Rumor: KINGS 2018-19 Season - The Luc and Rob ****show

[Herby]

The NHL is going to go through a change like the NFL did in regards to coaching, it's kind of happening but at a much slower pace. Guys like Willie Desjardins and John Stevens are why a guy like Martin St. Louis fails in his first stop, he was sitting in favor of Andrei Nazarov and Rene Corbet. Robert Lang the same thing for any long time Kings fans, buried behind Kevin Todd on the depth chart. These idiots will play veteran grinders rather than maximize an all-star caliber skillset.

 

[YP44]

No one player is to blame. The entire team is horrible this year. I think the biggest reason is that our core is no longer hungry. They won two cups in three years, and got their life-time salary. They no longer have hunger and drive to be competitive.

The Kings are not the worst team roster-wise on paper. On paper, we look pretty decent and should be a bubble team. The fact that we are last place is not because of lack of talent, or lapses in defense by one or two players. Its a lack of buy in, identity, and hunger by the entire team.

I agree with the second paragraph here and think it is one area the team really misses Quick. When the effort was not there in the past Quick would get into it with the other team and it would make the kings wake the hell up and think "hell if our goalie is standing up for himself we should".

 

[Sol]

I'm just looking at it from the coach's perspective. For him, it's all W/L. All the top players should be demoted to the 4th line for the effort they've put forth this year, but that's not possible. Why is Kovalchuk singled out? I don't know. Other than this particular coach sees him as a PP specialist, and doesn't trust him in any way. WD is a normal head coach, who wants as few mistakes as possible. Kovalchuk doesn't tend to play that way, and more so than other players.

Should Kovalchuk be playing on the 1st line? Sure. We're not coaches paid to win games though. They don't care what fans want.

Okay let's say you're right. Kovalchuk creates a lot more than he allows. He may be a one way player but he sure plays that one way better than anyone on this team. Best shot on the team, and a great play maker.


Let's say the reasoning is he might not be good defensively, but if your goal is to win you put him out there, and let him create. He's a special breed. You don't neuter a guy like that. Kempe sucks defensively yet you don't see him ever get shafted.

This line of reasoning is way below logic.


Furthermore, all the reports about Kovy on the locker room indicates he's a real leader and easy to get along with.


There is a very illogical reason to Kovalchuk's treatment, his personality, and his play isn't the cause.

It's either extremely incompetent coaching or he doesn't like Russians. Maybe both. But there's nothing logical about it

 

[KingsFan7824]

This is my major question for everyone that's talking about his reduced icetime leading to wins, and it wasn't even responded to before, so I'm curious what the thought is now. If he's that terrible, why play him? 6 minutes of icetime is awful. If you're going to take up that last forward spot and 'hide' him from McDavid (or really, hockey in general), why even dress him if you're not going to use him as a strictly offensive weapon? Coaches use offensive d-men--Colin Miller's usage last year for example was LOL worthy--starting them only on the PP or only in the offensive zone. Why not do that with Kovy? And if you don't want to do that with Kovy, then don't ****ing dress him, play him for six minutes, and tax the rest of the roster just to embarrass him. That usage is indefensible, it's not 'coaching like a coach,' it's being an ******* to Kovalchuk AND everyone else on the roster. Do something else. Bag skate him at practice. Make him play ONLY defensive minutes. But make him play. Especially when that's literally all he was signed for, give the roster some offensive/PP pop. Now you want to hold him accountable for defense when the entire roster has gone from best to worst in the league? Get the **** out. That's garbage.

I hardly ever take the player's side in these cases but this is a big pile of dookie.

It's pretty clear WD just doesn't like how Kovalchuk plays the game, and will use any excuse to not play him. One soft shift, and it might be to the end of the bench. He inherited Kovalchuk, and got the job because the team wasn't winning enough.

The 6 minute thing happened in one game so far. We'll see if that continues. Who knows what happens tonight. Maybe Kovalchuk won't even dress. Did WD go into the game thinking he was going to play 6 minutes? Maybe. Maybe that's just how the game evolved, and he coached to win the game as he saw fit.

Not trying to defend WD or the choices he makes. I'd throw Kovalchuk out there all game long. You buy it, might as well use it. But, they brought in a different coach, and he's going to do things differently from the previous guy, who did things differently from the previous guy(and he did).

