THN.com Blog: Kings have some spending to do
Anze Kopitar is scheduled to make a base salary of $765,000 next season. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-07-15 14:34:45
Not sure which team at the moment is best positioned for the 2009 draft lottery, the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders or Atlanta Thrashers, but look for the Kings to be throwing some serious money around between now and training camp.
Will the Kings’ spending spree coincide with an effort to revive a declining team that has been lost in an enormous market or to try to qualify for the post-season after five years on the sidelines during the playoffs?
Uh, no. According to nhlnumbers.com, the Kings’ payroll currently sits at just $27.756 million, which is almost $13 million under the mandated salary floor. Before the season starts, the Kings must crank up their spending to at least $40.7 million. And that’s after they dispatched two prospects to the Philadelphia Flyers for Denis Gauthier, who played all this season in the minors, but has a very convenient cap hit of $2.1 million.
For their $27.756 million, the Kings have 14 players under contract – forwards Michal Handzus, Dustin Brown, Alexander Frolov, Kyle Calder, Derek Armstrong, Anze Kopitar, John Zeiler, Raitis Ivanans and Matt Ellis; defensemen Tom Preissing, Jack Johnson, Gauthier and Matt Greene and goalie Jason LaBarbera.
That leaves restricted free agent forwards Patrick O’Sullivan, Jarret Stoll, Brad Richardson, Gabe Gauthier and Matt Moulson, defenseman Peter Harrold and a backup goalie left to sign, but chances are, the Kings will still have enough holes to fill and enough cap space left to throw big money at a couple of players who wouldn’t otherwise merit it.
BAD BOYS
Speaking of foolish spending, does anyone think it’s a tad silly that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dressed down Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe and his Anaheim Ducks counterpart Brian Burke for verbal warfare that really had no ill effect on the game, but did nothing to discipline the St. Louis Blues after their “screw you” to the Vancouver Canucks served no other purpose than to pay Steve Bernier far more than he’s worth and indirectly drive up salaries?
It all started when Canucks GM Mike Gillis offered a three-year deal worth $7.5 million to St. Louis Blues restricted free agent David Backes that the Blues were forced to match if they wanted to keep the player. Days later, the Blues offered Canucks RFA Bernier a one-year deal worth $2.5 million that had revenge written all over it.
The Canucks matched the offer, meaning both Backes and Bernier are making more money than they’re worth.
UPDATES
It has widely been reported that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jonas Frogren, whose case will go before an arbitrator, had his contract nullified by the NHL because the league considered him a “defected player,” but the Leafs consider him an unrestricted free agent.
That’s not entirely correct. The NHL agrees Frogren is an unrestricted free agent, but has argued that because Frogren was once a defected player on the Calgary Flames’ reserve list – he no longer holds that status – he is subject to entry-level restrictions on his salary.
The Leafs and the NHLPA argue the collective bargaining agreement makes it clear that no European player 28 years old or older is subject to entry-level stipulations “under any circumstances.”
Also, don’t expect any resolution on the showdown between the NHL/Nashville Predators and the KHL/Salavat Ufa over Alexander Radulov before the end of this week at the earliest.
Ken Campbell, a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com, is at the NHL Draft in Ottawa covering the event. His blog normally appears Tuesdays and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.
For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.
Northwesterner (Posted 2008-07-28 18:23:34)
Actually they do need a goalie. Their team defense was awful last year.
daniel sandford (Posted 2008-07-22 08:06:27)
Kings don't need a goaltender people. there goaltenders were actually pretty good last season. it was just overshadowed by a crappy blueline. i tihnk the trade of visnovsky was not needed, but at the same time i don't think jack johnson is ready to be that offensive presence. preissing had an offseason and didn't do much. the fact that these rumors are going around is completely proprostreous. they are not gonna trade anze kopitar. the trade makes no sense at all. if anything they will trade handzus, who is the highest paid player on the team and one of the oldest. he is a great defensive forward though and he proved that in the second half of the season. lombardi will pull somthing off even though i am not a big fan of his. but the draft was good. i just wish they got more for cammalleri(they didn't get anything for him really). the kings will have a better season i believe, but at the same time i hope they don't. just because of tavares. but if the kings have a better defense it will prove that the goalies are not the problem. the forwards look good i think. i think crawford just wasn't using them right. the system was all wrong. But this trade rumor with anze kopitar makes no sense at all. he is only 20 years old and is a superstar and the face of their franchise. doing this trade makes them older and dumber. it just makes no sense at all to do. but i believe the kings will pickup a veteran defenseman to have that leadership. they definetely have the cap space for anybody, whether by trade or a signing. i would imagine by a trade. i think the perfect canidate for that is either chris chelios(the guy is a workhorse even at the age of 45 i think he could play another 5 years if he wanted)bryan mccabe, mathieu schneider, or the one i would like to see back is alexei zhitnik. even though zhitnik is on the decline and not that good anymore. i think he would bring that leadership and what better way to end your career then the team you started with.
