Jason Lewis: Some Very Easy Reasons Not to Freak Out

I'm freaking out.

Didn't the Kings have good corsi last season and still miss? They had a pretty poor shooting % last season. This tells me that even though they generated enought chances last season, they did not generate enough high quality chances.

They really came out of the gate strong after all that "great offseason" and "motivated" talk and lays two duds against divisional non playoff teams

The fact that they made Mike Smith look like a decent goalie should be a concern. Excuse all offseason was they were tired from too many playoff games and now they have 3/4 of a team that's afraid to hit and 1 cry baby who should have stayed in Boston.

The fact that they made Mike Smith look like a decent goalie should be a concern. Excuse all offseason was they were tired from too many playoff games and now they have 3/4 of a team that's afraid to hit and 1 cry baby who should have stayed in Boston.
- kingsfan626

Mike Smith has looked very very very good in the first two games. He is extremely hot and cold so we will see how long that lasts. That has been his MO for a few years. But take nothing away, he has been excellent in his first two starts.

The fact that they made Mike Smith look like a decent goalie should be a concern. Excuse all offseason was they were tired from too many playoff games and now they have 3/4 of a team that's afraid to hit and 1 cry baby who should have stayed in Boston.
- kingsfan626

Damn dude! Just drop the mike and walk off stage. Well done!

Didn't the Kings have good corsi last season and still miss? They had a pretty poor shooting % last season. This tells me that even though they generated enought chances last season, they did not generate enough high quality chances.
- flamminghead

Kings were 12th in high danger chances created per 60 minutes.

Not bad.

Last year was simply the shootout, overtime, and a bad stretch in February. Everything else was pretty much the same as previous years.

Just remember, Dean Lombardi has said this over and over again. ""The Kings are built for the Playoffs." So that seems to say that we shouldn't expect superior play during the regular season because he apparently doesn't. He seems to be happy to finish 7th or 8th in the Conference. So what's two losses? We can expect a lot more. Of course, if you don't make the Playoffs, being "built" for them doesn't mean much. But hey, keep in mind, the head man is ok with finishing 7th or 8th so don't expect more than sporadic superior play--just enough to squeeze in.

Just remember, Dean Lombardi has said this over and over again. ""The Kings are built for the Playoffs." So that seems to say that we shouldn't expect superior play during the regular season because he apparently doesn't. He seems to be happy to finish 7th or 8th in the Conference. So what's two losses? We can expect a lot more. Of course, if you don't make the Playoffs, being "built" for them doesn't mean much. But hey, keep in mind, the head man is ok with finishing 7th or 8th so don't expect more than sporadic superior play--just enough to squeeze in.
- Klaatu

This team is not the Kings of 2013 or 2011

THIS Kings team is not built for the playoffs. Their bottom 6 is suspect as ever and their D beyond their top pair is VERY shaky

Just remember, Dean Lombardi has said this over and over again. ""The Kings are built for the Playoffs." So that seems to say that we shouldn't expect superior play during the regular season because he apparently doesn't. He seems to be happy to finish 7th or 8th in the Conference. So what's two losses? We can expect a lot more. Of course, if you don't make the Playoffs, being "built" for them doesn't mean much. But hey, keep in mind, the head man is ok with finishing 7th or 8th so don't expect more than sporadic superior play--just enough to squeeze in.
- Klaatu

It has worked in the past, it can work again just fine.

I get it, everyone saying "those two points against Arizona might matter!"

They lost several bad games in 2011-12 and 2013-14 to bad teams. They ran into hot goalies, played poorly, what have you, several times in the past. This year is no different. You aren't going 82-0-0, you aren't going to win every game you should. That's hockey. If they lose 4 games to Arizona, 3 to Edmonton, both to Buffalo, and both to Carolina, then yea, we can talk about it with a more serious and example backed view of things. Til then, just another day in the NHL. You win some, you lose some.

No one will act like the Kings gained ground if they beat teams that are coined to finish at the top of the league. But they lose to someone projected for the bottom? Oh man, freak out, we are the worst, this team is going to be bad, we will regret that lose til the end of days.

Well... I heard that Dean Lombardi called the first Kings' loss "the most gut-wrenching loss of my life."

Then... after the second loss... he said he felt so betrayed by Jonathan Quick... that he feels he can never trust him to make another save for the rest of his life.

He feels his team is in a "destructive spiral" from which they may never recover... and he is reconsidering the love he feels for each player... and may need to terminate all of their contracts.

All this... just two games in.

Response to Jason Lewis:

All you say is basically true. Just keep in mind, when you build a team for the Playoffs you are saying that its performance during the regular season does not mean that much as long as you make the Playoffs. So, yes, we are going to lose games--more than a number of other teams--just because of management approach.

