GDT: 2022-23 season game 10 LA Kings vs Toronto Maple Leafs @4:00pm 10/29/22

[King'sPawn]

Here’s a cherry picked stat. 3-1-0 is now Petersen’s record. Obviously his form hasn’t been great but tonight he looked good. He was solid, made some big saves at big times and didn’t let in any awful ones. The first one if we are being picky wasn’t perfect goaltending but that’s the case from every goaltender game to game. One of those per game I’d live with. He now has to build on this.

As for Vilardi… just to cherry pick my own posts.


Posted July 24th 2020:




Posted Feb 6 2021:


I‘d be untruthful if I said I thought he’d break out this suddenly and I was starting to think his time in LA may be short lived. However I always believed in his ability and have rooted for him after what he came back from. I’m not getting carried away with his red hot start but I am very happy for the lad.

Good call - my biggest concern has been LA's ability to help him be the best he can be, and my concerns are (at least) temporarily subsided.

I never doubted his talent, and thought it was too early to write him off at any time, aside from questioning LA's interest in playing him in a meaningful role.

But note an immediate jump to the team from top to bottom with a healthy mix of youth and vets.

Kopitar's line got a jolt from a talented and driven player.

Kupari, who already had energy from their call-up, played with more moxy and swagger, knowing they have a talented vet playing alongside him. Even though Grundstrom flubbed the breakout pass to Fiala, it was a low-danger flub with still a confidence Fiala could recover it.

This is how you leverage depth: you pile on layers of skill and experiences. You allocate responsibility to the vets, while also putting an onus on the youth to take charge of their own destiny while they have opportunity. Players can play their game, and feel comfortable in a role as they try to make it work within the NHL paradigm.

And NONE of this is new to LA. They've been doing it with the defensemen already. They don't force rookie defensemen to play together and figure it out. They don't force all young defensemen to show they can kill 4 minutes on the PK a night before they're encouraged to activate. Durzi keeps misreading dangerous situations, but he goes out the next shift with the confidence he's playing the role management expects out of him, and he's comfortable out there.

These are the things I've been pulling my proverbial hair out for, and I just hope MacLellan gives this arrangement as much time as he's given vets to "sort it out."

 

[ibleedkings]

If Vilardi goes 40-40, he deserves the cash. We haven't had a 40-goal scorer since Robitaille's first stint with the Kings in 93-94, and Kopitar's reached 80 points just twice in his career.

In Brandt Clarke's lifetime, the Kings have had four 80+ point scorers: Palffy, Demitra, Cammalleri, and Kopitar.

Demitra didn't hit 80 when he played here.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Only when LA does not make the playoffs.

You rarely see a team trading away a point producer on the backend while making the playoffs.

Max value to clear salary with tons in reserve aka Spence

 

[Statto]

Good call - my biggest concern has been LA's ability to help him be the best he can be, and my concerns are (at least) temporarily subsided.

I never doubted his talent, and thought it was too early to write him off at any time, aside from questioning LA's interest in playing him in a meaningful role.

But note an immediate jump to the team from top to bottom with a healthy mix of youth and vets.

Kopitar's line got a jolt from a talented and driven player.

I agree with most of your post and I certainly advocated a better mix on the lines. I really hope when QB slots back in the keep the same mix in place.

Wrt Vilard, I did think he could play C at the NHL level (where I advocated for patience) and think he probably still can. However I’d not entertain that for the rest of this season at a minimum, short of some crazy injury crisis; especially with the make up of the depth chart and the logjam at C. I think there is a perfect storm of role, confidence in his back and more jump in his skating. The three things seems to feed off each other nicely.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

How about that Kempe regression? 6 goals in 10 games, on pace for 40+.

Also, what happened to @Herby? Figured he'd be happy that Clarke is going to stay up as he was certain the horrible Kings management would send him back to juniors.

 

[johnjm22]

 

[johnjm22]

Only when LA does not make the playoffs.

You rarely see a team trading away a point producer on the backend while making the playoffs.

It happens sometimes.

Kings traded JJ when they were in the playoff mix because they had Voynov.

Spence or Clarke could adequately replace Durzi.

 

[Trash Panda]

It happens sometimes.

