Maxim Kitsyn’s bid for the Memorial Cup fell one game short, as Kitsyn and the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors were defeated 3-1 by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the junior tournament’s championship game. Saint John took the lead 2:24 into the game with a shorthanded goal and never trailed, as the Sea Dogs led 2-0 after one period and 2-1 after two periods. Kitsyn did not record a point.
So that’s officially a wrap for the 2010-11 season for all Kings players and prospects. Sometime tomorrow, I’ll start a division-by-division look at the NHL heading into the offseason. What are the teams’ summer strengths and weaknesses? Who will be available on the free-agent market? We’ll tackle all that in the next few days, and then transition into the draft combine and the draft itself, which will be held at the end of June in Minnesota.
Ok, just to start the fun off…..and this is just for fun, so do get all best out of shape, what about packaging Smyth to a team,,,like a Senators, who needs a long term tough D Man…say like a Greene, they can sign Greene,,,or other D man(who we have an abundance of) Long Term, have Smyth there to teach the younger guys for a year, we’ll take Milan Michalek and his salary similar to Smyths but for another 3 years, they then have the free space to go after a long term UFA in a deeper UFA next year,,,while we get a 26 year old for now….I hear a knocking on my door…maybe reality is here!
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Ravens, No Thanks. His 33 points is not worth a cap hit of 4.333 million for another 3 years. I know he only played in 66 games, but even when you average that out to 82 games it’s still only 41 points. Then you have to do the TM math. 41 points comes down to 15 when playing for Terry Murray. If you don’t believe me, that’s exactly what happened to Poni in the same amount of games last year compared to this year.
Poni in Toronto 2 years ago:
61 GP: 19 Goals: 22 Assists: 41 Points.
Poni in LA last year:
61 GP: 5 Goals: 10 Assists: 15 Points.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@CB14, TM math???that pretty funny
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
@Ravens, Thanks. I thought so. Unfortunatly it’s true. Penner’s TM math is even worse than Poni’s. With Edmonton this year he scored 39 points in 62 games. With the Kings he scored 6 points in 19 games. Some of that can be blamed on his effort, but I think Poni’s effort was there the whole year and his still was bad.
Ravens Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@Ravens, I’m predicting TM will let go of the reigns a bit more this next season, now that the kids have that second nature of two way hockey, but I also think TM’s going to be on a very short leash with management if we go through any of those lengthy, standings killing losing streaks we all suffered this year
CB14 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@Ravens, I hope he does, with the top 3 lines at least. If he wants to keep the 4th line using the same defense first type system i’m fine with that. I should say i’m assuming a third line of Clifford-Richardson-Simmonds, let those young legs do some skating in open ice and I think we’ll see 3 15-20 goal scorers.
Dillix Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 12:33 am
@Ravens,
I watched Michalek a ton when he was in san Jose. He is exactly what this team does not need. I doubt anyone will trade for Ryan Smythe because he’s one of the most overpaid players in the league. And he can barely move. Having someone that slow, on your wing to boot, where speed is very important (for gaining the offensive zone with the puck, and for backchecking the other team’s winger when he tries to gain his offensive zone with the puck), it really hurts the team, and messes up the shape and the tactics. No one is going to trade for him. Michalek would obviously be better than Smythe, but Michalek is signed for three more years, and he’s not what the team needs. He has the speed (and size, but the Kings have plenty of size already), but everything else is bad. Well, the shot is okay. But he’s a very low creativity player, his hands aren’t the best… You could do a lot better with that type of money.
[Reply]
Token Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 8:54 am
@Ravens, Shipping out Smyth, our top scoring LW, who puts up 20 goals regardless of line combos and in the dreaded system, all while taking a severe beating and leaving it all on the ice every shift…
Hmmm…
Not gonna happen until Parse, Cliffy, Penner, Kitsyn, Holloway or whomever else on this team playing left wing makes the 20 goal grade wearing the new Back in Black jersey.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 9:48 am
@Token, So its been confirmed then? We are going to 3rd jersey all next year?
[Reply]
Token Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@tornado12, I am no authority and neither can confirm or deny. If such a change were indeed implemented I would not be presently disposed to speak of such an operation, should it exist.
