Grading the Players

[Ziggy Stardust]

Figured a fun exercise would be to determine what category each player fits in.

- Exceeded expectations
- Performing as expected
- Disappointing
- Incomplete/Too Early to Judge

Exceeded Expectations:
Tanner Pearson
Derek Forbort

Performing as expected:
Jeff Carter
Drew Doughty
Dustin Brown
Alec Martinez
Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford
Jordan Nolan
Nic Dowd
Nick Shore

Disappointing:
Anze Kopitar
Marian Gaborik
Tyler Toffoli
Jake Muzzin
Andy Andreoff
Brayden McNabb

Incomplete/Too Early to Judge:
Adrian Kempe
Kevin Gravel
Paul LaDue
Jarome Iginla
Jonathan Quick
Ben Bishop


In my opinion, only two players are performing better than we anticipated and have been pleasant surprises this season.

I'm hopeful with a lot of the young players but as of this point, I think it's too early to judge their performances, but I certainly wouldn't consider any of them to be disappointments, but I also wouldn't say they've exceeded expectations, so you could classify most if not all of them are performing as expected.

I also find that both goalies deserve an incomplete grade as well seeing how they haven't really appeared in many games. Quick is looking like his normal self though, so he can be upgraded to performing as expected.

Iginla has mostly been invisible save for one game and it's too soon to judge him as well, but seeing how he came in with little expectations, I can't say I'm disappointed or surprised by anything he's done. He's still a capable shooter, but that's pretty much all he's limited to at this stage in his career.

So, how would you guys grade the Kings? I realize there are still 14 games left on the schedule, but I don't think anyone is going to surprise us with a miraculous performance from this point on.

Click to read more...

 

[KINGS17]

I think Jeff Carter is providing more than we should expect. The guy has had a great year.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think Jeff Carter is providing more than we should expect. The guy has had a great year.

I agree with that. He's tailed off lately, but if we're looking at the whole body of work, that's about the only thing I'd change on Ziggy's list.

Edit: I might even move Drew to 'disappointing' not because on the whole he hasn't been good-to-great but because we need even more than that from him this year and he's followed up his insane Norris performance with a really uneven, 'average' performance (slow start, went nuclear for a bit, now is channeling the ghost of last year's playoffs).

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I agree with both points and thought of doing both. I expect more out of Drew, and Carter, least before this cold stretch, kept this team in playoff contention, unlike Kopitar.

 

[Pandaman11]

The reason Patrick/Hischier won't wear a Kings jersey:
Jeff Carter
Peter Budaj

Exceeded Expectations:
Tanner Pearson
Derek Forbort
Paul LaDue (sort of)

Performing as expected:
Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez
Jordan Nolan
Nic Dowd
Dustin Brown (if ~ 13 goals and 35 pts for 5.9M is what you expect, then sure, why not)

Disappointing:
Darryl Sutter
Anze Kopitar
Trevor Lewis
Marian Gaborik
Kyle Clifford
Jake Muzzin
Andy Andreoff
Brayden McNabb
Nick Shore
Jeff Zatkoff

Incomplete/Too Early to Judge:
Tyler Toffoli
Adrian Kempe
Kevin Gravel
Jarome Iginla
Jonathan Quick
Ben Bishop

 

[HookKing]

I agree with that. He's tailed off lately, but if we're looking at the whole body of work, that's about the only thing I'd change on Ziggy's list.

Edit: I might even move Drew to 'disappointing' not because on the whole he hasn't been good-to-great but because we need even more than that from him this year and he's followed up his insane Norris performance with a really uneven, 'average' performance (slow start, went nuclear for a bit, now is channeling the ghost of last year's playoffs).

I would move DD to disappointing. Age 27 is when defensemen hit their prime. He isn't getting any better (especially on offense). Not to say his current level has declined but I expect more upside from him.

Even though TT has been "disappointing" it isn't unexpected. The guy obviously can't skate and looks to be trying his best.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Good ol' Kopitar taking up nearly 15% of the King's cap while on pace for 6 even strength goals. Biggest disaster on this team by far. Hell of a thank you after taking Dean to the woodshed and bending him over. This team is done like Mike Richards if he doesn't rebound next year and pulls a #23.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I'll do letter grades instead.

