Jarret Stoll will have a couple new looks on the ice this season, and not just because the Kings have changed jersey styles. Stoll decided this summer to wear a visor during games for the first time in his NHL career, and Stoll will also be making the move to the Kings’ third line, possibly between wingers Kyle Clifford and Scott Parse. Stoll totaled 20 goals last season, his first 20-goal season since 2005-06 with Edmonton, and Terry Murray suggested today that a move from the second to third line could end up benefitting Stoll.
MURRAY: “We have two No. 1 center icemen there with (Anze) Kopitar and (Mike) Richards, and I think this is going to be great for Jarret Stoll, to fit into that No. 3 position. He’s a great checker and I think it’s going to give him more minutes over the long haul, because that’s the look that I go to against the top opposition. So it’s a nice challenge for him. It’s a different challenge and I think he’s going to embrace it.”
Here’s what Stoll had to say today, starting with his decision to wear the visor…
STOLL: “I’ve tried it the last couple summers, and I’ve always taken it off. My mom and girl were all over me, so I thought I better do it. I think I had four good nicks (on the face) last year, around the eyes and nose, and maybe seeing what Manny Malhotra went through kind of opens your eyes a little bit. Hopefully I can stick with it.”
Question: Terry mentioned how your new role might actually end up increasing your ice time. Have you had those conversations with him, about that new role?
STOLL: “We did talk about it during the summer a couple times, when I was around the rink and he was here. Just being in those situations, power play or penalty kill, or being out there for key faceoffs, any of those, that’s going to give you added ice time for sure. But just being a good checker, being on the right side of the puck, offensively and defensively, is going to get you out there. So yeah, we did talk about it. The bottom line is, you’ve got to play well and earn those minutes anyway, but I’m excited about the role. I’m really excited about it, actually. Our line, we’ve been talking a lot, communicating a lot, trying to figure things out.”
Question: If it does end up being you, Clifford and Parse, that seems like a line that can score but also play well in your own end…
STOLL: “We can all play well defensively, I think. It’s all about communicating and talking out there, and we can all shoot the puck, we can all skate. It’s just a matter of getting pucks to the net and just playing well on both sides of the puck and trying to be `plus’ players out there.”
Glad to see that he’s decided to wear a face mask. If you don’t fight, you should wear a shield.
[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
@CB14, The equipment guy should paint crosshairs on the visor, then Stollie should lose it for the shootout. That guy is the ultimate example of being too fine with the shot. Too fine to stop in the shootout, too fine to hit the net during play.
[Reply]
StillKingly Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 4:58 am
@Kenny44, funny, crosshairs, lol
[Reply]
Love Stoll. If he can just get more shots on net as opposed to wide or high, he’d be killer.
But I definitely love having him on the team. It’s great to have three solid centermen. I hope he has a terrific year without the added pressure of trying to be the #2 guy.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@vplaza, He’s already killer, he took out 2 peanut venders in the 300 section last year with his slap shots. LOL Thankfully the Police decided not to press charges.
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
@CB14,
LOL, sounds like the vendors need hazard pay when Stoll’s on the ice.
[Reply]
Ian Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
He just spends the whole game bluffing the goalie. Once the shootout starts the only thing wide or high is my wife.
[Reply]
Love Stoll. If he can just get more shots on net as opposed to wide or high, he’d be killer.
But I definitely love having him on the team. It’s great to have three solid centermen. I hope he has a terrific year without the added pressure of trying to be the #2 guy.
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@vplaza,
Dangit! Sorry, hit that submit button twice. DOH!
[Reply]
does the visor have a 4×6 marker on it?
j/k Stolly is the man and undervalued by most fans methinks. i hope he get a contract extension
[Reply]
bklv Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@tornado12, yeah there are a few players under-valued by most fans… maybe it is more of not talked about enough…it just sounds wrong to say he is not appreciated…great player, great fit as a king… and definitely not forgotten in the mix… i may be biased…but damn i am man-crushing hard on our team right now… my fingers are crossed for his extension… this is going to be a fun year… can’t wait to hear miller’s voice on the play-by-play, you can only watch mighty ducks so many times…sorry foxy you are appreciated too…. ok i will step off the soap box
[Reply]
I’m a little surprised that Parse is targeted for that line. Not sure that’s a guy I want out there on the “checking” line. I’d rather see Hunter or Richie or even Lewis in that role.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@Dave, It is just a look. They aren’t even sure his hip will last a season.
