We are still just discussing backups. The plan to platoon Copley and Talbot was misguided in the 1st place. The Kings have blown out the cap and still dont have a valid starting goalie. Thats why the PLD decision was so bad. The proper thing to do was trade or sign an FA starting goalie, and then figure out what you have left to get yourself a center.
If I'm Blake, I would re-sign Rittich to be the backup(with the intentions of giving him even more starts as the backup), but trade for a #1 type goalie with playoff experience. I said before, if ya want to move out PLD(retained portion in cap hit will have to be involved) you could do it for Darcy Kuemper(Charlie Lindgren has made Darcy Kuemper expendable and the Caps have an playoff MVP goalie/best goalie in the AHL this season to come up and backup Lindgren). Something I have noticed about goalies the Kings have acquired in years past(including this season as well), goalies regular season numbers have improved a good deal from their previous team.
Talbot was somewhat of a desperate/last resort signing by Blake. Kuemper/Campbell were the 2 big FA goalies 2 seasons ago(1 has been beaten out by a backup and the other fell out of the league) and last offseason it wasn't good and the same goes for this offseason. I'm not sure if PLD getting that big contract was part of the trade getting done or Blake just giving PLD the big incentive that he would be paid like a top center? The contract length and annual amount were not warranted based on PLD's rep and offensive production. It was a knee jerk reaction to how the Oilers were killing us the past 2 post seasons with offensive players. Jonathan Quick blindsided the team in how to find good #1 goaltending via free agency/trade. Blake didn't(and still might not know how) know how go about it replacing Quick, since their goaltending depth was so bad. Portillo fell into the Kings lap being a 3rd round pick bargain, as the Sabres have multiple good goalie prospects. He will have to be the Kings future #1 for now(his rookie AHL season was very promising, but we have to see how he progresses cooking with the Reign). To get a #1 next season via trade, Blake will have to somehow miraculously become creative(most of the time you have to give up something good to trade for something good).
Kings did a better job reducing the shots against for Talbot(44 in Game 1 to 31 in Game 2), but they have to do more in not allowing the Oilers to use their speed. The Oilers speed and Talbot's fatigue are giving Talbot issues on some of the shots he should be stopping but are going in the net.
He doesn’t fight or throw lots of hits so his leadership sucks. Nothing else he does , on or off the ice, matters.
Big addition? Yes/no. If he adds a bit of spark and chemistry it’s potentially a huge addition even without scoring a single point. If it gets that line going, to provide some energy whilst annoying the likes of McDavid then it might be important. They need to be able to roll all 4 lines without trying to protect anyone.
Kuemper is done as an NHL goalie. No need to acquire an older version of Cal Petersen.
I don't even know why he was dressed if he's only going to play him 25 seconds for a 60-minute game. I agree he has peaks and valleys in performance, but how is anyone supposed to get going?
I don’t think anyone has ever said that. Has his leadership style been questioned? Absolutely, but I don’t think anyone has ever questioned that he is one of the best players the Kings have ever had.
I didn’t see his one shift. Did he have a blatant giveaway or something to be benched?
He saw someone in the stands wearing a Brown jersey and he was trying to pass it to himThat was a great shot by Kopitar on the GWG. Honestly stunned he didn't try to find a way to pass it.
I was being heavily sarcastic… it’s a British thing… but at times he’s been called a bad leader/Captain most definitely. Given we don’t have any visibility of the room it really is something we cannot judge. I prefer to listen to the players, not just what they say but how they say it. I don’t think there’s an issue personally based on how the players talk about him.
I think he tipped it to the spot purposely but I don’t think he tipped it directly to Kopi’s stick.
I'm pretty sure he was just trying to get a touch on it somehow and it turned into a favorable deflection.
I’ve seen one angle where it shows he definitely deflected it. Byfield himself indicated he was trying to prevent an icing, rather than making a play.
Byfield dreamed that play up two weeks ago in the shower while he was singing "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy
