Yes, yes, and f*ck yes.

They entered last night’s commencement to the postseason with no easy agenda, taking to the ice in one of the most hostile environments that is the Rogers Centre, against the NHL‘s best club in the Vancouver Canucks. The league’s spectrum had them written off, and you were anxiously waiting for them to crumble into that trap, the trap they were supposed to fall into.

Instead, they won – and in utterly convincing fashion.

There’s folks looking now, and the Kings have now put themselves on the NHL‘s ‘upset’ radar, making Vancouver look nervous, confused, and undisciplined in a shocking 4-2 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

And who does the game-winning goal come from? None other than Dustin Penner, who very well could have played his best game of the year last night. Mike Richards, who not only intercepted a Vancouver clearing attempt, but controlled the turnover in a patient manner for time and space to set up the goal, did exactly what a player is supposed to do. Throw the puck on net, even if it is a said ‘pass’.

“That was just a bad pass by me. I just saw him [Jeff Carter] go to the net. It was a bad pass and a good play by him.’’ – Mike Richards via LA Kings Insider

Tell me now, what happens when you direct the puck to the net, with heavy traffic?

And it’s quieter than a library

Hit ‘n win: For how unfavorably the Kings were roughed around in the final two regular season games against the San Jose Sharks, last night’s physical performance that featured 28 hits was a complete turnaround – and one of, if not the major factor in the game’s outcome.

This took Vancouver off of their game throughout, the Kings forcing ‘dump and chase’ play by standing the blue lines, and winning the battles against the Canucks’ forecheck. Vancouver had little time and/or opportunity to set up and play into their systems, the Kings were ferocious defensively.

This ignited an extremely undisciplined side to the Vancouver Canucks.

Which, the Kings keyed on, although not as often as you wanted to see. The Canucks took a shocking eight penalties, the Kings executed with goals on two of them.

Winning ways

Jonathan Quick was absolutely brilliant last night, stopping 24 of 26 shots. A shutout was closer than you think. Vancouver’s first goal could have been, and very arguably so, goaltender interference – nixing the goal. But, the call didn’t go that way. Vancouver’s second tally came off of an awkward puck that ricocheted twice en rout to Quick, who had no chance in reacting to the extreme change in angle.

Mike Richards was uncanny in all assets, from his goal and two assists, to his complete and total domination in his matchup with Ryan Kesler, which could force the Canucks to make lineup adjustments for Game 2. This is why Dean Lombardi acquired Richards, and he didn’t just show it in his three points, but while delivering four hits and causing a turnover to develop the game-winning goal.

Solid play didn’t just come from the big names, but from those on the 3rd and 4th lines as well. There was one point in the game where Jordan Nolan, Kyle Clifford, and Colin Fraser controlled the puck for an entire shift in Vancouver’s zone against their first line. There were a combined 10 hits delivered from the back two lines, which shook the Canucks’ defense to the point to where those lines became offensive threats.

F*ck Alex Burrows.

Offensive contributions from the defense is something that has been proven to be a major tool for success for the Kings this season, and they continued to connect while holding the blue line. The Kings are 27-6-3 when a defenseman records a goal, they upped that stat to 28 wins last night. The defense combined for 12 shots on goal, with an assist from Drew Doughty, and a howitzer of a goal from former Canuck Willie Mitchell.

Looking ahead

The Kings must continue to maintain a heavy physical presence, they must continue to challenge Vancouver at the top of their own zone, forcing a ‘dump and chase’ game from the Canucks, allowing little setup during zone entry.

Don’t worry about Jonathan Quick, worry about having success against Roberto Luongo again. If Luongo does in fact get the loss again tomorrow night, the pressure from Vancouver’s surprising backup in Corey Schneider could potentially force the Canucks to make a change in crease when heading to Los Angeles – something playoff teams loathe doing.

The Kings have gone 1-1 on the road to start their playoff series’ the past two seasons, but have never won the opening game in doing so. Back then, Game 2 was just about keeping pace, and maintaining home ice. Now after winning the first contest, they have an opportunity to do some great damage, and head back home with a 2-0 series lead. There’s no room for comfort here, going to LA up 2-0, opposed to a stalemate at 1-1, is a night and day difference.

Continue to let Drew Doughty play a loose game, he did just fine last night in playing freely in both ends, notching an assist with six shots on goal. Not to mention, he’s been recovering to smart positioning after offensive zone rushes better than I’ve ever seen him do. Since Darryl Sutter‘s arrival, Doughty has exemplified himself as a player who performs better with fewer defensive boundaries. Let the guy play.

If there was a player more deserving than Dustin Brown in tallying the empty netter last night, then please tell me who. Eight shots, four hits, and yet another strong, captain-like outing.

At least for now, time is on our side

Game 1 Recap featured in Episode 152 HERE
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LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — Through 58 games of the 2011-12 season, one thing is now irrefutable.

When it comes to scoring goals, the Los Angeles Kings are an embarrassing lesson in futility.

There are many opinions and theories out there, attempting to explain the Kings’ woeful inability to score goals. Many point fingers at the coaching staff, and the system the Kings play, among other things. But when you talk to people who really know the game, such as National Hockey League scouts, along with Iformer NHL players and coaches who are involved in the game in various capacities, among the most frequent comments you hear are that the Kings often fail to execute their game plan, and that they do not pay attention to detail on breakout plays, allowing gaps between forwards and defensemen to get too wide, preventing them from generating speed through the neutral zone.

Once in the offensive zone, the Kings do a poor job of getting traffic in front of the net, their defensemen struggle to get pucks to the net from the point, and the forwards often shy away from taking the puck to the prime scoring areas, let alone shoot if they get there at all.

A glaring example of that was highly-skilled center Anze Kopitar, who recorded a big goose egg on the scoresheet on February 16, in a 1-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes at Staples Center.

Obviously, with the Kings on the wrong end of a shutout, Kopitar did not score a goal. But the more important zero on the scoresheet next to his name was in the shots on goal column.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

Also check out Gann’s latest on forward call-ups Dwight King and Jordan Nolan here.

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The postseason is no guarantee, far from it.

It’s too bad, it really is. And even more so, it’s hard to believe.

Hollywood Ink: Coming from an offseason that saw Kings’ GM Dean Lombardi reel off two major deals that brought elite offensive talent in Mike Richards and Simon Gagne to this roster, the Kings are mired in one of their worst scoring seasons in franchise history.  On paper, the moves were drastic improvements. In reality’s results, it’s been anything but. February 27′s NHL trade deadline, even though I hate to say it, may be Dean Lombardi‘s final chance to maintain his managerial career in Los Angeles.

I will say this again, and only because I think it is a major factor in the lopsided differences we’ve seen in offensive production this season and the past, that I target Ryan Smyth as the lead factor on Lombardi’s failures in Los Angeles. It was his biggest deal in 2009, reeling in the veteran forward to mature a young core, it was his biggest loss in 2011, not winning the satisfaction of a proven NHL scorer and allowing him to walk out on his own terms. Many still like the point blame at Smyth here, but it’s a GM’s job to make it work.

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Before you point finger at Dean Lombardi, consider the ultimatums in the failures of his signings of Simon Gagne and Mike Richards to bring success to this club. Gagne has been out with a concussion since December 26, who had posted 17 points in 34 games before the injury. As for Richards, he’s been without support, and his play deems little criticism, it’s hard to do the job alone. Again, this is why Ryan Smyth pops into the equation again, missing a reliable winger for Phildelphia’s former.

The trade-deadline is nothing I’m seeing big change coming from, nor am I fan of it. Really, the only player the Kings are sure to get anything worthwhile for is Jack Johnson. His contract is certainly tradeable, but then again we’re talking Dean Lombardi here. That’s a big name player, that’s a big time deal, Lombardi doesn’t fit that history, especially with the big moves he made just months ago.

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But who knows, it’s gotten to a point of desperation for Lombardi, who is starting to feel pressure as the promise he’s built in LA is crashing hard – and fast. It’s come to the Kings recalling forwards Jordan Nolan and Dwight King from the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs to provide a Hail Mary boost to this lost offense. That’s not going to solve the problem, neither is a deal that doesn’t involve Jack Johnson.

And let me be clear, Jonathan Bernier has no business getting dealt before the 27th. Bernier is worth more than a last-ditch effort for a GM on the hot seat. At the very least, leave all other options open (including Johnson), and hope for a top-8 Western Conference seed.

That’s all you can hope for at this point, that’s what Dean Lombardi needs to maintain hopes of further employment in Los Angeles.

If you’re going to hit rock bottom, try not to do it here

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Where else would you find concourse golf at an NHL game than in Florida? I wouldn’t mind swinging away a few worthless periods at Staples Center. Something they may have to consider.

Unfortunately the only thing taking fans away from the Kings’ miseries are those $9 beers.

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The Kings are in Dallas, Texas tomorrow afternoon in an effort to salvage whatever they can from this horrible road swing. Posting a 1-4 record on the trip, the Kings have now seriously put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

For a bit of good to the heart, here’s a classic against the Dallas Stars at Staples Center back in 2007. Six goals, in less than ten minutes. It’s hard to imagine ’07 being better times, but it flirts with you.

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Tune into KingsCast’s Episode 143 HERE
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The Los Angeles Kings miss Ryan Smyth.

I refuse to acknowledge the past two games. What is this ‘past two games’ you speak of? Trash.

Smyth, a menace atop the crease, and a player who always has had the knack to finish, took his valued attributes back to Edmonton over the summer. The qualities Smyth brought to the Kings’ roster for two years were underrated by some, his absence is showing a few holes in the team’s offensive output this year.

Don’t be afraid to admit this, please.

Back home this season, Ryan Smyth has 36 points in his 52 games played. If those numbers were to be compared with those on the Kings, Smyth would be tied for 2nd in points on the team with Justin Williams (36), only behind Anze Kopitar (46). Pretty impressive for Smyth at the age of 35, who was heavily targeted in Los Angeles heading into the ’10-’11 season, simply for inevitably turning 34.

There are two key things I’d like to point out before we go any farther, and before people start to stray away from the main point here. Ryan Smyth didn’t want to stay here, and even if Dean Lombardi didn’t honor his trade request, you’d have an unhappy veteran in the locker room. That’s not good. Second, when the Kings granted Smyth’s wish, they saved $6.25 million on this year’s salary cap hit. If not for this money, the Kings very well may be without Mike Richards or Simon Gagne. And of course, where would the Kings find the cash to pay this guy?

Really, I’d love to make this article as sweet as possible and imagine Ryan Smyth with today’s Kings roster, but the chances of that happening were slim to none.

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Highlight reels haven’t often caught Smyth throughout his career, they sure aren’t these days either. He has no shot, he’s got below average speed, and no physical presence. However, the guy manages to score, and is 3rd in points on an Edmonton Oilers roster that is stacked with youth.

One of the biggest misconceptions made about Ryan Smyth may be those judgments sparked by his age.

For the way this season has gone for Ninety Four, he could slinky behind the goal-line, throw weak (yet smart) close-range shots on net, and use that magical wooden blade of his to redirect pucks to hit twine at a decent rate until he’s 40. These aren’t skills that demand invigorated youth, but more smarts and experience. Ryan Smyth knows how to anticipate plays, how to position for a shot’s rebound, and how to make something out of what looks to be absolutely nothing.

Smyth is reportedly on the NHL trade market for the upcoming deadline as a loan, meaning he’d have to waive his no-trade clause with an expected mutual agreement to return to Edmonton for the ’12-’13 campaign. There will be no Smyth-LA reunion, there are too many reasons to note; And if you are aware of just one, that should be enough to close the door.

It’s just a bit unfortunate, and that’s easier to say with how this Kings’ offense has panned out this year, which is rather top-heavy with extremely notable NHL talent. Yet, much of the fanbase is in hopes for a big-time deal from Dean Lombardi before the February 27 trade deadline. The talent is already here, what you’re really looking for is 3rd/4th line depth and/or a scrappy asset like Smyth. Edmonton’s veteran is on pace to notch 57 points this season, more than he had in each of his two seasons donning a Kings sweater.

Shots on goal haven’t been the issue this year, having someone there to reinforce executing on that opportunity is. That’s what Smyth does, that’s what he did in Los Angeles.

The following clip is from Edmonton’s victory in Detroit Saturday night, and this is what it’s all about. Ryan Smyth has the assist on Simon Gagner‘s goal here – via his shot along the half-boards. That shot is ugly, that shot has nothing on it, yet the results are beautiful. That’s instinct, goals are produced in this form more often than you’d think, you just wont see them on ESPN.

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Tune into KingsCast’s Episode 142 HERE
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“We were real average, quite honestly.” — Darryl Sutter

Back to work: It may have been an average performance, barely topping the NHL‘s worst club in Columbus — but the fashion in which the Kings earned the two points was anything but. Before we get to the positives from last night’s contest, and how you really couldn’t ask for a bigger momentum swing to start post – All Star break play, there’s a simple explanation for Staples Center clock controversy as Drew Doughty netted the game winner with just 0.4 seconds to play. Kings GM Dean Lombardi said it best, in response to Columbus GM Scott Howson‘s premature accusations.

“Those clocks are sophisticated instruments that calculate time by measuring electrical charges called coulombs — given the rapidity and volume of electrons that move through the measuring device the calibrator must adjust at certain points which was the delay you see. The delay is just recalibrating for the clock moving too quickly during the 10—10ths of a second before the delay. This insures that the actual playing time during a period is exactly 20 minutes.”

“That is not an opinion -— that is science -— amazing device quite frankly.”

“The clock stoppage is actually common, just not always in the last seconds of a game leading to a GWG in that final second. It is the clock’s display syncing with the internal clock/computer.”

So, to get technical, it came down to coulombs in the last-second victory against Columbus.

Would Dean Lombardi be saying the same thing if this had happened against the Kings? Maybe not, probably not. But, when you’re on the losing side of a situation like that, you tend to let frustrations get in the way of clear, calm thinking. Plus, many times have I seen Staples’ clock pause in such a fashion it did last night in the final minute of a period. Drew Doughty scored that goal prior to the 20-minute mark, case closed.

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Not just Average: Kings coach Darryl Sutter was right on the money tabbing last night’s performance ‘average’, but it’s got the makings to give this club a huge boost, a great deal of momentum. If winning a game in front of a home crowd with 0.4 seconds left to play isn’t enough adrenaline to build off of leading into the season’s longest road trip, those who contributed, and in what situations, should provide some much needed optimism.

For starters, the Kings executed on two of three powerplay opportunities, which further shows the resurgence play in man-advantage situations has seen the past couple of weeks. The last time the Kings saw the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 7th, a 1-0 loss, the Kings went 0-8 on the powerplay. What a difference it can make, no?

Justin Williams, who chipped in with a powerplay goal of his own netting the first goal of last night’s contest, now has points in nine consecutive games. Williams has 35 points in his 49 appearances this season, he’s notched 11 in his current nine game scoring streak. This is huge.

Dustin Penner hounded on a turnover he caused and used his strength to find a lane straight to the net in beating a helpless Curtis Sanford for the Kings’ second tally of the night. Penner isn’t riding a point streak like Williams, but whenever you can get production from the struggling forward, you’re gladly going to take it. Plus, the guy has consistently been looking better each game.

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If you were somewhere under a rock last night, here’s a clip showing multiple replays of Drew Doughty‘s goal. If you get to the :49 second mark of this video, you’ll clearly see the clock’s stoppage at 1.8 seconds. However, there’s no reason to be afraid to see this again, as it simply was the visible clock re-syncing with the internal mechanisms. 10′ths of a second can be a bit hard to keep up with, this happens more than you think. It’s difficult to notice, as the clock had the full spotlight this time around. A good goal it is, tough break for the Blue Jackets.. yet again.

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Or, it could be a blessing in disguise.

Let’s dive into a couple of assets that have shown face recently, both players mighty quiet throughout the season. Neither of the following players are going to save the season for the Kings, but their recent output (if you really call it that) spotlights where this club is really hurting.

