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

[psych3man]

Where would I find Kings skaters PP and PK TOI stats?

 

[kinghock]

I took some time off after the Carolina game to gather my thoughts before weighing in on the current state of affairs for this team.

First, I have to give a ton of props to the Hurricanes. Out of all the teams in the league, they may be the most disciplined, well-oiled machine in terms of what you are going to see night in and night out. We had some good spurts, but it felt like we were fighting an uphill battle the entire night. Kudos to them.

Second - I think there are 3 main areas the Kings will need to address before they are going to be a serious contender in the playoffs.

1. Team identity - We all talk about this a lot. Does this team have a well established identity? IMHO, we have nothing close to what we saw during those 2012/2014 Stanley Cup runs. When you look at the teams that are really succeeding in this league (Boston, Carolina, Vegas, even Seattle) there is a clear purpose to what they are doing. You will rarely see these huge dysfunctional gaps from game to game. When it is looking like we are overmatched/outplayed in a game, I would like to see the team be flexible enough to fall back to a tight-checking/physical game. I'm not sure that we can accomplish that with our current personnel. It really makes me miss that Darryl Sutter brand of hockey that we were accustomed to during those Stanley Cup runs. Bottom line, this all starts with the coaching staff. I've never been a big McClellan guy. I don't think he's a bad coach, but is he what this team needs? I don't have faith that this guy will be able to take us to the next level.

2. Team toughness - The biggest standout to me in the Carolina game was their unwavering mental toughness. They stuck to a gameplan throughout and did not give the Kings an inch. The Kings just haven't shown me that kind of detailed focus in any kind of sustained fashion. There are just so many mental mistakes/lapses that end up costing us a goal at a critical juncture. I'm not sure I can count on one hand the amount of games this year where I think to myself....wow, we really dominated that team tonight.

3. Defense/Goaltending - Another area we really need to improve. Blake may wait until the end of the season to address this, but I think it needs to happen sooner rather than later. Edler has taken a clear step back, Durzi (while having a high offensive ceiling) is prone to so many boneheaded plays and Walker is definitely odd man out. For all that crap we were putting on Maatta, he would be a difference maker on the team this year. If it was me, I would definitely work Spence/Bjornfot onto the roster full-time and look to trade Durzi/pick/prospect for a D that we really covet.

Goaltending is another area that concerns me. I think 70% of it is more about cleaning up the D and clearing out space for the goalies, but this team definitely needs to have a plan in place moving forward. It's pretty disgusting to see how much salary we have tied up in goaltending and no results to show for it.

The single word that entered my head after the Carolina game: discouraged. This was a litmus test for us and we failed. Hopefully some of the roster changes will start clicking and we will see a different team moving forward. We still have a great prospect pool and the future is bright. Byfield is really looking good in Ontario and Turcotte has really started to get his footing. As always...Go Kings!

I agree with everything you stated with one exception.

In my view Defense/Goaltending and Team toughness needs to addressed ASAP.

In reality it was needed to be done before this year to continue with team progress.

Kings need to use their surplus of RD, some of forward prospects, Arvidsson, Moore and Iafallo and draft capital to do it now, not until after end of the season.

 

[AbsentMojo]

When Iafallo comes back u need a roster spot (waiver exempts are Fagemo, Clarke, Kaliyev, and Bjornfot). So thats likely Fagemo. When Lemieux comes back the list is down to 3 of those or a waiver. This is with QB still in the A. They arent going put Kaliyev in Ontario. Bjornfot is needed.. I think the possible scenario is JAD gets waived. If you want QB back, they'll have another decision to make. i suggest waiving Walker but they'll prob send Clarke to Barrie. Some interesting decisions are coming in the near future.

