Around the league part 2

[LAKings88]

PLD is having a positive effect in the lineup and matching other teams. I think the points will come. He is a beast of a man. I’ve also seen him step in for both his line mates and give the other team pause. I’m not sold on that trade. If Vilardi could play center it probably didn’t need to go down. I’ll wait the whole season to evaluate. I think the Jets got a could package for him tho.

 

[Schmooley]

PLD is having a positive effect in the lineup and matching other teams. I think the points will come. He is a beast of a man. I’ve also seen him step in for both his line mates and give the other team pause. I’m not sold on that trade. If Vilardi could play center it probably didn’t need to go down. I’ll wait the whole season to evaluate. I think the Jets got a could package for him tho.

Yea on one hand its fair to criticize the trade and how Dubois is playing. But the team itself looks more complete and is gelling in a way they didnt without him. There were a lot of spare parts shuffling around the lineup and guys in the wrong roles before.

 

[lumbergh]

PDO is the new age +/-. It's extremely context dependent but gets treated like it paints a perfect picture.

If you really want some proper context for PDO as it relates to the Vancouver Canucks, here it is:

For every game the Canucks have played I marked down the record of the opposing team as of now. I added up the wins, losses, and OT losses for a total of 50-67-12 (43.4% points percentage). If you take out the games that the Canucks have been involved in, the opponent record would be 47-58-12 (45.2% point percentage).

The Canucks have had a very easy schedule, equivalent to playing the 9th worst team in the league.

For comparison, the Kings combined opponent record is 75-46-11 (61.0% points). If you take out the games the Kings have been involved in, that record goes to 71-39-11 (63.2% points). The Kings opponents would rank as the 9th best team in the league by points percentage.

The Canucks are playing really well against some pretty weak opposition. The Kings are playing really well against some pretty strong opposition. Bodes well for the Kings, not so great for the Canucks.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If you really want some proper context for PDO as it relates to the Vancouver Canucks, here it is:

For every game the Canucks have played I marked down the record of the opposing team as of now. I added up the wins, losses, and OT losses for a total of 50-67-12 (43.4% points percentage). If you take out the games that the Canucks have been involved in, the opponent record would be 47-58-12 (45.2% point percentage).

The Canucks have had a very easy schedule, equivalent to playing the 9th worst team in the league.

For comparison, the Kings combined opponent record is 75-46-11 (61.0% points). If you take out the games the Kings have been involved in, that record goes to 71-39-11 (63.2% points). The Kings opponents would rank as the 9th best team in the league by points percentage.

The Canucks are playing really well against some pretty weak opposition. The Kings are playing really well against some pretty strong opposition. Bodes well for the Kings, not so great for the Canucks.

And that's the thing, outside their top horses, they're NOT playing that well--middle of the pack in shot attempts and 29th in xGF%, which jives with the viewings--Hughes/Hronek, Pettersson, Boeser, and Demko have been absolutely massive, but opportunistic as a whole.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Iafallo's effort was never the problem.

Just out of curiosity, is pacing for 55 points for $8.5 million worth it in the cap world?

Regular season points don't matter. The team is playing well & pacing for a playoff spot. Regular season points just lead to inflated contracts.

Giving your top 2 lines extra time & all the offensive zone starts wears them out over 82 games. This means players are going to get lower point totals. Rolling 4 lines & having a complete team is better than playing Mcdavid almost half the game so he can try & rack up 140 points while the rest of the team sucks & he wears out by the second round of the playoffs.

PLD > Iafallo & Vilardi
They almost have the same cap hit. Neither one was going to play center for the King's. Is it better to have that cap hit tied up in great center depth or have 2 more wings on this roster?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

For me the trade is over, it is what it is....but it is a vindication for me watching Iafallo play well after years and years of having to defend him and his production here.

Like everyone else...he goes elsewhere and goes off.

That being said, his problem has always been staying healthy/endurance for the whole season, he seems to taper off. He started many seasons here at a 60 point pace and would settle into 45-55. Right now he's on pace for nearly 70. If he can play all 82, that would be great.

 

[bland]

You didn't need to spend $8.5 million for 8 years to fix your third line.

 

[Schmooley]

You didn't need to spend $8.5 million for 8 years to fix your third line.

I hope their train of thought is that Dubois still has room to grow as a player that will eventually be their 1st or 2nd line c and not remain a 3rd liner for 8 years.

