Kings lines changed again today

[SLang]

Kopi always seems to have a rough February, as illogical as that is. Watch him turn it on in March. Unfortunately, it might be too late considering the shortened season.

But I don't think so. This team will make the playoffs.

 

[Winger23]

I think it's gonna be time soon to inject some hungry players like King and Nolan last year.

Play Campbell. Maybe call up Toffoli and whoever best grinder and heart player that Manchester has.

Richardson, Fraser and several others are more than expendable. Maybe even give Nolan some 1st line minutes in Manchester for a couple weeks.

I would also advocate scratching Williams or Stoll to send a message to the veterans.

It's sad but Stoll has been much better than Brown or Kopi. I would sit these guys to send a real message.

 

[DeeMeck]

I think Kopi and Brown do other things besides score though. Kopitar is still responsible in his own end and controls the tempo of a game.

Brown is just as responsible as Richards for the 2 goals we scored yesterday. Emery didn't see either shot and that is credit to Brown.

That stuff doesn't end up on the score sheet though.

 

[Muzzinga]

the worst player on the team this year gets promoted to the 2nd line. Awesome.

Don;t understand why the line shave been changed. The old lines dominated Detroit, STL and Columbus, and had a couple of bad periods in an early game vs the top team in the league. Breaking them up makes no sense

 

[KINGS17]

By the time it happens Kings will already be out of a playoff spot. I'm sorry, but this is not the season to have patience. They have to start producing now, and consistently.

You bring up last year playoffs, however none of that matters this year. They don't get any bonus points for what they did in the playoffs. Having ZERO points through 12 games as Lewis and King does is unacceptable, especially with the amount of ice time these 2 see each game

Still, I wouldn't go holding a firesale if the Kings fail to make the playoffs this season.

I was kind of disappointed to see this season take place at all after all the BS from Fehr and to a lesser extent Bettman.

Next year, this year won't matter. Lombardi has to look at this team and determine what it takes to make another run or two at a Stanley Cup. I never expected Trevor Lewis to do much scoring. He is playing his role. We need Kopitar to start producing, that is what he is paid to do and he isn't doing it right now. Too much perimeter play from him.

 

[Fishhead]

Anze traditionally starts hot then slumps through the new year, only to pick it up in early spring. If this trend doesn't continue, this team is in trouble.

 

[Whiskeypete]

its time for Sutter to make a statement and keep the lines set for a few games. he needs to do what he did last year and maintain consistency.

Brown - Kopi - JW
Clifford - Richards - Carter
Gagne/Penner - Stoll - Lewis/Richardson
King - Fraser - Nolan

the statement is to flip flop the #1 and #2 lines. if the #1 line won't play and produce then reduce their TOI. Richards line is producing, the Kopitar line is not producing up to expectations.

get DB back on the left where he was effective last season. get JW back with Kopitar, whom he has some chemistry with and someone he can play g-n-g with. DB also gives them a big body in the front.

Clifford gives 10 and 77 a big body out front, in the corners and space to operate. if not the Colonel, then put Gagne there and keep him there. his skill is wasted down on the #3 and #4. he needs to feed and play with guys that will take the majority of the pressure now. at his age now you look for him to be the 3rd guy in the zone set up to take shots. let 10 and 77 do the work and pull the coverage, let 12 bury the puck.

the #3 who knows what to do with that menagerie of guys. someone there needs to start putting some points on the board.....period. if they don't produce then DL needs to look at moving some of these guys, whether he's going to get a return for them or not. specifically Richardson im talking.

get King back on the line with Nolan and Fraser. he isn't producing on the other line and needs to get back to basics. strong, heavy up ice pressure on the #4 line that leads to turnovers and goals....just like last year. so far this year he hasn't produced in other circumstances, so put him back into a playing situation he is comfortable with and can perform in.

Sutter needs to emphasize two things. shots and traffic. this team is not a finesse and skill team, although they seem to think they are. nobody on this team is willing to play in front of the net on a consistent basis. they want to keep playing on the posts to much, instead of parking their ass dead center. they also need to start shooting. i think the lack of shots has to due with the lack of traffic out front. they grind, cycle and maintain possession but the puck never moves off the boards. guys are looking to shoot, but there isn't anyone out front.

 

[bobafettish*]

it's pretty bad when kopitar has been playing like ass and he is the kings leading scorer. everybody not named clifford needs to pick it up.

 

[Ron*]

By the time it happens Kings will already be out of a playoff spot. I'm sorry, but this is not the season to have patience. They have to start producing now, and consistently.

You bring up last year playoffs, however none of that matters this year. They don't get any bonus points for what they did in the playoffs. Having ZERO points through 12 games as Lewis and King does is unacceptable, especially with the amount of ice time these 2 see each game

They are only 13 games in. With 35 games remaining, that is like the 47 game mark during a regular season. Stop panicking.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

look at your own ridiculous system that demands a finesse guy to grind out goals along the boards. Absurd.

