2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 1 Series Discussion: #4 Blues vs. #5 Kings

[etherialone]

I am still laughing at the Blues fans who are coming to the Kings board running all of the "Elliot is gonna blah blah blah" stuff.

Blues fans, you can see why we simply aren't afraid of Elliot, can't you? I mean we don't have to go to last year to talk about how inconsistent that Elliot can be, do we? Because since he has come back this season for you guys (lets forget the first half of the season if you want) he has had a few stinkers.

He isn't anything special. He is a good goalie who is capable of playing good in net but he isn't anything more than that.

Also, yes you added Leopold and Jaybo since the last time we gave you a good thrashing and they have no doubt added to your depth but not enough to where we have to worry about it.

In the end the only way that the Blues can get past the Kings in this years playoffs is if we beat ourselves, that is very possible but it won't have much to do with you or your team depth.

But hey, dropping by to tell us how great Elliot is or how another one of your forwards are going shut us down or outscore our entire team like last year is always appreciated. Everyone needs a good laugh now and then.

IF you guys play perfectly then yes, we are beatable but like I said, you will have to play perfectly and we will have to play poorly. Don't kid yourself in to thinking that you have a superior team, that just isn't the case.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Lol. That was so dumb. You don't see that very often above juniors, especially when the team is losing, which, IIRC, St. Louis was down like 5-1 or something when he did that, weren't they?

Nope.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I really hope we see a brawl in one of these games. That will settle everything.

Also, why have the kings not played bernier? He seems to be playing well when he does play. Is quick that good? From an outsider, I think its time for the kings to trade quick.

Bernier has been average the last couple of starts....and Quick has stepped up his play big time in the last 5-6.

Regarding trading Quick, interesting concept...unfortunately I think Kings management might disagree with you seeing that they gave him a 10-year contract extension over the summer.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Also, why have the kings not played bernier? He seems to be playing well when he does play. Is quick that good? From an outsider, I think its time for the kings to trade quick.

I am glad that you aren't our GM

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

Yea, haha.

I meant to say trade bernier.

Don't trade quick

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Yea, haha.

I meant to say trade bernier.

Don't trade quick

That makes sense


Bernier is expected to be traded at the draft.

Quick had back surgery in the offseason and Bernier was kept around as an insurance policy.
In the offseason, Quick will be a year off the surgery and our goaltending prospect pool will be a year older

 

[TonySCV]

Yea, haha.

I meant to say trade bernier.

Don't trade quick

OK.. because until you edited your post I was...

Now I'm just...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Jaskin if we don't turtle, they will understand after game one. If we do turtle it might take two games.

We definetly have the advantage at depth. None of us even want to insert Oshie into the lineup and mess up our 4th line....

The Kings fans have no idea how good we are, we know what they are. We watched them destroy us last year. They added a shutdown defenseman.

Elliot is going to surprise some King fans of the quality he is if the team doesn't collapse against him. Let us not forget he had vertigo last playoff series and we only had Allen to backup and Hitch was afraid to throw an AHLer into the fray with just reasoning. This year Halak is backing him up if he doesn't pull a groin, and Allen now I would not worry about. So Elliot isn't going to be stressed like last year. Its perform or move over. Also to the guy that was stating Elliots stats last year weren't that impressive compared to Quicks, might want to go look them up. The Blues netminder had a pretty impressive season. Elliot, is a good goalie, I'm not concerned about him, and I believe after a game or two, neither will the Kings fans.

Here is what the Kings have. Experience, they are in our head a little. A Stanley cup ring clogging on of their ears. Top line talent. We have overall depth, they have star power on their top line. They like to stick a team in mud and slow them down. They like to pin them in their zone and grind. They play a lot like us.

We do have depth. We also have a better defense, our goaltending should not be an issue this year, its pretty even if not better. Who do the Kings put out if Quick happens to turtle? He's awesome no doubt, but anybody can have an off game and that's all it takes in a seven game series. Same with our tenders.

I'm not sure anybody realizes how close these teams are. This is going to be fun. I'm not sure anybody runs away with this one. I am sure whoever makes it to the second round is going to earn it. Unless of course one teams turtles, unlikely though. Very unlikely.

I am not trying to slam any Kings fans, I know this is your board. I just saw Jaskin getting flamed for obvious points to a Blues fan. I'm not sure you guys understand our team as well as you think. I'm not worried about playing you guys, I think its even. I think its more of a coin flip series. Whoever gets the breaks and wants it the most will be the victor in my opinion. I'm not saying we are going to steam roll you, and I'm not saying your going to us. I'm just saying, we are very different than some of you think. We pretty much know what you have and its good. You haven't played the good us in my opinion. I hope we bring it, it will be some sweeeeet hockey to watch.

Dunno why you're getting such a harsh reception other than this being our 'home turf,' but good post. Disagree on Elliot, and I don't think the depth is as stark a difference as people are making it, but this is a more than fair breakdown of things. And I agree...this is going to be the best series of the first round!

Kings forward depth, I'd argue, is better than the Blues on lines 1-3 at least and line 4 is a push only because the Blues 4th has picked it up lately.

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

That makes sense. I'm sure a team will pay a nice price for Bernier.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

That makes sense. I'm sure a team will pay a nice price for Bernier.

We hope. But Luongo and Miller are going to lower his potential value.

