.

They take a step back, so you’ve got to take a step back.

This is no demotion for Dwight King, in fact it’s far from it. In comparison to what the NHL is going through right now, you mine as well consider this a promotion.

If yesterday’s string of events has left you tongue-tied, which with many it has, don’t let today’s transaction do the same.

After his phenomenal jump to Los Angeles last season, you would never have pictured Dwight King making a return to the friendly confines of Manchester, New Hampshire – for hockey purposes, at least.

However, as the lockout continues, and with the NHL officially cancelling all games through November 1st, that’s exactly where King finds himself, with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.

Thursday saw a possible opportunity for the Kings to punch plane tickets from Europe back to Southern California for Anze Kopitar, Alec Martinez, and Jonathan Bernier.

Instead of welcoming those Kings exports home, they’re staying put in their respective international landscapes, and Dwight King becomes the seventh player to find playing time elsewhere during the NHL lockout.

ManchVegas – Where the show’s at

In his return to Manchester, Dwight King will also be returning to play alongside three familiar teammates from last year’s Stanley Cup run. Jordan Nolan, Vyacheslav Voynov, and Andrei Loktionov are the other three Kings players to fill their hockey void elsewhere during the NHL lockout.

Jordan Nolan is out for a few weeks with a broken finger, which was injured in a fight in the Monarchs’ season opener in Providence, Rhode Island.

Vyacheslav Voynov went pointless in his first two contests back in Manchester, but tallied an assist in Friday night’s home opener. Voynov has carried over his offensive knack and physical play from last season, adding four shots and eight hits to his stat-line.

Andrei Loktionov has been the standout of the group thus far, notching a goal and an assist, all while leading the entire Monarchs’ roster in shots on goal. Loktionov’s goal came in shorthanded fashion, the first and only of that kind this season for Manchester.

The Manchester Monarchs have started their season with a 2-1-0 record, dropping their first game Friday night to the Providence Bruins in their home opening contest at Verizon Wireless Arena. It is unclear when Dwight King is supposed to make his return to the Monarchs’ lineup, but they have a date slated for Saturday night at home against the Portland Pirates.

If not, he’ll certainly be in action a week from Saturday (Oct. 27) in New Hampshire against the Worcester Sharks.

And when the Kings are back, King’ll be back. We’re talking one of the most valuable players from the Kings’ Stanley Cup run. He, along with counterpart Jordan Nolan, reestablished an identity to the Kings’ offense, one that struck Darryl Sutter and the entire club as a whole in dominant fashion.

Funny thing is, King and Nolan were Manchester, NH citizens the majority of last hockey season.

Don’t call it full circle.

King’s Key

In Manchester, Dwight’s All Right

KingsCast’s Season 3 Bloopers – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube