A couple things on Oscar Moller rejoining the Kings… Moller said, as you can read below, that he’s been playing all three forward positions in Manchester, which makes him extremely versatile. Also, even though Moller will start out on the fourth line, don’t be surprised to see him get a lot of minutes. It’s easy to envision a scenario in which Richardson and Moller drop Ivanans and get shifts with other wingers, particularly since Moller can play both sides.
As for why Moller is here, Terry Murray disclosed this morning that the Kings were concerned, yesterday, about the status of an unnamed player who had “a bruise,” so they called up Moller just in case. We’ll see if Moller is able to stick around.
Moller has also grown a beard since his last stint with the Kings, probably to protect against those New Hampshire winters. Here’s what Moller had to say this morning…
Question: I heard they literally had to pull you off the bus yesterday…
MOLLER: “We were actually just about to head out to Lowell, and Hubie McDonough took me off the bus. He was on the phone with Hextall and he told me I was going up. So I just packed my bag and got on the plane.”
Question: Some guys got called up from Manchester ahead of you. Did that bother you at all?
MOLLER: “Not really. I’m really happy for those guys. They’ve been working hard down in Manchester and I think they really deserved the call. Obviously I’m trying to work as hard as I can too, on my game, and when the time was right hopefully I’d be getting the call up. So now it’s my time, so I’m going to try to do my best here when I’m up here.”
Question: Have they talked to you here about what they’re looking for from you?
MOLLER: “Just talking a little bit to Terry, he really wants me to get skating and move the puck around and play my type of game.”
Question: Have you been playing wing exclusively in Manchester?
MOLLER: “I’ve been playing a few games at center, but most of the time at wing, both sides.”
Question: Dean has indicated that he sees your future, or at least your near future, as being a winger…
MOLLER: “That’s kind of what I see, too. Maybe I can use my quickness more, I think, and get in on the forecheck more and create some scoring opportunities.”
Question: Has it been a big adjustment, playing more wing?
MOLLER: “It’s fine with me. I’ve been playing wing, last year and a little bit the year before that in junior at the end of the year, so the adjustment wasn’t that big.”
Please don’t fire Heidi.
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Is the beard real or fake? Can you pull on it? I have a hard time believing Oscar can grow a whisker, let alone a whole beard!
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Well, I’m looking forward to seeing Moller contribute. He certainly can’t do worse than Purcell on the production side of things. One of these times, Oscar is going to catch fire and never get sent back down. I just hope he bulks up a little bit. It’s not about a player’s height so much as their weight in my mind… Lokti looked like a kid out there and got his shoulder almost ripped off.
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It would be nice for Moller to get some “redemption” for starting this year in Manchester. It certainly sounds like he as the right attitude. Yes, his size is a concern, but maybe he can compensate for it with skill.
I hope that unamed player is NOT Kopitar. He took a bad spill into the boards last game.
Finally, as far as Heidi is concerned, I really have nothing to say….
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What happened to Heidi is a personal matter and doesn’t belong on this site
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oh yeah, who were the defensive pairings this morning?
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Good call Kozak.. I could care less who on the Kings got a traffic ticket, unless it was player and it affected their playing status at all.
Steve: I agree, Kopi looked pretty shaken after that spill. At least its only a bruise (if it was him).
Rich: I love how many of your postings are driven (or seem to be) by the content of our discussions on here.
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I think that unnamed player is Willie…….. ??
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I wouldn’t be shocked to hear that, the unnamed player is Kopitar. Some of us have been saying for the last week he looks a bit bangged up.
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I think you guys are on to something, I’m guessing the bruise belongs to either Willie (he has injected a noticeable amount of grit into his game since Smyth went down and may be paying the price for it physically) or Kopitar, who has been pressing things and took that nasty slide into the boards the other day.
I wish I could pretend to be as non-interested in the Heidi events of this morning as some of you. She a) is a Kings TV personality, b) is hot, and c) humanized herself a little bit by doing something stupid. What’s not to like?
