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

[King'sPawn]

He is most likely there for "puck recovery" skills, which is fine. I don't know if he has the pure skills to be a top line winger, but plenty of players who aren't top-6 on paper have carved out excellent careers on that spot based on guile and effort. The fact that he is being given that chance is everything we have been asking for over the past few years.

I agree. I just wanted to provide context of (at least) my overall outlook on him.

I definitely think he's getting unnecessary angst for being on the top unit, like Iafallo used to.

I do hope that if he (or the powerplay) struggles, they can loop in another prospect to add dynamism to it. I just don't want the org to rely entirely on vets to bail them out.

 

[Bandit]

Respectfully, I am a little confused wondering why one would complain about the kids not getting chances in one thread, and simultaneously complaining in this one about a kid actually getting an opportunity in an important spot.

Why are so many of you pigeon-holing Laferriere into a bottom 6 spot based off of his rookie season? This is a quality player who probably should have been in Ontario playing in PP and PK situations last year so he would be better prepared for those bigger moments in the big league.

The important thing here isn't results, it's progress. Laferriere and Byfield getting top situational play IS the very progress we need. Expecting results right away is what got them into this mess in the first place.

Is he really a kid though? He’s nearly 23. At 23 I was making Gretzky’s head bleed every shift in nhl 93.

 

[Schmooley]

I agree. I just wanted to provide context of (at least) my overall outlook on him.

I definitely think he's getting unnecessary angst for being on the top unit, like Iafallo used to.

I do hope that if he (or the powerplay) struggles, they can loop in another prospect to add dynamism to it. I just don't want the org to rely entirely on vets to bail them out.

At his best moments he reminded me of top line players that kind of hitch onto a star player and make a fruitful career. In the way a guy like Kunitz meshed with Crosby..
Not afraid to drop the gloves for protection, good enough puckhandling vision and speed, and the brain to process the game at a high level to be in the right place at the right time. And he always gives full effort.
Not sure the Kings top line is the fit for him with the current personnel but its worth a shot.

 

[Sol]

I think the fact that Kopitar at 800 years old is our “top” center is a bigger crime than Lafferiere on PP1

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Respectfully, I am a little confused wondering why one would complain about the kids not getting chances in one thread, and simultaneously complaining in this one about a kid actually getting an opportunity in an important spot.

Why are so many of you pigeon-holing Laferriere into a bottom 6 spot based off of his rookie season? This is a quality player who probably should have been in Ontario playing in PP and PK situations last year so he would be better prepared for those bigger moments in the big league.

The important thing here isn't results, it's progress. Laferriere and Byfield getting top situational play IS the very progress we need. Expecting results right away is what got them into this mess in the first place.

I argued for the bold a lot of last year.

I think he does have a decent offensive skillset. But he's a strictly north-south player. I get he's just the bloodhound for Kopitar and Kempe so the 'fit' is there but he hasn't done nearly enough to be there, this is a roster construction failure.

Yeah I think it's totally fair to talk about the kids not getting chances when you put a guy who had literally the worst results of ANY Kings player--from an advanced AND counting stats standpoint--up next to Kopitar while you let Kaliyev, Thomas, and Turcotte fight for who gets to rot next to Trevor Lewis. Why does Laferriere get elevated to literally the cushiest possible situation while those guys get jammed in the worst? Laf didn't get results OR process, he got actively worse as the year went on. He never played such a large amount of games and minutes and it showed--and now we're giving him the hardest matchups and minutes.

And before anyone says it's the PLD effect, note he was even WORSE away from PLD

He's a checker who hasn't gotten scoring results and bleeds goals and chances against despite cushy Ozone deployment and soft matchups next to their pet project.

Again, it's the org mistaking guys who get actual results for guys who look like they're trying hard. The real problem isn't him getting a look there; it's that you know they won't be flexible if it doesn't work.

DO I think he has upside? Absolutely. I don't think it's productive to lump all the kids in together for sake of reducing the actual argument to something to find a 'gotcha' about. You don't see me begging to put Lee or Helenius in the lineup at all, for example. But this org is finding ways to absolutely waste any of its drafted young offensive talent and this is another example of how.

