I say sutter is gone either during the season or after. Either way I believe this is his last year with the Kings. I say Go find a younger coach. One that may bring more offense to the table.... I also say trade brown and get what you can for him. Possibly some D help

I get tired of hearing how the Kings are built for the playoffs. A.) People are paying good money 41 games a year to see a victory. The team should start thinking about their fans before April. and B.) It doesn't matter how good you are when it comes to playoffs if you don't make them.

I say sutter is gone either during the season or after. Either way I believe this is his last year with the Kings. I say Go find a younger coach. One that may bring more offense to the table.... I also say trade brown and get what you can for him
- KINGS67

Agreed, completely, on all of your proposals...

But I'd leave the age of the new coach wide open. I don't care if he's 12 or 95 years old... as long as he can motivate and cultivate.

I get tired of hearing how the Kings are built for the playoffs. A.) People are paying good money 41 games a year to see a victory. The team should start thinking about their fans before April. and B.) It doesn't matter how good you are when it comes to playoffs if you don't make them.
- DiggerCal

It's frustrating, I can tell you that. They have a good enough team to battle for first or at least a top 5 playoff spot. I honestly think it's the coaching. Sutter had a very conservative coaching style and to be honest, It can be quite boring or nerve racking depending on which way the game is going that night.

I get tired of hearing how the Kings are built for the playoffs. A.) People are paying good money 41 games a year to see a victory. The team should start thinking about their fans before April. and B.) It doesn't matter how good you are when it comes to playoffs if you don't make them.
- DiggerCal

I'll never get tired of hearing "KINGS ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS" because that's really how they show that they care about their fans. The skate with cup is all I need to see that they care. I'm sure the Ducks fans are very happy and fulfilled with all their home wins...

You really think so? Lombardi has fired Sutter before. And they were obviously at odds at the end of last season. Lombardi as much as admitted this in a long interview. With both of their contracts expiring at the end of the season I think Sutter is on a very short leash.
- Klaatu

I do. If there were no Cups, then he would have been canned this summer me thinks. Firing Sutter is a big deal and Lombardi won't do it without Sutter hanging himself with a poor start.

No Need to panic!
However be careful about dismissing the need to put up points early in the season.
As tight as the west is going to be, Those points "could" be the difference in making the big show or not!(not likely, But possible)

I do. If there were no Cups, then he would have been canned this summer me thinks. Firing Sutter is a big deal and Lombardi won't do it without Sutter hanging himself with a poor start.
- Only_A_Ladd

People downplayed the locker room incident last year, but it was clear even then, that Sutter has lost the room. A team this talented should be playing a lot better than they are right now and that's on the coaching staff.

People downplayed the locker room incident last year, but it was clear even then, that Sutter has lost the room. A team this talented should be playing a lot better than they are right now and that's on the coaching staff.
- Gretz2Kurri

I must be one of the downplayers. players only meeting happen all the time in sports, how did this one display that he had lost the room? because he wasn't aware that the meeting was taking place? just curious because I didn't see that he had lost the room at that point, whenever that point actually took place.

People downplayed the locker room incident last year, but it was clear even then, that Sutter has lost the room. A team this talented should be playing a lot better than they are right now and that's on the coaching staff.
- Gretz2Kurri

In light of all that transpired last season...
A coaching change at the end of last season could have symbolized a fresh start for the team... which is why some of us felt Coach Sutter should have been replaced, then. Yes, he had clearly lost ability to motivate his team... at a time when they sorely needed it.

It would have been a bonus for the team to start the season with new influence behind the bench.

At any rate...
I believe Coach Sutter will be fired -- or will announce a sudden retirement -- very soon.

In light of all that transpired last season...
A coaching change at the end of last season could have symbolized a fresh start for the team... which is why some of us felt Coach Sutter should have been replaced, then. Yes, he had clearly lost ability to motivate his team... at a time when they sorely needed it.

It would have been a bonus for the team to start the season with new influence behind the bench.

At any rate...
I believe Coach Sutter will be fired -- or will announce a sudden retirement -- very soon.
- Media_Oddball

Here's the devils advocate then...

Who replaces him?

With a team in a seeming narrow cup window (depending on how the upcoming contracts and cap situation shake out) for the next 2ish years, who can step in right away and right the ship?

An internal lower level coach? AHL coach? Assistant? Someone from the outside?

Here's the devils advocate then...

Who replaces him?

With a team in a seeming narrow cup window (depending on how the upcoming contracts and cap situation shake out) for the next 2ish years, who can step in right away and right the ship?

An internal lower level coach? AHL coach? Assistant? Someone from the outside?
- FourFeathers773

If Sutter goes, Stevens steps in...there's a reason why he's an "Associate" coach.

Here's the devils advocate then...

Who replaces him?

With a team in a seeming narrow cup window (depending on how the upcoming contracts and cap situation shake out) for the next 2ish years, who can step in right away and right the ship?

An internal lower level coach? AHL coach? Assistant? Someone from the outside?
- FourFeathers773

Based on financial realities... and the fact that he's already there and has a well-established rapport with the players... how about John Stevens?

Here's the devils advocate then...

Who replaces him?

With a team in a seeming narrow cup window (depending on how the upcoming contracts and cap situation shake out) for the next 2ish years, who can step in right away and right the ship?

An internal lower level coach? AHL coach? Assistant? Someone from the outside?
- FourFeathers773

Stevens is the org's heir in wait. I think it's already been decided, but of course that all could change if DL is let go, too.

People downplayed the locker room incident last year, but it was clear even then, that Sutter has lost the room. A team this talented should be playing a lot better than they are right now and that's on the coaching staff.
- Gretz2Kurri

That was overplayed by the media. It came from the New York Post which is an awful source for legit news. Plus they got the time and the severity of it wrong.

