The End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)
Yes, Anze Kopitar broke his ankle. Yes, he will likely be out at least until the end of the second round and probably longer. Yes, that leaves the Kings with what amounts to three third line centers and no first or second line center. Yes, Andrei Loktionov -- the organization's best center not currently on the Kings -- is out for the season with a dislocated shoulder. Yes, Brayden Schenn, the organization's second best center prospect (long-term: the best) -- is ineligible for recall until Saskatoon is eliminated from the WHL/CHL playoffs, which is not likely to happen any time soon.
You were waiting for a "but"? Okay, I'll try to come up with one.
Didn't I hear that the Kings are insanely deep at center? What's up with that? We must be able to drill down into the prospect pool and come up with someone...
Here is the Kings depth chart at center:
- Kopitar
- Jarret Stoll
- Michal Handzus
- Trevor Lewis
- Brad Richardson
- Loktionov - injured (out for season)
- Oscar Moller - natural center, converted to RW; currently doing his Justin Williams impression
- Schenn - ineligible until Saskatoon's season ends (probably some time in May at the earliest)
- Jordan Weal - just completed his junior season and has played two games in Manchester
- Corey Elkins - a big body, fourth line option
- Garrett Roe - just finished his senior year of college; unsigned Kings draft pick.
- Justin Azevedo - he, Weal and Roe are the three tiny speedy centers on the reserve list.
- Nic Dowd - unsigned draft pick; just finished his freshman year of college.
- Robert Czarnik - ineligible until Plymouth is eliminated from the OHL/CHL playoffs.
- Jordan Nolan - fourth line center, playing in Manchester.
- Podge Turnbull - no clue really. Unsigned draft pick. Still in college.
- Michael Pelech - unsigned draft pick, playing in Ontario.
- Move Moller to center and bring up one of Brandon Kozun (RW), Bud Holloway (LW), Dwight King (LW), Marc-Andre Cliche (RW).
- Move Richardson to center and call it a day. Maybe bring up one of the Manchester wingers mentioned in the previous bullet.
- Sign Garrett Roe and throw him to the wolves.
- Sign an undrafted NCAA free agent and throw him to the wolves. Who is out there? I have no idea.
I think I would try this:
Dustin Penner - Handzus - Dustin Brown
Ryan Smyth - Stoll - Wayne Simmonds
Alexei Ponikarovsky - Lewis - Moller
Kyle Clifford - Richardson - Cliche
- Handzus and Brown have had a weird chemistry lately.
- Penner needs someone wise to play off of.
- Moller speed and Lewis speed combine to form super two-headed speed creature.
- Cliche is responsible defensively.
Penner - Handzus - Brown
Smyth - Stoll - Simmonds
Brandon Kozun - Lewis - Moller
Clifford - Richardson - Ponikarovsky
Due to my possibly irrational allegiance to the Millen-Donnelly speed demon 3rd line concept, I am going to cast my lot with the Kozun/Lewis/Moller idea, despite the fact that Kozun has zero NHL experience and despite the fact that Lewis would be the biggest guy on the line. Would they get pushed around? I don't know. Maybe if you could catch them.
Another variation, which I expect Terry Murray to consider, is this:
Penner - Lewis - Moller
Smyth - Stoll - Simmonds
Poni - Handzus - Brown
Clifford - Richardson - (call-up)
- between Kopitar and Williams, 50 goals just flew out the window;
- Kopitar is an important piece defensively, on the PP, on the PK, i.e. everywhere;
- he's a center and we don't have someone who can just step in and seamlessly take all those draws;
- Kopitar is excellent in the shoot-out.
- He's a leader, and the locker room will have a different dynamic without him.
- Not a brain injury.
- The Kings defensive system doesn't lean too heavily on any one piece.
- Nor does it require a lot of scoring to be successful.
- In fact, Kopitar has been a non-factor in many games this year. I count 25 Kings wins in which Kopitar did not score a goal. The Kings are 10-8-3 in games where he didn't get a point. (there's a 1 or 2 game margin of error on these numbers, as I eyeballed them quickly from the ESPN game logs.)
