The plane is about to take off, but here’s the “early” version of my game story. I haven’t had time to add quotes yet, but the revised story will be posted upon landing. Thanks for reading…
The plane is about to take off, but here’s the “early” version of my game story. I haven’t had time to add quotes yet, but the revised story will be posted upon landing. Thanks for reading…
ANAHEIM DUCKS
>O.C. Register
BOSTON BRUINS
>Boston Globe
>Globe blog
>Boston Herald
>Hearld blog
>ESPNBoston.com
BUFFALO SABRES
>Buffalo News
>Buffalo News blog
CALGARY FLAMES
>Calgary Herald
>Herald blog
>Calgary Sun
CAROLINA HURRICANES
>News & Observer
>News & Observer blog
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
>Chicago Tribune
>Tribune blog
>Chicago Sun-Times
>Sun-Times blog
>Daily Herald
>Daily Herald blog
>ESPNChicago.com
COLORADO AVALANCHE
>Denver Post
>Post blog
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
>Columbus Dispatch
>Dispatch blog
DALLAS STARS
>Dallas Morning News
>ESPNDallas.com
DETROIT RED WINGS
>Detroit Free Press
>Free Press blog
>Detroit News
>Detroit News blog
EDMONTON OILERS
>Edmonton Journal
>Journal blog I
>Journal blog II
>Edmonton Sun
FLORIDA PANTHERS
>Miami Herald
>Herald blog
>Sun-Sentinel
>Sun-Sentinel blog
MINNESOTA WILD
>Minn. Star Tribune
>Star Tribune blog
>Pioneer Press
>Pioneer Press blog
MONTREAL CANADIENS
>Montreal Gazette
>Gazette blog
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
>Tennessean
>Tennessean blog
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
>Star-Ledger
>Star-Ledger blog
>The Record
>Record blog
>New York Post
>ESPNNewYork.com
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
>Newsday
>Newsday blog
>New York Post
>N.Y. Daily News
>New York Times
>Islanders Point Blank
>ESPNNewYork.com
NEW YORK RANGERS
>New York Times
>Times blog
>N.Y. Daily News
>Daily News blog
>New York Post
>Newsday
>Newsday blog
>ESPNNewYork.com
OTTAWA SENATORS
>Ottawa Citizen
>Citizen blog
>Ottawa Sun
>Sun blog
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
>Philadelphia Inquirer
>Inquirer blog
>Daily News blog
PHOENIX COYOTES
>Arizona Republic
>Republic blog
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
>Post-Gazette
>Post-Gazette blog
SAN JOSE SHARKS
>Mercury News
>Mercury News blog
ST. LOUIS BLUES
>Post-Dispatch
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
>Tampa Tribune
>Tribune blog
>St. Pete Times
>Times blog
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
>Toronto Star
>Star blog
>Toronto Sun
>Globe and Mail
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
>Vancouver Province
>Province blog
>Vancouver Sun
>Sun blog I
>Sun blog II
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
>Washington Post
>Post blog
WINNIPEG JETS
>Winnipeg Free Press
>Winnipeg Sun
Funny I did not hear one comment about Price playing every game but 1. Isnt he playing too much? I think he looks tired.What would their record be if their back up had played half the games? Just saying
TIMBER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[Reply]
Hat trick Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:53 am
@I’m Just Saying”, the way their D is playing he can afford to play every game. he hardly broke a sweat last night.
[Reply]
thanks for the update Rich, its got to be heart wrenching for the guys, they know what they need to do and sometimes the opposition just won’t let it happen….
a couple of guys looked more comfortable tonight again, Clifford and put himself in position to score his first, just Price was really good all night again, Martinez scoring his first on the PP just what the doctor ordered, Smyth was flying around the ice again as always, DD looks better every game and is a threat all the time to make something happen…..
on the down side, Bernier has to stay out for awhile, all Quick for a time, the D overall somewhat better at times however we still gave up big chances in front of Bernier that other NHL teams clear
boys time to regroup, no panic and no one pull the chute yet we are fine, they will rebound and likely beat Chicago Saturday and live will be okay again, then the quack crew for 4 points and away we go again on a long streak
TM don’t change much, get well Michtell and Poni and we will right back to the top of the west
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
@Harty, Sorry, but I think it is time for Lombardi to start moving some of the dead weight. The Kings are nowhere near a playoff team at this time. There are several players(Simmonds, Brown, Johnson etc…) that we can move and be a better team for it! Just my opinion as I have been watching this team since 1979!
