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

[kingsholygrail]

Did anyone else catch TM mentioning that only about 60% of the team seemed engaged in practice? I thought it was telling he'd bring that up in post game.

 

[bland]

Did anyone else catch TM mentioning that only about 60% of the team seemed engaged in practice? I thought it was telling he'd bring that up in post game.

Yup, and there's nobody there to police it within the room. That doesn't have to be an in your face thing, it can be done with positivity. Somebody has to freaking lead from the front, not the side.

 

[Schmooley]

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.

I think if they wanted to they could acquire grit. Guys like Zadorov and Ristolainen are free agents. Montreal has a new gm and would surely like to get out from guys like Edmundson, Armia and Gallagher. Chychrun and Crouse are big boys that could be had for a price.
Im not sure what analytic it is but someone in their front office convinced them that undersized forwards that can skate and do little else is a good idea and all you have to do is a stretch or flip pass out of your zone and get an odd man rush. We saw coach Quinn on the Rangers use this plan and get fired and now the team looks better going back to an old school breakout and cycle game under Gallant.
Helenius is a good example of a reach that will pay off. They need to quit drafting so safe and go with their gut. Bjornfot was a small reach and hes been the best prospect at the NHL level.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Honestly, I look for AEG to sell the Kings in the not too distant future. Nothing to back it up, just a feeling on my part. They were looking to sell a few years ago.

If you are correct, much like my Denver Broncos, the Kings org will be spinning it’s wheels until a new ownership takes over. I personally don’t think AEG is all that invested in the Kings anymore.

 

[KINGS17]

Yup, and there's nobody there to police it within the room. That doesn't have to be an in your face thing, it can be done with positivity. Somebody has to freaking lead from the front, not the side.

Well you know if everyone puts out 80% in practice, no one has to put out 100%.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

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?

If the Kings were contenders, sure but that trade doesn’t fit Blake’s M.O. I’d look for Blake to do another Muzzin to Toronto type trade.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Did anyone else catch TM mentioning that only about 60% of the team seemed engaged in practice? I thought it was telling he'd bring that up in post game.

wait what the f***?!?

Cool, so no accountability from the coach now either??

 

[kingsholygrail]

wait what the f***?!?

Cool, so no accountability from the coach now either??

Yeah, I'm paraphrasing but he basically went on to say it was like not studying for the exam and this game was the result. I was surprised he said all this to the media. Usually that stuff is kept in the lockerroom, but maybe he's being tuned out by the team, I don't know.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

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.

Correct but then I don’t understand the roster management at that position. Not only is Kopitar continuing to be heavily relied on in terms of minutes but the Kings have drafted several centers now, and signed Danault for a few years. We have Kopitar, Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari, Danault all jammed up in the middle.

I never understood Blucs thought process on building out the roster by stacking it with a bunch of centers while Kopitar is playing 25 minutes a game and eating up a good chunk of cap space.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Yeah, I'm paraphrasing but he basically went on to say it was like not studying for the exam and this game was the result. I was surprised he said all this to the media. Usually that stuff is kept in the lockerroom, but maybe he's being tuned out by the team, I don't know.

Great, won’t be long until the trash cans are outside the locker rooms after a game.

 

[shuchukfan]

Yeah, I'm paraphrasing but he basically went on to say it was like not studying for the exam and this game was the result. I was surprised he said all this to the media. Usually that stuff is kept in the lockerroom, but maybe he's being tuned out by the team, I don't know.

If the whole class fails, maybe it's not on the students...

 

[AbsentMojo]

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.

Really good point. That goes a good way toward explaining the general p***yfication of the team. North American hockey is much different in emphasis from mites through juniors. Smaller rink requires more physical play since you cant skate around everyone. I think a 2/3 NA 1/3 Europe is prob a good balance for the NHL. Ovi is about the only European that quickly comes to mind that plays the NA style.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I think if they wanted to they could acquire grit. Guys like Zadorov and Ristolainen are free agents. Montreal has a new gm and would surely like to get out from guys like Edmundson, Armia and Gallagher. Chychrun and Crouse are big boys that could be had for a price.
Im not sure what analytic it is but someone in their front office convinced them that undersized forwards that can skate and do little else is a good idea and all you have to do is a stretch or flip pass out of your zone and get an odd man rush. We saw coach Quinn on the Rangers use this plan and get fired and now the team looks better going back to an old school breakout and cycle game under Gallant.
Helenius is a good example of a reach that will pay off. They need to quit drafting so safe and go with their gut. Bjornfot was a small reach and hes been the best prospect at the NHL level.

