LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[bland]

The guy takes an absolute beating. I don't think he'll have a long career.

Some guys burn bright, but they don't burn for long.

While I agree with you, that is clearly not the thought around here though. The ham and eggers keep looking at Lizotte as some sort of sunk cost that has to be addressed without giving thought to the value the brings in his role.

And by and large its the same folks tripping over themselves to chide Lewis and JAD as well. Point being that there is always a subsection of fans that first look to blame the role players for not over-performing instead of holding the biggest wasters responsible.

This team is middling because they aren't getting the return on the cap investments in Dubois, Fiala, and frankly Kopitar as well. The biggest fish here are the ones not pulling their cap-share of the weight, not the role players - who are all doing just fine this year.

GTFOH!!! Trade Lizzo already. LOL.

Per example...

 

[FSL KINGS]

The #1 reason why Laf has played and played, and not getting the "Kaliyev" treatment, is his motor. Yes, he has giveaways, yes he loses his guy, but the guy never freaking stops, and he's able to create his own offense, Kaliyev doesn't do that, and has no where NEAR the motor that Laf does...

Correct, Laf is in because of his motor.

Kopi 's been stuck in second gear for a while now. He's still a very good & useful player. King's may need to learn how to better integrate players that don't exactly fit the high motor mold. You can't just have a group of 12 Lewiseses. Someone has to score.

Kopi, PL, Kaliyev are all large, non fast players. They're never going to turn into Lizotte. They can be useful in the system, given the correct support.

Kaliyev probably gets traded in the next two weeks so it's not much of an issue anymore.

 

[johnjm22]

2023 Exit Interviews - Blake Lizotte, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Carl Grundstrom, Rasmus Kupari - LA Kings Insider

The last set of interviews, Insiders! Finishing the run on video and recaps from Exit Interviews with four depth forwards, all of whom set some type of personal best during the regular season. The forward quartet of Blake Lizotte, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Carl Grundstrom and Rasmus Kupari all set...

lakingsinsider.com

Regarding his series, Lizotte missed Games 3, 4 and 5 with lower-back spasms, an injury that he said made it difficult for him to touch his toes at times early on

This usually isn't just something that just goes away. On top of that he gets concussed this season followed by another lower body injury.

So I'm concerned about his effectiveness both short term and long term.

That said, I'm very curious to see how he does on wing. If he plays like he did early in the season I think he'll be a great asset.

 

[kilowatt]

Not gonna lie I completely forgot about Fagemo. I remember he got a few games a few months ago then I just never heard about him again. Is he still with the Kings or back with the Reign?

All Fagemo’s done since being sent down is lead the entire AHL in scoring :/

 

[Bandit]

All Fagemo’s done since being sent down is lead the entire AHL in scoring :/

Not saying Fagemo doesn’t deserve a look, but Derek Armstrong once won the AHL scoring title.

 

[ru4reals]

While I agree with you, that is clearly not the thought around here though. The ham and eggers keep looking at Lizotte as some sort of sunk cost that has to be addressed without giving thought to the value the brings in his role.

And by and large its the same folks tripping over themselves to chide Lewis and JAD as well. Point being that there is always a subsection of fans that first look to blame the role players for not over-performing instead of holding the biggest wasters responsible.

This team is middling because they aren't getting the return on the cap investments in Dubois, Fiala, and frankly Kopitar as well. The biggest fish here are the ones not pulling their cap-share of the weight, not the role players - who are all doing just fine this year.


Per example...

Give me a break Lizotte's had his time and great he's been holding down the 4th line for 5 years now and sure I give credit to him for getting pounded every game and getting up, but it's taken it's toll and it's time to move on. There are better options now and you need those players to play not get smoked in the A. No one is blaming the role players, if that's what you are implying but the idea of having someone as limited as Lizotte move up a line instead of staying as a role player is mind boggling no? And are you seriously about JAD. JFC!!!