I'd love him to be successful there in the end--he's an easy kid to root for, has the right attitude, and it would solve a lot of roster problems--but I think it's fair to be annoyed that they're just finding ways to look right past the other youth. I'm not mad at Laf.

 

[Master Yoda]

I've been out of the loop.

Why do the Kings start with a 7 game road trip? I don't think I've ever seen such a long trip to open a season.

 

[Lt Dan]

Sarah Merrifield is no Heidi Androl

 

[Lt Dan]

I've been out of the loop.

Why do the Kings start with a 7 game road trip? I don't think I've ever seen such a long trip to open a season.

Renovations at Staples ( I refuse to call it by the new name)

 

[All The Kings Men]

you know they won't be flexible if it doesn't work.

Perhaps I'm naive... I don't think they'll have a choice.

 

[kingsfan28]

I've been out of the loop.

Why do the Kings start with a 7 game road trip? I don't think I've ever seen such a long trip to open a season.

I think they open with Buffalo too. Nothing has ever gone wrong playing Buffalo at any point over the Kings history has it?

 

[kingsfan28]

Was really intrigued by Cole Davis. Hope it's not the last we see of him.




I dunno man. I'm not trying to be a wet blanket but I don't feel like Helenius is a great fighter. I like that he's unapologetically aggressive, but he is going to get absolutely tooled by NHL heavies. He's also an absolute black hole offensively and not this huge defensive C everyone wants him to be. Theoretically he'd be an ideal 4C but I don't think he's as developed as it's being made out to be unless I'm missing some mammoth improvement in his game.

I think on a roster that will be as offensively starved as ours he stands to be a punching bag. I'm rooting for him, I'm just not seeing an effective NHLer quite yet. But there's no shame in that, he's 21.

Hell this was his headshot last season haha, gotta love that

View attachment 908965

With the money they spend on marketing, the could've at least done the kid a solid and photoshopped that up a bit.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Byfield should be on PP1.. bumper. Byfield should be featured in OT. Byfield should be PK with Kempe in place of Kopi. Laferriere is just getting his spot because these morons traded away their breakout RH top 6 guy for f-ing loser. No way Laf should play over QB on PP1.. The dude is not a one timer threat, has bad passing instincts based on all evidence so far. What value does he bring to the PP? If LAK staff was the first humans aliens met - what they would tell their comrades?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Byfield should be on PP1.. bumper. Byfield should be featured in OT. Byfield should be PK with Kempe in place of Kopi. Laferriere is just getting his spot because these morons traded away their breakout RH top 6 guy for f-ing loser. No way Laf should play over QB on PP1.. The dude is not a one timer threat, has bad passing instincts based on all evidence so far. What value does he bring to the PP? If LAK staff was the first humans aliens met - what they would tell their comrades?

Kinda hard to be successful on the powerplay, if you can't get the puck.....

But again, we all know....and this is beyond reproach, that the best way for a PP to succeed, is put your top 5 skills players on it....and then PP2, is your next 5 skill players....when you do that, no one can stop you....right?

 

[AbsentMojo]

Kinda hard to be successful on the powerplay, if you can't get the puck.....

But again, we all know....and this is beyond reproach, that the best way for a PP to succeed, is put your top 5 skills players on it....and then PP2, is your next 5 skill players....when you do that, no one can stop you....right?

A team with no top 30 scorers should put their best offensive players on pp1 for the most part. On top of that QB has better puck retrieving skills than Laf... obviously a better play maker.. and should break out even more this season.

 

[funky]

Wait until mid season when they have Clarke on the PP as the bumper because no one else could get the job done. Plus that leaves Drew out bombing shots into shins.

Man a right shot scoring threat winger would be such a treat

Who would be better or the two units below?

PP1 - Kopi, Kempe, Laf, Moore and Drew,

Or

PP2 - Byfield, Fiala, Thomas, Spence and Clarke

 

[CarlSneep]

The real answer (like it has been for 15 years) is to put Kopitar in front of the net but I’ve given up hope on that ever happening

 

[johnjm22]

I argued for the bold a lot of last year.

I think he does have a decent offensive skillset. But he's a strictly north-south player. I get he's just the bloodhound for Kopitar and Kempe so the 'fit' is there but he hasn't done nearly enough to be there, this is a roster construction failure.

