Here and Now: The Preseason

[kings11]

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.

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Those measurements were from HS right? I'm sure he's grown an inch or two, but im willing to bet he's more than 200lbs

 

[KingsFan7824]

Really dislike Kempe as a Center let alone our 2C

I'm not sure it hurts to see if he can get better with time. He can always be moved to the wing. That's an easy shift. We know what the weaknesses and limitations are/have been to his game, but I'm ok with them continuing to throw him out at C. There are a couple prospects at C, and Kopitar is likely never going anywhere, so at worst he'll be the 3C one day, so feed Kempe C minutes this year. If he keeps not getting better at it, a LW spot will always be there.

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 would say the exact opposite. He's better on the left side, playing fewer minutes. When he was the 5th or 6th guy on the team, that's when they were winning. When he's been forced into the top 4, and/or to the right side, they've got 1 playoff win. Not that that's all on him.

They have 4 RHD. There's almost no reason for Martinez to be playing his off side. 3 of those 4 might be nothing more than space filler, but to force Martinez in there just because he's one of the 4 most proven guys, to me that's not putting him in the best position to succeed. I'd rather he be playing every shift with Doughty than to the right of Hutton.

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

There's also a point where you don't want to do that anymore. There's a fine line in there somewhere. Since the most productive years are usually those early to mid 20's, you don't want those years spent in the minors if a guy is actually talented. But Bjornfot is so stupidly young, that he hasn't even entered the prime of his professional youth. He's 2.5 years away from being allowed to drink. Brown will be playing his final games before TB is drinking legally, just to put that in perspective.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

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.

55 games, season ends beginning of march, playoffs march-april

would have to bank on Bjornfot's team missing the playoffs. They're currently in first and recent history suggests that's not likely

 

[bland]

I'm not sure it hurts to see if he can get better with time. He can always be moved to the wing. That's an easy shift. We know what the weaknesses and limitations are/have been to his game, but I'm ok with them continuing to throw him out at C. There are a couple prospects at C, and Kopitar is likely never going anywhere, so at worst he'll be the 3C one day, so feed Kempe C minutes this year. If he keeps not getting better at it, a LW spot will always be there.



I would say the exact opposite. He's better on the left side, playing fewer minutes. When he was the 5th or 6th guy on the team, that's when they were winning. When he's been forced into the top 4, and/or to the right side, they've got 1 playoff win. Not that that's all on him.

They have 4 RHD. There's almost no reason for Martinez to be playing his off side. 3 of those 4 might be nothing more than space filler, but to force Martinez in there just because he's one of the 4 most proven guys, to me that's not putting him in the best position to succeed. I'd rather he be playing every shift with Doughty than to the right of Hutton.



There's also a point where you don't want to do that anymore. There's a fine line in there somewhere. Since the most productive years are usually those early to mid 20's, you don't want those years spent in the minors if a guy is actually talented. But Bjornfot is so stupidly young, that he hasn't even entered the prime of his professional youth. He's 2.5 years away from being allowed to drink. Brown will be playing his final games before TB is drinking legally, just to put that in perspective.

Yeah, Martinez is significantly better on the left side.

 

[bland]

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.

Heigth wise he didn't seem imposing, but he has wide shoulders and his sort of herky jerky stride makes it look like he covers wider ground. Those aren't criticisms, just observations that his particular skating style involves a lot more upper body movement than most.

 

[kilowatt]

Tonight's lineup

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

Bjornfot-Doughty
Martinez-Roy
Hutton-Walker

Quick
Campbell

Interesting that Grundstrom isn't playing. I wonder if they send him down? I would assume we keep Mario Kempe as a 13th forward to start the year. Possibly Prokhorkin as well. No Ryan or LaDue, I imagine they get waived and MacDermid stays up as the 7th defenseman.

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

Bjornfot - Doughty
Martinez - Roy
Hutton - Walker
MacDermid

Quick
Campbell

--

Grundstrom - Kupari - Luff
Sodergran - JAD - Eyssimont

Anderson - Durzi
Clague - Strand
Brickley - Phillips

Petersen

Just my thoughts on the roster to start the season, at least. Hopefully guys like Kovalchuk, Carter, and Toffoli play well enough to have some trade value for playoff teams.

 

[bland]

Really dislike Kempe as a Center let alone our 2C

I would be cool with Kempe up the middle, if he was between Lewis and Clifford and bumped Lizotte and Amadio each up a spot.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I would be cool with Kempe up the middle, if he was between Lewis and Clifford and bumped Lizotte and Amadio each up a spot.

I think Kempe will either be a LW or trade bait in as soon as a year’s time. Turcotte, Amadio, Lizzotte, JAD, maybe even Vilardi, could all be threatening his ice time.

 

[kilowatt]

I think Kempe will either be a LW or trade bait in as soon as a year’s time. Turcotte, Amadio, Lizzotte, JAD, maybe even Vilardi, could all be threatening his ice time.

I think he's just going to cap out as a third-line forward who can chip in offensively from time to time. Playing him at 2C reminds me of when we were trying to shoehorn Stoll and Handzus in as our second-line centers. It's just not going to work.

 

[Token]

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.

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Who do we petition to get you a press pass at The Garage?

Might as well, right?

Thank you for the wealth of data.

 

[Little Psycho]

 

[kings11]

I would be cool with Kempe up the middle, if he was between Lewis and Clifford and bumped Lizotte and Amadio each up a spot.

I really struggle to see why the team views him as a 2C? What happens next year if/when a JAD and/or Turcotte come to camp... at minimum JAD will be ready.

 

[kingsboy11]

game is supposed to be on NHL network right now, but of course the previous game went into overtime

 

[kings11]

game is supposed to be on NHL network right now, but of course the previous game went into overtime

5min more ain’t too bad of a wait

 

[Jericho111091]

Leafs vs Wings going to the shootout

 

[King'sPawn]

Kopitar set up Martinez beautifully, who didn't convert on the opportunity.

Toffoli looks great.

Overall Kings looking decent.

 

[Little Psycho]

This leafs game is horrible

 

[crassbonanza]

Lizotte got f***ing crushed by McNabb, good to see him pop back up

 

[King'sPawn]

McNabb blasted Lizotte with a clean check. Popped his helmet off.

 

[crassbonanza]

Like the Kings play so far, they don't seem on their heels tonight

 

[King'sPawn]

Wagner's brain can't keep up with his feet.

It's not that he's dumb, but he just moves that fast.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Do King fans think Bjornfot will make the team on Opening Night?

He looks pretty good out there against NHL players.

 

[Little Psycho]

Gallant already complaining

 

[King'sPawn]

Do King fans think Bjornfot will make the team on Opening Night?

He looks pretty good out there against NHL players.

The expectation is he'll probably get 9 games to start the season at least.

 

[Jericho111091]

Rock me Amadio!