Running NHL 2023-24 regular season thread

Question for those who have played serious hockey or who know more about hockey than I do:

Trying to analyze new Ducks coach Greg Cronin. The Ducks lead the league with 7 too-many-men penalties. I wonder whose fault it is, the coach or the player(s)? My thought was it's the coach, but the players are the ones jumping over the boards. Recently on Sirius XM, one of their ex-player analysts (don't remember which one) said it was 100 percent on the coach because the players don't go until they're told to. What's the feeling here?

 

The Leafs have had a lot too and it gets laid at the feet of the coach. And there are a load of too many men penalties that go uncalled.

 

Coach lets the team know what line is up next, not when to jump on the ice.

 

LA Times columnist Helene Elliott writes that Anze Kopitar is be the greatest LA Kings player ever.

Why Anze Kopitar beats Gretzky and Dionne as king of Kings - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Here are Top 10 list from broadcasters Nick Nickson and Jim Fox and Elliott. Where are Eddie "The Jet" Joyal and Whitey Widing? Sheldon Kannegiesser?

Nick Nickson’s top 10 Kings

1. Anze Kopitar: Longevity and excellence in all three zones. The most complete center in club history. Led the NHL in playoff scoring during the Kings’ two Stanley Cup years. Led the Kings in scoring a record 15 times, only Gordie Howe (Detroit) has led a franchise more.

2. Jonathan Quick: Holds virtually all of the team records by a goalie (by a wide margin). Playoff MVP in the 2012 Cup year. A 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage have set the benchmark for goalies in the postseason.

3. Drew Doughty: In his 16th season, like Quick, holds most of the Kings’ records for a player at his position (defense). His hockey IQ is off the charts. You don’t play as much as Doughty does year after year unless you excel.

4. Wayne Gretzky: Elevated the popularity of the sport in L.A. after his trade from Edmonton. He is the Kings’ all-time leader in points per game at 1.70 and holds the single-season club record for assists and points.

5. Marcel Dionne: The numbers speak volumes — in his 12 seasons in L.A., he averaged 109 points a season. The franchise leader in scoring with 1,307 points.

6. Dustin Brown: Captain of the two Stanley Cup-winning teams. He brought so many attributes to the team on and off the ice. He was a physical presence throughout his 18-year career.

7. Rob Blake: Dominant in all three zones, with wonderful offensive skills and physicality.

8. Luc Robitaille: Goals, goals and more goals — the franchise leader with 557 goals. The only player in club history to be named to the first team all-NHL squad five times.

9. Dave Taylor: Played his 17-year career with L.A. There were no deficiencies in his game. He never took a shift off and was the heart and soul of the “Triple Crown Line.”

10. Butch Goring: The first Kings draft choice (1969) to become a star for the franchise. Excelled in the 1970s, combining speed, skill and tenacity


Jim Fox’s top 10 Kings

1. Anze Kopitar: Longevity, team play, excellence and two Stanley Cups. A human instructional video.

2. Dustin Brown: Captain, career King and two Cups. He sacrificed his body for the group.

3. Dave Taylor: Skill, courage and a career King. I saw him on the ice and in the room.

4. Marcel Dionne: Dominant force and a lethal scorer. Skilled player but underrated determination.

5. Luc Robitaille: Surgical scorer who loves the game and the Kings.

6. Wayne Gretzky: A franchise-changing, world-class player. Higher on the all-time NHL list. His hockey mind was a super computer.

7. Drew Doughty: A career King, controlled the game, two Cups. He’s like a kid on a frozen pond.

8. Jonathan Quick: Battler, amazing athlete, two Cups. The only thing that mattered to him was winning.

9. Rob Blake: Physically dominant with an impactful style. All-around talent with a controlling on-ice presence.

10. Bernie Nicholls: Skill, charisma and a 70-goal season. Incredible hands and underrated hockey IQ.


Helene Elliott’s top 10 Kings

1. Anze Kopitar: All those assists, two Stanley Cups, an exceptional two-way player who’s still a standout at 36.

2. Jonathan Quick: Feisty when someone intruded in his crease and holds just about every Kings goaltending record.

3. Wayne Gretzky: As much for his off-ice contributions as the incredible 918 points he scored. Without him, hockey isn’t as strong here as it is on the youth and pro levels, and without him there’s no Sunbelt expansion.

4. Drew Doughty: The emotional heart of the Kings as long as he has been here. Holds himself and his teammates accountable in a genuine way.

5. Marcel Dionne: The man could score. Still holds the franchise lead in points, though Kopitar can catch him before Kopitar is done. Dynamic and a pure scorer.

6. Dustin Brown: The ultimate captain. His scoring exploits in their 2012 Cup run set a tone for a true team effort. And he never shied away from a hit.

7. Luc Robitaille: What a scorer, still the Kings’ career leader with 557 goals. He had to leave to win the Cup but came back to win as an executive.

8. Rob Blake: Few were as good at dishing out hip checks as he was. Great shot too. Fans who are bitter over his departure should get over it.

9. Rogie Vachon: He gave the Kings credibility and solid goaltending in a high-scoring era.

10. Dave Taylor: Personified class throughout a 17-season career. Excelled on the “Triple Crown” line with Dionne and Charlie Simmer, combining to light up goaltenders around the NHL.

 

And people wonder why I don’t like LA sports teams

 

Surprised there hasn't been a reference to Don Cherry yet.

 

Interesting reading. Thanks for sharing.
IMHO ...
Fox has Quick way too low and Dave Taylor too high.
Sorry, Helene, Rogie was good but not top 10.

 

Too bad there isn't audio of the play by play synced up with this.

 

Ducks super rookie Leo Carlsson suffered an ugly injury last night. Leg and ankle pinned under him and bent in awkward direction. Awaiting word.
Same night that Jamie Drysdale and Mason McTavish returned to the lineup. Drysdale played the first two games of the season and has been out since then. McTavish has been out a couple of weeks. Trevor Zegras played nine games and has been out since then. He is skating and his return is imminent.
Ducks were shut out by the Flames last night. Horrible, penalty-filled performance, which is normal for them. Oh yeah, and another too-many-men penalty. Flames got 24 shots on goal ,,,,,,,,,, in the second period.

 

My favorite was Sheldon Kannegiesser.