Darryl Sutter’s postgame thoughts…
(on the game…)
SUTTER: “We had those power plays in the first. You knew it was going to be low scoring, the way both teams are. When you’re on the road and you have a couple power plays in the first period and you have none to kill, you’re hoping to score on one of them. That should of sort of propel you along, keep you going.’’
(on pulling Jonathan Quick…)
SUTTER: “No big deal. Just something different. It’s no big deal. I’m not a guy who (usually) pulls my goalies. It’s not my style.’’
(on the second period…)
SUTTER: “We were pretty good, but the one line had trouble for us. Richie [Mike Richards], Stoll and Penner had trouble in the second. I think they were on (the ice) for both goals.’’
(on Doughty making it a close game…)
SUTTER: “Drew played a hell of a game. Drew and Jack Johnson both. Our defense played pretty good We moved the puck and they played pretty well.’’
(on Florida’s shot blocking…)
SUTTER: “You get the outside on them, but you weren’t able to get much to the inside. That’s their game. That’s how they play. You have to drive to the net. We were taking that shot, but there were no second chances. I thought our defense did a good job getting it up there.’’
(on Jarret Stoll’s status…)
SUTTER: “I don’t know, to tell you the truth. I was just trying to get nine guys who were going, more than anything else.’’
Time for a new coach
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Mosh Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
@39scars, Really??
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IwantTheCup Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
@39scars, REALLY?! Come on!! You can’t blame the coach for the loss!! Our record has been awesome since he’s joined the team!
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39scars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
@IwantTheCup, I guess Bob and Jim r responsible 4 the lack of effort
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PurpleNGold Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@IwantTheCup, Agree.. you cant blame the coach. He is doing everything he can to tune the QUEENS into KINGS!!! Although that is impossible, based on what has been displayed. No heart, no soul, no urge!! Pigs WILL fly when this team wins anything!!! Lets go QUEENS let go!!!!!
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yetiman_oc Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:00 am
@IwantTheCup, .500 club but getting points for OT losses. Not great but not horrible.
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
@39scars, Honeymoons over? or you just don’t have a sarcasm font?
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Cruiznblue Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@39scars,
You mean time for new PP coach
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39scars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@Cruiznblue, I mean clean house. The players are not responding any longer. Fresh start is the only way
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Duncanz Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
@Dominick, keyboard wasn’t that sophisticated …
kingarella Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
@39scars, maybe the players would respond if the fans changed
XrsCheck2 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 5:52 am
@39scars, That is completely Absurd. I would back you if you said new assistant coaches. Possibly even a new captain. Sutter has done above expectations though. The team just isn’t that damn good. The good players we have are not performing. The only thing this team really has going for it consistently is quickie.
Perro Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:18 am
@39scars, I was wondering how long it would be till people turned on Sutter. I think he is awesome and loved him here in Calgary. He turned the Shames from a team that couldn’t sell half the dome, to Cup contender. Even if 04 was a fluke the year after the break the flames went on to win a hard North West Division.
Need to give it more time. In no way is this season a write off we are still in the playoffs and who knows what can happen come play off time, but I think everyone should give Sutter at least a full season. Training camp is huge for coaches.
[Reply]
Waterndirt Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:53 am
@39scars, No way! It was great how Sutter came into the mix at the end there and took charge of the last faceoff play. Players need redirection, gonna take time.
[Reply]
Can you fire two coaches in one season? he he he he
[Reply]
chip Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
@408kingsfan, You have to start at the top. Well you can’t fire the owners…so everyone starting just below the top. So Lombardi has to go. Coaches, scouting staff, anyone “not a coach, I’m just helping out”…gone. Trainers, equipment guys? Yup, gone. Sales guys?..I think that sales guys are off to the side of the command hierarchy, this is not their fault. Fire ‘em anyway, clean slate. Zamboni drivers don’t get any slack, adios. Players? We’ll only keep players that don’t have a large number of complaints registered…just a moment, checking…
Kopitar, Mitchell, Vey. And maybe that one taco truck over there. Definitely keeping them.
[Reply]
Dilapidus Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
@chip,
Don’t even THINK about firing the Ice Girls .. especially Carralyn (sp?)
[Reply]
chip Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
@Dilapidus, I dealt with them over the phone so I didn’t realize that…lemme call Nellie and see if he has their numbers. They’ll re-apply for a job, it’s not like we keep track of that.
chip Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:02 am
@Dilapidus, Carralyn, Nellie(sp?)
chip Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:02 am
@Dilapidus, Carralyn, Nellie(sp?)
DBking Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 1:30 am
@chip, im glad you got some frustration out and we are all hopingfor better but this is a ridiculous post. When they win their next game you wiol esinging praises.
[Reply]
DBking Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 1:31 am
@DBking, Hate my ipad :-/
Duncanz Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 3:59 am
@DBking, I’m trusting that was a skit, but I didn’t see Funny or Die anywhere so I’m not totally certain..
DL/TM/DS do they see the same games as us????
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Yep…Let’s fire all the management
and trade 90% of our players…
Now that’s a logical move…
Were not in 30th place..
were in the top 8…
We can’t be that horrible…
But I guess with some we are…
Don’t get me wrong..I’m disappointed
with tonight’s so called performance….
But we not as bad as some seem to think…
[Reply]
lakingbob(chi) Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
@SLIM, AMEN
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Kings x Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
@SLIM, Top 16
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ALEX Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
@SLIM, They may not be horrible, but they are pretty bad. Are you satisfied with barely hanging in the top 8? The fact is that this is statistically the worst offensive team in the NHL. Can’t dispute that. They were 2 minutes from being shutout for the 7th time in 55 games! This team just isn’t that good. Period.
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winger23 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
@SLIM, we are 30th in scoring…..enough said
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SLIM Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@winger23,
Thanks guys for proving my point..
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PurpleNGold Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@winger23, AMEN!! Scoring?! What is that? :/
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KingMe20 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
@SLIM,
Nope… just the offense is as bad as we think.
But yeah, would I rather flip spots with Ducks fans? Not a chance. I think we’re all just frustrated because we’ve never seen a team with this many guys with a history of scoring over 20 goals per season struggle just to get to 10 a piece. Only one forward is within shouting distance of a point per game, the rest are hovering closer to half a point per game.
Defense and goaltending are outstanding on this team. There is no question that if the Kings were in the playoffs, those areas alone would make them dangerous. History, however, tells us that the teams that win Cups are the teams that can do it at both ends. Remember the Devils teams that won those Cups about a decade ago? They were suffocating defensively, had outstanding goaltending, and they could score by committee. They won a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 games, but it was because they knew how to score timely goals.
