LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[FrozenKing18]

I tuned in for that free game on AHLtv the other night, saw the Reign go on the PP and it was Hudon-Tynan-Ward sent out and I was just done. No reason more than one of those 3 should be on the top PP line with the talent that team has.

What the f***?!

Who is greenlighting these coaching decisions?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

What the f***?!

Who is greenlighting these coaching decisions?

Does it really matter when the entire org is consequence-free from head to toe and are surrounded by chickenshit media that can’t hold their feet to the fire at all

It’s a runaway train at this point, I give up

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Does it really matter when the entire org is consequence-free from head to toe and are surrounded by chickenshit media that can’t hold their feet to the fire at all

It’s a runaway train at this point, I give up

Would love to hear @All The Kings Men ’s take on the ‘chickenshit media’.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Big guys often look slow and lumbering compared to smaller players.

There is some validity to Bland's criticism of PL though. There has been multiple times in his career when he seemed to "give up" and just go through the motions.

In his defense, over the course of an 82 game season, almost all players go through lulls of some kind.

Agreed. The lulls versus actively checking out is what I was trying to get at. There are going to be days where guys just don’t feel 100%—legs are heavy, energy level isn’t quite as high as normal, etc.—just like any other human being. I think sometimes it’s too easy to ascribe sluggish play to a lack of drive or effort when I think it can be a lot more complicated than that.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Would love to hear @All The Kings Men ’s take on the ‘chickenshit media’.

I'm happy to discuss my thoughts in person but I think for now it's best if I keep my takes to myself when it comes to HF Boards.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I'm happy to discuss my thoughts in person but I think for now it's best if I keep my takes to myself when it comes to HF Boards.

See chickenshit media lmao jk

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I'm happy to discuss my thoughts in person but I think for now it's best if I keep my takes to myself when it comes to HF Boards.

Would love to get RC some press credentials so we can see tough guy - keyboard warrior, lay down the law.

 

[BaileyFan]

I tuned in for that free game on AHLtv the other night, saw the Reign go on the PP and it was Hudon-Tynan-Ward sent out and I was just done. No reason more than one of those 3 should be on the top PP line with the talent that team has.

You gotta think the org doesn't give a damn about the long-term effectiveness of these prospects since all of them except the big names are trade/waiver fodder anyway. For a guy like Pinelli, playing 4th line isn't what he was drafted for but it's the only role that will be available to him in LA for the next half decade so why not get him acclimated early?

 

[chris kontos]

I'm happy to discuss my thoughts in person but I think for now it's best if I keep my takes to myself when it comes to HF Boards.

If only axle would keep HIS takes to himself.

 

[DoktorJeep]

The Reign lineup is no mystery. Sturm is coaching for his job. If he was behind the bench for the Kings last year and the PP rebounded, he’d get all that credit. Even an AHL championship would count for less if your goal is to coach in the NHL. Which looks harder with Todd inked for a year.

I doubt Rich Seeley tells Marco to play the kids over the coaches lineup choices. Sturm is trying to be an NHL somewhere. It’s not his problem to get kids minutes to develop them, because he doesn’t view his job as developing players for the Kings.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Lots of off days for the first 10 games of the season.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Idk man. This team is super deep. So as a result a player like Turcotte finds himself in the AHL. It's bummer, but things can change. Hence my stance that maybe the sky isn't falling and maybe we'll know more in a month or so. Even his AHL ice time... If he keeps playing well, that could certainly also change.

And who knows, maybe in a month Turcotte is still healthy and still over a PPG in the AHL and management DOES decide to trade a guy like Lizotte to make room for him. I don't love the idea of giving Turcotte 4th line minutes but at least it's a start and would at least give him a chance to become an NHL regular.

Or maybe Laferriere's production never really picks up and after a couple more weeks they decide he needs time in the AHL and at that point if Turcotte is still playing amazing in the AHL they swap the two and give Turcotte a look in the top 9.

And with our goaltending... Maybe Copley and Talbot settle in and 10 games from now we're looking back at these posts like "damn, this team is great.. we kinda jumped the gun with the panic after two games".

If the Kings had gotten even like a .875 save % on Saturday night they win that game by 2 goals against one of the best teams in the league - and that's while playing sloppy and having some egregious turnovers.

This team is so good that really all they need is a .900 save % and they're going to win like 80% of the time. That's insane. And if goaltending doesn't improve... The organization has the assets to make a trade to fix that and in a month or so we should be able to better evaluate what options are out there and what some trade prices might be.

I'm not trying to say management hasn't made bad decisions or that people can't be concerned/frustrated. By all means, go ahead. Just offering another perspective and reminding people there's a world where a lot changes in the next month or two and there's also a scenario where this team is still really really good like 3-4 years down the road despite the things we're (rightfully) complaining about right now.

