LA Hockey Underground

  I know the Kings are going to loose some more games, probably lots more.  However, I love watching players grow and develop.  Something positive  is happening inside this organization to foster this.  For years Kings fans have been a bit frustrated by Adrian Kempe.  He never quite seemed to live up to the potential that he seemed to have. Part of the problem was that we wanted him to be something that he wasn’t. That, and he had some growing to do, i.e. getting away from bad habits learned in euro hockey that don’t translate well to the NHL.   He’s grown.  The Kings organization has helped bring him along and he is learning some discipline.  It helps that, finally realizing he isn’t the quarterback type, the team moved him from center to wing. The results have quite positive.  Kempe isn’t a true sniper, but he can skate and finish when given the opportunity.  On the wing, he has been freed up to stop overthinking the game and just...

The old guys aren't quite ready to hang them up yet.  Over the last couple of years, most Kings fans have wondered how much time Kopitar and Brown had left.  At times, it has seemed as if the end was just around the corner.  After all, they have been grinding away, leading this team for quite some time now.  Yet, they keep surprising us. Kopitar has never had the type of game that the media loves (Yes that means the NHL network...er the Maple Leaf network).  However, he has the kind of game that coaches salivate over, and opponents sweat buckets over.  Instead of going quitely into his good night, he is taunting old age and his doubters that barely even acknowledge that hockey exists this far to the South West.  Regardless, Kopi has decided to keep dishing out goals, and scoring a few himself.   Brown seems to be an enigma.  At times, he has looked sloppy on the puck, and really slow, which is one of the reasons he got moved down to the ...

Photo Credit Larry Brunt (@larry.brunt) It is nice to have so much to write about finally.  When things are bad, it gets old bringing up the same depressing realities.  The Kings are far from the best team in the league, but, now, they are playing good hockey, and watching the talented young players develop is exciting.  The future looks bright.  One of the best parts of this team, is the level of play of our bottom six group of forwards.  In fact, we don't even really have a bottom six anymore, it's more like a bottom three, and they aren't a weakness.  Our third line (if one can call them that) Grundstrom, Moore, and Anderson-Dolan, appear ready to take the NHL by storm.   Moore is a local boy that has speed, and some Iaffaloesque qualities.  Moore brings speed, energy, and positioning much like Iaffalo.  He seems to find his way into passing lanes and is generally disruptive. (Maybe together they should be known as Professor Chaos and...

 It's clearly obvious that this team can play some hockey, however (you knew it was coming) the consistency just isn't there.  In addition, I'm a bit baffled at this team's inability to dispossess other teams.  A little improvement in some areas, and this team could set the stage for years to come. I suppose that at this point, you could call me a nag.  How many times does someone have to repeat something before that happens?  Whatever your answer, I have surpassed that number.  I don't even want to talk about the horrifically abysmal passing anymore.  It's silly, and stupid, and catastrophic.  This has to be the first issue addressed.  Thankfully, it seems to be a periodic issue, mostly appearing early in games, and isn't ubiquitous.  It does, however, make life really hard on Quick and Cal (Petersen). Is Satan, not Miroslav, allergic to down?  Do you think Hillary would know his size?  Either way, someone needs to get the lor...