LOL....didn't that 'ridiculous' system help the Kings STEAMROLL through last years playoffs and win a little trophy called the Stanley Cup? Absurd....

 

[cheap77]

I don't like the switch lines after every loss thing. They need to stay together and get a chance. I know they were sleeping in Chicago, but it seemed that the lines were doing good. Maybe swapping Brown and Williams would have been good.

I don't know about anyone else, but I was a fan of the Kopi, Carter, Richards, Stoll down the middle.

Sticking with something like this would be nice.

Gagne - Kopitar - Williams
Clifford - Carter - Brown
Penner - Richards - Nolan
King - Stoll - Lewis

 

[SettlementRichie10]

LOL....didn't that 'ridiculous' system help the Kings STEAMROLL through last years playoffs and win a little trophy called the Stanley Cup? Absurd....

I don't think it's any secret that we caught lightning in a bottle immediately after the Carter trade last season and rode that wave to a Cup win. Let's not pretend that this very same system didn't mire the Kings in mediocrity for the majority of Sutter's tenure as head coach. Why do you think the Carter trade happened in the first place? Because the team was doing so well under Sutter?

I give Sutter all the credit in the WORLD for being an incredible motivator and squeezing production and value out of players when it matters most (the playoffs), but brilliant tactical coach he is not. Yes, we won a Cup last year. Yes, I wouldn't trade that for anything, ever. Yes, a Cup win has earned equity for every single player, coach, and manager in this club - for a long time. But don't let a Cup win forbid you from seeing the forest through the trees. Lombardi hockey has resulted in years of low scoring, statistically regressing teams in the regular season that sees offensively gifted players enter a system in which they seem to have all creativity and finesse sucked out of them.

At this point, the Cup win is an anomaly among years of offensive ineptitude and generally mediocre playoff bubble performances - not the other way around. I'm not trying to discredit anything Sutter, Lombardi, or anyone else has done for this franchise. But neither Lombardi nor Sutter is beyond reproach, especially in regards to the system they're pushing on this team that, 13 games in, is simply not working.

 

[Winger23]

They are only 13 games in. With 35 games remaining, that is like the 47 game mark during a regular season. Stop panicking.

It's not panicking its reality. The kings do not have quick playing lights out to save their ***** during the season.

 

[Winger23]

LOL....didn't that 'ridiculous' system help the Kings STEAMROLL through last years playoffs and win a little trophy called the Stanley Cup? Absurd....

Really wish people would stop pointing back to last year as If it means anything this year.

If you want to use that mentality then gagne should be scratched or playing on the 4th line cause he was either hurt or only playing very few minutes.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Here comes another Too Many Men penalty.

 

[damacles1156]

I don't think it's any secret that we caught lightning in a bottle immediately after the Carter trade last season and rode that wave to a Cup win. Let's not pretend that this very same system didn't mire the Kings in mediocrity for the majority of Sutter's tenure as head coach. Why do you think the Carter trade happened in the first place? Because the team was doing so well under Sutter?

I give Sutter all the credit in the WORLD for being an incredible motivator and squeezing production and value out of players when it matters most (the playoffs), but brilliant tactical coach he is not. Yes, we won a Cup last year. Yes, I wouldn't trade that for anything, ever. Yes, a Cup win has earned equity for every single player, coach, and manager in this club - for a long time. But don't let a Cup win forbid you from seeing the forest through the trees. Lombardi hockey has resulted in years of low scoring, statistically regressing teams in the regular season that sees offensively gifted players enter a system in which they seem to have all creativity and finesse sucked out of them.

At this point, the Cup win is an anomaly among years of offensive ineptitude and generally mediocre playoff bubble performances - not the other way around. I'm not trying to discredit anything Sutter, Lombardi, or anyone else has done for this franchise. But neither Lombardi nor Sutter is beyond reproach, especially in regards to the system they're pushing on this team that, 13 games in, is simply not working.

The system is never going to change with Lombardi as the GM. PERIOD.

You might as well find another team.

 

[Winger23]

Here comes another Too Many Men penalty.

LOL I wonder what the record is for this. The kings should be closing in on it.....

 

[SettlementRichie10]

The system is never going to change with Lombardi as the GM. PERIOD.

You might as well find another team.

I really hate it when people resort to this insult. "Go find another team." I've been following this team likely longer than you've been alive. I will always reserve my right as a paying fan to criticize the team, the players, the management, when I feel it's necessary.

And no, I don't agree that "the system will never change under Lombardi." I believe that Lombardi is tremendously intelligent and will make roster tweaks and philosophy tweaks when necessary.

All of this, in the end, comes down to missing two of our top shutdown defensemen, which affects everything else. It's unfortunate and it sucks but adjustments need to be made, which I don't see.

 

[Mats26]

The system is never going to change with Lombardi as the GM. PERIOD.

