Is it over?

I want someone to say it's over because I don't want my life to stop for the next month and a half, then be devastated the day before Easter.

Rich, like you stated earlier, this team is very unpredictable. The playoff starved fan in me is very hopeful for a playoff birth, but logic & recent play would indicate otherwise. playoffs or no playoffs this year, I'm very proud of all the progress & accomplishments of this years squad. Good luck down the stretch boys, we are all rooting for you.....Go Kings!

It's not over till it's over. But I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm not sure it ever -truly- began.

I mean, let's be frank, this team was supposed to be better, but has probably surpassed expectations. the problem? So did a few other teams in the Western Conference, namely CBJ and Dallas. The aging Stars lineup should have been set up for a fall this year, but it seems their youth have filled a lot of voids and purging Avery helped quite a bit.

The Kings are the quality of a 9-12 team right now, and thats where they're likely to finish.

it's ok though, the future is exceptionally bright. It's practical to think that this team could challenge for the #2 spot in the Pacific next year.

Not over yet.Do your jobs ,keep it simple outwork and be smarter than your opponent.Pray alot.

Rh's point on Quick is dead on. The shooters will (have) adjust to Quick, now we have to see if Quick can adjust to the shooters. Kings maybe stole a few games while the league was figuring out any holes in Quick's game. These players are good.

As to playoffs, personally, I think this team has exceeded my low expectations. As long as they work hard and put forth honest effort I reserve all ire for the King's marketing department who overpriced my tickets and made numerous other blunders. But that's not on the players. I'd give this team a 25% chance to make the playoffs from here on out, better than the 5% or less chance I gave them when the season started. No reason for them not to go for it.

Rich, I hope DL doesn't give up on this team like he's done in the past, and start selling now.
This team is in the playoff hunt and there's no indication otherwise.
The teams that they're competing with are not better than the Kings.

Lets start with Edmonton.
They lost 2 of their best D-Men Grebeshkov and Lubo and their goalie if 40 years old. Now that's way up their. Roloson is almost in the, you know, TM category.
So Edmonton will bust.

Phoenix.
Phoenix is not a good team. Pure and simple. And their coach is a stupid idiot. They beat us yesterday b/c we played terrible. It had nothing to do witheir skill, because they have VERY little.

St. Louis and Nashville have a tough schedule. Thise two teams are not skilled enough nor have a steller goalie to take them all the way.

Anaheim has a lot road games just like us. But unlike us they suck on the road and we thrive on the road. There's alot of controversy in goalie situation, and it seems like either Neids or Pronger will be traded.
And we have 3 games in hand.

The Colorado team is a joke. I'm not worried about them. Sakic will return in late March. Too late. And without Sakic and Paul Stastny, they will not be contennders.

Columbus and Vanvouver - I do worry about. Both teams have a steller goalie and will probably make.

We should get the the 8th seed. The other teams I just mentioned are just inferior to our team. If Quick or Ersberg can get real hot and carry us, we will make the Playoofs.

If DL gives up on this team like he's done in the past, he should be out of a job.
And TM needs to get off of those downers he's taking a start firing up his team like its an emergency.

I don't want to say it's over at this point. They've shown an ability to bounce back from adversity. They can't play the way they played yesterday with no emotion. They seem tentative at the beginning of games, fearing that they'll get behind. I think they need to come out aggressive..whether that's a physical start, or just getting the puck deep and crash the net...something to put the other team back on its heels.

Quick or Ersberg...One of these two need to take over and play solid night in and night out...shot after shot. There's way too much of this great save, easy goal bullshit. That doesn't win for you. It's the solid, steady goalie that wins.

From what I've seen from this team, I don't want DL making any kind of move at the deadline...especially if it's going to cost us picks or prospects. You can't say that we're missing one thing. Each poor performance shows another weakness. One blockbuster trade won't solve those weaknesses.

I also don't see the urgency to trade the veterans we have. I think Zeus has shown that he should be a part of this tam going forward. The other guys have very limited value. I haven't heard much about the depth of this draft,so how would mid round picks really help? why not see if these guys can get us there?
This team has shown me that they have the talent to beat out all of these teams for the playoffs. They have the rest of the season to prove whether I'm right or wrong.

Until this team starts to WANT to win, then yes the playoffs are out of reach. Successful teams have different guys contributing every night and their top players produce consistantly. We seem to need a player of the Mark Messier variety that WILL motivate guys to produce.

I realize this may not be cool, but I want to single out a very talented player for a complete lack of passion in his game...Patrick O'Sullivan. He is by far the laziest player on the ice, night in and night out. It makes me want to vomit when I see him take another low percentage shot from an impossible angle. He simply refusses to pass the puck, on top of that he needs to learn to keep his feet moving, especially on the power play.

I was at the game last week against Edmonton and felt that Terry Murray should have benched him in the 3rd period. When you compare the play of O'Sullivan against the play of Brown it becomes very clear that O'Sullivan needs to be confronted by somebody within the organization, put on notice and if need be, traded for a more motivated player.

This kid has all the talent in the world and his refusal to step up and play like a professional is inexcusable.

Forget to mention Minnesota.
Their goal leader is a 38 year old player.
And he's only got 17 goals. Thats it,
You can't make the playoffs by defense alone. And you're not going to will all your games 1-0.
You need some offense, and they have none.
And Gaborik is nowhere in sight.

¡¡¡Si se puede!!!

Well, since we decide to suck against sorry teams, and the remaining games we have are against decent teams (on the road I might add), we do still have a fighting chance. Logically it's over, but if we do make the playoffs as a #7 or #8 seed, watch out because we don't need home ice advantage.

- If a girl stops returning your calls - its over

- if the Fat Lady Has Sung - its over

- If you currently have the 8th pick in the draft - its over

- if there are 11 scouts at the Atlanta game and 10 at the Ducks game - its over

- if Rich Hammond is even QUESTIONING the fact that it's over - its over

nykingfan...........I agree, however we still need a true sniper and I dont think Sully we evolve to be more than a 20 goal scorer on a consistant basis. Hope sincerely that Fro is not going to ask for too much. Hope we can keep him for 4 years at 18-20 mil. Then how do you price JJ??? Looks promising but........Is he worth 4+ mil/yr yet?? I dont think so. Another thought is that we still need a fourth D man to pair with Q. Green is looking more and more like a 5th man with grit. Even a pick in the top 5 wont give us what we need in the next 2 years. First rounder, Sully and purcell for Heatley is my christmas wish.

Our best line of Moulsen-Murry-purcell in Man. is not going to cut it. Moulsen can maybe replace Richardsen, Purcell doesnt take the body enough and probably does not fit our system. Jury is still out on Lewis. I see Moller taking Calders spot on the second line next year, first line intact and 3rd line in tact. Would not mind bringing Calder back for 1 mil/tear to play 3rd or 4th line duties. Boyle just looks lost, even in Man. he doent stand out.

Just my 2 cents.

It's not over until they fall short of 92 points. Losing to PHX is annoying, losing to SJS is technically to be expected. It can't be over all of the sudden just because they lost one game they should have won. Especially since they have been winning games they "should" have lost.

I agree with Rich's assessment of this team - they are young and this is how young teams play. I think at the very least we have seen glimpses of what is yet to come - a strong, defensive scheme that CAN create great offensive opportunities especially for skilled forwards who play both ends of the ice. Is it over? probably. At a point when contenders will likely be strengthening their rosters, getting deeper, I think this team stays relatively in tact which means that they are going to get beat up from time to time. But I also was not expecting them to make the playoffs this year either. I am one of few that appreciates the sacrifice now for consistency and strength in the future. These kids are playing a lot, playing both ends of the ice (for the most part), and are learning and growing as a team. There is no substitute for this kind of learning and experience. For those of you who can't stand losing, who are constantly disappointed by the Kings, I urge you to look at this season for what it is ... a huge step forward not just on the ice but for the organization. For those of you who simply want to win the Cup and could care less about building something for many seasons, not just one, there are plenty of teams out there to root for. Those of us who have been TRUE Kings fans for decades know that this is something different and are willing to wait for it to happen, because, I for one believe that the way we are going, the strides we made this year and the potential that has been shown, we will get there. Not just for one season, but for many.

I dare not speak of the Kings finishing last in the West... but I'm gonna do it anyway, as much as I hate do. I'd love to think that the Kings could make the postseason this year, but the way things are going... who knows?

The Kings have greatly improved this season, and have well exceeded expectations, and are competing. That's something we didn't think would happen until next year at the earliest, so even if the Kings miss out, they'll be in great shape next year if they can re-sign Johnson and possibly sign a guy like Hossa. But they may manage to land in the bottom of the Western Conference standings by virtue of the rest of the teams being so close to them.

It's not unrealistic to think the Kings could have a good season this year, yet finish 15th in the West, which would me great in many ways. First of all, the team would have that big-game experience for next season, when we should be better. And second of all, the team would have a good chance at a Top 5 draft pick in next year's draft... although I'm still praying for a postseason appearance this year, I can't help but look at the other side of things, which are brighter this year than in seasons past.

So many things can still happen with all of these teams within just a few points of each other.

I am just hopeful that they survive the season intact, in other words, no trades and no injuries. Next year I expect a lot more.

It all depends on what Deano does on March 4th. If he pull a miracle out of his hat and grab a sniper and a one year rental player we will make the playoffs. If not, then no.

not over...but...they are making it harder on themselves...
i agree w/everything you said, rich...
however,
the other teams battling w/the kings are just as unpredictable...
i think if the kings are within 4 points w/10 to play...anything can happen...

it's a bit early to walk away from this season just being satisfied w/the progress made up until this point...with their performance at home during the two months, it's a legit question to ask...i just think we have another dozen games to go before that question can be better answered...

a real big question will be the play of drew doughty, since he is entering uncharted territory in games played...and the other big question will be their ability to recognize coverages and adapt their game accordingly...

but when this team is bad...they're awful...and games like the last couple make you want to question everything about this team and how they were even to go this far and still be competitive...

i've never seen a team feast or famine on passing like this team has...it's almost uncanny how you can predict how the kings are going to play based upon their ability to pass the puck cleanly...

great observation on quick...if there is any part of his game he needs to work on, it's his ability to stay big CONSISTENTLY...

i'm enjoying the ride....peaks and valleys...highs and lows....hopefully, by season's end, the kings will become a better team overall in all facets of the game...and if that means we don't make the playoffs...fine...as long as the end results are a launching pad to get them in the promise land for the years to come...

