Around the League, Summer 2016--NHL Draft Shenanigans Edition

[BigKing]

Glad the Kings stayed away from Vermette.

I think some on here are just thirsty for a name at this point. Before anyone posts his FO% or what have you, don't bother. Seen him play: this team has enough guys on the decline and/or still paying for guys that declined.

 

[YP44]

Glad the Kings stayed away from Vermette.

I think some on here are just thirsty for a name at this point. Before anyone posts his FO% or what have you, don't bother. Seen him play: this team has enough guys on the decline and/or still paying for guys that declined.

it would have been a free asset who is an upgrade over shore if nothing else.

 

[BigKing]

it would have been a free asset who is an upgrade over shore if nothing else.

Vermette doesn't put this team over the top, but he does take away ice time from someone who could be a key contributor in a Bottom 6 role for years to come.

Also, this team needs all the cap space it can get so I really don't like two years and I'm not at a point where I'm chalking any player up to being taken by Vegas.

I just think he is trash at this point. Shore and company might be trash as well but it is cheaper trash that still has upside.

 

[damacles1156]

People are also writing young players off too quickly. Not everyone is Pearson/Toffoli, Or Drew Doughty.

It takes about 100 NHL games for most AHL players(that have NHL talent) to actually start showing what they can do in the NHL.

This will be a critical year for Shore (100+ NHL mark) This season we find out if he can hack it.

 

[King'sPawn]

People are also writing young players off too quickly. Not everyone is Pearson/Toffoli, Or Drew Doughty.

It takes about 100 NHL games for most AHL players(that have NHL talent) to actually start showing what they can do in the NHL.

This will be a critical year for Shore (100+ NHL mark) This season we find out if he can hack it.

I agree.

 

[YP44]

People are also writing young players off too quickly. Not everyone is Pearson/Toffoli, Or Drew Doughty.

It takes about 100 NHL games for most AHL players(that have NHL talent) to actually start showing what they can do in the NHL.

This will be a critical year for Shore (100+ NHL mark) This season we find out if he can hack it.

not writing him off just saying I feel Vermette is an upgrade on Shore

 

[Trolfoli]

People are also writing young players off too quickly. Not everyone is Pearson/Toffoli, Or Drew Doughty.

It takes about 100 NHL games for most AHL players(that have NHL talent) to actually start showing what they can do in the NHL.

This will be a critical year for Shore (100+ NHL mark) This season we find out if he can hack it.

His offense in the minors wasn't great. Now it's supposed to translate to the NHL?

He might be fine defensively, but if you want any production out of the 3rd line that isn't going to help.

Also not going to help is playing with 1 or 2 of Brown/Lewis/King or anyone else that's struggling at the moment and demoted out of the top 6.

I just don't see him improving much offensively. Maybe he makes a huge improvement this year, but I think we have a pretty good idea of what type of player he projects to be at this point.

Edit: Look at Pearson/Toffoli to see what it takes to produce at the NHL level after coming up.

 

[Reaper45]

People are also writing young players off too quickly. Not everyone is Pearson/Toffoli, Or Drew Doughty.

It takes about 100 NHL games for most AHL players(that have NHL talent) to actually start showing what they can do in the NHL.

This will be a critical year for Shore (100+ NHL mark) This season we find out if he can hack it.

I'm willing to give Shore another chance, but I'm just not seeing it. Also more people need to take this to heart in regards to Gravel and Forbort.

 

[YP44]

I'm willing to give Shore another chance, but I'm just not seeing it. Also more people need to take this to heart in regards to Gravel and Forbort.

especially considering D take longer to develop

 

[damacles1156]

His offense in the minors wasn't great. Now it's supposed to translate to the NHL?

He might be fine defensively, but if you want any production out of the 3rd line that isn't going to help.

Also not going to help is playing with 1 or 2 of Brown/Lewis/King or anyone else that's struggling at the moment and demoted out of the top 6.

I just don't see him improving much offensively. Maybe he makes a huge improvement this year, but I think we have a pretty good idea of what type of player he projects to be at this point.

Edit: Look at Pearson/Toffoli to see what it takes to produce at the NHL level after coming up.

Toffoli/Pearson are not Bottom six regular NHL talent. They are top six skill set players.

If you think your bottom six players should be producing like Toffoli/Pearson. You got the wrong idea about production of bottom Six NHL players.

Kempe doesn't even posses a scoring touch like Pearson/Toffoli. Think about that.

Shore has to produce more, but it's not going to be top six numbers.

Also Shore's last stint in the AHL, he was a PPG player(with 20G), and basically their playoff MVP with 18 points in 23 games.

Again, provided Shore has a good camp, this is the year we probably find out if Shore can hack it.

 

[damacles1156]

Everyone wants their third line to be another top six line. The salary cap prevents that.

Unless you get lucky with ELC/Signings, or you have drafted extremely well.

The Kings have done neither the last Four years I would argue.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I miss having guys like Eric Belanger and Ian Laperriere on the fourth line because they were productive in a checking role and quite good two way players.

Sadly their time frame with the team was when the team was average at best. I wish the Kings had a 3rd line C like Eric Belanger/Yanic Perreault and a gritty heart and soul guy like Lappy who can block shots and kill penalties.

Given the money they are earning, I expect more from players like Lewis, Clifford and King. Not so much 20 goals or 40 points, but drawing more penalties, more scoring chances, and creating traffic in front of the opposing net and creating some havoc is something the bottom two lines needs to do more of.

They need to provide a spark and energy, which is what the fourth line used to do. This past season, they were a liability more often than not.

 

[damacles1156]

I miss having guys like Eric Belanger and Ian Laperriere on the fourth line because they were productive in a checking role and quite good two way players.

