alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Here’s my LAKings.com game story from tonight, with stats and video included. Thanks for reading!
ABOUT THIS BLOG
LAKingsInsder.com provides in-depth, independent coverage of the Los Angeles Kings. Its content and reader comments are not subject to approval or review by team personnel.Bio
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar.
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Thanks again rich!
I was checking the other teams blogs and one compare to yours. Great work and go kings
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Not one*
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I know there are a lot of positives to come out of this game but the Kings are still 2 pts. behind Phoenix and 10 pts. behind San Jose.
I am happy about the recent positive steps the Kings have made but it needs to be understood that the season extends beyond now and any real measurable comprehension.
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Rich,
Was it as close as McKenzie say it was?
http://tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie/?id=308689
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There’s also a rumor that Garnet Exelby of Toronto has been traded to LA, for a 4th rounder. Bob McKenzie of TSN immediately shot the rumor down, saying its complete BS. I hope it is, why would we need Exelby? When Drewiske is on the bench.
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to show you how things are lately…
the kings seven-straight wins is not even the longest current winning streak…
the sens have won nine straight…
…and the caps…11…
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Probably all posturing. If its gonna happen, it’ll happen. I think Whitney would of/will be a good fit though.
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Maybe because THE BIG TRADE will happen for Kovi,why? Don’t know,the team is on a roll but if the Kings trade a couple of d-men to Atlanta..That’s the reason for the Exelby rumor.. Did anyone realized that the Kings have won as many wins as all of last season and are only 6 points from last year’s point total?..
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Just read this on the LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers3-2010feb03,0,7204181.column
T.J. Simers is lucky I don’t live in LA otherwise I would have slap shot him in the face with a puck. This is one main reason I stopped reading this so called newspaper.
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Seattle, Simers occupies the nadir of sports journalism. He comes across as a bitter lonely man who writes in his underwear. I can almost hear the sobbing.
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@Seattle
My eyes will never forgive you for making me read that, time for an angry e-mail to the Times.
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What a bitter never-was piece of crap!
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Down with LA Times 4 that one!!
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***k that guy and the Times. Talk about yesterday’s news newspaper.
Don’t know wtf he is talking about as I was there and the place was full. A sell out. Sounds like someone with the Kings dissed this pos writer. Good on whoever that was.
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Great win streak. Way to go boys! The internet and east coast sites are all speaking like Kovy will be traded today and has played his last game in Atlanta last night. Anything going on Rich?
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First things first:
Daniel, your appear to be the ultimate pessimist, your’e upset because the Kings are 2 points behind Phoenix, and 10 behind San Jose? So I am to understand that because there are 2 teams in front of the Kings, in your opinion this still isn’t good enough?
Detroit beat San Jose tonight, and Phoenix has a great goaltender, however given San Jose and there track record of early playoff exits, I am not concerned in the least bit.
Phoenix is exceeding expectations beyond belief, however Phoenix has depth problems and will probably be in the market for some offense, since Upshall is pretty much done and Mueller has not played the way they expected. Turris well he’s not even on the map right now. Bryzgalov has always been a solid goalie, I wish the Kings weren’t in a lower position in the standings 2 years ago, when Anaheim waived Bryzgalov, otherwise he would have been playing for the Kings right now, but we have Erik Ersberg, and he has been a great backup to Quick.
The Kings don’t look like a one and done team in the playoffs this season. Quick isn’t some first year phenom, he’s the MVP of this Kings team, far beyond anyone else. 32 Wins so far, and improving every game he is unbelievable.
KC23:Ray Whitney is not a player the Kings need to bother with. He adds nothing to this lineup regardless, and the Kings don’t have a place for him.
Not sure of the timelines, but Williams should be back before the playoffs.
