GDT: Pre-Season LA Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights @1:00pm 10/7/23

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Bjornfot was a -3.

But Talbot was worse and Englund doesn't bring a whole lot,Blake was Dumpster Diving here

 

[Statto]

I just put in an extra order of popcorn in for when the Kings don’t go 2-0 to start the season….epic meltdown incoming.

I agree people over react but you must surely agree the following are concerns (I don’t expect you to admit it either way):

- Goaltending
- The cap (therefore roster size).
- There is no space for our blue chip C prospects.
- Laf and Turcotte look ready and they can’t join the main roster (plus no space to play).
- Turcotte in the AHL leaves him vulnerable to head hunters. It’s not a good environment for Clarke either.

These are all problems entirely of our own making. There definitely seems to be a strategic disconnect.

I’m not worried about preseason results. I’m certainly not as ‘doom, doom, doom‘ as some. It could go either way but if the wheels do come off it will be spectacular because those issues are real.

Clarke brings the sort of X-factor that could take this team over the top. If they are in ‘win now’ mode that is idiocy sending him down because he needs to play regularly to be put in a position to do that. I don’t get it. I’m not saying Spence isn’t ready either.

It’s the most concerned I’ve been during this retool. They need Talbot to find his best for, Byfield to explode and Dubois to put pressur on Kopi to be 1C. They need all of those things for a decent playoff run… oh yeah, Clarke also.

They‘ve stacked the deck against themselves and the way out is a couple of creative trades. We will see.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Sometimes I feel like the NHL has changed and you don't need lights out goaltending to win playoff rounds anymore. Vegas won it all with their 3rd stringer.

But then the rationality and sense in my brain takes over. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that the Kings are spending to the limits of the cap and this is the best we can do in net.

Hope one of these goalies and the team on front of them prove us all wrong.

Might as well fast track Portillo since the 3 LA goaltenders aren't any good

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I agree people over react but you must surely agree the following are concerns (I don’t expect you to admit it either way):

- Goaltending
- The cap (therefore roster size).
- There is no space for our blue chip C prospects.
- Laf and Turcotte look ready and they can’t join the main roster (plus no space to play).
- Turcotte in the AHL leaves him vulnerable to head hunters. It’s not a good environment for Clarke either.

These are all problems entirely of our own making. There definitely seems to be a strategic disconnect.

I’m not worried about preseason results. I’m certainly not as ‘doom, doom, doom‘ as some. It could go either way but if the wheels do come off it will be spectacular because those issues are real.

Clarke brings the sort of X-factor that could take this team over the top. If they are in ‘win now’ mode that is idiocy sending him down because he needs to play regularly to be put in a position to do that. I don’t get it. I’m not saying Spence isn’t ready either.

It’s the most concerned I’ve been during this retool. They need Talbot to find his best for, Byfield to explode and Dubois to put pressur on Kopi to be 1C. They need all of those things for a decent playoff run… oh yeah, Clarke also.

They‘ve stacked the deck against themselves and the way out is a couple of creative trades. We will see.

Of course there are 'concerns', every team has them! Here's the thing though, the people who are actually getting paid to make those decisions...they want this team to win just as badly as you and I. They've done a pretty good job over the last two seasons, they've put this team in a position that most would have not predicted for 2023. I'm excited, and I'll continue to be until the RESULTS show me something different.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Of course there are 'concerns', every team has them! Here's the thing though, the people who are actually getting paid to make those decisions...they want this team to win just as badly as you and I. They've done a pretty good job over the last two seasons, they've put this team in a position that most would have not predicted for 2023. I'm excited, and I'll continue to be until the RESULTS show me something different.

