Anze Kopitar’s postgame thoughts…
(on the continued lack of offense…)
KOPITAR: “It’s pretty much the same story, I guess. We’re throwing everything we can out there. I think we had 41 shots and we had a couple of really good opportunities. We hit a couple posts. We’ve just got to keep going. Eventually we’re going to score. Eventually they will go in.’’
(on being hurt by the start…)
KOPITAR: “Yeah. We had a penalty and then we had a 2-on-0, where we just couldn’t bury it. That’s what happens. When you’re going good, it seems like every bounce is going with you and helping you out. When you’re going bad, everything is going against you. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got to go. We’ve got to play. With hard work and believing and trusting each other and sticking together, that’s how we’re going to get through this.’’
(on the emotions of the day, after Terry Murray’s firing…)
KOPITAR: “A lot of stuff was going on in the last 24 hours. It’s not an excuse, but emotionally it’s tough. Most of the guys haven’t been through that kind of experience. I, personally, hadn’t been through it. I did once, when I was in Sweden, but maybe I was just too young to realize how big of a change that is. We’re going to have to put it behind us. Terry did a great job for us, for three-plus years. Personally, for me, he put a lot into my game and I gained a lot from him. Like I said, we’re going to have to overcome that and start playing again.’’
No more Linus’ blanket…
Grow up, Boys, or find another form of work.
[Reply]
Whodawat Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Kopitar sounds dillusional already
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Whodawat,
Stages of Loss + Grief/Elizabeth Kubla-Ross:
I) Anger;
II) Denial;
III) Bargaining;
IV) Depression;
V) Acceptance.
Kopi’s explanation is Stage I or II, which are interchangeable…
Long, long way to go.
[Reply]
- ViC - Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Wow, I hope this isn’t true or real.
[Reply]
Jorgen Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, are you kidding me? That has got to be the worst example I’ve ever seen. Dude, this is a game…not a friggin freudian 5-step personal loss recovery session.
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:54 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, This is way too much of a defeatist mentality!
Kopi hit right on the nose. When you’re struggling bounces don’t go your way.
I still feel their offense is one of the best. Pucks hitting the post too many times or flat out missing open net is a good indication that the “luck” part of any sport just isn’t on your side. Nothing you can do about it.
[Reply]
So if the Kings hire Darryl Sutter as coach, they would’ve lost this game 2-0 instead of 3-0. Oh joy.
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This team, the way they’re playing right now, couldn’t hang with a mediocre AHL squad.
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It,s okay Kopi, better times ahead!
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take it to the net..HARD !!!!! You are our best player…Be that player…show some emotion…..
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Fire Stevens!
:O
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Why do the fans always have to carry the burden of team failure?
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number 6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Because they are from a city that in… what am I saying? How about once upon a time, a player named Marty McSorley went to the sporting goods store to buy a stick. This stick was a very important stick because ….. see what happens when you’re tired and trying to follow this. The way I’m writing is like the way the organization is functioning at the moment.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, I would be happy to coast through (basically) 3 hours of work every other day for the league minimum. Where do I sign up
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
@number6, @xeropoint,
Hmmm…
Neither of you guys answered my question.
Nothing is more nonsensical than a rabid sports fan.
Perhaps it is time to turn this team off my TV screen, for awhile.
[Reply]
Lime Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Bluff
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number 6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Bad news Bakes. I’m coming to LA end of the week for three weeks. As I don’t have center ice back here, it’s a non issue. But in LA. I think I’m gonna take your advice if you’re giving it and stay away from the tube. I’d like to have a nice stay in LA.
And for that I can thank Deano, cause as much as I love the Kings, I simply have no belief whatsoever in this coaching move.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@number 6, @Lime,
I hate being powerless more than anything in the entire world.
Nothing to do here but suffer.
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@number 6,
Enjoy your trip.
I was stupid enough to buy tickets for the Jan Insiders game…
I’m also an ECHL Bakersfield Condors fan. They sit at 6-16-3 & just ended a 12 game winless streak, on Sunday.
