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Welp, that's it Playing out the string Saturday vs. San Jose. Unlike in 2013 or 2014 I don't think this team would've beaten the Blues or Blackhawks anyways. Yes I'm disappointed, but on the flip side, even if they lost in 5 or 6 games to St. Louis they get 10+ extra days of rest after finishing a 3 year stretch of Stanley cup champs- WCF - Stanley cup champs. That couple with the fact a lot of the guys played in the Olympics in 2014 and that was a LOT of hockey this team has played over the last 3 years and now have a complete off-season to rest up and ready for a run back to the Stanley Cup in 2016
Welp, that's it Playing out the string Saturday vs. San Jose. Unlike in 2013 or 2014 I don't think this team would've beaten the Blues or Blackhawks anyways. Yes I'm disappointed, but on the flip side, even if they lost in 5 or 6 games to St. Louis they get 10+ extra days of rest after finishing a 3 year stretch of Stanley cup champs- WCF - Stanley cup champs. That couple with the fact a lot of the guys played in the Olympics in 2014 and that was a LOT of hockey this team has played over the last 3 years and now have a complete off-season to rest up and ready for a run back to the Stanley Cup in 2016
I agree. We've played so many playoff games the last few years. Let's come back strong next year.
As much as I hate the Kings, I don't really hate the Kings. I mean, as an opponent you hate 'em because of the rivalry, but you respect them because of the success. And a lot of the games and playoff series between the Kings and the Hawks or the Sharks or the Ducks, these are epic, excellent hockey, fun to watch, heartbreaking to lose, thrilling to win.
The league is getting what it wants with parity, look around this year, my beloved Blackhawks are limping into the playoffs, and really only on the strength of what they did in the first half, the Bruins are currently out, a point back of then Pens (who have a game in hand and the tie breaker), 2 back of Ottawa for the wild card, so possibly either the Pens or Bruins miss (likely the Bruins), that is two of the four teams that have hoisted the cup the last 6 seasons missing, and the two that are going to be in the playoffs will be limping in.
When it comes down to it, the Kings have played A LOT of hockey these last few years, as have the Blackhawks and Bruins, too, between deep playoff runs and many olympians, and have dealt with unfortunate injuries, and the suspension to Voynov was really crippling, with the cap hit.
I don't think that it is good for the NHL, when they are trying to grow the brand, to have the Kings miss the playoffs, and I don't know that some of the potential matchups are going to garner much interest in the US. Canadians will certainly be more invested, but Canucks-Flames or even the Habs-Sens won't likely be ratings bonanzas, nor would the Blues-Wild (outside of their own markets, of course). So, in a lot of ways, I am sad that the Kings are eliminated.
Canucks/Flames might actually be a fun series. Blackhawks/Preds is probably gonna be good as well. Wild/Blues is probably gonna be good too with how hot the Wild have been since January. Only Western series that I don't think will be any good is Winnipeg/Anaheim, but it'll still be fun to see how packed the MTS Centre is in Winnipeg for the playoffs. If the Kings had to miss the playoffs, I'm happy the Jets & Flames made it, it's been a long time coming for both of those cities.
Unlike the West who's 4 matchups are pretty much set at this point, there's still a lot to be decided in the East the next 2 days, but I'd find it hard to believe you'd have more then 2 matchups that don't have at least some intrigue.
Oh, for hockey fans, these series will absolutely hold intrigue, but for a league that is trying to grow fanbases of casual fans, not having the Kings in is a minus. The LA market has a large fan base, as does Boston and Pittsburgh. So when LA and either Boston or Pittsburgh aren't in the playoffs, and when some of the series are Canada vs Canada, American fans might not be interested as much. And the seedings could still change, the Wild could slide up to #3 and the Hawks down to #1 WC. We shall see by the end of Saturday who plays who and where and when.
Oh, for hockey fans, these series will absolutely hold intrigue, but for a league that is trying to grow fanbases of casual fans, not having the Kings in is a minus. The LA market has a large fan base, as does Boston and Pittsburgh. So when LA and either Boston or Pittsburgh aren't in the playoffs, and when some of the series are Canada vs Canada, American fans might not be interested as much. And the seedings could still change, the Wild could slide up to #3 and the Hawks down to #1 WC. We shall see by the end of Saturday who plays who and where and when.
I agree. Even celebrities have started going to the Kings games now that the Lakers suck. Big market teams draw ratings.
Who is ready for some Kings hockey? Making a trip out to LA in early-November and already got 4th row seats to multiple games. I think this is going to be a good year!
Just realized we're on NBC tomorrow night for the opener.
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Playing out the string Saturday vs. San Jose. Unlike in 2013 or 2014 I don't think this team would've beaten the Blues or Blackhawks anyways. Yes I'm disappointed, but on the flip side, even if they lost in 5 or 6 games to St. Louis they get 10+ extra days of rest after finishing a 3 year stretch of Stanley cup champs- WCF - Stanley cup champs. That couple with the fact a lot of the guys played in the Olympics in 2014 and that was a LOT of hockey this team has played over the last 3 years and now have a complete off-season to rest up and ready for a run back to the Stanley Cup in 2016
