Kovalchuk to Devils « LA Kings Insider

Kovalchuk to Devils

Posted by Rich Hammond on 19 July 2010, 9:06 am

I’m mobile right now, but for those who haven’t already seen the news, the New Jersey Devils have announced that they have re-signed Ilya Kovalchuk. Hopefully, someone from the Kings will be available to discuss what happened in their negotiations, and talk about what their plan might be going forward. I’ll certainly keep everyone updated as information is available…

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790 Comments

MacSwede says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:07 am

What the FCK happened!!! What the HLLL….. I am so dissapointed!!!!!! FCK FCK FCK

[Reply]
hockeysister Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@MacSwede,

Are you kidding? I’m HAPPY! Happy it’s over, and happy we didn’t hire his greedy butt and have to deal with the salary cap when trying to resign Doughty and company next year. Kudos to Lombardi for sticking to his guns and not getting auction happy. We don’t need this prima donna.

[Reply]
kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@hockeysister, God forbid we sign some talent. The last superstar we had was Wayne. I would be more than willing to let go of JJ and Simmonds because before we overpay them and the hype dies off.

Kings are forever going to be that team that trains young players for a cup run on another team.

Signed,
20 year fan.

[Reply]
Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@shades, Tell em like it is shades, this is EMBARRASING this is a huge WASTE OF OUR TIME and TOTAL BS! All he did was f**k us for a night and leave while all the while we were duped into believing he was coming, hah!

Wonder what AEG’s gonna pull out of their hat to solve this one huh?

[Reply]
Rob Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@Kings Fan in Temecula,

Unbelievable. I am quite irritated. So frustrating being a Kings fan. He picked Newark over LA. Unreal. Well now all I can hope for is them not winning a cup for 7 years either.

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Anonymous Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@MacSwede, thats right, who else can the Kings bring in this year to make a diffrence??

[Reply]
Dr.Gonzo Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@MacSwede, it was the “Big Splash” In the F/A mrkt just like DL told us… Except what he really meant by that was us taking a 3wk tension filled migrane swandive bellyflop and coming up empty handed!! Plan B better be Patrick Sharp not Simone Gagne!! I’m tired of us getting injury prone has beens evey damn summer!!

[Reply]
shaun kester Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@shades, this is why this team will NEVER win anything.Let me clue in the idiots at AEG, Luc, Dean any anyone else involved with this second rate oranization. YOU wont get anyone worth a damn to play here because NO one including the fan base thinks you are commited to winning. You can say what you want to the fans but we all know the truth. There is a reason this team has been past the 2nd round once in its 40+ years.Ever great king has to leave to win a cup maybe Drew, Jack, Anze,and Dustin will fallow the mile long list of ex kings to win a cup else where…Anaheim here I come!!!!!!!

[Reply]
GB Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@shaun kester, Good riddance! Warm up your duck call!

[Reply]
waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
@shaun kester,
And don’t come back on the bandwagon when we go too the finals before the Ducks.

[Reply]
Jim Martin Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:42 am
@MacSwede, Dean Lombardi stinks as a General Manager. His argument was if he gave Kolvachuk what he wanted he wouldn’t to be able to sign Drew and Johnson in the future. Who cares when you have a 50 goal sniper in the lineup. I rather built a team around a sniper then built it around defence.

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:08 am

TSN said on July 5th the Devils offered seven years for $60 million. If this is what he ended up signing, I can see why the Kings didn’t want to. Wonder what is plan B?

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kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:25 am
@sstephen17, Plan B was Gagne who signed to Tampa Bay. It looks like we will be the same team with more kids and 1 less veteran in Frolov.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
@kingscourt26, Gagne has been mentioned in trade rumors for more than a week. I have to think DL had other options if Kovi didn’t sign. Sharp? Savard?

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Crownme87 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:08 am

Well that’s that. Let’s see what DL does now.

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LBlocal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@Crownme87, Paging Mr. Frolov. Paging Mr. Frolov.

gKg!

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Joey Drillings says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:08 am

Wow. I will never have those three weeks back.

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kingfletch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Joey Drillings,

I hear ya, ill never let something like that take my attention again, all that excitement for nothing.

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DannyMeux says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:08 am

fml.

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kingHal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:13 am
@DannyMeux,

This!

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terrible says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:09 am

What a letdown. I think we deserve an explanation.

[Reply]
dl Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:24 am
@terrible,

We offered Kovalchuk the maximum amount we can offer without putting ourselves in a situation where we have to sacrifice the core of the team. He decided not to take our offer and now we will be exploring other options.

I’m sure Lombardi, who will talk forever on one question, will have more but this will be his response in a nutshell. We’ve all heard his standard excuses with “fit,” “core,” and a ton of bull****.

[Reply]
luck fie-weekly says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:09 am

How the hell do the Devils sign Volchenkov AND Kovalchuk? I just can’t wrap my head around that while the Kings can’t land one player. At what point does the managment or organization as a whole become embarassed?

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Kevin Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:18 am
@luck fie-weekly,
Agreed. I love DL, but come one. Something is going on. Here comes the Belangers and the Gagnes…. fml

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raunq12 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:48 am
@Kevin,
Took the words right out of my mouth. We Kings fans have a right to be pissed, and we definitely deserve an explanation

[Reply]
blckbsct Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:18 am
@luck fie-weekly, Today, my friend, is that day!

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jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@luck fie-weekly, did you consider the possibility we did not get sucked into a bad contract. DL is sticking right to the plan and we should be glad.

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uknojata Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@jet, but does it take 3 weeks to figure out that its not going to work? Look, I totally stand behind Dean when it comes to demanding a cap friendly contract. I just can’t understand why we would dick around with this for so long. We must have had some common ground, why the hell can’t Dean ever close the deal?!! Dean, where’s our defenseman, our frolov replacement and our second line center? He really screwed the pooch on this one. Hey next time, just stay clear of it Dean, and let the grown-ups talk. We never should have been mixed up in any of this in the first place. Oh and opps, Gagne to Tampa. Dean, you really screwed the pooch on this one.

Bottom line, unless Dean can pull off some serious witchcraft, we are going to be a worse team than last year. That is unacceptable!

[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
@uknojata,

You seem like a level headed guy who’s just speaking out of frustration.

Please explain to me how we’ll be worse than last year. Just because it’s tough to envision a trade where we get someone big, doesn’t mean we’re not going to. Lombardi isn’t just sitting on his hands like a lot of this board is trying to believe. Oddly enough, he actually is trying to make the Kings a Cup contender year in, and year out. He’s dangerously close to doing that. Look at Chicago having to ship out Ladd, Byfuglien, and Versteeg because of contracts like Brian Campbell.
BMSTANG says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:10 am

Bummed… :/

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oldthunder says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:10 am

I estimate that frolov will be signed today or we will have Savard by the end of the week.

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a5minmjr Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:22 am
@oldthunder,

LOL – Yeah right… We will lose Frolov too, and have NOTHING at left wing.

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Kingsrock80 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:11 am

What? After all this? At least its over…..Finally!

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shorthanded says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:11 am

Don’t worry everyone…..we don’t need him, but I do feel a trade going down

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Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@shorthanded,

Good call. Gagne shipped to Tampa. Oh wait, that was plan B. Crap

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Atomic Steve says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:11 am

I still trust Dean. If Kovi didn’t sign it’s because he wouldn’t take a deal with a cap hit we can afford. I could care less what he gets paid but if his cap hit is too high he’s not worth losing our core young players. Let the Devils over pay for him and have to worry about resigning Parise.

[Reply]
Stop the Puck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:20 am
@Atomic Steve,

kings management loves people like you

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Bob Bobson Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Stop the Puck, You mean the kind of people that don’t feel the need to spend like the NY Rangers?

It would have been a coup to sign Kovalchuk but what happens when we let two players (for example, Doughty and Simmonds) walk away just so we could keep one player?

[Reply]
ILLEGALSTICK33 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@Bob Bobson, people won’t frigin care because we would have won a cup!!!!! People come people go. Just win!!

kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:27 am
@Bob Bobson, No he means people that will blindly follow poor management no matter what they do.

Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
@Bob Bobson, Your assumption that signing Kovalchuk would be “spend[ing] like the NY Rangers” is absurd.

Equally ridiculous is your idea that signing Kovalchuk would necessarily mean letting 2 players “walk away.” A complete fabrication on your part, especially considering Kovalchuk’s cap hit on his 17-year, $100M deal with the Devils is a very reasonable $5.882M/yr.

Bob Bobson Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:20 am
@Phil, How is it absurd? By signing Kovalchuk you are overspending like Sather did with Fleury, Holik, Drury, Gomez and Redden. How is my assumption absurd?

DiPietro has a cap hit of $4.5MM/year, does that make his cap hit reasonable? Kovalchuk is most likely to retire in 7 or 8 years but you are betting that his game will stay at a high level until then. If his game goes downhill, we are in a world of hurt unless we can trade him.

Kingsfanone Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:22 am
@Atomic Steve,

Agreed 100%. Kovi was too expensive, & DL would not go against his word & sacrifice our core.

[Reply]
luck fie-weekly Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:24 am
@Atomic Steve,

Kovalchuk is absolutely the type of player that you sign, EVEN IF it means losing SOME of your young players. He’s a superstar. Kopitar and Doughty are the only ones the Kings would keep at all costs. But, the reason you keep “young players” is that you HOPE they become a player like Kovalchuk.

No matter how you spin it, the Kings blew it and there’s really no excuse for it (no legitimate one anyway).

[Reply]
Stop the Puck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@luck fie-weekly,

yes

when will another opportunity come up like that again? never!!!
why?
because NJ realized this oppotunity and probably locked him up until he will be too old to skate!

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@Stop the Puck,

Yup, that’s what happened!

Krusher Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@luck fie-weekly, Could not agree more!

[Reply]
raunq12 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
@luck fie-weekly,
Yes he is! I can’t remember the last time we had a sniper. Its the same song and dance with the Kings, saying that they’re gonna get this guy and they’re gonna get that guy, and nothing ever happens.

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
@raunq12, Pallfy ring any bells???

Bob Bobson Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:34 am
@luck fie-weekly, I would argue Doughty and his Norris trophy nomination at age 20 already makes him as good as Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
Marc Nathan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:45 am
@Bob Bobson, As much as I love Doughty, and expect him to have a great career, I would argue that you can’t possibly compare his 2 seasons of productivity to Kovalchuk’s 8.

mrbrett7 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:15 am
@luck fie-weekly, Okay, fine. Yes, Kovi is a GREAT player, who has done absolutely NOTHING in 7 years in the NHL other than score meaningless goals for a bottom of the barrel team.

I can name right now a plethora (I did say plethora) of players I would pay MORE than Kovalchuck, who have done more in this league, proven more ON THE ICE, won more, played in more meaningful games, and scored goals that matter, not pad their stats in 6-2 wins.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Staal (in Carolina), Doughty, Keith…I could keep going here.

This list of players have one thing in common. They score when the game matters, they show up when the game matters, and they all show up in the PLAYOFFS, when the REAL games count.

[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am
You are absolutely correct. He scored a lot of goals on a bad team.

There is also a distinction between players that score lot of goals and players that help teams win in the post season.

Time to move on…

luc20rules Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:49 am
@luck fie-weekly, I certainly hope DD & AK don’t become like Kovi and ask for 30% more than they are worth just because they are UFAs. Those are the guys it is completely impossible to keep together. Crosby 9 mil/yr
Kovi is asking for 11+ mil/yr. Is that who you hope DD & AK develop into? In my shopping habits I see an apple overpriced by 30% I might still buy it, but a house overpriced 30% no way its just too much. That the Kovi 20% of your budget and 30% overpriced.

[Reply]
tom Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:31 am
@Atomic Steve,
a quick question; how manny of our ” young core players” are better than Kovi ?
I have had it with this BS. Year after year after year; Hossa no; Gaborik no, Kovi no; still can not score 5 on 5; now another trade is coming for a Lombardi “character” player, damn I am mad

[Reply]
OneTimer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
@tom,

1-877-WILD WING for Ducks season tickets.

Enjoy and good luck!

[Reply]
Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@OneTimer, Nice laugh man, i needed that

Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@OneTimer, hahaha, thanks for the laugh tom, i needed that, but i’m still bitter and depressed, double dose of prozac today

leadswine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@OneTimer, that’s right! !

Jim S. Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@OneTimer,

Classic! Thanks for the laugh!

luc20rules Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@OneTimer, He said he was mad not choosing an alternate life style.

Matt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@OneTimer,

I’d rather watch the Kings lose 82 games a season for the rest of my life than be a Duck’s fan.

raunq12 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@tom,
I agree 100%! I’m so pissed! we deserve an explanation! it’s the same song and dance every year

[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:23 am
@tom, Right now, just about all of them have scored more goals in the playoffs, having played in less playoff games.

Right now, Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Quick, Bernier, ALL mean more to this franchise than Kovalchuk does…why? Free Agents are mercenaries who are either hit or miss.

Do you care to gamble on a guy who puts up great numbers during the regular season on terrbile teams, yet has never won a single thing his entire career? This includes international play, junior, etc.

Kovalchuk doesn’t have the compete needed to win when it counts.

I for one am ECSTATIC about this. Wasting 12,13,14 years on a contract worth 80-100 million for a guy like this who scores, sure, but does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING else for the team is not only a waste of money, it’s a waste of a roster space for a guy who actually gets the job done when it matters.

Stop looking at gaudy video game statistics, and start thinking with your head. If he was so good, Atlanta would have been perrenial playoff contendars AT THE VERY LEAST.

They weren’t, plain and simple. He scores meaningless goals, that is ALL he does. Take a look at Atlanta now, WITHOUT him. Look at their record WITHOUT him. They were one of the worst teams in the East WITH him, and then proceeded to just about make the playoffs WITHOUT him. Look at who they added…guys who play physical, and guys who play defense…I would put money on it that they make the playoffs next years SOLEY because he ISN’T there.

But, asking some fans to thinks with their heads, not their hearts is hard, I know.

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@mrbrett7, Thank you Mr. Brett, a voice of reason! I concur!

LBlocal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@mrbrett7 (OneTimer, BobB, Matt), Great points.

Today is a great day! 20 new quacks fans joining the fowl flock.

I bid them all a good day, Cya! Quack, quack

gKg!

Jack Meyhoffer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Well right now this team needs someone on left wing who can score goals- meaningless or not!!!!!!!
BluLiner says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

I was getting buyer’s remorse anyway.

[Reply]
KingsFan in OC says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

Does anyone else have October 30th circled on the calendar? Start stockpiling the rotten fruit and vegetables.

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Crown Royal says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

As Kings fans we were hoping to get the star, sniper. I don’t think Kovi has been part of the master plan so this does enable the Kings and DL to continue to build the team sensibly Hopefully we will continue to see the improvement in the team that we have for the past couple of years.

Glad this is done. Let’s keeping moving forward. The Kings did everything they could to get this player but it just didn’t work out that way. It’s okay!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Crown Royal,

SPOT ON & well said!

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Moondoggie Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:43 am
@Crown Royal, Agreed, totally.

[Reply]
Peter Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@Crown Royal,

To build a team sensibly you have to be able to land the talent to fill in the missing pieces. Once again, we have failed miserably. Maybe you like shelling out six grand for two season tickets each year for a team that continues to fall short, but I’m getting tired of it. To put things in perspective, we made the playoff’s last year, and never made it past the first round. Big deal. We’ve been so bad for so long that that looked good. Shame on DL for missing other players while letting this drag out.

[Reply]
waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
@Peter,
If you have been around for a while I can’t believe you can’t see the difference in the organization the last 4 years. This is the first time that they have stuck too a plan that is actually working. We are going too be good for a very long time. Relax sit back and enjoy. The money you spend will be well worth it.

[Reply]
5Holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:55 am
@Crown Royal, I could not agree with you less! Kovy was #1 target of LAK since he was known to be available last season. There was never a doubt about DLs intentions in that regard! He is a sniper, and happened to be available when the time was right. Ripe for the taking! Another dismal snafu or a credible decline? It bears a thorough reply from the higher ups, but not a measured corporate pablim response. Its a large PR fire blazing into ashes at Toyota Center as I see it. Some knee jerk reaction must have gone down from one of the two sides, but the fall out is abismal post haste. Apparently, LA as a destination remains a very hard sell to hockey players, especially the premier talent. What the reasons are, we may never know or even begin to understand. Only the declining players of recent past could answer that question! What conceivably is not to like and draw your interest about LA/LAK? Its mind boggling to me…A wonderful young core in the stable, superb developing assets in the fold, coaching of quality and a solid hockey savy management team! Am I missing something here? Not mention need be made of the weather, the affluence, the culture and the endless opportunities to added fortunes here in Hockeywood. So what is it? I don’t buy the travel angle, or even the 45 yrs of continued losing with No Cups in the cases. Thats Bull to me. Money is the same anywhere in North America(even Canada is stable currently), so it ain’t the money. What master paln were you referring to anyway? Was it the one that perenially comes up short, more often way short? The one that never gets its man as targeted? The one that gets doors slammed in their collective faces by premier UFAs? That plan needs an overhaul in my view. At this point, there are no cups with this Core alone! There is nothing in the current pipeline coming that fills the void on this club. It has to come from the outside, and ideaaly its via FA without losing any assets. The market is established by the managers according to what they are willing to pay and how! Lou L saw his opportunity to move up and he ceased it. DL saw it but did not cease it. Gotta do whatever it takes to move up to a very degree at least. It is safe to say that Kovy means much more to LAK then he ever will to NJ. So how do you let it get away? If you are going to always worry about conserving the CAP and saving the Core, then that will always be what you will forever concern yourself with….And you will never see a Cup coming because you will be too conservative to get there! Lets see what the corporate response is to the whys and why nots. Hanging in the balance is the relevancy of the Franchise within those responses. Once again we come to this point and fall backwards into irrelevancy. This is potentially a PR nightmare that just continues to regurgitate itself season after season. Someone has to have the physical prowess to take a considerable chance/risk from this organization at some point or the alternative will be forever lived as it has been so far fro this Franchise! Columbus took a chance and they took him back in chains, but look what we got from it today!! Take a leap DL and put LAK on the Map for once! McNall cannot be the only risk taker in Kings history, that was 1988 for God’s sake! Of course Kovy would have signed here for a competitive deal as Nj’s he would have! Don’t be a fool and doubt it! Something was not competitive about the offer or it was done. There was a hicup somewhere! So what is next with the master plan? Every other teams throw aways or pricey tradables with their own baggage lists coming with them? No dice. They aren’t lining up to get here are they? We will see how this mgmt team does in salvage mode. Its on now!

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@5Holer, Mcnall, a risk taker ? You would be too if the money you were spending didnt belong to you and you didnt have a salary cap to deal with ! I have said it before and I will say it again..Bruce Mcnall is a no good rotten Bastard for screwing banks out of 236 million dollars and committing conspiracy. Him going to jail for 6 years was a slap on the wrist and that is why people in this country continue to steal money from others because the penalty is nothing when you can obtain hundreds of millions of dollars and only go to jail for a couple of years. Anybody on this site who praises the Likes of this scheister will get it with both barrels from me. I own a small business and believe me their are a lot of book keepers who steal money from people all the time ! And why not, since the penalties are so light what deterrent is their for them not to steal !

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@puck73, Cool your jets abit! I was not praising McNalls value system or his moral fiber! It remains a fact that he was a risk taker for the hockey team, regardless of what illicite monies he spent. That is an arguement to table for another venue and another day. I would not disagree with your assessments of his illegal activities, fraud, etc., nor on the lack of meaningful deterent via mild penalty paid. No arguement there! We cannot debate the legal process here, as it is the out of place in this setting. But he “gambled” on getting to LAKs the premier player on the planet in Gretzky. I feel your pain in being a small business man in these times. I was for 35 years myself, so I know. But we should agree that this team needs what is does not have anywhere in its system….A premier Goal Scorer! They only come around once in a blue moon! Its not that its Ilya Kovalchuk! The name does not much matter, nor the nation of origin either! What matters is the particular comodity itself…A Sniper, Goal Scorer comodity! Someone has to take a risk at some point. Someone took a risk on every prospective hockey player, well before they had become a star or premier player (superstar in Kovy’s case, even in Gretzky’s case at say age 5!). The time is now, and say maybe for the next couple of years or so for LAKs. Somebody over there needs to step up like they did for Beckham in that same stable! That did not work for them, but they did take the risk ($250 Mil no less!)! They are capable of doing it as they proved before with Beckham. So what is the problem really? Or Who is the problem maybe? Gotta get fixed or Curtains Batman!

larryb Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
@5Holer, How many cups did the Kings win with the great one and his friends. None. Why, no core. Stop the sniper and you stop the team. With a great core, good defence you can win. The Kings have very good young players that now know what it is like in the playoffs, look out this season. Look at Phoenix, they are starting to lose their players which were old anyway. Kings will go far in the playoff and with some luck,and it does take luck, they can win in all.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
@larryb, Exactly. Although I will say this, when Melrose got his hooks into this organization by the 2nd season he absolutely destroyed the team that Mlaker and Beverly had in place. Had Mcnall let those 2 guys run things instead of Melrose and Gretzky I think they could have won a couple of cups.

B.Allen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
@larryb,
for sure

Look at what montreal did to washington in the playoffs this year by simply keepin on Ovie.

I think I am really okay with kovi not signing, we still have a cup contender (even without fro)

rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Crown Royal, Do you honestly think that the team would have spent this much time and effort getting Kovalchuk here if they didn’t badly want him?

[Reply]
Jim Martin Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:55 am
@Crown Royal, Dean didn’t do enough. Got to be the worst General Manager in the NHL. I don’t know about anyone else, but I will not spend a dollar to watch these Kings!!

[Reply]
EncinoMan says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

Very suprised, but, then again….not

[Reply]
Big Mike on D says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

This means a few of things to me. 1)We will not be in salary cap hell 2) The Devils are going a different route now then they have and want to win now rather then the steady as she goes approach. 3)Wayne Simmonds doesn’t need to think about giving up his number. 4)Parise will probably be on the market next summer 4)Seems like the Kings really tried but ultimately he wanted the big money now.

All the Kings assets are still in tact. They simply need to continue to develop. The Devils will continue to struggle to make it out of the first round.

Thank you Dean for working so hard. We believe in you.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Big Mike on D, Parise is a RFA.

[Reply]
jammer06 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Big Mike on D,
No way in hell Lou lets Parise hit the market. But yes I agree the Devils are not looking good for a deep run but I think thats more to losing Martin than anything. Still will be interesting to see who they unload.

[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:45 am
@Big Mike on D,

Who cares about Parise? We won’t be able to sign him either, even if we do trade for him.

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@Big Mike on D, Your next paycheck should come from LAK. You have a future in politics as a spin writer! Let the company spin come from the company. If what you say is true in all 5 points, then what was the point in pursuing any premier talent? Why waste 3 weeks on Kovy pursuit? Why pursue any FAs? What a relief, 1)No salary Cap hell for us, Phew!; 2)Devils continue o go for Stanley Cups with their deals, while we stay in limbo, Great!; 3) Sim can keep his number, thank God!; 4) Parise can be signed by any other team but LAKs, Stupendous!; and 4b)LAKs failed again to sign what is needed to advance their cause, Okay! Well, you’ve got all the answers for them here! We should all feel happy and relieved and all full of whimsy! This is not now a 100 point team! Every once in awhile you unearth a treasure in the hunt, but you should never go to the trouble of setting sail to get the treasure unless you are prepared to pay the price and keep the treasure in your chest! NJ got him with their best offer. Chicago got Hossa the same way last year. Gaborik went to Rangers for the same reasons. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it is required to take a chance or it can never work. In 45 years we took two chances…Gretzky in ’88(almost worked, but didn’t quite, hey Marty?) and Marcel Dionne in ’75 (helped alot in relevancy, but not more)….So now who? Now what is next? More lug nuts to keep those wheels on? Is there a team Raffle for another premier talent happening somewhere? Sounds like someone elses tradables bringing their baggage to park here in the near future. We once again will Hope for the best, but we need some answers and they better hold water! Spend the Cap or No Cup! It is that simple!

[Reply]
KB says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

Literally sick to my stomach. At least we know we trust DL not to make a mistake. If we didn’t get him there was a reason.

[Reply]
Matt R says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

Fail

[Reply]
OneTimer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Matt R,

Agree … KOVI failed, big time!

[Reply]
Mike L says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:13 am

Hold your opinion until we see how much he signed for. As stated above if it is the 7 year 60M deal than LA jsut could not afford that going forward with Simmonds, Doughty, Johnson, Bernier etc..

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:18 am
@Mike L, Agreed. Anything over a $7 mil cap hit IMO is too much.

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Mike L, no but trading Ryan Smith who is 6M/yr would have been a good start

[Reply]
Michael J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
@Timbo from Canada,

Who would take Ryan Smyth??? Bruce McNall no longer owns an NHL franchise.

[Reply]
kluka68 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:13 am

WOW, and after all this…..we get middle finger….yes, life is tough

[Reply]
Jack the Lad says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:13 am

Looking forward to the details. If it was for 15 years, the Devils can have him. But for 7 years, I would be kinda bummed. Either way, the Kings will be all right.

[Reply]
Gary says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:14 am

I guess it just goes to show you “how much fans really don’t know” that goes on. It was amazing to watch everyone that knew Kovi would be a King. Am I disapointed…very much so! At the end of the day the Kings are missing that type of player, the kind that can put the puck into the net at will & now he’s signed back to New Jersey.

The sad part is the Kings basically took him around & tried to “sell” him on the city while the Devils said here is our offer…if you like it let us know. That’s the way I’d want the Kings doing business…..

Anyhow I’m glad I got my post in before this thread goes to over 600 FML, Screw Lombardi, TL Is a peice of trash, Kings are cheap, we will never win the cup, time to rebuild, Kings low-balled Kovi, blah blah blah posts.

Keep the faith…we are doing the build the right way & hopefully there are players that Kings were working on getting via trade while they negotiated with Kovalchuk…..(one would hope)

[Reply]
LB Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:48 am
@Gary,
I agree, but keep in mind that the Devils didn’t have to sell him on their team/city – he already spent several months there last season, so he knows what they’re all about. Apparently he liked what he experienced there.

