GDT: 2021-22 LA Kings vs Winnipeg Jets @7:30pm 10/28/21

[KingsHockey24]

The days when a forward prayed Quick would get to them before Regehr/Mitchell/Greene would

Imagine we had a guy like Sean when we were getting our asses clapped 7-2 the other night.



What a f***ing WARRIOR.

 

[tny760]

I have this referenced here a couple of times in this thread, so I'll ask this question:

Do you really think what Lowry did to Kupari was a penalty? I don't, not at all - isn't that exactly what we want to see from our team? That was a physical vet showing a rookie that there is a price to pay for going to the net. He didn't rag doll him, he was just stronger and Kupari was off balance. That's the same exact thing Mitchell did every time somebody tried to get in the paint.

that was well after the whistle and completely disengaged from the play, lowry came in several seconds after everyone had gathered and took a guy to the ice. if they're calling those utterly ridiculous holds on kempe and morrissey, that was absolutely a roughing

i don't want all calls going my team's way, i want them to be at least somewhat resembling consistent. officiating was AWFUL in that game start to finish

 

[johnjm22]

All these complaints about the Kings being soft are misguided.

While there may be some partial truth to it, a large portion of it is simply the reality of the modern NHL.

Get over it.

 

[Telos]

I was there last night and can echo that Staples was very empty. The officiating was pretty weak, although I mildly agree with the non-call on Brown late in the 3rd though because he was looking for a call.

I loved the second line, Danault was very impressive, the only negative there was Kempe and his penalties. The only positive of the first line was pushing play to the offensive zone but once there they were there they were very impotent and ineffective. They need to be broken up, Brown needs to go to the third line. Finally for the forwards, I loved Kaliyev and Kupari, they along with Vilardi need to be moved up the ranks and given more ice time. f*** TMac and Blake fearing for playoffs, we need growth and these kids to step up and they are clearly able to.

In the end, the worst thing I saw last night was the defense. We are decimated, but even if we were healthy it looks pretty abysmal. Elder is easily our best defenseman, Roy looked decent and steady, and everyone else was very iffy to bad. Bjornfot is going to be good but he's still raw and lacks confidence - he looks unsure of himself and is getting caught with his decision making. Strand was trying but he is a #7 defenseman. Anderson is in the same boat as Toby,, just looks like a boy among men trying to keep up. Maatta was very lacking in everything as usual. I think they should trade or waive Maatta and give Clague or Durzi a shot. Quick was good enough, just lacks support.

The team just has no chemistry or symmetry to it. The forwards were doing alright with their passes to each other but 25% of them were to no one due to chemistry. Any passes involving the defense were absolutely atrocious. They couldn't pass to each other, I felt like nearly every pass from D to D was off and they were constantly trying to force passes or plays that weren't there.

The team needs to be shaken up. They need to put the kids in positions to succeed based on their skillset, and they need to get out of these stale unimaginative offensive structures.

 

[Gjwrams]

And that will continue until Blake can get some size on the backend. The D is simply overwhelmed and eventually capitulates. There is good news though. They have been in every game except one. Kaliyev and Kupari are looking better every game. Vilardi is a big concern -- showing up for a couple of shifts every game isn't anywhere near good enough.

The irony of all this is their biggest problem is they don't have anything close to a "BLUC" on the team. A guy that camps in front of the net and just finds ways to finish and a big D that can shut things down and skate, not to mention having a big shot.

Vilardi needs his ass on the top line with Kopitar and Brown needs his ass down on the 4th! make that switch and we improve already.

 

[bland]

All these complaints about the Kings being soft are misguided.

While there may be some partial truth to it, a large portion of it is simply the reality of the modern NHL.

Get over it.

Now this is absolutey absurd.

They are soft in both creases, soft along the wall, don't initiate physically, don't stand up for each other, and lose lead after lead - too many of which see 2 goals turn to 3 then to 5 without response.

They are the very definition of soft in hockey, and it is the single biggest reason why they are such a poor team. Talent and skill are better than their results, they just can't win enough battles or show the mental toughness to persevere through even small conflicts.

 

[tny760]

All these complaints about the Kings being soft are misguided.

While there may be some partial truth to it, a large portion of it is simply the reality of the modern NHL.

Get over it.

i'm not sure how we can collectively say that physicality is a bygone era in the NHL after getting checked into every collective piece of glass in staples and the scottrade center by the blues and the jets in a calendar week

 

[johnjm22]

Now this is absolutey absurd.

They are soft in both creases, soft along the wall, don't initiate physically, don't stand up for each other, and lose lead after lead - too many of which see 2 goals turn to 3 then to 5 without response.

They are the very definition of soft in hockey, and it is the single biggest reason why they are such a poor team. Talent and skill are better than their results, they just can't win enough battles or show the mental toughness to persevere through even small conflicts.

I didn't say they weren't soft. But a large portion of it is simple fact of the modern NHL. People are reminiscing about the old days. Those days aren't coming back.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

McLellan putting the Kupari line out to start each period and then giving them the least ice time on the team speaks to his ineptitude

 

[HookKing]

I didn't say they weren't soft. But a large portion of it is simple fact of the modern NHL. People are reminiscing about the old days. Those days aren't coming back.

They're already here. The central division teams are built big or did you not notice them camping out in the crease unable to be moved out?