Believe me, SLIM. I want to be as positive as you are, but reality tells us that without a bunch of guys breaking out of slumps, or a a drastic move to bring in a sniper or two, these guys aren’t getting out of the first round, if they make the playoffs at all. I’m not saying blow up the team, because I think there are a lot of good pieces here. I am saying that I’m more open to trades of players. The only guys I wouldn’t deal right now are Kopitar, Quick, and Richards (too early to give up on him). Doughty is probably on that list too, because once he grows up, I think he’ll be phenomenal, but if there were a deal to get a major scoring forward in return who is locked up for the next three or four years, I’d look at it.
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SLIM Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@KingMe20,
I get the frustration…
But never the hate…
Good post btw..
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PP Anybody? Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
@KingMe20, Commonly forgotten fact: The 2000 NJ Devils won the Stanley Cup after finishing 2nd OVERALL in Goals For. So yeah, even they did it at both ends.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
@PP Anybody?, and here are the figures to illustrate: http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?season=19992000&gameType=2&viewName=goalsFor
Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:07 am
@PP Anybody?, If you look at #16 on that list is San Jose at 2.74 goals for. If the Kings had that percentage now they be 13th in scoring per game, which would most likely put them at the top or near it in the West. Who was GM and coach of the Sharks then? Also 2 years later they finished 4th at 3.04 goals per game. So a DL/DS combo can work offensively just as much as it does defensively.
freezer flatten Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
@KingMe20, agree, but the ducks will probably pass us up soon.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:07 am
@freezer flatten, The Kings are slightly ahead of there pace from last season when they finished 7th in the conference. They will make the playoffs.
Lake Forest Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
@SLIM, +1
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Kings4life Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:29 am
@SLIM, word! Make the playoffs and anything can happen. We are going to be a tough team to play in 7 game series
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It’s not DS fault he has penner and Stoll in his top 6 lol give him a break . ^ you guys are trippen our lines are horrible .
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raunq12 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:15 am
@Brian,
Hahaha couldn’t agree more
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I figured if I checked in the sky would be falling.
This game amounts to blown opportunities in the first and failure to show up for the second.
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Mike Richards…. minus three and the same amount of shots as everyone on this blog…0 !!!!!
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:10 am
@neil, You really think that the 3 goals that the Kings gave up was Mike Richards’s fault? Our problem is Stoll and Penner and there total of 9 goals scored in 54 games, when they should be closer to 30 combined at this point. They were also the reason that Florida scored there 2 goals.
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King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 6:50 am
@Jeff_R, You are 100% right. Stoll and Penner are pathetic line mates!
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neil Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:35 am
@Jeff_R, zero shots from Richards?? is his fault..
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Just think about it.. If Parse were able to maintain his health the Penner trade would’ve never been made. And we would have a top 6 right now. 2 of your top 6 wingers went down due to injuries and now you have people playing the off wing and centers playing wing, gee I wonder why nobody is in position to score.
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Thrustable Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
@DEH, Yeah, it has nothing to do with players who can’t finish.
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
@DEH, Where are you coming from?? you ,your???
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Thrustable Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
@lakingbob(chi), Not sure what your question is. And I don’t recall Parse being so valuable. Plus there weren’t many complaints about acquiring Penner, no one could have predicted his lack of production.
[Reply]
lakingbob(chi) Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
@Thrustable, Is DEH a Kings insider???
DEH Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:01 am
@Thrustable, he was a top 6 winger at the time and had he been health we wouldn’t have been looking for a top top 6 winger during the trade deadline.
CB14 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
@DEH, We couldn’t score even when those 2 guys were healthy.
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DEH Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:59 am
@CB14, when they were both healthy we could score, Parse went down before goaliegate, scoring wasn’t a problem then.
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King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 6:51 am
@DEH, Forget about Parse for the love of god.
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Waterndirt Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:56 am
@King Cobra, I agree.
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raunq12 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:16 am
@King Cobra,
Haha yes please
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DEH Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:58 am
@DEH, look at his shot percentage, he can finish. Remember year in and year out Simmonds, Handzus, kopitar, and parse are among the top on this team for shot percentage (as in they get the puck in the net when they shoot a.k.a can finish). Of that list 2 were let go, one is injured, and the other is carrying the offense. Granted parse hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year, but he had decent percentages when healthy and there it could be argued that the percentages would be in line with his rookie season.
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Pretttty…pretttty…prettty good. Our LA Kings!
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toemas_sandstrom Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:01 am
@Cup B4 I Die, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag1o3koTLWM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Just finished watching the game. I can’t recall one time the kings had a screen on the goalie. Not to mention any down low play. They just don’t have enough desire to put in the effort to make the hard plays to have a chance to score. A complete bunch oh pansies. Hope we don’t make playoffs…why prolong the agony. They call themselves pros & they can’t even hit a 6″ net from 10′ away.
I
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kindsir Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
@Kingman369, we ahould just tank the rest of the season and get a nice draft pick, but fire Dean before he fails at drafting again.
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KingMe20 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@kindsir,
Yeah, I’m beginning to worry about the fact that the Kings haven’t drafted a forward in the first round other than Brayden Schenn in the last few years.
[Reply]
g smith86 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@KingMe20, don’t worry about that…they traded Schenn
Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:14 am
@KingMe20, Exactly which offensive players were available when the Kings picked defenseman that would help us now? Brayden Schenn yes, but he helped us get Mike Richards. Once we can get 2 wingers that can score to play with Mike, you will see why we went out and got him.
Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@Kingman369, i agree with you honestly i do, why prolong this?? I’m really a kings fan, not meaning to be a troll but they just dont have the desire to go down low, where the goals are scored, as long as they get paid was does it matter to them huh?
kinda wish it was like back in the day where you got paid by performance, think they’d be singing a different tune
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Happy Lappy Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
@Kingman369, no, it’s a 6 foot net, it just seems like 6″ when the Kings are shooting at it.
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freezer flatten Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
@Kingman369, exactly. when was the last time we scored on a rebound?
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purple and gold Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:38 am
@freezer flatten, Penner’s goal one game ago.
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I don’t know how this year is gonna end up, but part of me wishes it to be over so we can reboot mentally for next season. This lack of scoring is wearing on the players and frustrating the fans.
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Whatever. I’ve been through this before in my 40 years of being a Kings fan. Thing is, back then several times we weren’t even close to a playoff spot. So, once again, I’m going to turn the page on this game, and go into Saturday’s game with my eternal Kings hope. See ya there bloggers!!!!!!
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Thrustable Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
@Goring 19, Defense wins championships, we got the D, but we can’t be the worst offensive team and expect success. If you have been watching the Kings for as long as you say, please share when was the last time a Kings team was so baffling.
