Post-Game Talk: Hiller vs Kings Game 4

[Lt Dan]

It's not an argument really.

My view on a lot of things has changed in the last few years and certainly thanks to the cancer diagnosis my priorities are shifting.

I've always been a bit of a "truth fanatic" and the older I get the more I think communication is key to everything and in this particular case the issue is that frustration hinders communication. Anger blinds judgement.

People are pissed and I believe they are misdiagnosing (Some people) the key "problems" in games 3 and 4 (and arguably game 1)

Missing Tanner Jeannot is not ideal... but it shouldn't be enough to justify a full change of strategy.

To use it as an explanation ignores the natural response which I am trying to communicate which is... if the key to your success is one player be it star or role player you have constructed your team incorrectly.

Plenty of teams have survived the losses of players over the years.

I am a huge fan of the poem/thought experiment "For Want Of A Nail" but this is not of those cases where I believe it applies.

In For Want Of A Nail a kingdom is lost because of a minor supply issue but hockey teams aren't kingdoms and supply issues can be managed for months if not years in advance in fact it is a never ending resupplying process as I know most of you know because I read all your arguments about draft picks, development strategies and deployment issues.

You shouldn't find yourself for want of a nail in a first round playoff series and if you do then you've either misjudged your own happiness with your own available stock or done a bad job of stocking in the first place.

OR it's simply not a reasonable explanation

I believe the truth is the "OR"

I am actually familiar with "For Want Of A Nail" . Excellent analogy

 

[All The Kings Men]

I am actually familiar with "For Want Of A Nail" . Excellent analogy

despite what some people may say around here I'm actually very good at my job

 

[Herby]

Turcotte isn't built for the playoffs...yet. He needs to come into next season about 20lbs heavier.

The dude would prob be in a body bag right now if he was seeing full time this series....let's get real, folks.

Alex Turcotte is 24 years old, he is now in the prime of his career, he isn't going to be putting on significant weight, the chance to gain the weight you want long ago passed, his sophomore year in college would have been an ideal time, but well, you know Rob Blake is smartest man in the room. Some "fake fans" even hammered that point about weight gain, but hey, "How could Blake have known it might be an issue?", right?

Turcotte has shown himself to be a good enough depth player in the NHL where he should be in the teams playoff lineup over Lewis, career minor leaguers and 7th d-man. But apparently, you no longer think so. And boy, quite the 180 you have done. From tagging me in posts asking me if I still thought it was a disappointing pick, to a mere weeks later now claiming he's not capable of playing in the playoffs in his 5th year as a pro. Wouldn't a player taken as a Top 5 pick nearly six calendar years ago not being capable of playing in the playoffs (your words not mine) constitute a disappointing pick?

And if you think somebody has to be bigger than 5'11 & 185 lbs to be capable of playing in the NHL playoffs, well lets get those ravens flying around the league to inform the coaches of the following players that they are risking physical harm or even death by playing these players, and to get them out of their lineups asap!

Cale Makar
Jake Guentzel
Jesper Bratt
Brayden Point
Yanni Gourde
Lane Hutson
Cole Caufield
Shayne Gostisbehere
Seth Jarvis
Nikita Kucherov
Brad Marchand
Cole Perfetti
Logan Stankoven
Jackson Blake
Mitch Marner
Neal Pionk
Jared Spurgeon
Jack Drury
Claude Giroux
Samuel Girard

 

[King'sPawn]

There's certainly a couple issues with the team. Jeannot missing sucks, but if his absence is the only reason you aren't playing the fourth line more minutes, then Hiller simply doesn't trust his fourth line.
.
Plus it doesn't explain the paltry minutes of your No 5 and 6 defenders.

Hiller's biggest strength is his ability to match lines which he can only do at home. His time management otherwise falls back on what's been the biggest problem for the last several damn years - overly relying on the vets to shut things down.

I mentioned the Kings are the anti-Oilers, which is dependent on two players. Two players going on the attack is stronger than 9 players sitting back. They keep setting up tents to weather a storm, ignoring they are in hurricane territory.

