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

[Schrute farms]

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

I would try this for a while.

Kopi put on the 4th line -- lol. At least you are consistent. But pigs flying come to mind

 

[psych3man]

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.

Facts "unfortunately".
34 should stay right where he is...it is a perfect line...each of the 3 play different, but perfectly complementary, pieces.
Synergy (def. greater than the sum of their parts) is what every hockey line hopes for. VGK has it across all lines.
I don't give a damn how much older, more experienced or more expensive Arvidsson is...for the short and long term 34 belongs on that wing.
And so weird, again it was only an injury that forced 34 into exactly where he belongs.
..smh..

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Facts "unfortunately".
34 should stay right where he is...it is a perfect line...each of the 3 play different, but perfectly complementary, pieces.
Synergy (def. greater than the sum of their parts) is what every hockey line hopes for. VGK has it across all lines.
I don't give a damn how much older, more experienced or more expensive Arvidsson is...for the short and long term 34 belongs on that wing.
And so weird, again it was only an injury that forced 34 into exactly where he belongs.
..smh..

That's generally how it works in sports, and Kaliyev has done himself no favors, he has to improve his play away from the puck, the kid can shoot, no doubt, but if that's the only tool you bring and you are a liability, you won't last long.

 

[BigKing]

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.

Was thinking about how gnarly Kopitar's consistency has been as they were talking up his games played thing. It's pretty wild that the video of his first NHL goal was shot on a potato camera and isn't even in HD. That's how long he's been trucking along.

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.

They only had 11 fights total for all of last season and are already at two in four games. The game against Edmonton at home last year in January had three fights and the home game against Vancouver in April when Kempe fought Miller had two fights. Two games had nearly half of all the Kings fights last season.

This pace for fights won't last and doesn't have to. I'd like to see the hitting ramp up. They are actually pacing for 200 hits less than last season overall but it is early. Kempe has 10 already and Anderson has 11 but Gavrikov somehow has zero which is insane for a defenseman playing 22 minutes a night. Fiala with zero as well and PLD with only two. PLD's physical play is more a willingness to go to the dirty areas but he isn't really showing anything on a hitting level yet. He only had 71 last year in 73 games. Like most, he picks it up in the playoffs. 21 in five games last year.

 

[BigKing]

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.

If they need a specialist to keep this PK working then so be it. 75 and 76% last two seasons v. that nice 93% number they currently have. It's not going to stay that high, of course, but it would be nice to not be below league average like the last two seasons.

The PK will be tested Saturday night, for sure.

 

[tny760]

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 don't expect him to patrick kane around the o zone but against the depth lines i do feel like he was more able to say, get one of those kempe-style wrist shots from the high slot on a rush entry, i haven't seen him be able to get those off lately

he did get one off last night peeling off the wall on a cycle but he couldn't get the shot through the defender which was a bummer. i'm not trying to knock the kid, he's one of my favorite players but he's clearly adapting to playing against better players and seems to be having a bit of trouble

 

[Schmooley]

That's generally how it works in sports, and Kaliyev has done himself no favors, he has to improve his play away from the puck, the kid can shoot, no doubt, but if that's the only tool you bring and you are a liability, you won't last long.

He has gotten pretty strong on the boards and hes starting to hit a little bit.
He is also backchecking well. Where he falls short is picking up the right man on the backcheck, breakouts in his own zone, and defensive zone coverage. His best breakouts were when hed flip pucks into the neutral zone and Lizotte or Lemieux knew to cheat a little bit early to get there when they were a line.

 

[Johnny Utah]

It's funny how some advertised Gavirkov as a big physical left hanged D. He is so not physical.

I expect Englund to have about 10 fights this year and a handful spread out for PLD, Kempe, Danault....

I also expect Blake to either call up a Doty, Hodgson, or Helenius at some point OR make a trade.

Kings kept Foligno sleeping last night, but Minnesota has a very big, tough team. Foligno, Maroon, Middleton, and Duhaime can all play phyiscal and fight. Kings will need to some better players than Lewis or Lizotte on the 4th line if they are going to get by Edmonton again.

They literally need someone to chase or play physical on MacDavid and Leon around and be prepared to fight Kane and Nurse. Can't be only Englund.

Props to Lemieux two playoffs ago for going after Barrie and sending a message to the Oilers. He and Kassian were also talking after almost every face off. There was also some pre game stuff with him and Kane. Kings need someone like that.

 

[bmr]

It's funny how some advertised Gavirkov as a big physical left hanged D. He is so not physical.

