Start Copley for Game 6

[Statue4Deano]

I am definitely not saying that Copley should have started since game 1. Quite the contrary... big Korpisalo supporter. But I strongly felt Korpi needed a rest for game 5, and game 5 only.

Copley starting Game 5 wouldn't have been a terrible idea. Not my preference but I can see the case for it.

I think what this series is showing is the Kings are short one more game breaker. Maybe that game breaker is already in the organization. If Brandt Clarke's game translates to the NHL then that fixes so many issues on the current roster.

My hope is that we all take a step back after this series, in a couple weeks, and assess how far this team has come from training camp to the final game and recognize the bigger picture. Look at the development. Look at the trends. Resist the urge to throw the baby out with the bathwater just because the Oilers are a better team. Their time is now. That's not the case for the Kings.

 

[Statue4Deano]

The series is zshowing me how the bottom of the lineup can’t hang. The Kupari line has been a nightmare. He’s pulling low forties in the FO% and the line’s CF is in the 20s. Bottom pair with Edler has been real rough too.

Can’t beat this team when you can’t safely roll your whole lineup and right now the Kings can’t.

Fortunately, this should be easier to address in the off-season (provided they resign Gavrikov).

Very important point here. The Oilers chose to go with older more experienced bottom six/bottom 5. And the majority of those guys are not homegrown. They were acquired via trade or free agency. This is a distinct departure from what the Kings do. The Kings use their bottom six as an entry point for young guys graduating through the Kings org. from the AHL. Lizotte, Vilardi, Kupari, JAD, Grundstrom, Kaliyev. Too many of the Kings youngsters are just unplayable in this series. They're already playing limited minutes and in those segments they're still getting dominated. It's untenable.

 

[Dexter]

This thread is why Letsgokings exists. Why stop with Copley? Let's ****ing start Peterson bitches!

 

[Clif]

Very important point here. The Oilers chose to go with older more experienced bottom six/bottom 5. And the majority of those guys are not homegrown. They were acquired via trade or free agency. This is a distinct departure from what the Kings do. The Kings use their bottom six as an entry point for young guys graduating through the Kings org. from the AHL. Lizotte, Vilardi, Kupari, JAD, Grundstrom, Kaliyev. Too many of the Kings youngsters are just unplayable in this series. They're already playing limited minutes and in those segments they're still getting dominated. It's untenable.

The fact that the Kings are still using the bottom 6 as an entry point for young players speaks a lot about how this team is still in a late-stage rebuild. Lots of young players cutting their teeth - which is great btw - but just have to recognize where they’re at (as youd did). Neither Clarke or Spence are on the lineup, Q’s not playing center, and Edler and Walker are still on the roster further emphasizes this.

Don’t get me wrong, they could still pull this series out somehow and almost assuredly would have if they didn’t choke in game 4, but none of that changes the fact that top-to-bottom this is not yet a complete roster with depth players playing right where they need to play.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

This thread is why Letsgokings exists. Why stop with Copley? Let's ****ing start Peterson bitches!

Copley saved our season.
Peterson did.. not. In fact he has ****ed us for years to come. Well, he hasn't, management has.

If Copley was gonna be started it shoulda been earlier.

Though to be fair.. Korpi 2 bad games in a row. It might be an idea. Game 5 would have been the time to start him.

 

[K-Man #32]

This thread is why Letsgokings exists. Why stop with Copley? Let's ****ing start Peterson bitches!

I mentioned that already lol

 

[kingrussell]

by the time we get to Pheonix we'll be rising!!

 

[Pevsfreedom]

by the time we get to Pheonix we'll be rising!!

actually in the middle of playing this on ps4, lol

 

[SaltyPuck]

The fact that the Kings are still using the bottom 6 as an entry point for young players speaks a lot about how this team is still in a late-stage rebuild. Lots of young players cutting their teeth - which is great btw - but just have to recognize where they’re at (as youd did). Neither Clarke or Spence are on the lineup, Q’s not playing center, and Edler and Walker are still on the roster further emphasizes this.

Don’t get me wrong, they could still pull this series out somehow and almost assuredly would have if they didn’t choke in game 4, but none of that changes the fact that top-to-bottom this is not yet a complete roster with depth players playing right where they need to play.

^^^THIS^^^

There was some discussion about the rebuild being "done" and while Blake has said that they're "done taking away from this team" that doesn't mean that the cake is fully done baking. As this season went on, I was excited about where we were in part because we look to be a much better team over the next few seasons. Do we need some additional pieces? Sure do...and I thought everyone knew that from the start - remember all that G and LD rumination we've been doing all season?