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Heidi , is a very very nice young lady and and just made a poor choice….!!! Not enough (IMHO) to warrant being let go from the KINGS
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Again trying to steer this to hockey and not celebrity gossip…
I am not really worried about Moller’s “lack of size”. He is being talked about like he is the smallest most fragile guy in the league. For my money Marion Gaborik is “softer” than Oscar.
I still say Moller going to end up a lot like fellow Swede Danny Alfredsson, maybe with a little less scoring potential. But if he ends up playing with the likes of Spezza and Heatley and Yashin for most of his career than who knows, maybe his point totals will look pretty similar
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I’m just hoping Moller’s beard isn’t one of those Beavis & Butthead glue on jobs. You know where that hair came from.
Oscar’s attitute is great. It just reeks of the confidence that he will have his time in the NHL and that he has nothing to worry about. Those are the kind of players who end up being great teammates in important stretches of games. Hoping he does well tonight.
From a legal standpoint, Unless Heidi’s actions endanger her abilities to do her job, she can’t be fired for a DUI. Besides, we’re dealing with HOCKEY here. Hockey players put on the sauce as a whole pretty often. I think there will be some very understanding folks supporting her with this. She’ll get past it and be right back where she belongs in no time. I wish her the best.
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VanKingsFan,
Not even you may be captain enough to steer the course of human interest astray of where it deigns to go! Sorry bud
Maybe you’re right about Oscar’s size, I feel like I haven’t seen him play in a while. But the last time I saw him in a game, I was at the game and was shocked at how small he seemed in person on the ice. I’m really interested to watch him play, the skill level is obviously there.
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btw great post Cynic
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@stache
“was shocked at how small he seemed in person on the ice”
You think he’s small… just wait until you see Hickey.
(and for all you hickey lovers, i like him too. at camp i was just blown away at how small he really is. there’s no way he’s close to ready for the nhl imo.)
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Speaking of small, did any of you see Brandon Kozun at the prospect’s camp? He’s playing for the Calgary Hitmen in the Juniors and has tallied 61 points in 32 games (18g 43a). He’s got alot of speed and talent but I think he’s about 5’7″.
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A lot make a big deal about size, but just because you aren’t a big tall dude doesn’t mean you can’t play in the NHL. Anyone remember Theo Fleury? Even Mike Donnelly.
Now if what I’ve gathered from reading the post is that Heidi was driving under the influence, then sorry, but too bad. I’ve lost 2 friends because of drivers driving under the influence.
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Moller’s pretty optimistic to already be growing his playoff beard. Practice makes perfect, I suppose
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Didn’t Kopitar take a pretty nasty spill (or a shot…can’t remember) just a game or two ago? He was in noticeable pain on the bench, but played through it.
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cant forget about martin st.louis, hell he’s barely 5 foot.
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Moller’s size is fine…he needs to learn how to use it to his advantage.
Signed:
Steve Sullivan
Pavol Datsyuk
Theo Fleury
Paul Karyia
Grian Gionta
Martin St. Louis
Brian Little (no pun intended)
Smaller guys take a little time to figure out that they can take a hit, and can play at this level.
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In the last game he fell awkwardly into the boards, slamming his back. It looked like the wind got knocked out of him. He was slow getting back to the bench and that’s when Ottawa came down and tied it up at 3-3.
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No question smaller guys can play in the NHL. I’m a shorter guy myself and have been rooting for these players for years. But Theo Fleury looked like a squat little boulder out there… he was thick as a tree trunk. Moller looks like he would fall over if Ivanans sneezed on him.
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Yes, Mr. Brett, slid backwards very hard into the boards, at the time i saw it my initial thought was out for awhile but he came right back.
