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LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

Raccoon Jesus said:
Sure but he keeps Drew happy and he'll be 37 this year so he's practically cemented his ticket to eventual long-term play on the 2nd line while a kid toils in the minors dodging head-high elbows for minimum contract
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Cmon, do you really think Lewis is going to sniff the 2nd line on this team?

And he's not blocking anyone, we don't have any 4th liners worth a damn in the system.

I know this is hyperbole but it just fuels ridiculous stuff.

AbsentMojo said:
My kid asked me why he's on the team and thats exactly what I told him. LAK CC (country club) where winning takes a back seat to lifestyle and the star players from last decade chip in on personnel decisions.
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Like this. How is the team atmosphere even close to a country club? I see zero players loafing or coasting at any time. Everyone is busting their asses on the ice. That's pretty much an insult to the players. All because they bring back one dude to help with the PK and chew up 4th line minutes because Kaliyev is moving up (like everyone has been complaining about for a while.)
 
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tbrown33 said:

key takeaway here is that Lewis drags down literally everyone
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Lewis is slow and is going to be a drag. But WOWY at sample sizes that small are useless. This is just reaching for a meaningless stat at this time to hate on a player. After 25 games, sure.

Also realize that he's not here for 5v5 play as much as he was brought in to strengthen the PK. He's 2nd among forwards in PK time and right now that's 8th best in the league. Which also means less AK time on the PK. If he can help there and help take one of the worst PKs in the league back to respectability, I don't really give a shit about how much he drags guys down in his 8 ES minutes per game.
 
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Fishhead said:
Cmon, do you really think Lewis is going to sniff the 2nd line on this team?

And he's not blocking anyone, we don't have any 4th liners worth a damn in the system.

I know this is hyperbole but it just fuels ridiculous stuff.
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I've always found the bolded part funny when people say this stuff. Because he is blocking someone. He is blocking a spot for a younger player learning the NHL game (pace, strength, traveling/bonding with the team, the day to day of Pro life). If Arvidsson was healthy and Kaliyev was not suspended than that means no Lafreniere in the NHL and he has been one of the better players this early on. It's why a lot of people have been pushing to play the prospects more (myself included). The kids can't learn if they aren't put into those situations. I'd rather have Lafreniere learning on the 4th line than 36 year old Lewis on his last leg taking his spot away.

P.s. I'd like to see people's list of guys that are next in line if for that players spot. Like...

Kopitar--> Byfield? PLD?
PLD--> Byfield? Turcotte?
Kempe--> No one? Who's the scorer? Chromiak?
Doughty-->Clarke?
 
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KingsOfCali25 said:
I've always found the bolded part funny when people say this stuff. Because he is blocking someone. He is blocking a spot for a younger player learning the NHL game (pace, strength, traveling/bonding with the team, the day to day of Pro life). If Arvidsson was healthy and Kaliyev was not suspended than that means no Lafreniere in the NHL and he has been one of the better players this early on. It's why a lot of people have been pushing to play the prospects more (myself included). The kids can't learn if they aren't put into those situations. I'd rather have Lafreniere learning on the 4th line than 36 year old Lewis on his last leg taking his spot away.

P.s. I'd like to see people's list of guys that are next in line if for that players spot. Like...

Kopitar--> Byfield? PLD?
PLD--> Byfield? Turcotte?
Kempe--> No one? Who's the scorer? Chromiak?
Doughty-->Clarke?
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Laferriere wouldn't be up because of the cap, not because of Lewis. And I certainly don't want him wasting time on the 4th line, I want him on a scoring line. I guess we could bring Turcotte up.

But then we are back to Kopitar getting stupid PK time, which should be avoided.
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
I've always found the bolded part funny when people say this stuff. Because he is blocking someone. He is blocking a spot for a younger player learning the NHL game (pace, strength, traveling/bonding with the team, the day to day of Pro life). If Arvidsson was healthy and Kaliyev was not suspended than that means no Lafreniere in the NHL and he has been one of the better players this early on. It's why a lot of people have been pushing to play the prospects more (myself included). The kids can't learn if they aren't put into those situations. I'd rather have Lafreniere learning on the 4th line than 36 year old Lewis on his last leg taking his spot away.

