Jason Lewis: Jonathan Quick Needs to Bounceback

I can't put any of this on Quick, not even an ounce of it. how about a "Mike Richards throwing it in reverse" blog? or something we can point to as an actual reason for sucking?

I can't put any of this on Quick, not even an ounce of it. how about a "Mike Richards throwing it in reverse" blog? or something we can point to as an actual reason for sucking?
- MikeOxbyg

It's not about Quick being THE REASON the Kings aren't doing well. It's about needing one of your best players to step forward and steal a game.

He isn't the reason they are losing, and I wouldn't put much of it on he or Jones. However, they need someone to come up big right now and he's probably the prime candidate.

Again, look at what Varlamov has been capable of doing for Colorado.

It's not about Quick being THE REASON the Kings aren't doing well. It's about needing one of your best players to step forward and steal a game.

He isn't the reason they are losing, and I wouldn't put much of it on he or Jones. However, they need someone to come up big right now and he's probably the prime candidate.

Again, look at what Varlamov has been capable of doing for Colorado.
- Jason_Lewis

Gotta reduce the high percentage scoring chances - there seems to be a lot

It's really hard to figure this team out this year. So frustrating watching them play against New Jersey, the pattern keeps repeating itself over and over. If I had to trade one player now it would be Richards, hands down. I think those '5 concussions' (as he put it) have taken their toll on a really good player. Maybe he can turn it around somewhere else, but he's done with the Kings ,IMO. I give DL credit for giving him a chance to prove himself at least, but the Kings need to move on.

It's not about Quick being THE REASON the Kings aren't doing well. It's about needing one of your best players to step forward and steal a game.

He isn't the reason they are losing, and I wouldn't put much of it on he or Jones. However, they need someone to come up big right now and he's probably the prime candidate.

Again, look at what Varlamov has been capable of doing for Colorado.
- Jason_Lewis

I will give you that, he hasn't stolen games, but he has made some brilliant saves within an a myriad of break downs and being hung out to dry.

It's really hard to figure this team out this year. So frustrating watching them play against New Jersey, the pattern keeps repeating itself over and over. If I had to trade one player now it would be Richards, hands down. I think those '5 concussions' (as he put it) have taken their toll on a really good player. Maybe he can turn it around somewhere else, but he's done with the Kings ,IMO. I give DL credit for giving him a chance to prove himself at least, but the Kings need to move on.
- Gretz2Kurri

^This, this and this^ addition by subtraction He needs to go.

Gotta reduce the high percentage scoring chances - there seems to be a lot
- Lucas Neilson

No question. The last post I did before this was eye opening to just how vulnerable the Kings have been in the slot this year.

And it's not just them allowing teams to shoot from there, teams are scoring from there at a much higher rate as well.

No question. The last post I did before this was eye opening to just how vulnerable the Kings have been in the slot this year.

And it's not just them allowing teams to shoot from there, teams are scoring from there at a much higher rate as well.
- Jason_Lewis

The non 10-10:30 start games i usually will get to watch some of the game(s) - and ive noticed that too...not just 1 chance in the slot, but a couple which makes it just that much harder to shut the door.

I feel Quick will get back to his A game and Kings will step it up a notch down the final stretch here.. good read as per usual, cheers Jason

Look we know that without Mitchell & Voynov as a top 4 pair on D, the Kings are struggling period. Its a fact. The band-aid effort by DL & DS has had some flashes to work on some nights with these fill-in players of (McBain,Schultz,McNabb).

Regher is aging, hes to slow, though tough in the corners but injured consistently. Greene to me is identical to Regher but he is never injured. With those two clowns on D and the previous three I mentioned trying to help out, its really making the forwards have to pull extra duty to help them. Doughty, Amart & Muzzin are the best we have and that's only 3 top D. Band-aid D was bound to fail, and it has.

Now DL & DS must do something and make a splash trade and spark this team again. Do not blame Quick or Jones. I think that when the D plays well our goalies are always top notch. Richards needs to go sadly. Kings have cap issues. Its going to be tough for DL unless a significant amount of salary moves out. GKG

IMO there are a few things that this team is doing very poorly when compared to the last few seasons: 1) is the forwards back checking and 2) the D play around our net. I've seen several forwards (Richards more often the others) just floating back and trying to reach with the stick when the opposition has beaten them back into our zone. Around our net, our D has been getting outmuscled too often (Muzzin by Reider in the last game:DISGRACE). Also, I know it's been talked about, but the Kings have been on the wrong side of a lot of flukey deflections and bad luck goals lately. This will even out over the season and when it starts to swing in our favor, you'll see other teams crying about how the league gifts the Kings this or that... One thing, and I've mentioned it before, that I'd like to see more of are the cross ice one-time set up passes on the PP. More of the down low passes, too. I know plenty of them will be blocked, but for Pete's sake they need to be at least tride every now and then. It's gotten stale and understood that if the other teams sticks are in lanes, the puck is going to be moved around the perimeter and eventually sent up top where it's always iffy that our Dmen can't keep in anything unless it's passed to them on the tape.
Kings are playing with little confidence right now. Bottom line is that there is still plenty of games to be played and WON! GKG!

