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

[SettlementRichie10]

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.

This is just patently untrue. Kopitar was given big minutes right away.

 

[King'sPawn]

This is just patently untrue. Kopitar was given big minutes right away.

Fun trivia question. What was Kopitar's time on ice in his first NHL game as a 19-year-old up against the eventual cup-winning Ducks?

A) Less than 12 minutes
B) Between 12 and 16 minutes
C) Between 16 and 20 minutes
D) Between 20 and 22 minutes
E) Above 22 minutes

Answer: E. 22:16 to be exact

 

[BigKing]

This is just patently untrue. Kopitar was given big minutes right away.

I think you guys are kind of saying the same thing: he was given big minutes but it was because he earned it. He also had zero competition at the C position...Armstrong and Conroy?

Pretty sure Andy Murray said he wouldn't have been fired if they brought Kopitar over in his D+1 season. He would have been an immediate contributor as an 18 year old with a late birthday to boot.

 

[cyclones22]

The Kings were a 68 point team in Kopi's rookie season. Then 71 and then 79. He had a lot of free rein to learn on the job. They were dogshit until his 4th season. That's when Doughty became a star. Our young prospects will never have that opportunity because this team is in half-measures territory.

 

[Kingfan1967]

Center Depth in Kopitar's rookie season ( 19 yo)
Anze Kopitar
Derek Armstrong
Craig Conroy
Scott Thornton
Center Depth in Byfield's rookie season ( 19 yo - injury shortened)
Anze Kopitar
Phillip Danault ( former #1 center of a Stanley cup finalist)
Blake Lizotte
Quinton Byfield ( many other young centers but most were playing wing

Kopitar's Second year
Anze Kopitar
Derek Armstrong
Michal Handzus
Scott Thornton
Byfield's second year ( 20 yo - current season - injury shortened )
Anze Kopitar
Phillip Danault
Blake Lizotte
Quinton Byfield
Kopitar's Third year
Anze Kopitar
Michal Handzus
Jarret Stoll
Derek Armstrong

 

[SmytheKing]

Center Depth in Kopitar's rookie season ( 19 yo)
Anze Kopitar
Derek Armstrong
Craig Conroy
Scott Thornton
Center Depth in Byfield's rookie season ( 19 yo - injury shortened)
Anze Kopitar
Phillip Danault ( former #1 center of a Stanley cup finalist)
Blake Lizotte
Quinton Byfield ( many other young centers but most were playing wing

Kopitar's Second year
Anze Kopitar
Derek Armstrong
Michal Handzus
Scott Thornton
Byfield's second year ( 20 yo - current season - injury shortened )
Anze Kopitar
Phillip Danault
Blake Lizotte
Quinton Byfield
Kopitar's Third year
Anze Kopitar
Michal Handzus
Jarret Stoll
Derek Armstrong

Yeah but imagine the Kings signed Daniel Briere and Chris Drury in the offseason after his rookie year. That's basically what the Kings did by signing Danault the year after drafting Byfield.

I've said several times that I wanted Stutzle, but you've got to allow your prospects the chance to play. Blake's collecting prospects like they're Funko's that he wants to keep boxed up instead of playing with them.

 

[Telos]

Byfield still had the better package, so I am still iffy and waiting on the him versus Stutzle debate; however, I am on the "I wish we took Trevor Zegras" bus...

 

[kings11]

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.

Only logic would be that Kopi wouldn’t be coming back and QB and Turc would be 1C & 2C…
This is also a great time to remind people that much like DL, Blake and Co favor C’s since they view them as more versatile and could make an easier transition to the wing.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Yeah, Byfield still has a ton of potential, but Turcotte is very swiftly approaching bust territory relative to his draft position.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah, Byfield still has a ton of potential, but Turcotte is very swiftly approaching bust territory relative to his draft position.

Strange timing considering as he gets healthier and healthier he gets better and better.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Strange timing considering as he gets healthier and healthier he gets better and better.

Let’s hope that trend continues then lol

 

[kilowatt]

Turcotte’s got seven points in his last ten games in Ontario. Let’s let him continue to find his game again before we label him a bust. Poor guy has been ravaged by injuries so far in his young career. He’s a really skilled player.

 

[LeftKinger]

Turcotte’s got seven points in his last ten games in Ontario. Let’s let him continue to find his game again before we label him a bust. Poor guy has been ravaged by injuries so far in his young career. He’s a really skilled player.

