LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[GoldenBearHockey]

Jim Fox talks a lot about 'game management'. There is also the subject of 'schedule management' and TM blew it yesterday. The NHL schedule is a brutal grind of 82 games. It is impossible to win every one. Some losses are less painful than others. Losing to the Rangers, a top 5 team coming off a shut out loss, an out of the conference opponent, and after a tough game the day before against the Islanders is one of those losses you chalk up to the schedule. Given that, why was Vlad Gavrikov in the lineup? You give him a day off and he has three days before the next game to recover. By putting him the lineup in a game that was going to be tough to win under the best of circumstances, you risk aggravating his injury and then playing shorthanded when he couldn't go anymore. This was baffling. Kudos to Danault for coming back, but losing a few teeth is different than a knee injury. Gavrikov should have been scratched.

Maybe......we don't know the behind the scenes on that, we don't know if medical staff gave the go ahead, and Gavrikov himself thought he was 100%, we don't know if he said coach, I'm good to go....we don't know any of that,

To say someone blew it when you don't know the totality of circumstances is chickenshit.....you may think he did, and you are perfectly fine to have that opinion, myself, I don't know, so I'm not gonna go and say a guy blew it, when you simply do not know.

 

[Schrute farms]

O'Reilly was a free agent. He didn't cost any assets to acquire. He is younger than Kopitar and Doughty. If the Kings are trying to win with Kopitar and Doughty, then any player younger Kopitar and Doughty fits the window.

It was dumb to make the biggest trade/signing when teams were literally selling suitable centers at max retention for expiring contracts (Ryan Johansen for Galchenyuk's expiring contract).

Both Johansen and O'Reilly are good at faceoffs too.

The Kings could have gotten a center to play between Vilardi and Fiala at half the AAV of PL. They could have traded Arvidsson and Kupari for picks or recent draftees to restock the system.

The Kings have to hope someone will trade anything for PLD before his no movement clause starts in July. Simply clearing the cap space would be benefit to the team.

I'm not going to fault Blake for making a big trade and sending out GV, AI, Kupari, and the 2nd. Especially if Blake was concerned about Gabe staying healthy and his contract demands. Going after a young center with size to have for the future does have merit.

The problem is the target -- PLD. It was bizarre to me then; especially with the huge 8 year contract. It's playing out exactly as all the concerns would have said so at the time in summer. This is why i say QBs emergence and Talbot being healthy/great has saved Blake. IF that wasn't the case and this team was struggling to make playoffs with bad goaltending -- this PLD deal would be a flashing red light on his head. QB/Talbot (Moore too) have given Blake a huge break (for now0 on this PLD deal.

 

[Kudelski37]

You think O'Reilly would have signed here? I am optimistic most of the time, but even that's a big freaking sell....

Yes, they could have grabbed a C.....who? Johansson? You think PLD's contract is bad?

O'Reilly signed with a non playoff team, Nashville, for $16 million over 4 years. Contenders are able to sign players who want to win for below market value. You don't think he would have rather signed with a better team for the same contract?

Johansen's contract with retention (4 mill/year) is less than half the AAV of PLD and expires in 2025. He has as many points as PLD, shoots right, and wins faceoffs. How is this a worse contract?

PLD is less useful than Lizotte as 3C.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

O'Reilly signed with a non playoff team, Nashville, for $16 million over 4 years. Contenders are able to sign players who want to win for below market value. You don't think he would have rather signed with a better team for the same contract?

Johansen's contract with retention (4 mill/year) is less than half the AAV of PLD and expires in 2025. He has as many points as PLD, shoots right, and wins faceoffs. How is this a worse contract?

PLD is less useful than Lizotte as 3C.

Yea, I don't think O'Reilly would have signed here for 4 million.....if you wanna believe that, I got a bridge to sell you....

As far as Johansson goes, why do you think he went for so cheap??

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

O'Reilly signed with a non playoff team, Nashville, for $16 million over 4 years. Contenders are able to sign players who want to win for below market value. You don't think he would have rather signed with a better team for the same contract?

Johansen's contract with retention (4 mill/year) is less than half the AAV of PLD and expires in 2025. He has as many points as PLD, shoots right, and wins faceoffs. How is this a worse contract?

PLD is less useful than Lizotte as 3C.

Yeah if we just wanted a defensive 3C with good advanced stats and limited scoring there were plenty of O'Reilly options out there at literally half price or less. Could even still trade the other assets for wahtever you want. But right now this is looking worse than any worst case scenario I could imagine.

 

[Piston]

Maybe......we don't know the behind the scenes on that, we don't know if medical staff gave the go ahead, and Gavrikov himself thought he was 100%, we don't know if he said coach, I'm good to go....we don't know any of that,

To say someone blew it when you don't know the totality of circumstances is chickenshit.....you may think he did, and you are perfectly fine to have that opinion, myself, I don't know, so I'm not gonna go and say a guy blew it, when you simply do not know.

