GDT: 2024-25 season game 27 LA Kings vs Minnesota Wild @5:00pm 12/7/24

[Omni Owl]

Really hope Clarke is okay, that was a nasty tumble into the boards. Gavrikov also had a rough game in that department, thought he was gonna be out too. One game where Hiller was right to dress 7 D-men. That was a gutsy win, Minny got their chances but Kuemper stood his ground. Moverare-Spence is turning out to be a nice bottom D pair and Laferriere is looking extremely solid, making up for Moore and Byfield's lack of production this year.

 

[BigBrown]

Great win. They've been pretty damn good since that horrible loss against the Sharks.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Didn’t watch the game as I was out the whole day. Glad to hear that the Kings played a hard fought game. Looking at the stat sheet it seems as Laferriere might be the best player from the young guys. It’s no secret that Blake’s drafting is very questionable to say the least or even down right bad. But I will give the people in charge credit for their college signings. Iafallo was a good player, Lizzo was solid, and now Laferriere is turning out to be a diamond.

Well....Lafferriere....was drafted....so....there is that.

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We drafted Laf in the 3rd rd out of the USHL so not a college signing, but you're just thinking of when he was a beast at Harvard

I just love seeing that massive dip last year, to back up again now passing 1st line potential

This is all Yannetti and his team. Blake gets no credit

With that logic, then Blake gets no blame for Turcotte/Byfield etc......

 

[Statto]

Well....Lafferriere....was drafted....so....there is that.



With that logic, then Blake gets no blame for Turcotte/Byfield etc......

College signings and drafting is done by amateur scouting, so Yannetti. Blake makes the call on the 1st round picks in terms of the draft.

What I do give Blake a little credit for is that he did not rip apart amateur scouting when he took over. He recognised that it’s a solid operation.

However there’s definitely serious questions around development and pro scouring.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

It's okay, Anders Lee and Andre Lee can't see each other in the same place at the same time or they rip a hole in the space-time continuum and the isles forfeit

You're talking parallel Universe stuff there and that's scary

College signings and drafting is done by amateur scouting, so Yannetti. Blake makes the call on the 1st round picks in terms of the draft.

What I do give Blake a little credit for is that he did not rip apart amateur scouting when he took over. He recognised that it’s a solid operation.

However there’s definitely serious questions around development and pro scouring.

Sometimes players turn Pro too soon or encouraged to turn Pro without the best interest of the player(s) in mind

 

[The Butcher]

I'm still jaded but there are some positives that can't be ignored.

The shot suppression is as good as any Kings team in the past right now. They are averaging 24.33 shots per game, almost a full sog per game less than the 2nd place team in this stat. These are the kinds of habits that can be sustainable throughout a season and into the playoffs.

The snarl is definitely being noted, if the Kings don't lead the league in fighting majors it has to be up there. I've never harped on team toughness the same way JohnnyUtah and others have but come playoff time having a few guys that can stir things up is a gift. I don't see the Kings getting punked much this season.You love to see it.

Also, I have a better feeling about teams that take care of home ice. When you are getting the matchups that the staff wants and making the most of it at home it's another sustainable habit that you can carry into spring.

Now if we can just get QB and fiala to pull their heads out of their assess this could be a team that surprises us.

 

[kingsholygrail]

They're generating chemistry and minimizing mistakes. Special teams hasn't been as much of a dumpster fire as well. We'll see if any of this improvement follows them on the road.

 

[King'sPawn]

there’s many people who gave Laf less rope than Byfield and now Laf is outperforming Byfield at his best.

Many people on this forum don't watch the players until they play in the NHL, with no baseline. Laferriere is playing exactly as he always has, but with better decision-making that comes with experience. It's why I was very much against sending him to the AHL last year.

Byfield's been disappointing as a 2nd overall, but his game has changed a lot. He's just demonstrably lacking in confidence and consistency, both of which I expected him to have more of at this point.

 

[shuchukfan]

Mr anchutz is there and was seen visiting with daryl sutter no less.

OF COURSE they play one of their best games with Uncle Phil in the house. Would have been the PERFECT opportunity to sh*t the bed and get rid of BLuc. Instead, we get, "Great team you've assembled here, Blake. I'll check in next time the Galaxy win the championship."

 

[johnjm22]

It's hard not to start sipping on the Kool-Aide when you keep winning. I'm trying not to.

It becomes even more alluring considering how weak the division looks.

I'm still not convinced they should be buying at the TDL, but it's fun to think about different scenarios.

 

[KingsHockey24]

If we're buying at the deadline I want them to get Olivier from CBJ.

Already has 8 goals this season and can play mean.

Jeannot/Helenius/Olivier would be such a pain in the ass to go up against.

 

[johnjm22]

To have any chance at making a playoff run, Kings need a #1 winger, a #1 goaltender and QB to play like a legit top 6 center.

 

[Lt Dan]

Many people on this forum don't watch the players until they play in the NHL, with no baseline. Laferriere is playing exactly as he always has, but with better decision-making that comes with experience.

