Game Thread: G43 25-12-5 Kings @ Krak Attack

[PuckinUgly57]

I just dont buy Clarke as a Dman

There isn't anything great about him at all, it's those cute little passes and spinorama stuff that keeps him relevant.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Yay

Fiala gonna do Fiala things, led to the EN goal.

Road trip ends at .400, stinks even though the Edmonton and Calgary games could have gone either way, this easily could have been an .800 road trip. Edmonton is going to lose to Vancouver 3-2 so the Kings could have gained some ground.

McDavid just took a major for a cross check to the face of Garland. Total intent to injure, he got away with a lot of stuff last week including injuring Laferriere with no DPS intervention. Myers just did the same thing to Bouchard.

Definitely deserves a suspension on this one, but we all knows how that goes with McJesus.

Side note, Miller came in immediately to confront McJesus but was kept away from him.

 

[davnlaguna]

Kraken only had one shot on goal in the third.
Still looked better than the kings

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kraken only had one shot on goal in the third.
Still looked better than the kings

They flashed a stat that shot attempts were 34-5 Kings with about 4:30 remaining.

 

[Fox4Kings]

I was at the game, first time getting to see a few of the Kings in person including Q. Watching him live, he really jumps off the page with his skills. He is big and fast. I'm not sure why he hasn't been able to put it all together yet, but I am still optimistic. He is 22 and some players don't figure it out until they're 25+. I understand the frustration, but I wouldn't give up on him yet.

Kraken wanted it more and I thought a couple of the goals were a little soft by Kuemper.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I was at the game, first time getting to see a few of the Kings in person including Q. Watching him live, he really jumps off the page with his skills. He is big and fast. I'm not sure why he hasn't been able to put it all together yet, but I am still optimistic. He is 22 and some players don't figure it out until they're 25+. I understand the frustration, but I wouldn't give up on him yet.

Last season showed he *might* become a difference maker but this season is looking like his 3 previous to last season.

You are correct that some players don't put it all together until 25+ (Kempe is a great example, he had his breakout year 7 years after he was drafted) but wouldn't that have made more sense to bridge him at say 3 years for modest money instead of long term breaking the bank?

I'm glad you got to see him live, I did not too long ago in LA as well and he does have top end speed and good hands. But his decision making and use of teammates is very poor, he tries to dance through 5 guys, loses the puck, transition the other way. That should come in time, but it's discouraging to see the same stuff he was doing 4 years ago he is doing now.

He got a year reprieve from me after last season, but if he doesn't improve next year the Kings have a problem. Sometimes it doesn't come together for a player with the team that drafted him so my fear is the Kings will move him at some point during this contract should the underachieving continue and he will blossom elsewhere.

Kakko is a great example, also a 2OA and sucked balls in NY but look at what he's done in Seattle since the trade and watching the game, he really looked different than all the times I saw him in NY.

Kraken wanted it more and I thought a couple of the goals were a little soft by Kuemper.

He was off his game for sure but I also feel the entire team was. End of a 5 game trip, not the results they wanted and emotionally and physically wiped out. The 11/7 is just not sustainable all season long.

Hopefully being back home and some rest and a day off has them ready to go tonight.

 

[Kings4OT]

I understand and agree f4k. You dont draft t5 or even 10 hoping you can develope that guy in 5 to 7 seasons....thats what later rounds are for, otherwise why does it matter when you pick. You should get that game changer, point getter shut down D etc....if your developing it, you've missed out

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I understand and agree f4k. You dont draft t5 or even 10 hoping you can develope that guy in 5 to 7 seasons....thats what later rounds are for, otherwise why does it matter when you pick. You should get that game changer, point getter shut down D etc....if your developing it, you've missed out

I used Kempe as an example but he was taken 30th overall I believe, last pick of the first round in 2014 (Vegas and Seattle weren't here yet obviously).

I can live with a 30OA taking some time, that's almost a 2nd round pick. But I agree 100% that a 2OA needs to be a game changer one way or another (scoring, defense, goal, whatever) and does not get a 7 year luxury term to do so. Ramp up period to bonafide NHLer should be about 50% of that, maybe 4 years max.

 

[Fox4Kings]

Kakko is a great example, also a 2OA and sucked balls in NY but look at what he's done in Seattle since the trade and watching the game, he really looked different than all the times I saw him in NY.

Kakko has been the Kraken's best player since he arrived and he has also rejuvenated Beniers who has really struggled since his Calder winning year. Expectations are high in Seattle for Beniers, he is a complete player really strong on the defensive end and that has been fairly consistent, he does have excellent offensive vision and a decent shot but the stats haven't been there yet, but has really put up some good numbers playing with Kakko.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kakko has been the Kraken's best player since he arrived and he has also rejuvenated Beniers who has really struggled since his Calder winning year. Expectations are high in Seattle for Beniers, he is a complete player really strong on the defensive end and that has been fairly consistent, he does have excellent offensive vision and a decent shot but the stats haven't been there yet, but has really put up some good numbers playing with Kakko.

And that might be Buster's fate if he doesn't get it together here soon. Talented yes, but it's hard to put a finger on why he isn't producing because it isn't just any one thing.

Just last night this guy was shifted all over with everyone, clearly to give him opportunities. On one PP alone he was out there for 3:01, I think it was the two man advantage - he never left the ice.

Kind of tired seeing him out there constantly but IMO not deserving. He wasn't drafted to be Dunno 2.0.