Hey all. I wanted to talk about the Kings today, so here’s a video.
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50 Comments
A little bit. Oilers are not way better than them like people think. If Korpisalo could've stopped a beach ball they win that series. Champion usually struggle to get up for games the next season so Vegas could fall to a 2-3 seed
Chronicles of Rittich
It could be expensive, but if we trade for a legit starter on an expiring contract (Hart, Hellebuyck, MAF…) at the deadline with salary retention to make it work, I think this would be one of the best teams (on paper) in franchise history.
For a team that’s existed for 55 years, the same amount as the Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins, they don’t get nearly as much attention as they should, especially in these last couple of seasons.
I typically chalk this up as an Eastern Conference Bias, but it’s more than that. The Kings have a rich history in the NHL, and recently, they’ve been surprisingly successful, at least in the regular season. A short 3 year rebuild, and a couple of good season brings them into the playoffs, where they put up a solid series against the Oilers in both.
Now, I understand that when you haven’t won a playoff series in nearly a decade, you won’t be seen in the same light as some other teams. That part is understandable, but to me, the Kings are in a similar situation as the New Jersey Devils, and they’re seen now, as perennial Stanley Cup Contender after winning their first series in 11 years, and then getting spanked by the Hurricanes.
This year for the Kings, will be like the Devils last season. They’ll hover around the top of the league all season, and possibly win the entire West. Byfield and Kaliyev should both take huge steps forward, and Spence and Clarke should finally get a chance at permanent roles on defense. And last season with Copley in net, the Kings were fine. So saying goaltending is the thing holding them back is true, but not as big as a detriment as everyone thinks.
I know they’ll 100% be better than last season, and I’m mostly speculating about them winning the conference and what not, but if they do, everyone will be stunned, but not me.
Copley isn't fancy, but the dude has really mastered the "Not gonna move outta the way of the puck" style of goaltending. It's not spectacular or super exciting, and I'm not sure it works in the playoffs, but man, during the regular season he's sometimes just what you need.
Todds job is on the line. I expect this team to go far
As an LA kings win, the kings are pretty underrated to season, despite our terrible goaltending the kings have a top offensive and a great defense, but we played in a very tough division, especially with Vegas and Edmonton and possibly Seattle
As a Kings fan, I’ll be perfectly happy if they can go into the playoffs with no major injuries. I just want to see how the team fares with a healthy roster and not hear another season of what could have been if having healthy players instead. If the goalies crap the bed and the team is ousted due to that, then everyone stating their goaltending was holding them back can say, “I told ya so!” However, if their goaltenders hold their own but they’re still ousted in the 1st round yet again, then a whole new slew of questions may be asked what do they really need to do to get over the hump.
Got to get passed Edmonton and Vegas. Tough chore.
Rock solid on every point. Nice to see you didn't forget about Clarke this time around. 😉
The Kings are not tough enough. Okay, PLD is gonna bust heads? No, he wont. Look at the Leafs. They brought in Domi and Bertuzzi. That's the kind of players we need. Too many guys who don't take the body and won't give the opposition relieve themselves in their pants when they come to town.
Playoffs for sure
Just the mere fact that Byfield is still 21 is huge. Athletes don't really figure it all out until 23+ anyways. Still ways to go there.
The center depth alone is pretty nice as well.
Always a lovely breakdown! Thanks for shouting out my oft-neglected Kings 🙂
Goaltending is important, and LA will need them to outperform in the playoffs to have a chance at winning the cup
The goaltending is where I see LA having trouble in the playoffs. Of course the same could be said of the Oilers who they're most likely matching up against if all goes well for both teams.
It's not quite a cup or bust vibe here in LA, but they have to win a playoff series. Next year I feel is when they put all the pieces in place and its cup or bust time.
Answer: YES!!!!!
One of the better managed franchises, imo.
