Adam Kirshenblatt: Disappointment to Ecstasy: Kings win round 2 of Freeway Faceoff

Andy thought Bieksa was going to tie up.

Andy got knocked on his ass.

Andy won t be doing thst again.

To make room for Gaborik, Brooks Laich cleared waivers and was sent down to the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Since then, the Kings have placed Laich on unconditional waivers with the intention of buying him him out.
- Adam Kirshenblatt

Minor correction. The Kings are looking to mutually terminate Laich's contract. They can only buy out contracts during the designated off-season buyout windows. If Laich does not agree to terminate and is willing to report to Ontario, then he will finish the season in the AHL. Considering that he has a two-way league minimum contract in the AHL that will pay him only like $65k, my guess is that he'll agree to the termination.

I read two days ago that Laich is retiring. I'm confused that we're still talking about buyouts and terminations. Maybe the rumor was just that.

Not digging the line combo's from todays practice. Hopefully it will change before tomorrow.

Currently running:

Iafallo, Kopi Brown
Pearson shore toffoli
gabo kempe lewis
jokinen mitchell brodz dowd


I would like to try:

Brown Kopi Gabo
Pearson Dowd Tofolli
Iafallo Kempe Brodz
Lewis Mitchell Jokinen

Not digging the line combo's from todays practice. Hopefully it will change before tomorrow.

Currently running:

Iafallo, Kopi Brown
Pearson shore toffoli
gabo kempe lewis
jokinen mitchell brodz dowd


I would like to try:

Brown Kopi Gabo
Pearson Dowd Tofolli
Iafallo Kempe Brodz
Lewis Mitchell Jokinen
- MikeOxbyg

Trying to spark Kempe with a veteran presence on the line. I think it’s a good move but we’ll have to see.

Trying to spark Kempe with a veteran presence on the line. I think it’s a good move but we’ll have to see.
- arh777

I certainly don't mind him playing with gabo, I am jsut trying to get shore out of the line up

I certainly don't mind him playing with gabo, I am jsut trying to get shore out of the line up


- MikeOxbyg

Don’t disagree with that!

I read two days ago that Laich is retiring. I'm confused that we're still talking about buyouts and terminations. Maybe the rumor was just that.
- Osprey

Both Rosen from LAKI and Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet said that he was placed on waivers with the intent to mutually terminate.

I certainly don't mind him playing with gabo, I am jsut trying to get shore out of the line up


- MikeOxbyg

I don't mind Shore in the lineup in a bottom six role. He doesn't belong in the top six. We're really missing Carter right now, but if Kempe can't get the job done, it's worth giving him a shot.

If that doesn't work out and the scoring drought continues, I fully expect Blake to trade Muzzin or Martinez and a prospect for a 2C.

The good news is that Clifford is apparently only a few days away from returning. He is travelling with the team on the current road trip.

*Edit*: Where's Tumbleweed? I fully expected him to be lurking in the shadows ready to dangle Bozak from the trade tree again.

I don't mind Shore in the lineup in a bottom six role. He doesn't belong in the top six. We're really missing Carter right now, but if Kempe can't get the job done, it's worth giving him a shot.

If that doesn't work out and the scoring drought continues, I fully expect Blake to trade Muzzin or Martinez and a prospect for a 2C.

The good news is that Clifford is apparently only a few days away from returning. He is travelling with the team on the current road trip.
- tkecanuck341

There was a game last season where Dowd got a few shifts between Pearson and Toffoli. I kind of wanted to revisit that option because it didn't look half bad. I would like to see a larger sample size of it.

Shore isn't awful, I just see some bone head plays being made by him from time to time and I think that is something the team needs to minimize right now.

Both Rosen from LAKI and Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet said that he was placed on waivers with the intent to mutually terminate.
- tkecanuck341

Yeah, well, my source is a random person on Twitter. Are you suggesting that Twitter can't be trusted?

The good news is that Clifford is apparently only a few days away from returning.
- tkecanuck341

Is that good news, really?

If I were making the lines, I'd try Gaborik-Kempe-Toffoli. Pearson could use a bit of a wake-up call by being dropped to the 3rd, and maybe his and Lewis' speed would be fun to watch together.

Shore should absolutely not be in the top 6... but if the payoff ends up being that Blake trades Muzzin for a 2C, I can live with it. Honestly, Stevens' apparent infatuation with Shore is starting to be a bit concerning. He even gave him 3-on-3 OT time in the last game over Toffoli and Pearson. I don't care that Shore scored an OT goal earlier in the season. You could keep using him in OT all season and it's doubtful that he'd score another. Use Toffoli in OT, though, and he probably would score one or two by the end of the season.