Anyone who has had a serious concussion understands how tough it is to come back from and how you just don’t feel like yourself when experiencing symptoms. Best believe it’s still on your mind when you come back. Add youth and inexperience to that and you have a deadly mix when trying to adjust to a mens league. I’m liking what I’m seeing from Turcotte since his return. I think a full season in the AHL will serve him well and he’ll be ready to compete for a spot come training camp.

 

[Fishhead]

This is just patently untrue. Kopitar was given big minutes right away.

Yes he was.

But it wasn't gifted, it was earned. There is a huge difference between the two. I remember him having 5 or 6 points in his first few games, it was obvious from the start of that preseason that he was a star in the making. He didn't need to be put in a position to succeed, he was so good he gave the coaches no choice but to play him a ton of minutes right off the bat.

 

[Fishhead]

I think you guys are kind of saying the same thing: he was given big minutes but it was because he earned it. He also had zero competition at the C position...Armstrong and Conroy?

Pretty sure Andy Murray said he wouldn't have been fired if they brought Kopitar over in his D+1 season. He would have been an immediate contributor as an 18 year old with a late birthday to boot.

We are kind of saying the same thing, but the original point was that Kopitar is not a good comparable for Byfield.

Everyone wants QB to get more minutes, but one of the hard truths is that Byfield is nowhere near Kopitar's level. If he was, he'd be getting 20 minutes a night. Kopitar made it impossible to reduce his ice time, he dominated his shifts and it didn't matter who was out there for the opposition. There is this weird premise floating around that a player like Byfield should be given big minutes so he can succeed, when the reality is he hasn't shown that will do anything yet.

It's frustrating to see him play 9 minutes a game, but part of that is that Kings fans have kind of been holding their breath about the kid because other players in his draft are putting up points and he has not. That leads to panic that he will bust, etc., then it must be that QB is being mishandled. They could be doing a bit better with him, obviously, but from the moment he was moving up the draft lists most everyone knew he wasn't going to be NHL ready out of the gate. He's younger than almost everyone in his draft year and throw in COVID and a substantial injury and there you go.

 

[BigKing]

We are kind of saying the same thing, but the original point was that Kopitar is not a good comparable for Byfield.

Everyone wants QB to get more minutes, but one of the hard truths is that Byfield is nowhere near Kopitar's level. If he was, he'd be getting 20 minutes a night. Kopitar made it impossible to reduce his ice time, he dominated his shifts and it didn't matter who was out there for the opposition. There is this weird premise floating around that a player like Byfield should be given big minutes so he can succeed, when the reality is he hasn't shown that will do anything yet.

It's frustrating to see him play 9 minutes a game, but part of that is that Kings fans have kind of been holding their breath about the kid because other players in his draft are putting up points and he has not. That leads to panic that he will bust, etc., then it must be that QB is being mishandled. They could be doing a bit better with him, obviously, but from the moment he was moving up the draft lists most everyone knew he wasn't going to be NHL ready out of the gate. He's younger than almost everyone in his draft year and throw in COVID and a substantial injury and there you go.

What's interesting tonight was Byfield being promoted. Maybe the push is coming because, c'mon now, Fiala can produce on any line.

 

[ru4reals]

Well for whatever it's worth Lafreniere was scratched yesterday against the Lightning. Saw a few YouTube dudes talking about it. I'm sure it's one of those reset situations. But this has been said many times, not every player will come into the league and set the world on fire. I'm a believer in patience and I think Byfield will be just fine. Can't believe he just turned 20 a few months ago. He needs to play plain and simple be it in the A or with the big club.

 

[BringTheReign]

I couldn’t watch the end of the game, but I’m glad to hear QB was playing with Kopitar and Kempe. As much as I’d love the Iafallo - Byfield - Vilardi line again, I don’t think you can break up the Danault line right now.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I couldn’t watch the end of the game, but I’m glad to hear QB was playing with Kopitar and Kempe. As much as I’d love the Iafallo - Byfield - Vilardi line again, I don’t think you can break up the Danault line right now.

moore coming back will probably push grundstrom and lemeiux out of the lineup so will be intereesting to see how it shakes out

Fiala-Kopi-Kempe
Iafallo-Danault-ARvidsson
Jad-Lizotte-Vilardi
Moore-Byfield-Kupari?

Getting to decision time on some stuff here soon really but how long have we been saying that

Byfield will really love having any of Iafallo, Moore, Turcotte, Lizotte on his side to help with the puck digging but I always LOVED the work him and Vilardi did together, that's a lot of size and skill and when that 3rd line cools it's gonna be awesome to see some configuaration of those three together.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Yes he was.