I agree with Josh above. The Kings are still in it and I am not going to give up on them. I do have one beef----as a long time Kings fan why must the organization advertise "stretch run" packs. Have they not learned that this is the kiss of death. Why not just say "Black Out"? Geez!

I need to buy another fork because this one I just stuck in The Kings. They're done.

At times this season, and especially during the last 2 months, the Kings have shown that they can play as well as just about every other team in the league. For them to make the playoffs, however, they'll have to do something they have yet to accomplish this season: play well consistently. This seems to be the next growing pain for the team.

Can they achieve that sort of growth in these last 24 games? I doubt it. I think it's too much to expect of a team at this stage of its development. Their system, their "structure", their character -- their identity -- hasn't evolved quite enough yet for them to play consistently good hockey. It's too soon for that to happen. That's what next season will be all about.

But still, every remaining game will be tremendously important for this team's development. What's important now is that they *want* to make the playoffs, that they pick up the scent and get that hunger. If they play with that hunger for these last 24 games, then I'll consider this season to be a great success.

I hope they battle to the bitter end and not lose sight of the big picture. We should have some great seasons ahead of us.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

You guys will think I'm crazy for saying this, but we're going to be in the playoffs on a couple conditions..

1) We trade Kyle Calder, Gauthier, Ersberg and a first for Kovalchuk or Malkin.. Jon Quick will play a lot better not looking behind his back anymore. Put Bernier as the backup..

2) We start winning home games and get Terry Murray to fire his team up in the warm ups..

3) Ersberg for Marek Svatos or Wojtek Wolski or Ryan Smyth would be another possiblity..

Svatos/Wolski/Smyth-Kopitar-Frolov
O'Sullivan-Stoll-Brown
Richardson-Handzus-Simmonds
Ivanans-Lewis-Moller

Doughty-O'Donnell
Greene-Johnson
Harrold-Quincey

Quick
Bernier

Me=Genius
Stanley Cup, here we come

I agree, the Kings are done this season. What a great season it has been though. For a team that was projected to finish in the bottom three, they proved a lot of "experts" wrong. I think it's time to shed some spare d men, give Army away to a team going to the playoffs, and let a few of these prospects play with a little house money. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Lombardi does between end of season and the start of training camp. If this season is any indication of where we are heading, next season should be fantastic.

Yeah, I think realisticallly it's over. Like Rich says..they're young and inconsistent...but it's a lot more exciting hockey to watch than recent years past for sure! And for that it's been a great season. I've really enjoyed it! As long as they work hard and go for it, I'm happy...but having said that...wouldn't it be great if they snuck in there?! But next year...got hopes for next year!

Dude you delusional! no way the King's get Svatos or Wolski for that.

At least the Ontario Reign will probably have a post season to look forward to...

Quisp said:
It's not over until they fall short of 92 points. It can't be over all of the sudden just because they lost one game they should have won. Especially since they have been winning games they "should" have lost.

Quisp, you're one of the most reliable people on this blog usually. The problem is at home they've lost both games to PHX, been shutout by CBJ, lost to TB, lost both games to EDM, both games to COL, lost to TOR. That's 9 games by my calculation. Now no way would I expect them to win all those games, but those are almost all NON PLAYOFF teams! If you can't do better than that against Non Playoff teams, how exactly are you supposed to make the playoffs?

AK47 said:
You guys will think I'm crazy for saying this, but we're going to be in the playoffs on a couple conditions..

1) We trade Kyle Calder, Gauthier, Ersberg and a first for Kovalchuk or Malkin.. Jon Quick will play a lot better not looking behind his back anymore. Put Bernier as the backup..

3) Ersberg for Marek Svatos or Wojtek Wolski or Ryan Smyth would be another possiblity

AK47.... YOU ARE JOKING OF COURSE!!

First of all, four points out of the eighth spot at this point of the season is a dream come true for this team. If the Penguins could do it a couple years back, then this team can do it so let's not give up the ship yet. If this entire team started playing with intensity every game, the playoffs are well within reach. Kopi's head along with a couple others was not totally in the game yesterday and that can't happen if the Kings want to be successful. Say what you want about how many shots Brown takes, but count how many rebounds are given up on those shots. That CBS line has had success over the last 14 games because all three guys go hard to the net. If all four lines played that hard, the wins would come. On the Goat suspension, it's another joke by the NHL to make examples of certain players. Nothing was done when Ovechkin and Moreau tried to assainate Brown with both hits being when Brownie had his back to both.

Was it over when ..... ...Oh never mind!!!!

Wow AK47, you might just take the title for least realistic poster with that one. A third/fourt line forward, a sixth/seventh dman, a decent backup goalie, and a first, for Malkin or Kovalchuk. That wouldn't even work in NHL09.

Anthony, I like your assessment of our competition, gives me some hope we can sneak in as other teams falter. Unfortunately, all those teams play each other and somebody had to get the points from each game. That is going to make it difficult to make up ground unless the Kings put together another four or five game winning streak.

It ain't over, because whichever team from the ninth spot to 15th spot that gets hot may just steal the 7th or 8th spot in the playoffs. The Kings still could be that team.

I don't see us trading for much at the deadline to make a push, however. What we need and are looking for are not out there at the trade deadline. More likely we'll see a trade or two at the draft.

Ok ok.. maybe we can add Teubert, because I doubt Dean Lombardi is willing to keep Colten Teubert AND Thomas Hickey. If we get a proven sniper, I don't want us to trade Jack Johnson, that's all I ask from Dean Lombardi.

What's wrong with Ersberg, Calder and a 2nd for Svatos or Wolski? Colorado gets the starting goalie they need and we get a first line player?

What do you guys we suggest we do then? I don't want to keep Kyle Calder man, I can't stand this guy.

BTW guys, Dean rumored to be in trade talks for malkin and kovalchuk, so I'm not pulling this out of my a**.. I just don't know who we have to offer? I wouldn't mind getting Ray Whitney either, he'd be a nice pickup. Or just signing Gaborik or Hossa as a Free Agent... I might be pushing my luck, but it's all realistic, I just don't want Deano to trade Frolov or Jacko. PLEASE KEEP THEM

It's not over because its a tight race, however in many ways I wish it was over because we still need one or two more pieces. I did not expect the kings to still be in the playoff hunt at this point anyway. I am not a fickle fan and still love this team. Sadly we will not be a bad enough place to get another impact player like Doughty probably, so Dean will be forced to lose assets for that piece most likely. This in the long term could be bad due to the reserve list is still not amazing. We do not have players in Manchester that should be in the NHL and are waiting their turn.

Over? no. A stretch to make it? Yes.

As up and down as this young team is, you simply can't say it is over until we are mathmatically eliminated. That said, we certainly aren't helping the cause by losing games we could/should clearly win.

Just hope if we trade we trade smart, having seen this team trade away talent in the past I hope we don't repeat that and stick with what we are building which is a good team that will be feared in years to come. We were not supposed to be this good this soon, but lets not destroy the future because we exceeded xpectations a bitearlier than planned.

AK47 -

Why would you doubt DL isn't willing to keep Hickey AND Teubert? He just drafted them one year apart didn't he?....jeez.....why would he draft them if he didn't want to keep them?

All signs point to being over.

Their performances against THREE basement dwellers(Senators, Islanders, Thrashers), pretty much proved why they won't make it.

They failed to win the most important games of the year too - Edmonton, Phoenix.

If the Kings want to do a miracle run it has to start now. 5 more games until the trade deadline. The Kings would have to go at least 3-2 to prove to they are contenders, and anything less than that, well, I hope Dean decides to SELL on deadline.

Even if they go 3-2 before the deadline, they still need to get HOT over a stretch of games (similar to their roadtrip two weeks ago). Can they do it? Mediocre defense group, rookie goaltending, spells trouble.

This road-trip will determine whether their playoff hopes are legit.

If the Kings keep up their road success and get 6-8 out of 10 possible points in this road trip, then everyone on this blog will be singing a positive tune.

I think they can squeeze 3 wins out of the next 5 and we all know they suck in OT, so if they can make it past regulation a couple times, there's a chance for some extra points. If all this can happen, then they are right back in it.

AK47 said: What's wrong with Ersberg, Calder and a 2nd for Svatos or Wolski? Colorado gets the starting goalie they need and we get a first line player?

Ummmm. AK47, I'm very sorry to disappoint you but the days of George McGuire and Sam McManus not only are no longer here in the Kings universe, but there are no other GM's out there either stupid enough to trade a proven first line sniper for an unproven goalie, a 3rd line player and a 2nd round choice. This may surprise you, but often (not always) you draft a 1st line player with a 1st round choice. So why would they possibly give up a 1st line player for that?? Seriously dude.

How would you respond to other teams fans goin "hey, cool, we'll trade (insert any 3rd line checker, our backup goalie and a 2nd round draft choice to the Kings for Kopitar or Dustin Brown, since they probably aren't gonna make the playoffs). You'd have a laugh.

This road-trip will determine whether their playoff hopes are legit.

If the Kings keep up their road success and get 6-8 out of 10 possible points in this road trip, then everyone on this blog will be singing a positive tune.

I think they can squeeze 3 wins out of the next 5 and we all know they suck in OT, so if they can make it past regulation a couple times, there's a chance for some extra points. If all this can happen, then they are right back in it.

On the other hand, if they fall on their face and go 1-4 or 2-3 then things are looking bleak.

They need to bring home another successful road trip, and that will be tough against MIN, PHI, DET, CHI, COL, but if they pull that off, then they will prove a playoff birth is possible.

I think we all got our hopes up from that crazy road trip and we thought they were a playoff team. They're not going to be a playoff team this year.

