GDT: 2021-22 season game 6 LA Kings vs St. Louis Blues @5:00pm 10/25/21

[Raccoon Jesus]

Watch it be just all d-men. to the covid list--roy, bjornfot, walker, anderson.

 

[Matt13]

More Covid news:


Sure hope the Kings don’t get hit with Covid issues now.

That depends on who may get Covid.

 

[Bandit]

Of course, right after we play them twice too. Guess this year just wasn't meant to be.

 

[BigKing]

Point well taken, but funny enough, the only players from their 2012-2013 lineup (our last playoff matchup) are Tarasenko and Perron. Steve Ott is an assistant coach there now, so I guess that counts. Schwartz was close, but he's in Seattle.

I think it just goes to show you how quickly teams change. It's just Quick, Kopitar, Brown, and Doughty for us.

Teams can--and do--change quickly but this is the 9th season since that playoff series against the Blues. How long is the average NHL career never mind how long a team stays together?

What we should all take from this is that the Cup era was ages ago in both NHL and actual years. Love them, but Brown/Quick are similar to Luc/Blake during that 2006-08 range. Doesn't look too bad on hockey reference (Luc with 15 goals in 65 games in his last year) but--if you lived through it--you know it wasn't good. What's wild is that three of the four you named are Dave Taylor picks with two of them making up 2/3rds of the current top line in the year 2021.

I think there are only three DL guys on this team: Doughty/Kempe/Roy. Three Taylor picks. The rest of this team is all Rob. Early returns are poor but it is really going to come down to how the youth is integrated and if said youth goes out and grabs control of this team. Forget about the skill aspect of it, but guys like Simmonds, Clifford and even Doughty just rolled in here with attitude right from the hop while Blake's guys--so far--mainly seem like a bunch of meek p***yes. The fact that the vets on the roster seem to have the same mindset is a real problem.

Never forget that DL put together a Top 5 prospect pool for a few years and that the majority of the guys that were pushing that ranking never became stars. Acquiring picks and taking players is easy but there is a developmental side of this. I'm not questioning the Ontario side of this as much as I really worry about what these kids are surrounded by at the NHL level. DL was all about building a culture at the NHL level on top of getting the AHL thing right for the first time in the history of the franchise. The Stoll/Greene acquisitions are a prime example of this.

I keep reading that you can always add toughness or grit later on after you have all the studs. I get it but, like, can't you draft or sign some grit after five drafts? Maybe it is coming and I just don't see it yet but, my goodness, can you remember any hits from this season after six games? Bjornfot is averaging almost 17 minutes a night through six games and has ZERO hits. A defenseman! Anderson at 18 1/2 minutes a night with three hits. Vilardi with ZERO. Maatta draws in for 18 1/2 minutes and puts up ZERO hits. These don't need to be vintage Dustin Brown sized hits but, c'mon now, these games look like intra-squad scrimmages.

 

[bland]

It was a luxury to have so many leaders and former and future captains of other teams be present during the cup runs, but I disagree about Brown and his significance and inspiration to the organization. It no doubt helped Brown, but he was the best role model with the C both on and off the ice. He has always tried to play a high-energy power forward that brings top 6 production and has mostly succeeded. Even when everyone thought and literally told him that he was washed up he did the training and reforged himself back on the top line. He has been on that line through sheer force of will, in spite of everything, even the fanbase. And he f***ing deserves it too. He has 5 points in 6 games and is +1 on this tire fire of a team. Sure, I am there with anyone where I would love to see someone like Kaliyev take that spot and put up 60+ points and 30+ goals again and Brown lead by taking control of the bottom 6, signing one-year deals, and chipping in production; but honestly, the closest thing we have to putting up that production is still sadly Dustin Brown.

He's always tried and he's always played with his heart on his sleeve. He isn't a chatterbox, but when he says something the team listens, and he has taken special interest in working with the youngsters and directed team conditioning throughout the years. His physical play has set the tone of Kings hockey throughout the decades and while no one can be on all the time he has always given all that he could on the ice for the team and his peers have recognized and lauded him for it.

