GDT: 2021-22 season game 48 LA Kings vs Edmonton Oilers @7:30pm 2/15/22

[Sol]

Don’t get me started on how they misused Kovalchuk. Played the guy in front of the net and make him have deflection duty when he’s made his career on the blue line. Relegated him when he was the most productive king and killed his icetime. Kovalchuk was the best king for nearly a quarter of the season and they banished him. Jim fox ragged on him. And even a good amount of the posters here had this completely warped idea that Kovalchuk was a bad player. Even worse the team was terrible entirely but Kovalchuk was the best on the team and a decent amount of people turned on him. Misused him. And neutered him. And had the nerve to blame him when they set him up for failure and pulled the rug from under him when he was doing the best.


This organization is a joke with how they handle players. It’s an absolute joke. From no top 5 prospect ever cracking into the NHL immediately, to the Kovalchuk treatment, the treatment of Byfield. The quick abandonment of Vilardi. The awful PP structure on the first unit? The ice time they get. Byfield getting no PP. all of this shit adds up.


Blake is responsible but Sturm and Tmac need to go and Blake’s seat has to get a bit hotter at least from AEG because this is completely unacceptable management.




Lastly, people BITCHED about how bad Kovalchuks
Contract was when he was a proven goal scorer for eons , and was performing well in the KHL but suddenly when an unproven goalie like Cal who’s come across as a mental midget at all points in his NHL career gets a three year contract for a little bit less than Kovalchuk, people had no issue.

this organization is ran like a circus

 

[Little Psycho]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Don’t get me started on how they misused Kovalchuk. Played the guy in front of the net and make him have deflection duty when he’s made his career on the blue line. Relegated him when he was the most productive king and killed his icetime. Kovalchuk was the best king for nearly a quarter of the season and they banished him. Jim fox ragged on him. And even a good amount of the posters here had this completely warped idea that Kovalchuk was a bad player. Even worse the team was terrible entirely but Kovalchuk was the best on the team and a decent amount of people turned on him. Misused him. And neutered him. And had the nerve to blame him when they set him up for failure and pulled the rug from under him when he was doing the best.


This organization is a joke with how they handle players. It’s an absolute joke. From no top 5 prospect ever cracking into the NHL immediately, to the Kovalchuk treatment, the treatment of Byfield. The quick abandonment of Vilardi. The awful PP structure on the first unit? The ice time they get. Byfield getting no PP. all of this shit adds up.


Blake is responsible but Sturm and Tmac need to go and Blake’s seat has to get a bit hotter at least from AEG because this is completely unacceptable management

The Kings are turning Byfield into Jordan Staal and Turcotte into Andrew Cogliano and the whole hockey world should be on them for it because it's a f***ing shame. They're trying to turn Kaliyev into Dwight King but he's fortunate the '4th line' isn't for veteran corpses.

Can't wait till we lose JAD and Grundstrom on waivers next training camp because the org needs to extend DB and AA another year for reasons. And moverare to waivers/arbitration whatever

 

[tny760]

love the fake deano account chiming in all professionally

 

[Herby]

I made this point several times after the signing. You have Kopitar, Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari already. Where the hell does Danault fill a need?

They were trying to make the playoffs this season and didn't have a 2nd line center. I questioned the signing too, but it's hard to with what we have seen this season from Danault and from all those players.

The modern NHL lineup construction has 3 lines that should score. The problem is right now is that none of the Kings center picks taken in either 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020 have been able to fill the final box down the middle. People will give you a million reasons why that is for each guy, but the facts are, it's been a huge hole all year.

They clearly don't think Vilardi can play C in the NHL, they might not even think he can play in the NHL, period.
Kupari had the longest look but he really didn't show much offensively.
They did permanent likely unrepairable damage to Turcotte's offensive upside, and now have him at wing anyways.
Byfield's confidence is right now in the toilet. TM doesn't trust him to play heavy minutes

With no Danault two of those guys would have had to be in the NHL as the 2C and 3C. The Kings would be pretty bad right now without Danault.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Can argue that danault signing saved blake's job for better or for worse then because with no Phil Kopitar would be playing 30 minutes a game while each of the kid C's 10

 

[Sol]

The Kings are turning Byfield into Jordan Staal and Turcotte into Andrew Cogliano and the whole hockey world should be on them for it because it's a f***ing shame. They're trying to turn Kaliyev into Dwight King but he's fortunate the '4th line' isn't for veteran corpses.

