Roster analysis

Good anaysis Rich. Morris reported that five players will be assigned to Manchester today. That would mean:

Martinez, Quick, Simmonds, Westgarth. The last one could be Purcell or Harrold depending on how many d-men the Kings keep up.

I thought Oscar Moller was a sure thing to get on that first line. Moulsen is cool but I just thought Moller looked really good in the preseason.

What happens when Cliche, Clune, and Zeiler come off the IR?

To me it's a no-brainer. Moller stays, Westgarth, Purcell, & Simmonds go to the AHL for the forwards. Moller is the only one of the 4 who has been impressive in the preseason. I know Purcell plays well in the AHL, but so far he hasn't done much to prove he's NHL ready.

On defense, Hickey stays, Harrold goes to the AHL. I don't understand why Harrold would take a spot. He's not very good in my opinion.

In net, Ersberg stays. Quick goes the AHL. LaBarbara gets traded with O'Sullivan for Khabibulin & a high draft pick. Labarbara has had his chance. He's been awful last season and he's been just as bad in the preseason. I can't for the life of me understand how he could be slated as the #1 guy 10 days before the season starts, unless we have our sights set on the #1 pick and John Tavares. And if you saw how bad Tampa was over the weekend, we may not have much of a chance to get that #1 pick.

If Labarbs doesn't start off stellar, can we split him and Ersberg 50/50 instead of waiting until the end of the season to put him and see how great he did?

That's the really good thing about having all these young players. There is so much competition, that there is always gonna be some surprises to make the team.

The LA Times does this whole piece on Purcell starting with Brown-Kopitar and now he might not even make the team? Ouch.

So possibly...
Brown-Kopitar-Moller
Frolov-Stoll-Moulson
Calder-Handzus-Richardson
Ivanans-Boyle-Armstrong

If Zeiler is hurt, Westgarth probably becomes the extra forward and when he comes back then Westgarth goes down? If O'Sullivan comes back within Moller's 10 games then he goes back to juniors as well...? That sounds right...

Someone please get rid of Calder btw....

I don't think you risk Harrold on waivers at this point. There are other options...

Where does this all leave the Kings with making the floor of the salary cap??

Where are all the "Purcell should be on the 2nd line" people?

I told you guys that Calder had a better chance at playing on the 2nd line than TP.

If we don't sign osullivan, why not move frolov on to the first line with kopitar and brown. move brown to the right wing. I don't see stoll and frolov meshing. Frolov is a power forward. We should trade handzus for khabibulin. It will clear about 2 million dollars for the hawks and theyll get a center that worked well with havlat. We can get a real goaltender and hit the salary floor. Any opinions about that?

I will be completely shocked if Purcell is sent down. I am amazed that you are even suggesting such a silly thing.

Josh, Frolov is not a power forward. I have yet to see him layout anybody in the corners..
Kings will battle it out with the Leafs for the #1 pick.

Chewy Rocky Horror:

I guess it depends on what you call the second line. Beyond the obvious first line of Kopitar/Brown/x, you've got a Stoll line and a Handzus line, either of which could be called the "second" line, and then a Boyle line, which at this point appears to be the de facto fourth line -- but I'm not sure this designation will last. For one thing, Handzus has more experience and would be better suited to a fourth line shut-down checking game.

Whichever line has Frolov is going to end up being called the second line, so the question becomes, which two forwards turn out to have the best chemistry with Frolov as the season progresses? Will Kyle Calder be one of those two guys who really clicks with Frolov? I doubt it. Frankly, Purcell and Boyle strike me as the best complement to Frolov. Speed, hands, size, finish, puck position... Calder, if he can salvage his career this year, seems like a natural for a third line role, and I think that's where he will end up. To put it another way, we're in some serious trouble if Kyle Calder is one of our top-six forwards.

PREDICTION: Boyle will be sent down. They will keep Purcell. Boyle plays way too soft for his size. He needs to be sent to AHL to develop more toughness.

Why does anybody think that Simmonds hasn't been impressive in the preseason?

He had clutch assists and goals that led to the game being tied or won on several occasions. He has stood up for his teammates and has thrown the body.

Anyone who doesn't think Simmonds has impressed hasn't been paying attention or just hasn't seen anything in person.