Wagner played his second most minutes in a game this season, and Luff had what is so far a career high. Luff had the second most ES minutes of all Kings forwards in the last game.

 

[Sol]

No one player is to blame. The entire team is horrible this year. I think the biggest reason is that our core is no longer hungry. They won two cups in three years, and got their life-time salary. They no longer have hunger and drive to be competitive.

The Kings are not the worst team roster-wise on paper. On paper, we look pretty decent and should be a bubble team. The fact that we are last place is not because of lack of talent, or lapses in defense by one or two players. Its a lack of buy in, identity, and hunger by the entire team.

And that lack of buy in, identity and hunger all come from your Vets. The vets are the ones who are truly killing this team.

 

[KingsFan7824]

There is a very illogical reason to Kovalchuk's treatment, his personality, and his play isn't the cause.

It's either extremely incompetent coaching or he doesn't like Russians. Maybe both. But there's nothing logical about it

I'd say all of that would then be logical. Incompetent coach; play the most talented player for 6 minutes. Doesn't like Russians; plays the Russian for 6 minutes.

Again, not defending WD. They hired him as the coach, and he will coach how he wants in order to win the game. That's not an opinion, that's just what's happening.

 

[Sol]

I'd say all of that would then be logical. Incompetent coach; play the most talented player for 6 minutes. Doesn't like Russians; plays the Russian for 6 minutes.

Again, not defending WD. They hired him as the coach, and he will coach how he wants in order to win the game. That's not an opinion, that's just what's happening.

His concept of winning isn't based in reality. If he thinks winning requires benching your best player then he's the biggest dumb f*** on the planet.

 

[KingsRule]

This is my major question for everyone that's talking about his reduced icetime leading to wins, and it wasn't even responded to before, so I'm curious what the thought is now. If he's that terrible, why play him? 6 minutes of icetime is awful. If you're going to take up that last forward spot and 'hide' him from McDavid (or really, hockey in general), why even dress him if you're not going to use him as a strictly offensive weapon? Coaches use offensive d-men--Colin Miller's usage last year for example was LOL worthy--starting them only on the PP or only in the offensive zone. Why not do that with Kovy? And if you don't want to do that with Kovy, then don't ****ing dress him, play him for six minutes, and tax the rest of the roster just to embarrass him. That usage is indefensible, it's not 'coaching like a coach,' it's being an ******* to Kovalchuk AND everyone else on the roster. Do something else. Bag skate him at practice. Make him play ONLY defensive minutes. But make him play. Especially when that's literally all he was signed for, give the roster some offensive/PP pop. Now you want to hold him accountable for defense when the entire roster has gone from best to worst in the league? Get the **** out. That's garbage.

I hardly ever take the player's side in these cases but this is a big pile of dookie.

exactly.. I don't get the logic behind what WD is doing. At least give him the chance in offensive opportunities and sit him in other situations if you must. it was pretty sad seeing them cut to him on the bench just sitting there in the last game.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Honestly, I think WD would put Patrick Kane on line 4 too if he was on the Kings. He doesn't know what to do with offensive only players.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

No way. I think Phaneuf forgetting how to play hockey is more of a cause than him

Pretty much the entire ROSTER the first dozen games forgot how to play, THATs why we are 31st....

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I am all for accountability. But why take it out on Kovy? He was the one scoring goals when the Kings were losing. WD should bench other underperforming players before benching Kovy, such as Carter, Toffoli, Kempe etc. Before last game, I would even bench Kopitar to send a team-wide message.

I just hope that when Quick comes back, he is given back-up duties, and they let Cal Peterson get more playing time. He is the goalie of our future. Once Campbell is back, I hope we trade Quick and get out of his contract. Cal Peterson and Campbell can take care of the net going forward. They are both good goalies.

Last 5 games before he was moved, he played with Carter/Toffoli.....he was a -11 or -15...Carter and Toffoli hovered around zero....that line wasn't producing at all, but 2 of the linemates were responsible defensively....

Can we end the false narrative that Kovalchuk was producing BEFORE he got sent to the 4th line, it's not freaking true FFS.