 

[All The Kings Men]

When Iafallo comes back u need a roster spot (waiver exempts are Fagemo, Clarke, Kaliyev, and Bjornfot). So thats likely Fagemo. When Lemieux comes back the list is down to 3 of those or a waiver. This is with QB still in the A. They arent going put Kaliyev in Ontario. Bjornfot is needed.. I think the possible scenario is JAD gets waived. If you want QB back, they'll have another decision to make. i suggest waiving Walker but they'll prob send Clarke to Barrie. Some interesting decisions are coming in the near future.

the Kings are currently carrying 8 D and 12 forwards

They can activate Iafallo without making any room and assuming they drop Clarke off in Canada that opens up yet another spot for a 14th forward

 

[AbsentMojo]

the Kings are currently carrying 8 D and 12 forwards

They can activate Iafallo without making any room and assuming they drop Clarke off in Canada that opens up yet another spot for a 14th forward

Right you are..so they dont even need to assign Clarke to keep Fagemo up.. but if they do, it makes a spot for QB (or whoever).. less clustered than I thought.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Where would I find Kings skaters PP and PK TOI stats?

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[All The Kings Men]

assuming they drop Clarke off in Canada that opens up yet another spot for a 14th forward

Wellllllll.... nevermind then...

 

[BringTheReign]

Wellllllll.... nevermind then...

It seems like we may be overreacting? This could be the camp invite list, but Clarke is a loan so it's a different story it seems.

EDIT: It sounds like Pronman at The Athletic also still expects Clarke to be loaned out to play for Team Canada even after today's camp roster announcement:

While Shane Wright, Dylan Guenther and Brandt Clarke weren’t listed on the roster Team Canada released, it’s expected they will be loaned out.

Pronman: Team Canada and Team USA world juniors roster projections and snubs

 

[Surf Nutz]

We try for 4 years now.

And we took the Pacific division winner to 7 games after struggling early in the season.
This year we have again struggled early season.
The season will be measured by how we do in 2023.
Can we make the playoffs, can we win a round?
Progress is measured at the seasons end.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Reeks to me as a bit of desperation and chaos with the Kempe/GV 3C utilization. All to maybe get through until the time that QB is back up and ready to take over 3C again.

In a vacuum, it's ok. Having one situation or even two like this. But it seems like it's the norm with this coaching staff / FO. Way too much. Goalie situation a mess, LHD situation a mess and playing out of position. STs a mess. No physical presence. Lines a mess and can't figure out. Center issues. There's a common theme here. If they want LT success, eventually they need to figure some crap out, resolve it and get some semblence of continuity. Sutter's team could mix things up because that was a vet heavy team that was very good, amazing leaders on the team and won. Apples & Oranges.

Byfield has never fallen into the safety net of winger and he is getting his game together in Ontario, he will be back up in the future. The kings are slumping, so now is a good time to give guys a look at Center.

 

[Kurrilino]

I agree with everything you stated with one exception.

In my view Defense/Goaltending and Team toughness needs to addressed ASAP.

In reality it was needed to be done before this year to continue with team progress.

Kings need to use their surplus of RD, some of forward prospects, Arvidsson, Moore and Iafallo and draft capital to do it now, not until after end of the season.

And what do we need to archive this season that we can't wait until the end of the season?

 

[Surf Nutz]

Where would I find Kings skaters PP and PK TOI stats?

Chef Hiller put the PP in the Oven. Tmac has the PK in the freezer.

 

[bmr]

Can I just say that I can't wait until Iafallo is back. I sincerely hope that they reunite the line of Iafallo/Byfield/Vilardi. It was a joy to watch them before Iafallo went down. I'm also loving the extra balance that Bjornfot has been giving us on the team. He doesn't give up any egregious scoring chances on the regular like Durzi does and he can skate and shoot. Good things ahead. Blake - please, please, pretty please with sugar on top find us that stud LHD we need so badly.

I still believe that Vilardi hasn't hit his ceiling yet. If you remember, Vilardi was outperforming Robertson on Kingston and he is having an MVP-caliber year.