No trust in the 4th line is wearing out the top 9. Sitting back and taking it also wears out the top 9.

And the special teams are an issue on the road. 0/3 on the powerplay and 1/3 on the PK last night. Friday, they were 2/2 on the powerplay and 0/2 on the PK. So the past two games, special teams were 2/10 combined.

The series is certainly winnable, and I'm not writing the Kings off. But if they don't have a fourth line they can trust, a more aggressive mindset, or a better handle on special teams, the rest of these playoffs, no matter how far they get, will be an infuriating sequence of self-inflicted wounds.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I cannot wait for the day Kopitar and Doughty are no longer on this team.

I can’t believe those two players at their ages are still being relied on to do anything consequential.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Take a look at the minus leaders in the two road games. The supposed top line has been getting decimated by Edmonton. This has been happening in every playoff meeting with them.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

The Kings team that played in the first period might be.

A kings team that could play 3 periods a game would be. To be specific ; if the Kings were deployed the way they play when they are nominating the possession game for 3 periods they smoke the oilers .

Hiller seems hell bent on winning in a way that seems to be impossible!

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

I cannot wait for the day Kopitar and Doughty are no longer on this team.

I can’t believe those two players at their ages are still being relied on to do anything consequential.

I mean if they were up for the challenge I would be all for it but they are not.

 

[Schmooley]

Hiller seems hell bent on winning in a way that seems to be impossible!

It at least made sense the past 3 years because the Kings were an underdog and the Oilers were the superior team.
There is no excuse this year when the Kings are the better team. The Oilers know their defense and goaltending are fragile and thats along with their top guys clearly not at 100%. They are watching the Kings implode themselves and capitalizing when the games are served to them on a silver platter.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I get it... my point is if you've constructed a roster that you don't trust to play in that manner unless you've got that one guy then you've constructed your roster in a manner that's too fragile.

Depth means you can withstand the loss of key star players and support players. Depth doesn't mean one 4th liner gets injured and it's your achilles heel.

Yah, I'm not disagreeing with you.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

That would be somewhat interesting if the guy didn't have 78 points in the other 56 playoff games he's played in.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Herby]

That would be somewhat interesting if the guy didn't have 78 points in the other 56 playoff games he's played in.

Last 4 playoffs

Vs Kings

22GP
20G
19A
39 Pts

Full season pace
75G - 71A - 146 Pts


Vs. Everyone else

35GP
13GP
38A
51Pts

Full season pace
30G - 89A - 119 Pts

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Because he’s a personification of the entire Blake era: tons of potential with zero fire.

 

[AbsentMojo]

The Kings overall energy is fear and cowardice - comes from Hiller's player deployment and prevent defense along with Kopi and Doughty as leaders going along with it. Those guys have their cups, but they dont have a jock anymore. Best thing that could happen would be continue to choke away games and go down in a heap of flames which is what this organization deserves.

 

[johnjm22]

At 29:45

If you want to hear Oiler's fans perspective on Hiller. Pretty interesting.

 

[Schrute farms]

It's amazing to me that now some are blaming this potential series loss on not having Tanner Jeannot lol. Was that a memo sent out by Bluc? Awesome. SMH

Compare who the Kings have out (TJ) to other teams (heck just the Oilers)...were actually really healthy.

 

[AbsentMojo]

It's amazing to me that now some are blaming this potential series loss on not having Tanner Jeannot lol. Was that a memo sent out by Bluc? Awesome. SMH

Compare who the Kings have out (TJ) to other teams (heck just the Oilers)...were actually really healthy.

Eckholm is a big loss for them. Jeannot by far is less of a loss than that. Its understandable on the road you wouldnt want to get caught out with Helanius, Lewis and Mallot.. so sure go ahead and run your beloved 11/7 and let Hell and Mallot bang around with a top 6 center - but my god man, putting Trevor Lewis out there at all AND subbing Lewis for Kuzmenko - tells me what a total fool this guy is.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Alex Turcotte is 24 years old, he is now in the prime of his career, he isn't going to be putting on significant weight, the chance to gain the weight you want long ago passed, his sophomore year in college would have been an ideal time, but well, you know Rob Blake is smartest man in the room. Some "fake fans" even hammered that point about weight gain, but hey, "How could Blake have known it might be an issue?", right?

