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

[driller1]

I think what I like most about that is that Durzi is clearly "the guy" on PP2, he is their identity. He took the bull by the horns and just runs that shit. No one has done that on PP1 in years. Sure it's built around Doughty and Kopitar the way PP2 is built around Sean but still.

I love all the jukes and fakes that Sean utilizes on the blue line. It takes energy to do all that-- some might call it youthful energy. It's hard work to put 4 or 5 fakes in a row, but a lane usually opens up and Durzi can at least sneak a shot by the first defender which is more than we can say about Doughty.

Also, Durzi has Kaliyev on his left. I love it when Arty Party curls to the blue line and takes the puck going downhill before snapping a shot off. Dumolin took one for the team in the last game and hobbled off for a while. No one on PP1 curls to the blue line and comes downhill, then again, no one has a shot as hard as Kaliyev.

 

[Master Yoda]

Byfield in front of the net on the powerplay would be amazing. And separating Kopitar/Doughty so they don't stay content passing to eachother.

Iafallo - Kopitar - Byfield
Kempe - Durzi

Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Kaliyev - Doughty

I don't think you'll ever see Doughty off the 1st unit.

What I'd like to see:

Iafallo-Kopitar-Kaliyev
Doughty-Durzi

Moore-Byfield-Arvidsson
Moverare-Kempe

I'd be okay with Danault on PP2 but he should be in front of the net, not on the half wall.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

This goal against Philly was a thing of beauty:



Both of Moore's goals against Pittsburgh were also sick.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Of all the surprises to come out of this season Durzi may be the biggest. He's gotta be the most fun, at the very least.

 

[lumbergh]

This goal against Philly was a thing of beauty:



Both of Moore's goals against Pittsburgh were also sick.

That game winning goal by Moore reminded me of Jarret Stoll's patented shootout move. Almost unstoppable.

I'm really enjoying the energy that Victor Arvidsson brings to every shift. Particularly his face on celebrations. He's the anti-Kempe.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Colorado fans been loving Big Mac.

He's been getting significantly more ice time as the seasons gone along.

 

[regulate]

Kings scoring pace, assuming each player plays the remaining 36 games on the schedule. We know that won't be the case, but this is the players scoring pace to date if they played the full season going forward.

Forwards Goals Assists +/-

Kopitar 25 49 -11
Iafallo 25 25 +9
Arvidsson 23 29 +6
Kempe 33 17 -2
Danault 18 24 +25
Moore 12 29 +21
Brown 11 25 -5
Kaliyev 12 11 -7
Lizotte 10 13 +17
Grundstrom 13 7 +7
Lemieux 14 2 +8
Athanasiou 14 14 +11
Byfield 7 0 -14

Defense
Doughty 12 42 +16
Roy 0 23 +21
Durzi 5 25 +4
Bjornfot 0 11 -4
Anderson 4 5 +18
Maatta 2 4 +8

 

[Johnny Utah]

Brown has to go next year. The Kings should re-sign AA thought.

Grundstrom can take Brown's spot.

Also, Durzi has been the biggest surprise. Some players game is just better in the NHL.

 

[kingsfan28]

Of all the surprises to come out of this season Durzi may be the biggest. He's gotta be the most fun, at the very least.

He's like 3rd or 4th in defensive scoring among rookies, yet playing only half the games.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Lemeiux for Cy Young

 

[YP44]

Brown has to go next year. The Kings should re-sign AA thought.

Grundstrom can take Brown's spot.

Also, Durzi has been the biggest surprise. Some players game is just better in the NHL.

Grundstrom should go before Brown IMO. I also would not bring back AA. We need roster spots for young forwards or maybe a big UFA.

 

[Johnny Utah]

AA has 4 goals in 14 games and brings speed and even some grit. He has good chemistry with his teammates - they seem to really like him.

Also, if you back on hockey db - AA was teammates in juniors with Lemieux and Olli Maata. Small world.

 

[Mats26]

Since Marco Sturm was brought in to be the Kings’ special teams guru:

2018-19 PP: 15.8% (27th in NHL)
2019-20 PP: 17.1% (26th in NHL)
2020-21 PP: 18.9% (19th in NHL)
2021-22 PP: 16.55% (26th in NHL)

 

[deaderhead28]

Brown has to go next year. The Kings should re-sign AA thought.

Grundstrom can take Brown's spot.

Also, Durzi has been the biggest surprise. Some players game is just better in the NHL.

Better start sacrificing hamsters, I don't see Brown leaving unless it's on his on time table.

 

[bmr]

Of all the surprises to come out of this season Durzi may be the biggest. He's gotta be the most fun, at the very least.

Other positive surprises:

• I don't think any of us thought Danault would be this good.
• Kings defensive depth. (Grans and Spence ahead of schedule)
• Quick's resurgence.
• Kempe/Iafallo/Moore taking a step forward.
• Effectiveness of Lizotte and Lemieux.

Negative surprises:

• Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
• Vilardi taking a step back.
• Injuries to D-men.

 

[Trash Panda]

Brown has to go next year. The Kings should re-sign AA thought.

