I agree with every word you wrote above. And I echo you in saying that it's great to see another fan who appreciates positional defense. Like you, I appreciate defensive balance, but now it seems that "puck movers" dominate everyone's mindset. A great example of the fallacy in that is Brent Burns. The so-called "experts" were singing his praises throughout the playoffs. Yet it was him and his out-of-position" wandering and shotgun, no-look passing that was as much responsible as anything for the Sharks' failure in the Cup Finals. It reflected in his regular season, too, when he scored 78 points yet still ended up a -5. That means he was on the ice for 78 of his team's goals as well as for 83 of the opponents'. I don't think it says that much for his value. He could've used a Scuderi as a partner to help cover for his messes.
- Klaatu

The Sharks have one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, Vlasic, but they don't pair him with Burns, oddly. Maybe they're afraid that doing so (especially replacing the puck-moving Martin) would hurt Burns' production, but separating Doughty from Muzzin this past season increased Doughty's and helped him win the Norris.

Speaking of which, you mention Burns having 75 points and being a -5. Similarly, Karlsson had 82 points and was a -2. I believe that those +/-s are a big reason why Doughty, with his +24, won the Norris over them. If either one of them had had a decent, positive +/-, the Norris probably would've been theirs.

The Sharks have one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, Vlasic, but they don't pair him with Burns, oddly. Maybe they're afraid that doing so (especially replacing the puck-moving Martin) would hurt Burns' production, but separating Doughty from Muzzin this past season increased Doughty's and helped him win the Norris.

Speaking of which, you mention Burns having 75 points and being a -5. Similarly, Karlsson had 82 points and was a -2. I believe that those +/-s are a big reason why Doughty, with his +24, won the Norris over them. If either one of them had had a decent, positive +/-, the Norris probably would've been theirs.
- Osprey

Imagine if DL would have drafted Karlsson instead of Tuebert? We would have a top pairing of Doughty and Karlsson.

Imagine if DL would have drafted Karlsson instead of Tuebert? We would have a top pairing of Doughty and Karlsson.
- LAkings96

or even tyler myers wouldn't have been as much of a stretch...

Speaking of which, you mention Burns having 75 points and being a -5. Similarly, Karlsson had 82 points and was a -2. I believe that those +/-s are a big reason why Doughty, with his +24, won the Norris over them. If either one of them had had a decent, positive +/-, the Norris probably would've been theirs.
- Osprey

Blake did win the Norris with 50 pts and a -3 rating in '97/98...beating out Lidstrom's 59 points and +22 and Pronger's 36 points and +47. Still find it somewhat surprising they gave it to Blake that season...

The Sharks have one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, Vlasic, but they don't pair him with Burns, oddly. Maybe they're afraid that doing so (especially replacing the puck-moving Martin) would hurt Burns' production, but separating Doughty from Muzzin this past season increased Doughty's and helped him win the Norris.

Speaking of which, you mention Burns having 75 points and being a -5. Similarly, Karlsson had 82 points and was a -2. I believe that those +/-s are a big reason why Doughty, with his +24, won the Norris over them. If either one of them had had a decent, positive +/-, the Norris probably would've been theirs.
- Osprey

The only reason Doughty didn't win the Norris last year is because the Kings didn't make the playoffs. Had they made it, Doughty would be sitting on back-to-back Norris trophies right now.

sadly, I think Purcell is going to play with Kopi and Gabby, so thats your first line. Then I think its time for "That 70's line" to catch fire again. So thats your top six. Bottom six is hard to figure.. should keep mersch and dowd together, at least at the start of the season, and maybe thrown brown in with the kids so they can learn how NOT to play hockey. Last line maybe lewis, latta, King? I don't know. I still like cliffy, and I like what I saw with andreoff at the end of last year. I'm not sold on Nick Shore, and I am amazed we haven't traded Jordan Nolan yet. Line 4 is a toss up.

As for the D... I'm glad schenn is gone and I HOPE scuderi gets put on waivers, we need to get younger and faster, and he is the exact opposite of both. Thanks for getting your face smashed in, but don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Mcnabb and Doughty, Muzz and Jazz hands, Trotman and Paul Ladue or Gravel. Scuds is gone, greene is gone, gilbert is a healthy scratch. Trade forbort for picks.

Quick and Zatkoff

Just my 2 cents, I could be way off and I might be missing players
- Deadmau55

I have read many views on this thread, and yours I mostly agree with.

