Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net The Kings are 8-2-6 since the coaching change. In the stupid world of the NHL point system a two point game becomes a three point game with every regulation tie. The six points the Kings have picked up with those “ties” is actually six losses. So in reality they are a .500 team.
The Kings have come back down after a few three and four goal games to the one and done goal scoring team of most of this season. The Kings as currently constructed aren’t going to get past the first round.
The Kings filled a hole by acquiring Mike Richards but now the holes are at wing. Dustin Brown has been the only consistent King winger this season. Justin Williams had a huge slump but has been playing well lately. The fourth line has been playing like a fourth line, chewing up minutes and not hurting the team.
The problem now is the lack of quality wingers. Dustin Penner is too slow. Jarret Stoll is not a winger. He is better suited as a second line center. But Mike Richards is a better one. He is not a third line checker or a fourth line grinder. He is not good along the boards or a great forechecker. Trevor Lewis is a natural center. The Kings are trying to give Andrei Loktionov a chance. But with his past injuries his development has been stifled. Kyle Clifford is still a work in progress. The Kings at this stage are very weak on wing.
The Kings need to move some people around to get the right mix. Stoll needs to go to a team that needs a second line center. They have to get a solid winger back in return. The Kings need a Sami Pahlsson type for a third line center. The Ducks won the Cup in ’07 because of their third line. They have to get another decent checking winger.
While the Kings have improved at center the loss of Ryan Smyth and Wayne Simmonds hurt more than they are willing to admit. They have been unable to replace the work along the boards, the forechecking and the general being tough on the puck that is missing this year.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net Kings lose to the worst team in the league today. They go 0 for 8 on the power play. It looks like the Kings let go of one coach too few.
Whomever runs the Kings power play, I believe it’s Jamie Kompon, should be fired and a new coach brought in with new ideas. There is no excuse for the power play to be this bad with the group of players they have to put out there.
It is so predictable. Work the puck in, bring it back to the point and fire away. The problem is the players at the point are trying to score instead of shooting it low and on net. Half the time they miss the net. The defensemen aren’t going to score much from the point. You score on deflections and rebounds. The Kings miss Ryan Smyth and what he brought to the power play. You don’t see it this year. No goalies being screened, no defensemen tied up in front. Too much perimeter play. Time to change it up.
Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch today. Probably safe to say the Kings really screwed up that trade. Penner will be lucky to sign somewhere next year for half the money he is making now. The Kings need a winger who can score, so if they are going to move assets to get one they better make sure he is a blue chip winger. The Kings well isn’t that deep with prospects and they didn’t spend years building it up to waste on another Penner.
The Kings would be a top three team in the league if they find a way to start putting the puck in the net.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net The Kings are 4-0-2 since Darryl Sutter took over.
Their forecheck is improved and the Kings are attacking with numbers instead of one guy dumping it in. The Kings are slowly coming out of their season long slump. Justin Williams is starting to put some points up and Anze Kopitar finally found the twine. It helps when they faced an overrated Bobby Shakes.
I’m starting to see why people are down on Dustin Penner. He doesn’t stop. He circles. Just like peewee hockey. In Winnipeg in the last minute he had the puck in his skates and just kept skating. Didn’t stop, Didn’t try to fish it out or control it. Just skated away from it. In OT he tried to block a pass from Evander Kane and circled towards the blueline, while Kane went to the net. By the time he circled back Kane put in the rebound. Didn’t stop. Didn’t tie up Kane. Didn’t go to the net. He was caught offsides last night against Vancouver because he didn’t stop, He circled over the blueline and didn’t get back. It’s frustrating to watch.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net It’s too bad that Dean Lombardi has lost his way.
When he was first hired he had a plan. Build through the draft. Develop from within. Have a steady stream of young kids who know the system that you can plug in and not miss a beat. We were forgiving when he had early missteps. Signing Dan Cloutier, Alyn McCauley, Alex Ponikarovsky Ladislav Nagy, all bad signings but plugging holes in the lineup while the kids developed. Overpaying for Michal Handzus. Even his first draft was not impressive. Of the first eleven players who were drafted in Thomas Hickey’s class, he is the only one who has not played in the NHL.
But the last two years he seems to think that we are one player away from real contention. So now he feels he has assets and can get that one player. So he trades Colton Teubert, a former forst round pick, and a first round pick for Dustin Penner. Didn’t Dino watch Penner when he was with the Ducks? How about Penner’s second year in Edmonton when they were ready to run him out of town? His rep was always being a bit lazy, out of shape and slow. And this is the guy who is going to take the Kings to the next level?
The Kings real need was a second line center. They filled that with Mike Richards. They felt they could give up Wayne Simmonds because it looked like Kyle Clifford was ready to step into Simmonds third line role. Oops. One goal so far for Clifford, while Simmonds plays time on the power play and contributes to the Flyers all around game. I didn’t mind them trading Brayden Schenn, who seems injury prone and is unproven, but they may have taken a step back on the wing.
