GDT: 2020-21 season game 49 LA Kings vs Anaheim Ducks @7:00pm 5/1/21

[HookKing]

I didn't really watch the game. Had in on in the corner of my room but didn't pay much attention. Everytime I looked it seemed like the Ducks scored another goal.

Body language of the whole team looked pretty bad. Morale is low.

Kopitar had 14:37 in ice time. Is that right? Did something happen?

It looks to me like the team just isn't "buying" TM's system. This quote from him the other day is rather ominous in my view -- "If you still don’t know where to go at a certain time, or have a certain coverage down pat by now, shame on you, you probably don’t belong in the league."

The next logical step of course would be to fire all the players.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I didn't really watch the game. Had in on in the corner of my room but didn't pay much attention. Everytime I looked it seemed like the Ducks scored another goal.

Body language of the whole team looked pretty bad. Morale is low.

Kopitar had 14:37 in ice time. Is that right? Did something happen?

Brown also had the least amount of time of anyone on the team.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I didn't really watch the game. Had in on in the corner of my room but didn't pay much attention. Everytime I looked it seemed like the Ducks scored another goal.

Body language of the whole team looked pretty bad. Morale is low.

Kopitar had 14:37 in ice time. Is that right? Did something happen?

Worst I've ever seen him play, bar none. looked sluggish and weak. Maybe a flu or something? In any case, it was as bad as his TOI indicates. No excuses. Ducks sat Getzlaf the other night.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Also as an aside i f***ing hated Cal's body language all night, kept throwing his head up, acting defeated even when it was close

Appreciate him in general but tonight was a stinker and he was feeding it with his bullshit emotion

Another Iafallo type decision coming up with him very soon.

 

[tomd]

It looks to me like the team just isn't "buying" TM's system. This quote from him the other day is rather ominous in my view -- "If you still don’t know where to go at a certain time, or have a certain coverage down pat by now, shame on you, you probably don’t belong in the league."

The next logical step of course would be to fire all the players.

Didn't Blake already do that? Meet the new players, same as the old players?

 

[BringTheReign]

I mean, they're probably not happy that Carter was traded. They're meaning Kopi, Brown, etc. I do remember TMac or Blake saying something to the effect of "the trades are over" in the middle of this season when we were competitive. They may feel doubly bad about a longtime teammate leaving when they thought the fire sale trades weren't going to happen.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I mean, they're probably not happy that Carter was traded. They're meaning Kopi, Brown, etc. I do remember TMac or Blake saying something to the effect of "the trades are over" in the middle of this season when we were competitive. They may feel doubly bad about a longtime teammate leaving when they thought the fire sale trades weren't going to happen.

I don't think that is the case. From all accounts, Blake reached out to Carter and get his permission (even though not required) to move him to Pittsburgh. I doubt the vets are pouting because of this.

 

[bland]

I don't think that is the case. From all accounts, Blake reached out to Carter and get his permission (even though not required) to move him to Pittsburgh. I doubt the vets are pouting because of this.

Those vets have quit on Terry Murray, Darryl Sutter, John Stevens, never entertained showing up for Willie Desjardins and quit on this season a month ago.

Darryl Sutter is the only coach who wrestled control of the team away from the players, and he is the only one who ever brought them success - ANY success.

Maybe its about time that this fanbase started to realize that some of this "core" is a far bigger part of the real problem than they want to know.

 

[MBH]

Worst I've ever seen him play, bar none. looked sluggish and weak. Maybe a flu or something? In any case, it was as bad as his TOI indicates. No excuses. Ducks sat Getzlaf the other night.

I believe it was goal 3 where Kopitar flubbed a pass near his own blueline. Anaheim intercepted and scored.
The entire team has been flat for quite awhile. But it just hit a new level last night.

 

[MBH]

He played 12 second less than Kopitar. I'm not sure that's being benched, I think it was being less noticible, which he was. He was out there for one of the goals late in the 3rd , and the last shift too.

The goal Byfield was out there for was the defense getting beat to a bad rebound.
Byfield hasn't been as sharp these last two games.
But he hasn't looked bad either.

He's not really ready. I ranked him as my #1 prospect in last year's draft and still do. But I always said there will be growing pains.

 

[tomd]

Those vets have quit on Terry Murray, Darryl Sutter, John Stevens, never entertained showing up for Willie Desjardins and quit on this season a month ago.

