Davis Drewiske has sat patiently and waited. And waited, and waited. The Kings have played 25 games this season, and Drewiske has been a healthy scratch in 24 of them. Always a quiet, friendly, polite presence in the locker room, Drewiske has gone about his work — countless miles of conditioning skating — without complaint. Now, with Willie Mitchell out of the lineup, Drewiske will get a chance, starting with tomorrow’s game against Montreal, in a defensive pairing with Matt Greene. After practice, Drewiske talked about his journey back into the lineup, before Terry Murray had made it official that Drewiske would play.
DREWISKE: “If I get the call, I’ll be ready to do. I’ve done a lot of work, trying to stay ready, and I’m anxious to get back in there. So I’ll be ready to go if they need me.’’
Question: When you’re getting back in, is it just a matter of keeping things simple out there?
DREWISKE: “I think that’s my game anyway, kind of, to make a good first pass and be hard and physical in front of the net and in the corners. That’s my game.’’
Question: It must be difficult to sit and watch, but is there anything you can learn when you’re out of the lineup?
DREWISKE: “First of all, you just try to be a good pro and work hard every day. I think the real battle is mentally staying connected to the game and everything that’s going on, when you’ve been out for a while. But I definitely try to watch the game pretty intently and focus on what guys are doing, where the mistakes are. I think that’s a good way to keep yourself in touch with what’s going on.’’
How long will Drewiske’s opportunity last? Alec Martinez has been medically cleared for full-contact practice, so it won’t be long before Martinez is ready to play. That said, Murray said he’s looking for all players to step up in the absence of Mitchell and Mike Richards.
MURRAY: “Guys just have to play. There’s no magic to that formula. There’s an opportunity that opens up for some players to get back into the lineup. Other guys just need to take on a little bit more of a workload, especially on Mitchell’s side of it. He’s a big penalty-killer for us. He’s a really good penalty killer, and other guys are going to get an opportunity. It’s a good thing to see, not the fact that you’ve got players injured but it’s good for other players to get put into situations that give them an opportunity to improve their game, to contribute to the team. Because as you get to the deeper part of the season, inevitably there is a call to duty in those situations. So they’ve been there, they know what to do and they react in the right way.’’
“A good first pass, and be hard and physical in front of the net and in the corners”, sounds good to me DD2. Make it so. Goooooooooooo Kings!
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Excited for you Whiskey. Give’m Hell!
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sounds good
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The sky was falling and it was the end of the world when coach Murray made the lines a few games back. Now it is another apocalypse when he moves a few players around because because of injuries and guys coming back into the lineup. Each time Coach Murray is criticized as being completely stupid and not knowing what he is doing. Through it all we keep winning (we are 6-3-1 in our last 10 games). My question is where is the accountability? For all the people who said Murray was an idiot for the last lines he made, where are the peeps who step up and say I was wrong. I know they will say the winning was in spite of Murray’s lines not because of, but if you blame him for a loss you need to give him props for a win. The single sided mentality takes away credibility from post on the blog. Murray has dealt with the Europe trip, injuries, scoring slumps, players under achieving…. Yet the Kings are 3 points out of first in the West and 4 points out of the most points in the NHL. That looks like a pretty good job of coaching to me. The fun of the blog to to state different points of view and opinions, but if you make bold statements you should back them up and admit when your wrong. That is the only way to uphold the integrity of the blog. It used to be like that here, lets get back on track.
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SDGolfer Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:29 pm
@Osaka, Good post.
I, like you will be waiting.
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Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@Osaka,
Well, I’m not one of those. I’m probably one of the few who challenge TM philosophically, but has no problem with him being the coach. I just ask for changes, and try to be fair.
Where were you when the Kings were 2-5-2 though?
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@Dominick, Dominick you do give credit where credit is due, I give you props. I think you are very fair in your assessment. I think it is great the you disagree, I think I made a point of saying that is what the blog is for. I hope more people can take the approach you take when they take a stand. I am talking about someone going out on the limb saying the coach is a freak’n idiot for making line changes, we win several games and nobody says I was wrong.
