Expansion Draft: Kings will say Farewell to…
- Updated: June 18, 2017
The time is upon us Kings fans, where the Las Vegas Golden Knights will claim one of our family as their own. This morning the ‘protected list’ was released; the Kings list wasn’t really a surprise. Instead of the 3d, 7F 1G option, they fell back on their ‘defense first’ mindset that won them 2 Stanley Cups in 3 years, opting for 4D, 4F and 1G. The choices were obvious: Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez and Derek Forbert (a younger talent the Kings weren’t comfortable giving up for nothing), Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and the newly newly inked deals of Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli. That leaves several key players Kings fans are loathe to have to give up.
Lewis is the unsung hero of the Kings, having won the player voted award for this a staggering six years in a row. His stats (in a lifetime 506 games played, he has 47 goals, 4 of which came shorthanded, 66 assists, and 121 PIM) aren’t up there with the ‘elite.’ But what Lewis brings can’t be notated on the scoresheet. His intangibles are what make him special. In the locker room, digging deep on the boards, chipping in on the smaller details of the game make him an invaluable asset to any team. He was part of both of the Kings Stanley Cup runs, scoring 2 of the Kings 6 goals in game 6 2012. He took a hometown discount on his salary when signing his latest contract, something that could come to bite both him and the organization when Vegas comes looking. He’s a fan and player favorite, and would be a smart pick for the Golden Knights. (I’ve heard it said that if Lewis could shoot accurately he’d be demanding Kopitar like money, the other aspects of his game are so well developed.) At 30, he still has years left of his career, and would be a well established veteran in the room. Vegas, please, please don’t take him ! (Even though you really should.)
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Now who doesn’t love this face? Dowd, while only a recent call up due to injury, had a stellar run with Dustin Brown (when Coach Sutter gave them the chance. And we’ll get to Brown’s exposure later.) He played 70 games in the 2016-2017 season, accumulating 6G, 16 A, showing great potential. His numbers decreased as the season progressed, something I largely attribute to Daryl Sutter’s style of breaking in rookies, which will obviously not be an issue come next season. He’s young, fresh and with the guidance of teammates like Brown, which whom he showed great chemistry, could become a valuable asset to the Kings. Plus, his dog won Bark Madness and who doesn’t want cute puppies around Toyota Sports Center?
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 11: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings holds up the Stanley Cup after the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to win the Stanley Cup series 4-2 in Game Six of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on June 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Dustin Brown
Say what you will about Brown, and I know there are haters out there, but he was the first Captain in franchise history who raised the Stanley Cup for the LA Kings. And he did it again 2 years later. I have much respect for Kopitar and the new era that is supposed to usher in for the team, but Brown will always have a special place in my heart. Here’s why Vegas might/should take him: he’s a proven leader, as already expressed. They have a salary floor which Brown’s contract would help them reach. And his struggles as of late had much to do with his style clashing harshly with that of Sutter. He has heart, he has the skill, and he would be an excellent choice for Vegas’s first Captain. He knows how to be that guy in the room. Here’s why Kings fans should want to keep him: his attitude after being stripped of the Captaincy (which by all accounts was not handled well by the organization) was candid to the press and a slugger on the bench. He didn’t let it affect his relationships with his teammates, nor did he try to undermine Kopitar’s leadership. That’s the kind of guy I want on my team. Not only that but he will benefit most from the regime change. Without Sutter behind the bench, Brown can get back to the style that made him a Stanley Cup Champion. He still has talent that allowed to flourish, could bring his stats up to where they used to be. Even saying that, he didn’t have an awful season. He continued his heavy hitting ways, leading the league, increased his scoring from 11 G to 14, assists from 17 to 22, and that will only continue to trend up. If he stays, and I hope he does, except to see Brown emerge once again as an important player in the Kings lineup.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 08: Brayden McNabb #3 of the Los Angeles Kings skates back on defense during the game against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on October 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brayden McNabb
Now here’s a player I’d be happy to see Vegas take. Sure, when he began his career I loved him. I dubbed him McSmash. He had a hipcheck of death that could made Drew Doughty jealous. But last season, when I expected him to come into his own a little more, without Doughty, he didn’t. Perhaps that had something to do with Sutter pairing him with players who didn’t have the best chemistry, or ones who needed teaching McNabb wasn’t veteran enough to provide. But he didn’t help offensively (and as a defenseman I don’t expect 30 goal seasons but in 2016-2017 he had 2. 2 goals, 2 assists. Total. In 49 games. Career 238 games, he has 7G, 43A. That number last season should have been much higher if he’d kept in par with previous seasons. He’s used in a limited special teams capacity, and while he was out with a collarbone injury he was a healthy scratch many times once returning. That being said, he could easily bounce back next season. Doughty won the Norris while he was paired mainly with McNabb, and wasn’t even on the radar this season without him. (Not that Doughty needs McNabb to be awesome, but you see what I’m trying to say.) It is telling, however, that the Kings chose to protect Forbert, a rookie for all intents and purposes, over McNabb. He’s the one I’d hope Vegas takes.
WINNIPEG, MB – MARCH 6: Marian Gaborik #12 of the Los Angeles Kings skates in first-period action in an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre on March 6, 2014 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)
Marian Gaborik
Don’t get too excited, Vegas isn’t taking Gaborik. No one is, despite valiant efforts from Dean Lombardi and his predecessor Rob Blake, to deal him. His contract is too high and long, and his play has decreased significantly of late. He was someone the Kings needed to step up last season and didn’t. It wasn’t just that he was injured, which he was and will be unavailable to play come training camp due to his recovery. But his lack of effort despite that proved him to be a disappointment. The Kings management have given him a clean slate. Vegas won’t.
There are plenty of other players on the Kings list Vegas could be interested in. Kyle Clifford. Andy Andreoff. Nick Shore. Jordan Nolan. But they’re unlikely and the Kings would have an easy time moving on without them. (Actually if I’m really dreaming Vegas would take the last three off of us, but that’s not going to happen either.) So, Kings fans, who do you want Vegas to take?
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2 Comments
About Emily Redenbach
Ed Shapiro
June 19, 2017 at 7:26 am
Good recap. What happened to Andreoff? At the end of 2015-16, he was rounding into a good player with a surge in offense and grit on the ice. Last year, he reverted back to an AHL level player. Was it the coach or is the real Andreoff a call up player when the team is hit by injuries. I don’t see him making the club this year, especially with the Kings wanting to get Kempe (didn’t do that well during his time with the big club) more ice time and an energy bunny player who can score in Johnny B.
Emily Redenbach
June 20, 2017 at 12:01 pm
My problem with Andreoff is that he’s trying to be a gritty kind of player who proves himself by throwing down the gloves. Thing is he isn’t any better at that than he is at putting a puck in the back of the net. If he’d focused on improving his shooting skills instead perhaps he’d be more useful to the team. We’ll see in training camp if that was the coaches decision to push the ‘enforcer’ angle or if it was Andreoff’s. Sutter was always harsh on rookies so I’m looking forward to see Kempe in training camp too.