CBJ 3 - LAK 2: The $21,000,000 4th line edition

[Johnny Utah]

This Kopitar deal is going to scare me, because he is going to get money and term and he is in decline.

Carter, Doughty, Quick are really the only 3 who deserve money and term right now. They were talking on Toronto radio about how Carter is underpaid. It's true. He probably would get 7 million these days. Not 5.2. He is older than Kopitar and looks to be getting better as a King, not worse.

Toffoli is going to get a big pay day and Kings will be stuck with an older Gaborik and Brown.

 

[Ron*]

14 goals in 26 playoff games; and one of the principal reasons we won one of our two Stanley Cup championships in the entire history of the existence of this team, for which I have suffered through most of 50 years of it.

The contract is more than worth that. 'Nuff said.

 

[Herby]

14 goals in 26 playoff games; and one of the principal reasons we won one of our two Stanley Cup championships in the entire history of the existence of this team, for which I have suffered through most of 50 years of it.

The contract is more than worth that. 'Nuff said.

Gaborik was one of about 5 players on that 2014 team that you could say they wouldn't have won without him. He scored some massive goals, including the tying and winning goals in game 1 vs. Anaheim and the tying goal in game 7 in Chicago (prob most underrated goal in that Cup run)

The money was not the problem, it was the term, and a problem we have seen all to much with the Kings, lowering the cap hit by increasing the years and getting stuck with guys playing out multiple years at levels not close to matching the contract.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Talk about sad. 26 games between Brown/Gab's they have 1 goal combined.

Kopitar has 1 assist. That shows these guys are not clicking.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Exactly. Lombardi gives up the big money and gives out term, but no one team wants term.

He is going to have a tough time dealing Brown or Gaborik even in the next few years when they are close to UFA because they will be OLD.

Gaborik has 5 years left and Brown 6. Ouch.

Brown is 31 and Gab is 33. So in a few years who will take a 34 year old Brown who has 2 seasons left or a 36 year old Gaborik with two years left.

 

[Ron*]

Talk about sad. 26 games between Brown/Gab's they have 1 goal combined.

Kopitar has 1 assist. That shows these guys are not clicking.

We are 13 games in. We have 69 to go. Some of you guys need to exercise patience. It isn't as through we are 4-10, you know. We are 8-5 and still atop the Pacific.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

We are 13 games in. We have 69 to go. Some of you guys need to exercise patience. It isn't as through we are 4-10, you know. We are 8-5 and still atop the Pacific.

Where were the Kings last season at this point?

The fact that one month in there is only one line clicking is exactly what transpired a year ago. I worry that there isn't any chemistry with the top line and it is foolish to think the bottom six forwards are going to contribute much.

There are probably three forwards who may surpass 50 points, maybe two who will surpass 40, and I think most of the others will be at 20 or less.

I don't know if that is going to be enough to get by, but I guess we'll see as the season goes on. One month down, less than five more to go until the end of the season. Gaborik and Brown better get their production up or this team is going to be hitting the golf course come April.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

14 goals in 26 playoff games; and one of the principal reasons we won one of our two Stanley Cup championships in the entire history of the existence of this team, for which I have suffered through most of 50 years of it.

The contract is more than worth that. 'Nuff said.

I wonder if any Hawks fans think this way towards Bickell and his contract...

 

[Jetteroheller]

Yup, people need to relax a little, i thought we were going to be Leafs bad after our first three games and how everyone played during those. Then we went 7 and 0, i never would have guessed that after those 3 games.
We lost this game mainly to a couple bad bounces that went their way, and a goalie who played lights out against us after being VERY sub par this season so far, Pearsons crossbar didn't help either We definitely out played them until the 3rd.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Where were the Kings last season at this point?

The fact that one month in there is only one line clicking is exactly what transpired a year ago. I worry that there isn't any chemistry with the top line and it is foolish to think the bottom six forwards are going to contribute much.

There are probably three forwards who may surpass 50 points, maybe two who will surpass 40, and I think most of the others will be at 20 or less.