Koko: The rumour was more about Exelby shopping himself, and not Burke shopping him, according to my brother-in-law in Toronto. My brother-in-law is the grandson of Johnny Bower, his parents also served as the the bilett for Matt Duchene during 2007-2009, along with being pretty in the know about the Leafs and any trade rumors. Regardless, the Kings have far too many defensive players to call upon from the AHL if necessary.
hunter: To be honest, I think Kovalchuk will be traded, however I don’t think the Kings will be the team to give away players to rent Kovalchuk for a playoff run. If, Waddell backed away from the “we won’t trade Kovalchuk if he re-signs with the team we trade him to” then I think Dean Lombardi might be tempted to consider making a decision, but highly unlikely.
Kovalchuk wants out ot Atlanta, and the longer this goes the less Atlanta is going to be offerred on a player who will walk at the end of this season.
I believe Kovalchuk will be dealt before the draft, if not re-signed before the draft. Los Angeles hosts the draft this year, and I would loved to hear Gary Bettman go up to the podium and utter these words “We have a trade to announce”, The Atlanta Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk to the Los Angeles Kings, in exchange for LA’s first pick this year, LA’s second pick this year, Jonathan Bernier or Jeff Zatkoff, and or Thomas Hickey.
The Kings also have Teubert/Clifford/Schenn/Voynov/Loktionov/Kozun/Martin Jones/JS Berube…. picks and they might part with Frolov or even a higher profile player to get a 41 plus goal scorer and that sniper Dean Lombardi has been hinting at for the past year.
This years team, seems to have that scent of destiny. They can play absolutely horrible, and still find a way to win the game or at least get a point. Barring any significant injuries pre or post olympics the Kings have a pretty good shot at make a run deep into the playoffs simply because they have managed to be a team or players and not a team of individuals. Everyone is playing for each other and when your stars are’nt scoring someone else manages to score, and Quick keeps them in these games giving them the chance to win.
I was there in 93, and I think we might be here in 2010 a the very earliest, in regard to a Stanley Cup!
Kings Win, Kings Win, Kings Win!
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Email to Simers:
The Kings won their 7th in a row, you so-called sportswriter that has no idea what’s happening in his own city. What a sorry excuse for a sportswriter you are.
I will laugh my head off the day you lose your job because newspapers have become as irrelevant as you have been for 10 years already.
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It’s a great time to be a Kings fan.
They’ve managed to figure out that playing it simple is the best way.
They came out hard in the 1st period and dominated for most of the 60 minutes with tight D, solid goaltending, and a great forecheck and cycle all night long.
Kopitar is becoming a superstar before our eyes..and Doughty’s already there. Also, Quick takes a backseat to nobody in this league.
He’s beaten the best head to head consistently.
The next person who talks negatively about TM needs to take a look at the fool that roams behind the Rangers bench. What was he thinking putting 5 forwards on the ice on a 5 on 4 pp in a 0-0 game? That may go down as the dumbest move a head coach has made in quite a while. The Ranger announcers, who are very good, picked it up right away and were shocked…. A minute later its 1-0 and Tortorella had no answer for the move after the game.
Good to see our old friend Boyle last night. He actually seems to have found a niche as a 4th line/PK guy..good for him. I guess those days of people thinking he’d be a top 6 forward have given way to the reality of what his true potential is.
Of course, all of the Boyle lovers on this site would love to know what he thought of Kings fans during an interview on the Rangers telecast….He was asked about the difference playing in NY and LA
He said once you get to the rink everything is pretty much the same. The biggest difference is the fans. Ranger fans are True Blue hockey fans…
Real nice Boyle…I guess he wasn’t one of those guys reading the blog and seeing all of the misguided man- love thrown his way. Or the true forum blue fans who knew he was nothing but a huge, soft, bum..not worthy of a 1st round draft pick or a roster spot on a good team!
Have a good life Boyle and don’t forget to tune in during the playoffs to watch a team you weren’t good enough to play for, compete for the cup.
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Still too many chances given up esp in the last few minutes – overall a home win for this squad is to cheer for- coming off the roadie they did bring a nice energy and finally came out strong to start which was nice to see- really great to see the run the team is getting nation wide on all the websites and the praise DL is getting for going this route with draft picks and selected FAs – got to smoke the fowl on thurs -
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Guys, TJ Simers writes, on purpose, an over the top column.
