Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread 2022-23 Season

[kilowatt]

Cool. Can't wait till he gets <12 minutes of ice time.

12 seems optimistic

It was 8:54, including 1:31 on the power play. A whopping 7:23 at even strength.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Please just send Byfield, Spence, et. al. down since it's clear they're not allowed to play the same game as everyone else.

In fact it handicaps everyone else even more since TM sees fit to play Kopitar 24 minutes in lieu.

Just acquire some shitty fillin vets for the bottom lines, send the kids down or trade them, and call it a day instead of this 4d chess bullshit.

Nate Thompson to the rescue probably

 

[King'sPawn]

It was 8:54, including 1:31 on the power play. A whopping 7:23 at even strength.

Well, the gatekeepers can't say I've never given McLellan credit.

 

[kilowatt]

Please just send Byfield, Spence, et. al. down since it's clear they're not allowed to play the same game as everyone else.

In fact it handicaps everyone else even more since TM sees fit to play Kopitar 24 minutes in lieu.

Just acquire some shitty fillin vets for the bottom lines, send the kids down or trade them, and call it a day instead of this 4d chess bullshit.

Nate Thompson to the rescue probably

While we’re at it, Kupari got 8:06, JAD got 12:45, and Vilardi got 13:18 (including 2:32 on the power play, so actually less time at even strength than JAD). Only Lemieux had fewer minutes than those three and Byfield.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I notice that Jordan Spence is often scratched from the lineup. Is there a reason? What would the team ask for his trade?

With the way they're doing things, just because a guy is scratched, doesn't mean he's on the block.

 

[DAkings20]

 

[DAkings20]

I notice that Jordan Spence is often scratched from the lineup. Is there a reason? What would the team ask for his trade?

Yes, there is a reason. And it’s a really dumb one, goes by the name of Todd McLellan.

 

[Fishhead]

Kopitar was gifted top six minutes from the get go. We’re not saying hand him the keys entirely but it’s bullshit to keep expecting him to progress at the NHL level with the quality of line mates and playing time he’s given.

Kopitar wasn't gifted anything, he came right in and scored close to a ppg. He took it, he earned it, he forced his way in. No Kings forward has had close to his ability since. No prospect we have is even close to comparable.

There hasn't been a player drafted on Kopitar's level for a quite a few years. Not just on the Kings, but any team. His skill set is a rarity.

 

[riznat]

Kopitar wasn't gifted anything, he came right in and scored close to a ppg. He took it, he earned it, he forced his way in. No Kings forward has had close to his ability since. No prospect we have is even close to comparable.

There hasn't been a player drafted on Kopitar's level for a quite a few years. Not just on the Kings, but any team. His skill set is a rarity.

Ill never forget his debut

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kopitar wasn't gifted anything, he came right in and scored close to a ppg. He took it, he earned it, he forced his way in. No Kings forward has had close to his ability since. No prospect we have is even close to comparable.

There hasn't been a player drafted on Kopitar's level for a quite a few years. Not just on the Kings, but any team. His skill set is a rarity.

Ah yeah, I famously remember them forcing kopitar onto the 4th line his rookie year next to Ivanans and Guiliuano until he learned how to check, he definitely earned it from there, he wasn't at all told to just get loose and do his thing until Terry Murray showed up

Different players for sure but you cannot seriously believe the situations to be equivalent.

 

[Seattle King]

View attachment 627416

Thanks for taking a moment to give some love to the Burning Bird of Conquest.
Some Kings have been depicted riding dragons. These Kings Ride the Pheonix.
The more I watch the guy the more I like him. I would be stoked if he can keep this up and get a contract at a good AAV/term for us. Blake might be able to make up for the Cal debacle.
Big solid American goalie from the West Coast. Tall, poised, positionally strong, no flopping and desperation.
He is stylistically the opposite of Quick and its working. No back to backs for the next month or so, time to let this play out and see what we really have here.
Ride the Pheonix!

 

[BringTheReign]

Kopitar wasn't gifted anything, he came right in and scored close to a ppg. He took it, he earned it, he forced his way in. No Kings forward has had close to his ability since. No prospect we have is even close to comparable.

