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

[FSL KINGS]

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

Martinez, Toffoli, Clifford, Lewis, Greene were on the ice when what happened?

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.

There are 5 other spots for those players in the bottom 6. Hiller has also been playing an AHL D instead of putting in a young forward. That's not Lewis' fault.

 

[riznat]

Martinez, Toffoli, Clifford, Lewis, Greene were on the ice when what happened?


There are 5 other spots for those players in the bottom 6. Hiller has also been playing an AHL D instead of putting in a young forward. That's not Lewis' fault.

Lewis is horrible man, it's ok to admit it. I hate watching him play on this team in 2024, 2012 and 2014 are long gone.

 

[Maynard]

Martinez, Toffoli, Clifford, Lewis, Greene were on the ice when what happened?

Lewis wasn’t involved in the play at all, plus he went to the bench and Kopitar was on the ice. Time to find someone new to stalk. Weirdo.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Lewis is horrible man, it's ok to admit it. I hate watching him play on this team in 2024, 2012 and 2014 are long gone.

2025*
The only other thing to cheer for at this point is everyone getting fired from Luc on down. Lewis doesn't really affect that. May actually help it.

Spent a lot of time angry at Sutter for the Lewis usage back in the day. Now it's just fun to see him still kicking butt & yelling at the refs.

Lewis wasn’t involved in the play at all, plus he went to the bench and Kopitar was on the ice. Time to find someone new to stalk. Weirdo.

Absolutely interfered with the Ranger to start the odd man rush.

 

[Herby]

Last 17 Games

Kempe - Kopitar - Turcotte (3 FORWARDS that make up the Kings top scoring line) - 24 points

Zach Werenski (1 DEFENSEMAN) - 25 points

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Martinez, Toffoli, Clifford, Lewis, Greene were on the ice when what happened?


There are 5 other spots for those players in the bottom 6. Hiller has also been playing an AHL D instead of putting in a young forward. That's not Lewis' fault.

I will never forget Lewis' dive to knock the puck off Hamhuis' stick and to Stoll for that snipe...was epic.
But comes a time....for all and Trevor can work hard, but he would be outplayed by Studnicka or Lee, if they would give them chance...they just choose to over commit to most all vets. Moore should be scratched, but they won't do that. Akil played his best in his 7 games at the end of last yr, as they gave him a role and played him every game...no young player typically does well, if he sits 10 games and they call on him one day and then give him 4 minutes....I think if they told Akil, you're in and going to play through the roadtrip...be ready and go all out. We'll see how things go and just play your game....I think you'd get a better game from him.
He has the ability. Now, if he coughs up the puck 3 times in his 6 mins, then you take him out...but not over 1 mistake.

No disrespect. Trevor should not be one of the 11 / 12 forwards every game...i think he had 5 shots all January.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Martinez, Toffoli, Clifford, Lewis, Greene were on the ice when what happened?

I'd love to see your list of "King's legends", it's gotta be almost 100 deep

 

[Bandit]

Kopitar's January:

0 Goals
4 Assists

Brutal.

 

[Trash Panda]

Kopitar's January:

0 Goals
4 Assists

Brutal.

He is taking Dry January very seriously.

 

[funky]

Kopi looks slow and tired. He wrote a hot early season as he was healthy and fit, but playing against the top opponents every night takes a toll on a person, especially one nearing 40 years old. The guy is an absolute beast, legend, but it’s time to give him a bit of a break and easier matchups.

You drafted both Turcotte and Byfield to one day take the rains from Kopitar. Quit putting on this façade that we’re Stanley Cup contenders and start putting the pegs in place to see what we actually have. Yes there will be struggles, but I’ll be struggles with youth, trying to acclimatize themselves and not struggles with vets just trying to keep up.

This coaching stuff has relied on the veterans, and baked the veterans. Even Doty coming back from a serious injury has been played like a rented mule when he should’ve been given mod to five minutes and possibly the second game off. But no, we play him and let the rookie sit.

Our top center man has four points in a month. Our secondary center who won any contending team would be no more than a checking center has struggled all year.

Our number five overall pick who has shown numerous games that there is still potential as well as he has shown he can be a major factor in the game should be taken over Phil’s role.

Our number two center should be given Kempe as a line mate. He has the speed to keep up with Adrian. Kopitar no longer does.

