GDT: GM#53 LA Kings vs Edmonton Oilers @7:30

[Raccoon Jesus]

Have to enjoy LaDue flashing last night, but since he's been up:

-Responsible for the only goal against v. Calgary
-Limited minutes in the Dallas game
-Looked good against the Tuscon team
-Last night's game (Best of the bunch)

Edmonton has skill up front and I liked that I saw some positive progression with his defense, although getting caught up ice in a tie game in the 3rd for an outnumbered chance against was worrisome. That was my biggest concern with him last year: not his board work but rather being caught out of position. We could all see the skating and offensive spark, but his defensive deficiencies seemed to be ignored.

It is too bad he didn't play in the Nashville game since I'd like to see him play and get real minutes against a good team and have it look like the last two games. Hopefully he keeps progressing. This road trip should be a good test.

I'm not going as far to say "He's a Top 4 guy" yet, but he has the potential if his defense comes around. It is obvious he's better than my boy MacDermid and he's better than Fantenberg. I think everyone here knew this but there is a reason they had him marinate a bit longer in Ontario. For those making Voynov comparisons, he didn't make the team out of camp either and he was far more accomplished at that point than LaDue is.

Strange...it's like doing a Lombardi-type thing of having him get major minutes in the AHL for a bit longer might be good for his development.

And as mentioned he's getting very preferential starts, so it's tough to say what he'd do with harder minutes. Nice to shelter him for a bit, build his confidence, and see what he can do. We definitely can use the dynamic offensive guy on the back end because once the puck is moving we're golden. Been getting hemmed in our zone with better raw defenders than LaDue, he provides a controlled out. Not proclaiming him a savior, and I'm sure after this initial adrenaline surge there will be a valley. Not saying he's Voynov directly, but he sure reminds me a lot of the shot in the arm he gave the roster with similar types of abilities. Of course, Voynov had Mitchell as a safety blanket to cover his early adventures, and we don't have that luxury.

I think him looking good last night is a very good sign because let's not forget Edmonton has been on fire lately. They're still Edmonton for sure, but have to give credit where credit is due.

Like I said, my big concern is what this may now mean for Doughty. Obviously he'll still be used in all situations, but LaDue is already eating into his offensive minutes in sort of a pseudo-Burns/Vlasic situation. Last night's example is Drew's 28% ozone faceoffs to LaDue's 70%.

 

[BigKing]

Even with his deficiencies on defense, this team has too many defensemen with zero offensive acumen after 8/6/27 so he needs to be in the lineup: especially with Martinez out.

 

[Little Psycho]

It's interesting that Blake and co told Kopitar to lose weight for this season. He does look faster.

 

[BigKing]

It's interesting that Blake and co told Kopitar to lose weight for this season. He does look faster.

Pretty sure previous management had issues with Kopitar's conditioning in the past as well.

 

[Fishhead]

LaDue is looking more like I expected from training camp, if he keeps it up it will be huge for this team.

What I liked the most is that he looked good with Muzzin, who even with his skills struggles to find chemistry with partners. If they can be rolled together, it gives a lot of flexibility.

Traditional offensive/defensive L/R

Gravel/Forbort - Doughty
Muzzin-Ladue
Martinez-Folin

Martinez could also be slotted with Doughty, although I would avoid the Forbort-Folin pairing

Martinez-Doughty
Muzzin-LaDue
Gravel-Folin

Lots of options when shortening the bench too. The effectiveness of 3 right shot D can't be overstated. Very few D can play both sides and be completely comfortable.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think it can't be understated what a boon it will be to Martinez to be on his proper side as well.

Martinez-Folin is an excellent bottom pairing.

Edit: in my perfect world, we trade for McDonagh, and roll Doughty-Muzzin / McDonagh-Ladue / Martinez-Folin all the way to the Cup

 

[King'sPawn]

Love the victim complex of a fanbase that has had half the first overall picks this decade.

