S
s7even
Lurker
Yup, TMac choking in a Game 7 again. Inability to adjust in game. Game plan was what...pray that McDavid doesn't touch the puck? Wasn't a fan of TMac hire and am still not.
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Ice24
Lurker
This Kings team overachieved all season long. To take the Oilers to 7 games was incredible with the players the Oilers have. Two key players missing from the Kings and still 7 games? Great season it?s going to be a great summer for the Kings.
Clif
Super Star
Holding that team to one goal with five minutes to play was a hell of an execution. Not enough finishers and it’s fitting that’s what ended the season.
P
PTDP
Lurker
I dont know if "Tmac" is "Choching", but he or the next one needs the right players
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Rogie-Vachon
Lurker
I'm not a fan of your silly posts.
No Doughty since March. No Arvidsson all playoffs.
Kids like Byfield & Spence got schooled.
Kids like Kupari, Anderson & Kaliyev rose up.
J
jom
Lurker
I'm still trying to figure out how a coach "chokes". This must be referring to the Sharks disaster in 2014. If anything, I'd argue the PLAYERS choked in that case. However, even that is a stretch. I don't know of a lot of incidents that players even choke...it's just a term the media uses to create drama. Edmonton won because they are the better TEAM. Plus they have the best player in the world...what are you gonna do?
Besides that a coach losing a series isn't a "choke". If that's the case Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour were two the biggest chokers of all time since they lost a lot of playoff series....because ...you know...their teams were in the playoffs a LOT.
jom
Besides that a coach losing a series isn't a "choke". If that's the case Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour were two the biggest chokers of all time since they lost a lot of playoff series....because ...you know...their teams were in the playoffs a LOT.
jom
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R
Reg or Rog?
Lurker
I like Coach Todd, but I would have played Gabe in Game Seven.
R
Reg or Rog?
Lurker
Yep.
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Ice24
Lurker
Coach Mac did an incredible job with what he had for players. If Blake can bring in a few skill players and some character players and a D, it will be all good. One year ahead of schedule.
It's a whole different game for McDavid if Doughty was on the ice. Not as many chances.
It's a whole different game for McDavid if Doughty was on the ice. Not as many chances.
J
JayWells24
Lurker
I am not a fan of TMac either nor was a fan of his hire. The Kings did overachieve this year. I have seen/read fans blame inexperience, injuries, etc., but IMO the biggest failure this year was the special teams. I realize the players have to execute, but T-Mac not replacing his special teams coaches mid-way through the season coupled with trotting the same guy out there on PP1 who had scored 1 goal in 30 gams is RIDICULOUS!!! Put anyone out there but him.
99 points is a great season, especially with this largely inexperienced line up. But if our special teams were better, that would be at least 8-10 more points in the standings and we have that game 7 home game or perhaps even 1st place. That is a fact.
I have been a fan of the Kings for almost 50 years. Every year, whether realistic or not, we expect our favorite team to compete for the Stanley Cup. That is the fun of being a fan and why we take it so hard when they don't. There are brighter days ahead for this team, but if the special teams issue is not addressed, the results will reflect that.
99 points is a great season, especially with this largely inexperienced line up. But if our special teams were better, that would be at least 8-10 more points in the standings and we have that game 7 home game or perhaps even 1st place. That is a fact.
I have been a fan of the Kings for almost 50 years. Every year, whether realistic or not, we expect our favorite team to compete for the Stanley Cup. That is the fun of being a fan and why we take it so hard when they don't. There are brighter days ahead for this team, but if the special teams issue is not addressed, the results will reflect that.
D
DarkLeftHand
Lurker
You?re going to appreciate the fact that TMac even had an opportunity to ?choke? in a playoff series this year, when this team regresses next season and fails to squeak into the playoffs. Get ready for some of that ?non-linear? growth and progression, because our next batch of buns aren?t even close to being ready to pull from the oven. Ontario is NOT a good indicator or progress, to be clear. It was players like Frk and Tynan carrying that team to victory, not Byfield and Turcotte
DryKing
Power Forward
Tynan and Frk led the pack, but saying they carried the team is a stretch. JAD, Spence, Vilardi, Madden, and Tkachev all played significant roles, as did Thomas in the playoffs. Also think of what Andersson would have done had he been able to be assigned to the AHL rather than the NHL practice squad, and Taylor Ward looks like a nice pickup with potential. That's not even including the next wave coming, or a player like Turcotte who spent the year injured. I agree that it will be tougher next year for the Kings to make the playoffs, but no need for the doom and gloom.