I think I made it a point to post after King losses, that isn’t right to say where was I. I was here saying it isn’t so bad. It has become so crazy after a loss now that I don’t want to bother but I stick my nose in a little. 2-5-2 I am not ready to concede the season if that was what you were expecting and throw coach Murray under the bus. Just like 6-3-1 win streak you aren’t ready to hand them the cup and I agree.
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Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@Osaka, Your right. When you said that, I just remembered a few weeks ago you stating about how things aren’t that bad, and you and I having a conversation about Murray. I appologize for it not coming to me sooner.
Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@Osaka, No problem. And on the previous thread I was being sarcastic of course about Detroit and others needing to copy our system. I didn’t think you would take that seriously.
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:55 pm
@Osaka, That was awsome, and I missed it. Sarcasm is lost on the internet.
neil Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@Osaka, I posted that the Kings played better against S.J…. wasnt cause of the line changes but because of their intensity.Foxy said the same thing….it was the players attitude not the line changes that caused the team to play better. A forward is a forward….A hockey player is a hockey player….but without intensity,hustle,attitude, and etc…it doenst matter who is on the ice…you will lose…
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AZ King Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@neil,
So when the team loses it’s all TM’s fault, but when they win he gets no credit. Sounds pretty hypocritical.
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neil Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@AZ King, No I said as did Foxy that it was more of the attitude of the team then the line changes.I will give TM credit for having his team prepared to play. Same as tomorrow night….If the Kings play hard for most of the game…they will be in a position to win no matter what the lines look like.That is my biggest complaint about TM…the team doesnt have intensity for the whole game.I think the team is a reflection of their coach….
AZ King Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@neil,
Intensity is or isn’t there as a result of the work ethic that the players have on the ice. The coaches job is to set a game plan and see that it’s executed. The actual work is done by the players. So if your unhappy about the team not putting in a 60 minute effort that sounds like a player issue to me.
Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:35 pm
@AZ King, That is the point I have a problem with. We could win the cup and some would still want to fire him, they would say we won in spite of TM. We could have won in fewer games if it weren’t for him. That is a slippery slope when you don’t acknowledge any success.
Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@neil, I’ll agree with that. That is why I think the whole who is on what line is overrated. That is also why I thought it was the players not executing when they went through a rough patch. You admit as much, it was the players attitude.
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nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@Osaka,
you’re right that there was a lot more accountability when the bog was somewhat smaller. A lot of people have come on lately and just blurt out their opinions in usually harsh tones and present it as fact.
I don’t mind people expressing their opinions for or against the coach, but whatever your opinion is, back it up with something..if you want him fired, tell us why you think he should be fired in a respectful way.
oh well..wishful thinking!
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CB14 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@nykingfan, Just a note, most people don’t back it up with something becuase it takes awhile to look up all the stats and things TM previously has said and not improved on.
Since I have some time here’s some of my biggest complaints with TM:
I can’t count how many times I’ve listed the quotes where TM has said the Kings biggest need of improvement is the lack of 5 on 5 scoring, and he’s said it before each of the past 3 seasons. As I just posted below, the Kings are currently tied for 28th in 5 on 5 goals per game. If you need me to prove to you that he has said that, I will, but it takes awhile to find it.
The “defense first mentality”. Each of the previous Cup winners post lockout have been in the top 10 in Goals per game during the Regular Season. The Kings are currently tied for 24th. Not only are they not scoring many goals, but it seems like TM doesn’t plan on changing anything at all with the way they play. It’s always, “stick to the system”, and to me that just won’t work.
The lack of in game coaching adjustments. This also goes with the “stick to the system” mantra he has. During the infamous playoff game against San Jose there were no adjustments at all. No timeouts, no goalie changes, nothing. Do something back there to help change the momentum of the game.
The “questionable” coaching decisions. Basically not playing Quick after the 3 straight shutouts. I just cannot comprehend that decison. I couldn’t then, and I still can’t now. That has got to be one of the worst coaching decisions I have ever seen. I’m sorry I still can’t get over it.
Those are some of my reasons why I believe that TM should be fired. Hope that was respectful.
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nykingfan Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:42 am
@CB14,
We can agree to disagree on TM..you’re civil about it and you made solid points..no argument with that.
looking back on some of those early season decisions, you’d like to have some of them back. The early season JQ decision, which I supported, didn’t turn out as planned..
