If someone like Muzzin is traded, you need an offensive defenseman to replace him with. That's probably LaDue. Calling up LaDue creates a huge hole in Ontario, though, since he's the only offensive defenseman that they have. That's where Strand likely comes in. Being one of the highest-scoring defensemen in the WHL (which plays a physical, defensive style) and 6'4" probably points to him adjusting capably to the AHL. This doesn't mean that someone like Muzzin will be traded any time soon, but I think that it helps get Blake's ducks in a row now so that he can take advantage of a good trade opportunity, if one comes up.
- Osprey

Strand is still playing for the Thunderbirds. He likely won't be coming till at least April.

Strand is still playing for the Thunderbirds. He likely won't be coming till at least April.
- verwustung

For some reason, I figured that he was leaving the WHL for the AHL right away, but he can't do that. I'm not sure why I thought that when I knew better. I guess that I got carried away by really wanting to trade Muzzin. I think that I need some sleep.

For some reason, I figured that he was leaving the WHL for the AHL right away, but he can't do that. I'm not sure why I thought that when I knew better. I guess that I got carried away by really wanting to trade Muzzin. I think that I need some sleep.
- Osprey

Yeah, i actually was thinking what you were thinking when I first got the news. I'm as eager to get Muffin out of town as you are.

Yeah, i actually was thinking what you were thinking when I first got the news. I'm as eager to get Muffin out of town as you are.
- verwustung

Anyways, I still think that there's something to what I suggested. If LaDue makes the Kings next Fall, which will be more likely if a guy like Muzzin is traded, Ontario will need a replacement for him then.

From Insider:

"When Muzzin and Doughty are paired together, the Kings have a five-on-five Corsi-for of 66.5%, buoyed by a 66.1% offensive zone faceoff percentage. When Muzzin and Martinez are paired together, they have a 44.4% Corsi-for and a 44.4% offensive zone faceoff percentage. With Forbort and Doughty together, the team’s on-ice Corsi-for is 51.3%, with 45.9% offensive zone starts. In other words, there may be slightly more favorable zone starts, but in the small sample size, Muzzin and Doughty together – as would be expected – leads to playing more regularly in the offensive zone".

Yeah, Muzz and DD are both good at rocketing shots from the point two feet wide of the goal. So Yeah, the Corsi should be high. And why so many offensive zone starts with Muzz and DD paired? Wouldn't they be considered players that can get out of their own zone quickly?

From Insider:

"When Muzzin and Doughty are paired together, the Kings have a five-on-five Corsi-for of 66.5%, buoyed by a 66.1% offensive zone faceoff percentage. When Muzzin and Martinez are paired together, they have a 44.4% Corsi-for and a 44.4% offensive zone faceoff percentage. With Forbort and Doughty together, the team’s on-ice Corsi-for is 51.3%, with 45.9% offensive zone starts. In other words, there may be slightly more favorable zone starts, but in the small sample size, Muzzin and Doughty together – as would be expected – leads to playing more regularly in the offensive zone".

Yeah, Muzz and DD are both good at rocketing shots from the point two feet wide of the goal. So Yeah, the Corsi should be high. And why so many offensive zone starts with Muzz and DD paired? Wouldn't they be considered players that can get out of their own zone quickly?
- verwustung

Total horse pucky. They are just doing Muzzin P.R. because they are aware that the fans with functional sets of eyes are starting ask questions and point out his eff ups.

as Chuck D. would say... "Don't believe the hype"

Yeah, Rosen's conclusion seems awfully dubious. It appears that what "leads to playing more regularly in the offensive zone" is starting in the offensive zone. I'm not sure how he can suggest that the Doughty-Muzzin pairing "leads" to offensive zone time when they're started off there so much. Occasionally, they surely get to the offensize zone, force a faceoff and stay on the ice, but, likely just as often, some other pairing does the work of forcing an offensive zone faceoff and then Doughty-Muzzin is put out there to capitalize on it.

You can see from his numbers with Martinez that Muzzin's numbers with Doughty have nothing to do with Muzzin's abilities. Instead, he looks good when he's sheltered (with Doughty) and not so good when he's not (ex. with Martinez). Somehow, though, that always seems to get twisted around and spun into positive "Muzzin P.R.," as Mike just put it. This has gone on for years.

Yeah, Rosen's conclusion seems awfully dubious. It appears that what "leads to playing more regularly in the offensive zone" is starting in the offensive zone. I'm not sure how he can suggest that the Doughty-Muzzin pairing "leads" to offensive zone time when they're started off there so much. Occasionally, they surely get to the offensize zone, force a faceoff and stay on the ice, but, likely just as often, some other pairing does the work of forcing an offensive zone faceoff and then Doughty-Muzzin is put out there to capitalize on it.

You can see from his numbers with Martinez that Muzzin's numbers with Doughty have nothing to do with Muzzin's abilities. Instead, he looks good when he's sheltered (with Doughty) and not so good when he's not (ex. with Martinez). Somehow, though, that always seems to get twisted around and spun into positive "Muzzin P.R.," as Mike just put it. This has gone on for years.
- Osprey

Something else to be considered is that the Doughty pairing gets the hardest match-ups, so I don't know that you can say that whoever plays with him is "sheltered." Sure, their partner is better, but they're also playing big minutes against the McDavid's, Crosby's, and Matthews's of the league.

watching this game...


I am sorry, to the apologists, but Muzzin and Shore are just not that good, like more bad than good

on second thought... this whole team is kind of trash aside from the main 3 players

why can't we have a game thread?

Something else to be considered is that the Doughty pairing gets the hardest match-ups, so I don't know that you can say that whoever plays with him is "sheltered." Sure, their partner is better, but they're also playing big minutes against the McDavid's, Crosby's, and Matthews's of the league.
- tkecanuck341

That's the conventional wisdom and it sounds logical, but the stats show that, in each of the last two seasons, Doughty and Muzzin faced equal quality of competition at 5v5, despite playing on separate pairings. Historically, being on the second pair has not meant easier matchups.

this team is sofa king Jabroni

dump everyone but Kopitar Doughty Quick Kempe and Iafallo

the rest are just heartless skilless boat anchors who have nothing between the ears and no ability to do the right thing out there

Quicks play in the 2nd changed this whole game