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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. This team has alot of question marks concerning goaltending and defense and those have to be addressed first and foremost.
Goaltending:
Cloutier is probably done and Labarbera being hurt so
This team has alot of question marks concerning goaltending and defense and those have to be addressed first and foremost.
Goaltending:
Cloutier is probably done and Labarbera being hurt so much probably sealed his fate with being a #1 so do we leave Bernier in Manchester for a year like Price in Hamilton or do we throw him to the wolves ala Jamie Storr? We probably won't be very good again next year so I wouldn't mind picking up a veteran like say a Curtis Joseph(just an example, not saying him persay)and letting Ersberg have his shot. That way Bernier gets his experiance and if he's tearing it up call him up toward the end of the season and give him a taste. This to me is the most important area of immediate improvement as I'd like Bernier to step into a situation where he feels he doesn't have to carry the team which is way to much pressure. Hell, I'd even be willing to bring in Kolzig for a year who's not happy being second fiddle to Huet in Washington. That way, he(Kolzig) has enough gas left in the tank to play next year and then maybe be a backup to Bernier in 2 years and mentor him ala Blake and Johnson. Kolzig probably wouldn't break the bank as he'd be happy to get out of Washington and change of scenery might rejuvenate him for at least a year which would carry us right into the Bernier era.
Defense:
Realistically, I'd bring Blake(at a VERY reduced rate) and Stuart back and try and sign Orpik who's exactly what we need back there. If we could do that I think we'd be ok on the backline as someone like Orpik takes the pressure off of Blake and Stuart who won't feel the pressure of being overly physical. There is no way I trade Visnovsky as who the hell is gonna score without him there? You have to figure Hickey and whoever we pick at #2 will be atleast a year or longer in the making so our d would be:
Visnovsky/Orpik
Blake/Johnson
Stuart/Preissing
I could live with those 6 and I could see us maybe even sneaking in at #8 if whoever is in goal plays on top of their head. Offense won't be a problem for this team and I do think Handzus will be better so our lines could look something like this to start out:
Brown/Kopitar/Frolov
O'Sullivan/Cammy/UFA?
Calder/Handzus/Armstrong
Ivanans/Boyle/Ellis*
Not sure what Nagy's status is but maybe he's worth a look at another one year deal with an option as he seems to play his best in contact years. I've tried to keep the UFA signing to a realistic level and I think Stuart and Orpik are obtainable. I just don't see us making a play for Hossa,Jagr or Campbell who would be the only guy if we signed I would feel comfortable letting Visnovsky go. By the end of the or the middle of the year maybe Boyle moves from the 4th to 3rd line and Armstrong goes to the 4th line.
*You could also add to the mix guys like Purcell,Moulson,Zeiler,scrub UFA signing....I think Upshall is a UFA if I'm not mistaken and he would be a nice 3rd/4th line guy. I'm assuming Malone will get a somewhat crazy offer from somebody and I don't think we'll be a major player for him. I think the possibility of a major trade could happen at the draft as with 15 picks we are in a great position to move some spare picks for a decent 2nd/3rd line guy.
1. Trade Cammy, Preissing, Dallas's 1st, and a 2nd to Atlanta for Exelby and their 09 1st rounder
2. Sign Orpik
3. Trade Calder for whatever
4. Play the kids
Roll with this:
Brown-Kopitar-O'Sully
Frolov-Boyle-Purcell
Moulson-Handzus-Simmonds
B. Murray-Armstrong-Ivanans
PM Bouchard is awesome. Granted he's small and they won't let him take faceoffs but he was very good in the playoffs, scoring goals despite Gaborik not having a good series.
Plus, he had 50 assists in the regular season. With all of the skilled wingers the Kings have they might as well get a playmaking second line center (since Kopitar likes to shoot). It's not a great option since he's a RFA, but it looks like Koivu will be the first line center next year and Minnesota is a team that the Kings should be trying to catch for last playoff spot.
Bouchard is a winger and hasn't played center in years.
I'd try to sign a couple veteran stay at home dmen like Salvador, Montador, Commodore or Orpik. I think we could use some veteran experience on the 3rd and 4th lines as well, someone like Donovan would be ideal.
He plays best in contract years? Yeah, definitely sign him for 6M per season this time, because his last contract season was great.
Before his injury he was playing his best hockey of the season and you know with the one year deal he had he would have given it all he's got to get another deal. I'm just saying I wouldn't be opposed to signing him to another one year deal with an option. He had 26(only 9 fewer than Army* in 39 less games) points in 38 and while those are not staggering numbers to say the least it's not bad for a 3rd line guy as over 80 games if he could do it that's about 55-60 points and I could live with say he,Handzus and maybe a speedy guy(Moulson/Purcell?)as our stopper/energy line.
*and that's with Army getting a boatload of minutes
Birdman
