Around the League Thread part V

[cyclones22]

I can't stand scoreboard watching. Damn these Kings for collapsing at just the wrong time of the season.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Zegras hit 20 goals, and has 53 points. Anyone want to guess who the last Kings rookie was to hit the 20-goal mark?

 

[kilowatt]

Zegras hit 20 goals, and has 53 points. Anyone want to guess who the last Kings rookie was to hit the 20-goal mark?

Kopi?

 

[AbsentMojo]

Avs tie it up.. now win it in reg

 

[johnjm22]

Matthews on the verge of 60 wow just wow

He's good.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Lmao, no teams in the western conference race are ever going to lose again

can't wait to set the record

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kopi?

Yep, 15 f***ing years ago. The Kings haven’t brought up a 20-goal scoring rookie since. And we wonder why rookie forwards can’t immediately contribute on this team, when they’re seldom (if ever) put in a position to produce.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Kings are currently just 1 point in. Since their ROW is so low VGK and Dallas have the tie breaker.

 

[ru4reals]

Yep, 15 f***ing years ago. The Kings haven’t brought up a 20-goal scoring rookie since. And we wonder why rookie forwards can’t immediately contribute on this team, when they’re seldom (if ever) put in a position to produce.

C'mon now Kings can't let rookies get any ice time over great players like Amadio and IaFAILo. LA Kings development team.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

This playoff race went from the Kings are pretty safe and going against an easy schedule, to "oh shit" very quickly

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This playoff race went from the Kings are pretty safe and going against an easy schedule, to "oh shit" very quickly

It seems as though being concerned about the team’s play had their merits. Who woulda thunk that?!

 

[Cook24]

We’re gonna miss the playoffs. Blake has his work cut out for him. Kopitar should be on the outs but he doesn’t have the balls…

 

[ru4reals]

By the look of things lately, Vancouver's going to skate right by our A**!!! Ouch!!! Only 6 points behind us. It would be pretty dang sad if we fought so hard for so long to be in a playoff spot and then just run out of gas. Would be great to make the playoffs but in all actuality this team has played better then anyone have expected especially with all these injuries the last month or so. Not going to give up though I think they'll hold on but if they don't hey they weren't supposed to make it anyways. I say they surprised us and hold off the Knights.

 

[Sol]

By the look of things lately, Vancouver's going to skate right by our A**!!! Ouch!!! Only 6 points behind us. It would be pretty dang sad if we fought so hard for so long to be in a playoff spot and then just run out of gas. Would be great to make the playoffs but in all actuality this team has played better then anyone have expected especially with all these injuries the last month or so. Not going to give up though I think they'll hold on but if they don't hey they weren't supposed to make it anyways. I say they surprised us and hold off the Knights.

If the Kings miss the playoffs from the position they’ve been in for a while then it’s because they didn’t “fought so hard”

 

[King'sPawn]

We’re gonna miss the playoffs. Blake has his work cut out for him. Kopitar should be on the outs but he doesn’t have the balls…

In my opinion, Blake (and likely subsequently Todd) should be let go if the Kings miss the playoffs.

 

[kingsfan28]

My god coyotes are bad. They are barely an NHL team. I hope I am wrong but Vegas is going to blow them out.

And we struggle to get 3 on our best night.

 

[kingsfan28]

This playoff race went from the Kings are pretty safe and going against an easy schedule, to "oh shit" very quickly

Both the Oilers and Vegas have really tough schedules too. 6 of the last 8 points Vegas has got are against Seattle and ARZ. They won't have anymore teams like that for easy points. NJ is their best bet at an easy 2, but all the other are ? or possible losses. Oilers are in the same boat. We win our games, then we'll be fine.

 

[KingsFan7824]

We’re gonna miss the playoffs. Blake has his work cut out for him. Kopitar should be on the outs but he doesn’t have the balls…

And which 7 teams needs even a $5m soon to be 35 year old C that can't keep up for the next 2 years?

 

[Mats26]

Can't wait to see the kids in the playoffs. It's going to be a great experience for them to go for the Calder cup.

 

[ru4reals]

If the Kings miss the playoffs from the position they’ve been in for a while then it’s because they didn’t “fought so hard”

Nah they fought alright just not very good at it.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

In my opinion, Blake (and likely subsequently Todd) should be let go if the Kings miss the playoffs.

Why? And was this your stance before the season started?

 

[funky]

In my opinion, Blake (and likely subsequently Todd) should be let go if the Kings miss the playoffs.

