Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread part VII

[King'sPawn]

I'm conflicted.

The 2003 draft was the first one that piqued my interest. Before that, I just loved the Kings and didn't care about player origins. I just never thought "huh, where do players come from when the older ones retire?" The notion of a draft was completely alien to me.

In the chat room I was in (it may have been HFBoards, even), I asked "So can he play next season?" And someone said "He won't be playing for years." Sure enough, when I saw Brown would be playing in the 03-04 season, I started watching him closely, as I was told he wouldn't be playing in the NHL for years.

So, in a way... Brown was the first player who got me started in following and loving the draft. He was the start of me looking at the NHL and hockey from a completely different angle. I truly feel blessed that my first prospect whose career trajectory I closely followed spanned 19 years with one team.

Between this and the cups, I will always have a special place in my heart for Brown, and appreciation for what he brings.

I also feel sad for Brown. Having the reflection and decision to tell yourself, not just others, that you can't do it anymore, is one of the hardest things to admit.

However, I am also happy. I would rather him retire a Kings player than getting paid league minimum to act as a mercenary for some random team.

And, as much as Brown's loved, his performance on the ice has taken a downward turn. The Kings have had an excess of dependence on the vets. I think it's best for Brown and the Kings he not be subjected to unnecessary struggles.

I am sure he will work in some capacity with the Kings afterwards. I hope he enjoys his retirement and his path going forward. He truly made Los Angeles his home, and I'm going to sob like a bitch when they have a ceremony for him.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I thought he was wanting to stick around another year and he didnt announce it early and do a farewell tour like most guys at his age.
I think how he did it is cool. If he can turn it up one last time this playoff itll be such a bad ass move.

Certainly hasn't looked like a guy that wanted one more year.

But yeah, a vintage Brown moment or game during the playoffs, wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

think it's the right choice for him and the right time for the org. no sense waxing poetic about the career cause the results speak for themselves, but a one-franchise player that climbed the mountain is a pretty monumental personal accomplishment. time to enjoy the fruits.

Typical Brown though, right?

Enough notice to be respectful, but as little limelight as possible

 

[Fripp]

Typical Brown though, right?

Enough notice to be respectful, but as little limelight as possible

Exactly what I was thinking. He's even thinking team-first for his retirement announcement! What a guy and what a career.

 

[YP44]

the C sure looked good on him last night.

 

[RaymondReddington]

Just heard on NHL radio that Jon Cooper is making many changes to TB lines, including PP, after last night's poor offensive performance.
Our PP has been absolutely pathetic and our coach keeps doing the same thing with the same personnel.
Myself and others have been criticized on this board for saying successful coaches like Cooper would not be standing pat with our PP like Todd has.
Here is proof after one game with a 2-time cup defending champion.
Frustrating...

 

[YP44]

Just heard on NHL radio that Jon Cooper is making many changes to TB lines, including PP, after last night's poor offensive performance.
Our PP has been absolutely pathetic and our coach keeps doing the same thing with the same personnel.
Myself and others have been criticized on this board for saying successful coaches like Cooper would not be standing pat with our PP like Todd has.
Here is proof after one game with a 2-time cup defending champion.
Frustrating...

100% fair to criticize the PP an PK units put out this season and last night.
I wonder how long Kopitar can play the extreme minutes he was last night. He looked pretty gassed in the 3rd and makes sense when looking at his ice time. I would even be in favor of using the PP as a rest period for him given the lack of results anyway.

 

[HookKing]

100% fair to criticize the PP an PK units put out this season and last night.
I wonder how long Kopitar can play the extreme minutes he was last night. He looked pretty gassed in the 3rd and makes sense when looking at his ice time. I would even be in favor of using the PP as a rest period for him given the lack of results anyway.

He should be forcibly moved off the halfwall and parked in front of the net. Hell, he can have pucks go in off him without even trying. His hands are still good and he can block Smith's view better than anyone else. In general I'm pleased with Todd's coaching but his approach to the pp is -- yes, insanity.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Just heard on NHL radio that Jon Cooper is making many changes to TB lines, including PP, after last night's poor offensive performance.
Our PP has been absolutely pathetic and our coach keeps doing the same thing with the same personnel.
Myself and others have been criticized on this board for saying successful coaches like Cooper would not be standing pat with our PP like Todd has.
Here is proof after one game with a 2-time cup defending champion.
Frustrating...

What exactly would you do? The 2nd PP unit starring Byfield and Kaliyev got plenty of opportunity last night.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Myself and others have been criticized on this board for saying successful coaches like Cooper would not be standing pat with our PP like Todd has.

Is that what you're criticized for?

Different coaches are different. TM is going to throw vets out there for evey possible opportunity. That's just what he does. At some point you just have to accept it. None of us can do anything about it. Then the team either wins or loses, and he's either kept as coach or fired.

 

[cyclones22]

He should be forcibly moved off the halfwall and parked in front of the net. Hell, he can have pucks go in off him without even trying. His hands are still good and he can block Smith's view better than anyone else. In general I'm pleased with Todd's coaching but his approach to the pp is -- yes, insanity.

That's how Danault scored many of his goals this season including last night.

 

[KingsFan7824]

He should be forcibly moved off the halfwall and parked in front of the net. Hell, he can have pucks go in off him without even trying. His hands are still good and he can block Smith's view better than anyone else. In general I'm pleased with Todd's coaching but his approach to the pp is -- yes, insanity.

