alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />As many have already pointed out in comments, Randy Jones had a rough night Wednesday against Chicago. Jones had a minus-3 rating and, by all accounts, was the defenseman who should have been back when Brad Richardson made his ill-advised neutral-zone pass that led to a turnover and Patrick Sharp’s breakaway overtime goal.
After Thursday’s practice, though, Terry Murray said Jones would stay in the lineup, and Murray offered a possible explanation for the poor game but forth by Jones, which Murray acknowledged.
MURRAY: “Yeah, he did. You know, he got hit by (Dustin) Byfuglien right there early in the second period, kind of a knee-on-knee. It stung him a bit. He was feeling the hit throughout the game, and it was a little bit of a concern for him when he was making a pivot to the boards. There was one shift when he did get beat wide, and it was the pain and the soreness that was the reason for it. But I talked to him this morning. He’s at the rink getting some treatment with Kinger [trainer Chris Kingsley] and it sounds like everything is good. I will keep him in. He is stable. It was more of a contusion that was causing it.”
boooooo
he is a real liability….TM must have a soft soft because he is a philly guy….much safer with drewiske back there i think
All the more reason to SIT HIM!
The knee injury is the perfect excuse to get Jones out of the line-up. Do it Murray!
@Stop the Puck, I honestly don’t get why we don’t see dd44. Until last night I was thinking I could deal with Jones, and then BAM! slapped in the face with a bologna sandwich.
I hate him ohhh so much right now.
NOOOOOOOOO!
I think Jones has a contusion in his frontal lobe. It’s the only explanation for some of his decisions on the ice.
@Top Shelf, excellent point. Hopefully, it will “stiffen up a bit” by tomorrow.
Okay I know I’m going to get a lot for this but…..
I say Odie should sit before Joney…either way it hurts but OH my Geez SOD is so bad sometimes I (honestly) turn my head when he’s trying to protect our zone. I see 6 and close my eyes.
I guess TM doesn’t like our 100% record this season with Peter Harrold playing defense.
I saw the hit on Jones’ knee and thought it should have been a penalty.
BUT, I do not for a second understand what Harrold hasn’t done to warrant a defensive spot for this team
TM is flat out wrong on this and he’s costing this team points in the standings.
DL has given him more than enough to work with and we’re .500 since the Olympic break.
He’s done well at implementing a great system but is really getting a few things wrong.
One of them is the trap we’ve been playing instead of pressuring in the offensive zone.
We’ve been just a bit more agressive than Germany’s 5 men back system.
@lil Gary Shuchuk,
Jones is who I mean…you got it
If the palyer was slightly injured why not use another one? I wonder why Drewiske or Harrold are not playing.Just want to know why?
So then why was he out there OT if he was shaken up?
C’mon Murray.
Drewiske is worth a (albeit cheap) three year extension, but not worth a look when Jones is an absolute liability out there? I just don’t get it.
Oh come, please call Andrew Campbell up, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
What’s the excuse for his awful first period?
@lil Gary Shuchuk, I won’t argue with you there.
I’m very dissapointed in DL for not picking up another d-man, even a 7th type of guy at the deadline. As far as I’m concerned, we have 4 1/2 defenseman right now.
Doughty
Johnson
Scuderi
Greene
OD (who is the half)
Beyond that, it’s pretty damn scary.
I say it was more of a Richardson foul up. Jones should have stayed back, although I believe he was trying to go in for a change. If the pass were crisp, there would have been no turnover which had led to a breakaway.
@kluka68,
I agree, it makes me wonder why TM is reluctant to develop Drewiske.
@mrbrett7,
that’s hilarious 4.5
I thought we had something with Whiskey, but not much love from TM since his injury
I liked Drewiske’s play last season but he doesn’t seem to be as steady or confident this season. Barring a significant improvement in Drewiske’s play I would rather see Jones once the playoffs roll around. All of our decisions from here on out should be made with the playoffs in mind.
On a more positive note, I thought Matt Greene played very well last night.
Maybe he was hurt for part of last night’s game but that doesn’t explain the prior dozen games. He just isnt good enough’; I too would rather let Drewiske make mistakes and learn.
@JonG, Greener got better as the game progressed but he was not good in the first period at all.
I thought Jones played well when the Kings first picked him up, but lately it has been a horror show when he is on the ice. I was hoping DL was going to acquire another defensemen, because our depth back there is clearly a weak spot, especially when playing a team like Chicago.I’m not in love with Harrold or DD either, but if Jones struggles friday he should be replaced ASAP.
