GDT: 2021-22 season game 31 LA Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights @7:30pm 12/28/21

[The Lukeman]

That Doughty turnover was arguably the worst one he has committed in his career lol. It was one of those nights, which seems to be happening a lot at home recently...

 

[Reaper45]

Kopitar looks done in my opinion. He just looks super gassed. Doesn’t have the ability to shield opponents from the puck like he used to. Is he hurt or is he just old?

 

[Reaper45]

Something has to change with the D. I like what Durzi and Wolanin have brought, some mobility that was lacking for so long. I think having Roy, Anderson and Bjornfot is just too redundant. We need one of those guys to be physical at least. Do something other than swing your purse at someone. Roy hasn’t been physical since Fiala wrecked him. Bjornfot will at least skate the puck into the zone. Anderson handles the puck like it’s a grenade in the o zone. I wish we had a young tough presence back there.

 

[LAKings88]

Something has to change with the D. I like what Durzi and Wolanin have brought, some mobility that was lacking for so long. I think having Roy, Anderson and Bjornfot is just too redundant. We need one of those guys to be physical at least. Do something other than swing your purse at someone. Roy hasn’t been physical since Fiala wrecked him. Bjornfot will at least skate the puck into the zone. Anderson handles the puck like it’s a grenade in the o zone. I wish we had a young tough presence back there.

chychrun

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Doughty did just come off covid, dudes probably out there gasping for breath and sucking them in hard for the next few games

Yeah I'm willing to concede that possibility too but then it's just bad management given he still played more than 24 minutes.

I was waiting for TMc to try a different grouping on the powerplay after they had gone three powerplays without registering a single f'ing shot. Zero shots total on the night for Kopi. Remember earlier in the season when he was on pace for the most shots of his career? That's dropped off some. Play of the night was when he got the puck right in front of the net on a great pass and decided someone 10+ feet farther from the net was better qualified to score and passed it. He was a killer at the dot though. So he wasn't totally useless.

TM can NOT adjust. That's his rep for his whole career. This guy wouldn't even adjust the lines after getting smoked giving up 5 goals in just over a period.

Something has to change with the D. I like what Durzi and Wolanin have brought, some mobility that was lacking for so long. I think having Roy, Anderson and Bjornfot is just too redundant. We need one of those guys to be physical at least. Do something other than swing your purse at someone. Roy hasn’t been physical since Fiala wrecked him. Bjornfot will at least skate the puck into the zone. Anderson handles the puck like it’s a grenade in the o zone. I wish we had a young tough presence back there.

Durzi had some good hits last night too and he's eager to do so, but I agree he's too small to be a punisher.

This team desperately needs a Lauzon, or at least a McNabb type to keep people honest. I was surprised how pissy Edler was but he's obv. not a long-term solution either. And Drew is playing like he's in bubble wrap now. Softest D in the league.

 

[KINGS17]

Kopitar looks done in my opinion. He just looks super gassed. Doesn’t have the ability to shield opponents from the puck like he used to. Is he hurt or is he just old?

It's a little late to do something about it now. The Kings have pissed away the useful years of Kopitar's contract on teams that had zero chances of being a contender.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

I think the number 1 line played too much while other lines couldn't get into a groove because of the shelling the Kings were taking. TM has to go to a PP2 when the first unit is not providing the results and when the first line has just been out there on a regular shift! The mistakes are the mistakes they have to be cleaned up

 

[BigKing]

Softest franchise in the league.

Fixed it for you.

Even Todd's PIM numbers from when he played are pathetic for the time period. Jim Fox put up Lady Byng numbers. All of Blake and Luc's buddies from their Kings playing days are softies as well. Blake, The King of Manhattan Beach and even Luc are the toughest dudes here...Ranford too but he's a holdover. Shit...Blake and Luc are holdovers from DL and so is Stoll. Does O'Donnell work on tv? He's the toughest but he is a lifer and crossed paths with DL too.

