Getting back to the Open Forum, here’s the fourth set of questions and answers…
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Question: Can you share what happens when a player is traded or picked up off waivers during the season? For instance Randy Jones gets on a plane lands in LA…who picks him up from the airport? Where does he stay? How long until his family arrives? Is there any player on the team that will help him acclimate to a new city?
Answer: There’s one part I’m not certain about, which is how the player gets picked up. It might be a Kings staff member, or they might send a car. Perhaps it depends on the situation. As for living situation, it’s generally up to the player. Short term, they can stay in a South Bay-area hotel, or maybe take a spare room of a (new) teammate they might know from the past. It can be tougher for older players, who might have a wife and kids in school, etc. Nobody is really in charge, particularly, with helping the new guy. There always seems to be a connection though. This guy played with that guy in junior, or that guy’s brother, or they played on some youth team. It’s like a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon thing.
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Question: How does the waiver system pertain to each goaltender on the Kings bench and prospect in Manchester? A lot of people here are suggesting changes in the goaltending paring. They basically want to move one down to Manchester and bring another one up. Would any goaltender be put into jeopardy under the waiver system by such a move–or is it just one or two that cannot be moved without the chance of being claimed off the wire? Maybe it’s just that no one can’t be sent down without the worry about the waivers, so they’d be stuck with three goaltenders on the roaster?
Answer: Erik Ersberg is no longer waiver-exempt and neither, I believe, is Jonathan Quick, since has now played in more than 60 NHL games. So yes, what you’re writing, in terms of the risk of losing a player, would be correct. It’s definitely not as simple as moving one player in and the other out. If you want to make your head spin for a while, there’s a good breakdown at http://www.nhlscap.com/waivers.htm Or just ask Quisp!
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Question: After years of terrible goaltending we now have Quick who does a good/decent job but isn’t controling games or winning games on his own. Is this first full year ups and downs or is this Quick – DL/TM mentioned before his ‘chip’ on his shoulder before where he would have an edge to him that is lacking this year – do you see that?
Answer: I do agree that the “chip” is the intangible that Quick has been missing for parts of this season. It’s an attitude in goal that’s very hard to describe and put into words. I definitely saw it in his game against Tampa Bay. That’s why I asked him, after that game, about his comfort level in net. He looked much more comfortable, much more in control, than he had of late. He said he didn’t feel any different, but it certainly didn’t look that way on the ice, at least to me.
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Question: Great job with the blog and interviews Rich. Lots of in depth material. Could you find out who I need to get ahold of to ask them to ‘pause’ selling refreshments during the National Anthem? This is done at Dodger Stadium,and I, and many of my fellow soldiers, feel it would be very respectful. Some things are more important than the ‘almighty dollar’. Thanks
Answer: That’s something that would fall under the arena’s control, or maybe even under Levy Restaurants’ control, since they operate the food services. I would recommend trying to get in touch with someone at the arena, because I don’t believe anyone from the Kings would have control over that, just as the Lakers/Clippers wouldn’t during basketball games.
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Question: Oh, another question. Was it somehow legal when that player launched Quick’s stick into the corner? Well, we know it’s not completely legal, because sending a stick flying isn’t legal, but what if he just gradually nudged it away from where Quick left it? How could that be legal?
Answer: Unless Quick’s stick was broken, and I don’t believe it was, then knocking a goalie’s stick away from him like that should be an interference penalty. I suppose it’s a ref’s judgment call as to how far it can be “nudged.” The play was so hectic that the officials most likely didn’t even see the stick. It appeared that Quick lost sight of it also.
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Question: Whats the reason that NHL teams will not disclose what type of injuries players get? It’s either an “upper body injury” or a “lower body injury.” I remember teams being more specific back in the day as to what part of the body is injured. Any reason for this?
