The one-day trip to Phoenix begins… The team will arrive in Arizona early enough to have a morning skate, then get ready for a 7 p.m. (6 in California) start.
I’ll be reporting from the skate, and hopefully will have some thoughts from Alexander Frolov about being left off Russia’s Olympic team roster.
Sadly, the blackout rules will prevent me from seeing the game on Center Ice. Originally from OC but live in S. UT now; if FS-AZ is televising I don’t get the Kings/FS-W when they play each other. Will have to settle for listening to the radio stream.
Go Kings!
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At last, the long dark tea time of the soul, AKA the Kings’ 8 day holiday break, is over.
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We are heading out right now to pick up are friends and going to be at the game. Should be a good game
GO KINGS GO!!!
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Interesting about Frolov being left off the team. With Ovechkin and Kovalchuk probably playing 20 plus minutes a game each, only about twenty minues to divide between the third and fourth line left wingers. The Russians may be looking for more speed or grit on the bottom two lines.
It’ also interesting that Frolov has gradually become more responsible defensively as this season has progressed while offensively he’s been less effective.
He’s been really good on the power play in the past but hasn’t put the PP numbers up this year when given the chance. Before offensively, he was a little like former King, Dimitri Kristich who was a powerplay monster but more quiet offensively at even strengh. Is it Frolov, the power play structure, or not as much PP time?
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disapointed about fro, but ecstatic to have the Kings in action again. Now let’s see, what were their uniform numbers again???……
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Im just not sure Fro fits into the system were using. He would do much better under a different system. Dont get me wrong…I love the way were playing…im just not sure he fits. Its interesting that Terry isnt the first coach to have trouble getting him to play the way he wants…i really like Fro…but i think his days are numbered here.
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I’m really surprised the Russians aren’t taking Frolov to the Olympics. What? They don’t need anyone else who has scored 30+ goals on their team? They’re that confident that they can win a gold medal just with OV, Kovalchuk and Semin? I’m sure Fro is disappointed.
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Oh yeah, and while we’re talking about international hockey, the World Juniors get underway today. If you have the NHL Network the following games will air today:
1pm PST: Latvia vs. Canada
3:30pm PST: Czech Rep. vs. Sweden
5pm PST: Slovakia vs. USA
Because of all the Kings prospects on Team Canada – GO CANADA!!
Can they win 6 gold medals in a row?
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Drop the puck!!!
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I am so ready for Kings Hockey!
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frolov didn’t make the team?!!?!? what theeeeee?
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I haven’t seen any report saying Simmonds has been taken off IR.
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And how dare anyone out there make fun of Fro, after all he’s been through?? (sniffle) Leave Fro Alone!! (sniff, sniff) All you people care about is making money and bleeding him!! He’s a human!! (Snifffffffff)All you want is more more more. Leave Fro alone!! Please! You’re lucky Fro even performs for you. (sob, sob sob) Leave Fro alone!! (weep, sob, sniff, sob, sob sob)
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Fro will just stare and give no reaction.
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Simmonds was never on injured reserve.
Who made fun of Fro?
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Oh really? Whats this?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=302580&hubname=nhl-kings
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In case you haven’t seen it, the Kings are on the Sports Illustrated NHL front page…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/?eref=sinav
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I stand corrected.
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Great. The SI jinx. The Kings will probably go winless now for the rest of the season and finish last, only to lose the #1 pick in the draft lottery. Wonderful.
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Can’t understand all the support for Fro….the guy has been absolutely invisible for 80% of the season thus far. He deserves to be left off of the Olympic roster, and just maybe, JUST MAYBE…this is the wake-up call he needs.
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Thanks waves, loads of fun to see that.
And to Bob, what can I say, other than to ask you if there is anything positive you have to say about this team this year. Anything?
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Deader, Thats dated 12/16
Simmer should be good to go, unless Rich provides an unknown injury update?
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well maybe THIS will light a fire under Fro’s arse!?!
but for now we have other priorities, and the coyotes are next up in the way…
GO FRO!
GO KINGS!!!
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I hope all the Kings get left off of their Countries rosters, and avoid injury in the Olympics. I would hate to see someone get hurt and be out 4-6-8 weeks due to a shoulder or knee injury, and disrupt the best Kings season in a looooooooong time!!!
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If you’re Team Russia, does Frolov’s play this season convince you that he’ll do what it takes to win the gold? It the same question we have in regards to the playoffs, is he going to be a difference maker or just take a few shifts off? I think we all know that Fro doesn’t always give it his best, so this shouldn’t be that big of a surprise
I’m also okay with Fro getting two weeks of rest at the break so he can come back with fury and show Team Russia they were wrong.
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I understand when its updated but if he was put on IR that means he has to come OFF IR before he is able to play.
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WHAAAA! I didn’t make the Olympic team,
WHAAAA! Because I suck,
WHAAAA! Because I always make the same move with the puck, it never leads to nothing,
WHAAAA! Because I don’t like to pass the puck,
WHAAAA! Because my hockey career has come and gone,
WHAAAA! Because it all Kopitar fault,
WHAAAA! Because I deserve to be on that team, because I’m Frolov, WHAAAA!
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Being left off the Olympics may hurt him in the wallet should he shop the free agent market.
Fro’s future with the team is an uncertaintly. DL needs to decide what to do with him. I’m not sure what a trade would bring as the receiving team would not own him very long. If he is not resigned, that does create some cap space, but I’m not sure what DL could get on thge open market this summer for the same amount of dough.
Regardless, most important thing is that the team is doing well. Given the break I have been jonesing for Kings’ hockey !!!
As all of you know, his biggest problem is consistency. He is the consumate streaky player.