[Reply]
ed in PA Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@LB, Newark is a total HELLHOLE. Granted, it is close to NYC, but they must have offered him a ton of cash to play in a half filled arena every night. Reminds me of when Hossa left Pittsburgh to go to Detroit. Let’s hope for a similar outcome.

[Reply]
scvking Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:09 am
@Gary,
This really shows how much we all did not know about what was going on. Yes, I am surprised; probably more that than disappointed.

I agree with what you said. Right or wrong, we have an organization that will continue to build within the plan. Remember, we struggled post-Gretzky as we went forward without a plan.

I am OK with this Kovi development. We will be fine. Our team, as it presently sits, will only continue to get better.

There is no blame here. We just don’t know enough (or anything, really) to justify blaming anyone.

[Reply]
Moondoggie says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:14 am

MAJOR WOW…..I don’t believe it, but in light of everything that has happened these past two weeks, anything would surprise me. If DL didn’t go for it, there must have been a reason. I’m certain he’ll advise us just what happened.

So….the plan B???

[Reply]
KingFanMGM Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:31 am
@Moondoggie,

Plan B… as always!

DL should just completely forget about Plan A, because he can’t ever get it done.

[Reply]
tornado12 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:14 am

WHA??? Ill have to wait to see what he signed for before I render an opinion, but man…now what? We haven’t done anything and all the good UFA’s are gone. seems like we are really behind the 8ball now. I think Fro is somewhere smiling right now…we HAVE to resign him right?

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@tornado12, Kovi signs with New Jersey, big deal ! The big story here is you and me on Bruce Mcnall ! Round 2, you name the time and day on this blog and we go toe ta toe and see who emerges victorious! Warning! you better come prepared !

[Reply]
tmdub82 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:14 am

Top three player falls in your lap and you don’t sign him? Kings still a second rate organization.

[Reply]
Big Mike on D Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:24 am
@tmdub82, Wrong, wrong, wrong. You don’t get it.

[Reply]
shorthanded Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Big Mike on D,

Second rate???? ahhh you need to check this and then consider what you said:

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/nhl_organisation_rankings/

[Reply]
OneTimer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@tmdub82,

Hmmm. Last time I checked – the cliche “Falls into your lap” means: unexpected, a gimme, almost literally a “free gift” that you DID NOT have to work for to receive.

1.) Kovalchuk’s availability was not unexpected.
2.) He is most certainly not “free!”
3.) The Kings have definitely been working (and working hard) on this. DL and all the Kings braintrust worked VERY hard on this deal not only the past 2 weeks, but for the PAST 4 YEARS in terms of this rebuild (which is working btw.)

So if you’re proposing we give up a LOT of what we all have been working on and suffering through just to get this guy … well then you indeed just don’t get it. No thanks.

We need scoring help and I would loved to have had him, but only at the correct price … otherwise it’s just a complete waste of $$ and time and fan support.

[Reply]
Michael J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
@tmdub82,

You could not be more wrong. Maybe that team in Anaheim might be a better option for you than the “second rate” Kings.

Don’t let the door hit you…

[Reply]
D B COOPER says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:14 am

OK,now we sign Randy Holt and send him over the boards the very next time we play the devils.

he goes straight to Lou Lamirillo and gets Parise traded to us.

[Reply]
tyfighter77 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:15 am

Well, at least now when we win the cup, no one can say it was Kovy.

[Reply]
Tyler Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@tyfighter77, I like that and have been thinking the whole time! Good point brother

[Reply]
hockeysureshot says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:15 am

Once Leiweke was involved we were screwed. Kings have lot’s of explaining to do.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:38 am
@hockeysureshot, TL was involved so thats why we lost Kovi, REALLY ! Thank god we have have reasonable,smart mensa’s like you, I mean, what the hell do I need an explanation from morons Like Leiweike and Lombardi?

[Reply]
BMSTANG says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:15 am

I suspect the Soprano Crew was involved somehow.

[Reply]
LB Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@BMSTANG,
Actually the Sopranov crew

[Reply]
Action says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

Wah Wah, big deal. Let’s get someone with some character in here. If he got 60 over 7, FORGET ABOUT IT!!!

Drew Doughty is waaayyyyyy more important than Ilya Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
Jack the Lad Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
@Action,

A big two thumbs up, couldn’t agree more.

[Reply]
neil says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

nooooo teardrop

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

Hey, at least we have a new forum to discuss this on!

I don’t know… I mean really, we were supposedly the favorite for the past couple weeks, so somebody (management) must’ve really screwed up for this not to have gotten done.

Whatever happened to them being “so close”? With the NTC and the lockout-salary bonus thing? Those aren’t dealbreakers, so what… was Kovi talking to the Devils behind our back?

He must’ve always wanted to stay with the Devils, and probably got the same contract he would’ve gotten with LA. Probably went back to Lamoriello and said “hey, they offered me this… if you give me the same, I’ll be sure to resign”.

…boo!

[Reply]
Jeff Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
@Kevin Y,

This is probably true. I think he played the Kings to get the Devlis to match or up the ante.

[Reply]
Rudedogg says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

thanks Rich its your fault for leaving town u called as soon as you left it would happen. Thank God Deano can Draft good players (look at San jose) cuz he is just as bad as our other GM’s in the free agency market……..

[Reply]
Socalr6 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

Sure would like to know what was spoken between DL and uncle Phil. So now they go to plan B and sign another overpriced oft injured cast away and build L.A.Live #2 with all the money the saved.

[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
@Socalr6, Nothing was said. I bet DL doesnt even have PA’s number. PA’s the man behind the curtain, and TL is his flyin monkey go-between. TL probably told PA “we can buy this Russian or we can build more buildings in Downtown and snatch up 3 more MLS teams and open up 6 soccer stadiums…” done deal.

[Reply]
Sebastian says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

I was hoping to get that guy but now im just glad its over and the Kings can move on and try to build a better team. what a waste of time!

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@Sebastian, I agree with you, he wasted Deans time and this organizations time. Maybe I am wrong but I get the sense he was useing the Kings to get a better offer fom the Devils, in other words I dont think he had any intention of signing here .

[Reply]
Matt R says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:16 am

The worst part is, I bet we lost out on a number of FA’s that we may have been able to sign if we weren’t waiting for this. I hope DL has some tricks up his sleeve because there are a lot of disappointed people.

[Reply]
Freddy Fingers says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

I would have been fine with this….IF IT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO!! What an epic fail by the Kings organization…year after year, failure to sign ANY key free agents. On top of that, they’ve wasted valuable time on improving the team in other ways. UN****INBELIEVABLE.

[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:28 am
@Freddy Fingers, and what would have you done different?

[Reply]
Rod says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

Lets face it, Kings have a really hard time getting FA.. They offered more for Chara then Boston and Chara went with Boston. I don’t know what the inside info is that prevents players coming here. DL and Luc have done a good job but we need to keep up with the west…Too bad Marleau or some of the other FA still aren’t out there. Gagne is to injury prone.. Dayum were LA..we need a star player..Maybe Kopi will come around and be a 50 goal scorer.

[Reply]
KingNewfie says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

It may be denial, but I still don’t believe it. All this flurry of news is based on one Twit(ter) post. Until I hear it official from Grossman, DL, Kovy or someone else from the Devils camp… this ain’t over.

KING KOVI!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:22 am
@KingNewfie,

Believe it.

It first came out from the Devils’ OFFICIAL Twitter.

Then Puck Agency, Grossman’s company, said it on Twitter.

I think it’s as good as done.

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:24 am
@KingNewfie,

Check out puckagency.com, its grossman’s agency the signing is there

[Reply]
kingnewfie Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:31 am
@Joe Dirt,

Okay, I’ll cave.

I’m taking the summer off of hockey now. Let me know how Plan B fails.

[Reply]
Jorgen says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

If anything, this should fuel the team. This should excite Kopitar, Brown, etc. It’s now up to them to show IK that this team is committed to winning

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:32 am
@Jorgen,

I think it will have the reverse effect.

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@Miller29,

I agree. Our players have to see that no elite level player wants to come to LA. It could cause them to bond and develop an us against the world attitude but it could also lead to doubt. Bottom line-the team is worse than it was at the end of the season.

[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@Kwaz,

Sigh…

And Rich wonders why conversations turn into insults….

In what way are the Kings worse? Please explain this to me. Losing Frolov? OD?

raunq12 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@Kwaz,
that’s ridiculous
crashin' da net says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

Not good. Better have some big cajones executing Plan B. Shheeeezz! What a waste of time and other opportunities.

[Reply]
blckbsct says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

The Devils have no choice but to trade quite a few players now! For the love of God and all things Holy, I hope Plan B isn’t Gagne!

[Reply]
Jack the Lad says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

In 5 years, we will all be thrilled that he didn’t sign with the Kings!! Take that to the bank.

[Reply]
art Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:37 am
@Jack the Lad,

Yeah, after the Devils win the cup and we still can’t get out of the first round cuz DL is low-balling the good free agents and our current players are upset that the GM takes shots at them behind their back. DD in the prime of his career is making $8 mil a year with another team because he was too “expensive” for us to keep. And all those young prospects who develop into nothing more than third line wingers and third pairing defensemen. Quick ends up like Steve Mason, Bernier the same. Its all possible, so I wouldn’t say “take that to the bank.”

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@art, Climbing back aboard the Quacks wagon? Enjoy your trip!

[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@art,

What makes you think the Devils can win the Cup next year? They lose Martin, and gain Volchenkov. Pretty much the same team that lost to the Flyers in 5 in round one to me.

[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@Action,

And now they have to dump some salary. I REALLY hope this comes back to bite Kovi on the … Screw him.
Anjin says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

Looks like in the end he decided $$$$ was more important than anything else. I can’t blame the guy, there’s no way a person can survive off 6 million per year :/

I just hope the Kings ownership doesn’t go into panic mode and start trading our future for a big name.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:26 am
@Anjin,

A Russian reporter from DC says his mother said on Russian radio the deal is for 17 years.

Ouch.

[Reply]
Rod says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:19 am

Yeah, now we get and under achiever we’ll prolly spend to much for…Frolov sweepstakes here we come…all for 20 goals

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:38 am
@Rod,

Fro had a bad year. I don’t think his production will go down. But even in this bad year he scored or assisted on 51 goals. Kovy on 85. In the playoffs Kovy got one more goal than Fro. But he gave up a short-handed goal and looked like a fool doing it.

Fro plays better defensively — don’t forget it was for a defensive lapse that TM benched him early in the season, and that public scolding produced a solid improvement in Fro’s defensive play.

To be honest, I hope Fro keeps the reputation he has for laziness and half-hearted play. That way he won’t get offers too fat for us to match.

[Reply]
DMG610 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:20 am

Speaking on pure emotion here but…

What exactly is out there that comes anywhere close to IK?

Simon Gagne – who probably will spend a quarter to half the season injured?

Patrick Sharp – maybe, but after all this I seriously doubt Lombardi could, (or would) be able to pull that off.

Kaberle? really?

It’s all about signing Doughty, Johnson, Simmons? Really? And what happens when Doughty wants 8 million/year? Or Johnson comes with some salary demands that the brass deem unreasonable. Then what?

Does losing IK signal to the other players the Kings will never pay what they want, and use “we need to say out of cap hell” after every negotiation fails?

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:34 am
@DMG610,

Exactly what I’m saying.

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:53 am
@Miller29,

If they make Doughty go through arbitration I think that would be a signal that the management is screwed. I am disappointed about losing out on Kovalchuk, but still hope that when we see the details of his salary with NJ we will actually be happy he signed there instead of here!

[Reply]
lakingsfan19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:20 am

Rich won’t post my post????

Why?????

Big Fail by Lombardi.. Big Fail!!! The Guy wanted to play for the Kings. He could have picked the Devils back on the 5th and Lombardi messed this one up big time..

[Reply]
king dodger says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:20 am

Ilya is right up there with Crosby on players who I gate most now. atleast Crosby didn’t waste 3 weeks of my life. Oct 30th I wanna watch this greedy bum get destroyed.

[Reply]
vicarious says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:20 am

Disappointing but not too surprising after hearing K’s contract demands. Hopefully the Kings can sign Frolov to a reasonable contract and some of the youngsters can step up and play good NHL hockey sooner rather than later. I just wonder how Fro and his agent view matters, as seems to me Fro was a better player for the Kings than Cammalleri and look how much Cammalleri brought in on his contract. From the admittedly malleable not telling everything stats, Cammy scores a bit more but is not as good a defender.

Cammy Career Totals (Full) 429 158 179 337 -23 230 68 81 0 1 24 1281 .123

Fro Career Totals (Full) 536 168 213 381 23 210 42 72 7 6 25 1196 .140

[Reply]
art Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:40 am
@vicarious,
After trying to sign Kovalchuk to a 5.25 cap hit, they’ll prob offer Frolov a 15 year, $25 mil contract.

[Reply]
vicarious Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:59 am
@art, You are probably right. And if that was the offer, then Fro might lv for another team on general principles. But it wld be a good deal for the Kings if Frolov accepted that offer. I dunno. IMO, its hard to blame a player with a short time frame for a professional career for trying to maximize their revenue.

[Reply]
AK47 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:21 am

I don’t want Frolov, I don’t want Savard.. If it’s not Patrick Sharp, Braydon Coburn or Simon Gagné, then I’ll be very disappointed in Lombardi

[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:51 am
@AK47,

I really can’t see Chicago letting Sharp go, as I think that’s why Versteeg, Ladd, and Byfuglien are all gone already.

I can get on board with the rest of what you said though. If Gagne can stay healthy, he’s a force. Make no mistake about that my friends. Ilya has won a grand total of ONE career playoff game. He’s 1-8 in the playoffs with nearly a decade of NHL experience. That’s not by coincidence my friends. It takes more than just talent to be a winner in this league.

[Reply]
Doug d says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:21 am

Whether or not Kovi’s camp played the Kings to get NJ to sweeten the deal, Dean has messed this up BIGTIME! Either by getting so close to signing (as was reported) only to lose him at the last min, or by getting played and not realizing it, he’s lost the race and caused havoc on his fan base. What a joke. Another joke in the long line of Kings front office decisions

[Reply]
luck fie-weekly says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:21 am

I can already see it,

The Kings are going to make some stupid trades for mediocre players now to try and convince the fans that they are committed to winning.

That’s the stupidest thing they could do right now. Kovalchuk was one in a million, the guy you break the bank for.

If I were the Kings, I would proceed as if Kovalchuk was NEVER a UFA and only make trades that NEED to be made. But, Lieweekly likes to get involved, so I can imagine we’ll be landing defensemen from both Edmonton and Toronto in the near future.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@luck fie-weekly,

That’s this sucky organization’s MO.

[Reply]
EJ Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:11 am
@luck fie-weekly, you’re really such a clever poster, aren’t you.

[Reply]
Subby says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:22 am

Play (B)obby Ryan

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:38 am
@Subby, I hope so.

[Reply]
justlu Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:49 am
@sstephen17, that’s exactly what I was thinking all along. Ryan is going to be cheaper, play more D, and is younger. He fits Terry Murray’s system and philosophy better than Kovi. If we can get Ryan to sign here and still have the dough to sign Frolov I think we would be a better team and have better chemistry than if we signed kovi and let frolov go.

[Reply]
Mel says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:22 am

Did anyone else notice that Rich fled the jurisdiction just before Kovalchuk signed somewhere else? Rich, you knew before you left, didn’t you, and bribed the Kings, the Devils, Kovalchuk, and Grossman to hold the announcement until you could get away!

(No go enjoy your vacation and we’ll all worry in a couple of weeks…or a few…)

[Reply]
Mel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:25 am
@Mel, um, that’s “NOW go enjoy,” Rich…thank God I don’t have to keep spelling Kovalchuk correctly, too…

[Reply]
kings fan in dallas says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:22 am

GOOD ! Hes a great talent…but he demanded to much…and look at all the time we wasted !..im not sure his big head could fit in our door at staples anyways !…lets move on…and watch the devals sweat the cap…

[Reply]
kngsfn77 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:23 am

At least he stays in the East. Will we EVER be able to bring in a TOP free agent here? We have it all set up to bring one in now, and STILL fail. I’m all for not over paying him like that, but why jerk us around like he did? Yes, I’m bitter right now, yes, I’m disappointed. Maybe its for the better, maybe not. Now we must make a trade, (or 3) if we’re to bring in a #2 center, D, and top 6 wing. Sounds like fillers comin in again to me.

[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:23 am

If you guys are really this pissed off, then I suggest none of you go to a Kings game this year. Their (Kings management) decision was a business one, and the only way they will see that it was a wrong decision is to BOYCOTT the Kings. If you keep going to the Kings games management will continue to be CHEAP and they will continue to make money off of you.

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:30 am
@NOW IMPRESSED, Gimme a break. It wasn’t the wrong decision. Yes, the Kings need offense, but not at $10M per year. If Kovalchuk wouldn’t budge off that number then the Kings don’t need him.

[Reply]
NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@Paul From Oxnard, I heard he is signing a $60mil for 7 years. Thats $8.57 Mil/yr. But go ahead and let them make money off of you.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:39 am
@NOT IMPRESSED, I think $8.5 per year is too high.
bruin18 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:24 am

This has always been a terrible organization. What is new.

[Reply]
leadswine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:40 am
@bruin18, spoken like a true ducks fan. Just another cry baby.

[Reply]
Jamie Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:02 am
@bruin18, exactly……

[Reply]
bure10 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:25 am

WOW and capital wow. Waiting all this time, checking for updates…I feel like a douche. We havent added one person to upgrade from last year and now this. I feel like we’ve been dragged through the street…Go Kings!

[Reply]
Airwaves says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:25 am

This is total let down to us fans and season ticket holders(me) who have been waiting patiently for our beloved Kings to land a big name player to get respect for our team!

This hurts, it really does!

[Reply]
kevin from toronto says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:25 am

I knew it was too good to be true…

The only upside is now we can be certain the young core won’t be going anywhere…
Only problem with that is we’re stuck with Ryan Smyth and Michael Handzus scoring rebound goals for the next 20 years

[Reply]
RenoKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@kevin from toronto,
How will we be able to retain out core players when none of them will probably accept a low ball offer? Do you really think Doughty wont be able to get more than 6 million elsewhere. Same old story with this team.

[Reply]
john says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:26 am

Well I am glad it is over. Dean I know u did everthing you could too get Kov. But we do not need him. Let the devels have the high priced player. Now sign our youngsters.

[Reply]
scvking says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:27 am

Oh well.

I think sometimes you end up with what is best, even though you may not know it at the time. Perhaps the money never made sense. Really, we never had a clue as to what was going on with Kovy.

Forget Gagne. Make a big run at Patrick Sharp.

We still have a really good team here, don’t forget that.

[Reply]
thegriffster says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:27 am

Same story every year…TL only pays soccer players I’m done with this team! No more season seats for me.

[Reply]
Jason says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:27 am

Why do I hear people saying ” oh its ok we need the $ to sign Wayne Simmonds long term” Wayne Simmonds? Hes an average at best player, Kovalchuk wouldve put us over the top….thanks for nothing Dean.

[Reply]
Gizmo says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am

I just hope I get to see Brown lauch his greedy, self-absorbed butt across the ice and into the bench everytime he hits the ice.
Screw you Kovi for jerking the hockey world around like that. May you never win in So Cal again.
Ever.

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:32 am
@Gizmo,

I agree 100%. The only thing positive I can say is at least its over. Why the hell did this have to be such a roller-coaster?

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Gizmo, I guess you also circled October 31st on your Calender.

[Reply]
OneTimer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Who Knows?,

Oct 30th.

[Reply]
BigMike says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am

If reports are correct about 7 years for 60 million you amortize that cap + bonuses (if there are any) thats an 8.57 cap hit per year. If there is a performance bonus its probably 1-2 million perhaps more (thats also factored in the cap) Which means 2 top players are being shipped from the Devils. The Devils know they are on the slide, keep the seats filled while they rebuild around Kovy. To bad they lost their best young player in Bergfors. The Devils are flushing their team down the toilet.

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am

I’m disappointed because the Kings need the offense, but on the other hand I’m glad the Kings didn’t mortgage the next 10 years in order to sign one guy. If Kovalchuk REALLY wanted to play here he would have compromised on the money and made sure the deal happened. He doesn’t fit in New Jersey, so they’re the ones who screwed up, not the Kings.

To me this signals that the Kings will probably trade for Gagne and a defenseman, if not today then sometime this week. Gagne is a risk because of his injury history, but he’s less of a risk at this point then Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@Paul From Oxnard,

This “Plan B” **** better start kicking immediately.

[Reply]
PakiFro says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am

my boss has never been happier, as my productivity will return to norm now after a two and a half week hiatus.

[Reply]
Whackman says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am

There is no room for Kobe, Kopi and Kovi in LA it would be to complicated for the press

[Reply]
SPIDEY35 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:29 am

At least now we can all move on. I have to admit, this is not what I expected to happen.

[Reply]
Joe Dirt says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:29 am

Time to dig around the flyers dumpster to fill our roster

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:34 am
@Joe Dirt,

A Kings off season tradition as old as “Dumpster Dave” himself….

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:39 am
@Joe Dirt,

Yeah no kidding. Wonder what trash we can pull out of there? Gagme, Gagknee or Grabknee? How about all three Dean?

[Reply]
Jim S. Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@Joe Dirt,

You guys got me laughing out loud!

This year… any dumpster diving from Philly needs to include Giroux!

[Reply]
5buckcolonnadeticket says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:29 am

But… but… but… that hockey24hour site said we’d get kovi!

Let’s wait for the details of what Kovi wanted from L.A. and what he took from NJ.

Since we know that Kovi had ridiculous contract demands, we should hold off on criticizing Kings management until we learn the actual details of where they were.

[Reply]
Jonsey says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:30 am

What a let down.

[Reply]
gold dust says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:30 am

who needs da bum?

[Reply]
SoCalHockey19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:31 am

I am quite surprised to see so many DL supporters. I can’t believe that the Kings failed to land a top goal scorer…AGAIN! We have been rebuilding for an opportunity like this, for years. This is such a disappointment, and I just can’t see us having this chance again. Why can’t DL ever pull the trigger? Just once? It would be nice to the Kings make a move, just one, to WIN NOW! I actually lost sleep over this, and am sick to my stomach right now. I love the Kings, but I am finding it very hard to support DL right now.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:45 am
@SoCalHockey19,

He’s gone. Kovy’s gone. Poof!!

Now forget him and start thinking about more important matters.

Personally, I think the hand of God saved us from a long-term disaster.

[Reply]
art Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@tuan jim,

Personally, I think the hand of God will continue the long-term disaster that is the Kings franchise.

[Reply]
kingsfan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:46 am
@SoCalHockey19, DL is not the guy paying the players. Its management and LA kings management has always been 2nd rate (minus the gretzky era).

[Reply]
SoCalHockey19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@kingsfan, then why does every post read that management will not be happy with DL? I know he doesn’t pay the players…but he is the negotiator, the one responsible? I am tired, as I feel most Kings are, of knowing how great a team we COULD have, if we could only ever make that one move!

[Reply]
Joey Drillings says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

So let’s see: Kypreos, WRONG. Helene, WRONG. CBGB, WRONG. Everybody with a “SOURCE”, was wrong. There was not a single person who called this. SO for once and for all, can these people, and those that say “ooh, believe him, he has never been wrong” just go away.

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@Joey Drillings,

AGREE!!! GO AWAY..FAR AWAY!

[Reply]
astro Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:38 am
@Joey Drillings, CBGB was may be the first who predicted “Plan B”…even before the eventual signing. Stop the hysteria, Dean will find the way out to improve us before the start of the regular season.

[Reply]
DLB says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

17 year contract! Holy crap. Face it, he only has 6 years of good production left in the tank.

I want to see the total salary, but right now I’m glad we didn’t do this.

[Reply]
TVA333 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

I’m a little disappointed about this as well.. But all this talk about not renewing season tix and boycotting the kings…. Really?! This is our team guys! Die Hard’s til the end!

Kopitar/Doughty = Reason enough

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:42 am
@TVA333, I’d throw Bernier in there too. Maybe Johnson but of the four, he’s probably the most likely to bolt.

[Reply]
TVA333 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:48 am
@sstephen17,
Agreed… Those guys keep my interest peaked even when we’re losing.. And it’s not Kovi’s name I have tattoo’d on my arm.. It’s a crest!

Let’s Go KINGS!!!

[Reply]
a5minmjr says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

Now we have to lose assets to get old injury prone (typical Kings move) bodies to fill in at left wing….

Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results?

We as Kings fans are insane.

[Reply]
notposimatt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:08 am
@a5minmjr,
Who said hey you have to be a kings fan? Wahhhhh stop crying and get over it or get some tickets to the honda ponda wahhhhhhhhhh wahhhh

[Reply]
leadswine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@notposimatt, remember these are the same guys that throw on a Detroit Jersey whenever we play the wings.

[Reply]
Kingsforever says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

Why does everyone believe in Dean. I don’t believe in Dean till we actually win a Cup. None of his teams have won.

This is embarassing, we cannot sign a top free agent.

[Reply]
EST. 67 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:32 am

Would have to have Kovi for a few years. I hope this works out for us. Any opinions on Bobby Ryan? he wont have to move just change Jerseys

[Reply]
Tito Jackson says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am

Remember when last year a lot of you were upset for not signing big names during UFA, Mangement sucks, DL couldn’t catch a big fish in a small pond and a net and yet the team made it to the first round of the playoffs?

Yea, me too.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:40 am
@Tito Jackson,

True. But, we could have gone much further….

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@5thLine, That would be expecting too much. They didn’t make the playoffs the year before. Making the playoffs was the goal for last year. The two wins were icing on the cake as far as I’m concerned.

[Reply]
McDonalds says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am

Unbelievable

[Reply]
roadtripper says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am

Bummer!!! Oh well, either it couldn’t be done within our budget for our future, or it could (we’ll find out when we see the numbers), and he just didn’t really want to win the cup all that bad…
Thanks for trying Dean! (the bummer is all the guys that got away while we were holding onto our $). Time to move on…!!!
GKG!!!

[Reply]
Token says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am

I am really pleased with this outcome. It allows us to invest into the considerable home grown talent we have in the pipeline.

I’m looking forward to a great season and now more than ever I feel I got great value for the season ticket price.