Let's look at their remaining schedule. They have 7 games left at home, 17 on the road. Here's how I think they'll do:

2/24 @ Wild: W
2/25 @ Flyers: L
2/27 @ Red Wings: L
3/1 @ Blackhawks: L
3/3 @ Blue Jackets: W
3/5 vs. Stars: L
3/7 vs. Wild: W
3/9 vs. Canucks: L
3/13 @ Canucks: L
3/14 @ Sharks: L
3/16 vs. Predators: W
3/19 @ Bruins: L
3/20 @ Penguins: L
3/22 @ Blackhawks: L
3/24 @ Blues: W
3/26 @ Stars: L
3/28 @ Predators: W
3/31 vs. Stars: L
4/2 @ Coyotes: L
4/4 vs. Coyotes: L
4/6 @ Flames: L
4/7 @ Oilers: W
4/9 @ Canucks: L
4/11 vs. Sharks: L

Are my predictions pessimistic? Yes, but this is the Kings we're talking about. And they have that brutal trip where they play 8 of 9 on the road, including 6 straight back east. Will they win a few of the games I think they'll lose, or vice versa? Sure, or at least they'll get single points from getting into OT. But assuming that I'm generally on the right track, I have them picking up 14 more points which puts them at 73. In reality they should get into the low 80s, but no way that's enough to make the playoffs. Would I be thrilled if the Kings surprised me and got to around 90 points and made the playoffs? Absolutely!

These posts are too funny. If the Kings are going to get an elite player the other team will start by asking for Frolov and then more. The Kings do not even have an established bonafide #1 NHL goalie so to think
they are better than the other 6 teams battling for a spot is ridiculous.Between Ersberg and Quick have not proved themselves one way or another. Has anyone else noticed that the team has sucked defensively in the last couple of weeks?

Yup, also the defensive suckage started when the offense went up. Not a coincidence.

Paul from Oxnard,

Good assessment about the upcoming schedule. I'm not even sure we can even win against Columbus on March 3rd because the Jackets play extremely well at home. That team has a great mix of players in their lineup and playing their best hockey in franchise history.

It's over, guys. They needed points badly when they came back home. It's too late now.

The only thing that can save this playoff run is through a trade. Remember how the boys responded when Jack Johnson was back in the lineup? It fired up the boys. Maybe Dean Lombardi is working on a significant deal? Who knows!? Only 5 games left till deadline.

I think I read somewhere that Nashville has bad goaltending. That is incorrect. Pekka Rinne is the only reason Nashville is still in contention and b/t Quick and Rinne to carry their team into the 8th seed, I'm going with Rinne.

The way this team is playing its over, they have shown they can beat good teams but then they take bad penalties or have defensive lapses. Even if they can manage to sneak into 8th they wont win a single game in the playoffs playing like this. Was this season and improvement? yes.

Some bad roster choices cost this team some points (the LaBarbara saga clearly did). At least 3 Roster spots will open up after the season is over (Army, Calder, Goat) unless Dean makes deals, its going to be a busy off season for Dean lots of RFAs and 2 UFAs does he resign Ersberg & Od? I think the main headache for Dean will be Jack Johnson I can see him wanting a lot more money (imho he hasn't earned it yet). Might turn into another Sully type situation.

Does Dean try to fill the spots internally or does he bide his time to go after a big name UFA in a year or 2 (Gaborik, Kovy)? Does he resign Fro next season?

I don't think it's over but I think it is really unlikely. We have no one of value to really trade and DL isn't about to trade the farm away (Teubert, Hickey, Johnson, etc) for a player just to make the playoffs. As tempting as someone as Malkin or Kovalchuk might be, getting them now is not worth it.

Anything is possible and like Rich said, this is a highly volatile team. But that's what happens when you are young. As much as people want to second-guess how other teams will fare, the best way for the Kings to make the playoffs is to win games. That's all they can control and that's all they should focus on.

Murray will keep them honest and maybe we get lucky and get a lottery pick. With the way this season has been shaping up the team could miss the playoffs by a few points and still get a lottery pick.

It's not over, and if the Kings did do it, then it would be their biggest accomplishment since 2001 when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs ;) I wouldn't go as far as to bring 1993 into this.

Good observation about Quick. Those top corners over his shoulders have been easy pickings for shooters. He has gone down to make some incredible saves, but the long range shots up high are giving him trouble.

I would not bet money on them making the playoffs, but maybe this team will continue to surprise. Hey, at least they are not playing at Staples! That should give them a good shot at some points. :)

I hate this team. Every time you think they've tanked and can't get any worse, they somehow pull out of it. Then you think they are an unstoppable force of nature headed for a playoff spot only to watch them crash and burn against ATL or PHX. It would be just like this team to go out and win 4 or 5 straight right now. I think there are just too many teams to jump over. Unless Quick or Ersberg decide to go all Felix Potvin and win 13 out of 14 or something. . .this team is Done. I'm just hoping for an above .500 regulation record and a little respect at this point.

I dont think they will let Kovalchuk go but if they did
man would that be fun!

This is the era of free agents so we dont have to give up a Fro for anyone. I hope we dont let him go any place.

as for the Kings making it to the playoffs well... even after our very successful road trip the odds were against us with the upcoming schedule and all the away games. The team has stumbled but its still possible.Coach has to fire these boys up!

I guess I'm always the s**t disturber, but let me offer a couple of observations:

1) Has anyone else noted that the NHL has generally gone soft at home? I have no clue why, but road teams are very close to .500 on the road this year (excluding overtime losses). This seems paradoxical, but offers teams like the Kings who are better on the road than at home realistic hope for their otherwise brutal schedule;

2) The Kings have been amazingly consistent these last 15-20 games or so. Teams don't ever seem to blow them out (the SJ and PHX games not withstanding); they generally have a chance at the end of their losses. This is where I bow to the analysis of Quisp and others, pointing out how many teams stand in front of the Kings, and estimating how many points the 8th place team will likely require to get in (92-94). What's interesting this year is the possibility that the 15th place team in the West might actually be at or above .500. That would seem to be a statistical anomaly, as years go, because there is generally at least one really bad team per conference per year;

3) Most fans judge questions like this with feelings, not facts. Discounting the obvious, that the Kings have been playing poorly three of the last six periods (the second at SJ, the second and third periods hosting PHE), the Kings have generally been competitive in games, in fact dropping many potential wins at the last minute.

If these thoughts seem contradictory, they are to me, too. I never believed this team could make the playoffs this year until recently, but the last two losses FELT quite devastating to me. My head says this season is toast, but there are enough asterisks out there to keep my interest. It has seemed that the Kings have lagged behind CHI, CBJ, PHX, WAS, BOS... That is likely still the case, but the gap has closed. The Kings need a true first line center, however, no matter how well Quick/Ersberg plays, in order to score consistently enough to overcome their youthful mistakes.

It just seems to be too much, too soon for the 2008-2009 Kings. But, for the 2009-2010 Kings? Who knows?

AK47 said: What's wrong with Ersberg, Calder and a 2nd for Svatos or Wolski? Colorado gets the starting goalie they need and we get a first line player?

Ummmm. AK47, I'm very sorry to disappoint you but the days of George McGuire and Sam McManus not only are no longer here in the Kings universe, but there are no other GM's out there either stupid enough to trade a proven first line sniper for an unproven goalie, a 3rd line player and a 2nd round choice. This may surprise you, but often (not always) you draft a 1st line player with a 1st round choice. So why would they possibly give up a 1st line player for that?? Seriously dude.

How would you respond to other teams fans goin "hey, cool, we'll trade (insert any 3rd line checker, our backup goalie and a 2nd round draft choice to the Kings for Kopitar or Dustin Brown, since they probably aren't gonna make the playoffs). You'd have a laugh.

let's get ryan smyth

Sure we can talk about what we may think for the rest of the season, but let's see what's been done. For being the youngest team in the league, the fact that they are even competing for the playoffs in commendable. I HOPE NO trades are made at the deadline. Sure we have a little deadweight on this team but they will be filled with the youngsters we have in the farm system. Kings should keep it together and play tough, they are getting more and more exciting to watch each year and as a fan that has seen Fukafuji in goal and struggled through that period, (and many years before) the bottom line is LA is on the upward trend, not like those guys down the 5.

I'm simply going to say that anyone who has the Kings out of the playoffs right now needs their heads checked. I would agree if we were 10+ points out of 8th with less games in hand, but folks, we're 4 points out (2 wins) with 2 games in hand in most cases. Considering that anything can happen and our tendency to be better on the road for whatever ridiculous reason, we have a better chance than most gunning for a spot.

Do I get pissed at these listless home perfomances? Yes. That does NOT mean I have given up hope. I think it sucks we don't have a wild card system in the NHL, because if we did, we'd almost surely be in an 8th spot somewhere. The balance in the points between conferences is ridiculous.

If the Kings pull their heads out and begin to take the 'Nothing to lose' attitude, we make the playoffs. That simple. Make some mistakes in the rest of the games. That's fine. We can fight back, we've shown that. Get fired up and pissed off. Go and collectively hand other teams their a$$e$ every night, win or lose, and I'll bet we end up in a PO spot.

This is all about confidence at this point. We have the skill. We see shades of it's brilliance as a unit when it fires together. We got outclassed in SJ and have been in Detroit. Other than that, we can compete against anyone.

If we don't make the playoffs this year, it will be because we beat OURSELVES, bottom line.

Not to mention I certainly don't want to call my shot until I see what Deano, Hexy and Luc's speeches/tirades from last night do to these guys. We should see a whole new team from here on out based on these three guys and their distaste for lackof effort.

How many of you wish you could have been in that locker room after the Phoenix game last night? (Raising hand)

With all respects to John Belushi:

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!" :)

Here are some numbers to help us all be rational about the Kings' chances of making the playoffs.

The Kings need 33 points to get to 92. They have 24 games to do it. It doesn't matter if the lost to PHX and beat WAS and NJD, or if they had beaten PHX but lost to WAS, etc.. What matters is, they are have 59 points.

They are in 12th place, without considering games in hand. If you look only at losses and ties (i.e. points blown), they are in 10th, 1.5 games out of a playoff spot, and 3.5 games out of the 5th spot.

Everybody's schedule is tough. Whoever folds is out. Whoever slumps is out. Whoever hangs in, hangs in.

