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

[Raccoon Jesus]

I agree, I think Power taking a huge step is the biggest reason they jumped us.

I kind of thought Power being the #1 pick last year was more based on his measurables combined with it being a weak draft. A lot of games last year he was tentative and was beaten to the outside by quicker players. But it's been a complete 180 this season, he is just dominating all three zones when he is on the ice, he got bigger and faster in addition to his natural adjustment to the speed of college hockey. I wasn't a believer in the future Hedman hype a year ago but now I really am. Right now he looks like what you'd expect a #1 overall pick to look like at that level.

Quinn too, who went absolutely nuclear. And the addition of Krebs. Really it just seems like every one of their guys is really 'on' this year.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

And what else have those bolded teams in common?

Why is patience so difficult?

St Louis won a cup.
History is written by those that did not play it safe, wait for opportunities to come to them or be patient.
Even when Melrose came here, his first presser he said "I'm here to win the Stanley Cup" did he? almost. At least he was the
first person in the Kings organization that actually stated that goal, in 25 years! Lombardi was aggressive. Made some mistakes the last few years.
But, the formative years, he did well. Blake has done well the past few years: getting Moore, getting Lemieux, Arviddson, Danualt, Edler.
Why shouldn't he continue to add NOW?

This is a good team and not years away. They could be, if you do not make key moves and wait to see if 3 or 4 of the youth become impact players.
I'm not wanting (or would part with) Byfield, Clarke or Arty. I would not part with Durzi, even. 23 yrs old or not. I think he's only at 75% at what he
will be. The others? Sure, for impact players under 28 with some term.

This team has excelled in all areas, except special teams. If they can even improve 3-4% in either, that would go a long way.
They have lost DD for a month...lost Walker, lost Edler...gone into any building in the league and won. That's impressive.
If the Kings had a horrid road record or could not beat a top team...then yes, have some concern. But that's not what they've shown.
No team beat them in regulation on a 6 game roadtrip....where most thought they would be lucky to go 3-3.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Quinn too, who went absolutely nuclear. And the addition of Krebs. Really it just seems like every one of their guys is really 'on' this year.

Krebs will be a solid middle 6 center, didn't impress me much when he was in Vegas and they gave him a lot of ice time early in the season. Definitely not an Eichel type superstar.

 

[Herby]

Actually, guys like Danault, Kempe, Moore and Iafallo are the type of guys that succeed in the playoffs and more to the point, they’re the type of players that help you win championships

There aren't types of players that help you win. Well built balanced teams win. In 2012 and 2014 the Kings traded for goal-scoring wingers that likely put them over the top when the gritty players had them on the outside looking in for the playoffs.

Marian Gaborik had no physicality and he was terrible defensively, the definition of a one-dimensional player so many people on this board hated and were hesitant to trade for. He scored 14 times, including an OT winner and 4 other goals that forced OT in the 3rd period in games the Kings would ultimately go on to win, including Game 7 in Chicago and the cup clincher vs the Rangers.

Marian Gaborik helped the Kings win that Stanley Cup maybe more than anyone else on the roster that year not named Drew Doughty.

 

[YP44]

There aren't types of players that help you win. Well built balanced teams win. In 2012 and 2014 the Kings traded for goal-scoring wingers that likely put them over the top when the gritty players had them on the outside looking in for the playoffs.

Marian Gaborik had no physicality and he was terrible defensively, the definition of a one-dimensional player so many people on this board hated and were hesitant to trade for. He scored 14 times, including an OT winner and 4 other goals that forced OT in the 3rd period in games the Kings would ultimately go on to win, including Game 7 in Chicago and the cup clincher vs the Rangers.

Marian Gaborik helped the Kings win that Stanley Cup maybe more than anyone else on the roster that year not named Drew Doughty.

Williams and Kopitar say hi.
I thought Kopitar should have been the Conne Smythe winner in 14, but any of the four guys mentioned between the two of us were legit candidates.

 

[Herby]

Williams and Kopitar say hi.
I thought Kopitar should have been the Conne Smythe winner in 14, but any of the four guys mentioned between the two of us were legit candidates.

I agree, I did put maybe, not saying he was a slam dunk #2.

I still think there was no question Doughty was the best player though. He was at another level better than anyone in the Chicago series which meant a a lot.

 

[Lt Dan]

I agree with Herby here.

Gaborik had soooo many HUGE goals that playoffs, including the goal to tie up Game 5 to send it OT


I was googling for some video and found this

Gaborik ended up with 14 goals in the postseason, the most in the league and the most since 2009. He had only 11 goals during the regular season.

Markazi: Gaborik proves perfect fit with Kings

 

[Lt Dan]

All Goals


Some of the bigger ones if you be lazy




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MqPbBdFbLw

 

[Lt Dan]

I totally forgot that he also tied the game in Game 2


Found it Game 5 tying goal

 

[bmr]

Williams and Kopitar say hi.
I thought Kopitar should have been the Conne Smythe winner in 14, but any of the four guys mentioned between the two of us were legit candidates.

Kopitar did have one more point than Williams, but I believe Williams had more of a direct impact on us winning the games when we really needed it. I think the right choice was made on that one.

Gaborik, Kopitar and Carter all came up huge, though..don't want to take anything away from them.

