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

[johnjm22]

Yup, the Kings had no problem handing Kopitar the 1C job on his arrival. I don't see why this should be any different.

You can't be serious.

There's a lightyear difference between 19 year old Kopitar and 19 year old Byfield.

Give QB more minutes, put him in a better situation, sure. But having him play 20 minutes a night when he's clearly struggling can't be good for his development. That's what desperate organizations do.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

You can't be serious.

There's a lightyear difference between 19 year old Kopitar and 19 year old Byfield.

Give QB more minutes, put him in a better situation, sure. But having him play 20 minutes a night when he's clearly struggling can't be good for his development. That's what desperate organizations do.

Not to mention, the Kings didn’t have a #1 center when Kopitar arrived. In 2022, the Kings have a #1 center, a #2 center and now Byfield.

Do we really need to rehash what the ‘plan’ is for Byfield? NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

 

[bland]

You can't be serious.

There's a lightyear difference between 19 year old Kopitar and 19 year old Byfield.

Give QB more minutes, put him in a better situation, sure. But having him play 20 minutes a night when he's clearly struggling can't be good for his development. That's what desperate organizations do.

Completely disagree. He isn't struggling for a 19 year old breaking in to the league, he is "struggling" as a 3rd line center on a team chasing the playoffs. The pressure is changing the perception, but this is exactly what should be expected out of someone so young and so new to the league.

The pressure to perform is artificially magnified due to the team being desperate to succeed now. Remove that desperation and playoff hope, play Byfield, Turcotte and Vilardi now so they get the baby steps out of the way in a harmless situation, let them find their way in their best roles and accept the lumps.

That is all part and parcel of a rebuild. This isn't a veteran team that abnormally sucked for one year and got lucky in the lottery. This is a truly bad team that earned its high picks and foolishly decided that the best route wasn't to groom the next generation of highly skilled players, but instead to augment the core that had so clearly spoiled by adding even more veteran players.

And those additions aren't supporting the core, they are leading the damn team and putting the core right where they should be - supporting roles. Except they aren't supporting the fruits of the rebuild, which is the only path back to the top - they are supporting 2nd line veteran additions.

The core need to understand that they will never compete in this league again until new leaders and top line players are truly running the show. Our management is a group of players who ran well past their best-by dates and there is nothing to suggest that they understand that the Cup core can no longer play at a contending level.

So while a lot of the miscreants here want us to shut up and enjoy the "success" of the year, they and apparently the management and veteran players are all well and truly blind to the fact that this year really is just spinning tires in their own man made mud.

And the kids - the only real hope - are getting hurt by it.

 

[johnjm22]

Not to mention, the Kings didn’t have a #1 center when Kopitar arrived. In 2022, the Kings have a #1 center, a #2 center and now Byfield.

Do we really need to rehash what the ‘plan’ is for Byfield? NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

Even with Kopitar and Danault in the lineup, I’d be fine with Byfield being the number 1 center if he were as good as 19 year old Kopitar. But he’s not.

 

[apocalypse]

Even with Kopitar and Danault in the lineup, I’d be fine with Byfield being the number 1 center if he were as good as 19 year old Kopitar. But he’s not.

The kings weren't a playoff team when Kopitar broke into the league.

 

[johnjm22]

The kings weren't a playoff team when Kopitar broke into the league.

Your point?

 

[johnjm22]

Completely disagree. He isn't struggling for a 19 year old breaking in to the league, he is "struggling" as a 3rd line center on a team chasing the playoffs. The pressure is changing the perception, but this is exactly what should be expected out of someone so young and so new to the league.

The pressure to perform is artificially magnified due to the team being desperate to succeed now. Remove that desperation and playoff hope, play Byfield, Turcotte and Vilardi now so they get the baby steps out of the way in a harmless situation, let them find their way in their best roles and accept the lumps.

That is all part and parcel of a rebuild. This isn't a veteran team that abnormally sucked for one year and got lucky in the lottery. This is a truly bad team that earned its high picks and foolishly decided that the best route wasn't to groom the next generation of highly skilled players, but instead to augment the core that had so clearly spoiled by adding even more veteran players.

And those additions aren't supporting the core, they are leading the damn team and putting the core right where they should be - supporting roles. Except they aren't supporting the fruits of the rebuild, which is the only path back to the top - they are supporting 2nd line veteran additions.

The core need to understand that they will never compete in this league again until new leaders and top line players are truly running the show. Our management is a group of players who ran well past their best-by dates and there is nothing to suggest that they understand that the Cup core can no longer play at a contending level.

So while a lot of the miscreants here want us to shut up and enjoy the "success" of the year, they and apparently the management and veteran players are all well and truly blind to the fact that this year really is just spinning tires in their own man made mud.

And the kids - the only real hope - are getting hurt by it.

There's some legitimate criticisms to be made about the Kings handling of the situation, but a prospect has to demonstrate a certain level of competency before being elevated.

Fans are impatient. They want the new toys NOW!

