Still waiting for some post-practice information — there’s a team meeting at the moment — but here’s how the Kings are scheduled to line up against Pittsburgh tomorrow, with some unconventional lines/pairs…
Penner-Richards-Hunter
King-Stoll-Brown
Nolan-Loktionov-Williams
Clifford-Lewis-Moreau
Scuderi-Johnson
Martinez-Greene
Drewiske-Voynov
Bernier
Quick
They’re giving Hunter a real look here.
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Downsy Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@bitter, I agree. I would like see hunter take Parse spot. He big and play more defense of roll.
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StillneedDewey FKA PakiFro Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
@Downsy,
He also might be a good fit with the potential Westgarth injury. I haven’t seen much of Hunter otherwise, but compared to Parse’s play in camp so far, Hunter is a no brainer.
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Scott Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@Downsy, Big game in KC. I hear the NYI might be leaving soon after their rink deal fell through. The rumor is that they will move to Kansas City and resurrect the Scouts like the Jets.
It will be interesting to hear how many fans show up and how they act towards an NHL game.
Go Kings Go!
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Scott Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
@Scott, tomorrows game is already sold out. They will sell standing room only tickets tomorrow morning.
Seating capacity for hockey at the Sprint Center is 17,544, and the game will set an attendance mark for 2011 NHL preseason games played at neutral site, non-NHL venues in North America.
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/26/3168643/sprint-center-sells-out-nhl-exhibition.html#ixzz1Z6bkdAN9
mash-ola Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
@bitter, What’s with all the line-juggling??? They did that last night at the Kings/Ducks game. Isn’t Coach Murray supposed to be giving time to at least the top two lines to develop some form of chemistry??? I think this just fouls the line’s potential to communicate and get used to each other. That familiarity with linemates builds chemistry, doesn’t it?
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jet Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@mash-ola, 5 games in 7 days, you cant crush the boys in preseason
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OneTimer Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@jet,
This.
Michael J. Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@mash-ola,
Murray had to juggle his lines because his fourth line RW was out due to a punch in the face. Murray had to switch stuff up because he wanted everyone to play-especially because its pre-season.
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As I suspected. Voynov in. Hickey out.
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EJ Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
@bitter, they are certainly taking a long, hard look at Voynov.
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Token Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@EJ, I like it! Slava has now gotten a taste of some big minutes on NHL ice and I hope he gets fired up a bit.
You can tell that the pace of the game is just a tad too fast for him and he just needs to build up some confidence and trust on the team. Once he gets that he will be a top four blueliner.
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Cynic Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
@Token, I agree with this. Slava has had open looks and hesitated because of confidence. These are looks he wouldn’t think twice about in Manch. I like how the coaching staff is handling this. He could easily be top 4 in no time.
Hickey is just good. He’s playing like a 5-6 right now and that is not what we drafted him 4th overall to be. He may need a few more years. Hickey is supposed to control the play like DD does. Right now I get the feeling like Hickey just doesn’t want to make a mistake.
Cynic Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@Token, Open looks meaning open shots at the net during games. Sometimes I type too fast.
Michael J. Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@Token,
He
ll catch up pretty fast. This kid is the real deal. I’m betting that he stays with the Kings for opening night and for good.
jet Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
@Token, No one likes to see these guys come up faster than I, but Lombardi has done a great job of bringing our stable of defencemen alnong slowly
emb3 Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@bitter, If Martinez doesn’t get it together, he may be the odd man out. I’ve never seem him play as poorly as last night. Hope it was a fluke.
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bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@emb3, Almost everyone with few exceptions play poorly last night.
The NHL Kings losing to the AHL Ducks was a fluke
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mash-ola Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@bitter, Given that Doughty will be back later rather than sooner, and given that in the past the Kings would always keep an extra defenseman handy (Peter Harold), there may actually be TWO spots available on the blueline. If you were to ask me today, I’d have to go with Slava V. and Drewiske. Muzzin has been a little inconsistent and he’s injured. And I really want to like Hickey more, but he hasn’t shown it to me yet….
