Speculation: 2021-22 LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread Part VI

[Raccoon Jesus]

Umm, he has been.....some of you seem very disconnected with what is actually going on.

You're defending a guy's presence on the PP who has literally not one PP point this season. Not one.

I'm convinced you're an alt account and this act is just a comedy bit.

Edit: I take that back, in a roundabout way, you're right...it WOULD be hard to replace Brown's presence in that someone else standing near the net would at least have a puck go in off their ass or something...he is certainly 'important' to the league's bottom-third power play that has given up more shorthanded goals than anyone but the Devils.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You're defending a guy's presence on the PP who has literally not one PP point this season. Not one.

I'm convinced you're an alt account and this act is just a comedy bit.

Not defending him, just wondering who else people would put in,

More railing against the bat shit craziness that is running rampant lately, than defending any one thing.

I will reiterate, people are pissed off that a guy who has less than 60 pro games, as a PRO...isn't playing in the NHL....not to mention his injury history, can we see if the guy can play a full season against men first? Or should we rush him up and just leave him be, let's make him another Caufield...right?

You yourself are arguing that kids aren't being played in the AHL, when....they are playing....in the AHL, you are upset that Frk, and Tynan, and Tkachev are playing more minutes than guys who have been pros for less than a goddamn season.....I mean, shit, do you want to develop the kids, or do you just want to plaster them?

Tell me, how do you think development works? That you get drafted 1st round, and you get top six minutes, regardless? Is that how that works? There's a reason why there is a rule that teams must dress 5 vets....most of it is financial, but there is a common sense element that is utterly lacking in these complaints,

You think there's a logjam of forwards, AA, Moore, Lizotte, that are blocking guys that don't even have a full year of pro hockey under their belt, are you focused on developing them or not?

 

[Gjwrams]

There is no chance players are going to the Olympics

for sure. I think WJ could get canceled as well

 

[The Lukeman]

for sure. I think WJ could get canceled as well

As of rn I don't think WJC will be canceled. Maybe a bubble if things get worse, but NHL to the Olympics was canceled because of China's quarantine policy. 5 weeks in the CCP is not the same as a quarantine in Edmonton.

 

[King'sPawn]

PS Kaliyev has 1 more point than A Lafreniere, with Lafreniere having 40 sec more avg TOI and on a much better offensive team.

It's great, although I think the Rangers are junk at developing top end talent up front, too.

The Kings have to do better than Toffoli, Pearson and Kempe as far as developing top-6 forward talent, because they won't have Kopitar carrying the load for too much longer playing at this level.

They do a great job developing reliable, top-4 defensemen year after year, and don't need a top pick to draw out the best talents.

It's a bit maddening that people fail to look at the complete body of work and continue to toss out lame excuses to valid concerns, but here we are. I'm done fighting the excuses.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Oh wait shit....we are going game to game....is that it now? Measuring players worth via game to game?

You new ? Posters here routinely whine and complain about every shift let alone game.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You new ? Posters here routinely whine and complain about every shift let alone game.

Bitching about bitching isn't a much better look. The metacommentary doesn't serve any purpose other than circlejerking how much cooler it is to not chat about the Kings while on a board whose express purpose is...well you get the rest.

It's a discussion board with a logout button. Act accordingly.

 

[King'sPawn]

Bitching about bitching isn't a much better look. The metacommentary doesn't serve any purpose other than circlejerking how much cooler it is to not chat about the Kings while on a board whose express purpose is...well you get the rest.

It's a discussion board with a logout button. Act accordingly.

Ffs, it's like people aren't allowed to comment about organizational shortcomings without remarks like whining, bitching, etc being thrown as a retort.

Are there really people who think the organization is perfect and can do no wrong? Is there NOTHING about the organization they'd want to change or improve?

 

[All The Kings Men]

Unless the "pause" is so the NHL and NHLPA can figure out what they are going to do, I don't understand what good a "pause" would do? Even shutting down the season until February is not going to do much unless you think everyone will have caught it by then and "We'll be good to go".

I think... and I stress this is total speculation... that the pause is more about letting players be with their families for Christmas. If a player enters Covid protocol my understanding is they stop traveling with the team until "safe" passage home can be secured.

If teams have guys enter the protocol today, tomorrow etc then they may wind up either missing Christmas all together or having to spend the holidays in self quarantine. I don't think it's necessarily about an immediate health concern so much as it is a Christmas logistics concern.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Ffs, it's like people aren't allowed to comment about organizational shortcomings without remarks like whining, bitching, etc being thrown as a retort.