Can't wait till we lose JAD and Grundstrom on waivers next training camp because the org needs to extend DB and AA another year for reasons. And moverare to waivers/arbitration whatever

Again this is the crux of the problem. We have a good team, we have a good roster, but the degree it’s being mismanaged, misused makes me feel extremely jaded towards this team because it isn’t logical at all. There’s no angle you can use for arguments sake to justify it as hard as I try to make a defense in their perspective. There’s none. I’m so pissed with how this team is being ran, if this archaic bullshit continues the best prospects on our team can begin to flounder and we will likely fall back from playoff contention and the rebuild will be set back some more. I don’t know if they realize how dangerous they’re being and how risky this type of management is. It’s all setting up for an epic collapse.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

Blake's job is obviously safe. T-Mac's job is very much in jeopardy. If we miss the playoffs, he's gone.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Dustin Brown has about 110 minutes of ice time on the PP this season, fifth most on the Kings. He has one point on the PP, ONE!!! That's the exact same as Frk (who's played in 2 games), Vilardi (who played 7), Walker (who played 6), and less than Tkachev (who played 4 games), and Clague (who played in 11 games). This is f***ing insanity. This is pure vet scholarship garbage and it has to stop. Everyone loves Brown, but he's not that guy anymore, and pretending he can be is hurting this team.

 

[Little Psycho]

Oh wow, I had completely blocked out Kovalchuk on the poweplay. How they misused him was embarrassing, putting a sniper infront of the net. Thanks for the reminder @Sol

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Guess that 'talk about Brown's future' was just to inform him he was safe and to keep on keepin' on eh

Okay I'm done for tonight, I swear. It's just infuriating to wait for two weeks and expect the very very glaring weaknesses to be worked on but instead watch the same mistakes get doubled down on. That's arrogant, stubborn, and foolish coaching. If we don't miss the playoffs this year I practically guarantee a Terry Murray like crash-and-burn early next year. It's unsustainable to be this flat-out stupid in decision-making and not have it chew you up at some point. Either they'll burn the vets out or cripple the youth's development or both, just hope we get it before the real damage is done.

 

[Sol]

The Kings are turning Byfield into Jordan Staal and Turcotte into Andrew Cogliano and the whole hockey world should be on them for it because it's a f***ing shame. They're trying to turn Kaliyev into Dwight King but he's fortunate the '4th line' isn't for veteran corpses.

Can't wait till we lose JAD and Grundstrom on waivers next training camp because the org needs to extend DB and AA another year for reasons. And moverare to waivers/arbitration whatever

That's the real crux of the problem. Mismanagement in absurd amount of levels. and zero evidence of course correction. this pattern is continuing with no deviation. It's extremely upsetting to me that I cant logically make a counter argument to their actions which further makes it more evidence that they have no idea what they're doing.

Todd and Blake are playing a very risky game of f***ing over the prospects and hoping they turn out good because this is exactly how not to do it. And when Byfield flounders? Turcotte flounders, Kupari flounders, Vilardi flounders, and to go by the pattern, Clarke likely floundering. The Kings get set back at least another 5-6 years, hell even more if the management stays.

They're setting up the perfect storm for an epic collapse. From being at the most a playoff team, to at worst a bubble team, the Kings will end up in the bottom of the league if and when this continues. It has shown no signs of stopping so we're likely going to head towards a collapse since management seems to have no issue with the gross misuse of prospects and roster as a whole.

 

[AbsentMojo]

At least Russell Morgan stated the obvious re Brown and shouldve called out the PP in general.. None of the post game press ever asks tough question as they do in Canada.. this shouldve been called out months ago

 

[King'sPawn]

Guess that 'talk about Brown's future' was just to inform him he was safe and to keep on keepin' on eh

Okay I'm done for tonight, I swear. It's just infuriating to wait for two weeks and expect the very very glaring weaknesses to be worked on but instead watch the same mistakes get doubled down on. That's arrogant, stubborn, and foolish coaching. If we don't miss the playoffs this year I practically guarantee a Terry Murray like crash-and-burn early next year. It's unsustainable to be this flat-out stupid in decision-making and not have it chew you up at some point. Either they'll burn the vets out or cripple the youth's development or both, just hope we get it before the real damage is done.

You're pathetic.

❤

 

[Peter James Bond II]

I made this point several times after the signing. You have Kopitar, Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari already. Where the hell does Danault fill a need?

Last year., the Kings had the worst second line in the NHL. Vilardi was floundering and not quite ready. Had a very poor 20 game stretch. Carter was moved to wing and was brutal his last 2+ years. Had zero passion. I guess he's gained some of that back. Good for him. I'll take the 3rd and 4th round picks, thanks. He was not going to be effective here, so Blake moved him. AA and Kempe got some games on that line, but that line had zero chemistry and was terrible.

So, a second center was needed. Gabe was not quite ready, or needed to be tried at wing. Having Kopi and Gabe as C 1 and 2, also arguably would be the slowest #1 and #2 center combo in the NHL. I still believe in Gabe and if he gets a another legit chance as a RW, he could excel. (just keep AA and Brown off his line - or better both of them off the ice)

So, there was a hole at 2C. They were not sold on Gabe there and throwing a 19 year old Byfield would not have been good. Kempe was finding his game on wing. It's kind of too bad that he could not have taken 2C. The only real choice was to get a short term 2C, or sign Danault. I would vote Danault as the Kings MVP this year. And the Kings have gone from the worst 2nd line in the NHL, to perhaps the best second line in the NHL. Arvidsson has 30 pts in 40 games - a 60 pt projection. I do not know the last year the Kings had a 60 pt forward, not named Anze. Probably years.

