Plenty of attention, in recent days, has been paid to the Kings’ line-combination changes, and rightfully so, given the dramatic shakeup among the forwards. But Terry Murray also switched up his defensive pairings, going to a look that paired Rob Scuderi with Drew Doughty, Willie Mitchell with Slava Voynov and Jack Johnson with Matt Greene. In making the changes, the Kings were looking for a blast for the past, both from the recent past and from a couple seasons ago…
MURRAY: “With Drew’s game, we’re looking to get him right back to the level of play that he showed us in the past. He played his best hockey with Scuderi, going back two years ago, and had a very good year with Mitchell. But the thought process on that is, Voynov played, in his first call-up here, extremely well (with Mitchell). So we decided to give that a look, and that’s the way it will be tomorrow.’’
DD not living up to expectations thus far. Hope that changes.
[Reply]
California Royalty Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@the griffster, There it is.
[Reply]
Duckbasher Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
@the griffster, Trade his greedy butt for Bobby Ryan.
[Reply]
TheZamboniMechanic2 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Duckbasher,
DD ..no physical presence…he actually ran away from a physical confrontation a couple of games ago…and he persists in that cheap cross checking move in front of the net..which draws penalties. The spinorama is old and quite frankly I think Cam Fowler is as good or better at a lot less $$$$$’s
[Reply]
California Royalty Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
@TheZamboniMechanic2, 1. You’re lying. 2. Every defensemen in the league does that. 3. He hasn’t done that spin-o-rama since some time last season.
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
@TheZamboniMechanic2, Cam Fowler? You obviously haven’t been paying attention. Drew not playing at the level we’re accustomed too is 10 times better than Fowler when he’s over achieving. He’s not even #1 on their depth chart for a reason, and he will get better over time, but not as good as DD on his best day.
RussD Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 6:21 am
@TheZamboniMechanic2, I keep hearing this rumor that Drew Doughty is a great defenseman and our best player. I keep watching. I must be missing something. Someone care to fill me in? Only thing I see right now is a guy who spitefully held out all training camp, then when he came to the team was not nearly prepared to play at the level his new salary demanded.
adanac Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@Duckbasher, I just wish this could happen. I was stunned when they agreed to pay DD 7m!
[Reply]
kovalking96 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
@the griffster,
1 Norris trophy finalist in his first 3 years, top 3 kings defensman in his first 3 years and top 10th in the NHL his first 3 years. I think he is living up to his expectations just fine. And HELL NO Fowler is better then DD.
[Reply]
Hadley Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
@kovalking96, Drew Doughty is the best defenseman in the National Hockey League and anyone who roots for the Kings should be on his or her knees thanking the Almighty for sending us the best player we have had since Wayne Gretzky.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
@Hadley, That’s just a Kingsfans way of showing everyone how brilliant we are. I remember during Waynes last years here, seeing Kingsfans yelling in the isles about how much of a bum Gretz was, and that he doesn’t deserve to wear a Kings jersey.
KindSir Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@Hadley, You’re speaking of Mike Richards right? I AM very thankful to DL and Philly for sending him to us- believe that!
DBking Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 10:02 am
@Hadley, Let’s just hope he starts playing like it again. (Not Doughting that he will so don’t get all upset at me again.)
Hadley Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 10:48 pm
@Hadley, interesting point by Dominick about Gretzky. He was quite vilified by fans for not dominating every shift of every period of every game. My favorite memory is when a Toronto writer, I believe, said Gretz was washed up and playing like he was carrying a piano on his back. Gretzky’s response was Game Seven of the Kings-Leafs series when he scored a hat-trick in one of his greatest games ever. Gretz said, “tell him the piano man still has a tune to play.”
rogiesbackup Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
@the griffster, Somebody needs to remind Drew that HE CAN dominate a game. If anyone ever needed to be reminded about “shot mentality, it’s Drew! Shoot more DREW!!
