WD-40 managed to lose the locker room in a new Olympic and World record time. Practices were disorganized and game performances mirrored those efforts; when the players performed poorly, they were told they were playing well and there were no consequences for sub-par efforts, no benching or visits to the press box. Despite his low-key personality, Desjardins managed to either lose the respect of or alienate the leadership group (not that the group is absolved of blame), so through addition by subtraction alone, the organization will be better suited to compete next season.

As for coaching possibilities, you’ve heard the names before, all from the Mike Babcock coaching tree, his current assistant D.J. Smith (who will be moving on after this season), Marlies bench boss Sheldon Keefe (my early favorite but reportedly closing in on an extension with Toronto) and the choice that is the most logical, Todd McLellan, which I reported earlier this month.

McLellan was set up to lose in Edmonton, collateral damage from the Peter Chiarelli era/error and McLellan’s long tenure in San Jose goes all the way back to Blake’s playing days, a time that still resonates with the Kings GM. While there is chatter about current assistant Marco Sturm being elevated, given that the selection of this coach likely determines Blake’s legacy as a General Manager, I can’t envision the last bullet in his chamber being a first-time coach with one-year of NHL experience with the 30th place team. The organization does see potential in Sturm, so at worst he could be warehoused with the Kings AHL Ontario alongside affiliate alongside Mike Stothers if the incumbent wants to bring in an entirely new staff.

Clearly Blake’s best shot at success as an NHL executive simply can’t be a coaching tree of Stevens-Desjardins-Sturm. It’s hard to envision Joel Quenneville jumping on the train at this stop (as an aside, I personally like the exacta of Steve Yzerman-Q in an attempt to bring the glory days back to Detroit) and I don’t see Alain Vigneault, while certainly qualified, being the best fit for the Kings given the impending shift of the roster.

As poor a choice as Desjardins was, he had co-conspirators on a squad that stands to accumulate less than 70 standing points. Assuming the continuing influx of youth to the roster, the leadership group must do a far better job next season. One leader in particular has to reestablish himself as an elite player and establish himself as a mature role model for next season.

If you choose to use the warts of this lost season to explain Drew Doughty’s performance, it’s your prerogative, but the reality is that his performance hasn’t been worthy of his $7 million check much less the $12 million (and $11 million cap hit) he will earn when his eight-year extension kicks in July 1. If you want to ignore a -30 rating (a neighborhood he should never visit) and his lack of offensive production as an anomaly, that’s fine, but if you watched him closely, he hasn’t been the difference maker of past seasons and has not made the players around him better – there have been too many nights where “pedestrian” describes his play.

Maybe his performance lost its edge when night-after-night the games were meaningless, but when the net pay of a $10 million signing bonus hits his bank account this summer, he must be their best player next season.

Yes, Anze Kopitar wears the ‘C’ and has suffered through a sub-par season as well, but it’s Doughty who is the most visible member of the organization and as he turns 30 years old next season, he can no longer be the precocious dude in the room.

While his on-ice legacy is cemented through his accomplishments, there is another level he can achieve. His career now must evolve into one where he mentors and develops the fledging blueline talent the organization has and will obtain. When Doughty signed his deal, he proclaimed he wanted to stay in Los Angeles and win more championships. With his ability to obtain additional rings impaired as the organization undergoes a transition, he stated to me during All-Star Weekend that he was ready for whatever was next, and he must hold to that promise. I am not suggesting that he extinguish his competitive fire, those flames still need to be stoked, but he must find a way to add some ice to his personality mix to become a steadying influence on the next generation of Kings.

Assuming Blake selects a coach who will command the room again and motivate a group that defines the word “disengaged,” the heavy lifting of the roster recreation is Job 1A and where the months-long debate about “Lose for Hughes” is housed. Though Blake got a solid return (and you never really know about the success of a trade until a couple of seasons removed) for Jake Muzzin, Los Angeles’ core still closely resembles the one that skated off the ice after the Game 4 loss to Vegas last April. There were significant conversations leading up to the trade deadline, but Toffoli, Carter, Alec Martinez and Jonathan Quick were still in L.A. on the morning of February 27. All except Toffoli are over 30 years of age and that is a key as to the strategy which management will deploy in the coming weeks.

If you ask the players privately about their chances for a bounce back season for 2019-20, they will tell you they are no worse than the Arizonas, Minnesotas and the Colorados of the Western Conference. With a couple of key changes and additions, while they might not be able to contend with the top of the conference, they can be in the thick of things for a post-season berth.

That prevailing thought from inside the room begs the question: What will be the level of participation in free agent frenzy for the Kings come July 1? There are legitimate impactful options in a shallow UFA pool when it comes to quality.

They could go all-in and make a big money play for the man at who will be at the top of the UFA board, current Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin.

Assuming Carter is not on the roster (more on him in a few), they could look at the Islanders’ Brock Nelson as a solid 2C should he not re-up in Brooklyn/Nassau County.

They could shore up the right side of their blueline by going after Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tyler Myers if his disdain for Manitoba winters has him looking for warmer pastures.

Though any of these additions would improve the roster, the answer of how deep the dive in the UFA pool is brief:

No Bread. No Brock. No Blueline.

Soon after the Kings putrid start, management made the decision to move towards a significant rebuild that will have this team in non-contender status for at least next season. The process will occur even if the four ping pong balls fall in their favor on April 9 to give them the No.1 overall pick. There will be no big free-agent plays or trades bringing in established star talent. Meetings with internal staff and a select group of season ticket holders as recent as this past Sunday have revealed the short-term vision. Before we present the plan, one thing is certain: for those who may question his ability as an NHL General Manager, it’s my understanding that Blake has the full confidence of team president Luc Robitaille to transition this team.

As for specifics, the talking points clearly define what is in store next:

The organization is transparent about the poor quality of the on-ice product, admitting fans were subjected to “boring hockey” this season. That admission supports holding the line on season ticket prices for next season (full transparency – we hold a pair of season tickets).

To no one’s surprise, the aging of this roster will be addressed and the move to a much younger roster (age target 24-25) is the goal for next season. Any player acquisitions will come in at or below the age target.

Towards the goal of achieving a young roster, one buyout of a veteran (to be determined) is expected to be executed this off-season, if a trade is unavailable.

The return to contender status will take multiple seasons to achieve and simply making the playoffs to get eliminated in the early rounds is not the path, it’s Stanley Cup or nothing.

The current core talent on the roster, while not necessarily in full decline, is not suited to win in today’s NHL.

Gabe Vilardi is still a big key to the future of the organization and they are doing everything possible to get him on the ice for next season.

The organization is very high on last year’s first-round pick Rasmus Kupari.

By virtue of their No Move Clauses, Doughty and Kopitar are truly the only two untouchable players.

The movement to a more balanced team, not one that just relies on goaltending and defense, must be achieved.

While they claim not to have been in “Lose-For-Hughes” mode, they REALLY like Jack Hughes.

That’s a lot to digest Kings fans, but there is your roadmap to 2021 and beyond. My random thoughts follow:

On the prospects of a buyout, the two targets are Carter and Phaneuf. Phaneuf has the shorter remaining term of the two (two years vs. three), but with his NMC protection, he cannot be waived. If the Kings were to execute a buyout, the cap hit effect would be below, courtesy of our friends from Cap Friendly (ouch on that second year).