Byfield looks amazing. Laferriere looks like a gem. Turcotte finally starting to look like a guy who could be a legit middle 6 NHLer sooner rather than later (probably would be right now already if the Kings weren't so deep). Grundstrom looking pretty damn solid. Moore looking like a beast again. The Kings held the Hurricanes to fewer than 20 shots for just the 4th time in the last 5 years. It's early people.

Kermpe hasn't even started scoring yet (we know he will). PLD hasn't started scoring yet (we also know he will).

Personally, I'm gonna give it some time. Ultimately up to everyone else if they choose to do the same but that's my (unprovoked) 2 cents.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Nahhhhhh burn it all down.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Nahhhhhh burn it all down.

Down

 

[tigermask48]

You gotta think the org doesn't give a damn about the long-term effectiveness of these prospects since all of them except the big names are trade/waiver fodder anyway. For a guy like Pinelli, playing 4th line isn't what he was drafted for but it's the only role that will be available to him in LA for the next half decade so why not get him acclimated early?

That is part of what people here have been discussing. It's arguably bad development to take a high skill forward and teach them a checking role. It's in a way a self fulfilling prophecy. It's a "well X player is a bust because they never put up points in 4th line minutes, so they'll never be a top line player" type of thinking.

You need to put them in a position to succeed and show them that the elite skill they have translates to the next level.

Now sometimes, sometimes you can put a player in a new role and it works like with Nic Delauriers. Drafted as an offensive d-man with great skating, the offense never translated to the AHL, and the defense was never good enough to be a everyday player. But he's big and a good skater, so teach him to fight.

 

[tigermask48]

I doubt Rich Seeley tells Marco to play the kids over the coaches lineup choices. Sturm is trying to be an NHL somewhere. It’s not his problem to get kids minutes to develop them, because he doesn’t view his job as developing players for the Kings.

The AHL is a development league. That is 100% it's stated purpose. If Sturm isn't developing players and doesn't view that as part of his job, to be blunt he can piss off back to Germany and go be a head coach for Eisbaren Berlin.

 

[King'sPawn]

I don't think Jesse/ATKM should be blamed or lumped in the same group of press that RJ is talking about. And not because I think he's not a legitimate press person - but he's an employee of the organization.

He's also faced plenty of flak for some of his responses (including me), so I think it's kind of shitty, but unsurprising, to try to bring him back into a fight.

There have been questions about others, including MM that I write for, and I get the frustration.

Of course, there are discussions between Hoven and myself I won't share. Not to have any sense of superiority or distance, but because I'm not going to burn him and our friendship, especially over things I don't have the full picture of.

I will say that the questions of some decisions he tries to address in as concilatory but direct manner as possible. They could be minor decisions (like sending Fagemo down before JAD) or ones that have had major backlash (like addressing the PLD trade and the decision-making he knows/can discuss).

My best feedback from MM's perspective is that access is a privilege that can be taken away. He is trying to provide more information and less opinion in his articles. And the opinions he's comfortable sharing will usually be done on the podcast with DB. He's also veered away a bit from rumors as that has burned him.

I get a little bit more "leeway" as far as opinions in my pre-draft articles, because the targeted audience may love the draft and the Kings but won't know some of the details that make him a part of the organization significant. Though largely, it's fluff and intended to be fun.

That said - I'm a Kings fan and I get it. I would love to see more scathing articles and criticism like what Rosen has provided. I also know that access to players, personnel, interviews, and other resources can be taken away if it goes too far.

So, I can't speak for other media folk. And a lot of this feels like an empty explanation that will probably leave the majority of you understandably unsatisfied. But I will say is that Hoven does try to give the best information he can. I don't ask him for specifics, but he probably needs to take a measured approach to maintain his connections. Rosen, as much as I loved his article, is also completely removed and was able to take a scorched earth approach based on tbe information he had while at LAKI. That's not to knock Rosen, but I just want to provide the best response I can with the information I have.

 

[Seattle King]

Idk man. This team is super deep. So as a result a player like Turcotte finds himself in the AHL. It's bummer, but things can change. Hence my stance that maybe the sky isn't falling and maybe we'll know more in a month or so. Even his AHL ice time... If he keeps playing well, that could certainly also change.

And who knows, maybe in a month Turcotte is still healthy and still over a PPG in the AHL and management DOES decide to trade a guy like Lizotte to make room for him. I don't love the idea of giving Turcotte 4th line minutes but at least it's a start and would at least give him a chance to become an NHL regular.

Or maybe Laferriere's production never really picks up and after a couple more weeks they decide he needs time in the AHL and at that point if Turcotte is still playing amazing in the AHL they swap the two and give Turcotte a look in the top 9.

