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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. Whilst reading the posts about how many on here would like the Kings to tank in order for us to get the magic lottery number, I was struck with the
Whilst reading the posts about how many on here would like the Kings to tank in order for us to get the magic lottery number, I was struck with the thought that Stamkos would not(for some daft reason as he seems to be the answer to all our problems) coach or gm the Kings.
The point I am making is that whilst Stamkos will probably have an awesome career and put up some great numbers he is in no way the answer to our problems. There must be a reason that teams like Detroit, New Jersey, Colorado and Dallas dont have to rely on the lottery to restock their teams, and surely that reason is that they are well run franchises from the top down who are built to win season after season and do not tolerate mediocrity the way some seem to do. I wonder how long Crawford and Lombardi would have lasted if they had handed the same dross to the afore-mentioned teams that we have had to put up with this season.
Although I like most on here salivate at the chance of getting Stamkos, there is a part of me that cannot help thinking that even if we lose our remaining games, get the 1st pick and choose Stamkos, in 5 years time he might be playing for the Detroits of the league and we might be on here hoping that the Kings lose their last few games so that we can pick some other young stud of a player.
Whilst reading the posts about how many on here would like the Kings to tank in order for us to get the magic lottery number, I was struck with the thought that Stamkos would not(for some daft reason as he seems to be the answer to all our problems) coach or gm the Kings.
The point I am making is that whilst Stamkos will probably have an awesome career and put up some great numbers he is in no way the answer to our problems. There must be a reason that teams like Detroit, New Jersey, Colorado and Dallas dont have to rely on the lottery to restock their teams, and surely that reason is that they are well run franchises from the top down who are built to win season after season and do not tolerate mediocrity the way some seem to do. I wonder how long Crawford and Lombardi would have lasted if they had handed the same dross to the afore-mentioned teams that we have had to put up with this season.
Although I like most on here salivate at the chance of getting Stamkos, there is a part of me that cannot help thinking that even if we lose our remaining games, get the 1st pick and choose Stamkos, in 5 years time he might be playing for the Detroits of the league and we might be on here hoping that the Kings lose their last few games so that we can pick some other young stud of a player.
You must not know your hockey history very well because all of the teams you mentioned sucked hard for many seasons before they finally turned it around and became dominating forces in the league.
How did they start their domination? By having very high draft picks, holding onto them, and then picking the best young players in the draft. Those assets either remained with the clubs in question for a very long time (see Sakic, Brodeur, Yzerman, Foote, etc.) or they were traded to acquire missing pieces (Patrick Roy for example).
There is nothing wrong with wanting the best player available in the draft even if it means losing two meaningless games, and yes Virginia they are meaningless.
__________________ Hockey's original bad boy. The "Cowboy" Howie Young
Hey man, I truly understand the sentiment, but I personally think it's one year too early on Crawford and 3 years too early on Lombardi as far as passing judgement goes. It has to get really ugly before it gets good. The free agent signings of last summer are the only legit fault against Lombardi, but everyone knows he took what was available and had to overpay just to put a team on the ice. The only alternative that I've seen suggested would have been to play all kids all year, and that' s just not a good idea.
New Jersey - Lamoriello's system is the blueprint for Lombardi's.
Colorado - stunk it up in Quebec and drafted or aquired Sakic, Sundin, Lindros/Forsberg, Deadmarsh, etc. within a few years as a result of their suckage.
Detroit - stunk all through the 80's.
Dallas - I got nothin.
No one ever said he was the answer to all of our problems, but I do believe he would be a huge answer to one of our very big problems. A legit second line center instead of armstrong would be a nice upgrade. Kopitar and Stamkos down the middle sounds really nice to me!!
You must not know your hockey history very well because all of the teams you mentioned sucked hard for many seasons before they finally turned it around and became dominating forces in the league.
How did they start their domination? By having very high draft picks, holding onto them, and then picking the best young players in the draft. Those assets either remained with the clubs in question for a very long time (see Sakic, Brodeur, Yzerman, Foote, etc.) or they were traded to acquire missing pieces (Patrick Roy for example).
There is nothing wrong with wanting the best player available in the draft even if it means losing two meaningless games, and yes Virginia they are meaningless.
Sakic was picked 15th, Los Angeles picked Wayne McBean 4th that year.
Martin Brodeur was picked 20th Los Angeles picked Darryl Sydor at 7.
Yzerman picked 4th, L.A. never had a first that year. We still got Bruce Shoebottom two rounds ahead of Galley.
Adam Foote picked 22nd, Again LA never had a first round pick but we did get Brent Thompson at 39 whilst Niklas Lidstrom went in the 3rd round at 53.
Those four teams also tend to lose players to free agency and retirement on a regular basis.
Sakic was picked 15th, Los Angeles picked Wayne McBean 4th that year.
Martin Brodeur was picked 20th Los Angeles picked Darryl Sydor at 7.
Yzerman picked 4th, L.A. never had a first that year. We still got Bruce Shoebottom two rounds ahead of Galley.
Adam Foote picked 22nd, Again LA never had a first round pick but we did get Brent Thompson at 39 whilst Niklas Lidstrom went in the 3rd round at 53.
Those four teams also tend to lose players to free agency and retirement on a regular basis.
I don't get the point of this post other than it shows that without good scouting you don't pick the right players.
Lombardi in the past has been known as a GM that has an organization that scouts very well. He is just now getting that organization in place with the Kings. Having the higher pick(s) in the draft is always a good thing if your team doesn't make the playoffs.
I've got to hand it to DL. He knows how to build a perennial contender. Controlling salaries as well.
He has revamped our Scouting Staff to do things differently. Then, he has implementing a Development Program that in its first full year just turned out prospects with fantastic years. He met with the prospects a couple of times throughout the year as well.
It is working so far. If we can just one or two outstanding players a year out of the draft (each year for 4 or 5 years) to replenish our aging veteran list when they have matured into "warriors", then we'll have something VERY special for a while.
Who wants to be a Rangers or Tampa Bay flash in the pan? I want to be a Detroit or New Jersey type franchise.
We've sucked for so long, but without progress. At least now, we can say that we have progress on multiple prospect fronts... We don't have just one player coming through the system that is going to be our savior anymore.... We are developing multiple prospects with realistic expectations for them.
And lately it seems like, draft-wise, DL has the Midas touch. Every player he drafts turns to gold. Players that weren't on the Team Canada radar show up and prosper after Lombardi drafts them. All our draft picks are constantly All-Stars, Players of the Month, Star of the Game, named to national teams, etc., etc., etc.
This is exactly what you are saying that other teams are doing, but then wanting to fire Lombardi because he's not doing it (and using 15-20 year old drafts to prove that "the Kings" don't know how to draft).
Patience. DL needs to put Hextall in charge of Free Agents or something, but from a draft perspective, in all my years of watching drafts, Lombardi drafts at an elite level.
Whilstt this thread is making my eyes bleed, you forgot to mention that the Detroits of the NHL have a 2nd line center like Zetterberg. The Kings have
He is actually playing wing though, and on the first line. The Red wings second line reads Holmstrom Draper Samuelsson. But in essence Zetterberg is typical of what I was getting at, a 7th round pick number 210 overall.
Pity Stamkos can't be coach/gm 
KINGS17
