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

[GoldenBearHockey]

Someone should tell him that Rask doesn't even have an NHL contract and he names him as a reason Bruins are in the hunt...lol

Someone should probably tell you, we were talking about years past.....

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

What do you think the Kings could realistically trade Quick for? Would you trade him?

I don't know if you can/should trade him, who does that leave, Sparks and Peterson? You HAVE to play competitive games, if you want the kids to grow, I don't know if Sparks or Peterson are capable of that at this point

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Unfortunately I think you are right. What a want for Kopitar is to lead the charge on the ice like he did the first few games. However he seems off the pace. If he can get back to his early season form he can seriously help the development of the players coming through both indirectly and directly but this version is a concern to say the least. I say that as a Kopitar homer that has to think/hope he’s playing hurt or something.

One of Kopitars last shifts last night in the 3rd, where he literally went to the middle twice and had the entire bench looking at each other as that's the first time they've seen that in years, and the whole arena shocked into silence,

That's the Kopitar you want, and if he can't do that, then you have to look at all options.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

One of Kopitars last shifts last night in the 3rd, where he literally went to the middle twice and had the entire bench looking at each other as that's the first time they've seen that in years, and the whole arena shocked into silence,

That's the Kopitar you want, and if he can't do that, then you have to look at all options.

He did that in Las Vegas the game before.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He did that in Las Vegas the game before.

Did he mean to?

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Did he mean to?

Hahahaha.

 

[funky]

In reality

Kopitar and Doughty are going nowhere. They are franchise players with massive contracts a la Toews and Kane. They won’t approve trades to teams that can afford them and the teams that could use them don’t have the cap.

Brown is done after this year.

Quick is a tough one. 2 years left. Cheap contract dollar wise and Cal has done nothing to inspire confidence.


Danault, Iafallo and Kempe are the next wave, age tier, etc. They are not franchise guys but good effective players and 2 are lead by example. Kempe at least is starting to break out.


Our next tier are getting their minor league and some NHL reps in. Kaliyev, Kapari, Turcotte are all high skill guys but it will be Byfield and Clarke that bring the offence.

still see the foundation although some Coaching and management moves confuse. We are still in good shape regardless the doom and gloom around here

 

[YAYSAY]

I still say that Kaliyev’s place in the lineup is two fold:

He is being sheltered as a rookie.

The line’s success is keeping it together which in turn keeps him from other looks on different lines.

I think last night's game put to rest the whole "being sheltered" excuse for why he's not in the top 6. Lizottes line was constantly out there against the Canucks top line. But I guess you could argue Lizottes line was essentially our second line with the way they were playing and being used. As you say, it's just that Lizottes line is clicking so well they don't wanna mess it up. But I hope we see Kaliyev with Kopi at least a few times before the year is done.

 

[Mats26]

I think last night's game put to rest the whole "being sheltered" excuse for why he's not in the top 6. Lizottes line was constantly out there against the Canucks top line. But I guess you could argue Lizottes line was essentially our second line with the way they were playing and being used. As you say, it's just that Lizottes line is clicking so well they don't wanna mess it up. But I hope we see Kaliyev with Kopi at least a few times before the year is done.

Chemistry for this team is of utter importance for any kind of progression. You simply can't move players around at will and expect they will click and prospects will prosper. If a line clicks, keep them together...so what if it is not ideal. Also this sheltering BS needs to stop. These kids are winners and won gold medals in pressure games, let them play!

 

[Statto]

One of Kopitars last shifts last night in the 3rd, where he literally went to the middle twice and had the entire bench looking at each other as that's the first time they've seen that in years, and the whole arena shocked into silence,

That's the Kopitar you want, and if he can't do that, then you have to look at all options.

That’s the conundrum though isn’t it. I don’t buy for one minute that ‘he’s done’ given his solid play last season and his explosive start, equally his recent form has been puzzling.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That’s the conundrum though isn’t it. I don’t buy for one minute that ‘he’s done’ given his solid play last season and his explosive start, equally his recent form has been puzzling.

That has been my chief complaint about Kopitar and Doughty, that they know they're going to get such stupid high minutes that they have to play on 'conserve' mode.

