GDT: - season game 46 LA Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets @4:00pm 1/25/25

[King'sPawn]

Huge difference between what Lombardi was talking about and it literally just happening seconds beforehand

Oof you need a pretty bad take to make GBH look correct. "Playing hurt" is a completely different thing than the immediate aftermath of an injury, even if it doesn't end up serious. What happened to fiala is more like when a guy takes a slapper off the ankle and drops to the ice -- you don't single that guy out if they score afterward, and you commend him for getting back up and scrambling into the play to try

It's exactly the point though.

It's not going to get easier from here. And if Fiala sustained an injury where he can't play, then this whole conversation is moot. But the harder hits are going to come. And the play isn't going to stop unless he's actually injured.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

It's exactly the point though.

It's not going to get easier from here. And if Fiala sustained an injury where he can't play, then this whole conversation is moot. But the harder hits are going to come. And the play isn't going to stop unless he's actually injured.

Got it, so a player, any player, who blocks a shot with the knee, ankle, takes a puck in the face, needs to suck it up in the moment because they are expected to play 100% hard defense?

I mean, cmon, is this for real?

 

[King'sPawn]

Got it, so a player, any player, who blocks a shot with the knee, ankle, takes a puck in the face, needs to suck it up in the moment because they are expected to play 100% hard defense?

I mean, cmon, is this for real?

Which of those things happened to Fiala? Or are you making up those hypotheticals because what happened to Fiala wouldn't have stopped other players?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Which of those things happened to Fiala? Or are you making up those hypotheticals because what happened to Fiala wouldn't have stopped other players?

Did you watch the play, hard collision, between Fiala and CBJ player, Fiala was stunned. layed down, got back up because there was no while, the CBJ was shook up just as hard, but he was able to go to the bench because of the long change...and this happened in the offensive zone.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Hiller needs to put Burroughs back in the lineup. Got to get back to holding opponents to one goal or less. This is not a 3:2 league anymore.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Hiller needs to put Burroughs back in the lineup. Got to get back to holding opponents to one goal or less. This is not a 3:2 league anymore.

Doughty comes back tomorrow, who are you scratching to get Burroughs in?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Doughty comes back tomorrow, who are you scratching to get Burroughs in?

Fiala

Edit:

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

Which of those things happened to Fiala? Or are you making up those hypotheticals because what happened to Fiala wouldn't have stopped other players?

He was obviously shaken up, did you even watch the play lol

 

[King'sPawn]

Did you watch the play, hard collision, between Fiala and CBJ player, Fiala was stunned. layed down, got back up because there was no while, the CBJ was shook up just as hard, but he was able to go to the bench because of the long change...and this happened in the offensive zone.

He was obviously shaken up, did you even watch the play lol

He was moving just fine after getting shaken up. And he defended just like he always does in similar circumstances.

For people asking if I watched the play, you certainly are showing how you don't pay attention to the players in general.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He was moving just fine after getting shaken up. And he defended just like he always does in similar circumstances.

For people asking if I watched the play, you certainly are showing how you don't pay attention to the players in general.

Yea moving just fine lol....

Your bias is showing, might wanna clean that up

 

[Herby]

Thought they dominated, to be honest. Continued lack of finish.

Paging @Herby. It's hard to win every game when you only score two goals. There isn't a Jeff Carter to be added at the deadline to fix this either.

What more can be said?

I continue to be amazed that there are so many here (even beyond the usual suspects) that think this team is live to win playoff series by holding teams with offensive superstars to 1 or 2 goals. Sometimes I truly wonder if people are watching other games around the league, and how they are played, how the game is officiated, the skill level on other teams. I feel like when I am watching the Kings play, its kind of like if your NFL team in 2024 had guys who looked like this


(although he was a beast in Tecmo Super Bowl!)

But they scored 5 during that span against a team in the midst of a drama dumpster fire so that automatically cancels out the other 8 games.

I love the responses quick to point out his error, as if saying "they haven't scored more than 2 goals in 8 out of their last 9" sounds any better.

Everyone complaining about Fiala but nobody mentions the two horrible plays by Byfield in OT.

Well, Mr. Rhoadz, you are actually right about this one. There are some players who get piled on regularly (Fiala being one, and now Moore joining him), while others are largely above most criticism. That seems to be the case with Byfield, who, I think, people sometimes forget isn’t 19 anymore.

