Enjoy a free replay of this weekend’s Hot Stove on NHL Network Radio, where John Hoven joined hosts Dennis Bernstein, Dave Pagnotta, and Ryan Paton to offer an abundance of thoughts regarding everything LA Kings related. Among the topics discussed were: Jim Hiller, PL Dubois, Alex Turcotte, Matt Roy, Brandt Clarke, Cam Talbot, David Rittich, and a few potential trade scenarios.
This radio segment can be heard using the player below or download any of our audio files for free on the MayorsManor iTunes page located here.
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Great game with the Hiller Killer vibes!
Kings need to be a meritocracy.
Byfield showed he is ready to center a line.
Kopitar was bad and posters think he has the flu., sucking air on the bench.
Turcotte got benched
Spence was semi invisible.
Fiala Byfield Kempe
Arv – Danault – Moore
PLD – Kopitar – Kaliyev
Grundstrom – JAD – Lewis
MA – DD
Gav – Roy
Englund – Clarke
Rittich! unti he loses or B2b.
Turcotte didn’t get much TOI because the Kings were too busy trying to kill penalties in the late 2nd and throughout the 3rd. Remember, for all the positives he had in Nashville, he’s still 4C on this team, so his ice time took a hit accordingly. Grundstrom also didn’t play much in the 3rd, same with JAD as Hiller moved Lewis up to play with PLD and Laferriere down the stretch.
Might have been part of it but it was being used as a smokescreen for something deeper. Maybe his too many men, and or his play.
The coach shortened the bench for sure and that’s a trust issue with those players, any way you slice it.
They can say what they want but the Kings made a bad decision keeping Kopitar at the end of last season. Theres a time to move on like Farve, Rodgers, Brady all moved on. LA could have traded Kopitar for a premier goalie instead of giving him a two year 7 million contract for an average hockey player at best. What does Blake do trades 5 starters with scoring ability and now Winnipeg has taken off. Good job Blake.
For context, Kopitar has a contract with a $10M AAV and a no move clause. The likelihood of trading him was extremely low. That’s not really how the NHL works.
As for the Winnipeg trade, LA sent three players and a draft pick to the Jets. Only Vilardi and Iafallo would be considered ones with ‘scoring ability.’
We do NOT trade our Captain and a man that brought us TWO cups. HELL NO. You cannot even buy or trade for the hockey sense and leadership that Kopi has.
PLAY Kopi less minutes, on nites when he does not look to shoot, keep him off the pp, 3rd period use sparingly
Kopitar isn’t the problem so why dump on him to be moved.? He is the leader every game win lose or bad plays it’s Hockey LA Kings Hockey and We need more allegiance not bogus blame all.Go Kings Go playoffs we are coming .Period.