For years, the LA Times and some other papers have some guy like that, some guy who calls out players when he knows they are playing hurt and with the flu but who tough out a game, but the OTT guy writes them up as having less heart than his six year old female neighbor. Stuff like that. You’ll see they from time to time throw in a professional column, but its the OTT guy’s job to take slants and hurl hopefully funny insults. As opposed to say, Hammond, the paragon of professionalism.
Simers’s column is written with the intention to stir up controversy. Dislike it sure, but keep in mind its meant to be taken with a grain of salt.
Also this country used to have a proud tradition of respecting newspaper and news media, because the US founders remembered how it was in Europe with the Gov and powers that be shutting down information sources. Its happening down in Venezuela as I write. Not good.
Fine to dislike the message. Don’t beat up, or threaten to beat up, the messenger.
In passing, I used to hate Simers until some other LA times reporter mentioned in passing what the Simers column is meant to be. Now I can enjoy the column a bit and just ignore Simers OTT riffs.
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Ducks get to play Detroit the night b4 we kick their butts.
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Great game by the Kings, and a great run. Sad thing is Phoenix keeps winning at the same time and we are not gaining ground on them. At this current pace we are slated for 103 points which is a huge improvement from last year, yet we are likely to be no better than the 4th seed and most likely playing Phoenix or Colorado in the playoffs… I like our chances.
I thought the coach of the year award would go to TM, but now I am thinking Dave Tippet deserves it more. My hat is off to him and what he has turned around in the desert. I think the Jack Adams award will go Tippet, TM and Ruff 1,2,3.
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No question Tippett is deserving of the award, but no more than TM is deserving. If there was ever a situation where it should be co-winners, this would be it. Both coaches have done an incredible job with their repsective teams.
Phoenix is also playing great hockey, but remember, we’re only 2 points behind with a game in hand.
There’s still so much time left for the standings and seedings to shake out. We still play games head to head against Phoenix.
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JJ had a solid game, from what I saw, at least. (I missed a few minutes here/there.)
But, he had a sweet spin-around pass to set up Jones, and was a +2, so good on him, hopefully his numbers improve as his D-zone decision-making does.
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Rich,
Do us a favor, can you tell T.J. Simmers to crawl into the same hole Anthony is currently in.
Go Kings Go!
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No one is more thrilled than I for this current hot streak. Quick has gone from very shaky to one of the top netminders in the league. Truly remarkable how he has gained confidence. One could argue he is emerging as Roy did during his first real year with Montreal.
Can’t believe our good fortune.
(And yes, a post without Kovy!
Oops)
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@everyone.
So i’d like everybodys impressions on how frolov has been playing. To me, he has looked really good since being denied from Russia’s olympic team. He is putting in a ton of effort, hitting, skating, passing, etc.
However, he hasnt produced any goals (except an empty netter) since Dec 31st. I still like what he’s been doing, but would really enjoy more lamps lit up from last seasons leading goal scorer.
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RE fro – fro is fro I never understood the grief the guy got – we will regret the day we trade him – dare I say – it would be in my humble opinion – just as bad a trade as Butch Goring (My favorite King) – I’ll say it again when a player as great as Datsyuk says the guys is good – leave him alone – no better compliment than from your peers and esp a guy a great as PD -
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NYkingfan- I agree it is a toss up between the two and both are deserving, but I think the edge is for tippet since he has done in within 1 year compared to our 2 from TM. Lets see if we can knock off the yotes and get 4th seed.
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Dirtmover- i totally agree. He is completely misunderstood. i really hope we keep him. what player would compliment him the best do you think?
i really thought he was gonna step up his game when that Russian youngster (forgot the name) got put on his line and TM asked frolov to mentor him…i really thought that was what fro needed, kid got hurt in 1 game.
