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

[Axl Rhoadz]

Seems about right.

Kings have played the softest schedule in the NHL thus far.

Blake’s fault?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Blake’s fault?

Correct.

We can probably pin that asteroid that took out the dinosaurs on Blake too.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Correct.

We can probably pin that asteroid that took out the dinosaurs on Blake too.

When those gas prices don’t go down as promised….Blake.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Correct.

We can probably pin that asteroid that took out the dinosaurs on Blake too.

They were right there

 

[Bandit]

Wasn't complaining, just observing

Like why is it every time I sit down to go 'the Kings play today' and never know if it's 9am or 230pm

So I guess I am personally complaining but not pardoning the team. They're the professionals. I'm just a bitch.

Yeah I wasn’t directing that at you. Just imagining how much of a chump you’d have to be to blame the start time for your team’s performance when you’re paid millions to be prepared.

 

[tigermask48]

Yeah I wasn’t directing that at you. Just imagining how much of a chump you’d have to be to blame the start time for your team’s performance when you’re paid millions to be prepared.

My favorite part of that is Bernstein taking a shot at Hiller being unaware and not adjusting to it.

People finally starting to realize how clown shoes this management group is?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

My favorite part of that is Bernstein taking a shot at Hiller being unaware and not adjusting to it.

People finally starting to realize how clown shoes this management group is?

I think you are reading what you want to read...I didn't interpret that as 'Bernstein taking a shot at Hiller'. Apparently, you believe the coach should be doing something different per these start times, what exactly would that be?

 

[chris kontos]

Yeah I wasn’t directing that at you. Just imagining how much of a chump you’d have to be to blame the start time for your team’s performance when you’re paid millions to be prepared.

this right here.
thnx for the english language version of what i was trying to write.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Byfield was supposed to pick up where Kopitar left at least according to non Kings fans, 10 points this year meanwhile Kopitar has 27 and is to no ones surprise again over PPG and just great. Will he? And what does he need to improve on to become the #1C in LA?

(OFC im not saying he should or will be Kopitar, those kinds of players dont grow on trees...)

I think it’s clear at this point that Byfield and Kopitar don’t belong in the same sentence.

 

[Piston]

I think it’s clear at this point that Byfield and Kopitar don’t belong in the same sentence.

Kopitar, if he avoids injury, has a realistic shot at becoming the all time leader in games played.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Well I'm definitely looking forward to the Byfield bounce back now.

But I guess I should be sort of roundabout glad that all it took is shitting all over another highly-touted young center to get people to really appreciate what Kopitar brings consistently for two decades.

Edit: don't get me wrong he deserves the criticism right now but it's a little over the top acting like last year didn't happen

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Not you!
The difference in start times looks like something entitled loser pro athletes would clutch and use as an excuse for weak play.
I didnt get the impression you were bummed about that.
Nhl scheduling has been weirder this season than ive ever seen it before. And thats WEIRD.

Yeah I wasn’t directing that at you. Just imagining how much of a chump you’d have to be to blame the start time for your team’s performance when you’re paid millions to be prepared.

Oh I didn't think it was--I just needed to add the clarification to make sure everyone knew I wasn't pardoning them

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Well I'm definitely looking forward to the Byfield bounce back now.

But I guess I should be sort of roundabout glad that all it took is shitting all over another highly-touted young center to get people to really appreciate what Kopitar brings consistently for two decades.

Edit: don't get me wrong he deserves the criticism right now but it's a little over the top acting like last year didn't happen

When he plays well, he deserves all the praise in the world. I was right there with you last year. When he’s a total nonfactor, he’s going to catch heat. Ffs, Clarke is out producing him this year.

Byfield was the highest the franchise has picked since Drew Doughty. He was billed as the Kopitar heir apparent, and he’s the most important pick of the entire Blake regime. All of that combined makes him a lightning rod for the overall dissatisfaction with the team.

Is that fair to Byfield? Probably not. But the bottom line is that if you’re a second overall pick on pace for 30 f***ing points, you’re gonna get shit on. It’s put up or shut up time for Byfield. I’ve said this for two years now. Moral victories and good advanced metrics really don’t matter with him anymore. What matters is goals and assists.

If Byfield was a third rounder, I think everyone’s thrilled with him. But he wasn’t. He was a second overall bluechip center who was supposed to usher the team into its next era. And he has utterly failed to live up to those expectations.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

When he plays well, he deserves all the praise in the world. I was right there with you last year. When he’s a total nonfactor, he’s going to catch heat. Ffs, Clarke is out producing him this year.

Byfield was the highest the franchise has picked since Drew Doughty. He was billed as the Kopitar heir apparent, and he’s the most important pick of the entire Blake regime. All of that combined makes him a lightning rod for the overall dissatisfaction with the team.

Is that fair to Byfield? Probably not. But the bottom line is that if you’re a second overall pick on pace for 30 f***ing points, you’re gonna get shit on. It’s put up or shut up time for Byfield. I’ve said this for two years now. Moral victories and good advanced metrics really don’t matter with him anymore. What matters is goals and assists.

If Byfield was a third rounder, I think everyone’s thrilled with him. But he wasn’t. He was a second overall bluechip center who was supposed to usher the team into its next era. And he has utterly failed to live up to those expectations.

Hey, he deserves the criticism.

He's not just a 'nonfactor,' he's actively been bad. Even in previous years when the production wasn't there, the predictors were, he was generating. This year he's been relatively bad with all of that.

@bland still has a great observation of the whole thing. His brain is working fine--hence why he's excellent on the PK and always in the right place. But his puck and stick skills seemingly evaporated after preseason...coinciding with the time of his upper body injury. Reminds me of when Kopitar had the robotech arm and had the worst year of his career. Not an excuse because we need the production and play--but a better explanation than last year was a fluke and he forgot how to hockey which is the part I take issue with.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Byfield

Hey, he deserves the criticism.

He's not just a 'nonfactor,' he's actively been bad. Even in previous years when the production wasn't there, the predictors were, he was generating. This year he's been relatively bad with all of that.

@bland still has a great observation of the whole thing. His brain is working fine--hence why he's excellent on the PK and always in the right place. But his puck and stick skills seemingly evaporated after preseason...coinciding with the time of his upper body injury. Reminds me of when Kopitar had the robotech arm and had the worst year of his career. Not an excuse because we need the production and play--but a better explanation than last year was a fluke and he forgot how to hockey which is the part I take issue with.

Byfield just transitioning to a safe, defensive center. It's fine. There's a complete lack of capable centers at he NHL level.

People just need to get used to the new normal.

Edit: When Kopi retires & Byfield gets stuck in the top line he'll be good for 50 a year.