Byfield needs to play bigger on his skates and stay upright. Play Copley and let him earn the position, he came in and got the Kings to the playoffs then was immediately made backup for the playoffs where he never played
Not with that rank goaltending lmao
I think their goaltending could really hold them back
Kings fall to CBJ in 6 next June.
LA is not getting better. They peaked IMO last year.
Kings vs. Devils in Cup Finals!
I personally think Valardi, Iafallo and Durzi will be missed more than people think. PLD in my opinion was not the need they needed to address, they could score enough to beat Edmonton last but they couldn't defend that powerplay or get a critical save in the last half of the series.
As soon as Korpisalo came back to earth starting in game 4 it was over. An old Cam Talbot and Phoenix Copley just isnt it. If they can address goaltending properly, I think this team has a legit shot, but not as they are now with Edmonton and Vegas in their division.
I like the Kings line up and depth, I don’t like Mclellan’s system for them. But like i always say make the dance and anything can happen.
I really feel like Gavrikov could be an awesome partner for Clarke
Goal tending is the biggest question mark. The team is super solid in every other way, but the goalies could make or break. I don't think the Kings have that elite goalie right now, and HOPE Talbot and/or Copley can hold it down.
the ojly issue I have is NO, the Kings rebuild is NOT over!!!
its in the Build up stage (trending in the right direction) but looks like 2-3 more seasons,
when is the build-up done? with instillation of "the new Core" I'm thinking post Doughty & Kopitar
LA was my pick this year for the west, I think they can be a serious threat. I also trust Copley
They paid a lot for PLD, I'm honestly not sure they got better this off season.
It really is a shame LA had to play the Oilers twice in a row in the first round. I think they probably were a tougher matchup for Vegas than Edmonton was, and I think the Oilers got beat up quite a bit as those series were absolute wars. Maybe Edmonton could've gotten to the finals last year had they not had to play LA. I think the Kings are a serious threat this year, and have the depth to acquire a goalie at the deadline if need be.
I’m a Stars fan, but think they are a bit underrated. I hope Turcotte can surprise people and make a comeback. Injuries suck.
I really like the team the Kings put together last year and this. If they had better goaltending all year they probably would have finished first in their division ( with Copley in nets they went 24-6-3 ). They would have drawn Winnipeg in the first round and then Vegas or Edmonton. I don't like the goaltending tandem they have put together this year: Copley,Talbot, Rittich though it's probably better than the Quick/Petersen tandem they started last year with. Koptitar, Doughty and Danault are all approaching their expiry dates so this group needs to do something quickly.
Things are a little skinny on the wing. Deep at center.
Still I think they are a tough team to play and one to watch out for.
Goaltending is the big thing they have been missing. And are still missing.
I discovered you during the last hockey season. Nationally the Kings do not get the kind of coverage you give them… which isn't to say you cover them more or less… just probably the right amount. I'm grateful for your evenhanded coverage of the NHL that includes the team I grew up with. I generally think you are spot on… probably a similar result but a possibility they could breakthrough if they play well and get a bounce or two. I also think they could very well underwhelm in goal and that could be it.
Good analysis Shannon. As usual your nickname THG don't fail. When I have my daily lunch break your new feeds are the top of my day to be honest. Well thought, homework done and I usually never comment since it's boring two people agreeing on everything. Well. Again this is true on this one. I think the Kings are sort of a "joker card" in the west. Quality mix of youth and experience added to playoff games. I would predict they go to playoffs but their goalies don't exactly make me feel that department is sound so… whatever. 😀
Anyway. Longtime follower, ever the subscriber and always thumbing up like it's a bus I am calling to stop from Finland. You thought of doing what some outlets have (like Hockey News) assessment of possible upcoming world cup rosters? THN probly makes the same lines but you explain things way way more coherent and bring new ideas to the pool as I know you do. Anyway, thanks Shannon. I can't afford to be channel member but I do hugely appreciate your work and character.
