Since the loss of Simon Gagne to his concussion, the Kings have stayed with the same group of top-six forwards (not including the last game, when Dustin Penner was injured). It’s been some combination of Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Dustin Penner and Jarret Stoll. Sutter has used a couple different combinations of those players, and he will use another one tonight, as Kopitar centers Brown and Williams while Richards centers Penner and Stoll. Re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic? Perhaps, but for now, Sutter has identified his top six and he’s going with them. The primary goal, Sutter said, is to get more production from Anze Kopitar, who has scored one goal since just before Thanksgiving.
SUTTER: “Right now, without Simon (Gagne), that’s still the top six guys in your lineup, so you’re still just trying to (tweak it). It’s just about changed every game. Everybody sees it in practice and says, `That’s the line,’ but if you watch the way the game is played, we’re just trying to get that little bit more. We’re lucky to have Richie [Mike Richards] and Jarret, that can play two positions (each). You’re just trying to find something that works a little better. Against some teams, it’s a little easier from my standpoint at home, because if you’re in a 5-on-5 thing, you can kind of get who you want (on the ice). I think we all know that Mike is a better centerman. Hey, we need big Dustin and Mike and Stolly to be a good line. When Willy was there, Stolly, Dustin and Justin, they were our experienced line. They’re not old guys but they were our experienced line.
“What I’m trying to do is get Kopi going, get just a little more, not in terms of offense but just consistency in his game, from shift to shift. Brownie does a pretty good job of it. If he’s not spot-on, at least he’s banging on guys and all that. Justin has been playing really good. At the end of the day, it’s still about your top guys being your top guys. Everybody talks about a tough loss, 1-0, well, you can’t ask much more but your top guys can make the difference. Half a goal a game. I think Drew is really coming, so we’ve got to get Kopi and Richie, we’ve got to get those guys there too.’’
I hope the term rearranging deck chairs on the titanic! Wasn’t code for this is a sinking ship??
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vplaza Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@Jpizzle313,
It hit an iceberg and the defense and Quick are the only things keeping it afloat. If the offense can start scoring, maybe they can patch up the hole.
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RobSD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
@Jpizzle313,
Rick,
How was this missed!! Or did I just miss it?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/kings-dustin-penner-injures-himself-while-eating-stack-155530523.html
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RobSD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
@RobSD,
Oops… should have read it first!
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@RobSD,
See below:
http://lakingsinsider.com/2012/01/09/can-new-look-get-kopitar-going/#comment-1029377
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Beg to differ with DS. You can ask for more, especially from your top guys. If they were already scoring lights out, maybe you can’t ask for more. But less than one goal a game? You can and should ask for more.
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DanD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@vplaza, Yeah, it’s that easy right? “Hey guys, go out and score 4 goals tonight”.
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
@DanD, no just tell them they are doing a great job and keep doing what they are doing. everything is going just fine.
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Stagger Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
@DanD,
No one said it was going to be easy. They need to look for another line of work if they want it to be easy.
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vplaza Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
@DanD,
Don’t think anyone said it was easy. But to say that you can’t ask for more when they’re only scoring half a goal a game?
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Sam Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@vplaza, He is asking for more, plainly. He’s asking for more consistency and more offense. That said, everyone plays great defense. People talk about Quick, and he’s been spot-on, but there’s 5 other guys out there helping him.
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SLUMPITAR…
only 3 more scoreless games and a D gets added to the name…
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Alan Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@zulov, lol
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Bonvivant Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@Alan, Fishtar, avatar, …..blah blah blah…
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RobSD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@zulov,
That was funny.
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Justin was brain dead last game. Probably out of desperation, but along with so many other players this season has been a disaster.
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I am expecting and hoping Richards with a goal tonight.
Williams is long overdue… He has been buzzing.
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@KingsGuy, he has a hard time staying upright on his skates. let’s see how many times he falls down tonight.
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The only line I have enjoyed watching the past few games is Richie Lokti Lewis
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@zulov, you must not like to see goal being scored. they do skate hard and fast but have zero finish.
