GDT: GM#25 LA Kings vs Detroit Red Wings@4:30

[KingsFan7824]

See, I've come to terms with the idea that I like Gaborik being the selfish guy on his own line and letting Kopitar be the shooter on his. I don't think those are bad by any means though, I'm intrigued by Iafallo at C, but I also dont want to break what's working

Seems like it's always been a key thing to do. Gaborik was so hot in the 2014 playoffs, that Kopitar could go goalless against the Hawks and Rangers. The next year, Gaborik had a very good year, but Kopitar had a then career low in both goals and shots on net, because he seemed to forced plays to Gaborik so often.

 

[Bandit]

I've been thinking... I really don't miss this dude on the payroll or on the ice this year.

 

[lumbergh]

I don’t mean to rain on the parade, but the kings need to clean up their own zone and dial down the turnovers. I get that they won 4-1, but Quick bailed them out big time, several times.

Great to see Kopitar score, but he put on yet another clinic all over the ice last night.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I don’t mean to rain on the parade, but the kings need to clean up their own zone and dial down the turnovers. I get that they won 4-1, but Quick bailed them out big time, several times.

Great to see Kopitar score, but he put on yet another clinic all over the ice last night.

The unforced turnovers due to lazy, easily anticipated, back-and-forth passing between d-men drives me nuts. They also tend to get trapped in their own end often when they softly play the puck around the boards and in turn, get hemmed in their zone when they could have quickly gotten the puck out of the zone. One dman in particular who has been dreadful in this regard is Forbort. He just seems so slow to react.

Doughty seemed a lot less restrained not having to babysit that anchor.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don’t mean to rain on the parade, but the kings need to clean up their own zone and dial down the turnovers. I get that they won 4-1, but Quick bailed them out big time, several times.

Great to see Kopitar score, but he put on yet another clinic all over the ice last night.

You're not wrong, the biggest difference between last night's game and some previous was the goaltending.

Like Ziggy says, it's maddening how much of it is self-inflicted. I have faith it will be cleaned up because it doesn't look like systematic issues, it's just bonehead f***ing turnovers by mostly d-men who have a history of making good outlet passes

 

[Fishhead]

You're not wrong, the biggest difference between last night's game and some previous was the goaltending.

Like Ziggy says, it's maddening how much of it is self-inflicted. I have faith it will be cleaned up because it doesn't look like systematic issues, it's just bonehead ****ing turnovers by mostly d-men who have a history of making good outlet passes

A lot of that can be attributed to experience, or lack of it. Fant is new to the NHL, even though he has pro experience the ice is very different. Forbort looked really good when he first came in, but started tailing off last year and so far this year has been poor overall clearing the zone and handling guys on the rush. Who knows who the real Forbort is. MacD is very green and has been hit or miss when he's in there. Solid at times, but easily exploited at others.

I am encouraged by Folin lately. He wasn't good but seems to have settled in and has been really solid. His positioning has been noticeably better and he looks confident out there. Hopefully his struggles are behind him.

 

[Reaper45]

I've been thinking... I really don't miss this dude on the payroll or on the ice this year.

I like Lucic, but he's a battleship. Outdated as f*** but cool for the nostalgia.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Brown already with 10 goals and 21 points in 25 games.

He’s well on his way to getting back to the numbers he used to consistently produce up until 2013.

 

[Little Psycho]

I've been thinking... I really don't miss this dude on the payroll or on the ice this year.

That was a bullet we dodged. Cackling at the trade proposals for him on the trade boards.

 

[lexlavender]

Hopefully with Forbort getting bottom line minutes now he can rebuild his game.

 

[BigKing]

If anything, that proves the up and down nature of fans. The team was red hot to start the year, and everyone was great. Except Muzzin. Lately they've taken a dip, especially Muzzin, and it all needs to be blown up. People were excited about Rosa for a bit too.

