GDT: 2022-23 season game 67 LA Kings vs Nashville Predators @7:30pm 3/11/23

[Sol]

Todd has a history of having great rosters that end up being less than the sum of their parts. San Jose, McDavid oilers, present Kings.

I'd love this to be the place he dashes that history but his past mistakes haunt him and are still occuring here.

The measurement for me this year is winning a playoff round. Let's see it.

Much like McVay had that one coach who kept him on the sidelines so he didn't get run over or a flagged, TM needs a coach to pass him a sheet of paper that simply says "you have a time out"

Yup. The way I see it, if Dan Bylsma can win a cup, then anything is possible. Bad coaches can still win with a good enough roster. If Todd fails this year he needs to be gone. He’s shown no signs of adapting and fixing some of his moronic issues. Again this dude is so bad at adapting that he got reverse swept.

Don't be an idiot Sol -- you already know the answer to this question.

Yeah I still hold out hope that he can show some form of complex understanding but I think it’s impossible.

 

[Schrute farms]

Imo zero chance Blake fires TM - no matter what happens.

 

[chris kontos]

Todd looks to me like some other big time managers on pro teams that get so wrapped up and bought into thier own sys tems and thinking that they cannot entertain that any changes need to be made to it. That lack of humility or egomania is really dangerous. Especially when its as visible a pattern as it is with todd. The best managers and most effective peope are those that realize all systems and plans are dynamic and need frequent if not constant tweaking or change. Its usually not as obvious as this is with todd

 

[mysterman2]

Went back to look at TOI against Colorado- Spence with the most PP time of any dman. Based on this we can conclude there is no rhyme nor reason for TMac. He clearly liked Spence enough to give the most time of any dman, knew he was going into this game without Fiala- and still chose to play Walker over him knowing Durzi, normal PP guy isnt in the lineup. Team coming off a Monster win Against the Avs- where is the rational?

 

[King'sPawn]

Imo zero chance Blake fires TM - no matter what happens.

I think Blake has shown enough ruthlessness to do something if against the ropes. But I can also see him getting blindsided if things don't work out and he gets fired along with TMac (whether that's this year or years down the line). McLellan is his third coach. You don't get too many more after that.

Either way there will be a lot of issues to discuss internally if the Kings don't get passed the first round.

If there's a big enough collapse where they'd miss the playoffs, it's a foregone conclusion there would be organizational changes.

 

[Sol]

I think Blake has shown enough ruthlessness to do something if against the ropes. But I can also see him getting blindsided if things don't work out and he gets fired along with TMac (whether that's this year or years down the line). McLellan is his third coach. You don't get too many more after that.

Either way there will be a lot of issues to discuss internally if the Kings don't get passed the first round.

If there's a big enough collapse where they'd miss the playoffs, it's a foregone conclusion there would be organizational changes.

Yup. I think he either will get rid of him emphatically or hold on to him for dear life. I see both happening. I do think that the Kings are a great team that’s being held back by a mediocre coach. The Kings are winning but the coach is failing.

 

[mysterman2]

Really....Fiala goes down and youve got Kaliyev ready to step in and hungry. Was a no brainer- keep the D the Same bring in the offensively gifted winger to play in Fialas absence.

TMacs roster decisions are like my decisions 10 minutes before the start of the weeks Fantasy Football lineup and typically yield the same results.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Imo zero chance Blake fires TM - no matter what happens.

Why would he? This team could win the conference!

You guys should pull your heads about of your butts prior to posting.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

This team just collected 11 points in 6 games and people are screaming for TM’s head. It never gets old…or does it?

 

[Surf Nutz]

Went back to look at TOI against Colorado- Spence with the most PP time of any dman. Based on this we can conclude there is no rhyme nor reason for TMac. He clearly liked Spence enough to give the most time of any dman, knew he was going into this game without Fiala- and still chose to play Walker over him knowing Durzi, normal PP guy isnt in the lineup. Team coming off a Monster win Against the Avs- where is the rational?


View attachment 668010

Good analysis but Blake wants Walks to get some games not be tethered to the bench like a liability, he needs to unload him this summer.
So it's not even TMac that made the decison which is why it seems highly illogical.

 

[jgs]

Yes the Kings have gotten 11 points in 6 games and it should have been 12. They should have won the Nashville game. Vegas is on a road trip and so far have won the first 3 on the road. Cup contending teams win the games they are supposed to win and the Nashville game was one of them. Now they are 3 points out of first place with games played even with Vegas. They beat the Avs and then produce a crappy performance against Nashville. That is unacceptable. TM must put the best players in the line up. Spence should have been in the line up, he can run the PP much better than Walker.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Yes the Kings have gotten 11 points in 6 games and it should have been 12. They should have won the Nashville game. Vegas is on a road trip and so far have won the first 3 on the road. Cup contending teams win the games they are supposed to win and the Nashville game was one of them. Now they are 3 points out of first place with games played even with Vegas. They beat the Avs and then produce a crappy performance against Nashville. That is unacceptable. TM must put the best players in the line up. Spence should have been in the line up, he can run the PP much better than Walker.

So Boston is not a cup contending team?? How about Carolina?? Tampa Bay??

ALL have just lost games they should have won

 

[mysterman2]

Good analysis but Blake wants Walks to get some games not be tethered to the bench like a liability, he needs to unload him this summer.
So it's not even TMac that made the decison which is why it seems highly illogical.

Possible but no way to confirm the hunch. Fair point though in that I have wondered for roster decisions whose call is it?

 

[Surf Nutz]

Possible but no way to confirm the hunch. Fair point though in that I have wondered for roster decisions whose call is it?

True but Blake probably told him to get Walks some games and leaves the day to day up to Tmac.
I agree TMac made a poor choice not having Spence who looked very good against the Ava in the lineup.

