VCRW
Classic player
Kopitar’s obvious impairment due to injury is hurting the team. Wouldn't it have been better to sit him when it happened so he would be healthy by now? So many bad decisions by this coaching/management group…
Fire coach!
- Thread starter MiketheKing
- Start date
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
I realize that Blake’s roster construction is under the microscope here, and with legitimate reason, but the composition of this team looked pretty damn good through the first 30 games of the season. We can all acknowledge that the Kings needed extra scoring pop after losing two first round playoff series to the Oilers. So Blake did what he thought he needed to do, and traded for Fiala, who obviously brings offensive creativity and scoring punch, but is definitely not without his warts. To me, the resolution here seems fairly simple. Kevin Fiala could be a heck of a player if he is somehow convinced to play a more north/south game. If he cannot deke his way into the o-zone, then it’s chip and chase. No more drop passes, period. Ever. Absolutely disallowed, and if he’s caught doing it, he doesn’t see time on any upcoming power plays for the remainder of the game. If that does not convince him to adjust his style of play, and he continues to do it, then you absolutely park his ass in the press box for a game, or limit him to 4th line minutes with a guy like Lewis, who is instructed to play defensive above all else. Kevin will get the picture, or he won’t, and if not then you have that discussion about the NTC and tell him that he can’t sit the remainder of his career, or accept a trade to any team that gives the Kings the most desirable return. Obviously that is a last resort, and something which only comes about towards the trade deadline, should the Kings find themselves outside the playoff race.
Guys like Laff and Grundstrom are far easier to handle. Either of these guys can be sat for a game or two, and if that doesn’t have the desired effect, ship them back to the AHL. Laff should still be waiver exempt, and Grundstrom likely makes too much money for anyone to take a flyer on him. As far as Grundy goes, if he’s not hitting or scoring, he’s wasting roster space, so not much hand wringing to be done over losing him either way.
Furthermore, I’m not going to let guys like Kopitar, Roy, and Danault completely off the hook here, as their play has also been polarizing through this stretch, but they’ve got a lot more rope than the aforementioned three players, so that’s where you start. Also, try calling a f***ing time out every once in a while when the game is not already beyond reclamation, Todd.
Illegal_Stick
Super Star
The PLD mistake is glaring and hard to let go, It's the worst thing Blake has done, BUT....
I say to you all that this started with the Fiala trade. He overpaid for the turnover machine - I have no doubt he is one of the players Drew is referencing for every elite-hands play he makes there's one truly selfish/stupid move in each game that leads to a major chance for the other team. Think about that trade and what was given up and then the money that was handed out right away - way too much imo.
So next summer, feeling that was a genius move (Faber hadn't emerged yet) he does something very similar, giving up even more though and another crazy contract.
It's these TWO trades that will end Rob Blake.
I like Todd and I always liked Blake (well not 2001-2012ish) but it's hard to not cheer for an all out tank now and have this organization completely rebooted.
I say to you all that this started with the Fiala trade. He overpaid for the turnover machine - I have no doubt he is one of the players Drew is referencing for every elite-hands play he makes there's one truly selfish/stupid move in each game that leads to a major chance for the other team. Think about that trade and what was given up and then the money that was handed out right away - way too much imo.
So next summer, feeling that was a genius move (Faber hadn't emerged yet) he does something very similar, giving up even more though and another crazy contract.
It's these TWO trades that will end Rob Blake.
I like Todd and I always liked Blake (well not 2001-2012ish) but it's hard to not cheer for an all out tank now and have this organization completely rebooted.
Illegal_Stick
Super Star
Fiala has some of the best hands and some of the absolute worst hockey sense I've ever seen. He MUST work hard because to play that stupid and put up that many points is impressive. Debrincat is the player Blake should have went for. I hate that we lost Faber, but we needed elite scoring so the deal, in theory, still makes sense. But Fiala's play is the antithesis of players like Kopitar.
His lack of change makes me wonder if Todd has much efficacy anymore because I always felt he stuck it to Vilardi. A lot of us said he was unfair to him, but in the end, it felt like he wouldn't let the kid play if he didn't learn to play both sides of the puck. And you know what happened? He totally did. He earned his spot and is a great player. Fiala shows signs of change - he backchecks more than he used to, but the selfish unforced errors are there pretty much every game. Last major one was in OT the other night, gave a 2 on 1 that was luckily stopped.
DryKing
Power Forward
It's interesting because I don't see anything selfish about Fiala's game. True he makes bad decisions and is known to turn over the puck, but to me the players who are selfish are the ones who either force a shot instead of passing to wide open teammate, or take shifts/games off. That is not Fiala to me - he always gives effort and looks to set up the best play possible in the offensive zone instead of just forcing a bad shot himself. He needs to improve on decision making and defense, but again I don't see the areas he is lacking as driven by selfishness. He also visibly cares when the Kings are losing, or they are winning.