I think Blake has done an awesome job. We are a year ahead of schedule with a deep prospect cupboard. He has basically stolen our second line of Danault, Arvidsson, and Moore in the last few years and has all kind of players to use as trade bait this off season. He has kept all our picks in doing this and has fixed a horrid cap situation.

One of the big things I loved is that he did not overspend at the deadline and he basically told the boys in the room this season is on them so step up. The rookies are up in the NHL and the team is still staying afloat after loosing their best player and being absolutely destroyed by injuries. How many other teams can loose 6 starting defenseman and one time and still compete?

All our insiders have basically said more moves will be made this summer. There is hints that the Chychrun discussions will begin again and we know skill and size need to be added.

Not sure why there is any reason to question Blake.

Todd on the other hand does a lot of things I question. My big concern is in game management and Special team selections. Saying this he has almost guided a rookie laden/ old fart driven severely injured team into the playoffs and still deserves a lot of credit. If he is back next year we may just see a mid season change bringing in a heavy hitter like we did with Sutter in 2012.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I think Blake has done an awesome job. We are a year ahead of schedule with a deep prospect cupboard. He has basically stolen our second line of Danault, Arvidsson, and Moore in the last few years and has all kind of players to use as trade bait this off season. He has kept all our picks in doing this and has fixed a horrid cap situation.

One of the big things I loved is that he did not overspend at the deadline and he basically told the boys in the room this season is on them so step up. The rookies are up in the NHL and the team is still staying afloat after loosing their best player and being absolutely destroyed by injuries. How many other teams can loose 6 starting defenseman and one time and still compete?

All our insiders have basically said more moves will be made this summer. There is hints that the Chychrun discussions will begin again and we know skill and size need to be added.

Not sure why there is any reason to question Blake.

Todd on the other hand does a lot of things I question. My big concern is in game management and Special team selections. Saying this he has almost guided a rookie laden/ old fart driven severely injured team into the playoffs and still deserves a lot of credit. If he is back next year we may just see a mid season change bringing in a heavy hitter like we did with Sutter in 2012.

Great post…accurate and oozing with common sense. Hard to find around here…

 

[King'sPawn]

I think Blake has done an awesome job. We are a year ahead of schedule with a deep prospect cupboard. He has basically stolen our second line of Danault, Arvidsson, and Moore in the last few years and has all kind of players to use as trade bait this off season. He has kept all our picks in doing this and has fixed a horrid cap situation.

One of the big things I loved is that he did not overspend at the deadline and he basically told the boys in the room this season is on them so step up. The rookies are up in the NHL and the team is still staying afloat after loosing their best player and being absolutely destroyed by injuries. How many other teams can loose 6 starting defenseman and one time and still compete?

All our insiders have basically said more moves will be made this summer. There is hints that the Chychrun discussions will begin again and we know skill and size need to be added.

Not sure why there is any reason to question Blake.

Todd on the other hand does a lot of things I question. My big concern is in game management and Special team selections. Saying this he has almost guided a rookie laden/ old fart driven severely injured team into the playoffs and still deserves a lot of credit. If he is back next year we may just see a mid season change bringing in a heavy hitter like we did with Sutter in 2012.

There are plenty reasons to question Blake. And I said at the beginning of the season that he needs to make the playoffs, or he should go.

Blake has been with the organization since 2013 in an executive position. He has known about all the organizational issues well before he was a GM.

Knowing all this, he inherited a core of cup winners mostly in their late 20s. He made the playoffs the first season. He hasn't made it since.

He's on his third coach.

The top prospect cupboard is well-built, and I give him credit for not trading them away as a hail mary.

But we continue to see the SAME organizational issues:
- Dependency on the vets, especially Kopitar and Doughty. They expect Kaliyev to be in the top-6 next season, but in the meantime he's getting single-digit minutes?
- An inability to have any forward prospect develop into a substantially significant role and thrive. I know people will bring up Kempe, but he still projects to produce fewer points than Tyler Toffoli's best season here. And it's been 8 seasons for him.

I appreciate the work Blake has done. And he had some very unfortunate shit happen this season with injuries which does impact the performance. And he has made good moves.

But the organization NEEDED to do a better job to integrate the youth en route to making the playoffs. And I don't expect Blake to hold McLellan accountable for falling short on that. And really, most GMs don't get more than 3 coaching hires anyway.

And trading for Chychrun won't solve the organizational issues.

 

[SufferingSelfCreated]

Blake already signed an extension earlier this year. He's our GM moving forward no matter what happens this year. Why are you guys even discussing this? Are you not paying attention ? AGAIN,HE JUST SIGNED AN EXTENSION.

Now Tmac on the other handdd.....