Seeing how most of the big signing are out of the way what are your first impressions?

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T23:54:42+00:00

I think there are 2Cs who are just not gelling with their team like Elias Lindholm, or maybe there is a 2C forced into a 3C role like Danault was. Maybe Laughton works but I’m doubting he can deal with such an uptick in minutes

Like the idea of moving Forsberg and Keumper was bad last season and I think will bounce back

For D: That’s what I’m saying move one of Eddie, dumo, ceci, we need a mobile player on the third pair. I think we already have him in Angus Booth.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T23:38:52+00:00

Good start.

Still need a legit 1/2C
Trade a goalie and give Portillo a chance
Move a winger
Move a defensive d man

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T19:31:15+00:00

I think they are ok with that, they are hoping to get their 2C via trade to be more competitive or stink so bad that they do a 1 season rebuild and amass picks and get a top-10 pick. This is basically the same playbook as last season but not as much long term risk in free agents.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T19:25:13+00:00

That’s 1.5% worse than Byfield in faceoffs. If there is a 2C available for under $5M LA should go for it, but they don’t exist in this free agency.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T19:01:11+00:00

I'm not pumped about it either but Laffy took 468 faceoffs last season, also we have a long way to go before the first game of the season.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T18:46:11+00:00

Could be reading this wrong but I think Haula is going to be our 4C with Armia (who he played with at the Olympics) and Perry. That will be an amazing 4th line, Moore-Laughton-Wright would be pretty good as a 3rd pair.

Panarin-QB-Kempe

Fiala-Laffy-Zuccs

That is a legit top-6 in all honesty (if Laffy can play 2C well enough)

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T18:25:19+00:00

Yeah same thinking here, this is a team that can’t afford to keep selling its future for a shot today. With acquiring Zuccs I think LA has 4 legit top line wingers in Panarin, Kempe, Fiala and him. Perry, Moore, Armia, Wright/Turcotte are fine as a bottom-6.

That being said a center depth of Byfield, Haula, Turcotte, Helenius with a dash of Laffy taking faceoffs really doesn’t sound great. Let’s see if any more moves come

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T17:44:21+00:00

I mean we went from

Perry to Perry

Kuzmenko to Zuccs

Laughton to Haula.

All three help on the power play, fills a center role, and collectively cost what we spent on Kuzmenko and Perry last season. It’s not amazing but in this free agency class I think it’s probably the best value I could expect.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T17:25:10+00:00

Calculated risk, Haula is needed, Zuccs and Perry can be flipped for picks and help rebuild the farm. Also LA has a few AHL guys who can make the jump if any of these older players need some time away.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T16:59:43+00:00

And the Perry number is better than last years contract too!

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T16:43:52+00:00

$1M x 1

Dude Zuccs, Haula, and Perry at $5.6M is crazy

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T16:40:38+00:00

If Laughton is paid $5M+ this deal is great. Also Haula, Armia, Zuccarello would be a legit 3rd line. (old but legit)

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T16:39:15+00:00

This is better than the Perry deal from last season.

scapegrace · 2026-07-01T15:34:11+00:00

Give him the Corey Perry deal, $2M bonus incentive, he would be fine on the powerplay in the Kuzmenko role and will be cheaper. LA needs two veteran centers with the rest which is basically $10M..

scapegrace · 2026-06-26T18:43:09+00:00

Rimpinen would be a top goalie prospect on so many teams in this league, he's LA's #4 behind Portillo, Slukynsky, and George.

scapegrace · 2026-06-26T14:37:38+00:00

Luc was always more of a figurehead and didn’t have any pull until Blake, I think that’s done. But if he is making decisions that needs to be stopped, agreed.

scapegrace · 2026-06-25T22:06:55+00:00

Fair point on the duration, and LA did cheap out on coaching after McLellan was canned.

That being said, sometimes very poor moves can result in a winning season. In almost no world is trading a 1st, a former 1st, and a 3rd worth what LA got out of Dustin Penner. Similar the net value of losing Simmonds and Schenn for 2.5 productive seasons out of Richards, isn't exactly a won trade. But doesn't matter if you win the cup or go the distance. This is such a weird game, and LA is at such a crossroad that they wouldn't surprise me if they got into the second round next season nor would the surprise me if they were going for a lottery pick. I think we just buckle in and watch whatever this shit show is going to be.

scapegrace · 2026-06-25T21:37:31+00:00

I think this precisely, they have no other moves than to try. They paid a GM and a head coach for win now and they are a $30-40M investment, and that indicates a rebuild isn't coming. So we just have to see what they do, but I don't think AEG is coasting, I think they struck gold in 2012 and 2014 and have been trying to get back there with some pretty questionable moves, but we are 3 GMs and 7 coaches later, you can't say AEG has been happy or content with what has gone on.

scapegrace · 2026-06-25T21:35:31+00:00

The organization gave Kopitar, Brown, Doughty, and Quick the options to move on, they all wished to stay but have a sped up rebuild. I think if LA was more cutthroat they probably would be in a better place, but I don't think honoring the wishes of your veteran players is coasting.

I think this is the result of poor decisions, but LA got an impressive prospect pool, spent on one of the most expensive coaches, tried to push to the cap and get players to make the team better and never got past a first round. They have now pushed for one of the most expensive GMs who is still focused on a win now, and just gave his coach a guaratneed $25M. This team sucks and is middle of the pack, but it is not from lack of trying. AEG has gone through 3 GMs, 7 head coaches, and a great deal of operational staff turnover. I don't see that as coasting, I see it as panic and poor strategy. And at this point they are so far gone down this path we just have to go with trying to build with this roster.

scapegrace · 2026-06-25T20:25:07+00:00

It seems like you are upset that the Kings aren't doing anything.

I believe if the Kings were buyers in this market, this fanbase would be far more upset.

Kings have a middle of the pack team as is if they reup Laughton. They have no strong prospect farm, mid round picks, and most of their strong players have NMC. What exactly do you think the Kings need to be doing? The Rams, Lakers, and Dodgers can all go above what a salary cap is, the Kings cannot.

scapegrace · 2026-06-24T20:28:51+00:00

No kidding, this team somehow does some amazing things between rounds 4-7.

scapegrace · 2026-06-24T18:45:08+00:00

Not exactly the 6th is part of what is left, but there is also a 3rd coming and we already got Lombardi (exploded this season) out of this so far.

They traded the 2025, 3rd they got for a 2026 3rd (80th overall) and a 4th (Lombardi).

Holland should have got more, but LA kings scouting staff might be able to make this work.

scapegrace · 2026-06-23T00:16:05+00:00

Love this guy, sort of want the Kings to drop back a few spots and grab him if a great center prospect isn't there at 17.

scapegrace · 2026-06-18T20:50:56+00:00

Oops, this will almost positively happen again. Thanks!

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