I’m looking at our young depth pool and I see a breakout in the next couple seasons. Good times are here.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:39 am
@Token,

Let the Kings employee posts…..BEGIN!!!!!!

[Reply]
Token Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:19 am
@5thLine, Oh yeah, you go me figured out. My cover is blown!

I sure as hell hope my unemployment check covers the $950 tab for the 300 section bleachers this year…

All Trolls aside, look at what got teams to the 09 finals;

no snipers but playmakers. Ovi, Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Gingy Twins, Backstrom, the whole Sharks First Line … All snipers and scoring machines.

Chicago and Philly did not have any of the snipe crowd and they did it with teamwork, defense and grand goaltending.

What do the Kings have in abundance?

Defense and talent, goaltending and talent. All we need is teamwork and we get the cup.

Simple as that. Why break from the winning formula.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@Token, An excellent you make on snipers. The two notable exceptions are Malkin and Crosby. Didn’t make the Finals last year but did win a Cup and made Finals two of the last three years.

Puckin-A Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@Token, You don’t consider Kane,Sharp,Briere and Gagne snipers? Cindy Crysby is a playmaker with sniper hands as is Henrik Sedin.

d Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@Token, the reason you invest into home grown talent in the pipeline is because you HOPE that one day, they’ll be at least 50% of a player Kovi is.

Not signing Kovi sucks big time for the Kings. The tragic thing is, signing him may have also started to suck down the road. Too bad this is not NHL 10.

[Reply]
New York Kings Fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am

Maybe it comes down to money, but the Kings dropped the ball on this one. Kings have a chance to sign one of the best players in the league. A guy who could make them a cup contender and they couldn’t close the deal. Bad day to be a Kings fan. Thanks Kings management.

[Reply]
Joey Drillings says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:34 am

I, for one, am happy. Kovi did nothing to enhance NJ. All we lost was Fro, Jones, Halpern, Modin and O’Donnell. We are a playoff team, why mortgage our future sanity for this nut job.

[Reply]
Cry Baby says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:34 am

One player does not make a team…look how far Jersey went with him in the line up. Brodeur is as good as done as an elite goalie and now I hear they are in cap trouble. So what? Frolov is not even close to the answer…he’s not coming back. The Kings are accepting applications for full time players only. The Kings will be fine and Jersey will not win the Cup.

[Reply]
Doug D Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Cry Baby,
No, now the Kings looks desperate and agents are licking their chops

[Reply]
JoeKing around Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@Cry Baby, I agree. If 2 to 3 million bucks more a year is more important to IK than a Stanley Cup, Jersey can have him.

[Reply]
Racooonnns says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:35 am

Ok bummed an relieved.

Bummed because we could never get a star player, ( gretzky only one ) in our city
But relieved that our core is still together and still have all this money up in the air…
Hey which big names are free agents next year….ANyone know.. Iam sure someone does out there.
Hockey teams change more than i change my trash bag

[Reply]
BigMike says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:35 am

I wonder if we will see a “token” deal between New Jersey and LA, Jersey has to dump a quality player or two at this point and the Kings have good prospects.

[Reply]
Who Knows? says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:35 am

1) How are the Devils going to re-sign Zach Parise.
2) If the 7/60 contract is true, that’s is a 8.570 cap hit. WAY too much. Are they Devils over or under the 10% they could go over the cap during the summer.
3) With the defensive oriented Devils, how many goals will he get.
4) With $12MM in cap space the Kings will trade for Gagne, get a crippled 40 year-old D-man, and find a way to lose Doughty.
5) Kings management really sucks!! Sometimes I wish our GM was Glen Sather. At least he signs people.

[Reply]
Scot Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
@Who Knows?,

Sather doesn’t sign people, New York does.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@Scot, Ya, and where would you want to live. The Bronx or Queens or in Huntington Beach?

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:39 am
@Who Knows?, That’s true, I’d rather live in Huntington Beach, but if I want to be noticed as an NHLer and go to the Hall, I want to play in the east.

Tim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@Scot, Glen Sather is a POS.

[Reply]
MrMister says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:36 am

It’s Over. Finally. Now we can go to Plan B. Is it October yet?

[Reply]
Joey Drillings says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:36 am

How is this DL’s fault. Could he offer 10 million a year or 100 million dollar contract. If anything, DL is a hero for putting up with TL and AEG.

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Joey Drillings, yeah a hero that will be out of a job soon……DL should have signed Kovi

[Reply]
brandyn says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:36 am

“Kovalchuk’s mother tells Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport that Kovalchuk’s deal with #NJD is for 17 years.”

EFF THAT

[Reply]
Rudedogg says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:38 am

well i have not read anything confirming the terms but ill put myself out on there and bet that there excuse is that our great owner feels that the salry cap will drop by 15-20 million we had to take that into affect. But will ignore any data that states we should be paying more because travel is rougher on players on the west coast teams, also taxes and cost of living is probably higher than most states that have a team….. will get the same excuse we got when the last cba was coming around and they refused to spend.. ignore my complaints if kovy signs for more than 7 million!!!!!

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:38 am

I just wanna crawl in a hole… wasted 19 days of our lives for this. And I’m working the night shift tonight Y’all can BET I won’t be in a good mood tonight.

But we’ll have to see what happens between now and the start of the season. I think we’ll get Gagne, and who knows, maybe he’ll surprise us? But we’ll probably have to re-sign Frolov (he’s probably the happiest person on the face of the Earth right now).

What I’d REALLY like is to sign Alexei Ponikarovsky… not Kovalchuk, but could probably be gotten for $3M a year.

[Reply]
Barry's Mullet says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:38 am

Best news I’ve heard since July 1st!!!

Would have been nice to land Kovi but not at that price and not for a one dimensional player…NO WAY!

Now we can really go out and work on getting the 2 or 3 players we need to contend for the SC.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Barry’s Mullet,

Do we know what “that price” even is yet?

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@5thLine,

People are saying 17 years at over $100M.

If true, DL was probably just afraid of a 17-year commitment. Understandable.

[Reply]
UpperV says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:38 am

Dean must feel like an absolute idiot right now. His bluff was called and now we miss out on Kovi.

I saw years of added excitement. He would have added goals, speed, creativity/unpredictability and fun. The place would have been electric every time he touched the puck as it was when we had 99.

Very disappointed…

[Reply]
Cup4LA64 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:39 am

At least we’re not Cleveland.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Cup4LA64, ROFL so true!

[Reply]
SPIDEY35 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:39 am

Things to do:
1. resign Frolov
2. don’t trade for Gange
3. sign Zack Parise when his contract is up.
4. let the kids play. We will be o.k.

[Reply]
BringBackMarcel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@SPIDEY35, Well said. But do you think there’s any chance Fro will get motivated in a Kings uniform? I fear that he’s like all the other transplanted sun-worshipers we’ve seen skyrocket to stardom in some other town…

Let the kids play!

[Reply]
spidey35 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
@BringBackMarcel, my biggest fear is that Fro goes to another team and is a monster on the puck down low and everyone says, ” how could the Kings have let this guy go”. Fro is one of the best in the league at puck possesion and I know we sure could use that on this team.

[Reply]
Capt Jam says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:40 am

Best thing that could’ve happened to this club.

[Reply]
tuan jim says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:42 am

I like to be in Ahmeh-ree-ca!
Okay by me in Ahmeh-ree-ca!

I’m happier than a pig in poop. I blame no one. I need explanations from no one. And Ilya himself overcame the feeling that that he stuck it to Lamoriello after the Devils unloaded so much on Atlanta just for a “rental”. Maybe that sense of “loyalty” had something to do with his decision.

However, now it’s more important than ever that we replace the hole where Fro used to be — preferably with Fro himself. Unfortunately, he’s not likely to come cheap — especially after that insane Koivu-Wild deal.

Frankly, I have no problem spending another year seasoning our rookie defensemen. If we can make it to the playoffs without overpaying for a Willie Mitchell or the like, I say hip-hip-hooray. If not, then at least we’ll gather experience for the year following. The team IS headed in the right direction.

I’m not anxious to trade for Gagne. Not that he’s not a decent player or that he’s damaged goods. If he were a UFA I’d go for the deal. But I don’t wanna give up a valuable asset for a guy who may not be here after the year’s over, while Philly is deriving years of benefit from a solid young player who’ll just get better and better.

Once again, bless you, Kovy. You made the right decision.

Now . . . can we say “good riddance” to all this hysteria and go back to the cold-blooded plan of building a winning team?

[Reply]
raider179 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:42 am

I for one am fed up with the organizations inability to bring in top end players. As I told my season ticket rep, I am in a wait and see pattern before I resign for next season. I have been a season tix holder since 91-92 and yet I find myself asking why. Why should I fork out good money when the Kings cant bring in the top talent. Its Los Angeles for heavens sake. Its not like its friggin Alaska. Stop with the we have room to sign JJ and Doughnuts, wait till one of them leaves and then what. another 8th place finsish maybe and a first round a–beating. Go Kings.

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:43 am

Look, nobody wants to play in Los Angeles… not sure why.

Anaheim had no problem getting the best defenseman available in Scott Niedermayer, but the Kings couldn’t do the same with Chara.

Not sure why, but people just don’t like Los Angeles.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:45 am
@Kevin Y,

I wasn’t aware Chara’s brother played with us.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
@John,

Oh yeah, he was like buried in our depth chart…

I personally don’t believe the “brother” thing is why Scotty went to Anaheim. If that had anything to do with it, they would’ve both gone to Vancouver a couple years ago when they were both UFAs.

[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@Kevin Y, This is not about Los Angeles plus tons of guys live here in the off season. This is economics and economics only. Don’t take this so personal.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Kevin Y,

‘Cause all us Angelenos are just a buncha commie child molesters.

Who cares why these guys don’t like L.A.? In fact, the Kings were the team where veteran players came to die. They WANTED to come here.

Smyth wanted to come here. OD wanted to come back here. Zeus wanted to come here. DD wanted to come here.

Maybe L.A. seems like Siberia to stars who like the limelight of east-coast hockey. The Canucks don’t get much respect either.

You want big-shot, expensive super-stars? Just put a winning team on the ice, watch the nationwide press it gets, and there’ll be plenty of Hossas and Kovies to make up for the ones we lost.

[Reply]
John says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:43 am

At least us true fans will get to get into training camp!

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@John,

It’s always about you…..

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@5thLine

You know it, kid! As it should be ;P

[Reply]
art says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:43 am

Maybe NJ will give us Colin White for a 5th round pick as a consolation prize.

[Reply]
Pat says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:46 am

Finally its over! Big dissapointment!! We have to resign Frolov now! Get Zach Parise and Lee Stempniak. And a Top S defensiveman. Championships doesn’t revolve on one players.

[Reply]
Jonathan says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:46 am

Dmitry C from Puck Daddy says deal is 17years/100+ million.

We are going to be GLAD we didn’t pay this clown this money.

[Reply]
Marbles says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

NHLSourcesSay said via twitter, “Kovalchuk’s deal is in excess of $100 million. I am hearing out of Russia.”

God this day sucks as a Kings fan. Let’s hope Lombardi has a great plan B. FCK!!!

[Reply]
Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:56 am
@Marbles, You said it marbles! I’M PISSED!!! I want a week of my life back.

[Reply]
Jim S. says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

WHOA!!!

Finally some news! Well, he chose the east coast… not surprising, really. I’m just glad a decision has been made, so now let’s wait & see what DL decides to do. For those who are bitter & angry, don’t be. It’s not worth it. Can’t do anything about it when your are second best… bottom line.

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:22 am
@Jim S.,

Just need some time. We lost Fro, OD and did not add anybody, all in the hope of landing Kovalchuk. For three weeks its been up and down, and up and down again, ad nauseam. I personally need a little bit of time to vent.

Hopefully DL will make a decent trade or two (better than for Gange), and the rest of the team comes together next season. If this happens I’m fine. Or if Kovalchuk went to NJ with a cap hit well over eight I’ll also be happy again.

Right now however, I cannot help but entertain visions of the Kings slowly losing all of our core players to RFA (I am sure someone will take a run Simmonds, Doughty, JJ, Bernier or Quick) or FA (bye Fro). Someone snap me out of this! I like the team as it is and don’t think we truly NEEDED Kovalchuk, but I do worry that DL might naught ever be able to add a significant piece without losing another. He’s no Holland, Shero or Lamoriello. They seem to be able to creatively manage the cap while adding big-time players.

P.S. Than you Rich for the great coverage! You were about the only positive thing Kings fans had (other than false hopes) during this debacle. I hope you are enjoying your trip and look forward to more quality reporting from you when you get back.

P.S.S. All Kings players, please annihilate Kovalchuk on October 30th. Make him pay for the crap he put us through!

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@Kwaz,

Apologies for the erratic nature of the post and misuse of words (meant not rather than naught, though it was an interesting slip), me just cranky right now.

[Reply]
Who Knows? says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

I’m also hearing 100/17. That’s a 5.88MM cap hit. Now I know the Kings could afford that. This is the cheapest management ever!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:10 am
@Who Knows?,

SEVENTEEN years?!!! Are you freaking kidding?? Do we even WANT to afford that? He’ll be freaking 44 years old when the contract is over…that’s just flat out STUPID!

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@John, I agree with you, paying him till he is 44 is stupid and Dean is not that. The most I would have done would have been 8 years 64 million which would have taken him to age 35, I think that is about as reasonable as I would have done.

[Reply]
AK47 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

DL has disappointed lots of fans, I hope he makes a move within the next couple of the days, we lack scoring and we lack it badly.. If he doesn’t make any moves, you best believe that this team regresses like the Blues/Blue Jackets did last season

[Reply]
a5minmjr says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:49 am

Shame on any of you who actually thought that a top free agent (let alone THE top free agent) would ever sign in LA.

Both sides of the IK argument will justify it all in their own way. Bottom line is the only way this team is EVER going to win a cup is if we get lucky with our in house team. We will NEVER win anything by adding top talent through free agency.

[Reply]
FU KIng says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:51 am

40 years…Same ol’ Kings!!!

The Kings management and ownership should be ashamed of themselves! For YEARS now, the Kings have been WAY below the cap ceiling and what have they done to reward the loyal fan base??? Well, just look at the UFA signings this year.

Nice empty rhetoric regarding your intent to ANYTHING during the offseason. Damn you Lombardi and the effing cheapskate duo of Leiweke and Anschutz. Your team will not get a single penny from me next year!

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:56 am
@FU KIng,

They won’t get anything out of me either. I’m sure they will raise prices on everything all-around though. The way this organization [miss]manages things they should be giving out free tickets to everyone begging them to go to games. I wonder how many LA Queens players want outta here?

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@FU KIng, nice remarks from someone who probably has no idea of cap space or how to build a “real” team.

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@fsd1,

Sense you have it figured out maybe you can let Dean and Tim know.

I think 40 years should have been enough time to build a “real” team.

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@fsd1, By “real” team, do you mean an organization that has reached the Finals once during their entire existence? Or perhaps, you’re referring to a team that has made the playoffs twice since 2001 (getting bounced both times in the 1st round)?

2010-2011 Salary Cap is 59.4 million…Kings are around $45 million. They could have signed Kovalchuk and still had plenty of room to resign Doughty for twice his current salary next year.

[Reply]
AzKing says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:52 am

The Kings will just crawl back into mediocrity as usual. I have only been watching them for 30+ years and one thing is consistent, they never take the next step.

AEG has never cared about winning. It is about making money and promoting L.A. Live.

[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@AzKing,
Exactly what I think! I’m tired of this every year! We never make a big splash!

[Reply]
KOHO Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:01 am
@AzKing,

This is why he doesn’t want to be knows in LA.

He’s out of sight out of mind never takes an interview, shuns away from the camera, settles every law suit so he won’t be taken in front of the public’s eye.

AEG SUCKS!

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:54 am

I seem to recall DL saying that we should probably expect more in trades than from free agents this summer. Hope he can pull off something that’s really going to help, but I don’t think it should be Gagne or Savard.

[Reply]
BringBackMarcel says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:54 am

It’ll be interesting to see how many salaries Lamoriello has to dump now. It’ll hurt if he took less money, but I doubt he did. I hope DL’s on the phone congratulating the Devils and shopping their roster today. I was prepared to welcome Kovalchuk as a King, but now I can’t wait to boo him on October 30th.

Patience. Our time will come…

Go Kings

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@BringBackMarcel, The Cubs & Clippers fans would like to commend you for your blind faith.

[Reply]
BringBackMarcel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:05 am
@FU King, Hahaha. I hear you. Freakin’ Marty’s stick!!! I just think that before July first, the Kings’ hopes were not dashed. Not sure how Kovy became Koby-the-Chosen-One, but I think we’re still in the middle of a process, and Kovalchuck on left wing is NOT the only hole we need to fill.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:54 am

Saw the announcement of the NJ signing of Kovalchuk on the scroll on ESPN, in the break room on the T.V. at work… My shoulders slumped and I expressed my disappointment vocally…

I am really, really disappointed. Yes, there will be money saved, and yes, there will be no chance of a chemistry mis-match, but like all really expensive purchases, the upside of the deal tantalized me.

There usually is a re-slump season after a great improvement in the prior season. I love the character of this team but I feel back-sliding is coming this season. The team needs speed and skill at forward BADLY. Unless there is a breakout season from one of the Kings young forwards, I feel the depression from this protracted courtship and subsequent spurning will show up in October. It’s human nature.

Frolov is a good, but not a great player. Re-signing him always seemed unlikely. But that leaves this team without depth at left wing.

After all that moaning and thrashing and frothing at the mouth, I am really, really depressed…

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Oh, and I bet we don’t ever again hear from the poster claiming that Kovi and his wife really, really, REALLY wanted to be in L.A..

Can you say, AGENT PLANT?

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

I sympathize with your disappointment.

I don’t share it. But I sympathize with it.

Yes, we need speed and a replacement for Fro. Do you think Fro can replace Fro? If so, I say, “Buy him!” He is, after all, the best free agent left wing still on the market.

I, too, feel a sophomore let-down may come this season after what happened last year. But I still think we’re headed north on the right trail.

Kovy might have taken us off it.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@tuan jim,

Maybe.
Maybe not.

But there is NOTHING out there that can replace the style and the sizzle of what has been dangled in front of our drooling mouths the last three weeks.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Style and sizzle don’t win Stanley Cups. And they have a tough go of it even in early round playoff games.

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@tuan jim,

Style and sizzle are the things that make one’s mouth water…

Skill and speed together can score goals… But, so can grit, brute strength and determination in combination with a well-coached team.

No matter how much the Kings utilized the latter last year, they scored only so many 5-on-5 goals. They need help in the scoring department, that much is clear.

This team needs an infusion of skill and speed, possibly from their young untested players.

The style and sizzle made me hungry for that Prime Rib dinner I smelled. Today I learn I must go home hungry because, like Tantalus underneath the tree in Hades, I am only in Hockey Purgatory…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalus

–Tantalus’s punishment for his act, now a proverbial term for temptation without satisfaction (the source of the English word “tantalise” – US “tantalize”),[13]) was to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water receded before he could get any. Over his head towers a threatening stone, like that of Sisyphus.[14]

tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

I guess this temptation was more than you could bear.

With even Helene Elliott posting that the term and numbers had been worked out and all that was left to decide was whether Kovy would sign the contract in blue or black ink, you must have been close to madness. The sperm must have been racing up the shaft when the hose-clamp was applied.

That 5-on-5 statistic murdered us in the playoffs, but we weren’t all that dreadful an offensive team during the regular season. Vancouver had a few hot-triggers that did us in — especially that 7-goal outburst that made the final numbers look much worse than they are.

I don’t think Kovy would have made much difference against the Canucks. He put up some points against the Flyers in the opening round, but he certainly was no offensive dynamo — and he was no series-breaker (or even game-breaker, for that matter).

Instead of bemoaning our failure to sign Kovy and reading these past coupla weeks as a sad replication of the myths of Tantalus and Sisyphus, try viewing things more positively. The overhanging fruit is a UFA contract that is luckily out of our reach. And we’re not standing in water, but manure — which is not receding, but constantly rising, rising high enough to swamp us in shit if we forget that teams, not stars, win Stanley Cups. The Kings already have a few retired jerseys on their arena wall. None of those guys ever led us to a championship.

LVKINGS88 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
@tuan jim, TJ,are you Frolov?I have read alot of your post and you always talk about re-signing Fro,so I was just wondering are you him?.Don’t get me wrong I love Fro also but I don’t think it would be a goog idea to sign him unless he has an bonus incentive clause.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
@LVKINGS88,

You may be right about that bonus incentive clause. I don’t think Fro is slowly losing his touch — as some people say who look at his last three years.

Like Kopi he was obliged to change his style to accommodate TM’s system. Toward the end of this past season the positive results of that change were evident.

He’s no scoring dynamo like Kovy. He doesn’t have Kovy’s size, skating ability, and willingness to drop the gloves — (though Kovy seems to do that only when his team has already lost the game).

But not even Kovy can hog the puck the way Fro can. And on a team that relies for success on its cycle on the forecheck and getting a big body near the net, Fro is very valuable, indeed. His goal tally has gone down the past couple of years, but I think that’s just a blip in his career. He has SOME size of his own, SOME skating ability, and he has something else — he can score, and HAS scored, “big” goals when we’ve needed them.

Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, You nailed it on the T Bako!

[Reply]
Matt George says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:56 am

okay … okay …

everyone calm down ..

i got one thing to say.

GAME ON MOTHER FKR!!!

[Reply]
Dave in Torrance says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:56 am

Remember the end of “Friday Night Lights” the kid is inches from the goal line, so close, but he came up just short. What a major let down. I was stoked, I was imagining what the games would be like and what Staples would be like with us lighting the goal light a bit more regularly. Having a “star” on our team, and now….Simon Gagne….. I’m bummed. Still stoked on our team, still backing our boys, but what a letdown, after all of this s**t, to come away with nothing. Well, lets see what happens next.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:05 am
@Dave in Torrance,

Resigned to mediocrity…Breakout the 2010-2011 season!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:23 am
@5thLine,

Resigned to blind cynicism. Things are STILL great in the Kingsdom!

[Reply]
leadswine says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:57 am

About half of you “fans” are a total embarrassment . If you hate this team. …….see ya, take a hike and have fun at the pond. The rest of you, GO KINGS! !!! section 328 in the house!!

[Reply]
TVA333 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@leadswine,
Right there with ya! High five from 313!

LGK LGK!!

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:02 am
@leadswine,

Drink that Kool-Aid brother…….

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@leadswine,

Fans can be critical, embarrassed and disappointed if they want to. We are not lemmings that blindly agree and follow every decision the organization makes. How can you expect any change in team missmanagement if nobody speaks up?

[Reply]
leadswine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@Miller29, that’s fine but I’m a proud kings fan that’s PROUD of our boy’s.

[Reply]
EJ Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:14 am
@leadswine, kudos. Someone who “gets it”.

[Reply]
KingsFan in OC Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@leadswine, Amen brother! Right there with you from Section 321. And I will drink the Kool-aid, with vodka, thank you very much!!! GO KINGS GO!!!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@leadswine,

Absolutely… true Kings fans will go to the games and support the team, no matter what.

(By the way, I’m 332… are all the season-ticket holders on this blog in the 300s section?)

[Reply]
Kingfanman says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:59 am

Well…

Plan A: Kovalchuk
Plan B: Modin and Frolov again?

[Reply]
Kwaz says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:59 am

We should have just forced Kovi’s hand and stayed the hell out of this black comedy! If he was just going to end up a Devil why did we have to get jerked around for almost three freaking weeks!!! This one hurt a lot more than Drury/Gomez, Hossa, Gaborik etc.

So who are the big free agents next year? I want to get a head start on my disappointment.

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:02 am
@Kwaz, I hear ya, especially with Dean at the helm

[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:08 am
@Timbo
DL got an extension? WTF? Well you can count on another dull off season next year!

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@Airwaves, Dean’s gotta go dude….whats Dean making ? 2M /yr for 2 yrs? No wonder he is pissed about paying Kovi so much……

Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@Kwaz,

Gagne and Williams

In seriousness… Brad Richards (who probably won’t come here because of the Brad RichardsON confusion), Joe Thornton (who probably will hit the market, but don’t see him coming here)…

EW. Not a lot of good LWs out there.

Oh, Zdeno Chara’s a UFA. Probably’ll say “thanks, but I STILL don’t want to go there”

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@Kevin Y,

Thank you for the info!

[Reply]
hockey hockey says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:59 am

WOW…after all the waiting. ..
Only KINGS fans can relate to the disappointment I am feeling!
What aTOTAL letdown. …OMG
We end up with NOTHING and NOBODY for the free agency.
No power forward. . no. Dman.
Just cap space.
What the hell…I don’t get it.

[Reply]
master_pain says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:00 am

Kvi or not, the real problem is DL. His reputation is so bad around the league with players, we wont be able to keep or attract new ufa’s if he keeps his job.

[Reply]
Miller29 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:00 am

Way to go Queens!! How about a redesigned jersey: pink background with a tiara on top of a carnation as the crest? Oil up the sprockets on the wheel chairs for incoming players.

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:01 am

Just **@*@&* lovely!! Deano you should take a lesson from Lou, we haven’t done squat this off season!!! Looks like our one year in the playoffs were fun and short lived. The failure to sign Kovi will be Deano’s demise. The last year has been a fantastic ride, but it sure feels like we have hit the wall on this one…..can’t wait to see who we sign next? In Dean we trust???

[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:09 am
FIRE Dean!!!!

[Reply]
concussionman02 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:01 am

Lie-Weekly got involved and this is the result. I can’t believe the people saying the if we had signed Kovi we may have lost Simmonds or some other young unproven player. Really!!! I love Simmonds but I would not only trade him, I would buy him a new house in the city he in going to for a proven 50 goal scorer.

So what now? We tade Broken Bones Williams for keep your head up Gagne. Seriously, that’s the solution? Or what we resign Frolov, a guy who only gave 50% effort, 50% of the time.

This is just billshit and the people who are ok with it are jackasses and AEG loves you for it.

There are teams that want to win no matter what and there are teams that say they want to win but don’t have the brains and balls to make it happen. The players know who is in it to win and who is just blowing smoke.

Devils = Proven winners

Kings = Propetual losers

The choice was clear.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@concussionman02,

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@concussionman02, You said…

Devils = Proven winners

Kings = Propetual losers

The choice was clear.