Let's run some models now. Let's say the Kings don't fold, but they don't play great either. They keep playing .500 hockey for the next 14 games (I picked 14 because it's an even number and would leave 10 games left). So they go 7-7-0 over the next fourteen. They would have 73 points with 10 games left. They would need 19 points out of their last 10 games, which is obviously highly unlikely, if not virtually impossible. Now, maybe 90 points is good enough this year. In which case, they would still have to get 17 points out of the last possible 20 points (10 games). Also, highly unlikely.

You can't go into the last ten games of the season thinking, well, we need to go 9-0-1, or even 8-1-1, to make the playoffs. It's not going to happen. I think it would be reasonable, though, to expect the Kings to go 6-4, or 6-3-1, in the last ten. That would be what I call shooting distance. 6-3-1 is more or less what the Kings have been doing lately, so it's reasonable. It would give them a fair shake. What do they need to do over the next fourteen games, to put themselves in this position.

6-3-1 is 13 points. So subtract that from 92, and they would have to get to 79 with ten games left. They're at 59 points right now.

Which means they need 20 points out of the next 14 games (28 possible points). 10-4-0.

Maybe 90 is the magic number, and they only have to go 9-5-0. In any case, they have to play great.

Is there good news? I think so.

(1) The Kings are by far better on the road, and most of their games are on the road.
(2) The Kings are streaky. They lose five in a row, then they win five in a row, approximately. Now, they're in a position to finish strong and get something for it. If they don't finish strong, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. If they do, they do. This works for me.
(3) Everybody is playing tough games right now. Everybody is going to take hits and blow leads and some teams are going to crap out. The schedule is not kind to anyone in the home stretch. Everyone is going to blow four point games. And teams we're competing with will be playing each other and beating each other senseless.
(4) The trade deadline is going to change some things. It will signal the end of playoff hopes for some teams, and new life for others. The Kings ain't going to trade valuable assets in the tradition buyer role, no matter how badly they tank between now and then. And they might bring in someone to upgrade our shot now. Might.

What's true is, they can't afford any more losing streaks. They need to play well from now on. They can lose, basically, seven more games, out of 24. 16-7-1 is what they need to do. That's doable.

Every four games they need to get 5.5 points. 2-1-1 every four games.

It would be silly to say the Kings are going to make the playoffs for sure, or even that they are likely to. It's just as silly to say it's over.

What's guaranteed is that there are basically eight teams fighting for four spots and the four that play the best from here on out will be in, and the others will be out. Period. That's pretty much all you can ask for.

WE are all pawns in Dean Lombardi's (AEG'S) game of ("building a hockey dynasty") chess. This year has been (somewhat) entertaining. The Kings are not going to make the playoffs. For the better.

If I were a betting man, I would choose "Evander Kane"

First time I have been mad at Rich, We got this I know we will land in 6th over all and I think we will play the Stars first round. Just what I feel in my gut. Yes it was sad that we lost yesterday but come on we go on the road and win everyone here will be in line for play off tickets next week. Show some support guys damn.....

I DONT WANT TO WAIT ONE MORE YEAR!!!

Of course it is over. This is a .500 team at best and .500 teams don't qualify for the playoffs in the NHL anymore. That said, .500 would be a considerable improvement for this franchise, so I would consider the season a success. Let's forget playoff talk and start talking free agency and the draft.

Quisp is the man!!!!

We're not out yet, but we can basically only lose 7 more games, considering our road play, it's definitely possible....so no more bad weeks....I was surprised to Anthony as being one of the only positive people on this topic...with that said...

Anthony, Anthony, Anthony, calling Wayne Gretzky, the Great One, a "stupid idiot". That is just plain ole WRONG. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Let's just hope we can put it altogether for a solid stretch run, I'd love to see the playoffs again, even if it means we have to play the Wings or Sharks (that's going to be ugly)

Ok ok let's be real here, the Kings will indeed make the playoffs, but if they don't can we please go draft Jordan Schroeder or Evander Kane. Schroeder played very well in the World Junior Championship and I got to see them all live in the great capital of Canada, Ottawa. Yes sir, I'm a Los Angeles Kings die-hard fan in Ottawa! rareeeeeee

to quisp and all the other peeps out there who have had similar commentary...

excellent job of breaking it down....

i'd say if we can be about 4 points out w/10 games to go...we have as good as shot as any...

so...we are definitely still in it...
but...we have our work cut out for us...

i do think, since this is the youngest team in the league, there's the fatigue factor...it cannot be overlooked...and i truly believe that has been the reason some of the players are suffering right now...i think drew needs his minutes cut a bit...and, as well as he's been playing, fro has logged a ton of ice time lately, too...and i thought kopi hit a lead wall vs. phoenix...he looked gassed...

practices will probably be limited to conditioning and strategy sessions from this point on...
the kings are on the brink of determining where their fate lies this season...and i still say d.l. does nothing major or team-shifting until after the season's over...

the fro situation doesn't need to be settled now...it can wait...so can the jj situation...he's not going to go anywhere, unless d.l. can land a long-term sniper, which is doubtful at this point...the asking price is just too high...

this is also the very first time many of these kings have had to deal w/the media attention and scrutiny of their successes and failures...that can't be overlooked either...

maybe shep fairey can create a "hope" poster for this team...and for all of us, too!

Of course it isn't over. The Kings can make the playoffs if they finish the season strong. Here are the teams they are competing with for the final four playoff spots and the remaining four-point games against them:

5) Vancouver, 68 points (9 ahead of the Kings who have 1 game in hand): 3 remaining games between them, 2 in Vancouver, 1 in LA
•the Kings might be too far back of the Canucks, but if they were to win all 3 games they would pick up 6 points to be 3 back with a game in hand

6) Columbus, 66 points (7 ahead of the Kings who have 2 games in hand): 1 game remaining in Columbus
•if the Kings beat the Jackets next week in regulation they get within 5 points of them with 2 games in hand

7) Dallas, 65 points (6 points ahead of the Kings, same number of games played): 3 meetings left, 2 in LA, 1 in Dallas
•if the Kings can sweep the remainder of the season series from Dallas they catch the Stars in the standings

8) Minnesota, 64 points (5 ahead of the Kings, same number of games played): 2 meetings left, 1 in Minnie, 1 in LA
•if the Kings win both games they would be within a single point of the Wild

9) Edmonton, 63 points (4 points ahead of the Kings who have a game in hand): 1 more meeting in Edmonton
•if the Kings win the game in hand and the meeting they catch Edmonton and win the season series, but they can't finish tied with the Oil in points because the Oilers have more wins

10) Ana-slime, 63 points (4 ahead of the Kings who have 3 games in hand): 0 games left
•if the Kings win all their games in hand they move past the Quacks

11) Nashville, 60 points (1 ahead of the Kings who have 2 games in hand): 2 meetings left, one in Nashville, 1 in LA
•if the Kings split the games and win either game they have in hand they pass the Preds

12) Los Angeles, 59 points

13) Phoenix, 59 points (Kings have 2 games in hand): 2 more meetings, one in Phoenix, 1 in LA
•the Coyotes have more wins than the Kings so LA must finish with more points

14) St. Louis, 58 points (1 behind LA who have a game in hand): 1 more meeting in St Louis
•suddenly back in contention, the Blues are looking like the Kings did two weeks ago
•they have the same number of games so the Kings pretty much have to win their game in hand and not lose to the Blues in regulation

15) Colorado, 57 points (2 behind the Kings who have 2 games in hand): 0 meetings remain
•the Kings control their own destiny in terms of the Avs

The tough thing is that those teams are all going to be playing each other as well over the next month and a half too so they will all pick up points. Phoenix and St. Louis are going to be playing 3 more times this season and one of them is going to get at least 4 points out of those games, and in the worst possible scenario one could get 6 and the other 3. The Ducks are going to play the Stars and Dogs 3 more times each. The Predators and Blue Jackets have 3 more meetings.

It is not going to be easy for the Kings and the odds are by no means in their favor, but it's not over yet, and I think it's foolhardy to suggest otherwise.

By the way, making the playoffs this year would be the team's biggest achievement since the 2001 playoffs when they knocked off the 2nd seeded Red Wings and took the top-seeded and Cup favorite Avalanche to the last period of the 7th game before bowing out. That may be the team's only highlight since 1993 but it is there and deserves to be remembered.

The question was "is it over?". Insane. That is an insane question. Is it likely? would have made so much more sense as a question to ask, but what kind of half ass question would that be to discuss.

According to Quisp, 16-7-1 to get in. That should be the heading of this blog. Not "is it over?" but "Can we do 16-7-1?". We've all seen what The Kings have done over the last month, therefore, we all know how possible it is. Don't stop believin' just yet.

I'll be happy with the Kings if they get 81 points and pray that it's enough to make the 8th seed...

-The Kings have played so much at home and so little on the road that really all we can say is that they have squandered their home games, and MIGHT be better on the road. Going .750 on the road the rest of this season is improbable if not totally impossible. "Might be better" and ".750" are worlds apart.

-When reality sets in this fragile team will, unfortunately, crumble.

-Remember Babs? What could have been was scuttled early on by the rigid insistence that he was a Number 1. I seem to remember some quote "Build from the Back out". We've seen what decent goal tending has accomplished, and we can also see that talk is cheap.

-For as much as he has gotten right Dean Lombardi has gotten at least as much wrong. Do you really think that anyone qualified to be a GM wouldn't have done nearly as well or a lot better? Draft picks up the buzzooba, young players in the system, no stifling contracts. He's about .333 on his trades IMO. His first coach lasted a season and a half too long.

-I have been a fan a long time, this club is plain disappointing. Maybe I'm just tired of the rhetoric, the excuses, and the homers. But a team that starts out with Anze, Jack, Dustin, Sasha, Patrick, and adds some really good young performances from Drew, Wayne, Jon, Kyle Q, Peter and Oscar SHOULD have been much better. Except for Handzus and O'Donnell this team was let down by the veterans this year.

-For all you Next Year Fans, remember we could be just as good next year, or maybe worse. Winning is an environment. We are on the verge of the Mojave. The few wet years are good, dry years abysmal. Lush years are nearly unheard of. The environment must change, and until someone figures out how to do that we will have subsistence hockey.

