RAITIS IVANANS 
This season: 61 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, 136 penalty minutes, 4:54 average ice time.
The good: There are zero secrets in Ivanans’ game. When he is on the ice, he’s there simply to be a physical deterrent to the other team. The Kings asked Ivanans to drop some weight last summer, in an attempt to make him more mobile on the ice. He complied, and he’s never been afraid to drop gloves in defense/support of a teammate.
The bad: Despite the Kings’ attempt to make Ivanans into more of a skater, he still struggles at times to get around the ice and do anything more than fight and perhaps get in on the forecheck. Ivanans is actually a good practice player, who seems to freeze up in game situations around the puck, and he remains prone to taking poor offensive-zone penalties.
Going forward: Ivanans is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and minor-league “enforcer” Kevin Westgarth seems to be getting solid reviews for his play in Manchester. A year ago, the Kings didn’t think Westgarth was ready for the NHL. If that has changed, it’s unlikely that Ivanans will be back with the Kings next season.
He did his job, can’t complain about it. he wasn’t here to score and i don’t feel he would do any kind of “Jones Giveaway” plays. If Kings fans wanted a point producer out of him then they are looking at the wrong guy. Gave him a “B”.
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Dan H. Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
@Seattle757,
I wish you were grading me during HS instead of my teachers. You’re generous.
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SDGolfer Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@Dan H., when you judge him in the role he is put in, the the grade is fair.
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David Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
@Seattle757,
Was he here to give terrible O-Zone penalties?
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Sorry Raitis, from all reports you’re a hell of a nice guy, but I grew up in an era where tough players took care of themselves, and lack-of-skill players like you were not necessary.
Flash forward 40 years and while things have changed a bit, there’s still no need for a guy that looks like he needs a GPS attached to his helmet.
No one in the NHL is more pointless than Ivanans, literally and figuratively.
Staggering, his last assist came THREE SEASONS ago. That’s insane. (I know, Parse should have buried the one decent pass Ivanans made all season…)
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iansez Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
@Marc Nathan, i seem to remember him scoring a few goals last year…you sure?
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gralx Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
@iansez, he scored goals last year. It was either 2 in one game or 1 in 2 consecutive games, cant remember. But, even goalies stumble into an assist every now and then. I kept saying to myself (last few games of the season and playoffs) “if he is not crushing people against the boards or pounding their face in, why is he on the ice?”
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Big Rob in Dallas Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 7:02 am
@gralx, I remember when he was on a line with Fro, back when his groin was 80% and Fro managed to set Ivanans with 2 or 3 goals.
Marc Nathan Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
@iansez, i said ASSIST…
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iansez Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
@Marc Nathan, you said “pointless” too..
Yeah, he did his job but not very well. He needs skating lessons before he can do more than just fight, which is an area he hasn’t really excelled.
He’s decent and did what he was supposed to do to a certain extent. Certainly, he doesn’t deserve a “D” or an “F”, does he?
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he lost almost every fight. took bad penalties. AND DIDNT REGISTER A POINT ALL SEASON. other than that… he did a good job.
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Sure, Raitis can fight, but thats it. For his size, he doesnt seem to finish checks well or do anything other than take up 5 minutes of ice time and have his one predetermined staged fight with the other teams enforcer to feel like he did something. He had a couple good shifts late in the year but his offensive zone bonehead penalties overshadow anything good he did. Thank you for your services but I would rather see someone else. If I were to grade him on his “Mean Face” I would give him an A+. His game gets him a C-
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i gave him a “d”…
look…
i think raits is a great guy…he’s the type of guy i would want on my team at the minor or beer league level…
raitis had 14 fighting majors for the year…which ranked him about 20th overall in the league…he also had no points for the year and has had a total of two…(2)…points (both goals) during the last two (2) seasons…he also took some of the worst and untimely penalties i have ever seen a kings player take…
i go back to the philosophy i stated a lil’ while ago re: team toughness…posted on april 26…:
“one thing that i had talked about continuously through out the year was the kings overall toughness…and although it has made significant progress from last season, it still remains a deciding factor in limiting this team’s potential…
and when i say team toughness, i don’t mean putting raitis ivanans on a 4th line for 5 minutes a game…i am talking about a philosophy of continuously being the aggressor enough on the forecheck and while in the neutral zone where you create the turnovers and dictate the flow of play…a team that finishes it’s checks and is looking to thwart it’s objectives by limiting space up the middle and by standing up at the blueline is going to have a far greater impact than any thug can…to me, that’s how a team becomes hard to play against…they have players that don’t necessarily throw the first punch, but are the last ones left standing…”
i don’t think raitis does nearly enough for this team no matter where you put him or how you use him…
i seriously doubt he will be a king next year…and i don’t think there will be much interest from other teams…maybe the rangers or the ‘ning would invite him to a camp tryout…
thanks for yr service, raitis…:)
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Tim (From the OC) Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
@variable, I agree with you. Raitis is a great team guy, but that can only get you so far.. We need SOME kind of production from our 4th line, not just a goal here and there, but to keep up with the forecheck, play physical (actually hitting people and not the boards), and giving the rest of the guys on the bench a breather once and a while.
