Post-practice update

I wish JDub was healthy and playing tomorrow; his style of play would be a Wild killer.

So, it turns out Williams is smaller than reported.

And now that Patty-O is leaving, it turns out that Sully is actually 6'3", 220 lbs.

When they leave here, they're bigger.

When they arrive, they're smaller.

-Sergei Prozacutov

Glad Westgarth will be in the lineup. Liked him on his last tour. Maybe taking Gauthier's spot??

Are they going to trade or let go JJ because he didn't FIT in the PP?

I noticed how Peter played with Drew on few of the Power Plays.......JJ played only
13:56 minutes

Rich, I understand the need make players earn thier PP time, but I can't help but sit here and think that if the defense provide ANY offensive this year they just might be in the 8 seed right now.

I think they've scored what, a whopping 20 goals as a TEAM from thier blueliners? Considering how important the PP is (Murray mentioned it himself), I would think he would try and change things up more to get more production.

maybe Dean can swing a deal for Jack Johnson... I hear Bryan Allen is only two months away from rehabbing his knees... or maybe Eric Brewer's back injury isn't as bad as the Blues say it is (smirk.)

Don:

Ya, because Doughty and Quincy have done NOTHING to contribute to the offense on the PP.....yeesh....

tantrum4,

Last time I checked they roll 2 power play units. When's the last time Harrold scored a goal on the PP? As a matter of fact, Who's the last king defenseman to score a goal not named Jack Johnson? Quincey? Doughty? Harrold? answer is Gauther, 9 or 10 games ago. That is horrid production from the blueline.

Don your right,

I have more concern that the D never seems to contribute much 5on5.

i agree with you Don...but you have to remember...all the kids you just named are either rookies or sophomores...whens the last time you've seen a rookie defender light the lamp for 15 goals?

agreed with Sergei Prozacutov: wtf?

OK I can understand it if 6-1 is a reach, let's just say 6'... same as DB

#14? interesting, I thought he was #10 since Kopi's already got 11 locked down.

The Kings collectively are not scoring goals, it's not just the defensemen.

at this point, I'm all for trading "JMFJ." He has done nothing to impress me besides his shoot out move. His defensive coverage has been shaky the last two years. I'd take Gleason over him in a heartbeat.

Oh Marc Nathan, me thinks you are just bitter because you predicted PO to lead the Kings in goals this year...how'd that work out for ya?

Marc-

Straight up. That was great post. I wish people could understand the very simple business concept you described in your humor.

Thanks for the laugh.

Marc Nathan -

Not a very good attempt and making fun of DL trading for injured players...hello, JJ has MISSED MOST OF THIS YEAR with injuries, and missed the last 10 games last year because of injuries...so why is he ok to be on this team but Williams isn't? or were you being serious in saying he really should get rid of JJ because of his injuries?? Either way, it was a bad post....

Don -

Don't forget Stoll has played the point quite a bit this year on the PP and has scored some goals from there. JJ just doesn't look creative enough just yet to play him on the point all the time on the PP. Harold seems to be more confident with the puck back there and isn't afraid to shoot it. So what if the goals don't come from the point, as long as the puck is getting on net ie Quincy last night. Zeus would not have had his first goal if Quincy didn't shoot the puck, same as Doughty and his 2 assists, both came from shooting the puck from the point.

I'm glad to get another look at Westgarth, and would be nice to see him mix it up with the Boogieman tomorrow night, but I think the Boogieman is still suspended.

What did we trade THIS SEASON to get an injured JJ back?
I'll tell you what it wasn't, if I must....

I think the PP has suffered with lack of imagination more than anything else - I like OM on the PP his game is quick and he reads plays very nicely - I've tried to adjust to the youth on the squad - were bound to make mistakes because of it - It's such a nice change from past yrs - I give DL and TM both a B- to this pt in the season - some gaffes but overall a solid direction and theme of D - Look at WS,OM,DB,K,JJ,DD,TP,JS,Q, all @ 24 or 5 and under- looking forward that's a sweet setup for the future

Went to practice today to measure Williams but he ran as soon as he saw me coming with the tape measure. What an ass.

Some observations from practice: Frolov and Murray stayed after and talked for a fairly long time, maybe 15-20 minutes, leaning up against the glass at the score-keeper's bench. Frolov seemed especially casual and relaxed. I don't know (obviously) what they were talking about, but they seemed very comfortable and appeared to be talking in depth.

Doughty, Moller, Purcell, Simmonds, Richardson and Ersberg stayed on the ice for 20 minutes or so. Ersberg, Simmonds and Richardson working with Hardy at one end; Purcell, Moller and Doughty working with Kompon at the other.

At one point, Moller and Purcell were taking turns working on receiving passes (from Kompon) and shooting from a very bad angle, at the goal line about eight feet from the side-boards. Moller went first and I was struck by the ridiculously high level of accuracy. He was picking the top corner hitting the net a couple of inches from the intersection of the cross-bar and post, 75% of the time. We're talking about a target about 5" square from where he was shooting. A couple of times he rang it off the post. Mostly, the shots were perfect or nearly perfect.

Then, Purcell. Same drill. And he was if anything even better. Because he's taller, his reach allowed him to bring the puck a little farther out for a slightly better angle. But I don't think he missed single shot. And of course we're talking about a second between passes.

They did variations on this theme, practicing high slot one-timers, Doughty, too. Moller stayed behind to practice taking passes behind the net (from Kompon) and switching forehand to backhand to top-shelf it from the edge of the crease (i.e. moving from behind the net to a shooting position without moving his feet). Then he switched sides, to do the same drill backhand to forehand. Again, the accuracy was astounding. Not that any of this is a great shock -- we all know these are professionals etc. etc. -- but every once in awhile it's nice to stand right up next to the glass and watch them literally practicing to the point of near-perfection moves that if any of us were able to do them once we would never forget it. I exaggerate, but not by much.

Last observation: Doughty and Moller repeatedly would do mock scoring celebrations, wooo, stick in the air, laughing, etc.. There was a lot of that going on. I know for a fact I have never seen that at a Kings practice before.

People, please keep in mind the age of these players your criticizing, anyone skeptical of JMFJ's abilities is just plain ignorant, if your comparing his progress to #8's, then again your a couple beers short of a 12pk. Drew Doughty's come along once every 15 years or so, if that.

The guys back on defense are still green behind the ear. They need time to adjust to the speed of playing at the NHL level. The penalty killers on the ice are not going to give them any day light. So our young defense has to adjust and find other ways to generate some offense, specially on the power play.

As for the forwards on the team, they don't attack the net. They mostly stay on the perimeters on the power play. The defensemen need the forwards to crash the net, so when they get open they can have some room to get a shot on net. O'Sullivan was always stationed to the side of the net. He was never a scoring threat from that position. And I think that's why he was shipped out. He was basically useless out there. How many times
did he actually score goals from that position, maybe one all year. If the forwards can crash the net more often, then the defense can probably have more scoring opportunities. The five on threes are prime example. What would I give to have a Holmstrom on our team.

Roger

Quisp,

Really enjoyed that post. That is great to hear. Hope they do alot of those drills team wide.

@Quisp

Did you see my post about practice? Strange it's gone??? Anyway, was there too. Didn't really notice anyone else around during those drills tho.

Wavesinair, re missing comment:

It's under the "Considerable Improvement for Purcell" post.