Poor Randy, no place to hide now that Moller, Harrold, Drewiski and Purcell aren’t around.
I don’t know why everyone is getting on Jones. He’s not great, but he’s a sixth defenseman, you get what you pay for. Drewiske and Harrold would not do anything worth of value either. AND none of the goals were directly his fault. The first goal was a lucky bounce for Sharp as Brown watched him shoot. Versteeg’s was Matt Greene’s inability to chip the puck out (he was terrible) and the third was one of the worst passes I’ve ever seen, made by Brad Richardson. He’s not great, but look to Greene, Brown and Richardson to blame
I find this very disappointing
D jone should be out of the line up, we should put Peter Harold or Drewiske they’re more faster or quicker. The past games he’e more liability in the back end and slow, I don’t get it at all why you still want to put him in the line up. Peter Harold should be in the line up and not Jones.
Why not give Drew or Harry a game?
Power point shoud be Jack johnson and Drew not stoll. Jack is mobile and read the play better than stoll, I see them struggle when stoll is way up there, I rather see Jack and Drew so teams will have hard times reading the point on the powerplay.
Both Jack Johnson and Randy Jones were ahead of Richardson on the OT goal, leaving Stoll to attempt defense at all.
That makes no sense, but since Jones was behind JJ, I’ll have to blame him.
If the other defenseman goes into the play 4-on-4, you CAN’T.
@bbb7,
oh, you mean he was not good at all when he blocked 3 scoring opportunities on the 3 on 5 disadvantage?
The Blame should go to Johnson and Jones one of them should stay, Richardson made a bad play but if one D stay and not join the attack Sharp will no way will not have easy goal.
@Bobby Light,
Sounds like we both watched the same game last night.
@Harry,
Looks like they are trying to stabilize the lineup for the stretch.
@PRMan,
Who was the streaker that Richardson missed? Johnson?
@Stop the Puck, Not so sure about Whiskey. He seems to freeze up as soon as we hit playoff mode.
I understand people saying ‘don’t harp on Jones, the last goal wasnt his fault’ and I dont think thats the gist of what people here are saying. The truth is Jones is often one bad decision away from a goal against, and you dont want even your 6th D-man to be that iffy. And he’s always that way, not just last night.
@mrbrett7, I too was hoping for a Siedenberg to buy us a few extra games in the playoffs.
RJ is an extreme defensive liability. Yes, he has good offensive skills, but as you head to the playoffs,you need defensemen you can count on. JJ and 8dd can provide plenty of pop from the blue line. We need dependable blue liners. TM, PLEASE at least give Harry and 44dd a game each to see what they have got.
Concur with everything above. Jones is absolutely dreadful. I must saw, TM’s support of this guy completely mystifies me. Seems to have lost objectivity…
This has double standards written all over it. Why do they force JJ to change his game & become more defensively responsible (which is correct), but they allow RJ to keep playing regardless of defensive responsibility.
Typical TM being TM. Does some crap that make absolutely no sense.
@Bobby Light,
I agree 100%. After reading some of the blog-posts last night I had to go back to the tape; I am not sure what people are talking about.
I am also not quite sure why there is so much love for DD and PH. They are OK prospects who can fill in when needed but the play-offs are comming.
The bottom line is, is that when the play-offs come, it is quite possible that the D might be a bigger question than the goaltending. But we have what we have and DL seemed to fine with it at the deadline.
I think that TM does not consistently do a good enough job developing young players. It struck me last year that DaviS Drewiske was pretty composed with the puck. Some give-aways, but lordy, even Doughty has given away some goals. But its the play, sit, play, sit, back from injury better prove yourself, sit, sit that’s hurt DaviS’ confidence. He’s safer than Jones. I just think TM’s got a hard on for Jones and I just don’t get it.
Smyth looked better on that one play when he got caught back in the defensive zone one on one with sharp or Kane or toews I forgot which one but he looked better than jones did all game haha and what about wesgarth or martinez we could give them a try at least?
@Cristobal,
I totally agree with the Harrold comment. He has played very well every time they put him in. I would love to see him in place of Jones.
Stop it Murray, please stop this madness!!!!!!!!!!
I’m wondering if Deano is making this call?
@Kyle harris, Why would we give garth a chance when he plays forward
While R.Jones is a liability on D, I still like him marginally better then Drewiskie, and better every time then Harrold. I wish they would move Harrold to be honest, and add someone of better depth. Im never going to argue DL’s decisions, as he has built a team that EVERYONE is talking about, even those out east who never paid attention. Adding another D would have been great, but Id rather have seen Thomas Hickey healthy this year and on the big team, giving us defensive reliability and another offensive threat.
