One Chick’s Point of View on UFAs, Closing the Deal & the Measure of a GM

[Carla Muller]

Admittedly, I am just getting to know the folks on letsgokings.com and am really pleased with the company. I have read threads in the past when there were discussions of mood swings, sand box fighting and some pretty great hockey debate. The last ten (10) days have given me a front row seat to the action and no one disappointed. My favorite, (I think), response I received today was when someone asked; “Did this chick really just compare what Dean Lombardi is doing to the Billy Crystal character in ‘When Harry Met Sally’?”

I decided to use my chick moment to apply another chick perspective… egad! Anyway, I am really trying to correlate the angrier folks who berate Lombardi for doing nothing, and closing no deals rather than doing something that didn’t make sense. If I was more technologically proficient then I could find out what everyone really thought after last year’s signings of Stuart, Nagy, Calder, Modry, and Handzus and compare that to the benefit of hindsight a year later.

All of me believes that would not be time well spent. The Kings lack of signings reminds me of a conversation I had once upon a time with my sister. While I remain single, she has been in exclusive relationships since she was in her teens. In a fight one day, the following barb left her lips: “It is not my fault that men fell in love with me and want to spend the rest of their lives with me.” Ouch… heck double ouch… the power of some words never go away.

My real point is that a really good friend, seeing my discomfort, asked the most reasonable question: “Did I want any of the men who wanted to spend the rest of their lives with my sister?” When I was done laughing, my response was obvious. Uhhh… no. Yeah; I hope to get married but I won’t marry just anyone to no longer be single. Maybe if I did then I could meet someone else’s definition of success but I would have to live with that very wrong person or not. I have never met a person who married the wrong person who thought that was a better choice in hindsight then staying single.

What is everyone really upset about? Do you want the team to sign a player, heck overpay a player simply to believe that Lombardi can close a deal? Or, should the real perspective be that the Kings no longer make desperate needy transactions and isn’t that an amazingly great and better way to go…. That is the question and perspective that is worth considering.

All of me believes if Lombardi went out and signed players, heck any players, just to appease the masses, and these signed players went through some serious suckage, just like their predecessors, people might be even madder in the future.

This brings me to the following question... is there any now signed UFAs that you not only wanted but (1) Would take them at the salary and term that they got; and (2) They would have come here.

Most of me thinks that while everyone wanted the emotional satisfaction of a signing more than fans want any of the guys who got overpaid this week. Signing the right choice has to be the goal, not just signing someone for the sake of getting a player at any price and regardless of whether they fit with this team.

Just one chick’s opinion.

Carla Muller

Carla.hockeygal@att.net

[kingznut99]

As always a voice of reason. I too wanted Blake back at a reasonable cost. If we are to be in the lottery next year, let us lose with the young players who dont have that sense of entitlemant.

P.S. Will yiou marry me? Just in case no one has asked. LOL

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by kingznut99

As always a voice of reason. I too wanted Blake back at a reasonable cost. If we are to be in the lottery next year, let us lose with the young players who dont have that sense of entitlemant.

Yes!! Thanks for getting it. (I know others do too but you responded so you get the appreciation. )

Originally Posted by kingznut99

P.S. Will you marry me? Just in case no one has asked.

Introduce yourself at Frozen Fury, we'll talk.... (Be sure to come with some past tax returns, current medical reports and some references. A girl has to do her homework, ya know....)

[MightyMike]

I think part of the irritation that the Kings fans feel right now stems from the drastic (one may argue 180° degree) change in the philosophy from last year to this year.
Last year it was all about builders and bridges and fillers and what not.

As it was it was clear that this teams needs also veterans and at least tries to be competitive.
This has clearly not worked out.
But i guess nobody expected DL to turn around and do more or less the exact opposite of last year and go all in by signing no first, second or third tier UFA and leaving it up to the kids to start getting this tanker into motion.

As much as i dislike Blake it was absolutely clear to me that he would return for one more season and give the blueline at least a little bit of stability.
So all in all i'm not angry but a little bit anxious how this approach (which may actually be the right one) will turn out and there is at least as much chance for epic failure (if not more) than that the season may turn into a success story.

If the Kings prospect camp goes well and the training camp looks good i guess all will go back to normal but this is going to be
a very critical season in the development of the Kings.
And i don't even want to think about what's going to happen if the season goes down the drain again.

[kingznut99]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

Yes!! Thanks for getting it. (I know others do too but you responded so you get the appreciation. )
Introduce yourself at Frozen Fury, we'll talk.... (Be sure to come with some past tax returns, current medical reports and some references. A girl has to do her homework, ya know....)

I am not sure that I will make it to Vegas this year. I am off to New York in early September to see the Yankee Staduim for the last time.

You are the writer and attorney, so it might be you that needs the references. LOL

But you can always catch me in 333 come October.

[CUP4LA]

I agree with your point, but the roster is looking pretty scary right now.

[King Ludwig]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

Yeah; I hope to get married but I won’t marry just anyone to no longer be single.

If you decide to get married...I have a small piece of advice for you...

Don't throw the bouquet near any redheads... I'm too pretty to get married...

[Cup B4 I Die]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

Yes!! Thanks for getting it. (I know others do too but you responded so you get the appreciation. )
Introduce yourself at Frozen Fury, we'll talk.... (Be sure to come with some past tax returns, current medical reports and some references. A girl has to do her homework, ya know....)

When you're at Frozen Fury, just wear a hat or shirt with your name on it. All it has to say is 'I am Carla Muller'. I'm sure you'll get plenty of LGK.com guys buying you drinks. I'm spoken for already, but If I see you, beer on me.

Keep up the good work. Go Kings!