Want that big-name, proven talent top-6 type of forward to make way to Los Angeles via another Dean Lombardi deal? That’s the attractive option, there’s another way to look at it.

Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis have both been showing more than just hard work and dependable presence as of late, they’ve been hitting the score sheet. With the boost in play the Kings’ 4th line has seen since Darryl Sutter‘s arrival, this needed to happen sooner than later.

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Kyle Clifford has 9 points this season, he’s recorded a point or greater in 7 games this year. The Kings are 6-1-0 in those contests. Trevor Lewis has 3 points this season, he’s recorded a point in 3 separate games. The Kings are 2-0-1 when Lewis chips in. That makes the Kings 8-1-1 when these two 4th-liners ink the score sheet. These moments haven’t been just a personal boost for Clifford and Lewis, but to the Kings and their biggest problem this year – scoring. In Clifford’s 7 games with a point, the Kings have totaled 24 goals, a 3.43 goals-per average. In Lewis’ 3 games with a point, the Kings have totaled 14 goals, a 4.67 goals-per average.

Those medians are a far cry from the club’s lowly average of 2.13 goals per game this season, which sits dead last in the NHL.

This really shows what production from a 3rd or 4th line can do to a club, it has an effect on the big-name role players, alleviates some pressure. The stats, even though I’m not a numbers guy, avidly agree.

I’m a bit thrown off when it comes to hunting down a big-name on the market come the trade-deadline. The Kings have the firepower, the frustration has been it’s extreme lack in output. What has made it even more frustrating? When that top-6 firepower doesn’t do the job, no one’s going to do it – as such with the Kings this year. If the Kings are to deal before February 27th, it should be a couple of under the radar moves to solidify the 3rd and 4th lines.

Really, it should take nothing for the Jonathan Bernier trade activists to get excited about, there’s no blockbuster solution this year. For the Kings and Dean Lombardi, it may be another move similar to two years ago, roping in Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin – but not quite that cheap. The trade may be as boring as watching this team, but it’s one that will suit the Kings much better in the long run.

To be honest, it wouldn’t be an invalid argument to claim the Kings are a fresh 3rd and/or 4th liner away from finally hitting a stride this year.

Deals aside, Kyle Clifford has been heckling defensive zones since Darryl Sutter‘s arrival, notching 20 shots in 17 games. Only 7 less than he had in his first 33 appearances.

Sh*t starts looking like a mental ward when it gets this good

Tuh-tuh-tuh…TODAY JUNIOR!

Tune into KingsCast’s Episode 141 HERE
Sh*t LA Kings Fans Don’t Say HERE
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Terry Murray ousted as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings

It had all gone bad

“I think it had to happen,” one Kings player who requested anonymity told me via text message. “We were dead.” – Pierre LeBrun

Terry couldn’t Carry: As much as I’ve harped on the need for the Kings to dismiss Terry Murray from duties as head coach, you never want to see this become an ultimatum for a club 29 games into an 82 game campaign. Dean Lombardi was flirting with a deadline to salvage the season, making the move at the latest point he possibly could have to counter the mess the Kings have produced thus far, and turn things around with a new voice behind the bench. I would have liked to see this action from Lombardi two weeks earlier, which especially had me frustrated with LA’s hockey media who sugarcoated Murray’s final weeks in extremely frustrating ways.

If this was happening in a major NHL city (IE: Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Detroit) complete mayhem would’ve abused TV networks, Radio stations, and the Interweb dating back to mid-November. This dragged on far too long.

The hype to cut ties with Murray didn’t really grow wings until this past week, and it had to come from the fans, bloggers were the only sources to express any distaste with the state of the team. You’ve got to understand the other side before taking shots, you’ve got to understand the point of view coming from the sources who talk to Terry Murray on a daily basis. Even with that, however, his explanations started to delve deeper into statistics, something that has been somewhat of a scapegoat for the Kings struggles this year.

Murray did a wonderful job developing a young Kings core for three seasons, and that’s been a positive attribute on his NHL coaching resume. When you’re working with a young, unproven group like Murray did for those three years, expectations aren’t going to spotlight your output. But with the moves made over the summer, and the Kings working with a roster that has come close to maximizing the team’s cap space for the first time in years, failure like this is simply unacceptable. Best of luck to you, Terry. Thank you for the good work you did in Los Angeles.

Right-hand man

John Stevens will head the Kings bench on an interim basis

Terry 2.0: Stevens, who preaches strategy and has a similar history just like Murray will be the momentary head coach for the Kings. Since he was not promoted in concrete fashion upon Murray’s dismissal, you can count out his chances of heading this bench for an extended period of time. And so, you can’t guarantee he’s safe to hold his position if a new coach hits Dean Lombardi‘s interest radar. Assistant coaches don’t feel the threat until a new voice gains strength with the club’s front office, that’s when they’re open to make co-worker requests. Whoever is chosen upon still heeds a question mark as to who fits alongside them for the job.

Who will it be?: That’s the intriguing part, and don’t expect the search to last longer than the Kings’ upcoming four-game roady. I’m hearing notions from a fellow KingsCast administrator that Tony Granato‘s name has been thrown around the inside circle, a guy who’s got the reputation of lighting locker room fires and winning – even if the tenure was rather short.

Initially hired as an assistant coach, Granato was promoted (much like John Stevens) 31 games into the Colorado Avalanche‘ 2002-2003 season, we’re a mere 29 into the season this time around. Under Granato, Colorado finished the campaign’s 51 remaining games with a 32-11-8 record, claiming a Division title. The Kings are close to meeting that mark, with 53 games remaining on the year’s slate. Granato went on to lead Colorado to a 40-22-20 season in 2003-2004, but was fired to due postseason failure. The Avalanche took another shot with Granato after canning Joel Quenneville in 2008, but the second dance just never pans out. His second stint heading Colorado should be irrelevant when considering him for the Kings.

If it isn’t Granato, I wouldn’t get caught up in big names available on the market, there isn’t much to pick from anyway. I’m not on the Randy Carlyle wagon, I’m just not. What’s appealing about Granato is his short-term NHL head coaching experience, which is why I’m interested in the Kings approaching unknown names impressing in the AHL or Collegiate (NCAA) level. I’m taking a dive to say this publicly, much like the risk Dean Lombardi and Co. would be facing to actually do so. I’m not here to pick and choose, it will most certainly be an interesting week.

Jackets on the plate

Two and Out: Columbus isn’t even a slight guarantee at this point, with the Kings struggling mightily to amount more than one goal a game. The differential isn’t terrible, standing at -2, but the lack of production from a refurbished offense that has more talent and veteran occupancy since their rebuild overhaul in 2008-2009 is disturbing. Not to mention, their lack to score early in games, especially being the team to score first. Here’s some quick bullets regarding offensive struggles…which indirectly uncover how crucial Kings goaltending has been.

- In 29 games played so far, the Kings have managed to score more than 2 goals in only 8 of those contests. The Kings are 8-0-0 when this happens.

- The Kings have been unable to eclipse the 2-goal mark in the last 8 games, scoring just 13 goals in a 3-5-1 stretch.

- If the Kings don’t score early, they don’t win. They’ve been trailing to start a 3rd period in 12 contests, and have lost them all. They’ve allowed the first goal in 14 of 29 games, and have won just 3 of those.

This just about sums it up

Wingin’ it: In the first installment of life after Terry Murray, the Kings will head way to TD Garden for a date with the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. This will be the first of a four-game road trip, the Kings carrying baggage of four consecutive losses to New England. John Stevens is taking quite an intriguing approach tonight, where all players that have traveled will take the ice tonight for pregame warmups. Only after will Stevens finalize his roster for the night. However, don’t expect to see any drastic changes coming from Stevens, and expect hometown boy Jonathan Quick to be a lock in the crease.

Stevens’ laid back approach tonight could help this roster find themselves, get away from the textbook-play that has plagued their output all season, and rebuild a bit of their shattered confidence.

Because, well, you know, the Kings just have not been able to produce any type of effective shot mentality.

The Kings are reportedly in talks with Darryl Sutter. Please, please look at all options, Deano. This would not be the ideal solution.

Looks like Terry Murray with a bitter beer face

Tune into KingsCast’s Episode 133 HERE
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At least give your Hockey Fest ticket to someone else, man. Those b*tches are SOLD OUT.

An offer of nine-years at $61.2 Million has reportedly been denied by Drew Doughty‘s camp.

Leaning Toward Dean: Here’s my chance to be blunt about the Drew Doughty contract situation, straight forward. That door was opened today amidst reports of Doughty’s most recent contract denial offered by Dean Lombardi. Lord help me if I didn’t worship Doughty’s timeline to re-sign and waste more important thoughts this summer. If the Kings weren’t trying, it’s another story. That’s three offers Lombardi has thrown on the table this summer, the most recent offer carrying Anze Kopitar-type money. Still, not good enough. The guy is 21 years-old, arguably the highest-touted young defenseman in the NHL, and a celebrity in the Canadian hockey market after his stellar performance during the 2010 Winter Olympics with Team Canada. So yes, Doughty’s camp is in the hunt for serious pay and solid job security; But is nine seasons while equaling the yearly salary of Anze Kopitar not good enough?

Thinking it’s time for a gut-check.

Shut the f*ck up Penner. Christ.

Back To The Future
Queue the first installment of June’s KingsCast Summer Hockey Roundtable for a serious dose of honest Doughty critique. Food for thought.

Sour Aftertaste: Please realize here, the members in this group of hockey media in the Episode above are not bashing Doughty’s skill, his value to the Kings blue-line, or his career potential. That’s been well advertised by Doughty himself, but the issues at-hand center on his attitude, his conditioning, feeding to the question that’s building solidity: Is Drew Doughty really worthy of being the highest paid-player on this team?

Attitude wasn’t the only downfall last season.

Trying To Find A Balance: Let’s swap those statistics, and if Doughty’s camp is being this stingy with contract negotiations, then so be it, you can’t argue with 82 games and 59 points. However, a pretty drastic downfall is the reality here, and there seems to be a bit too much demand for the supply – at this point in time. On August 30th, less than ten days ago, Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times reported what seemed to be a concurrence of terms between the Kings and Drew Doughty:

“Lombardi said he spoke Monday with Doughty’s agent, Don Meehan, and made an offer that “codifies what we’ve been talking about for a while.” Lombardi said the offer includes “different lengths for him to consider,” likely six to eight years.”

I consider this report to still be deemed ‘recent’ the way this summer has gone, and the Kings’ latest offer of $61.2 million over a 9-year span must be a result of it. Once the funds are broken into a yearly-salary, Doughty is earning just as much as Anze Kopitar – and situated until he’s 30 years-old. I’m lost here, what’s wrong? They may not want more money overall, but a chunkier yearly-salary over a shorter term, positioning him young and rich with NHL freedom in a few years.

Thirsty for Attention.

M.I.A. – Missing In Appearances: Doughty’s lack of public appearances have jolted the nerves of fans all summer, stemming from his cancellation to boarding the LA Kings Fan Cruise to the recent revelation that #8 will not attend Sunday’s Hockey Fest. The common justification for this will be something along the lines of “Doughty is afraid of getting hammered with contract questions.” If Doughty and the Kings were seriously on the same page, and confident in negotiations, this problem is fixed in an instant. What do scrap employees go for these days, 8.50 an hour? That’s what I make, so I’d consider that fair. “No contract questions for Mr. Doughty, Ma’am”. Simple. If everything is on-par internally with the Kings and Doughty, there’s no shame in shielding certain questions from fans in public environments.

Speaking of Hockey Fest, let’s back-track to last year’s event to take another look at Dean Lombardi‘s “Passionate Proclomation”. Check 3:19 – 5:10 in KingsCast‘s Episode 69.

What’s It Going To Be?: It’s starting to have a negative effect on the Kings’ fanbase, who will miss Doughty’s presence at yet another team event Sunday at Staples Center. That, a team can withstand, but when it begins to have an effect on the team itself, that’s when we’ve got real problems; and the way negotiations have been going, they’re flirting with that possibility. As Keith stressed to me earlier tonight, you don’t want to play games with team chemistry, and any sort of holdout from Doughty would do so. Believe me, I want Drew Doughty to re-sign, and I think Drew Doughty will re-sign. But, does he deserve what he and his agents are asking for? How much more will Dean Lombardi‘s stiff reputation on the hockey market withstand the displeasure coming from Doughty’s camp? One of the sides needs to swallow a slice of pride here, and the way this process has been trending, its time for Don Meehan and Drew Doughty to sacrifice a slice of that cake.

“The bottom line for me, I would have rather invested my money with Bernie Madoff than invest in Edmonton’s word.” – Dean Lombardi per Helene Elliott

“My history with players is that if I get a guy that wants to be traded, I probably don’t want him. I want the guy who’s hurt by the trade.” - Dean Lombardi per Dennis Bernstein

A well deserved dagger tossed by Dean Lombardi earlier in the month, and a sensible view on dealing with unhappy players during Mike Richards‘ introductory media event. Unfortunately, no player was hurt in the deal that sent Ryan Smyth to the Edmonton Oilers just over a month ago. Instead, June 26′s transaction quickly grew to become a nasty, lingering aftertaste throughout the Kings’ front office and fan-base that could be no more satisfying than a healthy punch to the gut. What’s the most distasteful part about the entire process and it’s result? Tough to rank ‘em from worst to worst-er, so let’s just compile a nice list:

1) At some point in Late-April until June, Ryan Smyth requested a trade out of Los Angeles,  to the f*cking Oilers and no one else  preferrably to the Edmonton Oilers.

2) Word got out, Smyth denied the allegations. Those allegations ultimately caused his nose to get even larger. #pinocchio

HOLY COW!

3) He says it’s for family reasons, Edmonton being a very familiar and friendly setting for his family, the Oilers being a comfortable and historic team to end his career with.

4) Dean Lombardi shows respect to Smyth by acting on his request, a quirky one at that, considering where the Kings and Oilers stand in 2011-2012 respectively.

5) Dean calls Oilers’ GM Steve Tambellini.

6) “Oh hey Dean, yeah not much, just being a huge douche. How have you been?”

7) They agree on a deal, giving the Kings forward Gilbert Brule and a 4th-round draft pick for Smyth. The Kings planned on dumping Brule once the deal was finalized, but you can’t dump a player that’s not cleared to play, RIGHT STEVE TAMBELLINI? Brule’s health conditions called off the reportedly done-deal, his history of head injuries, one of which a concussion he was still recovering from, and a rumor of depression as the cause. OK, there’s one down.

Number 8 still unsigned.

9) They agree on a deal after the initial deal they agreed on was no longer concurred upon. This time, it’s forward Colin Fraser and a 7th-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This deal is actually finalized, just two days after the Gilbert Brule report. Fraser, however, was a player the Kings planned on keeping in their system. And what do you know, further analysis by the Kings’ medical staff after the trade showed his ankle fracture not properly healed, deeming him ineligible to play. Fraser’s facture was publicized, but the Oilers stated that he would be clear to play in just a few days. Word had it that the ankle may require surgery, and that it did, with Fraser going under the knife this week in Cleveland, Ohio – he is out indefinitely.

10) Dean Lombardi, 34 days after the trade, lands the blow I’ve been waiting for since June 26. Lombardi files a formal grivance to the NHL regarding Colin Fraser‘s health conditions at the time of his trade to Los Angeles.

“This is twice. There comes a point where you say this is wrong.”

Here’s the way it needs to go, the way it should go. It’s not “if” the Kings get anything from this lawsuit, but “what”. The trade won’t get revoked, Smyth is 100% done in Los Angeles, scratch that possibility off the board. What adds even more fuel to this fire is the proposed deal BEFORE Colin Fraser, the transaction falling short with Gilbert Brule due to last-minute medical revelations. Look at it any way you want, but the Edmonton Oilers attempted to deal two injured players in the span of two days. Excuse my french, but fucking up like that doesn’t happen to honest professional franchises twice in as many days. Sorry, but this is on Tambellini and the entire Edmonton franchise.