He’s not perfect. I think he’s a good coach. Whether he can take this team to the next level, which is an argument of many, we don’t know. I think since the team is in a good spot in the standings and the team is playing well, there should be no thought to changing..we’re still inconsistent, but we’re not bad.
While I agree with you that all decisions haven’t been great, the overall product since he’s been here has been a huge upgrade over previous head coaches..
You speak about the bad decisions, but the good one’s have far out-weighed the bad ones..not even close.
CB14 Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 11:04 am
@nykingfan, I guess you could say I’m kind of a glass half empty kind of guy when it comes to TM. I have given TM credit previously for teaching the Kings to be really solid defensively, but that was after the 2nd year, the past year and a half have been time to work on the offensive side of the ice, and that’s why I don’t have as much faith in him as others do.
I agree with you that the Kings haven’t played badly, but in order to reach the next level of teams (Chi, Det, SJ, Van), which the entire organization has said they are ready to do, they need to start producing offensively as well. I just don’t see an improvement offensively coming along anytime soon under this Head Coaching. I’d be thrilled if I were to be proven wrong.
bbb7 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@Osaka, Two games won upon the back of Quick do not make the coach right, nor did the losses prior to that make him wrong; its the sum total of the season that counts. Despite adding two good offensive players this season the offense is much like last year’s, only with a better PP (until MR got hurt, anyways; now we’ll see). People who were clamoring for VV to be brought up were right; those who declared that Lokti would upgrade the offense were wrong.
There’s a definite lack of offensive skill after the top 6, and likely the system in place limits so-so talents from contributing more goals. Bottom line, tho, is W and L, and with a ‘paper’ team better than last year’s the coach is ultimately responsible for that.
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 pm
@bbb7, I agree with everything you say.
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CB14 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Osaka, I’m gonna break my own rule here. A few problems with your post.
#1 – The majority of the people’s complaints here were that TM decided to put Trent Hunter on the #1 line. How did that work out? Yeah, exactly.
#2 – Most people on this blog had been calling for Gange and Richards to play together all season. TM finally puts them together and they combine to score a goal in their first game back together. TM should get credit for that? Um, NO.
#3 – You say that like the Kings have become a scoring machine ever since TM changed the lines around. The fact is they’ve scored UNDER their season average in goals in each of the games since then. So much for that.
#4 – You say that when people make bold predictions we should admit when we’re wrong, well, where’s yours? During the end of last season, and in the offseason I had numerous discussions with you about TM’s offensive system. You said it worked and that now that we’ve got the talent it would produce better numbers. The Kings are currently second to last in 5 on 5 goals per game. That’s even worse then last year.
#5 – The Kings may be tied for 5th in the West, however they’ve played more games then most teams. If you look at their rank in “point percentage”, which is the only way to compare teams record due to each team playing different amount of games, you’d see the Kings are in 8th place in the West. That’s barely in the playoffs, and again, worse then last year.
#6 – Every NHL Head Coach has to deal with injuries, scoring slumps, and players underachieving. You think the Kings are different? Also, the New York Rangers had to go to Europe, and they are the best team in the NHL. So much for the Europe hangover.
I’ll give TM credit when credit is due. Tied for 24th in Goals per game, and tied for 28th in 5 on 5 goals per game is not good. This output from a team with a Head Coach that has stressed for the last 3 seasons the need to improve 5 on 5 scoring. I don’t see any improvement even though they are a more talented team then last year. If you wish to argue the talent level compared to other teams, take a look at virtually every NHL experts prediction on where the Kings would finish and then get back to me. Pretty sure all the expercts expected this team to be a top 4 team in the Western Conference this year, well eveyone that is except Hayward. LOL
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:46 pm
@CB14, Oh, I was going to use you as an example as a person who admitted he was wrong in the past when you were blasting Westgarth and then he played a great game. You stood up and ate crow. Puck73 also has gone on record saying he was wrong about Mike Richards coming to LA. I’ll still give you props on that one. Also it does take time for things to play out so we don’t know who is right or wrong, I agree.
