This time yesterday, it seemed likely — or at least highly plausible — that Teddy Purcell would return to the Kings’ lineup in place of Scott Parse. That’s how the Kings practiced yesterday, and afterward Terry Murray indicated he was leaning in that direction. Today, Murray decided to keep Parse in the lineup.
“I thought about it,” Murray said. “We went through the practice yesterday with Purcell there. I changed my mind.”
Even though Murray has expressed some frustration with the inconsistencies in Parse’s game, he basically likes Parse’s game, and decided to give him another chance on the line with Alexander Frolov and Michal Handzus. Murray, in the recent past, has said that while Parse has good ability, his shift-to-shift intensity is not always there. Today, I asked Murray whether he thought there were still some peaks and valleys in Parse’s game…
MURRAY: “Yes, I do. I think it’s something that he will work through as he continues to play at this level. It seems to be a pretty common issue, whenever you go through the process with young guys, calling them up. There’s a lot of adrenaline, a lot of emotion, and they step back a couple paces after maybe five or six games and you’ve got to give them a little push up. Or, in the past, that player would go back down again and learn how to develop that attitude that you’ve got to bring it every day, every practice.
“He’s improved. It’s coming, and he’s a bright guy, a smart guy, and he’s going to grab onto this thing. He’s kind of an intriguing player for me. He can score some goals. He’s got high skill level, and he brings that element of, you better keep your head up or he can lay a pretty big hit on somebody if you’re not paying attention. That’s the right attitude for him to play with. He doesn’t have to show that on every shift, but certainly the consistency with the intensity and the compete is demanded on every shift. That’s maybe where there’s a little drop-off at times.”
teddy purcell got all those chances
why cant scott parse who iMHO has been a better players and has
contributed more.
good to see Terry seeing the light with this issue.
Teddy purcell < scott parse- anyday of the week, twice on sunday's.
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High praise. That has to be really nice to hear if I were Parse. I wonder if TM and Parse spoke after practice yesterday…? Hmmm…
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As a player on the threshold of being a healthy scratch, you’ll have to make it very difficult for the coach to take you out of the game.
Looks like Parse has figured out how to impress Murray enough in practice to change coaches mind, unfortunately Purcell still has much to learn about the process.
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Stick with Parse. He’s better.
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teddy purcell still sucks
scott parse is better
even in practice teddy purcell sucks
why does Terry even think about taking parse out.
Does’nt everybody deserve as many chances as Purcell has gotten.
Wake up and smell that columbian roast- SEND PURCELL TO MARS
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SEND PURCELL TO MARS
HIS SKILLS ARE OUTTA THIS WORLD.
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I can’t get over that play in the 3rd period where Parse loses his stick and decides to just leave the defensive zone to retrieve it allowing the man he was defending to skate up the slot and have a chance he should have burried.
That was a surprising lack of concentration on that play.
Still, I like Parse, hope he responds with a great performance tonight!
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I wonder if it was more that Purcell didn’ t look good in practice and that’ s the reason why Parse is dressing for the game after all.
Anyway, I like Parse far more then Teddy.
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What made TM upset with Parse was that play in the 3rd period where Parse was checking Kessel. Parse’s stick got tangled up with Kessel and went flying to the blueline. Parse then left Kessel to go for his stick. That left Kessel all alone to drive to the high slot and make that pass to Finger, who was sneaking in on the backside. Quick the save of the game on Finger there.
That play conjures up the play in which Frolov broke his stick while shorthanded and left his man to go to the bench to get a new stick a month or two ago…the Kings lost that game in large part due to that and it’s been stuck in TM’s crawl since then, I bet.
After that play by Parse, he didn’t see another shift as Moller played on Handzus’ wing from that point on.
The moral of the story is…don’t leave your man…even if you don’t have your stick. It’s like that game against Phoenix, I think, and while short-handed, the Phoenix player stayed in and used his body, hands, arms, etc. to block blasts from the point…he was a hero when he got back to the bench. That’s that TM wants from his players.
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It’s kind of 2 fold.
