LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[unicornpig]

fagemo. waived. ppl can stop crying about losing him.

 

[Statto]

What makes PLD overpaid is that he’s getting paid massive money while having the luxury of playing in Kopitars shadow. What makes PLD overpaid is that he’s a third line center, gets easier match ups, and he still coasts. I don’t care how many points PLD has. “He’s at his average” yeah as a first liner getting the most difficult match ups. He should be scoring more and at least trying more than 2-3 times a game to be a factor.

He’s too f***ign lazy and this has been a problem with him his whole career. And I fear now that he has Kopitar doing the heavy work it will incentivize him to be even more lazy.

3rd line? it’s easy to argue its the 2nd line. That line has the second highest XG and ice time is even… it’s really line 2A/B. Calling him the 3rd line C drives a narrative. I’m not saying he doesn’t need to be better but in context I’m not yet worried (slightly concerned? sure)… however he has an off form Fiala and a rookie on his line… the balance seems slightly off. It’s why I’d give Turcotte a look instead of Laf, to give it a different balance.

 

[Sol]

3rd line? it’s easy to argue its the 2nd line. That line has the second highest XG and ice time is even… it’s really line 2A/B. Calling him the 3rd line C drives a narrative. I’m not saying he doesn’t need to be better but in context I’m not yet worried (slightly concerned? sure)… however he has an off form Fiala and a rookie on his line… the balance seems slightly off. It’s why I’d give Turcotte a look instead of Laf, to give it a different balance.

A big reason Fiala is off form is because PLD is coasting constantly. And you think it’s hard to argue that Trevor Moore and Danault have been more effective than their line? Come on.

 

[Master Yoda]

You're not wrong. But committing $8.5 million to an inconsistent player, particularly for 8 years, is a major gamble. And he doesn't even have the excuse of "he's playing for a bad team/he's in a frozen wasteland". He's playing for a great team in LA. So, why is he so often disengaged now? Are you ready for 8 more years of this? Are you ready for 644 more games of this?

I agree his contract was an overpayment both money and term. And the pieces moved to get him was probably an overpayment. I mean Winnipeg had no leverage.
But that's a separate issue.

If he produces like he did the last 2 seasons, then he's still at least a top end 2C.
So the idea of getting a real 2C and putting everyone else in more proper spots was a good idea whether or not Edmonton makes the playoffs.

 

[johnjm22]

Some of Jordan Spence's analytics for November are unbelievably good. Shocking.

 

[Nasti]

Compare this year’s defense to the defense from a year ago.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

vs

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Walker

I think this is the single biggest reason for the good start. Aside from Talbot maybe.

 

[Schrute farms]

Compare this year’s defense to the defense from a year ago.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

vs

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Walker

I think this is the single biggest reason for the good start. Aside from Talbot maybe.

 

[bmr]

Compare this year’s defense to the defense from a year ago.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

vs

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Walker

I think this is the single biggest reason for the good start. Aside from Talbot maybe.

Yep! It's a very balanced and good defense. Combine that with Talbot and our offensive firepower and it's easy to see.

WIsh-list: I think we just need a better backup. Can't expect Talbot to carry this load the entire season. Laf could potentially get a rest and slot Turcotte on, but I agree that Fiala and PLD should be doing more. They are clearly being out played by Kopitar and Danault's line. You could potentially put Laf with them and slot Kaliyev down, but not sure if that helps anything. Can't touch the 1st and 4th lines.

 

[johnjm22]

I like Mrazek. It'd be a low risk move for a guy who's hot.

8gp, 2.84gaa, .921sv% while playing for a bad team.

He's a 31 year old pending UFA, so you know he has every motivation in the world to play for that next contract.

Chicago will for sure be looking to move him.

If you can't get an elite goalie like Saros/Ullmark/Helly than a guy like Mrazek makes sense IMO. He's had an up and down career, but has PO experience and has gotten hot before.

 

[johnjm22]

Mrazek's career numbers playing in Staples/Crypto:

3GP, 0.97 GAA, .970 SV%

 

[kingsholygrail]

Compare this year’s defense to the defense from a year ago.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

vs

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Walker

I think this is the single biggest reason for the good start. Aside from Talbot maybe.

I'm just trying to figure out why this hasn't translated to the home games.

 

[kingskring]

 

[Little Psycho]

When it comes to goalies I’m clueless. Can’t be worse that Copper?

Edit: read the flames gdt, sounds like another Copply. Abort!

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

 

[kingsboy11]

I'm sure the Flames would love to dump him on us so they can finally call up Wolf

 

[Mcsorley47]

Compare this year’s defense to the defense from a year ago.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

vs

Anderson - Doughty
Durzi - Roy
Edler - Walker

I think this is the single biggest reason for the good start. Aside from Talbot maybe.

Just think, soon we will replace Roy with Clarke!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm just trying to figure out why this hasn't translated to the home games.

Because then TM gets the primary coaching decisions.

 

[Fishhead]

Because then TM gets the primary coaching decisions.

Pretty sure TM gets the primary coaching decisions wherever the Kings play. The only difference is last change, which isn't much throughout a game anymore.

It's probably more this:

Combined record of teams played at home: 50-25-3 (.641 winning percentage)

Combined record of teams played on the road: 46-38-9 (.494 winning percentage)

Too lazy to do point percentages but you get the idea.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Laffy has kinda slowed down a bit, PLD is floating and Fiala has 2 goals. I wonder if they do something different on this line...

Pick up Fagemo and put him at RW Fiala/PLD? Fagemo shoots R.

Move Lewis to RW with Fiala/PLD and play JAD on 4th line? JAD shoots L so you would swap Grundstrom to RW. He's playing LW - his off wing.

Call up Turcotte and do the same thing as JAD? Turcotte shoots L also.

Another RW option in Ontario is Akil Thomas, but he's off to a slow start.

Hodson and Doty also shoot RW, buy any call up off them would likely require Lewis moving off the the 4th line and up

 

[Fishhead]

I dont think Doty has a contract.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Just think, soon we will replace Roy with Clarke!

Starting to get paranoid that Spence will be moved for Clarke.

Why move Doughty or Roy? Don't think Roy will be hard to resign.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Zadorov asked for a trade after the game (scoring a goal and laying a big hit). Would make the Kings D-core insane.

Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Roy
Zadorov-Spence

Move Roy at the TDL or let him walk in the offseason so Clarke can move up (like they did with JMFJ & Voynov).

 

[Johnny Utah]

Kings have 1,175 dollars in cap space.

Zadorov makes 3.75 million.

Englund makes 1 million.

So do the math…

Also, Kings are basically using Englund as their enforcer now also and Zadorov is a terrible fighter. Phaneuf edged him out.

 

[bmr]

Starting to get paranoid that Spence will be moved for Clarke.

Why move Doughty or Roy? Don't think Roy will be hard to resign.

Spence moved? Not w the way he’s playing. Much more likely that it’s Roy.

 

[rapots]

We are way better than I was expected. Kopi is vintage, QB is making big step forward, Laf is a bit off but what could you expect from a rookie on a PLD lazy ass line with sloppy Kevin. 4th line is probably best in a league... these guys really go hard. D as a whole is a level up from last season. Talbot over expectations as well. Good times to watch Kings, every freaking single game was a joy to watch so far