Around the League 20-21 Thread: Playoffs Edition

[Ziggy Stardust]

The 3rd Vegas goal less than a minute after the Montreal goal completely deflated Montreal. It feels like they haven't had a shot on goal since.

Can you imagine being a Ducks fan watching Theodore, they gave him up so they wouldn't lose Manson or Lindholm. Talk about a complete disaster, neither player deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence. They'll have to see it in the playoffs and then see it next winter in the Olympics, talk about a kick in the balls.

Or Minnesota giving up Tuch. Can’t believe the NHL rigged it so that teams made stupid decisions on purpose.

 

[Herby]

Or Minnesota giving up Tuch. Can’t believe the NHL rigged it so that teams made stupid decisions on purpose.

It's amazing how married teams get to mediocre players in expansion protection.

Blake better just submit his list and just accept whoever we lose, luckily for the Kings we won't be exposing anyone worth a damn.

Could you imagine if there had been an expansion draft in 2012, 2013 or 2014? Dean would have traded 1st round picks so he wouldn't lose Stoll or King.

 

[Bandit]

But I thought it was all about "strength down the middle" and that wingers don't matter.

Vegas is the most wing dominant team in recent memory.

Occasionally a shark eats an octopus, but usually the shark loses. As someone who apparently likes to bet on sports, I wouldn’t expect this to be controversial to you.

 

[Herby]

Occasionally a shark eats an octopus, but usually the shark loses. As someone who apparently likes to bet on sports, I wouldn’t expect this to be controversial to you.

There are many many ways to build a successful team.

But it is a fact that Vegas certainly goes against the Kings championship ways. Their 4 best forwards are all wingers.

 

[bland]

But I thought it was all about "strength down the middle" and that wingers don't matter.

Vegas is the most wing dominant team in recent memory.

Vegas plays right up the middle. They constantly cycle their high man, and weak side forward and defenseman, always moving, and there is always a threat on the move up the middle. The Habs can't compete there, too small. They don't have an answer for that and its going to chew them up.

 

[Bandit]

There are many many ways to build a successful team.

But it is a fact that Vegas certainly goes against the Kings championship ways. Their 4 best forwards are all wingers.

Doesn’t go against it at all. Big fast and skilled. Simple. So their wingers are bigger than their centers. Same rules apply.

But hey, I bet if Caufield sat on Toffoli’s shoulders he might be able to look McNabb or Pietrangelo in the eye…

 

[Herby]

Vegas plays right up the middle. They constantly cycle their high man, and weak side forward and defenseman, always moving, and there is always a threat on the move up the middle. The Habs can't compete there, too small. They don't have an answer for that and its going to chew them up.

I don't disagree.

But still, it's a team constructed mostly of wingers. And it's not like I am saying strength down the middle isn't a valid way to build a team. The Kings proved it was. There are many ways to construct a team. So many here were convinced Tampa was to skilled and finesse and they won last year.

 

[Herby]

Doesn’t go against it at all. Big fast and skilled. Simple. So their wingers are bigger than their centers. Same rules apply.

But hey, I bet if Caufield sat on Toffoli’s shoulders he might be able to look McNabb or Pietrangelo in the eye…

Racoon Jesus, you tell me I have an irrational hatred of Alex Turcotte? No my friend, this is an irrational hatred of a player.

Tampa won last year and is in the final this year with a smaller skilled team. I guess 10 months ago is to long to remember back.

 

[kingsfan28]

More wondering why the Kings can't make passing plays that close to the goal on the PP.

As crazy as it sounds I really think this team needs to take 11 and 8 off the PP. They are fantastic players but complete garbage on the PP. Also the structure of having 2 guys so high near the blueline and just throwing pucks to the net is ****.

If they are going to keep Doughty on the PP why can't he play a role like Caufield does when playing the left point? Sometimes I wonder if Drew knows he is allowed to go below the dots.

Because they are the worst passing team in the league. You want to know why guys succeed when they leave, their new teams know how to pass the puck cleanly.