At one point this weekend, my hockey teams were on a 16 game losing streak…
kinginsaltlake Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, I’ll try and answer your question. We carry the burden because we are Die Hard fans. It’s hard trying to kill us off. Many fans gave up weeks ago, but no we stick around taking the punishment. Someday soon it will all make sense to us all.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@kinginsaltlake,
…Make it so!
[Reply]
kinginsaltlake Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, How’s your ECHL team doing?
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@kinginsaltlake,
See above…
:-O
kinginsaltlake Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Utah Grizzles are doing better this year. I’ll catch a Condor’s game when they come to town.
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
@kinginsaltlake,
Make it so!
The Condors are young, not very talented, with a rookie coach who was a hated rival’s big D-man two years ago…
They have decent goalies but have no puck-moving defensemen…
They may only win 12-15 games all season.
Jadedtool Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
@kinginsaltlake, I, too, am one of the many die-hard, masochistic Kings fans. Have been for literally decades, plural. Sometimes I get so upset that I truly feel that I am affected more than the players. Lately, I have become certain of this. I’ve seen individual slumps on this team every year, however, I can honestly say this is the first time the entire team has slumped all at once. We may have a ton of skill, there’s no question. But I honestly feel that we have too large a collection of psycholgically weak players, players that lack the drive and ambition to EVER take this team to the next level. I certainly hope I’m wrong, but that’s my take. I don’t see this same group of players being together much longer. Dean said it himself. Maybe he made some poor character choices. I think DL’s next move should be to bring in a hypnotist, and then eliminate him like in Office Space.
[Reply]
joan fondell Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
@Jadedtool, I’m one of those die-hard fans too. When the Kings lose I am in a bad mood, as if I played the game. But the Kings have to remain composed. They played a poor defensive game, they looked like they had before, poor passes, coughing up the puck. Penner is SO bad, and SO SLOOOW. I can’t believe his missed an open shot. If he can’t score in that situation, he can’t score. Forget it DL, acknowledge your error in getting him, and waive him. Let some other team deal with his inconsistent play. The money is lost anyway, along with the long-list of draft picks given away for him. Westy isn’t worth keeping around–he’s not skilled enough to be dressed. Drewiske suited up tonight due to Mitchell’s injury, but Martinez is better than Drewiske–poor coaching choice in putting Drewiske in over Martinez. If you need grit and toughness–bring up Muzzin. He showed promise. He’ll never get better if you keep him in Manchester. Too many penalties early on and poor passes, and incomplete play was the reason the Kings lost. Rask played a great game when he needed too, along with a couple of goal posts…but the Kings lack of strong defensive play lost this game.
40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:22 am
@kinginsaltlake, We’ve been through much worse than this. Don’t ever test the resolve of a Kings fan. Chicago Cubs fans are maybe the only ones out there that can even relate,,,,, and they actually won a World Series a hundred years ago. We’ll keep coming back because there’s always the next game. Our team is in an epic funk right now but they will turn it around and I’ll still be here cheering them on.
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You are right about one thing Kopi… We will have to fight through this. You guys have a game to play. It’s a game. Be ready you are professionals. Every team must learn how to come together and play to win. My question to you would be… Is there a split in the lockeroom?
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Were looking at you Kopi start scoring goals please!
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“It’s pretty much the same story, I guess.”
Should have stopped right there, Anze. Nothing else to talk about.
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Damn players had a good coach fired. Fans wanted Murray gone too, for what?
Tonight was ECHL level hockey. The turnovers were laughable, the defense was terrible, the Bruins completely outclassed the Kings.
Jack Johnson continues to be average. Career minus player.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:34 am
@Räikkönen, Tukka Rask was out of his mind. Best game I’ve seen a goalie play all year for any team. We got beat and could have done some things better (like faceoffs), but they’re the Stanley Cup champs for a reason and considering our state of affairs right now, I thought we gave them a game. 41 shots and many were quality opportunities while Quick only saw 22. We outhit them and took fewer penalties but just couldn’t get the puck past an on-fire goalie. We lost, yep. Outclassed? I don’t think so.
[Reply]
TeamJMFJ Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:49 am
@Räikkönen, even i will agree that JJ was uninspiring tonight with his play…
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This is going to need a little to change this wont happen overnight. Once we bring in a new coach, one who doesn’t try to follow the game plan of the previous coach we will start to see a change. I dont think Sutter is the answer but I have time to wait if sutter gets us to the right coach I am fine with it. He cant do much worse at this point
[Reply]
Just keep going still a lot of hockey left. Get skid out of the way early looked good tonight but just doesn’t look like all the lines are in sync.
Expendable players
Lokti
Williams
Stoll
Hunter
Fraser
Westie
Johnson
Doughty
Got some pieces to work with dean you’re next on the block bud
[Reply]
Daniel Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@Kings4life, You forgot Brown…
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freezer flatten Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Daniel, dont forget greene. too many players reaching for the puck instead of moving their feet.
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raitis Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@Kings4life,
Doughty had one of his best games of the season…
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:43 am
@raitis, He did. The score really doesn’t tell the story of this game and that’s what happens when you’re not catching any breaks. I thought Penner played well too. This team will get there if they stick together and trust eachother. Lots of hockey left and we’re still very much in the hunt.
[Reply]
kingszzz Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@Kings4life, yep
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@Kings4life, that’s like half the team. Let’s trade Quick while we’re at it, he’s given up 3 or more goals the last three games. All I’m saying, when they finally get out of this funk they will with a vengeance. Next game we win will be a 7-0 blow-out then we’ll go on a winning streak… it might take awhile for that to happen, but that’s how it usually works with the kings.
[Reply]
kingszzz Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@DEH, so, a double and 1/3 hat trick for Kopi?
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Kings4life Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
@DEH, Don’t you have an NBA fantasty draft or something else to do? Even if quick puts up a 0 we still don’t win… Quick is only reason we aren’t the ducks right now. I’d trade Bernie before quick. What gives you any idea we are going to score 7 goals in a week let alone a game?…
[Reply]
DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@Kings4life,
exaggerate – ex·ag·ger·ate [ig-zaj-uh-reyt] Show IPA verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to magnify beyond the limits of truth; overstate; represent disproportionately: to exaggerate the difficulties of a situation.
DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@Kings4life,
sarcasm – sar·casm [sahr-kaz-uhm] Show IPA
noun
1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:46 am
@DEH, Exactly! The score is not reflecting it YET, but they’re starting to play better hockey and we will come out on the other end of this thing better for it. I think a tight team is going to emerge from all this adversity.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@Kings4life,
So the whole roster right? Other than Richards and Quick and Kopi?
[Reply]
Kings4life Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@number 6, didn’t saw trade em all. Put something togeather with the pieces we have. We have too many players that do the same thing.
[Reply]
neil Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
@Kings4life, we need to trade what we have in excess….A goalie,a first round pick that hasnt played to his potential(try and sell the idea to the other team that Lewis is the next Moulson in a different system)and a couple extra defensemen….
joan fondell Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
@Kings4life, Get rid of Westy and Hunter. I liked Lokti on the PP.
Lately, the Kings are losing faceoffs that land in their net. Fraser on a defensive end faceoff is a major GOOF! Interim =just as bad.
Get a coach who knows what their doing! Tonight was like amateur hour.
[Reply]
Another disgraceful display of mediocrity from a team that is loaded with talent…sounds like Kopitar & Co. still believe the hype. So wrong…
[Reply]
Quick needs to get a Gordie Howe hat trick to turn things around. No really, Clifford and Westy need to drop the gloves, offense needs to attack the middle (this playing on the boards is getting old), and for the love of god no more dump and chase, especially on a power play.
[Reply]
Kings4life Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@DEH, Yea lol pp dump and chase is awesome… Kompons head must explode when he saw how easy it was for bruins to enter with possesion
[Reply]
DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@Kings4life, right, how do you have a coach known as a video and strength and conditioning coach run our power play? The man should stick to running the VCR, handling the jump ropes, and chilling in the owners box, you know, what he’s actually qualified for. Hire Sutter only if you bring in an offensive minded assistant to run the.. well offense and power play. Stevens could stay to help with the kill and defense, if Sutter isn’t enough for that already.