It'll be interesting to see if someone like Martinez is packaged with Bernier

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

The price should be better than Lindbacks and Bobrovskys IMO.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

The price should be better than Lindbacks and Bobrovskys IMO.

I hope our GM jasks for more than either of those returned

 

[KingsFan7824]

The price should be better than Lindbacks and Bobrovskys IMO.

Goaltender is a funny position. They're invaluable to a team on the ice. They're so valuable, that if you're trading a goalie, there almost has to be something wrong. Whatever that is, will decrease that goalie's value. With Bernier, it's not really anything with him(other than his experience level), it's that he won't be a #1 for the Kings unless Quick is hurt.

I'd be surprised if Bernier brought back a 2013 1st round pick. Maybe a 2014 1st rounder, if he's traded this summer.

 

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

If I'm the GM of the Kings I'm asking for a 2013 1st.

Anyway, what will it take for Quick to be benched for Bernier in the playoffs, if anything?

 

[cyclones22]

We hope. But Luongo and Miller are going to lower his potential value.

It'll be interesting to see if someone like Martinez is packaged with Bernier

Miller, I would agree with. Luongo, not so much. His contract outweighs his value.

As far as the whole depth argument, it's overrated when you don't have legit top line talent. David Backes would be the Kings 3rd line center. The Kings top 2 lines, even with a revolving door at 2nd line LW wouldn't be traded for the Blues top line. Couple that with the fact that the Kings bottom 6 isn't exactly chopped liver, and I'm just not buying it. On defense, I'll agree with the Blues having more depth there because they're healthy. If Greene doesn't come back healthy, I will have serious concerns. Half of the Kings blue line would have been replaced due to injury. I'm actually quite shocked the defense is playing as well as they are. That all being said, the Blues can win if they outwork the Kings and Elliott stands on his head, which can absolutely happen in a short series. We'll see soon enough. I'm nervous regardless of who the Kings play, so I can't say this matchup makes me feel any different one way or the other.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Miller, I would agree with. Luongo, not so much. His contract outweighs his value.

Remember that salary can be retained in trades now

 

[KingKopitar11*]

I'm not worried for one reason and his name is Elliott.

 

[kingsfan]

I really like Blues fans, knowledgable, funny, and don't get too pissed when stuff like last year happens. Great fans that I wish get a taste of success at some point in the near future... Just not against the Kings.

100% agreed. They've suffered as much as we have (arguably moreso) until last season. Same number of years in the league, same number of cups, same general regular season success which is little, outside of a few decent regular seasons and the odd series win. If we had lost to them, they were who I was hoping would win the cup. St. Louis has more than paid their dues. I just refuse to support them against us

Also, why have the kings not played bernier? He seems to be playing well when he does play. Is quick that good?

Did you miss the playoffs last year, including the series against your team?

Yes, he is THAT good.

Nope.

Ahh, thanks for clarrifying that. I knew something was lopsided, and it was the series, not the score. Down 3-0 in a series, that looks really dumb, especially when your team isn't even winning the game either.

We hope. But Luongo and Miller are going to lower his potential value.

Even though they are goalies, it's like comparing apples and oranges. Luongo and Miller and older, more proven, veteran goalies with higher contracts and only teams who are expecting to be legit cup threats (or dillusional ones like Philadelphia) in the short-term would look at picking either of them up. Bernier is a younger, less proven, cheaper and long-term investment who will likely go to a team that is rebuilding (for example Florida, though I don't think he'll go there), an older team who may be considering a rebuild (New Jersey) or a young team that is starting to come into their own and looking for that piece in net to continue to grow with (NYI). Two totally different markets.

 

[ShattStar03]

What's Greener status for game1?
Ellerby scared the **** out of me in the RS, can't imagine what damages he'll be capable of doing in the playoffs...

I'd bench Ellerby and go with Martinez, I trust a playoff proven Martinez over Ellerby any day.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Ahh, thanks for clarrifying that. I knew something was lopsided, and it was the series, not the score. Down 3-0 in a series, that looks really dumb, especially when your team isn't even winning the game either.

The Blues had to do anything they could to extend their season at that point. He got caught up in the emotion of the moment.

 

[Arrhizal]

Going to a Rammstein concert tomorrow, gonna be all pumped up when I get home to watch the game at 2am. Can't wait.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'd bench Ellerby and go with Martinez, I trust a playoff proven Martinez over Ellerby any day.

This.

 

[BlueDream]

I apologize for some of our fans coming in here and giving you guys a breakdown of our team. Not sure why they feel the need to do that at all.

Regarding your defense, are you guys worried about Muzzin defensively mostly just due to his inexperience? The times I've seen him play I've been impressed by him for a young player, but I haven't seen him much down the stretch here.

 

[bobafettish*]

martinez hasn't played a game like in a month.

 

[YP44]

I apologize for some of our fans coming in here and giving you guys a breakdown of our team. Not sure why they feel the need to do that at all.

Regarding your defense, are you guys worried about Muzzin defensively mostly just due to his inexperience? The times I've seen him play I've been impressed by him for a young player, but I haven't seen him much down the stretch here.

There is only one way to get that experience. I think having him paired with Greene, Scuds, or RR help mitigate his lack of experience.
I am more concern abotu Greene not being 100% and not being abel to be a physical force.