High praise for Parse and everything he does, except for consistency with shift intensity. I’d be happy if I was Scott Parse here too.
The 2nd part was what TM said: “We went through the practice yesterday with Purcell there. I changed my mind.” If I’m Teddy Purcell, if I care about my position on the team, I’m in TM’s office asking what I did wrong. This is the first time I can remember TM saying he didn’t like the look with Purcell ther IN PRACTICE. Before, TM was saying Purcell was giving us everything we wanted to see in practice. Suddenly today, he’s not and out of the lineup.
I think it’s the right decision, but I’m REAL curious as to what TM saw in TP during practice that made him switch. Don;t know if TM would divulge that to you Rich, but I hope you get an opportunity to ask him that question.
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@ Rich – Generally, your diction is incredible, and your writing is very creative. I’m also sure I write a whole lot of stupid crap on here that I’m unaware of, and we could all use some tips, but I want to suggest not using a certain term: “in the recent past.”
It seems to me, “in the recent past” is another way to say “recently.” It’s never made much sense to me. Since there is no present, and it’s not in the future, it’s all in the past–especially anything recent.
I only bother because I know you care about stuff like that.
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I think Murrey plays each game on NHL10 the morning before, and judging by how each guy does he makes his lines that way (*joking dont jump all over me)
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Mbar-
I honestly don’t fault Scott there on that play where he lost his stick. He believed he had coverage help on Kessel in the slot, and he did. 3 Kings players right there. His stick was just outside the blueline, so he didn’t have to go far. I think most players would have done the same thing. Scott didn’t have to break position too long to get his stick as he would just cover the D-man at the point who wasn’t even there yet.
Compare that to Fro who BROKE his stick and had to go to the FAR bench on a PK a few games back. THAT was a poor stick decision.
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badGoltending: “even in practice teddy purcell sucks”
Yeah, piggybacking on what Cynic said, Purcell has actually looked really good in just about every practice I’ve seen. On more than one occasion he had the guys hootin and hollerin for a move or shot he made… and that kind of vocal recognition only happens a couple of times each practice total.
Translation: He chokes in games.
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I speculated that maybe Murray expected Teddy to participate in the “optional” skate this morning to prepare for tonight and he didn’t show. Just reading between the lines and reading in to what the coach is saying. Something made him change his mind.
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What kills me is the repeated comparisons between Purcell and Parse. They’re two completely different players, apparently vying for different spots, but frequently replacing each other in the lineup. Not only that, at least Parse shows a lot of grit on occasion, while Purcell seems to think his skills will automatically impress the other team into losing.
Get rid of Purcell, and fill his position with someone that talented who works hard. Keep working on Parse, who might surprise you as his skills improve.
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Yeah, I have to disagree about the stick play Cynic. If only because of who had the puck, Kessel. The guy is very dangerous so you should put your body on him at the very least. Plus, the Leafs were flooding the zone with speed, which Parse should have recognized but didn’t because his back was turned. Not to mention his loosing his stick too easily to begin with. All in all, not a good play by him.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/globe-on-hockey/
Good article on DD
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parse has helped win games he deserves to play even if he has a bad game. He is a better fit then purcell.
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WTFK
Do you really think Purcell doesn’t work hard? That’s the single most inaccurate statement I’ve ever seen around here.
He skates hard, back checks hard and is solid defensively. In that aspect of the game he’s improved a thousand percent from last year. If you’re trying to insinuate that Purcell is lazy you’re simply one of those guys who dislikes a player and won’t give him any credit whatsoever. Then again, I’ll have to show you a little love. It could be worse, you could get on like badgoltending.
Now if you want to knock Purcell for not putting up points then go ahead. Because it’s true…he’s not.
But to say he’s not trying is just plain wrong.
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I don’t think its about Purcell trying hard. I think its about TM wanting him to be a top 6 forward and Teddy just doesn’t have it. He is a perfect 4th liner with the touch to score if its there. Yes he works hard and is good on the puck. He’s just not a top 6 guy and we have plenty of 4 liners…
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@WTFK
I LOVE your line “while Purcell seems to think his skills will automatically impress the other team into losing.”
