It looks like the Kings will lead the league in spending on non-producing 3rd and 4th line centers...

O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Lord Cammi??-Boyle-Frolov
-His Highness will not be back next season. I'll put Purcell in his place.
Calder-Handzus-Purcell (if Lord Cammi stays)
Moulson-Armstrong-Ivanans

Visnovsky-Johnson
Harrold-Preissing
Piskula-Big D-man acquired for Lord Cammi
-DL better not re-sign Blake. If he does, I'm out of here.

Ersberg-Quick
-Zatkoff and Bernier need more seasoning time in the AHL.

Don't sign any of our Free agents. ESPECIALLY BLAKE.
And get rid of Armstrong too.

o'sullivan-kopitar-brown
cammalleri-boyle-frolov
calder-handzus-moulson
ivanans-armstrong-purcell

moulson and purcell are interchangeable. i see both players being shuffled around quite a bit.

blake-johnson
visnovsky-preissing
doughty-harrold

ersberg-labarbera

Dean said three or four people coming up from Manchester...

Cammalleri-Kopitar-Brown
O'Sullivan-Boyle-Frolov
Moulson-Handzus-Purcell
Ivanans-Murray-Ellis

spares: Calder-Armstrong

Visnovsky-Harrold
Preissing-Johnson
Blake-Hickey

spare: Dallman

Ersberg-LaBarbera

If Cammy gets traded, move Purcell into his spot...put Calder in Purcell's. Put the new D-man with Lubo, and move Harrold beside Blake.

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Second line: Purcell-Boyle-Frolov
Third line: Calder-Handzus-Moulson
Fourth line: Ivanans-Simmonds-Zeiler

First pairing: Blake-Johnson
Second pairing: Harrold-Visnovsky
Third pairing: Preissing-Doughty

Goalies: Ersberg-Babs

If anyone gets hurt, the first call-ups should be Ellis, Moller, and Hickey. But I would definitely get rid of Lord Cammi and Armstrong.

I wont try to break it into lines because to imply the Kings will have actual lines for more than one game next year would be absurd, but I'd give Boyle a shot at the bonus centre spot, keep Ellis up those two alone should improve both our powerplay and penalty kill respectively. I'd give Purcell a shot at the last spot and bring up Tukonen as an extra forward who could hopefully bring a little extra physicality. I also wouldnt be opposed to bringing Nagy back at a reduced salary. On D keep Harrold up, sign Commodore/Blake to play with him on the bottom pairing and keep Petoit around and play either him, Doughty, Piskula or Bagnall with Preissing someone a bit physical to compliment him. Then let LaBarbera and Ersberg duel it out in net.
Then again I want Hedman back there with Doughty Hickey Johnson Vishnovsky and Tyler Myers(no way he drops to us with the Dallas pick so I guess we trade up ) in a few years.

DL: please sign Blake! please sign Blake! I'll throw in some cash!

First line: Cammi-Kopitar-Brown
Second line: Purcell-O'Sullivan-Frolov
Third line: Calder-Handzus/Boyle-Moulson
Fourth line: Ivanans-Handzus/Armstrong-Zeiler

First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson
Second pairing: Preissing-Blake
Third pairing: Harrold-Doughty

Goalies: Ersberg-Babs

no specifics here, as far as what line to put them on:

Boyle on the second or third line.

I liked Klemm so bring him back third or fourth line.

And.......i know I'll get a lot of crap for this but......if Blake can start where he left off this last season I wouldn't mind seeing him back as long as the contract was reasonable. And that's a big IF for Blake.

First line:
O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown

Second line: Purcell-Boyle-Frolov

Third line: Calder-Handzus-Moulson

Fourth line: IvanansArmstrong-Westgarth

First pairing: Visnovsky- Weber (obtained in the Cammy Trade)

Second pairing: Johnson-Mike Commodore or similar free agent tough D man

Third pairing: Blake-Preissing

Goalies: Whoever earns it in camp, but the kids will need more time I’m thinking. So:

Ersberg-Labarbara

O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown

Cammy-Boyle-Frolov

Purcell-Handzus-Moulsen

Ivanans-Amstrong-Dallman

Visnovsky-Johnson

Blake-Hickey

Preissing-Harrold

Ersberg-Labarbera

Would love to see Boyle, Purcell and Moulson come up next season to fill in some holes. There's some talk coming out of Ottawa that some people might be moved. Cammy and a pick for for Spezza? Vandemeer is a solid free agent defenseman. Re-sign Blake to get rid of Anthony. Keep Harrold up and maybe Hickey or a draft pick steps in. Let LaBarbera, Ersberg and Bernier fight it out.