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Goring 19 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@Thrustable, Indeed this team is baffling to a point. We still have young guys who aren’t near their prime and it shows. Plus there obviously is some dead weight that needs to be shipped out. I guess the difference is back then we had skilled players galore and we would still go on a 6-7 game losing streak but then we would snap it and go on an 8 game winning streak. Inconsistency which happened a lot back then. Right now they’re consistent in not scoring. I think we had a 5 game losing streak this year and we’re still in the thick of things but the way we lose is maddening because we know we’re capable of so much better.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
@Goring 19, The only thing inconsistent for years in the Kings organization was GOALTENDING. Year after year, plenty of good teams were iced, only to play in front of the likes of LaBarbera, Fukufuji, Cloutier, Garon, Cechmanek, Fiset, Dafoe, Stauber…
Panama City King Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:12 am
@PP Anybody?,
Leave Blue Line out of this!!! Robb was THE best backup the Kings ever had! I’m one of the few that has his name on my ’93 jersey…
Man these Kings are tough to watch. I don’t know why this team can’t put forth a decent effort the majority of the time. It’s so disheartening to watch a team with this high of expectations play this way. I understand the notion of not getting too down because we’re still in a playoff spot, but I can’t blame anyone for being down on this team. I’m a King fan through and through, but boy do I hate these games sometimes.
How a team with so much previous talent can be this bad offensively is mind boggling. Just as I thought when he was hired, it’s obvious that Sutter was not the answer. Hate to be right on that one. It’s DL’s defense first system and it’s killing this team and it’s fans. I know the old saying that anything can happen in the playoffs, but lets be real people, the Kings have no chance in hell of making it anywhere close to the Finals this year. It pains me to admit that.
I’ll still watch and root for the Kings to win, but i’m not sure how much more of this I can take.
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number 6 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
@CB14,
I think they do put forth the effort and have ironically almost the whole season. We all know what is lacking: First chemistry (clearly not much there up front) and then players who have a bit more instinct as to positioning for rebounds and the hands to convert them….. or deflections, as well as players setting up screens.
Ask Luc. You can’t teach goal scoring. It’s a gift. You either have it or you don’t.
For those interested as to what that looks like, check the highlights from the Philly Toronto game tonight and watch Lupol’s goal. In tight, no room to shoot, so he pulls the puck back, moves it to his left where there is space, and calmly scores. That is what goal scorers do and at the moment the Kings don’t have many who play that way.
[Reply]
King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 6:58 am
@number 6, I don’t agree with you on the team always putting in a full effort. They play with urgency very infrequently. Last night they waited until there was only 10 minutes left in the game to play with urgency. Pathetic!
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DEH Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:03 am
@King Cobra, the problem is they play with urgency too frequently and forget the basics. I call every forward going after the puck urgency, but unfortunately that leads to players being out of position, hence unable to score.
Michael J. Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:06 am
@number 6,
Actually, the only two in the organization with any history of that type of play are Moller and Parse. Neither had much of a chance under Murray and Parse has bum hips.
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neil Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@CB14, Foxy kinda explained it….the structure was fine but they need to activate the defense.In other words..the players are doing what the system says to do…at the cost of scoring.This is not a new problem..been like this for the last 4 years…
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:27 am
@neil, To be a good offensive team you need your top 2 lines to score consistently and then the bottom 2 lines can chip in every so often. The problem we are facing is our 2nd line isn’t scoring. That leads to our opponents putting there top defensive line against our top line. This leads to us not scoring consistently. The problem is Penner and Stoll. They got 9 goals between them when on paper they should score 40-50 goals. Unless the 2 catch on fire they aren’t going to get anywhere near 40-50. That is 30+ goals we aren’t getting. Mike needs help and we need to obtain 2 forwards who can play with Mike and put the puck in the net. That will get Mike going and this team once again will start winning games. We should trade Penner or waive him and bring in a forward and put Stoll back in the 3rd line. Send Lokti down to get his confidence back and let him remember what it is like to score. Make a trade for a forward to take Penner’s spot and then another one with the help of Gagne’s LTI that will kick in. If we can get our top 2 lines going consistently we will win a lot of games down the stretch and possibly over take Sj to win the division. Remember, even though SJ has games in hand, we are only 2 pts behind them and 1 game behind in the ROW category.
[Reply]
King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:00 am
@Jeff_R, Correct! – Did you see Richards come to life when he had that shift with Kopi! Remember all those goals he set up when they had the brains to put him on the top PP unit!!
If nothing else, the first period should convince management that having a team of guys who can forecheck and create pressure and somehow never score means some parts have to be replaced NOW. Florida couldnt even get out of their own end for long stretches of the 1st and yet, you could feel the Kings would fail to score, lose steam, and the first good shot would go in for Florida.
We’re heading to the island… Grabner is having a typical sophomore slump, make them an offer they cant refuse (like Lewis, Martinez and a low pick) and take him home. Or get Ruutu. Somebody.
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I figure these guys are like the flyers from two years ago. struggle all year with a ton of talent. changed coach during the season. I hope they follow through on the playoff performance trend, except with two extra wins. the roster is built for the playoffs, with the deep defense and solid center trio. Richards shows up in the playoffs. Stoll CAN play the shut down role and Kopitar is pretty good all around. i just want them to get in and see where it goes. missing the playoffs = epic fail.
[Reply]
neil Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@FKA PakiFro, actually this way of playing is not built for the playoffs…the stats show that if you are not in the top ten in scoring you will not win the cup no matter how great your defense is….
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:35 am
@neil, You can bring up Stats all you want, but the fact of the matter is nobody knows. Just because it hasn’t been done much, doesn’t mean it never will. WHat he mentioned about the Flyers 2 years ago is spot on and they only made the playoffs by winning the Shootout in the last game of the season. The fact is, if this team gets hot and starts scoring nobody is going to remember them being last, if they make hay in the playoffs. Stats can tell you a lot about a team BUT it doesn’t tell the whole story. Take a look at the Stats and you would never guess we would be in a playoff spot now, 2 pts behind San Jose for first in the Pacific. While our Goals for is #30 our Goals Against is the same and in the top 3. Goals are harder to come by in the playoffs, which means the other team will have just as a hard a time scoring as the Kings will.
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GkingsG99 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
@FKA PakiFro, I like this thinking.
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Greene played a fantastic game tonight. He was our most offensive/dynamic Dman.
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Wow, I just remembered something, Florida, Tampa Bay , Carolina and the Ducks have won the Cup, and the Kings have been in the league longer than all of them , now I feel sad.
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ALEX Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@LVKINGS88, Florida has never won a Cup. The other three have.
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KingMe20 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@ALEX,
You beat me to it… oops.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
@ALEX, OOPS that’s right, it was the year of the rat,lol.
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KingMe20 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@LVKINGS88,
Florida made it to the 1996 Finals, but were swept by Colorado.
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Yawn, wake me up when training camp resumes.. or better yet Frozen Fury
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Trades wont help….waiving players wont help…..bringing up players from Manchester will not help….drafting forwards will not help…..Kings fans are acting like this lack of scoring is something new…its not…Been going on for years and dont look for it to change..Its not on the players..the stats back that up..Simmonds is now Richards..and Richards is now Simmonds….
