alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />What do the Kings need to work on, after five losses in eight games? Well, pretty much everything. After practice, when asked about the theme for the next couple days, between games, Terry Murray described something of a back-to-basics approach, the kind of stuff that really should be second nature but can get lost during the course of bad play and bad habits.
MURRAY: “We’re out of sync. Whether it’s our breakouts, our counters…we’re just out of sync on our attacks. Our net presence clearly was not there in the Flyer game. That was talked about and I thought it was better, at times, last night. But all those critical parts of the game are what we need to keep pushing, and get back to spending some time in the next two days in practice getting into more specific game-situation drills. It really is a total review. That doesn’t even include the special teams. Meetings are one way to address that, with the video in the small group, but it’s kind of nice to go on the ice and walk through some stuff too.”
Asked what the Kings need to do in order to turn things around, and have this season avoid looking a lot like last season, alternate captain Matt Greene pointed to factors off the ice.
GREENE: “I think it starts individually. I think it’s everybody’s job, in this room. When you lose a couple games, you can’t point fingers at other people or look elsewhere at what’s going on. You have to take a look at yourself and correct the problem with your own game. That’s how we’re all going to get out of this, by making sure that we’re all, individually, doing what we need to do to win these games and prevent a tailspin, like what happened last year.
“Everyone knows what it takes to win. You can’t use the youth excuse. That was last year. Now it’s about preparation and it’s a personal thing. Everyone has to look at themselves and realize that they have to be better. That’s what is going to make our team better.”
How about we dont have the talent of other playoff teams in our conference. Can anyone mention that, or are we going to pull out the we are a young team and rebuilding card right about now? Please Please as I keep begging make a deal with someone that will not make the playoffs this year to bollster the team and help fight through the injury riddled team before we go to the bottom.
Signed the Titanic
[Reply]
Watching the last two games really brought to light 3 things.
First, the Kings complete lack of depth on the left side. I really love the motor Parse has but he would look much better on the 4th line. Don’t get me started on Ivanans. That guy single-handedly made Zeus and Simmer irrelevant and invisible. This team is really missing the “sandpaper” kind of guys like an Avery (when he wasn’t acting bi-polar), Lappy, Eric Lacroix, Gary Shuchuk, or Pat Conacher that this team used to have. And don’t bring up Clune. . .the guy makes Gaborik look durable.
Second, Quick is just not getting the job done. EVERY single game the guy lets in one or two horrible goals. Goals that would be horrible at the pee-wee level. Goals a beer league goalie would stop in his sleep. Does it matter that Quick plays his ass off the rest of the game?? If they won’t bring up Bernier to push him, then they should let EE play his way back into game shape. Remember how fantastic Ersberg’s rebound control was and what a calming effect he had on the team? Quick is starting to remind me of LaBarbara, only better in the shootout. I’d even consider trying to get Roloson or Biron out of the Island if they’ve lost all confidence in EE. Quick needs a push to get his focus back.
Lastly, it seems to me that thanks to Barry Trotz, the rest of the league has adjusted to the Kings system. Every team since the Nashville game has played the Kings exactly the same way. . .with alot of pressure on the PK and 4 men back in the neutral zone when 5-5. It’s completely eliminated the Kings breakout and neutralized the offense. TM and the gang need to make some adjustments NOW. The sky isn’t falling, every team goes through a tough stretch. It’s the good teams that adjust and find ways to win. The bad ones don’t and end up in the lottery. Lets see what the Kings want to be.
[Reply]
We are not a very good team right now- by the way that is how you execute a 5×3 – also we may want to cover JI as he is one of the best players in the league- he should have had a target on his back the whole game- instead he had great chances with no one around him- the word is out on how to stop our PP just pressure the points and chase the puck and we will turn it over- we are not hard to play against right now- teams are spending way to much time in our zone regardless of the situation – man down -man up – or even strength- and JQ has got to be better- what exactly are hextall and ranford working on with him – because it not stopping the puck thats for sure
[Reply]
We’ve got plenty of depth down in Manchester (Just look at their record) Time to call up to fill in the hole. If that doesn’t work theb we make a trade, but that seems a little premature.