Yeah, well, my source is a random person on Twitter. Are you suggesting that Twitter can't be trusted?
- Osprey

Technically Friedman and Rosen both posted the termination news on Twitter, so take that for what it's worth.

Is that good news, really?
- Osprey

Yes. Clifford is essentially a better version of Andreoff in every aspect. I thought the Clifford-Shore-Lewis line was exceptional for the first few weeks of the season. I look forward to everyone getting healthy so we can reunite them.

If I were making the lines, I'd try Gaborik-Kempe-Toffoli. Pearson could use a bit of a wake-up call by being dropped to the 3rd, and maybe his and Lewis' speed would be fun to watch together.
- Osprey

Gaborik-Kempe-Lewis is one of the fastest lines that the Kings can put together. In Gaborik's season debut last week, his speed really impressed me, especially after coming off major knee surgery. As he gets stronger, he will only get faster. I'm excited to see what this line can do.

Shore should absolutely not be in the top 6... but if the payoff ends up being that Blake trades Muzzin for a 2C, I can live with it. Honestly, Stevens' apparent infatuation with Shore is starting to be a bit concerning. He even gave him 3-on-3 OT time in the last game over Toffoli and Pearson.
- Osprey

Again, I think this is where we're missing Carter. The Kings generally rolled 3 OT lines; Kopitar/Carter/Doughty, Brown/Lewis/Muzzin, Toffoli/Pearson/Martinez. Since Carter has been out of the lineup, Brown has been promoted to the first group, and there's a gap in the 2nd. They have experimented with different combinations, in his absence, but a 6th player has to fit in there somewhere, and it is preferable to have someone who can win faceoffs, due to the importance of possession in OT. Kempe hasn't been great lately (not to mention that he's terrible at faceoffs), Iafallo hasn't done anything worthwhile in 3-on-3 since preseason (and he doesn't do faceoffs). The other options until recently were Shore and Andreoff.

I don't remember the specific pairings from OT against Anaheim or the situations when Shore made it out on the ice. Did his shift start on a faceoff? If so, I can certainly understand why he was chosen over Pearson or Toffoli. Since it was a home game, I'm sure favorable matchups were also part of the consideration.

Did the coaching staff force the team to go back to the "skate down low pass puck to d and have them wildly shoot from the blue line" plan that got Sutter fired? When the Kings were winning they had open space and was able to skate around but the games they lost it was the same old product that watched them miss the playoffs the past couple of years.

Yes. Clifford is essentially a better version of Andreoff in every aspect. I thought the Clifford-Shore-Lewis line was exceptional for the first few weeks of the season. I look forward to everyone getting healthy so we can reunite them.
- tkecanuck341

True... though I wouldn't count on them picking up where they left off. Nearly everyone on the team was better in the first few weeks and look at them now.

Gaborik-Kempe-Lewis is one of the fastest lines that the Kings can put together. In Gaborik's season debut last week, his speed really impressed me, especially after coming off major knee surgery. As he gets stronger, he will only get faster. I'm excited to see what this line can do.
- tkecanuck341

One or two fast players on a line is good, but I'm not sure about all three. We'll see...

Again, I think this is where we're missing Carter. The Kings generally rolled 3 OT lines; Kopitar/Carter/Doughty, Brown/Lewis/Muzzin, Toffoli/Pearson/Martinez. Since Carter has been out of the lineup, Brown has been promoted to the first group, and there's a gap in the 2nd. They have experimented with different combinations, in his absence, but a 6th player has to fit in there somewhere, and it is preferable to have someone who can win faceoffs, due to the importance of possession in OT. Kempe hasn't been great lately (not to mention that he's terrible at faceoffs), Iafallo hasn't done anything worthwhile in 3-on-3 since preseason (and he doesn't do faceoffs). The other options until recently were Shore and Andreoff.
- tkecanuck341

That's a good point about faceoffs. Still, I'd much rather have Lewis out there in OT, in that case. Also, I don't really see why Shore has to stay out there. He could take the faceoff, then go to the bench at the first opportunity.

Kings just got D-man Austin Strand from Seattle WHL.

is there possibly a defensive personnel move being looked at?

Kings just got D-man Austin Strand from Seattle WHL.

is there possibly a defensive personnel move being looked at?
- MikeOxbyg

https://www.nhl.com/kings...-thunderbirds/c-293416790

https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/la-kings-sign-ufa-defenseman-austin-strand-from-seattle-thunderbirds/c-293416790
- arh777

yup, that is the article.... hoping this is the staging events for something to shake up our D-men on the big team

Kings just got D-man Austin Strand from Seattle WHL.

is there possibly a defensive personnel move being looked at?
- MikeOxbyg

It could be, but Ontario has also had injuries and poor play on D so it could be just a depth move as well. I mean, this dude Strand has not played a single minute of pro hockey. How would they know if he could even adapt to the pro-game.

