After practice today, Terry Murray said he is contemplating making a couple changes to the Kings’ lineup tomorrow, including in goal. It’s very possible that we will see Erik Ersberg’s second start of the season tomorrow. Jonathan Quick spent a significant amount of time on the ice with Bill Ranford also practice.
Murray also said he’s thinking about getting Randy Jones into tomorrow’s lineup. More on all this, and more, back at the hotel…
That sounds good, I wouldn’t mind seeing JJ take a seat for a game, he seems a little lost/off. And having the meatball back there just may get everyones attention and get them back on track.
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If you have Direct TV call and cry the game was not on TV last night and they credited me the entire amount of the NHL package….That is right FREE!!!
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You’d think with all this money that DirecTV is dishing out for credits on Center-Ice, that they would have just swallowed their pride and accepted the VS deal.
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Looks like Terry reads the blog.
EE in for Quick to rest.
JJ benched for one game so Jones can get his feet wet and JJ can learn from the booth.
Maybe Harrold for Ivanans on the 4th line, but other than that, the first 2 lines are playing well and I wouldn’t want to jack up their chemistry, therefore by default, Frolov-Zeus-Simmonds should stay intact.
Is it crazy for me to want to see Frolov-RICHARDSON-Simmonds on the 3rd line one game? I don’t want a 4MIL/year player on the 4th line, but minutes have been pretty spread out. Richie brings speed to a line that would allow Simmonds to go to the net sooner and might cause more havoc in front of the net.
A 4th of Purcell-Handzus-Harrold and a set of heavy shot d-men (Maybe Jones/Drewiskie) would give a strong centerman who stands in front of the net and 2 wings who can dig out pucks and pass them to the point for shots.
Thinking is dangerous.
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Bob…the problem is, even with all the money they are losing, it still isn’t enough for them to budge…there aren’t enough fans.
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Jones for Johnson? Hmm..I’d rather see Greene and his slow feet sit.
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Yeah, better rest old man Quick.
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Not a matter of old, more like a matter of young.
Not to mention the back to back coming and wanting to actually win road games and having fresh netminders to do so.
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wait a minute…free center ice? as in the whole season for free?
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Anyone who thinks JJ is going to get benched is not paying attention. The guy is getting 20+ minutes a game. If he were in the dog house with TM, I don’t think he would be seeing him with that much ice time.
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That’s my point, he’s a young pro athlete. This isn’t about fatigue. It’s about questionable performance at times, i.e. soft goals. He still hasn’t proven he’s a number one goalie in the NHL and these softies aren’t helping his case at all.
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C’mon now Mullet. Whether it’s a guy has led in scoring for the team the last 3 years or a guy playing 20+ minutes, if they are not playing to their potential and consistently dragging the team down, they’ll be benched.
Don’t know if it will happen, it’s just my opinion that it could help JJ with a little reflection on his effort lately and get Jones in a game that he had less chance of his ‘Newbie to the system’ mistakes costing us any goals.
Currently listening to: MACHETAZO – ‘Altares de lo Macabro’
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Cynic, as crazy as it sounded originally those lines could breathe some life into the team. I agree about putting $4 mil on the “4th line”, but if the get some decent minutes (which they probably could without Ivan messing things up) they could be productive or at least maintain some positive momentum while Kopi’s and Stoll’s lines are on the bench.
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Well P -
I agree it’s not about fatigue, but the idea of ‘Rest’ doesn’t always relate to fatigue. It can mean a time of reflection as well, which it should be. EVERY goaltender gives up soft goals. I’ll pretty much guess Marty Turco has given up more softies lately than Quick has given his play over the past 2 years and there were plenty of times he needed to be sat for reflection. It’s not a bad thing, it’s development.
We’re not trading for a Brodeur or Luongo type goalie, so this is what we will be dealing with until Quick hits that maturity level. I have no doubt he will at his current pace. He has shown serious shades of brilliance and some acrobatic saves that I don’t think I’ve EVER seen from another NHL goaltender, not even Mathieu Garon (Who is also pretty damn flexible).
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AZ-
I guess my thought primarily with those changes was more speed for Fro to cover him on the backcheck so he can concentrate more offensively. I don’t like having to compensate for anyone’s game, but if we can do it and it’s positives all the way around, why not?
Probably too radical for TM though. Even if just for a period. I’d be interested to ‘See what develops’.
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I’d love to see Johnson sit. He is our worst D man. Somehow he logs pretty much the most TOI… interesting.
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Go ahead and sit Purcell and Ivanans as well… Permanently.
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Sorry to keep going, but Johnson is a -6, the next lowest defenseman is Scuderi, at an even ero (funny that until recently Scuderi was JJ’s D partner). Odonnell is now JJ’s new partner (babysitter) and his +/- has dropped a fwe points in the last week. JJ sucks. Why wouldnt you sit him? His +/- is SIX points worse then the next lowest D-man, and that D-man isn’t even in the negatives.
