GDT: Preseason games 2024-25

[BigKing]

MAN, our new uniforms look f***in ACE. Now we easily have one of the best jerseys in the league (I'm biased), especially with the black away scheme. Please never change that design ever again.

Pretty sure the black jerseys are the home jerseys.

For the 90s Chevron era, I prefer the look of the whites but this current version is a win for the black ones with the helmets being a huge part of it.

The white version should have silver numbers instead of the black numbers.

That said, I still do not like how fat that bottom stripe is.

 

[johnjm22]

Hold on. I had read several people who said he had no hockey sense at all! Are you telling me that watching a 5 minute video on YouTube from an amateur hockey scout and then forming my opinion based on what they say might not be a true representation of a players ability? Since when?

Once a narrative gets formed around a prospect everybody just accepts it as truth. But sometimes if you watch said prospect yourself, you'll find the narrative isn't always true.

Byfield's issue from the start was his reluctancy to drive the play and be the guy. Somewhere last season he decided to not be that guy anymore. Hoping he keeps it up for the next several years.

This is speculation on my part, but my impression of QB is that he's a guy who needs time to adjust. That's why he wasn't productive in tournaments.

He's very responsible and doesn't want to be the guy who makes the bad turnover. That's part of the reason I think he needs time to feel out his surroundings.

Good things are coming, I just wonder if his conservative style will limit his point totals.

 

[King'sPawn]

Once a narrative gets formed around a prospect everybody just accepts it as truth. But sometimes if you watch said prospect yourself, you'll find the narrative isn't always true.


This is speculation on my part, but my impression of QB is that he's a guy who needs time to adjust. That's why he wasn't productive in tournaments.

He's very responsible and doesn't want to be the guy who makes the bad turnover. That's part of the reason I think he needs time to feel out his surroundings.

Good things are coming, I just wonder if his conservative style will limit his point totals.

I agree. I also feel like confidence is a big thing with him.

It's why, in my opinion, his showing at the WJC may not have been what everyone hoped for. Those tournaments are short, and you need to get caught up right away. I still think he did well, and he was also having to carry a coach's favorite who was underwhelming, himself.

It's also why the bottom-six deployment wasn't a good idea, in my opinion. Being a skilled player not being trusted to be a skilled player won't give you the confidence as a skilled player. You saw his assertiveness grow exponentially within two games of playing with Kempe and Kopitar.

Playing more minutes would have given him more reps to hone his craft, acclimate, and build confidence.

In the end, it seems to be working out as he's playing much better. I'm just a believer of empowering players to make mistakes and rein things in if they get overwhelmed, as opposed to limiting their responsibilities and thus putting an artificial ceiling - if only temporary.

 

[Omni Owl]

Pretty sure the black jerseys are the home jerseys.

For the 90s Chevron era, I prefer the look of the whites but this current version is a win for the black ones with the helmets being a huge part of it.

The white version should have silver numbers instead of the black numbers.

That said, I still do not like how fat that bottom stripe is.

Oh even better that the black's are for home. Love the matte black helmets too. Instead of away white's I'd rather see silver replace the white scheme but either way this design is miles better than the boring home plate logo.

 

[Schrute farms]

Some answers to some questions


The games in Quebec aren't on Bally. Tonight's game was filmed and broadcast by TVA a local channel in Quebec.

We streamed the video from TVA with the audio from ESPNLA (Nick and Daryl calling the game)

KCAL+ ALSO streamed the game

There was a pregame ceremony for Patrice Bergeron who retired in 2023 and is from a suburb of Quebec City.

The ceremony was in French and the decision was made not to air it with Nick and Daryl talking over it about the Kings and the preseason.

That's why you saw those cartoons because that's what KCAL+ was airing. That's why you saw adds for KCAL and CBS during the breaks.

While I wish we had communicated those facts before the broadcast... the bear commercials were not a mistake or a sign of things going wrong they were in fact evidence of multiple things going totally right.

Any other questions or insults I'm happy to answer or ignore...

I understand your desire & need to feel like you have to set the record straight. But come on dude -- this is mocking. Quite frankly, it's deserved mocking. If you can't see and understand that, then it's on you. If the King's wouldn't do some of what they do from a fan perspective (availability, etc) in the modern age, then they completely deserve this mocking. You taking it serious and setting the record straight comes off bad for you like you're some company shrill (which i don't believe you are). Don't take the mocking so serious -- especially when it is well earned.

