GDT: 2022-23 season game 24 LA Kings vs Ottawa Senators @7:30pm 11/27/22

[GoldenBearHockey]

thank you...Kaliyev did get some 3rd period shifts.



can also argue a good coach would preach the 4th line shouldnt be icing the puck.

That would be a f***ing Pejorative Slured argument, as one can preach NO ONE should ice the puck.....

 

[AbsentMojo]

Hopefully Kopi turns it around but sadly he's probably better suited for 3rd line duties now. Maybe when Iafallo gets back they can reunite and put Vilardi with them. They could be a very good 3rd line

I would like that but who then is the 1C

 

[cyclones22]

I would like that but who then is the 1C

Danault's line has been the first line in both production and effectiveness since the second half of last season. Basically, better at every aspect. They even get the worst o-zone start %. Hell, now they're better at the PP as well. It's quite interesting that they moved Fiala up to the Kopi's line to try and jump start Kopi and Kempe. That's not how it's supposed to work for 2 of the most expensive forwards on the roster. Meanwhile, Kopi still at 20+ minutes of TOI a game.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm less worried about the icing and more worried about getting completely outplayed at home against a 2nd-to-last-place team in the East after barely winning against the Sharks and losing games vs. the Flames and Canucks, all of whom were last or near-last and on a losing streak when we played them.

This was the string of the schedule that was supposed to be easier and these guys can't even play well. It's not like other teams are getting lucky. They're just whipping us straight up and on the rare occasion they're not, we whip ourselves.

 

[The Butcher]

Hey Hey
Ho Ho
The Koala Bear has got to go

 

[Mats26]

Not ready to give up on Byfield entirely. He’s on a tear in the AHL right now. He may save us yet.

Best to keep him in the AHL for now. Starting to form some chemistry with Turcotte, who needs a full year. After the holidays if he shows more pose with the puck and better D awareness, another call up is warranted.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I'm less worried about the icing and more worried about getting completely outplayed at home against a 2nd-to-last-place team in the East after barely winning against the Sharks and losing games vs. the Flames and Canucks, all of whom were last or near-last and on a losing streak when we played them.

This was the string of the schedule that was supposed to be easier and these guys can't even play well. It's not like other teams are getting lucky. They're just whipping us straight up and on the rare occasion they're not, we whip ourselves.

The big picture should be concerning to everyone. This was a team that went out and paid a big price for a top flight forward in Fiala, and communicated every intention of improvement in the standings.

"The rebuild is over."

Right? Yeah, right.

Not only has this team not improved, they've arguably gotten worse. They're poorly coached, lack toughness, lack identity as a whole, and weak at virtually every position besides wing and puck moving RHD.

It should be clear to everyone at this point that Blake has never and will never have a long term vision for this franchise. He and Luc swooped in with their palace coup uttering promises of immediate contention. That failed, and now we're in the midst of a rebuild. Or are we? No one knows anymore. We're giving two 30+ year old legacy players a giant chunk of cap and a giant chunk of icetime to go out and lose overtime games in record speed. Meanwhile, our bluechip defenseman is being sent back to juniors where he has nothing to prove and nothing to play for. Importantly, though, two journeymen bottom pairing D in Walker and Roy have become permanent fixtures on the NHL team. It's all a part of the plan, you see. Blake's got it figured out. One day he'll trade these guys for - check this out - two 4th round picks.

Rebuilding? Not rebuilding? What's that? Who cares? Blake's too busy counting beans. Luc's too busy posing in the mirror. And Todd is predictably asleep at the wheel. But who could've seen that coming? Who could've possibly seen what a choker and loser Todd McLellan is as a head coach? Someone somewhere must have beaten his teams in the playoffs and seen this up close.

Right? Yeah, right.