Darryl Sutter is the only coach who wrestled control of the team away from the players, and he is the only one who ever brought them success - ANY success.

Maybe its about time that this fanbase started to realize that some of this "core" is a far bigger part of the real problem than they want to know.

Not really seeing that as the "core" is down to 4 players and 3 of them are leading the team in scoring (the other being Quick). Recent games aside, this team without Doughty, Kopitar, and Brown wouldn't be able to make the AHL playoffs.

Let's be super honest here...Blake has been at the helm for 4 years and has taken virtually zero steps to bring legitimate talent to the NHL roster. That has to change this summer. Can't expect 19 and 20 year-olds to come in and be gifted top 6 forward positions. Can't go into next year missing an entire 2nd line again or a top 4 LHD. The rot is at the top.

 

[BigKing]

Just finished watching it. Pre-season intensity levels. Team has quit for the most part.

Four games in a row against a rival and not one fight and barely any mean words exchanged. I think this is the lowest point of my fandom. I've obviously watched a lot of bad hockey in my time as a Kings fan but this shit makes me want to put my time and effort somewhere else and I'm a guy with seven season seats that's already paid in full for next season.

The lack of intensity can't be tolerated. I don't expect a bunch of wins at this stage of the rebuild but Blake and Luc are really assembling a p***y organization from top to bottom. What is this culture they are building?

Disgusting.

 

[SFKingshomer]

TMac:
"Let’s face it, we’re not going to make the playoffs, I might as well say it right now, we’re not going to make the playoffs. I just don’t see how that’s going to happen, and we have to get over the fact that that’s happened."

Could of been said 2 months ago.

They have had multiple chances to go on a little run to get in as bad as they have played. The lack of effort and comments like this are a joke. It’s time to clean house and find some management and players that want to win. It’s time to decide where they are at and put players in the proper league to succeed. If the plan is to not try to make the playoffs again next season than Byfield needs to be in the OHL and keep Ontario together. Where are Calder, Nagy, Handzus, and Preising these days?

 

[johnjm22]

Blake has done exactly what he's supposed to do since he got here; hoard picks/prospects and rebuild the farm.

But I do have concerns about the culture and environment around the Kings. As well as the cohesiveness of the type of team they're trying to build. Losing begets losing, and it's hard to get out of that cycle.

Everybody has their opinion on why the team is as bad as it is. But TBH, I admit I just have no idea why they're this bad. I mean I don't think the roster is good, but I don't think it's THIS bad either. I'm not totally sure what the issue is.

 

[Lt Dan]

It still hurts this morning. I think I would have rather been forced to hang out with vegans than watch that game.

 

[Bandit]

It still hurts this morning. I think I would have rather been forced to hang out with vegans than watch that game.

 

[Herby]

Just finished watching it. Pre-season intensity levels. Team has quit for the most part.

Four games in a row against a rival and not one fight and barely any mean words exchanged. I think this is the lowest point of my fandom. I've obviously watched a lot of bad hockey in my time as a Kings fan but this shit makes me want to put my time and effort somewhere else and I'm a guy with seven season seats that's already paid in full for next season.

The lack of intensity can't be tolerated. I don't expect a bunch of wins at this stage of the rebuild but Blake and Luc are really assembling a p***y organization from top to bottom. What is this culture they are building?

Disgusting.

Is there any point that AEG makes an executive decision and just ends this.

I know the situations are a bit different but in year 4 of the DL rebuild the Kings had their unquestioned #1 center, goalie and defenseman of the present and future and they made the playoffs and gave a pretty good Vancouver team a scare in round 1. I know Dean inherited two of those and Blake was left with a disaster of a pipeline, but DL also made some trades that set the Kings up to take the next step. Blake just seems to want to accumulate as many picks as he can without any idea of the process of building and growing those picks.

The Kings division might be pretty weak next season, but unless something really major happens this offseason or someone like Byfield plays way above expectation this team is probably a playoff longshot again.

Next year is year 5 for Blake, will that be it, will Blake and Luc be gone if next years team misses the playoffs? Rebuilds do not take this long and there should be more signs of coming out of it.

 

[tomd]

Is there any point that AEG makes an executive decision and just ends this.