 

[bland]

I hope their train of thought is that Dubois still has room to grow as a player that will eventually be their 1st or 2nd line c and not remain a 3rd liner for 8 years.

Sure, but if the plan was to wait you have Byfield and Turcotte right there in line.

Dubois is just the wrong type of player for that kind of commitment. Whether he is the 2nd or 3rd line center now, whatever, but the point was to create a 3rd line of production. He is a good player, but he really only succeeds at specific aspects of the game. When those situations don't present themselves he does not go about creating them on his own.

 

[Schrute farms]

"The Plan" -- lolololololololol

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Got a new one for @tny760

 

[Schmooley]

Sure, but if the plan was to wait you have Byfield and Turcotte right there in line.

Dubois is just the wrong type of player for that kind of commitment. Whether he is the 2nd or 3rd line center now, whatever, but the point was to create a 3rd line of production. He is a good player, but he really only succeeds at specific aspects of the game. When those situations don't present themselves he does not go about creating them on his own.

Yea I agree with you but I am trying to make some sense of the 8.5 million dollar insurance policy Blake purchased.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

"The Plan" -- lolololololololol

lol, exactly. Where is this plan documented, I want to read up on it.

 

[tny760]

Got a new one for @tny760

View attachment 765098

i saw that on a replay too, just doesn't hit the same as the corey perry ones

i don't hate huberdeau nearly as much

 

[King'sPawn]

Regular season points don't matter. The team is playing well & pacing for a playoff spot. Regular season points just lead to inflated contracts.

But you just brought up Iafallo's points. You literally said 30 points for $4 million isn't good enough. So which is it?

Giving your top 2 lines extra time & all the offensive zone starts wears them out over 82 games. This means players are going to get lower point totals. Rolling 4 lines & having a complete team is better than playing Mcdavid almost half the game so he can try & rack up 140 points while the rest of the team sucks & he wears out by the second round of the playoffs.

Hey, if we're talking about depth I agree. But trading 3 players whose cap hit is less than the one player you traded away is the opposite of getting depth. And even if it was about getting a center, why commit $8.5 million for 8 years to one who has scored fewer points than Kopitar every year while getting favorable offensive deployments?

PLD > Iafallo & Vilardi

Well, at the moment, there is nothing objectively true about that this season. Iafallo alone is outscoring him, while averaging less powerplay time and slightly more PK time (although Iafallo is used a lot less on the PK and is being used in a more offensive role now that he's in Winnipeg).

Now, Hoven brought up a good point in one of his podcasts: Fiala's difficult to play with. He was supposed to play with Kopitar, and they never clicked. So, why invest so much so soon on another player without seeing how it would turn out? Either they start clicking or we'll have a few lines with many incompatible, high-cost players. And then it would be like just having three lines again, making the trades for Fiala and PLD effectively pointless.

 

[johnjm22]

Iafallo is a good player.

It's too bad he's not a center.

Kings had to have a center this year. They could take a risk and hope it could be QB (and break up the top line in the process), or go out and get one.

 

[Schrute farms]

lol, exactly. Where is this plan documented, I want to read up on it.

Well there should be a Plan by the GM. In fact, there should be multiple plans at all times using many what if scenario's and multiple time periods. that's what a GM does (or any CEO runni9ng a business). But the point is, Blake has no plan. He just is a read and react GM. You can see it on and on over the years with him -- goalie, LHD, size, cap mgmt, draft, waivers, roster mgmt, etc. That's my problem with the guy as a GM.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Well there should be a Plan by the GM. In fact, there should be multiple plans at all times using many what if scenario's and multiple time periods. that's what a GM does (or any CEO runni9ng a business). But the point is, Blake has no plan. He just is a read and react GM. You can see it on and on over the years with him -- goalie, LHD, size, cap mgmt, draft, waivers, roster mgmt, etc. That's my problem with the guy as a GM.

Yeah, he’s really proving that your theory of him having no plan is actually working out. Who woulda thunk?

Can’t you guys just ever live in the moment, enjoy when things are good and realize that acquiring and/or developing the perfect players at any given time isn’t as easy as doing it on Xbox?

 

[bland]

But you just brought up Iafallo's points. You literally said 30 points for $4 million isn't good enough. So which is it?

Hey, if we're talking about depth I agree. But trading 3 players whose cap hit is less than the one player you traded away is the opposite of getting depth. And even if it was about getting a center, why commit $8.5 million for 8 years to one who has scored fewer points than Kopitar every year while getting favorable offensive deployments?

