February 14 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter

On the last two days of practice:
“[To be] perfectly clear and honest, March [has] just about zero practice. We have 17 games, I believe, in March. You’ve got very little practice, so you have to take advantage of these days. It doesn’t mean that it impacts tomorrow, but it’s got to impact the big picture. Certainly with some of these young guys – not some of them, most of them – it’s about practice.”

On the play in St. Louis where Martinez got hurt:
“It was just an innocent thing. It was like [the] second shift. It was nothing. It was just an easy play. He just got banged. He’s better. You know what? He’s had it before, and it gets better. We’ve had them. You’ve just got to do it every day and be careful. He won’t be very long.”

On who will start in goal versus Columbus:
“No answer. Know the program. I don’t say the day before, the day of or until, right? It’s the way I feel.”

On why he prefers to not announce a starter:
“I just don’t feel comfortable doing that. For lack of a better answer, St. Louis announced Halak was…playing the other night. That’s what we assumed, too. So did they. It doesn’t really serve much purpose publicly. It’s not like you have a rotation. Lots of things happen. In more of a roundabout way, we want to be a playoff team. We need a goalie to get hot, not get patted on the back.”

On how often he tells a goaltender that he’s starting ahead of time:
“Sometimes. Obviously, tomorrow morning they’ll know. But when we’re on the road, or depending on how late your travel is, generally we let them know.”

On goaltending competition:
“We rode a hot goalie last year, right? They didn’t the year before. We rode a hot goalie last year. You know what? We’re in the same thing again. [We] need one to get hot.”

On what he saw in Ellerby’s play from Detroit to St. Louis:
“The ability to move pucks. It was pretty consistent in both games. It’s the strength of his game, and it has to be really consistent. He’s a big, mobile guy, and he’s going to be on the puck a lot, so being able to make the good play is what we want him to do. That’d be number one.”

70 Comments

  1. hockeyfanb4gretzky says:

    Whats DS take on the lack of physical play of brown?

    [Reply]

    Lake Forest Reply:

    @hockeyfanb4gretzky, true we have heard a lot about the new guys. We need our core to start playing.

    [Reply]

    hockeyfanb4gretzky Reply:

    @Lake Forest, I agree he is our captain .Last year he hit anything that moved and the other teams knew it and played accordingly we need that back to make a legit push.IMHO

    [Reply]

    Robyn Reply:

    @hockeyfanb4gretzky, I wish Brownie would get angry again. He seemed to go all Hulk on everyone when he was pissed off

    OC Kings Fan Reply:

    @hockeyfanb4gretzky,
    Gotta save it for the playoffs. No human could do that all season and again for the playoffs. Brown formerly played that way during the season because he never went to the playoffs and the kings were out of contention in march so there was no reason at that point either.

    [Reply]

  2. Safaribear1107 says:

    I can imagine Sutter yelling “THIS ISNT BASEBAL” at Jon, lol

    [Reply]

    Robyn Reply:

    @Safaribear1107, I can hear him yelling in frustration “I ALREADY TOLD YOU, QUIT ASKIN!!!”

    [Reply]

    DesertKing Reply:

    @Safaribear1107,

    “nobody’s died, YET!”

    [Reply]

  3. DesertKing says:

    “Well, I don’t like to announce a starter. If I pencil in a starter, then he can’t start, or I change my mind, or the GM trades him, or he gets stuck on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, or his wife goes into labor, or its Christmas, or a hurricane hits, or the supermodel he is dating gets the SI cover, or his PlayStation breaks down, well, then, you know, I got to erase his name and write in a new, which is a big pain in the you-know-what, so I just prefer to stay a little loosey-goosey and hold that information close to the vest even though I don’t actually wear a vest but think that maybe I should, but I remember another Kings coach who use to pencil people in and I don’t think that worked out to well for him.” – DS

    [Reply]

    Robyn Reply:

    @DesertKing, Nice :-D

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Dessert M, Punishing!

    [Reply]

    Harrison Merkin Reply:

    @DesertKing, DK…you gotta mix in about 12 “right?”(s) in that gem and you’re golden.

    [Reply]

    Michael J. Reply:

    @DesertKing,

    “Supermode he’s dating…” Hillaroius.

    Wait? Is Bernier dating Stoll’s slo…. nevermind….

    [Reply]

  4. jess says:

    Those who understood TM, probably don’t understand Sutter, and visa versa. Sutter I can read like a good book and is always refreshing.

    TM’s quotes on the other hand -were so bad, he read like a bad novel which couldn’t even make it into a run down 99 cents store.

    [Reply]

    xeropoint Reply:

    @jess, It’s essentially straight talk (albeit in farmer speak) vs. monotone platitudes about compete level and certain types of mentalities.

    The only thing I don’t like, is Sutters not NEARLY as much fun to poke fun at ;)

    …. I’ll take the winning over the comedy though.

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    @xeropoint,

    Yeah it’s such a luxury knowing we’re in good hands. I don’t know if you remember all the fuss I made on the blog when TM would announce who would start in net well in advance.. It’s not necessary and gives away your position to opposing teams so they can make plans, and ruins healthy competitive tension needed between the goaltenders on your own team.

