Cammalleri, Komisarek sign...and more

Wow.
Montreal is no Calgary.
Good luck putting up the big numbers there.

Wow..I thought with the cap that people wouldn't throw good money after bad.

Good for Mikey but I think Montreal overpaid.

who needs luck? he's got 6 million... Guess he was worth it afterall?!?!

at this rate there is nothing left to sign besides gabby. I wonder if DL is really gonna sign something or not...

DL needs to sign Moen, Neal, and Morris. Forget about these long ridiculous contracts. 12 year contracts??? Thats insane!

If we sign Koslov & traded for Kovalchuck & put them on Kopitar's line would we call that the KKK line? Or would that be too polically incorrect?

Rich, do you have any inside information?
I mean this is as boring as the draft.

Moen would be a solid 3rd line LW. Lots of speed & grit. Makes sense...

We could call it the Special K line.

3:45PM PDT and the KINGS have NOT done anything.

What's up with that?

Russostrib: Source: Agent Ron Salcer asking today for 10-year, $75 million deal for Gaborik; Hossa signed 12 years at $5.2 million per in CHI #nhl

What a douche!

The Kings excuse machine is in full form. The entire league is active, signing their hearts out minutes after the league shoots the starter pistol... where are the Kings? Now we're to believe the reason they won't spend is because eventually our young players will be good and then we will have to pay them... and then we won't be able to keep them. So, by not spending on a Hossa they are protecting our future. Weak and transparent. Why are we operating on a different level than every other team? Before there was a cap the explanation was that if there was a cap, they could spend equally with the other franchises. The truth is that a corporation owns the Kings and doesn't care, it's that simple. Lieweke and Lombardi care, but they are restricted by the corporation. Can anyone pick the owner out of a lineup? Ever seen him at a game? Until this team is sold to a smaller group or individual that are passionate about hockey and the Kings, we can't go all the way.

BTW... It's draft day and the only person in LA really covering this is right here, and Lombardi can't be found? Absurd. A PR blunder. They can't get coverage in the local news or newspapers, but the once place that shows interest, Lombardi isn't available? It's not like this is Montreal and there are hundred bloggers, newspapers etc. camped out on his door.

Wow no movement at all. Dont worry Lombardi will sign another Sean O'Donnell type guy during training camp. Is Deano the guy to get us to the next level. No history in SJ of bold move. Alot of bad contract hold outs though. Really disappointed in the lack of creativity.

We need a better GM before we need players.

Moen, Neal, and Morris.

You're Kidding right?

Come on guys we need to protect the "future"

Kinda like Chicago is doing...u think Chicago would sign a big name like Hossa when they still need to sign all there top prospects? (what? wait...someone just told me Chicago signed Hossa.....Oh..well I guess Dean is BS'ing through his teeth again!

OK OK.... I give in. Sign Gab. I'm desperate for addition of some kind that will add points! Just don't over spend.

Here is a list of available agents (not completely up to date)

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2009-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position/

"ITZME said:
3:45PM PDT and the KINGS have NOT done anything.

What's up with that?"

What's up with it is, we do not need to be outbidding other teams for marginal players. Most players that have signed today are being WAY overpaid. Us standing pat is one of our BEST options!

And how to you know we've "NOT done anything"?? Is every free agent signed?! Do you know DL's talked to nobody?? Isn't calling an agent & inquiring about a player "doing something"?!

Can someone call Deano to make sure he is actually out of bed. Whenever the opportunity comes up to improve our team, Deano breaks out the bs excuses of "sticking to a long term plan". No plan (doing nothing constantly) is a long term plan?

Getting really sick of all the Lombardi bashing. What do you want him to do? Spend $75 MILLION DOLLARS on a guy who spends more time on the injured list then the ice? And if he's asking for that, you can bet Havlat's demands are pretty close, and he's almost as injury prone as Gaborik.

And Moen, Neal, or Morris? I thought those guys were all retired. They're certainly of no use to the Kings.

I applaud Dean Lombardi for not throwing the checkbook at one of the "big name" free agents at 12:01. Maybe we'll actually get a decent player under a decent contract for a change.

Rich: I really urge you to consider banning some of the clowns who post on your blog. This garbage is getting really old.

Paul from Oxnard:
Yeah, he only throws his checkbook at players like Nagy, Cloutier, Calder, Handzus, Blake, Preissing, Thornton, McCauley, - players that are either gone, bought out, or in the minors.

