***San Jose Sharks vs. LA Kings GDT 12/17/22 7:30pm on BSW***

[Illegal_Stick]

I know you're being sarcastic but he put a nice little move on there!

He's got hands for days. Looks like he's bulked up a little too. Love his game. Really hope we are looking at Drew / Clarke / Spence as the future in a year or so, with a couple nasty, good skating LDs to play with Mikey and the backend is complete revamped.

Never thought the question mark in that group would be Drew. If they could just hold the Olympics every year and give him a reason to train, he'd kill it, but man tonight - fanning on the puck over and over. He's still so next level that he is effective obviously and frankly still our best D, but hoping he pulls it together soon.

 

[What party?]

Never thought the question mark in that group would be Drew. If they could just hold the Olympics every year and give him a reason to train, he'd kill it, but man tonight - fanning on the puck over and over. He's still so next level that he is effective obviously and frankly still our best D, but hoping he pulls it together soon.

Uh. What's it called when you make excuses for another adult? I've been giving Drew the side-eye since 2017, dude is the only one to blame for his "legacy" in hockey.

 

[Busted Chops]

i picked Trevor good sir.

 

[Nyssa42]

Never thought the question mark in that group would be Drew. If they could just hold the Olympics every year and give him a reason to train, he'd kill it, but man tonight - fanning on the puck over and over. He's still so next level that he is effective obviously and frankly still our best D, but hoping he pulls it together soon.

there were at least 3 instances where he was chasing a guy or the puck was going into the corner on his off side, but it was his to retrieve, and he just coasted to it! And one of those times led to a really good Sharks chance. Where has his killer instinct gone? I know he has sacrificed his body for this team many times over the years and probably has a hundred lingering injuries, but if he can't give at least a 90% effort he needs to be getting fewer minutes.

 

[hokiecat]

there were at least 3 instances where he was chasing a guy or the puck was going into the corner on his off side, but it was his to retrieve, and he just coasted to it! And one of those times led to a really good Sharks chance. Where has his killer instinct gone? I know he has sacrificed his body for this team many times over the years and probably has a hundred lingering injuries, but if he can't give at least a 90% effort he needs to be getting fewer minutes.

I'll defend Doughty again (even though he has been frustrating to watch at times). He played 30 minutes last night. He'd be a much better player if Todd would have faith in Spence or somebody else and cut Drew's minutes down by 2-3 per game. He's not in his mid 20's any more. He's conserving himself out there and that's not what we need. One thought for last night would be let Spence take 1/2 of Drew's PP minutes. I bet Doughty would hate it but it would be for the good of the team.

 

[DryKing]

I'll defend Doughty again (even though he has been frustrating to watch at times). He played 30 minutes last night. He'd be a much better player if Todd would have faith in Spence or somebody else and cut Drew's minutes down by 2-3 per game. He's not in his mid 20's any more. He's conserving himself out there and that's not what we need. One thought for last night would be let Spence take 1/2 of Drew's PP minutes. I bet Doughty would hate it but it would be for the good of the team.

Haven't the Kings tried to cut Doughty's minutes several times in the past? I know Sutter made the attempt in 2015 and believe Todd has attempted to do so as well. For whatever reason, possibly due to Drew, it never truly happens though.

Presently they should try to cap Doughty at 24 minutes per game or less, and I agree Todd needs to start placing trust in other defensemen such as Spence.

 

[KHenry14]

Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed there would be 2 ppg and or that Trevor Moore would be the gwg:

Both (2 points):
Kurisu
DRice
jammer06
Rusty
DRGinLBC
forum gold
VegasHockey
Helvetica
sonnyboy11
Bill Hicks
pray4mojo
Shackleford

2 ppg (1 point):
Clif
srm1105
Byron
beady eye
hornman
John a90
hihocarp
KHenry14

Trevor Moore (1 point):
dannybuoy1
AngelEyes
randdog
SirJW
empire
Nyssa42
kingsmen93
Dirtweazle
Busted Chops

2 points against a pacific division foe, just what the doctor ordered!

if you look at post #39 you will see i picked Moore too

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I'll defend Doughty again (even though he has been frustrating to watch at times). He played 30 minutes last night. He'd be a much better player if Todd would have faith in Spence or somebody else and cut Drew's minutes down by 2-3 per game. He's not in his mid 20's any more. He's conserving himself out there and that's not what we need. One thought for last night would be let Spence take 1/2 of Drew's PP minutes. I bet Doughty would hate it but it would be for the good of the team.

100% agree, his minutes need to be cut down for his own sake BUT the problems happen all game long, not in those last 5-10 minutes.... but then I guess your point still stands if he's tired from the last game. My frustration with him and again, he is literally my favourite player on this team, is that he thinks of himself as a big-game player, but doesn't seem to get that big game players always play great, they just have another level for the big games. Doughty has become someone who plays good most of the time and great for the big games.

 

[Helvetica]

there were at least 3 instances where he was chasing a guy or the puck was going into the corner on his off side, but it was his to retrieve, and he just coasted to it! And one of those times led to a really good Sharks chance. Where has his killer instinct gone? I know he has sacrificed his body for this team many times over the years and probably has a hundred lingering injuries, but if he can't give at least a 90% effort he needs to be getting fewer minutes.

ive been saying this since early in the season. I realize he's playing a lot of minutes, and sometimes you need to conserve energy, but he lacks pace to his game. There hasnt been a moment this season where he's chased a puck down in our zone to get a quick up and counter attack. He is consistently coasting into the corners to retrieve pucks, and he seems to believe he can avoid pretty much any 1-on-1 pressure with a quick spin/deke. It's gotten him into trouble a few times. He looks a little complacent. He's still good on defense. He's still making solid reads. But he's not our there pushing the play. I never get the impression he's trying to take advantage of an opening. He's happy going at his pace.

 

[Nyssa42]

I'll defend Doughty again (even though he has been frustrating to watch at times). He played 30 minutes last night. .

wow. I didn't realize he had that much TOI. He definitely needs to be playing fewer minutes! No wonder he looked like an old man in the 3rd.

 

[LAKingSteve]

wow. I didn't realize he had that much TOI. He definitely needs to be playing fewer minutes! No wonder he looked like an old man in the 3rd.

I've argued for a while that Dewey and Kopi need to cut down their minutes if you want them to be reliable towards the end of their contracts.

 

[MBX5]

I've argued for a while that Dewey and Kopi need to cut down their minutes if you want them to be reliable towards the end of their contracts.

I agree. The criticism of Doughty reminds me of what happened to Larry Murphy years ago in Toronto. The two seasons he was in Toronto, he was over used and suffered with a negative plus minus, generally did not play well and was booed regularly and enthusiastically by the fans. Toronto traded him to Detroit for a bag of pucks, if even that, and then he had a total renaissance after Detroit cut back his ice time significantly from what he was playing in Toronto. The Kings really need to start doing that with Doughy and I agree on Kopi too. There is still some gas in both tanks, but they just can't put the pedal to the metal the way they could a few years ago.

 

[Sevenhole]

Just tuned in, is it as bad as it looks?