Quoting: irgids
Jack Eichel is who the team hopes QB becomes one day, and we'll be lucky if he hits that ceiling. He is exactly the Sabre that we're looking for.
Let me be clear, I DON'T THINK WE COULD PULL IT OFF, but to go Eichel-Kopitar-QB down the middle is elite. Even if it means giving up Kupari,Kempe,Turcotte+Pick++, that's instant relevance.
Reinhart 7for6 is worse than the Lucic contract we luckily avoided. Way too much to pay, especially when the team clearly needs to add at the defensive end (Matta failed experiment), instead of the front (all the prospect depth in the world).
Fair points, and an understandable point of view even if I don't agree. The Kings center depth is already set to be elite with QB, Vilardi, Turcotte, and Kopitar. Yes, QB may or may not hit the same talent level that Eichal has hit in the past (before injuries, which caused a lost season). But trading for him with the pieces that you're talking about is getting rid of the support those three need on their wings or throughout the rest of the lineup.
I don't think Reinhart and Lucic can even be mentioned in the same conversation, unless you're talking about how their games are opposite. Lucic's contract that we avoided was a boat anchor because the style of game the NHL was trending to was passing him by. Reinhart has proven to be a consistent 20+ goal scorer that is directly in the age-range the Kings organization has stated they are looking to fill (25-27 years old to bridge the gap between the star vets and the up-and-coming prospects). On top of that, Reinhart would be significantly cheaper than Eichel, both now and in the long run.
As far as the defense vs forward spots, I agree there's a hole to be filled at 3LD. Maatta failed at 1LD and has become an okay-ish placeholder for that bottom pair. But I'm really liking what I see out of Toby and Mikey. It depends on what happens with the draft lottery this year, as I think the Kings would love to be able to get one of Power/Hughes/Edvinsson.