[Reply]
ToughD Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 2:09 am
@Kevin, no need to panic…it’s a long season and we have a young team. Our 3rd line had been our best or 2nd best line until Poni’s injury, and with Mitchell out and growing pains…well a little adversity is expected. Can’t believe you referred to Simmers and Brownie as dead weight. Now I’ve missed large portions of games, but since the injuries I think JJ has played some of his best hockey. Maybe there’s hope for him yet!
[Reply]
backchecker Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 7:06 am
@Kevin,
Well I have watched since 1969 and your 100 pct correct I got better news for you they are either out of the playoffs as of today or almost out of the playoffs and have a 10 game road trip in Feb what a team !!!!!
[Reply]
michael Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:38 am
@Kevin,
i live in montreal and have been a kings fan for 30 years..last night was the worst i have seen them play in mtl..and i hate the habs with a pashion was hard to swallow..but you saying that brown is dead weight…there are 29 teams that would love to have that dead weight…scores goals,hits with the best of them, blocks shots….kevin find another team to root for……
[Reply]
Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
@Harty, You would honestly consider trading those 3 players??? Those 3 players are apart of a young and talented foundation. IF they do that, then they may as well rebuild a bit again. If we were to deal, I would imagine it being prospects + picks. Other than that, no core players should be moved..
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
@Kingsation8, Sorry, but these players are not the core anymore! 6 years into the rebuilding and people saying we still must be patient!?! Sorry, been a King fan since 1979 and this team does NOT have what it takes! I was a fan of the Gretzky years(that team would put this team to SHAME!) and this current team is not a playoff winner. Sorry to be a bummer, but I think Hammond might agree with me! Brown, SImmonds, etc…. dont have what it takes!
[Reply]
Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
@Kevin, Are you out of your mind? Do you honestly think that this current team is worse than the team last year? And for the record, Simmonds and JJ haven’t even been around here for 6 years and Brown is doing his job properly adding in a bit more scoring this year as well. I don’t see how Hammond would agree with you, him and many other King fans like myself are very proud of the team. You just cannot expect them to win EVERY game! When you have the greatest player in the whole game like Gretzky, well than I’d imagine them to win most of the games. Even the defending cups are struggling like crazy this year and even at times, last year too. I just do not see how you have been a fan since ’79. It is showtime for the Kings! Sit back and relax it’ll be a bumpy ride!
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Kingsation8, I dont expect the Kings to win every game. And yes the Hawks are struggling, cause they GUTTED their team this year. However, I would still say the Hawks are a better bet to win a cup, then the Kings. God, I hope you are right, however, I have followed this team since 1979(yes, believe it!) and I still dont think they have what it takes! From what I have heard, Simmonds is not too long for this team, Lombard is trying to move him for the most possible return! Still way too many holes and questions than answers
NeilEllisShafton Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 10:05 am
@Harty, The best thing that has come out of this past road trip, was Kyle Clifford. Clifford is really starting to shine, and folks this kid is improving every game, in every facet of the game.
I was happy to see him get some PK time tonight, and I hope he starts to see more, because he is busting his ass, getting to pucks, and really trying to help his team, in whatever way he can.
Last year we saw Ryan O’Reilly, who I think Clifford can be better than, because he’s bigger than O’Reilly, but his awareness on the ice has been a nice progression.
It looks like TM has to be a little more animated on the bench, and if that means becoming angry at the refs, or at his players, then he needs to start laying into these guys to wake them up.
When Mitchell gets back, this might help out the defense, but the Kings really need to find a LW who can give the Kings more than 1 solid line to rely on.
I’m still wondering if putting Williams/Smyth/Kopitar back might be better, and move Brown down to the 2nd line with Stoll. They still need more depth in terms of scoring, and Poni is not going to add much in terms of scoring, but he’s a big body, which is great, but the Kings need more guns in their arsenal.