Imagine a Kopitar playing 18 minutes a night and Doughty playing 22-24.

That this staff doesn't do that even going after and getting Danault is just negligent.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

That has been my chief complaint about Kopitar and Doughty, that they know they're going to get such stupid high minutes that they have to play on 'conserve' mode.

Imagine a Kopitar playing 18 minutes a night and Doughty playing 22-24.

That this staff doesn't do that even going after and getting Danault is just negligent.

Disagree, you have no way of knowing if Kopitar plays that way knowing he gets 18-20 minutes....is it possible, yes, is it feasible, of course, but you just don't know that, if your argument is we should see, then yea, sure, but what do you do if he still plays defensive first. I don't know if it was you or another poster, I am leaning towards another poster saying that they were sick of watching players like Kopitar take the pessimistic view of the play and take up the defensive side....I don't think there is a hockey coach alive or dead, that would advocate for anything BUT THAT.....another poster said you can teach offense, but not defense, or something like that, that's backasswards as well, offensive talent is either there or it's not, you can cultivate it, shape it, enhance it, but if you don't have hands, you don't have hands, however you can absolutely teach defense.....that's what happens when players come from junior to pro, they have to be taught the tougher, defensive side of the game, because if they aren't, they won't make it in the NHL and there are absolutely countless examples of that.....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Disagree, you have no way of knowing if Kopitar plays that way knowing he gets 18-20 minutes....is it possible, yes, is it feasible, of course, but you just don't know that, if your argument is we should see, then yea, sure, but what do you do if he still plays defensive first. I don't know if it was you or another poster, I am leaning towards another poster saying that they were sick of watching players like Kopitar take the pessimistic view of the play and take up the defensive side....I don't think there is a hockey coach alive or dead, that would advocate for anything BUT THAT.....another poster said you can teach offense, but not defense, or something like that, that's backasswards as well, offensive talent is either there or it's not, you can cultivate it, shape it, enhance it, but if you don't have hands, you don't have hands, however you can absolutely teach defense.....that's what happens when players come from junior to pro, they have to be taught the tougher, defensive side of the game, because if they aren't, they won't make it in the NHL and there are absolutely countless examples of that.....

Fair. But I'd argue reducing either guys icetime by freaking 1/3 would keep them fresher AND keep everyone else more involved. There shouldn't be spreads like there were the other night that have become all-too-frequent, with Kopitar in the 24+ range and the bottom six in the 10- range. Sure there are nights like when Kupari deserved to be sat for the third, but the other night wasn't that, every line was absolutely buzzing and there wasn't much reason to ride Kopitar to death especially.

That was one of the reasons for bringing Danault in but Kopitar's icetime has gone UP despite much better C depth.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I think we’ll see Kopitar’s numbers improve if he keeps Iafallo and Kempe as his wingers. Those are the three best forwards on the Kings, so it makes sense for them to play together.

It’s getting goals from the rest of the line up that is the question / challenge. Danault is going to play behind Kopitar when healthy and we know that the goals won’t come from him more often than once every 7-10 games. And Arvidsson is barely better with a goal every 4-5 games. Brown is there with Danault scoring every 7 or so games. You can’t win consistently with the second most minutes going to a group of players where you get 3-5 goals a month total.

There really are no internal solutions today for the lack of goal scoring. Best case scenario is to play low event hockey and rely on goaltending and team defense. That type of roster plus the mandate to be within striking distance of a wild card spot explains the ice time decisions. If one prospect breaks out under Todd but the team is a cellar dweller, he’s and his bosses are more likely to be fired versus ending up somewhere around 20th in the league.

Unless a prospect comes out and scores goals in 5 straight games, there is zero chance we will see anything other than a sad team desperately trying to tread water in the hopes of being a quickly forgotten also ran.

 

[Schmooley]

I think we’ll see Kopitar’s numbers improve if he keeps Iafallo and Kempe as his wingers. Those are the three best forwards on the Kings, so it makes sense for them to play together.

It’s getting goals from the rest of the line up that is the question / challenge.