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Story about TJ Simers, kind of. I was at a season ticket holders meeting with Tim Liwickie a while ago and I got the chance to ask him if we could do something about making a section for fans that complain about other fans cheering loudly and heckling at a hockey game. (Bako knows I’m a loud heckler, so that will tell you where I am going with this). I was upset because I was getting pulled out of my seat to talk with the redcoats because someone would complain I was ‘LOUD’. Not Angry or cussing or bitter or threatening….just ‘LOUD’. Mr Liwickie said he was sorry for that and that the demographic in LA is a tough one to satisfy (TRUE), but that this is not the opera and he encouraged me and others to heckle the goalies like they do everywhere else as he thought is was an advantage and that he would love to make a section in the highest far corner of Staples for people who like it quiet and call it the ‘T.J. Simers Section’.
Needless to say, that answered my question quite nicely. Too bad the section was never made. You can see that even Kings Management have no love for Simers whatsoever.
(You knew it was coming) Picture of him writing: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/teepeck/obese-fat_guy.jpg
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@cynic
call it the TJ Simer Down Now Section.
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socalkings LMAO!
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fro needs a finisher – fro controls pucks and hits you with the pass – for the one timer and then fro picks up rebounds and scores or plays puck possession and the cycle starts again – fro is a hyena he picks up scraps and is tenacious on the puck – there aren’t 10 guys in this league that have fros skill set -
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who was he paired with last year when he did the majority of his scoring? I remember simmer/ Handaddy for a while. He played with kopi and williams at the end of the season…
but you’re def correct in the fact that he needs a player to take on a lot of defensive attention. freeing him up to make passes and pick up loose pucks in the slot.
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here is my email to Mr. Simers:
—
Subject: If this is your best, maybe you should hang ‘em up, man.
Whoever you are,
I just want to ask you a favor: if you ever are saddled with what you deem the horrible, mundane task of writing about the LA Kings again, please demonstrate that you are indeed a professional. Give the 23 guys on that roster the proper media coverage they have more than earned this year.
They are playing their best run of sustained, consistently good hockey since Gretzky was in LA, and all you can muster up is “The first period ended with no score. . . so I went home” and “I have no idea who won, but that’s all right”.
Your column is obviously one in a long list of other 500-word flame jobs, as I can see from the last couple of sentences that you get a lot of “fan” mail. I get it, you like to stir things up on page 2. Unfortunately, demeaning the tremendous effort of 23 athletes that represent YOUR city and play with as much passion if not more than your precious Dodgers is counter-productive.
I would think the LA Times would be proud to report that the Kings are on the verge of tying a franchise-record winning streak, or that young goalie Jon Quick is on the verge or setting a franchise record for wins in a season, wins in a row, etc. etc. I understand you’re not the beat writer for the Kings, but if you’re going to support your local professional sports team, no matter which sport it is, you should at least do a half-assed job. Unfortunately, that was even too much to ask of you. Shame too, you missed a hell of a game.
By the way, just because a hockey game is scoreless after one period, that doesn’t translate to “nothing happening”.
Anyways, this is just my opinion; unfortunately I don’t have a few inches on page 2 to spew mine like you do, so you win, I guess.
Also, if your column was in any way a stab at the lack of fan-support of the Kings, then shame on you, because any responsible sports journalist in this area knows that LA has some of the most passionate fans. Just ask Rich Hammond. Unfortunately, the Kings haven’t give as much to cheer for recently like the Lakers or Dodgers, but that’s already starting to change.
Maybe an interview with Bob Miller would do you some good, help you gain some more well-rounded perspective on the Kings and their fans, something you obviously lack.
Anyways, hopefully in the near future someone will call you when the Kings are finally lifting the Cup, so you can quit scratching your nuts over a meaningless Frank McCourt interview in mid-June, and flip on the TV to witness something that has been a long time coming for a lot of longtime fans, including your pal Bob.
–Kings fan
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Solid Dtown…solid.
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Dtown- can you please send a link to his article and his email address?
