PLD and how I learned to quit worrying about the bomb
- Thread starter jammer06
- Start date
kingnut
Top Forward
The basic issue I have, and Ive been harping on this for a while now is the optics of his play indicate that he is floating! Made the ref to Jumbo, hoping that PLD can resemble Jumbo or even Allison at this point for effort!
emsomaso
The Swedish King
I’m far from happy with PLD’s play so far, especially his apperent lack of drive/will! But to be fair, how many points do we honestly think that Kopitar would have had playing with Laf and Kalyiev?
Don’t get me wrong, I really like the play of Laf especially the latest couple of games. But Kempe he’s not and Kaliyev is for sure no Byfield…
Don’t get me wrong, I really like the play of Laf especially the latest couple of games. But Kempe he’s not and Kaliyev is for sure no Byfield…
MiketheKing
Super Star
From my observations watching pld this year here is my assessment.
PLD is slow, real slow ... like we can literally track the speed of him going to the puck or fighting for board battles and it is extremely slow slower than Kopi and he is much younger too.
Breakouts are going to be really hard for him five on five because he's so slow he can't keep up with the rest of the team not sure if it's because of Talent OR effort either way too slow.
Defensively he plays like a super tired Kopi, he's kind of there little bit too late and they score he's not dedicated like Danault or Kopi.
I noticed and borrowed this from another form they noticed that pld got most of his points when playing on the power play so that certainly padded his stats if he's not going to get that kind of power play time he's really going to be useless for us.
as far as scoring, he reminds me of a Hanzus stride with occasional Mike Richards dirty goals to chip in here and there but he completely lacks that leadership and grip.
So my takeaway, is a third / fourth line centermen with character issues really worth 8 million in the open market now? He certainly isn't a game changer and I'd much rather have Vilardi honestly, who showed lots of heart and passion when he was on the Kings, injuries aside.
In my estimation this is a grand overpayment for a player that's proven nothing, Blake trying to make a big splash and it looks like he just dove into the shallow end of the pool.
PLD is slow, real slow ... like we can literally track the speed of him going to the puck or fighting for board battles and it is extremely slow slower than Kopi and he is much younger too.
Breakouts are going to be really hard for him five on five because he's so slow he can't keep up with the rest of the team not sure if it's because of Talent OR effort either way too slow.
Defensively he plays like a super tired Kopi, he's kind of there little bit too late and they score he's not dedicated like Danault or Kopi.
I noticed and borrowed this from another form they noticed that pld got most of his points when playing on the power play so that certainly padded his stats if he's not going to get that kind of power play time he's really going to be useless for us.
as far as scoring, he reminds me of a Hanzus stride with occasional Mike Richards dirty goals to chip in here and there but he completely lacks that leadership and grip.
So my takeaway, is a third / fourth line centermen with character issues really worth 8 million in the open market now? He certainly isn't a game changer and I'd much rather have Vilardi honestly, who showed lots of heart and passion when he was on the Kings, injuries aside.
In my estimation this is a grand overpayment for a player that's proven nothing, Blake trying to make a big splash and it looks like he just dove into the shallow end of the pool.
Granted I'm no hockey expert like the rest of youse.....but I thought PLD was like Laine......super star talented when they want to be but bad attitude and lazy when they dont feel like trying. Interesting that both wanted out of Winnipeg and look how well the Jets are doing now..... 
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Dubois is a lot of things but he's not slow.
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Skaters
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics for skaters including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot location, and zone time.
LAKingSteve
Super Star
People thought Byfield was slow...taller players same sometimes look very slow but can actually be deceptively fast.Dubois is a lot of things but he's not slow.
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Skaters
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics for skaters including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot location, and zone time.edge.nhl.com
LAKingSteve
Super Star
The Kings are pretty good about weeding out or not taking on bad attitude guys. I personally doubt they would have signed him if they felt attitude was an issue.Granted I'm no hockey expert like the rest of youse.....but I thought PLD was like Laine......super star talented when they want to be but bad attitude and lazy when they dont feel like trying. Interesting that both wanted out of Winnipeg and look how well the Jets are doing now.....
