John Stevens’ postgame thoughts…
(on the game…)
STEVENS: “I think we saw a lot of things. I thought the guys tried really hard tonight. I thought they did a lot of good things in the offensive zone, and I thought they expended a lot of energy trying to win a hockey game, considering the emotions that they’ve gone through with Terry being let go, a man they respect enormously. I really thought they acted like professionals tonight and really tried to focus on the hockey game and winning the hockey game.’’
(on the Bruins’ chances…)
STEVENS: “I know we’re trying to score, but we don’t want to get away from the fundamentals and the foundation that has been set through Terry’s tenure here. That has really been the key to the success here, is limiting opportunities. I thought we gave them a few too many opportunities, just off our own turnovers. They’re so good at checking in the neutral zone and they come back at you. They’re a really good transition team, so I think we need to keep that kind of an effort going forward in the offensive zone and just be more determined. We’ve talked about this for a while, but we had some really good opportunities that need to end up in the net that didn’t.’’
(on the Kings’ start to the game, with the early penalty…)
STEVENS: “I think it forces you to expend a lot of energy, which is not good. Now you’re fighting an uphill battle and you’re trying to play catch-up. That’s never good, especially against a team as good, defensively, as Boston is. You have key guys killing penalties and using up a lot of valuable energy that you want to try to have at the other end. So that’s never a situation you want to be in. I thought we got through it pretty good, and that’s where I thought Quicker really helped us out, when we had the penalty early. You want to get flow on your bench, and you have guys end up sitting there too long and other guys playing too much. Three penalties in the first period, like that, is not a good thing.’’
No “Compete” No “Compete” !!!
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Donald_S Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:33 am
@kingszzz,
The puck just isn’t going in the net. I just did a check. The Kings are scoring on about 7% of their shots, versus about 9% for the average team. Over the last few years, that’s about the worst shooting percentage you can find. It’s as if the Kings used to bat .275 and now they are batting .250. It’s no wonder they are losing. If they were scoring at a 9% pace like they did last year and the year before (and the year before, etc, etc.), they’d have scored another 20 goals. And if that were the case, Murray would still be coach and the Kings would be in the middle of the top 8 in the West. I don’t know what it means, but it’s interesting that the whole team is shooting so poorly.
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:37 am
@Donald_S, shot selection……
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Bill M. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:38 am
@neil, We have a winner…
Donald_S Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:29 am
@neil,
Yeah, buy why would Stoll, Brown and Williams suddenly be so poor at shot selection versus last year? Same system, the guys are healthy, but their shooting percentage is way down.
Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:56 am
@Donald_S, – Sometimes you hunt the bear, and sometimes the bear hunts you. This will change. Hopefully before it’s too late.
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anaheimbob Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:12 am
@Donald_S, Great statistic, thanks.
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DLB Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:36 am
@Donald_S, Shooting percentages are highly volatile. Sometimes teams hit career highs all at once (like the Caps a few seasons ago) and sometimes they hit lows at all the same time (Devils, last season).
Then there’s the mental side of the game, which is tougher to document. But lack of success can breed lack of confidence, reinforcing the trend; and vice versa.
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Kingstane9 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 5:37 am
@kingszzz, hehe…
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“respected enormously”
are you kidding? they wanted him out, i wanted him out, but sadly it hasnt done much yet…YET, and he’s just another TM anyway so whadya expect
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Lake Forest Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, and you expected them to do a 180 the day after losing their coach of 3 seasons?
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
@Lake Forest, instinct man, they just gone out there to play, leave everything off the ice
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mars Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, Not many players can flip that switch and hit the zone. Maybe we need a shrink to see the team. Hypnotist?
Bkrs-Bud Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
@Lake Forest, It works on his video game.
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Christian T Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, I am getting the feeling that many players did not really want him to go. And if they did they found out after their talk with Dean that they are just as much if not more to blame for Murray losing his job. It’s much easier to start with removing the coach than multiple players but if they can’t get a puck past the goalie then that should be next.
I wanted TM fired but I hold the players accountable for this possible disaster.
[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:46 am
@Christian T, I actually hold DL responsible. He let go several key “grinders”, and the big acquisitions where all speed, scoring guys (gagne, richards, penner). DL tried to change the make of the team to one that has a more high powered offense, but just changing the players is not enough, you have to change the identity of the team to match. That means you have to have speed and playmaking in your bottom six, so they can all play the same game and maintain momentum.
Instead we have two lines trying to play redwings hockey and two lines that just aren’t capable of that, so they try to play nashville hockey. Makes it hard to coach. Makes it hard to play, because you always have to be thinking about which things applied to your line, and it makes it really hard on the D, because their level of aggression changes depending on which forwards are on the ice.
If you try to change the identity of the team, you have to go all the way, or you’ll get a big step backward.
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steveo Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, . There is no way that they wanted to see him go this way. They put the work in to more of the life style out here than they put into the game it seems like. A lot of sports writers and sports anchors had been talking pretty highly of this team before this season started, and this is the result. Boy did our boys prove a lot of them to be liars. This decision does fall on the players, not TM. I hope Lambo ripped into to these guys real deep.
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, He’s really not, but he’s been told to warm the seat for the guy who will be taking over the team. He’s playing the roll of company man right now, doing what the GM wants and showing loyalty to the people who gave him a job.
With that said, the thing that has been working for the Kings (defense) is what Stevens was in charge of. The thing he wasn’t (offense) is why the team is in the position its in now.
Give the guy a break.
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..And how would Darryl Sutter react to this loss?
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, with a bunch of words that can’t be said on this blog
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@DEH,
See below…
Funny!
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Ben Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Who cares?
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
@Ben,
Because the Jolly Rancher is coming to town…
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You have Lokti + your best face off man – Stoll on the 2nd PP unit. Why have Penner, a winger take the face off?
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Somebody should tell him we lost 3-0.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@CB14,
Maybe we shouldn’t. He’s only got a job for a few more days. Let him enjoy it. (though I think he’ll continue to be paid until the contract runs out next year).
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I’d bench Doughty and Williams and strip that C off Brown…never should of had it
Still haven’t won a game without Richards…
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
@Paul G, and that’s why your not an NHL coach! DD is making bone headed penalty’s and Williams isn’t producing and brown isn’t hitting but there are allot of players making there own mistakes and its a team sport so until they decide to play as a team it doesn’t matter who the coach is!
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Kramsteezy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
@KingsFan1971, I thought tonight was one of DD’s best games this year. He was actually moving and being aggressive like the DD of two years ago. If he keeps playing like that, the points will come. He’s been sitting back far too much this year and last.
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alicia Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:47 am
@Kramsteezy,
I agree! He was actually trying to score goals. He also wasnt compromising the defenseend too much to do it. I like when Doughty is the aggressive player he was a few years ago. That is the way i saw him last night too.
Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
@Kramsteezy,
Agree++
Trust me when I tell you that guys with the all around game that Doughty has don’t grow on trees. There are scores of solid stay at home offenseman out there, but very few guys who have the offensive ability that Doughty has. People seem to have a really short memory here. Doughty got knocked out for a couple of weeks at the start of the season with a concussion, remember? The problem is that you see too many guys saying: the team is flat, I’m going to try and make something happen. That only works when other people are on the same page.
adanac Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:37 pm
@Paul G, Your so right! DD is the heart of our problem and Williams just quit after his new contract. I guess it just is all about the money. What a mess! Well let’s get on with our new 8 year plan.
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jacky boy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
@Paul G, Mike Richards should be the captain of this team… Then u’ll see some people get their rear ends in shape
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Bill M. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:49 am
@jacky boy, Actually, a lot of philly fans believe the “C” was the beginning of the end for Richards with the Flyers. His production dropped as soon as they stitched it to his sweater.
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
@Bill M.,
That’s not accurate whatsoever.
Well personally well done to Stevens for referencing the penalties and the affect that that has on the hockey team and specific players.
That was my one big gripe about tm this year, in that I rarely heard him talk about what was very obvious… undisciplined play leading to penalties. And he never mentioned it once after the Dallas game.
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Gotta hand it to Bobby Scribe for this one:
http://lakingsnews.com/2011/12/13/boston-bruins-shut-out-kings-3-0-stop-me-if-youve-heard-this-one/
“But don’t worry kids…all of our offensive woes will soon be fixed. Because…
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Darryl Sutter is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out whose gritty on the ice
Darryl Sutter is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been playing D
So play D for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Darryl Sutter is coming to town
Darryl Sutter is coming to town
YEAH!”
