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

[BigKing]

Most everyone was dogshit last night but Grundstrom was pretty awful.

Still don't see them sitting Brown so I imagine the JAD call-up would be based on taking another shot at filling that spot next to Byfield and Brown.

 

[funky]

Our luck they sit QB out for JAD. 23 too important on the PP to sit.

Love Dustin but he can sit here and there to freshen up the legs.

 

[lumbergh]

Judging by performance, Byfield or Brown should sit for JAD, but it's generally going to be the guys near the margins, so Lemieux or Grundstrom are more likely candidates. They're not going to bring up JAD just to have him sit for a week.

 

[Schmooley]

23 too important on the PP to sit.

Are you joking or is this statement for real?

 

[Johnny Utah]

Why is Brown still on the roster? And Byfield hasn't really impressed me. I actually liked Kupari's first half of the season better than Byfield's game.

 

[Fishhead]

I wouldn't use last night's game as an indicator or as reasoning for anything. I think big picture-wise the 3rd is the only thing that really needs tweaking. That, and pretty much anyone could be put next to Lizotte and Lemieux.

 

[funky]

Are you joking or is this statement for real?

To be clear - I don't want Brown anywhere near the PP - totally sarcastic on the last post.

- I played goalie for years at a decent level. I am not sure how the Kings players don't recognize that every time they pass back to the point the goalie has a chance to reset. The teams that kept it hashmarks lower and would shoot constant had a way better chance of catching me out of position or keeping my eyes busy I would lose track of players positions and therefor lost an anticipation of a possible pass.

Brown stands in front of the net and does nothing. He watches Drew and Anze play catch. Can Byfield not provided the same thing but with a bigger body to screen the goalie and faster reflexes to get at the loose net front pucks?

We have a weapon in Kaliyev who could be Ovi light that plays at the point?

Coach should build two power play units - The old and the new and give them equal time. Rotate the #1 unit throughout the game and see who has more effect:



Kopitar - Arviddson - Brown- Iafallo - Drew

Byfield - Kaliyev - Kempe - Durzi - Bjornfot - ------ Add Vilardi if he is called up


I would bet the young guys come out on top

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

This is either a showcase or it's going to be JAD's last chance to stick as a King long-term.

I have always been a big fan of this guys game, from when he first played for the Kings as a teenager. I think the issue for him is he just got passed over by Lizotte, that was supposed to be his spot long-term and he just got beat out.



If the Kings sat Brown for JAD they would have 11/1 left vs right forwards. It would be like the opposite of your typical American beer league team.

Blake needs to trade for a right-shot forward.

Trade with Ontario for Vilardi!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

 

[cyclones22]

Trade with Ontario for Vilardi!

Or hell, give Madden a cup of coffee. He's playing well and is a right-hand shot with a 17% shooting percentage. Gabe is at 21% for those curious.

 

[Steve Zissou]

With JAD recall for the upcoming trip I'd love to see this:

Kempe / Kopitar / Kaliyev
Moore / Danault / Arvidsson
Grundstrom / Byfield / Iafallo
Lemieux / Lizotte / JAD

(damn, come to think of it we have a ton of lefties in this group now. Only righty would be Arvidsson)

But there is no chance Brown is sat at this stage in his career, especially for a younger player just called up.

 

[Little Psycho]

maybe he's being called up just to warm up the pressbox.

Lol yup.

Same lines in practice today.

JAD -Andersson -AA on the extra line.

 

[Herby]

Trade with Ontario for Vilardi!

Yet another player called up over him. I Don't think the Kings trust him to play in a playoff race, right or wrong. The Kings are saying the right things about him, but their actions continue to say otherwise. I think last season they really soured on him, and the beginning of this year confirmed those views in their eyes. Nothing else makes any sense.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

To be clear - I don't want Brown anywhere near the PP - totally sarcastic on the last post.

- I played goalie for years at a decent level. I am not sure how the Kings players don't recognize that every time they pass back to the point the goalie has a chance to reset. The teams that kept it hashmarks lower and would shoot constant had a way better chance of catching me out of position or keeping my eyes busy I would lose track of players positions and therefor lost an anticipation of a possible pass.

Brown stands in front of the net and does nothing. He watches Drew and Anze play catch. Can Byfield not provided the same thing but with a bigger body to screen the goalie and faster reflexes to get at the loose net front pucks?

We have a weapon in Kaliyev who could be Ovi light that plays at the point?

Coach should build two power play units - The old and the new and give them equal time. Rotate the #1 unit throughout the game and see who has more effect:



Kopitar - Arviddson - Brown- Iafallo - Drew

Byfield - Kaliyev - Kempe - Durzi - Bjornfot - ------ Add Vilardi if he is called up


I would bet the young guys come out on top

Willing to bet dollars to donuts, that whatever level you played at, however many years ago, the PK was a passive box....that's changed....there's no hanging at the hashmarks now.....it's constant puck movement, trying to catch the D out of position to filter a pass through....even the Kings aren't looking for point shots, they aren't trying to score from the point, they are trying to score off the cross ice passes....to do that, you have to pull the PKers out of position, and that's with constant passing, puck movement etc.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Yet another player called up over him. I Don't think the Kings trust him to play in a playoff race, right or wrong. The Kings are saying the right things about him, but their actions continue to say otherwise. I think last season they really soured on him, and the beginning of this year confirmed those views in their eyes. Nothing else makes any sense.