Are there really people who think the organization is perfect and can do no wrong? Is there NOTHING about the organization they'd want to change or improve?

I just think it's funny that people that were calling me a purple-glasses homer and threatening to leave HF over it are still here and now mad that I'm critical.

The trouble I have isn't with different opinions--it's the metacommentary and the binary thinking, the thought that if you praise something that's your only view and you're a total homer; if you're critical, that's your only thought and you're a (Blake) hater.

I try to give people credit for having thoughts of more nuance than that but the last three pages are filled with hyperbole.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I will reiterate, people are pissed off that a guy who has less than 60 pro games, as a PRO...isn't playing in the NHL....not to mention his injury history, can we see if the guy can play a full season against men first? Or should we rush him up and just leave him be, let's make him another Caufield...right?

For the third time (at least), no. We are saying give the guy more of a chance on the PP in the AHL and give him a cup of coffee in the NHL. I cannot simplify it more than that for you.

You yourself are arguing that kids aren't being played in the AHL, when....they are playing....in the AHL, you are upset that Frk, and Tynan, and Tkachev are playing more minutes than guys who have been pros for less than a goddamn season.....I mean, shit, do you want to develop the kids, or do you just want to plaster them?

For the 2nd time (at least, just from me), no. We are saying if the AHL is truly a developmental league, I don't want a bunch of late-20s AHL/KHL lifers getting premium PP time over my blue chip 20-21 year olds. I cannot simplify it more than that for you.

Tell me, how do you think development works? That you get drafted 1st round, and you get top six minutes, regardless? Is that how that works? There's a reason why there is a rule that teams must dress 5 vets....most of it is financial, but there is a common sense element that is utterly lacking in these complaints,

No. We have not once said that. It is yet another hyperbolic inference from the insanely overreactionary voices in your head. The common sense element that is lacking in these complaints is a you problem because that complaint only exists in your head as it is a leap to conclusion from the idea that guys should start getting more of a taste.

You think there's a logjam of forwards, AA, Moore, Lizotte, that are blocking guys that don't even have a full year of pro hockey under their belt, are you focused on developing them or not?

I don't THINK that; everyone with common sense since the beginning of year has commented that there is a pretty obvious f***ing big logjam of tweener forwards that reduces the number of spots in which to give prospects a taste.


I'm not going to tell you again--no one is saying trade everyone and put 10 rookies in the lineup permanently. They're only saying a few spots need to be for kids to get a taste; that a guy like Brown doesn't NEED 18 minutes/PP time nightly and that's a good chance to insulate/try out a kid; that, earlier, one of the best lines in the NHL (and still is) was Iafallo/Danault/X (now Arvidsson, and I wouldn't tinker w/that necessarily) and that trying a kid out next to them gives them the perfect opportunity to learn NEXT to good players. That Kopitar and Danault are Selke caliber players so 3C and 4C should get a chance to experiment a bit, they don't need to be traditional depth checkers. In short, we simply disagree on the usage of vets vs. youth and it doesn't need to be this f***ing militaristic angry rant you keep going on, almost everyone else was able to disagree like grownups before you showed up with a sledgehammer. read what's actually on the page instead of inferring the worst possible cherry picked selective scenario and maybe people will treat you like a grownup instead of a crayon-eating menace.

 

[Statto]

This is getting fun… I should stay out of it but I’ll pick on a few points without talking sides

So you argue benching Moore, who is 26 years old and playing bottom six, which you DONT WANT TURCOTTE to play......to bring up Turcotte and have him play.....bottom six....yep, that's rational

Call ups….. when RJ says sit Moore and call up Turcotte it doesn’t mean Turcotte plays Moores role, someone else can slide down and Turcotte goes into his appropriate role in the lineup. It’s not always a direct swap, which you know. If we are talking JAD coming in it would be a a direct change and for my money I make that change by the TDL because JAD should be part of the longer term future.

The frustrations are definitely understandable even if I don’t agree with all of them. Brown though, it’s hard to defend his deployment and the argument to have him be the one making the room in the top 6 for the likes of Turcotte to get a cup of coffee is a strong one. He’s been better the last few games which is good and I’d have never scratched him he’s definitely playing too many minutes. He should be playing 15 minutes max to get the best out of him, age very much the defining factor. Those minutes can easily go to Grundstrom and Kaliyev (without call ups), both of whom have earned them. If you go through my posting history I’m a big Brown homer, but I can be objective on this.