Answer: Well, the stated reason is that coaches don’t want players to be “targeted” by opponents who know what they’re hobbled with. The theory goes that if an opponent knows a guy has a bruised left knee, for instance, he will go after it. I’ve never heard much anecdotal evidence that that really happens. We used to go around and around with Andy Murray about this. On one hand, Andy used to say (I’m paraphrasing), “We never play a player unless he’s 100 percent.” and he would also say, “We don’t want him to be targeted.” Well, if he’s 100 percent, what is there to target? He’s completely healthy, right? My feeling is that if a player is injured enough to miss a game, the public should know why he’s not playing.
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Question: Last question because someone is going to ask it. Any interest from the Kings in Forsberg? There is a lot to play into this – Kings standing come March, Forsbergs health, injuries, does he want to play here and so forth, but would DL have any interest?
Answer: Forsberg says he is staying put.
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Question: Rich, when you speak with Mark Morris, you might ask him about the defensemen rotation, and how he’s going to fit Martinez (when healthy) into what appears to be a pretty solid group so far. Every time I think a Campbell or a Kolamatis (sp?) should be a candidate for demotion to Ontario they come up with a big game. Also, is Mullen playing D or F?
Answer: Good question for Morris indeed, Marc. Mullen has been playing defense of late, from what I can tell.
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Question: Also, do you find yourself working more than when you were at the dailynews? I notice a lot more updates, plus your game stories, plus your weekly features, and saw a game preview written by you for nhl.com. That sounds like a hectic schedule.
Answer: Well yes, I would definitely say I’m working more hours than I did at the paper. That’s certainly not a complaint though, because I love what I’m doing. It’s a blast, covering a team the way I’ve always wanted to, so every day is fun and challenging, and it’s a great opportunity to always learn and improve as a writer and a reporter. The great support from the readers keeps me going as well.
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Questions: Have Luc or Foxy gotten you out on the ice yet? Are you starting to get used the being the person being asked the questions on air after so many years of sitting in the crowd asking the questions.
Answers: 1) No, not yet. Jamie Kompon was joking a couple weeks ago about getting on the ice. I like to skate, so I wouldn’t mind logging some time, but there’s no way I could keep up with those guys. 2) TV is definitely new, but I’ve done a lot of radio interviews over the years, so it’s not entirely different. You definitely have to be sharper on TV though. Quicker answers, right to the point, relate to the person you’re working with. It’s been fun to try.
There was a question about selling food during the National Anthem…I’m a half season ticket & have not heard the Anthem once yet this year. What gives? The quality of the performers is pretty poor, are they afraid they don’t know the words. Happened a couple years ago.
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rich, do you think the avs will give us kyle quincey back if we ask really really nicely?
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The idea that players would target another player’s injured (or recently injured) body part troubles me. I know hockey is very physical and competitive at this level, but deliberate intent to aggravate an injury strikes me as not very different from deliberate intent to injure, which has always been considered dirty play.
It reminds me of something Helene Elliott wrote in her latest column, and I think it was a very good point: That the thing about head shots isn’t that the NHL needs to do this or that, but that the players need to show more respect for their fellow players. So that if anything, you would think the NHLPA would care the most about this issue.
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Rich,
I thought ersberg signed a 2 way deal?
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The non disclosure of the injury thing really bothers me as a fan. The NFL puts out a complete injury report every week. MLB & NBA give similar information to the public. The NHL should do the same thing. They want more fans to be interested in the NHL like there is in the other more popular sports then they should follow the model. If someone targets a player injured, then suspend them for intent to injure.
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Hey rich,
Any way i can get a internship under you? Learn the ways of writing and blogging?
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john, all 1 and 2 way means is how much you’ll be making in the nhl/ahl…ea sports messes with us!
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john, re ersberg/waivers/two way deal -
Waiver status has nothing to do with whether a player’s contract is one or two way. A one-way contract means a player gets paid the big bucks even in the minors. A two-way contract means the player has an NHL salary, and if demoted, an AHL salary (which is much smaller, obviously).
Waiver status depends on three things: (1) whether the player is a skater or a goalie, (2) how old the player was when he signed his FIRST NHL contract, and (3) how many NHL games the player has played.
Games played comes into consideration for all players under age 25 when they first sign. Over 25, you simply are exempt for one year and that’s it.
