LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[FSL KINGS]

Team is absolutely rolling. Goal needs to be upgraded by the deadline & a starter added by the summer.

Kempe hasn't heated up yet.
Fiala & Dubois are working out their chemistry
Clarke isn't on the team yet
Byfield, Kaliyev, Laferriere getting top 9 & looking adequate to good.
Doughty is on a level that he's hasn't been on in a long time.

President's trophy winner's rarely win the cup. Kings have to fight for a playoff spot overcoming average goaltending. Go out & earn it.

One point out of second place. The team hasn't come together yet.

What are we complaining about?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

What are we complaining about?

Are you new here?

 

[Schrute farms]

Team is absolutely rolling. Goal needs to be upgraded by the deadline & a starter added by the summer.
...

One point out of second place. The team hasn't come together yet.

Wait, which is it dude? Is the team "absolutely rolling" or "hasn't come together yet"? I'm confused. lol

 

[FSL KINGS]

Wait, which is it dude? Is the team "absolutely rolling" or "hasn't come together yet"? I'm confused. lol

Leading the league with 4.38 goals per game. Multiple players are still getting going. They can tighten up defensively.

The team is rolling & still has room to improve.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Wait, which is it dude?

“First he’s gonna shit, then he gonna kill us!”

 

[psych3man]

I'm recovering from my first bout with COVID so the topics that I'm grappling with on a day to day basis are a bit further from the rink than usual.

Get better fast.
Looking forward to your perspective on this when you are healed.

 

[psych3man]

I'm recovering from my first bout with COVID so the topics that I'm grappling with on a day to day basis are a bit further from the rink than usual.

They have a great prescription for Covid now, Paxlovid.
PCP gave to me and family.
Gone in 3+ days for me, wife and adult child a few months ago.
Mandatory for anyone with covid.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

The Kings have 4 wins and 4 losses, that's not my definition of "absolutely rolling", especially when they have yet to beat a good team

 

[psych3man]

Re: PLD I don't think we can underestimate the importance in hockey of the slotting in of lines, esp centers.
The trade to get Richards / Carter was huge because it finally got Stoll off line 2 and onto line 3 where he was excellent there. Same thing for Danault--he is not a 2nd liner but rather an excellent 3rd liner. PLD as line 2 is an important acquisition that cannot be compared to the wingers Iafallo and Vilardi or the 4th line center still playing single digit minutes with Jets.
The real killer for the Kings championship run was the sudden loss of 2nd line center Voynov, slotted in perfectly, who never got replaced.
While I think PLD is not playing great and has room for significant improvement as he fits in better over time, he has gone to the net more than other centers, shown some physicality among the opposition and has stuck up for teammates before and after the whistle.
Let's give him a chance and evaluate by Jan 1.

 

[Schmooley]

They have a great prescription for Covid now, Paxlovid.
PCP gave to me and family.
Gone in 3+ days for me, wife and adult child a few months ago.
Mandatory for anyone with covid.

Worked great for me also!

 

[FSL KINGS]

The Kings have 4 wins and 4 losses, that's not my definition of "absolutely rolling", especially when they have yet to beat a good team

It's not wether you win or lose, but wether You're winning or losing. Don't get caught up in the numbers.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Team is absolutely rolling. Goal needs to be upgraded by the deadline & a starter added by the summer.

Kempe hasn't heated up yet.
Fiala & Dubois are working out their chemistry
Clarke isn't on the team yet
Byfield, Kaliyev, Laferriere getting top 9 & looking adequate to good.
Doughty is on a level that he's hasn't been on in a long time.

President's trophy winner's rarely win the cup. Kings have to fight for a playoff spot overcoming average goaltending. Go out & earn it.

One point out of second place. The team hasn't come together yet.

What are we complaining about?

my thing is even on a team with great depth there are only so many goals to go around

In a record scoring year last year the oilers got 325 goals as a team, that's not quite 4 goals a game, and that's with a historic PP

Yet they didn't go far, because D and G

Kings will score oodles, they may even break that 325, but unless they can get the GA under 4 against meaningful teams, we're f***ed

and that's not a "wait till Kempe scores, wait till Dubois scores" problem

I don't care about the regular season, the playoffs SHOULD be a foregone conclusion, it's what they do vs. playoff teams that matters and right now all they've done vs. playoff teams is sunset

 

[Sol]

Team is absolutely rolling. Goal needs to be upgraded by the deadline & a starter added by the summer.

Kempe hasn't heated up yet.
Fiala & Dubois are working out their chemistry
Clarke isn't on the team yet
Byfield, Kaliyev, Laferriere getting top 9 & looking adequate to good.
Doughty is on a level that he's hasn't been on in a long time.

President's trophy winner's rarely win the cup. Kings have to fight for a playoff spot overcoming average goaltending. Go out & earn it.

