D.J. Smith Hotseat Thread

[Clif]

Defense has generated more opportunities and scoring, though, which was greatly needed (I believe the Kings were among last in that category prior to the HC change). The team is also playing more physical, but that also exposes the slow defense more.

End of day they have been a tougher team to beat on most nights, but still have glaring weaknesses.

As others have mentioned, the vets are still being given too much ice time which isn't a recipe that will work over a 82 game season + playoffs.

I think this sums up DJ’s coaching very well. I think the increased hitting has definitely resulted in some pucks going back the other way that wouldn’t before but Hiller had guys glued to spots on the ice. There is no perfect system or perfect player. You give to get.

There was a (to me) fascinating post on IG I saw yesterday showing the leaders in giveaways league-wide. It’s superstars leading the way:

A big part of this is due to ice time and more opportunity to give the puck away. But the list went down to 91 and there were no Kings listed. Though Fiala has 75 giveaways and would likely make the cut if healthy. He’s not the calibre of the top-end talent but there needs to be some comfort with risk-reward hockey otherwise just ice a whole team of Scott Laughtons.

Why I bring this up is because Hiller forced everyone to play the exact same way and look where it got them this year. DJ is not the solution, but he’s basically coming off like an average coach that at least lets the guys play. That means mistakes, but that also means opportunities. We’re seeing guys play hard, not work hard in service to a suffocating system.

 

[What party?]

Rob Blake to Toronto???

Toronto could win the internet if that happens tomorrow.

 

[Bollocks]

Loser point really cost Kings top prospect this upcoming draft. Could have been drafting top 5 talent.

Byfield or Turcotte part deux, though?

 

[King of Pentacle5]

I am hoping the Kings get that draft choice that can play next season. We need some positive vibes going into the draft with a lottery position up for grabs.

Jack Hextall please.

 

[DryKing]

Byfield or Turcotte part deux, though?

You mean the Byfield who has the 2nd most points on the team this season? Seems like, on this team, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

 

[ICE24]

The Kings need to stop actually winning their last remaining games this season. Even if they secure the final WC2 spot in the Western Conference, they will clearly get eaten alive by any of the Central Division teams or by Anaheim, Deadmonton, or Vegass once the playoffs are set. Plus, winning their games hurts their draft position even more so they're screwing themselves out of a potential franchise-changing pick and could end up becoming like Columbus after the late 10s (if that's a good analogy).

They have won one out of the last six, so there is a good chance they will keep on losing.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

You mean the Byfield who has the 2nd most points on the team this season? Seems like, on this team, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

QB is 3rd (42) at 20 points behind Kempe (62). I have no doubt that Fiala would be ahead of him by now if he hadn’t been injured.

He's been looking better lately, I’ll give him that.