And Justin Williams for that matter.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:57 am
@rogiesbackup, maybe someone needs to tell DD that there is more than one way to get a shot off… That 12-to-6 slapper is tired!
[Reply]
Voynov & Mitchell play great together. JJ & Grenner could be a pair that just obliterates anyone into the boards…heh
[Reply]
Good time for a change……after a shutout……
[Reply]
Bill Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
@neil, The D changed before the Sharks game. Hammond is just a little slow getting around to telling you guys that don’t watch the games.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:04 am
@neil, yep, that is what we ran with in the Sharks game and it looked good.
[Reply]
We the Kings are just fine. As long as we don’t lose tomorrow. If we should lose folks will be saying that TM screwed everything up. If say DD#8 scores a goal and makes no turnover folks will say that he’s out of his “slump.” he best any of us could do is watch a very good Panthers team coming into our ice and giving us a game that we must be ready for. This is a game that will show us all where this team is at mentally. This is a game that King teams of the past would roll over and flop. Let us all hope not. If we are to play with the big boys of the league, then we MUST beat the smaller, yet ever dangerous team. To win in this league is going to take more grit then we have ever had. Let’s lock’em down and shoot holes in the back of the net. Go Kings and continue in the MADNESS of the KINGDOM!
[Reply]
neil Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@kinginsaltlake, Time to get over the 500 mark(12 wins…12 losses)Time to be consistent…The Time is NOW!!!!!!!
[Reply]
kinginsaltlake Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@neil, No where do I see 12 losses in the standings. What I do see is that we are only a few wins from the top spot. Winning on a consisent level must start sometime. Why do folks always not count the overtime point. It’s there for a reason. The TRUTH says we have only lossed only 8 games with 4 one point games. Calling it as I see it.
[Reply]
Scot Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@kinginsaltlake,
Just because we get the “Bettman point” in those losses, & they get put into a 3rd column, doesn’t mean they aren’t losses. There are no ties, so if it’s not in the win column, it’s a loss.
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@kinginsaltlake, Agree if the overtimes win counts as a win, then an overtime loss should count as a loss
Osaka Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@Scot, Other teams get Bettman points too. Chicago and Minnesota are first in the West right? Both have 3 OTL’s. Pittsburgh first in the NHL in points has 4 OTL’s.
kinginsaltlake Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
@kinginsaltlake, NY Rangers are the top team in the NHL with that reasoning
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
@kinginsaltlake,
Your absolutely right. If they don’t count then we wouldn’t have made the playoffs the last couple of years. I wouldn’t mind winning out right, but we are only a couple of points away from challenging for the lead in our division.
I guess it’s a glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full scenario. Right now the glass 1/2 empty people are the loudest.
I always think that coaches over coach.That is what made Phil Jackson a great coach(with talent).Dont change just to change.Its like in buisness when suits makes changes just so they can say that they did their job. Murray is always tinkering….to a fault.Sometimes its OK to let things stay the same ….
[Reply]
This should do wonders for both JJ’s and Greene’s plus minus ratings. Scuds probably the happiest guy on the team.
[Reply]
letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 10:38 am
@BringbackButchGoring,
love these d pairings
[Reply]
People are taking shots on here at Drew Doughty. I understand it. The holdout clearly didn’t endear him to anyone and raised expectations which is a bit of a shame. It’s not what you want to be reading at this point – TM talking about getting his level back to where it was – because that’s what he was saying much of last year as well.
Without slinging anything in his direction, I think a fairer way of putting, rather than saying his play isn’t up to snuff, I’d just say that while I’ve only seen a few games on tv, I haven’t noticed anything ‘remarkable’ about his play. And at that salary you would hope to see a bit more is all.
[Reply]
dMan Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@number 6, At that salary, you’d expect to see a lot more!
