alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />A couple more line tweaks today, as Alexander Frolov and Justin Williams, two players who spent almost all of the third period on the bench, moved down to the fourth line…
Richardson-Kopitar-Simmonds
Smyth-Stoll-Parse
Modin-Handzus-Brown
Frolov-Halpern-Williams
Clune/Ivanans
More from practice to come, including Terry Murray talking about the line changing and Frolov/Williams in particular…
Does this mean TM thought the Smyth-Stoll-Brown experiment was a bust?
What! TM is making line changes??? no way!!
Please put Harrold & Drewiski in for SOD and Jones. This complete the transformation we will need to carry us to the playoff. You see when you put players that want to work hard on that 1st line things will work out. I know that Drago will come dressed as his favorite Star Wars Character On Monday..Finally something he can do well.
Surprised Parse gets another shot already, he made two lateral passes on his first shift, neither connected and one developed from a turnover into an extended possession for the Islanders in our zone.
For that matter, Brown gave the pregame interview saying to keep it simple and make the easy play and not be “cute”, and then he immediately tried a tip redirect pass just inside the offensive blue line instead of takign the puck to the net and/or shooting it.
Still, a good game by Brown, he seemed better at reading and passing, and Parse did do some forechecking and cycling.
Kings are really playing a super conservative system, the d-men are hanging back at the blue lines at all times, almsot never joining a rush and rarely leading the rush (Doughty maybe 3 times all night, Jones went in for a pinch to the half-wall). So, it’s a 3 man cycle with F3 in middle slot or higher. Seems intended, like Murray is having them play as if it was playoff OT. Good cycles, I thought, but the 2nd period we let them come at us too much, gave them speed thru center. For Av’s game, I think they need to do same system wise but be tighter at opponent’s blue line, just start earlier and don’t let Avalanche get speed.
Gonna be a monumental home-and-home against the Avalanche. When it is over, we should know what to expect for the rest of the season however long it lasts.
Agree with these moves. Fro & Willie did not show up last night. Willie has an excuse, still coming off injury, but Fro? The enigma strikes again.
Drewiskie for Jones MUST happen. I was SO pissed last night when Quick was without a stick for about a minute and Jones was standing in front of him the whole time and didn’t give Quick his stick. C’MON! Very lucky we didn’t get scored on there. Jones looks out of place 1/2 the time. At least DD2 will just play solid D and not run around like Jones does.
Nice to see Parse get moved up. He played hard last night, even thought nothing much developed from it. At least TM seemed to understand that.
I don’t see Haplern doing much. I’d like to see him pick up his game.
At least we won, but it was not a comfortable win. We need some damn offense.
@I’m Just Saying”, as of late, Sean O’Donnell has been much more a liability than Randy Jones. The guy gets beat to the outside 4 times a game, his first pass is usually bad, and his foot speed is just putting us a step behind everytime we’re defending the cycle.
I would have Sean O’Donnell no more than a depth defenseman at this point, and I especially cringe at the dinosaur pairing of Scuderi/O’Donnell; I mean, that has to be the SLOWEST, molasses pairing in the entire NHL.
@Player-X, I agree, they have been a bit too tentative, either dumping it to center ice when pressured in the D-zone (which against a team like Chicago leads to wave after wave of attacks coming your way) or slow to push forward, giving the D of the other team time to position and blunt the attack. Need to practice up-tempo so as to be able to attack when circumstances arise, instead of always being the reacting team. It’s good to be tight defensively but one goal isnt going to win many games.
Well… At least we have the best fourth line in the league…
I hate that our best guys aren’t playing on our top lines. makes me feel uncomfortable
@Cynic, Jones is lost out there a lot and he’s WEAK. One play in the 3rd, he has a guy coming in on the wing and one down the slot but rather than force outside and take away the centering pass he for some reason moves to the slot guy, leaving the puck-carrier angling in all along for a quality shot. Greene had to come across from the other side to lunge at the puck-carrier. Awful D by Jones.