So why are you surprised the Kings didn’t get Kovalchuk?

So many sour grapes this morning…

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:40 am
@YES on 19,

The fact is I am not suprised. I have said I wanted Kovi on the Kings, I believe we need Kovi or a player with high scoring capibilities on the Kings. But I have always maintained that this is the Kings and they will find a way to disappoint so I will believe it when i see it.

[Reply]
Guy Number 2 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:22 am
@concussionman02, Really? Devils are proven winners? Didn’t work so well when they accquired the man last season.

People need to stop thinking the man is jesus on ice.

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Guy Number 2,

Fact: NJ has been in the playoffs 20 out of the last 22 years including the last 13 years in a row. They won the cup in 1995, 2000 & 2003.

Yes, proven winners.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:28 am
@concussionman02,

Kovy = Proven loser.

In his whole career he’s made it to the playoffs no more than Simmer has. And Simmer has won at least as many games.

How do you know what DL offered during negotiations? How do you know what considerations motivated Kovy to re-sign with the Devils? Frankly, I think Lamoriello would not have traded so much beef for a three-month “rental” unless he already believed that Kovy would sign on to stay. If Kovy wanted to stretch out the decision and field offers from different quarters — well, it’s a lady’s privilege to change her mind. He’d never been a UFA before.

But to badmouth DL for not closing a deal that may never have had a chance to be closed, to somehow believe that it’s the Kings management that’s to blame for not breaking Jay Grossman’s knee caps and forcing Kovy to play where he decided he just didn’t wanna play, is wrong. Dead wrong.

I’m tickled pink that Kovy’s not coming. Yeah, I’ll miss the speed, the goals, and the starpower. But I had plenty of speed and goals and starpower in the days of Marcel Dionne — whose career makes Kovy look like a second-stringer. And THOSE were the days when our reputation as perpetual losers really took hold.

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:54 am
@tuan jim,

I don’t know the details and never claimed to.

The difference is Lou will do whatever it takes to win and will no doubt pull off some sort of deal no matter what his current cap hit is. Whereas Dean, or should I say Tim, is never able to close a deal with a major UFA and will just make trades for bolt on has beens or injury prone players other teams want to move.

One team is in the mix every year and the other just made the playoffs for the first time in years.

This is the difference between ownership and management that wants to win and well…..the Kings.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@concussionman02,

I think Lamoriello’s OTHER acquisitions will have more impact on the Devils’ success than Kovy.

How many Stanley Cups has New Jersey Devils won since Vanderbeek took over?

I may be mistaken, but isn’t Lamoriello the same guy who didn’t re-sign Scott Niedermeyer? Who traded away Arnott, only to bring him back, along with others like Brian Ralston? Gee. Do you think Lamoriello would like to get Ralston’s contract off his back now?

Lou is legendary for replacing coaches at the eleventh hour.

I guess he does this because of his passion for winning.

And as to that “winning” tradition . . . the Devils have finished on top or close to the top in league standings for years. But for some inexplicable reason they have gone down the poop-chute in the playoffs, losing in the first or second round.

Seven years ago they won the Stanley Cup. Since then, they’ve become the San Jose Sharks of the eastern conference.

YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@tuan jim, Simmer has only made it to the playoffs once, so he’s still one behind Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:02 am
@YES on 19,

And in that one time Simmer’s won twice as many games as Kovalchuk.

Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:44 am
@concussionman02,

I have to admit, this post made me chuckle pretty good

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:02 am

Well, everyone wants to know the reason why???? Take a look at this.
“Ilya’s excited to be continuing his career with New Jersey and knows first-hand the team’s dedication and commitment to winning,” Grossman said in the statement.

[Reply]
Carol Vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:02 am

I’m confused that they didn’t have an inkling of what it would take to sign him, thereby losing out on most of the free agents we could have used.

Not sure what to do now. I just don’t think Frolov is worth signing: you needed a homing beacon to find him in large stretches of games — I’d rather let him go and take a Flyer, so to speak, on Gagne.

What is most disappointing is how we are going to improve on our place in the West now? Have we solved our woeful 5 on 5 scoring? What about another D man? Kaberle is on the wrong side of his career. Hmmm, this is not good.

Instead of signing a superstar and making up for the additional expense with increased ticket sales (I would have spent $8000 on season tix — definitely not now), I don’t see the logic.

I also have no clue how NJ stays under the cap.

[Reply]
jammer06 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:03 am

if this deal is really 17 years I would loooooove to hear the conversation between Lou and the NHL when they look at the contract.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:59 am
@jammer06, Good point. I was kind of thinking this when the rumors of the Kings offering 13 years. Is it possible that the league does not approve of this 17 contract? How funny would it be if that happens, and Kovi has to start negotiating again, lol.

[Reply]
Dr. Gonzo says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:04 am

@MacSwede, The “Big Splash” in the F/A Market is what happened. Just like DL said. Except what he really meant by “Big Splash” was us In a 3wk tension filled migrane ending in a bellyflop! Plan B better be no less than Patrick Sharp.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@Dr. Gonzo,

LOL. +1 on your statement

[Reply]
art Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:27 am
@Dr. Gonzo,
I like Patrick Sharp, but getting him would mean we have 4 guys for the 2nd center position making 2nd center money and still no wingers. We needed to get the 1st line winger for 1st line money.

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:06 am

Here’s what pisses me off. It appears the Devils must shed at least $4.3 million to accomodate Kovalchuk. They are allowed to be 10 percent over the limit until the regular season begins. We didn’t have to shed crap to accommodate his salary, face it, he didn’t want to play here and if he did I’m sure he was being talked to about the history or lack there of the Kings. The last true sniper??? Dionne and Gretzky in 43 years.

[Reply]
Kinger says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:06 am

Why do people say we just need to continue to develop our core? News flash our core is what its going to be, good, but you still need a pure scores. Brown has been in the league 5 years he is a 25-30 goal guy which is great, but he is not going to develop into a 5o goal guy, Simmons he has been a 30 goal guy through his junior career and thats what he will be.Moller will most likely going to be a 30 goal guy. Sorry to tell you but you don’t develop into a 50 goal scorer (that just talent) and for that you have to pay top dollar. Its one thing if we just missed out on this one, but the kings have never committed to a high price free agent, not DL, or any other GM’s we have had. At some point you have to just say management is more concerned about soccer then hockey!

[Reply]
smoKING gun says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:07 am

Come down from the ledge my fellow King fans. Everything is going to be all right.
I applaud DL for staying the course and not handcuffing himself with a contract that could have haunted the organization for too many years.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:10 am
@smoKING gun,

Then why even go after the guy to begin with? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist with a law degree to figure out what the guy would be asking for.

You must take your Kool-aid straight.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:19 am
@Miller29,

You go after him in hopes that he’s not a just greedy egomaniac. Turns out he IS.

You must’ve already drank your bottle of Tequila.

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:54 am
@John, Show me 1, ONE, Itchy, одно Russian player who isn’t.
Mike in Oregon says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:09 am

I can’t believe it. EK said he was closed! DL rolled the dice and to me it looked like he gave it his best shot. You know he had to want this guy badly. I’m disappointed but think it’s a blessing in disguise. Where are my sleeping pills.

[Reply]
Barrie G says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:09 am

Can someone start a Lee Stempniak thread please?

[Reply]
ohno says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:09 am

Oh man I’m super dissapointed. Such a huge build up and a even bigger letdown. We better land someone decent. I still do have faith in the team. Its not over. DOUGHTY WILL SAVE US!

[Reply]
Tbone37 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:10 am

“I’m going to LA, I’m not going to LA. Fine, its 80% that I’m going to LA. Nevermind I’ll head to Jersey instead!” Thank God the “Decision” is final. Did Kovi at least throw a bone to the Boys and Girls Club?

[Reply]
Chuck says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:10 am

Go to Hel_ Ilya. Good thing your team is going to suck in two years when Brodeur retires, you’ll go into your spoiled brat mode all over again.

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:10 am

Why do I feel Royally screwed? I’m speechless…

[Reply]
MeanMrMustard says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:12 am

99 cups of Kool-Aid on the wall, 99 cups of Kool-Aid. Take one down and pass it around, 98 cups of Kool-Aid on the wall…..

I love the ol’ “win now” plan is stupid. I’d love just one cup! I just don’t understand the theory that signing Ilya would NECESSARILY mean we woul lose our core down the line. Ever think that signing Ilya and winning a cup would make those players want to stay in LA for undermarket value? Seriously…..how badly do our “core players” want to stay if we don’t win a cup by then? Now where was I?

98 cups of Kool-Aid on the wall, 98 cups of Kool-Aid. Take one down and pass it around, 97 cups of Kool-Aid on the wall…..

[Reply]
fg says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:12 am

The new contracts are really stupid and this is OBVIOUS circumventing of the cap. I can not believe that NHL is going to allow this. If they allow this one, why there couldn’t be a 100-year contract? What would be the difference?

There is one VERY simple solution to this madness: no frontloaded contracts. It fixes everything.

[Reply]
Barrie G says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:13 am

Shout out to Zach Parise:

Now that Kovy took all your cake, wanna come to the City of Angels and WIN?

[Reply]
NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@Barrie G, Good point, I’m rather have Zach Parise than IK anyway.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:14 am

add this to the long list of disapointments by the Kings organization. we just went from cup contenders to maybe making the playoffs this year.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@chuckrocks,

We just went from POTENTIAL cup contenders BACK to maybe making the playoffs this year…

Kovee Babee was NEVER a King.

Like LeBro, F#@% you, Kovee Babee!

[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@chuckrocks,
Well said!

[Reply]
Joe says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:14 am

Bring on Stempniak and trade for Gagne! Do something DL.

[Reply]
AK47 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

Hearing the contract is a nice one, that’s what really bothers me..

17 years, 100 million.. 5.8 cap hit, that’s a bargain, good work Lou! move a couple guys to the minors (Rolston) and make a couple trades here and there, they’ll be good..

On the other hand, we should sign Parise to an offer sheet next off-season

[Reply]
Matt George says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1TxiVhrkZA

[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@Matt George,
I predict that NJ Devils LW Ilya Kovalchuk will suffer a “lower body injury” on October 29, 2010, and will not be in the lineup on Saturday the 30th.

[Reply]
Barry's Mullet says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:16 am

NJ just mortgaged their future on a one dimensional player for 17 years…OMG Let it begin, everyone will say thats only $6M season and you would be correct except players usually retire before they hit 40 and this guy will be a grandfather before this contract is up. Nice move Lou, you won’t be around to witness the downside of this guys career and contract.

As a few others and I have said, plain and simple, players of this caliber don’t want to play out west. Its the NHL version of Siberia and as we have witnessed through these negotiations, Kovi craves the attention which he would never get playing in LA but will certainly get in spades playing in NJ where they won’t have enough cap space to sign the players they need to contend. With the exception of Neidermayer, no FA has signed to play out west….it just doesn’t’ happen.

[Reply]
HipCheck says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:16 am

How much do you want to bet that they try to temper the fans’ ire by announcing that they’ve locked Doughty up?

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:19 am
@HipCheck,

Actually, that would make me a very happy man.

It’s not so much that it would mask the disappointment. It’s that it is the wisest move, before or after Kovee Babee…

[Reply]
HipCheck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:45 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, I agree. I’d be happy if they lock up Doughty this quickly, but I’m a little annoyed that the Kings can never seem to land the big fish.

[Reply]
flex says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:17 am

..Refresh your memories.This is LA ..still the same. Nothing has been changed.after 40 years plus 20 day of musterbation once again..nothing has been change.
MR. Dl ,please stay in denver…no more excuses,NO MORE !! …You are no better and NO SMARTER then your colega in NJ…with no available room he singed and you (?)…what a shame..
There always will be some hidden insider on this board,who will justify (once again) your moves.To expensive…blah blah blah…
What a shame…this guy really wanted to play here.
And,please do not try to feed us with…Gagne or something like that.Stay in denver..
This time, team GOT MONEY and A PERFECT SNIPER ,UOR #one NEED,is abailababe at his prime….NO,this one it’s unacceptable!!!Do not hope for miracle,the best we can expect from this line up ..another first round exit.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:20 am
@flex,

There is no such thing as a perfect player.
There is only any given year’s perfect team.

[Reply]
Chewy says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:17 am

What makes it worse is we hear the news Kovi satys with NJ and still management has not said a thing…that amazes me more then anything….the fans and especially the season ticket holders have the right for an explaination….and still no word.

[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@Chewy,
I think a Breakfast with the GM would be what we now NOW!!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@Airwaves,

Oh God, I can’t wait for that…

3 hours of fans hammering DL with “WHY DIDN’T YOU SIGN KOVALCHUK!” questions and another 3 hours on his charts and boxes.

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:18 am

Tim Lieweke:

“(Kovalchuk) had two very good choices. NJ offered more money. Simple as that. We threw everything at him we had while leaving the cap space necessary to sign our kids. He is a great player and I am disappointed he didn’t come to LA. It was not for lack of effort or cash.”

Sure it wasn’t TL… Sure it wasn’t.

[Reply]
art says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:18 am

The guy is going to be only the 7th player in NHL history to score over 700 goals and maybe the 3rd to 800. It sure would have been nice to see him do that in Los Angeles. I guess a 5.88 cap hit was just too much for that type of player. I guess now we can find another Ryan Smyth type player who is in his mid 30s, who might score 400 career goals for a 6.25 cap hit.

[Reply]
EJ says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:18 am

Hopefully there is a lesson of perspective in this to all those who are gnashing their teeth and acting like their lives have just gone into the toilet.

[Reply]
LetsDoThis! says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:18 am

Plain and simple he wanted to the money…

Initial reports said the terms of Kovalchuk’s deal were 17 years at $100 million, though that couldn’t be immediately confirmed. Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ governor and chief executive of their parent company, AEG, said via email that Kovalchuk, “had two very good choices. NJ offered more money. Simple as that.

“We threw everything at him we had while leaving the cap space necessary to sign our kids. He is a great player and I am disappointed he didn’t come to LA. It was not for lack of effort or cash.”

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:20 am

the main thing that sux here is now we will have to trade to get some wingers. so we are going to HAVE to give up some pieces. I wonder what the contract he signed is. Enjoy NJ Mrs Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
KHenry14 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:20 am

Well, I do believe DL needs to state what went on and why this couldn’t be resolved. Clearly the Kings worked hard on getting a deal done, we’d just like to know what happened to prevent the closing of the deal.

Frolov is not an answer however unless he takes a lot less money than I think he wants. He’s been in decline for the last three years and clearly TM has issues with his work ethic. What makes any of us think he’s going to get any better at this stage of his career?? Time to move on…

And finally, this better not mean we scour the table scraps for fill in pieces. Guys like Jones just killed us last year, and we don’t need “veterans” like him around. I’d much rather have Hickey and Voynov gets their bruises with the big club than bide time with losers like Jones.

I’m still optimistic about the teams’ future, but I just wish I knew where we’d be getting better this year.

[Reply]
DavidS says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:21 am

Hopefully plan B involves firing Lombardi and selling the team to an ownership group that is committed to winning instead of doing nothing more than forever “planning for the future”! Hopefully, Doughty will see the writing on the wall and not waste his entire career with this “going nowhere” franchise a la Rob Blake before signing with Colorado and finally winning his Cup. You are a JOKE Kings!

[Reply]
Matt George says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:22 am

Ya know what takes the sting out of this?

Eklund being wrong … AGAIN.

douche

[Reply]
KellyHrudey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Matt George, Most of the media was wrong or was mislead….this includes Helene elliott who was reporting the final details were being worked out….

[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@KellyHrudey,

Actually that’s a great point.

I imagine the media in general is much more pissed than we are at this point.

They have to be wondering about how much they just got played.

[Reply]
SD King says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:22 am

Disappointed but happy it’s over with. Lets sign Parise next year when the Devils can’t afford to resign him. Were probably looking at a Gagne or SavAd ( savard) signing at some point:

[Reply]
KOHO says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:24 am

Now every team’s management knows that the Kings won’t go overboard to sign one player are going to get railed next year when Doughty’s contract comes up.

Just watch, a guy like Doughty will command 8 to 9+ million easy and someone is going to rake the Kings over the coals. Especially if he has another great season and wins best defenseman at the NHL awards.

I can hear it already from AEG… Our “core” is more important than one player?!

[Reply]
carol vadnais Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@KOHO, You mean the “core” (minus a few players) that finished sixth and couldn’t generate anything 5 on 5?

[Reply]
KOHO Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@carol vadnais,

Obviously we have trouble scoring 5 and 5 and will still have trouble scoring 5 on 3 without IK.

The Kings if push comes to shove won’t sign Doughty is my point.

They just had the spotlight of the hockey world for the past 2.5 weeks and we blew it and everyone knows it..

[Reply]
Token says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:25 am

I wonder how his wife feels about this?

[Reply]
Lordmasterdeath says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:25 am

Well, now maybe the kings can actually sign someone that will play this season and not sit in the minors. Kovafail was a waste of time. Who in their right mind would sign on a team that’s on the decline? Marty has about 2 maybe 3 years tops left in his career. Congratz on your payday kovafail, and good luck not making the playoffs ever again.

[Reply]
bannedforlife says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:25 am

I am happy with the decision. I hope Frolov doesn’t look for six million a year now.

[Reply]
Kings Fan In Idaho says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:26 am

Obviously I’m late to this post, but I’ll add my thoughts anyway. Sure I’m disappointed, but certainly not depressed about this. It would of been great to have a sniper, and add some speed to the line up, but it is not the end of the world. Time to get over this and move on. I believe in this team, we were contenders last season and we can be again. I will always love this team and I’m still looking forward to October as much as I ever was.
Go Kings!
And thanks Rich for putting up with all of our

[Reply]
robocop says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:26 am

Here’s to next off-season’s crop of UFAs! Can’t wait to see who we won’t sign in 2011!

[Reply]
Kings Fan Since72 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:27 am

Whats wrong with you Kings fans? DL and TM do not like Frolov. He wont be back period. I wish the Kings would have snagged some of the Chicago players that were let go, I think DL blew that by wating for the so called prize that Kovy was. He will still suck in NJ and never win anything, better for the Kings.

I’d take Gagne, Sharp, or pick up other UFA’s or go after Havlat in MN through a trade, the Kings are full of prospects and system players that other teams may part with a start to get them….there are plenty of options to trade and sign also. Its just sad that DL and LA can’t always find players that want to play here, but with the youth movement we all figured certain free agents would want to sign here.

DL better do something, and I am sure he will now that this is over, so be patient, lets see what other plan B’s he had. If he does nothing, re-signs Frolov or picks up some dreadful players via trades or whatever, DL’s days are numbered. I will take his spot and be the next LAK GM. My resume is ready.

[Reply]
Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:42 am
@Kings Fan Since72, I want Dean’s resignation now!!! Ship him back to the San Jose immediately…

[Reply]
dorky says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:27 am

same old BS from AEG, yea sure it was about the money but not like they can’t afford doing what NJD offered, Kovy gave every chance he could to LA to sign him and instead AEG is too cheap to make it happen.

it’s all about making money for AEG not building a true winner.

[Reply]
goldielocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:28 am

I feel so embarrassed right now. Who is laughing at us? IK? NJ? Sucks fans? or entire NHL teams and fans? Can Kings ever be a respectable team?

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:37 am
@goldielocks, NO, know we will be forever in the shadow of the Ducks stanley cup win, we just became the Cubs “sorry Rich” and the Clippers. I feel like crying.

[Reply]
aklemen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:46 am
@goldielocks, By now whole world, it’s sports news of the day! Here in Europe we are also in shock! They all things were play Devils played low and quiet! And won big time! We will see if it’s right move!

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:29 am

If Im DL im going after Parise. Simmonds + Hickey + pick + whatever. Get it done

[Reply]
jefe43 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:29 am

How old will you be in 17 years?????

I own a business and I don’t think I’d sign myself for 17 years.

You all spend other peoples money VERY easily. Sign a 17 year old for 17 years and he’s at the end of most players careers….

Over it. Moving on and going to buy my lottery ticket – because Kovalchuck just won the lottery and somebody’s gotta win…..!

[Reply]
variable says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:29 am

(soft harmonica test)…

the once was a free agent named kovalchuk…
who can do amazing things with a frozen puck…
he was offered a king’s ransom,
but made a deal with a devil instead,
so he can have more money instead of lord stanley’s cup…
(…and to tell ya’ the truth, we, here, in los angeles, shouldn’t give a…)

i love how all the dl haters out there are already assuming how it all went down….

how can you not believe that dl offered him what we could afford…?

when we get the real news…and not continuous “newsiness” from all the blog deep throat experts…(you know who you are)…then we can blog accordingly…

otherwise, it’s just more spin control and lobbying for one’s pre-conceived opinions and/or biases…

we don’t know what we don’t know…

but all we know is that kovy will not be a king…

[Reply]
Kwaz Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@variable,

Amen, hilarious!

[Reply]
Alex says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:30 am

I still trust Lombardi. The Kings needed much more than a sniper. Forty goals would be nice, but shoring up some of our weaker points, adding some grit, and trusting in our young guns will be much better. I never expected Kovalchuk to be in a Kings jersey, but now the Devils are in hot water. For whatever he signed for, the Devils will need to shed cap space. He made a mistake, in my opinion, Ilya is going to an aging team, with questionable goal-tending in the next few years, and now we have secured Doughty, and our other young stars. I like it, stay positive Kings fans! We shall be laughing when Kovalchuk is watching Brown lift the cup, on his TV in Miami.

[Reply]
kq949 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:30 am

Dean getting called out!

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/07/19/six-thoughts-on-ilya-kovalchuk-staying-in-new-jersey/

[Reply]
Mark says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:31 am

It really is this simple:

NJ signs Volchenkov and Kovalchuk = Winners
Kings sign and or trade for B level players / More “Philly” guys = Losers

This was the Kings year to do get it done. At some point you have to put up the money to make your team better. They needed to do WHATEVER it took to get Kovi.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:39 am
@Mark,

As in, destroy the future! Nice, gotta love some of you GMs.

[Reply]
kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:29 am
@John, Destroy what future? Kovi is proven and our “future” isn’t. What is so tough about being good NOW. What if the kids don’t pan out? Another rebuild?

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:31 am

Thankfully, none of us are GMs although we like to play the part. If we were, the Kings would look a lot different with absolutely no money to spend. I’m sure Deano did (or didn’t do) what he had to do to keep the team financially intact and the core guys together for the next decade or so. Yes, Kovi (Grosssman) jerked us around, but who doesn’t in the world of sports? I’m disappointed too, but hey, it is what it is. Who’s to say he signs that big contract with the Devils and then gets a career ending injury? You just never know. I’m just sayin……

[Reply]
Masked Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
@Goring 19,
Its almost like he used us for a free summer vacation and a tour of Staples. What are we? A time share promotion? Screw Kovaljunk. Lets get somebody who plays for the team and not for himself.

[Reply]
Jammers says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:32 am

The Kings absolutely cannot win without a front-line scorer like IK. Here’s to another year of making an early exit from the playoffs.

If the Kings decide to re-sign Frolov, I’m officially retiring my McSorely jersey and becoming a Ducks fan.

[Reply]
kingfletch says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:32 am

Well the kings had better not trade or loss any of their young players now, cause thats the reason they didnt sign Kovalchuk. If they fail to resign anyone now they will be hearing about it for sure.

[Reply]
kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:30 am
@kingfletch, What if those players want to start being on a contending team like Kovi does? What happens when Kopitar wants to make a run for the cup?

[Reply]
hockeysureshot Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:41 am
@kingfletch, You’re correct! DL didn’t want to increase the offer to Kovy cause of possibly losing some of the young core. If Simmonds gets traded for Kaberle, or a deal similar to that is done, Kings fans should be PISSED. My take on the whole situation is that we clearly need a top forward. If we signed Kovalchuk and were not able to afford Simmonds or Johnson I would of been fine with that. We struck out on Gaborik last year and now Kovalchuk. I really think the Kings could of made it work, cause our cap situation is really not bad with other players off the books next year. However, if it’s a 17 year deal, as reported then perhaps the Kings were smart to pass.

[Reply]
jim says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:33 am

Did any of you really believe that that the Kings owners would pop for talent? They have been lying to us since they bought the team. Looks like it will be 4 and out again come playoff time!

[Reply]
Who Knows? says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:33 am

Ima go watch Slap Shot and every time the Hanson Bros. beat the crap out of someone I’m going to imagine it’s Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
Bobo says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:33 am

This can only be viewed as a good thing if IF we resign Doughty and Johnson next season. No one here can say its a good thing the Dean passed otherwise we ownt be able to sign Doughty, why?, because we have not signed Doughty! It is still possible he asks for a lot or he just decides he does not want to play in LA. Until we lock up Doughty I feel we are in a bind. We are betting we sign him. I hope we do.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:33 am

Just wait until Juraj Mikus gets a hold of Kovi, its not going to be pretty.

[Reply]
NMKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:34 am

OK, without getting all emotional about this, let’s think about it.
Obviously, Kovi & wife would like to have made LA their home, it’s been reported.
So you know Kovi’s agent told the Kings what NJ was offering and asked if they would match. Deano & company decided not to match, too much money or years, whatever…Dean has a plan and I believe in it.
Obviously Kovi is more money driven than anything, we don’t need him on our team.
Just look at the UFA market in the last few years and look at how many teams are disappointed with their FA or have bought their contracts.
Lets move on…

[Reply]
King Lopez says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:34 am

Read NHL.com it was close it was a no-movement that stoped it. What now??

[Reply]
boom--boom says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:35 am

first I need to find out what he signed for, but if it turns out to be about 8 years for 60 million then the kings made a big mistake. Free agents this young and this good don’t come along very often. signing him is a risk, one you have to take to win a cup. If you’re happy to make the playoffs and lose in the first round then the kings are your team.

[Reply]
marty says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:35 am

Good decision. This is the first time in the King’s history that they’ve had a plan that included the draft, stuck with it and executed good picks. It’s hard to remain patient when you’re so close, but it’s going to pay off. There are trades left to be made and FA’s to be signed, none of whom are as good as Kovy, but should improve our overall team depth and balance without hamstringing themselves on the salary cap. Trading for Gagner and Hartnell and maybe adding a FA, plus adding possibly rookies Schenn and Hickey to the mix, and the Kings will be much improved and head into the top 5 team tier.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:35 am

Honestly, I think we will end up being better off. These crazy double digit years contracts are so scary, and they can handicap you.

