Quotes from Denver

(re: Jonathan Quick:)
``It's a great game for a rookie goaltender. For him to be able to deal with what's going on - the emotion in the game, with the fans, the opposing team really jamming the net and whacking away at him - he'll grow from this one.''

I bet Bernier will get something out of this one watching it from the bench. It would be nice if Bernier could stay up a while to see this stuff first hand, but it will be at a cost of not having Ersberg.

I've been back and fourth on whether or not I like TM, but at this point, I'm liking him. His teaching methods are often frustrating for us fans, but he's right. Games like last night are perfect scenarios to learn from and with his focus on the details, guys like Quick and the other youngsters had a real chance to feel the force of an emotional NHL game. It was a real 'moment' for the team.

So now I'm torn...do we press the issue and look at trade options? Do we let the team continue to progress the way it is? I'm still very attracted to the pipe dream of getting a top end forward, but if we can post 5-6 goals per game often enough, who needs a guy with a huge salary and an ego to match?

Last, how about Goat? We all had so many things to say about scratching Harrold, but looking at how the matchup went, I'm not sure it was such a bad idea. Any thoughts?

ESPN has rated all 30 teams at the halfway point in the season. Here is their take on L.A.:

"Los Angeles Kings: D-plus
The Kings hung around for a while, but that's the problem when you don't have a real No. 1 goaltender and a lot of kids. Maybe next season."

"Los Angeles Kings: C+
The Kings are still hanging in there, and are still working on a No. 1 goaltender. With a lot of talented kids in the line-up, they're sure to be future playoff contenders for many seasons to come. If not this season, probably next."

Fixed that for ya.

TB, re trade options:

I've been thinking about this more and more. First of all, I don't think the usual calculus applies, where you rent a few veterans for a playoff run. I am willing to bet the farm DL will not bring in anyone for the short-term only, unless it's some small piece that costs us nothing or next to nothing. Any trade he makes to bring in a player to help us this year will also be a longer term deal.

And I really don't see any way around DL also being a seller in the next six weeks. Calder, a UFA in July, has to be dealt. He's playing his ass off right now, which may allow us to upgrade the pick or prospect we get for him. Preissing also must be dealt but as he is under contract it's not as urgent. He will nevertheless, I think, be gone be next fall and probably by draft day. Gauthier, it's a toss-up. Maybe he goes. Maybe he sticks around. Armstrong, I'm betting he stays, but DL will undoubtedly get some calls about him. He is exactly the kind of player that can be useful in the playoffs, and he too is a UFA this summer.

Now, Ersberg. Does DL sign him or trade him? It's dicey either way. Ersberg has to know that the pipeline is full of goalies. Does he think, therefore, that he needs a big contract to stay here? Does he want to test the UFA market? I'm guessing he probably does. I would if I were him. If DL signs him to a deal that is big enough to entice him to stay, what does this do to the rest of his goalies? I think if Quick is solid the next month, Ersberg is traded and Bernier is penciled in as the back-up in LA until he takes the starting job by force.

But none of that is what I've been thinking about the last few hours. I may be coming late to the party, but it just sunk in that the Kings are one of the only teams in the league who have the cap-space to add a giant salary without sending salary back the other way, and if you limit the list to teams who are looking at the playoffs, it's a very very short list. Basically, it's PHX and LA.

The idea that PHX could make a move for someone like, say, Dany Heatley, is more or less terrifying. Therefore, I am quite sure DL is looking at that situation very carefully. Many teams are handcuffed by the cap right now, and simply cannot make a trade for a player with a $7MM-8MM salary, unless they're sending lots of salary in the other direction.

DL was quoted a few weeks ago saying that the Kings are playing well enough for him to consider making a trade or two to upgrade the team for this season. The longer the Kings hang around, the more operable that becomes.

I wouldn't say a big trade is likely, but it's certainly much more possible than I ever thought it was.

The fact is, the timing of the Kings ascent (such as it is), the cap crunch of many teams, and even the crappy economy, have created a nearly perfect storm, an opportunity that DL may not get again. I'm sure he knows this.

And I'm equally sure this is one of the reasons he wanted to keep his cap number so near the floor.

How many different deals will the Kings be involved with by the deadline? My guess: three.

Ersberg, is that a revised rating or your own two cents? The link I have below shows what Cynthia referred to.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=3849521

First of all. Everyone saying that we should trade Calder is wrong. He is playing above his head right now but is a valuable third line winger and with a pay cut next year will be essential to this team. Secondly, about a trade. Quisp... I have been thinking about Ottawa's players alot too. I would say is we could package stoll, preissing, and two firsts for Spezza and Heatley it would make this team ridiculous. Although I think for the kings in the long run it wont work. They would be in a crunch to get under the cap in the next few year. But could you imagine:

Heatley-Spezza-Brown
Fro-Kopi-Simmond
Suli-Moller-Calder
Amry-Zues- Ivan

I know there is no chance in hell this happens but speculation is always fun. It would push the kings up to 51mil in cap with 5 mil of room left. That being said I happy with the way things are for now. Also this would leave us no chance of resigning JJ which would be a bad decision but would make this team a real contender this year. What I would like to see happen is for the kings to get one player in the offseason keep there cap hit low and make a trade like this next year when they might be in a better position.