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Player-X, have no idea what you are talking about…I am loving the Kings right now and the fact that we can actually be excited about this team is awesome. If you are referring to me disagreeing with you about the idea of the Kings winning the western-conference, sorry, but I think we should all just be happy if this team makes the playoffs. I’ve had enough miserable years, I’ll take baby-steps, thanks. Playoffs or bust. 8th spot will be just fine with me.
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WOO HOO RICH IS BACK!Player(sniffle)-x,I (sniff sniff) know what(sob)you mean.
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Glad to see the Kings back in action. Hopefully, the rest will have rejuvenated them and they’ll come out hungry and not complacent.
As for Frolov, not being picked by Russia says as much about his play in as away from the NHL and what the international community feels about him. The full promise of his potential has yet to materialize and I’m afraid that at his age, that ship may have sailed. It’s so frustrating to see him dominate (yes dominate) down low, and yet all his efforts rarely result in a quality scoring chance for him or his teammates. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go as part of a trade come Feb/March that may not be blockbuster but will bring other Lombardi character player(s)/pick(s) to the Kings.
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Just want to add that in regards to the Frolov issue, his play this year has not been spectacular but the last 10-15 games he has been very solid and I’ve seen more hunger in him than maybe ever before, and he has not been a liability on the ice.
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Re: Fro, TM plays a defensive minded system and I think Fro is doing a much better job defensively now than ever before. It is a shame he is not on the roster as I think he would have done pretty good.
Glad for Kings hockey again. Its been a long time.
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Preditction:Fro plays better(offensively)the rest of the way,has a good showing in the playoffs.Gets a 1yr contract extension to prove it’s not a fluke.Fro haters hate him again next year.
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Wonderful. Just when they’ve cleared all the usual hurdles, up comes the SI jinx to bite them in the posterior. Better get on the phone to Yoda for the extra strength swamp elixir.
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Dominick,
How do you think Frolov is going to elevate his game from what it is now?
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Look guys,You have to look at Fro’s game properly.dman is right he is dominant down low.He’s not clicking offensively(this season),but he’s had #’s at the top of the Kings stats for a few years now.Right now for whatever reason we’re winning our share of games.Even the guys who aren’t putting up #’s offensively are contributing to that.I don’t know what DL’s plans are but IMHO if it ain’t broke why fix it.Getting healthy again will make a big differance(offensively).I like Fro’s game,but if he’s traded it won’t be for a couple of months.
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I don’t see how you can judge Fro’s game based on PP numbers. Sample size and all.
Watching his game both ways he looks great right now. The points will come.
As far as the Russian team goes, they have been pretty disfunctional for some time and he’s in good company – no Kovalev on the team.
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In the which king has had the most disappointing year\schadenfreude department, I’d say its now a toss up between Frolov and Purcell.
IMO, both players are putting forth the effort, just something not clicking. Fro’s way below his career averages. And Purcell, well, perhaps being an AHL all-stars may not be the equal of most NHL starters. He should improve.
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I’ve watched Quick drag alot of Kingsfans kickin and screamin thru an incredeble season.Guys like Quick,Purcell,and yes Frolov are going to get every chance to succeed the Kings can give them.I believe it’s the proper thing to do.
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When has he ever whined or complained? I don’t get the wha wha comments. Say what you will about his play, but the guy is hardly a whiner.
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4 of us crammed into a ford focus on a way to the game.Should be a good game.
GO KINGS GO
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The SI jinx only applies to the old school print edition. We’re good.
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I’m jellous.I always wanted to ride in a Ford Focus.
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Okay Bob, that sounds reasonable. Totally reasonable. I guess I was just still stinging from the “delusional” comment. We can agree to disagree… I am completely with you in the excitement this year, but I really don’t think it is just giddiness in me wanting to win the conference, I think it is totally realistic and would be productive to try for. Go Kings, peace man.
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Fro has had Kings-leading stats the last 5-7 years because they’ve been a bad team? We have all expected more out of him than he has, and therein lies the problem. He’s not who we want him to be. He’s a passive offensive player in an aggressive-driven sport. I don’t know that winning or loosing has a very big difference in emotions for him. Come to think of it, I don’t know if he has any emotions at all. I wonder what lifting the cup would mean to him? But I stray.
Luckily for us he’s become a pretty good defensive forward, and as such he is still a valuable commodity to the team. So if we can stop expecting first line numbers out of him and enjoy his third line/second PP contributions (if/when they come) and his solid defensive, everybody will have a lot less to complain about.
I’m just saying.
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I hate the expression “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” From my experience, myopic people use it as a means to avoid doing (and having to face the results of) any real analysis.
And to use it in regards to sports IMO is even more nonsensical. Dom, how do you know it’s not broken? That’s a blanket statement – what are your indications that it’s working at its peak performance?
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dman-what Stuart said.
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You can rightfully question whether Frolov has played well for the Kings this year. Clearly he’s having a down year. But what you’re not asking is whether Frolov has the skills to help Team Russia during a short Olympic tournament? Answer: There were 14 NHL players selected to the Russian team. Of the forwards selected there are 5 players who do not play in the NHL. So is Frolov better then Alexander Radulov? How about 40 year old Sergei Federov? How about the 3 other Russian forwards who haven’t play in the NHL at all? Is he better then any of those guys? Alexander Frolov should be on Team Russia. I hope he uses the snub as motivation to score a ton of goals the rest of the way for the Kings.
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Wow Frolov not making the olympics, how shocking!!!! I guess now the coach of the Russian team doesn’t know what he’s doing either. I mean why put Ovie,Kovi,Datsyuk, and other players of that caliber on the team and leave poor,poor Frolov off. Maybe now some of you people will get this, if Fro came to play every night like those guys he wouldn’t get the abuse. Like I’ve said before, I don’t hate Fro but it’s time for him to go…..
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