GDT: 2020-21 season game 47 LA Kings vs Anaheim Ducks @7:00pm 4/24/21

[Fishhead]

Vilardi's future is as a winger, and I'm not worried about him in the slightest, with all the other kids on this team that can f***ing fly.

I mean imagine somethign even currently of Kempe-Byfield-Vilardi, never mind adding guys like Kupari, Turcotte in the near future. Vilardi's foot speed isn't going to be a hindrance for a guy with those instincts. If Corey dumpster dinner Perry can have a great career, there's no reason Vilardi can't.

For sure. Gabe is never going to be a burner, but centers have longer pathways on the ice than wingers. It's literally the toughest spot they can put him in skater-wise. Despite this he is holding his own and isn't noticeably behind on assignments.

Once that extra responsibility is taken away I think we will see an even higher level of skill from him.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Thought #11 had a crap game. 19 carried that line last night.
Thought QB had a great 1st game. Impressed, and know he'll show more when he gets more comfortable.
Good to see Andersson get his named called again. Hopefully he gets more than 1 game at a time. I think he can be an effective NHL player in LA.
Thought Kempe and Moore were solid once again.
I think Anderson and Bjornfot are doing excellent in their 1st real season.
Not worried at all about Vilardi. Kid is in his 1st season in the NHL and he shows flashes of high end skills. Consistency as with many 1st year players has been an issue. But the dude is honest with his game performance and acknowledges areas where he can improve. Nope, not worried about 13, he'll be fine.

 

[HookKing]

Three individual mistakes led directly to each goal. System ain't got nothing to do with that. Petersen, Byfield, Athanasiou - one let in a softy, one got caught a little slow along tbe wall in his first game at this speed and one got walked.

Kopitar and Brown were sloppy with the puck, but the rest of the team generated plenty of chances.

How was any of this to blame on the system?

One game sure, but virtually every game?

 

[Bandit]

Vilardi's future is as a winger, and I'm not worried about him in the slightest, with all the other kids on this team that can f***ing fly.

I mean imagine somethign even currently of Kempe-Byfield-Vilardi, never mind adding guys like Kupari, Turcotte in the near future. Vilardi's foot speed isn't going to be a hindrance for a guy with those instincts. If Corey dumpster dinner Perry can have a great career, there's no reason Vilardi can't.

Wingers still need to be able to forecheck. He won’t be any use there either if he can’t get on top of the D. I’m also not sure there enough puck to go around with Byfield and Vilardi on the same line. Time will tell.

 

[Schmooley]

Walker is not a long term option as the 2nd PP QB. He has a weak shot and seems to have lost his abililty to break out with the puck and keep posession. I hope his injury has not affected his game and it is only a slump. I am on the fence now about protecting Walker over Clague.

I would protect these players with 2 slots open for a forward and 1 for a d man.

Kopitar-Iafallo-Kempe-AA-Moore - xx-xx
Doughty-Roy -xx
Petersen

Yea I agree with the choices. Id probably go with Clague on defense because his upside can be better than Walker. In the last forward spots Id do Grundstrom and one of Lias, Lemieux, Wagner

 

[lexlavender]

With Vilardi's foot speed, even as a winger he will really have to focus on his positioning so that he can be on top of pucks when the chances come, and hopefully he's smart enough that those instincts will come with time.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Wingers still need to be able to forecheck. He won’t be any use there either if he can’t get on top of the D. I’m also not sure there enough puck to go around with Byfield and Vilardi on the same line. Time will tell.

With Vilardi's foot speed, even as a winger he will really have to focus on his positioning so that he can be on top of pucks when the chances come, and hopefully he's smart enough that those instincts will come with time.

I trust his IQ for positioning, and I don't think he's THAT bad a skater, honestly, as some of it looks like conditioning--regardless, at wing, I'm almost sure he'll be fine. He just can't skate well enough for C in the Kings system and that's fine (i.e. not real sure why we would try to square peg-round hole him into checking behind our own net with al lthe great skaters in our org).

 

[Butch 19]

Sooooo many more low points this season compared to high points.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Sooooo many more low points this season compared to high points.

It was about the same. The only difference is that we had a winning streak in the beginning this year while we had it at the end last year.

This is the summer that Blake will show his true colors. If he makes no moves, I don’t expect to make the playoffs next season. The young guns will need time to get used to the NHL and I doubt Kopi and Brown can improve from this season.

 

[johnjm22]

Vilardi's future is as a winger, and I'm not worried about him in the slightest, with all the other kids on this team that can f***ing fly.

I mean imagine somethign even currently of Kempe-Byfield-Vilardi, never mind adding guys like Kupari, Turcotte in the near future. Vilardi's foot speed isn't going to be a hindrance for a guy with those instincts. If Corey dumpster dinner Perry can have a great career, there's no reason Vilardi can't.

I like that line combo.

As I said, Byfield really seemed to get himself into scoring/shooting position often. It sounds like simple thing, but only the really good goal scorers have a knack for it. I haven't seen any other player on this Kings this season get themself that many quality looks in a single game.

Vilardi is more of playmaker and passer. A possession guy. You combine that with Byfield's nose for the net, and you may have something. That may be part of the reason Frk worked well with him. Also, Byfield is fast, so you want GV playing with that type. Seems like the perfect fit.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

I like that line combo.

As I said, Byfield really seemed to get himself into scoring/shooting position often. It sounds like simple thing, but only the really good goal scorers have a knack for it. I haven't seen any other player on this Kings this season get themself that many quality looks in a single game.

Vilardi is more of playmaker and passer. A possession guy. You combine that with Byfield's nose for the net, and you may have something. That may be part of the reason Frk worked well with him. Also, Byfield is fast, so you want GV playing with that type. Seems like the perfect fit.

This would be my second choice for a line. If I had my choice, it'd be Moore-Byfield-Vilardi. Moore is more effective than Kempe at protecting the puck in the offensive zone and being elusive on the cycle.

 

[Docgonzo]

This would be my second choice for a line. If I had my choice, it'd be Moore-Byfield-Vilardi. Moore is more effective than Kempe at protecting the puck in the offensive zone and being elusive on the cycle.

Same I’d rather keep Moore there than Kempe. They need someone with speed to move the puck along the boards and that doesn’t seem to be Kempe’s game.