There hasn't been a player drafted on Kopitar's level for a quite a few years. Not just on the Kings, but any team. His skill set is a rarity.

I didn't word that the best, and you're right, he's probably not the best example to use to demonstrate my frustration with how we fail to develop top 6 talent at the NHL level.

 

[KINGS17]

Ill never forget his debut

Yes, that was awesome. Kind of like a total solar eclipse.

 

[kingsfan28]

This cracks me whenever it pops up in my feed from the summer of 2021...
Love seeing people trolling the knights fan about this.

 

[Fishhead]

I didn't word that the best, and you're right, he's probably not the best example to use to demonstrate my frustration with how we fail to develop top 6 talent at the NHL level.

The blessing and the curse was that we got it all at once. We saw Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, and to a lesser extent Brown develop to an absolute top level in a short period of time. That got us cups, but now we are all pissed because we will likely never see that again.

 

[Fishhead]

While we’re at it, Kupari got 8:06, JAD got 12:45, and Vilardi got 13:18 (including 2:32 on the power play, so actually less time at even strength than JAD). Only Lemieux had fewer minutes than those three and Byfield.

Speaking of Lemieux, it's been downhill with him ever since that hot streak he was on for a while. He's lost his edge ever since he swallowed Tkachuk's finger. I just don't see a spot for him in the lineup anymore, even though he brings some unique things.

Outside of that short-handed chance, Kupari looked awful.

It's been suggested that part of Vilardi's problem is conditioning, since this is the first time he's been a regular and it's been a busy stretch. Since his minutes have been reduced he's been noticeably better. Hopefully he's starting to catch a second wind.

 

[AmadiosAmigos]

Man Im tired of watching guys with no future like Brendan Lemieux take up spots. Only reason its tolerable is due to knowing that TM will never deploy any of the kids enough to give them a fair shake. JAD, Kupari, Byfield, Tonka - all getting shafted so an aging Kopi, Iafallo et al can get oodles of time. If Dustin Brown returned he’d be averaging 22 mins a night

 

[Fishhead]

Please just send Byfield, Spence, et. al. down since it's clear they're not allowed to play the same game as everyone else.

In fact it handicaps everyone else even more since TM sees fit to play Kopitar 24 minutes in lieu.

Just acquire some shitty fillin vets for the bottom lines, send the kids down or trade them, and call it a day instead of this 4d chess bullshit.

Nate Thompson to the rescue probably

Last night I was fine with Kopitar's minutes, he was a monster and got stronger as the game went on. I haven't seen him control the ice like that in a while.

I was happier earlier in the season as his minutes were being reduced and he wasn't being ridden as hard. Now it's back to the same 'ol with some 22 and 23 minute games. He only had one game over 21 minutes until recently, now he's had more than that in 4 of his last 6.

But they are winning and Kopitar has not looked like a 35 year old. So are those bad data and is TM seeing results that would be there anyways even if Kopitar's time was reduced? I don't know, he's really taken it up a notch lately.

I'm not so concerned with his overall time, but I just want Byfield on the 3rd line with Vilardi and Iafallo again, hopefully last night was just easing him in a bit.

 

[cyclones22]

Man Im tired of watching guys with no future like Brendan Lemieux take up spots. Only reason its tolerable is due to knowing that TM will never deploy any of the kids enough to give them a fair shake. JAD, Kupari, Byfield, Tonka - all getting shafted so an aging Kopi, Iafallo et al can get oodles of time. If Dustin Brown returned he’d be averaging 22 mins a night

TMc is going with the higher floor vs higher ceiling strategy. Limit the kids and play the vets more. This team will never reach more than a round or maybe two of the playoffs with this philosophy. While that may excite some, it doesn't do anything for me anymore. QB on the 3rd line getting 15 minutes a night is higher ceiling. What you see is what you get with Lizotte and that kind of limited skill but high work rate consistency gives TMc a boner at night. The guy has done less with more talent consistently during his coaching career. Just more of the same here in LA.

 

[KINGS17]

The blessing and the curse was that we got it all at once. We saw Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, and to a lesser extent Brown develop to an absolute top level in a short period of time. That got us cups, but now we are all pissed because we will likely never see that again.

