LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[GoldenBearHockey]

This isn't the praise/justification/excuse it feels like you want it to be? You're basically saying the one guy that management has had very little say in developing looks great. Which is a pretty condemning thought in terms of how the management staff is handling player development.

Pretty sure he wasn't trying to praise development.......

 

[kingsfan28]

They must have missed the shoulder injury. McClellan publically said that the injury is why he was staying back and it wouldn't impact his chances of making the team.

Their arms must be 20 feet long for a reach like this.

That's an understatement.

 

[tigermask48]

Pretty sure he wasn't trying to praise development.......

The first line confused my because it's talking about Clarke being told to work on specific things, also that's the reason I phrased my opening line as a question.

 

[kingsfan28]

They are probably asking him to clean things up in areas and its coming at the expense of his best attributes. They require every player to think constantly about the system instead of going out there to play their game. Laf got lucky with an opportunity to just go out and do what he does and he looks good. Barely any AHL development.

He also went out and gave the Kings a reason not to send him down. He was the best player in camp out of all the rookies and even a few 2nd or 3rd year players and wanted it more than any of the others. Like Valardi the year before. Fagemo,Thomas, Madden, Chromiak, and even Turcotte at times, none of them were very noticeable. Suspension or not, he stole Kaliyevs spot too.

 

[Schmooley]

This isn't the praise/justification/excuse it feels like you want it to be? You're basically saying the one guy that management has had very little say in developing looks great. Which is a pretty condemning thought in terms of how the management staff is handling player development.

Im not sure what you mean? I am condemning how they handle players.

 

[Schmooley]

He also went out and gave the Kings a reason not to send him down. He was the best player in camp out of all the rookies and even a few 2nd or 3rd year players and wanted it more than any of the others. Like Valardi the year before. Fagemo,Thomas, Madden, Chromiak, and even Turcotte at times, none of them were very noticeable. Suspension or not, he stole Kaliyevs spot too.

I also think its a big deal that he is a great fit for the Kings stylistically. Kings have had a lot more trouble handling the young guys that come in with skill over substance. Laf has skill but there is a lot of substance there right away. He was drafted the same year as Byfield and didnt look this way in previous years. He was developed elsewhere and came in ready. Its also worth noting he didnt make it out of camp. Kaliyevs suspension and Arvidssons injury made it possible.

 

[kingsfan28]

I also think its a big deal that he is a great fit for the Kings stylistically. Kings have had a lot more trouble handling the young guys that come in with skill over substance. Laf has skill but there is a lot of substance there right away. He was drafted the same year as Byfield and didnt look this way in previous years. He was developed elsewhere and came in ready. Its also worth noting he didnt make it out of camp. Kaliyevs suspension and Arvidssons injury made it possible.

I thought Laferriere made it as the xtra forward but because of the cap situation was sent down. Anyway, it's working out no matter how it happened. He had a hell of a first game for not scoring. .

 

[tigermask48]

Im not sure what you mean? I am condemning how they handle players.

In a way, yes. You're pointing out that player that didn't spend much time in the AHL (Laferriere) is looking great, while Clarke looks bad because he is working on specific things.

Doesn't that point out a flaw in the Kings development process? If you just let a player play their game they'll develop better?

 

[Schmooley]

In a way, yes. You're pointing out that player that didn't spend much time in the AHL (Laferriere) is looking great, while Clarke looks bad because he is working on specific things.

Doesn't that point out a flaw in the Kings development process? If you just let a player play their game they'll develop better?

Yea in my opinion it points to a flaw in the development process. I think putting a player into the right role from the get go is the best bet.
Laf on a line with Fiala and Dubois is a great way to come in.
Id have had Clarke paired with Gavrikov this year. Also would have had him in the lineup last year with Edler who was the only lefty option after Anderson.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah reminder that Laf is only in the lineup because of injury and cap...they fully intended to send him down to start the year. So before we go sucking each others dicks over the staff's smart decision remember that, like Durzi et. al., their hand was forced.

It’s concerning that Clarke looked more NHL ready last year than he has this year.

This kind of stagnation and regression is depressingly common for prospects in the Blake era.

Same thing that happened to Toby.

Came right in and meshed with Doughty, then banished to siberia.

