Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty had an opportunity to sit down with new Kings assistant coach John Stevens at Development Camp this summer. Here’s his interview.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — While fans of the Los Angeles Kings are up in arms over their team’s inability to improve themselves to this point in the 2010 off-season, venting their frustrations in no uncertain terms on virtually every Kings-related forum on the World Wide Web, life does indeed go on.

With the departure of assistant coach Mark Hardy, who resigned on June 11 (see LA Kings Assistant Coach Mark Hardy Resigns), the Kings strengthened their reputation as “Flyers West” when they hired John Stevens as an assistant coach on June 24, 2010 (see Los Angeles Kings Name John Stevens As Assistant Coach).

Stevens, 44, earned a 120-109-34 record as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, a position he accepted on October 22, 2006, after the Flyers got off to a 1-6-1 start that season.

The native of Campbellton, New Brunswick began that season as an assistant coach and wound up leading the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2007-08, before being fired on December 5, 2009, after the team was shutout in two consecutive games.

Coming from the Flyers, Stevens was familiar to Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi and Vice President/Assistant General Manager Ron Hextall, who both worked for the Flyers before joining the Kings.

Stevens should be able to mesh well with Kings head coach Terry Murray, who was a Flyers assistant coach under Stevens.

“Terry and I worked together for a couple of years,” said Stevens. “When you work with another coach for that length of time, you’re pretty comfortable with the way things are run.”

“It’s a great organization,” added Stevens. “Development Camp has been pretty neat for me to be involved with, to see how things are run. It’s only been a few days, but it’s been great.”

Although Stevens has only had a couple of months to get his feet wet with the Kings, so far, so good.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

The auditions continue for the 2010-2011 Los Angeles Kings Ice Crew and the good folks over at Kings Vision have another video up. This important series of try-outs determine which hot bodies women get to pose for the bestselling LA Kings Ice Crew calendar. Enjoy the vid!

Picking up where the original, ‘Waiting for Kovalchuk,’ left off, this sequel captures the continued back and forth uncertainty of the Ilya Kovalchuk saga, including Kings fans reactions to him ‘signing’ in New Jersey.

It’s that time of year again. It’s the dead of summer and the Los Angeles Kings are looking for hot nice girls to be a part of their Ice Crew. Enjoy the vid!

Shot over 15 days, this documentary/short film captures the up and down roller coaster ride of the Ilya Kovalchuk saga with the Los Angeles Kings.

Gann Matsuda went over to the Toyota Sports Center to see some of the Kings top prospects (and new draftees) participate in the 2010 Development Camp. Check out Gann’s impressions.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — While many who follow the Los Angeles Kings were glued to the World Wide Web and Twitter to follow the news about what unrestricted free agents were going where, most notably, superstar left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (who is still unsigned as of this writing), the Kings were busy conducting their annual Development Camp for their young prospects, which began on June 28 and ran through July 3.

LA Kings 2010 first round pick Derek Forbort participated in the team’s
2010 Development Camp.
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images
Three days of the six-day camp were open to the public and the media, comprised of a scrimmage game sandwiched between two practice sessions, featuring prospects ranging from those who have been in the system for awhile to their most recent draft picks.

“I’ve been impressed with some of these players, and, certainly, everybody as far as the work ethic,” said head coach Terry Murray. “It’s been outstanding with the conditioning level and what they’ve been through over the past several days, on and off the ice.”

“A lot of focus, a lot of digging in, hungry and they want to learn,” added Murray. “Attitude. It’s really coming along well. As a group, it’s been tremendous.”

Murray also took note of his team’s five 2010 draft picks, who were all present at the camp.

“All the draft picks seem to be really good kids,” he said. “They’re good people with good character.”

For the 2010 draft picks, who were selected by the Kings just days before during the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft on June 25-26, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the camp was the culmination of a whirlwind couple of weeks that opened their eyes to what lies ahead.

“The draft picks who came—they had no idea what was going to happen,” Murray noted. “Surprise! You’re coming to a development camp and we’re going to do a lot of hard off-ice work, we’re going to have some games going on. They’ve really stepped in and have done an excellent job.”

“The tempo was great,” defenseman prospect Derek Forbort said about the scrimmages. “The guys out there are unreal hockey players. I was just doing my best to keep up.”

“[The camp has] been a great experience so far,” added Forbort, a 6-5, 198-pound defenseman out of the United States Under-18 National Team Development Program. “I’m starting to get the hands back after not skating for awhile. I’m starting to get used to how they do things. It’s been good.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

In the second round, Dean Lombardi traded the 49th and 109th pick to the Colorado Avalanche to choose center Tyler Toffoli from the Ottawa 67′s of the Ontario Hockey League with the 47th overall pick. While Toffoli is listed as a center, at 6’0″, 181 pounds, he could easily be transitioned to a wing role with the Los Angeles Kings. In 65 games with Ottawa, Toffoli posted an impressive 37 goals and 42 assists for 79 points.

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

I doubt there was any Kings fan who walked into Staples Center on Friday night for the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft expecting Dean Lombardi to draft a defenseman. With a lack of pure-scoring wingers in the system, no mock draft had Lombardi taking a blue-liner. But, in typical Dean Lombardi fashion, he went the other way trading up four spots to draft 6’5″ defenseman Tyler Myers Derek Forbort from the US Development Program.

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:

Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty attended the 2010 NHL Entry Draft this weekend. Here’s his in-depth analysis of Kings’ first-round pick Derek Forbort.

LOS ANGELES — At the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft, it became clear early on that the Los Angeles Kings’ draft philosophy had taken a significant detour from what had been their standard operating procedure.

The last few drafts have seen Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi use his picks, especially the higher round selections, to go after prospects who might be able to contribute at the NHL level sooner rather than later.

But with the 2009-10 Kings making the playoffs for the first time since 2002, and with the franchise poised to take the next step towards becoming a Stanley Cup contender, the Kings now believe they can be more patient in terms of young prospects they bring into the fold, and that was evident right off the bat with first round selection Derek Forbort, a 6-5, 198-pound defenseman out of the United States Under-18 National Team Development Program.

In order to get their hands on Forbort, the Kings sent the 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, along with a second round pick (59th overall), also in the 2010 draft, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for the 15th overall selection.

Forbort, 18, a native of Duluth, Minnesota, scored four goals and contributed ten assists for 14 points in 26 United States Hockey League games that his NTDP team played in. Overall, Forbort scored five goals and added 23 assists for 28 points in 65 games.

Forbort also played in the 2010 Under-18 World Championships, recording two assists and a +9 plus/minus rating in seven games, helping lead the United States to a gold medal. In 56 games with the U.S. Under-18 team, he scored five goals and added twenty assists for 25 points.

Possessing a good combination of size, strength and agility, Forbort is a good decision-maker and a good passer, but needs to work on his puck-carrying skills and grit.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft took place at Staples Center and the Los Angeles Kings traded up to grab 6’5″ defenseman Derek Forbort. In this show, Keith and Chris talk about the draft experience, upcoming free agency and interviewed a few Michal Jackson fans about hockey. Your thoughts about the draft?

Read Alex’s post-draft blog on all of the new Los Angeles Kings prospects here.

This season, history will be made….from your boys at KingsCast.

Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded (congrats, ‘Hawks!), the next thing we have to look forward to is the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. Normally, as Kings fans, we wouldn’t really care because no King ever gets nominated for an award. Last year, Chris made the case that the Kings needed some more trophies. This year, young Drew Doughty has a shot for the Norris Trophy. Here’s Gann Matsuda’s case on why Doughnuts should get that award.

LOS ANGELES — With the Chicago Blackhawks winning the 2010 Stanley Cup on June 9, the 2009-10 National Hockey League season is over and attention now turns to the league’s annual awards, which will be presented at the Palms in Las Vegas on June 23.

LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty could become the second-youngest player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy on June 23, 2010.
Photo: Rich Lam/Getty Images
Perhaps the most interesting race for the awards will be for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s best defenseman during the regular season.

The finalists are Chicago’s Duncan Keith, Mike Green of the Washington Capitals and Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings.

Green, 24, led all defenseman in goals, assists and points with 19 goals and 57 assists for 76 points. He ranked tenth league-wide in assists, led all defenseman with ten power play goals, ranked second among defensemen with a +39 plus/minus rating and was second among blue liners with four game-winning goals and ninth in time on ice per game (25:28).

The 26-year-old Keith also had solid offensive numbers, scoring 14 goals and adding 55 assists for 69 points. Among defensemen, he ranked sixth in goals, second in assists and in points, ninth in plus/minus and second in ice time per game (26:55).

Among NHL defensemen Doughty, 20, ranked third in overall scoring with 59 points on 16 goals and 43 assists, second in goals, fifth in assists, and eleventh in plus/minus (+20). He tied for second in power play goals among defensemen with nine and ranked first with five game-winning goals among the blue liners. League-wide, Doughty ranked thirteenth in ice time per game (24:58).

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

With the 2009/2010 NHL season now officially complete, KingsCast continues it’s offseason programming with a brand new episode of collected material from the past year. Unreleased interviews with players, media, fans and colleagues, cut segments, behind the scenes looks and stuff too risque for prime time. Enjoy!

The Los Angeles Kings are keeping things fresh this summer with Fight Club. They’ve assembled some of the best classic fights by the LA Kings over the years and put them online for your viewing pleasure. Remember the Dave Taylor days when LAKings.com would be stagnant for three months? Not anymore. So here’s Marty McSorley vs. Craig Berube.

Not necessarily earth-shattering news but LA Kings forward prospect Geordie Wudrick and defenseman Niclas Anderson were not signed by the Kings and are no longer part of the organization. Following the announcement, Kings Nation let out a collective “Who?”.

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?

Now that the playoffs are almost over and the Los Angeles Kings have been enjoying early tee times, the boys at KingsCast too are taking a little breather. It’s not easy producing a video show and as much as Keith and Chris would like to think they’re perfect, they’re not. So we bring to you our biggest screw-ups and bloopers this season. (There is mildly offensive language).

It’s no real shock that Alexander Frolov will not be a Los Angeles King next season. His time with the team is over. Here, Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty gives his take on the enigmatic winger and his possible destination.

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.

Granted, the Los Angeles Kings 2010 playoff run was a relatively short one (though we did win a couple of games). But, if you look at the makeup of this team and the prospect depth, it was only the beginning. The Vancouver Canucks were the better team but we put up a huge fight. Re-live the action from just a couple of months ago.

In the final installment of the Los Angeles Kings Post-Season roundtable, the group discusses the needs of the Kings next season, the Free Agents available and the future of Brayden Schenn. What do you think the Kings need to make that next step?

If you missed a segment, check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

As expected during this roundtable, the subject of goaltending for the Los Angeles Kings came up. Here we talk about Jonathin Quick’s performance, whether or not Terry Murray trusts Erik Ersberg and if Jonathan Bernier is the future netminder for the team. Which goaltender do you think starts the majority of the games next season?

If you missed a segment, check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

When Dean Lombardi drafted Kyle Clifford in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was clearly looking for a big physical presence that had been lacking on the team. But this year with the Barrie Colts of the OHL, Clifford tallied 28 goals, 29 assists and 111 penalty minutes. It looks like the Kings have a hell of a prospect on their hands. Here’s a great video of some of his fights this year.

The Los Angeles Kings Post-Season Roundtable discussion continues with Part 3. In this installment, the group breaks down the pros and cons of acquiring the Russian star forward Ilya Kovalchuk with some interesting arguments from both sides. Should the Kings go after Ilya Kovalchuk?

Miss a segment? Check out Part 2 and Part 1.

The Los Angeles Kings Post-Season Roundtable continues with the media that covers the Kings on a regular basis. In this segment we talk about the progress and future of Kings defenseman Jack Johnson as well as Alexander Frolov’s status with the team and contract situation for next year. Should the LA Kings re-sign Frolov?

In case you missed Part 1, you can find it here.

Now that the LA Kings season has concluded, it was time to sum up the season and talk about the future. That’s why we assembled some of the brightest minds in local media to talk Kings hockey. In this segment we talk about the coaching, line combinations, staying on message and Drew Doughty. Stay tuned for much, much more!

As always, we hope you find the content we provide for you here at KingsCast to be entertaining and worth while. If you like something, why not Like it on Facebook or re-Tweet it. Thanks for spreading the love! Here’s some of the latest LA Kings news from around the blogosphere:

Eulogy: Remembering the 2009-10 Los Angeles Kings by Earl Sleek of Battle of California via Puck Daddy.

The IIHF World Championships are starting in Germany. The question here is does anybody really care? via Battle of California.

Excellent analysis from Quisp: What to expect from Kings’ 19th or 20th overall pick via Jewels from the Crown.

The Manchester Monarchs (the Kings farm team) are having a decent playoff run. Here’s some insight via the Mayor’s Manor.

Keith offers you a few suggestions on what to do during a summer when the Los Angeles Kings are playing hockey via KingsCast.

The Los Angeles Kings sent out a survey this week to the fans. Here’s a breakdown via Jewels From the Crown.

Making a case for Ilya Kovalchuk (a good one I might add), via Surly & Scribe.

Our favorite Ice Girl, Ice Captain Debbie runs the emotional gamut now that the Kings season is over via Hockeywood LA.

Jack Johnson was just named captain of Team USA for the IIHF World Championships. Here’s Rich Hammond’s evaluation of Jack this year (part of a continuing series) via LA Kings Insider.

We’re going to be talking about Alexander Frolov until he’s no longer an LA King on July 1st. So let’s get into it via Hockeywood LA.

Are Kings fans becoming Raider Nation? via View From My Seats.

Did we miss something? Leave it in the comments…downstairs.

Our good friend Fernnando over at LA Kings Brasil (yes, it’s really the country Brazil) has compiled some of our best moments of the playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks. I just wish it ended with us going into the next round. Enjoy the vid!

Subscribe to LA Kings Brasil’s YouTube page.

When you’re a Los Angeles Kings fan, summer’s can be a long drawn out affair filled with other hockey teams playing for the Stanley Cup, re-playing the entire Kings season on your Xbox in Rookie mode and just lamenting on that simple phrase: “what if…”. We know, it sucks. We feel it too. That’s why we have, for you, some simple things that you can do to occupy your summer and get ready for next season…in October.

