No matter what happens today in Dallas, the Kings will finish below .500 on this road trip. They’re 1-3-1, meaning the best they can do is earn five out of a possible 12 points. This trip seems destined to be remembered as a trip of missed opportunities. On this road trip, the Kings have played the three worst teams in the Eastern Conference — Carolina, Tampa Bay and the New York Islanders — and have earned three out of a possible six points. The Islanders have been playing better of late — they actually have faint playoff hopes — but they were two days removed from a home loss in which they allowed four goals to the mediocre Montreal Canadiens. The Kings could only score once at Nassau Coliseum. Here’s how Newsday covered yesterday’s game…
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As big of a Kings fan as I am, you have to realize that this season is no better than a first round playoff exit. Lombardi has constructed a team of “character” guys that can’t score or at least forgot how to. I’m just hoping that Lombardi doesn’t do something stupid at the trade deadline in a last ditch effort to save his job and trade away more high draft picks for a rental player that won’t make much of a difference anyway. Keep the picks and go after Parise this Summer.
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puck73 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:18 am
@Steevogt, Parise is not coming here. Just like Kovalspank didnt, and Brad Richards didnt. Why? Because Lombardi told them in interviews with their agent, “ya gotta be heavy on your stick”! LMAO
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NB22 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:58 am
@puck73, Nah, they didn’t because of the style of hockey. Who wants to play in “defense first/no creativity” system anyway?
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:27 am
@NB22, The system is put in based on the players.As the Kings are now they aren’t going to be an offensive dynamo with the players we have now, even in an offensive first system.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:25 am
@puck73, Kovalspank would of come here had DL gave him 100 million dollars. Brad Richards wanted to be closer to home. Parise however I think is the most likely candidate to come here as he is friends with JJ and Olympic teammates with him, Brown and Quick. Plus we are Stanley Cup contenders, regardless of what everybody thinks here. We are 1-2 players away from winning and he would be that player. Him along with the young prospects coming in will help our scoring woes, along with the new system DS will install next season.
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Scarletcat Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@Jeff_R,
You’re pointing out what could be a swaying factor, definitely. DL doesn’t seem too good a salesman in UFA market even with big offers dangling. Playing with guys you know can make it more than a fun job. I’d love to see Parise here, but I’m not optimistic.
Kings lose yet another game they could have won. My view? Lomabrdi is terrible at evaluating top 6 talent, the scoreboard doesnt lie. Also, Lombardi thinks he can turn every forward into Jere Lehtinen..wrong again Lombardi.
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:23 am
@puck73, Not just DL, but offense developement in Manchester as well. I’d like to throw the scouts under the bus too, but Purcell and Moulson actually turned out okay … just our developement staff couldn’t get it done.
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puck73 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@KC23, Agree about the scouts and Manchester as well. The fact is, Lombardi is the one that made sure that everyone was on the same page, and that included Mark Morris, the scouts, and TM. The bottom line? He is accountable for the paint drying hockey that we are a witness to.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:40 am
@puck73, DL’s job is to make the Kings successful regardless how it is that they are. Successful of course to most is winning the cup, but if you look at where we were before Lombardi and now, we are way better. I don’t really care how the team plays as long as they make the playoffs and do well. This season will most likely be our 3rd season in a row making the playoffs. How many times has that happened in Kings history? Plus I am sure NJ fans didn’t really care when they were watching boring paint drying games for over 10 years, that led to 2 Cups. I am sure they are crying because the games were SO BORING.
TeamJMFJ Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:23 am
@puck73, DL B0000?
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Dean please make DS give Nolon and King a chance. Keep them up for the rest of the year. TM never gave the young players a chance and now there are young players all over the league thriving becasue they were given a chance. Matt Moulson and Ted Purcell being prime examples. Ged rid of Penner, Stoll and Hunter. Find some players who care and want to win. Take the C from Brown. Doesnt deserve it. Give it to Willie MItchell insted.
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puck73 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:36 am
@gene, I dont think Brown is a good on ice captain either. He is much better off the ice and in the community.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/eric-duhatschek/the-mighty-drew-doughty/article2335001/
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Steevogt Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:31 am
@petemagoop, I really hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling the Kings are going to seriously regret signing Doughty to that big deal. It may hamper their salary cap for the next 7 years.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:52 am
@Steevogt, I actually think the opposite of this. In a few years his cap hit will look like a bargain. It also isn’t going to hamper us in the least. DL and Soloman have it set out how high they will go cap wise and they are sticking to it. They would not have paid Drew what they did if it would of hampered them cap wise in the future.
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:35 am
@petemagoop, Lot of wishful thinking in that one.
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i’m still amazed how poor our forward shooting is. Players either get into a prime scoring spot and (a) miss the net or (b) wait a second too long and have the shot blocked, or the goalie has time to react and leaves no room. Management should test our Manchester guys with the shooting accuracy contest they use at the All Star Game, and anyone who can break all four plates within 20 shots gets brought up.
The Kings played a better physical game yesterday but that has to be mixed with some quick, skilled players. Players like Lewis or Richardson have to go; quick with no skills is useless.
Reading the comments to the linked article reminds me how much Islander and Ranger fans hate each other.
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:36 am
@bbb7, This is one of the poorest shooting teams in history. Easily is the worst offense team in King’s history.
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puck73 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@bbb7, When you wore an Islander jersey to Madison Square Garden in the 1980′s, that was a reason to throw down right away!
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petemagoop Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:45 am
@bbb7, if they could get the puck to the dirty areas like the Richards line did yesterday the goals will come – I’ve never seen a team so afraid to crash the net like this bunch
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:54 am
@petemagoop, I think they been crashing the net more since DS took over, however it hasn’t been consistent. While they are getting new information from DS, they still have TM on the brain.
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Kings need to win today. If they do they will not only up there lead on Dallas, but they will go 3 pts up on Phoenix whom they play next on Thursday. They are also 2 pts behind Chicago for 6th. So this game is huge in advancing further to those below them and gaining on those ahead of them, including San Jose who plays St Louis tonight, starting there 9 game road trip.
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