My apologies. Kopitar clearly isn't in the same class as McDavid, Draisaitl or even Danault. He's very obviously a step below and his play in the Oilers series was atrocious. The faster Byfield is ready to slot up the faster we can put Kopitar where he belongs, 3rd line and off the 1st unit PP.
Kopitar and Danault looking just fine compared to Calgary
Throughout the past 2 years of the rebuild, I’ve been saying that the Kings won’t become contenders until Kopitar becomes the 3C.
It seems pretty obvious that next season will be when that move has to be made.
Danault has earned the 1C spot. The 2C spot will be the big prize at camp.
Or… will the Kings make deals to shed salary and go all-in for Forsberg and try to build a scoring line?
It’s gonna be an interesting summer for sure.
I think the adjustments Edmonton made playing against those two is what got them past us and easily handled Calgary. That combination of McDavid and Drais is lethal when they stay patient and play more of a cycle, possession style.
We watched them figure that out against Kopi and Danault.
While I think your overall hypothesis is right, I don't see anyway Kopi leaves camp without at least being the 2C - my hope that is a little more realistic imo, is that Kopitar comes out of the camp as the 2C and by the time we get to the all star break, he is slowly becoming more and more that 3C.
I totally agree that Kopi will start the season as 1C. But I?m also hoping that?s not where he ends up this time next year.
Question: How do you move Kopitar off the top line and have him keep the "C"? Has there ever been a Captian of a NHL team that was not a top line player/first pair defenseman/starting goalie? Since stripping C's or angrly turning them in seem to be this orginization's jam, I'll concede it's a possiblity. But it feels far-fetched.
I'm actually very torn on what would be the best. I mean if he goes on a heater like he did all of 2017-2018...Well that should be great for the team in terms of wingers/D would definitely be getting their games involved in his game and bringing them along. It would also mean that the rest of the center situation would be able to be very sheltered. I just can't tell if that's what these guys need or if they need the Zegras free rein to go out there treatment so they know they're nhl'ers that can then start working on the things than Kopi and Danault need to teach them. Seems so many of these guys need that validation of points window before they can get themselves around the rest of it. I mean not everyone can be Bergeron. Odds are not great that Kopi can do what he did 4 years ago now with father time, but honestly we were saying the things back then too. I still wonder what would've happened if they hadn't run into Vegas in the first round that year.
Hmm. Fair enough. Looks like my brain has not yet recovered from this weekend, where I thought if I took mushrooms I'd find the courage to go outside and see "Bob's Burgers" the movie. Nope. The fear of germs (or dying as an immunocompromised person an ironic death)won and drugs are not the answer. Unless the question is : Do you want to see your (passed away) grandfather. [sorry, sorry, sorry]It's not uncommon for a captain to not be a top line player at all. Getzlaf was still captain for the Ducks last season, he wasn't on the first line for most of it. I'm pretty sure Taylor was still the captain for the Kings after he was no longer on the top line.
*Goalies can't be captains.
Best I recall, I learned the goalie captain thing when the Nucks tried to make Bobby Lou their captain and the NHL said nope. Had been in the rules forever it seems. I still don't get why considering the captain within the rules is simply the designated rep to speak to the ref on the ice. Technically if an unlettered player approaches a ref they can get a penalty. Odd bit of decorum.
Noted. Awe poor Bobby Lou. Can't believe that fact did not stay in my brain but I'm guessing listening to trap music, answering work emails and "trying" to be funny on a message board about hockey did not help the cause. Still blaming the shrooms.
Wonder who would best/worst option for hockey goalie captain throughout the ages if it were allowed? I've got my worst, (i think) : The dominator (no not Roy, because eff that guy, seriously, eff him). The best, may have a bit of a bias. *winky face*
The Kings will never win a cup with Kopitar as 1st line center!
Ooo. That 90's nonsense makes my heart smile. Pushing this even further, practically speaking do you really think Hextall or Belfour could stand up (or bring together) those neanderthal teams? Perhaps a keener eye could weigh in but the only thing you needed to be in the 90's to play defense was being built like a tree and be able to skate backwards, coupled with the ego maniac forwards; sheesh.Eddie the eagle would have been an amazing candidate for worst captain, probably right up there with Mike Smith, Hextall definitely woulda been up there for the most entertaining/potential train wreck.
Somehow it feels like Dryden and his pose woulda made for some of the most intimidating captainship on the ice.
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