Thanks Raitis, good luck in the ECHL
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Dan H. Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@variable,
You’re spot on. The Kings know what this guy is capable of (which isn’t much) and they kept throwing him in games for his presence and he limited that line to 5 minutes a night. When he was out they rolled 4 lines, had more team speed and were a better all around team.
Good luck wherever you go and no hard feelings RI. I just think your type of players are done in this league. I’d rather have a clune or Westgarth that can get in on the forecheck and add to a teams depth night after night.
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txkingsfan Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@variable, I agree with your assessment. Who is the enforcer on the Wings? If there is a designated one I would be surprised because every one of their players has what you are defining as ‘toughness’. Even their best players – Datsuyk, Zetterberg, Filipla – all are excellent forecheckers, backcheckers, and throw their bodies around to make a play. Even though I can’t stand them as a team, they are one of the most complete hockey teams in the league. The Kings have Brown, Simmonds, maybe Greene and, on a rare occasion, JMFJ makes an appearance. It is a team commitment, not a role you delegate to a goon (sorry Ratis).
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We have to do better than Ivanans. Next….
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It’s an interesting phenomena that he’s a “good practice player” as Rich says, what happens to his abilities in games? Does he freeze up? Try too hard? It’s a point of coaching if a player isn’t delivering to his potential…
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variable Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@iansez,
it’s a great point you make…
it could be just a case of him needing a different locale and/or voices in his ear…or, perhaps, the failure of the coaching staff as you suggest…
i really wish raitis the best of luck…being an enforcer is such a difficult job…i put it up there with the psyche of a goalie…the ability to let yr body absorb punishment cannot be taken for granted…
for someone who played so little for this team, he sure took up a whole ‘lotta copy on this blog from many…
i guess his lack of action was the cause for our strong words…
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Sure Raitas can fight, but he doesn’t. I haven’t seen a less-willing heavyweight since Steve McKenna.
If we’re going to have an enforcer, we need a guy who loves his job – e.g. McSorley – not a guy who only drops the gloves because he feels obligated.
I don’t care that Rat doesn’t score – the dude’s on the ice for 4 minutes a night – we can survive with him posting zeros. But if he’s not gonna be a “battleship,” as Lombardi says, then he is absolutely pointless.
As that target on Doughy’s back gets bigger, we need to make sure we give him some old-skool protection to make the other team think twice before taking runs.
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Lets compare Ivanans to other enforcers, not top six forwards. From that perspective, he is one of the best in the league. He is a deterrent by simply being on the ice. Would you rather have Parros? Westgarth may be a small upgrade on skating ability, but a big downgrade on keeping goons from other teams coming after our young superstars. I’ll take another McSorley, but until then, I am perfectly fine with Ivanans coming back next year.
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Cant wait to see the Poll for Jones. I think Jack’s next, then Jones.
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SDGolfer Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@Sebastian, It won’t be objective
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Get the Boogey man he is a free agent !! Ratis looked the part buT A SMALL FLURRY OF FIGHTS and a few slashes on the wrist of phanauf aint enough. if your going to carry a heavyweight carry a real one Grade F!!!
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LBlocal@yahoo.com Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
@Rudedogg, “As the end of the 2009-10 NHL Season Derek Boogaard has gone 222 games without scoring a goal, the longest active streak in the NHL. His last goal was scored against the Anaheim Ducks on January 7, 2006.” nhlstats
Not even Ivan the Terrible can do that. I gave Drago a “C”.
As most Kings fans agree, I look forward to bringing in homegrown talent, one that will proudly don the number “33″. Kevin Westgarth…
2009-10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 76GP, 11G, 14A, 25PTS, 180PIM
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rick Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
@Rudedogg, Agree about Boogey. That guy intimidates me while I am sitting in the comfort of my own home watching him on TV.