Borgfjord (Posted 2008-07-18 00:41:51)
If the Kings need to spend on a defenseman, they're welcome to take Greg Devries from my beloved Preds. When Nashville was in the the same cap floor predicament last season, they made the mistake of overpaying him for two years, instead of just one. Moving Devries would make room for Klein, Koistenen, Sulzer, Franson or any other of the eleventeen billion young prospects in the system.
Tom (Posted 2008-07-17 17:40:10)
The deal was never going to happen. Its just another case of speculation by a Canadian newspapaer hoping to keep readers subscribing. Kopitar is the centerpiece of the Kings' rebuidling and there is no way come hell or high water that he is being traded. If the Kings have talked to the Hawks and Sens about a trade I guarantee it hasn't involved Kopitar any further than an offer being made and Dean Lombardi quickly saying no. Its like the Malkin thing all over again...The Ottawa Sun is nothing more than a hockey tabloid with no real substance to their rumors.
Sonya (Posted 2008-07-17 11:56:16)
The Kings are not going to give up Kopitar no matter how desperate they are for a goalie. And if they do, there idiots!
Hawks Fan (Posted 2008-07-17 10:32:55)
The Hawks would be getting a serious talent in Kopitar, but giving up Seabrook would be too high a price. He made huge strides last year and is becoming a legit number 1 defenseman. I would be all for the trade if Barker was included. His style doesn't seem to fit with what the hawks are doing and he might benefit from a change of scenery. Khabibulin's numbers were also deceiving last year. Down the stretch when the Hawks were fighting for the playoffs he was money.
Jet (Posted 2008-07-17 02:08:37)
Bhawks send bulin and a 1st in 2009 and a 2nd in 2010 to solve their cap issue. Lombardi has them by the pucks and will extract full value with the Kings usable space. No one else can save the Bhawks. In this case,having space is a nice problem. Also, if a top 10 team comes up with an injuried no. 1 goalie this winter, Bulin is trade bait as it will give a one of the kids 20 games to play without pressure. Probably, good for a 2nd in 2010.
Jason B (Posted 2008-07-17 00:12:40)
I would just like to see the Kings get more.
Jason B (Posted 2008-07-17 00:09:03)
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/07/16/Khabibulin_Potential_Sen/
http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/07/16/6168871-sun.html
Here's what Fidrat Dude was talking about, many sources seem to think all thats left is to dot some i's and cross some t's but the deal would go like this, Kings would get Gerber and Masaroz from Ottawa, Chicago would get Kopitar, Ottawa would get Khabibulin and either Cam Barker or Brent Seabrook (most rumours suggest Barker). I can see the benefit to Chicago and Ottawa and Kopitar is the biggest fish in the deal (though Khabibulin is being way underrated by this board, he has won a cup how many other goaltenders are there that are somewhat available?) and LA would end up with Gerber and Masaroz? Meanwhile Ottawa gets a better goaltender and a better d-man and Chicago gets another HUGE talent. Its a rumour thats growing some wings.
Robert (Posted 2008-07-16 22:57:35)
Unreal! The Kings never stop amazing me. I think they are the Clippers of the NHL. 0 veterin leadership for our young tallent to look uo to and learn from, 0 goal tending, no head coach for training camp, 0 tallent left to sign (Sundin and Selanne YEAH RIGHT, never happen) and a boat load of cash to spend. Might as well forefit whith what we have left. If Kopitar is traded shoot me now and spare me the rest of my life with the pain of no cup for the Kings. The direction of our team this season is 30th get your season seats now! One P!$$ed off Kngs fan!
Ike (Posted 2008-07-16 21:02:51)
The kings have a very good youth base, so much as to compare them to the Pens three or four years ago minus Corsby and Malkin status, but the depth in solid potential is there but they sat around and did nothing at the deadline, now theres nothing left really to sign unless they expect to get Sundin and Selanne. theres just not free agents to spend that money one. even though the kings are in rebuilding mode they still need at least some veterans to mentor all these young prospects. If not they will throw them into the NHL before they are ready not to mention anybody to help or guide them, they will never reach there potential. They have enough youth in depth they need to start moving the picks for next year to get some vets or at least some salary. I read somewhere they may have intersest in Schneider with the ducks. 5.65 for one year will help cap and verteran presence. If the Kings trade Kopitar they will be taking away from the base of this rebuilding stage. Its like Jenga, you keeping taking away all the pieces eventually they whole thing is going to come crashing down.