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.

If you’re a Los Angeles Kings fan, you know last night sucked. The Vancouver Canucks steamrolled the Kings in Game 5. Jonathan Quick was pulled. Erik Ersberg was pulled. Everybody was downright awful. Game 6 is a must-win for the boys in black. Can they do it? Question of the Day: Where do you golf in the offseason?

When you’re in the playoffs, your level of play should resemble playoff hockey. Not so for the Los Angeles Kings last night. What an awful effort. There’s not much to say. Just take a look at the video.

Watch Keith & Chris break down the game on Overtime

After some interesting fan interaction at the Kings playoff games, Keith posted a blog on a View From My Seats entitled Are Kings Fans Becoming Raider Nation? So hop on over and leave your thoughts!

For those of us expecting the Los Angeles Kings to take the series back to Vancouver ahead 3-1, we left Staples Center heartbroken last night. It was a constant seesaw of goals until Vancouver sealed it with an empty-netter. The Kings were playing well until the third period when they had just three shots. It’s all evened up now. Can the Kings pull it together?

Watch Keith & Chris break down the game on Overtime by KingsCast

It was a good effort by the LA Kings in Game 4 but the Vancouver Canucks came up the winners in regulation. With a series now a 2-2 tie, Keith and Chris talk about the Kings and the game that was and the games to come. Question of the Day: What does Terry Murray with the lineup in the upcoming game?

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — With Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks coming up tonight (April 21, 7:00 PM PDT at Staples Center), much of the focus has been on the Canucks’ inept penalty-killing, which has allowed seven power play goals on just twelve chances after three games.

The result: the Canucks are looking up at a 2-1 series deficit with a huge challenge ahead of them…fixing their penalty-killing woes.

But the problem for the Canucks is not just their penalty-killing. More to the point, their problem is two-fold and they go by the names Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, the young studs on the Kings’ blue line.

Indeed, the twenty-year-old Doughty and the 23-year-old Johnson are still very young, relatively inexperienced defensemen. But in the three games played in this series they have totally outclassed the Vancouver blue line corps, contributed huge minutes in situations where they were called upon to shut down the Canucks’ top forwards, and they have been unstoppable on the power play.

Throughout the regular season, Canucks forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin proved to be a deadly forward combination, with Henrik attaining superstar status after leading the league in scoring with 29 goals and 83 assists for 112 points in 82 games.

But through three playoff games against the Kings, the Sedin twins have combined for just two goals and four assists for six points.

Neither has scored a power play goal.

If you find all that hard to believe, you are not alone. Nevertheless, solid defensive play by Kings center Michal Handzus, who has gone up against the Sedin twins as often as Kings head coach Terry Murray can get him on the ice, along with Doughty’s smart defensive zone play, have combined to put a huge clamp on the Sedin twins.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

For the first time in eight years, the playoffs are back at Staples Center and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks in an action-packed game. Here, Keith and Chris talk about the atmosphere at Staples Center and re-cap game three of the playoff series. Question of the Day: Do we continue to bench Justin Williams for the series?

Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty was up at a very spirited Kings practice yesterday and got some quotes from a team who won its first playoff game in eight years. Check it out!

EL SEGUNDO, CA — A lot of attention has been focused on the fact that the Los Angeles Kings are a young team that lacks playoffs experience, despite the presence of several grizzled veterans with playoff experience, including five with Stanley Cup rings.

The fact that none of the players wearing those rings are part of the young core that not only makes up the leadership group, but also are not among the team’s best players who will likely lead the team years from now, only encourages greater scrutiny.

That lack of post-season experience was apparent in Game 1 of the Kings’ Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks on April 15.

In front of a raucous, sell-out crowd at General Motors Place in Vancouver, the Kings got caught up in the excitement and their young players seemed to be a bit unnerved by the new and exciting experiences of the playoffs.

“We had a lot of guys playing in their first playoff game,” said veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi, who won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “It’s a different atmosphere. It’s really exciting.”

“There were a bunch of guys who played their first playoff game, including myself,” said center Anze Kopitar. “It was one of those things where you don’t know what to expect. Everybody was excited, but, at the same time, a little nervous. So it was mixed emotions.”

“There’s a lot of guys on this team who haven’t played in the playoffs,” said right wing Wayne Simmonds, who is also playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. “It’s a huge difference between the regular season and the post-season.”

Scuderi had an explanation for what the younger players were experiencing.

“You’re not sure if you’re ninety percent nervous or ninety percent excited,” he said.

Whether you call it a case of nerves, over-excitement or jitters, the Kings failed to execute their game plan in Game 1 because of it.

“In Game 1, going into the third, we didn’t play as good and we didn’t know what to expect going into overtime,” Kopitar explained. “Nobody wanted to make a mistake. I felt we were just sitting back too much.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

It took another overtime and a somewhat controversial penalty but the Los Angeles Kings have a win in the playoffs and the series with the Vancouver Canucks is looking like a hell of a series. Quick continues to play very well (despite one soft goal last night) and Fredrik Modin found his scoring touch getting a goal in the win. Watching the Kings rush the ice after Anze Kopitar’s overtime goal was a treat. Monday at Staples Center will be war.

With the 2010 Playoffs in full gear, the Los Angeles Kings continue their battle against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 of the series. KingsCast breaks down the game, captures the roller coaster of emotions from fans and celebrates something that hasn’t happened in 8 years, a playoff win.

It was the Mikael Samuelsson show last night in Vancouver. Talk about a difference maker, this guy was the key for the Canucks as he played hard and scored two goals in the 3-2 overtime victory against the Kings last night. Jonathan Quick is back. He played in outstanding pre-Olympic form last night. The Kings showed they can compete but can we generate some scoring in this series?

I know, I know, it’s shocking: the Los Angeles Kings are in the playoffs. And, while unlikely, it is possible that this team can win. Here, Gann Matsuda from Frozen Royalty chimes in with his thoughts on the first round of the playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks.

LOS ANGELES — Quit pinching yourselves, Los Angeles hockey fans. You are not dreaming.

Yes, the Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and for just the fifth time since 1993, when the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Like that 1992-93 team, this year’s Kings started the regular season hot. But unlike the 1992-93 team, which peaked at just the right time, this season’s Kings have struggled since the Olympic break and are not going into the post-season playing their best hockey.

Earning a 9-7-5 record since the break, the Kings were often plagued by slow starts, poor puck support, a non-existent forecheck, taking too many penalties, shaky goaltending, a lack of urgency…you get the idea.

In the last handful of games of the regular season, the Kings showed some improvement, but were unable to put it all together consistently. Indeed, if they got off to a good start, their puck support and forechecking was lacking. Or, when those aspects of their game were solid, they failed to get to the front of the net and get the puck there as well.

A prime example of that came on April 10, when the Kings poured 55 shots on backup goalie Devan Dubnyk, but lost to the worst-in-the-league Edmonton Oilers, 2-1, in a shootout.

