Jason Lewis: Signs of Life from the 4th Line

It would be great if they can manage 8-10 minutes a night. The other lines would be kept fresh and 8-10 minutes of grinding down the opposition wouldn't be bad. I'm not sure if I dig how they don't play as a three man unit when they have possession. But if it works... Also, against the SJ guys you mentioned I wonder if the fact the fourth line can dominate them physically helped to limit their shots towards Quick?

Replace Nolan with Mersch.

Replace Nolan with Mersch.
- Deadmau55

I VERY, VERY MUCH AGREE! Love Mersch and what he could bring to this club

I VERY, VERY MUCH AGREE! Love Mersch and what he could bring to this club
- KINGS67

So far with Ontario he has 20 shots in three games, with 2 goals and one assist.

The Kings 4th line will continue to be effective in their limited role. However, consider this elaboration on the potential of the Kings' 4th line.

Innovative management of the Kings' lines appears necessary to better exploit the 4th liners and, consequently, the team's bedeviled scorers. This can be achieved in one of two ways.

Offensive systems need to be instilled into the top 2 lines, contrary to the Sutter system that emphasizes team defense through all four lines. Such a game plan would in effect add a "specialized" quality to the bottom 6 forwards while not asking them to change their game. The result should manifest 8-12 well-deserved minutes a night for the 4th line, which in turn will grant them more production possibilities.

The second possibility lies in breaking up the 4th line. Currently, the Kings are keeping consistent pairs of forwards together across all lines while rotating in a third man in hopes of finding chemistry [that will address GF concerns], with the exception of the 4th line being decidedly Andreoff-Clifford-Nolan. With Clifford and Nolan maturing, perhaps the success of the 4th liners should be considered when searching for the remedy of 6 GF in 6 GP. Should Clifford or Nolan play a game or several shifts with Gabby-Kopi or Carts-Toffoli? Considering such a scheme would likely displace Brown or Lucic, but something should be done to spark this team's pathetic offensive output.

Of course, this author's sentiment is by no means a panic attack. Quite simply, the Kings could turn around at any moment without any changes to their game plan. Plus, there is the fact that they are only 6 games deep, as well as having an extraordinary amount of days off [which should be beneficial to the coaches and players in orchestrating a turnaround]. All that being said, it would still be foolish to dismiss any point in today's NHL as a growing pain.

In other news.....

Don Mattingly and Dodgers part ways. What managers are available? Too bad Maddon already got swooped up.

Brad Ausmus would be awesome but don't think he is going anywhere any time soon unless his contract is up or Sciocia

So far with Ontario he has 20 shots in three games, with 2 goals and one assist.
- Jason_Lewis

The Kings 4th line will continue to be effective in their limited role. However, consider this elaboration on the potential of the Kings' 4th line.

Innovative management of the Kings' lines appears necessary to better exploit the 4th liners and, consequently, the team's bedeviled scorers. This can be achieved in one of two ways.

Offensive systems need to be instilled into the top 2 lines, contrary to the Sutter system that emphasizes team defense through all four lines. Such a game plan would in effect add a "specialized" quality to the bottom 6 forwards while not asking them to change their game. The result should manifest 8-12 well-deserved minutes a night for the 4th line, which in turn will grant them more production possibilities.

The second possibility lies in breaking up the 4th line. Currently, the Kings are keeping consistent pairs of forwards together across all lines while rotating in a third man in hopes of finding chemistry
- HeadmanHockey[that will address GF concerns], with the exception of the 4th line being decidedly Andreoff-Clifford-Nolan. With Clifford and Nolan maturing, perhaps the success of the 4th liners should be considered when searching for the remedy of 6 GF in 6 GP. Should Clifford or Nolan play a game or several shifts with Gabby-Kopi or Carts-Toffoli? Considering such a scheme would likely displace Brown or Lucic, but something should be done to spark this team's pathetic offensive output.

Of course, this author's sentiment is by no means a panic attack. Quite simply, the Kings could turn around at any moment without any changes to their game plan. Plus, there is the fact that they are only 6 games deep, as well as having an extraordinary amount of days off [which should be beneficial to the coaches and players in orchestrating a turnaround]. All that being said, it would still be foolish to dismiss any point in today's NHL as a growing pain.

The Kings have done similar things in the past with Clifford, Nolan, and Lewis. In some manner it helped Lewis prove that he was more than just a simple fourth liner. Clifford and Nolan have met middling success with these sort of moves and most the time it very much looks like a 4th liner playing with top players. It can be a nice spark at times but is no way a long term solution. Now, elevating said players into a third line role with maybe 13-15 minutes instead of 6-10 may be something with real possibilities if they continue to play well. Again, Lewis has kind of embodied this progression in the last two to three years and is currently skating as a regular third liner (Although this author thinks he could play top 6).

As you stated though, the problem does not lie in who you move up, it is who you take off these lines. The pecking order is pretty clear. Pearson, Lucic, and a healthy Dwight King are all superior players to that of Nolan or Clifford, thus it makes rotating them into the upper lines pretty difficult unless we are talking major shakeups in the roster. Never out of the question, but there is definitely a defined role that Sutter has locked players into. It is a good thing and a bad thing.

Tell Brown and Lucic to not attempt to injure anyone tonight. Thanks

Tell Brown and Lucic to not attempt to injure anyone tonight. Thanks
- 2Real

Seem to be doing just fine so far. Thanks for reading.