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:41 am
@neil, 2 yrs ago Kings were 9th in scoring so i don’t get the part that you said this has been going on for years. It is on the players. Penner and Stoll are having miserable seasons and we were relying on them for secondary scoring, upwards of 50 goals between the 2. This is not a system issue. It is not a defense first issue. Dean made some great moves bringing in the players needed for this team to be successful. Unfortunately it isn’t working out offensively like we’d hoped. Loss of Gagne and Parse hurt, but Stoll and Penner have basically been here all season, so they are a BIG reason why we are last in scoring.
[Reply]
Typical LA Kings game…
Mike has been quiet ever since he got hurt and returned.
maybe something is going on behind closed doors…
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
@Harry, i think he has too, maybe…
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, or maybe he’s just accpeted the way things work around here, and not in the good kinda way
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
@Harry, I dont think Richards has good wingers..Stoll a naturel Center Penner too slow…
So i dont blame Richards for not scoring goals..
When he had Gagne and Brown he was scoring pretty good…
Now he stuck with wingers that doesnt finish right..
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
@Harry, PCS
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wes Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, pcs? Photon Correlation Spectroscopy?
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:11 am
@wes,
PCS = Please Commence Scoring
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:23 am
Post Concussion Syndrome
[Reply]
Get Carter
Bernier for Jeff Carter
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
@Carol Vadnais, No!
[Reply]
39scars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
@Carol Vadnais, It’s not the players
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Carol Vadnais Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
@39scars
We only have one good line and mike Richards – we need scorers
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King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:05 am
@Carol Vadnais, +1
King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:05 am
@39scars, Then who is it? The guys who sells peanuts in the stands!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@Carol Vadnais, no…That just saying lets trade Quick for Carter…
No thanks i rather take a risk at this team that struggles thne having Richards drinking buddy with the Kings..
I would want Nash tho..
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:45 am
@KingsFanFTW, I don’t mind Carter. While there may have been something to the two of them partying and all, I think it was an overblown Philly media that was the cause of it. I am all for Carter coming here but I wouldn’t really like to see Bernier traded, until we can lock up Quick. If we trade Bernier and then Quick bolts we are in serious doodoo. I rather go after smaller mid level guys like Ruutu, Stafford, Whitney.
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DEH Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:05 am
@Carol Vadnais, just what we need, another center… don’t tempt DL he would do that.
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either make changes to the players, or just use the old wait and see approach. This is killing me. We have nobody that can finish on a consistant basis. We were down by two and I knew we had lost yet another game because we cannot score.
Here is to another quick exit from the playoffs, if we make it at all.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:49 am
@Dazed N Confused, Remember last years playoffs against San Jose, everybody was saying how we would be swept and we took them to 6 games, with 3 of there wins in OT. We should of won the series and we did well offensively, WITHOUT Kopitar. So this talk of us not being able to score in the regular season leading to the same in the playoffs, is overblown. The Playoffs are a different animal and guys key up and work harder come playoff time. So I can see us having more success offensively in the playoffs then we are having in the regular season. SOme guys do better in the playoffs then they do in the regular season. There is always a Chris kontos or a Fernando Pisani to go crazy in the playoffs.
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Dazed N Confused Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:39 am
@Jeff_R,
You are correct, the playoffs are different. The D gets a lot stronger the goalies seem to stand on their heads and the pressure mounts. I am usually very positive and I try to see the silver lining, but there comes a point where you need to make a change or two. Making a trade does not guarantee more goals or more wins but something has to be done. Did you watch the game last night? This was not a back to back situation or no new players were out of the lineup due to injury. This was just a team that does not know how to score. If you look on paper we should be leading our division by several points, but as of now we are struggling to keep the playoff spot we currently have. I am open to any suggestions that will improve our team. We just went through another rebuild and no, I don’t believe it’s DL’s fault. This is all on the players now.
I am still a fan and always will be but when will this team learn how to win. Damn my three boys have even learned how not to pee on the seat and they have been training for a little over five years now too:)
Here is to hoping that the Kings are able to turn things around.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 11:18 am
@Dazed N Confused, I agree with you. A change is needed and that change is needed on the 2nd line. Mike Richards is languishing centering Stoll and Penner, whom are both having downer years. Unfortunately that isn’t going to change until we can get 2 other guys to take there place. Whether you put them with Kopi and move Brown and Williams with Richards, or keep the first line in tact and put them with Richards. Once we can get our 2nd line going that would put pressure on our opponents defensively and they won’t know who to put there defensive line against. That was the whole reason for the trade for Mike, as it made it harder for our opponents defensively. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out as we hoped, since we got guys truly struggling to score when on paper they shouldn’t be. I don’t blame DL totally for this problem, as who in there right mind would of ever thought it would happen this way. I never expected us to be at the top offensively, but middle of the pack would be awesome with our defense and goaltending the way it is. What I do blame DL is not acting faster in making a change, although I suspect he was hoping like the last 2 years the team would sort it out themselves. Unfortunately this year it hasn’t happened.
I really hope they can figure it out whether by trade or with the players we have now, as I really want DL to still be the GM next season. I am really upbeat with the players that will be coming in next season, between UFA, trade and forward prospects coming in I feel we will be much better next season. It was next season I felt would be our best shot at winning the cup. I thought this season we were 1 or 2 guys away from doing so, although I didn’t expect us to be having the struggles offensively.
neil Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:39 am
@Jeff_R, I hope you are right…I would not be surprised if the Kings turned it on during the playoffs..this is why we do watch sports…The unexpected does happen!!!
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Kings played well, but I think you waited too long to put the guys into “desperation mode”. As soon as the other team scored, you should of opened up the game to get it back. Waiting till the 2nd 1/2 of the 3rd period waisted a lot of attack time that could of been used attacking.
The game up till that point was heavily in favor of the Kings, and it was a missed opportunity to seize momentum, and take the game back by force if need be.
I thought switching out Quick was a good move.
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39scars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@Dominick, Again, poor coaching
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@39scars, Not poor coaching. Just a little too conservative. I’m in no way an authority on the matter, I just felt the game could of still been won early. I could live with 2 on 1′s coming back at us if we have to press for offense, but felt Sutter just simply waited too long.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@Dominick, Doughty scored the only goal in the game, because he JOINED THE ATTACK. Until the Kings can live with letting our D do that during the game, instead of with a minute left, we will continue to fail.
39scars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
@SLIM, I am not the one w/o a heart. The players no longer care and/or believe in their coaching staff. Since the break they are 2-3 and one win was a clock error. We r not getting the most from our players
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
@39scars,
Don’t forget the Kings are in the midst of one of the longest roadtrips of the season.If they win their next 2 road games that makes it .500 for a very tough trip. Regardless, the Kings are 11-5-6 since Sutter took over. 6 games over .500 after 22 games is not an indication that the players have quit.
A 5 game inrement is too small a sample size to make a general assesment for how the rest of the season will go. Kings can be better, and they will be.
King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:10 am
@Dominick, I must agree. God knows how good this team could be if we could just inject that urgency they had in the last half of the third into their asses on every game whole game basis!