“[Dubnyk was] real good, but I felt, and we talked about it between periods and on the bench, he saw a lot of pucks coming from the blue line,” head coach Terry Murray said. “We were doing a great job with our cycle, possession, low to high, getting shots through from the top end. But we didn’t have the traffic. There was a loose puck there on almost every shot that came to the net and we were not in position to put second and third opportunities to the net. That was really the story of the game.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty

The playoffs draught for the Los Angeles Kings has ended and KingsCast chimes in (Tiger Woods style) with the long, painful journey it took to get there. Remember the years of pain? The more it resonates, the more it makes today sweet. Go Kings!

That’s right, folks, the season ain’t over..yet. The Los Angeles Kings, for the first time in eight years (and four years of the show) have finally made the playoffs. In this episode we talk about the upcoming matchup with the Vancouver Canucks, give our ideas for fan giveaways and take your questions from Twitter and Facebook. So settle back and listen to the hockey talk!

It was another lazy first period by the Los Angeles Kings, going down 1-0. Jonathan Quick got the day off and Erik Ersberg came in and played very well. It was hard for the Kings to penetrate the Avalanche defense but it was offensive juggernaut Matt Greene that got the shot through which Jarrett Stoll tipped in. But it was Captain Dustin (off a great shot from Drew Doughty) who got the job done. LA will now play Vancouver in the first round!

The bet between Keith of KingsCast and Chris of The Hockey Zen has come to a close. The Los Angeles Kings finished 37 points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers (with one game left to play) this season which means Chris has to do some serious drinking. In this episode we discuss today’s shootout loss to the Oilers and celebrate the most lopsided bet in history.

When the NHL’s worst Edmonton Oilers come into town, we expect a good old-fashioned blowout. Not so today as whomever was tending goal for Edmonton looked like Martin Brodeur, stopping 52 of 55 shots. The LA Kings looked good but they couldn’t do anything until the final minutes of the third period. The game goes to a shootout and Edmonton finds a way to win. Jonathan Quick, who was unspectacular again, couldn’t win the game for the team. When is Bernier coming up?

With the (regular) season coming to a close, the Los Angeles Kings battle for Playoff positioning for the first time since 2002. KingsCast celebrates the post-season berth, discusses goaltending, roster issues and gives props to all the fans. Question of the Day; What players jerseys should we buy for the playoffs?

Rough one at Staples Center tonight. A potential matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes ended badly in the shootout. Jonathan Quick was “fine” but he didn’t carry the Kings on his back tonight. Adding insult to injury, Jason LaBarbara took Phoenix the distance into the shootout. The Kings got a point so it looks like we’ll end up fifth or sixth in the playoffs. How would this game be different in a 5-on-5 in the playoffs?

Fernnando of the popular LA Kings blog LA Kings Brasil cut this video for our 2010 playoff run and did an awesome job. Watching it makes me feel like we already won the Cup. Enjoy the vid!

What an ugly game last night. Randy Jones, Sean O’Donnell and Jonathan Quick were absolutely awful. It took a period and a half but the Kings remembered how to play hockey again. Erik Ersberg was outstanding in overtime and Dustin Brown showed why he wears the “C”. For the first time since the lockout, the Los Angeles Kings are in the playoffs and the Anaheim Ducks are not.

LOS ANGELES — Here in the Los Angeles area, if you listened carefully, one could probably hear sporadic cheers, glasses clinking, maybe even a few car horns honking in celebration…and, oh yeah…even the Earth moved.

Indeed, Los Angeles area hockey fans had great reason to celebrate on April 4 because with the Chicago Blackhawks handing the Calgary Flames a 4-1 defeat, the Los Angeles Kings secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2002 and just their fifth playoff appearance since 1993, when the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Qualifying for post-season play was the goal for the mostly young Kings going into this season and, especially for some, it has been a long, long time coming.

“It’s a long time coming for me and a few other guys who have been here for awhile,” said right wing and team captain Dustin Brown. “We’ve grown a lot.”

“This is the most fun I’ve had since I’ve been in the league,” added Brown. “Just the prospect of playing in the playoffs and having these last ten games [of the regular season] mean something is always a lot of fun.”

But the big question facing the Kings now is if they are just going to be happy to have made the playoffs and be satisfied with that, or are they going to go into the post-season determined and ready to be a formidable opponent?

To be sure, the Kings’ highly inconsistent play since the Olympic break only raises serious doubts, and as their 7-7-3 record since the break indicates, intensity, urgency and effort have all been cited as deficiencies too many times in the last six weeks.

After two solid wins, at Nashville on April 1 and against Vancouver on April 3 at Staples Center, it appeared that the Kings had figured things out and turned their game around.

“We talked about bringing home the attitude we showed in Nashville,” head coach Terry Murray said after his team’s win over Vancouver. “We had a good game there. We started that game with energy and puck movement that was as good as any other game this year, and it’s time we did that at home. It’s what we needed.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

Keith and Chris are back talking LA Kings hockey. In this episode we take you back to 2005-2006 to experience our agony of what it’s like to barely miss the playoffs. We also introduce a brand new segment entitled “If I Were…” and talk a little goaltending. Question of the Day: Who Should be the Backup Goaltender Going into the Playoffs?

LOS ANGELES, CA – President and General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today that Church & Dwight, Inc., makers of Trojan Condoms have acquired a 25 percent ownership stake in the Los Angeles Kings. Citing economic reasons, Phil Anschutz’s company AEG Worldwide completed the deal in the early morning of April 1st. The management team of Trojan will be flying into Los Angeles, CA this morning to begin looking at the organization.

“Church & Dwight, makers of important products such as Trojan Condoms, Nair Hair Removal Products and the nationally known Arm & Hammer brand are pleased to welcome the Los Angeles Kings into our investment portfolio”, the company said in a press release. “It just makes sense. We have been trying to penetrate the Los Angeles market with Trojan Condoms but have been unsuccessful at doing so. We believe that this will help leverage our brand into an exploding market.”

Dean Lombardi, President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings said “I don’t expect their to be any change in the way we have been running this team. However, there will some changes that fans may not like at first.”

Church & Dwight and AEG Worldwide announced this morning that the Los Angeles Kings would be changing their name to the Los Angeles Magnums. In addition, the Los Angeles Kings parted ways with fan-favorite mascot Bailey as they will now be utilizing the ever-popular Trojan Man. That night, the Kings Magnums will debut a limited-edition third jersey that night. No word on if the jersey will be ribbed for the fans’ pleasure.

The team will be celebrating this union with a Pleasure Pack Giveaway Night. The first 10,000 fans to Staples Center on April 3rd against the Anaheim Ducks will receive their choice of one Pleasure Pack or Multi-Speed Vibrating Ring.

Defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Wayne Simmonds issued the following joint statement: “As young players in the league who are making more than the average American, we use Trojan Condoms on a regular basis. They keep us from becoming Baby Daddies. We think Trojan Condoms are the right fit for all of the Kings.” The two declined to comment on which brand of Trojan was their condom of choice.

The Los Angeles Kings badly needed a win last night as they had lost four in a row. Jonathan Bernier got the start and was magnificent. Scott Parse scored his third goal in two games and Sean O’Donnell had a beautiful goal to close it out. With Bernier having two solid starts with the Kings, what do we do with Ersberg?

Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty, like most Los Angeles Kings fans, media, etc is pissed. This team isn’t giving the effort they should be. Check out his latest commentary with some great quotes (by Dustin Brown, especially.

