GDT: 2021-22 season game 12 LA Kings vs Toronto Maple Leafs @4:30pm 11/8/21

[ru4reals]

This is why Kupari has been so effective and getting better each game. His ability to skate. Doing a good job holding down the third/fourth line. Vilardi arguably has the best hands on the team but man he struggles to keep up. I hate to say it because I love Vilardi but it's hard to replace Kupari, kid is showing his speed and hustle. That one play where he skated his ass off to break up a play was just eye opening hope he keeps it up.

 

[Docgonzo]

Kupari’s is looking really good out there as a 3c. His speed can help on the back check, he’s making good plays and his defense is good.

The team at this moment has speed throughout the lines.

And they’re all hustling out there, busting their ass to create havoc.

 

[Bandit]

I've come to the conclusion that Maatta is just an idiot savant. He doens't even know what he's doing, so how can anyone else? There was a play near the end where he inexplicably stood Matthews up at the blue line and no one on the rink saw it coming, total all or nothing play, like why right now but since it worked perfectly, he looks like a genius.

Definitely should have gone to K-mart.

 

[MBH]

I think the hard work of the 4th line trickled over to the rest of the team tonight. Everyone worked really hard in all areas of the ice tonight.

Lizotte gets blown up like 2-3 times a game but the kid is just a nat to play against. Kid does have brass balls.

If he was 5'11, he'd be Danault.
But maybe he wouldn't bust his ass so hard if he was 5'11.

His lack of reach limits him in so many areas of the game.
It's a credit to him he's even in the NHL.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Richards never remotely played this dominant for the Kings. Danault is a beast.

2012 playoffs, might want to watch that whole run.

 

[Telos]

I don't see a need to compare Danault to Richards, but if I had to be honest Richards was better. We are just spoiled to have had both of them on this hockey club and are really high on Danault. We all forget just how good Richards was when he joined this team and what it felt like to suddenly realize what a #2 center looked like and could do for the team. But I stand by that they do play a similar brand of hockey. Richards just had a bit more bite and skill. Remember, we didn't call Richards the #2 center, we called him the 1B center. Danault has never been considered that.

 

[HookKing]

2012 playoffs, might want to watch that whole run.

I did, this past summer. You might want to watch the 2021 playoffs.

 

[MBH]

=
No matter how many chances Athanasiou generates, people around here will always be eager to give his spot away to Andersson, Vilardi, or whoever the shiny new toy is like Tkachev.
.

Chance after chance after chance tonight.
I hope Danault-AA stay together.

If Glendening can center AA to 30 goals, I think Danault can do even better.
Kind of the way Danault did with Tatar in Montreal for two 60-point seasons.

With Iaffalo's wall work and smarts, Danault's defense/faceoffs and AA's speed - that could be a great line.

Feels like you should be able to say the same thing about Kempe-Kopitar-Brown - but it's just not working out.

 

[Lt Dan]

Kupari’s is looking really good out there as a 3c. His speed can help on the back check, he’s making good plays and his defense is good.

The team at this moment has speed throughout the lines.

And they’re all hustling out there, busting their ass to create havoc.

Piss and Vinegar baby!!

 

[johnjm22]

Richards at his peak was better than Danault for sure.

But there's an argument to be made that Danult might be better for the Kings than Richards was.

Richard's contributions to the Kings have been greatly exaggerated.

 

[eleventy]

This is why Kupari has been so effective and getting better each game. His ability to skate. Doing a good job holding down the third/fourth line. Vilardi arguably has the best hands on the team but man he struggles to keep up. I hate to say it because I love Vilardi but it's hard to replace Kupari, kid is showing his speed and hustle. That one play where he skated his ass off to break up a play was just eye opening hope he keeps it up.

The solution is simple: put Vilardi on Kupari's wing.

 

[ru4reals]

Look the shiny toy is great and I admit he's even better then I can ever imagine. Danault has exceeded all expectations to be honest. But Mike Richards if we're talking about Prime Mikey dude was a monster. He was a beast leading the Flyers into the finals against the Hawks. And we don't win the Cup without Richards in 2012. He was a good part of helping us get the first with Carts and Penner. Danault is doing great but I'd take Richards without thinking twice.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Prime Mike Richards was a treat to watch. Never quite played to the level he was at in Philly here in LA but man; what a player. My two favorite non LA Kings at the time were Mike Richards and.. Ilya Kovalchuk.

