As mentioned the other day, Teddy Purcell — the Kings’ latest first-line left wing in place of Ryan Smyth — will become the first player to start a game on each of the four lines this season. He has gone from second to third to fourth to first, an unlikely trajectory, but one that presents a good opportunity starting tonight, with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams.
Purcell started the season with two goals in his first three games but has zero goals and three assists since, and no points in his last eight games. It’s no hyperbole to say that Purcell needs to take advantage of this opportunity, as it’s doubtful that another one will come along any time soon. Here’s what Purcell told me this morning…
Question: I think you’re the first guy to start on all four lines this year. I’m not sure whether to congratulate you for that or what…
PURCELL: “(laughs) Definitely not a goal of mine, or something that I was looking forward to at the start of the year, but at the same time I guess that’s part of it. When you start off good and then you fall into a little rut, you’re going to get bounced around a little bit. At the same time now, this is a great opportunity for me. It’s no secret that Terry wants to get something out of me. There’s no better players to do it with than the leading scorer in the league and Willie. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing with them. I just have to prove that I can take advantage of it.”
Question: Clearly nobody is going to replace Ryan Smyth outright, but what skills do you need to bring in order to make that line successful?
PURCELL: “Obviously everyone knows they’re a cycle line, so you just kind of make those little 10-foot, 15-foot give-and-go plays. The last couple games, we’ve been stressing getting to the net, and especially with Edmonton’s goalie coming off a shutout, we’re going to have to get some traffic in front of him and get some pucks to him early. The cycle is good, but if you’re not getting shots or taking advantage, it’s not going to be that effective. Look to make plays, try to take it to the net and try to create some stuff around there.”
Question: In analyzing your own play, do you feel as though you’re close? Is it a matter of a good bounce and getting one goal to get it going?
PURCELL: “That’s what I’m looking for. It’s especially nice to get back on the power play. Hopefully I can get a lucky bounce. It seems like I’ve been getting chances, but for whatever reason I can’t find a way to put them in. At the same time, with these guys hopefully I’m going to get a lot more chances and play with highly skilled guys. You don’t want to hold the stick too tight. You just kind of want to go out and play, not think too much. That’s what I’m really looking forward to, and hopefully we can get back on track and take two points tonight.”
Question: Do you feel like the coaching staff has been clear about things with you? You do get moved around quite a bit…
PURCELL: “Terry does a pretty good job of letting you know where you stand, and Jamie (Kompon) and Harpo (Mark Hardy) do the same thing. There’s no secrets, there’s no hidden messages or anything like that. They’re pretty straightforward, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m going to work my hardest and do my best to take advantage of it.”
I hope Teddy realizes that playing alongside Kopitar, also means playing against the other teams top Defenders. I’d like to see him play with a chip on his shoulder, and stick to his strengths… his hands. Find open space and use that shot.
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Good luck Teddy I hope you can prove all the doubters, of which I am one, wrong.
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An Open Video Fantasy Letter to TOP-LINE TEDDY:
Dear Teddy,
Can’t tell you how much we want you to succeed, out here in L.A. Kings FanLand! It has been a long, long, LONG TIME since Kings hockey was respectable. We need you now, really need you! It’s been years now since you were drafted and your name was on all of our lips!
Yes, every day that goes by this season we think of Matt Moulson and his days in your slot, the last two years. Now he is gone and plying his wares with the New York Islanders, and succeeding beyond our wildest fears! We DON’T want this to happed with you, Teddy, really, we don’t!
See what happened with Patrick O’Sullivan? See where he’s reduced to trashing us to his friends, now that we are no longer together? We don’t want this to happen again, Teddy! You need to come through for us NOW, when we still have a chance to make it to the Big Time, together! It’s not that we didn’t really love Patty-O, it’s just that we got to the point where we needed more from him for the relationship to work out long-term!
So here we are, Teddy, here we are! Are you ready to take us to the next level? There’s no one else in our lives… really there isn’t!
-slide picture of Ryan Smyth underneath the mattress-
We need you, Teddy! Don’t just be another four-liner, about to break our fragile, oft-fractured hearts…
With Love,
L.A. Kings Fans Everywhere
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Excellent interview Rich, thanks! One thing you forgot to ask; what the guys call him. I believe he was the only one you didn’t have an answer for in the last Q/A session I believe.