[Reply]
Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, i like haaah
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The Champ Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, HA Niceee
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petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
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McCheese Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:54 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, pretty good, but Sutter Claus from the other day was quite sweet as well…
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jeff Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, i like that but lets face the facts we have no speed and know drive and no heart and no Getty in the start till the ens so lets get a coach like sutter to lite a fire under the teams blank and lets play hockey we need to bring up some heart from manchester and sit penner down and get stoll to to play hard and get kopitar to skate i would do a mirical after there games just like the movie look at boston not a top scoree on the team in top of the nhl they just pick up the trsh and move there feet and make you pay for our mistakes and they did last night we played sloppy at times lets face the facts we suck it know time to show every buddy whjo the kings are and stop playing like queens
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jeff Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:03 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, i like that but lets face the facts we have no speed and know drive and no heart and no Getty in the start till the ens so lets get a coach like sutter to lite a fire under the teams blank and lets play hockey we need to bring up some heart from manchester and sit penner down and get stoll to to play hard and get kopitar to skate i would do a mirical after there games just like the movie look at boston not a top scoree on the team in top of the nhl they just pick up the trsh and move there feet and make you pay for our mistakes and they did last night we played sloppy at times lets face the facts we suck it know time to show every buddy what the kings are and stop playing like queens
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TM reincarnation, is that you? I want to see this script they read after games
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Darren, didn’t you know? John Stevens actually wrote the scripts for TM’s press conferences..
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Blah… Time to start searching the classifieds Johnny boy.
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i know how great kopi is as a two way player, but perhaps it’s time not to use him so much on the PK, so he can save his energy for offense.
i do think they played better tonight than they have in more recent games. the shots were there, the pressure was there at times, but the bounces weren’t.
penner is still a bum and needs to go, however. i don’t care how ‘good’ he’s played lately, but i’m just not seeing him fit in really.
all the talk about trading kopitar and doughty is just frustration, and i think if you’re serious about it, im not quite sure i understand the logic.
doughty looked pretty good tonight. you could see him trying to anticipate so he could jump out with the puck, which is what we need from him night in and night out.
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Action Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
@Newf,
I like everything stated here. I do however, have let up on Penner a bit. He started to play better even before the injury, and has been much better since.
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petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
@Action, he’s been their best player of late
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:05 am
@Newf, Penner has played pretty darned well since coming back, he’s been in on many of our scoring chances. And he’s hitting people. Trade Kopi? Nope. Trade Doughty? ABSOLUTELY.
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also, i really don’t want Sutter coaching this team, i’ll keep saying it. here in calgary he’s pretty much a marked man. flames fans (actual ones, not the bandwagoners) are pretty sick of their fill of sutters in this town, and they’re not exactly thrilled with brent coaching either.
NO SUTTER. please Dean, please. If i could have one thing for xmas it’d be not to have him coach the kings. i’d much prefer to see someone AHL coach come up.
[Reply]
ehdx3 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@Newf, I’m so sick of this board posting about this. An unproven AHL coach? Just because it worked once in Pittsburg doesn’t every AHL hire will be that good. Like I’ve said before, we arent losing because of lack of skill. We are losing due to a lack of fire and Sutter no doubt brings that. He wouldn’t let the boys take any moral victories after a 3 0 loss I’ll tell u that.
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Action Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Newf,
I think Calgary’s view of Darryl was soured a bit because of his GM abilities. I think he’s a hell of a lot better as a coach than he ever was as a GM. I’m in Edmonton, so I did see quite a few flames games during that time, and the one thing I liked about his coaching style was EVERYONE was accountable. He had no problem stapling someone’s ass to the bench, even Iginla’s when needed. And this was when Jarome was scoring 50.
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tellmeY Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
@Action, Amen to both the above posts…
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Bama Kings Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
@tellmeY, AMEN to that Amen!
Kramsteezy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
@Action, Agree! STRONGLY Agree! Just give me a guy who can light a fire under our listless team and Effing win!
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:07 am
@Kramsteezy, Last night’s effort was NOT listless. The puck just didn’t go in.
Roger Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:24 am
@Action, He better have alot of staples
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brig33 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@Newf, Agree, sorry other people, but I’d rather have the risk of a young coach, than another retread. I’m so sick of this team just making lateral moves! Have some balls, take a risk, if it blows up in your face then o well you tried. But this? Come on, I just want at least an attempt to move forward. This is what’s wrong with our franchise, constant moves sideways never forward.
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Stevens should remain as the assistant who handles defense and the PK which he has done a good job of improving. As some others noted in earlier threads, he doesn’t appear to have as much talent on the offensive side (granted this is just 1 game).
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DEH Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
@DesertKing, None of our coaches are talented on the offensive side, that is/was the problem. The prudent move would’ve been to hire a offensive assistant coach to balance the system out and demote Kompon to strength/conditioning coach and video coordinator which he is experienced and qualified for. How do you expect to succeed with a defensive minded strength/conditioning coach as a pp coach? The only thing that Sutter would bring that TM didn’t is some balls. Quite frankly we are playing like we have no balls.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@DEH,
I didn’t know alot of that about JK but it makes complete sense if true.
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Roger Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:26 am
@DEH, yep we need some offensive coaching. At the end of the year Dave Tippet is free
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To be fair Voynov played absolutely terrible and davis drewskie dressed. Now your down to 4 defensemen. No one wins NHL hockey games with 4 defensemen….
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@Timmy tim tim, To be fair they all played like garbage! And give the kid “Voynov” a break he has been stellar for the most part and he has 4 goals more than most of the wingers and he is a rookie to boot! And further more no one wins NHL games if they cant play as a team and score goals we need a heeluva lot more offence To Be Fair!
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My question is, do people know what a Jolly Rancher is? I know it as a hard piece of candy that wrestlers suck on to draw off body fluid & lose weight… They spit all of it out, the ultimate tease. Sweet on the tongue, never swallowed.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Boy, you really are a doctor!
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Wow- in 24 hours i’ve gone from being angry to actually feeling sorry for these guys. The effort was truly there tonight, but the same ole story in the end.The fact of the matter is, this team has no “team speed” you look at Boston, Dallas, Minnisota, they just fly past our players which makes them look stationary. Too much reaching and no skating creates more penalties. You look at the top teams in the league, and the common theme is speed. What did Bob Miller say…not one player on boston is in the top 12 in any offensive catagory? They beat you with speed. Unfortunately, for our sake, you can’t teach it. Maybe the saying holds true in Hockey…draft the best athlete,then teach them how to play the game.I don’t know, i’m just rambling… I hope we have finally hit bottom and the only way to go is up. We are hitting the panic button, yet we’re only 5 points out of the division lead…that does give some hope, i guess.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
@wideleft,
Only thing is, this ain’t the bottom…
Not by a long shot.
So far to fall
So little time…
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:12 am
@wideleft, I agree. Justin Williams has for sure lost a step (making more money, eating more?).
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Say, I think I just came up with a new scheme going forward, that I’m sure DL would go for. I say DL should replace all the forwards on the team with all the defensive prospects he’s compiled over the years. Hickey would finally see the light of day, and Muzzin, Deslaurier, Forbort, Campbell, etc. etc.. Surely, he could roll out four lines of D men at all times, ensuring that five D men were always on the ice. I mean heck, if the Kings can’t score, why should the other team? Let’s take this whole defense first thing to a whole new level!
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scepin Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:50 am
@PP Anybody?, Best thing i’ve read in weeks.
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@PP Anybody?, Is there a rule that you can only use one goalie?
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There is a new mini segment on Rogers Sportsnet called ‘Are You Kidding Me?’. It’s kind of stupid… Nonetheless, in tonight’s segment, it was the idea of Darryl Sutter returning to the NHL to coach the Kings…
Jerome Iginla had a lot of nice things to say about him and that he was pretty intense. I think intensity is what the Kings need in a coach. All signs are pointing that it’s going to be him and I wouldn’t be surprised if the announcement came tomorrow.
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petemagoop Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@California Royalty, what else is Iggy gonna say for col?
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Look….the last two games 85 shots on goal and only 1 went in? I’d say we met up with 2 hot goalies that’s what I say. If you think it’s frutrating for us how do you think the players feel.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@tellmeY,
This is the third “back up” goalie in a row to beat us. Other teams do not respect us because our offense is week.