 

[bland]

I don't disagree.

But still, it's a team constructed mostly of wingers. And it's not like I am saying strength down the middle isn't a valid way to build a team. The Kings proved it was. There are many ways to construct a team. So many here were convinced Tampa was to skilled and finesse and they won last year.

Yeah, the final four here are all completely different types of teams, so whichever style wins out is going to be validated. So many different ways to win, the common thread is the buy in from the players.

The Kings had such a mish mash of vets at 75% effort, guys breaking in and trying not to screw up, some guys who clearly aren't at this level, and a guy like Athanasiou who appeared more interested in building a video resume than playing a team game. I don't think there was a game all year where the team was all pulling in the same direction from start to finish. A couple of lines seemed to gel well, but the next shift would blow the momentum.

 

[kingsfan28]

The 3rd Vegas goal less than a minute after the Montreal goal completely deflated Montreal. It feels like they haven't had a shot on goal since.

Can you imagine being a Ducks fan watching Theodore, they gave him up so they wouldn't lose Manson or Lindholm. Talk about a complete disaster, neither player deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence. They'll have to see it in the playoffs and then see it next winter in the Olympics, talk about a kick in the balls.

The Ducks asset management was worse than ours. At least with us it was a choice between mcnabb or forbort.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

More wondering why the Kings can't make passing plays that close to the goal on the PP.

As crazy as it sounds I really think this team needs to take 11 and 8 off the PP. They are fantastic players but complete garbage on the PP. Also the structure of having 2 guys so high near the blueline and just throwing pucks to the net is ****.

If they are going to keep Doughty on the PP why can't he play a role like Caufield does when playing the left point? Sometimes I wonder if Drew knows he is allowed to go below the dots.

The Kings need to add more skill to the roster to be more effective with the PP. Particularly with regards to puck handling and passing. The PP this year just didn’t have it.

 

[Herby]

Because they are the worst passing team in the league. You want to know why guys succeed when they leave, their new teams know how to pass the puck cleanly.

This is kind of true, but it's not as if the Kings even do a set-up like that.

Watching some of the better teams set-up the PP vs what the Kings do is truly eye-opening. It really isn't a hot take, I wonder if the Kings should consider not having Kopitar and Doughty on the #1PP.

Kings PP last 5 years.

19th
26th
27th
19th
16th

I love Kopi, unbelievable all-around player but this falls mostly on him and Doughty. They have been the constants.

 

[bland]

The Kings need to add more skill to the roster to be more effective with the PP. Particularly with regards to puck handling and passing. The PP this year just didn’t have it.

Kopitar and Doughty are still going to eventually slow it back down.

They don't need to give those two better players to play with, they need to be supplanted by better players in their key spots in order to improve.

 

[Herby]

Yeah, the final four here are all completely different types of teams, so whichever style wins out is going to be validated. So many different ways to win, the common thread is the buy in from the players.

The Kings had such a mish mash of vets at 75% effort, guys breaking in and trying not to screw up, some guys who clearly aren't at this level, and a guy like Athanasiou who appeared more interested in building a video resume than playing a team game. I don't think there was a game all year where the team was all pulling in the same direction from start to finish. A couple of lines seemed to gel well, but the next shift would blow the momentum.

This is my concern with the Kings. It reminds me of the team in the later stages of Taylor. Only one star forward, one star defenseman, a few decent players, a bunch of bums and no identity at all. Blake seems to be going down the same path to when it comes to the drafting strategy of just hoarding with no purpose. They expect to bring in a bunch of good young players to a loser organization. They need to have what happened in 06 when the organization brought in a GM who had a clue and then added two franchise defining players. People make fun of the boxes on the wall, but it was a valid idea, what do these boxes look like right now? Kopitar also had players like Frolov, Visnovsky and Cammalleri who were skilled and closer in age to make life easier. I still think people underestimate the realistic possibility that Kopitar could be completely washed by the time Byfield and the rest of these players are ready to do anything, then what?

