2015-2016 Roster Talk: Kings Have no Elite Players Edition

[King'sPawn]

Lucic to have a hearing today for his sucker punch.

 

[deeshamrock]

Lucic to have a hearing today for his sucker punch.

He might get a fine for trash talking the ref, but that's all it should amount to. He lost his cool, and a poor choice. He had every right to be upset at the slash, but should have fought him the right way, sucker punching is extremely yellow. If he was on the Bruins and did that to a Kings player, most of the posters here would be venting on him.

What didn't help was him whining about being picked on by the ref after the game:

http://lakingsinsider.com/2016/01/23/january-23-postgame-quotes-brown-lucic/

Milan Lucic, on if his wrist is OK:
Yeah, thankfully. Thankfully x-rays came back negative. I mean, if I don’t react, I don’t think he even calls a penalty. Same guy – Brad Meier. I think this is the fourth time he’s kicked me out of a game. It’s always the same thing with him, It’s if guys can take liberties on me and it’s not a penalty. If I do something, then I’m automatically kicked out of the game. It’s just unfortunate that it is that way with him, and I’ve just got to move on and not get frustrated by the referees in the game.

\

Given his history of cheap shots, spears , knee on knee, cross checks and it's not like he's 5-'7' forward who isn't physical, him whining about guys taking liberties with him is winceably bad. He's been warned and suspended for his questionable actions, he can't call the kettle black.

The 'If I do something' is wrong, it was what he did , not that he did something. he should have faced him and invited the fight, not do a Pearl Harbor.

 

[KINGS17]

There's no doubt Lucic fits our style perfectly.

But paying him $6M (likely $7M) a year on a long term deal... its going to end up EXACTLY like Brown's contract.

If we can do 2 years at that kind of money, I do it all day long. But if he's looking for 6-8 years, it just cant happen.

LOL!! Lucic is younger than Kopitar.

 

[HYORI 1963]

LOL!! Lucic is younger than Kopitar.

Yep, a year younger and only one less goal than Kopi since 2010.

 

[mrkolice]

just an observation. i've noticed something about this forum: gaborik is almost never mentioned here. almost nothing about him, but if he is mentioned it's 95% cap related. he's like a ghost, like hamlet's father.

 

[YP44]

just an observation. i've noticed something about this forum: gaborik is almost never mentioned here. almost nothing about him, but if he is mentioned it's 95% cap related. he's like a ghost, like hamlet's father.

to be fair 95% of posts seem to be cap related lately

 

[mrkolice]

to be fair 95% of posts seem to be cap related lately

he, yea, that's true... but still, gabby is like a ghost. sometimes i try to search for some data or opinions about him or his play, but it's always nothing, zero, nada. and if he scores it's like ten times "gabby!!!" and that's it. it's like a blind spot i guess, even for lak fans.

 

[YP44]

he, yea, that's true... but still, gabby is like a ghost. sometimes i try to search for some data or opinions about him or his play, but it's always nothing, zero, nada. and if he scores it's like ten times "gabby!!!" and that's it. it's like a blind spot i guess, even for lak fans.

well he should be scoring. that is what his game is, that is what he brings to the table. Just like how brown should be hitting.
Difference is Gaborik has been scoring enough for us not to *****, but not enough to justify his long term deal.

 

[mrkolice]

well he should be scoring. that is what his game is, that is what he brings to the table. Just like how brown should be hitting.
Difference is Gaborik has been scoring enough for us not to *****, but not enough to justify his long term deal.

i'll use this opportunity to address jason lewis for an article about marian gaborik. please jason, write something about gabby. here it's emptiness and silence all around.

so many important questions, i've picked just a few:
- is he still good? or good enough for a cup contending team?
- how much did his play deteriorate with age?
- what happened with gabby-kopi combo? is that still an option and which alternatives could become more meaningful?
- and sadly, how about the cap?

gabby played the 1st line one month ago, he was a fix there with kopi and for ages. now he deteriorated in the 4th line. that's a headline. now, why?

 

[YP44]

i'll use this opportunity to address jason lewis for an article about marian gaborik. please jason, write something about gabby. here it's emptiness and silence all around.

so many important questions, i've picked just a few:
- is he still good? or good enough for a cup contending team?
- how much did his play deteriorate with age?
- what happened with gabby-kopi combo? is that still an option and which alternatives could become more meaningful?
- and sadly, how about the cap?

gabby played the 1st line one month ago, he was a fix there with kopi and for ages. now he deteriorated in the 4th line. that's a headline. now, why?

I think Gaborik is no longer with Kopitar in order to spread around the scoring and be able to roll with a few lines that should produce.
For you second bullet I am more worried about how much it "will" deteriorate vs how much it has.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I dunno, I think Gaborik is very noticable because of his skating/puckhandling style. He's looked more assertive to me in a good way, and hes not scared to get dirty. Not something you can often say about a former near-superstar. I think he's settling nicely into a secondary scoring role but he's just as streaky as all goal scorers are.

