http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Zyo-PXYOM

This season we’re looking for more participation from you. Have a question you want answered, leave it here and we’ll see if we can get it on the show.

We’ll have some new stuff going on at the podcast this season that you’re going to love. Stay tuned for an exciting year on the podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes so you can get the podcast hot off the press.

So, what do you want to know about the Los Angeles Kings? Leave a comment here. Go Kings!

If your cellphone has the ability to play video, you can view our latest shows on YouTube by heading over to http://www.youtube.com/KingsCast. If you subscribe, you’ll know when the latest show is available.

Also, if you’re one of the millions with an iPhone, you can view our shows on the KingsCast Facebook Fan Page using the latest Facebook app for the iPhone.

So, no, you don’t have to wait to get back to your desktop to watch the latest episode of Overtime, you can now do it from plane, train or automobile (KingsCast does not endorse watching and driving). We know Los Angeles Kings fans need the latest news quickly so far be it from us to deny you that.

Join the cast of KingsCast on Saturday, September 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada for the first ever Frozen Fury KingsCast meetup! We’ll see you at the bar at Diego Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino from 5:00PM-6:30PM, just before the Los Angeles Kings take on the Colorado Avalanche.

Get a chance to meet fellow LA Kings fans and the hosts of KingsCast before what is one of the most spirited games of the season. The first 25 people through the door will receive a grab bag featuring a Special Edition KingsCast DVD (with an exclusive bloopers reel), stickers and a t-shirt. The Los Angeles Kings have generously donated an autographed player photo for each bag.

There is no cost to attend this event. It’s simply a great way to party it up before Frozen Fury. Diego Restaurant is conveniently located right across from the arena. The MGM Grand is located at 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information about the MGM Grand, please call (877) 880-0880.

If you’re on Twitter, RSVP for the event here. If you’re not, that’s okay, we’ll let you in anyway!

The is the pre-party for Los Angeles Kings fans. Who’s coming?

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!

Hockey Fest Day 3 – Staying on Target

Breaking Misconceptions – Blog on Day 2
Frozen Royalty: Hockey Fest 09 Looks Like a Hit

So, for the fans that have just joined us and the fans who have been with us since our first (and worst) season, it’s time for a refresher. And, with that, I give you my Top 5 favorite KingsCasts:

1. Luc Robitaille Special – (Season 1) It’s a rare thing to see a jersey retirement live but Chris and I got to see Luc Robitaille’s jersey retired in 2008 at Staples Center. Here we pay tribute to Lucky Luc, re-cap the games discuss the trade of Craig Conroy. Every time I hear our “Play Hard” chant in the beginning of the episode I just have to smile. There’s a few curse words in this one so, as much as you’d like to, don’t blast this at work!

2. 3rd Annual Season Finale – (Season 3) This is the episode where we started doing the show live. It was also the first time we had three of us on the show together. Here we talk about the ever-important off-season, conduct our end of season Awards show and debate whether or not we should keep the 5th overall pick in the draft.

3. Back in Black (and Purple – (Season 3) What’s really interesting here is that this episode was recorded in two places: Boca Raton, FL and Los Angeles, CA. That’s right, we did a few of these shows this way in Season 3 and it wasn’t easy. It’s painful to remember “the most important Kings off-season in recent history” resulted in us signing nobody. Rob Blake left the Los Angeles Kings for greener pastures in San Jose. Marc Crawford was fired. We were not anticipating a great season for Kings Hockey.

4. Season 2 Finale – (Season 2) It was then end of another terrible season of Kings Hockey under the Marc Crawford regime. Chris and I were a little upset that the Kings didn’t win the draft lottery. We believed that “Dean Lombardi was secretly hoping for us to lose the lottery”. Boy I’m glad we did. Where would we be without Drew Doughty? Also in this episode is one of our favorite segments entitled “See Ya”. Classic.

5. 1st Annual Christmas Special – (Season 1) You know we’re out for blood when we figure out a way to combine Eazy-E and Harry Connick, Jr. The Los Angeles Kings were playing some of their worst hockey ever. Dan Cloutier was in full effect, “manning” the goal crease for LA. By the sound of this episode, we could be Duck fans making fun of the Kings. Not so. Notice the terrible audio quality as we used to record the show in the kitchen. That said, this was a fun episode to make.

