Like any season that does not end with the Stanley Cup, there are questions to be answered regarding the LA Kings 2022-23 campaign. Naturally, there are many positive storylines – including the impressive efforts of Adrian Kempe, the gigantic step forward by Gabe Vilardi, a much-improved power play, etc. Conversely, questions still remain regarding the goaltending, a disappointing penalty kill, and the impact of younger players in the lineup.
During his exit interview on Sunday, General Manager Rob Blake confirmed that Todd McClellan is expected back behind the bench next season. Heading into the fifth and final year of his contract, below are comments from the coach himself…
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It’s time to start questioning the coaching. I know Todd McLellan will be back but if we look at what went wrong, it seems to all route back to coaching. No adjustment at all during the Oilers series to their PP. How about maybe shadowing Draisaitl and maybe McD and play 2-on-3? Maybe. And zero development of the younger players, many of which are widely agreed to have real promise. Yet play Byfield no matter what? It is OBVIOUS he’s not ready for the NHL. A little progress is not enough. Even if it’s not a blown second overall (I think it is), leave him to tear up Ontario, if he really can for a year or two and get better there. And the team was inconsistent all year, including in the playoffs. Again, routes back to coaching. And selecting Korpisalo just because of some…some….playoff experience? Just because Copley exceeding all their expectations doesn’t mean he was going to flop in the playoffs. Goalies often aren’t “seen coming”. Maybe usually. But even if it was OK to start with Korpisalo, it was clearly time to switch, no later than Game 5. Coaching. Todd McL got us through a tough rebuild….great job. Really. But it seems he doesn’t finish.
Your math checks out 100%. I’ll add that he and Yawney made zero adjustments to the PK and despite the mantra of “don’t take penalties against the Oilers” but that wasn’t going to happen because to many players on this team don’t move their feet so the get caught with stick infractions. Then as predicted, we watched as zero adjustments were made and the EDM PP ate the Kings alive.
The Todd swallowed his pride and brought in Hiller (which was brilliant) but he and Yawney have been attached at the hip for years so I have zero confidence that he’ll throw Yawney under the bus so next year, minus Gravs AND a 2023 1st, we’re looking at more of the same.
I believe coaching is a major problem. If Darrell Sutter would have had these players, I think we could been very close to winning it all. Physical play is very important, but seems to be of no concern to the Kings team. Stick play has its place but body checking is better because it frees the puck and takes the opposition player out of the play. They can’t have forwards skating by them in their own end. All the best teams are very physical. Just look at teams competing for the cup right now.
Mclellan is a good coach during the season, but during playoffs he just doesn’t adjust. Look at Sharks all the seasons how good they were under him and could never do anything in playoffs.