Every coach has to deal with injuries and players underperforming but some don’t deal with it so well, some have been fired already. The Kings are 5th in the West and we are one of the 9 of 15 teams (3 of the teams ahead of us) that has played 25 games, most haven’t played less. I never said the Kings have become a scoring machine. I don’t care if we are 30th in the league in scoring if we win. Winning is all that matters. I say if Coach Murray can get wins when the Kings aren’t scoring he must be doing something right.
I will step up here and admit what I was wrong about. All summer I stood up for Penner and said he would be fine this season. I said those who were bagging on him were rushing to judgment. Well it looks like so far they were right. Here is hoping Penner steps it up. I don’t care if I am right, I just want the Kings to win. If Penner starts scoring it would be huge for the Kings.
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PLay2Win Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:30 pm
@Osaka, Great post!! I too am soooooo tired of the “fire Murray, fire Dean, fire Kompon” posts, it seems that some of the bloggers never say anything positive and ENJOY trying to bring us die-hard Kings fans down. I realize that sometimes things need to change and we like to bitch about our problems but after a loss it has become almost impossible to read Rich’s columns because they are on every post but after a good win it seems like they disappear. That said I guess the best way to get rid of them is to go on a LONG winning streak!! GO KINGS!!
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jlium Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:14 pm
@Osaka, Our 6-3-1 over the last 10 is because of JQ and has nothing to do with TM’s brilliant line combos. With Quick allowing about 1 goal per game line combo do not mean much. More 5 on 5 goals would indicate improvement and I do not see that happening.
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:23 pm
@jlium, Fair enough, and that is a good response.
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@Osaka, I don’t think the line combos meant anything but it was a shakeup. It was needed and the players responded. I don’t see a whole lot of scoring but I still see scoring chances so it isn’t bad. When we went through slumps last season we didn’t get chances and that is when you worry. Brown had a goal, hit the post, was stopped at point blank on a pass from Kopi. Stoll had a great chance on a pass from Gagne…. If the puck ever starts going in for us I think we will be alright. I know both teams get chances every game that don’t go, but our big guns (besides Richards) are all in a slump and we are winning. Gagne, Kopi, and Williams will all start scoring again. We are getting pieces of the team clicking at different times, if we get them all going at the same time I think we will have a lot of happy King fans.
rogiesbackup Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:53 pm
@Osaka, I agree and I can’t help to think that with all these negatives the Kings are well above .500!! It doesn’t take too much imagination what this team can achieve when more players mature or step up their game.
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brian spain Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:22 am
@Osaka, Osaka, Do you think Putting Huntter on the first line was a good idea? Brown being on the left wing is awesome, he has had many chances but Hunter on the first line and PP is brutal. He is not a scorer. He may play hard but he appears to be useless on the first line. I don’t think Murray is a good offensive coach at all. But the Kings seam to be winning due to the play of Mr. Quick, Coach must find line combinations that can put the puck in the net.
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Osaka Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@brian spain, I thought Hunter on the first line was what it was, a shakeup move. I never would have done it or I didn’t agree, but it wasn’t the end of the world. The sky never fell.
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@Osaka I’ll jump in and be accountable as a TM Critic. The Kings definitely have good momentum now, and TM is the coach. Good for him. I hope it continues, and I think it will. But here’s the deal, and I’ve been consistent with this. All the happy talk doesn’t change the fact TM hasn’t won even 1 round in the playoffs yet. Same with DL. I’ve said give them this year. If they don’t win at least one round, then bye bye to both of them. They’ve had long enough to produce.
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neil Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@Poorman, I will also jump in as a TM critic…..Is this team any better then it was a year ago??? two years ago??? three years ago??? According to the stats the answer is no.You can spin any way you want but we are not and never have overachieved with TM as coach.Florida,Phoenix,Dallas and Minn. are ALL doing better then expected. Us……worse then expected.Until I see the team playing as expected..I will be a critic.You can easily make the point that Quick is the only thing keeping us from being the Ducks right now.Now with that said….can we go on a winning streak??? Yes but I want to see it happen….
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@neil, That is fair, but I guess everyone has different expectations. We are 3 points from first in the West so we are where I would have wanted to be if you asked me July.
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AZ King Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@Poorman,
I very much doubt that DL will be going anywhere. TM on the other hand…..only time will tell.
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sammuch Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@Poorman,
I would give DL a chance, but yes TM better do better come playoff time…
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Poorman Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:58 pm
@sammuch, DL picks the coach. He picked Crawford before TM.
