The Kings’ “utility player” player, Peter Harrold, will play his first game of the season as a winger tonight. Last season, Harrold split his time — in games and practices — between defense and forward, and even played some center. He’s seen as an option at forward because he has the ability to skate well, pass well and get pucks to the net, and obviously he has the ability to be a solid defensive forward. Here’s what Harrold said this morning about the switch…
Question: It’s clearly a different position, but how much does it change the way you approach the game?
HARROLD: “It’s a different mindset. You have to make sure you’re in the right position on breakouts, in the neutral zone and the offensive zone. I think most of the guys on the team know both positions just from watching, knowing where the other guys are going to be, so it’s not too big of a transition.”
Question: Do you sit down with Lewis and Richardson before the game just to make sure you’re on the same page?
HARROLD: “I’m sure I’ll have a couple questions for them, ask them where they want me to be in certain situations. I’ll just talk to them and I’m sure they will let me know. They’re helpful.”
Question: It’s a way for you to stay in the lineup at least, right?
HARROLD: “It’s fine with me. Whatever keeps me playing, I’ll just try to help any way I can.”
Question: Can you also play goal? Brad Richardson said he can play goal…
HARROLD: “No, I can’t. … Richie said he’s pretty good, but he’s a bit of liar sometimes. [laughs]”
wow…finally an offensive 4th line
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Belexes Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
@PakiFan,
Offensive in what way?
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Marc Nathan Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
@Belexes, LOL. EXCELLENT!
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This is really an incidental move. All of these little call-ups, the moves with Harrold, the injury to Parse, all lead me to believe the Kings are just biding time until Schenn is called-up from his conditioning assignment in Manchester.
If you think about it, Schenn has the higher talent ceiling than of these guys. Parse, King, Harrold, Lokti, etc..he’ll just be better.
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Crown Royal Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Ersberg,
Loktionov has the most talent of those you mentioned including Schenn.
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Ersberg Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
@Crown Royal,
I disagree. The moves Schenn was puting on defenders early on was crazy good, not to mention with power.
The only thing Lokt impressed with was that goal he scored off the goalie.
Schenn will win out in the long-term.
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Bill M. Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
@Ersberg, I agree here, I do think that Schenn has the larger talent upside, and I know that the plan on draft day was for Schenn to end up as the second line center, but given his size advantage and the excellent development of Lokti, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lokti run the second line someday, with Schenn running a very offensively dangerous third line.
Crown Royal Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@Ersberg,
Loktionov has more talent but that doesn’t mean he will be the better player. I believe Bill M. is correct. As it stands I can see Lokti centering the second line and Schenn the third line. Only time will tell.
AZ King Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@Ersberg,
Last I saw they still have Schenn playing center down in Manchester, so I don’t really know what they’re going to call him up to.
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Ersberg Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
@AZ King, To center the 4th line.
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AZ King Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
@Ersberg,
In place of Lewis, or are you planning on moving hime somewhere else? Lewis has been playing very good lately and I don’t think he deserves to get the boot in place of Schenn.
Richie – Schenn – Lewis?
That actually might not be so bad.
King John Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@Ersberg,
Yeah, I’m waiting to see how Schenn will fit in when he returns. Will he play 1st line wing? Or will he center the 4th line again?
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AZ King Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@King John,
Since he been playing center in Manchester I think the odds of him moving to the wing are pretty slim, but who knows.
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puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
@AZ King, I wish people would stop trying to turn our centers into wingers..what do you think dude?
AZ King Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
@puck73,
haha, I’m starting to feel like it’s a losing battle. The problem is it sounds simple, but in practice it’s not that easy.
I still think some of there moves are pretty wild. It makes me wonder (and I was wondering this in the play-offs last year too) if TM is making all of the decisions or if they make “organizational” moves as Scotty Bowman used to call them.
In any case, nhl.com has TM as the coach of the year thus far. And guess who they have as runner-up, Jacques Martin of the hated ones.
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I have never understand Terry Murray’s fascination with stiffs who can’t skate or shoot. Westgarth was assured a roster spot early on remember. I think sometimes it’s a Philadephia thing, and the Kings are becoming Philly West with their management and coaching. Why Westgarth and before him Ivananis? Yes I get the protection thing. But guys like Lucic and Clarkson can drop the gloves but they also can produce offensively. Even Parros can contribute some. I thought the pugs went out with Stu Grimson. I’m glad to see they’ve dropped Westgarth from the 4th line. I’m sure he’s a great team guy. But when you don’t have a game breaker and have to score by committee, everyone has to pitch in.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
@Donald_S, Westgarth, if given the chance, will eventually become Parros.