LOS ANGELES — Given that the Los Angeles Kings are just 4-6-3 since the Olympic break and have put in mostly poor efforts since that time, one can imagine what an advertisement in the Lost and Found section of the local newspapers might look like:

LOST: Intensity, effort, urgency, enthusiasm. If found, please contact the Los Angeles Kings immediately.

Although their malaise began before the Olympic break, the two-week hiatus killed any momentum the Kings had going into the stretch drive for the playoffs.

“I think it was the break,” head coach Terry Murray lamented. “To me, it’s mental. This is an attitude game at this time of the year. Twenty percent talent, eighty percent attitude, and I think our attitude slipped over the break.”

Murray added that his team is not the only one suffering from this affliction.

“It’s around the league, it’s not just the LA Kings,” he said. “You’re seeing some teams taking a step back from where they were pre-Olympics. As a result, you get into these critical games and you don’t know how to shut’em down.”

Of course, some teams have been hit harder than others by the lag after the Olympics. Nevertheless, the Kings are right up there with those hit the hardest, and, to make matters worse, goaltender Jonathan Quick, who has been the Kings’ best player in many games this season, has been mostly mediocre since the break.

Although Quick represented the United States during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, he was their third goaltender and got no quality practice time in before jumping right back into the fray with the Kings.

In short, he was rusty upon his return to National Hockey League action and has not regained top form, despite what his 2.38 goals-against average and .910 save percentage since the Kings returned to action would seem to indicate. Indeed, what is more revealing is that Quick has had five games since the break in which his save percentage dipped well under the .900 mark.

But just as significant, if not more so, has been the lack of intensity and enthusiasm from the skaters in front of him.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche are continuing to make a good case why they should play each other in the playoffs: it’d be goddamn exciting. It didn’t start well as Jonathan Quick was pulled (yes, Terry Murray, sometimes Quicker needs a rest). Erik Ersberg played well until the shootout. The Kings now have 90 points with 10 games remaining.

How much fun would a Kings/Avalanche playoff series be? If last night was any indication, it would be awesome. Ryan Smyth had two goals, the Avalanche tied the game with 6.6 seconds left, Justin Williams showed he is, indeed back and Wayne Simmonds continued to show fans why he is a fan favorite. Not to mention, it was Star Wars night. Did you go?

The Playoff push is on! As the Los Angeles Kings battle for post-season positioning, we break down the Chicago and New York games, interview Philadelphia hockey fanatic John Morelli and present a new segment called “I’m Sorry…” QUESTION OF THE DAY; Where will the Kings finish?

If I told you that the leading scorer on the New York Islanders was Matt Moulson with 26 goals would you have believed me? Talk about a breakout season! Last night at Staples Center certainly wasn’t a blowout but the LA Kings did manage a win. Quick was awesome but the team still looked shaky at times. Better effort but still a ways to go.

The Los Angeles Kings needed a win against the battered Chicago Blackhawks last night at Staples Center. Terry Murray sat Jeff Halpern in favor of Raitus Ivanans. That didn’t work out very well. The Kings took some untimely penalties last night but it wasn’t the refs fault. Is this a slide ala 2005-2006?

As if adjusting to daylight savings time wasn’t hard enough, the Los Angeles Kings played Sunday’s game at 12PM. In this episode, we talk about the games against the Stars and Predators, discuss the Jonathan Bernier/Erik Ersberg situation and give some thoughts on the upcoming playoff run. Question of the Day: Which team do you want the Kings to face in the first round of the playoffs?

First there was the whole daylight savings thing. Then the Nashville Predators were in town. Terry Murray has yet to beat them as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Anybody else smell disaster? This was a particularly spirit-less effort by the Kings today. A couple more losses and we will start falling rapidly.

Alex’s post-game blog here.

Man, I love this team! The LA Kings were in Dallas to face Marc Crawford and the Dallas Stars. Young netminder Jonathan Bernier came in and played a very solid game while Jonathan Quick was with his wife delivering their first child. It was an all-around solid effort last night with a long shootout that the Kings excel in.

Alex’s post-game blog here.

The Los Angeles Kings are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and they aren’t looking to slide in. Here’s the latest from Gann Matsuda on LA’s push. And, no, they can’t just sit back and slide in..

LOS ANGELES — For the first time since the 2001-02 season, the Los Angeles Kings are looking like a playoff team, so much so that even if they play just .500 hockey over their remaining sixteen games, they are still likely to earn an invitation to the post-season party.

Heading into the Olympic break, the Kings were hot, earning a 12-2-1 record in their last fifteen games prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. But coming out of the break, the Kings have been a mixed bag, with a decisive 5-1 win at Dallas on March 2, followed by two extremely poor efforts at Nashville (4-2 loss) on March 4 and against Montreal (4-2 loss) on March 6. The Kings responded with a 6-0 blowout over the feeble Columbus Blue Jackets on March 8, but then they suffered a tough, 3-2 overtime loss at Chicago on March 10.

The big question for the Kings with just sixteen games remaining is: even if they qualify for post-season action, will they go in with momentum or will they slide into the playoffs, putting them at a disadvantage right off the bat?

Based on their play over the last six weeks, there is cause for concern, especially when you consider the fact that even during their 12-2-1 run, the Kings often got off to slow starts and had to struggle to come from behind to win.

“The biggest thing for us has been our starts recently,” Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said. “We’ve shown some real good character and an ability to come back in games. But a few of us have been talking here. When it comes down to the stretch, you’re not going to be able to come back against good teams.”

“The games [heading down the stretch] are going to be huge for us,” Scuderi emphasized. “We can’t make a habit of terrible starts.”

Slow starts continued to plague the Kings after the Olympic break as well.

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

The team is back in action and the LA Kings are surging into the playoffs. Tonight, Keith and Chris talk about the games up to now, enjoy the thoughts of the upcoming playoffs and say goodbye to Teddy Purcell. Enjoy!

Brad Richardson played like the Brad Richardson of last season when he coughed up the puck in overtime to seal it for the Chicago Blackhawks. It was a rough start for the Los Angeles Kings but they turned up the heat to take Chicago into Overtime. Not a bad game by any stretch and it was nice to grab a point. Your thoughts on the game?

Alex’s post-game blog here.

Prior to Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, Chris Kaliszewski took part in an interview with Team 990 Montreal. Here he talks about the Los Angeles Kings and guarantees a victory. If the Kings don’t win, Chris has to wear a Montreal jersey in the next edition of Overtime. We all know who won and look forward to seeing Chris in a Habs jersey soon!

It was like a game of NHL 2010 on Rookie Mode as the Los Angeles Kings notched six goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center last night. Alexander Frolov had a monster game with four points (1G, 4A) and newly acquired Fredrik Modin (1G, 1A) also had a great game. Incidentally, the conditional 7th round pick the Kings gave up for Modin only happens if the Kings win the Stanley Cup. I guess we’ll be hanging onto that pick!

Alex’s Post-Game blog on the win.

With the Olympic break finally over, the playoff push for the LA Kings begins. In this new installment; how the Olympics experience impacts the players, trade deadline fodder, exclusive coverage of the Stars game from Dallas correspondent Chris Bond and a special “international” shoutout.

