Fire coach!

[LAKingSteve]

Evidence supports that the coach is willing to play certain prospects, but not others.

Fagemo is the prime example. Why wasn’t he in the lineup last night? Our problem as of late ain’t defending as much as everyone wants , it’s scoring.

And give me a second here to climb up on my soapbox….

Ok, that’s better. In the last 2 games, our impending problem with how to be successful in the playoffs has been obvious. Our lack of size, and systemic play, versus a team willing to play a heavy/physical game is going to haunt us. I don’t care how skilled your team is, if you don’t win the puck battles in the corners or along the boards, you’re going to lose in the Spring. Will and determination can only go so far, and in the end the actual Physics will win out.

Dallas and Nashville put the puck in the corners and outworked us. Our breakouts we let intercepted leaving the zone countless times. Teams have scouted how we played, and have made little adjustments on where to be, and where to have their sticks. We’ve also been grossly outhit.

The 2nd period with the long change is a problem for us and has been for years. We get caught with the puck in our end, teams change and grind out another 30-40 seconds, our players legs got to mush, and the puck ends up in our net. This is truly a systemic problem.

And don’t take this that a big team has to play slow, you can play with pace and be a heavy team.

That said, Not sure why Anderson-Dolan or Kaliyev is getting playing time over Fagemo, or even a recall of Thomas. Maybe because he kills penalties? We lost last night 2-1, against a team that played a textbook defensive game. Our skill players were frustrated, Kopitar has a bum wheel, and the only forward excelling on our squad was PLD, who plays a heavier game that most.

Time to swap out some fringe pieces for bigger players.

I'm all for change but as you said, coach (and the rest of the staff I assume) aren't willing to give some guys a shot. I don't know if the whole cap thing is playing into any of this or players having to go through waivers if you bring one a Fagemo or Thomas up is creating challenges. There is a part of me that feels that the Kings brass knows far more than any of us schleps but there are a lot of us scratching our heads trying to figure out why they do what they do.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I feel sorry for the season ticket holders who are lied to about a commitment to winning. Standing pat is not working. The season began so well, too. Very disappointing.

I'm not technically a season ticket holder but I buy around half a season from a STH and yeah, it's very frustrating. Moreso because of the hot start and the expectations that followed and then watching them fall off a cliff. It's to the point I really don't want to bother with the 60+ minute drive anymore.

 

[jammer06]

I'm not technically a season ticket holder but I buy around half a season from a STH and yeah, it's very frustrating. Moreso because of the hot start and the expectations that followed and then watching them fall off a cliff. It's to the point I really don't want to bother with the 60+ minute drive anymore.

Well we did try to pump the brakes a bit on the idea that this was a 120 point team.....

 

[LAKingSteve]

Well we did try to pump the brakes a bit on the idea that this was a 120 point team.....

I got a chuckle when a certain Kings podcast who shall remain nameless, said this might be the best Kings team ever. You don't make those kinds of comments when the team has only played 30 or so games. You say that after they win the cup.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Evidence supports that the coach is willing to play certain prospects, but not others.

Fagemo is the prime example. Why wasn’t he in the lineup last night? Our problem as of late ain’t defending as much as everyone wants , it’s scoring.

And give me a second here to climb up on my soapbox….

Ok, that’s better. In the last 2 games, our impending problem with how to be successful in the playoffs has been obvious. Our lack of size, and systemic play, versus a team willing to play a heavy/physical game is going to haunt us. I don’t care how skilled your team is, if you don’t win the puck battles in the corners or along the boards, you’re going to lose in the Spring. Will and determination can only go so far, and in the end the actual Physics will win out.

Dallas and Nashville put the puck in the corners and outworked us. Our breakouts we let intercepted leaving the zone countless times. Teams have scouted how we played, and have made little adjustments on where to be, and where to have their sticks. We’ve also been grossly outhit.

The 2nd period with the long change is a problem for us and has been for years. We get caught with the puck in our end, teams change and grind out another 30-40 seconds, our players legs got to mush, and the puck ends up in our net. This is truly a systemic problem.

And don’t take this that a big team has to play slow, you can play with pace and be a heavy team.

That said, Not sure why Anderson-Dolan or Kaliyev is getting playing time over Fagemo, or even a recall of Thomas. Maybe because he kills penalties? We lost last night 2-1, against a team that played a textbook defensive game. Our skill players were frustrated, Kopitar has a bum wheel, and the only forward excelling on our squad was PLD, who plays a heavier game that most.

Time to swap out some fringe pieces for bigger players.

