Line Combos: 2016-2017 Kings Roster

[KingsFan7824]

If I could, I'd put Kopitar between Clifford and Nolan just to force him to shoot.

Pearson - Kopitar - Toffoli
King - Carter - Purcell
Gaborik - Dowd - Brown
Clifford - Latta - Lewis
Andreoff, Nolan

Kopitar/Gaborik worked great in 2014, although somehow they won without a goal from Kopitar after the 2nd round. In 14-15, Kopitar had 16 goals and 134 shots, both career lows in a full season, and Gaborik was on his wing basically all the time. He's almost too deferential to Gaborik it seems. I'd even be scared to put Toffoli with him, but, best goal scorer, best playmaker. Carter is a shooter, Purcell is a playmaker. King is there to annoy everyone here, and he would at least dig out some pucks for Carter and Purcell. But really, which line combo won't we see at some point?

Defense, who knows. Too many questions. If possible, I'd rather see Doughty, Muzzin, and Martinez on 3 different pairs. Unless, somehow, enough guys played well enough that Doughty/Muzzin could pair up again. The left/right thing is a big deal. Where Scuderi/Greene/Gilbert fit, I don't know. Trotman played 38 games for Boston last year, and didn't play in the AHL. He's had a steady progression from all AHL games, to a mix, to all NHL games. He's also one of the right handed defensemen, which is like a left handed pitcher in baseball.

 

[USE Fi]

If I could, I'd put Kopitar between Clifford and Nolan just to force him to shoot.

Pearson - Kopitar - Toffoli
King - Carter - Purcell
Gaborik - Dowd - Brown
Clifford - Latta - Lewis
Andreoff, Nolan

Kopitar/Gaborik worked great in 2014, although somehow they won without a goal from Kopitar after the 2nd round. In 14-15, Kopitar had 16 goals and 134 shots, both career lows in a full season, and Gaborik was on his wing basically all the time. He's almost too deferential to Gaborik it seems. I'd even be scared to put Toffoli with him, but, best goal scorer, best playmaker. Carter is a shooter, Purcell is a playmaker. King is there to annoy everyone here, and he would at least dig out some pucks for Carter and Purcell. But really, which line combo won't we see at some point?

Defense, who knows. Too many questions. If possible, I'd rather see Doughty, Muzzin, and Martinez on 3 different pairs. Unless, somehow, enough guys played well enough that Doughty/Muzzin could pair up again. The left/right thing is a big deal. Where Scuderi/Greene/Gilbert fit, I don't know. Trotman played 38 games for Boston last year, and didn't play in the AHL. He's had a steady progression from all AHL games, to a mix, to all NHL games. He's also one of the right handed defensemen, which is like a left handed pitcher in baseball.

I like your thinking about more of a top 9 and also about Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez in different pairs. I truly hope Trotman is good but what i have read about him he was ok with Chara and not so good with anyone else, mayby put him with Muzzin?

 

[USE Fi]

I start to look like atleast one of the Andreoff, Latta or Nolan will not make the team. What is your opinion?

 

[USE Fi]

Trotman has 150 AHL games, 67 NHL games.
Gravel has 118 AHL games, 5 NHL games.
Forbort has 187 AHL games, 14 NHL games.

Forbort will be lost if he will be send down just like Hickey and i remember Lombardi said that he did not like that, makes me think that he dont want to lose him. They have invested lots in Forbort to just see him play on some other team for nothing.

