I don't really have to get into this, do I? For the past three seasons the Kings were hyped up to be WCF locks, last season with the Richards trade and the BRichards pitch Kings fans were clamoring that the West was theirs. Buffalo fans were saying the same about the East.
Both of them failed in so many ways, it's almost cruel to laugh at it. It's 75% Lombardi's fault though the fans are just going by what, admittedly, looks fine on paper. But maybe Kopitar, Brown and Doughty were all really really overhyped?
While 1 goal in 31 games is pretty terrible, luckily, Richards brings a lot more to the table than goal scoring.
Yeah, true, he does, but I don't think that's enough. I don't think anyone expects him to have less than 20 goals, 50 points, at the end of the season. It's not over yet, so he still got time to fix things, but him improving would go a long way helping L.A. to a playoff spot.
I don't really have to get into this, do I? For the past three seasons the Kings were hyped up to be WCF locks, last season with the Richards trade and the BRichards pitch Kings fans were clamoring that the West was theirs. Buffalo fans were saying the same about the East.
Both of them failed in so many ways, it's almost cruel to laugh at it. It's 75% Lombardi's fault though the fans are just going by what, admittedly, looks fine on paper. But maybe Kopitar, Brown and Doughty were all really really overhyped?
I think you are reaching.
Those awful Kings fans were excited by their team? Jerks.
He seems to have lost his swagger since being exiled from Philly. However, he had been noticeably declining in his last 2 seasons with us, and not playing the same sort of game he had been. Except for his great playoffs in 2010, he hadnt been that player since 08-09 when he scored 80.
I really think it is his unwillingness to direct all his focus on hockey. He used to be a creative playmaker who would give you 110% effort on the ice every night. A PP and a PK dynamo, with the ability to make plays out of nothing, a very deceptive shot and a killer mentality. I think he can get back to that level, he's a great player and he's shown that. He just needs to find that same passion for the game he had in his first 4 seasons with the flyers.
I'm just curious what Richards did in Philly to make him so loved before.... other than 'the shift'.
In LA, he stands up for team mates, seems like a good locker room guy and is excellent on the PK... but that's really about it.
I can see why people called him a warrior, but in addition to that I was expecting a player who would be able to create offense. So far I haven't seen much of that if at all.
Richards was the man during his time in Philly. He had the heart and soul, he had the toughness and skill, and pure determination. If the game wasn't going the way that he wanted to, he could change it by himself. You could tell he was passionate about the game after fighting Ovechkin in the pre-season.
I didn't realize that he was doing "poorly" this year. It might be the players he's playing with? I don't know who his linemates are. I remember reading the recap on NHL.com from the Kings/Blue Jackets game that Richie and Carter haven't found their chemistry they had in Philly. Which is odd, seeing as how they almost never played together.
All in all, he's the whole package. Hopefully, he can turn it around next year, cause I know that Richards has it him still. He just has to want it.
I'd say Carter and Richards are very safe bets to take. Carter was on a good pace this season despite being injured and playing with a less talented team around him.
The strange thing is, Simmonds would have been an excellent winger for Richards. Compare that to Penner who hasn't been very good.
Everyone was calling Philly crazy last summer. Now they're just as good as before, even after losing Pronger for the year, while Columbus and LA are extremely dissapointing..
This board was KINGS VS SABRES - FINALS MATCH UP! all Summer long. Kind of sad, really.
Kings fans =/= this board.
I think you can look back and find a large variety of Kings fans who were excited for the season, given that the team did look very good on paper, but very few who thought the Kings were the cream of the crop.
Saying that we've been full of ourselves is borderline trolling, and I would like to meet anyone who could honestly say they knew the Kings would be so poor offensively.
And while Richards' lack of production is frustrating, it's not alarming, due to the fact that pretty much the entire team is struggling offensively.
I'd say Carter and Richards are very safe bets to take. Carter was on a good pace this season despite being injured and playing with a less talented team around him.
The strange thing is, Simmonds would have been an excellent winger for Richards. Compare that to Penner who hasn't been very good.
carter scored 1/3 of his goals in 2 games
both of them have scored in bunched for like 10 games, then done **** all the rest of the season
Nobody on this team is doing ****. Terry Murray stifled every last ounce of offense this team ever had. It's time for a rebuild here in LA if the Kings miss the playoffs. Ship every motherfu**er out.
He just doesnt have the fire, and nobody knows if its the team, or its his head after the concussion. I think its both. I also think that hes just been jaded from the whole trade experience. He was brought up in Philly, did extremely well there and was a huge part of the team and city and he was basically in paradise and then he gets blindsided by the trade.
He had 62 and 66 points in the last two seasons, seems to be living off that PPG season in terms of offensive reputation. He's picked up more on the other stuff but point production has gone down.
It's gone down for Brown and Kopitar as well while Stoll is MIA.
Btw, Brayden Schenn in the last 14 games or whatever also has more pts than Richards I think while getting less TOI.
He just doesnt have the fire, and nobody knows if its the team, or its his head after the concussion. I think its both. I also think that hes just been jaded from the whole trade experience. He was brought up in Philly, did extremely well there and was a huge part of the team and city and he was basically in paradise and then he gets blindsided by the trade.
The fact that you think this is correct shows that fans of teams other than the Flyers were NOT paying attention to Richards last 1.5-2 years in Philly. He didn't have the fire then either. People talk about "the shift." It was one shift and it took most Flyers fans by surprise that he decided to turn it on again for some playoff games after dogging it during the regular season. That's why he was traded. He thought he became a star offensive player and he started playing like it, meanwhile the fire is what got him to his PPG season and put a C on his chest.
It's not the trade, it's not LA, it's not the concussion. It's a player who is too entitled and has no perspective on the course of his career.
Matt Moulson 28-28-56
Teddy Purcell 19-34-53
Wayne Simmonds 22-18-40
This is extremely noteworthy. LA couldn't score to save their lives, and then you see these guys scoring like crazy in a new environment.
Purcell & 3rd for Jeff Halpern. Halpern had 2 assists in 16 games with LA before he was lost to FA.
Moulson lost to FA.
Simmonds, Schenn, 2nd for Richards. This one is a bit early but you'd imagine Schenn and the 2nd would more than make up for the edge Richards has over Simmonds.
I'm thinking LA should switch coaching philosophy and implement a more offensive system. Kopitar, Richards, Doughty and Carter is a personnel far too good to play in a defensive system.
I'm just curious what Richards did in Philly to make him so loved before.... other than 'the shift'.
In LA, he stands up for team mates, seems like a good locker room guy and is excellent on the PK... but that's really about it.
I can see why people called him a warrior, but in addition to that I was expecting a player who would be able to create offense. So far I haven't seen much of that if at all.
Richards was never the most gifted offensive player. He created most of his points my working extremely hard every single shift.
I always thought of him as a 25/35/60 guy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ELab2
It was one shift and it took most Flyers fans by surprise that he decided to turn it on again for some playoff games after dogging it during the regular season.
and mike was wearing it in the 1st pic...