 

[johnjm22]

Feels like you should be able to say the same thing about Kempe-Kopitar-Brown - but it's just not working out.

I know the Kings aren't your main team, so I don't know if you've watched all the games this season, but the Kopitar line with Brown has actually been quite good, it's just the past 4 or 5 games they've been really bad.

I think the coaching staff should give it a little more time, if it's still not working, then break it up.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Richards at his peak was better than Danault for sure.

But there's an argument to be made that Danult might be better for the Kings than Richards was.

Richard's contributions to the Kings have been greatly exaggerated.

Richards's greatest contribution was getting management to bring Carter over. That and pushing Stoll to the 3rd line where he could excel.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I did, this past summer. You might want to watch the 2021 playoffs.

Danault was impressive in the playoffs on defense but wasn’t a threat at all on offense, only 4-5 points through 22 games and got roasted by Tampa. Not even remotely comparable to the 2012 playoff Richards.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Mike Richards' best stat total in LA was 18 goals and 44 points in 78 games. Danault's on pace for 20 goals and 54 points this season.

MR like PD was/is a terrific 200 ft player. Points only say so much on the stat sheet

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Lizotte is a fine, maybe even good 4th line center. People just don't like him because he doesn't have upside beyond that.

No matter how many scoring chances Athanasiou generates, people around here will always be eager to give his spot away to Andersson, Vilardi, or whoever the shiny new toy is like Tkachev.

Kopitar needs to have his ice time cut.

If the PP/PK continue to struggle, the coaching staff should just blow them and rebuild the units.

Can you imagine when everyone is healthy? There are going to be some tough decisions made...hello Seattle

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Richards's greatest contribution was getting management to bring Carter over. That and pushing Stoll to the 3rd line where he could excel.

The Kings centre position and depth was outstanding

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Look the shiny toy is great and I admit he's even better then I can ever imagine. Danault has exceeded all expectations to be honest. But Mike Richards if we're talking about Prime Mikey dude was a monster. He was a beast leading the Flyers into the finals against the Hawks. And we don't win the Cup without Richards in 2012. He was a good part of helping us get the first with Carts and Penner. Danault is doing great but I'd take Richards without thinking twice.

Danault is doing great but it’s a long season. The people that want a statue of Danault out in the Staples Center plaza next to Gretzky need to calm down.

 

[MBH]

Danault is going to give the Kings the ability to be patient with Vilardi, Byfield or Kupari.
Last year, watching Lizotte center Carter and AA on Line 2? Come on.

 

[crassbonanza]

Richards's greatest contribution was getting management to bring Carter over.

Richards greatest contribution was laying Burrows out in game 1 of the 2012 Canucks series. That hit changed the momentum of the series and the identity of the team as a whole for the next 3 years.

 

[kilowatt]

I get why TMac doesn't separate Kopitar-Brown.
Kopitar and Brown are big f***ing names.
But look what happens when Doughty can't play.

Sometimes, those big names block other guys from the opportunities they need.
Brown is still a great PP performer.

I'd like to see:

Arvidsson-Kopitar-Brown - for awhile. I think Brown's physicality and netfront play still helps. But if not, maybe replace him with Vilardi.
Iafallo-Danault-Athanasiou - defensive matchup line with more than enough sizzle to scorch you
Kempe-Vilardi-Kaliyev - Vilardi as 3C with Kempe/Kaliyev should get the matchups they like.
Moore-Kupari-Lemieux/Andersson -

And then, from

I just don't see any reason to play Vilardi at center right now. If we can sub him in on the wing, let's do it, but he should not be playing center. I honestly think we should send both Vilardi and Kaliyev down and give them top six minutes in Ontario to get their conditioning up to par.

When we're fully healthy:

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - Kempe
Andersson - Kupari - Athanasiou
Lemieux - Lizotte - Moore

Bjornfot - Doughty
Anderson - Roy
Edler - Clague

Quick
Petersen

 

[HookKing]

Danault was impressive in the playoffs on defense but wasn’t a threat at all on offense, only 4-5 points through 22 games and got roasted by Tampa. Not even remotely comparable to the 2012 playoff Richards.

2012 playoff Richards was good but not great -- he was also on a stacked team -- that run was all Brown, Kopitar, Doughty and Quick. Montreal had no business being anywhere near the finals last year. Danault was by far more important to them than Richards was to the Kings.

 

[lexlavender]

Kupari is a beast