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Let me break it down.
Second line was in trouble in the 2nd period because of 2 players. Penner and Stoll. Penner was the F3 on that FL’s 2nd goal. The puck was behind the net, Mitchell was trying to take the puck away. At the same time JJ was protecting the home plate cause that’s where he was supposed to be, cleaning up the crease for Quickie. When the puck was loose Michell and JJ both thought F3 woul be covering the area. But instead of going in to that area, Penner moved to the blue line, completely opposite direction. The cover was blown.
Some of you might have seen the reactions from JJ, Mitchell, and Quick. JJ and Mitchell were pointing at the area that should have been covered after the goal. Quickie’s face was in disbelief what has just happened. Now considering Quick never blames his teammate, even he couldn’t help making that face cause it was that bad. What, Penns? You scored the goal last game so you can take a break on this one?
Stoll was really trying hard. But as I mentioned before he was always 1 foot off to something. If his pass was 1 foot closer, it would be a out numbered attack developing. Or if he tips the puck 1 foot shorter he could have recovered it himself or 1 foot longer, someone else could have recovered it. Stoll is kind of the player who always plays on the edge. But that edge is so off from him lately.
Williams’ TOI was also down to 4:27 in the 3rd period. I know he’s feeling good right now but the puck possession game sometimes doesn’t work on him. It is his strong point of the game but also weak point if he loses the puck so much. His line mates just can’t get going when he is in that bad habit.
Brown was unable to keep the puck when FL’s D-man broke his stick. I thought that was the critical moment of the game since we were getting only few chances. That was a weak play even though he was double-teamed.
Lewis wasn’t bad but I don’t like what I saw in one particular play. Richie was calling for the puck because he knew he could get behind the D-line with his speed. Lewis saw Richie pointing at the open space where he wated him to make a pass. But istead of making a pass, Lewis chose to carry the puck into the zone himself, and ended up with the shot right into the goalie’s pad as always.
Lokti is picking up his defensive side of the game. He is very resonsible defensively and started showing offensive talent, too.
Our D was great tonight. But some of those forward guys didn’t show up. I know our offensive production is to be blamed but if we could keep it one goal game, the result would have been different. Some of those lazy play, weak play, and selfish play cost us a game.
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SLIM Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
@goldielocks,
Good Job..Pretty accurate..
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
@goldielocks, Penner and Stoll’s failure this season to score is a key reason as to our scoring troubles this season. Between the 2 of them they are counted on scoring 40-50 goals and they have only scored 9. The fact that these 2 haven’t scored puts the pressure on our first line to do the bulk of the scoring, as Richards isn’t able to do it by himself. The reason our first line is inconsistent in scoring is that the other teams top defensive lines are concentrating on them, as no other line is scoring. At the trade deadline DL needs to bring in 2 wingers who can score to play with Richards and to take the pressure off of Kopi’s line. I don’t believe that it needs to be a top 3 guy. Just a couple of mid-level rentals will do. Getting a top 3 guy can wait until the off season.
Now as for the fact we are having so much trouble scoring is due to the fact that we play so defensive, I don’t buy that. There are a lot of other teams now and in the past who play just as defensive and they didn’t have so much trouble scoring. Also if you look at DL and DS when they were in SJ they got better offensively each season, including there final full season together SJ finished 4th in Goals for at 3.04 a game. I like what DL did in the off season, all the moves he made. The only fault I have is he didn’t make any moves yet during the season, to fix the problem earlier. I think he has waited too long. Hopefully it won’t hurt our playoff chances and I know DL was hoping the players would fix this themselves like they did the last 2 years. I don’t think DL should be fired, unless they miss the playoffs. I felt that the Kings were 1 yr away from being Cup challengers, so I think he should get at least 1 more year if we make the playoffs. I do feel next season will be different as Darryl Sutter will truly change the way the team plays. I don’t think he wanted to change it a lot now, as there really wasn’t time to do that. He only wanted to tweak things and hope that would work. This is why he didn’t fire any of the Assistant Coaches. He wanted things to basically remain the same with a few tweaks.
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When you see an effort like tonight…where, for the most part, The Kings didn’t play poorly, it makes you question everything! That’s just it! One night they look good and there are results and the next night they put forth the same effort and nearly get blanked…The Kings of yesteryear could pull out some games they had no business winning and win the games they played well in ( for the most part)…The frustration of it all is that this year,…the Kings will never win a game they shouldn’t win and lose games they should win…there haven’t been any comebacks to speak of…and it seems like as the season goes along, there is an increasing lack of enthusiasm in their game…REGIME CHANGE!
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King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:13 am
@g smith86, I know, I know, I miss the Deadmarsh, Pallfy, Allison team!!
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Suggested new 3-part question for Rich to post PRIOR to Saturday’s game: Which Period will Justin Williams take a stupid stick penalty? 1st ? 2nd ? 3rd ? Cause you know it’s going to happen because it happens EVERY DAMN GAME
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FRO Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
@russainsocal, Williams is the only forward working his ass off every game. get off his case Vladimir
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TheRussianKing Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:43 am
@FRO, I had to lol.
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Dominick Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
@russainsocal, Williams is definately not part of the Kings problem. He has 10 pts in his last 10 games before tonight, and had a total of 3 minor penalties in the 10 previous games. Williams is hot right now, and the Kings are having issues with some players, but if your just looking for someone to pin the loss on, your ire is misplaced.
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@PurpleNGold, Rich, please delete this worthless post.
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TeamJMFJ Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:41 am
@TeamJMFJ, thanks rich haha…didnt realize it would leave my response lol
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Apathetic. Defense is no good without the win.
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Were the Kings that bad? Didn’t get to really watch the game. I guess they reverted back to their old ways AGAIN?! What happened to Stoll and Penner?
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CB14 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
@tacomakingsfan, They dominated the puck in the 1st period but failed to get any decent scoring chances even with 2 PP’s. They flat out sucked in the 2nd period. They played a little better in the 3rd but still couldn’t generate scoring chances, outside of Drew’s goal of course. Penner and Stoll were what you’d expect from them this year.
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tacomakingsfan Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
@CB14,
Yikes!!! So I’m guessing this blog will blow up again since they lost. Man I had such high expectations this season too but oh well.
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First thing I would do would firer Brown as Captain. Then DL needs to become a seller and get rid of some dead weight. We have played over 50 games and all you hear are the same excuses from the players. Clean house.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 2:54 am
@gene, Yea clean house when we are 2 pts behind San Jose for 3rd in the COnference and 3 pts behind Chicago for 6th. Yea this team sucks. Boo Hoo. Fire everyone, clean house. Man everybody is acting like this team is 30th in the NHL in points. All of our games are low scoring so we don’t need to score a lot to win. If we start scoring 2-3 goals a game consistently from now on we will win a lot of games and everybody will forget all about the first 54 games.
