Something quick on one of our favorite topics…the world of Alexander Frolov. After last night’s game, a Vancouver reporter (somewhat randomly) asked Terry Murray if he was concerned about Frolov’s lack of production. I say “somewhat randomly” because he just as easily could have been asked about Kopitar, Brown, Williams, etc. Anyway, here’s what Murray said in response to the question…
MURRAY: “A little bit of concern. He’s a player who led our team in scoring last year. When you get in these big games, in a 1-1 situation going into the third period, you’re looking for your top guys to make the play. He has played well, he has played hard, but the puck is just not going into the net. … Overall, he was good tonight. That line played pretty well. I thought, with Schenn and Brown, I liked the line. I liked the way they controlled the puck in the offensive zone, created chances and, even breaking out of our zone, I thought we had nice composure and made plays throughout. OVerall, the line was good and Fro was good.”
im more concerned about the invisible brown so far this year…
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Yes Brown is a great guy, and a good player, but I feel as if the C gave him a handicap. I don’t know, Smyth for C….whatda thing?
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how bout we make a freakin trade for better players
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Brown was the best King on the ice last night. Throwing hits, I think he had 4 partial breakaways using his speed and power combo to burn the D on the outside. He is possibly the hardest worker on the team.
He was scholastic player of the year 2 years running the OHL (pretty big deal) and in my opinion is the perfect captain.
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Where did all the Fro bashers go????
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i agree he is a great player…but he needs to step it up and play a bigger role….and he needs to put the puck in the net! guy drives to the outside and fires weak shots at the goal all game…
on a separate note-i love DL and I think he is great at building a team…but he needs to grow a pair and pull the trigger on a large deal…you saw the excitement when we traded for smyth…imagine that again…and then the return of smyth…LA NEEDS to make the playoffs this year…fans are losing patience…we have the assets to pull this off!
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Josh, I completely agree with you.
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Ithink we should put Brownie where he was last year back w/Kopi on the l/side.Offensively that was his best year.
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Fro is a hugely talented man that most likely needs a change of scenery. At least now he’s working harder but unfortunately he’s not getting rewarded very often.
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Josh and Scot i respectfully disagree.
Every time Brownie dorve outside last night he took it hard to the crease, should have finished at least one of them, but none of them were weak shots from the outside.
IMO it is strange to say he has no balls to pull of a big trade, and then mention his latest big trade in the same sentence. You don’t build a team through constant trades. He has pulled off more big moves than many other GM’s the last couple years. (Lubo trade, Quincey Trade, Sully trade, Cammalleri trade)
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No body is getting rewarded lately.Not even Kopi.I don’t want to see Fro leave,but maybe Fro needs a change of scenery.
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Everyone always want to pick on Fro…Fro’s not doing this …He’s not doing that…What about the other top player on the team that don’t produce? Everyone should be responsible…Hockey is a TEAM sport.
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Agree that Brown should play with Kopitar. Probably better for both of them.
I must say, I am suprised how dependent the King’s offense is on Smyth. This was a good trade by DL. Be fair guys, give credit where credit is due.
Lack of offense has become the team’s problem of late. I’m not sure a trade would rememdy that in any meaningful way.
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eyesk8r -
Right here. I’m not necissarily a Fro “basher”, but I also don’t put him on a pedistal like a lot of people on here do. He’s an average player that’s now leaning towards below average. I say trade him while he still has some value.
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i agree we need better players this team cant play with players out of the lineup where is the play of kopi brown and fro
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Fro is happy being a second line guy, out of the limelight, well hockey wise, fashion wise not so much.
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brown played his best game last night – by far…
but i would agree – brown has not been the finisher he was early during his career…let’s not forget the terrible offensive slump browny was in during the whole second-half of last season…so…yes…i think last night’s game, browny showed a lot of what he can do…but until yesterday, he has been marginal on the offensive side, at best…
the thing i always notice about browny is his shot selection…he tends to shoot in the same areas, in almost an identical, consistent fashion – the top of the right circle, between the blue line upon entry into the zone…the defender usually is playing him one-on-one, so browny opts to get the shot on net (not a bad option by any means) despite what numbers he has and…of late…regardless if he’s given the boards or not…last night, he did this much less, but still opted to this familiar shot formula…i would like to see browny take it to the slot more often and then fire away or forge a lane to the net, creating the opportunities he did at times last night…
i don’t know if this is by design or not, but browny does seem less vocal than he did last year…whether this has anything to do with the combined impact of smyth’s and the other veteran presence on the team and/or the emergence of kopi, i don’t know…but it’s palatable…i get a sense that something’s up with dustin…
rich…you probably won’t answer this…but have you noticed anything different with him of late…?