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@DesertKing, Finally someone speaks the truth! Don’t know about you guys but I am real tired of all the whimpering and crying . Its time for these guys to suck it up and play as a team
that’s what they are paid to do.
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@KingsFan1971, And by the way Kings Fans have allot to do with them getting paid we buy tickets merchandise ect. so the way I see it they owe us fans more than what they are giving!
The Batman Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:18 am
@KingsFan1971, To be fair rask isn’t a back up goalie by any means he only plays in that role because Boston has Thomas. But yes our offense sucks and losing to 2 rookie goalies is embarrassing
A Cup Before I Die Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 2:48 am
the quality of those shots were awful@tellmeY,
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:37 am
@tellmeY, They missed the net a lot, too. I’d say it’s a combination of not being deliberate enough with shots and not getting good shot selection–again the thing with shot count being a bit misleading.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:38 am
My theory: This team just doesn’t coach offense, and there’s going to be a big lag between the time they start coaching some and start scoring consistently.
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KingMe20 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
@tellmeY,
If the shot comes form 50 feet out and is unscreened, it still counts as a shot. Not all shots are good shots. The problem is that all the shots are coming from the points or off the wings, and they’re low-percentage plays. The Kings haven’t spent anytime in the slot this season, which is where you gotta go to find goals.
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Besides the fact that I’m working and making good money in Vegas, it’s kinda nice that I’m not wasting my time watching this train wreck of a team,sad.I went to the laundry mat to wash my clothes and listened to some of the game on my phone,wow, couldn’t ,believe that it was 2-0 at the end of the 1st, just like the rest of the Insiders here I knew it was over.I haven’t looked at the schedule,don’t really care,it’s kinda of nice being away from this,other than going on the Insider.I asked my girlfriend for a new Kings hat for Christmas, maybe I should change that to something else.It’s still good going on this site and getting my Insider fix,but I’m liking my disconnect from watching this team and screaming at the TV.
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Brian Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
@LVKINGS88, You’re making good money in Las Vegas? Then explain to us why you’re washing your clothes at the laundromat?
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:18 am
@Brian, C’mon Brian… didn’t you know that thet’s where you pick up all the hot single ladies?
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@Cortex949, And I’m the guy who’s been in moderation 5 times? Yikes.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@Bama Kings,
LOL
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Scot Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:21 am
@Bama Kings,
Lol! What makes this even funnier is that whatever comment he said seems to have already been deleted. I never got to see what it was, but it must have crossed the line!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:46 am
@Scot,
It was interesting – very political – but interesting and yes, Rich removed it as he should have.
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I just don’t know what to say. I come home from a very difficult day at work, all excited to see the Kings come out and play a tough game, fired up and this happens!
Hockey used to be something that makes me supper happy. Now it just puts me in the dumps!
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Happy Lappy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, funny you should say that. I was watching the usual King’s game, anticipating a good game a goal, or, 2, maybe even 3 goals. Suddenly it’s 2-0 and I’m fast forwarding. I was thinking of how much I used to love watching the Kings, even in their bad years and I realized, it was all about the thrill of a goal, a last second goal to tie or win a game, a great hit, a good brawl. Today, I see a bland, uninspired bunch that doesn’t even get mad after losing 5 in a row! I would hope that one of our players would just go out and kick somebody’s ass! Give us just one reason to watch! It’s been such a cookie cutter effort night after night, I hope I can muster up the will to witness one more game and expect something good, just one more time.
[Reply]
KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@Happy Lappy, Boy you read my mind. been a fan along time and this is the worst time I have had to endure!
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Sorry DL, These are comments from a lame duck interim coach. Bad timing with this decision, very bad timing.
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I thought dd2 played really well
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Jason4kings Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
@neil,
Hey! Silver lining.
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Happy Lappy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
@neil, you’ve got to be kidding, I thought he looked awful.
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@Happy Lappy, hey if anyone is aloud to have a bad day he is!
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:41 am
@Happy Lappy, maybe I was HOPING he played well????
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:41 am
@neil, I thought Penner played pretty well…missed the net on a sure goal, though.
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I’m watching the replay of the game right now. On mute. Our play looks wayy more pathetic on mute for some reason. It’s almost unwatchable.
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Happy Lappy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@SpreignedAnkle, you forgot to add the blindfold.
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Jack Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:42 am
@Happy Lappy, that is funny!
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wheres the hard skating and hard checking… thats when we win… so many times i saw white jerseys just standing still
through all of this the weirdest thing is that Penner looks like one of the better ones out there.. hes playing hard.. what the heck happened to the rest
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:10 am
@jason, Penner has been a monster lately and almost every shot he takes produces a juicy rebound in the crease but there’s NEVER anyone there to take advantage. I don’t get it. You shouldn’t even have to coach that. Hockey 101: having trouble scoring goals? Crash the net!!!!
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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? Lombardi has sold the Kings hierarchy and Kings fans a bill of goods. Time for him to be removed and a talented GM replace him.
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#1faninVegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@RussD,
I am sorry, but I have to disagree. DL is not the problem.
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Jason4kings Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
@#1faninVegas,
So where does the buck stop? Dustin Brown? If there’s a problem, and there is, DL owns it
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#1faninVegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Jason4kings,
I understand that part, but overall, he has truly helped this club. I still believe he will continue to help his job.
#1faninVegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@Jason4kings,
his job = this club
PP Anybody? Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
@RussD, If it’s any consolation to you, DL will most probably be let go at the end of the season if he brings Sutter in here and it fails.
Personally, I’ve been on the fence about Dean. I’ve openly criticized him before, mostly for his lack of ability to sign the top FA’s each year, his penchant for drafting defensemen and impish scoring forwards, and his defense first mantra, but I do appreciate the way he has set up the whole organization. I like that Manchester, and to a lesser extent the Reign have been totally incorporated into a large, farm system. That was something that definitely lacked emphasis before under past GMs. I do think he has team/organizational building strengths, which is why he has had some moderate success and support from others.
I, like you, feel that he has had more than enough time to get this team to a much better place though. Personally, I think his philosophy is what is flawed. I could go into a rant 10 times as long as yours above on the merits of building from the front backwards, as opposed to Dean’s approach of building from the back end first, but I’ll save that till the end of the season(and anyone who wants to argue that point with me better prepare themselves on that one, be forewarned
) Anywho, Out.
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Scot Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:16 am
@PP Anybody?,
You used to be “LW Anybody?” right?
While we still need a better PP, some new suggestions..
- “Coach Anybody?”
- “Compete Anybody?”
Or my personal favorite..
“GOAL ANYBODY??”
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PP Anybody? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:04 am
@Scot, Yes. I tried to change it to Offense Anybody? this year, but Rich didn’t let me change it this time. The Power Play still seems to be completely missing though. I think it’s clear now that Kompon had nothing to do with any change in those schemes, it was all Richards, so my name still suits
Dazed N confused Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@RussD, Very well spoken. I do feel he has made attempts to bring in veteran players to help our young core, it just has not worked at all.
This is a boring team to watch. Down by two and it’s game over.
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thrustable Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@RussD, I have no patience to read your book.
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rick Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
@thrustable, Reading is good. So are RussD’s comments.
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HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@thrustable, You should it is very, very good reading and makes alot of sense.
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:49 am
@thrustable, denial is not good for the mind….great read and facts!!!!
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Terry Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@RussD, You are a man after my own heart…. TM was the best thing that has happened to the team, and I agree that Lombardi may need to be next, since the players he has brought in, are all sitting on their hands… or sticks….. I also wonder where the Captain of the tram is on all of this, where is that leadership??? I support Brown, but where is he on getting the players to perform…
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@RussD, I understand how you feel about DL, but I wholeheartedly disagree with your opinion and the facts that you use to show your opinion. #1 look at where the Kings were when he took over. Basically the team and organization were a mess. His first two years he tried to work it so they wouldn’t have to do a total rebuild, but that didn’t work. So technically we are in yesr 4 of the total rebuild. DL decided to build this team from the Net out. #1 is goaltending (Quick, Bernier,) #2 is defense and the Kings are one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, #3 is down the middle. The Kings strength on offense is at Center with Kopi and Richards and we have a good 3rd line center in Stoll. The 4th and final are the Wingers. It is the Wingers spot that we are somewhat deficient in. We got a great crop of Wingers working their way up in Kozun, Toffoli, Weal, Vey, Kitsyn. Most likely this will be Stoll’s last season as a King and Loktionov can take his place. Now we have Brown, Penner, Gagne and Williams as our top Wingers.