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Last nigth, for me, was one of the most rewarding victories this entire season. The Kings played an extremely intelligent game, not at all boring. Kopi was a beast defensively, Brown was totally within himself, even the 4th line was really effective. Zus and Fro and Stoll and Smyth, the D-pairings were absolutely great, just a really great team game doing the smart things. My favorite moment was Jaret Stoll diving to tip the puck deeper right in front of the Kings bench. The guy was tenacious on that back-check, refused to give up, and when it looked ike the Ranger was going to get the puck Stoll dives in the center zone just to deny the Ranger possession. Team fired on all cylinders, played very smart, gritty game against a desperate team with two new guys giving everything to make an impression. Best cycle team in the league, 21 and 0 when leading afer two, best road team with 18 wins, beaten Wash, Pitt, NJ, NYR, CHI, San Jose 3X, Detroit, Buffalo, on and on.
“Stand up next to a mountain….Chop it down with the edge of my hand…”
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Dtown, great email. If you get a response please post it here. I’d love to see what ol’ grumpalumpagus says.
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I guess McCourt is smarter than I thought he was.
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Fellow Kings fans,
TJ Simers is getting exactly the kind of reaction from this message board that he wants. He writes cynical, abrasive, condesending columns about all Los Angeles Sports Teams. He’s stirs up the local bee’s nest in order to get people talking about his column and generate more website hits and newspaper sales. Every letter and email (angry or positive) sent to the Times regarding TJ confirms that he is at least creating interest and drawing readers to his rantings. By setting his sights on the Kings, TJ is yet again playing another Los Angeles Teams’ fanbase like a fiddle.
If you really don’t care for what TJ Simers wrote, don’t send any letters or emails to the Times, don’t visit TJ’s website and don’t buy the paper.
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regarding Fro
He’s playing great as a 3rd line winger. If we need to count on him to score goals, we’re in trouble. He’s now a contributor. How that translates to him staying with the Kings will probably come down to how he views his game. If he thinks he should be paid as a scorer, he’s gone. I would hope he accepts a reasonable contract and stays.
as far as the compliments Datsuyk threw his way last year, take it with a grain of salt.
It very well could have been a great player trying to raise his friends value.
Russia thought so much of his play that they left him off the Olympic team. I think that says more about Fro than what Datsuyk said.
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The LA Times is a terrible rag. In refuse to read that paper. The reports there sound like they are anger they have to cover the LA Kings. I still think the reporter that caused the commotion with JJ she failed to give him the entire story so she can create trouble.
Got to love the Kings this year it has been a long time. It great to see the King doing so well.
GO KINGS!!!!!!!!
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@JPUCK: I too have noticed Fro lately. The guy is playing out of his mind. He reminds me of a dog who, under no circumstances, will let go of his toy (in this case the puck). I can’t imagine there being anyone better than he is at getting and maintaining possession. Perhaps there are equals, but better?
So that leads to a bit of a conundrum. If he won’t give up the puck (exaggeration) then how can it possibly go into the net? Point being, Fro’s game would be served well by watching Parse’s passing. Those sharp angle, on goal (or through the crease) blind passes that seem to make their way right into a scoring area. So rather than cycle, cycle, cycle, pick and choose more and better moments to throw the puck to the net.
I won’t encourage him to go to the net himself. That will never happen.
As for Simmers. That guy has gotten under more people’s skin in this town than any reporter ever, combined! (I’m making that up) However, he has had multiple rifts over the years. I can’t stand him or his writing so I stopped reading it years ago. I honestly can’t believe the guy still has a job.
Lastly, here’s a little summary of our current streak I put together…
http://deepinsidethekings.com/2010/02/03/thats-odd-3-5-7-9/
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Simers column:
That column was a complete bore.
Someone should have warned me not to read that before having coffee.
He really gets paid a salary????????
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DBB:
I agree with your point, but sometimes you gotta speak your mind, esp when a total piece of crap like his column actually gets published. It was totally pointless, and if it wasn’t pointless, then the only point was to bash on the Kings during a 7-game win streak.. So he can hear it from me for that, website hit increase be damned.
