April 3 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter

Several notes prior to the transcript of Darryl’s media session:

-The Kings held an optional practice at Toyota Sports Center. Andrej Sekera did not skate and remains out indefinitely. He is not expected back in any immediate length of time.

-Other than the quotes below, I’ll have a story up later today on how Jordan Nolan has used his widened second half opportunity to his benefit. I spoke with Nolan and Assistant Coach Davis Payne, and there are some interesting Darryl Sutter quotes on “fourth lines” below. And now to the quotes.

On whether Thursday’s play could carry over to Friday:
We play Colorado, we talked about that after the game. We know what they’re about, so we’ll be ready for them.

On how veterans guide players like Brayden McNabb and Nick Shore late in the season:
Well, we need our veterans to show leadership and focus and urgency and demonstrate to the players that you just talked about that wouldn’t have any idea about that. I mean, Brady watched us last year, so that gives him a good handle, and he practiced with us in terms of the preparation, but you know what? We’re a long ways from making that a reality. The big thing I took out of last night is…we had a great March – February and March, quite honest – as good as anybody in the league, so we wanted to have a good April. If you look at last year, if you’d do a comparison to last year’s April, we were 6-5-2 in April. I can say that.

On how the team’s depth and members of the fourth line have performed:
It’s in and out. Rough start to the game last night, and coach managed around it against an opponent that they should be able to play against and be successful against. They’ve got to be plus players, and they’ve got to be physical guys, and they’ve got to play a forecheck game. If they don’t, they’re not helping us. Nick was really good on faceoffs, and he’s been really good on faceoffs. It’s probably why he’s stayed in the lineup. But the fourth line is not just out there to get serviceable minutes in. They’re out there to have an identity and help your team win. The biggest thing you take out of your fourth line is whether you win or lose.

On Jarret Stoll’s performance:
He was really good early, and he hadn’t played for a while. The kind of game he’s got to play is a physical game. We could get into a real four-line role there when you’re up three or four goals, and that should help him going forward because if you look at all the guys, everybody’s probably in a teen-minute thing last night up front, which helps. That’s about the only time you can do it on our club, when you’re up three or four or down three or four. Other than that, you’re trying to make sure that Kopi and Jeff get big minutes and that somebody’s helping them along.

On players emerging from major goal droughts:
Yeah, it was good for Brownie and Drew, for sure. [Reporter: Drew said Justin’s trying to take his goal, though.] Justin Williams? You couldn’t tell, actually. When I first, from the bench, he had that good angle, you couldn’t tell if it hit the defender’s stick at the top of the slot, and the way Willie comes in front, you really couldn’t tell. [Reporter: I haven’t seen any emails from the league with a change yet.] I’m sure Willie’s quite fine. We talk lots about guys getting to the net and getting square, and that’s a big reason that they went to the net, and it’s because of Willie. Drew’s got to hit the net more. He misses the net on those close ones a lot. If you hit the net, it’s a good chance it’s going to go in with the way he shoots it. It’s a good step for him. I think it’s weighed on him a lot – those numbers – the last couple months. He hasn’t scored a goal since, what, before the All-Star Game? [Reporter: 24 games]. So, like that. Or around the All-Star Game.

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