LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[Nasti]

Who can forget the goal Nelly scored in Game 7 against the Avs in 2001 in a 5-1 loss?

 

[Herby]

When I have kids I’m going to tell them how lucky I was to go to Nelson Emerson legends night

The Kings even got fleeced in the trade for Nelly, the guy is just a permanent dark cloud on this organization.

Gave up Kaberle and Audette for "Glass Joe" Kelly Buchberger and Rob Blake's Al Cowlings.

I'd have to defer to @BigKing and @Johnny Utah for confirmation but I swear it felt like Buchberger just got destroyed in every fight as a King.

Who can forget the goal Nelly scored in Game 7 against the Avs in 2001 in a 5-1 loss?

I try to wash that game out of my mind, I swear if Smolinski doesn't hit the post with half the net to shoot at the Kings probably win and KO Bolby in what would have been an amazing story after trading him.

But yes, probably the pinnacle of Emerson's time in LA.

 

[funky]

I'm ambivalent on actually keeping Kopitar and Doughty around. I personally really liked the idea of them mentoring the new folks. But they've clearly unfortunately been utilized incredibly poorly and too much and I think they've had far too much pull. So the idea of them staying--I was fine with that. But the how? Ugh. Disaster.

Imagine Kopitar playing 2C for a contender and Doughty, even #1 minutes, but reduced to 20-22 instead of 28-30.

This is exactly where I lie as well.

The teams that went full rebuild that were led by no one went nowhere. There has to be an initial development/ parenting stage , followed by mentoring stage where the gap between mentor and student closes, the pier stage where they play as a group equally, and then the Transition stage where the student becomes the master.

It just appears that LA is unwilling to let the student become the master

 

[Nasti]

The Kings even got fleeced in the trade for Nelly, the guy is just a permanent dark cloud on this organization.

Gave up Kaberle and Audette for "Glass Joe" Kelly Buchberger and Rob Blake's Al Cowlings.

I'd have to defer to @BigKing and @Johnny Utah for confirmation but I swear it felt like Buchberger just got destroyed in every fight as a King.


I try to wash that game out of my mind, I swear if Smolinski doesn't hit the post with half the net to shoot at the Kings probably win and KO Bolby in what would have been an amazing story after trading him.

But yes, probably the pinnacle of Emerson's time in LA.

That combined with Murray probably scoring in Game 2 but it being ruled inconclusive. Hockey gods wanted Bourque to win that year.

 

[Fantomas]

Why is Talbot not getting starts all of a sudden?

 

[tny760]

I wasn't able to watch the game on Saturday - How did Byfield look at center??

Obviously the whole PLD situation sucks but if Byfield can be an option down the middle for us that's huge.

i thought he looked perfectly fine, that was also JAD's best game of... probably his career, so yknow that helped

 

[All The Kings Men]

Why is Talbot not getting starts all of a sudden?

Because Rittich is playing very well*


EDIT*

4-1-1
1.58 GAA
.937 SV%

 

[KINGS17]

I'm ambivalent on actually keeping Kopitar and Doughty around. I personally really liked the idea of them mentoring the new folks. But they've clearly unfortunately been utilized incredibly poorly and too much and I think they've had far too much pull. So the idea of them staying--I was fine with that. But the how? Ugh. Disaster.

Imagine Kopitar playing 2C for a contender and Doughty, even #1 minutes, but reduced to 20-22 instead of 28-30.

We have to ask the question, who have Kopitar and Doughty mentored that will make a difference the next time the Kings are contenders? I think it will be no one.

This organization missed a huge opportunity to restock the cupboard by hanging on to Kopitar, Doughty, Quick and Carter too long.

 

[BaileyFan]

This is exactly where I lie as well.

The teams that went full rebuild that were led by no one went nowhere. There has to be an initial development/ parenting stage , followed by mentoring stage where the gap between mentor and student closes, the pier stage where they play as a group equally, and then the Transition stage where the student becomes the master.

It just appears that LA is unwilling to let the student become the master

You can get that sort of leadership easily every summer. Using Kopi and DD as an example, they had Scott Thornton and Sean O’Donnell. Not exactly franchise legends or hard to obtain.