I know people think her future is bleak, but we actually have numerous people if put in the right system and with the right linemates would make a tool very possible

Pairs

Byfield - Kempe - add a high end skaterlike Foegele, who also has chemistry with Byfield back in get in the ozone in a hurry and hunt pucks.

Turcotte - Fiala - I think these two would thrive together. Both are extremely creative, fast, and quick thinking, but would take a coach allowing them to show some creativity instead of just doing the robotic system play the only person I can think on the roster that might fit with them is Laf. Everyone is mad at Fiala, but I just think he’s been badly misused. You don’t hire a supermodel to mop floors on a cruise.

Kopitar would be the best third liner in the NHL. He could still draw in to play against the other teams top lines but not be relied upon so much to carry the scoring line. This makes Phil expendable and see if he would waive his no trade for another shot at the cup with a contending team. He doesn’t make a whole lot of money and we could eat half getting a great return.

As much as Lewis has done for this team in the past, I’d rather use that roster spot on our up-and-coming fourth line center that just got sent back to the AHL. I would also like to see his 6 foot five friend brought back up to get more reps and building that pairing now only looks better for the future. We paid a heavy price to get Tanner so he should be on that line showing those two young pups how to do it.

As for defense, we have way too many players. Clarke cannot be taken out of the lineup. If it was for a rest and just to get Doughty back in I’m more than fine with it, but it cannot go on any longer.

Moverare has earned a place in this lineup. He’s not flashy, but he does the little things well and seems to be getting better. I am all for moving Gav if he lifts his NTC. Both Danault and Gav would return 1sts.

Stop pretending and build for the future.

 

[Herby]

I had this debate with a couple of people a bit earlier, but I would be absolutely shocked at this point if Danault returned a 1st round pick. Teams scouting the Kings are going to see the same stuff all of us have seen and commented on during GDT's.

The Kings could easily have seen the decline coming and moved on from him this summer and committed to Kopitar/Byfield/Turcotte as the three centers, and had an extra $6m in cap and a 1st round pick to address major holes on the roster with right-shot wing and left-shot offensive defenseman. Instead Blake kept him and now 2/3 of the way through the season he looks completely cooked offensively and only pretty good defensively, a far cry from the elite defensive center he was when the Kings signed him.

Gavrikov would be foolish to not waive his NTC, his best chance at getting the biggest big pay-day possible this summer is to play well for a team that has a deep playoff run. The return for Gavrikov would be nice, but let's be honest, Rob Blake is not going to trade Gavrikov, he is going to be this years Roy.

I'd love to see your list of "King's legends", it's gotta be almost 100 deep

#21 in your programs, #1 in your hearts. The Wayne Gretzky of board possession



He would fit in perfectly on the current team.

BTW, I stole this imagine from an eBay listing, and in-case anyone is interested it's still available for only $9.99! Can't believe nobody has scooped this up yet.

 

[johnjm22]

I had this debate with a couple of people a bit earlier, but I would be absolutely shocked at this point if Danault returned a 1st round pick. Teams scouting the Kings are going to see the same stuff all of us have seen and commented on during GDT's.

I disagree.

I think he's very well regarded around the league and many playoff teams would love to have him as a 3rd line center.

His defensive metrics are good. He wins face offs and is on pace for 40pts. Ample playoff experience. Sounds like exactly what you'd want from a veteran 3rd line center.

 

[Herby]

I disagree.

I think he's very well regarded around the league and many playoff teams would love to have him as a 3rd line center.

His defensive metrics are good. He wins face offs and is on pace for 40pts. Ample playoff experience. Sounds like exactly what you'd want from a veteran 3rd line center.

Maybe you are right, with the cap news that came out this week, but I don't know, he looks like a shell of what he was when he first came to the Kings, I'd be terrified to commit to this guy for two-more seasons with how much he has fallen off in only a couple of years.

I would love to say we will see who is right and who isn't, but unfortunately we all know that won't happen as the Kings would never be selling, unless AEG did something drastic and fired Blake next week.

I like Danault, I remember Montreal's run how good he seemed as a leader (that awesome post-game pizza interview with Caufield), but it's hard to not see him as the beginning point of what began a bunch of horrible decisions that are going to end up setting this franchise back a very long time. Nothing personal against him obviously.

