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

[Axl Rhoadz]

Richards was a high-end offensive player and Turcotte is an offensive black hole, I know nobody wants to acknowledge it, but look at what Kopitar and Kempe have done post trade. There are similarities for sure in motor and compete, but when Turcotte was drafted the expectation was that he was going to produce at least somewhat close to the numbers MR did in his prime, that is why he was drafted with a top 5 pick.

In his age 23/24 season Richards had 30 goals and 80 points, and the season after that he made Team Canada in a best vs. best at 24.

MR was a dominant star player over the whole 200 feet when he was this age.

The kid has missed what, like 6 games this season with the big club? C'mon people, think about that - most of us here who aren't bipolar just wanted to see him play a full season without getting his bell rung every other game. He's done that, and he's looked pretty damn good wherever he's played. He's gained confidence over the year and it's extremely evident....if you can manage to open your eyes.

Who gives a shit if he never scores 30 goals in a season, maybe he turns into clutch role player....stop f***ing dwelling on draft order, FFS.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[bland]

If full healthy, and had it not been for the concussions, I do think he could've been a 50 point player. I doubt that will ever happen now.

I think the fact that we was willing to sign that contract tells you what he thinks about his own ability to stay healthy.

Penciling him into an important roster spot would be irresponsible IMO.

The concussions aren't even the issue, it's repetitive shoulder injuries that are hampering his career.

 

[Statto]

I don't think it's fair to call him a 4C simply because that's where they're playing him right now any more than it's fair to call him a top line winger because of his time up the lineup.

He was scoring at a 20g 50p pace when moved up the lineup before going dark again. There's upside there even if it's not a full on Mike Richards/Toews upside.

Edit: apparently I made this post Jan 17th

"
6 g 14 p in last 22 games (when he got moved up in lineup)

That's a 22 goal 52 point pace to go with his elite off-puck play and the pace increases monthly, i'ts no longer a stretch to think he could be a 60-70 point guy in the Diet Mike richards/Jonathan toews mold (with obvious change in scoring era to be fair) and pairing that with his astounding analytics means he's super valuable in our lineup."

It’s why I’d slot him in at 3c next year and move Danault if possible.

 

[tigermask48]

The concussions aren't even the issue, it's repetitive shoulder injuries that are hampering his career.

Are you thinking of Thomas or Turcotte? Turcotte has had a couple documented concussions. Thomas had to have double shoulder surgery to repair ongoing issues.

 

[johnjm22]

I like how bland states "The concussions aren't even the issue" as if he actually knows.

As someone who's had a severe concussion you'd have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

 

[kingsfan28]

Can we have different goal songs for players when they score?

A+++ for including that song . As a life long Replacements fan, that's the song I thought of when he signed .

 

[bland]

Are you thinking of Thomas or Turcotte? Turcotte has had a couple documented concussions. Thomas had to have double shoulder surgery to repair ongoing issues.

No, its Turcotte's shoulder that has been the source of his problems over the past two years. Its been a while since his last concussion. His problem is an inability to put on muscle mass to absorb the contact.

 

[bland]

I like how bland states "The concussions aren't even the issue" as if he actually knows.

As someone who's had a severe concussion you'd have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

I DO know. Its a reoccurring shoulder problem that has been sidelining him periodically for two years now. Have you ever seen him in the post-game locker room shots? His right shoulder has about 4 inches of padding strapped from the collarbone down to the top of the bicep.

And I have had 4 documented concussions, certainly more than that as well. I am MORE than familiar with the symptoms and issues.

 

[All The Kings Men]

It’s why I’d slot him in at 3c next year and move Danault if possible.

Danault
39 points
8 goals
1085 faceoffs taken
+16
132 minutes short handed
5.44 PP GA/60 (28th best in the NHL for all players with at least 100 minutes SH TOI)

Turcotte
20 points
8 goals
100 faceoffs taken
+8
0:18 minutes short handed

I know I'm the worlds biggest Danault apologist and I mean this as no criticism of Alex Turcotte but in what world has Alex Turcotte proved himself as being on the same level as Phil Danault?

 

[shuchukfan]

You just moved WAY up in my personal rankings of posters with this Replacements clip post. One of my favorite bands of all-time.

What’s funny is that song would also pop in my head when Joel Otto was playing, so it’s nice to finally associate it with someone in the Kings’ pipeline.

Not sure if this should be moved over to the music thread, but:

Yeah, they’re such an awesome band. I was kind of pissed when that recent Saturday Night Live musical special didn’t include or mention their performance on there, especially since they were supposedly banned from ever playing on there again. I think at one point in the special they made a point to say that nobody was ever banned, but then I was like, “What about The Replacements?” Crickets…

I’m sure you’ve listened to Dead Man’s Pop, the remixed Don’t Tell a Soul. DTAS had some great tunes on there, but it might have been the one I gravitated towards the least (but still play a lot!). The new mix and track arrangement really breathed new life into it. It’s pretty much a whole new record. It’s also great to hear, on the 2nd disc, the full version of “Date to Church”, the song they did with Tom Waits. I absolutely LOVE that song. They sound like they are having so much damn fun.

 

[Herby]

Danault
39 points
8 goals
1085 faceoffs taken
+16
132 minutes short handed
5.44 PP GA/60 (28th best in the NHL for all players with at least 100 minutes SH TOI)

Turcotte
20 points
8 goals
100 faceoffs taken
+8
0:18 minutes short handed

I know I'm the worlds biggest Danault apologist and I mean this as no criticism of Alex Turcotte but in what world has Alex Turcotte proved himself as being on the same level as Phil Danault?

Nothing, and he's barely played C in the NHL anyways. I think john is right, the Kings don't trust Turcotte to play C (whether it's health or something else), I thought for sure he would have been centering Jeannot with either Lewis or Thomas at RW, instead it was Helenius playing C.

