Slava Voynov has made Terry Murray’s life difficult, but in a good way. Called up because of injuries, Voynov has now played his way into a lineup spot, meaning Murray must make adjustments elsewhere. With Willie Mitchell’s return to the lineup tonight, the Kings have eight healthy defensemen. Alec Martinez, who had just returned from an injury himself and played one game, will be a healthy scratch, as will Davs Drewiske. Drew Doughty partners with Rob Scuderi, Voynov partners with Mitchell, and Jack Johnson partners with Matt Greene.
MURRAY: “It’s not an easy decision. Martinez has played very well for us, as has Whiskey. I thought he did a very good job in the couple games that he played for us, after being out for so long. I want to keep Voynov going. I really like the things he has brought to our team. He’s a good power-play player, as Martinez is. It’s just a decision you have to make.’’
Murray also talked about what Voynov has brought to the Kings this season…
MURRAY: “He’s a very good defending player. It’s something, probably, that won’t come out for a while, just in general. You see a lot of nice instincts for defending. His play away from the puck is really as good as it gets. He really supports partners. He gets available for linemates, teammates, to pass him the puck. That’s where you see him coming into the back door on the power play. He reads that so well for a young player. He’s just kind of cruising around, and it’s an instinctive read for him. The puck ends up coming to those kind of players at the right time. So he’s got a nice upside to his game.’’
As for Mitchell, he’s ready to play after missing a week with a groin injury.
MURRAY: “He feels good to go. He was close in the last game. He probably would have been able to get into the lineup if it was a playoff kind of a game. He felt really good yesterday in the practice, and ready to go today.’’
SWEET!!
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Well, at least that’s some good news for Kings fans.
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FINALLY! Voynov pretty much had to force his way onto the big club. Now that they see he’s the real deal they can’t send him down. Way to go Voynov!
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So if the Kings lose again tonight, is it still business as usual for TM? Also, who’s in goal tonight?
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CB14 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Poorman, Your adopted son.
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gene Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@Poorman, J B
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gene Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@Poorman, J B
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Glad to see VV staying with the big boys. He deserves it.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@CB14,
yeah
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If we need to keep a Russian, Voynov should be the one.
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TheRussianKing Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@ET219, Agreed
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Kings x Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@ET219, Definitely. He may be our best offensive defenseman currently
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Voynov is the last NHL ready defenseman in the system. He’s having a bigger impact then either DD2 or Wisky. But those guys are just spare parts at this point.
Should there be more injuries, the cupboards are bare down on the farm
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Cry Baby Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@bitter, DD2 and Whiskey are the same person…maybe you mean VV is having double the impact of DD2/Whiskey?
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KC23 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@Cry Baby, I think he ment AM and Whiskey.
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bitter Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@Cry Baby, You’re right, I meant AM and DD2
Yes Voynov is having twice the impact of both of those guys
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Gustavo Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@bitter,
Voynov is having twice the impact DD, DD2 & AM combined have had this season.
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Why not dress 7 d-men and have them take turns at forward or try Martinez at wing…scratch Hunter …what do they have to lose…we know Martinez has a good wrist shot
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jp Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
B@g smith86, A. Mart is a good defenseman, but the only way he’ll become a solid winger is via trade. Stick with Voynov and let DL do what he does best.
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@jp, Stick with everyone the Kings have on the ice and get a new coach
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KC23 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@g smith86, I always wanted to see JJ at RW.
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Chucker Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@g smith86, totally agree. Kings D-men have been hit hard past couple of weeks with injuries…I’d scratch Hunter and rotate Martinez into shifts for Scuds and Mitchell, and play Martinez on PPs. I could also see either Voynov or Martinez playing a 4th line wing like Peter Harrold use to do. I think Doughty would be a better winger I just don’t know if the Kings organization has the stones to take him off Defense.
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hopefully DL is on the phone trying to move Martinez. i like the guy but if DL can turn him into a quality winger he should.
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AZ King Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@Dave,
I like you optimism, but Martinez is not going to get us a quality winger.
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Cynic Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@AZ King, I’m kind of reading that as AM+ to get a quality winger. At least I hope so.
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Scot Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@AZ King,
I agree.
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Cynic Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
@Dave, It’s a tough call, but yeah I have to agree that AMart has more value to get us some scoring than DD2. DD2 is a quality role player and that’s about his ceiling anyway I believe. That’s a compliment, you need those guys.
Marty needs to pay every night and Voynov is simply ahead of Martinez in talent & potential. I think of Kyle Quincy when I think of A-mart. If we can trade him somewhere east, that would be ideal.