fro is going to be okay…i think that he has been through a lot with this team and he seems to be more aggressive since the benching…i do think his lack of production is not because of any lack of effort on his part – and that’s a big key…
let’s give it a break, at least until we really have something to talk about with fro…the temptation is always there because it’s still an open question as to his future with the team…in no way am i criticizing rich for posting this…it’s definitely quote-worthy and as the team travels and the olympic freeze and trade deadline looms closer, the questions and speculation will continue…it’s only natural…fro is lucky his name is not lebron…and we’re very lucky that this isn’t cleveland…(yr joke here)
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I think we throw “great” around a little too loosely. Brown is not a great player. He’s very good in some areas(hitting, hustle, hard work, devotion), but he’s average at best in others. First off Brown has very little vision, has a hard time seeing the big picture(plays with blinders on) and has little creativity. I feel becoming Captain has hurt him, in the fact he’s become a TM robot. Meaning Brown does everything TM preaches, as he should I guess, by dump and chase and “shot mentality.” I feel that’s why he always or regularly never passes and shoots from the dots way to often, with little results. I could be wrong of course, but that’s what I see. And please don’t get me wrong, I love the kid(a lot) but he’s limited. The question I have is, is that on TM or does Brown not have as high a ceiling as I thought he had?
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Sorry Variable, didn’t mean to step on some of the stuff you just mentioned. I was writing at the same time
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vankingsfan…
i didn’t see last nights game so I cant talk about it…sorry if i missed one of his better games
the trades you mention (visnovsky, cammy, sully, smyth) to me were not extremely large deals, with the exception of smyth. for visnovsky we got role players in green and stoll. in cammy we got a draft pick which we used on tuebert. for sully we got williams, who hasn’t had a HUGE impact, although I like his play. I’m talking about a monster deal that we need. i.e. when the sharks traded for thornton a few years back…i feel we need that…
sometimes it is worth giving up some future for the present…because how you do in the present will help your future more…look at pronger…philly traded a lot of future…but they look like legit cup contenders now…plus…if we’re good now…players will want to sign with us in the offseason for once…
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DH…
no harm…no foul…and i agree with what yr saying when it comes to his shooting…
we both have noticed the exact same thing with him and his shot selection…he needs to mix things up…
even though there are times that i feel browny is given a break by the coaching staff for his lack of offense and his somewhat invisible play during this year…(and last season too)…i still believe that he’s a leader and has the potential to be a better overall player…
we talk so much about frolov…about purcell…about quick…etc…
i think it’s definitely high-time to get the captain of this team headed in the right direction…he needs to be held to more accountability…he wears the “c” for a reason…
i would like to see more efforts from him like the one last night in reassuring my faith that he has the goods to deliver…yes…he was a -4…i think he was a victim of some other blown coverages by the defensemen on many of those goals…but we need browny to step it up…now is his time to be captain america for this team…
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Josh: Who do you propose and how? I don’t know of any Thornton type players available except maybe Kovalcuk, and all indications are that he will sign with Atl.
And personally i think Philly got screwed in the Pronger deal and in the long run Anaheim will win that one
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Just face the facts, Trades just don’t happen anymore due to salary cap. At least untill March.
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well only time will tell w/ the pronger deal…anaheim wont get any high 1st rounders cuz philly will be good…they could draft a player like richards late in the 1st…or tukonen….so you never know…
regarding who is available…i think that if enough is thrown at a team…alot more is available…ive read rumors about bobby ryan, savard, sharp, horton, even semin…don’t know how much is true…but I’m not a GM so i don’t get the scoop…
I’m not saying we throw our farm at another team…but i certainly think that with the debth we have we can expend tuebert, moller, voynov or hickey, our first round pick for next season, and some players like stoll, ersberg, purcell, and MAYBE JJ if we got the right return…
just food for thought…not saying im right…just my strong opinion
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The player i would inquire about is Vinny Lecavilier, but man that contract is pretty damn scary.
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haha lecavalier is a little to much money i would say…plus i would lean more towards a winger unless we get rid of stoll in the process…
isn’t lecavalier getting some ridiculous amount like 8 million a year for like 9 more years???
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I like the idea of Savard or Sharp too, it’s painfully obvious this team needs a real 2nd line center. Im with you, i think that if the right deal presents itself, I think JJ is expendable too, especially now with the aquisition of Jones.
Another player I’d ask about is Patrice Bergeron, but his concussion history makes me a bit weary
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vinny aint having a good season but still one heck of a player. i would of loved to have kessel. DL was talking with bruins but i guess the asking price was too much. leafs gave them 2 first rounders. anyway until kovs signs with atlanta there will always be hope to have him dress in purple
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hope is all…
the only way DL goes for him is if everyone agrees to a sign and deal-why would kovi wanna play hear when he team beat us 7 to 0…(sigh)
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because one game does not a season make..
the Leafs paid wayy too high a price for Kessel, especially considering they will for sure be a lottery pick this year and maybe next.