Free agency. I understand that we haven’t really done well with that. Really the only 2 that have done well is Scuderi and Mitchell. Gagne has done all right so far. The thing is you don’t build your team through Free Agency. FA should really only be used as a last option or if your are one move away. Unfortunately for different reasons LA isn’t a destination spot for the top FA. I am hoping with us starting to win yearly that will change. Like this offseason the one guy in FA I would get is Parise. DO you really think Moulson and Purcell would be playing like they are now with other teams, if they were still with the Kings. I sincerely doubt they would even be in position to do so.
Draft. For the most part Dean and his scouting staff have done well here. You mention how top picks like Schenn and Simmonds haven’t done anything, yet they helped us get Richards. Hickey was a reach and may never pan out but it was a risk worth taking. As far as the draft is concerned when it comes to offensive players/forwards it is a big unknown as most of the picks are still in juniors or the AHL. But the team is going to be much better when those guys are ready to come in.
Now you mentioned how the Flyers and Blackhawks were in the same position standings wise as the Kings, yet they got better faster and in the Hawks case they won the cup. In terms of the Flyers that one bad year was a fluke for various reasons. It wasn’t like they had to change a whole lot to get back to the top. They had most of there assets already there, just needed to make some minor moves to get back to the top. Chicago however went through years of futility before gaining to the Stanley Cup. They also spent a lot of money in signing free agents, whom they ended up having to get rid of most of them, because of Cap space. We never had to go through the futility like Chicago and Pittsburgh went through. Yes we missed the Playoffs for a bunch of years, but it was nothing like Chicago.
If you look at it we are a lot better then we were when DL took over. This little slump is a blip in the road and one that I think will be stopped once Darryl Sutter takes over. What this team needs is for someone, Sutter, to come in and give them a swift kick in the rear end. He will bring a fire that wasn’t here with TM and he will bring in accountability which this team needs desperately. Plus I think he will be a big help in getting Penner and Doughty going. Remember Doughty and JJ are both under 26 years old. Most all of the top NHL defenseman don’t grow into there own until they are around 26. I do believe that they will be better with Sutter as coach.
In Summary DL is the best GM this team has had. He has changed this organization from top to bottom into one that we can be proud of and he has brought in a culture of winning. Yes he has made mistakes, but for the most part his moves have worked out.
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vicarious Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 5:17 am
@Jeff, DL said the right things. He wanted to bring in a culture of winning. Is this team winning? He said he would build through the draft and instead has built a team mostly from players he inherited and out of town signings from players in his prior organizations.
We already brought up the best two from Manchester. Lokti is outmatched and hasn’t produced despite being given every opportunity. Voynov looks like a stud. Five years into a rebuild and the Kings have no NHL level forward prospect at this point besides Lokti? Traded away a 1st and Teubert, who cost us Cammalleri and a 1st, for 3rd winger level Penner?
I know people are excited to see Doughty playing up ice more, but IMO that’s a sign of team weakness. If the forwards are better, the defenseman can pick their spots more and emphasize playing defense, which is where they should be.
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Scott MF Heenan Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@RussD,
+1
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:43 am
@RussD, if you have read any of my posts recently..I agree with you….
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:46 am
@RussD, and you didnt mention..Moreau…Hunter…Frasor…..
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U cant expect the team to miraculously start playing better hockey the next day after TM is fired with an interim assistant coach against the Stanley Cup champions on the road… Im trying to think positive (trying very hard btw)
DL please bring in a coach to fire this team up and have them just “play hockey” as the Bruins call it!! I don’t care who it is honestly.
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On a positive note, Tyler Toffoli scored 2 goals for team Canada tonight…
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HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@hockeysureshot, That is a long way from the NHL
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petemagoop Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:02 am
@HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration, not really
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That is one excellent post. I am trying to keep a positive attitude through all this, but as far as I am concerned you wrote the doctoral thesis on why DL is overrated and has not done what he promised. If the team does not do a huge turnaround this year, in my humble view DL deserves the same fate as Murray – thanks for a job well done, but in the end you didn’t have what it takes to build a champion for a fan base that deserves one.
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rick Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
@rick, Sorry, that was meant to be a response to Russ D’s right on comments a few posts above.
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
@rick, DL promised to turn the Kings into a team/cuture of winning. He has done that. Every team goes through tough times, that is why you play 82 games. Last year San Jose was in 12th place at the end of January and then went on a tear wining the Division and finishing in 2nd place. The Kings are only 5 points out of the Division lead and 3 points out of 8th. It isn’t like the sky is falling. It is still only the middle of December. 50+ games left to play. A new coach will be in shortly, Sutter, and things will change and he will whip them into shape and it will get better.
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The season is not lost. It may seem that way…but it’s not.
The biggest disappointment for me is DD. He just seems like a little kid…when he has a chance to shoot….he just missed the net and/or the shot..
And he doesn’t seem very reliable on defense.
Very disappointing.
I”m fine with Sutter. Le’ts make it a 40 game season and see how we do…
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flex Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
@@spencerlakings, DD played today like superstar and will end up his hockey carier like a sutperstar and yes ,he is (still)a kid.Problem we are facing is a team problem like one group a unit.yes,season is not lost ..yet.I saw a lot of good things today.It is not overnight fix…all those bad habbits developed under TM philosophy.
Sutter…who knows…and it is not final yet.There is alist. At this point Dl needs to calm down .because his would be dicision for his own life.but i would prefer a coach who is not to “sweet” ,demand hard work ,60 m hockey,knows how to orgnize comination(btw Bostons first goal is a classic example)…and give players more freedoom to have fane and enjoy the game.
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While I would rather see MacTavish, Sutter may be the only coach who can light a fire under DP.
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flex Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
we need a fire under everybody
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I think Mike Richards should be the captain…and heck should probably be the coach too…the guy is a genius and Kings are hurting big time without him.
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flex Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
@Cruiznblue, agree 100%
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@flex, Let Mike play his game without all that added pressure. First of all, he doesn’t enjoy it. He’s basically a small town Canadian kid who wants to spend his offtime hunting and fishing and getting laid. He can’t stand losing, and he’s not a good guy to talk to when he does. And even on a good day, he doesn’t like talking to the press and answering the same questions over and over. Yeah he’s got a crazy hockey IQ but that doesn’t mean you have to slap the C on him for him to be effective.
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WOW! I avoided saying something, because I always take a positive approach to everything, and sometimes get lambasted for it. As you know, I have been an avid Terry Murray supporter, and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. Sad to see you go, but I see it was something that needed to be done. The reason why I was not wanting TM gone, is because I payed more attention to the gameplay and how they played than the actual record. Yes, even thou we didnt score more than 3+ goals per game… I didnt notice, it all depended on how they played the game. Than I noticed the record and it was time for a shake up!
Now, what in the bloody blue **** is wrong with most of you. Cheering like cheerleaders when TM got fired. How would you like it if you came on here saying you lost your job, and we laugh, and celebrate the fact that you got fired. Wouldn’t like it very much now would you? I think not. So, please show the man some respect who helped develop this team of youngsters into NHLers, and to help them understand the defensive side of things. A coach who guided us into the play-offs for the first time in over how many years! A coach who bled for this team. A coach who earned respect. A coach who help the Kings break or tie many many many club records.
Here we go again, how dare you insult John Stevens. John Stevens came in and improved our PK even better than the beloved MARK HARDY, and you guys are all laughing at the fact that he could be axed?? Seriously?? Truth be told… Fire Kompon, hire a head coach and power play coach that stress offense and leave Stevens alone to handle the PK and defense side of things.
Now, to tonights game… do you all seriously expected a change in gameplay already? I didn’t. Yes, they seemed emotionless tonight, but that is to be expected when they lost a coach they respected and that helped this club. A lot has happened to this club in the last 48 hours. Give them the decency to understand the emotions these players are going through right now. Plus, in this short time, I knew there was no way that a change in the system could happen. Nothing can change over night.
I think the best thing to do, is hire someone new. Forget ex coaches or coaches in the minors… I say call Chris Jericho, and have him be head coach of this team. However, if you dont go with that idea, just hire an offensive head coach and PP coach, and leave Stevens hired… and that’s the bottom line, because the #1fan said so!!