I think if the Kings can make a deal for 2 proven scorers, they can also start to get more production out of the 3rd line.
We all knew this was going to happen eventually, however this also goes back to the summer, and not adding a sniper LW, and more depth in terms of scoring. Parse was supposed to makeup for some of the point production, and Poni was also looked at to also add more scoring, but now that Parse is gone, and Poni is out, this might force DL to make the move to bring in someone who can help out right now.
TM has cutback on his continual line changes, but it’s clear the Kings don’t have anyone in Manchester who can step up and contribute in the positions which we are now seeing little to no production from.
[Reply]
ops, Rich should that not be 4-1 ouch…….sorry
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Forget practice, I say that the Kings should just listen to this “instructional” disco song by Guy Lafleur:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLeMGQ1v138
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Montreal fans wanted to run Price out of town for years, now they’re making him the top goalie in the All Star voting.
Just something to think about.
Bernier won us three crucial NHL games (remember?) down the stretch last season when we needed points desperately. Yes, he needs to be better, but do not give up on this kid yet.
I hope all the Kings play better in the future. Growing pains suck, but they can learn. Don’t look back, kids, just forward, and work hard. I believe in you.
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
@DLB, I believe in them as well, however they have to work out of the funk…..stick to doing thier jobs first no one else’s
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
@Harty, Sorry, but Bernier isnt the player we thought he was! Time to trade him and move on!
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
@Kevin,
anthony?? Where the hell have you been? We’ve missed you!!
puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
@Kevin, I cant believe some of the knee jerk comments I am reading on this site tonite, this one included. Tell you what, if you believe what you just wrote then I have to believe you have been buying into the things that Mathew Barry spreads on his blog. Please for the love of god take stuff he writes with a grain of salt and just relax.
DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
@DLB, 3 out of how many?? He was very well protected in those three games. He was promoted because they thought he could handle it, guess what, yep, he needs to sit, watch, work hard and be a really good backup that can be depended on when called upon. If he thinks he’s a number one, he better learn how to count all over again. And also Team doesn’t begin with an “M” for ME.
[Reply]
Bernier isn’t the chosen one after all, is he? Yea, that’s what I thought….
[Reply]
kenny Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
@Sancho,
he’s being very labarbera isnt he
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
@Sancho, Bernier is nowhere the savior we thought he was…… Trade bait at this point!
[Reply]
kenny Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
@Kevin,
how the world would be different if ersberg didnt hurt his hand in training camp huh.. doh LOL
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
@Kevin,
Ha ha, can we trade you instead?
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
@tantrum4, With me you will only get a small bag of pucks! Bernier might bring a large bag of pucks and some Zamboni parts!
Naturallawyer Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@Sancho, I look forward to watching you talk about how you had faith in Bernier all along, once he develops into a solid, consistent goalie in due time. If you expected a rookie goalie playing one game a week to be a “savior,” you were going to be let down anyway.
[Reply]
Sancho Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
I’ve never claimed him to be anything. I said that in reference to a lot of people who think he is the 2nd coming of Christ. I’d love to see him turn into a “solid consistent goalie.” However, knowing the Kings, he will do that for another team!
[Reply]
DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
@Naturallawyer, Well my friend, a good backup can and he’s not even close …… yet.
[Reply]
Kings Fans, Unfortunatley, this is our lot in life. Dont think this team is any where good enough to make the playoffs! Terrible scoring, shaky goaltending. Marginal team, at best. I have been a Kings fan since 1979, and this team is nowhere near a Stanley Cup contender! Hopefully, Lombardi realizes this and trades a few of the dead weight(Simmonds, Brown, Johnson) Even Doughty this year looks very, very BAD! Gonna be a long season for Kings fans. Oh well, same as it was every year!
