Sheng Peng: Unlucky Number Five for Kings? Bishop became the fifth goalie used by the Kings this year -- it's an unusually high, usually unhealthy number. A look back at LA's history with unlucky number five...

Snatching up a netminder of Bishop's caliber -- with Quick back and healthy -- reminds me most of 1994-95, when GM Sam McMaster rolled the dice on Fuhr, even though Hrudey was still on top of his game.

...except that Bishop is still a world-class goaltender. I'm trying to figure out why the Kings need that level of backup.

...except that Bishop is still a world-class goaltender. I'm trying to figure out why the Kings need that level of backup.
- yzermaneely

Fuhr was still a solid goalie. Not at his peak, but he played an NHL record 79 games the very next season.

...except that Bishop is still a world-class goaltender. I'm trying to figure out why the Kings need that level of backup.
- yzermaneely

Think about the other teams in the league right now who could have benefited from a world-class goaltender.

Calgary's addition of Brian Elliott didn't really work out as they had hoped. With a SV% of .907 He's 35th in the league among goalies playing in at least 25 games. Chad Johnson has been a little better, but do you really want to rely on a career backup goaltender for your stretch run and playoffs?

St. Louis is having similar issues after receiving exceptional goaltending from Elliott over the past several seasons. Jake Allen has not been great after being given the starting job, with a SV% of .908 (33rd). Hutton, their backup has not fared any better.

Both of these teams are in direct competition with LA for a playoff spot. By denying both of them of Bishop's services, The Kings put themselves in a much better position to overtake one of them and make the playoffs. Calgary is looking more and more out of reach, but St. Louis looks more and more catchable, especially with the departure of Shattenkirk and no immediate replacement.

Bishop will absolutely improve the Kings' chances of making the playoffs, not because of the games he will start for the Kings, but because of the games he will not start for the Flames or Blues.

Bishop will absolutely improve the Kings' chances of making the playoffs, not because of the games he will start for the Kings, but because of the games he will not start for the Flames or Blues.
- tkecanuck341

According to Yzerman, neither team made a serious push to acquire Bishop:

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...-l-a-was-the-only-option/

That said, as I wrote, Bishop has a much higher ceiling than Budaj and cost little. So the potential that he could provide a massive boost for LA's chances by getting hot is worth the gamble.

"Los Angeles also made a disastrous trade for future Hall of Famer Fuhr."

... I thought it would have turned out to be a good trade for the Kings, but they gave up on Fuhr pretty quickly. Or, they simply didn't have the resources available to re-sign him. The Kings' financial state was pretty dicey before Anschutz/Roski bought the team.

According to Yzerman, neither team made a serious push to acquire Bishop:

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...-l-a-was-the-only-option/

That said, as I wrote, Bishop has a much higher ceiling than Budaj and cost little. So the potential that he could provide a massive boost for LA's chances by getting hot is worth the gamble.
- Sheng Peng

I wouldn't put much faith into what GMs say about potential deals that didn't happen or deals that they are or are not looking to make. Even if there was a potential deal that fell through, that's not something he would be inclined to share.

I thought it would have turned out to be a good trade for the Kings, but they gave up on Fuhr pretty quickly. Or, they simply didn't have the resources available to re-sign him. The Kings' financial state was pretty dicey before Anschutz/Roski bought the team.
- JT_Dutch

I agree. McMaster was eventually (though it took a long-ass time) proven right about Boucher, who he called a potential All-Star.

Great point about upheaval with ownership and financial state. That summer, the biggest-name free agent that LA signed was Vachon...Nick Vachon:

http://www.prosportstrans...ntChkBx=yes&submit=Search

I wouldn't put much faith into what GMs say about potential deals that didn't happen or deals that they are or are not looking to make.
- tkecanuck341

I'm putting faith that Yzerman wants to improve his team. Cernak and a lesser draft pick and a conditional pick is not at all a high bar to clear in trade. If LA had given up a lot, I might be inclined to believe that they outbid serious suitors.

That was an impressive amount of research... on something that means hardly a thing . I'm just teasing, of course. Still, it was interesting, nonetheless.

"Los Angeles also made a disastrous trade for future Hall of Famer Fuhr."

... I thought it would have turned out to be a good trade for the Kings, but they gave up on Fuhr pretty quickly. Or, they simply didn't have the resources available to re-sign him. The Kings' financial state was pretty dicey before Anschutz/Roski bought the team.
- JT_Dutch

Wow, it's JT Dutch, a blast from the past. Welcome. Things are about to get a little more interesting around here.

Top 10 pick

...except that Bishop is still a world-class goaltender. I'm trying to figure out why the Kings need that level of backup.
- yzermaneely

We got him because he's the only goaltender làrge enough to absorb Perry's and Kesler's cheapshots as well as handily beating the crap out of Gibson.

