LA Kings training camp: Day 1 notes and observations

However, when we talked to Phillip Danault, he thought the player who kicked off the aggressive play was Quinton Byfield. And he’s right.

From the drop of the puck, I saw a different Q. Maybe it’s the tinted visor. But he looks to be a man on a mission. Not only to prove he can play the center ice position or even be a top contributor for the LA Kings but also to be among the elite in the National Hockey League.

On one occasion, as defenseman Reilly Walsh turned away from the corner boards with the puck, the 6’5″ 225 pound Byfield crushed him with a huge body check knocking Walsh to the ground. I can’t imagine what that means for the rest of the league if the fleet of foot Byfield adds some nasty to his game.

So long 1-3-1?

That’s right Kings fans. Your dreams have come true. That much-maligned neutral zone strategy won’t hurt you anymore. The Kings are shifting away from the 1-3-1 into a 1-2-2 system.

Head coach Jim Hiller described the thought process behind the change as to maximize what he feels is a strength of the team–skating ability.

“We think we can get our forwards skating a little bit more by adjusting to a 1-2-2. And that’s in the neutral zone, yes. But it also may lead to how you break the puck out when the puck does come in.”

Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe voiced their concerns with the 1-3-1 system at the end of last season. This should be a welcome adjustment for the two highly skilled forwards. “It’s a good change I think. Let’s see how it goes,” said Fiala.

Juice went a little more in-depth on what it means for him moving away from the 1-3-1, “Last year as a right winger you have to go back for the puck a lot and maybe you aren’t up in the rush as the main guy. Sometimes you come in late and you get chances. But I think playing the 1-2-2 once we turn the puck over in our favor I think there’s going to be some times when we get good rush opportunities. And that’s where I feel like my game is really good.”

“A fresh start” for Arthur

It was a rough end to the season for Arthur Kaliyev. He struggled to find ice time for whatever reason. And then reports came out of a trade request.

As a restricted free agent, Kaliyev’s status with the Kings remained a mystery throughout the summer. That was until Tuesday where he signed a one-year deal to remain in Los Angeles.

We got our first chance to talk with the soft-spoken Kaliyev who described this season as a fresh start for him with the team. “Obviously it was a little bit challenging. First time going through that type of summer. It happened. I’m back here and I’m excited.”

Head coach Jim Hiller empathized with the situation Kaliyev was in surrounding his unknown status with the club.

“That’s a hard summer for him it really is. It was up in the air–was he going to come back, wasn’t he? I think the great part for our team is he’s back. He’s a King again. We’ll move on from what happened in the past, at least from our perspective. And he’s had a summer to kind of flush that too. Now he just goes back to the same scenario as every other player.”

Kaliyev started the first day of training camp skating with Akil Thomas and Trevor Lewis. In what many presume to be the fourth line for the Kings if the season started tomorrow.

Notes

• The first goal of the scrimmage was scored by Aatu Jamsen who surprised everyone going lacrosse style in one swift motion behind a crowded net.
• Hiller singled out Andre Lee and Samuel Helenius as two players who stood out during the scrimmage.
• Pheonix Copley is back to 100%. He tested among the highest on the team in the strength department, which should be no surprise.
• Trevor Moore went bar down on one tally for Team Black.

Featured Image Credit: ALoImages (@aloimages)