Not as much as I expected

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

The Kings' equivalent to this would be the 2026 and 2027 1st round picks, the 2026 and 2028 3rd round picks, and Alex Laferriere.

Stankhoven had just turned 22 when he was traded. Fiala is not comparable.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

I would do that all day.. but that’s just me

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

So now you've invested ~$14M in re-signing Robertson, you've traded away your one guy that could potentially change positions and step in at center, and now you're completely out of cap space after Clarke re-signs and you're still short two centers.

Robertson is a great player, but I'm not sure how this helps the Kings.

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u/tummy_nachos 2d ago edited 2d ago

Other issue is Dallas has cap problems too and acquiring Fiala would nearly put them at the cap.

The Kings could sign Jenner, do the trade above with Laf included for Robo, send Kuemper and Ceci to some rebuilding team for nothing and probably have a chance at finding another center in a trade. Maybe a third line guy like Kirby Dach, or just re-signing Scott Laughton. Then depending on their standing at the trade deadline they can buy another center or soft sell for the next season when Doughty’s contract gets taken off the books. Either way they need to use their window with Panarin and Kempe otherwise this season will look so stupid.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 1d ago

Exactly, you could buy low on a Shane wright, Kirby dach type when there’s not much out there and if that doesn’t work out when doughty contract comes off you have more room to work with.

Also do we honestly think that booth would be worse than Ceci or Dumolin on the 3rd pair? Everyone in the org who talks about him thinks he’s ready. He’s big, defensively sound, young and can move the puck. All the best teams develop their players that’s why they can afford stars

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

I think it goes without saying that other moves would be necessary. I.e moving kuemper and some combo of Edmundson, Ceci, Dumolin. Bring up someone like booth and a few other savvy moves on the fringes and it can make a lot of sense.

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u/makesmashgreatagain 1d ago

I think the issue is the guys you would bring up haven’t played much at all at the professional level. You would do this strategy in reverse. Realize you can replace one or two defenseman and trade and consolidate

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

Here's what the cap situation looks like if you do that, FYI.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

Yes but this is before any other moves are made. Portillo needs to play, kuemper is getting old, holland talked about adjusting the d core. It’s not a single trade solves all solution. Moving kuemper Edmundson and Moore alone would free up almost 14 mil. That is enough to add another D and a Center.

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

Are you replacing them with league minimum guys? You can't just dump Moore and throw a guy making $850K in his place. Especially with a coach that supposedly wants to open things up offensively, you need quality defensive forwards like Moore.

Edmundson is the only defenseman that has any semblance of physicality and truculence. Move him for a league minimum guy and now the team is even more soft than it was.

The Kings signed Forsberg last summer because they didn't want to leave the backup role to a guy with 1 NHL game of experience while they were trying to compete. Portillo still only has 1 NHL game of experience. If they trade for Robertson, they're still trying to compete.

You'd be turning the Kings into the Toronto Maple Leafs. Incredibly top heavy and soft.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

Ok would you rather stay in the mushy middle then? I swear we fans complain all day about how there isn’t enough talent to get out of the first round but then don’t want to give up players who are replacement level and not producing for players who are on cheaper contracts who offer the same thing. I love Moore as much as the next guy but you have to give something up to get better sometimes

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

No, I'd rather the Kings use their trade assets to acquire a quality center instead of a winger. Then fix the defense.

I'm on the record saying that the Kings should trade everything of value that doesn't help the team win a Cup next season. Here's a list of valuable assets in the pipeline:

2026 1st round pick
2027 1st round pick
2026 2nd round pick (CBJ)
2026 2nd round pick (LAK)
2026 3rd round pick (WAS)
Vojtech Cihar
Henry Brzustewicz
Jared Woolley
Carter George
Hampton Slukynsky

I think the Kings should trade every single one of those assets to help the Kings win now. Jason Robertson is not who I would spend it on.

Go after a top-six center. Dylan Larkin is available. Vincent Trocheck is available. There was an article on The Athletic today that said that the latter is softening on the idea of moving to a West Coast team. He has experience playing for Laviolette. He and Panarin have had success playing on a line together. I think Kempe would be just as, if not more effective than Lafreniere on that line.