Kings traded JJ when they were in the playoff mix because they had Voynov.

Spence or Clarke could adequately replace Durzi.

Yeah, I was actually thinking of the JJ comparison with Durzi, and they are somewhat similar minus the pedigree that Jack had.

Love the guy, love what he brings emotionally, but him and walker both are just taking roster spots away from players that are in the long-term plans for the team.

 

[kilowatt]

Demitra didn't hit 80 when he played here.

You’re right, my bad! He had 62 in 58, why did I think he did?

 

[shuchukfan]

Was this game not on ESPN+? I tried to watch it yesterday and it wasn't showing up. Doesn't even show up as a replay today. Maybe they don't show games featured on Hockey Night in Canada.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Was this game not on ESPN+? I tried to watch it yesterday and it wasn't showing up. Doesn't even show up as a replay today. Maybe they don't show games featured on Hockey Night in Canada.

It was on NHL Network so it gets blacked out on ESPN+. It’s so dumb.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Was this game not on ESPN+? I tried to watch it yesterday and it wasn't showing up. Doesn't even show up as a replay today. Maybe they don't show games featured on Hockey Night in Canada.

Out of town, think it was on NHLN. North of the Wall they probably black out games on ESPN+ that are on a national carrier.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

How about that Kempe regression? 6 goals in 10 games, on pace for 40+.

Also, what happened to @Herby? Figured he'd be happy that Clarke is going to stay up as he was certain the horrible Kings management would send him back to juniors.

Nowhere to be seen@Herby

I am interested in his opinion about Vilardi. Pretty sure he is happy but he wasnt a fan to say at least.

It happens sometimes.

Kings traded JJ when they were in the playoff mix because they had Voynov.

Spence or Clarke could adequately replace Durzi.

yes I am not against it but it just rarely happens.

If Durzi is around the 30-40 points and a factor in the PP than I dont see it happen.

 

[Telos]

I wouldn't construe @Herby as some doomsayer He definitely cares about the positive development of the team, and careful what you wish for because things are definitely not super rosy. This team is barely hanging onto .500 hockey and is a -5 differential while being #2 in goals scored for in the league. We are pretty much on par with Seattle right now, except we've allowed 7 more goals in the same number of games... Vilardi has been a godsend, but I would hate to think where we'd be without his hopefully enduring arrival because Byfield has been meh, Kaliyev still can't get icetime, and the Kings while being fast and skilled can't stay out of the box or keep the puck out of their net.

We are just hoping they make the postseason right now, but I wouldn't put a large bet on them to advance. Hopefully, things come together to make that bet more attractive, but defense and goaltending need to wake up, or else this season has the potential to seem like a step back, even though we are scoring in a way we have hoped for a long time...

I've been in the trade Durzi column since he arrived last season before the postseason I am overall indifferent to keeping him, his price is good for now and it is hard to deny that he has offensive ability that isn't overly present on the blueline outside of Clarke developing and gaining more confidence, but no matter how you slice it, he is still a defensive liability, his offense may not be present forever and his value might be as high as it will ever be and his trade could alleviate a logjam and open up things for Clarke, Spence, and company and ease the logjam a little. It's a tough call, but that would be the move I would make if it fell to me.

 

[Kurrilino]

If everyone keeps playing like they have been this season Blake’s got some rough decisions in the off-season. Moore UFA, Gabe and Anderson new contracts, Quick off the books but still might need a goaltender.

Easy options are of course trade Iaffalo and Walker, possibly Arvidsson. But everybody is where they should be line wise. Another possible expendable player is Durzi and that will get you an asset but not open up cap space.

So even if there is a LhD available, might be hard to fit them in cap wise.

This is exactly how it needs to be handled.

Iafallo, Walker and Arvidson do nothing that really helps the team in a particular way but they eat a lot of salary.
We need more players like Kempe who perform to their role and don't ask for the sky and less players who are buddy with the oldies and just cruise

 

[KingsFan7824]

They're still only 3-5-2 in regulation. However, only 4 teams in the West are currently above real .500, with 3 of those teams in the Pac. None of which include the Avs, who are only 1 game better in 60min than the Kings.

