Honest assessment of Dean Lombardi After the 2nd CUP.

[kings11]

I don't have inside info, I have common sense....and common sense tells me that an organization who just invested 10-mil/year into a player for the next several seasons are not going to let the guy play injured and risk further damage.

So you are saying Kopitar had been playing injured for 72 games this season? He has sucked since day 1, so I guess that's a 'yes'

not saying he played 72 games with a severe injury but like many others in the NHL I'm willing to bet its a nagging injury that requires lots of meds.

It surprises me how many of you missed the most important point... injuries happened we all know that and no one here can say he's not injured because we don't know... what is obvious is that the lack of support from his wingers has painted a bulls eye on Kopitar's back which has worn him down.. You want to see that 65-70pt Kopi back?? get him some help...

 

[Maynard]

Because he missed a few games early in the year with an injury and for some fans, the 'he's gotta be playing hurt' is easier to accept than the alternative.
For the record, I don't think he's playing hurt. His pre and post injury play was the same. But that new contract and the new C, that is lot to live up to. I didn't agree with that, I think Doughty is the heart and soul of this team, it's pulse. And I think his passion and personality are better suited for it. I was hoping he'd get the C, But Sutter wanted Kopi, which was why he held out on his contract. NO coincidence that Brown being stripped of the C came shortly before Sutter's new contract.
Not every elite player can handle that. But it's there now so he'll have to learn.

I don't buy Doughty as captain at all. He still has tantrums on the bench, screams at refs like a child and he still looks for the highlight reel play instead of the smart play. I'm obviously not in the locker room but whenever I see off ice footage he seems like a goofball kid, not a leader.

 

[KINGS17]

not saying he played 72 games with a severe injury but like many others in the NHL I'm willing to bet its a nagging injury that requires lots of meds.

It surprises me how many of you missed the most important point... injuries happened we all know that and no one here can say he's not injured because we don't know... what is obvious is that the lack of support from his wingers has painted a bulls eye on Kopitar's back which has worn him down.. You want to see that 65-70pt Kopi back?? get him some help...

Had he taken $52M over 6 years, or something similar, getting him some help might be a little easier.

A player with a $10M cap hit shouldn't need expensive help.

 

[kings11]

Because he missed a few games early in the year with an injury and for some fans, the 'he's gotta be playing hurt' is easier to accept than the alternative.
For the record, I don't think he's playing hurt. His pre and post injury play was the same. But that new contract and the new C, that is lot to live up to. I didn't agree with that, I think Doughty is the heart and soul of this team, it's pulse. And I think his passion and personality are better suited for it. I was hoping he'd get the C, But Sutter wanted Kopi, which was why he held out on his contract. NO coincidence that Brown being stripped of the C came shortly before Sutter's new contract.
Not every elite player can handle that. But it's there now so he'll have to learn.

So now he's succumb to pressure??? get real, the guy is gold and has come through more often than not... getting the C was something expected, what wasn't expected was losing Lucic, having Toffoli injured, having Gaborik crumble again...

The shyt some of you guys come up with is hilarious, get him some actual help and you'll see his number/contribution revert to his normal levels..Dwight King wasn't cutting it

 

[AlphaBravo]

I think Kopitar is the type of player that you need to surround with good players for him to be effective. Players like that are not worth $10MM a season, but Kopitar is still a legit number 1 center, probably with a $7-8MM justifiable contract. In other words, he is overpaid by $2-3MM (like Brown).

The guy was on fire when he had Lucic on his side. If we can complement him with the right wingers next season, he wont be a total disappointment again. The big question is how we do that with our cap issues.

 

[kings11]

Had he taken $52M over 6 years, or something similar, getting him some help might be a little easier.

A player with a $10M cap hit shouldn't need expensive help.

tell that to the BlackHawks with their 2 $10 million players and are what 1st in the West??? what other excuse ????

 

[Butch 19]

Had he taken $52M over 6 years, or something similar, getting him some help might be a little easier.

A player with a $10M cap hit shouldn't need expensive help.

2017 - 2018 team slogan??

I'll get some posters made.

 

[kingsholygrail]

You're judged in sports by your most recent accomplishments. DL is struggling to make this team a playoff team right now with missing two of the last 3 years and an awful 1st rd exit sandwiched between.