 

[Jason Squirties]

Have to enjoy LaDue flashing last night, but since he's been up:

-Responsible for the only goal against v. Calgary
-Limited minutes in the Dallas game
-Looked good against the Tuscon team
-Last night's game (Best of the bunch)

Edmonton has skill up front and I liked that I saw some positive progression with his defense, although getting caught up ice in a tie game in the 3rd for an outnumbered chance against was worrisome. That was my biggest concern with him last year: not his board work but rather being caught out of position. We could all see the skating and offensive spark, but his defensive deficiencies seemed to be ignored.

It is too bad he didn't play in the Nashville game since I'd like to see him play and get real minutes against a good team and have it look like the last two games. Hopefully he keeps progressing. This road trip should be a good test.

I'm not going as far to say "He's a Top 4 guy" yet, but he has the potential if his defense comes around. It is obvious he's better than my boy MacDermid and he's better than Fantenberg. I think everyone here knew this but there is a reason they had him marinate a bit longer in Ontario. For those making Voynov comparisons, he didn't make the team out of camp either and he was far more accomplished at that point than LaDue is.

Strange...it's like doing a Lombardi-type thing of having him get major minutes in the AHL for a bit longer might be good for his development.

I think LaDue was also having one of his worst shifts of the game before he scored that goal as well. I was putting my hands up from the couch twice on that shift before he scored. Just found that interesting.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think LaDue was also having one of his worst shifts of the game before he scored that goal as well. I was putting my hands up from the couch twice on that shift before he scored. Just found that interesting.

That PP was goofy as shit with three Kings standing not even stick's length away from each other

Interesting to see they just went with the trial by fire PP 2 with Gravel and LaDue though

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Love the victim complex of a fanbase that has had half the first overall picks this decade.

But y'see, the league is totally against them and only want California teams to succeed!

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Pretty sure previous management had issues with Kopitar's conditioning in the past as well.

Kopitar has had conditioning issues since he was drafted. Remember the infamous breakfast video during I think his sophomore season?

Dude’s a pro athlete and making himself crepes every morning.

 

[KINGS17]

Even with his deficiencies on defense, this team has too many defensemen with zero offensive acumen after 8/6/27 so he needs to be in the lineup: especially with Martinez out.

Wrong thread

 

[Bandit]

27:11 TOI, 3:40 in SH/TOI to lead both teams, 2 assists, +2, 66.33 CF%, 80% HDCF%, all with only 2 o-zone faceoffs at 5v5, the hardest starts at only 28% ozone starts, and 13.5 5v5 minutes vs. the best player in the world. McDavid actually had zero high-danger scoring chances with Drew on the ice.

Overrated though, for sure.

Only real problem with LaDue's emergence is he's going to get force-fed preferential minutes which means Doughty will possibly get stuck with Forbort and an assload of d-zone starts.

How is that calculated? I'd call the chance that McDavid scored on a pretty high danger chance, but that's just me.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

How is that calculated? I'd call the chance that McDavid scored on a pretty high danger chance, but that's just me.

Goal =/= high danger shot. Think basically home plate right in front of the net to the mid slot in general. Even if it was just '1,' that's still a damn fine piece of work on McDavid, let me check how he fared vs. others last few games.

Edit: vs. us, McDavid only had 2 HDCF, 0 vs. Drew.
vs. Colorado, he had 3, tops on Edm forwards
vs. TB he had 7, 2 of which were against Hedman in only 6 min of time (remember Drew played vs. him 13 min).
vs. Calgary he had 4, tops in the game.

That's a damn fine piece of defending for the amount of time he was put up against McDavid.

 

[kingsfan28]

Pretty sure previous management had issues with Kopitar's conditioning in the past as well.

Yeah, it was an issue for sure. All the boys would be in town early to train while Kopi was back home sailing and climbing mountains.

 

[Little Psycho]

Kopitar has had conditioning issues since he was drafted. Remember the infamous breakfast video during I think his sophomore season?

Dude’s a pro athlete and making himself crepes every morning.

Oh how can I forget that along with his Simpson slippers. Sounded like it was probably the first time in his career that they called him out for his conditioning.