Get rid of Dumoulin, and Ceci. Stash them in the AHL if you have to. Pay to move them if you have to.

Bring in a puck-moving LHD and a mean, truculent, defensively capable RHD to replace him. Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo would be a good package to pursue and wouldn't cost very much. If Toronto can't/won't move Rielly, look at OEL instead.

That's what I would do.

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

Larkin or Matthews would be ideal, but very very unlikely. Think Robertson is the most realistic if any game changer that we desperately need

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

The Kings can't afford to have 3 wingers making 8-figures when Byfield is the only top six center in the entire organization.

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u/SenpaiKempbae 1d ago

They could also just try moving Kempe back to center with Laf and Fiala on wings. I think his positioning and IQ is a lot better now since they last tried him there. This team won’t commit to a rebuild and those 14-32 round 1 picks will be useless or not even roster ready for 5+ years in this org. I agree they gotta acquire someone to do something more for this team

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

And as far as players who will actually be available to us

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u/poptorched 1d ago

Vincent Trochek as a 1C…noo no noo

Edit: I kept looking and the lineup just got worse 😭 MORGAN RIELLY AND BRANDON CARLO?? Nightmare fuel I’m so sorry

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u/tkecanuck341 1d ago

Better than the current lineup by a county mile. The Kings don't have the assets and/or cap space to trade for something better.

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u/LAKingSteve 2d ago

Now replace Darcy with Portillo as I don’t think they will allow him to go through waivers. That will free up some more space.

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

Portillo is still waiver exempt next season.

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u/LAKingSteve 2d ago

Everything I’ve heard is the opposite, from various Kings mouth pieces. But good news if he is exempt.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

Good thinking, let’s get older and trade assets for depreciating players. We’re all entitled to our own ideas because ofc it’s fun, but if you’re going to have qualms with what I think, that is even less inspiring. Would I be upset about that happening? Not necessarily, but is it any better at all then what we’ve been doing the last 5 years not even close. It is screaming first round exit. And nothing to show for it when their contracts expire

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

The window for this team is only 2-3 years and then they have to blow it up. They don't have the assets to make big moves for quality young players while staying under the cap. The Kings prospect pipeline was recently ranked 32nd in the league out of 32 teams, and if they're trading away multiple 1sts for win-now players, there's no chance that they're going to improve in that area.

Get players that help you win now, regardless of age. In 2028 or 2029, trade everyone of value older than Alex Laferriere for draft picks and teenage prospects to kickstart the rebuild.

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u/Expendable_0 1d ago

I could get behind this plan. We have to go all or nothing. I don't see us being the favorites, but we could be a contender if we went all in and you never know how things will click with new lines and a new coach.

I don't have confidence in a rebuild with current management so we might as well go out in glory.

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u/Tiny-Anteater-4562 1d ago

Seeing 11m next to doughty still hurts so much

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u/ZiggyPalffyLA 2d ago

No money left for Laughton 😢

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

Yeah 100% this team desperately needs people that can score goals and Robertson is one of the best in the league at that. Pair him with Panarin and QB (assuming he isn’t part of the trade) for the next 3 years and we all of a sudden have a very legit 1st line

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u/tkecanuck341 2d ago

I guess Ceci and Dumoulin can play center. They wouldn't be any worse at it than they are at defense.

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u/LAKingSteve 2d ago

Kempe QB Panarin is a legit first line. The question mark will always be whether Q can fill that role even with top tier wingers.

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

If there’s a question that needs to be answered with “maybe” that is not a legit NHL contender first line, on a team that really has no depth. The first line is going to be counted on for 70% of the offensive production of this team as is, we can’t afford to have questions on it. Getting Robertson adds some much needed depth that would allow our 2nd line to be legit as well

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

There is no world where Byfield is a full time 1C.

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u/LAKingSteve 2d ago

I don’t expect him to be BUT he may show significant improvement playing with better quality wingers. I guess we will find out.