Turcotte has shown himself to be a good enough depth player in the NHL where he should be in the teams playoff lineup over Lewis, career minor leaguers and 7th d-man. But apparently, you no longer think so. And boy, quite the 180 you have done. From tagging me in posts asking me if I still thought it was a disappointing pick, to a mere weeks later now claiming he's not capable of playing in the playoffs in his 5th year as a pro. Wouldn't a player taken as a Top 5 pick nearly six calendar years ago not being capable of playing in the playoffs (your words not mine) constitute a disappointing pick?

And if you think somebody has to be bigger than 5'11 & 185 lbs to be capable of playing in the NHL playoffs, well lets get those ravens flying around the league to inform the coaches of the following players that they are risking physical harm or even death by playing these players, and to get them out of their lineups asap!

Cale Makar
Jake Guentzel
Jesper Bratt
Brayden Point
Yanni Gourde
Lane Hutson
Cole Caufield
Shayne Gostisbehere
Seth Jarvis
Nikita Kucherov
Brad Marchand
Cole Perfetti
Logan Stankoven
Jackson Blake
Mitch Marner
Neal Pionk
Jared Spurgeon
Jack Drury
Claude Giroux
Samuel Girard

Nice list. I think of Mike Richards - almost the exact same height and build.. and style of play on the puck is similar. But thats where it ends.. 90% of the time Turcotte is on the receiving end of punishment, while Richards it was the opposite. I believe scouts were projecting more muscle on top of his physique going fwd and at 24 he still looks like he's in high school or college... then you look at a guy like Boldy that is so strong and can absorbed hits and keep the puck and just imagine what Turcotte could be like if he had that strength. I think his ceiling is center version of Trevor Moore at this point.

 

[The Eyeball Kid]

That brings up the question, if Hiller is not playing 5 players because he doesn't trust them, how was this not addressed at the deadline? Is Hiller not communicating with BLuc?

If that is the standard then QB should sit for that boneheaded non chip out of the zone.
He has no issue doing it to Turc/Helenius/Malott/Spence & Moverrare.
Biggest joke of a 'coach' I've ever laid my eyes on.

 

[The Eyeball Kid]

I cannot wait for the day Kopitar and Doughty are no longer on this team.

I can’t believe those two players at their ages are still being relied on to do anything consequential.

The org. caved when they whined about the rebuild and short circuited the ability to draft
more high end talent to win now. Should have told them to accept it or move on.
They wanted their cake and eat it too, which isn't possible in pro sports.

 

[Omni Owl]

Hiller had better f***ing make the necessary adjustments at home and basically go with the lineup that won those first 2 games. It baffles me why he suddenly changed strategies when they went up to Deadmonton; adding the corpse of Lewis, all of a sudden going to 11-7, riding the top 3 lines into dust, and not playing all 6 D-men. What the f*** is this guy smoking? Soilers made the necessary adjustments and now its tied up. Why would a coach f*** with the formula when it was successful? Its truly mind boggling...

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Hiller had better f***ing make the necessary adjustments at home and basically go with the lineup that won those first 2 games. It baffles me why he suddenly changed strategies when they went up to Deadmonton; adding the corpse of Lewis, all of a sudden going to 11-7, riding the top 3 lines into dust, and not playing all 6 D-men. What the f*** is this guy smoking? Soilers made the necessary adjustments and now its tied up. Why would a coach f*** with the formula when it was successful? Its truly mind boggling...

Got news for ya bud, Game 2 was played with 11-7.

 

[Fripp]

Hey guys, should we keep playing the suffocating forecheck that got us multi-goal leads in every game so far or just sit in the neutral zone for 30 minutes?