Pre-Game Talk: PLAYOFFS!!!!

[lumbergh]

It really is unbelievable yet proof that this team has something special going for it.

Bottom rung special teams.
Historically bad finishing, even amongst Kings teams.
Sub-.900 goaltending for a lot of the year.
Fading Kopitar.
A punchless third line for the majority of the year.
Dressed almost an NHL-record # of dmen (did we stop at 15? or get to 16? I forget).
More than 120 man-games lost to injury more than the next playoff team, and 250 more than average



Yet, here we are with an opportunity for the best season since the 102-pt 2016 team, and the 98-point Kopitar MVP powered 2018.

Props to every single player that dug deep down and found ways to win so many close games as well as to let the (MANY ) blowouts not change them, as well as to TM for being a fantastic setup/systems coach--they've collectively earned this opportunity to shock the hockey world some more, play against the best players in the world in a hockey hotbed that's surely going to be rocking, and learn and grow for the future.

I'm f***ing pumped.

It's hard to understate the importance of the man-games lost to injury. The fact that the Kings made the playoffs despite all the injuries is an absolute outlier and a credit to the depth of the team and of the prospect pool assembled by Rob Blake. Sean Durzi and Jordan Spence, even Jacob Moverare played huge minutes. Maatta and Roy were rock solid on D, plus Edler and Doughty when they were healthy.

What a pleasant surprise to be going to the playoffs this season.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Is this a bad time to bring up that the Kings making the playoffs is actually a failure due to HOW they got there? Asking for a friend…

Sol, take it away.

 

[tomd]

It's hard to understate the importance of the man-games lost to injury. The fact that the Kings made the playoffs despite all the injuries is an absolute outlier and a credit to the depth of the team and of the prospect pool assembled by Rob Blake. Sean Durzi and Jordan Spence, even Jacob Moverare played huge minutes. Maatta and Roy were rock solid on D, plus Edler and Doughty when they were healthy.

What a pleasant surprise to be going to the playoffs this season.

Not a single word of praise for the coach or the system?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Not a single word of praise for the coach or the system?

Are you referring to the Jack Adams nominee, Todd Mclellan?

 

[KINGS17]

When you watch this one of the most important things to take away is Pat Hughes sucks. Well, not really bad.

SUMMARY
Career
GP 573 G 130 A 128 PTS 258 +/- -24 PS 9.3
PIM 646
SH 960
GWG 13

 

[KingsFan7824]

Is this a bad time to bring up that the Kings making the playoffs is actually a failure due to HOW they got there? Asking for a friend…

Sol, take it away.

The how is the most interesting part. We know why they shouldn't have, but why should they have?

That they did won me a couple extra bucks. If that means old men have to play 29 minutes a game, sorry Q and Arthur.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Is this a bad time to bring up that the Kings making the playoffs is actually a failure due to HOW they got there? Asking for a friend…

Sol, take it away.

Not a single word of praise for the coach or the system?

It must suck to wake up this miserable every day that your first and usually only contribution to every thread is to attack posters, policing each thread for stuff you disagree with.

 

[tomd]

It must suck to wake up this miserable every day that your first and usually only contribution to every thread is to attack posters.

Interesting response. Do you want to acknowledge that the coach and system likely played a huge role in the success of the team this year or not?

 

[Fat Elvis]

Stoked to watch Kings playoff hockey. It's been too long.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Interesting response. Do you want to acknowledge that the coach and system likely played a huge role in the success of the team this year or not?

I did in my post, but of course you were looking for stuff you didn't like so you could disagree and try to spread misery. oh no, someone didn't praise McLellan, I'd better set them straight.

Want a threadban or want to straighten up? Everyone was playing nicely until you two clowns brought the circus.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

It must suck to wake up this miserable every day that your first and usually only contribution to every thread is to attack posters, policing each thread for stuff you disagree with.

Check out this classic quote within the last 20 days:

"Such a pathetic team honestly."

Who's the one that is miserable?

 

[tomd]

I did in my post, but of course you were looking for stuff you didn't like so you could disagree and try to spread misery. oh no, someone didn't praise McLellan, I'd better set them straight.

Want a threadban or want to straighten up? Everyone was playing nicely until you two clowns brought the circus.

Sorry...I read your post several times to make sure I was catching all the praise being delivered. If it was in your post and I somehow missed it then I apologize. For the record, TM and the system WERE a major reason why the Kings made the playoffs this year.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Check out this classic quote within the last 20 days:

"Such a pathetic team honestly."

Who's the one that is miserable?

I'm gonna go with the one attacking people they disagree with constantly and in a pattern rather than the one being temporarily upset with the hockey team.

I'm certain I said some similar shit the night they got pounded by Seattle, but here we are.

Sorry...I read your post several times to make sure I was catching all the praise being delivered. If it was in your post and I somehow missed it then I apologize. For the record, TM and the system WERE a major reason why the Kings made the playoffs this year.

I agree.

Doesn't mean he's beyond reproach, doesn't mean he's flawless, and certainly doesn't mean people should be coming for posters who don't go out of their way to mention every single thing they love about the team in every single post.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

TM and the system WERE a major reason why the Kings made the playoffs this year.

f***in A......

 

[Lt Dan]

Check out this classic quote within the last 20 days:

"Such a pathetic team honestly."

Who's the one that is miserable?

The answer is me
<---this guy

 

[Butch 19]

Why do I feel the need to start buying Jameson

 

[Master Yoda]

Interesting response. Do you want to acknowledge that the coach and system likely played a huge role in the success of the team this year or not?

