Game 2 10/14/16: Philadelphia Flyers 4 @ Los Angeles Kings 2

[Herby]

The Kings are the Oregon Ducks of the NHL.

People still think their good based on the name, but they are actually really bad.

 

[Trolfoli]

What has he shown that makes you think he has learned his lesson?

Matt Greene is still on the team, that shows Dean just can't let go of certain people. Guarantee if Greene weren't on the Kings he would be on the street with Stoll and Richards, two other guys DL was reluctant to give up on and have since proven they aren't NHL players.

Ok... take a breath.... realize this is a development year. The Kings are waiting on guys to get the experience they need to hit the NHL roster.

Gravel/Kempe/LaDue are better off playing big minuets on the AHL club then less time at the NHL level this year.

Greene: At this point he's a place holder. Same as Purcell. They are just there to fill the space. There was no reason to buy Greene out last summer and get a 4 year cap hit from it. They can look to trade or buyout this year and only have a 2 year cap hit. It's going to be a development year anyways so it doesn't really matter.

Learned his lesson? Lombardi's switched from "win now" to "retool". His statements/actions this summer showed us exactly what he was doing. This was going to be a down year, but with Quick out we'll get a better draft pick is all.

 

[johnjm22]

It's been 2 games.

This is most likely a playoff team IMO, but not a contender.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Hey, some of us warned you guys it was going to be a long and trying season. My mantra coming in this year was to hope for the best, but expect the worst.

I just didn't expect them to look this bad so early on. The Kings never fail to disappoint in that sense.

I sure did.

I don't know why anyone would expect a team already starved for offense but missing their top two LWs, with a missing starting goalie and some new faces and new looks on the back end, to start the season anything but chaotic.

 

[KingsFan7824]

What has he shown that makes you think he has learned his lesson?

Matt Greene is still on the team, that shows Dean just can't let go of certain people. Guarantee if Greene weren't on the Kings he would be on the street with Stoll and Richards, two other guys DL was reluctant to give up on and have since proven they aren't NHL players.

Alright, so nobody can go back and not do the contract, and it has to be dealt with somehow. They put Greene on waivers to maybe buy him out to help sign Lucic(which of course would've caused other problems, but anyway), but that money would've stayed on the cap until 2020, and it's that much more dead cap space.

What's the better thing to do? If Lombardi has lost belief in this roster, which to me seems to be the case with the moves made since last year ended, is it better to keep Greene for at least one more year, making a potential buyout a little bit better, and most likely helping the Kings possibly get a better draft pick? I know, they'll just waste it on another Hickey or Forbort, but I just mean in general.

Is it better just to even ride out Greene's contract for another 2 years, since the cap hits for Brown and Gaborik aren't going anywhere anyway, and stop screwing the future more than it already has been? Don't trade any more picks or prospects, and certainly not in some attempt to get rid of a bad contract, which would probably only save 50% on top of losing more youth?

The hard cap has come knocking for the Kings. They paid guys for their success, rightly or wrongly. They've had some bad luck on the ice, off the ice, and just the timing of when these contracts needed to be/were signed. A few self-inflicted mistakes only compounds everything.

So why even bother giving Kopitar the big contract if you know you can't fill out the roster enough to compete, partly because of the big contract you give Kopitar? Because what franchise is going to let go or trade a guy like Kopitar, no matter the consequences?

There's no good answers for the questions today. We can all go back and question moves that have happened, but it doesn't change where the Kings are. Maybe the best thing to do now is to let all the contracts play out, if you suck you suck, and hope you get lucky with a high pick, because nothing looks all that good. Even Toffoli and Pearson having good seasons this year makes everything that much more complicated.

They say a hard cap punishes success(unless you have the guts to get rid of everyone a year too early instead of a year too late). Well, here they are.

 

[AlphaBravo]

As Kingsfan1 said, if they are not going to be contenders I would rather see the kids play. At least if we lose it will be fun to see the potential. Also, I gave DL and Sutter a pass, but no more. We have a completely different team from 2012and 2014. We need new direction and coaching. These bs point shots don't work.

 

[damacles1156]

I sure did.

I don't know why anyone would expect a team already starved for offense but missing their top two LWs, with a missing starting goalie and some new faces and new looks on the back end, to start the season anything but chaotic.

I don't even think they are playing that bad. The have had two periods so far that have burned them.

Took their foot off the gas period one in SJ. Second period of Philly game.

