Training Camp/Preseason games Thread 2021

[kingsfan]

JAD and Lizotte can shuffle to the wing. It's not an either or. If it was, I'd rather JAD.

 

[Schmooley]

Kopitar, Danault, and Vilardi are the top 3 centers. The issue is the 4th center - does JAD make it or end up in Ontario and the Kings go with Lizotte.

JAD looked miles better than Lizotte last year. At least before his injury

 

[Master Yoda]

Any pre season games on TV?

I think I saw a tweet from Faust that a couple games are supposed to be on Bally Sports.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Mayor answered me on Twitter….

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Kopitar, Danault, and Vilardi are the top 3 centers. The issue is the 4th center - does JAD make it or end up in Ontario and the Kings go with Lizotte.

In the uptempo NHL Vilardi gets busted to the Wing or traded

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

I knew I was forgetting someone. Vilardi.

Forget Vilardi he's a goner...there is no Vilardi

 

[kingsboy11]

I think I saw a tweet from Faust that a couple games are supposed to be on Bally Sports.

Yup that's where I heard it from.

 

[Schrute farms]

Kopi
Danault
Vilardi
JAD

 

[Lt Dan]

Yup that's where I heard it from.

That's badass

 

[Johnny Utah]

What’s Bally Sports?

 

[lumbergh]

Center depth:

Kopitar
Danault
Byfield/Turcotte
JAD

I think Lizotte is the odd man out. Maybe the Pens have some interest. They won't have Crosby initially and Malkin is out for at least 2 months.

The idea that the Penguins would raid the Kings’ scrap heap and pull out Jeff Carter and Blake Lizotte for centers made me LOL.

 

[lumbergh]

I'm fluent in Canadian and this is the first I've heard of that word. Then again, could be Newfienese.



We spent a 4th round pick and got 18 games out of him. We've spent more for less.

I think I spent more on a base model 98 Ford Escort. Solid car. Never spent less for more.

 

[Docgonzo]

What’s Bally Sports?

Formerly know as Fox Sports

 

[kilowatt]

Kopi
Danault
Vilardi
JAD

I like it. My best guess for wingers, assuming no prospects force their way onto the team...

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - Tkachev
Kempe - Vilardi - Moore
Andersson - JAD - Lizotte
Lemieux, Grundstrom

 

[Johnny Utah]

I like it. My best guess for wingers, assuming no prospects force their way onto the team...

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - Tkachev
Kempe - Vilardi - Moore
Andersson - JAD - Lizotte
Lemieux, Grundstrom

Lemieux in over Lizotte - he never plays wing and the Kings are VERY soft, especially on D. Really think one of Grundstrom, Wagner and Lizotte ends up on waivers. Also, where is AA???

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - AA
Kempe - Vilardi - Moore
Andersson - JAD - Lemieux
Wagner, Grundstrom, Lizotte - and one of those goes on waivers.

 

[lumbergh]

Akil Thomas was asked by Hoven "if you had to single out one player at camp, to be really ready to have a big year, who would it be?" in the 3 seconds before he answered, my mind was thinking... Kupari? Turcotte, Kaliyev, Fagemo? and then Akil goes "It would be Chromiak, I think he's going to have a big year in Kingston" woah. It would be sick, if Chromiak becomes a star and rises to be the best of the top young talent? As in a 30 goal scorer? With all the hope of Byfiled, Turcotte, Kaliyev becoming legit top 6 Kings and possible others, that make a mark: Kupari, Fagemo, Thomas, Madden...and out of nowhere, Chromiak busts on the scene and makes it before many of them? Blake will have an asset management problem...a good one to have.

note to self: Self, do not put too much stock into a scouching (or any other) video review. Many of them make very good reports with data and footage...and while good, it's not the end all, be all...and not the entire picture. There's various levels of leagues, sporadic shifts and things like character, drive and how much a player can grow and develop, that really cannot be projected .

I like this Akil Thomas kid. Always has something interesting to say. He’ll have a long career, hopefully playing hockey for the Kings, but also well beyond playing hockey.

Also Chromiak developing into a top flight winger would be huge for the Kings. The Kings need a quality sniper to emerge amongst the 47 centers they have in training camp.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Going by the goal scorers during scrimmages, all this “competition” has pushed Lizotte, Wagner and Frk to stand out in camp.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Day 3 Q&A video interviews w/ the media are up!
(Vilardi, TMac, Mikey Anderson, QB, Kempe, Trevor Moore)

Day 3 Notes – Lineups + Freshmen -> Sophomores, Building On Byfield, Canadian Memories - LA Kings Insider

 

[Statto]

I like this Akil Thomas kid. Always has something interesting to say. He’ll have a long career, hopefully playing hockey for the Kings, but also well beyond playing hockey.

Also Chromiak developing into a top flight winger would be huge for the Kings. The Kings need a quality sniper to emerge amongst the 47 centers they have in training camp.

