***LA Kings @ Toronto Maple Leafs GDT 10/16/24 4:30pm on BSW***

[DryKing]

Problem is Blake overpaid for a LHD that may have worked ok in the 1-3-1, but the Kings stopped playing the 1-3-1 and are trying to play aggressive with, but with big slow LHD that cannot move the puck quickly. What the heck kind of plan was that Blake? Very frustrated with this front office over the last few years.

Definitely overpaid for him, but if we make the playoffs it will be nice to have some size on the backend. I agree with you, though, the defense we have currently is a better fit for the 1-3-1 than the style Hiller employs. Our defense is pretty slow in general which is part of the larger issue. Hopefully we see a deal or two to address this as the season progresses.

On a positive note, I think this is the best forward composition we've had in several years.

 

[Guinevere]

An ugly loss but that last Toronto goal gave me a point in the poll. Thank you, Leafs.

It blew my pt

 

[VCRW]

Tomorrow night in Montreal, I would like to see Foegele and Jeannot swap lines. Neither QB’s line nor Danault’s line show any chemistry. Time to shake things up. Couldn’t be any worse than what we have seen the last 2 games.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

1st goal against - Byfield forgot he was a center

2nd goal against - Kopitar forgot how to play center

3rd goal against - bad pinch and slow back check by Gavy

4th goal against - Byfield forgot that, even as a WING you STILL have to defend, etc, etc… you get the point, and you all saw the -3 in the previous game against Ottawa. Still plenty of games left for that breakout season, though. I’ll be waiting with bated breath..

 

[orpheus]

I haven't been following much of Kings hockey because of the early start times and Spooky Season-ing, but it seems like these Kings games have been scarier than any of the horror movies and books that I have been reading.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Nice to see Turcotte scored. Glad I missed this game.

Just watched the Fiala goal. That was a hell of a rush by Clarke. He created that goal out of a simple zone exit. This kid could end up being the best reason to watch Kings games this season.

 

[LAKingSteve]

4 games in, perhaps a little too much doom and gloom about not making the playoffs. It's a long season kids, let's give them a few weeks before we bury them.

 

[symbology]

4 games in, perhaps a little too much doom and gloom about not making the playoffs. It's a long season kids, let's give them a few weeks before we bury them.

That is fair, but some of us were of that opinion since after July 1st.

 

[Clif]

That is fair, but some of us were of that opinion since after July 1st.

Also fair. However, 4 games is still too early to demonstrate accuracy of that opinion. That’s just the basics of sample size. There’s a reason why American Thanksgiving is the timeline for determining most likely playoff teams.

 

[symbology]

Also fair. However, 4 games is still too early to demonstrate accuracy of that opinion. That’s just the basics of sample size. There’s a reason why American Thanksgiving is the timeline for determining most likely playoff teams.

I do not disagree. However, I will say that in this thread I have not mentioned "playoffs" at all. Just discussing how poorly this team is performing currently relative to the p*ss poor job Blake did in the offseason the last few seasons.

 

[Clif]

I do not disagree. However, I will say that in this thread I have not mentioned "playoffs" at all. Just discussing how poorly this team is performing currently relative to the p*ss poor job Blake did in the offseason the last few seasons.

I’ll clarify I don’t have any interest in talking about this team in relation to playoffs either right now. I just mean that cutoff is when most playoff teams are ID’d not just because of the math but because we get to largely see how teams are going to play and how players are going to trend for the rest of the year.

I don’t think we are looking at a very clear picture of this team yet and that will change.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

When you watch this team, and it makes you think you'd rather be in SJ / CHI / ANA / or UT's position. It's very scary.

Edit: I mean organizationally, going forward. Not who will have the most points this season.

 

[jammer06]

When you watch this team, and it makes you think you'd rather be in SJ / CHI / ANA / or UT's position. It's very scary.

The only other teams position is rather be in is Chicago, and believe me if your think you're upset with the kings, check out a hawks board....

 

[LAKingSteve]

That is fair, but some of us were of that opinion since after July 1st.