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Brendan Witt placed on waivers, I think he could help us as a stay-home defenseman, send Drewiske back to Manchester and let him help them for the playoff run
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Rough one for the Monarchs last night … figures it was Zatkoff in net, but still a disappointing effort. Good to see Azevedo back in the lineup
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AK: If a bad team is putting him on waivers… im sure there’s a reason, and id rather not find out
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Don’t read that la times article bt Simmers. He doesn’t deserve the page hits and he likes people to tell him off.
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@ JPUCK – I agree with you 100% about Frolov. I think he’s been great since the denial. No flash but great effort around the net, very strong on the puck, and awesome creating time for plays to develop. He’s a threat the other team can’t deny and opens up space for eveyone else. It would be ashame to see him leave and I think would leave behind a huge, intangible hole. He’s a big part of the chemistry that makes this team great.
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Does anyone know when the last time the Kings were 15 games above 500? 15 GAMES!! I am going to have to change my name. NOT IMPRESSED is the antithesis of how I feel the Kings have beeen playing.
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Just change one letter – the “t” to a “w”
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I haven’t read page two of the Times since Alan Malamud passed away and Simers took his spot.
Well I haven’t read the times in over 5 years anyway.
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LOL@ MN Kings Fan
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RE: Quick – Wow, is he going to shatter the single season wins record or what?? Very impressive that he can be so consistent. I also love how our Forwards are collapsing better than years past to clear those high slot rebounds. Seems like every Oh SH## moment ends w/ a collapsing center scooping the puck up and clearing it. Except if it’s Fro and he’s got his head down and loses it at the blue line (3 times I’ve seen).
RE: “Kings have far too many minor league D-men to call up if they wanted; don’t trade for Exilby.” Yes they’ve got talent and promise down there, but no one ready for the majors. Look at Martinez – he’s an empty jersey. I can’t wait for some of these guys to develop.. but it’s going to take time. That’s why we still have Jones hanging around.
RE: DD. What surprises and impresses me most is how strong he can be against the boards. Homey can’t be more than 180 lbs but he rarely seems to get muscled off the puck. There’s so much of his game that’s great… but what truly makes him a superstar is that he’s got no glaring weaknesses. Sign him to a 10-yr deal. Now.
RE: Simers. TJ is Howard Stern in print. The only reason people read him is to “hear what he says next” – but you’d want to wash your hand immediately after shaking it. To me he’s like a resentful Carrot Top – just a bunch of one liners.
I actually got to meet/interview him for a college journalism class many years back. He’s an engaging, kinda funny guy.. but you can easily tell he’s lacking any type of conscience. He simply talks ###t cuz people are going to read it, which sells papers. Look at the quotes he posted at the bottom of his article – he knows it and loves it. I dont let him bother me. Some day people will stop caring what he says..
RE: Jack Adams. As much as I love TM, Tippet is still the front runner because of what he’s doing w/ less depth. Yah, their goalie (no way i can spell his name) is such a big part of it, but damnit if they just keep winning (so annoying). Like I said before, the JA award will go to the coach of whichever team finishes higher in the standings.
RE: Fro – he has a style, a niche. He’s never going to fit in w/ that bump/grind/hustle style the rest of the team has (someone forgot to translate Backcheck in Russian). He’s a sniper and he’s the king of keeping possession. I, too, get frustrated by his lack of hustle sometimes.. but other times when we NEED one of those down low/cycling shifts, he’s the man that usually starts it. I’m a Fro fan. I’m very surprised at his lack of production in a contract year, tho. But maybe that means we get to resign for less?!! Let’s keep him, and keep him w/ Zeus.
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@NYKing-
you’re definitely right, he is a contributor. and he is doing an amazing job. however, there is no way he will want to be paid like one. He has the skill to be a lead guy somewhere else but nobody will pay full price bc he isnt finishing right now.