WOW the lunes are really out today! DL stick to the plan - don't let the retard fringe (the one that's ALWAYS dictated how we've built our team) get in your head. You're doing GREAT job & doing it the right way - keep it up, stay the course!

Give the DL bashing a rest already. What should he have done today, exactly, given the team's needs? Offered Hossa 13 years? Brought Cammi back for 6.5? Everyone is in love with the Hossa signing but how good do the Campbell/Huet deals look at this point?

I get the urge to see, and the excitement that comes from, a free agent signing but let's get real here. There are ridiculous contracts all over the place (see Gainey, Bob) and the thought of singing for signing's sake is silly. If you find yourself complaining about our lack of action today then maybe it's best if you lock away your own credit card before the weekend sales take place.

If Dean bothers you so much, well, so be it. But as a Kings fan of 20 years I'll take him any day over any other GM we've had.

based on what you wrote above anthonyy, you should be ecstatic that DL didn't write any checks today. did you want him to sign tom kostopolous today or just hold tight? and what makes you think that gaborik/havlat/hossa or even kostopolous want to come to LA? would you go to Tikrit for 12 years and $62.8 mil? maybe you would, but i for one wouldn't.

maybe the UFAs should be blamed for not signing here instead of scapegoating DL (even though he said he wasn't going to make a big splash).

DL make a move for Havlat not that bump Gaborik for 75 million. I would even take a shot at Biron for a couple of yrs.

"anythonyy
Yeah, he only throws his checkbook at players like Nagy, Cloutier, Calder, Handzus, Blake, Preissing, Thornton, McCauley, - players that are either gone, bought out, or in the minors."

You seriously can not see the big picture can you??

To All YOU Whiners...

Don't you think that maybe some of these guys had offers from the Kings but decided they wanted to play somewhere else??...How do some of you know that an offer wasn't made??..The contracts & money thrown out at some of these are ridicuous!! Squid for $6mil/year!! Ohlund getting a 7yr contract!!..Hossa's 12yr deal!!..It's just the first day and it's like life is over for so many of you!!..There are still a lot of players available so just relax.

I agree, no big money, long term contract to any UFA players except Kovy or Nash.

But I'm really bothered and extremely displeased that the Kings did not signing Lappy. He, IMHO, is the model of character, grit, team-first mentality. Not to mention...

For those who were not around.. Lappy (is) was a GREAT fan favorite in LA. Let's only hope he's part of a Philly/LA trade in the near term.

http://www.itsallaboutlappy.com/biography2.html

Thanks Rich for all you do!

Rich,

A sincere thank you for doing the chat today. I'm looking forward to the Kings one day hoisting the Cup for many reasons and one big one will be to read Royal Ascension. Thanks for all that you do for us Kings fans. And Tommy's chili burger rules. Peace.

I admit, 12 year deal to Hossa is a joke.
Chicago is gonna regret some of their sign ups.
Old geezers like Huet, Campbell, Hossa are gonna get paid $6 Million plus as 40 year olds.
I'll give some of you guys props on that.

Wow Anthonyy, way to jump on DL's bandwagon! Patience my friend, breath...you're a frog on a lilypad, frog on a lilypad...;)

Who knows, maybe it'll turn out like the Dodgers. They were not good but had a lot of youth that developed. On one hand I can see that happening w the Kings, on the other hand I don't know where the goals are gonna come from..... Fro and Kopi. Also am I think justifiably concerned wrt shoot outs. Quick had better be amazing and hold em in for 6-7 rounds to give em a chance, cause the team really doesn't have "natural" shoot out type players as far as I can tell at this point in time. JJ's good in the shootout but we don't know if he'll be here for sure.

I think Anthony has a hard time seeing 10 minutes from now.

So far today, there are very few contracts that make any sense at all. Now, I never fault the players. If owner's/GM's are that crazy to sign them to those deals, fine, let them.

I don't have one problem whatsoever with the Kings standing their ground and sticking to the plan.

Guess who else did that 20-25 years ago?

Detroit...New Jersey...guess who continues to be the best teams, over and over and over and over and over again, WITHOUT needing to overpay Free Agents? Detroit and New Jersey. Granted, yes, they do spend (and I have no doubt we will to when needed). But both of those franchises built FROM WITHIN. They didn't try to build their empires overnight.

They stayed the course. They drafted. They allowed those drafted players to develop. Those players developed, and when one got too expensive to keep...don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, because we have 4 more waiting to take your place.