[Reply]
PurpleBlacknGold Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
@dMan, At that salary most of us DEMAND a lot more. He brought these expectations on himself, and I don’t think it has helped his game any…
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@PurpleBlacknGold, Exactly! Drew brought these expectations upon himself by missing camp and wanting to be the highest paid player on the team, cap number that is.
number 6 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@PurpleBlacknGold,
We’ve seen it sooo many times. Especially in baseball. I won’t even start a list. Ask yourself the question, ok you’re gonna be a multi millionaire if you aren’t already. Is it really worth either the extra money or ego satisfaction to squeeze out that extra bit.
I have to be honest, I’ve stated too many times that Drew isn’t the most mature hockey player out there, and I’m not all that certain that he has enough of a foundation in place to have been able to handle the extra expectations that he brought on himself.
Since I’m venting a bit……… really, all this stuff about being the best dman in the world. Mate, try and get to the point where you’re the best defenseman on your own team… you can worry about the world later.
number 6 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@dMan,
I think I’ve always told you that I like your posts…… so I appreciate you chiming in. I was trying to be discreet.
[Reply]
The negativity towards Doughty has been bleeding on this site since July 1st, Terry Murray’s head has been called for on this site since a week in to the season, Dustin Brown’s leadership has been questioned since… God knows when.
The Kings are 4 points out of 1st place in the entire league. That’s 2 wins.
[Reply]
g smith86 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@California Royalty, Everybody now and then will tend to get emotional and think with their heart and not their head…I’ve done it…after last Sat game I was livid…screaming at the TV…’TM must go’ posts on this site…’Moreau and Hunter suck’…the whole 9 yards and this was after I defended TM after a Dallas come from behind win. I think everybody is a little more reasonable after a win…it’s the way we lose that gets me all fired up
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@g smith86,
I can assure you that you aren’t the only one.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
@California Royalty,
Funny! If you look at it that way, we’re 5 points away from leading the entire NHL in points, but 14 points away from being the worst team in the NHL. If you go by how most view us here on this site, we’re closer to the bottom than we are to the top.
[Reply]
g smith86 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
@Dominick, Good points…it’s going to be a dogfight just to get into the playoffs this year…for every team
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@g smith86, I agree. A lot of parody, but with a solid run, we could be at the top in no time. I think what is scraing everyone is that we all know this team has a whole other level that they haven’t even reached yet. If we ever do, let the other teams drown in our wake.
Terry Murray is a Eliott that about the Defenseman Changed we are doing Adam Michel plan for Defenseman change we are doing like
Mitchell Johnson
Doughty Greene
Voynov Scuderi with the pairing of Defenseman changed so what do you think and also the LA Kings trying to get Bobby Ryan for Slava Voynov deal if the Ducks worst record for this Season
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
@Adam M,
Ducks this time last year were not too far off from where they are now. In the end, they not only passed us in the standings, but they took away our homeice for the 1rst round by beating twice to end the season. Traditionally the Ducks are a second 1/2 team, and won’t make any moves till around the 1/2 way mark of this season. I would be surprised if they make any moves before getting back some key elements from IR.
Even if they do, I don’t see them trading within the division. Slava wouldn’t be the key tradebait anyways, because I think their biggest need is their goaltending.
[Reply]
g smith86 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
@Dominick, On that point, however, I did see that Carlyle demoted Ryan to the third line tonight…but had him playing on the PP and PK…the Ducks and Kings have shared players before, but I don’t think they have ever directly traded with each other…I would LOVE to see B Ryan in a Kings uniform…Just highly doubt that would ever happen
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@g smith86, I was all over it when Bobby was negotiating his last contract and I drove Ducksfans nuts for months. Ryan, and Brown are friends, and I always wanted to see them on a line together. I really don’t see them trading him here though.
I did break that commandment long ago. Do not covet thy neighbors goods.
ToughD Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 1:18 am
@g smith86, yep, ducks GM Murray loves puck-moving players, and pays no mind to grit or defense. For cap purposes, we’d probably have to include Penner in the deal. I would definitely try to rob that team of top-end talent.
KC23 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:09 am
@Dominick, Don’t remember them ever seeing them this bad for this long though. I don’t think the Ducks are gonna pull out of this one.