I know the game has changed blah blah blah and I'm going to say some names that didn't translate to wins or even work out well but the whole thing was trying to build a culture. Crawford was a high PIM guy as a player and oversaw the Avs during the Wings rivalry and then the Canucks in the Moore fiasco. Cloutier was insane. Scott Thornton is here beating up an asshole in the locker room in Sean Avery which is also to say...Sean Avery was here too! Terry Murray wasn't a complete pushover in his playing days. How about Ron Hextall as AGM? Sean O'Donnell. Denis Gauthier. Trade for Stoll/Greene. Draft Schenn/Simmonds/Clifford/ Teubert (yikes). Trade for Richards. Regher. McNabb. Hire Sutter. Lucic (yikes). Iginla.

I hate having to keep saying it but hockey is a sport where a supreme effort can lead to a less talented team winning games but there has to be a sacrifice and this team routinely hasn't done that for years now. The kids that are being drafted do not appear to be killers when it comes to attitude so it is easy for them to see these complacent, soft vets and just follow their lead. We can all complain about lines, T-Mac, etc...but this thing stinks from the head on down so none of it really matters until that is addressed.

I like Lemieux, obviously. I've got a rookie in Kaliyev get absolutely destroyed by McNabb in a blowout game against a division rival and there is nothing done about it. A non-fighter touches him in the Washington game and he is ready to go to town. He starts a fight with Dylan Cozens. He has legit guys on his fight card so he isn't some total spot-picker but the thing is that a team that cares about one another from the top of the roster to the bottom doesn't let that slide. Winning teams aren't cool with that. Unfortunately, the Blake era has been defined by it being okay to have teammates get wrecked with no response. A winning team has to sacrifice for one another and this team simply does.not.do.that.

 

[AbsentMojo]

whoever is saying that needs to be drug tested immediately.

The Kings got flat outworked in all aspects of the game.

I dont give a f*** about Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick. Im just ready to transition into the new era and without those guys. I love and appreciate all theyve done but its time. Im tired of seeing their rotting carcass taking up space on the ice. If they're going to lose lets give ice to the people who are hungry for it. Kopitar looks like he's day dreaming about Slovenian women and Aspen all the time. Arviddson is ass and theres no convincing me of it otherwise. Danault is nothing special. A glorified Handzus. Doughty is looking stanky right now, but I'd give him a slide for now. Quick has been great.


That doesn't change the fact I want these guys gone, and to line up TMac in front of AEG firing squad along with Blake, Luc, Bernstein, and Jon Hoven(and his apologists).

I threw in Jon Hoven because he's annoying.

Burn it down. All of it. This cancer is killing the team, and is killing the kids.

While your burning things down dont forget to include Faust

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Fixed it for you.

Even Todd's PIM numbers from when he played are pathetic for the time period. Jim Fox put up Lady Byng numbers. All of Blake and Luc's buddies from their Kings playing days are softies as well. Blake, The King of Manhattan Beach and even Luc are the toughest dudes here...Ranford too but he's a holdover. Shit...Blake and Luc are holdovers from DL and so is Stoll. Does O'Donnell work on tv? He's the toughest but he is a lifer and crossed paths with DL too.

I know the game has changed blah blah blah and I'm going to say some names that didn't translate to wins or even work out well but the whole thing was trying to build a culture. Crawford was a high PIM guy as a player and oversaw the Avs during the Wings rivalry and then the Canucks in the Moore fiasco. Cloutier was insane. Scott Thornton is here beating up an asshole in the locker room in Sean Avery which is also to say...Sean Avery was here too! Terry Murray wasn't a complete pushover in his playing days. How about Ron Hextall as AGM? Sean O'Donnell. Denis Gauthier. Trade for Stoll/Greene. Draft Schenn/Simmonds/Clifford/ Teubert (yikes). Trade for Richards. Regher. McNabb. Hire Sutter. Lucic (yikes). Iginla.

