The Chronicles of Rittich

[DryKing]

Interesting overview and explanation.
Again, I just have no knowledge of guys in Ontario or elsewhere for that matter.

The thing for me with the prospects is we just never know until they get to the NHL, and even for some it takes awhile. It’s hard for me to get too excited until we see them.

If memory serves, wasn’t Bernier supposed to be “the guy” before Quick surprised everyone?

Young guys need to show that they can play with the best. It’s a big difference between Ontario caliber and LA. The NHL players have the talent and have learned all the tricks. It’s faster, less room and the stick play is way beyond the lower levels.

I guess best case, barring a trade for a goalie, is that both Kuemper and Portillo are at least serviceable for the next two years and a prospect appears early. I haven’t seen enough with Rittich this year to see him back next year. If Portillo isn’t ready then an off-season move for a backup looks like a target. If they are looking for a goalie that tells us how they view Portillo, I think anyway.

Yeah goalies seem to be pretty hard to predict. There have been several who looked subpar in the AHL and then got a shot in the NHL, shined, and never looked back. Then there are goalies who are great for a few seasons only to fade out quickly. Maybe that is why we see so few goalies go in the first round of the draft.

Portillo could still end up being a future starter, who knows.

I remember getting super excited when we drafted Bernier and waiting for him to come up to the NHL only for Quick to get a shot and make the decision, as to who should be our starter, a no brainier.

 

[JC6388LAKings]

With the most recent performance in net against Vegas by Rittich just earlier, it's becoming a lot more difficult for him to stay as the proven #2 goalie for LA at this point. He's certainly making a case of getting waived this season. If no team claims him, he should then be sent down to Ontario for the rest of the season. Copley should come back to the Kings roster and hopefully he has regained his form compared to the past two seasons. Sure, it could cause some complications in goalie depth for LA and Ontario but there's little incentive keeping Rittich now.

 

[Bollocks]

With the most recent performance in net against Vegas by Rittich just earlier, it's becoming a lot more difficult for him to stay as the proven #2 goalie for LA at this point. He's certainly making a case of getting waived this season. If no team claims him, he should then be sent down to Ontario for the rest of the season. Copley should come back to the Kings roster and hopefully he has regained his form compared to the past two seasons. Sure, it could cause some complications in goalie depth for LA and Ontario but there's little incentive keeping Rittich now.

Can Copley be recalled without going through re-entry waivers? If not, I'd try Portillo first...I know his numbers are worse than Copley's, but it's not like there's a world of difference between them...and IMO there's no way BSD gets claimed. Let him regain his form in the AHL.

 

[Kurisu]

With the most recent performance in net against Vegas by Rittich just earlier, it's becoming a lot more difficult for him to stay as the proven #2 goalie for LA at this point. He's certainly making a case of getting waived this season. If no team claims him, he should then be sent down to Ontario for the rest of the season. Copley should come back to the Kings roster and hopefully he has regained his form compared to the past two seasons. Sure, it could cause some complications in goalie depth for LA and Ontario but there's little incentive keeping Rittich now.

This was discussed on Twitter tonight with Dennis Bernstein and his take was that there are only a few back to backs left on the season, then they just ride Kuemper into the playoffs. I wouldn't hold my breath for any transactions.

Aiden Hill gave up six to the usually low scoring Kings tonight. It is what it is at this point.

 

[Clif]

There is no reason to be anymore confident in Copley over Rittich. That’s a roll of the dice with more downside than up. Blake said in his sole press conference that the plan was to get Portillo some games this year, but that he’s out week-to-week and by the time he’s back they’ll want him playing games in the AHL, including the playoffs.

Hopefully Rittich plays a little better next outings, hopefully Kings protect him better, and hopefully Kuemper will play well enough that those games won’t matter too much anyway.

 

[Birdman]

This was discussed on Twitter tonight with Dennis Bernstein and his take was that there are only a few back to backs left on the season, then they just ride Kuemper into the playoffs. I wouldn't hold my breath for any transactions.

Aiden Hill gave up six to the usually low scoring Kings tonight. It is what it is at this point.

We’ve put up some goals against them all season. Their team is big and can put the hurt on you, but their game is to play in your end. Their forwards do not defend nearly as well as ours, and Hill is a middling goalie.

What I noticed was how Pieterangleo has truly lost a step. Hell, he may have lost 2 or 3, and he wasn’t up top in the power play last night.

They may win the division, but they don’t scare me come playoff time.

We do have to figure out how to cover Hertl in front of the net.

 

[ICE24]

Can Copley be recalled without going through re-entry waivers? If not, I'd try Portillo first...I know his numbers are worse than Copley's, but it's not like there's a world of difference between them...and IMO there's no way BSD gets claimed. Let him regain his form in the AHL.

Copley's numbers weren't that great when they recalled him from the AHL two years ago. Then he took the Kings to the playoffs, playing incredibly well when he was in goal. He lost his job when they traded for Korpisalo. Never understood the reasoning, as Copley was a major reason the Kings were in the playoff hunt. I understood he was an untested playoff goalie; however, he probably would have given the Kings a better shot.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

Copley's numbers weren't that great when they recalled him from the AHL two years ago. Then he took the Kings to the playoffs, playing incredibly well when he was in goal. He lost his job when they traded for Korpisalo. Never understood the reasoning, as Copley was a major reason the Kings were in the playoff hunt. I understood he was an untested playoff goalie; however, he probably would have given the Kings a better shot.

That was very frustrating, as Korpi started the series great and then really was a key reason for the loss. When we gave up Quick, who had pushed it to seven the previous year AND didn't give Copley a chance to come in when Koprisalo started fading (essentially when the Oilers figured out - shoot high,) it was over.