Deny Everything!
No, just based on what Luc and Ritch said. No confirmation.
Dominick Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:56 am
@Token, Maybe Luc just needs your stamp of approval.
Works for me.
[Reply]
I hate to stay it, but not unlike many young players, Kitsyn collapsed.
Sorry we need more Clifford’s and corner guys not the big names.
[Reply]
jonsey Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@Harty, Absolutely untrue. CHI won because they had the big guns, and VAN is sure as four letter word going to win because of their big names. No body wins with an entire team of Cliffords.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Harty, Kitsyn in no way collapsed, he had the strongest second period of anyone on the ice, St.John put their best defenders on him in the third period, freeing up Smith-Pelly to get more shots in the third. He completely changed the momentum, Missisuaga was doing nothing until he took over in the second, and then Miss. finally came to life and scored a goal,,they looked better from that point on.
[Reply]
lafan13 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
@Harty, I too watched the game…. and kitsyn was the most talked about player in that game… He dominated every shift i watched…
He passed/skated/shot like he should be in the major leagues… i was def impressed by his play, while he did not win, he still was one of the best players on that ice…
fast foward 3-4 years, Cant wit to see the all russian line…
Kitsyn – Loktionov – Do it deeno
[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@lafan13,
Toffolinov
[Reply]
Bobby Scribe Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Quisp, Excellent.
Ravens Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Quisp, Priceless!
BobKnob Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
@Quisp,
Veynov.
Dominick Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:09 am
@Quisp,
Maybe a Jordanski Wealov.
Bruin18 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
@lafan13, I agree. He clanged one of the post with a quick release.
[Reply]
Dillix Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 12:44 am
@Harty,
Yeah I agree with everyone else, this is a ridiculous statement. Clifford had a fluke playoff run where he absolutely maximized his limited talent. You can’t have a team full of Clifford’s, and have him on the powerplay, and as one of your go-to guys, and expect to succeed. He’s a good bottom 6 forward who you hope can surprise again with more good postseason performances in the future, but you don’t rely on that happening. This team absolutely needs more big names. Kovalchuk gets a bad rap here because he asked for so much money and because he rejected the Kings, but that type of player for a reasonable price is exactly what this team needs.
Now where you’d be right is if Dean Lombardi, so desperate to find another Kovalchuk, kind of forces something, and trades for the first big name forward to become available. I heard he was interested in Elias last year… that would have been a big mistake. Elias is well past his prime, and has sort of become a very poor man’s Anze Kopitar. We’re lucky NJ wasn’t willing to trade him because he’s such a part of their history (or he didn’t want to move), because I’m not sure Lombardi would have thought better of it if they had been willing to trade him. Lombardi probably would have paid a Kings ransom for an overrated player.
And now this year there are tons of rumors that the Rangers may try to trade Gaborik so that they can sign Brad Richards. Gaborik is better than Elias for sure, but he seems to have lost a step. Whereas he used to be like an elite version of Patrick Marleau, he seems to be a poor Marleau now, and there are already problems with the normal Patrick Marleau’s game.
It’s too bad Dean Lombardi hasn’t been able to just draft a star winger of his own during his tenure as the Kings GM. Not one elite in winger. Closest thing has been Purcell -.-
These guys are so hard to find in trade. The Kovalchuk situation was really tricky, and if he’d signed him to a 100mil contract, there would havebeen downsides as well. It’s just unfortunate they didnt find a way to get him at a more reasonble price, because he’s really the perfect piece for them, and additionally, the other big reason is that no one comes remotely close. Kovalchuk was perfect, and after Kovalchuk, there is no one even half as good. There is no backup plan. The only option I can think of now is Ales Hemsky, and he’s like, if Kovalchuk were a playmaker instead of a sniper, and he was also only half as big, and injury prone, that’s Ales Hemsky. The injury prone bit is the biggest problem for me. But if he’s healthy, that’s the move I make. One hell of a playmaker. Him and Kopitar, maybe Penner as the shooter on that line (or Williams, or Simmonds, any one of them would work wonders), that’s a great line.
Regardless, it’s a tricky situation. But LA certainly needs a top line winger, still. Even another top line center would be fantastic. Brad Richards would be a great signing even though he’s a center. You just have to bring in someone. This team is a little bit more speed, offense, and creativity away from being the best team in the entire NHL, in my opinion. They have everything else. Well, a better bottom pairing on defense is really important too. Matt Greene is bad enough, but at least he’s physical and strong. Alec Martinez doesn’t bring much to the table for me at all. I would replace both of them if it were up to me. Doubt it will happen but it’s what should happen if DL cares about what’s best for the team over what’s best for Greene and Martinez.
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 4:08 am
@Dillix, well you know what, time will tell this tale. And I’m comfortable saying it was not a fluke and if Clifford got the playing opportunity someone like Penner got he would be just fine on this team or anyother team. Most players in this league could do what Purcell is doing if they played with Vincent.
You way off base my friend, its not the big names that win in the playoffs and nothing has changed as to what it takes to win in the playoffs……….
-guts
-goaltending
……beyond that everything else is a given.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:26 am
@Harty, sometimes you see scoring from role players in the playoffs, becuase teams put there best players on your teams best players (Or big names) thus sort of cancelling eachother out, but when you have no stars, the other teams stars are free to fire at will, and usually do,
Dominick Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:03 am
@Harty,
Kitsyn is a quality prospect. Every team has scoring prospects. We have Clifford types in the system too, just none of them made it to the Memorial Cup finals. None of them would have played key roles in getting their teams there either. Kitsyn didn’t collapse, he gave his team a chance to compete for it.
vicarious Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:27 am
@Dillix, When you say “find a way to get (kovalchuck) at a reasonable price” IMO that misses an important fact: the other 29 NHL teams also want the good players and they also have the right to bid. And the players have the right to ask for money for their services. Happens in all the sports. Your point is well taken but hard to accomplish given the circumstances.
IMO, I thought last year’s Kings team was the best King’s team in the last 20 years or so. Still, I wonder whether DL brought in too many older guys. Smythe was brought in as a scoring left wing. J Williams as a scoring RW. DL tried to bring in Kovalchuck. All those decisions IMO made hockey sense. I think Quisp’s blog wrote a nice analysis that bringin in those vets made sense and they are better players than some of the prospects. But wld the Kings have been better off in the long run keeping Moulson and Purcell rather than bringing in the outside guys? I sorta hate the lateral type trades and free agent signings, albeit I admit they usually upgrade the team. Given the competition for players, the vets cost quite a bit, IMO a premium.
[Reply]
BobKnob Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@Dillix,
Overall decent post, but I take issue with a few of your points.
1) Cliffy is a young rookie who appears to have the hands and speed to make great plays. I think a lot of it coming out will depend on how his confidence grows. To say he has limited talents is foolish. It was clear last year that as his confidence grew, his performance improved.
2) A Kovy at a great price is almost an oxymoron. The only way that will happen is if the player really wants to play for a specific team and is willing to accept a slightly lower paycheck to do so.
3) Greene is a fine 3rd line D. He’s solid defensively, tough, and doesn’t back down from anyone. You can’t have Doughty on all 3 lines.
4) Martinez is another rookie with obvious potential for improvement. He’s got great hockey sense, good speed, and plays well positionally. He’s not Doughty but he’s more aware of his limitations and doesn’t underestimate the opponent as much. He will improve next year snd contribute more.
Actually, the only thing I really agree with is about DL not acting desperate and picking up just any old winger with a decent past.
[Reply]
Jeff Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:38 am
@Harty, I don’t know what game you were watching, but the one I was Kitsyn was the Majors best offensive player. Yes he didn’t record a point, but he created a lot of chances for the Majors that they just couldn’t bury, whether it was missed shots or great saves by St John’s goalie. The goalie was St Johns best player, if it wasn’t for him the Majors would of won. Anyway back to Kitsyn, he had an awesome 2nd period. One shot he put off the post, one play where he creatively put on some amazing Datsyukian moves but had the puck stripped before he got to the goal. This guy was awesome and I feel that he has a good chance of making the team next season. He is the kind of player this team needs, a guy who can create something out of nothing, a skilled guy. This is the kind of player the Kings need, the one all the fans hope DL can bring in via free agency or trade. We may not have to do that, as we just might have gotten it through the draft in Kitsyn. With him, Loktionov and Toffoli, I can’t wait to watch that line.
