Jason Smith to Ottawa

And Mara went to the Rangers. IF the Kings do anything this offseason, it looks like it will have to be via trade.

Rich, are you surprised?

I won't be too surprised if MODRY is the only free agent we get...

Aw shucks. Oh well, moving right along.

After doing some research, it looks like L.A. is the only team that hasn't made a single signing yet. Just that one trade (that got us little or nothing).

Is it just me, or are others seeing teams like Tampa Bay, Columbus, or Phladelphia (through trades and free agent signings) blow right by us.
Hell, even Atlanta has signed Ron Hainsey.

Everytime I look up TSN or Sporstnet, I see 29 NHL teams either making a trade or signing a player.

We just can have a team comprised of mailny 22 & 23 year olds.

Should us fans be concerned.
Am I making some sense here.

Smith would've been a great mentor for some of these young d-men. Oh well, I can see why he would want to go to Ottawa.

Paul-Cat, I'm not trying to be a jerk and bat you down or anything, so don't take it that way, but Rich has been clear he sees them going in the trade direction, so I doubt this is suprising.

Rich can feel free to answer for himself if he wants, but his openness to fan questions has to be overwhelming at some point.

Also, for those of you dreaming we would sign Demitra, Spector reports he apparently signed with the Canucks for 3y 12mil.

Jason Smith needed to stay in the East. He's old, he's lost foot speed, and the ability to keep the majority of his games in the same time zone will be a plus for him. He would end up being a 2.6M dollar human pylon, albeit, with "leadership qualities." Right not, passing on him, or having him pass on the Kings does NOT break my heart. That he didn't go back to the Devils is the big surprise.

Can Rich or someone explain to me how DL is going to get to the Cap FLOOR? I just dont see it....

Can we now dream for Brendan Shanahan? LW 2ND LINE

So its pretty clear we will make a trade if anything. I keep reading that Kaberle and Wallin from the Canes are being shopped... I wouldn't really want either of these guys though, maybe Wallin over Kaberle, but he has a NTC... either way I'd only give up a couple of late round picks for '09 and '10 or someone like matt ryan.

What do you guys think? Would you want them? If not them? Who would you trade for (realistically)?

Hey Captain,

I believe Rich has said both free agent signings and trades were possibiliites to adding a defensemen but that signing a free agent forward was not an option.

I am sure Rich is as frustrated as we all are how quiet the Kings' actions have been thus far.

Keep yours eyes open for a team with salary cap problems to unload a left shot defenseman to us before training camp begins. The price will likely be a pick/ "b" prospect. This has been alluded to by DL and Rich before...

Anthony, what is wrong with a team of 22-23 year olds? I, for one, amd glad DL hasnt waisted any money on players that people will be crying about in 4-5 months. Especially you, who say every move by DL has been bad. So now your mad with no moves? Do you realize that these are the comments that make people question your hockey knowledge. This team is not a playoff team this year no matter who the Kings aquire. So let the kids play.

Whats the possibility of a trade for Bouwmeester who just filed for arbitration? How far are we in terms of meeting the minimum cap level?

Please say no to Blowdry.

Hello? For those worrying about the cap floor -
We still have 5 RFA Forwards, one RFA Defenceman, and one RFA Goalie to sign. You know Sully is going to get an average around $3 mil, Stoll around +$2 mil, and the other four should average around $1 mil a year. So, add that $9 mil to the $28 mil we have, that's $37 million, not including certain bonuses. Trade for one 'bad-contract' D-man (Kaberle, McCabe, Kubina, etc.) and there you have your floor. Not too bad, eh?

Now quit talking about this an be glad DL didn't sign Redden for some crazy 6-year deal. Please.

Ryan Oliver,
I don't question all of the DL's moves (i.e. JJ, Sully, Ersberg, Stuart).
But most have been questionable if not terrible.
So get your facts straight.

Now I'm starting to be sold on this rebuilding thing.
But I'd still like to see a competitive team.
It's no fun to see your team knocked out of any contention by November and December.

The NHL Network is saying that the Kings "file for team-elected arbitration" with Erik Ersberg. I'm assuming it's true, so can someone explain this a little further?

OK, so if it just means that the team decided on arbitration, does that mean there was difficulty getting an agreement? or do the Kings just not want to bother with negotiating?

I think with all the speed and scoring we have already and Ersberg/Bernier in goal it is going to be one heckuva an exciting season ahead for us. We're looking at kids that want to play here and they will run the boards to please everyone, they want to stay up here, there won't be any nights off with these kids. Be like that good looking nympho you wanted in high school just lay back and enjoy.

Daniel,
you also forgot Doughty's contract, which while it will be no more than whatever the maximum entry level is (~800,000?, I might be a bit high) he will likely get a crap load of bonuses that could add up to 1-2 million for his points / plus-minus, etc.

