Jason Lewis: Talking X's and O's: This Year's Kings Defense

Jason Lewis: Talking X's and O's: This Year's Kings Defense
- Jason_Lewis

Good stuff. Its nice to see statistical proof of what's happened in the pawt and how things are different from other years. Last night the Kings looked like the team that won the cup. DD' post game comments reflected the same sentiment.
Go KINGS!!!

Great read, keep it up

Obviously if the Kings play like this for the better half of the games remaining they'll win a lot of games. The division is still not out of sight... Yet

If the Kings can stay healthy for the rest of the season we should expect to see constant defense. When you lose a leader like Willie Mitchell, have one of your star players suspended and a rotation of injuries you won't see the consistency as last year.

Stop writing intelligent blogs Jason. You're making everyone else on the site look bad.

Great blog Jason, really informative, illustrating the reasons for the Kings' struggles at times this year

And the charts that depict the kings getting owned in their defensive zone are directly linked to lack of foot speed, not making good decisions, not making fast decisions, blown coverage, lack of communication, failing to get the puck across the blue line when they have the chance and having Mike Richards on the ice.

Great article Jason! I like seeing a crap sandwich diagrammed

Glad we got the W last night, now it's time to string some together.

Hoping schultz and andreof are out tomorrow and shore is in

And the charts that depict the kings getting owned in their defensive zone are directly linked to lack of foot speed, not making good decisions, not making fast decisions, blown coverage, lack of communication, failing to get the puck across the blue line when they have the chance and having Mike Richards on the ice.

Great article Jason! I like seeing a crap sandwich diagrammed

Glad we got the W last night, now it's time to string some together.

Hoping schultz and andreof are out tomorrow and shore is in
- MikeOxbyg

man mikecoxisml !! you always have a such a positive take. I watched Shultz last night and I thought he played good responsible hockey. I think he could be better than
Regher if he completely buys into the system and learns it.

man mikecoxisml !! you always have a such a positive take. I watched Shultz last night and I thought he played good responsible hockey. I think he could be better than
Regher if he completely buys into the system and learns it.
- dprice818

I like Schultz too, but it is a stretch to say he could be better than Regehr. My only issue with Schultz is that he doesn't use his size to his advantage. He is a 6'5" defenseman that plays like he's 5'6". Prior to his injury, Regehr led the Kings in hits, several of which were memorable bone-crushers. We'll never see Schultz on the "tough hit of the game" segment at Staples, because he just doesn't ever hit people. A successful defenseman doesn't have to hit people in order to be effective (just look at Nick Lidstrom), but he has to be that much better than the defensemen who do. I don't think Schultz will ever get to that level. I don't mind him as a 5/6 defenseman, but we already have Greene filling that role. We only really have room for one of the two.

I like Schultz too, but it is a stretch to say he could be better than Regehr. My only issue with Schultz is that he doesn't use his size to his advantage. He is a 6'5" defenseman that plays like he's 5'6". Prior to his injury, Regehr led the Kings in hits, several of which were memorable bone-crushers. We'll never see Schultz on the "tough hit of the game" segment at Staples, because he just doesn't ever hit people. A successful defenseman doesn't have to hit people in order to be effective (just look at Nick Lidstrom), but he has to be that much better than the defensemen who do. I don't think Schultz will ever get to that level. I don't mind him as a 5/6 defenseman, but we already have Greene filling that role. We only really have room for one of the two.
- tkecanuck341

Regher has some bad games and is slowing down, As long as Schultz plays the system and plays with minimal mistakes then he potentially could be more effective than Regher. "Better" was probably a bad choice of words. I agree on the hitting part. I really want to see Schultz surprise everyone and play like he did when he first starting playing with Washington a few years ago. Hard to believe his nickname was "Mr. Nasty" just a few years ago.

Regher has some bad games and is slowing down, As long as Schultz plays the system and plays with minimal mistakes then he potentially could be more effective than Regher. "Better" was probably a bad choice of words. I agree on the hitting part. I really want to see Schultz surprise everyone and play like he did when he first starting playing with Washington a few years ago. Hard to believe his nickname was "Mr. Nasty" just a few years ago.
- dprice818

I honestly think that Regehr has been one of the better defensemen on the Kings this season.

What do you guys think about the McKenzie tweet? Kings are looking at Methot and Sekera.

I honestly think that Regehr has been one of the better defensemen on the Kings this season.
- tkecanuck341

I checked his numbers and as usual you're pretty spot on. His numbers are better than his avg. this year and he is +11 in his last 5 games before he got hurt. Last year I ragged on him a little for being slow and making mistakes on occasion.......honestly I cant say I've noticed mistakes this season. I suppose I am talking out of my ass on this one. I was mostly expressing my confidence and hopes with Schultz. Thats my story and im sticking to it

man mikecoxisml !! you always have a such a positive take. I watched Shultz last night and I thought he played good responsible hockey. I think he could be better than
Regher if he completely buys into the system and learns it.
- dprice818

Positive or negative I give an honest take, admit when I am wrong and agree to disagree when it's called for.