Jesse (Posted 2008-07-16 19:22:19)
Jason B, you cannot be serious. Other than the fact that Kopitar is near untouchable, you want them to give a first rounder as well? If they take Khabibulin, they're doing it as a favour to Chicago, and Chicago would probably be the ones sending the first round pick. If anything, the Kings are content with Labarbara for one more year until Bernier is ready. Oh, and Kopitar would notbe going the other way. Also, to call the Kings' situation a "cap problem" is laughable. It's never a problem to have too much money. If the Kings need to reach the floor they can simply offer a veteran more than they're worth (see: Sundin) for one year and save Kopitar.
If anything I see Khabibulin and a first rounder for a prospect & third/fourth rounder.
Jason B (Posted 2008-07-16 18:32:30)
To Fidrat Dude,
If Chicago got Kopitar for Khabibulin itd be amazing for the Hawks but not so great for the Kings. How about Khabibulin, Havlat for Kopitar and first round? That'd work out great for both as itd keep a high skill forward (although injury prone) in LA while adding a goaltender and that'd help their cap problems a lot.
And as a Chicago fan from upstate NY I have only seen one Blackhawk game in Chicago and Kopitar scored the game winner so I'd love to see him in a Hawks jersey.
Tommy Barr (Posted 2008-07-16 17:23:24)
Fidrat Dude that is the most idiotic trade suggestion I have ever heard. Why in the hell would they trade Kopitar for him when they could get him for say a 2 or 3rd round pick? Chicago wants to dump his salary anyways.
jan (Posted 2008-07-16 17:13:48)
I wish Gary Bettman would ride off into the sunset. I wish someone would find a commissioner who has some respect for the game and make some tough decisions to keep hockey the great game that it is. I wish my favorite team would win the Stanley Cup.
Fidrat Dude (Posted 2008-07-16 12:19:53)
To Jason B, there are rumors of Kopitar for Khabibulin. Still interested at that price?
JW Cole (Posted 2008-07-16 12:09:19)
Florida and possibly Tampa Bay with suspect defence and led by Melrose (a terrible coach) stand to be in position to lead draft lottery next season. I would include leafs except for the fact Wilson is an exceptional coach who will get the Leafs to compete at the very least.
Maxime (Posted 2008-07-16 09:48:32)
Ok just one more...because it's fun :"Not sure which team at the moment is best positioned for the 2009 draft lottery, the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders or Atlanta Thrashers"...You forgot the Leafs Ken!
Jason B (Posted 2008-07-16 01:06:18)
The Kings have always needed a goaltender and Chicago seems to be slowly pushing Khabibulin out the door. His contract is good for another year at 6.75 million and he is still a very tried and tested goaltender. Chicago may be happy to free up that kind of space and make room for the overwhelming number of good goaltending prospects in their system as well as free up space to finally push themselves into the playoffs come the trade deadline.
I also think Chicago would be willing to trade for either a strong prospect, a first round pick, or a better than average prospect and a second round pick
KDB (Posted 2008-07-15 22:57:57)
Y'all realize that the season starts in October, right? Plenty of time get their spending sorted...
Phillip (Posted 2008-07-15 22:12:06)
Kings should Hire Nolan as coach and go after a solid d-man. I'm sure the kings will also bring up big man Brian Boyle. I bet the will have a pretty good season. You cant get much worse...
Ken (Posted 2008-07-15 21:50:22)
I would like to see the Kings offer Calder to the Ducks For Schneider, Kings can take on the additional 3 million in payroll & the Ducks need to save money & ad some Offense, Calder might score 15-20 with some quality ice time & Schneider is coming off a great year with the Ducks!,
Then, they can trade him at the deadline for some draft picks.
Don (Posted 2008-07-15 19:48:32)
The Kings can meet the salary floor without bringing in any other players. As was mentioned, they currently have ~27.75 million with 14 signed players. NHLNumbers doesn't calculate Ted Purcell into the Kings lineup yet, but he's expected to make it while carrying a 1.35 mil cap hit. For the moment, let's just leave him out.
Of their RFAs, Jarret Stoll will be making at least his qualifying offer of 2.2 million. Lower rung guys like Brad Richardson, Matt Moulson, and Peter Harrold will likely get something close to the QO's, roughly another 1.7 million.
All signs point to the Kings signing Patrick O'Sullivan to a multiyear deal. The length of the deal will be a variable, but it wouldn't surprise me if he landed something close to what Zach Parise got last season. Just for simplicity's sake, call that 3 million (I'd bet on it being higher).
A large chunk of cap space could come in the form of Drew Doughty. While I'm not a huge proponent of throwing in an 18 year old defenseman to the wolves on a bad NHL team, Doughty might not have much more to prove in the OHL. If he sticks for an entire season, his cap hit should be something close to what Jonathan Toews (2.8 million) or Kyle Turris (2.7) count for their respective clubs.