I am looking forward to seeing what our next plan is, because I think that DL and co. offered the best offer we possibly could while maintaining a good overall team.

Gagne – Kopitar – Williams
Smyth – Stoll – Brown
Raffi Torres – Handzus – Simmonds
Richie – Lewis/Cliche – Westgarth/Clunatic

This is how I would like to see our lines at the moment

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@VanKingsFan,

Gags is going to TB apparently. And I would love to be rid of JW.

[Reply]
EmiAmi77 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:36 am

Gagne being dealt to Tampa, apparently

[Reply]
griddle says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:36 am

Jason Gold Jay_Gold_

#LAKings GM Dean Lombardi’s final offer to Kovalchuck was a 12-yr deal, worth $64 M. in total. #NHL #NJDevils

[Reply]
Stop the Puck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
@griddle,

if thats true we dont deserve him what a joke of an offer

[Reply]
the ol' p says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:37 am

So, what’s the cap situation for the Devils now? Will there be a firesale to clear up space? Parise to LA? So many scenarios and now we need to do something…

[Reply]
Scootty says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:37 am

Oh well, so he signed with NJ. Time to move onto plan B. Why are so many people against getting Gagne? I take him on the Kings any day of the week. He was a main player in that 3-0 playoff series comeback against the Bruins.

[Reply]
kingfletch says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:38 am

If i was a devils fan i would be pretty bitter, either they used the kings to up the price on the devils or he really would have prefered to go to the kings if the money was the same.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@kingfletch,

The former is true.

The only thing that seems (and, given the multiple twists and turns in the saga, I mean SEEMS…) to be true is the $100 million figure, which allows the Agent to save face, even if it is spread over a million years to reduce the cap hit.

The part which says, ‘If i was a devils fan i would be pretty bitter’, is very astute on your part. Much of this is about pride, and the $100 figure is definitely about pride.

Actually, it is clear that the person claiming to ‘Know Kovi’s wife’ was an agent plant. That person played this site, and is a great example of the dangers of an anonymous place to put comments.

[Reply]
Kuffs says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:38 am

I’m so frustrated, no superstar…..AGAIN!
And i’m getting really sick of everone whos defending DL att all cost.
I’ve used to be one of those people too, but c’mun this is not acceptable. We will never be an contender for the cup, if we never take any chances. Kovalchuck is problably the best UfA to hit the marker in over, 10 years and we had a prime opportunity to sign him.
But again, we failed, “keeping the core players my a**”. We can have one million core players, bt will still need a sniper, NOW.
You can’t be in an “rebuild era” for over a decade, it’s time to harvest the fruits, and take a shot att the title.

I’m really pissed on Lombardi, this time he’ve failed both the fans and the club big time. Why do we always have to go with the plan b scenerios, and never plan A ?

[Reply]
gralx says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:38 am

so much for the Gagne idea. Not that i was a big fan of that one either…..

[Reply]
DY says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:39 am

Thank GOD this is over and we can all move on with our lives!

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:39 am

Jay Gold:

“GM Dean Lombardi’s final offer to Kovalchuck was a 12-yr deal, worth $64 M. in total.”

That’s really insulting… no wonder Kovalchuk went to NJ.

Not only is that less than Mikko Koivu… that’s like what PARISE is making.

[Reply]
crashin' de net Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@Kevin Y, agreed. We passed up other UFA’s to make this comical offer? Beginning to understand how the acronym “LAX” fits the Kings mgmt quite well. Lacking seriousness, ReLAX home for retiring players.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:01 am
@Kevin Y,

Yeah, it is insulting ain’t it…how’s a man ‘posed ta put food on his family?!

[Reply]
Seattle757 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:40 am

I saw the headline and of course I’m bummed, but to blame this on the Kings is ridiculous!

Some of you here would have dismantled this team for one player. A TEAM wins you a Cup, not a player. Obviously IK went out there with a greedy hand. If some of you think that his addition makes them SC contenders keep drinking your kool-aid.

You so called fans can go across to the Pond.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:42 am
@Seattle757, You said my thoughts exactly. Ask Atlanta how many cups or playoff games Kovalchuk won for them

[Reply]
KOHO Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@VanKingsFan,

And how many Cups have the Kings won or has all the losing over the years clouded your memory?

[Reply]
bruin18 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:40 am

I appreciate the need and desire to sign younger players. But really, even if you could not re-sign all three of the budding stars, would you rather have Kovalchuk, Doughty and Johnson or Simmonds Doughty and Johnson. For that matter would not the Kings be better with Doughty, Simmonds and Kovalchuk even if meant losing Johnson? JJ and Simmer are really good players but there are others out there who would fill their skates.

[Reply]
Kevin A says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:40 am

I’m glad Kovy didn’t sign. You think a 17 year contract for a 27 year old player isn’t going to be an albatross at some point?

Kovy is the Lebron of the NHL. He’s not as good as Kobe (Ovechkin/Crosby) but is more of a primadonna and wants the same kind of money and contract despite never winning anything and never showing up in the playoffs.

I say try for Frolov and Modin and try for a trade that preferably doesn’t involve Gagne.

Just my two cents.

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:40 am

I don’t understand people who are criticizing Kovalchuk for being all about the money, like none of us have ever made an important decision based on how much more we’d get if we did this rather than that. Yeah, I know he’s a millionaire several times over, but I think they still make decisions much like we do when it comes to money. and if the Devils win two or three more cups in the coming years no NJD fans will care how long his freaking contract is for.

[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:55 am
@YES on 19, I just don’t see the Devils winning cups over the next few years. Didn’t they get knocked out in the first round last season? They essentially have the same team as last year. A lot of older guys too. Even at a point a game, I feel Kovi just doesn’t really fit into a defensive style of game. He would have been better off with an offense like ours. Oh well….

[Reply]
BigMike says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:41 am

A longterm contract with a NMC is tantamount to cap suicide. You have to be able to trade away that fatty contract if something goes awry. Well played DL.

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:41 am

How many draft picks did DL stockpile for the 2011 draft?

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@Cup B4 I Die,

And how many will be defensemen whose name rhymes with bort at the end of it.

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:41 am

BTW, on Oct.30th, we’re gonna boo ‘em every time he touches the puck, eh?

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:47 am
@Goring 19, Juraj Mikus will be waiting for Kovi in the parking lot.

[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@Goring 19,

Whats the point of that? We could just be mature fans and move on.

[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@Sebastian, ask Rob Blake about that one. Just blowin off a little steam about the whole situation right about now. You’re right though Sebastian.

[Reply]
HBshakes Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
@Sebastian,
yeah but being mature is less fun.

[Reply]
tim chaney says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:42 am

gagne and patrick sharp… kovy would have been nice…

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@tim chaney, Gagne to Tampa, book it!

[Reply]
john_oc says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:43 am

I got it! Pretend you had a stripper chick, really hot with fake boobies, but psycho and high maintenence. You go to her place of business, find her making out with some dude there. You tell her “hey what the F? ok you wanna be with me or him?” She makes you wait, and wait. Then in the end, she chooses the other guy. Ok so you gotta look at it like its a blessing in disguise. Yeah you lost a hot chick that looked good when your arm was around her. You made everyone wonder how you bagged a hottie, but shes really a psycho bitch that demands too much, an Effin Diva!! (kovalchuk) so you get over it and go back to finding younger chicks, maybe not stripper material, but they make an honest living and appreciate the small things in life. (kings) anyone thats been with a crazy chick, knows what i mean. Your kind of pissed, but your laughing at the same time, “shes your problem now haha” (devils).

thats my story guys!!! We dont need that diva anyway. philly and chicago made it to the end without Kovi. We need team players.Go DL

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:49 am
@john_oc,

Diva? Lemme have some of the stuff you’re smoking. Guy stands up for himself when hit, excellent scorer and great in the locker room. I don’t understand how it is with some people here. Lombardi never does anything wrong in their eyes….

[Reply]
Hockeysister Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@Joe Dirt,

Hiring one guy to make up a team is not Lombardi’s style, he builds from within. It’s a team sport, not an individual sport. Most likely IK wanted too long of a contract for too much, and we wouldn’t have had the money to sign the rest of the team next year. I, for one, don’t want to see that happen for one Russian player, I don’t really care how he looks on paper. I also think maybe DL and TL were getting played by JG to get NJ to up the ante, with no plans ever to go anywhere.

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@Joe Dirt, Making you wait for 3 weeks to make a decision, asking for way too much as a diva would do. Oh and hes a ballhog too, cause hes all up in his head, diva. Watch the highlights of the first round, hes waiting in his own blue line for the puck to come to him and lets the other forwards do the dirty work with the D, diva. He stands up for himself like a spoiled brat would after he gets smacked up on the ice. wah wah then a gay slash on the dudes leg. pretends like hes gonna drop the gloves. Hes a whiney little bitch that asked for more than Ovechkin is getting and is simply not as good. Just like a bitch ass diva would that thinks shes hot. Yeah shes got nice tits, but thats about it!!

[Reply]
Airwaves says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:44 am

I think the Kings shouldn’t have gone after Kovi in the first place if they were not going to even offer the $$$. Just teased us fans!

[Reply]
Doug D says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:44 am

For those that see 17 years and say no way….what the heck does it matter if we pay someone that long. All that matters is the cap hit. Cash is not coming out of our pockets. I see Lou L as one of the best GM’s in the business. He obviously realized how great this guys is and did whatever it took to sign him. The ‘young core’ theory is such a cop-out and total BS. You can predict the future. You can’t predict what these young guys will want in a few years. When an opportunity like this comes, to lock up a star for the rest of his career, while the odds are in your favor, you have to leap or else your never gonna get to the other side. It will never happen…

[Reply]
BigMike says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:45 am

What a nightmare scenario SO FAR this offseason.
Just … Wow

[Reply]
beerpucks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:46 am

AHHHHHHH to be a king fan!!!!! we all should be used to this!!!! good bless you MCNALL!!! those were the good days!!!

[Reply]
john_oc says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:47 am

Oh by the way, GANGE SIGNED WITH TAMPA, ITS OFFICIAL!! NOW WHAT?

[Reply]
Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@john_oc, heh, same old s**t man, same old sh*t. Figure huh?

[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:54 am
@john_oc, Signed? He is already SIGNED? Was he traded?

[Reply]
carol vadnais Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@john_oc, I FEAR we will sign Frolov. I have said it before: but if Frolov didn’t put out 100 percent IN A CONTRACT YEAR, why would we sign him now?

I can see this team finishing WORSE next year. Especially if we stick with loyalty (Quick) over talent (Bernier).

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:02 am
@carol vadnais,

I could see him signing a one-year deal with LA. Give him another chance to earn a contract with us.

Makes sense for the player, and for the organization.

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@Kevin Y, it must be a russian thing, but Fro was asking too much also. thats why hes still a FA after 3 other teams took a look.

Minnesota Kings Fan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@carol vadnais,

Fear? I hope thet do sign him. It would be a good move, regardles of what Fro-haters think. He’s a good player. We need good players.

[Reply]
regulate Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:48 am
@john_oc,

Gagne was traded to Tampa Bay today, not signed by them.

[Reply]
grubendol says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:47 am

fml indeed.

I just want to know wth happened. I just finished readhing a Yahoo article that it was a close to done deal for the Kings then this…I hope that this is another case of someone making the announcement too early.

[Reply]
BigMike says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:48 am

I am curious what kind of response the organ-eye-zation is going to have to this situation. This would be a time where terrible decisions could be made to try and get a star player. I hope that is not that case.

[Reply]
Cecilia says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:49 am

let’s move on.
if this guy wanted this much, we can spend that much on locking down drew and JMFJ.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@shades,

OH REALLY? Just watch!

[Reply]
Cecilia Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@John, shades obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about it. but it’s cool he WILL be proven wrong without spending beyond millions one ONE guy!!

[Reply]
cecilia Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
@John, thanks! shades OBVIOUSLY has no idea what he is talking about. but it’s cool, he will see…

[Reply]
beerpucks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:51 am

ahhhh to be a king fan………..we should all be used to this!!! GOD BLESS YOU BRUCE MCNALL THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLE DAYS!!!!

[Reply]
shaka808 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:53 am

DL better not blow it in the next couple years and lose out on the kids he’s so destined to sign.

[Reply]
Kwaz says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:54 am

Any over/under on number of posts for this thread?

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@Kwaz,

I’ll set the line at 900 and take the over

[Reply]
griddle Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@Kwaz, 600

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:03 am
@Kwaz,

666.

Anything else would just be weird.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:56 am

@shades, So long!

[Reply]
notposimatt says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:57 am

All you “fans” who think dean should have signed him no matter what what, what about when he turns out to be another bum the guys good don’t get me wrong but he didn’t wanna play here bottom line you think the onlyy thing that did it was a little more time or money ? The dude didn’t wanna play in la just like he didn’t want to play in atlanta . All you people who are crying now would be crying at some point if he was a king you’ll always find something to cry about its what you do, so either hop on board with us or go get on the ducks band waggon but warning there gonna be awful and that makes me happy. SEC 328. Knows how to party

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:57 am

The Devlis web page says Kovalchuk returns, KINGS web page say KINGS SIGN BRAD RICHARDSON………….wooooooo fricking hooooo

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@chuckrocks,

Hahahaha

[Reply]
Depressed Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@chuckrocks, I needed that laugh. Nothin says win more than that >_>

[Reply]
Mark Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@chuckrocks, hahahaha! That does say it all!

[Reply]
Chris From Scotland says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:57 am

Man it’s hard work being a Kings fan sometimes! I thought this was a done deal between the Kings and Kovy. I’m not too disappointed though because we made the playoffs last season without him and I’m sure we’ll do it again this season. Plus we’ll still have plenty of cap space.

It would be nice to see Fro come back, I didn’t really mind him but I’m not entirely sure he will come back. I don’t think Patrick Sharp will move from the Blackhawks. Or Parise from NJ next year for that matter.

[Reply]
JMT says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:58 am

Living in Chicago I have witnessed first hand what large contracts can do! For Example: Huet and Campbell. We do not want to dump core players in a year or so just for IK like Chicago has done and will need to continue to do. New Jersey could be in the same boat as Chicago next year and maybe even this year. Lets lock up our youth and not concentrate on one player. One player does not win you the Stanley Cup only the Conn Smythe. You cant drink out of the Conn Smythe!

[Reply]
boom--boom Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@JMT,
didn’t chicago win a cup? that is the the whole reason we are hockey fans.

[Reply]
JMT Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@boom–boom, Chicago did win the cup…..I would say they gambled a little and got lucky. They easily could have lost to Nashville except for some incredible luck. We have a great core to build around. Big contracts only hurt. Would you sacrifice locking up DD and others long term to sign IK, I would not. LA has a better future without IK than they do with. They have the prospects and players to acquire elite talent just below IK’s level. That I feel is enough for this team to compete for many years to come, not just 4 to 5 as it would have been had they inked IK. As I stated previously teams win Cups individuals win Conn Smythe awards.

[Reply]
bobo says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:58 am

@shades,

Hmm?

[Reply]
v918 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:58 am

Never cared about the numbers, money, cap hit…etc, etc, etc..I am a fan, not a Kings financial expert. I could care less whether they can afford someone or overpay a player and mortgage the teams future….I am simply a fan that supports a team by going to their game, listenening to the play by play on the radio, or watching the game on tv. I desire the best product, naturally, and thus hope they win every game. I am not absorbed with individual players, but I am with the WHOLE TEAM as a single entity. I could care less where they live, who they marry or even how much they make…I think that if someone goes to those extremes they should invest their extra time and efforts towards their favorite charity. I just want this team to win. We have been so wrapped up with caring how the transactions work that I believe we have lost focus on what this team is …and that is One team that has never raised the Stanley Cup. I think we are one of four (could be wrong). We did not win the cup with the likes of Gretzky, and his entourage from Edmonton, then what makes one think that one person could make us win the cup now. I could care less about individuals. I just wanted a winning Kings team. Why in hell would I care how much the Kings pay each player, when I only make a fraction of their income. To me IK would of been nice to have, but now we don’t, so lets move on. Think what you want about the Kings management, or be like me and don’t even think about them at all. When and if all falls in place then it will happen, because so far it has not. Wow, are we not one of four NHL teams to have never won the cup? My numbers might be wrong, but I know “the Kings” have never…thx, just my opinion. Oh yes, I am a Kings fan, no matter what all you Kings number crunchers and NHL financial advisors think! Go Kings…..I now have something much more important to tend to, and that is to mow my lawn.

[Reply]
gralx Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:15 am
@v918, kings, sharks, jets/coyotes, wild, sabres, thrashers, preds, blues, canucks… probably a couple of others too… but many more than 4

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
@v918, Glad to see someone keeping things in perspective. The sun will still set in the west tonight and rise int he east tomorrow morning and we’ll all (well maybe most of us) will still have friends and family who love and care about us. I don’t need the Kings to be the next Edmonton Oilers of the 1980′s, just to be competitive. For those of you so distraught over Kovalchuk not signing with the Kings, get a life! Hockey isn’t life, it’s just the best item in the toy department!

[Reply]
dorky says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

how can anyone blame Kovy is beyond me.

Kovy is a once in a decade superstar hitting UFA and the Kings let him get away when he clearly was interested in coming here… all because AEG is too CHEAP to pay him what he’s worth, instead offering him insulting offers…

don’t give me that salary cap and keeping the kids BS excuse, there’s always ways to dump salary and move pieces around, and they were not interested in doing a front loaded contract like what NJ and other WINNING TEAMS do for stud FA’s.

you’re telling me you’d rather keep a replaceable Simmonds and Quick over a Kovalchuk? You think this team is good enough to win it all now? Because this is “as good as it gets” by the time all those kids need to be re-signed… and then what?? Be happy with being a 1st rd playoff team for years to come?

Kings mgt blew their chance at landing a stud, impact FA that would take Kopi and this team to the next level and they failed miserably, all because they’re more concerned about saving/making money rather than building a true winner.

[Reply]
gralx says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

@shades, ummmm, upset?

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

@shades,

Ladies and gentlemen, this post is incontrovertible proof that we evolved from apes.

[Reply]
Hockeysister Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,

Must be a closet Ducks fan. Good riddance.

[Reply]
Minnesota Kings Fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

Wow. It seemed like it was going to happen with the Kings. Oh, well. When a door closes…

[Reply]
Carol Vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

Hmmm, something tells me Shades will have his post deleted, but is frustration is felt in a lot of fans who had their hopes dashed this morning.

Who is our sniper now? J. Williams? The guy whose turnover killed us against Vancouver and was benched? Or is it Frolov, the guy who didn’t out out in a CONTRACT YEAR!

I’m bummed.

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@Carol Vadnais,

Bring back Vladimir Tsyplakov?

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:31 am
@Joe Dirt,

You know, I always loved Vladimir Tsyplakov…

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@Carol Vadnais,

I’m sorry but Shades post is nothing to be proud of. It’s actually insulting to the rest of us that consider ourselves Kings fans. I understand the frustration, but calling out everyone (including this site) is completely uncalled for. If that’s the kind of fan you want to be perceived as feel free to join him in the the Ducks ticket line.

[Reply]
DMG610 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:00 am

Why does everyone assume it’s going to be so easy to sign Doughty and Johnson long term? Like they’re going to roll over and just take whatever the Kings offer?

Those guys’ agents are going to be asking for big-time money. Will the Kings decide then the demands are too high and they don’t want to lose their “cap space”, so time to move on?

has anyone thought of those two words…..PAUL KARIYA?

[Reply]
TopShelp99 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

What happened last time the Kings got a Marquee player? Um let me think oh yes they got Gretzky and they went to the Finals…. If the Kings wanted to win as badly as us Fans we would already have our Star player……. But the years pass and we still dont have that last missing element…. It seems as if mediocrity is ok with Kings management. they think just because we went to the playoffs we are satisfied with that…. Well I for one am not. We want only one thing, and that is to be a real year in and year out legitimate Stanley cup contender. Kovy is gone, oh well that would have been nice, but so would have Heatley, Gaborik, Hossa, or any number of other star names to just blow by in the wind. Oh well, I guess after 30 years of being a Kings fan I just need to accept that the Kings will always be the team who could never get it done. Thats the real bottom line. Here we go again.

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

So Kovalchuk is out. Gagne is likely already traded to Tampa. I’m beginning to not like plan B.

[Reply]
Orphios says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

Rich, I just let me 6 year old son read this blog for the first time (i have reading Rich’s blog for 3-4 years now I believe…can we get Shades BANNED…that language was downright appalling and pathetic.

thanks

[Reply]
notposimatt says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

@shades,
When your crying and blaming everyone else for what 1 player decided to do….. ducks fly together

When you don’t appreciate this team for where its going and willing to give it all up for 1 guy ….. ducks fly together

Keep trolling ya douche bag …. ducks fly together

Go kings

[Reply]
bamaking says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

Ah the joys of being a Kings fan! I need my PAIN lol! I think we are good to go without Kovi its just a loss of face when dealing big FAs that I don’t like. I hope it doesn’t show up as a problem in the future with our own FAs.

[Reply]
jammer06 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:01 am

Burnside is reporting 150 mill over 17 years? no way in hell lou was dumb enough to get himself an 8.8 hit for that long, if he was somebody put him in a home.

[Reply]
JackKentCooke says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:02 am

…suggested Plan B for AEG-hit the Devils where it really hurts-go sign Doc Emrick.

[Reply]
AZ King says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:02 am

@shades,

Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.

[Reply]
Minnesota Kings Fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

@shades,

Buh-bye!

Anyone care to start a pool to see how fast this post is deleted?

[Reply]
Elizabeth says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

No Kovy, No Cry

[Reply]
John says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

@shades,

Later man! Surely you ain’t jumping back on this bandwagon whem the plan comes to fruition. PLEASE don’t!

[Reply]
fourtunato says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

By January we will all be glad Kovy is with NJ. This is a guy who does not play a team game and is not a two way player.

We lose some flash but winning will make us all forget IK pretty soon.

[Reply]
Gizmo says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

I just have one questions for everyone saying that the Kings would have been a lock for the Cup if they got Kovi (especially those willing to dump half of the team for him)…..

How many Cups did the Kings win with Gretzky?
(He did play for the Kings, you know)

[Reply]
MacSwede says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

@shades, hahahahahahaha man!! Shit, you are angry..

I think this post will be deleted..

But nevertheless, I understand your anger, I feel the same way.

Now we seem to miss Gagne too….. today it sucks to be a Kings fan

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

@shades,

Tell us how you REALLY feel.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:04 am

EVERYONE REMAIN CALM!

Yes, even the ‘Stache is as bitterly disappointed about this as most of you. But let’s look at the facts.

Ilya Kovalchuk is driven by money. Period. This isn’t a judgment of his character or anything like that, but he clearly wanted to do a cash grab and get a nice juicy retirement contract. Ilya’s skill set is exactly what we need, but we don’t need the prima donna ego attached to it.

YOU CANNOT WIN THE CUP BY SCREWING YOUR TEAM’S CAP SITUATION FOR ONE PLAYER.

The Atlanta Thrashers had Kovalchuk for years. How did that work out for them? YOU NEED A STRONG SUPPORTING CAST.

Adding Ilya would have made us instant contenders next season, and to be sure, this probably delays our window to win the whole thing a season or two depending on DL’s pending moves. However, we still have an excellent young team and probably the best prospect pool in the West.

Is it disappointing to lose out on a big, sexy free agent signing? Of course it is. But I suggest you direct your frustrations towards the player who chose the Scrooge McDuck vault of gold coins over the opportunity to be part of a potential dynasty in LA.

GO KINGS!

PS: Thank you Rich Hammond for dealing with the headache that will be 5,000 teeth-gnashing, hand-wringing Kings fans in the coming days.

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,

In the ‘Stache I trust.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
@AZ King,

As well you should!

[Reply]
MacSwede Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, When I read your post I actually felt better.

I am really dissapointed that we did not sign Kovalchuk. I still think we could have made it without sacrificing the core. We would have worked it out some way by freeing up capspace by letting other people go next year (Stoll, Williams, maybe Smyth etc.)

Kovalchuk could have been a very important piece to this team, that is why I am so dissapointed.

And now, I hear we miss out on Gagne too. It really sucks. But nevertheless, you make good point in your post. We have a great team, It just could have got greater this day, but it didnt..

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@MacSwede,

Yes, you’re right, IK could have been a major piece to the puzzle. But I’ve always found sports to mirror, or at least be a very astute analogy for, life itself. Sometimes we have to deal with bitter disappointment, but the mark of a true champion is being able to rise above that anyway.

The cup will still come to LA. This is a good, dangerous young team. Ilya might have been the quickest path to the cup, but there are other ways to get there as well. GO KINGS

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, No doubt!

THE SKY IS FALLING… THE SKY IS FALLING… THE SKY IS FALLING!!!

breathe.

[Reply]
Stilts19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:04 am

I’m torn about the news. We could use a sniper and a big name to help the team and put butts in the seats. Having said that I really like that for once in the Kings history we have a GM that will come up with a plan and stick to it! Look at our history in the draft. Look at how many years we DID NOT have a first round pick because a GM traded it away. I do want to see what plan B might be…

[Reply]
RealDrew says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:04 am

@shades,

Someone forgot to take their meds this morning.

I’d hate to see your reaction when something bad actually happens.

[Reply]
kingssss09 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:05 am

im so glad that this is all over… i wish we couldve signed him but its not like the kings are done for forever… besides 17 year deal thats ridiculous… Dean definetly handled this right… sign fro but dont make and team changing moves… i think our team is good enough already… we cud use another defensemen tho…

[Reply]
fourtunato says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:05 am

@shades,

Petty pathetic. Show some class if you have any and stop posting.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:26 am
@shades,

C’mon man, can’t you control yourself even a little? There might be youngin’s that read this blog. Don’t be so immature for pete’s sake.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:05 am

could be worse, he could have signed in anaheim.

[Reply]
Puckster77 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:06 am

DL has done absolutely nothing this summer. He signed no one, therefore, now the Kings have to trade their youngers players and draft picks in order to get an older veteran (like Kaberle at 35 years old) that another teams wants to trade. DL offered Kovalchuk 12 years at 64 million?? Yet he traded Kyle Quincey last year for Ryan Smyth who makes 6.25 million/year. Nice job DL!!

