Who Stays and Who Goes?

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HeadInjury

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TEAM LGK
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So what is everyone's thoughts on who is on the team opening night?

In goal, we are unquestionably set with Petersen and Quick.

On defense, the only question is who is the 7th d-man with Maatta, Clague, Wolanin and perhaps Strand the candidates.

Up front, Kopitar, Arvidsson, Brown, Danault, Iaffalo, Tkachev, Kempe, Moore, Valardi and Andersson appear to be the locks. That leaves the last 4 spots a contest between AA, Lemeiux, Lizotte, Grundstrom, Wagner, Frk, JAD, Byfield, Turcotte, Kaliyev and Kupari.

JAD would seem to me to be worthy of selection, yet he was recently placed on Group B for practices, where the only other players with any NHL experience for us are Frk and Wolanin.

AA is injured and perhaps he starts the season on IR.

My picks are Clague as the 7th on defense, and up front AA, Lemeiux, JAD and Grundstrom. I could see them possibly picking Lizotte over JAD, since JAD is still waiver exempt. I suppose Byfield could be chosen over both, but I don't think he's ready.
 
It's going to be tough decisions. You risk losing players to waivers but every other team is in the same position trying to fit their roster in.
I don't think you can keep Wagner if you keep AA, They are the same player and AA has better hands.
I sure hope Clague outplays Edler in camp, Edler got turnstyled last night and that was my memories of him in Vanc. That and dumb penalties.
Tkachev opened some eyes. Great instincts.
Byfield, Kupari and Kaliyev showed they are not out of place in the NHL but what will hurt them is having AHL flexibility.
The kids are going to have to force the issue, and it looks like that's what they are doing.
Some problems are good problems
 
Yeah no question Mac and Blake will have some tough decisions ahead. What do you do w/ Byfield? He'd have to go back to junior if he doesn't make the team? If that's the case then I hope he stays up - going back to junior is a waste IMO...
 
drums4dmf said:
Yeah no question Mac and Blake will have some tough decisions ahead. What do you do w/ Byfield? He'd have to go back to junior if he doesn't make the team? If that's the case then I hope he stays up - going back to junior is a waste IMO...
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There's a special exemption for Byfield. They are letting junior players who played at least 20 games in the AHL last year remain eligible for the AHL again this year. So its either the Kings or the Reign for him.
 
I literally have zero clue this time around. It's going to be a tough decision for Todd, Blake and the leadership team. I don't see Lizotte being there and both Grudstrom and Wagner should be worried as well.
 
On Defense, i think from what ive seen so far, it's almost certainly going to be Maatta. I thought he looked pretty good last night actually.

Forwards: AA and Lemieux for sure. Im going to hold off on the final two spots until i see a few more games though.
 
I still believe the Kings need some toughness out on the ice. When these games start to count, the hitting and pounding will begin. I do believe Byfield needs another year, with that said going to Jr's will not help him. Strand looked decent last night. I know a lot of people don't believe in Wagner but he does have the size, speed and toughness that this Kings team needs on a 4th line. He is also good for three goals a year. Lets see what happens this next game? Nobody will be happy with every decision but it is what it is.
 
Tkachev stays....

That's my only opinion...
 
I won't have my final roster out until October 14th. Please be patient! I just had a conference call for an hour and now I need to rest up for the game tonight. Love Fridays!
 
At some point you'd like to think Moore and Kempe are going to become valuable assets for a hockey deal. Especially if they can work a little more veteran presence for the D.
 
HeadInjury said:
There's a special exemption for Byfield. They are letting junior players who played at least 20 games in the AHL last year remain eligible for the AHL again this year. So its either the Kings or the Reign for him.
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Thanks for the heads up HI. I'm leaning towards QB starting w/ the Reign so he can play 20 min a night.
 
Ice24 said:
I still believe the Kings need some toughness out on the ice. When these games start to count, the hitting and pounding will begin. I do believe Byfield needs another year, with that said going to Jr's will not help him. Strand looked decent last night. I know a lot of people don't believe in Wagner but he does have the size, speed and toughness that this Kings team needs on a 4th line. He is also good for three goals a year. Lets see what happens this next game? Nobody will be happy with every decision but it is what it is.
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Didn't Strand drop the gloves last year in his limited time?
 
