Sheng Peng: Kings Should Steal Andrew Hammond Hammond is more than a one-year wonder...the Hamburglar may be the steal of the season...

Hammond is a one hit wonder who's 15 minutes are up

Welcome

Welcome to HELL.

Hammond is a one hit wonder who's 15 minutes are up
- TheGame316

You may be proven right in the long run, as goalies are hard to predict, but did you miss the part about how Hammond's 5v5 save % was actually better in 2015-16 than his rookie year? And how 4v5 save % is pretty random?

Welcome to HELL.
- poisondhearts37

Thanks?

Welcome
- KINGS67

Thanks!

Thanks?


- Sheng Peng

HB is pretty rough

Welcome. Big shoes to fill imo but solid first article. As a Sens fan it is tough to see a 'hero' getting waived but I understand the reasoning. Still prefer him over Condon though.

Welcome Sheng.

Welcome and good luck!

Sheng Peng: Kings Should Steal Andrew Hammond
Hammond is more than a one-year wonder...the Hamburglar may be the steal of the season...
- Sheng Peng

Welcome Sheng! Just don't mention Jake Muzzin and you'll be fine. :Looking forward to reading what you write here on HB.

Welcome. Big shoes to fill imo but solid first article. As a Sens fan it is tough to see a 'hero' getting waived but I understand the reasoning. Still prefer him over Condon though.
- DutchSenators

Thanks! What is the reasoning from a Sens' perspective? Contract? Unwillingness to report? Or is his injury more serious than reported?

I realize Condon has outplayed him this season, but it's been two games.

Welcome Sheng! Just don't mention Jake Muzzin and you'll be fine. :Looking forward to reading what you write here on HB.
- arh777

Thank you!

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┻┳| •.•) But I'm a card-holding member of the Muzz Fan Club
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Welcome Sheng.
- Stu17

Welcome and good luck!
- ClarksonDavid

Thanks!

Welcome. Myself included, like the rest of the league, was captivated by Hammonds first season. And although it's certainly very possible that that year was more of an aberration, I'd tend to agree that it's still intriguing enough to take a shot on. budjai had looked entirely capable of carrying the load until Quick gets back but I'd love to have Hammond as our official number 2 moving forward once an ageing Budaji no longer becomes a reasonable option.

WELCOME Mr. PENG!!!!!

I think Hammond would be an OK pick up. He could get some reps in down in ONT. then come up as a back up to Budaj. Then throw JZ down to ONT. so he can get some reps. I think everyone wins in that scenario.

I would be an even bigger fan of this move if somehow it meant we could put McNaab on waivers


Moving on to complaining now because it's my jam:

King Purcell Greene and Gilbert have been trash lately (me being nice) and I have to wonder what happens when Kopi comes back.

we have 2 lines that should not be broken up and deserve top 9 minutes the way they are playing. But when Kopi comes back you have to pair him with a couple plugs and then that line gets top minutes and diminishes the time that the 2 productive lines would normally get to play?

anyone else smell this coming?

Ditch Greene give 7 slot to Gilbert and call up Loverde or LaDue - the kids are looking good. Gravel and Forbort are getting better, let's take this full circle and bring more of them up! Oh and put Purcell on waivers too, that guy is useless!!!

WELCOME Mr. PENG!!!!!

I think Hammond would be an OK pick up. He could get some reps in down in ONT. then come up as a back up to Budaj. Then throw JZ down to ONT. so he can get some reps. I think everyone wins in that scenario.

I would be an even bigger fan of this move if somehow it meant we could put McNaab on waivers


Moving on to complaining now because it's my jam:

King Purcell Greene and Gilbert have been trash lately (me being nice) and I have to wonder what happens when Kopi comes back.

we have 2 lines that should not be broken up and deserve top 9 minutes the way they are playing. But when Kopi comes back you have to pair him with a couple plugs and then that line gets top minutes and diminishes the time that the 2 productive lines would normally get to play?

anyone else smell this coming?

Ditch Greene give 7 slot to Gilbert and call up Loverde or LaDue - the kids are looking good. Gravel and Forbort are getting better, let's take this full circle and bring more of them up! Oh and put Purcell on waivers too, that guy is useless!!!
- MikeOxbyg

King has always been trash

budjai had looked entirely capable of carrying the load until Quick gets back but I'd love to have Hammond as our official number 2 moving forward once an ageing Budaji no longer becomes a reasonable option.
- Woodysdemise

Yea, Budaj has been solid, but one shouldn't count on him playing game after game without break. Good to head off potential fatigue/regression instead of waiting for the problem to hit then addressing it. We'll see what Zatkoff has got -- I imagine the Kings want to give him a full shot first -- before turning to another netminder.

I would be an even bigger fan of this move if somehow it meant we could put McNaab on waivers


we have 2 lines that should not be broken up and deserve top 9 minutes the way they are playing. But when Kopi comes back you have to pair him with a couple plugs and then that line gets top minutes and diminishes the time that the 2 productive lines would normally get to play?