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nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@Poorman,
I’m assuming you’ve been a Kings fan for some time..pre DL
Things were really awful around this franchise. Other than Gretzky, we never really had any hopes of winning or even competing on a regular basis..Visiting teams..especially those on the East Coast and Canada used to look forward to the LA trip to enjoy the sunshine..they never worried or feared playing the dismal Kings.
Now we have a regime that’s made this franchise completely relevant to the point where people seriously consider them Stanley Cup contenders and long term success.
You want to break that up because they couldn’t win a crapshoot playoff series?
You play 82 games to get to where they hope to be..only to have their fate determined in 4-7 games? I understand the reality of winning in the playoffs and how that affects jobs, but to me you don’t judge the entire organization based on 4-7 games.
just my opinion.
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Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@nykingfan,
I’m with you, but for some teams anything less than a Cup is a failure. I don’t think the Kings are at that point yet, only because they haven’t even come close with the group we have.
I would say a 1rst round exit though would be a failure, but that’s is only if we’re not heading into it depleted by injuries like last season. If we’re backing into the playoffs, and lose in the first round then I would call for a change somewhere (have to see once I got there who is responsible).
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Poorman Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:02 pm
@nykingfan, Things aren’t much better yet. How many years has DL been GM. 6? TM Coach 4? Enough time. Win at least 1 playoff round or Bye both of you. Are you guys going to tell me there isn’t anybody better than these two if they continue not winning. Come on, please. If Lieuweke and Anschutz do their homework, they should be able to upgrade.
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nykingfan Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 am
@Poorman,
that’s my issue with your posts…
who are you bringing in and what changes are you looking for with the structure of the team?
Do you blow up the whole process that’s occurred over the past 6 years?
Give a reason..not just the usual fire them if they don’t win a round.
rogiesbackup Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@nykingfan, I totally agree!! All these negative talk stems from the fear that the Kings do not dominate the opposition. I really feel that it’s because the Kings are one of the most respected teams in the league and so many of teams play THEIR BEST hockey against the Kings.
Teams look so impressive in the highlights yet when these same “impressive” team play the Kings, the game is close and many times the Kings come out with the win!! Not too often then the Kings get clobbered by the opposition.
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Osaka Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Poorman, You gave credit the other day so I give you props, you stepped up. I think you have been pretty fair. I understand the result you want to see is winning a round of the playoffs and that won’t happen for some time so you reserve the right to grant praise just yet. Again fair enough. Just point out what is going right along the way (like you have been) and not just point out what is wrong.
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Just a note, it was Dustin Brown idea to ask to play the LW not TM! I say we make DB player head coach! LOL…
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EXACTLY!
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Good for DD2. I hope he has a great game.
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Gee, if I recall correctly, Willie Mitchell was out for a stretch last season and the Kings did not play well.
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KC23 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, The Kings didn’t have Voynov last year.
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Why are the Kings going to play Drewiske? I thought Martinez was only going to be out a short time. Wondering if there is a deal in the works with Alec being part of that trade?
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Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@andy, Martinez isn’t ready. Coach said a few threads back.
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I really think Dustin Brown’s best position scoring wise is LW. I think LA needs to get rid of the duds on LW not named Brown,Gagne and Clifford. Then a young RWer(Moller,Holloway,Toffoli,Vey,Kozun) can make his way to LA!
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Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@andy, I think Moller, and Holloway are eligeable to come back after next season. Not sure, but I think both had signed 2 year deals. Maybe Kitsyn closes the door for good once his contracts up, and he’s free contractually to return to North America.
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Get’em Whiskey! Thanks for waiting for your chance and being a good team guy. AM will be back when DD, JJ or VV goes down. Hope that doesn’t happen, but like every body says…it’s nice to be this deep on defense. Go KINGS!!!!!
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The return of Davis Drewiske for some reason calls to mind Joe Tripoli. If Tripoli were still here, he would play Brecht-Weil’s “Alabama Song” to highlight Whiskey’s return. Instead of personalized organ music, Staples gives us a nonstop mindnumbing cacophony of oddball South Park characters, antiquated metal music at 150 decibels, and “Make Some Noise” during penalty shots.
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