The formula is sound, the recipe established. All the right GM has to do is go out and get the right ingredients and the process can be duplicated.

I am not saying it would guarantee cups, but not being on the road to contention for this long a period of time is unacceptable.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Last night I was fine with Kopitar's minutes, he was a monster and got stronger as the game went on. I haven't seen him control the ice like that in a while.

I was happier earlier in the season as his minutes were being reduced and he wasn't being ridden as hard. Now it's back to the same 'ol with some 22 and 23 minute games. He only had one game over 21 minutes until recently, now he's had more than that in 4 of his last 6.

But they are winning and Kopitar has not looked like a 35 year old. So are those bad data and is TM seeing results that would be there anyways even if Kopitar's time was reduced? I don't know, he's really taken it up a notch lately.

I'm not so concerned with his overall time, but I just want Byfield on the 3rd line with Vilardi and Iafallo again, hopefully last night was just easing him in a bit.

Sure but that doesn't mean you go and burn him out before the playoffs like last year.

It's as good a time as any to start easing the kids in. Hell if Kopitar is playing that well, then he can help carry them instead of vice versa like earlier this year with Vilardi.

 

[Statto]

Last night I was fine with Kopitar's minutes, he was a monster and got stronger as the game went on. I haven't seen him control the ice like that in a while.

I was happier earlier in the season as his minutes were being reduced and he wasn't being ridden as hard. Now it's back to the same 'ol with some 22 and 23 minute games. He only had one game over 21 minutes until recently, now he's had more than that in 4 of his last 6.

But they are winning and Kopitar has not looked like a 35 year old. So are those bad data and is TM seeing results that would be there anyways even if Kopitar's time was reduced? I don't know, he's really taken it up a notch lately.

I'm not so concerned with his overall time, but I just want Byfield on the 3rd line with Vilardi and Iafallo again, hopefully last night was just easing him in a bit.

By reducing his minutes a little it may have helped get him back to form, but 21 is still too many if we want to extend his (useful) career a few more years. It would also mean if we get to the play-offs he’d have more jump and be able to skate in overtime.

If we can’t get to the post season with Byfield playing 15 minutes minimum per night we aren’t going to be good enough to get out of the first round anyway. With 20 minute overtime periods you can’t afford hide players because even Doughty can’t play 40+ minutes (I’m not being literal). That’s why they need to show QB some trust and let him play 15+ no matter what mistakes. We need him ready to play a key role because if he can’t then we will fall short of our expectations/hopes.

So even when Kopi is in monster form his minutes need to stay at 21 (preferably less) minutes. Its not as if it’s a game 7 scenario.

The obvious comparison is Bergeron at 18 minutes per night and the same number of points in fewer games. He’s 2 years older than Kopi. He’s been under 20 minutes for much of his career and has been in the 18 minute range since 18/19. He generally been more productive since then also.

I actually think Kopitar is every bit as good a player as Bergeron with a better peak, but he’s been ground down by too much work. Its great seeing him playing better but then giving him more ice time along with it seems completely counter productive. Hopefully the trend will continue downward and the increase in that game ends up an outlier.

 

[johnjm22]

Please just send Byfield, Spence, et. al. down since it's clear they're not allowed to play the same game as everyone else.

Or just trade some guys so TMac is forced to play them more.

That's especially applicable to Spence. If Durzi and Walker are gone, we sorta have to play Spence.

As much as I love Danault, I still question that signing. Byfield would be getting more time right now if it wasn't for PD.

 

[King'sPawn]

Or just trade some guys so TMac is forced to play them more.

That's especially applicable to Spence. If Durzi and Walker are gone, we sorta have to play Spence.

As much as I love Danault, I still question that signing. Byfield would be getting more time right now if it wasn't for PD.

Let's not rule out Kopitar getting 30+ minutes a night.

 

[Schmooley]

As much as I love Danault, I still question that signing. Byfield would be getting more time right now if it wasn't for PD.

Yea I love Danault but still have trouble with the reasoning behind drafting Turcotte and Byfield and then signing Danault before they even step foot on the ice.
Slafkovsky just played a bunch of minutes and they got shellacked. Thats what youd think a rebuilding team does.