The Vancouver Olympics are winding down and the Hockey medal race is in full swing. We take a look at the historic USA vs Canada game, present our game viewing experience and discuss this years hockey rules. Question of the Day: Who is the MVP of Mens Hockey at the Olympics so far?

Nearing the crucial games that will be documented as the “playoff-stretch”, I’m taking a look at each player on the Kings roster and evaluating them with a grade on their performance thus far. A roster that has worked together to post a 37-20-4 record (78 points) at 5th place in the Western Conference has to be doing something right, Right? Which players have contributed most? Which players have disappointed? In Part 3 of a 3-Part series, we’ll take a look at the forwards of the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have tallied 185 goals so far, which ranks them 4th in the Western Conference and 6th in the NHL. The production from this offense has been a big contributor to the Kings success this season.

FORWARDS

DUSTIN BROWN #23
GRADE: B
SYNOPSIS: Dustin Brown has had a solid season for the Kings, bringing his high intensity, physical play whenever he’s on the ice. Brown has been impressive on the forecheck, utilizing his speed and strength to create offensive zone posession. With 15 goals and 27 assists, Brown has been a key contributor, but there are still some flaws. I like to see Brown make the dump & chase work for the Kings with his heavy pressure down low, but often find myself frustrated when he enters the zone with the puck. Too often Brown is fancy with the puck with his through the legs deke, and still has an issue with missing the net with his shots. Bottom Line: You can always count on Brown to make a presence physically, but he’s had issues with the puck. A couple of scoring droughts have lowered Brown’s point totals, but his leadership on and off the ice is crucial to the team.

ALEXANDER FROLOV #24
GRADE: C-
SYNOPSIS: I’ve been frustrated with Frolov’s play all season, which I see as having a lack of heart and intensity. Whether it’s giving up on the back-check, or skating circles without the puck, Frolov has been a huge disappointment. The guy has skill, and his 13 goals and 27 assists is sub-par for a player with his capability. Frolov has made plenty of bad decisions, namely his constant wrap-arounds, and has shown his inability to occupy the front of the net. Bottom Line: Frolov has been the center of trade rumors this year, and there’s still a chance he could be dealt after the Olympic break. Frolov, even with his lackluster style of play, has the ability to create points for the Kings as they stride toward the playoffs.

MICHAL HANDZUS #26
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: Handzus, with 33 points this season, has been a solid contributor up front for the Kings. Not a flashy forward, but extremely versatile. Handzus has shown he is capable of winning face-offs, scoring from the top of the circles, and creating traffic in front of the net. #26 is a veteran who can center a wide variety of wingers. Handzus’ smart play has worked well with the various line combinations Terry Murray has drawn up. Bottom Line: An essential part of the Kings offense, Handzus rarely makes costly mistakes. Whether it’s his puck control down low, his body in front of the net, or his shot selection from the top of the circles, his intelligence on the ice meshes well with his line-mates.

RAITIS IVANANS #41
GRADE: C-
SYNOPSIS: Ivanans is on the roster for one reason; To be the enforcer. If there’s a player who’s going to drop the gloves, look to Raitis. Even though it’s not his function on the ice, Ivanans has yet to record a point, which is troubling at 54 games played. My main problem with his play is the stupid retaliation I’ve seen from him this season. I have no problem with him dancing when necessary, but it’s been a recurring instance where Ivanans takes a revenge penalty that hurts the team. Bottom Line: Ivanans has a spot on the roster to have the back of his skilled teammates. #41 needs to be a little smarter when choosing to stick up for his team, and make sure he isn’t a burden to their success.

ANZE KOPITAR #11
GRADE: A-
SYNOPSIS: Kopitar had a stunning start to the season, even leading the NHL in points for a period of time. The hot start was quickly crushed with a lengthy stretch of games where Kopitar failed to produce. However, he regrouped to again become an offensive force for the Kings. I believe his slump was in part to pushing too hard. #11 never stopped working, but just couldn’t catch a break. He never left his game, but over-did it at times. Once he was able to settle down, and had healthy surroundings, he’s become the vastly improved player we saw at the start of the season. Bottom Line: Kopitar’s skill has been coupled with his revamped strength this season to create a player who is on the verge of being a superstar. A long stretch into the playoffs will only help Kopitar’s process of maturing and growing into an elite NHL player.

OSCAR MOLLER #9
GRADE: B
SYNOPSIS: I, for one, didn’t expect much out of the young Swede this season. I figured Moller would get shut-down because of his size. Yes, I judged, but you can’t deny that was the story last season. Now, he hasn’t been putting up the points, but he’s not afraid to go into corners and fight for the puck. I like to relate him to a mosquito. Small, but extremely bothersome. Moller uses his speed to disrupt the opposition. Does he always win the battles? No. But he distracts the flow of his counterparts. Bottom Line: Moller is annoying to the opposition. He doesn’t scare them, he bothers them. This is what allows him to create turnovers down-low utilizing his small stature and quick feet.

TEDDY PURCELL #54
GRADE: D+
SYNOPSIS: Late decisions, and bad ones. That can describe Purcell’s season so far. Teddy had a semi-promising ending to last season, but has completely flopped this year. 3 goals and 3 assist through 41 games, Purcell has been awful. There hasn’t been one positive to his play. At times he looks lost, and at other times he just looks bad. Bad passes, bad shot selection, poor puck control down-low, I’ll stop now. Bottom Line: I’ve just about given up hope with Purcell. Will he be a factor down the stretch? I don’t think so. A part of me wants to have some faith in him, but there’s been no reason to build it.

BRAD RICHARDSON #15
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: Boy, talk about an impressive player coming from nowhere. Richardson, who was pointless for a long stretch at the start of the season, began to blossom into a key forward. The guy just works hard. Always hard on the forecheck and backcheck, Richardson works for his points. He’s provided a spark to the offense with his work ethic, and has earned every single one of his 21 points. Bottom Line: A young winger like Richardson who takes pride in hustle, he can create big plays for the Kings down the line. No question he’ll be a factor in plenty of games, and his intensity will be a great fit come playoff time.

WAYNE SIMMONDS #17
GRADE: A
SYNOPSIS: There’s no question Simmonds play has led him to become a fan favorite. A forward who mixes in a bit of everything when on the ice, he has posted 35 points. Simmonds physical play on the forecheck and ability to fight make him even more of a threat. His speed allows him to beat the opposition to the puck. His long, fluid stride helps as well. Bottom Line: In only his second season, Simmonds has been a huge surprise. A player who is still developing, only expect to get more results from Simmonds for the rest of the season and beyond.

RYAN SMYTH #94
GRADE: A
SYNOPSIS: Smyth is hands-down the best off-season acquisition for the Kings. He’s had such a big impact on the team both on and off of the ice. Smyth has managed to tally 19 goals and 19 assists even being out for over a month. His presence in front of the net is a key factor on the PP. Knowing where to be on the ice at all times, Smyth makes his line-mates better. He gives his teammates confidence when putting the puck on net or down low, knowing Smyth will be scrapping for possession or a deflection. Bottom Line: There’s no doubt Smyth will be an important factor down the stretch. Not only is his play crucial to the team, but his experience as well. Smyth went to the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2006.