 

[YP44]

Can I just say that I can't wait until Iafallo is back. I sincerely hope that they reunite the line of Iafallo/Byfield/Vilardi. It was a joy to watch them before Iafallo went down. I'm also loving the extra balance that Bjornfot has been giving us on the team. He doesn't give up any egregious scoring chances on the regular like Durzi does and he can skate and shoot. Good things ahead. Blake - please, please, pretty please with sugar on top find us that stud LHD we need so badly.

I still believe that Vilardi hasn't hit his ceiling yet. If you remember, Vilardi was outperforming Robertson on Kingston and he is having an MVP-caliber year.

Iafallo should help the PK as well

 

[AbsentMojo]

Chef Hiller put the PP in the Oven. Tmac has the PK in the freezer.

I wonder what their theory is on playing the 1-2-1 / or 1-1-2 or whatever it is... prevent cross seam passes? The trade off is that it gives the points a ton of room to just skate in facing the goalie the whole time. The PK is as bad as the PP was lasts year.. who is coaching it?

 

[Surf Nutz]

I wonder what their theory is on playing the 1-2-1 / or 1-1-2 or whatever it is... prevent cross seam passes? The trade off is that it gives the points a ton of room to just skate in facing the goalie the whole time. The PK is as bad as the PP was lasts year.. who is coaching it?

I would say it is trent yawney. But the goaltending and D especially Edler and Durzi's fingerprints are all over the weapon located at the crime scene, used on the self inflicted wounds.

 

[lumbergh]

I would say it is trent yawney. But the goaltending and D especially Edler and Durzi's fingerprints are all over the weapon located at the crime scene, used on the self inflicted wounds.

Statistically speaking, Edler has been one of the better penalty killers on the team. Edler is down near 8.7 goals per 60 minutes.

Your team worst penalty killers have been Cal Petersen, Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi, Blake Lizotte, and Matt Roy this season. Each of them have been regularly scored on to the tune of 14 goals or more per 60 minutes. Just an absolutely atrocious unit.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Statistically speaking, Edler has been one of the better penalty killers on the team. Edler is down near 8.7 goals per 60 minutes.

Your team worst penalty killers have been Cal Petersen, Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi, Blake Lizotte, and Matt Roy this season. Each of them have been regularly scored on to the tune of 14 goals or more per 60 minutes. Just an absolutely atrocious unit.

Solid stats, thank you. Its the suicide watch with Edler during 5 v 5 that was giving me nightmares.

 

[lumbergh]

Solid stats, thank you. Its the suicide watch with Edler during 5 v 5 that was giving me nightmares.

At least it's a pretty slow slide towards depression with Edler.

 

[Surf Nutz]

At least it's a pretty slow slide towards depression with Edler.

Until he gets paired with Bipolar Durzi, lol.

 

[BringTheReign]

Dimitri Filipovic giving some love to Blake Lizotte as his favorite role player in one of his latest podcast episodes. The clip starts at 45:07 (link below). He points out that he's right at 2 points per 60 which is incredibly efficient, and that he loves watching him because every shift is the most important one of his life.

Midseason NHL Awards

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[johnjm22]

Durzi now with 18 points in 25 games. 59 point pace.

If he maintains close to this pace, you've got a 24 year old, 50+ point dman, signed for 1.7M, with RFA contract expiry status. How much trade value does a player like that have? It's gotta be pretty fat.

Can't keep all of Durzi, Clarke and Spence. At least one of them is going to be moved.

 

[Kudelski37]

Durzi now with 18 points in 25 games. 59 point pace.

If he maintains close to this pace, you've got a 24 year old, 50+ point dman, signed for 1.7M, with RFA contract expiry status. How much trade value does a player like that have? It's gotta be pretty fat.

Can't keep all of Durzi, Clarke and Spence. At least one of them is going to be moved.

Well, Zhitnik fetched a HOF goalie. [ducks]

 

[SmytheKing]

Well, Zhitnik fetched a HOF goalie. [ducks]

This statline will never not make sense to me.