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Cynic – Regarding Frolov playing with a center with speed… I agree and think it’s time to revisit my (similar) line proposal, from before the Pen game:
Smyth-Kopitar-Williams
Frolov-Richardson-Brown
Parse-Stoll-Purcell
Ivanans*-Hanzus-Simmonds
*Smyth or Frolov doubleshift when Ivanans is not needed
We saw some chemistry with Parse and Stoll… Parse with Purcell…
Lets see Parse and Purcell battle it out together… if one obviously doesn’t cut it… Give Loktionov a shot (I still like Moller seasoning for now)
I don’t like seeing Fro on a checking line too much; although he is very useful there. But if we are going after secondary scoring, I want to see Fro play with a center that has SPEED. It’s almost a guaranty that Fro will come out from the boards with possession… IMO, he needs someone with speed to help get it to the net. …And then Brown is good winger to have waiting around the net.
…I think Richardson is deserving to be rewarded. If he doesn’t cut it on a scoring line (and one of 2 way contract players aren’t cutting it either)… give Loktionov a shot with Fro!
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John Paul
What’s your reasoning for sitting Purcell?
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Rico-
Boy, moving Richie to the 2nd line is tough for me to swallow, but I get what you’re doing. I’m reluctant to move Brown for Purcell on that line because Brownie is 1st man in with speed and energy. He beats d-men up and loosens pucks. Purcell doesn’t do any of that and that line (I believe) will become ineffective if that is left on Parse to do. He’s doing well, but I think that’s too much responsibility for a rookie with only a handful of NHL games.
Switch your 2nd & 3rd and switch Brown and Purcell and I’m more comfortable, but that’s just me. I think Smyth and Frolov double-shifting is fine, as long as it doesn’t start too early. That’s why I was thinking Harrold. Do the Canes have a goon Ivan can match with? He may not be needed.
Lotki stays in Manch unless we tank the season. Let him dominate and gain the confidence to blow us all out of the water in next year’s training camp. I don’t want him coming in when we’re sitting in a playoff position of any kind, even if were in 9th spot. Only if the season is tanked, and it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.
Richie should be rewarded. You’re right about the Fro scenario, but Purcell is the weak link here. He has to ‘Man-Up’ and find his game or get traded. He can’t decide whether he wants to crush the boards, loosen pucks and create chances or hang out and snipe. First option he stays, 2nd option he goes. Just choose your damn game already so we can move on!
Brown is KEY to Parse and Stoll’s effectiveness so he’s gotta stay there IMHO. That means these line changes and their success would be on Purcell more than anyone else.
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I don’t see Purcell as a weak link. I think he did ‘man up’ and aside from whiffing some important shots; he’s shown a lot of promise even on the 4th line, imo.
I think they should continue to handle Purcell with care: he’s our top prospect on the ice. Play him where he is comfortable but with direct competition: Play him with Parse
(Stoll would add the leadership/chemistry needed for them to potentially work)
…Loktionov is still the next to get a shot, imo. Spell out to him it is just for a couple games and we want you to win the championship with the Monarchs… but reward him THIS season
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Rico
Going to have to agrre with you. How is Purcell such a liability? I don’t get the whole “man up” thing either.
Last night, the man made some nice rushes through the neutral zone and itnto the offensive zone. It’s not his fault there’s nobody there with him. He can’t do it all.
Do people really expect him to put up points while playing 7 minutes agame on a line with Ivanans?
Besides, October is over. New month, new whipping boy. From what I’ve been reading, Novembers victim looks like it’s going to be……. (drum roll please)
Jack Johnson.
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cynic
You know I almost always agree with everything you say but when it comes to JJ, we need to be a little more patient. As I’ve said several times before, this is really his second full season. I agree to this point he is just mediocre and he’s still making rookie mistakes. I think he / we need another full season to really judge him fairly. Even he’s still trying to figure out his game. We’re all a little spoiled with Doughty and how quickly his game has come together….he’s a freak of nature how good this kid is playing right now. JJ won’t ever be that good but lets not be to premature like management has been with several former Kings players around the league that I would love to have back.
Eventually I’d like to see JJ play with someone who is quicker, not just speed wise but with the puck. OD, Greene and Scuds are good solid d-men but not exactly quick to react or think with the puck. Too early to put JJ and Doughty together but that’s the pair I’m looking forward to seeing for many years to come.
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“Quick spent a significant amount of time on the ice with Bill Ranford also practice.”–wtfk nods, knowingly.
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Agreed. Purcell, Parse and Stoll worked before. That should be one of the combinations.
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Good points by all true Kings fans,buut Jones has played more in the east against the up coming teams so I support J.J. sitting for a game or two.The canes don’t have anybody that Simmer,Jones or Greene can’t take care of,so Ivan can sit.We have to take a look at getting Fro scoring, so we need to find him somebody to play with, IE , Parse, Purcell, Brown,Stoll or Lokti, I like to call him Loki ( that was the Mighty Thors enemy),I don’t know Loktionov sounds like a skin lotion.Whatever we need to get this team back on course on this road trip we should try it now.
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