- There are no shoot-outs in the playoffs.
- The Kings have several veterans who have centuries of experience to call on. Players get hurt. Stars get hurt. They know this.
- Possibly my favorite of the silver linings: the power play. As much as I love Kopitar's game, I have always wondered (often aloud) if the power play is not his weak suit. The whole enterprise is centered on him, and he's usually just standing still, telegraphing passes on a swivel. He looks, I'm sorry to say, hesitant -- which good PK units can smell a mile away. So this last silver lining is, at the very least, the Kings will be forced to change it up. The QB is gone. Something's got to change there, and that's got to be a good thing. Maybe we can get back some of that Doughty/Johnson voodoo from the first few games of the Vancouver series, before f-ing Willie Mitchell phoned in all his secret advice to the Canuck PK and cost us the series!! But I digress.
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Moller speed and Lewis speed combine to form super two-headed speed creature.
This made me laugh. On a dark day, that deserves a thank you.
It’s a lot easier to prevent goals than it is to score them. So, with 50 goals out the window, the defensively-responsible Cliche is the right choice.
From here, we’re gonna have to win a lot of 2-1 games. Good thing we have this dude named Quick. If he keeps playing like this, I’d kiss him too, Dewey.
by King of Saskatchewan on Mar 26, 2011 10:57 PM PDT reply actions
Dismay...
I was at the game today—been depressed ever since it happened. The comments above give me some hope that the team can persevere.
Kopitar has been such a tank. Still can’t believe this happened to him.
We’ll I guess we’ll find out what this team is made of. Nonetheless, this could not have come at a worse time.
by Steve S. on Mar 26, 2011 11:05 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
also dismayed
My wife is asking why I am moping around the house… I try and say it is just hockey, it is just hockey. It is not like I thought the Kings were going to win the SC this year but still want the group to go through this playoff run together. I had not worn my Kopitar jersey for several months not wanting to jinx him. I wore it yesterday.
What happened to Kopi was pretty much the same thing that happened to TJ Oshie
I was still nervous about the knee (thanks TSN, you idiots), but I knew it was a broken ankle, as Oshie’s was… All in all, not as bad as I thought it was…
And oh, Merrimack College’s season just ended… You know what that means Dean, it’s time for the Stephane Da Costa sweepstakes!!!
New England is the lice in America's hair. Kill it, kill it with fire!!!
Chay Genoway- next King?
Azevedo
I think you call him up. He is the top scoring center in Manchester and while he is small I’m not suggesting using him on the top line.
Penner-Zus-Brown
Smyth-Azevedo-Simmonds
Poni-Stoll-Moller
Clifford-Lewis-Richardson
Why not? Yeah, I know the Kings management values size (as my friend Commando Chris argues, this is why Moller has not been given the opportunity we think he should, and I tend to agree), but with Smyth and Simmonds on his wings (or switch Penner and Smyth if you think that would be better) that could cover for him.
Anyway, I’d be interested to see them try that option. If it doesn’t work for a game send him back and bring someone else up.
Schenn
Thank you for explaining about him, by the way. My first rational thought after trying to make sense of the injury was who to call up and his name came to the top of my list but I wondered whether Lombardi would both fuck over the junior team that traded for him and blow a year of his ELC on hoping to make a deep playoff run to get Kopitar back in time for the conference finals.
I’m willing to bet, by the way, that Kopitar being a professional hockey player, he’s back in time for the start of the 2nd round if he is even close to ready.
Kopitar
As much as I want Kopi back ASAP, I also have to weigh what would be in his best interests too. I’d hate to seem him rush back, be less than 100%, get re-injured or worse. We need him long term too.
As we all know, the playoffs are when everything is on the line and guys play like a group of fat kids fighting over the last Twinkie. Bru-tal.
by Axis of Evil on Mar 27, 2011 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Something else to dwell on...
In the need to find other positives here I want to also focus on the fact that the Kings, while still fighting for a spot in the playoffs, are at least not on the out side looking in. No matter what, they are in control of their fate and do not have to rely on help from other teams.
