On the road again

For those who wonder about the Kings staff, and what they do to scout players and such, consider what Dean Lombardi has been through in the past 2 1/2 weeks. He started in Toronto, for Luc Robitaille’s Hall of Fame induction on Nov. 9, stayed there for the general managers’ meetings, left to do a tour of the Ontario Hockey League and its prospects, then hit the AHL to follow the Manchester Monarchs as they played four games in five nights. Then it was back to L.A. for one day before getting on the team plane to Edmonton and Vancouver, where he will have to spend Thanksgiving with the likes of me.

By the way, before I head out to the morning skate I’d like to thank Edmonton for its hospitality so far. No snow (so far), and most likely I won’t even have to use the gloves and hat I brought along for live-preserving purposes.

44 Comments

  1. Harry says:

    Have fun Rich! Glad the team made it safe to Canada!

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  2. wavesinair says:

    Still, a picture of you with your hat and gloves on would be adorable. Please post asap!

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  3. KingNewfie says:

    It doesn’t snow in Canada ALL the time… just 90% of the time. :) Hope you enjoy your trip Rich!

    Oh, and GO KINGS GO!

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  4. griddle says:

    have a great thanksgiving up there in canada…eh

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  5. nykingfan says:

    Rich

    Does Santa live south of Edmonton? LOL
    Have a happy Thanksgiving and let’s hope the Kings don’t lay a turkey up north.
    Since you’re chowing with the GM, Please let him know the fans are behind him and thank him for the job he’s doing. (much better eh!)

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  6. Irish Pat says:

    I hope you, Dean and everyone up North can find a restaurant that is willing to serve a nice turkey dinner tomorrow. If not, I hear Tim Horton’s is Canada’s finest… or something to that effect.

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  7. JPUCK says:

    rich, you should ask segal if you can eat at his house.

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  8. NMKingsFan says:

    Keep that hat and gloves handy, you’ll be back up in Edmonton on Dec. 15th, then to balmy Calgary two nights later. I am sure you can ask Bob & Jim about those pleasant trips to Edm. in January of past years…

    I always love to watch games in Edm.(thanks Center Ice) the ice always looks spectacular, even on TV.
    Rich–if you get to talk to POS, you might throw in a question about the ice surface difference from LA to Edm. should be a hoot of a response.
    Thanks for all you do!

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  9. RJC76 says:

    Pat

    If you’re a fan of Coffee it’s pretty good, but I’ve never seen a turkey dinner. Hey KingNewfie, do your Tim’s serve Turkey Dinners? If they do,we’re being ripped off in MB.

    Welcome to the Great White North Rich…fortunately for you it’s been mild up here so far and you’ve lucked out.

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  10. Marc Nathan says:

    I don’t know if you’re an adventurous eater Rich, but they have great Caribbean food in Edmonton. There’s a very active Jamaican population there. Why the hell they went to the frozen tundra, one never knows… :)

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  11. kingsfan2316 says:

    Just an update rich, no snow here yet actually you may get away with a tshirt today! welcome to edmonton! :)

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  12. dMan says:

    that thin socal blood…

    Edmonton isn’t so bad…as far as bleak, desolate, gray isolated depressing places go, eh? It actually gets better when it snows.

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  13. dMan says:

    Just kidding about Edmonston…

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  14. dMan says:

    Edmonton…

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  15. dMan says:

    Not really…

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  16. kingsfan2316 says:

    OUCH DMAN THAT ONE HURT :( , EVEN MY PET POLAR BEAR IS CRYING…LOL

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  17. BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

    Marc Nathan:

    What an interesting topic! Had to search it out…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Canadian

    Wonder if Simmonds is part Jamaican Canadian?
    Do you know, Rich?

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  18. Steve S. says:

    It would be nice if the Kings win tonight

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  19. dMan says:

    I’m just kidding.

    Edmonton is a great place! Great Canadian beer, great Jamaican food (?!). Great friendly fun people!

    Just…

    …stay inside.

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  20. kingsfan2316 says:

    So is quick getting the start in both games? (fingers are crossed)

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  21. dMan says:

    Did I mention the Canadian beer?

    Cause that helps.

    A lot!

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  22. VanKingsFan says:

    Thanksgiving was in October! Why would you put thanksgiving so close to Christmas. Timmy Ho’s serves a mean Turkey Bacon Club Sandwich…

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  23. Lilly says:

    Happy Thanksgiving Rich!

