GDT: 2024-25 season game 42 LA kings vs Vancouver Canucks @7:00pm 1/16/25

[BigKing]

Counterpoint: Anze has 4 points in the last 10 games - Turcotte has 6 and Kempe has 10.

This is Kempe's team now. He IS the driver. I don't know that you HAVE to keep that line together.

I agree that Kempe is the straw that stirs the drink of this team. Mentioned in the Kopitar thread on the main board that playing with this version of Kempe is a tremendous help for him and that this version of Kempe is arguably the best winger he has played with.

I thought Turcotte actually looked better earlier this year with Foegle and Laferriere.

Its great to see a very productive game, but that line has looked disjointed and ineffective quite often of late. There have been many nights when Turcotte looks too deferential up top, I thought he looked terrific as a more confident, assertive center.

Would be great if he actually winds up playing center.

 

[Schrute farms]

As much as some other posters here did write off Turc, I actually think the Kings organization wrote him off even moreso than the anti-Turc folks here. He should have been up and given more opportunities long before now. Heck, if Arty didn't get stuck in the doghouse or PLD was still around, then Turc might never have had a chance this year to prove himself worthy. He'd be stuck down in Ontario playing a grinders game/minutes/utilization.

 

[bland]

As much as some other posters here did write off Turc, I actually think the Kings organization wrote him off even moreso than the anti-Turc folks here. He should have been up and given more opportunities long before now. Heck, if Arty didn't get stuck in the doghouse or PLD was still around, then Turc might never have had a chance this year to prove himself worthy. He'd be stuck down in Ontario playing a grinders game/minutes/utilization.

I suspect the delay in Turcotte's arrival had more to do with an inability to put on muscle weight even more than the concussions.

 

[Sol]

I think the reason anyone had doubt in Turcotte wasn’t due to his ability. He kept getting killed out there. And he does have a habit of not being able to take hits well. He’s doing good but he’s likely one chunky hit away from heaven yet again unfortunately

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

As much as some other posters here did write off Turc, I actually think the Kings organization wrote him off even moreso than the anti-Turc folks here. He should have been up and given more opportunities long before now. Heck, if Arty didn't get stuck in the doghouse or PLD was still around, then Turc might never have had a chance this year to prove himself worthy. He'd be stuck down in Ontario playing a grinders game/minutes/utilization.

You must have forgotten that Turcotte was like 150lbs wet before this season. They were trying to keep him alive.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I suspect the delay in Turcotte's arrival had more to do with an inability to put on muscle weight even more than the concussions.

Some guys just dont' develop adult strenght until later...following his social feeds the guy was putting in WORK over the summer, mad workouts. But he reminded me of me graduating high school...playing three sports i couldn't put on weight. I was drinking weight gainer and eating fast food at 3am and was stuck at 155.

Then I discovered beer in college and the pendulum swung the other way and i'm stuck at 200!

But he has a pretty slight frame for a pro athlete, that's a problem for a guy that wants to play like him...much like Mike Richards.

 

[AbsentMojo]

You must have forgotten that Turcotte was like 150lbs wet before this season. They were trying to keep him alive.

The AHL is pretty much the last place you'd want to put him to keep him alive.. no?

 

[Trash Panda]

Some guys just dont' develop adult strenght until later...following his social feeds the guy was putting in WORK over the summer, mad workouts. But he reminded me of me graduating high school...playing three sports i couldn't put on weight. I was drinking weight gainer and eating fast food at 3am and was stuck at 155.

Then I discovered beer in college and the pendulum swung the other way and i'm stuck at 200!

But he has a pretty slight frame for a pro athlete, that's a problem for a guy that wants to play like him...much like Mike Richards.

Turcotte doesn’t play near as angry & aggressively as Richards, and that’s not slight to him, but he does find similar areas of the ice regularly as Richards did.

Turcotte is also very good at making those little touches in the hard areas of the ice much like Richards, but he does it with a lot more thought. I really see a lot of Justin Williams in his game; just consistently good touches on the puck, coupled with a great motor.

Also, Richards would find a way to murder someone two weight classes above him, and I just don’t see that kind of anger in Turcotte. Possibly to benefit his longevity.

 

[johnjm22]

Counterpoint: Anze has 4 points in the last 10 games - Turcotte has 6 and Kempe has 10.

This is Kempe's team now. He IS the driver. I don't know that you HAVE to keep that line together.

Byfield has 7 points in his last 10 games. I guess he's our best center now.

