Here and Now: The Preseason

[Lt Dan]

Good looking out regulate

Tonight's lineup

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Carter
Wagner-Lizotte-Toffoli
Clifford-Amadio-Lewis

Bjornfot-Doughty
Martinez-Roy
Hutton-Walker

Quick
Campbell

so our possible starting night lineup??

 

[kings11]

Well, if the Kings don't want to waive any D and Bjornfot stays for now, then yes, one of Walker or Roy will be sent down for a few weeks. I wouldn't bet against "partner" as Roy is called by his D partner Martinez so far in preseason. Roy came up last year and never left the line up. Walker was in and out of the line up like MacDermid. Regardless, Bricks and Clague will likely play together again, I'd imagine Mikey will pair with Roy or Walker, Durzi would probably be competing with Strand on the 3rd pair for the RD. Then you have Phillips, Reddekopp, Stanton (AHL vet) and Gottlieb also on the left side. Durzi and Reddekopp were both exposed badly as a pairing in the exhibition opener, a combined minus 6.

Best bet would be to go with defensive pairings that have familiarity with each other

Brinkley-Clague... didn't like this pairing at all last season
Anderson-Roy... In my mind, this would be our best defensive/offensive pairing
Phillips-Durzi... Could be good to let them try and reignite last seasons magic

Roy could always go back to the wing to help create another defensive slot
Strand shows promise and can/will be a double digit goal scorer on the backend
Reddekopp just isnt good enough
Stanton/Gottlieb would fight for the last spot

It's good to have so much talent, so close to the NHL... I left Bjornfot(Sweden) off because of the logjam we already have

 

[Little Psycho]

More Bjornfot!

 

[regulate]

Good looking out regulate


so our possible starting night lineup??

From LA Kings Insider: Quotes from TMac.

Will this be our lineup that starts in Edmonton? I couldn’t tell you that right now, because there are some good players that aren’t playing tonight. Will it change from Edmonton to Calgary? Quite possibly, and like most teams we’ll be flexible and move guys in and out.”

 

[kings11]

Tonight's lineup

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Carter
Wagner-Lizotte-Toffoli
Clifford-Amadio-Lewis

Bjornfot-Doughty
Martinez-Roy
Hutton-Walker

Quick
Campbell

Really dislike Kempe as a Center let alone our 2C

 

[regulate]

Best bet would be to go with defensive pairings that have familiarity with each other

Brinkley-Clague... didn't like this pairing at all last season
Anderson-Roy... In my mind, this would be our best defensive/offensive pairing
Phillips-Durzi... Could be good to let them try and reignite last seasons magic

Roy could always go back to the wing to help create another defensive slot
Strand shows promise and can/will be a double digit goal scorer on the backend
Reddekopp just isnt good enough
Stanton/Gottlieb would fight for the last spot

It's good to have so much talent, so close to the NHL... I left Bjornfot(Sweden) off because of the logjam we already have

Yeah, I thought Bricks and Clague struggled together too many nights. But they have been practicing together again in Reign camp. Problem is playing time. Stanton and Gottlieb were signed to play too, and you have development time taking away potentially from Phillips. The depth is fine to start, and last year we had so many injuries and NHL call ups, they were scrapping the barrel of the ECHL just to field six D. I'm hoping Reddekopp goes back to the ECHL again, at least to start. Gottlieb is underrated, the kid can really skate. Scored in the first exhibition game too, and I though he held his own in a couple of games at the end of last year. If Walker or Roy (or even one of Ryan, MacDermid or LaDue) come down, also taking away from development time, likely either Durzi, Phillips or Strand. Just a giant logjam to start the season. You have to wonder if they are working the phones to try and make a minor trade.

 

[kings11]

Yeah, I thought Bricks and Clague struggled together too many nights. But they have been practicing together again in Reign camp. Problem is playing time. Stanton and Gottlieb were signed to play too, and you have development time taking away potentially from Phillips. The depth is fine to start, and last year we had so many injuries and NHL call ups, they were scrapping the barrel of the ECHL just to field six D. I'm hoping Reddekopp goes back to the ECHL again, at least to start. Gottlieb is underrated, the kid can really skate. Scored in the first exhibition game too, and I though he held his own in a couple of games at the end of last year. If Walker or Roy (or even one of Ryan, MacDermid or LaDue) come down, also taking away from development time, likely either Durzi, Phillips or Strand. Just a giant logjam to start the season. You have to wonder if they are working the phones to try and make a minor trade.

Yeah, from the sound of things Joakim Ryan is making the team as is MacD so that might explain the whole Roy back to the wing.. Maybe Roy stays at wing in Ontario? LaDue just doesnt have it but if he clears waivers its going to be a problem..

Bjornfot-Doughty
Hutton-Martinez.. Amart plays RHD better so i'd be against moving him to the left
Ryan-Walker/Roy... does a Walker/Roy stay if Anderson proves to be what we think he is lol
MacD.. He's needed, nuff said!

