The Fix is in (it's up to you).
- Thread starter etherialone
- Start date
We'll keep the best goalie in the game today thanks. Even if he lets in a totally bizarre goal once every blue moon.
Raccoon Jesus
Jim Hiller is point shaving games
I wait until game 10 then take stock of the team to see if it's just first-week sloppy play/bad puck luck or if I need to tinker. People are coming up with some solid ideas for reconfiguring the lineup (outside of trades I really like the lineup ideas people had for splitting up Carter and Richards), but seriously, it's been 3 games, including back-to-back home openers in loud buildings on the road in which the teams admitted the Kings were a measuring stick then an ugly home opener in which we hit two posts AND had the goal of the century go in. Just reading too much into things with a small sample size. I don't think we've played well, don't get me wrong, but it's a little early to press the nuke button.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
Doesn't it seem like the hitting game and intensity and dropped off quite a bit from this team? They're not crushing opponents or dominating along the boards like we were accustomed to seeing from this Kings team. They seem to be passive aggressive. The fight initiated by Clifford did nothing to spark the team, the team didn't come out in any period looking to punish the Wild, Jets, or Rangers. I don't know whether it is their conditioning as a whole or what but I'm just noticing a collective lack of energy and intensity from this team from the drop of the puck in Game 1 and that is the one thing that has remained consistent with this team.
We do look way less hungry Ziggy, I completely agree that we are playing with less aggression and intensity then our opponents have been and that it sure seems like our physical play has both dropped off and is anemic when it does hit.
no name
Registered User
The problem stems from the inability to make skilled passes, make smart reads in their own zone, and the lack of effort in front of both goalies. This is a team comprised mostly of grinders so why can't they make enough effort to screen the goalie or put in the effort to go for a rebound.
First line have zero chemistry now days. Williams is working the outside more this year instead of his usual mucking it up style. Brown is stationary and doesn't seem to be aware of what is going on around him. Kopitar seems to be trying to do most of the offense but his shot is not creating anything when it's in the goalies chest and nobody is there is clean it up.
The second line is creating like crazy but the defense is just terrible.
The third line can't play defense or offense.
I actually like the 4th line if used right.
I think we just have to wait out the top line. Brown will get back into things. Williams is Williams and we know he's effective. Kopitar actually looks assertive, which is what we've wanted from him. That all will fall into place.
The third line needs a complete makeover. Bring up the rookies.
First line have zero chemistry now days. Williams is working the outside more this year instead of his usual mucking it up style. Brown is stationary and doesn't seem to be aware of what is going on around him. Kopitar seems to be trying to do most of the offense but his shot is not creating anything when it's in the goalies chest and nobody is there is clean it up.
The second line is creating like crazy but the defense is just terrible.
The third line can't play defense or offense.
I actually like the 4th line if used right.
I think we just have to wait out the top line. Brown will get back into things. Williams is Williams and we know he's effective. Kopitar actually looks assertive, which is what we've wanted from him. That all will fall into place.
The third line needs a complete makeover. Bring up the rookies.
I think one thing we can all agree on is that we aren't playing as well as we possibly can and that's cool but the question is what would you do to fix the problems that you are seeing. Lots of good examples/idea's so far but there are still allot of posters sharing your observations but leaving out your suggestions as to how they might be remedied.
Let us know your suggestions. It would be great to have a list of potential remedies but 4pm Thursday afternoon if possible.
Be as specific as possible and keep em coming.
Let us know your suggestions. It would be great to have a list of potential remedies but 4pm Thursday afternoon if possible.
Be as specific as possible and keep em coming.
I should have just pm'd you before I started the thread. Winner!
ot I had a local cook make a fresh lobster (i mean oof the boat) torta and now they sell it on the menu.
You have started an intl torta revolution! NFLD is now rocking the torta!
get about 40 tires of all sizes from a used tire shop. Randomly scatter them all over the ice. Now do your drills like regular. Every time someone fails to complete a pass (this was driving me crazy the last couple games), make them skate a ladder drill.
Other than that, I think calling up a kid might be a good thing. Everyone might just be a little too complacent. Its awesome that DL was able to keep the team together following the cup win but maybe they are just too relaxed about job safety and having to fight for a spot.
It looks like this may be starting to happen with Fraser getting moved to the LW. If lewis does well at center I don't see a reason to keep fraser up. Trade/waive him and then there is one flexible roster spot that you can call a kid up or down at will. The first kid to be called up will be from wherever Dean and Sutter think we are weakest at the time. weak LW call up pearson, if he isnt cutting it drop him back down and call up toffoli. At least it would give us some roster flexibility.