[Reply]
Erik Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
@Kevin,I agree! Where are these star players? We were winning more when Doughty was injured, and our No. 1 line can’t score goals
[Reply]
Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
@Kevin, I am starting to question you being a true King fan, and if you have been a fan that long, well then I imagine what you would have been saying to the Kings 5 years ago when they were a nothing, NOTHING! You should be proud to be a fan and be happy to have these great players. Calling your captain “dead meat” sounds like something a Habs fan would say.. If you are going to be a negative fan like you are now, I recommend that you leave this team and wait till they do serious damage so you can eat your words.. There are ALOT of bright things still going on with this team even if they are losing these last few games. I can’t wait for the Kings to go on a long win streak again so you can all of a sudden think that they are a playoff team.
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
@Kingsation8, Sorry, been a TRUE King fan since 1979(Dionne, Simmer, Tayley etcllll) and have be PRAYING they would do some damage in the playoffs! However, This team does not have what it takes to win a cup. I was hoping this would be the year, but too many marginal players on this team! We still need a GOAL SCORER, big time!
[Reply]
Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
@Kevin, You want a goal scorer? Go ask Kovalchuk is he still wants to play, his team is around dead last. While your at it why don’t you take Lombardi’s job as well.. Maybe if you were in Dean’s shoes then there wouldn’t be so-called “marginal” players.I would really like if you would compare the Kings roster of this year and Blackhawks roster of last year and see how close they are, I am to believe that with a little fine tuning, Kings should be a contender next year. King even have MUCH better goaltending then the Hawks had last year IMO. And if you are a Kings fan that long then I assume how much goalies can affect a team in the playoffs where they totally steal games by themselves.
puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
@Kevin, And I have been a Kings fan since 73, whoopty effin do! You need to calm down sir! You are starting to remind me of some of those people who post on Fire and Ice, the New Jersey Devil fans blog. You want to see knee jerk reactions and stupidity on display? Go read some of that Pithy Rubbish and your comments will seem tame by comparison.
Chip Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@Kevin,
Please visit an alzheimer’s disease clinic or something. You are delusional.
Twenty-something games into the season, in second, and won’t make the playoffs? Therefore trade 20% of the team? The only TRUE thing you are is a whack job.
i’m very dissapointed in the teams lack of effort, this is where kopi brown and greene need to do their jobs. Terrible i wouldnt pull the panic button but drew this yr has been very weak on d, johnson started off great but since drews comeback from concussion he’s slacked majorly and went back to last years work ethic. and kopi is no gretzky why does he insist on trying to pass everytime, he needs to shoot the puck more. and it’s funny last year smyth,kopi,williams line was hot.. this year kopi isnt doing anything while williams and brown are working on goals, i think and believe if we had a person of goal scoring stature kopi would feed off that and realize wow shoot first. and btw where did simmonds go get em effort go like last yr this yr he’s been quiet, kinda like our pp all they do is play pass pass pass.
[Reply]
I like the idea of looking at positives. How about these:
DD showed signs of the offensive spark that we know and love. He made several good transistion plays, found lanes, and made several good pinches or offensive rushes. A few of them led to chances, which could have been goals if the rest of the team was playing with their heads attached. If he continues that momentum, he could spark the power play, which could win us a few points while the defense tries to plug the leak. And if he doesnt bring it together, there is a positive there too. Speaking very long term, a slump year in a contract year – bad news for doughty could be good news for our cap.
Martinez was something special for his second game. He looked solid most of the night, with only a couple rookie errors on D, and his goal showed speed, skill, and effort. If he can bring that consistently, then we might have our final positive.
JJ just doesn’t get it. He should be hitting his peak performance by now. Offensive heroics are no substitute for defensive responsibility. Those calling for a trade to get a top winger are met with a problem. Such a trade WILL cost us a roster player. Is JJ the sacrificial lamb? If JJ and Martinez both continue the game they played tonight, JJ will be waving to our new sniper as their planes pass each other by.
[Reply]
Kevin Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
@Bill M., Love you are trying to find positives in these Kings, but I am saying after many, many years of rebuilding, when is it time to say ” enough is enough! Not trying to be negative, but the Kings are a sorry team now. JJ is marginal at best, DD is not the player he was the last 2 years, Bernier is shaky on his best night etc…. How can we win a cup with this team? Just saying……..
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
@Kevin, Last season he was the greatest thing anybody had seen, now suddenly he doesnt have a clue? Tell ya what, if thats true according to you then why would any competent GM give you a top left winger for a crappy goaltender like Bernier (Thats your impression)? Please give a detailed explanation, I will be up for a while.
