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

[Omni Owl]

Are these dipshit clowns in the front office fired yet?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Luc told me himself they tried to re-sign Roy.

He was referring to not having Clarke AND Spence in the lineup

 

[GameNight]

All of Luc Robitaille's & Rob Blake's best ideas go on paper in a bathroom stall on the Premiere Level. Saw them walk out together once.

 

[bouncesonly]

lol Toffoli @47:23

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Its interesting how you consider your opinions certain (thats Clarke is worn out) and use the obvious point that none of us have all the info to knock other opinions on the matter.

To be fair, you were comparing Clarke to Makar.....why not throw in Chelios, Coffey and Bourque as comparison's, it's about the same....

 

[Schmooley]

He was referring to not having Clarke AND Spence in the lineup

He may not have been that far off though. They did try to sign Roy. Roy said so himself. And they didnt expect Doughty to get hurt in preseason and then continually dressed 7 dmen.
I dont think its cut and dry they didnt want Clarke and Spence in the lineup at the same time but more likely to keep Clarke off the pk. Cant remember exactly but I dont think they played Spence on pk last year either so there had to be some worry having to play them there.

 

[AbsentMojo]

To be fair, you were comparing Clarke to Makar.....why not throw in Chelios, Coffey and Bourque as comparison's, it's about the same....

Im not comparing talent.. I was thinking body type - guys that arent that thick. im sure i could find other examples a thin guy playing defense in their D+3 seasons handling 14-17 TOI without a problem

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Because it's a bullshit argument

You can't say see clearly clarke needs a rest, he's worn out, he's frail

And ignore the necromancer reanimating trevor lewis' corpse every night amongst others

 

[AbsentMojo]

Because it's a bullshit argument

You can't say see clearly clarke needs a rest, he's worn out, he's frail

And ignore the necromancer reanimating trevor lewis' corpse every night amongst others

if Bland = Hiller, would explain everything

 

[johnjm22]

Here's a clip of me talking to Luc this Summer.

He's says they tried to sign Roy, and goes on to literally say "If you keep Matt Roy, probably Spence isn't playing next year".

So yes I think it's fair to say they don't want both Clarke and Spence in the lineup.

 

[King'sPawn]

We all watch these games in different ways. I gave up on this team having any kind of chance years ago, so I rarely follow the puck and just focus on specific players every shift - almost always the kids. The only way to support the Kings without punching a hole in the wall is to look for the positives, and the way the kids have been used this year is just so much better than in the last decade. Sure, the bad decisions may have forced their hand, but they have three young forwards in the top 9 and up until Doughty came back they had 4 young homegrown defensemen in the lineup.

Clarke hit the wall a couple of weeks ago, you could see it plain as day - if you paid attention. I am all for being critical of this shit show of management, but the way Clarke is being handled here is nothing to be critical about.

Earlier this year he was taking some wild risks and a few times they succeeded. But experience should tell us that the best course was to dial it down, learn defense at this level and concentrate on the reads, then learn how to integrate that rare skill into a style of game that wasn't so risky. That HAS to happen if he is going to be the top pairing defenseman the team needs him to be and not just a bottom pairing PP specialist.

I definitely try to have a balance. I watch the games and focus on certain players who are on the ice when it's the NHL.

But I also try to watch the kids in junior games. Like you, I always try to focus on growth in their game.

With Clarke, I agree he has lost some effectiveness over the past few weeks. He has shied from contact, which I think is the biggest issue. Whether or not that's an endurance issue is up for debate.

I disagree about trying to dial down the skill plays while trying to learn reads. I think skilled players should be encouraged to leverage their skills while not being a liability defensively. I think Clarke has shown confidence and competence with his skill, and he just doesn't show a constant dismissiveness of defense where I would be alarmed with the chances he took.

I'm not saying he's perfect defensively. But I am saying that he's shown cognizance of the importance of playing defensively while also using high-end skills, and it should be embraced. Is fatigue a factor? Maybe. But I'm always side-eyeing coaches when young players get punished worse than vets who make errors and should know better.