[Reply]
40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:52 am
@DEH, How Kompon ever got into that position simply boggles the mind. How Murray and Lombardi have let it go on this long is beyond belief.
Come on guys, look at the bright side…………………uhhhhh
[Reply]
tacomakingsfan Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@Lake Forest,
There’s always next season?? MORE Pride MORE Passion More Power??
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Kings x Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@tacomakingsfan, = playoffs don’t forget
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
@Lake Forest, they’re getting paid?
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I’m watching the Wild and Jets on Center Ice. Both teams are going at it hard. 1-1 game in the second. This is a hockey game. Both teams are going at it. With passion and power. What I watched earlier was practice for Boston.
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petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@kinginsaltlake, the J ets play hard every night – 1,1 eh, just left that game 20 minutes ago myself, who potted for the Jets?
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You can take Kopi’s statements here and stuck them at the end of any of the last 4 games and nobody would be able to tell the difference.
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Maybe the next coach can find a way to play Kopitar less than 20 minutes a night. My guess from Dean’s comments is he’s calling around the league selling players. A few guys should be gone in the next week or two. They can start scoring goals for another team because they sure aren’t doing it for LA. Dean can stockpile some draft picks for the next GM’s rebuild.
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neil Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
@vicarious, dean can stockpile draft picks…just defenseman so when we lose a forward or have some that are not playing well..we dont have ONE to bring up….Our minor league system must be really bad when you cant replace a Cliffy,Lewis,ETC..In other words in year 6 of the rebuild we dont have one forward that can play on the 4th line that is better than Frasor….
[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@neil, That’s okay, who needs forwards when we have like 8 defensemen in the wings. DL should just bring up some of those D men and he could replace the forwards and put five defensemen on the ice at the same time. Cause it’s defense that wins championships..
[Reply]
Valeri Bure Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:40 am
@neil, Yea fraser is the man, I’m so glad we traded Smyth for him. Smyth is doing nothing this year, besides outscoring every King.
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Dont jump ship yet fellas. Give it a few games
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@Mikey,
The Kings outshot the Bruins 41-22, but scored no goals…
The Kings have scored less than 2 goals in 23 of 30 games…
It’s a miracle this team is not last in the conference.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
give it time
[Reply]
David Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, It’s not a miracle, it’s Jonathan Quick
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@David,
AMEN to that, Brother!
Mikey Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, those were not quality shots. Let’s get some speed, passes, foundation.. things will eventually fall into place
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
@Mikey,
A quality shot is one that gets into the net…
PERIOD.
We miss Simmonds, Smyth, and Zeus more than we could ever have imagined.
No banging, puck-possessing 3rd line anymore…
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
@Mikey,
If the Kings would jump ship, they’d miss the water…
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Mikey Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, haha.. Penner would miss. That’s for sure
[Reply]
Valeri Bure Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:41 am
@Mikey, oh wait Penner had 2 good games last week, earning him top line status for the rest of the season.
DanFan Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, I almost spit out my food.
[Reply]
The Kings continue not moving well nor passing the puck well. That was a clinic by Boston who moved the puck around on the Kings like the Kings were pylons. That score could have been far worse than 3-0.
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freezer flatten Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
@Pumpernicholl, lets face it. if not for our goaltenders, we would have about two wins.
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freezer flatten Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
@Pumpernicholl, lets face it. if not for our goaltenders, we would have about two wins.
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TeamJMFJ Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:01 am
@freezer flatten, you can say that again…
[Reply]
petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@Pumpernicholl, different game if Pens hits the open net in the 1st
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Pumpernicholl Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@petemagoop, I disagree. The Bruins were so much better than the Kings tonight in all major areas, if Penner had scored the Bruins would not have been down for long. The Kings played a sluggish game, the Bruins most definitely did not.
