GDT: Loss Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers 3/20/17 6:00pm PST, 790KABC FSW

[LAKings88]

I'm of the opinion that LA needs to adapt to the new NHL speed.

I'm worried too because LA has had its identity for so long, I wonder if the personnel can adapt.

How much different are systems from one another really?

 

[SmellOfVictory]

I'm not so convinced, if only because we were close to leading the league in impact man games lost due to injury; we stayed afloat all year despite a total **** show. The thing that DOES surprise me is how bad we've been here at the end, nearly completely healthy, with everything to play for, and the perfect schedule. And not just bad, like sloppy; bad, like heartless, no emotion. We're playing WORSE with our nearly full lineup that SHOULD be motivated than we did with an injury depleted lineup full of excuses. Iginla having to fight says everything to me about the current state of the franchise.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't think this team was a contender, but it sure should have been at least a wild card team, and when you look at how and why we lost some of those points, people predicting that weren't totally foolish.

I see a lot of lack of execution, myself. There may be a lack of intensity (good thing you don't have Bobby Ryan, too!), but from what I saw over the last three games, the Kings players are just always in the wrong position for the puck to get to them on broken plays, can't get it to settle down, flub passes, take muffin shots. It looks a tiny bit like they're cursed, to be honest.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I'm not so convinced, if only because we were close to leading the league in impact man games lost due to injury; we stayed afloat all year despite a total **** show. The thing that DOES surprise me is how bad we've been here at the end, nearly completely healthy, with everything to play for, and the perfect schedule. And not just bad, like sloppy; bad, like heartless, no emotion. We're playing WORSE with our nearly full lineup that SHOULD be motivated than we did with an injury depleted lineup full of excuses. Iginla having to fight says everything to me about the current state of the franchise.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't think this team was a contender, but it sure should have been at least a wild card team, and when you look at how and why we lost some of those points, people predicting that weren't totally foolish.

I agree, it's like when everybody expected the Kings to turn it on they turned out the lights. These losses aren't close, the Kings fall behind early, go into a coma and then try to turn it on with about 3 minutes left. No big hits, the cycle has disappeared, just dump it down low and try to work it back to the point for a shot that won't get through from a stationary defensemen.

 

[kingsfan28]

No team in the playoffs has a negative W/L ratio in regulation. They started out 0-6-5 in regulation before they won their first game in 60 minutes on Nov 5th. They were 2-9-6 in regulation on Nov 15th after their first extended road trip of the season. Their only 2 regulation wins during that time were the 5-0 and 7-0 blowouts against the Flames and Leafs. They've been a 3v3 OT mirage all year. They started out 0-3, then couldn't hold a late lead on the road against Dallas, and then lost a 3-0 lead at home to Vancouver. Heading into the bye week, they were in a playoff spot, and then went 1-4 in the first 5 games after the bye week, 6-8-3 total since the bye, and 4-8-5 in regulation since the bye.

They were done long before any games against Arizona or Vancouver.

Part of the reason we've had so many OT comes down to scoring, period! The lack of finish by this team is mindblowing! I bet 90 pct of the OT's were 2-2 .

 

[kingsfan28]

I agree, it's like when everybody expected the Kings to turn it on they turned out the lights. These losses aren't close, the Kings fall behind early, go into a coma and then try to turn it on with about 3 minutes left. No big hits, the cycle has disappeared, just dump it down low and try to work it back to the point for a shot that won't get through from a stationary defensemen.

That;s Sutter hockey right there. Even Doughty said a few weeks ago he wishes the team could get in closer to the circles to generate better chances. This is the most inept team I've see at getting shots through from the point.

 

[Kingspiracy]

I see a lot of lack of execution, myself. There may be a lack of intensity (good thing you don't have Bobby Ryan, too!), but from what I saw over the last three games, the Kings players are just always in the wrong position for the puck to get to them on broken plays, can't get it to settle down, flub passes, take muffin shots. It looks a tiny bit like they're cursed, to be honest.

Nice to get an outside opinion. If you think they looked cursed in the last three games, you should have seen the start of the season, injuries to key guys every second game. They loved hitting posts too.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

I see a lot of lack of execution, myself. There may be a lack of intensity (good thing you don't have Bobby Ryan, too!), but from what I saw over the last three games, the Kings players are just always in the wrong position for the puck to get to them on broken plays, can't get it to settle down, flub passes, take muffin shots. It looks a tiny bit like they're cursed, to be honest.

I agree. Those in the locker room and Jon Rosen have often said that this a very close, committed and confident team. I don't think it's laziness or lack of intensity. We saw passes being off and Carter and Lewis overstating them, leading to turnovers and of course, goals against. The execution is awful and they just seem out of sync with each other on the ice. The balance isn't there.

One oof he reasons I loved to "hate" Chicago a few years ago was because it was thrilling to see two elite teams go to battle against each other, each team working like a well-oiled machine. Calgary and Edmonton will be there before too long, two strong rivals going at it, instead of one team running around in confusion.

 

[Herby]

Teams like Calgary and SJ got smart, and adjusted by getting faster and more skilled, teams finally stopped trying to go through the Kings and started to go around them.

Even if Gaborik, Kopitar, Toffoli and Doughty were all having average seasons we still had issues with a lack of skill, with bow these guys have played we are bottom 1/4 in the league as far as skilled players.

 

[kingsfan28]

Teams like Calgary and SJ got smart, and adjusted by getting faster and more skilled, teams finally stopped trying to go through the Kings and started to go around them.

Even if Gaborik, Kopitar, Toffoli and Doughty were all having average seasons we still had issues with a lack of skill, with bow these guys have played we are bottom 1/4 in the league as far as skilled players.

When you get past the top six, really there's nothing there to even hope for a goal unless you counted a puck bouncing off a players like King or Nolan, who was facing the wrong way and it goes off his ass.

Calgary also benefited from drafting in the bottom 10 year after year and targeted skilled players. These guys are paying off years later and thriving in their system. They, like other young teams will face the Cap crunch eventually, especially in the next few years when Elliot wants 6 mil.

 

[KINGS17]

When you get past the top six, really there's nothing there to even hope for a goal unless you counted a puck bouncing off a players like King or Nolan, who was facing the wrong way and it goes off his ass.

Calgary also benefited from drafting in the bottom 10 year after year and targeted skilled players. These guys are paying off years later and thriving in their system. They, like other young teams will face the Cap crunch eventually, especially in the next few years when Elliot wants 6 mil.

Brian Elliott? The guy is 31 years old. He probably will not be the goalie which leads the Flames to deep playoff runs in the future.

Elliott is not a $6M per year goaltender. The only potentially "bad" contract I see on the Calgary books is Giordano. They have Monahan and Gaudreau locked up with very reasonable deals for the next 5-6 years.

 

[kingsfan28]

I agree. Those in the locker room and Jon Rosen have often said that this a very close, committed and confident team. I don't think it's laziness or lack of intensity. We saw passes being off and Carter and Lewis overstating them, leading to turnovers and of course, goals against. The execution is awful and they just seem out of sync with each other on the ice. The balance isn't there.

One oof he reasons I loved to "hate" Chicago a few years ago was because it was thrilling to see two elite teams go to battle against each other, each team working like a well-oiled machine. Calgary and Edmonton will be there before too long, two strong rivals going at it, instead of one team running around in confusion.

I agree, Even going back a few weeks ago. The Calgary game that went to OT, Kopitar makes a pass to Carter right in front of the net for lay up winner, and he shanks it , right off the heel of his stick, and Calgary ends up winning the game. A month earlier , that's a another GWG for him.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I'm of the opinion that LA needs to adapt to the new NHL speed.

I'm worried too because LA has had its identity for so long, I wonder if the personnel can adapt.

How much different are systems from one another really?

How much difference can a new coach make?

 

[kingsfan28]

Brian Elliott? The guy is 31 years old. He probably will not be the goalie which leads the Flames to deep playoff runs in the future.

Elliott is not a $6M per year goaltender. The only potentially "bad" contract I see on the Calgary books is Giordano. They have Monahan and Gaudreau locked up with very reasonable deals for the next 5-6 years.

He's one of the reasons they're where they are. Elliott is getting paid, bank on it! [pun intended]

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

How much difference can a new coach make?

It would have to be new coach and new gm. You need to bring in fresh blood with a whole new organizational philosophy and a coach which will make the Kings play a faster game

 

[KingsFan7824]

How much difference can a new coach make?

 

[KingsFan7824]

I'm not so convinced, if only because we were close to leading the league in impact man games lost due to injury; we stayed afloat all year despite a total **** show. The thing that DOES surprise me is how bad we've been here at the end, nearly completely healthy, with everything to play for, and the perfect schedule. And not just bad, like sloppy; bad, like heartless, no emotion. We're playing WORSE with our nearly full lineup that SHOULD be motivated than we did with an injury depleted lineup full of excuses. Iginla having to fight says everything to me about the current state of the franchise.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't think this team was a contender, but it sure should have been at least a wild card team, and when you look at how and why we lost some of those points, people predicting that weren't totally foolish.

In the last 8 games, Pearson has 0 goals, 1 assist, and 0 ES points. Carter has completely faded away. Just 2 empty net goals since the bye week, which was 17 games ago. Maybe teams have all of a sudden realized he was scoring goals all year long, and have finally tried to shut him down, but 2 EN goals in 17 games is not what an MVP does, or anywhere near an acceptable number for a player of Carter's talent. He was scoring this year too, so unless Sutter specifically told him to not score anymore, then you can't even blame Sutter on that one. In the 11 games since getting punched in the face, he has 0 ES points, with just 1 EN goal, which was actually a PP goal, and is a -10. Toffoli has 1 ES goal, and 2 total, in those same 11 games.

In these last 10 games, they really better not even bother showing up. Not when they're all but eliminated. They better go through the motions. I want to see them get through 60 minutes as quickly as possible. No fight, no effort, no going down swinging. They better lose 5-0 to the Jets tomorrow night. This core can still get into a top 10 pick position if they don't want it enough.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

It would have to be new coach and new gm. You need to bring in fresh blood with a whole new organizational philosophy and a coach which will make the Kings play a faster game

So then how do you explain the Boston Bruins?

 

[KINGS17]

He's one of the reasons they're where they are. Elliott is getting paid, bank on it! [pun intended]

Big mistake if they give Elliott long term and big money. Calgary is just starting their journey to contention. It wouldn't be a good idea for them to depend on Elliott for the long haul.

 

[KINGS17]

Certainly hasn't hurt Babcock's IQ.

 

[KINGS17]

In the last 8 games, Pearson has 0 goals, 1 assist, and 0 ES points. Carter has completely faded away. Just 2 empty net goals since the bye week, which was 17 games ago. Maybe teams have all of a sudden realized he was scoring goals all year long, and have finally tried to shut him down, but 2 EN goals in 17 games is not what an MVP does, or anywhere near an acceptable number for a player of Carter's talent. He was scoring this year too, so unless Sutter specifically told him to not score anymore, then you can't even blame Sutter on that one. In the 11 games since getting punched in the face, he has 0 ES points, with just 1 EN goal, which was actually a PP goal, and is a -10. Toffoli has 1 ES goal, and 2 total, in those same 11 games.

In these last 10 games, they really better not even bother showing up. Not when they're all but eliminated. They better go through the motions. I want to see them get through 60 minutes as quickly as possible. No fight, no effort, no going down swinging. They better lose 5-0 to the Jets tomorrow night. This core can still get into a top 10 pick position if they don't want it enough.

We should just face it. The Kings don't have an MVP this season.