And with our goaltending... Maybe Copley and Talbot settle in and 10 games from now we're looking back at these posts like "damn, this team is great.. we kinda jumped the gun with the panic after two games".

If the Kings had gotten even like a .875 save % on Saturday night they win that game by 2 goals against one of the best teams in the league - and that's while playing sloppy and having some egregious turnovers.

This team is so good that really all they need is a .900 save % and they're going to win like 80% of the time. That's insane. And if goaltending doesn't improve... The organization has the assets to make a trade to fix that and in a month or so we should be able to better evaluate what options are out there and what some trade prices might be.

I'm not trying to same management hasn't made bad decisions or that people can't be concerned/frustrated. By all means, go ahead. Just offering another perspective and reminding people there's a world where a lot changes in the next month or two and there's also a scenario where this team is still really really good like 3-4 years down the road despite the things we're (rightfully) complaining about right now.

Byfield looks amazing. Laferriere looks like a gem. Turcotte finally starting to look like a guy who could be a legit middle 6 NHLer sooner rather than later (probably would be right now already if the Kings weren't so deep). Grundstrom looking pretty damn solid. Moore looking like a beast again. The Kings held the Hurricanes too fewer than 20 shots for just the 4th time in the last 5 years. It's early people.

Kermpe hasn't even started scoring yet (we know he will). PLD hasn't started scoring yet (we also know he will).

Personally, I'm gonna give it some time. Ultimately up to everyone else if they choose to do the same but that's my (unprovoked) 2 cents.

Candide, c'est vous?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We can’t say “if only they get .900 goaltending” because that’s barely the average of all three goalies lol

Expect about 42 games under that

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Look when I’m coming at “the media” I’m saying literally anyone. I don’t expect it to be Jesse who is far more patient and transparent than I would ever expect a team employee to be. It’s not even the mayor specifically. It’s that we don’t even have one nutcase that will hold anyone with a hard question.

We don’t need a mob with pitchforks but could we at least get one lady with a flamethrower

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I don't think Jesse/ATKM should be blamed or lumped in the same group of press that RJ is talking about. And not because I think he's not a legitimate press person - but he's an employee of the organization.

He's also faced plenty of flak for some of his responses (including me), so I think it's kind of shitty, but unsurprising, to try to bring him back into a fight.

I'm sure you are intending to throw shade at me as in I'm associating @All The Kings Men with the 'chickenshit media' comment. Couldn't be further from the truth -- my point was that Jesse works with all the guys that RC is accusing of who don't ask the hard-hitting questions. Who else would better have real-world experience on that side of things and if any of the accusation hold any weight....certainly not you, I or RC.

 

[chris kontos]

..

 

[tbrown33]

I'm sure you are intending to throw shade at me as in I'm associating @All The Kings Men with the 'chickenshit media' comment. Couldn't be further from the truth -- my point was that Jesse works with all the guys that RC is accusing of who don't ask the hard-hitting questions. Who else would better have real-world experience on that side of things and if any of the accusation hold any weight....certainly not you, I or RC.

the problem is that "all the guys" is really like 3 people and all of them are concerned with maintaining access

 

[Eagle Fang]

The Reign lineup is no mystery. Sturm is coaching for his job. If he was behind the bench for the Kings last year and the PP rebounded, he’d get all that credit. Even an AHL championship would count for less if your goal is to coach in the NHL. Which looks harder with Todd inked for a year.

I doubt Rich Seeley tells Marco to play the kids over the coaches lineup choices. Sturm is trying to be an NHL somewhere. It’s not his problem to get kids minutes to develop them, because he doesn’t view his job as developing players for the Kings.

Pretty much nails it imo. Don't agree with it or like it all, but I understand it. As I mentioned in the ONT thread, Pinelli on the 4th line is dumb.

 

[tigermask48]

That said - I'm a Kings fan and I get it. I would love to see more scathing articles and criticism like what Rosen has provided. I also know that access to players, personnel, interviews, and other resources can be taken away if it goes too far.

So, I can't speak for other media folk. And a lot of this feels like an empty explanation that will probably leave the majority of you understandably unsatisfied. But I will say is that Hoven does try to give the best information he can. I don't ask him for specifics, but he probably needs to take a measured approach to maintain his connections. Rosen, as much as I loved his article, is also completely removed and was able to take a scorched earth approach based on tbe information he had while at LAKI. That's not to knock Rosen, but I just want to provide the best response I can with the information I have.

If this is the understanding of the way the Kings run, then it sounds like a team that needs far more scathing opinion based articles written about it's lack of accountability and it's fearmongering attitude and threats towards the press rather than reporters falling in line with a "yes sir" and doing as you're told.

Be the change you wish to see and all that.