Speculation: 2021-21 LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster discussion part V

[AlphaBravo]

On a side note, I would love to see the C eventually go from Kopi to Iafallo. Iafallo brings it every game. He has really developed.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If there is a positive, in the last 8 games the kings played 7 one-goal games (empty netters still count as 1 goal games)... We are 1-6 in those games. It's not like we are flat out losing, but we are falling just short almost every time.

It is but it's not...because it keeps happening. we were saying the same after choking away in the last seconds of the Wild games last year. We're saying the same every time we pull the goalie and are unable to score a goal with the goalie pulled. We are still giving up goals very early, very late, and in bunches. We have an inability to hold a lead going into the 3rd. They're one goal games because we keep snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, can't play with a lead, and cannot get that late goal when absolutely needed. We are competitive on paper because of that--we are so close so often but it's just not enough WAY too frequently and its' been a pattern for 200 games.

 

[kings11]

It is but it's not...because it keeps happening. we were saying the same after choking away in the last seconds of the Wild games last year. We're saying the same every time we pull the goalie and are unable to score a goal with the goalie pulled. We are still giving up goals very early, very late, and in bunches. We have an inability to hold a lead going into the 3rd. They're one goal games because we keep snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, can't play with a lead, and cannot get that late goal when absolutely needed. We are competitive on paper because of that--we are so close so often but it's just not enough WAY too frequently and its' been a pattern for 200 games.

I agree though I will say this…
This years team is vastly superior to last years.. the play is better, the competitiveness is higher, they look like a team..
The gigantic Red Flags…
Toughness, we’re as tough as wet toilet paper!
Our defense is vastly undersized and lacks anything that resembles strength..
We need a Cernak, Soucy type of big Dman.
We need a Turcotte and Byfield.. we need to quit rewarding players based in their past performances.. aka Brownie needs to go on LTIR for a paper cut or something

 

[kovacro]

Sending Clague to waivers is INSANE!!! LOL

He already cleared once. Would not be surprised if he does again.

Most people had him pegged to go to Seattle in the expansion draft and they took MacD. Who the f*** knows.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

If there is a positive, in the last 8 games the kings played 7 one-goal games (empty netters still count as 1 goal games)... We are 1-6 in those games. It's not like we are flat out losing, but we are falling just short almost every time.

We can't even keep pace with the Ducks and Sharks!

I would have never put money down that the Kings made the playoffs this season, but they absolutely HAD to be playing meaningful games in March/April....but come Jan 1st, they should be 6-7 games under .500 so I don't see how that's going to happen. There are no positives to that.

 

[Fat Elvis]

One of the problems is thinking that the "core" know how to win. Relying on the "core" to win games.
Reality is that they haven't won in 7 years. With the amount of maintenance days the "core" is taking, I think it's safe to say that the "core" no longer puts in the work necessary to be winners. Nor are they showing the rest of the roster how to win. Amazing stories and memories doesn't help win games.

 

[Fishhead]

See, this is the line of thinking that is responsible for this mess and must be eradicated in order to progress.

Kids are supposed to struggle as they learn. Every single one of those players you mentioned is doing just fine. Maybe their individual potentials aren't top of the line, but they need to be allowed to show their strengths and not be limited by their weaknesses while they learn.

But they aren't going to be given that patience while the team thinks it has a chance at making the playoffs. Instead they are being taught how not to hurt the team instead of learning how to help it.

Those players are doing fine?

Trevor Moore - 26 years old and 2 points in 22 games this year. That's fine?

Andersson - 23 years old and a former first rounder. 6 points in 30 games, that's fine? It's not like he's been slogging on the 4th line.

Kale Clague - 11 points and zero goals in 33 games.. Zero NHL goals for an offensive defensman. That's fine? At least Ladue scored some goals and didn't put up a -11 while he was here. Clague couldn't even beat out 20 year olds to crack one of the worst cores in the league. And I like the kid, too, but that's the reality.

Sean Durzi - 23 years old and still hasn't learned a lick about defense in the AHL. It's not just mistakes he's making, it's bad reads, poor positioning, and forwards walk around him. I'm fine with him on the roster short-term, but I don't see him turning anything around. He's not a Karlsson where his skill is overwhelming.

