GDT: 2024-25 season game 45 LA Kings vs Florida Panthers @7:00pm 1/22/25

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What becomes of Clarke once Doughty comes back, which looks like will happen on this roadie.

Do they waive a defenseman or send Clarke to Ontario because he does not have to be placed on waivers?
I don’t know all the options, but I can assure you that Clarke isn’t going to ONT.
 
The Kings in the 3rd period were like a totally different team. Lucky for them, Kuemper kept the game close enough (yet again). It seems like they've had a lot of wins that have come that way this year -- bad first two periods but DK kept them close and the team wakes up in the 3rd to win.

Kempe is so dang good. I loved his annoying 'smell my glove' after the end of the first period (2nd?).

Two goals in one period. Although let's be honest, both of those goals were kind of random scrum type goals. Good effort at the net -- love to see that. But dang this team needs to be able to shot & score on occasion right?
 
The Kings in the 3rd period were like a totally different team. Lucky for them, Kuemper kept the game close enough (yet again). It seems like they've had a lot of wins that have come that way this year -- bad first two periods but DK kept them close and the team wakes up in the 3rd to win.

Kempe is so dang good. I loved his annoying 'smell my glove' after the end of the first period (2nd?).

Two goals in one period. Although let's be honest, both of those goals were kind of random scrum type goals. Good effort at the net -- love to see that. But dang this team needs to be able to shot & score on occasion right?
Adrian is doing it all - and is being a leader.. not taking any smack off Taf*ck
 
I said awhile back, my heart wants Burroughs to be gone, but my head knows one of Spence, or Moverare gets waived instead.
This would be the dumbest f***ing move ever, Burroughs clearly ought to be the odd man out. If its that obvious to a fan it had better be to a full paid f***ing coaching staff. Movo has been too solid to send down, I'd hate to see him get snubbed yet again. We shouldn't even be having this discussion but with this management group you never know, they have a propensity to make the wrong moves.

Can't get over how based Kempe is, what a GOAT. Part of me is curious to see how he'd do at center because he definitely has all the tools and beyond to be effective down the middle.
 
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Englund has played 3 games this month only because Edmundson got hurt. Prior to that he hadn't played since November 11. I'm not a fan of Burroughs, but at least he's been consistently playing. He's not going down, Moverare has earned his spot and it'd be dumb to send Clarke down. Englund is the one going down.
 
Great win against an impressive opponent. Believe the Panthers were 18-1-1 when leading in the 3rd going into last night. Kings kept battling all night and it paid off.

One thing I liked from last night was how Fiala looked with Kopi and Kempe. Granted, it was for a limited amount of time but Hiller's gone to that combo a couple times in games when trailing - I think it might be time to give that trio another look full time.

I know it didn't exactly work when McLellan tried 22 with 11 and 9 but Fiala's game has evolved over the last couple years - Maybe he's better suited to play with Anze and Kempe now? And maybe that would spark some offense in 22.

I don't mind Turcotte in that role but it would really give this Kings team a different feel if those 3 can start clicking.

Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe has the potential to be a legit 1st line that teams would have to seriously respect. It also would likely result in Turcotte sliding down to the 3rd line with Danault, where I could see him having success.

Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Foegele - Byfield - <Right Shot Scoring Winger>
Turcotte - Danault - Laferriere

Starts to look like a very formidable top 9. Plus, Turcotte and Laf are reunited - which could in turn make Danault more productive. Moore sadly gets dealt for a 2nd line winger who can score.
 
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I really like the coaching job that Adolf Hiller has done, but I don't understand the grudge he holds against Real Deal Akil.
Obviously, we don't see what happens in practice, but whenever Akil plays he has a great game.
Color Me confused, Color Me Bad, and Color Me Mine
You must have missed the games he played prior to last night.
 
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I told my wife after the second period - we've seen 100 times the Kings dominate possession play, run up the shots, not put up the goals, and then lose from a couple small breakdowns that the other team puts away late. This was a reverse Kings.
 
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After Logan Thompson, PLD is the 2nd best player on the Caps right now! He is a big part of why the Caps are the top team in the NHL right now.
And after Adrian Kempe, Darcy Kuemper is the 2nd best player on the Kings right now! He's providing excellent goaltending and he's a big part of why the Kings are a top 10 team in the NHL right now (in terms of Points %).