But it wasn't gifted, it was earned. There is a huge difference between the two. I remember him having 5 or 6 points in his first few games, it was obvious from the start of that preseason that he was a star in the making. He didn't need to be put in a position to succeed, he was so good he gave the coaches no choice but to play him a ton of minutes right off the bat.

Kopitar was given 22 minutes of ice time in his first professional game.

 

[JKG33]

Byfield still had the better package, so I am still iffy and waiting on the him versus Stutzle debate; however, I am on the "I wish we took Trevor Zegras" bus...

Really? I've never seen a more mediocre player than Zegras get so much praise and hype. Not even a point per game player (In a year where every player of his level of hype is doing it), and he's one of the softest players in the league. He does a bunch of cool youtube highlights and I guess thats enough for most people.

That said, I'd still take him over Byfield.

Also this Kopitar vs Byfield debate is hilarious. Kopitar came into the league as a man on a dogshit team, and ready to handle big minutes. Byfield is nowhere near ready for those minutes, and a playoff contending team shouldn't be handing those minutes out to someone that still plays like a teenager.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Really? I've never seen a more mediocre player than Zegras get so much praise and hype. Not even a point per game player (In a year where every player of his level of hype is doing it), and he's one of the softest players in the league. He does a bunch of cool youtube highlights and I guess thats enough for most people.

That said, I'd still take him over Byfield.

Also this Kopitar vs Byfield debate is hilarious. Kopitar came into the league as a man on a dogshit team, and ready to handle big minutes. Byfield is nowhere near ready for those minutes, and a playoff contending team shouldn't be handing those minutes out to someone that still plays like a teenager.

As always, strawman.

No one is asking for handouts.

They're asking for a guy who needs big reps to get more than 7 minutes of ES ice time instead of giving Kopitar 24, especially on nights when he's getting crushed and a -2.

It's not rocket science but people always suggest Byfield hasn't 'earned it' but there's not much more he can do at any level but the NHL at this point and even when he does it he's buried.

 

[johnjm22]

Kings still need:

Center
LHD
Goaltender

Center you plan to develop from within (Byfield). LHD and Goaltender will require trades/signings.

Blake has two months, (30 games), to decide whether or not to go all in on this roster. How the Kings play in January and February is largely going to influence his decision IMO.

If QB finds his game, Copely holds it together, and you add someone like Chychrun/Gavrikov, this roster starts to look pretty damn good.

 

[Telos]

Really? I've never seen a more mediocre player than Zegras get so much praise and hype. Not even a point per game player (In a year where every player of his level of hype is doing it), and he's one of the softest players in the league. He does a bunch of cool youtube highlights and I guess thats enough for most people.

That said, I'd still take him over Byfield.

Also this Kopitar vs Byfield debate is hilarious. Kopitar came into the league as a man on a dogshit team, and ready to handle big minutes. Byfield is nowhere near ready for those minutes, and a playoff contending team shouldn't be handing those minutes out to someone that still plays like a teenager.

Don't get me wrong, I like Turcotte. He is a Dean Lombardi type of guy, but it would be really nice to have a prospect, on their ELC, that is putting up 101 points in 135 games no matter the team they are on. Zegras oozes skill. While he may not be a dominant, superstar, play driver, he wouldn't have to be on the Kings.

I still have some faith in Turcotte. I still think he could be our future 2C, but right now I am hoping he turns into our future 3C even.

 

[SmytheKing]

Byfield still had the better package, so I am still iffy and waiting on the him versus Stutzle debate; however, I am on the "I wish we took Trevor Zegras" bus...

I wanted Zegras or Byram in that draft but I don't fault the Kings for taking Turcotte. He was generally regarded as the #3 guy in that draft. He's just had an unfortunately injury-filled career that had nothing to do with him. I just wish the Kings would go for the gamebreaker guy for once instead of the safe pick. You can teach guys to play defense. You can't teach hands though.

As far as waiting on the Stutzle and Byfield thing...what else is there to see? One is likely going to be a 30 goal and 80+ point guy every year starting with this one, and the other is still trying to crack a steady spot in the NHL. His absolute ceiling is going to be where the other guy currently is and he's a long way from it. I've said it before, do you think Ottawa trades Stutzle for Byfield straight up? In the 2020 draft you're probably not going to get a 1:1 trade for him with nearly 15 of the top 20 picks that year...and it's getting worse the longer he languishes.

Yes he was going to be a project, but his growth hasn't been nearly enough. There's still a lot of this season to go, but I don't think anyone would suggest he's taken that step that everyone said he needed to this year. Not yet at least.