Multiple clips from a recent Dean Lombardi interview…
The Dilemma…
Going to Boston…
If you missed the latest LA Kings Media Roundtable, click here now – we debate if Lombardi’s roster style still works in today’s NHL.
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Boy! do I (We) glad you choose to be as Kings of LA teams’ GM !! Let’s get 3 more CUPs with you here.OK..GKG…
schooling is needed
DL brought the Cup to L.A. He did what he was supposed to do now the question becomes, can he do it again? He has spoken in the past about wanting to be loyal to his players, as they are to the organization. This is noble and admirable but may be impossible in the current salary cap era. Chicago had to jettison several players after winning the Cup and it took them a couple of years to reload.
Many sports teams such as basketball, soccer, and hockey generally consist of six or seven core players with other team members being more complimentary in nature. DL has locked up pretty long-term the core of JQ, DD, VV, DB, MR, JC, and Kopi. He has committed a large part of the payroll to that core group. One key for DL going forward will be how effectively and inexpensively he can replace the non-core players on the roster.
After trading for Stoll and Greene, he overpaid both of them, signing them to longer term contracts. This was understandable as they are character players and DL needed those kind of guys to start building the team around. It would have done no good for those guys to have left in the midst of a team re-build. In fact, it might have been a disaster. When he re-signed Stoll recently he overpaid him. He simply is not that good offensively, is a bit undersized, and is an average skater. His value is strictly as a defensive center. When Greene’s contract ends he must decide if he will overpay again for a 5th-6th defenseman who will play only 14-15 minutes a game behind DD and Voynov. Stoll and Greene are valuable role players (Greene has played much better under Sutter) but they are still role players. In today’s NHL you can’t overpay role players without adversely affecting the team long-term.
DL is going to have to draft and develop players who can come in and play those kind of roles less expensively and eventually develop players who can become core guys in the future. Much of his long-term success and legacy as a great GM will depend greatly on his willingness to sacrifice loyal team players for less expensive players either from within the organization or finding cheap replacements in other organizations he can sign or acquire through trade.
Interesting hearing him speak about Boston and what persuaded him to come to L.A….Thanks!