What if Kovalchuk Didn't Exist?
by Quisp on Jul 3, 2010 4:20 PM PDT
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PrintKovalchuk's plan appears to involve drawing this out to the point that the fans of whichever team he signs with will actually hate him by the time he arrives. Rather than waste more time imagining a world with Kovalchuk in it, let's do the opposite.
- There is no Kovalchuk.
- The Kings are exactly as they are today.
- The UFA market is exactly as it is, except for Kovalchuk.
What should Lombardi do, in this hypothetical Kovalchuk-less world?
Here's the roster:
Ryan Smyth - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
LW2 - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown
Scott Parse - Michal Handzus - Wayne Simmonds
LW4 - Brad Richardson - RW4
Peter Harrold, F14
Jack Johnson - D4
D5 - Matt Greene
Key prospects: Oscar Moller, Andrei Loktionov, Brayden Schenn, Kyle Clifford, Jonathan Bernier, Rich Clune, Marc-Andre Cliche, Trevor Lewis, Viatcheslav Voynov, Jacob Muzzin, Thomas Hickey, Colten Teubert, Corey Elkins, Ray Kaunisto, Bud Holloway.
King UFAs: Alexander Frolov, Fredrik Modin, Jeff Halpern.
Some UFAs, league-wide: Raffi Torres, Eric Belanger, Lee Stempniak, Willie Mitchell, Andreas Lilja, Adam Mair, Matt Ellis, Darryl Sydor.
Some players that may be available via trade: Vincent Lecavalier, the Philadelphia Flyers, maybe Jarome Iginla.
I'll tell you what I would do, but you have to play, too.
-
Trade Justin Williams and Martin Jones to Philadelphia for Simon Gagne and Ian Laperierre. One injured Philly guy for another better one won't upset Kings fans too much. Gagne can play on whichever top-six line Ryan Smyth isn't on. Lappy can play on the right of the fourth line.
- Alternatively, trade Williams and Stoll and some picks/prospects for Iginla and put Iginla on Kopitar's wing. In this option, re-sign Eric Belanger to play on the fourth unit.
- trade Erik Ersberg wherever, picks, prospects, a crotchety old d-man who is faster and younger than Sean O'Donnell. Doesn't matter. But get something for him.
- Sign Andreas Lilja.
- Let Muzzin, Hickey, Martinez and Voynov fight it out for the remaining d spot. I predict Muzzin wins this battle, but it's okay however it works out.
- Clune, Cliche, Clifford, Nolan and King can duke it out for the two fourth line/healthy scratch spots. I would favor Clifford and Clune.
- Let Moller, Loktionov, Lewis, Parse and Schenn battle for the one or two top-nine spots.
And it would look something like this:
Gagne - Kopitar - Simmonds
Smyth - Stoll - Brown
Schenn - Handzus - Parse/Cliche/Lewis
Clifford - Richardson - Laperriere
(Clune, Harrold)
Scuderi - Doughty
Johnson - Lilja
Muzzin - Greene
Drewiske
Quick - Bernier
OR
Simmonds - Kopitar - Iginla
Smyth - Schenn - Brown
Parse - Handzus - Cliche/Lewis
Clifford - Belanger - Richardson
(Clune, Harrold)
Scuderi - Doughty
Johnson - Lilja
Muzzin - Greene
Drewiske
Quick - Bernier
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Quisp, Long time reader and fan of yours from both this site and Rich’s site. I like the trade of Stoll and Williams. I also like the signing of Lija, but not for more then a year. This is how I’d like to see them skate. Question to for you Quisp…. Why keep Harold around?
Gagne Kopitar Brown
Smyth Schenn Moller
Parse Handzus Simmonds
Clifford Richardson Lewis
Clune and Lappy
Scuderi – Doughty
Johnson – Lilja
Muzzin – Greene
Drewiske
Quick Bernier
Harrold is the perfect healthy scratch utility guy. He can play both offense and defense and has shown he can step into the lineup after a long time sitting and play well(as he showed in the playoffs)
by GoKings09 on Jul 3, 2010 6:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed
In fact, he should change his name to Depth Forward.
by 88fingerslukee on Jul 3, 2010 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Welcome! (and thank you)
Peter Harrold is like the whatever at the back of my desk drawer that every time I clean I decide to keep because I might need it some day. Also, he proved himself to be very funny in a video. And he’s fast.