One point out of second place. The team hasn't come together yet.

What are we complaining about?

The thing is these narratives can have completely different implications. So as much as I’d like to fully buy in that everything can only go up that’s just not realistic.

1. What if he’s just injured? He’s been playing bad ever since he got boarded in the preseason where he lit it up, Byfield played with two bum wrists all last season supposedly, Arvy came back injured, Fiala came back injured, this training staff has been nothing but incompetent with how they manage their players health so we have no idea how Kempe will play.

2. Fiala even looks off too. He is probably injured as well IMO. He always is a player who dances and he hasn’t been doing anything remotely close to that. PLD is an unknown asset so I can’t comment on that.

3. The kids have looked ok except for Laf who’s looked really good.

4. I don’t know how doughty will be. He’s been scoring but he’s also been getting beat a lot as well. Especially Roy too who’s looked terrible.

5. Goaltending big problem.


These are all things that could also not change. The truth is always somewhere in the middle.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

So with Copley really struggling, any chance Rittich gets a call up?

Rittich has done well in the AHl this season

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Kings next back to back is next Wednesday/Thursday... Do they just ride with Talbot until then and hope Copley can have a bounce back game next week??

I know Copley's only played 3 games but after a certain point you can't keep giving a guy starts with numbers like his.

.788 save % is just not remotely NHL caliber - That's worse than Quick/Petersen numbers last year. Kinda have to think he only has 1-2 games to turn it around before they try Rittich

 

[lumbergh]

So, its been a decent sample size thus far, games against a variety of styles and qualities of opponents. Does anyone think that Dubois is:

A) Worth Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari and a 2nd

B) Worth a cap hit of $8.5 million

C) Worthy of an 8 year deal

D) None of the above

Decent player, obvious strengths, obvious deficiencies, but what growth do we expect to see? A lack of consistency has plagued him in his young career, so there is room to improve there. But even if he does find it, is he worth that squeeze?

Viewed in isolation, D.

One thing the trade has done is to realign the lines in really good way. Now the Kings have four balanced lines, each with strong centers and young wingers. All four lines are being productive. I don't know if that happens without the trade, but that's an alternate universe question. The lines are more balanced this year than last, and the trade is playing a big role.

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 8 goals 20 points
Fiala-Dubois-Kaliyev 5 goals 20 points
Moore-Danault-Laferriere 8 goals 14 points
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis 7 goals 13 points

 

[bland]

Viewed in isolation, D.

One thing the trade has done is to realign the lines in really good way. Now the Kings have four balanced lines, each with strong centers and young wingers. All four lines are being productive. I don't know if that happens without the trade, but that's an alternate universe question. The lines are more balanced this year than last, and the trade is playing a big role.

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 8 goals 20 points
Fiala-Dubois-Kaliyev 5 goals 20 points
Moore-Danault-Laferriere 8 goals 14 points
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis 7 goals 13 points

Here is the other way to look at it. Unless Dubois moves to wing (which is the best outcome in my opinion), there is no place for Byfield and Turcotte to play to their strengths. Turcotte should be in the NHL right now working thru his growing pains, and Byfield is clearly a natural center who will need to be moved back up the middle as part of the next stage of his development. This team is a paper tiger now and won't be contending until the kids are past their NHL infancy anyway.

So is this slotting really beneficial for more than the very short-term?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Here is the other way to look at it. Unless Dubois moves to wing (which is the best outcome in my opinion), there is no place for Byfield and Turcotte to play to their strengths. Turcotte should be in the NHL right now working thru his growing pains, and Byfield is clearly a natural center who will need to be moved back up the middle as part of the next stage of his development. This team is a paper tiger now and won't be contending until the kids are past their NHL infancy anyway.

So is this slotting really beneficial for more than the very short-term?

Sooooo.....flip Byfield and Dubois....and this team is not a paper tiger?? I mean that and Turcotte.....are literally the only things you are advocating switching and all of a sudden...it's....not a paper tiger? That's just next level thinking there

 

[kilowatt]

I’d love to see a “kid line” of Turcotte - Byfield - Kaliyev some day

 

[Kudelski37]

Viewed in isolation, D.

One thing the trade has done is to realign the lines in really good way. Now the Kings have four balanced lines, each with strong centers and young wingers. All four lines are being productive. I don't know if that happens without the trade, but that's an alternate universe question. The lines are more balanced this year than last, and the trade is playing a big role.

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 8 goals 20 points
Fiala-Dubois-Kaliyev 5 goals 20 points
Moore-Danault-Laferriere 8 goals 14 points
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis 7 goals 13 points

The big positive change relative to last October is replacing an ineffective Lemieux (0points) with Lewis (2g,2a).

 

[Lt Dan]

Team is absolutely rolling. Goal needs to be upgraded by the deadline & a starter added by the summer.