[Reply]
petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
@Pumpernicholl, they got 40 something shots for COL
Funny on one of the Kings PP in the third period the defensemen was skating the puck up the ice the forwards had speed and the d-man didn’t send it in or keep skating, so all three forwards stopped at the blue line, I think I could count on one hand how many times the Kings entered the zone with speed. They need Richie back and Willie and Martinez back. VOYNOV AND LOKTI ARE TERRIBLE. Lokti was coasting behind the Bruin on the first goal, he is ALWAYS a step behind, No vision for where the play is going at all. He sucks. Voynov has turned quickly into a player who hesitates, as soon as you hesitste you lose, Look how many times the Kings don’t one time a shot, they stop the puck and in the second it takes to shoot…lanes are closed. For gods sakes Brown Roof the sucker.
[Reply]
FabKings Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
@brian spain, I agree about Loktionov sucking, again. But I honestly think this was thee only game Voynov looked bad. I think he’s been great. Lokti has nothing that I can see, needs more AHL games for him.
Drewieske was thee worst KING out there tonight, seems everytime he had the puck in defensive zone, he coughed it up, if not for Quick easily couldve been 6-0. Now I know why Murray never played Drewieske, he sucks ala Jones a few years ago.
Go KINGS Go!
[Reply]
Raunq12 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:46 am
@brian spain,
You forgot to add Williams to that list.
He coughs up the puck waaay too much.
Whats wrong with him this season?
Is he hurt?
[Reply]
Every game starts off in overtime
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Kopi,
I am with you on this one. Sometimes the only way out is straight through. Hang in there boys, nothing lasts forever and it surely cannot get much worse!!
GKG!
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Out of a job? Tell DL you’ll remove the “Time is Now” Billboards for a great price!!
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xeropoint Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@kingszzz, Whoever’s in charge of marketing for the Kings must be sweating BULLETS right about now!
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kingszzz Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
@xeropoint, No doubt! I mean, how do you leave those things up all over town??? How embarrassing.
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Eric K Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
@kingszzz, Because not everyone gives up after a five-game losing streak in December?
At least the Staples is nice to watch a game in….That’s one good thing….I guess…
[Reply]
neil Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
@Bowtie SilverBlack, when a team is boring …no place is nice to watch a game!!!!
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xeropoint Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@Bowtie SilverBlack, Staples center is aptly named. The opponents after the game always say “that was easy!”
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CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
@xeropoint, LOL. It’s sad, but true.
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MmmmYummy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
@xeropoint, niiiice
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TeamJMFJ Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:03 am
@xeropoint, zing…
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Someone questioned me on how I could call this organization a mess….how can you not call it a mess. We are also the only team to fire a coach this year and not have a replacement ready…We are the only team that when a top 6 forward asks to be traded we only get a throw in for him…A throw in who we didnt even want. How can you trade a top 6 forward and have the other team pick the player that you are going to get in return…Its a cliche for a reason..Nice guys really do finish last…
[Reply]
Jonathan Quick is the only player performing on this team right now. Think HE can play the point on the power play? Couldn’t do any worse. Maybe we start Bernier, and dress Quick as a forward?
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Rask played well, but we sorely need a finisher type winger to play with either Kopi or Richards when he gets back. If Sutter is indeed the choice, I hope we’re able to work those Calgary connections.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@He Shoots He Scores,
We need Nick to say your name…
Again and again…
[Reply]
Raunq12 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:49 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Nick does, unfortunately its for the other team.
Didn’t we have an awful December last season?
[Reply]
The team is surrounded by a glut of third and fourth liners this needs to change and it starts with dustin brown being traded in a package. Get tuomo rutttu for toughness and glason. Another player that has overextended his stay is greene. in addition another guy that needa to go is stoll. If the kings really want to shake it up doughty to nashville for shea weber and a combo of david legwand.
[Reply]
Valeri Bure Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:50 am
@steve, funny joke. Package Brown for a piece of garbage cheap shot player? Who is Glason? The best part…trading Doughty for Weber and a “combo of David Legwand” You want Nashville to trade us a multiple Norris nominee and consistent defenseman, along with their Franchise favorite player for an overpaid Dman who had 1.5 good seasons?