[Reply]
Dave says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:06 am

Thank goodness – I knew he’d take the money over anything else. He’s not worth close to $8.5M cap hit. Thank you DL for sticking to your guns and playing this the right way. Nothing you can do about greedy guys that don’t want to win.

[Reply]
kevin from toronto says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:07 am

Everyone that comments on this particular post is either going to love the fact that the King’s didn’t sign him, or hate the fact that they didn’t sign him.

None of us are in any position for criticize DL. None of us are even close to an NHL General Manager.
Sure it would be great to have a player of his caliber on the team, but there are so many factors that we don’t even know about. I’m sure DL looked at every option to sign him and keep the team in a good position. Kovalchuk obviously didn’t care and is now going to live in a swamp as opposed to a sunny beach…

I don’t know about you guys, but I would rather have Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson and another 5 million dollar player than Kopitar, Doughty, and Kovalchuk.

I’m just glad this whole thing is over and hopefully DL was working on an alternate plan in the event Kovalchuk didn’t sign

Go Kings!

[Reply]
rocky3236 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:08 am

The deal for Kovalchuk could top $150 million according to the link below. Going by the 17 year rumor that’s making the rounds, that would be about an $8.8 million cap hit. If this turns out to be true, it just made me a whole lot happier that we took a pass on him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=5392170

[Reply]
Hockeysister Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@rocky3236,

If that’s the case, thank GOD DL and TL showed some sense in not signing this guy. At that price, we don’t want him anyway.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:13 am
@rocky3236,

Does Sweet Lou just figure that he’ll be dead by the time this contract turns into a complete albatross for New Jersey? Because if he locked them into an 8.8 hit for 17 years that’s the funniest F$&*ing thing I’ve heard all day

[Reply]
art Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,

We’ll all be dead in 2012 anyways. Dean should have given Kovalchuk $300 million for 60 years. He couldn’t have turned that down.

[Reply]
Matt R Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:55 am
@art, LMFAO!

Depressed Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:22 am
@rocky3236, I guess only time will tell and i’ll have t change my name lol

[Reply]
goldielocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:09 am

Let’s get Denica Patrick instead! (meaning I’m up to anything at this point)

[Reply]
rick says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:09 am

I am DISGUSTED by this whole affair. I believe team management badly misplayed this in terms of their public comments, and I can only imagine what happened privately. I will get over losing out on Kovalchuk – but will this organization ever get over its label as also-rans? This sorry episode is going to haunt us for a long time to come. It is no coincidence that Lou L. pulled this off for his team – a team that has won titles and is in the playoffs year after year – while Dean L. and friends are once again left holding the bag.

[Reply]
Mike says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:10 am

Quote from John Madden…
“He signed here for a reason — to try to win a championship. This organization has a good history of that, so you know he wants to be part of the team. That’s what I’m excited about.”

That tradition of winning likely helped New Jersey outlast the Kings, who were believed to be the frontrunner after making several offers and hosting the Russian star last week’s recruiting visit.

That’s it – plain and simple.

[Reply]
number 6 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:12 am

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34540-THNcom-Blog-Lou-Lamoriello-keeps-Devils-strong-with-Kovalchuk-signing.html

Article in The Hockey News about Lou Lamoriello. Maybe those who aren’t big DL fans shouldn’t read it. I don’t personally have a problem w DL (other than the lack of speed on the team… I do hold him responsible for that).
But Lamoriello is a very smart man and undeniably an exceptional GM. The rumor of a deal for $64mil over 12 yrs would never get it done for a player of Kovalchuk’s pedigree. That is less than the annual cap hit that Mikko Koivu got with Minnesota.
So I can understand people’s frustration, though I for one have very mixed feelings as to just How much I’d be willing to give up for IK.
Have to confess I’m less enthusiastic about getting a player like Gagne w such an extensive injury history.

[Reply]
SoCalHockey19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:13 am

It has to be said, F Kings management! Talks of getting Kovy, and/or Gagne…now both are gone?? PATHETIC!!! We will never win a cup, and it’s so frustrating. Oh well, no more games for me…not this year anyway. I need a year off.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:20 am
@SoCalHockey19, I feel bad for you. You will miss an incredible Kings team this year make an incredible run!

[Reply]
AZ King says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:13 am

Time to make a play for Bobby Ryan.

[Reply]
Depressed Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:19 am
@AZ King, Looking better and better

[Reply]
Count RockuLA says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:15 am

If it’s 17/150million then it’s time to break from tradition and put a nice offer sheet in front of Parise next summer

[Reply]
Jonathan says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:15 am

17 years/ 150 million = 8.8mil cap hit per ESPN.

All you people lionizing Dean Lombardi need to stop. There is NO way we could have matched that cap hit and retained Doughty, Jack Johnson.

8.8 million is simply ridiculous. There is no way our team could match that kind of cash. Kovalchuk is going to be lonely when the Devils have to completely rebuild their team in the next few years.

[Reply]
Leo4kings says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:17 am

The guy signed a 17 year contract with the devils. I read an article yesterday this was all about him beating Ovechkin on contract money and did not matter how.This was his ego and I am happy he is not with us. Someone this greety will not make a good impact on the team chemistry. But, Kings managment better move fast and start doing something special because we are just tired of all this misses and need something better than mediocare. Richardson and Clune won’t do it damn it. For the love of GOD, we share the same floor with Back to Back World Champion Lakers. Learn something from them. I am waiting….

[Reply]
nyck says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:18 am

Wow, the denial is prevalent in here. How many cups has he won, what has he done in the playoffs, etc. None, but guess what, he would STILL be the best player on the team. This signing singlehandedly would’ve shown me that managements so called “desire to win” really does exist. I think during the free agency period, someone should take over for Fumbardi. Is this always gonna be our M.O? Drop the ball, then sign Corey Elkins?

The same people who are criminalizing Kovalchuk right now, are the ones who were screaming for him last week. Yea, Kovalchuk reallllly sucks, go to Jersey and take your 50 goals with you! He fell into our laps, and Dean still couldn’t talk him into staying.

You may resume your annual float down the Nile, kool-aid in hand, courtesy of the Los Angeles Kings management.

[Reply]
Marbles says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:19 am

Bring back McNall! What now Lombardi? What’s your plan C? Kovy gone, Gagne gone, it’s a sad to be a Kings fan. WTF!!!

[Reply]
Randall says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:21 am

I’m reading all these comments from “fans” that have lost hope.

Kovi apparently signed a 17 year, $150M contract ($8.8M cap-hit) with NJ, according to @kingscast & Burnside.

Read that again: 17 years, one hundred fifty million dollars.

Seriously? Stop whining. The guy was all about the money.

[Reply]
vannuxforlife Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:25 am
@Randall,
burnside just took back that. It is not 150 over 17. This brings it back to the more likely 100 over 17. And if that is true, then the rumored Kings offer of 64 over 12 is a joke AND an insult considering NJ also had 60 over 7 on the table.

Buuuut… I think everyone should wait till they hear the actual numbers.

[Reply]
Thomas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@Randall,

7/$150 Is ridiculous. Enjoy NJ! Better hope he’s the next Gordie Howe at those prices!

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Thomas, Not seven (7), seventeen (17)!

[Reply]
Joel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@Randall, What a ridiculous amount of money to throw at one player, with a 2012 lockout looming and a possible decrease in salary cap.

I’m going to reserve judgment on Lombardi until after I see his moves to shape the roster, and when all the facts come out. There are still a few more months to go before the season starts. If the team just improves from last year and can advance in the playoffs, I’ll be happy.

[Reply]
kingscourt26 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@Randall, I heard 100 for 17 which would be 5.88/year and well worth it.

[Reply]
The Kinger says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:22 am

To all of those out there that are angry over this, relax. In the end nothing was lost. Kovalchuk’s choice proves to many of us that he is what we thought he was. He wouldn’t have been a good fit here. Sure he would have helped, but perhaps his other stuff (ego, character, drama queen nature) would have proved to negate his positive side.

Nothing lost and nothing gained.

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:22 am

@shades,
this post needs to go in the hall of fame of posts. i dont agree with it at all, buts its damn funny! ha ha ha

[Reply]
tContreras Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@kingfish,
I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME THING!
I give him credit for letting it out, i almost beat my dog this morning for christs sake! (PETA, dont trip,.i didnt)

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:23 am

Its funny, everyone Loved our team last year and was so proud of the lads. And now people are giving up because we didnt get Kovalchuk???

What about all the boys who have stuck through the thin times and triumphed! I am happy going forward with these guys!

[Reply]
jammer06 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@VanKingsFan,
I share most of this sentiment. Every years team is different, I liked last years team, will hope to like this one. Definitely prefer next years team to 4 years ago for sure.

[Reply]
Puckster Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:35 am
@VanKingsFan,

Frolove and O’Donnell are gone from last years team which was eliminated in the first round. This isnt the same team

[Reply]
Kingsfan83 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:23 am

Never wait on the Kings management to step up like we do as fans each year at season ticket invoice time. Finally an opportunity to commit to the franchise, and Tim Leiwike goes to Europe? All of the elements were in place to make the future now, and TL goes to Europe and hopes negotiations don’t disintegrate, and they do… again. We have the most promising core of young talent in a long long time, and Kovi would have made the Kings legit for the first time since 99 was doing his spin-o-ramas at the blue line. So sad, and so tough to stomache… again.

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:23 am

@shades, as Mr. Spock would say, most illogical. Rich make sure you ban this fool.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:24 am

I just got off the phone with Dean, his plan b is to bring out a new top line of Patrick Stefan, Jozef Stumpl and Jaroslav Bednar.

[Reply]
bababooey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:35 am
@chuckrocks, now that made me laugh. That is funny!!!!
thanks I needed that after all this BS

[Reply]
FU King says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:24 am

I feel like a scorned Cleveland fan right now. Oh well, at least we have the Lakers and the beaches.

Funny, from the beginning the $100 million mark seemed to be the sticking point. If the 17 year $100 million is true, that breaks down to $5.88 million a year. I’m a bottom line kind of guy and we all know, at the end of the day, the Kings had a chance to sign a superstar that could have provided the them with precisely a piece that was sorely needed. The young talent is ripe, but with the basic change to the roster from last year is Frolov doesn’t appear like he will be back. Nice improvement!

DL claims: “We threw everything at him we had while leaving the cap space necessary to sign our kids. He is a great player and I am disappointed he didn’t come to LA. It was not for lack of effort or cash.”

You know what, I was precisely a lack of cash! I’m tired of most of you defending DL unequivocally.

He’s made some terrible signings: i.e. Ladislav Nagy, Tom Preissing, and resigning Blake in 2006. He’s built a solid core of young guys (being amongst the worst team year-in, year-out will yield numerous top draft picks), but keep in mind the Sharks never won the Cup under his management…just sayin!

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:29 am
@FU King,

“I’m a bottom line kind of guy” = Give me the player I’m entitled to NOW, I don’t care about silly stupid details or the potential intricacies of a decade plus long deal

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:45 am
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, No stache, when I see a B.S. response / excuse for management’s failure to sign a superstar, I get pissed. New year, same ol’ SHITake mushrooms. Even if it was 8.8 a year, the team would still have about 5 million free and could used that to resign Doughty next season. Sure, it’s a gamble and their profit margin wouldn’t look as nice to T.L. and P.A., but from what I see the team is NOT committed to putting a Cup contender together.

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:55 am
@FU King, *could use that to resign Doughty

Potential intricacy of having a guy score 40+ goals a season would have been a terrible pill to swallow, eh?

Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@FU King, Actually I think it was the length of the contract more then the amount of money.

[Reply]
D B COOPER says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:24 am

@shades,

APOLOGIZE Now and we’ll take you back.

after we get, thru a trade, Savard or Ignila, or someother valuable piece to the puzzle with the assets we have stockpiled, you can only have so many players on the varsity, it will be too late and the picture will have become clearner: not clear currently.

you just don’t know who will become available during the season, and if that conversation has already happened.

[Reply]
art says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:24 am

LA signs Jaromir Jagr! Dean, Just when I think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this…and totally redeem yourself!

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:27 am
@art, ha ha ha, now thats some funny sH*T

[Reply]
vince says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:26 am

Tampa Bay just got Gagne, so much for that idea.

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:26 am

@shades,

Slowly step back from your computer…count to 10….deep breaths.

[Reply]
Mike Martinez says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:26 am

that does it Lombardi needs to go…i cant believe we had a chance to sign a big name and it was typical Lombardi B.S. get ready to be bounced out in the 1st round again Kings fans…they need to either re-sign Frolov or make a move to get Simon Gagne from Philly the Kings have done a whole great deal of NOTHING in free-agency bring back Eric Belanger or something…or better yet i hope we miss the play-offs and Lombardi gets fired im sick of the Kings being such cheap-skates

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Mike Martinez, Mike, I don’t think we ever had a real chance of signing him, the “name the price” turned into “gimme the years” AND the money. I’m almost sure he could take Lucs spot when the 6 years of playing was over and then another 11 as a sink-hole or money pit what ever you want to call it, it would suck.

[Reply]
Pug says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:28 am

And we lose out on Gagne, WTF

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:28 am

I feel like a mobster underling about to be a made man only to be taken out and shot in the head!

[Reply]
EASportsMgt says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:28 am

After reading some of the posters on here I am glad that the L.A. Kings are run by D.L. and company and some of these folks. It’s just ridiculous to read this stuff.
I mean you have people talking about how the Kings will continue to be a losing organization and how no free agent will ever come here or how the management team blew this and this is the end of their career.
Seriously it’s beyond absurd. Are you going to look Kopi in the eyes and say “Hey man sorry you aren’t going to win the cup because DL didn’t sign Kovi to a monsterous ridiculous contract” or will you look Scuderi in the eyes and tell him the same thing after he left Pittsburg to come here? If you are let me know when because I want this on film. Or how about telling Shcenn and Hickey and Bernier don’t bother developing into better players because we didn’t sign Kovi so we can’t win the cup, Oh and nest year don’t bother showing up because we are going to go through a sophmore slump.
The management side of things is not just about winning or losing. It’s about being able to win not just next season but the season after and the season after that. It’s about building a team you envisioned 5 years ago and seeing that vision come to light next year, one year earlier than anticipated. You don’t throw that out the window because one UFA who is really good becomes available. You stick to your plan. That’s how the Red Wings did it. You don’t do it like the Blackhawks who dismantle their team after wining.
This is not a do or die scenario. It’s a stick to what you believe in. If you think Kopi or Brown or Doughty are disappointed they didn’t sign Kovi you are mistaken. This is DL telling them I believed in you guys before I believe in you now. If you guys want to win the Cup you are going to have to work harder than anyone else and you guys are going to have to make it happen. They see it as a challenge and are willing to prove everyone wrong. I’m sure they didn’t think they would have to prove their own fans wrong though.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@EASportsMgt,

Amen to all of that. There’s some real numb nuts posting on here today, but I’ll give them a pass one time because it was kind of a bitter pill to swallow, losing out on Kovi.

[Reply]
src Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@EASportsMgt,

A big fat YUP over here. And ty for the good insight during the negotiations.

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@EASportsMgt,

Cheers to you mate. You said everything I’ve been thinking all morning.

[Reply]
scvking Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:54 am
@EASportsMgt,

Thanks for the post. Good job.

I know we have a difference of opinion on this site, or should I say a difference in philosophy. Some wanted Kovy, whatever the cost; others wanted him only with a responsible contract. I (and you, I believe, are in the latter group).

None of us are necessarily wrong. A case could easily be made to support either philosophy, I think. Getting Kovy, no matter the cost, MAY have allowed us to win a Cup very soon. And if that is the endgame AND if there is no consideration for what occurs in the aftermath, then I guess that is a valid argument, although not one that I agree with. But it is valid, and those who do agree with that are entitled to post their comments.

I don’t necessarily believe that we lost out on something we wanted during the long process to obtain Kovy. The players who we may have targeted signed elsewhere and were seriously overpaid, in my estimation.

I have stated previously that I want a long run of being a playoff contender, as opposed to a one and done strategy. We still have that, and I am thankful.

If the report is correct of a 17 year-150 mil deal, that is both ludicrous and assinine. How anyone could believe that would have made sense for the Kings is beyond me.

Thanks again for the post. Well done.

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
@scvking,
Thanks for that Bud, I really appreciate it and enjoyed reading your piece. And I agree on many factors you wrote and too believe that the 17 yr deal is ludicrous. How the NHL will approve that is beyond me and this type of precedent could be dangerous if they really want to protect their franchises as they are going to claim come labor talks.
However one bit of discontention with your post. You mentioned that those with a varying philosphy who believe that with Kovalchuk we could have won a Cup sooner should be entitled their opinion. And I with all my 1st Amendment friends believe they should have their say, however at some point you should be asked to make that case and prove why you believe that, shouldn’t you?
So I ask, how will adding Kovalchuk help us win the Cup sooner or ever as some suggest we can’t win it without him (see Shades post above)?
Has he won a Cup before?
Has he won the scoring title?
Has he proven to be a team player who will sacrifice self for team?
Has he taken a mediocre team and made everyone around him better?
Has he taken such club deep in the playoffs?
Did he help a better team (NJ) go deeper into the playoffs?

So I ask, how is everyone so sure that this guy was the missing piece? Who here can prove that without a doubt, Kovi wouldn’t have come here and messed with the chemistry of a young team looking to build on their first playoff, or that when he refused to listen to TM and do the things he asked of him (ala Frolov, and see comments on Kovi’s lack of defense) that he too wouldn’t get benched?
These are all variables that people forget. One thing is a fact. That DL built a team and an organization from the Goalies forward. We have one of the deepest pool of talented Defensemen ever, we have some young snipers who need time to mature, and we still have one of the youngest and most underrated core than any other organization. So let’s hear the other side. Make a case for why Kovi is that missing piece. I’m all ears….

[Reply]
mstar85 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@EASportsMgt,
thank you

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:28 am

The first 400 comments or whatever were our initial frustrations…

If the 17-yr/$150M deal is true, then I think we can agree we’re all glad DL didn’t offer anything near that.

The frustration then isn’t getting Kovalchuk, but wasting all that time when we could’ve gone after Paul Martin, or maybe Ray Whitney.

Oh, and by the way, THE KINGS AREN’T GETTING BOBBY RYAN!!! So shut up about that!

[Reply]
src Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@Kevin Y,

Well, DL offered a better deal to both Martin and Hammy and they chose elswhere

[Reply]
mrbrett7 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:29 am

I posted this before, and felt like getting lambasted, so I decided to post it again.

Right now, just about all of the current Kings roster have scored more goals in the playoffs, having played in less playoff games.

Right now, Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Quick, Bernier, ALL mean more to this franchise than Kovalchuk does…why? Free Agents are mercenaries who are either hit or miss.

Do you care to gamble on a guy who puts up great numbers during the regular season on terrbile teams, yet has never won a single thing his entire career? This includes international play, junior, etc.

Kovalchuk doesn’t have the compete needed to win when it counts.

I for one am ECSTATIC about this. Wasting 12,13,14 years on a contract worth 80-100 million for a guy like this who scores, sure, but does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING else for the team is not only a waste of money, it’s a waste of a roster space for a guy who actually gets the job done when it matters.

Stop looking at gaudy video game statistics, and start thinking with your head. If he was so good, Atlanta would have been perrenial playoff contenders AT THE VERY LEAST.

They weren’t, plain and simple. He scores meaningless goals, that is ALL he does. Take a look at Atlanta now, WITHOUT him. Look at their record WITHOUT him. They were one of the worst teams in the East WITH him, and then proceeded to just about make the playoffs WITHOUT him. Look at who they added…guys who play physical, and guys who play defense…I would put money on it that they make the playoffs next year SOLEY because he ISN’T there (okay, that may be a stretch simply because he isn’t there, but that team is GREATLY improved, and they didn’t need a guy like him TO improve).

But, asking some fans to thinks with their heads, not their hearts is hard, I know.

Yes, he is talented. He is talented when it comes to scoring pretty pretty goals. Please, tell me what else does he do that winning hockey teams do? The Detroit’s…the Pittsburgh’s? He doesn’t play defense. I’m not even sure he knows where his own net is. For a guy who scores like that to have a plus/minus like that is an utter embarrassment…and I hate that statistic.

Do you want to be Chicago? Win it all one year, and struggle to make the playoffs for another 20? I certainly don’t.

Think with your head people.

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@mrbrett7, yes I want to be Chicago, they won the cup and they still have thier core players and will at the top for many more years.

[Reply]
CupRun2011 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:58 am
@mrbrett7, Well said, and I agree…I am disappointed we didn’t get Kovi, but what if we did…for what price did the Kings need to get Kovi? With Kovi, we MIGHT go deeper in the playoffs this year, MIGHT even get a chance for the cup…then what about the following years…with cap issues, we might REALLY be looking like Chicago–CHI might have not lost there 4 core players, but they lost lots of their character players that helped them win.

[Reply]
JFont says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:29 am

Go sign Frolov now.

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

For all those fearing DL would go after Gagne, no worry, he’s been traded to the Lightning, The Philadelphia Flyers have traded forward Simon Gagne to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to RDS.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Old Time Hockey,
I haven’g seen confirmation of this on the net.

[Reply]
Skebo says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

Gagne to Ligthning

[Reply]
mbf94 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

In all honesty I don’t blame DL in this because we did everything possible to land him. The Kings went the extra mile to get him. if it is true 17 yrs for 100 mil then that is just insane. 17 years for 1 player at age 27? Yeah the cap hit may be small but 17 yrs??

But you have to wonder…. Hossa, Gaborik and now Kovalchuk all wanted nothing to do with LA yet the Ducks have gotten players like Federov, Niedermayer, Selanne, and I am sure had they went all out to get Kovi he would have ended there.

This will be year 5 of our rebuild and adding Gagne for a year isn’t going to change anything. Our team is worse than last year and there is no one in our system that is a legit top 6er (minus Schenn). We have a team that will finish between 8th-11th so our drafts pick won’t be all that great.

FYI there won’t be a superstar going in the UFA for a long time now and the next time there is one, the Kings will not be in the running. This and last year were the best chances.

But there are still a lot who wear the purple goggles 24/7 and think we will contend in a year or 2. Sorry but no we won’t. This team as of now won’t even make playoffs. Injury prone fillers won’t do squat for us. I still don’t get, why even go for Gagne when he only has 1 yr left? No way we are even close to competing for a cup next year so I still don’t get the point.

Another horrible day for the Kings as we miss out yet again on a top name. Oh and please, don’t even think about getting Parise. He is only going to be a RFA and even if he wanted to go somewhere else, you really think LA could land him since we can’t land any other top name? Get used to bottom tier and aged or injury proned players while DL is in office.

[Reply]
Justin says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

Why is everyone so bummed that we didn’t overpay for Kovalchuk?? He’s never won a damned thing in his life… Defense wins anyways… we’re set

[Reply]
luckyluc13 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:32 am

Thank you to Lou for ending this.I guess it was all about the money.I am glad we did not sign Kovi for a crazy ,stupid contract.17 years,$150 million.The Kings do not need to be held hostage by a money grubber.Thank you Dean.

[Reply]
RoyalPain says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

@shades,

You leaving would be like cleaning up the BP oil spill.

[Reply]
SouthBayKings says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

Ok, so now that Kovy’s gone… we need to go after Patrick Sharp and just re-sign Frolov to a 1-yr contract for the time being.

[Reply]
kyle says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

Relax everyone. Let’s see what the real numbers are. If they are as high as $150 mil for 17 years, then we were fools to think we could lock him up here. Pulling the trigger at well beyond sanity numbers does not make a successful or unsuccessful GM. My guess is Lou L. figured he had one or two years left to get another cup in NJ before Brodeur retires, and he was willing to pay a huge price to get that chance. But truth is, I have no better intel on this than any of the armchair GMs on this site, so let’s all go back to the jobs we’ve been neglecting for two plus weeks and see what else develops as the off-season progresses. And let’s find out where Rich is vacationing and send him a bottle of the best wine (or spirits-whichever he’d prefer) available as a thank you for putting up with all of us!

[Reply]
CanaianKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

I love how everyone loved DL and the organization until Kovi signs somewhere else. Who said we were the front runners? Some reporters? Some newspapers and gossip rags? Did anyone hear Kovi say who the front runners or favorites were?? The cry baby antics on here have been unbelievable for grown ups!!

So we go to another plan, likely one that will work out better. We can sign some core players in DD, JJ, WS, JB. Handzus and Williams become UFA’s next year. We have a plethora of young prospects and inexpensive talent in our organization. Teams are close to or over the Cap and need to trade players. Savard is reasonably priced at $4, Sharp at $3.9, Jeff.Carter at $5. Gagne will be staying in the east. The Devil’s have some pieces that might be useful, Bobby Ryan is possible. I agree we need a sniper and one of Kovi’s ability would be great. But he’s never been a winner, he plays no defence, he’s only scored over 50 twice.

For the boning we would of took getting Kovi we can keep guys, trade some pieces and put 2 or 3 better players in the fray now too..

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:34 am

Is the blog gonna hit a 1000 posts today? Or is it gonna crash? LOL Rich we’re waiting for your comment.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Goring 19,

On Facebook, we get texts sent to our phone when we have new comments or whatever…

I pray to God that Rich doesn’t have the same thing with this blog, or else he’d probably have thrown his BlackBerry in a volcano by now.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:35 am

Bruce McNall is rolling over in his grave and the friggin guy isnt even dead yet.

[Reply]
john_oc says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:36 am

you know we broke franchise records last year with our boys? 9 game win streak. 7 game win road streak. 29-0-2 when leading after 2 periods. 46 wins! even got to the playoffs! Did we do that with Kovi? nope…. slap yourself in the face and get with it!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:44 am
@john_oc,

Probably the best thing I’ve heard all day.

[Reply]
frustrated Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:46 am
@john_oc,

You are right however we did do it with Fro, OD, Moden, Halpern, Ivanans and Jones who have yet to be replaced. Granted the last three didnt really do anything but they still need to be replaced. What now?

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:53 am
@frustrated,

Schenn, Loktionov, Voynov/Teubert/Hickey…

I think we may just me going with a youth movement next year.