That is a freakin’ gem!
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WTF, Kenneth? (by the way, I just love abbreviating your name, lol…) says:
“What kills me is the repeated comparisons between Purcell and Parse. They’re two completely different players, apparently vying for different spots, but frequently replacing each other in the lineup. Not only that, at least Parse shows a lot of grit on occasion, while Purcell seems to think his skills will automatically impress the other team into losing.
Get rid of Purcell, and fill his position with someone that talented who works hard. Keep working on Parse, who might surprise you as his skills improve.”
I completely agree! I’d much rather see Parse, Segal or one of these kids we have be brought up who’s gonna bring that “adrenaline” and hunger to the 3rd & 4th lines. Purcell seems like he just doesn’t want to get dirty… like a football player playing on a rainy muddy field and he stands out because he’s the only one with a clean jersey…
Purcell = naturally skilled player with good hands (that’s about it), but doesn’t WORK for the opportunities to open up to use them…
Parse = for a guy who goes out there and (usually) works his tail off, he has shown that he does indeed possess very good puck control skills when driving to the net, etc. His grit and in-your-face style, combined with his improving skills fitting into the NHL game, is what we need on the 3rd/4th lines, not Tinkerbell…
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…The buttom line…We all know parse is better than purcell.Good ,but my concern is brown consincacy.Finaly ,
he played a game we can remember and it is very important to continue that.I never questoned his efforts,but the intelect.Last game he play smart.You see gays,the hockey we are waching in this days is mix style.
The old north american ,basicly north-south style is not
working.There is a lot of russian influence and that is
good.One more think,I realy like the lines now.Suprise,
Richi looks realy good over there and the way he moved the puck,score goals in front of net….very good sample
and inspiration for….Brown….Purcell(?) I think he is done here.He needs new fresh place far from LA.Get somebody for him,If we can not aford a good sniper wo big
loses,than get another good faceoff man
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The Jumping Shrimp,
I will give you this… It’s not so much that Purcell isn’t doing anything, I think Teddy’s just not cut out of the 3rd/4th line mold and that’s where we’re trying to fit him in. When given the chances on the first two lines he simply has not even come close to producing what’s needed of him up there. Sooooooo, we move him down to the 3rd/4th lines and he’s a complete fish out of water. At this point in his career I think he needs to be on an Islanders type team where he can be a top-6 guy and hopefully regain whatever confidence has been shaken by this season. I was all for Teddy last year and the beginning of this year but for this team this year right now there just isn’t anywhere I’d put him, except for one… Ivanan’s spot…
(just my opinion)
peace!
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“Do you really think Purcell doesn’t work hard? That’s the single most inaccurate statement I’ve ever seen around here.”
Um…yes. If he’s so jaw-droppingly talented–and I’ll buy the opinions of people who know a lot more about talent than I do–then he’s just not working hard enough. I think it might be the opposite of the Frolov effect. People get all over him for not working enough, and he does have irritating idiosyncrasies, but I think people look at his deceptive skating style and stick work, and think he’s capable of more. Back to Purcell, since I’m willing to believe he has the talent, the most plausible reason he gets outplayed by a guy like Parse is effort, or lack thereof.
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Btw ,Guys,what is the address in NH place.I may go.What are they serving? Thank you!!
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Whether you think Teddy is going to be the all star he was in the AHL or are thinking he is a bust, he does have a lot of potential and will walk away like Moulson if we do not play him enough to showcase him and package him with other players for a deal or give him time to grow.
The issue with Purcell is he has never come to grips with the size speed and skill in the NHL. It takes a rookie 1 – 2 – 3 seasons to do this. Look at DD, JJ, Brownie…
The list goes on and on, so you either give the guy the time and space, or you give him enough to look like a good option to another team your you let him be a good player somewhere else for nothing.
One of the pressures of being a team that is not total crap like in years past is we expect results right away to help keep the momentum going. Some guys take longer to realize their full potential and some guy never will. Part of that is how you play them.