Quisp...

Dead on.

When I started chirping about this whole trade thing a couple weeks ago it was exactly for the reasons you are talking about. We are in PERFECT position to get the right deal done. So many teams are desperate to adjust their payroll and so many other teams can't talk the talk like we can. I'm willing to bet that DL is working the phones and very quietly taking the temperature around the league with certain players. I keep gratvitating towards Kovalchuk. He is a picture perfect fit for what the Kings need, and he would undoubtedly command an enormous salary. One that makes the Kings a very possible destination with how many options we can offer in a trade (picks, prospects, veterans, Ersberg?).

My only disagreement is with your comment about PHX being a possibility. From what I'm reading they may be selling at the deadline for financial reasons. Other than that, kudos for your insight.

Did Jack Johnson really say "it's more fun".....?? lol

Quisp.

I don't think Phoenix will be bringing on any high priced guys.
They can't even pay their players there and have been borrowing on future income to try and avoid bankruptcy recently.
Actually, its an absolute mess in Az. and the league office has been propping them up througout this season.
They're "bailout" candidates.

I don't think Spezza, even were he and Heatley acquired, would waltz in here and take over the No. 1 spot from Kopitar. Kopitar is only 22? i think, but he's head and shoulders better than Spezza.
Instead, considering that Ottawa may not want to trade their big guns, I think the Kings should consider Mike Fisher as a 2nd line center. He's having an poor season, but he's just the type of player I think DL likes - hard working, gritty, and offensively he has a bit of a track record.

I still think Preissing is the only guy we really should move, but that there's little hope of trading him because of his salary. I could see the Kings going through the deadline with only minimal moves, or for draft picks only.
I'm not privvy to the thoughts of DL, however, and i've been surprised before.
I'd love to know who is calling Deano, and I'd love to know who he's been calling.

Maybe Nashville is on his radar, maybe Atlanta. I'd love to get some blue-chip prospect like Colin Wilson, but who would ever trade that type of guy?
I guess its always possible. Iginla was traded with Corey Millen from Dallas to Calgary for Neiwendyke at the trade deadline.

Rick, my 2 cents. I just thought that review was totally off. It's funny how he mentioned a lot of the teams streaks heading into the break, except the Kings' record.

2-0-1 for the road trip.

I just hope they don't have a bad game against Hawks....wish they could stay on the road for a little longer.

"How many different deals will the Kings be involved with by the deadline? My guess: three"

Quisp-which 3?

Quisp...hell of a post.

Especially when you bring up the fact that Pheonix and LA are the only two teams around who have the ability to add salary and it doesn't really hurt their cap.

I've been hoping that Lombardi does make a move for a bonifide sniper if for not other reason but to reward the Brown's and Kopitar's, his stars who have toiled here for a few years, and are working their butts off right now, along with the rest of the kids, who a blind man can see how they are improving. Yes, they make mistakes, but overall, each and every one of them are showing marked improvement to their overall game...except for maybe O'Sullivan.

Lombardi swinging some kind of deal shows them he believes in them, and that kind of belief can go a LONG way for these kids.

Quisp.

You're also forgetting your point that to get quality, you have to give quality.
I know you're down on Stoll, but unless you're privy to info. others are not, he looks like exactly the type of player we want to keep around as a 3rd line center.
I still think Stoll, if surrounded by Calder and Simmons (i like simmonds wherever he plays) would be a great grind line.
All we lack is that 2nd line center in DL's type of mold (handzus is not this guy) and we're off to the races.
Fro/Kopi/Agitator or Scorer
O'S/Boyle sized player with grit, speed, and competitiveness/Brown
Calder/Stoll/Simmonds
4th line guys.

I think sometimes the biggest trade is the one you don't make. Let's hold on to Calder because he's deserving of his ice-time if not his salary.
And let's keep Gauthier in case we actually DO make the playoffs - we'll need the depth and muscle.

Of course, if younger versions of these guys can come this way FOR these guys, I do it, but the reality is that our guys are WAY overpriced (as is the entire group of NHL players).
Preissing is going to have to be bought out, i think.
He's youngish and has played well with good teams, but he's too high priced to find a buyer as evidenced by your salary cap investigations.

I'm still thinking Fisher, or someone like him, should be the type of player we go after. Kinda Jason Arnottish.

Cristobal...

