Sheng Peng: Kings/Canucks Report from Shanghai Three unforgettable days in Shanghai capped off by a forgettable 5-2 Los Angeles victory in the NHL's first-ever game in China

Good on Anze Kopitar for sporting the LA Dodgers cap abroad.

It was interesting the fan reactions to some of Quick's saves. You weren't kidding, sure sounded like they liked a good amount of them.

That second goal he gave up was a bit odd. Rarely see him lose sight of a puck that badly.

I don't think Mersch is going to make the squad, which could allow for Kempe to stay up. I thought Brodz looked a lot more solid with Kopitar and Brown, that could work well if given time to gel. Still on the buble with Andreoff, even on the third line. I would like to see Kempe move back to the wing and let Dowd center Cam and Kempe. as far as I am concerned, they van play musical chairs with the 4th line, but I think Lewis deserves that 4th line center spot. Shore might be trade bait at this point, we are pretty deep at center and Lewis is still more productive than Shore....

Fattenberg deserves a spot I think, I am liking what I see and he could just keep getting better.

Cool blog dude. Thanks!

Nice work Peng.

I don't think Mersch is going to make the squad, which could allow for Kempe to stay up. I thought Brodz looked a lot more solid with Kopitar and Brown, that could work well if given time to gel. Still on the buble with Andreoff, even on the third line. I would like to see Kempe move back to the wing and let Dowd center Cam and Kempe. as far as I am concerned, they van play musical chairs with the 4th line, but I think Lewis deserves that 4th line center spot. Shore might be trade bait at this point, we are pretty deep at center and Lewis is still more productive than Shore....

Fattenberg deserves a spot I think, I am liking what I see and he could just keep getting better.
- MikeOxbyg

At this point, I think Kempe is pretty much penciled into the roster. Even though you could argue an assignment where you send him to Ontario and say prove you can score could be worthwhile.
I also prefer Dowd at 3c, both because I prefer him to Kempe there currently and because if one of Andreoff or Dowd has to sit, I'd much prefer Andreoff.
I strongly disagree on Lewis as 4c. Shore is a really strong, disciplined defensive center. He's the perfect guy to center two bruising physical wingers. Lewis has never been a strong face off man, and his most productive years have been as a wing. Lewis and Shore should both be in the line up, and both because of performance and versatility, Lewis belongs on the wing. Then the other wing you can cycle through your 3 left over forwards.
Skill wise I hope Brodzinski makes the team, but he hasn't shown much in preseason (all these dumb time limiting penalties aren't helping), but because of his waiver situation relative to others, I'm not holding my breath. But then again, he's getting big deployments so far.
I think Mersch is too slow, but something tells me that he'll come out of camp with a spot.
I like Fantenberg, but unless Gravel is starting in the AHL (which would be foolish), I think Folin sticks as 7d and Fantenberg gets a year to adjust to NA.

Great write up Sheng! I'm a little bit more hopeful for this season. Like the defense jumping in as long as they're smart about it. I can see teams like the Hawks taking advantage of it though.

At this point, I think Kempe is pretty much penciled into the roster. Even though you could argue an assignment where you send him to Ontario and say prove you can score could be worthwhile.
I also prefer Dowd at 3c, both because I prefer him to Kempe there currently and because if one of Andreoff or Dowd has to sit, I'd much prefer Andreoff.
I strongly disagree on Lewis as 4c. Shore is a really strong, disciplined defensive center. He's the perfect guy to center two bruising physical wingers. Lewis has never been a strong face off man, and his most productive years have been as a wing. Lewis and Shore should both be in the line up, and both because of performance and versatility, Lewis belongs on the wing. Then the other wing you can cycle through your 3 left over forwards.
Skill wise I hope Brodzinski makes the team, but he hasn't shown much in preseason (all these dumb time limiting penalties aren't helping), but because of his waiver situation relative to others, I'm not holding my breath. But then again, he's getting big deployments so far.
I think Mersch is too slow, but something tells me that he'll come out of camp with a spot.
I like Fantenberg, but unless Gravel is starting in the AHL (which would be foolish), I think Folin sticks as 7d and Fantenberg gets a year to adjust to NA.
- CrownedKing

I agree with you, even the part where you disagree with me..

this really gets honked up when we have to shoe horn Gabo back in

I agree with you, even the part where you disagree with me..

this really gets honked up when we have to shoe horn Gabo back in
- MikeOxbyg

Yea, his spot will almost certainly come at the expense of someone younger.

The team was already liberally activating its defensemen and look at where it got them. Doubling down on it even more isn't the answer. It's useless if you have trouble finishing. You just make the problem worse by giving up more goals than you score.

Watching the game in Beijing...


Very few penalties so far & the Kings do what they do best. Boring hockey. Total buzz kill & no flow. Flow is not in the Kings vocabulary. Streaming a Russian broadcast is about all thats interesting. No entertainment value to promote hockey in China with Sutter hockey on display.

Watching the game in Beijing...


Very few penalties so far & the Kings do what they do best. Boring hockey. Total buzz kill & no flow. Flow is not in the Kings vocabulary. Streaming a Russian broadcast is about all thats interesting. No entertainment value to promote hockey in China with Sutter hockey on display.
- Nighthawk

Not everyone enjoys the same thing. That very style of hockey is what drew me to it in the first place many moons ago. Just saying.

Not everyone enjoys the same thing. That very style of hockey is what drew me to it in the first place many moons ago. Just saying.
- poisondhearts37

All good and not the real season. Still more offence & skating is more fun.

All good and not the real season. Still more offence & skating is more fun.
- Nighthawk

I personally think winning is more fun. If stingy Darryl Sutter defense leads to more wins, then I'll take it.