I expect Englund to have about 10 fights this year and a handful spread out for PLD, Kempe, Danault....

I also expect Blake to either call up a Doty, Hodgson, or Helenius at some point OR make a trade.

Kings kept Foligno sleeping last night, but Minnesota has a very big, tough team. Foligno, Maroon, Middleton, and Duhaime can all play phyiscal and fight. Kings will need to some better players than Lewis or Lizotte on the 4th line if they are going to get by Edmonton again.

They literally need someone to chase MacDavid and Leon around and be prepared to fight Kane and Nurse. Can't be only Englund.

JU - I understand your emphasis on physical play/ability to fight, but adding Englund and PLD has increased this team's toughness by quite a bit. I haven't seen any issue here since our home opener. The league is definitely evolving, but I think Blake realizes that Vegas had a successful model last year and this is his attempt to get us closer to that.

 

[Johnny Utah]

JU - I understand your emphasis on physical play/ability to fight, but adding Englund and PLD has increased this team's toughness by quite a bit. I haven't seen any issue here since our home opener. The league is definitely evolving, but I think Blake realizes that Vegas had a successful model last year and this is his attempt to get us closer to that.

Agree somewhat.

Hague and Englund are basically a wash but Vegas has Kolesar and we don't have a player like that anymore. They also have Carrier, who doesn't fight much anymore, but did early on in his career.

 

[kilowatt]

It's funny how some advertised Gavirkov as a big physical left hanged D. He is so not physical.

I expect Englund to have about 10 fights this year and a handful spread out for PLD, Kempe, Danault....

I also expect Blake to either call up a Doty, Hodgson, or Helenius at some point OR make a trade.

Kings kept Foligno sleeping last night, but Minnesota has a very big, tough team. Foligno, Maroon, Middleton, and Duhaime can all play phyiscal and fight. Kings will need to some better players than Lewis or Lizotte on the 4th line if they are going to get by Edmonton again.

They literally need someone to chase or play physical on MacDavid and Leon around and be prepared to fight Kane and Nurse. Can't be only Englund.

Props to Lemieux two playoffs ago for going after Barrie and sending a message to the Oilers. He and Kassian were also talking after almost every face off. There was also some pre game stuff with him and Kane. Kings need someone like that.

I would be shocked if Doty or Helenius play a single minute in the NHL this year. Doty just isn’t an NHL player and Helenius isn’t ready yet. Hodgson I could see depending on whose spot he’d be taking.

 

[rapots]

Talbot is on mission, mark it

 

[Johnny Utah]

I would be shocked if Doty or Helenius play a single minute in the NHL this year. Doty just isn’t an NHL player and Helenius isn’t ready yet. Hodgson I could see depending on whose spot he’d be taking.

Helenius is my future fav King - met him in Vegas rookie camp and took a picture with him. Really nice dude and very tall. He's filling out a bit more. He can be nasty too. Got a game worn Reign jersey and just picked up a Kings Adidas Helenius jersey.

 

[KingsHockey24]

It's funny how some advertised Gavirkov as a big physical left hanged D. He is so not physical.

I expect Englund to have about 10 fights this year and a handful spread out for PLD, Kempe, Danault....

I also expect Blake to either call up a Doty, Hodgson, or Helenius at some point OR make a trade.

Kings kept Foligno sleeping last night, but Minnesota has a very big, tough team. Foligno, Maroon, Middleton, and Duhaime can all play phyiscal and fight. Kings will need to some better players than Lewis or Lizotte on the 4th line if they are going to get by Edmonton again.

They literally need someone to chase or play physical on MacDavid and Leon around and be prepared to fight Kane and Nurse. Can't be only Englund.

Props to Lemieux two playoffs ago for going after Barrie and sending a message to the Oilers. He and Kassian were also talking after almost every face off. There was also some pre game stuff with him and Kane. Kings need someone like that.

Toughness? Where did that get Minnesota?

We just beat them 7-3 lol

 

[tny760]

Toughness? Where did that get Minnesota?

We just beat them 7-3 lol

helped along by an immediate ENG when maroon took the ice

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He has gotten pretty strong on the boards and hes starting to hit a little bit.
He is also backchecking well. Where he falls short is picking up the right man on the backcheck, breakouts in his own zone, and defensive zone coverage. His best breakouts were when hed flip pucks into the neutral zone and Lizotte or Lemieux knew to cheat a little bit early to get there when they were a line.

