Kings Article: Sloppy, Careless Play Is “Definitely A Huge Concern" For LA Kings

[FrozenRoyalty]

Despite earning four out of a possible six points on their recent three-game road swing against Pacific Division rivals in Canada, the Los Angeles Kings put in a real stinker at Calgary to end the trip on January 4.
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Although the sky is certainly not falling, the Kings are quite concerned about the sloppy, careless play that crops up in their game all too often, resulting in turnover after turnover and, in the end, goals against and losses.
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Drew Doughty, Tanner Pearson and head coach John Stevens talked about all that, and you can read all about it at...

Sloppy, Careless Play Is ‘Definitely A Huge Concern’ For LA Kings

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[KingsFan7824]

Doughty is the most experienced defenseman on the team, by 272 regular season games over the next highest guy in Martinez. It's weird to think about, but it's true. 272 games is 3 seasons worth of a player. You never know which Muzzin or Martinez you'll get these days either. Folin and Forbort haven't yet played the equivalent of 2 full NHL seasons. Fantenberg is an NHL rookie with 26 GP. MacDermid is a rookie with 31 GP. Gravel hasn't played 1 full NHL season yet. LaDue has played 22 career games. The difference between Doughty and Martinez is exactly equal to the total experience for Forbort, Gravel, MacDermid, Fantenberg, and LaDue combined. I'm throwing LaDue in there because some think he's an answer to a question. He might be, but who knows.

It's a very inexperienced defense. Plus they don't have a vet like Stoll as a center. He's been replaced by Shore. At least Stoll was a threat sometimes. Not to score really, but he'd let you know he was out on the ice. Shore isn't much of a threat to do anything. He's not going to score, I don't know if he's ever really thrown a hit, and he's currently winning less than 47% of his faceoffs. His possession numbers are good on the team, but he's just not a threat of any kind. Plus Kempe is being forced into a center role.

Down the middle, and on the back end. When they were healthy and ready to go, they won 2 Cups, although 2014 was more about offense than defense. In 2013, Kopitar didn't have a great year, and the defense was sort of a mess due to injury, but Quick forced the team into the 3rd round. In 2015, Kopitar had a down year, and the defense was sort of a mess. In 2016, the defense was sort of a mess. In 2017, Kopitar had a down year, the defense was sort of a mess, and Quick wasn't healthy. In 2018, Carter has been hurt, they can't seem to find a real 3rd center, and the defense is sort of a mess.

 

[KINGS17]

I don't know if it's sloppy or careless as much as the Kings lower tier defensemen just get outclassed by the other team's forwards down low in their own zone. Kind of like what the 2012-14 Kings used to do to their opponents.

 

[deaderhead28]

The Kings holes on defense are just being exposed.Blake needs to go get a top 4 defensemen either over the offseason or at the trade deadline.

 

[sinister6000]

With his skating ability i think if Gravel keeps getting bigger and stronger he's going to be one of the better defensive defense men in the nhl.

 

[sinister6000]

There's a lot of teams that need top 4 defense men. What are you willing to give up to get one? It's going to take a 1st round pick.