Round 1 Game 3 Sharks @ Kings: Kings Lose 4-3; Sharks Lead series 3-0

[The Butcher]

Yes, but the glory was pretty ****ing spectacular...

I think some of you forget just how ****ing awesome that was, and only 2 years removed.

I remember. I cried like a little girl.

I don't have all the answers but I think it's clear some changes must be made.

 

[Winger23]

Brown scored 15 goals in the worst season of his career playing the majority of the season in the Third and Second line.....

With less PP time......

Again.....Can we not be idiots.....

So Brown trips over or somehow gets 1 more seeing eye single every two weeks out of this season....

He would have been a 25g scorer in the worse year he has ever had....

It's not out of the realm of possibility he makes 20g again next year.

gasp. So you're saying, his worse year was when he wasn't playing on the 1st line, and didn't hit the 20g mark? amazing.

 

[damacles1156]

Sigh. Again, please go back and look. They played together. I just randomly looked through a few more games from that year.

April 5th, Brown from Kopi EV.
March 20th, Brown from Kopi SH.
March 4th, Brown from Kopi EV.
Jan 19th, Brown from Kopi EV.

He's not going to score 20 again without being on the top line, period.

He scored 15 in the worse career year......playing fourth/third line minutes with Stoll ETC.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Right now we have major holes on the blue line and in the top six and will likely need to look outside of the organization to address them.

That's right. We can only hope that we've struck gold with our second-rounders and that we make some tactical adjustments so that all offensive spark in our prospects isn't stifled. It would be great also if we can have enough production out of our players so that our lines wouldn't have to be scrambled so often in an attempt to spark something, anything.

 

[damacles1156]

gasp. So you're saying, his worse year was when he wasn't playing on the 1st line, and didn't hit the 20g mark? amazing.

Brown has hit 20G why not being a first line player.

I have been a Kings fan since 1990. I can't remember Brown ever playing on the first line RW or LW before 2012 Exclusively.

He has always been a second/Third line forward.

Brown was shuffled from the top six quite a bit in his 30g season.

Always been a decent PP scorer, but that's what your suppose to do on the PP score.

Simmonds (who everyone loves) gets most of his scoring from PP time.

 

[The Horvatian One]

Could be. Who knows? I'm sure he's exhausted and no one can say he quit on the team. Quick's near the bottom on the list of players I'm worried about.

Absolutely not. I just found it odd how he bobbled it a couple of times. I would consider him top 5 for sure, possibly top 3.

 

[Winger23]

He scored 15 in the worse career year......playing fourth/third line minutes with Stoll ETC.

which is where he is going to currently play is it not?

 

[BigKing]

the Draft is a crap shoot folks. The idea is to land TWO roster players out of every draft.

So far Futa is about batting 1000. The Kings do lack top end talent out out of the draft.

But they are doing what you are suppose to do with the draft. That is land Roster players.

Our coach would rather play a no offense but good defense guy instead of a skilled players though in the Bottom-Six.

Ducks are getting 20 goals from Bonino and a ton of points from Maroon while our Bottom-Six combines for as many goals as Bonino. NICK BONINO IS NOT SPECIAL!!! He has, however, been given the chance to succeed since the team he plays for doesn't believe in some archaic "You have to be 230 pounds and devoid of skill to be a Bottom-Sixer" mentality.

They system sucks the offense out of our top players but then sucks the offense out of guys who have a 15-20 goal ceiling, leading to a bunch of 5-8 goal players populating our bottom lines while not hitting or fighting as much as you'd like.

Sutter has called this out and we have been *****ing about it for a long time: the Bottom-Six on this team is effing horrible and gets sheltered due to the system and the lack of goals it gives up, save for this current series where the GAA is 17 or something.

 

[damacles1156]

which is where he is going to currently play is it not?

Who knows with Sutter.

 

[Kingspiracy]

There will be some changes in the offseason, but hopefully not as drastic as some posters want. I'd give Richards and Brown another year. I think the focus should be more on the D.

Our Team dynamic seems to have changed a fair bit since we won the cup, people forget how great Mitchell played. Our D has definitely slowed down and taken a step backwards. We also are not as physically dominant.

I guess i'd probably move Jdub +/- for a late twenties dman like Smid.

 

[damacles1156]

Our coach would rather play a no offense but good defense guy instead of a skilled players though in the Bottom-Six.

Ducks are getting 20 goals from Bonino and a ton of points from Maroon while our Bottom-Six combines for as many goals as Bonino. NICK BONINO IS NOT SPECIAL!!! He has, however, been given the chance to succeed since the team he plays for doesn't believe in some archaic "You have to be 230 pounds and devoid of skill to be a Bottom-Sixer" mentality.