There is no definitely no defence for the AA signing when the roster is already top heavy and I said that the minute it happened. The point that RJ makes about having a spot or two on the roster to rotate guys in and out is a fair one even if you don’t agree. It’s not a ridiculous viewpoint to ask that Turcotte gets 10 games, goes back down, Byfield gets a few, Turcotte comes back up etc. Personally I want to see that happening by the TDL, I’m ok with them getting a bit more AHL time until then. However, before the end of the year I want to see Byfield and JAD on the permanent NHL roster. I also want to see Turcotte get at least 15 games in, with Fagemo, Madden and Thomas getting at least a couple of games to prepare them for the off season.

Clague doesn’t bother me he never earned it IMO and Durzi is demonstrating how to actually win a job. Maatta is ok at a #7 and that contract is never getting buried in the minors and nor would it in most teams. With Vilardi you have to hope he figures it out but his body language is what I’m mostly worried about and he’s another I’ve always backed. We c an all debate how Vilardi has been handled but ultimately his back issues are the most significant factor. I’m not sure where we go from here with him.

I say all this as someone that is always positive and looks for the silver lining. I actually like Blake and think he’s doing more right than wrong and the expectation that he can’t make any mistakes is ludicrous. He’s in his first GM job and people still focus on the mistake of the Kovi signing even though I doubt he had a green light to do a proper rebuild at that time, (based on how the franchise has always operated). As a rookie GM he was always going to makes mistakes but he usually recognises them and deals with it. So, much of the criticism of Blake is more about how his first tenure as a player ended than anything else. I was over that a long time ago.

So I’m not judging if Blake is a good GM or not at this point because it’s still early in the cycle to judge how he’s executed his plan. However there are valid questions and concerns because the approach to player development is not clear to us but that doesn’t mean it’s not clear to the players. The team is definitely doing better than last year and if Kopitar were to get going again it’d make a huge difference as will having DD on the ice every night. So looking at the big picture something is going right but there needs to be some more youth integration before the season is up, because it’s about the long term future.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

This is getting fun… I should stay out of it but I’ll pick on a few points without talking sides



Call ups….. when RJ says sit Moore and call up Turcotte it doesn’t mean Turcotte plays Moores role, someone else can slide down and Turcotte goes into his appropriate role in the lineup. It’s not always a direct swap, which you know. If we are talking JAD coming in it would be a a direct change and for my money I make that change by the TDL because JAD should be part of the longer term future.

The frustrations are definitely understandable even if I don’t agree with all of them. Brown though, it’s hard to defend his deployment and the argument to have him be the one making the room in the top 6 for the likes of Turcotte to get a cup of coffee is a strong one. He’s been better the last few games which is good and I’d have never scratched him he’s definitely playing too many minutes. He should be playing 15 minutes max to get the best out of him, age very much the defining factor. Those minutes can easily go to Grundstrom and Kaliyev (without call ups), both of whom have earned them. If you go through my posting history I’m a big Brown homer, but I can be objective on this.

There is no definitely no defence for the AA signing when the roster is already top heavy and I said that the minute it happened. The point that RJ makes about having a spot or two on the roster to rotate guys in and out is a fair one even if you don’t agree. It’s not a ridiculous viewpoint to ask that Turcotte gets 10 games, goes back down, Byfield gets a few, Turcotte comes back up etc. Personally I want to see that happening by the TDL, I’m ok with them getting a bit more AHL time until then. However, before the end of the year I want to see Byfield and JAD on the permanent NHL roster. I also want to see Turcotte get at least 15 games in, with Fagemo, Madden and Thomas getting at least a couple of games to prepare them for the off season.

Clague doesn’t bother me he never earned it IMO and Durzi is demonstrating how to actually win a job. Maatta is ok at a #7 and that contract is never getting buried in the minors and nor would it in most teams. With Vilardi you have to hope he figures it out but his body language is what I’m mostly worried about and he’s another I’ve always backed. We c an all debate how Vilardi has been handled but ultimately his back issues are the most significant factor. I’m not sure where we go from here with him.

I say all this as someone that is always positive and looks for the silver lining. I actually like Blake and think he’s doing more right than wrong and the expectation that he can’t make any mistakes is ludicrous. He’s in his first GM job and people still focus on the mistake of the Kovi signing even though I doubt he had a green light to do a proper rebuild at that time, (based on how the franchise has always operated). As a rookie GM he was always going to makes mistakes but he usually recognises them and deals with it. So, much of the criticism of Blake is more about how his first tenure as a player ended than anything else. I was over that a long time ago.

