Kevin Fiala isn't happy about the system the Kings played...

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

He played?

 

[Little Psycho]

Did people actually watch the clip?

He actually gave an analytical reason for his opinion, not some whining that he personally doesn't get more offensive opportunity.

Should he be that candid about it with the media? Perhaps not, but I didn't see it as entitled complaints as much as questioning the viability of the system.

He's not wrong.

60% of HF doesn’t read or watch, they just love jumping to conclusions so some of these comments are not shocking.

Also those calling out his game; sticking him with Lewis and Lizotte, offensive black holes can be debilitating.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Wouldn't he be the laziest player on the team if it weren't for PLD ?

Not even close, really uninformed comment.

Just because he is a skill player with warts, doesn't mean he is lazy. He can struggle with decision making but he has always played with motor.

Did people actually watch the clip?

He actually gave an analytical reason for his opinion, not some whining that he personally doesn't get more offensive opportunity.

Should he be that candid about it with the media? Perhaps not, but I didn't see it as entitled complaints as much as questioning the viability of the system.

He's not wrong.

I thought he was pretty measured, albeit obviously critical. That said, it's not like he trashed the system... he basically just said that there are times when the opponent can take advantage of it and that maybe they would benefit from a more dynamic approach.

 

[Czechboy]

Oilers have the speed to break the 1-3-1 formation, it’s a terrible system to deploy against them

Imo...McDavid loved the 1-3-1.

 

[Nasti]

This isn’t a coaching decision. 1-3-1 is a mandate from management. Almost every Kings fan wants the Robitaille and Blake (BLuc) sideshow to end. Even we don’t like watching this team.

 

[Kranix]

How has McLellan been recycled so many times over the years when he's a poor motivator incapable of adjusting his system.

 

[Thallis]

Enjoy him and Dubois. 'It'd be fun to play a children's game for millions of dollars a year in California.' The new breed of NHLer is puke worthy.

You say this like Dubois's attitude is normal or Alexei Kovalev and Alex Daigle didn't exist.

 

[PensPlz]

Do the Kings want Mike Sullivan?

 

[Kshahdoo]

You say this like Dubois's attitude is normal or Alexei Kovalev and Alex Daigle didn't exist.

Didn't Kovalev score 1000+ points in the regular and 100 points in playoffs?

 

[Osprey]

This isn’t a coaching decision. 1-3-1 is a mandate from management.

May I ask why you say that? I'm not saying that it's wrong--it very well could be true--but is there evidence to suggest it or are you just speculating?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Kevin Fiala is just like Mitch Marner, but Kevin Fiala...

 

[Nasti]

May I ask why you say that? I'm not saying that it's wrong--it very well could be true--but is there evidence to suggest it or are you just speculating?

I don’t know for a fact but I’m putting two and two together. We already know from various examples that the management group “manages” by committee. McLellan only became obsessed with the 1-3-1 while he was the Kings coach and now Hiller is the same way.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

How has McLellan been recycled so many times over the years when he's a poor motivator incapable of adjusting his system.

He can take a middling roster and instill a system that can get them into the playoffs.

The problem is he doesn't adapt when he's there.

You say this like Dubois's attitude is normal or Alexei Kovalev and Alex Daigle didn't exist.

Kovalev played like Kovalev. He could turn it on once in a while. Which also included the playoffs.

This was game 5 when he did his Guy Lafleur impression:



Also had 9 goals and 21 points enroute to a Stanley Cup.

 

[Jacob]

I think the 1-3-1 would be effective if used very intermittently. Like a wrinkle you throw out there once in a while to throw teams off. Not all the time.

Did McLellan use the 1-3-1 in Edmonton? I don’t remember it.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Kevin Fiala is just like Mitch Marner, but Kevin Fiala...

Not even close.

Fiala is good at hockey and competes.

 

[Hennessy]

Say what you will about Fiala, but that system sucks. I guess Kopitar and Doughty might find it a nice fit, but the Kings aren't doing the rest of their roster any favors.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Hope Hiller isn't back next season, he's terrible. Kings need to get a real coach to implement a better system. Playing Fiala with Dubois is a waste. Good on paper but Dubois has been trash and deserves to be buried on their 4th line.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Not even close.

Fiala is good at hockey and competes.

Lol, by this logic Marner is a way better player than Fiala...

 

[roon]

That a player would publicly undermine their coach even to this degree is pretty noteworthy imo.

If the coach sucked less - he might not get criticized.

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Good for Fiala for not being a robotic script reading bootlicking yes-man.

 

[HanSolo]

If the coach sucked less - he might not get criticized.

That's not the point.

 

[JianYang]

He can take a middling roster and instill a system that can get them into the playoffs.

The problem is he doesn't adapt when he's there.


Kovalev played like Kovalev. He could turn it on once in a while. Which also included the playoffs.

This was game 5 when he did his Guy Lafleur impression:



Also had 9 goals and 21 points enroute to a Stanley Cup.

In my viewing, kovalev would consistently show up for the playoffs.

 

[Rorschach]

The 1-3-1 is not inherently bad. It's just bad when you play 1-3-1 an only 1-3-1 even in situations and against teams where 1-3-1 is wrong. The lack of flexibility is the problem. Well...one of problems. The lack of character players and also having no franchise-level core players is also a problem.

 

[Cup or Bust]

I think the Kings use the 1-3-1 well but why use it all the time. Save it for the lead or use it at different points in games. They have some some skilled players on that team, it would be smart to also take advantage of their strengths as well. They play scared to lose instead of trying to win.

 

[kingsholygrail]

When your GM and his boss agree that the team has gotten better despite losing in fewer games and getting less points in the season, there's not a lot of hope for change. The same team is coming back next season. I wouldn't even be surprised if it's Hiller still. Luc Robitaille actually thinks the Kings were really close to beating the Oilers this year.