He is ridiculously shifty. He makes moves that kopitar wouldnt even dream about. However, rarely does the puck go in the net…he’s got a fever and the only cure is more SPIN MOVES!
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For all of you who believe that Tippett is a no-brainer for coach of the year, need I remind you all the injuries that Murray has had to make adjustments for this season? Murray has had to integrate so many Manchester callups. We even had to bring Schenn up for a game because of the Stoll injury.
I would also like to remind everyone that the Phoenix roster is built on veteran leaders like Doan and Jovanovski who are coaches on the ice.
Tippett has done a great job, but is still second in my mind to Murray who has shuffled around the second youngest team in the NHL, whose only constants this year have been Quick and Doughty.
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Good points Joel, but for Tippett to come in a week before the season started to a team and organization that was considered dead and going nowhere and do what he has done is truly amazing. That story, in and of itself, will most likely win him the award if the team doesn’t collapse. It’s just too compelling to deny him. However, I still contend that if the Kings finish above the Yotes, TM should get it.
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The best way to get back at TJ Simmers is to phone the times and tell them that you are going to cancel your subscription, tell them why and hang up. the LA Times can ill afford to lose subscribers.Perhaps if a few thousand Kings fans refuse to buy the paper, the editor may consider removing him from the payroll.
Go kings.
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@Hrudey32: Good stuff. Disagree about the Stern comparison though. Every time some yahoo with a big mouth gets noticed, he’s compared to Stern. It’s just a catch all, lazy comparison to a guy who goes far beyond anything Simmers could ever even hope to aspire to. Love ‘em or hate ‘em both, Simmers = weak, lame writing. Stern = insane genius.
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As much as I would like him to be recognized, I don’t really care if TM gets “Coach of the Year.” This is what I want:
I want playoffs, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round wins, and someday (dare I dream?) to hear Bob Miller say “The Kings have won the STANLEY CUP!”
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Couldn’t agree more Minnesota. It’s all about the Cup. Just got chills down my spine reading that…
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Waves
Well, I’m not a Stern fan either – so I’ve got a bias.
Has anyone seen Quick’s USA helmet? I saw Miller’s and some other one w/ an eagle on it (Thomas’? Quicks?).
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I like Tippett. I agree that what he’s done is phenomenal in Phoenix. I just look at the man games lost to the Kings this year. I may be wrong, but I believe Upshall is the first significant injury this year that the Yotes have had to weather.
I will grant that Phoenix was picked to come close to dead last in front of Colorado this year. My vote still goes to Murray.
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Neil – if you have read any of my comments on Rich’s blog over the past 3 years you would see that I am the eternal optimist when it comes to the Kings. My point was – don’t get too excited. There is a ways to go yet.
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Daniel, I think what we’re trying to say is, we don’t need you to put a downer on a great Kings run. we’ve been waiting for this a long time for this, please let people enjoy the moment.
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THE LA TIMES IS AND HAS BEEN ON IT’S WAY OUT! FROM THEIR TOTALLY DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANCE, TO THEIR HIGH LEVERAGE SALES TACTICS!Using children or young kids to peddle their garbage biased news, it’s only a matter of “TIME” before they are history! I would not take or read their paper for free.
Oh, but what about the Sunday Coupons????? I would rather chew broken glass then cut them out of that paper!
My two cents!
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LOL, ALMOST FORGOT…….GO KINGS!!!!! And a word to Kopi:
PLAY YOUR OWN GAME MAN! THATS WHEN YOU THRIVE AND SCORE!!!!!!!!
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Hrydey32, I agree with you about all your points, especially Martinez. He’s a prospect, let him see a few games early season or on emergency basis, and then let him continue to develop. Fro- I am happy to give up his goals for his possession time, he is totally disruptive to the other team, in my opinion he is a VITAL link with Zus to maintaining momentum, and preventing the opposition from developing momentum. Unsung, vital. Plus, if opposition leaves him alone, he will score against them. You cannot teach what he can already do, and we need someone to do that job. We have cap space, pay him 4-4.5 (adding only 1.5 to what he now gets) and if you need him to score, build your team so that he has a slot to do that. As it is now, he is slotted in with Zus and doing great work.