The PLD / Kuemper trade has worked out amazingly for both teams so far.
 

Just gonna pump Jordan Spence's tires again. If there's a silver lining to Doughty going down for three+ months it's Spence and Clarke getting more minutes. Spence is now tied for second on the D in +/- and points with Gavrikov, despite a large disparity in minutes. He's quietly earning those 2nd pairing minutes.

Once Doughty returns, the Kings have the makings of a top defense corp going into the playoffs.
 
Just gonna pump Jordan Spence's tires again. If there's a silver lining to Doughty going down for three+ months it's Spence and Clarke getting more minutes. Spence is now tied for second on the D in +/- and points with Gavrikov, despite a large disparity in minutes. He's quietly earning those 2nd pairing minutes.

Once Doughty returns, the Kings have the makings of a top defense corp going into the playoffs.
Indeed. I would also add Moverare.
This same thing happened with Durzi last time Doughty got hurt. I do fear though that the front office is going to make the wrong decision once Doughty is at full full speed.
I kinda expect them to do an 11/7 again when Drew first comes back and yeah, someone has to be the odd man out
 
So, do they keep Fiala with Kopitar and Kempe? Seemed like the adjustment worked, but now they have to figure out how to get Byfield, Foegele, Moore, Danault, Jeannot all going again.
 
Just gonna pump Jordan Spence's tires again. If there's a silver lining to Doughty going down for three+ months it's Spence and Clarke getting more minutes. Spence is now tied for second on the D in +/- and points with Gavrikov, despite a large disparity in minutes. He's quietly earning those 2nd pairing minutes.

Once Doughty returns, the Kings have the makings of a top defense corp going into the playoffs.
I dont want to buzzkill too much, but I think you should also factor in offensive contributions from the defense.. which in the Kings case is most likely lower half in the league.

Since DD hasnt played this season Im going to use 23-24 stats 5x5

DD + Mikey pts 60: 0.95 + 0.73 = 1.68
Makar + Toews pts 60: 1.8 + 1.57 = 3.37
Forsling + Ekblad pts 60: 1.32 + 0.75 = 2.07

Showing you what the best and cup winner top pair in the league is capable of offensively. My guess is if you analyzed the entire top 4 D offensively of same, Kings would be even lower compared to them.
 
I dont want to buzzkill too much, but I think you should also factor in offensive contributions from the defense.. which in the Kings case is most likely lower half in the league.

Since DD hasnt played this season Im going to use 23-24 stats 5x5

DD + Mikey pts 60: 0.95 + 0.73 = 1.68
Makar + Toews pts 60: 1.8 + 1.57 = 3.37
Forsling + Ekblad pts 60: 1.32 + 0.75 = 2.07

Showing you what the best and cup winner top pair in the league is capable of offensively. My guess is if you analyzed the entire top 4 D offensively of same, Kings would be even lower compared to them.
Not singling you out, but I just can't subscribe to this. Doughty was never an offensive juggernaut, and the Kings didn't have an offensive defenseman when they won the cups (though he gets credit for elevating his play when it matters).

The playoffs are a war of attrition. It's not that they need x number of points from the defense. It's if they can outscore what they can't shut down. And that's a team effort.

I'm pessimistic if they are able to do so, but if they can't, I just don't think it should be attributed to lack of high-scoring defense.
 
Not singling you out, but I just can't subscribe to this. Doughty was never an offensive juggernaut, and the Kings didn't have an offensive defenseman when they won the cups (though he gets credit for elevating his play when it matters).

The playoffs are a war of attrition. It's not that they need x number of points from the defense. It's if they can outscore what they can't shut down. And that's a team effort.

I'm pessimistic if they are able to do so, but if they can't, I just don't think it should be attributed to lack of high-scoring defense.
My point was to not ignore the offensive contribution of the D when making the claim its one of the better squads in the league. Im not saying you need to have a Makar and Toews to win.. but that getting offensive contributions from the D is an important component of their effectiveness.
 
Clarke is waiver exempt so you know he's the odd man out, especially with how they've been talking about him all year and his usage getting goofy. I wouldn't be surprsied if they also waived Moverare just so they could keep Englund and Burroughs against all conventional wisdom.

"fortunately" spence is not waiver exempt and i have to believe they aren't stupid enough to try that...right?

They are gonna roll Doughty-Spence-Burroughs down the right side and i'm already mad about it.
 

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