That's good your excited but I have some concerns mainly that awful goaltending the 6th-7th D-man and of course the 4th line outside of Grundstrom! Kings need a Nick Bjugstad type that's not Teeny,tiny Lizotte and Old Man Lewis who never had a decent scoring season in his Life! Putting Grundstrom with these 2 is like feeding The Christians to the Lions and its not even entertaining watching them unless they're only around for their PK duties and like I said a Nick Bjugstad type would have been better...If the 3 lines aren't clicking and the Top Players aren't getting ample ice time then...there could be a Mutiny on the high Seas...I know one thing for sure Bjornfot is not happy with the BS they have fed him for 4 years like he was the next coming...he would have been better served in SHL and training with Pro's not Minor Leaguers of the AHL the 2nd best league in NAmerica and about 5th in the World!

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

That's good your excited but I have some concerns mainly that awful goaltending the 6th-7th D-man and of course the 4th line outside of Grundstrom! Kings need a Nick Bjugstad type that's not Teeny,tiny Lizotte and Old Man Lewis who never had a decent scoring season in his Life! Putting Grundstrom with these 2 is like feeding The Christians to the Lions and its not even entertaining watching them unless they're only around for their PK duties and like I said a Nick Bjugstad type would have been better...If the 3 lines aren't clicking and the Top Players aren't getting ample ice time then...there could be a Mutiny on the high Seas...I know one thing for sure Bjornfot is not happy with the BS they have fed him for 4 years like he was the next coming...he would have been better served in SHL and training with Pro's not Minor Leaguers of the AHL the 2nd best league in NAmerica and about 5th in the World!

I don't know what to tell you bud....if you are that concerned, I suggest cancelling your season tix.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

I don't know what to tell you bud....if you are that concerned, I suggest cancelling your season tix.

Can't do that I need my daily fix besides what the hell would I do with my time,Spend it with the "OutLaws"...not Bloody Likely

 

[bmr]

I agree people over react but you must surely agree the following are concerns (I don’t expect you to admit it either way):

- Goaltending
- The cap (therefore roster size).
- There is no space for our blue chip C prospects.
- Laf and Turcotte look ready and they can’t join the main roster (plus no space to play).
- Turcotte in the AHL leaves him vulnerable to head hunters. It’s not a good environment for Clarke either.

These are all problems entirely of our own making. There definitely seems to be a strategic disconnect.

I’m not worried about preseason results. I’m certainly not as ‘doom, doom, doom‘ as some. It could go either way but if the wheels do come off it will be spectacular because those issues are real.

Clarke brings the sort of X-factor that could take this team over the top. If they are in ‘win now’ mode that is idiocy sending him down because he needs to play regularly to be put in a position to do that. I don’t get it. I’m not saying Spence isn’t ready either.

It’s the most concerned I’ve been during this retool. They need Talbot to find his best for, Byfield to explode and Dubois to put pressur on Kopi to be 1C. They need all of those things for a decent playoff run… oh yeah, Clarke also.

They‘ve stacked the deck against themselves and the way out is a couple of creative trades. We will see.

This is a great take. Clarke, Laf and Turcotte definitely belong on this team now. If push came to shove i'd probably take Laf over Kaliyev right now. I feel that Talbot can have a really good season and there's no reason to think Copley won't be as capable as last year.

I had higher hopes for Bjornfot. I'm not quite sure why he hasn't taken a leap forward in his development. I think Roy/Gavrikov is our best pairing. Some may say Doughty/Anderson, but Doughty is still prone to doing some boneheaded things out there, just like what let to that first Vegas goal yesterday.

You're either going to see a trade or two this year or the team is going to wait til next year when Arvidsson's contract is up.

 

[Schrute farms]

I'm not one to be overly concerned with preseason. Even early season results can be skewed a bit.
But i understand the concern by so many. All the areas of issues, weakness, etc are all there to see right now -- covering players, GM, coaching, etc. That could be a huge red flag. Or it could go away once the real games start.

I'm willing to give this a chance and see where it goes. But if you're a betting man, it sure seems slanted in a HUGE way toward one predictable end result.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The last thing I want is vets taking it easy because they have a guaranteed spot. Especially when players like Laferriere played his heart out to make the roster and is making less than 10% of his potential salary because Blake couldn't manage the cap.

I'm getting the sense that literally everyone that didn't make the roster is trade bait for a goalie and/or whatever other needs develop before the deadline.

