Adam Kirshenblatt: Kings trade for a familiar face and Kovalchuk checking out LA

I think top line LW is a no brainer as far as needs go. Kovalchuk is big and can score but I’m sure as you indicated about him being slower and Idk that his skill alone can make up for that in an ever evolving league more speed centric. If Lucic is the same size as Kovalchuk and is slow at 30, idk how much faster Kovalchuk at 35 would be. I think a trade involving Skinner would be great but I wonder what they’re asking for but Blake seems pretty aggressive and rightfully so. I imagine he’ll make some kind of big move over the offseason

From what I gather Budaj will be backing up Peterson in Ontario. Budaj has ties to Ontario as he has been seen at Reign playoff games. Also worth noting I read somewhere that Budaj being waived to play in Ontario his cap hit wont affect the Kings at all.

I think top line LW is a no brainer as far as needs go. Kovalchuk is big and can score but I’m sure as you indicated about him being slower and Idk that his skill alone can make up for that in an ever evolving league more speed centric. If Lucic is the same size as Kovalchuk and is slow at 30, idk how much faster Kovalchuk at 35 would be. I think a trade involving Skinner would be great but I wonder what they’re asking for but Blake seems pretty aggressive and rightfully so. I imagine he’ll make some kind of big move over the offseason
- Joetaylor0009

Imagine if they can swing Kovi and Skinner both.

"In Andreoff, the Kings are losing a capable checking third line forward who has proven to be a good teammate in his four season with LA"

3rd line????? Don't make me laugh Mr. writer of the year. But you did.
AA was horrible. For a writer of the Kings, you sure don't follow hockey
close enough writing this politically correct kiss a$$ love story about
a player who did not do the job, and failed miserably.

The biggest need is a fresh coach, IMO. It was a mistake to promote John Stevens, as I've been saying for the last year. He ultimately didn't get the level of increased production that some hoped for. Here is how LA has ranked in 5-on-5 goals:

2017-18: 21st
2016-17: 28th
2015-16: 16th
2014-15: 9th
2013-14: 27th
2012-13: 14th

28th to 21st under Stevens is a modest improvement (even if it's still mediocre), but they were bound to rebound from 28th, anyways. Their average over the previous 5 seasons was almost 19th, so they actually produced slightly worse under Stevens than they did, on average, under Sutter.

While the Kings were 21st in 5-on-5 scoring this past season, the Golden Knights were 5th. The Knights really proved that it's more about coaching, effort and motivation than the names on the roster sheet. Blake can add one or two fancy names to the roster to improve one or two positions, but it won't have as much of an effect as the right coach who could get more out of every position.

Stevens was no shake up. I agree, a new coach would be one of the best moves to squeeze out the most of our aging core. That along with some offense might get us to the second or third round.

"In Andreoff, the Kings are losing a capable checking third line forward who has proven to be a good teammate in his four season with LA"

3rd line????? Don't make me laugh Mr. writer of the year. But you did.
AA was horrible. For a writer of the Kings, you sure don't follow hockey
close enough writing this politically correct kiss a$$ love story about
a player who did not do the job, and failed miserably.
- Kings fan since72

AA for Budaj is a good trade but kinda like changing from Scott t.p. to Charmin. I hope Blake can make some significant moves. I don't know why but I don't have much confidence in Blake.
Blake is no Dean or Rogie.......time will tell, I guess.

AA for Budaj is a good trade but kinda like changing from Scott t.p. to Charmin. I hope Blake can make some significant moves. I don't know why but I don't have much confidence in Blake.
Blake is no Dean or Rogie.......time will tell, I guess.
- seven111dman

Well he certainly did not overpay for Toffoli an Pearson like the previous GM who seemed to have a more intimate tie to players. So he is no Dean there

Dean wanted to sign Lucic to a long term deal, thank god there was another GM who outbid him, imaging if the Kings were saddle with the Lucic contract Lombardi was offering.

Blake fixed the Gabby mistake as best he could and actually got a very serviceable player out of it.

Dean deserves credit for a couple of smart trades that helped the Kings be good over a 3 year period. He also deserves blame, for becoming too attached to guys and handing out some really stupid contracts.

"In Andreoff, the Kings are losing a capable checking third line forward who has proven to be a good teammate in his four season with LA"

3rd line????? Don't make me laugh Mr. writer of the year. But you did.
AA was horrible. For a writer of the Kings, you sure don't follow hockey
close enough writing this politically correct kiss a$$ love story about
a player who did not do the job, and failed miserably.
- Kings fan since72

Looks like Kovalchuck is looking for something else so he won't be in LA until the Kings play the team he signs with. Thank goodness for that because he will look horrible in this Kings dump and chase system. Until they get a new coach who has no ties to Sutter's system, the Kings will continue to have scoring issues no matter whom they bring in. Plus, Kovy is 35 and hasn't played in the NHL for 5 years. Not someone the Kings really need especially since they need to re-sign Doughty next year and Brown's contract is not going to go anywhere. Kovy isn't going to sign a 1 year deal either.