Sully-Kopitar-Brown
Cammy-Boyle-Frolov
Purcell-Handzus-Moulson
Ivanans-Army-Calder

Blake-Johnson
Pressing-Hickey
Visnovsky-1st round pick or Harrold

Bernier-Ersberg

As for the D...thats assuming we don't get a D'man either in a trade or F/A

Kopitar - Brown - Sully

C - UFA/Boyle/Handzus(100%)
RW - Frolov - Cammy/Purcell

Boyle - Purcell - Moulson

C - Handzus/Murray - Ellis/Calder - Ivanans

D - UFA/Trade(Cammy)
Visnovsky (100%)
Blake (reduced salary)
Johnson
Preissing
UFA/Draft Pick/ Harrold /

G Ersberg
LaBarbara
Bernier

Defensive FA - Commodore, Hainsey, Foote, Norstrom, Liles

Thats the short list

#2 Center - Cory Stillman, Langkow. Not flashy superstars, but will do till Boyle or Lewis are ready.

Am I the only one entertained by Anthony's unfounded hatred for two grown men? Well, I guess annoyed at times, but at this particular moment I'm just chuckling.

Anyways, Boyle is an upgrade over any other options for the 2nd line center position. If he's capable of putting up 40 plus points in that spot then throw him in there.

If Cammy is traded Purcell should take his spot. I'm not sure how great a third line player he'd be at such a young age. Not much sense in taking an offensively gifted rookie and asking him to shoulder the responsibility of playing a shut down game against NHL players.

Harrold comes up for sure.

Blake's situation is tricky. At the right price he is a quality defender who can teach the kids some good things. I think his presence will largely be determined by who we draft and if that player is prepared to jump straight to the NHL. That, and what FA defenseman are available for the right price. With this type of lineup the best we can hope for is to challenge for a playoff spot, so it certainly isn't worth it to shell out a multi year deal and a NTC just cause.

As for goaltending, Bernier should only be up the roster if he is going to see a ton of action, either as a clear cut number one, or splitting time equally with Ersberg. Either Ersberg/Bernier, or Ersberg/Labs while Bernier plays against AHL talent every night.

I trade Cammy

Sully - Kopitar - Brown
Purcell - Boyle - Frolov
Calder - Handzus - Moulson
Ivanas - Armstrong - Ellis

Vis - Johnson
Blake - Preissing
(d-man from Cammy) - 2nd pick

Bernier
Ersberg

I LOVE LANGKOW...., one could trade army, push Boyle down a spot or two, and have Langkow play 2nd line center for a year or two.

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Second line: Cammalleri-Handzus-Frolov
Third line: Calder-Armstrong-Purcell
Fourth line: Ivanans-Boyle-Tukonen

First pairing: Blake-Johnson
Second pairing: Visnovski-Preissing
Third pairing: Doughty-Harrold

Goalies: Labarbera - Ersberg

I like the idea of signing a SKILLED second line vet forward, along the lines of Brendan Shannahan, to bring grit, leadership, and secondary scoring to a young Kings team.

O'Sullivan-Koiptar-Brown
Frolov-TRADE FOR SOMEONE (I like Langkow too)-Purcell
Calder-Boyle-Moulson
Ellis-Handzus-Ivanans

Swap out Ellis from time to time for Tukonen/Cliche/Simmonds

Johnson-Visnovsky
(TRADE)/Harrold
Hickey/Preissing

Ersberg start, Labs back-up. Give Bernier a full year in Manchester.

