Blake Gone – What Does His Departure Really Mean?

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by SpanishFly

ummm.....know your audience?

I hear you and wish that seemed doable. There are people here of all ages and backgrounds from what I can tell. I am 100% open to learning about my audience here.

[VCRW]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

This may be the disconnect. The Kings had no intention of signing the 'top talent' going into this UFA period. Also, by all accounts, this was a weak unrestricted group to begin with. I would have even less confidence if the Kings signed Campbell for the deal he got. A #1 defenseman who is not known for his defense. Redden gets a 6 year deal for 6.5 million per annum, the same ##s from his last deal and Ottawa repeatedly tried to trade him. Finger gets 3.75 million and has 94 NHL games. Blake at $5 million. No thanks across the board.

This sounds like an expectations thing to me. Anyone who thought the Kings were going to be signing anyone now for inflated dollars weren't reading Lombardi's quotes going into this in the first place. I have no idea where this team ranks next year; but at least the excuses are gone. Time to find out if DL is the guy or not. I see no other way to find this out. And if the team is in last place, then another lottery pick and I bet next year's team plays harder than last year's team did. That alone would make it worth it. (alcohol may be required more than usual next season)

Disconnect? The only disconnect is DL not being able to replace either of the team's top 2 defensemen. Are you actually saying he didn't try to go after Stuart or Oprik? C'mon, Carla. You can't disguise a salary dump by wrapping it in rose petals. The Kings are now the NHL's Clippers.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by VCRW

Are you actually saying he didn't try to go after Stuart or Orpik? C'mon, Carla. You can't disguise a salary dump by wrapping it in rose petals.

If DL was in salary dump mode, he wouldn't have even made offers to Stuart or Orpik. Last year, DL needed to fill 8 holes with unrestricteds. This year, between trades and drafting, the Kings were only looking to fill 2 possible UFA spots/needs that being the obvious defensemen. That is a 75% reduction in team need. I am happy to say some of these moves were salary dumps. As I understand it, that was to leave cap space to re-sign the core of O'Sullivan, Kopitar and Johnson. If these players aren't re-signed, for whatever reason, then I will strap on the DL is full of it bandwagon. Until then, I am going to watch this play out.

[GoalieDad]

Carla as fan over 40 (Yes children there were Kings players of reknown before Potvin and Deadmarsh can you actually say I saw the Miracle on Manchester when it happened?) I love your insight. I agree we need to stop signing also rans to ridiculous contracts and to borrow a drag racing adage from my youth "run what you brung." I was on the fence about reupping my ticket package but I am ready to watch some young guys kick butt! I think Boyle will be a one man wrecking machine on Pacific Division teams!

Carla keep up the great work.

[five4fighting]

...I just hope it's not like watching a trainwreck over and over again... :x

hornman[/quote]

That is not a light at the end of the tunnel my friend and its only going to get brighter .......

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by SpanishFly

allow me to be of assistance.....lots and I mean lots of stupid guys. Mostly in their 20's.

This was my initial belief. When I first began participating, with this belief, I called myself 'old'. Someone said, fine, define old. I did. Others explained how that was nothing and they were even more ancient than I. From that point on, I stopped assuming and figured the age ranges here were pretty vast. (For the record, I am 43 for another week or so.)

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by GoalieDad

I agree we need to stop signing also rans to ridiculous contracts and to borrow a drag racing adage from my youth "run what you brung." I was on the fence about reupping my ticket package but I am ready to watch some young guys kick butt! I think Boyle will be a one man wrecking machine on Pacific Division teams!

It is nice to be in the company of another 40-something. I too look forward to seeing what the youth will bring us. We tried looking at the also-rans and bridges. Time to take off the training wheels, and not a moment too soon....

(I think more than Boyle will surprise the Pacific Division teams. It may not be next year but I see it happening. One of the Kings best weapons right now is that opponents do not really respect the Kings. We may steal some points that way.)

[CUP4LA]

Great post Carla! I think you nailed it.


I'm still concerned that our most experienced defenseman played all of last year in the AHL.
I'm thinking that Hickey has a real shot this year.

Not to change the topic of the thread but what did you think of the Sandhagan decision? (respond with a PM).