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

[johnjm22]

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

That's what happens when you're the best player on the ice.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Re QB playing time.. the whole strategy from Blake and TM is to avoid development at the NHL level - circa Detriot 2001. They have filled in the top 9 and even the 4th line mostly w vets. They are smoking some serious weed thinking they can build a roster without youth that will compete for a cup. They have no cap space to fill obvious holes. The way to do that is use cheap talented guys like Kaliyev, Byfield, Kupari, Spence and Bjornfot, and move some salary spent on the current forwards and guys like Walker and Roy for a solid 2LD, puck moving 1D and a goalie prospect or 2.

 

[JKG33]

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.

If Byfield had earned more minutes in the eyes of the coaching staff he'd be getting them. At the end of the day a "project" prospect with that many question marks shouldn't be given minutes on a playoff contender unless the team is 100% sure he'll succeed with them. If Kopitar or Danault get hurt and theres no other options? Sure give him a shot I guess.

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.

Oh for sure. I don't disagree that Zegras at this point is much better than Turcotte. But I just don't see that as nearly as big of a miss when the guy was picked 5 spots later as opposed to the Stutzle miss who was picked 1 spot later.

Fwiw assuming Byram was off the board I wanted Turcotte or Knight with that pick.

 

[AbsentMojo]

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

Im not sure I like it. 1st line gets tougher matchups game to game.. and like you said Fiala can make it happen anywhere and Byfield is playing wing something he isnt that used to yet without reps in the NHL (had a few in Ontario). I think the 1st line needs Fiala.. Kopi, Kempe were spending most shifts in their own zone while Fiala was on the 3rd line before. Edit: on the plus side, Byfield will get more minutes and the lines will be more balanced... but not sure its a great place for QB to be developing

 

[Steve Zissou]

Fwiw assuming Byram was off the board I wanted Turcotte or Knight with that pick.

Hey, it could be worse... Chicago passed on Turcotte and took Dach.

Then proceeded to trade Dach for the No. 13 and No. 66 picks in the 2022 draft.

Thank God we are don't have Chicago's management...

* Traded away Panarin for Brandon Saad and goalie Anton Forsberg
* Let Kubalik walk
* Traded Debrincat (only 24) instead of Kane or Towes
* The Seth Jones and mega contract that absolutely putrid the moment he signed it
* The Kyle Beach scandal
* Waited way, way too long to start rebuilding

 

[King'sPawn]

If Byfield had earned more minutes in the eyes of the coaching staff he'd be getting them. At the end of the day a "project" prospect with that many question marks shouldn't be given minutes on a playoff contender unless the team is 100% sure he'll succeed with them. If Kopitar or Danault get hurt and theres no other options? Sure give him a shot I guess.

Yannetti said they prefer slow boiling prospects. So it's not a matter of meritocracy.

You can see this with the bottom-six ice time and secondary powerplay time for their top powerplay scorer, Kaliyev. And he spent all of last season on Lizotte's line.

Saying the minutes given are purely earned is false and only regurgitated by a few ignorant folk.

 

[JKG33]

Yannetti said they prefer slow boiling prospects. So it's not a matter of meritocracy.

You can see this with the bottom-six ice time and secondary powerplay time for their top powerplay scorer, Kaliyev. And he spent all of last season on Lizotte's line.

Saying the minutes given are purely earned is false and only regurgitated by a few ignorant folk.

No, but if Byfield was as good as some on here would like to believe, and living up to his draft position, he'd be out there taking those minutes.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

No, but if Byfield was as good as some on here would like to believe, and living up to his draft position, he'd be out there taking those minutes.

Based on what?

 

[JKG33]

Based on what?

Based on everyone here talking him up and insisting he get more minutes

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Based on everyone here talking him up and insisting he get more minutes

No, what is your assertion that he'd automatically get more minutes based on?

 

[JKG33]

No, what is your assertion that he'd automatically get more minutes based on?

If he was that good and showing it. Showing it in the limited minutes he's received (which he hasn't), showing it in practice, things like that.

Players who are that good get minutes no questions asked.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

If he was that good and showing it. Showing it in the limited minutes he's received (which he hasn't), showing it in practice, things like that.

Players who are that good get minutes no questions asked.

I'm not sure how that demonstrates at all that Todd McLellan would simply give him more minutes. If he's so bad and not showing anything, why did he get called back up from the AHL a few days ago?

