LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[FrozenKing18]

This is the PLD we knew that we were getting. A guy who appears to float but goes to the dirty spots. He’s historically streaky and hasn’t started streaking yet. I’ve not problems with that stuff.

The issue that I have is face offs. That’s one thing that I took for granted

Guy needs sessions with Kopitar and Stoll

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Guy needs sessions with Kopitar and Stoll

Pretty sure that's what they were working on after practice the other day before the road trip

Didn't seem to help yet

Would not be fully surprised if he ended up back at W someday. He's not fast, he's not defensively sound, he's an above average scorer with some snarl but that's about it. Basically, he's left-handed Vilardi, with less defense.

8.5 million for a 55-point pace, 42% faceoffs, mediocre skating and defense and some of the worst metrics on the team despite favorable deployment. Need this dude to start earning his salary and soon.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Didn't seem to help yet

Games 1 -5

PLD FO% - 36.8%

Game 6 - 9

PLD FO% - 52.4%

 

[bland]

Pretty sure that's what they were working on after practice the other day before the road trip

Didn't seem to help yet

Would not be fully surprised if he ended up back at W someday. He's not fast, he's not defensively sound, he's an above average scorer with some snarl but that's about it. Basically, he's left-handed Vilardi, with less defense.

8.5 million for a 55-point pace, 42% faceoffs, mediocre skating and defense and some of the worst metrics on the team despite favorable deployment. Need this dude to start earning his salary and soon.

If they insist on keeping Byfield on the wing (which I support for the rest of this year), it might be time to switch out Laferriere and Turcotte on that 3rd line.

Laferriere has given a good accounting of himself, but he is the least productive player on the roster playing with the most productive player in Fiala. This is a lot of hockey for a kid that has never had to travel in his career. A good run in the AHL wouldn't hurt him.

 

[All The Kings Men]

I actually set the filters incorrectly but here's yet another reminder that sample size and context are always important....

In NINE games so far ....

Game 1
6 of 15 - 40%
Game 2
4 of 10 - 40%
Game 3
4 of 9 - 44.4%
Game 4
1 of 15 - 6.7%
Game 5
10 of 19 - 52.6%
Game 6
9 of 17 - 52.9%
Game 7
7 of 12 - 58.3%
Game 8
4 of 8 - 50%
Game 9
3 of 7 - 42.9%

the season as a whole - 42.9%

 

[Johnny Utah]

I was trying to think who Englund reminds me of...I think the closest comparison is Sean O'Donnell.

Matt Greene, though, a leader and feared hitter was the WORST fighter ever. Literally, couldn't throw a punch or win a fight.

I hope he keeps it up - 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 fights - including standing up for Laffy, which this team didn't do a lot for each other last year or didn't have the players to help do it.

Watching him fight Hague brings back cringe memory of McEwen leveling Ben Hutton and then basically turtling against Hague.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I actually set the filters incorrectly but here's yet another reminder that sample size and context are always important....

In NINE games so far ....

Game 1
6 of 15 - 40%
Game 2
4 of 10 - 40%
Game 3
4 of 9 - 44.4%
Game 4
1 of 15 - 6.7%
Game 5
10 of 19 - 52.6%
Game 6
9 of 17 - 52.9%
Game 7
7 of 12 - 58.3%
Game 8
4 of 8 - 50%
Game 9
3 of 7 - 42.9%

the season as a whole - 42.9%

He's 45% for his career, Jesse. It's not like the early season is an aberration for him.

 

[ZJames]

Kings are on pace for 109 points while having played the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league.

Just wait for those Sharks games to come around.

We should dominate them.

But having been a Kings fan for over 20 years, I know better than than that.

 

[YP44]

Kings are on pace for 109 points while having played the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league.

team has looked a lot better so far than i thought they would, and without Arvidsson as well.

 

[Fishhead]

Pretty sure that's what they were working on after practice the other day before the road trip

Didn't seem to help yet

Would not be fully surprised if he ended up back at W someday. He's not fast, he's not defensively sound, he's an above average scorer with some snarl but that's about it. Basically, he's left-handed Vilardi, with less defense.

8.5 million for a 55-point pace, 42% faceoffs, mediocre skating and defense and some of the worst metrics on the team despite favorable deployment. Need this dude to start earning his salary and soon.

He's looked fine defensively to me so far, I was surprised actually. When he's 1v1 with someone he is a handful to get around and away from. The biggest problem is having him out there with Fiala, who has zero defensive value and is always looking to create. Laferriere turns it over a lot too being a rookie, so that line defensively is a disaster with PLD, who while solid isn't a defensive savant nor quick in transition. PLD's relative GF% is fine, he's right there with Danault and Moore. Fiala and Laferriere though are well into the negative so that line is giving up a whole lot.