O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Cammy-Armstrong-Frolov
Purcell-Handzus-Calder
Ellis/Zeiler-Boyle-Ivanans

That is how the forwards will shape up I imagine unless Calder gets dealt then I see Moulson taking his spot.

On D.

Blake-Visnovsky
Doughty/Bogosian/UFA/Playeracquired via trade - Jack Johnson
Harrold-Preissing

Either our top picks make the team, we trade for a NHL D man or sign an UFA.

anthony said: "DL better not re-sign Blake. If he does, I'm out of here"

This better be a promise - c'mon DL, your mandate is clear - SIGN BLAKE NOW

anthony you better stop posting now. I think at this point I'm willing to bet Blake comes back for at least 1 probally 2 years.

So that leaves
Osullivan - Kopitar - Brown (yeah thats right MC took you long enough to put together the line I was screaming for since week 3)

Purcell/Cammy - Boyle - Frolov

Moulson - Handzus - Calder

Ratis - Armstrong - Ellis

This is assuming no one makes any real improvements over summer. Tukonen could beat out Ellis or maybe even Calder with enough improvement over summer. Lewis might be able to take Armstrongs spot but I doubt that happens, I think he gets one more year in the A. Maybe Brady Murray could also beat out army but I think he gets another year developing in the AHL as well.

First pairing: Blake-Johnson
Second pairing: FA-Visnovsky
Third pairing: Preissing-Harrold

I think were likely to package up a not so physical dman(preissing) cammy and a goalie (Labarbera) for a defensive stud or another one of the top 5 men in the draft. And I'm unwilling to put doughty/bogosion or Schenn/Meyers in the kings line up already. So I think we'll sign a Commodore like Dman thats not Commodore because he is gonna get a nice raise this summer, one that I dont think the kings would be willing to give him yet.

Goalies

Bernier-Ersberg

Labarbera comes in as #1a with Ersberg #1b but both Bernier and Ersberg outplay Labarbera. Or the trade scenario I'm imaging goes down and he's gone. Either way Bernier and Ersberg I think will end up splitting the season pretty fairly, kinda like the Garon Labarbera situation of a few years ago.

Put it this way
Ovechkin_Backstrom_Semin_Green
Crosby_Malkin_Fleury, these teams are filled with their rosters with their own draft picks, which they acquired after consecutive last place finishes.

Face it, If we want a good team we have to be bad for at least 2 more seasons. Even with all those prospects, we are still left with one scoring line. Frolov needs a proven center to achieve his full potential. Face it, next year we will still be in the running to win the lottery.
That is my opinion and if used along with 35 cents, it will buy a pack of gum.

Why is Bud Holloway missing from the prospects list?

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Second line: Cammalleri-(Boyle)-Frolov
Third line: Calder-Handzus-(Moulson)
Fourth line: Ivanans-Armstrong-(Ellis)

First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson
Second pairing: (Blake)-Preissing
Third pairing: (Aaron Ward via free agency)-(Doughty)

Goalies: (LaBabs)-(Ersberg)

Thank You Rich and Don, and everyone else, for making the offseason tolerable. All I got right now is playoff hockey and this blog to keep my hockey fix going. Hopefully next years offseason will be much shorter.

Rich, Im interested to know how you would fill in the gaps. In your opinion, what do you think the Kings will do, and if you were DL, what would you do?

O'Sullivan/Kopitar/Brown
Frolov/Boyle/Cammalleri
Calder/Handzus/Purcell
Ellis/Armstrong/Moulson
Ivanans

Johnson/Blake
Visnovsky/Orpik
Preissing/Harrold

Ersberg/Bernier

ME BEING DEAN FOR A MOMENT. IN ASPIRATION... 2008-09 KINGS ROSTER

OFFENSE
First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown

Second line:
(FA Demitra)-Handzus-Frolov

Third line: Moulson-Boyle-Purcell

Fourth line: Ivanans-Gauthier-Moller

DEFENSE
First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson

Second pairing: (RFATRADE)Bouwmeester/Suter-Preissing

Third pairing:
(FA Norstrom)-(FA Blake)

Goalies: ERSBERG-LABARBERA (BRING BERNIER UP WHEN READY)

Mike Cammalleri trade "RFA SIGN AND TRADE" with either Florida for Jay Boumeester or Nashville for Ryan Suter.

