GDT: 2020-21 season Game #2 LA Kings vs Minnesota Wild @6:00pm 1/16/21

[Steve Zissou]

If this team is way worse than expected, how does that affect Blake? Is his seat getting warm? He has bet heavily on this aging core, he might die by the sword.

We are in year 2 of a rebuild after winning 2 Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

What on Earth are you blathering about?

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

We are in year 2 of a rebuild after winning 2 Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

What on Earth are you blathering about?

Lol relax brotha. It an opinion,learn to tolerate them.

 

[Schmooley]

Its early to make any absolute conclusions. My only real hope for the season is that its not a chore to watch the games. Even when they were winning in these games it wasnt much fun. I guess almost a decade of watching a power play with kopitar on the half wall passing back and forth to doughty who shoots it in to traffic is not exciting anymore. It hasnt worked in years but they brought in kovulchuk to shoot so that was cool.
Some positives are the roy and anderson pairing. Also carter and athanasiou remind me of when pearson first broke into the league and he and carter would connect for those far post goals on the rush.

 

[Sol]

If so, so what?? Minn DOMINATED OT, the Kings had ZERO good looks / shots. minn carried 80% of the play. The Kings were no serious threat -

For sure. Kopitar was the worst in OT.

I love Kopitar a lot as a player and what he's done for the Kings. But man, he's just getting slower because of age.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Another PK? Well Amadio is getting lots of ice time

Amadio isn't on the PK

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know there are a lot more observant hockey minds here than me but I really don't think it's as bad as it looks right now. A bounce here or there we're 2-0 to start the season. Still 7-0-2 in last 9.

These two sting but lessons will be learned.

Certainly not "losers", at least I don't think so.

These ones hurt but almost same thing as last game. Progress is guys weren't toe picking into face planting

Like, what kind of conversations are we having if Roy hits the empty net instead of the empty net post? If the answer is something completely different, it's worth some evaluation.

People lay into Jim Fox but he's right, Kings looked MUCH better in this game. Some self inflicted wounds, some shit coaching, and some absolutely shit bounces. This isn't a team that can overcome that. But I saw a good step forward tonight and things that can be worked out. This wasn't a team that was out of the game or outmatched. Tweak some things and keep playing like this and they'll be in most games as well as be on the good side of the bounces on some nights.

It's 2 games with a 300-day layoff and no preseason...like I said, they get 5 games before I start laying into anyone for really anything. Except the vets for the dumb drop passes and no look area passes behind the back, but that's a different complaint.

Which wouldn't be so bad if he actually did anything of value out there. I think he should've spent less time golfing with Gretzky during the off-season and more time conditioning.

Dude. The only people that averaged more time on ice a game last season than Kopitar played tonight are 7 #1 defensemen.

Those are STUPID minutes for any forward, especially one that covers as much ice as Kopitar.

I don't think he's looked good, but I blame the management of his ice time more than him for that, the guy has been near or at the top of forward ice time leaders for years, if his conditioning is suddenly an issue, that would be news for sure.

Also, another casual 27 minutes for Drew. That's problematic too.

At least Jeff Carter looks amazing and I'm happy for him.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

Blaming the players. Which in of itself, not a problem,they're the one's on the ice. But I can't help but feel he's not taking any responsibility, at least not with the press. If his players come out and aren't ready to play,like he said they did tonight, that falls on him.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Ah I see I see, just curious since Quicks becoming a UFA soon so I don't think they'd push Petersen quickly into a number one position.

Quick isn't UFA until 2023

Petersen is UFA in 2022

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Forgot Moore, he was a beast tonight too, perfect depth player. Seems to be a keeper.

Re: people laying into Amadio



Pretty much what we've been saying around here the whole time, he's a warm body with games and not a liability, but when Frk is ready he's probably going to the taxi squad. But you can't really take the guy out when no one is beating him for a spot, either. He's not been our worst forward over the last two games that's for sure.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I guess we can be thankful that things aren’t as bad as this version of the Kings.

 

[Sol]

Quick isn't UFA until 2023

Petersen is UFA in 2022

I'm just saying logically you're gonna go for the younger guy who has a lot more in the tank

 

[Sol]

Blaming the players. Which in of itself, not a problem,they're the one's on the ice. But I can't help but feel he's not taking any responsibility, at least not with the press. If his players come out and aren't ready to play,like he said they did tonight, that falls on him.