Draft, draft, draft...develop, develop...develop. You want to win, and win consitently, there is NO other way to accomplish this goal.

Sure...Dean could break the bank, and what would that get him? 8th place? 7th place? 1st round playoff exit? No thanks...I want 25+ years of dominance with the opportunity to win the cup EVERY YEAR.

Still avoiding the bashing-versus-whining debate, it's clear that certain teams (esp. MON and CAL and CHI, to a large degree) are throwing in all of their chips for 2009-2010. They are like teenaged girls getting ready for the Spring Formal, and are spending everything they have on their dress for this one date.

Doesn't matter who your ideal GM is, those teams are going to be very dissappointed if they get stood up for the Big Dance.

Another thing--I, for one, will be rooting for whomever MON is playing next year, just to keep the Habs, Gomez and Cammy out of the playoffs.

The Bleacher Report has stated that Havlat has received a "strong offer" from the Kings.

Truth be told, Dean Lombardi is a legend in his own mind! Cahracter players? San Jose sure has shown the "Character" that Dean built there!!! The long contract for Hossa is simply to lower the annual hit on the cap. No one expects the man to play 12 years more...it is simply creative financing....something this organization obviously doesn't need with cerebral Dean in charge. As for Cammi. The only reason he is not here is that he stood up to Hockey God Lombardi by fighting for what he thought he was worth 2 years ago. In reality, we sure could have used his goals last year and if he was signed to a long term pact when he was restricted, we would have him and his 30+ goals at much less than 6.0/year.

I do not want to hear about Lombardi being the second coming, when a bunch of what is maturing now on our team should be credited to Dave Taylor. It was not his fault that injuries ruined two seasons in a row of development of his draft choices.

BTW....those of you who think I am a fly by night Kings Fan....First season of season tix was 1969.

Let me amend what I said earlier. I'd like a signing; not an overpayment, not a ridiculous 12-year deal, not the BS offer from Gaborik's agent. I'd love for Lombardi to sign someone, but if Havlat and Gaborik are expecting ridiculous offers...

Paul

clowns... you think Komisarik is a clown. Looks like a good deal for the leafs. but Burke is a GM with nads and a Cup. Lombardi has neither

Uh...Lorenzo...hate to break this to you.

Dave Taylor draft picks on the roster right now (straight from memory, I did not look this up): Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar...and...and...and...oh wait, that's it.

The team was mired in mediocrity under Taylor. I loved the guy, but please...if your team cannot withstand some injuries, you have NO depth, and depth is what the good organizations have...that is a DIRECT result of drafting and development.

LorenzoV - where would we have drafted for this year's draft if we had cammy's goals? would we have made the playoffs? if so, would his 3 playoff pts have gotten us the cup?

LorenzoV said:
"...As for Cammi. The only reason he is not here is that he stood up to Hockey God Lombardi by fighting for what he thought he was worth 2 years ago. In reality, we sure could have used his goals last year and if he was signed to a long term pact when he was restricted, we would have him and his 30+ goals at much less than 6.0/year."

Actually, there was no way that Cammy signed for any term at all beyond his UFA year for less than 6 million. Not only that, the point is not that Cammy is a poor player, or even an undeserving player. The point is that, at 6 mil/yr. for a player of Cammy's attributes, you can't build the proper salary structure for a team under the cap. In many ways, MON has become the poster boy for how NOT to manage the cap.

By the end of next season (2010-2011), us amateur GMs will be able to properly judge the effect of such overspending. Just how many good bottom-six forwards, bottom-pair defensemen and fan favorites will MON have to give up to get underneath the cap?

This is not a DL issue, this is purely a cap issue. And, 'creative financing' in large part created the current recession, if I remember correctly.

Wait and see.

mrbrett7-Totally agree. For you "pseudo GM's" out there, of the players that have signed, who should have we went after, and why. Just to make a deal for deal's sake? Let us know. Regarding the team we have today: No LaBarbara as our starting goalie, each player has a year of the defensive system behind them, and the younger players a year of experience. Not to mention any player that might be a "surprise" of training camp, or any other additions to the team. A healthy (for now) Justin Williams, who, by the end of the season will have outscored Patrick(MIA) O'Sullivan, and by doing that we will say "bye-bye" to anthonyy. BOY!!!!This year sounds great already!!!

