They said Shay was on emergency call-up status, so I don't expect him to be up for very long.
I think Zeiler will be with this team for the rest of this year, and possibly at the start of next season. He's like a less talented Avery without the stupid ****.
Although he probably deserves staying with the Kings, I believe they should send him(and O'Sullivan) back to Manchester for the stretch run and then the playoffs. It would be a valuable experience for a young player, esspecially for Zeiler since he projects to be a grinder and playoffs are awesome for developing character. Matter of fact O'Sullivan could use some of that as well.
I fully agree that Brown and Kopitar have to be split up. When Kopitar is out there Brown simply lets him do his thing, and becomes a spectator. But as seen last night Brown has the potential to take over a game (see the 3rd goal). He has the size and savvy to control the puck, and displayed much better vision then i had ever given him credit for last night. Keep in mind that was one game though, and he needs to start putting it together consistantly.
Frolov - Armstrong - Cammalleri
O'Sullivan - Kopitar - TK
Willsie - Lundmark - Brown
Zeiler - Thornton - Ivanans
PP1 Frolov - Cammalleri - Brown
PP2 Kopitar - Armstrong - O'Sullivan
Then just pretty much let the top 3 lines roll and see what the kids can do. TK, Ivanans, Willsie all are interchangable so don't read into that.
Some excellent discussion here. What was not mentioned was that O'Sullivan got to play an entire game at center... I like that every bit as much as I liked Brown's play without Kopitar.
When Kopitar comes back, put him with Frolov and Cammy and Army with Brown and O'Sully. Brown can carry the puck in, Army can grind it out in the corners and down low, and O'Sully can look for the shot like Cammy does. I think that would balnce out the top 2 lines better.
See, I disagree. I want O'Sullivan in the middle. I think he looked more comfortable than he has on the wing, and honestly, until he proves he can't be defensively responsible as an offensive center, I'd let him run with it.
See, I disagree. I want O'Sullivan in the middle. I think he looked more comfortable than he has on the wing, and honestly, until he proves he can't be defensively responsible as an offensive center, I'd let him run with it.
I did notice that O'Sully was playing center, and although he looked alot more comfortable, his defensive play was a little bit of a concern for me. As a center he had to engage in board battles in his own end and lost several of them allowing a Ducks player to step out of the corner on him. A couple of times seemed to lack the desire to get his nose dirty and dig out the puck in his own end. Nothing horribly obvious, but he will have to improve that in order to stick in the middle, IMO.
I did notice that O'Sully was playing center, and although he looked alot more comfortable, his defensive play was a little bit of a concern for me. As a center he had to engage in board battles in his own end and lost several of them allowing a Ducks player to step out of the corner on him. A couple of times seemed to lack the desire to get his nose dirty and dig out the puck in his own end. Nothing horribly obvious, but he will have to improve that in order to stick in the middle, IMO.
While I don't disagree, I think it's a matter of being given the opportunity. The guy hasn't failed at ANY level of hockey he has played in, and he's made adjustments to his game along the way. He's had 25 games or so of playing wing... let's see him play center... at this point in this particular season, what's the worst that could happen?
Although he probably deserves staying with the Kings, I believe they should send him(and O'Sullivan) back to Manchester for the stretch run and then the playoffs. It would be a valuable experience for a young player, esspecially for Zeiler since he projects to be a grinder and playoffs are awesome for developing character. Matter of fact O'Sullivan could use some of that as well.
I thought that was assumed. At this point, nothing could be bad with line matchups. Hell, I'd throw Zeiler out there with Kopi and Lundmark just to see what sticks. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of that sort of thing down the stretch. Rest assured, there will be some interesting line combos for the rest of the year.
You won't see O'Sullivan back in Manchester until the final game of the Kings' season has been played. Probably Zeiler as well, now that they've come out and said that McCauley is toast for the season. *(shed tear here.)
I too liked O'Sullivan playing center. And when he's playing with Ivanans and Brown they all play to their strengths. Brown controls the puck, Ivanans creates room, and O'Sullivan finishes.