I understand where you're coming from. He's not Mark Messier, but he's our Mark Messier. Paper captain is a bullshit thing to say about Brown. He is the best captain the team has ever had, period. I know that the captaincy is very ceremonial, but it isn't completely worthless--it symbolizes who you want everyone to emulate, and what direction you want everyone to work towards. If left undefined, then you truly have no identity and everyone is sort of going in their own direction. It is not the end all be all, but knowing what you're working towards and who is getting you there matters.

Or...

He pouted when better players took his top line spot, his play suffered and his coach had no choice but to drop him even further down the lineup and management insisted that Kopitar take more responsibility for his team with his maxed out extension and put the C on him - just like Brown - with the hope that they grow into that role.

Best captain in team history? His and Kopitar's teams have never won one playoff series without Richards, Mitchell, Sutter providing a backbone. They failed under pressure, every time, without strong willed individuals around them. They aren't suddenly going to change at this stage of their careers.

 

[King'sPawn]

I am 48 man, that was all Malcom McClaren!

I'm turning 40 in a couple weeks. I thought you were referencing "Without Me". Lol

 

[bland]

I'm turning 40 in a couple weeks. I thought you were referencing "Without Me". Lol

My condolences!

 

[DryIslandBartender]

It was a luxury to have so many leaders and former and future captains of other teams be present during the cup runs, but I disagree about Brown and his significance and inspiration to the organization. It no doubt helped Brown, but he was the best role model with the C both on and off the ice. He has always tried to play a high-energy power forward that brings top 6 production and has mostly succeeded. Even when everyone thought and literally told him that he was washed up he did the training and reforged himself back on the top line. He has been on that line through sheer force of will, in spite of everything, even the fanbase. And he f***ing deserves it too. He has 5 points in 6 games and is +1 on this tire fire of a team. Sure, I am there with anyone where I would love to see someone like Kaliyev take that spot and put up 60+ points and 30+ goals again and Brown lead by taking control of the bottom 6, signing one-year deals, and chipping in production; but honestly, the closest thing we have to putting up that production is still sadly Dustin Brown.

He's always tried and he's always played with his heart on his sleeve. He isn't a chatterbox, but when he says something the team listens, and he has taken special interest in working with the youngsters and directed team conditioning throughout the years. His physical play has set the tone of Kings hockey throughout the decades and while no one can be on all the time he has always given all that he could on the ice for the team and his peers have recognized and lauded him for it.

I understand where you're coming from. He's not Mark Messier, but he's our Mark Messier. Paper captain is a bullshit thing to say about Brown. He is the best captain the team has ever had, period. I know that the captaincy is very ceremonial, but it isn't completely worthless--it symbolizes who you want everyone to emulate, and what direction you want everyone to work towards. If left undefined, then you truly have no identity and everyone is sort of going in their own direction. It is not the end all be all, but knowing what you're working towards and who is getting you there matters.

Norstrom, Gretzky, Dave Taylor were better captains. They didn’t need a wake up call from a GM looking to trade them to get going nor did they lock their coaches out of the locker room.

I don’t think Kopitar is that great of a leader either. Part of the problem with this franchise is the lack of leadership. I’m hoping Turcotte can fill that void in near the future.

 

[Telos]

Or...

He pouted when better players took his top line spot, his play suffered and his coach had no choice but to drop him even further down the lineup and management insisted that Kopitar take more responsibility for his team with his maxed out extension and put the C on him - just like Brown - with the hope that they grow into that role.

Best captain in team history? His and Kopitar's teams have never won one playoff series without Richards, Mitchell, Sutter providing a backbone. They failed under pressure, every time, without strong willed individuals around them. They aren't suddenly going to change at this stage of their careers.

That's some revisionist bullshit. Yeah, there was conflict between the team and management, neither side was perfect there, but give me a f***ing break about laying the post-2014 team performance at the feet of Brown's leadership... I would even defend Kopitar at that point.