Most of the people crying about DL not signing anyone have no clue and it is exactly what I expected most people on here to write. You guys don't know how signing players works obviously. It's not like DL can say, "hey Hossa, here is our offer. Now don't go look anywhere else because you HAVE to play here". A player gets at least 4 or 5 offers from different teams and looks them over with his agent, and choses the one he likes the best. All a GM can do is make an offer and see what the player says. The player might not want to play for a certain team, a certain coach, with certain players etc. There are a million reasons why they choose to play or not play somewhere. GM's can't just snap their fingers and make players choose to play for them. I'm sure DL has been talking to a few players and maybe they liked the other deals better. You guys need to relax and just wait and see what happens. Even if we end up getting nobody, it doesn't mean DL didn't try or didn't want to spend money. There's a lot more to running a business than that.

Dreger has Gabby to Rags, 5.75/yr over 5 years. Can anyone really say they wouldn't have wanted DL to match or beat that? I've been a staunch DL supporter but I won't be buying tix this year if there are no additions coming later via trade.

"As for Cammi. The only reason he is not here is that he stood up to Hockey God Lombardi by fighting for what he thought he was worth 2 years ago."

Wrong. Cammy wanted 6 million 2 years ago, was he worth it then? There's a reason he has a knock on him, and it not just coming from the Kings either.

And there goes Gaborik..to the Rangers for 5 years 5.75 Mil p.y.

Looks like I was right. Gabby signs for 5 years with NYR at 5.75

The Leafs and Canadians act desperate with these signings. Even their own fans are upset for throwing out such large sums for certain players. Squid at $6 mill a year? Wow. Very glad I'm not writing the checks-- or paying that much to see him play in LA for that matter. I wld, however, really like the Kings to get ahold of the Leaf and Canadian #1 picks for the next few years.

God, if squid's actually worth $6 mill a year, then I'd opine Hossa's current contract underpays by $3-4 mill a year.

And if Squid is worth $6 mill a year, I hope the Kings can sign Frolov. Squid IMO is 70% or 80% the player Fro is. Too bad Squid's contract is enormous. damm them desperate GM's.

Thank GOD the Kings did not go for Heatly. What a tool.

TSN reporting Gaborik to Rangers. 5 yrs @5.75/yr.

WE COULDN'T FRIKKIN DO THIS?!?!

Fact check:
Taylor's draft picks on the roster are Kopitar, Brown, Frolov, and Quick

Two other names that were solid players that DL traded: Cammy and Lubo.

hi everyone .. it is a little frustrating that all this action and nothing out of the kings .. it is a deja vu all over again ...

one thought is DL is waiting for teams to do all this crap and then look for teams at or above the cap who need to shed a contract or two .. i am hoping for Gagne out of Philly

I just want him to do something .. while i agree there is a plan to be followed .. it is getting a little tired

Ok, Gabby to the rangers...I'm officially on anthonyy's DL bashing bandwagon.

Got room buddy?

5 years at $7.5 per, not the 5.75

LaBarbera to Phoenix. Good chance to pick up some points against the Coyotes now.

He WANTED to play here. $5.75mil is less that KOPITAR and we couldn't DO THIS? Was there an insurance issue or something?

VERY disappointed.

whose saying that DL didn't have an offer for Gaborik. Just because, he signed with another team doesn't mean it was lack of trying.

FREE AGENTS HAVE A CHOICE WHERE THEY WANT TO PLAY!

Gaborek just signed with the Rangers, five years, $37.5M!!! Holy cow!

Gabby contract is wrong...it's 5yrs @7.5.

"tantrum4 Author Profile Page said:

Most of the people crying about DL not signing anyone have no clue and it is exactly what I expected most people on here to write. You guys don't know how signing players works obviously. It's not like DL can say, "hey Hossa, here is our offer. Now don't go look anywhere else because you HAVE to play here". A player gets at least 4 or 5 offers from different teams and looks them over with his agent, and choses the one he likes the best. All a GM can do is make an offer and see what the player says. The player might not want to play for a certain team, a certain coach, with certain players etc. There are a million reasons why they choose to play or not play somewhere. GM's can't just snap their fingers and make players choose to play for them. I'm sure DL has been talking to a few players and maybe they liked the other deals better. You guys need to relax and just wait and see what happens. Even if we end up getting nobody, it doesn't mean DL didn't try or didn't want to spend money. There's a lot more to running a business than that."

awesome post!