 

[lumbergh]

I still think the move is to trade Roy, who btw has 43 giveaways which is less than Fiala. Of his 43 giveaways 42 are in the D zone, Doughty is next worse defenceman with 25 D zone giveaways. It’d allow up to play Spence and Clarke, significantly improving our transition game. Then shuffle things around to upgrade some combination of the 3rd pair left D, goal and bring in a physical forward. Someone out East will overpay for Roy and we have a couple of other pieces we could move in Kaliyev and Lizotte (depending on health), so it’s possible without major surgery.

I hope we don’t move any 1st or 2nd round picks though. I was loathed to lose Arty but I didn’t see enough fight in his last outing so I’m coming around to moving him but only for the right piece.

I can see a Roy for Hanifin trade. Kings would have to add, but it would make sense from a hockey trade point of view.

 

[Herby]

I can see a Roy for Hanifin trade. Kings would have to add, but it would make sense from a hockey trade point of view.

I doubt Calgary has any interest in taking on an expiring contract of an American player, it would be very unlikely that Roy would re-sign there. I can't think of a prospect going to Calgary that would make this trade possible, the Kings aren't trading Clarke and the next guys up probably aren't as good as what Calgary could get elsewhere for a really valuable asset.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

We will most likely make the playoffs and are sitting in a black hole with the standings.

I doubt we will surpass Edmonton or Las Vegas and we won’t be catched by Seattle or Calgary either. The wild card it will be (a complete meltdown aside).

Too bad we lost from Nashville. They and St.Louis we should be looking at.

 

[Trash Panda]

All Fagemo’s done since being sent down is lead the entire AHL in scoring :/

TJ Tynan is also a prolific producer at the AHL level, and it hasn’t translated to NHL success.

Some guys are simply AAAA level players that have trouble transitioning to the big show, and I honestly see Fagemo being one of them.

 

[YP44]

Correct, Laf is in because of his motor.

Kopi 's been stuck in second gear for a while now. He's still a very good & useful player. King's may need to learn how to better integrate players that don't exactly fit the high motor mold. You can't just have a group of 12 Lewiseses. Someone has to score.

Kopi, PL, Kaliyev are all large, non fast players. They're never going to turn into Lizotte. They can be useful in the system, given the correct support.

Kaliyev probably gets traded in the next two weeks so it's not much of an issue anymore.

It's time to break up the Danault line. Maybe Moore with Kopitar would work. I would do QB-PLD-Kempe.

TJ Tynan is also a prolific producer at the AHL level, and it hasn’t translated to NHL success.

Some guys are simply AAAA level players that have trouble transitioning to the big show, and I honestly see Fagemo being one of them.

Fagemo is LA's Mathew Phillips (before this year)

 

[fivehole32]

TJ Tynan is also a prolific producer at the AHL level, and it hasn’t translated to NHL success.

Some guys are simply AAAA level players that have trouble transitioning to the big show, and I honestly see Fagemo being one of them.

It's like Kole Lind with Seattle. The guy was a second round pick of Vancouver, Seattle picked him up. Guy plays with an edge and can score at the AHL level just can't do it in the NHL.

 

[YP44]

We will most likely make the playoffs and are sitting in a black hole with the standings.

I doubt we will surpass Edmonton or Las Vegas and we won’t be catched by Seattle or Calgary either. The wild card it will be (a complete meltdown aside).

Too bad we lost from Nashville. They and St.Louis we should be looking at.

I just hope Blake is not a buyer at this year's deadline (unless it makes sense for next season and beyond).
Letting Roy walk instead of cashing in on a market that may give Tanev a first will be a mistake.

 

[johnjm22]

Teemu Pulkkinen seems like a good comp for Fagemo.

Still, Fagemo needs to be given more of chance IMO.

 

[Sol]

Lizzo was one of the best players to start the season which is saying a lot. But yeah he can’t stay healthy and after he returned from injury he was not anywhere close to the level he started the season as. Lizzo has a very strong drive and good skill, held back by a little frame. Sucks for him honestly but the Kings can’t invest time into a guy who gets crushed as much as him. When he’s healthy he’s an amazing fourth liner. Maybe the best in the league, but health isn’t there for him.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Teemu Pulkkinen seems like a good comp for Fagemo.