Derek Forbort A+
Jeff Carter A+
Tanner Pearson A
Drew Doughty B+
Trevor Lewis B+
Alec Martinez B
Kevin Gravel B
Dustin Brown B-
Tyler Toffoli B-
Nic Dowd C+
Kyle Clifford C+
Jordan Nolan C+
Nick Shore C
Jake Muzzin D
Andy Andreoff D
Anze Kopitar D-
Brayden McNabb D-
Marian Gaborik F

Too early to grade: Kempe, Quick, Bishop, Iginla, Ladue

 

[parrotdude]

Don't post often, but here goes. My changes in bold.

Exceeded Expectations:
Jeff Carter Deserves recognition for what he's done this season
Tanner Pearson
Derek Forbort
Dustin Brown Lower expectations from last two seasons, but he's shown some life this season.
Trevor Lewis Didn't expect Stone Hands' shooting percentage to be over 7%

Performing as expected:
Alec Martinez
Kyle Clifford
Jordan Nolan
Nic Dowd Gave some hope at 3C. Considered moving him up due to hot start, but cooled off to Shore's level.
Nick Shore
Andy Andreoff

Disappointing:
Drew Doughty Followed up Norris season with a stinker.
Tyler Toffoli
Brayden McNabb

Wheels Fell Off
Anze Kopitar Don't need to pile on
Marian Gaborik Has played poorly since 2014 Cup
Jake Muzzin Jake the Mistake has returned

Incomplete/Too Early to Judge:
Adrian Kempe
Kevin Gravel
Paul LaDue
Jarome Iginla
Jonathan Quick
Ben Bishop

 

[CowMix]

Martinez is having a career year, its so weird how little respect he gets on these boards.

Nolan has also been really good when he has played, but injuries have been his problem.

Brown's performance kind of depends on what you expect of him, he is definitely having an improved year which is good but nowhere near his contract expectations.

 

[Fishhead]

Everyone I remember from what I've seen, based on play, positioning, errors, etc.


Jeff Carter A (Best player award)
Tanner Pearson A (Most consistent award)

Jordan Nolan B
Trevor Lewis B+
Dustin Brown B-
Derek Forbort B
Alec Martinez B+
Kevin Gravel B
Budaj B
LaDue B
Kempe B-
Iginla B

Setoguchi C+
Tyler Toffoli C-
Drew Doughty C+
Nic Dowd C+
Kyle Clifford C+
Nick Shore C
Anze Kopitar C-
Tom Gilbert C-

Jake Muzzin D+ (WTF happened to you award)
Andy Andreoff D
Brayden McNabb D
Marian Gaborik D-

Edward Purcell F

Jonathan Quick I

 

[HookKing]

Martinez is having a career year, its so weird how little respect he gets on these boards.

Nolan has also been really good when he has played, but injuries have been his problem.

Brown's performance kind of depends on what you expect of him, he is definitely having an improved year which is good but nowhere near his contract expectations.

In the o-zone. Defensively he's not much better than Muzzin.

 

[CowMix]

In the o-zone. Defensively he's not much better than Muzzin.

Hes been better than him defensively this year, been blocking a ton shots, he was only been bad defensively when Muzzin was his partner.

 

[HookKing]

Hes been better than him defensively this year, been blocking a ton shots, he was only been bad defensively when Muzzin was his partner.

Not really. He played with Doughty and that was a disaster. He played with Forbort and that was a disaster. Amart is a solid 3rd pairing guy.

 

[Muzzfan]

Not really. He played with Doughty and that was a disaster. He played with Forbort and that was a disaster. Amart is a solid 3rd pairing guy.

Putting two puck movers together isn't really a great idea, so it doesn't surprise me that Doughty/Martinez would be less than ideal.

Quite honestly, Muzzin's ability to read and react defensively and to make plays on offense (other than a 2-3 stretch when he was scoring) has been god awful. He has been a serious disappointment.

I can't see giving up on Martinez for Muzzin.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Andy Andreoff is disappointing Kings fans

aim high my dear friends, aim high

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Andy Andreoff is disappointing Kings fans

aim high my dear friends, aim high

He went from scoring 8 goals and 10 points and looking hopeful as a fourth line grinder who can chip in to a completely useless option. Only two assists, zero goals this season. Not that expectations were ever high for him, but he's gotten worse and has been completely useless.

 

[Fishhead]

He went from scoring 8 goals and 10 points and looking hopeful as a fourth line grinder who can chip in to a completely useless option. Only two assists, zero goals this season. Not that expectations were ever high for him, but he's gotten worse and has been completely useless.