Danault goes to the net because that's the kind of player he is. Kopitar is not that guy.

 

[Cheech89]

Anyone know the deal with Arvi??

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

What exactly would you do? The 2nd PP unit starring Byfield and Kaliyev got plenty of opportunity last night.

They got the last 30 seconds of 4 powerplays.

I would START their PP unit, particularly after the Kopitar/Danault lines have been out there, because that means they're tired and that they've been working the body on McDavid as well.

Part of the reason the first pp is struggling so much is most of those guys are getting double-shifted and then thrown right back on for the priority shift after the PP too. You can see it in Kopitar's body language, he's using it as an opportunity to NOT move and to catch his breath.

 

[cyclones22]

Danault goes to the net because that's the kind of player he is. Kopitar is not that guy.

That brings up a good question, has Danault always been a player that's around the net on offense? If there are any Canadiens fans lurking, let us know! If it's sort of a new development that would explain why his goal output exploded this season other than just more shots, different systems and complimentary linemates.

 

[kingsholygrail]

They got the last 30 seconds of 4 powerplays.

I would START their PP unit, particularly after the Kopitar/Danault lines have been out there, because that means they're tired and that they've been working the body on McDavid as well.

Part of the reason the first pp is struggling so much is most of those guys are getting double-shifted and then thrown right back on for the priority shift after the PP too. You can see it in Kopitar's body language, he's using it as an opportunity to NOT move and to catch his breath.

This is especially true with McDavid and Draisaitl not PKing very much. Should take advantage of that.

 

[HookKing]

Danault goes to the net because that's the kind of player he is. Kopitar is not that guy.

PP.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Anyone know the deal with Arvi??

Same for Lemieux.

Did he leave the game injured or did TM decide to play him only 2 minutes.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Same for Lemieux.

Did he leave the game injured or did TM decide to play him only 2 minutes.

coaches' decision as per post game interview

 

[KingsHockey24]

coaches' decision as per post game interview

How dare he score a goal!

 

[RaymondReddington]

What exactly would you do? The 2nd PP unit starring Byfield and Kaliyev got plenty of opportunity last night.

This has been answered over and over by Raccoon, myself and others.
I cannot believe there are posters like Axl who defend the coaching of the PP when it is clearly atrocious and kills the Kings in many ways, that they are miraculously able to overcome but puts unnecessary pressure on the team.
How many times in the game yesterday would a Kings PP goal have put the game away, or at least given them some breathing room??
Alex freaking Iafallo on the PP1 all year and playoff game 1???
Dustin Brown on PP1 for much of the year???
Are you kidding me?
PP2 clearly moves the puck better than PP1 and creates excellent chances with a fraction of the time.
Fans of SJ & EDM all talk about Todd's inflexibility and lack of adjustments as a negative of his tenure.

Jon Cooper makes moves immediately when he detects mediocrity or incompetence.
He is more interested in winning than worried about pissing off players or proving he's right when he clearly isn't.

16% PP efficiency??
3 for 25 or whatever the hell the number is?

Keeps putting PP1 out for 90 seconds+ with the same personnel expecting a different outcome?

I can't believe we have to keep defending our complaining about this stubborn idiocy.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

This has been answered over and over by Raccoon, myself and others.
I cannot believe there are posters like Axl who defend the coaching of the PP when it is clearly atrocious and kills the Kings in many ways, that they are miraculously able to overcome but puts unnecessary pressure on the team.
How many times in the game yesterday would a Kings PP goal have put the game away, or at least given them some breathing room??
Alex freaking Iafallo on the PP1 all year and playoff game 1???
Dustin Brown on PP1 for much of the year???
Are you kidding me?
PP2 clearly moves the puck better than PP1 and creates excellent chances with a fraction of the time.
Fans of SJ & EDM all talk about Todd's inflexibility and lack of adjustments as a negative of his tenure.

Jon Cooper makes moves immediately when he detects mediocrity or incompetence.
He is more interested in winning than worried about pissing off players or proving he's right when he clearly isn't.

16% PP efficiency??
3 for 25 or whatever the hell the number is?

Keeps putting PP1 out for 90 seconds+ with the same personnel expecting a different outcome?

I can't believe we have to keep defending our complaining about this stubborn idiocy.

Settle down, Turbo. It was a question as in what can be done differently? I don’t really know…I look at it as most likely a lack of finishers.

 

[cyclones22]

It's the same kind of thought process where your kid murders someone and you go to the press and say but he's a good kid!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Settle down, Turbo. It was a question as in what can be done differently? I don’t really know…I look at it as most likely a lack of finishers.

Like I said earlier when you asked what we could do differently--most of the creativity and finishers are on PP2 getting 20-30 seconds at the ass end of a powerplay and often with a dzone faceoff due to catastrophic failures from PP1.

The simple fix without even changing the personnel would be to give PP2 the start of the PP. Theyre often totally fresh since *cough* they're completely stapled to the bench anyway, and part of the problem with PP1 is Kopitar/Danault are there to just conserve energy, not go hard to the net.

 

[Docgonzo]

I agree with mixing up the Pp units they’re stale and on away games Maclean will ride Kopitar and Danault vs McDavid and Draisitl.

I’d probably switch Moore and Iaffalo since Moore and Danault have such great chemistry.

Problem is PP2 is filled with players than can’t put together consistent good games all year except for Spence. Heck some can’t even put together consistent shifts together.

But at this point might as well, what’ll it hurt.