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LA_1968 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
@#1faninVegas, What happened to Terry Murray is sad. Depressing. Even more so than losing the games lately are to me. Maybe he wasn’t going to take us to the promise land. Maybe so. Who knows. I do know that he deserved better than this.
The only bright side I can see is that the ownership must want to win deperately to cut TM this way. They can’t be too herky jerkey though or it will backfire.
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
@LA_1968, I think it is sad what happened to TM and I think the players should own up to there part in it. No matter what the system is, a team should not be struggling so much in terms of scoring. As much as I still believe that TM could take this team to the promise land, I feel that the change needed to be done. This team needs a swift kick in the rear and just wait until Darryl Sutter enters the locker room/practice rink the first time.
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
@LA_1968,
Agree 100%
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DesertKing Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:50 am
@#1faninVegas,
I agree and posted that towards the top of the thread. Stevens has done an excellent job with the defense and the PK (which, along with JQ, has actually kept us in games).
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:25 am
@DesertKing,
Agree but 99.9% of people are what have you done for me lately? They are the now type of people. When they are upset or frustrated people say and do things they don’t really mean.
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It looked like the team did try their butts off tonight. Too undisciplined though. No matter what we were totally outclassed by the Bruins. It would take a miracle for the Kings to look that good even NEXT year.
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
@LA_1968, It is too bad we ended up playing Boston during the slump because I am sure once this team starts winning again, and they will, I am sure it would be a better game.
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Brig33 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
@Jeff, Well we play boston again in LA later this season, hopefully it’s a good game, I have tix for it lol
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@LA_1968,
Yeah the chances that they were going to win that game against a Bruins team that is rolling right now was pretty slim even without Chara in the lineup.
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I have to say I wasnt expecting anything different from what happened, what with all the upheaval and emotions of the past 36 hours.. the fact that they got outplayed by probably the best team in the league isnt much of an indicator as to how things will go forward. Another day to sleep on it and get refocused and then let’s see.
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DLB Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:40 am
@bbb7, a fine post.
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Out of turmoil and kaos eventually comes order, as it has thousands of times throughout history, and unfortunately for us, this is currently the case now.
The first game following an untimely yet required management change, happened to be against the Cup Champs.
There will likely be more changes and challenges. Everybody is on edge which is undertandable.
Patience fellow Kings fans.. Just time to take a deep breath and let things play out as they may.
It will get better.
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thrustable Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
@jess, have heard this for over 30 years of being a Kings fan.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@thrustable,
Ok, then these are not the droids you’re looking for.. Move along, move along..
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Scott MF Heenan Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
@jess,
Good answer.
Sincerely, that was quite a good answer.
jess Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:00 am
@Scott MF Heenan,
puck73 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@jess, John Stevens………BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !! Jamie Kompon…..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
@puck73, LOL –take a hike aye!!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:50 am
@puck73,
Don’t hold back Puck, tell us how you really feel
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mars Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
@jess, Trying to remain positive. But I need some prozac or something, I feel it may only get worse.
If we get Sutter, wonder how long that will fry us.
Wonder who we will lose coming up on RFA and UFA
What will happen with the GM situation too.
I fear DL will give Sutter a big and longer than a year deal screwing us on cap space.
I think DL and DS know its thier last shot/last stand and plan to go out with a bang.
I then fear a fan revolt, and after seeing how the thrashers went down, yotes too, previous other teams moving, that we may lose the kings (unlikely but still freaking me out)
I pray to the gods of the ice and puck for a miracle. A miracle of good hockey, even if we are not a cup contender, just give me good hockey!
[Reply]
jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@mars,
All of those questions are well founded.. Sometimes you just don’t know.. With that said, this is probably DL’s last stop unless he makes something decent happen with this organization and truthfully, it’s chaotic today, and for good reason. I’m not sure about Sutter and I wrote Leiweke an email and he wrote me back in under 10 minutes. I can tell you this, he is a huge fan, and that is a good sign. All I can say for now..
[Reply]
Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
@mars, Calm down. There is no way the Kings are ever leaving Los Angeles. Also when Daryl Sutter is signed to a deal, it won’t affect Cap space. Coaches aren’t a part of that
. But I do believe that this is the final deal for Dean and Darryl. If it doesn’t work and the Kings miss the playoffs, I doubt either will be here next year. However I don’t see that happening. The Kings will make the Playoffs.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
@Jeff, Good evening, my name is Jim “@poorman” Trenton, and I couldnt disagree with you more.
Unrelated but what the hell was Simmonds thinking trying to jump over his top scoring teamate. Idiot!
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
@Socalr6,
I hope you’re joking. It was a reflex — what should he have done, try and skate across Giroux’s back?
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It’s time all the players turned their “letters” in and start from scratch with the new coach. I’d rather be watching last year’s team than this one. And Doughty’s got GROW UP! He just doesn’t get it….it’s the NHL and not pick up hockey.
Where did all that wonderful cycling go? There’s no offensive creativity now. What a BUST!!!
[Reply]
Read that Sutter has coached 9 season in the NHL. His teams offensive output averaged 20th in the NHL. Only once did he crack the top 5. We need offense no? So why get a coach who is not known for that?
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
@thrustable, I could be mistaken, but I thought it was 1 season inside the top 10. At least that’s what I remember it said.
I agree with you it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to hire a defensive coach when our problem is clearly on the other side of the ice. Unfortunately that’s DL’s mindset.
I honestly thought after seeing alot of smaller forwards being drafted, (Lokti, Vey, Toffoli) that he’d hire a Head Coach with a more puck possesion type of offense as opposed to a grind it out along the boards puck management stlye we currently use. Since all signs point to Sutter being brought in, I don’t see that being the case.
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Andrew: The second coming Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@CB14, The sharks were 4th. That is one time in the top 10 and after they are in the 20′s.
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@Andrew: The second coming, Even though Darryl is mostly a defensive coach, those teams he had never had the skill that the Kings have. Plus all he needs to do is raise the offensive output by 1 goal, which shouldn’t be too hard to do, even in a defense first system. It isn’t like we are asking for the Kings to score 5 goals every night. But to average 3 goals in the NHL today is very good. I believe with the new rules, the coaches have caught up with them and it is becoming more defensive anyway. You are seeing more 2-1, 3-2 games like before the lockout. With Darryl’s more aggressive attacking style, the Kings will start to score more and possibly be even better defensively then they have been.
HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@thrustable, Because DL wants to be comfortable with some one who owes him, you know, the “Ol Boys” club and will do it the way Dl wants it.
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A Murray clone, right down to making a special point to praise the offense after being shutout. LOL
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Why can’t Loki play like a honey badger?
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Cortex949 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@Socalr6, “ohhh look at him run backwards, he’s so nasty”
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Kings lose again to go 13 & 13 on the 13th. Omen?
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#1faninVegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
@Socalr6,
Kinda funny to be honest!!
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Socalr6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
@#1faninVegas, And on my Birthday no less. 13 is my lucky # so it’s a good omen. They will start winning now!
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@Socalr6, Would of been even funnier (or scarier) if it was Friday instead of Tuesday.
DesertKing Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:52 am
@Socalr6,
At least it wasn’t 6 & 6 on the 6th. Now that would be an Omen!
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KingsFan1971 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:31 am
@DesertKing, Well if 13 is something good I was born on the 13th and it was a friday.
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Interesting game… unfortunately not a win, in fact we did not even get our usual one goal… Now we have allowed two rookie goalies to get their first win and another goalie to get his first shut out…. Quick is having some sort of problem, I fail to understand how he goes from a top goalie to what we have now… I am wondering if he can stop a truck, going uphill and out of gas….. I am still a fan and always will be, but I am tired of the loosing with the talent that we have…
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mars Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
@Terry, Ditto
I dont expect us to win, hit the cup anymore, but I want to see the team wear their hearts on their sleeves, I dont see the fight, the drive and the intensity anymore, just lazy hockey. That is what kills me.
its hard to stand by when they sit back on their heels and don’t try.(for a full game)
Quick is awesome, but his head is out of it, switch it up, go hot hand and put the pressure on.
Yank under performers,swap it up, change it up, freak them out, hire a psychic, hypnotist shaman, sacrifice a goat, eat some ice, wear a net to bed. something.
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Socalr6 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
@mars, I prefer Bernier’s style of goaltending. I know Quick’s reactions are better though. I would like the Kings to ride the hot goalie too. Give him more starts to see what he’s got.
