Is it time for the Kings’ defensemen to take the bull by the horns? It’s increasingly clear that the forwards aren’t getting it done, in terms of scoring, and the Kings’ system, for several years running, has been based around a safety-first mentality. Is it time to have the defensemen take more chances, even if it runs the risk of exposing the Kings a bit on the other side? A previous post discussed Jack Johnson’s game, and it was noted this morning that Drew Doughty also has the ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone and, potentially, create some chaos. Of course, if things go wrong with the puck on Doughty’s stick, it can go the other way quickly, but it might be time to start taking that risk a bit more often. Darryl Sutter was asked this morning about Doughty being more active with the puck.
SUTTER: “Drew walks that line, of trying to do too much himself or becoming a part of it. When he’s really effective, he’s a part of it. When he’s trying to do too much himself, then it becomes… When you look at young guys who are really talented, predictable and unpredictable, it’s good if the other team thinks they’re unpredictable and your own team should think they’re predictable.”
In a follow-up question, Sutter said he didn’t put any blame on Doughty for being more active with the puck.
SUTTER: “Not at all. That’s a top-end guy who cares and tries to maximize what he does. There’s no blame there. It’s just how he channels it. Not many guys like that in this league. When that whole package comes together, that’s going to be a pretty special guy.”
Time for anything that will get us the W
[Reply]
These chances need to come smartly and spontaneously. Not just when we’re down by a goal with 5 minutes remaining. DD is figuring it out.
[Reply]
FdoFmFull Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@LA_1968, Bingo! LA 1968 for coach!
[Reply]
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/puck-daddy-create-cheesy-1990s-style-nhl-poster-193944836.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@FKA PakiFro, That was fun.
[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 4:06 pm
@Dominick,
Liked JQ’s, but Bryz was the best!
[Reply]
MM Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 5:07 pm
@FKA PakiFro, HAHAHA!!! Penner the Pancake Punisher!
[Reply]
The scary part is the D-men are already scoring more than they did last year – JJ with 8, MG with 3, Scuds with 1 or 2, WM with 3 I think, VV with 2-3, with DD being the sole drop off but still with 3. That is pretty much more than all of the Kings forwards. The Kings forwards need to crash the net, shoot fromthe slot, and make some physcial sacrifices to get back on track. Forwards score, Dmen defend, goalies goal tend. Is it too much to ask the forwards to do their job and for the coaching staff to figure out that their offense and PP strategies are not working?
[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@DesertKing, Right. Even sending it to the point and having the Defenseman shoot from there does no good, because the angle is easy. At least Jack and Drew are good about trying to find ways to bring it to the middle of the ice or take some steps toward the slot.
[Reply]
From what little I know of Sutter, those are some extremely glowing words for a player. And is yet another reason why you DO NOT trade Doughty.
[Reply]
Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@wavesinair, Exactly, never get why people talk about trading Doughty. He isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@wavesinair, Anyone advocating trading DD I pretty much take as not knowing what they’re talking about. Not going to happen unless DL has completely lost it.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@KC23,
As a Kings fan I want what is best for the team. Therefore, if what makes most sense for the team is to move Doughty I am very open to it.
Unfortunately, this kid’s contract is a millstone around the organization’s neck. Might he become the next Ray Borque? Maybe. Might he become he next Phil Housley? That is more probable.
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@Michael J., it’s not a millstone when he’s one of their best players, and when it’d be tough to upgrade on a replacement for him. That contract was about not losing him like Nashville lost Timonen and might lose Suter and Weber.
40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@Michael J., I’m not sure that it is or isn’t a millstone around the organization’s neck today but it certainly has the potential to become one. Doughty’s contract was based purley on perceived potential as well as a Norris trophy nomination. He has not played anywhere close to that level since with injuries and conditioning obviously having something to do with it. I hope it works out and time will tell, but it was definitely a gamble. If he returns to Norris candidate form, we’re paying about the right amount. If he’s a 10 goal 20 assist guy that’s injury prone and comes to cam out of shape every year that’s another story.
