[Byatch1979]

With the much anticipated trade deadline over and done with, and the Kings walking away with yet more draft picks (and not the kind that many dreamers around here were anticipating), how's everyone feeling about DL's 'master plan' now?

In my opinion, no one should be all that happy, or really even all that surprised.

Anyone notice that the draft picks the Kings have acquired from other teams are all going to be late round picks (maybe not the Modry one)? What Stuart fetched was basically a third and fifth rounder, a far cry from what some predicted, but I won't hold DL accountable for their idiocy. He got what Stuart was worth, same with Modry. Aubin? Who cares. Bottom line, most around the league see DL's performance as a failure to maximize what he had (yet again).

Now what didn't happen was anything else whatsoever. The only bright spot with this is that there were no throw in deals 'Huet or Reinprecht-style' that might have been necessary to facilitate larger deals. I saw this happening with Purcell. The negative is that the fat on the King's roster wasn't turned into squat, it's just useless fat. Why? Largely because of NTC's. Nice job DL. Who, other than a genuine bum buddy, would give Scott Thornton a NTC? I didn't know it was possible for Scott to be anymore useless to the Kings, but DL found a way.

By not moving more roster players, the Kings remain more competitive for this season which can't please the 'tank for Stamkos' jabroni's around here. The seemingly more level-headed (or foolish) crowd, that's satisfied with giving DL a full five years to work with (and suck) before giving judgment, will say 'wait for the draft, big moves will be made' are likely just setting themselves up for another disappointment, ala 07 draft, but that remains to be seen. These folks own the most stock in Kool-Aid by far.

No matter how many picks the Kings have, the draft is unlikely to yield any difference makers for the next season, and since LA is a FA graveyard, the same can be figured for free agency. This means that the Kings should be in the thick of things for the Tavares sweepstakes. Yippie. What this also means is another year of complete and utter suckage for LA. Now supposedly, all this losing is supposed to turn into Stanley Cup dominance forevermore and all's well that ends well, and DL will be the greatest GM who ever lived.

Personally, before my lips are stained red, I need to something more tangible than the promise of better things tomorrow while we stink up the ice today. I've heard THAT story far too many times before. And while we wait, the disappointments roll on, and the dreamers dream and the Kool-Aid drinkers glug. Same ol, same ol, I suppose.