[Reply]
Watching the last few games imo it comes down to special teams, we have no power play and our pk is so-so. If we scored once in a while on the pp we could either be putting a game away or at least be in the fight most of the time. Our special teams give momentum to the other team. If this aspect was fixed we would be competitive even with the lineup we have.
[Reply]
This is a good game to study for the King’s coaches. Calgary played a great game, one of the best of year against the Kings so I am not highly disappointed that they lost this one. The Kings can learn from this game. I am not down on Ivanans, or Quick quite as much as the other guy. Quick made a lot of great stops and he’s young, although he does have to play better – I think he will. Ivanans I think is likely to get better and he (of course as an enforcer) has the grit that (as has been discussed over the last week) is our weakness. This game would couldn’t quite match the energy of the Flames and perhaps only a strong dose of hard-hitting would have knocked them off. When Kopitar isn’t racking up points, he sometimes appears meandering. The absence of Ryan Smyth, a critical man on this team, makes this obvious.
[Reply]
Sound Familiar?
“I think they were the hungrier team all night. This was a huge game obviously for the Flames. We need to be a lot more excited and hungry as a team. It was disappointing tonight.”
“If we maybe came better prepared, we wouldn’t have had to play from behind or try and come back, and that’s something that we have to learn.”
Dustin Brown quotes from late last season.
Cut to this season:
No energy
Not prepared
When can we expect the learning part to actually happen?
[Reply]
The one positive to take out of last night’s game: JJ was actually playing physical. If he keeps on playing physical, I might actually have goods things to say about him…
[Reply]
quick out bernier in, problem solved.
[Reply]
for those that just can’t get over the Patty O trade – this might help. Watch at about the 2 minute mark when they discuss Patty O’s “inspired” play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2tLhtNA4UQ&feature=player_embedded
Once again DL and TM see something that your emotions won’t let you.
GO KINGS!
[Reply]
Comparing Quick to Labarbera with anything but cold, dead statistics (I am aware Quisp pointed out how close they are) is laughable.
Labs would let in a soft goal and collapse. That has happened to Quick once this year. He has an INFINITELY better head on his shoulders and that is all the difference in the world. It is why this is a slump and a he will pull through whereas Labs just doesn’t have the skull to be a starter.
Bernier isn’t what this team needs at the moment. We were forced to rush one goaltender ahead of schedule purely due to injuries. No reason to rush a second goalie.
[Reply]
Quick was not that bad actually. The rest of the team was horrible, I mean we gave up a shorty and only got one shot and had no opportunities on a 2min 5-3, that is insane. I mean really? Are you serious, you guys get paid how much? Freaking unbelievable.
[Reply]
And who are you willing to lose in order to bring Bernier up? Neither EE or Quick would clear waivers back to the minors. It is not just not that easy, get over it.
[Reply]
Quick has looked pretty good. I do not understand why some are unhappy with him.
The goals in the Philly game came from 6 feet, 6 inches, and 3 feet. The only possible goal last night that could have been saved was a perfectly placed shot 40 feet out in the middle of the ice with a posssible screen from one of the best scorer in the league. Od should have used his stick a little better.
We are giving up more good scoring chances. Quick is keeping us in games.
[Reply]
Greener’s comments are the kind I want to hear. It represents (hopefully) a room full of tired players who knows there are like 29 other tired teams, but they should have more energy, with their age, and need to improve their game instead of taking days off.
[Reply]
“quick out bernier in, problem solved”–idiotic. 20 men need to improve their game. They know it. Why don’t you?
[Reply]
i love when people defend Quick……every game its one soft goal …that is NOT good…Doenst matter how he plays the rest of the game….Also since we are playing for the future(or Bernier would be up) why would we not trade Frolov right now….Try and get two decent players for him….otherwise we get NOTHING for him at the end of the year…remember we r playing for the future…
[Reply]
“pretty good” and ” not that bad”…we need OUTSTANDING re our goaltending…
[Reply]
ICBW but….