OK, understandable now...it was years.(Love it when the wrong numbers get put up...damn Darren Dreger) Just like the Roloson deal. We probably offered the three and he took 5.

(Exhale)

Cynic...would you REALLY pay a guy who hasn't played a full NHL season in 3 years because of serious hip and groin injuries that much for that long?

You would be fired as a GM in about 10 seconds.

Gaborik to NYR per tsn.ca

Yea sorry, 7.5 p.y., too much (injury) risk for the Kings in my opinion.

For those of you who really do not remember....

Drafted by Dave Taylor:
2000 - Frolov - Visnovsky - Lilya
2001 - Cammi
2003 - Brown
2005 - Kopitar - Jonathan Quick
2006 - Jonathan Bernier - Trevor Lewis - Jeff Zatkoff

Like I said...Let's see where Lombardi's drafting gets us.

NOW it sounds like we have some true GMs on this site!

-whew-

MrBrett

Even Quisp said he would do 3 yrs at 7.5. He's that gifted. Fire him too. I still say do it for 3 years. We NEED the scoring help. Our guys should be protecting him anyways....

Mike,

Did you really refer to fans who have suffered with a this perennial losing team (Some of us 40 years) as whiners? How is it that all the other winning teams are able to have an array of star players and still draft young players to mix in? The Ducks are an expansion franchise and are always in the hunt. They land the biggest stars and still have young stud players. Losers always have a reason why they lose. Ex Kings players flourish in other destinations. Please name the great free agent acquisition of DL? Which of his draft picks has evolved into an elite player? Elite players would be in the top 10 in scoring. Dominate defensively. Are among the top 5 goaltenders. Everything is a promise to the future, just have they have done for 40 years. I don't blame DL, but I do blame ownership for not being straight with the fans. FYI... they can keep every draft pick now and for the next 10 years, and that will not ensure a winner. You win with veterans and young guys mixed in. Chicago found the money. The Rangers, Montreal, and just about every other team. They've got reasons for signing Heatley... I got news for you, they're not making the playoffs now, so they can't do any worse. Hopefully he'll pull off a trade for the future by acquiring a star. L.A. needs a star to survive against the Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, USC, the beach, films etc. Kopitar is not a star. Brown is not a star. Williams and Quick not stars. Marcel Dionne, Gretzky, Vachon, Blake were at a different level than the group we have now.

lorenzov -- Dave Taylor did NOT draft Bernier, Lewis or Zatkoff...

mrbrett,

It's not only the big names that can make a ton of sense for a team.

Kopecky is a player that would have fit right into Murray's archaic system, as would Pahlsson.

Nothing...

Read between the lines and you'll see that nobody wants to come here and get blamed for Lombardi's mess, or benched for someone else's mistakes by Murray.

Lombardi has shown his players disrespect in the past (Blake, Cammalleri, Labarbara) and players around the league will know that. Why would they want to come into a poisonous environment if the money isn't waaaaay more than any other offer?

Can anyone tell me what DL ever did in the NHL as a player???
No, because it never happened.
Where did this guy come from anyway?
McMaster the Disaster looks like a genius compared to the mess of the last 3+ years.

cristobal - UFAs do not want to sign here because we do not have the base of players to make a run at the cup. If TM does as good of a job next year as he did this year, then we will be close. Hossa would have never signed with the Hawks 3 years ago.

I could not disagree with you more on the respect issue. He has never bad mouthed any of them.

I am not sure where being a player is a requirement or even an advantage for a GM.

Rich- Make a list of pro/anti gaborik folks on here and just for laughs at end of next season lets see who was right.

Put me in the pro gaborik column. I don't hate DL for not getting him or other UFAs (heck maybe he tried) but I don't buy the whole Gaborik will be a bust because of 2 injury seasons.

You can also put me down as not buying the whole mantro about the cap will come crashing down on some of these teams. It may come down a bit but it ain't going to force teams to jettison quality players.

JB - One could say the jettisoning has already started with Gomez and with a flat cap?

There are just too many teams that can not play at the cap. Parity will come down if the cap does not, which will hurt the weaker teams even more. Can contraction be far off?

westchester kid-
you wrote "You win with veterans and young guys mixed in. Chicago found the money. The Rangers, Montreal, and just about every other team."

those teams may have found the money...but what exactly did they win? the most recent of those 3 teams to win a cup was NYR in 1994 and then the habs 1993 (ugh!). i fail to see how spending money = stanley cup.