On what he expects from Simon Gagne: “Little more spirit in his game and a little more pace. And hopefully not have to re-evaluate it.”
On Dustin Penner: “Dustin is close. Him and Simon are sort of in the same siutation. Dustin is in a really good place mentally. We can’t use games as preseason games. He’s close, so I just want him to get his game pace to where it’s got to be.”
On the team overall: “I liked our game in Edmonton. I liked it for the most part in Colorado, so that means we should be getting there. We got a really young defense and we need the pace of our forwards to be a hell of a lot better to help them out. It’s not hard to figure out. It’s nothing more than that.”
On Willie Mitchell’s status: “He’s got to push through it. That’s what got to happen.”
On the power play: “We’re not getting enough shots. We’re getting good looks, but more [shots] is better for your percentages. We’ve done a lot of work the last couple of days talking to players, doing video. We hit three posts in Edmonton, but still that’s not a shot on goal. We’re playing those three young kids on the power play, so it’s a learning curve for them. Muzzin, Voynov and Martinez are playing on the power play for good reason because they have good shots and they have a good skill set. But they got to shoot the puck more. They can be so respectful of Kopitar, Carter and Williams that they want to give them the puck. They [need] to get the puck and pound it. If it hits one of [the forwards] and goes in then so be it. That’s what you want.”
On Davis Drewiske: “We need Davis to replace Greener. Play the right side and replace Greener. That’s where he is in the organization and that’s where he’s played and that’s what he’s capable of is that type of player. That’s what he’s capable of and we’re going to work with him to do that.”
I didn’t think DS could say that much in a single interview.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@DesertKing,
HARSH against Davis Drewiske!
[Reply]
LA_1968 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
@DesertKing, That is the most insight and strategy Coach Sutter has ever given as a Kings coach. Maybe even if you combined all his other quotes too.
[Reply]
Exactly what I said. Too much perimeter passing. Puck won’t go in the net is you don’t shoot the puck at it. I can’t believe the boys have to be told/reminded of that.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:12 am
@kissmyblarneystones,
Missed it by that much!!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:46 am
@kissmyblarneystones,
Would you believe……
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
@DesertKing,
You’ve way too much time on your hands.
A lot of standing around on the PP is not good for scoring either…
[Reply]
While it is nice to have guys like Clifford, King, Nolan, and Lewis chip in with scoring the honus is on Kopi, Brown, Carter, Richards, Penner, Gagne, and Williams to score the majority of the Kings’ goals. The play of these guys will, in large, deternime the outcome of tonight’s game. The “bottom” six and D-corps will be solid. Quickie (or the backup) will play well. Nevertheless, the team cannot rely on the supporting staff to win more than a few games a year on their own.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:22 am
@Michael J.,
I’ve got a bad feeling about tonight. Some of the Yotes were crying leaving the ice last year. They, including Tippett, have a bad taste in their mouths and feel hard done by due to how the game ended. I predict huge PIM’s today.
[Reply]
Robert R Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:33 am
@kissmyblarneystones, Concentration and keeping one’s cool. Let them do the dumb stuff.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:54 am
@kissmyblarneystones,
I would have dressed Penner solely upon size.
[Reply]
neil Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, I read your site (no Iam not Laura) about how you got your name…good story…..Now to tell you how i received my name……..Parents !!!! Thats all…Good Luck with Laura !!!!
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
@neil,
You weren’t hatched?
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
January 27th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
So much for my ability to read the writing on the wall!
[Reply]
DD#2 will be fine. I’m not glad that Greene went down, but I’m glad to see DD#2 get his chance to shine. He is a very good defense man and has worked hard for this opportunity. He only played in 9 games last season. I’m sure he will make some mistakes, but we are in good hands with him in the line up.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:47 am
@King Charles of Salt Lake, I think DD2 looks awesome. Muzzin looks pretty good too considering his lack of experience. Defense hasn’t been the problem, it’s those terrible first two lines of forwards that need to get their act together.
