Terry Murray had a couple sharp comments last night, delivered with a dry wit. The one one was clearly delivered in jest. The second one…well…
First, Murray was asked about having “bragging rights” over his brother, Bryan, who is the general manager of Ottawa. Murray said, “I won those a long time ago. It’s so lopsided,” and then laughed along with reporters.
Murray was also asked about the play of Teddy Purcell, and the fact that Brad Richardson took many of Purcell’s shifts (all of them but one in the third period, for instance) on the second line. Of Purcell, Murray said, “Given the opportunity, he can score some goals. At least I’ve been told that.” Ouch!
Murray went on to have some praise for Purcell’s game: “Teddy, he’s playing OK. He’s playing better than OK. He’s playing pretty good. He’s handling the puck with a lot of confidence. He’s trying to make plays. He got in on the forecheck. He took some hits to make plays. What he needs to do is have some success around the net right now. He’s out on the power play. If it could just happen for him there, I think you could see a guy break out.”
wow…that has to sting.
I thought Teddy did a pretty good job last night, but he’s not generating scoring chances, so he’s basically a waste out there.
He’s a guy who needs a real cheapy to go in for him. Maybe that’ll get him going. Time is running out for him though.
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Patience maybe a virtue but in the case of purcell enough is enough let someone else have a shot such as luc i bet even he could score more goals ouch !!!
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The thing is, weren’t his goals earlier this season kind of cheap goals. I don’t think he had one goal that really showed any kind of skill. I know he has the skill in there somewhere, but so far just coming up empty.
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Actually, Purcell had 0 minutes on the PP last night.
I am glad that TM hasn’t given up on him quite yet.
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Its Matt Moulson all over again.
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He probably doesn’t have much trade value at this point and the Kings will let him walk after this season.
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Murray DOES have a personality, it just takes winning for us to see it
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azkingfan-Good point! his first goal of the year was just tossed at the goaltender and slipped in. It was as much luck as anything.
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Wow. That’s pretty rough, but the guy needs to produce,or at the very least quit coughing the puck up at the most inopportune times. He seems to be forcing the perfect play and it’s not quite working out.
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The Kings aren’t just going to let Teddy walk away for nothing. More likely he’ll end up part of a package deal later in the season.
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He needs to change the pronunciation to pur-CELL and get a fresh start.
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Ironically, Purcell is turning into a 3rd/4th line checker. So much for all that scoring skill. Or who knows, maybe he just needs one to let the flood gates open.
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Rich … can you ask DL or TM their thoughts on Moulson’s success (?) in NY? I’m curious to hear their impressions.
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I thought I remembered a couple of nice snappers upstairs for Teddy early on. I could be mistaken.
I don’t want to give up on the kid but it might be time for another stint down in the minors. The problem is with the injuries we don’t have a lot of room right now. I think he gets his shot until Smyth is back and then a decision will be made.
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The answer to Teddy is simple.
Tell Dean Lombardi to approach Teddy and call him ‘Complacent’.
Look what it did for Matt Moulson.
Hat Trick Last Night? Geez!
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LOL! Purcell should be getting an earful, he’s not playing well at all man, the guy doesn’t even deserve to be on the 2nd PP unit, Wayne Simmonds should be there. I can’t wait until Ryan Smyth comes back, that’s who we’re missing badly on the PP
Alex Frolov was hilarious last night, first fails on the clear out attempt while on the PK and then he turns it over on the Cheechoo goal, and then people ask why he’s in the doghouse. I know he was benched for most of the 3rd but whatever man, the guy is a clown. Trade him
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Explain to me how Simmonds (RW) is supposed to replace Purcell (LW) on the 2nd PP unit. I hate to keep bringing it up, but it really is that simple people. Time to move on
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This is supposed to be a franchise that prides it’s self on developement.We’ve seen massive resources go towards having different stages of developemental tools.They’ve invested heavily in the draft.I’m glad to see the patience in certain players,and frustrated to see the lack of it in others.Some players I can’t understand why they have any patience at all.I know it’s a lot more than just a couple of guy’s making these judgement calls.When it comes to Percell ,and players like him.This organization will be judged by the fans on how wise those decisions are.My wait and see attitude is simply because I’m not qualified to make these dicisions.So far I think they’ve been pretty fair.I also feel they’ve made a few mistakes.Giving up on Percell IMO would be one of them.Luckily I’m not qualified to make that dicision.
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Purcell is supposed to be a scorer?
Wow, he looks invisable to me. Defensively that is a good thing though, but offensively I haven’t seen anything all year.
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Dan H
Sending Purcell to the minors is not an option, unless you’re willing to lose for nothing to waivers. Despite what some people on here think, that would be a huge mistake.
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I think he is under contract for this season only(I could be wrong)Would it really hurt the team to let him play out his contract and move on.
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I hate to see any players walk away for nothing. If the Kings are really at an end with Teddy and DL can’t package him in a trade for another player, they should at least try to get a draft pick for him.
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Rich
I’m gonna go out on a limb here.
You don’t care for Purcell too much do you.