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Jeff Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
@Terry, I really don’t feel Quick had a bad game. In fact if it weren’t for Quick I think the score would of been a lot worse. 2 of the goals were scored off a turnovers and one off a faceoff and he was screened. So really didn’t have a chance on either of the 3. The Kings were really unlucky hitting the post twice and the puck hitting the top of the net instead of falling into the net. Plus Penner’s missed opportunity on a wide open net. When things are going bad, you just seem to be very unlucky. Just like you get the bounces when things are going good. I can’t wait til we get the bounces again.
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Giz Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@Jeff, Very true. The Kings are in a historic shooting pct slump right now. It’s hovering down at 7%. It will average out and tick back up. They will get some bounces and score some goals. Hopefully Richards and Mitchelll will get healthy again. What this shows however is that the Kings do not have much offensive depth. Teams without depth don’t have much of a chance come playoffs, unless they get insanely lucky.
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Too bent to really say much. I will say that Terry Murray is gone. We’ve all said our goodbyes and well deserved thank you’s. Respectfully, can we move forward now, please?
No more eulogys.
I think we lost tonight because we made TM’s firing the elephant in the room instead of the motivator to win. It was said many times tonight by players and staff that it was hard to prepare for this game tonight. Maybe so, but you still have to. There was emotion tonight, just not CONTROLLED emotion. Penalty 24 seconds after the puck is dropped, Undisciplined penalties, missed PP chances, neutral zone turnovers almost every third drive (Yes I counted), 2 on none shank finishes, etc.
We had 41 shots. Couple of posts and Drewiskie’s top of the net shot. Most shots were bad angle or outside the dots. I’d say 60%-70% were not quality shots. I wish there was a stat on center lane drives. Boston would have KILLED us on that stat.
Guys tried. There was emotion. Can we get Mike Richards on this trip STAT?! I don’t care if he’s in a suit & tie, GET HIS BUTT ON THE TRIP! When he went down, this team went down. Speaking of that, and not to dig too hard on our current leadership, but what would this team be like right now if we had the following:
Mike Richards – C
Willie Mitchell – A
Rob Scuderi – A
I bet Brown & Kopi would play better. Less pressure has worked for Richards, but I think his pressure is the press, not being captain. Dustin Brown’s pressure is being the captain. I think this is a move that could be made that wouldn’t cost anything and be incredibly effective at the same time. What we have is Terry Murray’s leadership group and TM is gone.
If DL is so hot about leadership, why doesn’t he pick the leadership of this team as he sees it while he has the chance before the new coach comes in? That would be a GM taking control.
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puck73 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
@Cynic, I like this post alot! my canidates….#1 Scotty Bowman, #2 Randy Carlyle, # Andy Murray, #4 Mike Keenan. As for those not available yet….Dave Tippett.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@puck73, Yeah, and what you said too, -even though ur up too late! Go on vacation already
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wes Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
@puck73, concur with your 4 head coach candidates. get the impression Lombardi is locked on Darryl Sutter, though.
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Roger Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:39 am
@puck73, andy Murray sorry tried that
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
@Cynic, good calls on the C & A. When I said this several weeks ago I got pounded!
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mars Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@jess, I remember that, I believe I defended Brown a bit cause I like(D) his grit (last few years) But maybe it is pressure.
I say make quick wear the big C. Would it be a first Goalie doing so?
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
@mars, Luongo has a ‘C’ my brotha!
Cynic Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:18 am
@jess, If you made these choices before me, then I agree with you they are the right ones. I think it would relieve a lot of pressure on DB & AK. I like DB and believe he is captain material in a Matty Norstrom kind of way, just not what we need to captain THIS team.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@Cynic,
Ever think that the players all know this is Richards’ team, that he should be Captain, that they are nothing without him…
& that they know he is not coming back soon.
They play as though there is no hope. All is lost…
Is Richards going to be out long term with his concussion?
I hope not.
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flex Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:02 am
@Cynic, like the post..exept I do not think DB would be better.He plays hard,but not enough skills.I feel a trade is coming too and brown is a good cadidate for that.
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It was nice to see Terry Murray behind the bench one last time tonite for an encore performance. Wow! That shot mentality tonite, the thick and heavy play in the corners, the heavy on their sticks, it was there for all to see, a resounding 40 plus shots on Tuka Sawchuk, and NO GOALS.
I need to say this one last time for a fare thee well…TM…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
@puck73,
Ya, but in all honesty… u know u appreciated TM. Really liked the guy.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
@#1faninvegas,
You’re absolutely right, see puck has this twitch on the keyboard and when he says booooooooooo — he always forgets the hoooooooooo cause he is really crying about the whole deal
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
@puck73,
Easy knee-jerk lol –still cracking up as I write this.. LMFAO!!
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CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
@jess, Hey jess, what happened to you during the game? You were posting pretty often, then I saw a post of yours get deleted and then no more posts.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@CB14,
The hammer I guess wasn’t cool with something I said, and that’s fine but also the negativity was reaching a crecsendo of bibilacal proportions, just was dissapointed with the play and the weak posts. I didn’t get moderated or anything, but got deleted like twice in a row, so just decided to take a breather.
CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
@jess, Good to hear it was nothing serious. I know how you feel, the play was pathetic. Glad you’re still around to tell the tale.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
@jess,
Biblical proportions? Wow! No wonder!
I told @puck73 that Billy Mumy had wished you into the cornfield. I guess it was just a TV show!
Who knew!
Glad to see Billy didn’t wish you into a Jack In The Box either, altho I would’ve gone to your drive thru cuz I wanted a Sourdough Jack! Jus’ sayin’
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
@Kingsfanone,
hey that is totally understanable, a sourdough jack may kill you eventually, but always good late at night!
Kingsfanone Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:23 am
@Kingsfanone,
And when I die, it’d be in Biblical Proportions, cuz of the Sourdough Jack!
Good to see you wound was superficial and not terminal! You know, moderation!
Scotty Bowman to the white courtesy phone, pageing Scotty Bowman to the white courtesy phone.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
@puck73, “Hi Scotty speaking.. –Speak up young man -what do you want?”
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:01 am
@puck73,
“Hello? What? Coach the Kings?”
“Naw. I’m busy consulting for the Blackhawks, and making oodles of cash.”
“Thanks for asking tho, and good luck there with that team. Looks like they need it!!”
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jess Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:05 am
@Kingsfanone, Did I read correctly it is your birthday? If so, Happy Birthday dude!
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jess Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:07 am
@jess, Oh I blew that one, oh well happy birthday early or late or whatever..
Kingsfanone Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:31 am
@jess,
Um, Aug 3. But thanks anyway!
All 3s with me.1953. GF Dec 3, loved Ziggy, you know, #33,
I could go on with all the 3 things with me. Aug 3 was 3rd in the draft.
And on.
neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:58 am
@puck73, I wish I was the salesmen of “white phones”
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I thought the biggest positive difference tonight was the number of times we carried the puck into the zone instead of dumping it in. The end result is still a shutout loss but I thought we looked much more likely to score and much more dangerous than we have for a while. In previous losses with good shot totals many of the shots haven’t really been from good spots on the ice and were really just used as ways to try and generate rebounds. I thought Coach Stevens did the best he could under the circumstances.
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puck73 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
@ForumFan, Good Evening, My name is Dean Lombardi and I approve this message.
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ForumFan Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 10:30 am
@puck73,
haha…
I forgot to mention the power play was horrible as always.
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After watching 5 straight effortless losses, and the presumed hiring of another defense first retread, Sutter, i’ve got some questions for Dean lombardi.
After firing a defense minded coach because your team was struggling to score enough goals to win games, why are you now rumored to be hiring another defense minded coach? One that you yourself have already previously fired.
Do you not realize that in the post lockout era of the NHL that you need a balanced hockey team in order to be succesful?
Or are you still sticking to that defense-first, offense never mindset?
Also, defense first teams typically use a puck management, cycle along the boards type of offensive system. Why then did you let 4 big physical forwards leave, and bring in 2 undersized players who’s main attribute isn’t their play along the boards? One would assume that since none of our top 6 forwards are big AND physical, that you would choose a Head Coach who uses more of a puck possesion type of offense that bets fits the forwards that you have on this team. Why isn’t that the, presumed, case?
Thanks Dean, Sincerly, Kings fan CB14!
