symbology
TEAM LGK
I think his mind was elsewhere. Maybe wondering if the weather was going to be nice enough the next morning so he can have coffee outside while he checks his bank account balance and enjoys a nice view of the Pacific Ocean.
PLD and how I learned to quit worrying about the bomb
- Thread starter jammer06
- Start date
I think his mind was elsewhere. Maybe wondering if the weather was going to be nice enough the next morning so he can have coffee outside while he checks his bank account balance and enjoys a nice view of the Pacific Ocean.
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
looking at his unicorn butterfly tattoos in the mirror before and after said coffee break.
Climoman
Prospect
Was in Florida Jan 6 thru the 13th, annual trip to my sisters place in Estero. So went to the Tampa Bay game on the 9th watched PLD almost exclusively when he was on the ice. Like everyone says, he chooses to glide around the ice and then uses his speed to attack the middle of the ice with 3 defenders converging on him, always loses the puck. Doesn't win puck battles, never wins a faceoff, WTF! Rest of the game after the 2-0 Kings lead the whole team sucked. Blind passes to nowhere, quick tap passes given up to the other team, numerous stretch passes that didn't connect. So, on to Sunrise Florida for the Panthers on the 11th, again 2-0 lead early and same crap from PLD, HE CONTINUED TO GLIDE AROUND not engaged at all. He is driving me crazy. Last night against the Sharks he was on the ice for all 3 goals, he's a minus 20 or more, looks like he wants to be somewhere else. With all this talk about how much better he could play with a couple dangerous wingers on his side, lets see it! Otherwise, next game against Buffalo, HEALTHY SCRATCH. That's right and when we beat Buffalo, scratch him the next game. Dammit I am pissed off!
Let's talk about that -20, it's -13 on NHL.com. Still the closest player to him is Alex Laferriere @ -5. The top player is Mikey Anderson with a + 13. That is a big swing.
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
Yep, and to make it even worse, I think most of his scoring has been done at even strength, if I’m not mistaken. So you can’t even really chalk it up to his stats not counting one the plus ledger.. he’s just getting out scored that badly when he’s on the ice.
Rog or Reg?
Super Star
Good post!
Okay, I have to admit two things: One, Vilardi was one of my favorite Kings players, and two, I didn't know that much about PLD prior to the trade. After the trade and after I got over the shock of seeing what we gave up for this guy, I checked his stats the other particulars and saw he was a big dude and thought "Okay Blake's going for size and grit", and the Kings needed both so I kept an open mind.
But instead of big and gritty we got big and glidy.
I'm not blaming everything on PLD because he's not the only problem on this team, but man, watching him skate around out there, he seems so disconnected and nonchalant... which is the exact opposite of what this team needed.
Like the rest of us Kings fans I'm very frustrated and disappointed. I just don't understand the trade and never will. But we're stuck with him and his contract and I guess all we can do at this point is hope for the best. But I'm not very happy about how this is working out.
And if we keep on this loser path, I'm all for cleaning house from top to bottom, includes anyone and everyone involved in this Dumbo trade.
hokiecat
Super Star
The trade has been a disaster thus far. I was in the minority who disliked it at the time and was told:
1) Vilardi wants too much money and will never sign
2) Vilardi is injury prone
3) We are selling high on Vilardi after his good season
4) PLD is the future center we need to replace Kopi
5) PLD will play even better in LA (even though he had Kyle Connor as his winger, but you do you LGK)
6) PLD isn't a malcontent or cancer, because who wouldn't want to leave WPG and CBUS
Without making the trade:
1) Kings could have the best top 9 in the NHL with AI and Gabe on the 3rd line (or could have traded AI for other help to recover the cap room)
2) Kings could still have Sean Durzi (7-20-27 +14 in 39 GP with Arizona and 5.2 PointShares) as a 3rd pairing RD over Spence's (0-14-14, +7 in 40 GP with 2.6 PS).
3) Kings would actually have a talented right handed shot on the PP1. They'd probably still have a top 5 PP rather than middle of the pack.
PLD is not a bad player but he isn't earning his 8.5 million. And cap space is pretty much the most important commodity in the NHL right now. Hopefully his game improves. But after half a season, things seem to be getting worse instead of better.
