Ben Shelley: Setting expectations for Phillip Danault’s first season with the Kings

Denaults power play time disappeared last year. He would be used for his face-offs and told to leave the ice almost immediately. If he plays the same role he's a 40 point defensive centre, if given pp time he'll score 50+.

4 goals - 17 assists. Enjoy

I sat down across from Blake. I ordered a whiskey. He ordered a water with lemon. He said to me...

Do we need another defensive center?

I sipped my whiskey.

The Kings simply have to much high end offensive talent. Blake said to me -- "I'm afraid we are becoming to fancy -- to flashy."

We can't just be a goal scoring machine, he said. We only have 19 responsible two way forwards. It's just not enough -- that's what he said.

I said. How about goal scoring? He sipped his water -- I sipped my whiskey.

He looked me dead in the eye... and said, "What's a goal scorer?"

I nodded. Sipped my whiskey.

I sat down across from Blake. I ordered a whiskey. He ordered a water with lemon. He said to me...

Do we need another defensive center?

I sipped my whiskey.

The Kings simply have to much high end offensive talent. Blake said to me -- "I'm afraid we are becoming to fancy -- to flashy."

We can't just be a goal scoring machine, he said. We only have 19 responsible two way forwards. It's just not enough -- that's what he said.

I said. How about goal scoring? He sipped his water -- I sipped my whiskey.

He looked me dead in the eye... and said, "What's a goal scorer?"

I nodded. Sipped my whiskey.
- Cabbages and Kings

"Yeah, but it will free Kopitar up from handling a lot of defensive draws and hard minutes," Blake said, as he audibly crunched on his ice. "Plus, curious where you think this goal scorer was going to come from. Unless you sincerely wanted us to pursue Tarasenko," he smirked.

Ben Shelley: Setting expectations for Phillip Danault’s first season with the Kings
- Ben-Shelley.

Who do you project his wingers will be?

This is more about getting Kopitar off the PK so he can focus more on the offensive side of things.l