Should we start thinking of the Kings as... "contenders"?

I think the trade deadline drama and this last weeks games might have helped answer this question.

We just need to get Durzi comfortable back on the right side and figure out what our bottom six is going to look like for the post season.

Colorado will be a good measuring stick.
 
Kurisu said:
I think the trade deadline drama and this last weeks games might have helped answer this question.

We just need to get Durzi comfortable back on the right side and figure out what our bottom six is going to look like for the post season.

Colorado will be a good measuring stick.
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Real interested to see what ultimately happens with the bottom 6. I still don’t like Fiala on the Danault line. Seems much more effective playing against lesser competition on the third line and taking over the play.

Still, I could see Moore getting eased back on the fourth line when he returns. If he does eventually make it back to the Danault line, are we actually going to see AI is on the fourth line with Kupari and McEwan/Kaliyev/Grundstrom? Would be weird but can’t drop Gabe down.
 
I think MacEwen will be a staple on the 4th line down the stretch and into the playoffs. He is a big body and is won't be afraid to drop the gloves or throw a big hit to "protect the stars."
 
We've been contenders most of the season. It amazes me how many people here have such a low opinion of them. Granted the goaltending is not playoff tested,but other than that I don't see what the question is. And Copley seems to have a knack for winning those close games and I like what I have seen of Korpisalo. Go Kings!
 
In 2012, if anyone thought we were contenders.... well, no one did.

Even in 2014, not sure I expected us to end up in the SCF.
 
kingrussell said:
We've been contenders most of the season. It amazes me how many people here have such a low opinion of them. Granted the goaltending is not playoff tested,but other than that I don't see what the question is. And Copley seems to have a knack for winning those close games and I like what I have seen of Korpisalo. Go Kings!
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I know I went mental after Quickie's trade and said CO would stomp us. I've calmed down and realized I was way off.
We have almost everything needed to be a contender and I would not be surprised at anything that happens in the playoffs.
I just don't know if we're physical enough yet.
 
rajuabju said:
In 2012, if anyone thought we were contenders.... well, no one did.

Even in 2014, not sure I expected us to end up in the SCF.
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In 2012 all the fancy stats analysts were picking the kings to win the pacific and were definitely high up on them in preseason. They didnt come out of the blue. Now the blues being in last place, and deservedly so coming back to win the cup was something else.
 
rajuabju said:
In 2012, if anyone thought we were contenders.... well, no one did.

Even in 2014, not sure I expected us to end up in the SCF.
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Actually preseason in 2011, bookies had the Kings being up there.
 
Bill Hicks said:
I'd like to see Iafallo sit (forever) as well. Someone explain to me why he gets a pass as the biggest passenger on this team. Or, am I missing what he brings?
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Well... he is really good at missing the net on potential tap in goals. He is really good at losing the puck in the neutral zone when making or receiving passes. And who can forget how good he is at losing board battles? Give the guy some credit!
 
VCRW said:
Well... he is really good at missing the net on potential tap in goals. He is really good at losing the puck in the neutral zone when making or receiving passes. And who can forget how good he is at losing board battles? Give the guy some credit!
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Good take. When he’s not doing any of the above, he shows a real knack for disappearing, almost like he’s not on the ice at all.
 
Let's see how the Kings do on the road against the Stanley Cup Champions. Who will be in net Korpi or Copli?
 
kingrussell said:
We've been contenders most of the season. It amazes me how many people here have such a low opinion of them. Granted the goaltending is not playoff tested,but other than that I don't see what the question is. And Copley seems to have a knack for winning those close games and I like what I have seen of Korpisalo. Go Kings!
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Korpisalo is playoff tested.
 
Yes!

7do1kf.jpg


:whoo:
 
The Kings have to be looked at as contenders. I don't buy the argument that the East rules in this years playoffs. All it takes is to play good consistently and with a little luck the Kings can go all the way! Plus from what I am seeing this trade really improved the Kings. Gorvikov's ability to jump into the play in the offensive zone has made a big difference. He is really generating a lot of scoring opportunities, he got one against the Caps and that changes how teams will have to defend when he is on the ice. Korpisalo I believe will shine for the Kings and Copley is steady. With McCuwen they has someone that will hold the other team accountable if they decide to take runs at the Kings.
 
I expect Vegas, Kings, and Seattle to finish top 3 in the Pacific, in any order, unless Seattle hits a bump in the road, and then Edmonton, with McDavid and on Draisaitl so damn good, they may take one of those top three spots. I don't see any reason why the Kings couldn't make it into the Western Conference Finals. There is a ton of offensive talent on this Kings team, and with Copley playing like he is, I feel really good about the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.
 
Joe Laviguer said:
I expect Vegas, Kings, and Seattle to finish top 3 in the Pacific, in any order, unless Seattle hits a bump in the road, and then Edmonton, with McDavid and on Draisaitl so damn good, they may take one of those top three spots. I don't see any reason why the Kings couldn't make it into the Western Conference Finals. There is a ton of offensive talent on this Kings team, and with Copley playing like he is, I feel really good about the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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I see plenty of reasons why they shouldn't make the wcf, but there is a viable path there. At least a 1-8 chance. Which for most fans is an inevitability
 
Bill Hicks said:
I'd like to see Iafallo sit (forever) as well.
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Who?

If we're bitching about players my elite crew of guys I'd like gone include Edler, Iafallo, Byfield, Roy, and Durzi, in about that order. Durzi is a forward in defenseman skates. Roy scores more goals on us than anyone. Byfield is well, whatever - debatable. I hope he improves. Iafallo's a ghost. Edler looks like Aragorn in the Return of the King. Get that man a throne to retire upon.

A lot of talk this year about the team's mental toughness. The Fiala/Vilardi/usual suspects are showing great lack of mental toughness in regards to penalties - but what can you say, they're our most skilled players, but at a cost. I think we'd get slaughtered in a 7 game series unless they learn better how to handle their emotions - and leadership is better able to engage. It's like Todd's said - players need to step up and fill the gaps left by Brown and Quickie now. Kopi and Doughty won't be here forever. I think this year Copley saved us and I'm excited to see the playoffs, but hope we can push a bit more than last year. It's been a bit of a ride of a season.
 
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Martin Biron recently picked LA as one of the five teams who could win the cup. No groundbreaking analysis or anything, but been a long time since we've been in any of these conversations.

[video]https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/the-talking-point-which-5-teams-have-the-best-chance-to-win-the-~2642371[/video]
 
So now we all hate Iafallo - my God. Here's my take on Iafallo - he's at his most useful when he is filling a need - usually replacing an injured player or when the team is dogging it. When we were all frustrated with this team, he was one of the only ones who was consistently performing and working hard. So you either have to trade him shortly after a streak of games like that or be a better coach and figure out what about those situations makes him play like a different player so you can try to pull that performance out of him more regularly. I mean I get it, he hasn't been great, but he CAN be.
 
Iafallo is the same player he's always been. 15-20 goal scorer. 45-50 point scoring rate. Responsible in his own zone. Very low maintenance. The "problem" is the team now has much better options at wing for the top 2 lines. So Iafallo is now a very expensive bottom six player with no particularly special skillset. It's a case of the team outgrowing the player.
 
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