JAD is LH and Vilardi is RH. Since Vilardi is now RW, he would have to replace 1 of: Kempe, Arvidsson, Brown or Kaliyev. It makes sense to replace Brown, but they won't do that. JAD can replace Grundstrom or even play center.
Grundstrom looked good his first game back, but not as good, last 2. I think they would put JAD in for him, one of next 2 games. I'd love to see JAD-BYFIELD-VILARDI though.

 

[mysterman2]

With JAD recall for the upcoming trip I'd love to see this:

Kempe / Kopitar / Kaliyev
Moore / Danault / Arvidsson
Grundstrom / Byfield / Iafallo
Lemieux / Lizotte / JAD

(damn, come to think of it we have a ton of lefties in this group now. Only righty would be Arvidsson)

But there is no chance Brown is sat at this stage in his career, especially for a younger player just called up.

not sure kaliyev has the wheels to keep up with Kopi and Kempe...Iafallo a great fit with Byfield though- i like that idea.
JAD has some wheels so wouldnt mind him getting a shot on the 1st line.

 

[Herby]

JAD is LH and Vilardi is RH. Since Vilardi is now RW, he would have to replace 1 of: Kempe, Arvidsson, Brown or Kaliyev. It makes sense to replace Brown, but they won't do that. JAD can replace Grundstrom or even play center.
Grundstrom looked good his first game back, but not as good, last 2. I think they would put JAD in for him, one of next 2 games. I'd love to see JAD-BYFIELD-VILARDI though.

Brown has played plenty of left wing in his career. If they thought Vilardi was a better player than JAD they could have gone that route, especially since the roster is still lacking a bit in the skill department.

Just tough to say they believe in Vilardi with all the guys given a chance since he was demoted.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If they bench Grundstrom, I riot. Alone. In my living room.

There's not a guy who's been screwed more frequently this year. JAD is close I guess but on performance/effort, especially with respect to having NO roster rhythm (3 games in, two months off, etc), that's not the guy you pull.

 

[YP44]

With JAD recall for the upcoming trip I'd love to see this:

Kempe / Kopitar / Kaliyev
Moore / Danault / Arvidsson
Grundstrom / Byfield / Iafallo
Lemieux / Lizotte / JAD

(damn, come to think of it we have a ton of lefties in this group now. Only righty would be Arvidsson)

But there is no chance Brown is sat at this stage in his career, especially for a younger player just called up.

Being right handed is one of the things that I like about Vilardi too.
I would swap Iaffalo and grundstrom and then Grundstrom and Brown. Iafallo and Brown have worked well in the past.

 

[YP44]

If they bench Grundstrom, I riot. Alone. In my living room.

There's not a guy who's been screwed more frequently this year. JAD is close I guess but on performance/effort, especially with respect to having NO roster rhythm (3 games in, two months off, etc), that's not the guy you pull.

When there are too many guys there are bound to be some who are "screwed" I think Vilardi was given too short of a leash and should be back up.

 

[BigKing]

Brown has played plenty of left wing in his career. If they thought Vilardi was a better player than JAD they could have gone that route, especially since the roster is still lacking a bit in the skill department.

Just tough to say they believe in Vilardi with all the guys given a chance since he was demoted.

JAD's numbers from last season weren't terribly off from Vilardi's when you look at pace. He was looking great until the shoulder injury.

I think you have to look at 52 hits in 34 games for JAD compared to 18 in 54 for Vilardi. If JAD eventually slots in, it will probably be on the third line that consists of poor defensive players. JAD makes more sense as a better defensive player and faster skater that can actually get in on the forecheck and play T-Mac's system. When you look at that and his current hot streak, it isn't shocking that he would get the call ahead of Vilardi.

I think Management has seen enough at the NHL level, obviously, to believe he isn't going to cut it as a center. They saw enough of all the center prospects to feel Danault was necessary. Maybe Vilardi can be a center in the NHL but not in T-Mac's system. He has all that skill though so you try to get what you can out of it, hence the move to wing. While not getting a call-up might hurt his confidence, flopping at wing in the midst of an NHL playoff race might be worse for him and his potential trade value. It really seems like they want to keep him in Ontario the rest of the way and let him hopefully continue to shred it up while being a leader.

 

[kinghock]

With JAD recall for the upcoming trip I'd love to see this:

Kempe / Kopitar / Kaliyev
Moore / Danault / Arvidsson
Grundstrom / Byfield / Iafallo
Lemieux / Lizotte / JAD

(damn, come to think of it we have a ton of lefties in this group now. Only righty would be Arvidsson)

But there is no chance Brown is sat at this stage in his career, especially for a younger player just called up.

What about this?
Kempe / Kopitar / Kaliyev
Moore / Danault / Arvidsson
Vilardi/ Byfield / Iafallo
Lemieux / Lizotte / JAD

 

[Steve Zissou]

not sure kaliyev has the wheels to keep up with Kopi and Kempe...

Your're missing the forest from the trees – Kempe can be speedy Gonzalez up the ice with his jersey flapping in the wind, Kopitar will still be a horse with the puck, and that leaves Kaliyev open in the slot for his dynamic shot.

Hell, of all players Kaliyev has been staples to 4th line with Lemieux and Lizotte all year... whodathunk!?

 

[LAKings88]

Didn’t Blake say something about Vilardi playing with pace? How is his pace in the AHL?

 

[apocalypse]

What do you guys think about signing Kessel this offseason? He's signed at 6.8m right now and is a UFA. He's still serviceable. Could look good on Byfields wing and is only 34. Could get a bargain for him as he's in his latter years. Thoughts?