 

[King'sPawn]

It should be clear to everyone at this point that Blake has never and will never have a long term vision for this franchise. He and Luc swooped in with their palace coup uttering promises of immediate contention. That failed, and now we're in the midst of a rebuild. Or are we? No one knows anymore. We're giving two 30+ year old legacy players a giant chunk of cap and a giant chunk of icetime to go out and lose overtime games in record speed. Meanwhile, our bluechip defenseman is being sent back to juniors where he has nothing to prove and nothing to play for. Importantly, though, two journeymen bottom pairing D in Walker and Roy have become permanent fixtures on the NHL team. It's all a part of the plan, you see. Blake's got it figured out. One day he'll trade these guys for - check this out - two 4th round picks.

Rebuilding? Not rebuilding? What's that? Who cares? Blake's too busy counting beans. Luc's too busy posing in the mirror. And Todd is predictably asleep at the wheel. But who could've seen that coming? Who could've possibly seen what a choker and loser Todd McLellan is as a head coach? Someone somewhere must have beaten his teams in the playoffs and seen this up close.

Right? Yeah, right.

Let's not forget what an attempted selling point on this board, too.

"We may miss the playoffs but it will be progress, because the youth will be more developed."

What was it? Game 20? "Kaliyev has chemistry with Lizotte and plays better with him, so we're keeping him on Lizotte's line."

 

[mysterman2]

This is Blakes moment...has the chips to make the team better- but can he and will he?

He stands pat with this morose squad Ill be the first to call for his firing.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

We need to make a commitment to the players we are going to run with. We have too many players cresting. They need ice time to take the next step and consistency. About to get worse with 2 more forwards in Iafollo and pepe coming back in a couple weeks.

We need to live at least 2 rd and get TB on the left side with the big club. We also need Clarke on that 2nd pairing starting what looks to be a long productive career.

I’m ok with taking a step back if we are able to settle a roster in.

Todd is not the guy to get this team going and I don’t know who is. We need someone who knows how to coach skill and knows how to make adjustments. Todd gets out coached nightly as far as matching up players and shuffling deck chairs.

 

[Kurrilino]

Not ready to give up on Byfield entirely. He’s on a tear in the AHL right now. He may save us yet.

Same here.

People should take a look at the Devils.
Hischier had a meh start of a career. We are talking 11 and 36 point seasons within the first 4 years.

Give Byfield all the time he needs

 

[AbsentMojo]

The roster is truly a mess...way too many signed wings - little room for young guys like Kaliyev and Vilardi in the top 6 without putting some of your more expensive wings in the bottom 6... no heir apparent to Kopi anywhere close to taking on 1C role with Kopi already a 2C or more like a 3C.. the d-corps is like a deformity - nowhere near the right personnel to be competitive with the upper 1/3 of the league...it needs a total makeover - including adding some scoring to the top pair. There is a distinct lack of size/toughness of any sort - no one is saying to build a DL roster, but to be devoid of someone like a Zadorov in your d-corps is glaring. The goaltending is bottom half and not trending better. I really like Fiala - but it did not move the needle on addressing the Frankenstein roster. It actually hurts the development path of our up and coming wings.. wouldve probably been wiser not to sign Lemieux and live without some toughness until a deal could be made to address it in other ways.

 

[Sol]

Same here.

People should take a look at the Devils.
Hischier had a meh start of a career. We are talking 11 and 36 point seasons within the first 4 years.

Give Byfield all the time he needs

What are you talking about? 52 points in his rookie year. If you’re comparing him to Hischier then Byfield has been a lot worse. Hischier is not the example to look up to.

 

[Kurrilino]

View attachment 613994

What are you talking about? 52 points in his rookie year. If you’re comparing him to Hischier then Byfield has been a lot worse. Hischier is not the example to look up to.

Did you miss the part where i wrote within the first 4 years?

If Byfield would have a point drop in his 4 first seasons like that, people would ask to skin him alive and trade him for Malkin

 

[Mats26]

Same here.

People should take a look at the Devils.
Hischier had a meh start of a career. We are talking 11 and 36 point seasons within the first 4 years.