Sometimes they aren't growing. Sometimes they're actively regressing. But--its quite literally ALL of them. This place f***ing stinks to high heaven.

 

[johnjm22]

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE:

Kings have the best 5v5 Expected Goals Percentage while having played the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE:

Kings have the best 5v5 Expected Goals Percentage while having played the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league.

Does not matter, the 19 year old they drafted 8th OA isn't playing......even though he was the 4th best RHD on the team in camp and pre-season....

 

[bmr]

Yeah reminder that Laf is only in the lineup because of injury and cap...they fully intended to send him down to start the year. So before we go sucking each others dicks over the staff's smart decision remember that, like Durzi et. al., their hand was forced.



Same thing that happened to Toby.

Came right in and meshed with Doughty, then banished to siberia.

Sometimes they aren't growing. Sometimes they're actively regressing. But--its quite literally ALL of them. This place f***ing stinks to high heaven.

There is definitely an element of truth to what you guys are saying, but I think it's a little too convenient to say there's a huge problem with the development curve. Rookies need to persevere and prove they are mature enough to stick in the NHL. It doesn't really matter if it's salary cap/injuries/etc.. If given an opportunity...show what you can do and force management to keep you on the roster. Simple as that.

I've seen some maturity issues w/ Clarke already this season. Love him as a player, but he's not just going to come in and start kicking ass.

Laferriere checked all the boxes and was opportunistic with his chance. There's nothing stopping other players in camp or the AHL from doing the same thing. Win the job.

 

[Schmooley]

Does not matter, the 19 year old they drafted 8th OA isn't playing......even though he was the 4th best RHD on the team in camp and pre-season....

Last year he had a great camp and made the team. Then they put him on the left side. Sat him for a couple games to prolong his 9 games. And then sent to the OHL. That wasnt a strange way to handle the player?

 

[kingsfan28]

Yeah reminder that Laf is only in the lineup because of injury and cap...they fully intended to send him down to start the year. So before we go sucking each others dicks over the staff's smart decision remember that, like Durzi et. al., their hand was forced.



Same thing that happened to Toby.

Came right in and meshed with Doughty, then banished to siberia.

Sometimes they aren't growing. Sometimes they're actively regressing. But--its quite literally ALL of them. This place f***ing stinks to high heaven.

The thing with Toby is he's never gotten better than year one. He completely peaked there. He did nothing to change peoples mind this summer either. All the Kings broadcaster said it too, this was an important camp to show he's gotten better and can play a regular shift in the NHL. This is on him now.

 

[FrozenKing18]

This team has a serious development and deployment problem

They're so allergic to playing guys to their strengths it's sad

We're now the farm team for the rest of the NHL

Don't look up Iafallo or Fagemo or Durzi if these stats make you queasy

So f***ing sick of this organization right now it's beyond words. Might just take a break, not even worth getting excited to watch when it's just letdown after letdown, and now Laf's got his first goal so shrug

Agree with all this. And this is what frustrates me about the management of this team. I don't know how we can build the best team if we don’t put the guys in positions they can succeed in. We have guys in the pipeline with good upside like Clarke, Turcotte, Chromiak, Pinnelli, Portillo, and Ziemmer. How do I get excited for the future when I know these kids will either end up getting stuck in the bottom lines for “defensive assignments” or stuck in the AHL. Then watch the Kings lose them for nothing and see them succeed on another team because they were deployed the right way. I don’t know.. if this keeps happening, i’ll definitely take a break. I can’t keep watching the team fail.

 

[johnjm22]

Agree with all this. And this is what frustrates me about the management of this team. I don't know how we can build the best team if we don’t put the guys in positions they can succeed in. We have guys in the pipeline with good upside like Clarke, Turcotte, Chromiak, Pinnelli, Portillo, and Ziemmer. How do I get excited for the future when I know these kids will either end up getting stuck in the bottom lines for “defensive assignments” or stuck in the AHL. Then watch the Kings lose them for nothing and see them succeed on another team because they were deployed the right way. I don’t know.. if this keeps happening, i’ll definitely take a break. I can’t keep watching the team fail.

You're not supposed to be excited about the future. You're supposed to be excited about the now. We're not rebuilding.

And most of those guys you mentioned will likely never be big time NHL players regardless of what organization they're in. Every organization has Chromiak/Pinnelli/Portillo/Zeimmer type prospects. Most of them never amount to much.

