Sacrificing some offense?

"oh yeah, absolutely"

Listen to this character.
Does he actually know how to coach offensively.
Is he a complete coach?
Is defense all he lives and breathes?

I can't believe my eyes or my ears.
Although I do agree with him on the notion that its better to have a strong defense than a strong offense, but you can't win cups on defense alone. YOU NEED BOTH.
Unless this 59 year old coach seriously believes that Quick and Ersberg are gonna put up 1.00 GAA, somethings gotta give.
Now these next two games against the quacks are crucial. He's got another thing coming if believes that 2 goals a game is gonna help get 4 points against these ORange County idiots. Its not.

And its not the lack of goals either.
Its the lack of offense. I never see any 2 on 1 attacks. I never see any cycling (unless on the PP).
I hardly see any offensive pressure by our big guns.
Our top guns (pos, kopi, fro, brown,) look out of place.
Just ZERO offense and its getting boring.
When i use my NHL center ice package and watch all the other 29 teams play, I see those teams doing something on offense that the Kings aren't.

Anthony,

Puck possession is the best offense and defense. It's the game Detroit plays.
I actually see shades of it from our team, but I think having guys like Zeiler and Ivanans in the lineup makes it more difficult to do.
Of course Ivanans should be in the game last night for Philly, but I think he should be with some great puck possession guys like FroZoos.
Simmonds can play anywhere, and I think Murray isn't recognizing how balanced and possesive with the puck we COULD be.
He's older, yes, so it's going to maybe take more time.
It is a little distressing that he's failed to figure out some consistent lines, though.
It is almost half-way through the season, after all.

ETR,

The Kings are not a puck possession team. I do not think DL envisions them as a puck possession team. Brown is not a puck possession type hockey player. This team plays dump and chase. They are physical and win battles along the boards. That style requires solid positional defense. Last year the team played a wide open style, thus more goals and more goals against. If you take risks on offense, you give up odd man rushes. Once the other team starts playing a run and gun style the whole game opens up. The reason there are not as many odd man rushes is the team is playing more responsibly. And it is clear that anthony is rambling without thinking because the Kings do cycle the puck esp down low.

The biggest difference between a team like the Kings and the Red Wings is that the Wings make lots of high risk high reward passes and this style fits them very well. They are highly skilled and can make those long cross ice passes. The Kings don't have the skill players or the system that encourages that type of play. The end goal is winning in the playoffs. I like the brand the Kings are building.

I like the Kings of hockey the Kings are playing. The transitional game is getting better and better.

We do need to be more keen on jumping on opponents mistakes and looking for 2 on 1's, because that's the one point of anthony's I agree with, we rarely have outnumbered attacks.

It will come though.

And EAT, the one thing I hated about last nights game was Zeiler. Now that Army is healthy, I'd prefer him 100% of the time over Zeiler. He just played a stupid game last night.

It was a good sign seeing Simmonds split up from Zus tho. Having Simmonds now ready to perform where ever he is put really opens up line combos. I too like Ivanans with Zus.

I can't wait for Moller to get back though, things should get more interesting then and force TM to make some more competitive and balances lines. Maybe a Moller-Stoll-Simmonds line? That would certailny be a lot of energy mixed with some decent skill.

Fro-Kopi-Sully
Moller-Stoll-Simmonds
Brown-Zus-Ivanans
Calder-Boyle-Armstrong

Maybe?

While Calder is almost useless offensively, Boyle might benefit from playing with him for a while, because if Calder and Armstrong do anything well, its hustle, cycle and fight for pucks in the corners.

I highly doubt we ever see Fro with Kopi though.

Oh man, totally forgot about Purcell!

Put him with Boyle and Calder. Scratch Army.

JDM,

Isn't it amazing the options Murray's system is creating with these players?
I fully think we're capable of winning the majority of our games and making the playoffs with these players, but that Murray just hasn't figured it out yet.
That's why I've been banging my head against the wall for over a month.