[Reply]
Tough call on Gagne by this coach….ONE game and the FIRST game of the season and this coach makes a judgement??!!!! Whole TEAM didn’t look good the first game!!!! Not a good way to light the flame on a potential leading scorer of the club. Especially these days when again the team lacks scoring.
Gags should watch himself on YouTube from the past and at least try and regain that chippy “spirited” play.
On the PP….once again like last year not a lot of CREATIVITY on the guys WITHOUT the puck. Do circles move north/south East/West whatever but whatever you do DON’T just WAIT for the puck to get to you!!! Ffft!!
DD2 needs to be more agressive physically(presence known).
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:41 am
Big circles as almost as big as the face-off circles creates confusion amongst opposing players but keeps your legs moving but more IMPORTANTLY gives you ideas on being CREATIVE.
[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
@rogiesbackup,
Brown’s PP goal in Finals game 6 is a great example of what you’re talking about. Brown made the first pass from the low right corner, then followed passes up the wall across the zone and back down the slot where he got the deflection. That movement made him available at any time for another pass and kept the Devils on their heels because of the dangerous options. Movement hi to low, low to hi, and through the box or diamond creates lanes, space and time to make plays and get good looks for shots. Sure, the puck moves faster than any skater, so passes are important, but the players need to move too.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:49 am
@rogiesbackup, DS just sending a message to both Penner and Gagne, get your act together NOW. Richards and Brown both need wake up calls as well.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:54 am
@rogiesbackup, Kopi came back to play in the 2nd game, so someone HAD to come out. Who would’ve you pulled? The 4th line is usually where you’d pull someone, but they were our best line that night so you can’t take any of them out.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
@rogiesbackbrace, Might’ve been something to do with going -3 in that one game vs Hawks. Good way to get yourself sat for a bit.
Maybe the thinking is having hard working guys around him will spark him.
All of a sudden he is Cliffy’s understudy.
[Reply]
Hmmm … this is somewhat sounds familiar … he didn’t say the words ‘sh**t men**lity’ but …
[Reply]
Now to the real important stuff..Did Laura get a date or not????
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:49 am
@neil,
LOL
[Reply]
Kings go on a 6 – 7 game unbeaten streak starting tonight. Mark it.
[Reply]
Rumor … 3 teams contacted Habs about PK Subban, and one of them is the Kings.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 11:59 am
@goldielocks, I’m not sure there’s a good fit there. Bernier is our most valuable trade piece, and the Habs have no need for him. Also, the d-men who have filled in for Greene and Mitchell have done just fine.
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:12 pm
@CB14, You never know with DL, though. He may have something in the works. Voynov OR Martinez and Bernier and maybe a draft, maybe?? Hehe nice to play GM at times.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
@rogiesbackup, Voynov > subban
lakingsfaninmonterey Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
@goldielocks, thanks for the news. This team doesn’t need Subban or any other players for that matter.
[Reply]
Looks like no Smith tonight.
[Reply]
People are expecting too much from Gagne. Five years ago…fine. Nowadays he is done. He isn’t the first who’s career ended in the early 30′s due to injury and he won’t be the last. Seriously, at no point in his time with the kings has he looked good.
[Reply]
Coach is laying down legitimate expectations for his players. The depth built into the lineup has allowed DS to invoke the “up or out” rule with Gagne, Penner, and Drewiske. Gagne didn’t offer much in his 1 game. The other 2 have shown glimpses. Drewiske still really prefers to let the game come to him – TM brainwashing still has a hold. I like that DS wants him to try to assert himself more. If he won’t or can’t, I’m happy to give Muzz a longer look. That kid covers more ice and seems more confident with the puck. Experience is Drewiske’s only advantage but he’s got to show actual results.
The Kings have played progressively better each game so far. I hope that finally playing a playoff rival will stoke that intensity again and push us over the top tonight.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@Kenny44, DD2 has looked better than Muzzin IMHO. Much better overall, but not offensively perhaps. Muzzin may have more potential though in the long run. He skates very well and has good size.