Of course, but I have a little more leeway for it when it comes to getting excited about a player as opposed to said excitement also leading to the fellating of a rookie GM while crapping all over the outgoing one because the new guy signed a 6/7 defenseman while the reason for the hot start was almost entirely on the shoulders of players who were already here. Outside of that, I'm just not a huge fan of his game and believe MacDermid has had more of an impact but he receives more criticism than Fantenberg.

Anyways, nice to get a real win. After going to nearly every home game this month (didn't go to the 4-0 win, of course), these guys can stay out on the road for all of December based on the results they are getting. Maybe they can petition the league to get the December home games moved to road games.

 

[Sol]

Hopefully with Forbort getting bottom line minutes now he can rebuild his game.

He really needs it. But I don't think he's capable of being the player people want him to be. Forbort just has really poor decision making with the puck and his defensive awareness can be really bad at times as well.

Hopefully he can improve, or they should just cut down his ice time.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Wow, only 24 shots faced yet he allowed a goal. Any other elite goalie would have the shutout. #systemgoalie

 

[Frolov 6'3]

I just keep watching all goals from last night.

Brown and his laser.
Kopi and Doughty's one touch pass which I have rarely seen as Kings fan.
Kopitar's sick wrister but most of all Kempe's ridiculous fast hands, how fast was that ? Backhand/Forehand.

 

[mbar]

He really needs it. But I don't think he's capable of being the player people want him to be. Forbort just has really poor decision making with the puck and his defensive awareness can be really bad at times as well.

Hopefully he can improve, or they should just cut down his ice time.

Any good defense options in Ontario? Gravel? La Due? Someone else?

We've brought up lots of forwards for NHL exposure but no defenders this season.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He really needs it. But I don't think he's capable of being the player people want him to be. Forbort just has really poor decision making with the puck and his defensive awareness can be really bad at times as well.

Hopefully he can improve, or they should just cut down his ice time.

Hopefully with Forbort getting bottom line minutes now he can rebuild his game.

I got the sense from Stevens' quotes regarding reuniting Doughty/Muzzin that Forbort's training wheels are off now and they want to see what he can do when he has to be assertive rather than just being babysat by Doughty. I'd definitely expect growing pains, but he's shown he can play 20ish minutes up and down the lineup. He's not stellar, and he's very inconsistent so far (growing pains), but he's very much ironing out his identity. No clue telling who he ends up being, but he seems to do better when his minutes are managed to under 20 (but over 15).

I just keep watching all goals from last night.

Brown and his laser.
Kopi and Doughty's one touch pass which I have rarely seen as Kings fan.
Kopitar's sick wrister but most of all Kempe's ridiculous fast hands, how fast was that ? Backhand/Forehand.

With a player bearing down on him too, I loved that, very soft mitts.

 

[lumbergh]

I got the sense from Stevens' quotes regarding reuniting Doughty/Muzzin that Forbort's training wheels are off now and they want to see what he can do when he has to be assertive rather than just being babysat by Doughty. I'd definitely expect growing pains, but he's shown he can play 20ish minutes up and down the lineup. He's not stellar, and he's very inconsistent so far (growing pains), but he's very much ironing out his identity. No clue telling who he ends up being, but he seems to do better when his minutes are managed to under 20 (but over 15).

I'm gonna go on the record and say that I've never gotten the Forbort hype. Bottom pairing, sure. Top pairing, no way. Skates well, good size, important characteristics of a stay-at-home defenseman, but little offensive awareness to elevate him to more than a bottom pairing guy. Not quite mean enough either. Just not great at anything.

I certainly hope he gets better, but I'm not expecting it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm gonna go on the record and say that I've never gotten the Forbort hype. Bottom pairing, sure. Top pairing, no way. Skates well, good size, important characteristics of a stay-at-home defenseman, but little offensive awareness to elevate him to more than a bottom pairing guy. Not quite mean enough either. Just not great at anything.