 

[deaderhead28]

This isn't the praise/justification/excuse it feels like you want it to be? You're basically saying the one guy that management has had very little say in developing looks great. Which is a pretty condemning thought in terms of how the management staff is handling player development.

Or Laf just is a special player that adopted the system quickly.

 

[tigermask48]

You're not supposed to be excited about the future. You're supposed to be excited about the now. We're not rebuilding.

Are we though? This team is still near the bottom of the league in goaltending and struggles on special teams just like last year's team. Right now they are a .500 team that wins games they should but gets beat up by top teams. Still. Are we supposed to be excited by a team that still can't get it done against the top teams in the league?
This team is as much pretender as it is contender and the early trend is indicating another 1st round exit if they make the playoffs.

 

[Sol]

Are we though? This team is still near the bottom of the league in goaltending and struggles on special teams just like last year's team. Right now they are a .500 team that wins games they should but gets beat up by top teams. Still. Are we supposed to be excited by a team that still can't get it done against the top teams in the league?
This team is as much pretender as it is contender and the early trend is indicating another 1st round exit if they make the playoffs.

I wouldn’t take John too seriously since he bloviates exhaustively. I do think the Kings are closer to a rebuild than people would care to admit. Quite frankly home grown talent is the most tried and true method of building a great cost effective core. The Kings don’t have anyone close
To rookie doughty and kopitar. Either kings stay the path being a mediocre playoff team or league bottom

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

It’s concerning that Clarke looked more NHL ready last year than he has this year.

This kind of stagnation and regression is depressingly common for prospects in the Blake era.

Same thing that happened to Toby.

Came right in and meshed with Doughty, then banished to siberia.

Sometimes they aren't growing. Sometimes they're actively regressing. But--its quite literally ALL of them. This place f***ing stinks to high heaven.

Where's that coming from? It sure doesn't sound like that's the case based on how he's played according to resident Reign-watcher regulate in the Ontario thread. Who'll stop The Reign: The 2023-24 Ontario Reign Thread

He looks real good IMO, he's been responsible defensively, his skating seems good enough, he's as deceptive as ever with the puck, seemed to make smart reads all night. Really good at getting the puck thru to the net, maybe not so much to score on the shot, more about creating deflections, rebounds and havoc down low. He looks as advertised to me. First few games he was running his mouth a lot, you could tell from the Gulls reactions and taking runs at him. Didn't notice it as much last night, although to be fair I was often watching two games at the same time (Kings and Reign). I know he's a cocky kid, but he needs to watch himself if he can't back up his mouth with his play and to be able to defend himself. Someone is really going to clock him and long term it may not be good. But that seems to be who he is, and I like the skillset.

 

[tigermask48]

He looked like a middle d-man in the NHL last year in those 9 games. He was clearly better than half the D he was playing with and he absolutely should have spent the full season on the Kings. He looks like an AHL tweener this year in pre-season. It's been a pretty clear step back.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Last year he had a great camp and made the team. Then they put him on the left side. Sat him for a couple games to prolong his 9 games. And then sent to the OHL. That wasnt a strange way to handle the player?

You sure he made the team, or did he..."Make the team" like McTavish did his first year in ANA? You know....9 games...then back to the OHL ?

 

[Schmooley]

You sure he made the team, or did he..."Make the team" like McTavish did his first year in ANA? You know....9 games...then back to the OHL ?

He was making a case to stay up. Looked better than a lot of the other right dmen last year after Doughty and Roy. Spence didnt have a good camp last year. I think really Blake was on the fence with the decision but that game against Dallas was around the time they stuck him on the left side where he wasnt as effective and he got rocked by Benn. And Blake made the decision he wasnt ready.
Remember Doughty went into Blakes office last year and said this kid can make it and help us win.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He was making a case to stay up. Looked better than a lot of the other right dmen last year after Doughty and Roy. Spence didnt have a good camp last year. I think really Blake was on the fence with the decision but that game against Dallas was around the time they stuck him on the left side where he wasnt as effective and he got rocked by Benn. And Blake made the decision he wasnt ready.
Remember Doughty went into Blakes office last year and said this kid can make it and help us win.

So then he didn't make the team.....they were taking an extended look? No, that's not a strange way to handle a player