Do you really think that a young man who started playing hockey for fun like all of us, is doing WWE wrestling at the boards for his own fun ?????
All of our players production declines year by year even when entering their prime. This started with Murray and is continued by Sutters system which is an exact copy of Murray defense rumble.
So i assume all 20 players sitting together before the game and talk to each other:Brown: Wow.. did you hear what Sutter say.. the usual play entertaining flashy offense combined with rock solid defense like a real contender.... Kopitar: yeah.. i can't believe that. I mean his system creates so many open scoring chances. We just should stay away from that. Best thing to have a quite night would be working the boards and never shoot.... Doughty: Sounds like a plan. The fans always annoy me with their presence anyways. Let's make sure they never come again.
Is that what you are saying ?????
Kopitar had a career year under Murray and Sutter. Muzzin is having a career year under Sutter, Doughty had a career year under Murray, Doughty may post 40 assists again this year (that's high for him).
Trevor Lewis/Kyle Clifford(maybe Nolan as well) career years this year most likely for production. Toffoli/Pearson breakout years under Sutter.
Sutter didn't make Kopitar/Brown production fall this season. Which is killing the Kings right now.
Again like it is every year, The coaches don't make the players not attack the net.
It's punishing to go into the blue paint, it's why guys like Gabo, Williams have been injured so much in their careers. You have to be willing to pay the price.
It's the same deal with the PP, everyone thought Kompon was the problem. Chicago's PP looks fine with Kompon coaching it.
It's the players, and their willingness to pay the price to score goals. Defense and Goalies are too good in the NHL to get beat from the outside consistently. You have to pay the price, the coaches can't get on the ice, and do it for the players.
Sutter and Stevens just about every single Kings game "We have to get more pucks deep, and take it to the net".