ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY
This season: 61 games, 5 goals, 10 assists, 36 penalty minutes, 12:36 average ice time.
The good: Ponikarovsky had stretches of games — including an eight-game run in March, in which he had six games — when he showed exactly why the Kings signed him to a $3-million contract last summer. Ponikarovsky, at 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, is difficult to knock off the puck and moves well for his size. At his best, Ponikarovsky showed potential in a third-line role alongside center Michal Handzus and also showed the ability to contribute on the power play and penalty kill.
The bad: Consider that Alexander Frolov, whom Ponikarovsky was supposed to replace, totaled more points (16) in 43 games before tearing up his knee than Ponikarovsky did in 61 games (15 points). Of course, neither total is anything to celebrate, but what happened to Ponikarovsky? Early-season injuries prevented him from getting into a rhythm, but still, the Kings touted Ponikarovsky as a 20-goal scorer and he didn’t even come close.
Going forward: Unless the Kings are somehow convinced that Ponikarovsky is going to up his goal total by 15 over the summer, it’s unlikely that he will be re-signed as an unrestricted free agent this summer. There’s really no way to explain why Ponikarovsky struggled to score so much. He appeared to be giving a good effort, but never got it going. The Kings, most likely, will find a different way to spend their money this summer.
Would have been an F, but at least he tried! He will probably score close to 20 goals next year somewhere else if healthy and used properly. There is no way in Hades we resign him.
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@tornado12, Exactly. I gave him a C because at least he worked his tail off and never pouted or loafed. Results weren’t there but can’t fault him for lack of effort!
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
May 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 am
@puddle, I gave him an A if you can believe it! Seems the kings record are good when his in the line-up with Simmons and Zus. Unfortunately Murray doesn’t give him a chance. Seems the third line this season has always been the most exciting. Think it’s best “chemistry line” for Kings all season.
[Reply]
dahack11 Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@tornado12, To me, it’s obvious, many players do mot do well offensively in TM’s system.
Do the names Purcell, Moulson, & Boyle ring any bells? Not to mention Poni.
[Reply]
neil Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@dahack11, and Penner..The list continues to grow….
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@neil,
I think Kopi, Brown, and Williams are the only ones. Smyth might be close, but way off of what we expected from him. Actually Kopi, and Brown are the only ones. Frolov is the last one to score 35, then he was delegated to the 3rd, and 4rth lines, before being chased out all together. No one has scored more since, and that was a few years ago. The further we get into TM’s system the less guys score.
Brownkingsfan Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@dahack11, I’m baffled when I think about that kind of stuff! It’s a defense first system, which sucks if you’re touted as an offensive player. Poni lived up to this reputation… Only putting up 5 goals is pretty offensive if you’re a Kings fan. It got so bad I started using his name as a curse word… “PONIKAROVSKY!!!” Try it sometime! =) Despite his low totals I gave him a C based on his effort.
[Reply]
taz42 Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@dahack11, My thoughts exactly
[Reply]
johnjuan Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 11:02 am
@dahack11,
BINGO!
Two low, three constantly high equals failure.
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@tornado12,
I dont think this guy will ever score 20 goals again. In pitt he played with crosby and malkin and still was nowhere to be found on the score sheet. So why did anyone think he was gonna do it with zues or stoll?
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@Pesus,
Dont feel bad I was fooled too
[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
@Pesus,
Between this guy and Penner, the Kings really did put on the Dog and Poni show this year.
Of all the players tried out on left wing this year, did Poni ever even play there? I donlt think he was ever used effectively this season. Seemed like the effort was there most nights. I thought pairing him w Zeus seemed to slow everything down for him, not allowing him to use his speed, which is what he needs to throw his size around effectively. Definitely wound up being a waste of money, just not sure how much was his fault or his injuries.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@PP Anybody?,
He had a few 1 game tryouts followed by 4rth line duties immediately afterwards.