I'm really hoping at least one of Turcotte/Kupari force their way into the lineup to play 3rd/4th line minutes. They have the skills and the motors to play on those "energy" units, as well as the skill to chip in offensively.

I'd like to see Byfield play another AHL season and another summer getting meat on the bones, he does not look like's quite NHL ready. Needs more consistency.

Tkachev looks to have elite vision, he may be a huge difference maker this season no one really expected. The big question being, who will finish those plays he's sure to set up? He needs a shooter on his line. I can envision him setting up Kaliyev or Fagemo for a lot of goals at some point in the future.

The D is going to continue to be a weak spot, especially at the offensive end with what they've got out there. Lots of guys who can play 4-7 slots and not much in the way of 1-3. Doughty is a pretty average No. 1 at this point, and there's not much beyond that unless one or two of the kids really step up. Danault is going to be earning his money.

Should be an interesting team to watch at least.
 
Tyler Madden. He's really good. As for the rest, As I say every year, on opening night there will be 20 players on the ice plus some in the press box, sand I'll cheer for them all..... At least until one of them annoys me a' la Nick Shore. I didn't have a "player who annoyed me" over the past 2 seasons... They just all sucked on an equal level.
 
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santiclaws said:
I'm really hoping at least one of Turcotte/Kupari force their way into the lineup to play 3rd/4th line minutes. They have the skills and the motors to play on those "energy" units, as well as the skill to chip in offensively.

I'd like to see Byfield play another AHL season and another summer getting meat on the bones, he does not look like's quite NHL ready. Needs more consistency.

Tkachev looks to have elite vision, he may be a huge difference maker this season no one really expected. The big question being, who will finish those plays he's sure to set up? He needs a shooter on his line. I can envision him setting up Kaliyev or Fagemo for a lot of goals at some point in the future.

The D is going to continue to be a weak spot, especially at the offensive end with what they've got out there. Lots of guys who can play 4-7 slots and not much in the way of 1-3. Doughty is a pretty average No. 1 at this point, and there's not much beyond that unless one or two of the kids really step up. Danault is going to be earning his money.

Should be an interesting team to watch at least.
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I'm refusing to believe Tkachev could actually happen for the kings. It's been so long since we had a winger that could genuinely make all the other players on the ice immediately dangerous... Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
jammer06 said:
I'm refusing to believe Tkachev could actually happen for the kings. It's been so long since we had a winger that could genuinely make all the other players on the ice immediately dangerous... Keeping my fingers crossed.
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Blake on Tkachev a couple of days ago:


He was really good last night (in San Jose). He’s a little different, in the fact that he’s a real playmaker, sees the game and is not afraid to slow it down and make the right play. I think he’s fit in really well with our guys.

He’s able to make not just the first or second option but the third or fourth, which is a tough trait to find.


Pretty high praise, and that was before last night, when I thought he looked terrific. Doesn't sound like they have any plans to send him back to Russia.
 
jammer06 said:
I'm refusing to believe Tkachev could actually happen for the kings. It's been so long since we had a winger that could genuinely make all the other players on the ice immediately dangerous... Keeping my fingers crossed.
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ted-lasso-afc-richmond.gif
 
I really see no value of keeping Lizotte anywhere. Heck, I would have enjoyed watching what we saw yesterday over anything the last 5 years
 
santiclaws said:
Tkachev looks to have elite vision, he may be a huge difference maker this season no one really expected. The big question being, who will finish those plays he's sure to set up? He needs a shooter on his line. I can envision him setting up Kaliyev or Fagemo for a lot of goals at some point in the future.
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TMac's quote from the game last night...

?Poise, creativity, a sense of what might happen two or three moves ahead,? McLellan said of Tkachev. ?We talk about players, they?re either playing chess or checkers and Tkach is playing chess for sure.?
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Arvidson... Kempe... Andersson. Those three can shoot right now. That Vilardi line looked pretty dangerous last night and will probably look more so as they start to gel.
 
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