Amazing what 3 straight awesome drafts can do right! But to answer teh question, they better be making calls especially if we can land an extra 6th or 7th

 

[Statto]

I phrased them as "what ifs" for the purpose of discussion. Lets be honest they are not what ifs. He is going to get hurt, the only question is how bad. Look at the history of NHL players at 18, they all end up getting hurt. Let alone a defensemen that is probably going to be defending more than 50% of the time.

That leads to my next point, he is going to struggle. No question, there is a reason better prospects then him haven't made the NHL at 18, because its a suicide mission. Makar/Byram/Hughes/Hesikanian/Boquist all sent back, for 3 so far, seems to absolutely seemed to be the correct call. Hell Doughty was a far superior player at 18 and he had his struggles. Oh and this Kings team is going to be so bad defensively.

If you think sending him back to Sweden because they don't trust him, then you must think Anderson/Clague/Durzi are all going to be ruined as well. Because clearly they can't be trusted yet. And its even worse if you keep him, and he struggles and he starts to change his game to "just get by". Being afraid to makes mistakes leads to guys just clearing the puck up the boards instead of looking for a slighty risky outlet pass. Or never attacking and always "playing safe" all things you don't want to scare out of a 18 year old. You want him to take chances, go end to end or to make risky plays at the blue line to learn what he can and can't do. In the NHL the first mistake that leads to a breakaway goal and you are developing another Forbort that just shoots it into the corner when on the blueline because he doesn't want to make a mistake and nobody ever got benched for dumping the puck in.

No, I said if he ticks all the boxes and still send him down then yes I do think it can hurt development. Anderson, Durzi and Claque haven’t ticked the boxes, so they know they have tangible reasons why they aren’t playing. If Björnfot has accomplished all he needed to physically and technically then they’d be in effect questioning his character.

If they think he’s not physically ready then fine, I just don’t want fear of the unknown to hold him back. Equally I don’t want him playing just because we can’t find 6 NHL quality defensemen.

As I said, he needs to be mentally ready and that’s the bit we on here don’t know. Being mentally ready means a mistake won’t make him start playing safe and within himself. He certainly hasn’t done that in preseason and as pressure has increased on him (as expectations have grown) he’s excelled. One of his elite attributes is his character, and that’s why I think he has a shot. I have no doubt that Byram and Makar will be better players long term, but neither has experience in a men’s league and the character side will be different (not better/worse - different). It’s not an apples to apples comparison.

You say he will get hurt. Well every player on the roster gets hurt, that’ll happen in any men’s league. I assume you mean injured. The notion European leagues aren’t physical (or have cheap dirty plays) is a myth, a big one. So going back to Sweden doesn’t protect him from that, the biggest difference will be the schedule and his workload that can be managed.

If one mistake, even now, turns him into Derek Forbort he’s never going to be a player, no matter how many years he gets seasoned for.

 

[Statto]

The 9-game rule and contract slide is universal and applies to all 18/19 year old players, regardless of Jr, Europe etc.

It is also strictly for NHL games and not Pro games.

Ok, good.

 

[regulate]

Yeah, from the sound of things Joakim Ryan is making the team as is MacD so that might explain the whole Roy back to the wing.. Maybe Roy stays at wing in Ontario? LaDue just doesnt have it but if he clears waivers its going to be a problem..

Bjornfot-Doughty
Hutton-Martinez.. Amart plays RHD better so i'd be against moving him to the left
Ryan-Walker/Roy... does a Walker/Roy stay if Anderson proves to be what we think he is lol
MacD.. He's needed, nuff said!

Amazing what 3 straight awesome drafts can do right! But to answer teh question, they better be making calls especially if we can land an extra 6th or 7th

I must have missed something because I don't know where all this Roy to the wing talk is coming from.

 

[Statto]

I 100% agree and think it's more likely we get absolutely murdered. We haven't seen Bjornfot vs. elite checkers yet game after game. I'm just presenting a scenario for folks who are basically saying "unconditionally send him back," because I think he's already proven it's not that cut-and-dry.

Agreed. As I said a while back, it’s not a binary decision. If he plays opening night they can manage things as they develop during the season.

 

[kings11]

I must have missed something because I don't know where all this Roy to the wing talk is coming from.

Just on some of the lineups Roy was listed at wing.. IDK

 

[crassbonanza]

Tonight's lineup

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Carter
Wagner-Lizotte-Toffoli
Clifford-Amadio-Lewis

Bjornfot-Doughty
Martinez-Roy
Hutton-Walker

Quick
Campbell

I would imagine that is lining up to be the opening night roster with the extras being Porky, MacD and LaDue.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Tonight's lineup

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Carter
Wagner-Lizotte-Toffoli
Clifford-Amadio-Lewis

Bjornfot-Doughty
Martinez-Roy
Hutton-Walker

Quick
Campbell

Maybe I'm easy to please, but I REALLY like the look of the 3rd and 4th line.

 

[Statto]

Really dislike Kempe as a Center let alone our 2C

Is that because of his performance in the dot? If so Carter on his wing mitigates that to some degree as I’d imagine he’d end up taking DZ draws, quite a bit.

