...from only internal development? That seems to be the driving issue behind several debates on the board: whether to go for a player like Iginla and at what cost; whether to send Schenn and Clifford back to juniors. So, let me just pose the question: how much better can the Kings get based only on developing their current prospects or from current roster players getting better?
I don't think it's so much the players getting better. I think it's them getting better together.
My gut feel is that even though they're only 12 games in (that's nearly 15% of the season - enough to get a feel), we still haven't seen them really play to their potential. Mitchell's play last night in Doughty's defense is I hope going to be a spark that sets this ****** off.
Look at Muzzin. Personally, his play this year I think would have warranted an extended stay on most other NHL teams. Yet we sent him down. You don't mess with that kind of quality depth, which is exactly what a move for Iginla would do.
Hell, the top line just got a new linemate last night. They still need time to work it out. Yet, they're still winning.
A huge move for a guy like Iginla, as much as I'd love him on the Kings, would be the wrong thing to do at this point, IMO.
Scarily (for other teams), I think this team can get a LOT better.
...from only internal development? That seems to be the driving issue behind several debates on the board: whether to go for a player like Iginla and at what cost; whether to send Schenn and Clifford back to juniors. So, let me just pose the question: how much better can the Kings get based only on developing their current prospects or from current roster players getting better?
look at how much better we are this season from just adding Mitchell and a laterel move with Poni.
Kozun, Lokti, and several others could be special players.
We do have a ton of assets and a few players like Moller are close to being waiver eligible. I think a trade will be made this year to bring in an elite scorer.
We do have a ton of assets and a few players like Moller are close to being waiver eligible. I think a trade will be made this year to bring in an elite scorer.
From your lips to God's ear!
Doesn't even need to be an elite scorer. 30+ from Kopitar's left wing should do it.
*checks NHL.com stats*
Oh my. 30+ from the left wing is elite. How about 25+?
The only real place to improve is top line lw. The thing that makes the kings scary is the depth in the prospects.
As each person's contract runs out, there is a top quality prospect ready to make the jump so the kings dont lose a step. Zeus goes, in comes Schenn or Loki, Mitchell goes, up steps Hickey or Forbort
They're already scary good... at least on D. It's unbelievable how solid they are right now. There isn't a single high scoring forward yet that they haven't been able to neutralize.
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"In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened." - Vin Scully being clairvoyant in 1988.
The Los Angeles Kings - 2012 Stanley Cup Champions
Why haven't we at least tried king or kozun at this level, remember how Ersberg had average numbers in the A and when he came up a couple years ago he was pretty good at this level.How nice would it be to find a Charlie Simmer (career AHL'er) until he was put with Dionne/Taylor and those two are young kids.
What I was really asking about in the original question was more season to season view. The Kings are ranked 2nd in organizational strength and of course have a stable of prospects that could make the team full time in the next few years. Some of the core of the team (however it's defined) is still relatively young and has untapped potential. A segment of the current roster is getting older, in particular Handzus and Mitchell.
So, what I was really getting at is this: if the Kings focused only on internal development, bringing up prospects and relying on current players to improve, how much better can the Kings get? Particularly given players aging, contracts expiring, et cetera.
If the current prospects and players can be expected to basically maintain this level of talent by replacing but not necessarily increasing the overall talent level, then in my opinion the Kings HAVE to begin looking seriously at a trade to put them over the top.
On the other hand, if guys like Schenn, Loktionov, Clifford, Hickey, Voynov, Forbert, whoever else can be expected to make the team and actually IMPROVE the team's overall talent level, then it would seem that the Kings are better off just letting the team play as it is, allow the team to get better over the next few years, and NOT start trading away the prospects for more short-term benefits.
So I'm curious which of those two scenarios people think is the case. What kind of overall improvement can the Kings expect to see, independent of things like coaching, free agents, or trades?
I'm actually kind of worried about the impact of losing some of our veterans will have. Handzus and Stoll are still pretty underrated, and even though kids like Schenn and Loktionov are talented, it's hard to 'replace' what the veterans bring...these kids will give the team a new look, for better or for worse, and it's hard to say what kind of impact that will have on the face of the team. For example, say we replace Handzus with Schenn next year--does that give us more scoring? does it neuter our current '3rd' line? That's a larger facelift than many will want to admit, and I can't say I honestly see that as a positive at this point.