I don't know if that is going to be enough to get by, but I guess we'll see as the season goes on. One month down, less than five more to go until the end of the season. Gaborik and Brown better get their production up or this team is going to be hitting the golf course come April.

Kings were 6-3-2 at the end of October in 2014-15 with a home record of 6-1 and a road record of 0-3-2.

Right now the Kings are 8-5, 4-4 at home, 4-1 on the road.

The Kings would wait until January to have more road wins last season than they have already this season.

The Kings are also a perfect 2-0 in OT already matching their record for the entire season for wins in OT/SO last season.

 

[jace29]

Overall I'd say the top players are playing pretty well, nice to see the D playing well, especially McBain and Amart lately.

Tonight wasnt the greatest effort but I think they'll get a W next game

 

[KingsFan7824]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1692759&highlight=gaborik+signs

Time can always alter opinions, but not guaranteed contracts.

Have over 20 shots, give up less than 10 shots, through 2 periods, down 2-1.

Brown can't score, but he's the 3rd leading forward in assists, only behind the guys playing with Toffoli. 2nd leading forward at ES, tied with Pearson.

The top 8 guys in shots on the team, three have 0 goals, two have 1 goal, and Lewis has 2 empty net goals. Then it's Toffoli and Carter. Kopitar is now 9th on the team in shots.

At even strength, Lucic, Pearson, Martinez, Gaborik, Muzzin, Andreoff, and Shore all have 1 goal. Lewis has those EN goals, and is 4th on the team in ES goals. It's Toffoli and Carter on top, and then Kopitar third on the team with 4. One of his goals was 3v3 in OT, another was 4v4 on a giveaway, one was when he was out there with Clifford and Nolan, and then when he was in front of the net against Chicago.

Lucic, Pearson, Gaborik, they have the same amount of goals at 5v5 as Shore and Andreoff. Somebody has to pick things up.

Kopitar, Shore, and Andreoff now have 1 combined assist. Kopitar's assist didn't even come off his stick either.

It's kind of amazing the Kings are where they are right now.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Jordan Weal has done absolutely jack-**** in two games. He hasn't earned a spot yet.

That might be true, but kid played 13 minutes in 2 games. What do you expect.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Jordan Weal has done absolutely jack-**** in two games. He hasn't earned a spot yet.

So he can't play since he hasn't earned it. He can only earn it by playing.

I think I see a flaw in that.

 

[bob77]

Exactly. Lombardi gives up the big money and gives out term, but no one team wants term.

He is going to have a tough time dealing Brown or Gaborik even in the next few years when they are close to UFA because they will be OLD.

Gaborik has 5 years left and Brown 6. Ouch.

Brown is 31 and Gab is 33. So in a few years who will take a 34 year old Brown who has 2 seasons left or a 36 year old Gaborik with two years left.

I agree. DL doesn't seem to bat an eyelash when it comes to term. Even taking on MR was with a horrible term.

 

[Omni Owl]

Kopitar is obviously not playing to his potential, but imagine how ****ed we'd be if he wasn't playing at all. Gaborik is the mystery to me, he just isn't doing **** out there right now. At least Brown works his ass off and had an assist, and I saw him actually hit someone last night. He needs to play to his strengths more.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

This Kopitar deal is going to scare me, because he is going to get money and term and he is in decline.

Carter, Doughty, Quick are really the only 3 who deserve money and term right now. They were talking on Toronto radio about how Carter is underpaid. It's true. He probably would get 7 million these days. Not 5.2. He is older than Kopitar and looks to be getting better as a King, not worse.

Toffoli is going to get a big pay day and Kings will be stuck with an older Gaborik and Brown.

Me too. We need Kopitar, we have to re-sign him, but he'll be overpaid and it will hurt the team when we have to lose valuable players because of it.

