Speculation: Another year of this Bluc **** (The 2024-25 season thread)

[unicornpig]

thats fair, just feels different

It does, kings were shooting at ridiculous shooting percentage last year. All four lines were scoring, which would later find out not substainable

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

It does, kings were shooting at ridiculous shooting percentage last year. All four lines were scoring, which would later find out not substainable

This is why I think there's room for optimism with the Kings.

It may not always be pretty, but this team is finding a way to rack up wins/points at a respectable rate while their best defenseman is out due to injury. And they're doing this despite honestly playing pretty mediocre hockey (and multiple forwards under-performing).

I don't think it's overly crazy to look at the Kings current situation and recognize the possibility that things could be much better with time - Particularly with a healthy Drew Doughty and a few forwards starting to find their game.

I'm not necessarily saying they should be cup favorites or anything - Just saying there's a chance this team is much better than we think and there's a chance the return of Drew Doughty realllllllly allows this team to take a step forward.

With Doughty back, the Kings defense starts to look extremely intriguing (a defense that is already tops in the league in terms of expected goals against, mind you).

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Clarke
Edmundson - Spence
Moverare

Anderson and Gavrikov are both having fantastic years defensively (with some half decent offensive production as well). Clarke still looks like a stud. Spence has looked much better of late. And even Edmundson has been surprisingly adequate. Moverare is an excellent 3rd pair option / 7th defenseman who can be rotated into the lineup seamlessly. And they're about a month away from adding Drew Doughty back into that mix. That's only going to make this group even better - And will likely add some more offense from the blueline.

And the forward group is honestly pretty solid - especially if guys like Moore, Danault, and Fiala continue to turn their seasons around. Kopi still playing amazing. Kempe is unreal. Laferriere is legit. Maybe the Kings can add a scoring winger at the deadline and all of the sudden the forward group starts to look even better. Or they could target a goalie to try to solidify things in net.

Obviously there's a lot that could go wrong over the next couple months - But there's a world in which we're looking at a pretty damn good hockey team here in LA by the time we get to Feb/March of 2025. Going to be very interesting to watch.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Also, Kaliyev could end up being a very underrated "add" if the Kings actually decide to play him when he's healthy.

I know the Kings soured on him last year but the guy is still only 23 years old and we know he has a wicked shot. Even if the Kings don't want to play him in the top 9 - why not stick him on the 4th line and let him be a PP merchant?

Kaliyev would greatly improve the Kings 2nd PP unit by giving them another serious shooting threat. With both Doughty and Kaliyev back in the lineup, the Kings could be looking at the following powerplay units.

PP1:
Byfield
Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Doughty

PP2:
Turcotte
Laferriere - Danault - Kaliyev
Clarke

That 2nd unit is MUCH improved and could be low key pretty nasty. Turcotte and Danault to do the dirty work / battle net front. Laferriere the shooter on the left side. Kaliyev the shooter on the right side. Clarke distributing from the point. Sign me up.

Kings forward group could look something like:
Moore - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Danault - Laferriere
Foegele - Byfield - Jeannot
Turcotte - Helenius - Kaliyev

And the nice part is you have two guys on the 4th line (Turcotte and Kaliyev) who could play up in the lineup if needed. Say Jeannot has a rough couple games - No problem, let's give Arty or Turc a look in the top 9 for a few games. They could move things around pretty easily and legitimately roll 4 lines with that group.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

How long can the Kings sustain their current trajectory is directly linked to how long can a 38 year old center continue at over PPG.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

How long can the Kings sustain their current trajectory is directly linked to how long can a 38 year old center continue at over PPG.

He's him... we're fine lol

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Also, Kaliyev could end up being a very underrated "add" if the Kings actually decide to play him when he's healthy.

The Kings tried to 'play him' last year, but he sucked...it's on him to earn more time and a better line.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

The Kings tried to 'play him' last year, but he sucked...it's on him to earn more time and a better line.

I disagree with your assessment of his play last year.

He was pretty great at the start of the year with Moore and Danault - then struggled once they put him on a line with PLDiva and then he never really got the confidence back after that. He also never really got much of an opportunity after that.

Regardless, I hope he gets an opportunity and hope he takes advantage of it if/when the time comes.

 

[King'sPawn]

I disagree with your assessment of his play last year.

He was pretty great at the start of the year with Moore and Danault - then struggled once they put him on a line with PLDiva and then he never really got the confidence back after that. He also never really got much of an opportunity after that.

Regardless, I hope he gets an opportunity and hope he takes advantage of it if/when the time comes.

The problem with Kaliyev is very similar to PLD - he needs the perfect set of circumstances to look good.

It's acceptable when he's younger, but at 23 he's approaching an age where more should be expected. He worked well with Lizotte and Lemieux and with Danault and Moore. Both are very hard-checking lines, and while he didn't float, he was buoyed by their efforts. When put in scoring roles that are more demanding, he wasn't even a reliable scorer.

I do think he'll be better off with a clean slate on a different team. I think both sides have their minds set on the way things should be. Some other team may put him in a scoring role with people who can support him, and he'll probably be happier. I don't think either will happen in LA.

 

[FSL KINGS]

King's need to stop expecting everyone to be a grinder. They need to learn to integrate other players in the roster. This isn't just a Kaliyev problem.

They want everyone to play "King's Hockey". From what I can put together "King's Hockey" means missing the playoffs or blown out in the first round with 6 playoff games won in 9 years. Division looks weak this year! They could double their playoff wins! Maybe 12 in the last decade. (3 for Doughty)

Worst comes to worst, put Kaliyev in a position to succeed, boost his stats & dump him at the deadline for something the King's will actually use.

