2022-23 Season Thread

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Man. Reading that Edmonton rollercoaster was a lot. Sounds like a younger dude, so hopefully he grows out of it. I remember when the Kings had never won anything, and it would eat at me for sure, so I get it on some level.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Crazy win, but Edmonton controlled a ton of the play and Kings stole Game 1 last year too before getting stomped in Games 2 & 3. They got back on track to win Game 5 last year in OT but I remember absolute beatings in Games 2 and 3. That first period was ROUGH to watch. Coming home 1-1 and having the pressure to win both at home seems like a lot, so I'd love LA to really try to seize this opportunity to get Game 2. Skinner looked like he came back down to earth and that's something LA really should try to exploit. Villardi is back tonight, which I am excited but mixed on.

Overall, I was cursing a lot after the first period, but this team showed a ton of heart to come back. Korpisalo really made some huge saves to help keep that game within reach headed into the 3rd. Kempe is really that guy right now, and he seemed to thrive off the Oilers going out of their way to hit him all game. Draisaitl got 2 goals, and McDavid was really dangerous, but holding McDavid to zero points is the biggest takeaway from that game. Gavrikov looked great all game, and he broke up that McDavid 2 on 1 pass that lead to the first Kempe goal. I don't know what he's gonna cost, but I wonder if there were even any preliminary conversations that have happened to try to keep one or both of Korpisalo and Gavrikov.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

This was what I was referencing last year. Need LA to be ready for the gear Edmonton wants to get to. Game 2 last year lost 6-0, then came home and lost 8-2. Kings are better than last year's version, so we'll see.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Coach had said they are aware of the level G2 ramped up to last season, hopefully they are better prepared to handle that tonight. You know the Oilers are coming all guns blazing to prevent heading to LA down 2-0. Personally I'd be happy with a split but even more happy if they went up 2-0 and stunned that fan base some more.

The Legend is supposed to be back in tonight which should be a boost and give the offense and PP a different bit of a look. I was definitely on the trade him boat for years until this season, he looks like he has finally arrived as a player. Byfield, still not so much because even when Vilardi didn't break through he showed more consistent potential than 55 has. Hope I'm wrong but I'm still very concerned about him fulfilling expectations.

Not sure what the Fiala situation is but hopefully he comes back soon. Stinks that both years they're facing Edmonton they've had 2 key pieces out to start, would be nice to field the full line up for once ans have all the weapons. Fiala is a dynamic player that adds a dimension LA didn't have, but hopefully Vilardi's presence alone creates some problems for the Oilers. Plus Fiala plays with an edge, after the abuse LA took in G1 he would be a welcomed sight. He wouldn't tolerate that at all, stupid penalty or not which is needed right now. The lack of physical response bugs the hell out of me, they need more of things like Doughty launching McJesus down like he did the other night. They got run out of the building physically.

Gavrikov and Korpisalo have been as advertised, he kept the Kings in the game when they were on the ropes or just coilsnt get anything generated. The Kings will neer that again tonight.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

It was my birthday and we were sitting right behind the Canucks bench.
I was somewhat inebriated, and if I remember correctly one of the comments I made was in regards to him needing to wear his helmet because it gave off less glare than his head. And a few other comments.
I was being encouraged by those sitting near me. And the game hadn’t started yet.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Interesting thought. I’m watching Rangers and Devils, and just realized that the Kings beat both of these teams for the Cup.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Hyped and nervous for this Game 4. I said in last thread that I just have a vibe that winner of Game 4 probably will take this series down. Could Kings lose Game 4 and then steal Game 5? Sure. Is it that likely? Not as likely to me. Nice to see Fiala skating, but that being his first update in like 3 weeks, I'd say he's not that close at all. Probably a late Second round series if at all. I'd like McEwen in before Game 3 but he was a massive liability out there, so I'd get him out of there. Kaliyev would be me replacement for McEwen and that would be my only change in lineup. Definitely over the whining and ticky tac stuff from Edmonton. Reminds me of 2010-2012 Vancouver Canucks.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Been some amazing hockey so far this week. Was looking forward to the whiteout in Winnipeg and it didn't disappoint. Great come back to force OT and they did fall short, but great game. WEIRD to see Quick in the hallway after their win. Street clothes high fiving his teammates as he is not even the backup right now. I hated Vegas, obviously, but if they put together any sort of run, I'd like to see Quick be some part of that. Street clothes is rough finish to that career. But he was bad this year, so is what it is I guess (Sad).

Carolina the most unlucky team ever. Missing 3 of their top 6 forwards for the year. Legit cup contender when healthy, and that's just not the case.

Colorado having a decent challenge against Seattle but they should prevail there. They are not nearly as deep as last year, so I don't expect them to make a run like last year, but them playing winner of Wild and Stars will be a fun series. Those two teams look really deep and strong to me. The winner of that series would be my pick to represent the west this year.

The crazy part was on Spitting Chiclets, Ray Whitney is a big Edmonton homer, but he said he legitimately thinks the winner of Kings/Oilers is representing the west this year.

Anyways, some great hockey out there. First week of round 1 is the best.

 

[Kings4OT]

I will be surprised if the king's escape tomorrow.... In fact I half expect them to be blown out.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

We were talking about Byfield in another thread. I’m very concerned that he’s not playing up to the level of a Number 2 pick.
The last time the Kings picked 2nd they chose Drew. And he absolutely played and has continued to play at a high level.
This is an article by Helene Elliot about this very subject. One of the excuses is that he’s a “natural” center, though I’m not sure how someone can be “natural” at any position. But that’s another discussion.

