Dubois

[Bandit]

TBH I would pay to see this before I would pay to see another kings home game

It would be extra spicy too since I haven’t played in almost 14 years.

 

[lexlavender]

There's another reason Dubois is so disappointing, and that's he is the antithesis of the culture the Kings have built under Blake since rebuilding. What's the similarity between all of these players:

Byfield
Kaliyev
Kempe
Danualt
Moore
Grundstrom
Lizotte
Lewis
Iafallo
Anderson
Roy
Gavrikov
Englund

It seems very hard, but to me the answer is clear.

All of these players have variable amounts of skill and talent, but all make up for it in spades with being:

Hard Workers
Aggresive
Pests

If there is one thing I can think of the Kings as a whole, they are pests. They do not let the opposition breathe, they forecheck hard, they win puck battles. They work hard.

Dubois, as a player, is the exact opposite. He does not work hard, he is not a pest, and he tries to skate by with his physical gifts. There may be excuses in the org that he is trying to adjust to "Kings hockey", but nothing in his time here has shown me any glimpse of what I view Kings hockey as.

If Dubois is going to work out, he needs to get it in his head that he cannot get by on his size and draft number anymore. He is not going to be gifted the best linemates. He is not going to be gifted ice time.

I DO THINK that Dubois himself knows he is struggling right now. It's just that winning cures all wounds, and the team is doing well. But the org needs to expect more out of him NOW.

Another thing I think: if it doesn't change, I think Blake will trade him. Blake has shown he views everything as an asset, pure and simple. What that trade looks like, I have no idea.

Most likely, a trade with Dubois so soon in his contract means taking on a struggling player back. Looking at Capfriendly, there are very few options. Maybe Laine? Which would be hilarious and sad and make me cry. Huber out of Cal? Maybe a rebuilding team like SJ would like a young player they can build around?

The situation is f***ed if changes aren't made.

 

[Nasti]

Yes because all those years of rebuilding have paid dividends for Edmonton, Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit.....nothing like having a guaranteed plan right?

There are no guarantees. But a lot of us saw this coming. This isn‘t hindsight. Just like hating the Dubois deal isn’t hindsight. A lot of us have been calling out this disjointed, reactionary “plan” for years. Kopitar and Doughty are done as top players of a cup winning team. Yet the team is still built around them.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

There are no guarantees. But a lot of us saw this coming. This isn‘t hindsight. Just like hating the Dubois deal isn’t hindsight. A lot of us have been calling out this disjointed, reactionary “plan” for years. Kopitar and Doughty are done as top players of a cup winning team. Yet the team is still built around them.

LOL Holy shit.....the amount of visionary bullshit tied up on this post takes the cake for today....yes...people have been calling out LA for being a shit team for YEARS.....you have that right.....those are also the people that have been WRONG the past 2 years....but don't let facts stop you....

 

[bmr]

 

[AbsentMojo]

Ive been struggling with the best acronym source for PLD.. ive settled on the PL part (Passive, Lazy).. its the D part where im asking for some help..

1) Diva
2) Dud
3) Downer

and interesting bmr posts a vid re him being a Diva while im writing this - hadnt seen that but thats what I think is going on.. so ill settle on Passive Lazy Diva

 

[BaileyFan]

There's another reason Dubois is so disappointing, and that's he is the antithesis of the culture the Kings have built under Blake since rebuilding. What's the similarity between all of these players:

Byfield
Kaliyev
Kempe
Danualt
Moore
Grundstrom
Lizotte
Lewis
Iafallo
Anderson
Roy
Gavrikov
Englund

It seems very hard, but to me the answer is clear.

All of these players have variable amounts of skill and talent, but all make up for it in spades with being:

Hard Workers
Aggresive
Pests

If there is one thing I can think of the Kings as a whole, they are pests. They do not let the opposition breathe, they forecheck hard, they win puck battles. They work hard.

Dubois, as a player, is the exact opposite. He does not work hard, he is not a pest, and he tries to skate by with his physical gifts. There may be excuses in the org that he is trying to adjust to "Kings hockey", but nothing in his time here has shown me any glimpse of what I view Kings hockey as.

If Dubois is going to work out, he needs to get it in his head that he cannot get by on his size and draft number anymore. He is not going to be gifted the best linemates. He is not going to be gifted ice time.

I DO THINK that Dubois himself knows he is struggling right now. It's just that winning cures all wounds, and the team is doing well. But the org needs to expect more out of him NOW.

Another thing I think: if it doesn't change, I think Blake will trade him. Blake has shown he views everything as an asset, pure and simple. What that trade looks like, I have no idea.

Most likely, a trade with Dubois so soon in his contract means taking on a struggling player back. Looking at Capfriendly, there are very few options. Maybe Laine? Which would be hilarious and sad and make me cry. Huber out of Cal? Maybe a rebuilding team like SJ would like a young player they can build around?

The situation is f***ed if changes aren't made.

Trading him seems all but impossible right now. Unfortunately I think it’s more likely that a trade is made to bring in even more help for PLD. Don’t be surprised if Kubalik or Tarasenko is a King and Kaliyev is a Sen by the end of the season.

