alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />The Kings came out with new, surprising forward lines Thursday night, and stayed with them for most of the game. Terry Murray wouldn’t commit to using the same lines tomorrow against Detroit, but today he gave a breakdown of how he thought the top three lines peformed against Buffalo…
(on the Richardson-Kopitar-Simmonds line…)
MURRAY: “The Kopitar line, I really liked the work ethic. And that’s why I did that, put two workers together to really elevate the mindset of that line. Kopi’s play last night, I thought it was really good. It was strong. It was big. Any time he got the puck on his stick, his attitude has, `I’m going to attack. I’m going to make plays. I’m going to challenge people.’ And that’s what I have to have from him every night. If he’s going to be our No. 1 guy — which he is — and play that kind of a game against every team in the remaining part of the games that we have here, he needs to give us that.”
(on the Smyth-Stoll-Brown line…)
MURRAY: “Stoll’s line was pretty good. They end up scoring a huge goal off the attack. It was pretty good. There were some things that I’d like to see them execute a little more consistently. I think you’ve got veteran guys there, and passing, receiving, hitting guys on stride with speed, I’d like to see that 100 percent of the time. I get a little picky in that area. I think they put themselves in some tough situations because of putting pucks behind them, or in their feet, or not receiving that pass in full stride. It takes away from what I’m looking for from those guys.”
(on the Frolov-Handzus-Parse line…)
MURRAY: “Zeus’ line, I liked Zeus’ line. Parse, at the start, was OK, and then he had a couple offensive opportunities. Fro made a couple big plays to him, and I thought the second one, when he got the puck and walked out on that low cut-across, I thought that should have been a goal. I thought Purcell would be the guy who, if he gets that look, he’s going to finish. So I made the change for that reason. A little bit of the board battle too. There were some plays that happened in the early part of the first period that Parse has got to be stronger on. He’s got to pinch down, he’s got to seal that puck and protect it better than he did in a couple of those looks. Frolov, to me, last night was good, really good. I liked the Handzus-Frolov a lot, two big bodies that did a good job for me.”
Fro and Zeus have always worked well together. They should definately stay put. And I do like Teddy getting a shot there. He made some good plays last night, some good passes that could have/should have been assists.
He also had a blocked shot and a hit and a takeaway. This could also be the second PP unit with Stoll on the back end with … Harrold maybe? He piled up the points in the AHL
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I like the idea of Harry at the point. His two-way capabilities make him a good candidate for someone who must know when he has to stay back, and when he needs to pinch in, and when there’s quality action to exploit in deep.
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I’ve been saying Smyth-Stoll-Brown since the starting of the year, honest to God, I should be the coach of this team hahaha
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AK, you should take over Kompon man! lol
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a frolov zues whitney line would be great!
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Oahu-
I’ve been saying we need to get Ray Whitney for 2 years now! Glad to see someone else thinks the same! the guy’s a great veteran leader who can put the puck in the net.
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I like the mindeset here. The Kopitar line looked good. Smyth-Stoll-Brown line could be exciting given a little more opportunity to play together. Their passes were a little off last night, huge upside though. Frolov-Handzus-Parse I see that working too.
Now lets see how they do at Joe Louis Arena. That’s a test for sure.
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Whitney and Fro both play left wing.
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Russ,
Have one of them skate backwards on the right, I guess?
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I’ll say it again Fro-Zues,or Simmers-Zues.We’ve never had a consistant 3rd.These three are always 2/3rds of a line.Maybe we should put all three back together.If were going to use 2/3rds it might give us a different look to go Fro-Kopi-Simmers.That being said I still like TM’s lines.
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Mahalo’s 4 clearing that up for me russ. I just like the way Zues, Smitty,and scuderi have brought good leadership to our youth. I also believe our youth has revitalized them too! One good puck in the net guy and i really believe we can do things. I thank u for your wisdom and insight as always u guyz are on top of it. Aloha
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Parse seems the whipping boy for the rest of the forwards. I don’t know if the Kings plan to let him walk at the end of the year or TM just didn’t have the hockey sense to “see him” earlier in training camp or what but this reminds me of Jason Blake and Andy Murray all over again as in Andy M. playing Blake on the fourth line as a checker not seeing his offensive potential until he was wearing another uniform.
The other forwards can play poorly and not perform up to expectations but Parse is on a short leash at the edge of TM’s doghouse. He is the smartest forward hockey sense-wise on the roster and has excellent hands. If he got more ice time, some PP time and played with Kopitar, the Kings would realize what they really have. Kopitar would play better too.
As I have posted before, I think TM is an above average coach but the Parse situation is a perfect illustration of his lack of vision and insight into the game.
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Choralone,
Please don’t give any more ideas to TM.
He just may take you up on it.
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Crown Royal, I agree. Parse is the whipping boy when it should be Purcell. If TM would use the same critical, microscopic eye on Purcell he’d realize how bad he sucks and would be singing Parse’s praises.
