Here’s a little more on the Ryan Smyth injury, from Terry Murray and Justin Williams, including some thoughts from each about what the Kings will need to do, in Smyth’s absence, in order to keep winning. With Smyth out, the Kings’ forwards will skate as follows:
Frolov-Kopitar-Williams
Parse-Stoll-Brown
Purcell-Handzus-Simmonds
Ivanans-Richardson-Harrold
MURRAY: “It could be up to four weeks with that. … It’s very unfortunate that you lose a player that’s an important player for your team, that’s going to be out up to that length of time. But you know, you take a look around the league, there’s all kinds of injuries to top players. You’ve got to deal with it. It’s part of the game.
“It’s an opportunity for Fro right now. He’s going to be up on the left side with Kopitar. So take advantage of it. I hope he plays very well there. We’ve seen his play in the past with Kopitar. They’ve had good chemistry together, so hopefully it can come together right away.”
I asked Williams what his new line needed to do in order to keep scoring without Smyth.
WILLIAMS: “Hopefully we do the same thing that they did when I was out (injured). Just switch it around. Kopi scored a hat trick in that first game. Obviously, we can’t replace him. He’s got that intangible quality. He’s there, he’s around and he’s going to make something happen. He’s going to make smart plays with the puck and battle for the puck down low as much as he can.
“We’ve got kind of a similar player, I think, with Fro. Both good in the corners, both strong on the puck, both look to make offense from it. Smytty, he’s going to certainly be missed for however long he’s out, but we’ve got the ability to pick it up in here and score in his absence. I know Fro is looking to get some goals going. I’m looking to get some goals going. So hopefully we can get some spark and get some secondary scoring, which we need more consistently.”
remember when j dub was out and sim dawg stepped up, i’m not losing sleep over this…
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and now the kings will be welcoming a scout or two from every team during the next month…
this is just getting interesting…
i don’t generally give DAP to the media…especially to fox…but i must admit…the ad slogan for our kings…:
“see what develops”…
is perfect…and genius, at this point…
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Hopefully it is only one month!
This is a great opportunity and probably the last one for Purcell to step up and show everyone he belongs.
Also a great opportunity for Parse to do the same. His game was starting to slip… so show us what you can do.
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“remember when j dub was out and sim dawg stepped up, i’m not losing sleep over this…”
-i like the nickname sim dawg…not simmer…i am now referring to him as sim dawg as well…
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now we get to see what kind of huevos the boys got. next 5 games will tell
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That’s ‘Mister’ Sim Dawg, for me!
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Claude Lemuiex is lacing up the skates again…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GscWDUk3otA&feature=player_embedded
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I was afraid that something like this would happen to Smyth, because I think he is one of the few true irreplaceables on the team. But TM is exactly right, and the Kings are not the only team who has lost a key player to injury this season. That’s why depth rules.
OTOH, it’s a good opportunity for Fro. If he steps it up over the next few weeks, maybe that convinces DL that he’s worth re-signing. If he doesn’t, that probably seals his fate.
And it’s as good an opportunity as Purcell is going to get at this point to prove that he deserves to play every night.
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We have depth in the organization to be able to withstand these types of injuries. Obviously it’s going to be near impossible to duplicate what Smytty brings to the team, but this gives an opportunity to guys like Fro and Purcell.
It would be good for both to take advantage of it now because if they don’t, it’s a pretty good bet both are done as Kings…Especially Teddy. You can be sure guys like Moller and Loktionov are drooling over getting an opportunity.
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If the job that Smytty was brought here to do has already been achieved (which is quite possible by the look of things), then we should be alright. The team does know what it takes to win now. The guys know what it means to work hard to get thath win. Most of all, the team all believe in each other and now it’s time to really prove to the NHL what they are all about.
In reference to Variable above, I think something has already developed and will only grown from this experience.
In the meantime, let’s all send positive thoughts to Ryan for a fast and easy recovery.
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The thing I wish for over anything else is for one of the young pups to pull a ‘Moulson’: Go off all hog-wild and score a bunch of goals, out of nowhere…
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This is a blessing in disguise for the Kings as it relates to Frolov. If there’s any doubt left in Dean Lombardi’s mind about trying to resign Frolov, this gives Frolov that “showcase” situation he needs to prove to the Kings that they need to keep him…..or trade him…depending on how he plays. He can’t blame being stuck on the 3rd/4th line for the next month for not producing offensively. He’ll be expected to contribute on a nightly basis. The knock on Frolov has always been that he’s consistently inconsistent. He can’t afford to be inconsistent playing on that first line.
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Hey Rich I wish you would adress these cry babies who keep downing Fro.The guys money down low.Some of these so called kings fans sound like they’re from Montreal(nothing worse than a habs fan).Even when we’re winning their lack of vision seems focused on the Fro.I luv the guy.
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2nd that!
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i would be the happiest guy in the world…along with all the others who feel this way…that fro does kill it and get an extension and we all eat chicken kiev on our way to the playoffs and…eh, um…cup…
but if we get to the cup, we can switch to vodka & caviar…:)
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Dominick
We’re crybabies for wanting more from Fro than he’s giving…Fro’s money down low? Dude, he’s got 4 goals.
I’d love nothing more than for Fro to grab this chance and become the star he hould be…not the enigma he has been.
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NYKINGFAN…
absolutely correct…
most of us whom are big fro lovers…(sounds like a fetish)…feel exactly that way – we want him to be how we wanted kopi to be the player he can be…and now is…
the problem is…most of us who have coveted fro for the last decade…and we are approaching ten years…have invested the emotional equivalent to a marriage w/the guy…and we are still waiting for better shelves…
i just want this to end with a spectacular flood of goals, points and…more importantly…wins…and then we all carry fro,kopi & co. off the ice on those better shelves…
or shoulders, is it…(?)
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Maybe lucky Luccccccc can lace them up tonight
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Here’s something no one has suggested…
MOVE BROWN BACK TO THE LEFT SIDE. He looks very uncomfortable (to me) or I feel very uncomfortable watching him on the right side. So you have Brown with Kopitar and Williams, Keep Frolov with Zeus and Simmonds as “the second line” and let Stoll play with Parce and Purcell (or part and parcel)
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Stoll, Parse and Purcell was a winner before, right? I’m for working that combination into the mix.
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“now we get to see what kind of huevos the boys got. next 5 games will tell”
Not a latino I take it.
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