The team was worse last year when it started 0-3. Injuries to start that last season as well.

My only problem is Purcell/Seto, Those guys don't look like NHL players. They look like former productive players, past their playing days.

Muzzin and Drew need to split up, A-Mart is just not capable of anchor his own line.

Forbort made some mistakes last night, but he is still a rookie. So he is going to make them. Overall, he has been a better option than the Kings had last year so far.

 

[mattgkg]

does greene take the plane ride to minnesota... or bus ride to ontario for conditioning stint and we get some La Due?

also seconding purcell sucking... he looked just like nail yakupov did in edmonton. just all over the place and very ineffective in his skating turning his back to the play and coasting.

 

[King'sPawn]

I don't even think they are playing that bad. The have had two periods so far that have burned them.

Took their foot off the gas period one in SJ. Second period of Philly game.

The team was worse last year when it started 0-3. Injuries to start that last season as well.

My only problem is Purcell/Seto, Those guys don't look like NHL players. They look like former productive players, past their playing days.

Muzzin and Drew need to split up, A-Mart is just not capable of anchor his own line.

Forbort made some mistakes last night, but he is still a rookie. So he is going to make them. Overall, he has been a better option than the Kings had last year so far.

I agree. Bursts of bad hockey which burns them, and haven't capitalized on their opportunities against the opposition.

 

[KingsFan7824]

This is looking like how it looked before Terry Murray got fired.

That's why I still have faith. DL literally cannot ignore it, because he doesn't have his 'recent cup' get out of jail free pass. Either we see him make changes, or he becomes the change. Color me concerned, but not worried.

Pretty different situation than it was in December of 2011. How many 30+ guys with big contracts were around? There was nothing similar to the Brow situation. Penner was terrible in the regular season, but he wasn't signed forever. They had an injury prone winger back then too, but he wasn't signed for another half decade.

 

[Reaper45]

I'm neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed by this team. I'm sufficiently whelmed.

Best we can shoot for is a wildcard spot, boys. This was a transitional year from the moment Lucic didn't re-sign. Accept it, let go, and enjoy the mediocrity.

100%. But I have to say, there was more interference in that game last night that wasn't called than I've seen since before the 04 lockout.

 

[damacles1156]

Really need to turn the center spot into a strength as well.

Kopitar
Carter
Dowd
Shore

Make teams work harder to stop the Kings in transition.

Purcell was not a good signing, the guy can't play hockey at a high level anymore.

Seto is fine cause he can be moved and costs nothing to move around.

 

[Reaper45]

I was just musing to myself, what if the Kings traded Mersch to Vegas with the return being they picked Gaborik or Brown in the Expansion draft. Not a huge deal to lose Mersch when Auger is on the upswing, maybe he can be the King replacement next season? Randomly thinking about the long game.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I agree. Bursts of bad hockey which burns them, and haven't capitalized on their opportunities against the opposition.

Which has been an issue for the last few years. At one time, they were able to handle adversity. If one thing went wrong, everything didn't crumble. Although the first two games in SJ in 2014 didn't look that way. For the last few years, if something goes wrong, everything starts to break down. Even if it's just for 5 minutes in a game, they'll give up 2 or 3 goals in those 5 minutes, and lose lead or go down by multiple goals. It's become too consistent of a thing that happens.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't even think they are playing that bad. The have had two periods so far that have burned them.

Took their foot off the gas period one in SJ. Second period of Philly game.

The team was worse last year when it started 0-3. Injuries to start that last season as well.

My only problem is Purcell/Seto, Those guys don't look like NHL players. They look like former productive players, past their playing days.

Muzzin and Drew need to split up, A-Mart is just not capable of anchor his own line.

Forbort made some mistakes last night, but he is still a rookie. So he is going to make them. Overall, he has been a better option than the Kings had last year so far.

would you say they're like trent green and ethan moreau

Pretty different situation than it was in December of 2011. How many 30+ guys with big contracts were around? There was nothing similar to the Brow situation. Penner was terrible in the regular season, but he wasn't signed forever. They had an injury prone winger back then too, but he wasn't signed for another half decade.

Id' say the bigger difference in the situations was the team defense being a strength, but in all honesty, it's better to find out what your weaknesses are early and correct them than it is to be strong all year masking weaknesses and failing down the stretch (like last year). Thats my point--all the right major pieces are in place, it's the minor pieces that are going to be the kicker (and the major pieces obviously have to play like major pieces, looking at you Drew).