You're full of it. Baseball players are given days off all the time in a much less physical sport. This happens particularly when a Sunday day game follows a night game on Saturday. I don't care if Gav said he was good to go. It's up to the coach to manage the season and give a guy a day off if it makes sense for the team long term. This was an obvious situation to do so.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You're full of it. Baseball players are given days off all the time in a much less physical sport. This happens particularly when a Sunday day game follows a night game on Saturday. I don't care if Gav said he was good to go. It's up to the coach to manage the season and give a guy a day off if it makes sense for the team long term. This was an obvious situation to do so.

LOL whatever you need to tell yourself to justify that anger you have.....

Baseball also plays 162 games, and try telling a pitcher it's less physical.....you might wanna check your stats....ALL The time? top 100 MLB leaders in BAA, the VAST majority of them are 140-150 games....out of 162.....I'm not going through all of them, but I'm willing to bet you they didn't set 12-22 games off for "maintenance"

Like I said, you don't know f***all about his status before the game.....or what was said by whom to whom....but yea, let's make 100% statements based on 10% knowledge

 

[BaileyFan]

Imagine defending a guy getting paid 8.5 that has 11 points in 25 games. Dude has fewer points than a guy making league minimum stapled to the fourth line that's played fewer games to boot (Kaliyev)

Those people kept saying to wait until the 20 game mark to make judgements about the team, which they said after saying wait until the regular season started, which they said after saying wait until training camp, which they said after saying wait until free agency, etc.

They've never met a goalpost they wouldn't move.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Those people kept saying to wait until the 20 game mark to make judgements about the team, which they said after saying wait until the regular season started, which they said after saying wait until training camp, which they said after saying wait until free agency, etc.

They've never met a goalpost they wouldn't move.

And "those" people were right, right on Byfield, right on Vilardi, right on the team as a whole....f***ing eh....imagine that will ya?

 

[Piston]

LOL whatever you need to tell yourself to justify that anger you have.....

Baseball also plays 162 games, and try telling a pitcher it's less physical.....you might wanna check your stats....ALL The time? top 100 MLB leaders in BAA, the VAST majority of them are 140-150 games....out of 162.....I'm not going through all of them, but I'm willing to bet you they didn't set 12-22 games off for "maintenance"

Like I said, you don't know f***all about his status before the game.....or what was said by whom to whom....but yea, let's make 100% statements based on 10% knowledge

Anger? I'm angry about what's happening to the US, not what Todd McLellan does or doesn't do. Methinks we have some projection going on here.

Stats: 150/162 = 92% of games played. 81/82 = 98% games played. Yes, Gav deserved a day off.

Of course, you're correct. Pitchers suffer knee on knee hits from opponents every other game. It's a miracle they can still make it to the mound.

I don't care what was said or not. The coach has the final word. Resting a player who was hurt less than 24 hours previously was the right call.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Anger? I'm angry about what's happening to the US, not what Todd McLellan does or doesn't do. Methinks we have some projection going on here.

Stats: 150/162 = 92% of games played. 81/82 = 98% games played. Yes, Gav deserved a day off.

Of course, you're correct. Pitchers suffer knee on knee hits from opponents every other game. It's a miracle they can still make it to the mound.

I don't care what was said or not. The coach has the final word. Resting a player who was hurt less than 24 hours previously was the right call.

Bullshit it was, he was hurt, not injured.....if you don't know the difference, anything anyone says won't help you. Like I said, you have no idea whom said what to whom, so trying to judge if it was the "right" decision or not, is asinine.....in other words, what's to be expected on this board

 

[King'sPawn]

And "those" people were right, right on Byfield, right on Vilardi, right on the team as a whole....f***ing eh....imagine that will ya?

And some people right on Vilardi and Byfield are also saying PLD's not enough.

And too early about the "right about the team" since we've all, including you, said they need to get past the first round at this point.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

And some people right on Vilardi and Byfield are also saying PLD's not enough.

And too early about the "right about the team" since we've all, including you, said they need to get past the first round at this point.

Of course, when you take both positions, you are always going to be right....

I'm talking even 2 years ago, when they started to make waves, people were saying it wasn't sustainable, built the right way, paper mache, etc, same bullshit that's being said now....seriously you've got one guy crowing about how he was right if you punch the Kings in the mouth they don't get back in, despite having at least 2 come from behind victories.....

Everyone around the league is calling the Kings contenders, they absolutely have to get past the 1st round to keep earning that label, doesn't mean there were posters that weren't right about this team even from 2 years ago, up to this off-season....to continue to be right, they need do need to get past the 1st round....

I'm just saying all this bullshit about PLD...is just bullshit nonsense.....25 games in and you literally have some clowns asking about a buyout.....I can't even fathom the kind of stupidity that takes....

Does he need to play better, absolutely, no one is denying that, but the clutching of purses in here is way beyond normal.

 

[fivehole32]

Reffing and bad ice notwithstanding. I think this weekend was the first foray into line adjustments due to the injuries and guys kind of not meshing. I think this is a good team, however everyone has had the benefit of being healthy and playing with the same linemates and defensive partners. A little bit of turmoil this early in the season is a good thing in my opinion.

 

[Remparts666]

So if Gavrikov misses some time, do they play LHD Moverare or do they recall Clarke and have someone like Roy play lefty?

