Sheng Peng: Carter's Importance; Kopitar's Record; Purcell or Mersch? The numbers behind Carter's MVP-caliber season. Who should LA call up? And is this the end of this significant Kopitar record?

Mersch, who suffered his own slump earlier this year, has come on recently with five goals in his last eight games. The 24-year-old certainly could find a place as the front-of-the-net presence on LA's second-unit power play. Brown hasn't done a lot in that area recently.

i didn't catch the entire tilt tonite, but was setoguchi seriously getting PP time and on the ice at the end with the goalie pulled? cmon now.

gilbert hasn't drawn in very often, so i could see him get sent down, bring mersch up. we already know purcell isn't the right fit, so why bother? of course this means gravel is going to get sent down and purcell comes back.

i didn't catch the entire tilt tonite, but was setoguchi seriously getting PP time and on the ice at the end with the goalie pulled? cmon now.

gilbert hasn't drawn in very often, so i could see him get sent down, bring mersch up. we already know purcell isn't the right fit, so why bother? of course this means gravel is going to get sent down and purcell comes back.
- hiway39

While I'd rather they keep throwing Gaborik or Pearson out there, when nobody's scoring, well you can't blame Sutter that much. Seto's done a fair job getting chances this season and actually had the best one with Budaj pulled.

I still believe Purcell didn't get enough run in his time here. He's clearly the best forward down there, so I'd give him another shot before turning to Mersch.

I still believe Purcell didn't get enough run in his time here. He's clearly the best forward down there, so I'd give him another shot before turning to Mersch.
- Sheng Peng

where do you slot purcell? riding shotgun with kopi?

Kopitar's shot attempts have had a major decline in the last few years..... he's focusing (or been told?) to be more of a setup player when he has the skill to be an elite scorer.

I never draft him in fantasy hockey, but always buy low by nov/dec because of his now-common slow starts.

Love how the quote option on this site is always broken. As much as I'd love to have Mersch up. I think you gotta roll with Purcell and let Mersch continue to groom in Ontario.

My question is. What are yalls thoughts on trading high on Muzzin? I like the games of Gravel, Forbort and McNabb enough to ride them out. They continue to get better. Muzzin and a dept forward should be able to attract some scoring help.

Love how the quote option on this site is always broken. As much as I'd love to have Mersch up. I think you gotta roll with Purcell and let Mersch continue to groom in Ontario.

My question is. What are yalls thoughts on trading high on Muzzin? I like the games of Gravel, Forbort and McNabb enough to ride them out. They continue to get better. Muzzin and a dept forward should be able to attract some scoring help.
- poisondhearts37

I'm still saying muzzin for JVR

I'm still saying muzzin for JVR
- KINGS67

JVR is an attractive target. But with Toff and Pearson due for raises. Can LA afford JVR in the long term? I would think not.

I'll pass on TP and especially MM.

What is the hesitation with calling up Kempe? He's been playing better from what I read. Speed, nastiness and confidence with the puck. Is it a cap thang or do the Kings want to overcook him?

AK won't lead the team in points this year.

I'll pass on TP and especially MM.

What is the hesitation with calling up Kempe? He's been playing better from what I read. Speed, nastiness and confidence with the puck. Is it a cap thang or do the Kings want to overcook him?

AK won't lead the team in points this year.
- malonepeters

They probably wanna see a consistent full year from him. He would play a role the Kings have alot of. Hes not a top 6 winger. LA needs legit scoring.

where do you slot purcell? riding shotgun with kopi?
- hiway39

Not necessarily, but certainly with one of the "skill" centers, meaning Kopitar, Carter, or Dowd.

Kopitar's shot attempts have had a major decline in the last few years..... he's focusing (or been told?) to be more of a setup player when he has the skill to be an elite scorer.
- BALUCHA

Doubt he's been told to shoot less. Pretty much every year, there are stories of the coaches telling him to shoot more. Probably just natural evolution of player, a little like Thornton.

From 2008-12, he averaged about eight shots/game at 5v5, from 2014-17, that figure drops to about 5 shots/game.

My question is. What are yalls thoughts on trading high on Muzzin? I like the games of Gravel, Forbort and McNabb enough to ride them out. They continue to get better. Muzzin and a dept forward should be able to attract some scoring help.
- poisondhearts37

Top-pairing defenders making four mil a year don't grow on trees. Unless it's a severe overpay, I think the Kings protect this strength, which is their team defense. And Muzzin is also a proven offensive player who can play well within Sutter's system -- not always easy, as we've seen with other skilled guys who have flamed out.

Granted, Muzzin has struggled a bit this year, and you're right, he would fetch a good player back.

Anyway, while Forbort has played okay with Doughty, I don't see him as close to a legit top-pairing guy yet.

I'm still saying muzzin for JVR
- KINGS67

Trading a quality defender for a quality forward would seem to contradict LA's normal way of thinking. That said, one might make the argument that LA needs a new way of thinking. I don't subscribe to that though.

What is the hesitation with calling up Kempe? He's been playing better from what I read. Speed, nastiness and confidence with the puck.
- malonepeters

Defensive lapses and a lack of regular, sound decision-making on the ice still dog him. He has been playing better, but not at a consistently high-enough level to require a recall.