Give Byfield all the time he needs

I'll would of beem happier if QB puts up 100pts like Nico did in his first 2 seasons at 18-19 years old.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Watching Kopitar's corpse struggle to play hockey reminds me a lot of Weekend at Bernie's, and his two buddies, Kempe and Fiala, are trying to prop him up. They have the burden of carrying around his dead weight.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I'll would of beem happier if QB puts up 100pts like Nico did in his first 2 seasons at 18-19 years old.

Need to factor in covid, a broken bone and his deployment to assess him right.. but even if all those things are equal he is still too young to cry bust bust bust. I think what's best for him is to stay put and be away from the unfolding catastrophe with the NHL club

 

[Reaper45]

Need to factor in covid, a broken bone and his deployment to assess him right.. but even if all those things are equal he is still too young to cry bust bust bust. I think what's best for him is to stay put and be away from the unfolding catastrophe with the NHL club

I hear and validate all of that but watching Stutzle play is disheartening.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I hear and validate all of that but watching Stutzle play is disheartening.

I was feeling that same thing watching Stutzle vs Byfield back at 2020 WJC... My guess is they felt like Byfield could fill Kopi shoes eventually.. Stutzle is more like a Fiala in style... so we have one of those now.

 

[HookKing]

Danault's line has been the first line in both production and effectiveness since the second half of last season. Basically, better at every aspect. They even get the worst o-zone start %. Hell, now they're better at the PP as well. It's quite interesting that they moved Fiala up to the Kopi's line to try and jump start Kopi and Kempe. That's not how it's supposed to work for 2 of the most expensive forwards on the roster. Meanwhile, Kopi still at 20+ minutes of TOI a game.

I wouldn't mind seeing the following lines (assuming Gabe and Alex aren't out to much longer):
1 Moore Danault Arvy
2 Fiala Byfield Valardi
3 Iafallo Kopitar Kempe
4 _____ ______ Kaliyev

The PP needs to be rewired by disassembling the "first" unit.
As long as Arty gets his pp time I'm happy.
Wingers can be mixed and matched based on injuries, who's hot etc.
Kopitar is leading all forwards in the league in blocked shots. He is also way up there on the faceoff dot. That shutdown line could be damn good and still chip in some points. Clearly Kopi no longer should be out there in OT.

The D pairs will continue to be a mess until Blake can swing a deal(s). We are pretty much stuck with the goalie situation indefinitely.

 

[kingsfan28]

That isn't what happened. Lizotte did an admirable job of boxing Tkachuk out so he couldn't screen or tip the point shot, nothing he can do about a wide shot bouncing off the boards right to his stick.

Nobody has ever wanted to hold Quick accountable for goals like that, but there are drawbacks to every style. Aggressively dropping down to cover as much of the lower and middle of the net often leaves him exposed to those types of goals. He is playing the percentages there, and sometimes you get beat on bounces that won't be as dangerous to more passive goalies that stay up.

Not every goal has a villain. You can play things to the best of your abilities and still get beat by bounces.

I understand how he scored, I saw it redirect off a leg to the boards, but leading up too it, Lizzotte looked really bad. Lost the draw badly, then he got beat to the net, and was being completely pushed around with ease. The only admirable thing was not being knocked down. Pretty sure his icing [the 5th that period] set this goal up, no matter how lucky the bounce was.

 

[kingsfan28]

thank you...Kaliyev did get some 3rd period shifts.



can also argue a good coach would preach the 4th line shouldnt be icing the puck.

Or trying to make one on one moves insread of dumping it in. That's been a problem for a while, 4th line doing more than they should. a Kupari stretch pass is not what they should be doing.

 

[KINGS17]

Watching Kopitar's corpse struggle to play hockey reminds me a lot of Weekend at Bernie's, and his two buddies, Kempe and Fiala, are trying to prop him up. They have the burden of carrying around his dead weight.

Yeah, but I am glad we didn't trade him. Look at all those cups and playoff series wins we would have missed out on without signing him to his last deal.