Adrian Kempe

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kempe, LaDue called up by Kings. What now? What are their coaches saying? - LA Kings Insider

Kings mixing lines again. Kempe to play with Kopitar.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You know what? We need some speed in our lineup, I think. Put Kopi in a spot again. Another winger. He’s been through a lot of ’em this year.”

 

[Kings4OT]

I really hope Kempe can spark something, the roster is kinda dead and needs someone to get everyone but Carter and Pearson scoring

 

[davnlaguna]

Just win

 

[Kings4OT]

0-2 5 minutes into the game...so winning is doubtful

 

[Kings4OT]

cant lose to many of these games and make the playoffs

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Weird game, lots of odd plays. Budaj definitely not on the top of his game, two goals I saw for sure including the SH goal he should have stopped. Not going to rail the guy too much because he has been solid overall for LA this season but this one is on him mostly (I missed the first 2 goals, someone correct me if I am wrong).

Kempe looked good, very involved and he has some speed. He may be ready to make the big club next season, which means someone will be moved this summer to get some cap space. LaDue also had a decent game although he looked a bit anxious at times trying to jump into the play. Martinez with a rare poor decision to pinch which leads to the first of two soft goals I saw on Budaj. Brown's best game all season long. Mike Smith a bitch as usual but he did make some big stops.

Kings cannot lose against teams like this and hope to make the POs.

 

[smackdown380]

I went to this game and Kempe looked good and like he was flying. He had M Smith beaten on his partial breakaway but missed wide. Not sure why the Kings didn't call him up when Toffoli went out. Marty did make a bad pinch but Budjai shit the bed today. Also unsure on the disallowed goal as to what the ref was thinking.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Sounds like the Kings actually played well, but they are their usual unfinishing selves, so their margin of error just doesn't exist.

I actually just listened to the game on the radio, and it seemed like the same narrative with Nick Nickson "The Kings are outshooting the Coyotes 11-2 in this (2nd) period so far, and the score is STILL 0-2". Same story over and over. Also Budaj had an awful game.

I'll cut the Kings some slack coming off of bye, but they need to rattle off some wins at some point. The only good news is that everyone else they're battling just keeps losing, and Kempe sounded like he was really opening up the ice with his speed (Could be great news. They said on the radio that the Reign coach recommended his call-up because his game seems better suited for the NHL than the minors. He actually said the structure of the NHL would allow him to utilize his speed in shorter but more controlled spurts). Disallowed goal was brutal, especially since it wasn't reviewable. I know I'm beating a dead horse, and I'll seem like a Kopitar hater (which I'm really not), but in the 2nd period I was just sarcastically thinking "Geez, I wish we had one of these superstar $10-mil/year guys who could put a goal in and get this team back in this". Does anyone have any theories on why he can't score?

*I'm also calling it right now. Edmonton has had a favorable schedule so far, and their final 2 months are murderous. I can see them falling, at least, down a Wild Card spot. I already posted it before, but of the final 19 games, LA only plays 6 on the road (and one is in Anaheim). If LA can take care of Business at home, they'll be okay (Last night notwithstanding).

Edmonton Schedule. Brutal road trip starting tomorrow. Maybe I'm overvaluing the Kings, but having to play LA/Anaheim, then LA/SJ, then Anaheim/LA/SJ at 3 times seems rough.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Also, Vancouver has a great home record and an atrocious road record, so I would say playing Vancouver at home vs away is night and day different. Also, Montreal is struggling.

 

[davnlaguna]

Not the birthday gift I wanted

 

[smackdown380]

I too can't see EDM sustaining which means we could open up vs SJ or Ana. How do you figure the Kings would get Van?

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I don't think Vancouver gets in. I meant that Vancouver is tougher at home, just trying to prove my point about Edmonton's schedule be tough going forward.

I don't love our chances against San Jose, though I do think it will be a lot closer than last year, because Gaborik was still hurt, Alec Martinez didn't play at all, and these new guys Forbert and Gravel are much better than what we had going into last year. Plus SJ was beyond motivated to beat us last year as redemption for blowing that 0-3 lead in 2014.

Kings dropping into a Wildcard against Minnesota scares me less than San Jose, but who knows (Barbecue Bruce has not had Playoff success, and that's just going to remain a fact until he leads a team in the Postseason)? Then even if you beat the Wild, you probably get Chicago. We match up well with St. Louis, but again, they've looked pretty good lately. Ideal scenario is the Kings get the last Wild Card and play The Wild in Rd 1, then the Blues in Rd 2.