Still if I had the chance I would slip a Skyrizzi in these guys beer.

 

[Fishhead]

Todd looks to me like some other big time managers on pro teams that get so wrapped up and bought into thier own sys tems and thinking that they cannot entertain that any changes need to be made to it. That lack of humility or egomania is really dangerous. Especially when its as visible a pattern as it is with todd. The best managers and most effective peope are those that realize all systems and plans are dynamic and need frequent if not constant tweaking or change. Its usually not as obvious as this is with todd

You are describing Darryl Sutter here.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

So Boston is not a cup contending team?? How about Carolina?? Tampa Bay??

ALL have just lost games they should have won

DET beat BOS tonight...BOS better fire their coach ASAP.

ARI beat MIN tonight....MIN better fire their coach ASAP.

Do I have this right?

 

[Sol]

DET beat BOS tonight...BOS better fire their coach ASAP.

ARI beat MIN tonight....MIN better fire their coach ASAP.

Do I have this right?

you’re never right so don’t waste your time

 

[Statto]

I think Blake has shown enough ruthlessness to do something if against the ropes. But I can also see him getting blindsided if things don't work out and he gets fired along with TMac (whether that's this year or years down the line). McLellan is his third coach. You don't get too many more after that.

Either way there will be a lot of issues to discuss internally if the Kings don't get passed the first round.

If there's a big enough collapse where they'd miss the playoffs, it's a foregone conclusion there would be organizational changes.

It’s his second proper coach. The hiring of Desjardins was never more than on an interim basis and to facilitate the tank. Technically you are correct but for the narrative we’re talking about here the context is important.

Don’t get me wrong, if we don’t put up a decent 2nd round showing then there will need to be some decisions IMO.

 

[King'sPawn]

It’s his second proper coach. The hiring of Desjardins was never more than on an interim basis and to facilitate the tank. Technically you are correct but for the narrative we’re talking about here the context is important.

Don’t get me wrong, if we don’t put up a decent 2nd round showing then there will need to be some decisions IMO.

I know people say WD was hired to facilitate the tank, but that's just not based on any fact or reality other than the end result.

Stevens wasn't fired for the players playing too well. And the Kings didn't start selling until after they hired WD (actually, they still doubled down a bit by trading Pearson for the older rental in Hagelin). And if he was expected to be a tank commander, why didn't they keep him for another season or two while the Kings were still rebuilding?

I think it's easier to cope with the disaster of a hire to say that was all part of Blake's grand plan. But I don't think Blake hired WD with the intention of losing when he already had an underwhelming head coach.

 

[lumbergh]

Seems like McLellan is just working different players into the lineup at the edges (4th line, bottom pairing). Happens when the roster expands and you get some new players after the trade deadline. I'd expect a few players to go in and out of the lineup for the next few games and then things to settle down with 5-10 games to go.

Most important thing now that the playoffs are almost a lock is for the Kings to get and stay healthy going into the playoffs. Find out what you have. Have the engine running at peak performance going into the end of the season.

 

[psych3man]

Seems like McLellan is just working different players into the lineup at the edges (4th line, bottom pairing). Happens when the roster expands and you get some new players after the trade deadline. I'd expect a few players to go in and out of the lineup for the next few games and then things to settle down with 5-10 games to go.

Most important thing now that the playoffs are almost a lock is for the Kings to get and stay healthy going into the playoffs. Find out what you have. Have the engine running at peak performance going into the end of the season.

I think this is well reasoned but dead wrong....all are excuses for poor decisions that impair a team's chances to win every game they play.

 

[Schrute farms]

I know people say WD was hired to facilitate the tank, but that's just not based on any fact or reality other than the end result.

Stevens wasn't fired for the players playing too well. And the Kings didn't start selling until after they hired WD (actually, they still doubled down a bit by trading Pearson for the older rental in Hagelin). And if he was expected to be a tank commander, why didn't they keep him for another season or two while the Kings were still rebuilding?

I think it's easier to cope with the disaster of a hire to say that was all part of Blake's grand plan. But I don't think Blake hired WD with the intention of losing when he already had an underwhelming head coach.

Blake's not smart enough to think that advanced. It was just a bad hire. A new GM trying to learn on the job.
TM wasn't a bad hire -- questionable hire maybe considering what the Kings & the organization were at time (tear down). Now his contract -- that was horrible.

 

[bland]

I know people say WD was hired to facilitate the tank, but that's just not based on any fact or reality other than the end result.

Stevens wasn't fired for the players playing too well. And the Kings didn't start selling until after they hired WD (actually, they still doubled down a bit by trading Pearson for the older rental in Hagelin). And if he was expected to be a tank commander, why didn't they keep him for another season or two while the Kings were still rebuilding?

I think it's easier to cope with the disaster of a hire to say that was all part of Blake's grand plan. But I don't think Blake hired WD with the intention of losing when he already had an underwhelming head coach.

Desjardins was hired to ride out the year AND keep a new long-term coach away from the toxic Kovalchuk situation until it could resolved.

 

[King'sPawn]

Desjardins was hired to ride out the year AND keep a new long-term coach away from the toxic Kovalchuk situation until it could resolved.

Then why not keep Stevens if the plan was to hire a new long-term coach anyway?

 

[Fishhead]

Then why not keep Stevens if the plan was to hire a new long-term coach anyway?

One of the weirdest moves they made in the beginning. It was obvious Willie wasn't a long term solution, so why bother. Outside of some disagreement or Stevens wanted out (which would be way out of character), not much make sense.

Maybe they just wanted to purge any links to the old guard as soon as possible, which would signal a rebuild/retool? That certainly was around the time I think it became clear to Blake/Luc that trying to extend the glory days wasn't going to work.