The grievance has been filed, which calls for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to open his schedule for a hearing. Bettman, who analyzes and files all grievances has yet to set a date for the meeting. Don’t fall for the Red Herring, Gary. This is an obstacle for Bettman, unlike many would think. His decision sets a strong precedent for trade grievances from here on, an issue that hasn’t been addressed too often since the lockout. If we’re staying true to the rules, Lombardi and the Kings pay off from filing this grievance.

Party for Marty!

What say you, Drew?

Paint Job: Roll through the countless Kings headlines this summer, and one of the most important issues has been tossed to the side like downtown cab cards. I’ve made an attempt to tackle that forgotten topic, making a formal request to the Staples Center maintenance department late last week for some insight on the plans for the design at center ice this season. Since the Kings made the move to Staples Center in 1999, the center ice has logo has remained the same – the silver, purple, and black crown – the now defunct primary logo for the Kings. You’ve got to put your money on the ‘LA shield’ logo as the new imprint at center ice. However, cutting that logo down the center (for the red line) might be tricky, as the ‘LA’ isn’t exactly centered, and the crown below is a lot smaller, where the red line would eliminate a lot of it’s presence. Don’t expect to see any purple at center ice some September, but maybe this? I’d almost give the purple-less crown a better shot than the new primary logo, hopefully we’ll know soon. I’m expecting to hear back from a member of the maintenance department early this week. For those who are attending Development Camp at the Toyota Sports Center, send word this way if you’re seeing any changes to the artwork on their ice sheets.

Paid in due.

Martinez Renewed: No surprise here, the Kings avoided arbitration with defenseman Alec Martinez by agreeing to a two-year deal worth $1.475 million on Friday. Martinez, who was called upon in November from the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs, solidified his name on the Kings roster immediately. Martinez arrived in Los Angeles to provide a spark to the Kings’ 2nd powerplay unit, and that he did. Along with that came sound defensive coverage coupled with an above average offensive skill-set for a back-end player. Martinez, in his first full season in the NHL recorded 5 goals and 11 assists in 60 games during the regular season. That doesn’t scream success, but when you back it up with a +11 plus/minus, you’re talking about a key asset. Let’s not get started with the value of the +/- rating statistic, the guy is dependable on the blue line – that you cannot argue.

Court Date: Unlike Martinez, Brad Richardson hasn’t been as fortunate this summer. If the Kings and Richardson can’t come to terms by July 21st, the negotiations will be decided by way of arbitration. Richardson made $900,000 last season, and has just 10 days to see the Kings agree to improve upon those numbers. I agree with the Kings’ strategy thus far, as Richardson bothered me throughout most of the year. Numerous fans praised his postseason performance, but other than his forecheck and transition presence, I haven’t seen much else. He’s got trouble finishing plays, winning loose pucks, and triggering production. In 68 regular season games, a lowly 7 goals and 12 assists were in Richardson’s name. The guy pours out 8 points in the San Jose series, and fans love him. Haven’t seen anything good enough to demand a raise, I expect the Kings to take this contract to court.

Paper Chasin’

Business Approach: It’s taking a lot longer than most fans have hoped in Drew Doughty agreeing to terms on a new contract with the Kings. The kid wants money, and his agents Don Meehan and Mark Guy are pushing for a healthy pay-day. Reports have surfaced that Doughty is looking to become the highest paid player on the roster next season, where Anze Kopitar tops the list, due for a $6.8 million salary next year. Doughty is apparently looking for $7 million a year, while Dean Lombardi has offered something in the vicinity of $5.5 million per season. Taking contract negotiations personally as a fan is difficult not to do, but you’ve got to understand the strategy from Doughty’s camp here. Something will get done, Doughty will remain a King, and probably for quite a while.

Looks at the Rook’s

Development Camp: The first taste of 2011-2012 Kings hockey takes place tomorrow at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. You can find the schedule and roster here, where most of the prospects withing the organization will be skating in preparation for Rookie Camp and Training Camp. Last year’s first selection for the Kings in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Derek Forbert, is questionable for participation. Forbert reportedly is dealing with a bad back, possibly stemming from his struggles with mononucleosis during his freshman season at the University of North Dakota last year.

LOS ANGELES — After a career with the Los Angeles Kings that spanned 37 years, starting with three seasons with their former American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield prior to joining the big club in 1972, head athletic trainer Pete Demers left the club after the 2005-06 season. But that came right after four straight seasons when the Kings were absolutely ravaged by injuries (see Retired LA Kings Trainer Pete Demers Recalls Record-Breaking, Injury-Filled Seasons, 2001-02 to 2005-06).

In two of those seasons, the Kings set unofficial records for man-games lost to injury, with 536 in 2002-03, a record they eclipsed in 2003-04 when they lost 629 man-games.

Those seasons were sandwiched between years when they lost 211 man-games to injury in 2001-02, and 366 in 2005-06 (the National Hockey League did not play in 2004-05 due to a labor dispute).

That is an unfathomable, mind-blowing 1,742 man-games lost to injury in just four seasons.

Although the Kings made the playoffs in 2002, losing their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, they would fail to qualify for the post-season party until 2009-10, four seasons after Demers left the organization.

With more injuries than anyone could possibly imagine on top of some very poor hockey during that period, there was a lot to complain about when it came to trying to figure out what was wrong with the Los Angeles Kings. Not surprisingly, general manager Dave Taylor was fired right after the 2005-06 season on April 18, 2006, and was replaced by Dean Lombardi just three days later.

As many general managers do when they join a new team, Lombardi made changes in the front office and in hockey operations, cleaning house almost completely. He brought in his own people, not only so that he would be working with people with whom he was comfortable and familiar, but also to change the attitude and philosophy throughout the franchise.

But the house cleaning began before Lombardi’s arrival. Indeed, it started with Taylor firing head coach Andy Murray on March 21, 2006.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

When Alexei Ponikarovsky is considered to be a GM’s ‘Plan B’ while musing the free-agent market, things aren’t good. When Alexei Ponikarovsky is shipped to Carolina simultaneously as  a ‘Plan B’ of Simon Gagne is inked in Los Angeles, things are downright stupendous.

What a fu*king train-wreck that Ryan Smyth deal turned out to be, eh? Might’ve been better off trading him for a bag of pucks, but chances are, those would’ve come with defaults too. We wouldn’t want Steve Tambellini sending fair product or anything.

But far more important are the stellar acquisitions Dean Lombardi executed this past week to land Mike Richards and Simon Gagne from the Philadelphia Flyers. The additions of Richards and Gagne add some serious credibility to the Kings being tabbed Stanley Cup contenders next season. If there’s reasonable dispute to that, th – - there is no such thing.

Out of Town

Alexei Ponikarovsky and Michal Handzus have found new digs, riding free-agency out of Los Angeles. Ponikarovsky has a new home with the Carolina Hurricanes, agreeing on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. Good riddance, attributing for a lowly 5 goals and 15 assists in 61 games this season. Ponikarovsky, who was brought to Los Angeles to replace Alexander Frolov, was a non-factor all season long. Carolina may be Ponikarovsky’s final stint in the NHL, with the KHL likely to embrace the final years of his pro career. A more notable departure is that of Michal Handzus, who has commited to the San Jose Sharks for two years at a combined salary of $5 million. Handzus ends his 4-year tenure in a Kings uniform, marking his symbol with the franchise as a solid, dependable, 3rd-4th line centerman. He honored his quiet, under appreciated duty, and always with pure class. Unfortunately, the team is straying away from his need, which is not to say he doesn’t still belong in the league – just as San Jose has noticed.

Is this Wade, James, Bosh status? Just call 7 Cups with some smoke machines behind you.

Along with Ilya Bryzgalov, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn found their way to Phildadephia, prime assets in the deal that brought Mike Richards to the Kings.

Philly West

Adding these two players to the Kings’ roster is absolutely outstanding, and has the writing on the wall to elevate the team to being a serious Stanley Cup threat. Richards brings a prominent name to the 2nd line centerman position, totaling 158 points in his last two seasons – including the postseason. He’ll add security for Anze Kopitar, who will most likely remain atop the centerman depth chart. When you’re talking Richards, you’re talking prominent – you’re talking elite. The Kings haven’t just added another offensive outlet, but one that instills a resume with serious playmaking ability.

After falling short in the Brad Richards‘ sweepstakes, the Kings agreed to terms with Simon Gagne for 2 years at $7 million. Gagne, who spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lighting, is coming off of consecutive 40 point seasons with 17 goals and 23 assists. Gagne, at this point, can be considered as a fixture on any of the Kings’ top three lines.

The Ryan Smyth deal couldn’t get any uglier, as reports are claiming that Colin Fraser is still recovering from an injury that will keep him out for the first four months of the season. Fraser was the second player offered in the Smyth talks, after Gilbert Brule was nixed from the initial deal for his concussion history. Man, talk about leaving a sour taste.

The inevitable has taken form. The best of luck on your future endeavors, Smytts.

Not many players can pull off white skates, either. We’re talking Fedorov status here.

Sorry to see him go, the seasoned veteran who was hitched to this club in Dean Lombardi‘s marvelous acquisition in July of 2009. He brought with him experience to mold the development of an extremely young roster, he immediately proved himself worthy of still being a top-six forward, and the guy always got it done on the power-play, smack-dab in his roundhouse – the crease.

It was only a matter of time, really. Initial word had gotten out that Ryan Smyth approached Dean Lombardi in request of a trade out of Los Angeles about a week ago. When confronted about the revelation, Smyth firmly denied the allegations, which soon after turned out to be true. You’ve got to be somewhat happy for Smyth, who now can end his career where it started, and where it was embraced – with the Edmonton Oilers. Family has been said to be the fueling factor to this entire soap opera, where making home in Alberta was top priority. But, a bigger priority than a decent shot at the Stanley Cup with the Kings? The Oilers are about two years behind the Kings in terms of developing a young roster, and the way Smyth lagged during the second-half of this season, a renewed or extended contract with the Oil is far from guaranteed. That could give Smyth one final season in Edmonton, where Cup hopes are nothing but hope and optimism, compared to one final season in Los Angeles, where serious contention is in full gear. Welp, it is what is it.

I mean, come on! The guy still used lumber, a true vet.

Sure wasn’t LeBron James leaving Cleveland-like, but I was a bit turned off in the manner Smyth handled the whole ordeal. At first, I backtracked to his denial of the rumors, and tabbed him as a liar. But think, really, what does a professional athlete of Smyth’s caliber do in that situation? Keep it quiet, better for yourself, better for the internals of the team. The whole thing was true, that’s all that mattered.

The Kings received two assets in the trade, Centerman Colin Fraser and a boost in Cap Space. Fraser, unlike the first player the Oilers offered, Gilbert Brule, will actually get a shot to make the Kings’ roster. The cap space freed from dropping Smyth’s contract allows for more leverage in renewing Drew Doughty‘s contract or hitting the market again for a pursuable top-six left winger. Bittersweet.

Word has it Ryan Smyth wants out of Los Angeles, musing dreams of a return to Edmonton.
Word has it Ryan Smyth doesn’t want out of Los Angeles. Cat and Mouse games.
Say it ain’t so, Smytts. I never expected a move like this from you, regardless of your value to this team. Unprofessional, Edmonton shouldn’t even be impressed with the allegations.

“Sick Hair.” Smytty Hair.

He asked for it. Clues have been piling up since the initial leak, pointing all signs to this claim to be truthful. I’d like to get something out to you folks first, before the actual hockey part is discussed. Disappointment – that’s how I feel about Ryan Smyth right now. Regardless if you think he’s still a good fit for the Kings’ roster or not, this isn’t a tactic I’d ever expect to see from Smytts. Yeah, he had the bad fortune of his words hitting public ear, but these revelations are a pretty big turn-off. If he likes his chances in Edmonton for the next three years, then he must really want out of Los Angeles. Didn’t expect this from a respected, seasoned veteran who has been a huge asset to this club’s growth over the past two seasons. I’m a huge Ryan Smyth fan, and please don’t let his horrid second-half relate to my appreciation for him, and denounce the rest of this entry. There are too many allegations and rumors ablaze, let’s just talk about the pros and cons in the situation that has developed around #94.

Can’t help but say, something smells downright fishy in this b*tch!

Pass the Tartar Sauce.

Whenever any player requests a move, chances are the reaction from the current club’s fanbase won’t be too sincere. For Smyth and those of the Kings, that has been the case. The majority of the fans seem to be welcoming a move, rather than sorting things out with the 15-year veteran. Unfortunately, that’s fueling a lot more hatred toward Smyth than I believe necessary. He was attacked on a consistent basis last summer from various analysts, as his age suddenly became a glowing negativity to his future. Smyth started the season on fire, contributing to Kings’s offensive production at a torrent pace. The overall consensus is a decline in Smyth’s performance, even though he recorded just six fewer points this season than he did in ’09-’10. However, Smyth tallied his 47 points in 82 games this year, compared to 53 in just 67 games the previous season. The ratios will clear the air. But is a near 50-point season a burden to this roster? That may not matter, the player may not match the role anymore.

Revelations have recently come about that there was a disgruntled veteran on the roster this season, and all fingers point at that being Smyth. You’ve got to be crazy to believe the Edmonton Oilers have a better shot at the Stanley Cup than the Kings in the coming three seasons. Is this selfishness we’re witnessing, an ego that can’t subdue itself? Smyth is clearly willing to surrender a decent shot at the Cup before his NHL career ends, in order to return home to headline a roster bundled with young, inexperienced prospects. But would he headline that roster? Edmonton’s core can develop on it’s own just fine, the past is nothing the Oilers need to flirt with. Smyth needs to realize his role in Los Angeles is more valuable, and that the opportunities are much greater with the Kings. Has he burned that bridge?

If Smyth does in fact get dealt, it only means a jump in the process for prospect initiation, or more action from Dean Lombardi in the free-agent market. If I had to guess a sensible time for a trade, it would happen in Minnesota this weekend at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. I could see Lombardi acting on an offer that included a couple of mid-round draft picks, the Edmonton Oilers happen to have two in the third round. Edmonton can’t exactly handle Smyth’s price easily, as they’ll be hesitant to give up cap-space, while the Kings’ are looking to drop some numbers for the free-agent market.

“Dustin Penner needs to workout ‘this much’ during the summer.”

“This is also my reaction every time we’re on the Powerplay.”
“Ryan Smyth‘s nose is this big.” Next Question?

Per Rich Hammond of the LA Kings Insider, who sat down for an interview with Kings’ General Manager Dean Lombardi earlier today, a preview was provided of their transcribed dialogue. No direct quotes are provided, but Hammond gives a pretty clear view of how their talk played out. Of course, the first topic of discussion revolved around the NHL Entry Draft, which takes place in Minnesota this weekend. The two continued to touch on an intriguing contract renewal offer to a well-known defensive asset, the offseason free-agent market, Dustin Penner‘s summer, and the status of players on the mend. Quite frankly, Dean Lombardi seems to be on par with my outlook.

“The Kings, whose first pick in the draft is scheduled to be No. 49, would consider options to trade back into the first round but only for a deal that makes sense, not just for the sake of it. This year’s first round is not considered especially deep.”

Couldn’t agree more, and don’t expect Lombardi and the Kings to find a sensible deal this weekend either. Prospects aren’t atop the list of priorities this club needs to approach in the coming years, there is plenty of development in the Kings’ system. This isn’t the type of draft you throw a party for, the Kings are slotted for a 1st selection at #49 overall in the 2nd Round, and the year’s group isn’t too deep from the looks. This feeds into the mindset that trading up for a selection is clearly unnecessary, the Kings take the best player at their given time, nothing more needs to be done this weekend.

“Within the past few days, the Kings have made a “major” offer to Drew Doughty’s agent. Lombardi has made two trips to Toronto — location of the office of Don Meehan’s, Doughty’s agent — within the past four weeks, and the Kings would like to get a deal done before the draft, if possible. Lombardi said he is certainly aware of the risk of an offer sheet to Doughty but is not overly concerned.”