I wonder what Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille expect their lineup to look like in say October 2023, or if they are even thinking that far ahead.

I lose faith in those two with each passing day, the Kings are just so far behind the good teams.

 

[kingsfan28]

This is kind of true, but it's not as if the Kings even do a set-up like that.

Watching some of the better teams set-up the PP vs what the Kings do is truly eye-opening. It really isn't a hot take, I wonder if the Kings should consider not having Kopitar and Doughty on the #1PP.

Kings PP last 5 years.

19th
26th
27th
19th
16th

I love Kopi, unbelievable all-around player but this falls mostly on him and Doughty. They have been the constants.

This was the first time in years where we actually saw Kopitar moved off the half wall and Doughty more of a rover. Then when the pp hit the wall at the halfway point, they went back to their usual spots at the point and the halfwall. Not sure if they score 10 pp goals the rest of the season. For a while , they were top 5 on the pp.

 

[Herby]

This was the first time in years where we actually saw Kopitar moved off the half wall and Doughty more of a rover. Then when the pp hit the wall at the halfway point, they went back to their usual spots at the point and the halfwall. Not sure if they score 10 pp goals the rest of the season. For a while , they were top 5 on the pp.

Teams figured out the Kings entry, I think that was the biggest reason the PP went into the tank. For the first part of the year Kempe was effectively carrying the puck into the zone and getting the puck to guys in space, once that went away the PP collapsed. I also think it also may have been straight up positive puck luck followed by variance catching up and then some, especially with a PP as uncreative as the Kings where it's as Jamie Kompon would say "Throwing pucks at the net looking for greasy goals"

Kopitar on the half wall isn't the worst thing in the world, a lot of teams have their best player set up there to start, the Kings problem is there is never any movement, him and Doughty are just glued to their spots and have almost always been that way. I think with Doughty it's just a weakness that he has had most of his career, Doughty does many great things but his offensive game sense, especially knowing when to jump in is not and has really never been a strength. The fact that he has been glued to the blueline despite having multiple different PP coaches says its likely on him and not anyone else.

The addition of a right shot sniper to play at the left circle, which many teams use would also help out the Kings. Maybe Jarret Stoll can come out of retirement and re-assume that role.

 

[kingsfan28]

The Kings need to add more skill to the roster to be more effective with the PP. Particularly with regards to puck handling and passing. The PP this year just didn’t have it.

They did have it for about 30 games, then it dried up and joined you on the island. They could never get it back once they lost it. There were so many 1-12, 1-15, 2-19, streaks in the second half

 

[bland]

This is my concern with the Kings. It reminds me of the team in the later stages of Taylor. Only one star forward, one star defenseman, a few decent players, a bunch of bums and no identity at all. Blake seems to be going down the same path to when it comes to the drafting strategy of just hoarding with no purpose. They expect to bring in a bunch of good young players to a loser organization. They need to have what happened in 06 when the organization brought in a GM who had a clue and then added two franchise defining players. People make fun of the boxes on the wall, but it was a valid idea, what do these boxes look like right now? Kopitar also had players like Frolov, Visnovsky and Cammalleri who were skilled and closer in age to make life easier. I still think people underestimate the realistic possibility that Kopitar could be completely washed by the time Byfield and the rest of these players are ready to do anything, then what?

I wonder what Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille expect their lineup to look like in say October 2023, or if they are even thinking that far ahead.

I lose faith in those two with each passing day, the Kings are just so far behind the good teams.

The one thing I ask to remember is that there was always going to be a bottom out year where none of the key kids are ready to step in, the vets were cleared out in front of them, and the gap between Kopitar and the rest of the forwards would be obvious and exaggerated. If you are serious about a rebuild, this year - and probably next year too - would be lost to the transition.