 

[kinghock]

So if Gavrikov misses some time, do they play LHD Moverare or do they recall Clarke and have someone like Roy play lefty?

toby bjornoft should have his last chance.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Posted this in the NYR game thread...

This is seriously bad and not funny about PLD.

With Byfield finally emerging and the Kings lacking a RW - this roster could have looked way different if they just moved Iaffalo for picks or whatever to clear up 4 million...

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe
Moore-Danault-Arvidsson
Fiala-Turcotte-Vilardi
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis/Kupari

After two years when Kopitar retires, you move Byfield to 1C and you still have Danault (his final contract year) and Turcotte behind him. The 4C could be Helenius and hopefully the Kings draft another top pick center.

 

[head eyes]

toby bjornoft should have his last chance.

I thought he had his last chance two chances ago? It should be Clarke all the way.

 

[kinghock]

I thought he had his last chance two chances ago? It should be Clarke all the way.

they need LD now

 

[kinghock]

I'm not going to fault Blake for making a big trade and sending out GV, AI, Kupari, and the 2nd. Especially if Blake was concerned about Gabe staying healthy and his contract demands. Going after a young center with size to have for the future does have merit.

The problem is the target -- PLD. It was bizarre to me then; especially with the huge 8 year contract. It's playing out exactly as all the concerns would have said so at the time in summer. This is why i say QBs emergence and Talbot being healthy/great has saved Blake. IF that wasn't the case and this team was struggling to make playoffs with bad goaltending -- this PLD deal would be a flashing red light on his head. QB/Talbot (Moore too) have given Blake a huge break (for now0 on this PLD deal.

NHL RADIO REPLAY: Hoven on Byfield, Dubois, Turcotte, and LA Kings MVP

mayorsmanor.com

 

[lumbergh]

So if Gavrikov misses some time, do they play LHD Moverare or do they recall Clarke and have someone like Roy play lefty?

Just have Clarke take Gavrikov's place. The Clarke-Roy pairing last year: 4 goals for, 0 against, in 8:16. With all other D, 5 goals for, 10 against, in 105 minutes.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Kings return home to face the Jets (16-8-2) next, but after that they have a stretch of 5 games against the Sharks (8-17-3) twice, the Kraken (8-14-7) twice, and the Flames (11-13-3). Good teams pick up points against these teams.

And we close out the year head to head with the Oil.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Posted this in the NYR game thread...

This is seriously bad and not funny about PLD.

With Byfield finally emerging and the Kings lacking a RW - this roster could have looked way different if they just moved Iaffalo for picks or whatever to clear up 4 million...

Byfield-Kopitar-Kempe
Moore-Danault-Arvidsson
Fiala-Turcotte-Vilardi
Grundstrom-Lizotte-Lewis/Kupari

After two years when Kopitar retires, you move Byfield to 1C and you still have Danault (his final contract year) and Turcotte behind him. The 4C could be Helenius and hopefully the Kings draft another top pick center.

Yes if we could go back in time that lineup looks really good to me. I didnt like the trade at all at the time (and obviously not now). The idea of getting a 2/3C I liked but I dont think he's the right guy. If Byfield was playing 2nd half of last season like he is now, I dont think the trade happens. I think Blake was getting concerned no centers were developing and Kopi aging out of 1C.

Overall, I am glad they moved all the pieces other than Vilardi.. Cal, Durzi, Iafallo, Kupari, and Walker needed to be gone for various reasons. But this PLD deal could haunt the team for a long time. The rumors re him being a malcontent and uncommitted player look like they may be true based on early evidence.

What Id do with him: He's already been split from Fiala and moved off PP1 so I think Koala has sent the right messages and done the right things for the team. I think you move him up to the Danault line wing so he can just focus on scoring with higher IQ and defensively responsible line mates in a top 6 role. See if he can at least get a scoring touch going with smarter players that maybe can work around his idiosyncrasies. Make a 3rd line w Lizotte, Laf and Fiala.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Reffing and bad ice notwithstanding. I think this weekend was the first foray into line adjustments due to the injuries and guys kind of not meshing. I think this is a good team, however everyone has had the benefit of being healthy and playing with the same linemates and defensive partners. A little bit of turmoil this early in the season is a good thing in my opinion.

Yeah agreed on that, better now than down the road, but this is exactly why we've been saying it's best to start working the kids in so when you start the playoffs with injuries you're not like "well akil thomas has never played an nhl game so here's 4 minutes while I overplay Kopitar 26"

And we close out the year head to head with the Oil.

Here come the headbutts

 

[Nasti]

Maybe......we don't know the behind the scenes on that, we don't know if medical staff gave the go ahead, and Gavrikov himself thought he was 100%, we don't know if he said coach, I'm good to go....we don't know any of that,

To say someone blew it when you don't know the totality of circumstances is chickenshit.....you may think he did, and you are perfectly fine to have that opinion, myself, I don't know, so I'm not gonna go and say a guy blew it, when you simply do not know.

If it happened one time, maybe. But this is becoming a trend with this team.