Norstrom, Gretzky, Dave Taylor were better captains. They didn’t need a wake up call from a GM looking to trade them to get going nor did they lock their coaches out of the locker room.

I don’t think Kopitar is that great of a leader either. Part of the problem with this franchise is the lack of leadership. I’m hoping Turcotte can fill that void in near the future.

He answered the bell and led the team to two Stanley Cup victories and you say he's weak because there was threat and pressure about his spot on the team? All this talk from everyone about results, well he has them. All of those captains are very similar, none were extremely vocal leaders. Norstrom was a great captain, I would argue he had a more effective style, but Brown was the one who got them there. He was very similar to Taylor. He literally is this Kings generation's Dave Taylor and they had identical leadership/captain styles, yet he gets way more shit than Taylor even though he owns the results.

Gretzky, on the other hand, was a terrible captain. He's always been a terrible leader and coach. He was a savant on the ice and was good at leaning on his talent in picking up the team on his back and telling everyone where he wanted them, but he wasn't always the most liked person, though he tries to appease everyone now, and he wasn't very good in the lockerroom. As Robitaille said, he was a deer in headlights when Gretzky joined the team, he was a symbol and was giving the C from Taylor because of it, and he stopped playing his own game and just did whatever Gretzky told him to and was in awe of Wayne and just wanted to give him the puck every time he had it at all cost, but his game suffered a bit because of it. Sure, Wayne would find him by doing what he does, but it wasn't until Luc listened to himself, started playing his own game, and trusted himself with the puck that he really got it into gear and was able to succeed under Gretzky.

I do agree with you though that one of the most important pieces of the Kings' future identity and leadership lies with Turcotte. They will probably slap the C on Byfield's sweater ala Kopitar via pedigree; however, Turcotte is the tenacity the team needs. The C doesn't have to always be the team's best player. However, he still has to earn it, it can't be anointed.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Hate to break it to you but it’s the fact that nobody besides the vets, minus Kempe, is why the Kings suck. I know you’ll say Dusty Coattails and Yaffalo but the Kings need more from Vilardi, Kupari, Kaliyev, Tkachev, Moore, You etc.

FYI it these guys that need to be dropped in minutes so that others can be put into a position of production. Coattails is just eating up time and squandering scoring opportunities! Its OK that Dusty scores he'll be more marketable come the Trade Deadline...surly someone will want Dusty (overrated) Coattails Bottoms

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

This might be the fastest I ever check out of a Kings season

Don't check out yet the kids are coming

 

[kingsholygrail]

Don't check out yet the kids are coming

The kids are here. They're not doing anything.

 

[damacles1156]

Sutter has his flames rolling right now. Just steamrolled the rags.

It amazes me how people think Sutter is a stupid coach

 

[FSL KINGS]

It amazes me how people think Sutter is a stupid coach

I'd say grouchy, old guy & stubborn as any of them. Who waits to be down 0-3 before switching things up?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Potential hot take, but I think the presence of Kings legends like Kopitar, Doughty, and Brown could be detrimental to development. Hey, guys, don’t worry, we don’t have to dig in on this shift. Kopitar’s gonna come out and score one. That may not be a conscious thought, but it could have an effect on performance at some level.

With all that said, in the games I’ve seen, Vilardi and the others may not be showing up on the scorecard, but they are generating chances. Eventually, the points will come.

However, I do not and cannot trust Blake and co. simply because they haven’t given me any reason to trust them. I’m a broken record here, but anyone on this board can come in to an established scouting and development staff, hoard high picks, and draft good prospects. If there’s no pressure to win from ownership, you’re playing with house money.

Something absolutely needs to change. Maybe we’ll circle the drain right up until Quick, Brown, and Kopi are gone. Who knows. But there’s clearly very little drive or excitement throughout this organization, from the executive box to the ice and in the stands. Something’s gotta give. Not a fan of TMac and never was. He’s this timeline’s Crawford.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

Potential hot take, but I think the presence of Kings legends like Kopitar, Doughty, and Brown could be detrimental to development. Hey, guys, don’t worry, we don’t have to dig in on this shift. Kopitar’s gonna come out and score one. That may not be a conscious thought, but it could have an effect on performance at some level.

