No Williams appreciation thread? SHAME

[Steve Zissou]

Happy Trails, Justin Williams - LA Kings Insider

 

[Rorschach]

We gotta get him in here and give him some sort of job so he can be around the Kings. They gave a job like that to Jarret Stoll. We can give him something even more important, enough to hopefully encourage him to move to LA permanently. Maybe something like assistant GM? Anything.

Don't let Carolina get this guy.

 

[Statto]

I am thinking about this right now, and I am not so sure. Obviously, the Kings are going to have their hands full with retiring numbers here over the next decade or so as Brown, Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick are all locks to going up in the rafters, which may end up being ridiculous, but honestly, Williams spent 7 seasons in LA and only barely played his 8th after coming out of pseudo retirement for the Hurricanes. The Kings were very nearly the club he played the most NHL games for. He won the Conn Smythe, was intricate in our winning both cups, played 427 games in LA. While I agree with you that he likely won't, I wouldn't put it past this organization or the brass up top to include him in some way in that group.

Anyways, I was one of the few that was jumping for joy when we lost O'Sullivan and ended up with Williams. He was the shot in the arm the team needed, was one hell of a player, and an even better guy out of the locker room. I wish Williams nothing but the best, and even though Carolina will snatch him up instantly for their staff, I hope he spends some time with the Kings in some capacity in the future.

I loved the deal instantly. Top player, top man.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I don’t think the Kings retire any numbers outside the big four.

 

[Master Yoda]

Once all these guys on the cup teams retire, these appreciation threads won't be the same.

In 2011, Williams separated his shoulder and came back for the playoff still obviously not fully healed.
Every Kings fan and their mom had pretty much given up on the season when Kopi went down with the leg injury before the playoffs.
Williams was the best player for the Kings in those games and was a big reason they didn't look overmatched.
I didn't realize at the time what kind of a playoff and clutch performer he was, but thinking back on it, yeah it's not a surprise.

 

[bouncesonly]

One of the most memorable...

The Kopitar assist to the center of the ice against the Devils is up there too:

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Favourite Williams moment isn’t even a goal. I think it was Game 6 against San Jose in 2014. We’re winning near the end of the game and Torres and Williams get into a roughing match after a Torres hit. I think there a fight happening nearby. Anyway they’re in the box afterward and Torres is doing his stupid thug face, and Williams is just laughing at him and doing the “its the boogeyman, im so intimidated,” hand gestures in the box. You could tell how far past Torres - and the Sharks- he and the rest of the Kings were already looking. Not letting the antics and rough stuff get them off their game.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Once all these guys on the cup teams retire, these appreciation threads won't be the same.

In 2011, Williams separated his shoulder and came back for the playoff still obviously not fully healed.
Every Kings fan and their mom had pretty much given up on the season when Kopi went down with the leg injury before the playoffs.
Williams was the best player for the Kings in those games and was a big reason they didn't look overmatched.
I didn't realize at the time what kind of a playoff and clutch performer he was, but thinking back on it, yeah it's not a surprise.

One of those playoff years before 2012, he was scratched in the playoffs.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Thank you Justin Williams.

 

[KingsFan7824]

We gotta get him in here and give him some sort of job so he can be around the Kings. They gave a job like that to Jarret Stoll. We can give him something even more important, enough to hopefully encourage him to move to LA permanently. Maybe something like assistant GM? Anything.

Don't let Carolina get this guy.

Wasn't a big reason why he went to Washington, outside of cap issues for the Kings, was to let his wife be closer to her family? I doubt that changes.

 

[yankeeking]

his first interview after he was acquired showed him as a humble professional player , but damn this guy is one of the biggest reasons we won two cups with his focus and drive , consummate player and his overall good guyness goes all the way down to moving back so his wife could be closer to her family ......good luck in ALL you do

 

[KingsFan7824]

I remember when this forum was poo pooing the O’Sullivan/2nd for a injury riddled Williams.