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
@Donald_S, You can’t compare middle weights Lucic and Clarkson to Westgarth. Neither of them would stand up to Big Mac, Orr, Boogard, Parros, ect… Boston has Thornton always dressed for a reason and the Devils have PL3 if they need toughness. Your compairing apples toi oranges here..
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Deke'r Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@Donald_S, LOL….sure hope they become Philly West cause Philly East aint doin half bad! GO KINGS!!
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
@Donald_S, Westgarth is not expected to be a non-skating non-shooting stiff. hE’S EXPECTED TO BE A 25 POINT GUY that can handle the safety of his team mates. When the body is that big, it’s not the easiest adjustment to go from AHL to NHL. Oh, by the way, were you aware of KW’s AHL numbers? 25 points a year, very similar to Brad Richardson, but with a big attitude and more responsible than Ivanans. Much more coordinated, in fact. BTW, to those interested, Ivan’s still out with his concussion suffered vs. MacIntyre.
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Am I the only one suspecting a Westgarth injury after last game? I might have missed it, but I don’t recall seeing him take a shift after the Neil fight.
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
@Goon Squad, I mentioned in a previous thread I expected he had a banged up hand after that one. He and Neil were both rubbing their hands on their way to the sin bins, and I noted neither lost their lids. I suspect Neil may also be using the new cover, which Kevin has yet to lose in a scrap since adopting it.
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yes! all of our problems solved at last!
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Kings have been 1-4 with King on the top line. I dont know why Kopitar is always getting put with rookies and or guys that are not real top line guys. If there is really nobody better to put on the top line in the orginization, a trade is needed. Not that i think Kings sucks, he is just not top line material at this point in his career and im not sure if he ever will.
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AZ King Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
@kingfletch,
It’s all Smyth and William’s fault for doing so well with Stoll. Darn them for being so productive.
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Wow…The best we have on wing for a change is a two way d-man. I am amazed at the Hype our Minor League team gets when we dont have a legit winger in the whole lot. It looks as if we will just be the same Kings..Good start and questionable finish.
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Not to mention Halperin who has 13 points & Purcell just scored again and Boyle has 9 goals..King is 1-3 in the top line merry go round..Clifford is a -9 with no points..these are the kids of the future?
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Totally disagree with TM here.
Harrold is a good defenseman and has done nothing wrong there so far. But, he is completely ineffective as a winger and I could only see him having any success on the wing if he was with 2 other elite offensive players. He’s just not mentally geared to play forward at this level.
I also see no reason to send Muzzin down and opt for Martinez. A better option would be to play Harrold on the PP point with another defenseman (i.e. not Stoll)
as Harrold keeps it simple and is a good offensive threat.
Finally, here. I suggested 2 weeks ago that Clifford, not King, should have moved onto Kopi’s left as he is a grinder (like Brown) who will terrorize defensemen on the dump-in. Now others are also seeing that there is a case that Clifford should be that guy. King should fill out the 4th line and Westy should get more games as he’s picked his game up after a perplexing start.
But for some individual mistakes and some coaching errors we would still be top of the league. Maybe change is needed, but I wish the changes were a bit different. JJ with Scuderi, I feel, is a good change. I just hope Greene gets back to being steady.
Like others, I feel we softened up in the hitting department. Why, I don’t know.
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puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
@Cristobal, Solid post, atta boy!
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KC23 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@Cristobal, But is it fair to say given Harrold’s improvement over last year? True Harold did nothing on wing last year, but he also wasn’t near as good as he is this year on defenese.
The condictioning he did over the summer improved his defensive play a lot and he’s proved it. Who’s to say he’s winger talent won’t also improve?
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Harrold on defense bothers me. Harrold as our fourth line winger disturbs me. I wonder why Lombardi thinks its cool to ice an entire rookie fourth line and then patch the holes there with a 7-8 d-man. We need more depth and this is exhibit A
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puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
@JimmyShine, It takes 6 to 9 seasons to build an organization from the bottom up. We are now in season 5 and as Dean would tell you…We still gotta lot of work ta do here.
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