Yeah, I think there are a couple of camps. Full blown miss the playoffs or squeak in and get knocked out in the first round. There may be a handful of eternal optimists, but I don't think anyone out there is thinking cup run.

 

[LAKingSteve]

When you watch this team, and it makes you think you'd rather be in SJ / CHI / ANA / or UT's position. It's very scary.

From a watching hockey perspective, no way. There's more talent here than those teams and we will likely win a lot more than any of them. From a get me a great draft pick, absolutely. We'll finish very mid and get a very mid pick.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

From a watching hockey perspective, no way. There's more talent here than those teams and we will likely win a lot more than any of them. From a get me a great draft pick, absolutely. We'll finish very mid and get a very mid pick.

I meant from an organizational standpoint. In the sense we are at best a sneak in playoff team staring down a first round exit. This team is not competing with the big boys.

So I'd rather be a few years into the rebuild loaded up with young talent like the teams I mentioned. Yeah out of all those teams the Kings could wind up with the most points, but we are literally in purgatory organizationally.

 

[ICE24]

I believe the team is exactly where we thought they would be, in the middle of the pack. Not good enough for the playoffs, however, not terrible at this point. I believe they will be better than the Sharks and or Ducks but not both.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

I believe the team is exactly where we thought they would be, in the middle of the pack. Not good enough for the playoffs, however, not terrible at this point. I believe they will be better than the Sharks and or Ducks but not both.

Trade Phil, Moore (are we going to pay him 7.5 next year??) and Fiala. Kempe could bring a haul. I don't want to do Kopitar dirty but at his cap hit I think a lot of contenders would be interested. Burn it down.

It will never happen, I know. But it would be the most prudent route.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I believe the team is exactly where we thought they would be, in the middle of the pack. Not good enough for the playoffs, however, not terrible at this point. I believe they will be better than the Sharks and or Ducks but not both.

They will easily be better than the Sharts and Sucks.

 

[Bollocks]

I meant from an organizational standpoint. In the sense we are at best a sneak in playoff team staring down a first round exit. This team is not competing with the big boys.

So I'd rather be a few years into the rebuild loaded up with young talent like the teams I mentioned. Yeah out of all those teams the Kings could wind up with the most points, but we are literally in purgatory organizationally.

From an prospect pool standpoint, SJ / CHI / ANA / or UT (Yotes)? Yeah, of course they are.

Let's see...since last non-fluke playoff teams their records are:

San Jose:

Chicago:

Anaheim:

Yotes:

Yeah, I mean...of course they have a brighter future on paper. I hope you can also see that it usually takes years of severe suckage to become "such a promising team", so...it doesn't come out of the blue.

And for which of these teams would you like to place a sizeable bet that they will make conference semi finals within...let's say this season + 2 years? Eh? Which team's structure, talent AND GM inspires you with such confidence?

Is it the reputable Mike Grier's San Jose Sharks? Is it the wonderboy Kyle Davidson of the Hawks? Is it the timeless winner Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim? Or would it be whopping 0 times playoff appearance Bill Armstrong of the Phoenix Coyotes? Which part of their "organization" - apart from prospect pool - you consider visibly more competent than what the Kings have?

Can you pinpoint a casual fan like me where their genius lies? Perhaps landing a #1 overall? Aw schuks, it must suck for Arizona...I mean, Utah. They finished 27th or worse for 6 times in their "rebuild era" and the highest overall pick in those years they got is #3, two times. I don't know, it's almost as if...rebuilds don't usually work all that well without a sizeable amount of luck.


And don't get me started on "building a winner" in the cap era.

My point is...if the Kings FO and upper management isn't rebuilt completely first I'd rather not see a "complete rebuild". And it would be pointless to rebuild the Kings FO and upper management if legitimately competent personnel isn't available and interested in joining the Kings. And here-in lies the problem with all the perpetual whiners of this board: you can't force things. You can't drill out a small hole in the deck with a huge circular saw and then fix it with duct tape.