Just to put a final point on the day’s discussions of Teddy Purcell and the first line, Terry Murray this morning talked about the need for that line to play a certain way, and the way in which Ryan Smyth can help them play that way. It’s the “net presence” that is often talked about, and it’s the type of play that elevated the Smyth-Kopitar-Williams line to success in the first six weeks of the season. Today, Murray talked about that type of game and how the Kings can get back to it…
MURRAY: “I know he’s going to take the puck to the net. He’s going to play around the net. He loves to play the short hand-off, same-side pass plays. That, again, will bring people to that five-foot, six-foot area around the net. If Teddy is going to have some success there, and that line is going to start to click, that’s where it needs to happen. If you’re going to score, it doesn’t matter where you’re going to play, whether it’s the NHL or the American Hockey League or ove in Europe, where the ice is twice as wide as it is here. The scoring area is still exactly the same. Same size, same place, in front of the net, those hash-mark areas to the net, that’s where most of the goals are going to come from, whether it’s a smart play that’s made or a shot from the blue line and rebound.
“The goal scorers have to learn to play the game in that inside area, especially today, even more so in the last 10 years. The structure that every team plays with, in the checking part of the game, there’s very little success from the perimeter. So that’s an attitude. You have to make your mind up that, `This is where I need to go to score,’ and again, I’m hoping that it all works out for Teddy Purcell, especially, with this opportunity.”
Is it me or does this set a dangerous precedent from TM that every young player with talent will have many many chances to suceed?
I think it’s rather dangerous that they give TP so many chances but it seems that this may be his final straw. Either he suceeds or that’s the last of Purcell in L.A.
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I think it’s because they know the talent Purcell possesses and don’t want to give up on the possibility until they have to. The Kings’ history is lettered with players who broke out after leaving the Kings. I think they’d rather wait a bit too long than not quite long enough. However, I think it is at the point now where if he’s not scoring with some consistency by the Olympic break he will go.
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Gee.
TM wanted to give a message there… Ya think?
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B…
me thinks so, too…!
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you always want the fruits of an investment to come into fruition…at this point, it’s now upon teddy to provide his value…not only on terms as being an la king…but his worth to any professional organization…
there are countless minor leaguers who have/had lit it up in the minors, but can never break the nhl mold or do enough to make it a career…too many to mention and i’m sure between everybody on this blog, we could prob name the all…but that’s not the point…
the point is the lack there of – from teddy…
i hope he gets the point to go and get some points…but no matter how you look at it, teddy’s value and worth is as good as his next shift…
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I’m just struck how this could apply to Captain Brown and Scott Parse, too…
If the Boys just pay the price, this team can beat anybody.
Anybody.
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it applies to the whole team…
yeah…there needs to be a slot/shot mentality…
crashing the net doesn’t mean on-line hacking…not in hockey, at least…
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EAsportsmgt,
I understand your doubt and concern but I think you’re missing the point here. TM and DL obviously think very highly of TP. Definitely much higher than you and some of the posters here. They understand that Purcell’s played majority of his game at his off wing slot and are showing patience with him. TP’s a top 6 forward and hopefully, he can validate that in a kings uniform and not in the islanders’ uniform.
This is Purcell’s only 3rd game start at RW so, let’s take that into consideration and see what he can do the next few weeks or so.
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Nothing subtle about that message. Any time the coach mentions your name and then playing in Europe in the same discussion, the message is pretty clear.
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Maybe we can get Purcell’s trade value up by putting him on this line. He has proven so far that he can’t score on any line of ours. If he does well on the first line here we can dish him off for someone who can be a producer on the second, third or even fourth line.
Either way, since he has a one way contract we have to live with him. I am sure Murray feels the same way.
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I don’t get all the hand wringing about Purcell here. Ok, he has sucked. But the Kings can’t send him down without risking losing him. So, you just put him out there and let him do what he does and if he sucks at some point he will be gone. The Kings have too much invested to not give him every opportunity. But he has sucked enough at this point that if you think the Kings are going to package him for a useful piece you are just high. But enough of the pissing and moaning eh? Are you hockey players or what?
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5 Hole you are right. Players that broke out after leaving LA. That is as depressing a list as any.
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ok i missed it why is there no
tv for road games in canada
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