 

[USE Fi]

Putting Shore and Lewis in same line could create a new PK pair like when we had Stoll&Lewis

Same way i think Kopitar and Brown will eventually play together in 5vs5 so they can PK together and Carter&Toffoli

 

[KingCanadain1976]

I start to look like atleast one of the Andreoff, Latta or Nolan will not make the team. What is your opinion?

imo only way latta makes the team is shore /dowd have a crap preseason Is nolan healthy enough to start the season I think he isn't

 

[USE Fi]

imo only way latta makes the team is shore /dowd have a crap preseason Is nolan healthy enough to start the season I think he isn't

I have a feeling if Kings leave someone free and dont trade Chicago will take him. They dont have players for the 4 line Latta and his 600k would be a good pick up. I don`t know in what shape Nolan is, i`ll try to find out.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

I have a feeling if Kings leave someone free and dont trade Chicago will take him. They dont have players for the 4 line Latta and his 600k would be a good pick up. I don`t know in what shape Nolan is, i`ll try to find out.

i think someone a lot higher up on the waiver list would take him first I think of latta like cracknell when he was here Hes here to push shore and dowd if he makes it fine if not no real loss to be honest

 

[USE Fi]

i think someone a lot higher up on the waiver list would take him first I think of latta like cracknell when he was here Hes here to push shore and dowd if he makes it fine if not no real loss to be honest

Well yes you are right someone would take him earlier...getting lot`s of players is very good thing.

 

[USE Fi]

In Hockey News site:
05/13/2016

Nolan (back) still isn't back to 100% but is expected to be fully healthy when training camp opens in September, LA Kings Insider reports.

 

[Trolfoli]

Brown/Kopitar/Gaborik
King/Carter/Toffoli
Pearson/Shore/Lewis
Clifford/Dowd/Nolan

-Don't see any way Brown doesn't start in the top 6.
-Tried to weigh each line down with an ancor.
-Don't believe Sutter will run Pearson/Carter/Toffoli
-Purcell left out of top9.... got an extra top 9 body. Someone will probably get banged up though.
-4th line.... lots of possibilities... anyone of them could win a spot...

Don't see how Mersch makes it. There are way too many "top 9" bodies. Even if you think he's better then someone like King/Lewis, this is Sutter making the decision.

Defense: If Scuderi and Greene are available to Sutter, he will play them. Only way they aren't in the rotation is if Lombardi banishes them to the IE.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Well yes you are right someone would take him earlier...getting lot`s of players is very good thing.

losing players for nothing is very poor asset management

 

[USE Fi]

Brown/Kopitar/Gaborik
King/Carter/Toffoli
Pearson/Shore/Lewis
Clifford/Dowd/Nolan

-Don't see any way Brown doesn't start in the top 6.
-Tried to weigh each line down with an ancor.
-Don't believe Sutter will run Pearson/Carter/Toffoli
-Purcell left out of top9.... got an extra top 9 body. Someone will probably get banged up though.
-4th line.... lots of possibilities... anyone of them could win a spot...

Don't see how Mersch makes it. There are way too many "top 9" bodies. Even if you think he's better then someone like King/Lewis, this is Sutter making the decision.

Defense: If Scuderi and Greene are available to Sutter, he will play them. Only way they aren't in the rotation is if Lombardi banishes them to the IE.

I would say Purcell will play from Day1

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Brown/Kopitar/Gaborik
King/Carter/Toffoli
Pearson/Shore/Lewis
Clifford/Dowd/Nolan

-Don't see any way Brown doesn't start in the top 6.
-Tried to weigh each line down with an ancor.
-Don't believe Sutter will run Pearson/Carter/Toffoli
-Purcell left out of top9.... got an extra top 9 body. Someone will probably get banged up though.
-4th line.... lots of possibilities... anyone of them could win a spot...

Don't see how Mersch makes it. There are way too many "top 9" bodies. Even if you think he's better then someone like King/Lewis, this is Sutter making the decision.

