In terms of Dustin Penner, the question hasn’t changed. It remains, how do you get more production out of him? It could also be, how do you get him to regularly play strong games? Penner has three goals in 36 games this season, which in itself is fairly baffling, but moreover, there’s been a trend. Penner follows an excellent game (like the one he played in Vancouver) with a clunker (like the one he played against Calgary). Clearly, not every player is going to be magnificent every night, but Penner’s peaks and valleys seem more pronounced than those of other players, and Darryl Sutter seemed to acknowledge that today when he spoke at length about Penner’s game…
SUTTER: “I just want him to be consistent. Everything is measured with him because of his size and previous scoring. So I’m trying to take that pressure off him and just (have him) be a consistent two-way guy. When I first came, he was playing with Jarret and Justin Williams, and we used it more as a checking line. That’s when we were trying Richards at (left wing), with Kopi. We were trying to find that balance, to get some more scoring. Mike is a better center, so we moved him back to center and put Dustin there and put Jarret on wing. The last couple games, we played that line against the Sedin line, and then the last line we played them against Jarome (Iginla) and Cammy [Michael Cammalleri]. It’s just trying to get that balance. It’s not so much him. It’s just trying to take a little pressure off him and get him to be a solid, every-night player.
“The size is a misconception, because he’s not a big power guy. But what you’ve got to use the size for is puck protection and scoring goals. Quite honestly, he does a good job of standing in front of the net. More of it is getting to the loose pucks, and protecting it and using it. That’s where he has to use that size. Because he’s not a slow play. It’s just understanding the importance of it. It’s like I tell the coaches, `We need him from 7:30 to 10 o’clock, every other day. Seven-thirty to 10, every other day, for 180 days. That’s how I’ve got to look at it and approach it with him, because we need more production from four or five guys. We need that. We’re hanging on to a playoff spot. If we’d had four or five more points, we’d be competing for first overall. That means just four or five more goals. If you think about how close it is, that’s just the little bit more we’re trying to get out of guys. It’s tough.’’
Maybe that is why we have trouble with day games…..the players are needed 7.30 to 10.00..also explains the OT losses….
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linny Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@neil, the of losses r due to the fact that we really do not have any outstanding__pure scorers. Lots of great passers and net crashers but nobody can b counted on in the shootout. Way too many guys at30% or less and the other teams finally figured out how to beat qquick in the shootouts. Its not some fluke that we lead the league in ot. Losses.
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Isnt everyone inconsistent??? Who has been consistent this year on the Kings???? Quick,Brown<Scuds,Mitchell…..Kings fans???? No we are also inconsistent!!!!!
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SLIM Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@neil,
Well.They have been consistently inconsistent..
That’s gotta mean something..
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Deke'r Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@neil, …consistancy is key…see the Bruin/Ranger game today??….both teams play virtually every game as if it’s a playoff game…great game to watch..
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wes Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@neil, maybe i’m thinking of someone else, Neil, but weren’t you down with a bad case of “Dustin Brown sucks” a month or two ago? if so, nice to see you’re thinking more clearly (and if i’ve got you confused with someone else, well perhaps i’m not thinking so clearly).
yeah, some fans are inconsistent. most players have been.
I’m going to agree that Quick, Brown, Scuderi, and Mitchell have been the only guys that the organization can ‘bank on’ bringing a high-level game every night. Not that the breaks never go against those four (Brown’s had two good goals wrongly disallowed), but they’ll nearly always be aware of what’s happening and ‘bust their butt’ to make the play.
I don’t recall Drewiski having a bad game this year, but of course he’s normally a scratch.
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ducksuck Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 6:28 pm
@neil, Quick has been very consistent all year. Only probably 3 games he has looked bad, he is for sure the teams MVP. Every skater has been up in down i would say the best is from Richards(mainly because when he was injured TM was let go) Kopi hasn’t been the same brown finally is looking like a captain, and williams has turned his game around. Penner has been getting so close along with Richardson so they will come around. Only player i would like to see sent down is Loki. He just can’t score and with Parse and Gagne out I had high hope for him. Lewis isn’t scoring but always on the PK and doesn’t hurt the team. Only problem has been scoring and this team is so streaky who knows unless the Kings traded for someone that can only score(cammy would have been nice). The team just needs a scorer 1 one player that sucks at d and only cherry picks. All 20 players on the ice are great just would be nice to get someone like Hunter or Richardson to get some goals. The one player i feel is gone after this season besides Fraser and Hunter would have to be Stoll. Just a bad year, hope the team can get something for him or he turns it on because this isn’t the same player i remember last year with face-offs and shootouts and goal scoring. so yes no one has be consistent except for Quick. and if any fan out there thinks Quick hasn’t carried this team that can’t score well you don’t know much about hockey.
