Iafallo on the top line reminds me of the types of players coaches would flank on Gretzky's left side, like Igor Liba, Mikko Makela, Warren Rychel, Dan Currie, Randy Burridge, etc.
Maybe Kovalchuk is better off not playing on the top line, seeing how Kopitar constantly deferred to him. I'm interested in seeing how a combo of Kovalchuk and Kempe will click.
That's been a thing with Kopitar whenever he gets a winger with talent. It started to happen when Gaborik got here, and then in the playoffs he got so hot at one point that you couldn't not feed him the puck in front of the net. But then in 14-15, when we were thinking dynamic duo, he has what was up to that point his career worst season. Then he does put up the 90+ point season with Iafallo on his wing 3 years later. That's why Clifford and Lewis probably would've been the perfect wingers for him, because no matter how much one would want to, who in their right mind would defer to them?
Seems like a lot of theories are being supported by today's quotes.
- These guys need someone to ride their asses
- The fluke 2018 was a one-time response to being driven too hard by Sutter, a guy with a pretty specific shelf life everywhere he has been: including before guys were "too fragile"
- With nobody riding their ass, everyone had a garbage, country club attitude coming in to last season.
Not like they were legit contenders, but they wasted a year of their careers last season. Long run for the Kings, it was for the best due to the picks/prospects that were obtained. Unless Father Time takes a huge bite out of Kopitar and Doughty, I expect them to return to form albeit not '18 level Kopitar since that was a one-off.
There's been a real trend with Kopitar to go on/off and we've already seen how they respond to being doubted via the results (regular season) of 2016 and '18. So they've embarrassed themselves again and they are out to prove that they aren't a joke. Awesome. The trick now becomes doing it for two seasons in a row as opposed to being lazy after the "prove it" season.
Some might argue with the lazy comment and want to blame last season on coaching etc...but let's be real: this is a sport where you have to put forth a strong effort to get results as talent alone won't do it. The lack of grit in board battles and the unwillingness to go to the high-traffic areas was appalling and that is an effort/care/will problem and not talent.
To hear guys saying that guys are in better shape this year than last year is nice to hear for this season but just another barb to toss at last year. The leadership core of this team has been criticized on here and it really appears that it is justified. My only hope is that Doughty's talk today translates into not only action on the ice but real leadership. I don't expect it from Kopitar except for him to put forth maximum effort on the ice but the actual voice of the room should be #8. Lots of young guys coming up through this roster soon and the current roster has nothing in the way of leadership that Lombardi's prospects had. Doughty's rep took a huge hit last season: he can really do a lot to rebound from it by becoming the leader of this franchise. The organization needs it to happen.
They came into training camp not interested in playing NHL hockey. They got beat down by Vegas, I think may have lost total confidence in their ability to compete in the NHL of today, and just didn't care. They were 30th when Stevens was fired, and they finished the season 30th. I would say that's probably why all we hear anymore is about the ground floor. It's basic practice habits, it's growth of the team, etc. Which can't be fun for the vets, because it's like the equivalent of having to get an entry-level job at 45 again. Worked hard before, had some success, things go sideways, and you have to start over from the bottom, but now you're the weird old dude.
You'd think Doughty was 50. He's not even 30 yet, and he's talking about back in his day.
One thing to consider even though it will be one of the more difficult moves to make , is Quick to Carolina for Faulk +. We need a RHD and Quick will put Carolina over the hump with that Defense infront of him and the depth and young talent they have throughout all 4 lines is truly remarkable . They also still have amazing talent coming up in their pipeline ; they draft and develop well. I can see Quick winning a cup there if there is a trade to be made .
You're definitely going to have to take one of their veteran goalies back, because both Reimer and Mrazek have one way deals, at $3m in cash each. That doesn't help clear up the crease logjam the Kings have, but one of those two would have to come back, since no third team is going to be trading for either of those two in the near(or likely far) future. Faulk just turned 27 in March, and Quick is turning 34 in January. Quick's age, term, and the money still owed him(it's still $7m cash this year) works against his value, so no sure where the + is coming from on Carolina's end, unless that plus is one of those goalies. It's likely Blake would have to be the one adding.
Look at what goalies have gone for. They don't cost Faulk level players, even in their UFA year. RHD that can add some offense and eat minutes? They can do better than a soon to be 34 year old goalie with 4 years left for that. They already went this entire off-season not getting Quick. Traded Darling(for another goalie), and re-signed Mrazek on July 1st, and giving him a raise in doing so. Seems like the Canes are satisfied with their goalies.
It's not all Quick's fault, but he did just have a career worst season(which looks even worse when compared to the other two goalies that played last year). He's had a few injuries the last few year years. Not all his fault, but he has 1 playoff win in 5 years. His best playoff run came 7 years ago. Just because Carolina got to the 3rd round, it doesn't mean they're on the cusp of greatness. Since 2002, they've made the playoffs 4 times, and all they do is get to at least the 3rd round. However, they haven't made the playoffs 2 years in a row, other than 2001 and 2002.
There's a reason Quick is still a King. Understandably, we have an emotional connection to him, for everything that he's done, but other than past success, which is at least half a decade old, realistically there aren't many check marks in the pro column for other teams acquiring him. Maybe after this season, when his salary drops by half, but even then, teams still have to account for him for 3 additional seasons. Now is when the 10 year contract is a problem. Even though the Kings have only gotten 1 contending season out of Quick's deal(again, not all his fault), now is when Lombardi trying to cheat the cap hurts the most. Of course Lombardi is no longer around to see it, but that was likely going to be the case. When Quick got the contract, who knew that Campbell and Petersen would be around, but since they are, now is when it hurts.