Ditch Greene give 7 slot to Gilbert and call up Loverde or LaDue - the kids are looking good. Gravel and Forbort are getting better, let's take this full circle and bring more of them up! Oh and put Purcell on waivers too, that guy is useless!!!
- MikeOxbyg

What's your issue with McNabb? He makes mistakes, for sure, but every defenseman makes glaring blunders from time to time.

Dowd's icetime hasn't gone up appreciably since Kopitar's injury, so I don't think Anze will "steal" too much of his icetime. Carter has been playing more, but hot as he is now, he's 31, so it's in the team's best interest to keep him fresher in the long run. After that, Kopitar will be taking minutes from Lewis and Shore, which I'm sure nobody will object to.

Purcell has struggled all season. I like him a lot, hopefully Kopitar's return will help him. His playmaking talents are wasted with his linemates, but of course, the Kings don't have much choice now because of injuries.

LaDue has looked decent, but I don't think he's ready yet. Having three rookies on your blueline probably means you're losing more games than winning anyway.

King has always been trash
- KINGS67

I think King is a smart player who does a lot of winning things. Certainly, he has his flaws and is miscast on a scoring line, but injuries have forced LA's hand a bit there.

I think King is a smart player who does a lot of winning things. Certainly, he has his flaws and is miscast on a scoring line, but injuries have forced LA's hand a bit there.
- Sheng Peng

I'm one of the few King fans on the blog. I too think that aside from him being slow of foot, he does do a lot of "winning things" throughout the course of a season. He's middle/bottom six material, but I've got no qualms with his game. People's expectations ruin him in their eyes. He's a gentle giant with a grin with decent hands who wins plenty of board battles and angles well. I like McNabb too and see a huge upside to his game.

My beef is Dustin Brown, and Dustin Brown alone.

What's your issue with McNabb? He makes mistakes, for sure, but every defenseman makes glaring blunders from time to time.

Dowd's icetime hasn't gone up appreciably since Kopitar's injury, so I don't think Anze will "steal" too much of his icetime. Carter has been playing more, but hot as he is now, he's 31, so it's in the team's best interest to keep him fresher in the long run. After that, Kopitar will be taking minutes from Lewis and Shore, which I'm sure nobody will object to.

Purcell has struggled all season. I like him a lot, hopefully Kopitar's return will help him. His playmaking talents are wasted with his linemates, but of course, the Kings don't have much choice now because of injuries.

LaDue has looked decent, but I don't think he's ready yet. Having three rookies on your blueline probably means you're losing more games than winning anyway.



I think King is a smart player who does a lot of winning things. Certainly, he has his flaws and is miscast on a scoring line, but injuries have forced LA's hand a bit there.
- Sheng Peng

McNaab getts caught flat footed too much for my liking and doesn't make a good first pass out of the zone or at least not as deftly as Forbort and Gravel seem to do. He processes plays too slowly and creates bad plays with the puck in general due to his slow thinking. I agree that he has had some shining moments this season but I think everyone will agree he is being out played right now and the team looks a lot better without him.

So to stem into the Ladue thing a bit, if we could solve that 5 slot issue which usually is taken by Greene or Gilbert I think we would have a better look and feel to our defensive game with DD- Forbs, AMart - Gravel , Muzz - Ladue. I think it is worth a look at the very least. It's not about salary and who deserves to play in which slot, it's about what makes the team better, so don't get hung up on that.

I agree the top six has injury issues complicating what we can do with lines up front. But, King is not a top six player, I mean, simply, just not a top six player. Purcell is a top six player who is playing like a bottom six plug.

Gabo should be returning next month so that will help the first line and substantiate having the first line play as much as it does when Kopi is healthy and hopefully have some production to show for it. then the minutes doled out to the 70's line and dowds line would be fitting and I think we would have a nice look to our top 9 provided they continue to play well.

our fourth line should be King Lewis and Clifford. I have no problem with them slotting there and the minutes they would play.

Unfortunately that puts Purcell with Gaborik and Kopi when we are all healthy. I am ok with taking a look at that line but ultimately would rather see Kempe play on that line to ease him into the league and I just feel he would play smarter and hungrier than Purcell does currently. Just my thoughts though.

My beef is Dustin Brown, and Dustin Brown alone.
- Stu17

Like King, I believe a lot of it is expectations. First-line Brown left us years ago, but it doesn't mean that he can't still be a viable player. He looks like he's in the right place now.

I am ok with taking a look at that line but ultimately would rather see Kempe play on that line to ease him into the league and I just feel he would play smarter and hungrier than Purcell does currently.
- MikeOxbyg

Kempe has obvious talent, but consistency is still an issue with him in Ontario. I don't consider him close to ready. I don't believe his decision-making will be better than Purcell's at this point.

Sheng Peng: Kings Should Steal Andrew Hammond
Hammond is more than a one-year wonder...the Hamburglar may be the steal of the season...
- Sheng Peng

was wondering why the kings didn't put a claim in for him...especially considering zatkoff inspires zero confidence with sutter. budaj may end up starting 60 games in a row at this rate.

was wondering why the kings didn't put a claim in for him...especially considering zatkoff inspires zero confidence with sutter. budaj may end up starting 60 games in a row at this rate.
- hiway39

Zatkoff will get his shot. If the Kings had no confidence in him, they would've claimed Hammond or picked up another goalie by now.