Key word – major. This quote screams long-term deal for Drew Doughty, just about cements Doughty as a King for the majority of his NHL career. Did I expect this to be an off-season move for Dean Lombardi? Not necessarily. Lombardi has preached work ethic and offseason conditioning since he’s been in Los Angeles, two departments many agree Doughty has lacked in. However, the smarts, the skill, and the presence are too much to risk parting ways with, especially when there’s experience and maturity still needed. I was 50/50 when it came to offering a long-term offer this summer, I was leaning toward a 2-3 year deal. Really, you couldn’t go wrong either way, and the player we’re dealing just has too much promise to even consider breaking ties with.

“The Kings are still in the market for a top-level forward, either through free agency or trade. Lombardi said that even if it was guaranteed that Dustin Penner would have a big season, statistically, the Kings would still seek outside help to improve their scoring numbers, both 5-and-5 and on the power play. Penner, Lombardi said, has been dedicated to working hard so far this summer, and Lombardi expressed optimism.”

Stop showing up looking like you spent your previous night engulfed in High Life’s after dinner at some grease barn. And, stop playing like shit. Liking that Lombardi stresses staying on the market this summer, as there are a few notable names in the mix that would fit the Kings’ direction. I’ll talk Zach Parise until it becomes a favorable rumor, as the New Jersey Devils filed for arbitration on their contract negotiations just days ago. He’ll be 27 years old at the start of the season, and is coming off of 92 and 84 point campaigns prior to just playing 13 games this year due to injury. He’s undoubtedly a top-line left winger, and will provide other options for fitting Dustin Penner into the system.

“Anze Kopitar is making great progress from his recovery from ankle surgery, Lombardi said, as is Justin Williams from his shoulder surgery. Willie Mitchell and Jonathan Quick also had minor medical procedures but will be ready for the start of training camp.”

As expected, good news coming regarding injuries, which is usually the case during the offseason. Anze Kopitar, who is back in Slovenia for a part of the summer, was feeling good enough for a round of golf just a few days ago. Kopitar played in a charity event, with some sick shorts and ankle tape for support. Rich Hammond blogs it here, and the original article here.

You’d hate for the kids to think that you lost your cool.
This guy must be on cloud 9.

- – -

Touching on a broad array of minor topics here: I’ve got some updates on the Kings’ preseason schedule, the NHL Entry Draft – which sits just two weeks away, a bit of free agent discussion, and an ode to the hockey fans out in Atlanta. Also, KingsCast is right on par thus far with our predictions to the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals. Check out our picks along with those of a few members of the Los Angeles hockey Media in my last segment.

Also, if you haven’t been keeping up with the annual KingsCast Summer Hockey Roundtable, you can tune in to the first five segments below – don’t get left out. This prime slew of guests are talking everything Kings hockey, from Drew Doughty‘s conditioning to Jack Johnson‘s disappointing post-contract play. Catch it from some of the best in the business, as Keith and Chris rep the Fourth Period Magazine, NBC Sports, ESPN Los Angeles, INSIDE SPORTS, HockeyTalk.biz, Frozen Royalty, and Mayor’s Manor. How do you beat that? You don’t.

- – -

If it’s not the Royals…: The preseason venture to Missouri is nothing new for the Kings, but not something that the team took part in last season. The venue is Kansas City’s Sprint Center, and a September 27th date is expected to see the Kings play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh is a rare opponent, making this an intriguing exhibition in itself. Also factor in the possibility of this game being the return of Sidney Crosby, who sat out the second half of the season after suffering a concussion in the Winter Classic. The Kings’ travel itinerary that graces the preseason and the commencement of the regular season is already looking brutal.  With the overload of travel, expect the remainder of the preseason schedule to stay within the vicinity of the Los Angeles region, most likely split-squad contests with the Phoenix Coyotes and a date or two with the Anaheim Ducks. Here’s how the Kings travel plans look heading into the start of the season:

September 27 – Kansas City, Missouri: @ Pittsburgh Penguins (PRE)
October 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada: VS Colorado Avalanche (PRE)
October 4 – Hamburg, Germany: @ Hamburg Freezers (DEL) (PRE)
October 7 – Stockholm, Sweden: VS New York Rangers (REG #1)
October 8 – Berlin, Germany: VS Buffalo Sabres (REG #2)

Draft Outlook: Nothing to get too excited about when looking at the Kings’ scheduled selections in this year’s draft. When Dustin Penner was acquired, our first-round selection was shipped to Edmonton as part of the deal. Now, Dean Lombardi‘s looking at a first selection at #49 Overall in the 2nd Round. Lombardi is no stranger to trading up for higher picks, as he did last year in order to snag Derek Forbert. However, the Kings, at a developmental standpoint, are in promising condition. I wouldn’t have a problem with Lombardi holding off on working any deals, as I feel we’re simply at a point where we take the best player available at our given time. The core of our depth doesn’t have many glaring holes, I don’t see Lombardi chasing after players with specific assets unless they fall into our allotted selection.

Market Musings: Attention has once again centered on the Kings filling the left-wing void with a top-six forward. The Dustin Penner experiment is far from over, but his disappointing start has most looking for an alternative solution. A name that’s been tossed around the premature rumor mill is Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils. They’ve yet to reach an agreement on a new contract, and it looks as though the Devils will be filing for arbitration within the week. The Kings aren’t struggling with cap space, and they do have a few contracts that would be considered “tradeable”. Word has also lingered that Parise isn’t fully on board with Ilya Kovalchuk headlining the team, unfortunately for him that won’t be changing anytime soon.

As heartless as it gets.

Losing your team is tough, and Atlanta’s puckheads know this feeling all too well. This is the second time Atlanta has lost an NHL club – and likely, the last time. The degree of brutality in which the process was vindicated is what garners my attention. Anyone knows Atlanta is no striking marketplace for hockey, and the ownership surrendered to that theory – in pathetic fashion. They didn’t just play into the stereotype, they fueled it. Why people are questioning Winnipeg’s ability to support an NHL club is astounding to me. Sure, they failed the last time around, but you’ve got to be crazy to believe the financial situation won’t be one of the best in the league for years to come. Not only is Winnipeg starved for an NHL return, but they’re housing this club in an AHL building suited for just over 15,000 spectators. You want to talk revenue? Talk to this cheesy ownership that sold out Atlanta. My condolences to those in “Blueland”.

LOS ANGELES — Despite earning a 46-30-6 (98 points, seventh place in the Western Conference) record this season, just three points less than their 46-27-9 (101 points, sixth place in the Western Conference) record in 2009-10, the Los Angeles Kings, along with just about everyone who follows them and the rest of the National Hockey League, expected the team to not only make the playoffs this season, but to at least advance to the second round.

Extenuating circumstances, namely, the loss of star center, leading scorer and top defensive forward Anze Kopitar to a serious ankle injury and not having right wing Justin Williams at full strength—both were injured in late March—severely diminished the Kings’ chances of winning their first round playoff series against the much more talented San Jose Sharks.

But even without Kopitar, and with Williams playing with a separated right shoulder, the Kings exposed the Sharks’ weaknesses and could have won the series if they adhered to their system and structure. But they failed miserably in that regard, dropping the series in six games.

The turning point came in Game 3, when the Kings blew a 4-0 lead through the early stages of the second period, only to lose the game in overtime, 6-5. Like their entire playoff series against the Sharks, that game pretty much mirrored how their entire season went…more on that in a bit.

As detailed in an earlier story here on Frozen Royalty (see 2010-11 Los Angeles Kings Were Reminiscent Of A Roller Coaster Ride), the 2010-11 Kings were highly inconsistent, and that might be a drastic understatement.

After a hot start to the season, the Kings followed that by losing seven out of eight games during the last two weeks of November.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

Colten Teubert is amidst his first full season of professional hockey. Teubert pursued his development after the draft splitting time with the Regina Pats of the WHL and the Ontario Reign of the ECHL. As far as his status with the Kings organization, Teubert was ingrained in one of the most impressive defensive assemblies in hockey. He was already staring at a stalwart blue-line set in Los Angeles, and his counterparts with the Manchester Monarchs mapped a long road to Teubert’s NHL career. He was alongside blue-line prospects Jake Muzzin, Vyacheslav Voynov, and Thomas Hickey. In 39 games with the Manchester Monarchs this season, Teubert recorded 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points. He beholds a pure defensive skill-set, and folks in Edmonton are already comparing him to a lanky Matt Greene. The Oilers have added a very promising asset to the club’s bright future. In Teubert, the Kings certainly parted ways with talent, but Dean Lombardi‘s success in building through the draft justifies the farewell.

The addition of Dustin Penner to the Kings’ lineup is exceptional. The pursuit of a top-six forward has been an issue for almost two years now. The extended hunt for a first-line left-winger has finally been put to rest, now supplying a proven forward to play alongside Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. A first-line of Penner-Kopitar-Brown has the capabilities of being lethal, lethal I tell you. Penner brings a physical presence that equates to Dustin Brown‘s, an unseemingly soft scoring touch for his 6’4″, 245 lb stature, and a dominant aptitude for positioning in front of the net. He will undoubtedly be implemented into the powerplay, providing another reliable fixture in the crease alongside Ryan Smyth. Penner has played in 62 games this season, tallying 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points. His surroundings in Los Angeles are an immediate improvement to those in Edmonton, which provides more upside to the deal. His potential with the Kings is outrageously attractive, and he will certainly help in ensuring to expand on the capabilities this offense beholds.

*Photo Credits:
Dustin Penner – Edmonton Oilers, Away Primary: Canadian Press/Larry MacDougal
Colten Teubert – Los Angeles Kings, Draft Hat: Ottawa Citizen/Wayne Cuddington
Dustin Penner – Edmonton Oilers, Away Primary: Getty Images/Jeff Gross

As foreshadowed by Terry Murray‘s harsh opinion after Thursday night’s return to Staples Center, Marco Sturm was placed on waivers Friday morning. Hours later, highly-touted prospect Andrei Loktionov suffered what looks to be a season-ending injury to his left shoulder in a game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, the only professional hockey organization to beat the Kings in regulation since January 20th. Loktionov filled Sturm’s void the past few weeks, returning to the Kings’ lineup for his second stint of the season, recording 3 goals and 2 assists in 12 games. Sturm’s return to the Kings’ lineup this week sent Loktionov back to the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday, a move questioned by many – including myself. Loktionov still provided a sense of security to Sturm’s injury history, with his duties just a phone call away. Instead, the hockey gods pulled the unthinkable. Just as the Kings allotted Marco Sturm for the taking to all NHL clubs via waivers, his replacement went down. Immediately, the 24-hour deadline for a team to retrieve Sturm triggered the nerves. The Washington Capitals claimed Marco Sturm early this morning, pounding the salt-shaker on Dean Lombardi‘s failed attempt to open roster options at the deadline. Instead, the Kings find themselves without Sturm, as well as the prospect responsible for upholding his void.

With the trade-deadline just hours away, the Kings find themselves shorthanded in unthinkable fashion. The options available within the organization aren’t very attractive. You’re talking players like Peter Harrold, Davis Drewiske, Kevin Westgarth, and Brad Richardson to mend the loss. Richardson aside, Marco Sturm and Andrei Loktionov are clearly better options, but no longer are they available. There’s still time for an addition, does Dean Lombardi counteract Friday’s losses with a deal? As for available forwards still on the market, the Kings could still be targeting four players; Brad Richards, David Booth, Dustin Penner, and Ales Hemsky. I don’t believe Friday’s occurrences strengthen Lombardi’s pursuit of a top-six forward, but they certainly trigger second thoughts when negotiating. Neither Sturm or Loktionov should be the cause of a knee-jerk rental acquisition, but their losses should ascend Lombardi’s hunt for a prioritized long-term offensive addition. Dean Lombardi‘s reputation for inactivity at the trade-deadline is further hampered by Friday’s bad timing. What remains to be seen is his reaction as the deadline approaches. Only time will tell, and there isn’t much left.

*Photo Credits:
Marco Sturm, Los Angeles Kings, Away Primary – Getty Images/Thearon W. Henderson
Andrei Loktionov, Manchester Monarchs, Away Primary – Manchester Union Leader
Dean Lombardi – Getty Images/Juan Ocampo

Anze Kopitar has been the victim of inconsistent linemates for the past two seasons. His career-high mark of 81 points last year survived the carousel, but the irregularities of his surroundings may be starting to take a toll. Sometimes players have needs that must be honored by their organization; For the Kings and Kopitar, there’s no question that need is a top line left-winger. Adding a proven consistent offensive threat will open space for Kopitar, creating more opportunity. Targeted by opposition since the start of his NHL career, Kopitar’s game has been exposed. More time in the league has allowed teams to continually develop an approach in defending the Slovenian, which has undoubtedly had an affect on his game. Anze Kopitar is not the problem, finding a player who can work well with him on a consistent basis is. Kopitar needs a co-worker who attracts the defense, creating more space to work with, alleviating pressure and giving the green light to a pure offensive approach. If Dean Lombardi does in fact pull the trigger and bring fresh blood to Los Angeles, it’s got to be all or nothing. The player the Kings need, the player Kopitar needs, is going to cost the Kings a valued asset or two. If a respected name isn’t leaving Los Angeles if a trade is executed, then it’s not good enough. Steady may be comfortable, but that doesn’t translate into postseason success. The subtraction a trade will cost may be hard to swallow, but for Anze Kopitar, it’s addition by addition.

*PHOTO CREDITS
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Away Primary: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Home Primary: Getty Images/Harry How

Associated Press

Hey Terry, you’ve got to be crazy to point the finger at video review tonight. It wasn’t even a one-goal game, and that’s what’s so embarrassing about it. Here’s the point; You’re coming off of a third consecutive loss and riding two wins in your last twelve games, and you’re whining to the league? With your general manager? That’s a sign of a troubled partnership, panic. Hey fellas, there’s other things to worry about, and this time around it’s not a good problem to have. Change is needed soon.

First up is Kings enforcer Kevin Westgarth:

Next up is your second line center Jarret Stoll:

This one was a joint card from Oscar Moller, Dwight King and some Russian guy:

General Manager Dean Lombardi remembered us this year as well:

Finally, that guy who was supposed to be the starter (according to the Canadian media) sent us this ditty:

Happy holidays from your boys at KingsCast and the Los Angeles Kings!

King’s name didn’t catch attention of the media too frequently during training camp, often being overshadowed by the organization’s expansive prospect depth. After being drafted, King returned to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL where he capped off his 5-year tenure in the junior hockey scene with 69 and 60 point seasons. King started the 2009-2010 season with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL, and was called-up to the Manchester Monarchs after 20 games. The stats are attractive, 35 points combined with both clubs in the regular season, tacking on 2 goals and 7 assists in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

His sudden appearance has caught my attention. What makes his debut so interesting is the chance to observe a player who has climbed the ranks at such a rapid pace, while being somewhat of an afterthought just two months ago. King will instantly replace Ponikarovsky’s size; the strength and skill will be tested. He’s shown the ability to adapt to higher levels of play, and quickly. May we have a hidden gem here? You might be looking at a future 4th line winger once Ponikarovsky returns. I’m just driving the speculation bus right now. Get off. He’ll be a fun watch tomorrow night.

I’m not here to be a pessimist and stir up crazy rumors. I’m not labeling Doughty’s injury to be extreme either. But why is the aura surrounding the vague statements released by Terry Murray and Dean Lombardi worrisome? Doughty has gone from being ruled out for tonight’s game in Phoenix, to a scratch for at least a week. This, in a matter of hours with no inside information. It looks to be a waiting game on the severity of Doughty’s injury. If you take a look at Cole’s hit that knocked Doughty out of the game, you’ve got to notice the shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Yes, I’m considering a sting to the right shoulder that is undergoing tests. However, there were no painful expressions as Doughty sat on the Kings’ bench for the last minute of the period. You can only manipulate this for so long, justifying possibilities until you drive yourself crazy. The fact is, we’re going to have to wait for answers. No one has downplayed the injury, and no one has pressed the panic button. Dean Lombardi and Terry Murray have Kings fans by the throat, clearly sending a message that this is too serious to exploit. An explanation will eventually be provided, but until then, optimism for the star defenseman is your best bet.