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Missed the game cause of work, sounds like we played to their level. The story of the Kings this yeat.
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Mars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
@Mars, year not yeat.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
@Mars, It was ironic. Two teams within an ace of topping their Division, but they both looked like teams that had already missed the play-offs.
It’s got to get better, after this, it’s got to …
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Mars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
@Duncanz,
Crap
Did we just play to our own level?
Repost I made at 3am the other night, still applies:
I’m so torn on weather we should try a big move for an impact goal scorer or just wait and see. Someone brought up earlier while we are last in scoring right now it’s not due to lack of “goal scorers” on the team. I mean ak, jw, db, mr, dp, (and a few years back js) should all be 20, 25, 30 goal scorers easily. That’s 120-180 goals from just the top six forwards not even counting the injured sg. The team was put together by DL with the completely logical assumption that all these veteran, proven, and solid forwards would produce something similar to their career averages. Some higher some lower. Our defense is still amazing and the goaltending has kept our goals against among the leaders in the league all season. Heck, some hockey analysts even picked us as cup favorites at the start of the year. For these reasons I feel it’s unfair to say DL is doing a bad job. His job is to put the pieces together. The players job is to preform with the direction and supervision of a coaching staff. I’m greatull for what DL has done which some are so quick to forget. Take us from the clippers on the NHL to a solid contending team. But I’m getting off track…
I’m torn as to weather we go for an impact player or ride it out relying on defense and hoping (weak choice of words I know) that the offense comes around. We don’t need another 20-30 goal scorer really. We’ve got plenty. So that side of me says “no stay with what u got”. But the other half of me is saying “what we got ain’t scoring so we gotta do something to shake it up”. Maybe getting rid of Js dp and some of our “extra” defenseman for a scorer might just flip the switch we need to get the goals coming. You never know. That’s what we thought we were doing when we got DP in the first place. (no I’m questioning my own logic and contradicting my contradictions)
I think my final answer is to stay put, unless it’s for someone who is more than a rental. And completely unrelated to that sentence here is my list of “movable” players in my mind.
Stoll- liked him but he isn’t even playing center and all he can do for us is take faceoffs.
Penner- this is tough because something in me feels like he’s about to break out. (I know I know..)
AM or VV but NOT both- coach seems to feel this way too. Pretty much said “we don’t have room for both”
JJ- only, I repeat ONLY if it’s for someone great. Like sharp. I would feel really bad about it tho considering the favor he did the kings with his own contract and a very reasonable term. It would be like dumping the gf who didn’t do anything wrong just to go out with the hotter girl (then again girl friends don’t have plus/minus stats… Or do they?)
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CB14 Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
@Cortex949, I don’t think we should. Not that this team doesn’t need more scoring, it’s pretty obvious that it does, but because players brought here fail to score at the rate they scored elsewhere. I’ve said this many times but I’ll say it again, Penner was on pace to score 27 goals last year before being traded here, and he had scored over 30 the previous year. Then he comes here and is on pace for what, 8 goals mabye? Richards also has struggled to score like he did in Philly, yet Simmonds goes over there and he’s got more goals than Kopi. Is he as good as Kopi offensively? Not a chance in hell, but he’s with an organization that plays 2 way hockey, the Kings do not.
It’s no surprise guys like Simmonds and even Poni have scored more other places, the Kings system decreases scoring. That’s why Poni could go from a 20 goal scorer for 5 years down to 5 goals with the Kings. He’s on pace for about 13 this year. Until the Kings get rid of this defense first-offense never system, players who come here will continue to struggle scoring goals.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
@Cortex949, I don’t think a lot needs to be changed. DL has put the pieces of a great team together and we are 3/4′s there. We are just missing 1-2 wingers that can put the puck in the net. Penner was brought in to do just that, but for one reason or another he has been a dud. Gagne and Parse going down hasn’t helped either. Stoll is miscast as a Winger.
,
The reason DL concentrated on building this team from the net out, is that for the most part the Kings have never really been good defensively or Goaltending wise. WHile we have had some good Goalies and Defeneman, I don’t believe that we have ever been as strong as we are now in that respect. The only thing that DL hasn’t been able to do is bring in that top 3 Winger, but not for a lack of trying. As of now we are basically 1 player away from being Cup contenders, with that one player not being in the organization at this time. Since we can’t draft that type of player, we either need to sign him via UFA or trade. We got some talented wingers ready to come in next season in Kozun, Toffoli, Kitsyn, but they are not top 3. I am hoping that Parise will come here or possibly get lucky with trade. Now I don’t think we need to go all out at this trade deadline. I don’t feel trading Bernier, until Quick is signed, is the way to go. Going after a guy like Ruutu, Stafford, Whitney is the kind of move that should be made. With the way our defense and Goaltending is, we don’t need to score a lot. We don’t need to sell the farm for a top 3 guy. Just 2 mid level guys will work.
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I blame Gagne. His offensive potential o read second line would lift Richards out of his rut.
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Gustavo Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:18 am
@Steve Jensen,
Injuries are not the player’s fault. And Richards is far from being a rookie player that cannot adapt to line changes. Not his fault either if his line keeps being used as the primary shutdown line against the opponents top line.
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On the, not o read
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We’re two wingers short. Simple as that. That second line is not working. If we can get Gagne back and make a good deal for a quality wing then we have a chance to do something. I doubt either is possible. Once piece, like JJ for Sharp, would be nice but wouldn’t make much difference until the other wing arrives.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
@LA_1968, I doubt Gagne will be back this season. His hockey career might be over with let alone able to come back. We do need 2 wingers though, either both by trade or possibly one via Juniors or Overseas season ending like Holloway or Toffoli.
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Mars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
@LA_1968, I feel bad for Richards, all he has is Penner and Stoll. While I like Stoll, he is having one hell of an off year. Penner though, after seeing how he was after we aquired him, I didnt want to see him back in the top 6. I admint I had some hope after the big news of him getting in shape etc, but the performance is nearly the same. (I pray he makes me eat my words by netting some pucks; but dont see it happening)
Not fair to move JW but he is producing, and it might help the 2nd line. (certainly could not hurt the 2nd line anyways) but then who do we move up? Not Penner, maybe Stoll? I just cannot wrap my head around the lines anymore. It gives me a headache, but sadly I think we HAVE TO change something and shake it up.
I am not dreaming of trades for the dealine, bad market right now.
I just want to see what we have improve. Now. But how?
