It’s deadline season!

[LAKingSteve]

Doughty's departure is already underway, though he still has shifts on the ice.

He played will in Milan...we'll see if that motivated player comes back or if he poops the bed because he's bummed about the Olympic loss.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I really don't like all these Evander Kane going to the Kings rumors. Not one bit.

I would not be happy at all. Absolutely despise him. He's not what this team needs.

 

[DryKing]

I wouldn't necessarily call this going all in. Adding Panarin and another center is more akin to adding guys like Carter, Richards and Gaborik IMO.

Agreed, plus adding a guy like Panarin helps attract talent in free agency and possible NMC waivers for trades. Ken may be playing chess here - time will tell. Worst case it helps to add a 2 season buffer while the right pieces come together.

To Jom's point, I would rather see them focus on increasing the prospect pool and building from within but obviously that's not the direction the Organization is choosing to go in.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Moving Q to wing only sets both the team, and Q himself, back. This is a prime opportunity to pair him with a top wing and what does Hiller do? Moves him to wing and keeps a wing at Center.

It's sometimes hard to think that Hiller actually wants Q to succeed.

The top line you have listed is the top line which the Kings should be rolling Panarin - QB - Kempe. It's time to end the nonsense.

Side note: I am hoping Q's move to wing means Holland will be announcing the acquisition of a top center shortly, but we will see...

I think the organization is trying to figure out how to get Byfield to figure it out.
QB is not having a productive year offensively. I have no qualm with his defensive play.

But his game is just not developing as well as it was expected to. I think a recent comment here about people not understanding that he was more of a project than was expected is 100% accurate.

Because he looks to be going to wing does not mean he won’t be back at C next year, or even in a week or two.

I think a lot of Byfields problem is between his ears. Perhaps the thought process is getting him back to where he has had some offensive success, give him some confidence and hope that his game can improve.

I do think that your last paragraph was wise. This looks like a move that signals a Center is coming.

 

[DryKing]

I think the organization is trying to figure out how to get Byfield to figure it out.
QB is not having a productive year offensively. I have no qualm with his defensive play.

But his game is just not developing as well as it was expected to. I think a recent comment here about people not understanding that he was more of a project than was expected is 100% accurate.

Because he looks to be going to wing does not mean he won’t be back at C next year, or even in a week or two.

I think a lot of Byfields problem is between his ears. Perhaps the thought process is getting him back to where he has had some offensive success, give him some confidence and hope that his game can improve.

I do think that your last paragraph was wise. This looks like a move that signals a Center is coming.

I agree that his processor seems to be a bit slow, but will improve with experience which is what the Kings should be focusing on providing him. His bigger problem, imo, is confidence, however, and a move like this doesn't help with that.

I played LW and C and, while I never wanted to play anything but C (and always took the move to wing hard) I also really liked LW because it allowed me to focus on hanging in the low slot, finishing and laying out physical punishment on the opposing players. Maybe that is some of the thought process behind this move (likely minus the physical part). Byfield has been developing his shot, which has looked greatly improved as of late, but still has a ways to go. I really hope this move is to put him in a position where it is very clear he is now the finisher, not the playmaker, and if he wants to move back to C he has to first show he can consistently bury the puck.

I still think moving him back to wing is the wrong move, though, because each time the Kings do it makes it harder for him to move back to Center. This may be fine for players like Laf who has a high hockey IQ already developed, but can cause the equivalent of permanent linear neural paths in a player like Byfield who is still pulling his mental game and awareness together.

 

[DoubleMinor]

I agree that his processor seems to be a bit slow, but will improve with experience which is what the Kings should be focusing on providing him. His bigger problem, imo, is confidence, however, and a move like this doesn't help with that.

I played LW and C and, while I never wanted to play anything but C (and always took the move to wing hard) I also really liked LW because it allowed me to focus on hanging in the low slot, finishing and laying out physical punishment on the opposing players. Maybe that is some of the thought process behind this move (likely minus the physical part). Byfield has been developing his shot, which has looked greatly improved as of late, but still has a ways to go. I really hope this move is to put him in a position where it is very clear he is now the finisher, not the playmaker, and if he wants to move back to C he has to first show he can consistently bury the puck.

I still think moving him back to wing is the wrong move, though, because each time the Kings do it makes it harder for him to move back to Center. This may be fine for players like Laf who has a high hockey IQ already developed, but can cause the equivalent of permanent linear neural paths in a player like Byfield who is still pulling his mental game and awareness together.

I certainly argue that this is the “right” move. I am just trying to figure out what the thought process is that’s behind it, without just saying it’s a stupid move (which it may well be!).
You’re correct that the obvious answer is Panarin QB and Kempe. But that’s not happening as of now.

If it’s about trying to get QB some confidence maybe this is a good idea in the short term. But if QB is as fragile as he may well be this may not work.
I also wonder if this is an attempt to see if Laffy can play Center.

 

[Heshootshescores]

On a recent podcast the discussion (with the stats that back it up) was how QB is being used in the defensive zone faceoffs close to 21% of his time on ice. He loses the faceoff and spends the entire shift in his own zone many times. Last season, he was at a reasonable 10% of time doing this. Kinda feels like we don’t even know QB anymore (cept he’s not been effective) due to this decision making.
Is Hiller fired yet!!