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
@CB14,
That was the voice of an angel. Seriously, I can’t even look you in eye right now. At some point, I swear you took the form of a unicorn.
Well said CB!
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flex Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:08 am
@CB14, I realy liked..”balanced hockey club”,like boston.
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Jeff Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:10 am
@CB14, Dean isn’t looking for a guy to come in and turn this team up side down. He wants to bring in someone who is in the same mold as TM, but with a more fiery approach and one that will hold this team accountable, regardless of who it is. A different voice to guide the Kings. Plus the way the Kings play defensively, they don’t need to score a lot of goals. As for Sutter getting fired by Lombardi previously, it wasn’t because he was a bad coach. They got off to the horrible start because of the holdouts, caused by new ownership slashing the budget which made it hard for Lombardi to make deals with them.
As far as Sutter coaching in the post-lockout era he did for one season with Calgary and they finished first in their division. However from that time to now, the NHL has become more defensive again with not a lot of goals being scored. NY is in the top 5 in goals scored and they are averaging 3.0 goals a game. All Sutter has to do is work on getting the Kings to raise their goals scored per game by 1, as they are at 2.0 now.
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Better yet to solve this coaching issue…
Paging “the Manbeast” Brock Lesnar to the purple and black phone. Again, Brock Lesnar to the purple and black phone. Your assistants Ric Flair and Undertaker are ready to meet you.
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jess Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@#1faninvegas, LOFL!!!!!
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CB14 Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@#1faninvegas, The Undertaker shouldn’t be too hard to find. I heard he was in the same hotel as the Kings yesterday around 4pm local time.
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http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Flames+buzzing+about+Darryl+Sutter+link/5856749/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
good read on Sutter.
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Dom Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:32 am
@Michael_DD8, you know, I voted AGAINST hiring Darryl Sutter in Rich’s poll.
After reading that piece of info, I started liking him. I’m still against hiring him (I personally would vote for John Hayes but understand that DL needs to cover his ass) but I hope I will be pleasantly surprised and forced to eat my words….
Go KINGS GO!
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KC23 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:44 am
@Michael_DD8, Thank you. I had no clue as to him as a coach. I didn’t even vote on the poll because I just didn’t know. After reading that I think Sutter is exactly what we need.
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Roger Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 6:49 am
@Michael_DD8, thanks
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Michael J. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:11 am
@Michael_DD8,
OK, now I want the Kings to hire him.
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I’m done talking about the Kings right now. We should all just take a break, & talk about other stuff on this blog, & make it a happier place that many people have been calling for. I’m one of the big complainers on here, so I’ll start.
Hi I’m Scot, I’m 26, I am going to school for a Business degree in Sports Management, & I love all sports. Hockey first, then baseball, then football, then soccer. Ok, all sports other than basketball. I’ve played hockey my whole life, & I also play softball & golf.
I am a frustrated Kings fan, but I will always & forever root for my Kings to win every hockey game they play.
In the meantime, who do you guys think will win the Superbowl? Hard to pick anyone other than the Packers if you ask me.
Also, if anyone on here ever wants to get together for a round of golf sometime, let me know. I live in the Long Beach area, but I don’t mind driving somewhere, I always want to check out new courses anyway. If you are up for it, I will send you my email.
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:57 am
@Scot,
Hey Scot! I thank you for bringing lightheartedness to this blog. Like you I am I die hard kings fan and will forever cheer them on threw heartache and frustration. I am down for email exchanging.
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Scot Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:54 am
@#1faninvegas,
Email away!
b.s.halliburton@gmail.com
That goes for anyone else who’s reading this too. Happy to talk about all things Kings, or all things life.
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Gary Livingston Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 1:26 am
@Scot,
Hey, I’m Gary.
I take photos for The Fourth Period which is amazing because I get to go to all the home games and capture the greatest sport on earth. When I’m not shooting hockey I’m freelancing doing portraits, head shots, and products. I’m a few games behind because I’ve been working on a few portraits I took for the magazine but, click my name above to scope out photos.
I have a shirt company with my best friends. I just came onboard after the old owner got bought out. I’m in charge of turning the company around. We are in the process of launching a new program that helps charities out and highlights artists we admire. Artists make a limited edition design and the profits are split between us, the artists, and charities of the artists’ choice. Feels good to be collaborating with talented artists to help others. =)
If any of you are artists, illustrators, animators, character designers, or have a friend that is feel free to contact me gary [at] nerdyshirts.com . I’m looking for more artists to bring on board with this program.
I’m putting my money on the Packers too at this point. They’re proving themselves thus far and have last year’s experience to keep them from crumbling (or so it would seem).
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Scot Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:56 am
@Gary Livingston,
Awesome stuff! Now that’s a pretty sweet job.
I saved that link into my favorites.
Ya’ll should check out these photos.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:52 am
@Scot, Hi, my name is Kenneth, and I’m a King’s fan. It started innocently enough….
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:04 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Hi my name is Neil and Ive been a Kings fans sine the Forum days…I also was a Sharks fan….That was when the Sharks played in L.A. …Google it to understand!!!!
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Michael J. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:16 am
@Scot,
Great post!
OK. Hello, my name is Mike. I’m 47 and have beem a Kings fan since 1981. I grew up in the Bay Area where we were Raiders season ticket holders until we moved to the OC in ’81. Unfortynately, I cannot break away from the Raiders…
I’m back in school, finishing my second masters degree. My degree will be in marriage and family therapy, which might come in handy around here.
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Scot Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:58 am
@Michael J.,
Haha. Well that’s pretty impressive. Are you looking at a career change? What do you do now, if you don’t mind me asking? I posted my email a few posts above if you’d prefer.
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Maybe I’m in the minority, but hopefully somebody lit into Lombardi. I think it’s unacceptable that he lit into the players he chose, because the second coach he chose had no offensive coaching ability. This is all on the lousy GM. He should shut his mouth, scream at who he sees in the mirror, and hope his third coach pick works better than the first two; how much longer does AEG give this dude?
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RussD Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:16 am
@Poorman, THANK YOU Poorman!!! Exactly right! Lombardi was ranting at his players because his own ego has been wounded. He figured he had everything in place for a Cup run this year and he finds the wheels coming off the wagon. But it can’t be his fault. He can’t fault Murray because Murray was his choice. And it can’t be his own decisions because he’s a genius. So it’s got to be the players. What we have here is an arrogant big baby trying to defend himself. The best thing that could happen to the Kings now is for Lewicke to fire Lombardi, hire a new GM, and let the new guy choose his coach.
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Poorman Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:56 am
@RussD, Exactly. He’s had 5 years plus. Couldn’t do it in San Jose either.
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neil Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:06 am
@Poorman, lay off DL already…he brought us Frasor(even thou he didnt pick him)Moreau and Hunter…..
#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:05 am
@Poorman, @RussD,
DL had every right to yell at the players. They are professionals and have to play like ones. They have to assume some responsibility. Have you guys forgotten what DL has done for our organization?? Under his reign we have gone to the playoffs twice and developed a very good farm club. He even hired the head coach Terry Murray who helped us get into the playoffs for the first time in over five years. So, the players respected TM… they haven’t shown it this year and deservered getting their rear ends chewed out by DL!! Players have been put on notice.
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RussD Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:20 am
@#1faninvegas, Of course they bear some responsibility. But everyone in the organization bears responsibility. Do you hear Lombardi taking any? And Terry Murray? Lombardi maintains Murray was a great coach. That smells like Lombardi defending himself. He claims that Murray was a great teacher. I’m tired of hearing that. List all the young players on this team that have grown under Murray. And don’t say Kopitar, Brown, Quick or Bernier. Brown reached his level before Murray. Kopitar actually looked better offensively under Crawford; defensively he’s probably better now. Quick and Bernier are goalies and not someone subject to Murray’s teaching. So who else? Doughty and Johnson. Spare me. Their talents are offensive. They are constantly making defensive mistakes. Martinez? Maybe. But he’s not playing now. Voynov? No. He’s only been here twenty games. Loktianov? Certainly hasn’t grown offensively here. Clifford and Westgarth? The only thing they’re providing is grit and I don’t think that’s Murray’s forte. So who??? Lombardi is again running off at the mouth trying to make his poor coaching choice look good.
Kingstane9 Reply:
December 15th, 2011 at 2:31 am
@Poorman, totally agree, not on GM’s job to control or jell on the players, instead he should focus on bringing the new coach in…
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Okay, taking a deep breath. My take on the game.
