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

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Not saying he shouldn't get a shot, but there is some nostalgic waxing over LaDue's time with the Kings last year. Like that Eddie Murphy "Raw" bit when the starving guy eats a Saltine and thinks it is the best thing in the world, we were all starving for anything positive last season on the prospect front. He showed promise but got beat consistently and was highly susceptible to sleeping on long outlet passes to a forward that snuck behind him. He had the hype brought about by the supposed reluctance to include him in any trades that led to a bit of a rose-colored glasses view of his play last year. Kind of like how being 6th in the league in defense or whatever made some on here think this was a real kick-ass D-corp when, in actuality, that was pumped up by the fact that the offense didn't try to score at all.

That being said, he's going to have to get up here at some point and learn at the NHL level, but talking about the problems this team's defensemen have at actually paying defense and thinking LaDue is the answer is forgetting that playing defense was his biggest problem last season. I think it is a bit telling that Blake has had no problem bringing up forwards from Ontario but still hasn't brought up LaDue. I think they believe he is better suited to eat big minutes in Ontario as opposed to being a 5/6 or scratch up here because he is not a Top 4 guy at present.
 
BigKing said:
Not saying he shouldn't get a shot, but there is some nostalgic waxing over LaDue's time with the Kings last year. Like that Eddie Murphy "Raw" bit when the starving guy eats a Saltine and thinks it is the best thing in the world, we were all starving for anything positive last season on the prospect front. He showed promise but got beat consistently and was highly susceptible to sleeping on long outlet passes to a forward that snuck behind him. He had the hype brought about by the supposed reluctance to include him in any trades that led to a bit of a rose-colored glasses view of his play last year. Kind of like how being 6th in the league in defense or whatever made some on here think this was a real kick-ass D-corp when, in actuality, that was pumped up by the fact that the offense didn't try to score at all.

That being said, he's going to have to get up here at some point and learn at the NHL level, but talking about the problems this team's defensemen have at actually paying defense and thinking LaDue is the answer is forgetting that playing defense was his biggest problem last season. I think it is a bit telling that Blake has had no problem bringing up forwards from Ontario but still hasn't brought up LaDue. I think they believe he is better suited to eat big minutes in Ontario as opposed to being a 5/6 or scratch up here because he is not a Top 4 guy at present.
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People need to watch LaDue actually play. There are holes in his game still, and he remains in the AHL for now for a reason. Nothing wrong with that ether. Doesn't mean LaDue sucks, just means he needs to round out his game more.
 
Second full NHL season slumps for young players are real sometimes. Forbort has to adjust, cause other players will adjust to you.
 
damacles1156 said:
Forbort is actually a legit NHL Defender, the other two are ?
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Sorry, good point, they seem to me to have a much higher ceiling than forbort.

Dwight King was a legit NHL player too, funny how that doesn't really mean anything though.

LaDue looked really sharp last season, and MacD has much more dimension in his game.
 
Sol said:
Sorry, good point, they seem to me to have a much higher ceiling than forbort.

Dwight King was a legit NHL player too, funny how that doesn't really mean anything though.

LaDue looked really sharp last season, and MacD has much more dimension in his game.
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So you're telling me (A scenario) say Pavel Rosa was a better NHL player than Dwight King ? Since being an actual NHL player doesn't mean anything. Is that what you're saying ?

Also MacD a higher ceiling than Forbort ? You can't be serious.
 
i guess i'm not seeing what's so horribly wrong with forbort. i mean he's an offensive black hole but the scuderi comparisons were apt. i don't think guys like him are valued enough personally.

macD is probably not as good defensively but i think he's at least shown an inclination towards "learning" offense which i've seen none from forbort. i think macD has the potential to grow into a bit more of a useful tool than forbort. i'd also say a guy like forbort has infinitely more trade value than macD so that might be something to think about down the line.
 
MacD has no foot speed. This board spent years bitching about guys like Greene for similar reasons. Shiny new toy syndrome.
 
now that i can't disagree with more unless we're purely talking foot speed against the boards or something.. we've seen him a few times this season rampaging back on the backcheck, catching up to good rushes and at least once leading a rush up the ice.. that play where he dangled a guy at the blue line? he's got wheels. we certainly haven't seen much of it but i don't think that means it isn't there. greene never had that.
 
damacles1156 said:
So you're telling me (A scenario) say Pavel Rosa was a better NHL player than Dwight King ? Since being an actual NHL player doesn't mean anything. Is that what you're saying ?

