Second line set?

It'll give us a better look at what Teddy can really do. Nothing's worse than having him stuck on the fourth line. Yeah, that means sending Moller down to Manchester. But he knows that if Teddy falters, he'll get a chance on the Kings top lines.

May the best player win. If Purcell beats out Moller, the send Oscar to Manchester. There's nothing wrong with that.

Personally I don't get how Terry Murray could favor a guy who hasn't done anything at the NHL level over a guy who proved last year before his injury that he could be a regular contributor. My vote would be Moller on the 2nd line, Purcell back in Manchester.

Sounds like Oscar will start in Manchester, unless Stoll is arthritic. That's the big question right now, I think. They could put Oscar on a fourth line between Clune and Westgarth. That's a better line than with Harrold at center. But it's a waste of OM's ability. I'm not sure which I prefer, Moller for 8 minutes a night with the Kings, or Moller on a line with Loktionov in Manchester. Either way, he'll be with the Kings soon enough. I frankly think Stoll is this year's Calder (or Williams is, but so far, I'm going with Stoll as this year's underachiever). I would really rather have Moller on the second line and Stoll on the fourth line, but I acknowledge that's probably insane and wrong.

What I think is that 1) We have so much depth that we're playing arguably our best player on the 3rd line..

I thought it would be

Frolov-Kopitar-Williams
Smyth-Stoll-Brown
Purcell-Handzus-Simmonds
Clune-Lewis-Ivanans

Moller to Manchester

Moller to Manchester. I think it would be the best... Let him get bigger and stronger... He plays hard, but he can't handle it... not yet at the NHL level at least. Plus I read a quote from him where he was asked if he'd have a problem starting the season in Manchester, and he said "no not at all."

Oscar playing 20 minutes a night in Manchester would be better for his development than grinding it out on the fourth line.

First off, Moller's a stud and he WILL make this team and be a star in this league IMO. He has too much skill, determination and love of the game to fail (barring injury).

Second, on principle alone, I hate to see Ivanans make the team and Oscar go down. But, the reality remains, 4th line minutes seem counter productive for Oscar's development. Unless, that is, TM changes his 4th line strategy. However, I have to believe TM will more often than not, go with his KDL (knuckle-dragging line) and if he does, I'm thinking Harrold will center it.

So then, my money is on Oscar starting in chester and then being the first to come on board when one of the nine gets hurt or goes in the dog house.

And the 4th line to start the season?

Ivanans/Harold/Zeiler

I mean, who else has is a good fit at centering the KDL? It was only practice, but this line, believe it or not, scored 3 goals in a row in one drill. No other line was scoring on my end. And it was because Harrold was making incredible passes. Like I said before, I think Harrold finally found his true position.

Whats going on in here? I just read all the comments from the last few Headlines and didn't see any personal attacks or over the top negativity. Could it be that this site has finally turned into what we hoped it could? Keep up the good work Rich. I doubt you will ever fully grasp how much we appreciate you...GO KINGS

Moller's development would benefit from playing Top 6 forward minutes in Manchester instead of playing 7-8 minutes per game on LA's 4th line. A Lewis-Richardson-Ivanans 4th line might work, but whatever the combo ends up being I hope it excludes Zeiler. The Kings can always keep Harrold as the extra forward-defenseman.

jonny and all others re moller -

the idea that moller "can't handle it" is nuts. he handled it and then some for forty games last year. period. i'm betting none of you have seen him play healthy in 10 months. which is a very long time for a 20 year old. this idea that he's physically weak or soft or whatever is just a meme that's been picking up steam for awhile, but -- other than the fact that moller does need to bulk up because he's 20 and not fully mature yet (neither is doughty, neither is simmonds, neither is purcell) -- it's just silliness. for example, anyone notice how since the moller-is-soft meme began, he's been getting shorter? he used to be 5'11". then 5'10". I read on another blog yesterday that he's 5'9".

waves -

yes, yes, and yes. i agree completely. my only disagreement would be about exactly who the knuckle-draggers will be. It seems likely this year to be Clune, Westgarth over Zeiler, Ivanans.

Otto Ped -

f you. you s**k.

I don't see Oscar being sent down. He has too much talent. Plus, the arguement that if someone goes into the doghouse he's called up doesn't work - if someone is injured then yeah, he'll get the call. So, if TP falters and you want to put someone else on the second line and Oscar is in Manchester what do you do?

i guess i have to accept that t.m. is resigned to keep frolov on the third-line...and i just hate it...

i don't see what he sees in this case...it's not that fro can't contribute w/zus & simmer...he has, can and will...but i just think he belongs in the top-six...

i know he will get his 18-20 a game anyway, but you want yr team to maximize it's potential...i hope t.m. is right about this...

Otto Ped -

...ha,ha. My thoughts exactly...

as far as purcell/moller is concerned...

they are really giving teddy his shot...

if he doesn't make it this time around, forget it...

i feel somewhat sympathetic towards oscar, as he seems to be coming up just short in some of the coaching staff's minds every time he's involved in these type of roster decisions...his time will come...

i know the lines are adaptable, since t.m. likes to do the curly shuffle almost immediately...so let's wait and see what the players/lines do in the early going...