He REALLY worked on his shot in the offseason

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

To have any chance at making a playoff run, Kings need a #1 winger, a #1 goaltender and QB to play like a legit top 6 center.

Could see this guy doing crazy things at the deadline for Blackwood and Granlund

 

[chris kontos]

To have any chance at making a playoff run, Kings need a #1 winger, a #1 goaltender and QB to play like a legit top 6 center.

Rumor has it blake tendered an offer to mike vernon

 

[VILARGOD]

Well....Lafferriere....was drafted....so....there is that.



With that logic, then Blake gets no blame for Turcotte/Byfield etc......

Kind of a silly thing to say, Blake gets the final call in the 1st round. He chose Byfield over Stutzle, Yannetti said it himself. Also, If Jon Rosen is to be believed, Blake straight up diverted from his scouts, who had Zegras higher than Turcotte, and took Turcotte instead.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Kind of a silly thing to say, Blake gets the final call in the 1st round. He chose Byfield over Stutzle, Yannetti said it himself. Also, If Jon Rosen is to be believed, Blake straight up diverted from his scouts, who had Zegras higher than Turcotte, and took Turcotte instead.

Ok, so Blake chose Byfield, Turcotte, but didn't choose the other players that were drafted? I mean that's the logic you are going with. Who is to say that the scouting department didn't want to pick Joustin Sourdif, and Blake over ruled them there? Or Cade Webber, and Blake said no, we are going with Spence?

I'm just saying it's a bit...ludicrous to blame anyone....Blake, Lombardi, the man on the moon, for all failures, but then refuse to give credit for the successes....it's either all or none.

Do I believe Blake has f***ed up some drafts, absolutely (Turcotte over Zegras isn't one of them though) Zegras is a f***ing shitstorm of whatever the hell that is over there....but if I'm willing to say he f***ed up, then I'm sure as shit willing to say he has hit on picks as well.

Why aren't you?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I wonder which player Blake was going to draft before he was talked out of it and chose Clarke.

 

[Schmooley]

I wonder which player Blake was going to draft before he was talked out of it and chose Clarke.

I remember Clarke being a guy they had tabs on for a long time. Wallstedt is the only other name Ive heard from that draft that they were in on. Also think I remember hearing they thought Eklund may fall to them if Clarke didnt.

Ok, so Blake chose Byfield, Turcotte, but didn't choose the other players that were drafted?

I think there has been publications saying Blake had a say in the high picks from those retool years. The picks after the lottery ones he relies on his scouts and doesnt know as much about the players but gives direction on things like position,size,etc.

 

[King'sPawn]

Ok, so Blake chose Byfield, Turcotte, but didn't choose the other players that were drafted? I mean that's the logic you are going with. Who is to say that the scouting department didn't want to pick Joustin Sourdif, and Blake over ruled them there? Or Cade Webber, and Blake said no, we are going with Spence?

I'm just saying it's a bit...ludicrous to blame anyone....Blake, Lombardi, the man on the moon, for all failures, but then refuse to give credit for the successes....it's either all or none.

Do I believe Blake has f***ed up some drafts, absolutely (Turcotte over Zegras isn't one of them though) Zegras is a f***ing shitstorm of whatever the hell that is over there....but if I'm willing to say he f***ed up, then I'm sure as shit willing to say he has hit on picks as well.

Why aren't you?

It's pretty common practice for GMs to make the ultimate choice with first-round picks. They'll travel and scout the potential first-rounders, particularly top-10 picks. They don't have the bandwidth to travel all over and watch all the place to have a strong personal opinion for picks in rounds 2-7.

It's the hitting on later round picks that really define how good a scouting staff is. Yannetti and Co. are great at finding NHLers like Laferriere, Spence, Faber, etc. Which is why I'd run through a wall to keep the amateur scouting staff.

Blake definitely deserves credit for the top picks. I love the Turcotte, Byfield, and Clarke picks. But I also think it's fair to say that his best moves in the later rounds is to let the scouts do their thing.

I understand your point about giving credit where it's due, but I think until Blake gets this team beyond the first round, his body of work makes it harder to give him full credit.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Do we get to include Brock Faber?

 

[bland]

Kind of a silly thing to say, Blake gets the final call in the 1st round. He chose Byfield over Stutzle, Yannetti said it himself. Also, If Jon Rosen is to be believed, Blake straight up diverted from his scouts, who had Zegras higher than Turcotte, and took Turcotte instead.

Blake still might have gotten that one right.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Do we get to include Brock Faber?

I haven't seen you post on these boards in forever; what the heck.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Could see this guy doing crazy things at the deadline for Blackwood and Granlund

What? Goalie position has been fixed! Got my money on Risto & Kakko. Puljujarvi if the money won't work.

Do we get to include Brock Faber?

Bad pick. Dude wouldn't sign a contract & had to be traded.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I haven't seen you post on these boards in forever; what the heck.

Bruh, everyone knows I’m @Surf Nutz and I post here all the time.