[Reply]
i dont know what the Kings will look like in the future but sounds like a Stanly Cup team
[Reply]
Bobby Scribe Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@KingsFanFTW, So, you’re saying we are going to come up one e short of a Cup?
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
May 29th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@Bobby Scribe, If that’s the case then we could always bring back Erik Ersberg so that we’ve got some extra e’s.
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 2:55 am
@Bobby Scribe, in ur future sure my future they will be hold it up i dont think negative or being rube and treating this team like they never going to win it when they are close to it
Short will be another way of saying that was short for them to win that Cup yup i sure say it.. so go ahead be with the other fans so call LA Kings Fans saying our team will never win a Cup..When it is close to be come true…So what we didnt pass round 1 its just a second year back from the playoffs i dont expect it that fast i know its going to take couple of years maybe next season never know into it happens.Just got to keep the hope and wonders will come to u and this team it will be special
[Reply]
Bobby Scribe Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Got it. What?
Rich, I’m really looking forward to your team by team stregth and weakness breakdown, 5 days without hockey….I bet we have some juicy debate on what the Kings should or shouldn’t do.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 6:33 am
@Ravens,
Raves, I think you and CB14 should just create a fantasy Kings Russian team (based on Quisp’s inspiration) but then go thru the whole lineup and figure in the names with the TM math. We can do this based on the Kings 2013 roster. So, for example we’d have Toffolionov and for most nhl teams he’d score 32 goals and 61 points, then calculating the TM math we have him with 14 goals and 30 points.
Can’t wait to see what you’d do with Clifford and Matt Greene. Then again, you wouldn’t have to do the TM math as it’s already been calculated for you.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:01 am
@number 6, HA Ha,,,that made my morning..thanks
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:28 am
@number 6, in all fairness, I think Quisp had the naming rights to our fantasy Russian line
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:39 am
@Ravens,
Yeah he did, but I was sooo inspired by his creativity that I had to have a go at merging his creation, and yours that you did w CB (the TM math). Listen Raves, you know, when you see too much dump and chase, after a while you need the dump and chase antidote….. which ioo (in our opinion) would be a dash of humor.
CB14 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@number 6, Hilarious number 6!
[Reply]
a comment on The fourth period I read was funny . “time for Penner to hit the shake weight”
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:02 am
@rumpa#19, wasn’t that great?
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:43 am
@Ravens, Van VS KINGS game 1 nhl network 5pm pt.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@rumpa#19,
Didn’t know about that site. Looks like a good one. Thanks for turning me onto it.
[Reply]
I’m bored, how bout we talk trade. I read on espn rumor that Philly may want to trade Jeff Carter (C). He scores over 30 goals a season. Philly needs a goalie, trade them Bernie?
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:36 am
@Scott3343,
Philly will want experience. Bernier would not fit their plans. Their built to win it now, not spend another year with a “what if” goalie. Not trying to take anything away from Bernier, but Philly would have to believe Bernier is “the one” to burn any assets on him.
Word is their going for a certain goalie who left for the KHL last year.
[Reply]
Token Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@Scott3343, For Carter they would want a proven starter, so likely Quick.
They already have a prospect in Bobrovsky, adding a second prospect in Bernier would be foolish.
Add to that the odds of DL taking on 10 year paper when he has a full pipeline of prospects … Doubt he spends for anything longer than 2 or 3 years worth of contract.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Token,
And it would also be foolish for the Kings. To give up a goalie w huge upside for Carter, who A) isn’t really a two way player and B) there were comments made by a journalist who follows Philly when interviewed on xm radio that he was not entirely impressed w Carter.
Plus, he’s a 30 goal scorer so bring him in and you’ll likely get 23 if you’re lucky in the system the Kings play at the moment.
[Reply]
BobKnob Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
@number 6,
I think Carter is the Philly player who doesn’t get along well with the Philly media, so I would take that point with a grain of salt.