These guys don't give a shit about next year at this point, the prospects were always cannon fodder.

 

[lexlavender]

I'm getting the sense that literally everyone that didn't make the roster is trade bait for a goalie and/or whatever other needs develop before the deadline.

These guys don't give a shit about next year at this point, the prospects were always cannon fodder.

I feel like Blake is acting like a man who became addicted to gambling.

He starts his tenure very responsibly, saving his money (prospects)

He goes out and makes a few strong investments (Arvy, Danault, Moore etc.)

He has some good money now and decides to go to the casino. He sees a nice slot machine that looks poised to pay, puts in some chips and wins BIG (Fiala)

OOOOH, that feels goood. All the outlets say Im so saavvvy, ooooooooh the dopamine!

Oooooh then we start hitting the casino hard, spend even more money (Gavrikov) win a bit but its costly! Start gambling more to pay the cost, start selling off all this nice money you used to hold for dear life. One of your big investments tanks and now you need to pay more (Petersen) things are looking shaky now, but just a few more wins and we’ll be good!

Where we’re at now is Blake chain smoking in a pachinko parlor on an 8 hour grindfest, and we dont know if he’ll win BIG or lose it all (PLD)

Only by explaining in gambling terms does it start making sense to me

 

[FSL KINGS]

Are we going to run Björnfot, Englund 3rd pair for 2 games then waive JAD & recall Spence when the Kaliyev suspension is up? Is that what's going on?

 

[KingsHockey24]

Are we going to run Björnfot, Englund 3rd pair for 2 games then waive JAD & recall Spence when the Kaliyev suspension is up? Is that what's going on?

Right now JAD and Rittich are being waived.

We pick up Clifford on waivers then send BJ down.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - PLD - Grundstrom
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Clifford - Lizotte - Lewis

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence

Talbot
Copley

 

[Sol]

I’m not gonna put anyone down for being excited for the season but I will call people who are putting others down for not being excited, delusional.

The Kings had a defense problem last year, and it was very easily exposed as well as the goalie problem. The Kings had a terrible PK too last year.

Do you know what that led to? A PLUS ONE goal differential FOR THE SEASON! For a playoff team! Kings are so lucky they’re in the pacific because they had no real competition to beat out.


The issues of last year are still here. They have showed their ugly heads pretty easily in the post season. The roster suggests they will have this issue too. The same PK too.

What makes any delusional fan on here think that will suddenly change when it’s the regular season? The Kings had these issues last year in the regular season and playoffs! The “it’s only preseason” logic is employed by those who don’t remember shit from last season.

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm getting the sense that literally everyone that didn't make the roster is trade bait for a goalie and/or whatever other needs develop before the deadline.

These guys don't give a shit about next year at this point, the prospects were always cannon fodder.

How can they make a trade? They can't afford to add anyone with his shitty cap management.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I agree people over react but you must surely agree the following are concerns (I don’t expect you to admit it either way):

- Goaltending
- The cap (therefore roster size).
- There is no space for our blue chip C prospects.
- Laf and Turcotte look ready and they can’t join the main roster (plus no space to play).
- Turcotte in the AHL leaves him vulnerable to head hunters. It’s not a good environment for Clarke either.

These are all problems entirely of our own making. There definitely seems to be a strategic disconnect.

I’m not worried about preseason results. I’m certainly not as ‘doom, doom, doom‘ as some. It could go either way but if the wheels do come off it will be spectacular because those issues are real.

Clarke brings the sort of X-factor that could take this team over the top. If they are in ‘win now’ mode that is idiocy sending him down because he needs to play regularly to be put in a position to do that. I don’t get it. I’m not saying Spence isn’t ready either.

It’s the most concerned I’ve been during this retool. They need Talbot to find his best for, Byfield to explode and Dubois to put pressur on Kopi to be 1C. They need all of those things for a decent playoff run… oh yeah, Clarke also.

They‘ve stacked the deck against themselves and the way out is a couple of creative trades. We will see.