If there isn't a management change and the team is trying to contend next season it makes very little sense to trade Danault, he is declining but is still a pretty good 3rd line center and from all indications he is great in the room. Losing Danault would create a big hole on the PK

 

[CarlSneep]

No, its Turcotte's shoulder that has been the source of his problems over the past two years. Its been a while since his last concussion. His problem is an inability to put on muscle mass to absorb the contact.

I mean, he probably has a concussion right now. We won’t know for sure because Kings reporters are an incurious bunch but he’s most likely out because he got rocked against Boston.

 

[lumbergh]

Richards was a high-end offensive player and Turcotte is an offensive black hole, I know nobody wants to acknowledge it, but look at what Kopitar and Kempe have done post trade. There are similarities for sure in motor and compete, but when Turcotte was drafted the expectation was that he was going to produce at least somewhat close to the numbers MR did in his prime, that is why he was drafted with a top 5 pick.

In his age 23/24 season Richards had 30 goals and 80 points, and the season after that he made Team Canada in a best vs. best at 24.

MR was a dominant star player over the whole 200 feet when he was this age.

I don't think it's fair to call Turcotte an offensive black hole. He's a 200 foot forward who is generally on the + side but doesn't often figure on the scoresheet. Stats from Natural Stat Trick:

When Turcotte played on the Kopitar-Kempe line, that line had a very good GF% of 61.5%, producing roughly 3 goals for per 60 minutes but giving up less than 2. Kopitar-Kempe was even better without Turcotte this season with a GF% of 64.6%, so Turcotte wasn't the best winger on that line.

What's interesting is that Turcotte is actually really good when he's not next to Kopitar and Kempe with outstanding CF%, SF%, GF%, and xGF%. He's a good player, but he's not the answer for the top line. He's actually quite good on the fourth line and not an offensive black hole.

 

[Sol]

Respectfully this guys absolutely nuts. McDavid can absolutely turn it on and he’s a force to be reckoned with. I don’t know on what planet a first round McDavid is getting stopped by the Kings. Kings have had what? Like top 10 PK and Edmonton was scoring at 50% on the PP. Kings still don’t have an answer to McDavid.

Kings have not improved nearly enough to handle McDavid. We still have Spence who does unforced turnovers and Clarke who is as tough as a wet toilet paper.

The only reason the Kings even win the series is if McDavid is injured or shot with a horse tranquilizer before every shift.

 

[BigBrown]

At this point with 8 games left in the season it's pretty much a done deal to be facing Edmonton again. Oh joy.

 

[Statto]

Danault
39 points
8 goals
1085 faceoffs taken
+16
132 minutes short handed
5.44 PP GA/60 (28th best in the NHL for all players with at least 100 minutes SH TOI)

Turcotte
20 points
8 goals
100 faceoffs taken
+8
0:18 minutes short handed

I know I'm the worlds biggest Danault apologist and I mean this as no criticism of Alex Turcotte but in what world has Alex Turcotte proved himself as being on the same level as Phil Danault?

I don’t think he has proven to be that level.

My view is about creating spots at wing and evolving the roster. Yes, it assumes Turcotte can take another step but if he’s healthy I think he does that. Hes been good at wing but I think looks more natural at C.

Building a roster in my view is about deciding when it’s time to move meaningful pieces to help upgrade in other areas. There’s always risk but I think this is a good calculated risk, given we are talking about 3C.

I don’t think keeping Danault moves the needle but Tucotte, in that role, creates opportunity to do so. He is much cheaper and has further upside. Moving PD either strengthens the roster elsewhere or brings in a decent prospect who is close (picks are an option too). Maybe it creates money for Kuzmenko which isn’t my main rationale, just an example.

IIRC Danault is heading into his last year contractually which is also a factor.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Yes, the team with McDavid and Draisatl are the underdogs vs the Kings' Mario Lemieux, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Dominik Hasek.

 

[tigermask48]

Welcome Otto!

Purely Joking statement.
But I'd like to think someone in the Kings office saw that clip of Salin jumping up into play to score a goal from like 10 days and the response was "Oh, ohhhh NO, not in this organization, someone sign him so we can make him never do that again!"

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

My vote for playoff avatars is a Groundhog Day theme.

 

[bland]

My vote for playoff avatars is a Groundhog Day theme.

The Kings are going to win the series.

 

[lumbergh]

Since the trade deadline, the Kings have the third best point percentage (78.6%) in the league and have outscored their opponents 50-25 in 14 games. They have given up 1 or 0 goals in 8 of those 14 games while scoring 6 or more goals in 4 of those 14 games.

This team is dominant right now.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Since the trade deadline, the Kings have the third best point percentage (78.6%) in the league and have outscored their opponents 50-25 in 14 games. They have given up 1 or 0 goals in 8 of those 14 games while scoring 6 or more goals in 4 of those 14 games.

This team is dominant right now.

They just need to stay hot through the end of April. The Edmonton game this weekend will be a nice tune up.

 

[Schrute farms]

The Kings are going to win the series.

I agree (but full disclosure -- I said the same last year).

 

[BigKing]

Pretty sure I've said it before, but you will take a Trevor Lewis career out of Turcotte at this point and feel good that you at least have a solid 4th line player. Turcotte might top Lewis's best season in points, but I feel like scoring is up v. when Lewis was Turcotte's age.

Glad to have Trevor Lewis during the glory days of the Kings. Good soldier and made numerous big plays in the playoffs. Was he a great draft pick where he was taken? No, but it all worked out in the end. Turcotte is the same thing. Hopefully he is a key role player on a championship Kings team, but that doesn't mean that the spot he was drafted at is justified.