 

[Statto]

Adding this from the Colorado thread as it’s more relevant here…

One of those plays, I think it might have been the 3rd.....man...ended up in a goal, but he showed his passive side, he took the puck out of the corner, and could have walked that circle and took it to the net, but backed off.....and passed to the point......man...I was waiting...waiting felt like a goddamn deflated balloon, thinking what if....

I think it’s the chicken an egg scenario of being trusted and having confidence. I think if he felt trusted he’d have the confidence to make that play, but of course he needs to earn that trust first on this team. I think the point in case is JAD. When he first came up he looked great but since that first spell has been in and out and looked more tentative each time. Waivers followed by injury meant he got his chance and to begin with he played just the system and looked pretty vanilla. Gradually he’s built confidence and has gotten more ice time as the trust grows because so does his confidence . There is zero chance JAD even tries that play that led to Vilardi’s goal 10 games ago.

This is where I think they get Byfield’s handling wrong so far - to be clear I just mean Byfield because different players need different things. He has always struck me as a player that needs to feel trusted (and loved) so sticking him at 4C immediately puts him on the back foot. You don’t want him thinking about his game, in the offensive zone especially and the example above is exactly that. He needs to believe he will still be trusted (and played) if he makes that play and it goes to shit. He needs minutes to feel trusted, he continues to need pp time to get comfortable and confident . You can see the difference in his body language in the AHL vs the NHL, he looks slightly unsure. Even if they do not trust him they need to act like they do and let him make mistakes.Then they will start to see the best of him.

Just my take. It was the same in the AHL the difference was he was given the trust to lose, rather than having to earn it. He started unsure but they kept playing him until he settled in and off he went. It’s part of why I want the development of these guys prioritised over an early play-off exit, because if they get to the play-offs by doing that they probably go deeper and we get closer to a cup. If they miss they still have a key piece able to play a more meaningful role next season.

 

[BringTheReign]

Friedman mentioned that Blake has been aggressive in seeking out moves for LD (Chychrun) and potentially goaltending. He said he can’t see LA not making a move for a big piece before the deadline.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

If he was that good and showing it. Showing it in the limited minutes he's received (which he hasn't), showing it in practice, things like that.

Players who are that good get minutes no questions asked.

We have literally seen players play well, score, and get benched immediately after by this current head coach

 

[Mats26]

Hey, it could be worse... Chicago passed on Turcotte and took Dach.

Then proceeded to trade Dach for the No. 13 and No. 66 picks in the 2022 draft.

Thank God we are don't have Chicago's management...

* Traded away Panarin for Brandon Saad and goalie Anton Forsberg
* Let Kubalik walk
* Traded Debrincat (only 24) instead of Kane or Towes
* The Seth Jones and mega contract that absolutely putrid the moment he signed it
* The Kyle Beach scandal
* Waited way, way too long to start rebuilding

No worries. Bettman will step in and make sure the ping pongs bounce so they get Connor Bedard.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Adding this from the Colorado thread as it’s more relevant here…


I think it’s the chicken an egg scenario of being trusted and having confidence. I think if he felt trusted he’d have the confidence to make that play, but of course he needs to earn that trust first on this team. I think the point in case is JAD. When he first came up he looked great but since that first spell has been in and out and looked more tentative each time. Waivers followed by injury meant he got his chance and to begin with he played just the system and looked pretty vanilla. Gradually he’s built confidence and has gotten more ice time as the trust grows because so does his confidence . There is zero chance JAD even tries that play that led to Vilardi’s goal 10 games ago.

This is where I think they get Byfield’s handling wrong so far - to be clear I just mean Byfield because different players need different things. He has always struck me as a player that needs to feel trusted (and loved) so sticking him at 4C immediately puts him on the back foot. You don’t want him thinking about his game, in the offensive zone especially and the example above is exactly that. He needs to believe he will still be trusted (and played) if he makes that play and it goes to shit. He needs minutes to feel trusted, he continues to need pp time to get comfortable and confident . You can see the difference in his body language in the AHL vs the NHL, he looks slightly unsure. Even if they do not trust him they need to act like they do and let him make mistakes.Then they will start to see the best of him.

Just my take. It was the same in the AHL the difference was he was given the trust to lose, rather than having to earn it. He started unsure but they kept playing him until he settled in and off he went. It’s part of why I want the development of these guys prioritised over an early play-off exit, because if they get to the play-offs by doing that they probably go deeper and we get closer to a cup. If they miss they still have a key piece able to play a more meaningful role next season.

this is exactly the problem re chicken and egg - very well put. TM has no nuances when it comes to young guys... stuck in pre-cap era thinking.

