Goalie split?

Barry Brust baby gotta love the guy, of only he would have started over cloutier that year...

Bernier better be ready, cuz he sure wasn't down in Manchester. Shit's gonna hit the fan the next 2 weeks guys...

Looks like the Kings goaltending problems were solved for all about two weeks!

The next few days will be very telling. Depending on how Bernier plays and Ersberg's prognosis, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Martin Gerber in a Kings jersey....

rich, what Barry Brust's stats don't tell you is that he is routinely replaced in shootouts because he seems to share a common characteristic to a former King goalie .. Jason LaBarbara ... he can't make a breakaway save for his life!

Hmm...:"Lightning forward Evgeny Artyukhin has been suspended for two games, starting with tonight’s game against Dallas. There has been no word from the league or the team, but Artyukhin said after he came off the ice that he spoke to the league on Sunday about his knee-on-knee hit with Florida’s Ville Peltonen during Saturday’s game."

Shocking.

ATTENTION BERNIER BASHERS aka Know Nothings...
The Defense in Manchester is not very helpful to the GT's.
Jon Quick had similar numbers when he was recalled. Let's see how JB performs with a decent D core in front of him. I get really peeved reading these posts from you Johnny-come-lately Kings fans. Relax, take a chill pill, I think DL knows more...WAY more then y'all when it comes to building a hockey team from the ground up. Sit back, shut-up and just watch. If we're still struggling like this next year at this time then I will join the revolt but give the GM the time he asked for or turn to another team (there is one 25 miles or so down the road you can root for) if you want instant results.

Beavis -

Total agreement.

Bernier's numbers are virtually identical to Quick's. Quick had a slightly higher save percentage, but he also sees many more shots per game than Bernier. Why would this be? Because Bernier gives up far fewer rebounds.

Bernier is, literally, the highest ranked goaltending prospect in the world. We could do a lot worse than playing him the next 38 games straight. (I'll settle for half that...)

p.s. we don't have goaltending problems. We have scoring problems. Hopefully, the big names will solve this problem; that's what they're paid for.

...And he's what, 20 years old? He needs to be given a lot more time than, lets say, a guy like Larbarbera was given. Management patience is huge in Bernier's case.

Go Smoke a bowl Beavis. 40+ years of losing is getting old. therefore, I don't trust 5 year rebuilding plans anymore. I love DL, but I'll believe it when I see it

I agree with Jayrew that eventually Kings fans have to stop giving this team a pass every time they miss the playoffs and chalk it up to "rebuilding". Rome was built quicker.

And I'm sick of hearing how Bernier is pouting in juniors about not sticking with the Kings. Or Bernier is pouting in the AHL about having to split time with Quick. Or Bernier is pouting in the AHL about Quick getting called up before him. This is NOT the mental makeup of an NHL #1 "Franchise" goalie. But, the kid is 20 years old, so maybe he'll mature.

And to call Bernier the #1 goalie prospect in the world is just not true. It was 2 years ago. It's not now. His performance has shown that he's not at that level currently.

BUT, I will also with Beavis that it's not like Bernier or Quick had the Detroit Red Wings in front of them in Manchester. The defense down there is terrible because almost all the Kings decent D prospects are up here or in juniors.

So we can't base our opinions on AHL performance. That's why I'm more concerned with Bernier's attitude then his games.

All that said, if Bernier plays the way he did at the start of last year, it'll be tough to send him back down. And with Ersberg going to the NHL Young Stars game, it's hard to see the Kings moving him. That would leave Quick & Zatkoff potentially on the outside looking in?

Beavis & Quisp...You're both right on.

We're not looking to pull for ANY winner, we want to see the Kings succeed. We've said this in practically every other stream but, at this point in the season, the Kings are ahead of where I thought they'd be. Yes, they've had a few injuries that have hurt the team but every team goes through that. Expect to see a different team after the all-star break whem Moller gets back. Even tho we lost against Dallas, what a spark JMFJ brought back to the lineup. Seeing him, Quincey, Doughty, Greenie and having the prospect of Hickey & Teubert join them just makes me hungry. Realistically the Kings are one good sniper away from being a very good team, I think a Danny Heatley type would do. All teams go through slumps, the Kings are having their's and it won't last.

