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Ahahahahaha, or: Possible Defensemen for the Kings

Darren Dreger's Twitter: Aug 1, Toronto will likely start pushing those who have made offers for Kaberle. The message: better the offer, or he stays a Maple Leaf.

Uh oh, guess everyone better give Brian Burke what he wants, he really means it!  "Hey, wanna buy this penny?  It costs a nickel."  "What?  Nah man, I'm go-" "You only have 30 seconds, this offer is going now!"  "Uh, OK."


I still don't understand why the Leafs are trying to trade Kaberle anyway.  They're trying to win, not rebuild, right?  Then why would you trade away your best defenseman?  Why don't they just re-sign him?  Seems simple enough.  It seems like they're trying to trade their best defenseman and get better this season.  What?

Anyway, that update both made me laugh and made me think: are the Kings going to add another defenseman?  Seems like we need to, since Johnson and Greene go together like a dumb defenseman and a dumb defenseman.  The Kings' biggest problem is that they need a defenseman who can A) play on the first penalty kill unit, B) play on the 2nd power play unit, and C) cover for Jack Johnson.  That kind of defenseman is simply not available, and even if he was it'd cost a ton.  The best addition the Kings could make would be if Jack Johnson got smarter on defense, but here are a few options that could potentially help:


Tomas Kaberle

#15 / Defenseman / Toronto Maple Leafs

6-1

200

Mar 02, 1978



Not gonna happen.  The Kings probably would have traded for him if they had nabbed Kovalchuk, but there's no real point in getting an aging defenseman on a 1-year deal if they're not going to seriously contend for the Cup.


Sheldon Souray

#44 / Edmonton Oilers

6-4

227

Jul 13, 1976



A 34-year old defenseman signed for 2 more years at a $5.4 million dollar cap hit?  Sign me the fuck up!  Oh, and he broke his wrist last season.  I'm sure that won't affect his shot at all.

Star-divide


Willie Mitchell

#8 / Defenseman / Vancouver Canucks

6-3

210

Apr 23, 1977



I love this guy.  He's big, he's tough, he's sound positionally... he's the closest thing you'll find to Mattias Norstrom.  The problem is he's coming off a nasty concussion because Evgeni Malkin is a dirty cheapshot artist but no one mentions it.  We Kings fans are a little wary of concussions since our patron saint still can't go a week without feeling woozy.  Still, Mitchell would be great alongside Johnson (assuming Johnson doesn't mind going back to the right side) and at the very least would give us a fantastic first penalty kill unit.  We'll see.


Kevin Bieksa

#3 / Defenseman / Vancouver Canucks

6-1

198

Jun 16, 1981



Kevin Bieksa is a moron.


Andy Sutton

#5 / Defenseman / Ottawa Senators

6-6

245

Mar 10, 1975



Andy Sutton's a big mother fucker.  He's also incredibly slow and takes a bunch of holding penalties.  He's good in the playoffs and he's good on the penalty kill.  He's OK.


Paul Mara

#22 / Defenseman / Montreal Canadiens

6-4

207

Sep 07, 1979



Paul Mara's a place holder for all those marginal defensemen that populate the league.  We'll call this the "Defenseman everyone hates" list.  Other people on this list include Andreas Lilja, Brian Pothier, Freddy Myer, etc.

 


Randy Jo-AHHHHHHHHHHH

#12 / Defenseman? / Los Angeles Kings

6-2

200

Jul 23, 1981



Most likely, the Kings are going to rely on a marginal defenseman, probably a former Shark or Flyer, and the kids.  Vyacheslav Voynov would seemingly have the leg up because he's right-handed and because he's "paid his dues," but Thomas Hickey and Jake Muzzin will get their shot as well.  I'm wary of how the Kings are going to do without Sean O'Donnell; say what you want about the ol' goat's speed, but he was a reliable defender and great on the penalty kill.  The Kings' defense is going to go through growing pains and they're going to rely even more heavily on Doughty and Johnson; I hope they're up for it.

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Comments

Display:

This shouldn’t be so amusing, because it’s painful. Is it possible to clone Matty? Because there’s nothing in the CBA that expressly says we can’t.