I also think that if Boyle isn't BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD instead of left on the outside trying to work his way in, we risk alienating and losing him really soon. And we'll have never given him the chance to be the force he may be able to be.
I pray I'm wrong and that he'll get worked into a good position soon.

Eat,
I like your idea of putting Kopi-Brown-Frolov together.
I think they would score a bunch too.
Too bad this coach can't see these no brainers.

Hey Rich, next time you talk to Murray, can you ask what his thoughts on Boyle's play last night were?

EAT,

I have to agree. I don't think Murray is clueless or anything, he just has his guns and he's sticking to them. He's also learning as he goes with this team. Getting creative with the line combos last night was a real positive sign to me that he is gaining more confidence with his players sticking to the system on an individual basis, so that he feels less like he must keep his forward "tandems" together anymore.

I still think someone needs to step up and mentor Boyle. But who?

I think Boyle played a good game overall last night. I was up close and personal for his huge hit last night at the game, and I went absolutely bat shit when it happened. I was screaming at the top of my lines "THERE YOU GO BOYLE! NOW GO KILL SOMEONE ELSE!"

His penalty was stupid, and was because he wasn't moving his feet, so hopefully Murray can point that out to Boyle but focus on the positives and squeeze more and more out him each game. He really should be seeing 2nd unit PP time sooner than later.

JDM - I agree.
I thought we might see Boyle for at least 1 power-play last night but he probably needs to find some chemistry with his teamates before he'll be tried there.
I DO think the penalty was a part of Boyle learning how to play that mean game they're asking him to. I'd rather see him used as an offensive threat with the impetus to become more physical WHILE he's contributing offensively, though.
The Kings are alot like the movie What About Bob?
Baby-steps.

Just a quick note to all the Murray bashers saying "why cant you put Kopi and Fro on the same line?".....do some research. Look back to Kopi's rookie year, they tried that. They started the season with those two together, and QUICKLY split them apart. They both play a puck possession style game, and are only effective when doing so. You can't have two guys who need to have the puck all the time on the same line, only one guy can have it at a time. Similarly, if Jason Allison were still around, he would not be effective with either Fro or Kopi, for the same reason. To use another analogy, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson would not be effective in the same starting lineup, they both want, both need, to have the ball, every possession to be effective, but yet only one person can. So maybe Fro and Kopi will magically find a spark together, but history, and logic, say that it simply wont work.

Did anyone notice that he put Simmonds up on the line with Sully and Kopitar?
Simmonds has convinced me that he can fit it on any line. It's just a question of whetehr TM wants him top play. I still like the checking line of Zeus/Frolov/Simmonds.

I also wasn't happy with Zeiler's performance on Saturday night. Lets see what TM does when Army is ready to play, or Moller returns. I wonder if they're considering returning Moller to Juniors?

I just cannot understand anyone saying that TM is clueless. He's the only coach that has been brought in here that preaches defense and that defensive responsibilities come first.
That's how you win games. Anyone who thinks you can win cups today without playing tight defense is kidding themselves. Playoff games are won 2-1 not 6-5.
TM is doing exactly what needs to be done here.

Losing the offensive skills of Cammy hurt, he is a solid second liner, they have yet to find his replacement on the second line. In the off season they need a top tier goal scorer, and with that they can be a top 5 team. Since the D has been solid adding a Gaborik type player could be they type player that would take the Kings to the next level

nykingfan, you are right on my friend. I am thrilled to have a coach who actually cares about defense. Crawford, Webster, Melrose, didnt give a damn about defense. I grew up in NY as a kings fan since I was 10. Saw plenty of Kings games at the coliseum and garden.

NYkingssfan -

Moller will not be returned to juniors. Zeiler will be a healthy scratch. Wait, I'm losing count...

POS/Kopitar/Brown
Frolov/Handzus/Simmonds
Calder/Stoll/Purcell
x/Boyle/Moller

x = Armstrong, Ivanans or Zeiler

Yes, we don't have to waive anyone as long as Richardson is on extended IR.