Sadly their time frame with the team was when the team was average at best. I wish the Kings had a 3rd line C like Eric Belanger/Yanic Perreault and a gritty heart and soul guy like Lappy who can block shots and kill penalties.

Given the money they are earning, I expect more from players like Lewis, Clifford and King. Not so much 20 goals or 40 points, but drawing more penalties, more scoring chances, and creating traffic in front of the opposing net and creating some havoc is something the bottom two lines needs to do more of.

They need to provide a spark and energy, which is what the fourth line used to do. This past season, they were a liability more often than not.

I agree.


The Kings as a whole, need more Net front presence. This team has gotten too perimeter, If that makes sense.
Not enough trying to force the issue inside. That could be a sign of age creeping in.

Gabo/Carter/Kopi/Brown have a lot of games, and miles on the body.

Also 20G and 40P is top six numbers on the Kings roster.

That's a good trivia question.

Name the last Kings bottom six player to score 20G or 40P.

I am guessing Michal Handzus.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I agree.


The Kings as a whole, need more Net front presence. This team has gotten too perimeter, If that makes sense.
Not enough trying to force the issue inside. That could be a sign of age creeping in.

Gabo/Carter/Kopi/Brown have a lot of games, and miles on the body.

Also 20G and 40P is top six numbers on the Kings roster.

That's a good trivia question.

Name the last Kings bottom six player to score 20G or 40P.

I am guessing Michal Handzus.

Armstrong was definitely a bottom six forward but was used in a top six role thanks to injuries. I remember when guys would go down, Armstrong would be the #2 center as a result and put up respectable numbers in that role. I remember him centering Luc Robitaille and Trent Klatt, and later played quite a bit on a line with Frolov. Handzus also earned a lot of ice time as he was used in many situations for the team.

The last guy who produced at the 40 point range while not earning top two line minutes (and no PP minutes) was Wayne Simmonds in 2010. Been a while since the Kings hit a homerun like Simmonds in the draft...

 

[Whiskeypete]

interesting....

Craig Custance
@CraigCustance


Davis Payne, who got consideration for Flames job, an interesting option for Avs. His window to talk to teams currently still open.

 

[kingsfan28]

interesting....

Craig Custance
@CraigCustance


Davis Payne, who got consideration for Flames job, an interesting option for Avs. His window to talk to teams currently still open.

I thought the Kings said no to anyone trying to poach their coaches. I was really was hoping he would replace Sutter if DL hadn't extended his contract. Maybe he will one day.

 

[Scottkmlps]

I thought the Kings said no to anyone trying to poach their coaches. I was really was hoping he would replace Sutter if DL hadn't extended his contract. Maybe he will one day.

The Kings will allow it only if there is serious consideration for a head coaching job. Otherwise, they won't give permission.

 

[YP44]

The Kings will allow it only if there is serious consideration for a head coaching job. Otherwise, they won't give permission.

yup so there must be serious consideration.

 

[Basilisk]

I miss having guys like Eric Belanger and Ian Laperriere on the fourth line because they were productive in a checking role and quite good two way players.

Sadly their time frame with the team was when the team was average at best. I wish the Kings had a 3rd line C like Eric Belanger/Yanic Perreault and a gritty heart and soul guy like Lappy who can block shots and kill penalties.

Given the money they are earning, I expect more from players like Lewis, Clifford and King. Not so much 20 goals or 40 points, but drawing more penalties, more scoring chances, and creating traffic in front of the opposing net and creating some havoc is something the bottom two lines needs to do more of.

They need to provide a spark and energy, which is what the fourth line used to do. This past season, they were a liability more often than not.

I miss the "IBM" line...... "Ian (Laperierre), Brad (Chartrand), & Mikko (Eloranta)". That line was phenomenal!!!!

 

[USE Fi]

Lombardi is talking about ‘you can’t recreate, you have to reinvent.’ What does it mean to you?

 

[Butch 19]

Lombardi is talking about ‘you can’t recreate, you have to reinvent.’ What does it mean to you?

I remember college.

 

[Herby]

Lombardi is talking about ‘you can’t recreate, you have to reinvent.’ What does it mean to you?

It's code for, "I royally screwed up after 2014 by trying to keep the band together"

Atleast he is acknowledging it, even if it is in lawyer talk.

 

[YP44]

Lombardi is talking about ‘you can’t recreate, you have to reinvent.’ What does it mean to you?

cannot recreate as LA will not have top draft picks to develop from (doughty) or deal (schenn), so have to find other ways to build the team (TBD)

 

[mattgkg]

Lombardi is talking about ‘you can’t recreate, you have to reinvent.’ What does it mean to you?

ultra focus on puck possession, hard forechecking, shot suppression with a defense first mindset earned the kings two cups... but it's an advanced statistics league now. it's no longer a secret how to counter certain aspects of the kings system which is very straight forward requiring the players to outwork and grind down the other team to attempt to hold them -2 goals a game. it worked with the stacked defense... where martinez was the 6-7 dman and not 2nd pairing playing on his offside.

maybe it's time to tweak the system to focus more on skill with their forecheck and zone entries rather than the constant grind of dump and chase if you don't have a positive possession play. seems like it almost always just ends up setting up a floater from the point after 5 passes that gets blocked since the forwards appear timid to shoot the lower percentage shot and crash the net. it's a copycat league, teams like tampa have had success over heavy, larger, harder hitting teams with speed, skill and possession. have to allow the skill guys to be more creative and make mistakes without the fear of sutter's dog house.

 

[USE Fi]

cannot recreate as LA will not have top draft picks to develop from (doughty) or deal (schenn), so have to find other ways to build the team (TBD)

So by adding 5 players and make players to earn their playing time is what he is talking about?