They system sucks the offense out of our top players but then sucks the offense out of guys who have a 15-20 goal ceiling, leading to a bunch of 5-8 goal players populating our bottom lines while not hitting or fighting as much as you'd like.

Sutter has called this out and we have been *****ing about it for a long time: the Bottom-Six on this team is effing horrible and gets sheltered due to the system and the lack of goals it gives up, save for this current series where the GAA is 17 or something.

When your GM signs Lewis and Clifford....What they hell is Sutter suppose to do ?

Where is the Nick Binnino signing ? You guys act like Sutter is sitting 40 Goal scorers for Vets.

Guys People who watch the Monarchs and are actually scouts....Don't even know if Vey can hack it as a 4th liner in the NHL.

 

[BigKing]

Brown has hit 20G why not being a first line player.

I have been a Kings fan since 1990. I can't remember Brown ever playing on the first line RW or LW before 2012 Exclusively.

He has always been a second/Third line forward.

Brown was shuffled from the top six quite a bit in his 30g season.

Always been a decent PP scorer, but that's what your suppose to do on the PP score.

Simmonds (who everyone loves) gets most of his scoring from PP time.

Pretty sure Brown played with Kopitar a lot before 2012. Who was Kopitar centering then during those lean years?

 

[Winger23]

Brown has hit 20G why not being a first line player.

I have been a Kings fan since 1990. I can't remember Brown ever playing on the first line RW or LW before 2012 Exclusively.

He has always been a second/Third line forward.

Brown was shuffled from the top six quite a bit in his 30g season.

What does how long you've been around have to do with this? I was watching them back then too. It doesn't matter where you classify him, 2nd line, 3rd whatever. The point is he's been successful when playing with Kopitar. I'm seeing Kopitar's name involved in a ton of goals from Brown period during his best year, in which you are claiming he only got a shift here and there with him. How this can be argued is baffling.

 

[BigKing]

When your GM signs Lewis and Clifford....What they hell is Sutter suppose to do ?

I'm with you. Seems like you could move Clifford, insert Andreoff and not miss a beat while saving money. Actually, he would show more balls at this point because he isn't one minor concussion away from retirement.

Lewis for two years is a bit of a head-scratcher as well. You can't pin that all on DL though since he is undoubtedly Sutter's favorite role player. I mean, the guy should of been at least a final cut for Team USA.

 

[Winger23]

Who knows with Sutter.

Which is exactly what I'm saying man. You are thinking Brown is going to rebound to score 20 goals regardless. I'm telling you, there is not a chance in hell Brown is going to net 20 goals playing on the 3rd line, nor should he be expected to be.

 

[damacles1156]

Pretty sure Brown played with Kopitar a lot before 2012. Who was Kopitar centering then during those lean years?

Well the lineup was jumbled so much because the Kings had no structure.

So it could have been Armstrong or heck Ivanis for we know.

I'll have to get out my video collection.

 

[BigKing]

I did put a mouthy Sharks fan in his place tonight due to dropping an epic "*****-****" call on him to which even his buddy was like...*****-**** is just too spot on.

Moral victories.

EDIT: I'm talking a female dog and what is useless on a bull. Dude needed a training bra.

 

[damacles1156]

Which is exactly what I'm saying man. You are thinking Brown is going to rebound to score 20 goals regardless. I'm telling you, there is not a chance in hell Brown is going to net 20 goals playing on the 3rd line, nor should he be expected to be.

I would still expect Brown to score 20 goals from third line play.

Your bottom six has to produce and Brown is capable of that.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Really disgusted and disappointed by the play of the team captain who is in his prime at 29 and signed to an 8 year deal worth $47 million. He's being outplayed by young players like Toffoli and Pearson and grinders like Trevor Lewis.

We've been on Brown's case before, like in 2012 before the trade deadline where he was playing like crap, the 2013 playoffs. Every year it seems like this guy hits the wall and disappears for long stretches, but this season was a disaster from Game 1 until they are eliminated.

He has not showed any qualities of leadership on the ice. Do you see him blocking shots? Do you see him delivering crushing blows to any players that matter on the Sharks? We see guys checking Doughty, Kopitar, Carter, Gaborik, even Quick. Are the Kings in turn doing the same to Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Vlasic?

He has provided nothing to this team this season. Absolutely nothing. No help on special teams, can't pass, can't shoot, can't hang onto the puck. He's just a cheerleader now.