So between O'Sullivan/Stoll/Moulson/Harrold/Doughty, there's would be an estimated (conservative) 10 million added to the cap. That still leaves one spot on defense and a backup goaltender to fill the remaining ~3 million. Shave off at least a half million of that if Purcell makes the team. Shave another 800K if Thomas Hickey makes the team over Harrold.
Even if the Kings choose to retain a cheap backup like Erik Ersberg, they can make the cap floor by signing a 1 year, 2+ million contract to a veteran defenseman. LA approached Mattias Norstrom about this very possibility but were rebuffed.
So it's not like the Kings HAVE to go out on a ridiculous shopping spree (unless Doughty gets sent back to Guelph).
wupmasta2000 (Posted 2008-07-15 19:33:02)
Last season the Kings were terrible, yet at the cap ceiling.
This year, they are most likely going to be terrible again, but at least they will be near the cap floor. This is a good thing for Kings fans.
Also, let's no fool ourselves, there is NO WAY the league will allow the Kings to forfeit a game this season. The cap floor will be met, it just won't happen as quickly as some people would like.
Finally, I don't see a problem w/ the Kings going after some of these high priced cap players, but other teams shouldn't fool themselves, those players are going to be coming to the Kings along with some high draft picks.
mike (Posted 2008-07-15 19:31:30)
if a team is under the cap floor when the season starts, they are forced to forfeit games until they are at the minimum. I believe the same applies if a team is over the cap during the season
James (Posted 2008-07-15 19:28:17)
Ditto what Gerald said...and for GOD's SAKE people...learn the difference between there/their/they're!!!
Gerald (Posted 2008-07-15 19:16:33)
Give me a break Campbell...you and every one else at THN keeps frothing at the mouth over LA's cap space and prospects but has it ever occured to you that the Kings are the Clippers of the NHL? The Kings have been terrible to average almost my entire life with the exception of a few decent years when Gretzky played there. The team makes money but it isn't Montreal or Detroit where winning is all that matters.
Gordon (Posted 2008-07-15 18:51:35)
"The penalty for not meeting the floor is you forfeit every game that you play until you reach the floor. " - is that not what the kings want?
How many teams are obviously trying to tank to get a chance at Tavares?
bostongm (Posted 2008-07-15 18:50:01)
Glen Murray to the Kings for a bag of pucks. We need to dump salary. They need to add salary. His cap hit is 4.15 to boot and he's on the last year of his contract. Makes sense,doesnt it? I think so. We'll even throw in Peter Schaefer (2.1).
steve (Posted 2008-07-15 18:31:37)
The Kings could take Rolie off the Oilers hands for a 3.6 million cap hit, and pay him 3 million. He could groom they're young goalies, and maybe throw the Oil a second or third round pick.
John Rice (Posted 2008-07-15 18:12:35)
I agree with Liam, taking McCabe would benefit both the Kings and the Leafs. With a cap hit 5.75 million, but only having to pay a salary of 4.1 million after his signing bonus is paid by Toronto this summer, McCabe is a good option. He's really not as useless a defenseman as his reputation in Toronto suggests, he's worth 4 million a season. Unfortunately I doubt McCabe would be willing to waive his no movement in order to go to Los Angeles despite less media attention and more talent on the team. Cliff really needs to play hardball and make him a healthy scratch all year till he agrees to be traded.
jack bauer (Posted 2008-07-15 17:20:56)
tmp32-terry murray kings head coach
tmp32 (Posted 2008-07-15 16:43:03)
the ineptness of the kings, my favorite team, just never ceases to amaze me. they are glaringly under both the salaray cap......AND THE FLOOR!! with all the decent free agent talent now gone, and the remaining talent not worthy of what we have left to spend, what is the thought. lombardi says that he is saving room for kopitar's eventual needs, and he says that he has to sign his restricted free agents, but even those guys are still unproven kids who they think are going to be something one day. My team is owned by an absentee owner who is merely looking for a tax write-off, and run by his flunky (lieweike) who is nothing more than a talking head. couple that with a gm who is still shopping the bargain basement for a coach (please call ted nolan!!!) and you have another lottery pick coming up.
Liam (Posted 2008-07-15 16:11:37)
The kings should make a play for McCabe, he would raise they're cap a significant amount, LA would be adding experience to there relatively inexperienced defense corps, and McCabe may even be able to go through a rejuvenation playing in a hockey market that isn't so under the microscope.
Dave (Posted 2008-07-15 15:45:13)
The penalty for not meeting the floor is you forfeit every game that you play until you reach the floor.
Phil Randall (Posted 2008-07-15 15:38:44)
What is left for the Kings to sign? Tampa has signed like 20 forwards. What is the penalty for not being at the cap floor? As for Backes and Bernier, I think both teams can take the players to arbitration and I don't think any player negociatioins with those player references will hold water with any GM.
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