***Ottawa Senators vs. LA Kings GDT 11/27/22 7:30pm on BSW***

Okay... so we're due to beat the Sens then right? Because I'll be live at the rematch next week with 20 co-workers, all Sens fans. If I have to listen to 20 teachers cheering all night for Sens goals, I will not be a happy man.
 
I've probably been one of the more optimistic people here about this team for a while but even my patience and trust has waned.

Kopi needs his minutes cut down significantly...like 3rd and 4th line minutes. It's abundantly clear that father time has caught up to him and the legs just aren't there. He's still my favorite King but if you want him to at all be productive moving forward, playing first line minutes ain't the way to do it. TMac won't do that to Kopi though.

TMac is on his last leg as far as I'm concerned. I get it, players play but if the players can't or won't play the system desired, there is a problem with the coach. There is no way a team like OTT should have had a chance against arguably a more talented Kings team. And his decision making still leaves me scratching my head aka putting the 3 out that he did last night in OT.

Anyone seen Kempe? One and done all star?

Watching Stuzle and Zegras, both picked after Byfield and Turcotte, excel with their teams is making me start to question the Kings scouting and talent evaluation. Yes, I know both QB and Turc have been hurt and the jury is still out but like many, I do have concerns that they will develop into the players worthy of their draft place. I also wonder if the team will ultimately just be filled with some "good" players but no truly "great" players. Will they have to go down the path of more guys like Danault, Fiala and Arvidsson to bolster the roster over the next 3-4 years vs being able to develop these young kids into great players? Clarke could obviously be the Home Run out of the latest draft group.

Ultimately, this team is painfully inconsistent and not what I would consider a good team. There is lots of work to be done but I'm not sure this group can get over the hump.

I hope that driving from Corona to LA 3 times this week will be worth it over these next 2 games.
 
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Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed a shot differential of 12 or within +/- 2 of said number:

Dead on (2 points):
beady eye


Within +/-2 (1 point):
kingsmen93
nyssa42
Rogie-Vachon
TooCool

I guess you could say it was a team effort to get that point? Special teams success can hide a lot of defects and watching them work that puck to Arty was something we've all been clamoring for and was the biggest highlight of the game. Just admit that Durzi at the point and Danault on the halfwall with VA down low and Arty on the off wing is a hot hand and run with it til you have something better. Two years ago a white hot PP in the early part of the season kept a team that had no business being near the playoff hunt in it. Once it cooled off the descent was fast. Right now they need that special teams connection to overcome a truly dismal PK that is also costing games. The 5 v 5 play discussion can be saved for another day.
and as for OT.....Yeah....I get that under the concept of possession wins OT's at 3 on 3 and Kopi is our best possession player, but if you're predicating all that on a 56% FO win percentage.... that's really not much better than a coin flip in a sample size of 10-15. Much better to find a Turnover/Takeaway/recovery stat that is probably out there and a better predictor of possession.
 
Clif said:
Kings getting outmuscled by some teams is really standing out to me more this year. Not sure if it’s actually worse or not, but last year they at least had a good forecheck and were able to translate that to high shooting volumes in most games. It’s hit or miss this year. The D is another issue but along those lines the Kings zone is not a scary place to go in the least.

Some of this will need to be corrected with Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev, and Anderson growing up and getting meaner. Helenius should hopefully be ready before too long. If Kupari sticks he’s got size and will need to use it. For sure outside help on the backend is needed as soon as possible.
Click to expand...

The size issue is one of my major concerns with Spence. He got knocked around big time during the playoffs last spring. He's a heck of a talent but a bit of a luxury that we cannot afford until we get some more size in the lineup to help shelter him against big teams.
 
There's a lot wrong with the construction of this team; too many similar players, not fast enough to overcome physical teams, and a suspect defense. The Fiala deal in a vacuum is a good one, but not necessarily the one the Kings needed. The Kempe contract extension is panning out as expected. The older players should flourish with less ice time, yet the coach will not concede that their time is past. This is a black hole team—too good to tank, but not good enough to compete, which means middling picks to draw future talent from. Welcome back to the early 2000s.
 
Nice to see we passed on Stu for QB who "omg hes having a great AHL run" yawn so do many other AHLers who arent that great in the NHL. Im sure ill hear about 50 excuses for QB as always.
 
The thing with so many of the losses this year is that too many of them have been preventable and just caused by poor individual decision making. Walker in Seattle the other day getting too deep. I can't even remember which game that Durzi flub was. Doughty sleeping on Giroux last night. Just boneheaded mistakes costing us points. It's frustrating because we're otherwise so close to putting good streaks together that come undone on single plays.
 
Teams are physically manhandling the Kings because the Kings don't have anyone to hold them accountable. They should have kept Macdermit. Yes he doesn't score goals but you put him out there and the other team will not mess with the Kings young small players because they will have to face the big man.
 
I wish we had someone like Ryan Reaves on our team. He was traded by the Rangers to the Wild for a 5th round draft pick. It is something we could definitely afford to protect our players.
 
Not taking away from Reaves well deserved reputation for dropping them, but what made him truly useful was that period of time for both the blues and knights where he still had enough speed to get in on the forecheck and lay the body on dmen enough that they moved the puck before they were ready. Reaves is no longer that player. Im not opposed to playoff reaves, but the player now is not that same guy, and if he is an improvement this team needs to recalibrate their ceiling.
 
You can nitpick this team any which way, the D is not ideal but they outperform as a complete unit. Durzi on the left is obviously problematic but as a unit I think they are a middling group which all things considered (only 1 above average dman for his pairing...) isn't horrible.

But goaltending is much more concerning. Quick can steal a game or two a year which just isn't enough. Cal couldn't steal a case a water from the front of a CVS in the middle of a flash robbery.

I don't see any way to really remedy the situation this year. Blake would have to eat major crow with Cal, and Quick is here till the end of the year. I never wish injury on any player but that could be the Kings' only chance. Give Copely a run and see how it shakes out. We've seen it time and time again in the NHL, middling goaltenders, AHL guys, vets, that all of a sudden burst onto the scene. Goaltending, unless you have a super elite option, can be a real crap shoot.
 
Ice24 said:
IMO, for the second pick of the NHL draft, he actually should be doing better than he is on the Reign.
Click to expand...

You can feel whatever way you want about Byfield but the reality is he’s still learning how to be pro. Part of the process is being the most effective player on the ice when he’s up against his peers. That’s what he’s doing right now at the AHL level. Some nights that means 2 goals and an assist. Other nights it means keeping the #1 center on the opposing team off the scoresheet. That’s his game. And that’s why the Kings drafted. To be a complete #1 Center on a Cup winning team.

If you think it’s as simple as points scored = wins I’d suggest looking at this Kings team and reassessing your position.
 
I'd love to see Grundstrom take on more of that tough guy role. Not necessarily a fighter, but just lay some heavy checks. He's got the size and body type for it, but it doesn't seem to be in his personality
 
Looked up last year’s team vs. this year after 24. Some similarities when all is said and done.

21-22: 10-10-4; 24 pts; 64 gf/68 ga -4
22-23: 12-9-3; 27 pts; 77 gf/81 ga -4

I remember up and down hockey after the 7 game win streak and that checks out. Did better last Dec. than expected and heated up Jan. onwards for the most part. It’s hard a sell that the defense was better last year without Walker and long stretches without Edler and Doughty, but then goaltending is even worse this year.

9 bad teams coming up, 5 of the best regular season teams (would be cup-contenders but TOR is in there), and 1 each against SEA and CAL. Then it’s 2023.
 
I do not expect this to be a very fun game to watch tonite. I'd love to be surprised...but....
 
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