[Reply]
Dasvidaniya Alexi! For some reason, this just did not work out & no way Poni is here next year at 3 Mil. We way overpaid for a 3rd line winger. Get a 2nd line playmaker/sniper & quit messing around with the 3rd & 4th lines. We have enough talent in our system to fill out our roster. Now we need PLAYMAKERS not GRINDERS! Go get us one DL. Trade some excess D-Men & possibly a goalie for our top 6 player we need to take the next step!
[Reply]
Steve S. Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
@King Alex, I think he (Ponikarovsky)was all that was left after the Kovalchuk disaster. The pickens were pretty slim. Perhaps it would have been wiser to resign Frolov, but Frolov had his problems here.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 10:50 am
@Steve S.,
Good think Kovi wasn’t the King’s disaster.
[Reply]
see “Penner”
[Reply]
i think he needs to go to a team with a different system
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@7holesniper,
U could say that for all our forwards
[Reply]
I gave Poni a C because although the scoring results were bad at least he threw his body around on the forecheck
[Reply]
Felt he started off OK…then the broken hand, then the ankle and then never came back….the way he played was like a 3rd liner and 3 million for a 3rd liner is too much…wonder what he would have done had it not been for the early injuries (especially the hand…I know in baseball the worst thing you could have is a hand/wrist injury…gotta assume it’s the same with hockey players).
[Reply]
Gave him a C, only because of good effort and solid defensive play.
[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@KH, Exactly what you said.
[Reply]
I gave him a B. Check out Quisp’s article from yesterday. Poni played very good defensively against very good competition – and banged pretty well on the forecheck. I think he’ll have a bounce-back year next year with whomever he signs with.
[Reply]
Token Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@Choralone, Agree. He wasn’t half as bad as the scoresheet would suggest.
Wouldn’t mind to see him stick around on a one year contract at half price, see how he does with more consistent linemates.
[Reply]
okto Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Choralone, thank god. a voice of reason. it’s so easy to dismiss poni’s effort (and simmonds too).
if people fail to look at the numbers, specifically qual of competition, then year end stats don’t reveal an accurate picture. good article by quisp. check out copper and blue, too.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
@okto, I try to make those points with JJ, but no one listens. Especially against quality offensive compitition.
[Reply]
That dude played good on the PK, great defensively…but his offense did not click. = TM System
I would like him to stay for another year, at a lower amount. Poni-Zus-Simmers were clicking before everyone got hurt
[Reply]
–Off-Topic Alert–
A have a theoretical question, in the line of, ‘If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise?’:
–If the Detroit Red Wings, those of multiple Stanley Cups and perpetual Cup contention, can blow a 3-0 lead in the first period to the San Jose Sharks AT HOME and are eliminated from this year’s playoffs…
…Does that mean that the Kings can be excused from losing a similar 4-0 lead at home to the same team in the same playoffs? After all, doesn’t that make San Jose a very, very good team?
–Jest Askin’…
[Reply]
408KingsFan Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, No!
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
@408KingsFan,
We shall see…
sj 3-3 DET/3rd period, 6:00 to play…
One thing for certain:
Them’s some very unhappy BentWings fans this off-season, if it happens!
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Maybe Not…
sj 3-4 DET/3rd period, 1:27 to play…
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
–Not…–
sj 3-4 DET/FINAL
Thanks for bringing up the Frolov comparison, I did this a while back, to give the thought ” Be careful what you wish for Frolov haters” I’d take a ” loafing” Frolov over Poni on Poni’s best day anyday. BTW D just because I’m nice, should have been an F.
[Reply]
See ya. Good luck on your next team.
[Reply]
What happened to his point totals? His #1 job was defense.
He scored 20 goals consistently for years when he played in the top 6, with more talent around him, and wasn’t given a defensive assignment.
His shooting percentage also happened to be lower than he had for years. Luck can be a factor in that, it should correct with time.
But we can’t change everything about his role and expect the same production.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@DLB, Agreed. Typical of the Kings to turn an offensive player, signed for offense, then turned into a defensive player, then have everybody pull their hair out at the lack of scoring from that player.
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
@Dominick, We gave up a finesse player in Frolov for a grinder who happened to score 20 goals a few times because Totonto was awful so he was a first liner there. He had plenty of minutes to put up better #’s.
