What's wrong with Kopitar?

[Stad]

What's the deal with him this season so far? He's only got 12 points in 25 games this season and only 2 assists in his last 9. Is he playing injured or is he just struggling at the moment? it's a bit shocking considering the playoff run he had last year, some people around here were putting him into their top 5 coming into this season.

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[I Hate Blake Coleman]

He hates your fantasy team.

 

[Stad]

He hates your fantasy team.

I don't have him on my fantasy team.

I'm asking a serious question though.

 

[Bandit]

He hates your fantasy team.

And he's having the worst season of his career. Either from the injury from the hit he took or from the fact that he's trying to have a kid with his wife, just brutal so far this year.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

it's a bit shocking considering the playoff run he had last year, some people around here were putting him into their top 5 coming into this season.

That's the problem. Guys like Kopitar are REALLY solid players, don't get me wrong. But they'll go on an insane tear at the right time and say they are top 5 players while guys that are really top 5 material (Malkin, Tavares, Giroux) just play at a high level at a more consistent pace.

That said, there's a lot of time left in the season and Kopitar is a 70-point player, not the .5 ppg player he's been this season.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

He's one of those guys whose game gets taken to another level and becomes more effective come playoff time/big games. He's obviously not having an ideal start to say the least, but come April he's absolutely going to be making headlines once again.

 

[Sam Spade]

It's the regular season. Come playoff time he will put up Smythe type numbers.

 

[Tifosi]

He's no Malkin

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

It's the regular season. Come playoff time he will put up Smythe type numbers.

Or ya know, 2013 postseason numbers. It's a mixed bag. Depends if he's hot or not.

 

[Rick Nash 61]

He's no Malkin

That shouldn't even be a comparison though

 

[Will Hunting]

Mike Richards is playing better than him now.

Seriously, I know that it will never happen, but his sucking is reaching ridiculous territory that I would ALMOST consider benching him for a game or two. He needs to wake the **** up, because it´s embarrassing how invisible he is.

Also, it´s kinda embarrassing for the SC champions to lose games vs Philly and Buffalo of all teams while scoring ONE goal combined in those games... Those are the worst teams in the East.

This thread was only a matter of time.

 

[kingsholygrail]

He's having a rough season. It happens to players.

 

[TT1]

trade him to montreal, desharnais + 2nd get'er done

 

[I Will Son]

Kopitar to Preds e4

 

[Sam Spade]

SI cover curse maybe?

 

[Clamshells]

The deal is that that ~20 game playoff sample isnt indicative of his actual seasonal abilities.

 

[likid]

It is confirmed he'll be a father for the first time at around end of the regular season (march/april 2015) and maybe this has also influence on his performances this season. Clearly he scored again very soon after SC celebration...

He also said in one interview here in Slovenia ten days ago, that a lot of players in LA Kings team have many small injuries that are usual for play-off time and are not shown outside but really bother with regular playing. I have feeling he was talking about himself, he just didn't want to say that directly...

 

[Addison Rae]

He's still playing effective hockey.

 

[Rey]

I always wondered if players who won the cup even care in the regular season. Why not just lay low, keep it safe, don't get injured, and just cakewalk into the playoffs then maybe try hard. The only time this changes is if it's a contract year. It's not like Gretzky's record numbers are reachable anyways. You get your PP time, and your top line minutes so you'll get your numbers.

Every year people predict the same guys to win the Art Ross and scoring titles, and every year they underachieve. LA, Chicago, Anaheim? Getzlaf? Perry? Doughty?

 

[Havre]

It is confirmed he'll be a father for the first time at around end of the regular season (march/april 2015) and maybe this has also influence on his performances this season. Clearly he scored again very soon after SC celebration...

He also said in one interview here in Slovenia ten days ago, that a lot of players in LA Kings team have many small injuries that are usual for play-off time and are not shown outside but really bother with regular playing. I have feeling he was talking about himself, he just didn't want to say that directly...

It's strange watching him. Something is wrong. Either he is in pain or he hasn't prepared as well as he usually does for the season. That might be on purpose though - to be ready for the play-offs.

I wouldn't worry if I were a Kings fan. If he is injured it isn't bad enough for him to be rested - so he should be fine. If he isn't in top shape he will be before the play-offs.

 

[DayNah]

Partied too much over the summer. Cup hangover.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Here's a stat for you. Kopitar didn't score a goal in the playoffs after Game 7 against Anaheim in the 2nd round.

In his last 37 games, he's got 5 goals, and 19 points. 10 goals in his last 51 games.

He usually hibernates for about a month, month and a half, every year. He's never been as unproductive offensively as he has been this year though. He's not even putting up the assists. He's got 7 this year, 4 of which came in 2 games. So he's got 3 assists in the other 23 games.

 

[Paul4587]

It's common for players to have cold streaks and even down seasons. Happened to Kovalchuk, Marleau and Getzlaf to name a few in recent years. All 3 bounced back as will Kopitar.

 

[Hawksfan2828]

The fact he doesn't have an accent despite growing up in Yugoslavia.

That is just amazing to me.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Most Kings fans want him scratched at least one game thats how bad he's been.