GDT: Pre-Season LA Kings vs Anaheim Ducks @7:00pm 10/3/23

[johnjm22]

Rough game for Byfield. And Kopitar, really. They started the game with a lot of energy and pace, and then they both started fading before the first ended.

That's what I would expect though. It's scrimmage. You're just going through the motions. Get a feel for a things. Pushing hard would be a mistake IMO.

I think Fiala is going too hard in these games. He needs to chill.

It's different if you're a trying to make the roster.

 

[Sol]

Just rewatched the Kempe goal and I can’t say it enough, Fiala is such a good player. The fact he was able to keep the puck in while being hounded by 2 ducks. Fed it Doughty, Doughty to Arvidsson, and Kempe the goal. That’s how you create space. When you’re as dangerous as Fiala, your presence alone drifts defenseman towards you.

Fiala is so f***ing talented. The last player the Kings had that was similar to Fiala in skill level is Palffy. Let that sink in man.

 

[Sol]

Coaches and management felt the travel and time change would really impact the players that went to Australia, as noted in the recent video:



Edit: Woah. They took down the 50 or so min full video and instead uploaded a mere 1 min trailer version (had just watched it earlier today around lunch).

I just don’t get it. Even reading the ducks board they’re calling Byfield a bust since Drysdale is out-producing him as well. The kings should be more concerned about his game readiness than him playing only 2 games so far. Think if Byfield doesn’t pick it up drastically by December/January then the bust talks will start to hold some really undeniable weight. He needs to start being a factor asap.

 

[BigBrown]

This is where I wish my boy Helenius was 1-2 years older and 15-20 pounds heavier.

Imagine Helenius and Englund. Big nasty Swedes.

Mark my words - he will be a King in the next 1-2 seasons.

Your boy is Finnish, not Swedish

 

[Kudelski37]

Looks like the PK brings a second forward a lot higher than before

I couldn't watch the game. The previous game it looked like the Kings were playing a triangle behind a rover that pressured anyone with the puck. Is that what they did last night?

 

[King'sPawn]

I just don’t get it. Even reading the ducks board they’re calling Byfield a bust since Drysdale is out-producing him as well. The kings should be more concerned about his game readiness than him playing only 2 games so far. Think if Byfield doesn’t pick it up drastically by December/January then the bust talks will start to hold some really undeniable weight. He needs to start being a factor asap.

No problem with you disliking Byfield, but using feedback from a local rival team fanboard is an absurd discussion point.

 

[BringTheReign]

Fiala and PL are so different. PL is thinking about every move meanwhile Fiala is very spontaneous

I’d argue that’s what exactly what you want from a center and a dynamic winger, respectively.

 

[CarlSneep]

Kopitar’s line had the fewest minutes among all forwards at even strength, which is why you probably didn’t notice them much.

 

[Trash Panda]

Q is playing like he doesn’t give a shit about NHL aspirations.

Zero pace. Zero fire. Just kinda, there.

 

[Statto]

Q is playing like he doesn’t give a shit about NHL aspirations.

Zero pace. Zero fire. Just kinda, there.

It’s what? His third preseason game. It’s also his first since Australia so these guys are undercooked. I’ll start judging players from regular season game 1 because for these guys it’s about preparing for that, getting their legs under them, timing correct and adjusting to any system tweaks. Whilst seeing Q dominate a game is what WE want it’s not specifically what preseason is for. These games ultimately count for nothing which is why Turcotte and it seems Clarke go to Ontario regardless of performance.

 

[Trash Panda]

It’s what? His third preseason game. It’s also his first since Australia so these guys are undercooked. I’ll start judging players from regular season game 1 because for these guys it’s about preparing for that, getting their legs under them, timing correct and adjusting to any system tweaks. Whilst seeing Q dominate a game is what WE want it’s not specifically what preseason is for. These games ultimately count for nothing which is why Turcotte and it seems Clarke go to Ontario regardless of performance.

For a 2nd overall pick who is by all indications “primed for a breakout” to show what he has, is certainly cause for concern.

