KINGS 0, CAPITALS 4

The LA Kings are not playing very well.

I know, I know, that’s a very controversial statement, but it had to be said.

How poorly are they playing? Well, after last night’s 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Kings now find themselves in 12th place in the Western Conference.

See, I told you!

┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| _ ┻┳| •.•) ┳┻|⊂ﾉ The Maple Leafs have more wins than the Kings. ┻┳| — Nina Falcone (@NinaFalcone) February 4, 2015

OK, that just hurts.

It would be one thing if the Kings appeared to put forth some genuine effort against the Capitals, but it wasn’t as if they looked hapless the entire night. No, they basically got ran out of the building. And if it wasn’t for Jonathan Quick, the score could have gotten completely out of hand.

That said, the Kings are still a good hockey team. …they’re just not as good as last season.

Is there a quick fix? No. The team is missing three major components from last season’s roster (Mike Richards, Willie Mitchell and Slava Voynov) and is essentially capped out unless Dean Lombardi is able to move Richards.

Fortunately, some Kings fans have found other, more inventive ways to improve the roster!

Can we trade Stoll now? He's the epitome of dumb penalties at bad times — Brian Wisdom (@Nitrohockey33) February 4, 2015

“@lakingsinsider: Kopitar's first shot attempt of the game comes roughly 17:15 into the second period. It sails wide on the PP.” Trade him. — Rick Anderson (@rickandersonoc) February 4, 2015

I'd trade anyone on the roster who's not @JeffCarter_77 @JonathanQuick32 @dewyy8 , maybe a couple others. Name can't keep a spot w/o results — Rick Anderson (@rickandersonoc) February 4, 2015

@LAKings We need to trade stoll. He takes too many bad penalties and hes playing subpar hockey. No offense and worse defense. #28worstonice — timmy (@jegerenfisk24) February 4, 2015

Since the #LaKings have become a joke, trade Stoll, Williams, and Regehr @ the deadline?DL might have to quit on the season by the deadline. — Al (@Raiders2424) February 4, 2015

If Kings were smart, they would trade Richards for Green. — Dom (@DomenicBartone) February 4, 2015

Trade Dustin Brown for a defenseman. Trade Kopitar for a defenseman. Trade someone for a defenseman. #LAKings — Laurie D. (@Redfroggy) February 4, 2015

I'm starting to think the Kings might be sellers at the trade deadline ! — Chris Marvin (@olli22) February 4, 2015

Dean Lombardi…..time to make some moves. Trade someone please. This team can't do anything right now. — Kevin Sauer (@ksauer55) February 4, 2015

Trade Kopitar and Brown today please. — Rick Anderson (@rickandersonoc) February 4, 2015

As long as the team doesn’t panic as much as its fans, then in all likelihood things will turn around.

After yesterday’s loss, Dustin Brown made a point of saying that the time for talk is over, and that the players need to step up to change the team’s fortunes.

Via LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen:

Brown, on whether he is going to call a team meeting:

I mean we’ve been talking about it for a month now, so if guys don’t know what’s going on, then they haven’t been listening. We’ve had plenty of meetings. We’ve talked about it. At a certain point, you’ve got to stop talking.

So cheer up, Kings fans. The entire team knows what it has to do.

Everything is going to fine!

No more talking. No more meetings. No more excuses.

Practice was supposed to begin 22 minutes ago and no one has emerged from the room. — Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) February 4, 2015

Oh for the love of…