Although the idea of swapping him and Laine and stranding him in Columbus after everything that has happened just might be too good to pass up.

 

[bmr]

Ive been struggling with the best acronym source for PLD.. ive settled on the PL part (Passive, Lazy).. its the D part where im asking for some help..

1) Diva
2) Dud
3) Downer

and interesting bmr posts a vid re him being a Diva while im writing this - hadnt seen that but thats what I think is going on.. so ill settle on Passive Lazy Diva

I think a lot of us were struggling with the decision mostly because of the issues he has had all throughout his career. He had problems in the juniors and at the NHL level. Torts isn't exactly an easy guy to get along with, but it even mentions him having issues in Winnipeg with the coach. I did *NOT* like his compete level in the Winnipeg game where Gabe was handing us our ass. He should have been thinking to himself...HELL NO this is not going down like this and impose himself. That is the type of guy we want in the playoffs. If he isn't able to be impactful in the playoffs, this is going to hurt the Kings for a long time. The only good part is that he's still young.

I've been seeing a lot of arguments on the pro side talking about how he creates matchup issues and that Gabe wasn't a Center. At this point right now, I think Gabe would be more effective if we plugged him in that line AS a Center.

PLD reminds me of one of those older Ferraris where it runs right one day and is in the shop the next day due to performance issues.

I'm an extremely competitive guy and I can't stand when I see players not doing their best for the team, especially when they can really have an impact. I probably would have reacted the same way that Torts did.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I was heavily on the Bjugstad option. Just how tough he was to play against in the playoffs. Plus, taking him away from Edmonton would help the Kings playoff chances. I didn't care for the Fiala trade because he wasn't a line driving player. He has always been a one many show kind of guy. We also gave up way too much to a team that had to move Fiala. The Kings out bid themselves both trades.

Kempe-Kopitar-Vilardi
Iafallo-Byfield-Arvidsson
Moore-Danault-Kaliyev
Grundstrum-Lizotte-Kupari

Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Faber
Bjornfot-Roy

Goalie trade
Copley

Plenty of cap space. Options to move Iafallo/Arvidsson and Roy

Re Bjugstad no one this board was into him at the deadline.. saying he's too slow. He showed a lot in the playoffs. There are certain guys whose value really shines in the playoffs e.g. Stoll.. he's big too, couldve been a placeholder for Helenious

 

[bmr]

Trading him seems all but impossible right now. Unfortunately I think it’s more likely that a trade is made to bring in even more help for PLD. Don’t be surprised if Kubalik or Tarasenko is a King and Kaliyev is a Sen by the end of the season.

Although the idea of swapping him and Laine and stranding him in Columbus after everything that has happened just might be too good to pass up.

I think the only hope you have (if it comes to it) is trading one player with perceived issues for another player with perceived issues. That's kind of what we did with Carter and it worked out.

How many of you would trade him for Huberdeau? LOL - I don't want that $10.5 mill salary. That's even worse w/ his performance decline.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I think a lot of us were struggling with the decision mostly because of the issues he has had all throughout his career. He had problems in the juniors and at the NHL level. Torts isn't exactly an easy guy to get along with, but it even mentions him having issues in Winnipeg with the coach. I did *NOT* like his compete level in the Winnipeg game where Gabe was handing us our ass. He should have been thinking to himself...HELL NO this is not going down like this and impose himself. That is the type of guy we want in the playoffs. If he isn't able to be impactful in the playoffs, this is going to hurt the Kings for a long time. The only good part is that he's still young.

I've been seeing a lot of arguments on the pro side talking about how he creates matchup issues and that Gabe wasn't a Center. At this point right now, I think Gabe would be more effective if we plugged him in that line AS a Center.

PLD reminds me of one of those older Ferraris where it runs right one day and is in the shop the next day due to performance issues.

The key point you make that others have made is he doesnt seem wired like the rest of the guys on the roster. He doesnt seem (so far) to be motivated by pride in the team or the trade or himself... i guess the word is aloof. A criticsm that was also levied at Frolov I think PL has that issue but a lot worse. So not only is he not performing, he creates an issue in the room by not joining in the ethics the Kings have developed in the room. Ive said before he seems like a natural outsider. Some guys wont join a group naturally.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

There are no takers for PLD at $8m. None. You guys are dreaming.

There’s also no way ownership accepts a buyout that Carrie’s a cap hit through 2037.

Our only hope with PLD is that he plays better. Blake has made his bed with this trade. He will need to sleep in it.

 

[tigermask48]

LOL Holy shit.....the amount of visionary bullshit tied up on this post takes the cake for today....yes...people have been calling out LA for being a shit team for YEARS.....you have that right.....those are also the people that have been WRONG the past 2 years....but don't let facts stop you....

 

[chris kontos]

Dennis bernstien a little ago said on nhl network radio that " pld was aquired for the playoffs".

Sure dennis. Trying to say something positive i guess.

 

[bmr]

The key point you make that others have made is he doesnt seem wired like the rest of the guys on the roster. He doesnt seem (so far) to be motivated by pride in the team or the trade or himself... i guess the word is aloof. A criticsm that was also levied at Frolov I think PL has that issue but a lot worse. So not only is he not performing, he creates an issue in the room by not joining in the ethics the Kings have developed in the room. Ive said before he seems like a natural outsider. Some guys wont join a group naturally.