Other than that, I think calling up a kid might be a good thing. Everyone might just be a little too complacent. Its awesome that DL was able to keep the team together following the cup win but maybe they are just too relaxed about job safety and having to fight for a spot.
It looks like this may be starting to happen with Fraser getting moved to the LW. If lewis does well at center I don't see a reason to keep fraser up. Trade/waive him and then there is one flexible roster spot that you can call a kid up or down at will. The first kid to be called up will be from wherever Dean and Sutter think we are weakest at the time. weak LW call up pearson, if he isnt cutting it drop him back down and call up toffoli. At least it would give us some roster flexibility.
During our cup run only one opposing player would stick to the carrier and the others would keep position.
Now teams are swarming the slowpuck carrier . they figured out our system. I don't think its the players, just the system got figured out.
Now teams are swarming the slowpuck carrier . they figured out our system. I don't think its the players, just the system got figured out.
no name
Registered User
I do believe that might have something to do with it but this type of system has been working for decades. Why does it no longer work?
agentfouser
Playoffs?!?!
The defense is too slow and doesn't contribute enough to the breakout. They also play with their heels on the red line, and thereby play no effective role in keeping the puck in the offensive zone. Our forwards are on their own, three-on-five all night.
We need defensemen who are faster skaters and better breakout passers. It'll confound some people on here, but I would take Regher out and put Martinez in. Yes, Martinez (and Muzzin, leave him in too) will make dumb mistakes that cause goals, but he actually contributes to the system. If we can get back to our system, we'll go back to smothering teams the way were late in the season and the playoffs of the Cup run, and for substantial parts of last season, but sadly NOT the playoffs.
This team wins when it plays its game, and its game has been obvious since the days of Terry Murray. We have the guys who are strong enough along the boards to make the system work, and who score enough for us to win. The problem right now is that the connection between the forwards and defense has been severed, and I blame the attempt to play three versions of Matt Greene: Regher, Mitchell, and the original. Our defense is too slow for this game...
It's too bad we can't go back in time and use the two second-round picks we spent on Regher (ouch!), Bernier, and any prospect it takes (yes, even Toffoli) to get a legitimate, mobile, puck-moving defenseman to play alongside Doughty. Regher, Mitchell, and Greene are the obvious weak link in this team now, and if we try to go with them for the next three years we're going to burn the best years Quick, Kopitar, and Doughty will have, and we won't get a damn thing out of it.
damacles1156
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2010
- 21,665
- 1,318
I am going to agree here.
The slow puck movement by the Defenders is killing the Kings right now.
That started to become a problem at the end of last season, and only has seem to got worse. The Kings are moving the puck way too slow all over the ice, and it's killing them.
That is one thing Sutter insisted that they do when he got hired (move everywhere faster!!!). I don't know why Sutter has allowed that to tail off....
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Yes. I wouldn't be happy about it but this team can sometimes be a bit sluggish then get going like crazy, I'd be willing to try wait it out. Obviously you try some minor line juggling and so on, but I wouldn't start calling up kids from Manchester, trading guys, look for a new coach or anything like that yet. Now if we're talking 10 games and things are looking outright awful then you don't have much choice, but I would argue the first three games weren't completely awful either. Don't get me wrong, they were hardly inspiring efforts but they weren't total train wrecks either. Fairly close games decided by a couple of turn overs and failure to capitalize on the chances that were given.
So in short, if they continue to be bland I'd at least give it 20 games, if they start looking worse then I'd consider making changes earlier. In either case I'll be very mad, so hopefully they find their form soon
Stupid Sexy Flanders
Registered User
- Feb 3, 2007
- 1,462
- 10
I think the easiest change to make is to fix the colossal mistake of sending TT down. He is part of the core and he earned that spot in the playoffs last year. This should be done tomorrow. There is no valid counter-argument. Stoll or Lewis shifts down to 4C and Fraser goes.
After that, I'd be looking at moving Clifford or King and giving Pearson that spot.
And Sutter needs to be playing AMart.
And fire Blake.
After that, I'd be looking at moving Clifford or King and giving Pearson that spot.
And Sutter needs to be playing AMart.
And fire Blake.
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The Tikkanen
Pest
I give them 10 games but I insert Carcillo into the lineup now. Like others have said the Kings seem lethargic, maybe moving Carcillo up and down the lines can insert some passion into the team? That sounds weird but I'm OK with that.
damacles1156
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2010
- 21,665
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A-Mart and Toffoli are not going to make a damn bit of difference if the Kings keep moving the damn Puck so slow.
That has to come from all 18 skaters, collectively. From the 1st line to the fourth line, and the 1-6 defender....TOO DAMN SLOW.
The Kings are making it easy for anyone that play's them.
That has to come from all 18 skaters, collectively. From the 1st line to the fourth line, and the 1-6 defender....TOO DAMN SLOW.
