Rumor: 2018-19 Kings News/Rumors/Tidbits

[Ziggy Stardust]

I haven't been this excited for a Kings' opening night lineup since 1997, when a slew of youngsters made the team, and Luc Robitaille was pretty much filling the Kovalchuk role of being that elusive winger the team needed to provide a spark on offense. Of course Luc would get hurt and that scoring would come in later seasons, but it was a start in the right direction under Dave Taylor's first season.

Kings at a Glance

* PROJECTED LINES:
Left wing Robitaille (24 goals, 48 points), center Stumpel (21, 76), right wing Glen Murray (16, 30).
Left wing Jokinen (rookie), center Ray Ferraro (25, 46), right wing Moger (10, 13).
Left wing Craig Johnson (4, 7), center MacLean (rookie), right wing Brad Smyth (8, 16).
Left wing Matt Johnson (1, 4), center Ian Laperriere (8, 23), right wing Roman Vopat (4, 9).
Left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov (16, 39), center Yanic Perreault (11, 25).

* PROJECTED DEFENSE PAIRINGS:
Rob Blake (8, 31) and Aki Berg (2, 8).

Galley (4, 38) and Doug Zmolek (1, 1).
Mattias Norstrom (1, 22) and Philippe Boucher (7, 25).
Jan Vopat (4, 9) and Sean O'Donnell (5, 17).

* GOALTENDERS:
Stephane Fiset (13-24-5, 3.19 goals-against average), Jamie Storr (2-1-1, 2.49), Frederic Chabot (39-26-7 in IHL).

 

[damacles1156]

Just like Last year,

A lot will depend on if the younger middle six breaks out and is productive all year. You know what you're going to get from Kopitar-Quick-Doughty.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I haven't been this excited for a Kings' opening night lineup since 1997, when a slew of youngsters made the team, and Luc Robitaille was pretty much filling the Kovalchuk role of being that elusive winger the team needed to provide a spark on offense. Of course Luc would get hurt and that scoring would come in later seasons, but it was a start in the right direction under Dave Taylor's first season.

Kings at a Glance

It is kind of nice that even with Brodzinski and Vilardi (question mark anyway) and potentially even Brown injured that we can still ice a deep and balanced lineup at both forward and D. Deep in personnel. It's the chemistry/arrangement we have to figure out. But I agree, maybe outside of the 2015 lineup, this is the best paper roster in a while (that's part of why I'm so angry lol). No clear weaknesses other than nitpicking about defensive handedness. No question marks that even the elite teams don't have.

 

[Sol]

The issue lies within coaching. The roster is jam packed with talent. Winning games shouldn't be difficult.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

It is kind of nice that even with Brodzinski and Vilardi (question mark anyway) and potentially even Brown injured that we can still ice a deep and balanced lineup at both forward and D. Deep in personnel. It's the chemistry/arrangement we have to figure out. But I agree, maybe outside of the 2015 lineup, this is the best paper roster in a while (that's part of why I'm so angry lol). No clear weaknesses other than nitpicking about defensive handedness. No question marks that even the elite teams don't have.

And that’s why another underachieving season will call a lot of names into question. And John Stevens has no clue how to adapt and make changes and adjustments. He follows the same mantra as Sutter and Al Murray of sticking to the systems play.

 

[KINGS17]

The issue lies within coaching. The roster is jam packed with talent. Winning games shouldn't be difficult.

No it's not. After Kopitar, Carter, Doughty, and Quick which players on the Kings make them jam packed with talent? Forbort, Muzzin, and Martinez? I don't think so.

Toffoli, Pearson, Brown, Kovalchuk, and Kempe? I don't think so. This team needs the youngsters to come through in a big way this season if they are going to make any noise at all. The Kings are not head and shoulders above any team in the Pacific when it comes to talent, which is what "jam packed" infers to me.

 

[damacles1156]

And that’s why another underachieving season will call a lot of names into question. And John Stevens has no clue how to adapt and make changes and adjustments. He follows the same mantra as Sutter and Al Murray of sticking to the systems play.

Wait,

I thought Stevens fixed everything last season ? I bet I can pull up posts from certain folks that stated that last year.

Boy it didn't take long for people to turn on Stevens. I guess Sutter was lucky he got as long as he did.

 

[damacles1156]

No it's not. After Kopitar, Carter, Doughty, and Quick which players on the Kings make them jam packed with talent? Forbort, Muzzin, and Martinez? I don't think so.

Toffoli, Pearson, Brown, Kovalchuk, and Kempe? I don't think so. This team needs the youngsters to come through in a big way this season if they are going to make any noise at all. The Kings are not head and shoulders above any team in the Pacific when it comes to talent, which is what "jam packed" infers to me.

It's why 2012-14 will be so special for decades to come, maybe our entire lifetime. The Kings can have a better roster on paper than 2012-14, and never win anything.

Kopitar/Doughty had career years last season and the Kings got swept in the first round.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Wait,

I thought Stevens fixed everything last season ? I bet I can pull up posts from certain folks that state that.

People also expressed concern that Stevens was Terry Murray Jr. and the offense was carried by one line, who largely felt less stifled by Sutter’s rigorous demands.

Of course, Stevens also played those same players until they had nothing left in the tank.

But let’s blame the players for ice time management and the lack of adaptability, the same things Lombardi thought he’d address after 2015-16, and we saw how well that played out the following season.

 

[damacles1156]

People also expressed concern that Stevens was Terry Murray Jr. and the offense was carried by one line, who largely felt less stifled by Sutter’s rigorous demands.

Of course, Stevens also played those same players until they had nothing left in the tank.

But let’s blame the players for ice time management and the lack of adaptability, the same things Lombardi thought he’d address after 2015-16, and we saw how well that played out the following season.