[Reply]
doughty missed training camp, second half of the season he will do great.
johnson back to his negative ways but maybe greene with him can help.
voynov and mitchelle, definitely my favorite pair.. voynov has exceeded all expectations and has better numbers thus far than any other king
[Reply]
Being an off night for the Kings, watched a couple minutes of the Ducks game since I haven’t seen one in a while. Took all of 5 minutes for me to truly appreciate what a gift we have in Bob & Jim. Not only great announcers but class guys. If I were a Ducks fan, I would shoot myself having to listen to Hayward every game. Between talking about plays like he’s explaining it to a 2 yr old and his whining about the refs / penalties every 45 seconds, I couldn’t take it any more!!!!
Thank you Bob & Jim. Never leave us!!!
Can’t wait for the game tomorrow night!
[Reply]
Mudfish4 Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
@Mudfish4, And thank you Rich for giving us such great insight to our team night in and night out.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:12 am
@Mudfish4, Amen. I doubt Rich has any idea just how much and how many of us appreciate everything he does. I never even dared dream of having such amazing coverage of my favorite team.
[Reply]
Glad to see NJ got hammered by the Ave’s tonight. I’m hoping that NJ keeps losing and that they will trade Parise before he becomes a UFA. They need a goaltending badly!
Bernier/Penner/AM or JJ for Parise (extension signed)
[Reply]
zulov Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 12:36 am
@ta, I wouldn’t want to give up JJ. Penner & Amart and if Bernier goes, then they better throw in a high pick. Not telling that Parise will magically solve our scoring woes.
Many have tried, but many have failed…
[Reply]
ziggyfan Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 9:52 am
@zulov, I agree. JJ is going to be a force. We would regret if we ever traded him. D-men take time to develop and get better. He is on the way.
DD on the other hand, I worry. He seems to put too much pressure on himself may be because he demanded money and he wants to back it up with his play but pushing himself too hard. This is where good coaching should come into play – settle him down since he does seem to have natural talent but, I am not sure anyone is guiding him thru. What he did two years ago is exactly what it is – two years ago.
[Reply]
Philly must really be biting their elbows – Simmer has 8 points in 23 games…
MR is killing it for us.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:13 am
@zulov, Those are actually good numbers for Simmer. He never did anywhere near that pace for us.
[Reply]
mash-ola Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@zulov, I don’t think either the Flyers or the Kings were expecting huge numbers from Simmonds. That’s not his game. He started the season off hot, but has cooled down a bit. At this point, the Kings are getting the full benefit of the trade. But you have to remember that the centerpiece of the trade for Philly was/is Brayden Schenn, who has been injured and hasn’t had a chance to realize his full potential. Plus, I think the Flyers got a draft pick. Mike Richards is in his prime now. Let’s see how this deal pans out in, say four-five years, which is what Philadelphia made the trade for, to free up cap space and to solidify their future.
[Reply]
Rich, (or anyone else) Any news on the progress of Alex Martinez?
[Reply]
johnson-been a lot better this year on the defensive side, starting to feel more comfortable with him than doughty
doughty-missed training camp so he should pick it up second half
greene-hes been solid and shooting more..making better passes lately
scuderi-dissapointing. If hes not a positive +/-, i’m not supporting him because he cant shoot or do anything else. that being said he shot a few times last game and it looked good
mitchell-solid and provides an occassional nice assist or goal
voynov-hes a rookie so has made a few little mistakes but nothing goal costing yet. By far hes been one of the most solid D. watching him match up and play well against a big guy like thorton showed how ready he is
[Reply]
Scuderi is a defensive defensemen, we need a veteran offensive defensemen to shape Dewey into what he could be. He’s an offensive player stressed to play good defense, of course he’s not playing to his potential. Get someone with the same mindset Doughty has to guide him to where he needs/wants to be. Fowler lived with Scott Neidermeyer all last year and that really seemed to do a lot to his game.
[Reply]