Kings Gameday: The Nuclear Option
by RudyKelly on Mar 29, 2010 10:52 AM PDT
Email
PrintOh shi-
Jonathan Bernier was called up. What does it mean? I have no idea. But I'm excited. I don't know why. Here's what it could mean:
1) The"Erik Ersberg Sucks" Option. The Kings have a back-to-back tonight and tomorrow and they desperately need the points so they don't have to face Chicago or Vancouver or San Jose in the first round of the playoffs. Jonathan Quick needs a rest and Erik Ersberg's life as a King pretty much ended when Marian Gaborik sniped a shot over his left shoulder in late December, so the Kings are calling up Bernier to play a game. Then they'll pat him on the head and let him go dominate the AHL again. This is the probable option and the boring one so we won't think about it.
(Oh, and Erik: you're going to want a primary weapon, a sidearm and a tertiary weapon. I'd recommend a Scar-16S for your primary and a shotgun as your tertiary since you'll get a nice spray in the locker room. Sidearms are about feel so you're on your own. Play around, find one that's right for you. You're going to want to go right to left and don't yank on the trigger; just squeeze it. If you could be a sport and not harm Kopitar, Doughty, Simmonds and Frolov, and if you could only wing Dustin Brown and Matt Greene, that'd be great. Good luck!)
2) The Miracle Option. You have a team playing lackluster and not doing what they need to do. One way to get them in gear is to put someone's job in jeopardy. Quick has actually had his 2nd best month in March (2.56 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO) but the Kings aren't winning because they're not getting shots on net. By calling up Bernier and acting like Quick might lose his job, the players in the locker room will band together and let management know that Quick is their man. It's what Herb Brooks did before Lake Placid. We need to get Terry Murray some of those pants.
3) The Nuclear Option. Bring up Bernier and let him and Quick play an equal amount of games before the playoffs. Let them fight it out. This is the nuclear option because it basically blows up any chemistry the team has and irrevocably changes the shape of the room. It's the ideal scenario if people were just automatons that had no feelings, but it's incredibly dangerous to do to humans. I would have been all for it back in December or January, but it's too late in the season to make a big change right now... isn't it? I believe Bernier is a better goaltender than Quick, but I don't think the players believe the same thing and they're most important.
As fans, we kind of have this idea that the best players should play the most. (Crazy, I know.) But players always have these weird ideas about veteran leadership and paying your dues and all that stupid shit. I don't think the players would react well to a goaltender that has played almost every game for them getting benched for some new guy. I don't think they would, anyway. I don't know, maybe players don't give a fuck about goalies and just want them to stop the puck and shut up, but I think the team like Quick and wants him in net.
I always get myself all worked up about roster moves like this and usually nothing comes of it. Murray will put Frolov on the 4th line and I'll seethe and then Fro will play 18 minutes the next game. They'll call up Andrei Loktionov and I'll cheer and then Loktionov will separate his shoulder and ne'er be heard from again. They'll play Randy Jones over Davis Drewiske and then... well, he's still playing over Drewiske but you get what I mean. Bernier will likely play either tonight or tomorrow (probably tomorrow, since he played in Manchester's OT win last night) and then go back down to the AHL. But that nuclear option is there, lingering in the background. Duck and cover.
***
The Kings have been pretty atrocious offensively for a while now and I'm not sure what Murray plans on doing to fix it. The Kings haven't just been failing to score; they've been failing to get any sort of offense whatsoever. Since the NHL came back from the break, the Kings have only averaged 27 shots on goal a game, which would be last in the league if they played like that all season. There's not a roster move Murray can make to change that, either; pretty much everyone has to play better. The only thing I can think of is keeping the top line together, shifting Stoll back to a wing alongside Modin and Handzus, and then putting Frolov with Richardson and Simmonds. Play Kopitar and Handzus against the top lines and then hope Fro-Rich-Meat can speed by the other team's third line. Also, if our defensemen could pull their heads out of their asses and hit the GD net, that'd be great.
Prediction: Kings win, 2-1, while getting only 3 shots on goal.
48 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
reporter: is Ersberg back really strained? or you looking for an excuse to use bernier?
Terry Murray: Brian Heyward told me so..he so good at diagnosing injuries!
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know, maybe players don’t give a fuck about goalies and just want them to stop the puck and shut up, but I think the team like Quick and wants him in net.
there also the take “better him than me”..well weve been sucking so bad..“SOMTHING” was gonna change/happen…glad it was my ass being banished to the 4th line/pressbox…
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 11:15 AM PDT reply actions
*wasnt
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
I love this
As fans, we kind of have this idea that the best players should play the most. (Crazy, I know.) But players always have these weird ideas about veteran leadership and paying your dues and all that stupid shit. I don’t think the players would react well to a goaltender that has played almost every game for them getting benched for some new guy.
This is the black hole in so many fan discussions. You’ve got your statheads who trend toward treating them as automotons, and you’ve got your NHL10 “trade everybody” fantasy GMs who trend toward treating them as sides of meat, and your regular “just win dammit” fans. But that damn human factor nobody can account for or pin down unless they’re inside some often scary player brains. Maybe there’s a secret society of hockey fan psychologists, but then maybe Tom Cruise had them all slaughtered.
