LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[AbsentMojo]

Cal's struggles are largely mental so I think we will see a good game out of him if we don't score right off the bat.

I think he'll suck just as much as he did here. He's far below .900 in the A so far this season

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

IMO it's either going to be a career game for Cal or the Kings are going to pot 7 on him. There is no in between lol.

 

[johnjm22]

Copley needs to start next game.

 

[Little Psycho]

Fiala seems like he’s feeling better lol. This is cute, they are having fun.

 

[lumbergh]

I know some here can't stand the Rob Blake, but it's hard to dispute that he has built the most entertaining and fun Kings team to watch in quite a long time. Whatever the faults of the team, being boring is not one of them.

 

[regulate]

Time for the 10 game check-in of goals scored vs goals allowed per player while on the ice at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time. Listed is the + or - differential for each player. Plus I'll add the lines to show how they are playing as a group. Note: this does not take into account the strength of the opponent the players are matched up against.

For example, when Dubois is on the ice, the team scores 4.7 goals at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time, and the team gives up 3.7 goals at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time when he is playing, giving a net result of +1.0 goals per 60 minutes, or one more goal scored per 60 minutes then allowed. A minus rating obviously means the opposite result.

Forwards
Lizotte +2.9
Kempe +2.7
Kaliyev +2.5
Grundstrom +2.4
Byfield +2.4
Kopitar +1.7
Dubois +1.0
Moore +0.9
Lewis +0.7
Fiala +0.5
Danault +0.5
Laferriere - 0.5
Defense
Doughty +2.3
Spence +2.3
Englund +2.2
Anderson +1.8
Roy +0.0
Gavrikov -0.6

Lines
Kopitar Line average +2.27
Danault line average +1.3
Dubois line average +0.33
Lizotte line average +2.0

D Pairings
Doughty pairing average +2.05
Roy pairing average -0.3
Spence pairing average +2.25

Result- #1 line is playing like a #1, the top D pairing is doing very well, and the 4th line and 3rd D pairing are really bringing it, a result that will be hard to sustain over time. Roy-Gavikov have some net improvement to make, Dubois line is hurt by poor defensive metrics. Still the Dubois line is outscoring the opponents by a slim margin.

 

[lumbergh]

Time for the 10 game check-in of goals scored vs goals allowed per player while on the ice at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time. Listed is the + or - differential for each player. Plus I'll add the lines to show how they are playing as a group. Note: this does not take into account the strength of the opponent the players are matched up against.

For example, when Dubois is on the ice, the team scores 4.7 goals at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time, and the team gives up 3.7 goals at even strength per 60 minutes of ice time when he is playing, giving a net result of +1.0 goals per 60 minutes, or one more goal scored per 60 minutes then allowed. A minus rating obviously means the opposite result.

Forwards
Lizotte +2.9
Kempe +2.7
Kaliyev +2.5
Grundstrom +2.4
Byfield +2.4
Kopitar +1.7
Dubois +1.0
Moore +0.9
Lewis +0.7
Fiala +0.5
Danault +0.5
Laferriere - 0.5
Defense
Doughty +2.3
Spence +2.3
Englund +2.2
Anderson +1.8
Roy +0.0
Gavrikov -0.6

Lines
Kopitar Line average +2.27
Danault line average +1.3
Dubois line average +0.33
Lizotte line average +2.0

D Pairings
Doughty pairing average +2.05
Roy pairing average -0.3
Spence pairing average +2.25

Result- #1 line is playing like a #1, the top D pairing is doing very well, and the 4th line and 3rd D pairing are really bringing it, a result that will be hard to sustain over time. Roy-Gavikov have some net improvement to make, Dubois line is hurt by poor defensive metrics. Still the Dubois line is outscoring the opponents by a slim margin.

I was just looking at these same numbers this morning. In terms of actual results, almost every Kings line is outplaying its opponent.

Spence and Englund are an absolute revelation as a third pairing. Spence is super poised, tough to rattle, comfortable in any situation. Englund knows his job (physical hard-nosed defense), but has brought an offensive element that has been a pleasant surprise.

Kempe-Kopi-Byfield has been, outside of maybe one or two games, completely dominant. Kopitar refuses to age, and Byfield is now taking charge of the ice like a boss. Awesome to watch.

 

[johnjm22]

I know some here can't stand the Rob Blake, but it's hard to dispute that he has built the most entertaining and fun Kings team to watch in quite a long time. Whatever the faults of the team, being boring is not one of them.

Since the summer of 2021, if Blake's mandate was "win now" he's done about as good of a job as you could reasonably expect.

His detractors will point out his mistakes, but mistakes are inevitable.

I understand the criticism that LA shouldn't have transitioned from rebuild mode to win now mode, and that trying to build a contender with a core of Doughty/Kopitar at their ages is a fool's errand, but that's a different conversation IMO. We don't even know if the decision is Blake's to make.

 

[johnjm22]

Here's the 5v5 TOI for each forward line last night:

Fiala-Dubois-Laferriere 11:01
Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe 10:21
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis 9:11
Moore-Danault-Kaliyev 8:56

Pretty interesting. That's rolling your lines.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know some here can't stand the Rob Blake, but it's hard to dispute that he has built the most entertaining and fun Kings team to watch in quite a long time. Whatever the faults of the team, being boring is not one of them.