So I’m not judging if Blake is a good GM or not at this point because it’s still early in the cycle to judge how he’s executed his plan. However there are valid questions and concerns because the approach to player development is not clear to us but that doesn’t mean it’s not clear to the players. The team is definitely doing better than last year and if Kopitar were to get going again it’d make a huge difference as will having DD on the ice every night. So looking at the big picture something is going right but there needs to be some more youth integration before the season is up, because it’s about the long term future.

Agree with pretty much everything here, when the morning rush goes, if it does, I will respond in further,

I'm not as sold on JAD as everyone else is, he's ok, I like the motor on Lizotte a bit more, though JAD has better hockey sense, but that's more of a personal thing probably. Byfield was slotted to start with the team before injury, not much you can do there, but the whole argument that the organization doesn't play youth, is a ludicrous one at best.

I agree with the AA signing, it never made sense, but he hasn't blocked anyone, ultimately you guys are asking the organization to rush the prospects, none of them with the exception of JAD have a full year of pro hockey. Kaliyev has been better lately, it's a good argument that LATELY he deserves more minutes, well, he was finally put on the PP, that's more minutes etc. Same with Grundstrom, beginning of the season he was terrible, he has picked it up,

As far as organizational mistakes, of course they make them, every organization does, I just don't think rushing guys who don't have a year of pro hockey into the NHL lineup, even for a a few games, is one of them.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Not defending him, just wondering who else people would put in,

More railing against the bat shit craziness that is running rampant lately, than defending any one thing.

I will reiterate, people are pissed off that a guy who has less than 60 pro games, as a PRO...isn't playing in the NHL....not to mention his injury history, can we see if the guy can play a full season against men first? Or should we rush him up and just leave him be, let's make him another Caufield...right?

You yourself are arguing that kids aren't being played in the AHL, when....they are playing....in the AHL, you are upset that Frk, and Tynan, and Tkachev are playing more minutes than guys who have been pros for less than a goddamn season.....I mean, shit, do you want to develop the kids, or do you just want to plaster them?

Tell me, how do you think development works? That you get drafted 1st round, and you get top six minutes, regardless? Is that how that works? There's a reason why there is a rule that teams must dress 5 vets....most of it is financial, but there is a common sense element that is utterly lacking in these complaints,

You think there's a logjam of forwards, AA, Moore, Lizotte, that are blocking guys that don't even have a full year of pro hockey under their belt, are you focused on developing them or not?

Kupari, Andersson, Grundstrum, Iafallo.

Kupari is a special talent that needs PP time to let his offensive skills shine better. Not a guy for the net front position but maybe bumper spot or wall wing.

Andersson played well the first preseason in that net front spot before getting hurt and looked good this season too.

Grundstrum is a mini Brown on the ice (without the big hits) and is always strong around the net.

Iafallo would be the perfect net front guy as he has all the tools, smarts, stick skills for tips and rebounds, willingness to do the dirty work in front.

PP1:
Kopitar = Right Wall
Kempe = Bumper
Kaliyev = Left Wall
Iafallo = Net Front
Doughty = Point

PP2:
Danault = Bumper
Andersson = Net Front
Kupari = Right Wall
AA = Left Wall
Durzi = Point

 

[Vino]

Batshit crazy, to think that ANA has found an answer when they haven't done jack shit either.......and has no where NEAR the amount of young assets that LA does.

I think you have made several good points, but in my mind this one is not true. I think Anaheim's young core/prospect pool is a really promising and also pretty deep. Their scouting and developmental staff has done fine job (better than us).

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I think you have made several good points, but in my mind this one is not true. I think Anaheim's young core/prospect pool is a really promising and also pretty deep. Their scouting and developmental staff has done fine job (better than us).

Fair enough, I don't see it,

I see Zegras.....and who? Lundestrom? Sorry missed Drysdale, he's a stud, going to be a very good Dman, they have McTavish, other than that, who are you thinking?

Zegras - Byfield
Drysdale - Clarke
McTavish - Turcotte

Who am I missing?

 

[Statto]

Agree with pretty much everything here, when the morning rush goes, if it does, I will respond in further,

I'm not as sold on JAD as everyone else is, he's ok, I like the motor on Lizotte a bit more, though JAD has better hockey sense, but that's more of a personal thing probably. Byfield was slotted to start with the team before injury, not much you can do there, but the whole argument that the organization doesn't play youth, is a ludicrous one at best.