Selfish, like Doughty alluded to, are those seeking personal glory which they hold as higher importance than team success/game outcome and show low effort or lack of engagement in the other elements of the game. The type of player who will just float around and not get involved while two, or more, opposing players are roughing up a teammate after the whistle...
Statue4Deano
Super Star
How about taking a retaliatory penalty in the offensive zone away from the puck? Is that selfish?
Illegal_Stick
Super Star
That’s probably a more fair assessment. Clouded by my rage apparently. It’s those bad choices that kill me.
It’s funny in OT the other night I forget who he was out with (Byfield?) but they had several chances/great plays. And then I thought I’m too hard on this guy - then immediately he made a brutal play and it was a 2 on 1 the other way - but again, not selfishness, just a terrible decision.
DryKing
Power Forward
Haha yeah I remember that, Byfield set him up well with a good chance to end the game in the Kings favor but that first thing I thought when he got on the ice is "why is he out there, this is not going to end well for us." He almost proved me wrong...until he didn't.
I'd say more unintelligent than anything. Sometimes it needs to happen and potentially taking a penalty is worth the risk, but most of what I have seen has just been unintelligent and unaware. You could definitely call it selfish.
Still I'd rather have a passionate player who on occassion takes bad penalties than a player simply going through the motions and staying out of the scrums. I recall one game in which Fiala took a needless penalty for retaliation but at the same time he had been being targeted all game (believe it may have been Florida). It was also a game in which one would hope linemates would step in.
SaltyPuck
Castaway Kings Fan
I agree with this.... but also this...
^Although DD's comments were about being selfish relative to an individual players stats... not necessary ego related crap that doesn't show up on a players statistics...
When I heard DD's comments, while I think some hard love is something we need the shelfish comments did have me stractching my head.
I'd be very curious to hear from you all if you think it's accurate, and if so, who are the worst offenders and why?
MiketheKing
Super Star
Great Question. I THINK DD conflates "selfish" with "dumb plays" and Fiala comes to mind with his terrible IQ. Whether its drop passes to nowhere, or daily dumb penalties, Fiala takes the cake for needlessly hurting the team, ignoring lifelong coaching.
Could DD be equating lazy to selfish because a player is sandbagging it and hurting the team? I dunno that seems cryptic.
DryKing
Power Forward
Yeah you may be right, if so that changes my stance. I took it as meaning players who intentionally put themselves before the team (rather than taking a dumb penalty or turnover).
I would say, though, DD has had his fair share of boneheaded plays this season (though overall I think he is doing excellent). I can recall plays where he drives deep into the Offensive zone with the puck, but then lingers without the puck (usually when he has an opportune chance to get back to the point and allow the forward to get into proper position) upon which a change in possession occurs and a forward is now caught trying to play as a defender. I can also think of plays in which the Kings are cycling well and have extended possession in the offensive zone with the opposing team dead tired and Doughty takes a contested shot from the point straight into the opposing forward causing the puck to ricochet out of the zone and possession to be lost. Would those then constitute as selfish plays?
My lean is mistakes are going to happen (usually which had the best of intentions) and this sort of thing isn't what he is referring to.
Bill Hicks
LGK Agitator
Sometimes Blake gives out contracts like it's Monopoly money.
Is it me over reacting? or is just the cost of doing business?
Doughty - 11 million x8 (Nowhere near enough offense to justify it)
Iafallo - 4 million x4 (43 pts. is career high)
Cal - 5 million 3x (dumpster fire)
Dubois - 8.5 x8 (63 pts. is career high + nmc)
Provorov - 2 million x2 (I get it he had to to move Cal)
Moore - 4.2 x5 (we all like Trevor but, 4.2?)
Fiala - 7.85 x8 (85 pts. is career high + nmc)
We're in cap hell for how long now? Plus all the roster players, prospects and picks he's 'managed.'
Is it me?
Bill Hicks
LGK Agitator
Are you defending Fiala's decision making?
That is people's issues with him. And Durzi.
ICE24
Super Star
After Drew's presser, we will see Fiala just passing the puck behind the net to avoid any turnovers. That line's scoring is going to drop dramatically. I expect Kings scoring will be around 0-1 goals per game. They will only give up 2 goals a game, however they will lose 90% of them.
Bill Hicks
LGK Agitator
I don't think so. Fiala cares. He just needs to clean up his game.
Rog or Reg?
Super Star
I agree.
Fiala has a propensity for mental errors leading to turnovers and takes way too many unnecessary penalties...but he can put the puck in the net and we need scoring. And he does play hard.
hokiecat
Super Star
I guess I am. I don't like bad plays but if he helps us score 30 and give up 15, then that's better then a boring guy who helps us score 5 and give up 1.
ICE24
Super Star
I'm not saying Fiala doesn't care, however he won't take some of those chances anymore and those chances created opportunities for goals. He will play more conservatively and that will lead to less goals for the line.
Now Chirping
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