[Reply]
DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
@puck73, Maybe he has the Carey Price syndrome, IF he can be patient and learn what it takes to be an NHL goaltender he should do alright. Look how long Corey Schnieder and Detroit’s Jimmy Howard spent in the AHL for ONE TEAM Bernier is not as good as either one of them and he certainly isn’t as good as Quick. If I was DL I’d have a real man to man with him, get a veteran backup and send him back to Manchester. So what if he was the best down there, The Canucks Schnieder was also a couple years back. Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award (AHL – Outstanding Goaltender) (2009) and he starts every once in a great while. Jimmy Howard has been up and down with Detroit since 05 and here’s his record:
2005-06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 1 2 0 0 2.99
2005-06 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 38 27 6 2 2 2.58
2006-07 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 49 21 21 3 6 2.70
2007-08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 2 0 0 2.13
2007-08 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 54 21 28 2 2 2.83
2008-09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 0 0 4.07
2008-09 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 45 21 18 4 4 2.54
2009-10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 37 15 10 3 2.26
NHL Totals 72 38 20 10 3 2.31 12 5 7 1 2.75
As a GM you can’t make promises to a kid until he is so good there is no choice but to start him.
Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
@Kevin, I have NEVER, EVER in my life have I heard or seen someone saying that Doughty is no long important to this team, and from the remarks that you have made, it seems like you lost everything in the guy, this guy is one of the brightest faces of the team! If they are a sorry team then switch to another team!! Preferably one of those band-wagon teams where there fanbase is made up of fakes! If you have been a fan that long then I would think that you would have much more knowledge then what you are saying. I can see that the lack of success from this organization can bring someone down for a while but you NEVER focus on the positives(which I think outweighs the negatives heavily) and you focus more on the negatives. What is the meaning of a fan then?
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I hate to spin a familiar refrain but other than JQ’s phenomenal OT against Boston, we are nit getting particularly good goaltending the past two weeks.
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From what the players have been saying, I expect a fired-up Kings this Saturday and am really looking forward to see how they respond from this road trip!
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@bruin18, JQ has had a couple flubs but has generally been spectacular. The fact that he is statistically still top 5 even after the past two weeks should be an indication that he is most certainly not the problem.
Bernier has been exposed as being exactly what he is. A talented young rookie who looked like the savior last year because we called him up mid-hot streak and he saved three games for us against three relatively weak teams. He needs a lot of work, he is certainly not a starting goalie in the NHL yet. But I guarantee he will be. It won’t happen for probably another year or two.
None of that changes the facts. And the facts are that even the best goalies in history gets hung out to dry behind the defense I saw tonight.
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Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
@Bill M., For example, Martin Brodeur this year, where his team is around last in the league.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
@Kingsation8, Hello, My name is Mr. Vanderbeek I own the New Jersey Devils and I am a complete Moron.
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Hard game to watch…
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Ouch, time to get back home. Trip was bad but could have been worse. Hope they bring it against Chicago.
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Kevin, you have several comments on here, and I can’t respond in a reply because I get a stange error.
(side note: rich, I get an error about ‘commentidform’ when I try to click ‘reply’ from the mobile site. Its been that way a while. Can you have someone look into that? I’m on an iPhone if it is relevant.)
So back to Kevin, your comments are extremely reactionary. Are your highs similarly wild? Did you believe two weeks ago that this team would go 42-0 at home?
You seem to suffer from the opinion that this team will let you down, as past generations of the team have done to us all. If you are really so jaded that you can’t find it in you to believe this team will be different, then please feel free to pick a new team. Seriously. If you aren’t excited about the possibilities of this kings team, then you aren’t enjoying being a fan any longer. If that is the case, by all means find something new that you do enjoy.
How do we win with a goalie like Bernier? Easy. because he is not the starter yet, so it’s ok if he doesn’t play like one. Quick is one of the top five in the league right now and if you dont see that as promising, you won’t see anything as promising.