I posted this on the last blog, but it is relevant to this discussion so I will leave it here too...

DL is not going to do anything at all :

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 posted this on the last blog, but it is relevant to this discussion so I will leave it here too...

DL is not going to do anything at all :

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

“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

I thought the trial isn't going to get underway until March? Does DL mean that if he is released from suspension and reinstated? Because even if that happened, he wouldn't be able to take his roster spot at the end of the season, having not played since who knows when...

I thought the trial isn't going to get underway until March? Does DL mean that if he is released from suspension and reinstated? Because even if that happened, he wouldn't be able to take his roster spot at the end of the season, having not played since who knows when...
- Stu17

No he is saying that if they make a move that consumes the relief, and then Voynov gets reinstated, then his money goes back on the books and they will be over the salary cap, by a lot.

I posted this on the last blog, but it is relevant to this discussion so I will leave it here too...

DL is not going to do anything at all :

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

with this you gotta believe Mike Richards isn't going to get moved. Who is going to take him? If he does get moved, the Kings would most likely, have to retain some salary liability. When does his contract expire?......

I thought the trial isn't going to get underway until March? Does DL mean that if he is released from suspension and reinstated? Because even if that happened, he wouldn't be able to take his roster spot at the end of the season, having not played since who knows when...
- Stu17

Right, but why is it so hard to understand he is DONE for the year...he isnt coming back this year.

Right, but why is it so hard to understand he is DONE for the year...he isnt coming back this year.
- Stu17

I just realized you replied to and quoted yourself


It's a given that even in the best of circumstances and everything turns out well for voynov he will not be able to jump in and play. But the minute the court case goes away in the sense that he is found not guilty, then his salary gets reinstated even if he does not play. If he is guilty the kings wash their hands under the "Conduct unbecoming" clause and the contract goes away (I think) sounds like I know what I am talking about but don't count on it.... I probably don't

This team has no leadership. When the guys get down, it just looks like they're going to stay down. Sure, they've had comebacks in them this season, but the fact that they've given up three goals in a matter of minutes in what, three games during this home stand, that shows they lack leadership.

They're also playing selfishly. Dwight King had a two on one with Gaborik against New Jersey. What does King do? Blows his opportunity and I don't even think he recorded a SOG. What makes teams like the Seahawks (sorry if football isn't your Forte ) so good is they play for each other. The Kings aren't doing this. Hence why we have lost to teams like New Jersey or Edmonton.

There are a lot of times where Quick is out of position on goals against, but that's the price you pay when your goalie is aggressive. He also makes a lot of saves for that reason. The defense deserves a lot of credit (or lack thereof) for many of the goals against. Being unable to win battles in the corners, being beaten to loose pucks, being unable to clear the zone (I'm looking at you GREENE), that leads to a lot of shots and in turn, goals.

Nobody will take Richards' contract. I doubt anyone will take Brown's contract (at least nobody will in NHL 15). This is the team we are stuck with the rest of the way. If they turn it on, I think they can compete with anyone. But it just seems like the effort isn't there. I, for one, would not be shocked if we end up missing the playoffs.

I just realized you replied to and quoted yourself


It's a given that even in the best of circumstances and everything turns out well for voynov he will not be able to jump in and play. But the minute the court case goes away in the sense that he is found not guilty, then his salary gets reinstated even if he does not play. If he is guilty the kings wash their hands under the "Conduct unbecoming" clause and the contract goes away (I think) sounds like I know what I am talking about but don't count on it.... I probably don't
- MikeOxbyg

with this you gotta believe Mike Richards isn't going to get moved. Who is going to take him? If he does get moved, the Kings would most likely, have to retain some salary liability. When does his contract expire?......
- dprice818

If Shore is ready, DL should bite the hand off a GM offering anything of value for Richards...and value means taking the contract with as little salary retention as possible. I wonder, though, if in DL's mind that trading Richards concedes that the team isn't equipped for another Cup run?

Shore looked good in his debut. They need to keep him up. Kid has a good hockey sence and does well on the back check. Also was constantly in the dirty areas and held his own in front of the net.

If Shore is ready, DL should bite the hand off a GM offering anything of value for Richards...and value means taking the contract with as little salary retention as possible. I wonder, though, if in DL's mind that trading Richards concedes that the team isn't equipped for another Cup run?
- Only_A_Ladd

For DL the Richards trade in as a success. He had a lot t do with winning two cups with the Kings. DL game him a shot this year to get together and he has proved that he isn't the player he once was. If something good comes along I think he would be traded.