GDT: Jeff Carter's team vs Colorado Avalanche @ 6:00 PM PST

[Omni Owl]

Ugh not even 50 points? That's pathetic coming from a 10 million dollar player.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Ugh not even 50 points? That's pathetic coming from a 10 million dollar player.

He's on pace for 48 and he's been scoring a bit more lately so he should get to 50. But it'll be the lowest of his career by far. 61 his rookie season is currently the lowest.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Other than the 1st period, the Kings played very poorly against a very weak team. Not very confident in this team making the playoffs.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Other than the 1st period, the Kings played very poorly against a very weak team. Not very confident in this team making the playoffs.

I mean, I look at it this way, at least they got the points.

Looked mostly amazing vs. the Panthers who can't lose a game, but they lost.

Look like crap vs. a historically bad team but win.

How this team rolls.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I mean, I look at it this way, at least they got the points.

Looked mostly amazing vs. the Panthers who can't lose a game, but they lost.

Look like crap vs. a historically bad team but win.

How this team rolls.

For sure. At this point, it doesn't matter if we are playing well or not. We just need to win and get points.

 

[damacles1156]

You take any win, you can get.

 

[damacles1156]

Ugh not even 50 points? That's pathetic coming from a 10 million dollar player.

He is a 14 million dollar man(10 cap hit), one the highest salaries in the league.

Top three I believe.

But it's all the bottom six player's fault's... All those sub 2.0 million dollar players not doing their job.

 

[Kingkopitar]

Besides the usual tirade that kopitar is pathetic and lazy and all that. what can be attributed to his lack of production? Its hard to imagine he doesn't care. Could it be age? stress of being named Captain? I'm starting to wonder and can only guess that he is just getting older and the game is getting faster. Not sure.anyone have an idea?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Besides the usual tirade that kopitar is pathetic and lazy and all that. what can be attributed to his lack of production? Its hard to imagine he doesn't care. Could it be age? stress of being named Captain? I'm starting to wonder and can only guess that he is just getting older and the game is getting faster. Not sure.anyone have an idea?

The thing I have noticed about Kopitar (unlike Carter) is that he needs a very specific and the right winger to be effective. He was playing great last year with Lucic, but when Lucic got moved to the Carter line, Kopitar's scoring and effectiveness dipped. I think if DL acquired the right top 6 rental at the deadline, it may ignite Kopitar again.

 

[damacles1156]

Besides the usual tirade that kopitar is pathetic and lazy and all that. what can be attributed to his lack of production? Its hard to imagine he doesn't care. Could it be age? stress of being named Captain? I'm starting to wonder and can only guess that he is just getting older and the game is getting faster. Not sure.anyone have an idea?

Down year,

They happen to even the best players. You have to hope Kopitar rebounds next year, or the Franchise is done winning for the next Five/six years.

 

[Kingkopitar]

The thing I have noticed about Kopitar (unlike Carter) is that he needs a very specific and the right winger to be effective. He was playing great last year with Lucic, but when Lucic got moved to the Carter line, Kopitar's scoring and effectiveness dipped. I think if DL acquired the right top 6 rental at the deadline, it may ignite Kopitar again.

I tend to agree but its weird that Toffoli isn't that guy.

 

[CowMix]

The thing I have noticed about Kopitar (unlike Carter) is that he needs a very specific and the right winger to be effective. He was playing great last year with Lucic, but when Lucic got moved to the Carter line, Kopitar's scoring and effectiveness dipped. I think if DL acquired the right top 6 rental at the deadline, it may ignite Kopitar again.

Landeskog

 

[BigKing]

Was at the game last night.

Thought Gravel had a nice game last night. Really picked up his urgency and seemed to be more physical. Dude used his wheels to get to pucks in the corner or turn a play into a 50-50 play when I thought the Avs had the clear advantage.

My biggest issue with him is his physicality. He gets rocked way too often where it takes him out of the play and he rarely gives it back.

He got cranked by Wilson in the Caps game with his slow skate to the bench leading to a bad change and a goal against. Don't think he suited up since that game and would not have unless LaDue went down.

I like his skating and think he can carve out a career. It's not so much that he doesn't give enough hits--although it would help--but rather that he gets out muscled far too often.

 

[BigKing]

The thing I have noticed about Kopitar (unlike Carter) is that he needs a very specific and the right winger to be effective. He was playing great last year with Lucic, but when Lucic got moved to the Carter line, Kopitar's scoring and effectiveness dipped. I think if DL acquired the right top 6 rental at the deadline, it may ignite Kopitar again.

Sad if true.

$14MM centers are supposed to make everyone else better and not need the "right" winger to make them a $14MM center as opposed to a $4.5MM center.

 

[lumbergh]

My biggest issue with him is his physicality. He gets rocked way too often where it takes him out of the play and he rarely gives it back.

He got cranked by Wilson in the Caps game with his slow skate to the bench leading to a bad change and a goal against. Don't think he suited up since that game and would not have unless LaDue went down.

