Russell Morgan Imagine you go to work, convince your boss to spend a ton of future assets and financial capital on a project, watch it burn the company’s yearly expectations to the ground, only to swap the issue with a slightly smaller one, while publicly admitting you had no idea how to assimilate the idea, and still keep your job. Well, that’s what’s happened for Rob Blake and the LA Kings, again.
“I don’t think I did a good enough job integrating him in the right roles on the team here this year. I don’t think it wasn’t a great fit in that aspect for us and we’ll take responsibility for that.”
Words shared by a transparent Rob Blake on a shocking day involving the Kings trading Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals for Darcy Kuemper. Less than a year removed from Blake’s trade with Winnipeg to acquire the controversial centerman.
Seeing Dubois’ and the rest of his 8-year $68 million contract shipped off for a familiar netminder brought elation to Kings Twitter.
After 87 games of inconsistency, Dubois’ inaugural season in LA endured warranted criticism. Now that problem is gone. But at the cost of Gabriel Vilardi, Sean Durzi, Alex Iafallo, and Rasmus Kupari. Losing those assets for essentially nothing will go down in Kings’ history as one of if not the worst move of all time.
And let’s not forget a three-year $5.25 million AAV commitment to Kuemper, a goalie coming off a 13-14-3 season with a .890 save percentage and 3.31 goals against average. Those are concerning numbers. But there’s precedent for a return to form.
LA’s style of play rejuvenated the careers of Cam Talbot and David Rittich helping the Kings finish with the fourth-best team save percentage. It will help Kuemper too. But it’ll be hard-pressed to think he can live up to his hefty contract. And if he doesn’t, it’s another Cal Petersen situation all over again.
It certainly feels like this trade opens the door for Quinton Byfield’s move to center ice. A position we saw him flash in a small sample amidst his breakout season. And one he should continue to excel in.
Sounds like Quinton Byfield will be moving back to the center position, “For the most part we would like to see him get back to center ice.”
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) June 19, 2024
There will also be a youth movement with Brandt Clarke, Alex Turcotte, and Akil Thomas expected to make the roster. Otherwise, who knows what’s next?
It doesn’t feel like this team is anywhere close to a contender, especially when watching the Stanley Cup Final. Yet there’s cap space to work with.
If the Kings add a dynamic forward and upgrade the left side of the defense, they can improve. And maybe it’ll ignite excitement for hockey in Los Angeles once again. But for now, we continue aboard this leaky ship filled with holes covered in duct tape.
My uncle was right. He said trade Kopitar for a premiere goaltender. Loyalty doesn’t win you cups. Instead my uncle once again was right he told me Dubois was a big mistake and it will cost LA dearly.
Vilardi and Rasmus my uncle said he wouldn’t trade Dubois for either one straight up. Last but not least my uncle knows more about players and hockey than Blake ever will
As he puts it Blake and Robittale have know idea how to put together
a hockey team and both of them are a complete joke. Please Kings hire my uncle as your GM he knows Hockey
Blakey is not a very good GM. He gave a lot of assets, particularly Vilardi to get an over-rated dud, which he traded for a 34 year old second rate goalie.
Agree, PLD seems to have worn out his welcome quickly everywhere he has been. He lacks the competitive edge needed to be an impact player.
Vilardi though good is injured every 5 minutes
Disagree about the Kings Defence left or right side. Though losing Matt Roy will hurt. But many good points I agree with otherwise.
I’m holding out for Blake to pull a Tkachuk out of his hat… creating a dominant First Line.
“The “K” Line… at least fanatically. Brady should have been the target with the four Arrows we wasted off to Winnipeg. The many young players integrating to the big club will hopefully ripen before Kopitar falls off the tree.
Disagree about the Kings Defence left or right side. Though losing Matt Roy will hurt. But many good points I agree with otherwise.
I’m holding out for Blake to pull a Tkachuk out of his hat… creating a dominant First Line.