Osaka Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@wavesinair, I agree 100% we don’t trade Doughty, I’ve stated many times that I think he is the most talented player on the ice. I really like where is game is starting to go. However @KC23 to anyone advocating a trade that involves Drew lacks knowledge of what they speak is way off base. You discredited anyone who disagrees with you? Dan Boyle, Brian Campbell, Chara, Pronger, Phaneuf….. many a defenseman better than DD have been trade traded. Especially in the salary cap era there are many factors into building a winning team. Drew is young and already a good player (like I said the best on the team) but that doesn’t guarantee greatness. Penner was young and scored 30 goals, what has he done? The team and the media hype the young promising star thing way too much. He signed a contract that was too much money so now he carries that albatross around his neck. He may never live up to expectations or the big contract could eventually be his demise with his tenure as a King. I see it as at least a couple years away (if ever) but if Orr and Coffee can be traded why not Drew.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Osaka, How do you 100% agree, then work your way full circle to complain about him, then compare a trade. Just come out and say you don’t agree.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:35 pm
@Dominick, I agree 100% we should not trade him. I think it is wrong to say someone doesn’t know what they are talking about if they disagree with me.
Thanks for the posting tips but I’ll stick with what I wrote.
wavesinair Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@Dominick,
LOL. He really did turn 180 degrees!
Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@Osaka,
I think I agree…
Doughty has mad skills. But, at this point I would move him for Nash straight up. Columbus probably wouldn’t do it, but they should if DL offered it.
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@wavesinair,
I’m certainly not fan of how things went down with DD’s contract, how he played below his standards last year, and how he started slowly (looked awful, actually) this year, etc.
BUT, I’m not delusional enough to think that DD could or should be traded. He has too much upside potential to trade away for anyone at the moment. You would need to trade DD for another DD-type player, which there aren’t that many around.
[Reply]
Yes!!! We’ve spent premium prices in draft picks and contracts for all of these precious defencemen. Now stop driving our Ferraris along the bus route!
[Reply]
Time for forwards not concentrating on defensive first but offense and maybe only offense and goals
[Reply]
Through doughty on RW on kopitars line something has to work when all else has failed.
[Reply]
Since we have d-men with offensive potential, why not try JJ, or VV or AM on the wing where they would have more freedom to use their offensive capabilities. We certainly have the depth on defense to move a d-man up. What’s the worst that could happen. We lose 2-0?
[Reply]
@DesertKing, DD with 5 goals. VV with 4 and Scuds with 1.
The key I think is the forwards need to crash the net more often. When that happens, that opens up space at the top or the blueline for defensemen to attack. People often think that the only way to activate defense is on a rush but you can activate defense when forwards crash the net by creating space at the top for the d-men to take a slapshot or skate a little more in and shoot the puck.
Everyone here complained last year to get rid of Handzus and Smyth because they are slow but a lot of guys here overlooked all the little things that these guys were doing to help their teammates.
[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@BFSTYLE33, We need players with the puck to drive the net…How many times does a player start toward the net and then back off and go around the net? I have noticed this from both Kopi and Lokti. That is what creates loose change. How about some dirty gritty goals?
[Reply]
BFSTYLE33 Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 4:31 pm
@Cry Baby, I totally agree. I’m fine with the puck carrier going around the net, but the other 2 forwards should be crashing the net, or at least one of them and the other to support. Kopi has not gone to the net with any consistency. I don’t know what happened to him. Remember his first goal when he went around Pronger, drove to the net. That’s what he needs to do on a more consistent basis. Lokti I don’t expect to drive to the net but his linemates need to crash the net or around and I know Lokti will find them. Lokti is more of a setup guy – he is more effective on top or on the side, even behind the net where he can see plays develop.
[Reply]
Yes it is time. Also time for the forwards to think Offense first.
[Reply]
D men cannot suddenly play wing. breaking out and rotation with the puck and and knowing when and where to go are not things that a career D man can suddenly learn or know how to do. Plus, D men are used to not skating as hard as forwards that’s why they have more ice time. DD would be lost trying to break out consistently. very few players in history have been able to do that. Hell, just moving from wing to center and vice/versa are difficult. Great offensive D men know when and where to pick their spots and move up the ice with the puck.
[Reply]
DanD Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:09 pm
@Devilmachine, Exactly. Drew Doughty probably hasn’t played wing in 10 years, not to mention the hole it puts on the blueline where Doughty would be playing.
[Reply]
Harrison Merkin Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@DanD, Watch Doughty rush the puck. when he gets to the blue line and has defenders in front of him he’s lost. How many times have we seen DD take it from his own end, dazzle 2 or 3 guys and have the puck roll off his stick and into the corner because he has no finish….
[Reply]
Well … Mr. Kompon often says “Get the puck deep and move it low to high.” The guys loves the shot fron the point especially one-timer. When you talk about defenseman involved in offense, it’s gotta be the shot from the blue line.
