GDT: 2020-21 season game 55 LA Kings vs Colorado Avalanche @6:00pm 5/12/21

[21Dog]

I used to think this team was a tragedy, but now I realize, they're a comedy!

The tank has been driven over the cliff.

 

[KINGS17]

I will not have to change my avatar for quite some time.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Look, I get it. Believe I was one of the few that stated LA would make the playoffs. But I'm dumb, and dumb people say dumb things. Most said they were a bottom 5-10 team. Spot on, yet you're upset for calling it right. This should make for a very interesting offseason. My dumbness is seeing a bunch of changes, though I doubt there's any change with the HC. The lineup is a bit soul-less and complacent, that needs to change. Hate to see some of the kids go, but I'm preparing myself for it. Fatigue set in a while ago, for me and obviously some of the players.

The evaluation process should make for some interesting reads and conversations here.

 

[tny760]

When someone, other than the keyboard warriors on here, questions Kopitars leadership then I’ll think he maybe unfit to lead. But why would I trust people who have Andy’s vs Brown/Iaffalo grudges against Kopitar over anybody who have never said anything but good things about him.

The captaincy is overrated, Chicago challenged for the playoffs without their intangibles messiah Toews.

If you can’t see that it’s been an organizational failure from Lombardi to Blake on stocking talent between the ages of 23-26, then I can’t help you.

But yes POINTZ and PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!

again i don't want to hold anything against kopi but sometimes there's a difference between a captain and a leader.. you know what i mean? i'm sure he's an absolute wealth of information and probably a great guy but sometimes kids need a leader that's gonna emotionally engage them, and i'm not sure that's in his character. sometimes setting a great example isn't going to rub off, sometimes you gotta raise your voice and not be everyone's best friend. i just see a looooot of ambivalence on this team and i'm not sure kopitar is gonna be the guy to make them shake it, so maybe the org needs to send a message that no one is good enough

it's just one of the many changes i think this team needs this offseason, cause this shit's literally just a waste of tens of millions of dollars a year

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't care to argue over whether Kopitar's 'fire' is enough to be a leader.

Look at his 1000pt ceremony and the reverence he has around hockey. That guy isn't going anywhere. Whether he's captain or not, he's a positive influence. Should he be THE guy? That's debatable. If anything, I'd personally give it to Drew at this point. But Kopitar isn't going anywhere because he's a f***ing model human being and an amazing hockey player that is a fantastic resource for the younger guys (as is Brown).

The 10 million doesn't matter, they're recouping that on merch and for f***s sake they need to hit the cap floor anyway, it's crazy how many people are worried about AEG's money when we are NOWHERE NEAR The cap, Kopitar's and Doughty's contracts have not prevented a thing thus far.

 

[bland]

I don't care to argue over whether Kopitar's 'fire' is enough to be a leader.

Look at his 1000pt ceremony and the reverence he has around hockey. That guy isn't going anywhere. Whether he's captain or not, he's a positive influence. Should he be THE guy? That's debatable. If anything, I'd personally give it to Drew at this point. But Kopitar isn't going anywhere because he's a f***ing model human being and an amazing hockey player that is a fantastic resource for the younger guys (as is Brown).

The 10 million doesn't matter, they're recouping that on merch and for f***s sake they need to hit the cap floor anyway, it's crazy how many people are worried about AEG's money when we are NOWHERE NEAR The cap, Kopitar's and Doughty's contracts have not prevented a thing thus far.

To play devils advocate, name some discernable instances where Kopitar has been a positive influence.

Point is, he may not be a negative influence, but not being a positive influence IS a negative when you are maxed out and counted on to be the leader.

Just showing up and being remarkably consistent is clearly not enough as leadership and accountability have been glaring problems with this core except in 12-14 when outside leadership had to be brought in to just win one playoff round much less the Cups.

There is no reason to think or believe that he is going to succeed in the role he has been cast despite being the teams most effective forward.

 

[tbrown33]

To play devils advocate, name some discernable instances where Kopitar has been a positive influence.
.

Well we are not in the locker room so all we have is quotes, I guess. Here’s just the most recent one from Vilardi:

“It’s good that we have a guy like [Anze Kopitar]; I can watch him because he always does the right thing.”

Otherwise I would echo RJ as not being sure if that’s enough or being “the” guy. But the young guys have generally gone out of their way to talk about being able to learn from Kopitar. Definitely files under the “positive influence” column. Based on his statements to the press, Drew seems to be the only one concerned with accountability. Fact is we dont know what goes on in the room.

 

[bland]

Well we are not in the locker room so all we have is quotes, I guess. Here’s just the most recent one from Vilardi:

“It’s good that we have a guy like [Anze Kopitar]; I can watch him because he always does the right thing.”

Otherwise I would echo RJ as not being sure if that’s enough or being “the” guy. But the young guys have generally gone out of their way to talk about being able to learn from Kopitar. Definitely files under the “positive influence” column. Based on his statements to the press, Drew seems to be the only one concerned with accountability. Fact is we dont know what goes on in the room.

Thats only half of it - we DO know the results. We DO see the lack of accountability. We DO see year after year of both lousy results.

Every single player on the team could emulate Kopitar and the team could still be a rudderless mess. There is a difference between being a good example and being a coalescing factor that encourages others to perform as more than a series of individuals for a greater good.

This team has never overachieved in the Brown and Kopitar era. Not once. There is clearly an ingredient missing in this leadership group that the 12-14 teams had in spades.

 

[Docgonzo]

Thats only half of it - we DO know the results. We DO see the lack of accountability. We DO see year after year of both lousy results.

Every single player on the team could emulate Kopitar and the team could still be a rudderless mess. There is a difference between being a good example and being a coalescing factor that encourages others to perform as more than a series of individuals for a greater good.

This team has never overachieved in the Brown and Kopitar era. Not once. There is clearly an ingredient missing in this leadership group that the 12-14 teams had in spades.

They overachieved in 17-18, 98 points 45 wins. Kopitar with 95 points while next closest was 61.