Wait till this year.
I feel like...
I’m driving into a fog bank when I start thinking about trade possibilities. So I’ll leave out those details.
I think if Kovi didn’t exist we’d have resigned Fro or made an offer to him now (maybe we have!) But if we leave out FroFro…
I’m liking Belanger and/or Torres but that still doesn’t fill the sniper and Dman slots.
I’m liking Corvo or Sutton over Lilja as the Dman.
As for the sniper, let’s go for Kariya on the left and call it a club.
Kariya – Kopitar – Williams
Smyth – Stoll – Brown
Parse – Handzus – Simmonds
Torres – Belanger – Richardson
Scuderi – Doughty
Johnson – Corvo
Drewiske – Greene
Quick – Bernier
All these guys get time with the big club.
(Clifford, Campbell, Clune, Harrold, Moller, Schenn, Cliche, Lewis, Muzzin, Holloway, Deslauriers)
of course I forgot about westgarth who will undoubtedly be a regular fixture on the 4th line much to my chagrin.
maybe - depends on the camps of Clifford and Nolan, and Clune.
I’m especially interested in Nolan vs Westgarth. Not as an actual fight. But as options for this year.
Wait till this year.
Can nolan skate with westgarth?
I liked nolan’s simmonds-esq (my new phrase) style of play, but he is sloowwww. Then again, so was Ivan.
he looks slow, but i'm not sure exactly how slow he is
he is hulking, which may make him slower than he is; he picked up some pretty good speed this week, and had some moves
i believe the adj is Simmondsonian.
Kopitaresque
Brownian
Stollian
Zeusian
Richardsonian
Cluny
Doughtyesque
Johnsonian
Cliffordesque
Schennian
Scuderiesque
Drewiskean
Loktionovian
Molleresque
Teuberty
Hickory
Quick
Wait till this year.
First true laugh out loud moment of the day...
Love it. Nice. I see you working.
Why not Quicky?
Harroldian
Hollowaean and…
Frolovian (fav)
I notice no mention of Holloway by you… I think the guy has a serious shot at making a name for himself. The guy can score.
You almost got them all right:
but it’s Doughtacious
by 88fingerslukee on Jul 3, 2010 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Overall though...
I didn’t make clear that I don’t like that many young/unproven guys in your lineups….
clifford, cliche, schenn, muzzin…just too many for me.
I didn't say I thought Cliche would make it, just that he would be fighting for a spot
he is a defensive third line type guy. lewis will win out, i am pretty sure, but hey give the guy a chance.
I would be willing to bet Muzzin makes the team, and Clifford, too. Schenn is less likely, but still more likely than not. Lombardi’s challenge to him makes it especially likely I think. Is Schenn going to let Lombardi down by not working his ass off this summer? I don’t think that’s likely at all. And if he shows up better than last year, they’re not sending him back to juniors. (watch them do it…)
Wait till this year.
I like
the second the second team with Iginla, Lila and Belanger
Don't you long for the days when Hossa was decding between us and the Blackhawks?
Quisp,
I also like both trade options. Surprisingly, I am a more in favor of the Lappy/Gagne better than the Iglnia trade.
Since the big name D-men are gone, I actually like Lilja as our second pairing D-man for no longer than 2 years. His price will be much better than Hamhuis/Martin… etc, and will buy us some time for another one of the D-men to come up.
I am rooting for Hickey to be the D-man who “wins” the 3rd pairing.
Sorry I have no new ideas on who we should trade for. I have been racking my brain for a while on this.
Damn I forgot Souray was 33. No way to justify 2 years at 5.4 million.
by Clever Kings Handle on Jul 3, 2010 5:13 PM PDT reply actions
Everyone raved about Hickey's developmental camp.
But I am sure if he got called up he would break something.
Maybe Voynov then, I keep thinking if he doesn’t see the NHL he is going to Russia. Maybe he can play with Kovi there.
by Clever Kings Handle on Jul 3, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
wow.
everyone raved at hickey’s camp? guess we travel in different circles. all I heard was, “so, so” no biggie (no pun intended).
This is not really adding to the conversation...