Still, Fagemo needs to be given more of chance IMO.

He is a PP specialist but gets no PP time, nor any ice time at all.

8 minutes a game is barely anything.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

The Mikey Anderson situation will be interesting to keep an eye on. Haven't seen any injury updates yet but it looked like a (mostly) non-contact injury last night. Hopefully it's minor of course but if he's going to miss significant time that certainly makes things even more interesting from a trade deadline / playoff outlook.

Without Anderson, the Kings D looks something like:
Gavrikov - Doughty
Roy - Clarke
Englund - Spence
Moverare

Or you have Spence as the 7th D if you REALLY don't want to have a RHD play on the left side (Personally, my vote would be 4 RHD). That D group could certainly surprise - But chances are it's seriously lacking and team defense takes a decent hit.

Do you trade for a LHD that can fill in?? Do you switch to being sellers at the deadline - And just hope for the best when it comes to the playoffs but come to terms with the idea that it's probably not happening this year?? Obviously I'm jumping the gun a bit but things certainly get interesting depending on his status.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

My thought would be is they just move the other LHDs up and play Moverare.

I mean if they don’t want to play Spence they COULD and SHOULD bench Englund for Moverare but its pretty clear he’s got the same plot armor as some other guys now

 

[YAYSAY]

My thought would be is they just move the other LHDs up and play Moverare.

I mean if they don’t want to play Spence they COULD and SHOULD bench Englund for Moverare but its pretty clear he’s got the same plot armor as some other guys now

I remember Moverare playing pretty well during his last stint, Englund has been rough lately, and he isn't even hitting or fighting so not sure why he's still in the lineup.

 

[Trash Panda]

I remember Moverare playing pretty well during his last stint, Englund has been rough lately, and he isn't even hitting or fighting so not sure why he's still in the lineup.

Don’t know where his game went, but he has been terrible for some time now.

 

[johnjm22]

Anyone like our chances in that series?

 

[Trash Panda]

I don’t like our chances in any series, tbh.

 

[dman3474]

they have already needed another solid LHD, if Anderson is out for any significant time they will need to get one sooner and might have the extra cap space to go get a better one.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

I remember Moverare playing pretty well during his last stint, Englund has been rough lately, and he isn't even hitting or fighting so not sure why he's still in the lineup.

I was thinking about it yesterday and I'm fairly sure it's solely because he's the only guy on the roster that you can confidently count on to drop the gloves if needed.

I don't necessarily agree with it (I think it's a little old/outdated way of thinking and in today's NHL that shouldn't be enough to excuse bad play and keep you in the lineup - You should be able to hold your own & not be a detriment to the team) but looking at the rest of the forward / defense groups.... Yeah, none of these guys are fighting if something happens.

Maybe Laferriere (That's probably the main reason Kings coaches turn a blind eye to some of the turnovers/defensive lapses - They see him as a guy who isn't afraid to mix it up) but it's a long shot and he's obviously not an enforcer by any means.

It would sure be nice to find an enforcer who is actually good at playing NHL level hockey. Problem is there's like 5 players in the entire league that fit that description lol.

Edit: Was surprised to see Englund actually has the most fights in the NHL this season with 9. So yeah, they clearly feel they can't take him out of the lineup.

 

[Kingfan1967]

We will most likely make the playoffs and are sitting in a black hole with the standings.

I doubt we will surpass Edmonton or Las Vegas and we won’t be catched by Seattle or Calgary either. The wild card it will be (a complete meltdown aside).

Too bad we lost from Nashville. They and St.Louis we should be looking at.

Anyone like our chances in that series?

Season ending predictions
Pacific
Vancouver
Edmonton
Vegas
LA (WC1)
Central
Winnepeg (3 points back with 4 games in hand)
Dallas
Colorado
Minnesota (WC2 they are playing the best of teams in the chase but could be any of Nash, St Lou, Sea or Calgary which is a long shot - they are selling )
1st Round
LA @ Winnepeg
Minnesota @ Vancouver
Vegas @ Edmonton
Colorado @ Dallas
all the home teams should be favored, with Minnesota being the only true Upset.