Kupari - He's got upside, but he's not doing fine. With his skill he should be on a better scoring pace than Matt Roy. It's been obvious he needs to be in the AHL for weeks now.

The line of thinking that needs to be eradicated is believing these guys have shown they belong on a good roster. No matter how much they learn, it's highly unlikely any of them are around when guys like Byfield, Turcotte, and Clarke move up. I'm no Blake/Todd fan, but how have they not been given opportunity to show their strengths? None of them have been on the 4th line. In his NHL time, Clague has enjoyed 60% O zone starts, yet hasn't scored in 33 games? He sees power play time, no?

For me this doesn't have anything to do with the playoffs, I simply don't see a point of going through growing pains with these guys if they aren't going to be around. I'd rather see what else we have and/or use some assets to bring in a guy we know will stick around. I'd like to see JAD back up and tried on the third line, for one. Moverare has been pretty damn good, I'd like to see him get a look too.

 

[Schmooley]

Those players are doing fine?

Trevor Moore - 26 years old and 2 points in 22 games this year. That's fine?

Andersson - 23 years old and a former first rounder. 6 points in 30 games, that's fine? It's not like he's been slogging on the 4th line.

Kale Clague - 11 points and zero goals in 33 games.. Zero NHL goals for an offensive defensman. That's fine? At least Ladue scored some goals and didn't put up a -11 while he was here. Clague couldn't even beat out 20 year olds to crack one of the worst cores in the league. And I like the kid, too, but that's the reality.

Sean Durzi - 23 years old and still hasn't learned a lick about defense in the AHL. It's not just mistakes he's making, it's bad reads, poor positioning, and forwards walk around him. I'm fine with him on the roster short-term, but I don't see him turning anything around. He's not a Karlsson where his skill is overwhelming.

Kupari - He's got upside, but he's not doing fine. With his skill he should be on a better scoring pace than Matt Roy. It's been obvious he needs to be in the AHL for weeks now.

The line of thinking that needs to be eradicated is believing these guys have shown they belong on a good roster. No matter how much they learn, it's highly unlikely any of them are around when guys like Byfield, Turcotte, and Clarke move up. I'm no Blake/Todd fan, but how have they not been given opportunity to show their strengths? None of them have been on the 4th line. In his NHL time, Clague has enjoyed 60% O zone starts, yet hasn't scored in 33 games? He sees power play time, no?

For me this doesn't have anything to do with the playoffs, I simply don't see a point of going through growing pains with these guys if they aren't going to be around. I'd rather see what else we have and/or use some assets to bring in a guy we know will stick around. I'd like to see JAD back up and tried on the third line, for one. Moverare has been pretty damn good, I'd like to see him get a look too.

Youre right these guys arent that good.
Now do Kopitar, Brown, Arvidsson, Danault, Doughty, Roy and Mikey Anderson. The guys the coaches lean on no matter what that cant seem to get it done and look bad in the process.

 

[Herby]

I have never been as disillusioned with this franchise as I am today.

I agree. Basically everything this organization has touched has turned to **** since Martinez scored to win the 2nd cup, but this season is a new low.

This is worse than the mid 90's or mid 2000's. I'd love to know the structure of the Kings within AEG, specifically who Robitaille reports to. We know Luc will never fire his Al Cowlings, so who fires Luc?

The Kings have let Luc, Blake and their surfing and beach volleyball buddies who all never won crap with this organization completely crater it.

If you are Luc and Blake and you are called before some mythical executive board with AEG and they ask you what you have accomplished what do you say, honestly?

Failed coaching hires
Failed free agent signings
Failed trades
0 playoff wins

The glorious rebuild ? Rob Blake took over as GM before the 2017 draft. Since then he has had six 1st round picks (including a couple in the top 5) and eight 2nd round picks. Out of all his picks total (36) he has four players currently on the active roster and not a single one of those 36 picks has shown any flashes of any kind of stardom thus far at the NHL level. With the best players so far being a couple of defensive minded defenseman (because of course that is what the Kings can develop). Meanwhile down the 5 freeway in that same time span the Ducks are seeing their 1st round picks from 2018, 2019 and 2020 all playing key roles for the NHL team, and their 2021 1st rounder showing he can play in the league at 18 and should be right up next year or at the end of this year as an NHL player. Who knows whats going on with Comtois, but he has shown he can score at the NHL level too.

