The end of a season, is the beginning of a new season
by The Ram on Apr 27, 2010 10:42 PM PDT
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PrintIt was a gut wrenching end Sunday night. not a dry eye that belonged to a King's fan that evening(Connie). I, myself, was too depress to even watch the post game show on FSWest. The only thing I could think of is all accomplishments the Kings had provided us to see. Feats like Anze Kopitar setting career highs for Goals(34), Assists(47) and points(81). Seeing Jonathan Quick set a franchise record in Wins(39). Drew Doughty having a breakout season Playing every game hard with 16 goals, 43 assists, adding up to 59 points. Wayne Simmons also had a great season as well, 16 Goals, 24 assists for a total of 40 points. Jack Johnson more than triple his assists(from 5 to 28) and points(from 11 to 36) total from last season,
They had a good series with Vancouver Canucks. Even though they lost in six games they definitely showed they can play. Both Doughty and Johnson lead the team in points(7), but all of Johnson's points are assists. Doughty, Fredrik Modin and Michal Handzus lead the team in goals with 3 each. Handzus, Kopitar and Dustin Brown all had 5 points each, while Modin and Alexander Frolov each had 4 points. Of course the negatives was the shaky defense, questionable goal tending and some bad match-ups. The other negative I must add is the fact that the only player on the Kings who had a positive plus/minus was Simmons with a 1(OUCH!).
Now that the season is over, everyone can rest up for next season.......well, not everyone. Here is a list of players from this season who's are unrestricted/restricted free agents and their salaries.
Alexander Frolov (UFA) 4.000 Mil.
Fredrik Modin (UFA) 3.500 Mil. (he was acquired at the trade deadline)
Randy Jones (UFA) 3.000 Mil.
Jeff Halpern (UFA) 2.000 Mil. (he was acquired at the trade deadline)
Sean O'Donnell (UFA) 1.250 Mil.
Raitis Ivanans (UFA) 0.600 Mil.
Brad Richardson (RFA) 0.600 Mil.
Richard Clune (RFA) 0.562 Mil.
Scott Parse (RFA) 0.550 Mil
If that isn't enough for Dean Lombardi to think about, here is a list of unrestricted/restricted free agents and their salaries at the end of next season.
Michal Handzus (UFA) 4.000 Mil.
Justin Williams (UFA) 3.500 Mil.
Eric Ersberg (UFA) 0.750 Mil.
Peter Harrold (UFA) 0.550 Mil.
Wayne Simmons (UFA) 0.525 Mil.
Jack Johnson (RFA) 1.650 Mil.
Drew Doughty (RFA) 0.875 Mil.
Jonathan Bernier (RFA) 0.765 Mil.
Oscar Moller (RFA) 0.662 Mil.
One of the rumors I've heard is DL wants to get an extension done with Doughty before the start of free agency period. besides that, the other question on my mind is who will DL keep between Ersberg and Bernier? Quick is signed through the 2012/13 season. He will receive 1.900 Mil. next season, 1.800 Mil. the following season and 1.700 in the final year of his contract. My theory is this,Ersberg is demoted to Manchester and if Quick doesn't improve next season, look for Bernier to step up and take the #1 goalie spot. If this cenario happens, look for DL to try and dump Quick on some other team looking for a backup goalie for a 2nd, or at least a 3rd round draft pick.
Before he worries about the goalie situation, he needs to start thinking about signing a couple of free agents for the next season. Top priority is getting a scorer, but DLisn't going to spend alot of money on a player unless he thinks he'll be a good fit for this team so I don't think we'll see Ilya Kovalchuck or Patrick Marleau in a King's jersey(sorry). He might sign someone like Matt Cullen, Alex Tanguay, Raffi Torres or Tomas Holmstrom. Nicklas Backstrom would definitely be a good fit for this team but he might re-sign with Washington, or command a huge salary, not to mention he's a restricted free agent. If DL does sign Kovalchuck or Marleau, say goodbye to Frolov because the rumor is he wants a multi-year deal for 5.000 Mil per year so more likely he'll go after players mentioned above.