I don't think there's much you can do with a core who's already accomplished everything. And they're older players too. So I don't know how much he can motivate the older players. I see that. Still he should take responsibility but just giving context.

 

[BigKing]

Best part of this season is not being allowed to pay for season seats since we aren't allowed in.

Thank you for saving me from myself.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

I don't think there's much you can do with a core who's already accomplished everything. And they're older players too. So I don't know how much he can motivate the older players. I see that. Still he should take responsibility but just giving context.

You're not wrong.

 

[bouncesonly]

Kopitar with 25 minutes -- no Wild player over 20. I'm putting a lot of this on TM.

Probably cause Kings took 3286.3 penalties this game. Idiots.

Second goal by Minnesota was absolutely inexcusable by everyone on the Kings. Lazy shift changes, penalties galore, same old garbage power play. No way we're making playoffs with this D corp. Kings only got the point cause of Quick, otherwise would have been a loss in regulation.

 

[ru4reals]

I guess we can be thankful that things aren’t as bad as this version of the Kings.

Hmmm...I say give it another few games. But all kidding aside, this has been the Kings for a few years now so nothing surprises me. At this point I'm just hoping at least 1 or maybe 2 of our kids gives us something too look forward to in the future, similar to when Kopi busted into the scene then Doughty a few years later.

 

[kilowatt]

Forgot Moore, he was a beast tonight too, perfect depth player. Seems to be a keeper.

Re: people laying into Amadio



Pretty much what we've been saying around here the whole time, he's a warm body with games and not a liability, but when Frk is ready he's probably going to the taxi squad. But you can't really take the guy out when no one is beating him for a spot, either. He's not been our worst forward over the last two games that's for sure.

no amount of logic from you is going to stop me from complaining about amadio its just something about his face at this point

 

[KingsFan7824]

So I take it all you are okay with giving extra mintues to Matta and Anderson to make up for the lack of minutes MacDermid can play. Bjornfot imo has done all he can do in the ahl and needs to play in nhl to get his feet wet. I think the kings should field there best lineup possible.

It's not a matter of being ok with Maatta getting playing time. That's why he was acquired. That, and to have another guy exposed for Seattle. He's the 2nd most experienced d-man on the team. He has more experience than every defenseman not named Doughty, combined. 427 GP to 330 GP. Bjornfot is 19. If they ruin someone like Walker, who cares, he's already 26.

If you're still playing in any tournaments that start with a U, development time in a non-NHL league is not going to hurt. Most players aren't ready as teenagers. Plus his contract can slide, and that shouldn't be diminished in a hard cap league.

Anderson is already 21 on the other hand. Will be 22 shortly after Bjornfot turns 20. He's a guy the Kings need to start finding out about. Start hitting 22/23 years of age, and you're teetering on the edge of prospect.

Is this season going to be 50/50 Quick and Petersen? Or is Quick still the number 1? This has nothing to do with performance. Just wondering if anything was said about starts. Wasn't paying too much

Petersen should be getting the majority of starts. He's already 26. He's a UFA after next year, and Quick is going to be 35 on Thursday. Alright, the covid thing, fine, but if he's good to go, Petersen should be in there in for pretty much any game that isn't back to back. Good or bad. We don't need more Quick.

Again why is Mike Amadios on this team. He's freakin brutal.

$700k no matter where he plays.

Any more games like that and the Kings have to go to a Full-On-Youth Movement right?

No. There's a contract reality in a hard cap league. Other than the 5 old guys, the Kings are stupidly young and/or inexperienced.

Kopitar,Brown,Doughty etc have to play better. If they don't pick it up, we don't have anybody ready to pick up the slack. Also, if this team is way worse than expected, how does that affect Blake? Is his seat getting warm? He has bet heavily on this aging core,he might die by the sword.

He has? He re-signed Doughty, but other than that, where's the bet? Kovalchuk, but he's cleaned house as much as can realistically be expected since that.

Blake's job is now tied to the draft picks from 2017 to today. If they don't work out, then he's gone. One chance to win, one chance to rebuild. 0-1 so far, we'll see if he can break even.

Todd McClellan, all the players, the whole organziation expects to compete for a playoff spot. They've all said so in training camp interviews.

I'm sure players on Detroit think the same way. Players will always believe in themselves. They wouldn't have gotten this far if they didn't.

