Ben Shelley: Halfway through season, Kings are exceeding expectations

The Kings are on the right track as far as rebuilding goes, Robitaille and Blake have exceeded my expectations so far, I think the best route for LA at the upcoming trade deadline would be to get younger and possibly see what value the older players have as rentals. Brown, Quick, Carter, Doughty.

The Kings are on the right track as far as rebuilding goes, Robitaille and Blake have exceeded my expectations so far, I think the best route for LA at the upcoming trade deadline would be to get younger and possibly see what value the older players have as rentals. Brown, Quick, Carter, Doughty.
- Shady1962

None of the players you listed are rentals....

They certainly are thecanuck341 to other possible suitors.

They certainly are thecanuck341 to other possible suitors.
- Shady1962

Rentals means that they are free agents at the end of the year, hence the team is "renting" them for the playoffs. All of the players you listed have at least another year remaining on their deals and the teams acquiring them would have to fit their entire AAV under the cap, not just the pro-rated trade deadline value.

They are, by definition, not rentals.

The Kings should stay the course and not make any major moves. If they want to make a move there may be some deals to be made around the expansion draft time. If they don't make the playoffs they are still on the projected growth course with another lottery pick, but if they do make the playoffs that is just the icing on top.

I agree with Mr. Canuck. The players listed aren’t rentals but may still be tradable.

I don’t think the kings should make any big moves but if they could sacrifice some of the young offensive players for a young d-man, say Bowen Bryam for Turcotte, I’d be interested. Especially with JAD looking good(who may also be targeted) and Byfield in the mix.

I agree with Mr. Canuck. The players listed aren’t rentals but may still be tradable.

I don’t think the kings should make any big moves but if they could sacrifice some of the young offensive players for a young d-man, say Bowen Bryam for Turcotte, I’d be interested. Especially with JAD looking good(who may also be targeted) and Byfield in the mix.
- KingKopitar

I'd be fine with looking for suitors for Jeff Carter, but the other three guys he mentioned aren't going (and shouldn't go) anywhere until their current contract ends, unless Seattle feels compelled to take one of them in the expansion draft.

I'd be fine with looking for suitors for Jeff Carter, but the other three guys he mentioned aren't going (and shouldn't go) anywhere until their current contract ends, unless Seattle feels compelled to take one of them in the expansion draft.
- tkecanuck341

Pretty sure Carter has already said he'd retire if he was traded. I think Quick is a possible trade chip. Because we can expose grosenick in expansion draft. If anything were to happen with those listed players.

But for sure that dude has no idea what a rental is. lol

maybe the Kings are buyers this year.....

The Kings are on the right track as far as rebuilding goes, Robitaille and Blake have exceeded my expectations so far, I think the best route for LA at the upcoming trade deadline would be to get younger and possibly see what value the older players have as rentals. Brown, Quick, Carter, Doughty.
- Shady1962

At some point you need to try and win. You go too many seasons of losing it is hard to get out of the tailspin.

Unles they absolute fall out of contention before the deadline you need to send a message to both young and old, rebuild is done and the expectation is compete for the playoffs.

Otherwise you will turn into the Buffalo Sabres

At some point you need to try and win. You go too many seasons of losing it is hard to get out of the tailspin.

Unles they absolute fall out of contention before the deadline you need to send a message to both young and old, rebuild is done and the expectation is compete for the playoffs.

Otherwise you will turn into the Buffalo Sabres
- fsanford

Thats not how that works man. It isnt like its been a decade since they made playoffs. The Kings still dont even know what they got with many of these prospects. And simply attempting to trade off older players doesnt exactly solve anything. Not to mention you need veteran players who know what it took to win a cup to mentor the younger players.

From Down Goes Brown today in The Athletic (paywall):

Fake .500 – An NHL team that has a points percentage at or above .500 despite losing more games than they’ve won.

The Canadiens are fake .500 right now, because they’ve won 13 and lost 16 but are having their points percentage boosted by eight loser points. The Hawks are fake .500 too. The Kings are super fake .500, with six more losses than wins despite a .536 percentage.

The Kings are good by the NHL’s weird point system just like the ‘15 team was bad by NHL’s weird point system (when it was actually quite good). It would be an enormous mistake to be a buyer in this market. This team is not good.

^^^^
And they don't pass the eye test either. Even when they were on their winning streak, they were beating uninjured teams. IFF they make the playoffs, we'll see 5 games, tops, before they're out. They can't beat Vegas, might steal one from the Avs (but probably not) and maybe the get swept by the Wild at this point... IMO they don't get to the dance.

^^^^
And they don't pass the eye test either. Even when they were on their winning streak, they were beating uninjured teams. IFF they make the playoffs, we'll see 5 games, tops, before they're out. They can't beat Vegas, might steal one from the Avs (but probably not) and maybe the get swept by the Wild at this point... IMO they don't get to the dance.
- Stu17

1

1 playoff win since lifting the '14 Cup. Prior to this year, everyone complained about that and urged patience with a rebuild. Now? There is more and more talk about adding to make a run or at least standing pat with what we have. Why? So, like you write, we can get swept or pick-up 1 game in the playoffs? Would 1 or 2 wins be considered improvement?

I love the playoffs. You love the playoffs. We all love the playoffs. When the team sucked from '94 until around '09, the achievement for the club was the 2001 run to the second round. it was awesome. But, in the context of winning the Cup in '12 and '14? That was all a rather small achievement and sort of sad, in retrospect. I expect more of the club now.

Part of a rebuild is also a teardown. Outside the prospects, Blake should trade almost everyone not named Kopitar and Drew (because that's not happening at those Cap hits). Build for (probably) the 22-23 season at the earliest because, realistically, we won't be competitive until then.

No reason to make a move!!! The vets are playing well,the kids are being shown how to play well by the vets,and are exceeding expectations because of it.just keep this train on the same track it's on for 2-3 more seasons and we will start making the playoffs again with the talent coming.
Kings have shown they are a homegrown talent kinda franchise,kopitar,doughty,quick,brown all drafted and brought up thru the system and helped win 2 cups.im excited to see what this next generation of players can do.

Thats not how that works man. It isnt like its been a decade since they made playoffs. The Kings still dont even know what they got with many of these prospects. And simply attempting to trade off older players doesnt exactly solve anything. Not to mention you need veteran players who know what it took to win a cup to mentor the younger players.
- poisondhearts37

Um I believe I was saying the guys they have now need to kept and compete for the playoffs. Seems to be exactly what you are saying

I love the playoffs. You love the playoffs. We all love the playoffs. When the team sucked from '94 until around '09, the achievement for the club was the 2001 run to the second round. it was awesome. But, in the context of winning the Cup in '12 and '14? That was all a rather small achievement and sort of sad, in retrospect. I expect more of the club now.
- Only_A_Ladd

The Kings were arguably one game away from winning a Stanley Cup in 2001. They took Colorado to game 7 on the back of Felix Potvin, and the Avs went on to win the Cup by destroying the Blues in 5 and taking care of the Devils in 7.

There were 3-4 good years around the turn of century. I wouldn't say they sucked until they lost the entire LAPD line for no return from 2002-04.