Kings Gameday: Do My Work For Me
Los Angeles Kings (10-14-2, T-Last in West) @ Phoenix Coyotes (11-14, T-Last in West)
6:30 PST, 1150 AM
The Kings are playing the Coyotes tonight for the chance to get out of the Western Conference basement. The Kings need to tread water while Labarbera and Frolov are out, and beating a team like the Coyotes (losers of 4 straight) will give them 2 needed points.
I'm going to be swamped with work from now until the end of the month basically, so here's an opportunity for you people to do my work for me. Here's a topic to ponder:
If you could pick one person in the Pacific Division to build a team around, who would you pick?
Prediction: Kings win, 5-3. Goals by Brown (x2), O'Sullivan, Armstrong, and Lubo.
13 comments:
If you could pick one person in the Pacific Division to build a team around, who would you pick?
That's a good question. If salary were of no concern, I'd probably narrow it down to Thornton, Pronger, or Getzlaf.
If salary were a factor, then I'd probably looking towards the kids. Let's try Getzlaf, Kopitar, or JMFJ.
I guess my answer is Getzlaf, then, but who am I kidding? I could never start a team without big Sammy Pahlsson (Sleek's tragic flaw).
Turco. as we've seen with the kings, a team with good skaters without a proven #1 goalie is horsedung
Brian Burke. (the question asked us to pick one person, not one player)
Ultimately, I think it comes down to either Kopitar, Getzlaf, or Kyle Turris. Turris is still a little too unknown for my tastes, so I'd probably have to go with Kopitar since he's 2 years younger. There's no real wrong answer though, except Doug Murray. That's wrong.
If its 10-15 years ago, I'm picking Zubov. This guy is definitely the one of the most underrated players in the league. He has the same problem as Visnovsky, where idiot writers are too lazy to actually watch west coast games so it is assumed if a defenseman scores then that is all he is good at (although sometimes it is warranted: see Sandis Ozolinsh) When he was on the rangers Brian Leetch stole his thunder, and on the stars its modano and turco (both of which I wouldn't trade ladislav nagy for). Zubov is the best in the league at keeping the puck in the zone and and making the first pass out of the zone (F you, Pronger). People keep waiting for the Stars to decline, but unfortunately I don't think its going to happen until Zubov retires. Alas, since it is not 15 years ago I'll build around Kopitar or Bernier.
To echo most of the previous sentiments, the question largely depends on whether or not salary is an issue. Assuming it is, Ryan Getzlaf would be my pick, with Anze Kopitar not far behind. If salary is not relevant, I'd have to go with my Sharks bias and pick Joe Thornton, followed by Chris Pronger and Sergei Zubov (or, if the rumors are true, Scott Niedermayer).
Douglas Murray is NEVER the wrong answer, Rudy.
I think YOU are the wrong answer! And the question was, "Who is cool?"
Getzlaf
Pronger
Thornton
Kopitar
In that order...
I would start with Loungo. Build the team around a young kick ass goaltender. Kind of like NJ with Brodure.
I can't believe these Kings fans are picking forwards over a frachise goalie. What the Kings could have done if they had a deecent goalie in any of the last 2 decades.
I would start with Loungo.
Despite Vancouver's ability to touch the Pacific ocean, it isn't part of the Pacific Division.
Still, point taken. You're a goalie-lover.
I'm not sure I'd start there. It's not that goalies aren't terribly valuable, but if Cam Ward can win a cup, they're not hugely necessary. Heck, wait around long enough and you could just get a Bryzgalov for free.
Thornton, Kopitar, Getzlaf, Pronger, Zubov--these seem like more scarce resources in this league.
Getzlaf is good... young, 4-5.5 mil over the next few years. Not bad.
But it really should come down to Pronger and Thornton, regardless of salary constraints. Those two are players that can simply own games on a consistent basis. Getzlaf may be that someday. But if I am starting a team, and I get anybody in the Pacific, its going to be either a) the guy that makes everybody better offensively (Thornton) or b) the guy that makes everybody look good by covering up for them defensively (Pronger).
thornton...he makes unbelievable passes al la oates greztky...stick anyone decent on his line and they can produce...u just can't teach playmaking like that...how the fuck he gets the most impossible looking passes go thru people is beyond me
so in this order:
thornton
scott niedemeyer
getzlaf
kopitar
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