Goaltending, maybe, keep in mind this is mainly the same defensive structure that made Copley look like a 6 million dollar goaltender, I'm willing to give some time there....

The Cap, well shit, that's everyone's issue....

No space for our blue chip C prospects.......you mean Byfield (playing 1st line LW, top minutes) and Turcotte who as of yet has not proved he can stay healthy, yea, not worried about either at this point...if Turcotte can't beat out Lizotte, not sure if we are good calling him a blue chip C, draft position be damned.

Laf and Turcotte, look NHL ready, playing against AHL caliber teams in pre-season....just think about that for a few, and I am one that loved Laf on that 3rd line, with Dubois and Fiala, I think he's a better fit than Kaliyev.

Turcotte/Clarke in the AHL due to head hunters....like there's none in the NHL ?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Does anyone know if there's a clip of those Byfield chances from the 1st period of this game?? Can't find anything on Twitter / YT so just curious.

I'm referring to when he skated into the slot then did a curl & drag to get a good shot off then followed up his rebound and batted it right into the crossbar.

I'm assuming there probably isn't a clip but figured if anyone's got one it'd be the fellas on HF boards.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Does anyone know if there's a clip of those Byfield chances from the 1st period of this game?? Can't find anything on Twitter / YT so just curious.

I'm referring to when he skated into the slot then did a curl & drag to get a good shot off then followed up his rebound and batted it right into the crossbar.

I'm assuming there probably isn't a clip but figured if anyone's got one it'd be the fellas on HF boards.

3:45

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

3:45

Thank you sir - I checked the NHL channel's highlights and didn't see it

 

[Statto]

Goaltending, maybe, keep in mind this is mainly the same defensive structure that made Copley look like a 6 million dollar goaltender, I'm willing to give some time there....

The Cap, well shit, that's everyone's issue....

No space for our blue chip C prospects.......you mean Byfield (playing 1st line LW, top minutes) and Turcotte who as of yet has not proved he can stay healthy, yea, not worried about either at this point...if Turcotte can't beat out Lizotte, not sure if we are good calling him a blue chip C, draft position be damned.

Laf and Turcotte, look NHL ready, playing against AHL caliber teams in pre-season....just think about that for a few, and I am one that loved Laf on that 3rd line, with Dubois and Fiala, I think he's a better fit than Kaliyev.

Turcotte/Clarke in the AHL due to head hunters....like there's none in the NHL ?

We all know there is far more blatant head hunting in the AHL, Turcotte already has at least one of concussion (I can’t picture the other) down to that.

Just because other teams have managed the cap badly that does not excuse our issues. The point (back to our youth) is that you have to trust the kids at some point because to win you ideally need to have guys on ELC’s making big contributions. A 21 man roster is going to cause issues at various points and it’s poor cap management. I’d be fine with 22.

Laf looked decent in his one game against NHL opponents in preseason, but did give Turcotte enough of a look IMO. You can’t know they are ready until you throw them in, but you have to trust them at some point.

If they really want to go for it this year one of Clarke or Spence needed more games last year. Then they’d be able to (maybe both) be fully ready this year. Then they can make some additional aggressive moves, balance the D (Roy for and upgrade on Björnfot/3LD) plus RV to free up cap to allow for more certainty in net.

I was very clear that they needed to be aggressive this summer and the PLD trade was just that, which is fine (I hate losing GV but that doesn’t make it a bad deal). However because they didn’t give Clarke or Spence enough of an opportunity last year they couldn’t be aggressive and move Roy. The forward depth is there to move RV for goaltending help (I’m not saying his production is easily replaced but it’s about balance). Right now it feels like a halfway house to me.

I’m not talking QB, I’m fine with him at 1LW.

Back to goaltending. If Talbot can start 50 games it might be fine but that seems unlikely. If you’re pushing the chips in with big moves it seems questionable to have the situation in net that we do. At best its a gamble with the odds against you.

