Wut? Drew hasn't played a single game on this team.
Are The Kings Playing As Expected? Surpassing Expectations? Not playing to their abilities?
- Thread starter Dorian20
- Start date
HiFi
Wildcard!
I mean, it’s not like he’s won a couple of Cups or anything. Jury’s out!
All this Doughty doubt is doubtfully going to give Doughty any doubt; we should probably stop doubting Doughty, and start doubting that Doughty will undoubtedly leave us less doubtful of his doubted play upon his return. Although, I can understand the Doughty doubt, a little, I guess. I maybe doubt that, too, actually.
symbology
TEAM LGK
Huh? Not sure what you are getting at. Drew has not played a single game on this team? That does not make sense. I am going to assume you meant this year, with this exact team. Otherwise, not sure what your point is. If that is what you are saying, I do not think anyone was trying to say that he has.
The point that DarkleftHand was trying to make was that when Drew has been out for extended periods of time, the Kings have played better than expected. After Drew injured his ankle I had very low hopes and expectations for this team. I thought there was a good chance that the Kings would be out of the playoff picture by now. That has not happened and it is something interesting to discuss.
symbology
TEAM LGK
LOL, not sure if there is "all this Doughty doubt" out there. The fact that the Kings have fared well during his extended absences is being discussed on a discussion board.
DoubleMinor
3rd Line Winger
So, the departure of Quick will always feel like Blake and the organization were heartless.
One thing I try to keep in mind (even though I sometimes fail) is that there are things we fans just aren’t privy to or aware of, and sometimes those things would clarify the situation.
There was likely some bad blood between Quick and the org when Blake essentially handed the position to Cal Petersen the prior offseason.
At some point after Petersen flamed out the org needed to make some decisions. Quick was not performing like Quick (a lousy defense was mostly to blame) but the team was headed to the playoffs.
Quick’s contract was over at the end of the season. I have to believe there had been discussions during the season between Quick (or his agent) and the org about Quick’s future with the org. None of us know anything about those conversations.
Did Quick want somewhere near the $5M he had been making? Did Quick want assurances about being #1? What did the org tell Quick? We don’t know.
It looked and felt (and still does) that the org was disloyal, willing to dismiss Quick and what he meant.
After the Kings won two Cups one of the criticisms of Lombardi was that he had been “too loyal”. The Gaborik contract after 2014 was an example. And so was the decision to not walk away from Richards.
I don’t know what happened with Quick and the Kings, other than Quick was traded abruptly to Columbus of all places.
With DL I have said “if the worst thing you can be criticized for is loyalty…”.
But Blake was there at the end with DL, and likely learned a lesson about being too loyal.
I don’t know that it will ever feel right with regard to Quick. But I think there is a lot to that story that we don’t know.
HiFi
Wildcard!
I just wanted an excuse to beat the pun into the ground.
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
not enough donut or doughboy puns so i'm unfortunately still quite doubtful.
The coming january slate has 13 games to go (1 already played) with 2 b2b and 2 3 in 4 game situations. Both b2b's are on the road with at least 24 hours between games (Cal/Win, Tam/Fla). The opponents list is pretty heady 7 games against teams firmly in a playoff spot, 3 games against teams 1 point out and only 3 games against teams on the outside looking in or worse. The home and road split is 4 at home with 9 on the road. Simply put January is offering this team all kinds of excuses to go on a swoon, it's up to them to counter that story.
Rog or Reg?
Top Forward
The ESPN power rankings today:
Kings up to #5, right behind the Devils, who we just shut out.
So, to answer the question, the Kings are surpassing expectations. I mean, how many people here thought we'd be #5 (#4?) in January?
Kings up to #5, right behind the Devils, who we just shut out.
So, to answer the question, the Kings are surpassing expectations. I mean, how many people here thought we'd be #5 (#4?) in January?
HiFi
Wildcard!
I figured we’d have the Cup in hand by now. These flippin’ procrastinators.
DoubleMinor
3rd Line Winger
This is when things start to ramp-up.
Teams spend the first few months trying to figure themselves out. After the holidays the games get tighter and more physical.
This months schedule is not terribly kind and it will be interesting to see how the Kings handle the situation.
But, the Kings are (so far) better and compete harder. They appear to be comfortable with the system Hiller has built.
It is a tough stretch and we will see if the Kings can deal with the pressure. Based on what I’ve seen I think they’ll be fine.
Rog or Reg?
Top Forward
I have to admit, I'm extremely pleased with Hiller and what he's done with this team. I liked the hire... but I also liked coach Todd... however his stubbornness became an issue. I mean, this guy was worse than Sean McVay and Dave Roberts combined.
McVay has subsequently changed his modus operandi and is no longer McStubborn. Roberts just got lucky...and there's that 100 billion dollar roster thingy.
But I like Hiller's approach. He's shown he's not intractable and willing to make changes based on our personnel. I think his ability to adapt and evolve has been very impressive.
It's way too early to get mega-excited and start planning for the parade... but damn, this team is trending in the right direction, and Hiller deserves a lot of the credit.
DoubleMinor
3rd Line Winger
I am impressed with the approach Hiller has to this. I think it’s been apparent since he took over for TM.
Hiller seems confident in his understanding of the game. His style seems more cerebral. But I think he really appears to communicate his vision clearly. The players seem to be comfortable with him and his system. He’s got them playing hard.
Players need to have confidence in the coach, to know he’s putting them in position to win. I think we are seeing that. This is a different team under Hiller, and not solely because of the roster moves.
I was hoping for Hiller to get the job, but also hoping that what I thought I saw was real. I agree, no reason to start planning a parade. And even the playoffs are not guaranteed at this point. But there are some real positive signs.
symbology
TEAM LGK
I for one thought we would be around #5 at this time of the season. However, I was considering the Kings being #5 in the Pacific.
McSorleyFan
4th Line Grinder
The Kings are doing better than expected IMO. With the loss of guys like Roy, Arvy (whom I liked when he played), Lizotte, the whole PLD debacle, DD starting on the LTIR. But I'm more than impressed with the replacements .... Spence, Kuemper, Clarke, Edmunson, Foegel, Moverare, Jeannot ... just to name a few. Yes, some of them have been in the org a while, but their responsibilities increased with the veteran player losses and DD injury. Kopi still continues to amaze me at 37 and Kempe seems to get faster and better every season. Get the likes of QB and Fiala firing on all cylinders. keep the team D stats consistently at the top and this team is a serious contender IMO. Even against teams like Edmonton, Vegas and Dallas.
salami
Top Forward
I don't know about that. It looked bad, but he was back on the bench later in the game. But then again, I've been wrong before. In which case, I'd agree with you. It'll hurt. Edmundson has been a pleasant surprise this season.
symbology
TEAM LGK
He was back on the bench, but was not fit to play. He was there because he wanted to be there with the guys. Hiller said something to this effect in a presser.
Now Chirping
- No one is chatting at the moment.