alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Alexander Frolov showed a bit of a lighter side today. When asked about his comfort level playing with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, Frolov grinned and said, “Not as comfortable as on Zeus’ line.” Of course, Michal Handzus was sitting about one foot to his left at the time.
Joking aside, Frolov, who typically doesn’t offer a lot to reporters in terms of quotes, spoke at good length today about the play of the Kings’ first line and his new role as a part of that line…
(on playing with Kopitar and Williams…)
FROLOV: “They are great players. It’s a little bit more offensive opportunity right now, I think. We just have to score and do what we do, just get in the offensive zone and play there and produce some scoring opportunity and scoring chances and score some goals.”
(on whether he needs to shoot more…)
FROLOV: “Yeah, you have to shoot more, for sure. You have to try to shoot as often as you can. Sometimes it’s better to pass, especially if someone is in a better position than you are, but the bottom line is, you still have to shoot it and put some pucks on net so we can score and have something good happen. Probably we have to focus on that more, to get somebody in front of the net, some net presence. That’s what we’re talking about lately.”
(on whether he will be trying to shoot more…)
FROLOV: “Yeah, absolutely. I’m working on it. Just try to keep it in mind and shoot when I have some chances.”
(on just getting the puck to the net for scoring chances…)
FROLOV: “Exactly. When you put it on net, you never know what’s going to happen. Stolly’s goal was a perfect example of that, in the last game. Sometimes you don’t want to pass an opportunity when you can make plays, but to shoot the puck is always good. Just keep it in mind and try to do it more often.”
(on whether he tries to adapt his game with new linemates…)
FROLOV: “I don’t really try to change anything. I just try to play my best. We have great players in the lineup. I think we can do a lot of damage in the offensive zone. As I said before, it’s pretty good to have someone go to the net, and we have to do it more often and just put some pucks to the net.”
Uh, Fro… That ’someone’ is YOU!
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I know the Q/A is done but just wondering what is your take on the relationship between players and coach???
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“I don’t really try to change anything”… yes you do have to change your game somewhat to compliment your linemates and also to improve as a player.
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i caught that too eternal. could be a language thing, but it seems like frolov thinks the discussion about getting to the net and shooting more is directed at the 3 of them. and maybe it is. maybe the coach is approaching that way instead of singling out fro. but it’s funny that he says he doesn’t have to change anything when that’s exactly what he will do IF he goes to the net and shoots more. it’s weird to me. of course there’s all sorts of little adjustments by all the players on a new line, but willy and kopi have results, frofro doesn’t, so he better change!
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Fro and Willy are tied for points, currently. So, as long as they can play plus TOI, they’ll be doing well.
You simply cannot replace Smyth.
The line must play to it’s strength, and Williams would probably be best at going netwardards.
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Williams and Fro were warriors in the corners, 1st line did everything they could in the last game. You can even say they were dominant. Can’t wait till they add net presence, then they will be golden.
EternalOptimist,
(“I don’t really try to change anything”… yes you do have to change your game somewhat to compliment your linemates and also to improve as a player.)
There’s no need to change anything. Frolov’s style is something you don’t tinker with. They all play the same system anyway. Frolov is the best on the team at puck retrieval and possession(very important in today’s game, especially in playoffs), why compromise and play out of character.
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Smyth makes Kopi…He cant do it alone and certainly not with JW. You all will see. KINGS…Time to make a deal to help this young club ge, not let them fall like Wiley Coyote after his Acme Sling shot could not take the mountain corner
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Fro will have a hard time being a messiah…
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Doesn’t everyone?
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I’m just saying myself……
In Smyth’s best season he scored 70 pts. Just once he reached that plateau. Out of 14 seasons he has only had more then 60 pts 4 times.
Point being is….. Anyone who thinks Frolov is a no talent hack compared to Smyth is a bit of a newb. When Frolov is given the chance he grew into his role and put up plenty of points.
“I’m just saying”… clearly you are hitting the pipe.
Williams, Frolov and Smyth have all contributed each season in almost identical fashions to their teams. Williams and Frolov just so happen to be the guys who are a bit younger and have more seasons left to prove themselves.
Two 30 goal plus seasons in 6 season for Frolov compared to 4 in 14 for Smyth.
Frolov will need a few games to get in offensive groove, but we all know he is going to get on the score sheet if he get’s the chance.
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As we all know…Fro is strong on the puck…can hold it forever. I just wish he would expand his game. When was the last time you heard Bob Miller say.. FRO with the one timer?? It just doesent happen…he holds the puck forever…WHICH IS A SKILL..BUT….Id like to see him look for the open ice in the slot…and set up for a one timer…atleast sometimes. Guess its just not in his game. Dont get me wrong. I really like fro. Hes just not a sniper. I keep waiting for that to devolope in his game…waiting….waiting…
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Cristo- that’s the best post i’ve seen from you in quite a while. Well said.
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if Kopitar scores that goal instead of hitting the crossbar this whole discussion goes away…people are just being to judgmental after only one game without smyth. Yea smyth can not be replaced but thats not to say the kings cant play without him
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Never heard anyone say Fro was a “no talent hack” compared to Smyth. I know I said Fro cannot take Smyth’s place if the mentality of the line doesn’t change. They just play differently.
That’s why we are all hoping for Fro to come in and for the line to morph into something productive.
It will be different than with Smyth though.
I really like how Fro has been facing the play more.
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