I hate having to keep saying it but hockey is a sport where a supreme effort can lead to a less talented team winning games but there has to be a sacrifice and this team routinely hasn't done that for years now. The kids that are being drafted do not appear to be killers when it comes to attitude so it is easy for them to see these complacent, soft vets and just follow their lead. We can all complain about lines, T-Mac, etc...but this thing stinks from the head on down so none of it really matters until that is addressed.

I like Lemieux, obviously. I've got a rookie in Kaliyev get absolutely destroyed by McNabb in a blowout game against a division rival and there is nothing done about it. A non-fighter touches him in the Washington game and he is ready to go to town. He starts a fight with Dylan Cozens. He has legit guys on his fight card so he isn't some total spot-picker but the thing is that a team that cares about one another from the top of the roster to the bottom doesn't let that slide. Winning teams aren't cool with that. Unfortunately, the Blake era has been defined by it being okay to have teammates get wrecked with no response. A winning team has to sacrifice for one another and this team simply does.not.do.that.

FWIW I think a lot of the youngers guys have 'it', but their leadership isn't laying it on the line, so they seem deterred. But we've seen Mikey Anderson being a total dick, for one. I think a lot of these guys are being glass ceilinged in more ways than one by complacent vets.

 

[bmr]

chychrun

Asking price is going to be very high. I think the Kings are at the point where they need to seriously look at it. He’s the physical presence we need and offense to boot. I would offer a package that includes Turcotte, Vilardi a young D and a 1st.

Thoughts?

 

[ru4reals]

Fixed it for you.

Even Todd's PIM numbers from when he played are pathetic for the time period. Jim Fox put up Lady Byng numbers. All of Blake and Luc's buddies from their Kings playing days are softies as well. Blake, The King of Manhattan Beach and even Luc are the toughest dudes here...Ranford too but he's a holdover. Shit...Blake and Luc are holdovers from DL and so is Stoll. Does O'Donnell work on tv? He's the toughest but he is a lifer and crossed paths with DL too.

I know the game has changed blah blah blah and I'm going to say some names that didn't translate to wins or even work out well but the whole thing was trying to build a culture. Crawford was a high PIM guy as a player and oversaw the Avs during the Wings rivalry and then the Canucks in the Moore fiasco. Cloutier was insane. Scott Thornton is here beating up an asshole in the locker room in Sean Avery which is also to say...Sean Avery was here too! Terry Murray wasn't a complete pushover in his playing days. How about Ron Hextall as AGM? Sean O'Donnell. Denis Gauthier. Trade for Stoll/Greene. Draft Schenn/Simmonds/Clifford/ Teubert (yikes). Trade for Richards. Regher. McNabb. Hire Sutter. Lucic (yikes). Iginla.

I hate having to keep saying it but hockey is a sport where a supreme effort can lead to a less talented team winning games but there has to be a sacrifice and this team routinely hasn't done that for years now. The kids that are being drafted do not appear to be killers when it comes to attitude so it is easy for them to see these complacent, soft vets and just follow their lead. We can all complain about lines, T-Mac, etc...but this thing stinks from the head on down so none of it really matters until that is addressed.

I like Lemieux, obviously. I've got a rookie in Kaliyev get absolutely destroyed by McNabb in a blowout game against a division rival and there is nothing done about it. A non-fighter touches him in the Washington game and he is ready to go to town. He starts a fight with Dylan Cozens. He has legit guys on his fight card so he isn't some total spot-picker but the thing is that a team that cares about one another from the top of the roster to the bottom doesn't let that slide. Winning teams aren't cool with that. Unfortunately, the Blake era has been defined by it being okay to have teammates get wrecked with no response. A winning team has to sacrifice for one another and this team simply does.not.do.that.

Beautifully put!!! Glad someone said it(again). This team is a joke no one fighting for each other. If Kaliyev played for any other team a 4th line non fighter would be at McNabb's throat. Absolutely pathetic. But well this is the norm not surprised.