 

[crassbonanza]

In today's 31 thoughts, Friedman had a note that the Kings had wanted to see how things changed post coaching change/Pearson trade and that the patience has expired. I'm really intrigued to see what he means by that. Are we going to be selling some big names now or pushing hard for a Nylander trade?

 

[Bandit]

No way. I think Phaneuf forgetting how to play hockey is more of a cause than him

I don't think he forgot how to play, his footspeed is non existent. That's the real problem.

 

[Bandit]

In today's 31 thoughts, Friedman had a note that the Kings had wanted to see how things changed post coaching change/Pearson trade and that the patience has expired. I'm really intrigued to see what he means by that. Are we going to be selling some big names now or pushing hard for a Nylander trade?

You're gonna see Vilardi + for Simmonds.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Pretty much the entire ROSTER the first dozen games forgot how to play, THATs why we are 31st....

So why take it out on solely Kovalchuk? At least finally LaDue got into a game. Because...

Last 5 games before he was moved, he played with Carter/Toffoli.....he was a -11 or -15...Carter and Toffoli hovered around zero....that line wasn't producing at all, but 2 of the linemates were responsible defensively....

Can we end the false narrative that Kovalchuk was producing BEFORE he got sent to the 4th line, it's not freaking true FFS.

Is a fine take, but then what about Kopitar who had zero points and -5 in a six game stretch while Kovalchuk was going PPG? What about Doughty, the most important part of our defense, going from NO goals against to -8 across a three game stretch? It's selective accountability and THAT is what pisses people off.

No one has any delusions that they were getting Marian Hossa when we picked up Kovalchuk. He's been completely misused since they said they wanted to put him on the Ovy spot then did it for like 30 seconds this entire season culminating with his 6 minutes last game. Would I like to see him pick it up defensively? Sure, I'd like 20+ other guys to do that as well. But it's horse shit coaching to shelf your deadliest PP weapon to apparently send a message to a roster who isn't receiving the message despite getting fed f***ing grapes on a chariot. It's scapegoating. It's symbolic of this organization turning to absolute garbage again right in front of our eyes and it's being led by two of the guys who were at least responsible for the same shit culture a decade ago. I have a serious problem with that. I had faith, I'm losing it quickly.

 

[bob77]

Line of Kovi, Kopi, and Karter

Or a line of Chucky, our Captain, and Carter

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Kovalchuk still on the 4th line.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

So why take it out on solely Kovalchuk? At least finally LaDue got into a game. Because...




Is a fine take, but then what about Kopitar who had zero points and -5 in a six game stretch while Kovalchuk was going PPG? What about Doughty, the most important part of our defense, going from NO goals against to -8 across a three game stretch? It's selective accountability and THAT is what pisses people off.

No one has any delusions that they were getting Marian Hossa when we picked up Kovalchuk. He's been completely misused since they said they wanted to put him on the Ovy spot then did it for like 30 seconds this entire season culminating with his 6 minutes last game. Would I like to see him pick it up defensively? Sure, I'd like 20+ other guys to do that as well. But it's horse **** coaching to shelf your deadliest PP weapon to apparently send a message to a roster who isn't receiving the message despite getting fed ****ing grapes on a chariot. It's scapegoating. It's symbolic of this organization turning to absolute garbage again right in front of our eyes and it's being led by two of the guys who were at least responsible for the same **** culture a decade ago. I have a serious problem with that. I had faith, I'm losing it quickly.

Because Kopitar and Doughty have CONSISTENTLY proven that they are better players than that and will turn it around, Kovalchuk has not.

LaDue got into a game because the day ended in Y, who knows, who cares, he's a 7th dman, who will be up and down throughout the league, that's like asking why Gravel plays...

The problem with putting Kovy in Ovy's spot, is that the Kings don't have the passing that Ovy does, teams know this, and can focus on it, go back and watch some of the games, the box F that covers that side, is a half a stick length away most times, so ok, use him as a decoy etc, fine.

If you don't think players noticed that Kovy only had six minutes, you are delusional......we don't know if they received a message or not, because it just freaking happened....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Because Kopitar and Doughty have CONSISTENTLY proven that they are better players than that and will turn it around, Kovalchuk has not.