Kevin Bieksa is a moron.

Seems destined to be a Duck.

Go Kids Go.

In Dinglebarn We Trust

by Niesy on Jul 26, 2010 12:16 PM PDT reply actions  

Seems destined to be a Duck.

It seemed like it, but Sami Salo had other plans.

"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 26, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

From what I gather over at Nucks Misconduct, he might still be in play. But I meant it more in a “he can be a facepalm-inducing screwup” kind of way.

In Dinglebarn We Trust

by Niesy on Jul 26, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think Rob Blake is available.

I'm just saying: I'm pretty sure this means deaf people are devil worshipers.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Jul 26, 2010 12:44 PM PDT reply actions  

For Jr. Kings practices along with Nelson Emerson.

by pj48 on Jul 26, 2010 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

Sure, why not? I mean, he can’t be any worse than last time… fuck.

All of a sudden, Denis Gauthier seems like a good idea.

Denis Gauthier sucks at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 27, 2010 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions  

Think the Kings will do anything significant before Ilya’s grievance is resolved?

"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 26, 2010 12:52 PM PDT reply actions  

Think the Kings will do anything significant before Ilya’s grievance is resolved?

It’s not looking likely.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jul 26, 2010 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hey, hey, we might be fighting with some other Cali team over Andy Sutton!

I mean, wooooooooooooooo.

In Dinglebarn We Trust

by Niesy on Jul 26, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

murray seems to be lost with no more finns to sign…

"People act funny around strange men with sticks."
-John Marston-

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jul 26, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

Selanne is back?

"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda

by Evilducks on Jul 26, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

ive sent a letter to his house threatening to cut off his balls if he doesnt..hence i didnt include him

"People act funny around strange men with sticks."
-John Marston-

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jul 26, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

As a Sharks fan i really want Ian White, but Calgary might be able to resign him if Ales Kotalik goes to the KHL or if they make him play in the AHL for the next couple years. If Calgary can’t afford his arbitration price he’d become a UFA, and by UFA i mean a Shark. (hopefully).

Ian White has got some serious offensive talent and he’s only just starting to come into his own. He’s young and he’d come fairly cheap at 2.5 – 3 million. He’s like a poor mans Dan Boyle; he’s great with a puck, a good skater, can put up big minutes, and he’s solid defensively. (plus they’re both kinda small)

by Khaaz on Jul 26, 2010 1:51 PM PDT reply actions  

He’s young and he’d come fairly cheap at 2.5 – 3 million.

I’m sorry but if you’re going by the Niclas Wallin Pay Scale for Defensemen™ you’re going to have to pay him $5 million dollars.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jul 26, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Price goes up once he becomes a UFA. Cheap is relative to RFA status.

"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda

by Evilducks on Jul 26, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hmm true, dunno why i didn’t think about that. Although i doubt his price wouldn’t go up that much. He’d still be much cheaper than Kaberle, and we wouldn’t have to lose any assets to get him.

by Khaaz on Jul 26, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

You weren’t around July 1st? UFA defensemen are cheaper than Kovalchuk, and that’s about it.

"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 26, 2010 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

Johnson and Greene go together like a dumb defenseman and a dumb defenseman.

HAHAHA.

It could be worse, you could have Anahiem’s blue line. Also, if you have a need on defense, why are you only listing DEFENSMEN on your list and not forwards? Havent you been watching Murray?

by Mike in OC on Jul 26, 2010 3:29 PM PDT reply actions  

Give Kaberle a break

He’s made great strides in shaving his eyebrows. Used to be hairier than Yeti’s nut sac up there.

Bettman's Nightmare: Until Recently, the Biggest C**block in the NHL

http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/

by Bettman's Nightmare on Jul 26, 2010 5:10 PM PDT reply actions  

No joke

I went to my local bottle shop tonight and noticed that they had started selling Kokanee Beer for the first time.

This could be a very wel thought out ploy by Dean Lombardi & the SoCal Beer Distributors to convince B.C. Natives Willie Mitchell and Paul Kariya to sign with the Kings for next season…

The Spirit of MeatTrain'10!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jul 26, 2010 10:18 PM PDT reply actions  

I know a team named after that beer…they’re dirty sons of bitches.