Savard is apparently a dick and is not usually well liked in the locker room so i hear. I would love Versteeg out of Chi town. I think he would fit really well beside Stoll and Brownie (why isn’t his nickname D-Bone)
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iono but i blame the blooger who nicknamed simmer sim-dawg…he should have thought of d-bone as well…
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Josh…I couldnt disagree with you more. Dont get me wrong….we all have our beliefs..but…everything you are asking…the kings have done in the past…and didnt work…you say trade for better players, well that means to get better player then lets say fro in a trade…it would mean FRO + another player…or a pick. That just digs a HUGE hole. Example…not to many years ago, we had NOTHING on a farm team because of trades…so to make matters worst …we started giving up all are picks. That ment nothing on the farm…and nothing coming in the future.. It was just a matter of time befor the house of cards fell. I too…am frustrated…but to follow the same path for the next 40 years would be the same disaster. The plan they are using now is the right way…but takes time. I hate trading young guys…yes you can point out good trades and so can i….but…biuld thru drafts…and sign U.F.A.s…so we dont lose players…as we get better…free ajents will want to come here…not till then
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opps…i ment…if you want to trade FRO for a better player..that means you have to trade FRO + someone or a high pick
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Dave taylor did a great job rebuilding after Sam mcMaster didn’t he. Too bad he was fired.
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i know what your saying…but we have a core already in place for years to come…and we have so many prospects that trading a few wouldn’t cripple our team like it used to…this is my opinion once again…none of us are GMs…its probly because we all speculate but we have no idea what really goes on…but its fun to talk like we know exactly what to do right? haha
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Yes…dont get me wrong bro…im not attack you…hope im not coming across that way
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haha no way…just a bunch of king fans in turmoil after a loss…of course we’re not all gonna agree…a few wins in a row will fix everything right?
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raise your hand if you think Williams is dead weight??
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FRO might have to get traded…if a player doesnt fit your team..then i see it. And i like fro….sometimes a player works right under a different system. Or if a player wont sign with you and his contract is about to expire…its better to trade him…then to let him walk away..i just freak when i hear after we lose a few,,, TRADE BROWN…FRO…EVERYONE…makes me think of all the years that made me lose my hair.
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dont understand this brown.simmonds bashing. i would NEVER trade them. they are our 2 soldiers on this team. so please!
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Williams has been great this year.Just coming off an injury and your high scoring L/winger is out.It’s apperant Why he’s not scoring.I wouldn’t call him dead weight.
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if no one steps up someone has to go and i mean now
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Dominick…Sam Mcmaster…LMAO…was nicknamed …mcMaster the disaster. I met him once. At the Forum…was a real nice guy to me…in his defence, he was in charge when the kings were broke…and was told to have a fire sale. Just after Mcnall was going to jail…and new owners couldnt afford the team. So he had to dump payroll.
Dave Taylor was great….but Tim Lie weekly put a tight leash on him…and Dave became the fall guy. But yes,…Dave doesnt get credit for biulding the farm system…and he should
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The only trade i would make at the moment is Terry Murray and Ivanas for either Barry Trotz or Randy Carlyle.
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Check out this site.. It is accurately every player’s salary on every team, and it has all the facts like what their cap number is, etc. I posted this link of the Kings’ salaries, but you can click on all 30 teams.
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=LAK&season=0910
If you look at Lecavalier’s contract– It’s hard for me to see ANY GM swallow that contract regardless of how good the player is.. It’s just way too much of a risk with injuries, etc.. If a GM took him and that contract, he is putting his job on thin ice because it can cripple a franchise. I wouldn’t go near that contract, but the Kings do need some kind of jolt though.
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HERES A TRADE I WOULD GO FOR !!! our mascott…kindston…what the hell is that ?? Looks like a dirty alley cat ! ID rather have the burger king guy for us then kingston…the cat looks like its hooked on crack !!
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I know I can’t blame McMaster for all that went on ,but what I meant was after that era things changed as far as building our team.
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Ok..ive been in dallas to long….and ive had to many beers..im thinking of the old kingston…the black and white mascot we used to have….do you guys remember that ? Did someone finally shoot that thing? Put it out of his misery…i still say sign the burger king guy
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umm does any body realize that we are still in playoff contention right now? and considering that we are out with three of our top guys..smyth, scuderi and stoll, of course we are not going to play as well let the injuries heal and i trust that we will be fine!
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Dominick… i agree with you
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pic of our kingston
http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/caltechnews/articles/v43/king.html
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Injuries do not help of course. But when Brown, Fro And the mystery center of the game is. That is not working, brown has no offense, just hits guys, which is cool at times, but he needs to step up on the scoring.
The Kings are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but the team needs to get healthy really quick or no playoffs.
