The Kings are crowned again The Stanley Cup Champions return home to a hero's welcome in Los Angeles
June 3, 2016
LOS ANGELES - For the third time since 2012, a black and white-shaded victory parade made its way through the streets of the City of Angels. The city traditionally dominated by the Lakers and Dodgers once again yielded to the kings of hockey, as the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings reasserted themselves as a dominant force, two days after their 6-2 win in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in Tampa Bay, giving the Kings a 4-2 series win and their third championship in five seasons.
For assistant GM Brian Kudron, it was vindication; the culmination of the "tweaks" he made to the roster following the disappointing 2014-15 season. The bold moves - trading for Milan Lucic, trading away Marian Gaborik, taking a chance on Nathan Horton, and, boldest of all, removing former captain Dustin Brown from the roster - were all validated as just in the wake of Friday's euphoric parade - and yet, as is always the case in NHL front offices, success is shortlived, and the next move is always the most important.
While the nucleus of this championship roster is intact in the form of Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, and a couple others, there are still hard choices on the horizon - compounded by the fact that the market always inflates the contract of free agents who just won a Stanley Cup. To that end, will the Kings be able to re-sign Lucic? The brawling power forward is absolutely adored by the fans, the front office, and the team around him - he fits the culture in this organization to a tee, and followed up a great regular season (28-36-64 points in 82 games) with an excellent postseason (8-6-14 points in 20 games). There is no doubt that re-signing him is LA's #1 priority this summer - but his price tag will be steep now. His $3.25 million dollar salary could be doubled on the open market.
And then there's Horton. Lucic's friend was an amazing story for Los Angeles this year - it was in fact Horton who took the first lap with the Stanley Cup after Anze Kopitar, a testament to Horton's perseverance after believing his career had been ended by injuries. Horton put up a very solid 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 59 regular season games, and followed that up with a clutch 20 points in 20 games (11 goals, 9 assists) in the playoffs. Teams will still be skeptical of his injury history, and he's now on the "wrong" side of 30, but the Kings might not be able to retain him if the price gets too high - he made only $625,000 this year - although if LA is able to retain Lucic, that may play a large intangible role in keeping Horton as well.
Other notable forwards due up for Los Angeles include Trevor Lewis and Jarret Stoll. The 33 year old Stoll, a trade deadline acquisition after leaving LA last summer, fit in perfectly in his old 3rd line center role, and could probably be brought back on the cheap. Lewis, on the other hand, may want a bigger role than the Kings are able to give him; he has fit in well in his 3rd/4th line and PK duties, but with whispers that he believes he can be a top 6 contributor, and Los Angeles unlikely to have top 6 minutes (or top 6 money) to give him, it may be the end of the road for LA's 2006 1st round pick.
One of the most intriguing storylines is that of Justin Schultz. The Kings acquired Schultz from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Marian Gaborik trade, thinking they had found a potential replacement for the departed Slava Voynov - a right-handed offensive defenseman to pair with Alec Martinez on the second defense pairing. But Schultz never quite lived up to that billing, registering only 24 points (6 goals, 18 assists) in the regular season, and a mere three assists in the playoffs. He is an unrestricted free agent, and will likely expect a significant bump in pay from his $1.85 million dollar contract. The Kings are unlikely to give him the 4-4.5 million he is expected to ask for, and that could make Schultz an intruiging trade asset at the NHL Draft later this month.
Compounding matters on the blueline is the fact that both Brayden McNabb and prospect Derek Forbort are also unrestricted free agents who will be looking for bigger roles - McNabb spent the season on LA's 3rd line with Matt Greene, while Forbort, LA's 2010 1st round pick and top prospect, spent the season in Ontario with LA's AHL affiliate. The problem with Forbort is he is more of a stay-at-home, defensive defenseman - not what Los Angeles is looking for. He could potentially be another enticing trade asset at the Draft.
Kings are Canada-centric at the NHL Draft Trade & contract rumors abuzz as free agency looms
June 24, 2016
BUFFALO - The nucleus of the Kings' scouting brass has always been located in the Canadian Hockey League, so it should come as no surprise that Los Angeles' 2016 draft class is largely comprised of CHL players.