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AK47 .. let’s see … who assisted on JWs first goal in the 3rd period, and another in the first period? Frolov. Who forced Carkner to make the bad pass behind the net to give JW the goal? Frolov. Who picked up Fisher’s stick on the shot to prevent a deflection in front of Quick? Frolov. Who played 9 shifts for over 7 minutes in the 3rd period, only Handzus, Stoll, and Brown played more? Frolov. I’m not sure what game you were watching when he got “benched” in the 3rd but despite his giveaway for the Sens 2nd goal and getting knocked off the puck a few times, Frolov played a typical Frolov game. Effective at times, mediocre at other times.
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Dominick
I understand your point, but you have to know that some of the prospects will pan out for the Kings and others won’t.
For every Simmonds, there’s a Boyle.
Kings management (DL) will be judged not only on the success of the team, but on his decisions on which prospects to keep and which to let go. If you hold onto a guy too long, he loses his value. We were able to steal a 3rd rd pick from NYR for Boyle. Do you think there’s any chance the Rangers could get equal value if/when they decide to dump him?
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I thought the Frolov turnover that led to the Cheechoo goal was equally Jack Johnson’s fault. JJ could have chipped it up the boards but left Fro out to dry by passing it to him in the middle where Cheechoo cut him off.
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nykingsfan,That’s why I’m not qualified to make that dicision.I would like to see what the kings ultimately decide to do.
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MK Ultra,don’t forget that the pass was a quick pass 5ft in front of him,that caught him off gaurd.
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All I know is I was screaming “RICHIE” like I was Bob from La Bamba last night!!! The man is en fuego!
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I think it comes down to Lombardi packaging Purcell and Frolov to an Eastern Conference team where its more wide open. I personally think the Kings are one sniper and one tough guy away from making a dead serious run to the cup. Quick is playing back to form from last year, Kopitar is better but he really needs Smyth back, the defense is is solid which is especially huge now that Jack Johnson is playing a full healthy season so far (knock on wood), and the team has very solid role players like Stoll Simmonds OD Richardson etc etc.
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MK, you got it right. JJ hung Frolov out to dry by basically leading Frolov into the check from Cheechoo, which was close to a kneeing/tripping. JJ should have gone up the boards. JJ also then failed to take cover Cheechoo when he went to the net. JJ was basically caught handing out in no mans land.
A bit tired of this whole Purcell thing. If he can’t find his game by the time that Smyth comes back, then we need to move him for a bag of pucks if necessary.
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I’m personally holding on to a similar thought as pautna above. When he gets one this time, the flood gates will open and away we go!
Unfortunatly for him though, time is running out. His role will be deminished when Smytty comes back… maybe. Who knows at this point?
What I do know is that we’re still winning and Teddy is still not a minus player. That’s a good thing right?
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Not Fro’s fault. He played well.
Dear Willie: See what wonderful things can happen sometimes when you shoot the puck? STOP JUST HANDING IT OFF TO KOPI ALL OF THE TIME!!!
Carry on……
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lol”bag of pucks”that’s funny.
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I still say that was a knee-on-knee against Frolov.
I don’t think Murray’s comment re Teddy is especially stinging. It’s just the kind of things people really say, like, at dinner with friends. I like the fact that Murray is letting his personality come out. I’m sure Teddy would be the first to say, “it’s true, now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember scoring!”
I look at it as Murray having no doubts about Purcell’s ability to finish. He KNOWS the kid can do it. He’s just waiting for it to click.
(I also think it will work out for Teddy. Where he’ll be when it happens is a Moulsony question.)
By the way, relevant factoid: Purcell has two more NHL games he can play before he plays his 80th game and is no longer waiver-exempt. So those of you lobbying for him to be sent down, it’s going to have to be before next Wednesday.
And here’s something else. Moulson-wise. Before this season, Moulson had a total of 10 points in 29 NHL games. Purcell, who is two years YOUNGER, had 19 points in 50 NHL games. And if you compare their two seasons in Manchester, the ones where they played together, Purcell had 121 points to Moulson’s 113. Moulson has always had “the knack,” that Robitaille thing, the freak ability to put the puck in the net, despite the fact that he seemingly can’t skate, etc.. But Purcell also has finish, AND he has more natural ability.
I wouldn’t rule him out yet. Kopitar sucked last year, too. Sometimes things turn around.
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He’s supposed to be a scorer, and he’s not scoring. That’s all that needs to be said. He’s very close to finding his way out of the lineup.
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Very well said Quisp!
The dam will break eventually. Let’s hope it happens on this team instead of elsewhere.
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WR Fro…I thought it was an obvious trip and possibly a dive. Both should have been called (and the goal not counted) IMO.
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absolutely right mk ultra jj need to go up the boards
with the pass rather than a dangerous pass into center of his zone and i guarantee anyone else would be told by TM but jj is our first or second best all round defenseman so what do you do bench him ?? Frolov was for same type of play You can tolerate from some and not from others
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Quisp
You’re right about the comments if made between friends at dinner, but this is a conversation that a boss is having about his employee. It carries a different weight.
He’s not close to the same guy I saw in the AHL all star game. Maybe because that’s the type of game he excels at. The NHL is about quick skating and playing in limited space. I don’t think he handles the puck well in traffic. He also doesn’t create offensive chances on his own.
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AZ King, I hate to point this out, but the current second unit is Handzus and Frolov (LW). Teddy is playing on the off wing, Simmonds wouldn’t be.
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