But unless a prospect is obviously there, it's usually best to take a long term conservative approach in developing them. With Byfield we're not talking about a player that's been on a tear since being drafted.

Surely there has to be a middle ground between putting a bunch of weight on his shoulders, and doing what they're doing with him right now.

 

[Schmooley]

There's some legitimate criticisms to be made about the Kings handling of the situation, but a prospect has to demonstrate a certain level of competency before being elevated.

Fans are impatient. They want the new toys NOW!

But unless a prospect is obviously there, it's usually best to take a long term conservative approach in developing them. With Byfield we're not talking about a player that's been on a tear since being drafted.

Surely there has to be a middle ground between putting a bunch of weight on his shoulders, and doing what they're doing with him right now.

If they fall out of the playoffs they should put Kempe and Kaliyev on his wings and put him on the top pp unit and tell him go out there and play like theres no tomorrow. Just let him loose. If he makes a mistake watch the video and clean it up but he shouldnt stapled to the bench for it.

 

[King'sPawn]

Fans are impatient. They want the new toys NOW!

This again?

 

[apocalypse]

Your point?

Kopitar played on a shit team. This team is much better and structured. Harder to break in on. Not to mention Byfield is being rushed.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Two years later, and the Toffoli trade is looking mighty better for the Kings given the development of Brock Faber, plus Tyler Madden is having quite a productive season in Ontario.

 

[killermiller]

The more I think of it the more i'm convinced Athanasiou might be a bigger problem on the 3rd line than Brown. He had negative chemistry on every line I can think of earlier when he was tried on the 2nd and 4th. The occasional breakaway goal is nice but doesn't make up for his shortcomings, I just don't think he fits well with the team right now.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

There's some legitimate criticisms to be made about the Kings handling of the situation, but a prospect has to demonstrate a certain level of competency before being elevated.

Fans are impatient. They want the new toys NOW!

But unless a prospect is obviously there, it's usually best to take a long term conservative approach in developing them. With Byfield we're not talking about a player that's been on a tear since being drafted.

Surely there has to be a middle ground between putting a bunch of weight on his shoulders, and doing what they're doing with him right now.

Let me put the record on again.

Reduce Kopitar's minutes from 22-24 back to 18
Increase Byfields to 15

Done.



Elite players need touches with the puck and massive time to be the players they can be. Obviously there's a huge jump between floating 25 minutes through JRs and playing 20 minutes in the pros but you can't take these guys who have been 'the guy' on various teams, play them in 8 minutes with plugs, and wonder why they aren't more effective. You're going to turn them into great checkers, sure. But I don't want Kaliyev to to be Dwight King, I want him to be Kaliyev. I WANT him to be launching rockets from the wing. The Kings have NO problems finding puck bloodhounds to get him the puck and play defense, stop turning him into something he's not and augment the weapon you have. Replace Kaliyev with ANY of our blue chip offensive prospects, the song is the same. Vilardi, Turcotte, Byfield. What's more likely--that each one of them is an awful bust, or that playing them 8 minutes on the worst line on the team was a stupid f***ing move?

This development team wants everyone to be 'responsible checkers in a defensive role' before they develop offense and it's absolutely killing the organization.

Yet, they have no problem deploying the league's biggest liability in Athanasiou on the PP and such over the rooks.

 

[cyclones22]

The more I think of it the more i'm convinced Athanasiou might be a bigger problem on the 3rd line than Brown. He had negative chemistry on every line I can think of earlier when he was tried on the 2nd and 4th. The occasional breakaway goal is nice but doesn't make up for his shortcomings, I just don't think he fits well with the team right now.

AA 100% is worse which is saying something. He drags down every single line that he plays on. Because he is strictly an offense only freelancer. He doesn't play within the system, cheats away from the puck and is rarely in good position to help his linemates. That line was much more dangerous and effective when Grundstrom was in his spot. They actually looked a part of the team philosophy. Now that line is just garbage. But Blake made a 3 million dollar mistake and essentially they're forced to play him somewhere.

 

[Stimpythecat]

The more I read about Chiarot, the less I want him.

 

[kilowatt]

The more I read about Chiarot, the less I want him.

Entirely uninterested in Chiarot. We don't need to supplement our roster at all really. We just need our prospects to take another step forward next year -- and be given the opportunity to do so, as well.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

i'd only be interested in Chiarot as either a UFA or extremely cheap and even then only if Edler is gone gone.

 

[Fishhead]

The Kings should be handling Byfield better, he needs more minutes with better linemates. He needs to see PP time and he needs to see some PK time as well to adjust to all situations. That much is plain.

It's also plain that Kopitar was in a different league than Byfield when he was 19. There are plenty of instances on the ice when Byfield has the puck in dangerous areas, just like Kopitar did when he was younger. The difference is Kopitar could exert his will, score, and do just about anything he wanted. Byfield is not near that level now, and if he does get to that level it's going to be a few years from now. Kopitar was that good, and he was already filled out. I remember seeing this picture of him with that ridiculous rookie hair standing next to Norstrom (who was 6' 2" and well over 200) and Anze just dwarfed him. He was listed at 225 but there is no freakin way, more like 240. I'll never forget that, he looked like this massive treasure troll.