    [Reply]

    xeropoint Reply:

    @jess, Agree. Let’s also not forget the 3 straight shut out debacle. More than anything, showed the disconnect between coaching philosophy and trying to get “W’s”. Around that time, I think it became obvious to me the traing wheels needed to come off.

    jess Reply:

    @xeropoint,

    Yep, -wheels were coming off alright ;)

    Duncanz Reply:

    @jest’s quotes on the other hand are expressed with so much pulpy ficticiousness he could make Tarantino flip his wig like a two-penny Tenderloin tart with 20 cent stockings!

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    @Duncanz,

    Yeah, -which reminds me..

    -What time are you gonna let @PhilSykes out of his plywood box with random holes drilled in it today?

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    Oops, too late!!

    luc20rules Reply:

    @jess, I was thinking more along the lines of that metal rubics cube thing from the movie Hellraiser, or perhaps if mobility is needed that dolly with straps and the Goalie Mask with bars over the mouth slot for Hanabal Lechtor. But then again who needs to fill out the paper work on what happens to Multiple Migs.

    jess Reply:

    @Luc20rules,

    Brilliant, A+ response. One of the best ever!

    What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:

    @jess, What’s to understand? He knows what it takes to win, and he expects no less!

    [Reply]

  5. neil says:

    DS always has to mention the “youngsters”….

    [Reply]

  6. gene says:

    ON NHL they said LA Kings were not hitting, being aggressive on the puck and or going to the front of the net like they did in the playoffs. That was the main reason they are at where they are now.

    [Reply]

  7. neil says:

    DS has been banned from posting here…he said horse…. !!!!

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    Horse pucky, @neil.

    [Reply]

  8. Penner Tweets: “Happy Valentines Day! Still waiting for my first bouquet! #excited…ooooh nm. Forgot how it works. Sorry…#loweredexpectations”

    I wonder if Matt Greene and Penner got along?

    [Reply]

  9. KC23 says:

    Off topic. I hope Shanny does something about Cooke’s play against Karllson. That guy needs to get the Avory treatment from the league. That play was brutal.

    [Reply]

    puddle Reply:

    @KC23, If it had been any other player other than Cooke, there’d be no discussion about it. You can’t read intent on a play like this. It COULD have been intentional, but it sure doesn’t look intentional to me, and there’s definitely not enough there to judge him one way or the other. I hate Cooke, but looking at it rationally, there’s not much you can do here.

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @KC23, They’re saying on NHL Live that Cooke wasn’t looking and couldn’t have engineered that, but I’m not altogether sure.
    It’ll be interesting to see if Cooke comes out (or is urged to) and makes a statement expressing his sympathy toward Karlsson.

    [Reply]

    KC23 Reply:

    @KC23, I don’t think Cooke had forethought into it, he just plays to hurt without even thinking. Someone, sooner or later is going to get that guy.

    [Reply]

    g smith86 Reply:

    @KC23, It looked at first like it was pre-meditated, but when a play like that takes all of a second and a half to complete…you have got to be some kind of timing expert to make that kind of skate work happen…i know slu-foots happen all the time….most of them happen accidentally…sure, you can slu-foot a guy on purpose…but, it is gonna be pretty obvious…and result in a penalty…

    IMHO…Cooke could have tried to do this same thing intentionally a thousand times…and failed every time

    [Reply]

    linny Reply:

    @KC23, totally agree though I heard no supplemental punishment. Why did he lift his leg in the first place? He wasn’t off balance…looked like he was trying to plant his knee to the inner thigh which I c alot on the UFC. The he brings his skate down hard…looked like intent to injure. He still has the “goon” in him. Its like trying to take the “fight” out of a trained pit bull n make it a companion dog at a home for the elderly!

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @linny, Lol, (having in mind one or two of your recent posts) have you personally tried this?

    [Reply]

  10. Today’s practice video with commentary plus photos and a VERY special guest at TSC today…

    http://kingsnewsdaily.com/kings-practice-21413/

    [Reply]

    DesertKing Reply:

    @Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),

    Sign him, dress, play him, D-man problem solved!

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Paul Armbruster (KingsNorsDaily.com),
    That was a ‘Swede’ Valentine’s photo you got!

    [Reply]

    harty Reply:

    @Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), thanks Paul, very cool
    again I have taken a drill for our Minor Midget team in Ayr Ontario

    [Reply]

    rogiesbackup Reply:

    @Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), So glad to see the Kings working on the PP.

    [Reply]

  11. DesertKing says:

    Reference WM, here is some pure conjecture and speculation:

    1. DS loves WM as per the great story of their interaction on the bench towards the end of Game #6 of the SCF. The first person DS tells to go ahead and celebrate is WM.
    2. Nobody is talking because there are some problems, specifically:
    - WM had surgery on the sly and used a doctor not approved by the team (didn’t want his health problem known by management or opponents)
    - The doctor didn’t complete the procedure properly, leading to more damage or longer than expected recovery time.
    - Because of the above factors, there is now a contractual problem – is the injury and subsequent surgery covered by WM’s contract, or was it done outside of the contract and without permission of Kings medical staff?
    - If there is now a contractual compliance problem, everyone needs to be careful what they say in case the dispute ends up in a grievance or court action.