I know the situations are a bit different but in year 4 of the DL rebuild the Kings had their unquestioned #1 center, goalie and defenseman of the present and future and they made the playoffs and gave a pretty good Vancouver team a scare in round 1. I know Dean inherited two of those and Blake was left with a disaster of a pipeline, but DL also made some trades that set the Kings up to take the next step. Blake just seems to want to accumulate as many picks as he can without any idea of the process of building and growing those picks.

The Kings division might be pretty weak next season, but unless something really major happens this offseason or someone like Byfield plays way above expectation this team is probably a playoff longshot again.

Next year is year 5 for Blake, will that be it, will Blake and Luc be gone if next years team misses the playoffs? Rebuilds do not take this long and there should be more signs of coming out of it.

Great post.

And look at what the draft under Blake has produced so far this year in terms of NHL results:
2017 14 goals
2018 0 goals
2019 2 goals
2020 0 goals

Apologists would say (with some truth) that the Kings shouldn't rush their prospects. Skeptics would say (with maybe as much or more truth) that their prospects just aren't as good as the hype...especially from 2017 and 2018 where stars are already emerging at the NHL level. Even the Ducks (who haven't yet formally made "rebuilding" type trades) have a more advanced prospect pool from the 2017-2020 drafts than LA does. It showed last night in spades.

 

[Herby]

Great post.

And look at what the draft under Blake has produced so far this year in terms of NHL results:
2017 14 goals
2018 0 goals
2019 2 goals
2020 0 goals

Apologists would say (with some truth) that the Kings shouldn't rush their prospects. Skeptics would say (with maybe as much or more truth) that their prospects just aren't as good as the hype...especially from 2017 and 2018 where stars are already emerging at the NHL level. Even the Ducks (who haven't yet formally made "rebuilding" type trades) have a more advanced prospect pool from the 2017-2020 drafts than LA does. It showed last night in spades.

People are going to tell you that it's "To soon to judge any of those drafts" and I don't disagree with them to a point. But it also would be nice to have had someone from any of those drafts really emerge by now. It's not unheard of for 19, 20, 21, 22 year old 1st round picks to make an impact by now.

Like I said in a different post, next year the training wheels have to come off for some of these guys and we need to see what type of players they truly are and what their roles are going to be going forward.

 

[kingsholygrail]

It's funny because there was such a lack of intensity these last four games that I actually didn't like them hanging around to hug Ryan Miller. I get it's the classy thing, but I didn't want them to be classy.

 

[tomd]

People are going to tell you that it's "To soon to judge any of those drafts" and I don't disagree with them to a point. But it also would be nice to have had someone from any of those drafts really emerge by now. It's not unheard of for 19, 20, 21, 22 year old 1st round picks to make an impact by now.

Like I said in a different post, next year the training wheels have to come off for some of these guys and we need to see what type of players they truly are and what their roles are going to be going forward.

With regard to the bolded I would only add that there are no prospects in Ontario that Blake should be counting on for more than minimal contributions in 21-22...and that includes Byfield. I look at Ontario and I see a bunch of middle/bottom 6 forwards and bottom pairing defensemen at the NHL level. Blake has to see that as well. The team desperately needs a talent infusion from outside the organization.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Great post.

And look at what the draft under Blake has produced so far this year in terms of NHL results:
2017 14 goals
2018 0 goals
2019 2 goals
2020 0 goals

Apologists would say (with some truth) that the Kings shouldn't rush their prospects. Skeptics would say (with maybe as much or more truth) that their prospects just aren't as good as the hype...especially from 2017 and 2018 where stars are already emerging at the NHL level. Even the Ducks (who haven't yet formally made "rebuilding" type trades) have a more advanced prospect pool from the 2017-2020 drafts than LA does. It showed last night in spades.

At least be honest with your posting,

If you want to compare draft classes, let's go for it.

2017 - Anaheim - 1 player to play ANY NHL games, Comtois
2017 - LA - 3 players have played NHL games and all 3 are pieces moving forward, JAD, Andersson and Vilardi

2018 - Anaheim - 1 Player to play ANY NHL games, Lundestrom
2018 - LA - 1 player to play anyNHL games, Kupari....

2019 - Anaheim - 1 Player - Zegras
2019 - LA - 2, Bjornfoot and Kaliyev

2020 - Anaheim - Drysdale
2020 - LA - Byfield

Undrafted players playing in that time frame

Anaheim - 0
LA - Walker, Lizotte, Iafallo, Luff, Austin Strand...