AK47....Here's why everything you have said so far makes no sense:

1. The Avalanche are not going to trade away their future when the future is all they have to look forward to. If anybody from their roster leaves, its going to be a veteran. Possibly Laperriere, but not to the Kings.

2. Kovalchuk has another year remaining on his contract and his market value will certainly rise closer to draft day. Those of you who know my posts regarding this guy are aware that I am a huge Kovalchuk fan, but he's not going to be available until at least draft day if not this time next year.

3. Malkin was nothing more than a pipe dream written by a crazy sportswriter months ago before he extended his contract. NOT HAPPENING.

4. You are from Ottawa, i.e. the Hockey tabloid capitol of the world. You should know better than most that the stuff you read in the papers is mostly made up.

5. Most importantly...if you have observed the tendencies of DL, you will know that rule no. 1 is: DO NOT TRADE AWAY THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE. He will in fact hold on to both Teubert and Hickey. The Kings are a season away from being permanently in the playoff mix. He will not jeopardize that. The UFA market is rich this year. He will pursue a scorer then.

For a while I advocated heavily for a Kovalchuk deal. But I quickly realized that he isn't truly available yet. Especially when they put the Captaincy on his shoulders (an obvious sign that they are trying to keep him in ATL).

So what I do agree with, is that we should get real here. Really, get real.

Now to answer the general question: I think they will miss the playoffs by a VERY slim margin. The teams we are relying on to fail are more experienced and certainly more seasoned with the pressure that comes along with a playoff push. It will come down consistency, and unfortunately for us...thats our weakness. But if we do squeak in...as Quisp has indicated, it will take 92-93 points to do so. Either way, the ride has been great so far! Go Kings!

OH and Anthony...c'mon...Gretz, a stuipd idiot? Classy.

I think a lot of people are forgetting Dean wants guys he considers "core" players.

The Kings have several guys that I think would fit into this category that include guys that are currently playing well, but not necessarily core-types. Here's my list:

Preissing
Goat
Calder(playing well, but not core)
Ersberg(good, but tradeable)
Zeiler
Army(great character guy, but aging and we have others for his role)
Harrold(versatile, but tradeable)
Ivanans(Westgarth in the wings)
O'Donnell(only if we can pickup a better veteran D)

The rest, I feel, are core guys or need more time to prove themselves due to age or injuries.

I think Dean should make some deals at the deadline to free up cash, at the same time aquiring more picks for draft day deals.

anonandonanon

What hasn't DL done right to this point? He has the youngeest team in the NHL...1 year removed from being tied for the lowest points in the NHL, and here we are nearing March and we're fighting for a playoff spot. the reason we're in the hunt? Because he drafted guys like Simmonds, Doughty, Quick, etc...he signed free agents like Handzus.Traded for guys like Sully...he refused to trade any of his young players for old veterans...like all of his predecessors did.
In my opinion he's among the top 3 or 4 GM's in the league. There's a hell of a lot worse out there. I live in NY. Ever hear of Garth Snow and Glen Sather?

He got rid of Crawford and brought in TM. It wasn't done too late. What did we lose by holding onto Crawford as long as he did? Did any of the players leave because of it? I understand he wasn't good with the young kids so he got rid of him and brought in a coach who works well with the young kids.

Gretzky was the best player ever.
But as coach, he sets the standard real low.
Its just not his thing.

I hate to say it, but if they can't win at home when the games are important...they're done.

Will I stop watching? Of course not...and I'm so excited about the overall improvement of this team.

I've said for some time, I was looking to next year as the year this franchise finally gets back in the playoffs.

Guys, there's nothing I'd love more then keeping both Hickey and Teubert, because those guys wouldn't just improve our already stellar D, they'd make an amazing D pairing. Pat Quinn paired them together during the World Junior Championship, and even though they weren't the best pairing on the team, they had a good tournament. Here's the reason I think one of them will get traded, and don't get me wrong, I'd love to have both of these guys, but as we go in the future, we're going to have TOO many defenseman. If Kyle Quincey didn't emerge they way he did, I wouldn't be writing this message. The only way I can picture Dean Lombardi keeping both Thomas Hickey and Colten Teubert is if Matt Greene gets traded or something, because from what I've seen so far, he hasn't been the guy we traded for. Without Matt Greene, the D pairings should like something like..

Doughty-Johnson
Quincey-Harrold
Teubert-Hickey

Voynov-Martinez

Pierre McGuire also mentioned that he thinks Voynov was a steal in the 2nd round and that he will crack the Kings roster next year. Once again, don't get me wrong, I'd love to keep Teubert and Hickey, because both of these kids have colossal upside. Except one of them would really be able to attract a big name superstar if we ever decided to pick one up. If Dean decides to sign Hossa or Gaborik in the off-season, then nvm anything I said about trading one of Teubert and Hickey.

Do you guys see where I'm going or am I still delusional to all of you..

Anonymous... I agree with every single player you mentioned, except Peter Harrold. This kid has emerged as one of our top D man/winger. For example, on our first goal against Phoenix (Frolov's), Harrold got no credit for anything, but he started that whole play with the beautiful crisp pass to Kopitar to start the break. At the starting of that game, we looked dead, but Harrold was able to give that beauty pass and keep us in the game.

Keep It Real
Go Kings baby

OH and what do you guys think of Matt Stajan or Drew Stafford? I hear they may be on the move and both of them are young and have lots of upside. It's just a thought..

Here's some good information on the amazing knowledge Dave Taylor's scouts had on the draft..

In the 2004 draft, the Los Angeles Kings selected Lauri Tukonen with 11th overall pick. We could've taken Mike Green, Drew Stafford, Rob Schremp, Travis Zajac, Wojtek Wolski, Lukas Kaspar. Why did we take Lauri Tukonen? I have no clue, evidently Mr. Taylor was blind or didn't have enough information, but thank the God this guy is not our GM anymore. This comes to show how important a draft is, I mean you have guys like Chris Campoli getting drafted in the 7th round who later on get traded to Ottawa for a 1st round pick! It's crazy man, we need to keep our picks.

I'm just trying to show you guys that firing Dean Lombardi would be the dumbest move the Los Angeles Kings Ownership would ever think of doing, this guy is taking us in the right direction and will bring us a cup in the next couple of years, we're building an army here, and we'll be a power house like the Red Wings and the Sharks.

AK-

That was my anon post. For some reason the site posts anon, even if it shows I'm logged on, which is odd..

At any rate, I chose Harrold, because frankly, where will he fit in, lets say, next season? Or the one after that?

What I'm getting at is, despite him being able to play wing and D, we're running out of room for him and FAST.

Where do we put Harrold as a d-man next season, especially if we have a "surprise" performance from one of the young guys next season?

Where do we put him as a winger, if we have more "surprises" with the kids AND we manage to pick-up some top guys come draft day(Dean loves the draft day for trades)?

Every combo I've been able to come up with doesn't have room for him. He'd be a healthy scratch in most cases.

AK47, re the future:

First, Peter Harrold -- I agree. He's been great. He has very quietly had a break-out year. I don't think he's going anywhere right now, though of course he's trade-bait at the right price (not that anyone appreciates him as much as the Kings do right now).

Second, the defense:

Greene is probably going to stick around at least until Teubert grows into his frame. Also, Campbell is another one of those big trees waiting to fill out. Greene may not have stood out like an all-star or a goal-machine, but he is one of the league-leaders in blocked-shots, and he does a lot of little things right. I would say he is the Handzus (i.e. the glue) of the defense. You can't really pull him out and expect the Kings to play defensively the way they have played this year.

Voynov -- I also have the hope that he will make the team next year. That was a huge coup, picking him.

You can't count out Drewiske, Campbell or Martinez, either.

I think there's a question whether Hickey and Teubert will be ready next fall. Certainly, people say that Hickey was almost ready this year, but I personally in my unprofessional opinion didn't see it. I saw the flashes of brilliance. But he still looks 12 to me. I would at least like him to look 15 before he's playing with the grown-ups.

Therefore, for next year, I think it's reasonable to expect the following:

Johnson, Doughty, Quincey, Greene, (two of: Voynov, Harrold, Martinez, Hickey), (one of: Campbell, Drewiske or Teubert) and one UFA veteran (SOD? or someone signed over the summer; there are several to choose from, I think).

So, say it's Johnson, Doughty, Quincey, Greene, Voynov, Harrold, Drewiske and SOD.

Then the following year, add Hickey and Teubert. You obviously at that point have to make a decision re Harrold and Voynov. Assume Voynov stays and Harrold is dealt (because that's just more fun to think about than Voynov crapping out). And you have to make a decision about the "trees," Greene, SOD, Teubert, Campbell (who will also be ready by then or sooner), and Drewiske (who is not exactly a tree but is kind of in the middle -- more like a Quincey, I guess). Certainly it's obvious that two seasons from now there will be no more SOD. If Teubert and Campbell are both looking great, Greene will sooner or later become expendable. Not next year, but maybe the year after. Greene is a proven commodity though, so it's more reasonable to assume that one of Teubert or Campbell (lets say Campbell because I don't want to imagine Teubert not panning out) doesn't cut it. Then, you will be left with, two seasons from now:

Doughty, Johnson, Quincey, Voynov, Hickey, Teubert and Greene.

You never know just how much of one's potential a given prospect is going to realize. But if Voynov, Hickey and Teubert materialize, it will actually be one of the best defenses ever assembled in the NHL.

Coming to an arena near you, in 2010-2011.

re UFAs: yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if DL signed someone expensive this summer. The Wings have to want to hang on to Hossa, but it's unclear whether they will be willing to sacrifice in other areas (i.e. depth) to make that happen. Finally, the Kings are in a position where a UFA might actually want to come here.

If that turns out to be the case -- if LA is now on the verge of becoming the kind of place free agents might want to come play in pursuit of a cup -- then that will have been the real victory of this season, whether the Kings make the playoffs this year or not.

i dont think we will make the playoffs this season, i know we will make playoffs next season though. it would be awsome if we made it this season, but the Kings are just too inconsistent, but like you said Rich, thats what young teams do.
GO KINGS GO

Another thing that pisses me off about Gretzky.
Just because he holds all these records, he expects the referees to give his team the benefit ALL THE TIME.