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Wake up Penner!!!
Looking forward to game tonight with fellow insiders see you there!
Taken my 2 neps with me for thier birthday too…
GKG…
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bfarm Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@Sammuch,
I’m aat the Hooters at this very moment! Can’t wait to skate on kings ice!
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I believe those guys who are used to the old defensive system, are still getting bogged down and having a hard time to find a way out of it. Even though the system has been opened up for offensive side, they can’t adjust their game instantly. Penner is one of them. More reason to find a new(fresh) guy to help out our offense.
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Penner. You need to get meaner.
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Kenny44 Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 3:14 pm
@terry crisps tie,
And as a tie, you make a good hanky.
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Sutter said all of those words? That is amazing. I half expected this interview to be, “Consistent. That’s it, right?” Darryl must be fired up to talk that much. Let’s kick some Avalanche ass tonight boys.
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You cannot doubt S-mans math. A couple of goals. All those wide open, gaping, begging, great whacking slatherings of goals which the team has not converted.
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Good…..call him out, call them all out….this team has cup potential. Time to live up to expectations boys.
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Need these 4 pts before the break to get us to 60. I am getting tired hearing all about how great the CENTRAL is.. Have a great time tonight boys, I will be here in Chicago watching you and blogging all the INSIDERS.. GKG
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That title is kinda rough, Rich! Not saying it’s “wrong”, just had to read it 6 times before I understood how you were using the word avoid. I’m just a hockey fan!
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It feels like a marathon today meaning RANGERS-BRUINS then SHARKS-CANUCKS then HAWKS-PREDS then AVS -KINGS!!! Hockey loving day…
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I got drilled yesterday by @osaka for pointing out that Penner has not played well. He did say that Penner had 5 hits. Really!!! We pay a guy 4 mil for a few hits now and then, 3 goals and a bunch of pancakes. Yes he missed the game winner by an inch… Key word “missed”. DL “missed” trading for this guy. He may come out and have a good game, but it’s always now and then when it comes to Penner. I get sick, sick watching this guy play. He is the biggest guy on the ice. He could be in front of the net blocking the view of the goalie on most plays. I know that there are those who still believe that Penner will break out at some point. My hope is that we trade him in a package deal along with Bernier{he deserves to play more] for a player such as Inglia. I know it won’t happen, but I can dream. Oh and as far as osaka goes… Lokti doesn’t get 4 mil a year and we can blame his misfortune’s on being young and not so smart with hockey IQ.
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KC23 Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@King Charles of Salt Lake, Hey, we finally have common ground! I agree 100%, but I doubt we’ll part with Bernier until Quick is locked up.
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@King Charles of Salt Lake,
Last year, just after the trade, one of our local wondrous Kings Bloggers asked Derick Zona, who runs the Oilers blog, his opinion regarding Penner. Zona said Penner was not so spectacular on his own but had the effect of making others around him better and produced numbers to back up his observation.
Well, we know about last season and the first months of this one. It looks like it took until the last month and a half for that side of Penner to emerge. Now, if he can start scoring here and there I think it will be the difference to pad our playoff cushion and make a solid run at the Sharks.
You listening Dustin? Its all on your shoulders…go at it my man! ;>)
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Hard to watch Vancouver Sharks game. I hate both teams. I want Vancouver to win, but ugh … I need to take a shower after rooting for Burrows and the rest of that dive team.
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Gustavo Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@KC23,
LOL..I felt the same way.
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 5:44 pm
@KC23,
No worries, Burrows and the Pickle Brothers have already started passing out slices of onion to “Cryin’” Ryan and the rest of team in preparation for the game and between period interviews. Bieksa will most likely add a lemon slice to his onion packet.
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Off topic.
Hope someone takes Ballards head off next time we play VAN. He just started one with Pavelski. Wont fight someone his own size and goes after the little guys. What a man!
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He’s a bum. When he’s not getting paid come free agency hopefully he’ll begin to realize what a milkdrinker he really is.
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Poni gets a goal(his 8th) for his new team NJ.
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Penner is basically like any other 20-30 goal scorer that comes to the kings (see Stoll, Ponikarovsky, Williams, Gagne, et al). He didn’t do himself any favors with fans coming in out of shape n sulking last year but he’s playing better of late. I say let him have a shot in the shootout. Couldn’t b any worse than what’s going on right now.
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I thought Penner played pretty well against Vancouver, maybe his best all year. Still think that if he continues then the best spot for him will be on the numero uno line with Kopitar. Keep plugging Pens the goals will come!
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Go Pancakes!
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He has played a lot better recently, I have no complain on him but Loti!
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“He does a good job standing in front of the net”. Classic
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