Quote:
Originally Posted by Tikkanen
I agree with you 100%. If I'm IK there are quite a few teams I would rather sign with than LA. LA has all the right pieces, DD looks like a future HOFer, still some great assets in the minors including Bernier but then you have to look at the coach and the system. I've said it before that Marleau is the perfect fit for LA but as a long suffering King fan in deep, deep denial I WANT Kovalchuk. He'll bring back that edge of your seat excitement that hasn't been here since Gretzky. I keep telling myself not to get my hopes up, it aint happening, Marelau and Kovalchuk will probably wind up with other teams but that is part of being a King fan. July 1st is the most exciting and depressing day of the year all rolled into a 24 hour period. Instead I'll be treated to the Trent Klatt's and Eric Rasmussen's of the world as Dean Lombardi opts for the metallic pea green family truckster with the rally package instead of the sports car.
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But the Truckster has that faux-wood paneling on the side at no extra charge. On that same token, July 1st is like the day you circle on your calendar to go to Wally World but, when you get there, the moose outside tells you that it's f'ing closed.
I wanted to throw a name out there that seems like a DL guy to replace Frolov:
Ryan Malone
McKenzie says he is available. He is a big, bruising LW who can put up 20+ goals and 50 points while not taking any ****. Sticks up for teammates and is a pretty good fighter. The downside is his $4.5mm dollar salary for the next 4 seasons (edit: 5 seasons) but he would be able to fill Smyth's role for three more seasons once Ryan is done.
I know how touchy everyone around here is about salary and Versteeg makes less so he may be more of an option. I love Malone's game and character though and he was a key player for the Pens in their first trip to the Finals.
Would everyone here be upset if LA rolled Marleau, Malone and Smyth at LW next season? What if the deal for Malone included Stoll so they wouldn't be adding too much salary over the next two seasons and then Smyth's contract would be off the books?