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.

 

[Bandit]

Byfield

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.

50 what? Shots on goal?

 

[Sol]

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.

That’s what kinda irritating about it all. When Byfield does something right people immediately glaze him like crazy. When he’s ass like right now he gets all the excuses. There’s no doubt he was doing good during the preseason but at what point do we seriously call out his real issue. His confidence is awful and he’s a mental midget. He always struggles with confidence and players that are THIS bad for THIS long tend to be losers their whole career. It was a big sign when he was a complete nonfactor in the WJC.


He’s simply not a good player and we’ve seen him be mediocre at best more than we’ve ever seen him be a good player.

How can anyone act like Byfield isn’t hovering in awful pick territory when he’s being eclipsed by f***ing Laferriere

Byfield

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.

So you think Byfield fully becoming a bum is a …. good thing?

 

[FSL KINGS]

That’s what kinda irritating about it all. When Byfield does something right people immediately glaze him like crazy. When he’s ass like right now he gets all the excuses. There’s no doubt he was doing good during the preseason but at what point do we seriously call out his real issue. His confidence is awful and he’s a mental midget. He always struggles with confidence and players that are THIS bad for THIS long tend to be losers their whole career. It was a big sign when he was a complete nonfactor in the WJC.


He’s simply not a good player and we’ve seen him be mediocre at best more than we’ve ever seen him be a good player.

How can anyone act like Byfield isn’t hovering in awful pick territory when he’s being eclipsed by f***ing Laferriere



So you think Byfield fully becoming a bum is a …. good thing?

It is what it is. No point worrying about it now. No point trying to trade Byfield without a major upgrade at center coming back. Doubt that happens. He still has time to figure it out.

I'm not buying that the King's are contenders now or in the near future. Think they most likely take a major step backwards in the next few seasons. Not too stressed about Byfield. He'll be a useful player.

Not impressed with Stützle either. He's flashy & much worse than Fiala when it comes to turnovers. His game doesn't help build a winning team either.

Am I pissed at Blake? Yup. This pick isn't really one of the reasons. Passed on the diving German. Don't care.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He’s simply not a good player and we’ve seen him be mediocre at best more than we’ve ever seen him be a good player.

How can anyone act like Byfield isn’t hovering in awful pick territory when he’s being eclipsed by f***ing Laferriere

Because prolonged periods of slow measurable growth followed by a sudden sharp decline point point more to “oh shit what happened” than “ah yeah this worst version of him is who he is now and going forward.”

 

[FSL KINGS]

50 what? Shots on goal?

50 points. Byfield isn't scoring 50 goals. Come on man.

It's like the Nurse effect. #1D that passed to a skill player & soaked up points. By being on the ice for lots of minutes once Kopi retires Byfield should soak up lots of points. Doughty benefits from this too despite being horrible at generating offensive chances.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Byfield will be fine. He's getting opportunities, I'd only be concerned if he wasn't. He needs to gain more confidence and more selfishness (aka, quit passing and start shooting). It will come. Not worried. This isn't Xbox, you don't trade everyone when they are stuggling and you don't fire your coach every time you lose a game.

 

[kingsfan28]

It is what it is. No point worrying about it now. No point trying to trade Byfield without a major upgrade at center coming back. Doubt that happens. He still has time to figure it out.

I'm not buying that the King's are contenders now or in the near future. Think they most likely take a major step backwards in the next few seasons. Not too stressed about Byfield. He'll be a useful player.

Not impressed with Stützle either. He's flashy & much worse than Fiala when it comes to turnovers. His game doesn't help build a winning team either.

Am I pissed at Blake? Yup. This pick isn't really one of the reasons. Passed on the diving German. Don't care.

He threw a total fit at the end when he dropped his stick in the corner and tried to sell it as a slash on Moore. The dudes all flash and he'll put up his points, but I'd never trust him at the end , up a goal with the game on the line.

 

[Kingsfan1]

50 points. Byfield isn't scoring 50 goals. Come on man.

It's like the Nurse effect. #1D that passed to a skill player & soaked up points. By being on the ice for lots of minutes once Kopi retires Byfield should soak up lots of points. Doughty benefits from this too despite being horrible at generating offensive chances.

So 50 points is sufficient from your 2nd overall pick while being on the 1st line ? 50 points wouldn’t even get us in the playoffs

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

Its not about the fact that last year happened its about the fact that can he produce while being away from Kopi and Kempe that’s important. Iaffalo produced decent enough with those 2. However your 2nd overall pick should be able to drive a line by himself. He is just not good enough as of now

 

[bland]

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 is clearly struggling with the puck. There is nothing wrong with the effort, the decision making, anything that would suggest a significant problem. He simply has no feel for the puck right now.

He is pushing the puck up ahead on the ice instead of stick handling. Passes and shots are getting thrown in the direction of where he wants them to go with no finesse or touch. The most likely scenario is a physical issue compounded by a severe lack on confidence. We know he has had issues with both wrists over the last 18 months, wouldn't surprise me at all if it is the same or a similar problem.

And anyone complaining about Saturday's performance wasn't paying any attention. He had multiple outstanding defensive plays, very easily could (should) have had a primary assist 20 seconds into the game and was involved in several chances later. You worry when there are no chances and other aspects of his game fade. And they aren't fading, they are getting stronger.

This is all being massively blown out of proportion due to stat watching. The team has had a very, very good start, and Byfield is finally playing center AND doing an excellent job on the PK. Let's calm this shit down for a bit and see what happens.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Its not about the fact that last year happened its about the fact that can he produce while being away from Kopi and Kempe that’s important. Iaffalo produced decent enough with those 2. However your 2nd overall pick should be able to drive a line by himself. He is just not good enough as of now

Osprey said the same to me on the main boards and here's my homework for Byfield being the line driver. Do we want more production? absolutely. But can he drive play? Yes.

Last year:

before Jan 1st:

And after:

Kopitar gassed out, Byfield kept driving.

And remember, prior to his numbers finally popping--the play driving numbers were the leading indicator.