 

[mrkolice]

I think Gaborik is no longer with Kopitar in order to spread around the scoring and be able to roll with a few lines that should produce.
For you second bullet I am more worried about how much it "will" deteriorate vs how much it has.

i'm just checking his stats and games. i don't have anything ready to post here, just some quick observations. 1. gabby cannot play with kopi anymore. don't ask me why, but their combo stats are bad and getting worse, last night was like a dream compared to what they did before. looch is a factor here as well, that trio's chemistry is suicidal. 2. it feels like gabby is in good physical shape, without injuries, and fit. 3. imo he can still play anything, even occasionally with kopi, but the question here is with carts or with vinny. i guess with carter. as i said, just a quicky.

 

[mrkolice]

I dunno, I think Gaborik is very noticable because of his skating/puckhandling style. He's looked more assertive to me in a good way, and hes not scared to get dirty. Not something you can often say about a former near-superstar. I think he's settling nicely into a secondary scoring role but he's just as streaky as all goal scorers are.

i've noticed that as well. playoff quality. 4 months till june, yea! gabby will kick some ass!

 

[HYORI 1963]

Is it just a coincidence, or do the Kings only want bigger players. These are the players who we've traded, released, or didn't sign in the off season:

Williams 5'11
Stoll 6'0
Richards 5'11
Weal 5'10
O'Neill 5'8

 

[theMajor]

I think Gaborik is no longer with Kopitar in order to spread around the scoring and be able to roll with a few lines that should produce.
For you second bullet I am more worried about how much it "will" deteriorate vs how much it has.

Im almost positive its a result of Gaborik's lack of offense, Lisa Dillman posted an article last week about Sutter calling him out and it has some interesting tidbits about what Sutter wants and what he sees re:Gaborik

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-report-20160123-story.html

"A couple of weeks ago, I thought his game was really good," Sutter said. "Lots of shots. Quality shots.

"Since we got in a busy schedule, I think his energy level went way down, so his detail dropped off. When his detail drops off, his skill does not come to the forefront.

"I've told guys: 'Hey, I'm taking minutes away.' When we've got extra guys, taking minutes away means guys move down or up. Get your game back and you can play. It's just an honest approach with him."

 

[YP44]

Is it just a coincidence, or do the Kings only want bigger players. These are the players who we've traded, released, or didn't sign in the off season:

Williams 5'11
Stoll 6'0
Richards 5'11
Weal 5'10
O'Neill 5'8

maybe with Weal and O'Neil. It has been beaten to death why Richards and Stoll are no longer kings.
Williams, DL chose Lucic over bringing him back. I am at piece with this. brings more LW/RW balance and fits sutter's system better.
Wish williams all the best

 

[lexlavender]

Is it just a coincidence, or do the Kings only want bigger players. These are the players who we've traded, released, or didn't sign in the off season:

Williams 5'11
Stoll 6'0
Richards 5'11
Weal 5'10
O'Neill 5'8

Short answer is yes. The King's current system relies on winning board battles, whether it is in the offensive or defensive zone, and the simple fact is that smaller players have more trouble winning those. Not to say they can't; I remember Williams being pretty good at it. Bigger players also have an easier time when there is less space than smaller players, which the Kings always try to do. Being bigger also means that you can put yourself into the slot easier for a screen or tap in, which the Kings rely on heavily. Last night was a good example of that; imagine Richards in the slot against Burns. Do you think he would have been able to stay in there long enough for the tap in?

 

[Kingspiracy]

Short answer is yes. The King's current system relies on winning board battles, whether it is in the offensive or defensive zone, and the simple fact is that smaller players have more trouble winning those. Not to say they can't; I remember Williams being pretty good at it. Bigger players also have an easier time when there is less space than smaller players, which the Kings always try to do. Being bigger also means that you can put yourself into the slot easier for a screen or tap in, which the Kings rely on heavily. Last night was a good example of that; imagine Richards in the slot against Burns. Do you think he would have been able to stay in there long enough for the tap in?

Yes, I think I could have. Burns was asleep.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'd rather have DontgoZiggy be in the slot than Richards.

 

[Herby]

Mike Richards and Brent Burns, fitting they are mentioned together, they both defend equally well.

But seriously, no reason at all Burns should have been out there defending a lead in the final minute, that was awful coaching by the Sharks.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Why you gotta be such a Burns hater Herby???

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Brent Burns channeling his inner Erik Karlsson there

 

[KingsFan7824]

Look who the Kings had out there in those dying seconds when they needed a goal. Brown, Pearson, Gaborik, Lecavalier. Alright, Burns shouldn't be out there, but neither should Dustin Brown when the Kings need a goal. Or Pearson. Gaborik has 7 goals this year in regulation.

If hockey was perfect, it wouldn't be hockey. If the puck doesn't hit Pearson's stick before it gets to Lecavalier, it may change the entire play. Maybe it hops over Lecavalier's stick, who knows.

 

[YP44]

Look who the Kings had out there in those dying seconds when they needed a goal. Brown, Pearson, Gaborik, Lecavalier. Alright, Burns shouldn't be out there, but neither should Dustin Brown when the Kings need a goal. Or Pearson. Gaborik has 7 goals this year in regulation.

If hockey was perfect, it wouldn't be hockey. If the puck doesn't hit Pearson's stick before it gets to Lecavalier, it may change the entire play. Maybe it hops over Lecavalier's stick, who knows.

pretty compelling argument there.

 

[Omni Owl]

I still have faith that Pearson will turn it around.