2015-2016 Roster Talk: Bottom Six has 0 goals in Infinity Games Edition

[damacles1156]

And outside of a few people in the media isn't getting Selke attention.

Patrice Bergeron is having a career year, Kopitar doesn't stand a chance.

 

[Bandit]

Patrice Bergeron is having a career year, Kopitar doesn't stand a chance.

LMAO. "Career year" and only 6 points behind Kopitar in the same number of games. Not that I'm disagreeing with you that Kopitar won't win, but it's hilarious.

 

[tsanuri]

LMAO. "Career year" and only 6 points behind Kopitar in the same number of games. Not that I'm disagreeing with you that Kopitar won't win, but it's hilarious.

That's one of those but East Coast. It ranks right up there with but points for D men.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Bergeron is also benefiting from big fish in a small pond syndrome so his relative stats are ridiculously high.

He's a great player in his own right and may well deserve it when all is said and done but I'm sick of good players on questionable teams getting major accolades because of relative advanced stats

 

[tsanuri]

They aren't a bad team but agree on the relative stats. How crazy would any of our guys numbers have to be in order to produce those numbers because they work as a team.
I know novel concept.

 

[Fishhead]

Right now, I think Dowd and Mersch would do this team wonders playing over any two of AA/Clifford/Shore.

Fully healthy, I'd like to see:

Gaborik-Kopitar-***
Toffoli-Carter-***
King-VL- ***

***= one of Brown/Pearson/Lucic depending on Sutter's mood.

Roll a 4th of

Lewis-Dowd-Mersch/Shore(Dowd moves to wing)

I get the whole experience thing, knowing how to win, blah blah blah. But that 4th line is not going to be any worse than the current Clifford-Shore-AA one in the 7-odd minutes they are going to be playing. Sutter has been waiting all season for his bottom liners to force him into playing them. Dowd has at the least earned another game, hopefully DS gives him another and see if he plays like "this is my ****ing spot".

All season, Clifford, Shore, AA, and Nolan have shown flashes of brilliance only to end up dragging down the offense the remaining 99% of the time. I love what Clifford has brought to the team, and he was really breaking out in 12-13, but concussions/injuries have completely derailed him. AA reminds me of the kid who can't sit still and focus in class. Nolan, when he's on, is the best of the 4. Problem is he's only on once a month. Shore needs to play more confident, hopefully next season he gains some of that. The other 3 I could completely move on from.

 

[Reclamation Project]

LMAO. "Career year" and only 6 points behind Kopitar in the same number of games. Not that I'm disagreeing with you that Kopitar won't win, but it's hilarious.

Ditto, no player has been playing like Kopitar has recently. He's dominating everywhere. He's over a point per game in March (which has been a brutal month) against the top teams in the league.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Brown has to go.

Kopitar, Gaborik, Carter, Pearson and TT are the future of the forward group, either by contract or age. If we sign Lucic, he is part of that as well.

King could depart after his contract is up, but the Kings like him. Shore and Andreoff are spare parts at this point. Clifford has a big contract for what he brings, Nolan is cheaper but more inconsistent. Lewis is a UFA. Versteeg is a UFA.

Mersch and Dowd could take some spots next year.

What happens when Greene comes back? Kings won't re-sign Schenn AND keep Greene.

Below is the roster next year of all players under contract. No room on D for Schenn unless you deal someone. Forbort will have to clear waivers.

Kings typically always carry 2 spare forwards and 1 spare D. I don't see Mersch being a healthy scratch so Kings almost have to deal Brown, King, or Clifford to make room for him. Dowd and Andreoff could interchange because they are older role players - Andreoff can play all forward positions. Mersch, Clifford and King are all LW's, so Kings won't scratch King or Clifford in favor of Mersch and why put him in Nolan's spot at 4th line RW. Andreoff or Nolan will fight for that spot. Maybe Kings deal Clifford and then it's Mersch-Andreoff/Dowd-Nolan?

Gaborik-Kopitar-???
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Shore-Brown
Clifford-Dowd-Nolan
Andreoff, Mersch (won't sit)

Doughty-Scuderi
Muzzin-Martinez
Greene-McNabb
Forbort

 

[Omni Owl]

I expect Kempe and Gravel to be on the team next year, either out of camp or as call ups, probably Forbort too. Dowd will most likely be on the team as well if he keeps playing like he did last night.

 

[cyclones22]

LMAO. "Career year" and only 6 points behind Kopitar in the same number of games. Not that I'm disagreeing with you that Kopitar won't win, but it's hilarious.

Kopitar was the best in 2014, but Bergeron got the nod because the Selke voters decided to reward him for scoring 30 goals. A touch of current Norris voting. Then Kopitar proceeded to dominate in the playoffs. I like Bergeron a lot, but he is nowhere near as good as Kopitar offensively and Kopitar is a better playoff performer as well. Bergeron is unmatched at face-offs though.

 

[Trolfoli]

You don't think Greene and Schenn will both be on the team? Schenn is about the best patch the Kings have at the second pair RHD. He can slide down to 3rd pair when Greene moves on and the Kings find a better fit. Schenn plays Lombardi hockey.

Of course then you have to figure out how to balance the cap.

 

[Scottkmlps]

Patrice Bergeron is having a career year, Kopitar doesn't stand a chance.

I disagree. I think Kopi takes it this year.

