GDT: 2024-25 season game 31 LA Kings vs Pittsburgh Penguins @ 4:00pm 12/17/24

[chris kontos]

Let down game tonight and one that lack of scoring from some players, came back bite them in butt! Wasn't able to watch the game, but saw 1-0 and 2-1 leads. Kings are not getting those insurance goals to put the game away(take away all the empty net goals). Pens are awful defensively and not much better goaltending wise, but they have enough offense to come from behind in games.

Byfield continues to be a ghost. At the rate he's going, he won't match his 55 points from last season. He seems to have digressed. The type of coach Hiller is, when certain players are in big scoring slumps, he is not the type of coach with the rest of this coaching staff to tap into players going again offensively. I strongly believe Byfield can be a 1C, but not with this coach and system. I'm going to say it anyways(I know it will stir up quite a bit of ppl here), Byfield's production slumps at times reflect what happened to PLD. The examples of both have similarities. PLD showed flashes, but wasn't consistent offensively, and the same thing is happening to Byfield.

The two teams the Kings are strongly competing with, Vegas/Oilers, are good offensive teams. Playing defense first, good goaltending with some marginal goal scoring where the team sits on leads, is not enough to even win a 1st round considering this team is not good enough to win the Pacific Division(I see them ending in 3rd place if there is some good fortune ahead, as the Oilers will pass them).

its obvious you didnt watch the game and who gives a f*** what happens to washington and pld?

 

[AbsentMojo]

..

He also made a point of criticising himself for not playing Turcotte more.

This team has a pattern of only giving guys a shot after injuries...color me not impressed w the self-reflection

 

[Fripp]

That was one of the most incredible tips I've ever seen.

 

[kings11]

He didnt say anything about trading Kopitar

I misinterpreted your comment of trading those guys as meaning rebuilding around those two… no wonder that didn’t make sense

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You mean dekes then? Maybe Qb does have him beat in dekes. The first goal is bad ass but when I think of game breaking talent I am thinking of a player who takes over games and Byfield has come no where close to doing that enough to be considered a game breaking talent.

Dekes, Speed, Power, Control. Turcotte isn't ever going to be the type to dangle a norris candidate. And that's fine, he can still be even an elite player without that.

Byfield has exhibited that talent...he can be a total unicorn. The question is obviously consistency and desire. But you're moving the goalposts saying he doesn't do it ENOUGH. We all agree on that. You just asked where the gamebreaking talent IS that turcotte doesn't have. Asked and answered.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

..

This team has a pattern of only giving guys a shot after injuries...color me not impressed w the self-reflection

There is no pattern - but hey, we can make stuff up to shit on the org because why not?

 

[AbsentMojo]

There is no pattern - but hey, we can make stuff up to shit on the org because why not?

If you could get the pom poms out your line of vision, you could see it as well : ) welcome back Axl, how was the half way house, and do u still have to wear the ankle bracelet?

 

[King'sPawn]

Dekes, Speed, Power, Control. Turcotte isn't ever going to be the type to dangle a norris candidate. And that's fine, he can still be even an elite player without that.

Byfield has exhibited that talent...he can be a total unicorn. The question is obviously consistency and desire. But you're moving the goalposts saying he doesn't do it ENOUGH. We all agree on that. You just asked where the gamebreaking talent IS that turcotte doesn't have. Asked and answered.

Exactly. Turcotte has put it all together and is doing so consistently. Byfield has a collection of individual skills that he hasn't consistently put things together for longer than half a season.

We've also seen growth in his decision-making; in earlier years, he broke free of the fly-by poke-check. In recent days, he's trying to shoot more and not constantly deferring.

It's understandably not enough for some people. But it truly seems the most vocal against him can't appreciate or recognize any growth, and are much more comfortable in meming and shallow snark.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Exactly. Turcotte has put it all together and is doing so consistently. Byfield has a collection of individual skills that he hasn't consistently put things together for longer than half a season.

We've also seen growth in his decision-making; in earlier years, he broke free of the fly-by poke-check. In recent days, he's trying to shoot more and not constantly deferring.

It's understandably not enough for some people. But it truly seems the most vocal against him can't appreciate or recognize any growth, and are much more comfortable in meming and shallow snark.

I agree wholeheartedly. But the above wasn't even about growth, or consistency, which I think is totally fair to hold various different opinions on--it's do the abilities actually EXIST and it's like I don't know how anyone can watch the literal goal of the year and go 'hmm yeah doesn't even have it in him'