With all that said, in the games I’ve seen, Vilardi and the others may not be showing up on the scorecard, but they are generating chances. Eventually, the points will come.

However, I do not and cannot trust Blake and co. simply because they haven’t given me any reason to trust them. I’m a broken record here, but anyone on this board can come in to an established scouting and development staff, hoard high picks, and draft good prospects. If there’s no pressure to win from ownership, you’re playing with house money.

Something absolutely needs to change. Maybe we’ll circle the drain right up until Quick, Brown, and Kopi are gone. Who knows. But there’s clearly very little drive or excitement throughout this organization, from the executive box to the ice and in the stands. Something’s gotta give. Not a fan of TMac and never was. He’s this timeline’s Crawford.

Hot take? Accurate AF take IMO.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Potential hot take, but I think the presence of Kings legends like Kopitar, Doughty, and Brown could be detrimental to development. Hey, guys, don’t worry, we don’t have to dig in on this shift. Kopitar’s gonna come out and score one. That may not be a conscious thought, but it could have an effect on performance at some level.

With all that said, in the games I’ve seen, Vilardi and the others may not be showing up on the scorecard, but they are generating chances. Eventually, the points will come.

However, I do not and cannot trust Blake and co. simply because they haven’t given me any reason to trust them. I’m a broken record here, but anyone on this board can come in to an established scouting and development staff, hoard high picks, and draft good prospects. If there’s no pressure to win from ownership, you’re playing with house money.

Something absolutely needs to change. Maybe we’ll circle the drain right up until Quick, Brown, and Kopi are gone. Who knows. But there’s clearly very little drive or excitement throughout this organization, from the executive box to the ice and in the stands. Something’s gotta give. Not a fan of TMac and never was. He’s this timeline’s Crawford.

The simple answer is that the Kings executives (Cheeseman,Luc, Blake) don’t prioritize winning. They don’t talk about it, instead it’s about things off the ice.

 

[YAYSAY]

The go wide and cut in late IS his only move and I have been calling it "The Kupari" since he was drafted. So yes, it is exactly as described. Please try to keep up if you are going to be aggressive in your posts.

Not being aggressive lol. But you did not say anything about cutting in late. You said going around the outside, sorry I don't keep track of all the terms you've coined. His play in the game, also one of the best chances in the whole game, was taking it straight to the middle challenging the defender and toe-dragging to get the shot off, more creative offense than 90% of the team can do.

 

[Lt Dan]

The go wide and cut in late IS his only move and I have been calling it "The Kupari" since he was drafted. So yes, it is exactly as described. Please try to keep up if you are going to be aggressive in your posts.

You have been the aggressive one. You were the same way yesterday with kingsfan. Is it your time of the month or something?

 

[lexlavender]

The problem with Sutter has always been that his style of play demands everything from you, and it wears out quickly. When there is buy-in, it works.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Potential hot take, but I think the presence of Kings legends like Kopitar, Doughty, and Brown could be detrimental to development. Hey, guys, don’t worry, we don’t have to dig in on this shift. Kopitar’s gonna come out and score one. That may not be a conscious thought, but it could have an effect on performance at some level.

With all that said, in the games I’ve seen, Vilardi and the others may not be showing up on the scorecard, but they are generating chances. Eventually, the points will come.

However, I do not and cannot trust Blake and co. simply because they haven’t given me any reason to trust them. I’m a broken record here, but anyone on this board can come in to an established scouting and development staff, hoard high picks, and draft good prospects. If there’s no pressure to win from ownership, you’re playing with house money.

Something absolutely needs to change. Maybe we’ll circle the drain right up until Quick, Brown, and Kopi are gone. Who knows. But there’s clearly very little drive or excitement throughout this organization, from the executive box to the ice and in the stands. Something’s gotta give. Not a fan of TMac and never was. He’s this timeline’s Crawford.

