Jonathan Quick is feeling better and will be back in goal tomorrow night. Jack Johnson, as we know, missed practice to participate in tonight’s Olympic closing ceremony.
Get ready for a bunch of quotes from Dean Lombardi, who talked after practice today about the trade deadline and the progress of the team. The Olympic trade freeze is in place, so GMs can continue to talk, but deals can’t be officially done until the freeze ends.
well…i guess this would be a great time to hear it all from el jefe…
thanks, RICH…!
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Dean hasn’t been talking to the media all that much and we don’t hear much from Hextall either…
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Isn’t he going to the Opening Ceremonies?
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Well, DL still seems to be talking to Gann Matsuda, interestingly enough. I don’t recall that Hextall has been terribly visible/audible in terms of press access.
But I am looking forward to reading what Rich got out of DL this time around. It’s always fun.
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Cheechoo was waived. Do you think there will be interest Rich?
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i think that knucklehead slats will take a chance on cheechoo…maybe the bruins….
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Hoe not…Cheechoo’s a bum
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*Hope
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hahahaha el jefe? doesn’t that mean the boss?
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“Olympic (closing???) ceremony”
Cool. The Olympics went by fast! Didn’t even notice them.
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FIXED***
Jonathan Quick is feeling better and will be back in goal tomorrow night. Jack Johnson, as we know, missed practice to participate in tonight’s Olympic opening ceremony.
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“Well, it’s been tough to pull the trigger on any deal the past few weeks. We have such great line chemistry and all the lines have stuck together this year. We are a middle of the pack team and that’s good for the Kings! I start to sweat when I have a chance to better this team. It’s so much pressure. I’m so scared. I don’t think I can ever make a trade to help the poor suffering fans of Los Angeles. Sorry, you will never see a high-profile player COME to Los Angeles on my watch. I…I…Just don’t know how to do it.”
~~~~~Lip quivers~~~~~
DL
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Cheechoo on waivers? Wow. Is Ottawa hoping someone will claim him, thereby providing a salary dump to make room for a big name trade?
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That’s what I thought but now I can’t find anything on Cheech being waived. Odd.
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Runner
I actually have to say that I feel the same way….but at the same time, what move were you hoping he would make right now?
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here is a report on cheechoo from the ottawa citizen…;
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Cheechoo+Lundmark+waivers/2556447/story.html
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Ya Cheechoo is on waivers. Try http://www.tsn.ca
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SJ moved Jody Shelley to NYR for a 6th rounder.
That Sather is one shrewd GM. Who would have thought Brashear wouldn’t work out?
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“Well I have no idea how to run a hockey team or know the first thing about how trades go down, but what I do know is how to hide behind a fake name on a website and try to sound funny by making fun of the GM of the team I supposedly like. Then maybe people will think I’m smart and agree with me. I really want to go back to the old days when our GM’s would just trade all of our young players and draft picks so we could bring in guys like Jari Kurri and Grant Fuhr, even though they were 35 years old and could barely stand up anymore, but boy did I think those GM’s were COOL!!”
runner
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” Bob McKenzie Bob McKenzie 13 minutes ago
And still I’m inundated from Habs fans thinking Frolov is on his way to Montreal. (rolls eyes).”
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A bunch of quotes, this could take all weekend. One quote from DL takes a hour to read.
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Meman, lol……. I agree!!
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I love the direction this team is going, but I have to admit I am very frustrated with all the different line combinations all the time. I dont ever remember so many changes to the lineup every game (even if we win) than the past two seasons with TM. He is a great coach, but I wonder how much impact this has on the players ability to get a rhythm going. Could it be that all the poor starts this year are due to the constant juggling of lines? Also, does anyone know how common it is for other teams/coaches to change their lines all the time like this?
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what is with les habitants fascination w/frolov…???
every year…we go through this with them…
everybody knows i love fro…but, man, this is like a never-ending soap opera…do they have a fanzine dedicated to him…?
“montreal fans serenade alexander frolov with tchaikovsky outside his l.a. home in hopes of luring the garbo-like enigma from the evil shackles of lord lombardi and his third-line duties…”
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Eh, I am just impatient sometimes. I know we have to stay the course but I have been hearing that since the early 90′s. It just seems all the times in the past we have had a chance to bring in a decent name it flops. I would settle for Whitney right now. Although, imo, that wouldn’t really be settling. I think he is a bona-fide points producer and team player from what I have seen over the years. I think that will be a fun power play of Kopitar with Whitney and Williams next year or maybe even later this year (though I doubt it.) I don’t think Whitney will be another Cliff Ronning if you know what I mean…
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with cheechoo being reportedly waived…and perhaps, picked up by another sucker…that heatley deal the sharks made makes them look like geniuses and the senators really, really, stooopid…!
