GDT: 2021-22 season game 32 LA Kings vs Vancouver Canucks @7:30pm 12/30/21

[AbsentMojo]

It's certainly interesting to ponder whether the Kings actually developed Kopitar and Doughty at all, considering both guys stepped straight into the NHL and were immediately elite franchise players.

The Kings are pretty good at developing players defensively, but I wonder what Kopitar and Doughty would have looked like in different, more offensively-minded systems and organizations?

DD in Olympics 2014 had 4 goals in 6 games.. he looked like totally different player as i recall with the reins off. Terry Murray developed Kopi and DD and then DS cemented the responsible non-offense mentality to the point they'll never change now.

 

[Choralone]

So what do you want to do with Turcotte when Byfield is ready? Shift him to wing?

Kopitar
Danault
Byfield
Lizotte

All these guys have center positions locked up for the foreseeable future. I guess if Turcotte is going to continue to play in the NHL it'll have to be on wing.

I think the solution is to have one line consist of three centers and no wingers. They'll all come back to play defense, and play Rochambeau to determine who takes each faceoff.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

DD in Olympics 2014 had 4 goals in 6 games.. he looked like totally different player as i recall with the reins off. Terry Murray developed Kopi and DD and then DS cemented the responsible non-offense mentality to the point they'll never change now.

Yup, he literally led an allstar team canada in scoring haha

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Everyone has loved the skillset but he's mostly left us wanting more. High hopes for him since the prospect pool was so barren and he flashed in the Calder Cup run. Then you have the 2018 season where you expect him to follow that up with more progression but he mostly floundered but it looks like the main reason was what most of us said: he should not be a center at the NHL level.

He has as many hits this season as all of last season. This coincides with what I keep saying about this team and this sport: effort and buy-in can trump an overall lack of high-end talent. When your players that actually have high-end talent put out maximum effort, then you are really cooking with gas. Playing wing allows him to use his skillset more effectively but he is also fully embracing it this season.

His current hit pace is 121 over 82 games. Same pace over 56 games would be 82 hits: he had 47 in 56 games last season. Granted, he paced for more goals last year than in his career year in 2018 but 2018 is also his career year in hits and he only played 13:20 a game. Hitting creates loose pucks, keeps shifts going in the offensive zone, leads to drawn penalties and gets the players and the crowd into the game. To that end, he's on pace to shatter his career high in shots on goal as well.

I'll say all these good things and then I will also say this: contract year. Money is a big motivator and he makes peanuts.

I followed Kempe since his days in Sweden. Wrote about him on this site.

He was a 29th overall pick and the skillset was obvious; great hands, good shot but low hockey IQ. Offensive potential was limited.

3rd liner or 2nd liner at best.

People wanting more had too high expectations.

 

[King'sPawn]

I followed Kempe since his days in Sweden. Wrote about him on this site.

He was a 29th overall pick and the skillset was obvious; great hands, good shot but low hockey IQ. Offensive potential was limited.

3rd liner or 2nd liner at best.

People wanting more had too high expectations.

You can be successful and a first liner despite low IQ and limited offensive potential, you know. Look at Dustin Brown.

That said, he still at best is comparing to (and less productive than) Tyler Toffoli's best season, and Kempe's older than Toffoli's best season. So, I say it remains to be seen if he still is a first liner in talent

He's played well, but the criticisms are and were absolutely valid.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think Kempe is solidly a middle sixer who is playing a good complementary top line role, it's not just anyone that can play with Kopitar as we've seen so there's big value int here when we find it.

re: Kopitar vs. Toffoli I'd say TT is the 'better player' but Kempe is a swiss army knife like Lewis was with better production--the guy is a monster forechecker with oodles of speed, hands, and can be instantly deadly; he can lug the puck through the neutral zone in any situation; he'll get his nose dirty and take fair fights. He's become a much more well-rounded player than I ever thought he'd become, he's headed for about 50 points which is what I figured his ceiling was as well--provided he keeps up this season (biggest criticism for me was always consistency, even more so than IQ--but his read of the game has become really strong), he'll be at the top of what I thought he'd be capable of and a really really good late 1st selection.

I know like @Frolov 6'3 says some people were dead set on him being a 1st liner/60 point guy but that's early first talent, there's a reason he was still available late, and have to adjust expectations commensurately.

 

[Reaper45]

I always had Kempe pegged as a great 3rd liner good 2nd liner. And that’s what he is. He can fill in on the 1st line but will leave you wanting more. I have a distinct suspicion Kupari will be exactly the same way.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Adrian Kempe leads the team in goals and GWG. It’s the first year he has been consistently given the opportunity to play big minutes. The only difference I see in his game is he’s not taken stupid penalties for the past two months. He and Vilardi are prime examples of guys who have been and are being forced down in the lineup because management thinks this team still has a championship worthy core in place.

 

[Bandit]

I always had Kempe pegged as a great 3rd liner good 2nd liner. And that’s what he is. He can fill in on the 1st line but will leave you wanting more. I have a distinct suspicion Kupari will be exactly the same way.

If Kempe leaves you wanting more on the first line, what does Kopitar's 3 goals in 29 games do for you?

 

[King'sPawn]

If Kempe leaves you wanting more on the first line, what does Kopitar's 3 goals in 29 games do for you?

Wishing he was Viktor Arvidsson with 5 goals in the same span.

 

[Reaper45]

If Kempe leaves you wanting more on the first line, what does Kopitar's 3 goals in 29 games do for you?

Don’t get me started on him.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Adrian Kempe leads the team in goals and GWG. It’s the first year he has been consistently given the opportunity to play big minutes. The only difference I see in his game is he’s not taken stupid penalties for the past two months. He and Vilardi are prime examples of guys who have been and are being forced down in the lineup because management thinks this team still has a championship worthy core in place.

