|
 NHL:
Kings
Kings hope to establish gritty identity under Sutter
Captain Dustin Brown energized
By Chris Kober | Hockeytalk.biz
DECEMBER 28, 2011 -- LOS ANGELES -- Grit: It’s an often used buzzword
throughout the hockey world, but for the 2011-2012 Los Angeles Kings, it’s
a way of life. The term permeates every inch of the Kings organization,
from the way their roster has been built by General Manager Dean Lombardi
over the last five and a half years, to the coaching style preached by
both former Head Coach Terry Murray and new bench boss Darryl Sutter, to
the example set by team captain Dustin Brown and beyond. The word is even
emblazoned across the shirt Anze Kopitar wears under his equipment.
Peter Laviolette described his Philadelphia Flyers to open the second NHL
installment of HBO 24/7 by saying “We are not a conservative team. We’re a
‘let’s … giddy-up and go’ type of team.”
 That’s
not something that would ever come out of the mouth of Sutter, but that’s not to
say the Kings play “Kitty bar the door” hockey. While the Kings could use an
infusion of offense, as they are last in the league in terms of goals per game
(2.14 through Dec 26), to open up the flood gates and trade chances would almost
be disingenuous toward the identity of this team.
When being introduced to the Los Angeles media on Dec. 21 Sutter set the
stage for what his tenure with the Kings would mean.
“This is a 3-2 league,” Sutter said. “It’s not a 5-2 or 5-4 league, so
there’s a tremendous impact by being good defenders, not spending as much time
in your own zone, and spending more time in the offensive zone, controlling the
neutral zone. There’s a lot of parts to it. It’s not just because we haven’t
scored enough goals.”
Often a coaching change in the NHL means a drastic move in coaching style
whether from a disciplinarian to a players’ coach or from a defensive scheme to
more of a North/South orientation. For example when the Anaheim Ducks fired
Randy Carlyle, a hard-nosed coach with a defense first philosophy earlier this
season, his replacement Bruce Boudreau brought an offensive disposition and an
emphasis on teaching. For the Kings however, the change is more of a
reinforcement of their existing doctrine.
(above: Dustin Brown / Photo: Getty Images)
“Our system hasn’t changed,” said Brown (above), “our personnel hasn’t
changed, but you’re starting to see a more consistent attitude.”
Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell elaborated.
“Something [Sutter has] stressed a lot is ‘low to high’’ Mitchell explained.
“The forwards to get us the puck up there and when they do, we’re obligated to
get the puck to the net and create some things for them. That’s a team, that’s
working for each other. He’s created that environment.”
Sutter coaches to the strengths of the type of roster that the Kings have
today. The move has been criticized as safe or comfortable, as Lombardi has
worked with Sutter for parts of six seasons in San Jose starting in 1997. But
more to the point this is a coach who fits with the team he leads. He’s a round
peg to fit in the proverbial round hole.
Of course Sutter and Lombardi are familiar with each other. With Sutter,
Lombardi built the Sharks into a perennial playoff team. Beyond familiarity, the
hire speaks to a philosophical kinship over how to build a winning hockey team.
The Sutter family name is almost synonymous with the rugged grinding style of
play that Darryl and his six brothers who made it to the NHL trafficked in, on
their way to nearly 5,000 combined NHL regular season games played and six
Stanley Cups. Furthering the legacy of the Sutter clan, four of those six
brothers became NHL head coaches. Current Calgary Flames Head Coach Brent
Sutter, owns and was at one time the Coach and GM of the Red Deer Rebels of the
Western League, a franchise as identified with the gruff aesthetic of Western
Canadian junior hockey as any other.
 “I
think the one thing he immediately gives your team is an identity,” Lombardi
(left) said in a Q & A session with the media following Sutter’s introduction.
“Clearly, having known him as a man, you know he stands for something. And
usually when you have an identity and you stand for something, some people are
going to like it and some people aren't. But, you're going to stand for
something. That was the experience I had with him in San Jose. I think he
clearly did that in Calgary [too]. As soon as he comes in, your team starts
getting an identity. So, if you ask me for that intangible, that you can't
define or you can't put into numbers - and I think that's critical - I really do
think that we've struggled with that a bit this year. And I think if we're ever
going to get to the level that we want to get to, I don't care how good your
players are, or whatever, you have to establish an identity and stand for
something. 'This is the way we're going to play' and away you go. I think you
can say that in any sport."
The identity that Lombardi speaks of is not exactly a new development in Los
Angeles.
As noted here throughout the past two seasons, the Kings are built to grind
out close games along the boards, not trade chances and run the score up to
seven or eight. This season, Ryan Smyth, Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds
are gone, but in their place are players who fit a similarly gritty mold,
including Mike Richards and younger players playing a more prominent role such
as Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford. On defense, grit comes in the form of
Matt Greene, Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty.
Perhaps no one on the team embodies the crash and bang identity of the Kings
under Sutter than Brown. All of the popular key words and phrases around the
Kings’ locker room: Low to High, puck recovery, forecheck, backcheck, puck
possession etc. can be applied to how Brown plays the game.
The six foot, 204 lb left wing has flourished with four goals and five points
in his last six games.
“It’s been a big change with firing our coach,” Brown said after scoring the
game winning goal in Monday’s 4-3 victory over Phoenix. “Going through that,
guys need to step up. Practices have been different, just your approach to the
game. It’s really hard to pinpoint. Every player has highs and lows throughout
the year and the really good players find a way to play at that high level, I
would say 50 games. Right now I’m just feeling good. My legs feel good and a lot
of that comes with off-ice preparation, getting myself ready.”
Early in the Phoenix game Monday, the Brown-Kopitar-Richardson line was the
most dangerous on the ice. Both first period goals came from point shots at the
end of long grinding shifts in the offensive zone by the trio.
“Obviously you want to play a puck possession game,” said Kopitar. “It seems
like we have been skating a lot more and getting in on the forechecks and
recovering pucks and that’s a big thing for us. If we can recover pucks and
create chances off the cycle obviously we’re spending time in their zone and
that’s what you want to do.”
Beyond point production, the captain contributes with physicality and
undaunted puck pursuit. Along with his even strength and power play acumen,
Brown is a fixture on the first penalty kill unit. He has recorded a whopping 45
hits in his last eight games, five of which were on the road. While it can be a
nebulous statistic, that volume is indicative of the high pressure, physical
style that Brown specifically and the Kings in general play when at the top of
their game.
Three games into the Sutter Era in Los Angeles, the Kings are 2-0-1. While
it’s too early to say that the season has turned around and they are on the road
toward fulfilling the great expectations heaped upon them to start the season,
the Kings have an identity that is uniquely their own. It’s tough but not
bullying, defensive but not trapping, aggressive but not risky. It’s Darryl
Sutter hockey.
TOP
HOME
2011 WESTERN HOCKEY NETWORK |
