rustybear

[rustybear]

this makes a lot of sense, considering i would probably be a kings fan if i actually lived in a decent timezone, but unfortunately for me most kings games are at 03:00 am GMT, and i find it hard enough staying up to watch east coast games at 00:00 😫 still love the goth gf tho <3

it is really interesting to hear how much time zones matter in the nhl, bc in the uk it's never something we have to worry about in sports (at least domestically). for most sports, all games are usually on at the same time, on the same day of the week - almost always a saturday - though they don't have nearly as many games as an nhl team. when people say the european mind cannot comprehend the size of the USA, they are talking about me.

why is kopitar so underrated? maybe it's bc i'm not a kings fan (and that i'm quite new to the nhl), but i never hear anyone talk about him. as someone who wasn't following the league back in 2012-2014 i'm sure there was more of a buzz then, but he's doing really well right now, especially considering he is the same age as crosby and one of the best players on a (likely) playoff bound team. even if he isn't as good as crosby or ovi, he's still by far one of the best older guys in the league. ofc he doesn't have the same international prestige, but slovenia is a country that has been consistently promoted from and relegated to wc d1a, so he's not going to be winning medals at worlds or the olympics no matter how good he is. i am aware that hockey prestige tends to be focused more on north americans, so does the fact that he's not from NA - and more specifically not from a typical hockey nation - play into it? and how much longer do you reckon he'll play for? it would be nice to see him stick around for a bit longer as i'm quite keen on him (if you couldn't tell)

Why is he underrated? -> Your guess is as good as mine! probably even better than mine since I don't have the data or the expertise. I also just got here. AND im very biased lmao i think he's cool as fuck and so are the Kings... my sillies........

if you put a gun to my head I'd say i think lak play late night games + LA is not a Traditiional Hockey Market + also he is... not flashy?? <- probably why he's aged so well. he's not reliant on a speed/power game.

i dooo wonder how much of QB's emergence as a defensive center this season has to do with being around Kopi and learning from him... ough... i don't have enough of a skilled eye to tell.. i suppose my point is who the hell watching lak games except for me and the 2 moths and 3 dust bunnies that inhabit lak lb.

and I can't speak to NA biases except to shrug and say yeah I'd believe that. people love dismissing foreigners LOL!! xenophobia is all around us!! wheehehee!!!

How long will he play for? -> He's signed for 7M until 2025-26. He'll be 38 by then. He hasn't shown decline. He STILL leads the Kings in scoring (though right now that's by 1 point ahead of Kempe) and remains a locker room stalwart. His leadership, as far as I know, has never been in question. I can't see him asking for a trade or being dealt unwillingly seeing how well the whole team is playing and how he contributes to that.

Furthermore, much as I malign Jim Hiller for it, I do believe the lak youth movement has truly arrived <3 I'm so so so happy for Laferriere, Turcotte, Byfield, Clarke, Moverare, Helenius, Thomas, Lee.... Everything that could go right this season has gone right, with regards to bringing in so many of the Ontario boys (i LOVE home grown talent... love how weirdly attached they are to each other from marinating for years in the AHL)

Byfield in particular is taking on more responsibilities; just in the last couple games we've seen him butt heads with Kucherov's line as a matchup center and get rotated into Kopi's line when the Kings were in a pinch. He's gained Hiller's trust, skating just as many if not more minutes than Kopi. Going into the future this can only be a good thing for Kopi's longevity.

So given the team isn't on the decline, and the fact that Kopitar has remained remarkably healthy, and his game has never been dependent on being particularly fast/strong, and given there are young legs available to insulate him as he slows down... I'm gonna be bold and say if circumstances allow (cap, overall health, role) he plays into his 40 year old season in a reduced role <3

I hope he's a Kings lifer. He means so much to the org, to all the boys he's raised... I'm tearing up just thinking about it... ough...

thank you for dropping by!! A great reminder that i am NOT immune to beautiful goth gf...........

[rustybear]

thank you to everyone who sent suggestions for this bracket i have included my least favourites :)

[rustybear]

Hollenstein and Aeschlimman of HC Davos - Spengler Cup 2024

designs by nevercrew (x)

[rustybear]

i was skipping thru CAN vs. HCD and got jumpscared big time by joe thornton. wtf are u doing here???

[rustybear]

[rustybear]

Jakub Dobeš gets his first career shutout in his debut NHL appearance - MTL vs. FLA 28/12/2024

[rustybear]

he's just a little guy... - STR vs. HCD 27/12/2024

[rustybear]

korpi christmas card for @eskchester

[rustybear]

Joonas Korpisalo - BOS vs. BUF 21/12/2024

[rustybear]

Kirk getting some encouragement from Campbell during her debut PWHL game - MTL vs. TOR 21/12/2024

[rustybear]

the curse is broken

[rustybear]

istg this giving me a heart attack, <3 them though

[rustybear]

victoire equalises yipee!!

[rustybear]

pretty gay night tonight, pwhl + lesbian friendship bracelet making

[rustybear]

Tim Stützle... self-flagellating? - OTT vs. NYI 08/12/2024

i feel like you have to hear the sound on this one:

thanks to @golden-knights-of-the-realm for bringing this to my attention

[rustybear]

goalie pats - MTL vs. NYS 04/12/2024

[rustybear]

Marie-Philip Poulin - MTL vs. NYS 04/12/2024

+ bonus pou on the bench: