New LIne Combos for Sharks game

[Herby]

Finally!

This had to be done for many reasons and I am happy it's finally happened.

1. Kings need to get Kopi going, he is the most important forward and most important player outside of Quick. Kopi has not played well the past 15 or so games, if he doesn't get going for the playoffs we are in trouble, putting him on a line with our second best forward makes to much sense.

2. LOL at the people who insist Carter and Richards belong together, they have played almost all season together at ES and Mike Richards 5 on 5 offensive production is about the same as Jarret Stoll's (while playing with more talented players), he also has a team worst -7, sure doesn't seem like there is all this magic worth keeping them together. MR's own erratic play 5 on 5 is why he is centering the line he is.

3. By all indications the PP will remain the same, which is a good thing, because Richards, Carter, Doughty, Kopitar and Brown have been showing quite a bit of quality movement and scoring the past 10 games.

Pretty damn excited to see what Kopitar and Carter can do together tomorrow night.

 

[HolyShot*]

I like kopitar with carter and I've been wanting to see that for a long time but the other changes...wtf? Toffoli on the 4th line? Way to wreck a kid. King on the 2nd with richards? That worked when we were a hard working team but we don't work hard anymore.

 

[KopitarFAN]

So when Brown comes back, does he shuffle them up all again?

Nah, he'll just put him in Toffoli's spot on the 4th line.

Seriously though, I imagine things will get put back largely the way they were when Brown is back in the lineup.

 

[Winger23]

TT Kopi Williams
Clifford Richards carter
King stoll lewis
Any combination of Richardson penner nolan fraser.

TT will be a bit loss on his off wing but he is with the best defensive forward in kopi.

Carter and Richards could use Clifford to do the dirty work giving them space.

Lewis and stoll stay together. I don't know just my 2 cents worth as I'm not a coach

 

[Puck U]

Sutter does this every now and again, especially when the team is playing poorly and not the typical "KINGS/Sutter" hockey we grew accustom to in the Playoffs ...

to try and reinforce his "it's not WHO you play with but HOW you play" mantra to try and get the guys playing simple hockey ...

just play like we've practiced 100 x's before, and don't try to get cute or fancy ... north/south , cycle around the corners behind the net , take the body and finish your checks , etc.

Unfortunately it seems as if the guys aren't DOING that just now, hopefully it's just a bump in the road and they can turn it on once the playoffs start ... we'll see.

=====================================

Also, if you look at them like THIS ...

#13 Kyle Clifford - #11 Anze Kopitar ‘A’ - #77 Jeff Carter
#25 Dustin Penner - #28 Jarret Stoll - #14 Justin Williams
#74 Dwight King - #10 Mike Richards - #22 Trevor Lewis
#73 Tyler Toffoli - #15 Brad Richardson - #71 Jordan Nolan

They don't look that out of whack ... Cliffy in for Brown, Carter & Williams swap, Stoll and Richards swap, and Toffoli in ... meh, not as doom and gloom as one would READ from you guys here ... lol

 

[kingsfan28]

We don't know but would assume Quick.

Neither! The Kings will call up Martin Jones and start him. I mean, if the lines are worse than the last game , why not mess up the goalies too! /sarcasm

 

[The Butcher]

Sutter does this every now and again, especially when the team is playing poorly and not the typical "KINGS/Sutter" hockey we grew accustom to in the Playoffs ...

to try and reinforce his "it's not WHO you play with but HOW you play" mantra to try and get the guys playing simple hockey ...

just play like we've practiced 100 x's before, and don't try to get cute or fancy ... north/south , cycle around the corners behind the net , take the body and finish your checks , etc.

Unfortunately it seems as if the guys aren't DOING that just now, hopefully it's just a bump in the road and they can turn it on once the playoffs start ... we'll see.

=====================================

Also, if you look at them like THIS ...

#13 Kyle Clifford - #11 Anze Kopitar ‘A’ - #77 Jeff Carter
#25 Dustin Penner - #28 Jarret Stoll - #14 Justin Williams
#74 Dwight King - #10 Mike Richards - #22 Trevor Lewis
#73 Tyler Toffoli - #15 Brad Richardson - #71 Jordan Nolan

They don't look that out of whack ... Cliffy in for Brown, Carter & Williams swap, Stoll and Richards swap, and Toffoli in ... meh, not as doom and gloom as one would READ from you guys here ... lol

Has Carter played on a line with Kopi yet this season?

 

[jml87]

Finally!

This had to be done for many reasons and I am happy it's finally happened.

1. Kings need to get Kopi going, he is the most important forward and most important player outside of Quick. Kopi has not played well the past 15 or so games, if he doesn't get going for the playoffs we are in trouble, putting him on a line with our second best forward makes to much sense.

2. LOL at the people who insist Carter and Richards belong together, they have played almost all season together at ES and Mike Richards 5 on 5 offensive production is about the same as Jarret Stoll's (while playing with more talented players), he also has a team worst -7, sure doesn't seem like there is all this magic worth keeping them together. MR's own erratic play 5 on 5 is why he is centering the line he is.

3. By all indications the PP will remain the same, which is a good thing, because Richards, Carter, Doughty, Kopitar and Brown have been showing quite a bit of quality movement and scoring the past 10 games.

Pretty damn excited to see what Kopitar and Carter can do together tomorrow night.

So you're completely throwing out the fact that Richards and Carter have been on a line all year that has a revolving door for a winger. Jeff Carter has scored 26 goals this year and has had 7 assists. Richards' passing has been a big part of him scoring all those goals this year. Do you think if you moved Stoll up to take Richards place that Carter would have nearly as many goals?

His start is why that +/- is so bad. Carter himself is at even, which doesn't make much sense either. Richards has been one of the Kings' best forwards this year. You cannot give Carter all the credit for this year and Carter would be the first one to credit Richards' play for the amount of goals he has. Richards' passes, Carter shoots. It's the reason why Carter doesn't have that many assists and Richards doesn't have as many goals. They know where to go and they don't have to worry about what the other is doing. If they had a competent winger their line would be awesome 5 on 5, but they don't and they still are 2nd and 3rd in points.

 

[The Butcher]

So you're completely throwing out the fact that Richards and Carter have been on a line all year that has a revolving door for a winger. Jeff Carter has scored 26 goals this year and has had 7 assists. Richards' passing has been a big part of him scoring all those goals this year. Do you think if you moved Stoll up to take Richards place that Carter would have nearly as many goals?

His start is why that +/- is so bad. Carter himself is at even, which doesn't make much sense either. Richards has been one of the Kings' best forwards this year. You cannot give Carter all the credit for this year and Carter would be the first one to credit Richards' play for the amount of goals he has. Richards' passes, Carter shoots. It's the reason why Carter doesn't have that many assists and Richards doesn't have as many goals. They know where to go and they don't have to worry about what the other is doing. If they had a competent winger their line would be awesome 5 on 5, but they don't and they still are 2nd and 3rd in points.

Meh, I don't know how much I agree with this. While I certainly think Rick and Carts have chemistry there were times this season you could have put Carter out there with Trent Hunter and Derek Armstrong and the guy would still score goals. The dude has been on an absolute mission this season.

 

[deeshamrock]

So you're completely throwing out the fact that Richards and Carter have been on a line all year that has a revolving door for a winger. Jeff Carter has scored 26 goals this year and has had 7 assists. Richards' passing has been a big part of him scoring all those goals this year. Do you think if you moved Stoll up to take Richards place that Carter would have nearly as many goals?

His start is why that +/- is so bad. Carter himself is at even, which doesn't make much sense either. Richards has been one of the Kings' best forwards this year. You cannot give Carter all the credit for this year and Carter would be the first one to credit Richards' play for the amount of goals he has. Richards' passes, Carter shoots. It's the reason why Carter doesn't have that many assists and Richards doesn't have as many goals. They know where to go and they don't have to worry about what the other is doing. If they had a competent winger their line would be awesome 5 on 5, but they don't and they still are 2nd and 3rd in points.

Well thought out, but you're wasting your breath here. Herby doesn't like MR and the fact that he's assisted on 14 of JC's goals means nothing to him, or the fact that most of the -7 was not due to MR play rather the play around him. And as you pointed out, 5-5 scoring would be different if that line didn't have a revolving door at LW. MR was awful in the opening game and he and Carter were both bad vs. Canucks a few weeks back. He also lose about 3 weeks from the Calgary injury March 10.

I don't like it either and it won't work. Putting JC and AK together just because they are both top forwards doesn't mean magic will happen. They played together 5 - 5 before and no sparks. He also didn't address the problem of what happenes when th sharks shut that line down.
I get that Sutter likes Richards in the shutdown role and maybe since he's the home coach, he'll put that line out against the SHarks top unit. But it would be more effective with Carter, who is good defensively and has better chemistry with Richards
Hopefully after the experiment fails, he'll do what he didnt' do vs the Wings and put the lines back where they belong before the game ends.

Worst case scenario, he keeps them intact, they lose. The lines revert back by game 1 anyway. Carter will be with Richards where he belongs, to be put in position to give the Kings balanced scoring.

 

[Winger23]

Wonder if Greene is going to play. Listed as day to day not related to his back. Sigh.

 

[deeshamrock]

Wonder if Greene is going to play. Listed as day to day not related to his back. Sigh.

The day to day is good, not on IR anyway. Hopefully whatever it is won't hold him out of too many PO games. The teams is much better with him out there and in the room. he's a great leader and speaks his mind.

 

[jml87]

Meh, I don't know how much I agree with this. While I certainly think Rick and Carts have chemistry there were times this season you could have put Carter out there with Trent Hunter and Derek Armstrong and the guy would still score goals. The dude has been on an absolute mission this season.

But Sutter has done that and it hasn't worked. He's often ended up switching them back together halfway through the game. I get that he'd still be productive but 26 goals? The thing I never like is that Carter feels the need to set up his other linemates instead of just shooting the puck when he's not on a line with Richards. But he doesn't have to worry about that with Mike. He just goes to the slot and Richards gets him the puck.

 

[Winger23]

The day to day is good, not on IR anyway. Hopefully whatever it is won't hold him out of too many PO games. The teams is much better with him out there and in the room. he's a great leader and speaks his mind.

Oh I agree completely just he needs this last game to get ready.

 

[Herby]

Well thought out, but you're wasting your breath here. Herby doesn't like MR

Why, because I don't worship the ground the guy walks on and point out the flaws in his game. And no offence, but you should be the last person talking about objectivity when it comes to discussing Mike Richards.

Well thought out, but you're wasting your breath here. Herby doesn't like MR and the fact that he's assisted on 14 of JC's goals means nothing to him

First off, he has played all season with one of the best snipers in the league, and a player who would be one of the best snipers no matter who he plays with. If MR were this massive game changing player he would not need Jeff Carter on his line, yet you don't see a single post from anyone here saying that Carter will be struggling without Richards, it's clearly all the other way around. Which shows who truly needs the other one to succeed.

or the fact that most of the -7 was not due to MR play rather the play around him.

This one is a true gem. It's always someone elses fault or some other reason, right?

Injury
Out of shape
Revolving LW

Would love to know how it's someone elses fault when you have been on the ice for more goals against than any other forward on the team.

I don't like it either and it won't work. Putting JC and AK together just because they are both top forwards doesn't mean magic will happen.

How do we know it won't, it really has never been tried, and it couldn't hurt to maybe mix things up since Carter and Richards have been on the ice for a massive amount of goals against this season. Maybe playing with a much better offensive player will make Carter even better.

They played together 5 - 5 before and no sparks.

Really, when? For more than a game, please I would be curious to know when. And what defines sparks? Being the worst defensive forwards in terms of goals against?

He also didn't address the problem of what happenes when th sharks shut that line down.

You say I hate MR, but I think enough of him to think that he should be able to generate offense on a 2nd line with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, you seem to not have as much faith in him that he won't generate offense without Carter to score all the goals. Or am I reading that wrong?

If the Kings need Carter and Kopitar to do all the scoring they are not going to win, period.

Hopefully after the experiment fails

You seem to be really giving it a fair shake. Hopefully after it fails?

Do you want to see whats best for the Kings, or do you just want to cheer for MR and JC on the same line?

Can we atleast give this a legit shake before calling it a failure, or even worse can we cheer for team success instead of failure, that would be nice.

 

[King'sPawn]

I like the changes.

Current lineup is uninspired.

Kopitar gets a true finisher. Richards gets back to a more suitable role (hard work and hustle). Lewis has earned more minutes.

Third line has more scoring potential with Williams (and I was so tired of Sutter sticking Brown and Williams all season with Kopitar).

Fourth line has speed, strength, hustle, and finish. Good.

What good is chemistry when they're struggling in unison?

 

[KingKopitar11*]

I like the first line. I don't understands Sutter's love for Dwight Schrute.

 

[Little Psycho]

Hope Greene is ready for the playoffs.