Unfortunately, if we do, aside from Smyth, we don’t have a lot of veteran leadership.

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:57 am
@frustrated, right the top 3 made more of the difference, but we also did it with an injured smyth and injured williams(which i dont like anyway) but do you remember all the line shuffling last year? its was spinning out of control. seemed like we didnt know what to do with ourselves. but guess what? most everyone showed up to play! and we pulled it together. Thats the integrity DL is trying to keep intact.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:57 am
@john_oc, And we got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, displaying an alarming inability to score 5 on 5. Are you really satisfied with incremental progress? We had a chance to take a big leap here, and came up short – again.

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
@rick, you know who else got knocked out of the first round? Kovalchuks team. So maybe hes not the answer. The better team always wins. the canucks wanted it more thats all. Samuelson was the kings killer in that one cause we had a hard on for those dumb bobble head twins.

[Reply]
D B COOPER says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:36 am

as i said earlier, let’s wait abit more to see a clearer picture. i won’t miss a 30yr old, injury- prone Gagne, and KOVI didn’t want to play in LA: read that again. HE DIDN’T WANT TO REALLY BE HERE. we offer a young team with talent waiting in the wings that are valuable pieces to get Parts. that DIDN’T impress him. NJ is not going to win the cup before us, pending unforseen calamities and bad decisions with our assests. NJ is missing alot of parts, and they are in an easier CONFERENCE than us. they have to reload. we have to make solid decisions with our assets and be patient. so we don’t win the cup this year, will it worth it if we add the parts and keep the young guns together 2 years form now, if that is what it takes?
let’s see if we add a good goal scores and a solid d-man without selling the farm. what if one of those is Savard or Ingnila(not likely, but Gretzky became available at the right price). of coarse Nothing could happen also, but Dean has shown he does have a Plan and there may be many different ways, some may take a longer route and need some time, to get to our ultimate goal.

i’m not jumping off yet.

[Reply]
King.Cory says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:37 am

Dang now I have to go take kovi off the kings from my NHL2k10 game lol an I was doin so good

[Reply]
Silence Dogood says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:37 am

Performance speaks. DL has not been getting the job done this off-season.

No Kovy.

Nobody else either.

He does not have much time to make up for accomplishing nothing so far.

[Reply]
Miller29 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:37 am

Just once I’d like DL to be on the positive end of a high profile Free Agent signing and not have to resort to stupid trades as a plan a,b,c,d,e,f,g….zzzzzzzz.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@Miller29,

So, you’d be fine with 17 years/$150M???

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@John,

Well, you can either sh#@ or get off the seat. It’s like bidding on an item on ebay where you lowball the item and hope it lands in your lap, but it never does. Why does DL bid on any free agent then? Word gets around quick that we are a cheap team and nobody takes our intentions seriously. If I was a player I wouldn’t want to play for LA either knowing what I know.
I’d play somewhere else and If I liked the beaches, I’d buy a house or condo in CA.

The further our failure rate goes on the further nobody seriously entertains us as a club to play for.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@Miller29,

Thanks for demonstrating your insanity

Tired Of It Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
@Miller29, Exactly….perfect

[Reply]
Mike L says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:38 am

Here is Dean Lombardi’s Statement to Helene Elliot

“” I don’t think it’s any surprise that it’s New Jersey. I think we were genuinely in it. As far as being used As far as being used or whatever, that’s the agent’s job….The disappointment mostly comes from all the work that goes into it. The job is to put the best deal you can out there that works in all quarters….In the end if you just say you’ve got to Lombardi: have him or pay whatever it takes you’re wrought with pitfalls. you put your best offer out. if it don’t work, it don’t work. obviously this has been a grueling process. but i certainly think what we put out there was respectable and pushed
the envelope as far as meeting al those interests. if you go beyond that you will pay someday in terms of this whole thing [keeping core]“

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@Mike L, Hey, Dean: STOP TALKING AND START DOING SOMETHING!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@rick,

Yeah, he didn’t do anything these last 3 weeks (<sarcasm)

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:56 am
@rick,

What, would you rather him have said “no comment”?

Helene Elliott asked him a question, and he gave an answer… his usual, long-winded answer.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
@Kevin Y, I am just venting…..Much talking, much spinning of wheels, but still no additions to a team that needs them.
tContreras says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:38 am

Helene Elliot has an interview already with DL,.check out her twitter..

[Reply]
Philly G says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:38 am

THIS IS EMBARRASSING!
I am depresses and I think we could’ve done better.
Bruce Mcnall was generous and would’ve have put the biscuit in the basket.
Even if he had to inside trade to get the funds…

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:42 am
@Philly G, Yup, Brucey has a whole mantle filled with the Stanley Cups he won for this team…

[Reply]
brandyn says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:38 am

Gagne for Matt Walher and 4th

[Reply]
brandyn says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:39 am

Gagne for Matt Walker and 4th

[Reply]
Marbles Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:47 am
@brandyn,

Ya we could have done better than that. WTF Lombardi!!!

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:52 am
@brandyn,

All of a sudden everyone is complaining because we didn’t Gagne? Half the people on here were revolting with the thought of even bringing him here. Come on people keep it together.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:39 am

Five hundred posts in less than three hours…

–And the site DID NOT CRASH!–

Kudos to you, Rich!

[Reply]
KingsFan4Life says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:39 am

The hell with Kovi, I say give Fro what he wants and sign him long term. For the right price, Fro can be a much better player then what he has shown, easy 40-50 goal scorer!

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:39 am

Devils? What was all that one in a million talk?

[Reply]
Lloyd Christmas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
@chuckrocks,

Excellent!

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:40 am

I thought Petros and Money said it was a done deal and Money is huge kings fan??? LMFAO…
clowns

[Reply]
caheat says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:41 am

we should trade for Gagne
How about Parse and a draft pick next year

[Reply]
kings9 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:42 am

i have a question; what are the chances we go after bobby ryan i mean he isnt signed yet and why not he is a good player and unlike kovalchuk hes wanting money in the range of 25 to 35 million

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:42 am

Gagne to TB for Matt Walker and a 4th…

Can’t wait to hear the excuse why we didn’t do that.

Seems like a small price to pay for a pending UFA LW.

Now, I think Patrick Sharp is the player we should look at. It’ll cost more than what PHI got for Gagne, but I think it’d be worth it. $3.9M cap hit for two years? That’s workable.

[Reply]
Qmungous Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@Kevin Y, yeah then he’ll stop scoring on us!

[Reply]
Puckin-A says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:43 am

Plan A: Kovalchuck = FAIL! Plan B: Martin/Hamhuis= FAIL!! Plan C: Gagne = FAIL!!! Plan D: Trading prospects for players teams will part with= FAIL ( you do that @ the trade deadline not when teams see your failure to sign players) Plan E: Remaing free agents= FAIL ( only mediocre players left, except Frolov who TM & DL along with about 80% of fans use as a scapegoat to excuse a bad game by the team.) Plan F: Fire DL = ???? ( maybe another GM might of drafted a forward when he had 2 first round picks in 1 draft and used the first on Doughty,and drafted Hickey the year before @ 4th overall ?) Plan G: ?????? ( I don’t know , I don’t have any GM’s phone numbers)

[Reply]
KB says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:45 am

So no Kovy, no Gagne, no Frolov (maybe), no Ryan (I hope). Then what?

I don’t think Kovy or Grossman played the Kings. He came out and with the counter offers they were trying to make it work as well.

I was worried about him not playing well in the system. If he wouldn’t change his game and play the other side of the puck, if he took money away from our young stars, we may have dodged a bullet. Hard not to be disappointed though.

[Reply]
yobro Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@KB, Exactly. Do you not believe that if IK were signed by us and continued to simply hang as he does, he wouldn’t end up on the 3rd line as punishment by TM? See Frolov.

Go Kings

[Reply]
ike says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:45 am

17 years 100+ million

Thanks Dean for not doing being as stupid as the Devils.

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@ike, if you really think about it, the jokes on jersey, really? til hes 44 years old? hahaha, glad DL didnt budge. Kovis only really got 3 years left then there will be another ovechkin and another. I bet jersey never makes it to the conference finals with this money pit.

[Reply]
Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@john_oc, The joke is on you – Kovalchuk will not be playing when he’s 44, and his salary comes off the books the day he retires.

The Devils are just using the loophole in the CBA to their advantage, as many other teams have done.

No one is going to convince me that Kovalchuk at an annual cap hit of $5.88M/yr (reported terms of his Devils deal) is a bad deal or a team-breaking contract for a player who has been a 40 goal scorer throughout his career.

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@Phil, And what makes you think Kovalchuk will retire before his contract is over? Would you???

uh_no Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@Phil, His salary does not come off the books, they would have to buy him out or pay him the full length, and the cap hit will not come off till all 17 years are up. That’s $6 million of your cap used up by a retired player from about 2022-2027. Perhaps they are praying the cap will be up to $100 million by then or something.

John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
@Phil,

He will never score 40 again. And if he does, Jersey will be a crap team at that point…& the joke will be on HIM!

Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
@YES on 19
While Kovalchuk is not obligated to retire at any point, based on past experience it is unlikely he will still be in the NHL at age 44. At any point in the contract if he and the Kings came to a disagreement on his value to the team, the Kings have the option of sending him to the AHL to play out whatever remains of his contract (see: Huet, Cristobal) without it affecting the cap number. Yes, AEG would still have to pay him, but the day I’m concerned about a multibillion dollar entertainment company having to shell out $6M (or whatever the number is) to a player in the minors is the day pigs fly. I’m only concerned only with the Kings winning Stanley Cups; and as stated before $6M/yr cap hit is a good deal for a top-10 NHL player who has been a consistent 40 goal scorer; and does not severely hamstring the team’s ability to retain the young core players.

@uh_no WRONG.
His salary most certainly does come off the books in terms of cap space, which is all that should matter to any Kings fan, as explained above.

[Reply]
GOALIEFN says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:45 am

It shows me this organization is certainly NOT COMMITTED TO WINNING.

If they believe the current nucleus of players can get past the embarrassment of an other early exit, then I’ll sell my newly acquired season tickets on eBay.

DL pulled at the heartstrings of it’s fan base for 3 very long weeks–getting our hopes up while letting us feel a sense of euphoria that finally we may have a more competitive team that might be up to stand up to the likes of the NJ Devils.

Then somehow the rug gets pulled out from under us at the very moment it appears a contract was eminent.

Now that is fan abuse at it’s highest.

Ilya Kovalchuk knew exactly where he wanted to go all along, he just did not take out TV time on ESPN to tell us.

[Reply]
Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
@GOALIEFN, There’s always the possibility that the Kings bungled their offer vis-a-vis New Jersey’s; but based on what I’ve seen so far I also have to question the organization’s commitment to winning.

Based on the latest from Rich it would seem that AEG did not like the structure of the deal – with $11.5M being paid annually after the first 2 years of $6M each, and then reduced numbers toward the end of the deal.

Keep in mind that the structure DOES NOT affect the $6M/yr annual cap hit of the entire deal, so to Kings fans seeking Stanley Cups the deal structure is irrelevant. It’s only relevant to AEG, and AEG said no. Which makes me question their commitment to winning.

Ask yourself this: Is Ilya Kovalchuk at $6M/yr cap hit better than Ryan Smyth, at $6.25M/yr cap hit for the next 2 seasons? Further reason I question the organization’s commitment to winning…

[Reply]
carol vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:45 am

Matt Walker and a 4th round pick is all it took for Gagne? J E S U S!

What is Plan B Lombardi: go with some untested rookies? How are we even in the playoffs next year?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:55 am
@carol vadnais, Same way we got there in the past season

[Reply]
FanSince1980 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:46 am

We need a Bruce McNall type owner. An owner that is passionate about the game and wants a winning team.

AEG never cared about hockey or the Kings. The Kings were just a foothold into downtown LA real estate. Now that you have Staples Center and LA Live – do us a favor and sell the team. Hopefully another Bruce McNall type will get team.

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@FanSince1980, And McNall never cared about ethics or obeying the law, and the worse thing is that I read where he said he’d do it again if he had the opportunity!!! Scum bag!

[Reply]
FanSince1980 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@YES on 19, you dont get the point – the point is to have an owner that loves this game and is passionate about it

[Reply]
hockeyfanb499 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:46 am

I just want to meet them in the Stanley cup finals and beat them.now thats how you deal with this.

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:48 am

I’ll admit, I was hoping for Kovolchuk like most everyone else. But it’s done now…I guess that’s life as a Kings’ fan. Where do we go from here? I guess DL will have to do what he does best…make trades.

I’m no expert on NHL talent, but what’s wrong with Lee Stempniak? Is he worth 2-3 mil per year? Looked very good with Phoenix after leaving Toronto.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:49 am

Quispie may be right on this…

http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2010/7/19/1577004/my-first-reaction-if-the-deal

If a deal like this is approved, it will set precedent. There must be some limit to length of deal, otherwise 100 million over 100 years will soon be done.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Oh, and to add:

If this deal IS NOT APPROVED, where does Kovee Babee go to get his $100 million?

[Reply]
Joel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Quisp should write his next article about alternatives to the current CBA that can quell this kind of circumvention. I wish I could come up with a good alternative, but I imagine I would have to go back to school to become an actuary or CPA to figure this whole mess out.

By the way, has anyone ever seen Quisp and Jeff Solomon in the same room?

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:53 am

Sounds like the Kings and Dean got played by the Russian Sniper…

[Reply]
RJB says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:53 am

This is the best. WE “The Kings Ownership” lost a deal we were only bidding against ourselves…

HOW THE F DOES THAT HAPPEN? Nobody is better than DL closing a deal. AEG and LIE-Wiki are behind this big time.

Still the greatest ever. Kovy has to pick one contract from the below offers.

A) Los Angeles
B) KINGS
C) Los Angeles Kings

Winner: Devils

[Reply]
john_oc Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@RJB, how is jersey the winners?? 17 years?? so you would be happy paying him till hes 44? god some people dont know how to see the whole picture. Brodeur is gone in 2 years, then they gotta start to rebuild, they are gonna be what the kings were 3 years ago. speaking of 3 years, kovi is only gonna be good for about that long, then hes gonna start going downhill. I bet 100 bucks a season they never make it to the conference finals!! good job DL, some people dont see it from your side.

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:55 am

People the guy has not proven ANYTHING! What has he won? he is not worth the money, now if he accomplished something maybe…but what has he done?

[Reply]
Action Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
@Forecheck!,

He has achieved a career playoff record of 1-8.

[Reply]
Jorgen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
@Forecheck!, he has signed a $100 milion contract. He will have his place in the history books for that feat…until the signing of Jack Johnson, of course
That’s what he has accomplished today.

[Reply]
just a gigolo says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:55 am

@shades, I feel your pain.I just want to let you know that I was done with this team about 5 years ago.
I still follow this team and watch them but this ownership does not get a dime of my money,
I would have come back if they had signed Kovi but I have known this for a long time that this ownership will not spend the money and that is just a fact.
Welcome to the club.
The club is made of people who will not give a penny to this ownership.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@just a gigolo,

Dude,gigolo, really? Did you see what he signed for? We made a strong offer. Another team decided to SERIOUSLY overpay him. We did the right thing by sticking to our guns. No player is worth dumping half the team for.

Nice job DL. Way to have the balls to do what’s right.

[Reply]
UglyinLA says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:56 am

17 YEARS ?!!? WTF. The average length of marriage in the US before divorce is only 8 years. What if we hated Kovy after 3 years, we are stuck with him for another 14.

All these people lamenting over losing the deal need to step off the bandwagon and make room for those of us who are happy the deal fell through.

[Reply]
friarking says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:57 am

This probably opens up interest in Frolov, AND hopefully now the rest of the league will start signing some FA’s. It’s been pretty uneventful.

[Reply]
Michael_DD8 says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Lets nab Patrick sharp, hes one of my favorite players outside of the kings, get that top four d man, maybe add some old depth (Gagne wouldve been nice, maybe savard?) and show everyone that we are still cup contenders with or without ilya..Cause reality is, we still are.

ILYA kovalchuk isnt the cup himself, we will live without

[Reply]
Joel says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:01 pm

What doesn’t make sense to me is that Kings fans are calling like crazy to cancel their season tickets after enduring a decade worth of misery, just a few months after their playoff drought finally ended.

I guess fans have the right to voice their displeasure by canceling their season tickets, but it seems a bit impulsive to me.

I’ve made it this far with the team, and I’m still a Kings fan who will support the club even though this offseason has not been a good one so far.

[Reply]
New York Kings Fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:02 pm

Plan A- Kovi- no
Plan B- Gagne-no

On to plan C. Trade anyway the same young kids that the Kings would have had to give up to sign Kovi, but get much less in return. Great. Fun.Fun.

[Reply]
KB says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:02 pm

So I guess I’ll be there on Oct. 30th to boo until I lose my voice.

Kovalchuk: “This fall, man this is very tough, I’m going to take my talents to New Jersey.”

[Reply]
carol vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:02 pm

I have to say, if we could somehow get Iginla, than all is forgiven. I just don’t see it happening and I’m worried that we will rely on retreads (Calder, Modin, etc) or, worse, overpay for Fro, and end up in 10th this year.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
@carol vadnais, Iginla would be SOLID. But I dont think he is going anywhere after Calgary brought in Jokinen and Tanguay to play with him

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:02 pm

I know no one wants to hear this, but we are in good shape. I actually wanted the Kings to sign a #4 D-man more than Kovi. Kovi was overpriced and anyone than knows hockey knows by about 3 mil/yr. This is what I am looking at even without a big offseason signing. The rest of the Division has gotten weaker. We may win the division and pick up the last piece or two at the trade deadline. What this negotiation told me is DL feels we are close enough to over spend a little, but not alot. We have lost Jones, OD, and Fro and according to most posts that is whats been holding us back. I disagree with the Fro & OD bashing, but now we will see if the prospects everyone is raving about + J. Fransson – D from Sweden will pan out.

[Reply]
Mike in CO Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@luc20rules,

Overspend on who? Who is left at a #4 D Man?

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
@Mike in CO, I was mentioning that 80 mil/15yrs which was actually 76.3/8yrs is way more than DL has offered in the past and more than Ovechkin makes. I think Kovi at best is worth 8mil a year .5mil less than Crosby & Malkin(8.5mil/yr). NJ is paying 10.3mil/yr for 9yrs and the 10th at 6.5mil at age 37. I would call that overpriced. Second #4 D-men left K. Johnsson, J. McKee,
Ruslan Salei, Martin Skoula, Ian White, Aaron Ward, &
? Willie Mitchell (the best of all, but still recovering from PCS.) As far as LWs still there M. Moulson & Lee Stepniak are young, but I would try to get a 1 yr fix with a vet like T. Selanne.

[Reply]
Joel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
@luc20rules, I couldn’t agree with you more. 5 v. 5 scoring issues were a problem, but defense was far more concerning to me last season without a true #4 defenseman to pair with Jack Johnson. Too many people seem to have forgotten that Randy Jones was our #4 last season.

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
@luc20rules, I agree with you regarding the Kings being in good shape for next year, (though respectfully disagree about Kovi being overpriced, especially considering his age) but can’t help but be incredibly frustrated that the team has done NOTHING during this free agency. The young talent has shown they’re at the cusp of doing something great, but hoping things will get better via subtraction (losing Fro OD & Jones) is just silly…just ask the Dodgers.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
@FU King, I too would have liked to see the easier and almost equal hole filled first the #4 D-man. Randy Jones was a more like a black hole at the #4. He is more of a #6 that plays most of his minutes on the PP for teams with no PP Quarterbacks(That is not the Kings JJ, DD, Stoll). Even with that said there are still some solid UFA #4 D-men K. Johnsson, J. McKee,
Ruslan Salei, Martin Skoula, Ian White, Aaron Ward, &
? Willie Mitchell (the best of all, but still recovering from PCS.). You really think the Kings won’t improve with Bernier pushing Quick at the Goalie spot. Brayden Schenn with no big UFA will make the roster this year and has the size and more importantly the attitude that Fro lacked. J. Fransson from Sweden Elite League which is probably between the AHL & NHL in talent level dominated there will likely replace ODs or RJs spot. Most were saying Harold or Driewiske should take OD or RJs spot too. Now Muzzin & Desaularies is pushing hard for a roster spot as well. I don’t really think we lost much if you look at the production of the 3 players we lost. Of them all I think OD will be missed most for leadership, teaching, and PK duties.

[Reply]
MIke says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:05 pm

This was the summer we add some talented pieces to the team and take the next step forward. I will interested to see what DL does now.

Sniper?
Puck moving D Man?
Five on Five help?

Oh wait, we did sign 4 depth forwards……

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:07 pm

I saw an interesting stat the other day (from Matt Berry i believe) about our old boy Kevin Dallman. Apparently he has put up MONSTER numbers the last two years in Russia. I wouldnt mind signing him up for a year or two really cheap to be our 6th, 7th D man.

[Reply]
Michael_DD8 says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Not gonna lie, NJ is looking good this season now…anyways

Lets get Patty from chicago, nab a D , we will be fine, Conference finals fosure.

[Reply]
variable says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:09 pm

please repeat “17 years for $150 million”…

until you realize that contract is insane…

keep repeating it…say it out loud…it will help….

“17 years…$150 million…”

sounds like tiger woods divorce settlement…

anybody who thinks this guy is worth that commitment and salary…oy…(!)

that’s the beautiful thing about this country…: you can think to yrself anything you want…

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
@V,

I think the NHL needs to define the legal length of a contract. Call an age; make it stick. Without it, the NHLPA/agents will push to make the term longer and longer and longer. Otherwise, why not $100 million/100 years?

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

agree…

i can almost guarantee that the nhl will adopt a similar cap that the nba has employed to players with less than 6yrs of service…

you can count on it…

it’s the only way teams will be able to compete in future free agent markets…

and for those of you who don’t see the connection…look harder…(!)

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
@variable,

17/100 mil actually. The 50 mil is in bonuses/incentives. Cap hit of about 5.9 a year

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
@Traded for a Pick, Don’t bonuses count towards the cap, and incentives if they are met for that particular year?

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@variable, It’s insane unless your name is Ilya Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
Buster says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:09 pm

The only way things get worse for us is if we hear that Randy Jones is going to re-sign with us (instead of the Ducks or the KHL where he belongs).

I’m also relieved that this idiocy has come to an end, because I know that cap hit would have put us beyond hell if we signed him at that price.

[Reply]
Godzilla says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:12 pm

As a Kings’ fan, I’m bummed about not getting IK. I finally started letting my guard down last night and watched IK highligts on YouTube and allowing myself to think what line pairing might work best (Kovi/Kovi/Williams or Simmonds).

Although I bummed, I’m glad we didn’t mortgage the future. I’m glad DL knew where the line was, it terms of the financial impact, and didn’t cross it.

Putting the IK free agency in the past, it now seems we will need to trade to get better for the upcoming season. Just hope we get our dman and top six fwd that we’ve been looking for. The Kings are young and proved able (in making the playoffs at least) but seems like it will be a steeper climb this year. Haven’t sat down and figured out who in the West/Pacific got better (Canucks) or worse (Ducks) and where our chances are.

Would be great if we make the playoffs (and w/a higher seeding) and have a deeper run. Hopefully the Boys can use this as motivation. Get PisT!

[Reply]
Santa MoniKing says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:12 pm

Nice it’s over. The Kings didn’t take the gamble and they lost. Time to move on. Whether if it’s Free Agency or trades you have to give something to get something. We didn’t want to lose our core down the road so we didn’t get IK. Simple as that. If someone would have asked me mid season if I’d trade JJ for IK I’d do it in a second. But the fact is the Kings want it all and to eat their cake too. One of these days to win you have gamble. Just like in Vegas. I guess if you don’t gamble you don’t lose as well, but it sure feels like we lost today. Onward and upward. Hopefully a young player will step up a pot 20 goals this season.

[Reply]
pr0cess says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:12 pm

At one time i had to push for a thread to get to 500 and this sucker just exploided. well guess will see what shakes out now that this mess is behind us

[Reply]
marty says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:13 pm

17 years at over 150mil? The Kings would be insane to have given one player that.

[Reply]
Slapshot says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:14 pm

If the deal breaker was anything but CAP issues then it will be considered a failure of epic proportions.

[Reply]
gralx says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:15 pm

For all of you thanking Dean for not signing him for the rediculous dollar figure, I get where you are coming from. However, it should not have taken 3 weeks to figure out that the Kings cannot, that the Kings will not play in that ball field. I have no problem with not signing him to a rediculous number. Where my problem comes in is, it took us how long to figure it out? How long to sit around not signing anyone? How long to sit around not trading anyone? Look, if it was close to what we were offering, then perhaps, I get the wait. But, I don’t see that DL was anywhere near those numbers. Again, why so long to figure out that you were not a player so you could do something else?????

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:16 pm

Don’t forget people that this was a good young team that went to the p0layoffs and probably should have beaten Vancouver, and they did all that without Kovalchuk. The only significant player that was on that team was Frolov and he wasn’t a huge factor last year. There’s still a long way to go before training camp. Let’s see what Dean Lombardi can pull off.

[Reply]
mbf94 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@Paul From Oxnard, I take it you weren’t watching the playoffs then because the only reason we were in it was because of our insane pp numbers. Had Vancouver been able to hold us to a normal % on the PP, we would have been swept.

No way we should have won. We had almost no 5 v 5 scoring at all. Not being able to score on 5 v 5 isn’t going to get you anywhere in the playoffs.

As for even making the playoffs, we got lucky. With our current roster now with fillings the holes of kids or aging veterans, we likely will be in the 9th-11th place upcoming.

[Reply]
Slapshot Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@mbf94, <<<What he said. In the last two seasons how many 1 – 2 goal games did we lose? TOO MANY, and that is not a systems issue my friend, that is the lack of scoring talent. Plain and simple, I do not want a big cap hit with Kovi, I am fine with that, but DL TL need to bring in some scoring talent or the Kings will be a top PP scoring team again and suck 5 V 5.

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
@Slapshot, And so your guys solution is to throw a 17 year contract at a guy who doesn’t play defense? Glad you guys aren’t the GM.
Yog S'loth says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:17 pm

I think this blog has just totally shuffled off into irrelevancy. No info at all for the last 19 days, and none coming. This blog was awesome before Hammond starting taking a Kings paycheck. Now it’s the un-info place.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
@Yog S’loth,

Just join the Helene Elliott blog…
Oh, wait. She doesn’t have one?

