GDT: Training Camp 2023

[Sol]

There you go with the same agenda and theme. Nevermind the fact that the team has no chance to bring up a rookie because AK34 is suspended and Arvi is hurt. But you do you....blinders and all.

Axl thinks playing Laferriere is done by choice and not by injury. Don’t waste your time engaging with him.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Axl thinks playing Laferriere is done by choice and not by injury. Don’t waste your time engaging with him.

You think none of those other kids are playing due to similar situations?

 

[Sol]

You think none of those other kids are playing due to similar situations?

Do you think there’s a difference between making a decision without influence and a decision with influence?

 

[Johnny Utah]

https://x.com/cf_depthcharts/status/1711562412355203086?s=46&t=CAvt9IhT1A2I11FdIsm7Qg

 

[DoktorJeep]

We need a game around here, feels like a lot of tension has built up among fans due to management’s decisions.

Whatever happened to the first goal of the game contest? I feel like that died during the pandemic.

 

[BigKing]

It's not fun buying a condo in this market and then moving straight into a full kitchen remodel etc...but it has been great having something that pisses me off take attention away from the Kings pissing me off.

Seems like everything is starting off well. Fully expecting this team to play like they did last year prior to the infamous Seattle game/Petersen demotion: cheating on defense to score because they feel they are so stacked.

I imagine Gavrikov will help it not be as ugly as it was last season until they tightened up but yeah: this team is going to have to outscore its problems but also not make its problems worse by trying to outscore them.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Do you think there’s a difference between making a decision without influence and a decision with influence?

You make zero sense -- you would be playing AL over Kaliyev or Arvidsson if everyone can play? What is your POINT besides you hate the club, we get it already!

 

[AbsentMojo]

Waive Lizotte problem solved

 

[King'sPawn]

Alright so they might play a forward short a game or two. What's the big deal? Is it that much different than playing an enforcer 4 minutes a night which was common some years back? Things could have been better for sure but it's not the end of the world.

A new season is about to start, the Kings have a pretty good roster all things considered and many posters here seem absolutely miserable about it.

It is.

Because previous rosters with enforcers had options to scratch enforcers and play someone better to eat some of the minutes.

But when you're double-shifting someone or multiple people, there's increased risk of injury or damage. It's like weightlifting and focusing on specific muscles and not giving those muscles rest.

If someone does get hurt, you have issues. If they're not hurt enough to LTIR them, you either make them continue to play through it and risking a worse injury (not to mention degraded performance of playing while hurt), OR you sit them and double-shift players even more. We're seeing this with Arvidsson right now and they've yet to play a game.

There will be fewer practices to give players time to rest. And fewer practices leads to systemic degradation (after all, how does a terrible penalty kill improve if they aren't practicing it?)

Playing with a shortened roster of less than 22 players, where you can at least spare an extra defenseman and forward, is incredibly risky. The Kings aren't the only team doing it, but that doesn't mean it's not a bad idea.

And going a chunk of the season that way? It's simply a greater risk of things unnecessarily spiraling out of control. Will it? Not definitely, but I don't think the Kings have constructed and developed a good enough roster where it's worth taking that risk.

 

[Sol]

You make zero sense -- you would be playing AL over Kaliyev or Arvidsson if everyone can play? What is your POINT besides you hate the club, we get it already!

Let’s say that your hot pink Ford Fiesta was damaged, and it’s in the shop now for repairs. And person X offers you to drive their car instead until yours is fixed. So now you’re driving a better car even though your dream car, the hot pink Ford Fiesta is in the shop.

A decision free of influence vs a decision with influence.

I don’t expect you to engage with that as usual. Lol

 

[tigermask48]

However, they'll also probably be fine especially given it's likely just for a game or two. Both sides have valid points.

It won't be just a game or two. The Kings aren't filled with a bunch of machines that all play 82 games year after year. Only 4 players last year played all 82, and zero did the year before. This team is two injuries away from having to rely heavily on the other players and that can potentially lead to more injuries from fatigue.

 

[Johnny Utah]

It's not fun buying a condo in this market and then moving straight into a full kitchen remodel etc...but it has been great having something that pisses me off take attention away from the Kings pissing me off.

Seems like everything is starting off well. Fully expecting this team to play like they did last year prior to the infamous Seattle game/Petersen demotion: cheating on defense to score because they feel they are so stacked.

I imagine Gavrikov will help it not be as ugly as it was last season until they tightened up but yeah: this team is going to have to outscore its problems but also not make its problems worse by trying to outscore them.

I'll be a Reign Season ticket member by December.

 

[bland]

The less you think about something, the easier it is to be happy.

Lots of sweet, summer children holding hands and skipping around here today.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The less you think about something, the easier it is to be happy.