Quisp...

"If that turns out to be the case -- if LA is now on the verge of becoming the kind of place free agents might want to come play in pursuit of a cup -- then that will have been the real victory of this season, whether the Kings make the playoffs this year or not."

That, right there, says it all. People have complained for years about Lombardi's inability to add a high profile or a high impact FA, and he has stated it was due to the fact they simply didn't want to come here unless he overpaid.

I do believe, that for the first time this summer, that will change.

The Kings will not make the playoffs, but they should not give up the season. Trade Calder, Gauthier, Preissing, etc, but make sure you have someone that can take their place. This team will play hard and take some serious lumps these next few weeks and the last thing they need is to think management has given up on them. Make trades, but please don't completely strip this team Lombardi.

Also, I'm sure DL will eventually make a trade that involves some of the Kings prospects (maybe now or a year from now) and people will want his head on a stick because their favorite player is gone, but just remember that not everyone that you've seen play or seen drafted is going to wear the Kings jersey forever. If you really think about it, Doughty may be the only untouchable King right now.

Quisp,

I wanted to mention Andrew Campbell, but I wasn't sure if any of you guys knew who he was. This kid is kind of like Tyler Myers, except of course not as much recognition and skill as Myers, but they're similar, in my opinion. I think Greene is the odd man out of the bunch and Peter Harrold sooner or later. As much as I'd love to keep Harrold on the team, he's for sure going to be an odd man out.

On the offensive side, I think Trevor Lewis is going to be a very good player. If we trade Armstrong, Calder and others, he'll make the lineup, for sure.. I still don't know what's going on with Brian Boyle? Will he be trade bait at the deadline? Or will we keep developing him? Last year he had a couple good games, but this year he's been far off. I'd like to see a Purcell-Lewis-Moller line next year.. Or maybe Moulson.

Quisp, what do you think Dean will do at the deadline??

I had a really long dream last night where i saw all the remaining games played out so i made note on my imaginary blackberry and sent it to my real-life email. Here's how it goes...

2/24 @ Wild: W
2/25 @ Flyers: W
2/27 @ Red Wings: L/OT
3/1 @ Blackhawks: W
3/3 @ Blue Jackets: W
3/5 vs. Stars: W
3/7 vs. Wild: L/0T
3/9 vs. Canucks: L
3/13 @ Canucks: W
3/14 @ Sharks: L
3/16 vs. Predators: W
3/19 @ Bruins: L/OT
3/20 @ Penguins: L
3/22 @ Blackhawks: L/OT
3/24 @ Blues: W
3/26 @ Stars: W
3/28 @ Predators: W
3/31 vs. Stars: L
4/2 @ Coyotes: W
4/4 vs. Coyotes: W
4/6 @ Flames: L
4/7 @ Oilers: W
4/9 @ Canucks: L
4/11 vs. Sharks: W

32pts out of 48 FOR 91pts overall and finishing 9th in the conf. Also, my ex-landlord will become coach. Pretty sure this is all accurate.

Doughty, Kopitar and Brown are the only untouchables.. somewhat Jack Johnson too..

What's going on with Marc-Andre Cliche? I thought he would be playing games for us this year and what do you guys think of Azevedo's play of late? We have another kid in the OHL named Bryan Cameron who's ripping the league apart. He has 33 goals and 38 assists in 56 games. He's going to be a good player and hopefully will be playing with Manchester next year.

Hickey will be playing in the AHL next year, no doubt in my mind. I think he'll be getting called up the same way that Karl Alzner gets called up from time to time for Washington.

Hey AK47 I'm with you...almost!!!

We trade Calder, Ersberg a first rounder for a sniper.. Quick WILL play a lot better not looking behind his back anymore. Call up Bernier..but keep Gauthier for the PK!

AK -

I hope what DL does at the deadline is deal Calder, Gauthier and Preissing, maybe Armstrong. I'm thinking keeping Ersberg might be the smart move at this point; sign him for another year if possible. I would, for the first time in my following of his career, think about dealing Brian Boyle (though the optimist in me thinks, give him one more year). I am also on the fence about SOD; clearly DL will get offers for him. What's the threshold in DL's mind, that makes that doable? Does it depend on where the Kings are in the standings? Does he want to bring SOD back for another season (or does he think he can plug that hole with a veteran in September, like he did this year with SOD)? My guess is that, if the Kings play not well in the next week, SOD will get dealt for a high pick or prospect (assuming he can better the 3rd round pick he'll have to give up). But (again, the optimist) I wouldn't mind if he signed for another year. I just don't think it will happen (too many d in the pipeline, and too many old vets around; and we know how DL likes his picks; if he can get a pick now for SOD, and then sign someone else in September -- or even re-sign SOD! -- I think he will do it).

Probably depends on where the Kings are in a week. Tough games ahead. If the Kings put a streak together through those teams, I think DL may stand pat.

As far as making a deal to bring someone in (a big gun), I think that depends on what opportunities arise. Can he get Heatley from OTT at a discount because OTT needs to dump salary and no one wants those giant salaries and we can afford it? Maybe. That's the kind of thing that requires a lot of celestial alignment.

Will he rent Lappy for a pick? Maaaaaaybe. I can see it happening. I don't think he'll give up anything for him. But I can see him simultaneously dealing Calder and bringing in someone like Lappy, one of those deals (or collections of deals) that add up to a net positive. We know DL likes to deal this way (see the Cammy trade).

I don't think any trades for superstars in ATL or MIN are on the horizon. The OTT situation is unique and kind of interesting, however. As someone wrote in an article the other day, OTT wants to rebuild, but they can't because they've boxed themselves in with these huge salaries that nobody wants. Hmmm. I am still wondering if DL won't be looking to "trade" cap space to OTT, taking (say) Heatley off their hands for what would appear to be a collosal rip-off to the OTT fans, but which would make financial sense to the OTT brass. I'm sticking with the dream of:

Heatley to LA for Stoll, Ersberg, Boyle and a 1st.

But hey, I'm just one of those Kings fans trying to get something for nothing.

To LA
Heatley
Vermette or Fisher

To Ottawa
Stoll
Ersberg
Boyle
Greene/O'Donnell/Calder
1st or 2nd

Actually, let me go out on a limb and play the fantasy dumb-sh** trade speculation game. Keep in mind, none of this is going to happen...

(1) Kings play great over the next five games and beat a bunch of great teams (that's probably the most likely event of anything I'm about to mention).

(2) Calder is dealt to Chicago for a second round pick and a prospect.

(3) SOD and a 2nd round pick is dealt to Detroit for Jiri Hudler.

(4) Gauthier and Preissing are dealt to any one of a million people looking for playoff experienced defensemen, net gain: a couple of third or fourth round picks.

(5) Stoll, Ersberg, Boyle and a 1st to OTT for Heatley.

(6) Lappy to LA for a 2nd or 3rd.

And on March 5, the team looks like this:

Frolov/Kopitar/Heatley
POS/Handzus/Simmonds
Purcell/Hudler/Brown
Richardson/Lappy/Moller

bring up Drewiske, bring up Bernier.

you're dropping Brown to the 3rd line? I really like your reasoning though, but what if we traded SOD and a 3nd rounder for Filppula?

this is what I'd like to see

Frolov-Kopitar-Heatley
O'Sullivan-Filppula-Brown
Richardson-Handzus-Simmonds
Purcell-Lappy-Moller

Doughty-Johnson
Harrold-Greene
Drewiskie-Quincey

Maybe Martinez, Campbell or Voynov, instead of Drewiskie, but most likely Drewiskie since he has more experience.

Quick
Bernier

Who's the prospect Chicago would give us for Calder?
And do you think Dean is in talks with Lowe and Tambelini for Rob Schremp? I think he'd fit in with us quite nicely..

AK/Quisp-

You guys need to find a way to do a proposed deal for an elite winger without including a surging Stoll that also brings some of leagues best faceoff percentages.

He was brought here for 2 main reasons: Faceoffs and PP point shots.

Unless you replace him with a guy that can do what he does or better, you can forget about him leaving.

to answer your other questions...

Cliche is finally playing his first games of the year coming off his Denis Gauthier hit in training camp. He's playing well, if the box scores mean anything. Azevedo is still on a point-a-game pace, more or less. I have the dream that he's the second coming of Theo Fleury, who I hated but would have loved if he were ours. The Kings have several tiny centers coming up, including Azevedo, Cameron (who you mentioned), Roe (who may win the Hobey Baker Award this year) and of course Loktionov. That's four shrimpy goal scorers. The team could use a couple of them. Which two? The edge has to go to Loktionov and Azevedo right now, I guess. But I wouldn't rule out Roe. Who knows... I think it's reasonable to look for a couple of them by season after next.

I think (I mean I hope) Lewis and Purcell will make it next year. Boyle, if he isn't traded, will probably be having his last audition, before too many prospects lower on the depth chart (e.g. Moller and Simmonds, next year maybe Lewis and maybe Loktionov or Azevedo, maybe Cliche...) pass him by.

Ersberg..

That's why I mentioned them getting Vermette or Filppula, both of those guys are pretty good in the faceoff circle.

Ersberg -

Yes, Stoll is surging. Yes, he's playing great. Dany Heatley is a multiple 50-goal scorer. Are the Kings a better team with Heatley instead of Stoll. Uh. Yes, they are. Would we miss him in the face-off circle. Yes, we would. But we would also enjoy the extra 5/8ths of a goal and 1/2 an assist per game that Heatley would bring.

The OTT fans who are speculating on these matters as we speak would have several simultaneous strokes at the thought of Heatley to LA for Stoll. I do think such a thing is possible, however, given OTT's weird situation.

But hey, I'm happy for pretend-DL to pretend-offer Calder instead of Stoll and see if they go for it. (hint: they wouldn't.)

Quisp,

You're hoping Dany Heatley can regain his 50-goal scoring touch. Could he? Sure. With our system. Uh, I don't know about that, considering we're D first and Ottawa was a pure skating team. Heatley has had guys like Kovalchuk, Spezza, and Alfie as linemates. No, we don't have anyone that good.