So we have too many 3rd and 4th liners? I agree. So lets get Tuomo Ruutu…another grinder.
[Reply]
OK lets fire DL and the whole team, that would make these posters happy. Maybe the posters should play the game………….
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
@John Roy Morgan,
The only thing that can make me happy is a win.
Then, another win…
That takes scoring a goal.
Then, another goal… In the same game!
[Reply]
Kings4life Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@John Roy Morgan, I can score 0 goals a game and lose 6 straight no prob. Sign me up, I’ll take 2 mil of Doughtys 7 I’m a bargain
[Reply]
Ever since Mike Richards got hurt, the team got hurt.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@Harry,
Oh, so true…
Suppose he’s out for months & months, a la Crosby?
[Reply]
Raunq12 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:50 am
@Harry,
Yup, agree 100%
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I don’t want to hear or read the same old “Eventually they’ll go in” or “Eventually we’ll score”. I want to hear or read somebody that is fed up with the lack of offence. Get ****ed off. I want to see players driving the net, not this getting over the opponents blueline and shooting it into the goalie’s chest. I want to see speed entering the offensive zone. And STOP with the offsides!!
Oh, and Kopi, start practicing your faceoff skills, because they are sorely lacking. 6 for 13 this game and 4 for 14 last game. Unexceptable.
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@scootty, Kopi’s never been a good faceoff guy. If he wasn’t such a good 2-way player he would have been moved to wing by now.
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Mike Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
@DEH, I’m starting to think Kopi’s a 2nd line center rather than a 1st… He would be on just about every top tier team in the NHL right now.. With the exception of Florida and Minnesota anyways… Detroit, NY, Pitts, Wash, Boston, Van, SJ and CHI Kopi would be seeing 2nd line duties…
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DEH Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@Mike, on most top tier teams he would be playing left wing and not center. Probably first line left wing, none the less a top 6 winger.
If Kopitar was even remotely interested in winning a faceoff, especially on the PP, the Kings might have some better chances. He’s got decent numbers in the circle, but I wouldn’t put him out there when the Kings need to win a draw. Tough to put any of these players out there when the Kings NEED something done. Most seem to be small timers.
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So, is it back to “Dumbo”?
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No one expectedd the Kings to win this one. Mentally they just hit bottom. I say they take 2 of the next three road games; bring i t home mad as hell; and start gelling and winning. Sutter will NOT be the coach; Kompon will be gone; Richards is back; Lokti back to AHL; and Doughty giving som eof his millions to charity for Xmas (ok, maybe not the last one). This team is too good to not turn it around. Spring will be ours….GKG!!!!! Keep chargin’ Boys! Time to put the naysayers to rest. Murphy’s gone. Turn the page – it is a new chapter.
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xeropoint Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
@crashin’da net, I’m all for that but the writing seems to be on the wall for Sutter.
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scootty Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@crashin’da net, Sutter will be the coach, and WILL make this team better. Sutter is what this team needs. Somebody that is going to give them a kick in the ***. I was all for John Hynes, but at this point Dean needs to bring in somebody that he knows can get results, and with an AHL or CHL coach, those are ‘hoping they can get results’ coaches. Those are coaches you bring in the off-season, not almost mid way through the season.
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I wonder if we can trade Kopitar for Tim Tebow….or at the very least hire Tebow to be our next coach:)
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Bonvivant1 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
@KJCHIP30, Maybe the Kings need to find Jesus. Just a thought. Tebow has really inspired his team. Tebow is not the most technically sound quarterback but all he does is win baby.
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Look on the bright side, we’re only 5 point from the top of the division…
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brig33 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@DEH, Yea the only good thing, if we actually get our act together, is that our division is kind of terrible this season.
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I guess this is why you don’t purchase a ton of billboards around town that say, “The Time is Now” before you have proved anything.
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
@DBking, it should read “My Time is Up”
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The Time Is…..NEXT YEAR!
Hopefully?
(I’m crossing my fingers)
Yeah! That’s it….. We’ll get ‘em next year!
