Are The Kings Playing As Expected? Surpassing Expectations? Not playing to their abilities?

[Birdman]

I’ve noticed how well we play defensively as of late, then I looked at the stats and had a holy sh*t moment.

Too early to make any predictions, but the last time I noticed this about this time of the year, we were all very pleased at the end of the season.

They do still put up the occasional stinker, and that just shows how we’re kinda young.

Still need to get bigger.

 

[DoubleMinor]

After last season (and a few before that) I just hoped that the Kings would decide to compete this year. I felt the competitive spirit was almost completely missing. Whether it was culture, or coaching, or the wrong roster makeup, it was a glaring issue.
While a lot of fans were not pleased with offseason acquisitions I hoped that the new players could add a sense of wanting to compete.
So far, and it’s only December, I have seen a real improvement. But it’s still only December. Things will ramp up after the holidays, and again as teams make their playoff pushes. Time will tell whether the Kings are good enough.

After the Doughty injury I was very concerned about the defense. I was unsure about Spence being able to play more minutes against better players. I did not know if Clarke could handle the NHL, but knew it was time to get him started. And those concerns were there prior to the DD injury.
I have been pleasantly surprised at how well the Kings defense had performed. And the goalies have done enough to keep Kings in games most nights.

Offensively the Kings have appeared to play a system that suits them. They have added some youth, and the young guys are doing enough.

I have been impressed with Kempe. He has developed an all around game, plays every inch of the ice, and is fun to watch.

Laffy has been really strong in his second season. No sophomore jinx at all. He’s a smart, responsible player.

Moore and QB haven’t put up numbers but I’m hopeful we will see more in the second half of the season. Same with Danault, but his defensive game is important and that shows up most nights.

The Kings are not perfect. They still have games where they don’t show up. But that switch doesn’t happen all at once. They are competing more and playing better.

I was very happy that Hilier was given his chance. It just seemed that he saw what the problems were and has changed the mindset. I like that he’s not stubborn. I think the recent changes in lines gives the Kings solid lines and good depth.

I noticed a thread here recently about whether the Kings should trade Fiala.
With all due respect, that’s unwise. Yep, Fiala can be frustrating. But, he does things no one else can do, and he’s a playmaker that this team needs.

I know Blake is unpopular with a lot of fans. But so far, his off-season moves have helped.

The biggest fear at the beginning of every season is that the start would be so bad that the season was essentially over by Christmas. Well, Christmas is almost here and the Kings season is still in front of us. We should be very pleased.

 

[aragorn]

I noticed a thread here recently about whether the Kings should trade Fiala.
With all due respect, that’s unwise. Yep, Fiala can be frustrating. But, he does things no one else can do, and he’s a playmaker that this team needs.

If anyone should be considered expendable at season's end it might be DD. He often holds back the development of other players. It's not that he isn't good, but he might be expendable for a trade haul.

 

[McSorleyFan]

If anyone should be considered expendable at season's end it might be DD. He often holds back the development of other players. It's not that he isn't good, but he might be expendable for a trade haul.

I would never had thought that way at the beginning of the season but the 1 thing DD's injury showed is the talent we have on D. Clarke, Gavi, Anderson (we kinda knew that already), have all stepped up and Movarare, and the rest have done well when called upon.

DD has to be the most competitive guy on the team, so it'll be interesting when he comes back. Will he be ok with less than usual ice time? Maybe bc he's coming off an ankle injury he'll be ok with that? Save him for the playoffs?

 

[Johnnysuede71]

If anyone should be considered expendable at season's end it might be DD. He often holds back the development of other players. It's not that he isn't good, but he might be expendable for a trade haul.

Love DD...and obviously he's a future HOF and still the best defenseman on the Kings. That said...I have anxiety about his return. Although yes...while it is surprising...the current D corps has developed real chemistry...the young guys are feeling confident and if they are still cruising along at top 5 in the league in mid-January...adding Doughty completely jumbles all of that up. Rolls and ice time and well-oiled relationships all shift and suddenly you are with a different girl at the square dance. I hope Hiller is able to ease Doughty...and his enormous personality...into the lineup in a way that does not disrupt this nice little balance he as created. Personally I think he's a great coach and have faith that will happen...but I wouldn't be shocked to see the Kings sag for a stretch after Drew's return.

 

[xcheck]

Dunno if their golf game is up to expectations...

 

[orpheus]

Hiller has been solid. See, sometimes it's better NOT to get someone from the coach musical chair lineup.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Didn’t this team do something similar 4 seasons ago, when Drew Doughty was out for a prolonged period? They were winning games by committee, and that was the first of our three consecutive playoff losses against Edmonton, but it was also the only instance where they actually looked capable of beating Edmonton, before ultimately losing seven games. Hmmm….

