It’s deadline season!

[Clif]

Well if it's between a 1st line winger or shutdown center, I will vote for winger but we know Kopitar's line won't really be L1.

Personally I think Hiller has pulled the wool over everyone's eyes by how improperly he has used Q. There is zero reason why Q should not be centering a line with Kempe, as the two have shown a great deal of chemistry and success together. Instead the go-to is to line him up with bottom 6 forwards and see how it goes. Now he moves him to wing with Kopitar who can't keep up with him (no slight on Kopi) as though Hiller is punishing him for his own shortcomings as a coach.

All of this misuse has gotten the fanbase to question the skill of Byfield, and rightfully so as the success we expect him to have has not materialized.

I will also note that Byfield did receive a Selke vote last season and likely would receive multiple this season. You are spot on about his faceoff percentage needing to improve, but under any competent coach I have zero doubt he is pushing 60-70 points this season. As stands, he remains 3rd on the team in scoring and 1st out of centers, while only getting a chance to play with our top winger in overtime.

Byfield plays the hardest minutes of any center and still has the most points. If anyone on this team was offensively dynamic this season Byfield would look pretty poor. Instead, he’s scoring about as much as this outdated system (and pylon D) is allowing anyone to score. By the way, he rarely is on the ice with Clarke. Which brings us to:

…Hiller is punishing him for his own shortcomings as a coach.

All of this misuse has gotten the fanbase to question the skill of Byfield, and rightfully so as the success we expect him to have has not materialized.

I couldn’t say it any better. We are all tired of saying next year is the year with Byfield. But if we all recognize what a failure Hiller from the playoffs on, we have to understand a lot of Byfield’s offensive failure rests on Hiller.

And now after excelling as the defensive center Hiller forced him to be, Hiller is yanking him around some more and saying he can’t play with the new dynamic winger the team just got and in fact go up and get babysat by Kopi some more. Brilliant man. Just awe inspiring.

 

[LAKingSteve]

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.

Vegas has shown you don't need to do that. Trade picks, prospects, players and get top line guys like Eichel, Stone, Hertl...they are all about winning today and will address tomorrow with more trades, getting rid of more picks and current roster players. I didn't think it was sustainable and maybe it will catch up with them...but it hasn't yet. Even if it does, I'd rather have multiple years as a contender and then suck for a few years than being mid for 10+ years.

 

[VCRW]

Personally I think he is a better Center than a Wing, but both you and @VCRW make valid points.

I can’t agree that he is a better center than a wing. As a center he plays more like a wing. He does not make his linemates better often enough by being a facilitator. Q’s assist numbers are pretty anemic when compared to his average TOI. He spends far too much o-zone time chasing the puck and getting bogged down on the boards. His positioning in the d-zone is too often questionable and damaging (as his -6 number shows). I repeat my statement that QB’s future success in the NHL will come from playing LW.

 

[LAKingSteve]

That's a tough schedule. Knights should be a loss, Oilers most likely a loss. Flames definitely a loss. Avs, not a chance. Islanders a possibility. I wonder if the Avs could use a player like Perry?

Knights are missing Stone, Eichel, Marner and Hanafin...so totally a trap game for the Kings now. One they should win but who knows with this team. Panarin hatty incoming