There's no reason that Byfield can't play 3C and have success, IF he's given better wingers and 12 minutes. (putting Byfield on PP 1 or PP2 would get him in 11-12 minutes area) If Moore or Iafallo was slotted there, would help. AI has been a little flat of late, so he could move down. He's a major upgrade to AA or 23 there. Moore-Danault-Arvidsson should stay together. I'd put Arty up with Kopitar - he's playing that good. And move AI to line 3. Lizotte's line could have AA or 23...but i'd sit 23. I'd callup Gabe now and have AI - Byfield - Vilardi as line 3. But we know this won't happen.

 

[Live in the Now]

I took my brother to the game, he knows nothing about hockey, and he kept asking me during each PP why the Kings were passing and stickhandling before passing the puck again or shooting it. Our second goal was a great example of what the Kings should have been doing. Smith needs time to square up to each shot and the Kings were glad to just give it to him. I'd just be repeating everyone else at this point but the PP is a complete disaster, everyone can see what's wrong with it, and it's really badly hurting the team. And if the coaches are telling the team what to do to fix it and the team isn't doing it, it's time to change the players up, but they aren't doing that either.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

Let's just be honest, that was a piss-poor performance, and a piss poor coaching job. Especially after the two-week break ... or is that why? Regardless of the break, piss poor. Did I mention that was a piss-poor performance? LOL

 

[kingsfan28]

Dustin Brown has about 110 minutes of ice time on the PP this season, fifth most on the Kings. He has one point on the PP, ONE!!! That's the exact same as Frk (who's played in 2 games), Vilardi (who played 7), Walker (who played 6), and less than Tkachev (who played 4 games), and Clague (who played in 11 games). This is f***ing insanity. This is pure vet scholarship garbage and it has to stop. Everyone loves Brown, but he's not that guy anymore, and pretending he can be is hurting this team.

Just curious, out of all 5 pp tonight, how many guys had points. Lets go back further, how many pp points does anybody on the team have over the last 10 games. Pretty sure Browns not the only guy not scoring [ on the second pp unit most nights] , but hey, he's the problem right? Did Brown whiff on the open slot shot on pp 1, or shoot it over his head when Smith was moving the opposite way...yeah, that's what I thought. There are other option but blaming him for all the reason our pp can't score it just flat out wrong. HE IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Taking him off the pp won't make us go 5/5 the next game.

*Clague

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Oh.....so the sky is falling again? Ok.

 

[ibleedkings]

Oh.....so the sky is falling again? Ok.

You're not worried about the pathetic PP??? Are you fine with Brown being on the PP despite having 1 PP point in the last 70 or so games???

 

[DoktorJeep]

After Danault scored, I thought they were going to win. I only had half an eye on the game, so I didn’t see them fall behind 3-2. Cal has turned his game around so I think you can say his misplay on that goal was rust. And he was throwing it to the corner not up the middle of the ice with no King in sight.

Obviously it’s tough to watch Byfield’s deployment. He looked completely ineffective from what I saw and it feels like it was trending this way prior to the break. Playing him with Brown and AA is like making fans chug purple cough syrup, just like seeing Maata out there. After three years, I feel like purple is Todds favorite color.

The next game against Vegas is a tougher match up. But Quick is likely in, so he ups the Kings odds IMO. Hopefully Eichel blows his wad tonight and he’s not full of adrenaline when he plays the Kings.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You're not worried about the pathetic PP??? Are you fine with Brown being on the PP despite having 1 PP point in the last 70 or so games???

No, I'm not worried about, they clearly changed things up.....I'd like to give it more than a game before I decide to blow my f***ing brains out over it....

 

[tkb81]

Just curious, out of all 5 pp tonight, how many guys had points. Lets go back further, how many pp points does anybody on the team have over the last 10 games. Pretty sure Browns not the only guy not scoring [ on the second pp unit most nights] , but hey, he's the problem right? Did Brown whiff on the open slot shot on pp 1, or shoot it over his head when Smith was moving the opposite way...yeah, that's what I thought. There are other option but blaming him for all the reason our pp can't score it just flat out wrong. HE IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Taking him off the pp won't make us go 5/5 the next game.

*Clague

Dustin, is this you?

 

[tkb81]

The only good thing about a double minor for Maata is that Maata wont be on the ice for potentially 4 minutes ..

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

No, I'm not worried about, they clearly changed things up.....I'd like to give it more than a game before I decide to blow my f***ing brains out over it....

Well, do us all a favor…when you DO decide to blow your brains out (which will probably be after Friday’s loss which will obviously signify the end of the season and any playoff hopes), make sure you take Brown, Maatta, TM, Blake, Sturm and the player development team with you!