Monday skate update « LA Kings Insider

Monday skate update

Posted by Rich Hammond on 27 December 2010, 11:57 am

The Kings had an optional skate this morning, after last night’s game, and a handful of skaters took to the ice to give Jonathan Quick some work. As expected, Quick will start tonight. The Kings will go with the same defense, and Terry Murray said he would make a game-time decision about whether to put Kevin Westgarth in the lineup. More notes and quotes to come…

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65 Comments

KC23 says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:04 pm

I’m betting Westgarth plays, but then again I said the same thing before the Duck’s game. Nice to see TM not mess with the defensive parings. They looked solid. I hope Greene has another great game like last night. He really looked good with Scuds.

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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
@KC23, I dont think Westy gets in this game! we need all the skill we can get against the Sharks and Westgarth doesnt provide much of that. IMO we need to be able to roll the 4 lines the way we have the past two games to keep everyone as fresh as possible every shift against arguably one of the best skilled teams in the league. As TM once said there big guys are there skilled guys so i think there is no need for a “True” enforcer. The Middleweight aggitators that we have all over our lineup will suffice tonight! Then again, this is TM and he is about as old school as they come so in all likelyhood we could see Westy. Anyway, I agree with your post, 100%

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EJ Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, great the way TM was able to roll four lines last night. Look at the TOI, and you can see that the 4th line guys got more time than when Westgarth is in the lineup, AND the top forwards did not have to play as much.

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kevin Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
@KC23, I like having 4 lines i can play. West is not a player he is only good for one thing a 5 min major. He really isnt even that great at fighting IMO. I laugh when he fights.

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cjms Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
@KC23, Man, if we would have signed Kovy it would have fixed both of our enforcer problems: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fjcfcK03aM

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
@cjms, Looks at Kolvabucks at dead last in plus/minus in the entire NHL. If he was on the Kings playing that way, he would not be on the Kings playing that way.

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tornado12 says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:15 pm

who would come out in lieu of Westie?

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@tornado12, Richardson, would be my guess.

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mcsorleyfan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
@KC23, Trevor Lewis would be my guess.

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tornado12 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
@KC23, i dont want either of Lewis or Richie out.

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Marc Nathan says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:17 pm

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

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lilwaynesimmonds says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:20 pm

I don’t see a need for Westie. Clifford has shown that he’s more than enough to protect the players. And he scores some goals.

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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds, I agree with your comment somewhat.I think there is something wrong when you have a 19 year old rookie who is not typically know as an enforcer takin on the big boys from every team. We need this kid to stay injury free and having to scrap every night puts that at risk. I am all for Cliffy pounding some guys out on a regular basis and even though im sure he loves the idea i dont think he should be relied upon to portect everyone all the time. Im not really a fan of the strictly enforcer types as i feel you should be able to bring more to your team than just fist to cuffs but i will admit they do have there uses. Think about it…………. what if Cliffy had to fight Scott? he doesnt need that kind of pressure, especially as a teenager. We keep Westy around for a reason but i will agree in that we have no need for him tonight.

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kevin Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, I feel he is doing what it takes to stay in the line up and right now its fight but I agree 100% with you kyle should be trying to devolpe the skill part of his game witch is hard if your fighting everyone but on another note as i posted before westy isnt much of a fighter he tries but just isnt very good.

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds, Using Clifford as an enforcer is not a good long term plan for several reasons.

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Belexes Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
@KC23,

This is correct. For the main reason, see Raitis’ only game of the season so far.

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lafan13 says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:25 pm

Id be happy with westy being a healthy scratch for a long long time…. No offence to him, but i feel since his hockey skills arent quite up to par, his roll on the team is very limited. Makes it hard to think that hes really needed, when i see clifford displaying the cajones to drop the gloves with people like parros. There was more need for the bodyguard services when Schenn and lokti were in the lineup, but now our youngest skater, is the one who has stepped up and making our enforcer seem expendable.

with the addition of sturm the line up, i feel when healthy our offensive core is pretty legit. Only players i would consider moving out of the lineup, would be either richie, lewis, or poni… But to replace a caliber energy player like those 3, with a sluggish bruiser like westy, doesn’t sound too practicle to me.

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tim c says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:31 pm

ALL HAIL CLIFFORD,
MIGHTY KING..

IM ON MY WAY TO GET YOUR JERSEY!

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Bill says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:39 pm

I’d rather see Clifford in instead of Westgarth for tonight’s game, and the next, and the next…

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
@Bill, Westgarth and Clifford are not interchangable. Clifford is not a player that will be a healthy scratch the way he is playing.

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tim c Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
@KC23,
All about the BIG DOG CLIFFORD!!

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Garrett Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
@Bill, Agree with KC23 – but I also agree with you.