If I can chime in on your latest post, as I said when I brought the trade topic up a couple days ago, its about opportunity cost (what you are willing to lose in order to gain). I don't think anyone is dismissing how expensive a high end player can be in both salary and trade value.

You are right that sometimes the biggest trade is the one not made. It can also be the trades that teams are afraid to make which often leave them behind. Every true contender has at least one top end 'elite' player. We need a mega-goal scorer. We have the Fishers (Sully) and the Arnotts (Brown) already. We need a 40+ goal scorer, and we need him now. Not since Palffy have the Kings had a serious threat offensively. And it was also the last time we made the playoffs (no coincidence).

Lets be honest, Kopitar will be great for many years, but he needs a true goal scorer to finish all of his great plays. Its time to make the deal we can in fact afford. YES. GIVE UP A LOT FOR THE RIGHT GUY. We have a ridiculous pool of depth and plenty of picks to recover with (14 alone in 2009).

Its hard to think of betting the farm, but look at anaheim when they acquired Selanne, or the flyers when they nabbed Briere, or even the Sharks when they went big for Joe Thornton. It has to happen to hit that level. It must. We will wind up like Minnesota (consistently in the middle) if we don't pony up.

Correction...Briere was a UFA Acquisition if I'm not mistaken. I meant to refer to the Heatley deal with Ottawa. oops.

TB.

I understand what you're saying but counter with the thought of, where did bringing in Heatley get Ottawa. They had to part with Hossa to get him.
If Heatley can be had without giving up too much, I'd take it, and even think I may be the one who originally brought it up.
On the other hand, Fisher is young (28 I think), plays center (which Brown and O'S currently never do) and he could slot right in between them and spark them to become the 50 goal guys I think they could/should become.
I'd liken it to DOug Gilmour's presence in Toronto in the early 90's in what I'm imagining in a perfect scenario. Fisher's presence really could give DL what he's looking for in a 2nd line center, and from there we'd be headed towards completion of the rebuild.
Of course, Fisher could fail miserably here, that's why I don't want to give up too much quality for him. Which again, makes it a hard one to see happening.
Unless Ottawa wanted something like Boyle and Hickey for him, I think the next option would be guys like Stoll, O'Sullivan, or Frolov - players I wouldn't want to move.
Also, I really would never trade for Arnott at this stage. He's too old now to be of much future use. I'm just saying that type of 2nd line center may make everything come together for this team. Like Primeau did in Philly.
Of course, I would also love to get a prospect like Colin Wilson or Cody Hodgson. If a deal could be worked for a blue-chip young center/forward, maybe we wouldn't have to give up much and a playoff bound team would take some of our higher priced vets like Calder or Handzus.
I just get a little nervous when it's euro-style forwards that have a history of big ego are mentioned.
I have a hard time believing DL would want something like that. He traded Demitra away to go young. But, maybe that was then, this is now, in a way.

Cristo, Jumping in here a sec...

Ottawa still has Heatley, whereas Atlanta no longer has Hossa. And one other note, Heatley will probably still be in Ottawa next season, but Hossa will probably move on from Detroit(salary cap).

A couple of other guys that I believe will be available that aren't mentioned around here that could be had for several years are the Sedins. Just something to chew on.

Ersberg, re "which three?":

(1) Calder out.
(2) Someone else out (Gauthier, Armstrong, Preissing, Ersberg).
(3) Someone coming in, a forward.

I think a Preissing deal might take longer (i.e. past the deadline). There may or may not be a "big trade" to bring someone in. But there may be more than one deal under my (2) above. Therefore, my bet is on three deals.

More Calder: as far as folks saying we should keep him and sign him for less, that's certainly a possibility, but I don't think there's room for two Armstrongs, and that's the role of Calder (albeit an upgrade over poor loyal Derek). No matter what, DL has to make decisions based on who he expects to make the team next year. I would be surprised if he has Calder penciled in on the 09-10 roster. And there's no way he has both Calder and Armstrong in his plans. Therefore, one of them is moving in the next six weeks.

More PHX: I know they're cash strapped and people have been saying "fire sale." But they're also in the playoff hunt, and Gretzky is looking for investors. Attendance is up there, etc.. In any case, if PHX is out of the market, the Kings are virtually all alone.

Quisp = strangely silent on the Fisher idea.
What's up Quisp?
Pro or Anti Fisher?

Quisp,

1) Agree, but it would be ashame if he caught fire in the second half of his career, but then again...
2) Preissing, totally agree. Maybe Goat, too.
3) Heats(wishfuly thanking, of course), but maybe Kov, but doubt that'll happen either. Who knows, maybe we can throw ridiculous money at Hossa(smirk).

You know, as far as your comments regarding who makes the team, etc..

I could see DL going even younger next season, and even cheaper. It wouldn't be the natural progression of a true Hockey build, but it seems to me, with all of the 1st year contracts kicking in, he'll have to.
That's of course, minus a sniper.