Hell, Danault could have played that role the past few seasons while playing at a legit Top 6 center level to boot. Idk why Edler was on the roster if it wasn’t to provide that “veteran savvy” either.

 

[BigKing]

The Kings even got fleeced in the trade for Nelly, the guy is just a permanent dark cloud on this organization.

Gave up Kaberle and Audette for "Glass Joe" Kelly Buchberger and Rob Blake's Al Cowlings.

I'd have to defer to @BigKing and @Johnny Utah for confirmation but I swear it felt like Buchberger just got destroyed in every fight as a King.


I try to wash that game out of my mind, I swear if Smolinski doesn't hit the post with half the net to shoot at the Kings probably win and KO Bolby in what would have been an amazing story after trading him.

But yes, probably the pinnacle of Emerson's time in LA.

Buchberger was a punching bag no matter that jersey he was wearing. Huge heart though. Low point in a Kings uniform would be getting TKOd by Anson Carter.

As for Emerson, his greatest contribution was getting destroyed on an illegal hit by Chris Dingman. Dingman gets out of the box after a two minute interference penalty and thinks he is just going to skate to the bench but, oops, Grimson is right off the bench and has already thrown his stick across the ice and is ready to go. Grimson proceeds to beat him up. Fun fact: that 2001 team is one of only four Kings teams to win a playoff round since 1993. This current roster would have let Dingman just play the rest of the game with no retribution.

 

[BigKing]

You can get that sort of leadership easily every summer. Using Kopi and DD as an example, they had Scott Thornton and Sean O’Donnell. Not exactly franchise legends or hard to obtain.

Hell, Danault could have played that role the past few seasons while playing at a legit Top 6 center level to boot. Idk why Edler was on the roster if it wasn’t to provide that “veteran savvy” either.

DL drafted Schenn/Simmonds/Clifford/Nolan/King. Traded for Stoll/Greene/Williams/Richards/Regher. Hell...even Iginla. Signed Zeus/Scuderi. Colin Fraser as the throw in to the Smyth trade.

I keep being told how easy it is to just acquire grit and leadership but, if it is, Blake is just choosing not to emphasize it. When he seems to do it at the draft, he's missed with Turcotte and Helenius is a project. Ziemmer seems to be the first forward he's drafted that has a legit mix of skill and sandpaper.

O'Donnell was an awesome move by Lombardi. This team is too nice and the niceness is being passed on to the prospects.

We're going to take this Byfield break out season and hope that he keeps on improving and producing more but GTFO of here when this 6'5". 220 pound winger has 11 total hits in 43 games. He's been getting targeted the past few games as well...getting tested physically. His mentor is the guy they are going to change the name of the Lady Byng trophy for after he retires though so not expecting much of a change.

 

[bland]

We have to ask the question, who have Kopitar and Doughty mentored that will make a difference the next time the Kings are contenders? I think it will be no one.

This organization missed to huge opportunity to restock the cupboard by hanging on to Kopitar, Doughty, Quick and Carter too long.

Leading by example is one of those sports clichés that means "not leading by LEADING".

 

[Statto]

Because Rittich is playing very well*


EDIT*

4-1-1
1.58 GAA
.937 SV%

Yep. You have to go with the hot hand and it’s even more important given the context. Rittich was #3 and you have to get your money worth out of a number 3 in this form. Especially when Talbot has had a lot of work (more so for his age) and is attending the All-Star break. I’m actually happy with Rittich in the tandem as I thought he had a chance to make the opening night roster when we signed him and then thoughthe should’ve done so at the conclusion of camp.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Don't forget about Jack Sparkes.

Helenius a beast and he's nasty. Last night he was all over the Condors - throwing hits, yapping, pushing guys out of the crease after stoppages. Basically playing like no current Kings player since Lemieux.

Buchberger was a punching bag - but fight experts love him. Darren, who does the 4th line voice podcast, and is basically an expert in hockey fighters for the past 20 years, loves Buchy.

 

[Lt Dan]

Why is Talbot not getting starts all of a sudden?

 

[Fantomas]

Yep. You have to go with the hot hand

Against the San Jose Sharks eh

 

[BigKing]

Don't forget about Jack Sparkes.

Helenius a beast and he's nasty. Last night he was all over the Condors - throwing hits, yapping, pushing guys out of the crease after stoppages. Basically playing like no current Kings player since Lemieux.