JARRET STOLL
GRADE: B-
SYNOPSIS: Stoll has fought back from numerous injuries this season to put together a solid overall performance. With 12 goals and 23 assists, Stoll has backed up his success in the face-off circle with production in the offensive zone. A key part of the PP, Stoll moves to the blue-line because of his shot. You have to be impressed with the embattled forward fighting through injuries and still bringing a strong performance to the ice. Bottom Line: Stoll’s biggest contributions to the team will be face-offs in the O-Zone and to continue to pose a threat from the blue-line on the PP.

The boys (and girl) are back in studio with our best podcast of the season. That’s right, here we take a look at the Kings entrance into the Olympic break, a preview of the Los Angeles Kings who are taking part in the Olympic games in Vancouver and say goodbye to a player we barely knew….

With the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games in full effect, we take a look at Team Canada & Team USA’s chances at Olympic gold as well as what Los Angeles Kings will make an impact on their respective teams. Question of the Day: Which Olympic teams get the gold, silver and bronze?

Matt Greene is hilarious. But, to get the true sense of his sense of humor, you need to watch this video!

The Los Angeles Kings had a very nice send-off for the Olympians on the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. In total, the two teams are sending eight players to Vancouver (five for Los Angeles, three for Colorado). With the exception of Salei (playing for Belarus), the other seven player all have a shot at medaling. Enjoy the video!

LOS ANGELES — With the 2010 Olympic Winter Games now in full swing, the hockey world is now focused on Vancouver and, more specifically, on the men’s Olympic hockey tournament beginning today.

Five Los Angeles Kings players are in Vancouver, including right wing Dustin Brown (United States), defenseman Drew Doughty (Canada), center Michal Handzus (Slovakia), defenseman Jack Johnson and goaltender Jonathan Quick (USA), and they are chomping at the bit, raring to go.

“I couldn’t wait for it to happen,” Doughty said about the Olympic tournament. “It’s been in the back of my mind even though my main focus is the Kings. I can’t wait to get to Vancouver and get the games going.”

Speaking of being unable to wait, Johnson left the Kings with permission on February 12 to participate in the Opening Ceremonies.

Even though the Kings had played the night before and had another game on February 13, Johnson was not going to miss the Opening Ceremonies—he wanted the full Olympic experience.

“It’s the opening ceremony of the Winter Games,” Johnson exclaimed. “It’s a no-brainer. I had the opportunity, so why waste it? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I’m fortunate enough to play in the next one, it’s in Russia. I can’t just go over and back.”

Johnson not only walked into Vancouver’s BC Place with the US Olympic Team during the Parade Of Nations, but he also got the opportunity to meet his teammates in other sports and bond with them.

“Last night, when we gathered up all the athletes, we didn’t know each other, we didn’t even know what sport each other played,” he explained. “But, instantly, you’ve got that bond and connection because you’re all representing the USA.”

“It was the coolest experience I’ve ever had in my life, it’s something I’ll never forget. It was something that meant a lot to me to get the full Olympic experience.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

As the Los Angeles Kings take a break from NHL play in respect to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, let’s take a look at the status of the prospects and the team that develops the future of the LA Kings. The Manchester Monarchs are having a season that provides plenty of optimism to the development of this organization’s future, as if we didn’t have that already. Manchester, as of February 15th, has posted 79 points through 56 games of play in the American Hockey League. The Monarchs stand 3rd overall in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the Atlantic Division. Take a look at the major club in this family, and the Kings are stacked with young talent. And how does it get better? The young talent in our minor league system is proving themselves as well. It’s almost getting to the point; And I don’t want to get over my head here, but that we may have too much young talent. Look, AHL clubs can have a great campaign and then completely flop the year after. The AHL is a very difficult league to analyze. So many aspects of this league are unstable. The rosters, mainly full of young, inexperienced professional hockey players, change on a daily basis. You’ve got coaches coming and going, management directing players to various leagues, just a tough situation to maintain stability to make it to the next level. However, a fair test to those AHL’ers who eventually do get the call to the NHL.
So, if we are to assess Kings prospects solely based on Manchester’s success this season, I’d say we’re in good company. Will some of these players make an impact in Los Angeles in the near future? Yes. Will some of these players make an impact in Los Angeles via trade? Yes, and that’s the key importance I’m seeing in this Manchester lineup. The Kings are built right now for long-term success. Where I think Manchester will really come into play is a trade at this year’s deadline, sometime this off-season, or next season. The fact that Dean Lombardi has done such a wonderful job in constructing such a young, solid core of players gives us a little more comfort when it comes to including prospects in a trade. There are already a handful of players on Manchester’s roster that have NHL experience. Not to say they weren’t NHL savvy, but let’s be honest, the Kings are on the verge of being an elite team. There is so much competition at every position, we’re feeding Manchester players that could very well be starters on other NHL clubs. Could this have something to do with Manchester’s success this season?

Let’s take a closer look at the players excelling in Manchester. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier is having quite the season with the Monarchs, and is quite possibly the hottest Kings prospect. I think it’s too early to tell what Bernier may bring to the Kings. Whatever the future may hold for Erik Ersberg may provide a clearer picture. There are so many variables in Bernier’s future I don’t even know what to say. With Quick’s success thus far, could we gain more by dealing Bernier? Will it disturb Quick’s confidence next season if Bernier’s on the roster? Remember now folks, Quick is having a stellar season knowing he’s the number 1, not with some youngster breathing down his back. This is a GOOD problem to have, remember that. What about winger Corey Elkins? The Kings draftee, fresh off of a 41 point season at The Ohio State University has recorded 36 points for the Monarchs. Here’s a late bloomer, Bud Holloway. Drafted in 2006 by Los Angeles, he leads the Monarchs in points. Still very young though at the age of 22. I could go on for pages and pages about this team, but let’s get one thing straight. If you feel content with the Kings roster now, take a minute to look at what Manchester is developing. To say this franchise is in good hands is an understatement. Whether the Monarchs provide solid players to add to the Kings roster, or provide the key to a big trade in the future, there’s a lot of up-side to this squad in New Hampshire.

The Los Angeles Kings closed out February with a nice win over the Colorado Avalanche and some of the team can enjoy a nice break during the Olympics. In this episode we talk about the Kings play going into the Olympic break as well as the game against the Avs. Question of the Day: What LA King will have the biggest impact on their Olympic Roster?

In what looked to be a potential blowout for the Los Angeles Kings playing the bottom-feeder Edmonton Oilers, turned out to be a flat and uninspired effort from a team recently on a 9 game winning streak. Down 2-0 in the 3rd period and hearing the boo-birds at Staples Center, the Kings battled back with goals from Dustin Brown and Ryan Smyth and took the game into the 10th Round of a Shootout, only to lose the bonus point to none other than former King Lubomir Visnovsky.

Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty‘s exclusive sit-down with Dean Lombardi continues on with some excellent commentary on LA Kings prospects Colten Teubert and Brandon Kozun. Check it!

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.

A great story from Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty on the development of Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds with comments from LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi.

LOS ANGELES — During the Los Angeles Kings’ recent run to fourth place in both the Western Conference standings and in the overall National Hockey League standings (through games played on February 7), two role players have contributed a lot more than what has been expected of them. Indeed, forwards Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds have surprised most by playing key roles in the Kings’ surge in the standings.