 

[jml87]

First off, he has played all season with one of the best snipers in the league, and a player who would be one of the best snipers no matter who he plays with. If MR were this massive game changing player he would not need Jeff Carter on his line, yet you don't see a single post from anyone here saying that Carter will be struggling without Richards, it's clearly all the other way around. Which shows who truly needs the other one to succeed.

I will continue to disagree with this. Carter in a full season this year would've beaten his season high in goals. Even with the Flyers and their concentration on offense, he did not have this high of a goal total. Carter and Richards obviously works. I don't see the point in splitting up the two of them.

This one is a true gem. It's always someone elses fault or some other reason, right?

Injury
Out of shape
Revolving LW

Would love to know how it's someone elses fault when you have been on the ice for more goals against than any other forward on the team.

This is a big deal to me. There's no reason for Carter to be 0 on +/- with the amount of points he has and the way he plays defense. Same with Richards. That lack of a steady LW has hurt them.

You say I hate MR, but I think enough of him to think that he should be able to generate offense on a 2nd line with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, you seem to not have as much faith in him that he won't generate offense without Carter to score all the goals. Or am I reading that wrong?

If the Kings need Carter and Kopitar to do all the scoring they are not going to win, period.

He's not playing with Brown and Williams though. He's playing with King and Lewis. And he'll score just not as much as with Carter, same as how I believe Carter will not score as much without Richards.

You want Kopi to score more goals, right? So why do you put him on a line with Carter who isn't even top 10 in assists on the team?

 

[Bandit]

I don't mind switching up the lines, probably should have happened a few games ago. Just not sure how putting the biggest puck hog on the team on Kopitar's wing is going to help him start scoring goals. And thank creebus Richards is not playing wing, he's turrible there...

 

[Herby]

The point in splitting them up is...

1. They need to get Kopitar going.

2. Carter and Richards have simply not been very good 5 on 5, you can make excuses, like the other poster has, and perhaps the revolving LW is valid, but it still remains, Carter and Richards have not been very good 5 on 5. And they have been on the ice for alot of goals against, no matter who the LW is. And there is no magical LW solution walking through that door, and it's ridiculous to think a switch will suddenly be flipped come playoff time.

And as for who Richards will be playing with, right now it's not Brown because Brown isn't playing. But Brown needs to slot in somewhere, and it makes sense if it's on MR's right wing.

I think Brown and Richards can get it done on a secondary basis, I really do. I just think it's time to give our two star forwards a chance to shine playing together.

 

[Muzzinga]

awesome, i dislike each 1 of those lines

 

[jml87]

The point in splitting them up is...

1. They need to get Kopitar going.

2. Carter and Richards have simply not been very good 5 on 5, you can make excuses, like the other poster has, and perhaps the revolving LW is valid, but it still remains, Carter and Richards have not been very good 5 on 5. And they have been on the ice for alot of goals against, no matter who the LW is. And there is no magical LW solution walking through that door, and it's ridiculous to think a switch will suddenly be flipped come playoff time.

And as for who Richards will be playing with, right now it's not Brown because Brown isn't playing. But Brown needs to slot in somewhere, and it makes sense if it's on MR's right wing.

I think Brown and Richards can get it done on a secondary basis, I really do. I just think it's time to give our two star forwards a chance to shine playing together.

I just think it's going to be a problem no matter what because of again that lack of a 2nd line LW. You move Carter up, who's left wing on their line? If you move Brown up then you have Richards and Williams on the 2nd line and still no LW. Might as well keep the same line that has still been productive despite that problem. If you take out PP goals for Carter and Richards and completely take out the LW production on the 2nd line, they still match the 3rd line's 5 on 5 production. I don't believe it's going to get much better than that.

 

[Herby]

I just think it's going to be a problem no matter what because of again that lack of a 2nd line LW. You move Carter up, who's left wing on their line? If you move Brown up then you have Richards and Williams on the 2nd line and still no LW. Might as well keep the same line that has still been productive despite that problem. If you take out PP goals for Carter and Richards and completely take out the LW production on the 2nd line, they still match the 3rd line's 5 on 5 production. I don't believe it's going to get much better than that.

If I had to guess I think DS is going to go with..

Penner - Kopitar - Carter
Brown - Richards - Williams

Obviously I have been as disgusted by Penner's play as the rest of us have, but these lines IMO give the Kings the best chance to make a serious playoff run. If you do it any other way you have gaping holes or guys playing out of position.

I think all things considered this is the best option with the top 6 going forward.

 

[Jonteeh]

So Nick Shore were brought in under what reason?