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@Puckn-A, He couldn’t score with Crosby,Malkin or Staal as his centers in Pitt as well.
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Puckn-A,
I agree, he was a step down from Frolov, but his potential as a scorer, just like Frolov was hampered by being used as a shut down player. He couldn’t of put up the numbers that Frolov could, but I think it could of been better than 15 at least.
Frolov had great numbers as a shut down player and everyone who complains is just wrong. LOL
Puckn-A Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@DLB, 3 million for a LW to play above average D on the 3rd and 4th lines, no thanks. He was brought here after TM & DL ruined Frolov and he was brought here to fill a scoring roll.We have plenty of guys in the system that could of played a 3rd/4th line checking role at less than 1/3 the price. How come he didn’t get the Penner treatment as far as getting in front of the net and screening goalies?( he did it once in the playoffs and scored, that could of been done all season )
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 9:43 am
@Puckn-A, To your point about ruining Frolov, I agree. Everyone was upset by 51 points then…if we had had the same thing on the 3rd line this year, we’d have been so much better off.
But Frolov was never going to score 30 goals in that role, and that is what was expected of him. I thought Poni could replace him. Hindsight makes me view this differently.
[Reply]
he played with Handzus why else do think he plummeted? Handzus is not exactly Mats Sundin
[Reply]
Rich,
The answer to why Poni struggled is because of his role. The injury could have slowed it down, but a concentation of defense is what really hurt his offense. Actually everybodies offense. Brown, Williams, Scuds, and Green were the only ones to score more than they did last year, and Willy only did because he played more games. Scuds and Greene aren’t really that offensive to begin with, which leaves just Brown.
Brown might have improved even more if TM would have kept him on the first line, but he didn’t. Kopi was injured, but would have had to score 9 points in 8 games to improve. Too bad for Poni though. He got the Frolov treatment.
[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
@Dominick, Exactly. This is why I wonder about next year. Brad Richards will not sign here, and outside of that, what kind of addition are we going to see? Schenn? Lokti? If those guys make the team, they will have the offense beaten out of them before they even get their feet wet. I am starting to worry about this team. I think they are on the cusp, needing only a player or two to be an elite team, but could very easily fall backwards next season if they start to not have any fun anymore under this stifling defensive structure.
[Reply]
My second F grade goes to Poni. Penner is number 1. T. Murray would receive an F- if put up for a poll. Thank you for all the work you’ve been doing Rich. Even when the Kings are done for the year, you’re posting more than ever. We appreciate it!
[Reply]
Scott Cullen’s (TSN) recent column http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=364843 evaluated a players worth by what the team’s record was with him in the line-up and what it was when he wasn’t in. Poni was in the top 10 for players who had a positive effect on the team by being in the line-up. The Kings had a .680 winning percentage when he played vs a .357 wp when he was out. Conversely Lewis and Westgarth were in the bottom 10, though I think Lewis’s can be attributed to the fact that he didn’t play at the beginning of the year when the Kings bolted to that 12-3 record.
[Reply]
Worked hard on the ice, but for the price was a big bust offensively. i dont see him coming back next year. the “i must break you” thing was pretty funny though. good luck in your future Poni…unless you end up on the ducks.
[Reply]
I just can’t blame Poni fully for his lack of production. Yes, we expected more when we signed him, but if we were told he would only play in 61 games and over half of those would be on the 4th line with Westgarth i think our expectations would have been a little different.
Poni is similar to Penner in that he can score but he can’t really create his own offense. he was a little more willing than Penner to do the dirty work and i thought he did a admirable job given that isn’t his game.
i think TM went away from Poni on the third line far too quickly as is TM’s M.O. i believe there was a 20 game stretch or so where every time the Kings lost TM changed the lines. i have no idea how the team is supposed to gel when they have different linemates every night.
i don’t think DL will re-sign Poni unless he’s willing to come way down on his price and I’m sure he won’t and some team will give him a much better offer and Poni will score 20 again.
we are just going to have to realize that guys that can’t score here either because of system or opportunity are going to score elsewhere. in most cases opportunity = results. if you put most good AHL scorers on a line with John Tavares and on the power play and give them 20 minutes a night they are going to score their fair share.
but at the end of the day TM had the Kings in the playoffs two years in a row so i can’t really complain.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 12:52 am
@Dave,
Nice post. I think the real rub is that Poni worked hard, played the way TM wanted him to, he played 3rd, and 4rth line alot, played 61 games, and the only way he stays is at a pay reduction. Can’t stress enough the simularities to why his predecessor left, and that guy scored 51 points.