Also, Heatley is a "softy", compared to our style. I think we need more of a Hossa, Setoguchi, or even Little on this team.

Nathan Horton would be an absolutely sick addition to go 1/2 with Kopi.

Bird in the hand...2 in the bush.

I'll take Stoll's guranteed faceoff percentages/point shots first.

AK, I'd still take Stoll before either of those guys.

Rob Schremp? Well, I think the two kinds of forwards DL is looking at would be (1) top-line snipers and (2) agitators. Heatleys and Lappys. Everything else, especially in terms of prospects, we've got plenty of. I don't know that Schremp (not that I know much about him, really) can do anything for us that Purcell, Lewis, Moulson, even Parse, can do, or will soon be able to do. I doubt we will be bringing in Schremp when it's more likely we will be sending our own Schremps the other way in search of proven goalscoring gold.

AK47,

I really think Doughty may be the only untouchable and here's why:

1.) Kopitar- If the Pens offered Malkin for Kopi and say Teubert, you would take it right? It would take a top center to come back in the deal and one that is signed for the long term and has to surpass Kopi's production, but it could happen. Too many "ifs", but my point being that he's not untradeable.

2.) Brown- Probably less tradeable than Kopi due to cheap contract and intangibles like character, heart and grit, but if the Thrashers offered Kovalchuk straight up for Brown you'd have to consider it right?

3.) JMFJ- We have a surplus of young defensemen and goalies and trading him for Kovalchuk or Heatley or another elite sniper in a package would be viable. Which leads me to...

4.) Doughty- This kid is pretty damn special. Defensemen of his caliber come around hardly ever. He will be considered a generational talent when he matures which sounds crazy but when you realize he is only 19... holy crap we're lucky. Personally, the only player I would even consider trading him for is Ovechkin and that's it. I ain't kidding. I would trade him for Lidstrom if Nicky was 24, but he isn't.

I should add the caveat here that in no way shape or form do I want Lombardi to trade any of this team's core. I am merely speculating and welcome anyone's feedback and perspective on who they think is considered "untouchable".

Quisp-

I think you were on track earlier when you were talking about signing Hossa after next season.

He checks, goes hard to the corners, has a wicked shot, is big, fast skating, and he even drops the gloves. I'd take Marian before any of those other guys.
He plays very much like Ovechkin.

Trade Stoll?

Are you people nuts? Edmonton is still pissed from trading him and we would be too!!!!

Guys, I'm just saying, you can't get a player like Dany Heatley without giving something up. I picked Stoll as someone who actually has some trade value. We would, of course, be having the same "how could you trade [x]?!" conversation if I had said POS, or Frolov, or whoever -- and those are the usual names that come up, and for good reason, right?

It's a completely valid point of view, in my opinion, to say, "look, we don't need a top line guy -- just let our guys grow into the roles." I could actually be okay with that. But it's also worth considering what upgrades are actually possible now (now, as in, before 3-4).

I like Stoll. I appreciate what he does. But I could live without him if the return was big enough.

Ersberg, re Hossa:

Yes, but that's a summer UFA conversation, right? I think Hossa would be great for the Kings, but obviously Detroit is going to try to re-sign him. If they do, they're going to lose one of their other players, maybe Hudler, maybe Filpula, maybe Franzen. Someone will go. And I'm sure DL will be all over it, looking to take advantage of Detroit's situation. That's his job, after all.

Irish Pat, re the untouchables:

I think you're right up to a point. There could be deals that would be too good to pass up. But I guess another point in alongside your point is that any trade involving Brown or Kopitar would be among the biggest trades in franchise history, emotionally and otherwise.

And Doughty isn't going anywhere under any circumstances. I mean really, if you think about it, any offer for Doughty would have to be so absurdly one-sided (e.g. Crosby and Malkin for Doughty) that the cap would literally prevent us from completing the trade and being able to ice a team. Doughty has exceeded everyone's expectations, and people forget, in addition to everything he's done for us, he's also by nature a very physical, hard-checking guy. That part of his play hasn't come out so much, because he's still a kid. But when he's grown-up, look out. DL won't deal Doughty because the sky is the limit right now. He's actually a much, much better player than we've seen so far. I mean, think about it. That's scary, right?

I will be disappointed if DL has to give up anyone really important in the next few seasons. He's done a good job of building the team to the point where he can now deal from a position of strength.

Listen, if we don't have to give up Kopitar, O'Sullivan, Frolov, Brown or Stoll to get a sniper, we won't because the sniper will replace O'Sullivan on the first line and POS will just take Calder's spot on the second line, ya dig? I think we should trade for Filppula and eventually we'll do something in the off-season, like sign Gaborik or Hossa. There's speculation that the Kings were interested in Ray Whitney, what do you guys think?

We should make Ersberg trade bait man, I'm telling you guys.. Ersberg + for Wolski or Svatos or even Smyth.. Colorado really needs a goalie and we have what they've been looking for..

Quisp, Franzen? Is he a day-in, day-out kind of guy, though? I heard he isn't. Hudler? I don't know a lot about this guy. Flip? I know he can get the job done, but we have Zus and Stoll for now.

Any of the Detroit guys, minus Hossa and Datsyuk would be completely different on another team, in my opinion.

Also, I totally hear you with regards to "give and get", I was just pointing out that Heatley may not be a "Dean Lombardi" type of player.

Someone mentioned in another post(I think it was Mrbrett), that there's talent, and there's talent-toughness. I believe Dean wants the latter. I.e. Brown, Horton, Hossa, Datsyuk, Ovechkin, etc.

Quisp,

I agree, the emotional toll is something to consider and I forgot to mention Lomardi's "butt tattoo" reference which is, in my opinion, incredibly valid as this team gels and grows together. I'm glad Lombardi and company value character and integrity in these youngsters. And we can keep volleying superlatives over the net at one another until it gets old, but man, when I step back and think how lucky we are as fans to have Doughty... well, it's good to be a Kings fan and it's going to be great. Soon. It is scary, indeed brotha.

By the way, I'm with you on the Dany Heatley spec trade. The Kings will eventually land an elite scorer and if it's through a trade the Kings are going to give to get. Period. People may get unhappy and pout, but it'll be worth it once the Kings are competing for the Cup (pause for goosebumps). As always, it's great reading your thoughts on this blog.

We should try and steal Pahlsson. Trade Zus+Ersberg and/or Hickey+picks for a sniper(even if it's not an "elite" player).

Smyth would be ok, but we should add a stipulation in his contract that says he MUST lose the mullet.

I think Gaborik is a bad idea. 1) How could he possibly with some grit? We already have a couple of scorers with questionable grit. 2) He's done if he takes a couple hard hits.

Keep the rest of our guys. Ie. Brown, Kopi, Sully, Fro, Doughty, etc.

A perfect example of Detroit having way too much talent and not those players aren't able to show this talent is Kyle Quincey. Filppula has SO much talent man, I've been watching this kid since he started with Detroit, but since they got Hossa, Filppula has been playing the 4th line and Detroit's management won't be able to keep all those players, and by the deadline I think Filppula would become available and be a nice 2nd-3rd liner for us. Watch this goal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JTwb6IyJSs

That's odd. Hossa is a winger and Filp is a center. I know they added an extra guy, but how'd they dump a center for a winger?

Anyway, I hear ya. He must be a "Quincey" case, because he only has 6 goals/24 assists, whereas Stoll has 15 goals/21 assists.

6 goals and 24 assists is decent for a 4th line player, am I not right? the Red Wings have too much depth and the speculation is that they have to trade one of their young guns (Filppula, Hudler, Samuelsson) so that they can re-sign Hossa and Franzen. We can probably get Filppula for a 3rd or 4th + Sean O'Donnell.. We free up cap space by trading O'Donnell and get a solid player who can take Kyle Calder's spot on the 2nd line or play center on the 4th line. He's played on the wing often this year so it wouldn't be a drastic change..

Yeah, that was kind of my point. That's why the "Quincey" style reference. Anyway, we should go for the guy, since Detroit feels he's only worth 4th line minutes. Is Filp an FA after this season?

I don't know why people are complaining that Quick is susceptible to high shots. The shots that I recall going in were either perfect shots(Kunitz and Jokinens's goals) or he was screened! He actually just missed snatching them away with his glove. The fact that the goals went in were high shots does not mean that he has a weak glove hand.

Samuelsson is a Free Agent at the end of the year, Hudler is a restricted free agent. Filppula was a restricted free agent last summer but got re-signed until 2013-2014.
We'll see what goes down in the next couple weeks boys, and let's hope Dean doesn't become a sellar!

They still got about 4 games before they're really out of it but in the words of one of the world's greatest sportscasters, its starting to look like... "it's in the refrigerator, the door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello is jiggling"

Ahh, Hudler is an RFA. The dreaded offer sheets. Does Dean do "Kevin Lowe" here or does he maintain a decent rep?

Ersberg, re Hudler/RFA/offer sheet:

I don't think DL would go the offer sheet route, especially with Ken Holland. DL's style would be to work within Detroit's needs. Holland knows that he will be vulnerable to an offer sheet for Hudler, which he won't be able to match. So he has an incentive to make a deal, not necessarily involving Hudler, to make sure he has the cap space to match an offer sheet, if he needs to. Or else Hudler himself gets dealt. Meanwhile, Detroit does like to add forward depth, and veteran d presence, at the deadline. So it kind of makes sense, vis-a-vis SOD.

Quisp,

So, who do we deal for in lieu of an offer sheet for Hudler? In other words, who do you feel DL will attempt to get that still works within Holland's parameters?

YO
check what I was thinking.. What'd Detroit's biggest need? I know they like acquiring D veteran presence and forward depth, but they need goaltending! We have a goalie that's going to be a Free Agent! Filppula and Hudler for Ersberg, SOD and Calder? Or am I reaching way too far?

maybe just

LA gets:
Filppula
2nd

Detroit gets:
SOD
Ersberg

What do you think Ersberg is worth? a 2nd? not a 1st, for sure.. I think Dean might deal him away, make him trade bait.

what do you guys think?