Justin Williams was on fire to start the 2009-2010 season, which has me a little tentative writing this. Knock on wood, please. He played with consistency and was a regular on the scoresheet, but yet again, an injury stubbed another season for the 29 year-old. He was able to heal before season’s end, but his return to the lineup was abysmal. His inability to regroup at the end of last season carried unease about his recovery into a long summer, which does nothing but open doors for speculation from hockey fans. We’ve got to talk about something, right? Did this add wind to the fire that was the off-season pursuit of a talented left-winger in the open market? Of course. Williams was going to make the roster, but was he going to be first line material? Well, what do you know, he’s got five points in five games, snagging the PA announcer’s tongue in four of those five contests. He’s regained his confidence with great positioning in the offensive zone. He’s not going to produce with speed, strength, or highlight skill, but with his ability to find open space with passing and/or shooting lanes. He’s done that, and he’s jumped on loose pucks, a player who is arguably better without the puck. We weren’t seeing that from Williams at the end of last season. A player such as Williams, who relies on positioning to be a factor in the offensive zone, can’t afford to hesitate on plays. His job is to read his linemates, giving them safe options when pressed, and winning battles to loose pucks. You can throw any questions you have regarding Williams’ recovery out the door. Unfortunately, his ugly injury history has ingrained itself into his persona. I tell myself not to think about it, but I just wrote about it. Don’t think about it.

I love Ryan Smyth. He’s got the class of Steve Yzerman, and #94 had my heart at the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. Late, I know. I’m young, you mine as well date my fondness of Smyth back to 1994. For the acclaim Dean Lombardi received for the acquisition of Smyth, and the offensive boost he provided to the team last year, he didn’t deserve the negative speculation he received over the summer. A fractured ankle is not a hockey-friendly injury, but Smyth suffered it in May, less than a month removed from the Western Conference Quarterfinals, alotting him more than four months to recover. So really, we’re talking a recovery that depletes leg strength, not lower body endurance. Of course he depends on both, but endurance centers in on his style more than muscle build, especially at his age. He’s not an overpowering forward, he does his best work with his stick and slot positioning in front of the net and with his puck control along the sideboards and the corners. We’re five games in, and Smyth is tied with Dustin Brown for the team-high in points with six. He’s had one rough game, and a couple of his goals have been soft, but early indications are promising. Of course, fatigue is going to be monitored closely throughout the year for the aging winger, but if his surroundings can continue to support his duties, he’ll be just fine.

Los Angeles Kings co-director of amateur scouting Mike Futa told Rich Hammond:

“My scout from Owen Sound is his head coach, the same guy who was the guy on Wayne Simmonds. There’s always that tributary that leads back to the right river. He coaches him in Ottawa, and he said this kid is just scratching the surface, when you start to look at the intangibles and the work ethic. I’m assuming that’s why he dropped to where we got him. We were thrilled to get the guy. His hockey sense is off the charts. He’s an exceptional goal scorer, great nose for the net, and he’s just a young kid who is still just getting it, as far as the conditioning.”
Courtesy of LA Kings Insider

As Dean Lombardi shifts the Los Angeles Kings out of re-building, he’s starting to take some longer term “projects”. In Toffoli, his conditioning is something of an issue at this point. Then again, so was Drew Doughty’s back in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. However, Lombardi is known to challenge prospects and get terrific results (note that Doughty’s nickname “Doughnuts” has now changed to “Dewey”).

Long-term Toffoli is going to have to work on his skating and conditioning to crack the big club. Expect Tyler to head back to Juniors for a couple of years with another year in Manchester. The kid seems to be determined and have a good heart. If he can continue to get better, we’ll have a nice prospect on our hands.

Interesting note, according to NHL.com, is that Toffoli’s favorite book is Twilight. Could be worse….

Keith’s Take: It’s a kid who lacks conditioning in an organization that focuses on it. Given the strength of our development system, I don’t think this will be an issue for long. Long-term I see Toffoli on a wing in the top-six for Los Angeles. Grade: A-

Chris’ Take: The Tyler Toffoli pick adds continued depth to a system chalk full of centers, 6 ft tall, under 200lbs, who have decent stats, average skating ability and may or may not be good someday. Grade: B-

E.J. McGuire on Tyler Toffoli:

Daryl Evans Interviews Tyler Toffoli (via Kings Vision)

Other Picks:
1st Round Pick: Derek Forbort

International Scouting Services had Frobort ranked 10th overall and when he dropped, Lombardi knew he had to trade up to get his guy. Frobort had an impressive Under-18 World Championship scoring two assists and posting a plus-nine rating. Many scouts said that Derek Forbort has the most talent of any prospect in the draft.

Minnesota native Derek Forbort is known as a strong smooth-skating two-way defenseman whose offensive game is just starting to develop. In 26 games in the US National Development program, Forbort had four goals and ten assists for 14 points with 26 penalty minutes. Forbort himself states that he tries to model his game after Chris Pronger. Forbort will start the 2010-2011 season in the NCAA at the University of North Dakota (a development powerhouse).

Dean Lombardi stated that Forbort’s two to three years away from making the big club. If he continues to develop, there’s no telling where Forbort’s ceiling is. With a very stocked farm of defenseman, this allows Lombardi to deal from a position of strength when it comes to acquiring offensive-minded wingers.

One of the startling facts about Derek Frobort is his favorite “pump-up song” according to NHL.com is Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror. Ummm, all right.

Keith’s take: I love this pick. Sure it wasn’t California native Emerson Etem or another winger with top-six potential but this guy has such a potential to be a stud. If he develops his offensive game and his toughness, the Kings will be even harder to play against. He loses a point due to his choice of “pump-up” song. Seriously? Man in the Mirror?Grade: B+

Chris take: We should have taken 6’7″ Tyler Myers two years ago instead of Colten Teubert. We didn’t. Now we get Tyler Myers 2.0. I’ll take it. Grade: A-

Heidi Androl of the Los Angeles Kings talks with the newest Kings Derek Forbort:

Post-draft press conference:

Drafted in the 3rd round (88th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Geordie Wudrick as a tough 6’4″ winger who became a fringe fan favorite in his first development camp. Injury kept Wudrick out of training camp this past season however. With the emergence of Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford and Brayden Schenn, there’s not much of the future for Wudrick in the organization. Wudrick is now eligible to be drafted this year. I wonder where he goes.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Niclas Anderson beside a few grainy photos on Google. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Anderson has stayed in the Swedish Elite League to hone his skills. Given the defensive depth in Los Angeles, there was no place for Anderson in the lineup. It’s another Dave Taylor/Al Murray draft pick gone awry.

Let’s face it, if you bet against these guys at a sportsbook, you wouldn’t be walking away with any money. I know there’s a few of you out there who thought Wudrick could be a Dustin Brown type but it ain’t happening with the Kings. We have enough depth in the organization that we can live without him. As for Anderson, does anybody really care?

It’s the summer guys, what kind of news were you expecting?

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS: Winger Alexander Frolov likely has a little over five weeks left with the Los Angeles Kings before heading elsewhere to continue his playing career…this should come as a surprise to no one.

LOS ANGELES — For all of you Alexander Frolov fans out there, I regret to inform you that his days with the Los Angeles Kings are very, very likely over.

On May 26, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi appeared on Neilson and Chase In the Morning on Edmonton Sports Radio Team 1260 in Edmonton, Alberta. When asked about Frolov, Lombardi said that he was not optimistic about being able to re-sign the enigmatic winger.

“When you talk about building today, it’s certainly different from prior to the lockout,” said Lombardi. “You really get tied in with, ‘Do you like the player?’ Yes, but do you like him at ‘X’ price? Because you now have to get the right price, if you’re going to be able to keep your core together. So would we like to keep him? Yes, but if the price is prohibitive and maybe would prevent us from filling other holes and making sure we keep [defensemen Drew] Doughty and [Jack] Johnson and all these kids coming through, then you have to walk away.”

“I’m not too optimistic, given what he’s looking for,” added Lombardi, who went on to say that Frolov’s salary demands exceed his actual value in the National Hockey League, but added that one cannot blame a player for being attracted by the ungodly sums of tax-free money that the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia is throwing at players, and you can bet that the KHL is doing whatever it can to get Frolov to play back home.

One thing that Lombardi’s comments on the Edmonton radio show revealed was that nothing has changed since earlier in the season in terms of his stance on Frolov or in terms of the salary Frolov is seeking from the Kings and, presumably, other NHL teams that might be interested in his services when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

In fact, it appears that Lombardi has not budged one bit from his position held earlier in the season.

“Our problem under this new system [with the salary cap], is OK, I can’t pay you as a forty-goal scorer,” Lombardi said in a January 2010 interview with Frozen Royalty (see “Alexander Frolov Creates Dilemma For Dean Lombardi). “I’m not sure I can pay you as a thirty-goal scorer. I like you, even if you stay the same, I think I can win a [Stanley] Cup for you in this role. But if a player has to get X amount of dollars, he has to fill [the] role [that fits that dollar amount].”

“That’s the quandary as a manager—there was an article today about all the guys making $9 million,” Lombardi elaborated. “If you’re making $9 million you have to be the leader, you have to carry the ball, score—you have to be everything.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

1. Read a Book – If you’re a crazed hockey fan who lives it day-in, day-out, there are a ton of great books out there that you can read. Check out Playing With Fire by Theo Fleury (Amazon Affiliate link). Read about the sex-crazed, drug-addicted boozer who tore up the National Hockey League for years. I challenge you to sit down on a Sunday afternoon and put the book down (you won’t be able to). Another great one is Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer by Bruce Bodreau (Amazon Affiliate link). You remember Bruce: a former head coach of the Manchester Monarchs and recent Jack Adams Award winner for the Washington Capitals. It’s an incredibly insightful book about a guy who lives and breathes hockey. He’s probably reading something as well at this moment.

2. Get Acquainted with Your 2010 Draftees – I know, in years past it was easy. You only had to get to know five or six guys because the Los Angeles Kings have drafted in the top five for the last three years. Fortunately, the time has passed for us to draft a “savior”. As of right now, the Kings will draft either 19th or 20th overall. So get yourselves familiar with players like Stanislav Galiev, Riley Sheahan and Tyler Pitlick. And, no, Dean Lombardi is not trading up to number one overall just because the draft is in Los Angeles.

3. Visit Toyota Sports Center – When it’s hot and the sun is shining and you’ve survived a month without a mention of Kings hockey, you can often get the shakes. That’s why it can be refreshing to throw on some shorts (maybe a jersey) and head on over to the LA Kings practice facility. We did. You can go inside, watch the midget Kings and scout potential standouts for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

4. Detoxify Your Liver – If you watch our show, you know that in those red plastic cups we drink from resides enough hard liquor to kill most of the sober population. We suggest that cramp on your left side isn’t just a cramp, it’s your liver crying for help. We suggest now is the time to give it some help. Have a glass of water. Drink some cranberry juice. Switch to beer. But, for saftey’s sake, perhaps 11 shots of Jagermeister in the middle of the summer is not going to get you healthy for training camp. Curb it.

5. Or You Can Just Get a Life – It’s the summer. The Los Angeles Kings are scattered across the globe relaxing, golfing and not thinking about hockey. Maybe you should too. If you’re marking the days off of your calendar until training camp starts, you might have a problem.

Then again, KingsCast will be here all summer with new shows and blogs. Yeah, we pretty much suck too.

So what do you do to keep your mind off of Kings hockey?

Keith Korneluk a the co-host of Overtime by KingsCast. Friend him up on Facebook and follow him on Twitter. This pleases him.

LOS ANGELES — For any National Hockey League team, drafting and development of young prospects is crucial to their long-term success. But for the majority of their 42-year history, the Los Angeles Kings generally resorted to foolishly trading away their first round draft picks and their best young players for NHL veterans—some had been star players—who were little more than washed-up has-beens.

That started to change under former general manager Dave Taylor, but the great emphasis on drafting and development has come under current Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, who has built the team’s drafting and player development infrastructure up to what is now regarded as one of the best scouting and development staffs in the league.

Last month, four Kings prospects represented Canada in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Center Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings, Western Hockey League), defenseman Colten Teubert (Regina Pats, WHL), right wing Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen, WHL) and goaltender Martin Jones (Calgary Hitmen) helped lead Canada to the Silver Medal, losing to the United States in the championship game.

Lombardi expressed a great deal of pride that four of his team’s young prospects made Team Canada and he spoke with Frozen Royalty about Teubert’s and Kozun’s development.

“[Teubert has] made a lot of progress, but he still has a lot to learn,” said Lombardi. “The whole thing about his physical game still has to be channelled in the right direction. You can’t play like the Flyers of the Seventies, so you have to channel that type of aggression. You can’t get away with just running around being physical.”

Indeed, the 19-year-old native of White Rock, British Columbia, who is the captain of the Pats and was one of two Kings’ prospects (Thomas Hickey) to win a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Juniors, is a rather imposing physical force, but tends to get caught up in trying to make the big hit too often, taking himself out of defensive position.

Although the 6-4, 194-pound Teubert has improved on that, he still has quite a ways to go.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

LOS ANGELES — With the Los Angeles Kings flying high, having won nine straight games, setting a franchise record for consecutive wins with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Detroit Red Wings on February 6, many have probably forgotten one important thing.

The Kings are still in rebuild mode.

Indeed, even with the Kings currently living in the rarefied air of fourth place in the Western Conference, they are still not where they want or need to be.

“It clearly shows that we’re [going] in the right direction,” said Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi. “In terms of what you’re pleased with, it’s always been about getting better every year, having a nucleus start to form and to become a contender. So what that record represents to me right now is that we’re clearly headed in the right direction.”

“I don’t doubt that we’re [going] in the right direction, but we’re not going to be ultimately pleased until we get to where we feel we’re at Chicago’s level or San Jose’s level,” added Lombardi. “That’s where we’re going. So I’m pleased in terms of the right direction, but [we’re not] kidding ourselves]. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Before this season began, Lombardi said that his young core of players had to get better if the Kings were going to reach new heights and, at least to this point in the season—58 games in, the core has improved.

“I said, at the beginning of the year, there were a couple of key indications,” Lombardi explained. “Number one, the kids had to get better. No matter who we added, the most important thing was that Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Quick all get better. That was number one.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

LOS ANGELES — With the exception of should-be-a-Hall-of-Famer Rogie Vachon, Mario Lessard and Felix Potvin (for about one season), “goaltending” and “Los Angeles Kings” should not be used in the same sentence unless the idea is to cause uncontrollable laughter or crushing despair, depending on who you might be talking to.

But all indications are that the old joke that has been Los Angeles Kings’ goaltending is about to be put to rest, perhaps for the long-term.

Although it is way too early in his career to compare him to Vachon, Jonathan Quick could be the solid, number one goaltender the Kings have lacked for what seems like an eternity.

Quick, who was selected by the Kings in the third round (72nd overall) in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, was called up by the Kings after Jason LaBarbera proved to be a sieve to start the 2009-09 season. Quick stepped right in and played so well that not only did he become the team’s number one goaltender last season, but he also allowed Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi to dump LaBarbera onto the Vancouver Canucks for a seventh round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (this pick, along with an additional fourth round pick and a seventh round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers on June 27, 2009 for a fourth round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The used that pick to select goaltender Jean-Francois Berube).

Indeed, the 6-1 223-pound native of Milford, Connecticut performed well last season, earning a 21-18-3 record with a 2.48 goals-against average (GAA), a .914 save percentage and two shutouts in 44 games.

As poorly as the Kings played last season, ending the season 14th in the fifteen-team Western Conference and way, way out of playoff contention, the fact that Quick had a winning record on a team that was 34-37-11 last year is impressive, to say the least.

