An interesting quick little note from practice today. After all the players got off the ice, Terry Murray called a group of players — I believe it included Brown, Greene, Kopitar, O’Donnell and Stoll — into the coaches’ office for a chat. After, Murray said they’re periodic talks he has with the captains/leadership group. What do they talk about?
MURRAY: “We cover stuff that I would like to talk about. I ask the players if there’s anything on their minds about anything. Travel, hotels, Christmas break time — with our exceptionally long break that we’re going to have, kind of preparing the mind for that — and just reviewing how everything has gone so far, with the number of games we have played and the two East Coast trips, just talking about that, if there’s anything we can do better. Just general stuff that, I think, is real important for a group to be a part of.”
He probably needed Xmas gift ideas.
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I hope the Players stated when asked what we could be doing better….WIN!!!!
Thanks for asking Coach
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Coach see me skatin’, he be hatein’.
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Probably discussed how great and patient the Kings fans have been and that making the playoffs was something that they should try and strive for. A Playoff Birth….A Birth almost as important to us as Fans as Christmas Day…
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Do the players have to come in one by one and sit on the Big Fellas lap?
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Were there any elves present at this get together?
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How about a Secret Santa this year, boys?
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Look at all the comedians…are we sure this isn’t LGK? It’s comments like these that will eventually stop Rich from posting side-stories like this.
Anyways, I like it…sounds like the coach is communicating with the players and allowing them to voice their opinions…nothin wrong with that.
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Rich,
i’d be interested to know how ofter this happens? I have never heard you report this before. If it doesn’t happen often and now suddenly happens after a few losses that tells me one thing, the coaching staff feel they are not getting through to the players and the message is being lost and are looking for how actually are the players feeling and if that coincides with how the coaches feel.
My only hope is that the players that were “called in” didn’t cherry pick and actually have a set and tell it how it needs to be told…
It looks to me like this team needs direction and the staff better start giving it a little better than they have been….imo
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I agree Bob. Thanks for the stuff Rich, and please let the players know that all of us (especially me) appreciated how the guy’s were totally cool at yesterday’s “Meet the Players” event, either though I’m sure Terry Murray made them bust their butt’s at practice. It’s their good attitude that seperates them from other athletes.
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I have as good a sense of humor as anyone, but I sort of agree w Bob. This site is beginning to look like LGK. I have nothing against the occasional joke… for sure. But when it becomes a running commentary I don’t think it helps what Rich has worked so hard to build – not that he needs me to go to bat for him.
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I like hearing that, nice to see a coach and his core players with good communication, sometimes this can help the key guys knowing they are on the same page and have the guidance and backing from the coach
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Man, it is hockey, a few funny little comments are good. You all are way to serious.
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Thanks Chris….
Lighten up everyone! We are all here for one thing “To Support The Team” It just happens that they are poorly and to let this frustsration out I occasionally will poke fun. Nothing like LGK. Rich is doing a wonderful job. I love the insight. Now
FREAKING RELAX NUT JOBS its only a couple jokes..
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K guys whos LGK?, this is drivin me nuts….lol
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cristobal/im just saying — it is not “occasionally poking fun”, you bash the Kings and attempt to create controversy many times a day using many different IDs. Please let those who are truely appreciative of the efforts of all the Kings enjoy this refuge.
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kingsfan2316 — LGK – it is another Kings fans site, unfortunately, the topics tend to drift. It is also one of the many sites Cristobal has been banned from.
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Letsgokings.com
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Yeah, it’s actually called good communication. Make sure the players voices are heard and understood by the coaching staff, through representation by a core group of players. That way things can be adjusted from all sides. Good leadership!
I also echo the comment that “I’m Just Saying” made about the fact that all the Kings fans want is a gosh darn F%%&ing playoff birth. The kings need to MAN up. Have some pride in themselves, the fans, the city that has never won a cup, the game. That’s something to compete for. The team that wins it will be remembered for the history of the team. I wish I could play, you’d get everything I’ve got. You’d have a serious challenge every time it’s my play to make.
Man up….it’s fun as hell!
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The other guys aren’t really all that good. You’re all pros you’re all men.
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Ahhhhh thanks JET, i havent been there before, ill check it out thanks! so is this cristobal like anthony? only comes here to bash the kings and not support?
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Jet-
Using multiple ID’s does not get me going in the morning. There is no need for that. I guess my opinions are not for the cool group. I guess if you JET)wanted my opinion you would have told me what to blog. And, if this is your refuge I feel for you my brother. Quick stat: only been past the second round once since we became an NHL team in 66′ If we cant poke fun at that I guess I need to buy more antacids.