Kempe hasn't heated up yet.
Fiala & Dubois are working out their chemistry
Clarke isn't on the team yet
Byfield, Kaliyev, Laferriere getting top 9 & looking adequate to good.
Doughty is on a level that he's hasn't been on in a long time.

President's trophy winner's rarely win the cup. Kings have to fight for a playoff spot overcoming average goaltending. Go out & earn it.

One point out of second place. The team hasn't come together yet.

What are we complaining about?

You didn't mention Lewis' two goals. It's like we don't even know you anymore!

 

[FSL KINGS]

my thing is even on a team with great depth there are only so many goals to go around

In a record scoring year last year the oilers got 325 goals as a team, that's not quite 4 goals a game, and that's with a historic PP

Yet they didn't go far, because D and G

Kings will score oodles, they may even break that 325, but unless they can get the GA under 4 against meaningful teams, we're f***ed

and that's not a "wait till Kempe scores, wait till Dubois scores" problem

I don't care about the regular season, the playoffs SHOULD be a foregone conclusion, it's what they do vs. playoff teams that matters and right now all they've done vs. playoff teams is sunset

Top 4 D of Mikey, Doughty, Gavrikov, Roy is very strong. King have Spence & Clarke to work in. Not worried about the D's ability to play.

First couple of weeks of the season is normally high scoring until the defenders & defensive systems get up to speed.

Average goaltending: King's are going to need to work harder than other teams on defense. This is a good thing & will get them playing at a higher level by the end of the season.

Kings lost a shootout in OT against the best team in the division. They gave Eichle multiple breaks. That needs addressing. Kings were in the game the whole way & could have easily won. Even dominated possession at time & cycled in the offensive zone. Even with all the issues that need addressing, the King's are very competitive right now.

The thing is these narratives can have completely different implications. So as much as I’d like to fully buy in that everything can only go up that’s just not realistic.

1. What if he’s just injured? He’s been playing bad ever since he got boarded in the preseason where he lit it up, Byfield played with two bum wrists all last season supposedly, Arvy came back injured, Fiala came back injured, this training staff has been nothing but incompetent with how they manage their players health so we have no idea how Kempe will play.

2. Fiala even looks off too. He is probably injured as well IMO. He always is a player who dances and he hasn’t been doing anything remotely close to that. PLD is an unknown asset so I can’t comment on that.

3. The kids have looked ok except for Laf who’s looked really good.

4. I don’t know how doughty will be. He’s been scoring but he’s also been getting beat a lot as well. Especially Roy too who’s looked terrible.

5. Goaltending big problem.


These are all things that could also not change. The truth is always somewhere in the middle.

Hockey Gods are cruel, but they're in a good spot to start the season. They can improve. There are young players to call up in case of injury.

Some of the guys that started hot will probably cool off. That is were depth comes in.

The main issues should be easily addressed. G needs a trade & defense normally picks up a couple weeks in. If it's still an issue then I'll be more concerned. Average goaltending is going to make things look worse on D than they really are.

It's nice to be banking points early in the season & not get a horrendous start like that other team.

You didn't mention Lewis' two goals. It's like we don't even know you anymore!

Didn't want to ruin the moment when everyone was basking in the glow of his awesomeness.

 

[Sol]

I don’t know how the training staff isn’t considered a legitimate issue. I’ve never seen so much players health be so mismanaged

 

[chris kontos]

how about pld to kopitars wing and 55 to 2nd line center?
that way pld can float around with minimum engagement and byfield can play his natural position.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kings next back to back is next Wednesday/Thursday... Do they just ride with Talbot until then and hope Copley can have a bounce back game next week??

I know Copley's only played 3 games but after a certain point you can't keep giving a guy starts with numbers like his.

.788 save % is just not remotely NHL caliber - That's worse than Quick/Petersen numbers last year. Kinda have to think he only has 1-2 games to turn it around before they try Rittich

I think he gets two more games, and probably should. Unless the next one is the worst game we've ever seen.

Viewed in isolation, D.

One thing the trade has done is to realign the lines in really good way. Now the Kings have four balanced lines, each with strong centers and young wingers. All four lines are being productive. I don't know if that happens without the trade, but that's an alternate universe question. The lines are more balanced this year than last, and the trade is playing a big role.

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 8 goals 20 points
Fiala-Dubois-Kaliyev 5 goals 20 points
Moore-Danault-Laferriere 8 goals 14 points
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis 7 goals 13 points

I think it's hypothetical, of course, but are we certain this is that much better than some configuration of

Laferriere-Kopitar-Kempe
Fiala-Byfield-Vilardi
Moore-Danault-Kaliyev
Grundstrum-Lizotte-Iafallo
Turcotte, Arvidsson

PLD is huge and down the middle and I like him as a player but right now it's feeling like a lateral move. Yes, there's upside to be tapped, for sure.