Sheng Peng: What Will Kempe Bring to Kings?; Gilbert to Caps Video & thoughts -- what do you need to know about the ultra-talented, inconsistent Kempe?

Please please please, let this work out in the best way ever.

so sounds like the Kings get nothing but cap relief for Gilbert?

I'm cautiously optimistic. I mean, has there ever been a time where a guy didn't score much in the AHL level and then all of the sudden came up and started putting up points? If there is, I can't even think of one. I would love to see Kempe do good though obviously. We could use that scoring if he has any.

I am sure we got a bag of Caps pucks from their gift shop... and am completely ok with it. he was a plug

I am sure we got a bag of Caps pucks from their gift shop... and am completely ok with it. he was a plug
- MikeOxbyg

it would've cost us less than 20%, I'm sure... Oh well, we have a ton of cap space now.

A 5th would be amazing. Unfortunately the kings won't be seeing that pick. No way Gilbert plays in half the Caps games

You're assuming that Kempe earned the call-up. He was most likely called up because the trade deadline is nearing and A) Lombardi wants to see how he looks in the NHL before deciding whether or not to trade him, B) another team wants to see how he looks in the NHL before trading for him, or C) both A and B. It can't be a coincidence that he and LaDue, arguably the organization's best (or, at least, most valuable) prospects have been called up for their NHL debuts just weeks before the deadline without any good reason (ex. not because of injury). Lombardi is gauging what he has because those are probably the two names that teams with players that Lombardi wants are asking about (or even demanding).

It doesn't mean that Kempe is as good as gone, since he could play well and convince Lombardi to not trade him or potential trades could all simply fall through, but that's why it's him getting recalled and not, say, Brodzinski, who doesn't have nearly the same trade value.

it would've cost us less than 20%, I'm sure... Oh well, we have a ton of cap space now.
- Stu17

The 20% retention actually saves the team money. Gilbert was costing us $450k in buried contract overages in the AHL. He only costs $280k in retained salary. Amounts are pro-rated, of course.

So exactly how much cap space is gained while retaining 20%. Also. The pick is conditional. Can this pick turn into another pick in a later round? why shoot for the stars instead of just trying to get a 6th or a 7th. I pray someone goes down and they need Gilbert to play.

The 20% retention actually saves the team money. Gilbert was costing us $450k in buried contract overages in the AHL. He only costs $280k in retained salary. Amounts are pro-rated, of course.
- tkecanuck341

LoL. You answer my question while I was typing it out.

LoL. You answer my question while I was typing it out.
- poisondhearts37

I knew someone was going to ask...

So exactly how much cap space is gained while retaining 20%. Also. The pick is conditional. Can this pick turn into another pick in a later round? why shoot for the stars instead of just trying to get a 6th or a 7th. I pray someone goes down and they need Gilbert to play.
- poisondhearts37

CapFriendly is a real good source when it comes to salary questions.

The 20% retention actually saves the team money. Gilbert was costing us $450k in buried contract overages in the AHL. He only costs $280k in retained salary. Amounts are pro-rated, of course.
- tkecanuck341

Like I was saying, that Lombardi is a genius.

The 20% retention actually saves the team money. Gilbert was costing us $450k in buried contract overages in the AHL. He only costs $280k in retained salary. Amounts are pro-rated, of course.
- tkecanuck341

And he costs nothing with no retained salary.

The winner in all of this is Tom Gilbert. He gets to get away from Sutter and possibly do something with his career.

And he costs nothing with no retained salary.

The winner in all of this is Tom Gilbert. He gets to get away from Sutter and possibly do something with his career.
- verwustung

I think that train has left the station.

I think that train has left the station.
- Stu17

He has looked shakey this year and that may be from just not playing much for a while. I'm not saying that he has a lot left to give but you never know. He might surprise and have something left in the tank.

He has looked shakey this year and that may be from just not playing much for a while. I'm not saying that he has a lot left to give but you never know. He might surprise and have something left in the tank.
- verwustung

Gilbert hasn't been very good in a long time. Hes obviously just a decent depth dman. But glad his salary is out and the kids get to keep on trucking along.

Gilbert can still play. His skating is fine and some of his passes were crisper and quicker than I've seen from any of the other D minus Doughty. He had potential to be a real asset, IMO, especially in the event of injury to Martinez/Muzzin, which can still happen and leave them wishing that they still had a veteran puck mover like Gilbert to step in. What would be the option now... play Greene more or give a rookie increased ice time just as the playoffs arrive?

He wasn't given much opportunity, IMO. He got chances, playing here and there, but not enough to settle in and get comfortable. I see him as a victim of a double standard with this team when it comes to defensemen. If you're established on the team, like Martinez and Muzzin, your mistakes are tolerated because the team has had success with you. If you're a rookie, like Forbort or Gravel, your mistakes are tolerated because you're young. If, on the other hand, you're in the third category of hired help, like Gilbert or McBain, your mistakes are not tolerated and just a few get you benched or scratched for long stretches. It's hard to get comfortable and play your best when the coach doesn't trust you.

I believe that he can still contribute in the right situation, either where the coach trusts him or an injury gives him an opportunity to get comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the Caps' 3rd pairing for a Cup run, but he might also be more cut out for a rebuilding team that's desperate for scoring and willing to really use him in that role, rather than as simply a depth guy. After all, his best past success came with teams like the Oilers and Panthers.

Gilbert can still play. His skating is fine and some of his passes were crisper and quicker than I've seen from any of the other D minus Doughty. He had potential to be a real asset, IMO, especially in the event of injury to Martinez/Muzzin, which can still happen and leave them wishing that they still had a veteran puckmover like Gilbert to step in. What would be the option now... play Greene more or give a rookie increased ice time just as the playoffs arrive?