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Oh, and my name is Bryan Agee. I don’t have to hide. I love the Kings and I am proud of that and will defend them anytime!
Want to race in the 5K tantrum? Put your legs where your mouth is?
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I guess Whitney would have been decent. But im still not impressed with him. If Carolina wants a first round draft pick for an average 37 year old…they are out of their mind. I say pass on Ray
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@runner: Dude, the problem is that not that we’ve been hearing about staying the course for the last 20 years, it’s that no one until DL has had the guts (or the free rein from management) to actually do it.
So give the man due respect.
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I hear ya! We are finally moving in the right direction!
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Is it DL’s last year?
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runner -
How about we lace up the blades and play some one on one hockey? Let’s see how much you actually know about the game?
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Nah. Afraid you would throw a tantrum. I would just want to play
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Doughty_Franchise…
I say pass on Ray too. But I need to disagree about your assessment of his skill level. The guy is a little more than just average. He’s a character guy with a Stanley Cup ring and the game to back up the hype. No, he’s not a flashy guy, but he produces in situations where many players crack under the pressure.
If he were to accept a shorter term deal, I’d say its worth a consideration. But whomever DL acquires, its clear we need one more scoring winger, and one more solid defenceman. So unless something really surprising occurs, I see Deano making both acquisitions in the offseason.
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@Harry: I don’t know. But you gotta figure Kings ownership is happy about the state and direction of the team. DL hasn’t complained about ownership putting any restraints on him, and he seems absolutely committed to seeing things through in LA. Those are not conditions under which a GM change is generally made.
I know Chicago changed GMs this off-season, but that sounded like a particularly dysfunctional case of boardroom politics, with young Bowman waiting in the wings.
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ha,ha…It would be hard for you to play when you don’t touch the puck!
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I think DL should receive a 2 year extension… or Maybe 3… He deserves to lift the Cup in LA!
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Out of curiosity though, what is the best thing to do right now? Write off this season and just enjoy how far we go…and then go after who? Marleau? Who else would be available to fit into this line-up?
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Variable
I do not follow the East that closely but is not Michalek (spelling probably wrong) ripping it up there and are they not on, or have been on a long streak?
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TB
Ill give you that Whitney does add the playoff/stanley cup experience, which would be nice. But if we are going to be giving up a high draft pick, which Carolina wants, we are going to need to get a better return than Whitney. 45 points for a forward is the absolute definition of average.
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malkin!! but really lol not sure who would help the team the most if anyone.
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Yeah, Nay on Ray unless it’s for minimal cost to the Kings, I’m hoping DL will expand on that sitch in his time with Rich, atleast that will keep us occupied during the Olympic break! A DL-athon!
A few misplaced thoughts on last nights game: Did anyone else notice Zeus looked like his left arm or shoulder was hurt? Went straight to the trainer at one point and did miss atleast one shift before returning.
The little meatball played pretty well! A bit ‘o rust here and there but some mighty fine saves too! I’m happy for him, it can’t be easy playing so little.
The camera DOES add 10 lbs! As a suiter (hi guys!) who was close to Heidi(!), Rich and even Patrick last night I’m happy to report they are a tad more svelte in person..
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DL has stocked the shelves with talent all the way through the system, so much so that we started a 2nd ECHL team(Ontario) last year. My feeling is this year we can make a deep push into the playoffs maybe win it all if everything falls are way, but next year is our best chance I can remember to start a season.
One of the bigger questions is JW will he ever be the same player that he was 4 years ago and/or will he ever be a reliable 70+ games a season guy again?
As for Cheechoo, I think DL knows what he is capable of and how to use him.
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When I heard Dean traded for Smyth my first instinct was ‘Good’! When I heard we acquired The Piece, again first instinct..’Good’! There is honestly no one out there (at least that I’m aware of at the moment) who I have a good feeling about. Doesn’t mean there isn’t, but just not the names I’m hearing.
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MARK…
sure…that’s a valid point…
he has been good for them, not exactly heatley numbers, but compliments the top line well…
i still say the sens got the worst of the deal…
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@ian: Most definitely, Ersberg did himself credit last night. That glove save in the 3rd with the game on the line got some of the peeps (including me) up on their feet.