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The mascotts always been more for the kids.Lets put a crown on the care bears and send them out on the Ice.
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josh e and scot – I’m glad Lombardi’s running this team and not you guys
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Don’t trade anyone until the right player is available. Plenty of good teams struggling and a few of those teams will want to unload some good players with large contracts and the Kings have the players and the room to make such a move.
What we really need are one or two mean SOB’s that nobody wants to play against! I wouldn’t mind seeing Brown drop the gloves every once in a while. Remember Terry Ruskowski (former Kings team captain) who was about the 5 foot nothing and weighed 150 lbs…maybe? This guy would go after everyone on the ice, never backed down, you would have to pull him off guys (and that was when fighting was a big part of the game) He was the captain of 4 NHL teams for a good reason…that’s leadership! Leadership is not just scoring goals it can come in many different forms.
I know the teams young and I love Brown and maybe Simmonds will be that guy one day but we need to stop relying on just one player, i.e. Ivans to protect everyone. We need 20 guys who are willing drop the gloves to protect each otehr, not come over and give the guy a face wash with his glove glove or yell at them.
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Honestly, what would you write about if you didn’t have Frolov to rip on? Here’s a question, different topic: Why do Anze Kopitar and/or Justin Williams, need another player to help them score? Where’s the scrutiny there? If Kopi is to be taken seriously as an NHL leader, he should use Ovechkin as an example and try to do it himself, protect himself, throw his body, etc.. And, for the record, I agree that Frolov is not playing to potential, but I’m tired of the constantly recycled focus on him when the rest of the top line and team is struggling as well. Yes, it has to be a team effort and yes, Terry Murray will always give you a sound bite that Fro could do better and yes they will probably trade him, so why not be creative, ferret out some new material and ask how many players does it really take to score a goal?
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we’ve tried Andy Murray, Terry Murray…now how about Ann Murray -for the feminine touch around the net and she is Canadian or Arthur Murray – yes I know he’s dead…so?
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Barry’s Mullet,
Amen. You sound like a Khanon alias.
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DuckHunter says:
I love the kid(a lot) but he’s limited. The question I have is, is that on TM or does Brown not have as high a ceiling as I thought he had?
DuckHunter… you know every year I have a tradition of reading all the THN stuff on each upcoming draft. I remember very well what they said about him. The word on Dustin was he comes to play every single game but some scouts were worried about his offensive inconsistencies.
Interesting. You know, that draft (03) is STILL a sore point for me. If you remember, the Kings had Three 1st rd picks and ended up w Brownie and that’s it. Meanwhile other teams managed to get (late in the rd) Zach Parise (one scout called him magical), Perry, Getzlaf, Mike Richards and one or two others. Well, I’d do best to let that go. It’s done and it was back in the DT days. I never did think they drafted well w exception of Quick and Kopi.
Anyway, all that to say that I think you’re probably right. Hopefully Dustin will still have good productive O periods in his career.
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Jane says:
Terry Murray will always give you a sound bite that Fro could do better and yes they will probably trade him, so why not be creative, ferret out some new material and ask how many players does it really take to score a goal?
I’ll repeat what she said….
how many players does it really take to score a goal?
Jane, excellent. Best comment I’ve read on this subject. Beautiful.
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I didn’t realize the Kings could have had Perry, Getzlaf, and Mike Richards; but, instead DT picked a huge project in Boyle and a midget in Tambelini. That Draft pretty much turned the Duck organization around big time, and probably could have done so for the kings as well.
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Since someone brought up the 2003 draft, I must put my two cents in it. In the second round, the kings drafted another small player in Konstantin Pushkarev, when they could have had Shea Webber, Crombeen, David Backes!, then they draft brady murray instead of Mike brown.
I have to admit, there’s no comparison between DL’s drafting and DT’s. I don’t agree with all of DL’s picks, but at least he comes in there each year with a strategy- drafts many D-men one year, a couple goalies, then last year, he drafts grit. DT, on the other hand, it seems as though he had no plan and just drafted.
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Khanon, I need to clarify the issue around the 2003 draft. I feel remise by ‘slightly’ misrepresenting what happened.
When Brown was drafted, everyone of those players you mentioned was available and they obviously took Brown.
When the Kings picked Tambellini and Boyle, Richards, Getz were taken. What bothered me was that IMO he could have had Corey Perry and/or taken those last two 1st picks and put em in a package to move up a bit, in which case he could have most certainly had Mike Richards or Ryan Kesler who were picked just before our picks. IMO, in a year that was reputedly the strongest in many years, to have Four picks in the first 44 and only come out of it with Dustin Brown (all respect to Dustin) just doesn’t cut it). And people wonder why we’re still struggling to build a team?
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I don’t understand why they don’t give Schenn a few games experience…is it because they would have to sign him to a big contract?
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