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2015-16 AHL Ontario Reign - going back to Cali, Cali, Cali...

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Jason Lewis said:
There is something to him here. He is probably going to have a few more hits where people raise eyebrows at it and wonder if there was a dirty intent or something, but I'm pretty sure he just plays a really aggressive on the edge style game that the Kings don't want him to pull too far away from to be honest.
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Like Jason, I didn't expect much out of him to begin the season, but my opinion is slowly turning. It's absolutely meaningful that he's more trusted than Ebert, Leslie, Raine, and Lintuniemi. He's not a skilled player by any means, but his skills have been up to snuff in this league + he has an underrated shot. If he continues to progress, you might have an NHL-caliber player here.

triplcrown said:
Haven't seen Kris Newberry's name on a boxscore in a while.
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Per Reign Insider, Newbury is back tomorrow. He was hurt.

Also, I was at practice today and pulled some interesting quotes from Bissonnette re: John Scott + Clifford:

Reign Practice Quotes: Paul Bissonnette & Kyle Clifford Weigh In
 
Reign come down here to San Diego tonight -- it's the first game between the teams since MacDermid's elbow to the head ended Bailey's season on the San Diego ice back on 12/26... at least the first game where MacDermid hasn't himself been on suspension. He better have his head on a swivel tonight...
 
HansH said:
Reign come down here to San Diego tonight -- it's the first game between the teams since MacDermid's elbow to the head ended Bailey's season on the San Diego ice back on 12/26... at least the first game where MacDermid hasn't himself been on suspension. He better have his head on a swivel tonight...
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It could get ugly. Hopefully, there will be a fight between MacDermid and a Gull player as the hockey code goes, then the teams can have a good honest game. I'm sure the Kings don't want Clifford engaging in fist-a-cuffs just yet, but this is a game that potentially could get out of hand. I wouldn't be surprised if Gogol and/or Sabourin dressed for the Reign too.
 
Basilisk said:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0073962016.html


:handclap:


Somebody on that roster (who's leading his team in +/- and goals) is ready for a top 6 AHL promotion.


When the playoffs start, and the Kings recall Mersch and Forbort and whoever else, I fully expect Kitsyn to be brought into Ontario's lineup.


:popcorn:
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I would be very surprised if he dressed in the top 6 for the Reign. Since he was not-recalled earlier with previous roster vacancies, it is no sure bet that he would get the call later in the season. His numbers look good not doubt, but there is obviously something they don't like about his game for him not to make the roster previously. Highly unlikely the Kings re-sign him at this point at the end of the year.
 
I remember seeing MacDermid in a preseason game. He was the defenseman who stood out the most to me as being determined to make an impression. From my September post:

KURTIS MACDERMID – This guy is definitely trying to make an impression. He was very noticeable, both good and bad. Not afraid to hit and hit hard. Sometimes got off track antagonizing opposing players instead of moving the play forward. If there was a scrap, chances are MacDermid was involved in some way. Made a few good defensive plays too. Overall, a better game from him than I expected and I think he made a decent case for himself.
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I also looked up my notes on Zac Leslie:

ZAC LESLIE – The most polished of the defensemen. Not the highest ceiling, but he usually saw the play developing early and got in the right position to cover it. Gave up the first goal but it was a one-on-one (correction, two-on-one) with the Coyote coming with speed, so I don’t fault him for that. Good passes. Hard shot that created a couple of nice rebounds. Brodzinski scrambled to try to convert one of them. He was off-balance though and a couple of defenders tied him up and ended that good opportunity. There was a period of time in the 2nd period where it seemed like Leslie was out on the ice for every other shift. Stothers used him quite a bit. I would have liked to see more shut-down ability though. Solid overall but no standout strength.
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HansH said:
Reign come down here to San Diego tonight -- it's the first game between the teams since MacDermid's elbow to the head ended Bailey's season on the San Diego ice back on 12/26... at least the first game where MacDermid hasn't himself been on suspension. He better have his head on a swivel tonight...
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It will be an interesting game for MacDermid. MacDermid can take care of himself, will have some backup in Bissonnette and Clifford.
 
MacDermid already with his first fight with Bickel. Looks like Bickel came out with a bloody nose from the scrap. Clifford with some heavy hits, but took a penalty during a scrum in front of the Reign net.
 
Reign up 2-0. 2nd Reign goal was classic Dallas Eakins meme worthy defense. Jeff Schultz had time to come in and deke the goalie.
 
CTKingsFan said:
Reign win it 2-0!! And this happened...

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Sweet.