Maybe the Kings wouldn't have such issues getting high end prospects to take the next step to actually being really good NHL'ers if there were actually qualified development coaches as opposed to Blake's beach buddies. Even Wrobo, who everyone loves is winning at the AHL level because of AAAA players like Frk, Tynan and Tkachev are doing all the scoring. Those guys aren't going to score at the NHL level, so it doesn't really help anything out if the Reign are going to use the Chicago Wolves model.

We are living in another McMaster era, we just don't completely realize it, and won't until these clowns are gone and we can step back and see how much damage they truly did.

 

[HookKing]

Of the Kings picks made over the years, I've never been a fan of Kupari and Clague. I scouted both in their draft years (Kupari D-1 too) and was pretty disappointed with the Kupari pick when it was made, Clague too but that's a 2nd round pick so not as bad. In Clague I saw a mobile, smooth, smart defenseman who can move pucks but leaves you lukewarm all things considered, he was average defensively, with an average at best physicality and so-so compete level, despite the ability to move pucks I never felt like he was a big offensive weapon. Smooth and low panic threshold but not much there in energy. Average at best defensively, lacking a real physical game, just ok on the compete level. Moves pucks but not an offensive difference-maker. That's usually a #5-#7 D quality that doesn't provide much in terms of identity or "added value" to the team. That's what I saw in his draft year, others who saw more of him recently might see it differently if his game evolved.

Kupari was a case of tools>toolbox. Great skater, good hands, good size. Doesn't always know what to do with it or what his game is exactly. Willing to be responsible defensively. Not a consistent top 6 playmaking quality or consistent offensive reads at that level, even if physical tools and skill is good enough. Average hockey IQ. At best, he turns into another midle six toolsy guy with questionable consistency, another one of those who is meh when you think of "added value" or identity and I think that is best case scenario, I doubt he's actually going to turn into a 2nd line player. Not a bad kid, but I wouldn't use a first rounder on him. Nothing wrong with getting a 3rd liner with a mid or late 1st but it needs to be an "added value" 3rd liner for a 1st round pick to have value imo. Again, based on his draft-1 and draft year, perhaps he has evolved and those who see more of him recently might see it differently now.

Personally, I doubt either one stays with the Kings for long. I think Kings Europe scouting has gotten better, but it still has plenty of room for improvement.

I'm just curious, what amazing talent did the Kings miss out on by drafting Kupari?

 

[kings11]

Youre right these guys arent that good.
Now do Kopitar, Brown, Arvidsson, Danault, Doughty, Roy and Mikey Anderson. The guys the coaches lean on no matter what that cant seem to get it done and look bad in the process.

Sure, here you go
Kopitar - carrying an anchor named Brown and still producing despite being playing into the ground..
Brown - is a word used to describe the color of dog shit, which funny enough describes his play! Was hoping his last year as a King would have been better
Danault - was brought in to alleviate the defensive pressure off of Kopitar but someone forgot to tell TMac.. has played very well with Iafallo.
Doughty - has played very well this season and last after a few subpar seasons. Still our best Dman
Roy - has not been the same since he was concussed and had a negative offensive value at this point
Edler - has been a huge boon for us with his play and mentorship. Doing exactly what he was brought in here to do
Quick - seems to have been rejuvenated with the short seasons. Looks good and reliable unlike Cal
Kempe - Same old Jekyll and Hyde routine
Moore - plays all out but needs to score
Ardvisson - high volume shooter with lots of grit and tenacity
AA - incomplete, has been plagued by injuries

 

[KingPuckChoo]

If there is a positive, in the last 8 games the kings played 7 one-goal games (empty netters still count as 1 goal games)... We are 1-6 in those games. It's not like we are flat out losing, but we are falling just short almost every time.

sounds like an era where Sutter stepped in...

sounds like an era that many members on here were fed up of seeing

sounds like Blake is Dean Lombardi's brother, given that Dean Lombardi's brother was often dropped on concrete floors as a baby

 

[Schmooley]

