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

[Herby]

As a drafted NCAA prospect who has finished his four years of eligibility, Gravel will be an UFA on August 15th if he isn't signed by the Kings.

 

[damacles1156]

But it's not only the offensive stats.

Everything has fallen off the cliff. Offense, defense, speed, short handed threat and physical play.

If you watched a game from 2010 and a game from 2014 you wouldn't even know it's the same player.

Herby is bang on, it's everything. Advanced stats included.

Richards game has gone off a cliff, why ?

No one knows. I am not even sure Richards knows.

 

[damacles1156]

As a drafted NCAA prospect who has finished his four years of eligibility, Gravel will be an UFA on August 15th if he isn't signed by the Kings.

If that happens.....

Please fire Dean Lombardi AEG.

I know I always say don't get married to prospects, they are just that (Prospects)....

But with the Kings Defense being old and slow.....Gravel is what the doctor is saying the Kings need.

 

[Riposte!]

The biggest problem is that they need mobile defenders who have some speed. Regehr and Green are not cutting it. The best breakouts were with Doughty and Martinez at the helm tonight. Every time Martinez touched the puck he skated and moved it smoothly to a forward.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

My only concern is the Defense.

It has too get younger, and with that comes mistakes.....It might be a wild ride on the Blue-Line next year.

It would be a risk I'm willing to take for the long run, I know it's redundant saying this after this trainwreck of a series but we have Quick and a strong core of defensive forwards to help protect some of the mistakes young defensemen are bound to make and great defensive coaches in Sutter and Stevens.

 

[GKJ]

How about a laugh?


RT @Rich_Hammond: Classic Darryl Sutter: terse presser, then spent inordinate time propping open door so media could walk out comfortably.

 

[OldGreatWestern]

What if they tried Richards as a left wing, since he is clearly incapable of center duties. He was great at LW with Toews two olympics ago.

So...

Richards - Kopitar - Gaborik
Pearson - Carter - Williams
King - Stoll - Toffoli
Clifford - Lewis - Brown (all these guys completely suck the offense out of any line they're on, so keeping them together minimizes damage to the others)

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

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.

 

[damacles1156]

How about a laugh?


RT @Rich_Hammond: Classic Darryl Sutter: terse presser, then spent inordinate time propping open door so media could walk out comfortably.

Haha Sutter is damn Funny.

The Guy never is really too high or too low.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

I don't see at all what is delusional about that. That is totally the right attitude.



I fully agree with this. I just don't see omg dismal failure with a team that's been to the cup, WCF, and (presumably, though 'ts not done) a first-round exit in consecutvie years. IT's not like our core is 35+. We can retool like any other contenders can.

Boston lost a top center in Marc Savard for nothing and they're supplementing their system by trading big names and bringing youth along slowly. Since our system is more like theirs, maybe that's a better comparable than Chicago? I dunno.

I know our core isn't old. But people act like trading JW for some picks. Retooling isn't a bad thing. People seem so scared of it. Like it will all collapse. Keep the core together, and get rid of the random second liners, third liners/defense. Get some picks, trade for some younger guys. Even if it seems like a lateral move. Just get that hunger/ youth into the line up can be money in the playoffs.

 

[ShattStar03]

Sometimes I wonder whether we sweat more about this team than the players. At the end of the day, they get to go home to a nice house in Hermosa Beach with their fancy cars while I drive my old beat up Mazda back to my apartment lol

 

[Bandit]

Hopefully we get swept, the worse we lose , the more changes this offseason , and the better performances this season.

This whole cup , and wcf got to their heads. They deserve a nice plummet back to earth.

It didn't "go to their heads". If anything they are exhausted and it shows. A first round exit might be just what the doctor ordered.

What did this have to do with Richards? The guy actually had a decent game tonight and still it's his fault. Why? What did he do tonight that was so horrible? God, I know I'm fighting a losing battle here but he didn't even do anything worth the venom tonight.

I love Richards, and I hope he's hurt, but the guy was standing around holding his junk while Hertl took 375 whacks to score the game tying goal, and was on the ice for the OT goal. Spent the time after the goal was scored *****ing to the refs. The guy just hasn't had the type of year or pay scale where any of that is acceptable. That being said, I still think there's no way Dean gets rid of him, much to Herby's dismay.

I STILL say that this team has heart. I don't give a **** if some people say they don't show it. It's a down year. It was bound to happen. I love all these guys and it sucks seeing them not succeed, but it will make them stronger in the long run.

People still can't grasp the fact that this is Voynov's FIRST full season in the NHL.

Totes!

Paging the Chicago Blackhawks between their two cups.

Yes.

The Richards hate tonight is comical, and please go ask Pittsburgh fans how much we should miss Scuderi.