The Kings have done similar things in the past with Clifford, Nolan, and Lewis. In some manner it helped Lewis prove that he was more than just a simple fourth liner. Clifford and Nolan have met middling success with these sort of moves and most the time it very much looks like a 4th liner playing with top players. It can be a nice spark at times but is no way a long term solution. Now, elevating said players into a third line role with maybe 13-15 minutes instead of 6-10 may be something with real possibilities if they continue to play well. Again, Lewis has kind of embodied this progression in the last two to three years and is currently skating as a regular third liner (Although this author thinks he could play top 6).

As you stated though, the problem does not lie in who you move up, it is who you take off these lines. The pecking order is pretty clear. Pearson, Lucic, and a healthy Dwight King are all superior players to that of Nolan or Clifford, thus it makes rotating them into the upper lines pretty difficult unless we are talking major shakeups in the roster. Never out of the question, but there is definitely a defined role that Sutter has locked players into. It is a good thing and a bad thing.
- Jason_Lewis

Mostly because he knows his role and gives up the puck and drives the net, unlike another plug soaking up top line minutes...at least that's MO.

Replace Nolan with Mersch.
- Deadmau55

Yes please

This.

Tell Brown and Lucic to not attempt to injure anyone tonight. Thanks
- 2Real

Hey shark fan how's it going buddy? Back from your ban so soon?

What changes can be expected from SJS regarding the 4th line in tonight's game? It seems less probable that CAR and EDM (the Kings' next two opponents) will be as wary as SJS is of the matchup. Any insights on the depth of EDM and CAR bottom 6? The analysis you provided is compelling; are there any other teams displaying a similar prowess?

The Kings have a great opportunity to build momentum with 2 wins in the next 3 games, which in turn presumes the Kings will have scored a handful a goals. Will the bottom 6 tally one, will the top 6 tally them all? Certainly the Kings can topple the floundering EDM and CAR squads. Granted the Kings are not looking any prettier with 6 GF and 2 wins but they nonetheless appear poised to take some sort of advantages. Fourth lines generally don't win games... nor do they consistently outmatch opposing squads. Expect this to be a greater factor the next three games.

If McDavid carries the Oilers or CAR suddenly becomes relevant, look for flying pigs. Unpopular as it may be, SJS is playing very well (though pigs never ever fly over Northern California in May).

So Enroth tonight..

Sharks have several AHL call ups. You can see they are already missing Martin.

Mostly because he knows his role and gives up the puck and drives the net, unlike another plug soaking up top line minutes...at least that's MO.
- Stu17

It's kind of strange. I feel as though Lewis settled into his role with the Kings as a 4th liner and never really looked to expand it. We are talking about a guy who played alongside Kyle Okposo and posted really good USHL numbers.

Hey MikeOxbyg, would you like to modify your prediction for the Kings' October performance?

Hey MikeOxbyg, would you like to modify your prediction for the Kings' October performance?
- tkecanuck341

the first 2 wins were still on the sketchy side of things but better play for sure. Last night amongst the things that went well, we had Enroth making saves that I honestly think quick wouldn't have made.

as for my prediction, it's shattered, and I am happy for that. there are more tests ahead and I hope we keep rolling in this direction, but those first 3 games were horrible and we all know it. I tend to see that kind of play and know there is not a switch you flip to make it go away. Usually when we slump we slump very hard.


I kind of wish Enroth was getting the nod tonight

the first 2 wins were still on the sketchy side of things but better play for sure. Last night amongst the things that went well, we had Enroth making saves that I honestly think quick wouldn't have made.

as for my prediction, it's shattered, and I am happy for that. there are more tests ahead and I hope we keep rolling in this direction, but those first 3 games were horrible and we all know it. I tend to see that kind of play and know there is not a switch you flip to make it go away. Usually when we slump we slump very hard.


I kind of wish Enroth was getting the nod tonight
- MikeOxbyg

Quick had a slow start to the season for sure, but his last two performances were nothing short of spectacular. If I'm looking for a goaltender to make that one big save, there's no one in the league I'd rather have in net than Quick.

Enroth is quality goaltender, he put up decent numbers while playing for a terrible Buffalo team, but I can't think of a situation where I would ever rather have him in net over Quick.

Quick had a slow start to the season for sure, but his last two performances were nothing short of spectacular. If I'm looking for a goaltender to make that one big save, there's no one in the league I'd rather have in net than Quick.

Enroth is quality goaltender, he put up decent numbers while playing for a terrible Buffalo team, but I can't think of a situation where I would ever rather have him in net over Quick.
- tkecanuck341

No way in hell Quick makes that blocker save on Burns

Tell Brown and Lucic to not attempt to injure anyone tonight. Thanks
- 2Real

I wonder how much anal sluice dribbling from your finger tips it would take to get a life time ban?

No way in hell Quick makes that blocker save on Burns
- MikeOxbyg

Not sure why not:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=267MSQUFnBI

Not sure why not:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=267MSQUFnBI
- tkecanuck341

ok, then this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0TeXLytDAw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF2bL_RupVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdGYhdCyc2k

and goals 2 and 3 by the sharks on this one

http://www.nhl.com/gamece...er/en/recap?id=2015020004


I am gonna go ahead and say there is more evidence to support my statement, I don't need you to agree or confirm it