Sure, here you go
Kopitar - carrying an anchor named Brown and still producing despite being playing into the ground..
Brown - is a word used to describe the color of dog shit, which funny enough describes his play! Was hoping his last year as a King would have been better
Danault - was brought in to alleviate the defensive pressure off of Kopitar but someone forgot to tell TMac.. has played very well with Iafallo.
Doughty - has played very well this season and last after a few subpar seasons. Still our best Dman
Roy - has not been the same since he was concussed and had a negative offensive value at this point
Edler - has been a huge boon for us with his play and mentorship. Doing exactly what he was brought in here to do
Quick - seems to have been rejuvenated with the short seasons. Looks good and reliable unlike Cal
Kempe - Same old Jekyll and Hyde routine
Moore - plays all out but needs to score
Ardvisson - high volume shooter with lots of grit and tenacity
AA - incomplete, has been plagued by injuries

So we mostly agree then. Maybe we also agree the record is more on these guys than it is the tweeners you singled out before. I want to say its a team effort but some of these guys get a disproportionate amount of ice time and shoulder more responsibility.

 

[johnjm22]

I don't think Kopitar is carrying anyone. I just think he's legitimately not that good any more.

He needs other players to carry him.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Sure, here you go
Kopitar - carrying an anchor named Brown and still producing despite being playing into the ground..
Brown - is a word used to describe the color of dog shit, which funny enough describes his play! Was hoping his last year as a King would have been better
Danault - was brought in to alleviate the defensive pressure off of Kopitar but someone forgot to tell TMac.. has played very well with Iafallo.
Doughty - has played very well this season and last after a few subpar seasons. Still our best Dman
Roy - has not been the same since he was concussed and had a negative offensive value at this point
Edler - has been a huge boon for us with his play and mentorship. Doing exactly what he was brought in here to do
Quick - seems to have been rejuvenated with the short seasons. Looks good and reliable unlike Cal
Kempe - Same old Jekyll and Hyde routine
Moore - plays all out but needs to score
Ardvisson - high volume shooter with lots of grit and tenacity
AA - incomplete, has been plagued by injuries

so basically "Kopitar Plus" fills in 2 roster spots?

it's like that Resident Evil game where you equip yourself with a powerful shotgun but takes more room in your inventory

i have an extreme difficulty with accepting this reasoning, despite it being literally the reasoning for bringing in Danault

we should bring in another player to handle the scoring then, so that we can alleviate not only his defense but also his offense! lol

 

[kings11]

So we mostly agree then. Maybe we also agree the record is more on these guys than it is the tweeners you singled out before.

I want to see Turcotte and JAD soon! They’re tough, hyper competitive and have the makings of our future A’s.. they’re also tough f***ers that can back it up

 

[kings11]

so basically "Kopitar Plus" fills in 2 roster spots?

it's like that Resident Evil game where you equip yourself with a powerful shotgun but takes more room in your inventory

i have an extreme difficulty with accepting this reasoning, despite it being literally the reasoning for bringing in Danault

we should bring in another player to handle the scoring then, so that we can alleviate not only his defense but also his offense! lol

You brought in Danault to not keep playing Kopi 20+ min.. Obviously that hasn’t happened but it seems you don’t see the point of spreading out responsibilities.
Our top 6 is a top 4 maybe a top5
Rotation - Kopitar - Anchor
Iafallo - Danault - rotation
Brown alone negates Kopitar’s effectiveness since he has to cover for Brown, much like Doughty’s effectiveness is limited if he is paired with a guy like Durzi who can’t defend his own shadow and now we’ve literally neutered our main two offensive weapons and best players… and that my friend, is very easy to see

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Those players are doing fine?

Trevor Moore - 26 years old and 2 points in 22 games this year. That's fine?

Andersson - 23 years old and a former first rounder. 6 points in 30 games, that's fine? It's not like he's been slogging on the 4th line.

Kale Clague - 11 points and zero goals in 33 games.. Zero NHL goals for an offensive defensman. That's fine? At least Ladue scored some goals and didn't put up a -11 while he was here. Clague couldn't even beat out 20 year olds to crack one of the worst cores in the league. And I like the kid, too, but that's the reality.