Also MacD a higher ceiling than Forbort ? You can't be serious.
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Forbort hasn't done anything impressive away from Doughty. Forborts ceiling is hard to judge I'll give you that, but he's not shown anything to put away doubt.
Raccoon Jesus said:
MacD has no foot speed. This board spent years *****ing about guys like Greene for similar reasons. Shiny new toy syndrome.
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Are you f***ing serious?? No foot speed?? Have you not been watching the games at all? He's faster than forbort, and really quick for his size. Have you not seen him hustling down on plays and back checks? What the f***.
 
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Lets try this.

One NHL Defender has played:

121gp 3g 22a 25p +12 avg TOI 18:48, 36% of that is SH, 230 career hits.

The other Defender:

17gp 1g 0a 1p +1 avg TOI 11:05, 2.6% SH, 35 career hits.

One is an established NHL defender, the other has trouble staying in the lineup.

One has faced the toughest match-ups the D has to handle, the other is a fringe 6/7 guy.

I mean seriously guys.

When MacD actually establishes himself as a solid NHL defender, then have a conversation about how much better he is or is not.
 
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Sol said:
Are you ****ing serious?? No foot speed?? Have you not been watching the games at all? He's faster than forbort, and really quick for his size. Have you not seen him hustling down on plays and back checks? What the ****.
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I'll let someone else address this so you don't think I'm just talking out of my ass apparently.
 
Sol said:
That's fair. The dude above me thinks he's pretty quick too. But I still love you even tho I think you're way far off.
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To me the biggest reason he's not regularly in the lineup is his skating. That's his major weakness. Dangling someone has nothing to do with his skating because it's not like he went wide with speed. Rampaging on the backcheck, honestly I don't remember that or him catching up to anyone like that. What I do know is he's frequently unable to cover for himself because he's not agile/explosive enough to recover (like Muzzin) and he's not winning any footraces, and luckily he's pretty smart with his defensive positioning because if he's burned, he's burned. Reminds me too much of McNabb's skating. To be fair MacD is a total f***ing aircraft carrier so maybe some of it is Kopitar syndrome where it's just really big steps, but I really genuinely do not remember his skating being a positive on any plays whereas I can say the total opposite on Forbort.
 
Sol said:
Are you ****ing serious?? No foot speed?? Have you not been watching the games at all? He's faster than forbort, and really quick for his size. Have you not seen him hustling down on plays and back checks? What the ****.
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Forbort is the better skater
 
MacDermid serves as a viable enforcer for our squad, as well as a 6-7 D.

I love him. He isn't a top 4, I doubt he ever will be. But he can play hockey, and he can surely damned fight.

We need a player like him on our squad. We're not soft without him, but we're incredibly tougher with him. Especially rivalry games, where bitches like Tkachuk or Perry may need to be dealt with. Andreoff is a tough dude at times, a poor man's Lappy... a very poor man's Lappy, but he is no MacDermid. Same with Clifford. MacDiesel makes the opponent shyte themselves.
 
Ladue will get his chance at some point this season. Right now he still needs to work on his game in Ontario, but maybe around by January or earlier if there are defensive injuries.

I vote we see where we are by the end of the year and reassess. Right now its good enough to keep a playoff spot, but the Ducks will be getting Kesler and Getzlaf by then and we don't know how the rest of the division will stand up. Its still way too early in the season to be sure of anything yet. If the team can continue to hold a playoff spot until Carter gets back, we'll be in a good position. And If Ladue or Gravel force their way back onto the big club and make a defensemen expendable then we can trade for forward help. But I think as of right now its still too soon make a move for either a defensemen or a forward. Just roll with what we got for now.
 
The aggregate talent level of this group of dmen is just too low to put out there and expect this team to be among the top 10 in the league

Forbort
MacDermid
Folin
Fantenberg

The first three all provide the same skill set, and what the Kings actually need is what Fantenberg brings. It’s hard to see why LaDue isn’t getting his shot.
 
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