Final predictions

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In terms of the Big Three (Hossa, Havlat, Gaborik), I’ll make the following predictions: Hossa will not be a King, and Havlat and/or Gaborik will be with the Kings only if they agree to short-term deals. Once you get beyond those three, I haven’t the slightest idea. Way too many names, way too wide open. I don’t even know if one or both of Gaborik/Havlat is open to signing short-term deals, but perhaps the lure of playing together might get it done? It’s going to be a crazy day all over the continent.

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  • Sydor25

    Could be the real or could be an amazing haox:

    http://twitter.com/Trencin10

  • variable

    sydor…

    gee…that’s a pretty big nutcase out and about if that’s not real…

    should we call bellevue or rich…?

  • JT Snow

    How do you feel about Gionta?
    Our problem is unless one of Kopitar or Brown or Frolov take a bigger step forward then we are going to need two semi large forward additions because Justin Williams is not the guy. That or Murray allows Frolov more freedom because he is better than our coaches have allowed him to be…

  • Spicy Mchaggis

    there is no way that is real. People have been creating fake accounts since the draft. Someone right now is having a good laugh.

  • RealDrew

    It looks like it’s a fake, as Quisp pointed out in the last thread. Had me going for a second.

  • variable

    again…

    i don’t think we do much..havalt would be a big deal..but not the major piece we need…i hope it’s not true…

    i would hold out for a kovy trade or free agent signing in ’10…

  • JDM

    Rich,

    Are these just off the top of your head?

    Has anyone with the Kings said they are absolutely not open to giving out long term contracts to any of the big 3?

    Are you sure or just speculating that Dean is not willing to give Gaborik or Havlat a contract longer than 2 years (I consider 3+ to be long term)?

  • darko25o

    “i would hold out for a kovy trade or free agent signing in ’10…”
    I know,I know, but in 06 we looked to 07, and in 08, we looked to 09….ENOUGH ALREADY…pull the trigger and get us to the playoffs….We’re never going to be a team that a superstar FA wants to go to till we start winning, so a trade may be our best option to start the process.

  • HookzNU

    Heatley to Edmonton

  • Trant

    I’ll believe nothing until Shaq tweets about it.

  • HookzNU

    Appears Heatley rejected trade to Edmonton – news unfolding on Canadian TSN

  • Quisp
  • darko25o

    Heatley not to Edmonton

  • Puckbabe

    Someone told me that the Kings paid a penalty for being under the salary cap minimum last season, Rich, any truth to that? TPTB keep saying that they can’t even talk to Fro until July 1 yet others are signing extensions or contract, what’s the rule on that? Thanks!

  • mike

    Puckbabe-

    Thats because they were pending UFA and frolov isn’t players with 1 year remaining cant talk extensions until july 1st the year before they are going to be UFA

  • Trant

    Frolov still has a year left on his contract, the players signing extensions don’t.

    Not to say they’re not talking, just that as far as the league is concerned they can’t be “talking” just yet and definitely can’t have any extensions already signed.

  • Daniel

    Funny thing – if you go the the TSN site to read about Heatley rejecting the offer, the background of the homepage is skinned with the “Public Enemies” movie promo.

    Puckbabe – no, they didn’t. None did. Also, a team cannot discuss contract terms with a UFA until the July 1st before the end of his/her contract. RFA’s are free to listen to offers from the teams that hold their rights.

  • RealDrew

    I’m starting to feel kind of bad for the Senators. Heatley continues to be a douche bag which means more teams aren’t going to want anything to do with him. His value just dropped while I was posting this comment.

  • Daniel

    Oh, and I predict Gaborik waits for his 7-year deal (a la Manny last winter) and finally settles on LA for a two year deal. Or course, I was the guy who had the dream about the Kings moving down to pick Schroeder at the draft so what do I know…

  • Garrett

    Sign the damn twins!

  • mike

    no to the twins! let them go to MTL TOR or VAN

  • -J

    F the senators. They made their bed when they gave him a NTC, now they’ve got to deal with it. I doubt EDM was on the list of 10+ teams he gave them- WTF do they expect when they decide to trade him to a team not on that list. If they don’t like it, don’t trade him.

  • Matt George

    NO TO THE TWINS!!!

    i just don’t like that goofy ass look on their face

    seriously

  • JDM

    Matt George,

    seriously,

    right on.