The only energized players I see right now are Parse (wants to remain in the NHL) and dare I say it – Williams. Justin is finally getting in the corners with at least some success. His passing has improved. Everyone else needs to elevate their level of play – especially Quick. When he is on, he is a catalyst for the offense. When he is giving goals away, the wind is out of the offensive sails and they just hang back. JJ needs to get physical and start lving up to his hype.
[Reply]
Again, who is going to claim EE? He isn’t that good people. There is NO market for him. He was a terrible decision to sign. No team needs him. We won’t lose him. Plus, what about next year. He isn’t going to make it. Bernier doesn’t need to spend next year in the AHL so EE will be down there or in the ECHL. We will be lucky to get a conditional pick for him if that. We need to just dump him and sign Fernandez or trade for Biron.
On a different note, this team is lacking skill. The question is does DL trade for some now or wait for Moller, Loki and Schenn to develop? We still have great prospects coming up. Which makes me wonder – no Scuderi, no Smyth and no Stoll and still no call ups – what gives? I know Manchester is hurting too, but the NHL is where it really counts.
[Reply]
@Neil, I don’t think there is much trading going on right now because teams aren’t looking to change their rosters yet. It’s still too early is the year. Come January and then during the Olympic break we might see some movement but you rarely see trades during late October and November into early December. Teams just try to play through injuries and so forth. When it gets closer to playoff time then moves get made.
[Reply]
@Kenneth, we need better team effort but we also need a goalie that can steal games for us. When the entire team plays bad but the goalie is just awesome. It’s been so long since the Kings had that that I think we forget what goalies like that look like. We are just so happy to have a goalie that keeps us in games. Quick has been good but that’s it. You put Bernier’s numbers on the Kings and we’d be battling the Sharks for the best record in the NHL. Not saying Bernier would be having the same success but if Quick had a gaa around 2.0ish and a save % around 92 where would we be? Hard to argue?
[Reply]
It’s not impossible to carry 3 goalies, so calling up Bernier isn’t completely a hopeless assertion.
[Reply]
Kids, if you keep waiting for players to develop or get more experience we are going to be in the position of the likes of Chicago team where all their stars contracts are up and can only keep one or two. When our youth is ready we will have probably lost Johnson, Frolov, Doughty, Simmons and probably Brown or Kopitar via trade a retired Smyth. Then we have a great rebuilt team with Lokatinov,Schenn, Toubert, Hickey, Bernier
TOO LATE
[Reply]
Stoll is out? Didn’t know that. I’d think loki’d be obvious
[Reply]
On a different note it’s good to see our jr guys doing great. Schenn, Jones and Kozun are still playing great and I would expect all 3 to play in the U20 tournament for Canada. Also Kozun and Schenn are #1 and #3 in WHL scoring respectively. Not bad. Curious next year what happens with Schenn. Would be a great 4th line center since I don’t think another year of jr will help him. What do you do down the middle with Kopitar/Stoll/Zeus with Loki and Schenn? Good problem to have. I also think Kozun has a better chance than Azevedo at making the big club since he is a better scorer and taller.
[Reply]
Quick is fine.
The team is fine.
I don’t expect the Lakers to win much with Kobe out of the lineup.
I’m happy we even got Smyttie and Scudder in the first place.
With Scudder back … we’ll be good enough to steal some games till Smyttie gets back.
Should he go out for months? Like till way after Olympic break? Then yes.. panic … trade… do whatever… until then … dare I say it? Stay the course!!
