I like Murray and agree with him here, but I disagree with his philosophy on line changes and obviously goaltending. But he is breaking up multiple lines every game… This is not preseason and we are passing the early season mark. He needs to let these lines cement for at least a string of games. Just because it fails one game doesn’t mean it needs a kick in the ass and a magic 8 ball to rejuvenate those players.

What he is doing with the offensive lines he needs to do with goaltending, what he is doing with goaltending needs to be done with the offensive lines.

Well, let him “dig in” on the top line with Kop and Brown for a while. There’s a little bit of a disconnect here because Coach Murray has no idea what it’s like to play in the NHL today, AND, no idea what it’s like to have the skill set O’Sullivan does.

None of these skaters can be expected to have a fookin clue as to what’s next. Murray’s got the team mentally defeated and he’s playing head games DURING the games. Its pretty tough to “dig in” when the coach keeps filling in the foxhole.

TM was frustrated with Sully. Especially with his play. Last night, the first goal scored by Nystrom (a funny goal off his Skate), I’m sure TM blamed Sully for lack of defensive play. In the second period, he took a penalty and the Flames scored on the PP. I’m sure TM blamed him for that too.

But the idiot, Murray, gave no credit to Sully for standing up for Peter Harrold after that late hit from Vandermeer. He was the first to stand up for Harrold, and Phanuef almost knocked Sully’s head off.
Does the coach give any Kudos for that sort of play? NO WAY.

TM is a terrible coach. And here’s why. Instead of looking to ways to better the team, he looks at mistakes of his players to put blame on. That’s why Sully was demoted to the 4th line. By blaming others for his faults, it takes any attention away from his incompetence.
These are qualities of failure. TM is not a good coach. He’s waaaaay overated.
TM has failed to get Kopi going.
TM has failed to get Brown going.
He benches Sully for no reason.
He benches a good goalie in favor of a below average goalie. No, a lousy goalie. What slap in the face of Erberg.

Marc Crawford was a better coach. At least he had no trouble getting Kopi, Brown, Frolov, Sully, Boyle, Ersberg, playing their top game.
This idiot can’t. Do any of you guys truly believe that after 10 games Kopi is playing well. He hasn’t played anywhere near the level he played last season. Because this coach is showing signs of incompetence. And players see that. He also plays fovortism.

Dumbo was an idiot for hiring him. Keep it up. Keep bringing people from the Philly org. Hexxy, Murphy, Calder, Handzus etc. Keep it up. Pay them millions for doing nothing but harm the team. In two years, you’re gone and a new GM and coach will take credit for the team you built. And Sully will be gone by then too.

Anthony, you took the words right out of my mouth. Kopitar isn’t the Kopitar of last season. These crazy line changes only screw up the teams chemistry. Thus far, POS is a plus 5 and he was on pace to be point per game player. No way he deserves a demotion. And TM’s handling of the goaltending situation makes me sick.

Is it possible for you Anthony to just give your opinions about the way TM is coaching without the name calling. We all don’t like the record we have right now. There’s noone on this blog that doesn’t wish our record was the reverse of what it is right now.

But come on man grow up. It seems every post you’re calling TM an idiot. Disagree with Coach Murray and what he’s doing all you want, that’s you’re right. But leave the name calling in the school yard. Make your points and leave it at that. Maybe everyone will take you more seriously.

Thank you Cristobal.
Well said.

Some of you are so quick to jump and start crying. P O’Sullivan does need to understand that you are as good as your last game. Period. One good year is just that, ONE good year. Yes Patrick, you do have to prove yourself over and over. Maybe after some consistent year(S) and a few cups, if you want, you can phone in your permormances. For that same reasons you don’t get the big bucks after only one year. Believe me it is strange to see so many line changes but under the current circumstances, young team and all, why not?? embrace it, it will help youth, will make them realize attributes they didn’t even know they have. A mean, look at Moller the kid had linemates changes, played center, wing and keeps on going. Yeah I know, he will not complain for obvious reasons, however, do any of you see Moller complaining as he gets older. Don’t know about you but I don’t see it. Learn to battle, enjoy the game and play a few playoff rounds then maybe then ask or be frustrated

Cheers Anthony.
Murray can put this all to bed now, just pick your players and stick with them for a while. Its what I’ve been supporting Labs for. Just leave things for a while and asses them when there is a track record. I know nobody agrees in the Labs case, but the double-standard is obvious when considered as a whole.
The green “exile” jersey is a symbol of the flaw in this approach, IMO.

Anonymous said: “What bothers me is that Murray takes the time to explain this to Hammond but apparently not to O’Sullivan.”

Exactly.

While Murray’s saying problems are dealt with “Through meetings by the coach.” Patio is saying, “I don’t really know what’s going on,” and “I don’t know the reason,” and “I don’t know if (missing camp) has anything to do with what’s going on or not.”

This doesn’t make sense at all to an outsider. Rich, any insight or clarification on these two seemingly contradictory parts of the interviews?

A player has to prove himself every game. That is a good point. I completely agree, but if that is the case, what is Kopitar doing on the top line? If anything, I think that he is someone who fought to get to the top and is just coasting. He had two exciting years and just kind of plateaued. The line (stated earlier) of the Brown, Kopitar, Player X has not worked out. Ever think that the variable isn’t the problem?

I feel for Patty O the most because of the rigmarole that he had to go through in years past.

Patty O has a restraining order against his dad. An “off-game” led to physical and verbal abuse for O’Sullivan. He was supposed to be a top draft pick in 2003 but no one believed he could shake the emotional problems he had. He went from second round to Minnesota’s AHL to Edmonton then to L.A. in the 2006 Draft. He then went to Manchester where he battled to even get onto the Kings’ roster. When he did, he sat quietly and waited to prove himself. Who knows where he would be if it had not been for Cammy getting injured. I can’t imagine what it must be like. Finally feeling like he had proved himself after so long and then getting a reality punch to the face. Harsh.

