#LAKings Kings breakdown midway through training camp (Daily News)
0
7
Approaching the midway point of training camp, the Kings have fewer decisions than in recent years but will still have to make some critical calls ahead of their Oct. 11 season opener.
Coach Todd McLellan and General Manager Rob Blake will sort through situations in each of these four areas, and in short order.
On the blue line
Drew Doughty played his first game action since March 7 on Wednesday. He has looked none the worse for wear coming off wrist surgery. Sean Durzi has progressed in his return from shoulder surgery, and Wednesday he shed the non-contact jersey at practice. Sean Walker, who underwent major knee surgery, and Alex Edler, who at 36 missed significant time last year with a broken ankle, might need a bit more management though, early on and perhaps throughout the season.
Tobias Bjornfot and Jordan Spence could be sent down to the minors without having to clear waivers, though both have NHL experience and every opportunity to make the main club. Mikey Anderson and Matt Roy are roster locks, while Jacob Moverare would need to clear waivers if he were demoted.
Brandt Clarke continues to be the most intriguing figure, with speculation swirling that he could make the team out of camp, whether it be for a stay of nine games or fewer (similar to Alex Turcotte last season and Quinton Byfield the in 2021) or for the duration of the campaign.
Clarke said when Doughty pointed to him in the waning moments of Wednesdays exhibition, he thought he was being called off the ice for a line change rather than to stay on with Doughty to form a potent pairing that McLellan said was common sense to assemble while trailing by a goal late.
Doughty, however, expressed no confusion in evaluating Clarkes game.
He sees the ice very well, he makes very good plays, I cant say enough about his offensive ability. He can learn a little bit on the other side of the puck, but who couldnt when you come in as an offensive defenseman? Doughty said. I went through the same stuff, I had to learn how to play defense and weve got a lot of good guys on our team who can help teach him. I dont want to say hes NHL-ready, but hes basically NHL-ready.
In the net
Over the past two seasons, Jonathan Quick has made 68 starts and Cal Petersen has made 67, the most evenly split duty in the NHL. Petersen garnered the lions share of starts during a largely abysmal pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign, but Quick reclaimed the reins last season and started all seven playoff contests.
McLellan said that he had no fixed plan of how to distribute starts between his goalies at this time. Both netminders remained comfortable with that arrangement.
Nothing changes. Were both competing every second of every day, but, again, still maintaining a great friendship, a great goalie partnership, Cal Petersen said early in camp. I like these scrimmages when were facing off against each other, it adds another element. But, again, my whole focus isnt on him, its on just getting myself ready for the season.
Team captain Anze Kopitar has been through countless battles with Quick, but discussed Petersens value first when assessing the impact of undrafted free agents on the roster.
I think Cals ability to either be a No. 1 or a 1B is very comforting for us to have him around and be alongside Quickie, who obviously is still the Jonathan Quick that we know, Kopitar said.
Up front
The Kings top six will have two new members on opening night. On the top line, it will be marquee addition Kevin Fiala, whom the Kings acquired for prospect Brock Faber and a first-round pick before signing him to a lucrative contract extension.
I think he allows another level of offensive play to enter into the picture, he completes the line a little bit more. We have a starting point, I dont know where it will go from here, McLellan said.
Fiala flashed his skill with a highlight-reel goal in the Kings second preseason game, a win over Vegas. In their most recent friendly against San Jose, they focused on a second-line tossup. Viktor Arvidsson wont likely be ready to start the season following back surgery, so Samuel Fagemo and Gabriel Vilardi split shifts in his stead. Despite poor ice conditions, Vilardi looked more engaged and effective. He made some ambitious passes that created scoring opportunities and assisted on the Kings solitary goal. McLellan said Vilardi had all the skills and the tool kit to fill the role, if he manages to earn it.
Hes got a lot of experience now. Hes big, hes strong, hes healthy and he should have a ton of confidence. This type of environment sets up well for him, McLellan said. In the back of his mind, he should be looking at that spot right now and targeting it.
In the big picture
Persistence, grit and an abundance of one-goal games defined the Kings campaign last year. McLellan remarked that few playoff teams qualified with anything close to a goal differential as low as the Kings plus-three last season.
Small but noticeable improvements all around goals for, goals against and both areas of special teams were what McLellan wanted to see from his club as it sought to stave off stiffer competition in the Western Conference and advance deeper into the playoffs.
Related Articles
Do we have to get the first round and win Game 7 and get to the second round? I dont know if thats success. I think that there are teams in the Western Conference that were playoff teams last year, they had playoff talent but it didnt go right for them for whatever reason. We have to keep that in mind, and that we have a target on our backs, McLellan said.
Theres teams that are very capable of making it, theyre not going to surprise anybody if they do. We, on the other hand, probably surprised teams last year. So the gap between making the playoffs and making it to the second or third round is really tight for us right now.
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/09/30...training-camp/
Coach Todd McLellan and General Manager Rob Blake will sort through situations in each of these four areas, and in short order.