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There’s nothing wrong with poking fun and it does not equate to relentless and meandering (and most importantly OFF TOPIC) bashing, which has been known to go on. I don’t see any valid correlation between harping on the team endlessly and the joking in this thread.
I’m glad they had the meeting and I hope that if they don’t win a handful of games before the break they all get coals in their stockings.
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Although what I really want for Christmas are some more Jewish hockey players. We handled the desert. We can handle ice.
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Man! Even when we have to count on the “SUX” to beet a team tied in points with us they have to give us Kings fans the finger and let one in with 15 seconds left giving the Flames another point! Man I hate Anaheim!
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And surly, That’s the best I ever heard! Not gonna get into why, the smart ones will get what I mean. LMAO!!!
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Not a slight on Jewish players btw (more a X-mas joke)
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Although he’s only been there a few months and is injured I find it interesting that Ryan wasn’t at the meeting. Brownie is our captain (wouldn’t change him), Kopi is our weapon, Greene is our grit, and in my mind Ryan is fast becoming our heart.
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I hope they put Fro on the second line with Loki and put Parse on the first, and hopefully we have a win to be thankful about this thanksgiving
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Mocking aside, credit TM for trying to get into the psychology of the players. Something is wrong when the team plays inconsistently and the players have trouble getting up for games.
It is not easy motivating all of these young men, and ultimately they have to find it in themselves which does not seem to be happening…
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JDM — we had Cammi
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“Finally, it does not matter which ID you use, it is tiring. It is also driving away intelligent posters.”
I know plenty who refuse to come here/and have left because of the repetitive antics that seems to show up with every new article.
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From this site.
BTW Jet, I wasn’t banned from LGK, I would have had to post on that mess to have been banned.
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Reno,
I would like to see that as well. Even if Fro were to go back with Zus and Simmonds, I would like to see Parse tried on the first line. Too much hitting on the second line and not enough scoring. Not enough hitting on the first line to score (that’s not really accurate, but it sounded good). Parse has stepped up to a lot of challenges this year and I’d love to see how he would respond to playing with Kopitar and Williams.
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Let it go. Both of you. Quickly. Thank you. Again, it stuns me how much time I have to spend moderating childish comments instead of reporting on the team. It never, ever ceases to amaze me.
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Thank you Rich.
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Second that, JDM–or put Parse and Purcell on the same line, which seemed to click when Parse first came up.
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…….and since I was one of the ones to comment on the jokes, I just want to clarify. Sometimes I have a really good laugh reading the comments and think they can offer a great release. Many have mentioned that it can be trying at times to be a fan of this team.
All I’m saying (speaking for myself) is that anything in moderation works for me. It’s when I read an article and the comments only rarely relate to that article that I find it a bit much.
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I imagine everyone has noticed that Philly and Calgary in their last combined five games (against opponents other than the Kings) are 0-5.
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So, the Kings aren’t the only good team that is struggling?
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It’s a good “coaching” move to keep the lines of communication open, like a few of you have pointed out. It happens in all businesses. Hopefully. (well, maybe only the good ones.) — The team has a lot of confidence, you can tell in the interviews, as opposed to recent seasons, and you can also tell in Jim Fox’s voice. Some may bash me for this, but you wonder if some of the guys maybe have gotten a little overconfident/cocky at times because they aren’t used to winning like this, and being close to the top of the conference. Maybe it disrupts focus, just a bit. I know a lot of the teams beating the Kings recently may have more skill than the Kings, but the Kings also showed early in the season with all their heart– they can beat those teams.
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Rich,
someone had probably suggested this but could you get an interview with Loktionov before his much awaited debut with the KINGS. It would be great to hear from him on his thoughts prior to his first “real” NHL game!!!
Otherwise like always you’re doing a heck of a job!
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If you actually read what Terry Murray said, he is saying he gave the players an iopportunity to tell HIM what they are thinking. He is making sure there is a two-way communication, not just coaches telling players what to do. Every good manager knows it is importantto have discipline down the ranks, that respect and “obedience” (maybe too strrong a word) is essential to team success. The good manager also knows that he needs to occasionally give a chance for people to speak freely, step outside the chain of command and just say what they are thinking and feeling.
P.S.-How that quote can devolve into personal spats about log-in identities and whether jokes are appropriate baffles me.
P.S.S. Can we please spread out on the power play and 4 on 4? So we tried standing where one opponent can block all four potential passing lanes without even moving, and two games in a row we wasted 5-on-3 opportunities. So can we spread out?
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Rich or Quisp
What is our 5-3 PP % this year and where do we rank and what is our 5-3 PK % this season and where do we rank there?
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