GDT: 2022-23 season game 66 LA Kings vs Colorado Avalanche @6:00pm 3/9/23

Raccoon Jesus

Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Oct 30, 2008
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I could watch Spence's four-way skating all day

so...time to see if the Kings can finally break an old habit. Just won a big game vs. the champs on the road. Are we gonna go a game under .500 on this home stand vs. teams that DGAF?
 
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cyclones22

Registered User
Apr 4, 2003
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I'd rather see Spence and Durzi playing LD paired together than Walker and Edler again. Spence just picking up where he left off last season. He played almost 20 minutes a game last season in 20+ games during the playoff push. He's for real but instead he's paying for Walker's contract sins.
 

Fishhead

Registered User
Jul 15, 2003
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I dont get why the coaches dont get a boner watching Spence wheel around the ice and play organized in the d-zone.. i must not assess D very well... they'll say he got outmatched in the EDM series.. like Durzi didnt? The guy knows what he is doing positionally and has much better skating than Durzi Walker and obviously Edler.
(removed combined post, i hate that)

His IQ is on another level. Comes in after not playing in the NHL for a while and puts up a game like that against the Avalanche? There isn't a hockey person alive that wouldn't notice that.

He's really improved his board play and looks a lot bigger too. He pinned a few guys into the boards and the gain in strength is apparent. He looks like Voynov 2.0 out there.
 

GoldenBearHockey

Registered User
Jan 6, 2014
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His IQ is on another level. Comes in after not playing in the NHL for a while and puts up a game like that against the Avalanche? There isn't a hockey person alive that wouldn't notice that.

He's really improved his board play and looks a lot bigger too. He pinned a few guys into the boards and the gain in strength is apparent. He looks like Voynov 2.0 out there.

Not possible.....that would mean his time in the AHL was GOOD for his development......and we all know that's not the case.....gotta be another explanation....
 

King'sPawn

Enjoy the chaos
Jul 1, 2003
21,995
21,124
Oh, and I love Spence. Great game for just jumping in for the first time this year. That said, he got lost/turned around on a rush coming at him that would have led to 30 posts about how Durzi sucks if it happened to Durzi.

Just a little perspective.
Every player has miscues. Contrary to what some people try to suggest, nobody expects perfection. Some people may call out missteps or miscues, but by and large there's an appreciation for a players' strengths and weaknesses. Heck, Roy had a gnarly giveaway in front of the net, too. Nobody's saying he sucks, either.

With Durzi, it's the quantity of unforced and forced errors that bring questions.
 

BigKing

Blake Out of Hell III: Back in to Hell
Mar 11, 2003
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Every player has miscues. Contrary to what some people try to suggest, nobody expects perfection. Some people may call out missteps or miscues, but by and large there's an appreciation for a players' strengths and weaknesses. Heck, Roy had a gnarly giveaway in front of the net, too. Nobody's saying he sucks, either.

With Durzi, it's the quantity of unforced and forced errors that bring questions.
Sure. Just mentioning it because we all want these young guys to come in and be studs. It's like a guy meeting a gorgeous woman, falling in love at first sight and not noticing any flaws/red flags.

It was an egregious error that fortunately didn't wind up in the back of the net. I'm in the Spencer for Hire camp big time but I just wanted to put it out there that it happened in case anyone missed it, reads the comments about last night and think that he might garner a Norris vote this year.
 

RocketKing

Registered User
Jul 2, 2017
926
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Oh, and I love Spence. Great game for just jumping in for the first time this year. That said, he got lost/turned around on a rush coming at him that would have led to 30 posts about how Durzi sucks if it happened to Durzi.

Just a little perspective.
Every game when Durzi played and Spence sat this year my first thought is that we aren’t playing our best lineup. I have no idea why.
 

AbsentMojo

F-ing get up and hunt! Cmon Todd!
Apr 18, 2018
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His IQ is on another level. Comes in after not playing in the NHL for a while and puts up a game like that against the Avalanche? There isn't a hockey person alive that wouldn't notice that.

He's really improved his board play and looks a lot bigger too. He pinned a few guys into the boards and the gain in strength is apparent. He looks like Voynov 2.0 out there.
Yes! I had to look up his height (5'10"), because he looks taller and bigger and i noticed him moving guys in the corners using his weight, where Durzi usually bounces off.
 
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AbsentMojo

F-ing get up and hunt! Cmon Todd!
Apr 18, 2018
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Sure. Just mentioning it because we all want these young guys to come in and be studs. It's like a guy meeting a gorgeous woman, falling in love at first sight and not noticing any flaws/red flags.