Well he certainly did not overpay for Toffoli an Pearson like the previous GM who seemed to have a more intimate tie to players. So he is no Dean there

Dean wanted to sign Lucic to a long term deal, thank god there was another GM who outbid him, imaging if the Kings were saddle with the Lucic contract Lombardi was offering.

Blake fixed the Gabby mistake as best he could and actually got a very serviceable player out of it.

Dean deserves credit for a couple of smart trades that helped the Kings be good over a 3 year period. He also deserves blame, for becoming too attached to guys and handing out some really stupid contracts.
- fsanford

Right....Blake did well on the gabby deal. Dean did sign up some bad post cup deals. Id prefer Blake turns out to be the best ever..GKG

Well he certainly did not overpay for Toffoli an Pearson like the previous GM who seemed to have a more intimate tie to players. So he is no Dean there

Dean wanted to sign Lucic to a long term deal, thank god there was another GM who outbid him, imaging if the Kings were saddle with the Lucic contract Lombardi was offering.

Blake fixed the Gabby mistake as best he could and actually got a very serviceable player out of it.

Dean deserves credit for a couple of smart trades that helped the Kings be good over a 3 year period. He also deserves blame, for becoming too attached to guys and handing out some really stupid contracts.
- fsanford

At what point did Blake sign Toff and Pearson ...

At what point did Blake sign Toff and Pearson ...
- poisondhearts37

About a year ago.

People thought Toffoli was a 6 million dollar player, (RFA's are getting much larger deals these days)

Stevens was no shake up. I agree, a new coach would be one of the best moves to squeeze out the most of our aging core. That along with some offense might get us to the second or third round.
- seven111dman

I agree. I'm not poo-pooing upgrading the roster, but doing so while keeping the coaching staff the same will offer only so much improvement (if any at all). Doing both, though--upgrading the roster and upgrading the coaching--would be a one-two punch that could make the team a contender again. If Gallant could make the Knights a contender, what could he have done with this roster, if he'd been hired instead of Stevens? Unfortunately, I know that a coaching change is not going to happen, since Blake isn't going to fire Stevens after only one year. He'll most likely ride him until it's too late for this core group.

I agree. I'm not poo-pooing upgrading the roster, but doing so while keeping the coaching staff the same will offer only so much improvement (if any at all). Doing both, though--upgrading the roster and upgrading the coaching--would be a one-two punch that could make the team a contender again. If Gallant could make the Knights a contender, what could he have done with this roster, if he'd been hired instead of Stevens? Unfortunately, I know that a coaching change is not going to happen, since Blake isn't going to fire Stevens after only one year. He'll most likely ride him until it's too late for this core group.
- Osprey

Or turn them into the Islanders, Canes, Panthers, Devils etc.
Coaching changes don't always mean instant return.

Lots of teams make coaching changes and suck even more afterward.

Or turn them into the Islanders, Canes, Panthers, Devils etc.
Coaching changes don't always mean instant return.

Lots of teams make coaching changes and suck even more afterward.
- fsanford

Teams that are mismanaged and not built well in the first place go through coaches because they don't know how to create winning teams and expect each new coach to make up for their incompetence. The Kings are not there (yet). They've proven that they have the ingredients to be a contender. For teams like that (and even ones that haven't proven anything, but are managed well), coaching changes provide returns more often than not.

I agree. I'm not poo-pooing upgrading the roster, but doing so while keeping the coaching staff the same will offer only so much improvement (if any at all). Doing both, though--upgrading the roster and upgrading the coaching--would be a one-two punch that could make the team a contender again. If Gallant could make the Knights a contender, what could he have done with this roster, if he'd been hired instead of Stevens? Unfortunately, I know that a coaching change is not going to happen, since Blake isn't going to fire Stevens after only one year. He'll most likely ride him until it's too late for this core group.
- Osprey

Unfortunately that's probably how it will play out

I'm not sure why you would write that Quick gets a goaltender that he is comfortable with when Budaj is going to back up Petersen in Ontario. The entire reason for the trade is Andreoff was going to be waived and so they brought Budaj back to mentor AHL rookie and All-Star Petersen in Ontario. Jack Campbell is going to be the Kings back up short of injury. Budaj also gives you the 3rd guy with NHL experience. It doesn't sound like you are very familiar with the Kings organization.