LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[bmr]

And again, this is one of the dangers of the cap-constrained short roster on an east coast trip--they felt compelled to let Gav give it a go on a back-to-back on 5 in 8 nights instead of putting in a ready and fresh LHD.

Just f***ing stupidity. It's aggravating.

These guys are all competitors and sometimes it's a fine line between sitting out and going. Kobe used to play through everything and there's no way you would get him off the court. I remember when Laf got leveled he was woozy but stayed on the ice and came right back.

I think it's a good thing that they see this team without key players so they can understand where the gaps are and make even more adjustments (if possible) before the trade deadline. If we just kept rolling and didn't face any hardships throughout the season I think it's a more difficult transition into the playoffs.

 

[bland]

How has Laferriere been for you guys this season?

Offensive stat wise, his numbers don't really jump out but I see he regularly dresses for games

Is he a main stay with the club all season you figure?

He is a very direct, honest player with terrific straight line speed who does everything "right" up to the point where poise needs to kick in, where he ends up just hoping pucks into the slot. Its volume over precision at this stage of his career.

He is a good player, just needs time to build confidence and patience with the puck. Great instincts, always puts in a shift at both ends, but has hit a plateau that, in my opinion, should be broken by a spell in the AHL where he could add some more aspects to his game without consequences. He needs special teams reps.

 

[funky]

He is a very direct, honest player with terrific straight line speed who does everything "right" up to the point where poise needs to kick in, where he ends up just hoping pucks into the slot. Its volume over precision at this stage of his career.

He is a good player, just needs time to build confidence and patience with the puck. Great instincts, always puts in a shift at both ends, but has hit a plateau that, in my opinion, should be broken by a spell in the AHL where he could add some more aspects to his game without consequences. He needs special teams reps.

I really like the way he plays and you can see he has talent. He just needs to refine the offensive end a bit more. Worse case we have a very good third liner that forechecks hard, makes safe plays and adds some offense at a cheap price. Great draft pick and I agree he needs a bit of time in the AHL to hone his skills.

Before the boo birds start talking crap about the AHL, I think Laf and Turc are two different body types, Laf plays a safer game and doesn't put himself into the vulnerable positions and has played against men in the past. I would have no problems sending him down and not worry about injury.

Losing Laf means we lose a right shot. Its time for Fagemo to come up.

1 - right shot sniper - helps both PP
2 - PL needs a sniper
3 - dude is red hot
4 - he needs the extend chance to see if he is NHL material or AAAA. At this point if he doesn't work out then we don't worry about losing him to waivers. If he works out its found money and a problem solved. At least hold the fort till Arvidsson returns.

 

[kingsholygrail]

So if everything coming back says it's a contusion, you are gonna sit out a top #4D because of a contusion?

Man, it shows how many of you guys have actually coached a game.....

I honestly don't know why you post here if that's your standard. This may come as a shock to you, but most of the people on HFBoards aren't professional hockey players, coaches, or scouts.

We don't know what Gavrikov's injury was but finishing the game and then not even making it through the next game sounds like it's linked to me. But let me ask you, if a player just got concussed but assured you they were fine in the lockerroom, would you let them go back out there?

 

[Johnny Utah]

PLD is a -4 and the 3rd highest player. Next year he will be the 2nd highest paid player on the team.

If Kings wanted a big soft center they could have signed Nick Bjugstad - he has more points than PLD and is a +.

Still baffled by this deal.

Kings had to move on from Walker and Durzi to free up a spot for Spence.

They needed to dump Peterson and his anchor contract.

They needed to move one of Iaffalo, Arvidsson, and Moore.

They did not need to move Vilardi. Thank you Marc Bergervon.

Could have signed Bjugstad and put him at 3C until Byfield is ready or Kopitar's two years are up.

Eventually it could be Byfield, Danault, Turcotte down the middle and Kopitar, Danault, Bjugstad for now.

 

[Kudelski37]

PLD is a -4 and the 3rd highest player. Next year he will be the 2nd highest paid player on the team.

PLD is making more than Kopitar this year (9 vs 7 million), but his cap hit is lower this year. Kopitar's cap hit is higher due to the years where he made over 10 million earlier in his contract. The cap hit is an average.