As for the rest of the team…they are certainly playing poorly right now. But when they play their game, and play it well, they are very hard to beat. This season is far from over and they will find their game again. There isn’t a cup team in history that didn’t have a big slump somewhere in the middle 40 games. Chicago had far worse, and now they have a cup to show for it. Slumps teach teams to come together, and to stay humble. Teams that don’t have them, and always dominate the regular season, don’t win cups *cough* sharks *cough*
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Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
@Bill M., This ^^, This ^^, This ^^! True King fan here ^! And I am with you all the way!
[Reply]
friarking Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 1:25 am
@Bill M., Thank you for that. There’s too many “team kevin” posts on this one.
The Kings will be fine. It’s better that they have a setback now that in March/April.
[Reply]
DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@friarking, Sorry, but the games you lose in November cannot be made up for at or near the end of the season. Don’t take it from me, ask any NHLer.
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Anyone know why O.Moller didnt play tonite in manchester????
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Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
@lafan13, Not sure, but I would give Moller a spot over D. King though, that’s for sure.
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DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@Kingsation8, You betcha.
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Kingsation8 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
@lafan13, Not sure, but I would give Moller a spot over D. King though, that’s for sure.
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Quick was given a chance to develop at the NHL level when people were literally rooting for the Kings to lose every game to get a better draft pick. Nobody cared if Quick succeeded or not. There was no pressure, and every soft goal was an unnoticed mistake (and a mere distraction from watching Labarbera flop around in the crease in one shootout loss after another). Bernier is not being given the same luxury.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
@Naturallawyer, Wow, almost forgot how brutal JL was in shootouts, and that he usually gave up at least 1 soft goal per game. Contrast that with Quick who at the moment may be the best shoutout goaltender in the game currently…he is at least in the discussion!
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Naturallawyer Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
@puck73, completely agree. Shootouts are almost in the bag for the Kings just because Quick is so athletic and focused during them. JL was the complete reverse; an automatic OTL.
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Naturallawyer Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
@puck73, speaking of former Kings goalies… as long as Mathieu Garon is leading the league in GAA and SV% (as he is now), I declare it too early to judge Bernier this year. It is obviously too early in the season for true colors to shine through.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 10:54 am
@Naturallawyer, Perfect example on why you dont give up on young talent….BECAUSE THEY END UP DEVELOPING SOMEWHERE ELSE AND YOU JUST ENDED UP PISSING AWAY ANOTHER DRAFT PICK!
DetroitSons1952 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
@Naturallawyer, Quick is so athletic and focused and that’s what JB has to learn.
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don’t forget that Vancouver (a fav to win the cup this year) just went on a 4 game losing streak. their record is no better than ours…
don’t panic yet guys. so much hockey left to be played….
hell, if we win the next 2 or 3 no one remembers this slump…
GKG!
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a couple other thoughts:
How INCREDIBLE is Drew Doughty? So he’s off to a slow start. He’s not even old enough to drink yet! Emotional stability isn’t exactly a strength of anyone at his age. There will be speed bumps. But seriously. Star defenseman follow a very consistent statistical curve in their development. Borque
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a couple other thoughts:
How INCREDIBLE is Drew Doughty? So he’s off to a slow start. He’s not even old enough to drink yet! Emotional stability isn’t exactly a strength of anyone at his age. There will be speed bumps. But seriously. Star defenseman follow a very consistent statistical curve in their development. Borque, Lidstrom, Neidermayer, Gonchar, Keith, coffey
[Reply]
Chip Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
@Bill M.,
Yup. Stick with the kids, you bunch of panic monsters.
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Gosh this team is desperately missing the grit provided by Mitchell and Poni.
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Chip Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
@Scaught,
Gosh darn! You are right!
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Chip Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
@Scaught,
Sorry, I’m an ass for saying that, but it just shows how a few missing players make gaping holes in NHL teams.
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Bernier doesn’t want to be a backup and the frustration is mounting. They should trade him and add a sniper. Who needs a goalie? Try the Isles since they’re on magic 14 and bring Moulson back …or Tavares.