    Everyone, the fans, WM, DS, and management, want WM to play, but if the above conjecture is true, then that explains why the whole thing doesn’t feel right and no one is (or can) talk about it.

    [Reply]

    g smith86 Reply:

    @DesertKing, What?!! I have not heard anything on this…i hope, for WM s sake and the Kings and us, that this is eroneous

    [Reply]

    DesertKing Reply:

    @g smith86,

    Me too. This is pure conjecture and supposition, no source, no rumor, just thinking out loud.

    [Reply]

    DesertKing Reply:

    @g smith86,

    This is all just pure speculation on my part, with no source, no rumor, just thinking out loud. I also hope that I am completely wrong.

    [Reply]

    DesertKing Reply:

    @DesertKing,

    Stupid computer. Says it didn’t post then posts it. Maybe I should offer it to you-know-who since he seems to wear them out. On second thought……..

  12. cntrmn19 says:

    Some nice PP/puck movement work before practice today. Looks like a couple new wrinkles to throw at opponents. Lets hope we bury a few more tomorrow nite and beyond.

    [Reply]

  13. Ashykon says:

    Way too many injuries around the league

    [Reply]

    Deke'r Reply:

    @Ashykon, ….no training camp to speak of to get into shape this year….what did they think was going to happen….

    [Reply]

  14. phil sykes says:

    ” practice ? … are u kidding me , practice ? , practice ? “

    [Reply]

    neil Reply:

    @phil sykes, Heis Baaaaaaacccckkkk !!!!! LOL

    [Reply]

  15. g smith86 says:

    So many injuries, and so little time…but, look at the leaders around the league…not many major injuries to speak of…the Ducks (Fowler is a big loss for them, but they have been fine without him) and Ottawa have some key injuries…but other than that I can’t think of any teams at the top that have any significant injuries…the Kings have been dealing with the losses of thier twoo biggest, shut down d-men…and now have one of their better puck moving and skating d-men out…

    It seems like 36 games isn’t a lot, but I think the injury bug will hit everyone this year…better to get it over with early on

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @g smith86, kopis knee …… dont sleep on that one either ….. its actually the most important one in my opinion

    [Reply]

    KC23 Reply:

    @phil sykes, more important than Mitchell? Nah.

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @KC23, if u think this water down third line version of kopi is the real kopi , well then i dont know what to say …… the guys playing hurt , and it shows , hes playing like a third liner – because hes on one leg …………. u saw how rg3 was hobbling around , and hopping around – before he finally tore it up completely in the playoff game ……….. well , kopi has the exact same injury – but thankfully since hockey is more push and glide , he probably wont tear it unless he gets hit just right or makes a cut thats too sharp and unexpected ………… i guarntee u this – u wont see him making a move like he did against elliot in game 2 in the playoffs ………. hes wearing a brace just like rg3 for the same exact injury as rg 3 ………. its not coming off either till the off season ………….. and it effects his game greatly ….. which of course effects the teams chances to win greatly

  16. phil sykes says:

    mystery of the day …… if common weighed 2 tons , then howd those ancient egyptians get him in that little gold box …… man were they clever lil devils

    [Reply]

    LVKINGS88 Reply:

    @phil sykes, You need to be @DUNC-CANNED, or you need to stop staying up until the wee hours of the morn cuz you are one looney tune.

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @LVKINGS88, Is that something I would do to someone, or something I would get done to me?
    ”Cos it all depends on that how I would take this statement..

    [Reply]

  17. LVKINGS88 says:

    Those crazy Cannucks, they are all worried about the zombie apocalypse.

    [Reply]

  18. phil sykes says:

    hey darryl , who will start in goal ? ……….. “fasth , right ? …. i mean hes undefeated , right ? … so ” ( nodding head up and down )

    [Reply]

  19. phil sykes says:

    just curious .. what was it like in here when we won the cup ……. also , what was it like when they were looking for a new replacement for hammond and i think they didnt post any new threads for like weeks at a time ………. just curious on both since i wasnt around

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @phil sykes, …… enjoyable

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    @phil sykes,

    It was great, then it sucked.

    Well now I’m also curious,

    -How’d it feel to be duct-taped to a cold metal chair with @poorman underneath the NYC subway system for months on end???

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @jess, ….. cold , smelly

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    @phil sykes, so what’d you guys talk about, anything interesting?

    phil sykes Reply:

    @jess, his good ole days at kroq

    [Reply]

  20. neil says:

    Only 4:00 and already off topic…cant wait till the late night hours !!!! Soon this blog will be closed between midnight and 7 a.m.

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @neil, its a long hiatus between games …… floggin grammys

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @phil sykes, or whatever the reason was ……….. i thought this was supposed to be a condensed schedule ……… floggin nhl

    [Reply]

    phil sykes Reply:

    @neil, yea , this is just way too many days between games ………. phoenix – nashville has 3 points written all over it tonight …….. i think we can all see that coming ……………. like i said before , please nhl , just eliminate us now and get it over with

    [Reply]

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