I’ve never seen such a narrow minded person before in my life. JJ and DD are actually very good around the net, too. That’s what anyone doesn’t expect. They don’t have to shoot from the blue line all the time. Because that is already so predictable. After DS took it over, we’ve seen DD and JJ interchange their position more often. Mitchell and JJ were doing it, too. But Mr. Kompon never tried this move for how long? He thinks both players have to be stuck on the side they play defensively. He thinks Stoll must be at point and take one-timer. And he thinks he belong to the NHL team. What a joke.
[Reply]
40YearKingsFan Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 5:00 pm
@goldielocks,
Couldn’t agree more and Sutter (and Murray before him) and Lombardi haven’t taken issue with it or questioned it a bit. The only things I’ve heard Sutter say about Kompon have been bordering on complimentary!
It’s just like you say, Kompon loves the low to high and the slapper from the blue line, and from the results the only one who loves it more than Kompon is the opposing goalie. That puck is as big as a beach ball by the time it gets to him.
[Reply]
Isn’t the real question. Will we be sellers after tonight?
[Reply]
Let me guess, pass from low to high, take the point shot, miss wide, rinse and repeat, yawn, and try it again.
[Reply]
I don’t think they should activate defensemen into the play. Too risky. Can’t change the system, works fine. Just need to play harder, get more shots from the point(where a defenseman belongs at all times), and trade for Nash. We’ll be just fine.
[Reply]
Harrison Merkin Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@PP Anybody?, If Quick is as good as we think he is then we had better start letting him make some big saves due to the fact that we’re pressing in the offensive zone in an effort to create chances. This team needs to loosen the strings a bit and start having some faith in all of this “defense”.
[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 6:41 pm
@Harrison Merkin, Actually I was just kidding. I’ve been asking for more D involvement since last year.
[Reply]
If only we could get Quick to be a bit more offensive. I’d like to see him a bit more creative with the puck, and maybe supporting the play as we leave our zone. A few 70 or 80 foot shots wouldn’t hurt either.
Maybe we can even get him into the cycle game — with all that gear he’d do well on the half boards.
Or maybe we could just expect one of our forwards to score?
[Reply]
408kingsfan Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@CabbagesAndKings,
Iv’e said all along, teach Quick how to score goals and we will be a contender.
[Reply]
red49er Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@CabbagesAndKings, very funny, verrryyyy funny.
[Reply]
Activate the D-men, damnit. We just so happen to have the best goalie in the league named Jonathon Quick. In when he is not in, we have Jonathan Bernier Scuds and WM as safety valves…..let the kids play. Am sick of defense first, defense second. 1-0 losses arent getting it done. Balance wins championships. Not defense.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@Mik3ysfv,
Agreed. Scoring less then 2 goals a game, and holding the opposition to 1 or less is not what Stanley Cup contenders aspire to be. For once I would like to see the Kings be down and even allow any outnumbered attacks.
I’m not saying play irresponsible, but the reason they don’t happen at all, is because when the Kings are down, they don’t take any risks to go down fighting. They just play the same defensive game, with the same defensive positioning.
When the go down, they should ratchet it up instantly to get it back. Not wait till the final few minutes late in the 3rd to mount a comeback. That’s why their record stinks once the other team takes the lead into the 3rd period.
[Reply]
Who would have thought, 5 years ago, that when Lombardi discussed building the team from the net out, he was discussing how we’d get our best offensive opportunities in 2012…
[Reply]
Heck, I’m ready for Quick to start being more active and taking some shots on net.
[Reply]
How about activating the friggin’ offensive unit??? I’m for the defense trying to help more in the offensive zone, but not at the expense of giving up more goals or hoping Quick stands on his head every night.
If the damned front line would just score some goals….
[Reply]
Do anyone of you remember that game against San Jose in the playoffs – where Doughty and Johnson took over? I hope we see that again (and again, and again).
[Reply]
Is this the night we break out?????
I like our line up………..
Its been a horrible year now, favourite teams have lost out Ayr Flames Bantam Rep, and Kings are loosing lately. What the hell……
no sleep till this ship gets turned in the water.
Go Kings Go, go Kings go, Go Kings Go……
[Reply]
It could be over by the trade dead line. I’ll TVO the game tonite and watch it later in under 1 hours time. The last two games wow 3 hours i will never get back.
[Reply]
Time to stop relying on the D to create offense..
[Reply]