GDT: Kings Training Camp 2022/2023!

[Trash Panda]

There were 154 defensemen who played at least 900 minutes last season, Durzi had the third worst GA/60 Rel at .91, while at the same time having a negative GF/60 Rel. He is a fun player and I would love for him to develop further because he is so damn exciting and brings intensity the team is sorely lacking. However, it's not just one preseason game people are responding to.

I don’t think anyone is arguing that Durzi should be anointed the title of 1st pairing stalwart, who is the answer to all our problems.

I think the major argument is that he should be afforded time to develop on the bottom pair, to see if he can polish up some of those defensive reads.

I’ve been in the camp that believes his best value to the organization is going to be in a trade for a LHD or goaltending prospect, but I also firmly believe that he should be learning the NHL game on the bottom pair to see if he can put it all together.

The defensive gaffes are more than worth the giant set of stones the guy plays the game with, especially from a 3rd pair guy.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Durzi played horrible defense all last year and one preseason game of this year just confirms it.

Yet everyone was on pins and needles to get him signed for this year....interesting.

 

[KingsFan7824]

TM gets criticized for not letting young guys make mistakes without never playing them in a game again. Yet when Durzi, not that old or all that experienced, is allowed to make mistakes, he should at least have his ice time cut, if not sat out.

 

[Schrute farms]

I mean tbf, his play last year(on the surface) and his relatively low cost contract make him a trade sooner rather later type player. Get the most out of his value. Just sayin.

In addition, the FACT is that someone on the D side WILL be traded within a year. Likely even 3+ guys will be gone in trades, waivers, etc. between now and the start of next season. So whether it's Durzi, Roy, Walker, Spence, Bjorn or any of the younger prospects -- it's coming. So speculating on one of them potentially going out kinda makes some sense on a message board.

 

[Trash Panda]

TM gets criticized for not letting young guys make mistakes without never playing them in a game again. Yet when Durzi, not that old or all that experienced, is allowed to make mistakes, he should at least have his ice time cut, if not sat out.

>Toddfather sits young players too quickly, he shouldn’t do that.

> Sit durzi because he makes too many mistakes.

Im really struggling to comprehend the thought process here.

 

[Statto]

I don’t think anyone is arguing that Durzi should be anointed the title of 1st pairing stalwart, who is the answer to all our problems.

I think the major argument is that he should be afforded time to develop on the bottom pair, to see if he can polish up some of those defensive reads.

I’ve been in the camp that believes his best value to the organization is going to be in a trade for a LHD or goaltending prospect, but I also firmly believe that he should be learning the NHL game on the bottom pair to see if he can put it all together.

The defensive gaffes are more than worth the giant set of stones the guy plays the game with, especially from a 3rd pair guy.

I think I agree with most of this. I think the discussion is really around how all the pieces fit because we will have 2 NHL ready D-Men in Ontario. I don’t have an issue with Durzi and Walker as such, it’s more about the roles they fill and the impact to the development of TB and Spence. Certainly short term I have no issue with those 2 guys being in Ontari, not until they get a good read on Walker firstly and then Durzi the latter I’m fine giving a longer leash to.

If Clarke sticks then the will have to have one of them sitting or moved. Should they sit for too long then it will affect trade value so the moment they decide Clarke burns the first year of his ELC they will make a move, or try to (it’s not as easy as some always imply, someone needs to want the player). I imagine Walker is most at risk here but it’s not that simple. So I think discussion around a potential move, who and why is fair. Putting any credence into a single preseason game seems a little daft though.

The bit I disagree with is the value of the gaffs. Firstly if we need his ‘stones’ that badly we have a bigger issue that he alone doesn’t fix anyway. Secondly if Clarke sticks then his pp opportunities likely reduce, which reduces his value to the Kings. So he has to clean up that stuff, especially some of the properly dumb stuff. The odd mistake will happen to a 3rd pair guy but the gaffes cannot continue if he wants to stick. We can’t have a D man you cannot play in 2OT of a play-off game 7.

 

[kilowatt]

I like Durzi a lot. Not interested in moving him. Would rather move Walker and Roy.

Anderson - Doughty
Bjornfot - Clarke
Durzi - Spence

 

[Johnny Utah]

That might be the softest D in the league.

There is a reason the Kings signed a late 30ish year old Edler and Roy is on the team. They both are stay at home and play physical.

DD straight up called the D soft on his exit interview and adding Spence and Bjornfot and taking away Edler and Roy makes it even softer.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think I agree with most of this. I think the discussion is really around how all the pieces fit because we will have 2 NHL ready D-Men in Ontario. I don’t have an issue with Durzi and Walker as such, it’s more about the roles they fill and the impact to the development of TB and Spence. Certainly short term I have no issue with those 2 guys being in Ontari, not until they get a good read on Walker firstly and then Durzi the latter I’m fine giving a longer leash to.

This is absolutely all it is and that's fine. It's been mostly reasonable and folks can enjoy different 'flavors', I'm not sure there's a 'right' answer yet.

It's the impatience that's causing all the random outbursts. No, this doesn't need to be solved immediately, no one is being hurt by a guy not getting traded yesterday. Figure out what's left with walker, figure out what you have with Durzi and the other kids, then the team will start to take more shape around January as it kind of does every year, then again at the deadline.