[Reply]
@rjb, I see the point you are making but the names you used have to be the worst :) Brown has the best contract in the NHL value wise. Johnson isn’t earning a big $$ contract so far. Kopitar is signed long term and Doughty will be a King FOREVER. How much $$ do you see Simmonds making? Maybe Frolov goes. Ok. With Chicago they had several guys break into the league at the same time with MORE talent than the Kings have. Just Towes and Kane are better. We have 1 UFA next year in Frolov to sign. The rest – who cares. Jones and OD don’t make much and Ivanans – really? Be patient. Next year is the YEAR we must really step it up. This year should be up and down as we learn how to win and compete. That’s why I think a solid vet goalie would be better for Quick than EE.
[Reply]
54 I agree but I am not talking about 1 or 2 years. I am thinking the Kings are going to continue the they are too young scenerio. Schenn, Tuebert, Hickey Bernier, Zakitoff. Seasoning I think they will call it.
Bernier needs to be able to step to the plate now. EE has done his job. He was a stop gap. Quick is good enough but he needs to be pushed and there is no one pushing him at the moment. A solid vet may work but I think we need to go get offense. We have scored most of our goals in 6 or 7 games (5 goals a piec. That leaves about 2/3 of your games with 2 or less notches on the board. That will not get it done.
Contracts..you are correct right now Brown and Johnson have awesome contracts for Kings mangagment. That is why they are very attractive in a deal.
[Reply]
As much as i want to see Bernier….you can ruin a goalie if hes brought up too soon…it happens all the time. When is the right time? Depends on the person in goal. The risk is to high….unless there is a injury. And they will be forced to bring him up. Hextall is no fool…he knows when a goalie is ready…and when hes not. Im sure he is in dean’s ear about when he thinks he’s ready.
I laugh with all the trade talk around here….that is WHAT THE KINGS HAVE DONE FOR OVER 40 YEARS !!It doesnt work….trading youth for guys with one or 2 years left in them. If you dont believe me…just look at are beloved kings past…stay the course. Its hard…but its the right way.
[Reply]
jofa6000 says:
quick out bernier in, problem solved.
Wrong. Problem not solved. If one game you have two minutes of 5on3 and struggle to even get one shot (turning point) then the next game is tied and you give up a short handed goal while on the power play, I think you’d do best to be very concerned about getting your special teams functioning. Yes, Quick does let in the odd bad goal, but it’s not gonna solve the problem to replace him w Bernier. …… and if Bernier gives up a bad goal what happens? This whole site goes ballistic again?
[Reply]
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=506905
great article
[Reply]
We are 3 games played more then most of the teams chasing us. This means we could be in 12th or 13th position within a week. Nice…
STAY THE COURSE I AGREE, BUT WE NEED OFFENSE
[Reply]
@Rich, can you please post the article that Jet referenced into a separate post (along with a link), please? This article is really interesting and I think it will generate a lot of response but I think it might drown down here, buried as the 31st comment and not a ton of readers might scroll down this far on this topic……
Thanks!!!!
[Reply]
Well put, #6. 54Fighting, I was merely responding to the knee-jerk comment that fixing the goaltending fixes the team. This team has bona fide weaknesses that need to be shored up, and replacing the goaltender won’t do it. As I said, there are 20 people on the bench who need to up their games.
[Reply]
rjb,
how do you propose that in November? Trades just don’t happen like that anymore in the new salary cap era. They only consistently happen in March at the deadline, when teams know what there position is and if there a seller right now, almost everyone is still a buyer (except maybe a toronto or carolina, but who would we want?)
[Reply]
Kings fan in dallas reminded me of something else. Considering how Bernier was sent down when he clearly was the best goalie two years ago, it was to save him from a bad team in front of him, getting shelled, like Quick was last game. I would think that philosophy still applies. The team is hurt and playing poor basic hockey at the moment. That is the absolute wrong time to bring him up. Bring him up when the team is playing better than Quick, because outside of 2 seconds on Saturday, Quick played better than the rest of the team.
The right time to bring up Bernier is when the team is together and he won’t be relied upon to steal games, but rather learn to win your average NHL game with a team good enough to win your average NHL game in front of him.
[Reply]
Outstanding point.
