GDT: 2021-22 season game 3 LA Kings vs Nashville Predators @5:00pm 10/19/21

[bland]

He's a fringe NHL player who has no place on a winning roster. If he's getting 3rd line minutes, that's a failure by the GM/coach

Nonsense.

 

[kingsfan28]

Yes, because he had a lazy skating stride, an uninformed fan made up a cute name one day, and other fans thought he knew what he was talking about.

It's like when people jumped on the derisive nicknames of Kopitar for several years.

Frolov could be very lazy at times, especially back checking. Most frustrating player ever to wear a Kings uniform. I respected the skill , but man, you cant go weeks, if not a month with out doing anything, not with the skills he had. He did this year after year. As I said earlier, you don't hear Bob Miller call out someone, ever. He did it with him.

 

[HookKing]

I really believe our forwards are fine. I think the biggest problem we have is to many stay at home defensemen. We are having big issues getting out of our zone. I liked Strand and Wolainan puck moving ability as well as being able to find shooting lanes to get the puck to the net. Of course its the defensive end where other players rank better so one sits at Ontario and the other moves to Buffalo. For guys who played Hockey here at higher level than recreational, you know how a defenseman ability to move or carry the puck out of the zone makes your 40 sec shift much fresher in the offensive zone. If your spending 20 sec fighting along the boards to get the puck out your gassed in the offensive zone. At the NHL level there is very little room for players who only play half the ice surface.

That describes just 1/2 the problem. It's too many undersized stay at home dmen. In both losses the D was just getting run over -- Kings will not contend for a playoff spot until Blake fixes that. Maata and Edler are not the answer and there isn't anything in the pipeline either.

 

[kingsfan28]

Still scratching my head on how Bjornfot couldn't clear that puck which led to the 1st goal....

He never looked up. He just got it, then winged it out to the point. Had he looked up for one second, it's an easy clear. But even before that, the stupid crosscheck with 10 sec to go in the period. There was no need to do it.

 

[Bandit]

He never looked up. He just got it, then winged it out to the point. Had he looked up for one second, it's an easy clear. But even before that, the stupid crosscheck with 10 sec to go in the period. There was no need to do it.

He did the same thing on an earlier PK, but they didn't score. Just tried to fling it wildly instead of taking a second when there was nobody around, failed to clear it. Thought he had a pretty meh game despite Fox trying to stroke him hard.

 

[KingLB]

If Vilardi needs time in the AHL to regain confidence, he's done. There should be no more excuses for the guy. Time to put up.

Bingo, and after that preseason. If he lost confidence already he is to fragile.

 

[BigKing]

Danault is like Stoll, a critical role player on a contending team. We tried Stoll at 2C for years and never got anywhere. The same will happen with Danault, I’m sure.

We really need one of these vaunted forward prospects to have a breakthrough year. They can’t all go the way of Kempe, otherwise we’ll be awful for a very long time.

Exactly, except they did get into the playoffs. That's the point here as well: be better immediately (but not a contender) and then be a contender once he is slotted into the 3C spot. Going to need the prospects and/or a trade to make that happen though.

As for this team, they are definitely more talented than last year with the additions of 33/24 but there haven't been any real "look at him this season!" moments from anyone except the dudes that have been here for 12+ years.

Team is still soft and doesn't get after it. Still not enough talent to get by without really grinding and winning battles. The talent infusion was never in doubt but the identity/character/will of this team is still a mystery. It's either that or it just doesn't exist which is also a possibility.

 

[Schmooley]

That describes just 1/2 the problem. It's too many undersized stay at home dmen. In both losses the D was just getting run over -- Kings will not contend for a playoff spot until Blake fixes that. Maata and Edler are not the answer and there isn't anything in the pipeline either.

Its a problem but I wouldnt say they got run over. Its just the team as a whole is soft and plays with minimal intensity and urgency. Vegas is a heavy team and the Kings dominated that game because they played hard. They can win games with this d-core if they really want it.
I do think they are asking mikey anderson to be a mobile two way player this year and hes shaky so far. Seems like hes thinking too much. Hope it works out and if it doesnt they have to figure something else out. Otherwise its the best the defense has looked in like 2-3 years.

