GDT: 2023-24 Season game 4 LA Kings vs Minnesota Wild @5:00pm 10/19/23

[Raccoon Jesus]

I want more from Byfield too but you have to admit it's pretty funny he's gotten jipped of 2 assists officially so far when the 1st complaint is about his production. He SHOULD be at 3 points in 4 games which would be perfectly acceptable at this point to damn near everyone

I'm worried less about the raw production because he's making the plays and has earned those GF and more about the assertiveness that I thought he'd develop. He looks more confident and comfortable, but still deferential, which is a problem when it's a slumping Kempe and a clearly-aging Kopitar. They're pretty much our real 'third line' right now.

He 'fits in' just fine now and is a good-to-great NHLer who can play top line vs. tough comp. That's got value. But he HAS to take a step to compensate for Anze or that line isn't very effective and people will instead start loading up against PLD or Danault.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

This is true. Gives more time to develop Laf and AK while simultaneously giving us some cap relief.

We need someone to be on LTIR at the deadline.

I remember thinking prior to the season, we’d need one, and only one, major injury to either Arvy or Moore to work the LTIR game and augment the roster while letting some of the rooks play. Wish granted, for now.

 

[Trash Panda]

I want more from Byfield too but you have to admit it's pretty funny he's gotten jipped of 2 assists officially so far when the 1st complaint is about his production. He SHOULD be at 3 points in 4 games which would be perfectly acceptable at this point to damn near everyone

I'm worried less about the raw production because he's making the plays and has earned those GF and more about the assertiveness that I thought he'd develop. He looks more confident and comfortable, but still deferential, which is a problem when it's a slumping Kempe and a clearly-aging Kopitar. They're pretty much our real 'third line' right now.

He 'fits in' just fine now and is a good-to-great NHLer who can play top line vs. tough comp. That's got value. But he HAS to take a step to compensate for Anze or that line isn't very effective.

That line has been atrocious compared to the rest of the forward group, but the individuals are enjoying point production still.

Q is gonna need to take some ownership of that line this year, with how Kempe has come out the gate.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Are you familiar with what he's done in the playoffs in the past?

No but I would trust the larger sample size.. What I did notice is he is trending upwards in his career and working with Kopi who is insanely good, should yield improvements.

 

[Kurrilino]

Yeah, and Byfield on the first line for the last, what, 50 games?

Byfield is a playmaking center, not a goal scoring winger.
You can have him 800 games on the first line and there will be no success.
Usually he skates where Kopitar naturally already is and they interfere each other.

Byfield needs to center a line with wingers who know how to get a puck past a goalie.
He would be the perfect fit for Fiala or Kempe and a speedy youngster.
Resigning Kopitar was a big mistake since that really cripples his development for absolutely no reason.

Kempe - PLD - Khaliev
Fiala - Byfield - Laferiere
Moore - Danauld - Arvidson
Grundstrom - Kopitar - Lewis

I would try this for a while.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Byfield is a playmaking center, not a goal scoring winger.

I stopped reading here.

Kempe was also a center, coach.

 

[AbsentMojo]

We also had Fiala and Vilardi injured and only available for some of the games in that series. That and our penalty kill sunk us last year.

For sure Fiala on one knee that sucked so we didnt see the full power of the team.. but still not sure the roster last year even at full strength was a contender... PK, 3rd pair and 4th line were destroyed.

 

[Dykstra]

A point of improvement I've been noticing in Byfield's game is that he's stopped treating the puck like a grenade, which used to be the most annoying thing about his play

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

A point of improvement I've been noticing in Byfield's game is that he's stopped treating the puck like a grenade, which used to be the most annoying thing about his play

Ha, so true

 

[AbsentMojo]

I want more from Byfield too but you have to admit it's pretty funny he's gotten jipped of 2 assists officially so far when the 1st complaint is about his production. He SHOULD be at 3 points in 4 games which would be perfectly acceptable at this point to damn near everyone

I'm worried less about the raw production because he's making the plays and has earned those GF and more about the assertiveness that I thought he'd develop. He looks more confident and comfortable, but still deferential, which is a problem when it's a slumping Kempe and a clearly-aging Kopitar. They're pretty much our real 'third line' right now.

He 'fits in' just fine now and is a good-to-great NHLer who can play top line vs. tough comp. That's got value. But he HAS to take a step to compensate for Anze or that line isn't very effective and people will instead start loading up against PLD or Danault.

He's found a role on that line, but I think its hindering his development. He was drafted to be a center, and he has few reps there. He's also too deferential on that line.. I also notice nobody looks for him esp Kopi is guilty of that (Kempe not a play maker anyway)... this is fallout from the schizo contend and develop paradigm. So now with PLD, Byfield center skills will continue to fade/not develop and he will have to learn how to score. 3 Goals for a wing on a top line is unheard of.

 

[johnjm22]

I still think Todd needs to get Doughty's TOI down. Our D core is capable of handling a more even distribution of ice time.

