In terms of the Kings’ offensive wish list, the number-one item would still be getting some of the veteran forwards back on track, and scoring at a rate even close to their career averages. A secondary item, though, would be getting some production out of rookie Andrei Loktionov, who has shown strong games here and there but has yet to be a consistent threat on offense. Loktionov was a reliable scorer in Manchester, but with the Kings he has four points (all on assists) in 31 games, and he has not recorded a point in his last 14 games. Loktionov is considered more of a playmaker than a sniper, and for the most part, he’s been playing between some combination of Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis and Brad Richardson — not exactly three snipers themselves — but the feeling is that Loktionov has yet to tap his potential. Still, Darryl Sutter said he sees all-around positives from Loktionov and likes that potential.
SUTTER: “He’s been good. We talked to him after we sat him out in St. Louis. It wasn’t based on performance. It was sort of based on the centermen down the middle with St. Louis, and how they were going to play. It was for him to watch and see if he could see anything that could help him. The perception was that he wasn’t good defensively or that he didn’t compete in his own zone. Quite honestly, I’ve seen zero of that. The only time he has problems — and it’s just a drift-back — is, instead of turning and going, it’s bringing it back and going into the formations that he was used to playing when he was a kid. That’s the only time he has any trouble. I know his size will be an issue, but if you keep him with speed, you try to get him to understand to be `first in, first out.’ Then he’s protecting himself. He’s been pretty receptive.’’
So who do we trade lokti for? Sorry, thought i would get it started here too…….
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puck73 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@fsd1, That was funny.
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Belexes Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@fsd1,
Or should it read “Which team turns Lokti into a 30 goal scorer? lol
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
@fsd1, Kozun? Vey?
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
@fsd1, What I don’t hear in the trade rumors is anything juicy from our end. Lokti, Martinez, Bernier, JJ, Penner, Stoll… Nothing great. I’ll just throw this out there… If we think Bernier is so valuable, like I do, what about trading Quick whose stock couldn’t be higher for sweet winger sniper? One problem is Quick is only signed thru next year and the other is his contract is so cheap it wouldn’t free up any room.
Anyway, I am a huge goalie and JQ fan but trust me it will hurt to get anything good. The best move will be to sit until the summer and trade then when prices aren’t so high. No top free agents will come here without LA having a cup or unless we are retroactively made a original 6 team.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
@LA_1968, My post was meant as a joke, Trading one of the top 2 or 3 goaltenders in the NHL is not a joke. Deano will sign him when he legally can.
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@fsd1, Yeah, I got the joke. To me there is no good move right now and won’t be until summer. As far as signing guys early, DL has taken care of Kopi (year in advance), JJ and Williams. From the top of my head. So he has that in him and hopefully you’re right about signing him early as well.
Purple and gold Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@LA_1968, could you imagine the goaliegate scandal thought would cause.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@fsd1,
It’s blatantly obvious that the Kings are indeed “showcasing” Lokti. You hit the hammer on the head. Now, if he would score a goal no team could resist trading for him.
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bmova Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@fsd1, to CBJ for Jeff Carter! Maybe thrown in a d-man, and a conditional pick.
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number 6 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@bmova,
Yeah, we could also throw in Brown, and Justin Williams? And maybe two future firsts along with Bernier and the dman?
…………….lol…………
not
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Sebastian Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@fsd1, theyre obviously “showcasing” Lokti for a trade. LOL
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solid response by DS… I don’t think the “drift-back” is a Lokti-only issue, a lot of the forwards and Dmen do it. It needs to stop all around, and in the last game it seemed that it had been cut down considerably. Where the puck carrier would fall back and circle, a pass was made up ice!
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puck73 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
@Stuart, Well, look at the bright side. If TM was still here, I think Lokti would be down in Manchester learning to be heavy on his stick, or would be flat out traded away. I think Sutter and Nicholls realize that in order to have a well rounded hockey team, you cant just have a team of muckers and plumbers, skill guys on your top 6 have to be in the equation as well.
I see alot of improvement and confidence with Lokti under sutter. I think the finish is not that far off.