[Reply]
I read the article before it was posted here. I found it a bit ironic as it seemed to have been written before the Philly game. In any case definitely before the Calg game. So the truth must be somewhere between how poor some of the posters think the team is, and what they are saying in the article.
I’d still like to see a bit more skill up front. DL is absolutely right to build the team from goal out, but it’s now important to find a bit more consistency offensively from the forwards.
[Reply]
@JDM that’s a great point. Quick may not be winning games by himself, but he’s not the reason the team is losing
[Reply]
Well when it rains it pours, this is like back in the 90s when the team was plagued with injurys, Will just have fight threw this and see what kind of players we have.
[Reply]
AHHH. I hate being 4 and a half hours ahead of LA. It’s like supper time before I hear any news! Sorry to be off topic but, I’m very anxious here…
[Reply]
…and all the games are after midnight? That sucks!
[Reply]
All the home / west coast games yup. It’s tough during the week nights, that’s for sure… especially when I stay up till 3am to watch them lose… should that be the case.
[Reply]
I’d be looking at “breakfast with the Kings” on my DVR!
[Reply]
Guys, stop panicking and be patient. We are ahead of what was expected when the season started. I said this before, it is all about excpectations. The expectation this year was that the team makes the playoffs meaning 7-8th position. So far, with exception of a few games, the team has played like a top team in the league. The kings ARE NOT yet a top team in the league. Expect them to make the playoffs, don’t expect them to challenge the sharks for the division title this year. It just isn’t gonna happen.
[Reply]
Quicks been fine this season, geez the guy might be tired!, do you blame him, hes played more games than anyone so far, and gotta be stressful knowing you have no backup!
[Reply]
Quick’s been a notch below fine…but he’s getting there. Heaven forbid he read the comments on this blog!
[Reply]
JDM
Way to put the head on the nail.
At this point, I cannot beleive the horrible mistakes this team is making defensively. Pair that with no respect from the NHL’s horrible officials and we’re gonna struggle.
Quick, however, needs to tune out his coaches because he’s actually looking like he’s second guessing himself. These goaltending coaches have a track record of ruining netminders.
Kompon must go, too.
We need someone with some real knowledge and tactics. I’m sick and tired of hearing about lunchboxes and getting the puck deep. How about developing the passing and teamwork?
Dustin Brown should schedule some players only practice time so the team can work
On their passing rather than their dump-INS.
[Reply]
Its all about talent…period. Without Smyth and Scuderi, this team drops down to last years level…poor. As good as Pittsburg was last year, they made key trades for Kunitz and Weight, as well as firing their coach to get the team to the CUP and win it. Again, they did that with Crosby, Malkin,and Stoll in their line up already!
Its close, but some help has to come quick and goaltending has to be answered sooner rather then later. Going 3 and 5 the last 8 hurts, doing it thru December means its over in terms of playoffs.
[Reply]
Really Cristobal? Every time I saw a note that Quicker was working with Ranford or talked with Hextall, I noticed some improvement. He’s still falling off a bit, but I think that’s due to not having enough time to work on things. After the first real break in a long time, Wednesday will tell a lot.
[Reply]
Can you all say over reaction? If we were to bring up Bernier, we would go thru the exact same growing pains with him that we are going thru now with Quick. It’s been 2 games, everyone take a deep breath and relax.
[Reply]
Wtfk-
Absolutely.
When J Labarbara started working with this crew his game went to pieces. It’s about confidence with goaltenders, and Qiuck has looked like he doubts himself ever since Murray started criticizing him a couple weeks back.
I don’t know when this management group is going to realize that young players don’t need to be criticized into becoming good players. Accept them for what they are and put the round peg in the round hole.
Quick has not suddenly become suspect, maybe the kid simply needs some rest, NOT his coach criticizing him in the press and questioning his ability and focus.
That said, Pittsburgh didn’t get instant results from Fleurry, so the hammering of Quick by fans is silly. He’s already shown he can play in this league. The team-defense is what concerns me.
But, I can’t say I’ve seen anyone not working hard lately in the games.
[Reply]