I'm really curious how the room views him at this point.

Dennis bernstien a little ago said on nhl network radio that " pld was aquired for the playoffs".

Sure dennis. Trying to say something positive i guess.

He has shown the ability to do this. I think all of the negativity gets erased if he can dominate in the playoffs. He seems like a very heady guy - maybe he just operates in a different dimension. I've never heard any negativity from any of his past teammates...so there is that.

 

[kilowatt]

There's another reason Dubois is so disappointing, and that's he is the antithesis of the culture the Kings have built under Blake since rebuilding. What's the similarity between all of these players:

Byfield
Kaliyev
Kempe
Danualt
Moore
Grundstrom
Lizotte
Lewis
Iafallo
Anderson
Roy
Gavrikov
Englund

It seems very hard, but to me the answer is clear.

All of these players have variable amounts of skill and talent, but all make up for it in spades with being:

Hard Workers
Aggresive
Pests

If there is one thing I can think of the Kings as a whole, they are pests. They do not let the opposition breathe, they forecheck hard, they win puck battles. They work hard.

Dubois, as a player, is the exact opposite. He does not work hard, he is not a pest, and he tries to skate by with his physical gifts. There may be excuses in the org that he is trying to adjust to "Kings hockey", but nothing in his time here has shown me any glimpse of what I view Kings hockey as.

If Dubois is going to work out, he needs to get it in his head that he cannot get by on his size and draft number anymore. He is not going to be gifted the best linemates. He is not going to be gifted ice time.

I DO THINK that Dubois himself knows he is struggling right now. It's just that winning cures all wounds, and the team is doing well. But the org needs to expect more out of him NOW.

Another thing I think: if it doesn't change, I think Blake will trade him. Blake has shown he views everything as an asset, pure and simple. What that trade looks like, I have no idea.

Most likely, a trade with Dubois so soon in his contract means taking on a struggling player back. Looking at Capfriendly, there are very few options. Maybe Laine? Which would be hilarious and sad and make me cry. Huber out of Cal? Maybe a rebuilding team like SJ would like a young player they can build around?

The situation is f***ed if changes aren't made.

At this point I wonder what it might look like to bring in a guy like Brendan Gallagher. Right shot, sandpaper, chemistry with Danault. PLD getting yeeted to Montreal would be funny.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Danault - Gallagher
Moore - Turcotte - Kaliyev
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Lewis

Can't help but laugh at this. Hasn't even been 200 days since this contract was signed and we're looking to get out of it. Perhaps Dubois will magically significantly improve seven years into his career...

 

[bmr]

At this point I wonder what it might look like to bring in a guy like Brendan Gallagher. Right shot, sandpaper, chemistry with Danault. PLD getting yeeted to Montreal would be funny.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Danault - Gallagher
Moore - Turcotte - Kaliyev
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Lewis

Can't help but laugh at this. Hasn't even been 200 days since this contract was signed and we're looking to get out of it. Perhaps Dubois will magically significantly improve seven years into his career...

Problem is that Gallagher is not a Center. We would be giving up a lot of Center depth. If Turcotte actually does make this team at some point and stays healthy, do you guys see him playing Center?

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Dennis bernstien a little ago said on nhl network radio that " pld was aquired for the playoffs".

Sure dennis. Trying to say something positive i guess.

He would need to put-up McDavid playoff numbers to make it worth him mailing in the regular season

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I would not break up any other lines over it at this point. it is what it is.

 

[FrozenKing18]

I'm really curious how the room views him at this point.

I’m curious about this too, there was a couple times in the Behind the Glass videos where he seemed to be getting along with the other guys. Now I try to find him in goal celebrations to see how he is, and he just seems very aloof. Don’t think the camera ever caught him doing the locker room post-victory dance either lol

 

[bmr]

I’m curious about this too, there was a couple times in the Behind the Glass videos where he seemed to be getting along with the other guys. Now I try to find him in goal celebrations to see how he is, and he just seems very aloof. Don’t think the camera ever caught him doing the locker room post-victory dance either lol

I really hope we're all wrong about this.

I know why Blake traded for the guy. He sees him as a big Center who has a wide variety of skills and the ability to impose his size on you. This is totally a playoff matchup thing. I gotta wait and see him in the playoffs before I really go scorched Earth on this.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I would not break up any other lines over it at this point. it is what it is.

Its interesting the 4th line was our spare parts line last season.. this season its the 3rd. The 4th line is so reliable its the one line that can change momentum that we have. 3rd line is almost the antithesis... id play them the least and never d-zone start them if I can avoid.

 

[Dog as Man]

Flop Flop PLD and QB. QB gets a dang good a promotion to a line that he can make his own. I think he's ready. PLD gets a no excuse set of linemates. Might be where he thinks he should be. The acid test.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Can't we just slide PLD over to this sport?

 

[johnjm22]

What I find so frustrating is that if PLD were good, this team would be excellent.

If that center spot is being played well, everything else in this lineup falls into place.