Who is considered the best two-way Kings player ever?
I don't really know much about Kings history, so posting a new thread is the only logical thing to do . I was wondering, who is considered the best two-way Kings player ever? Is Kopitar (among) the best?
Tonelli
Kasper
Apps
Bourne
Bert Wilson
Widing
Sykes
Taylor
To name a few off of the top of my head.
We have had a few dandies for sure but the player who went after it in every zone as hard as he could every shift that I ever saw in a Kings uni was JT. I would say for the way the game has changed that Kopitar while an amazing player and one of the top 5 centers in Kings history imo while very very good in every zone he is still becoming a great two way player. He is up there for sure but not among the very best just yet.
Came in here to say Kurri as well. Conacher was another one. I thought Smolinski's two-way play was underrated. Recently I would have to say Handzus has to be up there but in terms of overall dominance on offense and defense, nobody comes close to touching Kopitar.
I belive you would have to add Butch Goring to this conversation. I belive he was always mentioned as one of the better two way players back in the 70s
I dunno what you are talking about with Pat Conacher Ziggy. He was pretty bad when he was here...
Can't believe no one has mentioned Mike Donnelly yet. Kudelski was always a minus but he had a knack for shorties if I remember correctly. I was REALLY young when he played here.
Some of the guys being mentioned were good defensive forwards with some offensive skill. Since I have been a fan no one has been as dominant in all three zones and on special teams as Kopi has.
I dunno what you are talking about with Pat Conacher Ziggy. He was pretty bad when he was here...
Can't believe no one has mentioned Mike Donnelly yet. Kudelski was always a minus but he had a knack for shorties if I remember correctly. I was REALLY young when he played here.
Conacher, terrible? Wow. He was LA's go to player in defensive zone draws and actually made a contribution as a fourth line center on a line with Dave Taylor and Warren Rychel. 10 points in 24 games from your fourth line checking center, he was the only defensive minded center the Kings had (not including Kurri, who was converted to C and would continue to play C as Barry Melrose limited the ice time of Jimmy Carson and Corey Millen).
Syl Apps was significantly better in his own zone then Kurri (who was great too, can't believe I forgot him) and was such a great O threat at the same time. Phyl Sykes was a special caliber of two way player too in that he was all heart but played a really smart game. His positional play was what made him so valuable and even Fox said that he (Sykes) was among his favorite Kings.
Struggling to see what you saw in Conacher Ziggy but I guess I will have to take your word because I remember Pat as being along the same lines as Armstrong when he was here.
Some of the guys being mentioned were good defensive forwards with some offensive skill. Since I have been a fan no one has been as dominant in all three zones and on special teams as Kopi has.
I couldn't agree more. And that is when he's only 24 years old.
I guess I remember Conacher more fondly than others, but he left more of a lasting impression to me than Armstrong did. Not to knock on Armstrong, but Conacher was LA's go-to-center on their top checking line. In the dying moments of a game, Melrose would send Gretzky or Kurri on the ice with Conacher and Taylor.
Barry Melrose called Conacher the hardest working player on his team (I guess in that sense you can draw a comparison to Derek Armstrong). I know Conacher didn't put up Armstrong like numbers, but I really thought his line was one of the only ones on the Kings that could check and occasionally provide some production (they were a terrific line along the boards).
Although the OP asked for the best two-way player, which Conacher is far from. Kopitar is head and shoulders above everyone else in Kings history in that category, followed by Jari Kurri.
I don't know how many will agree but Ziggy Palffy would have to be up there for me. Was always a point per game player despite playing with some real garbage for long stretches and was always very responsible in his own end.
My problem with listing Goring is that during the 7 seasons I watched him play ( missed his first few seasons) he wasn't all that great in his own end. He was -20 a couple of times and minus 21 the season before he was dealt. Now I know that there were mitigating factors but RBG seemed to only be focusing on O the 3 seasons prior to his being dealt.
For about 3 years I would agree that RBG was an exceptional two way player but the rest of the time not so much. He really found his game again in NY.
I don't know how many will agree but Ziggy Palffy would have to be up there for me. Was always a point per game player despite playing with some real garbage for long stretches and was always very responsible in his own end.
I agree - was expecting more Palffy in this thread. Tons of takeaways.
I guess I remember Conacher more fondly than others, but he left more of a lasting impression to me than Armstrong did. Not to knock on Armstrong, but Conacher was LA's go-to-center on their top checking line. In the dying moments of a game, Melrose would send Gretzky or Kurri on the ice with Conacher and Taylor.
Barry Melrose called Conacher the hardest working player on his team (I guess in that sense you can draw a comparison to Derek Armstrong). I know Conacher didn't put up Armstrong like numbers, but I really thought his line was one of the only ones on the Kings that could check and occasionally provide some production (they were a terrific line along the boards).
Although the OP asked for the best two-way player, which Conacher is far from. Kopitar is head and shoulders above everyone else in Kings history in that category, followed by Jari Kurri.
Conachar was a great checking-line forward, I agree Ziggy. That said, as you pointed out, that's different than a two-way player, hence why to me, and seemingly most people, Conachar isn't part of this discussion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KINGS17
My tops would have to be:
Goring
Taylor
Kurri
then Kopitar, who is gaining on them.
I'll leave Goring to our older fans, as I didn't see him play as a King and barely remember him as an Islander either. As for the other, I agree. Taylor was to the Triple Crown line what Kurri was to any line he and gretzky were on. Kurri was a great offensive player, but he was very defensively responsible as well. That part of his game was always way underrated because he was to busy putting up gaudy goal totals with Wayne.
Just due to longevity, my vote would go to Dave Taylor. In the future though, it wouldn't surprise me to see Mike Richards or Anze Kopitar taking that crown though.
. I was wondering, who is considered the best two-way Kings player ever? Is Kopitar (among) the best? 