Richards was bad tonight and most of the year. I love the guy but let's call a spade a spade. He and Brown have been passengers pretty much all season.

Edit: also, it's not like we are just beating ourselves--give the opponent credit. The Sharks obviously have a monster ****ing team this year and they're gonna be a hard out for anyone. Sometimes you just run into the hotter, luckier, and ultimately better team, and that doesn't mean there's something fundamentally wrong with your team--they're just destined.

Sharks are kicking ass and taking names, that's for sure. Maybe this is finally their year?

Agreed, on all points. Anyone expecting to go Cup > WCF > Cup doesn't understand how the league is now, especially in the Western Conference which is STACKED. Even the Bruins got knocked out in the 1st round following their cup win, so did Chicago after their 2010 win, and they might again. Teams need these wakeup calls, hopefully we make adjustments and come out strong next season.

Exactly.

Look, I know he is your guy and all, but come on, you lose all credibility with that comment.

Richards was lazy on that goal. There was no effort or urgency, which was true of MR's game for almost the entire season.

I think your a quality poster and hope you hang around even when MR is bought out, but wow this post is so wrong.

Richards was lazy, but I still think there's no chance he gets bought out.

The only person that might be gone is Richards, due to salary.

He won't be traded, he will be bought out.....

Brown is going nowhere...And he will be the Captain next year as well.

Yeah, Brown is sticking around too. Sorry to burst some people's bubbles on that one...

Greene/Mitchell/Reghers replacement.

Yes?

**** no.

Darryl Sutter: "It’s a tough hill and we won’t go quietly away, that’s for sure."

To what point can this man be delusional ?

Delusional? We just lost in OT. That is the definition of not going quietly. This is exactly what a coach should be saying and preaching, not "we're gonna roll over like *******."

Oh I know he got shafted by the cap. But they turned out pretty good. He was forced to do it, but it actually makes sense logically to do that.

Talon didn't get shafted by the cap, he missed the ****ing deadline because he was an idiot.

I don't see at all what is delusional about that. That is totally the right attitude.



I fully agree with this. I just don't see omg dismal failure with a team that's been to the cup, WCF, and (presumably, though 'ts not done) a first-round exit in consecutvie years. IT's not like our core is 35+. We can retool like any other contenders can.

Boston lost a top center in Marc Savard for nothing and they're supplementing their system by trading big names and bringing youth along slowly. Since our system is more like theirs, maybe that's a better comparable than Chicago? I dunno.

Exactly.

Stoll was awesome, what a warrior. Major props man.

Yup, Stoll had a great game. I'd say he and Kopitar were the only two forwards that showed they cared. Speaking of, Kopitar needs new line mates. Yes I realize that's a tall order and no I have no idea who that would be.

 

[ADifferentTim]

Regardless of what happens Thursday, I'm watching the game for closure's sake.

Also, Dean's made a few changes here and there, but the 2012 team is essentially still here. The team had a shelf life and now it seems it's gone past that. It sucks, but that's what the off-season is for. Shed some dead weight and start again.


I just wasn't expecting it to get this bad though.

Tell me about it; even the Yankees still have those problems with overdependence on veterans, while wasting away the youth movement; this is the exact reason why they never won the World Series in the 1980s. Wanna be told a reminder why the Yankees won a dynasty, spanning 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000?? Perfect balance of youth movement (Core Four and alongside roleplayer fellow rookies) and veteran savvy.

On the Kings' end, this means costing themselves another Stanley Cup run at the very least.

 

[damacles1156]

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.

You described Brown from every year in his career outside of a 2012 playoff run.

Dustin Brown has ALWAYS been a streaky winger who's (Game) is hit or miss.

The guy has only been consistent on the score sheet.

But did everyone just forget that every single year, from when Brown was made Captain.

There has been a (Strip Brown of the C thread), it happens every year.

The guy is an inconsistent winger HIS WHOLE CAREER.

This is not new.

The Kings knew what they were getting when they signed him to that contract.

He will be back to that Inconsistent play next year, and probably put up 20G and 40+ P and 250 hits again.

Guys.....The Brown of the 2012 playoffs......It not going to show up for 82 games.....HE NEVER HAS.

The Kings management knows that....

 

[kingsholygrail]

At least for game 4, I'd start Jones and get him a playoff start. Not laying this series at the feet of Quick. It's a team game, but might as well try Jones out and see what the Sharks do.

I'd also sit Doughty. The guy is injured and with this series out of reach, no sense in making whatever injury he has worse than it already is.

Regehr isn't going anywhere and the Kings can't honestly afford to dump too many defensemen in the off-season. He's played well enough.

Muzzin, Doughty, Martinez should also all return.

Greene and Mitchell I can see letting them walk as I highly doubt they take the kind of ay cut and contract length necessary to make it worth keeping them around. Much appreciation to the both of them. We don't win 2012 without them, but it's time to move on.