I'm getting a bit of a "sky is falling" vibe from some posts and I just don't think it's warranted.

 

[ucsdguy1]

Maybe Todd is waiting for an actual game time to be announced before naming his goalie....

 

[Statue4Deano]

^^^THIS^^^

There was some discussion about the rebuild being "done" and while Blake has said that they're "done taking away from this team" that doesn't mean that the cake is fully done baking. As this season went on, I was excited about where we were in part because we look to be a much better team over the next few seasons. Do we need some additional pieces? Sure do...and I thought everyone knew that from the start - remember all that G and LD rumination we've been doing all season?

I'm getting a bit of a "sky is falling" vibe from some posts and I just don't think it's warranted.

It’s going to be hard to get any perspective while we’re in the middle watching the Titanic on course to hit the iceberg and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. This is why we need time to pass to better evaluate how far we’ve come including how much better some of our young players were from Game 1 of the season to the final game of the series.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

It’s going to be hard to get any perspective while we’re in the middle watching the Titanic on course to hit the iceberg and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. This is why we need time to pass to better evaluate how far we’ve come including hpw much better some of our young players were from Game 1 to the final game of the series.

Very true. Hope for the best, believe in this team. Even if we recovered and won it all - there will be TONS of time to evaluate with perspective.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Very true. Hope for the best, believe in this team. Even if we recovered and won it all - there will be TONS of time to evaluate with perspective.

Sit back and enjoy the ride. I truly feel the window for this group was barely cracked open this season.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Sit back and enjoy the ride. I truly feel the window for this group was barely cracked open this season.

I thought we'd smash Edmonton last year if healthy - and I think we would have, then they went ahead and got a defense together this year, and I really, really didn't wanna play them. One game at a time. Hope we can pull this one out. If we're out it's like.. glaring holes fixing time. And sadness.

 

[Statue4Deano]

I thought we'd smash Edmonton last year if healthy - and I think we would have, then they went ahead and got a defense together this year, and I really, really didn't wanna play them. One game at a time. Hope we can pull this one out. If we're out it's like.. glaring holes fixing time. And sadness.

This Edmonton team is a lot better than the squad they had last year. But I can't help but wonder how things would be if we had a healthy Fiala and Vilardi to start this series. It's a tough pill to swallow for the second postseason in a row.

 

[aragorn]

do you think we re sign Korpi and Vlad or let them walk?

I think for sure we would try to sign both Korpisalo and Gavrikov. I wouldn't offer Korpisalo a lot though and you know some club will off him the kitchen sink. So an offer but I'm sure he will walk. The same may happen with Gavrikov in that some club will make a ridiculous bid and get him, but I'd offer him a pretty nice deal to stay.

 

[jammer06]

I think for sure we would try to sign both Korpisalo and Gavrikov. I wouldn't offer Korpisalo a lot though and you know some club will off him the kitchen sink. So an offer but I'm sure he will walk. The same may happen with Gavrikov in that some club will make a ridiculous bid and get him, but I'd offer him a pretty nice deal to stay.

I really don't think anyone is going to throw the kitchen sink at Korpi. There's been a huge recalibration on goalie salaries since 21 to 22. Keumper as a stanley cup winning goalie and Jack Campbells is the only contract over 5 (July 13, 2022) aav (since Cals contract on Sept 21, 2021). The Campbell contract at the time was definitely an eybrow raiser. The Keumper contract wasn't loved by many either. With the cap still stagnant I simply can't see anyone pushing more than 3-3.5 for a goalie contract.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I really don't think anyone is going to throw the kitchen sink at Korpi. There's been a huge recalibration on goalie salaries since 21 to 22. Keumper as a stanley cup winning goalie and Jack Campbells is the only contract over 5 (July 13, 2022) aav (since Cals contract on Sept 21, 2021). The Campbell contract at the time was definitely an eybrow raiser. The Keumper contract wasn't loved by many either. With the cap still stagnant I simply can't see anyone pushing more than 3-3.5 for a goalie contract.

If you can get him at three, it makes sense. Wish that re-calibration had happened pre-Petersen contract.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Petersen contract.. lol.

 

[drums4dmf]

This Edmonton team is a lot better than the squad they had last year. But I can't help but wonder how things would be if we had a healthy Fiala and Vilardi to start this series. It's a tough pill to swallow for the second postseason in a row.

I agree Edmonton is better.

Vegas and Edmonton are clearly the best teams in the Western Conference IMO. It's unfortunate that the Kings were going to face one of them in the first round and we knew this a couple of weeks back.