The most obvious would be Boyle as the second line center. For those who put Boyle on the fourth line center...what you are thinking???

Other than Boyle, I would love to see Simmonds on the fourth line with Army and Ivanans. And don't be so quick to dismiss Simmonds. He was very impressive during camp this year and the guy can play. Besides, we need another guy who can drop the gloves other than Ivanans and Simmonds would be my choice here. He's a better skater and player than Ivanans already and he can fight all the middle and some cruiserweights.

1st line
Brown/Kopitar/ a winger that can crash the net( Osullivan cant do it, Purcell cant do it, Moulson has that potential or Boyle, and why not. They can be a tough line to play against. Think of the possibilities).
Brown/Kopitar/Boyle. Wow.
2nd line
Frolov/Handzus/Osullian
If Handzus comes in shape and is physically able to play. They can be a solid second line.
3rd line
Moulson/Cammalleri/Purcell. A good energy line that can score some goals.
4th line
Ellis/Armstrong/Ivanans.

Defensive pairings.
Johnson / Stuart?, Johnson still needs a Veteran to teach him the game and give his fragile ego some confidence.

Boghosian / Visnovsky (Give Visnovsky some responsiblity, this may turn his game around)

-Myers if we are lucky to get him with the 2nd pick-

Harrold / Preissing (Oh well).

This is really a waste of time and energy until we
see exactly what moves DL
is going to make. I do know
if Moulson, Boyle, and/or
Harrold do not make the roster that management has
no faith in them and they
are busts. I am glad DL did
not let them play more in the NHL so they could get
that valuable 4game playoff
experience that they so very desperately needed
(sarcasm). I also thing that Quick now knows where
he stands on the totem pole.

O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Cammalleri-(Boyle)-Frolov
Purcell-Handzus-(Moulson)
Ivanans-Armstrong-(Ellis)
Extra: Calder (rotates with Ivanans)

Visnovsky-Johnson
(Blake)-Preissing
(Harrold)-(UFA: Ward, Stuart, Kalinin, Orpik)
Extra: Dallman

Ersberg-LaBarbera

not sure if Boyle and Purcell are both ready for 2nd line roles. Why not bring in a guy like Demitra? yes, he is injury prone, but he loves LA and might be able to get handzus and visnovsky back on track. i agree with trading cammy for a d man or maybe to move up and get the #3 pick (take doughty and bogosian). also, doughty will not plaY next year, so the kings will need to go after a UFA d man if they dont trade for one. there are 2 that i like..Norstrom and Streit. i would even be willing to sign both.

Line 1 - O'Sullivan/Kopitar/Brown
Line 2 - Frolov/Boyle/Purcell
Line 3 - Calder/Handzus/Moeller
Line 4 - Ellis/Armstrong/Ivanans

Johnson/Blake
Visnovsky/Preissing
Doughty/Kubina or Redden**

Ersberg/LaBarbera

Lord Cammi and his one knee shot for Kubina

or Sign Redden as a free agent

I think Boyle will add a variable that the team missed last year, someone who is willing run over opposition players to enter a scrum and come out with the puck. Pencil him in the 2nd line center spot before Christmas.

I'm so done with Blake. To paraphrase some old guy (Churchill), "never in the course of Kings history have so few given so little for so much". I'd rather sign Marek Malik, and Orpik or Stuart, or even honest Matti Norstrom. You know guys who can still play.

I still believe that because of the excellent core that with a few tweeks this team could make some noise. Really depends on whether Crawford pulls his head out, or his replacement motivates this talented, but confused, bunch.

I see talent. I also see a crossroads season. A poor year could mean more endless rebuilding. A good year starts the Kings toward contention for the Cup.