The list goes on and on, so you either give th eguy the time and space, or you give him enough to look like a good option to onlther team your you let him be a good player somewhere else fo rnothing.
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Who is in net tonight?
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Afraid Teddy is not cut out for the NHL.
How long does Murray have to watch a guy stink it up game in and game out until he realizes it wont work?
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@ roadtripper and mark4kings, thanks! I’m a really sarcastic monkey when I try, and after I’ve heard how talented a guy is for half a season and just don’t see it, I figure it’s time to make a point of how it’s not showing. Even then, wouldn’t it be great to see Purcell hit a guy some time? Any time?
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Wow, some how part of my comment was repeated at the end of my comment. T
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@ WTF (and not K) – DD was instantly a solid contributor to this team. A freak, yes, but why pretend he wasn’t (as I read your comment)? JJ isn’t a very fair comparison, as he’s, well, still sucking. Brownie? I don’t remember him not leaving his mark, or at least leaving people laying next to the boards.
If anyone’s made a ‘good’ excuse for Purcell, it’s that the speed is too much for him. However, if he can’t deal with the speed after all the chances he’s had, he just might be a bust anyway. Purcell won’t “walk away” anyway. He’ll get traded away like every other guy who couldn’t figure out how to play for the Kings–some of whom figured it out later.
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Quick is in net tonight.
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DD was great, but he still was down on points and a big minus. This year he is the player we all thought he would be. It is relative. It takes time for people to get into their skin on the big stage.
Brown himself admitted he thought he would hear it at the end of his first season.
I think the fact the Kings were not that great let him float on and grow.
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Cynic
I also repectfully disagree…
its been 48 hours and I’m a little hazy on the play now, but he had position on Kessel to keep him on the outside..when he went for the stick, it gave Kessel the room he needed to make the play.
In the end..Quick’s great save bailed us out, so in that sense…no harm, no foul
If Parse’s performance tonight is anything like when he was almost sent down and got back in the lineup, he’ll be playing like a man possessed.
It should be interesting to watch.
On the thought of TP as a 4th line player…it doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. He’s a skilled player, but not an energy type guy.
I would want my 4th line to provide physicality and energy.
We have been getting plenty of scoring from our top 3 lines. the 4th line is not needed to score on this team.
There job is to keep the puck deep in the offensive zone..forecheck and play physical.
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Drew was a big minus on a lousy team, along with everyone else who drew the big ice time. That wasn’t him–it was the team (goes back to the discussion of plus/minus.) 27 points isn’t enough for you out of an 18-year-old first-year defensemen???? Purcell is showing as nothing short of a bust, by comparison to Doughty more than anyone else! I mean, forget the position, just look at their stats! Now add to that Doughty being in a trusted position, going after high-scoring players from the start–and he’s scoring more than Purcell, as a defenseman, while Purcell has had three seasons. I won’t get rude, but I sure want to!
As for Brown, compare his first three years stats to Purcell–once again, no comparison.
I don’t know what you’re looking at.
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It’s OK to disagree. Go to KingsVision and check out the highlights again at the 4:20 (Coincidence) mark.
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
Game Highlights, TOR LAK.
Couple of things.
Parse could have bodied Kessel then went for his stick. I can see that.
The Kings had numbers back and a mistake was made by Handzus. Greene was already in the slot to cover Kessel and get in his shooting lane. Frolov had the far point. Handzus’s job was to cover the low half on Fro’s side which is where Jeff Finger came in backdoor for the shot. That was Zeus’s guy! Zeus, instead, went to the slot to take Kessel, which is why ther were 3 guys in the slot: Greene, Zeus & Fro. Notice in the whole formation of the play when TOR enters the zone, Zeus does NOT drop into position by the side of the net like O’D did on Parse’s side. He stayed in the slot and was out of position. The low side was left open.
Kessel was Greene’s man and came up to the slot in coverage when Parse decided to get his stick. O’D Was already low to cover Greene’s position on Parse’s low side. Greene slid into the slot in front of Kessel when he saw Parse lose his stick (As he should have). Notice Greene makes his move to the slot BEFORE Kessel makes his move toward the net. My feeling is that Parse knew this since he saw both Greene and O’D on his side down low, therefore the reason he felt like he had coverage to get his stick.