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Stuart Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
@puck73, truer words have never been spoken, but as someone mentioned in an earlier thread today, I think we miss some of the grinders…
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5holer Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
@puck73, Of course I must first look past your sour grapes commentary on TM, but…even though that TM guy and his system has both Lok and the entire squad dangerously close to the Division lead in spite of “Goalessness” across the board…your points on Lok and the others are well struck. Ever heard of the fortuitous word “Confidence”? It was and still largely is lacking throughout the forward lines. All this stuff about falling back to kid habits is all about a lack of confidence in your own offensive play. Add in the youth aspect of the team’s pecking order, and you have an exacerbated problem with Lok and others of his ilk. Hockey is 99% mental and that includes knowing your spot in the pecking order. That is indeed unfortunate for young inexperienced players trying to find their niche. It is all mental with this club, which indeed can be a mindless disorder. Mr Astute plus Boinie are having a positive impact on all these downtrodden forwards here. Patience is the elixir and pumping them up with positives about their games is just what may produce the needed results for a successful season. There is ample talent here, though somewhat skewed in misaligned styles. It can work with this group with a small quotient of margin for error, however it can work much better with an addition without much subtraction to the left side. Carter for JJ is a joke, bad move to make. The subtraction part is too much risk to take for a maybe. Snipers are not in abundance, so improve the committee with some fresh help instead, at least til summertime! It is tenuous at best to take on a big chunk at a larger then needed price. Much coming off books next season with many unwanteds! The lack of developing forward assets is still deadly here! Cupboard still bare there!
Say what you like.
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KC23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@puck73, Well said.
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sutter is right…
lokti needs to be more decisive with his movements when attacking and stop deferring to his linemates more often than not…
if he can’t be big in stature. i want to see him play a bigger game than he has…and i think he’s capable of it…
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Anjin Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
@variable, I see so much raw talent in this kid. He just needs to find a way to make it work in the NHL. The way he moves with the puck at times is very fluid and I could see him being a 60 point player if he can figure it all out in time.
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KC23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@variable, It is almost like DS is saying … stop trying to play like the rest of the King’s line up … play YOUR game YOUR way showing off YOUR attributes.
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It would appear that he can’t….
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Not trying to compare the two but considering Gretzky was only 6’0″, 185, I’m always amused about players being judged by their size. Lokti will get it going.
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Superpartyrobot Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@Kings Cup, or look at Martin St. Louis. What is he, like 5’7″, 5’8″?
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Deke'r Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@Superpartyrobot, …..yeah it can happen just not very often….these guys are anomalies not the average…
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Osaka Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@Deke’r, Right, how many thousands of small players don’t make it because of their size…..
I would like to say i think he has been more of a puck possession player as of late. If you possess it, we will score.
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I think Lokti has a lot of upside, you can tell that this kid is going to be really good. He has really good hands and has a lot of speed. PLEASE DONT TRADE THIS KID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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vinny Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@kenny
+ infinity!! love his game!!
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kenny Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@vinny, Helllz yeah, he has a lot of potential more potential then all the other offensive prospects that I have seen come through our farm system.
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vinny Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@kenny,
I agree, although ive only seen the few other guys that have been brought up like moller and king etc.. and hey, since you brought that up, what do you think of vey? ive never seen him play before, but have noticed his numbers in manchester and am impressed by them(13g, 14a in 40 something games)
kenny Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@kenny, I havnt seen Vey play yet, I hear good things about him though. hopefully ill get to focus no him more in training camp next season =D
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Upcoming pavel bure! Ahhh only one can hope!
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Osaka Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Kingsfan602, No Bure could score. As a rookie Bure put 34 in the net.
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Lokti has never, at any level, been a goal scorer. His value will be ONLY when he has some wings who can skate AND finish.. meanwhile it’s good he’s learning the defensive end of the game until we can provide him with some skilled wingers.
People who are pining away for our ex-grinders (like Smyth and Zus) seem to be forgetting our team of last season. Slow, and easily rattled by quick teams like St. Louis and Chicago. We need to transit to a great defensive team with some skills on the 2nd/3rd line; we have too many ‘grinders’ still.
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GregDM Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@bbb7, Exactly. He’ll become a good playmaker, but how many assists will he rack up when he’s feeding passes to Richardson and Lewis? Neither guy can finish.
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Dan H. Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@bbb7,
You’re right 100% and it’s the same argument I’ve made for a while. If you put williams on his wing you’ll get production. I know he’s not going to be top 6 this year so it won’t happen. But you have two guys with stone hands getting passes in the slot and they hit the chest of the goalie over and over (Richardson)….no points are accumulated.
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This is my hope for Loktis’ future.
Next season he has a fellow Russian who might be coming back to play here in the states, and I would hope to at least see him paired with Kitsyn during camp next season. Forget Carter, or Parise, and sign Alexander Semin during the summer, and let them get into the habbit of speaking to each other in their native language whenever their on the ice together. Let the 4 Russians room together on the road, and build an environment where they can take ownership of each others careers.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
@Dominick,
Semin? This might be the first time that I think you’re nuts
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5holer Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
@Michael J., I second that motion! Whacked!