Which was your favorite?

Blog on Day 1

On a hot and steamy day in the Los Angeles area, Kings fans and Angelenos marched down the streets of downtown with hockey on their minds. People of all ages, many adorning Kings jerseys and t-shirts, filled the grand arena of the Nokia in what kicks off the beginning of the Hockey season.

With interactive trivia games on the jumbo-tron, a video montage of classic Kings hockey moments and the presentation of players past, present and future, this epic all weekend event commenced. ESPN Hockey writer and analyst, John Buccigross, acted as MC, mixing humor and energy into the crowd of vivacious fans. In one of the most powerful moments of the evening, captain Dustin Brown provided his insight into what feels like the most tight knit and team oriented squad he’s ever seen assembled in several years of being a member of the organization.

With high hopes of making the playoffs and bringing a well deserved Stanley Cup to Kings fans, the organization brings to Los Angeles the first annual Hockey Fest which aspires to be only the beginning of long awaited success. KingsCast will be covering the much anticipated event this year with full media access, so keep an eye out for episodes of Overtime, Podcasts, blogs, photos and interviews with players and staff. Stay tuned…

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!

RSVP for the Event Here
Diego Restaurant in the MGM Grand

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

While adding the female perspective to our show is a very good thing, don’t be mistaken: Connie knows her hockey. We look forward to reading about her unique perspective on the LA Kings for a very long time as well as listening to her on the show once we go back into production. Don’t hold it against her but Connie is a huge Rob Blake fan. I guess we can agree to disagree.

Listen to Connie on the latest episode of KingsCast. See Connie on Overtime by KingsCast

So, on behalf of Chris Kaliszewski and myself, welcome aboard, Connie! Take the time to welcome Connie to KingsCast. So now, what do you want her to talk about?

Keith Korneluk is a producer and co-host of the KingsCast Hockey Podcast. Follow him onTwitter

1. Ryan Smyth – While this 33-year old former Oiler-for-life may have had his injuries and could be “past his prime”, his 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points last season will drastically help this offensively anemic team. Why? Matt Moulson started on the top line last season and in 7 games he had 1 goal and 0 assists. So Kyle Calder took over. He scored a slightly more but still dreadful 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 79 games. That’s a 31 point differential. Not to mention Ryan Smyth is loaded with character while Matt Moulson looks like Snoopy and Kyle Calder was on the Price is Right.

2. Consistent goaltending – Sure, the young and relatively unproven tandem of Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg could be a flash in the pan but I prefer them to the following netminders who have passed through the organization: Mathieu Garon, Jason LaBarbera, Dan Cloutier, Barry Brust, Yutaka Fukufuji, Sean Burke (the guy practically qualified for AARP when with the team) and Dan Taylor. If Quick or Ersberg should stumble or succumb to injury, Jonathan Bernier (who seems like he now has his head on straight) will be ready for the challenge.

3. Dean Lombardi – Regardless of the fact that he has given us three seasons of consistent losing, he is re-building the right way. Long gone are the days when you trade Jeff Tambellini and Denis Grebeshkov for Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel just to make the playoffs with no shot at winning a Stanley Cup. Dean Lombardi has ripped apart and re-built our scouting system, development programs, video development and team. After a bit of losing, I’m happy we have Drew Doughty, Thomas Hickey, Wayne Simmonds, Oscar Moller and many others. We have a strong stable of rookies who are already making an impact and many more coming up.

4. Defense – Remember Nathan Dempsey, Jeff Cowan, Mike Weaver and Olev Tverdovsky? They have now been replaced by Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Rob Scuderi, Matt Greene and Sean O’Donnell. This team was seventh in the league on the Penalty Kill last season without Rob Scuderi and, for much of the season, Jack Johnson. Think you’ll miss Kyle Quincey? Not if Jack Johnson’s strong performance at the IIHF World Championships this year holds up (7 points in 9 games). Drew Doughty lead all rookies in Average Time on Ice by a large margin (a full 2:17 over second place Luke Schenn). Will he suffer that sophomore slump? I don’t think so.