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a couple other thoughts:
How INCREDIBLE is Drew Doughty? So he’s off to a slow start. He’s not even old enough to drink yet! Emotional stability isn’t exactly a strength of anyone at his age. There will be speed bumps. But seriously. Star defenseman follow a very consistent statistical curve in their pro years of development. Borque, Lidstrom, Neidermayer, Gonchar, Keith, Coffey, etc. All took four pro years to rise to the statistical top of the league. In all my meanderings through NHL stats, only two star defenseman, EVER, broke that mold. Their names are Doughty and Orr. Both paced the best of the league in their second year. Orr continued the normal development curve from that point, which resulted in double the numbers of any other ‘star’ blueliner. Similarly, projecting a typical four year development curve onto Doughty’s career puts him well into territory that we tend to view as unattainable in today’s NHL. I am quite excited to see if he can do it.
Second, what the @%#! is up with the NHL schedules this year. It’s not just ours either, though we are definitely on the shorter end of it. There seem to be a ton of back to backs, and at the same time, frequent periods of long rest. Bob and Jim noted our freakishly long road trip, but they didn’t note that it consists mostly of back to back games! Seriously. Take a good look at the Jan and Feb schedule. It’s insanely brutal! Long rest, road back to back, long rest, road back to back. What happened here?
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Oops. Sorry for the partial posts. I’m all thumbs!
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Don’t look now, but Sean O’Donnell is the NHL leader in +/- with +17, and +15 over his last 13. However not quite the pace to beat Orr’s single season record.
Has to be a fluke, that’s all I got.
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puck73 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@R.E.M. Murray, Its no fluke, go take a look at his career plus minus over the last 10 years and you will see that him and Willie Mitchell are always in the plus category. That tells you how good they are since they usually dont contribute much when it comes to goals and assists.
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SHAVE THE ‘STACHE DREW!!!!!!
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SplattDaddy Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 11:53 am
@Matt George, Right ?
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Nothing wrong with this team they see how the other half plays now,and can tighten the belt or go through the motions. Good teams are like a good boxer get knocked down and get back up. Bernier was given all the “I dont think we can win games” San Jose,Montreal,back to backs. He is a lot better then most in this game.Relax and enjoy the game.
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That Stache is funny looking,like a 14 year old trying to be 20
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Sure a lot of so called King fans throwing the whole team under the bus at the first sign of difficulty. Long season, this is just a oouple of weeks of it.
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King's Wrath Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 2:38 am
@KC23, word!
Here has many wolves in sheep’s clothin
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Matt George Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 11:56 am
@KC23,
All due respect .. that game wasn’t “the FIRST sign…”
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Some of you are like spoiled little kids how daddy did not bring what you asked at the end of a day of hard work! fall into the reality of the facts, our roster is limited and we must kill a lion a day to achieve our goals! Our pertentagem is low but we have a chance and as it exists on the fans we must support the decisions of the staff, the time is later criticisms of the season, and to these are not made on the internet, the fans have got to go to training and make players and staff well understand what the supporters want for the future!
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Kings Fan in Temecula Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 4:34 am
@King’s Wrath, Although i’m a cynic at heart, i saw bravo at your words!!
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SplattDaddy Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 11:52 am
@King’s Wrath, But…I want, I want , I want!!…LOL
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comments of observation only no one loose thier minds………..
-Ryan Smyth’s shifts are too long,
-Zues looks like he’s going through the motions
-Greene is in space right now, shorten your shifts also
-Kopi is frustrated likely with no talented LW (double duty)
-play Quick that’s it, no one else (stop the plan, rip it up)
-4th line mitigate liability of goals
-checking line start checking
-scoring lines start scoring (Williams, Stoll, Brown, Kopi, Simmonds)
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@harty, i also think checking lines are not doing it.but i will NEVER give up on the KINGS.been a fan since 74.this is a team on the way up.GO KINGS GO
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puck73 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 10:59 am
@old hockey puck, Atta boy, happy thanxgiving.
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Shout out to Martinez huh ??
Brought in to bolster the PP, and…? Boom !!
Keeper ?
I know it will take more than one game, but he certainly deserves an atta boy !
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Slumps, they happen to ALL teams….Better now than later.
GKG !!
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Not only did I have to put up with that effort I now have to endure chunks of the sky hitting me on the head. Ouch!
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