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Tullskull Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@mash-ola, Want to say out front that I have nothing against Voynov, but what are you expecting from Hickey? He was drafted to take Lubo’s place. I don’t know where you guys are getting the Doughty comparisons. Doughty was not even on the Kings when Hickey was drafted.
Hickey is not going to run people over, he has to out position them. He is calm with the puck, gets his shot off fairly quickly and is willing to join the rush. He has a good first pass and unfortunately for his size a little bit of a mean streak that could get him into trouble.
You think this kid might be a little nervous as well? Seems like you all want to cut Voynov some slack, but I bet all of them are somewhat hesitant in their play.
Oh, and Hickey can run a PP don’t you worry about that. To me he seems pretty solid.
What is so great about Voinov is he is a right hand shot.
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Josh Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@Tullskull,
I think Hickey has been out-playing Voynov. They are both good. BOTH of them actually have been out-playing Martinez.
TYLER Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@mash-ola, sorry no. drewiskie is terrible. he was worse than martinez.
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If Hunter keeps up the pace, he might just play himself into the 3RW while Parse plays himself out.
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puck73 Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@Jordan, I think Trent Hunter will make this team no matter what Parse does or doesnt do.
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Penner-Richards, Lokti-Williams, Stoll-Brown. TM is in mid-December form
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SDGolfer Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@jayhay, Say it with me slowly PRE-SEASON.
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OneTimer Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@SDGolfer,
Amen.
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Michael J. Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@jayhay,
Lokti-Williams, I love it. The Kings are giving this kid a real hard look – again.
What is worthy of remarking is who Lokti’s wingers are. The coaches are skating him with some real top line talent. I hope he makes it real hard to send him down.
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God I love training camp!
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Its great to see Nolon and King in there. They have worked there butts off the past few years in Manchester and deserve a chance. Plus they are big.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@gene, My guess is they are auditioning King to replace Parse, and auditioning Nolan to replace Westgarth if Westy is hurt after last night
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Big rich Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
@gene, Nolan should replace parse.. he is bigger. has way better hands everything is better and wont get hurt everytime he steps on the ice.
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I’m happy for Nolan.
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I am betting there are going to be a few players who played with the big club last year not on the final 23 man roster.
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bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@gene, Like who?
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gene Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@bitter, Parse, of course DD, Hickey, Dreweske
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Michael J. Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
@gene,
Hickey???
ten for instigating Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@bitter, Zues,Simmonds,Poni
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Great to see Nolan in there. Please though, don’t try to impress too much by going after Big Mac.
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gene Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Belexes, You got that right. Top three fighter in the league.
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Any word on whether there will be a stream for this game or the Avs Game?
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Wow, one last hard look. Be something if Moreau doesn’t make the Euro trip.
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bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@USHA#17, Moreau is signed. He’s not going anywhere. Hunter on the other hand is just a try out. He’s the insurance in case Parse flops. Which is what it’s starting to look like.
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Murrays main pairings on forwards look like
Penner-Richards-?
?-Stoll-Brown
?-Lokti-Williams
Clifford-Lewis-?
3rd pairings partners are mainly Hunter, King, Nolan, and Moreau. I wonder if we’ll carry an extra D, or an extra forward?
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In a way this might be a do or die year for Hickey at least with the Kings. He was a very risky pick at #4
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Dominick Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@bitter,
At 22 years old? The Kings could spend 3 more years and it would be considered developement still. I think he needs to show something, but if he doesn’t grab a spot, the Kings are well aware of the fact that it’s because their so deep, and not because Hickeys a bust. Don’t worry, Hickey’s not going anywhere unless he loses patience like Holloway, and Moller. Not to say the Kings couldn’t use him a tradable asset if a deal comes along.
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bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
@Dominick, I think he’s getting passed up in the depth chart by Voynov. This was a very good chance for him with DD out. But if Martinez and or Drewiske stick and Voynov makes it and DD eventually signs, where will he fall? Then the question looking forward a year or two is where he will stand against Muzzin, Deslauriers and even Forbort? I don’t see him stepping in to a role as a replacement for either Scuderi or Mitchell.