 

[johnjm22]

Bottom line is when you hang on to your 1st round picks, and are patient with them, good things eventually happen.

In Kempe and Vilardi, the Kings now have two 1st round guys they drafted on the 1st line.

Both of them previously showed flashes in the NHL, but there was also many times when it looked like they would never amount to anything.

That's why development can be so frustrating. Progress isn't linear. You never know when these guys are going to pop, or if they're ever going to pop at all.

 

[bland]

Bottom line is when you hang on to your 1st round picks, and are patient with them, good things eventually happen.

In Kempe and Vilardi, the Kings now have two 1st round guys they drafted on the 1st line.

Both of them previously showed flashes in the NHL, but there was also many times when it looked like they would never amount to anything.

That's why development can be so frustrating. Progress isn't linear. You never know when these guys are going to pop, or if they're ever going to pop at all.

But you know for damn sure that they won't hit if you don't give them the opportunity, especially in favor of a bunch of moldy oldies and hired pop guns.

 

[johnjm22]

But you know for damn sure that they won't hit if you don't give them the opportunity, especially in favor of a bunch of moldy oldies and hired pop guns.

Yes, but there's a balance between giving them opportunity, and putting them in a situation they're not ready for yet.

I'm not convinced we'd be getting this version of Vilardi had the Kings just handed him everything.

I think most prospects benefit from being brought along slowly and patiently, and even being demoted when things aren't working.

 

[King'sPawn]

This is exactly how it needs to be handled.

Iafallo, Walker and Arvidson do nothing that really helps the team in a particular way but they eat a lot of salary.

Iafallo has the best scoring rate on the team, with 5 points in 4 games.

And didn't you also want to dump Moore?

 

[Schrute farms]

I’d definitely keep IA and instead trade Arvi. AI is valuable providing something we don’t have much of. He also can do so in the 3rd or 4th line. Yeah he might be slightly overpaid. But he’s an asset to this team. Arvi is not - especially now with two new added goal scorers (GV and Fiala).

 

[FSL KINGS]

Yes, but there's a balance between giving them opportunity, and putting them in a situation they're not ready for yet.

I'm not convinced we'd be getting this version of Vilardi had the Kings just handed him everything.

I think most prospects benefit from being brought along slowly and patiently, and even being demoted when things aren't working.

Exactly, the version of Vilardi that improved his skating, found the drive to move his feet & can win board battles is infinitely more valuable than a player that needs to be carried in the offensive zone. Doubt he finds this gear if he's handed top 6 time right away.

 

[Kurrilino]

Iafallo has the best scoring rate on the team, with 5 points in 4 games.

And didn't you also want to dump Moore?

4 games is no real metric especially looking at his past years.
Moore is also not contributing enough, if he asks for real money

 

[Schrute farms]

Moore is a tougher one to figure out. It might be a situation where both player & team want him; but limited cap + young players needing a roster spot prevents it. Maybe Blake makes a big trade using young guys. Or maybe Moore signs for a very team friendly cap hit in order to stay a King. Idk. But this one is going to be fascinating to see it play out. Tough decisions indeed coming roster wise after this season.

 

[johnjm22]

I’d definitely keep IA and instead trade Arvi. AI is valuable providing something we don’t have much of. He also can do so in the 3rd or 4th line. Yeah he might be slightly overpaid. But he’s an asset to this team. Arvi is not - especially now with two new added goal scorers (GV and Fiala).

I think people are underselling Arvi a bit. I think he's very good, but he's coming back from injury and missed all of camp. He was probably our best player verse Washington.

I think in the modern NHL you want guys on all of your lines who can score, so he still fits in IMO.

Moore is a tougher one to figure out. It might be a situation where both player & team want him; but limited cap + young players needing a roster spot prevents it. Maybe Blake makes a big trade using young guys. Or maybe Moore signs for a very team friendly cap hit in order to stay a King. Idk. But this one is going to be fascinating to see it play out. Tough decisions indeed coming roster wise after this season.

I agree it's going to be a tough call on Moore.

Looking at it from his POV, he's a guy who was never drafted, worked his way up through the minors, and now this is finally his chance to get PAID. If I was him I probably wouldn't take a discount. He's probably looking at the Iafallo contract and wants something similar.