Fiala has been terrible this season; there’s no other way to spin it. However, an underachieving trade acquisition struggling badly or Trevor Moore falling off, pales in comparison to having a #2 overall pick playing at a third-line level in his fifth season since being drafted. Byfield being at this level at this stage of his development is definitely a factor in many of the team’s offensive struggles. To put it in DL language, when he was drafted he was projected to fill a box by now, and he just is nowhere close to that box. Offensive expectations are justifiably placed upon players taken that high. All one needs to do is look at the list of players from the last quarter-century who have gone that high and see what the ones worth a damn had already achieved by this point in their careers. Byfield drew comparisons to guys like Kopitar and Barkov leading up to that draft, go take a look at what those guys were in their age 22 seasons.

 

[Schmooley]

What more can be said?

I continue to be amazed that there are so many here (even beyond the usual suspects) that think this team is live to win playoff series by holding teams with offensive superstars to 1 or 2 goals. Sometimes I truly wonder if people are watching other games around the league, and how they are played, how the game is officiated, the skill level on other teams. I feel like when I am watching the Kings play, its kind of like if your NFL team in 2024 had guys who looked like this

View attachment 967846
(although he was a beast in Tecmo Super Bowl!)



I love the responses quick to point out his error, as if saying "they haven't scored more than 2 goals in 8 out of their last 9" sounds any better.


Well, Mr. Rhoadz, you are actually right about this one. There are some players who get piled on regularly (Fiala being one, and now Moore joining him), while others are largely above most criticism. That seems to be the case with Byfield, who, I think, people sometimes forget isn’t 19 anymore.

Fiala has been terrible this season; there’s no other way to spin it. However, an underachieving trade acquisition struggling badly or Trevor Moore falling off, pales in comparison to having a #2 overall pick playing at a third-line level in his fifth season since being drafted. Byfield being at this level at this stage of his development is definitely a factor in many of the team’s offensive struggles. To put it in DL language, when he was drafted he was projected to fill a box by now, and he just is nowhere close to that box. Offensive expectations are justifiably placed upon players taken that high. All one needs to do is look at the list of players from the last quarter-century who have gone that high and see what the ones worth a damn had already achieved by this point in their careers. Byfield drew comparisons to guys like Kopitar and Barkov leading up to that draft, go take a look at what those guys were in their age 22 seasons.

He is not above criticism. Earlier in the year no one was happy with his play.
Did you watch the game yesterday? He was working hard all game and scored to tie it at the end. He wasnt good in overtime but no one was not even Kempe. Like they were spent from trying to tie the game in regulation. Hes the last guy that deserves criticism yesterdays game. No one really does because they played well besides overtime.

 

[Herby]

He is not above criticism. Earlier in the year no one was happy with his play.
Did you watch the game yesterday? He was working hard all game and scored to tie it at the end. He wasnt good in overtime but no one was not even Kempe. Like they were spent from trying to tie the game in regulation. Hes the last guy that deserves criticism yesterdays game. No one really does because they played well besides overtime.

I mostly stay out of the GDT's now-a-days because ultimately it's one game in 82 and I think often people get caught in the moment. I am talking about the whole season, and the career in general. I still believe that the players who make up the remnants of the rebuild are still given to much of a pass by fans in comparison to guys like Moore and Fiala. If anyone had told you on draft night that this is where QB would be as a player in January 2025, would you have been anything other than massively disappointed? I understand QB has improved his all-around game, but he isn't being mistaken for a Selke winner

I just think it's a bit ridiculous to constantly pile on players like Fiala and Moore when the way bigger issues the team faces come from just how little the Kings are getting offensively from guys they invested a ton of draft capital on, specifically QB as a #2 pick.

Is it unfair to judge a player based on where he was drafted? Maybe to the player, since he didn't draft himself, but when you pick that high there should be extremely high expectations sooner than later, and if there isn't it's going to create problems with your roster construction, and you are seeing that with the Kings and their lack of skill that translates to a lack of offensive output. The Kings are missing what if we are being honest with ourselves, probably should be (if not) the undisputed #1 center by now, at the very least should be in a 1A/1B situation with Kopitar. That is the typical progression for a player taken that high.

When you have very little offensive talent and you are struggling to score on a nightly basis, you have to look at the reasons why. And well, a #11 pick given away and thriving elsewhere, and a #2 and a #5 pick producing like 3rd liners at 22 and 23 is certainly a reason for it, even if they are both playing a well rounded game, those guys weren't drafted in the top 5 to be well rounded 40 point players.