I agree he’s still way young and has plenty of time to develop but there are only so many windows of opportunity.
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Dominick Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
@bitter, Those windows won’t close anytime soon. Willy Mitchell, Greene, Sucderi, are all have their contracts staggered to end in the next 3 years. Martinez, and Whiskey could be traded as well. He might get traded, he might end up on the roster, but just looking at our top 7 from last season, that is 5 possible openings in the next 3 years for Hickey, who will only be 25 by then (if it takes that long).
Tullskull Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@bitter, Also please remember he has had more than his fair share of injuries to battle through…
bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@Dominick
Hickey can’t replace Mitchell, Green or Scuderi. That’s my point. He’s not that type of defensemen. He’s not a stay at home shut down guy. So those guys eventually leaving doesn’t open up room for Hickey.
mash-ola Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@bitter, If you remember, it was a pretty weak draft for defensemen and a pretty weak draft in general. The guy everyone thought the Kings would take (Karl Alzner with Washington), really hasn’t been setting the world on fire, either. He has played some NHL games, but he’s hardly established himself yet. Keaton Ellerby, Ryan McDonough and Kevin Shattenkirk were the next group of defensemen drafted after that. So there’s still time for Hickey to get his game on, but true, that window is closing soon…
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mash-ola Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@mash-ola, Patrick Kane went #1 overall and has lived up to his potential. James Van Reimsdyk(sp) and Kyle Turris are sorta working their way there. Other than that, no one could have predicted Logan Couture or P.K. Subban (2nd round) would be the cream of that draft crop.
But what are you gonna do, right?
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jet Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@bitter, and who would have you picked
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bitter Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@jet, I have no idea. I’m not an NHL GM. But that’s not the point. By all hockey pundits, this was considered a risky pick. That is an irrefutable fact. He went way off the board to get Hickey who was projected late first round to early second round.
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jet Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@bitter, risky pick, irrefutable fact, says who? is the same person who said Clifford was a middle third round pick, Simmonds was a seventh rounder at best, Voynov was too risky? The only thing we know is that draft was very weak. there is not much we could have done
Let’s see what Lokti does with a good winger on his line.
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is there going to be any way of watching this game?
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Did I miss something? Where’s Kopi?
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Sebastian Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@Cory, kings have 2 back to back games in 5 days, he’ll plan in vegas for sure, and probably wednesday in colorado, but he doesnt need to play every preseason game.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@Cory, day off
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Glad to see Nolan back out there, he looked pretty decent the first game and he’s got size 6’3″ 227lbs. This is the best look for Loktionov so far with Nolan and Williams, will be looking for something from that line.
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WHY???
I just don’t understand these lines. I agree that some of these players deserve a chance but what happened to the concept of getting lines that are most likely to play together some practice time together during an actual game? Can TM please explain what the thinking is in these combinations?
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jet Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@ForumFan, maybe 5 games in 7 days is too much for the starters
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King John Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
@jet, They have to determine the final cuts; that’s why some of the remaining guys are playing.
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The 3rd & 4th lines are intriguing for sure. I hope this game is streamed somehow. I’d love to see those 2 lines perform. Loktionov with a finisher like Williams could be VERY good, especially if Nolan plays a Clifford type of crash game. Lewis with Moreau and Clifford has forecheck written all over it.
Not bad.
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good luck Jordan…..
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lokti and williams should be interesting!
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Interesting!
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Why is not kopitar in the line up?
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Sebastian Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
@Johan, Rest, Kopitar needs. two games after big injury, he has played. every preseason game, he need not play.
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Just to chime in on the Hickey/Voynov thing. I think Hickey has been a little better than Voynov so far, but BOTH.. In my opinion have been better than Martinez.
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Looks like the Kings are going with a power lineup. Power forwards on the wings and skill down the center! Only Williams is the skilled winger going tonight. Idk, but this may even work as it conforms with how the Kings like to play.
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