  • Garrett

    Wow george – that is some serious hockey acumen there.

  • threepwood

    If the Kings do in fact sign Havlat, at least we would be getting a player that comes with a fair amount of due diligence. Assistant Coach Mark Hardy (although he worked with the defense) saw Havlat on a daily basis in Chicago. Harpo would know what kind of player Havlat is beyond the stat sheet and surely would be called upon to provide a thumbs up or thumbs down before a contract was offered.

  • darko25o

    The Kings need to seize the oppurtunity to grab Heatley-if we’re on his list. I’m sure at this point, the SENS are a bit desperate, and if they are looking for the equivalent to Cog, Penner, and Smid, we should be able to counter with Drewiskie, Stoll, and Purcell.

  • KevinWestgarth

    Darko,

    Why trade Stoll when you can get rid of Handzus instead. We all know what kind of player Stoll is, and his style would benefit the Kings immensely come playoff time. Plus, Heatley is not good for lockerroom chemistry, as players in Ottowa are fed up with him. Also, we can’t dismiss the fact that he makes a ton of money, money that would be better spent on a players that are playoff bound…

  • darko25o

    Westgarth,
    Handzus isn’t a contract Ottawa would want, and he’s much older.
    With a good coach/strong management, and an established locker room, players can be “fixed”. Regardless, if this situation with the SENS occured with the Kings, then you’d still be able to regain talent in a trade to unload him….in the meantime, he’d be scoring between 40-50 goals!

  • Cynic

    Just a ‘Matter of Fact’ moment I discovered reading the twitter.com/martinhavlat account.

    2 hours ago, he was following 3 teams:

    Vancouver, Minnesota and LA

    Now He’s only following 2:

    Vancouver & Minnesota.

    Coincidence?!?!?!?!

    Really, a strange thing to notice, but so seemingly important at this moment….

    BTW – the Trentin10 account is GONE! Try it. Fake.

  • Eric K

    “Cynic Author Profile Page said:

    Just a ‘Matter of Fact’ moment I discovered reading the twitter.com/martinhavlat account.

    2 hours ago, he was following 3 teams:

    Vancouver, Minnesota and LA

    Now He’s only following 2:

    Vancouver & Minnesota.

    Coincidence?!?!?!?!

    Really, a strange thing to notice, but so seemingly important at this moment….”
    _____________________________

    Actually, he’s only following Chicago right now.

  • cristobal

    I have a feeling deeno will go after Cammalleri with a passion!

    I suggest,again, Willy and Zeus for Heatly and Fisher, throw in Hickey if needed.

  • Cynic

    SOrry, you’re right about Havlat.

    I meant /MarianGaborik.

    It’s too late to be typing right now.

    My bad.

  • Matt George

    @ Garret: Yes i realize the post displayed a wee bit of hockey infancy but it was also supposed to be a little light hearted.

    I realize these are coveted players up in the north and I’m sure there’s good reason for it .. BUT .. I always had the feeling that these were to 2 really good players …. not ONE elite player.

    Consequently imo I think there’s plenty of guys at that level that can be had for less money.

    and they look goofy!

  • MacSwede

    darko25o said:

    “The Kings need to seize the oppurtunity to grab Heatley-if we’re on his list. I’m sure at this point, the SENS are a bit desperate, and if they are looking for the equivalent to Cog, Penner, and Smid, we should be able to counter with Drewiskie, Stoll, and Purcell.”

    How can you compare Cog, Penner an Smid to Drewiske, Stoll and Purcell????? come on…

    You got to think from the other teams perspective too… Purcell or Stoll is no Cog or Penn! And Smid is more talanted than Drewiske…

    Anyway, I think that Dean is REALLY interested in Martin Havlat. He said several times that the Chicago – Calgary matchup was the best in the playoffs, and apparently he saw something there..

    But on MHs Twitter it seems like he is staying in Chicago..

    I really hope for a shortterm Gaborik, or maybe a little for Hossa. But is he really interesting in playing here? Really?? I think he would like to win the cup…maybe back to pitts this time? ;)

  • deadcatbounce

    KevinWestgarth said:

    “Why trade Stoll when you can get rid of Handzus instead.”

    Absolutely! Let’s trade our best defensive player rather than an underachieving Stoll! Besides, Stoll is Canadian and we know how much you love eugenics.