P.s. I'd like to see people's list of guys that are next in line if for that players spot. Like...

Kopitar--> Byfield? PLD?
PLD--> Byfield? Turcotte?
Kempe--> No one? Who's the scorer? Chromiak?
Doughty-->Clarke?
Click to expand...
The only player Lewis is "blocking" would be Thomas. He slots as a bottom-six energy player. But aside from the game where he had a hat trick, he showed a lot of room for improvement.

Players like Turcotte shouldn't be deployed as a 4th line energy player, and Helenius is struggling to keep up with the speed in the AHL. So, who would you want in Lewis' place?

I agree that players need to be setup to replace the vets. Only exception is Kempe - Chromiak is a shooter for sure, and his play away from the puck is also lacking. But I think Kaliyev should get that, if we're talking about long-term projections and replacements.
 
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King'sPawn said:
The only player Lewis is "blocking" would be Thomas. He slots as a bottom-six energy player. But aside from the game where he had a hat trick, he showed a lot of room for improvement.

Players like Turcotte shouldn't be deployed as a 4th line energy player, and Helenius is struggling to keep up with the speed in the AHL. So, who would you want in Lewis' place?

I agree that players need to be setup to replace the vets. Only exception is Kempe - Chromiak is a shooter for sure, and his play away from the puck is also lacking. But I think Kaliyev should get that, if we're talking about long-term projections and replacements.
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So say that Arvidsson isn't hurt, no Kaliyev suspension and we didn't sign Lewis this offseason. The final 4th line roster spot due to cap issues came down to JAD, Fagemo, Thomas, Lafreniere, Turcotte like it did and they played exactly like they did this preseason. Lafreniere doesn't get the final spot on the 4th line because it isn't his "role". Even though he outplayed the rest of them this preseason? But it was okay that Kaliyev spent the last 2 seasons as the 4th line RW when it's not where he fits.

But if Lewis was here the last 2 seasons blocking Kaliyev than he is the 13th forward or AHL bound and maybe not improved enough for the Top6 role that he is now. Hampering his development more and having people here calling him a bust.

Not trying to argue with you but some times having the prospects learning the Pro game (speed, spacing, physical, and day to day grind) on the 4th line might be better than 1st/2nd line in the AHL. Having a vet that wasn't there last season and doesn't need to be there this season in a spot that can be used on a prospect is utterly ridiculous in the long term of this team.
 
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KingsOfCali25 said:
So say that Arvidsson isn't hurt, no Kaliyev suspension and we didn't sign Lewis this offseason. The final 4th line roster spot due to cap issues came down to JAD, Fagemo, Thomas, Lafreniere, Turcotte like it did and they played exactly like they did this preseason. Lafreniere doesn't get the final spot on the 4th line because it isn't his "role". Even though he outplayed the rest of them this preseason? But it was okay that Kaliyev spent the last 2 seasons as the 4th line RW when it's not where he fits.

But if Lewis was here the last 2 seasons blocking Kaliyev than he is the 13th forward or AHL bound and maybe not improved enough for the Top6 role that he is now. Hampering his development more and having people here calling him a bust.

Not trying to argue with you but some times having the prospects learning the Pro game (speed, spacing, physical, and day to day grind) on the 4th line might be better than 1st/2nd line in the AHL. Having a vet that wasn't there last season and doesn't need to be there this season in a spot that can be used on a prospect is utterly ridiculous in the long term of this team.
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No. It wasn't.

And I've said that the past two seasons. He should be playing up in the lineup. And I've gotten into arguments with people saying "so you just want to GIVE him top-6 time?"

And my answer was yes. He should have been up with Danault and Moore a couple seasons ago. Byfield should have been playing with players like Iafallo and Arvidsson, or Vilardi.