 

[bland]

Asking price is going to be very high. I think the Kings are at the point where they need to seriously look at it. He’s the physical presence we need and offense to boot. I would offer a package that includes Turcotte, Vilardi a young D and a 1st.

Thoughts?

My thought is absolutely not.

Too expensive, not the impact player everyone seems to think he is. There is PLENTY of offense from the blueline coming and we don't need it to get here in a hurry. Nothing with this team is going to improve until there is a full and complete identity change, and that will organically happen from within. Adding a Chychryn only adds to that delay, even if he is young enough to outlast it.

 

[bland]

Something has to change with the D. I like what Durzi and Wolanin have brought, some mobility that was lacking for so long. I think having Roy, Anderson and Bjornfot is just too redundant. We need one of those guys to be physical at least. Do something other than swing your purse at someone. Roy hasn’t been physical since Fiala wrecked him. Bjornfot will at least skate the puck into the zone. Anderson handles the puck like it’s a grenade in the o zone. I wish we had a young tough presence back there.

Roy actually did drop a few guys last night. He was far and away the best player on the ice in a Coors Light helmet. He will never be a consistent crusher, but the funny thing is that while watching that abomination I kept thinking that it was nice to see him playing with an edge again, even if it is a dull one.

But yeah, I would love it if they could find a Willie Mitchell who wouldn't allow anyone to move towards the crease at a whistle. They just don't make em that mean anymore.

 

[BigKing]

FWIW I think a lot of the youngers guys have 'it', but their leadership isn't laying it on the line, so they seem deterred. But we've seen Mikey Anderson being a total dick, for one. I think a lot of these guys are being glass ceilinged in more ways than one by complacent vets.

Good name from bland with Willie Mitchell. I should have added Williams too. Nolan. Fraser.

What you are saying about Anderson is kind of the whole point: we have to reach really hard to try to find something and it is saying that we've seen Anderson be a dick once or twice over 90 career games while averaging 20 1/2 minutes of ice and 1.38 hits per night.

The DL criminal quote really applies to this team. I personally don't think any of the top-tier prospects have "it" except for Turcotte. You may start including other guys but I'm talking the top of the prospect list. They need a culture changer in a really bad way: a kid that just wants to take it and run with it. We can hate the Tkachuk boys but those guys were never going to be wallflowers no matter what veterans were on that team. Like, it used to be new guys tried their hardest to stand out and become part of the team...the fraternity. That still happens but not with this franchise: it is not a tight knit bunch and it is currently the epitome of the "beach life attitude" DL wanted to get rid of when he took over. Fat cat vets on retirement contracts, a middle group of dudes used to losing but loving that South Bay life and then a bunch of kids that don't know what the f*** to do.

 

[KINGS17]

TM can NOT adjust. That's his rep for his whole career. This guy wouldn't even adjust the lines after getting smoked giving up 5 goals in just over a period.

I think we all saw this during the reverse sweep in 2014 when Sutter outcoached him tactically and psychologically. Sutter, down 0-3 in games never panicked, never called it a desperate situation, always looked calm on the bench, etc. As soon as the Kings won Game 4, and especially after Game 5, you could see the panic in San Jose. They knew they were being stalked by a team with superior will and leadership.

 

[Sol]

Another disappointing HF check. TMac is still employed.

As someone else said, the kids have more bark then the vets. Im sure seeing the "role models" play like soft f***ing losers for 20 mins a game deters them.

Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick. Just get rid of the old car already God damn. They aren't doing shit for the young players obviously. They look like they're damaging them if anything.


You can't realistically tell me that Kopitar wearing the C and being a giant f***ing p***y doesn't trickle down

 

[KINGS17]

Good name from bland with Willie Mitchell. I should have added Williams too. Nolan. Fraser.

What you are saying about Anderson is kind of the whole point: we have to reach really hard to try to find something and it is saying that we've seen Anderson be a dick once or twice over 90 career games while averaging 20 1/2 minutes of ice and 1.38 hits per night.