 

[bland]

Turcotte doesn’t play near as angry & aggressively as Richards, and that’s not slight to him, but he does find similar areas of the ice regularly as Richards did.

Turcotte is also very good at making those little touches in the hard areas of the ice much like Richards, but he does it with a lot more thought. I really see a lot of Justin Williams in his game; just consistently good touches on the puck, coupled with a great motor.

Also, Richards would find a way to murder someone two weight classes above him, and I just don’t see that kind of anger in Turcotte. Possibly to benefit his longevity.

The cool thing is we are just seeing him emerge. He still looks genuinely surprised when he scores sometimes. When he has confidence and feels secure I think we will see a player that is more similar to (a less sturdy) Ryan O'Reilly. No special skill to point at, just doing the right thing over and over, but with Turcotte its at full pace. He is productive in transition now, not as much off deep possession which is partly why I think Anze's numbers have suffered of late.

High speed, logical interconnectivity that funnels pucks to the net. That's the phrase I have used since his draft year. Station to station up the ice until a chance is created. It doesn't always result in points, but it owns territory and manufactures positive momentum that benefits the next shift.

Byfield has 7 points in his last 10 games. I guess he's our best center now.

Over that stretch? Yeah, undoubtedly.

 

[Schmooley]

Byfield has 7 points in his last 10 games. I guess he's our best center now.

He is some nights but not consistent enough to be the #1 yet. But hes getting there.

High speed, logical interconnectivity that funnels pucks to the net. That's the phrase I have used since his draft year. Station to station up the ice until a chance is created.

The Panthers played this way in the playoffs last year. Move the puck up ice and once you run out of room in the offensive zone they would funnel everything to the net. It works so well if you efficiently break out and move up ice as a unit so once a puck is on net youll have the d backed off creating traffic, a rebound, a trailer, a far post option… its all there and is done with good speed.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Turcotte doesn’t play near as angry & aggressively as Richards, and that’s not slight to him, but he does find similar areas of the ice regularly as Richards did.

Turcotte is also very good at making those little touches in the hard areas of the ice much like Richards, but he does it with a lot more thought. I really see a lot of Justin Williams in his game; just consistently good touches on the puck, coupled with a great motor.

Also, Richards would find a way to murder someone two weight classes above him, and I just don’t see that kind of anger in Turcotte. Possibly to benefit his longevity.

I agree with all of this. I just also think Turcotte has the same slight frame as Richards to go along with a bit more recklessness than Williams...but I think you're right that it's not player-directed as much as Richards' was, it's puck directed reckless abandon with little regard for self.

 

[Trash Panda]

I agree with all of this. I just also think Turcotte has the same slight frame as Richards to go along with a bit more recklessness than Williams...but I think you're right that it's not player-directed as much as Richards' was, it's puck directed reckless abandon with little regard for self.

Either way, if we are comparing Turcotte to my favorite King of all time, it’s a good sign that he is beginning to play like he did in his draft year.

 

[funky]

Finally got to watch in full. Man are the Canucks ever reeling. Good on the Kings to step on their throats almost all game considering.

I'm all misty-eyed watching Turc start to believe in himself and his abilities and not just his motor.

Not even going to complain today, just enjoy this one. The usual stuff is the usual stuff.



Yeah it's been rumored for a long time but when Jim and Nick start bringing it up you know there's LOUD substance

JT Miller has been a shitbrick on every team he's been on so no surprise when he meets a soft serve cone like Pettersson that hijinks ensue, worst buddy comedy ever

I agree about J.T. But I think if he was on a team like the Kings that go balls to the wall and bring their lunch kit to every game, he would be a lot happier than playing with some prima donnas. Even Fiala does not play soft, he plays stupid, but not soft. Man a Miller, Tuch or even Krieder on this team would take us to the next level right now

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I agree about J.T. But I think if he was on a team like the Kings that go balls to the wall and bring their lunch kit to every game, he would be a lot happier than playing with some prima donnas. Even Fiala does not play soft, he plays stupid, but not soft. Man a Miller, Tuch or even Krieder on this team would take us to the next level right now

Theyare noticably missing a big ass go to the net grit guy like thatyes.

I've also been on the Lawson Crouse train forever

 

[johnjm22]

Over that stretch? Yeah, undoubtedly.

I don't disagree. I wasn't being sarcastic.

And Kopitar has looked old and slow recently.

 

[Nasti]

I don't disagree. I wasn't being sarcastic.

And Kopitar has looked old and slow recently.

It’s January. Of course he does.