High-skill players benefit more from getting reps and put in situations where they can fit their game at the NHL level. Byfield and Kaliyev have been set back by putting them in grinder roles.

You empower prospects and put them in positions to succed. That's how they grow and build more confidence.
 
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The good thing about the recent line up is finally there is a young player on every line (except the 4th).

Byfield on top line, Laffy on second line and Kayilev on third line.

This why the Kings can afford to trade or let Arvidsson walk and get rid of Lewis. Would love to see Thomas on the 4th line.

I would like a total revamp of the 4th line next year.

Dump Grundstrom and Lizotte and go with Enforcer-Turcotte-Thomas.
 
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Johnny Utah said:
The good thing about the recent line up is finally there is a young player on every line (except the 4th).

Byfield on top line, Laffy on second line and Kayilev on third line.

This why the Kings can afford to trade or let Arvidsson walk and get rid of Lewis. Would love to see Thomas on the 4th line.

I would like a total revamp of the 4th line next year.

Dump Grundstrom and Lizotte and go with Enforcer-Turcotte-Thomas.
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Respectfully this is such an L take.

Thomas is an AHL'er and Grundstrom has been one of our best forwards to start the season.
 
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Raccoon Jesus said:
It's his usual MO unfortunately

He's always been capable of balling out for 10 games

its his consistency we will have to watch
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So true. What's amazing to me is he's not doing stupid stuff every game. That might be a byproduct of having essentially zero pressure to score. When your team is just pouring it in you can play your game without worry.
 
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Grundstrom has the potential to be everything you want from a 4th line player.

Big, fast, physical, all the tools are there. Hopefully playing some minutes with Lewis rubs off on him, and he can polish up his board work, because that’s all that I could ask to be improved upon with him.


And I swear to god, i can already hear someone referencing hit counts to refute the physicality part of that statement, as if making a hit is the only way to be physical in this game.
 
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KingsHockey24 said:
Carl Grundstrom is miles better than Dwight King ever was.

Shit - Grundstrom/Kopitar/Kempe would probably do some damage.
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I've always wanted to see him play with some more skilled players. He's got a great shot and skates well. I was excited when they got him from Toronto because he seemed like he was going to be a more offensive player. At the very least would like to see him get third line minutes. I know he's been inconsistent at times but look who is linemates have been and how much TOI he gets.
 
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Trash Panda said:
Grundstrom has the potential to be everything you want from a 4th line player.

Big, fast, physical, all the tools are there. Hopefully playing some minutes with Lewis rubs off on him, and he can polish up his board work, because that’s all that I could ask to be improved upon with him.


And I swear to god, i can already hear someone referencing hit counts to refute the physicality part of that statement, as if making a hit is the only way to be physical in this game.
Click to expand...
Agree 100% about physicality. I think Kopitar is a very physical player, even though he doesn't throw hits. He's very physically engaged and actually deals with a lot of punishment, which makes his longevity even more remarkable.
 
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KingsOfCali25 said:
I've always found the bolded part funny when people say this stuff. Because he is blocking someone. He is blocking a spot for a younger player learning the NHL game (pace, strength, traveling/bonding with the team, the day to day of Pro life). If Arvidsson was healthy and Kaliyev was not suspended than that means no Lafreniere in the NHL and he has been one of the better players this early on. It's why a lot of people have been pushing to play the prospects more (myself included). The kids can't learn if they aren't put into those situations. I'd rather have Lafreniere learning on the 4th line than 36 year old Lewis on his last leg taking his spot away.

P.s. I'd like to see people's list of guys that are next in line if for that players spot. Like...

Kopitar--> Byfield? PLD?
PLD--> Byfield? Turcotte?
Kempe--> No one? Who's the scorer? Chromiak?
Doughty-->Clarke?
Click to expand...
PK was awful last year. Hint the reason they signed Lewis for that position. They brought in Lewis cause no one in Ontario could defend on the PK. So Lewis isn't blocking no one.
 
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