We DO have size though, right down the middle. The problem is, Kopitar, Byfield, and PLD play like they’re 5’10”, not 6’4”. Guys like Lizotte, Danault, and Kempe play with more physical aggression than either of the former three listed, and THAT is a massive problem. No size pun intended. The bottom line is that those players need to play to their size. Everyone lauds Kopi for his durability, and it’s a great thing, but it should come as NO surprise to anyone, given his absolute lack of physicality throughout his entire career.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

I'm not technically a season ticket holder but I buy around half a season from a STH and yeah, it's very frustrating. Moreso because of the hot start and the expectations that followed and then watching them fall off a cliff. It's to the point I really don't want to bother with the 60+ minute drive anymore.

I've already opted out of a few games I had inked to see. And yeah, the drive doesn't help.

I worked downtown most of my life, and back in the day, I could make the drive in less than 30 minutes, and I'm at the base of Mount Lukens, about three blocks from the trailhead. Now the traffic is twice as heavy, and it took over an hour the last few times.

And I'll keep this very brief...because last time I went off about the Crypt's new management it indirectly lead to being banned...but my in-game experience is also not as enjoyable. Along with the high prices, my 'secret' parking lot has also changed management and they do not have a live attendant on-site and want you to download their app and credit card number, etc. So I'm parking in a different lot even farther away.

If the on-ice product was playing well I may reconsider, but the cost and time are too great for what I'm getting out of it.

I'm going back to my orignal opinion: The Kings need to clean house, beginning with Blake. In all my years watching sports, I've never seen a pro team go from the penthouse to the basement so quickly. This team is on an express elevator to obscurity.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

We DO have size though, right down the middle. The problem is, Kopitar, Byfield, and PLD play like they’re 5’10”, not 6’4”. Guys like Lizotte, Danault, and Kempe play with more physical aggression than either of the former three listed, and THAT is a massive problem. No size pun intended. The bottom line is that those players need to play to their size. Everyone lauds Kopi for his durability, and it’s a great thing, but it should come as NO surprise to anyone, given his absolute lack of physicality throughout his entire career.

The Kings are getting outmuscled every damn night. We're losing board battles and one-on-ones and our lack of physicality has caught up with us.

We are not a gritty team.

 

[Statue4Deano]

No GM is going to say the coach is on a short leash. What was he going to say? We are giving him 2 more games to turn this thing around, if not we will fire him? He had to back him, he is still the coach. If he does not, the team starts to worry about the coaches and the start thinking about crap that they do not need to think about.

The Kings just lost 9 out of 10 games. If Blake were going to fire Todd it would've happened already.

 

[MiketheKing]

Guess we just p*ss this year away. 13 wins in a row was a giant tease.

 

[MiketheKing]

The Kings are getting outmuscled every damn night. We're losing board battles and one-on-ones and our lack of physicality has caught up with us.

We are not a gritty team.

Soft and scrambly.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

The Kings are getting outmuscled every damn night. We're losing board battles and one-on-ones and our lack of physicality has caught up with us.

We are not a gritty team.

Agreed, I was just pointing out that ‘size’ is not necessarily the problem. Lack of physical aggression from the majority of our bigger forwards might be, though.

Matt Roy on the backend plays fairly mean hockey, and Englund does as well, but aside from those two, we lack ferocity on the defensive side as well.

 

[King Ludwig]

We DO have size though, right down the middle. The problem is, Kopitar, Byfield, and PLD play like they’re 5’10”, not 6’4”. Guys like Lizotte, Danault, and Kempe play with more physical aggression than either of the former three listed, and THAT is a massive problem. No size pun intended. The bottom line is that those players need to play to their size. Everyone lauds Kopi for his durability, and it’s a great thing, but it should come as NO surprise to anyone, given his absolute lack of physicality throughout his entire career.

I usually reversed the 6'4" to 4'6"...but the rest I'm 100% in agreement...

 

[King Ludwig]

Blake's afraid that he'll be next in line if he fires TMuck...

DO IT DUMMKOPF!!!!

 

[King Ludwig]

I'm going back to my orignal opinion: The Kings need to clean house, beginning with Blake. In all my years watching sports, I've never seen a pro team go from the penthouse to the basement so quickly. This team is on an express elevator to obscurity.

Blake's worse than McMaster was as our GM...and that's saying something...

 

[Dexter]

Byfield plays like if he hits someone, he thinks he'll kill the guy.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Byfield plays like if he hits someone, he thinks he'll kill the guy.

Vae victis, I say..!

 

[HeadInjury]

The Kings are getting outmuscled every damn night. We're losing board battles and one-on-ones and our lack of physicality has caught up with us.

