty we will win the cup.but we can be much beter
team.Dl final offer for 6.5m (???) is not a serious.
again, If this is true,than ..they just making fun of us.
BOYCOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Luke M Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
@Flex,
What cap hit are you comfortable with exactly?
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David Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@Flex, Are you saying the devils 7 years for 60 million is better? Do you think Kovi can make 24 million from 34 to retirement? Thats a big risk for him.
Of all the deals I have heard, the Kings deal is the best.
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You just blasted DL for overpaying to get players here? Don’t you get it…NO FA wants to play for the Kings so you have THREE choices.
A) Overpay a FA like Kovi what he wants to come to LA at the cost of losing some of the talented players we already have and not being able to sign anyone else to help us win a cup.
B) Continue to be frustrated and blame DL for something he has no control over as FA pass us by to sign with other teams.
C) Make trades, move prospects and overpay to get the players we need to win a championship.
Dude…pull your head out and make up your mind but stick to reality. Gomez, Drury, Briere, Hossa, Kovi and others didn’t or don’t want to play in LA. The only player I’m upset that we didn’t get was Hossa…not that DL didn’t try but Hossa now played in 3 consecutive SC finals and say what you want he wound up in the right place and good for him. The guy plays both ends of the ice and signed with Chicago at a fair price leaving them room to build a championship. Finally I’ve so glad we didn’t sign those other players with their high salary cap hits that are now paralyzing their teams from improving. Anybody with half a brain can see what happens when these teams overpay for top talent….DL won’t make that mistake!
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
@Barry’s Mullet,
Yes, and something else too I was thinking.. notice how Hossa pretty much made the decision where to go, didn’t draw it out into some huge drama, and got on with it. So really, good for him after what he went thru the prior to years to make the decision and it paid off.
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@Barry’s Mullet, Hossa was dead weight on that Hawks team and his cap hit is not small enough to build a contender around, he was the last piece forcing them to overhaul their entire line-up this summer.
The idea that free agents don’t want to come to the Kings is utter bullsh*t. Briere and Drury didn’t want to come because 3 or 4 years ago you’d have been out of your mind to want to go play for the Kings. It would be like a top playing signing with the Panthers today. These guys don’t care what city they’re in. They want to get paid and win. That is the bottom line. If Dumbo won’t pay them what they feel they’re worth, that is the only thing at this point that’s going to keep them from going to the Kings.
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Barry's Mullet Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@Garrett,
Again, you’re missing the point! Hossa was the last piece..agreed. But he hasn’t crippled the team so much that they can’t continue to compete for a SC.
Yes, Briere and Drury and others who everyone wanted a couple summers back made the right decision on not signing with the Kings for the reasons you mentioned. My point is look at those teams who they did sign with and how well they are positioned to win. All those players were once very good when they were sourounded by other good players before they decided to take the money and run. Now they are taking up so much cap space on their current team that the GM can’t make a move to get them those players they need now and I don’t want to see the Kings in that position…and I believe DL see’s the same thing!
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Kovalchuk will get his 10 mil and that will limit that team’s ability to sign other players in the future. They won’t be able to easily trade him which they will try to do in 2-3 years becuase he’ll have a no trade clause. He didn’t do much in New Jersey last year and the Kings will be better off by not signing him because they will have options to resign their young talent.
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idk if he’s going to NJ everything pointing that way but if he was going there why hasn’t anyome reported that he sign with nj.this whole things got me going nuts.rich and word on if Kovalchuk signing with nj or something? i mean u think u hear something if nj sign him also too rich and news about kings makeing any deal or if it all quit from dl ?
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wavesinair Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@nate101, congratulations on winning the most incomprehensible comment of the day!
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number 6 Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
@wavesinair,
:”) or there is always
_
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Bottom line folks:
Kopitar, Smyth, Williams, Handzus, Simmonds, Brown, Richardson, Frolov?, Johnson, Doughty, Modin, Schenn, Moller and whoever else makes the team need to step it up and put the puck in the net.
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If kings wanted him, they would have offered to match jerseys offer…insteD of lowballing him
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Just an fyi, new york post has taken the kovalchuk story off the site now. Guess someone posted it to early without all the facts lol.
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For those of you who believe tsn.ca is a trusted source, remember they are Canada’s version of ESPN. ESPN has more egg on their face over “breaking” news reports one would believe they are sucking the birthing canal of a chicken. Just sayin’
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Rich, I’m a little bugged that Dean Lombardi gave Helen (LA Times) the news before telling you. I know the LA Times is one of the world’s most widely read news papers, but shouldn’t the writer for the team’s website be given the benefit of the latest team info available anywhere?
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400 comments on this. brutal scrolling with the iphne.
F Kovy
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Grossman just tweeted that no announcement will be made tonight. He has narrowed it down and finalizing details. Whatever…Diva needs to sign somewhere so the other 29 teams can move on with their offseason.
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.. DL offered exactly what IK was looking for 13 years @ 84.5 million…except that it’s only 6,5 per year.. Why not offer him 13 years @ 98 million?… Which would 7.5 million… Gone DEAL..Come DL/KINGS !!! You’ve always been tight ass with Star players but you give big money to so-so players.. And if anyone gets angry with me for saying this ,that’s fine!!! But just do the math now and in the past.. Gaborik only 3.5 mil per year for a 40 goal scorer..And now Kovi… Don’t be angry at Kovi,i admit at first i was..But if they would of added i mil more per year..Folks, they had him….Now the Flyers want Quick and Hickey for Gagne,i thought the flyers weren’t looking for a goalie?..I say up the ante DL now PLEASEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7.5 — And what about Lee Stempniak?….
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KFAN Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
@KFAN, I take back that comment .. I’m just like most of Kings fans. Tired of the Kovi situation..He hasn’t sign with the Devils yet,who knows?.. Kings may have a shot still……..
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Who need Kovi when we have Mikus
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