Defense: If Scuderi and Greene are available to Sutter, he will play them. Only way they aren't in the rotation is if Lombardi banishes them to the IE.

your simply get rid of a anchor as u call him King Mersch is a scorer. He will go to the blue paint something king won't He is also over 1 million cheaper. King is to slow to play with toffoli and carter

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

For all the comments re: Sutter playing vets over youngsters, I generally agree--but I'm waiting till the dust settles to worry about it anymore since DL said a lot earlier this summer about the team going forward. I just refuse to believe that their talk about changing, etc., means they'd play, say, Scuderi over Gravel at this juncture.

if AT LEAST 3 of the following 4Ds (McNabb, Greene, Scuderi, Gilbert) are in our lineup on opening night, it will be a long season FOR YOU ALL, unless you guys block me, because i will bring so much negativity to every GDT it won't be funny

i can only tolerate 2 garbage Ds, not 3... not 4

you guys are warned

I don't think McNabb belongs with the other three, but fair enough FWIW I think if we're running Doughty-Muzzin-McNabb-Martinez-Greene-Scuderi you won't be the only one 'being negative,' there would be huge and valid complaints about not skating Gravel, Forbort, Trotman, even Gilbert at that point.

 

[USE Fi]

For all the comments re: Sutter playing vets over youngsters, I generally agree--but I'm waiting till the dust settles to worry about it anymore since DL said a lot earlier this summer about the team going forward. I just refuse to believe that their talk about changing, etc., means they'd play, say, Scuderi over Gravel at this juncture.



I don't think McNabb belongs with the other three, but fair enough FWIW I think if we're running Doughty-Muzzin-McNabb-Martinez-Greene-Scuderi you won't be the only one 'being negative,' there would be huge and valid complaints about not skating Gravel, Forbort, Trotman, even Gilbert at that point.

The way i see McNabb he got bridge deal,Lombardi wants to see more the way they went with Muzzin. He is top 5D for sure. He played 81 games with 18:48min per game. Reason says that Sutter will play Scuderi but also if Gravel and Forbort are not good so be it. I hope Greene can stay healthy to play, he is still very good 6th veteran defenceman and we pay him 2,5min per season. What effects did it had to Brown to lose his C is debate he keeps saying it was just "angry" way they handeled it...i think Greene sees it same way when they almost bought his contract out. But some how i think Greene understands it he is 33 and lots of injuries but in some level he feels it the way Brown.

 

[USE Fi]

Sutter, Lombardi likes players that can play on multiple place like Lewis LW/C/RW so i think Martinez and Gravel get little edge in that way. I like also players that can play in multiple place, Anrdeoff, Latta. Nolan i think "only" plays RW. But i remember someone writing that he thought Nolan would be even better than Clifford in offence way, remember me thinking same way, not saying he would start scoring but in different system he might.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Gaborik-Kopitar-Purcell
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Lewis-Brown
Clifford-Latta-Dowd
Andreoff-Shore-Nolan

Mcnabb-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Forbort-Gilbert
Gravel-Greene
Scuderi-Trotman

I think this is the lineup we start with and eventually knowing Sutter see something more like

Pearson-Kopitar-Gaborik
King-Carter-Toffoli
Brown-Shore-Purcell
Andreoff-Latta-Lewis

Forbort/Gravel-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Mcnabb-Gilbert/Trotman

Now when you think about it there are to many bottom 6 players and bottom pairing dmen. It will be very interesting season. That is what makes me most excited

 

[AlphaBravo]

During the regular season, I can see Sutter shuffling the lines like there is no tomorrow because of the options we have. But when it gets closer to the playoffs, I would like to see the talent distributed across the top 3 lines as follows:

King-Kopitar-Gaborik
Brown-Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Dowd-Purcell
Clifford-AA-Lewis

I would like to see Brown on the same line as Carter because Carter tends to bring the most out of his line mates. Hopefully this will increase his production to 15 goals this season. I would like to see Kopitar-Gaborik developing chemistry again like in 2014 and King is good at cycling the puck and getting the forecheck going.

The third line gives us scoring potential. Dowd is good at entering the zone and could develop plays for Pearson and Purcell, who are good for 20 and 15 goals, respectively.

This gives us three solid scoring lines. The bottom line can be mixed and matched so that there is some skill, but defensive responsibility. I am hoping that AA can get more playing time, as he has demonstrated an ability to be a regular 10 goal scorer.