Lotta personality too

Gavrikov might be the funniest dude in the world

 

[Johnny Utah]

I keep saying the Kings need a better option at 4LW but then Grundstrom pots his 4th.

Still think the Kings need someone with Fiala/PLD come playoffs - not Laffy or Arvidsson. Someone like a Tyler Bertuzzi. Can't put all the toughness on Englund vs the Oilers.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Grundstrom might be the best 4th liner in the league ngl

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Grundstrom's only real issue in the past was consistency

he's got that on lock so far

 

[johnjm22]

I keep saying the Kings need a better option at 4LW but then Grundstrom pots his 4th.

Grundstrom leads the team in hits per 60min. Shouldn't you like him? Most physical forward on the team.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Throwing hits is one thing. He doesn't fight or mix it up in scrums.

 

[lexlavender]

Grundstrom and Lizzotte have always been better than replacement level 3rd liners, so on the 4th it is disgusting. Not to mention that Lewis is just a super strong, prototypical 4th line winger, and I'm pretty confident our 4th is the best in the league, or at least up there.

 

[King'sPawn]

I know some here can't stand the Rob Blake, but it's hard to dispute that he has built the most entertaining and fun Kings team to watch in quite a long time. Whatever the faults of the team, being boring is not one of them.

My biggest issues with Blake actually stem back to before him: developing offensive talent from within. And I feel he rushed out of the rebuild before the pieces acquired during the rebuild were implemented. By and large, these are still concerns of mine.

I also don't like the tripling down of trading for an inconsistent forward to try to win now.

 

[bmr]

Grundstrom and Lizzotte have always been better than replacement level 3rd liners, so on the 4th it is disgusting. Not to mention that Lewis is just a super strong, prototypical 4th line winger, and I'm pretty confident our 4th is the best in the league, or at least up there.

The biggest thing this year is the consistency across the entire team. That really lends itself well toward a more even distribution of minutes and a threat across all O and D lines. Byfield has taken another step with his confidence - did you guys notice him tapping his stick during powerplays now? We didn't see that kind of thing last year. Kaliyev is still kind of an oddball, but I think you have him in the perfect spot with the type of work ethic that Danault/Moore have. Kaliyev will get his points and looks like he's made improvements on the defensive side of the puck.

Englund/Spence is honestly my favorite pairing right now. I've always been a big Spence fan but Englund has far exceeded my expectations up to this point. He's playing smart, hard-nosed lock down-D and is chipping in with points and sticking up for his team when needed.

Kinda surprising that Roy/Gavrikov is probably the statistically weakest up to this point - no concerns with that pairing at all going forward.

Talbot really endeared himself to me after what he said to the team at the Arizona game. I feel like he's really cemented himself as the #1.

I know it's easy to nit pick right now as far as saying PLD isn't where he should be or we eventually need a replacement for Laf, etc.. in the playoffs. Just enjoying this team right now...

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Some good numbers on how the Kings have been doing a good job defending in front of Talbot:

Among the 44 goaltenders with at least 200 minutes played so far this season, Talbot has faced the fourth-fewest high-danger chances on a per/60 basis. He’s also faced the sixth-fewest rush attempts per/60 with the same perimeters. [sic]

Every Night, Cam Talbot is Giving the Kings a Chance to Win...What More Could You Ask For? - LA Kings Insider

Two quotes below from Todd McLellan on goaltender Cam Talbot. “I think that calm and stable are probably two pretty good words to describe him. Good at cleaning up our messes, we let up a lot on the early penalty kill but after that, there wasn’t a lot coming at him, over and over again. […]

lakingsinsider.com

 

[kingsfan28]

I know it's easy to nit pick right now as far as saying PLD isn't where he should be or we eventually need a replacement for Laf, etc.. in the playoffs. Just enjoying this team right now...

Laf is in an interesting situation. He continues to improve and really seems to generate a lot of the scoring chances on that line with his speed and smarts. He made a couple of plays last night that Fiala should've buried. For a rookie, that's pretty impressive. How do you pull a guy like that out of the line up?

 

[Trash Panda]

Throwing hits is one thing. He doesn't fight or mix it up in scrums.

Man, I gotta hand it to you, that’s taking “one track mind” to a new level.

The guy is a solid hockey player, where it matters.

 

[kingsfan28]

Gav looks like the life of the party in the room!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Man, I gotta hand it to you, that’s taking “one track mind” to a new level.

The guy is a solid hockey player, where it matters.

But wouldn't you rather have Ryan Reaves doing absolutely nothing but looking like a stupid grunt?

 

[LeftKinger]

Some good numbers on how the Kings have been doing a good job defending in front of Talbot:

Every Night, Cam Talbot is Giving the Kings a Chance to Win...What More Could You Ask For? - LA Kings Insider

Two quotes below from Todd McLellan on goaltender Cam Talbot. “I think that calm and stable are probably two pretty good words to describe him. Good at cleaning up our messes, we let up a lot on the early penalty kill but after that, there wasn’t a lot coming at him, over and over again. […]

lakingsinsider.com

If there ever was a recipe for success with a an average goaltender, this is it. No reason to think he won’t replicate his numbers from some of his better seasons if the Kings can keep this up. Not sure if it’ll translate to postseason success, but it’ll definitely do in the regular season.

 

[deaderhead28]