Thanks QUISP. Pass the cool-aid

Maybe it's just semantics, but that 3rd line looks more like a 2nd line than the 2nd line does...

moller is naturally a better fit as a second line center than stoll, but I agree with quisp, would be a little nuts to start the season that way. however I'd much rather see moller get quality ice time in Manchester than fourth line duty with the kings. Purcell is yet to prove himself worthy of a top six NHLer, I hope he is able this year, but if not it's good to know moller can step in. and waves, as far as the talk about ivanans making the team over moller, this is hockey not baseball. there is a physical aspect to the game, and players like ivanans fill that role. if you don't want to see blood then watch golf.

I know Moller has his own fan club on this site, sorry, but I'm just not that into him. I don't dislike him like I do Ivanans, but OM really was not that productive. 15 points in 40 games, the majority of which came on the power play, (where he won't get much ice-time this year), and the majority of which came early on in the season. He may have a big heart, and that's valuable, but he does get knocked of the puck easily. He's also not that strong with the puck, nor do I see in him Purcell's on-ice vision and passing ability. Frankly, Moller's biggest competition comes not from Purcell, but Loktionov and Azevedo. Let's be real, few teams, and certainly not the Kings under DL and TM's guidance, will carry many short(ish) players. Moller has to beat those guys, and soon, as they are 2 and 1 year younger. If they show development this year, they could easily pass him on the depth chart.

I think everyone needs to take stoll's arthritis for what it is - part of the territory of being an athlete.

How many of the greatest players continued night after night with some kind of health problem - many of them chronic? Everyone has something to deal with.

Obviously tm isn't too worried and I doubt stoll will be an underachiever. The guy has a great hussle and proved it last season and is only going to get better.

Whether he's here on starting day or not, Moller is going to get serious ice time this year with the Kings, be it due to injuries or lack of performance. Still not sure if he's a bona fide 2nd liner (yet), but he's on the verge; the guy can play.

Off topic slightly... I was reading summaries of last night's games and did a double take when I saw that Juraj Mikus had the winning goal for the Leafs. But "their" Juraj was born a year later and plays defence...

Is there any other team who has their top 30 goal scorer from last year on the third line? I dont think Fro has really shown us what he truly can do, but something tells me that this contract year is going to be a huge breakout for him. I just hope we can re-sign him before the trade deadline or we risk losing him to free agency.

Big A.....

That's the same Mikus. He has the ability to shape shift and time travel, yet somehow not the ability to change his name.

re Quisp - I'm not saying he cant handle it in a way that he would get injured or something. I'm saying it is not beneficial to the team.. he gained 6or 8lbs in the offseason, and he still gets bounced off the boards. He gets knocked over in every battle... He's got all the tools in the world, but he's gotta be stronger to be fully effective. He did well on the power play last year because he had room out there, he wasn't getting rocked.

I believe the thinking is. If both players are on the same footing, as Purcell and Moller are. Teddy just signed a 1 year deal this summer. Play Teddy now, and see what adjustments he made from last year, and if he can improve. Moller, he still has one year left on his entry level contract, there is time for Moller.

What I am trying to say is, this is the Make or Bust year for Purcell. So Let him Succeed or Fail.

“It seems likely this year to be Clune, Westgarth over Zeiler, Ivanans.”

As you know, Harrold has centered both of these lines during camp. Seemed to me the IZ line performed better than the CW line. I’d love to be wrong, cause I like Clune and Westgarth much more. I like Segal even more, but I guess he’s out of the picture. Oh well. Of course, TM always has a few surprises in store.

"Quattro said:
Maybe it's just semantics, but that 3rd line looks more like a 2nd line than the 2nd line does..."

I agree with this.

For one, I think Purcell would be more productive with Brown and Stoll, because of the existing chemistry with Fro/Zues/Simmonds. So, if Fro's not going to be on the first line with Kopitar/JW, then the best fit is the "3rd" line.

Also, I think Handzus was way more effective in even strength situations than Stoll was last year; Stoll's good on the PP, but as far as line assignments, Fro fits better on the Handzus line.

It's all semantics, as quatrro (and many others) have said. Don't get caught up with the numbering. Frolov will still log tons of PP minutes, and end up with the top ice-time for forwards along with Brown and Kopitar. Hopefully that translates into 70+ points and 35+ goals again.

just for thought...think about the role of the 3 line, stopper line, which plays against the top line. I have no problem having Fro play on this line, because Fro & Simmer can hold on to the puck in the O zone. If we hold the puck in the off zone, the other teams top line will be using their energy playing D. This line can score goals playing against a line that could be a defensive liability.

This should not come as a surprise to many. It is in Oscar's best interest and the teams best interest for him to be in Manchester. He will be a great player, there is no doubt about that but he needs to develop a little more.
Purcell will be the offensive surprise of the season(for LA) in my mind and we will see just why almost every NHL team tried to sign him out of Maine after his rookie year in NCAA.
I just hope Murray's strategy evolves from a strictly defensive one to one that is meant to limit goals but win games. This involves activating your D up on the offensive rush and not simply sitting in the neutral zone trapping or locking their wingers on the defensive side.