That makes it sound like it was crazy to question it. You miss 47% of games over a 3 year period, that's a lot of time. If not for the injuries, I'm not sure if anyone has any issues. Then again, I'm not sure Carolina trades him without the injuries. Or, maybe they still do, because they missed the playoffs in 06-07 with a healthy Williams anyway, and 07-08 was no better. Same way that DL probably doesn't get Johnson for Belanger and Gleason, without JMFJ wanting to stay in school one more year, which was the year that Carolina was trying to defend their title. Although they did lose Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward to free agency after the Cup, and were also trying to replace that production, so maybe they make that trade anyway. Who knows. At the time, JJ was supposed to be the next big thing.

It's sort of the opposite of the Coffey/Carson deal. Coffer ended up having 3+ really good seasons left in an older body. Carson did almost nothing after coming back, even with Gretzky there to shelter him, and was traded a year after being traded here.

 

[Butch 19]

REALITY CHECK!!! - The tough question is how far is the current team away from the 12 and 14 teams?

We may never see the Cup in Staples Center again...

 

[Master Yoda]

One of those playoff years before 2012, he was scratched in the playoffs.

Don't ruin my memories. I think that was one year before anyways. Must've been a motivating factor.

 

[KINGS17]

REALITY CHECK!!! - The tough question is how far is the current team away from the 12 and 14 teams?

We may never see the Cup in Staples Center again...

We won't know for at least a couple of years.

 

[KingsFan7824]

REALITY CHECK!!! - The tough question is how far is the current team away from the 12 and 14 teams?

Using a crude mathematics, if we go by consecutive top 5 picks, the Kings are currently in Oct 2008. So 1 more terrible team next year. Then the 1st round for 2 years. Then Blake starts to feel it in 23-24, Kopitar's last year, and that's when.

We may never see the Cup in Staples Center again...

They haven't won a playoff game on home ice since Game 5 against the Rangers, and the odds aren't great of winning it anyway. Can't really expect a Cup. Get some talent, a couple good contracts, some unexpected production, a little luck, and you're in the conversation. When DL took Hickey at #4, we didn't know what a Jake Muzzin was. The day DL got Richards, we didn't know how many more moves away the team actually was from looking like a champ. There was a coach, another top forward, Voynov hadn't played in the NHL yet, nobody was thinking about Dwight King. If anyone said Gagne would get hurt and Penner would have 7 goals, where is the depth coming from?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Using a crude mathematics, if we go by consecutive top 5 picks, the Kings are currently in Oct 2008. So 1 more terrible team next year. Then the 1st round for 2 years. Then Blake starts to feel it in 23-24, Kopitar's last year, and that's when.



They haven't won a playoff game on home ice since Game 5 against the Rangers, and the odds aren't great of winning it anyway. Can't really expect a Cup. Get some talent, a couple good contracts, some unexpected production, a little luck, and you're in the conversation. When DL took Hickey at #4, we didn't know what a Jake Muzzin was. The day DL got Richards, we didn't know how many more moves away the team actually was from looking like a champ. There was a coach, another top forward, Voynov hadn't played in the NHL yet, nobody was thinking about Dwight King. If anyone said Gagne would get hurt and Penner would have 7 goals, where is the depth coming from?

This is a great post, especially the boldfaced. No matter how good a team you build, the odds are always against you.

 

[KINGS17]

This is a great post, especially the boldfaced. No matter how good a team you build, the odds are always against you.

It isn't too much to expect contention though, and by that I mean winning two rounds in the playoffs.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It isn't too much to expect contention though, and by that I mean winning two rounds in the playoffs.

Totally agree, just talking about the "Cup expectation" as if it's a foregone conclusion.

 

[deaderhead28]

Congratulations Willy on your Retirement.Thank you for the 7 years and two cups you brought to the Kings.You'll always be a King for life.

 

[KingsFan7824]

It isn't too much to expect contention though, and by that I mean winning two rounds in the playoffs.

If that's done as a one-off, is that enough?

Since 13-14, there have been 16 different teams to make the 3rd round.

TB - 4 times
Pit - 2
StL - 2
Vgk - 2
SJ - 2
Ana - 2
NYI, Car, Bos, Chi, NYR, Ott, Nas, Wpg, Was, Dal - 1 each

63% of teams made it just the once. Chi and Ana made it sort of at the ends of their runs, and both are rebuilding. SJ is only a year removed from getting there. Ottawa just had one crazy run.

Is once a fluke, or does that matter in the moment?