As if that’s the first thing on his mind right now. LoL.
Best wishes Teddy! I forsee a big win!
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I really liked that last question, Rich. I’d like to hear more players answer that question. I get the idea a lot of players recently DON’T know what’s expected of them, and eventually, you have to wonder if the coach is communicating effectively. Maybe he’s not verbose enough.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy -
That was brilliant!
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Agreed Bako but Teddy was never drafted. He was signed out of college
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…on the other hand…is it possible TM doesn’t hear enough from the players (other than “leadership”) what they “need?” I hope he invites criticism. Maybe players think they’re being misused, and are waiting for TM to figure out how to best use them.
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Why do you get that feeling Kenneth??
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That the players don’t know what is expected of them
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Anyone else wonder why TM doesn’t go outside the box a little and try Brown on the left side with Kopi and Williams. He is clearly the most Smyth-like guy on the team and he would bring great energy and potential scoring to the line as well. He’ll battle in the corners, he’ll go to the net. He’ll do whatever it takes.
Instead, we have Teddy Purcell. He will hang around the perimeter, become invisible only to reappear in time to lose the puck and fan on a couple of shots. I think he will suck the energy out of that line and the team. Brown could ignite the line and the team.
Look at Chigago with Hossa coming back in. Hossa will play right wing, moving Patrick Kane to the left side. Eddie Olczyk, who played all three forward positions, says the change shouldn’t be a big issue for a player like Kane.
“It’s when you come out of your zone with the puck,” Olczyk said. “It’s a different look up the ice, but those three will be so creative with the puck, they will be all over the place.”
It’s not that tough and yet Brown wasn’t even a choice on the survey a few days ago. I had to check off “someone else” or whatever the option was.
Can I be the only one who sees this? Am I crazy? They could at least try it in practice!
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An Open Video Fantasy Letter to TOP-LINE TEDDY:
Dear Teddy…
P.S.: Just because your mean old boss Terry Murray moves you around alot, that doesn’t matter to us! We still care, we still believe in you…
…It’s just that we want to go to the Big Playoff Dance together, and we’re running out of chances! Make SURE that Mr. TM makes his wishes clear about what he wants you to do, THIS time! Make him tell you the truth!
It doesn’t matter to me that that no one Rushed you for the NHL fraternity. See, the Kings had faith in you then, they still do now!
You can DO it!
Again, With Love,
L.A. Kings Fans Everywhere
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@ VanKingsFan: I’m trying to figure out how it is that TM feels the need to juggle the lineup so much, probably to find rapport between different players and/or find out what works. You’d think the players themselves (besides leadership, who he makes a point of having meetings with.) I can’t be the only one who thinks there must be communication issues in there somewhere.
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Hey upperv, i wish we had the problem chicago has..lol, to much offensive depth..lol
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simmonds should be on the first line with kopi and williams not PURCELL the PURSE! what kind of grit does that guy bring? harsh looks? dont see him standing up for kopi when guys take runs at him
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“You’d think the players” should have been “You’d think he’d ask the players.”
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@ DannyBizzler: Didja know Purcell has played left wing and Simmonds hasn’t?
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seriously we need a matt cooke or danny carcillo or aeron asham on this team, that will get you 15-20 goals, fight stand up for his teammates and cause havoc on the ice, plus be thebiggest agitator around oh and colby armstrongs contract is up this season…hmmmmm
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Danny
You’re right. Simmonds would bring more grit to the first line. The problem is you want skill brought to the first line. Purcell has it in spades. Simmonds….not so much.
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Good luck Teddy. I really hope you can come through.
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Prove yourself Teddy. We know you have it in you.
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I’m really glad to see some posters singing his praises rather than putting him down. We’re all aware of his performance, but it’s nice to see some written support. He has potential, he just needs to unlock it.
C’MON NEWFIE!
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sorry shrimp but at the nhl level simmonds is a much better offensive player than purcell. how can you say simmonds doesnt have much skill? led the team in the preseason in goals and still has been putting pucks in the net while playing in a defensive role.
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