D.J. Smith Hotseat Thread

[DryKing]

Big picture, if this Kings do get in, those loser points may be the straw that breaks the owners backs for a rule change.

That would be nice, though overtime in general is a mess - 3X3 and shootout I guess is in place to attract younger fans?

I prefer the old method where a regular 5X5 overtime period was played and if it ended in a tie each team got 1 point.

 

[Clif]

I believed that 3-2-1 would be the answer, but models over several seasons (including some i ran with AI) showed that virtually the same order would still be in place. I think this would be similar with no loser point just that there’d be more space between teams in the standings.

Take away teams’ OTL, and standings would be:

COL 94
DAL 83
MN 80

ANH 80
EDM 70
VGK 64

UT 74
NSH 68

Outside

SJ 64
WPG 60
CAL 60
SEA 62
StL 58
CHI 54
LA 54 lmao
VAN 42

So SJ would be tied with VGK instead of 8 pts behind. That is significant, granted. Otherwise the only other major change is Kings would legitimately be in the lottery running for the first overall.

This isn’t perfect, I’m not going super deep dive on SO vs just OT losses, but that wouldn’t be earth shattering.

Bottom line though it’s still about wins and getting the two points. OTL points primarily inflate total and constrict standings.

 

[dneprovec]

His record 4-4-4 before today's game

 

[Bollocks]

I believed that 3-2-1 would be the answer, but models over several seasons (including some i ran with AI) showed that virtually the same order would still be in place. I think this would be similar with no loser point just that there’d be more space between teams in the standings.

Take away teams’ OTL, and standings would be:

COL 94
DAL 83
MN 80

ANH 80
EDM 70
VGK 64

UT 74
NSH 68

Outside

SJ 64
WPG 60
CAL 60
SEA 62
StL 58
CHI 54
LA 54 lmao
VAN 42

So SJ would be tied with VGK instead of 8 pts behind. That is significant, granted. Otherwise the only other major change is Kings would legitimately be in the lottery running for the first overall.

This isn’t perfect, I’m not going super deep dive on SO vs just OT losses, but that wouldn’t be earth shattering.

Bottom line though it’s still about wins and getting the two points. OTL points primarily inflate total and constrict standings.

But if you take away the loser point, then teams, including the Kings, might not play as conservative when leading OR might take into account OT and shootout more when constructing the roster...? I don't know...there's plenty of factors.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

Great to see a W last night, even if it was against the worst team in the NHL.

Kings are now 29-43 on the season, and 5-8 under DJ.

I have 0 faith that the personnel changes that will occur over summer will make this team a contender. There’s just too many holes to fill and no one coming up from the Reign to fill them. Trading for a player like Matthews will just push the Kings further back in fixing this roster, imo. Too much $$$.

 

[Clif]

But if you take away the loser point, then teams, including the Kings, might not play as conservative when leading OR might take into account OT and shootout more when constructing the roster...? I don't know...there's plenty of factors.

Yeah, although people who evangelize for going back to ties forget how awful those OTs were. No one wanted to lose a point and it really did suck as a fan watching your team lose that point once they had it. But certainly the loser point takes some air of the tires from games now when teams are tied late.

 

[What party?]

But if you take away the loser point, then teams, including the Kings, might not play as conservative when leading OR might take into account OT and shootout more when constructing the roster...? I don't know...there's plenty of factors.

The way you've over thought this issue gives me the chance to show my complete under thinking of it. Pre-lock out/salary cap if you were to look at the standings in December, you'd see the haves and the have nots, yes? If you wanted a Rob Blake at the deadline, you bought him, period. And the same teams kept winning. The OTL is a facade. It's to sell the rubes tickets to a team that's not contending and calling it parity. It wasn't the worst plan looking back.

Is this the dumbest thing I'll type today? Probably not. =)

 

[Bollocks]

Yeah, although people who evangelize for going back to ties forget how awful those OTs were. No one wanted to lose a point and it really did suck as a fan watching your team lose that point once they had it. But certainly the loser point takes some air of the tires from games now when teams are tied late.

IMO 3-2-1-0 system would be best. 3 point RW, 2 point OT W (5 on 5 or at least 4 on 4) and 1 point SO win. Rewarding losing is poop, rewarding conservative play looking for a loser point OR a tie is poop.

 

[Bollocks]

The way you've over thought this issue gives me the chance to show my complete under thinking of it. Pre-lock out/salary cap if you were to look at the standings in December, you'd see the haves and the have nots, yes? If you wanted a Rob Blake at the deadline, you bought him, period. And the same teams kept winning. The OTL is a facade. It's to sell the rubes tickets to a team that's not contending and calling it parity. It wasn't the worst plan looking back.

Is this the dumbest thing I'll type today? Probably not. =)

I don't think you're very wrong at all. If you want to spread the popularity of the sport, this is one way to do it if you're Bettman&co. level of ingenuity.

 

[Clif]

IMO 3-2-1-0 system would be best. 3 point RW, 2 point OT W (5 on 5 or at least 4 on 4) and 1 point SO win. Rewarding losing is poop, rewarding conservative play looking for a loser point OR a tie is poop.

If nothing else it could make for gutsier finishes as it’s more enticing to secure 3 pts and your opponent nothing. As I said not sure it would really change the standings much but would inject a bit more integrity.

 

[What party?]

I don't think you're very wrong at all. If you want to spread the popularity of the sport, this is one way to do it if you're Bettman&co. level of ingenuity.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

Check out Foegele’s numbers since being traded. This is a ‘team identity’ and coaching issue, imo.

 

[VCRW]

In light of the outstanding hockey currently being played by 12-55-14, Smith was very fortunate not to have inherited the Laferriere at center mistake. That ill-advised Hillerism was a big part of the underachievement we saw on offense while Kopi was gone. And that bad choice shared a portion of the responsibility for some of the losses while Laf made believe he was a center. There were alternatives to explore. We saw that Conners can play.

In the present, I do like the way Smith has been constructively adjusting the lines. I feel badly for Turc though. Laughton made him superfluous.

But Smith will only impress me as a coach if he can produce wins at home and stop the pathological inability to hold a lead in the 3rd period.

 

[Clif]

In light of the outstanding hockey currently being played by 12-55-14, Smith was very fortunate not to have inherited the Laferriere at center mistake. That ill-advised Hillerism was a big part of the underachievement we saw on offense while Kopi was gone. And that bad choice shared a portion of the responsibility for some of the losses while Laf made believe he was a center. There were alternatives to explore. We saw that Conners can play.

In the present, I do like the way Smith has been constructively adjusting the lines. I feel badly for Turc though. Laughton made him superfluous.

But Smith will only impress me as a coach if he can produce wins at home and stop the pathological inability to hold a lead in the 3rd period.

He’s certainly lucky to have Laughton. I believe Hiller was a ____ coward for relying on Byfield as a shutdown center and not just putting Turcotte there and letting the chips fall, but letting the chips fall was antithetical to Hiller’s desperation. At least for DJ he does get to have a true third line center.

Kings are making some mistakes they didn’t before, taking themselves out of position with a hit or pressuring too high and send the puck back. But I don’t care. Mistakes happen no matter what. Allowing the other team to enter your own zone all night only feels safe if you’re scared.

But yes, holding a lead is the next step. Easier to do against VAN last night than anyone else but keeping up the attack even with a lead is a good place to start.