GDT: 2023-24 season game 52 LA Kings vs Boston Bruins @9:30am 2/17/24

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Clarke looked genuinely bummed out taking the penalty and staring off into deep space only to come back the Hero

Fiala Kopitar and Turcotte looking with excitement

Looked excited especially Kopi who was urging on the kid

 

[Frolov 6'3]

People (fans, management and coaches) will have to accept him for what he is and not try and change him. For years I argued that Karlsson was the best defenseman of the 2010’s, did he have warts to his game? Sure, and it was constantly pointed out here.

“Just a 4th forward”
“I want my defenseman to be defense first”

and rightfully so.

You are called a defender to keep the puck out of the net and contribute offensively when necessary. Even greater when you can do both.

I doubt Clarke will be a poor man’s Karlsson offensively due to skating and think he will be much better and competitive defensively.

This photo is SICK.

All eyes ?

The guy in red was busy to make a selfie on a breakaway and OT.
Society nowadays.

 

[Herby]

and rightfully so.

You are called a defender to keep the puck out of the net and contribute offensively when necessary. Even greater when you can do both.

I doubt Clarke will be a poor man’s Karlsson offensively due to skating and think he will be much better and competitive defensively.


All eyes ?

The guy in the red was busy to make a selfy on the breakaway and OT. Society nowadays.

This is ludicrous thinking, it would be like saying Michael Peca wasn’t great because as a forward he is supposed to score. The object of the game is to contribute to in helping your team win as much as you can.

Karlsson was as dominant a player as anyone in recent memory in his peak. Look at that Ottawa team in 2017.

Don’t believe me how dominant he was, listen to the interview with Mark Stone.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

This is ludicrous thinking, it would be like saying Michael Peca wasn’t great because as a forward he is supposed to score. The object of the game is to contribute to in helping your team win as much as you can.

Karlsson was as dominant a player as anyone in recent memory in his peak. Look at that Ottawa team in 2017.

Don’t believe me how dominant he was, listen to the interview with Mark Stone.

No thats comparing apples and oranges. There are 12 forwards and just 6 defenders and mostly two of them (defenders) play very little.

Peca was much more than a defensive specialist as well but thats beside the point.

Karlsson was playing 25 minutes +++++ a night and nobody denied his offense talent. That’s what you make up now and wasn’t your argument initially. He still would be very dominant as forward.

 

[LeftKinger]

Great to see Clarke win it, should be a huge confidence boost. Shoutout to Matt Roy, was money on that OT PK.

It’s also SO refreshing to see new line combos, especially in OT.

 

[Herby]

No thats comparing apples and oranges. There are 12 forwards and just 6 defenders and mostly two of them play very little.

Peca was much more than a defensive specialist as well but thats beside the point.

Karlsson was playing 25 minutes a night and nobody denied his offense talent. That’s what you make up now and wasn’t your argument initially.

No, my point is that Clarke, while having some significant defensive issues is going to be an impact player at the NHL level because of the offense he creates, and that you just have to take the good with the bad. That is tough for some here to do because well, Karlsson was about as popular on this forum as baby back ribs in Tehran. But he was/is an alltime great Hall of Fame defenseman and if Clarke can play like him, or play like Hughes it’s going to be awesome, and the Kings are going to need production from the back end if they have any prayer of making any kind of run.

 

[tny760]

The guy in red was busy to make a selfie on a breakaway and OT.
Society nowadays.

he's not taking a selfie, he's looking up at the scoreboard and the guy behind him is holding a beer or mid-facepalm

 

[Frolov 6'3]

No, my point is that Clarke, while having some significant defensive issues is going to be an impact player at the NHL level because of the offense he creates, and that you just have to take the good with the bad. That is tough for some here to do because well, Karlsson was about as popular on this forum as baby back ribs in Tehran. But he was/is an alltime great Hall of Fame defenseman and if Clarke can play like him, or play like Hughes it’s going to be awesome, and the Kings are going to need production from the back end if they have any prayer of making any kind of run.

I noticed a poster arguing the fact that many people (and not just here) think Karlsson was just not a good defender.

If you think otherwise, fine Herby, but leave the arrogance of “I was right all along” (no offense) out of it because a lot of people in general think otherwise. You could have kept it simple regarding Clarke and Karlsson but somehow other posters needed a slap on the wrist.

he's not taking a selfie, he's looking up at the scoreboard and the guy behind him is holding a beer or mid-facepalm

Thanks for clarifying. My apologies to the guy in red.

 

[Steve Zissou]

 

[FSL KINGS]

Giving PLD new linemates might have saved Todd's job if he did it so we have to be thankful that it didn't happen until he was gone.

It is truly fascinating that Todd chose to ride the ship all the way down instead of fixing the lines.

 

[SherVaughn30]

team should easily make the playoffs, question is are they contenders or fodder for edmonton

Hiller has this team on a much better compete level than what TMac did while coaching this team! If the Kings want to make the playoffs, goaltending is still the question mark. Talbot is running on fumes and Rittich has taken over the #1 job because he's the best goaltending option right now(his numbers don't lie). Rittich/Talbot are not the playoff answer in net. They need to acquire a goalie that can be their starter now, in the playoffs and for the near future till Portillo is ready.

 

[SherVaughn30]

It is truly fascinating that Todd chose to ride the ship all the way down instead of fixing the lines.