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Jay Miller,
True, I agreed with the Kings giving Purcell ample time to become the player we all hoped he would become but he has not delivered. Parse if give the chance by some team somewhere will be next year’s Matt Molson and more. Parse is not a right winger he needs to play on the left side where he can better utilize his passing ability and on ice vision. TM is really screwing this up.
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So Rich, you had my answer all along, you just decided to make me wait for it. ;-) I’m just fine with that. Interesting take by TM. I thought Parse was doing just fine holding pucks in and thought his shot opportunity was a good one. To say that Purcell finishes that seems like such a BIG stretch to me. If I look at the stats tally, Parse has Purcell tripled up in points and almost in goals with only one game more than Purcell.
GP G A PTS +/-
Scott Parse 39 8 9 17 +6
Teddy Purcell 38 3 3 6 -1
What am I missing here???? I know it’s not going to happen, but I would sure like TM to explain why he thinks Purcell has a better skill set than Parse. To be honest, I’d be pretty bitter if the Kings let Parse walk over Purcell. What a mistake that would be. Unless there’s an attitude problem with Parse we don;t know about, I can’t see this happening.
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Cynic,
Good point about the stats comparing Parse and Purcell. Parse has gotten very little ice time in many games and few PP opportunites. I’m not bashing Purcell but the Kings are missing on an offensive talent right under their noses at a time when it’s so difficult to find these guys.
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Zeus makes everyone look good. Seems like whever plays with Zeus they always seem to gel with him.
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If memory serves we haven’t had any Parse interviews, have we? That would be cool. Also, was there any coverage of tip-a-king? Anyone go? From the looks of it, it was pretty dead…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cvQFPKabN8
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Parse has been very good at times this year. For TM to think TP will bury a chance over SP seems a little warped to me. SP has had some very timeoly goals and shown finish to his game. TP still seems weak on the puck and does not keep his feet moving. Did not see much improvement there. However, better than watchin Ivan.
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Cynic, Agreed, seems TP is a good player with one weakness, too slow off the offensive boards.
Just shocked with his ice time this simple weakness hasn’t improved, much.
Crown Royal, Your so right. Parse will grow to be a solid team player on this team for years forward-if nurtured.
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I think TM already belives that Parse will be good, so he needs to thoroughly check out Purcell so he can make up his mind about him either way.
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I agree with RoyalPain TM hasn’t sat Parse for 9 games as a healthy scratch. The only potential dog house move was senting him to Manchester for 2 Monarch games which was only 1 missed Kings Game. I think he was just trying to amp up Teddy’s confidence. I wouldn’t be at all suprised if he explained what he was doing to Parse before or after the comments.
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“I thought Purcell would be the guy who, if he gets that look, he’s going to finish.”
What is Terry talking about?!! Purcell has 3 goals in 38 games. This guy couldn’t finish a chicken sandwich. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!!!
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I don’t see Parse as being in the Dog house.Purcell is the one who has sat for the last 9 games.Purcell is the one who for all intents and pourposes is supposed to be in that situation.Purcell is a skill guy(personal evaluations excluded)who is supposed to score.TM probably felt he’d play those situations better.Parse missed a few lets change it up.Maybe he’s sending a message,but I don’t think its anything major.
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Purcell showed so much promise early on and I have no doubt he still can prove his worth but right, we need help. Parse is proving himself each and every game. He is consistent. He deserves to play more then TP. I hope this is a very very limited effort to perhaps showcase Purcell for something or read him the riot act and sending him back down if need be. He is not physical enough.
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please lets all give praise where praise is do.
scott parse deserves to be on the L.a kings and in the nHL.
TEDDY purcell is not NhL ready or able to play in game situations.
at least not yet; plain and simple
i dont want to have or watch teddy purcell play the way that he plays, he’s a hazard.
can we all come to an agreement on that?
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parse over purcell is a nobrainer
the kind of decision that makes you say “Purcell,who?”
He’s a hazard like road blocks and spike strips on a freeway during rush hour traffic.
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Ehh I don’t know about that. I wouldn’t say its a nobrainer.There both learning how to play big and getting better.
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Just so you know what you’re dealing with, BadGoltending is the same guy who said Ivanans is better than Purcell. I’m starting to think he’s got something personal against Purcell. I’d say Teddy stole his lunch money and beat him up as a kid and he thinks this is payback.
JayMiller
Parse is the whipping boy? Who just came back into the lineup after being nine games as a healthy scratch? WTF do you guys come up with this crap? It’s mindblowing.
For guys like Jay Miller and BadGoltending. Get behind the team and it’s players and stop whining so much about Purcell. True Kings fans want everyone on the team to play well as that generally translates into wins.
This is what it boils down to.
Purcell played well against Buffalo. He set up a bunch of guys with point blank scoring chances and you two are still here today flappin’ your gums about how terrible he is.
Unbelievable!
Answer me one question. Did you guys even watch the game last night?
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So whats the 4th line gonna look like? Obvi Purcell is back in but what about the rest of the line?? Even you ivanans fans got to agree he shouldnt be in there against a team as skilled as DET
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