Digityman Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 From Matthew BarryMike RichardsRemember the days when we had Jason Allison and the second line center was Jozef Stumpel? Richards is exactly what the Kings have been looking for in a 2nd line center for decades and he’s proving to be exactly as advertised. It took a while for him to get used to his new teammates, but short handed goals, power play goals and a +3 defensively Richards will only get better. GRADE: ASimon GagneProbably Lombardi’s best signing yet and benefiting not from playing with his old linemate in Richards but on the top line with Williams and Kopitar and has repeatedly come up with timely goals. GRADE: AJustin WilliamsI’m still not convinced he’s first line material but he’s been working his tail off this season and is making Kopitar and Gagne look really good. Last season at this time Williams had 9 goals and 12 assists and didn't have a consistent left winger, so 3 and 12 is a bit of an underperformance from him. Lets hope he stays healthy. GRADE: B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Sigh. Do you have to post that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Sigh. Do you have to post that? At least they are not in our division or conference. That is the silver lining. I would love to see a LAK - Flyer SC matchup, but I don't think this will be the year (for either team). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I think the Kings will get better as the year goes on. I don't think we're going to finish top 2 or 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I think the Kings will get better as the year goes on. I don't think we're going to finish top 2 or 3.I would agree. But the Kings are not without problems. Dustin Penner has a been a TOTAL bust in LA and is a UFA at the end of this season. I see LAK trying to just salvage what they can (they only have about 600k in cap room, so he could be moved at the deadline or before as he is the 3rd highest paid on the team). Doughty has been average thus far. Jack Johnson has been head scratching as usual (if there was ever a case for a player to have been sent to AHL for development prior to starting NHL career, I think Jack is / was a poster child for that).Goaltending has been good, but Bernier can't be happy about only getting 3 starts out of 20 this season. At one point he was the heir apparent, but Quick has wrestled the job away from him and won't give it back. I can't think it is not healthy to only have Bernier getting 12-15 starts this year.I also think that the Kings really miss an energetic gritty winger (ala Simmonds).So, lots of talent and potential, but certainly not without cracks and problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digityman Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 #2-4 spots for points for the kings- Richards, Gagne, WilliamsRichards and Gagne tied for #1 in plus minusKings are one win behind so far. If not this year then next year you will see them in the SCF with a real chance at the cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Don't look now but Richards has 6 goals in his last 5 games. I think he's starting to fit in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digityman Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 It was a matter of time @flyercanuck. They have a lot of guys his age and of his skill level. Best thing that could have happened to Richards. Carter on the other hand..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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