 

[johnjm22]

Maybe you are right, with the cap news that came out this week, but I don't know, he looks like a shell of what he was when he first came to the Kings, I'd be terrified to commit to this guy for two-more seasons with how much he has fallen off in only a couple of years.

I would love to say we will see who is right and who isn't, but unfortunately we all know that won't happen as the Kings would never be selling, unless AEG did something drastic and fired Blake next week.

I like Danault, I remember Montreal's run how good he seemed as a leader (that awesome post-game pizza interview with Caufield), but it's hard to not see him as the beginning point of what began a bunch of horrible decisions that are going to end up setting this franchise back a very long time. Nothing personal against him obviously.

He was fantastic his first season with LA. Great two-way game. But it was probably an unrealistic standard. He's reverted to what he is.

I think he has decent value. In fact, I think there's a handful of Kings that have solid value (especially if LA was willing to retain).

But it's kind of depressing to think about. They should be trading away vets, but they won't. And the longer they wait to start the rebuild the more painful it will be.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

 

[kingsfan28]

After tonight Ovi is 18 away, Wash plays the Kings in 14 games.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

After tonight Ovi is 18 away, Wash plays the Kings in 14 games.

Enters LA needing 7 and we think we are safe...you know the rest

PLD 7 SECONDARY ASSIST GAME

 

[AbsentMojo]

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Did Terry Murray ever slash Kopitar or Doughty’s TOI or healthy scratch them after a rough patch of play?

I just don’t buy the idea that this kind of punitive coaching ever helps talented young players. No one in this org knows what they’re doing when it comes to developing young players and it’s surprising to see people defend Hiller here.

 

[AbsentMojo]

This might be a downer for some, but Im stoked if this is true . Keep the cuffs on Bluc and clean it all out in the offseason.

 

[kingsboy11]

This might be a downer for some, but Im stoked if this is true . Keep the cuffs on Bluc and clean it all out in the offseason.

They sound like Kings players already with those goal totals

 

[King'sPawn]

Did Terry Murray ever slash Kopitar or Doughty’s TOI or healthy scratch them after a rough patch of play?

I just don’t buy the idea that this kind of punitive coaching ever helps talented young players. No one in this org knows what they’re doing when it comes to developing young players and it’s surprising to see people defend Hiller here.

During Murray's tenure, the least amount of time Kopitar played in a full game was 16:32. The only time he had less was the last game of the season when he got injured (and he still played over 12 minutes before he was injured). He averaged over 21 minutes up until the 2011-12 season.

For Doughty, the least amount of time was 13:03 (unless he was injured that game, else it was 15ish minutes). He averaged 24:55 ice time from the time he was drafted until the 2011-12 season.

For comparison, Clarke's least amount of ice time since being drafted is 7:06. He has averaged 15:49 since being drafted.

Make out of that what you wish. FWIW I do see value in reducing ice time, but Clarke's definitely getting different role and experience compared to Kopitar and Doughty.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

During Murray's tenure, the least amount of time Kopitar played in a full game was 16:32. The only time he had less was the last game of the season when he got injured (and he still played over 12 minutes before he was injured). He averaged over 21 minutes up until the 2011-12 season.

For Doughty, the least amount of time was 13:03 (unless he was injured that game, else it was 15ish minutes). He averaged 24:55 ice time from the time he was drafted until the 2011-12 season.

For comparison, Clarke's least amount of ice time since being drafted is 7:06. He has averaged 15:49 since being drafted.

Make out of that what you wish. FWIW I do see value in reducing ice time, but Clarke's definitely getting different role and experience compared to Kopitar and Doughty.

Sure, but let's not pretend Clarke is in Doughty's level.....

I am not sure how anyone can compare young players to 1st ballot HOF'ers, it's like taking Bedard out of Chicago and comparing him to Bobby Hull....or MacAvoy in Boston and comparing him to Bourque or Orr.....it's such an insanely high bar to compare.....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

This might be a downer for some, but Im stoked if this is true . Keep the cuffs on Bluc and clean it all out in the offseason.

Every one of those guys is more or less a reskinned Trevor Moore

Yes the difference maker will be yet another middling middle six forward between 35-55 points who may hit 30 goals once or twice in his career and let's pray he does it solely after the deadline on the way to a Cup

 

[johnjm22]

The Kings love middle six forwards.

Palmieri, and to a lesser extent Evans, I can kind of understand because they're right shots, but I have no idea what the point of Donato or Laughton would be.