Leveling Hexpectations

[Carla Muller]

As the Kings start the next year of the rebuild, here we sit a few days away from the NHL’s version of the biggest, most expensive garbage sale ever. Let’s get real that is a pretty accurate visual to the unrestricted free agents signed by Lombardi. In fairness, there is one set of unrestricted signings that is ignored on most people’s way to the letter “F” people give the man in charge of the most sweeping rebuild ever when it comes to unrestricted signings.

Not every undrafted player has become the answer; but these unrestricted free agent signings are rarely acknowledged when critiquing Lombardi on this subject. Sometimes the best surprises are the unexpected quiet acquisitions. Exhibit “A” to be the best prospect would have to be Purcell. Exhibit “C” appears to be Piskula. Win or lose, Lombardi is in the ballgame. Lombardi does deserve credit for all of these signings, not just the most expensive ones.

I do think that some of the reason Kings’ fans want to swipe the Kings’ vast checkbook out of Lombardi’s hands (like yesterday or at least before next Tuesday) has something to do with expectations. To be even clearer, the actual expectation issues have more to do with fans’ hopes… not Hextall or Lombardi apparently.

For those who want to ship and/or buy out Preissing, it turns out I think his play is exactly what the brain trust expected. I may have wanted a four year player, the Golden Gate Bridge of bridges, sure made me think he would be more than he is. Heck, I remember the three way trade between the Sharks, Blackhawks and Senators. Many thought after the dust settled, with hindsight, the best player moved was Preissing to the Senators. The Canadian press talked about how he was the quiet hidden jewel in the three team swap which was known more for Havlat’s new address than Preissing I suspect.

Here is the thing though; of course Senators’ fans loved him. He was making less than a million dollars and he fit on a second power play unit. In other words, what he delivered in relation to his salary made him a steal. He over-performed for his wages.

So now, it is time for the reality check Hextall gave during one of this off-season’s Town Meetings. Apparently, the Kings saw Preissing as a 5 or 6th defenseman. No more and no less. Go figure…

Kings’ fans scream, sigh and want him to be more than he is and then are rightfully disappointed. Actually, some of the biggest busts probably start with fans wanting players to be more than they are.

Handzus, another one of those expensive bridges, has that same perception issue with fans’ expectations vs. Hextall and Lombardi’s take. Fans think, again quite reasonably, at $4 million per annum, he should not only be a #2 center, but a good one. Hextall explained with Handzus how he is truly a #3 center and when he is put in the position to be at #2, well… he better have some pretty great wingers to compensate for the fact he is out of place in that role.

My point?

Both Hextall and Lombardi need to say what the bridges and filler types’ roles from Day One. And I suspect that will never happen. More likely, it is probably better to start creating our monetary hierarchy so that fans can crack the secret code of what $$ amount delivers what type of player.

Think about it, if Lombardi just sent out a glossary that said something to the effect of:

• $3 million or less defenseman, third pairing guy and if he breaks a sweat and manages to look at home as a second pairing D, well… the team got lucky and the player over-achieved.
• $4 million dollar center, better look at the players’ stats to see what role they really filled on their prior teams. Or…. Is the player the infamous, barely defined winner player, where points do not matter and their ability to win in their past is what the Kings are buying. (And not points)
• $2 million or less player at any position and that player had to be bribed to come here because as Hextall so poignantly explained to fans at the last meeting, no one wants to come here. (And yeah, I am still disgusted with this portion of Hextall’s take on this subject.) The losing is just too much for a veteran to live with and the team has to force players to stay in the NHL in Los Angeles of all places (the horrors) and better yet, if anyone is still unsure what Lombardi expects, if there is a no trade or no movement clause, heck… those guys were really doing the Kings a favor and they should be ceded complete control of their fate. Enough said.

I will say this based upon the fumes my tires left at Toyota Sports Center from that meeting, well… if the Kings take no ownership in defining roles for veterans to help them meet expectations, and oh yeah…. succeed, well then it is a good thing this organization is going younger. After all, the culture this organization screams to need, that is for the kids to figure out for themselves. At least now, the unmotivated overpaid unmovable players will have to look elsewhere July 1. And for me, not a moment too soon.

Carla Muller

Carla.hockeygal@att.net

[going5hole]

I am going to have to say that my biggest problem with Lombardi is his lack of consideration of health issues. McCauley, Handzus, Cloutier all had serious knee problems. All got multi-year contracts. I understand that if you are a risk taker if you take a risk on a healthy draft pick. I don't understand why you would take a risk (expensive long-term ones) on these type of players. Chalk it up to ambitious mistakes? Or is it really that hard to sign quality/healthy veterans to where there is a tradition of losing?

I am truly thankful that Lombardi is going to be a minor player when free agency hits on July 1st. One or two players for one or two years. Maximum. Unless its Hossa then you have my blessing to go balls to the wall.

[going5hole]

Btw... I personally don't have issues with Preissing. He played 77 games. 26 pts. only a -6. Lacked toughness, but that really wasn't his playing style. I don't think we overpaid by all that much. He is what he is.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by going5hole

I am going to have to say that my biggest problem with Lombardi is his lack of consideration of health issues. McCauley, Handzus, Cloutier all had serious knee problems.

You are dead on here but there is also one more thing these players have in common. They all had prior relationships with Dean. The ugliest exception, of course, is Cloutier but his ill-fated connection is the man love between him and Crawford.

Lombardi has talked about cultivating your own players b/c you know what is going on between the ears. That knowledge is something Lombardi has coveted with the Kings with too much regularity - when it comes to bringing in new players. Insert players to your list like Thornton and Stuart on that one.

I can appreciate that factor being so valued by DL, but his downfall has been b/c the primary positive is a past knowledge rather than a current talent the Kings need. Considering he fired and cleaned out the whole organization, some of me thinks that Lombardi wanted at least some known entities while he re-built essentially the entire organization from top to bottom. He may have needed some connection to some of the team that wasn't a crap shoot. Call it the devil you know vs. the devil you do not. I will give him a pass if that trend stops now.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by going5hole

Btw... I personally don't have issues with Preissing. I don't think we overpaid by all that much. He is what he is.

The fact you get that 'he is what he is' tells me why you are neutral towards him. Admittedly, I want him to do more than I have seen him do so far. The biggest factor seems to be that the team has had so many holes and those signed for longer deals, well... I want to see some validity for why he got twice the term of the typical bridge players. (Did the organization really need to sign a 5th or 6th D a four year deal? That is the question that escapes me.)