I think that last night provided some valuable insight into Brown. As has been mentioned by a few posters, already, he seems to play his best hockey when he's not deferring to better players (like Kopitar). This, I believe, goes with what I and a few others have been suggesting for quite a while: that Brown may be best-suited as a 3rd-liner. If last night is any indication, he may well play his most effective brand of hockey when he has the responsibility of being the most dangerous player on his line. This may motivate him to step up, rather than step back.
I can relate a little. If I'm in a group and someone wants to take charge and be leader, I won't get in the way; I'll defer to that person. If, on the other hand, no one wants to take charge, I'll step up and take that role. It depends on the makeup of the others. This could be similar to what Brown is like. Using him most effectively may come down to using him on the 3rd line with players who aren't considered better players than him. This may be when you get the most out of him.
Ivanans is not the answer, but I agree with the idea of Brown being separated from Kopitar and moved to the 3rd line. Next year, playing Brown with McCauley on the 3rd line could make for a start of a really good 3rd line, IMO.
I'll preface my post by saying this was only one game. But O'Sullivan AND Brown both looked a heckuva alot better, especially Brown. As many have mentioned, its time to give Brown some more responsibility, if this is how he's gonna respond. Let him be the anchor on a line. He's too much of a spectator when playing with Kopi.
I think that last night provided some valuable insight into Brown. As has been mentioned by a few posters, already, he seems to play his best hockey when he's not deferring to better players (like Kopitar). This, I believe, goes with what I and an few others have been suggesting for quite a while: that Brown may be best-suited as a 3rd-liner. If last night is any indication, he may well play his most effective brand of hockey when he has the responsibility of being the most dangerous player on his line. This may motivate him to step up, rather than step back.
I can relate a little. If I'm in a group and someone wants to take charge and be leader, I won't get in the way; I'll defer to that person. If, on the other hand, no one wants to take charge, I'll step up and take that role. It depends on the makeup of the others. This could be similar to what Brown is like. Using him most effectively may come down to using him on the 3rd line with players who aren't considered better players than him. This may be when you get the most out of him.
Ivanans is not the answer, but I agree with the idea of Brown being separated from Kopitar and moved to the 3rd line. Next year, playing Brown with McCauley on the 3rd line could make for a start of a really good 3rd line, IMO.
For once your making sense. Give him his own line and I can see him becoming a poor man's Brian Rolston.
Just remember before you start putting Brown on a line with a couple of less assertive guys that Anze has the space to skate and maneuver in no small part because #23 spends half of his night knocking guys into next Tuesday for him.
If all we're looking for is someone like that on Kopitar's line then we could always just move Zeiler or Kostopoulos there.
Well, the Times is reporting that Kopitar is unlikely for today's game against Nashville, so we get to see Brown and O'Sullivan in this Anze-less setting one more time.
Best that I've seen this year. Interesting that he stepped up his game in a more puck-control/passing/setup role. Not to mess with success, but if he could continue to perform in that type of role I think it'd be interesting to put him at RW on the first line and let Cammalleri center it with Frolov on the left. Nothing against Armstrong, just a curious experiment since we aren't making the playoffs this year.
Mistake... Brown might play well at LW w/ Camms at RW... especially on the PP. switching cammalleri to Centre woud be a mistake...because that maneuver would leave you without a #1 line RW or anything close to it along the pipeline. Think pieces to a team. pieces = star/sniper rw, franchise center, etc... Cammalleri fits the 1st RW slot well enough. I would not play Brown next to Kopitar.
Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri (1st), Brown-Armstrong-Lundmark (2nd), ....
It is best to split them up, so that Dustin has to step up his game. If he doesn't step up, we could make him a defenseman, since all they talk about is him leading the team in hits.
It is best to split them up, so that Dustin has to step up his game. If he doesn't step up, we could make him a defenseman, since all they talk about is him leading the team in hits.
I hope I am way too tired to see the sarcasm in this. All of Brown's hits are on the forecheck and finishing his man in the neutral zone. His skating is not the greatest and he lacks the composure to play on the blueline. It would be turnover city if he was the last man back trying to make a lead pass or at the point in the offensive zone with a forward barreling down at him. Not to mention the fact that I've never even seen Brown take a shot from the point, although he does have a good enough wrist shot. No, I do not see Brown ever moving back to the point.