1) Vilardi wants too much money and will never sign
2) Vilardi is injury prone
3) We are selling high on Vilardi after his good season
4) PLD is the future center we need to replace Kopi
5) PLD will play even better in LA (even though he had Kyle Connor as his winger, but you do you LGK)
6) PLD isn't a malcontent or cancer, because who wouldn't want to leave WPG and CBUS
Without making the trade:
1) Kings could have the best top 9 in the NHL with AI and Gabe on the 3rd line (or could have traded AI for other help to recover the cap room)
2) Kings could still have Sean Durzi (7-20-27 +14 in 39 GP with Arizona and 5.2 PointShares) as a 3rd pairing RD over Spence's (0-14-14, +7 in 40 GP with 2.6 PS).
3) Kings would actually have a talented right handed shot on the PP1. They'd probably still have a top 5 PP rather than middle of the pack.
PLD is not a bad player but he isn't earning his 8.5 million. And cap space is pretty much the most important commodity in the NHL right now. Hopefully his game improves. But after half a season, things seem to be getting worse instead of better.
MiketheKing
Super Star
I don't miss Durzi. Luckilly, Fiala has been able to compensate for all the missing turnovers since he left
And finally here's Friedman with Marek talking Dubois:
'He's got to deliver': Friedman on the Kings and the 'polarizing' Pierre-Luc Dubois
'He's got to deliver': Friedman on the Kings and the 'polarizing' Pierre-Luc Dubois
symbology
TEAM LGK
Hm, this is bad. Unless, all Todd needs to do is tell PLD to I don't know play hockey like is an NHL game and not a beer league type pickup game. I don't know Todd, maybe give it a try, it might just work.
I'm waiting for the KOTP to come out for a little more context, but I agree Mayor putting that quote out there....well if PLD doesn't think it's going to cause consternation in the fan base, its probably part of the problem.
Clif
Super Star
It’s a weird quote in isolation, so I’m curios to hear the context on the episode. One thing that comes to mind is a past podcast this summer when he was talking about his rookie year and first time playing ANH, Torts tells him to go out and crosscheck Kessler off the opening faceoff. So he did. He stays in Kessler’s face apparently and later Kessler gives it back to him, but CLB won the game by a goal. Just makes me think, that is some really literal coaching.
Todd has been vocal that he likes PLD bullying his way around on the ice. I can’t imagine he’s being too vague with PL re: what he expects. Same time, the things we hear about Todd are structure, different vocabulary, and that the players need to figure out what kind of team they want to be. There have been many players who have taken a long time to adjust to him, and some never at all. And yet among those players some of them have had true breakouts under his coaching.
This is not to add to the Todd pile-on in this particular instance, but it is to speculate one more area in the team’s current makeup that has not made for a good landing for PLD.
Illegal_Stick
Super Star
I imagine he's heading to the fourth line. I wish Todd would take the bulls by the horn and make PLD first line center tonight. Go run this line, give Kopitar an actual break, that he clearly needs. I realize he's already given him that first line time, but to say - we need more from you - go run the first line.
hokiecat
Super Star
I agree. The long view would be that we need to get PLD going so you put him in the best chance to succeed. But during the past month, Todd has been coaching not to lose and making what I would consider to be poor choices. Instead of rolling 4 lines, he's shortening the bench. He overplays Drew and Kopi. So I'd strongly expect him to take those actions again rather than do something to try and get PLD going. The limited video of Byfield centering the 3rd line should also serve as an example-- use you speed and size to create chances and don't be shy about driving the net and using your shot [side note: I've never been a huge fan of Byfield's shot so PLD should be able to score the same or more playing the mold of Byfield]. But centering Laf and JAD is not going to get anyone besides Gretzky a point per game.
Illegal_Stick
Super Star
Agreed. I'm not usually on the fire Todd page, but I'm definitely getting there. While a lot is going wrong, I'm starting to think that just the use of what appears to be an injured (or at least tired) Kopitar is a good reason to put someone else in charge. You can't wear him down like this. Doughty seems to handle it fine, but I'd rather him not lead the league in ice time unless it's in the playoffs. Kopi struggling, PLD struggling - this seems like an obvious thing to try and I'm quite sure he won't.
Mayors article is in the press box and highly recommend reading for context
letsgokings.com
Manor - Evaluating Tuesday’s Back-and-Forth with Dubois and McLellan
Let’s begin with two very important points: PL Dubois has struggled… and he’s not the sole — nor even the primary reason — for the Kings struggles over the past several weeks. Both points can exist at the same time and be true. Which they are. Now, with that said, nine goals or 19 points...
letsgokings.com
LAKingSteve
Super Star
It's insightful but quite troubling. Really a significant disconnect between PLD and Todd.
