2017-18 Kings News/Rumors/Tidbits

[regulate]

Regarding Voynov, his contract was terminated, he would need a new deal. I never really thought there was anything to the Voynov talk as Hoven and a few other bloggers brought it up, but when I had a chance to talk to Futa at the Reign event, he (Futa) brought up Voynov's name to the small group talking with him, and not as a result of someone asking about him. So that kind of changed my perspective in sort of a where there is smoke there is fire. That being said, obtaining permission from both the governments of the US and Canada to obtain a work visa after his DV conviction is a tall order, let alone any punishment the league would dole out, so right now I certainly wouldn't count on it, but it seems it's potentially on the table.

 

[Legionnaire]

If Kopitar scores 40 goals I will eat my hat

You must record this when it happens. Deal. No takebacks, no black magic, no erasees, infinity.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

yes Kopitar will evt slow down. It's at least time for +30 goals again, but most of all staying healthy.

I am most surprised by Kempe. I just can't believe he might be scoring 30 goals.

Someone said Gretzky was the last King scoring +40 goals but thats not true, Robitaille was.

 

[The Tikkanen]

The way the NHL is and the Kings current system you can't really say with certainty that any player is gonna slow down. The goaltending has been poor in the NHL this season as well, quite a few goalies who suddenly can't play anymore, maybe the equipment changes have finally exposed the goalies who lacked movement and relied on being wide due to puffed up gear.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

You must record this when it happens. Deal. No takebacks, no black magic, no erasees, infinity.

This might be SR10’s hat. Make sure the salsa is hot!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The way the NHL is and the Kings current system you can't really say with certainty that any player is gonna slow down. The goaltending has been poor in the NHL this season as well, quite a few goalies who suddenly can't play anymore, maybe the equipment changes have finally exposed the goalies who lacked movement and relied on being wide due to puffed up gear.

To be fair I don't think Kopitar is going to be shooting 20% all year. Heck, that's already started to come down severely. You only hope that Iafallo starts popping them in to compensate.

Goalie observation is an interesting one though.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm just happy to see that Kopitar isn't playing like a coward this season, circling wide around the net, sticking to the perimeter walls, and feeding passes to pointmen who are covered.

He doesn't appear to be skating as if he is hauling a massive anchor on his back. Kopitar hasn't looked this spry in quite some time, and I'm glad to see the Kopitar and Brown of old are back.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm just happy to see that Kopitar isn't playing like a coward this season, circling wide around the net, sticking to the perimeter walls, and feeding passes to pointmen who are covered.

He doesn't appear to be skating as if he is hauling a massive anchor on his back. Kopitar hasn't looked this spry in quite some time, and I'm glad to see the Kopitar and Brown of old are back.

I actually can't remember the last time Kopitar took a lap.

I do think it helps that Iafallo can lug the puck for a controlled entry and that Brown is resurgent in that area as well--Kopi doesn't have to be the only one charging into the zone (i.e. Iafallo's pass on Kopi's goal the other night).

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Kopi doesn’t have two guys draped over him as consistently either this season, or if he does they’re likely taking hooking or slashing penalties.

 

[theMajor]

Can you imagine the main board salt?

can you imagine our very own Kings board salt?
I still feel like this season is a dream. Kopi, Brown and Quick are carrying this team

 

[kings11]

Well to toot my own horn I did predict
30 goals
Kopiatr
Toffoli
Carter
20 goals
Brown
Pearson
lmao, I got so much crap from certain guys on here who might i add have been absent a lot lately....
But Im super stoked to apart of what looks like another cup window so darn soon....

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Well to toot my own horn I did predict
30 goals
Kopiatr
Toffoli
Carter
20 goals
Brown
Pearson
lmao, I got so much crap from certain guys on here who might i add have been absent a lot lately....
But Im super stoked to apart of what looks like another cup window so darn soon....

Most likely because you post a lot of crap. Just a guess, I dont know.

 

[cyclones22]

I actually can't remember the last time Kopitar took a lap.

I do think it helps that Iafallo can lug the puck for a controlled entry and that Brown is resurgent in that area as well--Kopi doesn't have to be the only one charging into the zone (i.e. Iafallo's pass on Kopi's goal the other night).

Yep, Iafallo has taken the Justin Williams role on the line. He may not be as shifty with change of direction near the boards, he's no slouch though, but his speed and puck handling is advanced. It's difficult to dislodge the puck from him. He might be one of the best guys on the team in that regard already. What a find. Looking at his stat line it amazes me he doesn't have more assists. Doing yeoman's work for a skill guy.

 

[kings11]

Most likely because you post a lot of crap. Just a guess, I dont know.

Well someone is being grumpy...
If that was the case i would understand but there a certain guys here who love to quit on this team when it looks bad instead of understand what was truly ailing this team the past 3 seasons ...

 

[kings11]

Yep, Iafallo has taken the Justin Williams role on the line. He may not be as shifty with change of direction near the boards, he's no slouch though, but his speed and puck handling is advanced. It's difficult to dislodge the puck from him. He might be one of the best guys on the team in that regard already. What a find. Looking at his stat line it amazes me he doesn't have more assists. Doing yeoman's work for a skill guy.