@Cynic,
in jones’ defense, that was a bs call last night but i am all for dd in his place
@Telos, LOL yes. And definitely the highest paid 4th line.
I like Stoll and Smyth together. Stoll has being flying into the forcheck hard the past few games and been a big help to Smythy
I would like to see clune play at least… Take out parse for clune and bump up JW
I actually like Frolov and Williams as the respective Wingers but I’d center them up with Zues or Stoll.
Smyth belongs on the 1st with Kopitar and Simmonds, Richardson with Brown and the center of choice from Stoll/Zues.
DD2 for Jones but I liked OD last night. Not the fastest or the youngest, yes, but he battled hard and deserves it.
Bring up Oscar Moller, he seems to get us going on offense.
When the Kings get into an offensive slump like they’re in now, it becomes glaringly obvious they need a couple more creative weapons. You have Kopitar and Doughty, but when your 3rd most creative guy is Brown (who used to be the most up-and-down, shoot as soon as you can see the goalie guy they had), you have holes.
All that said, one more win and the team surpasses my predicted point total for the season, so the whole franchise has come a LONG way quickly, despite all the naysayers here.
@Goring 19,
thank you…TM always says he cant handle physical game but all he does is produce…PP and 5v5 great goal vs col b4 break
Rich,
Please tell Patrick O’Neal that discussing Kings prospects on TV when he doesn’t even know what league they play in might not be such a good idea. The WHL is NOT the “World Hockey League” and it’s NOT the WAHL. <:|
@Paul from Oxnard,
i heard him say that, too…and i was a little surprised…maybe he just slipped…(?)
identity crisis after a win…
i have no problem the rest of the way if tm ranks his players by position and plays them accordingly…
@Stop the Puck, I’ll take Oscar over Parse. Parse is still on the learning curve. When Oscar scores he seems to have that ability to trigger goal production and I like the way he non-stop hustles.
@Player-X, I’m not sure if I was reading the play right,but in the second towards the 3/4 mark,on the PK.It looked as tho we were overloading one side of the ice.Leaving the weak side point man wide open for some bombs from the blue line.
I tried to watch for the same set up in the third to see if their were any changes,but got distracted by visiting family members.
Did I read the play wrong?and did if not,did they make adjustments in the third?
I also agree that pressure farther up from the D might hemm in Colorado.As long as we can still swing back to cover if the puck gets chipped past our D.
@Goring 19,
its interesting to see what they will do with parse this offseason. hes a serviceable young forward that has proven a good scoring touch at every level. but with richie also up for contract, as well as DL probs trying to make a big splash, i dont see the spot for parse going forward. moller tho def in in our future plans
I think TM is to hard on Fro, he always gets paired up with the worst offensive players on our team…..He has been steady for so many games and thEn one day he doesnt show up he gets moved down to the 4th line…TM is not making some sound hockey decisions as of late in my opinion.
@MINAS, I really agree with you. It’s not even like Frolov had that bad a game. He did some good work down low and managed to get a few shots on net.
Why is Murrary always so hard on Fro but when Brown makes stupid plays or has a bad game Murray never says anything?
In 9 games with the Stars Brandon Segal has 5g 4a. How’s Clune’s play?
Scott Parse only played for 5 minutes. I don’t know how a player can really contribute playing so few minutes. And then a few players are playing a lot. Is TM wearing out our top players?
Teddy Purcell has been getting significant minutes for Tampa Bay and playing with Vincent LeCavalier. He has 6 points in 9 games for them while having 6 points in 41 games for L.A.
@MINAS & @Garrett,
Frolov is a great player who HAS played with the Kings’ best offensive players and not performed.
Guys, look at this in this way: Williams and Smyth are now playing fewer minutes and are on a ‘lower’ line…
The Kings are a meritocracy. Play well, and you will be given better minutes. Play poorly, and for long enough time, and your status will be in jeopardy.
Got a funny feeling…
Frolov will be a monster in the playoffs.
Wait and see…
…I know, some of you are doubting it.