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Duckbasher Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
@zulov, Richie, Lokti and Lewis are all fast and fun to watch. But it would be a lot more fun if they would score a damned goal. I wish Loktionov would use his speed to try to take the puck to the net more often. Seems like he’s always looking pass first. No doubt he can skate but can he score at this level? King’s are showing some real patience with him so far which is encouraging. I’m hoping the kid gets his mojo on and we can have a balanced attack with 3 scoring lines rolling. GO KINGS GO!
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Please don’t pair DD and JJ together again tonight. Had enough of it already.
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puck73 Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
@jess, If Voynov doesnt play, then unfortunately you will see them together yet again !!
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
@puck73, BOOOOOOO!!!! j/k
Ranger fans to Potvin: “Beat your wife, beat your wife!!” -Still laughing about that…
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@jess, nothing funny about spousal abuse but the kings doing the same old thing over and over and expecting things to get better is starting to get funny (i don’t know why i expect anything different from the kings organization).
jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@yetiman_oc,
*Not promoting spousal abuse. Was laughing at the NERVE of NY fans to say that as a chant to Denis Potvin when he played for the Isles as described by @puck73. The wife beating allegation were un-confimed.
Same answer today as yesterday, No.
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1 goal since Thanksgiving??? How can it get any worse???
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Sam Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@Hat trick, How many assists? How many good defensive plays. I’d love if Kopi scored more but every goal kept out of your own net is a as good as a goal scored, though far more boring. And its not just him.
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Stagger Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@Sam,
Fine he’s good defensively. He should be a scorer FIRST, and then worry about defense. Don’t understand why people make excuses when our highest paid and most important offensive player is not scoring, at all, for a long, long time.
No excuses, just get it done. He goes through long slumps every year. Love the guy but at his salary, he’s got to figure it out, and quick!
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Dave's a Killer Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
@Hat trick,
8 goals in the last 40 games
30 games without a goal in consecutive games
Assists and defense are nice but elite centers are expected to score goals at a rate better than one every 5 games
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Quality of chances.
That is the only problem I see. Goalies are getting very good looks at the shots and the shots are going straight to the center of the goal mouth. The aiming problem is what you do when you are in a slump. You say to yourself, at least let me put it on net. But in reality, you don’t want to be shooting the center. Someone needs to be in front of the net all times screening the goalie. Then, you can’t shoot middle because you will hit your guy. CBJ would have been a great game to practice this against. Brownies screens were off target (he was prolly thinking rebound) and he’s too small anyway. Puck support on the boards below the dots only and then back to the damn net! Then you are the deep forecheck preventing a fast exit from the zone if you turn it over.
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Dominick Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@Dilapidus,
I’m not sure if this is tied into your comment, but the missing has a lot to do with trying to hard to aim for a smaller portion of the net. Instead of just firing it towards the middle, the guys are trying for the corners because they think it will just hit the goalie anyways. Firing those perfect shots under pressure makes when you miss, even worse. Just get it on net, anyway possible, and let the guys in front do their jobs.
If they have time, then by all means try something, but It’s easier to shoot at the fattest part of the net down low, then to shoot at a smaller target up high. Kings do get a lot of shots, but prime scoring chances, and wide open looks, they often shoot it high and wide, or flubb it all together.
Just get it on net. I’d rather see it hit the goalie, then watch the Kings miss, and chase it.
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Dilapidus Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@Dominick,
I don’t think it’s accuracy. Most of these guys are pretty decent sharpshooters that have been spooked by the drought into firing for the middle. And I think you don’t get a lot quality rebounds hitting a goalie in the chest.
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Dominick Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@Dilapidus, I was talking more about shootig low towards the middle more, and them missing because their aiming for a smaller portion of the net up high.
Michael J. Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@Dilapidus,
Puck and I discussed this very thing last night. The Kings must get more quality scoring chances. Increase these and increase your scoring.
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Superpartyrobot Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@Dilapidus, Agreed. We’ll score more when we stop throwing the puck at the goalie’s chest.
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Yeah, I was talking half a goal a game more two weeks before they fired TM. Obviously a trade wouldn’t have brought that so that’s why it was a sure thing of TM leaving. Anyway half a goal a game more is the buzz phrase now.
