Thread: Who is considered the best two-way Kings player ever?

Corey Millen,

Put me down for...

JOHN TONELLI

By two way player, do you mean someone who can pick up chicks and dudes?

Originally Posted by mark1178

Corey Millen,

I think Shane Churla edges him out by a nose.

Originally Posted by PRMan!!

Realize that Jari Kurri has over 600 goals and almost 800 assists for almost 1400 points. Kopitar has a loooonnng way to go to reach Jari Kurri.

Kurri was a +76 one season. And he had seasons of 71 and 68 goals.

I love Kopitar, and he's great by today's standards, but people that only saw Kurri at the end of his career (LA->) don't get how good he was in Edmonton.

I'd say Kurri was the best two-way player ever to put on a Kings jersey, but he did so after his prime. I'd put Kopitar down as the best two-way player for the Kings, as he will have played for the Kings in his prime. Mike Richards can/will likely end up in the running some day as well. All things considered, I have to give Kopi the edge because he was drafted by the Kings.

Originally Posted by PRMan!!

Realize that Jari Kurri has over 600 goals and almost 800 assists for almost 1400 points. Kopitar has a loooonnng way to go to reach Jari Kurri.

Kurri was a +76 one season. And he had seasons of 71 and 68 goals.

I love Kopitar, and he's great by today's standards, but people that only saw Kurri at the end of his career (LA->) don't get how good he was in Edmonton.

Hard to compare stats between these era's IMO. How many players even get 100 points a season these days? Here's some quick data:


2011-2012: Evgeni Malkin
2010-2011: Daniel Sedin
2009-2010: Nicklas Backstrom, Sydney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Henrik Sedin
2008-2009: Sydney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin
2007-2008: Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin

...etc

1983-1984: Mike Bossy, Paul Coffee, Bernie Federko, Michel Goulet, Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Rick Middleton, Barry Pederson, Peter Stasny, Bryan Trottier
1984-1985: Mike Bossy, Paul Coffee, Marcel Dionne, Bernie Federko, Mike Gartner, Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Jari Kurri, Mario Lemieux, Paul MacLean, Bernie Nicholls, John Ogrodnick, Denis Savard, Peter Stasny, Brent Sutter, John Tonelli

...etc

Let's also not forget that Kurri's stats are padded from being on the best team of all time for many years (how many points would he had without Gretz, Messier and Coffee?). I never got to see Kurri in his prime because I was just a twinkle in my father's eye then (did get to see him a bit at the end of his run with the Kings), but I'll ask those who were lucky enough to watch hockey in the crazy 80's this; who was a better player in their time compared to their peers league-wide?

All in all, I think most any impartial hockey fan would pick Kurri, but I'll say Kopitar just to be difficult and ignorant!

Originally Posted by Maddogg420

One player won the cup with the Kings, one did not. Kopitar is by virtue of winning the best 2 way player to play in a Kings uniform.

Yeah, this one is going to be a common argument around here over the next season.

So Drewiske is the best 7th defenseman the Kings have ever had? Martin Jones is the best 3rd string goalie? Westgarth is the best tough guy? Kompon the best assistant coach who ever ran a Kings PP?

Yes, Yes, Yes, **** No

Weird. It seems everyone here doesn't know how to type "Trevor Lewis" correctly.