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Lets start a new trend at Staples, Occupy grocery bags. Like the days of the hapless Saints of the NFL let’s all wear our grocery bags over our heads because of how utterly embarrased we are of this team.
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Bonvivant1 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@TiredOfIt, Lol. Make sure you use recyclable bags though.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@Bonvivant1, Good one
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vicarious Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:19 am
@TiredOfIt, Glad someone else mentioned the bag idea because I was thinking the same thing last night. Recyclable bags for the politically correct.
If the losing streak hits 10, I thought.
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At least a half dozen times here I have tried to make the case that the real problem here is with Dean Lombardi and that it is unlikely we will progress forward until he has been fired. I’ve gotten very little support. I keep hearing that we are better now than when he took over. And that it takes time to build a winner. So many of the responses seem to forget that this is his fifth year and I believe he was talking about a five year plan when he took over. He also talked about building through the draft. Just tonight he claimed that he had a wonderful coach in place and had to fire him because the players let him and the coach down. I ask you this: are we really better off than when he took over.
Time to look at some facts. Dean Lombardi was hired after the 2006-2007 season. That season the kings finished 4th in the Pacific with 68 pts after the previous season they had finished 42-35-5 with 89 pts and just missed the playoffs. During the 2006-07 season four of the six teams finishing last in their divisions were: Philadelphia, Boston, Washington and Chicago. According to Lombardi, it should have taken them some years to build a winner. Did it? In 2007-08 the Kings finished last in the Pacific with 71 pts. Philadelphia finished 4th in the Atlantic but made the playoffs with 95pts, an improvement of 39 pts in the standings! Boston fisished 3rd in the NE with 94 pts, an improvement of 18 pts, and made the playoffs. Washington finished 1st in the Atlantic and made the playoffs with 94pts. Chicago finished 3rd in the Central and is the only team of the four to not make the playoffs but their 88 pts was a 17pt improvement. And where were the Kings? 71pts–last in the Pacific and far out of the playoffs. In 2008-09 Philadelphia finished 3rd in the Atlantic with 99pts and made the playoffs again. Boston finished first in the NE with 116pts, just missing the President’s Trophy. Washington finished 1st in the SE with 108 pts and made the playoffs. Chicago finished 2nd in the Central with 104pts and made the playoffs. And the Kings? 79pts–last in the Pacific and far out of the playoffs. The past two seasons the Kings have made the playoffs but so have the other four teams, two of them, Boston and Chicago, winning Stanley Cups, a third, Philadelphia, playing in the Cup Final, and the last, Washington winning the President’s Trophy and being well over 100 points the past three years. This year Boston, Philadepphia and Chicago are once again at the top of their divisions and Washington looks like it will be challenging for that spot. And where are we? Improving? Do we look like even a playoff team? Within one year of finishing last in their divisions, three of the four teams were in the playoffs and the other just missed while we languished in last for two years while Lombardi was supposedly retooling through the draft, claiming he needed time.
And what about the draft. Lombardi has drafted now for 5 years. Whom has he brought to the team via that route? The draft choices that are the heart of the team–Kopitar, Quick, Brown–were drafted by Dave Taylor. Lombardi has brought in Doughty, Clifford, Voynov and Martinez. He has also drafted Symmonds, Teubert and Schenn and traded them away. You could argue that he brought in Richards via the Schenn/Symmonds trade and Penner by trading Teubert. But neither Schenn or Teubert has proven themselves and Symmonds is likely to be a 3rd line player. In addition, he used the #4 overall pick in the 2007 draft to choose Thomas Hickey, a player rated 18th by NHL scouting. Twelve of the Thirteen players drafted AFTER Hickey are in the NHL, some impact players on their teams. So looking at his drafts over the full five years, Doughty was a no-brainer draftee, although he is beginning to look overrated, and Voynov and Martinez have shown potential but are far from established. Remember, 5 years.