[Reply]
He got a D from me. Not impressed, not at all.
[Reply]
F is for FAILURE, and that’s the only grade he deserves from ANYONE.
Three million dollars to do virtually nothing for more than 90% of the games he played in a Kings uniform.
I’ll tell you this, if he plays in the NHL next year, he should go back east where the travel is minimal. That’s where he had his best success. That’s where he’ll find his best chance to get back to some semblance of mediocrity… a level he barely displayed in Los Angeles.
[Reply]
Scoring is secondary in this system, defensive playmaking takes priority. If Poni is playing with a couple of scorers, and playmakers, his scoring goes way up, the way Frolovs did in NY. Poni was way better then Fro in the sense that he played both ends of the ice, and used his body effectively. He busted his ass and played within the system. Guys simply cannot create scoring on their own at this level, unless their name is Gretzky, Mario, etc., especially if their linemates are either slow or have not very good hands. His line was about heart and it was very defensive, bruising line.
Yes I would like to see more of his effort the way we did in the playoffs, and I was disappointed to see him, not Penner scratched.
[Reply]
Puckn-A Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 10:55 am
@wog, He did nothing in Pitt where he was centered with Crosby, Malkin or Staal. He has no hands at all. He works hard but we had at least 5 Monarchs that could of done his job at 1/3 the price.
[Reply]
A basic premise is that if all the coach emphasizes is defense efense defense, then players that normally are considered scorers will have their scoring ability stifled and score less. Murray is NOT the coach for a team that needs to score more. I spend several thousands of dollars on my tickets and go to almost all the games but am dissatisfied with Murray as a coach. Yeah, he got the team to the playoffs, but out in the first round both times. With his SYSTEM as outdated and predictable as it is, I fear that that is all we will ever see with him as coach. Murray’s failure to call time outs when blatantly needed, his failure to play the back up goalie both years, his failure to pull a goalie who lets in 3-4 soft goals (because he wants him to work thru it and not hurt his feelings) his lack of emotion behind the bench…the list goes on and on , I would score Murray a C- or D who never adjusts to a players strength but wants it his way or no way. And then of course there is Kompon who should go back to roller hockey and get someone in who can come up with effective power plays which neither nor Murray can
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 8:37 am
@poe,
“Yeah, he got the team to the playoffs,”
I always love how that part gets glossed over. Your opinions are one thing, and we could argue back and forth over them, but that was the only actual fact you mentioned in the post.
[Reply]
Frolov lite
Zero chance he’ll be back next year.
[Reply]
Sorry Porno. You have a great Hollywood nickname, but with Hollywood Porno, there is always a great finish. Not with you.
[Reply]
Poni was a disappointment offensively, but defensively he was a pleasant surprise. As previously mentioned, the team was better with him in the lineup than without.
I think this makes the point about Frolov and his offensive struggles playing in a TM system. I would much rather of had Frolov at $3M….and still would!
[Reply]
Kept my promise not to read the Penner hate. Saw all I needed to by the grades. For those who may think I have rose-colored glasses about Penner, etc. I gave him a D+ because the grade I wanted to give was not available. I would have given him a C- had it been an option (asked for minus grade last year but did not get them).
Ponikarovsky was much more of a disappointment to me. We were promised a 20-goal scorer by management and he didn’t deliver. Much more of a failure to me than Penner. Give him a D.
[Reply]
more than anyone else his production, when compared to his previous production, was hampered by T. murray and the kings system.
[Reply]
I think the Kings can do much better than than this guy. I was a big supporter of his at the beginning of the season but after watching him in every game I hope the Kings find a much better way to spend $3 million. What a disappointment.
[Reply]