I agree with the AA signing, it never made sense, but he hasn't blocked anyone, ultimately you guys are asking the organization to rush the prospects, none of them with the exception of JAD have a full year of pro hockey. Kaliyev has been better lately, it's a good argument that LATELY he deserves more minutes, well, he was finally put on the PP, that's more minutes etc. Same with Grundstrom, beginning of the season he was terrible, he has picked it up,

As far as organizational mistakes, of course they make them, every organization does, I just don't think rushing guys who don't have a year of pro hockey into the NHL lineup, even for a a few games, is one of them.

I’m certainly not advocating rushing anyone. I’ve posted previously that I liked them starting AK on the 4th line to allow him to work on certain parts of his game without the pressure of a bigger role. Like you I’ve said it’s recently he’s earned additional 5/5 minutes.

AA hasn’t really blocked anyone as he hasn’t been available but strategically it was a weird signing at best. I get the criticism of losing Clague but I really didn’t rate him.

I don’t think you and I are that far apart on how we should be moving forward, just a couple of differences on specific players. Whilst I don’t agree with rushing players some of these guys definitely need a few games this season but there is still plenty of time to do that.

However I do recognise the argument for reducing the ice time of Moore and Brown given their production/performance. It really isn’t a crazy for others to say that certain players should get more of a look. For example Andersson, we know, needs a few games to get going so needs that opportunity. If you need to sit Moore you do it and giving Kupari a couple of games in the press box isn’t a terrible idea either as he isn’t looking like moving the needle yet (there is still time).

My take is that we do need to let Brown, Moore etc crap the bed until prospects are ready to take their minutes. The debate needs to be about them being ready or not, with Kaliyev and Grundström definitely knocking on the door. It has to be about what is best for player development but until someone properly breaks through (and breaks out) questions will remain, understandably. There is no track record of developing skilled players (maybe Kempe) so the angst is fair especially when certain decisions are questionable.

 

[Mats26]

It's great, although I think the Rangers are junk at developing top end talent up front, too.

The Kings have to do better than Toffoli, Pearson and Kempe as far as developing top-6 forward talent, because they won't have Kopitar carrying the load for too much longer playing at this level.

They do a great job developing reliable, top-4 defensemen year after year, and don't need a top pick to draw out the best talents.

It's a bit maddening that people fail to look at the complete body of work and continue to toss out lame excuses to valid concerns, but here we are. I'm done fighting the excuses.

It takes talent to develop talent.
They have the "deepest" prospect pool of forwards. Excuses are going to run out very soon if they can't get these kids over the hump.

 

[YP44]

Fair enough, I don't see it,

I see Zegras.....and who? Lundestrom? Sorry missed Drysdale, he's a stud, going to be a very good Dman, they have McTavish, other than that, who are you thinking?

Zegras - Byfield
Drysdale - Clarke
McTavish - Turcotte

Who am I missing?

Perreault - Kaliyev
Dostal - ?
Pastujov - Fagemo

If the prospects develop on both sides the Anaheim LA rivalry could get very good very soon

 

[RaymondReddington]

Umm, he has been.....some of you seem very disconnected with what is actually going on.

Arthur Kaliyev has NOT been on the ice for the entire 2 minutes (ala Ovechkin) of any Kings PP this season.
You are wrong.

Also incorrect (and dishonest) is that you are just wondering what others think about who would replace Brown. Statistically a pylon would be an improvement...and you know it. You are intentionally (and inappropriately) being provocative.

You are like politics that infiltrates professional sports...sucking the life out of and contaminating the toy department. Knock it off and let us have a joyous and provocative-free Christmas season.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Great discussion. No one can say that the Kings don't have a passionate fanbase.

I think Brown's minutes have needed to be reduced for a couple seasons now. How many forwards his age are still playing 1st line and 1PP? At 13-15 minutes a night
I think Kopitar is more affective when playing 20 minutes or less. Better use of minutes is probably a better way to say it. You can see him slowing down and him logging over 20 minutes a night just doesn't make sense if they hope to win playoff games. He doesn't have the legs to do it night in night out.

Doughty too. When he comes back, he doesn't need to play an exorbitant amount of minutes. Not sure he needs to be ridden like that anymore. How much more affective could he be at 21-22 minutes than 24+? Over the long haul of a season, those couple extra minutes take a toll on players over 30 yrs old.