[Reply]
danglebagel Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@Dave, checking doesn’t always mean hitting. a checking line is supposed to keep pucks out of their zone and limit scoring chances while pushing the counter attack. that requires positioning, angling, back checking, good sticks etc.. on most teams not all three guys are big checkers on 3rd line, 3rd liners are guys who have some pop in their game. that extra step or the timely big hit, basically a good countering line. he only played a few games last season, i’d wait to see how he does, i think its silly of people to say he can only play top a top six role.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
@danglebagel, good point. Frolov was there for a while and was pretty effective. Did he ever throw a check?
[Reply]
colo king fan Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
@Dave, its terry murray, well be lucky if these lines last a game.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@colo king fan,
Game? Heck, they won’t survive the pre-game skate.
[Reply]
It is so easy to get used to the half shield if you just wear it, more players should. I would stop using them because they get scratched and scuffed but those guys can get new ones all the time so why not.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
@Osaka, Smart move on Stolli’s part….real tough to play with one eye, ask my son.
[Reply]
Huh? Parse good defensively? Clifford’s fine in his own end, but Stoll’s the only real good defensive forward on that line. Parse is a huge liability who won’t get a chance to produce much offense in that role. Man. Ches. Ter. Please.
[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@Zamboni, Actually, Parse’s +/- has always been near the top on the team. He’s very good defensively, even if TM has a hard time seeing it because he’s not “heavy” enough.
[Reply]
Zamboni Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@PRMan, Plus/minus is a very misleading stat. I know there’s no other stat really to determine defensive play, so you kind of just have to use your own observations of him. In mine, he’s not been good defensively, but if he’s going to be a regular on this team this year, then hopefully he can shore up his play in his own end.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Zamboni, I’m with PR Parse is going to surprise a lot of doubters. He is way better than many Kings fans give him credit for.
[Reply]
“…seeing what Manny Malhotra went through kind of opens your eyes a little bit…”
Uh-huh – that’s what Manny said too.
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
@dMan, punny
[Reply]
I think our third line is gonna be sick with Stoll at center. It will be intresting to see if Parse can live up to the hype.
[Reply]
The more important question here is “How does this relate to DD’s contract situation?”
[Reply]
hahaha that is a good nick name for stoll. high and wide !!
[Reply]
OldKingsFan Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
@henry, i think I dated her
[Reply]
Stollie was great on face=offs; he can shoot and he is one of those tough Saskatchewan boys. With Cliffie and Parse on his wings, I think they are going to have a productive year. They each have speed and playing agaisnt #1 lines, they are going to catch a lot of them deep and break away with turnovers.
I can hardly wait!
[Reply]
Stoll is very important to the Kings. Playing on the #2 line wasn’t really his forte but the #3 line is the perfect fit for him. He can control play by winning face offs, he is responsible on defense and he leaves it all on the ice. Additionally, he is awesome on the penalty shots. Good, solid professional veteran, the kind of player every Stanley Cup champion team needs.
[Reply]
Jon G Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@DesertKing, I agree. I like Stoll much better when he is not counted on to generate consistent offense. The third line is perfect for him, but he is also capable of temporarily replacing an injured top six forward.
[Reply]
most under rated King imo……
[Reply]
Stoll is the Son of God!!!
He gives us solid PP, PK, and 5-on-5 minutes, is merciless in shoot-outs, our best face-off man, always comes to the party, plays bigger than his size, and is a character guy.
Those imbeciles who talked about him last season as trade bait should all be taken out and shot.
[Reply]
Another solid team player.
[Reply]
With Kopi and Richards, the Kings don’t need Stoll to be a “shutdown” center. Both Kopi and Richards are better defensively, IMO. I certainly don’t want either to lose their fair share of ice time to TM’s concept of a “shutdown” line. For example, when we get the Sharks at home, I’d try to match Kopi vs Thornton and then just get a feel for how Richards and Stoll match up against the Pavelski and Couture lines (I’d try Richards v Couture first). But Stoll should not get equal time with either of our top 2
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
@Kenny44, You might be right and you want our top 2 lines playing the most minutes. However, dont forget Stoll can play the point on the PP, is our best faceoff man and is a decent PK’er, so those minutes will add up.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
@tornado12, also forgot to add his strength on the shootout. Without him (and Quicker) last year, we likely dont even make the playoffs!
[Reply]