The DL criminal quote really applies to this team. I personally don't think any of the top-tier prospects have "it" except for Turcotte. You may start including other guys but I'm talking the top of the prospect list. They need a culture changer in a really bad way: a kid that just wants to take it and run with it. We can hate the Tkachuk boys but those guys were never going to be wallflowers no matter what veterans were on that team. Like, it used to be new guys tried their hardest to stand out and become part of the team...the fraternity. That still happens but not with this franchise: it is not a tight knit bunch and it is currently the epitome of the "beach life attitude" DL wanted to get rid of when he took over. Fat cat vets on retirement contracts, a middle group of dudes used to losing but loving that South Bay life and then a bunch of kids that don't know what the f*** to do.

It's like our kids look at the vets, who are supposed to be the leaders, and don't want to embarrass them by showing more heart than the vets.

 

[Sol]

And for the love of God trade for Chychryn for any price except Byfield. The dmen are extremely unimpressive.

 

[cyclones22]

Kopi does look spent and we're only 30 games in. I wonder if it's related to what us dumb message board jockeys have been saying about his minutes? FYI, he's playing MORE TOI this season than the previous 2 seasons under TMc. Does someone need to email this guy a copy of Kopi's birth certificate or something to remind him how old he is? Sign Danault to take pressure off of Kopi, then proceed to play him more TOI. I can't be convinced this guy is a good coach.

 

[Jason Squirties]

Good name from bland with Willie Mitchell. I should have added Williams too. Nolan. Fraser.

What you are saying about Anderson is kind of the whole point: we have to reach really hard to try to find something and it is saying that we've seen Anderson be a dick once or twice over 90 career games while averaging 20 1/2 minutes of ice and 1.38 hits per night.

The DL criminal quote really applies to this team. I personally don't think any of the top-tier prospects have "it" except for Turcotte. You may start including other guys but I'm talking the top of the prospect list. They need a culture changer in a really bad way: a kid that just wants to take it and run with it. We can hate the Tkachuk boys but those guys were never going to be wallflowers no matter what veterans were on that team. Like, it used to be new guys tried their hardest to stand out and become part of the team...the fraternity. That still happens but not with this franchise: it is not a tight knit bunch and it is currently the epitome of the "beach life attitude" DL wanted to get rid of when he took over. Fat cat vets on retirement contracts, a middle group of dudes used to losing but loving that South Bay life and then a bunch of kids that don't know what the f*** to do.

I'm echoing everything you're saying right now. I thought getting rid of Carter was the beginning of changing that culture but it looks like the vets have just doubled down making it impossible for anyone on the team to care. The good news for the prospects is, you don't have to do much to stand out. The bad news, we don't have a coach that appreciates that sort of stuff, regardless of what he's said positively about Lemiuex

 

[RaymondReddington]

Kaliev with a clear scoring chance and he's hooked all the way to the net.
This was the the kind of thing that drove me crazy at times tonight. Just flat out hooks like this one that weren't called. It happened 3 times over 2 shift. This is a textnook hook, his stick is so far into the midsection, its out the other end. The ref was in perfect position to call it too.

View attachment 493950

It's Vegas..I have never seen a more protected franchise, from start to now, in the 50+ years I have followed sports. From the NHL making special rules for them at the begining to their "saint-like" officiating non-calls while they are manhandling opposing skaters.
Las Vegas in my lifetime went from "we can't ever have a team there because of the gambling issues" to "we gotta get a championship there as quickly as possible."
Truly sickening for long-time hockey fans.

 

[BigKing]

I'm echoing everything you're saying right now. I thought getting rid of Carter was the beginning of changing that culture but it looks like the vets have just doubled down making it impossible for anyone on the team to care. The good news for the prospects is, you don't have to do much to stand out. The bad news, we don't have a coach that appreciates that sort of stuff, regardless of what he's said positively about Lemiuex

It is damning when these guys everyone wanted to get rid of go somewhere else and all of a sudden can play good hockey again.