The next Priority is getting a defense man that isn't too slow. Unfortunately, there isn't any decent defense men that might be cheap. All the good defense men are going to command a salary of 5 Mil., or more, per season. Players Like Pavel Kubina, who earn 5 Mil. this season, is looking for 6 or 5.500 Mil. per season and will probably get it. All other Defense men are either seeking the big payday or too old and slow. DL is more likely be looking for a trade for a defense man, and more likely a scorer if his plans are to re-sign players like Doughty, Johnson, Bernier and possibly Frolov.
Well that's my opinion, I would like to know what other people think of what DL would do to make the Los Angeles Kings an even better team in the future. Until then, GO KINGS, GO!!! :)
I have never seen this person before in my life.
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hmmm
Ive heard the name of Plekanec tossed in as a potential pick up…but i cant see us bringing frolov back again especially for 5 mil….
Backstrom would be nice though….
"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane."-Alan Garner
For Sure!
Well we need someone to be that secondary primary threat…for most of the season it was offence by committee.
I think if we have 3 really proven scorers for teams to look after, it will be more difficult for teams to get matched up and eliminate Kopitar from a game the way the Canucks seemed to do…
Next season…idk im excited already!
"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane."-Alan Garner
Fro's people may ask for $5 mil/year
But it’s another matter entirely whether anyone will want to pay it. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone will overpay for him, but that sets the bar pretty high. And if nobody is willing to pony up $5 mil/year, then his asking price has to come back down, perhaps to what the Kings are willing to pay.
Quisp has said that he thinks the Kings can re-up Fro for $3.5 mil/year. I hope he’s right, but I’m not so sure. I think Lombardi will offer up to $4 mil/year, and that may or may not be good enough to dissuade him from looking elsewhere.
In any event, I believe you are correct that the Kings cannot afford both Fro and Kovalchuk. The latter will not come cheap.
Here is Frolov’s problem, his numbers have been dwindleing and fluxuating since 2006/07 season when he had 35 goals & 36 assists for 71 points. the following year he had 23 goals & 44 assists for 67 points, then he had 32 goals & 27 assists for 59 points. This season he ended with 19 goals & 32 assists for 51 points, but not counting the playoffs were he had 1 goal & 3 assists for 4 points.
For him to THINK he’s worth the supposedly asking price of 5 Mil per season is crazy. He hasn’t proven to be a consistent scorer. I think he is REALLY worth 2.5 – 2.75 Mil per season, but with bonus of 1 – 1.5 Mil per season on certain goals & assists achievments
I fully agree that $5 mil/year is crazy for Fro
But that being said, there are 29 other GMs out there besides Dean Lombardi, and at least one of them has got to be capable to severe misjudgment… ahem, Glen Sather, ahem….
But that being said, I’ve heard that $5 mil/year figure being floated, but I’m not sure where it comes from. AFAIK, only Fro’s agent and DL really know what’s going on. So in the end, I think anything could happen.
Two things about Frolov: He certainly didn’t do himself any favors by putting up lackluster numbers in his UFA year. But his value to the Kings is not just a function of raw numbers. For the last couple of years, he has been asked to play a more all-around game, meaning more emphasis on defense. And he has done pretty well at that. Plus, his puck-hogging skills are as good as anyone’s, and the Kings play keep-away type of hockey. It’s particularly nice for the Kings to have someone with that skill set when they’re nursing a lead.
But you’re right in that it doesn’t make sense for the Kings to pay top-line money for someone whose value to them is as an exceptionally good third-liner.
Ersberg will probably not wind up in Manchester
He’s no longer exempt from waivers, which means that he will have to go through waivers in order to be reassigned, and the Kings could lose him to another NHL team for nothing. It’s more likely that he will be traded over the summer to a team willing to give him a shot, perhaps as part of a package.
Besides, Rich Hammond has said that if the Kings try to send Ersberg down, it’s more likely that he would return to Europe rather than accept going to Manchester.
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