I have lots a problems with what we have to work with this season, and DL has made no moves or trades yet. Its possible he is shopping certain players that we as fans do not know about. But lets see what happens during the summer.

I hate Dwight Kings play, he sucks and is done in my book. Slowest ever. Trade.
Cliffy being 25, has never lived up to the hype, but fans like us appreciate
his grit and toughness, but without that scoring touch is a waste taking the spot
of a more well rounded younger system guy that may* score more.
I like Andreoff's toughness and if used right he can score, but DS has no clue
how to manufacture the correct line combos to get things working right for him.
Lewis is probably one of the fastest guys on the Kings bottom 6, but has never
produced the points we have needed. He was a "band-aid" keepsake signing.
Shore started out decent, but tailed off and has failed. DS had enough. I am not
sure he would survive much longer in the NHL, seems like a permanent Reign*
player. Not impressed by shore, compared to other bottom 6 guys in the league.
Dowd has not blown anyone away, so I am surprised on all this talk on here like Dowd is the next best thing on the up swing, he has not had enough time to do anything yet. We shall see. I see better players than him in the Kings SYSTEM.
Mersch I like him and would love to put 82 games under his belt without DS jackn him around.
Latta is a baller, and brings it, Ive watched him play, better than Cliffy and the rest of the bottom 6.
Nolan needs to go, He is done. Trade.

The Kings Bottom 6 is a mess, but I would rather add youth, speed and scoring touch from the system than another year of mediocre play by the samo samo's that DS is in love with. Time for a big change in bottom 6 culture on the Kings.

The D is a wreck also. I agree completely with above.

As far as the Top 6, those 6 guys are interchangeable but Purcell
better work as well as Gabby & Brown otherwise we will be struggling
all season long to score. Brown has to play 82 games with Kopy period.

Its all us to DS, his line tinkering needs to stop so chemistry can work.
He never gives anything long enough of a try to get the balance right.

My 2 cents.

Re: Scuderi - positional D is great, but a slow pylon who plays positional D? not so much. Positional D in 2012 was phenomenal: Mitchell, Greene, Scuderi. 2016: Mitchell retired, Greene put on waivers, and yet Scuderi is a sound option? I know slow and steady wins the race and it might be cool in reg season, but I didn't like it in the POs at all and I don't think he'll get any better this season either. Numbers can deceive, but the eyes know what they see.

I have read many views on this thread, and yours I mostly agree with.

I have lots a problems with what we have to work with this season, and DL has made no moves or trades yet. Its possible he is shopping certain players that we as fans do not know about. But lets see what happens during the summer.

I hate Dwight Kings play, he sucks and is done in my book. Slowest ever. Trade.
Cliffy being 25, has never lived up to the hype, but fans like us appreciate
his grit and toughness, but without that scoring touch is a waste taking the spot
of a more well rounded younger system guy that may* score more.
I like Andreoff's toughness and if used right he can score, but DS has no clue
how to manufacture the correct line combos to get things working right for him.
Lewis is probably one of the fastest guys on the Kings bottom 6, but has never
produced the points we have needed. He was a "band-aid" keepsake signing.
Shore started out decent, but tailed off and has failed. DS had enough. I am not
sure he would survive much longer in the NHL, seems like a permanent Reign*
player. Not impressed by shore, compared to other bottom 6 guys in the league.
Dowd has not blown anyone away, so I am surprised on all this talk on here like Dowd is the next best thing on the up swing, he has not had enough time to do anything yet. We shall see. I see better players than him in the Kings SYSTEM.
Mersch I like him and would love to put 82 games under his belt without DS jackn him around.
Latta is a baller, and brings it, Ive watched him play, better than Cliffy and the rest of the bottom 6.
Nolan needs to go, He is done. Trade.

The Kings Bottom 6 is a mess, but I would rather add youth, speed and scoring touch from the system than another year of mediocre play by the samo samo's that DS is in love with. Time for a big change in bottom 6 culture on the Kings.

The D is a wreck also. I agree completely with above.

As far as the Top 6, those 6 guys are interchangeable but Purcell
better work as well as Gabby & Brown otherwise we will be struggling
all season long to score. Brown has to play 82 games with Kopy period.

Its all us to DS, his line tinkering needs to stop so chemistry can work.
He never gives anything long enough of a try to get the balance right.

My 2 cents.
- Kings fan since72

Thought I was the only one to hate King. I've been over him for a couple years now.

At least DL didn't sign Boll.