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Kings!!! Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 1:07 am
@Mars, Honestly i would rather see clifford with richards
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Kings!!! Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 1:09 am
@Mars, Honestly I would rather see clifford play with Richards! at least he tries hard and he probably would at least create good chances for richards to pick on
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Alright so I just got back from my 2 hour journey home from sunrise florida. The car ride home is alot worse after a loss. First off let me just say that watching a panthers game is depressing. no one shows up, people try and get chants going to no aveil… Its terrible. Night and day difference between Tampa games and Panthers games. Alright on to the game. I never realized how small Richards is. I say this because I’m shocked that no one stood up for him tonight. There was a lot of behind the scenes stuff going on between Bergenheim and Mike but i would have liked his teamates to atleast challenge him to a fight. I dont even think brownie hit him once tonight. I was wondering as the game was winding down if Florida would put Bergenheim out there knowing things could get ugly, and what do you know Dineen put him out there at the end and… nothing. It’s hard to give a great perspective of the game tonight because we were 5 rows up from the ice and i couldnt really see alot at the other end. I will say that the Kings dominated in the begining. The shots were soo lopsided but the panthers weathered the storm and got a goal there at the end of the first. Penner was horrible. My wife who doesnt watch hockey asked why he didnt have his man! I will steal a quote from Rich on his view from florida post. He said This is the fifth and final day in Florida, and while there are certainly worse places to be in February, it does feel like it’s time to move this trip along. It’s not that I don’t enjoy 88-percent humidity while walking to get coffee at 9 a.m., but… here’s the thing, I think the players were drinking Rich’s cool aid! you could tell this was there sentiments exactly. No drive no great opportunities. The Kings have zero snipers on this team… zero. Kopi is my favorite player and he is great but he’s not a sniper. They dont have a finisher. I will say that aside from the obvious we have a ton of players that to me shouldnt be playing in the NHL.Period! I don’t know how were going to climb out of this. They cant keep up this pace of just scratching by in my opinion. Alriht so another funny story… we waited around for a while after the game I was telling my wife stories of when i was a kid at the old forum and the players would walk out to their cars and you could meet them and get autographs.. I told her i wanted to find out where the players busses were. So we walked and walked and finally found 2 really nice busses in the back so we walked over thinking nothing of it… I’m not sure what i was thinking.. that i could just walk onto their bus without any questions asked… thats exactly what was going through my mind.. so as i came around to the door of one i saw sutter putting his coat on behind the bus.. i was looking for Kopi to sighn my jersey.. thats when my wife, 4 year old and myself almost got tackled!! then booted out.. you would of thought the players would have felt sorry for us but they watched in the bus. We walked about 100 yards from the bus to turn around and wave… the security officer waved right back… to get the hell out!! My son was so upset.. I even had a tear! Good night from Florida… see ya next year Kings
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Mars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
@flakingsfan, What a bummer they didnt let you get a autograph or anything! Weaksauce!
Yeah I am sure a woman and small family is going to hurt or razz the visiting team, LAME!
IF (big if) I were famous, and on a working day/night (as in pre/post game movie etc) I would be the man of the fans. (but on the flip, dont bug me eating, shopping etc)
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goldielocks Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
@flakingsfan,
I’m pretty sure if they were not on the bus already, they signed whatever you want. So make sure you catch them before they get on the bus next year. And thanks for supporting the Kings in Florida.
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Stuart Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:31 am
@flakingsfan, I agree 1000% percent about the notion that the team had spent too much time in FLA waiting around… They looked uninspired (I even thought so during the 1st period and at the break I knew that they put everything into the 1st and w/o a goal, this game was going to not turn out so well) and listless as the game went along. Sucks about being tackled with the fam…
Question for you Rich: Are you aware of any “team-building” activites that the team did together while in FLA for almost a week? Usually, if there was such activities, you’d post about them, but we didn’t hear about anything happening… maybe that speaks volume in and of itself…
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flakingsfan Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 9:46 am
@Stuart,
They did go to a steak house in Tampa.. but then again i guess they always eat.. just maybe not always together?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 4:32 am
@flakingsfan, Thanks flakf. Good (sad) story there. You don’t have much luck getting the players’ attention, do you, ref the Sean Avery incident.
Probably security figured you were more dangerous to them as a Kings’ fan than anyone else after that performance!
Thanks again for the report!
It took a little while but I finally figured out what the kings season has been like. It’s a Ghost Poop! A ghost poo is _the_ rarest and king of all poos. It challenges your grasp on reality, because when you look in the bowl to see what you’ve done (don’t worry, eveyone does this) there is no smell and nothing there… puzzling enough, but when you wipe your arse it’s already as clean as… well as clean as it ever was.
I watch the games and I can see them playing. I hear them playing. If your near the boards you get that smell of hard working hockey players doing their jobs. But after the game theres NOTHING! No highlight goals! No hits to remember. No fights to tell your friends about. Not even a single world class hockey play to remember. Just a plain empty feeling and Im just left wondering….Did the Kings show up tonight? Or Did I just see a ghost???
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Mars Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
@illegalstick33, OK.
I shouldnt admit it but that made me freaking laugh.
And die a little inside.
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MrMister Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
@Mars, ah, its funny cause its true……..
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King Cobra Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:23 am
@illegalstick33, Priceless
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Stuart Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:32 am
@illegalstick33, friggen hilarious… (but you should always wipe 2x just in case)
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I wonder if the team voted on it, which of us would they want to get rid of, which of us they would trade, and which of us would they keep? :-X
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Duncanz Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 4:34 am
@John Roy Morgan, Keep the Cap’n, ARRRR !
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not only is the second line not scoring, now they are getting scored on…
first step.. bring up anyone right now to play for hunter.. westgarth can stand in front of the goalie better than most on kings.. let him play more and screen… dump penner and stoll.. who cares who plays for them.. too much money..
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Did any of you notice that DS went with only 6 forwards and 4 D in the 3rd period until the empty net goal?? I think we’re going to see some big time movement and soon. The bottom 6 forwards are just sleep walking out there.
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neil Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:55 am
@HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration, seemed like Lewis,Richards,Kopi was out there every shift…
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We have 7 guys that play center. That leaves 5 playing wing .That means we have 3 guys that are out of there natural position.Thats too much. They have to make a trade .
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Kings sure do lose a lot
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:29 am
@Eldoret,
I think you saw the real Kings last night.
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Let’s be real. This team does not have an NHL caliber first line.
Kopi Brown and Williams would make a credible second or third line on most any team, but we need a Marquee first line that can put the biscuit in the basket.
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I don’t undersand how cetain guys just didn’t show up last night….
You would think they realize the situation the Kings are in and every game/point is important, but the performance in the 2nd period really makes you question the desire of some.
I understand you can’t win every gaem, but you always have to have the effort front and center. That 2nd line just did nothing all night and it’s been too many games that they’ve done nothing.
I guess in the Kings situation you just have to put it out of your mind and get ready for a tough back to back. They need points out of both of the games.
I can’t see Penner staying with this team the remainder of the year.
Looking back this was a trade that didn’t work out for the Kings at all. I,along with many of you supportd the trade, so it’s hard to get on DL.
It’s time to cut our losses and send him somewhere else. You’re not going to get anything back for him other than a middle round pick, but moving him is addition by subtraction.
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Munchrat Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 5:56 am
@nykingfan, Are you going to the game Saturday?
