BigKing
Blake Out of Hell III: Back in to Hell
The real takeaway from this is that he is the second toughest player on the team.
Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread 2022-23 Season
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The real takeaway from this is that he is the second toughest player on the team.
BringTheReign
Registered User
We all were just as dumb as kids, we just didn’t have the internet to document it. Durzi is the toughest player on the team, and your generations raised his generation and the ones under it. The pearl clutching about “hockey’s values” based on social media marketing is hilarious given the history of cringe-worthy hockey ads going back to the 80s.
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How can anybody think Durzi tiktok is any worse that the Triple Crown Line Forgive My Misconduct is beyond me. I agree with @BringTheReign and the pearl clutching. Every generation does embarrassing stuff for attention and laughs. Don’t forget Hrudey’s on Duty.
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
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Honestly, if Kopi is getting too slow for 1C (he already cannot keep up with Fiala and Kempe and it is one of the chemistry issues) and Byfield is not ready to take 1C, it wouldn'be a bad idea to put Kempe back there.
Yes he may be better at wing, but Kempe finally had his breakout year, last year...he was not great at C or W , just 2 years ago. He was fine at center at the age of 21, when he had Toffoli and Pearosn, when Carter had his achilles injury. Kempe is so much better now and could do it. He was 21 and had some top offensive numbers in the league, the first 2 months he was at center. Is he a better winger? Perhaps, but by next year (or even now) he would be a better #1C than a 36 year old Kopitar would. The Kings need speed down the middle. Kopi is the slowest #1 center of all 32 teams and that's a problem.
I also think Vilardi could do it, considering he was #2 center, 2 yrs ago and was slower, not at full strength, not great defensively. He's much better now, in all areas of the game. He had an uninspired Carter and AA on his line. He could excel at C now, with Fiala and Kempe on his wings. Easily. By next season, I would rather have Kempe or Vilardi there.
One thing that is criminal atm: one of your top 2 offensive forwards; Vilardi on line 3 with Lizotte and Arty.
It's just wrong. He needs more minutes and top 6 duty.
Fiala Kempe Vilardi
Iafallo Kopitar Arty
Moore Danault Arvidsson
Grundstrom Lizotte Fagemo
Lemieux
Yes he may be better at wing, but Kempe finally had his breakout year, last year...he was not great at C or W , just 2 years ago. He was fine at center at the age of 21, when he had Toffoli and Pearosn, when Carter had his achilles injury. Kempe is so much better now and could do it. He was 21 and had some top offensive numbers in the league, the first 2 months he was at center. Is he a better winger? Perhaps, but by next year (or even now) he would be a better #1C than a 36 year old Kopitar would. The Kings need speed down the middle. Kopi is the slowest #1 center of all 32 teams and that's a problem.
I also think Vilardi could do it, considering he was #2 center, 2 yrs ago and was slower, not at full strength, not great defensively. He's much better now, in all areas of the game. He had an uninspired Carter and AA on his line. He could excel at C now, with Fiala and Kempe on his wings. Easily. By next season, I would rather have Kempe or Vilardi there.
One thing that is criminal atm: one of your top 2 offensive forwards; Vilardi on line 3 with Lizotte and Arty.
It's just wrong. He needs more minutes and top 6 duty.
Fiala Kempe Vilardi
Iafallo Kopitar Arty
Moore Danault Arvidsson
Grundstrom Lizotte Fagemo
Lemieux
Goal scoring aside, Kempe has been pretty bad defensively since last season. You want a guy that’s struggling with his game to fix it as the 1C? I dunno, that’s seems to be asking too much and it’s far above his talent level.
Kaliyev-Byfield-Vilardi should be getting 16min minimum as our 3rd line to prepare them for whatever is ahead(likely top line).
Although I’ve been on the trade AI train, he was damn good on QBs wing, what I would do is probably adjust the second line by adding AI and removing Arvy.
Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch and says, you want to separate our best line.. blah, blah, blah.. my answer is no, I want to make it better by adding more size because Arvy is ineffective against heavier teams. Also, Phil Danault is the f***en 2nd line and anyone that’s played with him owes him a dinner, Rolex, house, car.. lol, because he’s the reason that line is as good as it is. He can play with anyone and again, imo that line needs more size and AI was awesome with him last season.
I would be fine with the experiment although that would hurt an already defensively piss-poor team and I doubt TMac would be capable of justifying it to himself.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
You guys that are miffed over Durzi's tiktok better never follow Turcotte on any social media
Brownie to Pancakes
Registered User
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
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That’s an interesting idea. Hadn’t thought about using Kempe down the middle.
Fiala - Kempe - Arvidsson
Moore - Danault - Vilardi
Iafallo - Kopitar - Kaliyev
JAD - Lizotte - Grundstrom
Roll the top three lines pretty evenly and see if it works. Let’s call up Spence and Moverare while we’re at it:
Anderson - Doughty
Bjornfot - Spence
Moverare - Roy
Could move him back to center in the off-season and groom him to be the first line center while Kopi moves back to the second line next year. I feel like that’d be best not to impede his progress.
Rumpelstiltskin
Serial Ruminator
Yeah, I wasn't "offended;" it was more, "So this is how they're trying to get young people interested in the Kings, huh?" FWIW: when I showed this to my kids, the words 'sus' and 'cringe' kept coming up (just wait until they see Durzi ON the ice), so obviously they weren't part of the focus group.
Didn't we used to have a poster that was with the Kings' marketing team?
I'm kind of partial to the whole organization's "Serious Hockey" campaign after the frivolous fun and games of the Gretzky era.
All The Kings Men
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I've written and then deleted a few responses to that conversation.
Look I don't like mascots I think mascots are dumb and annoying and distract from the game and I don't understand why anybody likes them or is entertained by them but I've had to concede over the years that not everybody agrees with me about mascots and I even wound up doing a weekly online interview show with a mascot as my cohost so.... not everything is for everybody.
And if you ever find yourself getting mad at something that is actually harmless... maybe remember that?
EDIT: and to be clear... that video IS harmless. It wasn't conceived of by anybody that makes hockey decisions and it didn't interrupt Durzi's focus or schedule. It was probably filmed in September with everything else.
All The Kings Men
Registered User
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"Serious hockey" was a marketing slogan just like the rest of them.
Dean Lombardi and his media embargo for players was what being "serious" looks like.
EDIT: and to be PERFECTLY clear I am NOT endorsing that philosophy
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Yeah, I completely agree about mascots and have had that view since I was a kid… but they are basically harmless, soI just ignore them and pretend they don’t exist.
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
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Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
unicornpig
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Hed still be in the minors. Doughty Roy Walker Durzi are still under contract.
Kingspiracy
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I think we’d all like some more objective coverage of the Kings. Whilst it’s not mainstream media the ‘Locked On Kings’ podcast presents a good objective view of things. It’s pretty good and I’m currently listening to the 25/11 pod which discusses to a point the possibility of a coaching change. So they aren’t tied in terms of the topics that they cover.
No reflection on Jesse, I love his coverage, but it’s done from a different context. There’s a thought process behind the views and opinions regardless as to whether you agree.
No reflection on Jesse, I love his coverage, but it’s done from a different context. There’s a thought process behind the views and opinions regardless as to whether you agree.
All he needs is a kick up the rear end. Start with a demotion in the lineup and if that doesn’t work he needs sitting. It is it something he’s needed once or twice in his career. Should he need it? No. However, if that’s what is needed then JFDI.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Compared to
Is malpractice
And speaking of malpractice, it appears based on lines that either Kempe or Vilardi is going to C
Chazz Reinhold
Registered User
ibleedkings
Rob Fake
Very interesting. Gabe is a changed player this season and it's not gonna hurt to try him at center again. Love Arty on the top line! We've seen this before when TM would give Arty a shot on the top line, but would demote him after a period or 2. Let the Kid gel with Kopi and Fialla for a 5-10 game period. Hell Lolfallo went 20 something games last year on the top line without scoring.
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