I certainly hope he gets better, but I'm not expecting it.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Forbort 'hype' so not sure what you mean. He looked very good with Doughty for a while then that fell off (like McNabb). Consistency is an issue for top-pairing duties but at least he's shown he can move up in a limited capacity. Theoretically could be a #4 but like you say doesn't really excel at anything, simply a complementary guy that's good at everything. Skates well, good first pass, I think he's getting burned more lately because he's being a bit more aggressive which I think is an important development. Damn good PKer though, that reach is awesome. Like I said, still working on that identity. Obviously less than ideal if he plays with Drew, but I'm comfortable with him anywhere else. in theory he'd make a great pairing with a guy like LaDue, RHD puck mover.

 

[Reaper45]

So Forbort is basically growing into becoming Rob Scuderi who was definitely not bottom pairing until the end of his career. There's been no hype ever for Forbort but he's a top 4 defenseman for sure at this stage of his career.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So Forbort is basically growing into becoming Rob Scuderi who was definitely not bottom pairing until the end of his career. There's been no hype ever for Forbort but he's a top 4 defenseman for sure at this stage of his career.

This season he’s played exactly like Scuderi did during his last run here.

 

[Sol]

I'm gonna go on the record and say that I've never gotten the Forbort hype. Bottom pairing, sure. Top pairing, no way. Skates well, good size, important characteristics of a stay-at-home defenseman, but little offensive awareness to elevate him to more than a bottom pairing guy. Not quite mean enough either. Just not great at anything.

I certainly hope he gets better, but I'm not expecting it.

100%. I don't get the hype either. I look at a lot of aspects of his game and he's not really great at anything. His defensive awareness is decent, his play with the puck is so awful, he has a mediocre passing ability, and his shot is non-existent. I've seen the forbort hype that you're talking about. He's not top 4 that's for sure. I don't think he pans out. Everyone is good with Doughty.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Forbort 'hype' so not sure what you mean. He looked very good with Doughty for a while then that fell off (like McNabb). Consistency is an issue for top-pairing duties but at least he's shown he can move up in a limited capacity. Theoretically could be a #4 but like you say doesn't really excel at anything, simply a complementary guy that's good at everything. Skates well, good first pass, I think he's getting burned more lately because he's being a bit more aggressive which I think is an important development. Damn good PKer though, that reach is awesome. Like I said, still working on that identity. Obviously less than ideal if he plays with Drew, but I'm comfortable with him anywhere else. in theory he'd make a great pairing with a guy like LaDue, RHD puck mover.

People defend him vehemently on these boards. And I know you said growing pains, but I never have seen any flashes of potential to say there's more he can expand on.

I saw that with Kempe so I knew he had room to grow. I just dont see any of that with Forbort. He's just really bad with the puck and he's okay away from it.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Even though LaDue had a poor or okay training camp, I would like for him to get another shot at the NHL this year. In my opinion, outside of Doughty, Martinez, and Muzzin, none of the other defensemen in our lineup have really stolen a spot. LaDue had a little lapse, but I have seen enough of him last year preseason and regular season to know that he can be a solid second pairing defenseman, and a lot better than who we have in the lineup now. I have also been pleasantly surprised with MacD. I am surprised he is not a regular on our bottom pairing.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Add me to the camp of wanting LaDue back up I think we need to do something about our defense and seeing what we have in him is our main priority imo . I think if he can take a spot on the 2nd pairing it would open up a Martinez trade

 

[Sol]

Add me to the camp of wanting LaDue back up I think we need to do something about our defense and seeing what we have in him is our main priority imo . I think if he can take a spot on the 2nd pairing it would open up a Martinez trade

Agreed, he was one of the very few bright spots last season. Don't know how he didn't get a shot?

 

[Sol]

Even though LaDue had a poor or okay training camp, I would like for him to get another shot at the NHL this year. In my opinion, outside of Doughty, Martinez, and Muzzin, none of the other defensemen in our lineup have really stolen a spot. LaDue had a little lapse, but I have seen enough of him last year preseason and regular season to know that he can be a solid second pairing defenseman, and a lot better than who we have in the lineup now. I have also been pleasantly surprised with MacD. I am surprised he is not a regular on our bottom pairing.

I think LaDue and MacD are better than Forbort.