Ben Shelley: Kings sign Phillip Danault and bring back Andreas Athanasiou

sounds like LA singed Edler too

Pumped on Danault signing

Contract seems a bit rough, but cool to have him in LA.

Danault shouldn't be expected to come here to score goals.

Shutting down MacKinnon, McDavid etc. Possibly Eichel, will allow Kopitar and the youngsters to score.

A Selke level Jarret Stoll.

Danault shouldn't be expected to come here to score goals.

Shutting down MacKinnon, McDavid etc. Possibly Eichel, will allow Kopitar and the youngsters to score.

A Selke level Jarret Stoll.
- jackball

Great piece to add to a team.

A little much -- but that's the market I suppose.

Looks like Vilardi to RW and Turcotte to LW.

Kopitar
Byfield
Danault

That looks good.

"What, you mean I don't have to take every single defensemen zone face-off this year? That's cool." -Kopitar

Great piece to add to a team.

A little much -- but that's the market I suppose.

Looks like Vilardi to RW and Turcotte to LW.

Kopitar
Byfield
Danault

That looks good.

"What, you mean I don't have to take every single defensemen zone face-off this year? That's cool." -Kopitar
- Cabbages and Kings

I know Turcotte is most likely going to play wing in the future, but did the Kings give up on Vilardi? Playing him on the 4th would be the worst idea and a waste.

I know Turcotte is most likely going to play wing in the future, but did the Kings give up on Vilardi? Playing him on the 4th would be the worst idea and a waste.
- Glak18

2RW?

I suspect the Kings will utilize some combination of Brown, Arvidsson and Vilardi as the top three RW's next year.

The following year might see Brown replaced with Kupari or Kaliyev.

There's no shortage of options as far as the top 9 goes moving forward. Good organizational depth -- great competition for playing time. No rush to develop quickly.

Adding Arvidsson and Danault makes the Kings a very interesting team next year.

I suspect the Kings will utilize some combination of Brown, Arvidsson and Vilardi as the top three RW's next year.

The following year might see Brown replaced with Kupari or Kaliyev.

There's no shortage of options as far as the top 9 goes moving forward. Good organizational depth -- great competition for playing time. No rush to develop quickly.

Adding Arvidsson and Danault makes the Kings a very interesting team next year.
- Cabbages and Kings

We chatted about this in a prior blog about pissing away money on UFA's. Maybe a wee bit long with the term, but I like the player. He'll win his face-offs and he had an ungodly number of defensive zone starts last year. That will help old man Kopi, as you point out. I also don't mind the relief he'll give Byfield in that he should have a much more gentle transition to the NHL with Danault playing a lot of difficult minutes.

The Kings got better today. Happy to see that.

Overall I like the singing. If he gets back to about the 50 point mark that would be great. But everyone praising his face off game. Hes barely a 52% face off guy. Kopi was 57% or so last year. Lazotte was 50%. The biggest take away is that we dont have to rush the kids to please the vets who dont wanna keep on losing. And its more exp center depth to help Byfield. Another take away is we didnt have to trade an asset. Reminds me of getting Mike Richards.

Overall I like the singing. If he gets back to about the 50 point mark that would be great. But everyone praising his face off game. Hes barely a 52% face off guy. Kopi was 57% or so last year. Lazotte was 50%. The biggest take away is that we dont have to rush the kids to please the vets who dont wanna keep on losing. And its more exp center depth to help Byfield. Another take away is we didnt have to trade an asset. Reminds me of getting Mike Richards.
- poisondhearts37

The value isn't in the points that he'll score for LA, but the points that he'll take away from LA's opponents. Additionally Danault is one of the only forwards in the league that is Kopitar's equal on the defensive side of the puck, so signing him allows the Kings to take some of the tough defensive matchups and big PK minutes away from Kopitar to allow him to spend more time on offense and on the PP. Someone said this on the CapFriendly signing page:

It's like paying the other team's top players to not score. How much would you pay to limit Matthews to 1 goal in a playoff series? Kyle Connor? Vegas' entire top line? How about all of those in one year, in succession?

Spot on.

Overall I like the singing. If he gets back to about the 50 point mark that would be great. But everyone praising his face off game. Hes barely a 52% face off guy. Kopi was 57% or so last year. Lazotte was 50%. The biggest take away is that we dont have to rush the kids to please the vets who dont wanna keep on losing. And its more exp center depth to help Byfield. Another take away is we didnt have to trade an asset. Reminds me of getting Mike Richards.
- poisondhearts37

50 points on this team is like 75 on most other teams...

one can only dream

I suspect the Kings will utilize some combination of Brown, Arvidsson and Vilardi as the top three RW's next year.

The following year might see Brown replaced with Kupari or Kaliyev.

There's no shortage of options as far as the top 9 goes moving forward. Good organizational depth -- great competition for playing time. No rush to develop quickly.

Adding Arvidsson and Danault makes the Kings a very interesting team next year.
- Cabbages and Kings

Depth goin forward is very solid,all 4 lines in 2 yrs will be ridiculous imo.It will definitely be interesting this season,the pacific is not strong and we just got better with 2 solid (if edler stays healthy)Ufa and trade.

We chatted about this in a prior blog about pissing away money on UFA's. Maybe a wee bit long with the term, but I like the player. He'll win his face-offs and he had an ungodly number of defensive zone starts last year. That will help old man Kopi, as you point out. I also don't mind the relief he'll give Byfield in that he should have a much more gentle transition to the NHL with Danault playing a lot of difficult minutes.

The Kings got better today. Happy to see that.
- Only_A_Ladd

I like danault dont get me wrong,and i realize how he will help us with giving kopi a rest on dzone faceoffs,and easing the kids in to playing center in nhl.I agree that the term was a yr long and dollar was a mill high aav imo.valuable asset and valuable assets cost money I guess.i just hope we dont hate it in 3yrs.

Overall I like the singing. If he gets back to about the 50 point mark that would be great. But everyone praising his face off game. Hes barely a 52% face off guy. Kopi was 57% or so last year. Lazotte was 50%. The biggest take away is that we dont have to rush the kids to please the vets who dont wanna keep on losing. And its more exp center depth to help Byfield. Another take away is we didnt have to trade an asset. Reminds me of getting Mike Richards.
- poisondhearts37

I'd be happy if he hits 40 this yr,more than that is a bonus imo.it also allows us to almost roll kopi out with 2 different sets of wingers on pp.kopi is 50%+ danault 50+ lizette 50%.I like how we line up against anyone in pacific.

I know Turcotte is most likely going to play wing in the future, but did the Kings give up on Vilardi? Playing him on the 4th would be the worst idea and a waste.
- Glak18

With this addition, I can honestly see a Brayden Schenn situation happen in a year or two with Turcotte.

With this addition, I can honestly see a Brayden Schenn situation happen in a year or two with Turcotte.
- LAkings96

Turcotte package for chychrun. Or Werenski. Werenski's deal ends and hes still a RFA.

Turcotte package for chychrun. Or Werenski. Werenski's deal ends and hes still a RFA.
- poisondhearts37

Rangers could use some centers. We have some good defensive prospects……

Rangers could use some centers. We have some good defensive prospects……
- nyrangers2

I just dont see a fit. Kandre Miller would be the only possible one. And that doesnt make sense for the Rangers really.