 

[Socks]

Jackets fan in peace. Is Clifford ok? I didn't see the rest of the game (I forgot how rough these West Coast swings are lol) so I don't know if he played more but he looked a little dazed when he got up. As someone who has had many concussions myself I'd hate to hear he suffered any kind of trauma.

 

[moosehead81]

Still early but the way things look, Kings should make the play-offs easily; one of the top three in what looks like a fairly weak, so far, Pacific Division. Sutter's style does not lead to high scoring stats but one has to wonder whether management will re-think Kopitar's future value to the team at the level of contract being discussed on this forum. Not saying he won't be resigned for term and money but I'd be very nervous unless "they" find somebody to play with him over the next 8 years. And Brown seems to have turned into a money pit; not much value in return for the salary and basically, an untradeable contract. Carter has surprised; I thought for sure he'd go into a bit of a funk with the issues around his pal Richards. That hasn't happened and I'd put that down to a happy marriage and stability; good on him. However, if the team goes into a lengthy tail-spin (which I doubt will happen), I think you'd find Sutter on a short lease or out the door. I'm not totally convinced this team likes playing for him but, hey, who can argue with this year's success so far.

 

[cali101]

they lost 2 of the last 3
toffoli has slowed down a bit
they really need other lines scoring

At even strength, Lucic, Pearson, Martinez, Gaborik, Muzzin, Andreoff, and Shore all have 1 goal. Lewis has those EN goals, and is 4th on the team in ES goals. It's Toffoli and Carter on top, and then Kopitar third on the team with 4. One of his goals was 3v3 in OT, another was 4v4 on a giveaway, one was when he was out there with Clifford and Nolan, and then when he was in front of the net against Chicago.

Lucic, Pearson, Gaborik, they have the same amount of goals at 5v5 as Shore and Andreoff. Somebody has to pick things up.

Kopitar, Shore, and Andreoff now have 1 combined assist. Kopitar's assist didn't even come off his stick either.

this is bad news bears.

 

[King'sPawn]

Carter has 12 points and Toffoli has 11 points, that line has given the Kings the record they have and covered-up for the severe lack of production of the Kopi line. The Carter line was always going to cool off, thus naturally bringing the attention to the massive contracts that are not producing

Whoa, wait a second. Carter's production is going to cool off? Isn't that the EXACT same criticism that's been levied against Kopitar, who disappears in December?

 

[scryan]

So how many points should Kopitar's line be producing? They had two tonight.

Nine.

 

[LAKings88]

Boring game all around.

Columbus caught a break on the second goal and went into a shell. Campbell's goal was weak.

On to the next game.

 

[fsanford]

Where were the Kings last season at this point?

The fact that one month in there is only one line clicking is exactly what transpired a year ago. I worry that there isn't any chemistry with the top line and it is foolish to think the bottom six forwards are going to contribute much.

There are probably three forwards who may surpass 50 points, maybe two who will surpass 40, and I think most of the others will be at 20 or less.

I don't know if that is going to be enough to get by, but I guess we'll see as the season goes on. One month down, less than five more to go until the end of the season. Gaborik and Brown better get their production up or this team is going to be hitting the golf course come April.

Unless somebody goes out and smacks his wife or girlfriend around there is a big difference in seasons.

That along with Richards who allegedly was dealing with his own issues, can weigh heavy on a lockeroom.

Will say Brown is clutching his stick pretty hard right now, but his is not because of lack of effort. Dude has like 48 shots. He has had some good chances puck not going in
When I see guys like Perry with 1 goal, Hossa 1, Nash 1, Foligno 1 Kesler with 0, etc etc etc, do not get too worried.


Gaborik I do worry about more, guy has a history of injuries, thinking he is not 100% but just a guess.

 

[Ron*]

So he can't play since he hasn't earned it. He can only earn it by playing.

I think I see a flaw in that.

The point is clear. He hasn't done anything in his two opportunities, other than turning the puck over leading to a goal. If he doesn't make the most of his opportunities when given the chance, he is going to sit in Sutter's press box.

Now I ask you, why are you finding that so difficult to understand?