I don’t really mind this human factor so much as just I wish there was a daily table where I could check and see who has irrational feelings for the shitty veteran that was benched, and who’s decided he’s not blocking anymore shots for the shitty goalie behind him, and who’s distracted because he thinks his old Flyers teammates might be banging his wife.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
It reminds me of when Joe Torre played Juan Pierre over Andre Ethier almost into September and Dodger fans freaked out (myself included), but by September Ethier was in, the Dodgers made the playoffs, and Pierre was on the bench. Sometimes I think we forget that a coach needs to prove to his players that he’s making the right decision by showing them on the field of play.
The West Coast is the Best Coast.
Haha. I love the “See? This is why I don’t play him more” move.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
What’s the status of Bernier’s contract? I know Earl and Tyler Dellow have both written at length about how it can be useful not to burn up early years of entry level deals on wasted teams, because it means you have to pay them real money earlier, and that usually coincides with the team as a whole becoming better. If you can get the rest of the team up to speed without burning someone’s entry level years, you’re basically going to get free cheap years out of them at their peak or near to it, while the team is at its best and hitting that championship window. If Bernier is to be the future franchise goalie for the Kings, and in all likelihood the Kings are not quite at the level they need to be at for a serious Cup run, maybe its best to let Bernier sit down for another year, so you get another cheap year out of him when everyone else is getting paid and the Kings are serious contenders and you have a clearly defined window to win before it all catches up to you.
http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.
No
He’s signed to a 3 year ELC that hasn’t been triggered yet. Clock not ticking. Doesn’t start till the 10th game.
Wait till this year.
rudy did u kidnap, tar and feather earl again?…I guess in his case that would be appropriate being a ducks fan and wanting to be black and all
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 1:14 PM PDT reply actions
anyone whos knows what a “Cylon” is probally should be murdered…Im guessing its some geeky battlestar galactica andriod person…or some new detergient
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
You’re going to hate my gameday post, Rudy, I’m pretty sure. If and when I finish it.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
i like it already
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Ersberg, Quick, Bernier…as Lou Bega once said “Angela, Pamela, Sandra, and Rita, and as I continue, you know they’re gettin’ sweetah…”
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 29, 2010 1:58 PM PDT reply actions
You must be confusing it with the Stewart scat film “Mambo No. 2”.
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 29, 2010 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions
file this under the “no shit” files:
Ricky Martin Comes Out: “I’m A Fortunate Homosexual Man”
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 29, 2010 2:39 PM PDT reply actions
Well, now my sister can take his picture out of her hope chest…and put it in mine.
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 29, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, I love Rich. Some guys need a kick in the rear, other guys need a hug.
YOU KNOW WHO NEEDS A HUG?
FRO NEEDS A HUG.
Also Pip.
In Dinglebarn We Trust
Agreed. Notice how Rich danced around the quote he posted about Oscar “sucking” down in Manchester? Rich will be part of the Kings’ broadcasting team before you can say “Brian Engblom.”
2009-10 Kings Hockey: Delivering Milk Steaks from the Meat Train at an arena near you!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Mar 29, 2010 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions
If we are under the affect of an Olympic hangover, how come the player playing the furthest below their potential is Ryan Smyth?
They’ve lost four straight and three staight against non-playoff teams. It’s ok, they aren’t going to miss the playoffs. Every team goes through tough stretches…right….there’s no way they can miss the playoffs this year. They still have a five point lead over calgary with a game in hand…the playoffs are a lock.
Keep thinking happy thoughts.
Goddammit, this is the 2nd worst thing that’s happened to me today.
The West Coast is the Best Coast.
The weird thing is, I missed the entirety of the last two games
and I still know exactly what happened. It was hilarious to watch the comments meter on the final score post on Hammond’s site, literally jump 100 comments every five minutes. Couldn’t bear to look at them though.
Wait till this year.
2nd Star:
Greg Zanon
GOALS: 0 | PTS: 0
ASST: 0 | SOG: 1
+/-: -1
I always find it funny when I see a player in the 3 Stars who looks like he did basically nothing all game, but even that was better than what anyone on the Kings did.
I'm here! I know, I brighten the room. Everything's better.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
54 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 68 |
|
Los Angeles
|
57 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 65 |
|
Phoenix
|
57 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 63 |
|
Dallas
|
56 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 59 |
|
Anaheim
|
56 | 23 | 24 | 9 | 55 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 5:59 AM PST)
5 years old and counting!
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Wednesday’s Three Stars: Lupul, Connolly, give Leafs OT win; Anderson stops 42
- Did Brad Marchand get down with his bad self again on clipping penalty? (VIDEO)
- Puck Previews: Ducks’ road trip continues; Sens, Panthers in battle of most surprising teams
- Watch the weirdest goal of the year, courtesy of ECHL ref’s rulebook gaffe (VIDEO)
- Jeremy Roenick’s OK with Blackhawks trading Patrick Kane for goalie upgrade
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- WHL Roundup: A look at Wednesday's games
- Bruins, Habs restore bitter rivalry in Boston's hard-fought 4-3 shootout win
- Morrison makes 32 saves, Giants beat Chiefs to move into 4th in conference
- Drew Owsley makes 38 saves, leads Cougars to 3-1 victory over Rebels
- Canadiens send right-wing Aaron Palushaj to AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