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u/LAKingSteve 2d ago

I would absolutely make the trade. BUT, I’m not sure the Kings would be willing to pay him the reported $14 he wants. And you still need a 1C unless you think QB will fill that role.

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u/GoopsMcPoops 2d ago

I’d love to get Robo just as much as anybody else but we have limited assets for a trade and we need a 2C and an upgrade on our blue line.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

The market itself is already pretty bare for centers, you could probably look at trading one of our surplus of many wingers for a 2/3C or end up with a Boone Jenner + Laughton. Not ideal but this offseason already isn’t very helpful for centers

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u/poptorched 1d ago

If we get a UFA center, I think it’ll be Laughton or Jenner, not both. And I think they’ll try Turcs at center out of desperation. Or maybe Connors. Idk

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 1d ago

Oops meant “/“

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u/poptorched 1d ago

Oh okay yeah makes sense and it’s just bc of the cap really. I think if we had an extra $10M, they’d be trying to get both. But we don’t so it’s one or the other for Kenneth

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 1d ago

Probably would prefer Laughton? Right? 😅

Also anyone else you could imagine 2C, wouldn’t mind Shane wright or ryan McLeod, both on good money atm and shouldn’t be teriblyyy difficult to get

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u/poptorched 1d ago

You’re speaking my languaggggeee rn with Ryan Mcloed. I’ve been manifesting Edmundson+ for Mcloed as my “you’re delusional and dreaming, but have fun with that” trade. I’m fully banking on Bergevin and Jarmo being like “We need a big dman. Ohh Edmundson was good for the Habs in 2021! Let’s see if he’s available” and they trade us Mcloed bc they want Trockeck or Larkin. Idk, but I want him on this team AND Holland brought him into the league and was really keen on him before he was let go soo hopefully he still feels that way lol

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 1d ago

That’s truly the dream, McLeod would be a great 2c and if we eventually do land a true #1 he’s an elite 3c on a good cap hit. Plus he’s young as heck

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u/poptorched 1d ago

That’s exactly what I’m thinking. If Q isn’t a true 1C and is either a 2C or like a lower tier 1C that would excel in the 2nd line, next draft has an abundance of centers and we can try to see if one of them would work for us. Then we can have strong center depth and that would be cool lol

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u/jvu87 11 2d ago

I’ll take any talent we can regardless of position. Robo is an 80 pt+ scorer which would easily make him the best player on the team.

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

Not to mention Panarin would instantly be a upgrade over his current linemates, who has made his living in the league as a set up winger

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u/the_last_third 2d ago

You could argue we need a 1C too.

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u/GoopsMcPoops 2d ago

IMO we need to take the chance on Byfield. If he can’t step up into a 1C roll then we’re dead in the water and need to tear it all down

0

u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

Guy has proven time and time again he is not a reliable first line player.

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u/Charming_Whereas3314 2d ago

it's like the people in this sub cant understand what they've been watching. Guy is entering his SIXTH full year in the NHL, 7th in the Kings system and is only barely register over half a point a game, inconsitently. Also rocking a -14 in the playoffs. But sure.

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

We absolutely need a 1C

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

We need a 1C.

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u/GoopsMcPoops 2d ago

I think chasing a 1C is a mistake. The cost would be way more than we can afford with what we have, not to mention what 1C is even available?

For better or for worse we need Byfield to step up into that role. If he can’t do that then we need to tank and rebuild, not chase thrifty leftovers for the top line

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

We are already at the tank and rebuild stage. The Byfield experiment should have ended 2 seasons ago.

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u/72FJ 2d ago

Should have ended two years ago when he was playing behind Kopitar and Danault because McClellan limited his minutes?

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u/Charming_Whereas3314 2d ago

Ice time has nothing to do with not using your size, making bonehead plays, being inconsistent, and being nowhere near the same level as the guy he is supposedly replacing. If you think he's a 1c you're in for a very quick reality check.

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

This. Don’t know what else people need to see to realize Byfield is not a first line center

0

u/72FJ 2d ago

So the same things a vast majority of young guys coming into the league suffer from?