 

[bland]

All Dubois needs is a sniper, somebody to retrieve pucks, somebody to forecheck, somebody to backcheck, somebody to win draws and somebody who can make plays.

Then once he has that we can start talking about effort.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I honestly don't know why you post here if that's your standard. This may come as a shock to you, but most of the people on HFBoards aren't professional hockey players, coaches, or scouts.

We don't know what Gavrikov's injury was but finishing the game and then not even making it through the next game sounds like it's linked to me. But let me ask you, if a player just got concussed but assured you they were fine in the lockerroom, would you let them go back out there?

Not my standard at all, but it literally shows who understand and who doesn't,

Yes, if a player got concussed and said he was ok, I'd go make him play goal with apples and f***ing pears....JFC, why don't you just ask me, if a player got his neck sliced, would we send him back out? When we are talking about obvious f***ing injuries...jesus...

That knee on knee contact, could have been anything, a contusion, a sprain, a tear, anything. Training staff looks at it, runs their diagnostics, obviously they are gonna get f***ing feedback from the player himself....and if he says it's ok, and they run their tests, WTF do you want them to do, sit him because? For how long? why just 1 game? Why not 1 month? You know, JUST because an injury that we don't know about, could happen again?

You act as if Gavrikov was f***ing dying in the room, and the training staff and coaches said suck it up buttercup, take your crutch and get back out there....

 

[kingsholygrail]

Not my standard at all, but it literally shows who understand and who doesn't,

Yes, if a player got concussed and said he was ok, I'd go make him play goal with apples and f***ing pears....JFC, why don't you just ask me, if a player got his neck sliced, would we send him back out? When we are talking about obvious f***ing injuries...jesus...

That knee on knee contact, could have been anything, a contusion, a sprain, a tear, anything. Training staff looks at it, runs their diagnostics, obviously they are gonna get f***ing feedback from the player himself....and if he says it's ok, and they run their tests, WTF do you want them to do, sit him because? For how long? why just 1 game? Why not 1 month? You know, JUST because an injury that we don't know about, could happen again?

You act as if Gavrikov was f***ing dying in the room, and the training staff and coaches said suck it up buttercup, take your crutch and get back out there....

A bruise doesn't become a week-to-week injury. He obviously strained his knee and then playing on it made it worse. We don't know how much worse because they'll never say. We'll know if week-to-week becomes LTIR.

Players are not reliable when it comes to whether they're ready to play or not. They will play through a lot of shit. I am saying that a regular season game early in the season is not worth aggravating an obvious injury to the point of missing real time when you can sit the guy for ONE GAME to get a better evaluation of his injury or let it heal up more.

 

[Schrute farms]

Re: Gavrikov. Bad decision obviously, but just to think about the other side, what if Gavrikov insisted he felt OK and wanted to try it? That's what trainers usually ask because they can only do so many diagnostics and strength tests.

I've never seen a SPC, but I wonder if this type of thing is addressed in there. After the Eichel thing where he disagreed with the team I'm sure it's become a touchier subject.

Simple common sense would lead someone to the conclusion that it's best to take a day of and rest. It's a long season, so even if he says he feels fine, you give him the day off. That's assuming he says he is fine and doctors too. You still give him the day off.
Now if there is any concern at all that he might not be 100%, then it should be an absolute no brainer to not play.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

A bruise doesn't become a week-to-week injury. He obviously strained his knee and then playing on it made it worse. We don't know how much worse because they'll never say. We'll know if week-to-week becomes LTIR.

Players are not reliable when it comes to whether they're ready to play or not. They will play through a lot of shit. I am saying that a regular season game early in the season is not worth aggravating an obvious injury to the point of missing real time when you can sit the guy for ONE GAME to get a better evaluation of his injury or let it heal up more.

LOL whatever....show me in the NHL not the NBA where they sit every other game, or the MLB where they have double the amount of games, show me ONE team that has voluntarily sat players that their training staff deemed healthy, and the player said they were good to go....just one....please....

Imagine sitting Gavrikov, losing that game, and missing the playoffs by a point, because you sat a healthy player because...optics.