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Chris Bond Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
@Bill, Clifford is the new Lappy we all love him.

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Tommy says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:42 pm

I have a question, why was there no retaliation when Kopi got hit from behind into the boards? We already had a 4-1 lead. Isn’t he one of the best players?

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
@Tommy, You answered your own question. Because we already had a 4 – 1 lead. Besides the Kopitar hit was as clean as they come.

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mrbrett7 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
@KC23, Doesn’t matter if it’s clean…you still retaliate, ESPECIALLY when you have a 4-1 lead. At that point, there is no chance of blowing the game by taking a penalty, and there is nothing to gain for the Ducks.

Just my feeling on it…clean hit or not, you must retaliate in that situation, however, I dont’ think there really was ever the opportunity.

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mcsorleyfan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
@Tommy, I saw that and wondered too…

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Jwood Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@mcsorleyfan, I also thought the hit was clean but kopi should know to keep his head up cause he’ll always be a marked player with the kings. The good thing about it was kopi for a few shifts after he actually played the body on some ducks. Lol

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@Tommy,
Their wasn’t any of our players in the general vicinity. By the time anyone realized that Kopi was down the play was down the ice. Any response would have been well after the whistle, on a clean hit. Sometimes you just have to take a number and make’em pay later.

That’s the proper response.

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801_KingsFan says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:53 pm

Westy serves a purpose…maybe in the 80′s or 90′s. Good teams will always have the enforcer that can score, or vise versa. Clifford is filling that role. Kings maybe need a heavyweight that can do the same. As much as I love Westy, I think he needs to sit to make room for skilled players. Bring Bufuglyien (sp) in and stick him up front and not on D!

[Reply]
Dustin Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@801_KingsFan, you are obviously joking or not paying attention, considering right now he is in the running for the Norris Trophy, if not the favorite, while Doughty isn’t even mentioned.

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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@Dustin, Well said Dustin. You might as we say lets bring in Lingstrom. As if they were cans of fruit on the shelves that could be bought when ever we get the notion. Byfuglien is one of the most MVPs in the league atm.

[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@801_KingsFan, we couldn’t afford Byfuglien. Clifford’s too small for full time duties. If Westgarth gets more playing time, his skills will develop. If he plays everyday, as he did in the AHL, he may be good for 25 points a year, as he was in the AHL.

[Reply]
tim c Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
@mcsorleyfan,
too small??
Hes THE BIG DOG!!

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801_KingsFan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
@801_KingsFan, I understand this and was just kidding. Looking for a heavyweight that can fight and score a little. Im just a Byfuglien fan…but a bigger Clifford fan!

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

December 27, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Use the Force, Terry. Don’t be seduced by the dark side.

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Dominick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
@wavesinair, TM said “I can’t see with the blast sheild down”.

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kylecliffordfan says:

December 27, 2010 at 1:03 pm

This doesn’t make any sense at all….

The Sharks don’t dress a heavy. Mclaren was sent back to the AHL. Westie should have been dressed last night and not tonight.

For everyone saying Westie can’t play… The last several games he has been in the 4th line has had numerous chances and was playing great.

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Mikey Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@kylecliffordfan, its not that he cant play.. it doesn’t look like he is skating on the ice, but looks more like he’s pulling the ice towards him. The man isn’t the greatest skater. But i still cant help but like the guy. He’s our Luca Brasi..

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Michael_J Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@Mikey, Unfortunately, thanks to Sollozzo, things didn’t work out too well for Luca.

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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@kylecliffordfan,

Funny about this:

“Mclaren was sent back to the AHL.”

That would be the Worcester Sharks, right?

They recently took the Enforcer from my ECHL team, the Bakersfield Condors, on a limited call-up. Would that mean the Sharks are unhappy with Mclaren as their enforcer? Erick Lizon doesn’t have NHL Enforcer skills (meaning he would be a liability on the ice as a forward at the NHL level), but he sure can fight.

Hmm.

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nykingfan says:

December 27, 2010 at 1:15 pm

I don’t see an exchange of Westy for Clifford. That makes no sense. It would probably come down to Lewis.
As much as I enjoy seeing Clifford fight, he’s becoming a valuable guy on the 3rd line. Having him sit for 5 min is not something you want to see every night.

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bmova Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
@nykingfan, Lewis played over 16 mins last night…more than Zeus and Brownie! I don’t see him getting benched.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@bmova,

I hope he doesn’t get benched either. I hope things remain the same but if not him, who would sit for Westy?

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Dominick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@bmova, I don’t think ny was refering to a benching. Just the 5 minute major for fighting.