I'd buy out Richards. Whatever his problem is, it's not going away fast enough and this team needs someone that can produce for his cap hit.

I wouldn't hang up the phone for offers on Brown or Williams, but I wouldn't give them away either.

I'd make an offer to Gaborik, but not necessarily one he couldn't refuse. He likely won't be re-signed for this reason.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Sometimes I wonder whether we sweat more about this team than the players. At the end of the day, they get to go home to a nice house in Hermosa Beach with their fancy cars while I drive my old beat up Mazda back to my apartment lol

"God what a ****** loss."

*goes home to three-story beach-house and opens a bottle of 300$ wine with supermodels*

and bravo to the mega-post Bandito!

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

It also seems like complacency has crept into the team post 2012. Especially in Brown, he's been no where near the level he played at in 2012 and was a no show when we needed him most this series.

Stoll and Richards have both had bad seasons, but at least they showed a pulse tonight.

 

[Reclamation Project]

But it's not only the offensive stats.

Everything has fallen off the cliff. Offense, defense, speed, short handed threat and physical play.

If you watched a game from 2010 and a game from 2014 you wouldn't even know it's the same player.

It hurts, but it's time to move on. Been a Kings fan almost as long as Richie's been alive.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know our core isn't old. But people act like trading JW for some picks. Retooling isn't a bad thing. People seem so scared of it. Like it will all collapse. Keep the core together, and get rid of the random second liners, third liners/defense. Get some picks, trade for some younger guys. Even if it seems like a lateral move. Just get that hunger/ youth into the line up can be money in the playoffs.

I presume most people are/were resisting/scared of it because why would you dismantle a team that had just been to the cup and WCF? That was my reason, at least; regardless of how the team performed this year they had earned the chance to prove themselves in the playoffs yet again. I think you'll find people much more open to the idea moving forward if we don't win this one in 7.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

You described Brown from every year in his career outside of a 2012 playoff run.

Dustin Brown has ALWAYS been a streaky winger who's (Game) is hit or miss.

The guy has only been consistent on the score sheet.

But did everyone just forget that every single year, from when Brown was made Captain.

There has been a (Strip Brown of the C thread), it happens every year.

The guy is an inconsistent winger HIS WHOLE CAREER.

This is not new.

The Kings knew what they were getting when they signed him to that contract.

He will be back to that Inconsistent play next year, and probably put up 20G and 40+ P and 250 hits again.

Guys.....The Brown of the 2012 playoffs......It not going to show up for 82 games.....HE NEVER HAS.

The Kings management knows that....

Y'know what? If he wasn't making so much money and wasn't the team captain, I don't think we'd be as critical of him. Look at how we judge a player like Lewis, for the most part met with indifference by a majority, but that wouldn't be the case had he been earning a ridiculous amount of money.

That's the big problem facing Brown. He's a player who cannot live up to his stature due to his contract and the letter on his chest. How many captains in the league are as inefficient as Brown?

 

[The Horvatian One]

Man I feel for you guys after watching the highlights..

I noticed that Quick bobbled the puck a few times when shot towards his catching hand...is he hurt?

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

It hurts, but it's time to move on. Been a Kings fan almost as long as Richie's been alive.

Like you said RP, we are fans of the organization, not the players.

It would hurt loosing some of these guys, especially post 2012 but some tough moves need to be made for the longterm success of the franchise. Whether it be Brown, Richards, Williams, Mitchell, or Greene it's time to move on from some if not most of these guys.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Mega post Bandit!

Sometimes I wonder whether we sweat more about this team than the players. At the end of the day, they get to go home to a nice house in Hermosa Beach with their fancy cars while I drive my old beat up Mazda back to my apartment lol

I remember a few months ago when I was reading a post on here while at school sitting next to a couple friends. I started shaking my head and leaned back in my seat. Concerned, they all asked me, "Oh my goodness what's wrong?" Still shaking my head I responded, "I just don't think Muzzin's defensive game is gonna come along! Not in my lifetime."

No one had a clue.

 

[damacles1156]

The thing about Williams is, you are not going to get anything of worth for him.

No team is going to trade a top six player for Williams, Why would they ?

so you give up Williams for a pick and a B prospect...ok.

What if Toffoli turns out to be not able to handle those minutes ?

He is already weak in all areas of the ice save his shot....He sure as hell isn't a possession guy.

Then the Kings are stuck with a hole now on the right side.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

My only concern is the Defense.

It has too get younger, and with that comes mistakes.....It might be a wild ride on the Blue-Line next year.

Really the only guy that is ready McNabb.

Forbort needs another year, Gravel needs a year as well.

Baptism by fire. It wouldn't hurt if Gravel was thrown a year early in.