 

[Statto]

I agree. I also feel like confidence is a big thing with him.

It's why, in my opinion, his showing at the WJC may not have been what everyone hoped for. Those tournaments are short, and you need to get caught up right away. I still think he did well, and he was also having to carry a coach's favorite who was underwhelming, himself.

It's also why the bottom-six deployment wasn't a good idea, in my opinion. Being a skilled player not being trusted to be a skilled player won't give you the confidence as a skilled player. You saw his assertiveness grow exponentially within two games of playing with Kempe and Kopitar.

Playing more minutes would have given him more reps to hone his craft, acclimate, and build confidence.

In the end, it seems to be working out as he's playing much better. I'm just a believer of empowering players to make mistakes and rein things in if they get overwhelmed, as opposed to limiting their responsibilities and thus putting an artificial ceiling - if only temporary.

The empowerment was always key with QB. Right back when he was struggling I said, based on his career, generation and outward character traits that he needed to feel trusted. That once that was the case, he’d blossom. That has fortunately been the case. I never felt TMac could adapt to the needs of the current generation of players, in that they need a different approach. Each player is unique, which needs catering for, but each generation has more prevalent traits to work with. Feeling trusted/wanted is a big one. Hillier appears much more flexible in his approach.

My opinion was partially informed by having 2 kids in that age bracket. LOL.

QB suddenly no longer looks like a kid and by the end of the season this may well be ‘his team’,

 

[Statto]

I understand your desire & need to feel like you have to set the record straight. But come on dude -- this is mocking. Quite frankly, it's deserved mocking. If you can't see and understand that, then it's on you. If the King's wouldn't do some of what they do from a fan perspective (availability, etc) in the modern age, then they completely deserve this mocking. You taking it serious and setting the record straight comes off bad for you like you're some company shrill (which i don't believe you are). Don't take the mocking so serious -- especially when it is well earned.

That’s an unfair post.

Jesse engages with us positively and takes part in some good discussion on here. Him being an employee of course gives him a certain perspective, but it doesn’t make him a shrill, or seem like one. Of course he has set the record straight as most of us would in a similar position. I certainly would because some people on here would take the ‘mocking’ seriously…. in 2 years it would be considered as absolute fact, based on the track record on here.

 

[Lt Dan]

Some answers to some questions


The games in Quebec aren't on Bally. Tonight's game was filmed and broadcast by TVA a local channel in Quebec.

We streamed the video from TVA with the audio from ESPNLA (Nick and Daryl calling the game)

KCAL+ ALSO streamed the game

There was a pregame ceremony for Patrice Bergeron who retired in 2023 and is from a suburb of Quebec City.

The ceremony was in French and the decision was made not to air it with Nick and Daryl talking over it about the Kings and the preseason.

That's why you saw those cartoons because that's what KCAL+ was airing. That's why you saw adds for KCAL and CBS during the breaks.

While I wish we had communicated those facts before the broadcast... the bear commercials were not a mistake or a sign of things going wrong they were in fact evidence of multiple things going totally right.

Any other questions or insults I'm happy to answer or ignore...

I appreciate the answers. I have a question , what is the best food that you have had in Quebec?
Bonus points if it is a food that you previously hadn't tried.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

That’s an unfair post.

Jesse engages with us positively and takes part in some good discussion on here. Him being an employee of course gives him a certain perspective, but it doesn’t make him a shrill, or seem like one. Of course he has set the record straight as most of us would in a similar position. I certainly would because some people on here would take the ‘mocking’ seriously…. in 2 years it would be considered as absolute fact, based on the track record on here.

2 weeks bud, not years.....

I appreciate the answers. I have a question , what is the best food that you have had in Quebec?
Bonus points if it is a food that you previously hadn't tried.

Any other answer than Poutine, and he will never be invited back.

 

[Lt Dan]

Any other answer than Poutine, and he will never be invited back.

Quebec isn't English Canada. It's a very uinque are with some unique foods.