 

[KINGS17]

Here's a nice article on whether or not burning a year off the ELC is beneficial to 18-19YOs

Burning the First Year of a Rookie’s Entry Level Contract

From the article:

A) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is now or in the immediate future, the best bet is to burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

B) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is in the future, the best bet is to not burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

"K17 would you like to phone a friend?" Nah, I got this. "B", Final answer.

Going back to when the Kings drafted Bernier and he started the season with them after the draft, Lombardi was tempted to keep him in the NHL, but he resisted the temptation. If Bernier had stayed with the Kings that season and become the "anointed one", would the Kings have discovered that Jonathan Quick was better?

It is best to let the kids marinate. You never know what fruit following a plan will bear.

 

[bland]

I must have missed something because I don't know where all this Roy to the wing talk is coming from.

Especially since he is the 4th best defenseman on the active roster who has actually played a game in the league.

 

[kings11]

Is that because of his performance in the dot? If so Carter on his wing mitigates that to some degree as I’d imagine he’d end up taking DZ draws, quite a bit.

That, the penalties he takes, lack of vision, low Hockey IQ... I know guys have said he's a better version of Lewis which he is but is he another Tobias Rieder? I was expecting more because of his natural abilities but lacks consistency, especially within the same game

 

[kings11]

From the article:

A) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is now or in the immediate future, the best bet is to burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

B) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is in the future, the best bet is to not burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

"K17 would you like to phone a friend?" Nah, I got this. "B", Final answer.

Going back to when the Kings drafted Bernier and he started the season with them after the draft, Lombardi was tempted to keep him in the NHL, but he resisted the temptation. If Bernier had stayed with the Kings that season and become the "anointed one", would the Kings have discovered that Jonathan Quick was better?

It is best to let the kids marinate. You never know what fruit following a plan will bear.

I dont mind either way, though obviously B is correct... I think Bjornfot gets his 9 games and returns to Sweden especially with the logjam in Ontario. Mikey Anderson to me was just as impressive though not the gifted skater TB is, his offense looked much better almost like a VV type with more moxy.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Was it just me or did Mikey Anderson look big as f*** out there? He's only listed at six feet. Maybe he grew or filled out, dunno.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

From the article:

A) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is now or in the immediate future, the best bet is to burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

B) If a team’s window to compete for the Stanley Cup is in the future, the best bet is to not burn the first year of a rookie’s entry level contract.

"K17 would you like to phone a friend?" Nah, I got this. "B", Final answer.

Going back to when the Kings drafted Bernier and he started the season with them after the draft, Lombardi was tempted to keep him in the NHL, but he resisted the temptation. If Bernier had stayed with the Kings that season and become the "anointed one", would the Kings have discovered that Jonathan Quick was better?

It is best to let the kids marinate. You never know what fruit following a plan will bear.

I mean, Bernier had a .864 and a GAA over 4. He absolutely shouldn't have stayed, there was no temptation to resist.

I'm not going to argue Bjornfot SHOULD stay in the NHL, only that it's foolish to dismiss it absolutely before seeing what he brings.

This is a decision I trust Blake and McLellan to make as high as they are on the kid.

Also, it's not like he's getting sent back to juniors. I don't think playing against men in Sweden is far superior to playing against men in the NHL/AHL for his development. I'd prefer him learning the rink and the number of games. Maybe he only plays 60 as a stepping stone? I don't know. Just saying it's not cut and dry.

 

[kings11]

Was it just me or did Mikey Anderson look big as **** out there? He's only listed at six feet. Maybe he grew or filled out, dunno.

He looked like a linebacker lol

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

It also helps coming in with little to no expectations, and this isn't a high pressure situation where Bjornfot has to be perfect every shift. On top of that, he also won't ever be as bad as Phaneuf was last season. I'd rather he get used to playing regular minutes with his future longtime partner on the blueline, which we'll get a glimpse of again tonight. If they send him to Sweden, it'll likely only be for one year. I guess it's not too dissimilar of a situation as Kopitar, who could have played with the Kings the same year he was drafted, but opted to play one year with Sodertalje before joining the Kings the following season.

 

[KINGS17]

I mean, Bernier had a .864 and a GAA over 4. He absolutely shouldn't have stayed, there was no temptation to resist.

I'm not going to argue Bjornfot SHOULD stay in the NHL, only that it's foolish to dismiss it absolutely before seeing what he brings.

This is a decision I trust Blake and McLellan to make as high as they are on the kid.

Also, it's not like he's getting sent back to juniors. I don't think playing against men in Sweden is far superior to playing against men in the NHL/AHL for his development. I'd prefer him learning the rink and the number of games. Maybe he only plays 60 as a stepping stone? I don't know. Just saying it's not cut and dry.

I don't know what the schedule is like in the SEL, but I would prefer to see Bjornfot get 9 games toward the end of the NHL season, not the at the beginning.

 

[regulate]

Was it just me or did Mikey Anderson look big as **** out there? He's only listed at six feet. Maybe he grew or filled out, dunno.

Here is Mikey #4 standing next to Strand the other night. Strand is 6-4. He is standing up straight, but his head is bent down. Mikey is listed at 5-11 197 on the training camp roster, although he looks 6-0 to me at least. Maybe it's the camera angle.