Setting the free-agent table
Back from Minneapolis and, as usual, it feels good to be in L.A. For those who haven't been there, Minneapolis has a nice downtown area. But I found it interesting to note that in the ``State of Hockey,'' I saw more people wearing Kevin Garnett Boston Celtics jerseys than anything else. They're confused people these days, those Minnesotans...
The free-agent signing period begins Tuesday, and it's such a different feel from last year, when the Kings were presumed to be in the hunt for so many of the ``big-name'' free agents. It certainly doesn't appear as though that will be the case this week.
At this point, I would expect the Kings to sign two free-agent defensemen and one free-agent forward, probably a winger. Brad Stuart and Rob Blake remain the most-likely defensemen to be signed. The Kings will have a better shot at getting Stuart than was initially expected and are helped by the fact that Stuart's agent is Pat Brisson, who is L.A.-based, a close friend of Luc Robitaille and also the agent for Blake and Jack Johnson. It might come down to how much Detroit is bluffing and how much Ken Holland is really willing to spend on Stuart. Stuart made $3.5 million last season and Detroit is claiming it only wants to spend around $3 million per season on Stuart. We'll see.
As for Blake, he will return as long as he has the desire to play and the Kings feel he's healthy and ready to go. Shouldn't be much of a question that he will be back.
As for which forward might sign, that's a completely open book. Go ahead and speculate away. It's one of those trickle-down effect things. The top free-agent forwards will sign and then teams will start to take a closer look at the second-tier guys. So we'll have to see how that shakes out. It's impossible to predict that market right now.
I expect to get Dean Lombardi on the phone tomorrow to get his thoughts going into free agency, and of course on Tuesday I'll have continuous updates throughout the day.
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Hey Rich, do you think there is ANY chance that the Kings will go after Brooks Orpik?? I know Robataille said that the Kings would love to have him at select-a-seat the other day. We do have the cap room.
I just heard Tampa Bay has signed for Ryan Malone ! Panic ! Panic ! We should give up next year's 2nd round draft pick and try to get the rights to Marion Hossa now ! We need him on this team and I think DL should be willing to pay him upwards of $8MM+ if the Kings are going anywhere. Then we give up Teubert for Patrick Marleau and get the 2nd line center we so desperately need.
Rich, how do you figure we'll sign 2 defensemen and 1 forward? I see it as the other way around.
Forwards:
Army
Boyle
Brown
Calder
Frolov
Handzus
Ivanans
Kopitar
Moulson
O'Sullivan
Purcell
Richardson/Ellis
That's 12 players, needing 2 more. And that's assuming the Manchester guys make it. Do you think both Richardson and Ellis are going to make the team? Or is there someone else you had in mind?
Defensemen:
Lubo
Preissing
Johnson
Harrold
That's 4, needing 3 more. Are you including Blake as already on the team or one of the two the Kings are going to sign?
If already on the team, that makes 5.
I guess at this point Dean will sign 2 defensemen, but I think 1 will be a Manchester-worthy defenseman if Doughty makes the big club.
Rich,
I'm dying to hear some news on our RFA's! When will we knnow the fate of the guys who had offers extended to them by Dean? I'm also torn between singing a UFA forward, or just going with the kids. I would love to see a second line of Frolov-Boyle-ROLSTON. Fro can hold the puck (set up man) Boyle's got a hell of a shot, and rolston is that veteran presence and a hardnosed forward who can do a bit of everything. I also want to see guys like Purcell break into the league. What is your opinion on this?? also, were below the Salary floor, so would it really hurt to pay the big bucks for a guy like Rolston? I know it's far-fetched that Rolston would come here, but I'm just curious as to other peoples opinions.
DL is getting his act together.
He just traded Lubo-crap to Edmonton for Jarett Stoll and Mike Greene.
Well there's you #2 Center and your kick-ass D-man.
Looks like DL is doing a 180.
Lubo was traded to EDM for Stoll and Greene! Interesting move... http://kings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367192
Visnovsky just got traded to Edmonton for Stoll and Greene. Rich, any chance you can get a comment from Lombardi on this? Wow!!
http://kings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367192
Stay away from Blake.
You don't need him now.
He's just extra baggage.
Any word on the Lubo trade?
Looks like the Kings traded Lubo to Oilers for Stoll and Greene. Seems like low value unles Kings got a 1st round pick also.
Wow, Lubo was just traded for Stoll and Greene. I sure hope we got their 1st round draft pick.
Bad trade for the Kings. Who is going to play on the point? Johnson and Preissing??
who follows Edm? What's the report on Greene and Stoll?
To Edm: Lubo
To LA: Mike Greene and Jarret Stoll
according to lakings.com
Stoll can play the point because he is a solid two way player and he has a vicious slap shot...
this is a great 2-for-1 deal... though not a 1st liner, we know how dangerous Stoll is and his playoff experience is invaluable. I'd take 12 Stolls over 12 Cammi's anyday. we were also seriously lacking the stay at home capability and size of Greene. the Lubo saga in LA was becoming too much for most people (though I am more patient than most). the Kings should definitely sign 2 defenseman, Stuart and a more offensive guy, but even if they just get Stuart it would be a slight improvement. conventional wisdom says Dean is far from done, however.
What do you mean "low value"? What's with this "sure hope we got their (Edmonton) 1st round draft pick" stuff? Are you crazy? This is a solid, intelligent trade. Dean just jettisoned a ridiculous 5 year long-term contract ($28 mil) of an underachieving Lubo at $7 mil this next season for two gritty players (at $3+ mil next season combined) who fill a couple key positions: a power play/second line center (Stoll) + a big (6'3", 235 lbs), bruising, stay-at-home defensemen (Greene). He freed up significant cap space, added two character guys in their mid 20s who have played in the Stanley Cup Finals for a guy aged 31 that is questionable. He also improved his power play because Stoll is excellent on the PP.
So, you now want a first round draft pick from Kevin Lowe too. Ain't gonna happen. Let me repeat the facts - DL got excellent value for a player over 30 who had a TERRIBLE year and who has a HUGE contract. This gives him room to add a couple players July 1 and sign Johnson + O'Sullivan to extended contracts. And Kopi comes due soon too. Gotta tie him up, right? Good deal all around. And so very, very smart by DL.
You know those great Staples workers who rush across the ice whenever a plexiglass pane gets cracked? The guys with the ladders who scoot across the ice? They're gonna be busy this season because DL is creating a team of young guns who are gonna HIT people. (Just like Andrew Campbell who took a puck to the face and returned next shift.
Comment re: Lubo making $7 mil next season. NHL Numbers has him making $7 mil with an avg over the 5 years of $5.6. So don't know which is right. Just saying - that's a HUGE contract.
Crash,
both #s are right. Lubo's paycheck from the kings next year would have been $7M. For cap purposes, the contract $ are averaged out over the life of the contract. So for 5 years his cap hit would have been 5.6M
I have a better chance of smokin a bowl with Hulk Hogan than Brad Stuart returning to the Kings... Mark my words
I am jealous of Tampa Bay management! They are doing exactly what the Flyers did last year, and will, as a result definitely not be bottom feeders. Now, they are going after Rolston in Minn. Why couldn't those guys have bought the Kings. We want Bruckheimer!