You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Go to Page...
Thank you for crosschecking our sponsors!
About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. I agree with the sentiment everyone shares in that it sucks we did not win the lottery.
The reason why I wanted the first overall pick was simply to trade
View Poll Results: Where do we look for our 2nd line center?
So while everyone continues to moan about our future being decided by a random lottery, I'll dispute that by saying our future and the strength of our franchise is being decided by Dean Lombardi and not a random drawing. If a defenseman makes him salivate enough to the point where given the opportunity he would pass on a young, franchise centerman ... who am I to say he's wrong? I've not seen the things he's seen, travelled the miles he's travelled or done the things he's done to get where he is. What picking #2 means is that he doesn't get the opportunity to break your hearts in doing what's best and what's right for the team.
So, in the end - I'm not disapointed at all with the outcome of the lottery. Disapointment lasted about 30 minutes. Instead, I'm geared and ready for the upcoming season knowing that the weakest part of the team's lineup will be mightily addressed like it never has been before.
But that still leaves one glaring hole... one that's not as inane but just as vital in regards to sustaining the team's scoring power... 2nd line center.
So the question is, where to go from here?
The way I see things, the Kings have three options to fill the #2 centerman position.
1) Trade
2) In-House
3) Free Agency
Trading would include packaging current roster forwards (you know who), prospects and especially draft picks in exchange for an established center like Olli Jokinen. That would probably be the ideal situation since Olli is not on speaking terms with his coach and it's growing more and more obvious that his days in Florida are numbers. He's got 2 years left on his current deal. Others could be: Jordan Staal, Jeff Carter, Dan Fritsche, Phil Kessel, Patrick Marleau, Jiri Tlusty, etc.
In-House - With as much emphasis as we put on depth at forward, there really is not a whole lot of depth at the center position when it comes to upper tier first or 2nd line players. There are guys like Brian Boyle, Trevor Lewis, Marc-Andre Cliche, Bud Holloway but they all seem to have third and fourth line qualities. We've yet to see the best from Brian Boyle and I really like the Meckler kid so there is a lot of potential there that could potentially blossom into a 2nd line center but is it a safe thing to count on that?
Free Agency - well, there's NO one there besides RFA and DL's already stated that he doesn't feel the franchise is ready to start signing guys to offer sheets given the compensation required. The only guys available are Daymond Langkow, Brendan Morrisson, and Vinny Prospal but they're all 30+ years old.
So, then, the question is... where would you want DL to go to fill the role?
Last edited by The Natural; April 8th, 2008 at 08:35 AM.
It's Brian Boyle's opportunity to take the ball and run with it.
As ATL's futile attempts in 06/07 proved, and the insane price paid for briere and gomez, play making centers are few, far between, and expensive as ****.
I don't think we can go the UFA route at the Center position unless Kopitar inks an extension. If we go and sign Langkow or somebody it is going to cost more than it did to sign Nagy or Handzus. Probably looking at $5 million per for Langkow. 30 goals in each of the last two seasons....
If we could swing a trade for Carter that would be sweet but his play of late will make that impossible.
I think we are going to need to develop from within at that position.
Between: Kopitar/Boyle/Handzus/Lewis/Army our center position is set. Yes, Stamkos would be a huge upgrade, but that aint gonna happen. Also, both Sully and/or Cammy could play center, though I prefer them on the wing.
Patrick O'Sullivan. This guy needs to get a fair shot at being our second line center. Crawford seems intent on playing him at wing, which is fine, he is effective there, but he would be a great center for Frolov. And with his defensive skills and acumen seemingly vastly improved, there's no reason to not give him a shot. Gescom and I have been in favor of this for the past season or so.
I'm guessing nothing in particular will be done about it in the off season. Next season Army will start as second line center but in time, due to Crawford line juggling, we'll see Boyle take that role instead. That's what I think will happen.
We could get by with Army for another year and win a ton more games, if we can continue with the solid goaltending, and play better D.
Now, Brian Boyle will probably be our 2nd line center by the end of next year. I honestly feel DL is talking about him being a 3rd, 4th line player because he does not want to put too much pressure on him. He wants him to work on his defensive game, and this also Keeps Boyle hungry which will insure that he works his arse off.
Stop worrying about our centers, we are not perfect at center. However, our lack of a Stamkos on the 2nd line it is not keeping us out of the playoffs, our ****** defense is.
Quote:
Patrick O'Sullivan. This guy needs to get a fair shot at being our second line center. Crawford seems intent on playing him at wing, which is fine, he is effective there, but he would be a great center for Frolov. And with his defensive skills and acumen seemingly vastly improved, there's no reason to not give him a shot. Gescom and I have been in favor of this for the past season or so.
I would not be opposed to O'sullivan being given the spot.
Last edited by symbology; April 8th, 2008 at 10:04 AM.
Now where do we go? (2nd Line Center) 
mudfisher
