GDT: Training Camp 2023

[KopitarGOAT420]

Fiala - Dubois - Laferriere about to go CRAZY though

 

[chris kontos]

Kaliyev suspended 4 games for kneeing incident in ducks game
I couldnt watch the game so its tough to have an opinion.

 

[Telos]

That pretty much is having the book thrown at him in that instance, but the play was iffy to me when it happened even with my Kings glasses on. It's a little harsh but the whole play was just out of place and easy to highlight for disciplinary review. He was obviously frustrated and took a run at the next guy he found.

You can tell that Kaliyev is trying to ramp up and increase his utility outside of his shot and special teams ability, but all he was doing was trying to make something out of nothing with his physicality. If he wants to go that route he needs to talk to Dustin Brown or someone about timing things because he looked like he was just skating around looking to increase his physical presence in the wrong ways.

If he can get used to that though and add that to his toolbox without being out of his element and maintain scoring, then he could become amazingly valuable for the team on the top 6. I question if he can make that transition though.

 

[Herby]

Wasn't the point I was making and Hintz didn't go from nobody to somebody at 23 - He just broke out at 23 - Which is something we see quite a lot in the NHL. Troy Terry, Mika Zbanejad, Tage Thompson, Hintz.... There's a decent list just off the top of my head in 5 seconds. There's plenty of players who don't turn into really good / even elite NHL players until 22/23/24 years old.

Byfield JUST turned 21 years old.

You keep saying this, but do you realize how many players who are that age or younger are already contributing significantly? Especially guys taken at the top of the draft.

When the fact is presented about QB having the worst PPG through three seasons of any Top 3 pick in the last 20 years, the players he's being compared to were also 18, 19, 20, 21. Sometimes I think people just totally forget this part of it. It's not unreasonable to have expected a lot more from a player taken #2 in the draft. The expectation for a player taken that high is usually either a plug and play star or someone ready by the end of year 2, because it's happened all over the league. We are entering year four.

Also, the Axl outlier game can easily be played the other way, so you can name those few players who were big disappointments and turned it around, but for every 1 of those, how many were there who didn't take a step to stardom? Probably a much higher number than those that did, right?

Most of the time star players are well on their way by now.

 

[Schrute farms]

How does AK34 get suspended 4 games for that and with his (lack of) history? Compared to Leon Dra time after time slashing guys on their legs during and after plays because he's a whiney bitch. Or Nurse only getting one game for his crazy launched headbutt on PD.

 

[King'sPawn]

Four games for Kaliyev, with no history on a generally nothing play?

Well, that means the Kings either have to go with 11 F and 7 D or send down 2 of Spence, Clarke, Bjornfot and Englund and keep up Turcotte or Laferriere. Isn't playing with a shortened roster awesome when you overspend?

 

[AbsentMojo]

How does AK34 get suspended 4 games for that and with his (lack of) history? Compared to Leon Dra time after time slashing guys on their legs during and after plays because he's a whiney bitch. Or Nurse only getting one game for his crazy launched headbutt on PD.

4 seems a bit steep for 1st time offender.. but cant compare to playoff time suspensions.. they always seem more lenient - apparently not wanting to effect the series too much (and I sort of agree with that in principal - but not with the head butt on Danault.. that deserved more).

 

[bland]

Its a good call. It was as obvious a knee on knee as you will ever see. Kaliyev got smoked, got his Irish up and clumsily went to hit that kid but thrust his knee out. Kid got injured.

Surprised some of you are defending this, it was blatant and definitely suspension worthy.

So now, as I asked yesterday, what are the Kings going to do without the ability to replace him?

Clearly 11F and 7D to start, but this is where ANY nagging injuries to the middle to lower end of the cap-hits on the roster will force the Kings to play with less than 20 AND send a waiver-exempt player down regardless of how well they are playing or integral to the roster.

Cap mismanagement 101.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Englund isn't going anywhere.

The battle between the extra spot is between Bjornfot and JAD, but for right now, the Kings can keep one of Turcotte or Laffy up to play in Kayilev's spot.

 

[Herby]

People are overreacting to 4 games, it's 2 games.

 

[bland]

Englund isn't going anywhere.

The battle between the extra spot is between Bjornfot and JAD, but for right now, the Kings can keep one of Turcotte or Laffy up to play in Kayilev's spot.

Notice how Kassian didn't do anything about or to prevent Kaliyev injuring a Duck?

 

[tny760]

Its a good call. It was as obvious a knee on knee as you will ever see. Kaliyev got smoked, got his Irish up and clumsily went to hit that kid but thrust his knee out. Kid got injured.

Surprised some of you are defending this, it was blatant and definitely suspension worthy.

this got NOTHING:

 

[King'sPawn]

Notice how Kassian didn't do anything about or to prevent Kaliyev injuring a Duck?

And Gudas.

Its a good call. It was as obvious a knee on knee as you will ever see. Kaliyev got smoked, got his Irish up and clumsily went to hit that kid but thrust his knee out. Kid got injured.

Surprised some of you are defending this, it was blatant and definitely suspension worthy.

It's a first time offender and I've seen more blatant knees stuck out get punished for less. There was frustration, but he was in the process of trying to land a body check and his knee stuck out as a reflex of a player trying to avoid it. It's a bad hit, and I'm fine with sitting him for preseason, but it's much tamer compared to worse hits that got less.

 

[johnjm22]

this got NOTHING:

I agree with Kaliyev's suspension, but I also agree with your implied point that the NHL's discipline seems inconsistent and arbitrary.