I mentioned this back on page one of this thread, but given the last couple of comments about Drew, I feel that it bears repeating. Further elucidating on this train of thought, perhaps veterans like Kopitar and Kempe, while providing solid leadership, are also not so strongly outspoken as to deter the younger guys from showing their personality, and exhibiting confidence. Is it possible that Drew’s outspoken nature does tye opposite, annd serves to subtly intimidate and cloister those very same things in the up and comers?

 

[DoubleMinor]

Hiller has been solid. See, sometimes it's better NOT to get someone from the coach musical chair lineup.

Exactly. Pat Riley comes to mind.

 

[jammer06]

Exactly. Pat Riley comes to mind.

Just gonna go out on a limb and say Riley would coach USC about as well as their current Riley

 

[DryKing]

DD has to be the most competitive guy on the team, so it'll be interesting when he comes back. Will he be ok with less than usual ice time? Maybe bc he's coming off an ankle injury he'll be ok with that? Save him for the playoffs?

That's the main problem with Drew, he constantly elongates shifts and plays more minutes than he should despite, coaches in the past stating the are trying to lessen his ice time. I do think you are right that it comes from his competitive nature as he wants to play all key situations, but it is also an undisciplined style which holds him back.

It's pretty crazy to think how much more productive Drew projects to be by lessening his ice time by just ~2 minutes per game. Often when he gets burned, or caught out of position defensively, it's because he has elongated a shift and is caught on the ice gassed. As good as we know him to be, the reality is he is actually much better and with a simple tweak would very possibly be the Norris conversation once again.

Hopefully he is ready to play in the nations tournament as I think this would be a big eye opener for him. Had NHL players been able to play in the past few Olympics I think this tendency would have already corrected itself.

 

[Nyssa42]

Holy moly, just realized this stat: ...ALL Kings D men are in the + zone of the +/- stat. (Except Englund who is only -1). That seems almost impossible (although looking at other top teams, it is the case on many). Gavi is at +17!

And ALL Kings Forwards are in the + zone except....Fiala who is -8. (And Andre Lee at -5, but that doesn't really count) Kempe is at +19!

 

[Bollocks]

Holy moly, just realized this stat: ...ALL Kings D men are in the + zone of the +/- stat. (Except Englund who is only -1). That seems almost impossible (although looking at other top teams, it is the case on many). Gavi is at +17!

And ALL Kings Forwards are in the + zone except....Fiala who is -8. (And Andre Lee at -5, but that doesn't really count) Kempe is at +19!

Yeah...I think the +/- stat is usually misleading...unless there are visible outliers vs. the rest of the team.
Ouch.

 

[LAKingSteve]

If anyone should be considered expendable at season's end it might be DD. He often holds back the development of other players. It's not that he isn't good, but he might be expendable for a trade haul.

Sorry, going to have to disagree with you here. Drew will make this team better when he's back. The one thing that will hopefully come of it is that he plays less minutes because the rest of the guys have shown they can carry the extra minutes now. Gotta do what you can to prolong his career and playing less will do that.

 

[JasonU]

If anyone should be considered expendable at season's end it might be DD. He often holds back the development of other players. It's not that he isn't good, but he might be expendable for a trade haul.

If management dumps Doughty like they did Quick...

 

[Clif]

Was looking at the standings and didn’t realize the Kings were +18 in goal differential. What in the world? When was the last time their GD was that high? It’s good for eighth best in the league.

 

[Hipcheck]

Surpassing expectations for sure

 

[Pevsfreedom]

If management dumps Doughty like they did Quick...

I'll never recover from Quick alone (in hating Blake at least).

 

[symbology]

The team is surpassing my expectations by a large margin.

