***LA Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks GDT 11/2/24 >>1:00pm<< on FanDuel***

[LUUUUC!]

This game was painful, thinking about writing this post is painful. Darcy gave this game away and overall this team isn't competing, we can't be losing to the Sharks and now the Hawks, too painful! Danault did play well, otherwise not impressed with anyone else on this team. Where was Akil? QB needs to find his game and time to make Big Save Dave primary and get Copley back. If it wasn't for Laferriere and Clarke the future looks painful. Yes I'm in a lot of pain... GKG!... painful!

 

[jammer06]

I just got done drinking off my performance at del mar, being in the Chicago market and with their current relationship with the Hawks my only frame of reference was the radio call. I must admit that a radio call might be unreliable and I was certainly distraught regarding my dollar backed opinions. That said mostly what I heard was ....I don't want to say excusable. November 1st team currently playing in a playoff position but with metrics outside of 5 on 5 hockey that are clearly red alarms. But inside of that top 5 in the NHL vs admittedly not the toughest schedule...it sounds like a team that does what it does on an even keel. The problem is that keel is steady until the tide rises to the first round of the playoffs and then it can't handle those currents

 

[DryKing]

LOL

Once again I race down the hill to watch the Kings blow a 3rd period lead and lose in OT. It's like Deja Vu all over again.

So my hockey buddy calls after the game and asks what's wrong with Byfield. I told him I hadn't seen enough games this season to form an opinion. He said he had a four-word opinion:

"Complete and total regression"

I think that's a bit extreme...it's WAY to early in the season...but I do see a profound lack of confidence in his play. Not sure what the answer is, but Byfield's having a rough go so far. Before he got off the phone, he said Byfield has 2 goals in the past 45 games. Is this true?

Wow.

I was expecting him to take it to the next level and become elite. 2 goals in 45 games is as far from elite as it gets. You'd think he'd accidentally score 2 goals in 45 games.

For the most part he still looks good but, as others have mentioned, he seems scared to shoot the puck and when he does he often rushes the shot. Hopefully the Kings can get him consistent linemates in which he is looked at to be the primary shooter/scoring option and then consistently encourage him to shoot rather than pass.

The fact that he is not seeing much PP time and instead being used on the PK also hurts his numbers but he has been effective on the PK. While playing center, he seems to also be getting true 3rd line minutes.

To call it a total regression, though, is just silly. He's doing a lot of the little things better than he has in the past but offensively his numbers have dropped (pretty easy to see why given minutes and PP time, but he needs to shoot more). I think right now the coaching staff is continuing to focus on building his fundamentals at center. With more time in the position and consistent linemates his scoring will ramp up again.

 

[VCRW]

For the most part he still looks good but, as others have mentioned, he seems scared to shoot the puck and when he does he often rushes the shot. Hopefully the Kings can get him consistent linemates in which he is looked at to be the primary shooter/scoring option and then consistently encourage him to shoot rather than pass.

The fact that he is not seeing much PP time and instead being used on the PK also hurts his numbers but he has been effective on the PK. While playing center, he seems to also be getting true 3rd line minutes.

To call it a total regression, though, is just silly. He's doing a lot of the little things better than he has in the past but offensively his numbers have dropped (pretty easy to see why given minutes and PP time, but he needs to shoot more). I think right now the coaching staff is continuing to focus on building his fundamentals at center. With more time in the position and consistent linemates his scoring will ramp up again.

Byfield has been on PP1 & PP2 all season. He has produced little to nothing. He did not seem ready for 2C minutes when he was placed there. He was also not the same player when he was reunited with Kopi and Juice. 3C with less TOI is where he belongs right now.

 

[ICE24]

Byfield is pacing himself this season. We all know he is pressing right now, needs to settle down and it will come to him, most likely by April.

 

[jammer06]

Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed all forwards would be credited with 14 points in this game:

Dr. Tran
JayWells24
Rusty
Shackleford
mugs
Hockey53
Cross Traffic
Chateau Bow Wow
DRice

Fully expecting to hear about this game from my beer league buddies.....

 

[LAKingSteve]

was at the game, left really pi$$ed off. This team has zero identity, zero will or ability to play a solid 60 minutes (I'd take 40 most nights) consistently and can't close out lesser teams like San Jose and Chicago. Really makes me want to stop calling these other teams the "lesser teams" as now I'm thinking we are in that same bucket...at least right now. Still early.

 

[Helvetica]

With respect to Byfield, he definitely looks like he's fighting it a bit. I thought he looked significantly faster and more dangerous during pre-season into the first game or two of the season. There was a game early in the regular season where he got hurt but kept playing, so he may be dealing with a nagging injury. He's also still working through the move back to center, and the change fo wingers. There's nothing that suggests he cant play center, but i do feel like he's still thinking through his responsibilities at that position, along with the new system, to the point that he maybe isn't capable fo playing as fast as were used to seeing right now.

I still see him making plays off the puck. I still see his vision and IQ, especially on some of his passes. There are times i see him trying to do too much, trying plays that were working in preseason, but less so now. Im not worried at all right now, even if i do wish eh was producing more. But he's too smart, and too skilled to not get back to form.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Byfield has been on PP1 & PP2 all season. He has produced little to nothing. He did not seem ready for 2C minutes when he was placed there. He was also not the same player when he was reunited with Kopi and Juice. 3C with less TOI is where he belongs right now.

Byfield has a 5-year $31,250,000.00 contract. So at this point, like all the Kings fans, all I can do is hope that he gets his act together, but right now. his act is not together. And he is one damn expensive act.