[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@KC23,
Drewiske is more consistent in positioning and more reliable on the PK right now, I agree with that. He needs to be more assertive at both blue lines for how DS wants to play.
[Reply]
Check it out! The BIG PREGAME REPORT by little ole’ me.
I think it’s the most comprehensive and informative pregame hockey report anywhere. Your thoughts or suggestions are very welcome.
Link: http://kingsnewsdaily.com/the-big-pregame/
*It will be updated throughout the day.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
“For Sale By Owner” – Hillarious
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
@Michael J., The Royal Half killing it once again.
[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Really well done!
Easy to peruse and informative…
Keep it up..
[Reply]
regarding the PP, as @goldilocks said, sounds like the same tune we’ve heard before… more shots les passing blah blah blah… Im starting to think we’ve got very dense players combined with ones that do not like going to the tough scoring places, like in front of the net… net presence takes nut presence and I really thought our boys found their nuts en route to the Stanley Cup…
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@Stuart, I think Brown Stoll and Kopitar all suck at the PP. Love them otherwise, but on the PP they just don’t have it. Much rather see Gagne and Penner on the PP. Kopitar is just too slow on the half boards and Brown isn’t big enough to screen very well. Penner is excellent at screening the goal tender and Gagne is great on the half boards and the back door play.
I think it might be worth checking out Clifford on the PP for screens.
[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
@KC23,
Stoll should not be on the PP, at all, anywhere. Brown should be a slasher, not a camper. Penner, Clifford, and King can be front net guys. I agree that Gagne should be effective on the PP – he’s probably got the best O zone hockey sense on the team. But does he play well enough 5 on 5 to justify playing him?
When Kopi, MR and Doughty are all on the ice together they all want to play QB and things grind to a halt. Can’t have MR and Kopi out there together.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@Kenny44, I think MR is one of our best PP guys and is far and away better than Kopitar. Doughty does his job, Kopitar though is just way too slow to make decissions on shooting or passing and he telegraphs both. I’ve always felt Kopitar is the primary reason our PP sucks. He just doesn’t seem to get it though his head that he needs to move and make quick decissions. Kopitar does neither.
goldielocks Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
@Stuart,
Do you remember when TM made the posters to remind the players that shooting alot and getting those rebounds had the most percentage to score the goal? He refused to recognize or use their talents, and look how it went. Since then, it really scares me when the coach says just shoot the damn puck crap to the players. I got Shot-Mentality-phobia.
[Reply]
Good comments Deano. Very laconic – to the point. We’re close. No panic…..yet.
[Reply]
crashin'da net Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
@crashin’da net, Sorry. meant Daryl, not Deano.
[Reply]
So, in other words, Penner is fat.
[Reply]
Wow, Sharks are just killing the Avs. They look very good this year so far. I’m betting before too long Nieme will lose his starting job. The back up is better.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
@KC23, Wonder if that Stuart blockbuster hit on Landeskog will go to the Dept of Player Safety.
Looked mighty close to initial contact with the head to me.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
January 26th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
@Duncanz, no way. Landy was kind of leaning in with his head down and got caught… I was displeased with Remenda’s lament about the clean hard hit always ends in a fight… He doesnt understand that a hit like on your young captain superstar, as clean a hit as can be, still needs with the hitter knowing that yeah, he got off a clean shot but it banged our boy up and now it needs to be uncomfortable for you for a minute or two… and that was that, no more thought about it but the highlights all week.
[Reply]
I dig how Daryl just put last night’s offsides on Richards immediately after Foxy tried to pin it on Strollsie, the player coming on…
[Reply]
Yes Tim… You’re absolutely right, it is a pity… And a disgrace…I only came back to nz due to family health reasons, and I have found not much more than the burnt out shell of what used to be my hometown…
[Reply]