Yeah I think it's totally fair to talk about the kids not getting chances when you put a guy who had literally the worst results of ANY Kings player--from an advanced AND counting stats standpoint--up next to Kopitar while you let Kaliyev, Thomas, and Turcotte fight for who gets to rot next to Trevor Lewis. Why does Laferriere get elevated to literally the cushiest possible situation while those guys get jammed in the worst? Laf didn't get results OR process, he got actively worse as the year went on. He never played such a large amount of games and minutes and it showed--and now we're giving him the hardest matchups and minutes.

And before anyone says it's the PLD effect, note he was even WORSE away from PLD

View attachment 909095

He's a checker who hasn't gotten scoring results and bleeds goals and chances against despite cushy Ozone deployment and soft matchups next to their pet project.

Again, it's the org mistaking guys who get actual results for guys who look like they're trying hard. The real problem isn't him getting a look there; it's that you know they won't be flexible if it doesn't work.

DO I think he has upside? Absolutely. I don't think it's productive to lump all the kids in together for sake of reducing the actual argument to something to find a 'gotcha' about. You don't see me begging to put Lee or Helenius in the lineup at all, for example. But this org is finding ways to absolutely waste any of its drafted young offensive talent and this is another example of how.

I'd love him to be successful there in the end--he's an easy kid to root for, has the right attitude, and it would solve a lot of roster problems--but I think it's fair to be annoyed that they're just finding ways to look right past the other youth. I'm not mad at Laf.

This has become a pattern with Kings management. Players get positions based on "looking the part."

PLD looked the part. Edmundson looks the part. Jeannot looks the part. And Laferriere looks the part.

I'm not opposed to giving Laferriere a try in this position, and I think he'll become a good player, but like you said it's just frustrating seeing them look past other young players.

Also, Laf spent some time with Kopitar and Kempe last year and it wasn't good:

	GF%	xGF%	TOI
Kempe Kopitar w/ Laferriere	44.44​	43.17​	82:49:00​
Kempe Kopitar w/o Laferriere	62.3​	53.09​	780:48:00​

Unless Laferriere takes a huge leap forward, this is going to be a big problem.

People don't realize how good Byfield is, and how important he was to making that line work. Kopitar's shooting percentage isn't going to be 20% again.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

A team with no top 30 scorers should put their best offensive players on pp1 for the most part. On top of that QB has better puck retrieving skills than Laf... obviously a better play maker.. and should break out even more this season.

Again, not how things work....but like I said.....putting the 5 most skilled players on PP1 is pretty much par for the course for this board's understanding.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Again, not how things work....but like I said.....putting the 5 most skilled players on PP1 is pretty much par for the course for this board's understanding.

Thats some good hand waving there.. not how things work.. good one. Hopefully Laf on PP1 is just a preseason charade to get other guys motivated to grab that spot.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Thats some good hand waving there.. not how things work.. good one. Hopefully Laf on PP1 is just a preseason charade to get other guys motivated to grab that spot.

I don't know any other way to put it, it's not how things are done?

Tell me why Hyman is playing with McDavid....Hyman is definitely not the most skilled on EDM after the big two, but he plays there, and on the PP.....hmm...maybe it's just more than skill,

Why was Kunitz playing with Crosby? I mean you can literally go throughout the history of the game and see that it's not just skill that determines roster makeup/line makeup.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I don't know any other way to put it, it's not how things are done?

Tell me why Hyman is playing with McDavid....Hyman is definitely not the most skilled on EDM after the big two, but he plays there, and on the PP.....hmm...maybe it's just more than skill,

Why was Kunitz playing with Crosby? I mean you can literally go throughout the history of the game and see that it's not just skill that determines roster makeup/line makeup.

Please do not try use those as analogies for Laf and anyone with talent. The dude had 11 assists playing in the top 9 the entire season. Of course I understand its not all about straight talent.. otherwise how do you explain Kyle Connor on the Jets. This is getting far away from my point that QB deserves a bigger footprint on the squad... esp on PP1 which is saddled by two wholey uncreative core guys in Kopi and DD.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I would be tempted to leave PP1 the same because It would be defensively scary to put Clarke in DD's spot with Fiala as the other D.