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You guys are forgetting that the last goals he scored were both game-winning goals =) (I think in the same week too if I remember correctly)
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OK Quisp,
could we get some stats on Ivavanans? What was the teams winning percentage with him in/out of the lineup?
TY
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When Ivanans threw down against the Sharks in the first week or so of the season, I really thought he had turned a page and was going to become a real enforcer who was out there to protect him teammates.
But that was the end of that.
He only really fought when he was forced to, and rarely won. Zero points in 61 games is pretty hard to believe too. Not even a secondary assist?
Good luck to him–seems like a nice guy. Maybe that’s the issue…
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I would like to see the 30 of you tell him face to face he sucked.
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I’ll back up the “nice guy” comments by sharing that about 18 months ago our Rotary Club in Sherman Oaks embarked on a program teaching local kids how to say a few common phrases (like hello, and thank you) in different languages. At the request of another wonderfully nice guy, Bob Miller (although he’s not the fighter Ivanans is), Raitis took the time to provide the translations for us in Latvian and we appreciated his help, as did the kids we have had fun teaching over the past couple of years. (Michal Handzus helped with Slovakian and Anze Kopitar helped with Slovenian, and I’m sure Frolov and Ersberg would have helped had we not had other sources…)
They are all really good guys, and people first and foremost, and I trust none of us will forget that when commenting about them too darned much.
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I agree that the guy is too nice and not that much of an enforcer. I too long for a McSorley-like player on our team. McSorley, like others have mentioned, lived the enforcer role; it’s part of his persona and character. It dates back to growing up in a big family and playing together, fighting together and developing a passion and intensity that remains with you forever. Being an effective and legitimate enforcer is not a Hollywood acting role. You either are one, or you are not. Ivanans, while looking physically imposing, is not. F
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Bring up Westgarth!!!!!!!!
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Regarding Rick’s comments re practice, that is what I saw the few times I was able to see a practice and I was quite surprised by his skating speed and even his shot. I am not sure why he cannot translate that into play during a game.
His job is very limited and he does it as well as can be, maybe too well which is one of the reasons others don’t want to fight him. Unfortunately, in today’s game, it seems that an effective 4th line that plays good minutes is more important than having a pure enforcer.
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Michael J. Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
@HawKings, Unfortunately practice scenarios do not equal those found in games. I had the opportunity to be on the ice with a 40-something year old Rick Chartraw about fifteen years ago. The guy could pick the corner with wrist shot from the blue line, but he was ten years out of the league.
This year Raitis contributed very little as far as offensive pressure, or defensive zone play.
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I still don’t understand this obsession with always having a fighter in the game. My favorite fourth line was Millen, Donelly and KJ, they skated circles around the other teams fourth liners and scored, but then Mc Sorley took care of the fighting.
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It’s going to be the same no matter who is in that enforcer spot.Attempting to make Drago a skater wasn’t going to work.TM isn’t one for gooning it up,so guys like Ivanans have to contribute in other ways.
I gave Drago a C+ simply because he did what was asked of him.The fact that he wasn’t successful at it is on TM,or DL for putting him there in the first place.Then changing what was his bread and butter before he got here.
You don’t hire a guy for certain attributes,then change his role,and put it on him,when it doesn’t work.Hopefully Westgarth fits what ever role he’s supposed to,with out having to learn a whole new way to play.If we need a skater there,then hopefully Westy’s already there.
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Drago does what he does but even Latvia didn’t want him on their Olympic team. That being said he leads the league in having probably the scariest glance. Ever. It’s like Zoolander’s Blue Steel. You don’t stop it you only try to contain it.
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as much as I liked Westgarth’s game in Manchester this year (and despite his 11 goals and 26 points, he’s a scratch in the playoffs…)
I’ll take UFA Zenon Konopka in a HEARTBEAT. The guy is a fighter, a monster in the faceoff circle (seriously, if he had taken enough draws, he would have led the league) and he’s put up huge scoring numbers in Juniors and the minor leagues. For what he’ll get on the open market, I’d certainly dip my toe in that ocean!
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I think if anyone is going to be an “enforcer”, then every day in training camp they need to watch old Tiger Williams interviews to get the right attitude!
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I gave him a C.
Fact is, he did what he was supposed to do. He was on this team to be an enforcer and to intimidate the opponents, as well as make them aware that they couldn’t run us over.