Center ice seats are only $50.00
I would be there except that my fiancee has to work that day…
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jack Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:23 am
@Munchrat, I am debating if I should go…I hate the idea of having to cross Manhattan and Queens to get there via LIE???
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Munchrat Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:27 am
@jack, If it was a night game it would be a no-brainer
Munchrat Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:29 am
@jack, Snow on Saturday. I will not make the trip from Westchester…
nykingfan Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:26 am
@Munchrat,
It’s not looking good for tomorrow.
If it was a night game I would def be there, but I have some things that I have to do late morning/early afternoon…besides the forecast doesn’t sound like something I want to be traveling an hour each way…
Also for those who are going to the game..bring ear plugs. The only time the Islanders have decent crowds are for afternoon games and it’s mostly young kids and families. The scoreboard encourages the kids to yell as loud as they can. My headache still hasn’t gone away from a couple of years ago when we also had an afternoon game there.
One funny story from that game. we sat right behind the “Brady Bunch” 3 adults and 6 kids..all wearing Isladers jersey’s with the name Brady on the back.
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jason Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 9:17 am
@nykingfan, schenn has more goals than penner and stoll in 25 games and simmons has 1 less goals than the kings top scorer kopitar.
people can make excuses or whatever but losing schenn and simmons was a terrible idea. If we got richards to win now, then we need to make a few more changes. it seemed like we had everything to win now but it didnt work that way so lombardi must figure out, start young again or make a few big trades to win now
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nykingfan Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 9:36 am
@jason,
You can’t say that if you supported the trade at the time. I certainly did.
We all thought that Schenn could someday become a Mike Richards. We need to find the real Mike Richards.
Losing Simmer was tough but you have to give up something to get something.
One thing about Philly..they play no defense at all. Things are different here than they are in Philly. the Kings are built to keep the puck out of their own net. Philly wants to fill the net at all costs. Not saying one is better than the other, but the stats will reflect that.
There’s no big trade out there IMO that’s going to make the Kings much better than they already are. Bringing in a big name doesn’t work for the most part. Kovalchuk is the perfect example. He wasn’t able to fit into NJ’s system when they got him and because of that, they didn’t make the playoffs. I fear the same thing will happen with the Kings..plus you’ll have to overpay in a market that’s a seller’s market.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 4:39 am
@nykingfan, Re Kovalchuk … one year on tho’ and … !
That was a painful game to watch, such a boring style. No offense, shot after shot blocked because all 5 guys are standing in front of the goal, very little physicality….need I go on. I’ve been a Kings fan for over 20 years and have religiously attended (when still live in LA) and watched the games on PT/FSW (continue now w/ CenterIce)….and this is getting unbearable! I find myself unable to watch a game live, have to DVR it, and then because of all the neutral zone play, fast forwarding until I see some offensive zone action. Anyone else in this same boat? I want my exciting NHL back!
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The problem with shifting slumping players around, is that intead of getting out of the slump, they drag the lines down to their level. But management doesnt seem willing to shake things up by truly benching some of the low performers for a couple of games. Trying to coax them outta the slumps slowly and tactfully is a waste of time in most cases…Maybe they need to sit and watch their team on TV to truly grasp how bad they are playing…
When your off the ice, the view is quite different.
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The problem with shifting slumping players around, is that intead of getting out of the slump, they drag the lines down to their level. But management doesnt seem willing to shake things up by truly benching some of the low performers for a couple of games. Trying to coax them outta the slumps slowly and tactfully is a waste of time in most cases…Maybe they need to sit and watch their team on TV to truly grasp how bad they are playing…
When your off the ice, the view is quite different.
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Bring in Cliche!
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@KC23, Lombardi is a genius. How dare you ceiticize a guy that like’s Pulford and TM. So what if those teams always get eliminated in the 1st round, why are you getting on Lombardi, er, uh, …nevermind
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:28 am
@puck73,
Yeah, but at least Pulford’s teams were exciting, hard working and had personality.
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nykingfan Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:29 am
@puck73,
Makes you wonder about the coaching change from TM to DS.
I’m not criticizing DS at all, but the same problems the Kings had under TM still exist under DS.
Was the move made for change sakes? whic is fine if it works. Otherwise what my initial thoughts on the coaching change were correct.
It’s not the coach or the style, it’s the players!
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Penner scored when he was with the Ducks. Stoll scored when he was with Rachel Hunter. M Richards scored when he was in Philly. Solution: Have Penner wear a Ducks jersey under his Kings one. Drag Rachel Hunter into the dressing room before the game so Stoll can “score”. For M Richards we can yell obscenities at him and have the jumbo tron guy put a video of Santa Claus up so we can boo the piss out of him, make him feel right at home. No trades, no firings, perfect solution…
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 11:20 am
@toemas_sandstrom, I believe Stoll and Rachel ended there relationship before last season and Stoll scored 20 goals. Maybe it took a year to bear out, his struggles. But I find your solutions very funny.
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I still think the biggest insult on Lombardi was last season when he opted for Dwight King to play with Kopitar instead of Bud Holloway, who at the timw was leading Manchester in scoring, Powerplay goals, and game winning goals.
Anyone who watched King play with Kopitar for a couple of weeks last season could clearly see that Dwight had no business playing on the top line, NONE!
Then again, Ethan Moreau had no business playing on the 1st unit powerplay consistently either. This GM’s assessment of top 6 wingers and coaching systems is very poor, and their offensive production shows it season after season.
This team better somehow better get past the 1st round of the playoffs this season, or he will be sitting in TM’s house in Maine bragging about “thick” and “heavy” hockey.
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:27 am
@puck73,
+1…with emphasis
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neil Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:29 am
@puck73, But King scored….wait…..King scored….. wait…Gee King didnt score any…Zip..Nil..nothing…same as a dead person….Thats when I knew we were in trouble with both DL and TM…6 games to figure out that King doenst belong on the first line..or any line in the NHL. This season we will just bring up a forward from Manchester when we have injuries…what?? No forwards worth bringing up??? Gee cant figure out our problem….
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HockeyOnlyAwaitingModeration Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 9:52 am
@neil, As I recall, King could hardly even skate with these guys, it always seemed when he was going north they were going south…… hmmmmmm they still are. It really does look more and more that DL isn’t the GM he thinks he is and maybe he’s not as in with the other GM’s as he’d like to be and that could also be playing a part into why the Kings can’t make a GOOD trade. You know Mike Murphy is in Toronto smiling.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 11:25 am
@puck73, I do agree that not bringing up Holloway then was a mistake, but every GM makes mistakes. Also isn’t it the coach who makes the lineup decisions and where to play them, not the GM? However Bud made a mistake going to Sweden, as he could be in the NHL now. I don’t know how he came up to the conclusion that going to Sweden will be good for his career, but whomever made it or gave him the advice steered him the wrong way and he may come to regret the decision.
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