Given how often Terry Murray changed line combinations last season, it’s fair to take this with a grain of salt, but it appears as though the Kings will start the season with new looks on each of their forward lines. Dustin Brown steps into a first-line role on the right side, next to Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. It’s not a role he’s entirely unfamiliar with, given that he has often played with Kopitar and filled that role for a bit last season when Justin Williams was injured. That leaves a second line of Jarret Stoll, Scott Parse and Williams, and a third line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds. Today, Murray talked about the moves and why he wants them to stay together…
MURRAY; “Quite a bit. I spent considerable time over the offseason looking at line combinations. I arrived at what you’re seeing on the ice, and that’s something I want to go with throughout the training camp and get some looks in the exhibition games and see how it comes along. Hopefully the chemistry can develop. I like, right now, Brownie on the right side with Kopi and Smytty. It gives me that real power look in the offensive zone, lots of speed and the ability to come off the wing and shoot the puck. I know that sometimes I need to constantly remind Brownie about staying and using that kind of power-forward mentality. With Kopi dishing him the puck, I hope it comes sooner than later.
hopefully it works and that will add some jump to the second line.
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me likey! will the season please start already!!!
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I’m glad TM is planning on moving Williams off the first line. I respect what Williams can do but he wasn’t burying enough pucks last year when playing with Kopi.
If the current first three lines remain in tact it figures that Westgarth will be the fourth line right wing and Richardson will be one of the other fourth line forwards. If that’s true then Moller, Clifford and Schenn will likely battle for the other forward spot. Lewis will also get a long look. Clifford and Schenn need ice time to develop so if one or both stick that forces someone else to a reserve role.
I love the current line of Clifford, Schenn, Moller for the future. Other teams would hate to play against them.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
@Crown Royal, regarding the statement:
I love the current line of Clifford, Schenn, Moller for the future. Other teams would hate to play against them.
Can you explain? I certainly don’t get it, though I do see some potential for that unit.
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
@Marc Nathan,
These three play with tenacity and no fear. Moller is the best skater and has the best shot of the three. Clifford and Schenn supply the grit, and in Schenn’s case, the hockey smarts.
With Clifford riding shotgun for him Moller will be able to drive the net without getting killed. (he does anyway but pays too much of a price at present) Other than Parse, and possibly Kozun in the future, Moller offers the best hope currently for the Kings as a goal scoring winger.
Schenn and Moller are potential captain material and in Clifford DL has found his Chris Neil.
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I am not one that is terribly concerned with the line changes. For anyone who has played understands that this is part of the game and match-ups on the other team sometimes dictate changes – as well as injuries. The players should know each other and be able to skate and be productive with one another (I suspect that Quisp would agree having played himself at a fairly high level). As for Brown on the first line, I think it is a good move. First, we do not know where Williams is at this point. It may take him some time to get back up to speed. Brown gives Kopi and Smyth a grinder, a tough body in front of the net and someone who can make room for himself. This is ideal for someone like Smyth who can get someone the puck with a decent one-timer. Brown will have to play a little smarter though – not always focus on the hit in terms of making a hit but using it to get position. There is a big difference especially when you are playing against your opponents best defensive line.
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Brown going to #1 line is a clear message from the coach … we expect more from our captain.
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regulate Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
@KC23,
Agreed. He had a poor season last year offensively, he is defense lacks too. He did draw a lot of penalties though.
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Can anybody tell me who the guy with the major black eye at camp today was? He was in Group A. I thought it was Clifford, burly afterwards I realized I read the roster wrong and I couldn’t remember the guy’s face or number…
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Rich Hammond Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Clifford got a pretty good shiner during the first rookie game, so chances are it was him.
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Doen’t matter, he’ll change’em up by game 2.
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Uh… what speed? Smyth…. not fast. Brown… average speed. Kopitar… a little above average, maybe, but definitely not a blazer. This is probably one of the slowest top lines in the league.
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leo of pico Reply:
September 19th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
@dillon, totally agree Brown and Smyth are going to drag Kopitar down if they continue to play together that line will not have 10 points in the first month Brown does not have a shot Smyth skates in mud their is nothing their very bad won’t last 4 games together this will be Browns last year in LA
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Slow or fast, we can argue it all day long.
Bottom line for me is this: If it raises our 5 on 5 goal production, I am all for it.
Let it ride.
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