 

[orpheus]

Herlt was Hertl enough for Rittich.

 

[JC6388LAKings]

With the current depth on goalie for LA and Ontario this season, it would be tempting to use a pick on another goalie in the next coming draft after this season. But then again, some of you guys are right saying that it's very hard to gauge on the quality of goalies in the first and second rounds of the draft, so I'm grasping at straws here. Also, we already have Portillo, Slukynsky, and George as future goalies, so maybe wasting a pick on another goalie isn't a good idea.

 

[Clif]

That was very frustrating, as Korpi started the series great and then really was a key reason for the loss. When we gave up Quick, who had pushed it to seven the previous year AND didn't give Copley a chance to come in when Koprisalo started fading (essentially when the Oilers figured out - shoot high,) it was over.

The big turning point for Blake was when Copley’s Peterson’s game fell apart. He didn’t have a backup plan should that happen, and once it did many dominos have fallen in response.

EDIT: I meant Peterson but typed Copley, which changes this post completely. Copley was fine and playing the hockey of his life. Peterson was the anointed future until he wasn’t. This team has been hoping for the best from the most important position ever since and deeply behind on its goalie development thereafter.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

The AHL can be a particularly difficult place to gauge the performance of young goalies and defenders, especially, due to lack of defensive structure. Similar to how guys go from having bad seasons, to then joining us and looking like all stars with the Kings style of play.

 

[Bollocks]

With the current depth on goalie for LA and Ontario this season, it would be tempting to use a pick on another goalie in the next coming draft after this season. But then again, some of you guys are right saying that it's very hard to gauge on the quality of goalies in the first and second rounds of the draft, so I'm grasping at straws here. Also, we already have Portillo, Slukynsky, and George as future goalies, so maybe wasting a pick on another goalie isn't a good idea.

The Kings have two pretty much blue chip G prospects in the pipeline who were drafted in the previous 2 drafts and I think neither will be able to play yet in the AHL next season. I alsp think it's time for one draft where a pick is not used on a G prospect. And AHL backups are dime a dozen on UFA market...

 

[Clif]

The Kings have two pretty much blue chip G prospects in the pipeline who were drafted in the previous 2 drafts and I think neither will be able to play yet in the AHL next season. I alsp think it's time for one draft where a pick is not used on a G prospect. And AHL backups are dime a dozen on UFA market...

Slukynsky turns 20 in July so he’d be eligible if he left college early to go pro, but there’s been zero indication that’s happening. Although that kid went from high school to USHL to college so maybe he should consider it. Play in every league he can and collect them all. He’d get plenty of starts for the Reign.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

The big turning point for Blake was when Copley’s game fell apart. He didn’t have a backup plan should that happen, and once it did many dominos have fallen in response.

Quick likely would've done better for us, BUT I certainly remember he didn't look like he could be relied upon at that point. I don't remember Copley's game dropping off that much, but I guess it did. Thought they just didn't have confidence in him to take them into the playoffs.

 

[Dr. Tran]

Does anyone know the timeline for the 2 younger goalie prospects? I know it’s not based on age but where they play. George is younger but he’s in Juniors so he’s coming earlier than Slukinsky, who’s in college. But I don’t know if that’s this upcoming season, the next season, or the season after that.

It’s great we have these goalie prospects. But we’re going to have to decide which one we want. Maybe we can keep 2 but not all 3. Assuming George has another year in Juniors, we’re going to have to sign 2 goalies & have them compete with Portillo to be Kuemper’s backup. Then the other 2 play in Ontario. Maybe they resign Copley but I doubt it. And I don’t want to see Rittich resigning.

What sucks is that because of Portillo’s injury & the issue with AHL rosters & the playoffs, we can’t send Rittich down & bring up Copley. So we have to pray that Kuemper can play as many games as possible. And that if Rittich does play we can outscore his mistakes.

 

[Clif]

Quick likely would've done better for us, BUT I certainly remember he didn't look like he could be relied upon at that point. I don't remember Copley's game dropping off that much, but I guess it did. Thought they just didn't have confidence in him to take them into the playoffs.

Wow. I meant Peterson. Copley’s game never fell apart. But regardless they never showed him confidence. Hindsight 20/20 but he was on a roll. May as well have ridden it. I think the only good thing from that trade was it showed Blake it’d be bad to sign Korpisalo as a UFA. Had we never had him he may gone for it.

Editing my post to read Peterson. I really think his failure altered everything.

 

[DryKing]

Does anyone know the timeline for the 2 younger goalie prospects? I know it’s not based on age but where they play. George is younger but he’s in Juniors so he’s coming earlier than Slukinsky, who’s in college. But I don’t know if that’s this upcoming season, the next season, or the season after that.

It’s great we have these goalie prospects. But we’re going to have to decide which one we want. Maybe we can keep 2 but not all 3. Assuming George has another year in Juniors, we’re going to have to sign 2 goalies & have them compete with Portillo to be Kuemper’s backup. Then the other 2 play in Ontario. Maybe they resign Copley but I doubt it. And I don’t want to see Rittich resigning.

What sucks is that because of Portillo’s injury & the issue with AHL rosters & the playoffs, we can’t send Rittich down & bring up Copley. So we have to pray that Kuemper can play as many games as possible. And that if Rittich does play we can outscore his mistakes.

I think they are realistically at least 3 years away from the NHL, and that's is they overachieve. Totally a guess though. It's very cool to have two goalies coming up around the same time, and facing one another in tournaments like the U20 (even if one is on the bench).