Thomas is a culture defining playing but talent wise he’s badly underrated, moreso now we know he’s played the last 2 years with shoulders that have needed surgery. He will be around for a long time IMO.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

Chromiak...oh yes...the kid will light it up in Kingston and we have Byfield,Turcotte,Madden,Thomas,Kupari,Fagemo...the LA Kings need some players to retire(Brown) and others(Wagner,Lizotte,Frk) to move along

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

JAD and Lizotte can shuffle to the wing. It's not an either or. If it was, I'd rather JAD.

JAD can play the LWing for sure Lizotte not so much,he'll get killed and has gotten eaten up on the boards

 

[Statto]

The trouble I’m having with this whole camp is that there is a strong case to be made for so many different guys to make the team. It’s not crazy to think that Byfield, Turcotte and Kalyev are all NHL ready. Whilst I don’t think all three will play, I do think at least 1 will dress on any given night. The logjam on the top 9 is massive and it’s quite possible that after camp a big trade or two happens because we just have too many NHL players.

I still think that we could waive several guys because we could easy ice a bottom 9, packed with talent and give each line fairly even 5-5 icetime. This isn’t the old NHL where you need a 4th line to skate 8-9 minutes a game and beat up other teams. We could easily ice something like:

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - Tkachev
Andersson - Vilardi - Kempe
Turcotte - JAD - Moore

You could easily roll those lines. Then there is AA that you think has to be in the 14 and Lemieux sits if someone like Turcotte gets called up. Then you have Wagner, Lizotte and Grundström to consider and you can make a case for any of them to play or be waived. Much will depend on how the team sets up.

It’s just not conceivable that we don’t at least try to make a meaningful trade because right now we will have guys that should/could be in the top 9 either on the bench or in the AHL. They will need to get Kaliyev, Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari into NHL games and Fagemo is close. I actually think one of them makes the opening night roster because these guys must get games and they can’t just ‘hope’ injuries create enough holes and opportunities.

Kupari, Kempe, Vilardi (if his back isn’t viewed as a risk) and AA are the most likely trade candidates in my view and I say that as someone that really likes Vilardi and Kempe. I just don’t see how it fits otherwise. There is no point picking holes in my lineup and thoughts as I’ve done that myself because there are about 50 different ways this could all go. My head hurts

 

[Nickster]

Kings vs. Kings looks like it will stream on youtube starting at 2:50pm:

 

[KingsFan7824]

The trouble I’m having with this whole camp is that there is a strong case to be made for so many different guys to make the team. It’s not crazy to think that Byfield, Turcotte and Kalyev are all NHL ready. Whilst I don’t think all three will play, I do think at least 1 will dress on any given night. The logjam on the top 9 is massive and it’s quite possible that after camp a big trade or two happens because we just have too many NHL players.

I still think that we could waive several guys because we could easy ice a bottom 9, packed with talent and give each line fairly even 5-5 icetime. This isn’t the old NHL where you need a 4th line to skate 8-9 minutes a game and beat up other teams. We could easily ice something like:

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown
Iafallo - Danault - Tkachev
Andersson - Vilardi - Kempe
Turcotte - JAD - Moore

You could easily roll those lines. Then there is AA that you think has to be in the 14 and Lemieux sits if someone like Turcotte gets called up. Then you have Wagner, Lizotte and Grundström to consider and you can make a case for any of them to play or be waived. Much will depend on how the team sets up.

It’s just not conceivable that we don’t at least try to make a meaningful trade because right now we will have guys that should/could be in the top 9 either on the bench or in the AHL. They will need to get Kaliyev, Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari into NHL games and Fagemo is close. I actually think one of them makes the opening night roster because these guys must get games and they can’t just ‘hope’ injuries create enough holes and opportunities.

Kupari, Kempe, Vilardi (if his back isn’t viewed as a risk) and AA are the most likely trade candidates in my view and I say that as someone that really likes Vilardi and Kempe. I just don’t see how it fits otherwise. There is no point picking holes in my lineup and thoughts as I’ve done that myself because there are about 50 different ways this could all go. My head hurts

Also not a great time to make a trade. Depending on the kind of trade you're looking to make I guess. The Blues had to take back a player in their deal yesterday. Going into a season, most teams are healthy. Any that aren't, likely have to, or already have, taken the eventual return of the injured player into account. Which is a must with the cap. That's the main reason trades aren't nearly as fun or as plentiful as they used to be.

If there was a trade to make, it would've already been done. Adding Arvidsson, Danault, and re-signing AA and Lizotte, none or any single one of those things needed to happen if all these young guys are actually going to make the team. All you likely did, is put yourself in a bad position for a deal. You're the one up against the deadline of the end of camp, and having to get under the roster limit, without potentially losing someone for nothing. Can't just "hope" injuries create enough holes on other teams to make them desperate.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Kings vs. Kings looks like it will stream on youtube starting at 2:50pm:

I almost pulled the trigger on some cheap seats for this to take my 8-yr old....then I realized the Covid protocols and can't figure out how to get him a test in such a short amount of time. Even if I did, do I have to show some type of ID for him to go along with the negative test? I don't get it...