I'm guessing they came down hard on AK because it seemed retaliatory/intentional.

 

[BaileyFan]

Well looks like that whole "playing a 21-man roster is no big deal, lots of teams do it!!!" theory is gonna be debunked earlier than expected.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

You keep saying this, but do you realize how many players who are that age or younger are already contributing significantly? Especially guys taken at the top of the draft.

When the fact is presented about QB having the worst PPG through three seasons of any Top 3 pick in the last 20 years, the players he's being compared to were also 18, 19, 20, 21. Sometimes I think people just totally forget this part of it. It's not unreasonable to have expected a lot more from a player taken #2 in the draft. The expectation for a player taken that high is usually either a plug and play star or someone ready by the end of year 2, because it's happened all over the league. We are entering year four.

Also, the Axl outlier game can easily be played the other way, so you can name those few players who were big disappointments and turned it around, but for every 1 of those, how many were there who didn't take a step to stardom? Probably a much higher number than those that did, right?

Most of the time star players are well on their way by now.

It's not unreasonable to expect more and it's also not unreasonable to be disappointed in what he's shown us so far.

Just unreasonable (IMO) to write him off / assume we've seen the best from him at this point.

You're definitely right on the points you've made - I just think given COVID, injury history, age for his draft, etc - It's best to wait to cast judgement on Byfield until we see what he does this year.

 

[Herby]

It's not unreasonable to expect more and it's also not unreasonable to be disappointed in what he's shown us so far.

Just unreasonable (IMO) to write him off / assume we've seen the best from him at this point.

He will get better, probably good enough to where he can be a quality 2nd line C one day. But the odds of him turning into Tage Thompson are very small, and for every one Tage Thompson who miraculously emerges there are dozens of players who don't.

 

[King'sPawn]

Assuming they go with 12 F, does that mean they'll send down both Clarke and Spence, and have the 6 D be Anderson, Doughty, Gavrikov, Roy, Englund, and Bjornfot?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Assuming they go with 12 F, does that mean they'll send down both Clarke and Spence, and have the 6 D be Anderson, Doughty, Gavrikov, Roy, Englund, and Bjornfot?

Genuine question... What's the thought process here?? Not following why this would really impact the D situation at all.

 

[tny760]

i want so badly to be happy for laferriere because he's earned the shot but the fact that it has to come this way is such bullshit

 

[YP44]

People are overreacting to 4 games, it's 2 games.

Was going to post the same.

i want so badly to be happy for laferriere because he's earned the shot but the fact that it has to come this way is such bullshit

Last year Vilardi only got his shot in a top 6 role because of the Arvidsson injury. Not the ideal way either but created opportunity.

 

[King'sPawn]

Genuine question... What's the thought process here?? Not following why this would really impact the D situation at all.

Kaliyev is suspended but he still counts against the cap. Because they are so much against the cap, they have to go with a 21-man roster. So, it's either 12 F, 7 D, and 2 G or 13 F, 6 D, and 2 G. With this, they could afford one healthy scratch per game.

With Kaliyev out and still counting against the cap, They'll either have to go with 11 F, 7 D, and 2 G or 12 F, 6 D, and 2 G during his suspension. They don't have any healthy scratches.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

With the Kaliyev suspension - I'd love to see the following tonight.

Byfield - Turcotte - Kempe
Fiala - Dubois - Laferriere
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Lewis

Anderson - Clarke
Gavrikov - Roy
Bjornfot - Spence

But I wouldn't adjust ice time / responsibilities so it's a big test for Turcotte and Clarke and you can see how those guys play with big minutes. You can quite literally see how Clarke does filling in for Doughty and I'd put him on PP1 so that Spence can continue to work with PP2 and can build chemistry with that group.

Kopitar and Doughty rest tonight and likely play the final preseason game against Vegas on Saturday.

Bjornfot draws in so you can have another game to evaluate him - Plus he and Spence should be very comfortable playing together.

Laferriere gets a much deserved chance to play with excellent players in a key role.

Kaliyev is suspended but he still counts against the cap. Because they are so much against the cap, they have to go with a 21-man roster. So, it's either 12 F, 7 D, and 2 G or 13 F, 6 D, and 2 G.

With Kaliyev out and still counting against the cap, They'll either have to go with 11 F, 7 D, and 2 G or 12 F, 6 D, and 2 G during his suspension.

Thank you!

 

[Kurrilino]

Okay now this is a post worth getting offended about lol.

I don't understand how you can claim Kopitar has 'delivered shit' but hey man, go off.

We're all entitled to our opinions I guess.

It's easy,
Kopitar demanded top center salary but delivered 60+ points and out of playoff for several years right after contract plus being used as a pilon by the Oilers 2 years in a row.

If you demand top money, you better be able to force wins and dictate where games go.
We wouldn't have this discussion when he would have stayed at 6 mill salary, where he belongs.

I already predict the same discussions for PLD

 

[BringTheReign]

Dallas is way tougher than the Kings - Benn is the heart of the team and he's a bad ass nasty power forward. Mason Marchment is also very chippy.

They have a future Jonathan Quick also in Oettinger.

Also, three of their top six D are under 24.

Did you watch their series against Vegas last year? Benn took the dumbest penalty, got suspended, and then the game he returned to the lineup they got smoked. They played better against Vegas without him. Marchment I won't comment on as he lost his father last year.

I agree though, the biggest flaw in following Dallas' model is that Cal turned into a pumpkin. As for the defense, Anderson has already arrived, Clarke and Spence look great, and we have more in the pipe. I think we could get to where they're at in terms of impactful youth.