Comments on: Williams' status, etc.

By: zamboni

zamboni — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:15:51 +0000

Justin Williams injured, there’s a shocker

By: mask0425x

mask0425x — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:16:47 +0000

@ Some Fan,

That is a VERY bold prediction indeed, especially since Justin Williams the hockey player NEVER played center, at least not in his pro career. I sure hope you were not referring to Justin Williams who used to play center for the Sacramento Kings (yes, Kings, but a different sport, ya know!) Then you have Richardson on the third line which gets second line minutes under TM. He’ll get a real shot at shattering a +/- record there for sure – he is almost a -1 per game playing very limited minutes on the fourth line. IMHO, the only reason he is still around is because DL is not willing to accept that he wasted a 2nd rounder there.

@ Khanon,

I like a good scrap as much as the next guy, but what’s up with the enforcer obsession? Just look at the teams that made it to the conference finals last season (PIT, CAR, DET & CHI) – they got exactly ZERO enforcers playing regular minutes and I am not even talking about the playoffs.

By: khanon

khanon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:15:31 +0000

Some fan,

I disagree. Not only does the lineup you’ve proposed lack an enforcer, it lacks toughness and grit period! You have to plug in a couple middleweights, since Simmonds is now on the first line, and either plug ivanans on the fourth or acquire a new enforcer…

By: kingsfan2316

kingsfan2316 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:02:07 +0000

I hear avery might become available?……….lol

By: rick

rick — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:41:21 +0000

Some fan: Nice thoughts, but I am not sure Simmonds is a legitimate first line forward. I love the guy’s effort, guts, etc. but I haven’t seen yet that he has the kind of ability to be a consistent 60+ point guy – which I think you want, at least, from your first line people. I will be thrilled if I am wrong.

By: Some fan

Some fan — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:03:33 +0000

My bold prediction is that Justin Williams eventually becomes our new second line center.

To me this looks like a legitimate NHL top six:

Smyth Kopitar Simmonds
Frolov Williams Brown

If I had to pick the bottom six I’d go with:

Richardson Stoll Lewis
Purcell Handzus Moller

Ivanans becomes the spare part at forward. Harrold moves back to become the seventh defenseman.

The obvious flaw with this lineup is the lack of an enforcer. Aside from that I think these would be four solid lines.

Feel free to disagree.

Go Kings!

By: HawKings

HawKings — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:07:04 +0000

It is amazing and a pleasure to watch a player, who wasn’t even supposed to make the team last year, who was projected as a third/fourth line player, work his way up the depth chart towards the possibility of becoming a top 6 forward, if not a top 3. It shows what hard work and determination will get you. This is a great opportunity for Simmonds and very well deserved. Simmonds seems the type to thrive off of taking advantage of opportunities that are given to him. While this year the Kings are probably a better team with Williams on a line with Kopi and Smyth, and Simmonds playing on whatever you want to call his line, giving Simmonds a taste of top line work will likely feed his desire to eventually get there on a more permanent basis.

By: Gary Livingston

Gary Livingston — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:28:51 +0000

Lines 1, 2A, 2B, 4 =)

By: wavesinair

wavesinair — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:14:57 +0000

Why do people keep numbering the lines when it has been clearly established the coaching staff does not label them as such?

By: Dorian

Dorian — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:04:18 +0000

hey guys,

BTW, the Handzus line is actually the second line. I think Rich may have mixed it up a bit.