Adam Kirshenblatt: What exactly is this team?

Its a bipolar Kings.

pre-season, this was a playoff bubble team at best. that hasn't changed, despite the late fall stretch where they were playing above expectations, buoyed by Quick playing unreal in net and better than usual luck. both have mean reverted, but Quick still with a save% that's one of his best ever.

defense has been a question all season, with only 3 known quantities in doughty, muzzin and martinez. the rest has been a revolving door, which will explain why there's been the jeckyll and hyde results.

I don't see this team making any noise in the POs playing the way they are. Sure, they can win a game, maybe even eek our a series, but the turnovers are getting ridiculous. And why oh why was Trevor Lewis used in the SO at all? between DD's unbridled "passion" and Stevens' idea to use Lewis in a crucial spot, this team may very well end up missing the POs. You know the Flames have this teams # late in the season as does the Avs. This team should not be sweating the last spot in the WC. so (frank)ing annoying!

I don't see this team making any noise in the POs playing the way they are. Sure, they can win a game, maybe even eek our a series, but the turnovers are getting ridiculous. And why oh why was Trevor Lewis used in the SO at all? between DD's unbridled "passion" and Stevens' idea to use Lewis in a crucial spot, this team may very well end up missing the POs. You know the Flames have this teams # late in the season as does the Avs. This team should not be sweating the last spot in the WC. so (frank)ing annoying!
- Stu17

SO's are always weird. Just like Terry Murray nvr using Frolov in the SO.

I like some of the trades Blake has made, Phaneuf to shore up the top 4 D and Thompson, Mitchell to improve defense up the middle and win FO. We have gotten faster with Reider and then with Carter, Lewis coming back. Consider that since the Kings great start of 11-2-2 they have gone 28-25-4, that is hardly a top contender and probably a bubble team at best. When the Kings were consistently leading the league in penalty kill around 90% they were successful, now they are at a still good 84%, but they have been trending at or less than 80% for awhile and that is not good enough. Clean up the sloppiness in the D zone and for goodness sake clear the put out quickly instead of consistently getting stripped of the puck or just turning it over. Please, please come out and play a good 1st period and 60 minutes. John, don't be afraid to use a time out early in the game.

If you'd told me earlier in the season that the Kings would add Torrey Mitchell, Tobias Reider, Dion Phaneuf and Nate Thompson before the deadline, I actually probably would've guessed that they'd be fighting to hold on or get into a playoff spot. Contenders typically don't mess with their chemistry that much. Going dumpster diving so much throughout the season is usually a sign that a GM is perpetually unsatisfied with his team, apprehensive about missing the playoffs, sees areas for improvement and hopes that something sticks.

I like some of the trades Blake has made, Phaneuf to shore up the top 4 D and Thompson, Mitchell to improve defense up the middle and win FO. We have gotten faster with Reider and then with Carter, Lewis coming back. Consider that since the Kings great start of 11-2-2 they have gone 28-25-4, that is hardly a top contender and probably a bubble team at best. When the Kings were consistently leading the league in penalty kill around 90% they were successful, now they are at a still good 84%, but they have been trending at or less than 80% for awhile and that is not good enough. Clean up the sloppiness in the D zone and for goodness sake clear the put out quickly instead of consistently getting stripped of the puck or just turning it over. Please, please come out and play a good 1st period and 60 minutes. John, don't be afraid to use a time out early in the game.
- Kingsfan1968

Consistency has been the issue with this team for a very long time. Even in the hot start. Its a bipolar team. You never know what your going to get. They never know what they are going to put out. Then change at any given moment. It needs to be fixed. Not sure if Stevens can figure it out. Im guessing Steven isnt enough of a hard ass to whip guys into shape. Leaders dont seem to be vocal enough during the games. You dont really see much emotion.

I like some of the trades Blake has made, Phaneuf to shore up the top 4 D and Thompson, Mitchell to improve defense up the middle and win FO. We have gotten faster with Reider and then with Carter, Lewis coming back. Consider that since the Kings great start of 11-2-2 they have gone 28-25-4, that is hardly a top contender and probably a bubble team at best. When the Kings were consistently leading the league in penalty kill around 90% they were successful, now they are at a still good 84%, but they have been trending at or less than 80% for awhile and that is not good enough. Clean up the sloppiness in the D zone and for goodness sake clear the put out quickly instead of consistently getting stripped of the puck or just turning it over. Please, please come out and play a good 1st period and 60 minutes. John, don't be afraid to use a time out early in the game.
- Kingsfan1968

Forbert kills me every night, at least once! resurrection is a mother (frank)er!

I like when Amadio, Iafallo and LaDue are in the line up.

Lewis hurt again.

Lewis hurt again.
- LAkings96

They got it done

They got it done
- arh777

Hopefully we're able to look back a couple weeks from now and say that last minute goal and those 2 points were the difference in us making the playoffs. massive win, especially with a game against the jets coming up tomorrow. can't afford any more consecutive regulation losses the rest of the season if we're gonna get in. tonight ensured that if tomorrow goes south against the jets, at least it won't be a season buster. and I guess the kings prefer playing the top teams anyways