There is no better time to move Carter than this off season. I appreciate everything he has done for the Kings, but I think we have to face the reality of Carter being a great supporting player when he is on a contending team. The Kings aren't a contending team, so he looks like an MVP to some of us.

 

[AlphaBravo]

We should just face it. The Kings don't have an MVP this season.

There is no better time to move Carter than this off season. I appreciate everything he has done for the Kings, but I think we have to face the reality of Carter being a great supporting player when he is on a contending team. The Kings aren't a contending team, so he looks like an MVP to some of us.

I am all for moving Carter if we can get the right return. If we are moving him for just picks, we might as well completely rebuild. However, if we can move him and one of our picks, for two NHL roster forwards on their entry level contracts and with top 6 potential, then its worth it.

Or, alternatively, if we can move Martinez and Carter in the off season in two separate moves that will bring us back a Barkov type center, and a young winger on entry level contract for Martinez, that would be ideal. We would probably miss the playoffs again next year, but I think in 2018-2019 we would be competitive.

 

[lexlavender]

We should just face it. The Kings don't have an MVP this season.

There is no better time to move Carter than this off season. I appreciate everything he has done for the Kings, but I think we have to face the reality of Carter being a great supporting player when he is on a contending team. The Kings aren't a contending team, so he looks like an MVP to some of us.

#1: He was an MVP. If he didn't completely fall off the Earth near the end of the season, he'd get Hart votes for sure. He's the only reason we'd stayed even close to playoffs for most of the season.

#2: You only move Carter if you get back another young center in exchange, or you have another deal lined up for that center.

 

[sinister6000]

The oldest player on the team is the only one that still has some fight on this team. That's pretty pathetic, there needs to be some changes with the roll players on this team. Calgary, Edmonton, and Arizona are sick of getting pushed around by teams like the Kings. Now they are the teams doing the pushing, and handing out the extra cheap shots.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I am all for moving Carter if we can get the right return. If we are moving him for just picks, we might as well completely rebuild. However, if we can move him and one of our picks, for two NHL roster forwards on their entry level contracts and with top 6 potential, then its worth it.

Or, alternatively, if we can move Martinez and Carter in the off season in two separate moves that will bring us back a Barkov type center, and a young winger on entry level contract for Martinez, that would be ideal. We would probably miss the playoffs again next year, but I think in 2018-2019 we would be competitive.

I doubt Doughty could even bring back a Barkov type center. Not knowingly a Barkov type center anyway. Maybe the pick, like a year ahead of time, that could become that guy. Back in 2007 or 2008, are you trading Kopitar for a 27 year old defenseman who was a couple years away from being a UFA? So I wouldn't think you'd get that guy for a 32 year old Carter either.

The Kings would have to get a Barkov type center with their own pick, probably after being bad, and finishing in the bottom 3. You can get a lot for Carter, but it won't be that much. They might get the equivalent of Johnson(at the time) and a 1st, if they luck out. He's not a 27 year old Jeff Carter anymore. He's getting closer to the time when he probably stops scoring, then probably continues to score. Not saying he will stop, but the odds would be that he would.

Every GM knows where the Kings are right now. Cap issues, big contracts, underperforming on the ice. Lombardi doesn't have that much leverage. He wouldn't have to just take whatever if he dealt Carter, but there aren't that many teams that would be in a position to fully utilize a 32/33 year old Carter, and have something good enough to trade, to make you trade him. A contender probably doesn't have the cap space, rebuilding teams wouldn't need him, teams on the downswing might be desperate, but most likely it's a team on the upswing, but you won't get their best young player. Like you couldn't trade Carter and Martinez to Florida for Barkov.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Why are we trading Carter again? To maybe get a player that maybe will be as good as him in 4-5 years?

Unless you can get rid of Kopitar, Quick, Gaborik, and everyone else, trading Carter makes zero sense.

The half measure rebuild is going to keep us firmly in the black hole.