But… whoever deserves it should win it (that really is a big duh!). I personally have seen very little of him, and am not a scout anyway. And I am glad I am not, because I would be lowly compensated and on the road 11.9/12 months a year.
I am not saying I am putting my money on him, but I am ROOTING for him. In my other circle that does not completely overlap your circle apparently,I hear good things about him.
If he does not make it, I will root for whoever does.
by Clever Kings Handle on Jul 3, 2010 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Simmonds – Kopitar – Iginla
I like the way you think. And I love that Sutter is so bonkers that it makes this a distinct possibility. Hey, Calgary! Ready the torches and the stake!
Hmm hmm. So I guess I’m supposed to come up with my own roster. This is going to take a bit of time and liquor. BRB.
PS, give Hickey time to recover from a whole year of practically not playing. Signed,
The President and Acting Secretary of the Potsy-Beaver Fanclub
In Dinglebarn We Trust
He has definitely lost some developmental time...
But I think if he has a good camp he should make the Big team. I am not saying he has to, but if he proves he is ready, go for it. He is a perfect puck mover to go with Greene.
by Clever Kings Handle on Jul 3, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, believe me…I know he might not make the big leagues. But I saw him when he was healthy, and it was glorious.
In Dinglebarn We Trust
glorious in the sense of…
I surf. I’ve surfed for many, many years. Much of my time as a kid was spent watching really small waves wash up on the shore when there was no swell. Well…
I’d sit for hours and imagine myself small enough to surf them. I’d surf the best waves in the world every single day if i was that tiny.
Insert Hickey here. I imagine a mini NHL and he’s a huge star.
He's not three feet tall. He's 5'11.5 / 6'
also 6’: Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, Garry Galley, Denis Potvin, Derek Morris, Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, Denis Grebeshkov, Joe Corvo, Niklas Kronwall, Brian Campbell, Matt Carle
5’11": Alexei Zhitnik, Mathieu Schneider, Dan Boyle
5’10": Phil Housley, Randy Carlyle, Lubomir Vishnovsky, Brian Rafalski
Wait till this year.
I'd be willing
to put money on Hickey not being 6 feet. No way no how. Not 5’11, not 5’10, not 5’9. He’s probably in the 5’7 range a la Foxy.
Hee, now I’m imagining you following him to his car, trailing after him with a tape measure. I’ll take that bet. Here he is last year beside Azevedo, who’s 5’7" (or is it your contention that he’s really 5’5"?)
Poor kiddo. Just look at that expression on his face. “Don’t hate me because I’m an Oompa Loompa!”
In Dinglebarn We Trust
Quisp had a post about it yesterday
by GoKings09 on Jul 3, 2010 6:09 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
No way Philly does that deal. If that happens there will be a riot. Gagne means a LOT to Flyers fans, and a lot of us want to see him be a lifer and enter the Flyers HoF, and a trade like that doesn’t do him justice.
Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger;
Our team is so much stronger
We've got Briere, Betts and Pronger...
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jul 3, 2010 7:42 PM PDT reply actions
He also has diminished value because he has one year left makes a lot and is ultra injury prone. So while that trade might not fly, I would think something similar would.
by Nut on Jul 4, 2010 1:32 AM PDT up reply actions
The problem is that with the Flyers:
a) he means more than what he is on the ice, he’s a big part of the heart and soul of the team. One of the longest tenured Philly athletes
b) it’s very unlikely that he doesn’t re-sign and take the rare opportunity to retire with the team that drafted him
His value to the Flyers is more than his value to the Kings may be. That’s why I don’t want to trade him at all. But that’s a completely different story.
Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger;
Our team is so much stronger
We've got Briere, Betts and Pronger...
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jul 4, 2010 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Those are reasons that he means more to Philly fans and possibly ownership, not necessarily factoring into his trade value. It’s not the Kings (or any other team) that asked him to waive his No-trade, it’s the Flyers.
by Nut on Jul 4, 2010 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
His value to the Flyers is more than his value to the Kings may be. That’s why I don’t want to trade him at all.
I understand this completely. There are some players that are so very special, and have given so much, that losing them feels like being kicked in the stomach. The Kings jerked Luc Robitaille around like that once. I never like to see beloved players leave.
Asking him to waive his no-trade clause is not a good sign. But I hope you get to keep him.
In Dinglebarn We Trust
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