LaDue got into a game because the day ended in Y, who knows, who cares, he's a 7th dman, who will be up and down throughout the league, that's like asking why Gravel plays...

The problem with putting Kovy in Ovy's spot, is that the Kings don't have the passing that Ovy does, teams know this, and can focus on it, go back and watch some of the games, the box F that covers that side, is a half a stick length away most times, so ok, use him as a decoy etc, fine.

If you don't think players noticed that Kovy only had six minutes, you are delusional......we don't know if they received a message or not, because it just freaking happened....

Kovalchuk was over ppg in over 800 NHL games but we're pretending he forgot how to score...but ok. Again, selective outrage.

we know the players saw the message. We also know that most of them realize that won't happen to them.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

In today's 31 thoughts, Friedman had a note that the Kings had wanted to see how things changed post coaching change/Pearson trade and that the patience has expired. I'm really intrigued to see what he means by that. Are we going to be selling some big names now or pushing hard for a Nylander trade?

I honestly believe the Rempal recall was PARTLY to do with Blake may be close on a few deals and if the Kings were in LA and a forward is traded, could recall a player from Ontario same day.
However, if a forward gets traded while on the road in Canada, (especially on a day of a game) they are caught short a forward. You know he's talking trades and he could be close and not willing
to move on a deal, and a GM calls and makes it happen - Kings could be caught short. If no deal commences, no biggie. Another forward sits. Since there were several scouts in Ontario last game,
maybe a GM wants to see Rempal in an NHL game for that matter.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Kovalchuk was over ppg in over 800 NHL games but we're pretending he forgot how to score...but ok. Again, selective outrage.

we know the players saw the message. We also know that most of them realize that won't happen to them.

LOL not that he forgot how to score, he forgot where the defensive zone is, that's the message, cmon man, you know as well as I do that it does not good if Kovalchuk is the cause of 2 GA's for every 1 goal he scores, at that point, he's a detriment.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

LOL not that he forgot how to score, he forgot where the defensive zone is, that's the message, cmon man, you know as well as I do that it does not good if Kovalchuk is the cause of 2 GA's for every 1 goal he scores, at that point, he's a detriment.

2 GA for every 1 goal he scores would still be 1 GA better than most of the rest of the roster over the same stretch. I know he's lost defensively. Everyone knew that signing up. Use him like the weapon he is, instead of using Nate Thompson/Kyle Clifford as the scoring forward and complaining about Kovalchuk's defense. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills having to explain this.

It's selective estrangement, nothing more. I gave you examples of players with even worse stretches and their minutes increased.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

2 GA for every 1 goal he scores would still be 1 GA better than most of the rest of the roster over the same stretch. I know he's lost defensively. Everyone knew that signing up. Use him like the weapon he is, instead of using Nate Thompson/Kyle Clifford as the scoring forward and complaining about Kovalchuk's defense. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills having to explain this.

It's selective estrangement, nothing more. I gave you examples of players with even worse stretches and their minutes increased.

LOL Kopitar and Doughty's minutes didn't increase, hell YOU were the one screaming that they needed to decrease and for the most part they did....

You wanna know why he's using Thompson and Clifford out there? Because they are mainly the only two veterans that are motoring every damn shift and giving a damn, like I said, go back and watch Kovalchuk's last 6 games, let me know when you can find him.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Healthy Quick+AMart to LA East the Flyers, FatElvis4. Sometime after the Holiday freeze. A bit less than two cents

 

[crassbonanza]

I honestly believe the Rempal recall was PARTLY to do with Blake may be close on a few deals and if the Kings were in LA and a forward is traded, could recall a player from Ontario same day.
However, if a forward gets traded while on the road in Canada, (especially on a day of a game) they are caught short a forward. You know he's talking trades and he could be close and not willing
to move on a deal, and a GM calls and makes it happen - Kings could be caught short. If no deal commences, no biggie. Another forward sits. Since there were several scouts in Ontario last game,
maybe a GM wants to see Rempal in an NHL game for that matter.

I think you are on to something regarding a potential move happening during the upcoming road trip. I do hope it is not Rempal though, because he has some great potential and I think it would be a bad look to trade a college free agent we just signed.