And Jeannot on PP2. I would like to actually see TJ with Kopi and Kempe.

I hope Laffy can prove me wrong.

Good game by the Kiegns last night.

Might have won if not for Englund and Carter.

 

[Statto]

This has become a pattern with Kings management. Players get positions based on "looking the part."

PLD looked the part. Edmundson looks the part. Jeannot looks the part. And Laferriere looks the part.

I'm not opposed to giving Laferriere a try in this position, and I think he'll become a good player, but like you said it's just frustrating seeing them look past other young players.

Also, Laf spent some time with Kopitar and Kempe last year and it wasn't good:

	GF%	xGF%	TOI
Kempe Kopitar w/ Laferriere	44.44​	43.17​	82:49:00​
Kempe Kopitar w/o Laferriere	62.3​	53.09​	780:48:00​

Unless Laferriere takes a huge leap forward, this is going to be a big problem.

People don't realize how good Byfield is, and how important he was to making that line work. Kopitar's shooting percentage isn't going to be 20% again.

It’s only a problem if they try Laf there, it doesn’t work and the don’t change anything. Hiller has shown a willingness to change things up, but hopefully he’ll give it a little time to marinate.

 

[Statto]

Please do not try use those as analogies for Laf and anyone with talent. The dude had 11 assists playing in the top 9 the entire season. Of course I understand it’s not all about straight talent.. otherwise how do you explain Kyle Connor on the Jets. This is getting far away from my point that QB deserves a bigger footprint on the squad... esp on PP1 which is saddled by two wholey uncreative core guys in Kopi and DD.

I don’t think he’s arguing that Laf is the best fit for PP1, more that you don't automatically put the best 5 skill guys on the line which I agree with. They system the run will have 5 ‘roles’ on the unit and they are unlikely to be filled by the top 5 skilled player.

FWIW I’m not convinced Laf is the right guy for pp1 but I’m ok with him on the top line. I’ve been high on him since we drafted him and he’s grown and developed each year. I was very confident he’d make it and I do see him as a potential middle six guy, similar in value to Iaffalo and perhaps a little more. He’s a very coachable guy so he’s certainly worth a look with Kopi but Hiller will mix it up if needed, he’s got plenty of form for it.

I do agree QB needs a major pp role. If pp2 gets a decent share of each 2 mins (50 seconds ish) I’d be fine with him running pp2, but if not I think he should (and will) end up on pp1.

 

[King'sPawn]

Please do not try use those as analogies for Laf and anyone with talent. The dude had 11 assists playing in the top 9 the entire season. Of course I understand its not all about straight talent.. otherwise how do you explain Kyle Connor on the Jets. This is getting far away from my point that QB deserves a bigger footprint on the squad... esp on PP1 which is saddled by two wholey uncreative core guys in Kopi and DD.

Ultimately the point stands. The powerplay isn't always raw skill. There are different ways to make it work.

The top three powerplays last year were:
1. Tampa Bay
2. Carolina
3. New York Rangers

Their top-5 in powerplay ice time per game per team:

Tampa Bay
1. Nikuta Kucherov
2. Steven Stamkos
3. Brayden Point
4. Victor Hedman
5. Nicholas Paul

Carolina
1. Jake Guentzel
2. Seth Jarvis
3. Sebastian Aho
4. Michael Bunting
5. Brent Burns

Rangers
1. Artemi Panarin
2. Chris Kreider
3. Vincent Trochek
4. Adam Fox
5. Mika Zibanejad

As a whole, I don't believe the Kings have the raw talent to overload on skill.

I agree Byfield should be more of a focal point on the powerplay. But I also don't think it's criminal to put a puckhound in there for board battles (not saying you called it criminal - just that I think there's validity to the strategy). Who else would you have go after the pucks?
Doughty - on the point
Kopitar - on the half-wall and we're trying to keep his corpse going as long as possible
Kempe - acts as the trigger man and he's not reliable
Byfield - I think would be better suited for a more dangerous role on the powerplay, like screening the goalie

Fiala wouldn't be a great fit for that either, and I'm wondering if he'd be better on the second unit with Danault and Moore.

As Statto said - the bigger issue is if they don't change things up if it fails for a reasonable amount of time (~5 games).