 

[KINGS17]

How long can the Kings sustain their current trajectory is directly linked to how long can a 38 year old center continue at over PPG.

For a response, we'll turn to Jerry Glanville.



...and no, I wouldn't even hire BLuc to sell groceries.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Hope they let Jeannot sink his teeth on Lee tomorrow.. and hopefully land some and not get cut

 

[FSL KINGS]

UFA's this summer,
Marner @ 13
or
Bennett @ 8.5
?

 

[lumbergh]

UFA's this summer,
Marner @ 13
or
Bennett @ 8.5
?

Kings need players that will show up and score during the playoffs, so Bennett, by a mile.

Hope they let Jeannot sink his teeth on Lee tomorrow.. and hopefully land some and not get cut

Isn't that more Lemieux's thing?

 

[Trash Panda]

UFA's this summer,
Marner @ 13
or
Bennett @ 8.5
?

Ideally? Neither.

 

[Lt Dan]

Hope they let Jeannot sink his teeth on Lee tomorrow.. and hopefully land some and not get cut

Isn't that more Lemieux's thing?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

The problem with Kaliyev is very similar to PLD - he needs the perfect set of circumstances to look good.

It's acceptable when he's younger, but at 23 he's approaching an age where more should be expected. He worked well with Lizotte and Lemieux and with Danault and Moore. Both are very hard-checking lines, and while he didn't float, he was buoyed by their efforts. When put in scoring roles that are more demanding, he wasn't even a reliable scorer.

I do think he'll be better off with a clean slate on a different team. I think both sides have their minds set on the way things should be. Some other team may put him in a scoring role with people who can support him, and he'll probably be happier. I don't think either will happen in LA.

You're probably right but man that's frustrating.

They used an early 2nd round draft pick on this guy and there's still some potential there and this coaching/management group is just going to let him rot simply because he doesn't play their system perfectly. Like if for no other reason than to try to create some sort of trade value, it should be in their best interest to at least give him a few games and see how he looks - Especially with Lewis still out for a couple weeks with injury.

Also, I agree Kaliyev needs to play with energetic, hard-checking linemates to be successful - But the thing is, the Kings have a lottttttt of forwards that hit that mold. IMO they could easily find a line that sets Arty up for success, it just seems like they're almost determined not to do that... Which is weird.

Turcotte - Helenius - Kaliyev
Moore - Danault - Kaliyev
Foegele - Byfield - Kaliyev
Turcotte - Danault - Kaliyev
Turcotte - Byfield - Kaliyev

Honestly there's a ton of potential line combinations that would pair Kaliyev up with two tight checking linemates with good motors. Kings could use the finishing ability and the help on the PP too. It just seems like a no brainer to at least give it a try for a few games.

 

[Lt Dan]

Turcotte - Helenius - Kaliyev
Moore - Danault - Kaliyev
Foegele - Byfield - Kaliyev
Turcotte - Danault - Kaliyev
Turcotte - Byfield - Kaliyev

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

How would you describe a player who has:
1 goal, 2 assists, and hasn't recorded more than one shot on goal per game over his last 12 games?

 

[Lt Dan]

How would you describe a player who has:
1 goal, 2 assists, and hasn't recorded more than one shot on goal per game over his last 12 games?

Let me guess.... Byfield?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Let me guess.... Byfield?

 

[bland]

How would you describe a player who has:
1 goal, 2 assists, and hasn't recorded more than one shot on goal per game over his last 12 games?

I would say that the stats are meaningless as he has contributed to multiple goals of late while not registering points on a team that is doing very, very well.

I wonder if fans would actually improve their understanding of the game if stat-watching wasn't so prevelant. Look at soccer, nobody gives a damn about individual stats, they don't arbitrarily hand out "assists" without having done something actually impactful, and there is no such thing as a 2nd assist. In the NHL you toss out stats like candy at Halloween and somehow anybody who looks at a number thinks they know what is actually happening.

Should Byfield contribute more? Yes, he should.

Is it a problem? Absolutely not.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I would say that the stats are meaningless as he has contributed to multiple goals of late while not registering points on a team that is doing very, very well.

I wonder if fans would actually improve their understanding of the game if stat-watching wasn't so prevelant. Look at soccer, nobody gives a damn about individual stats, they don't arbitrarily hand out "assists" without having done something actually impactful, and there is no such thing as a 2nd assist. In the NHL you toss out stats like candy at Halloween and somehow anybody who looks at a number thinks they know what is actually happening.

Should Byfield contribute more? Yes, he should.

Is it a problem? Absolutely not.

I find it problematic when the heir apparent who was touted as the future #1 center of the team and Kopitar's replacement is less productive than Bryan Smolinski was.

I wouldn't be as concerned if that stat line is for a lesser player, but f***ing Blake Lizotte has 6 goals in 13 games, and Byfield has 3 goals in 27, and is barely capable of getting pucks on net.

The Kings are winning due to their defensive play, which is what is more impressive given they're doing this without Doughty.

 

[theMajor]

How long can the Kings sustain their current trajectory is directly linked to how long can a 38 year old center continue at over PPG.

well according to some here that period ended what, 4 seasons ago? I think he will be just fine

 

[SettlementRichie10]

well according to some here that period ended what, 4 seasons ago? I think he will be just fine

And what success LA has seen in these last four years!

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

And what success LA has seen in these last four years!

3 consecutive 100-point seasons is not a dynasty, but it's a lot more than half the other teams in the league have.