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10 Tidbits from Kings GM Rob Blake's End of Season Media Availability
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There's a lot to unpack, so let's just dive right in.
Following a fairly quick exit from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs,
there have been a plethora of questions surrounding the LA Kings in
recent days. On Monday, General Manager Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille
(who was a late add to the festivities) met with an ensemble of media
in an attempt to offer context and insight on those topics, hoping to
provide at least some clarity and direction on where the organization
heads next.
Using our popular 10 Tidbits format, we'll provide the key takeaways,
with the full video available for those who want to consume all 30
minutes of the session.
**1\. Blake's opening statement:**
"I'll start with just a very difficult end to the season. A lot of
disappointment, a lot of frustration, a lot of anger. The
disappointment came in the form of special teams. I don't think we
performed at nearly the level we needed to to have success in the
playoffs. The frustration - just understanding the game plan that was
in place, but not executing. And I think the anger, at the end of the
day, just not a consistent enough style of play to have success. There
were a couple games during the playoffs where that [consistency]
occurred, but not consistent enough.
"That can be felt in our room, even today. Our process here today, we
start with meetings with the players, individually. They're going on
right now, but I get that sense from them too; which is a much
stronger sense than it was the past season.
"That being said, if we take a step back, the season as a whole - we
still believe this group has made progress in a lot of different
areas. We have to find a way to get that to translate into the
playoffs. That starts with these meetings right now and going forward
… We've started this process right now and we have to push this group
forward, and we got to keep going."
**2\. On critics who say the two of them shouldn't be running the team
any longer, after seven years without a playoff win:**
"I think we're making progress," said Blake. "The progress has not
shown in the playoffs and that's up to us to keep driving this home
with this group right now. We have to take that next step. Like I
said, [this was] a very difficult end to this season, based off of
where we projected this team to get to, and it's up to us. Whether
it's the style we play, the incorporation of some younger players, and
how we make those strides, we have to continue to keep going on that."
**3\. The Head Coach**
Jim Hiller guided the team to a 21-12-1 record after taking over at
the All-Star break. He is still under consideration to become the
team's official head coach moving forward, after wearing the interim
tag thus far. Blake said they're beginning the process of evaluating
what to do next behind the bench and there is interest in potentially
keeping Hiller on as the guy in charge. "The mandate with Jimmy when
he took over was get us in the playoffs," Blake said. "There was going
to be some change, but it wasn't dramatic or drastic enough. There are
some things he wants to implement in this team. We want to meet with
him and do that. We're confident in his presence and the passion that
he brings, confident in the message he gives, his communication skills
and all that … We'll meet with him and just go over exact changes that
he would feel would go into place before we get a decision."
**4\. Lineup Changes Coming Next Season:**
We previously projected up to seven players from the Kings 2023-24
playoff roster no returning next year. That's roughly 30% turnover.
Like every summer, part of the upcoming lineup changes will be for cap
reasons, part of it will be due to prospects being ready to graduate
from the AHL, and part of that will be for a desire to add some
outside talent to enhance certain positions.
All of that said, it is important to note that one of the reasons for
any lack of specific details available at the moment is because
rosters for next season aren't completed in May. They're worked on
through about mid-July. Thus, it's difficult to form a reaction to any
perceived strength or weakness surrounding the 2024-25 edition of the
Kings at this time. That would be better served for about two months
from now.
"There are some young players that will get into this lineup. We saw
some of them during the season and we fully anticipate them taking
that next step," Blake shared. "Systematic changes will be discussed
in different ways. If you look, we gave up the third least number of
goals against, so that pattern is good. You don't want to deviate too
far from that. On the offensive side, we have gotten better, but we're
still at league average. There are different ways to [improve] that,
whether it's off the rush, whether it's plays to the slot, chances
from the slot, etc. We have to increase [the offensive output]."
**5\. LA's Much Talked About System**
"I think we have to have a deep discussion on that, for sure," Blake
immediately remarked when asked if there was going to be consideration
for deviating away from the 1-3-1.
"What we have to be conscious of is a drastic change because the goals
against are [near] the tops of the league. That's a great standard
right there. But there are ways we can increase other things. That
will be a combination of systematic or style changes, even if it's
very moderate in that and just the influx of some different types of
players if there were minor tweaks since Jim took over."