 

[LAKings88]

I expect LA to make some deals at the draft to recoup some picks.

 

[tsanuri]

I disagree. I think Kopi takes it this year.

He's fighting an uphill battle.
There has only been 1 winner in the pac time zone. And that player had the benefit of playing in Canada.

 

[BigKing]

Clifford will stay in the lineup probably. He's been playing better as of late anyways.

Sutter is not going to roll into the playoffs without one of Clifford/Nolan on the 4th line. With Nolan out, Clifford will be in.

 

[Herby]

Clifford will stay in the lineup probably. He's been playing better as of late anyways.

Well there was no way to go but up for Clifford, he has been abysmal most of the season.

Although I agree, Sutter is always going to have one of Nolan/Clifford in the lineup, if they weren't taken out with how awful they played this season they are never going to be taken out.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

I expect Kempe and Gravel to be on the team next year, either out of camp or as call ups, probably Forbort too. Dowd will most likely be on the team as well if he keeps playing like he did last night.

I don't see Kempe starting with the Kings. Barring some huge improvement over the summer, he'll be in Ontario. Either Gravel or Forbort will be a King, not both. I wouldn't be surprised to see Forbort traded, which may give him more opportunity. I think the org is high on Gravel.

I expect LA to make some deals at the draft to recoup some picks.

I agree. Also a goalie free agent signing. Maybe we'll get lucky and get another Martin Jones.

 

[YP44]

I don't see Kempe starting with the Kings. Barring some huge improvement over the summer, he'll be in Ontario. Either Gravel or Forbort will be a King, not both. I wouldn't be surprised to see Forbort traded, which may give him more opportunity. I think the org is high on Gravel.



I agree. Also a goalie free agent signing. Maybe we'll get lucky and get another Martin Jones.

it will be AHL level talent. Out of college or non-drafted player something like that

 

[The Pale King]

He's fighting an uphill battle.
There has only been 1 winner in the pac time zone. And that player had the benefit of playing in Canada.

That was a bizarre selection too. Most Nucks fans felt like it should have been Manny's that year if it went to a Canuck. It would be like giving Carter the Selke this year (okay, maybe not).

I've noticed more buzz around Kopitar this year on hockey shows up here. With all the Canadian teams out of it, people that are determined to watch hockey are looking elsewhere, maybe paying attention to the rest of the league a bit more than usual. Just a hunch.

 

[YP44]

Clifford will stay in the lineup probably. He's been playing better as of late anyways.

Sutter is not going to roll into the playoffs without one of Clifford/Nolan on the 4th line. With Nolan out, Clifford will be in.

i would have agreed before Schenn. I think Schenn can fight if needed. He is not as much of a fighter as Clifford or Nolan but really what is the true need for a fighter.

I am far from a Nolan fan but I thought he was playing some of his best hockey since Christmas. He was skating hard and surprisingly looked to be handling the puck with confidence.

Not a Nolan fan but there are worse players making more in the league...not sure how I took myself off on my own tangent,.

 

[damacles1156]

Setting yourself up for disappointment if you think Dowd is going to produce more than any other 4th liner.

Dowd/Shore/Clifford/Nolan/Andy....These guys are all fringe NHL 4th liners. Guys like Dwight King(production wise) are hard to come by for your bottom six.

Someone like Kempe or Mersch are guys you should expect to produce good in bottom six roles.

 

[BigKing]

i would have agreed before Schenn. I think Schenn can fight if needed. He is not as much of a fighter as Clifford or Nolan but really what is the true need for a fighter.

I am far from a Nolan fan but I thought he was playing some of his best hockey since Christmas. He was skating hard and surprisingly looked to be handling the puck with confidence.

Not a Nolan fan but there are worse players making more in the league...not sure how I took myself off on my own tangent,.

Hell, Dwight King is a better fighter than Clifford at this point so it isn't about fighting but rather having a guy that is going to go out and wear down the other teams defense when given the opportunity. Both title runs featured one of Clifford/Nolan playing every game it seems with both guys making big plays in Game 1 of the SCF (Nolan '12/Clifford'14).

I think Clifford has looked better because he's been playing with better line mates. I'm not a huge Versteeg fan but this team needs him and Pearson back in because you can't have all of Clifford/AA/Shore/Dowd out there at the same time. Clifford will always look better if he can get away from playing with a no-offense C and AA or Nolan on the other wing.

 

[Johnny Utah]

The sad thing is Andreoff has more goals than Clifford, Shore and Nolan. Not good.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Setting yourself up for disappointment if you think Dowd is going to produce more than any other 4th liner.

Dowd/Shore/Clifford/Nolan/Andy....These guys are all fringe NHL 4th liners. Guys like Dwight King(production wise) are hard to come by for your bottom six.

Someone like Kempe or Mersch are guys you should expect to produce good in bottom six roles.

All I ask is for them not to be a liability and get trapped in their end of the ice for long periods of time.

Just about all of the 4th liners are minus players, led by Nick Shore and his team worst -8, followed by Lewis, Clifford and Andreoff.

 

[BigKing]

The sad thing is Andreoff has more goals than Clifford, Shore and Nolan. Not good.

I like Andreoff because he can fight but, man, the guy is not close to Clifford or Nolan when it comes to hitting. It is nice that he has potted a few goals, but he needs to pot more than a few if he isn't going to get in effectively on the forecheck.