Sean Durzi - 23 years old and still hasn't learned a lick about defense in the AHL. It's not just mistakes he's making, it's bad reads, poor positioning, and forwards walk around him. I'm fine with him on the roster short-term, but I don't see him turning anything around. He's not a Karlsson where his skill is overwhelming.

Kupari - He's got upside, but he's not doing fine. With his skill he should be on a better scoring pace than Matt Roy. It's been obvious he needs to be in the AHL for weeks now.

The line of thinking that needs to be eradicated is believing these guys have shown they belong on a good roster. No matter how much they learn, it's highly unlikely any of them are around when guys like Byfield, Turcotte, and Clarke move up. I'm no Blake/Todd fan, but how have they not been given opportunity to show their strengths? None of them have been on the 4th line. In his NHL time, Clague has enjoyed 60% O zone starts, yet hasn't scored in 33 games? He sees power play time, no?

For me this doesn't have anything to do with the playoffs, I simply don't see a point of going through growing pains with these guys if they aren't going to be around. I'd rather see what else we have and/or use some assets to bring in a guy we know will stick around. I'd like to see JAD back up and tried on the third line, for one. Moverare has been pretty damn good, I'd like to see him get a look too.

I don't think anyone thinks Trevor Moore is fine right now.

Andersson is a mixed bag but between injuries and constant movement between ontario and LA it's understandable. When he gets a few games in a row he gets in a good rhthym. However yes, he has been mostly 3rd/4th line.

Clague, maybe I seem higher on him than I am, I think he's a #4-#6 guy on a good team, probably #5-7 on a good playoff team. My problem with Clague is the organizations evaluation of him and constantly jerking him around. He's also a different skillset than the guys we've had the last few years and is an excellent puck mover and good at wheeling it around. I'd like more goals, sure, but he puts up good points with his playmaking and skating. And also--keep in mind he's done all this with 1. an organization that clearly has no faith in him; 2. rarely gets put in positions to succeed--his most common partners have been MacDermid (ON THE 2ND f***ING PAIRING) and Maatta. This year, with Maatta, he's 44% CF and 33% GF; without he is 52% CF and 50% GF despite harder minutes. Tell me what you think is really up there. Doesn't matter though, guess which one they kept?

Durzi--I've constantly said I don't think he's an NHLer and if anything he's showing he can be a Marc-Andre Bergeron type. Good for him. But if anything he's a different look than the 7 clone two-way 6 foot dmen we have. Im starting to be convinced if TM could have 7 Olli Maattas he would.

Kupari--again I'm not high on him and yeah he needs some NHL time but a once-highly-thought of guy who led the AHL team in scoring is now being used as a checker.

You're also ignoring the KEY players--

Kaliyev--they're doing their best to turn him into Dwight King. Don't be surprised if he turns out to be a 'responsible' middling 20 goal guy to make TM happy instead of being used as a f***ing weapon.
Vilardi--turns out 4C was a bad option for him. Who knew? Oh, f***ing everyone else.
Turcotte--think they just straight up forgot him.
Byfield--sure sure he made the team but they were going to start him at 4C...look at how our 4Cs have been deployed this year.
JAD--playing waiver games with him like they were with Clague.

Not to mention Fagemo et. al.

I think it's an absolutely legitimate concern to see how all of the above are used, deployed, and evaluated and worry about the next (more important) wave. When no one is exceeding expectations...are you going to blame all the prospects and say hey we overrated every single f***ing one of them? OR at some point are we going to hold coaching, development accountable.

I was naive to think the Danault signing would actually be used to alleviate kopitars usage and insulate kids. I also thought maybe kids outplaying vets would mean the spots were theirs--nope. Zero accountability for the skating pianos on the team, but kids get absolutely trashed for a turnover. They have 100% gone against verbalized philosophy and maybe I made too many inferences and had too much faith. This is some of the worst mismanagement of vision I have seen in the NHL maybe ever. Are we going to keep punishing Byfield for trying creative things until he's just an up and down on rails bubble hockey player like everyone else?