Lets for get the bigs and focus on the surprises... as you've mentioned the following guys have been a pleasant surprise;
Adrian Kempe
He has stepped up in the absence of Carts and taken his game to another level. His speed, vision and playmaking abilities are great but his goal scoring is something that now truly gives this team a 3rd line scoring threat.
Alex Iafallo
Your assessment is spot on, and i'll add that I expect he'll score more goals in the near future, the kid was an absolute find.
Trevor Lewis
As some poster stated, Lewis is aging like fine wine... his offensive game is shockingly only getting better and looks like he'll hit that 15g/30pts stage..
Kurtis MacDermid
A lot better than most of us thought, but boy is he going to start putting the fear of god in players thinking about venturing into the middle... The BEAST!!!
Tanner Pearson/Tyler Toffoli
They are who we thought they were..... Great to see them both clicking, now lets get Carts up and running
Shore/Frolin/Fattenberg/Amadio/Laich/Clifford
have played their part on this team to perfection, wish some of these guys would get more minutes but i'll take what they've produced so far.

 

[tsanuri]

Well to toot my own horn I did predict
30 goals
Kopiatr
Toffoli
Carter
20 goals
Brown
Pearson
lmao, I got so much crap from certain guys on here who might i add have been absent a lot lately....
But Im super stoked to apart of what looks like another cup window so darn soon....

At this point thinking hoping Carter plays 30 games might be more realistic over him scoring 30 goals.

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm just hoping the Kings remain in the top 15 in goal scoring. There were a few people who said that would never happen.

 

[tsanuri]

I'm just hoping the Kings remain in the top 15 in goal scoring. There were a few people who said that would never happen.

I'm not willing to let us fall. We're top 10 right now and I want to stay there. No falling to top 15 crap.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm not willing to let us fall. We're top 10 right now and I want to stay there. No falling to top 15 crap.

I think what's really encouraging is that we've been able to boost offense without giving up much defensively or possession-wise.

 

[tsanuri]

I think what's really encouraging is that we've been able to boost offense without giving up much defensively or possession-wise.

In a big way. I know it still early in the season but we're giving up .25 g/g more over our 2 cup winning years. But scoring 1g/g more over those years. That is a total win/win.

 

[lumbergh]

I think what's really encouraging is that we've been able to boost offense without giving up much defensively or possession-wise.

The Kings are at a an even 50% Corsi at even strength in 2017, which is quite a bit below their previous seasons. I would argue that they're taking more chances, which means they're giving up possession. The defense is good, but Jonathan Quick has been GREAT. Huge difference from last season.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The Kings are at a an even 50% Corsi at even strength in 2017, which is quite a bit below their previous seasons. I would argue that they're taking more chances, which means they're giving up possession. The defense is good, but Jonathan Quick has been GREAT. Huge difference from last season.

They've definitely relinquished possession, that much is clear, but it's much more effective possession. I'm more worried about their SAT% close, which is at 52.94%, 6th in the league. Goaltending is obviously a big difference in the actual goals for results splits, but when the game is actually a game, we're still murdering possession considering our system is much more high-event.

Edit: if you look at all the situations, it's actually kind of interesting.

This year, we're at 45.81% while ahead (17th), 47.88 behind (30th!), but 54.88 (2nd) when tied and 52.94 close (6th).

Last year, 51.84 (1st) ahead, 57.62 (2nd) behind, 54.27 (1st) tied and 54.04 (close).

If anything, you could argue our possession has really only seen a significant overall drop due to blowout 2- and 3-goal games instead of our usual 1-goal collarpullers.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Addendum to previous post: i'm glad Rosen mentioned it because I couldn't find this anywhere. We're not grading so great with scoring chances which supports what you're saying Lumbergh, though I also wonder about the close vs. blowout splits:

Team Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

"The Kings have been giving up their share of scoring chances, and reducing that will be a point of emphasis against Tampa Bay. There is obviously subjectivity in placing a number alongside “scoring chances,” but by Natural Stat Trick’s methodology, Los Angeles yields the eighth most scoring chances per 60 minutes in the NHL, and the fifth most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. As Stevens noted yesterday, one way to cut down on that number will be to improve puck management. Against a team that can make turn mistakes into goals quickly, strength on the puck and the ability to limit turnovers will be paramount."

 

[theMajor]

I feel like the Kings are giving up a lot more odd-man rushes against this season compared to the last few seasons. Im not sure if its due to taking more chances in the O-zone, because the defensemen are getting more involved/have more freedom to get involved, or what. is there a metric for this?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I feel like the Kings are giving up a lot more odd-man rushes against this season compared to the last few seasons. Im not sure if its due to taking more chances in the O-zone, because the defensemen are getting more involved/have more freedom to get involved, or what. is there a metric for this?

I would think high danger scoring chances against partially covers that, and we've tanked in that area.