Buchberger was a punching bag - but fight experts love him. Darren, who does the 4th line voice podcast, and is basically an expert in hockey fighters for the past 20 years, loves Buchy.

Buchberger would fight anyone and did not believe in defense so anyone that is a fan of hockey fights should like the guy.

If you are hoping to see someone eat some punches, you are probably going to get your wish in a Buchberger fight.

 

[ru4reals]

The Kings even got fleeced in the trade for Nelly, the guy is just a permanent dark cloud on this organization.

Gave up Kaberle and Audette for "Glass Joe" Kelly Buchberger and Rob Blake's Al Cowlings.

I'd have to defer to @BigKing and @Johnny Utah for confirmation but I swear it felt like Buchberger just got destroyed in every fight as a King.


I try to wash that game out of my mind, I swear if Smolinski doesn't hit the post with half the net to shoot at the Kings probably win and KO Bolby in what would have been an amazing story after trading him.

But yes, probably the pinnacle of Emerson's time in LA.

I can confirm that. Buchberger was one of the worst fighters ever. Every clip of his fights has a TKO as a description on the Tube. Brutal.

 

[funky]

We have to ask the question, who have Kopitar and Doughty mentored that will make a difference the next time the Kings are contenders? I think it will be no one.

This organization missed a huge opportunity to restock the cupboard by hanging on to Kopitar, Doughty, Quick and Carter too long.

I would argue that Kopitar has been a great influence for Byfield.

To a point Doughty has helped Anderson evolve into the defenseman he has become.

That’s the problem I have with the kings organization. Clarke should’ve been up getting mentorship from Drew.

We drafted a ton of talented centers like Vilardi, Turcotte, and Byfield. In a perfect world, they would’ve been up since the beginning spending time with Kopitar. To give management a bit of a break all three suffered major injuries that derailed their development.

I am a fan of playing players a hair above their comfort level as it helps them strive to get better. I also think players can learn from sitting in the press box now and then, and just watching the game live. Kopitar does almost everything right and there’s no better mentor for a kid coming up to learn the proper way to play hockey.

It can’t just be on a guy like Kopitar though. Guys like Phil, Kempe have to take the pups under their arms.

I will agree with you that the kings have developed very little people compared to the draft they had. But when you trade off prospects and picks to bring in guys like Fiala, PLD, etc. it kind of defeats the development plan and puts more onus on guys like Kopitar and Doughty just to be hockey players

 

[King'sPawn]

Apparently McLellan doesn't think there have been any reins on Clarke.

 

[Bandit]

Apparently McLellan doesn't think

Coulda stopped right there.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Pld isnt the only issue with the team right now . Majority of the team is suckin hard including Kempe and Kopitar most of all .

We are currently a 1 line team and thats Fiala and Moore , i think Danault could be better as well . But hey its only Plds fault

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Apparently McLellan doesn't think there have been any reins on Clarke.

He's not wrong in the sense that Clarke clearly did not have any reigns on him last night, allowed to do basically what he wanted in the offensive zone....he played very very well, minus the WTF are you covering the other teams bench for on the goal.....

 

[bland]

Pld isnt the only issue with the team right now . Majority of the team is suckin hard including Kempe and Kopitar most of all .

We are currently a 1 line team and thats Fiala and Moore , i think Danault could be better as well . But hey its only Plds fault

Yes, it is - because you are clearly misunderstanding the argument. The problem isn't Dubois, its the decision making that engineered the deal. Wrong player, wrong time. THAT is what needs to be corrected and you start with the easiest fix. Blake just has to decide whether he will pass the blame on to McLellan or blame the player. Nobody is getting out of this season without someone taking the brunt.

And Dubois is the worst player on the team by a healthy margin. If it wasn't such a massive savings then a buyout would be laughable and you give him another shot with a new coach and system. They have a get out of jail at 33% of the sentence card to use, and they have to do it.

 

[chris kontos]

whats the reason the players dont want to go to the net, bust ass in the corners, play winning defense ? i have to look no further every game than the goal crease. im not surprized the boys arent busting thier asses. i wouldnt either. with those two guys in goal, we're headed nowhere. the skaters aren't stupid- they see this and know how this story ends. at every level of hockey.