Ersberg signed his first contract in 2007, at the age of 25. That first season, he was waiver-exempt. Last season and this one (and forevermore), not.
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Quick was waiver-exempt when the season started, but crossed the 60 game threshold (which is the limit for goalies who signed at 21) a couple of weeks ago, so he’s no longer exempt.
Bernier is waiver-exempt for three more years or eighty games (he’s played four, I think, so 76 to go), whichever comes first.
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Great job Rich!!! Love all the indepth reporting and I’m really glad you’re having fun, it shows!!!
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This forum is really good, I love it! Thanks for all of your hard work.
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I remember during the playoffs one year that there was an in between periods special on the customization of gear. They showed some gloves that from the top looked normal but inside they were modified so that the player could tape his broken finger to his adjacent finger for support.
I do think, especially in the playoffs that any advantage attained is worthwhile and targeting sore body areas would not be off limits.
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anyone else realize that we are now playing w/ the same team as last year pretty much haha
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So glad the kings didn’t make this li
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/The-10-worst-teams-of-the-last-decade;_ylt=Aqbq_YRgXJLEh0xbVhzC3cN7vLYF?urn=nhl,203081
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Rich.. Do you think that it might be a good idea to move Zeus/Brown up to the 1st line to replace the passing/front of the net presence that Smyhie has.. Rather than Fro?
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You’re doing a phenomenal job Rich! Thanks so much for all of the insight and information. Between your reports, and the comments here on your blog, I’ve learned a ton about the Kings and hockey in general. Again, thanks!
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hey rich,
what’s your favorite and least favorite arenas to be at, current or not…also who would you say is your favorite all time king? if you weren’t a kings writer, what would you be doing? thanks for all your hard work sir, i owe you a beer or 10…
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JPuck:
I work with a guy who is a huge Avs fan and he thanks me everyday for Quincey. I in turn thank him for Smyth, or what he has turned Kopitar into.
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As always, thanks for the answers Rich.
How do you think the absence of Smyth and Scuderi will affect Terry Murray’s strategy in the coming games? How do you think the team will respond and who do you think needs to step up?
Also, does Juraj Mikus like In-n-Out or Tommy’s better?
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josh e. said:
“anyone else realize that we are now playing w/ the same team as last year pretty much haha”
That should mean a good defensive game at least…
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Not sure if the rule was changed, but goalies are the only players allowed to play with a broken stick without penalty.
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Steveo,
Are you sure, as that completely doesn’t make any sense especially from a safety perspective which is where the rule I believe stems from…
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@JT, I checked the current rule book, and rule 10.4 (pg. 16) confirms that a goalie can play with a broken stick.
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I heard Lappy complimenting the current Kings roster, including Kopitar and Doughty, on the radio today. We could still use his grit. (I doubt Philly would give him up). I would like to know if Kings fans will give him some cheers or boos tonight.
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Rich – Maybe you will get a chance to speak with Lappy?
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Just discovered your blog and it’s absoulutely fantastic! You can count me as a new regular reader. Your timely content is outstanding and I love the detailed quotes you elicit from the players and management. Also, the quality of reader comments is a big draw for me.
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macdup -
don’t forget to also thank your friend for taking Preissing and his $2.75M salary as well!
I noticed he was a healthy scratch for the Avs last night.
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Just a note on the injury targeting…just a few days ago, I was watching the relive the magic with Mike Modano going over their Stanley Cup run. If you recall, he was playing with a broken wrist.
He said during the interview that on almost every faceoff, the opposing center was beating the hell out of his wrist since they knew it was injured. He laughed and said he would tell them it’s all numbed up and casted under his glove so their efforts were futile, but said they continued to do it anyway.
Guess it just shows it actually does happen. With such a physical sport, it would be hard to penalize a player for targeting an injury…esp when it’s so discreet.
I agree though…seems to be this vague injury thing used to only come up in the playoffs but during the regular season, it was more specific. Would like to see them get back to it.
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Lappy rocks! There’s no chance Kings fans will boo him.
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