alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Secondary scoring is important, yes, as is goaltending, defense and special teams, but it’s no secret that what fueled the Kings’ strong start this season was the top line, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that what fueled the top line was the play of Ryan Smyth. In the four games that Smyth went down with his “upper-body injury,” the Kings are 1-3. Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams and Smyth’s two replacements, Alexander Frolov and Teddy Purcell, have totaled one goal for the top line in those four games.
Given what Terry Murray said last night, it doesn’t appear that Purcell is going to last much longer on the first line. So let’s go back to the poll question from just a week or so ago. Who should replace Smyth? I have included most forwards, but remember that in voting for players such as Dustin Brown and Wayne Simmonds, you might be putting guys in much less comfortable positions. But it’s your vote!
sim dawg ftw!
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I voted Harrold because I am Terry Murray and that’s how I roll.
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@ bobby scribe
i lol’ed!!!! that was awesome!
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I voted for Segal because I know TM won’t put Brown on the first, so Segal would at least bring an element that neither Frolov and Purcell could bring: hard work, net presence, grit, and energy. I would try him for a game or two and see how it works out.
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Moller.. Moller.. Moller.
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Well played, Bobby Scribe. Well played.
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Does anyone really believe this poll is in any way accurate? People just keep voting for the guy they like. It means nothing.
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You know Frolov only got one game up there, I think it takes more than one game to develope that chemistry that’s needed.
You guys who voted for Simmer. It would be a good option if he were a LW, he’s admitted on a few occassions as has Brown that he’s not comfortable on the left side.
Food for thought though, with Williams being a bit snake bit lately, is it unreasonable to maybe see a first line of Frolov-Kopitar-Simmonds
Maybe Segal-Zus-Brown and Parse-Richie-Williams.
Just to see what would happen…this team looks like it needs to be shaken up a bit.
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Easy answer… Parse. His game is interchangeable. You can plug him on any of the 4 lines and it will work.
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It’s one guy voting for Simmonds. He got 10 votes in the last few minutes.
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Agree with Eyesk8ter. Simmonds isn’t a LW.
The real choice for this poll should be none of the above. Since the “core” has been in the NHL, the Kings haven’t had anyone willing to do the dirty work like Smyth. You can plug anyone on the current roster you want there, but none of them are willing to pay the same price as Smyth.
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Give Parse a shot! After his consistant play on both ends, he deserves a shot. He’s what the staff has wanted purcell to develop into
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voted for Brown, more to get his game going, as well as the 1st lines’
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@ wavesinair:
Regarding your comment on voting… isn’t that the way all polls are taken? You wouldn’t expect someone to vote for someone they didn’t like would you? I know that isn’t your point, but I felt like a statement of the obvious was necessary.
The poll is not scientific, which is fine with me because Simmer isn’t going to the top line. In the end, this poll isn’t even accurate picture of what Kings fan on this site think. If you can vote more than once, it just isn’t valid.
For what it is worth, I would like to see Brownie up with Kopi while Smyth is out. TM can make changes to the other lines as necesssary to accomodate.
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Fro Kopi Simon
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Kopi play good with Simon.
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JW on left brownie on right
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I pick Raitis because he has really stepped it up playing on the third line. :)
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I mentioned how people KEEP voting. Any poll is predicated on the idea that each person votes once. THAT is obvious. The statement to be made is, a few select people vote many times, which renders this exercise pointless. Yet, I think many people here believe it has meaning (whether it’s a little or a lot makes no difference). The point is, it has no meaning whatsoever.
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Only Parse fits the role from having played left and played it closest to the way Smytty does.
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Jw doesn’t seem to complain about playing left wing, change him to the other side for a while and put simmonds on rw. Frolov is too much of a boardsman, doesn’t get the puck to the front like jw and kopi need.
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Oh that’s how polls work
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I also chose Segal… They need a big body that can crash the net and make some room for Kopi and Williams to operate.
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@ wavesinair
i only voted once…to be honest, i’m not even a huge fan of sim dawg…
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How about getting Williams off the first line, Everyone complains about Purcell, but what has Williams brought to the first line that half the team cant? I say
Fro/Kopi/Brown
Parse/Stoll/Simmonds
Williams/Zues/purcell
Ivan/richie/segal
shake this team up, they are so boring to watch right now. I know these lines will never happen, but Williams and Kopitar have no chemistry. Have your top line have a passer, grinder and a sniper.