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In watching other teams, we have WAY less front-of-the-net presence than any team I’ve watched. And since we can’t seem to cycle behind the net anymore, why bother even taking the puck and skating behind the net and through with it? Take it in front. Jam it in. I’m very critical of Doughty but that’s what he did the other night in OT, with JJ there to muck things up. Front of the net is where it happens. Not skating through behind it. A good cycle will open up the crease but someone has to actually GO TO the crease or it’s just keep-away. Good luck tonight, Bernie.
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Kopitar never going to get going…
I dont even think he a Elite Centermen…If he is he a joke of a one…Sad because i really think Kopitar is a great player and can score with True LW or RW or without them…One thing i wish Kopi leanr how to shoot more and less pass like a crazy man…
Kopi doesnt deserve of me to make fun of him but every year slumps he goes into its soo annoying…
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Kopitar…paging Anze Kopitar…please make your way to the front of the opposing team’s net..there is a goal or two waiting for you..stat!
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
@KOHO, I am sorry, you have reached a number that is no longer in service.
For SLUMPITAR please press 1.
For SILLIAMS please press 2.
For PENNSIVE please press 3.
For STOLLICHNAYA please press 4.
For BROWNSTAIN please press 5.
For RICHOCHETTE please press 6.
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Banez81 Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
@zulov, That can’t be their extension numbers, Kings don’t like numbers that high. Try letters maybe
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“Re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic?”
Classic.
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Dominick Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@KC23, Maybe while your at the game tonight, you could bring a violin and play something somber while fans fight for life boats.
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
@Dominick, haha too funny!
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RobSD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
@Dominick,
I’ll be floating on the Wetzels Pretzels sign as Kopi breaks off and slowly sinks into the deep blue abyss.
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Off topic: Marchand got 5 games for his clip on Salo.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610834
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@CB14, Good, I think that was a super dangerous play!
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Stagger Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
@CB14,
Good. He deserved at least that long. That was nasty.
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Just bought my tickets for tonight. Kings are undefeated when I have come this year.
Here’s hoping!
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Steve Jensen Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@Michael J.,
You just guaranteed a victory. I hope you live up to these high standards.
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
@Michael J., You may not make it through security with that horseshoe in yer pocket!
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RobSD Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
@Michael J.,
We gotta get you to more games…
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And this about sums it all up i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU
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I like this move. Williams has been the best guy to feed Kopi the puck, I believe that’s when he was scoring most of his goals this season. As well, Willy passed him the puck for his recent goal. Good change, let’s see how it goes.
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Re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic?
OUCH RICH, OUCH
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
@Lake Forest,
I used that analogy with TM but never imagined it would be applied to DS..
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+++ Off-Topic Alert +++
I couldn’t help myself…
Apologies to Elton John…
/Pancake Man
She broke my fast daylight pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I’m gonna be stuffed as a tic by then
I miss L.A. so much I miss my wife
It’s lonely out on ice
On such an aimless skate
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till game time brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a pancake man
Pancake man throwing out his back out here alone
Rink ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A pancake man, a pancake man
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time…
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, APPLAUSE
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Too funny> I always took Penner for a waffle guy. Who Knew?
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Kopitar’s not going to get going until he learns to lead the offense from the middle third of ice rather trying to get it done from the wings.
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Capt Jam Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
@Capt Jam,
…rather than…
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EJ gives LA the edge tonight. At least someone still has some faith
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
@jess, dont Watch …NHL on the Fly……They hate the Kings!!
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Steve W Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
@KingsFanFTW, It’s called NHL Tonight” now.
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“Re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”
I sincerely hope that’s not true but, damn, that might just turn out to be the greatest analogy I have ever read.
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keep Kopitar away from Pancakes!
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I’m pretty sure most any line combination of forwards will not score, when the only play in the playbook is for them to recover the puck and send it back out to the point for the lowest percentage shot from the D-men forty feet away from the goal. Just sayin’.
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How about Martinez, Stoll and Penner for Iginla, Tanguay and Bourque?
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I have 4 tickets to tonights game if anyone is interested….section 114. Email me at cdunn@ksandco if interested.