DL had a HUGE mission to perform when he first came to LA, to rebuild an entire team from the ground up including the organization (admin, scouting, management, coaching, minors, etc) and getting the youth and draft picks to accomplish this. That meant stockpiling draft picks and lots of good, young players in juniors & the minors. Next, DL had to solve the Kings woes in this order: defense, goaltending and finally up-front, the forwards. Look at how far he's come in just a short period of time. This is a young, .500 team that has made progress. LA's goaltending truly has promise, youth has been served. This kids are going to be around for quite some time. They've got plenty stockpiled in reserve should the picks not pan out. They've got good young defensemen waiting in the wings to come up. This team is poised for the future with another rich draft upon us in June and lots of draft picks. Frankly, while I wish the Kings were winning right now, I truly see 2009 as being the breakout year we've been waiting for. It may take one more season, possibly 2010. But the goal here isn't to slip into the playoffs just one year, then miss the playoffs the next 5 in a row. The goal is to build the Kings into a perennial winner.

Quisp, interesting comment on Evgeny Artyukhin. Maybe the league finally woke up and looked at the tapes of the Kings game. Hopefully it will send a message to the Bolts and the rest of the league about this goon. I can't remember when I was so incensed about a hit. He should have received a gross misconduct in my opinion for intent to injure Doughty and he got nothing. I know I'm still reacting but it was a BS hit and a BS call. That type of play cannot be tolerated by the league. I'm glad to see he's finally going to see some beach time for his actions, it was overdue.

Beavis said:
ATTENTION BERNIER BASHERS aka Know Nothings...
...I get really peeved reading these posts from you Johnny-come-lately Kings fans. Relax, take a chill pill, I think DL knows more...WAY more then y'all when it comes to building a hockey team from the ground up. Sit back, shut-up and just watch. If we're still struggling like this next year at this time then I will join the revolt but give the GM the time he asked for or turn to another team (there is one 25 miles or so down the road you can root for) if you want instant results.

Quisp said:
Beavis -
Total agreement.

I love being called a Johnny-Come-Lately and told to SHUT UP and GO AWAY.

Gotta love how much we all want to see this team win. The frustration has hit an all time high for me personally. I live 15 minutes from the Honda center and I still make the drive to Staples game in and game out. We all feel the pain, and I'm having my patience tested too.

But...I gotta agree with Beavis. The AHL as a whole is a less defensively skilled league. Leading to inflated GAA's and save percentages among most goalies.

For Bernier, lets be honest, he was highly touted, but like any goalie, he does need time. Look at it this way...the goalie position is trusted with keeping the team's chances of winning within reach every game. He faces the most pressure game in and game out. So when developing a goalie, there is no short cut. As we are seeing with Quick, even he isn't perfect and he has a long way to go before being a bonafide #1 goalie. With Bernier being upset about his yo-yo trips through the ranks, its a good sign. He's a competitor. But it doesn't mean we should cater to his emotions. He needs to earn his spot in the NHL. Just like Quick and Ersberg and even LaBarbera did.

I hope to see him play in at least one game, but I equally hope he gets sent down and continues to have a chance at getting consistent starts. Its much better than having him ride the pine 90% of the time.

I'd just hate to cut the youngster goalies loose too soon like we did guys like Huet(oops).

You guys can keep on drinkin the Kool-Aid. I'm not sayin DL's plan is "useless" I'm just not in the mood to be positive about a franchise that is now worse than the ARIZONA CARDINALS. But hey, we can just be a feeder for future stanley cup winners....gotta love the Kings' history, or lack thereof.

Paul From Oxnard....True, but it does leave the team's options open for the future. Any of those goalies would snatch a high middle round draft pick. My only disagreement, I think the Kings goalies of the future are Bernier & Quick. This however, is a huge chance for Bernier to show us what he has and I'd be making the most of the opportunity. However, if one of these guys doesn't make it, we're stockpiled for the future in the minors with goalies. It is a nice option, one this team has never had.

Jayrew....That was funny but look at what it brought the Cardinals. Damn, one trip to the Stanley Cup in 41 years, talk about futility! If the rebuild gets the Kings to the cup final; I don't care if it's this year (major ha), next year or the year after, so long as the Kings are a consistant winner stockpiled for every season (see Wings, Sharks, etc) thereafter, I'm good. More importantly, I see the results coming. There is hope on the horizon, just a season or two away. Even the Sharks, perenial losers in the Western Conference and the team DL built, they didn't win right away, it took time, a lot of time and patience. They haven't looked back since they started winning and they're what, 1st place over all in the NHL?

After 41 years of futility, I can wait.

All media, fans of opposing clubs, players, and anyone who's anybody in Hockey has stated repeatedly the Kings' past issues have been selling off their picks to get immediate results. This, of course, has failed.

Your only option is to do exactly what Kings management is doing and build the team up internally, and trade/sign the pieces that are missing. Look at every winning major league team in sports that's successful and see if theres connection. The Angels? Started with a solid farm, then signed the holes. Red Wings? Used their picks wisely, then signed the rest.