 

[kilowatt]

Friedman mentioned that Blake has been aggressive in seeking out moves for LD (Chychrun) and potentially goaltending. He said he can’t see LA not making a move for a big piece before the deadline.

I’m for it, but what does that mean for Bjornfot? He’ll need to go through waivers next year. Is he our 3LD to start next year finally? While we’re at it, Kupari, Fagemo, Madden, and Thomas will all require waivers next year as well.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Friedman mentioned that Blake has been aggressive in seeking out moves for LD (Chychrun) and potentially goaltending. He said he can’t see LA not making a move for a big piece before the deadline.

Trying to imagine the proposals in regards to salary. If Blake could get Chychrun and Vermelka(sp?) and send back a package (like 1st, bjornfot, turcotte at minimum) that includes Cal and Walker, that would be genius. Im sure he's told them dont bother asking for QB or Clarke.. but we shall see. Edit: interesting also is AZ we only see twice a year now.. not trading within division.

 

[Trash Panda]

I’m for it, but what does that mean for Bjornfot? He’ll need to go through waivers next year. Is he our 3LD to start next year finally? While we’re at it, Kupari, Fagemo, Madden, and Thomas will all require waivers next year as well.

There is a reasonable argument to be had that Toby should at the very least have Edlers spot, or be the piece that kicks Durzi to his correct side (or kicks Durzi into a trade before the rest of the leauge figured out what the kings should have).

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

this is exactly the problem re chicken and egg - very well put. TM has no nuances when it comes to young guys... stuck in pre-cap era thinking.

Then explain Andersson, Kaliyev, Vilardi, Durzi, Lizotte,

 

[kilowatt]

Then explain Andersson, Kaliyev, Vilardi, Durzi, Lizotte,

durzi is blake’s wife’s boyfriend

everyone else got fourth line treatment or worse so im not sure what youre getting at there

 

[AbsentMojo]

Then explain Andersson, Kaliyev, Vilardi, Durzi, Lizotte,

My point is he is reticent to let young guys work things out higher up in the lineup. Those guys you mentioned slotted in after injuries or after having success in lower lines. Its getting boring citing examples. I wont pin this all on TM - Blake has stuffed the roster and there arent a lot of holes for younger guys to fill in. Still you can see that Kaliyev had one of the highest pts/60 in the league this year and was still getting 4th line duties. And in the larger scheme of things, Id be willing to let a young guy struggle a bit - ie develop a player at the NHL level (maybe on a line he may not be ready for at this moment), which may cost the team some games if it means the guy is going to be NHL ready sooner. That's a philosophy and approach to development that I prefer.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

durzi is blake’s wife’s boyfriend

everyone else got fourth line treatment or worse so im not sure what youre getting at there

Vilardi played on the 4th line? When? A shift, a game or two? Andersson, as in Mikey, #2D since he started....Kaliyev started 4th, moved up to 3rd, playing PP2....Lizotte, moving up...he's hit is ceiling,

But in reality the asinine, idiotic, f***ing moronic view that TM doesn't play youth, is utter f***ing bullshit.....nothing more to be said on that, the past 4-5 years has been LITTERED with playing youth.....Fagemo, first call up,...plays 2 games first line wing......is that a super duper small sample size, 100%, yes it is, but if someone was so against playing youth, would that EVER have happened?

My point is he is reticent to let young guys work things out higher up in the lineup. Those guys you mentioned slotted in after injuries or after having success in lower lines. Its getting boring citing examples. I wont pin this all on TM - Blake has stuffed the roster and there arent a lot of holes for younger guys to fill in. Still you can see that Kaliyev had one of the highest pts/60 in the league this year and was still getting 4th line duties. And in the larger scheme of things, Id be willing to let a young guy struggle a bit - ie develop a player at the NHL level (maybe on a line he may not be ready for at this moment), which may cost the team some games if it means the guy is going to be NHL ready sooner. That's a philosophy and approach to development that I prefer.

So.....due what the Kings of the 90s and early 2000s did.......call kids up, throw them in the deep end, and say survive or die??

 

[AbsentMojo]

So.....due what the Kings of the 90s and early 2000s did.......call kids up, throw them in the deep end, and say survive or die??

Not to that extreme...but it was great to see guys like bjornfot and spence develop last year - they still have things to work on, but they are good enough to be here and better than Walker and have more upside. I think this comes down to: Id rather they stick more with a rebuild mentality than 'win now w vets' mentality - and let the kids surprise us like last year... because I do not think the d-corps or goaltending is close to cup contender quality and Id rather see these guys build confidence and take over.