I, like you, am really not worried about the floor. Wouldn't exactly help DL or AEG to have the league not allow the Kings to play next season.

Don't yell fire in the theater... the fire is just on the screen, not in the seats.

I'm not really sure what to think about the team taking Ersberg to arbitration. On one hand you have the Camallerri situation and we all know how that ended, but on the other hand Pittsburgh did the same thing with Fleury this year and they got a deal done no problem and didn't even use an arbitrator. So who knows what DL is thinking here, I've given up trying to read his mind....

Anthony - "Should us fans be concerned.
Am I making some sense here."

Depends on if you agree with or understaand the rebuilding concept. If you think winning immediately is important, than yes. If you think the history of how things have been done on this team in the past is significant in how you look at things and would like some sustained success, then no.

Do you think CLB and ATL are going to have much success based on their moves and that success will be sustained because of them? TB and PHI already have some key pieces in place with high draft picks, so it makes more sense for them.

They were after Hainsey and Orpik, but you can't decide for a player where he wants to play and don't want to give Finger $15M to come here, right?

If your complaint is the team isn't winning, that's fine, but you could show a little understanding that they aren't planning on winning right now. You may not like that, but consider this:

"Miller: I think it is because Dean Lombardi has a plan, and he is going to stick with it. I think too many times in the past we've had a plan and if we didn't win for two years we'd scrap that and go back to square one, and then if we didn't win we'd scrap that too. Pretty soon, years and years go by and you've made not strides whatsoever. Every time I hear Dean talk about his plans - and he did do a good job in San Jose - I'm enthused about what could happen here in the next few years. Dean said that he knows it's tough on the fans and everyone to go through this right now, but I believe when Dean gets this done, this team is going to be built for several years and not just one year. I look at that and that is going to be an exciting part. When we get all these young guys through all the difficult times now and get them into their prime at a relatively young age, then this team is going to be good for a long time. So, I believe in what his plan is. Who knows if it is going to work out like he's planned, but I know someone else in the NHL who said to me that when Dean gets this done, it is going to be done the right way and it is going to be good for years and years."

P-C - Just scanning the forum answers for the word "trade":

"I could definitely see Lombardi trading a lower-level prospect and/or later-round draft pick for a ``bridge'' defenseman. Actually, as I look at the list of remaining free-agent defensemen, that almost seems more likely than a signing at this point."

"I think it's more likely that they will go after a trade a land a guy with a late-round pick." (after mentioning Modry as a possibility in the UFA market with defenders)

"I'd say a trade is most likely at this point." (answering a question regarding re-signing Blake and how the team would fill up the defense spots)

"At this point of the game, in terms of defensemen, it's probably going to be a trade. Not to knock the remaining free agents, but there isn't a ton of value out there right now." (when asked if DL should pursue a defender to fill in today and then trade at the deadline for a return (ala Stuart))

I suppose he could be more clear on what he thinks, as those four quotes seem kind of ambiguous. Maybe you should ask him? :) Okay, now I'm being a jerk...

Aside from trades and Modry, one other source will be waiver pickups of players cut by other teams during training camp in September. Deano will have to add at least a couple of bodies on D, and this would be the cheapest way of doing it.

material ... I think that you are correct. lets be realistic here folks. First of all, this is LA. Not the most storied hockey traditions in the league. Second, we have publicly stated that we are 'rebuilding.' That comment alone knocks out more than half of potential FAs who, because (1) they have more often than not been paid less than what they deserve and finally have a chance to make some money or (2) are past their prime and want to go out on top, meaning with a contender. Not only are the Kings not going to pay "ridiculous" salaries to unproven or over the hill players because we are rebuilding and we need to sign our future stars long term, but these players do not want to go to a rebuilding team. DL can make his pitch but it takes a very specific type of player to want to give up the money and the chance to win the Cup to come to LA right now. It is just the nature of the beast. So saying that DL is not doing his job is ridiculous. It just isn't true. Not to mention the fact that other GMs know what prospects and draft picks DL has in his hand already. There is no fooling anyone and they all want the same players (Kopitar, Brown, Bernier, Johnson). You can't build a team this way any more. We have to take our lumps now and allow these kids to learn and jell together. Just face it ... the players that we would sign now are marginal players - role players who have no intention of being here long time nor do we want them here long time. So relax ...the future looks bright and enjoy the ride. It gonna get good.

Please god please stop the MODRY coming back here. It took forever to get rid of him, TWICE! Please leave it at that! And Please stop complaining about probably the weakest UFA's with biggest contracts ive ever seen!(ie Jeff Finger WTF!!!) I dont there there is one guy on the market that i would have signed. This spending has got to stop or we are heading to another strike.