I like his skating and think he can carve out a career. It's not so much that he doesn't give enough hits--although it would help--but rather that he gets out muscled far too often.

I remember that play. Wilson skated quite a ways and took a big run at Gravel. Gravel managed to sidestep the hit, but Wilson jammed his arm up against the boards. It was clear Gravel was hurt on the play and he immediately skated off, leading to the goal.

Not sure if that was avoidable.

I'm liking Gravel's steady game more and more. He looks ready for the NHL game, does everything pretty well, but hasn't found his offense yet. We'll see how he turns out. I'm hoping for a Willie Mitchell successor.

 

[BigKing]

I remember that play. Wilson skated quite a ways and took a big run at Gravel. Gravel managed to sidestep the hit, but Wilson jammed his arm up against the boards. It was clear Gravel was hurt on the play and he immediately skated off, leading to the goal.

Not sure if that was avoidable.

I'm liking Gravel's steady game more and more. He looks ready for the NHL game, does everything pretty well, but hasn't found his offense yet. We'll see how he turns out. I'm hoping for a Willie Mitchell successor.

It was definitely a big run but I feel he takes a lot of big hits. He's going to need to get better at receiving them is all. The Wilson hit may not have been avoidable, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is a direct correlation between that play and him visiting the press box. Kind of a straw that broke the camel's back for Sutter.

I like his game too. Forbort looked like a real pansy earlier on but has started to use his size a lot more. I think Gravel can figure it out.

 

[Omni Owl]

I'm gonna be upset if we lose Forbort to expansion...

 

[Bandit]

I'm gonna be upset if we lose Forbort to expansion...

I will ****ing riot.

 

[KINGS17]

Down year,

They happen to even the best players. You have to hope Kopitar rebounds next year, or the Franchise is done winning for the next Five/six years.

Kopitar will bounce back somewhat. I don't doubt that, but he needs to get back to being a 70-point player for the Kings to contend. The odds are fairly slim Kopitar will attain that level of production and maintain it for 3 or 4 years, which is what it would take to make his current deal palatable at all.

Let's hope he dedicates himself to being the best 30-year old player the NHL has ever seen. Unfortunately, his history doesn't make it a likely outcome.

 

[KINGS17]

Besides the usual tirade that kopitar is pathetic and lazy and all that. what can be attributed to his lack of production? Its hard to imagine he doesn't care. Could it be age? stress of being named Captain? I'm starting to wonder and can only guess that he is just getting older and the game is getting faster. Not sure.anyone have an idea?

You answered your own question. Every year kids with fresher legs join the NHL. Young players mature and get smarter and better.

Older guys lose a step and get more comfortable, especially ones that have already been to the top of the mountain. Without a new challenge players get complacent.

I don't ever recall a tirade by anyone saying Kopitar is pathetic or lazy. Many pointed out he was getting by on his superior size, strength, and skill early in his career. He was never near the top of the fitness charts when the Kings showed up for work the first day of training camp.

 

[damacles1156]

Sad if true.

$14MM centers are supposed to make everyone else better and not need the "right" winger to make them a $14MM center as opposed to a $4.5MM center.

Bingo,

For the record, I have always said Kopitar doesn't need elite wingers. Kopitar has played with some (super) non-productive wingers in his career, still managed to produce.

 

[damacles1156]

For fun:

Last 18GP:

Trevor Lewis: 3G 3A 6P ALL ES.

Anze Kopitar: 3G 12A 15P (4PPA 1PPG) Only 4 ES points ahead of Lewis in his last 18GP, only 2 ES goals in that time frame...Ouch!

I guess to be fair to Kopitar, Lewis is on pace for a career year.

 

[Model62]

As is Kopitar.

I blame the wife and kid.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kopitar will bounce back somewhat. I don't doubt that, but he needs to get back to being a 70-point player for the Kings to contend. The odds are fairly slim Kopitar will attain that level of production and maintain it for 3 or 4 years, which is what it would take to make his current deal palatable at all.

Let's hope he dedicates himself to being the best 30-year old player the NHL has ever seen. Unfortunately, his history doesn't make it a likely outcome.

Yeah I heard that in 2015 too, only for him to bounce back and have arguably his best season ever.

Not gonna write his eulogy yet.

 

[KINGS17]

Yeah I heard that in 2015 too, only for him to bounce back and have arguably his best season ever.

Not gonna write his eulogy yet.

A lot can happen in two years.

I would argue 2014-15 was not even close to being his best season, but it's all in the eye of the beholder. He did win the Selke he was due back in 2012 or 2013 or 2014. Sometimes the reputation finally wins the award.

He's a good player, and he won't be dead and buried for a while, but he isn't $10M cap hit good for another 7 years, and he obviously hasn't been close to be worth his pay this season. As I said before sometimes it is better to let another GM give it to the player in question.

Now Dean is in the unfortunate situation of having three contracts he can't trade, and his best player over 30 years of age is his best player hands down this season. This makes the current situation unrecoverable in my opinion.

This team won't contend as it is currently constituted. Dean should know what to do, but he doesn't seem to be the GM he once was over the last few seasons.