The club looks like a hot mess right now. But the solution is simple: Give the coaching staff 8-10 games to show improvement. If the team is showing no improvement after 8-10 games, fire Sutter. No improvement after that? Start moving bodies.

Kopi would be nuts to sign here right now for a dollar less than what he's asking for in his initial proposal.

The reason why the shot/chances differential isn't comforting is that a) Kings shots are usually right into the crest and b) the Kings are historically terrible finishers for the most part.
I do agree it is way too early and I know players coming west from the east take a little bit more time to get acclimated for whatever reason (me thinks its lifestyle distractions). Chemistry will develop, Lucic will get to know what is expected of him, Ehrhoff will be better as we go on, and a move will be made soon, whether its a call up or a contract move.

The reason why the shot/chances differential isn't comforting is that a) Kings shots are usually right into the crest and b) the Kings are historically terrible finishers for the most part.
I do agree it is way too early and I know players coming west from the east take a little bit more time to get acclimated for whatever reason (me thinks its lifestyle distractions). Chemistry will develop, Lucic will get to know what is expected of him, Ehrhoff will be better as we go on, and a move will be made soon, whether its a call up or a contract move.
- Stu17

I don't know how you justify this one when just a few seasons ago they were like 72-0-0 when leading after two periods.

The club looks like a hot mess right now. But the solution is simple: Give the coaching staff 8-10 games to show improvement. If the team is showing no improvement after 8-10 games, fire Sutter. No improvement after that? Start moving bodies.

Kopi would be nuts to sign here right now for a dollar less than what he's asking for in his initial proposal.
- Only_A_Ladd

Agreed... on all that you say here.
With or without immediate improvement... the Kings would be well-served with Sutter gone... and a new coach who can motivate the veterans... and cultivate new talent.

And yes... Kopitar would have endless possibilities in this league to earn his market value... and to thrive in a setting that allows him to skate creatively and fully use his skills.

I don't know how you justify this one when just a few seasons ago they were like 72-0-0 when leading after two periods.
- tkecanuck341

finishing scoring chances, not closing out games.

The club looks like a hot mess right now. But the solution is simple: Give the coaching staff 8-10 games to show improvement. If the team is showing no improvement after 8-10 games, fire Sutter. No improvement after that? Start moving bodies.

Kopi would be nuts to sign here right now for a dollar less than what he's asking for in his initial proposal.
- Only_A_Ladd

That is not entirely out of the question. Although I think a move like that would come (Not saying it would at all) something like 20-30 games in. More towards Christmas. That is usually when heads start to hit the block if teams are not where they are expected to be.

Agreed... on all that you say here.
With or without immediate improvement... the Kings would be well-served with Sutter gone... and a new coach who can motivate the veterans... and cultivate new talent.

And yes... Kopitar would have endless possibilities in this league to earn his market value... and to thrive in a setting that allows him to skate creatively and fully use his skills.
- Media_Oddball

Not sure about that. I thought there should have been more criticism of the coaching staff after last season's missed playoffs despite having something like the 4th most regulation wins in the league. Thought that spoke to a lack of preparation for OT and SHO. But I'm all for continuity. If Sutter can right the ship and his staff can get the team right, then he should stay because he's still the right head coach for this team. If not, then there's the door...

That is not entirely out of the question. Although I think a move like that would come (Not saying it would at all) something like 20-30 games in. More towards Christmas. That is usually when heads start to hit the block if teams are not where they are expected to be.
- Jason_Lewis

True, and Sutter is a Dean Lombardi guy, so he'll get a lot of leash.

To Jason:

Keep in mind that this is the last year of Lombardi's contract. Do you think he can afford to be that patient to wait 30 games before making changes if the team isn't meeting expectations?

Not sure about that. I thought there should have been more criticism of the coaching staff after last season's missed playoffs despite having something like the 4th most regulation wins in the league. Thought that spoke to a lack of preparation for OT and SHO. But I'm all for continuity. If Sutter can right the ship and his staff can get the team right, then he should stay because he's still the right head coach for this team. If not, then there's the door...
- Only_A_Ladd

In my opinion, Coach Sutter "lost the room" last season. The EPIX series illustrated as much, by showing a dejected-looking Kopitar and teammates as Coach Sutter berated them, with cameras rolling, for the world to see.

Later in the season... the garbage can episode confirmed (as even Dean Lombardi admitted) trouble in coaching paradise. I do not feel that he is the right head coach for this team during a time of challenge.

The Kings need a motivational, confidence boosting coach... and a GM who can keep his emotional ravings in check.

They need Luc Robitaille-style influence right now.
He is a true asset for the front office and entire Kings' organization.
He should stay.
Lombardi and Sutter should go.

True, and Sutter is a Dean Lombardi guy, so he'll get a lot of leash.
- Only_A_Ladd

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.