Around the League 2020-21 Part 3, Trade Deadline Edition

[DryIslandBartender]

I dont think culture for the young guys is a problem. They are all young and hungry and in a super competitive environment in Ontario. Akil Thomas came out and said the team comradery is the best hes ever been a involved with and thats on a team thats coming last in its division. You just dont hear those kind of things ever coming out of loosing teams

That’s my point. Blake and Co. run things differently than their predecessor did. Luc/Blake hired their buddies and want the organization to be player friendly, a player friendly system, friendly off-season program and so on. In return, they demand that they don’t do anything to tarnish the organization.

Thomas comments perfectly illustrate the difference between current management philosophy and the previous one. It’s great that they are all in Ontario singing kumbya and holding hands while losing a bunch of games but part of player development is player/staff accountability. Time will tell but I just don’t think the org is serious about winning hockey games. They are focused on other things.

 

[tbrown33]

A lot of first year pros don't start to piece it all together in the AHL until the midway point or so (we saw this with both Kupari and Vilardi, for example). We've about gotten to that point in a "normal" year.

Not coincidentally, Ontario has won 5 of its last 6 games. Including beating the Gulls for the first time.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That’s my point. Blake and Co. run things differently than their predecessor did. Luc/Blake hired their buddies and want the organization to be player friendly, a player friendly system, friendly off-season program and so on. In return, they demand that they don’t do anything to tarnish the organization.

Thomas comments perfectly illustrate the difference between current management philosophy and the previous one. It’s great that they are all in Ontario singing kumbya and holding hands while losing a bunch of games but part of player development is player/staff accountability. Time will tell but I just don’t think the org is serious about winning hockey games. They are focused on other things.

Ontario has won 4 games straight and has dug themselves out of the basement into a respectable record despite all their circumstances this year.

You're mad that a bunch of first-year pros 18-22 like each other? Especially when vocalized by a guy like Thomas, well respected around the hockey world?

I have my problems with the organization but Ontario just went through a coaching change, if they were just all singing kumbaya, why not stay the course with a guy everyone loved in Stothers?

 

[BigKing]

Ontario has won 4 games straight and has dug themselves out of the basement into a respectable record despite all their circumstances this year.

You're mad that a bunch of first-year pros 18-22 like each other? Especially when vocalized by a guy like Thomas, well respected around the hockey world?

I have my problems with the organization but Ontario just went through a coaching change, if they were just all singing kumbaya, why not stay the course with a guy everyone loved in Stothers?

To me, his post can be summed up by one of your old sigs: "Every army needs a few criminals".

Blake hasn't drafted any but at least he made the move for Lemieux and took the flier back in time for Imama. Lombardi actually invested serious trade and draft capital into it but, again, it was a different time.

I am very encouraged by the Lemieux trade and even the presence of MacDermid as it appears Blake isn't on board with the idea that players like that aren't necessary. The issue is that you don't need four enforcers in your lineup every night but you do need a few guys that aren't shy about getting dirty if needed and are actually decent at it. I love when Wagner gets dirty but he's a horrible fighter. The Kings just don't have it.

I look at a team like Boston and they seem to have some new dude every year that isn't afraid to get dirty. Then again, I'd take the culture of that team over the current Kings one every day of the week. We can criticize Lombardi for several instances of going character/grit over skill in the draft but it feels like Blake has gone mostly the opposite. I keep reading that it is easy to find those types of guys but, actually, it is costly to get them if they can also play pretty well.

 

[Fishhead]

That’s my point. Blake and Co. run things differently than their predecessor did. Luc/Blake hired their buddies and want the organization to be player friendly, a player friendly system, friendly off-season program and so on. In return, they demand that they don’t do anything to tarnish the organization.

Thomas comments perfectly illustrate the difference between current management philosophy and the previous one. It’s great that they are all in Ontario singing kumbya and holding hands while losing a bunch of games but part of player development is player/staff accountability. Time will tell but I just don’t think the org is serious about winning hockey games. They are focused on other things.

I don't think DL was much different. He was very buddy buddy with the players, I mean they invited him over for beers after he was fired. He brought in his buddies/guys, Philadelphia West, remember?