 

[raswilliam]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Are we really pretending Kopitar wasn't hurt? He was literally announced out with an injury, we saw footage of when it occurred, then was back playing with a cast/brace BIG ENOUGH TO BE SEEN UNDER HIS GEAR FOR AT LEAST 10 GAMES. that's not insider info or idle speculation; that's a combination of organization-announced and observable evidence to confirm.

If you want to pretend he was miraculously fine after that, okay, that's on you. I don't think he's injured anymore either, he's just toast at this point. But denying he was hurt at all? What kind of mental gymnastics do you need?

As far as needing help, Kopitar has produced just fine with everyone from Kyle Calder to Patrick O'Sullivan to Gaborik. I'm not giving him a winger alibi for his production this year. But I know what I saw before and after his injury--before, he was the same monster as ever, just snakebitten, and every stat backs that up; after, he was playing with one hand for quite some time, and by the time it looked okay, he looked completely spent. Of course we need more from a 10 cap hit and his level of production isn't commensurate with that, but there's no point in denying his injury unless you want to senselessly and ignorantly pile on. As far as DL's responsiblity to surround him with more talent, well, that's on the player to produce, but on the GM to forecast as well. Hoping he has a plan for the cheap supplements, looks like some of them will stick at least.

 

[KINGS17]

tell that to the BlackHawks with their 2 $10 million players and are what 1st in the West??? what other excuse ????

The difference being they produce.

 

[KINGS17]

That's beautiful!!!

 

[KINGS17]

I think Kopitar is the type of player that you need to surround with good players for him to be effective. Players like that are not worth $10MM a season, but Kopitar is still a legit number 1 center, probably with a $7-8MM justifiable contract. In other words, he is overpaid by $2-3MM (like Brown).

The guy was on fire when he had Lucic on his side. If we can complement him with the right wingers next season, he wont be a total disappointment again. The big question is how we do that with our cap issues.

This post is right on the money. When you have several players overpaid by $2M-$3M, it's a problem.

 

[King'sPawn]

The difference being they produce.

Kopitar has led the team in scoring for 9 straight seasons.

Neither Kane nor Toews has done that.

 

[funky]

Those bagging on Kopitar have a leg to stand on as do those defending.

One thing that keeps me from getting to upset with him is he was injured and missed 12 days of hockey and came back in a brace. We seen what happens when guys came off a 5 day rest. They were rusty and played like crap. Sutter pushes a hard, grind it out, high energy system. Missing any amount of time and trying to come back mid season when not in peak shape is a death sentence on anyone.

On top of that he was in a brace for a few weeks. He has played better of late and I believe he will be back to norm next year. Some guys are butt hurt over his Contract and yes it is high but without Kopitar we are a lottery team.

As for Lombardi he needs to adapt and get I'd of the plug mentality or step away

 

[KINGS17]

Kopitar has led the team in scoring for 9 straight seasons.

Neither Kane nor Toews has done that.

Completely taken out of context for what Kane and Toews provide the Blackhawks.

This is a tired argument regarding Kopitar leading the team in scoring.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I don't buy Doughty as captain at all. He still has tantrums on the bench, screams at refs like a child and he still looks for the highlight reel play instead of the smart play. I'm obviously not in the locker room but whenever I see off ice footage he seems like a goofball kid, not a leader.

Agreed.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Because he missed a few games early in the year with an injury and for some fans, the 'he's gotta be playing hurt' is easier to accept than the alternative.
For the record, I don't think he's playing hurt. His pre and post injury play was the same. But that new contract and the new C, that is lot to live up to. I didn't agree with that, I think Doughty is the heart and soul of this team, it's pulse. And I think his passion and personality are better suited for it. I was hoping he'd get the C, But Sutter wanted Kopi, which was why he held out on his contract. NO coincidence that Brown being stripped of the C came shortly before Sutter's new contract.
Not every elite player can handle that. But it's there now so he'll have to learn.

I'd say it's clearly Quick. I know goalies can't be captains though but he's certainly the heart and the fire behind the team.

 

[Jisatsu]

Not sure which are the worst fans, Oilers two seasons ago, or kings fans the last three seasons. Pretty close actually. You both are very bipolar.

 

[kings11]

Completely taken out of context for what Kane and Toews provide the Blackhawks.

This is a tired argument regarding Kopitar leading the team in scoring.