He wasn't given much opportunity, IMO. He got chances, playing here and there, but not enough to settle in and get comfortable. I see him as a victim of the double standard with this team when it comes to defensemen. If you've been with the team for years, like Martinez and Muzzin, your mistakes are tolerated because the team has had success with you. If you're a rookie, like Forbort or Gravel, your mistakes are tolerated because you're young. If, on the other hand, you're a middle-of-the-road acquisition (especially on an expiring/short contract), like Gilbert or McBain, your mistakes are not tolerated and get you closer to being benched or scratched. It's hard to get comfortable and play your best when the coach doesn't trust you.

I believe that he can still contribute in the right situation, either where the coach trusts him or an injury gives him an opportunity to get comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the Caps' 3rd pairing for a Cup run, but he might also be more cut out for a rebuilding team that's desperate for scoring and willing to really use him in that role, rather than as simply a depth guy. After all, his best past success came with teams like the Oilers and Panthers.
- Osprey

Yeah, exactly. It's extremely difficult to play when you know that you are one mistake away from a benching. Sutter won't bench Muzzin or Martinez no matter how horrible they have looked this season. As far as Forbort and Gravel go, I think he has leanest on them because they play a defensive game where there is not much else to it and Sutter has put up with them.

But yeah, it's a complete double standard going on. So Purcell hasn't scored in 12 games and is banished to Ontario while Toffoli went like 20 games without scoring. Kopitar and Pearson too. Are they just better back checkers or what? I wonder if anybody sign with LA knowing that they are just one small step from Ontario?

If, on the other hand, you're a middle-of-the-road acquisition (especially on an expiring/short contract), like Gilbert or McBain, your mistakes are not tolerated and get you closer to being benched or scratched. It's hard to get comfortable and play your best when the coach doesn't trust you.
- Osprey

And why should those mistakes be tolerated? Martinez took plenty of time to earn/win Sutter's trust and Muzzin was pretty steady considering he came to the team fairly green. Bottom line is that these guys are pros, veterans at that, and should know that they need to be at their best, on point, when called upon exactly because that's what the situation demands. There isn't time to get comfy. They wont be given the "chances" that established roster vets or homegrown kids get. Gilbert is what he is and he didn't do enough to deserve to stay on the roster. He'll be the Schultz for the Caps AHL team and he wont be missed here. Even if an injury does happen to one of the top 4, Gilbert's presence wasn't going to get the Kings any more wins than his replacement would.

Yeah, exactly. It's extremely difficult to play when you know that you are one mistake away from a benching. Sutter won't bench Muzzin or Martinez no matter how horrible they have looked this season. As far as Forbort and Gravel go, I think he has leanest on them because they play a defensive game where there is not much else to it and Sutter has put up with them.

But yeah, it's a complete double standard going on. So Purcell hasn't scored in 12 games and is banished to Ontario while Toffoli went like 20 games without scoring. Kopitar and Pearson too. Are they just better back checkers or what? I wonder if anybody sign with LA knowing that they are just one small step from Ontario?
- verwustung

It comes down to upside in the eyes of the staff. Which upside is higher, Toffoli or Purcell? Gilbert or Muzzin/Martinez? And Kopitar? If he doesn't score a goal in 15-20 games he should be benched? seriously? He's not only a better back-checker, he's a better FO man, better puck handler, better PK'er/PP'er, better just about everything...

It comes down to upside in the eyes of the staff. Which upside is higher, Toffoli or Purcell? Gilbert or Muzzin/Martinez? And Kopitar? If he doesn't score a goal in 15-20 games he should be benched? seriously? He's not only a better back-checker, he's a better FO man, better puck handler, better PK'er/PP'er, better just about everything...
- Stu17

You are right about upsides but my point was that everyone will go through slumps. Purcell started out really slow. Here he was learning a totally new system so his slump should have been even more understandable.

You are right about upsides but my point was that everyone will go through slumps. Purcell started out really slow. Here he was learning a totally new system so his slump should have been even more understandable.
- verwustung

Purcell has played LA hockey before. And it never worked for him before.

And why should those mistakes be tolerated? Martinez took plenty of time to earn/win Sutter's trust and Muzzin was pretty steady considering he came to the team fairly green. Bottom line is that these guys are pros, veterans at that, and should know that they need to be at their best, on point, when called upon exactly because that's what the situation demands. There isn't time to get comfy. They wont be given the "chances" that established roster vets or homegrown kids get. Gilbert is what he is and he didn't do enough to deserve to stay on the roster. He'll be the Schultz for the Caps AHL team and he wont be missed here.
- Stu17

You made my point right there. Like you, I was mostly just stating a fact of the situation. It's why it's hard for guys like Gilbert (and Schultz, like you said) to fit in. If you're treated like a spare part, it's hard to play like anything more than a spare part. It doesn't mean that you're washed up, though.

Even if an injury does happen to one of the top 4, Gilbert's presence wasn't going to get the Kings any more wins than his replacement would.
- Stu17

Well, you don't know that. Did anyone expect Schultz to step into the '14 playoffs after not playing in the NHL at all that season and make a difference? When he replaced Mitchell during the Anaheim series and was surprisingly solid, who would've had to have come in if he hadn't been around? It looks to me like it would've been Andrew Campbell, he with a whopping 3 NHL games under his belt. Having Schultz might've been the difference between winning that series (allowing them to move on and win the Cup) and getting eliminated by Anaheim, since it was a very close series that went 7 games. You may not have been very impressed with Gilbert, but a guy with 655 games of NHL experience would've been a nice thing for the team to have on reserve this Spring, just as it was nice to have Schultz.