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  24. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    For VanKingsFan, everyone, all you wanted to know about Thanksgiving, and why it is when it is. The first link is the one I was looking for. The second link seems to explain why we’re still bitching about the Kings even though they’ve improved. (! Actually, it’s why do we appreciate what we have less, even though we have more of it.) The third is the true history and lesson of Thanksgiving.

    http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/kauffman2.html
    http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north22.html
    http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/galles10.html

    I hope everyone has (had) a wonderful holiday, no matter when or how you celebrate!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  25. number 6 says:

    JPUCK, that was great. That’s the sort of humor I love.
    Rich, hope you have a good trip and as so many here have said, thanks for doing such an extraordinary job.

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  26. Johnny says:

    Rich,

    Im just wondering. seeing that players or most players share a hotel room on the road, does the coaching staff share rooms aswell? or they all get their own room? and what about yourself Rich? Thanks and keep up the good job!

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  27. VanKingsFan says:

    Rich,

    Is there any way to come watch the boys practice when they are in Vancouver?

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  28. vladimir says:

    Today my birthday .Rich pliase tell Fro 2 gols for me and Loko 1 goll for me thank you . GO KINGS.

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  29. nykingfan says:

    Happy Birthday Vlad

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  30. nykingfan says:

    quick side note
    for those of us that get the Kings on the centre ice package…I was noticing that the Kings-Phoenix game in LA on 12/26 is not on the Centre ice schedule…the game is on FSW, but not on the package.
    I would hope that’s wrong……

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  31. LAKingsFan26 says:

    Doesn’t DL have scouts to do that for him? I understand him being at the HOF for Luc and then the GM meetings, but IMO he should really be at the Kings games. After all, that is the team he is held accountable for.

    GO KINGS!!

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  32. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    @NYKingsFan: The Directv Center Ice schedule is notoriously unreliable (if that’s the one you’re looking at–I’ve bitched several times to them about it, but they never seem to improve it.) My bet is it shows up on your guide a few days before the game.

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  33. PRMan says:

    “Does Santa live south of Edmonton?”

    Wouldn’t that make Edmonton north of the North Pole?

    That’s pretty far north… LOL

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  34. nykingfan says:

    I respectfully disagree with that lakingsfan26

    I know he has scouts that he trusts, but there’s nothing more you trust than your own eyes. You rely on the scouts but you check out for yourself what they’re telling you. Remember, he was a successful scout before beoming a GM.
    He may see something that they didn’t see.
    He’s responsible for the entire organization. That means not only the NHL club, but AHL, ECHL, all players he’s drafted in Juniors and all players he’ll possibly be drafting in the future.
    If he drafts a guy he didn’t see and the guy turns out to be a bust, it’s his butt that’s on the line.

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  35. Dominick says:

    Rich ,I don’t know if I’m covering old news or not,but did you approach the kings or did they approach you with a way for fans to vent(+ or -)and keep completely informed.I think it’s brilliant.In all my years as a Kings fan I’ve never had Such great reading about the team as I do now.Thanks to everyone who posts feedback here. LOL

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  36. nykingfan says:

    What’s the frequency, Kenneth

    yeah, that’s what I was going by…I hope you’re right. I was a little bummed out seeing that. Thanks.

    PRMan
    I always thought Edmonton was so far north that the North Pole was on the south side of it. LOL

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  37. vladimir says:

    Thank You nykingfan.

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  38. LAKingsFan26 says:

    nykingsfan I see your point and yes, he is responsible for the entire org. but I still say if the Kings have a game that night, that is where he should be. If you ever notice, most GM’s are seen up in the press box during games and tbh I see DL there way seldom than most.

    I guess part of my answer is because I see the team sliding lately after a nice start, have a few injuries now, and feel DL should make a deal to patch it up. I realize he brought up a couple players from Manchester, who may help, but until Smyth, Scuderi, Stoll, etc is back, it could be our chance to stay with San Jose instead of parachuting down the standings.

    Thanks for your input. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  39. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    Results.

    That’s what I want out of DL. I don’t care how he gets them. WRT that, I don’t mean to disparage your criticism, LAKF26, but I think he’s got a pretty good idea what he’s doing.

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  40. Bring Your Shovel! says:

    LOL turkey dinner at Tim Hortons? Great coffee though and doughnuts!

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  41. nykingfan says:

    I see your point lakingsfan26..It seems like FSW never shows the GM or anyone from the front office in their suites during the games. I wonder if that’s an org choice or the networks?

    It’s a crapshoot that the team can tread water until the big guys get back…I believe they have enough talent and the right system that they can hold on until they get back from injury. Only time will tell.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

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  42. kingsfan2316 says:

    I seriously think a big trade is in the works, as much as segal, clune, moller can give us there not bonafide 1st or 2nd line players, we need that presence on our top 2 lines we;re not getting, we need that consistent scoring and someone either kopy or stollsy can look over to nod their head and say we;re gonna get that next goal

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  43. Darrell says:

    You realize part of the rookie broadcaster hazing ritual is the head-first bungee jump at the West Edmonton Mall…

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