There has been a lot of talk about how this is a defense first team. One staple of any team that has gone the distance and won it all, regardless of sport, is defense. We have it. Aside from a few games here and there, we have all seen it. We have an outstanding goalie. We have dynamic puck movement on the blue line which can, and will, serve us well on the PP. Our defense will have to be our catalyst. IMO of course.
Since Schenn is a no-go I have to go with this:
Penner – Lewis – Moller
Smyth – Stoll – Simmonds
Poni – Handzus – Brown
Clifford – Richardson – Cliche
It balances out the speed and size to cover all aspects well, regardless of what line is out there.
Cliche played at Center a lot this year. Or he could do RW. But Richardson can also do both.
I like my 4 lines:
Penner/Stoll/Moller – Stoll was doing good at C2 early in the year, I think he should get a look at C1
Smyth/Lewis/Brown – Lewis is progressing, but going from C4 to C1 would be a lot
Poni/Zus/Simmonds – we need a shutdown line and they’ve been great at it early in the year. I still like this line a lot
Cliff + Rich = Cliche – Catchiest line name combo
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 12:53 AM PDT reply actions
scratch that
Anybody knows the nature of Cliche’s injury?
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 10:18 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Funny too because I’ve tried to confirm this (injury), and to my dismay (I’m usually pretty good and digging up these things) I cannot find any source that says he’s injured at all, although I do know that he didn’t play yesterday.
I saw it on the Manchester Monarchs Facebook page. I’m kind of ashamed that I even know that exists.
hahahaha, that’s classic. and what’s even more funny is i’m a facebook manic and I don’t even know it exists! which begs the question, what is the deal with this not being reported on either the manchester website (in a game story or, i don’t know, maybe in the INJURY REPORT!) or by the union leader or on the ahl site?
as I type, I see quisps comment and yeah, me either. and as I said, I can’t confirm it other than he didn’t play yesterday.
via facebook
Manchester Monarchs: Cliche is currently listed as week to week with an upper body injury.
Fan: thumb surgery and out for the season is what they just said on the radio broadcast.
Side note: Apparently Campbell of all people is now the captain.
There goes my hope of having one more Quebecois to root for this season. Tabarnak.
I also realized that Penner played center in the past. With so many options to take over the Center position (Lewis, Richardson, Moller, Penner), Murray is probably excited with all the lineswappin’ possibilities here.
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Ahh, interesting. I didn’t know Penner played center. Maybe that’s the obvious choice then. We’ll see.
Looks like it may have been an experiment they tried in EDM.
I am not sold on it yet. I think we have options with better passing skills, and he is needed on the left side.
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 12:38 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
All Season
I’ve been watching Kopi on the power play and wondering the same thing …
(should he be more aggressive? why is he passing first? shouldn’t a quarterback make split-second td throws rather than many short 8 yard passes?)
Now I get to find out.
Kopi we miss you … but this interesting
Moller seems to be comfortable running things on the PP. I can see TM letting him do that on one of the PP units.
"After months of reading other people’s catchy sigs (like yours), I decided I needed one, too." -- DougX
by VoluminousTuna on Mar 27, 2011 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Who could be happy other then the idea that this is a low scoring defensive club…perfect for playoffs…
Poni may play a key role…after all he owes the stats a few goals.
Cliche, if good on defense as Quisp says would seems the logical choice for the forth line. I’d elect to keep the Zus line intact, bump Stoll up to C1 and Lewis to C2.
Are Teemu Selanne and Melanie Griffith Twins?
by USHA#17 on Mar 27, 2011 10:39 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
On the HNIC Hot Stove last night (I think)
They mentioned Schenn could be available as an emergency call-up but only if another starter were to get injured. Not sure if it would be in the teams best interest to do so (ELC and whatnot) but, just throwing that out there.
Obstreperously Avatarless
Rich Hammond said:
For now — and this can change at any moment, based on the whims of the people making the decisions — I don’t believe the Kings will be calling up any healthy bodies from Manchester.
This surprised me at first, but I wonder if calling up someone from the Manche’ means they would need 2 more injuries for the Emergency call-up.
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
They mentioned Schenn could be available as an emergency call-up but only if another starter were to get injured.