Wait....Kempe is being forced down the lineup.....playing....top line with Kopitar??? WTF?

 

[LAKings88]

I like Kempe. He has grown on me since coming in. I like that he has a bit of snarl too.

Hoping he can hit 30 goals but suspect he’ll be in the 25 goal range.

 

[RaymondReddington]

Posted this before but it is very relevant when evaluating/understanding Adrian Kempe.
His father was quoted as saying if Adrian had his brother Mario’s heart, Adrian would be the best player in the NHL.
What does that tell you? Speaks for itself. His own father.
Adrian’s better play is growth of heart. I trust his father’s analysis.
As his heart goes, so goes his production.

 

[KingTech]

I was ripping on Kempe at the beginning off the year and he's proving me wrong. He is providing the offensive touch on that line i thought he couldn't. with that said i would still love a upgrade on wing to push him to 3 line wing.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Posted this before but it is very relevant when evaluating/understanding Adrian Kempe.
His father was quoted as saying if Adrian had his brother Mario’s heart, Adrian would be the best player in the NHL.
What does that tell you? Speaks for itself. His own father.
Adrian’s better play is growth of heart. I trust his father’s analysis.
As his heart goes, so goes his production.

It was very strange watching Mario Kempe. I'm sure both him and dad rip on Adrian for being so much more talented haha...because Mario was a very endearing player, dude was all lunchpail with little talent. You can see some stylistic similarities but otherwise you'd never know they're brothers. I can see where that quote would come from.

 

[DoktorJeep]

It was very strange watching Mario Kempe. I'm sure both him and dad rip on Adrian for being so much more talented haha...because Mario was a very endearing player, dude was all lunchpail with little talent. You can see some stylistic similarities but otherwise you'd never know they're brothers. I can see where that quote would come from.

If Covid keeps wreaking havoc on rosters, Kings may need Anze and Adrian to hit up Gaspar and Mario to fill in for some games.

 

[Schmooley]

It was very strange watching Mario Kempe. I'm sure both him and dad rip on Adrian for being so much more talented haha...because Mario was a very endearing player, dude was all lunchpail with little talent. You can see some stylistic similarities but otherwise you'd never know they're brothers. I can see where that quote would come from.

I liked Mario he looked good in Arizona and was surprised he didnt find a niche on an NHL team long term. He never got a shot here really.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Posted this before but it is very relevant when evaluating/understanding Adrian Kempe.
His father was quoted as saying if Adrian had his brother Mario’s heart, Adrian would be the best player in the NHL.
What does that tell you? Speaks for itself. His own father.
Adrian’s better play is growth of heart. I trust his father’s analysis.
As his heart goes, so goes his production.

That does explain some of his 20 game goal droughts in the past pretty well - a lack of desire. This year after a bone headed start, he has cleaned up his low IQ o-zone penalties and is producing regularly. And the thing that makes him really valuable is his speed on the back check and tenacity on D... I also see him making smart plays in the o-zone to keep possession - not coughing up the puck like he used to. Maybe it was the 2 years at center screwed up his development.

 

[FSL KINGS]

I'm glad so many are realizing how Awesome Kempe is!

 

[YAYSAY]

I think Kempe is solidly a middle sixer who is playing a good complementary top line role, it's not just anyone that can play with Kopitar as we've seen so there's big value int here when we find it.

re: Kopitar vs. Toffoli I'd say TT is the 'better player' but Kempe is a swiss army knife like Lewis was with better production--the guy is a monster forechecker with oodles of speed, hands, and can be instantly deadly; he can lug the puck through the neutral zone in any situation; he'll get his nose dirty and take fair fights. He's become a much more well-rounded player than I ever thought he'd become, he's headed for about 50 points which is what I figured his ceiling was as well--provided he keeps up this season (biggest criticism for me was always consistency, even more so than IQ--but his read of the game has become really strong), he'll be at the top of what I thought he'd be capable of and a really really good late 1st selection.

I know like @Frolov 6'3 says some people were dead set on him being a 1st liner/60 point guy but that's early first talent, there's a reason he was still available late, and have to adjust expectations commensurately.

His defensive game is really underrated. He's a solid PKer. Seems to often get in passing lanes, and he's one of the few players on this team who actually hits and plays with edge. I also think it's no surprise he's playing better this season due to the fact that he's being put with Kopitar consistently allowing them to develop some chemistry together. He's had a few games this season where he just totally took over and looked like a 1st line winger. I think Kempe, Iafallo, and Danault are gonna be the transitory players that bridge the gap between the old core and the new. I could see Iafallo with the C and Kempe with an A in the future if we hang on to them.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

You can be successful and a first liner despite low IQ and limited offensive potential, you know. Look at Dustin Brown.

That said, he still at best is comparing to (and less productive than) Tyler Toffoli's best season, and Kempe's older than Toffoli's best season. So, I say it remains to be seen if he still is a first liner in talent

He's played well, but the criticisms are and were absolutely valid.

Euh Dustin Brown limited offensive potential ? Where did that come from. He was picked very high in one of the deepest drafts ever.

The takes regarding Kempe were IMO ridiculous if anybody had watched him in Sweden. Probably a case of him being one of the higher LA picks during that time span so too high expectations or too much hope. Unfair to him. He was close to being a 2nd rounder.

 

[johnjm22]

Kempe has 11 even strength goals. That's 12th most in the entire NHL.

To put that into perspective:
McDavid 14
Mathews 12
Kaprizov 11
Draisaitl 10
Stamkos 9

And it's not like Kempe is playing with other legit top line players. Imagine if he was. Imagine if the Kings had a good PP.