From the LA Times
In almost any other situation, in almost any other game, Quinton Byfield and the Kings would have celebrated his third-period goal Tuesday night against Edmonton with rounds of hugs and cheers instead of quick fist-bumps and a respectful tap or two on his helmet.

On almost any other occasion his goal, which he snapped home from the slot off a fine centering pass from Gabe Vilardi, would have sparked debates over whether Byfield had finally added the offensive dimension that has been missing from his game since the Kings chose the 6-foot-5 forward No. 2 overall in the 2020 NHL draft.
Yet his goal came during what essentially was garbage time and the Kings got no closer in a 6-3 loss that pushed them to within one loss of elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Byfield’s first goal since he scored into an empty net March 14 and first with someone in net since Jan. 21 was overshadowed by their bleak circumstances.

It became a footnote. But it was more than that for a 20-year-old who had been playing wing instead of his natural center position and had to play against the likes of superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

“That goal wasn’t really important in the game, but it’s good for me just to know that I can score again, that I can look at the net and know I can beat the goaltender,” he said Friday, as the Kings ended an unusually long three-day break between games.

Of course, Byfield’s scoring struggles aren’t the only reason the Oilers took a 3-2 series lead and can advance to the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights if they defeat the Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

The Kings’ inability to contain the Oilers’ power play — Edmonton is eight for 14 with a man advantage — is the all-too-obvious reason the Kings’ high expectations for this season are in peril of collapsing. The Oilers are deeper, bigger. They’ve won the last two games, outscoring the Kings 11-4 after the Kings took a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 4. They chased goalie Joonas Korpisalo in Game 5, scoring on four of 19 shots, most of them high-quality chances. Should the Kings win Saturday, the Oilers would host Game 7 on Monday at Rogers Place, where they shut out the Kings in Game 7 of their first-round series last year.
But if the Kings are to take this to the limit, Byfield must play a role in their pushback. Coach Todd McLellan has been carefully complimentary toward Byfield even as he scored merely three goals and had 22 points in 53 regular-season games. That reflects the organization’s patience and recognition he’s a gem who needs polishing. McLellan echoed that theme Friday.
“I want him to keep playing the game he’s been playing. He’s been one of our most tenacious forecheckers, he’s been one of our most physical players,” McLellan said. “And if he just keeps those qualities in his game, then he’ll be fine.”

At some point, though, the Kings will need Byfield to score goals. That point is now — for his sake and theirs, whether to prolong this season or establish a path for his success next season.
“It’s not an easy answer. It’s not a simple, ‘Now’s the time,’ or tomorrow or six weeks ago. There is no easy answer to that,” McLellan said. “Q scored the other day. There are others that are on the clock now, others that haven’t scored since Q scored. So now they’re on the clock.

“Q, or Quinton, where he was drafted and with the type of offensive expectations that came with that spot or that slot, takes a lot of pressure and you [media] ask me questions every day about Quinton Byfield. That’s just automatic. And earlier in his career, I had a tougher time answering because he wasn’t scoring but he didn’t bring a lot else to his game. He had to learn that. Now he’s bringing a lot. I have a lot easier time supporting and answering those questions, and I think the offense will come.”

With scrappy fourth-line center Blake Lizotte back at practice and a full lineup available, McLellan threw his line combinations into a blender. Among his moves was shifting Byfield away from the wing with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe and to a line with Vilardi and Kevin Fiala.

“It’s good to change things up. We’ve had two good practices knowing the new guys on our lines, so it’s been a lot of fun,” Byfield said. “There’s been a lot of energy around the room.”

That should help him click with his new linemates. “All offensive players,” Byfield said. “Me and Gabe played a bunch together in the AHL, so we know where we are, all over the ice. And then we started out the season together, me and [Vilardi], so there’s a lot there. Playing with Kev is super easy. He just wants the puck, so I just give it to him in space and he creates so much. I’m excited to play with these two guys.”

It’s win or go home. It’s not a time to be timid, and that applies as much to Byfield individually as to the Kings as a team.

“Todd said, ‘Just swing the bat,’ so I think that’s what we’re going to do,” Byfield said. “I think when we were up 3-0 [in Game 4], we just sat back and let it come right to us, and that team is so good that if you let that happen it’s not going to end well.

“I just think we’re going to play not scared, with a lot of excitement and a lot of desperation, and I think we’re ready for it.”

If not, they can start getting ready for next season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The concerns around him are absolutely legitimate.

It's reached comical points with much of the fanbase, patience patience patience. There's patience and then there is stupidity. I almost get the sense he is on an NHL roster strictly due to the fact that LA doesn't want to have egg on their face for picking a suspect 2nd overall vs his actual merit of deserving to be in the NHL let alone the first line where he has spent 99% of this season. It's embarrassing, I guarantee you there is not another top line winger in the entire league with 3 whopping goals on the season - I don't even need to research that.

They keep saying he's making progress and learning, well learn how to score and definitely learn how to defend. His two gaffes in G5 were devastating, absolute ball breaker goals against. The third one especially, allowing Kulak to come down back door and get his first NHL playoff goal.

Had Byfield not scored a useless goal, that would have been the GW. The guy needs to start producing and producing now. Learning curve is over, start showing you're worthy of a 2nd overall pick.

If not, I fully support an entire season in Ontario with no call ups after a 10 game hot streak or whatever. If he dominates all season long, look at him for 2024. If he doesn't, start shopping him.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I will be surprised if the king's escape tomorrow.... In fact I half expect them to be blown out.

Kind of where I am. I do not feel confident in this group. I did in G4 and their first period made me feel better...then the rest of the game played out and it's been downhill since.

Hopefully the extended time off between games got them some rest and a much needed reset. Or they completely have checked out and will get destroyed tonight.

Could go either way.