The Kings had no first round pick in this year's draft and had to wait around until 56th overall to make a selection, but they are coming away with what they believe to be a solid crop of young players, headlined by the player they took at #56, right winger Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
"Taylor is a good-sized player, around 6'1, about 200 pounds," Kings GM Brian Kudron said. "Obviously our scouting department places a big emphasis on the Canadian Hockey League, so we became very familiar with Taylor's game over the last year plus, and we were very excited to see him still available at 56. We really like his all-around game, he's responsible in all three zones, and he knows how to use his size to win puck battles, which is of course something we always look for in our players."
The Kings went defense with each of their next three picks at 60th, 69th, and 102nd overall, respectively. The first two of those three are also CHL products in Kade Jensen of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, and Jake O'Donnell of Mississauga in the OHL. At 102, the Kings went international, drafting the hulking Eetu Sopanen out of Finland.
"Eetu is a huge person," Kudron said. "Our scouting in Europe is still being developed, we hope to expand our presence over there as time goes by, but we saw enough of Eetu to know he's a monster. He's about 6'5, close to 230 pounds, and really makes you feel all of that when he hits you. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but he's a very dependable defender right now, and we like his potential to grow into a solid two-way defenseman."
Overall, six of LA's eight draft picks came from the Canadian Hockey League. In addition to the aforementioned, they selected centers Nathan Noel and Miguel Picard out of the QMJHL at 106 and 150, respectively, and winger Stephan Seeger out of Flint in the OHL with their final selection at 186. With the 120th pick, they selected 6'0 Russian winger Yury Arkhipov.
The Draft came and went without the Kings making a trade - largely because the contract status of defensemen like Justin Schultz, Brayden McNabb, and Kevin Forbort is up in the air. Once those are resolved, one way or another, moves are likely to be made. The Kings are probably going to move two of the three; if they can retain the younger Forbort at a lower price, he will likely be bumped up to replace McNabb on the third defense pairing, while Schultz and/or McNabb will likely fetch a promising defender to replace Schultz on the second pairing. Word from Schultz's camp is that he will not back down from his ~4.5 million dollar pricetag, which is being dismissed as a nonsense request from the LA front office considering his production this past season.
Lucic, Horton return to Los Angeles Kopitar's linemates will remain with the Kings
June 28, 2016
LOS ANGELES - Sometimes, the allure of winning and camraderie can trump money.
Despite knowing full well that he could've gotten more on the open market, Milan Lucic is sticking with the Kings, as the club announced today that the big winger has signed a new three-year, $5.5 million dollar deal.
"Milan fits in perfectly with the culture of our organization," GM Brian Kudron said at the announcement. "Both sides entered into these negotiations in good faith and with a tremendous relationship. Milan very much wanted to be here, and we very much wanted to keep him. That made the 'negotiations' very easy."
The added bonus to the two sides coming to terms quickly is that it helped make Nathan Horton's decision easier. With his past injury issues still looming over his head, Horton knew that to test the market would be risky - and he knew where he wanted to be, comfy on LA's top line with Conn Smythe winner Anze Kopitar and his close friend, Lucic. To that end, Horton is also returning, at a bargain: a one-year, two-way, $850,000 dollar contract.
Speaking of bargains, that is exactly what the Kings are getting with defenseman Derek Forbort. The Kings' 2010 first round draft pick, despite not reaching the NHL yet, initially wanted upwards of 2.5 to three million dollars on his new contract - a price that would've excluded him from Los Angeles's plans going forward. But with Justin Schultz and Brayden McNabb also likely on their way out, the Kings had reason to play a soft hand with Forbort - and it worked. In exchange for promising him a spot on the NHL roster, the Kings and Forbort worked out a one-year, $850,000 dollar bridge contract, giving Forbort a year to prove himself at the NHL level and go after a big payday next summer, and giving the Kings additional wiggle room with money.