It was an egregious error that fortunately didn't wind up in the back of the net. I'm in the Spencer for Hire camp big time but I just wanted to put it out there that it happened in case anyone missed it, reads the comments about last night and think that he might garner a Norris vote this year.
And Ill raise your perspective (poker analogy) and point out that Doughty made so many gaffes last night that Spence looked perfect in comparison. Edit: i concede Spence is still learning (your point well taken), but his current level > Durzi, Walker, Edler, and his upside is probably Voynov
 
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psych3man

Registered User
Dec 17, 2019
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It was an egregious error that fortunately didn't wind up in the back of the net. I'm in the Spencer for Hire camp big time but I just wanted to put it out there that it happened in case anyone missed it, reads the comments about last night and think that he might garner a Norris vote this year.
The last part is not so far off because Spence is much better defensively than the guy who is going to win the Norris this year, a guy who doesn’t even play PK (sickening).
 

Sol

Smile
Jun 30, 2017
23,340
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the amount of time Durzi passes the puck through the middle of the ice and has it get intercepted is truly generational. His ability to turn the puck over for no reason is only rivaled by Doughty of late. Doughty has been killing the powerplay with his brain dead passes and surprisingly, his lack of effort. Last night he was so lazy with the puck.
 

AbsentMojo

F-ing get up and hunt! Cmon Todd!
Apr 18, 2018
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"Well how many guys do the Kings have on the ice right now because it feels like there's 37 sticks all over the place!"



Sounds like he's whining as much as Nate did in his post game interviews. :laugh:

I didnt take that as a whine, more as a compliment.. while Makinnon was pouting about the 1-3-1 like a little pantywaist that had his ball stolen by the bullies in the neighborhood
 

chris kontos

Registered User
Feb 28, 2023
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Im spoiled by two stanley cups. And with the exception of 1993, the pile of hot steaming crap we were handed as consumers. Im passionate when i see stuff like the destruction of a potentially young stars career (kaliyev) and marginal players (durzi) getting time over players in the a. Stuff like walker playing. I cant help but think what i see as favoritism screw up a potentially great team. Past history of the coach displayed favoritisim. Its my great hope the rest of todds resume doesnt follow this team into playoffs. Todd’s displaying the same old crap
 

AbsentMojo

F-ing get up and hunt! Cmon Todd!
Apr 18, 2018
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I could watch Spence's four-way skating all day

so...time to see if the Kings can finally break an old habit. Just won a big game vs. the champs on the road. Are we gonna go a game under .500 on this home stand vs. teams that DGAF?
Id say with the new personnel esp a solid 2nd pair, consistency *should* improve. I think the main thing to think about is how they should play against a team like themselves defensively - for example Minne. They played a solid game and lost there... they may need to adjust and try some different strategies if they see that again.
 
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Statto

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May 9, 2014
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Oh, and I love Spence. Great game for just jumping in for the first time this year. That said, he got lost/turned around on a rush coming at him that would have led to 30 posts about how Durzi sucks if it happened to Durzi.

Just a little perspective.
I think a guy playing his first game in however long gets a little slack anyway. Once he’s played 20 games the knives will start getting sharper… :)

It’s pretty interesting that the Kings entire success rests upon the shoulders of a player with a retro porn-stache.
Honestly I can make a case for scratching him until he does something about the ‘tache. It’s so wrong.
 

TruKingFan

Two-Time Cup Winner
Aug 16, 2004
1,294
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Oh, and I love Spence. Great game for just jumping in for the first time this year. That said, he got lost/turned around on a rush coming at him that would have led to 30 posts about how Durzi sucks if it happened to Durzi.

Just a little perspective.
Saw that too and was waiting for the angst and the up-in-arms reaction Durzi would have gotten but <crickets>…..

Having said that Spence played a good 1st game for his return to NHL ice. Much more decisive than last time.
 

Schmooley

Registered User
Apr 5, 2016
3,002
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Saw that too and was waiting for the angst and the up-in-arms reaction Durzi would have gotten but <crickets>…..

Having said that Spence played a good 1st game for his return to NHL ice. Much more decisive than last time.
I imagine if Spence plays a full season and a half and is still making those mistakes he will be crucified like Durzi.
But it was his first game with the team in a long time playing against the cup champs that are loaded with high end players and he played damn good.
 

TruKingFan

Two-Time Cup Winner
Aug 16, 2004
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I imagine if Spence plays a full season and a half and is still making those mistakes he will be crucified like Durzi.
But it was his first game with the team in a long time playing against the cup champs that are loaded with high end players and he played damn good.
For sure. My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. If Spence is really better than Durzi already, it wouldn’t take long to find out.
 
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mysterman2

Registered User
Jul 11, 2020
987
1,789
So Cal
Huntington.

Because I've seen Brendan after a practice in the preseason, I'm proud to say I've seen the only father/son pair in NHL history to be suspended for biting close up and in the flesh. Wasn't on my bucket list, but whatever.

didnt know he lived in HB...Claude lives there too? my hometown.

If Durzi misses several games he is going to be Wally Pipp-ed.
my favorite sports reference....Well played.
 

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