The LA Kings are set to name Darryl Sutter head coach in the next few days.
“He’s going to bring character, an attitude I think we need in here,” said Kings forward Jarret Stoll this morning ahead of the game against the Leafs on Monday. “Our attitude some games is right, some games it’s not.”
Sounds like a team that hasn’t played with much heart, passion or grit this season, doesn’t it?
“I heard he’s a bit of a yeller and that’s a good thing,” added defenceman Drew Doughty. “We need someone who is going to push us, to get the best out of us every night. He’s going to be a great fit for our team.”
We need someone who is going to push us? Really?
He brings an attitude we need in here? What?
This LA Kings team seems to have plenty of young talent, but it also seems to be missing something that can’t be measured in goals, or wins.
The Kings sit 10th in the Western conference, having scored just 69 goals on the season. They find themselves 5 points out of the last playoff spot in the Western conference.
Is this a team that is much like the southern California lifestyle itself: laid back, easy going, care free?
“We are going to be lot harder team to play against under Darryl,” said Stoll.
“We need to take control, every single one of us,” said Doughty. “Right now we are so down emotionally that things aren’t going well. Everyone has to look at the mirror.”
The Kings have scored just 68 goals on the year. They haven’t scored more than 2 goals in any of the last 11 games they have played. They are coming off an 8-2 beating in Detroit.
Darryl Sutter last coached in the NHL in 2006. His record behind an NHL bench: 409-320-131.
Can his no nonsense approach work with a young team that is apparently craving that type of leadership?
We should have a good idea soon enough.
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