I really like this Kings team this year. They’ve got depth all over the roster. Gonna be really interesting if they finally beat Edmonton come playoff time.
I think that LA is underrated for a variety of reasons, Starting with Kopitar 2× Selke winner (top 5 last year), 2× Lady Byng winner, only Crosby and Ovechkin have more points since he entered the league, has led LA in scoring 15×, two shy of one of if not the last records Mr. Hockey still holds, maybe the most complete player in hockey and most of the top player lists I've seen this summer don't have him ranked in the top 20. Another thing that knocks LA is the amount of mid to late rnd picks and undrafted players LA has utilized to build the team I mean hell of their top 4 D-men they have 4th (M.Anderson), 6th (Gavrikov) and 7th (Roy) rnd picks that are generally overlooked in talent because of draft position even though for example the Gavrikov/Roy pairing was in the limited amount of time played together were like top 5 in possession and expected goal numbers. Also the goaltending gives them a knock because Copley is Largely unproven, Rittich has struggled in recent seasons, and Talbot is older coming off an injury plagued season that was played behind a poor defensive team in Ottawa, to quell the questions I could point that Copley won 24 games last season and in the 30 games he got a decision only 4 times did LA fail to get a point, Rittich is expected to be the 3rd goalie for LA and back-up with the Reign so his issues should be mitigated, and Talbot when he played for teams with a greater defensive acumen than Ottawa the 3 previous years in MIN and CGY he had very good numbers, and as a reminder LA was a top 5 defensive team last season, but for me the reason LA is and has been underrated is simply east coast bed time, something like 70% of the league is in the central or eastern time zones that means LA Kings games don't start until 9:30 or 10:30 at night for most of the leagues teams, players, coaches, GM's and fans it's kinda hard to be appreciated when most of the evaluators are in bed
A good example of why you don’t always need to tear things down and clean house. Who was it on the kings a couple years ago who said it’s not time to rebuild? Some teams get stuck in the 17th-27th range where they aren’t bad enough to get 1st overall and won’t make ploffs. LA is showing that a complete tear down isn’t always the right move when stuck in that range.
The prev Cup winning Kings would've locked down the Oilers and won in five or six games.
I can only dream and i'm such a great dreamer !!!!…
Kings added one guy for an absurd amount of money and traded away a ton of depth. The goaltending is still a huge question mark. I don’t see how this team improves unless Dubois is a miracle forward and I’ve seen arguments that they’re even worse than before. They aren’t good enough to win a cup, not even close. They aren’t underrated either.
Go Kings Go!!!
I don't think the Kings are going to have very much success if they can't get quality goaltending.
If LA plays to their potential this season and the goaltending holds up LA could challenge for first place.
We have a lot of games but if those things happen i look forward to Edmonton or Vegas in the playoffs.
Gotta climb that mountain sometime. Edmonton and Vegas aren't gonna just go away.
I’m in oil country and we cannot take the Kings for granted. I remember after they got knocked out this past season, Doughty said in an interview, “no, we want the Oilers for a third year in a row. We know we can beat them and we want to face them again.” And I believed him. Kings are definitely overlooked and both last year’s and the previous year’s series’ were super close. Here’s hoping round one is Vegas vs LA and Edmonton vs Wild Card!
Byfields play on the top line was probably a reason Kempe got to 40 goals (along with Juice getting super hot at the end of the season). Q did a lot of the dirty work on the forecheck, kept plays alive in the corners and created scoring plays… Kinda reminded me of what Justin Williams use to do with Brown and Kopi.
The Kings are way more dangerous than people give them credit for. Last year's team reminded me of the 2010-2011 team where you could see the potential that just didn't break out yet. The Kings are a solid goalie away from doing some real damage.
Just a note : you said nobody saw them winning Stanley cup in 2012 – I actually placed a $150 bet at the 20 game mark of regular season that kings would win the cup.
Some of us saw it
They need goalie and a dynamic scorer they don’t have that so imo they’re a bubble team