It could be, but Ontario has also had injuries and poor play on D so it could be just a depth move as well. I mean, this dude Strand has not played a single minute of pro hockey. How would they know if he could even adapt to the pro-game.
- verwustung

wasn't implying he could come up to the show. but often when you are setting up a trade or drastic personnel maneuvers you get some initial pieces lined up so that your foundation is still in place.

Like, maybe they intend on moving Strand with other players, or putting him in a spot in Ontario and moving out a D-man from the current line up.

I was not aware of Defensive injuries on the Reign so if they have gaps in the line up there, it could be as simple as a move to address that scenario...


I admit I flew off the handle a bit there but Forbort and Muzzin are effing killing me

wasn't implying he could come up to the show. but often when you are setting up a trade or drastic personnel maneuvers you get some initial pieces lined up so that your foundation is still in place.

Like, maybe they intend on moving Strand with other players, or putting him in a spot in Ontario and moving out a D-man from the current line up.

I was not aware of Defensive injuries on the Reign so if they have gaps in the line up there, it could be as simple as a move to address that scenario...


I admit I flew off the handle a bit there but Forbort and Muzzin are effing killing me
- MikeOxbyg

No, youre right. Its true that they have an extra guy so if they move a Muzzin (for example), then they can promote LaDue and not be short a guy. If Strand plays well, it could certainly work out that way.

What's people problem with Forbort? I think he's a solid D man that a rarely out of position and covers well. I personally like Forbs. Last game he did better on his scoring opportunity than Pearson, Doughty, and Lewis coming down the left wing unabated.

Also, Strand is a right; so he can play that side if LaDue is called up.

No, youre right. Its true that they have an extra guy so if they move a Muzzin (for example), then they can promote LaDue and not be short a guy. If Strand plays well, it could certainly work out that way.

What's people problem with Forbort? I think he's a solid D man that a rarely out of position and covers well. I personally like Forbs. Last game he did better on his scoring opportunity than Pearson, Doughty, and Lewis coming down the left wing unabated.
- verwustung

He kills offensive chances when the puck lands on his stick at the point. except for that one shot in the ducks game where he caught the post... that was good... for him...

He also has trouble dealing with pressure in our zone during board battles. His break outs are decent but if he has to change direction it usually gets broken up by opposing forecheckers, and sometimes he reverses the puck without surveying his options. He also makes desperation clearing passes around the boards that tend to go horribly wrong... Has trouble with simple chip outs when battling near our own blue line.

Idk man, maybe I just focus on the wrong things with him, but damn if he isn't rapidly approaching Muzzin-ville

He kills offensive chances when the puck lands on his stick at the point. except for that one shot in the ducks game where he caught the post... that was good... for him...

He also has trouble dealing with pressure in our zone during board battles. His break outs are decent but if he has to change direction it usually gets broken up by opposing forecheckers, and sometimes he reverses the puck without surveying his options. He also makes desperation clearing passes around the boards that tend to go horribly wrong... Has trouble with simple chip outs when battling near our own blue line.

Idk man, maybe I just focus on the wrong things with him, but damn if he isn't rapidly approaching Muzzin-ville
- MikeOxbyg

Last season, he was better at the point. He was actually finding seams and getting the puck on net. I think this season, DD has been tasked more with handling the puck and Forbs has been relegated to being his backup. Overall, I know what you're saying. Forbs has has some not-so-good games lately but he's still our 2nd best playing against the oppositions top guys. He reminds me slot of a less physical Willie Mitchell with some of his stick work and positional play. Willie had a slow start to his career as well and didn't really become Willie till his 5th or 6th year. When Lombardi signed him, nobody was even sure how good he was at the time. Hopefully he is more consistent.

If someone like Muzzin is traded, you need an offensive defenseman to replace him with. That's probably LaDue. Calling up LaDue creates a huge hole in Ontario, though, since he's the only offensive defenseman that they have. That's where Strand likely comes in. Being one of the highest-scoring defensemen in the WHL (which plays a physical, defensive style) and 6'4" probably points to him adjusting capably to the AHL. This doesn't mean that someone like Muzzin will be traded any time soon, but I think that it helps get Blake's ducks in a row now so that he can take advantage of a good trade opportunity, if one comes up.