LAKingSteve
Super Star
This right here. You're not the first one I've seen bring up that he's got a rookie and Arty on his wings...and quite honestly, we've seen both of those kids blow several grade A chances this season.
Statue4Deano
Super Star
Dubois has a lot of short comings to his game. He's not playing particularly impactful hockey this season but this idea that he's a disaster is not even close to be true. He's objectively one of the top offensive forwards on the team. The data is there if you're interested in looking into what's happening beyond what you're taking away from the eye test.
Simply put he has been the unluckiest forward on the Kings team this year, right behind Byfield. The shots and scoring opportunities he's generated to this point should give him at least 4 extra goals on the season. He's accounted for the 2nd highest high danger chances on the team, tied with Kempe. He generates the 2nd highest amount of high danger shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time behind Trevor Moore. He's generated the most rebounds of anyone on the team.
And for the folks that think he's a turnover machine in his own zone, he has the exact same amount of turnovers in his own zone as Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
I understand that it's hard to process new information when it goes counter to what we've come to believe but all I can say is the facts are the facts.
The data is free to all who are curious:
moneypuck.com
Simply put he has been the unluckiest forward on the Kings team this year, right behind Byfield. The shots and scoring opportunities he's generated to this point should give him at least 4 extra goals on the season. He's accounted for the 2nd highest high danger chances on the team, tied with Kempe. He generates the 2nd highest amount of high danger shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time behind Trevor Moore. He's generated the most rebounds of anyone on the team.
And for the folks that think he's a turnover machine in his own zone, he has the exact same amount of turnovers in his own zone as Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
I understand that it's hard to process new information when it goes counter to what we've come to believe but all I can say is the facts are the facts.
The data is free to all who are curious:
NHL Player Statistics -Advanced Stats 2023-2024
Scoring Leaders, Expected Goals, Player Stats
moneypuck.com
Clif
Super Star
Where I’m at with PLD is this: he’s 25 and no where near the point in his career where he can mentor younger players. Blake got his guy now Todd (or whomever replaces him) is going to have to shift the team around PLD, not just fit him in. Start with keeping Kempe on his line and when Arvy is back load him up with both those guys.
Kopi has slowed down lately and nothing is working so give him Laf or Fagemo with Byfield. It won’t be the top line, but Kopi will get fewer minutes and PLD will get more. Laf or Fagemo would grow playing with Kopi just as Q has.
At this point, this team needs to start building towards a new foundation not only to salvage this season but set up for next year. May as well package Roy and Kaliyev for a good young player to clear cap for Arvy and again, keep building.
PLD trade is the sort of deal that makes or breaks a GMs tenure. Coach would get turfed first if this slide were to continue. But if that fails, bye bye Blakey (probably Luc too)Fast forward to 16:00
Mccarthy: Dubois should've figured it out by now
NHL Network correspondent Dave Mccarthy joins Simon Tsalikis and Luca Scott on the Morning Show to talk about the LA Kings not getting much out of their off-season acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Dallas Stars having depth, the Leafs embarrassing 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and more.www.tsn.ca
DryKing
Power Forward
Kopitar is still far and away our top line center, even as he slowed a bit over the past couple seasons. PLD, on the other hand, is a team work -11 and has shown very little to deserve a top line role with Kempe on his wing. If we want to get PLD going, however, the first step should be moving him to PP1 where he will thrive and see if he can translate the increased success to his 5X5 game.
I do like your idea of Kopi mentoring the younger players, but think that is more likely to come next season if PLD can find success this season.
Trading Kaliyev makes sense if the plan is to bring back Arvy, but what realistically could we expect to get in return for him? My guess is a 2nd or 3rd round pick at this point which, at his low salary, may make more sense to keep him for the time being.
emsomaso
The Swedish King
Trading Kaliyev isn’t just about getting assets back, because as you said the return wouldn’t be great. But if Blake does trade him it is also about making room for someone else like Fagemo.
emsomaso
The Swedish King
You’re correct, he got replaced on PP1 by Byfield.
MiketheKing
Super Star
Extremely slow to the puck.Dubois is a lot of things but he's not slow.
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Skaters
NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics for skaters including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot location, and zone time.
Now Chirping
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