Thanks for asking.

We got him because he's the only goaltender làrge enough to absorb Perry's and Kesler's cheapshots as well as handily beating the crap out of Gibson.

Thanks for asking.
- verwustung

We got him because he's the only goaltender làrge enough to absorb Perry's and Kesler's cheapshots as well as handily beating the crap out of Gibson.

Thanks for asking.
- verwustung

- arh777

I will always view Perry as that player.

Im super sad I could not watch tonights game. Any thoughts from the regulars on how it actually played out? Score is one thing. Just want the insight from our people.

Im super sad I could not watch tonights game. Any thoughts from the regulars on how it actually played out? Score is one thing. Just want the insight from our people.
- poisondhearts37

LA did good job limiting chances and shot attempts...Washington only had 19 shots, their second-lowest total this season. LA did luck out in some ways...Caps hit two posts, missed the net in tight a couple times, and had better overall chances. For once, LA had better finish than the competition...Kempe made a couple pull-you-out-of-your seat plays, including the GWG.

LA did good job limiting chances and shot attempts...Washington only had 19 shots, their second-lowest total this season. LA did luck out in some ways...Caps hit two posts, missed the net in tight a couple times, and had better overall chances. For once, LA had better finish than the competition...Kempe made a couple pull-you-out-of-your seat plays, including the GWG.
- Sheng Peng

thanks

Im super sad I could not watch tonights game. Any thoughts from the regulars on how it actually played out? Score is one thing. Just want the insight from our people.
- poisondhearts37

I'll tell you thia much. I bet the real leader of the team, Jeff Carter, went to Sutter and knocked some sense into his head.

The game was up tempo. Maybe you've seen the Kinga do it for short spurts this season before Sutter stattef having a heart attack and squashed it. But really in this game you saw a lot of quick breakouts, odd man rushea, not as much clogging of the neutral zone nor dump and chase. Gabby actuay played a fairly good game. The line with Kope was strong. The Kinga defenae played well and made much more criap paases. The PP was a little better though I thought it atill struggled with the same stuff. Kempe was good and scored an awesome firat career goal. He is a keeper. Kempe and Pears can make for an exiting wing combo.

Yeah, sorry you missed it...was a very enjoyable game.

They won two in a row and are still 3 points out, same as they were last week. This is why you can't just make it your strategy to coast through most of the season and then turn it on in the last month or two. Everyone that you're battling with (Calgary and St. Louis, currently) starts trying harder, themselves, and getting on their own win streaks that cancel out yours. You can't blow your chance to stockpile wins earlier in the season, when they're easier to come by, and expect to make up ground later, when it's harder to do so.

They won two in a row and are still 3 points out, same as they were last week. This is why you can't just make it your strategy to coast through most of the season and then turn it on in the last month or two. Everyone that you're battling with (Calgary and St. Louis, currently) starts trying harder, themselves, and getting on their own win streaks that cancel out yours. You can't blow your chance to stockpile wins earlier in the season, when they're easier to come by, and expect to make up ground later, when it's harder to do so.
- Osprey

If the Kings can win their head to heads with St Louis tonight and the few remaining against Calgary and Edmonton, they'll make it. They just can't afford to only pick up 2 points against non-conference opponents and blow games against playoff rivals and expect to make it. Tonight's game is the most important game in the remaining schedule, as it's one of the only teams with a playoff spot that the Kings have any hope of catching.

If the Kings can win their head to heads with St Louis tonight and the few remaining against Calgary and Edmonton, they'll make it. They just can't afford to only pick up 2 points against non-conference opponents and blow games against playoff rivals and expect to make it. Tonight's game is the most important game in the remaining schedule, as it's one of the only teams with a playoff spot that the Kings have any hope of catching.
- tkecanuck341

Sure, and if they'd won their final meetings against Vancouver and Calgary in 2015, they would've made it. They didn't win them, though, and that was only two games that they needed to win, not a half dozen like you're saying that they need to win now. Putting themselves in a situation where they have to win half a dozen very specific games, and losing one, like tonight's, is practically a ticket to the golf course, is not smart at all. The fact that they can still get themselves out of this situation doesn't mean that it's not a really bad situation to be in.

Hey guys, I answered Eklund's question about best and worst coach and I said the Shart's coach DeBoar is best while Darryl Sutter is worst and how he has had far too much talent to perform this poorly these past three seasons.

Outstanding job I think!

Hey guys, I answered Eklund's question about best and worst coach and I said the Shart's coach DeBoar is best while Darryl Sutter is worst and how he has had far too much talent to perform this poorly these past three seasons.

Outstanding job I think!
- verwustung

I think you're delusional

I think you're delusional
- arh777

- verwustung

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