GDT ***Anaheim Ducks @ LA Kings Preseason GDT - 10/4/25 1:00pm on FanDuel & ESPN+ ***

[ICE24]

Preseason game, up 4-0 and then a big let down. It's a different game next week. Not worried about losing the lead in a preseason game. The intensity level had dropped due to being a preseason game. I'm not saying they will win the next two games, however, they will be fine with the players they currently have.

 

[Clif]

When Ice24 is the voice of reason after a “loss” it’s time to reevaluate some of the takes on this thread.

Also if anyone remembers what the Kings’ schedule looks like for their first 7 games then we should be quite happy to go .500 after 10.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Preseason game, up 4-0 and then a big let down. It's a different game next week. Not worried about losing the lead in a preseason game. The intensity level had dropped due to being a preseason game. I'm not saying they will win the next two games, however, they will be fine with the players they currently have.

Exactly. A meaningless game and players wanting to get the game over and prep for a tough opening schedule. Let’s not lose perspective.

 

[Bollocks]

When Ice24 is the voice of reason after a “loss” it’s time to reevaluate some of the takes on this thread.

Also if anyone remembers what the Kings’ schedule looks like for their first 7 games then we should be quite happy to go .500 after 10.

A tough schedule to start is a boon. If they stink it up, heads must roll.

If they play very well it's a good starting point for the rest of the season.

A .500 record would therefore be the worst possible outcome.

 

[DoubleMinor]

A tough schedule to start is a boon. If they stink it up, heads must roll.

If they play very well it's a good starting point for the rest of the season.

A .500 record would therefore be the worst possible outcome.

I dunno. It’s difficult to know what a good start looks like with this schedule. COL-LV back to back followed by WPG is going to be tough. Does an 0-3 start spell the end of the season?
Hardly, at least to me. It’s certainly not ideal but I am not going to start firing people after 10-20 games with this early schedule. Of course, how they look in those games will play into any assessment. But I don’t know that I want to go into this season looking for reasons to blow things up.
This is a good team. How good is what we are going to find out. Offensively the Kings should be fine. There are questions about the defense, and that’s fair. But the biggest question is whether Darcy can play well and stay healthy, and whether Forsberg can play well enough to keep Darcy healthy and fresh. And speaking of that, how many games should we expect Kuemper to play if he doesn’t have injuries? I’m thinking about 50 but Forsberg has to be up to the challenge of getting 25+ starts.

 

[Clif]

A tough schedule to start is a boon. If they stink it up, heads must roll.

If they play very well it's a good starting point for the rest of the season.

A .500 record would therefore be the worst possible outcome.

I agree it’s a good test early. But the first 10 games always carry a lot of variables. Players aren’t fully settled yet anywhere. think it’s true for pretty much all teams that you have an actual picture of them after 20 games.

 

[Bollocks]

I generally share your optimism to a point, but it's not impossible for this team to have 7 or 8 reg. losses after 10 games, along with poor showing, and if that's the case, Ken should be thinking about Hiller...

Tough schedule or not, a contender needs to be able to be a near .500 team no matter what the schedule is, especially with apparent improvements to the team and a healthy Drew.

 

[DoubleMinor]

I generally share your optimism to a point, but it's not impossible for this team to have 7 or 8 reg. losses after 10 games, along with poor showing, and if that's the case, Ken should be thinking about Hiller...

Tough schedule or not, a contender needs to be able to be a near .500 team no matter what the schedule is, especially with apparent improvements to the team and a healthy Drew.

I’m not disagreeing necessarily with this.
The losing 7 out of 10 right out of the gate is the biggest fear, and potentially leads to a season where it’s over before Christmas. And that’s surely reason to see heads roll.
I guess I just don’t like the idea of going into a season with a countdown clock on when the coach gets let go.

I think it’s always going to be a concern when a new GM comes in with an existing coach. Add that the playoff series gave concerns about Hiller, and it’s a question as to whether Hiller has a long life as coach.

My questions about the team are more about the new additions, how Kuemper looks, than about Hiller. Depending on how things go, maybe it becomes about the coach.

 

[Bollocks]

I’m not disagreeing necessarily with this.
The losing 7 out of 10 right out of the gate is the biggest fear, and potentially leads to a season where it’s over before Christmas. And that’s surely reason to see heads roll.
I guess I just don’t like the idea of going into a season with a countdown clock on when the coach gets let go.

I think it’s always going to be a concern when a new GM comes in with an existing coach. Add that the playoff series gave concerns about Hiller, and it’s a question as to whether Hiller has a long life as coach.

My questions about the team are more about the new additions, how Kuemper looks, than about Hiller. Depending on how things go, maybe it becomes about the coach.

It's not a countdown clock for me, just a welcome early test that's better than an easy schedule to start only for the collapse to come around Christmas and THEN rolling heads.

If it needs to happen, the sooner it happens the better.

It's also better from a fan's standpoint. Much less chance for ill-perceived optimism.

 

[DoubleMinor]

It's not a countdown clock for me, just a welcome early test that's better than an easy schedule to start only for the collapse to come around Christmas and THEN rolling heads.

If it needs to happen, the sooner it happens the better.

It's also better from a fan's standpoint. Much less chance for ill-perceived optimism.

Again, not disagreeing. Your points are sensible.
I was generally happy with Hiller in his first season.
I understand the criticisms from the playoff series. They are certainly valid complaints.

I don’t think Hiller is over his head. But this season will go a long way to see whether he is the coach this team needs.

My fear going into every season is a bad start that puts the team out of contention early. A tough early schedule and a 3-7 start puts the coach under the microscope.
I however put more emphasis on the players (especially with this team) than the coach. This is a veteran team. They are ultimately responsible for the performance and the record. We know the players don’t get fired. We know who is held to account.

I do agree that IF a coaching change happens it’s better early than later. Let’s hope that’s not the case.

As for ill-perceived optimism, I do my best not to
play Pollyanna. While I’m hopeful about this team there are concerns. GKG.

 

[Statue4Deano]

The season start will have zero impact on Hiller. Short of a bottoming out and falling completely out of the playoff race, there’s no plausible scenario where Hiller, Holland Luc won’t finish the season employed by the Kings. These 3 will be allowed to go down with the ship.

 

[Bollocks]

Hiller is OK. However, Ken wqs brought in to win and if the team he supposedly improved doesn't win I can't see him not trying to replace the coach sooner rather than later. Besides, mid-season coach change worked wonders 14 or so years ago...wait, has it been that long already?? Yeesh.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Hiller is OK. However, Ken wqs brought in to win and if the team he supposedly improved doesn't win I can't see him not trying to replace the coach sooner rather than later. Besides, mid-season coach change worked wonders 14 or so years ago...wait, has it been that long already?? Yeesh.

Yeah, it definitely did work.