Today’s notebook will be posted on LAKings.com shortly, and I’ll be working on a story about the Penguins coming to town, and the issue of Eastern Conference teams not visiting the West every year, etc.
I’m told there was no huge news out of practice today, other than Frolov’s return and the reunion of the Frolov-Handzus-Simmonds line. Terry Murray had talked about Simmonds, in the context of what he learned from the experience of playing on the first line while Justin Williams was injured. Here’s what Murray said…
MURRAY: “I think that’s probably what it was, just the experience to play on a top line. He did the same stuff that he’s doing on other lines. He holds the puck, makes plays, he knows that the role is getting the puck in deep and trying to stop it up on the forecheck, buy some opportunity for Kopi and Smitty to get possession of the puck in the offensive zone. Now they take over and that’s their strength. I’d like to think now, that with Simmer getting a taste of it, that at any time I could make that change during a game, if necessary.”
looking forward to yr pens story, rich…
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Oh there is news….
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You know what kills me about Pittsburgh? Here’s the team that had either the #1 or #2 pick, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW! (2003-2006, two #1s, two #2s. — Malkin, Crosby, Staal, Fleury)
Then you have a team like the Kings, who have never won a cup in 40 years…yet have NEVER had a #1 pick.
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By the way, Quicker’s mask is mentioned (along with all goalie masks) in Bucci’s column:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/notebook?page=buccigross/091103
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Bob,
I agree that’s pretty damn irritating. However, the Kings DID have the overall #1 pick late in the 60s (it was like their second season in existence or something).
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What’s even more irritating are the picks they squandered. Like the one they traded that was used to select Ray Borque……
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Good point, Belexes. I remember ESPN did a quick summary — I think it was a season after the Gretzky trade — of who got selected with all of the picks the Kings had traded away as an in-game filler. I recall Reggie Leach was on the list, as well as Borque, and someone who had quite a good career for the Habs during the ’70s-’80s (was it Steve Shutt?). You could probably have cobbled together a Cup contender at any given time with the names on that list.
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Yes, those were the “Dark Ages” of Kings hockey.
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Here’s an idea, it’s just an idea so let me know what you guys think. How about we call up loktionov have him center the line with fro, send Purs down and put hanzeus on the 4th line? I want to see the FRO-LO line.
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Yes, RenoKingsFan! Have Frolov play with someone who is as good as him, an offensive machine and a Russian as well. I think they would tear up teams!!!
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