TMac needs to think about keeping our guys fresh over the course of a long season and optimize for the playoffs.

Also, Talbot has played well, but he's 36 years old. The goalies need to be on rotation. Same philosophy.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I still think Todd needs to get Doughty's TOI down. Our D core is capable of handling a more even distribution of ice time.

TMac needs to think about keeping our guys fresh over the course of a long season and optimize for the playoffs.

Also, Talbot has played well, but he's 36 years old. The goalies need to be on rotation. Same philosophy.

I disagree; let a goalie take the net and ride the momentum.

I'd rather have one goalie playing B+ hockey than split the games 50/50 and never let them get a good flow.

 

[deaderhead28]

 

[psych3man]

Laferriere is showing more confidence for certain. But this is where deployment and usage matter.

Laferriere spent pretty much each year after the draft in a top-6 role. His coaches trusted him. Each time he entered the league, he would get the implicit messages of "you're ready." From the USHL to NCAA, to getting a top-6 role in his short AHL stint to the moment he stepped on NHL ice. Nobody tried to change his game or throw some hooey sbout earning it or earning the coach's trust.

Byfield's D+1 as a second overall pick, he's told he's not ready and that he needs time. When he finally scores goals in 5 straight AHL games, he's called up and put on a checking, disjointed line of Brown, who was ready to retire, and Athanasiou, who plays a very selfish game. And he was getting criticized for not carrying it.

Byfield was finally put with the perfect complementary player of Iafallo and a skilled player in Vilardi. The line was a menace early in the season until injuries hit. Byfield was again jerked around in his roles.

Finally, he gets put on a line where he needs to play up to his teammates, with Kopitar and Kempe. The goals didn't come, but the energy did. That line not only looked good, but the metrics backed it up. This season, he started with a skilled line that demanded more of him, and he's continued to play up.

You can call it making excuses if you want. But one player was supported with trust in each league he was playing in and was empowered, and came into the league with confidence. Another player with a higher skillset was square-pegged into round holes and instilled with messages that he's not good enough or ready.

We're literally seeing the exact same with Kaliyev. He put up mediocre numbers and was out of his element playing on the 4th line. Suddenly, he's put with a good complementary line (Danault and Moore), and he has 3 points in 2 games.

While of course, physical growth and experience play a role, but you can see him playing better and creating more.

This is what they should have done two seasons ago. The vets should have been utilized to uplift the prospects, instead of just plugging prospects in open spots and put them on notice.

^ this x1,000,000

Racoon, Pawn, Herby and myself have been screaming about the Kings weird deployment for several years.
Especially, putting a kid with two talented vets on each line. Now, it’s there…let’s hope to stay.
If so, it will be very interesting to see how it plays out…

 

[The Butcher]

Byfield is a playmaking center, not a goal scoring winger.
You can have him 800 games on the first line and there will be no success.
Usually he skates where Kopitar naturally already is and they interfere each other.

Byfield needs to center a line with wingers who know how to get a puck past a goalie.
He would be the perfect fit for Fiala or Kempe and a speedy youngster.
Resigning Kopitar was a big mistake since that really cripples his development for absolutely no reason.

Kempe - PLD - Khaliev
Fiala - Byfield - Laferiere
Moore - Danauld - Arvidson
Grundstrom - Kopitar - Lewis

I would try this for a while.

Insanity.

 

[BigKing]

Seems like they usually get blasted physically all over the ice in Minnesota so it was nice to see that not really effect them last night when the Wild tried to ramp up the intensity.

Englund on pace for 246 hits. Team lead last season was Anderson with 162. Englund is only playing 13 minutes a night. He's the LHS replacing Edler's "nastiness" or whatever Blake said about him. Edler would have paced for 135 hits over 82 games last season.

Kings haven't had a 200 hit player since 2016 when Lucic, Brown and McNabb had 244, 234 and 206, respectively. Brown would come close for a couple seasons after but--to nobody's surprise--there hasn't been anything close in the T-Mac era.

Vegas had Kolesar with 279 and McNabb with 201 last season. Carrier paced at 194 if he played all 82 and Cotter paced for 250 over 82. Florida had Gudas with 312 (!) and Bennett paced for 195 over 82.

This stuff matters: especially come playoff time. Kings have been far too easy to play against. One guy in Englund isn't going to change that but it is a move in the right direction.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Please, can we all understand once and for all, Kaliyev is not made to create for himself, he is an elite shooter and passer…he is made to score by working with talented players who do more of the dirty work and clever skating.
Let him be who he is, what he is.
Can the Kings and their fans please stop trying to make every skater a checker or a razzle-dazzle skater?
The Kings were gifted a draft choice that never should have fallen that far…I was screaming for the Kings to take Kaliyev when they took Bjornfot.
Put that elite talent with other talent and watch him score...he is an offensive savant and should be treated as such. Watching everything but that, until now, has driven me crazy since draft day.

I’m waiting for Chromiak to make the big club, and see a line of Chromiak-Byfield-Kaliyev at some point.