A player with 33 career points and everything to prove doesn’t get to “cruise” through any amount of pre season.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Move PL to the wing with Kopitar and Byfield between Fiala and Kayilev?

 

[KingsHockey24]

Move PL to the wing with Kopitar and Byfield between Fiala and Kayilev?

Move Byfield to wing with Malstev and Chromiak?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Too many people are putting too much weight on pre-season.....I take it these are the same type of guys that draft in May for Fantasy Football, and wager a shit ton of money on pre-season games.

 

[Fishhead]

PL and Kopitar play similar games, I don't know if I'd put them together. Both need to carry the puck to be effective.

Not writing off Kopitar by any means, but at least he's not the best center on the team anymore.

 

[kings11]

PL and Kopitar play similar games, I don't know if I'd put them together. Both need to carry the puck to be effective.

Not writing off Kopitar by any means, but at least he's not the best center on the team anymore.

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Kempe …another shooter on Kopi’s wing
Byfield - Danault - Fiala …pulled off his outta my ass but it’s intriguing
Turcotte - PLD - Moore … another intriguing line lol
Kaliyev - Lizotte - Lewis … AK will end up here anyways

Sorry guys, I’m in the porcelain throne passing the time

PL and Kopitar play similar games, I don't know if I'd put them together. Both need to carry the puck to be effective.

Not writing off Kopitar by any means, but at least he's not the best center on the team anymore.

Yeah he is and now that he’ll hopefully have a lighter load you’ll see it more clearly

 

[Fishhead]

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Kempe …another shooter on Kopi’s wing
Byfield - Danault - Fiala …pulled off his outta my ass but it’s intriguing
Turcotte - PLD - Moore … another intriguing line lol
Kaliyev - Lizotte - Lewis … AK will end up here anyways

Sorry guys, I’m in the porcelain throne passing the time


Yeah he is and now that he’ll hopefully have a lighter load you’ll see it more clearly

I've learned to never bet against Kopitar.

That said, PLD has been right on his tail the last two years production-wise and he plays a lot fewer minutes. He's generally in the 18-minute range for games. Yeah, Kopitar had 11 more points last year but he played 600 more minutes.

I should qualify that as a better player offensively, PLD will never be the defensive force Kopi is.

 

[Johnny Utah]

BTW, Zack Kassian looks horrible. He's done.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

BTW, Zack Kassian looks horrible. He's done.

Physical player burnout is real and it's crazy

I remember talking about that around guys like Brown, Andrew Ladd, Brendan Morrow...they're like NFL running backs, they approach 30 and often just completely fall off the map isntead of slow burnout

 

[duxfan1101]

BTW, Zack Kassian looks horrible. He's done.

He's so bad. But it is pretty funny that he had more assists last night (1) than he did in 51 regular season games last season (0). I still don't know how that's possible.

 

[Sol]

Move PL to the wing with Kopitar and Byfield between Fiala and Kayilev?

I don’t think that’s a good idea. You don’t want to risk neutralizing Fiala by putting him with someone like Byfield. Maybe put byfield with Moore and Arvidsson.

 

[Little Psycho]

Meh….I don’t care what ducks fans are thinking about our youth. They should be more concerned about not being able to afford all their youngsters due to their internal cap.

 

[Statto]

For a 2nd overall pick who is by all indications “primed for a breakout” to show what he has, is certainly cause for concern.

A player with 33 career points and everything to prove doesn’t get to “cruise” through any amount of pre season.

I guess what I’m saying is it could simply be that his focus is on very specific things, rather than going full intensity which isn’t needed. Game 1 though it’s a different story.

That said my concern is still his confidence. I didn’t like the thinly veiled threat from TMac basically saying he had a short leash. That didn’t need to be done in public. This generation generally needs more love than that. I felt those comments were for TMacs personal PR, not to help QB.

 

[FSL KINGS]

You guys worry way too much about Byfield. Absolute worst case, we can turn him into a cheap defensive center with some size.

 

[Trash Panda]

You guys worry way too much about Byfield. Absolute worst case, we can turn him into a cheap defensive center with some size.

You can acquire those for a lot less cost than a 2OA pick.