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New Kings poll:
How many goals will the Kings score tonight?:
a) 0
b) 1
c) 1 (own goal)
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Paul G Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@Robert R, Quick is too good and kopitar is too slumpstinking for an own goal
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Mike V. Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@Robert R, “a”
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xeropoint Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
@Robert R, You forgot:
d) -1 (goal called back from Toronto)
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Robert R Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@xeropoint, At everyone:
We value your opinion!
Keep those responses coming!
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CB14 Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
@Robert R, B
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@Robert R,
New Poll: How many of our own powerplays will be kill tonight?
a) 8
b) 16
c) all of the above
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jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@jess, *we
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Robert R Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
@jess, Yes, the penalty killing has been stellar. It’s also nice to play disciplined hockey, avoid the penalty box, and not disrupt the offensive flow, whatever there may be
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we need a trade….a defencemen for a forward
this is pathetic….regardless of what system your playing, scoring shouldn’t be THIS bad!
Stoll wont be resigned
Neither Parse, Moreau or Hunter
Penner might come back for less money since Lombardi wont admit another mistake
Doughty Voynov and Martinez is fine for offensive D (think of Boston), trade JJ for for a real sniper
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Here We Go Again, Kings Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
@Paul G,
I’d rather have JJ than Doughty. I’m beginning to believe that DD may be the most overhyped Kings player in a long time. Maybe the most since Roman Vopat!
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TM is working on a new tell all book – “How to turn a gifted offensive player into a below average grinder.”
His chapter outline includes many tantalizing concepts, including “Make your star forward feel guilty for allowing his less fortunate team mates do all the hard work of puck recovery, grinding, defending and checking.”
Followed by “Shame him when he scores goals before he thinks of his poor hard working team mates”
With “Philosophically challenge your hotshot scorer to answer this question – if you score a goal and give one up, did you really score in the first place?”
With this last chapter, TM is promising to boggle not just the simple minds of high scoring hockey players, but also confound the brains of the world’s leading philosophers.
TM believes that his Guilt, Shame and Intellectual Nihilism will put an end to all aspects of individual creativity, and usher in an age of team responsibility, where games are now won by the execution of various grinding, back checking and shot mentality techniques.
He promises to follow up this book with a sequel called “How to take an feisty momentum builder and turn him into slump causing rhythm destroyer” – with at least one chapter titled, “If they grind, then a place on the first offensive line they find”
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Paul G Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
@zulov, dont forget the other chapter “Now that you’ve destroyed your young prospect, get rid of them for absolutely nothing in return”
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
@Paul G, You are right – can’t omit such an important chapter. Although I believe DL might own the copyright on that material.
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
@zulov, Thats what these poor guys have to un-learn…
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kinginprague Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@zulov, and chapter on “hard compete” not?!:-) Don’t forget that he confounded the brains of world’s leading linguistsas well. Guessing what Chomsky would say!
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
@kinginprague, Yes, a bonus audio CD of how to best turn Verbs into Nouns will be included with the hard copy best seller.
jess Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
@zulov,
NY Times best seller?
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
@zulov, How many bad chapters will cover bad bounces or shot mentality?
Couldnt resist
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zulov Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@Lake Forest, He promises to use such fan favorite terminology at least twice every other paragraph.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@zulov, I’m sure DL would be the first to front for publishing
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Brownie hat trick
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Kings x Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
@Lake Forest, High Asa kite and felling ieright
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Penner has 4 goals in 49 games as a King….hard to believe….had no idea it was that bad. Even with his loafing you’d think he’d run into a few more goals. He’ll get a multiple goal game soon…I can feel it.
Go Kings!
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hey Kopi
break Ovi,
and give us a win!
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Idea for a prank:
Go near the Caps bench and recite the locker room speech that Boudreau gave (HBO, game vs. Florida) in which he dropped the F-bomb 15 times in a minute-plus. Sanitize it, of course. I’m in Ohio; if I was there, I’d give it a go.
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@Sam, DITTO!!! I think if we all started talking positive this site would be much more fun. Some of you guys should find another team. NEG NEG NEG. IS ALL I’M HEARING.
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