This isn't a knock on Byfield at all, Kopitar was just that good. Let's not forget that he blew around Pronger in his first game and roofed it, he made him look like he was in juniors. Byfield doesn't have that in his toolbox at the pro level yet. I always try to just enjoy watching Kopitar now because there is a good chance we won't see the Kings draft someone that is so dominant off the bat for a very long time.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The Kings should be handling Byfield better, he needs more minutes with better linemates. He needs to see PP time and he needs to see some PK time as well to adjust to all situations. That much is plain.

It's also plain that Kopitar was in a different league than Byfield when he was 19. There are plenty of instances on the ice when Byfield has the puck in dangerous areas, just like Kopitar did when he was younger. The difference is Kopitar could exert his will, score, and do just about anything he wanted. Byfield is not near that level now, and if he does get to that level it's going to be a few years from now. Kopitar was that good, and he was already filled out. I remember seeing this picture of him with that ridiculous rookie hair standing next to Norstrom (who was 6' 2" and well over 200) and Anze just dwarfed him. He was listed at 225 but there is no freakin way, more like 240. I'll never forget that, he looked like this massive treasure troll.

This isn't a knock on Byfield at all, Kopitar was just that good. Let's not forget that he blew around Pronger in his first game and roofed it, he made him look like he was in juniors. Byfield doesn't have that in his toolbox at the pro level yet. I always try to just enjoy watching Kopitar now because there is a good chance we won't see the Kings draft someone that is so dominant off the bat for a very long time.

MOST people won't be so lucky. Kopitar and doughty were truly special. If Byfield even has close to Kopi's career, we'd be very, very lucky.

Agree on relative skill and size too. Byfield is a f***ing giant but he does truly have yet to fill out. He seems strong for his age/frame though. Just doesn't know how to use it yet. Kopitar was always good at shielding but he became one of the best in the league at using his body for protection. Great mentor for QB there who has a loooooong way to go with that but he also has a reach practically no one has...

 

[Ghetty Green]

According to Seravalli, Canucks getting lots of calls on Boeser…

Zero interest

 

[Statto]

Even it being a cherry-picked quote, I don't agree with it necessarily being negative as so many here seem to think. When I first read it, I thought of something like this.."we are going to push Byfield to be more assertive" -- that's it.

I agree. I didn’t think the quote was negative but the cherry picking certainly tried to imply it was.

 

[deaderhead28]

Sorry, i have to side with the other guys,
If a young 6'5 defender who really can play hockey is available, Iafallo will not be on the unavailable list

That's why 100% of HFBOARDS don't run and manage teams.You keep Iafallo and you lose a Matta and picks etc.

 

[LAKings88]

The Kings should be handling Byfield better, he needs more minutes with better linemates. He needs to see PP time and he needs to see some PK time as well to adjust to all situations. That much is plain.

It's also plain that Kopitar was in a different league than Byfield when he was 19. There are plenty of instances on the ice when Byfield has the puck in dangerous areas, just like Kopitar did when he was younger. The difference is Kopitar could exert his will, score, and do just about anything he wanted. Byfield is not near that level now, and if he does get to that level it's going to be a few years from now. Kopitar was that good, and he was already filled out. I remember seeing this picture of him with that ridiculous rookie hair standing next to Norstrom (who was 6' 2" and well over 200) and Anze just dwarfed him. He was listed at 225 but there is no freakin way, more like 240. I'll never forget that, he looked like this massive treasure troll.

This isn't a knock on Byfield at all, Kopitar was just that good. Let's not forget that he blew around Pronger in his first game and roofed it, he made him look like he was in juniors. Byfield doesn't have that in his toolbox at the pro level yet. I always try to just enjoy watching Kopitar now because there is a good chance we won't see the Kings draft someone that is so dominant off the bat for a very long time.

This. It’s hard to gauge him right now with deployment and wingers. Still wish I saw a bit more dominance even in his short opportunities.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

This. It’s hard to gauge him right now with deployment and wingers. Still wish I saw a bit more dominance even in his short opportunities.

Not his fault he's not dominating.....coach hates him, linemates suck, he only gets XXXX minutes a night....clearly not his fault that he isn't doing anything with the ice time given.....

 

[Magicman]

Yup, the Kings had no problem handing Kopitar the 1C job on his arrival. I don't see why this should be any different.

Kopitar would still get most of his current minutes, but it should be Byfield on the #1 PP, and Byfield playing with the two best wingers on the team, not Kopitar.

Incorrect.

Kopitar was going to start the season in the minors, McCauley who had off knee surgery couldn't answer the bell and the Kings kept Kopitar with the big club. Then Kopitar went out and earned the #1 C.