Wrapping up our Dean Lombardi series for the day, below are his final thoughts related to what went down in and around the trade deadline and what it means for the LA Kings going forward. Here, he talks about Tyler Toffoli and Linden Vey – including confirming last week’s MayorsManor report where we laid out how they’ll be used for the remainder of the season…
“I thought that they had, for the most part, paid their dues. They had done what they should do to become top players in the minors. I think he was the other thing that made a conscious decision is that , the other trades I was looking at I didn’t feel were high enough not to give these kids an opportunity .Again that ties in where Gaborik…when he’s on as an elite player, it’s a little different We felt that was our best option. I think we always felt that these kids were good fits for this team. They bring things that we were lacking, but you have an experience issue where as you see with any kid, you’re going to make mistakes. Except now the stakes are higher versus when we were breaking in kids three, four years ago.
“We put them on the training and everything else, up and down, and that’s part of the process. We brought them here this time with the intention of keeping them here. Now, okay, we’re going to live with their good and the bad because they’re very good players and bring us things we’re lacking, except experience. Linden, I’ve thought did a good job in his role, too. You give him pieces and expect things out of him. The only reason Linden had to go was purely because of cap space. It wasn’t a roster issue, but the ties of having to move the kid down for the roster spot; it was purely because I was short. Even with Columbus taking 50 percent of Gaborik, I was short. I know it’s disappointing to him, and it is to me too. I didn’t like sending him down, so it had nothing to do with hockey. That’s just the reality of it right now and as soon as I can clear [some salary cap room]…as space builds up, as time goes on, I’m going to bring him right back.”
If you missed it his thoughts on Matt Greene, Marian Gaborik, trading Hudson Fasching, dealing with Buffalo and more, see the links below.
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Nice work this week Mayor! I appreciate all the updates and can always count on your info to be the best.
Ok-this is way premature, but looking forward we have some interesting opportunities: Dean says the cap goes from $64m to $68m. We have Gaborik, Mitchell and Greene coming up as big $ UFA’s. That gives us ~$14m (if my math is right: Gaborik $3.5m, WM $3.5m, Greene $3m, $4m in increased cap) in cap space (not counting people like Lewis UFA or King RFA) to replace 2D, and Gaborik (if his trial goes well). I assume either Mitchell or Green will be resigned at a discount. If Gaborik works out and costs ~$5.5-$6m (maybe 3 years?) and Mitchell re-signs for say 2 years at ~$2m per, that leaves some nice room (~$6m) to sign a free agent D Man and/or make a hockey deal for a star LW by sending a contract like Williams (or Stoll if replaced by Vey?) the other way. And there is even more flexibility if they think McNabb is ready to replace someone on the third pair or Gaborik implodes. (They seem to have given up a lot for him so I assume they think he is close). The future looks really bright….thoughts?
I gotta tell you, Mayor – you’re doing about as good a job as a person can do with this beat. Incredible resource for Kings nerds like me.