First off, what an incredible tournament the Olympic one has been. I have enjoyed this tournament like none other so far.
Drama, upsets, cinderellas. Great stuff.
If you wanted the underdogs you had Latvia, Slovenia, and Switzerland (to an extent). If you want the powers then Finland, USA, Canada and the Sweden all remain. Talking points? How about that Oshie shootout. Hey how did Ovechkin and Russia fair on home ice? Has Crosby scored yet? How on earth did Slovenia come from nowhere and make the quarterfinals??
So much to take home, so much to remember. And guess what? The Semi-finals are still yet to be played.
But let's focus in on something more Kings oriented.
Offense.
The Kings and offense, ah they go together like lamb and tuna fish right? Before the Olympics the Kings top players couldn't buy goals. It was bordering on ridiculous. Everyone was looking forward to the Olympic break in order to reset, refocus, and perhaps find the scoring touch yet again.
When you look at the King players in the Olympics oh my god have they ever found that scoring touch.
Just a brief rundown here:
Drew Doughty: 4gp - 4g, 2a, 6p +3 Jeff Carter: 4gp - 3g, 1a, 4p +5 Dustin Brown: 4gp - 2g, 1a, 3p, +5 Anze Kopitar: 5gp - 2g, 1a, 3p +4 Slava Voynov 5gp, 0g, 0a, +2....
Getting into more real-time statish numbers you'll also see some gems.
Kopitar's face off numbers are monstrous. He has taken an extraordinary amount of draws in the tournament. In fact, he has taken the most of any centerman out there with 102 draws taken. He has won almost 67-percent of them which is a stupid good percentage.
Drew Doughty is playing almost 19 minutes a game, and hold on to your hats everyone, is shooting 36% in the tournament. Eleven total shots on goal in the tournament, four have gone in. Of course this is a super small sample size and those numbers won't stay that high forever unless your name is Alex Steen. Doughty has also rediscovered the wrist shot for some reason, and that has paid dividends from the point.
Carter has played huge minutes as well for Canada. He has played 14:43 on average, which is behind only Toews, Crosby, Perry and Marleau among forwards. He has made a number of great defensive plays on top of being an offensive threat. He had a team leading 6 shots against Latvia and played the most minutes amongst any winger on the team with 17:23. He has had late game shifts, powerplay shifts, and penalty kill. Carter, although criticized by so many for his selection, has been one of the more well rounded and visible talents on the Canadian roster.
Quick has been solid, Brown has been a contributor, Kopitar led his Slovenia squad to unprecedented results.
So what gives? Bring this back! Why am I afraid for when these fellas return and it's the same old Kings?
Well, the age old debate will rear its ugly head yet again no doubt, Heck, I might as well start it if it hasn't been talked about already given the success of the King players in Sochi.
Is it personnel or system that hinges the Kings up?
Obviously on a venerable all-star team like these Olympic squads EVERYONE is going to look good. However, Doughty, Brown, Kopitar and Carter have looked REALLY good. They have been difference makers on teams full of difference makers. Players standing out on a team full of world class standouts. That is nothing to scoff at or follow up with the remark that "the whole team was good." or "I could have scored on that team."
The Kings offensive woes are well documented to this point, and although I bring up the question of "What's the problem?" I haven't nearly the energy to try and figure it out or mull it over yet again. All I know is that the King players have looked reinvented since stepping on ice in Sochi. They look like the players we have seen for some time in Los Angeles.
So please, guys, bring it back with you. Do something. Prep the same way. Eat the same meals you are now. Heck go full Nathan Horton and smuggle out some Sochi ice to dump at Staples Center when you come back.
The Kings have been great and represented the team and their countries well overseas. A medal awaits some of them but the color has yet to be decided.
Friday will give us more insight as to that. The final remaining King players will meet up at 12pm EST, 9pm PST Friday in a heavyweight clash between Carter, Doughty, and Team Canada, and Brown, Quick and Team USA. Good luck to all, and may the best team win.
Just don't hurt each other or something.
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Keep an eye out at HF in the coming days for the Spring top-20 prospect rankings. There have been a number of huge seasons by King prospects which has made me re-evaluate so many of my selections from the fall top-20.
The Fall list, which was posted in August of last year, can be found right here.
We got some kids who can flat play folks. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'll be sure to post the Spring top-20 as soon as it is posted and I look forward to the feedback as always!
Kings also made the move yesterday to . recall all three of Pearson, Vey and Toffoli
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