Now Dino thinks it’s the coach. When Terry Murray was hired we knew he was the type of coach who could only take a team so far. He did a great job with the defensive aspect of the team. But the Kings are boring and predictable on offense. It’s usually a one man rush. They don’t force the puck to the net enough. Once they work it down low they throw it back out to the point. No imagination.
So how is Darryl Sutter going to change things? The positive side is he has won everywhere he has coached. The negative is he is a surly man with a condescending attitude towards people. He also hasn’t coached in five years and has been out of hockey for a year. He is still in touch with today’s game?
I’d really hate to see Lombardi lose his job if this hiring doesn’t work out. It would mean that the Kings would have to start from scratch with someone else. He had the right ideas but hasn’t executed them properly. The Kings are still a top six winger away from really being a contender. But how many more assets do you give up to get that player? And will he be the right player? He has proven many times that he misjudges players. If he didn’t have Kopitar, Brown, and Quick in the system when he signed on what kind of trouble would he be in? He needs to get back on track with developing from within the system and when he needs to trade find a more competent pro scout so he has a better idea of who can play and who can’t.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net When Terry Murray was hired it was known then that he is a good foundation builder. He just can’t finish the house that will sit on it.
With the foundation set it was time to let him go. As good a coach as he is with the defensive end of thing he has no clue on how to build an offensive attack. Telling the boys they have a green light offensively is different from showing them how to attack.
The Kings offense is boring and unimaginative. The constant dumping and cycling with players that are unable to play that type of game had a predictable outcome. In last night’s game against the Bruins I counted one rush where the Kings had numbers crossing the blueline. Even with Doughty trying to create with his rushes he was usually the only one entering the zone.
The Kings are an easy team to play against right now. Goaltending and defense are not a problem. But until they figure out a system that plays to their players offensive strengths we are going to continue to see low scoring games and strings of losses.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net Watching the difference between how the Kings attack the zone and the Wild really points out what is wrong with the Kings offense.
But first, I put the whammy on Jonathan Quick. I complimented him on what I perceived to be his improved puck handling when he reverted to last year and giftwrapped a goal for the Ducks. Then after the second Wild goal he went and almost did it again. So I was way off on his improvement. For the most part he was setting it up behind the net and getting out of the way. But lately he has been trying to pass it up, and that is when the hilarity ensues. I’m just surprised we haven’t heard about Ron Hextall being in a coma from banging his head against the wall.
Anyway, to the attack. The Wild come at you in waves. Rarely just one guy. It’s two or three with a defenseman activating, with speed. They are backing other teams off and creating room. The Wild’s third goal against the Kings was a perfect example. Forwards hit the line with speed and create room for the defenseman following up. Forwards crashing the net, a lot of traffic, and a goal.
The Kings attack consists of one guy carrying the puck into the zone, either shooting the puck on net, shooting it in or getting checked off the puck. The other forwards are behind the play and unable to establish presence in front of the net or a forecheck. The puck is then picked up and turned the other way.
The Kings had 44 shots against the Wild the other night. But how many were actually quality shots? Hackett probably saw all of them. I don’t remember one shot that hit him where he didn’t see it. Another thing, the Kings work it down low and instead of forcing it to the net they bring it back out to the point where any defenseman who shoots it invariably shoots it wide or over the net. They hit the net maybe once every five times. Now you have three forwards stuck deep and the puck going the other way. Drew Doughty is guilty of this and Jarret Stoll, ALWAYS, on the power play. The Kings two goals were the result of Jack Johnson hitting the net with a low shot and a rebound being put in. Not too difficult for the type of talent the Kings have on the blueline.
Dustin Penner has played well the last couple of games. If he is back from whatever ailed him then the Kings are that much closer to being a legitimate elite team. With Mike Richards being hurt you can see how much the Kings miss him. If the Kings can plug in another power forward and change their style of attack the still have plenty of time to turn this around.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net The Kings finally beat a team you could consider an elite team when they defeated the Sharks on Tuesday.
Then they beat a Florida team that the jury is still out on.
So Montreal comes into town on a four game losing streak with what seems like half the team on injured reserve. Seems like easy pickin’s, right?
No. These are the Kings. Forty five years of Kings. We know how this plays out. Seen this too many times. Pretty tired of it, actually.
The Kings right now are a barely above average team. They beat the teams they should beat, but lose to teams that are either elite or just below elite status.
The Kings have good goaltending bordering on great. Jonathan Quick is getting better handling the puck. Their defense is adept and can move the puck. Jack Johnson isn’t as high risk this season and Drew Doughty is showing why it is important to be in camp. They have a legitimate Number One and Number Two center.