Lombardi: Hey, Westy!
Westgarth: What’s up, Dean?
Lombardi: Do me a favor and go down these stairs and grab those hockey sticks for me.
Westgarth: Sure thing, you’re the bo… hey, what’s all this slippery stuff on these stairs? And down at the bottom… are those nails?
Lombardi: *Shove
Or maybe DL is the guy in Lethal Weapon who has Mr. Joshua (played by Westy) inflict bodily harm on himself.
So who is “they” in your reference to “another starter?” And I’m guessing that means 3 starters?
I know this whole emergency call up thing is totally murky, so I don’t expect anyone to know the actual emergency rules. I’m beginning to think there aren’t any.
also, the rules say it doesn[t have to be due to injury, it could be a suspension
Wait till this year.
In all fairness to Rich, he has been mistaken a number of time in this situation. i.e. predicting what Lombardi will do.
Maybe it’s a big plan orchestrated by Lombardi and Rich.
1) Rich raises the possibility of Westgarth getting more ice time
2) The bloggers start getting scared and having meltdowns (some even start spelling players names correctly).
3) Lombardi calls player up, or finds loophole to call Schenn up (something like his “Schenn Manchester conditioning stint” trick from earloer this year)
4) Lombardi looks like genius for 1 day, and bloggers go back to their old habits afterwards.
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 12:48 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Different topic
I have to say… one guy who stepped up his “game” after the injury was #72. The crowd was dead and he really came out strong in the 3rd and had one of his strongest periods this year. I nearly lost it when he brought his sieve and started waving it at Budaj!
The crowd needed that boost. Who am I kidding? I needed it.
Thanks B!
by Passemoilapuck on Mar 27, 2011 12:57 PM PDT reply actions
I don’t know what Rich Hammond is thinking but I can’t imagine them not bringing up someone from Manchester and relying on Westgarth with no other options. I’m hoping for a callup of Holloway or Kozun and rooting like hell for Prince Albert to bouce Saskatoon out of the WHL playoffs asap.
As for the rest of you Quispy Critters, today, Sunday, is your last day for self pity. Starting tomorrow, we get back to work, go hard on the forecheck and put your heads down and backcheck hard through the middle.
It’s a good point. Why would bringing up someone last week (Oscar) be a good idea, but not this week?
Doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?
The only obvious thing I can think of is that Lombardi, Hextall and Morris simply don’t think anyone else on the Monarchs is ready to step into the role.
Well, we’re forgetting that Harrold — and aren’t we always forgetting Harrold; his first name is Peter, by the way — is around precisely because you can stick him in as a 4th line forward. No doubt, there are players in Manchester who would do just as well and might benefit from the chance to shine in a pressurized situation, but Harrold always get shoved into the closet until he’s needed, does respectably well, and then gets shoved back in.
So I think Murray sticks with Handzus as the provisional C1 until it’s proven not to work well, and Harrold gets tacked onto the 4th line, with Westgarth’s role remaining the same.
Otherwise:
As for the rest of you Quispy Critters, today, Sunday, is your last day for self pity. Starting tomorrow, we get back to work, go hard on the forecheck and put your heads down and backcheck hard through the middle.
Damn right; that is well said.
Personally, I don’t take it as a given that the season is doomed to disappointment and failure, not by any means. Even when a key player goes down, you can still defy gravity, defy the odds over the short term. There’s two weeks left to the end of the regular season; it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the Kings can hold it together that long and finish about as well as they would have with Kopitar. It will take a few guys playing over their heads, but variations like that are always possible in the short term.
Over the longer term — into the playoffs — I am less confident. But on the other hand, you can also look at the playoff tournament as a series of discrete short-term events: One set of 4-7 games, followed by another, followed by another, etc. Each series is a separate roll of the dice. The outcome of each discrete segment is always more subject to variations in luck than a larger sample size, like a 20-game stretch of the regular season. Even then, it’s entirely possible that the Kings could get through the 1st round, and then the 2nd round, without Kopi based on the same short-term variation; i.e., some guys playing over their heads.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
by DougX on Mar 27, 2011 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
No one can minimize what Kopi brings to this team, but I think it’s neat that the prevailing mood even in the game thread swung around to determination. That’s quite a feat for us Kings fans, and I think it has to do with the way this team has battled this season more than anything else.