Its fine to have a what have you done for me lately attitude.. But the fact remains Kopitar is still a 1A center that many teams would die for.. you look at the $10 mill per and think he's underperforming, that's fine. Just don't jump back on his train next season when his level of play returns to his expected level. The worst part about fans like yourself is that when things are going great you're all gravy but when things hit the fan like this season you're quick to try and find a scapegoat because of course one single player is responsible for all the injuries, bad FO moves and missing the playoffs right...

 

[kings11]

Completely taken out of context for what Kane and Toews provide the Blackhawks.

This is a tired argument regarding Kopitar leading the team in scoring.

Its fine to have a what have you done for me lately attitude.. But the fact remains Kopitar is still a 1A center that many teams would die for.. you look at the $10 mill per and think he's underperforming, that's fine. Just don't jump back on his train next season when his level of play returns to his expected level. The worst part about fans like yourself is that when things are going great you're all gravy but when things hit the fan like this season you're quick to try and find a scapegoat because of course one single player is responsible for all the injuries, bad FO moves and missing the playoffs right...

 

[KINGS17]

Its fine to have a what have you done for me lately attitude.. But the fact remains Kopitar is still a 1A center that many teams would die for.. you look at the $10 mill per and think he's underperforming, that's fine. Just don't jump back on his train next season when his level of play returns to his expected level. The worst part about fans like yourself is that when things are going great you're all gravy but when things hit the fan like this season you're quick to try and find a scapegoat because of course one single player is responsible for all the injuries, bad FO moves and missing the playoffs right...

The worst thing about fans like yourself is you have no idea who I am or what I think, but you make some uninformed assumptions.

In case you don't remember I was against giving Kopitar a max contract way before he started sucking this season. And I don't think he is under performing, I know he is under performing. If he does bounce back, it likely won't be to the level he was at in his mid twenties.

It's been shown statistically the production of the majority of forwards 30 years and older drops dramatically as they age. I see nothing super human about Anze Kopitar to make me think he will be the exception to the rule.

1A centers don't score less than 15 goals in a season.

 

[kings11]

The worst thing about fans like yourself is you have no idea who I am or what I think, but you make some uninformed assumptions.

In case you don't remember I was against giving Kopitar a max contract way before he started sucking this season. And I don't think he is under performing, I know he is under performing. If he does bounce back, it likely won't be to the level he was at in his mid twenties.

It's been shown statistically the production of the majority of forwards 30 years and older drops dramatically as they age. I see nothing super human about Anze Kopitar to make me think he will be the exception to the rule.

1A centers don't score less than 15 goals in a season.

So you would have rather risk losing/having to trade away your 1A center and begin a rebuild 1-2 years removed from a Cup??? You think after Toews whom many believe Kopitar is better than and statistically has proven to be was going to take less than market value??
Your placing his value solely on his offensive production rather than the overall game he brings. Don't ignore the fact that he's our best defensive forward with the hardware to match, or that this team still goes as Anze go.
As for my assumptions, well there's always that one guy that thinks he could be a GM and shoots around his opinions only to validate them if they ever come true, like yourself! You want to know what has hurt the Kings ? Winning..... we got old,punished, bruised, used up!! We could replace players st the rate needed to maintain success because we traded assets for runs which I'm sure you were all for. We signed guys to loyalty contracts Brown, Greene... guys to longer than he should have Gaborik, should have let MR go and let Sekera and Lucia walk...
But I'm more than happy with our two Cups and have no complaints what so ever... not it's time to rebuild on the fly, bring up kids, let guys walk, trade guys and even buy them out if DL sees it fit.. (mod)

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Completely taken out of context for what Kane and Toews provide the Blackhawks.

This is a tired argument regarding Kopitar leading the team in scoring.

"I have nothing logical nor factual to refute this point, but I'm going to dismiss it anyway."

It's pretty clear you're incapable of talking about Kopitar objectively here.

Leading your team in scoring for nine straight seasons IS a big deal.

 

[KINGS17]

"I have nothing logical nor factual to refute this point, but I'm going to dismiss it anyway."

It's pretty clear you're incapable of talking about Kopitar objectively here.

Leading your team in scoring for nine straight seasons IS a big deal.

I didn't say it wasn't a big deal. It's only a portion of the argument.

How about he is 30 years old, and it's a bad idea to give a 30-year old forward an 8 year deal. Let's start with that point. It's one people like yourself ignore.