• Gavi and Mikey have been playing very well. Beyond my expectations, I would have to say.
• Clarke has been about what I expected. Good offensively, but can get lost and be mistake prone in the D zone.
• Oaks has been a disappointment. I said it here somewhere, or on another forum(?). I think he has been playing injured. He had been peeling off to the outside to much and avoiding going to the slot with the puck. Not sure if that is why he has been out of a bit. Allow a nagging injury to heal? I do not recall him getting injured during a game.
• Edmundson has fit in a little better than expected. His play is overall has surpassed my expectations, which were pretty low.
• Jeannot has been as good as I expected. What we are seeing is about as good as I figured we were getting. I never saw him returning to his 20+ goal form, but he has not been the big liability that the lightning fans were crying about.
• Spence was rough early on, but has been more solid of late. I think he may be under performing where I expected/hoped he would be.
• Lewis has been lewis. I love Lewis, but at his age he has not really been missed on the ice.
• Thomas is about what I expected, not as good for sure, but I did not see him stepping in and continuing with the same scoring prowess that he had in his first few games.
• Danault has been good and bad at times. He misses Arvy, I think.
• QB had been okay. He just did not have the confidence around the net and had been trying to many fancy plays. Trying to make the "perfect" play that only works 10% of the time. His play has been really good as of late.
• Fiala, has been hit or miss. He always seems to have a rough start to the season. As of late he is suffering from trying to make the "perfect" play far to often. Instead of making a safer play/pass, he is swinging for home runs and has been having to many misses which is resulting in untimely turnovers.
• Kopitar has been Kopitar. This is beyond expectations and he seems to be ignoring Father Time.
• Kempe has been Kempe. Hot and and cold on offence, but awesome everywhere else. Kopi taught him well.
• Laf has been as good as I hoped he would be, which is better than expected.
• Turcotte is playing about as expected if given the chance.
• Foegle is in the same boat. As good as I hoped, which may be better than expected. If that makes sense.
• Kuemper, same as Foegle and others.
• Rittich is playing about as expected.
• Moverare has been real good. He has always been solid. Playing as expected, IMO. Nothing fancy, but very solid and better than many people realize.
• Lee and Helenius are meeting expectations. 4th liners that are helping and not hurting the team, for the most part.

Hiller has been doing a darn fine job with this team. Please keep it up.

On Ice questions going forward.

Now that Kaliyev has been a healthy scratch the last few games, will we see him get any ice time soon? Kaliyev at his best would be a good addition to this team up front. However, with the way he had been playing the last season and a half, he would just hurt the team IMO. Lee and Helenius are not as offensively gifted as Kaliyev, but they are able to make plays in the defensive zone and are solid players all over the ice. If Kaliyev can get his mojo back and not be a liability, that would be awesome.

Doughty is expected back on 1/20. Moverare has been very good defensively and has been very solid. It will nice to have Drew back and the offence should improve with him in the lineup. If for anything, just his ability to get the puck up the ice. Gavi is fine, but receiving that D zone cross ice pass on the backhand just slows thing down. Even if he plays it cleanly.

What will Hiller do when Lewis and Moore are ready to go? Will he start to rotate Lewis in with one of the big kids, or just put him in the lineup and sit both the big kids? Maybe just go back to 12/6? However, that rotation of forwards seems to keep the forward group sharp. Hmmm???

Trade Deadline.

Kings could use another scoring winger. I do not see Kaliyev filling that role.

Gavi has been great, but will be due a new contract next year which may be cost prohibitive. Would the Kings consider moving him at the deadline and acquire a more mobile LHD? I would hate to see hiim go, but I would expect he would want a raise, or similar money to what he is getting now, but at long term. That may price him off of the team. His next contract is going to be his most important deal.

Well, that is my $.02, well maybe more like .02 bitcoin.

Go Kings!!!!!

 

[symbology]

Didn’t this team do something similar 4 seasons ago, when Drew Doughty was out for a prolonged period? They were winning games by committee, and that was the first of our three consecutive playoff losses against Edmonton, but it was also the only instance where they actually looked capable of beating Edmonton, before ultimately losing seven games. Hmmm….

I mentioned this back on page one of this thread, but given the last couple of comments about Drew, I feel that it bears repeating. Further elucidating on this train of thought, perhaps veterans like Kopitar and Kempe, while providing solid leadership, are also not so strongly outspoken as to deter the younger guys from showing their personality, and exhibiting confidence. Is it possible that Drew’s outspoken nature does tye opposite, annd serves to subtly intimidate and cloister those very same things in the up and comers?

Hmmm, this is a good point. Hard to say what is going on, but very interesting to consider the Kings play as good, or better without Drew in the lineup. Is it Drew's fault due to off ice stuff, or does it just allow a younger player to step in and play those minutes and play them well. The first time Durzi stepped in and filled those "skates" on the offensize side anyway. Clarke this go round has been as good as Drew on the PP, minus the point shot. I guess the point is that the offensize and defensize holes left by Drew are being filled by others. Offensively for sure, defensively, good enough.

It will be interesting to see what impact Drew will have on this team when he comes back. The first time this happened, he did not return until next season. Actually, now that I think about it, over the last 3 playoffs, the best chance the Kings had at beating the Oilers was the year without Drew in the lineup. It does not make sense and there is more to the team play than just one player, but it is what it is.