Most people have at one point or another acknowledged that the Kings play a good 5v5 system, and obviously that's the reason they're in the playoffs because their special teams suck and goaltending has been pretty average.

The problems that most people have are with the special teams, for obvious reasons, and use of certain players in different situations.

 

[Schrute farms]

I think Blake and the players are the reason this team made the playoffs -- almost in spite of TM at times during the season. The additions Blake made bringing in Arvy, Edler and PD; not to mention all the fantastic young depth built up in the system (especially on D).

I hate to say that because i'm a big anti-Blake guy pre-GM. But he's so far proving me wrong. Well done.

 

[bmr]

I think Blake and the players are the reason this team made the playoffs -- almost in spite of TM at times during the season. The additions Blake made bringing in Arvy, Edler and PD; not to mention all the fantastic young depth built up in the system (especially on D).

I hate to say that because i'm a big anti-Blake guy pre-GM. But he's so far proving me wrong. Well done.

I'll admit, i'm not a huge TM fan. I do think he does get a bit of a bad rap at times. Blake obviously hired him because of their history, but I think this team may need to go in a different direction at some point.

Let's face it - all of us have a bad taste in our mouth with what happened when Blake left the team. The Kings were a dumpster fire back then and we are lucky that the ownership group changed and put an effective plan in place. I'm sure Blake carries that all with him inside and more than anything would love to bring another Cup to LA and heal those wounds. I've talked about this before, but he's going to have to make some really hard decisions once this team is on the cusp of really advancing in the playoffs.

I was a huge DL fan, but I think Blake is better where DL was not. He was a little too loyal to some players and over-stretched when he didn't really need to. Has Blake done some things wrong? Sure, like signing Kovalchuk and probably the contract he gave Petersen. But at least these aren't long-term contracts that jack us up for years to come. I'm willing to bet we see some interesting moves next year. There are going to be a logjam of players and not enough spots.

 

[Dog as Man]

Top to bottom the team is the most tenacious group the Kings have iced. Not the best just the most dogged. No egos to deal with. All business. Thought Blake would be way less effective. Todd seemed to grow into the team. No matter what happens next it's been a great season. Burn the Oil.

 

[MBH]

Savor these playoffs.
This could be the last one for awhile.
Hard to predict how this division shakes out over the next couple years.

 

[seamore]

Why do I feel the need to start buying Jameson

more like:

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Savor these playoffs.
This could be the last one for awhile.
Hard to predict how this division shakes out over the next couple years.

Def tough to predict, but considering how much went wrong for the Kings this year and still could be a 100pt team, hard to count LA out.

This is the best team Calgary will ever have, Johnny Hockey is likely either on his way out or on his way to a prohibitive cap hit;

Edmonton you can never count out with McDavid/Draisaitl and now the ever growing Bouchard, Klefbom would give them a huge boost, but I dont see them significantly different than this year unless they somehow get stable goaltending;

Vegas, who knows really. I think they'll be healthy and much better next year but they only have a year or two left before they completely fall to shreds between age and no more assets;

Van SHOULD be on the way up, they'll be annoying next year;

SJ/Anaheim/Seattle are all after Bedard

I'd suggest next year shakes out

VGK
Edmonton
Vancouver
Kings
-----
Calgary
Seattle
Anaheim
SJ

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'll admit, i'm not a huge TM fan. I do think he does get a bit of a bad rap at times. Blake obviously hired him because of their history, but I think this team may need to go in a different direction at some point.

Let's face it - all of us have a bad taste in our mouth with what happened when Blake left the team. The Kings were a dumpster fire back then and we are lucky that the ownership group changed and put an effective plan in place. I'm sure Blake carries that all with him inside and more than anything would love to bring another Cup to LA and heal those wounds. I've talked about this before, but he's going to have to make some really hard decisions once this team is on the cusp of really advancing in the playoffs.

I was a huge DL fan, but I think Blake is better where DL was not. He was a little too loyal to some players and over-stretched when he didn't really need to. Has Blake done some things wrong? Sure, like signing Kovalchuk and probably the contract he gave Petersen. But at least these aren't long-term contracts that jack us up for years to come. I'm willing to bet we see some interesting moves next year. There are going to be a logjam of players and not enough spots.

My thing with TM is this. Really likeable guy, I get the sense he truly cares, not just about his job but for the players and the org and their success. I think he's an excellent behind-the-scenes coach and it's clear his system works, at least for the regular season. He's got the guys bought in and as tenacious as they've ever been while fighting through more adversity than ever before.

I think he's a godawful game day coach, borderline Willie D, with his matchups and icetime deployment and lack of adjustments and there is PLENTY of history there even pre-LA that agrees with that opinion.

As such he's an above-average NHL coach and it's clear to see why he gets whomped in the playoffs repeatedly. He'll be the guy to take us to the verge, but not all the way. I'd love to be wrong but a guy who gets out-line-matched at home doesn't inspire confidence of change.

Of course, in the meantime, I'm rooting for him and the team, and I'd love nothing more than to be wrong and for him to grow into a GREAT coach by figuring out that the game plan/lines are actually adjustable on the bench and to the situation. He just seems too stubborn, as if making adjustments is playing the opponents game rather than our game.

 

[ibleedkings]

It must suck to wake up this miserable every day that your first and usually only contribution to every thread is to attack posters, policing each thread for stuff you disagree with.

He's got Todd's so far down he don't care RJ.