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ukking – Downer on what? We haven’t won anything of value yet. Like someone posted earlier, Ottawa has a longer win streak than we do right now. I have been a fan since Luc’s first season. I know a thing or two about heightened expectations. And disappointment. When we win it all, then we can REALLY celebrate.
Go Kings! :)
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Minnesota Kings Fan -
Crap! After I read that it just dawned on me…living in Canada I will NEVER hear Bob say that line..I’m going to have to listen to Jim Hughson say it on Hockey Night In Canada on CBC!!! :(
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Great game for 58 minutes, the boys totally shut down the Ranger offense, tho it got a bit hairy in the last 2 minutes but that will happen. It was pretty much a perfect game up till then. This kind of game under the circumstances says volumes about the Kings chances in the playoffs.
And about the Simers column, you all who dont read him regularly are taking this WAAAAY too much to heart; he disses pretty much everyone. It’s his way of poking fun at people who take sports too seriously, especially athletes who are grumps even tho they get paid millions to play a game. A better suggestion would be to ask him to go interview Greener or Simmer or Quickie and see how refreshing hockey players are!
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tantrum, that’s when you fly to LA and watch it here. :)
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I sent the -hole Simers an email telling him to die in a fire after this comment:
“Don’t bother. The Kings are winners, on the longest winning streak since they went to the finals, and they don’t need loser old-timers on their bandwagon.”
Apparently he’s been busy sending one-liners back to folks, because this was his response:
“what a nice thought—what a iserable lief you must lead–someone pokes fun at a hockey team and you want them to die”
That’s all he had!
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Everyone can be depressed because Bob won’t be calling the Stanley Cup games because they’re on NBC or Fox.
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…as for the comparison to Stern…I’ve spent a total of about 20 minutes listening to him too. They can both die in a fire.
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I agree JPUCK
I think he bolts to the KHL where the money will be.
I would hope he would satay for a reasonable deal (similar to what he makes now) but realistically, that’s probably not going to happen.
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LA Times = Pinko Commie Rag
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Minnesota,
Well said good man. Not a softy or anything but:
Imagining Bob Miller say that nearly brought me to tears:)
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no… wait.. yeah —yup I definately have a tear in my one good eye.
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Can’t disagree, HBFan.
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Oh, and no one deserves to say that more than Bob Miller does.
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Yeah,
I try to explain to my friends who don’t know that much about hockey or the Kings that we are blessed with the two best announcers in the NHL.
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I wrote to Mike James, Editor of the LA Times Sports Section regarding the coverage and Simers column and this was his response:
Mr. Mohr,
Thank you for e-mailing. You’re You’re obviously an ardent Kings fan, but I’m not sure we could ever do enough with the team to satisfy your needs. I will say Helene’s columns off the last two Kings games have been on the front page of the Sports section, with photographs. And if the Kings continue to play as they have, they’ll be good candidates for front-page spots each time. Our coverage of the team this year is substantially more comprehensive than last year. We’re travelling on the road with the team – unlike any news outlet in L.A. – and will continue to if they continue to play well.
The Kings have a loyal fan base, but the problem is that the fan base is substantially smaller than those of NBA and MLB teams in this area. Because of our staff limitations, we need to focus our energies where we get the most bang for the buck, and that means some sports that don’t generate the kind of interest, say, the Lakers do will receive less coverage.
When it comes to Mr. Simers, he’s a columnist whose job it is to state opinions, some of which rub people the wrong way. I’m sorry if we’ve lost you as a reader, but I have to make difficult choices on what we can cover every day. Would I like to have two people covering the Kings full time? Sure, but we simply don’t have the staff, resources or space in the paper to do that while maintaining the level of coverage we have to do elsewhere. Best,
Mike James
Sports Editor
Los Angeles Times
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