We are not a gritty team.

I wonder if our early success benefitted significantly from the ridiculous slow schedule where we had a lot more off days, and more opportunities to practice. Players look tired now and the older guys are showing their age.

I don't think McClelland is any different a coach than he was 10 games ago, when things were fine overall. But his stubbornness is frustrating. Like leaving Iaffalo on the power play two seasons ago when he literally had only one goal in half a season. Or continuing to go with the same lineup and approach in overtime this season when we have the worst winning percentage in the league.

If things continue like they have been recently, he won't be the coach 30 days from now. Blake can't change the roster much at this point, and a coaching change will be his only option to try to rectify things. We haven't completely fallen off a cliff. These are mostly one-goal losses, almost half in overtime. A new approach could be the solution, but only if they pick the right guy. Easier said than done.

 

[DryKing]

Agreed, I was just pointing out that ‘size’ is not necessarily the problem. Lack of physical aggression from the majority of our bigger forwards might be, though.

Matt Roy on the backend plays fairly mean hockey, and Englund does as well, but aside from those two, we lack ferocity on the defensive side as well.

Agreed and if we lose Roy next season, where does that leave us...

Byfield plays like if he hits someone, he thinks he'll kill the guy.

True when it comes to hits, but you got to give him credit - they guy really scraps out there with opposing players in the offensive zone and to establish position. I wouldn't call Byfield non-physical, just not a hitter.

 

[05/29/93]

I've already opted out of a few games I had inked to see. And yeah, the drive doesn't help.

I worked downtown most of my life, and back in the day, I could make the drive in less than 30 minutes, and I'm at the base of Mount Lukens, about three blocks from the trailhead. Now the traffic is twice as heavy, and it took over an hour the last few times.

And I'll keep this very brief...because last time I went off about the Crypt's new management it indirectly lead to being banned...but my in-game experience is also not as enjoyable. Along with the high prices, my 'secret' parking lot has also changed management and they do not have a live attendant on-site and want you to download their app and credit card number, etc. So I'm parking in a different lot even farther away.

If the on-ice product was playing well I may reconsider, but the cost and time are too great for what I'm getting out of it.

I'm going back to my orignal opinion: The Kings need to clean house, beginning with Blake. In all my years watching sports, I've never seen a pro team go from the penthouse to the basement so quickly. This team is on an express elevator to obscurity.

There are two previous seasons this season reminds me of.
1) 1992-'93. We all know how this ended, but it began with the Kings looking unbeatable the first two months. Then, from December through February, they won something like 5 games, and lost games by 10-2, 8-3, 10-3, 7-1 scores. They looked absolutely horrible! Then, starting in March, things stabilized, they improved, made the playoffs, and you all know what happened after that.
2) 2005-2006. This season (right after the lockout) also saw the Kings play near the top of the league until early January. Then, they lost a 10-1 game in Buffalo, and the whole season went south after that. They missed the playoffs, and Andy Murray was fired with 12 games left in the season. Then, came the off-season, a complete house demolition (beyond simple house-cleaning), DL coming on board, and ultimately (after a long and painful rebuild), 2012 and 2014.

So this year, the Kings start of white hot, and then look terrible. We'll see how it plays out.

 

[symbology]

There are two previous seasons this season reminds me of.
1) 1992-'93. We all know how this ended, but it began with the Kings looking unbeatable the first two months. Then, from December through February, they won something like 5 games, and lost games by 10-2, 8-3, 10-3, 7-1 scores. They looked absolutely horrible! Then, starting in March, things stabilized, they improved, made the playoffs, and you all know what happened after that.
2) 2005-2006. This season (right after the lockout) also saw the Kings play near the top of the league until early January. Then, they lost a 10-1 game in Buffalo, and the whole season went south after that. They missed the playoffs, and Andy Murray was fired with 12 games left in the season. Then, came the off-season, a complete house demolition (beyond simple house-cleaning), DL coming on board, and ultimately (after a long and painful rebuild), 2012 and 2014.

So this year, the Kings start of white hot, and then look terrible. We'll see how it plays out.

I seem to recall Gretzky had back issues in 92-93, was out early and the Kings were winning without him. I recall Luc playing his best hockey ever (IMO) early that season. Did the Kings have goalie issues. Is that when Rick Knickle played a dozen or so games? That season was so long ago, I would be okay is this season the Kings replicate that and make a deep run in the playoffs. Maybe the Kings need to have a Chychrun on this team in order to make that happen? Roy and a prospect for Jakob?