“The “K” Line… at least fana
Phonetically. Brady should have been the target with the four Arrows we wasted off to Winnipeg. The many young players integrating to the big club will hopefully ripen before Kopitar falls off the tree.
Destroyed the team. Chemistry. Awful. Blake had no personality either.
They are old team. Gave away their youth.
Fire 🔥 the fool..
As i put it clearly, Kopitar should have been traded for a damn good goalie. You cant win cups being loyal. Aaron Rodgers, Farve, Brady. It was time to move on from Kopitar. Instead
Blake gives him 2 more years at 8 million. Instead we lose Durzi, Vilardi, and Rasmus along with Iafallo.
I agree Blake is a joke and keeps his job so fire the front office and start over.
For goodness sakes my uncle said when they traded for Dubois, Blake just destroyed the team. He also thought the Richards trade was stupid also. Now he trades for another old goaltender for Dubois. WHY IS HE STILL GM. Time for the owner to wake the hell up before Blake does another stupid move.
Blake and Robitaille has been a disaster. This is why you don’t hire formal players for management of the team. Acknowledge the mistake and reset the team by replacing those two with experienced people who are respected in the industry. Bring back the people who guided two championships back decade ago if you you have to. Start this process right away before these two further ruin the team.
Agreed, watched his press conference, he was rude, evasive and clearly didn’t want to talk about the trade, and his role in our current state of affairs
Blake learned how NOT to be good GM from Lombardi. Lombardi didn’t win the two Cups, the players did. Lombardi just gave out fat contracts to Good Buddy Players.
Blakes accomplishments?
Kovalchuk? Strikeout. Peterson? Strikeout. PLD? Strikeout. . Giving away long-time starting talent to other teams for 2nd-4th Round draft picks? Lousy negotiator! Cutting Quick loose over a phone call? Lazy, Dirty, Low-Class Leadership under ANY circumstance. Losing two starters in Valardi and Iafallo for PLD? Unconsionable.
Blake didn’t fail to “Integrate” PLD well into our system to make him succeed! He failed to see him for who he really was: A problematic personality w/ under-self-motivation written all over his statistics. Oh, he can’t play D well and he kills his team by racking up penalties. Blake is not a realistic talent evaluator nor a great negotiator. He’ll give up #1 pics whenever he gets desperate enough … but don’t expect him to hammer the table (for #1’s) for any top Kings players he’s off-loading (see: Muzzin, Martinez, Tofolli)
The Draft brain-trust is over-rated. Drafting undersized, under- talented or injury-prone players for years. 2019: Kalyev (can’t skate and a one-track-mind shooter > going), Turcotte (undersized, injury prone & won’t survive an NHL year – going), and Bjornfot (gone). Picks No #1 2022, 2023 > gone. 2020 #2 Pick Grans > gone.
Good players shipped off (Cernak) not because they can’t play but because the don’t fit “their system” (the boring 1-3-1 defense). Remember: “defense over everything else, including entertainment ala attacking offense. Now Cernak is a solid TB player.
Mr. Blake is a “C” grade GM at best. Yes, a “Rafter” guy…..but not a GM. Luc, another Rafter Guy…. but I question if he brings anything to the table except being Blake’s yes-man trade-approver. An excellent Grip and Grinner, tho.
Mgmt even saw fit to get rid of their top announcer, Alex, because of $$ all the while throwing MILLIONS away on players who can’t perform. Incredibly disingenuous.
When is OWNERSHIP gonna ACT like it has Season Ticket holders and regular fans best interests in mind? Oh yeah, the ones that pay the Frigging bills! Strap on some Cajones and GUT THE C-SUITE. And retool the Draft evaluators. We should have been drafting numerous others players flourishing now on other teams: Cousins, Zegras, J Robertson, etc, etc.
I’m furious at this teams leadership. The Kings won’t get to the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for years to come with who is leading this ship.
I’m out. This team is hamstrung from the top-down.
Hubris. Same as the C-Suite of the Lakers.