Blake:

One being that the Kings are not just looking to add good players, but good players who fit the system and fit how the Kings want to play. That’s important. It also has to be pointed out what the Kings are up against in the Pacific Division. This is not a move that says the Kings are hopeful to be competitive in three-years time. This is a move that says the Kings are ready to be competitive now and being competitive now means beating teams like Edmonton and Vegas over seven games. Both of those squads have three, high-level centers down the middle. The Kings now believe they have that, with a pretty darn good 4C to boot.

“You’ve got to be deep, you see the top teams in the West and to be able to match them, you have to be deep throughout [the middle],” Blake added. “I would add Lizotte to that, we’ve asked him to play a little bit of a different role at times for us, but he provides a lot of energy. Those four centerman will be key for that lineup.”

Rarely does the opportunity to bolster your group with that skillset come around. A player who just turned 25, has three seasons of 60+ points and plays with physicality is not regularly available. Plus, Edmonton has size up the middle. Vegas has size up the middle. The Kings saw an area they wanted to improve upon and made the move.

“Size is important and size in the middle of the ice too,” Blake added. “That was one of the pieces that we hoped to add this summer.”


Ez mondjuk látható volt, hogy fizikálisan gyengék voltunk, ehhez hasonlóan komoly centerhármasunk a Kopitar-Richards-Stoll trió volt.. az akkor be is jött.


Mondjuk Vilardit akkor is nagyon sajnálom. Tavaly nagyot ment, és benne van, hogy még jobb lesz.
Iafallo kedves a szívünknek, undrafted, aztán 1st LW-ig vitte.. bár inkább muszájból. nagyon jó middle 6, és jó karakter, de lehet nélküle élni.
Kupari.. hát ő eddig nem mutatott sokat.. lehet hogy Kempe lesz belőle, de meg tudunk lenni nélküle.

Kapus kell még... tartok tőle, hogy trade-re felkészül Arvidsson.