 

[Kurrilino]

Actually, guys like Danault, Kempe, Moore and Iafallo are the type of guys that succeed in the playoffs and more to the point, they’re the type of players that help you win championships

I would really like to it to be the case.
But pep talking guys who have 0 combined Stanley Cup to be the different makers against the guys with several cups is a bold move

 

[BigKing]

Williams tore up the SCF which sealed it for him. The Game 7 stuff really started to take off then as well, scoring in both the Ducks and Hawks games then following it up with the OT winner in Game 1 of the SCF. Three points in Game 2 as well.

It actually may have been Doughty's to lose even with Kopitar's total points. He didn't set the world on fire during the SCF and Williams kind of stole it.

 

[bland]

Williams tore up the SCF which sealed it for him. The Game 7 stuff really started to take off then as well, scoring in both the Ducks and Hawks games then following it up with the OT winner in Game 1 of the SCF. Three points in Game 2 as well.

It actually may have been Doughty's to lose even with Kopitar's total points. He didn't set the world on fire during the SCF and Williams kind of stole it.

Still feel Doughty deserved them both, though what Quick did in 2012 was incredible.

Kopitar was the fastest out of the gate both years, and his play against San Jose in 2014 wasn't just the best of his career but probably the best single series performance of any King ever. Anze just didn't finish quite as strong. His Finals runs weren't as dominant as his early rounds.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Still feel Doughty deserved them both, though what Quick did in 2012 was incredible.

Kopitar was the fastest out of the gate both years, and his play against San Jose in 2014 wasn't just the best of his career but probably the best single series performance of any King ever. Anze just didn't finish quite as strong. His Finals runs weren't as dominant as his early rounds.

It's a bummer he didn't get even one because you can visibly see his legacy hurting because of it.

I hope some day even the east coasters can revere Doughty's career, he deserves a whole lot more than the shit sandwich he's gotten for the last 6-7 years.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Oh and Gaborik is exactly the type of add a team with supposedly a serious bent towards analytics would try to acquire right about now (if we were alittle closer, I mean)--monster possession team who can defend very well and control play--you can exchange some of that for some offensive 'pop'. IE Kaliyev next to Kopitar sort of thing.

 

[kings11]

There aren't types of players that help you win. Well built balanced teams win. In 2012 and 2014 the Kings traded for goal-scoring wingers that likely put them over the top when the gritty players had them on the outside looking in for the playoffs.

Marian Gaborik had no physicality and he was terrible defensively, the definition of a one-dimensional player so many people on this board hated and were hesitant to trade for. He scored 14 times, including an OT winner and 4 other goals that forced OT in the 3rd period in games the Kings would ultimately go on to win, including Game 7 in Chicago and the cup clincher vs the Rangers.

Marian Gaborik helped the Kings win that Stanley Cup maybe more than anyone else on the roster that year not named Drew Doughty.

There are types..
They go by Roles players, support players, specialists..etc which essentially supports your statement that well balanced teams win..
those guys I mentioned help you have a well balance team. They provide different skills that when added to the team as a whole makes it a SC contender

 

[Reclamation Project]

Kings don’t win the cup without Gaborik, and you could say that about a few players. Every winning team needs a handful of guys that straight up dominate, and Gaborik was that. Gaborik was a f***ing beast, glad he finally got a Cup and it was with LA.

 

[Reaper45]

Kings don’t win the cup without Gaborik, and you could say that about a few players. Every winning team needs a handful of guys that straight up dominate, and Gaborik was that. Gaborik was a f***ing beast, glad he finally got a Cup and it was with LA.

Him and Regehr were just perfect additions.

 

[kings11]

I would really like to it to be the case.
But pep talking guys who have 0 combined Stanley Cup to be the different makers against the guys with several cups is a bold move

Really, if I recall correctly the only Kings with a cup were Scuderi and JDub..
So I’m not sure I’m understanding your point in this?
This is exactly how you build a contender

 

[Lt Dan]

I would really like to it to be the case.
But pep talking guys who have 0 combined Stanley Cup to be the different makers against the guys with several cups is a bold move

I prefer a bald move

 

[Trash Panda]

I would really like to it to be the case.
But pep talking guys who have 0 combined Stanley Cup to be the different makers against the guys with several cups is a bold move

Were you saying the same thing about the vast majority of the 2012 roster who absolutely came to f*** shit up in the playoffs that year with zero Stanley cups?

What a garbage argument that is.

 

[Martyros]

I think it's quite surprising to be where we're at, given our d-corps. Honestly, take a look at the lineup. One would venture to question, how are we in a playoff position? If we're in a position to acquire an established dman and fowards (preferably long term, obviously), we should be wide open to trading the likes of Kupari, Vilardi, etc. I'd only like to hold onto Byfield, everyone else should be available for the right personnel. Certain individuals want to get good-great players for our trash, and that is down right laughable. Don't marry these prospects. believe or not, majority are drafted to be traded down the road for established players.

 

[Trash Panda]

Oh and Gaborik is exactly the type of add a team with supposedly a serious bent towards analytics would try to acquire right about now (if we were alittle closer, I mean)--monster possession team who can defend very well and control play--you can exchange some of that for some offensive 'pop'. IE Kaliyev next to Kopitar sort of thing.

It does have to be acknowledged though;

Gabbo completely grabbed another gear for that 2014 run. He completely removed all the flash that he previously relied on, and just became a grease monster around the net.

He willingly took more abuse in that single stretch in 2014, than the rest of his career combined. It was something to behold, seeing a guy completely change his identity in order to win.

 

[Jungle Boy]

Walker + Grundy + Strand for Soucy and Jarnkrok

 

[Reclamation Project]

Wonder how much Eberle would cost. Another player I like on a lousy team.