5. Kings Vision – The fine folks behind the scenes of the on-line world at the Los Angeles Kings had a bit of a makeover as well when Dean Lombardi took the helm. Gone is that wretched website that no one could use and would always crash on my Mac. Instead, they hired Heidi Androl and started covering the Kings with regular video shows on Kings Vision. Now, instead of a small blurb in the Los Angeles Times, we get ’round the clock video interviews and features that can satisfy the hunger of even the most rabid LA Kings fan (combined with episodes of Overtime by KingsCast). Kings Vision has personality and it’s engaging. The website is great and the Kings are even breaking news on Twitter. Giving this level of access to the fans is key.

6. Downtown LA – Remember when commuting to Staples Center meant gambling with your life as bullets whizzed by? Having a drink after a game meant getting a forty from the 7-11 and drinking it from a paper bag? No more as AEG has almost completed the spectacular LA Live which hosts a theatre, a plethora of good restaurants and, soon, a Ritz Carlton (with residences starting at a paltry $1.8 million). Downtown Los Angeles has been revitalized, despite the sluggish economy. Restaurants and bars have been opening to a great deal of fanfare. In fact, I hang out in downtown now as much as I do the rest of the city (even on non-game nights).

So, yeah, I’m (still) excited to be a Los Angeles Kings fan. I think this team is going to be a force this year. We’re not winning a Cup but we’re going to make some noise in the playoffs. And, hey, if not, there’s a lot of ways to drown my sorrows after the game.

So are you excited this year or are you going in expecting the worst? What are your 6 reasons to be a LA Kings fan this year? For that matter, what are your 6 reasons not to be?

Ideally you attend Manchester Monarchs from time-to-time and are passionate about all things Manchester Monarchs hockey. If you have another blog, send us some of your writing samples and we’ll take a look. If you don’t, no big deal, shoot us an email and tell us why you’re right for the gig. If you’re an Ontario Reign fan, we’d like to hear from you as well. We don’t want to exclude our ECHL fans.

We look forward to hearing from you!

keith@kingscast.net

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.

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.

The Kings have a pretty empty fictitious trophy case. Watching the NHL Awards Show last Thursday in Las Vegas had me thinking. When was the last time the Kings actually won one of these and why does it seem like we are still so far out of this echelon of elite players/teams? Not that the Kings haven’t won any trophies. Except for the Presidents, Vezina, Selke, Conn Smythe, Jennings, Jack Adams and that Stanley Cup one, the Kings have picked up some hardware at the top NHL Level. It’s just, it’s only happened 5 or fewer times in any category. For a team that’s been around for 43 years, frequently had top draft picks and in certain era’s of management, spent money for top talent…you’d expect a list of trophies won to look more extensive then a grocery list. It’s depressing actually. 1 Calder, 1 Hart, 1 Norris, 1 King Clancy, 1 Campbell Bowl. In 43 Years. Throw in 2 Lester B. Pearsons, 3 Mastertons, 3 Lester Patricks (Yes!), 4 Art Ross’,  with 5 Lady Byngs and there you go for the major awards and trophies. Again, that’s in 43 years. The last trophy for the Kings? 11 years ago in 97-98, Rob Blake won the Norris. Wow. Oh and special thanks to Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne, Butch Goring and Dave Taylor for receiving a majority of those.

The Kings need some trophies. At least a Calder Trophy. Come on, when you’re rebuilding there’s nothing more assuring than one of your Rookies winning a Calder. Maybe a Jack Adams trophy? The “Coach Who Leads the Young Team into Contention.” That’d be good. How about a Hart? Could you see a Kopitar, a Brown, maybe a Frolov walk up to the podium and receiving one of those big, heavy-looking, slightly strange Hart trophies? Ah, dare to dream. That era where the Kings are the team to beat, the Kings players are award winning studs and it’s the Kings having raging pool parties at former players mansions with a half submerged Stanley Cup. Someday, I hope. Right now this team doesn’t even feel like it’s playing in the same league as the Penguins, the Wings, and/or the Russian Superstars garnering world-wide attention. Someday. After 43 years…it’s time.

As for a reality check: with the Lakers raising yet another Championship banner up into the Staples Center rafters, does this mean they’re finally going to just go ahead and merge the Kings and Sparks sections? They’re at about the same relevancy: the Kings have their 1 Division Title, their 1 Conference Title and the 5 Retired Numbers. It kinda makes sense. However, the Sparks have actually won a couple Championships. Ouch.

So what are you waiting for? Post away!