Eight spots... who fills em?

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

Kings -
Monarchs -
Royals -
Reign -

LaBarbera, Ersberg, Cloutier, Bernier, Quick, Taylor, Rowat, Zatkoff....

Some other dudes we never heard of?

Who stays... who goes... who starts where next season?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

This was a tough question BEFORE Taylor and Ersberg inserted (asserted?) themselves into the mix.

I think the only thing keeping Cloutier from being bought out would be pure sadism on Lombardi's part.

I think that Ersberg has played himself into a spot on the NHL roster (alongside LaBarbera), barring a total meltdown in each remaining game.

And I think Bernier would have to really falter in the preseason to not be part of the answer in La Mancha.

Then the questions become... What's a better spot for a goalie, backing-up Bernier or starting in the ECHL? (History suggests that Quick gets that spot, and Taylor gets sloppy seconds.) Why wouldn't Rowat stay in the minors? Why would Zatkoff stay in college? And which ECHL club is going to be the preferred stop for our prospects? (Ontario is conveniently close.)

[PRMan!!]

I know I may have missed something, but I thought we weren't going to be affiliated with Reading anymore.

Apparently, everyone else thinks we are going to be so I guess I'm wrong.

[davndea]

Originally Posted by PRMan!!

I know I may have missed something, but I thought we weren't going to be affiliated with Reading anymore.

Apparently, everyone else thinks we are going to be so I guess I'm wrong.

Robitaille: Royals sticking with Kings - Reading Eagle Newspaper

Apparently, the Reading Royals’ affiliation with the Los Angeles Kings will go on, at least for another season.

During a press conference Monday in Ontario, Calif., Kings president of business operations Luc Robitaille said that the Royals will remain the team’s primary ECHL affiliate.

The expansion Ontario Reign will be Los Angeles’ secondary affiliate, Robitaille said. He added that, for geographical reasons, the Kings might call up Reign players in emergency situations.

[Creeping Death]

LA - Ersberg/LaBarbera
MAN - Bernier/Taylor
READ - Quick/Rowat
ONT - Zatkoff/Cloutier

Cloutier gets recalled for any injuries. Anything long term, Bernier comes in from Manchester.

[D0wntime]

Originally Posted by davndea

I think Cloutier will be around next year. Either at the Kings or the AHL. A buy out seems unlikely. The reason I think so: If we buy him out we still have to pay 2mil+ that counts against the cap. If we leave him in the AHL then 0 goes against the cap.
If we keep bringing him up and down there is a chance (small I know) some team will be desperate enough to pick him up on waivers. Then we might have to pay nothing of 1.5 mil. Unless we really need to save the mil for a free agent I don't see the ungrateful bum going leaving the system.

i highly doubt, given the kings young talent, that we will come close to spending at the cap. not including players like purcell, boyle, and any other rookies that may play in the nhl next year, and also not including restricted and unrestricted free agents like o'sully and ersberg, etc., the kings have $32.5 million locked up next year. tack on another 1.5 million and the kings still have over $20 million to sign o'sully, ersberg and what ever free agents they might need next year.

[DMAN3474]

Zatkoff will give it another year in NCAA.

Bernier will be in MCH with Quick, they will be splitting starting duties unit one is the clear cut #1.

Who ever loses the #1 in MCH will be in Ontario. He will be backed up by an unknown just to an echl contract with Ontario.

Rowat will stay in Juniors.

Taylor and another ECHL contract goalie.

Labs will get traded.

Ersberg and a ufa/traded for goalie will be the starters next season in LA

[ASUcruz]

Originally Posted by Wolvie

I think that Ersberg has played himself into a spot on the NHL roster (alongside LaBarbera), barring a total meltdown in each remaining game.

Sounds about right. I think the only way either guy is NOT on the NHL roster next season is if Bernier is lights out in training camp and pre-season and forces his way onto the roster. Even then, the Kings would probably still lean towards sending him to Manchester at least for the first half of the season.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

And I think Bernier would have to really falter in the preseason to not be part of the answer in La Mancha.

I think no matter what Bernier does in the pre-season the lowest level he'll go is the AHL. No way does he see time in Reading/Ontario.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

Why wouldn't Rowat stay in the minors? Why would Zatkoff stay in college?

Regarding these 2 guys, it takes two sides to complete a contract right? Lombardi might choose to not extend contract offers to both of these two players this off-season in order to alleviate the logjam we have regarding goalie spots, well at least he'll be delaying it till next summer.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

And which ECHL club is going to be the preferred stop for our prospects? (Ontario is conveniently close.)

I think Ontario will be the desired ECHL club for goalies. They are close to home base so to speak and its not that far a drive for Bill Randford to come and help you out.