Zeus either didn’t see Greene in the slot and came up to challenge Kessel or just flat out left position. If he would have stayed in position, he would have got his stick in the lane to block Kessel’s pass or taken out Jeff Finger, who would have most likely, tailed off due to Zeus’s presence there.
I know that’s really in-depth and all, but I want to explain why I feel the way I do for Parse and want to see if you guys see the same things I described. If I’m missing anything, tell me. No sarcasm there.
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I can’t access it here at work..I have to see it when I get home, but I have no reason to doubt your analysis.
Way to go Cynic! that’s one helluva explanation.
Good job man.
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Key is NY, I wasn’t completely right. Parse definitely could have hit Kessel before he went after his stick. It would have given everyone more time to set up. I just don’t completely blame Parse there.
I’d like your take though when you get a chance NY. Always like getting another viewpoint.
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I just thought it was funny that the TO announcers explained during the replay that our man fell down, and that’s why Kessel had so much room…. What!? Are we watching the same clip?? Did I miss the earlier part of the play?
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WTFK
Take Purcell out of this system of dump and chase and maybe he can utilize all that skill you say he has. That system is taylor made for guys like Richie, Parse, Simmonds and Segal. It’s maybe why I like guys like Purcell, Kopitar and Frolov. I want the puck carried in through the neutral zone and setup in the offensive zone. That’s the game I like. The skill game. I’d rather watch paint dry than dump and chase.
I still strongly disagree with your opinion of him not working hard. There are a lot of Purcell detractors here and I think even alot of those people wouldn’t question his work ethic. Most of those guys just slag him for not being good enough (in their opinion). To them he’s just the guy not good enough to make the jump to the NHL. I rarely, if ever hear anything about his work ethic.
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I agree it was far smarter to get the stick. Kessel wasn’t likely going to get stopped by a stickless Parse anyway and then if Quick gets the save we’re still in a mess with a stickless Parse.
Parse is so much more effective than Purcell I marvel that we are even discussing the subject. I think TM is just using Purcell to bring Parse’s consistancy up to another level.
Or it might be that a team leader like Zues had a chat with TM on the side and requested TM to stop messing with Parse’s head.
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Who actually thought that Kessel would pass the puck anyways?? I’m sure everyone on the ice (including his teammates) thought he would just shoot it
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Parse>>Purcell.
Kind of a slam-dunk, I think.
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I’m suprised that Parse has done as well as he has given the yanking around that seems to happen to him, maybe the only thing missing here is a little confidence from his coach? The stats speak for themselves:
Parse 41 games, 18 points (no PP) +8 with limited overall ice time.
Purcell 38 games, 6 points (with PP) -1
Am I missing something here?
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@WTFK
This is not a comparison of player, I think you need to let that slide.
TP will never be a DD or DB, it is how long it can take a player to become the best version of themself and how you bring that out if you can.
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Cynic
I see your point about Zeus…absolutely he lost his man coming in late.. But Parse could have made a play on Kessel at the blueline after he lost his stick. I also didnt like the way he lost his stick…he seemed to lose it pretty easy.
You’re right, he wasn’t the only one at fault on the play, but he was the 1st.
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Is there any debate/discussion on this blog — any at all — that is able to take place without turning to hate or insults? Any at all? I’m genuinely curious.
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Once again, WTF, I did not bring up DD or DB, you did!
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@ Rich – Yes, seemingly any not involving Shamu.
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Rich
What’s with the censorship? I’m genuinely curious.
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No censorship involved. If you’re able to follow some very simple blog rules, comments don’t go anywhere.
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Exactly what rule was broken. Certainly didn’t think my post was out of line.
Just stated that someone was tossing out numbers that were incorrect. I corrected them.
How about rule two of the blog rules.
“Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted”
Check out posts 1, 5 and 6. Nice debate/discussion there.
And you deleted what I had to say. LOL. Whatever.
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