They're a bottom 5 team 2 years running, they have 1 playoff win since 2014, and their best players are still between 31 and 36 years of age. Doughty and Kopitar leading the way in ice time. 3rd on the team is a former 7th round pick. 4th on the team was undrafted. 5th on the team, 4th round pick. 6th on the team, on his 3rd team in 3 years. 7th on the team, undrafted. 8th and 9th on the team, each 36 years old.

You might be taking some words said in camp a little too strongly.

Jeff Carter resurgence?

seems to be lighting it up, what do you folks attribute that too?

You brought up analysts when I was telling Bandit how the Kings weren't meeting expectations. So, I'm sorry, but you're throwing red herrings out if you want to mention how I'm deflecting from your point.

A team who has expectations to make the playoffs, has a roster composed primarily of vets and journeymen, and blows two 3-1 leads in two straight games deserves to be called out for failing to meet their previously stated goals.

If you want to chime in how no analysts expected them to make the playoffs, and thus you don't expect better from them, then great.

But these are mistakes made by a young team who loses their composure.

The Kings have one of the least experienced rosters in the league.

 

[King'sPawn]

The Kings have one of the least experienced rosters in the league.

But among the most experienced cores - especially players they are putting in a position to deliver points and lead.

 

[kingsfan28]

All the LA teams sucked tonight! They still look rusty at times, which is fine, but man, 6-7 penalties a night is wrecking the guys getting into the game. Speaking of flow, Kempe with his first O-zone penalty[I expect many more] after blowing a great scoring chance. this may be a year of bad bounces when it comes to goals. I think 3 of the 4 were either off skates or weird shots created by our own guys. Walker was a hot mess tonight, especially in ot. I loved how he crashed into our own net bringing the puck out , fell down, and turned it right over.
That was just one ugly OT!

 

[Albi]

Our 1st line is definitely the best 4th in the League.

pretty impressive

 

[kingsholygrail]

Kings are averaging 3 goals a game. Pure entertainment wise, I'd much rather lose 4-3 in OT than 6-1 after giving up 5 goals in the first or some shit. And it could be worse. We could have lost to the Red Wings.

 

[KingsFan7824]

But among the most experienced cores - especially players they are putting in a position to deliver points and lead.

Who have contributed to 1 playoff win since 2014. And it's now down to 5 guys, 3 of which are 35+. We know they're not up to it. We know the depth that was supposed to help those aging players wasn't and isn't up to it. We have to wait for the post-Lombardi prospects to lead the team.

If this was a couple years ago, when half the roster still had Cup experience, that's the time to get upset, and we did. Today, it's a handful of old heads, a lot of younger roster filler, and the guys the future is being built around are just now inching themselves into some sort of relevant role on the ice, with most of those guys not even on the team yet.

 

[Statto]

I actually cannot believe the melodrama I’m reading. It’s like people expected us to turn the page and be ten times better just because it’s a new season. We have a bunch of guys that underperformed last year and it’s never going to be the case that they flick a switch and play great, even if they are mentally better prepared. Timing etc takes time and games, and with no camp of any note they are doing that work now.

We are essentially exactly where I expected to be, well maybe a point better off. AA looks better than I thought and Carter looks great, playing with a smile which is awesome. Covid protocol also ruined the short camp for several guys also, so that has definitely had an impact. The players from the WJC had little time at camp also, so getting some AHL time first makes absolute sense.

Those questioning why Petersen didn’t play, it’s because he was cleared late from being ‘unfit’. He’s not been able to practice, so it was never a realistic proposition that he’d start.

All I wanted to see from the game was improvement and we got that. This year is about development and seeing what we have in the younger guys. So, can Vilardi be a 2C in this league.... so far so good, but it’ll take time. It’s going to be a process and things will evolve as the season progresses. Points really don’t matter to me as I’ve never expected to be in the play-off race, it’s completely unrealistic.

As for criticism of Blake for saying he wants to complete for the post season. If he says anything else that’s when you sack him. He has to set high goals and expectations because anything else would condemn the team to long term mediocrity.

Regardless of people’s expectations though it’s 2 games in after a never ending break. It really is a bit early for the over reactions I’m reading on here. The ‘I’m done for the season’ post was my favourite. Just relax people, enjoy life and rest assured that things will improve with time.

 

[DoktorJeep]

People who expect to make the playoffs this season or the next two are thinking with their hearts and not heads. The Kings are still 4-5 years away from sniffing the playoffs.