GDT: Kings Training Camp 2022/2023!

[Johnny Utah]

This is an unpopular opinion, but Mayor threw it out also, that the Kings possibly start Byfield in Ontario and sign Nate Thompson and rotate him and or JAD into the center position. I would consider putting Vilardi back at center if they put QB in the AHL.

The Kings can move Vilardi to the 3C or put Lizotte in 3C and rotate Vilardi/JAD in 4C.

 

[Kudelski37]

But Fagemo has been slotted there all preseason? What did I miss?

Unless they're finally wising up to waivers...

TM said in a recent interview they were going to try multiple people at that slot in the preseason and that waiver eligibility would impact who ends up on the opening night roster.

 

[Herby]

This is an unpopular opinion, but Mayor threw it out also, that the Kings possibly start Byfield in Ontario and sign Nate Thompson and rotate him and or JAD into the center position. I would consider putting Vilardi back at center if they put QB in the AHL.

The Kings can move Vilardi to the 3C or put Lizotte in 3C and rotate Vilardi/JAD in 4C.

It was discussed and everyone thought it was one of the worst suggestions they have ever heard.

Vilardi’s only chance to stick in the NHL is on the wing. He can’t move well enough to be a center. Iafallo/Vilardi/Kaliyev would be the slowest line in the league.

Lizotte does not provide the offensive ceiling needed to play 3C. He is great in his role as a 4C, no need to try and push it and make a valuable asset a liability in an increased role.

 

[King'sPawn]

doesnt Hiller run our PP now?

Unless I misread/misunderstood McLellan's quote, it sounds like they're just letting them play?

On what he saw in Clarke’s first NHL preseason game
“A lot of the things that we thought we would. Poised with the puck, good playmaking, read the ice well, for him it’ll be getting acclimatized to heavier forechecks, perhaps some craftier, smarter players on the forecheck that are reading where the puck might go to. More time on the power play of course. We haven’t even talked about power play yet, we just put guys out and let them play. But I thought overall, he handled his minutes well and had an impact on the game.”

PRESEASON FINAL – Kings 2, Sharks 3 OT – McLellan’s takeaways + Clarke's preseason debut & notes - LA Kings Insider

The LA Kings came up short in their first game of the 2022 preseason, falling in overtime to the San Jose Sharks by a score of 3-2 at the SAP Center on Sunday evening. Blake Lizotte scored to tie the game with less than three minutes to play in the third and force overtime, but […]

lakingsinsider.com

 

[King'sPawn]

This is an unpopular opinion, but Mayor threw it out also, that the Kings possibly start Byfield in Ontario and sign Nate Thompson and rotate him and or JAD into the center position. I would consider putting Vilardi back at center if they put QB in the AHL.

The Kings can move Vilardi to the 3C or put Lizotte in 3C and rotate Vilardi/JAD in 4C.

I'd need to hear what Hoven said in context. I'm behind in listening to podcasts.

At face value, I would vehemently disagree with anyone's suggestion about 1) putting Byfield in the AHL and 2) putting yet another vet on the roster.

Byfield would have to be struggling in a terrible way or have some attitude problem before I would consider that to be an actual option.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I remember when Brown made the team out of camp back on the day he played a lot in the pre-season.

Brown actually led the Kings in preseason scoring as well with 4 goals in 6 games.

Kings 4-0 Mighty Ducks (Oct 3, 2003) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks NHL game from October 3, 2003 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

And like most Kings rookies, he got injured as well shortly afterwards with a sprained ankle that caused him to miss a majority of his rookie season.

 

[Kudelski37]

This is an unpopular opinion, but Mayor threw it out also, that the Kings possibly start Byfield in Ontario and sign Nate Thompson and rotate him and or JAD into the center position. I would consider putting Vilardi back at center if they put QB in the AHL.

The Kings can move Vilardi to the 3C or put Lizotte in 3C and rotate Vilardi/JAD in 4C.

Signing Thompson doesn't make sense for helping the team win or dealing with contracts/waivers for Vilardi/Andersson/JAD.

What does Thompson provide? Just faceoffs from what I can remember. If Byfield has worked on faceoffs like the radio broadcast talked about yesterday, then Thompson doesn't provide a single positive for LA and would make it harder for LA to keep their players from the 2017 draft.

 

[All The Kings Men]

I will absolutely be floored if Byfield starts in Ontario and I will be exponentially more stunned if Nate Thompson starts the season on the third line in his place.

As for Jim's assessment of Gabriel Vilardi at training camp... I would take his word over any other evaluations for two reasons.

1 - He's Jim Fox
2 - Other than Zach Dooley and myself he's the only person that's actually been here and watched every minute of training camp

EDIT: HOWEVER to be clear... Jim wasn't saying that Gabe WOULD start on the second line over Fagemo just that in Jim's mind Vilardi has done everything he could possibly to do show that he SHOULD get a chance to play on that line. At least that was my interpretation.

 

[Herby]

I'd need to hear what Hoven said in context. I'm behind in listening to podcasts.

At face value, I would vehemently disagree with anyone's suggestion about 1) putting Byfield in the AHL and 2) putting yet another vet on the roster.

Byfield would have to be struggling in a terrible way or have some attitude problem before I would consider that to be an actual option.

I would normally say "No team would handle a #2 pick like that" , and I still think there is almost no chance of that happening, but with the Kings you can never say never when it comes to their decisions on prospects and the use of their AHL affiliate.

Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari (twice), now it looks like Bjornfot could be going down there after 2 full NHL seasons!

I do think though that the Kings probably realize he gained very little towards being an effective NHL'er with his 40 games down there and that there is a growth element that can only take place at the NHL level. If Byfield were to not make the team out of camp it would either be a sign that the Kings management is woefully inept or Byfield is just not the type of player they expected.

If he comes out and plays the first 20 games like he did last season, ok then maybe some decisions have to be made. But they have to give him a realistic chance.

 

[All The Kings Men]

I would normally say "No team would handle a #2 pick like that" , and I still think there is almost no chance of that happening, but with the Kings you can never say never when it comes to their decisions on prospects and the use of their AHL affiliate.

Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari (twice), now it looks like Bjornfot could be going down there after 2 full NHL seasons!

I do think though that the Kings probably realize he gained very little towards being an effective NHL'er with his 40 games down there and that there is a growth element that can only take place at the NHL level. If Byfield were to not make the team out of camp it would either be a sign that the Kings management is woefully inept or Byfield is just not the type of player they expected.

If he comes out and plays the first 20 games like he did last season, ok then maybe some decisions have to be made. But they have to give him a realistic chance.

Todd McLellan is now on record multiple times as saying that Quinton Byfield will play minutes at third line center.

He said it to the assembled media the other day that he expected Kopitar-Danault-Byfield to play minutes and that in an ideal world it meant that someone would play less minutes than they had in the past.

Only one podcaster was present for that particular session so I understand if it didn't get mentioned before.

 

[redcard]

Todd McLellan is now on record multiple times as saying that Quinton Byfield will play minutes at third line center.

He said it to the assembled media the other day that he expected Kopitar-Danault-Byfield to play minutes and that in an ideal world it meant that someone would play less minutes than they had in the past.

Only one podcaster was present for that particular session so I understand if it didn't get mentioned before.

Podcaster Jesse Cohen claims McLellan plans to play Byfield fewer minutes than he has in the past in appearance in front of ass. media.

 

[bland]

Podcaster Jesse Cohen claims McLellan plans to play Byfield fewer minutes than he has in the past in appearance in front of ass. media.

Cut and paste to mainboard, becomes gospel to those in other markets, Byfield is a bust posts triple.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Cut and paste to mainboard, becomes gospel to those in other markets, Byfield is a bust posts triple.

Do I get a street team then?

 

[apadilla]

Forgot to post it here. This was announced with little fanfare:

Only one of major note is Kaleb Lawrence, the Kings' final pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Hopefully he'll get more games this season than his entire OHL career (has only played 41 games since 2019).

The rest were invitees.

Do you guys know if Lawrence was sent down because of the elbow he threw against the Shark guy?

 

[All The Kings Men]

Do you guys know if Lawrence was sent down because of the elbow he threw against the Shark guy?

Since all 7 players that were sent down are playing in the CHL and the season has already started there I'm guessing it's unrelated.

EDIT: I said 7 because Angus Booth was sent back to Shawinigan this morning.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

From Dooley:

"KINGS VITALS: Below is tonight’s expected game group against Vegas –


Forwards (13) – Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Lias Andersson, Martin Chromiak, Jacob Doty, Kevin Fiala, Samuel Helenius, Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Rasmus Kupari, Tyler Madden, Alan Quine, Akil Thomas, Gabe Vilardi
Defensemen (6) – Frederic Allard, Mikey Anderson, Brandt Clarke, Alex Edler, Jacob Moverare, Jordan Spence
Goaltenders (3) – Pheonix Copley, Jacob Ingham, Cal Petersen


As was the case yesterday, the team is expected to travel with one extra skater and in today’s case, an additional goaltender as well.


Today’s group will give us our first look at the team’s top forward line, with the trio of Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe all projected to be in tonight’s lineup and they should skate together in Vegas. Beyond those three will be a group of forwards on the roster bubble, fighting for spots, as well as a few individuals playing in back-to-back games. On the backend, regulars Mikey Anderson and Alex Edler are slated to make their preseason debuts as the leaders of that unit."

Morning Lines –


Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Vilardi - Kupari - Madden
Andersson - Anderson-Dolan - Thomas
Quine - Helenius - Kemp


Anderson - Spence
Edler - Clarke
Moverare - Allard

 

[All The Kings Men]

From Dooley:

"KINGS VITALS: Below is tonight’s expected game group against Vegas –


Forwards (13) – Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Lias Andersson, Martin Chromiak, Jacob Doty, Kevin Fiala, Samuel Helenius, Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Rasmus Kupari, Tyler Madden, Alan Quine, Akil Thomas, Gabe Vilardi
Defensemen (6) – Frederic Allard, Mikey Anderson, Brandt Clarke, Alex Edler, Jacob Moverare, Jordan Spence
Goaltenders (3) – Pheonix Copley, Jacob Ingham, Cal Petersen


As was the case yesterday, the team is expected to travel with one extra skater and in today’s case, an additional goaltender as well.


Today’s group will give us our first look at the team’s top forward line, with the trio of Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe all projected to be in tonight’s lineup and they should skate together in Vegas. Beyond those three will be a group of forwards on the roster bubble, fighting for spots, as well as a few individuals playing in back-to-back games. On the backend, regulars Mikey Anderson and Alex Edler are slated to make their preseason debuts as the leaders of that unit."

Morning Lines –


Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Vilardi - Kupari - Madden
Andersson - Anderson-Dolan - Thomas
Quine - Helenius - Kemp


Anderson - Spence
Edler - Clarke
Moverare - Allard

AND

They spent some time working on the powerplay with

Kopiter-Vilarid-Spence-Fiala-Kempe as the first unit

take that for what it's worth

 

[Choralone]

Re: Bjornfot - Yawney had previously said he was playing a little too safe and conservative - the AHL is a good place for him to gain more confidence in trying stuff out, so I think it's the right play having him start there this season to see how he develops.

 

[LAKings88]

The Fagemo talk has reminded me of Fox's old interview on @All The Kings Men when he said he thought Fagemo might out produce Turcotte in the NHL. The whole Turcotte is a 3C on a cup team interview. That Arvidsson slot is the most interesting question going into camp in my mind along with what happens to Clarke.

 

[cyclones22]

Re: Bjornfot - Yawney had previously said he was playing a little too safe and conservative - the AHL is a good place for him to gain more confidence in trying stuff out, so I think it's the right play having him start there this season to see how he develops.

I like Durzi, but wouldn't you if he was your partner?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Trade Durzi Right Friggin Now!

First thought, scorer taking that number is taunting the hockey gods.

Second though, 22 is due. Like really, really, really overdue.

Hockey on actual TV tonight!!!!

 

[bmr]

The Fagemo talk has reminded me of Fox's old interview on @All The Kings Men when he said he thought Fagemo might out produce Turcotte in the NHL. The whole Turcotte is a 3C on a cup team interview. That Arvidsson slot is the most interesting question going into camp in my mind along with what happens to Clarke.

I've always been very high on Fagemo. Very intelligent, plays a 200-ft game and can put the biscuit in the basket. I hope he gets another opportunity with the big club.

 

[Sol]

Yo what time is the game ?

 

[Kudelski37]

Yo what time is the game ?

7 pacific.

 

[dman3474]

Kind of surprised that walker hasn’t gotten into either of these games just to test it out and see how he’s doing and get up to game speed.