As much as I want Kopitar to teach Byfield--there's so much good that can rub off there, or Doughty on Clarke--there is something to be said for 'no one is coming to save you.' Especially at this point, I'm starting to come around to it, especially when the vets are just going through the motions or on their own agendas (Doughty re: team canada, etc).

 

[HookKing]

As much as I want Kopitar to teach Byfield--there's so much good that can rub off there, or Doughty on Clarke--there is something to be said for 'no one is coming to save you.' Especially at this point, I'm starting to come around to it, especially when the vets are just going through the motions or on their own agendas (Doughty re: team canada, etc).

You gotta be kidding.

Maybe if this guy keep his mind on the NHL instead of a gold medal he might have more playoff success:

Connor McDavid is excited for the opportunity to play for gold for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
"The Olympics are so important to me because it's the biggest stage in sport … as an elite athlete you want to perform on the biggest stage," the Edmonton Oilers center told the Edmonton Journal on Tuesday. "The Stanley Cup and the Olympics are pretty close to equal. A Stanley Cup is certainly at the top of the list and an Olympic gold medal would maybe be a 1b, if you can call it that. A gold would be unbelievable."

Or these two guys with their own agendas, just to name a couple:

Connor McDavid is excited for the opportunity to play for gold for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
"The Olympics are so important to me because it's the biggest stage in sport … as an elite athlete you want to perform on the biggest stage," the Edmonton Oilers center told the Edmonton Journal on Tuesday. "The Stanley Cup and the Olympics are pretty close to equal. A Stanley Cup is certainly at the top of the list and an Olympic gold medal would maybe be a 1b, if you can call it that. A gold would be unbelievable."
One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hedman has expressed his desire to represent his home country on the biggest international stage, saying it would be the realization of a lifelong dream.


One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hedman has expressed his desire to represent his home country on the biggest international stage, saying it would be the realization of a lifelong dream.

One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hedman has expressed his desire to represent his home country on the biggest international stage, saying it would be the realization of a lifelong dream.
One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hedman has expressed his desire to represent his home country on the biggest international stage, saying it would be the realization of a lifelong dream.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You gotta be kidding.

Maybe if this guy keep his mind on the NHL instead of a gold medal he might have more playoff success:



Connor McDavid is excited for the opportunity to play for gold for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
"The Olympics are so important to me because it's the biggest stage in sport … as an elite athlete you want to perform on the biggest stage," the Edmonton Oilers center told the Edmonton Journal on Tuesday. "The Stanley Cup and the Olympics are pretty close to equal. A Stanley Cup is certainly at the top of the list and an Olympic gold medal would maybe be a 1b, if you can call it that. A gold would be unbelievable."
One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hedman has expressed his desire to represent his home country on the biggest international stage, saying it would be the realization of a lifelong dream.


One of the last remaining goals in Alex Ovechkin's career is to win a gold medal in the Olympics just like his mother, Tatyana, did with the USSR's basketball team in 1976 and 1980.

Hey I'm one of Doughty's biggest defenders here and he's all but admitted f***ing around when the team was slacking. Comparing him to McJesus, Ovy, and Hedman isn't going to be flattering.

 

[KINGS17]

As much as I want Kopitar to teach Byfield--there's so much good that can rub off there, or Doughty on Clarke--there is something to be said for 'no one is coming to save you.' Especially at this point, I'm starting to come around to it, especially when the vets are just going through the motions or on their own agendas (Doughty re: team canada, etc).

You knew Doughty was going to show up and play with exceptional effort the first half of this season, because he is pissed about possibly being left off of Canada's Olympic roster. It wasn't about the Kings, it was about Drew. Shocking, not.

 

[HookKing]

Hey I'm one of Doughty's biggest defenders here and he's all but admitted f***ing around when the team was slacking. Comparing him to McJesus, Ovy, and Hedman isn't going to be flattering.

Nice dodge.