Yep. I like it

If PLD goes anywhere he's probably signing there for 8 years

Friedman suggested on his 32 thoughts podcast this morning that PLD would sign his QO this summer to help the Kings through the "cap gymnastics" this year, then sign the long term extension after January 1.

Interesting observation : With that Winnipeg trade, it leaves Kupari as the only right handed forward(other than F@&emo who will be out of waivers)on the roster. Conversely, most of the forwards in Ontario from what I recall are right handed. I just found it interesting and felt the need to say it out loud. Lol

It's been a problem for a while, and one of the reasons why Vilardi being involved in trade rumors didn't make much sense. However, if Vilardi is playing hardball in contract negotiations as rumored, he's buying himself a one-way ticket to Winnipeg.

A lot of Kings fans are speculating that the Kings are floating the "Vilardi for PLD" rumor to scare Vilardi into signing a team friendly extension.

Your valuation is more reasonable than others I’ve seen but I still would rather LA keep Vilardi. Also I don’t see this trade as a foregone conclusion. If he sticks with 9 mil per season, I would pass. They should go for a bottom six power forward instead.

. I hadn’t heard this but it makes sense. I can’t remember the timeline exactly but I read a year or two ago that someone close to Vilardi said he wasn’t happy with how LA handled his back rehabilitation and that at the earliest notice he would leave the organization. It’s nearly impossible to verify this sort of information but if it’s true, then an actual trade involving him makes sense. TBH, not just the lefty/righty issue but I would much rather keep Gabe over trading for PLD personally. His hands are otherworldly and with his size and shot, plus his defensive metrics were outstanding last year or so I’m told. That’s the kind of young player I’d want. Not a guy who has and will leave his second organization in the near future

I would rather they keep him too, but if he wants his payday now, the Kings might not have that option.