In Dinglebarn We Trust

by Niesy on Jul 27, 2010 6:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

That shit’s delicious.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jul 27, 2010 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't want another fucking defenseman

Especially not one from Brian Burke, who’s still trying to get back at us for drafting Brayden Schenn last year…

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then these sunglasses are the curtains telling you to keep the fuck out!!!

by angelofdeath on Jul 26, 2010 11:43 PM PDT reply actions  

I’m sure Denis Gauthier’s still available…..

HAHAHA!!! Knowing Dean Lombardi, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Denis Gauthier sucks at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 27, 2010 12:09 AM PDT reply actions  

I think our best non-concussed option is Andy Sutton.

by Nut on Jul 27, 2010 3:48 AM PDT reply actions  

If you need help on the PK and someone to cover for Jack Johnson – Kaberle is not your man. Softer than a pack of marshmellows wrapped in a pillow. He’s great on the PP, and should’ve probably played Center.

Seems like Mitchell is probably your best option on that list.

BS

by MapleLeafMole on Jul 27, 2010 6:18 AM PDT reply actions  

Speaking of Kaberle, this article is a weird one.

In Dinglebarn We Trust

by Niesy on Jul 27, 2010 7:04 AM PDT reply actions  

How about...

…Shaone Morrisonn? He’s a pretty decent defenseman. He’s 26, he made 1.975 million last year and could probably be signed for one year at 1.3-1.5 million. He’s probably better than Sutton, Mara or Jones.

You’ll have a blast trying to spell his name (pronounced Shayne Morrison).

Shaonne Morrison?
Shane morrisson?
Shania Morrisson?
Shania Twain?

Ingmar Bergman Shoots And Scores @ http://bergmanscores.blogspot.com

by ingmarWbergman on Jul 27, 2010 1:01 PM PDT reply actions  

I still don’t understand why the Leafs are trying to trade Kaberle anyway. They’re trying to win, not rebuild, right? Then why would you trade away your best defenseman? Why don’t they just re-sign him? Seems simple enough. It seems like they’re trying to trade their best defenseman and get better this season. What?

Its good to read this, because it continues to confirm my suspicions that Kaberle is valued more outside of Toronto. Anyway, he isn’t being actively shopped. The deal is a top six forward or Kaberle stays a Leaf. He’s our best OFFENSIVE D, but he’s not our best D overall. It would take a while for me to explain why we are trading Kaberle, but lets just say that while he may be wrong for the Kings, don’t be surprised if you see him on the Sharks (maybe for Clowe or Seto), Stars (NEAL!! but probably Ribeiro) or even Ducks (for NOT Ryan) next year.

by samspade on Jul 27, 2010 3:06 PM PDT reply actions  

How about Francois Beauchemin

2nd line PP; 1st line PK (at least on the leafs, which may not be saying much); averaged more TOI in the playoffs than Neidermeyer or Blake when Anaheim won their cup. He seems to fit perfectly and Toronto has an excess of D-men. (This coming from a Leafs fan.)

by princedpw on Jul 27, 2010 8:53 PM PDT reply actions  

averaged more TOI in the playoffs than Neidermeyer or Blake when Anaheim won their cup

Yeah, for some reason Randy Carlyle really hesitated to play Rob Blake during that cup run. Probably because he was on a different team. :)

"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 27, 2010 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

yeah… I didn’t understand that post either…

by Mudhippy on Jul 28, 2010 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

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As you all know The Ducks blue line is suffering pretty badly.  Wiz being banished to the Islanders really doesn't help much.  What I'm about to suggest is crazy, probably not legal, and absolutely absurd.  But desperate times call for desperate measures.   

That is a picture of my girlfriend's dog, Mia.  And the holder of that hockey stick is me.  Every once in awhile I'll practice stick handling in my kitchen with a small tennis ball.  The other day, this interested Mia and she sort of made a game out of it.  I try to stick handle around her and she trys to get the ball.  At first this was no challenge to me, but then the little bastard started getting really good.  So, here's my solution:  

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