Also every gastropub now has poutine. There isn't anything remotely special about it anymore

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Quebec isn't English Canada. It's a very uinque are with some unique foods.

Also every gastropub now has poutine. There isn't anything remotely special about it anymore

Don't tell the people in Quebec that....

 

[Schrute farms]

That’s an unfair post.

Jesse engages with us positively and takes part in some good discussion on here. Him being an employee of course gives him a certain perspective, but it doesn’t make him a shrill, or seem like one. Of course he has set the record straight as most of us would in a similar position. I certainly would because some people on here would take the ‘mocking’ seriously…. in 2 years it would be considered as absolute fact, based on the track record on here.

I disagree completely with your opinion. I said he's not a shill. As such, he shouldn't have any mandated response to justify and explain the situation.
Anyway, imo he should just leave it alone if he's not -- as i said, there is deserved criticism/mocking for what they've done media/availability wise. If you can't help yourself to respond, then at least start things off saying it's understandable based on prior stuff and how it looks, but here is the real story for this specific situation for those that care about those details.
I personally just think the post it comes off a little bit of a certain way -- a way that i know it's not. But that's my opinion.
The fact that Jesse provides us such valuable information and adds to the commentary here, does not change this specific item and the way it comes off to me.

 

[King'sPawn]

The empowerment was always key with QB. Right back when he was struggling I said, based on his career, generation and outward character traits that he needed to feel trusted. That once that was the case, he’d blossom. That has fortunately been the case. I never felt TMac could adapt to the needs of the current generation of players, in that they need a different approach. Each player is unique, which needs catering for, but each generation has more prevalent traits to work with. Feeling trusted/wanted is a big one. Hillier appears much more flexible in his approach.

My opinion was partially informed by having 2 kids in that age bracket. LOL.

QB suddenly no longer looks like a kid and by the end of the season this may well be ‘his team’,

Jesse's engagement with us as fans is always appreciated.

But without him doing this, we wouldn't know why we were being shown a bear cartoon. So other fans, without warning or clarification, get an offputting and confusing experience when showing the game. At least on Twitter/X, nobody from the Kings' PR team addressed or explained it either.

It was a bad decision. At the very best, a good decision poorly communicated - one of which nobody here has specifically blamed Jesse for.

But saying "everything went completely right, and feel free to post questions or insults I'll either answer or ignore" is pretty unsympathetic. And when management ended last year's loss with "we were right there," it emphasizes a seemingly large, disconnected gap between what the Kings organization think is what the customers want and what the customers want.

I almost turned off the stream and went to another site to actually watch the game, but I stayed on it because I WANT the Kings to stream more stuff. But the decisions need improvements on communication and/or execution.

 

[All The Kings Men]

I understand your desire & need to feel like you have to set the record straight. But come on dude -- this is mocking. Quite frankly, it's deserved mocking. If you can't see and understand that, then it's on you. If the King's wouldn't do some of what they do from a fan perspective (availability, etc) in the modern age, then they completely deserve this mocking. You taking it serious and setting the record straight comes off bad for you like you're some company shrill (which i don't believe you are). Don't take the mocking so serious -- especially when it is well earned.

Did I not mention that I wish we had communicated what was happening better?

This is an issue of communication. That's all... and that's on us. If you can't see that I'm copping to that then I don't know what to tell you.

 

[All The Kings Men]

That’s an unfair post.

Jesse engages with us positively and takes part in some good discussion on here. Him being an employee of course gives him a certain perspective, but it doesn’t make him a shrill, or seem like one. Of course he has set the record straight as most of us would in a similar position. I certainly would because some people on here would take the ‘mocking’ seriously…. in 2 years it would be considered as absolute fact, based on the track record on here.

To be clear I don't care if you mock me personally.

mock away. Most of the time it makes me laugh.

This was an attempt to explain a situation that I saw a lot of people asking about not to try and protect the sheild or whatever

People wanna know why the cartoons and why no audio to start the broadcast... well I happen to know exactly why and I'm happy to share what information I can

I know full well that when I share information there will be the same small handful of you that will accuse me of carrying water for the org or trying to make excuses but at the risk of sounding like a total arrogant prick (which I am) .... I'm trying to talk to everybody not just the people that will mock me no matter what I say.

If one silent fan read that post and got something out of it then my work here is done. I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything.