Fast forward to the current season, Quick got off to a bit of an uneven start, but has settled down and especially in recent weeks, he has shined.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

JANUARY 27, 2010 — LOS ANGELES — On June 27, 2009, during the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, then-Los Angeles Kings center prospect Brian Boyle was traded to the New York Rangers for a third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Much was expected of Boyle, a 6-7, 248-pound center with a scoring touch who was selected by the Kings in the first round (26th overall) in 2003 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, former Kings General Manager Dave Taylor said that he would be a project, but in Boyle’s four years at Boston College, he excelled.

Even at the American Hockey League level, Boyle was a solid contributor offensively for the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, even though the Kings tried to convert him to a defenseman, an experiment that failed miserably.

But even with his great physical gifts, especially for a player with his size and strength, Boyle has still been unable to figure out, even with the Rangers, that he has to use his those gifts in order to succeed in the NHL, something the Kings tried to get him to learn.

Although Boyle showed flashes of the grit he will need to succeed at the NHL level, most of the time, he failed to win the physical battles along the boards and in the corners, or worse, was a spectator, just a few feet away.

Boyle’s four goals and two assists for six points in 51 games this season, along with his average ice time of just 8:26, indicate that he still has not learned that lesson.

Like Boyle, Kings right wing Teddy Purcell is facing the same challenges, even though he does not possess Boyle’s size and strength. But to this point in his NHL career, Purcell has been unable to add the necessary grit to his game and that begs the question:

If Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi could give up on Boyle because he could not play with enough grit, will he do the same with Purcell?

Probably not, at least, not as quickly.

Read the rest on HockeyTalk.biz

LOS ANGELES — This season, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson has wowed fans with end-to-end rushes, nifty shootout goals and better offensive play. But on defense, even though he has improved since his rookie season, he has blown coverages in the defensive zone and has gotten caught up ice on several occasions, giving up outnumbered attacks.

In other words, the 23-year-old native of Indianapolis, Indiana has been both breathtaking and aggravating to watch, all at the same time.

Now in his third full season in the National Hockey League, Johnson has shown the offensive skill and athletic ability that made him a first round pick (third overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. But his decisions in the defensive zone often leave people shaking their heads after he makes a bad read or blows a coverage.

During a recent interview, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi explained that Johnson is learning his craft…belatedly.

“This guy has never had any coaching [at the University of Michigan],” Lombardi said. “Jack just did what he wanted.”

“Michigan is the worst.” Lombardi added. “For hockey people, if you’ve got a choice between a kid—all things being equal—one’s going to Michigan and one’s going to Boston University, you all want your player [going to Boston University]. Michigan’s players—[head coach] Red [Berenson] doesn’t coach. It’s ‘do what you want.’ He gets the best players in the country.”

During his two seasons at the University of Michigan, Johnson played as a rover, rather than as a defenseman, even though that was his official position.

“Jack was a thoroughbred out there,” Lombardi explained. “But he was all over the place. He was awful as a hockey player. As an athlete, you’re going, wow! Look at the way he skates, shoots, he can pass. But he had no idea where he was going.”

“At times, he was playing forward at Michigan,” Lombardi elaborated. “You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

LOS ANGELES — Since the 2002-03 season, winger Alexander Frolov has been a top six forward for the Los Angeles Kings. A highly-skilled player, Frolov has a definite scoring touch, good hands, and he can pass the puck as well as anyone. The 27-year-old native of Moscow, Russia is also strong along the boards and in the corners and has an uncanny ability to protect the puck once he gets it.

The 6-3, 208-pound winger, who was selected by the Kings in the first round (twentieth overall) in the 2000 National Hockey League Entry Draft, had his best seasons in 2006-07 (35 goals, 36 assists for 71 points) and 2008-09 (32 goals, 27 assists for 59 points). In his six seasons in the NHL prior to the 2009-10 season, Frolov has scored twenty or more goal in each season, except for the 2002-03 season (fourteen goals), his rookie year.

Frolov has displayed flashes of brilliance, but has been an enigma throughout his career because it is evident that he is capable of reaching another level, but does not seem to have the mental makeup to play at that level, night in and night out.

But is Frolov really that good? Is he skilled enough to be a forty-goal scorer?

At this point in his career, Frolov’s aggravating knack to be the best player on the ice in several games only to completely disappear for another stretch of games indicates that the answer to that question is a fairly resounding “no.”

Indeed, expectations for Frolov were probably too high to begin with.

“I think the first premise, that he should be a forty-goal scorer—he had those thirty-goal years, but don’t forget, there’s a big difference between being a thirty-goal scorer on a contender and a thirty-goal scorer on a bad team,” Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi said during a recent interview. “That’s the first thing you want to be careful of.”

“When you’re building, you ask [yourself], where does he fit on a good team? When he’s young, yeah, he could be a forty-goal scorer,” Lombardi added. “But those thirty-goal years, I’m not sure they translate into forty [on a contender]. Actually, the guy who’s a 25-goal scorer on a contender, often times, is a better player than a thirty or 35-goal scorer on a bad team.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings started the 2009-10 season on fire, as did center Anze Kopitar.

The Kings were scoring goals in bunches, as the line of left wing Ryan Smyth, right wing Justin Williams and Kopitar were torching just about every opponent they faced.

Kopitar was largely responsible for that, as he opened the season on a serious tear with fourteen goals and seventeen assists for 31 points in the team’s first 21 games (October 3 – November 14, 2009).

Indeed, with Smyth going hard for loose pucks and consistently parking himself in front of the opposition’s net, Kopitar found himself with more room to maneuver in the offensive zone, giving him more scoring chances.

But it was much more than Smyth that made Kopitar the scoring terror that he was early in the season.

Off-season conditioning and strength work added muscle and endurance to Kopitar’s 6-3, 222-pound frame. That gave him more speed and power to get past defenders and to help him win more loose puck battles.

But when Smyth went down with a rib injury and missed six weeks starting in mid-November, Kopitar went down, too, virtually disappearing from the scoresheet. In fact, from November 11 (a few games before Smyth was injured) to December 7, Kopitar did not score a goal—a thirteen-game goal-scoring drought.

Since November 16, the first game Smyth missed due to the injury, Kopitar has scored just four goals and has added ten assists for fourteen points in 26 games, way, way off the 1.48 points per game pace he set to begin the season.

Conventional wisdom has been that Smyth’s absence was the primary reason for Kopitar’s huge slump. But don’t try telling that to Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, even though he was scratching his head about the situation as well.

“I can’t deny that I’ve asked myself if one guy [could make that much of a difference],” Lombardi said during a recent interview. “I’ve got to admit I was a little confused by that myself. I did the same thing you did. I talked to hockey people and asked, ‘is it possible that one guy who was leading the league in scoring then gets six points in thirteen games, [could be because one player (Smyth) goes out of the lineup]?’”

Lombardi then went to an expert for help.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

LOS ANGELES — Anyone who follows the National Hockey League knows that Atlanta Thrashers superstar left wing Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract expires on June 30, 2010, and that the Thrashers risk losing him if they are unable to sign him to a contract extension prior to that date.

To this point, the Thrashers have been unable to reach an agreement with Kovalchuk, who many believe is waiting to test the free agent waters in July, and rumor has it that Thrashers general manager Don Waddell is testing the trade waters to try to make sure that if Kovalchuk refuses to sign, that the Thrashers will, at least, get something in return.

That has led to furious, wild speculation in recent days regarding teams that may be in the running for Kovalchuk’s services, and the Los Angeles Kings, with their young, up-and-coming team with enough salary cap room to fit Kovalchuk into their plans, are rumored to be among the favorites.

Many Kings fans are drooling all over themselves, both figuratively and literally, at the thought of seeing Kovalchuk in a Kings jersey. But the question is:

Will Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi pull the trigger?

Before looking specifically at that question, it should be noted that, like any NHL general manager worth his salt, Lombardi always has his eyes and ears open for any deal that will improve his team.

“I’m always looking for the next piece,” Lombardi said in a recent interview. “We’re right on schedule. I met with the owner back in July. We talked about if he was happy with our record. This is the way I saw it, this is my projection on what we’re going to need to be a contender, if everything came together the way I thought. To get to the next level, these are the three things we need to have.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings will host the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at STAPLES Center, the National Hockey League and the Kings announced Friday. The annual Draft — which will take place June 25-26, 2010 — will be in Los Angeles for the first time ever.

“The Los Angeles Kings organization would like to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Bill Daly, John Collins, Don Renzulli and the entire National Hockey League for awarding the Kings, STAPLES Center and the city of Los Angeles this prestigious event,” said Kings Governor Timothy J. Leiweke. “The fact that the Draft will be at STAPLES Center and at L.A. LIVE next June is very special to us as our team has been built largely through the Draft and our patience is being rewarded right now. L.A. LIVE is the event capital of the world and we are excited that the NHL Draft is the first of many League Drafts that L.A. expects to host in the future.”

“It has been terrific to watch the continuing evolution of the Los Angeles Kings, as well as the growth of hockey in the state of California,” said National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman. “With local youth programs producing an increasing number of elite players, we are extremely pleased to bring this showcase event to California for the first time.”

“This is a very exciting and this is a very special announcement,” said Kings President of Business Operations, Luc Robitaille, who was originally selected by the Kings in the ninth-round (171st overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. “The Draft is the place so many young players in our sport begin their professional careers and next summer the future of the NHL will be on display in Los Angeles. With the success of L.A. LIVE and our new incredible hotel opening in February, it is the ideal setting for yet another major sports and entertainment event to come to downtown Los Angeles. It is also another example that Los Angeles is a thriving hockey market with knowledgeable fans.”

“With the draft being here in L.A. next summer, maybe we can find another Luc Robitaille,” said Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi.

First priority for all Draft ticketing at STAPLES Center for June 25 and 26 will be given to Kings full season ticket members and STAPLES Center premier seat and suite holders. For official Draft ticket information, call 1-888-KINGS-LA or register for official Draft ticket information by clicking here.

The Kings’ current roster features eight players selected by the club in the annual NHL Draft including seven total players who were selected in the first-round (by the Kings or another NHL club). This list features Dustin Brown (13th overall in 2003), Drew Doughty (2nd overall in 2008), Alexander Frolov (20th overall in 2000), Anze Kopitar (11th overall in 2005), Jack Johnson (3rd overall by Carolina in 2005), Ryan Smyth (6th overall by Edmonton in 1994) and Justin Williams (28th overall by Philadelphia in 2000).

Since Lombardi assumed President/General Manager duties with the Kings, he has used the draft unlike any General Manager in team history to help implement his vision as he continues to build the Kings. Since 2006, Lombardi and the Kings have used 38 overall selections including six in the first round, five in second round and seven in the third round. The Kings have chosen at least one player in each of these rounds the last four years, and going forward the Kings have 10 selections in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, including six in the first three rounds.

At the annual NHL Entry Draft, which began in 1969, the Kings have selected 385 total players including 32 in the first round, 40 in the second round and 38 in the third round. (The Kings had two selections in the NHL Amateur Draft – 1967 and 1968 – when there was only one round and different draft rules applied).

The highest draft selections the Kings have had in their history were the second overall selections (three times: Doughty, Jimmy Carson in 1986 and Doug Smith in 1981). The Kings have held a draft choice in the top five overall selections six other times (third overall: Aki Berg in 1995, Olli Jokinen in 1997; fourth overall: Larry Murphy in 1980, Wayne McBean in 1987, Thomas Hickey in 2007; fifth overall: Brayden Schenn in 2009).

Some other notable Kings draft picks over the years include the following: Butch Goring – Fifth-round (51st overall) in 1969; Billy Smith – Fifth-round (59th overall) in 1970; Dave Taylor – 15th-round (210th overall) in 1975; Jay Wells – First-round (16th overall) in 1979; Mark Hardy – Second-round (30th overall) in 1979 Jim Fox – First-round (10th overall) in 1980; Bernie Nicholls – Fourth-round (73rd overall) in 1980; Kevin Stevens – Sixth-round (108th overall) in 1983; Rob Blake – Fourth-round (70th overall) in 1988; Alexei Zhitnik – Fourth-round (81st overall) in 1991; Lubomir Visnovsky – Fourth-round (118th overall) in 2000; and Michael Cammalleri – Second-round (49th overall) in 2001.

Three players selected by the Kings are currently in the Hockey Hall of Fame – Robitaille, Murphy and Billy Smith.

The Kings began play in the National Hockey League in 1967 and the club has never hosted the NHL Entry Draft. In fact, for the first time in its 46-year history, the NHL Entry Draft will be held in the State of California. The 2009 Draft was held in Montreal as part of that organization’s Centennial celebration.

Defenseman Jonathon Blum, a native of Long Beach, California, and member of the 2007 Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, became the first California-born and trained player to ever be selected in the first round (2007). Blum, claimed by the Nashville Predators with the 23rd overall pick, played his youth hockey with the California Wave before moving to the WHL.

Since 2001, 23 players have been drafted from the state of California, including nine in the last three draft years. Only five states in the U.S. have had more – Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan and Illinois.

Long Beach, California native Emerson Etem is ranked fourth by NHL Central Scouting on its “Top 25 Western Hockey League Players to Watch” list for the 2010 Draft. Etem, a speedy center with great puckhandling skills, is second on his team — Medicine Hat Tigers — in goal scoring with 20.

The first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft will take place on Friday, June 25, beginning at 4 p.m. (PT). On Saturday, the draft concludes with rounds two-seven.

KingsCast Take: This is going to be a huge event for Los Angeles Kings fans. The Canadian media will descend upon Los Angeles for two days of hockey. I know we’re going, are you?

From LAKings.com

The Los Angeles Kings have signed goaltender Jonathan Quick to a three-year contact extension, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Friday.

Quick, 23, is in his third NHL/Kings season and he’s started nine of the Kings’ first 10 games this season. He’s also started 50 of the last 60 Kings’ games dating back to last season and he was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the week ending on Oct. 11 after posting a record of 3-0-0 while stopping 80 of 88 shots against in victories over San Jose (Oct. 6), Minnesota (Oct. and St. Louis (Oct. 10).

Quick, a 6-1, 223-pound native of Milford, Conn., is tied for second in the NHL this season with six wins. In addition, he ranks third in the league with 538:53 minutes played and seventh with 225 saves. Quick also has a 3.01 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .893.

Quick last season led the Kings and ranked third among NHL rookie goaltenders with 21 wins, a 2.48 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, four shutouts, 44 appearances and 1,097 saves. His 21 wins were the third most ever recorded by a Kings’ rookie goaltender (Mario Lessard had 23 in 1978-79 and Bob Janecyk had 22 in 1984-85). Quick also went 4-1 in shootouts (he stopped 10 of 14 shots, 71 percent) and 3-0 in shootouts on the road last season. He started 41 of the final 50 Kings’ games in 2008-09 after being recalled from Manchester (American Hockey League) on Dec 16, 2008.

Quick recorded his fourth career shutout on March 26, 2009 at Dallas, stopping all 29 shots in a 1-0 shootout win, and his fourth shutout tied a Kings rookie single-season record (the three other rookie netminders to have four shutouts in one season are Jamie Storr in 1998-99, Lessard in 1978-79 and Gerry Desjardins in 1968-69). All four of Quick’s shutouts came on the road, which is a franchise record. Quick stopped a career-high 41 shots in 5-4 win on Feb. 5, 2009 at Washington and he recorded his first career shutout on Dec. 23, 2008 at Columbus, stopping all 24 shots in a 3-0 win (sixth career NHL game and fourth career NHL start).

Originally selected by the Kings in the third-round (72nd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Quick made his NHL/Kings debut in 2007-08 and he recorded his first NHL win in his debut on Dec. 6, 2007 vs. Buffalo. He appeared in three Kings’ games that season, going 1-2-0 with a 3.83 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .855.

Quick, who was in the final year of his current contract, attended Team USA’s Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp this past summer (Aug. 17-19).

LOS ANGELES — Entering their fourth season since President/General Manager Dean Lombardi began the process of tearing down the Los Angeles Kings and building them back up, practically from scratch, those efforts are now, finally, beginning to bear ripe, sweet fruit.