You might as well find another team.

I agree with the "system won't change under Lombardi", nor should it. Defense and goaltending will win championships. But the issue we have seen developing is that we can't score goals, but when we do , like we did in the playoffs, we can be contenders. I don't think DL expected half our D out for this long but he also should of expected better production from the forwards. No question he is looking for an upgrade at the forward positions. It took him 3 weeks to look for a D, there is not that much out there right now since all teams are still contending.

 

[damacles1156]

I really hate it when people resort to this insult. "Go find another team." I've been following this team likely longer than you've been alive. I will always reserve my right as a paying fan to criticize the team, the players, the management, when I feel it's necessary.

And no, I don't agree that "the system will never change under Lombardi." I believe that Lombardi is tremendously intelligent and will make roster tweaks and philosophy tweaks when necessary.

All of this, in the end, comes down to missing two of our top shutdown defensemen, which affects everything else. It's unfortunate and it sucks but adjustments need to be made, which I don't see.

Not an insult, it's reality, Lombardi is old School. If people want to see a different brand of Hockey, or different style...

They need to watch another team, or hope Lombardi retires.

The guy is always going to construct the team a certain way. He is always going to hire a certain type of coach.

I mean.....I have been a fan of hockey for about 15 years...I even know that.

So why can't 50 year Hockey fans understand that ?

Winning the Cup has only made Lombardi, even more confident in the brand of Hockey the Kings play.

 

[Ron*]

Not an insult, it's reality, Lombardi is old School. If people want to see a different brand of Hockey, or different style...

They need to watch another team, or hope Lombardi retires.

The guy is always going to construct the team a certain way. He is always going to hire a certain type of coach.

I mean.....I have been a fan of hockey for about 15 years...I even know that.

So why can't 50 year Hockey fans understand that ?

Going on 46 years for me...and I do understand it.

What I don't understand is every time we lose these fans have to complain. I am wondering now if Canadian fan complained like a little b when they lost each of 8 times in 1976-77 (60-8-12)?

Probably.

Certain fans will never be satisfied.

 

[damacles1156]

Going on 46 years for me...and I do understand it.

What I don't understand is every time we lose these fans have to complain. I am wondering now if Canadian fan complained like a little b when they lost each of 8 times in 1976-77 (60-8-12)?

Probably.

Certain fans will never be satisfied.

I don't care if people want to criticize that is fine.

But at least complain about something that is relevant.

The "system" or style or brand of hockey is not relevant.

Lombardi runs the ship. He along with Coach Sutter, want to win 3-2 games.

They don't buy into that East Coast Pond Hockey garbage. I know it's exciting, it looks GREAT. But both of the important guys in charge, don't buy it or sell it.

Now if people are only talking about loose up the reins a bit; That's fine I am sure Sutter has already suggested the players do that.

Getting the players to execute is a completely different thing. I bet Davis Payne is ready to kill Drew (with his PP blocked shots).

 

[bobafettish*]

Going on 46 years for me...and I do understand it.

What I don't understand is every time we lose these fans have to complain. I am wondering now if Canadian fan complained like a little b when they lost each of 8 times in 1976-77 (60-8-12)?

Probably.

Certain fans will never be satisfied.

go to any other team board (ones that are active ) after a loss. considering the kings history we are pretty tame compared to others. hell, look at chicago board, theyre ****ing undefeated in regulation and they have a fire kompon thread.

 

[KINGS17]

I don't care if people want to criticize that is fine.

But at least complain about something that is relevant.

The "system" or style or brand of hockey is not relevant.

Lombardi runs the ship. He along with Coach Sutter, want to win 3-2 games.

They don't buy into that East Coast Pond Hockey garbage. I know it's exciting, it looks GREAT. But both of the important guys in charge, don't buy it or sell it.

Now if people are only talking about loose up the reins a bit; That's fine I am sure Sutter has already suggested the players do that.

Getting the players to execute is a completely different thing. I bet Davis Payne is ready to kill Drew (with his PP blocked shots).

Both men have correctly assessed that in games played between the better teams in the NHL, it's a race to 3, sometimes 2.

 

[JBernierFan]

the worst player on the team this year gets promoted to the 2nd line. Awesome.

Don;t understand why the line shave been changed. The old lines dominated Detroit, STL and Columbus, and had a couple of bad periods in an early game vs the top team in the league. Breaking them up makes no sense

The way I see it, Sutter is hoping Carter and Richards' latest jump/scoring streaks will help get King going, much like he hopes Clifford will get Brown and Kopitar going.

Kopitar has been pretty bad the past few games. He's not even strong on the puck in the d zone right now. Either he's playing hurt or is just coasting this year. What did Sweden do to him?

Brown has been downright terrible. I think Clifford looks more like Brown than Brown does! He isn't throwing his body, is weak on the puck and has no jump. The only good thing he's doing is sticking his butt in the goalies face on the PP.