That said, if they feel like going to Manchester is the best for him, so be it, but don't dis the dude by leaving him out of "players that impressed" lists.

Quite frankly, in the Ducks game at Staples, Moller was a complete liability and managed to make Brown and Kopitar ineffective.

Brian Boyle was worthless and got benched.

Purcell was ineffective.

I know it's only one game, but some of the players being praised on here were no-shows in the game I went to.

Boyle needs to be on the line with Fro. Boyle plays way better when he is with better players. The way Fro protects the puck and can dish it to the center day in and day out, Boyle would have huge numbers. Boyle has a great shot and control in front of the net to about 30 feet out. Boyle on the 4th line, NO WAY..its a waste. Zues is way more fitted for 4th line shut down duties and PK, not anywhere else unless he did a 180 turn from last year. I hope Moller gets 1st line duty. He looks real good and I think there could be some great chemistry with those 3..By BY Sully!!! great post, again, Rich

too many variables with the forwards. I think Purcell should get the opportunity to make the club, but I can't say that for sure since I didn't see any exhibition games or know what went on during training camp. I would like to see all the young guys make it, but they aren't getting rid of Handzus, Calder, or Army...at least for now.

On defense...I don't see how keeping Hickey as the 7th defenseman makes any sense. If he's not going to play regularly, I think the best spot for him would be juniors...so unless someone gets hurt, I think he should be sent down. The only one that makes sense would be to keep Harrold as the 7th defenseman. He showed last year that he's a serviceable guy and he has more experience in not playing regularly than the other guys. Obviously, his upside is not the same as Hickey or Martinez.

It makes no sense in getting Khabibulin. If Labarbara falls flat on his face, which we all expect, than the Kings will probably promote Bernier. I think the plan is at some point to try and trade LaBarbara and promote Bernier. He's the Kings future..no doubt about it!
I'm wondering what happens if/when they send Quick or Ersberg down? From what DL has previously stated..Bernier will be getting the bulk of the playing time down there...Sucks to be Quick or Ersberg!

I agree with PRMan. I would like to see Simmonds play with the club come regular season. Maybe even Moller-Boyle- Simmonds for an all-rookie third line. Also why is Richardson almost guaranteed a spot. Seems like he has been invisible in the pre-season.

Are the Kings still below the salary cap floor? If so, when do they need to get to it? And can they do it without signing O'Sullivan?

Rich, other than personal observations, have you heard anything from the kings org that makes you think that they feel moller is more NHL ready than Purcell?

Simmonds: So not even CLOSE to being NHL ready... Kings fans set low standards. This is a bottom of the barrel team, and Simmonds wouldn't even be considered as being close on 25 or more of the other clubs. What a warped sense of reality. The kid's got heart, but please... let's not retard his development.

I am not convinced Gautier is the best choice for the 6th defenseman. I think the Kings need to look closely at the waiver wire. I haven't seen him play in the preseason, but Rhett Warrener was just waived and would seem to be a step up.

My two cents:

Preissing really is the obvious choice to be the 7th defenseman. It's just a matter of whether anyone else is ready. Hickey has this small window of opportunity to take Preissing's spot in the top 6 now. If not, Harrold should take it by Christmas. The acquisition of O'Donnell to play alongside DD means that Preissing is now in direct competition with Harrold and Hickey. Gauthier, to me, is relatively unchallenged as the stay at home physical veteran 3rd pairing guy (like it or not).

Hickey cannot get into the squad with a defense this poor?
Lewis cannot unseat Zeiler, Calder, Richardson, or the young Simmondses Cliches and Moellers?

The Kings need a slightly skilled defenseman and Lombardi goes and gets O'Donnell?

The Kings salary cap numbers are lowest in the league and we can't get O'Sullivan under contract?

The players should accept lower paying contracts to "play for the team" but ticket prices and concessions are outrageous?

Our goaltender of the future cannot unseat the likes of the underachieving Labarbara?

The defense is supposed to be improved without Stuart, Visnovsky, Blake, and Modry?

Zeiler is still expected to make the team as a regular with 4 career points?

We can't even go into the season with our first line intact?

If the Kings finish in the bottom 3 of the league, is anybody's job in jeopardy?

Will the Kings win a game in October, or January?