He's following the Clifford curve where many of us were excited that he might become more than a plug, but never panned out. Clifford has done OK and contributed, but for a while there he looked like he could become a 3rd liner.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Andreoff is another guy who got hurt and came back looking shaky. I feel for him more than I feel for some guys because you know he's always busting his ass. I think he's an NHLer and one with some upside--like Nolan--but he's unfortunately redundant unless he can turn into a third liner over night.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Lombardi needs to do something with the trio of Andreoff, Clifford, and Nolan. We only need 2 of these 3.

Nolan has played the best out of all 3 in his career as a King, but has been hurt. Clifford has a good year, then a bad year, a good playoffs then a bad playoffs. He makes quite a bit of money. Andreoff has potential to be better than both - he scored more goals then either has and in only 60 games - but has done nothing this year.

Eventually, the Kings will give Kurtis MacDermid a shot and he will playing in the top 6 and they won't need all these bottom 6 grinders - likely one playing and one sitting and Kurtis can handle any problems.

 

[Fishhead]

Lombardi needs to do something with the trio of Andreoff, Clifford, and Nolan. We only need 2 of these 3.

Nolan has played the best out of all 3 in his career as a King, but has been hurt. Clifford has a good year, then a bad year, a good playoffs then a bad playoffs. He makes quite a bit of money. Andreoff has potential to be better than both - he scored more goals then either has and in only 60 games - but has done nothing this year.

Eventually, the Kings will give Kurtis MacDermid a shot and he will playing in the top 6 and they won't need all these bottom 6 grinders - likely one playing and one sitting and Kurtis can handle any problems.

Needing toughness from the bottom 6 is one of the drawbacks of having a softer defense. A tougher back line means you don't have to have so much of that from the forwards. Greene in his prime was perfect for this team. Tough, solid, good PK'er, and so on. Outside of McNabb, no defensman now really punishes, and McNabb isn't a fighter so he doesn't bring that element at all.

The Kings were so tough from 2012-2014 because they had multiple guys that could hit and skate on defense. I wouldn't say Willie was a necessarily tough player, but if you went to make a play he made sure there was a price to pay. Now guys on other teams rarely have to worry about paying a price when going after loose pucks. The team as a whole still hits a lot, but like their shots many of them aren't effective.

Unless we get tougher on the back end, I see the Kings carrying 3 similar tough type players, 2 to play and one to fill in.

 

[Johnny Utah]

This is why I think one of two things happen this summer. Either McNabb is a goner in the expansion draft OR the Kings move out a Muzzin/Martinez for a forward in the summer.

Trading Muzzin/Martinez:
Doughty-Forbort
Muzzin/Martinez-LaDue
Gravel-MacDermid
extra: McNabb

Losing McNabb:
Doughty-Forbort
Martinez-LaDue
Muzzin-MacDermid
extra: Gravel

Agree Fishhead - in 2012 Kings had Nolan, Fraser, King, Brown, Penner, Richards', Mitchell, Greene. The Kings were loaded with toughness or at least big guys who could lean on you or wear you down.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Lombardi needs to do something with the trio of Andreoff, Clifford, and Nolan. We only need 2 of these 3.

Nolan has played the best out of all 3 in his career as a King, but has been hurt. Clifford has a good year, then a bad year, a good playoffs then a bad playoffs. He makes quite a bit of money. Andreoff has potential to be better than both - he scored more goals then either has and in only 60 games - but has done nothing this year.

Eventually, the Kings will give Kurtis MacDermid a shot and he will playing in the top 6 and they won't need all these bottom 6 grinders - likely one playing and one sitting and Kurtis can handle any problems.

Why do we need to keep two? Why not get rid of them all.

 

[Fishhead]

Everyone I remember from what I've seen, based on play, positioning, errors, etc.


Jeff Carter F
Tanner Pearson F
Jordan Nolan F
Trevor Lewis F
Dustin Brown F
Derek Forbort F
Alec Martinez F
Kevin Gravel F
Budaj F
LaDue F
Kempe F
Iginla F
Tyler Toffoli F
Drew Doughty Guantanamo
Nic Dowd F
Kyle Clifford F
Nick Shore F
Anze Kopitar F
Jake Muzzin Firing Squad
Andy Andreoff F
Brayden McNabb F
Marian Gaborik F

Edited after recent games

 

[rajuabju]

Outside of Carter, everyone on this team gets a big F from me.