Oh, well.
What’s up with Simmonds? He’s not the monster he’s been before…
@Al,
Yes in Dallas’ big 3 wins since the Olympic break( to go with the 7 losses), Segal has posted 1 goal and 2 assists. Whoopie Doo!!
@Stop the Puck,
I’m not saying you,but earlier in the season people wanted to give Parsley a big contract.Now?
@bbb7,
All teams have slumps.
We’re currently sitting 10th Offensively(a slide from 8th just a little while ago).
5th on PP goals,and that’s while sitting 29th in total shots for.We’re scoring O.K. on our chances,just not always at the ideal time.For a young team the roller coaster ride can be scary.Next year we’ll take that next step towards consistancy.
@Belexes, LOL
I believe the Kings need to put a streak going.. Not only to make the playoffs and at least get by the first round so a big name UFA would want to play in L.A. ( Marleau ) — Line changes?.. Well TM is the coach, but to keep changing lines and experientmenting this late in the season is trouble … Actually i feel that the team were alright before Modin and Halpern.. I’ve like the way Modin has played,Halpern needs to pick it up some..I know they wanted veteren leadership but Moller was doing just fine on the 4th line, with Parse and Clune at wings would be a good energy line..
@hunter,
Yeah, Clune—Moller—Parse would be a good energy line, but with 4th liners playing so few minutes, I’m starting not to care anymore.
i think TM is loosing his mind ? we were playing great when brown and kopi play on the same line.
Modin-Kopitar-Simmonds
Smyth-Stoll-williams
Richie-Handzus-Brown
Frolov-Halpern-Parse
@Dominick,
I thought our guys were reacting to the Islanders who brought their third forward to the same side on dumpins, like they were overloading one side for retrieval and we were countering that. Seemed to me that we were somewhat passive (as in not over-aggressive) to intentionally yield the half-board possession, but then the Kings forced with more pressure on the points to take away the point shot and make them pass instead.
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
yeah, I agree about Simmonds. Hope it is just a head problem, he seems to be skating okay. fox said he needs to simplify, I am thinking he needs to just shoot the thing and needs linemates to anticipate that and get to the net for a rebound. Start a cyycle, let Simmer spin off the boards for a low shot and crash the freakin’ net for a rebound.
@king_stoner,
Interesting lines, only worry about depending on Modin. I am hoping with 10 games left Murray solidifies lines and stays with them for a 5 game segment or longer.
@MINAS, I totally agree with you. Fro has had a pretty darn good year considering all the negativity he gets about his play. Maybe if TM would stop all the line changes every game, players might produce more if they at least could have a chance to develop some chemistry together. Also TM needs to use the same standards of play for ALL players. It seems he only picks on a certain few while others can cost the team game in and game out.(ie..OD & Jones)
So sick of the constant changes. I just cannot fathom it does anything other than unsettle everyone. This is crunch time – not the time for daily tinkering. TM: put them where you think they have the best chance of success – you are getting paid for that, by the way – and then let them go at it.
@Player-X,
Thanks!I noticed all the traffic to one side,but sometimes I have to watch the replay to actually figure out how it developed.
@Dominick,
Wasn’t as clear as I wanted to be. What I meant to say was that it seems like once the other team establishes possession and sets up, the Kings yield possession to the half-boards but make sure to block the passes from there to the weak-side point. The weak-side point looks open, but he can’t get the puck directly. So, the system looks like they are passive to the low outside, but aggressive to the point shooters making them pass it back down low instead of getting the shot off.
What the hell is Parse still doing in the lineup???? He turned the puck over several times the other night. TM has lost it and shouldn’t be aloud to coach.. Lomabardi needs to do some over ruling!!!
Clune should be in the lineup!!!!
@beeze34, Can’t tell if this was supposed to be sarcastic, in case you were serious…I could not disagree more. This year, Brown and Kopitar have only disappointed.
Maybe someone else can comment on their success in previous seasons but this year they are significantly more effective when split up.