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Fro/Kopi/Simmonds
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Another big win for Jon Bernier tonight, 31 saves.. what a beast this kid is
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I think Segal would do fine with his speed and wide body in the crease and he is tough. I voted ONCE for him. Lol!!!
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I say Frolov or Parse although I am not adverse to R. Oliver’s lines either. Frolov shoul dhave another chance to see if it can work. If not, he really doesn;t fit anywhere. And JW hasn’tr really produced squat yet as predicted. Bump Brownie back down when Smitty returns.
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Ready boys?
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How ’bout movin J Will over to the left side and bringing up Simmer on the right?
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I’m not seeing Parse having the offensive upside required to be on a first line, let alone a second line.
Trade for a LW, call someone up, or Frolov.
Pick one.
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Rich, any word on how long Loktionov will be out of action? My guesstimate would be 8-10 weeks if it’s a separated shoulder. I assume he’s likely to be back in Manchester when he’s healthy again.
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I also voted for Segal. Just a hunch. Could be stupid.
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Off topic………….we got Calgary after they got blown out and now we get CHI after being shut out in ANA. Sucks!
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Put anyone who has a pulse. Right now, the only person who has one is Simmonds. May not come remotely close to Smyth’s skill but is Smythesque. The dude just brings it, no matter what.
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i find it funny how everyone seems to be concerned about which guy should be playing on what line …. it dosent matter … we stink … we cant score … if u move one of our better players up to the top line you just weaken the other lines … so it dosent matter …. the team just stinks … cant score as usual … and is boring as usual ….. i said it the day lombardi made his first trade for this team – acuiring dan cloutier … i said … “oh my god , we have an idiot running this team” …. i thought maybe things would be different with a new guy coming in but nooooooooooo its just the same old crappy kings with morons running the team … at least dave taylor tried by trading for deadmarsh and trading for allison … he was trying his butt off to make things happen for us ….unfortunately for everyone inexplicably they both suffered career ending injuries shortly after joining us … thats just bad luck … but at least dave taylor …. this clown we got running the team had all that money for a superstar like gaborik on july 1 and he passed on him … what a dope what? ..passing on the best available free agent in the history of the nhl? …. especailly after u promised kings fans u were gonna get a high scoring winger for us finally ….. and then u go out and do nothing on july 1 and let gaborik go on his merry way to new york …. what? with all that money we had … sure in the next few days he tried to save face and got ryan smyth …. but smyth is getting old and is nowhere near the player gaborik is … i like ryan, but hes no gaborik …….. so line changes ? what does it really matter people ? …. we stink …. and we are so boring
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sorry about some of the typos there, but i think u guys can understand the points i was making
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Dang Clippers! I know we have a record of bottom feeding, but we really were on a good streak. Really, the past 3 games we still got 2 points. We haven’t had a losing streak of 5 or more. Relax and don’t quit your meds ’till then. :)
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mrk …. its not about our record …. which surely wont be good enough by season end …. of course i pray it will be , but i know it wont be ….. its just about the fact we stink and are boring every year ….. and ps losing 4 in a row or 3 in a row , or going 1 and 3, or going 4 and 7 …. or whatever the case may be is waht adds up to a season thats just not good enough
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I normally would be on that boat. I tend to wait ’till mid January however. Until then, here’s hoping we make 8th.
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hey mark heres a novel concept for this organization ….. insteading of hoping for 8th, why not sign gaborik guaranteeing us at least 8th, and then we can hope for 1st
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I think Frolov has gotten a bit of a raw deal from TM. He’s buried all year on the 3rd and 4th lines. Then all of a sudden he’s on the 1st line and expected to produce. And he’s only given 2 or 3 games to show he can produce before TM drops him back down again. Give the guy some time.
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BTW, this is off topic Rich, but I’m curious how crazy the travel to the Kings first trip in Canada was given the mess between the USA and Canada regarding border crossing flights. Did you guys have to stop on one side of the border and refuel or change planes, then cross the border? Or was it non-stop and they just worked it all out and I hadn’t heard yet?
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Its pretty easy to say Gaborik was the perfect answer, but lets be real, a long term contract to someone so injury prone could have. and still could, blow up. The rangers with Gaborik are 13-11-1 while the kings are 14-10-2 with plenty of cap space.