Lots of sweet, summer children holding hands and skipping around here today.

One thing is certain -- win or lose tomorrow night, it's going to be absolutely miserable over here come Thu morning.

 

[Schrute farms]

I'm confused, so Laferriere is NOT playing tomorrow?

As i said, there is only one reason Laf is likely to play -- and it has nothing to do with him earning a spot on the roster (which he likely should have). It's also the same reason that he will go back down to Ontario after a few games when AK/Arvi are back. He could score 20 goals in 4 games and it won't make a difference. What will you say then?

 

[tigermask48]

I'll be a Reign Season ticket member by December.

This might be the way I go. I keep forgetting to look into that streaming deal the AHL had a couple days ago.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

As i said, there is only one reason Laf is likely to play -- and it has nothing to do with him earning a spot on the roster (which he likely should have). It's also the same reason that he will go back down to Ontario after a few games when AK/Arvi are back. He could score 20 goals in 4 games and it won't make a difference. What will you say then?

I will say the next call-up when needed better be TJ Tynan to prove your point further.

 

[johnjm22]

But at this point, being critical of management is totally reasonable. The Kings didn't HAVE to go out and bet the farm on Dubois. Their forward group was pretty damn good to begin with and acquiring Dubois didn't really address any of the team's obvious needs. Plus doing so has objectively led to a much worse cap situation (and goaltending situation) than they needed to be in.

This is just straight up wrong. The Kings number one need was center.

If the goal is to win now, the Kings probably made the best possible move available. They knew it would cause a tight cap situation, but still makes sense given the goal.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We need a game around here, feels like a lot of tension has built up among fans due to management’s decisions.

Whatever happened to the first goal of the game contest? I feel like that died during the pandemic.

It is 100% hockey season blueballs.

This is just straight up wrong. The Kings number one need was center.

If the goal is to win now, the Kings probably made the best possible move available. They knew it would cause a tight cap situation, but still makes sense given the goal.

Arguable that their #1 need was center.

However, that's another self-inflicted roster issue--they drafted C early in every draft since Blake's arrival. Vilardi and JAD in 2017. Kupari and Thomas (and Dudas) in 2018. Turcotte in 2019. Byfield in 2020. Pinelli in 2021. Hughes and Connors in 2022.

I don't think I even need to finish that thought.

 

[killermiller]

If Lafferriere plays well does he still get sent down when the others come back? This just seems a little early to be having multiple roster problems/question marks.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

If Lafferriere plays well does he still get sent down when the others come back?

Absolutely. TM hates the kids so he will replace Laff with Kaliyev.

 

[Kudelski37]

I'm confused, so Laferriere is NOT playing tomorrow?

Don't count your chickens before Blake smashes your eggs.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

It won't be just a game or two. The Kings aren't filled with a bunch of machines that all play 82 games year after year. Only 4 players last year played all 82, and zero did the year before. This team is two injuries away from having to rely heavily on the other players and that can potentially lead to more injuries from fatigue.

Meh, most teams only have a handful of guys that end up playing 80 games or more. Kings had 6 guys play 80 or more games last year which seems to be about the norm across the league (just eye balling it on NHL.com).

I'm also fully expecting changes to be made at some point in the year - Not expecting the Kings to be limited to carrying 21 players for the entirety of the season.

You're right tho, the whole 'we can only carry 21 players on our roster because we screwed our cap situation' thing is going to effect the team for more than just a game or two.

I was just referring to the fact that when Kaliyev's suspension is done, it becomes less messy.

This is just straight up wrong. The Kings number one need was center.

If the goal is to win now, the Kings probably made the best possible move available. They knew it would cause a tight cap situation, but still makes sense given the goal.

I guess I just firmly disagree.

They had Kopitar and Danault - two very good centers and they also could've kept Byfield at 3rd line center and let him develop as a C. Lizotte as a 3C was concerning for the playoffs sure, but they weren't tied to that. Like I said, they could've rolled with Kopitar, Danault, Byfield, and Lizotte as their center core this year which still would've been very solid.

Obviously strength down the middle is great and adding Dubois improves that. But I would've ranked goaltending, penalty kill, and grit/toughness as more urgent offseason needs before center depth.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

If Lafferriere plays well does he still get sent down when the others come back? This just seems a little early to be having multiple roster problems/question marks.

If he plays well he'll be lucky if they don't send him to the ECHL.

 

[Pucknut50]

Alright so they might play a forward short a game or two. What's the big deal? Is it that much different than playing an enforcer 4 minutes a night which was common some years back? Things could have been better for sure but it's not the end of the world.

A new season is about to start, the Kings have a pretty good roster all things considered and many posters here seem absolutely miserable about it.

No it's the same three posters RJ, Sol, and Herby.