Imagine putting Fisher on the second line with Stoll and Brown. I think that's the piece we're missing boys.

re Detroit and goalies:

They need a goalie, but Ersberg is not the kind of goalie they need. They would be going for a playoff tested goalie, not a (virtual) rookie. Depth forwards and defensive defensemen, that's their immediate need, other than between the pipes (which is a need the Kings can't address really). I am sure DL will explore (or has already explored) with Holland which of the Kings puzzle pieces fit the Detroit puzzle. I wouldn't rule out a Calder return to the wings, either.

Another reason Purcell's return is important. How he plays right now might not just determine whether we win or lose, it might determine how comfortable DL is letting Calder go.

It's hard to know how everything will play out. Some people are now saying this year's deadline may be a snoozer. Maybe it will be. But I'm sure DL is watching these very interesting plots develop, in Detroit, in Ottawa, teams with cap issues and very specific circumstances that can be helped by a willing trading partner with cap space. And there's really only one such team that fits that description to a t.

Very well said..
This is interesting, I can't wait for the deadline.. It's coming very quickly and I'm pumped. I hope Purcell plays very well, I wonder where TM will put him.. Let's please just get rid of Calder, please!

Bryan Murray (in addition to saying that OTT was not done making moves) was just given a chance to say Spezza was not going anywhere, and he didn't do it, instead saying something about him being "our #1 center." The fact of Murray giving evasive answers about Spezza makes me think that, in fact, everyone is in play at this point. Just sayin'...

AK-

That's actually a pretty even deal you have, but as Quisp said, Detroit may want an established goalie. The problem with that is, there aren't many proven goalies available, minus Khabi, who's injured.

Ugh, Spezza. Again, do you guys think he's "Dean" material? He's kind of a softy, despite his size.

I think Filp is better "King" material, but I'm wondering if Ken would let him go.

There will be some deals at the deadline, just not that many teams will be involved.

I agree.. I'm reading the Ottawa Sun right now, and on the top of the front page, it's Bryan Murray's picture with the words No "untouchables" beside his face and the sens logo!

"GM Bryan Murray poised to pull trigger on at least 2 more deals".. This is very interesting.. Kuba and Neil are gone for sure, but I think either Heatley or Spezza will be dealt.

On another note, Calgary has just learnt that defenseman Mark Giordano is done for the season. Could Darryl Sutter be giving Dean Lombardi a nice little phone call concerning Preissing, Gauthier or O'Donnell? Hmm seems interesting!

Guys, I live in Ottawa and I've seen Jason Spezza play since his first NHL game. He's not "Dean" material and I don't think he'd fit in nicely with us, believe me. Here's why.. If he were to play with us, we'd have to move Stoll to the 3rd line, and Handzus to the 4th, it just doesn't make any sense. I don't think Spezza is willing to play the wing. There's a couple sens that would nicely in Los Angeles, they are Mike Fisher and Christoph Schubert. Those guys are tough and gritty guys, they get the team pumped up. Schubert is really angry because he hasn't played in about a month, and Bryan Murray has been shopping him since the all-star break, but no takers. I don't see why Dean won't just give Bryan Murray a 6th or 7th round pick for this kid, or maybe he's just waiting for Schubs to be put on waivers.

GO Kings GO

re Spezza:

Yeah, I agree. I wasn't saying that the Kings will or should go after him. My comment was really directed more at Heatley (and we can have the same conversation about whether he's DL material or not). Because I think what Murray says about Spezza goes for Heatley, as well.

However, having said that, I don't find the "we'll have to move Stoll to this line and Handzus to that line" argument especially compelling because, (1) I wouldn't be surprised if one of those guys was traded in the same blockbuster deal that would bring such a player (Spezza, in this case) here, and (2) DL would be making a deal for the long term, and in the long term Stoll and Handzus aren't going to be here. They might be. I just don't think they will be.

My entire point was that "pundits" have been saying that Spezza and Heatley are not going to be moved, but that comment from Bryan Murray, in a situation where he was given a chance to say "we're not moving those guys" but chose not to say that, tells me that everyone is in play.

My other comment about Spezza and Heatley, but especially Heatley, is that DL is not only thinking about whether or not he should be making a play for those players, but who among our competition might be making a similar move. For example, if PHX weren't in such dire straits, I would be worried about them making a move to upgrade, and that would be bad for the Kings. Right now, I'm wondering about Calgary. They've got their Cammellari situation. Maybe they put something together to grab Heatley and send Cammy to OTT. I don't know. There are a lot of ways these cards can fall.

It is 8 days, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 34 seconds until Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 12:00:00 Noon (Los Angeles time)

i don't think Handzus is going to be in the long term plan, but Stoll might be.. I think getting a guy like Heatley would be a perfect fit for the Kings. He has playoff experience and is still somewhat young. I'd be happy with a trade for Ryan Smyth or Dany Heatley at the deadline..

P.S., I thought the deadline ended at 3 pm, not noon..?

Noon in LA.

AK-I think Zus is on his way out, regardless of his recent play. Stoll should be a King for at least 3 more years.

Quisp-Nice trade thoughts. I didn't really consider Dean possible picking up one of those guys to block one of our direct competitors from getting them. It was bad enough Phoenix got Bryz off of waivers.

130 comments. Guess it's not over.

what's the most comments this website has ever gotten?

131. Is this a record? I guess that's how passionate we are about the Kings making he playoffs. It's not just that, it's waiting through the offseason to get to next year that sucks.

This must be a record!

Ok here's what we're doing at the deadline! We're either acquiring Heatley or Smyth.. Giving away Calder, Ersberg, Gauthier, Preissing, O'Donnell.

Getting David Booth, Valtteri Filppula and Mike Fisher. Another player I can picture us going hard after is Matt Niskanen, I don't know why..

...or we'll just stand pat.

I think Quisp is right, but I think it's the wrong way to go.

Dean needs to take a risk somewhere, unless we have a diamond hidden somewhere in our ranks yet to be discovered. Whether it's now, the deadline, draft day, next year, or whenever. He can't be gun shy forever.

Side note...

I don't about you guys, but I'm a HUGE Sabres fan tonight. Let's go Bu-ffa-lo!

To be honest, I always liked Buffalo a lot. But tonight is a different story, I'm going to be rooting for them like crazy boys. Let's go Sabres! If any of the lower Western teams are playing an Eastern team, I'm rooting for the Eastern team haha.

Let's keep hunting for this playoff spot

GO KINGS
GO SABRES

I don't think DL is gunshy. I think he's opportunistic (although I don't know why I think that, really). Anyway, it strikes me that there are lots of opportunities out there, so we'll see if he is or not.

Hypothetical re Pronger (don't kill me):

ESPN has a blog post today about the Ducks, and the fact that they have been asked to cut payroll, meaning that, basically, they can't keep both Pronger and Neidermeyer. The "pundits" say, well, they're not getting rid of SN (they have their reasons for this) so they're going to have to deal Pronger, either before the deadline or after the season. They go on to entertain the possibility of trading Pronger for Bouwmeester, but conclude that it won't work, because the Ducks can't bring salary back, or the trade is pointless (since they're dumping salary).

My question is a two-parter:

(1) where will/should/can Pronger end up, and how does this affect the Kings? Who has cap space to add Pronger without sending salary back? This leads me to my second question, since there are very few teams with the cap space, and none with more of it to spare than...
(2) ...the Kings. This is the "don't kill me" part of the question. Is there any planet or alternate reality in which the Kings acquire Pronger and it's not just sickening and evil for those of us who enjoy hating him so very, very much? (2a) What would the Kings give up to get Pronger? I mean, it wouldn't be spare parts and Brian Boyle, right?

Pronger is old and expensive, but probably worth it dollar-for-dollar. But which prospects would we part with, since that would certainly be a part of any deal. Teubert? Ugh. I would rather wait on Teubert probably; you know, grow your own Pronger.

On the other hand, it would be kind of funny to trade SOD to Detroit for picks and replace him -- in the old mentor to the kids role -- with f'ing Chris Pronger.

I guess what I'm really saying is, we need to add Pronger to the list of superstars who play for teams in a vulnerable position, teams who need the cap space DL has so carefully cultivated.

I just don't know if I could take seeing Pronger in a Kings sweater. Let me try to imagine it: Pronger is a King, and...hmmm...the Kings go a few rounds into the playoffs this year?...worth it?

Oh, probably. But it says something that I would even then have reservations.

Anyway, just throwing this out there...

hahahaha I like the idea of acquiring Pronger, although I don't like the idea of giving away prospects for him. If getting Pronger means giving away Colten Teubert, no way! He's going to be a Pronger, and if we trade him to Anaheim, it's just going to be a slap in the face to Kings management. If we can trade Brian Boyle/Matt Moulson, and expiring contract like Kyle Calder or Derek Armstrong plus a couple draft picks, I think it would be enough for Anaheim. They want prospects, but they also want to free up cap space, so an expiring contract would be perfect.

Maybe we should look into acquiring Brandon Dubinsky? He's a RFA at the end of the year, and he'd look pretty good in a Kings jersey.

When will Sean Avery be back in the NHL lol?

to LA:
Girardi
Dubinsky

to NYR:
Boyle
Matt Greene
Calder
2nd round

DL won't be trading Matt Greene. Maybe in two years, when Teubert and Campbell grow up. But not before. Anyway, i think DL is happy with his non-elite top-line forwards -- although he would like to add a 50 goal scorer if one suddenly becomes available -- and is more than happy with his soon to be elite defense corps.

I really don't think sending Calder to ANA for Pronger is going to get it done. They would want a motherlode of prospects.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Pronger go to Calgary. Alternatively, I think Calgary might make a play for Bouwmeester (supposedly knowledgeable people keep writing about this). In either case, I hope the player going the other way is Cammellari. It would serve him right. I especially like the idea of Cammy toiling in FLA. But that's just me.

Off-topic (!): Lalime has the flu. Tomorrow, Sabres will be starting someone playing his first NHL game. If Lalime can't dress as the back-up tomorrow night, the Sabres literally don't have any goalies left in their system to dress as the back-up.

Wow, that's SO off topic, but I love it lol. So random too, but I'm sure Lalime will just be the back-up.

Quisp,

What do you think it take to get a guy like Ryan Whitney? What would Pittsburgh be asking for?

Same thing for Matt Stajan?