The Kings are making it easy for anyone that play's them.
Face Wash
Registered User
funky
In Hiller we Distrust
- Mar 9, 2002
- 6,859
- 5,360
I posted in the GDT that The league figured out Sutters system the day we won the cup. Teams look what worked and figure out ways to use it or defend against it.
We all complain that our skilled players seem to be off or sucking. Maybe it's just our system actually sucks the life and energy out of them and it was there abundance of skill that was making the system work.
Once they won the Cup it was the coaches job to be ready for the 29 teams that would have studied the Kings and adapted. We sat on our hands. We preached the defensive system, the non stop back checking. The non stop rub out the opposition, hit, dump and chase. This has worn down bodies and legs.
Teams have gotten faster, stretched out passes, blown around pylons like Regehr and Greene. Our kids try to do to much and are constantly skating out pucks when sometimes set plays and picks by passing save them 50 feet of skating and conserve energy.
My thoughts are we have the best goalie in the game and are scared to open up the offence because he might see more shots if we don't play such a defensive game. Quick is a luxury we are not taking advantage of. Not talking going full blown 80's Oilers but using skill instead of size for part of the 60 minutes.
We have two mobile, high skilled Dmen who should have no problem clearing zones with outlets or long passes or setting up set plays. Both DD and VV are highly skilled and highly smart. They have outlet options like Kopitar, Carter, and Williams who can all move with the puck and catch passes with ease.
Sit Regehr, sit King. Yes size is good but as Detroit proves year after year skill trumps size. We have a defensive gem in Lewis and two big bodies in Nolan and Clifford but not one skilled player in the bottom 6 to help with offence. Stoll is a great team ambassador and heart and soul guy but the writing is on the wall for him, trade him while their are still teams starving and willing to gamble for 2c's. maybe we get a good value on a perishable commodity .
I know we are in win know mode but we also have a core that will easily be win now for 5 to 8 years. Time to inject some youth, not all at once but 1 or 2 fresh legs won't hurt. There has to be a team that needs a big defenseman like RR to get the contract of the books. Eat 500,000 each year and let Ellerby and Martinez develop. Frees up money to let Toffoli and Pearson play.
Redundant players
Greene vs Regehr - bye RR
Carrillo vs Clifford - Cliffy has trade value
Fraser vs King vs Lewis. 3 guys that are all defence no offence. We have to keep Lewis as he is turning into a true specialist. Saying that this team that can't score doesn't have the luxury to carry three guys with no offence. Keep Lewis.
Nolan vs AA. - both are cheap and a couple years away before they are redundant
Stoll - in a league of his own. He is quickly turning into a face off taking specialist. He really has lost a step and doesn't have much offence left. As I stated above maybe it's the system we play. Unfortunately for 3 mil a year is twice as much as he should be paid.
My fix
Change up the system. all up Toffoli, rid ourselves of Regehr or Greene( can't believe I said that), rid ourselves of Clifford while he has value.
Brown- Kopitar - Toffoli
Pearson - Carter - Williams
Carcillo- Richards - Frattin
King/ Nolan - Stoll- Lewis
Balances lineup
Two scoring lines
A two way third line that can skate, hit and produce offence
A puck possession shut down forth
DD and JM
VV and WM
MG and AM
Next year we need two targets.
1. A defensive partner for Doughty. We need a two way guy with skill that can log big minutes like a Marc Staal or Brodin. Need a big left shot good skating Dman. Even a guy like Gunnarsson fits the bill
2. Still need that skilled LW - Pearson may grow into the role in a few years
Since we are clearly in panic mode such desperate times call for desperate measures -- here is my insane fix:
Kopitar Carter Williams
Brown Richards Toffoli
Carcillo Stoll Frattin
Clifford Lewis Nolan
King (Fraser odd man out)
The only fix for the D is Quick to go total beast.
Would love to see a few experimental shifts with Kopi on Carter's wing. The current lineup has way too many skaters on the wrong line or position -- this might help if...we did try Richards on the wing, why not give it a shot?
Kopitar Carter Williams
Brown Richards Toffoli
Carcillo Stoll Frattin
Clifford Lewis Nolan
King (Fraser odd man out)
The only fix for the D is Quick to go total beast.
Would love to see a few experimental shifts with Kopi on Carter's wing. The current lineup has way too many skaters on the wrong line or position -- this might help if...we did try Richards on the wing, why not give it a shot?
KingPuckChoo
Go kinGs Go !
- Jun 24, 2007
- 9,989
- 4,287
ahh remember when we use to always suck? those were the days...
now we have high expectations and i'm not comfortable
now we have high expectations and i'm not comfortable