 

[Omni Owl]

If we had an effective coach, Lewis would never see another game again and he'd revert back to the lineup that birthed the best winning streak of the season. Lee and Helenius were a big brutish 4th line to play against, they were hungry and punished the opposition. Something that is severely lacking in their game lately. The Clarke debacle proves Hiller has lost the plot.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I mean I'm fine with admitting Clarke needs to ramp it up

All I'm saying it you can't say with a straight face "CLarke needs rest" and ignore the rest of the 11-7 dying on the ice especially the oodles of 30+ year olds and making literally no other roster changes despite travel and 3 in 4 nights.

And because of that of course there's going to be trade speculation...because even that makes more sense than sitting clarke and only clarke.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If anyone deserves to sit, it's Spence. He's back to being dreadful and looks to be in over his head.

 

[AbsentMojo]

RJ pointed what the truth is.. its a 2 tier accountability system between vets and kids. Clarke is having a bad patch, could be any number of things and combinations - e.g. it cant help getting kicked off PP1. One thing I know for certain is young players self esteem is very fragile in both directions. I believe Laf got off to a hot start because he got put on line1 and PP1. QB getting PP2 didnt help him so much seeing Laf moved ahead him. So re Clarke if he is in a slump rest him 1 game, get him back in there - but to make him a continued scratch, is total bullshit esp when the team cannot score.

 

[bland]

I mean I'm fine with admitting Clarke needs to ramp it up

All I'm saying it you can't say with a straight face "CLarke needs rest" and ignore the rest of the 11-7 dying on the ice especially the oodles of 30+ year olds and making literally no other roster changes despite travel and 3 in 4 nights.

And because of that of course there's going to be trade speculation...because even that makes more sense than sitting clarke and only clarke.

Its not only Clarke, Spence sat earlier in the year when he needed to recalibrate. Byfield, Laferriere both saw their times adjusted over the last year. Its just Clarke's time because he clearly needs it.

Let me ask you this: do you honestly think that immediate results REALLY matter? This team is first round fodder by any stretch. Why waste time getting upset about it, its inevitable. The victories here are the progress going forward. Playing a kid who is struggling til his wheels fall off isn’t helping anyone.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Clarke sitting makes total sense if you’re expecting him and the rest of kids to be part of the long term plans. The issue is management and no one knowing what the plan is beyond the next game.

 

[FSL KINGS]

The Lewis slander in here is embarrassing. He's a King's legend & one of a few Kings to have ever won a cup. It's not like the King's are serious competing anyway. Just enjoy the last few seasons of Lewis.

 

[tny760]

Just enjoy the last few seasons of Lewis.

 

[Omni Owl]

The Lewis slander in here is embarrassing. He's a King's legend & one of a few Kings to have ever won a cup. It's not like the King's are serious competing anyway. Just enjoy the last few seasons of Lewis.

Mr. or Mrs. or Cousin or Brother or Sister Lewis, tell Trevor he had a good run but its time for him to retire already.

 

[kingsfan28]

This has to be said: F-Weekes for his need to first and his wannabe insider rumor mongering . Clarke is going nowhere and all it does is cause distractions around the team and force the team to stuff out all the crap that has followed.

 

[kingsfan28]

The Lewis slander in here is embarrassing. He's a King's legend & one of a few Kings to have ever won a cup. It's not like the King's are serious competing anyway. Just enjoy the last few seasons of Lewis.

It's not slander if it's the truth. It's pretty easy to see a direct correlation between his return and the slump . His last few seasons should be somewhere else.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Trevor Lewis is far from a "King's legend"

 

[funky]

The Lewis slander in here is embarrassing. He's a King's legend & one of a few Kings to have ever won a cup. It's not like the King's are serious competing anyway. Just enjoy the last few seasons of Lewis.

What the hell is there to enjoy in watching the corpse of a guy past his prime get ice time over young energetic guys that need minutes in the NHL. Give me a young guy that hunts pucks, hits or fights or a guy that puts pucks in the net. That’s what I pay to watch.

 

[Maynard]

Here's a clip of me talking to Luc this Summer.

He's says they tried to sign Roy, and goes on to literally say "If you keep Matt Roy, probably Spence isn't playing next year".

So yes I think it's fair to say they don't want both Clarke and Spence in the lineup.

Trying to imagine one of the in house fluffers…I mean podcasters talking to Luc like this.