 

[johnjm22]

McLellan putting the Kupari line out to start each period and then giving them the least ice time on the team speaks to his ineptitude

Managing their minutes is the right thing to do. If they play well they will start to gain more ice time and responsibility over the course of the season.

Good players eventually force the coach to play them.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Managing their minutes is the right thing to do. If they play well they will start to gain more ice time and responsibility over the course of the season.

Good players eventually force the coach to play them.

Kopitar was awful last night, and should not be playing twenty two and a half minutes at this point of his career regardless of who else is on the team. Keeping Kopi's minutes down and identifying who is having a good game and who isn't, isn't exactly rocket science. McLellan has to be better than that

 

[johnjm22]

They're already here. The central division teams are built big or did you not notice them camping out in the crease unable to be moved out?

Size isn't the same as toughness though.

I remember watching front of the net battles where the dman would cross check the shit out of the opposing forward, hack em and wack em, and there was no penalty at all. Those days are gone and they're not coming back.

Ironically, maybe this means size is more of an advantage in some situations now. Since you can't be as dirty, maybe it makes it harder to deal with a big ass forward.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I actually liked the idea of this line until I read purple jersey's usually mean the scratched players. Oh Todd.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Vilardi needs his ass on the top line with Kopitar and Brown needs his ass down on the 4th! make that switch and we improve already.

Vilardi needs a few weeks in the AHL to motivate him to skate.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I didn't say they weren't soft. But a large portion of it is simple fact of the modern NHL. People are reminiscing about the old days. Those days aren't coming back.

Agreed, and I think most will about the 'general' direction of the league...but I think people are saying in response that the Kings are soft even amongst the soft era. That's why its' especially damning. They're not soft for 2014 hockey, they're soft for 2021 hockey. Mentally and physically.

Vilardi needs a few weeks in the AHL to motivate him to skate.

Vilardi needs a few weeks in a position to succeed, 4th line C grinder ain't it. Put him on a wing in the top six or just send him down to dominate.

I actually liked the idea of this line until I read purple jersey's usually mean the scratched players. Oh Todd.

Absolutely f***ing infuriating. And an inconsistent message due to Kopitar's shit play at 2x the playing time.

 

[tny760]

that's the straw that broke the camel's back for me with tmac

enough's enough, he's just clueless

 

[johnjm22]

I'm fine with scratching him for a game or two, but any prolonged scratching would be completely pointless.

Either send him to Ontario or try something different with him.

 

[BigKing]

All these complaints about the Kings being soft are misguided.

While there may be some partial truth to it, a large portion of it is simply the reality of the modern NHL.

Get over it.

RJ said it best: they are the softest team in the softest era. There is a lot of reminiscing going on for the Lombardi Kings as it pertain to being physical but they actually didn't get a ton of fighting majors under Sutter. The point was that they weren't soft. The team's that are winning, even in this soft era, still play "real" hockey or at least as real as it gets in this era.

Can you even imagine this team in an NHL playoff game when the intensity ramps up? Hell, we already saw it in 2018 and that team isn't as soft as this one and got bullied around as well.

 

[kingsfan28]

with the rumors out their that Tampa is shopping 23 year old 6’3 left shot Sergachev he would fix a lot of what’s wrong in the backend. Guy plays a good two way game, can hit, shoot and does fight on occasion. Cost would be high but we add an automatic core piece.

It will cost for sure, but with the amount of high end prospects we have, it shouldn't be too hard to move someone to make a deal. We have too many to play going forward, and Tampa has too much $$$ tied up in cap space.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Even Brown said last night that their passing sucks and they really need to fix that. That's fundamentals crap.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm fine with scratching him for a game or two, but any prolonged scratching would be completely pointless.

Either send him to Ontario or try something different with him.

I have major beef with it after Kopitar's abysmal game.

It's okay for Kopitar to play 22 minutes while getting crushed and be on for both ES goals against, but it's not okay for you to be on the ice for ZERO goals against in a 4th line role...that's some serious TM bullshit.

Obviously Kopitar isn't getting benched like ever but this is where a coach is gonna have a major disconnect between entitled vets and hungry youth especially when setting Vilardi up to fail. 33% ozone starts in a 4th line role? f*** off TM.

 

[kingsfan28]

Maybe I missed it but nobody talks about Quick in net in the postgame. He has been pretty solid to start the year.

Yeah, he's been better than Petersen. Just no goal support or a bad penalty on top of an already bad penalty and the pk fails.

 

[Lt Dan]

Imagine we had a guy like Sean when we were getting our asses clapped 7-2 the other night.



What a f***ing WARRIOR.

We need three of him

 

[tny760]

I have major beef with it after Kopitar's abysmal game.

It's okay for Kopitar to play 22 minutes while getting crushed and be on for both ES goals against, but it's not okay for you to be on the ice for ZERO goals against in a 4th line role...that's some serious TM bullshit.

Obviously Kopitar isn't getting benched like ever but this is where a coach is gonna have a major disconnect between entitled vets and hungry youth especially when setting Vilardi up to fail. 33% ozone starts in a 4th line role? f*** off TM.

and he fed lizotte PK minutes like it was going out of style so it's no small wonder that line couldn't get anything going. between that and lizotte collecting the puck in the slot, turning to the wall to cycle then getting thrown on his ass every single time..

NOPE NOT GOOD ENOUGH GABE

like i understand wanting to draw lemieux in, but there's other more ineffective moving parts here than vilardi and tkachev