Your opponent is going to be good regardless, but I think Anaheim in Round 1 as the 3 seed is probably the most ideal at this point (But then likely SJ in Round 2 if you get by Anaheim).

At the end of the day, if Quick is healthy, I just like him matching up against Gibson of Anaheim, or Jake Allen of St. Louis.

 

[smackdown380]

Oh I see, yeah I am not liking our chances vs SJ either unless they come in cocky and overconfident having beaten us last year. Minny I think we beat over 7 games.

 

[smackdown380]

I went to this game and Kempe looked good and like he was flying. He had M Smith beaten on his partial breakaway but missed wide. Not sure why the Kings didn't call him up when Toffoli went out. Marty did make a bad pinch but Budjai shit the bed today. Also unsure on the disallowed goal as to what the ref was thinking.

Here is the highlight (it's in the article) of the Kempe breakaway, watching the replay I saw how he got his breakaway. He hooked the Arizona player to get inside position.

Off-Day Watch, 2/17: All the Kempe, All the Time

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Off-Day Watch, 2/17: All the Kempe, All the Time

There's a link at the bottom of what you posted. Pretty interesting that Dean Lombardi flew to Buffalo to see the Sabres vs Avs game.



An army of NHL scouts attend Avalanche's 2-0 loss at Buffalo

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Would you entertain a trade for bigger name like Duchene? He's is extremely fast and skilled, but might be a monster liability on defense. Plus I can only imagine what it would cost. Toffoli maybe?

 

[Kings4OT]

Trade TT for Duchene? no way that happens and why do that? I think Landeskog would be more of a fit....but even him is a why at this point. I would also say this is Budaj's team to run with unless he shits the bed or Quick comes back god like.....I know its an unpopular position and everyone cant wait for Quick to come back but I see that as more of a problem then a solution at this time.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Trade TT for Duchene? no way that happens and why do that? I think Landeskog would be more of a fit....but even him is a why at this point. I would also say this is Budaj's team to run with unless he shits the bed or Quick comes back god like.....I know its an unpopular position and everyone cant wait for Quick to come back but I see that as more of a problem then a solution at this time.

You have to trade talent to get talent, so that's just my thinking. Again, I don't know what I would do, but I would consider options. I remember someone saying to package Richards and Toffoli for Taylor Hall in 2015, and others said Taylor Hall wasn't available, and that it was a dumb trade for LA. Now, I'm not so sure either of those statements were true.

Matt Duchene is 26 and Tyler Toffoli is 24, so in my mind it's negligible as far as age. But you have to consider the possibility (whether valid or not) that Duchene or some other elite player could be the spark this team needs. I like Toffoli, but he isn't on that same level; and the speed that Duchene could bring, could open up so much for this team (I mean, the Power Play alone, would bring something LA has just not had in a very long time). I would just consider it, since guys like that aren't available too often.

I'm just thinking out loud I guess. I just have this feeling that maybe Toffoli already peaked.

Duchene-Carter-Pearson
Gaborik-Kopitar-Kuempe?
King-Lewis-Brown
Clifford-Dowd-Nolan

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Side note. They said the Panthers have won of 6 of 7 heading into LA tomorrow, including a 4-1 win over Anaheim tonight in Anaheim. So that might be a pretty good test. But that 1 loss was against LA last week...

 

[Kings4OT]

TT can play the Kings style of play and came up with the organization. You don't trade that for some guy that is "just talented" just because he got hurt. Richards and TT for Hall, I wouldn't like that at all even now. Your talking about one of the few people that can play defense first Kings hockey and still get 30g....not many out there that can/are willing to do that. You have to trade talent for talent doesn't work either for a couple of reasons 1 Duchene costs twice as much currently and if you swap the 2 you still have not addressed 1 issue the Kings have, enlighten me on how this helps if I'm missing something. Secondly, how many trades have there been where teams get talent for dead weight? It happens often and right now LA needs to be careful of what they do as they have already screwed the pooch with some bad choices lately and cant afford many more. Kempe played very well IMO and might just be the answer the Kings need allowing them to focus on something else....but I'm not in the front office so who knows on that.