I remember when DL moved Visnov for Stoll and Greene.. he had a vision of what he wanted the locker room to be like .. it was a bit more than grit, he knew what kind of guys would keep everyone accountable - not just up to the captain.. thats my take on it. I think DL was a study of player character. (edit: and Justin Williams is another example of that)

 

[BigKing]

Really good point. That goes a good way toward explaining the general p***yfication of the team. North American hockey is much different in emphasis from mites through juniors. Smaller rink requires more physical play since you cant skate around everyone. I think a 2/3 NA 1/3 Europe is prob a good balance for the NHL. Ovi is about the only European that quickly comes to mind that plays the NA style.

I'm not throwing a net over European players as all being soft...Helenius is going to play a heavy game and Kempe isn't a wuss by any means. It's more the type of player they are targeting and it seems like a big "need more Euros because DL didn't like it as much" at the expense of being more well rounded.

This team could use some prairie boys.

 

[Sol]

Did anyone else catch TM mentioning that only about 60% of the team seemed engaged in practice? I thought it was telling he'd bring that up in post game.

Looool how do you not get fired for not being able to get the boys to practice lol

 

[head eyes]

Looool how do you not get fired for not being able to get the boys to practice lol

You can type this ad-naseum, but I'm sorry to break this to you: they're not firing TMac. Maybe you can get your hopes up for an off-season clean sweep.

 

[Matt13]

Looool how do you not get fired for not being able to get the boys to practice lol

You can type this ad-naseum, but I'm sorry to break this to you: they're not firing TMac. Maybe you can get your hopes up for an off-season clean sweep.

TMac is the highest paid coach in the NHL. The team isnt going anywhere and everyone knows it. To fire TMac now would not solve anything and then to hire an Interim Coach would look bad on Blake as this would be the second coach he hired and termed since 2017. I think this is Tmac last year, I cant see him being re-signed.

If he is, I dont think I will be able to support this team any longer.

 

[kingsfan28]

Well you know if everyone puts out 80% in practice, no one has to put out 100%.

I'm on vacation, there wasn't suppose to be math!

 

[LAKings88]

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?

So much excess that won’t make it due to limited spots. Weaponize it.

 

[kingsfan28]

I'm not throwing a net over European players as all being soft...Helenius is going to play a heavy game and Kempe isn't a wuss by any means. It's more the type of player they are targeting and it seems like a big "need more Euros because DL didn't like it as much" at the expense of being more well rounded.

This team could use some prairie boys.

More like Sutter is the coach, I need big slow good old boys who can hit and not score! We drafted years of the same type. Hell, even the later rounds DL stayed away from skilled guys.

 

[BigKing]

TMac is the highest paid coach in the NHL. The team isnt going anywhere and everyone knows it. To fire TMac now would not solve anything and then to hire an Interim Coach would look bad on Blake as this would be the second coach he hired and termed since 2017. I think this is Tmac last year, I cant see him being re-signed.

If he is, I dont think I will be able to support this team any longer.

This is only his third season. Two more after this.

You got to lock up a has-been coach for five years/five million when you get the chance.

 

[kingsfan28]

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 going cut Doughty some slack last night. Coming off Covid, nobody know how sick he got or how it affected him. This was also his first game in almost 3 weeks and I'm guessing that turnover was a result. He'll be better.

 

[BigKing]

More like Sutter is the coach, I need big slow good old boys who can hit and not score! We drafted years of the same type. Hell, even the later rounds DL stayed away from skilled guys.

We've got guys that don't hit and don't score now so that's been really entertaining.

The point is that the answer isn't to basically draft the complete opposite type of player. The car was sliding to the right so Blake just jerked the wheel to the left.

 

[Matt13]

This is only his third season. Two more after this.

You got to lock up a has-been coach for five years/five million when you get the chance.

Sweet lord baby Jesus, I guess I am going to have to be a Ducks fan.

 

[bishop12]

How did Turk look?