 

[lumbergh]

That line has been atrocious compared to the rest of the forward group, but the individuals are enjoying point production still.

Q is gonna need to take some ownership of that line this year, with how Kempe has come out the gate.

Define "atrocious". To me atrocious is getting outplayed by your opponent, fumbling the puck, giving it away. You'd think an atrocious line would be badly outscored.

5vs5 goals scored to goals against totals for each line so far:
Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe: 9 to 4 (+5)
Fiala-Dubois-Laferriere: 10 to 11 (-1)
Moore-Danault-Kaliyev: 13 to 7 (+4)
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis: 7 to 7 (0)

Results-wise, that line has been the best out of the bunch. I still think people continue to underappreciate how good Kopitar is. Amazing that he just keeps on trucking. This line plays against the top lines of the opposition and has come out on top for the most part. That's not atrocious.

 

[Fishhead]

Insanity.

Well, It's Kurri.

But there is no one better on the main boards representing the Kings. He can get opposing fans riled up with only a few sentences.

 

[Fishhead]

Seems like they usually get blasted physically all over the ice in Minnesota so it was nice to see that not really effect them last night when the Wild tried to ramp up the intensity.

Englund on pace for 246 hits. Team lead last season was Anderson with 162. Englund is only playing 13 minutes a night. He's the LHS replacing Edler's "nastiness" or whatever Blake said about him. Edler would have paced for 135 hits over 82 games last season.

Kings haven't had a 200 hit player since 2016 when Lucic, Brown and McNabb had 244, 234 and 206, respectively. Brown would come close for a couple seasons after but--to nobody's surprise--there hasn't been anything close in the T-Mac era.

Vegas had Kolesar with 279 and McNabb with 201 last season. Carrier paced at 194 if he played all 82 and Cotter paced for 250 over 82. Florida had Gudas with 312 (!) and Bennett paced for 195 over 82.

This stuff matters: especially come playoff time. Kings have been far too easy to play against. One guy in Englund isn't going to change that but it is a move in the right direction.

As a team, the Kings seem far more physical this year. Not glove-dropping or anything, but they are making the opposition pay for making plays. They aren't going to intimidate any teams, but it's good to see.

The acquisition of Englund and PLD, who also plays physical, has really paid off in that regard. They are rubbing off on the others.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Well, they're going to need more toughness that can play, though. So far that's a one good game to two atrocious games ratio for Englund. Part of the reason he's hitting is because he's always chasing the play. And most of the 'good' was on the PK where he's not supposed to do anything much with the puck anyway.

But as a whole I was impressed with the team's pushback, no one was wilting.

 

[chris kontos]

Tired of being baited bythe king baiter on this board

 

[Schrute farms]

What narrative? You specifically said that AK was only getting top line minutes because of an injury = NOT TRUE

And the original dude I was responding to, in which you tried to jump in and somehow correct me, has posts specifically accusing TM of trying to bury Kaliyev. Absolutely false and gross accusations. I can screenshot the posts if you’d like….

But it’s my narrative? lol

That post was mentioning how good Moore-Danault-AK34 is playing. I said that AK is only playing on that line because Arvi is out. when he returns, something will need to be decided -- meaning either AK to 3rd line and Laf down; or AK to 4th line. Either way, AK will not be on the Danault 2nd line upon Arvi's return to the lineup. Facts.

 

[johnjm22]

Seems like they usually get blasted physically all over the ice in Minnesota so it was nice to see that not really effect them last night when the Wild tried to ramp up the intensity.

Englund on pace for 246 hits. Team lead last season was Anderson with 162. Englund is only playing 13 minutes a night. He's the LHS replacing Edler's "nastiness" or whatever Blake said about him. Edler would have paced for 135 hits over 82 games last season.

Kings haven't had a 200 hit player since 2016 when Lucic, Brown and McNabb had 244, 234 and 206, respectively. Brown would come close for a couple seasons after but--to nobody's surprise--there hasn't been anything close in the T-Mac era.

Vegas had Kolesar with 279 and McNabb with 201 last season. Carrier paced at 194 if he played all 82 and Cotter paced for 250 over 82. Florida had Gudas with 312 (!) and Bennett paced for 195 over 82.

This stuff matters: especially come playoff time. Kings have been far too easy to play against. One guy in Englund isn't going to change that but it is a move in the right direction.

Englund is also being used on the PK, leads the team in penalty differential and penalties drawn.

The Englund-Spence pairing doesn't have a very good expected goals % though. I think that will improve as the season goes on.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Englund is also being used on the PK, leads the team in penalty differential and penalties drawn.

The Englund-Spence pairing doesn't have a very good expected goals % though. I think that will improve as the season goes on.

Both guys played more minutes with others than with each other, and Spence only played 11 minutes.

TM has to figure something out there for sure. I don't mind at all the idea of 'specialists,' ie Englund big PK minutes Spence big PP minutes, but they also have to function at ES.