I just don't see what all the fuss is about building a team CORRECTLY(not the way we used to do it).

Gentlemen,

I know it's fun to think we're going to turn into the Sharks or Wings, but don't you understand how presumptuous that is?
Do you think that there aren't 29 other NHL teams trying to build the next Dynasty?
We're falling behind Columbus and Toronto at this point (mainly due to TM this season, IMO).
Do you forget that Chicago has been in the cellar for ages? Does anyone even remember, besides a few, their "glory" years before Roenick took off for more money and a chance to win?
Or, when Winnipeg had Selanne, Ktachuk, AND Zhamnov?
Or, the Arnasson, Bell, and Calder line that was supposed to bring respectability back to Chicago only a few years ago?
Do you not think about Buffalo and how they contend for a playoff spot or more, year after year, while their talent gets sucked up by the likes of NY, Philly, etc...
Do you realize that it took a GM foolish enough to give up on Joe Thornton for the Sharks to even dream of being the team they are today?
That Marleau, Stuart, Zyuzin, and Nabokov either didn't last, or weren't getting it done anyway?
Do you think about Florida having Luongo and Jokinen and a good supporting cast but getting nowhere?
Do you forget about the Blues teams of the 90's that were just about the best regular season team year after year and never even get to the finals?
Do you realize that Boston has gone through years of frustration DESPITE being in the playoffs year after year? Now they look really good but when the playoffs start everyone will know that they always come up short.
Do you not remember the VERY STRONG Flyers teams of the 90's? Every piece of the puzzle in place and nothing but memories of coming up just short...
Ottawa came close against Anaheim, but they've always, always, always come up short and let "elite" talent fly the coup - Hossa, Chara, Redden...
And, of course, there is the Islanders who have been going through talent for over a decade (Bertuzzi, Palffy, Chara, Berard...its a long list). I see similarities between our trading of Lubo and Cammy and the Islanders trading of legitimate talent for prospects/marginal players.

We have a lot of critics of the players, we've got a lot of critics of the coaches.
We've got critics of Lombardi, too, but most people want him to finish what he started.
I count myself as part of that, but I want to see quicker progress.
We've gotten a half a look at Boyle and Purcell - Lombardi is going to have to decide whether their worth any more time and investment. If not, he's got to try and get the most trade value for them, soon.
Moulson doesn't look anything like an NHL winger to me, but it's hard to say because the team is fairly weak.
Beyond Lewis, we have no further offensive prospects that I'm aware of, though Quisp may have more info on that than I do.

I love our kids but worry that they'll burn out waiting for that ever receding horizon of success to get here. I just don't understand how you get better by trading away great/verygood players whether they are 26 or 31.
And, I don't get why we bother giving Ex-Kings and OTH role-players significant playing time when we're hoping for the youth to adapt to the league.

I'm not giving up hope in Lombardi, although my hope for Murray is just about gone, but Lombardi has made as many bad moves as good.
At best, the scales are even right now.

Eat, DL himself has stated he's made some bad moves(last season). Hopefully he'll continue in the right direction. I'm with you that TM has made great strides with the team, but will definitely not be our future playoff coach. Nice post, otherwise.

Paul from Oxnard, re Bernier/rankings:

My comment about Bernier being the #1 goaltending prospect in the world is based solely on the Hockey's Future prospect rankings, which has -- as of the beginning of this season -- Bernier at #9 overall (Stamkos #1, Carey Price #2, Doughty #4), and the second goalie, behind Price. Price has since "graduated," having played too many NHL games to be considered a prospect, leaving Bernier at #1 among goalie prospects.

I don't really mean to over-emphasize this. Prospect rankings are meaningful only to a very limited point.

Brust's numbers this year didn't reflect NHL success with the Kings 2 seasons ago. He's another big goalie with slow movement like Barbs. Even Barbs had dominating stats with AHL Hartford just 4-5 years ago and couldn't lock down the #1 goalie spot in LA. On the other hand, Ersberg didn't have great stats in Manchester last year and appeared to hold his own for the Kings. I hope Bernier gets into a game or two before Ersberg returns to show what he's got...

Jayrew said: "Go Smoke a bowl Beavis. 40+ years of losing is getting old. therefore, I don't trust 5 year rebuilding plans anymore. I love DL, but I'll believe it when I see it"

what previous 5 yr plan do you speak of?
&... I can't smoke a bowl as I'm looking for a job, wish, really wish I could though!

It's not only Monarchs fans ragging on the golden boy, Hextall called him out last week too.

Anon, coming from the Goalie coach, that's his way of telling him to pull it together for possible NHL starts(mentally).