That $10M contract and becoming Captain seem to be doing a number on Kopitar. I can only imagine that he thinks that living up to both means concentrating extra hard on defense, but what the team needs from him is offense, the kind that they won two Cups with him providing. He'll be good on defense whether he concentrates on it or not. The same can't be said for his offense. The team would be a whole lot better and he'd start to live up to both his contract and the C on his jersey if he were to concentrate on the offense and let the defense come naturally (rather than the other way around), IMO.

My question is. What are yalls thoughts on trading high on Muzzin? I like the games of Gravel, Forbort and McNabb enough to ride them out. They continue to get better. Muzzin and a dept forward should be able to attract some scoring help.
- poisonhearts37

You probably already know my thoughts. I advocated trading Muzzin for a king's ransom when it actually was "trading high" (and I remember some of the responses). The time for that was a year or two ago. Now, you'd be trading low. That said, I would still do it, since he leads the team in Corsi and there are probably still people who think that that means everything.

Trading him would address a number of things. First, it would allow Lombardi to get scoring help at the deadline without mortgaging more of the future by trading top picks or prospects again. Second, it would free up $4M in cap space to afford such help (especially making it possible to acquire help that isn't on an expiring contract) and pay for Toffoli's upcoming contract. Third, replacing him could improve the team, since he's hurting more than he's helping, IMO, with his -7 and 24 PIMs (by comparison, Martinez has only 10 PIMs).

Trading a quality defender for a quality forward would seem to contradict LA's normal way of thinking. That said, one might make the argument that LA needs a new way of thinking. I don't subscribe to that though.
- Sheng Peng

It was a smashing success the one time that Lombardi did it. Perhaps "LA's normal way of thinking" is part of the problem. That's what leads to things like getting stuck with Brown's and Richards' contracts (one still on the books and a costly buyout because the compliance buyout window wasn't used). When Lombardi actually makes painful decisions to let someone go because the team is better served (as in Johnson for Carter), it often works well in the short and long run. He's his own (and the organization's) worst enemy when he gets too attached to his players.

I'd send Greene down.

Purcell can certainly still play, but will he and his relatively meager 1.6 million cap hit make it through waivers again?
- Sheng Peng

If Purcell gets called back up, and plays poorly enough to necessitate him being sent thru waivers again, then I don't think anyone would care if he got claimed.

I'd send Greene down.
- Stu17

My first thought is he has more of a penalty-killing role than the other defenders, but not necessarily so. His 1:23 SH TOI/game just a little ahead of Gilbert's 1:10. My guess is he's more of a Kings guy, so they'd jettison Gilbert or Gravel ahead of him.

If Purcell gets called back up, and plays poorly enough to necessitate him being sent thru waivers again, then I don't think anyone would care if he got claimed.
- tkecanuck341

True. And he looked like he might be a poor-enough fit with Sutter in his first stretch that calling him up might be more of the same. Nonetheless, I believe he can play a regular role somewhere in the NHL.

You probably already know my thoughts. I advocated trading Muzzin for a king's ransom when it actually was "trading high" (and I remember some of the responses). The time for that was a year or two ago. Now, you'd be trading low. That said, I would still do it, since he leads the team in Corsi and there are probably still people who think that that means everything.

Third, replacing him could improve the team, since he's hurting more than he's helping, IMO, with his -7 and 24 PIMs (by comparison, Martinez has only 10 PIMs).

It was a smashing success the one time that Lombardi did it. Perhaps "LA's normal way of thinking" is part of the problem. That's what leads to things like getting stuck with Brown's and Richards' contracts (one still on the books and a costly buyout because the compliance buyout window wasn't used).
- Osprey

I believe Muzzin, despite some struggles this year, is still highly valued. Beyond Corsi, still has shine of World Cup selection, still playing heavy minutes for a strong defensive team.

You know my thoughts on +/-, but PIMs are always something to improve, I agree. That said, would PIMs be a good reason to trade Doughty (22) or give up on Forbort (40)? Muzz is not usually terrible in this department.

We may agree on this. Lombardi did a lot right to build a potential dynasty, but his loyalty had a hand with breaking it apart, perhaps prematurely.

I was never a big Johnson fan, I think Muzzin is worlds better.

I believe Muzzin, despite some struggles this year, is still highly valued. Beyond Corsi, still has shine of World Cup selection, still playing heavy minutes for a strong defensive team.

You know my thoughts on +/-, but PIMs are always something to improve, I agree. That said, would PIMs be a good reason to trade Doughty (22) or give up on Forbort (40)? Muzz is not usually terrible in this department.

We may agree on this. Lombardi did a lot right to build a potential dynasty, but his loyalty had a hand with breaking it apart, perhaps prematurely.

I was never a big Johnson fan, I think Muzzin is worlds better.
- Sheng Peng

I don't think Muzzin is terrible. I just believe he's the asset to help get us some scoring help.

I just believe he's the asset to help get us some scoring help.
- poisondhearts37

Way I see it, we have three established defensemen (Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez) and five blueliners trying to prove themselves -- three youngsters and two vets trying to hang on. While I like all the younger dmen, the organization isn't strong enough in this position to shed Muzzin for a scoring forward. Remember how San Jose took advantage of Martinez's absence last postseason?