Indeed, instead of having a bunch of older veterans on the downside of their careers making up the core of the team, the core is now made up of young players who are on the rise. They are skilled, strong in terms of character and they have been “growing up” together, building strong bonds with each other, something rarely seen before in the Kings’ dressing room.

If that sounds like things are coming together for the Kings, don’t worry. You are not hearing things. You do not need to get your hearing checked.

Yes, Lombardi’s rebuilding efforts have resulted in significant improvements on the forward lines, on defense and in goal. But does that mean the Kings are now a playoff team?

Maybe.

To be sure, expectations for the team, both from fans and from management, are higher than they have been since the last time the Kings made the playoffs in 2002, maybe higher, since this team is not being built just to be invited to the post-season party. Rather, it is being built to win the Stanley Cup and become a perennial contender.

But they have not reached that level yet, so first things first.

“It’s early,” said newly-acquired veteran left wing Ryan Smyth. “For sure, every team wants to make the playoffs and from there, it’s a whole new season. But let’s start the season, get used to each other, develop some chemistry, some team camaraderie and go from there.”

Read the rest on HockeyTalk.biz

(AP)

Not a far fetched headline considering that’s the word on the preseason street. Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi was on Fan 590 today and mentioned something about interest in getting Gretzky back to LA. I’m sure it’s been talked about for years, but this mention may mean something could happen in the near future.

What do you think?

Here is a screen shot of the digital issue. I’m located on the top half of page 33 next to a great picture of Drew Doughty. Just in case you can’t read it, it says:

Underrated Kings GM Dean Lombardi has continued to quietly build a contender with (almost) nobody watching. This young team will play with drama-filled, Boys on the Bus exuberance worthy of a reality TV show.

A few words were snipped out of what I wrote, but it doesn’t affect the overall message, which is that this team will make other markets aware of its presence by continuing on the path set out by Lombardi years prior. For Kings fans, there shouldn’t be any surprises in the team’s potential output considering the additions and subtractions made this summer.

Thanks to Earl Sleek for the mention as he was chosen to write on the Anaheim Ducks. Congrats to fellow HLOGers Elise from 18,568 Reasons Why… and Bethany from Bethany’s Hockey Rants. And congrats to all the other bloggers who were asked for thoughts on their respective teams.

I know Mrs. KingsCast(s) likes it when the players fight. Others enjoy the sport of hockey, grew up in Los Angeles and started following the team at some point. There are a few that just need some sort of emotional connection to something (and, given our record in the last few years, how’s that working out for ya?). Dean Lombardi talks about his players having the Kings logo tattooed on their butts. Yet, there are many of you who actually have a Kings tattoo.

We spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to see games, buy jerseys and get autographs for a team that has given us very little in the win department. Yet we keep coming back. The question I pose to you is why? The first pre-season game is in less than two weeks and there is already excitement in the air in Kings nation.

Why are you a Kings fan? Why do you spend so many hours of your week on-line, reading the latest Kings news, Twittering, listening to podcasts and watching Kings videos? How did you become an LA Kings fan in the first place? Has your view of the team changed over the years? What are you most excited about for the upcoming 2009-2010 season?

I’m very interested to hear your thoughts! Have a safe rest of your Labor Day!

From the weekend festivities I felt the main message for fans to take with them was that the Kings are still moving in the same direction toward the same goal. The management team hasn’t deviated from its original end goal and there’s no reason to think it might happen this year. If anything, the fruits of this plan should be showing itself with more goals from the forwards, continued solid defensive support, reliable goaltending, and an elevated consistency across the board. The team has been working towards this ideal, and I think they will finally make something of their potential this season. This doesn’t mean it will happen automatically; the steps to the finish line will be siphoning more blood and sweat from the players with rabid fans looking on.

Day 3 of Hockey Fest had three panels with the first consisting of current management. Dean Lombardi, Ron Hextall, and Terry Murray expressed the commitment of further improvements from the roster. As I said in my first recap, no one reinvented the wheel this past weekend; everything has been said before and other things seemed more common sense than anything else. For example, Lombardi stated that the Kings did not market Drew Doughty like the Tampa Bay Lightening did with Steven Stamkos. They let him come in and earn the respect of his teammates. Essentially if Doughty did not live up to any marketing hype, “the veterans would resent him.”

Any sort of resentment would not have been the product of unsuccessful marketing; rather, the resentment would have stemmed from the expectations of an 18-year-old kid leading this team into the playoffs. Lombardi also mentioned Doughty has been rounding out his nutrition and shedding his baby fat and was now developing into an athlete with more upside than one with minimal bodyfat coming in. This obviously has been a topic that has generated enough attention since the summer before he was drafted, which is why I made sure to ask Doughty about what steps he had been taking in regards to his nutrition.

Lombardi fielded a question specifically about Dany Heatley from the audience and I’m glad this shut down any of those still thinking his coming here was a possibility. Right after the question was asked, Lombardi spoke about two things:

1. The most important things for the team are for Anze Kopitar to step up his game and for Doughty and Jonathan Quick to keep progressing.
2. The second is to look at San Jose’s progression; they have improved six years in a row with the average age dropping each year. The Kings are on the path to now be able to find players who can be added to fit specifically into the system. He would “like this group to reach its potential before looking outside of the club.” It would be too risky of a move to take a chance on Heatley right now while the core is still forming. Basically, he doesn’t want to guess if he doesn’t have to.

If anyone is surprised by this, you should go back and read everything Lombardi has preached since he’s arrived. He wants to be sure that any big move the Kings make takes “the team to the top.” Getting Heatley could potentially do more harm than good, which would move the team backwards effectively stunting its growth. If he ends up a bust, he’ll add a negativity to the forming core while taking up the most dollars on the salary cap, which I’m sure no one else would want to deal with. The improvement of Kopitar is the key to this team making a jump. Lombardi emphatically said to look to Kopi for “that dynamic goal”and that “great things start to happen off the fundamentals of the game.”

Preaching to the choir.

DL also addressed Teddy Purcell’s roster spot saying that college players have no clue how to play in tight corners and that “he’s not going to play unless he pays the price.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It’s no surprise that the ex-goalie of the management group is the one to take goalie-related questions, right? Of course!

During the Q&A, Hextall said he considered Quick to be the number one goalie with Erik Ersberg as the backup, and Jonathan Bernier would be best served going back to the Manchester Monarchs. I’m sure the knowledge of Bernier’s impatience of getting to Los Angeles isn’t foreign, so I won’t feel too badly in completely agreeing with Hextall. Bernier’s cocky confidence is felt 3,000 miles away and I’m in the mood to keep him at arm’s length from the roster. The unknown for Hextall is definitely Ersberg. He’s a solid goalie but isn’t sure if he has the physical ability to play 60-65 games a season due to his size. To add to the bottom line, Hextall stated that there were no plans to move Ersberg. That being the case, anything can happen during the season. It appears the goalie situation hasn’t deviated from the end of last season up until now, which makes me a whole lot more comfortable than this time last year.

I got a rare insight into Quick from Dustin Brown that I’m sure the everyday fan is unaware of; the fact that he has a cocky attitude both on and off the ice. You’d never know it from watching the way he plays, but Brownie spoke very highly of him when we lobbed a few questions his way. Of Quick: “He’s cocky in a way that you actually like him,” and he ended that by saying, “You can have an average team in front of you. If you’re a good goalie, you have a good team.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Terry Murray said what Terry Murray usually says; the Kings don’t want to lose sight of last year and will focus on getting more pucks IN the net starting at training camp. He would like the team to be an aggressive forechecking team, which I am completely on board with. He also mentioned that his lines were already down on paper so he’ll have set lines to try out at training camp. The definite lines he said out loud were the first line (Ryan Smyth – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams) and the first two defensive pairings (1 – Drew Doughty – Sean O’Donnell; 2 – Rob Scuderi – Jack Johnson). The only line up in the air for TM is the 4th line. Who could it be?

Raitis Ivanans – John Zeiler – Peter Harrold? (Whoa… I just threw up in my mouth a bit.)

Other than this little tidbit, there weren’t any earth-shattering bits of insight. But one thing I asked specifically was if he had a surprise rookie forward in mind who could make a statement out of training camp. He responded by saying he wasn’t 100% sure on anyone but that Richard Clune might make a name for himself. Regarding the playoffs, he said if they didn’t make the top 8 spots in the West, it wouldn’t be a huge disappointment but that they had to show improvement. This was a bit different than what Lombardi said earlierabout the playoffs. If the Kings didn’t make it, according to DL, it “would not be a major disaster but would be a major disappointment.”

I honestly can’t disagree with anything said during the weekend. Everything was inline with how the Kings are being built up and, in the end, I’m happy with how everything went. The venue was very nice, clean, and sent the message that the Kings were continuing to move forward in the players’ development. From the fan perspective I was pretty pleased at how everything was presented although the area could have used a bit more signage on the exterior to showcase what was going on and where to go. The heat was killer but that didn’t stop the street hockey tournament even on the black asphalt. Much thanks to the Kings for providing this opportunity

Make sure to check out all the news on the event on KingsCast, Frozen Royalty, The Examiner, and the Press Box Perspective!

Next stop: the playoffs! (…or not…)

Hockey Fest Day 3 – Staying on Target

Saturday you’ll have the opportunity to meet Dave Taylor, Marcel Dionne and Charlie Simmer of the Triple Crown Line in person. The stories this group must have as they made up one of the best lines in Los Angeles Kings history. This is my must-see event for Saturday. Also featured will be an enforcer panel and an NHL experts discussion. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of your current Kings and get some long-awaited autographs.

Sunday is the coup de grace for any Kings Fan as Bob Miller will be starring in his own one-man show at the Nokia Theatre. In this special performance, Bob will re-live many of his favorite (and funny) Kings moments. I absolutely cannot wait for this one. Also on Sunday will be a panel on “Growing Up Kings” with Jim Fox, Luc Robitaille, Bernie Nicholls and Mark Hardy where they will talk about growing up in the farm system and finally making the team. At 10AM, there will be a discussion with Terry Murray, Dean Lombardi and Ron Hextall where you’ll get the “inside scoop” on what’s happening with the team. Think of this as a condensed Breakfast with the GM.

Of course, KingsCast will be there as part of the media giving you up to the minute updates on Twitter as well as the blog. We’ll be trying to get a few interviews as well for you. Also, we’re hoping to meet some of you this weekend and get your take on this year’s squad on video for Overtime. Thanks for all of the support this off-season!

For more information, and to purchase tickets to the LA Kings Hockey Fest ’09, click here. See you this weekend!

Hosted by ESPN.com’s John Buccigross, this three-day event will feature a “one-man show” with Bob Miller, a Q&A with the Triple Crown Line, a speakers series with former Kings greats, live music with Eddie Kowalczyk, autograph sessions and much more. This event is like Tip a King on Red Bull and speed.

The Los Angeles Kings have packed so much into these three days that it’s like boot camp for the Kings fan. However, Hockey Fest is much more than a three-day celebration of all things Kings: it’s symbolic. Do you think they would have done this if all we had done in the offseason is sign Brian Wilsie 2.0? Exactly, the Kings want you to be excited about Kings hockey this season. The Chicago Blackhawks missed the playoffs in 2007-2008, held their own Hockey Fest that summer and went on to the Western Conference Finals. Now I’m not suggesting that’s going to happen for Los Angeles, but the playoff spirit is in the air and it’s time to jump on the train. Personally, I can’t wait to see Bob Miller’s one-man show. This is a Hall of Fame living legend of broadcasting live on stage. It’s going to be pretty special.

If you think your child will be born that weekend, see if there’s a way to switch that around. If you’re getting married that weekend: put. it. off. If you’re an LA Kings fan, this is an event not to be missed.

Now you know Team KingsCast will be there, what about you? What are you most looking forward to?

Keith Korneluk is a co-host on KingsCast. Follow him on Twitter

Mikus, 22, recently participated in the Kings annual Development Camp. The 6-1, 200-pound native of Skalica, Slovakia, recorded 90 points (31-59=90), 52 penalty minutes and a plus-58 rating while appearing in all 56 regular season games with Skalica HK 36 of the Slovak Extraliga this past season. Mikus led his team in assists and finished second to teammate and former King Ziggy Palffy in both goals and total points.

Originally selected by Montreal in the fourth-round (121st overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Mikus recorded 43 points (21-22=43) and 52 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games with HK 36 during the 2007-08 season. In 2006-07, he skated with Chicoutimi of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), totaling 71 points (29-42=71) and 36 penalty minutes in 60 regular season games.

Mikus has also skated for his native Slovakia on an International stage on several occasions during his career. He last skated for his country at the 2009 World Championships, registering one point (0-1=1) and two penalty minutes in six games. He’s also skated with Slovakia at the 2008 World Championships (2 GP, 0-0=0), the 2007 World Junior Championships (6 GP, 5-1=6; his five goals led the tournament), the 2006 World Junior Championships (6 GP, 0-0=0) and the 2005 U-18 World Junior Championships (6 GP, 0-7=7).

Per LAKings.com

The 6’2″, 180 pound 19 year old Huntsville, AL native is the first player to ever be drafted from Huntsville as well as the first player to be drafted from the Wenatchee Wild. In an interview with Wenatchee Wild.com, Wild head coach Paul Baxter said “His selection is well-earned. LA’s Scouts had watched him play several times and were high on his NHL potential.” That just goes to show you: Los Angeles scouts are everywhere.

Dowd has committed himself to St. Cloud State University (WCHA) for the 2010-11 season and will play along side fellow Los Angeles Kings prospect Garrett Roe where he will be given ample time to mature. “His learning curve is very steep and his competitive vigor in all situations makes him a very attractive NHL prospect. He was a positive difference-maker in crucial game situations all season and during the playoffs”, said Baxter. “Nic has tremendous stick skills and vision, along with a very good skating stride that will get better as he physically matures.” Garrett Roe, also a 7th round draft pick by the LA Kings wasn’t the most highly-touted prospect of the bunch last year but managed to finish second in rookie scoring for the WCHA. There’s no doubt that Nic Dowd will benefit from the development program at St. Cloud State.

Matt Reitz from the popular blog View From My Seats got a chance to see Nic Dowd last weekend at the LA Kings Development Camp. “He couldn’t have blended in any more if he tried”, Reitz said. “I looked down at the roster a couple of times because I kept forgetting who he was. He wasn’t good and he wasn’t bad – he just blended. There were definitely guys that looked out of place. Thankfully he wasn’t one of them. I guess that’s a compliment, right?” Not exactly a shining endorsement of Dowd but somewhat expectant of a 7th rounder.

It will be interesting to watch the development of these players drafted in the lower rounds. Garrett Roe, also a 7th rounder, has been lighting up the WCHA. Obviously his Wenatchee Wild coach Paul Baxter thinks highly of him. Participation in these development camps will be highly beneficial to Nic Dowd. While we certainly can’t pencil Dowd into a Kings roster as of yet, there is little doubt that Dean Lombardi’s staff spoke endlessly about him. As we know by now, Lombardi will never waste a pick.

Random facts about Dowd: after hockey he would like to go to school for veterinary medicine and in the 1997-98 seasont he scored 103 goals and 68 assists for 171 points for his mite hockey team.

Resources:
View From My Seats – Follow Matt on Twitter
Wenatchee Wild.com

You can read about the Los Angeles Kings previous draft picks right here on KingsCast. So far, we’ve profiled forward Kyle Clifford, defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, goaltender Jean-Francois Berube, forward Linden Vey, defenseman David Kolomatis, forward Michael Pelech, forward Brandon Kozun and forward Jordan Nolan.

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If the name sounds familiar, Jordan is the son of Ted Nolan, who coached the Buffalo Sabres and, most recently, the New York Islanders. So if you’re wondering where Nolan gets his fiery personality from, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.

In a recent altercation on March 7, Nolan took a game misconduct for starting a fight with R. J. Mahalak of the Plymouth Whalers. Said Commissioner David Branch to SooToday.com “the League is most concerned regarding the inappropriate and concerning actions of player Nolan and we must all work to eliminate these type of bullying tactics from our game. We are most fortunate that player Mahalak of the Plymouth Whalers was not more seriously injured.” Anybody else satisfied that LA Kings General Manager has addressed our lack of toughness this draft?

