LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[kilowatt]

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

“It’s a tough situation, in one game and out the next”

Well gee Todd I wonder who can fix that

 

[kilowatt]

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.

At this point, we ought to just call up Helenius. He can’t be worse than Lewis at 4C.

 

[The Butcher]

I'm going to a hockey clinic hosted by the Kings this weekend up here in Mammoth. Going to be skating with Derek Armstrong, really looking forward to it.

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I'm going to a hockey clinic hosted by the Kings this weekend up here in Mammoth. Going to be skating with Derek Armstrong, really looking forward to it.

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

Make sure you get a video of it if you do pop off.

 

[FrozenKing18]

I'm going to a hockey clinic hosted by the Kings this weekend up here in Mammoth. Going to be skating with Derek Armstrong, really looking forward to it.

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

Make sure you get a video of it if you do pop off.

Make sure to give a shoutout to @Raccoon Jesus also

 

[Omni Owl]

I get the feeling there's not much pressure on Blake and Co. to succeed, or Todd would've been gone already.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

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.

You mean the Two guys that have been playing solid ?

Of all your takes this by far is the most head scratching

 

[fivehole32]

I'm going to a hockey clinic hosted by the Kings this weekend up here in Mammoth. Going to be skating with Derek Armstrong, really looking forward to it.

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

I've played a couple games with Derek before and after Kings games a couple times, he's a hoot. No stop hilarious chirping.

 

[shuchukfan]

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

Can you hold up a few papers with different colors on them and ask him what color he sees? I want to know if he's color blind or not.

 

[funky]

I'm going to a hockey clinic hosted by the Kings this weekend up here in Mammoth. Going to be skating with Derek Armstrong, really looking forward to it.

But Luc will be there... loved him as a player but hate what he's done as an "executive", could be hard for me to keep my trap shut if I'm around him for too long.

Just switch out the name plate on back of your jersey to FIRETODD. Then you can keep your mouth shut and make a point at the same time.

 

[The Butcher]

"Hey Luc, what's it going to take to get Dean Lombardi back as GM?"

"Does AEG put a lot of pressure on you and Blake to win a playoff series?"

"You think PLD will ever sit a game?"

"Is there a master plan regarding goaltending?"

"Lombardi won two cups building from the net out, emphasizing grit and character over skill. Do you think the league has changed that much since then?"

 

[funky]

Can you hold up a few papers with different colors on them and ask him what color he sees? I want to know if he's color blind or not.

he is like a TV from the 60's - nothing but black & white

 

[BigKing]

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

Can't see the tweet at work but last night's game was the first NHL game of Clarke's where it was like "Holy shit!" for the entire game to the point he was getting more ice time because he was just too good offensively.

When Makar played his first playoff game--which was his first NHL game--it was obvious that he was going to be a huge problem for the rest of the league for a long time. Got those vibes last night from Clarke when the puck was on his stick. It was awesome.

 

[bmr]

Can't see the tweet at work but last night's game was the first NHL game of Clarke's where it was like "Holy shit!" for the entire game to the point he was getting more ice time because he was just too good offensively.

When Makar played his first playoff game--which was his first NHL game--it was obvious that he was going to be a huge problem for the rest of the league for a long time. Got those vibes last night from Clarke when the puck was on his stick. It was awesome.

I think the Kings are going to let Roy walk. It's the only way you get Clarke and Spence both out there.

 

[King'sPawn]

Very interesting thread from Rosen regarding PLD and the Kings. I'll summarize, but advise you to read it:



- PLD was brought in to provide center depth to help win in the playoffs (Rosen admits there's some spin to this)
- people outside the org didn't think PLD was a McLellan guy, but Rosen's not close enough to org now to get an internal pulse
- LA didn't want to fire McLellan after he signed a show me contract. Of course, things change, but he doesn't feel the org is there yet to change their mind
- feels it's critical for the Kings to get at least 6 points in the 4 games before the break.

 

[BigKing]

I think the Kings are going to let Roy walk. It's the only way you get Clarke and Spence both out there.

We've bemoaned the fact that too many of the Kings prospects don't take their opportunities and run with them. A lot of this is blamed on coaching but the player also needs to perform. If you only get ten minutes of ice, you need those ten minutes to be undeniable.

Durzi is the only guy that received an unexpected chance and made the best of it by playing him game. Flawed or not, he played the way he plays and it turned into massive minutes.

There is no way that Clarke doesn't know the contract status of the players blocking him--aside from Rob Blake--from being a regular. Clarke saw a chance to show the Kings what it would look like with him in the lineup instead of Roy and he nailed it. Looked like a completely different player compared to the majority of his NHL time so far.

Keeping Roy only to lose him to free agency and get nothing would be a huge mistake. Trade him to the Eastern Conference and continue to get Clarke and Spence minutes.

 

[LAKings88]

I really like Fagemo and Clarke has brilliant vision but they are not being utilitized correctly per usual.

Team needs a shake up. Not sure what that will be but I'd start with mixing up the PP.

Kings have always had trouble with creativity and scoring. Fiala has flaws but I'm grateful he is on the team. They need him like it or not.

Kempe is still an impact player but they need him in 40 goal form.

Byfield is an emerging star now.

Laff is gonna be a big part of this team sooner than later.

 

[Schmooley]

I think the Kings are going to let Roy walk. It's the only way you get Clarke and Spence both out there.