 

[tny760]

The talent infusion was never in doubt but the identity/character/will of this team is still a mystery. It's either that or it just doesn't exist which is also a possibility.

i'm not really feeling like it's a mystery any more, these guys have spent multiple seasons mentally crumbling and allowing backbreaking multiple goal bursts like it's a habit. i'm not gonna sit here and act like i know what the reason for that is, but it sure sounds like that identity/willpower doesn't exist or there's a lack of confidence to show it

 

[AlphaBravo]

He's a fringe NHL player who has no place on a winning roster. If he's getting 3rd line minutes, that's a failure by the GM/coach

I was as much as the next guy on the dump Lizzotte train because of the number of prospects we have that can slot in, but I have been happy with what I saw. He brought so much energy in the Nashville game. His entire line, with Gundstrom also added, were forechecking like crazy the entire game. That is the best you can expect from a fourth line. Of course, if Byfield is back, he is a better option (also an option on 3C). My only knack on Lizotte is that he gets knocked down often, but he still chases the puck and keeps the cycle going.

 

[Telos]

Danault looks great to me. He is playing his role well and making things happen. He is destined to be an elite shutdown defenseman that can make things happen on a contender and his contract is a steal.

What is really failing the Kings ultimately is the kids stepping up. To be brutally honest, none of our young defensemen have looked good whatsoever. Anderson looks outclassed and not ready to be a #2, Bjornfot has been okay but shaky and is clearly inexperienced (although he belongs in the NHL), and Roy and Walker are having growing pains when being put in 3-4 situations. Petersen is also still trying to polish himself into a #1 and lacks the swagger of his predecessor.

Then you look on offense and Vilardi shrinks when the pressure is on, Kempe lacks the vision and finesse to break through on the top 6, Kupari looked raw and unsure of himself, etc etc etc. The Achilles heel of the Kings right now is their youth and inexperience. The kids have to move forward and the Kings really need to throw everything into development. Drafting has been stellar but literally everything rides on whether or not these picks not just pan out but blossom into homerun selections at least once or twice. We may be cursed by injuries, but they can't let that be the excuse. It's tough because everyone wants the kids out there in prime situations to succeed, but all those put in them have faltered or have shown to not really be consistent enough to stick. Will they adapt or die? It will be interesting and fun to see them develop, but we are no doubt going through some serious growing pains.

 

[Sol]

Third game into the season and I stopped caring about the season lol. Probably the quickest it's been.

 

[bmr]

Danault looks great to me. He is playing his role well and making things happen. He is destined to be an elite shutdown defenseman that can make things happen on a contender and his contract is a steal.

What is really failing the Kings ultimately is the kids stepping up. To be brutally honest, none of our young defensemen have looked good whatsoever. Anderson looks outclassed and not ready to be a #2, Bjornfot has been okay but shaky and is clearly inexperienced (although he belongs in the NHL), and Roy and Walker are having growing pains when being put in 3-4 situations. Petersen is also still trying to polish himself into a #1 and lacks the swagger of his predecessor.

Then you look on offense and Vilardi shrinks when the pressure is on, Kempe lacks the vision and finesse to break through on the top 6, Kupari looked raw and unsure of himself, etc etc etc. The Achilles heel of the Kings right now is their youth and inexperience. The kids have to move forward and the Kings really need to throw everything into development. Drafting has been stellar but literally everything rides on whether or not these picks not just pan out but blossom into homerun selections at least once or twice. We may be cursed by injuries, but they can't let that be the excuse. It's tough because everyone wants the kids out there in prime situations to succeed, but all those put in them have faltered or have shown to not really be consistent enough to stick. Will they adapt or die? It will be interesting and fun to see them develop, but we are no doubt going through some serious growing pains.

Agree, but I think we need to remain patient and see how this season unfolds. I don't think the Vegas game was a flash in the pan. The kids are definitely going to need some time to assert themselves and find their niche on this team. Too much talent not to see some of it come to fruition. Losing Byfield hurts - I was really liking the kind of jump he brought into the play when he was on the ice. I don't understand McClellan's decision to put Grundstrom in last night. That guy is only successful if he is driving the net hard and a big in front of the net presence.