@mrk, I think he fooled everyone out there except the Blackhawks. I was thinking to myself, okay, Richie has it, dump in for a change…whhhaaaa????? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
@Cristobal, Agree regarding Harrold, disagree completely with everything else you said…but, your entitled…at least your consistent.
@blah blah, He was great then…but his horrific outlet pass that was a blatant giveaway directly led to Sharp’s first goal.
Rich,
Can you ask Mr. Murray to explain to the fans who think that this is a popularity contest what Jones bring to the table that Drewiske and Harrold don’t?
Thanks
@jet,
Got that right he started the season good +8. Now he’s down to -8. I think even if TM rates them as even he will play Jones based on experience and the type of player Jones is offensive. Especially if you are pairing JJ & DD. What happens if you go down early in a game and need offense DD#44 just doesn’t help there. If you have the lead or tied you can play OD, RS, or Greene more. Number 4-6 D-men usually are one dimensional players not the full package.
@MrBrett7,
Yeah thats about right. Harold has played well. After that it just didn’t seem justified. TM has done a great job just look at the improvement of the young players.
Harold probably should be playing more, but since he is more of a Defensive D-man it would likely be to spell OD every 5th game or so. Maybe a rotation where Harold plays 3 out of 10 and RS or Greene also gets a break every 20 games.
@Nitrohockey,
That was also my reaction, but Richardson has been solid and a positive force all year. Everyone makes mistakes. I’m hoping this is a lessen learned if your line and D-line have been stuck on the ice for a while don’t get fancy dump it deep and change. As for all the Jones bashing I watched the game again, and Jones maybe could have stopped the pass to Versteeg for a Goal(The bigger error was Greener didn’t get the clear out just before), but other than that he had no part to play in the other 2 goals other than playing his position on the ice.
@Bobby Light,
I agree, the only goal he had a chance to make a difference on he was unable to deny the pass to Versteeg that turned into a goal, but Greener had a chance to clear and couldn’t just before which I thought was the bigger error. When I say he couldn’t deny the pass it wasn’t from not trying he was all over him and poking at his stick/puck constantly.
I have to say this… Even though RJ is a bit of a defensive liability at times, the one thing I really do like about him is the fact that in the O-zone he’s pretty smart about getting the puck through and on net. He shifts well and isn’t afraid to just let a simple little wrist shot go if that’s what it takes to get it to the net where other players should be hanging out and crashing the net… So he’s an offensive-minded defenseman, big deal, then play him with OD or Skuds or someone who stays back… It’s not a secret here kids, we know what we have in Jones. If he’s played with JJ or another offensive D-man and gets caught then I blame TM as much as Jones!
PEACE!!!
@USHA#17,
I agree with you Jones was on the ice, but not all at fault for 2 goals and not really on the Versteeg goal, but we lost. So someones got to burn and Richardson is too popular lets get Jonesy. Its like the Salem Witch Trials.
@SDgolfer,
OFFENSE, GOAL PRODUCTION.
3-8 we have 5 Defensive D-Men and Jones a Offensive D-Man good on the PP.
It amazes me the level of forgiveness and support some have for Randy Jones’ almost EVERY game miscues. And the supporters of Jones point to his offensive upside as the reason for their support. What you get with Jones is a POTENTIAL offensive upside. In actuality that alleged offensive upside has been missing in action for weeks now.
However, that defensive downside is more than evident just about every game. To me, if TM has so much confidence in Jones, then give him a game off to contemplate and reenergize. Meanwhile, TM might actually get a pleasant one game surprise from Drewiske or Harrold.
I am going to be beside myself if/when Jones costs us a playoff game, or heaven forbid, a playoff series.
OK….I AGREE TO GIVE PH A SHOT HE SEEMS TO MAKE THE RIGHT PLAYS AND IS QUICK IN GETTING THE PUCK OUT OF ZONE. I KNOW HES A BIT ON THE SMALL SIZE BUT HIS SPEED GETS HIMSELF OUT OF TROUBLE , SIMILAR TO THE WAY LUBO USE TO GET OUT OF THE ZONE, GRANTED HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SKILL LUBO HAD BUT HES QUICK. DD IS A BIGGER BODY AND HAS DECENT WHEELS, I AGREE SINCE HIS INJURY, HE SEEMS A BIT NERVOUS. I LIKE DD BUT I THINK JONES EXPIERIENCE IS WHAT TM IS LOOKING FOR TOWARDS THE PLAYOFFS. OD….HMMMM. I LIKE OD GIVE HIM A BREAK HES NO SPRING CHICKEN, SOME OF HIS PLAYS ARE QUESTIONABLE, BUT ITS HIS LEADERSHIP AND TEAM PLAY THAT I LIKE AGAIN GOOD FOR THE PLAYOFFS. REGARDLESS, NEXT SEASON YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENT CORE OF D MEN IN KING SWEATERS.