I think what we're seeing right now is chemistry based on what's been a solid core roster for the last two years and an injection of further veteran talent (Mitchell, Poni).
Edit: from season to season, I actually think we'll improve as the kids get better, as even our 'older' players aren't so old that they're simply going to get phased out in a year or two. The kids have the luxury of time to develop.
dear god people are still on this "elite scorer" need malarky...
It is a legitimate argument. If Kopitar had an "elite scorer" on his wing for the first time in his career, the Kings would be talked about as a probable favorite for the finals/cup despite their experience. Goaltending and defense are there, but our scoring is being carried by lines that should be considered secondary to Kopitar and Brown. The only line they beat right now, in terms of production, is the fourth line.
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"It has not been a good day. I lost my glasses early this morning and I had to go buy a pair of 79 dollar reading glasses today. 79 bucks. You can literally get them at Costco, three-for-20." - Darryl Sutter's response to going up 2-0 in the series.
dear god people are still on this "elite scorer" need malarky...
Really? lol... Lets see if you change your tune when the Kings start loosing some 1 goal games.
Be real. A game changing scorer is called a game changing scorer for a reason. A player that can score at will at any moment in time on a team is fantastic. Yeah we don't have one right now and we are doing fine, but imagine if we did have one we would strike fear into everyone in the hockey world.
The Kings have had this problem for years going back to the Gretzky years.
Really? lol... Lets see if you change your tune when the Kings start loosing some 1 goal games.
Be real. A game changing scorer is called a game changing scorer for a reason. A player that can score at will at any moment in time on a team is fantastic. Yeah we don't have one right now and we are doing fine, but imagine if we did have one we would strike fear into everyone in the hockey world.
The Kings have had this problem for years going back to the Gretzky years.
An even bigger problem is there are none available. There won't be any available at the dead line either most likely.
Teams are not eager to part with Thirty goal scorers with speed. Unless the Kings are willing to part with Elite prospects and a top six D man Or Forward. They have to hope Parse or some other Prospect develops into one.
Don't mention Iggy he has 4 goals in his last 29 Games, and was another Minus tonight.
What I was really asking about in the original question was more season to season view. The Kings are ranked 2nd in organizational strength and of course have a stable of prospects that could make the team full time in the next few years. Some of the core of the team (however it's defined) is still relatively young and has untapped potential. A segment of the current roster is getting older, in particular Handzus and Mitchell.
So, what I was really getting at is this: if the Kings focused only on internal development, bringing up prospects and relying on current players to improve, how much better can the Kings get? Particularly given players aging, contracts expiring, et cetera.
If the current prospects and players can be expected to basically maintain this level of talent by replacing but not necessarily increasing the overall talent level, then in my opinion the Kings HAVE to begin looking seriously at a trade to put them over the top.
On the other hand, if guys like Schenn, Loktionov, Clifford, Hickey, Voynov, Forbert, whoever else can be expected to make the team and actually IMPROVE the team's overall talent level, then it would seem that the Kings are better off just letting the team play as it is, allow the team to get better over the next few years, and NOT start trading away the prospects for more short-term benefits.
So I'm curious which of those two scenarios people think is the case. What kind of overall improvement can the Kings expect to see, independent of things like coaching, free agents, or trades?
Oh... Well.. I am not sure at that point that we will improve. Realistically how much can you improve from where we are now? Its not like we will become some unbeatable super team. But we would be more consistent. Like the Devils of old and the Red Wings where people on and around our team will expect great things year in and year out.
An even bigger problem is there are none available. There won't be any available at the dead line either most likely.
Teams are not eager to part with Thirty goal scorers with speed.
lol. You just proved my point exactly. They are not available for a reason. They are coveted for a reason. On top of it all they come around once in a while..Not only in the Fee Agency but in the league all together.
Their important to taking the next step. Your 2nd and 3rd line hard working guys will only take you so far. Talented guys that rise to the occasion and take the game over are not only not available...But they are hardly any in the league. And half of the ones that are in the league don't usually go on to rise to the occasion.
The big question for me is if the team can handle a few injuries. We did well without Doughty for a stretch there, but if we lose a top 6F and a top 4D for a couple months+ do we have the depth to keep a winning record?
Holding my breath watching Mitchell fight, last thing he needs is another concussion...
They're already scary good... at least on D. It's unbelievable how solid they are right now. There isn't a single high scoring forward yet that they haven't been able to neutralize.