I am very interested in seeing what they do from here on out.
In Dinglebarn We Trust -- JftC
measuring stick...
determination
courage
confidence
these are the traits of a champion
now we will truly see what our young boys and old goats are made of…..sticks…or…STONES!
"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane."-Alan Garner
What about Harrold?
Haven’t heard much about him as a possibility. Move him to a fourth line wing position and Richardson as a center. I know he hasn’t played much this season but anyone we call up can’t have anymore experience than him right?
At the game, you could feel air being sucked out of Staples. When he didn’t get up right away, I knew it was bad because Kopi always gets up right?
My only real expectation this year was to win a round in the playoffs. A favorable match-up (maybe a banged up Detroit?) and a hot Quick would give us a good chance. Losing Kopitar is huge but not a deathblow. Great opportunity for the young guys to step up and I hope they take advantage of it.
Harrold is not the Answer.
What’s the question? Who will fill the offensive void, of course.
Obviously no one. But Harrold is less than no one in regards to goals.
Oscar, for what it’s worth, is replacing Williams’s shortfall. And admirably so, so far.
The “stepping up” by the rest of the guys is a nice thought, but not practical. If we couldn’t fill the void of JW without OM, how can you expect the team to fill an even larger void. Again, not practical.
Kopi’s offense must be replaced to one degree or another. It seems very obvious you take the next best offensive player from Manchester (or where ever) and plug them in.
That leaves the rest of the guys to step it up on defense, which is a much more realistic expectation.
What’s the question? Who will fill the offensive void, of course.
The obvious answer: No one player can.
But what I am arguing for is a quantum view of the situation, in which short-term positive “wobbles” in the performance of more than one player can help close the gap. Call it playing over one’s head, if you will, but it can happen and has happened.
Looking at this as just swapping in Harrold for Kopitar is simplistic if you take the following into account:
Harrold would not be plugged in at C1. He would be plugged in as W4, with someone else getting the chance to step up into C1. I think it will be Handzus at first. Will his production benefit from the chance to play on a line with more offensive potential? Will whomever steps up to fill Handzus’ old spot — let’s say, Richardson — benefit from having a more prominent role on the team?
Your thesis only really works if you assume that there is no unused capacity on this team; i.e., that everyone is playing a role that is exactly suited to his talent level, and that no one would benefit from having more playing time and/or a more prominent role in the offense. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.
Also, what exactly needs to be replaced? Kopitar’s production amounts to a bit more than a point per game. Seriously, 19 other guys can’t cover for that over a two-week period? It’s possible. I’m actually more worried about missing Kopi’s defense. But the system is meant to be the strength of the defense more than any individual. Not impossible that collective effort can’t cover for him over the short term.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
Excellent points. And I mostly agree…mostly (yeah, I know you just read it again like Newt.)
However, if you want to get all quantum about it, then you also have to take into account the coach. And so, from that perspective, being that it’s his job to make sure there is no “unused capacity” on the team, then I’m going to go ahead and say that everyone is, in fact, “playing a role that is exactly suited to his talent level.”
And further, even though it’s possible (or even likely) that another coach could find “unused capacity” in some players, this coach is won’t. Therefore, all things being equal, Terry Murray will get out of his players what he has already gotten out of them.
That being said, the “playing over your head” quantum mechanic of hockey string theory is the most plausible possibility. Which is exactly why I want to see the next best thing come up from Manchester or where ever. Put in a kid who can score goals and roll the dice.
As for the missing Kopi-D-link, you answered your own concern. The system will much more easily account for this than it will the offensive void. So no, I’m not more worried about the defense as you are. The problem with goals is that we were already in the bottom 3rd in the league. Now the team needs to play over their head just to stay in the bottom 3rd. Hence my concern.
Surely you must believe that the Kings can win 3 of the next 8. (Of course LA fans never have it easy so the Club must first lose to Edmonton before accomplishing this feat.)