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@5holer, C’mon guys, And Carter is all the more sane? Semin is far better offensively. Maybe taking 3 Russian kids under his wing is just what he needs to straiten his poo butt out. He’s got mad 1 on 1 skills, and can score. Exactly what I would like to see Lokti develope into over time.
Give a guy card blanche to do it his way, and he might waist it. Give him responsibility over others, and he might surprise you.
Osaka Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
@Dominick,
I would take 5 Carters before I took one Semin. If you see Lokti developing into a Semin we should trade him now.
andy Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@Dominick, Not sure of Semin’s attitude. Would have liked Lombardi drafting Kuznetsov instead of Forbort. Can you imagine a line with Loktionov-Kitsyn-Kuznetsov with Voynov on the point!-Great kid line.
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@andy, Yep. I’ve complained about that Forbort pick quite extensively. Ugggghh! Don’t get me started.
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KC23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Dominick, Come on everyone, even if Semin didn’t score that much we could count on him to put a slap down if needed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRCpN4OMpM
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I don’t know if someone else already mentioned but 2013 winter classic game will be between Mapleleafs and Red wings. Any chance the team from west can participate? I see none.
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5holer Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
@goldielocks, The league is run from Toronto and New York. The money trail is in the East, so grin and bare it! Too much sunshine in January here and no viable venue this side of the Rockies. Tough pill, but what choice? East has to buy in before anyone else does in West. Its the facts of life of NHL hockey. My childhood rivalry teams on the biggest stage in 2013. Leafs versus Wings. Bower vs Sawchuk! The Chief vs Mr Hockey! For me its tops, but sorry if you cannot relate. Apologies to all, but not in my control! Or ours either for that matter! Money Rules NHL! You will be asking Donald Fehr about that real soon! Bad story coming perhaps! CBA Hell? Hmm, what Winter Classic of 2013? TBA!
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KC23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@goldielocks, I’m guessing Denver will get one some day, but that is as far west I we can hope to ever see.
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Think a minute folks! Do you really want to see the roster turned over to the extent required for the likes of a Carter, Nash, Parise or name your sniper? This group is not far off the mark. It is a well oiled machine on defense and in goal. The TM system is intact defensively, which is why we are where we are…very close indeed, but you may miss that view with the trees in your way with no goals? A tweek may be the best approach instead of a roster buster IMHO! Dean still likes what he mostly has, but he has to know that a cycling banging bunch any longer they are NOT! So just go for the fresh help approach…A Ruutu, Kulemin, MacArthur, Morrow, that ilk…a left handed stick with some moving legs and hands. Not to part with any portion of the team’s strength…not JJ, not Bernier either. Aim a bit lower and you may get a fit, then come to the table with an open Cap Space in July to pull out a coupe there! It could save some jobs upstairs, who knows? This regime is fine, A-OK to me. Came from Zero at start and now we are in the discussion always. Huge difference, but time to pony up and take a measured chance. On right track with coaching staff, which will likely be completed over off season with a DS specific staff. GM & staff has got to roll the dice, but at measured cost, so not to upset the apple cart we have keeping us in contention even without goals scored! Perplexing but could be much worse! keep saying it…Good forwards, good sticks, good offense, that’s it boys! Pats not slaps! Its working some as I see it! Now for consistency, next in order!
Yours to ponder!
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bbb7 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@5holer, I’m with you. We need one or two decent scoring threats on the 2nd/3rd lines, not a superstar. Let’s not go the rental route or the re-tread route, get someone younger who can fit in our system but has some hands, especially since we dont have many skilled forwards in the system.
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andy Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
@bbb7, I beg to differ!We have Hollowat,Moller,Vey,Kozun,Toffoli and Weal. I think the only thing holding Loktionov back is Lewis. The guys got blinxders on when he has the puck. He thinks he’s better than Lokti-Think again Lui
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ColoKing8 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@andy, you must be joking considering both Richardson and Lewis have hooked lokti with point blank passes in the slot while he stands there not even to get a shot off
Osaka Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@5holer, Ray Whitney on Phoenix would be a good pick up but they are still in the race.
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KC23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
@5holer, Nash? Yes. Carter and Parise, no. I could not fault DL for giving up a lot if Nash was in the deal.
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I wouldn’t mind seeing Loki on the PP a little bit…maybe help get him going. Especially if they have a lead late in the game, and they have a power play.
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vinny Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@Cup B4 I Die,
id like to see that too
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Yeah, I think Lotki is gonna be a good player.
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