[Reply]
GoKings09 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
@Yog S’loth,

There was info and the times when there was nothing that was because all of the Kings, Devils, AND Kovalchuk’s camp refused to comment or say anything about the negotiations.

[Reply]
sasKing Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@Yog S’loth,

Don’t like it? There’s the door.

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
@Yog S’loth, That’s not a fair shot. Rich can only report what he knows is fact. That’s what a reporter does. You need to remember that this service is provided to you free of charge. If you want pointless rumors and conjecture go read hockeybuzz.

[Reply]
tContreras Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Yog S’loth,
Was wondering myself, why i keep getting updates and info from Helene, and even others,.before seeing it here.
Now, i understand, as it has been stated, that if we think Rich is the #1 “go to guy” we are mistaken,…but man,.i thought everything Kings would break here first,.and it does seem like it is 1 update a day, of news we have already seen, and no hints or clues of inside knowledge.
The last 19 days on this particular site have been rather uneventful.

[Reply]
tContreras Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@tContreras,
….dont mean to harp on it.,but even the DL post Kovy comments were made to Helene,.
I was really hoping to see thosee words printed here first,.but again,.i know nothing,,

[Reply]
Fred Norris Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Yog S’loth,
Seriously? Dude, you are way off base here.

[Reply]
Kings For Life says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Forget IK, I say give Fro what he wants and sign him long term. For the right price, Fro can be a much better player then what he has shown, easy 40-50 goal scorer!

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:19 pm

It’s now reported the deal for Kovalchuk is more like 17 years for 100 million with that extra 50 being bonuses. Looks like a cap hit of about 5.9. Kinda stings again

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Dmitry Chesnokov: “Kovalchuk $102m over 17 years. $10m per year for the first 8 years. $7.5 for the next 2, from what I heard.”

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
@Kevin Y,

Yeah, ok now I’m annoyed. Sigh.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
@Traded for a Pick,

I’ve been annoyed for so long today, now I’m kinda just over it.

I’ve been doing this for three and a half hours today… that’s a long time. I’ve kinda moved on.

[Reply]
john_oc says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:21 pm

JOKES ON JERSEY!! really we lost? paying this half a fag til hes 44 years old?? haha. you whiney ass Kings fans, where is your pride and dignity?? DL is a smart bastard, keeping our integrity intact, do i need to show it again???? you know we broke franchise records last year with our boys right? 9 game win streak. 7 game win road streak. 29-0-2 when leading after 2 periods. 46 wins! even got to the playoffs! Did we do that with Kovi? nope…. slap yourself in the face and get with it!

Remember all the line shuffling when our semi-stars were injured?? we had simmonds and richardson doing time on line 1!!! thats a team to me.

[Reply]
flex Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
@john_oc, NJ is not joke,IT”S solid ,cup contender hockey club.
#2 do not try to impress us with a few weeks records…for the same period of time we have also some terribl records….look at 5 on 5 and 5on3 records.
for several years this team was one the worse in NHL,only one playoff in 7 years.It was easy to get some good drafts…It is not DL’s Brain work,
..if you have #2 picks …then you select Hickey(yeh,smart bastard,like you said)

[Reply]
Chewy says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:23 pm

WOW, Tampa gave up nothing to get Gange…what the hell is Dean doing…there’s nothing left…thus far we have made no improvements to the team.

[Reply]
carol vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:24 pm

For all of you in love with our “core” — remember, we might have to now trade some of that “core” or some draft picks if we want a top 4 forward. The beauty of IK was that were going to have him and KEEP our core. Now if we go after Iginla or Sharp or someone of that type, we will have to give up our “core” — and that is in addition to subtracting OD and Fro.

[Reply]
gene says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:24 pm

WOW this is bad. But I have a solution. Trade DL to Toronto for Brian Burke. Then we will get to the CUP.

[Reply]
Michael G says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:25 pm

17 years for $150,000,000.00? That is a sick deal!
And a very bad deal that the Kings do not need to make. It took balls for TL to stick to his plan.
Stay the course and we will be a great team soon. Kovy does not mesh with the Devils’ style of defensive hockey. He will be miserable there. I see him asking out in 3 years tops.

[Reply]
Ice Ace Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
@Michael G,

Signing Kovy Deal amounts to:

Kovalchuk $102m over 17 years. $10m per year for the first 8 years. $7.5 for the next 2, from what I heard.

[Reply]
kjchip30 says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:26 pm

I cannot wait till the Kings play the Devils, so I can hold up my “Koval$ucks” sign…and boo the hell out of him…GO KINGS GO!!!

[Reply]
flex says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:28 pm

We get what we deserve. Plan B ??? =Less is more.take a look at our 40 years old histore.Only once,Once only!!(god bless Bruce Mc Nall,one and only who loves the game,players and funs)
Nothing has been changed.
Keep the young talented core is BS !!! Remember this,
when the time comes and DD would ask for 7-8 million they would trade him.Simple…remember Lubo..Dl even promise him NO TRADE…and some of you (who are anyway)…in “dean we trust” (??) ..who start this.
why Niedermayers and Pronger come to play for ducks and this or that player don’t want be come here…BS !!!
The truth is AEG bussiness is good .They sell more than enough tickets..That is why ..”we” get what we deserve.
Who cares about a few loyal fans. This is not Montreal,we don’t have professional quality hockey menalithy.critsism…Money? yes,we have but that is not for “gready” russian guy,that is for our “bright” future….”we” also have free hotdog…man, you better try it it’s really hot…for 2010-11 “we’ will upgade our mustard bigger size and more hot(almost like russian) Back to reallty !!
Last year we had a few holes … speed ,5 in 5 , 5 on 3 power play was horrible….Now,even more even worse.. Forget Kovi…still need “replacment” for drago…westgarth is much worse than ivanans….I am 100% sure NJ is better place for hockey than LA and LOU is much much better GM than Dl….,but nobady ,nobady in NJ says in “LOU we trust”,they are busy to have and keep very good,cup contender hockey club for years.

[Reply]
givemebackmylife.... says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm

yes i am mad…mad at MYSELF for thinking this offseason was going to be any different. 17 yrs at over 150 million is ridiculous BUT it took DL 3 weeks to figure that out???? in the meantime Plans B – Y have already been signed, and as usual we are stuck looking through the “scrap pile” or taking a chance on a 35 yr old veteran whos better days were over 10 yrs ago but is cheap!! its been over 3 hours since we found out kovi wasnt coming and ive spent all this time trying to wash off the word ‘SUCKER’ from my face with no luck. as a kings fan i fell for DL’s BS hook line and sinker… “ready to take the next step… for the first time since ive been here we are looking to add blah blah blah”!!! we should have learned our lesson at the trade deadline when modin was the “big” acquisition. fool me once shame on you… fool me twice shame on me… for the rest of this offseason or any “MAJOR TRADE DEADLINE” OR “FREE AGENT FRENZY” DAY i wont be refreshing any web pages because when its all said and done…. DL has made as many moves as all of us put together this offseason and thats ZEEERRRROOOO!!! i dont need to refresh this page every five mins to figure that out, all i have to do is watch other teams sign these players and say theres another one we didnt get as usual

[Reply]
Richard says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm

I think the Kings gave it as good a shot as they could but the cap wouldn’t let them do it. If it wasn’t for the cap, he would have signed with Detroit, Colorado or NYR anyway.

He would have been a perfect fit and they wouldn’t have lost any players. Now they have wasted all of this time and there isn’t much left in free agent land. Maybe they can get Selanne, he can still put the puck in the net. Too bad he will retire or go back to the f@@@ing Ducks.

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm

I have been looking at all the blogs, threads and comments: KINGS FANS ARE PISSED OFF AND WANT THE HEADS OF KINGS MANAGEMENT FROM THE TOP DOWN!!!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@Forecheck!,

Generalize much? I’m not pissed off in the least. I would’ve been if DL signed him to the contract Jersey did!

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm

Rich Hammond is a company man or they keep him blissfully out of the loop…

[Reply]
tContreras Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
@Forecheck!,
I tend to think Helene gets first interview/info, maybe an ESPN guy gets seconds, and……

[Reply]
GOALIEFN says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:44 pm

The King brass abused it’s fans once again.

TL, DL and company treated us all like puppets as they toyed with the idea of signing a big name free agent. Not just any free agent, but the A #1 PRIME FREE AGENT of the summer, Ilya Kovalchuk.

For three long weeks they went back and forth–not giving out to much information–but enough mind you to get it’s fan base into utter euphoria at the prospect of bringing the biggest name to L.A. since THE GREAT ONE.

Everything looked promising–even the media had caught on to the hype and was slowly putting the Kings on the upper echelon of top teams–UNTIL THE JUST BROKE INTO A MILLION PIECES–with the announcement that Kovalchuk had opted to stay with the Devils.

As I said, that was out an out FAN ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel like putting my newly purchased season tickets up for sale on eBay–but I doubt I’d get what they are worth.

It just goes to show you the media cannot be trusted and Dean Lombardi has not swung a good deal for Kings since…since he worked for the SHARKS. He has not signed any high caliber players since he’s been in L.A.

The bottom line. Kovalchuk knew where he was headed the whole time and he did not need to buy tv time on ESPN to tell us.

[Reply]
Marc says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:46 pm

I can’t believe we got to 400 comments of wailing and moaning before anyone mentioned what Kovalchuk actually signed for. According to ESPN it’s 17 years/$150 Million. That is a ridiculous amount! The average is $8.8 Million a year and it won’t expire until he’s 44 years old! I know some will say do what it takes, blah blah blah, but can anyone seriously say we should have signed him for that amount? I don’t even know how the league would approve a deal like this since he’s most likely to be retired years before the contract is up. And how is NJ going to get under the cap? I hope this means that Zach Parise is available & we get him.

Obviously I would’ve loved to get Kovalchuk. And when I saw the headline I was pissed too. Mostly I was pissed that we wasted 2 weeks of stressing for nothing. And maybe we should have instead gone after Volchenkov or Martin. But DL didn’t fail. He busted his butt trying to get a deal done & unfortunately didn’t. I’m sure DL is more pissed that he put in 2 weeks of work & got nothing out of it. But the good news is that it’s over. And we’ll see what he does to improve our team in the next month or so.

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@Marc, Ahahahaha get Parise, are you dreaming???? You know that would take a few of our “CORE” for a trade and a 1st round pick then we’d have to sign him longterm which he would turn down to go back east to team who will pay him market value or higher.

[Reply]
tContreras Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@Marc,
There are updates.
100 Million upfront, 50 million in bonuses,.
about 6 mil cap hit per year.
Just what im hearing,…

[Reply]
Waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@tContreras,

17 YEARS 102M No 50M BONUS that would also count against the cap. The 150M figure that peolpe are throwing around is the amount he will make for his entire career.

[Reply]
mbf94 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@Marc, Seriously people. STOP THINKING ABOUT Parise. Do you really think he would even want to go to the Kings let alone the Kings being able to pull it off?

DL can’t land one of Hossa, Kovi, Gaborik, Drury, Brier, Chara, etc. yet you think he will be able to pull off Parise when he will low ball him also? Also to think NJ won’t retain him is flat out insane also.

[Reply]
henry says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:50 pm

bobby ryan.

[Reply]
HB Baller says:

July 19, 2010 at 12:54 pm

17 yr $100+ MM contract. This is what makes me worried about another possible lockout in a couple of year.

[Reply]
Romeo says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:09 pm

Hey Kings fans, Devils fan here. This whole experience has been a nightmare for Kings fans and Devils fans alike. We’re happy to have Kovy over here, with the reported cap hit expected to be around $6m, 17yrs at $102m. The ESPN article said that Kovy would have made about $150m in his career, including his time in Atlanta.

If that’s the case, then it’s a steal and it boggles my mind why LA couldn’t or didn’t match that number. As soon as I heard that Kovy was on a flight to LA, I felt like it was over. I like the Kings a lot, but during this whole fiasco (press leaks, tweets, fake reports, flights) I hated you guys.

Now that we’ve got him and I don’t have to deal with the heartbreak, I wanted to pop over here and just say sorry to everyone. Being a Devils fan, we NEVER get big names out our way either, so I can absolutely feel your pain on that.

But you’ve got a solid goaltender and some amazing youth working its way up. Hockey’s hard to stick through on days like this, but Kings fans are good fans. Signing Kovy wouldn’t have changed your fanbase, he’s Russian and hard to market like a Crosby or Gretzky.

Anyway, hopefully none of this comes off in a smug way, just wanted to reach out and say that we know this sucks for you guys and we’re not rejoicing in your loss.

[Reply]
gene says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Rich can you print a list of all the hazbeen, hurt, out of there prime, over payed players DL will got after now? He is a top of the line piss poor GM. What a joke.

[Reply]
andy says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:11 pm

screw him

[Reply]
MINAS says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:13 pm

I blame Rich for all of this! J/k Richie…we love you! Now give us some good news in the near future. Resign Fro, hes the more modest Russian! I would have loved to have Kovy on our side but we need to figure something else out.

On a brighter note, we may have the best AHL team since we locked op 5 scrubs for the next year! Go Monarchs!

[Reply]
mbf94 says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:13 pm

There was a reason DL ended up being a scout instead of a GM after SJ. There is no question he has a good eye for drafting players but as a GM he has been terrible. Year 5 on our rebuild will be coming up and already on our 2nd coach. He has made insane deals for crap like Nagy, Beachball Cloutier, McCouly or whetever among other Shark buddies.

Handzus was the only good signing so far but way overpriced.

Smyth’s contract is ridiculous for the games he will play.

Williams ehhhh we lost O’Sullivan who got waived so it is a wash but either way don’t need him.

Hossa wouldn’t even talk to DL. Gaborik went to NY. Brier didn’t want LA. Kovalchuk wanted no part in it.

He did great rebuilding but now we should have tanked him and let him go or be a head scout for us because this is where we need a GM who knows how to close the deals and get the UFA names.

It still cracks me up people are worried about Simmonds and JJ yet it may cost us one of them to land a legit top 6er. When in fact we could have kept them with Kovi.

Either way we have no one coming up in our system who has that capability (except Schenn of course) or even a legit top 6er spot.

Just like people say about Frolov. His past coaches all say he gave it 50% and he was a problem. Well all these players want nothing to do with DL and the Kings so do you see the trend also? Funny how the Ducks never seem to have a problem.

[Reply]
tuan jim says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Quitcherbellyachin, the lotta youse guys!

So the messiah went east. Not surprising.

In fact, it’s comforting.

And I dunno why people are fussing that we didn’t get Hamhuis. The guy wants to play near his home town. Should we have paid more than $6 mil to get him? If so, what do we pay JJ?

DL has made his mistakes. But he’s learned from them. What gets me is those guys who run him down for picking Teubert when he coulda had Meyers. Do they forget he took a lotta heat when he chose Doughty over Bogosian?

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@tuan jim,

I dunno, to me it looks like DL has NOT learned from any mistakes as he has failed to attract talent to come here year in/year out.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:26 am
@Joe Dirt,

Didn’t he attract Ryan Smyth, who waived his no-trade clause to come here? Didn’t he attract Michal Handzus? Didn’t he fish Scuds out of a safe nest to bring him here? Didn’t he take a lotta crabbing when he traded for Williams, who — injured as he’s been — is still better for this team than what was traded to get him? He nailed down contract extensions for Brown, for Kopi, for Drewiske, for Quick. Were these all “mistakes”?

Yes, we suffered through Nagy, McCauley, Cloutier (who was a hard-luck guy if ever I saw one), and Preissing. But every GM has deals like that in his past. Even Saint Lou Lamoriello has stepped on his dick and had to right himself afterwards.

In the long view I think DL has done a bang-up job. If ANYbody should have long-term contracts like the one Kovy’s getting, it’s guys like DD and Simmer, who are the real life blood of our team.

So if DL, who spins the dollar-to-value wheels every time he contemplates a personnel acquisition, begs off chasing a “star” that simply can’t live without making $10 mil a year — however it’s paid out to him — then I’m inclined to believe it when he says, “We tried as hard as we could, so long as the deal made sense to us.”

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@tuan jim, Ummmmmmm, I don’t recall anyone giving him flack about Doughty, they were calling him the next Borque that same day. Tuebert was an odd choice after Doughty, and Hickey the year before @ 4th overall . I would of traded up to get Luke Schenn, Doughty’s best bud or best forward available instead of a tough but kinda skinny Dman. However he might fill out and be a monster!!!

[Reply]
nate101 says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:17 pm

look like its over…it sucks we didn’t get him but its not the end of the world i know some of us are mad and upse.but what can we do we don’t own the kings even tho we spend money on our season seats and wanna see our kings win.i know i think kings could have offer alittle bit more money then it would have been a done deal.but DL is sticking to his plan.now whats next? trades probably but who and what are we going lose? and who are we going get?and at what cost.i well be watching in the coming day see what go’s down….

[Reply]
Phil says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Compare this offer to the one he signed in Jersey:

Kings offer: $80M over 15 years = $5.33M/season
Devils offer: $100M over 17 years = $5.88M/season
Difference = $550,000 per season.

If you think Kovalchuk will actually still be playing for the last 3 years of the NJ deal (at least) you are insane. And FYI – his contract comes off the books the day he retires, so the Kings would not have been obligated to pay the entire $100M had they offered the same deal as the Devils and he retired early.

Pathetic.

I’d regain some respect for the Kings if they offer-sheeted Bobby Ryan something like $5M/yr cap hit for 5 years. Even if Anaheim matched, at least I’d have some evidence the organization was committed to winning a Stanley Cup – today certainly makes me question whether that is their primary goal.

[Reply]
yobro says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:32 pm

Thank God it’s over. I’m pleased we didn’t sign this primadonna for what he hasn’t done yet. I too, believe we had a good team last year, and look forward to this season as well. I don’t even feel sorry the poor bastards in Joisey who will rue this day when their buyers regret sets in.
Have some faith people, our kids accomplished as much or more than IK has ever done. As for our lack of 5 on 5 scoring, I prefer to think of it more as our lack of 5 on 5 defense – poor goaltending(which ends up with all of our players playing too defensive-minded).This season with Bernier in the nets, just watch with how much more confidence our boys play.

Go Kings

[Reply]
Puckin-A says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:38 pm

I don’t get why people are bashing Rich???? I’m disappointed about Kovalchuck but why bash Rich, he has done a great job and can’t force Dean to tell him info 1st. Maybe he cares more about being integral than being first. Getting the job done right the first time is better than being first and incorrect.

[Reply]
Depressed Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
@Puckin-A, Yeaaa leave rich alone

[Reply]
Ryan SD says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:40 pm

OK… Let me get this right. We’ve lost OD, Jones, Ivanans, Frolov, Bagnall, Halpern, and potentially Modin. Lets weigh that against what we’ve gained. NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are you going to pull out of your arse DL? It’d better be good. What an embarrassment!

[Reply]
Waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
@Ryan SD,
Your missing the point, replaceing all those guys with better players is the plan, Schenn, Clifford, Hickey, Lokitonov,trades we will be much deeper for years too come. Frolov is the only one worth keeping. IN DL I TRUST

[Reply]
Ryan SD says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:43 pm

Can we ask for Matt Moulson back?

[Reply]
tim&jere says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:45 pm

I’m okay with all of this as long as DL stays with his plan and gets DD,JJ,and the other core players signed long term. It is a strong defense and goaltending that wins championships. Which is something we now have. Something this franchise has been lacking for a very long time. GO KINGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
Mark C. says:

July 19, 2010 at 1:59 pm

As David would say…”I.. is this REAL Life?…WHY IS THIS HAPPENNING TO ME?”…

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Stempniak is a very streak player. He was great with Phoenix after the trade, but did next to nothing for the Leafs before it. He had the one really good year in St. Louis and then regressed after that.

[Reply]
Roger says:

July 19, 2010 at 2:17 pm

Alright here we go Maybe free agents dont want to sign in LA because alot of fans are too busy texting than having a LOUD VOCAL PASSION at the games.If fans would bring as much passion as there is on this blog maybe things would change. As for resigning FRO good riddens no d, soft, dosent shoot until we are out of the playoff race. Kovalchuck sure he is a great scorer. But thats it. He really wasnt spectactular when it counted IN THE PLAYOFFS. I question his grit, and how he will be in the locker room.

[Reply]
bigstik39 says:

July 19, 2010 at 2:27 pm

well Lombardi, Gagne is signed in Tampa. YOU. JUST. (FRANKED) US. good luck finding a job once your extension is up.

[Reply]
Ice Ace says:

July 19, 2010 at 3:36 pm

And That Ladies & Gentlemen…

Is Why Dean Lombardi was fired by the SJ Sharks. Heck, the city wanted DL out years earlier, but the smooth slick lawyer dragged the Sharks along the beaten path for years. He really hasn’t learned to be a NHL CLUB GM.

The only reckoning I see is next year, when DL offers RFA Zack Parise a 50 year $200 Million contract. hardest working and Best 2 way player in the league.

This whole CBA/NHLPA/Owners and contracts are outta control and these front loaded deals, dollar cost averaging contracts are hokey.

Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if the league were to reject the Devils offer. The only problem is Bettman is tight with Lou L.

[Reply]
LA HOCKEY Girl says:

July 19, 2010 at 3:55 pm

I can’t imagine that the Kings weren’t competitive in their bidding against whatever NJ offered. Very surprised that he chose NJ, given they are more defensive minded. He would have been great in a Kings uniform…but I don’t want the team mortgaged long-term either. BUT the Kings organization does have to ask itself why strong players choose other teams when given the opportunity. Too much sunshine? Not enough serious hockey? Fan base strong…but not like Back East. Most players here are anonymous–not on the East coast or Canada. The Kings have some strong players, but something is lacking. Sharp would be a great young acquisition. Let’s avoid the older, more prone injured players…thank you very much. Fro is great at being consistently inconsistent. Let him go to KHL…and lets add some youth. Shore up the defense..and get Bernier in goal…and you may have more players choosing LA as their destination hockey team, not just a nice place to vacation!

[Reply]
Waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
@LA HOCKEY Girl,
Plain and simple , he used the Kings too get his 100m he dosn’t care about winning good luck in two years when Broduer is too old.

[Reply]
frustrated kings fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:11 pm

1. kings miss out on kovi and gagne, both players were rumored to be plan A and B for kings this offseason.

2.kings still need some top defensemen

3.kings are probably the only team that havent signed anybody yet besides their own RFA

4.Owner is still cheap!!

Its going to be a long season!…*sigh*

[Reply]
Pogi says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:18 pm

THIS IS THE SAME OLD PROBLEM THE KINGS HAVE THEY NEVER STEP UP AND SIGN A BIG NAME SCORER. SO I AM EXPECTING ANOTHER EARLY EXIT IF WE EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS ITS GETTING REALY OLD GET SAME GUYS IN HERE TO HELP KOPI AND BROWMIE

[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
@Pogi, yeah, how about that horrible signing of Gretzky in 88

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:39 am
@Goring 19,

That was a trade…

Yes, Gretzky was on record as saying he wanted to be traded to Los Angeles when details came out, but he wouldn’t have signed with LA.

[Reply]
Kopi-chuk says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:03 pm

now what the hell do we do?
how pathetic, back to square one, no one signed, no change no nothing.
no action no MOVEMENT.
all this time what the hell were they doing?
i seriously cant stand our management right now.
why cant we ever get a F***ING BREAK.
do you realize how stupid we look, wasting time for NOTHING.
I’m so pissed.

[Reply]
Waxieman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
@Kopi-chuk,
Relax we are going too be good for a very long time. I have been going too games for 38 years, believe me this is the first time that we have a good young team amd plenty coming in the future. DL knows what he is doing, and I havn’t said that about any GM the Kings have ever had.

[Reply]
Toddgfd says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:01 pm

I’ve decided it’s a sham. The last 5 years he’s only making $500k/yr, so it’s there just to stretch the contract and lower the per year cap hit, making him affordable. In reality he will retire after 12 years, and walk away from the last 5 and the chump change that goes with it. If you subtract the $2.5mm he will walk away from, that leaves NJ with an $8.33mm cap hit per year for the guy, much different from the $5.3mm the contract reads now. Currently he would be the 5th highest cap on the NYR ( behind Gaborik (7.5) Drury (7.05) Lundqvist (6.875) Redden (6.5) Total manipulation of the system. The league should call bullshit and block it, then when he comes back to LA with his tail between his legs tell him to pound sand.

[Reply]
Jeff says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:23 pm

I guess I just don’t get it. From the beginning I have said I’d rather have two 40 goal scorers at less than $5M each rather than one 42 goal scorer at $10M+. If my math is correct, that’s about double the production for about the same price.

Let’s see how happy the Devils are in 6 years when Kovy is still making $10M a year and putting up 10-15 goals a year.

[Reply]
Rick says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:51 am

I am disapointed and yes, the Kings have failed to sign top free agents but look how far we’ve come. DL has brought a winning attitude and a solid nucleus to this team that we haven’t seen in a long time. We finally have a solid young defence, reliable goaltending and a group of young forwards that are ready to become stars. The plan we’ve all been hearing about is working! Why screw it up by overpaying one guy while losing 3 down the road? Keep the faith Kings fans. And Go Kings!!!

[Reply]
Andy says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:48 am

Another year, another good player is away…Yes we made play-offs last season but only 1st round and we want more!!! But from 1993 SC finals there is no player like Wayne,Luc or Ziggy and a player like Kovalchuk this year, Hossa last year and others before…looking back on GM moves in last 4-5 years there was maybe 1 or 2 good moves and 4-5 great players fly away and the players like Kovalchuk or Hossa MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!!! And others please wake up we maybe have one 30+scorer (Anze) but that is not enough. Quick has really good season but at the end he played nothing!!! Anze and Drew are our best players but you need more than 2 when you want to win the SC.Mr.Lombardi please wake up!!!

[Reply]
Lance says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:27 am

No Frolov, no Kovalchuk, no plan B, no Stanely Cup. What’s new. We can sign an over-the-hill Beckham for soccer but Kings go on the cheap.

[Reply]
King John says:

July 23, 2010 at 5:08 pm

It’s not over yet!

[Reply]

Kovalchuk to Devils

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