PLD and how I learned to quit worrying about the bomb

STONE said:
Gheez, who cares? Really... We are fortunate enough to have PLD as our third line center. Even with only 5 goals and - rating we play at a 690% tilt. Has anyone seen him in the playoffs, you know, something ZERO analysts have complained about? He's a friggin' force when it counts. We don't need him to be Kopi 2.0 now, but, he needs to show up big-time in the playoffs.
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Yeah he really outplayed Eichel in the Jets-Knights series. /s
 
Vilardi is on fire, scored again against the Bruins at half the cost of PLD. PLD isn't doing s*** with the Kings. But hey! he's getting 8.5 mill to play like S***.
 
Can't worry about PLD, the contract is set. I'm happy that most of LGK are happy with the Kings play.
 
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I didn't like the deal at the time (overpay in the trade and the contract) but the roster is performing well with the depth down the middle. I'd like to see PLD with someone like Arvidson as a winger to get a better feel on his scoring abilities. That said, I got a big kick reading people predicting PPG pace with him on the Kings. He didn't do that on a line with Kyle Connor, so I'm curious what in LA was going to unlock the extra scoring.
If this team wins a Cup, then the trade will be worth it. But the Gavrikov extension was much bigger along with Byfield breaking out. And the Talbot and Englund (and Lewis) signings have been more effective.
 
hokiecat said:
I didn't like the deal at the time (overpay in the trade and the contract) but the roster is performing well with the depth down the middle. I'd like to see PLD with someone like Arvidson as a winger to get a better feel on his scoring abilities. That said, I got a big kick reading people predicting PPG pace with him on the Kings. He didn't do that on a line with Kyle Connor, so I'm curious what in LA was going to unlock the extra scoring.
If this team wins a Cup, then the trade will be worth it. But the Gavrikov extension was much bigger along with Byfield breaking out. And the Talbot and Englund (and Lewis) signings have been more effective.
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He was a PPG player with the Jets half way into the season last year. That team was leading the West at the time, if I recall. Then, PLD got injured and the entire team took a massive dump.

ICE24 said:
Can't worry about PLD, the contract is set. I'm happy that most of LGK are happy with their play.
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I do not think anyone is happy with his play across the board. Some are happy with where the team is and realize he is playing in the bottom 6. Some just do not want to expend the energy to complain when the team is playing well overall. There is plenty of time to Bitch if this team fails in the playoffs.

On another note, I wonder how PLD would be doing if he was on the 2nd line with Moore and?
 
Sooner or later, PLD will get hot, carry the club for a while, and all will be forgiven.

Don't forget he came through two clubs (Columbus/Winnipeg) that have never been known for strong systematic play or stiff defense.

Playing on the Kings is a huge adjustment for him. He'll come around.

And if all else fails, we can always trade him to Montreal in a couple seasons for a big pkg of picks/prospects.

But, IMO, it probably won't come to that.
 
Is anyone concerned about the Kings play in the last six games.
OT Loss, Road
Loss, Road
Loss, Home
SO Win, Road
Win, worst team in hockey. Road
Loss. Home
 
DryKing said:
PLD really lived off the PP during his time with the Jets, which accounted for 36% of his points (41% of his goals) last season and 32% the season before (54% of his goals). So far this season he has one PP point and is playing on the second unit. If the Kings really want to get him going it may be prudent to give him some time of the top PP unit, but likely in order to do so he would have to replace QB who has thus far been outplaying him.
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Coaching staff didn't even give him a sniff of PP time at end of last game -- that's how much confidence they have him right now.
 
As much as I didn't like the trade and still wish we had Gabe on the roster, the NHL, as with all professional sports, is a result driven league, and the Kings currently have the least losses in the West, and are in the running for best team in the NHL. And 30 games is a relatively small sample size, so I will refrain from calling the trade a complete bust. At least for the time being.

Admittedly, we are in a rough patch right now...had a few hot goalies and a few unlucky bounces...and we appear to be more tentative with the puck. It seems like we're in a 'pretty passing contest', and not crashing the net enough. And, in my always humble opinion, it's no coincidence our bad patch began when we lost Gavrikov.

Hopefully he'll be back soon and we'll get back to dominating.

But man, someone needs to light a fire under PLD's butt.
 
My concern isn't the results but the intensity, which, as noted is non existent. If he looked like he was out there trying to make a mark on the games, i wouldn't have any concern. He's on the 3rd line, with young guys, and not getting much time on the PP. So, i dont really care about his points.

The last game against the Kraken i saw him throw a couple hits early in the game and thought to myself, "oh, maybe he's looking to get involved somehow". But that ended up basically being it. He had a couple good passes that didnt end up going anywhere mostly because his wingers are third line guys. But he spent the rest of the game coasting and falling down. He has got to find a way to make an impact on the game. It doesn't have to be points, but it needs to be something.

My direct comparison would be Byfield last season. Most everyone was concerned about his production. Oh, he only has 3 goals, he's a bust. But if you actually watched the kid play, you saw somebody who was working hard, and finding ways to impact the game in a positive manner, even if it didn't lead to personal accolades. He was moving his feet. He was getting to loose pucks. He was winning battles. He was fighting to get to the dangerous spots on the ice. PLD looks like the exact opposite. He's not winning his board battles. He's coasting into engagements. I rarely see him fighting to get to dangerous areas. He's floating.

He may still be trying to find his fit on the team as a guy who is used to top line minutes and PP time. I do not believe it's anything to do with adjusting to the system. It's a role issue, and a fit issue, and he's not doing much at all to help in that regard. I can see how this would be a big change for him, and i can see how it would be tough on anybody used to being a top guy, but he's got to figure it out, and the team needs to find ways to help get him engaged. You simply cannot ride the season on hoping he somehow turns it up in the playoffs. That's not good enough.
 
I'm coming the conclusion that when he signed here it was to be the number one center. He's not even getting pp mins and he's just sulking until he's promoted. Such as shame, he could be elevating his line mates creating a 2b line instead it's just a filler line right now.
 
SirJW said:
I'm coming the conclusion that when he signed here it was to be the number one center. He's not even getting pp mins and he's just sulking until he's promoted. Such as shame, he could be elevating his line mates creating a 2b line instead it's just a filler line right now.
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This. Wouldn't mind seeing some of the wingers shuffled during this mini slump to show some investment in him and get him going if that's what it takes. All his line is doing at the moment is spelling the other three.
 
Kurisu said:
This. Wouldn't mind seeing some of the wingers shuffled during this mini slump to show some investment in him and get him going if that's what it takes. All his line is doing at the moment is spelling the other three.
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i agree, but the only real problem there is that the top 6 is generally playing really well. I think they could maybe try and give him some PP1 time. The flip side though is i cant really say he's earned it.
 
Seems more apparent to me every game that PLD and Byfield are destined to play on the same line. Not sure when it’ll happen or which one will play Center but it’s going to happen and they’re going to be great together.
 
Statue4Deano said:
Seems more apparent to me every game that PLD and Byfield are destined to play on the same line. Not sure when it’ll happen or which one will play Center but it’s going to happen and they’re going to be great together.
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hmm. I was thinking the same thing last night. 2 big bodies. Would need someone with a good shot. Kempe when he's hot and Kopi's retired maybe. Of course I'm hoping QB's shot develops and PLD finds his.
 
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