 

[KingTrouty]

does greene take the plane ride to minnesota... or bus ride to ontario for conditioning stint and we get some La Due?

also seconding purcell sucking... he looked just like nail yakupov did in edmonton. just all over the place and very ineffective in his skating turning his back to the play and coasting.

I wanted Versteeg so much more than damned Purcell. It's a shame, but it's over now. And apparently Sutter didn't like Versteeg so it was never gonna happen.

Matt, how was your experience last night? Fun time brudda? (even tho the outcome wasn't what we wanted)

 

[damacles1156]

I was just musing to myself, what if the Kings traded Mersch to Vegas with the return being they picked Gaborik or Brown in the Expansion draft. Not a huge deal to lose Mersch when Auger is on the upswing, maybe he can be the King replacement next season? Randomly thinking about the long game.

No one is going to do the Kings any favor's.

If I am Vegas, I ask for Pearson, 1st round pick to take Brown's contract.

 

[damacles1156]

would you say they're like trent green and ethan moreau



Id' say the bigger difference in the situations was the team defense being a strength, but in all honesty, it's better to find out what your weaknesses are early and correct them than it is to be strong all year masking weaknesses and failing down the stretch (like last year). Thats my point--all the right major pieces are in place, it's the minor pieces that are going to be the kicker (and the major pieces obviously have to play like major pieces, looking at you Drew).

They are exactly like Trent/Ethan.

 

[KingTrouty]

The Kings are the Oregon Ducks of the NHL.

People still think their good based on the name, but they are actually really bad.

They need ol' Chipper back but if he fails in SF, he's going to USC

/digression

 

[CanadianKingsFan14]

Time to take out Greene and but in Gilbert. He had a solid preseason and was arguably our best defenceman. Don't understand why he isn't in the lineup.

 

[KingTrouty]

As Kingsfan1 said, if they are not going to be contenders I would rather see the kids play. At least if we lose it will be fun to see the potential. Also, I gave DL and Sutter a pass, but no more. We have a completely different team from 2012and 2014. We need new direction and coaching. These bs point shots don't work.

So then, can I ask you... What direction do we need to go that an adjusting DL won't take us? Who you got?

 

[KingTrouty]

Time to take out Greene and but in Gilbert. He had a solid preseason and was arguably our best defenceman. Don't understand why he isn't in the lineup.

They need to take out Greene and call up Gravel!! Ugh! I'm so mad he isn't on this squad

 

[damacles1156]

Sutter wouldn't pair Forbort/Gravel together, that would be setting them up to fail.

Would probably look something like this

McNabb/Doughty
Muzzin/Gravel
Forbort/A-Mart

Due to Left/Right combo's

Something like that.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I was just musing to myself, what if the Kings traded Mersch to Vegas with the return being they picked Gaborik or Brown in the Expansion draft. Not a huge deal to lose Mersch when Auger is on the upswing, maybe he can be the King replacement next season? Randomly thinking about the long game.

I can't imagine Mersch would be enough. I don't know if anything outside of insanity would be enough. Either insanity by McPhee in Vegas, or having to trade Mersch, Kempe, LaDue, Toffoli, the next five 1st round picks, and keep 50% of Brown's contract.

Vegas may be an expansion team, but they don't want to screw themselves with the cap. Nobody needs Brown or Gaborik for anything. Not as players. Not as veteran leaders. Not to hit the cap floor.

Id' say the bigger difference in the situations was the team defense being a strength, but in all honesty, it's better to find out what your weaknesses are early and correct them than it is to be strong all year masking weaknesses and failing down the stretch (like last year). Thats my point--all the right major pieces are in place, it's the minor pieces that are going to be the kicker (and the major pieces obviously have to play like major pieces, looking at you Drew).

True. That's been the only thing keeping me optimistic about this season. You don't have to be good enough in October to win the Cup. A lot of things have to go the Kings way though, and the season has in no way started that way.

 

[KingTrouty]

Sutter wouldn't pair Forbort/Gravel together, that would be setting them up to fail.

Would probably look something like this

McNabb/Doughty
Muzzin/Gravel
Forbort/A-Mart

Something like that.

I would love that, Dam. Speed and size on every line, and Sutter gets his "vet presence" on every line. It looks really nice, especially if we aren't going full bore "Championship!"