What I fear is that any new "star" brought in is going to extend the time of Kopitar and Doughty's dying Kings era, not transitioning into the next one. There are so many positives from moving forward instead of looking back, and that positvity needs to be embraced and not postponed. When was the last time a Kings player overachieved? The mentality here right now is just shot. No player or two can change that.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

They did have it for about 30 games, then it dried up and joined you on the island. They could never get it back once they lost it. There were so many 1-12, 1-15, 2-19, streaks in the second half

As Herby said, they figured out the entry and you need guys that can handle the puck to make the entry. Kings just don’t have enough of those guys which forces the opposition to just key in on spots/players because we’re just not that good.

 

[lumbergh]

The Kings need to add more skill to the roster to be more effective with the PP. Particularly with regards to puck handling and passing. The PP this year just didn’t have it.

The Kings need to be better at even strength. Special teams were not the problem this season. The fact that they can’t score at 5 on 5 means they play from behind a lot. If they’re gonna earn power plays, they need to be a threat at even strength.

 

[kingsfan28]

Media: "The Golden knights: this is the most dominant,well balanced team, at the peak of their powers, in franchise history."
Me: Barf!!!!!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I will say Anderson has played with energy tonight, Montreal could use three or four more guys like him.

Love Anderson's game. He's built like an aircraft carrier but unfortunately has the agility of one too

 

[DryIslandBartender]

This is my concern with the Kings. It reminds me of the team in the later stages of Taylor. Only one star forward, one star defenseman, a few decent players, a bunch of bums and no identity at all. Blake seems to be going down the same path to when it comes to the drafting strategy of just hoarding with no purpose. They expect to bring in a bunch of good young players to a loser organization. They need to have what happened in 06 when the organization brought in a GM who had a clue and then added two franchise defining players. People make fun of the boxes on the wall, but it was a valid idea, what do these boxes look like right now? Kopitar also had players like Frolov, Visnovsky and Cammalleri who were skilled and closer in age to make life easier. I still think people underestimate the realistic possibility that Kopitar could be completely washed by the time Byfield and the rest of these players are ready to do anything, then what?

I wonder what Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille expect their lineup to look like in say October 2023, or if they are even thinking that far ahead.

I lose faith in those two with each passing day, the Kings are just so far behind the good teams.

Kings management reminds me of the scene in the Apollo 13 movie where they had to retrofit a filter for CO2 that was for 2 guys and had to be changed for three guys.

“ok guys, draft and free agency is over, we got to make this fit into that.”

 

[Herby]

The one thing I ask to remember is that there was always going to be a bottom out year where none of the key kids are ready to step in, the vets were cleared out in front of them, and the gap between Kopitar and the rest of the forwards would be obvious and exaggerated. If you are serious about a rebuild, this year - and probably next year too - would be lost to the transition.

What I fear is that any new "star" brought in is going to extend the time of Kopitar and Doughty's dying Kings era, not transitioning into the next one. There are so many positives from moving forward instead of looking back, and that positvity needs to be embraced and not postponed. When was the last time a Kings player overachieved? The mentality here right now is just shot. No player or two can change that.

I am not for bringing in some 30 year old star to try and salvage Kopitar/Doughty. I'd rather try and get Doughty to waive his NTC and start over.

I think bringing in a 25 year old one is a different story, and it's more to help out the younger players than to help out Kopitar and Doughty. As much crap as people want to give Frolov and Cammalleri, they both made Kopitar's life a lot easier those first two seasons because they were legit 1st line players who were in the primes of their career and made it so not everything was thrown at Kopitar's feet. Cammalleri was a point per game forward in Kopitar's rookie year and Frolov wasn't to far behind. I just worry that if Kopitar falls off who is going to be those types of guys to make Byfields life easier those first few years. I think people just automatically assume Kopitar will be Bergeron when there is just as much a chance that he ends up like Getzlaf, Staal, Carter, Parise. I think it also gives you another star in addition to QB which I think the system may not produce with the current players in it, but I know we disagree on that.

I know it's a chicken and egg argument and I am not trying to diminish the need for a culture change, but the last culture change did coincide with three Hall of Fame caliber players being added to the roster within 3 years of each other. I think no matter how good they want to make the culture they also need to make sure they have the talent.