Bottom line: DD2 has more value to us as a role player, AM has more value to us in a trade. VV isn’t going anywhere.
What I’m kind of hoping for is that we can trade for a scoring winger (Preferably LW that can play both sides), release Hunter and we should be good. That’s a lot to happen in the next week, so I won’t hold my breath, but it seems like the logical solution.
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Cynic Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
@Cynic, Marty needs to PLAY every night. I typ to fst fr mi on gd.
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KC23 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
@Dave, Agreed. We need a quality RW in the worst way.
You hear that Holloway? You dummy you?
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Michael J. Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@KC23,
Could we use OM right now?
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KC23 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@Michael J., Nah, we need Holloway.
Cynic Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@KC23, LOL! very good point.
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Did anyone claim Moreau from waivers?
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Rich Hammond Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
http://lakingsinsider.com/2011/12/10/moreau-clears-waivers/
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This is really good. I hope more players on the team show this kind of innitiative and put the onus on management to make the adjustments. More specifically, I hope the team revolts against TM’s boring suffocation system and if they get disciplined for it, us Insider’s will raise hell until something positive is done about it. 30th in scoring is intolerable.
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KC23 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
@jess, Problem is the players, not the system. There are plenty of teams using a more conservative system than us and all of them have a better offense than us.
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jess Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
@KC23,
This roster is loaded with talent so we can rule that out. Is the talent confused and perhaps uninspired? Probably, which means that everything points to the coaching philosophy and the system is a major component of that.Dump and chase, perimeter play, blocked shots from the point etc.. -these are the things we see from this team game in and game out, over and over again.
They can’t coach themselves!
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
@jess, +2
Kenny44 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
@KC23, I dispute that point. The teams using “more conservative” systems (Montreal, Minny, Tampa, etc.) clog up the neutral zone to force turnovers and then counter attack furiously. Our system does not involve much in the way of quick counters, we usually regroup and try to move up the ice as a unit. I view that as the more conservative approach.
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I might sound crazy but you don’t trade Martinez. He’s younger, more skilled, and worth more than Scuderi and Greene. My vote would be to package one of those two with DD2 to an eastern conference team that needs help in return for some firepower…..I know I know pipe dreams indeed
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ChiTownKingsFan Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
@David, Getting rid of Scuds would be disastrous. That’s a terrible idea. Scuderi is one of the best shut-down defensemen in the league. His positioning and stick check are world class. Besides that terrible suggestion, I’d agree with you that Greene could be traded. We don’t need 3 stay-homers anymore. Our defensemen have matured and can play on both ends of the ice. If AM isn’t traded he’ll re-join the line-up in place of Greene. Scuderi is too valuable of an asset to lose.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@ChiTownKingsFan, I couldn’t agree more! Well said.
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IceGuy Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
I’ve been saying for weeks that Alec should be groomed to replace Greene. Finally – support!
flex Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@ChiTownKingsFan, Agree 100%
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Kings x Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@David, A good d man is a hot commodity come trade deadline
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I have to agree VV has deserved to move into a regular spot; he makes very few stupid plays, is calm under pressure and in traffic, and doesnt try to do things he cant do. Somehow we need to turn AM or Greene into another decent 3rd liner with some offensive skills… heck, throw in Hunter or Lewis is that can swing it.
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I think we have the best d corp in the league with 3 top OD and 3 top DD
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Drew should be sitting, he thinks he’s Bobby Orr… But can’t skate past anyone.
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flex Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@AM, He is very close to be Bobby Orr.Righ now The whole team is struggling.That 7m are tempting so many of you,who “thinks” he alone have to solve all problems.Yes, there are some areas he have to fix,but right now he is the best puck mover in our team as D and as F.Look back at D history in NHL.There is almost nobady at his age play better hockey.He would be a bist in 1-2 years.all this problem we are facing are TMs “faults” and some DLs.
..giving up FRO,Zus..and think Smith left because of TMs system.kids were just an excuse.
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I prefer Martinez over Greene
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Stuart Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
@Bugarín, yes
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Marc Nathan Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@Bugarín, I prefer lobster over chocolate cake… two completely different menu items.
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I hate to say this since im a big fan, but i would trade dd. He just doesnt seem like a 6 million dollar man. Sorry just my opinion. Aloha Guyz.
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Kenny44 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@OahuKingzfan, Not exactly easy to move with that price tag, though.
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Marty should be an every game player on D. He is the best skating D man on the team, he moves the puck very well, and he gets pucks to the net (especially needed on the PP). He is solid on the D end as well.
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