If you go the last 5 years, to remove the Hawks era completely, you end up with:

TB - 3 times
Pit - 2
StL - 2
Vgk - 2
SJ - 2
NYI, Car, Bos, Ana, Ott, Nas, Wpg, Was, Dal - 1 each

This time 64% of teams made it just the once. Bos, Was, these are yearly threats. Some aren't.

TB is obviously the standard. Not only are they good in the regular season, but by going deep so often they justify it. Bos/Was, in the conversation every year, even if they don't always get the job done in the playoffs. SJ was in the same boat before last year. Nas has been ok. Wpg and Ott had their one run.

If the Kings become the next Predators, is that good enough? 6th best regular season record since 14-15, but just the one run when they were an 8th seed.

 

[KINGS17]

If that's done as a one-off, is that enough?

Since 13-14, there have been 16 different teams to make the 3rd round.

TB - 4 times
Pit - 2
StL - 2
Vgk - 2
SJ - 2
Ana - 2
NYI, Car, Bos, Chi, NYR, Ott, Nas, Wpg, Was, Dal - 1 each

63% of teams made it just the once. Chi and Ana made it sort of at the ends of their runs, and both are rebuilding. SJ is only a year removed from getting there. Ottawa just had one crazy run.

Is once a fluke, or does that matter in the moment?

If you go the last 5 years, to remove the Hawks era completely, you end up with:

TB - 3 times
Pit - 2
StL - 2
Vgk - 2
SJ - 2
NYI, Car, Bos, Ana, Ott, Nas, Wpg, Was, Dal - 1 each

This time 64% of teams made it just the once. Bos, Was, these are yearly threats. Some aren't.

TB is obviously the standard. Not only are they good in the regular season, but by going deep so often they justify it. Bos/Was, in the conversation every year, even if they don't always get the job done in the playoffs. SJ was in the same boat before last year. Nas has been ok. Wpg and Ott had their one run.

If the Kings become the next Predators, is that good enough? 6th best regular season record since 14-15, but just the one run when they were an 8th seed.

Short answer: No, it's not okay as a one off.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Short answer: No, it's not okay as a one off.

Alright, so contention is multiple deep runs in the playoffs. Based on the last 5 years, only 5 teams have done that, so the Kings need to be roughly 1 of 16% of teams in the league. Only 36% of teams that got to the 3rd round have done it more than once. Still a long shot either way, but more likely than winning the Cup.

If they get to the 3rd round for 5 straight years, but but go no further, is that enough? Well winning the Cup once might be more likely than getting that deep 5 straight years. I guess it's just the classic win 1 Cup and suck or contend for 10 years with no Cup sports question. Basically what SJ did for the last 15 years or whatever. 5 trips to the 3rd round in 15 years. The best regular season record from 03-04 to 18-19, spanning 1,196 games. 5th best GF. The #1 GA. The most playoff games played too. If the Kings build the 2004 to 2019 Sharks out of what they're molding now, with similar results, is that enough?

 

[KINGS17]

Alright, so contention is multiple deep runs in the playoffs. Based on the last 5 years, only 5 teams have done that, so the Kings need to be roughly 1 of 16% of teams in the league. Only 36% of teams that got to the 3rd round have done it more than once. Still a long shot either way, but more likely than winning the Cup.

If they get to the 3rd round for 5 straight years, but but go no further, is that enough? Well winning the Cup once might be more likely than getting that deep 5 straight years. I guess it's just the classic win 1 Cup and suck or contend for 10 years with no Cup sports question. Basically what SJ did for the last 15 years or whatever. 5 trips to the 3rd round in 15 years. The best regular season record from 03-04 to 18-19, spanning 1,196 games. 5th best GF. The #1 GA. The most playoff games played too. If the Kings build the 2004 to 2019 Sharks out of what they're molding now, with similar results, is that enough?

If they make the Western Conference Final five years in a row, hell yes that is the successful building of a roster.

Uh, San Jose's 5 out of 15 isn't 5 in a row, and making the playoffs umpteen years in a row isn't what I am looking for when it comes to success.

I expect once a GM is in a position to win it, the necessary steps to push the team over the hump are taken. This is the way it is done in the NHL with the salary cap. At some point as a GM you're all in, and you can expect your team to start declining (perhaps rapidly). That is the time to sell off the remaining assets with high value and start building for another run in five or six years.