Yes, stronger on the boards, starting to hit....and seems lost/watching the play in the defensive zone, that's not good....don't remember too much of his breakouts so can't comment on that, but that 2nd goal last night, Kaliyev looked like a deer caught in headlights, guarding casper.....should have been pressing that pointman, and was so far off it made Fiala look good in coverage

 

[Schmooley]

Yes, stronger on the boards, starting to hit....and seems lost/watching the play in the defensive zone, that's not good....don't remember too much of his breakouts so can't comment on that, but that 2nd goal last night, Kaliyev looked like a deer caught in headlights, guarding casper.....should have been pressing that pointman, and was so far off it made Fiala look good in coverage

Yea I agree his biggest flaw is defensive zone coverage.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Toughness? Where did that get Minnesota?

We just beat them 7-3 lol

True, but did you watch the Oilers game the past two years.

They bullied us in the regular season and playoffs. In addition, to MacDavid taking out Anderson and no one doing shit about it.

The only time we got them back was the game where the Kings won and had three fights where Danault beat Pujaarvi and Lemieux had a great fight with Kostin. The Durzi vs Hyman fight was a draw.

 

[KingsHockey24]

True, but did you watch the Oilers game the past two years.

They bullied us in the regular season and playoffs. In addition, to MacDavid taking out Anderson and no one doing shit about it.

The only time we got them back was the game where the Kings won and had three fights where Danault beat Pujaarvi and Lemieux had a great fight with Kostin. The Durzi vs Hyman fight was a draw.

I'm confident we win both series if we had Kevin Fiala/Drew Doughty

 

[kilowatt]

Rewatch Trevor Moore's goal last night if you get a chance.



After Hartman tries keeping him out of the play, Moore knocks his stick out of his hand, picks up the loose puck, and scores. Immediately after the goal, the camera zooms in on Moore and you can read him call him Hartman a "f***ing bitch" lmao

 

[YAYSAY]

And to think we thought that TM was going to bury Kaliyev in the AHL....ready to say sorry yet?

Lol, giving TM credit for something that people on this board have been clamoring for for years

 

[Buddy The Elf]

The offense on this team is as advertised and living up to the hype so far. I'm liking Englund on defense. He's very physical and punching that guy's face in the other night was quite endearing. Tallbot's play minus his first game has also been a pleasant surprise. If this team stays healthy I think we have a shot at getting past Edmonton this year. It will be interesting to see how they match up this year with the dept the Kings have. They can double shift McDavid and Draisatl and the Kings still have offensive depth to potentially outscore them.

 

[Kurrilino]

I stopped reading here.

Kempe was also a center, coach.

Kempe was never anything else but winger.
He has zero playmaking abilities

 

[AbsentMojo]

Rewatch Trevor Moore's goal last night if you get a chance.



After Hartman tries keeping him out of the play, Moore knocks his stick out of his hand, picks up the loose puck, and scores. Immediately after the goal, the camera zooms in on Moore and you can read him call him Hartman a "f***ing bitch" lmao

Thats def worth a closer look. Hartman interferes w him - Moore stealthily knocks his stick out and heads to the slot.. Hartman loses his shit and Moore scores. Classic.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Playing time and deployment has a lot to do with Byfield's confidence, but it's certainly not just that. He came into a situation where there were two really good centers, one going into the HOF. It's much easier for a high pick to come into a team where there aren't expectations and they can just play and not worry about things. They already start at the top of the food chain.

It's one of the reasons (besides his talent) that Zegras could do what he did in his first season. No one gave a flying f*** that he was a tire fire defensively and did stupid stuff on the ice because they already knew they would be at the very bottom. Talent and flash aside, if he did that stuff on a disciplined veteran team with winning aspirations his ass would be stapled to the bench a few times.

Either way they have to learn both of those aspects of the game. They have to learn how to translate their game and produce, and they need to learn how to do the right thing at the right time and make the correct decisions that leads to the team winning, not just the stat sheet. Doesn't matter what order it's done in. Byfield should have 3 points this year, he's gotten screwed a bit. But regardless the lack of points is frustrating. But that aspect about doing things to help the team win he has in absolute spades.

The jury is still out but the way he is playing the points are starting to come. Things are carrying over from last year's playoffs where he played really well. So far he's only been on the ice for 1 goal against and 5 for in all situations, getting a really good feeling about him.

This is really well said.

It's pretty impressive how defensively responsible he is for a 21 year old.

Like you mentioned, we all want to see the points start to show up, want to see him carrying the puck and shooting with more confidence, etc etc. But at the end of the day he helps this team win a lot more than he hurts, which is great.

Especially if he and Laferriere start scoring....... opposing teams are going to be in for a rough time trying to stop all the weapons the Kings have this year.