No -- spend the rest of our cap space on a true #1 D-man like Blake or Lidstrom and we're a real cup contender. Maybe at the deadline?
A player like Blake or Lidstrom at the trade deadline would cost only $1.4-1.6M against the cap because you're paying him for less than a quarter of the season. By most estimations, the Kings have at least $4M of room under the cap right now. So, I kind of doubt (unless they go out and acquire a Blake or Lidstrom within the next month) that they'll ever get anywhere close to the cap this season. I don't really see cap space as a valid reason to wait until the deadline. With $4M+ of wiggle room, the Kings could fit in Boynton now and Blake at the deadline (gee, wouldn't that be nice, hah)... and even still have room to pick up the Carter/Ronning-type player that they usually get at the deadline.
No -- spend the rest of our cap space on a true #1 D-man like Blake or Lidstrom and we're a real cup contender. Maybe at the deadline?
Awwww, I've had too much to drink.
You must be drinking *lighter fluid*... You just named two of the most overpaid defencemen in the "new NHL". Two guys who have also slowed down considerably in the last couple of years. Blake especially, looks slow and tentative this year. And when was the last time anyone can remember Lidstrom being so out of position and unaware as when he took the hit from Dustin Brown last week???
I'm not gonna get into a back-and-forth over the top defencemen in the league (Chara), but you certainly could pick better D men for your wish list. I think it's much more about having merely an above average defence but having 3 lines deep on O. Niedermeyer certainly hasn't transformed his team into anything resembling a contender.
For me the bigger issue is where can we acquire or shuffle (or call up?) forwards that will compliment Roenick? I'm a huge fan of him as a person and as a hockey player, but he's been a non-factor for 3 or 4 Kings games this year - including tonight. If his name was "Mike Cammalleri" he'd be wearing a suit and tie tomorrow in Dallas. I'm just sayin'!
Multiball, the fact that players like that have peaked already is why they could be available at the deadline. You're not going to see teams trading away their studs, especially with the playoff push starting. I hope that Blake stinks it up all season because it'll make him that much more likely to be traded to the Kings at the deadline and that much more likely to sign for cheap once he's a free agent. Any team would be stupid not to want him, even if he has slowed down a tad and doesn't look very good. He's overpaid, yes, but, as I just said, he'd cost the Kings only $1.4M at the trade deadline and he'll have to settle for significantly less on his next contract.
Multiball, the fact that players like that have peaked already is why they could be available at the deadline. You're not going to see teams trading away their studs, especially with the playoff push starting.
Ok, I see that point. I do like Lidstrom quite a bit, but I'm pretty seriously anti the other guy. Anyone who *takes off the Captain's C* because he can't get 9 million dollars, and feuds publicly with a GM who has earned my respect, gets my loud boo when he steps onto the ice vs the Kings - I might even huck my Nachos Camachos at him... Now all that bitter fan stuff aside, I'd LOVE to have a Rob Blake-TYPE defenceman circa 2002 that just doesn't happen to be named "Rob Blake".
It's tough to tell what defencemen out there are changing the complextion of a game because of their skill... Pronger, Boynton, Hatcher, Blake, etc have all looked out of step thus far.
I have read that Boynton is likely to be traded. No other team was willing to trade for him without that contract according to the Bruin fans. I assume it is because they didnt want to lose favor with the Bruins, I dont know.
Poti is awful I watched a Rangers game a week ago and he gave away the puck at least 3 times throughout the game. Kings fans would be screaming if we signed Corvo's double.
New Jersey's gonna have to clear some payroll once Elias comes back. Natural candidates include Colin White (1.7 mil, RFA after this year) and Dan McGillis (2.2 mil, signed through 06-07).
White would cost more in terms of assets, but I think he'd be closer to what the Kings would need. Obviously I'd much rather see McGillis traded for numerous reasons.
You just named two of the most overpaid defencemen in the "new NHL". Two guys who have also slowed down considerably in the last couple of years. Blake especially, looks slow and tentative this year. And when was the last time anyone can remember Lidstrom being so out of position and unaware as when he took the hit from Dustin Brown last week???