There was even more surrounding this topic offered later with comments
like, "We have to have more. Whether that is a different type of
system, different type of style, infusion of some younger players, or
somebody from the outside. That's what we're looking at."
**6\. No Plans to Buy Out PL Dubois**
"We need to make him better," Blake explained when asked about the
Dubois situation. He's had a consistent performance over his career so
far and he deviated from that this year. It's up to us — as a staff of
coaches, management — to help him become more productive to us … We
have to do a better job with the coaches to incorporate him into the
game, but we need some buy-in with him to do that also."
**7\. Unrestricted Free Agents**
Not surprising, there were no real concrete answers provided today
regarding UFAs like Matt Roy, Viktor Arvidsson, Trevor Lewis. It all
comes down to cap money and projected roster, something we took a
quick look at here a few days ago.
There are also internal promotions that can help the club, as well.
"I think the easy one right now is just the infusion of some of the
young players," said Blake. "You saw these guys throughout the season,
but they're at that step where they can come in and help us. Whatever
other additions are needed after that, we'll have to take a look at
the roster and see where that direction is."
**8\. Who Is ~~On First~~ In Net?**
Goaltending continues to be an ongoing discussion for both the short
and medium term. "I thought our goaltenders gave us quality play this
year, for sure," noted Blake. "[They provided] an increased save
percentage, goals saved above expected, and everything. What we don't
have is a long-term solution going forward — other than, we have a
young player that we acquired [Erik Portillo] who has played very well
in Ontario, but it takes time for that position." Those comments again
indicated that we're expecting the timeline for Portillo to look
something like AHL next season, NHL backup the following year, and NHL
starter three seasons from now. Of course, he could certainly
accelerate that timeline with his play; although it's still a longshot
he's in the NHL to start LA's 2024-25 campaign.
Using their 2024 first-round draft pick (No. 21) is an option to
improve the goaltending via trade, but there is nothing burning on
that front. It may not be the preferred move either.
**9\. What's Next for Byfield?**
Byfield's next contract is high priority for the organization this
summer. It could be a short-term bridge deal, or it could be a long-
term extension. That will play itself out in the weeks and months
ahead. Ultimately, how that ends up has a huge impact on the team's
cap flexibility this summer for other roster improvements and/or to
re-sign any of their own UFAs.
"Quinton is a player who really took strides in the right direction
this year," Blake stated. "We still need him to increase that,
commanding a role up front and commanding a line, and different
things. That will be [some of the progress] this team will have."
He later talked about Byfield taking a more prominent role on the
team. "He has to be up to that challenge. I thought he took tremendous
strides this year, but we still need more."
And that more could come with his return to center next season. "He's
starting to show signs of being able to take a line on by himself.
He's starting to make that progress. We saw a big jump in him this
year with that."
**10\. Other Roster Notes**
Plenty of praise for Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, but it isn't as
simple as saying reduce Kopitar's minutes and let others take over.
"We have a number of players that need to step up. If you look just at
the playoff situation, I think Kempe was our only forward with
multiple goals. So yeah, there's a lot there."
Brandt Clarke, Alex Turcotte, and Akil Thomas were three players Blake
mentioned several times when discussing prospects who are ready to
join the team next season. "They've continued to push and make strides
and I think they can come in and help this team," said LA's GM.
He also provided some commentary on Clarke's ongoing development. "The
poise he plays with," Blake quickly offered when asked for areas where
the 21-year-old defenseman has improved this season. "The offensive
aspect of it, I think is something we can use. He's increased his
defensive play, for the most part, throughout the season. He's gone
down [to the AHL], where they've had a good start to the playoffs, and
[all three of] those guys are playing prominent roles."
It didn't go unnoticed that Blake also called out Sammy Helenius and
Andre Lee when talking about players in Ontario — "They're big guys
and they've played well. We were at the game there yesterday and, for
the most part, they play a real sound team game."
Good enough to be potential fourth-line guys next season? Hmmm.
**Bonus Tidbits & Full Video of the Session**
VIDEO
**RELATED CONTENT:**
> OPINION: Rob Blake Will Return as Kings GM Next Season
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