Line Combos: Cup Run Depth vs. Today

[BigKing]

That plays in to my opinion, of course: I don't give a shit about Trent Hunter or Matt Frattin. I'm looking at the group that won in 2012 and '14 v. what the Kings are icing at present while allowing for Carter's inclusion. I don't care if Ethan Moreau was a thing in November since he was gone come playoff time and an effective Dwight King was in his place. For this season, maybe Carter is the 2012/2014 forward acquisition that pushes them to another level but we can't just pencil him in as being the Jeff Carter after missing so much time.

Solid point about system play and how it can impact an apples-to-apples comparison. Hope to be able to make this comparison in June but I feel another addition on top of Carter needs to be made to really bolster the forward group; however, the defense is the primary concern at the moment.

Thought Blake would have an easy first season and avoid really being judged until the upcoming draft and Doughty contract. Now he's going to have a tough decision to make at the deadline.

 

[lumbergh]

Let’s say the Kings do need a third-line center. Who do they target?

Plekanec from MTL would be my choice.

 

[LAKings88]

Priority should be another dman.

 

[lumbergh]

Priority should be another dman.

I would target Niklas Hjalmarsson, currently on the Coyotes. Signed for another season and a half at a reasonable salary, so he won't prevent the Kings from signing Doughty. Tough as nails, hits like a train when you least expect. Big part of three Cup teams with the Blackhawks. He's playoff tested, has good size and speed, and would fit right into a back line on the Kings.

The Coyotes will be selling off any parts that aren't bolted down next month. Probably take a decent prospect or a 2nd rounder, maybe both.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Only problem I have with Hjalmarsson is he's yet another LHD. Looked SUPER goofy last night with only 5 LHD on the ice when Doughty was down.

 

[KINGS17]

The big constant in 2012-14, and now may be Jonathan Quick. He is playing lights out this season. Andrei Vasilevski may be the Vezina winner this season though.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Only problem I have with Hjalmarsson is he's yet another LHD. Looked SUPER goofy last night with only 5 LHD on the ice when Doughty was down.

Although he is a lefty, Hjalmarsson often played the right side, beside Duncan Keith.

Blackhawks' Niklas Hjalmarsson doesn't like switching sides but doing it anyway
Is Keith the Blackhawks' Best Defenseman?
For Blackhawks defensemen, different partners can mean different approaches

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Let’s say the Kings do need a third-line center. Who do they target?

Pleks from montreal should be cheap playing better on the dot this year hungry for another contract

 

[mrkolice]

the game changed a bit, so did the lak identity and the comparison should take that into account. imo lak upgraded well this season.
then, the depth is toi related. if you have to play with 4 D, you adapt. as it was said before, it can be done, like hawks did it. imo top 4 D can do the job.
this is not a final po roster, smaller things can change in next weeks, but i suspect not much will happen, basically we have what we see. this is a damn good depth if guys stay healthy and carter returns. the depth is fine, but i'm optimistic mostly bcs the core won it before.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Let’s say the Kings do need a third-line center. Who do they target?

Tavares, obviously. Kidding.

A lefty PK specialist that can score 10-15 goals on the season would be perfect.

What about Letestu? He's right handed but he's a PP/PK specialist kind of guy. I know Edmonton's PK is atrocious but he'd have the Kings system and most importantly Quick and Doughty behind him here.

 

[damacles1156]

The game changed, that also has to be taken into account. No one wanted to play that 2012 team in the play-offs. They pounded you into submission.

Seriously could you picture some of the younger stars today getting hit by 2012 Dustin Brown ?

I think the 2012 Kings shocked a lot of hockey teams with the pound you into dust relentless mentality they had.

I'll never forget this quote from Toews in 13/14: "It sucks playing the Kings" "They hit you all over the ice and you earn every single inch".

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The game changed, that also has to be taken into account. No one wanted to play that 2012 team in the play-offs. They pounded you into submission.

Seriously, could you picture someone like Patrick Laine getting hit by 2012 Dustin Brown ?

I imagine those guys look at something like the collision between Backes, Brown, and Greene and just 'nope' the f*** off the rink.

 

[bob77]

Ideally you would want to get the minutes down for Martinez Muzz and/or Drew in playoff games to keep them fresh. These games where Drew plays 29, Muzz/Marty plays like 26, etc won’t cut it for the long haul of the playoffs. Forbort is good at about his 21. Ideally I’d like to see minutes like this:

Drew 25
Amart 22
Muzz 22
Forbort 21
D5 18
D6 14

We could use another D only if the ice time is going to change. I don’t see getting a new guy and then decreasing Forbort’s minutes, or still holding D5 or D6 minutes really low.

 

[mrkolice]

We could use another D only if the ice time is going to change. I don’t see getting a new guy and then decreasing Forbort’s minutes, or still holding D5 or D6 minutes really low.

yes, it's hard to fit in just one new D, as overmixing D pairs is just a recipe for disaster. but we've seen this kind of animal tois before, top 4 can do it, even on a 3x7 games road to finals. they're not too old, i guess they simply learned how to play with the head, to optimize energy management and everything related. plus everyone is helping behind, this lak team icon didn't die.