I really think we have better D-men in the pipeline and schultz is just not going to get the job done for us, I just don't see how he is a solid D-man. I will watch again tonight with optimism and a discerning eye, but I have yet to see him do something that makes me think he belongs in the line up right now over anyone else, especially Mcbain

This about sums it up

I checked his numbers and as usual you're pretty spot on. His numbers are better than his avg. this year and he is +11 in his last 5 games before he got hurt. Last year I ragged on him a little for being slow and making mistakes on occasion.......honestly I cant say I've noticed mistakes this season. I suppose I am talking out of my ass on this one. I was mostly expressing my confidence and hopes with Schultz. Thats my story and im sticking to it
- dprice818

No worries. I think a lot of people (myself included) often compare Regehr and Schultz to Mitchell and Scuderi from 2012 and they come up sorely lacking. Even with a fully healthy (and unsuspended) defensive corps, the squad for this season is not as good as the squad from three seasons ago. Thus is the nature of hockey in the Salary Cap era.

That being said, I want to clarify that I don't think Schultz is a bad defenseman. He is a solid 3rd pairing defensive-defenseman. If it wasn't for Greene's long tenure with the team, I might even lobby to keep Schultz over Greene, especially if he sticks with his current cap hit. Schultz had a quality series last postseason against Anaheim, and I don't get as nervous when he's out on the ice like I do when McBain and McNabb are paired together. I'm glad that Lombardi decided to resign him before last season.

No worries. I think a lot of people (myself included) often compare Regehr and Schultz to Mitchell and Scuderi from 2012 and they come up sorely lacking. Even with a fully healthy (and unsuspended) defensive corps, the squad for this season is not as good as the squad from three seasons ago. Thus is the nature of hockey in the Salary Cap era.

That being said, I want to clarify that I don't think Schultz is a bad defenseman. He is a solid 3rd pairing defensive-defenseman. If it wasn't for Greene's long tenure with the team, I might even lobby to keep Schultz over Greene, especially if he sticks with his current cap hit. Schultz had a quality series last postseason against Anaheim, and I don't get as nervous when he's out on the ice like I do when McBain and McNabb are paired together. I'm glad that Lombardi decided to resign him before last season.
- tkecanuck341

I want to see a rejuvenation from him here similar to what we've seen in Gaborik. I just dont get how a guy can be so good then be so bad and not turn it around....especially when dropped into a team that fits his style and is a cup contender. He has been decent but it looks like most fans are not too impressed so far. I'm still watching and hoping.

What a poopty (frank)ing game. This is planet bullpoop in the galaxy of sucks camel Richard

Nice. 3 goals in 68 seconds. Back to the old 'escort service' defense I see. Time for some trades.

Nice. 3 goals in 68 seconds. Back to the old 'escort service' defense I see. Time for some trades.
- Ersberg

I changed the channel after Camelerri's goal. (he must love going to LA, He always gets at least one here) This is the most bi polar team Iv seen........the same poope all season.

I looked at Sekeras and Methots stats......I like their scoring but I havent seen much of them to form an opinion. You might be right......time to stir the pot. Richards for Methot!!

methot will likely be traded

I changed the channel after Camelerri's goal. (he must love going to LA, He always gets at least one here) This is the most bi polar team Iv seen........the same poope all season.

I looked at Sekeras and Methots stats......I like their scoring but I havent seen much of them to form an opinion. You might be right......time to stir the pot. Richards for Methot!!
- dprice818

I think Methot will wind up in LA.

I don't think any moves will be made, nor do I think we will make the call ups as referenced in the quote below, therefore I am thinking that we won't even make the play offs unless the current line up figures some stuff out, but the horses mouth is moving:

Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central @ Noon on Tanner Pearson and leading up to the trade deadline.

“I don’t think his season is done. There’s a chance he could be back down the stretch here. But whether or not, I don’t think the cavalry is coming. Like two years ago, it was Carter. Last year it was Gaborik. The one thing we do have, our Manchester team has been really good this year in terms of the way the players have come on as individuals and then themselves as a team.

“The other problem we have, don’t forget, is when we went through all of this stuff with Voynov – the cap space that we gained really doesn’t help you in terms of filling the hole. All we were after was to be able to field a roster.

“Because the reality, and this is what you asked earlier, that if we go out and say get a $4 million defenseman or whatever, a winger, and Voynov comes back, I’ve got a problem. So that whole thing about thinking getting the space helps me… unless they tell me Voynov is done for the year, or whatever, which I can’t ever get an answer, and I guess you’ve just got to wait the court process to play out, that option probably isn’t that available to us anyway.

“So we’re going to have to figure this out internally and I think that’s the way it should be.”

I don't think any moves will be made, nor do I think we will make the call ups as referenced in the quote below, therefore I am thinking that we won't even make the play offs unless the current line up figures some stuff out, but the horses mouth is moving:

Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central @ Noon on Tanner Pearson and leading up to the trade deadline.

“I don’t think his season is done. There’s a chance he could be back down the stretch here. But whether or not, I don’t think the cavalry is coming. Like two years ago, it was Carter. Last year it was Gaborik. The one thing we do have, our Manchester team has been really good this year in terms of the way the players have come on as individuals and then themselves as a team.

“The other problem we have, don’t forget, is when we went through all of this stuff with Voynov – the cap space that we gained really doesn’t help you in terms of filling the hole. All we were after was to be able to field a roster.

“Because the reality, and this is what you asked earlier, that if we go out and say get a $4 million defenseman or whatever, a winger, and Voynov comes back, I’ve got a problem. So that whole thing about thinking getting the space helps me… unless they tell me Voynov is done for the year, or whatever, which I can’t ever get an answer, and I guess you’ve just got to wait the court process to play out, that option probably isn’t that available to us anyway.

“So we’re going to have to figure this out internally and I think that’s the way it should be.”
- MikeOxbyg

There are others that can go, though. He could move Voynov - or even have a buyer already - if he feels it necessary to clear space. I don't think he plays in LA either way.