LA Kings fans ignite debate over a franchise “what if”—should Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty have been traded during their prime to reshape the team’s future? Eddie Garcia breaks down passionate listener feedback on controversial trade scenarios, Drew Doughty’s contract outlook, and Kopitar’s upcoming jersey retirement and statue. Key discussion points include goalie uncertainty between Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg, potential blockbuster center trades targeting stars like Matthew Barzal and Elias Pettersson, and the next phase for top prospect Quinton Byfield. Is it time for Drew Doughty to accept a reduced role or a team-friendly deal? Plus, insights on rumored purple-and-gold jersey redesigns, Kelly Hrudey’s broadcast future, and fan-favorite hockey villains who still haunt Kings’ faithful. Don’t miss this dynamic fan-fueled episode charting the LA Kings’ uncertain road ahead.
00:00 Fan Trades & Team HistoryListener feedback on past and potential trades, Drew Doughty’s future, franchise decisions, and historical context for major moves.
14:01 Contract Debates & Broadcast ChangesDiscussion around Drew Doughty and Kempe contracts, role changes, Kings broadcast updates, and team legacy trivia.
25:23 Roster, Villains & HonorsListener perspectives on current roster strengths/weaknesses, NHL “villains,” Jonathan Quick and Kopitar honors, and ongoing community topics.
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IF DA KINGS DID NOT GET PERNAREN I WOULD OF TRADED DOUGHTY PERIOD BUT KOPI IF HE ASKED DS KINGS HE WANTED A CHANCE TO WIN I WOULD OF TRIED TO HELP HIM BUT THAT WAS NOT DA CASE. SO BY DA KINGS HOLDING ON TO THEM SPEAKS AND PROVES LOYALTY WHICH THEY HAVE BOTH DESERVED AND EARNED. IM HATING DOUGHTY CONTRACT RIGHT NOW AND IF HE DECIDES TO LEAVE AFTER THIS SEASON I BE PISSED. BUT IF HE CHOOSE TO STAY WITH DA KINGS AT A LOW VETERAN WAGE I SIGN HIM BUT IM NOT OVER PAYING HIM CUZ WE DID DA LAST TWO SEASON IF HE DARES ASK I WOULD HAVE WISHED WE TRADED HIM BUT DA KINGS KNOW THERE PLAYERS BETTER THEN ANY ORGANIZING AND I BELIVE THATS Y PERNAREN CAME TO US CUZ LOYALTY MEANS ALOT TO HIM. I STAND BY DA KINGS BUT IM NOT GONNA LIE IT WOULD OF BEEN NICE TO GET SOMETHING FOR THEM
You've never heard for teams selling off their best players to start a rebuild? The old adage is a rebuild hasn't started until you trade your best player.
Here are a few examples in sports:
Florida Marlins did an absolute fire sale in 1998, right after winning a World Series. They traded Moises Alou, Gary Sheffield, and Bobby Bonilla to slash payroll. The move led to getting Josh Beckett, who ended up being the MVP of the World Series they won 6 years later and the development of players like Miguel Cabrera.
Boston Celtics traded Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets' draft picks turned directly into superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, laying the exact foundation for Boston's dominant 2024 NBA Championship. Meanwhile, the stars Boston traded were on the 2nd half of their careers and the Nets collapsed.
Cowboys traded Herschel Walker and ended up drafting Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, and Russell Maryland. That led to a 3x Super Bowl dynasty.
It just makes sense for all parties involved to sell off your stars. The franchise gets to reload and reset itself. The star players don't waste the 2nd half of their careers on a rebuild with no chance to showcase their talent in the playoffs.
By 2016, it should've been crystal clear to everyone the window had closed on the Kings and they needed to do a full rebuild. BTW, being really bad for those few years could've only been beneficial when come to draft lottery odds and position in subsequent rounds. We were bad anyway. There really was no downside. We were going to be watching terrible hockey for half a decade regardless.
GM Keith – Hi Drew, Hi Anze. Have a seat. Just to let you know, I traded you to Calgary and Columbus. Thanks for your service to the LA Kings
Anze – uh, Keith, you can't trade us, we have "no trade clauses."
Drew – yea!
GM Keith – what does that mean?
Keith needs to return his "Rob Blake School of GMs" certificate……
The 1998 Padres were dismantled after making the World Series, and it's still considered the worst off-season for a team in MLB history. A closer example is the Philadelphia Flyers traded away their top two centers in the same season in two separate trades with the Kings. The Kings went on to win their first Stanley Cup while the Flyers got back some significant long term players. I wouldn't call that example a win for the Flyers either. In short, it has happened, but trading away your best players all at once has been done, but it's not something that has been proven to work out to my knowledge.
Go big Keith is the ultimate hockey fantasy fan.
He is disecting everything based on what we know right now and charting everything out based on what would've completely worked based on what we know right now…
Basically he is the ultimate "i told you so" fan.
This is a petition to block Keith from messaging ever again.
FTR, Brent Burns won the Norris in 2017.