Well the Kings three best forwards played together last game and they didnt even score. It was the fourth line that scored.
The third line looked really good and barely saw any ice.
You can directly blame the lack of goal scoring that game on Kopitars line so no need to question the other lines. Danault is not good offensively either and gets very little scoring chances. I really like the player but its such a weird signing for where the Kings are at right now.
If they do make the playoffs where he shines it will look like a brilliant move.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The simplest way to discover some goals would just be to have a powerplay that didn't keep stepping on rakes

 

[DoktorJeep]

Well the Kings three best forwards played together last game and they didnt even score. It was the fourth line that scored.
The third line looked really good and barely saw any ice.
You can directly blame the lack of goal scoring that game on Kopitars line so no need to question the other lines. Danault is not good offensively either and gets very little scoring chances. I really like the player but its such a weird signing for where the Kings are at right now.
If they do make the playoffs where he shines it will look like a brilliant move.

Yup, the Kings best line is good for a goal every 3 games or so. It’s basically a toss up where the goals will come from on any given night. I think this is the root of the inconsistency in wins and loss streaks.

That said, the schedule being impacted by real world events plays a major hand in what we see night to night. But even under normal circumstances, it’s hard to see the team being inside the top twenty in GF with this roster, if all other teams were also at full capacity.

 

[KINGS17]

The simplest way to discover some goals would just be to have a powerplay that didn't keep stepping on rakes

I thought the Kings power play was required to play with rakes instead of sticks. It won't be successful until they get that rule changed, or they remove the superglue from Kopitar's ass that keeps him stuck to the halfwall.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The most maddening thing about the powerplay isn't even the distinct lack of goals--it's that to get one the Kings usually are controlling play for a quarter period, then the PP actively saps them of momentum if it doesn't allow a shorty altogether. I don't understand how that can be an issue year after year after year (well really I do since it's the same personnel on rails for a decade but this un-creative org does the definition of insanity very, very well).

 

[Martyros]

The simplest way to discover some goals would just be to have a powerplay that didn't keep stepping on rakes

i mean, sure seems like stepping on rakes are the only 2 good balls the players hit on the golf course.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

They NEED AK on the top PP. He’s the only one that is willing to shoot that has a worthwhile shot. Ever since he was demoted the PP has failed.

 

[Statto]

Disagree, you have no way of knowing if Kopitar plays that way knowing he gets 18-20 minutes....is it possible, yes, is it feasible, of course, but you just don't know that, if your argument is we should see, then yea, sure, but what do you do if he still plays defensive first. I don't know if it was you or another poster, I am leaning towards another poster saying that they were sick of watching players like Kopitar take the pessimistic view of the play and take up the defensive side....I don't think there is a hockey coach alive or dead, that would advocate for anything BUT THAT.....another poster said you can teach offense, but not defense, or something like that, that's backasswards as well, offensive talent is either there or it's not, you can cultivate it, shape it, enhance it, but if you don't have hands, you don't have hands, however you can absolutely teach defense.....that's what happens when players come from junior to pro, they have to be taught the tougher, defensive side of the game, because if they aren't, they won't make it in the NHL and there are absolutely countless examples of that.....

It’s not so much about playing more offensive or defensive with fewer minutes but with more intensity. There is definitely some intensity missing in Kopitars play for a while now.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

It’s not so much about playing more offensive or defensive with fewer minutes but with more intensity. There is definitely some intensity missing in Kopitars play for a while now.

Think back, has he ever had it? Seems like his whole career was just...steady, steady, steady, steady, steady..... never too high, never too low etc.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Doughty and Kopitar can be moved. They just can't be moved in a way that would be advantageous for the Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Think back, has he ever had it? Seems like his whole career was just...steady, steady, steady, steady, steady..... never too high, never too low etc.

I agree but I think it's very visible that late in games and on B2Bs he is absolutely hurting, dude could hardly get up and down the ice in OT.

He's 34 and has played more hockey than nearly anyone in the world over the last decade...he's still an amazing player but I don't see why this org doesn't believe in 'load management' for him and Drew especially with the depth behind them that can play the defensive minutes so they can get some softer minutes.