It is an organizational issue from top-to-bottom. If you wanted immediate results on the ice though, a coaching change would do it. Not some substitute teacher garbage like Willie D but an ass-kicker. Blake's been playing nice his entire tenure, probably because he is a former player and wouldn't like a tough coach. Well, he hung his hat on his buddy the koala bear and made him the highest paid coach in the league. Just mind blowing.

They need a coach that is going to sit a guy for a few shifts when he passes up making a hit on the forecheck. There is no accountability: just T-Mac probably saying "we will be a 100 point team as long as we keep outshooting the opposition every night". Maybe if you are a stacked San Jose team but this is not that team.

 

[bland]

Good name from bland with Willie Mitchell. I should have added Williams too. Nolan. Fraser.

What you are saying about Anderson is kind of the whole point: we have to reach really hard to try to find something and it is saying that we've seen Anderson be a dick once or twice over 90 career games while averaging 20 1/2 minutes of ice and 1.38 hits per night.

The DL criminal quote really applies to this team. I personally don't think any of the top-tier prospects have "it" except for Turcotte. You may start including other guys but I'm talking the top of the prospect list. They need a culture changer in a really bad way: a kid that just wants to take it and run with it. We can hate the Tkachuk boys but those guys were never going to be wallflowers no matter what veterans were on that team. Like, it used to be new guys tried their hardest to stand out and become part of the team...the fraternity. That still happens but not with this franchise: it is not a tight knit bunch and it is currently the epitome of the "beach life attitude" DL wanted to get rid of when he took over. Fat cat vets on retirement contracts, a middle group of dudes used to losing but loving that South Bay life and then a bunch of kids that don't know what the f*** to do.

I think Helenius will have an edge to his game, and Vilardi isn't a shrinking violet either.

Most importantly, these kids need to stop deferring to the old guys. I know this pisses off most of our fanbase, but Kopitar accepts losing today to try again tomorrow, Brown has always been a coward despite being physical, and Doughty is an immature hothead. Quick has a massive set to him, and that's it.

There is no core inner mental strength to those skaters, and the team isn't going anywhere while the kids defer to them. Somebody will need to step up and take ownership on ice, but let's face it, nobody in the organization is going to let that happen yet. The core vets do not see the consequences of their actions under this management. They will be ridden until their wheels literally fall off.

 

[BigKing]

I think Helenius will have an edge to his game, and Vilardi isn't a shrinking violet either.

Most importantly, these kids need to stop deferring to the old guys. I know this pisses off most of our fanbase, but Kopitar accepts losing today to try again tomorrow, Brown has always been a coward despite being physical, and Doughty is an immature hothead. Quick has a massive set to him, and that's it.

There is no core inner mental strength to those skaters, and the team isn't going anywhere while the kids defer to them. Somebody will need to step up and take ownership on ice, but let's face it, nobody in the organization is going to let that happen yet. The core vets do not see the consequences of their actions under this management. They will be ridden until their wheels literally fall off.

I was going to mention Helenius who was kind of thought of as a possible reach right there but screw it: his game is needed in the prospect pool and I'm glad Blake realized it.

Blake and his boys might want to stop ignoring the WHL. Blake has drafted one WHL player since he took over (JAD). 36 picks and one WHL guy. 13 Europeans with those picks and traded a 2nd for another one. 10 USHL/NCAA/USNTDP. 64% of his draft picks are European or US kids playing in less physical environments than the CHL. The remaining 37% is probably all OHL with a couple QMJHL and the one WHL.

The cry was that DL didn't do well enough in Europe. Completely fair. But this seems like a Blake overreaction: DL didn't draft enough skill/speed/Europeans so we are all about that! The game is changing so all that matters is skating! We can play four or five guys at once that are below six foot and weigh 175 pounds! Well, it has changed but you still have to play a certain way if you want to win in this league. I keep reading that adding grit is easy yet we've been watching the softest team in the league under Blake for five seasons now.