 

[Schmooley]

You brought in Danault to not keep playing Kopi 20+ min.. Obviously that hasn’t happened but it seems you don’t see the point of spreading out responsibilities.
Our top 6 is a top 4 maybe a top5
Rotation - Kopitar - Anchor
Iafallo - Danault - rotation
Brown alone negates Kopitar’s effectiveness since he has to cover for Brown, much like Doughty’s effectiveness is limited if he is paired with a guy like Durzi who can’t defend his own shadow and now we’ve literally neutered our main two offensive weapons and best players… and that my friend, is very easy to see

Cant criticize Kopitar or Doughty even though they went on a winning streak without Doughty and in that stretch Kopitar was playing very average with maybe a goal or two and was a minus player. The first powerplay unit looked better with Durzi than it does with Doughty.
They are still great players but their era of running this team is over.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

I don't think Kopitar is carrying anyone. I just think he's legitimately not that good any more.

He needs other player to carry him.

He's still a PPG player right now on a crap team that can't score, and he annually goes into prolonged slumps.

 

[tny760]

I don't think Kopitar is carrying anyone. I just think he's legitimately not that good any more.

He needs other player to carry him.

someone call dwight king!

 

[King'sPawn]

Sure, here you go
Kopitar - carrying an anchor named Brown and still producing despite being playing into the ground..
Brown - is a word used to describe the color of dog shit, which funny enough describes his play! Was hoping his last year as a King would have been better
Danault - was brought in to alleviate the defensive pressure off of Kopitar but someone forgot to tell TMac.. has played very well with Iafallo.
Doughty - has played very well this season and last after a few subpar seasons. Still our best Dman
Roy - has not been the same since he was concussed and had a negative offensive value at this point
Edler - has been a huge boon for us with his play and mentorship. Doing exactly what he was brought in here to do
Quick - seems to have been rejuvenated with the short seasons. Looks good and reliable unlike Cal
Kempe - Same old Jekyll and Hyde routine
Moore - plays all out but needs to score
Ardvisson - high volume shooter with lots of grit and tenacity
AA - incomplete, has been plagued by injuries

Let's take a look at roles!

Kopitar: Top-6 center
Brown: Top-6 wing
Danault: Top 6 center
Doughty: Top pairing defender
Roy: Top 4 defender
Edler: Top 4 defender
Quick: Starting goalie
Kempe: Top-6 wing
Moore: Bottom-6 wing
Arvidsson: Top-6 wing
AA: Middle-6 wing

Versus:

Andersson: Middle-6 wing
Clague: Bottom-4 defender
Durzi: Bottom-4 defender
Kupari: Bottom-6 center

Tl;dr: One group is put in a big role to succeed, and is on the underwhelming side. The other group is in a reduced role to succeed, and ranges between below par and par.

 

[NikF]

I'm just curious, what amazing talent did the Kings miss out on by drafting Kupari?

Instead of stating an obvious player or the even more obvious answer that I would advise (correctly) against LA picking Kupari in 1st round, I will make a controversial statement. If you forced me to pick a Europe-based player, I would rather choose Arizona's 3rd round pick Jan Jenik over Kupari. Not in hindsight either, I had Jenik rated higher than Kupari in that draft year. We will see how it turns out. I think I've had pretty good luck with controversial statements so far (Brannstrom outside 1st round, Seider in top 10, I even pumped his tires as an option for the Kings, Jacob Peterson as a sleeper midround pick and so forth, all verifiable online). Of course, I am not 100% correct but generally the controversial statements tend to go my way.

 

[johnjm22]

He's still a PPG player right now on a crap team that can't score, and he annually goes into prolonged slumps.

Stats don't tell the whole story. He's really ineffective most of the time.

 

[kings11]

Cant criticize Kopitar or Doughty even though they went on a winning streak without Doughty and in that stretch Kopitar was playing very average with maybe a goal or two and was a minus player. The first powerplay unit looked better with Durzi than it does with Doughty.
They are still great players but their era of running this team is over.

Unfortunately, the kids that need to take over have been injured… shit, if we didn’t have bad luck we’d have no luck right…
Byfield - looks the part of a franchise center and earned himself a spot on the team and then….
Turcotte - Looks like a Richards/Toews clone..
respiratory issue followed by a belly ache
Brandt- Caught f***en Mono..
you can’t make this shit up!