TMac was trying to sink the ship to the bottom of the ocean! He has a horrible track record of not knowing how to adjust lines and match the opponent.

 

[Herby]

I noticed a poster arguing the fact that many people (and not just here) think Karlsson was just not a good defender.

If you think otherwise, fine Herby, but leave the arrogance of “I was right all along” (no offense) out of it because a lot of people in general think otherwise. You could have kept it simple regarding Clarke and Karlsson but somehow other posters needed a slap on the wrist.


Thanks for clarifying. My apologies to the guy in red.

Hey, I love both players, I just find it a bit funny the Kings end up drafting a player that is so similar to one who was so disliked. I hope our fanbase appreciates Clarke and can take the good with the bad, he won’t be a superstar like EK but 80% would be a home run pick.

 

[yankeeking]

No argument that byfield made a mistake going so low but I think PLD is the center on that line and should have been more around the crease , always was taught that the wings covered the point……. And I think that the criticism of that play was he just stood watching and was not engaged at all ,same as on here , never seen a star as disengaged as him and I have been watching hockey since 1962, he has definitely been better since the break but at times it’s hard to watch

 

[FSL KINGS]

No argument that byfield made a mistake going so low but I think PLD is the center on that line and should have been more around the crease , always was taught that the wings covered the point……. And I think that the criticism of that play was he just stood watching and was not engaged at all ,same as on here , never seen a star as disengaged as him and I have been watching hockey since 1962, he has definitely been better since the break but at times it’s hard to watch

King's play a lot of man on man. In that position, PL sees 3 King's & 3 Bruins. He should stop up & cover the point & be available for the breakout. If he goes down to the net front & double covers Byfield's guy, this leaves the point wide open.

Byfield leaving his guy open was a mistake. PL was 15-20 feet away when Byfield skated below the goal line. There is no chance he can cover that much ground by the time he sees Byfield's mistake.

"I think PLD is the center on that line"
Maybe. The lines have been juggled quite a bit the last few games. PL could have been on wing, or maybe they were out of position based on whose the fastest skater getting back. Byfield is much faster. Either way it was Byfield's guy that scored the way it sorted out.

 

[kilowatt]

All eyes ?

The guy in red was busy to make a selfie on a breakaway and OT.
Society nowadays.

Is this a joke? He's looking up at the scoreboard. The phone next to his head belongs to the guy in the row above him.

 

[AbsentMojo]

No players should be around TMac, because when things go wrong he just blames the players all the time. TMac's arrogance was part of why he was fired. He never took enough blame for Kings loses when it was so evident.

He was like the English school master in Pink Floyd Brick in the Wall...strict, rigid, dry, anti-youth, anti-spontaneity... it permeates the entire org not just the Koala... but he was like the avatar of this philosophy

 

[kingsholygrail]

What a comeback and we actually won in OT for once. I missed the 2nd half of the third and OT, but watched the highlights. What is it with us and playing in Boston? We work strange miracles there.

 

[The Butcher]

He was like the English school master in Pink Floyd Brick in the Wall...strict, rigid, dry, anti-youth, anti-spontaneity... it permeates the entire org not just the Koala... but he was like the avatar of this philosophy

I'm not disagreeing or arguing but, in fairness to Todd, I can think of a certain former coach who had some success here with that style.

 

[Statto]

King's play a lot of man on man. In that position, PL sees 3 King's & 3 Bruins. He should stop up & cover the point & be available for the breakout. If he goes down to the net front & double covers Byfield's guy, this leaves the point wide open.

Byfield leaving his guy open was a mistake. PL was 15-20 feet away when Byfield skated below the goal line. There is no chance he can cover that much ground by the time he sees Byfield's mistake.

"I think PLD is the center on that line"
Maybe. The lines have been juggled quite a bit the last few games. PL could have been on wing, or maybe they were out of position based on whose the fastest skater getting back. Byfield is much faster. Either way it was Byfield's guy that scored the way it sorted out.

Hell back in ‘87 when I was stick boy (which was a beer league plus 2 ex-college pro’s)I remember guys getting bollocked for being the 3rd guy low… it’s a pretty basic error in truth.

 

[kingsfan28]

What a comeback and we actually won in OT for once. I missed the 2nd half of the third and OT, but watched the highlights. What is it with us and playing in Boston? We work strange miracles there.

youtube has the entire OT via sportsnet channel.

 

[Reaper45]

I stopped at watching after the second period. You’re welcome everyone. Happy for Clarke, that was a nice one. Keep the Hiller train rolling.

 

[chris kontos]

Hiller has this team on a much better compete level than what TMac did while coaching this team! If the Kings want to make the playoffs, goaltending is still the question mark. Talbot is running on fumes and Rittich has taken over the #1 job because he's the best goaltending option right now(his numbers don't lie). Rittich/Talbot are not the playoff answer in net. They need to acquire a goalie that can be their starter now, in the playoffs and for the near future till Portillo is ready.

the voice of reason.

anybody wanna bet that clarke goes back to the pressbox???

 

[Sausages]

What a comeback and we actually won in OT for once. I missed the 2nd half of the third and OT, but watched the highlights. What is it with us and playing in Boston? We work strange miracles there.

After following the Kings since 1990 it seems to be customary.....get creamed in a freaky game against Buffalo and then beat someone heavy like Boston as a follow up.

 

[kingsfan28]

Nick with the call...