Trading offense for defense?

Sounds like a player that has bought in to his coach's philosophy, hardly the disgruntled one that some made him out to be. The Kings ARE on the right track, it's a process and while we've seen signs of this process before, I really hope that this time it doesn't derail.

Good character response. Sully, for the most part, has sounded like a real pro all year and has publicly supported the team much more than the one comment earlier regarding his line changes. As far as the 'culture' the team is trying to cultivate, this is a small example of what that could look like.

Finally some logical thinking. Too many people are freaking out about the lack of scoring this year without any recollection of last year's horrible defense. Part of the reason why Kopi/Brown/Sully were tearing it up last year is because Crawford let them run wild at the expense of defense. While lots of scoring is fun, look where it got us. Offense and defense will always be at odds with each other - the key is to find the right balance. Once the Kings get their defensive system locked down, they'll be able to focus on improving their offense.

Like Sully says, I'll take more wins and less goals over more goals and less wins any day.

My man crush on Sully just grew!

Rich,

Thanks for your continued efforts to bring Kings information to us diehard fans. I don't know why you put up with this motley collection of complainers, conspiracy theorists and incorrigible optimistics, but I'm glad you do. (By the way, I've been guilty of all of the above at one time or another).

I'm looking forward to seeing how the lines work out tonight.

afx - admittedly there is some freak-out over the lack of scoring, but it's more than that, if freaking out is what it can be called.
It's two weeks of pretty bad hockey and a record that is only strong against other bottom-feeders.
It's also a frustration at all the movement on the lines. Besides not playing some of the youth, there's a sense that he's getting it wrong in finding chemistry with the players. I'm particularly annoyed that the 4th line seems to be a black hole for the team. It gets players sent down or traded, and it's a pin-cushion statistically.
Also, there are players that are being given top line duty without really warranting it, while others are told to learn to play a different game when they may slot into the top lines fantastically.
Also, its just losing, especially 1-6 to Colorado like that, that freaks people out. We're fans and I believe that's short for Fanatic.
It's just too many years since we've been able to hold our heads up and be proud of being Kings fans.
If the games were still coming down to 1 mistake late in the game and the team was knocking the opposition around, I think there would be only 10% of the negativity and frustration.
Good Day, Sir.

Simply put ETR, you are dead wrong.

Stevie Y, Mike Modano, Brett Hull, Vinny Lecavalier, the list goes on and on and on.

What does every single one of them have in common that this young team is LEARNING how to do?

Play defense in order to win a championship. Drive for show and putt for dough. Scoring is all well and good, but if you can't keep the puck out of your own net, it doesn't mean a damn thing.

I'll give you a for instance. Chris Osgood is a marginal starting goaltender, AT BEST. Yet, the man has 3 stanley cup rings, I believe. Why is that? He has backstopped the Red Wings to those cups, on teams that preach DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE, PUCK CONTROL, PUCK CONTROL, PUCK CONTROL. I don't know what your watching, but learning how to win at this level, and learning how to do these things, capatalize on an opponents mistakes, (which Detroit does better than anyone), takes YEARS, not days, YEARS.

This is what is being built here. I suggest you get on board, or get run over.