Last season, injuries and uneven play limited Richardson, 24, to just five assists in 31 games. He was unable to find his niche on the team, after being acquired by the Kings on June 21, 2008 from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

After Richardson’s poor showing last season, expectations for the 5-11, 195-pound native of Belleville, Ontario were low, and he found himself on the Kings’ fourth line to start the 2009-10 season. Despite that, he was not going to be denied.

Indeed, he worked hard and played with grit not seen from him before, and, as a result, Richardson started to gain the trust of head coach Terry Murray starting in mid-November. His ice time started to creep up, and he moved up from the fourth line to the third line and now, Richardson is playing on the Kings top two lines, alongside Simmonds and center Anze Kopitar.

Richardson, who has scored seven goals and has added thirteen assists for twenty points in 57 games this season, has also made an impression on his general manager.

“He’s come up the old-fashioned way, kind of like [former Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs center] Doug Gilmour,” said Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi. “That’s the way guys used to break in. They used to be big scorers in junior. They all had to break in on the fourth line because they had to learn to check and play defense.”

Read the rest on Frozen Royalty.

Another excellent piece from Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty‘s recent interview with Dean Lombardi. Here, Lombardi talks positively about quite a few things but admits we still have some more to go to be Cup contenders.

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

When you talk of the Los Angeles Kings, you no longer have to utter the words “Wayne Gretzky” in the same sentence. Despite a horrendous first period, the Kings beat the Detroit Red Wings at another 1PM’er to break the franchise record of consecutive wins with 9 in a row. Jonathan Quick is one win away from breaking Mario Lessard’s all-time wins in a season by a Kings goaltender. The Kings now sit alone as fourth in the Western Conference with 75 points.

Gann Matsuda continues his interview with Dean Lombardi and talks a little goaltending. via Frozen Royalty

Is Anze Kopitar an elite player? via View From My Seats

Everybody’s favorite LA Kings reporter has an open forum. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 & Part 7. Part 7. via LA Kings Insider

Was Don Waddell in New Jersey to talk with Dean Lombardi or just to scout opponents? via Jewels From the Crown

Breakdown of the Kings/Ducks game on Thursday night. via Jewels from the Crown

The one blog whose game day previews actually crack me up. via Battle of California

A lot of talk going on about Anze Kopitar. Is Kopi’s “resurgence” the reason why we’re in a really good place right now? via NHL.com

Who do you trust when it comes to the rumor mill? via Jewels from the Crown

Your favorite vloggers are back in action talking about the latest in Kings hockey. via KingsCast

Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty continues his interview with Dean Lombardi. There is some great stuff on the goaltending stable. Check it out!

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.

The LA Kings are on fire. In this episode we talk about the Kings 8-game win streak, give our thoughts on the game against the Anaheim Ducks, interview a guy who didn’t have an NHL team to cheer for and discuss the Devils trade for Ilya Kovalchuk. Question of the Day: Who should the Los Angeles Kings trade for at the deadline?

John T. Meyer’s PickMyNHLTeam.com

It’s 8 games, folks! That’s right, the Los Angeles Kings have extended their winning streak against the Anaheim Ducks and now sit fourth in the Western Conference with 73 points. 73 points!? What a difference a year makes. We will not be sellers. This team is ready to contend. The playoffs will happen this year. Enjoy the video!

If I told you at the beginning of the season that the Los Angeles Kings would have 71 points just 56 games in you would have laughed, right? Last night at Staples Center the Kings increased their winning streak to 7 as they took down the Sean Avery and the New York Rangers. Kopitar had a clutch shorty and Smyth had a great goal off of a nice play by Brown. Enjoy the vid!

Matt Reitz, Editor at Large for View From My Seats recently asked me if Anze Kopitar is an elite player in his recent blog. Click the link to join the discussion.

Is Anze Kopitar an Elite Player?

Do you think he’s an elite player?

That’s right, folks, the weary Los Angeles Kings came into New Jersey to face the Devils and they didn’t lose. This team has heart. This team has a will to win. This team wants to take us out of years of disappointment and mediocrity. The Kings got a clutch goal from Wayne Simmonds to tie it up and Drew Doughty closed it out on the powerplay. Wow.

That’s right, folks, the Los Angeles Kings are on fire with a nice 5-game winning streak going on. The Kings were in Boston to face the Bruins again and Jonathan Quick one again showed up fellow Team USA Olympian Tim Thomas. Anze Kopitar continues his point tear, also getting a goal in the shootout. The Kings are now in 5th in the Western Conference with 67 points. Nice!

Back in studio to talk a little LA Kings hockey, and we just couldn’t think of an appropriate title. Why? The Los Angeles Kings have been doing some winning as of late and are playing like a solid NHL hockey team. In this show we talk about the overall play of the Los Angeles Kings, spend some time on the Ilya Kovalchuk situation and talk about Connie’s new blog. Sit back and enjoy!

Another 4PM game to screw with my work schedule but, as always, I found a way to take this game in. Despite some excellent first period pressure by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the LA Kings got it together and out-worked them. Anze Kopitar got his 100th career goal and the Kings are now on a four game win streak.

Part 4 of Gann Matsuda’s interview with Dean Lombardi is now up on HockeyTalk.biz and this one talks about Teddy Purcell. The Los Angeles Kings are clearly still high on him. What do you think?

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

The Los Angeles Kings were in Toronto tonight to face the slumping Maple Leafs and it wasn’t much of a match-up. The Leafs showed some life for a bit but the Kings shut it down nicely getting goals from three Canadians in Doughty, Stoll and Smyth. Brian Burke is building through trades, the Kings are building through the draft. Which works best for you?

The game happened a few days ago but the video highlights are still fresh. It’s rare that we get a come-from-behind victory against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. But that’s just what happened to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. What a night by Anze Kopitar and, wait for it, Peter Harrold!

Part 4 of Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty’sinterview with Dean Lombardi. We’ve switched now from Frolov to Jack Johnson. Excellent insight here!

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.

If you were at Staples Center last night, I’m sorry. The Los Angeles Kings didn’t come out to play. Instead the San Jose Sharks steamrolled the Midget Kings to take control of the NHL lead. Because Detroit also lost, the Kings remain 8th in the Western Conference. “Enjoy” the highlights.

When you sit-down with Dean Lombardi, you’re in store for a very sizable interview. And Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty knows that better than most. Here is part three of his exclusive sit-down with LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi. Check it out!

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.

KingsCast invaded Staples Center for Tip a King 2010 and got interviews by Raitus Ivanans, Oscar Moller, Jim Fox, Scott Parse, Ice Captain Debbie and Bailey. It was a great day for the Los Angeles Kings fans. If you were there, what was your favorite experience? How many Kings autographs did you score?

It was a rough start for the Los Angeles Kings this afternoon. The Boston Bruins were in town and played some nice physical hockey. The Kings came from behind in the third period after being down 3-1 and it was enough to go to a shootout. Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown both scored in the shootout and the Kings remain in playoff contention in the Western Conference.

When the LA Kings play the Anaheim Ducks, you know it’s going to be a spirited game. In this episode we break down the game, give some thoughts on the fan atmosphere and crown a new Fan of the Game. Question of the Day: What would you re-name the Kings/Ducks rivalry to?