Comments on: Why was it stupid to trade Andrei Loktionov? Let’s review

By: Bob Knob

Bob Knob — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:55:00 +0000

I think instead of fishing, snowmobiling and surfing (well maybe that one is actually good) all lockout he should have been getting bigger/faster/stronger. He seems to be coming around a bit so hopefully it is just a case of being out of game shape. Last year I believe he was in a mental fog due to his concussion, but I still think he is highly overrated by most. He’s small, isn’t exceptionally physically gifted, and makes shitty, overconfident, low probability plays too often imo.

By: Bob Knob

Bob Knob — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:50:00 +0000

Do you mind bringing up Holloway as well?

By: Bob Knob

Bob Knob — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:49:00 +0000

Yep.

By: Bob Knob

Bob Knob — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:48:00 +0000

Kopitar is elite, there is no doubt about that. The whole team has suffered with scoring woes going on a few years now, so it is not likely an individual under-performance, but rather a system-wide effect. NO ONE scores on the Kings since at least 2 years ago.

Putting up points isn’t all there is to hockey btw. Malkin is elite, this is true, but his defensive game doesn’t compare to Kopi’s, and he benefits from getting to play behind the best player in the world right now. It’s kinda hard to matchup against Crosby/Malkin/Staal for most teams.

Carter, in the last few years (except 11-12, an injury plagued season, and playing in Columbus and LA), has been near the top of the league in goals per game. 09-10 and 10-11 he was around 14th, the year before he was 3rd. He’s got an exceptional release on his shot.

Stoll is not even in the same gotdamn ballpark as Kopi, JWill, Richards, Carter, Gagne/Penner/Random left winger. He can barely stickhandle the puck fercrying out loud. He’s exceptionally good at boarding defensemen, however. He’s basically Lewis but with a good faceoff percentage.

By: Paul Biderman

Paul Biderman — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:14:00 +0000

I would state that the Kings don’t have any “elite” players at any forward position. Yes, Carter, Kopitar, and Richards have shown flashes of brilliance in their careers but they’ve never done it consistently over multiple years. Crosby is elite. Malkin is elite. Ovechkin is (or would be in the right system) elite. The forwards on the Kings are very good but they aren’t elite. Until a year or two ago I believed Kopitar was nothing better than a 2nd line center because he doesn’t put points up consistently, and I still lean in that direction. Any player can get hot over a 15 or 20 game stretch (see Dustin Brown) but the Kings don’t have anyone who puts up a point a night, which is my idea of “elite”. And Stoll isn’t far off from the talent level of the top Kings forwards. He’s just got a different skillset.

That said I do agree that he’s probably not the best player in the league for the spot in the lineup he plays, but the Kings don’t have anyone better. It’s not about his contract, it’s about his ability. I don’t believe the Kings would be holding on to him if they thought they could get someone better.

By: Quisp

Quisp — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:40:00 +0000

Works for me.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Oops. Typo….’and then getting players who DO have something substantial to offer, but not knowing how to get it out of there’ – I meant get it out of Them. In other words… help them realize the natural talent that they do have.
On Scribe’s site the other day there was someone who gave the points totals so far this year for TP and Moulson. Then the total points for I believe four of our top six plus Stoll. It made for rather depressing reading actually.

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Yeah Quisp. I know that Scribe shares many of those feelings. In addition Lombardi was exceptionally fortunate that last year the Carter trade worked out the way it did, and that every element of change (DS, King, Nolan) worked to maximum efficiency.
That said, this is the third year running that the team has been constipated offensively during the regular season. Even if it’s a case of not going to the tough areas or whatever….. who is inevitably responsible for that? Maybe King or Lewis will quite happily go to the ‘tough areas’ but if they don’t have the chops then they don’t have the chops. And it’s the GM’s responsibility to find someone who does.

I look forward to your post on Moulson, Purcell and Loktionov. It’s magnificent to win the cup. But it’s not a thrill to feel like you’re wasting opportunities to develop a consistent contender. And if the goal is to create a Detroit in their prime type of environment, you’re just not gonna do it by wasting draft picks on small players when there is no indication that they can function in the type of system you want to play, and then getting players who DO have something substantial to offer, but not knowing how to get it out of there.

Gads…. at that age neither Zetterberg, Parise, nor Datsyuk had played an NHL game!! Henrique doesn’t seem too concerned about Lokti.

By: LBlocal

LBlocal — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:54:00 +0000

Jarret Stoll’s ideal replacement at 3C, is currently playing on his wing, Elvis.

By: Quisp

Quisp — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:09:00 +0000

I had to laugh last night when the announcers on the Rangers game said of Boyle (healthy scratched last night) that “he’s a great player and he will bounce back.” I’m glad that he’s recognized as a great player, as opposed to a first round bust.