GDT: Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings - Dec 8, 2016 - 730pm

[Ziggy Stardust]

I generally try to post positive stuff and stay away from the doom-and-gloom crap, which makes it hard being here sometimes
the Canes game was just really hard for me to watch

Is it really doom and gloom though when every supposed negative statement is backed up by what the coach is saying and every "negative" statement rings true?

Let's observe how average this team has been, which should come as no surprise to many of us as we anticipated them to be an average at best team.

Below average in regulation wins, slightly above a .500 record, 18th in GF, 12th in GA, 3rd worst PP, 10th worst PK unit. Only stats in favor for them are shots for and shots against difference. Although you can form a legit argument to that as most of their shots for is generated from the perimeter.

This isn't doom and gloom talk. That is the reality of where this team stands today. And it's backed up by stats. Yet somehow, people spin this as being negative. I get it though, people are overly sensitive nowadays and can't stomach any criticism.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Is it really doom and gloom though when every supposed negative statement is backed up by what the coach is saying and every "negative" statement rings true?

Let's observe how average this team has been, which should come as no surprise to many of us as we anticipated them to be an average at best team.

Below average in regulation wins, slightly above a .500 record, 18th in GF, 12th in GA, 3rd worst PP, 10th worst PK unit. Only stats in favor for them are shots for and shots against difference. Although you can form a legit argument to that as most of their shots for is generated from the perimeter.

This isn't doom and gloom talk. That is the reality of where this team stands today. And it's backed up by stats. Yet somehow, people spin this as being negative. I get it though, people are overly sensitive nowadays and can't stomach any criticism.

You forgot the part where through most of that they were missing a top-six winger, a top-four d-man, a top-5 NHL goaltender, a backup goaltender, an emerging bottom-sixer, and part of it a top-5 NHL center...and you're minimizing the good stuff. So yeah, that's doom and gloom talk. Criticism is about being able to balance or you lose all credibility...and all you can point out is the negative, dismiss the positive.

Shot attempt differentials are huge, and they've mostly just been getting crap goaltending. No one is expecting this to be a top-5 team, but if they're getting even NHL average goaltending, they're leading or 2nd in the division. Literally. Just like the last few years, there are loads of positive indicators there, but like how last season ended, we need our top players to be our top players and we need to get at least semi-****ing competent NHL goaltending and get healthy. We just wanted to stay in the race till people got back, no? Well, that's where we're at. Just have to keep it up and pray for Quick to return to form or one of the backups to channel some temporary awesome again.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Is it really doom and gloom though when every supposed negative statement is backed up by what the coach is saying and every "negative" statement rings true?

Let's observe how average this team has been, which should come as no surprise to many of us as we anticipated them to be an average at best team.

Below average in regulation wins, slightly above a .500 record, 18th in GF, 12th in GA, 3rd worst PP, 10th worst PK unit. Only stats in favor for them are shots for and shots against difference. Although you can form a legit argument to that as most of their shots for is generated from the perimeter.

This isn't doom and gloom talk. That is the reality of where this team stands today. And it's backed up by stats. Yet somehow, people spin this as being negative. I get it though, people are overly sensitive nowadays and can't stomach any criticism.

When its all you post is negative it is. Yes i do post negative stuff about king and the special teams for example I do however post positive things when i see them done. I and others i imagine see certain posters always negative crap all the time and get sick of it. If you balance it out a bit more with some positive it would make your criticisms easier to deal with imo. There's a old line of a little honey makes the medicine go down applies in this situation There are a few posters ( not saying you in particular Ziggy ) that only post in here to post negative crap nothing else. It gets old fast

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

For the most part, a lot of guys have underachieved. Guys like Lewis and King do what they're expected to do, but I expect more from Kopitar, Toffoli, Doughty, Muzzin, guys who play important minutes who have played well below their expected level of performance.

Those names in particular have not been consistent since the get go. They're playing in cruise control. Look at the putrid special teams play as a prime example. Those names are a big reason why they're so below average in those areas.

And it's also hard to erase the past two seasons of failure from my memory. There's a good reason why my exoectations are tempered. I didn't have high hopes entering this season based on Lombardi's off-season maneuvers and the only positives I'm seeing is the growth of some individuals like Dowd, Gravel and Forbort. Pearson had a promising start but has really cooled off. Nolan has actually improved, Martinez also still is getting better (though he's hit a rut of late).

I'm not even overtly critical of the goaltending because of the situation they're in. Budaj has performed better than anticipated and has done and admirable job in keeping this team in the playoff race.

 

[The Tikkanen]

For the most part, a lot of guys have underachieved. Guys like Lewis and King do what they're expected to do, but I expect more from Kopitar, Toffoli, Doughty, Muzzin, guys who play important minutes who have played well below their expected level of performance.

Those names in particular have not been consistent since the get go. They're playing in cruise control. Look at the putrid special teams play as a prime example. Those names are a big reason why they're so below average in those areas.

And it's also hard to erase the past two seasons of failure from my memory. There's a good reason why my exoectations are tempered. I didn't have high hopes entering this season based on Lombardi's off-season maneuvers and the only positives I'm seeing is the growth of some individuals like Dowd, Gravel and Forbort. Pearson had a promising start but has really cooled off. Nolan has actually improved, Martinez also still is getting better (though he's hit a rut of late).

I'm not even overtly critical of the goaltending because of the situation they're in. Budaj has performed better than anticipated and has done and admirable job in keeping this team in the playoff race.

To me the Kings success boils down to 3 positions:goalie, #4 Dman and #1 LW. Forbort has stepped up and delivered the 2 way game that Voynov stole from the Kings. For whatever reason that #4 slot behind Martinez is crucial. #1LW is empty. Lucic did what anybody on here would do, if you disagree you've never made any real money in your life so you can't grasp the concept. Lucic was not replaced and that puts a noose around Kopitar's neck to do it all by himself 20 minutes a game against the other teams best players. And of course Quick is injured. Quick makes it possible for Lombardi to swing and miss at certain positions and in most games it doesn't matter. He cleans up the mess, he covers homes, he gives the team confidence knowing they can make a mistake and Quick will make the save he should make and the spectacular save. The fact the Kings are where they are in the standings minus Quick and Lucic really is a testament to Lombardi and Sutter. At one point in the season I thought this was the worst team in hockey. Now when I turn on the games I'm back to fully expecting a Kings win which has been the norm in the latter years of the Lombardi era.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah I'm hoping, if nothing else, people are starting to realize what Quick means to this team. And I agree Tik, it's weird getting back to expecting wins some nights.