My really only beef with Stevens, way too fast with shortening the bench. Spread out the minutes please Stevens.

Other than that, he is just like every single NHL coach trying to win games. The fan base will want him fired if the Kings are .500 by mid November.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

One of the biggest problems, is that NOT ONE SINGLE STAR - ELITE PLAYER, has been drafted since the BIG 3, Quick-2005 and Kopitar-2005 and Doughty 2008, were drafted...TEN YEARS
and not a single, high impact draftee of their level. If the Kings had even one more of their caliber drafted, this would be the best team in the West, probably. Honestly, the best draftees
playing in the NHL, since 2009 King draft are: Schenn, Toffli, Pearson and Kempe. Lesser extent - Amadio. (because he's yet to emerge but may be as good as others in the aforementioned) That's abysmal! It didn't help that many top picks were dealt.

Last 4 drafts gives some hope - Clague, Wagner, JAD, Vilardi, Thomas, Kupari, and possibly Shaffigulin, Sodergran. Vilardi and Kupari may become elite. Going TEN YEARS without
an elite level draftee, has plagued the team.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

And we saw how Vegas and their bottom six chewed up the Kings and how badly outcoached Stevens was by Gallant.

Gallant wasn’t afraid to have his fourth line out against LA’s top line. I can’t recall the last time we had that kind of confidence and security from a Kings’ fourth line or bottom six. Probably not since 2014.

 

[Sol]

No it's not. After Kopitar, Carter, Doughty, and Quick which players on the Kings make them jam packed with talent? Forbort, Muzzin, and Martinez? I don't think so.

Toffoli, Pearson, Brown, Kovalchuk, and Kempe? I don't think so. This team needs the youngsters to come through in a big way this season if they are going to make any noise at all. The Kings are not head and shoulders above any team in the Pacific when it comes to talent, which is what "jam packed" infers to me.

You act like there's special players like that all through the roster of other teams. No. The Kings have a lot of talent. Individually you can see the players have the talent and skill. A fact that's undeniable.

The score sheet doesn't reflect it and the system doesn't utilize it.

 

[damacles1156]

One of the biggest problems, is that NOT ONE SINGLE STAR - ELITE PLAYER, has been drafted since the BIG 3, Quick-2005 and Kopitar-2005 and Doughty 2008, were drafted...TEN YEARS
and not a single, high impact draftee of their level. If the Kings had even one more of their caliber drafted, this would be the best team in the West, probably. Honestly, the best draftees
playing in the NHL, since 2009 King draft are: Schenn, Toffli, Pearson and Kempe. Lesser extent - Amadio. (because he's yet to emerge but may be as good as others in the aforementioned) That's abysmal! It didn't help that many top picks were dealt.

Last 4 drafts gives some hope - Clague, Wagner, JAD, Vilardi, Thomas, Kupari, and possibly Shaffigulin, Sodergran. Vilardi and Kupari may become elite. Going TEN YEARS without
an elite level draftee, has plagued the team.

We also keep forgetting Mike Futa played a large part in that, the Kings traded a lot of 1st round picks. But there are also a lot of 2nd round misses in there. You can't miss on your second rounders if you trade away your first round picks.

Guys like Clague-Wagner-JAD-Vilardi are some hope for roster players. Not hope for replacing Kopitar-Quick-Doughty in the future.

 

[damacles1156]

And we saw how Vegas and their bottom six chewed up the Kings and how badly outcoached Stevens was by Gallant.

Gallant wasn’t afraid to have his fourth line out against LA’s top line. I can’t recall the last time we had that kind of confidence and security from a Kings’ fourth line or bottom six. Probably not since 2014.

It's because the Kings have failed to replace players even the likes of Colin Fraser, a supposedly dime a dozen fourth line Center. Or Stoll for that matter.

Remember how poor that Kings fourth line played till Colin Fraser was inserted, then instantly that line was night and day.

Amadio looks to be a good center hopefully he steps up.

 

[regulate]

 

[King'sPawn]

Wait,

I thought Stevens fixed everything last season ? I bet I can pull up posts from certain folks that stated that last year.

Boy it didn't take long for people to turn on Stevens. I guess Sutter was lucky he got as long as he did.

"It's all on the players."

Kopitar, Brown, Muzzin, and many more had career years and they still get swept.

Maybe failure is multifactorial instead of acting smug.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Welp, now it's more like a normal Kings season. Leadership core out indefinitely.

 

[KingsHockey24]

This happened last night?

2016-Quick
2017-Carter
2018-Brown

Knew we were gonna lose someone big.

 

[damacles1156]

That sucks.

 

[Cook24]

Too long of preseason bites is in the ass...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Too long of preseason bites is in the ass...

The sad thing is we hardly played the big guns until last night. Figures even being careful can't keep us away from the hockey gods taking their grim reaper swings at the 2014 voodoo doll champs.

 

[damacles1156]

The sad thing is we hardly played the big guns until last night. Figures even being careful can't keep us away from the hockey gods taking their grim reaper swings at the 2014 voodoo doll champs.

Also get to open vs the EK-Sharks. Should be Fun.

 

[KINGS17]

It's why 2012-14 will be so special for decades to come, maybe our entire lifetime. The Kings can have a better roster on paper than 2012-14, and never win anything.

Kopitar/Doughty had career years last season and the Kings got swept in the first round.

I don't know about NEVER win anything. It's time to go strip it down and use the foundation built from 2006-2014, and build on it again. The culture of the organization was changed during that time, but it will revert to ways of the past if something isn't done soon.

 

[regulate]

Might mean Etem gets a deal after all since he is an RW, or Wagner makes the team since he is also primarily an RW.