We are living in an era of sports when fans consider management being overtly pro-active towards change more important than being overtly patient towards realization, as the highs and lows of the maturation cycle are endured by all. And if there was ever a situation that is parallel to this point and forces a clash of invested hearts and minds alike, you need to look no further than our Los Angeles Kings.
On one side, you have the majority of Kings fans.
And they consist of an increasing number of bloggers here and elsewhere, whom are at their wit’s end, tired of waiting, pleading for an immediate coaching change, not wanting to waste another painstaking minute or future game watching their team struggle through desired ascension. For these voices, the time is now to replace what’s not working.
On the other side, you have the majority of Kings management.
And they consist of the team’s architects who have spent the last several years laboring, bartering and designing a specific plan, believing that most, if not all, of the essentials for short and long-term success were in place prior to the start of the season. For these voices, the time is now to wait it out and give those involved more time collectively to fix what’s not working.
It’s always easier to replace a coach than to trade a player, let alone several players. And with every loss and/or disappointing performance, more and more peeps load on the “FIRE TM!” bandwagon – which now could be traded-in as part of a down payment on a cargo freighter to accommodate those growing legions of hungry…and desperate…fans who plead for anyone other than Murray to rule the bench.
But does a coaching switch change the system at its heart? And does it replace the fact that our ally in exile, Gerente Generale Dean Lombardi, has built this team a certain way to win a certain way?
Truth be told, we like to utilize the assertion that a team is a serious cup contender before we actually see them play. Now that the first quarter of the season has passed, is anybody still convinced that the offensive change promised by team management prior to the start of the season will come into fruition this year, regardless of who’s the coach? Can players like Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Dustin Penner and Jared Stoll rediscover their scoring touch under any future circumstances in this or any system? Will Trent Hunter and Ethan Moreau figure out that penalty minutes only matter in fantasy hockey? Will the real Peter Criss of this team ever step up?
Ultimately, just like with our stalemate in Washington D.C., something’s gotta give because the time is now for resolution with this team, not devolution. And unlike those who occupy the streets of power of this country…or those who occupy their firm stance on either side of this issue on the blogosphere, I’m less concerned about the methodology on how to get “there” and more worried about whether or not “there” will ever be a realistic place for this Kings team to occupy this season.
Holy crap dude. That was some seriously inspired writing. Really impressive V. In the end, it may just be that this team isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Going in, we were the darlings of the season by many an expert. Invariably(!), each season gives birth to a still-born team wrought with disappointment and failed expectations. I think many on both sides of the TM fence are just hoping against all hope that the Kings are not becoming one of those historical busts. Lord knows I am.
Will the Kings EVER be Cup contenders? If they can’t do it with the best NHLer that will ever be, can they do it with a bunch of B’s C’s and D’s?
Every year I think they will get the Cup, or at least win something. I’d like a banner or two or even a best D man or MVP or even a Jennings trophy. But nothing. EVER.
Nice post…I have a few different thoughts. This team is, after all, 13-9-4 even with the lack of scoring. If Clifford sinks a gimme, or if Richardson hadn’t shot one into the goalies armpit instead of the rest of the 5 3/4 x4 that was available, or if Johnson hadn’t rung it off the crossbar a couple of times, or Hunter had not shanked it and missed the broad side of a barn the Kings would have 32 or 33 points in spite of the low scoring. So, the scoring sucks, but the record does not.
Also, I doubt whether these close calls will continue fall against the Kings; it has to average out. Off the post and in, hit the empty net and not the goalie, no shanks, etc. The team will get it’s share of breaks, and calls, and we will win a few games we don’t deserve to win. We already lost more than just a few games we deserved to win, I think we can all agree on that. It will even out.
The PP is better. It just is. It is in a funk this moment, but the movement away from the puck is better, the passes are starting to click, the chances are there if not the results. I look at now as nearing a low point for the season with the PP, I think the PP we saw earlier is the real power play and will end up top 7.
Dustin Brown has matured and is now completing stick-handles that in previous years he would have flubbed. Growth is still happening for Brown, and Kopi, too. I am not relying on the “youth card” here, but honestly, does anyone think these guys are done learning? The imrpovment is visible, as for example with Kopi and his new faceoff ability.
I tire of the endless “fire Murray” rants; I quit posting at the Insider partly because of it. No one thing is the absolute key; there is no single fix. Also, growth and improvement are NEVER going to be linear, steady or constant. Over time, this team has become worlds better than they were just two years ago, there is no reason to think it cannot continue to improve.
Think of this: the dresser drawer theory. Remember the old cartoons, where some guy would close the top dresser drawer and the bottom one would pop out and bang his shins? Then, he would bend down to close the bottom one, and the top would pop back open just in time for the guy to bang his head as he stood up. Then the middle one punches him in the stomach.
The Kings are getting there, and eventually they will get all the drawers closed at the same time. But seriously, it isn’t all that bad right now, anyway.
hey, buddy…thanks for reading and for yr kind words…
yr big picture analysis does lend a wee-bit of optimism…and i definitely appreciate yr grounded perspectives…
however, much to yr point about not getting breaks and bounces, being unlucky can become contagious and lead to bigger psychological team issues…and if we are basing our successes and failures by addressing the “luck” factor, then we are not even really serious about winning…i guess what i’m saying is that teams tend to find ways to get themselves on the losing side of 50/50 situations when they are given that as an outlet for underachieving…
the best way to solve this is not to rely on luck and play the type of game that minimizes the impact of those situations if and when they happen…the luck factor belongs in vegas, not on the ice…
CRAP! I am so bent…
I just spent 20 minutes writing a nice response and because I didn’t put the anti-spam numbers in, the whole thing was LOST! I usually copy them too when they are that long in case this happens, but didn’t this time.
Someone didn’t want that posted… /conspiracy.
What the hell? Really? You should have been able to hit the back button on your browser without losing a thing. Plus, you shouldn’t have to enter the captcha code if you’re logged in as an admin. Hmmm.
Wait. You can say CRAP here?
That’s worrisome!
yikes…(!)
that sux…
maybe you can tell me later what you wanted to say if you feel that it still matters…
nice post