Just making the playoffs is a great accomplishment in this years log jam. If we hit the playoffs so…1-0 and 2-1 games. More important we are there, the Club is gaining experience and once there anything can happen.
Do not expect Kopitar back or that an 80% Williams will have a positive impact. Its time to see what the role players on this team are made of.
Are Teemu Selanne and Melanie Griffith Twins?
Kings need to play to their strengths even more.
Defense and goaltending. You don’t need to insert an offensive minded player in Kopitar’s slot because no one we can put in there will come close to matching his production. It will definitely be a committee-like effort that will try to fill the offensive void.
IMO, Harrold may not be THE answer but he is the best answer at this point. He has filled in before as a forward in the last two seasons so he does have at least some experience. That to me is much more palatable at this point in the season that bringing up someone from Manchester.
Possible addition Silver Lining....
had this happened during one of our low confidence portions of the season, i think the wheels completely come off and we pull a avalanche esque remaining season…however….we have veterans…maybe some of this opportunity knocking mentality may bring something out of richardson, moller and lewis…..i like the idea of at least trying out kozun….i like speed, its hard to defend and it makes you tired chasing the quick little bastards around….
it is time for Quick to put this team on his back, hold and cradle them with all his mind powers and make us remeber that this is a team sport….we still have a guy like penner who is a big body and can score…brown continues to have good games down the stretch, pleae brown, we need a captain right now, more than ever…..
what should the lines be? who cares…wins by commitee…if you are on the ice, play your balls off and let quick steal you two games in the first round….then three in the second….then get kopi back and fuck the shit up!!!!!!!
i have not stopped thinking and praying for kopi to heal properly…..i know we have a playoff push here…but the last thing we need is him to rush back and never be the same for it…
take your time, heal properly and be our man for the future…..also good thing…NOT HIS KNEE!!!!!!
ask evgeni malkin about that….torn acl mcl can be bad…..i think a clean break in your ankle is what any hockey player would take over a torn ligament in the knee…..
Anyone going to the charity poker game????
"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane."-Alan Garner
An Xray is not an MRI
I know that most people know this intellectually, but I find it very odd that so many people are relying so heavily on the initial 6 week estimate based on the diagnosis of a break from an xray.
How is it that the vast majority of fans are not considering the results of of an MRI that hasn’t even taken place yet? An MRI that will diagnose Kopitar’s condition much more accurately.
I’m not trying to say he’s more injured than is being reported, but I am saying it’s a very real possibility.
Let’s wait for the real results before we draw any conclusions, shall we?
Very true
Of course, we don’t know what the MRI will reveal and so we’re making assumptions on incomplete information. It’s a known unknown, but it’s the best we have at this point. And it appears to be the team’s own best estimate.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
trust me i know...
Ive had probably 150 x-rays in my life and about 20 MRI’s…so yeah i definitely know there is a difference….actually in one case…the doctor after seeing an x-ray concluded worst case scenario WAS the scenario…..then ordered an MRI to be sure…upon reviewing said MRI he determined that the injury was NOT AS SEVERE as originally thought….
so….yeas and MRI will help us determine EXACTLY what is going on….but…if it is a clean ankle break….those can heal back to nearly 100%…if there are splintered bones and lacerated ligaments and soft tissue….IDK…only Kopi will know if and when he is ready to return…..
i say assume he does not return and just play the game….c’mon quick baby we need ya!!!!!
"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane."-Alan Garner
Just like to add...
Kopi is young but this year he has played like a veteran. Extrememly strong on the puck, once the puck is on his stick he always makes his play. Yeah he is a force in all phases…wonder how much we are going to miss him on faceoffs? As a gamebreaker…with the game on the line and given one glorious scoring chance…there’s Kopi and everyone else is a distant next choice. Agree that PP is his weak suit, but he is a calming influence and of course QB. Afterall he doesn’t have a lot of talent to work with. Seems that forwards just concerned with screens and rebounds, nobody works in front of the net to get open for a pass/shot. All by design or lack of talent?
Excellent article!

