Agreed 100 percent. Dean was critical of Brown in the first Sharks PO series and later on was open to trading him. He's definitely a goner if Dean can get a nice return for Brown and then we can name Kopitar captain.

 

[Johnny Utah]

The bottom 6 is a big problem. Took Lewis 40 games to get going this year. Clifford has never reached his potential. Nolan has been in Sutter's doghouse since the Cup year even though he had a good year. Fraser was sent down to AHL. King showed he can score but is kitty cat for his size. This is a disaster. None of these guys are producing consistently and besides fighting Clifford and Nolan don't show much of mean streak playing on a day to day basis. Jordan has his moments with his body checking though, but it's not good enough.

Toffoli and Pearson should be on the 2nd or 3rd line, not on the 4th.

The bottom 6 is not overly tough or fast. That needs to change. This is basically the same group from 2012. King is the only one who has improved since then. Stoll had a great game tonight but his numbers have been in decline every year.

There is not one bottom 6 forward who has breakout potential. I really hope Andreoff makes the club next year. He has skills but can be very loud on the ice. By loud I mean stirring up the other team and getting his team going. He is basically a cross between a young Paul Gaustad and Steve Ott. Has skills but can fight and is versatile.

 

[Thrice]

Great post Richie10.

People love to talk about the Kings scouting and drafting in the later rounds, and the Kings have been able to find complimentary players, but the reality is that most core players in the league are former first round picks.

Since DL took over these are the first round picks

2006. Jonathan Bernier - (traded)
2006. Trevor Lewis - (4th liner)
2007. Thomas Hickey - (bust)
2008. Drew Doughty - (star defenseman)
2008. Colten Teubert - (bust)
2009. Brayden Schenn - (traded)
2010. Derek Forbort (no NHL games)
2011. Pick traded for Penner
2012. Pearson (NHL'er)
2013. Pick traded for Carter

It's hard to replace guys like Richards, Brown and Williams when you have missed on so many promising picks.

Just gonna nitpick here and say that Thomas Hickey had a very solid year playing for the Islanders.

82gp 4g 18a 22pts +5(the only d-man on the team with a positive +/-) 18:52 TOI with very little PP time. He's developing into a solid 2nd pairing, puck moving defensemen. Which just so happens to be exactly where most scouts projected his NHL ceiling prior to the draft. To call him a bust on the same level as Colten Teubert is incorrect.

 

[damacles1156]

Thomas Hickey is a damn fine Defender for the NYI.

That is a mistake by Lombardi letting him go I think.

They kept Muzzin, but I felt Hickey had the higher IQ....

 

[Thrice]

Really disgusted and disappointed by the play of the team captain who is in his prime at 29 and signed to an 8 year deal worth $47 million. He's being outplayed by young players like Toffoli and Pearson and grinders like Trevor Lewis.

We've been on Brown's case before, like in 2012 before the trade deadline where he was playing like crap, the 2013 playoffs. Every year it seems like this guy hits the wall and disappears for long stretches, but this season was a disaster from Game 1 until they are eliminated.

He has not showed any qualities of leadership on the ice. Do you see him blocking shots? Do you see him delivering crushing blows to any players that matter on the Sharks? We see guys checking Doughty, Kopitar, Carter, Gaborik, even Quick. Are the Kings in turn doing the same to Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Vlasic?

He has provided nothing to this team this season. Absolutely nothing. No help on special teams, can't pass, can't shoot, can't hang onto the puck. He's just a cheerleader now.

Nailed it. The free pass the guy gets around here is ridiculous.

 

[BigKing]

Just gonna nitpick here and say that Thomas Hickey had a very solid year playing for the Islanders.

82gp 4g 18a 22pts +5(the only d-man on the team with a positive +/-) 18:52 TOI with very little PP time. He's developing into a solid 2nd pairing, puck moving defensemen. Which just so happens to be exactly where most scouts projected his NHL ceiling prior to the draft. To call him a bust on the same level as Colten Teubert is incorrect.

But he is a bust for us since DL used the first reward for this team sucking huge ass on a guy for the Islanders to use six years later after the Kings developed him.

Disaster of a draft pick. Weak draft but, still, total disaster. 4th overall pick that never played for the Kings and returned zero assets in return.

I try not to think about it. I have a T-Birds Hickey shirt. Ugh.

 

[damacles1156]

Nailed it. The free pass the guy gets around here is ridiculous.

He is not getting a free pass.

He played like Garbage all year.

He has next year to unscrew himself.

If it doesn't happen, I am sure Lombardi will look to make a move.