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Smyth, Kopitar & Williams are perfect compliment to each other. Frolov does not work on the first line because he does what Williams does, (although Williams is not one man cycle part two) I say it should be Brown.
Brown will hang around the net and thats what this line needs, is someone who can hang around the net
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Frolov to Phoenix
for Peter Mueller and Radim Vrbata.
It has been rumoured that the Coyotes are shopping Mueller. He’s only 21 and is in his 3rd season. The Kings would probably have to take Vrbata back as he makes 3 million a year. While Fro makes 4 million.
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Brad,
I would never make that trade. If you’re going to deal Frolov, at least get something this team so desperately needs- a guy that can crash the net, go in the corners, and park right in front of the net. The trade you’re proposing will not address any of the Kings needs. I’d rather have Parse than Mueller, and Segal than Verbata.
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Paul…I believe they actually worked that out, so there were no problems. And actually, I think those issues were limited to Air Canada flights, so they would only have impacted Canadian teams that travel south and tour the U.S. on a road trip.
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I voted for Segal… For what it’s worth, it might free up some space and win some 50/50s in the corners for scoring opps.
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I’m not sure what side Moller’s playing in Manchester, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him called up and get some time with Kopi/JW. We know the kid has skill.
What’s bothering me is why guys like Fro are not able to adapt to playing with different linemates..if that is the case. People keep whining about the fact that he’s been stuck on the 3rd/4th line. Is he so one-dimensional that he has to play with certain types of players?
If that is the case,why do we want a guy like that on the team..
Or how about it’s time for Fro to step up and play like the player he should be…How about making your linemates better instead of needing help..
He’s supposed to be a goal scorer…PLEASE SCORE!
If not, please DL ship his worthless a$$ out of town. We need him to step up more than ever..If not now, never!
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I’d say Simmonds, but they dont seem to want to play him on the off-wing. My next choice would be Parse. I think thats a guy who will do whatever the caoches need him to do.
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NYKFan, concur re: Fro. Disagree re: OM. Not enough skill. Didn’t Fro score on some slop when he was on Line1?
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I love Frolov, but he’s the wrong guy for that line. He’s a great possesion guy. I havent seen someone so strong on the puck since Jason Allison. Kopitar and Williams rely on speed and quickness and the long possesions by Frolov just slow them down. They have to stop and wait for Frolov to decide what he’s going to do. Get a guy with a little skill who’s willing to hang by the net and create some chaos.
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Honestly, i really don’t care whose in the first line. It will never be the same with out smyth :( BOOHOOO
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Empty netter I believe
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We have a serious problem at LW at this moment. We don’t have very many attractive options do we? I feel Fro has to go as well. I’ve always, always, always been on the fence with him, but I’ve come to the conclusion, in my own mind of course, the honeymoon is over for this partnership. I don’t care how successful he is somewhere else, he’s not helping this team, making him irrelevant to us. A trade for someone,(who, I don’t know) who will fit our style/chemistry is paramount. I’m emotionally tired waiting for him to live up to my expectations. I don’t know if that’s fair or not, but we need something fresh, as does he.
I didn’t think of Segal. Now that you all have mentioned it, it does sound intriguing. I voted for Parse, but I think I’ve changed my mind.
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Something better be done soon! a trade is needed, the scoring depth isnt there and with anaheim improving theyll be ahead of us shortly and san joses a powerhouse, funny how both those teams have world class first lines and we dont even with smyth, thornton, heatley and setoguchi, or ryan, getzlaf and perry! we could and will only dream of having that presence
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Glad to hear travel wasn’t an issue Rich.
Another off topic….The other night we were all complaining about how crazy the Oilers broadcasters were going regarding the hit on Ales Hemsky by Handzus. Well, Hemsky is out for the year with surgery to repair his shoulder as a result of that hit. Maybe they had more reason to complain then we realized.
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As much as I hate to play against this guy, it makes sense to suggest it……how bout Fro and Purcell for Ryan Malone?
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I still hold-out hope we deal Frolov + pick or prospect for Jordan Staal.
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Belexes,
That would be a wonderful trade, but Tampa wouldn’t trade RM for Fro and Purcell. Purcell has no trade value whatsover. If you want to acquire RM, you would have to trade Fro, a prospect (hopefully Hickey or Voinov), and a pick. RM would be a perfect fit, give us a power forward this organization has lacked since Rick Tochett.