Wouldn't it be better to see Simmonds and Hickey cut their teeth this season than watching Zeiler run himself out of position or Preissing anchor the 3 defensive pairing?

If we're going to suffer, let's do it big time now. Push the pedal to the floor on the rebuild. Purcell and Moulson should be forced to swim or sink.

Here we go...

Wasn't Khabibulin waived last week? If so, why was there no interest from LA? Was the price tag much too high or were there stipulations that made it a bad idea?

Paul - If Chicago were willing to trade something for Handzus, I think it would be a good idea, especially if Khabibulin has a year or possibly 2 left in him. Its not like it would upset the apple cart in LA. Or, is it a lemon cart?

Finally, this whole mess with O'Sullivan is placing more strain on out young pair of Kopitar and Brown. Hasn't enough been asked of these two young franchise guys? Sign O'Sullivan and put the pressure squarely on his shoulders...

Lombardi needs to help out the team and get this guy signed. Absolutely needs to.

Okay, Cristobal --

Hickey cannot get into the squad with a defense this poor?

As of today, Hickey is still on the team, but I think it makes sense to give him another year in juniors since he's only thirteen and weighs like 140 pounds in his equipment.

Lewis cannot unseat Zeiler, Calder, Richardson, or the young Simmondses Cliches and Moellers?

Lewis is primarily a center. The Kings are deep at center. Lewis might have been a candidate to move to the wing, but was (I assume) outplayed by Moller and Simmonds. That's obviously a good thing for the Kings. Whether it's a good thing for Lewis depends on what he does in Manchester this year. He had a slightly not great year last year, so this would be a good time to "break out." It might not happen. I hope it does. I kind of expect it will, in time for him to be our third or fourth line center next year.

Zeiler is not going to make the team.

The Kings need a slightly skilled defenseman and Lombardi goes and gets O'Donnell?

Lombardi made it pretty clear that what he was looking for was a defensive defenseman with experience, size and an "edge."

The Kings salary cap numbers are lowest in the league and we can't get O'Sullivan under contract?

I forget. Didn't we already play "what would you offer him?" (I myself would offer $9MM/3years or $13MM/4years.) Until we learn what DL offering and what POS is asking for, it's impossible to lay blame. However, POS is in danger of cutting off his nose to spite his face.

The players should accept lower paying contracts to "play for the team" but ticket prices and concessions are outrageous?

No. The players should get what they deserve.

Our goaltender of the future cannot unseat the likes of the underachieving Labarbara?

Bernier was hurt early in camp, as you know.

The defense is supposed to be improved without Stuart, Visnovsky, Blake, and Modry?

Yes.

Zeiler is still expected to make the team as a regular with 4 career points?

No.

Will the Kings win a game in October, or January?

I know you say the Kings won't win a game in January. Are you expanding that to October as well? I'm reminded that your prediction is 50 points for the Kings this year, maybe less. This of course would be one of the worst seasons in franchise history (I think there was a worse one around '71). I think they will improve over last year to somewhere in the low 80s.

Wouldn't it be better to see Simmonds and Hickey cut their teeth this season than watching Zeiler run himself out of position or Preissing anchor the 3 defensive pairing?

Simmonds and Hickey both need to grow into their bodies. They might get some time with the Kings this year. They might not. Whether or not they play has nothing to do with John Zeiler. Is Zeiler even still with the team? I don't think he is.

I think you're underestimating Preissing. He's a pretty good 3rd pairing D guy, I think. A lot depends on the system.

Brown Kopitar Moller
Frolov Stoll Purcell
Moulson Boyle Simmonds
Calder Handzus Armstrong
Ivanans

Johnson Greene
O'Donnell Doughty
Gauthier Preissing
Harrold

(although Hickey likely gets some time before going down)
LaBarbera
Ersberg

(When O'Sullivan caves then one of Moller, Purcell, or Simmonds gets sent down)

This is all well and good, but if they don't get Patrick O' signed, sealed and delivered before the season begins, what difference will any of it make? Anze's great, but you always need a two-fer. Look at what happened once the Dodgers got Manny!

Sigh.

why would anyone want to give up POS for an old, worn out goalie like Khabibulin? So we can make the playoffs? HAH. We'd have to be retarded to give away talent like patty for a useless old man, who wont play long enough to take us anywhere.