 

[All The Kings Men]

But without him doing this, we wouldn't know why we were being shown a bear cartoon. So other fans, without warning or clarification, get an offputting and confusing experience when showing the game. At least on Twitter/X, nobody from the Kings' PR team addressed or explained it either.

I'm not sure how many people knew why the cartoons were airing.

I did.

Again... it's an issue with communication and that could have been handled better.

But saying "everything went completely right, and feel free to post questions or insults I'll either answer or ignore" is pretty unsympathetic. And when management ended last year's loss with "we were right there," it emphasizes a seemingly large, disconnected gap between what the Kings organization think is what the customers want and what the customers want.

The insults that I'll ignore was a direct reference to the people that will always accuse me of being a shill... which I get. It was tongue in cheek and no it wasnt sympathetic it was my attempt at humor after a long day.

Once again.... it's an issue of communication.

MOST things in life are about communication.

I almost turned off the stream and went to another site to actually watch the game, but I stayed on it because I WANT the Kings to stream more stuff. But the decisions need improvements on communication and/or execution.

It was an issue of communication. Execution wise everything worked fairly well beyond the audio issue and since I wasn't there in Quebec I can't speak directly too but they did fix it fairly quickly.

Me saying everything went "completely right" is (perhaps) a poor attempt on my part to tone police and try and instill my own (admittedly biased) perspective into the narrative.

Had we simply NOT streamed the game there would have been complaints about it
We chose to stream the game on multiple platforms and to overlay the english audio onto the French TV broadcast.

It was incredibly complicated and took a bunch of work from a bunch of people to pull off and generally speaking I thought it worked fantastically.

So from my perspective it went completely right outside of us not knowing or telling anyone that the first 14 minutes would be a cartoon.

I almost turned off the stream and went to another site to actually watch the game, but I stayed on it because I WANT the Kings to stream more stuff. But the decisions need improvements on communication and/or execution.

Which is a perfect example of why communication is so important and a perfect demonstration of why I wish we had communicated better.

 

[All The Kings Men]

I appreciate the answers. I have a question , what is the best food that you have had in Quebec?
Bonus points if it is a food that you previously hadn't tried.

I haven't beein to Quebec in years.

But to earn the bonus points I'll say tire sur la neige

 

[Schrute farms]

Did I not mention that I wish we had communicated what was happening better?

This is an issue of communication. That's all... and that's on us. If you can't see that I'm copping to that then I don't know what to tell you.

No -- It actually comes off as defensive. But from what i know of your here and on the broadcasts/etc., i'm giving you the benefit of the doubt.

 

[All The Kings Men]

No -- It actually comes off as defensive. But from what i know of your here and on the broadcasts/etc., i'm giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Well... then that's yet another issue of communication.

I suppose that's on me.

 

[BigKing]

@johnjm22 @King'sPawn
I was saying this about QB back during that WJC and for his start in the LA: he defers to vets.

He was still a young guy at that WJC and really never tried to do anything flashy or "dangerous". He came in to LA, did some things on the rush every once in awhile but was, for the most part, safe and boring. Even when we started to see some success for him playing with 11 and 9, he never seemed to be looking for his own thing.

You score a goal like the one against CBJ, sign yourself a nice guaranteed contract and actually feel like a man playing in a man's league...well, the sky is the limit. He doesn't have to defer to anyone and getting him away from Kopitar's line is a great thing. Have him be the center on a line and go ahead and stick the wild card Fiala next to him so he gets the puck in more scoring situations. Scoring = confidence and it is time for him to be the top scoring center on this team.

He's been in and out of the NHL for four seasons so it is hard to remember that he has barely played two full NHL seasons when it comes to games played.

 

[All The Kings Men]

@johnjm22 @King'sPawn
I was saying this about QB back during that WJC and for his start in the LA: he defers to vets.

He was still a young guy at that WJC and really never tried to do anything flashy or "dangerous". He came in to LA, did some things on the rush every once in awhile but was, for the most part, safe and boring. Even when we started to see some success for him playing with 11 and 9, he never seemed to be looking for his own thing.

