In discussing, earlier, the play of the third line this season, Kyle Clifford is not a player to be forgotten. Clifford made a big splash last season as a rookie, when he played a fantastic physical game and also showed some potential on offense. By the playoffs, Clifford had even moved into a first-line role (by necessity, mostly) with Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds. Clifford made himself a coaching-staff favorite because of his hard work and willingness to learn, but Clifford’s sophomore season has been up and down. He started on the third line, then got moved to the fourth line early in the season when Terry Murray indicated that Clifford wasn’t quite ready to handle the increased responsibilities. Now, Clifford is back with the third line, but has totaled only one goal and two assists this season. Murray was asked for his opinion about the differences in Clifford’s game this season, compared to last season…
MURRAY: “A player with more awareness. He’s an effective player in that he has established himself as a pretty hard guy to play against, when it comes to physicality. He’s improved in puck recoveries in the offensive zone, because of his speed and quickness and his attitude of, `I’m going to go get it and come up with it.’ And his awareness on the checking part of it, it gets better all the time. He knows the structure and the game that we play, the philosophy that we have, and he’s got great awareness to it.’’
Question: But scoring some goals would help his confidence a little too, right?
MURRAY: “Sure it would, absolutely. He’s in a situation, on a line with Stoll and Hunter right now, that demands some offensive play. It doesn’t have to be the highlight kind of goal. It’s just to get pucks to the blue paint and get in the goaltender’s eyes, and now look for those loose pucks, rebounds and pound away, push it into the net sometimes. I hope that starts.’’
You can establish yourself as a gritty, hard to play against player all you want…you still have to play that way or it doesn’t matter.
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kingkrazy Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@Blueline, Agreed.
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ahem, maybe TM’s system has gotten in the way of Cliffords style of play. Wouldn’t want him to be that tough physical type player we saw last year. Lets change his style and make him another soft defenceman. Looking kinda familiar to me.
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USHA#17 Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@taz42,
Murray: Keep playing solid defensive hockey
Clifford: OK, coach.
Murray: Don’t change a thing.
Clifford: OK, coach!
Murrary: Now score more goals
Clifford: Uhh
Murrary: Just like I taught Penner, got it?
Clifford: Uhh
Murray: …and Frolov
Clifford: Uhh..am I being groomed for a trade?
Murrary: I’ll put in a good word in Philly, now play more defense and start scoring.
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jess Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@USHA#17,
You forgot:
“Now get out there and follow Ethan Moreau’s example..”
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I think the next two games should show what kind of Kings team we have. If we cant beat one of the top two teams in the west than we have a long road ahead of us to be considered one of the top contenders in the west.
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neil Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@mike in LA, agree…..at some point this season we need to win some games against the top teams in the west(Van,Chi,S.J.Det)
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I wish TM would have left Clifford with Westgarth and Fraser, but ol tinkering Terry just cant help himself. I am convinced he would have broke up the triple crown line if he had access to them back in the day.
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jess Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@puck73, -Regarding C-W & F -I agree we should’ve rolled that line tonight against the Hawks for sure.
Regarding TM breaking up the triple crown line…
Ouch! -Truth hurts, easy dude
Have fun @puck73 @ the game bro! Looking foward to meeting you and the rest of the guys.
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USHA#17 Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
@jess,
TM on a young Robitaille: If your scoring 70 goals you not playing enough defense…stop it!
TM on an veteran Robitaille: You’ll only get to the hall of fame playing defense.
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KC23 Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@puck73, I actually want to see more of Westgarth. His play has been better than most of the other bottom 6 rotation crew. Westgarth has been better than Moreau and Hunter at the very least.
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Folks, nothing to worry about here. Let Murray do his thing and evaluate him in March. Easier said than done and for most here I think will see differently come playoffs. This team has lots of new players and lines this year and a goal tending duo 2nd to none. It takes time to build a winner and we will have one!!
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I havnt seen any of the “up” that TM is talking about.Cliffy season is a big disappointment. To me a good coach makes avg. players better.I think its safe to say that TM hasnt taken a avg. or below avg player to the next step.DD,Quick,Bernier,Brown,Martinez,Lotki, and VV were all highly rated propects. Iam talking about someone under the rader who is under performing. Richardson,Lewis(BTW a first round pick)Cliffy, ETC and made them into a better then avg. player.Someone who the league is saying….” One of the surprises of the year”
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Kingsfanone Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
@neil,
TM is slow at in game adjustments also. The playoffs lady season, the Dallas game, there are more.
That same kind of “blindness” may tell him its ok to sit Quick after 3 straight shutouts.
Are these fundamental “problems” in a coach who is supposed to instill confidence in his players? Youngsters may be able to live with a coach like that, but veterans? I have to think vets would have a very different outlook about it. They wouldn’t say it to media, but they have to be seeing it, don’t you think?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@Kingsfanone,
*last season*
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Still thinking about how he had the winning goal on his stick the other night and a wide open net to shoot at and hits the pipe…got to bury those. He and the rest of the Kings need to be on their game tonight. The Kings don’t exactly have a greaT record against the Hawks in recent years and it is a matchup issue for them. It would be great to see the Kings get a lead and hold it against a team that likes to come from behind
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jess Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@g smith86,
Well they certainely ruined the Ducks moonlight cruise after-party.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@g smith86,
It’d be great to see the Kings show some offense 5 on 5 and bury the Hawks, but this isn’t NHL 12 now, is it?
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Forum Gold Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@Kingsfanone, The speed of the Hawks concerns me most. “If” we can kill the penalty’s I know we are going to take I like our chances with Quick in goal. GO KINGS GO!!!
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BTW are we ever going to be :rolling and dangerous” ????
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Forum Gold Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@neil, I would settle for dangerous just once after following this team since 1969. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
@neil,
I’ll take rolling and dangerous! It would be soooo satisfying on so many levels!
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I don’t think so until they get a coach who believes that O is just as important as D. One that looks like he’s still alive and not asleep standing up.
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Forum Gold Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
@taz42, I wish Pete Carroll was a hockey coach. GO KINGS GO!!!
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I wonder, how much hockey do Kings fans watch that is non-LA hockey? Kings fans (while a little biased), have a very high hockey IQ. That said, I wonder if “we” watch other teams. I’ve moved around a lot, so I watch other local teams. Watching the Tampa game right now and the stick to stick passing; the patience with the puck on entry and the true “north / south” game makes us look like a pee-wee team.
St. Louis is a machine and Purcell looks so good. If these guys had some of our D and Quick, you could just hand them the Cup.
We are not the team that I think we think that we think we think we are. . .
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I have never seen a coach take more 25-30 goals scorers and turn them into 5 goals scorers so quickly. Not that Clifford would score 25 goals but he could be a 10-15 goal guy….on a different team.
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I think if a coacht that takes his team to the Stanley Cup finals is fired, it might be a sign that the coach is really not very good? Look at Melrose. And now Terry Murray – he took Philly to the cup final in the late 90s. A season later = fired. Is there an example of a coach who went to the finals, lost, was fired and ever did well again?
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as everyone know’s I’m not commenting as I’m too subjective on Cliffie
damn though he is a solid guy and a good player.
go get ‘em Cliffie
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Watching Clifford at practice its quickly apparent he will eventually be a 10-20 goal scorer in this league. He’s got a wicked wrist shot and can pick corners better than most. Just needs to settle down and start working on getting into position to take passes and bury the shot.
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Harty Reply:
November 26th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@LomitaKingsFan, If you see him at practice say Harty says hello.
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