Not saying anyone needs benching, but maybe their minutes slightly reduced.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Great discussion. No one can say that the Kings don't have a passionate fanbase.

I think Brown's minutes have needed to be reduced for a couple seasons now. How many forwards his age are still playing 1st line and 1PP? At 13-15 minutes a night
I think Kopitar is more affective when playing 20 minutes or less. Better use of minutes is probably a better way to say it. You can see him slowing down and him logging over 20 minutes a night just doesn't make sense if they hope to win playoff games. He doesn't have the legs to do it night in night out.

Doughty too. When he comes back, he doesn't need to play an exorbitant amount of minutes. Not sure he needs to be ridden like that anymore. How much more affective could he be at 21-22 minutes than 24+? Over the long haul of a season, those couple extra minutes take a toll on players over 30 yrs old.

Not saying anyone needs benching, but maybe their minutes slightly reduced.

Yeah those are things I was worried big about before the season, and that the signings were supposed to alleviate. But we still have Kopitar playing 24 minutes more regularly than he should, Brown playing 18, Doughty played nearly 28 his first night back, and then another 28 vs. Minny. If those are the exception than sure, but it's very clear when guys are in conservation mode and reducing Kopitar's minutes should be an absolute priority as should Brown's. More than once have they logged those minutes on a B2B or on a 4 in 6 and you can tell that they're toast by the end of the trip. Those are harder minutes than anyone in the NHL when you account for PK/defensive time as guys playing more than that are guys like McDavid, offensive players on better teams getting deployed like the weaponst hey are.

 

[YP44]

Great discussion. No one can say that the Kings don't have a passionate fanbase.

I think Brown's minutes have needed to be reduced for a couple seasons now. How many forwards his age are still playing 1st line and 1PP? At 13-15 minutes a night
I think Kopitar is more affective when playing 20 minutes or less. Better use of minutes is probably a better way to say it. You can see him slowing down and him logging over 20 minutes a night just doesn't make sense if they hope to win playoff games. He doesn't have the legs to do it night in night out.

Doughty too. When he comes back, he doesn't need to play an exorbitant amount of minutes. Not sure he needs to be ridden like that anymore. How much more affective could he be at 21-22 minutes than 24+? Over the long haul of a season, those couple extra minutes take a toll on players over 30 yrs old.

Not saying anyone needs benching, but maybe their minutes slightly reduced.

I can get on board with reducing Brown this year, not sure about past couple of season. Last year in particular he was the best option a lot of nights. To be honest does not matter, what matters is now, and I agree with a shuffling of minutes.

I still like Brown in front on the PP, but would be game for reducing his 5 on 5 minutes.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Arthur Kaliyev has NOT been on the ice for the entire 2 minutes (ala Ovechkin) of any Kings PP this season.
You are wrong.

Also incorrect (and dishonest) is that you are just wondering what others think about who would replace Brown. Statistically a pylon would be an improvement...and you know it. You are intentionally (and inappropriately) being provocative.

You are like politics that infiltrates professional sports...sucking the life out of and contaminating the toy department. Knock it off and let us have a joyous and provocative-free Christmas season.

Sorry, was your claim that Kaliyev should spend 2 whole minutes, like Ovechkin on the PP? Really? Because I read it as you didn't think Kaliyev was on the PP at all, either one is ridiculous by itself....

 

[LAKings88]

I’ve said it before:

The team is still in transition. More spots will be open next year.

I don’t like arguments based on “surfers” or “good ol boys” rhetoric without real evidence or tangible points. So much goes into a decision that we have no privy of. Not all grips are wrong and it’s ok to be critical but if you argument comes from these areas I have no time for you.

I get having concerns about development but I also think you need to give them a minute to try and develop. It a chicken before egg problem the board seems to be imbued in lately imho. I’ve heard that the NHL isn’t a development league many times on this board. Most teams/real life jobs function with veterans to guide the incoming prospects. Kaliyev is a decent prospect but he will be like a Toffoli. He also is kept on a line that is succeeding. I think that has a lot to do with why he isn’t on other lines. Dude is getting first line PP minutes too. Clague hasn’t taken Montreal by storm and may just not be all that. I think Durzi is what we hoped Clague would be. Is it development, player responsibility, a bit of both?

Some concerns have just permeated every thread. It gets old but it is what it is. People are frustrated but again, I think it is still a process and the next era hasn’t even begun yet. It’s hard to watch this transition when expectations are high for the future. The Kings do need to make forward progress this year tho. The stagnant bs of the last five years has ground many a fan down.