 

[USE Fi]

During the regular season, I can see Sutter shuffling the lines like there is no tomorrow because of the options we have. But when it gets closer to the playoffs, I would like to see the talent distributed across the top 3 lines as follows:

King-Kopitar-Gaborik
Brown-Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Dowd-Purcell
Clifford-AA-Lewis

I would like to see Brown on the same line as Carter because Carter tends to bring the most out of his line mates. Hopefully this will increase his production to 15 goals this season. I would like to see Kopitar-Gaborik developing chemistry again like in 2014 and King is good at cycling the puck and getting the forecheck going.

The third line gives us scoring potential. Dowd is good at entering the zone and could develop plays for Pearson and Purcell, who are good for 20 and 15 goals, respectively.

This gives us three solid scoring lines. The bottom line can be mixed and matched so that there is some skill, but defensive responsibility. I am hoping that AA can get more playing time, as he has demonstrated an ability to be a regular 10 goal scorer.

I so think having top 9 is the way to go
Read this: http://holdthepoint.com/2016/08/22/sutters-kings-all-method-no-madness/
Interesting to read how much Sutter just plays 4 lines like a robot and why lombardi has made this team like every forward can play D

 

[The Tikkanen]

For the record I'm not going to bat for Greene/Scuderi-I see the same thing you guys see. Those 2 players could bounce back if they change their training. If they are doing the same thing they have been doing the foot speed will remain the same. Hopefully, they have changed trainers and/or dietitians. My point remains, as somebody else in this thread stated, if Sutter has Greene and Scuderi available they WILL play. A kid would have to seriously outplay them in limited minutes during the pre season. What Greene and Scuderi lack in physical tools they make up for in hockey IQ by leaps and bounds over a 20 year old defensemen. When the PK hits the ice I fully expect to see Greene and Scuderi lead the charge IF they are still on the team come Game 1. I think if either player is out played in the pre season one or both will be traded.

 

[USE Fi]

For the record I'm not going to bat for Greene/Scuderi-I see the same thing you guys see. Those 2 players could bounce back if they change their training. If they are doing the same thing they have been doing the foot speed will remain the same. Hopefully, they have changed trainers and/or dietitians. My point remains, as somebody else in this thread stated, if Sutter has Greene and Scuderi available they WILL play. A kid would have to seriously outplay them in limited minutes during the pre season. What Greene and Scuderi lack in physical tools they make up for in hockey IQ by leaps and bounds over a 20 year old defensemen. When the PK hits the ice I fully expect to see Greene and Scuderi lead the charge IF they are still on the team come Game 1. I think if either player is out played in the pre season one or both will be traded.

I don`t think there is any value, more like negative value.

 

[mattgkg]

wildcard time!

brown - kopitar - carter

king - dowd - toffoli

pearson - shore - purcell

clifford - latta - lewis

nolan, andreoff

plan the parade now and future cap relief when 11 & 77 carry brown to 60pts to be selected by vegas. /sarcasm

I would absolutely love to see carter on the wing more if the other centers can open up that possibility. it was great to see him open up and show his speed more.

 

[USE Fi]

wildcard time!

brown - kopitar - carter

king - dowd - toffoli

pearson - shore - purcell

clifford - latta - lewis

nolan, andreoff

plan the parade now and future cap relief when 11 & 77 carry brown to 60pts to be selected by vegas. /sarcasm

I would absolutely love to see carter on the wing more if the other centers can open up that possibility. it was great to see him open up and show his speed more.

I could see him as a winger in few years when he is older and as Dowd centering 2nd line i remember....was it Jason Lewis was saying same...well it`s not going to happen.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

wildcard time!

brown - kopitar - carter

king - dowd - toffoli

pearson - shore - purcell

clifford - latta - lewis

nolan, andreoff

plan the parade now and future cap relief when 11 & 77 carry brown to 60pts to be selected by vegas. /sarcasm

I would absolutely love to see carter on the wing more if the other centers can open up that possibility. it was great to see him open up and show his speed more.

wow, if that's our lineup...