In all honestly going 2 and 2 on this road trip should be seen as a massive victory. I thought at best we would go 1 - 2 - 1

I am beginning to like Sbisa and Stanton , by the time we are ready to challenge they should be hitting full stride. Liking what Benny has done so far, I know Stanton is a Gillis player.
- VANTEL

Need one more big D.

Pker said it best , what is harder to win a 82 game challenge or a 28 game ( max) challenge
- VANTEL

English premier league title is the main focus of teams. Champions league is like their playoffs, but falls short in terms of importance to players and fans.

Need one more big D.
- VanHockeyGuy

Russian tree in 2 years

Drafting is so important


#tanknation
- VANTEL

The thing is, only Doughty was a high (top five) pick, you can draft well outside if the top five picks and be successful. Bruins are in the same boat, their best players weren't top five picks.

In all honestly going 2 and 2 on this road trip should be seen as a massive victory. I thought at best we would go 1 - 2 - 1
- The_Kuze

We should have had our asses handed to us against SJ. We would not be that lucky in a 7 game series

As I said in last blog , we are finding out we are the next tier down from the Top Dogs.

It's not a bad thing , I was expecting worse than what we are.
- VANTEL

I wouldn't say they are in the tier below. I would say we are at the bottom of the top tier. We are a team with some holes. Van plays the same way against LA they out muscle us. They are afraid of them now, the same way they were too scared against Chicago in the playoffs. This teams needs a physcoligcal change to beat them. they were out scored last night but not really outplayed. Had chances but didn't convert.

We should have had our asses handed to us against SJ. We would not be that lucky in a 7 game series
- VANTEL

They need to be competitive and make the playoffs, draft well and continue to build from within.

The thing is, only Doughty was a high (top five) pick, you can draft well outside if the top five picks and be successful. Bruins are in the same boat, their best players weren't top five picks.
- LeftCoaster

Better chances with top 5 picks Toews Kane Sid Gino JT Hall Seguin . Doesn't mean you will win a cup but a good chance you will get an excellent player.

I wouldn't say they are in the tier below. I would say we are at the bottom of the top tier. We are a team with some holes. Van plays the same way against LA they out muscle us. They are afraid of them now, the same way they were too scared against Chicago in the playoffs. This teams needs a physcoligcal change to beat them. they were out scored last night but not really outplayed. Had chances but didn't convert.
- manvanfan

LA owned the puck for 50 of the 60 minutes, I'd say we pretty much got owned.

Can you imagine if Nonuts would have drafted Kopitar like he should have - story of our franchise
- LeftCoaster

No way of knowing Kopitar would have developed the same way in Van. Kopitar was just surrounded by the right players at the right time. Lombardi deserves so much credit for literally STEALING Carter and Richards (booze bros.) Without those two in the lineup in 2012 the Kings run would have been very different as goes for some of the players that developed playing with them. If we would have had a healthy Daniel in that series and the Queens were minus Carter/Richards it would have been a way closer series. We still may not have won but when Daniel returned it changed the entire dynamic of the club.

I wouldn't give Sutter much credit for Kopitar's development either. Sutter has a 'knack' for getting involved with teams that are already built much like in Calgary where he took credit for the Flames cup run in '04 when it was really Craig Button who worked so bloody hard to put that team together.

Kopitar is a stud because he was surrounded by the right talent...hard to say if it would have happened the same way here.

I wouldn't say they are in the tier below. I would say we are at the bottom of the top tier. We are a team with some holes. Van plays the same way against LA they out muscle us. They are afraid of them now, the same way they were too scared against Chicago in the playoffs. This teams needs a physcoligcal change to beat them. they were out scored last night but not really outplayed. Had chances but didn't convert.
- manvanfan

They need to get bigger faster and punish teams. LA injured 3 of our players last night from their size and Banging

English premier league title is the main focus of teams. Champions league is like their playoffs, but falls short in terms of importance to players and fans.
- Scooby_Doo

Not at all. Roy Keane outlined the importance of the Champions League to the players in his autobiography as the most important tournament in the world.

No way of knowing Kopitar would have developed the same way in Van. Kopitar was just surrounded by the right players at the right time. Lombardi deserves so much credit for literally STEALING Carter and Richards (booze bros.) Without those two in the lineup in 2012 the Kings run would have been very different as goes for some of the players that developed playing with them. If we would have had a healthy Daniel in that series and the Queens were minus Carter/Richards it would have been a way closer series. We still may not have won but when Daniel returned it changed the entire dynamic of the club.

I wouldn't give Sutter much credit for Kopitar's development either. Sutter has a 'knack' for getting involved with teams that are already built much like in Calgary where he took credit for the Flames cup run in '04 when it was really Craig Button who worked so bloody hard to put that team together.

Kopitar is a stud because he was surrounded by the right talent...hard to say if it would have happened the same way here.
- LordHumungous

You draft the BPA - which he was at the tenth pick.

LA owned the puck for 50 of the 60 minutes, I'd say we pretty much got owned.
- LeftCoaster

This

Any word on tonight's line-up?

This
- VANTEL

Outside of a couple of zone possessions from the twins and the Horvat line, when the puck entered the Kings end it QUICKLY came back the other way.

Better chances with top 5 picks Toews Kane Sid Gino JT Hall Seguin . Doesn't mean you will win a cup but a good chance you will get an excellent player.
- VANTEL

We aren't bad enough to finish that low. They can push for the playosffs and draft much better with Benning at the helm.

As I predicted, Colorado is having a huge step back this year and Dallas is a one line team.

Outside of a couple of zone possessions from the twins and the Horvat line, when the puck entered the Kings end it QUICKLY came back the other way.
- LeftCoaster

If Benning would hurry up and trade for Burns SJ and Ladd WPG I think we would then be ok

We aren't bad enough to finish that low. They can push for the playosffs and draft much better with Benning at the helm.

As I predicted, Colorado is having a huge step back this year and Dallas is a one line team.
- LeftCoaster

I know that's why I wrote#tanknation.

One win closer to our first President's Trophy.
- Only_A_Ladd

They are the best!
Once you win one nothing else will do!
Good luck!

I am beginning to like Sbisa and Stanton , by the time we are ready to challenge they should be hitting full stride. Liking what Benny has done so far, I know Stanton is a Gillis player.
- VANTEL

Yea Sbisa is growing on me, same as Miller

You draft the BPA - which he was at the tenth pick.
- LeftCoaster

Oh I get the BPA theory and there is now way in hell I'm saying we are better off by not drafting Kopitar. Having said that though I think teams are looking at 'needs' at certain positions rather than BPA's on some occasions. Depending on the depth of the draft year in question after the first 1-5 picks you can literally throw a dart from 5-25 and get the exact same player...sometimes.

If Benning would hurry up and trade for Burns SJ and Ladd WPG I think we would then be ok
- VANTEL

Those two ingredients are basically exactly what we need.

Hansen/Matthias/prospect for Ladd

How do we we pry Burns out of SJ??

Those two ingredients are basically exactly what we need.

Hansen/Matthias/prospect for Ladd

How do we we pry Burns out of SJ??

- LordHumungous

Hookers and lots of 9 .00 wine