As a 20 year old with the Greyhounds, Nolan wasn’t sure he was going to be drafted at all. However, in a recent interview with The Sault Star, Greyhounds General Manager David Torrie had this to say about Jordan Nolan: “He’s an intriguing combination of size, skill and toughness.”

I really, really like this pick at 186th overall (I know, I’m a bit impartial). At worst, he plays another year of overage hockey in Sault Ste. Marie. At best he warms the bench in the AHL for Kevin Westgarth. His stats in the OHL indicate that he could be a late-bloomer. Don’t expect this guy to be the next Dustin Brown. Do expect this guy to provide toughness somewhere within the organization.

So, has Dean Lombardi satisfied the team’s need for toughness in this draft? Will Nolan ever find himself in a Kings uniform? Monarchs? Reign?

Resources:
HockeyFights.com
hockeyDB.com
Soo Today
The Sault Star

You can read about the Los Angeles Kings previous draft picks right here on KingsCast. So far, we’ve profiled forward Kyle Clifford, defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, goaltender Jean-Francois Berube, forward Linden Vey, defenseman David Kolomatis, forward Michael Pelech and forward Brandon Kozun.

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EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings 2009 Development Camp for their young prospects. which ended on July 12, was rather different from camps held in previous years for several reasons.

One was the fact that only three days of the week-long camp were open to the public and the media to allow the young players to better focus on the task at hand.

But another more striking reason was that compared to previous camps, there seemed to be a greater intensity during both the scrimmages and the practice sessions and much of that may have been due to the fact that the Kings have brought in a number of prospects who not only are capable of playing a physical brand of hockey, but their toughness and fierce, competitive nature extends into their psyche as well, something that has been somewhat lacking throughout the Kings’ system.

One such player is their first round pick (fifth overall) in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Brayden Schenn, a wet-behind-the-ears seventeen-year-old center from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

“The one thing about this guy is that his number one attribute is his competitiveness,” Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi at the draft in Montreal on June 26. “He’s a playoff-type player. I know that’s what [Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian] Burke saw in him and that’s certainly what we liked about him.”

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Kozun, 19, was a leader in the scoring race in the WHL all year. He was named Boston Pizza’s Player of the Week on December 29, 2008 as well as the HUSKY WHL Player of the Month for December. Kozun led all WHL players in scoring in the month of December. According to OurSportsCentral: “Kozun’s consistent play helped the Calgary Hitmen post an outstanding 10-1-0-1 record through the month of December, which included nine straight wins to wrap up the month, and maintain their first place standing in the WHL Central Division, Eastern Conference and entire League.” Not bad for a smaller guy, eh?

Looking at the observations on Kozun around the intra-webs, they all seem to be positive. While 5’8″ and 162 pounds is very small, we shouldn’t count Kozun out quite yet. Patrick Kane is 5’9″ and 160 pounds and has a Calder Trophy and an impressive playoff resume for the Chicago Blackhawks. Between his fast skating, soft hands and never say die attitude, Kozun could be a dark horse to making the LA Kings roster down the road. Reports from this week’s development camp have also been positive regarding Brandon Kozun. Let’s see how hard he works between now and the start of training camp.

Resources:
Western Hockey League (WHL)
OurSportsCentral

You can read about the Los Angeles Kings previous draft picks right here on KingsCast. So far, we’ve profiled forward Kyle Clifford, defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, goaltender Jean-Francois Berube, forward Linden Vey, defenseman David Kolomatis and forward Michael Pelech.

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Born on October 6, 1989, Pelech is able to play in Manchester this season where his toughness and playmaking abilities should help the young Monarchs squad. He’s also excellent in the faceoff circle. In 11 playoff games with the Majors, Pelech scored 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points.

Similarly to 5th round draft choice David Kolomatis, this pick is for Manchester. Plain and simple. While there’s always surprises out there, Michael Pelech will bolster the toughness in Manchester and will be steady on the third or fourth line. Last year, Monarchs GM Ron Hextall had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to fill his roster. Now that Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi’s draft choices are reaching AHL eligibility, we’ll soon see the Monarchs roster mature. Picking up Michael Pelech will help Manchester now.

What do you think of the pick? Is there anyone out there with a good knowledge of potential 2009 picks that think we should have drafted in the 6th round?

You can read about the Los Angeles Kings previous draft picks right here on KingsCast. So far, we’ve profiled forward Kyle Clifford, defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, goaltender Jean-Francois Berube, forward Linden Vey, and defenseman David Kolomatis.

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EL SEGUNDO, CA — About this time last year, highly-touted Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Jonathan Bernier showed up at the Kings annual development camp for their young prospects with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

During last year’s development camp, I asked Bernier how he would feel if the Kings decided to send him to the minors even if he performed well at their 2008 training camp.

“I’ll be mad, really mad,” said the very confident, if not brash, young goaltending prospect.

As it turned out, Bernier suffered an injury during training camp and did not get a chance to be mad, at least, not for that reason. But in any case, it was a rather ominous sign of things to come from Bernier, who had an up-and-down 2008-09 season because he was disappointed about not being able to crack the Kings roster out of training camp and later in the season, he was upset about netminder Jonathan Quick getting called up from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League [the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate] instead of him.

Somewhat reminiscent of a temper tantrum, isn’t it? Well, maybe not quite that extreme, but Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi indicated that Bernier’s attitude was poor, especially for a young player who has the National Hockey League in his sights.

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This coming year, Vey should play on the top line in Medicine Hat which will allow him to develop his offensive skills even more. Vey has strong leadership skills and is good at protecting the puck. He’s not much of a threat physicially but the Kings will stress that during his development journey. According to his coach, Willie Desjardins, Linden is “a smart player, strong with the puck” and “good down low”.

I like this pick a lot. Vey is a creative passer and can put the puck in the back of the net. From the video footage I saw of Vey he also seems to have a good head on his shoulders. We’ll certainly have to keep an eye on Linden Vey at this weekend’s development camp.

According to NHL.com’s Draft Prospect Profiles, Linden’s favorite song “Gotta Be Somebody” by Nickelback (very troubling in that Nickelback is a terrible band). If he wasn’t a hockey player, he’d like to be a professional golfer because of the “easy lifestyle”.

You can read about the LA Kings’ other draft selections in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft here on the site. Kyle Clifford, Nicolas Deslauriers and Jean-Francois Berube have already been profiled.

Resources:
NHL.com
Medicine Hat News

At 6’1″, 198 pounds, Jean-Francois Berube is a butterfly goaltender who was a walk-on to the Montreal Juniors this season. In 20 games with the Juniors he posted a record of 6-9 with a 2.89 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He spent the majority of the season backing up St. Louis Blues prospect Jake Allen. Berube credits Allen with helping him along this season. “I’m very aggressive in net and I never give up”, said Berube in an interview with Daryl Evans at Kings Vision. Kyle Woodlief Red Line Report thought highly enough of Berube to say he was the best goaltender in this year’s crop (albeit a weaker crop).

In a recent interview with the Montreal Gazette, Berube stated “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be wearing a Los Angeles Kings uniform. I wore the exact same sweater when I was younger, so I’m very proud to have this sweater on my back today.” Berube was the first Quebec-born player selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Berube joins the company of Jonathan Bernier, Jonathan Quick, Jeff Zatkoff and Martin Jones as future LA Kings players between the pipes. Now that Dean Lomardi has replenished the prospect pool, we don’t have to think about rushing these guys. Personally, I like the pick of J-F Berube. It’s always good to have another goaltender in the system. Berube’s size, strength and aggressiveness will certainly be beneficial for Los Angeles down the road. Denis Fougere, the Kings’ QMJHL area scout, was also very high on Nicolas Deslauriers who we selected in the third round. It’s nice to see the scouts staying active around the globe.

You can read more about your 2009 LA Kings draftees in our continuing series. Kyle Clifford and Nicolas Deslauriers have already been profiled by the fine folks at KingsCast. Stay tuned for more!

Resources:
Kyle Woodlief at USA Today
Montreal Gazette
Hockey’s Future

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Advantage, Kings. Since things didn’t quite work out with Hossa, Gaborik or Havlat, Deano went ambulance chasing with teams needing to shred payroll and scored with the Colorado Avalanche. The LA Kings get a strong, Deano-approved “Character Guy” and leader who’ll help groom the kids and someone who  isn’t afraid to crash the net and get dirty in the corners.  At first glance the salary seems high, but he’s worth it. Gotta spend money to make money. He is exactly what this team needs in this situation. Smyth is a big piece to the puzzle that is the LA Kings, he will help establish that ‘culture’ that’s been missing and he will help in recruiting hockey talent in the near future.

Lost in the news of the earth shattering Scudari signing, Kevin Westgarth has been re-signed to a new 3-Year deal. It’s pretty sad that this is the 2nd biggest signing of the off-season for the Kings… but I’m somewhat satisfied with it. Sure, the 0 points in 9 games with 9 penalty minutes is nothing special and the core of his existence as “Ivanans Replacement” is a tad distracting, I feel the need to root for him. Good sign, now please improve dramatically.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (134th overall) in the 1998 Entry Draft, this 30 year old, 6’0″, 218 pound defenseman made an impressive show in this year’s Stanley Cup victory. He was born in Syosset, NY.

Says Kevin Allen of USA Today:

“On a 5-on-3 situation, he’s the best defender in the front of the net in the National Hockey League, and I’ve been saying that for two years,” said former Penguins player Bob Errey, now a television analyst for the team.”

Scuderi attended St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, NY and played NCAA hockey at Boston College. He became a mainstay on the Penguins blue line in the 2005-2006 season.

While it was no secret that Dean Lombardi was looking for one veteran defenseman to help solidify our line up, Los Angeles Kings fans must feel a little underwhelmed. That said, most Penguins fans on Twitter let out a collective groan when Scuderi signed with LA. And, if you watched the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, you know why. Scuderi made a huge play in Game 6, stopping a shot by Johan Franzen at a wide open net – twice. This is the kind of guy you want on your team, sticking his neck out for the win.

In 81 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008-2009, Rob Scuderi had 1 goal and 15 assists for 16 points and was a plus-13 with 112 penalty minutes. He won’t chip in much offensively but could be a good partner for Drew Doughty or Jack Johnson (if the LA Kings finally start to make use of his offensive capabilities).

So, are you going to welcome Rob Scuderi to the Los Angeles Kings or do you think Dean Lombardi could have done better?

Resources:
Kevin Allen, USA Today
Dve Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NHL Yahoo Sports

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One of those trades sent center Brian Boyle (photo at left; courtesy Los Angeles Kings) to the New York Rangers in exchange for the Rangers’ third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

In 28 games with the Kings this past season, the 24-year-old native of Hingham, Massachusetts scored four goals and added an assist with 42 penalty minutes. But he shuttled back and forth between Los Angeles and the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, where he scored ten goals and added eleven assists for 21 points with 73 penalty minutes in 42 games.

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EL SEGUNDO, CA — If you passed out during the major snoozefest otherwise known as the first round of the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, held on Friday evening in Montreal, chances are you were not alone.

Indeed, watching this year’s first round of the NHL draft was about as entertaining as watching paint dry. Maybe less.

Even for a hockey junkie like myself, I’m leaning towards the paint.

Last year, there were several trades during the first round, which obviously made it more interesting, including one involving the Los Angeles Kings to open the evening’s festivities.

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EL SEGUNDO, CA — With the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft beginning tonight in Montreal, the brain trust of the Los Angeles Kings, including President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, are going over their lists with the proverbial fine tooth comb, projecting who might be available when their turn, the fifth overall selection in the first round, comes around, along with what kind of trades might be out there for them to get in on.

But before Frozen Royalty looks ahead to the 2009 draft, let’s take a step back and look at a couple of 2008 Kings draft picks who were big surprises this past season, in more ways than one.

Indeed, defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov (photo at right, courtesy Manchester Monarchs), who was selected in the second round, 32nd overall) and center Andrei Loktionov, a fifth round pick, 123rd overall, were big surprises on a couple of levels.

First off, both are from Russia and last summer, there was a lot of uncertainty about Russian prospects caused by the possbility of them signing with teams in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. If they signed with a KHL team after being drafted, any NHL team that selected them would, in all likelihood, be wasting a draft pick.

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I’ll have the Flip cam in tow to shoot a quick episode of Overtime as well as Tweeting live from the event. So if you see a guy talking to a camera without any regard for those around him, that’s (most likely) me. I’d love to interview you and talk about your thoughts on the draft and a look ahead to next season. I won’t be in Kings gear so you’re going to have to look hard.

So who’s going?

Follow us on Twitter. Friend Keith up on Facebook.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Since the end of the 2008-09 season for the Los Angeles Kings, a common message coming from both Head Coach Terry Murray and President/General Manager Dean Lombardi was that their young players needed to get in the gym this summer to become stronger and to be in top physical shape by the time training camp begins.

Further, both said that this was the most important way for the Kings to improve, above all else.

In an interview on June 13, Lombardi said that he is starting to see signs of that happening, as more players have stayed in the Los Angeles area to train together. But Lombardi added that his young players still have a ways to go and he pointed to his best player as one who needs to set an example.

“When I see a lot of these kids, but in particular [center Anze Kopitar’s] case, you talk about a culture, we have a lot of work to do in terms of our best players learning to prepare in the off-season, learning how to prepare as pros physically and mentally,” Lombardi stressed. “And you can’t be prepared mentally if you haven’t prepared physically because if you show up in training camp ready to go, it means you have taxed yourself mentally and challenged yourself to get to the next level.”

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EL SEGUNDO, CA — When Dean Lombardi became President/General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings on April 21, 2006, he took command of a sinking ship.

His National Hockey League lineup had a bit of talent, but it was one of the oldest in the league and was not good enough to make the playoffs. The rest of the Kings’ system was mostly devoid of young talent, the result of the Kings mismanaging assets from the big club to the minor and junior leagues.

Indeed, the ship was sinking fast. You could even say it was already starting to go down by the bow.

Lombardi quickly realized that drastic changes were necessary in order to save the ship and in just a little over three years, the Kings went from one of the oldest teams in the league to one of the youngest. Their system went from one that had almost no legitimate prospects to one with about a dozen prospects that other NHL general managers have coveted.

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INTERVIEW WITH DEAN LOMBARDI: In part 1 of a series of stories based on an interview with Los Angeles Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, Frozen Royalty looks at the Kings’ improved defense and goaltending in the 2008-09 season. Look for part 2 in this series coming soon.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Looking back at the 2008-09 season for the Los Angeles Kings, what likely stands out to most is their 14th place finish in the fifteen-team Western Conference, not to mention the fact that they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Indeed, to many, that is nothing more than utter failure and it is difficult to argue with that.

But Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi is looking beyond the standings to gauge his team’s progress since the 2007-08 season and he is looking at his team’s marked improvement on defense. One look at the numbers tells much of the story.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

Now, I called B.S. on this one the minute I heard it but then the inter-webs exploded. Andy Strickland, who has ties to Pronger, reported that the deal was done and then retracted it. Then The Score, who is very reliable, also reported it was a done deal. This set off hundreds of re-tweets and a collective grown from Kings fans. I spoke with someone at the Kings who hadn’t heard anything about it. A deal like that would have trickled its way through the organization like wild fire.

While even I questioned my judgement, in my heart of hearts I knew it couldn’t be true. Chris Pronger is a great defenseman but sending Jack Johnson and the #5 is a ridiculous overpayment and is opposed to what Dean Lombardi has been trying to build. Since Pronger was traded in Anaheim, Kings fans have developed a nice bit of hatred for the 6’6″ defenseman. Some have speculated that this was a three-way deal for Vincent Lecavalier but trades like that only happen in NHL ’09 and on hockey rumor sites.

So, Kings fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Jack Johnson will not be a Duck and Chris Pronger will not be a King. All is well with the world. The Kings are still picking at #5 and we still need a scoring winger.

Had the deal gone down, what would you think?