 

[King'sPawn]

>Toddfather sits young players too quickly, he shouldn’t do that.

> Sit durzi because he makes too many mistakes.

Im really struggling to comprehend the thought process here.

Agreed. Durzi is young and talented. Ideally he can be paired with a defensive stalwart to help minimize his shortcomings.

I honestly think, of all defenseman, he'd play well on the left side with Roy as his partner. Roy complements Durzi's misreads. Plus, as Durzi loves to get the puck on net, shooting from the left side would be more beneficial.

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Clarke

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Agreed. Durzi is young and talented. Ideally he can be paired with a defensive stalwart to help minimize his shortcomings.

I honestly think, of all defenseman, he'd play well on the left side with Roy as his partner. Roy complements Durzi's misreads. Plus, as Durzi loves to get the puck on net, shooting from the left side would be more beneficial.

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Clarke

This. This right here.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Agreed. Durzi is young and talented. Ideally he can be paired with a defensive stalwart to help minimize his shortcomings.

I honestly think, of all defenseman, he'd play well on the left side with Roy as his partner. Roy complements Durzi's misreads. Plus, as Durzi loves to get the puck on net, shooting from the left side would be more beneficial.

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Clarke

This may be old school, but I want my right handed defenseman playing on the left, and my left handed defenseman playing on the right.......teach them to seal the wall with their bodies/skates, but it allows them so many options when they have the puck.....

 

[Sol]

I think Edler's toughness is greatly exaggerated. He can barely move and doesn't fight. Hard to be a tough guy if you can't move. MacDermid destroyed peoples faces, and as much as I hated McNabb he can definitely line players up. Regehr gave Hemsky ptsd.

I know Edler in his younger years was someone you'd have your head on a swivel for. But Edler now is essentially a lifted truck with flats. No one is looking over there shoulder for a player who can't skate. but also he does play a lot more tame. This isn't Vancouver Edler from ten years ago.

and for the lulz...

 

[Statto]

This is absolutely all it is and that's fine. It's been mostly reasonable and folks can enjoy different 'flavors', I'm not sure there's a 'right' answer yet.

It's the impatience that's causing all the random outbursts. No, this doesn't need to be solved immediately, no one is being hurt by a guy not getting traded yesterday. Figure out what's left with walker, figure out what you have with Durzi and the other kids, then the team will start to take more shape around January as it kind of does every year, then again at the deadline.

Yep. I should have added that I‘m not saying Durzi can’t clean up the gaffes because he exceeded everyones expectations last season. Given that, I think it’s foolish to right him off at this point.

 

[kingsboy11]

reminder that today's game is 1:00pm

Also Hoven is saying Clarke will be on the opening night roster and that Byfield and Arvidsson will play today.

 

[Statto]

This may be old school, but I want my right handed defenseman playing on the left, and my left handed defenseman playing on the right.......teach them to seal the wall with their bodies/skates, but it allows them so many options when they have the puck.....

That’s my feel for it as well to be fair, it also means the strong stick is on the inside defensively when skating backwards. They just need to be able to break out with a strong backhand pass.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

>Toddfather sits young players too quickly, he shouldn’t do that.

> Sit durzi because he makes too many mistakes.

Im really struggling to comprehend the thought process here.

This is easy. The defense has all sorts of depth. It would only help Durzi and the team to allow him to develop in a stress free environment. An environment that is better suited for his skill set.

The argument that Todd benches young players applies perfectly. The players that people get upset about demoting or setting are high end prospects who are better suited higher up. Plus, Todd demoted and sat these players when the team NEEDED these players.

 

[ibleedkings]

Arvidsson ready to go. Gabe ****** in the @$$ again.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Arvidsson ready to go. Gabe ****** in the @$$ again.

But with lube; I think either way Vilardi makes the team in a top nine position with regular PP time.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Arvidsson ready to go. Gabe ****** in the @$$ again.

Gabe f***ed himself in the ass last year by playing like dogshit — put him behind the eight ball this year. Thankfully, he’s redeemed himself with a strong showing in camp and will eventually get his opportunity— let’s not start a 5-page bitchfest about how the org has it in for GV.

 

[Trash Panda]

But with lube; I think either way Vilardi makes the team in a top nine position with regular PP time.

He absolutely should, but the problem is that he is going to need to take a spot from one of:

Kopitar, Fiala, Kempe, Moore, Danault, Arvidsson, Iafallo, Byfield, Kaliyev.

I fear that Gabe is going to be given the 4th line Arty treatment at best this year, barring injury or trade.

 

[ibleedkings]

But with lube; I think either way Vilardi makes the team in a top nine position with regular PP time.

Hope so but where??? lolfallo should be moved down with Lemieux sitting.

Gabe f***ed himself in the ass last year by playing like dogshit — put him behind the eight ball this year. Thankfully, he’s redeemed himself with a strong showing in camp and will eventually get his opportunity— let’s not start a 5-page bitchfest about how the org has it in for GV.

His opportunity is now not eventually.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

His opportunity is now not eventually.

#dramaqueen

 

[kinghock]

Yet everyone was on pins and needles to get him signed for this year....interesting.

not everybody

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Is there no TV today? Nevermind found it