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Yeah Luc, speaking of JW, as I mentioned above I had a great feel for the two big summer acquisitions, but as I documented on this blog several times I never had a great feeling about JW> and it has nothing to do with his ability as a hockey player. Who knows, maybe he makes an incredible comeback, and is comeback player of the year next year. But I have to believe he’s got one heck of a road before him now with three very major injuries in, what, four years?
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@#6: I think part of the problem is that so many teams are still within striking distance of the playoffs at this point that there aren’t a lot of sellers. And the teams that are sellers at this point, they probably don’t have many assets that other teams would want.
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Number 6
I agree totally. At this point, like dougS just said…there arent many sellers. Lets not make a move now, just to make a move. There is only one guy who would excite me (and there isnt even rumors going around about him) but thats Dustin Penner
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6…
ditto…!
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TSN reporting the holdup on the Whitney trade to Kings is over contract extension terms. Ray wants 3 years, Kings offering only a 1-year extension. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t know that I’d give up a roster player AND a #1 draft pick for this 37-year-old. This does not look like our Stanley Cup year – maybe next year and the ones thereafter, but why give up assets for an older player who may not have much gas left in his tank. What thinks the rest of you?
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that’s not news…nothing’s changed…
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and please see next thread…
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JW will be even better, We have infused him with Mikus parts!
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What do we have like 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. Lots of talent in our system already. I see no rush. We aren’t going to win the cup this year, silly to think we could with anything available out there. I like the way we’re going.
Fro is a marginal player and the rest of the league knows it. Not gonna lose any sleep over that.
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Blah Blah Blah
We are the richest team in terms of money, Prospects and picks…We have finished 29th 28th and 28th the past 3 seasons under this rebuilding format. We are now playing well as a group..and as a group I mean that everyday is a new line combo so you have to know your neighbor real well. DL states a couple weeks ago that he is going to reward the boys by getting the necessary pieces to complete this team and it’s run this season..Now he is asked a question have you been close and he says NO! Dont believe what you hear and or read people. This man had a chance to sign one of the top 5 players in the NHL in his prime (Kovy) and he passed. He has had a shot at Neidermeyer, Hossa, Pronger Drury, Gomez, Gaborik and Heatly over the last few years but to no avail but we did sign Parrish,Ronning,Carter,Sopel,Cloutier, Checmonick Spell Check) We are a different team now I do understand that, so why do we keep Ivanans out on the ice and Purcell still on the roster? Why are other teams making the small tweaks needed to better themselves and we are not? Why does the power play stink and with no responsibilty being taken? AND I thought we had SOD, Smyth and Scudari wth Cup experience…why do we need more experience? Get a scorer and a big body stay at home Dman with a laser shot. I would make the ducks an offer for Teemu, Neidermeyer and Toskola because they are gone anyway for a couple picks EE and Purcell..We now answered our short term needs. A sniper and good Dman that can score and a playoff experience back up goalie…Now give me the 3 year GM extension
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i feel alone here as the only King’s fan to be a little upset with Jack Johnson.. Zeus, brown, quick, and drew all went to practice drew being younger then jack but showing way more maturity. your telling me that Johnson can go and all the others are not allowed to go just jack?? please tell me what makes this guy so great i have seen how he was a number 1 pick i can also see how he puts himself 1st before the team. i would love to see jack gone but i am not DL and doesn’t like like too much action will take place with teh kings which is a good thing but if we are in that situwation where we must get rid of one of our top players i think johnson is a better choice than anyone else cause he is still so young going to be in the nhl for a long time really a lot of talent but i don’t see how he “fits.” frolov little older not as much value and purcell probably wouldn’t even get picked up off waivers so hopefully we can get someone to really pick up the lack of scoring if not Dean better sign frolov tired of the kings getting rid of talent and getting nothing for them look at the opening ceremony with ziggy what did we get for him o ya nothing at all and he walked and signed with the pens. so DL ball is in your court either sign him but if he doesn’t want to be on the kings give us another 1st rounder he said he wouldn’t do that and how its not fair but why we gave up gleason and belanger for johnson and im sure johnson is a lot better than not getting anything at all. i have a lot of faith in this team but i just don’t want them to go cheap and ruin this run for teh cup when we have a lot of players in teh minors and on the team that we can trade for the correct “fit” players they are out there dean just has to give up something to get something we will see and hope the plane ride doesn’t affect johnson’s game.
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