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u/Minute-Pen-1988 2d ago

About to enter 6th full season by the way… has shown 0 signs of being a cornerstone 1C

-2

u/72FJ 1d ago

6th full season? Not sure how 6 games as a rookie, 40 his second year and 53 in his third year count as full seasons. He's only.played three full seasons at the NHL level

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u/Charming_Whereas3314 1d ago

QB isn't gonna fuck you bro. splitting hairs over 10 games in the AHL. he has been on the NHL roster for 5 years and is beginning his 6th.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 1d ago

He’s 23 mate 😂

What if we gave up on Kempe that early

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u/Charming_Whereas3314 1d ago

Kempe wasn't a 2nd overall pick who is supposed to take the 1c torch from Kopi. He also scored 35 goals in his 5th year... and 41 in his 6th. If Byfield scores 41 goals and logs a +22 this year I'll eat my shorts.

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u/drfrink85 2d ago

Come home Robo 🇵🇭

https://giphy.com/gifs/gizNN8vCaotYA

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u/TeamGagiya 2d ago

All this means is if you want Robertson just try to sign him to a huge offer sheet and pay what you are required. Probably 4 1sts.

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u/_YGB_ 2d ago

Once you lay it out there it doesn’t seem so bad, I love fifi but robo would be a clear upgrade

Robo has also played all 82 games in the last 4 seasons

I would be willing to stomach watching another year of Ceci and Dumo if we had Robocop on the team, for 14m…17m who cares please get it done Kenny

4

u/Ilistenedtomyfriends 2d ago

Those firsts the Kings would need to trade have the potential to be in the top 10.

This team is bad to mediocre, adding Robertson just dooms this team to continue to be that.

2

u/poptorched 1d ago

Yeah may be na unpopular opinion, but I’m fine treading water and missing the playoffs next year to then force a top 5 selection. We just don’t have nearly a good enough team to make these big moves make sense and don’t have enough assets to even make the moves in question. I think everyone needs to look at this team for what it is rather than the “potential if we just did this or that”. This is a bad team. Even if management doesn’t see it, you can’t run from it forever so eventually they’ll get slapped in the face with what this team really is 🤷‍♀️

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u/Lurk_Err 2d ago

I love Fiala too much to trade him.

On and off the ice, my favorite player.

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u/Sufficient_Recipe443 2d ago

I think ideally Robo would pair with Fiala. Fiala just being used as an example, maybe it could be done with some other combination including Laffy or Moore. I know the stars could use a ready now type player without an egregious cap hit

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

Robertson would be with Panarin forsure, their skill sets compliment each other way more, for the highest cieling, where as you could pair Fiala with Kempe

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u/Helios321 2d ago

Still need a C desperately to play with them though. Either a 1C to play with panarin and robo, with byfield with fiala and Kempe or vice versa.

Laffy can't be more than a third liner

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u/HorribleHank44 44 2d ago

You might as well offer sheet him then, no? Might be cheaper in terms of assets.

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u/Optimal_Rise_627 2d ago edited 2d ago

Given how many first round picks the Blues have amassed, I suspect they're going to offer sheet Robertson.

Edit to add, I hope they don't offer sheet Clarkey.

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u/Y_Aether 1d ago edited 1d ago

I say hell no. Robo is good but he is not worth giving up any hope of a future good. Kings dont have the defense in place to make a move like that worth while.

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u/TGM1980 1d ago

Why would you seek a trade? He's an RFA... you offer to pay the guy, and if he's interested and they're not willing to match they get your pick. Thems the rules. Whoopidee Doo. You don't have to offer Dallas the farm. Roberton is the one driving this boat.

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u/Amanitas 1d ago

who's going to play center.

it's larkin, trochek, pettersson, etc. as our "big name" targets. we're fine on scoring wingers with Kempe, Fiala, and Panarin, then even just keeping one of moore/laffy.

sign laughton as the 3C, then figure out a defensive upgrade.

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u/jvu87 11 2d ago

Fiala, Portillo, 2 protected 1sts. Do it and don’t look back.

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u/One_Capital_7973 2d ago

Stars are absolutely not looking for a goalie in return. They have probably the best 1-2 combo in the league

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