This is a pretty big inductive leap here. Don't confuse accountability with allowing a bunch of young guys just getting their feet wet in the pro ranks to find their way. Teams always want to win, but this year that's secondary to teaching the younger guys by letting them make mistakes and learn from them. Especially at the AHL level.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

To me, his post can be summed up by one of your old sigs: "Every army needs a few criminals".

Blake hasn't drafted any but at least he made the move for Lemieux and took the flier back in time for Imama. Lombardi actually invested serious trade and draft capital into it but, again, it was a different time.

I am very encouraged by the Lemieux trade and even the presence of MacDermid as it appears Blake isn't on board with the idea that players like that aren't necessary. The issue is that you don't need four enforcers in your lineup every night but you do need a few guys that aren't shy about getting dirty if needed and are actually decent at it. I love when Wagner gets dirty but he's a horrible fighter. The Kings just don't have it.

I look at a team like Boston and they seem to have some new dude every year that isn't afraid to get dirty. Then again, I'd take the culture of that team over the current Kings one every day of the week. We can criticize Lombardi for several instances of going character/grit over skill in the draft but it feels like Blake has gone mostly the opposite. I keep reading that it is easy to find those types of guys but, actually, it is costly to get them if they can also play pretty well.

I do think those guys are increasingly rare but the picks Blake has made are high character guys too. Anderson is a great kid with some snarl, Bjornfot is definitely a leader even if not insanely gritty. Turcotte. Thomas.

If there's something I DO trust it's the culture of the kids. Sure I was high on Jake Neighbors and I think we'll keep pursuing similar guys but Im much, much more comfortable with the youngsters mentality/mindset than I am with the NHLers at this stage.

 

[BigKing]

I do think those guys are increasingly rare but the picks Blake has made are high character guys too. Anderson is a great kid with some snarl, Bjornfot is definitely a leader even if not insanely gritty. Turcotte. Thomas.

If there's something I DO trust it's the culture of the kids. Sure I was high on Jake Neighbors and I think we'll keep pursuing similar guys but Im much, much more comfortable with the youngsters mentality/mindset than I am with the NHLers at this stage.

Sure. But I also like Dean going "off board" in the 2nd round of 2007 and '09 for Simmonds and Clifford. He wanted a guy with snarl and fighting ability that could also skate a regular shift. High character and drive is obviously important, but I'd like to add that bad-ass element on top of it to at least one dude in the prospect pool.

It's even more of a luxury now since they are harder to find and they are even more of an advantage in today's game. With all of the picks and prospects on tap, I'd love for Blake to tab someone like that and trade up to get them if necessary.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Ontario has won 4 games straight and has dug themselves out of the basement into a respectable record despite all their circumstances this year.

You're mad that a bunch of first-year pros 18-22 like each other? Especially when vocalized by a guy like Thomas, well respected around the hockey world?

I have my problems with the organization but Ontario just went through a coaching change, if they were just all singing kumbaya, why not stay the course with a guy everyone loved in Stothers?

I’m not mad, I’m indifferent to whether they like each other or not and it doesn’t translate to wins necessarily. I’m just a fan that wants to see the Kings win. Do I care about the touchy feely stuff? No.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I’m not mad, I’m indifferent to whether they like each other or not and it doesn’t translate to wins necessarily. I’m just a fan that wants to see the Kings win. Do I care about the touchy feely stuff? No.

Not necessarily, but seeing guys care about each other enough to stick up for one another and start stringing together emotional wins seems like a positive step. Like, the other night we saw a Mikey Eyssimont Gordie Howe Hatty. You don't have to care about the touchy feely stuff, but there are tangible things going on right now that show an elevated level of committment from the youth.

 

[tbrown33]

I’m not mad, I’m indifferent to whether they like each other or not and it doesn’t translate to wins necessarily. I’m just a fan that wants to see the Kings win. Do I care about the touchy feely stuff? No.

Teams win championships when players play for each other. It's important.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Pretty nice to see this tribute a few days ago.

Backes was a warrior for St. Louis and left it all on the ice each night.