On the blue line
Drew Doughty played his first game action since March 7 on Wednesday. He has looked none the worse for wear coming off wrist surgery. Sean Durzi has progressed in his return from shoulder surgery, and Wednesday he shed the non-contact jersey at practice. Sean Walker, who underwent major knee surgery, and Alex Edler, who at 36 missed significant time last year with a broken ankle, might need a bit more management though, early on and perhaps throughout the season.
Tobias Bjornfot and Jordan Spence could be sent down to the minors without having to clear waivers, though both have NHL experience and every opportunity to make the main club. Mikey Anderson and Matt Roy are roster locks, while Jacob Moverare would need to clear waivers if he were demoted.
Brandt Clarke continues to be the most intriguing figure, with speculation swirling that he could make the team out of camp, whether it be for a stay of nine games or fewer (similar to Alex Turcotte last season and Quinton Byfield the in 2021) or for the duration of the campaign.
Clarke said when Doughty pointed to him in the waning moments of Wednesdays exhibition, he thought he was being called off the ice for a line change rather than to stay on with Doughty to form a potent pairing that McLellan said was common sense to assemble while trailing by a goal late.
Doughty, however, expressed no confusion in evaluating Clarkes game.
He sees the ice very well, he makes very good plays, I cant say enough about his offensive ability. He can learn a little bit on the other side of the puck, but who couldnt when you come in as an offensive defenseman? Doughty said. I went through the same stuff, I had to learn how to play defense and weve got a lot of good guys on our team who can help teach him. I dont want to say hes NHL-ready, but hes basically NHL-ready.
In the net
Over the past two seasons, Jonathan Quick has made 68 starts and Cal Petersen has made 67, the most evenly split duty in the NHL. Petersen garnered the lions share of starts during a largely abysmal pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign, but Quick reclaimed the reins last season and started all seven playoff contests.
McLellan said that he had no fixed plan of how to distribute starts between his goalies at this time. Both netminders remained comfortable with that arrangement.
Nothing changes. Were both competing every second of every day, but, again, still maintaining a great friendship, a great goalie partnership, Cal Petersen said early in camp. I like these scrimmages when were facing off against each other, it adds another element. But, again, my whole focus isnt on him, its on just getting myself ready for the season.
Team captain Anze Kopitar has been through countless battles with Quick, but discussed Petersens value first when assessing the impact of undrafted free agents on the roster.
I think Cals ability to either be a No. 1 or a 1B is very comforting for us to have him around and be alongside Quickie, who obviously is still the Jonathan Quick that we know, Kopitar said.
Up front
The Kings top six will have two new members on opening night. On the top line, it will be marquee addition Kevin Fiala, whom the Kings acquired for prospect Brock Faber and a first-round pick before signing him to a lucrative contract extension.
I think he allows another level of offensive play to enter into the picture, he completes the line a little bit more. We have a starting point, I dont know where it will go from here, McLellan said.
Fiala flashed his skill with a highlight-reel goal in the Kings second preseason game, a win over Vegas. In their most recent friendly against San Jose, they focused on a second-line tossup. Viktor Arvidsson wont likely be ready to start the season following back surgery, so Samuel Fagemo and Gabriel Vilardi split shifts in his stead. Despite poor ice conditions, Vilardi looked more engaged and effective. He made some ambitious passes that created scoring opportunities and assisted on the Kings solitary goal. McLellan said Vilardi had all the skills and the tool kit to fill the role, if he manages to earn it.
Hes got a lot of experience now. Hes big, hes strong, hes healthy and he should have a ton of confidence. This type of environment sets up well for him, McLellan said. In the back of his mind, he should be looking at that spot right now and targeting it.
In the big picture
Persistence, grit and an abundance of one-goal games defined the Kings campaign last year. McLellan remarked that few playoff teams qualified with anything close to a goal differential as low as the Kings plus-three last season.
Small but noticeable improvements all around goals for, goals against and both areas of special teams were what McLellan wanted to see from his club as it sought to stave off stiffer competition in the Western Conference and advance deeper into the playoffs.
Related Articles
- Los Angeles Kings |
Kings’ Brandt Clarke turning heads despite defensive logjam - Los Angeles Kings |
Kings’ turnaround gets big boost from undrafted free agents - Los Angeles Kings |
Kings bank on experience, youth and chemistry - Los Angeles Kings |
Kings’ top prospects focus on the process and progress - Los Angeles Kings |
Kings start training camp talking expectations
Do we have to get the first round and win Game 7 and get to the second round? I dont know if thats success. I think that there are teams in the Western Conference that were playoff teams last year, they had playoff talent but it didnt go right for them for whatever reason. We have to keep that in mind, and that we have a target on our backs, McLellan said.
Theres teams that are very capable of making it, theyre not going to surprise anybody if they do. We, on the other hand, probably surprised teams last year. So the gap between making the playoffs and making it to the second or third round is really tight for us right now.
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/09/30...training-camp/