You score a goal like the one against CBJ, sign yourself a nice guaranteed contract and actually feel like a man playing in a man's league...well, the sky is the limit. He doesn't have to defer to anyone and getting him away from Kopitar's line is a great thing. Have him be the center on a line and go ahead and stick the wild card Fiala next to him so he gets the puck in more scoring situations. Scoring = confidence and it is time for him to be the top scoring center on this team.

He's been in and out of the NHL for four seasons so it is hard to remember that he has barely played two full NHL seasons when it comes to games played.

When we talked to the 32 Thoughts Guys, Zach Dooley brought up the McLellan quote about Byfield needing to "give himself permission" to be the player everybody thought he could be

I think your assessment is spot on. Byfield hasn't traditionally been a diva or a "look at me player".

When asked about his success on Kopitar's line his answers often sounded like they were scripted by Kopitar or McLellan or the front office. They were EXACTLY what you would want a young player to say to indicate that he understands his place in the ecosystem etc etc etc

Now his place in the ecosystem is considerably larger and he seems to be adapting quite well.

 

[Reaper45]

2 weeks bud, not years.....



Any other answer than Poutine, and he will never be invited back.

Montreal smoked meats are up there.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Jesse's engagement with us as fans is always appreciated.

But without him doing this, we wouldn't know why we were being shown a bear cartoon. So other fans, without warning or clarification, get an offputting and confusing experience when showing the game. At least on Twitter/X, nobody from the Kings' PR team addressed or explained it either.

It was a bad decision. At the very best, a good decision poorly communicated - one of which nobody here has specifically blamed Jesse for.

But saying "everything went completely right, and feel free to post questions or insults I'll either answer or ignore" is pretty unsympathetic. And when management ended last year's loss with "we were right there," it emphasizes a seemingly large, disconnected gap between what the Kings organization think is what the customers want and what the customers want.

I almost turned off the stream and went to another site to actually watch the game, but I stayed on it because I WANT the Kings to stream more stuff. But the decisions need improvements on communication and/or execution.

The little 12 man mickey mouse club here in no way represents the Kings customer base.

On the contrary, it's the lunatic fringe assuming they are the majority of Kings fan.

Picking apart, over analyzing and looking for any crumb of a reason to chastise him.

Pathetic small group meglomania.

No one here has a view to all the privy information that goes into the Kings decisions.

No one here really has the talent to be any part of the organization and they laugh at some of the poster here behind closed doors.

I enjoy Jesse's takes and his approach, Dooley should take notes.

Get off your high horse and sing the the theme song for your little club!

M

I

C...

 

[Surf Nutz]

Well... then that's yet another issue of communication.

I suppose that's on me.

Speaking of communication.

Is there anymore KCAL + broadcasts coming, or possible?

I had to investigate and it seems to be a Los Angeles, channel 9.6 over the air (antenna ) broadcast?

Could I get it here in OC with an antenna.

Thanks Jesse.

Damn you its all your fault!!

 

[BigKing]

When we talked to the 32 Thoughts Guys, Zach Dooley brought up the McLellan quote about Byfield needing to "give himself permission" to be the player everybody thought he could be

I think your assessment is spot on. Byfield hasn't traditionally been a diva or a "look at me player".

When asked about his success on Kopitar's line his answers often sounded like they were scripted by Kopitar or McLellan or the front office. They were EXACTLY what you would want a young player to say to indicate that he understands his place in the ecosystem etc etc etc

Now his place in the ecosystem is considerably larger and he seems to be adapting quite well.

While this reads as a positive, it can also easily be read as an indictment of "going all in" so early in Byfield's development if he wasn't going to have a larger role in the ecosystem until 2025 as well as taking youth and sucking the youthful joy out of them, something that this development team is often charged with and a potential reason why they seem inept at developing scorers.

Byfield was sure as shit flashy in Sudbury because he had to be "the guy" if they had a chance to win. Following up on my prior post, he didn't have to be the guy on the WJC team or on the Kings but he was looked at to be the guy in Ontario and he produced. It just makes me wonder what he would have looked like in the NHL so far if he actually had to be the guy, something he would have been if he went to Ottawa, for example.

It might be best for his game long term, but it makes me more upset to think about him being a confident player now with the Kings actually having more potential young building blocks v. trading them and/or picks in a futile effort to win a playoff round.