For those who are saying Boyle will be the 2nd line center are wrong. He like how O'Sullivan did will have to prove that he can play on the top two lines. O'Sullivan started the year on the 3rd line and worked is way up to the 1st line. So this is how I think the lineup will look in the beginning of the season:

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown

Second line: Cammalleri-Handzus-Frolov
Third line:

Calder-Boyle- FA Signing/ Purcell
Fourth line:

Ivanans-Armstrong-Ellis

First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson
Second pairing: Blake-Preissing
Third pairing: Doughty- FA Signing

Goalies: Babs-Ersberg

Kings are paying Zus 4 mill to be the 2nd line center, but if he doesn't pan out the 1st month of the season, Boyle will be moved to the 2nd line center spot

While we are all suffering, I'm playing NHL 08 in the dynasty mode and we just won the cup over the pens, 4-2. Key moves I made were trades to columbus with nash and zerdev coming over for o'sullivan, nagy, and moulson, and to nashville stuart and a #1 for shea webber. I paired him with jmfj and it was a desructive combo for everybody that got in their way, while nash gave us a true power forward we've never had... Moves have to be made, people. It might take something drastic, but this is where we have to let dl do his thing. we are not qualified, but i made my dream come true and we lifted the cup! if it were only that easy...

Brown-Kopi-Cammi

Fro-Boyle-O'Sully

Ellis-Handz-Purcell

Ivanans-Army-Calder

Visnovsky-Commodore

Preissing-Johnson

Hickey-Orpik

Ersberg-LaBarbera

We will trade for the #1 Pick Overall by giving up the DAllas pick, cammalleri, calagry second round, philadephia third round pick and propect.

first line: O'Sulivan-kopitar-brown

second line:
Stamkoo-boyle-Frolov

third line:
Calder-Handzus-Purcell

four line:
Ivanans-Armstrong-Elis

with Tukonen and Calder and Ellis, Purcell interchangeable

First pairing:
Visnovsky-Johnson
second pairing
Blake-Preissing
Doughty-Piskula

I agree with the consensus that Cammalleri will be traded, so the Kings will need at least four forwards, who I think will be Boyle, Purcell, Ellis and whoever wins the battle in training camp amongst Zeiler/Moulson/Murray. The other Manchester forwards will see time when NHLers get injured.

I also fully expect that DL will acquire a third/fourth line "character" vet (like Thornton, Willsie, Macauley) through free agency. I think candidates include Darren McCarty, Aaron Downey, Shean Donovan, Stu Barnes -- some one like that.

Your goalies are Labarbara and Ersberg. Bernier starts in Manchester.

Blake will get signed, because DL has limited options. Harrold takes a fifth spot. DL must acquire a veteran for the sixth spot -- no way should that spot go to anyone in Manchester or an 18 year old.

There is someone coming out of Manchester on D that is not on anybody's radar - except Kings management.

Have a good summer boys and girls.

cheers

1st line
Sully-Kopi-DB

2nd line
Purcell-boyle-fro

3rd line
calder-zues-moulsen/murray

4th line
Ellis/simmonds-army-ivanans

1st D
Blake-JJ

2nd D
Lubo- FA (commodore)

3rd D
Preissing-Doughty/Cosogian

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown

Second line: Cammalleri- FA -Frolov

Third line: Calder-Handzus-Boyle/Moulson

Fourth line: Ivanans-Armstrong-Ellis/Zieler/Jeff Giuliano

First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson

Second pairing: Blake (1 year 2 mill.) -FA

Third pairing: Harrold -Priessing

Goalies: Labs - Ersberg

Extra forwards likely to see ice: Gabe Gauthier, Trevor Lewis, Brady Murray, Teddy Purcell, Lauri Tukonen.

Extra Defensemen: Thomas Hickey, 2nd overall pick.

Extra Goalies: Jonathan Bernier, Jon Quick, Daniel Taylor.

First line: O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown
Second line: (resign Nagy)-Cammalleri-Frolov
Third line: Calder-Handzus-(Purcell)
Fourth line: Ivanans-Armstrong-(Ellis)

First pairing: Visnovsky-Johnson
Second pairing: (Ward, Orpik,Commodore)-Preissing
Third pairing: (Blake)-(#2 draft pick or Harrold)

Goalies: (Lababs)-(Erberg)

I say resign Nagy cause he can play a top 6 role and if cammi is traded he can fill his spot, it also helps not rush our young players into filling high roles