 

[kingsholygrail]

LOL whatever....show me in the NHL not the NBA where they sit every other game, or the MLB where they have double the amount of games, show me ONE team that has voluntarily sat players that their training staff deemed healthy, and the player said they were good to go....just one....please....

Imagine sitting Gavrikov, losing that game, and missing the playoffs by a point, because you sat a healthy player because...optics.

We lost the game WITH an injured Gavrikov. You don't know even know what you're talking about. But if we're on "what ifs" what if we rested Gavrikov in a game we lost anyway and he was available against the Jets? Would have been nice. And you're right, teams in reality don't give a shit about player health. That's why Tua got concussed twice in the same game because if the player says he's fine, it's fine in the NFL. Someone will approve the player to go back out there. And just like the NFL, the NHL has no problem with drugging a player up to get them back on the ice.

 

[Kudelski37]

ning staff looks at it, runs their diagnostics, obviously they are gonna get f***ing feedback from the player himself....and if he says it's ok, and they run their tests, WTF do you want them to do

Maybe learn from all the other times they have allowed players to go back and further injured themselves???

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

We lost the game WITH an injured Gavrikov. You don't know even know what you're talking about. But if we're on "what ifs" what if we rested Gavrikov in a game we lost anyway and he was available against the Jets? Would have been nice.

Yes, we know now AFTER the fact.... show me again a team who is doing what you say we should be doing...in the NHL please.

 

[Kudelski37]

LOL whatever....show me in the NHL not the NBA where they sit every other game, or the MLB where they have double the amount of games, show me ONE team that has voluntarily sat players that their training staff deemed healthy, and the player said they were good to go....just one....please....

Imagine sitting Gavrikov, losing that game, and missing the playoffs by a point, because you sat a healthy player because...optics.

So you coach and have never heard of a healthy scratch or taking precautions or not rushing a player back from injury?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Maybe learn from all the other times they have allowed players to go back and further injured themselves???

You mean all twice....? Or is this a daily occurence in your world?

Kingsley has been with the Kings for what 17 years now? 1,300 games give or take in this instance.....

So you coach and have never heard of a healthy scratch or taking precautions or not rushing a player back from injury?

You healthy scratch a player who isn't playing well, was Gavrikov playing well? He came back and played in the game that he was injured....didn't get hurt after that point in that game..did he? No? Ok, so how is that rushing a player back?

 

[Little Psycho]

The PLD line ain’t working

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Of all the things to bitch about, sitting a healthy top 4 D is one of them f***, y'all never cease to amaze me...

16-5-1, whatever it is now, oh shit, we are (were) playing well, f*** it, let's burn the training staff.....because a physical hockey player, got injured....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The PLD line ain’t working

Ego or stupidity, results are the same.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Of all the things to bitch about, sitting a healthy top 4 D is one of them f***, y'all never cease to amaze me...

16-5-1, whatever it is now, oh shit, we are (were) playing well, f*** it, let's burn the training staff.....because a physical hockey player, got injured....

He wasn't healthy.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He wasn't healthy.

And you know this because in the next game, he got injured...think about that.

 

[kingsholygrail]

And you know this because in the next game, he got injured...think about that.

He got injured against the Islanders. He barely played against the Rangers. There was no contact in the Rangers game of note. You can't be this obtuse.

 

[Trash Panda]

The PLD line ain’t working

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, yet expecting a different result.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He got injured against the Islanders. He barely played against the Rangers. There was no contact in the Rangers game of note. You can't be this obtuse.

oh, you are so sweet and hopeful and full of joy, bless your heart

 

[bland]

Ego or stupidity, results are the same.

They missed the train on Turcotte, and with Fagemo apparently not at the top of the list, what options do they have? There is nobody to recall from Ontario that's even remotely close to ready.

Blake emptied the coffers too early on a fools errand to chase a Cup that Kopitar and Doughty are too old to catch. First round picks used on supporting players in Fiala and Gavrikov, not to mention a sure-fire top pairing defender. Depth sacrificed for Dubious.

I kept saying that everything had gone right for the Kings over the first quarter of the season abd that the real test would be handling adversity - which has been a weakness in the team for damn near a decade now. Its going to be a tough winter and how well they adjust will determine if they can get home ice and maybe into the second round - which is the ONLY acceptable outcome this season.