I have some startling news for the majority of you so I would like you to take a seat. Are we sitting yet? Anthony, we are waiting for you….Good here we go.

When teams are not producing the way they are supposed to, coaches (take a deep breath here) juggle the lines.

All of them do it so just relax. TM knows more about whats going on in the dressing room and on the ice more than all of us do. If he feels he needs to demote POS to the fourth line than thats what he needs to do. It is up to POS to look at this and say “okay if I want to be back on the top line what do I need to do” and then do it. Whining to Rich about not knowing what is going on isn’t going to help him or the team.

Instead of screaming at TM and demanding his head or saying he is better than the coach we just let go or any other childish rants, how about we put the onus on the people who need to get the message…the players. If they want top line minutes then play the game worthy of top line minutes.

Arron, TM isn’t juggling the lines much at all actually. As quisp pointed out, the ‘pairs’ are staying very consistent. Only the last one is new.

Kopitar/Brown
Stoll/Moller
Handzus/Simmonds
O’Sullivan/Boyle

Do you think Kopitar is playing a lot of games worthy of top line minutes? Do you think Frolov is playing games worthy of 3rd line minutes? Do you think Stoll is playing games worthy of 2nd line minutes?

I think TM should try juggling a lot more actually. Let’s see Handzus rewarded by playing on the top line. And Fro for that matter. Let’s have some fun with these young guys and stop expecting them to be a great team this year.

It totally sucks to write the year off, but hey, that’s where we’re at, so go with it. There’s nothing you and I are going to do to change it. Let’s just hope they make it as fun as it can be for the fans who care about this team.

Arron – What does a coach do if he’s already juggling the line and the team is not producing?

I’m sorry, but what a CROCK! Murray’s comments should apply more to Kopitar and Brown than to OSullivan.

Fun with statistics:

take a look at this page.
what’s wrong with the picture?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/boxscore;_ylt=AvEIikg1UivIhHOI4Oo3BVV7vLYF?gid=2008110222

Detroit slips by Vancouver 3-2 and it’s all PLUS on the vancouver side, and all MINUS on Detroit’s.
Zetterberg gets his 8th goal and 4th assist to help win the game but is minus-2 on the night.

Arron – I’ve heard of and seen that done a few times, but with young guys on a team that was tied for last in the league last year, I don’t think it’s the right move. Despite the criticism from fans, Kopitar and Brown have been guilty only of trying too hard. When a coach comes in and says the team is going to get ugly goals and play a tight checking game, he can’t complain when the team can’t create scoring opportunities because he’s asking them not to focus on that. It’s not like a light switch where you just turn it on and off. If he’s got no confidence that these kids can play possession hockey why does he expect them to turn into that when the goals aren’t coming? Also, O’Sullivan has been getting moved around too much. It looks like Murray is fishing for combinations rather than trying to maximize one strength or another at particular times. He spoke of balanced lines 2 weeks ago but changed them all despite the great team effort we all saw against the SHarks, Ducks, and Blues. He gave O’Sullivan less than 60 minutes to even get back in a groove with the top line and played Harrold on the wing. Too much. Keep in mind, i’m saying all this but think O’Sullivan HAS played poorly (for him) over the last 3 games, AND I think Murray’s doing the right thing with Labarbara.

Sully isn’t the 1st good player to get demoted or benched and he won’t be the last. I love the way Sully plays but over the last couple of games, he’s been fairly invisible. Maybe it’s because of the line changes, but still…I really haven’t noticed him much. That’s not the way he played last year.
Sometimes players say they don’t know what’s going on because they don’t want to hear it. I’m sure TM has spoken to him about his play. To assume he hasn’t is completely ridiculous.

While we’re on line juggling..In the beginning of the year when the lines were constant…did anyone see consistency on a nightly basis from the lines? I didn’t. Until TM finds the right combinations, he’s going to continue to juggle lines. It’s up to the players to get their acts together and give the coach a reason to keep lines together. Please don’t tell me it takes time to develop chemistry. Most times it happens quick.

Anthony…that post was completely out of line. Once again you feel the need to call DL “dumbo”. He hasn’t put together the makings of a pretty good team? He hasn’t built the system to have good young players waiting in the wings to take over? Exactly what were you expecting from the Kings this year? Did you think they were going to win the cup?
Crawford’s a better coach? You crucified the guy last year. He was the worst coach in the history of the game..or so you thought. Now he wasn’t so bad? You’re a walking contradiction.

This is another TM move that doesn’t seem warranted, and even if warranted doesn’t make much sense, especially in light of the fact that TM has been so consistent with LaBarbera while he continues producing terrible results. I remember last year, about game ten, the flavor of comments on this blog was decidedly negative and frustrated. I thought perhaps this year, with everyone sort of knowing we would suck, the emotional level of the comments would be reduced. But, this year’s attacks on TM are more warranted than those on Crawford, I think. We were all delightfully surprised this year when we saw that this team can win games. I put the lion’s share of the blame for losing solidly on TM’s decision to stick with LaBarbera, and two, to continue to experiment with lines that are proven commodities. One could argue that O’Sullivan has been one of, if not the best player on the team for the majority of these games. Also, Stoll was not rewarded for his productive play and also “demoted” to the fourth line. We all expect so much from Kopitar, but clearly he is struggling too. Maybe the TM system, does not build self confidence in the players. I can certainly see why it wouldn’t. Benching guys who don’t produce is one thing. But I think TM is making a critical mistake here in messing with the best players on the team in this way. Anyway, this year, knowing that this team can win, makes these moves very frustrating for us fans. Imagine what it must do to the players.

Great post!

Great post!