Schultz and McNabb, meanwhile, were tendered qualifying offers as restricted free agents, meaning the Kings can move them via trade now - moves that are likely to happen. Los Angeles is on the lookout for a preferably-right handed second line defenseman to pair with Alec Martinez, and there is also a gap up the middle of the Kings' 3rd and 4th lines, as Jarret Stoll and Trevor Lewis were among those unrestricted free agents not offered new contracts by the organization. Lewis is looking for a bigger role, believing his can be a top 6 contributor; the Kings top two lines are locked in. The Kings are still exploring the possibility of re-signing Stoll, but are likely to bring up 2011 3rd round pick Andy Andreoff for 2016-2017, leaving open one center slot on the NHL roster. With Kopitar and Jordan Staal locked in as the top two centers, the Kings are certainly not expected to reel in a star to be the #3 center iceman, but they are also not ready to commit to bringing back Stoll until they explore the possibilities.
Kings land their defenseman Parayko brings size, skill, youth to Los Angeles
July 1, 2016
LOS ANGELES - The Kings are not expected to be big movers in free agency this summer. They are not going to be involved in the Steven Stamkos sweepstakes, and the free agent pool thins considerably after the former captain of the Lightning.
Where the Kings will be active is moving the two restricted free agent defensemen off of their roster, and the first shoe dropped hours into the free agent period, as the Kings traded talented defenseman Justin Schultz to St. Louis in exchange for Colton Parayko and St. Louis's 2017 3rd round draft pick.
The Kings kicked the tires on Seth Jones of Columbus and Jacob Trouba of Winnipeg, but both turned out to be too expensive for them to pull away from their current teams. Parayko, the Blues' 2012 3rd round draft pick, had a less than inspiring NHL debut in 2015-16, registering only six points (4 G, 2 A) in a full 82 games. But he is young (23) and big (6'5, 216 pounds), and the Kings believe he can be an excellent complement to Alec Martinez - similar thoughts they had about Justin Schultz a year ago when they acquired him from Pittsburgh. Also similar to Schultz from last year is the fact that Parayko has one year left on his entry-level deal, so he will be with Los Angeles for $860,000 in 2016-2017.
The only major "splash" move left in the offseason for the Stanley Cup Champions is to move Brayden McNabb, presumably for the 3rd line center Los Angeles is seeking.
Kings acquire Boyle from Tampa Former first round pick is returning to Los Angeles
July 8, 2016
LOS ANGELES - While the hockey world still recovers from the shockwaves of the Boston Bruins signing Steven Stamkos to a six-year, $9.125 million-dollar-per-year contract, the Kings have gone about their business and acquired the 3rd line center they wanted.
Originally drafted 26th overall in 2003 by Los Angeles, Brian Boyle played 36 games combined for the Kings in 2007-08 and 2008-09 before being traded to the New York Rangers. While never much of an offensive threat - his career high in goals (21) and points (35) came with the Rangers in 2010-11 - Boyle has carved out a niche as one of the best bottom six centers in the NHL. He is an outstanding penalty killer, a plus in the faceoff circle, and, perhaps most enticing to the Kings, is a towering menace of a man at 6'7, 243 pounds. Those assets were enough for the Kings to pursue and ultimately reacquire him, sending defenseman Brayden McNabb to Tampa in exchange for Boyle and Tampa Bay's 4th round pick in next summer's Draft.
Boyle also has the misfortune of being on the wrong end of the Stanley Cup Final each of the last three years - twice against his former club, the Kings. He was on the Rangers team that Los Angeles beat in 2014, and lost the Final with Tampa Bay each of the last two seasons, against Chicago in 2015, and the Kings again last month.
"We certainly hope he will be in the Final for the fourth straight year - with a different result this time," Kings GM Brian Kudron said.
This is expected to be the final move of a relatively quiet offseason for Los Angeles. The Kings have some money to spend, but with the free agent pool being thin and several notable names already on the roster being due payraises next summer - Tyler Toffoli, Dwight King, Tanner Pearson, and others - LA should be content to go with what they have now.
05-26-2016, 02:25 AM