We got beat by the best team in the league, but without their best two players. So there is nothing to feel good about there.
DL should leave the pep talks to someone else. Whatever he said took morale from horrible to something even worse.
Positives:
Except for missing that open net, Penner continues to play very well.
Doughty’s best game of the season. I think camp may be finally over for him.
I keep seeing small improvements in Clifford’s game. I think there is a very good player is waiting to burst out.
Stoll’s game is starting to come around.
Quick, to his credit, hasn’t let his game slip one bit and continues to improve. Best player on the team.
Negatives:
Voynov had his worst game as a pro.
Williams suddenly looks clueless not sure why. Seems to be an issue between the ears though.
Said since last summer Kopitar should not be on the half boards on the PP. He is way too slow to
pass or shoot and telegraphs everything he is about to do. The difference between Richards and Kopitar on the half boards should make this very clear to all who have watched our PP this year.
I wish we had a player that would stir things up emotionally. Brown is really failing as a captain on the ice. Way too nice a guy and a bit of a loner personality. Not what you want in your captain.
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Michael J. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:19 am
@KC23,
Kings were also without their best two players also, albeit Quick did play.
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:22 am
@KC23,
Agree with all said. I think this Brown and the C issue is gonna surface more soon here. Who gets the C? Kopitar?Even though Mike Richards has been awesome, I think he’d be fine with the C in LA. All radical in the sense Brown might not lose the C
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my guess is DL was preassured to sack TM and blamed the players for it. The players now feel guilt, and an even bigger lack of confidence for having FAILED TM, DL, the Fans and the owners.
Thats a pretty big emotional cross to bear which won’t help you to score goals.
I have to admit, I wanted TM fired, but I am not sure this way is the right way…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 4:44 am
@zulov, Sounds about right.
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AZ King Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:05 am
@zulov,
That’s what happens when you make decisions based of emotion, not logic.
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Poorman Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:59 am
@AZ King, Aw come on. TM had to go. DL has to go after this. They both have had long enough. You guys are talking from emotion. The team was losing and horribly underperforming.
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:15 am
@Poorman,
Are you saying five years is too long for any GM or head coach?
I think the players need to take a step back from the preasure and rhetoric from coaches, managers and owners and just focus on the pride of kicking but and winning games. Thats what’s missing. They are looking at the standings. Counting the goals they are not scoring. They are in their heads,
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I thought they looked better on offense, but made too many mistakes defensively–probably mostly driven by taking too many undisciplined penalties in the first period.
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number 6 Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:36 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
Doesn’t matter if you take one critical mistake on d, or 6 of them. If you don’t score any goals you’re not gonna win, unless you count on getting thru OT tied at zero and hope to find a way in the SO.
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There was one systematic reason they lost, when you throw out all the generalities:
They were absolutely destroyed on the draw, and two of the goals they gave up were off the draw, in their own zone. Fraser took one of them, and I can’t quite figure out why.
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Through all this BS, the kings still bring me joy and I still look forward to watching them. Hope you guys still feel the same. Have a good day everyone.
PS. Thank you rich for all you continue to do to bring all of us insiders the best and most accurate Kings news. You really make a difference in my life and I’m sure it’s the same with others. Thank you
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Hockey This Morning just reported that “reliable sources” have confirmed that Dean Lombardi has offered the Kings coaching job to Daryl Sutter.
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iceguy Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@PaulHB,
Here’s a thought:
What if farmer Sutter says no?
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petemagoop Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:13 am
@iceguy, he would of said it two days ago
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Hope this season isn’t a write-off. Sutter? I’m not inspired. Please Please prove me wrong Kings!!!
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Isn’t Bob Pulford still alive? He’s my choice.
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Old habits are hard to break. Over the many years I have seen them come and go, no matter who. They just don’t seem to work in LA.But—- the Kings were the team to hook me on hockey, and for that I will forever be loyal. I hurt when we lose, I rejoice when we win.
And for the McSorley haters..he did not cost us the cup. We were up one game, the penalty only sent it to overtime, we came home tied 1-1, we lost the next two in overtime and of the three goals scored in those games Marty scored two.
As I sald, they come and go, I wish them well, will root for whomever we put on the ice and who knows— maybe one day we will have another “triple crown” line. (Ahh one can only hope!!!)
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Michael J. Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:23 am
@Old Codger,
I think many forget how effective McSorley became as a player. He struggled on the back end, but he did socre quite a few goals while he was one of the league’s top enforcers.
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We had a lot of shots, this means nothing to me if these are not good shot choices or sloid chances. I know there are time you just throw it at the net and hope for a good bounce, but we need someone there to put it in the net.
It does look like they are pressing. We have lost five straight and We are the lowest scoring team in the NHL.
I thought we brought more scoring weapons in this year? We have no gritt and from what I see no PRIDE. I want this team to play as if they enjoy having their fans show up to watch them play.
The Ducks are closing in on us and they seem to at least show some fricking guts. Time for our boys to show if they have the stones and talent for this game ro would they be better off ice skating?
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Yekes that was hard to watch. No emotion, no fire, no goals!!! They looked like someone kicked their dog and took their girlfriends. Penner misses a wide open net, that may have changed the out-come of the game. Is it me or do they seem like they have quit? If so maybe some player moves need to be looked at. Can Penner, it just hasn’t worked out and may send a message to the rest of the team. DL better watch out he’s next, AEG isn’t going to pay this kind of money for what’s on the ice.
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Maybe John Stevens can get a 10-year contract from Arte Moreno.
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Change can be a good thing….A good coach makes adjustments to his style according to what the team needs….I will give Sutter a chance(i have no other choice)…a coach should never stop growing…so lets hope that Sutter who knows what the problem is,can fix it….The most puzzling thing to me is that the Kings never looked right.. even at camp(during preseason).The FF game was the first real sign that something was wrong…
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Ok, lets hire Suter, who is the direct opposite of TM. Suter will come in, go crazy since he hasn’t coached in 5 years, then melt down. Once he melts down, the door will open and our best option, Dave Tippett, will become available and we will hire him. GKG!!!
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“I thought the guys tried really hard tonight.” – This scares me. What game was Stevens coaching???
And hearing the players quotes is concerning too… “just keep going – eventually they will go in.” What the…?!?!? It’s like nobody gets it! They think they’re doing pretty good but for some magical reason we can’t score/win. When I watch a game I see almost no effort. I see fumbling mistakes. I see nervousness. I see no hustle (especially that “savior” called Penner). It’s like no on wants to be in LA. Ya they had 40 something shots in a few games recently but those ose weren’t threatening at all! When I watch these guys shoot they aren’t shooting to score they are shooting to shoot. There have been hardly any quality scoring chances other than the empty nets that we miss by 3 feet!
They don’t need a new coach, they don’t need a new system (more importantly). They need to get their heads back in the game and start having fun again. You will never win a game that’s not fun.
What the Kings need are less X’s and O’s and more clear your head time. It’s become a mental thing now…they think they can’t score goals so that’s exactly what’s going to happen. They need to bring someone in that can clear their heads. Get them to meditate or some damn thing…
End rant.
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 8:53 am
@Brian,
Last night, they did try. With all that’s happened gotta give the benefit of the doubt.
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This is what everyone wanted “change”. Funny how sometimes you wish for something and it comes back to bite you in the but. I don’t post alot because when I do it seems when you’re not in the majority here people attack you and I’m too old for that. But the other day I posted and said that this was more than a coahing and G.M. problem, because it is. Something has changed in this locker room.I saw the same thing happen a couple of years ago when Sean Avaery was here and I’m seeing the same thing happen now. There is a cancer in the room and it needs to be taken care of or this isn’t getting better. It doesn’t matter who’s brought in to coach or G.M. Hopefully it gets taken care of soon, this team is too good to be this bad.
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#1faninvegas Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@P90X,
I agree… and we are missing the final piece. It wasn’t TMs fault. If you’d like to be in touch with me, great. We can exchange emails and chat without being attacked.
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Does anyone feel like just turning off the TV everytime the Kings give up the first goal? It seems like we can’t even come back from that.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 9:31 am
@Bill,
It seems that way because it’s almost universally true. I believe they’ve only comeback to win from being down 0-1 three times this year. Just horrific.
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MELROSE MELROSE MELROSE…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 11:55 am
@tylock07, WHY, WHY, WHY?
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