Why do you say the defense is so bad? Through the first 3 games we have given up 2, 3 and 2 goals. In the Minnesota game, we did not play a good second period. In last night's game, we did not match the intensity when Nashville was making their push in the third. Definitely learning moments. I want to see what this team looks like after about 20 games. I am a little surprised that Vilardi and Tkachev have been pretty quiet since the season started. They only had about 10/11 minutes of action last night. Hopefully have Andersson back soon.

 

[King'sPawn]

Why?

His line was very good yesterday. Lizotte is a useful player unfairly maligned here. He is not a problem whatsoever.

Lizotte's biggest attribute is his work ethic. However, he doesn't have the strength to win battles or individual skill to protect the puck and generate offense.

He's not the reason for a line being bad, nor is he a liability. He just has a net neutral impact.

 

[Little Psycho]

That describes just 1/2 the problem. It's too many undersized stay at home dmen. In both losses the D was just getting run over -- Kings will not contend for a playoff spot until Blake fixes that. Maata and Edler are not the answer and there isn't anything in the pipeline either.

Yup, this is such a glaring problem. They are getting pushed around and knocked off the puck too easily. Only Doughty can hold down on his own but that rest of the dmen are too exposed.

 

[Little Psycho]

Lizotte's biggest attribute is his work ethic. However, he doesn't have the strength to win battles or individual skill to protect the puck and generate offense.

He's not the reason for a line being bad, nor is he a liability. He just has a net neutral impact.

I admire his tenacity but he's just can't finish. Like you said he doesn't have the strength, and can get knocked off the puck easily. I think he would be better off in the AHL.

 

[bland]

Lizotte's biggest attribute is his work ethic. However, he doesn't have the strength to win battles or individual skill to protect the puck and generate offense.

He's not the reason for a line being bad, nor is he a liability. He just has a net neutral impact.

Generating momentum from a standstill or reversing that of your opponents, establishing offensive zone possession and pressuring opponents are not net-neutral impact for your 4th line - its ideal 4th line play.

TM called them his 3rd line, I suspect, more as a note of dissatisfaction with Vilardi's unit.

 

[Docgonzo]

Is this HF boards or did my senility finally kick in and I’m back in that emo board from my late high school days? I can’t tell without my readers.

 

[Lt Dan]

Lizotte is our new Bylsma, Chartrand, Guiliano, Richardson.
We need to get good enough to force him off the team. We aren't there yet.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Lizotte is our new Bylsma, Chartrand, Guiliano, Richardson.
We need to get good enough to force him off the team. We aren't there yet.

Bylsma and Richarson do not belong in the same sentence as Chartrand and Giuliano.


For shame.

EDIT: and frankly I'm not even sure Chartrand belongs in the same sentence as Giuliano

 

[johnjm22]

Brad Richardson is still in the league. He's actually put together decent career and shown himself to be a useful player. Even had 19 goals one year.

 

[bland]

Bylsma and Richarson do not belong in the same sentence as Chartrand and Giuliano.


For shame.

EDIT: and frankly I'm not even sure Chartrand belongs in the same sentence as Giuliano

Does Giuliano even belong in the same sentence as Giuliano?

 

[Trash Panda]

Lizotte is our new Bylsma, Chartrand, Guiliano, Richardson.
We need to get good enough to force him off the team. We aren't there yet.

I feel like an opportunity to bring up John Zeiler was missed here.

 

[Lt Dan]

I feel like an opportunity to bring up John Zeiler was missed here.

He gets a pass for the 2nd greatest photo in the NHL history

 

[Statto]

He's a fringe NHL player who has no place on a winning roster. If he's getting 3rd line minutes, that's a failure by the GM/coach

Not in one game, it’s purely situational and most teams will have a fringe players getting third or even second line minutes on a given night. If after 15-20 games he’s averaging 3rd line minutes it becomes a different conversation.