From the ReignInsider.com's Bus Texts with Stothers:

ORI: How’s Bissonnette, looked like he went down hard in third after Bickel hit?

Stothers: Biss is fine. He is at the back of the bus telling anyone who will listen how he went in and won the faceoff clean, in the second period. This will be one of the few times he voluntarily comes into my office to watch video, then he will want the clip sent to his dad.
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That Stothers quote is gold.

And nice to see the Reign start taking games from SD!

Sounds like MacDermid acquitted himself quite well.

And that was more backhand-to-forehand stickhandles from Schultz in a few seconds than he made his entire time as a King!
 
Raccoon Jesus said:
Sounds like MacDermid acquitted himself quite well.
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Eh, depends on your perspective. The fight with Bickel was mostly skating around trying to get grappling position -- MacDermid tagged him once, then Bickel tagged him back and had the takedown. My suspicion is that Bickel's bloody nose was from the helmet being scraped down it as MacDermid was trying to get it off.

And in terms of NOT supporting fan views of him as a dangerous player without regard for the safety of opponents... he did NOT acquit himself well. He boarded Zolniercyk dangerously in the third - I believe there was a good argument for a major on the play, though that's not what was called. From where I sat, that's not "playing on the line but not going over", that's just plain dirty.
 
HansH said:
Eh, depends on your perspective. The fight with Bickel was mostly skating around trying to get grappling position -- MacDermid tagged him once, then Bickel tagged him back and had the takedown. My suspicion is that Bickel's bloody nose was from the helmet being scraped down it as MacDermid was trying to get it off.

And in terms of NOT supporting fan views of him as a dangerous player without regard for the safety of opponents... he did NOT acquit himself well. He boarded Zolniercyk dangerously in the third - I believe there was a good argument for a major on the play, though that's not what was called. From where I sat, that's not "playing on the line but not going over", that's just plain dirty.
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This is probably going to be a running theme with MacDermid as long as he plays. Did he cross the line or skirt it?
 
HansH said:
Eh, depends on your perspective. The fight with Bickel was mostly skating around trying to get grappling position -- MacDermid tagged him once, then Bickel tagged him back and had the takedown. My suspicion is that Bickel's bloody nose was from the helmet being scraped down it as MacDermid was trying to get it off.

And in terms of NOT supporting fan views of him as a dangerous player without regard for the safety of opponents... he did NOT acquit himself well. He boarded Zolniercyk dangerously in the third - I believe there was a good argument for a major on the play, though that's not what was called. From where I sat, that's not "playing on the line but not going over", that's just plain dirty.
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It looked like Zolniercyk tried to sell that play by throwing himself to boards all violently ( i think the Reffs saw that was also).

On another note, Did not know how of a talker (almost pest like) Dowd is. Took a small punch from Zolniercyk in front of the net and Dowd kept on yakking away. He seem to that in other instances during the whole game. I liked his defensive game a lot and was pretty good at the draws.
 


“first and foremost, my job is to develop,” stothers said. “the kings have been real good with providing us with some talent, some good young players. They’re a little bit unique in their approach. There are some teams in the american hockey league that have heavy emphasis on winning. The kings are more about developing players that can step in and play for the kings and help them win championships.”
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“he’s done a remarkable job,” mcdonough said. “not only this year, but last year, with a bunch of kids. And nobody knew him and nobody knew his style. But he gets the guys to buy in. He commands that respect, and he makes the guys accountable. And that’s the main thing. Everybody in that room knows that he’ll go to bat for them. And they give him everything they can. That’s what a good coach does, he gets the best out of the players.”
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“players develop in a winning environment,” stothers said. “i think it’s a fine line. It’s a tough job. When i was interviewing for the job, (kings general manager) dean (lombardi) that was what he said: ‘you may be getting the toughest job in the organization.’ because you’ve got to be able to prepare players in a limited time frame to step up and play. And in a salary cap world, they’ve got to have these young guys ready to play. And when they say they want some by february, they want someone by february.
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ETA: For some reason, the HF doesn't like capital letters.
 
What's impressive is that almost all of us were disappointed when Mark Morris left because he did so well with Toffoli and Pearson and Vey. For Stothers to take over and propel the Monarchs to Calder Cup champions with a lesser talented team is more than what we could've asked for.
 
regulate said:
Men against boys tonight in the Reign 4-0 win. If the Reign roster is not decimated by call ups, they could make a run at back-to-back Calder Cups.
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That's certainly a hope, but this year's team is operating with less talent than last year's team. Add to that, the team will almost certainly be without Mersch in the playoffs.

 
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