 

[ICE24]

All the Kings are asking from Byfield is 6 goals per year. That would be around $1,000,000 a goal. He can do it. Keep the faith.

 

[DryKing]

Byfield has been on PP1 & PP2 all season. He has produced little to nothing. He did not seem ready for 2C minutes when he was placed there. He was also not the same player when he was reunited with Kopi and Juice. 3C with less TOI is where he belongs right now.

Clearly he has not been on PP1 all season, which equates to the vast majority of PP minutes. If you look at his backchecking, faceoff win %, positioning and puck tracking - he has improved this season.

3C time is perfect for him right now as he continues to adapt to the Center position in the NHL. He still needs a consistent, complimentary, player though - similar to Kopi/Kempe, Danault/Moore. Fiala is clearly not that player. Tucotte (though he is better as a center) or Thomas are the most likely fits. Laf is a great fit but he's better aligned with Kopi/Kempe.

 

[VCRW]

Clearly he has not been on PP1 all season, which equates to the vast majority of PP minutes. If you look at his backchecking, faceoff win %, positioning and puck tracking - he has improved this season.

3C time is perfect for him right now as he continues to adapt to the Center position in the NHL. He still needs a consistent, complimentary, player though - similar to Kopi/Kempe, Danault/Moore. Fiala is clearly not that player. Tucotte (though he is better as a center) or Thomas are the most likely fits. Laf is a great fit but he's better aligned with Kopi/Kempe.

Laffy and Foegele are offensively gifted, north-south players with a lot of speed. QB just needs to find his game again playing with those two guys. As we both have said, QB is right where he belongs right now.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

With respect to Byfield, he definitely looks like he's fighting it a bit. I thought he looked significantly faster and more dangerous during pre-season into the first game or two of the season. There was a game early in the regular season where he got hurt but kept playing, so he may be dealing with a nagging injury. He's also still working through the move back to center, and the change fo wingers. There's nothing that suggests he cant play center, but i do feel like he's still thinking through his responsibilities at that position, along with the new system, to the point that he maybe isn't capable fo playing as fast as were used to seeing right now.

I still see him making plays off the puck. I still see his vision and IQ, especially on some of his passes. There are times i see him trying to do too much, trying plays that were working in preseason, but less so now. Im not worried at all right now, even if i do wish eh was producing more. But he's too smart, and too skilled to not get back to form.

I see little to no vision or hockey IQ. I see a player similar to Fiala.. tons of talent and skill, lots of flash, but runs himself into corners, chasing his own tail.

 

[symbology]

I see little to no vision or hockey IQ. I see a player similar to Fiala.. tons of talent and skill, lots of flash, but runs himself into corners, chasing his own tail.

As I said, he is trying to play using his skill only, He needs to get back to just playing hockey and stop trying all that fancy mumbo jumbo.

 

[hornman]

I used to go to "Day of Days" when they were at Universal City Walk...no judgement here! LOL

Haha yea I remember when it was there....

I was able to pick up a ticket 10 min before the game and watched from the premier seats. Losing in a shootout was still better than sitting in seats and standing in line for hours on end.

 

[LB49er]

was at the game, left really pi$$ed off. This team has zero identity, zero will or ability to play a solid 60 minutes (I'd take 40 most nights) consistently and can't close out lesser teams like San Jose and Chicago. Really makes me want to stop calling these other teams the "lesser teams" as now I'm thinking we are in that same bucket...at least right now. Still early.

I didn’t realize the Kings were in a class above the Chicagos, San Joses, and Anaheims of the league.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s the league we’re in. Those teams can sneak into a playoff spot, they just aren’t going to do anything with it.

 

[Helvetica]

I see little to no vision or hockey IQ. I see a player similar to Fiala.. tons of talent and skill, lots of flash, but runs himself into corners, chasing his own tail.

he's made a number of great passes already this season. Not all have connected. But i dont know what to tell you... There's a difference between trying to do too much and not having vision/IQ. I see a guy that has vision but is still trying to get comfortable amongst quite a bit of change.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I didn’t realize the Kings were in a class above the Chicagos, San Joses, and Anaheims of the league.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s the league we’re in. Those teams can sneak into a playoff spot, they just aren’t going to do anything with it.

Those are all lower tier teams theoretically, don't think any of them sneak into a playoff spot. We should be well ahead of both of those teams in quality of play, more of a mid-tier team that should make the playoffs as a WC or maybe 3rd in the division. Should...

 

[LB49er]

Those are all lower tier teams theoretically, don't think any of them sneak into a playoff spot. We should be well ahead of both of those teams in quality of play, more of a mid-tier team that should make the playoffs as a WC or maybe 3rd in the division. Should...

I remember the Kings making the playoffs and getting beat in 4 straight games by the Blues in the 90s. That team made the playoffs on grit alone and had no real business being in. A team like the ones mentioned can sneak in. Playoffs for the Kings is the best case scenario IMO. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them selling this year. It’s much needed anyway.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I remember the Kings making the playoffs and getting beat in 4 straight games by the Blues in the 90s. That team made the playoffs on grit alone and had no real business being in. A team like the ones mentioned can sneak in. Playoffs for the Kings is the best case scenario IMO. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them selling this year. It’s much needed anyway.

If it's clear they are not making the playoffs, I would absolutely see them selling guys like Fiala, Danault & Gavy...heck, I could even see Dewey asking for a trade as I doubt he wants to finish his career with another rebuild.