But not getting a single freaking point on the season is just glaring. So many GOALTENDERS had more points than he did.
Bernier, who played in only three games (two of which, the Kings only scored a combined 3 goals), had one assist. And Ivanans didn’t get one point. That’s bad.
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I have been posting all year that Ivanans, is too slow and has been a liability both offensively and defensively. Also if he plays that means someone else has to log more minutes since he only plays a couple of shifts (less than 5 mins a game). Other players may like the extra ice time, but now that we expect to go to the playoffs it is unneccessary wear and tear. We need to have a 4th line that can contribute something.
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I thought his best game this season was Game 1 of the playoffs. He frustrated me with untimely penalties, but at the end of the day he is an enforcer and that is all. He staged some good fights for the Kings in his career, and probably will be on another team next year.
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Do we really have to grade Ivanans? I feel bad for the guy with the spotlight on him.
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Yeah he did his job, but very limited “skill set” and thus his contribution to the team was marginal. Yes he could mix it up, but sadly this seemed like all he could do.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a role for this type of player in the NHL and may well be necessary for a winning team. But needs to contribute something else. Those bonehead penalites are frustrating. Honestly does not seem like he can play hockey.
Not one single point the whole season?
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I had to give him a D+. I know he’s a decent fighter but that’s all he is. He has no hockey skills and for the most part is a liability on the ice.
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This guy is solid, and any team with young players (i.e. Chicago) would welcome him with open arms.
Considering the role he was asked to play, he deserves an A-, B+.
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C
He did what he was supposed to do. He only plays 2-4 minutes a game. His job was to make sure nobody took liberties with DD, Kopi, etc.
His point total was not unexpected and we never needed him to score goals. If we did, he would have beenn playing more minutes.
I seriously doubt he’ll be back next year.
Now lets see if the Westy flu can do the job correctly.
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B+. I would have given him an A if he had scored that one in game one against Vancouver.
Who was on the ice for the fewest goals against (9)? Who had the lowest GAON/60 of any King this year?
That’s right.
He had a good year.
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I agree with sureshot here on Game 1 vs Van. While everyone was get pushed around in the neutral zone, Ivanans was the only one able to carry pucks into the Nucks zone without much issue right at the start. Love the guy, but that being said, he’s gotta make some crazy magic happen during this off season to barely pass for an NHL team.
I’m not too stoked on Westgarth’s play yet. 11 goals in the minors doesn’t mean much up top. Missing the AHL playoffs as a healthy scratch, that’s crucial
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I would be very surprised if Raitis is back next year. I think he does a decent job as an enforcer, but he is no Marty Mcsorely either. Speaking of Marty, I remember when the Kings let him go after the 92-93 season and made Warren Rychel, a middle weight the enforcer. Rychel, god bless him never backed down from anyone but got his butt kicked by the heavyweights in the league as revenge for all the times Marty used to do to them. It was unfair to put Rychel in that position and I have never forgiven Mcnall, or Melrose for that.
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Everybody KNOWS what he can do, (or can’t) yet still complaints about lack of productivity. The coach still feels he has intangible worth. That may be debatable, but it should not enter in to how you grade him on the job he was hired to do. If you need an old, cheap pickup truck to do a job, don’t complain when it doesn’t perform like a BMW.
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Good afternoon everybody. I gave him a C. I like him, I’ve liked him since we picked him up. Yes, it would be nice if he could compliment his role by scoring a goal every once in a while (2 game winners last year…) but I believe he does have an intimidation factor, and I also like how he played in Game 1 against the Nucks.I don’t believe they’ll bring him back, I hope they do, but I don’t think they will. I don’t recall having seen Westgarth play this year, I think he was here for camp and then got sent down, but I’m open to the idea that I’m wrong on that. But I know last year when he was here, he wasn’t very good, bad on his skates and got his ass kicked in the one fight I can recall. Westy’s not the answer, someone earlier mentioned Zenon, he might be some fun. But if he goes, I’ll miss the guy. Best of luck to you if you read this Raitis.
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Resign raitis,
Westgarth isn’t the answer
Raitis Does his job, and does it well.
He makes sure no one takes any liberties at our stars.
What do you want from him 20 points?
If westgarth is so good, then he would be playing.
Last time I checked “the answer” is scratched.
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Not entirely sure why people think westgarth has been “healthy” scratched. He’s been out since getting hurt playing against Worcester. We expect him back soon, especially with the jerks running Bernier. Cant wait for him to kick some butt!
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