I’m not being hysterical nor am I certain it will go to hell. However the biggest issues and concerns are long standing ones that haven’t been addressed. Whilst it’s not ‘that’ easy, fixing those issues is essentially the job. I’ve been largely supportive of Blake throughout his tenure, but I’m frustrated with things as it stands.

I’m just rambling now… perhaps I always was.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

We all know there is far more blatant head hunting in the AHL, Turcotte already has at least one of concussion (I can’t picture the other) down to that.

Just because other teams have managed the cap badly that does not excuse our issues. The point (back to our youth) is that you have to trust the kids at some point because to win you ideally need to have guys on ELC’s making big contributions. A 21 man roster is going to cause issues at various points and it’s poor cap management. I’d be fine with 22.

Laf looked decent in his one game against NHL opponents in preseason, but did give Turcotte enough of a look IMO. You can’t know they are ready until you throw them in, but you have to trust them at some point.

If they really want to go for it this year one of Clarke or Spence needed more games last year. Then they’d be able to (maybe both) be fully ready this year. Then they can make some additional aggressive moves, balance the D (Roy for and upgrade on Björnfot/3LD) plus RV to free up cap to allow for more certainty in net.

I was very clear that they needed to be aggressive this summer and the PLD trade was just that, which is fine (I hate losing GV but that doesn’t make it a bad deal). However because they didn’t give Clarke or Spence enough of an opportunity last year they couldn’t be aggressive and move Roy. The forward depth is there to move RV for goaltending help (I’m not saying his production is easily replaced but it’s about balance). Right now it feels like a halfway house to me.

I’m not talking QB, I’m fine with him at 1LW.

Back to goaltending. If Talbot can start 50 games it might be fine but that seems unlikely. If you’re pushing the chips in with big moves it seems questionable to have the situation in net that we do. At best its a gamble with the odds against you.

I’m not being hysterical nor am I certain it will go to hell. However the biggest issues and concerns are long standing ones that haven’t been addressed. Whilst it’s not ‘that’ easy, fixing those issues is essentially the job. I’ve been largely supportive of Blake throughout his tenure, but I’m frustrated with things as it stands.

I’m just rambling now… perhaps I always was.

Definitely rambling.....not sure why you don't think Spence isn't ready this year? Clarke isn't at least the few games he played in pre-season he didn't look it....moving on from Roy made no sense over the offseason even if you played Clarke 80 games etc...injuries are a real thing, it's a good thing that if Roy gets injured we can call up Clarke, imagine if you trade Roy and you have doughty Spence, Clarke, and one of those goes down for 3-4 months, who exactly are you calling up?

 

[Kurrilino]

Right now JAD and Rittich are being waived.

We pick up Clifford on waivers then send BJ down.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - PLD - Grundstrom
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Clifford - Lizotte - Lewis

Just out of interest, what is this line supposed to do?
At this point we might even dress Paris Hilton or the Kardashians to widen our target audience

 

[Statto]

Definitely rambling.....not sure why you don't think Spence isn't ready this year? Clarke isn't at least the few games he played in pre-season he didn't look it....moving on from Roy made no sense over the offseason even if you played Clarke 80 games etc...injuries are a real thing, it's a good thing that if Roy gets injured we can call up Clarke, imagine if you trade Roy and you have doughty Spence, Clarke, and one of those goes down for 3-4 months, who exactly are you calling up?

I think Spence is ready but there’s talk of platooning him with Clarke, which is a waste of both if true.

My point (that I made badly) was that had Spence played a bigger role last year we’d know if he could play a top 4 role this year… maybe he couldn’t. However had he played over Walker for example we’d know rather than it be conjecture. He showed enough in 21/22 to have been given a much bigger role last year.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Just out of interest, what is this line supposed to do?
At this point we might even dress Paris Hilton or the Kardashians to widen our target audience

This is what I want from our 4th line.

 

[Kurrilino]

This is what I want from our 4th line.

I remember that

Wasn't this the action that lead to the Canes emergency goalie being called in and totally humiliated the Leafs, winning 6-3?