They had a players only meeting. That was that.

IMO the Kings lack the depth they had 2-3 years ago. Bottom 6 forwards look very weak. Thats what happens when you lose Richards, Williams, Stoll, and an effective Dustin Brown(guy has fallen off a cliff) all in just 1 year. Cant make up for it by just adding Lucic. Defense is top heavy as well.

That was overplayed by the media. It came from the New York Post which is an awful source for legit news. Plus they got the time and the severity of it wrong.

They had a players only meeting. That was that.
- Jason_Lewis

Respectfully, though, Jason...
Dean Lombardi, in his long press interview last April, acknowledged that the incident, along with being a release of frustration, was also reflective of a lack of communication between the coach and the team.

And there is no denying that the behavior caught on camera during the EPIX series was indication of trouble between the team and Sutter.

Respectfully, though, Jason...
Dean Lombardi, in his long press interview last April, acknowledged that the incident, along with being a release of frustration, was also reflective of a lack of communication between the coach and the team.

And there is no denying that the behavior caught on camera during the EPIX series was indication of trouble between the team and Sutter.
- Media_Oddball

Meant to add a word of support for the New York Post.
They turned out to be right about the incident.
Although people love to label it a rag... journalists from all over the world (including the New York Times) regularly monitor the Post for scoops.
They are known for it.
Dramatic? Yes.
But they surely get the scoops.

Stevens is the org's heir in wait. I think it's already been decided, but of course that all could change if DL is let go, too.
- Stu17

John Stevens is the same type of coach as Darryl Sutter, much like Sutter was the same type of coach as Terry Murray. When Sutter was hired, he came in and said that "the Xs and Os aren't going to change", meaning the Kings already knew the system and just needed to change their emotional investment in the team. Moving from Sutter to Stevens isn't going to change the "Xs and Os".

John Stevens is the same type of coach as Darryl Sutter, much like Sutter was the same type of coach as Terry Murray. When Sutter was hired, he came in and said that "the Xs and Os aren't going to change", meaning the Kings already knew the system and just needed to change their emotional investment in the team. Moving from Sutter to Stevens isn't going to change the "Xs and Os".
- tkecanuck341

Can you think of a coach, from the outside, who would have enough stature to influence the system... to allow for offense and imagination?

Then again... if Lombardi goes, along with Sutter... I suppose a whole new system will be ushered in.

Badly needed, in my opinion: A tweaked system that retains the strong defense, but allows for creativity and skill, which are now being used effectively by opposing teams.

Bashing and intimidation alone will no longer work for the Kings.

Don't look at the standings and say it's just 2 losses. The key is how they are losing. The way they lose now is a carbon copy of why they didn't make the play offs last year. Bad passing, lack of foot speed, not checking, poor shot selection, blown coverage, trying to be too pretty, believing the hype and falling back on that horrible phrase "we just got to bear down".

So it's 2 losses now, and against division teams, which are essentially 4 point games in my book. they matter, a lot, so don't pee on my back and tell me it's raining.

when it gets to 3 - 4 - 5 and 6 losses, is the same rhetoric is going to be spewed? absolutely

When they eek out 1 win in October are all the myopic fans are going to say "we're back on track" and that we panicked too soon? Absolutely.

Then, before you know it we will be in december and that bankable december slump will happen.

What needs to happen? the list is too long and It has nothing to do with moving forwards out of town. I can't say that about the defense because there are quite a few of our defensmen that just aren't as good as everyone says they are and IMO if you fix that issue the team is fine.

John Stevens is the same type of coach as Darryl Sutter, much like Sutter was the same type of coach as Terry Murray. When Sutter was hired, he came in and said that "the Xs and Os aren't going to change", meaning the Kings already knew the system and just needed to change their emotional investment in the team. Moving from Sutter to Stevens isn't going to change the "Xs and Os".
- tkecanuck341

Thats my thought.

Is hiring the next guy down the bench really going to change the direction the team is heading? Running the same system but with a different cheerleader doesnt seem like it will do much IMO

Can you think of a coach, from the outside, who would have enough stature to influence the system... to allow for offense and imagination?

Then again... if Lombardi goes, along with Sutter... I suppose a whole new system will be ushered in.

Badly needed, in my opinion: A tweaked system that retains the strong defense, but allows for creativity and skill, which are now being used effectively by opposing teams.

Bashing and intimidation alone will no longer work for the Kings.
- Media_Oddball

LAK about 2-3 years behind the path that Boston put themselves on

But completely agree

Thats my thought.

Is hiring the next guy down the bench really going to change the direction the team is heading? Running the same system but with a different cheerleader doesnt seem like it will do much IMO
- FourFeathers773

Agreed. Whomever is behind the bench... the system needs to be revised to add new dimension.

There is a reason that players come from teams all over the league... and then diminish their effectiveness with the Kings... and that those who leave the Kings tend to flourish elsewhere.

The system lacks dimension and imagination.

John Stevens is the same type of coach as Darryl Sutter, much like Sutter was the same type of coach as Terry Murray. When Sutter was hired, he came in and said that "the Xs and Os aren't going to change", meaning the Kings already knew the system and just needed to change their emotional investment in the team. Moving from Sutter to Stevens isn't going to change the "Xs and Os".
- tkecanuck341

John Stevens played a large role under Murray instituting the system that is still in use today, allowing Sutter to move in and do little. The big difference is that Stevens does not disrespect the players with his caustic mouth. We have seen that over Sutter's tenure here in his interviews and press conferences as well as in the special that was run last year prior to the outdoor Sharks game. It was during that special after a Sutter tirade during a game in Tampa, when the garbage can incident took place. Would Stevens be the answer now? Time would tell. But they are not the same kind of coaches.