Blake hasn't done anything...WOWish.... like a Mike Richards trade etc, but let's not act like he hasn't produced players either.

 

[tomd]

At least be honest with your posting,

If you want to compare draft classes, let's go for it.

2017 - Anaheim - 1 player to play ANY NHL games, Comtois
2017 - LA - 3 players have played NHL games and all 3 are pieces moving forward, JAD, Andersson and Vilardi

2018 - Anaheim - 1 Player to play ANY NHL games, Lundestrom
2018 - LA - 1 player to play anyNHL games, Kupari....

2019 - Anaheim - 1 Player - Zegras
2019 - LA - 2, Bjornfoot and Kaliyev

2020 - Anaheim - Drysdale
2020 - LA - Byfield

Undrafted players playing in that time frame

Anaheim - 0
LA - Walker, Lizotte, Iafallo, Luff, Austin Strand...

Blake hasn't done anything...WOWish.... like a Mike Richards trade etc, but let's not act like he hasn't produced players either.

I think you missed the whole point of my post. Prospect pools aren't that hard to build if you keep your draft picks and draft well. By trading away most of the veteran talent and not replacing any of them, Blake is putting all the pressure on the prospect pool. There doesn't seem to be a backup plan at this point. And if you are relying 100% on building thru the draft, you've got to hit lots of home runs...and you need more than 16 combined goals from the last 4 drafts. Otherwise you are failing.

My only point in mentioning Anaheim was to highlight that the Ducks have consistently drafted below the Kings over the last 4 years and are developing just as many NHL prospects. I could have pointed out probably another 10-12 teams that match or exceed the Kings in drafted players from 2017-2020 making NHL contributions. And several of those teams haven't gutted their roster to do it.

 

[kingsboy11]

I like to think that Blake has a general idea of what this team needs this upcoming offseason. Its pretty clear this team lacking some veteran leadership throughout the lineup and needs that sort "not going to accept this" mentality. The mantra from a lot of players from the cup years was that they said they hated losing more than they like winning. We've been losing so many years in a row now that they've accepted it. At some point the coaching staff, the front office and the players need to step up and say enough is enough. I'm not saying go all in because we still are a few years away, but the loser mentality needs to stop.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I think you missed the whole point of my post. Prospect pools aren't that hard to build if you keep your draft picks and draft well. By trading away most of the veteran talent and not replacing any of them, Blake is putting all the pressure on the prospect pool. There doesn't seem to be a backup plan at this point. And if you are relying 100% on building thru the draft, you've got to hit lots of home runs...and you need more than 16 combined goals from the last 4 drafts. Otherwise you are failing.

My only point in mentioning Anaheim was to highlight that the Ducks have consistently drafted below the Kings over the last 4 years and are developing just as many NHL prospects. I could have pointed out probably another 10-12 teams that match or exceed the Kings in drafted players from 2017-2020 making NHL contributions. And several of those teams haven't gutted their roster to do it.

18 goals just from 2017, get your numbers straight if you are going to talk #s.

Between ANA and LA difference is 12 goals....but regardless, I'm bored, so let's go through the NHL.

ANA - 5 players - 33 goals
BOS - 3 players - 1 goal
BUF - 6 players - 50 goals
CGY - 1 player - 3 goals
CAR - 4 players - 93 goals
CHI - 6 players - 35 goals
COL - 4 players - 20 goals
CBS - 5 players - 21 goals
DAL - 5 players - 45 goals
DET - 4 players - 25 goals
EDM - 4 players - 20 goals
FLA - 4 players - 9 goals
LA - 7 players - 20 goals
MIN - 0 players - 0 goals
MTL - 6 players - 29 goals
NSH - 2 players - 12 goals
NJ - 8 players - 100 goals
NYI - 3 players - 16 goals
NYR - 8 players - 73 goals
OTT - 6 players - 95 goals
PHI - 5 players - 60 goals
PHX - 6 players - 4 goals
PIT - 1 player - 0 goals
SJ - 5 players - 21 goals
STL - 2 players - 23 goals
TB - 3 players - 9 goals
TOR - 3 players - 1 goal
VAN - 5 players - 85 goals
VGS - 4 players - 42 goals
WSH - 2 players - 0 goals
WPG - 3 players - 3 goals


Tell me again those dozen teams etc?