  • nykingfan

    Any thoughts on the Kings maybe going after John Madden from the Devils?
    He would fit nicely with Zeus and Simmonds….The guy’s a former Selke winner.

    With what’s out there on the market and the question marks concerning almost all of the big name guys, it seems to me that a guy like Madden might come cheaper and would give us a kick-ass shut down line.
    The only isues are he’s a center…would he be willing to move to the wing? and he’s got serious age on him (36). also coming off his worst year offensively.

    I was listening to the DL interview re free agents on Kings vision last night (interview? It was a minute long)
    He made good points…there aren’t that many worthwhile guys out there and there are 30 teams looking for guys. I think it could be a problem getting guys like Gaborik for short and cheap.

    I still think the best way to go to improve the offense is via trade. I’m just not thruilled with the F/A class. A guy like Hossa’s going to command big $$ and he’s not a #1 guy, but he’ll sure ask for #1 money.

  • anonandonanon

    Prediction-No top 50 guy. Break out the SOTF tapes.
    Maybe as a long shot Sturm. In 2 months we pick up someone O’Donnell-esque.

    Once again it’s “esperate, chico”. This team will be great if we live long enough.

    I think its possible that Stoll may want so far out of Hollywood that he may be gone for some awkward piece that replaces Derek Armstrong at the ping pong table. I predict Stoll and Richardson to Nashville for Wade Belak who’s touted as a “solid defensive minded player” who’s “a skater who will pot a couple of points and drop’em”.

  • jet

    Rather stupid of the Oilers to put the names out there until the trade was finalized. Maybe they were trying to put a little more pressure on heatly, but it was not worth the risk. There is no better way to motivate employees than with a “we are trying to get rid of you” directive from the boss. There is a lot of dead weight out there, add Penner to the carnage.
    I hope the twins, Gab, Hossa all receive 7 year, $50M dollar deals, just not with the Kings.

  • darko25o

    MacSWEDE,
    “How can you compare Cog, Penner an Smid to Drewiske, Stoll and Purcell????? come on…”
    I never said they were equal, Cog was a first round pick, so I know that doesn’t add up, and Smid is a giant. My point was that Ottawa is seemingly in a position to take the first decent offer that floats over their desk because of the 4 mil due Heatley in bonus money, and the fact that he’s unhappy.

  • darko25o

    nykingfan,
    I would love for us to sign Madden, and Lappy.

  • darko25o

    Sedins just signed five year deals!
    …with the Canucks
    -Darren Dreger

  • Quisp
  • 54FIGHTING

    I don’t see us signing anyone big this UFA period. Like DL said, maybe a defenseman – maybe not. On a side note I’d like to know how contracts are offered and do GM’s know what has been offered by other GM’s (my guess is that yes agents will let them know). Has there ever been a case where multiple contract were offered and the UFA had to choose? Example: 2yrs/6mil per or 5yrs/5mil per – take your pick.

  • anonandonanon

    Beeline for Belak!

  • Paul from Oxnard

    NHL Radio reporting that the Sedin twins re-upped with Vancouver.

  • DMG10

    Dean tells Rich he’s planning his “fallbacks”.
    At the season ticket holders breakfast, he more or less said they wouldn’t be signing a big UFA. Whatever the Kings offer, there will always be the Rangers, Canadians, etc to offer a better deal (and more enticing place to play). We’re the KINGS!

    Hopefully we’ll be within 10 points of 8th by February.

  • -J

    sedins signed with Van, 5yrs, 6.1 per year.

  • -J

    oh, yeah, here’s the link: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283415

  • Kevco

    No BIG names for the Kings this year. I predict we will over-pay for a ‘Calder’ type player that will make most of the posters here mad.

  • nykingfan

    DMG10

    You’re right…the “big market” teams will throw ridiculous $$ at these guys…who by the way aren’t worth the money, and in 2 years will be dumping everything they have because they can no longer fit these guys under the shrinking cap. The Kings nucleus will be signed and we’ll have room to sign Doughty/Moller/Simmonds etc to sensible contracts. I’d rather be in our position in 2 years than teams that have to shed all of their good, young players because they decided to overpay for the big $$ free agents the past couple of years.

    One other thought on free Agency…How successful have the NYR been by signing every big name to come along? They barely make the playoffs and are out in the 1st round. They have no future whatsoever. When the cap drops, they are done.
    I’d rather have something to look forward to than squeeze into the 8th spot and see us play 5 or 6 more games.