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It’s just unfortunate and awkward that Jim Fox had been using the “drinking” label on her in humor in past games. I know he probably feels bad about it now just from the irony. Also, in public relations/endorsement work, there can be a morals clause in a person’s contract…I dunno if that is the case this time with Ms. Androl.(er, scratch “case” and use situation instead)
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Theo Fleury was 5’6″ as I recall
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Granato was no giant either, except in the grit and heart departments.
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I must have missed something.
What happened with Heidi?
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Re: Small players and Theo Fleury…
Theo was short but built as wide as a truck. Keep in mind his playing weight was between 180-190, which is pretty solid.
It’s not necessarily about height/weight and more about build and muscle, and guys like Moller and Hickey have yet to put on that ‘adult weight’ that will enable them to transition to the NHL.
Will they be good players? I’d bet on it. But I also wouldn’t rush it, because I don’t think they’ll be impact players for another 3 years at the very least.
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nykingfan – google “Heidi Androl arrest”
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Thanks Choralone
Damn, not the news you want to hear.
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I still have nothing to say about this–private matter for Ms Androl and the authorities.
I watch the team intently and that is what I focus on…
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There needs to be more discussion of Heidi.
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NORDIC VIKING BEARD!
=D
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I hope somebody starts a “Don’t fire Heidi” group on Facebook!! I will be the first to join…
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Steve S
I like to focus on the team as well, but unfortunately for Heidi, this is news because she’s alleged to have committed a crime. I think it becomes fair game to comment on if people wish.
Let’s hope it’s not what’s being alledged.
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Marcel Dionne was not exactly a giant
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Someone on here the other day mentioned Terry Ruskowski, probably my favorite smaller player besides Fleury.
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heard about heidi about an hour ago, and aside from the act of drunk driving, one of the worst things i’ve read about in all the various sites is —- SHE’S MESSING AROUND WITH RYAN F’IN GETZLAF???????????
someone tell me this isn’t true?!?!
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maybe she can get him to cross over to the good guys…
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more recently, everybody, lets remember cammellari, couldn’t have been more than 5’9″
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A couple more small players I always respected…Ray Ferraro (aptly named the “flying little ball of hate” by Jim Rome), and LA’s own Corey Millen. I used to look at Corey Millen’s stick and I swear it wasn’t much longer than a yardstick. Always respected the tough smaller guys who worked so hard.
As for Heidi – if she made the stupid mistake of drinking and driving, and it costs her the job, I’m not too upset. I think it is ridiculous that after the millions of lives adversely affected by DUI, some people still seem to think its no big deal. EVERYONE knows how dangerous and terrible that can be, and yet it is still a huge problem in our society. The very sad thing is that it is 100% preventable.
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DUI is already punishable under the law – I’m leery of extrajudicial punishments piled on top. Usually someone in her position can do a lot more good by leveraging her airtime to admit she blew it and warning others not to do the same, etc.
For what it’s worth, she was pulled over because she was driving too slow…
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I quite frankly don’t really care what happens outside of the realm of someone’s abilities to do their professional duties. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but today’s incident isn’t one of them and does not need to be discussed here. If you want to discuss it, go to one of the gossip sites.
On the Moller topic… yes, he’s been growing a beard. However, aside from seeing him on the jumbo, it isn’t really visible. He needs to go the route of Holloway and shave it into the most ridiculous format possible.
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gee holly
thanks for letting us know what we can and can’t talk about here.
good grief
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Do you really think that an official blog is the place to discuss something that happens in an individual’s personal life? Heidi’s situation has no bearing on the purpose of this blog and thus, really doesn’t belong in discussion here.
In other news, it took Dan Cloutier 26 minutes to get tossed from his first AHL game since the Monarchs. Is there a way to find out the fewest number of minutes played before a player pulls off a suspension? Beachball may have just set the record…
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I’m not really into discussing people’s personal lives and their issue’s..but since she is someone seen on the Kings broadcast, it does have its place on a Kings blog.
Do you think if God forbid the same thing happened to Bob Miller, Fox or one of the players, it wouldn’t be discussed or considered off limits?
It probably kept his gaa down
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