CB14 Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Scott3343, There’s going to be rumors all off-season with Philly. They have nearly 59 million commited next year with the cap expected to be at 62, and they still don’t have a number 1 goaltender. I don’t see a perfect trade that both teams will want to do. Like Dominick and Token said, Philly is going to want a proven goalie like Quick, and I don’t see DL trading him unless he gets a great package in return. Also Philly really needs to dump some salary so that they can sign a goalie, but they don’t have a player with a high salary that would fit with our line-up. Richards, Briere, Hartnall, Pronger, and Timmonen all have no-trade clauses, and none of them are that 1st line L.W. that we really need. Carter is a possibility, but he has a long term contract with a big cap hit, 5.272 mil. I don’t see DL taking on that type of a contract. Versteeg is the only other forward that makes decent money, but he’s a R.W. and we already have enough of them. They do have a trio of d-men making good money in Meszaros, Carle, and Coburn, but we’ve got enough d-men as it is right now. Unless DL decides to trade Quick, I don’t see a trade happening between the two teams.
Now if he does want to trade Quick, the trade possibilities really open up. Philly wouldn’t need to get salary cap relief in return, so i’m thinking something like Quick, Martinez, and Penner for James Van Riemsdyk, Matt Carle, and a 2011 1st round pick. IDK, I could be way off base with that.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
@CB14, Quick is the man..I love that guy, but you would almost have to look at that trade. And it is something they would be crazy not to concider as well. Having said that I think I would still be affraid to trade the first #1 goalie this orginization has built from the ground up, and maybe the best since Feix the Cat….although we do have Bernie Zatkoff and Jones,,,we would have to go after a free agent vet to back up Bernie,,and a real good one at that
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:49 am
@CB14,
CB, most of your post was fantastic. The only part I didn’t agree w was your trade proposal because as Ravens said, I don’t see them wanting to trade a guy who, w/o him they don’t win Game 5 vs. SJ nor do they win either road game in Detroit last season. Also, not so convinced that as well as JVR played that Philly would be that keen to let him go anyway. I think Philly will try and come up something (if they don’t then Holmgren really is slow on the uptake), but I believe he’ll look for another solution.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:50 am
@number 6,
Oh, and I forgot to say, knowing what type of players they like, I’d be astonished if they took on Penner, And then his cap hit is too high for Philly anyway who as you mentioned has to dump salary, not take it on. Especially for a guy w a reputation that isn’t pretty as of this moment.
Are you talking about Nabokov. Do you think he has anything left. He’s 36 years old to boot. Philly can have him! I thought Philly’s problem was defense besides a veteran goalie. It might work with 2 Russians(sorry one Russian and Kazakh.
[Reply]
Will Kitsyn head back home or will ply his trade in Manchester? I’m sure Lombardi will tell Kitsyn that there will be a spot after Smyth departs in a year. If Kitsyn could stay and play some with Loktionov(I expect he’ll start in Manchester)then move up with him half way through or next year for certain!!!
[Reply]
Kitsyn had a shot go off the post too
Also, I know he wants to go back to the KHL to finish his contract there before joining the Kings but he should play it smart and spend 1 year in the AHL with Loktionov, he is practially garaunteed to make the team next summer since Penner, Smyth and Parse are all UFAs that summer and were definitely not gonna resign Smyth
Loktionov will probably replace Stoll that same year too and it would be a huge advantage to have 2 young forwards already playing with some chemistry together…
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Paul G, I agree’ he would almost be assured a spot here nest year and maybe sooner, if he goes to the KHL there’s no way he goes straight to our roster next year, he will need at least another half a year in manchester to prepair for the Kings system. Lets hope he chooses Manchester
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
May 30th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@Ravens, wow did I mispall a few words, sorry!
[Reply]
Can you imagine Kitsyn with 20 more lbs of muscle? That kid would be a puck control beast! His hands were light years above anyone on the ice in that game, his team mates couldn’t even handle his NHL like passes, if they could he would of had 3-4 assists. He is gonna be waaaaay good in 2 years.
[Reply]