Where they lack is bottom six forwards and a power forward. They thought they solved the power forward issue with the Dustin Penner trade. But he is showing he is not the answer. He doesn’t have the foot speed to keep up with the play. The Kings would dump him but no one wants him.
Simon Gagne has caught Kingitis. He is now inconsistent, just like Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, Brad Richardson, Dustin Brown, etc. Until the Kings can figure out how to get consistent scoring from all twelve forwards they will not go far this season.
If, when and until the Kings get a top six power forward and a strong third line they will just be a barely above average team.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net Today was fire the coach Monday in the NHL.
Once Alex Ovechkin got mad at the coach you knew it was a matter of time before Bruce Boudreau was canned. The Washington Capitals are learning the hard way that you can’t win when Russian players are your leaders. Russian players get by on talent. When it comes down to winning in crunch time they disappear. No grit and no heart.
Boudreau will end up somewhere. Probably soon, maybe in Columbus.
I don’t know how Paul Maurice lasted as long as he did. He really milked taking the Hurricanes to the Finals in 2006. Otherwise he never was a consistent winner.
The one thing he did do this season was make Alexei Ponikarovsky a player. He was brutal with the Kings last season, only scoring five goals. He already has six this year, and it isn’t even December yet. If another team hires Maurice as a head coach they should submit to a brain scan.
The Kings are shuffling the lines tonight against San Jose. All we read about when the Kings signed Simon Gagne was how he and Mike Richards had great success together. So of course Terry Murray in all his infinite wisdom never played them together. Until tonight. So what will happen is they won’t get on the score sheet and Murray will say “See, I knew it” and break them up. Murray can’t help it. He is a chronic line juggler.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net The season is now 20% over and time to see where the Kings stand.
The Kings have played the teams which they should use as a benchmark to see if they have improved. They lost to San Jose in San Jose, lost to Pittsburgh in a shootout at home and last night lost to Vancouver at home. These are the teams they have to get through if they think they have a shot at the Cup.
Where to start? First, the Kings are getting no scoring from the bottom six forwards. Especially from Stoll and Richardson. Trevor Lewis showed last season when he was paired up with Ryan Smyth that he has some offensive potential. Colin Fraser looked good last night and showed some grit. Haven’t seen enough of Trent Hunter to get a read on him. I thought he was a decent player with the Isles.
But we need to remember that Terry Murray has asked these guys to be defensively responsible. That may be taking away from their chances offensively.
The Kings also need to change how they attack in the offensive zone. They like to cycle down low but the only line that is able to do that consistently is Kopitar’s line. All the other lines try it, get bumped off the puck and turn it over. The Kings don’t have the personnel to play that type of game.
Terry Murray also needs to leave Dustin Penner on one line and see how it plays out. He has done it for the last two games. I’m willing to give Penner the benefit of the doubt for now. He was injured during camp and may be getting into game shape now. But he needs to play with the same players, not keep getting bounced around. Also, last night when the Kings had the sixth attacker, Penner was out there and he was trying to get in position to make a play. When the Kings got a shot off he was to far from the net to get a rebound. He is their biggest player and he needs to just get in front of the net, screen the goalie and get rebounds. He shouldn’t be more than ten feet from the net at any time. Let Kopitar, Richards, Williams and Gagne make the plays. You just stand there and take a defenseman or two with you.
At this point in the season the Kings are a .500 team. The Kings have historically overrated their players, and this may be the case so far this season. They are still a big scoring winger away from getting to where they want to be. Can Dean Lombardi pry away Jarome Iginla away from the Flames? The Kings need to move a defenseman to make room for Slave Voynov. Would one of their young defensive prospects and a first round pick perk their ears? I don’t think the Flames will move Iginla until later in the season when they have more leverage. But Iginla also has a no trade clause in his contract, so he would have to want to come here. He could be the missing link that could put the Kings over the top.
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Need a home loan? Visit http://www.clarionloans.net The Kings have lost four in a row. This team has chemistry problems right now. They are a one line team plus Mike Richards right now.
Drew Doughty is trying too hard to justify his big contract. He needs to stop thinking and just play.
Jarret Stoll is useless 5 on 5. His legs look like they are going 100 MPH but he skates himself out of the play. Last night against the Penguins late in the game he loses the faceoff in the defensive zone, and then is shrugged off like a gnat when he was trying to check his man behind the net. He lost his check on the tying goal, and even the one thing he does well, shootouts, he didn’t score. He needs to start chipping in a goal here and there.
I hate to jump on Dustin Penner but he doesn’t fit in with the Kings style of play right now. He has size and good hands, but has trouble getting there. He seems to be a step behind the play. Murray bouncing him around from line to line doesn’t help either. But that goes back to my chemistry remark. He is trying to find people who mesh. There is no cohesion right now with the forwards.
Chris Kunitz was great last night. The Ducks should never have traded him. They have never replaced him or Andy McDonald since both were traded. You think the Ducks could use those two guys right about now?
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