alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />As previously posted, Alexander Frolov returns to the first line tonight, in place of Teddy Purcell. After Ryan Smyth suffered his upper-body injury, Frolov had one goal in two games on that line before he moved down to partner with rookies Andrei Loktionov and Brayden Schenn over the next two games. Purcell stepped up to the first line but did not generate a point and missed a golden scoring opportunity against Vancouver, when he essentially shot into Roberto Luongo’s glove with the net otherwise empty.
Here’s what Terry Murray said this morning about the Frolov-for-Purcell swap.
MURRAY: “Well, I wanted to give Teddy the opportunity to play there, because I liked what I was seeing in the practices. He had good jump, and whenever I see that kind of energy, normally there is some offensive result. He had some opportunities, as we know, but statistically, at the end of the day there was nothing there to look at. That’s why I’m making the change.”
Murray was asked about Frolov’s previous two-game stint as the first-line winger, and what he might have seen in those games that lead him to believe Frolov is once again the answer…
MURRAY: “I still come away, at the end of the day, saying that we put a pretty good hockey player (in Frolov) up there in the replacement of Ryan Smyth, but I feel I need more. The opportunities were there and the shots on net were there, as far as the line was concerned, but I need more, to where I can look up at the clock and actually see it up there as a statistic. We’ll keep pushing it.”
Murray was then asked if, even knowing how much Smyth brings to the line, he could have anticipated that Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams would fall into such a rut. (Kopitar and Williams each have one point in their last four games).
MURRAY: “I didn’t anticipate that, quite honestly. I actually had a little chat with Kopi here this morning, here in the hallway, about getting back to those areas that he was in previously. I think Smytty brings his teammates to those areas. I watched his games in Colorado over the years, and that’s the style that everyone on that line played. I think that when you’re not forced into those areas, sometimes you have a tendency to drift away and play a little bit more on the outside. I tried to bring some attention to that this morning. We’ll keep talking about it and get Kopi, in particular, back driving to the net and in those hash-mark areas. It’s hard, but that’s where good things can happen for you.”
Finally, here’s what Kopitar said when asked what, in particular, the line needed to do in order to get going again…
KOPITAR: “It’s hard to say. It’s definitely a mix of everything. … It’s just a matter of working hard. We’re not getting great chances, but we’re getting some chances. It’s still frustrating, but at least we’re doing something. I have about four shots per game, but it’s just a matter of keeping it simple. Once we break through, it will just go up from there.”
It’s unreal one guy goes out of the lineup and our whole offense collapses – smyth goes out and we revert back to 2 goal a game team – we better play one helleva lot better tonight than we have or were going to get embarrassed – we cannot have the turnovers and missed opportunities that have become commonplace recently because the hawks have way to much forward speed for us to handle – and can we draft or develop just one more guy besides kopi who can carry the puck into the zone PLEASE- every time down the ice you can predict bob millers call kings dump the puck in- hopefully see everyone at the game tonight lets get a full house-
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Well, I’ll be attending my first game of the year tonight, so I’m hoping more than one person steps up tonight. I don’t care who it is, just someone, please. Multiple persons would be even better. Let’s go boys.
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Tom Preissing – Placed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche, lol.
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Eklund just said Eric Stall could be available! DL go for him now!, but in all seriousness heres to the kings getting back on track.
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Rich, is there anyway you might be able to get an interview with Dustin Byfuglien after the game tonight? Trying to figure out if he was a natural d’man converted to wing or if he just use to play the point on power plays early in his career.
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You’d have to put together one hell of a package to get Stall, i don’t care how slow of start he’s having….As much as i’d love Stall, I think it will be tough to get him without giving up a player named Kopitar or Doughty.
Do you really think we have the assests to give the Canes for Stall without lossing track of building for the future?
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Mike are you serious? Nothing E****d ever says comes true, and his name should not be mentioned on a credible site like this one
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Rich…… can we get an update on Andrei Loktionov? Thanks
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remember, DL was the guy that got Thornton from BOS way back when. i would think thats kind of a “once in a career” type move, but you never know. right time, right place. i do doubt that stall is available, but who knows.
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Rich posted somewhere that Loktionov has been moved to injured reserve.
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tantrum, I guess i should of used [sarcasm] [/sarcasm]. I thought the ! would of given it away.
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Dirtmover do you watch all the games? The offense was starting to slump before Smyth was out. In the 9 games before Smyths injury the Kings scored 2 goals or less in 6 of the 9 games. 5 of the games were 1 goal or less. With constant line changes and less talent on the ice you can’t expect the offense to win the games. The biggest problem now is how many goals per game they are giving up. Since Smyth went out they are giving up an average of 3 goals per game. Put 2 and 2 together and you see why the record is what it in the last 10 games (4-6-0).
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Thats right Ghaad, the offense was starting to struggle prior, the problems go far deeper than one player, its depth specifically scoring depth
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Brown(#1 candidate for trade….sorry I do not see anything realy good any more in this (capitan ???) ,
Purcell ,ersberg…. brown Good package to get someone like Stall !!!! Fro….with his record of 32 goals he deserved the first line from the firt day!!!
Fro kopi smith
williams simmond handzus
Brown(???) stoll ,parse …shenn…moller
harold richie ivan ….I am sure “somone is missing here…Gaborik,Heatly….Commi…We need that someone,a sniper we also need catalisator…. for Quick fast grow.
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Offensive issues are deeper than one player. I am at a bit of a loss as to why Brown keeps getting a pass in all of this. I understand that they want him to have a shoot first mentality, but he needs to understand that shooting the puck off the stick of the defense that are riding him into the zone is useless. It is something he continually does, he even has trailers on the way into the zone. Instead of looping around and looking for them, he puts into the screen above the glass.
His play in general is great, but stat wise I expect more. Am I wrong?
Kopi not scoring, I get it! He needs Smyth. Should he? No, but Smyth opens the ice up for him. Right now all they have to do is key on Kopi and we have to hope Kopi figures out how to produce under those condition.
So while Kopi does not have his partner in crime, Brown needs to step up and continue even after Smyth returns.
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I disagree with brown though, still so much untapped potential, maybe wasnt ready for the ‘C’ though but tons of heart and skill he;s gettin there
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Rich, any information for how long will Loktionov be out off the lineup?
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I thought his name is STAAL, not Stall.
So much for Hockey knowledge around here……
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dean lombardi did not aquire joe thornton … he was fired long before then
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why is ivannis still on this team when westgarth showed last year that he is an enforcer who has speed, can shoot, and actually gets involved in the play
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Clippers of the NHL, my 3 year old daughter is more fleet a foot on ice than Westgarth will ever be. Maybe that will answer your question.
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he can actually play is my point dave …. can ivannis? …… ahhh no
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can only take being called an idiot so many times rich …. so just defending myself
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So stop being one.
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HA HA , thats cute DAVE, but cmon grow up you put your 3 year old ahead of westgarth? maybe you should go take some skating lessons then you can keep up with her, last time i checked westgarth was in the ahl, and you cant skate, keep stupid opinions to yourself
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Dave your an idiot!
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