I think they let him walk for nothing also. But they need to see if their cup aspirations are not realistic before the deadline and it would be wiser to move him. You can get a first rounder from a team like Toronto or maybe sign and trade to pry a center like Pinto, Middlestadt, Savoie etc. from a team that needs help on the right side.

 

[Herby]

Having him in the AHL for almost all of this season and having him in and out of the lineup when he has been up is putting the reigns on him, but I’m not surprised that none of the clowns in this organization realize that.

Makar, Q Hughes, L Hughes, Fox, Power, Faber, Sanderson, Dahlin, Dobson, McAvoy. Anyone want to tell me how many AHL games these guys played? How about how many times they were healthy scratched?

And please spare the BS about, "There isn't room" or "The Kings are trying to win", good organizations that have a clue about how to develop talent make room for players like Clarke from the start, and yes, even ones that are playoff contenders.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I remember how the team responded after DD went down in 21-22 when Clodd was forced to play the kids, couldnt sit them after 1 mistake and DD no longer could boat anchor PP1. Edit: to clarify this isnt an indictment of DD, its an indictment of Clodd.. and inability to give more responsibility to the youth vs overplay 8 and 11. That is the fundamental mistake with his approach.

 

[fivehole32]

When you have good talent you play good talent. Everyone Herby mentioned flourished when put in the lineup. In certain cases you may have to give them protected minutes as they get their feet wet, but good talent begets better play all around,

 

[bmr]

We've bemoaned the fact that too many of the Kings prospects don't take their opportunities and run with them. A lot of this is blamed on coaching but the player also needs to perform. If you only get ten minutes of ice, you need those ten minutes to be undeniable.

Durzi is the only guy that received an unexpected chance and made the best of it by playing him game. Flawed or not, he played the way he plays and it turned into massive minutes.

There is no way that Clarke doesn't know the contract status of the players blocking him--aside from Rob Blake--from being a regular. Clarke saw a chance to show the Kings what it would look like with him in the lineup instead of Roy and he nailed it. Looked like a completely different player compared to the majority of his NHL time so far.

Keeping Roy only to lose him to free agency and get nothing would be a huge mistake. Trade him to the Eastern Conference and continue to get Clarke and Spence minutes.

Gotta figure out how to get Clarke and Spence out there - either through trading Roy or sitting Englund.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I didnt see this posted. I dont get the lack of self awareness from PLD. Im sure they show him vid of what he's not doing well.

 

[Herby]

Very interesting thread from Rosen regarding PLD and the Kings. I'll summarize, but advise you to read it:



- PLD was brought in to provide center depth to help win in the playoffs (Rosen admits there's some spin to this)
- people outside the org didn't think PLD was a McLellan guy, but Rosen's not close enough to org now to get an internal pulse
- LA didn't want to fire McLellan after he signed a show me contract. Of course, things change, but he doesn't feel the org is there yet to change their mind
- feels it's critical for the Kings to get at least 6 points in the 4 games before the break.

It's really disappointing that Rosen was dumped by the Kings for having the nerve to display professionalism and journalistic integrity. He was the best reporter this team ever had, but that is not what the Kings want. I was really hoping his insider blog would have worked, but the Kings fanbase is just to small to support a subscription model.

As far as what he said.

I think he's spot on with them needing to get points coming up here, if they don't, the road trip really could be the end of them.

Tough to compare this team to 2014 team, for one that team had three Hall of Famers in their primes at the three most important positions, and had won 6 playoff series and a SC the previous two years. This team has zero Hall of Famers in their prime and has no playoff success to speak of.

Say what you want about Todd, and I don't think he is the type of coach that will win a SC, but this system has been enough to have great regular season teams and even to win playoff rounds in other places. This is why I still think the problem with the Kings has much more to do with the Jimmy's and Joe's than it does the X's and O's and that is why Rob Blake and the cronies he surrounds himself with are a much bigger issue to this team than the head coach. If you fire Todd tomorrow you still don't have a championship caliber 1C, 1D or goaltender, how do you win without any of those things? The answer is you don't, yet the Kings still went forward and ended their rebuild without any of those things in place.

 

[lumbergh]

We've bemoaned the fact that too many of the Kings prospects don't take their opportunities and run with them. A lot of this is blamed on coaching but the player also needs to perform. If you only get ten minutes of ice, you need those ten minutes to be undeniable.

Durzi is the only guy that received an unexpected chance and made the best of it by playing him game. Flawed or not, he played the way he plays and it turned into massive minutes.

There is no way that Clarke doesn't know the contract status of the players blocking him--aside from Rob Blake--from being a regular. Clarke saw a chance to show the Kings what it would look like with him in the lineup instead of Roy and he nailed it. Looked like a completely different player compared to the majority of his NHL time so far.

Keeping Roy only to lose him to free agency and get nothing would be a huge mistake. Trade him to the Eastern Conference and continue to get Clarke and Spence minutes.

If you mean generating some chances, but getting caught screening his own goalie on one goal and getting caught about 30 feet out of position on another goal as "nailing it", then yeah, he sure "nailed it". Kid has a lot to learn before you kick arguably the best defenseman on the team to the curb.

Don't get me wrong, I like Clarke a lot, but he's not a net plus over Roy right now. Englund? Yes. Roy? No.