I'm still most intrigued by what Thomas can bring to the big club. He seems like he can bring what Moore was bringing in the bottom six before he turned the corner into a top six player. Its not sexy but you need those guys coming through too. He doesn't have amazing size or anything but I hear about how he's constantly part of the play and I don't think you ever go wrong with players like that.
DryKing
Power Forward
Yeah, I think you are on to something there with the Moore comparison. I tracked Thomas pretty hard while he was in the OHL and really expected him to become a top 6 especially after seeing his ability to adapt and be successful after the mid season OHL trade, but his development at the AHL level was initially slower than I had expected. That said, the few games he was somewhat healthy this season reinforced the hope that he may have top 6 potential in the future.
Thought this article was a good read - excerpt below:
https://thehockeywriters.com/kings-prospect-profiles-akil-thomas/
Scouting Report
Thomas is a complete player: an elite skater who makes good decisions in all situations. As demonstrated by his point totals, he is more of a playmaker, but there is no doubt that he still has scoring ability, putting his outstanding skating to use.
Related: Kings’ 2021-22 Midseason Prospects Report
There isn’t a lot to complain about when it comes to Thomas’s play. When he was drafted, his biggest weaknesses were his size, strength, and physical play. Since then, that side of his game has developed and will continue to get better as he gets older.
NHL Projection
While Thomas is listed as a center, he could move to the wing if he is going to be a part of the Kings’ future; LA is loaded down the middle, and shifting him to the wing should allow him to get more opportunities and balance the lineup. As far as lineup projections go, he could be a middle-six forward or even top-six if he rebounds from his injury and continues to improve.
Clif
Super Star
Regress from what? Have even worse special teams? Even fewer goals from the D corps?
Kings were dead last in expected goals for vs. actual so can’t get worse there. Shooting percentage at 6.7%. Oof.
Can Byfield, Kupari etc. actually regress if they haven’t done anything yet?
There’s upside in having very clear issues to address. Don’t think the work that needs to be done is lost on anyone.
D
DarkLeftHand
Lurker
I will concede that the reason the Reign got demolished by Colorado was likely due to the fact that they were missing players like Vilardi, Turcotte, Byfield, Andersson, Spence, Durzi, etc. Opponents definitely seemed to be more capable of shutting down Tynan/Frk with the young prospects out of the lineup.
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DarkLeftHand
Lurker
He does seem to have a knack for scoring goals, which has been the King's sorest spot for decades. I was concerned with his first 30 regular season games this year, coming back from double shoulder surgery, but he seemed to spark towards the end of the season, and had a nice showing in the playoffs. Here's hoping this translates to the bigs.
D
DarkLeftHand
Lurker
Well, it can ALWAYS be worse. See the majority of the last 5-7 years of Kings hockey, plus the dark days of the mid 00's, if you need a brush down recent memory lane. The regression I am speaking of is the inevitable decline of players like Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick. Say what you will, but without these guys still kicking around, we'd be down at the bottom of the bin with Arizona and Ottawa, if we were relying on the non-existent 'progress' of players like Byfield/Vilardi/Turcotte/Kupari.
Clif
Super Star
That’s not really a take I can argue with much as of now because it totally discounts the quality of moves Blake is yet to make this summer. And it is inevitable he will make moves.
Hard disagree on Doughty. Best season he had in years and only had him for 39 games.
Yes Kopi needs to play less but he was still the points leader yet again. Byfield has to step up, but I don’t think massively so. He scored 10 points in 40 games this season. 30 over a full season is reasonable. 40 and I’ll throw a party. It’s the season after he needs to show a bigger jump.
This season validated that Blake’s plan is capable of an upward trajectory and his offseason moves and last few drafts make me more confident in continued progress over regression. And I love that Todd didn’t sugarcoat anything after losing in round one. He said young players have to grow up fast and he will hold them accountable to that.
R
Reg or Rog?
Lurker
Yup.
This isn't Little League and this isn't a small market town. We've been rebuilding for some time now, and we made great strides this season...took the Oilers to seven games...overcame many obstacles...blah, blah, blah...and I'm proud of this team...but we have the resources required to take this to the next level, and it's not surprising if the fanbase expects more.
This team's needs are obvious. What we do about those needs remains to be seen. I still like Coach Todd and respect his decision making...for the most part...but some of our personnel decisions have been baffling. If nothing else, this will prove to be an interesting off-season.