Well, at the moment, there is nothing objectively true about that this season. Iafallo alone is outscoring him, while averaging less powerplay time and slightly more PK time (although Iafallo is used a lot less on the PK and is being used in a more offensive role now that he's in Winnipeg).

Now, Hoven brought up a good point in one of his podcasts: Fiala's difficult to play with. He was supposed to play with Kopitar, and they never clicked. So, why invest so much so soon on another player without seeing how it would turn out? Either they start clicking or we'll have a few lines with many incompatible, high-cost players. And then it would be like just having three lines again, making the trades for Fiala and PLD effectively pointless.

Hoven?

That's been the line on Fiala since Nashville. Despite all the semantic arguments about point totals, Kevin Fiala is not a first liner. Never has been, and won't be one until he changes his game. He puts up streaky points while diving, taking stupid retaliation penalties and letting his brain fart its way around the ice in all three zones. You cannot rely on Kevin Fiala.

Theoretically he and Dubois should be ideal for each other. He creates really intelligent traffic and opens up lanes which should be exploited, but Fiala keeps choosing to one man band it instead. Hell, the only time that line is really dangerous is when Laferriere carries the puck. Dubois looks just as lost in that shuffle as Byfield did with Athanasiou.

There are a lot of very, very good players who move every year. Its disappointing to know that Blake paid OVER premium prices to land two guys who can't carry a team. They are still going to live and die by what the kids bring, even after all this money spent.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Hoven?

That's been the line on Fiala since Nashville. Despite all the semantic arguments about point totals, Kevin Fiala is not a first liner. Never has been, and won't be one until he changes his game. He puts up streaky points while diving, taking stupid retaliation penalties and letting his brain fart its way around the ice in all three zones. You cannot rely on Kevin Fiala.

Theoretically he and Dubois should be ideal for each other. He creates really intelligent traffic and opens up lanes which should be exploited, but Fiala keeps choosing to one man band it instead. Hell, the only time that line is really dangerous is when Laferriere carries the puck. Dubois looks just as lost in that shuffle as Byfield did with Athanasiou.

There are a lot of very, very good players who move every year. Its disappointing to know that Blake paid OVER premium prices to land two guys who can't carry a team. They are still going to live and die by what the kids bring, even after all this money spent.

Players of talent vs. players of substance.

Faber vs. Fiala.
Iafallo/Vilardi vs. PLD.
Visnovsky vs Greene/Stoll.

hopefully the best is yet to come but....

 

[Steve Zissou]

Got a new one for @tny760

View attachment 765098

If I were a Calgary fan, this would easily be my new avatar.

 

[bland]

Players of talent vs. players of substance.

Faber vs. Fiala.
Iafallo/Vilardi vs. PLD.
Visnovsky vs Greene/Stoll.

hopefully the best is yet to come but....

Its just that the two players Blake acquired happened to be made available by franchises in similar positions to the Kings - Fiala was deemed as not a core player and an acceptable loss for cap reasons, and Dubois made it clear he wouldn't re-sign in Winnipeg. So why pay so damn much for 2nd tier players who HAD to be dealt? Its just poor management.

If you are just looking for talent, not impact players but talent like Fiala and Dubois, its available every year. No reason to rush, no reason to overpay, no reason to commit longterm sight unseen two years in a row.

 

[johnjm22]

That's been the line on Fiala since Nashville. Despite all the semantic arguments about point totals, Kevin Fiala is not a first liner. Never has been, and won't be one until he changes his game.

He's a "1st liner" right now.

Fiala:
-Leads Kings LW's in total TOI/G
-Leads Kings LW's in ES TOI/G
-3rd most total TOI of any LA forward
-3rd most ES TOI of any LA forward
-Plays on the 1st PP Unit
-Tied for team lead in points.

 

[bland]

He's a "1st liner" right now.

Fiala:
-Leads Kings LW's in total TOI/G
-Leads Kings LW's in ES TOI/G
-3rd most total TOI of any LA forward
-3rd most ES TOI of any LA forward
-Plays on the 1st PP Unit
-Tied for team lead in points.

Except that he plays on your third line.

Choose a different term.

 

[johnjm22]

Except that he plays on your third line.

Choose a different term.

Well that's my point. The Kings don't really have a 3rd line or a 1st line.

Total TOI this year:
Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 116.6min
Fiala-Dubios-laferriere 115.7min