Grundstrom can take Brown's spot.

Also, Durzi has been the biggest surprise. Some players game is just better in the NHL.

Neither AA or brown should be here next season. Far too many better internal options that need to see the ice, and we obviously can’t trust Todd to have a veteran ride the pine for the betterment of the team.

 

[kinghock]

Other positive surprises:

• I don't think any of us thought Danault would be this good.
• Kings defensive depth. (Grans and Spence ahead of schedule)
• Quick's resurgence.
• Kempe/Iafallo/Moore taking a step forward.
• Effectiveness of Lizotte and Lemieux.

Negative surprises:

• Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
• Vilardi taking a step back.
• Injuries to D-men.

Negative:
Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
Quick's resurgence cannot be long time solution.
Only Parik has a chance to become starter for Kings and he still has questions about consistency.
There is no left side elite defensive prospect in LA.
Beside Helenius there is no physical prospects on the team.

 

[cyclones22]

PP1 is built around Kopitar and Doughty impotently passing back and forth to each other while the PK don't do anything

They have good offensive skills and generally make good decisions with the puck. That does well in 5v5. The problem is they don't have any type of deception in their movement, so they are fairly predictable on the PP. Durzi on the other hand has good deception skills. Hell, Tkachev has it and that's why he produces great chances on the PP. We won't ever see him again in LA, so that's that.

 

[YP44]

Since Marco Sturm was brought in to be the Kings’ special teams guru:

2018-19 PP: 15.8% (27th in NHL)
2019-20 PP: 17.1% (26th in NHL)
2020-21 PP: 18.9% (19th in NHL)
2021-22 PP: 16.55% (26th in NHL)

This needs to be pointed out, and people need to shit on Sturm more than Kopitar.

 

[bmr]

Negative:
Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
Quick's resurgence cannot be long time solution.
Only Parik has a chance to become starter for Kings and he still has questions about consistency.
There is no left side elite defensive prospect in LA.
Beside Helenius there is no physical prospects on the team.

Still some time to figure out the goaltending situation. I'm sure Blake will be looking to add an elite left side defenseman if the price isn't too steep. We have some good size on this team with Byfield, Edler and Kopitar...although they aren't the most physical (except maybe Edler). Also, Moverare, Wolanin, Maatta, AA, Kaliyev and Kempe are 6'2" and we have Lemieux right there at 6'1". Danault will also mix it up at 6'1". I don't think we necessarily need to add a bunch of big guys, either. Just guys who put the team first and stick up for each other. I can't remember a game in recent memory where I thought to myself, wow these guys are getting out-muscled.

Interesting stat I heard at the last game - the Kings are the league leaders in shot differential. That was surprising.

 

[Matt13]

Other positive surprises:
Negative surprises:

• Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.

Negative:
Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.

It may have been a rough start to the season but in the last 10 games he has looked fantastic with 7 wins in 10 games including a shutout.

 

[kings11]

Negative:
Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
Quick's resurgence cannot be long time solution.
Only Parik has a chance to become starter for Kings and he still has questions about consistency.
There is no left side elite defensive prospect in LA.
Beside Helenius there is no physical prospects on the team.

Petersen not looking like the next heir apparent.
Quick's resurgence cannot be long time solution.
Only Parik has a chance to become starter for Kings and he still has questions about consistency.

Cal has been a disappointment for sure but there’s still time to right the ship…
Quick can be on this team so long as he can play at his current level… if it means Cal stays on the bench then so be it because it’s about winning…
I’m not worried about an heir, the Kings have shown time and again that they can develop anyone!


There is no left side elite defensive prospect in LA.
Beside Helenius there is no physical prospects on the team.

I don’t think we need an elite LHD prospect, we have 1 in Clarke(RH), what we need is a vet ala Edler

As for size and physical presence, we have Helenius, Lee and that’s about it… Gabe and Byfield have the potential to be and Turcotte is a kamikaze

 

[Herby]

Sturm deserves a lot of the blame (obviously). But the Kings really don't have a natural finisher on the roster other than Kaliyev who is a 20 year old rookie. The PP is was an achilles heel to the games of both DD and AK even when they were in their 20's, and now they are on the back nine of their careers. The PP is one area where having a Jimmy or Joe who can just fire the puck past a goalie from the circle is more important than the x's and o's.

The Kings are also heavily unbalanced with left shots when it comes to skilled forwards that play the PP. A right shooting skilled forward like a Pavelski or Giroux could really help out the PP simply by giving Kopitar that cross-ice one-time option from his stationary spot on the right half wall.

 

[funky]

Since Marco Sturm was brought in to be the Kings’ special teams guru:

2018-19 PP: 15.8% (27th in NHL)
2019-20 PP: 17.1% (26th in NHL)
2020-21 PP: 18.9% (19th in NHL)
2021-22 PP: 16.55% (26th in NHL)

He may not want to put that on his next resume. Absolutely brutal.

 

[LAKings88]

Kopi and Doughty just don’t shoot enough or quickly enough. Just shoot gerd dang it! FN lollygaggers.