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Hey rich, is stoll in tonight?, or skuderi?
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Segal-Kopi-Simm- untill we ger Smyth back.
Kopi gets too much attention from other teams and this two will create some space for him.
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Paul -
Regarding Hemsky, it’s his own fault he got hurt. If you wanna turn your back to try and draw a penalty when you’re about to be hit, it’s at your own risk. And this time, for Hemsky, it backfired.
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I’m figuring that by the time we use our 13 diff. LW and finally find the chemestry Smyth will be back…
Good Luck Kings Tonight
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I actually voted for Simmonds knowing he’s a RW but with good reason.
Any position Simmonds has been put in, he has done well. No matter what the role or how uncomfortable he has been, his work ethic always makes him do, at the very least, acceptable.
From a coaches standpoint, when my team is this injury ridden and I need absolutes, I’ll go with a guy that has more than a full season of success with assignments other than his own. Kopi is our top guy and it’s obvious he excels when he has a crasher on wing. Parse has been good and I like him, but he’s not there yet IMHO. Besides, I’d want a second crasher on a secondary line. Segal could be interesting, but 4 NHL games played? Does he know how Kopi plays?
Simmonds is the hands down choice for me here for these reasons. Not to say Parse wouldn’t be good, but he also shoots right, so Simmons would win based on his experience.
It’s funny, The LAKings.com site has Parse as a RW, Manchester’s Media guide has him as a Center. Everyone thinks he’s a LW. LOL
Simmonds-Kopi-Williams
Frolov-Stoll-Parse
Purcell-Handzus-Brown
Harrold-Richardson-Segal
IVANANS SITS!!!!
- (2nd line) I want Stoll and Parse back together. Parse lifted Stoll’s game and that could inspire Fro as well.
- (3rd line) Purcell is a filler at this point, but he can play the left side effectively, moreso than Raitis by a mile. Brown crashes, purcell is the dishman, Zeus in front of the net, all the initial shots on goal from this line should start at the point with Johnson and Jones. They have heavy point shots, although Johnson and anyone would be fine. All shots by these forwards should be off rebounds to be effective. Dirty goal line.
- (4th line) This line could do damage. Segal is a big boy who can handle his own and seems to do well on the forecheck. Richie has more than proven himself as an expert on doing everything else but point production (not a knock, those things are important), Harrold is just better skill wise than Ivanans.
My next book will be about cow tipping on the Oklahoma plains and how it can affect the Kings playoff chances. ;-)
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wraith … rangers and kings have basically the same record because they have the same problem … they only hva eone player who is a difference maker …. kopi and gabby …. everybody else on both teams are nothing …… but gabby and kopi together … like crosby and malkin … wed be unstoppable … but deano blew it …. and i said so july 1st, not now since hes leading the league … but i said so july 1st …. i know more than the people running the team … been watching them for 30 years every game and i know what im talking about …. and oh what about his injury history? i ask you on july 1st considering their past 42 years of patheticness, what did the kings have to lose ? ….. it cant get any worse ……. and like i said the day he traded for smyth ….. smyth gets hurt as much as gaborik does …… its as simple as this …lombardi makes the wrong moves and dosent know what he is doing …. i mean …. cloutier,willsie,thornton,calder … oh hell i could go on forever so i wont
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Frolov – Kopitar – brown
Unite Taylor’s babes and see what happens.
Why is Frolov under the microscope after playing 2 games with 18/19 year old centers in their first NHL game???
Williams OFF Kopi’s wing for the first time all season. He needs to stop
Running around (and into Kopi).
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Boy! Kleenex must do a ton of business in LA. Everytime I log on to read your blogs all you do is cry!! Your season isn’t over yet. I have never seen a bunch of fans flip flop and turn on players as much as they do on this site. It’s amazing! I would hate to be a player in this city… Do you seriously think that your comments would even attract a player to want to play for your team. You people will be lucky to sign Big Bird with your attitudes. I certainly wouldn’t want to play for a bunch of band wagon jumpers. Ride the wave when things are going good for a player and then hang them when they are having a rough spot. Die hard fans stand behind their player and team in good times and bad. Quit crying….
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