He really needs to assert himself out there, he's hesitant. That's to be expected somewhat as he's settling in, but I think Fiala is just too puck-dominant and play-driving for him. Kevin is like the kid in class who won't stop answering all the questions, he needs quick, possession guys with him. As good as he is finding the right linemates is always a challenge. That line looked great initially, but I'm sure that was us just gushing over Laf's unexpected emergence. It's pretty obvious that PLD and Fiala aren't working 5v5, there needs to be a change for both of their benefits.

Personally, I try PLD with Byfield and Kaliyev. He can be more aggressive on face-offs because he's got another good option on his line. PLD can drive play more and cycle into triangles, which Byfield is really good at. I put Fiala in RV's spot with Danault and Moore. They are both experts at retrieval and possession, and Moore and Fiala both buzz around in the offensive zone. I would bump Laf up with Kopitar and Kempe, his game is similar to AI so I think he would fit.

 

[johnjm22]

If they insist on keeping Byfield on the wing (which I support for the rest of this year), it might be time to switch out Laferriere and Turcotte on that 3rd line.

Laferriere has given a good accounting of himself, but he is the least productive player on the roster playing with the most productive player in Fiala. This is a lot of hockey for a kid that has never had to travel in his career. A good run in the AHL wouldn't hurt him.

Problem is, Turcotte is another left shot. Laf is one of the few right shot forwards we have.

Laf does look like a guy who's going to hit that rookie wall soon though.

 

[Fishhead]

Games 1 -5

PLD FO% - 36.8%

Game 6 - 9

PLD FO% - 52.4%

That is surprising, actually. I did notice he was better than Kopitar and Danault last night.

Problem is, Turcotte is another left shot. Laf is one of the few right shot forwards we have.

Laf does look like a guy who's going to hit that rookie wall soon though.

For sure. He's gotten creamed a few times too lately, teams are more aware of him.

 

[All The Kings Men]

That is surprising, actually. I did notice he was better than Kopitar and Danault last night.

I think there's a difference between being "bad" at something and being "inconsistent" at something... but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[YP44]

Laf will be fine, think he should take a night in the press box just to re-coup and to get JAD a game.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Kings are on pace for 109 points while having played the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league.

Their success on the road is really propping them up right now.

 

[YP44]

Their success on the road is really propping them up right now.

Given how difficult their home schedule has been i think it will even out.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Given how difficult their home schedule has been i think it will even out.

That's the hope.

 

[tny760]

I think there's a difference between being "bad" at something and being "inconsistent" at something... but maybe I'm wrong.

yeah, maybe, but i think you're gonna need more than 9 games to prove that vs a career

sometimes inconsistent is the same as bad, accuracy vs precision yknow

 

[FSL KINGS]

73 games left to go.
Lineup is fine right now.
Near or at the top in offensive production.
Signs of taking over games.
Holding a playoff spot despite goaltending issues.

Not much to complain about. Well Lewis not converting on the PP. Don't want to be the guy running up the score against a beaten team, bad form.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Since PLD entered the league, of the 211 guys who have taken at least 1000 faceoffs, Pierre Luc Dubois is 177th.

He's bad, he's been bad.

The vast majority that are worse are centers like Hughes and Zegras that are kids or guys playing out of position like Marchessault.

I don't understand why we can't just call a spade a spade sometimes.

 

[FSL KINGS]

PLD
What better center is available?
Mathews resigned & may have lost his wrist shot to injury.
Flames may blow it up. Kadri & Lindholm are older.
Elias Petterson may not resign

Was any center better than PLD traded last summer? Who's is the next best center that was available?

PLD was about the best player that was available. AAV is a bit high, but contracts have gone up recently.

 

[lumbergh]

This is the PLD we knew that we were getting. A guy who appears to float but goes to the dirty spots. He’s historically streaky and hasn’t started streaking yet. I’ve not problems with that stuff.

The issue that I have is face offs. That’s one thing that I took for granted

 

[unicornpig]

potential goalies kings should go after. saros. swayman/ullmark, varlamov

 

[Herby]

If they insist on keeping Byfield on the wing (which I support for the rest of this year), it might be time to switch out Laferriere and Turcotte on that 3rd line.

Laferriere has given a good accounting of himself, but he is the least productive player on the roster playing with the most productive player in Fiala. This is a lot of hockey for a kid that has never had to travel in his career. A good run in the AHL wouldn't hurt him.

Turcotte does many things well, and will have an NHL role sooner than later, but we need to move beyond thinking it's ever going to be in a scoring role with a distributor like Fiala.

Since being drafted

9 goals in 27 NCAA Games
19 goals in 103 AHL Games
0 goals in 12 NHL Games.

The scoring is just never going to be a thing, him being 17 and lighting up USHL was a long time ago, I want him in the NHL, but in the right role.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Problem is, Turcotte is another left shot. Laf is one of the few right shot forwards we have.

Laf does look like a guy who's going to hit that rookie wall soon though.

Off topic, last night during the game, TSN was talking about PP1, and how one of the problems is there is only one right hand shot.....now...me being me....goes, well shit...that's an easy fix....change the units a bit......but that won't happen lol