What about his free agent signings? Yes, he did bring in Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, Michael Handzus and Jason Williams. But in his first year alone he also brought in Dan Cloutier, an over-the-hill Rob Blake, Tom Preissing, Brad Stuart, Kyle Calder, Brian Willsie, and Scott Thornton. Numerous other free agents–Ethan Moreau, Alexei Ponakarovsky etc., have not fared well here. He has proven himself to be generally inept at judging free agent veteran talent.
And his trades? Jack Johnson for Eric Belanger and Tim Gleason. I keep hearing Johnson being touted but I see a lot of defensive mistakes and I’m not sure he’s any better than Gleason, who is still starting with Carolina. Lubomir Viznovsky for Greene and Stoll? You can argue the merit of that one. It was no big coup for us. And certainly the Cammalleri deal was a real bust as was letting Matt Moulson slip away.
So let’s sum it up. The records of Philadelphia, Boston, Washington and Chicago are direct evidence of not needing a 5-year-plan to become successful. Our failure to achieve their level is a direct indictment of Lombardi–his methods, his abilities, and his attitude. He marched in with the arrogant attitude that everything before him had to be changed. Well, it’s been five years. Where are the results?
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Whodawat Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
@RussD, So what you’re saying is, bring back Dave Taylor!? I’m down for it!
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king o' philly Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
@RussD,
a brilliant, clear, cogent indictment of lombardi.
disturbingly on the mark, actually…
i only quibble with the johnson/gleason comparison. i think for all his lapses, jj is pretty awesome. skilled, tough, offensive-minded d-man.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
@RussD, I hear what you are saying, but I dont agree about your assesment of Jack Johnson. He does make the occasional mistake but his positives clearly outweigh his negatives. He is the best defenseman we have and our defense is our silver lining. It is greatly improved.
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vicarious Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:25 am
@TiredOfIt, IMO Johnson has the tools but has been a liability. He plays too aggressive and gets beat too often. He’s been better this year but is still at -5 after 30 games.
If you want an outsiders analysis, check out The Copper and the Blue on last year’s Vancouver series. They run an analysis of all the players. According to those figures (WOWY/CORSI etc) Johnson and Richardson were our two worst when comparing chances generated vs. chances given up in that series. Doughty played lights out against the best competition. Or check Yahoo for the most amzzing plus-minus ratios.
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Raunq12 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:07 am
@RussD,
I agree 100%.
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Rich, How about a Richards injury update? Is he on the road trip or in LA? Thanks!
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CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
@hockeysureshot, He’s still in LA. They said he might meet the team at some point on the roadie if he gets clearance from the docs, but given that it’s a concussion, I doubt we’ll be seeing him until after Christmas.
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hockeysureshot Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
@CB14, Thanks for the reply. What a bummer. Watching the game tonight, and seeing some of our bottom 6 forwards I really missed Handzus and Smyth. At least they played hard. I can’t see playing Fraser, Hunter, and Westgarth in the same game anymore. Too many offensive liabilities.
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Kopitar kind of sucks now
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kingarella Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Eldoret, who doesn’t? even the fans suck now…
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Kingstane9 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:00 am
@Eldoret, yea we all suck right now
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vicarious Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:28 am
@Eldoret, Results aren’t there but the Kings have him playing big minutes. IMO, K’s wearing down. IMO, they should play Lewis just to take Kopitar off the penalty kill and give him some rest so K has more gas to score.
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41 shots… big deal, when 36 of them was from the blue line or the half walls.. Hell, I’m waiting for Quick to say F’ this and skate out and take a few shots himself….
The problem with this teams scoring woes are 100% shot quality versus shots taken…
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someone give Kopi a hug.
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I’m worried about Kopi’s speed and his recent performances, hope he can get some of it back. Obviously it hurts his game, others are beating him to the puck, they get there before him, also losing a lot of battles at the boards and falling on the ice a lot these games, losing face offs…What happened Anže, post injury crisis or is it the situation in the club (doubt its the only matter with him here)? Somebody please fix him!
GO KINGS!!
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Ya kopi you threw shots at the net but let’s face it you guys have sucked on defense and faceoffs. I seen midget leagues play better d then the king thus far in the season
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