I have made mention of this in prior postings, but re Jones, you get what you pay for. There is no mystery to why he was available, no mystery as to why we got him for essentially nothing, and no mystery as to why he plays poorly. The dots are easy to connect here. The real mystery is why TM is intent on playing him, and excusing Jones’ poor play.
When the other options are Drewiske and Harrold, I suppose the clues are there. Drewiske played well last year, and early this season. After his injury, his play was not as solid as it had been.
Harrold never really did much for me as a forward, but when TM began to use him as a defenseman, I was fairly impressed. He seemed to be responsible, made the safe plays, and his mobility was noticeable. In one of his last starts, Harrold had a turnover behind the net that led to a goal, and that was that.
Murray must feel the inexperience of both Drewiske and Harrold are liabilities, and feel more comfortable with Jones. I think a lot of us can argue with that, and make use of the numerous examples of Jones poor play to back up our point of view. However, what really makes it difficult for me to understand is this: Jones plays consistently, and consistently badly…he is in the lineup because TM is afraid that either Drewiske or Harrold will make mistakes that hurt the team. But, Jones currently IS making the mistakes that hurt the team. How would anyone believe that either of the other options would hurt the team as badly as Jones is?
I just cannot find the sense in the decision that TM is making.
@scv king,
completely agree, good points. Baffling, limited upside is inconsistent while negative downside is consistent. If he wants mobility, try Harrold. If he wants defense, play Drewiske. ones is scary, pinches too much and sometimes he just freezes.
@Simarosa, that could be the comedic post of the year. Have you seen that guy play in Manchester? I just witnessed three live games in four nights and never once did I think that Campbell was anything more than some lucky fan pulled out of the stands, given skates and a uniform and told to go out and play hockey. No instincts, no talent, and no results. He was BY FAR the worst player on the ice at all times. It was shocking. Manchester fans seemed to agree for the most part. A horrible experiment gone awry.
@roadtripper,
I agree. I haven’t been a big fan of RJ all season, but you have to mitigate his defensive shortcomings by pairing him with a stay-at-home.
For the love of all that is holy, WHY DOES MURRAY PAIR JONES WITH JOHNSON????
I just don’t get it, especially in a 4 on 4 situation.
@scv king,
Agree 100%
@scv king,
And only to compound the issue with a bruised knee??? WTF TM, WTF????
Marc Nathan -
Re: Campbell, believe me, my comment was a meant to be a joke! I’m not a casual fan, I’ve been a Monarchs season ticket holder since day one. Campbell is the WORST defenseman, possibly the worst player to ever put on a Monarchs jersey and I’m including Pudlick, Cloutier and Hnilicka on my list.
As many, many Monarchs fans would and have said – Campbell doesn’t belong in the AHL, possibly not even in the ECHL. Some think he may have naked pictures of someone high up in the organization, as we see no other reason that he’s with the Kings/Monarchs.
@luc20rules,
I agree, Richardson has been solid the whole season. I just like to call it as how I see it. He made a mistake that cost the game, I just don’t see why Jones gets much of the burn from the fans for it. Apparently, TM saw exactly what has happened.
Ok, so what is the excuse for the other crappy games he has played. This guy stinks, plain and simple. We are better off with one of the ice girls on the blue line.
Can’t believe we have two defenseman sitting who are better than jones (whiskey and harrold) and tm continues to play him despite his awful play. Must have a soft spot for him is right. Almost makes one hope he gets hurt
@Simarosa,
ya lets bring up prospects in playoff time to a team they have not played on all year!!! ya everyone its experiment time with prospects!! come on fans if jones sucks so bad we got DD or Harrold anyone that thinks there will be a recall is well as FroFan said, “has a contusion in his frontal lobe. It’s the only explanation for some of his decisions”
@ringo, i agree ringo good post!
@lil Gary Shuchuk,
Are you nuts? OD is fine…
OD is a +16 which is 3rd best on the team.
He must be doing something right.
He’s not flashy but usually gets the job done.
@ringo,
I agree good post, but
DONT POST ANGRY.