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Dominick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
@nykingfan,
We posted at the same time. What are the odds?

wavesinair Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@bmova, That’s the very reason to rest him. Not because of a bad game, but because he will be more valuable rested for the Yotes on Wednesday. Can’t bench Richardson. He is just that good and Poni is a very important big body on that line so I don’t see him getting benched either…unless TM is pissed at him. I’d say Lewis gets scratched if Westgarth comes in, which I doubt so the point is moot.

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KingsSince89 says:

December 27, 2010 at 1:28 pm

How much deterrent do enforcers really provide? It seems to me that enforcers usually scrap with each other, right? So.. hypothetically speaking, is Selanne less likely to lay a nasty hit on Kopitar if Westgarth is in the lineup? It seems to me, the only thing Selanne would be doing is committing Parros to duke it out with Westgarth. Westgarth’s not gonna go after Selanne – Selanne wouldn’t drop his gloves. This has always confused me.

Someone please explain.

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mrbrett7 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
@KingsSince89, It’s very simple really.

You are correct in that enforcers really only fight eachother. There is a reason for that.

This may sound archaic, but, if my enforcer can beat up your enforcer, then my good guys have more free reign on the ice to do what they do than yours do, simply because our have the protection, and yours don’t.

I know, it sounds stupid, but it works. Westgarth goes out and kicks the crap out of Parros (for instance), then guys like Brown, Smyth, Simmonds, etc. have the free reign to do basically whatever they want, because the Ducks biggest guy has already been beaten up, therefore, they have nobody who can relatiate for them, meanwhile the Kings players know that someone “has their back”.

Yes, very archaic, and has worked in the NHL for 100+ years.

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wavesinair Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
@mrbrett7, And for the record, it’s also worked without it. Cups have been won without an enforcer.

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Since '67 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
@mrbrett7, So the biggest goon coach/wants and allows his guys to be the biggest cheapshot artists (Randy Carlyle) is all of sudden going to change his ways just because Westgarth outdances Parros? Seems highly unlikely.

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Kingsfan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
@KingsSince89, Yeah the importance of the role of enforcer has decreased greatly over the years. I do not see a valid reason to keep one in your lineup when u have scrappers like Clifford and Simmonds who get the job done.

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KingsSince89 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I actually don’t see the point in most fights at all. It doesn’t seem to be a part of the natural flow of the game. Most fights originate solely for the sake of fighting, not because the emotional intensity was high or there was a need for retribution/to send a message. Its almost as if the two enforcers are on the ice together chatting before the puck drops:

Guy 1: “hey wanna go? It’d really help me out. Gotta earn my money”
Guy 2: “yeah, sure. why not? Beer tonight after the game?”
Guy 3: “ok. loser buys”
Puck drops. Gloves drop.

On the other hand, I remember Deadmarsh skating by the avalanche bench after a fight in a play-off game mouthing and pointing: “your next. Your f’n next!” He was pissed. Its somehow makes more sense that way.

Thoughts?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
@KingsSince89,

Here are mine…

http://deepinsidethekings.com/2010/12/27/to-enforce-or-not-to-enforce/

KingsSince89 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
@wavesinair,

Reading your blog, I’m in total agreement with you. You’re right on the money.
DesertKing says:

December 27, 2010 at 1:54 pm

As said earlier, leave things just the way they are. Four lines with the potential to score, the PP improving, the PK outstanding and the defense exceptional. The only question is which goalie do we play, and while Quick is our #1, JB has been improving and I feel very comfortable with him between the pipes.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
@DesertKing, Agreed. Hard to fathom why there is even a decision to be made about Westgarth.

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Gary livingston Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
@DesertKing, Are you really asking what goalie we play? Quick isn’t the obvious answer at this point?

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Gary livingston Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
@Gary livingston, Ps I agree with the rest of what you said. Our fourth line doesn’t look like a fourth li e at all te way it is now.

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beach boy says:

December 27, 2010 at 2:38 pm

we dont need westgarth against the Sharks.

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Yellow Pants Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
@beach boy, I’m with you and the main sentiment here. Hope Coach Murray is reading too. Last I checked,the Wings lead the West in pts and are near the bottom in PIMs.. they’re basically thugless and that’s the way hockey should be. I don’t mind a good skill-player scruff (like b/w Simmonds and Perry) but it’s not what the Kings need for our cup quest.

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TinaBeana says:

December 27, 2010 at 3:47 pm

San Diego fans, come out to Stadium in Encinitas to watch the game. I’ll be there with a few others.

Go Kings Go!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
@TinaBeana,
Are you from that area? I’m in Oceanside. Maybe on another invite further in the season. Enjoy the game.

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vplaza Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
@TinaBeana, Tempting. We’re in CBad.

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TinaBeana Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I’m in Escondido, but I am going to Stadium cuz i guess a few others might be there. I want to check this place out, so if you want in, let me know or I’m sure you can just show up. Not sure if this kind of place gets busy or not.

[Reply]

Monday skate update

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