 

[Fishhead]

Teams win championships when players play for each other. It's important.

The whole going through the wall for your teammate idea was probably the most intimidating thing about playing the Kings when they were rolling. We all complain about how the players don't stand up for each other, and that camaraderie is where it starts.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Not necessarily, but seeing guys care about each other enough to stick up for one another and start stringing together emotional wins seems like a positive step. Like, the other night we saw a Mikey Eyssimont Gordie Howe Hatty. You don't have to care about the touchy feely stuff, but there are tangible things going on right now that show an elevated level of committment from the youth.

We’ll see what happens, every team makes the playoffs in the AHL with the play-in game this season. We’ll see how it all shakes out but it’s nice that they are stringing together wins after a dismal start.

 

[BringTheReign]

Pretty nice to see this tribute a few days ago.

Backes was a warrior for St. Louis and left it all on the ice each night.

Backes is one of those tough situations the salary cap has complicated. He didn't age well with his cap hit, sure, but pre-salary cap I feel like he would've had a few more cracks at a Cup than he did. The former captain, "old guy without a Cup" factor is tougher these days.

 

[BigKing]

Teams win championships when players play for each other. It's important.

1,000%

Kings problem is most of the young guys aren't killers to begin with and they are all playing for themselves as they try to gain a foothold in the NHL. The vets just don't want to get hurt on a team that isn't winning plus they are old while there are all these young dudes. Do they hang out? I doubt Kopitar and Brown are on Twitch with Wagner and Luff or whatever.

That's why I've been big on having these top prospects simmer in Ontario together so they form those bonds. I hope we get the "run through a wall for each other" mentality but it would also be nice to add a killer to the equation.

 

[Matt13]

Pretty nice to see this tribute a few days ago.

Backes was a warrior for St. Louis and left it all on the ice each night.

Of course his first goal was against the Kings.

 

[Brodeur]

They have a nice line in Batherson - Norris - Tkachuk. Those who recall the Karlsson trade with San Jose, Norris was part of the haul for the Sens.

They have a good amount of goalie prospects in the pipeline. If one or two turn out as they hope, they are set.

It's a fun team to watch.

There was a rumor last year that the owner was trying to steer the team to take Askarov at #5 last year. It'll be interesting if they'll consider Wallstedt this year if they're picking in latter portion of the top 10.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We’ll see what happens, every team makes the playoffs in the AHL with the play-in game this season. We’ll see how it all shakes out but it’s nice that they are stringing together wins after a dismal start.

You're not wrong but keep in mind this is a recent development as well, for most of the season these guys were in an AHL in limbo with their junior teams in a league that had no playoffs pending.

 

[Steve Zissou]

That's why I've been big on having these top prospects simmer in Ontario together so they form those bonds. I hope we get the "run through a wall for each other" mentality but it would also be nice to add a killer to the equation.

Could just tape their eyelids open and make them watch Slap Shot on repeat 100x.



'Dave's a killer!'

 

[Reclamation Project]

Piss on playing clean! We’re losing!!

 

[kovacro]

There was a rumor last year that the owner was trying to steer the team to take Askarov at #5 last year. It'll be interesting if they'll consider Wallstedt this year if they're picking in latter portion of the top 10.

That’s interesting. Like I mentioned they look pretty well off prospect wise at that position but when the owner likes to mettle, everything goes out the window.

 

[Brodeur]

That’s interesting. Like I mentioned they look pretty well off prospect wise at that position but when the owner likes to mettle, everything goes out the window.

And that's how the Islanders ended up drafting DiPietro when they already had Luongo. I always like to note that Sanjay Kumar ended up in prison a few years after that.

 

[The Butcher]

One thing I've learned following the NHL for nearly 30 years is this: the team that lifts the cup is not usually the one that drafted and traded for the best players but the one that plays the best as a team.

 

[LAKings88]

Pavelski with 24 goals. To bad Blake couldn’t get him to sign in LA.

 

[funky]

Pavelski with 24 goals. To bad Blake couldn’t get him to sign in LA.

we would have been all over Blake for signing another old guy.