Clifford to Monarchs? « LA Kings Insider

Clifford to Monarchs?

Posted by Rich Hammond on 6 May 2010, 7:29 pm

It has become Monarchs Day, hasn’t it? The Barrie Colts of the OHL announced today that Kyle Clifford has been assigned to the Monarchs for the rest of the playoffs. Clifford, a second-round pick of the Kings last year who signed an entry-level contract in September, had 28 goals and 29 assists in 58 games with Barrie this season and is known as a very hard-nosed, aggressive player. It will be interesting to see what the Monarchs do with Clifford. Just today, coach Mark Morris mentioned to me that the Monarchs have been using seven defensemen because they have so many players they’d like to get in the lineup. It will be interesting to see if they find a spot for Clifford.

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49 Comments

Belexes says:

May 6, 2010 at 7:32 pm

Hells Yes!

[Reply]
tellmeY says:

May 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

WOW…awesome to hear you guys have such depth…what is happening to your staff Are they there for awhile?….we want Lombardi or someone like him to build this Tampa team back. Hey…is Hextall available…we need a goalie also!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
@tellmeY,
Ersburg needs a good home.Might even play a couple of games in a row there.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:19 am
@tellmeY, I bet you could lure Morris to an NHL contract.

We already gave you guys Purcell!

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jayrew Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@tellmeY, Tokarski is the truth.

[Reply]
KingOMatic says:

May 6, 2010 at 7:39 pm

HECK YEAH!!

Clifford is gonna squish the fish!! then tame the bear.

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Cynic says:

May 6, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Call it a hunch, they’ll find a spot for him. He’s a beast.

The future keeps looking damn good! Holloway is a freak as well.

So many names for the future:

Loktionov
Holloway
Bernier
Clifford
Hickey
Teubert
Voynov
Cliche
Schenn
Kozun
Jones (Martin)
Zatkoff
Elkins
Azevedo
Lewis

I know I missed some…but of course

JURAJ MIKUS!

[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@Cynic,

You forgot two of the best

Moller
Muzzin (OHL defenseman of the year)

and

Parse (probably you count him as a roster player now, but still)

and some other good ones

Vey
Deslauriers
Nolan
Wudrick (led all OHL players in playoff goals for a couple of rounds)
King

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
@Quisp, I have a good feeling about Niclas Deslauriers, this kid is a plus player and he just seems ta know when to pinch in and when to stay back. I dont know that he would make the team this year but I am sure we will see him at Manchester at the very least. I saw him last training camp and was very impressed, and so was TM !

[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 7:13 am
@puck73,

yeah, he’s probably two or three years away from being able to push for a spot on the Kings. I would have to check but I think he has another year of juniors before he could play in manchester.

Cynic Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Quisp,

I was just too tired to think of them all. I figured someone would add ‘em. Thanks for that! You’re absolutely right. I meant to put Muzzin. I don’t consider Parse and Moller to be prospects anymore (As you basically said about Parse). I think they’ve proven their NHL abilities IMHO.

I think a really good poll question or just a question would be who the fans think out of the prospect pool is NHL ready for next season.

My votes:

Moller
Clune
Parse
Voynov
Bernier
Westgarth
Lewis

Those who are close and could surprise in camp

Holloway
Cliche
Azevedo
Schenn
Kozun
Loktionov
Muzzin
Clifford (Hunch, but should stay in Manch for 1)
Elkins

That in itself is a LOT of camp competition. Makes me want to take the time to actually GO to camp this year and watch.

[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Cynic,

Clifford still has another year of juniors eligibility, so it’s Barrie or LA for him. No Manch.

Don’t forget he was the last cut this year.

Cynic Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@Quisp,

I forgot. You’re right. I’d really like to see him spend a year in Manch somehow, but if he’s ready, let him come. If Simmer and Moller can do it, why not? I can’t see waiting 2 more seasons to bring him in if he keeps playing like he has been.

Quisp Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
@Cynic,

You forgot two of the best

Moller
Muzzin (OHL defenseman of the year)

and

Parse (probably you count him as a roster player now, but still)

and some other good ones

Vey
Deslauriers
Nolan
Wudrick (led all OHL players in playoff goals for a couple of rounds)
King

and then there’s this guy:

http://webb.nmu.edu/SportsAthletics/Sports/MensHockey/News.shtml?articleID=108514&team=6&display=all&category=&IsNewsBureau=

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
@Cynic,

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
@luc20rules, Its a nice problem to have to name 15+ prospects that are NHL caliber and to have to worry that your missing names. Its good to be a Kings Fan, thanks DL.
Go Kings Go!
Go Manarchs Go!

[Reply]
jet Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
@luc20rules, And 3 picks in the top 50 next month. DL is having a good decade.

zebehm Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 2:10 am
@jet:

DL is having a good decade but he will be a bust just like all the others until we bring a Cup to LA. I think DL is the guy to put together the team to do it so here’s hoping he’s not another bust GM.

Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@jet, re 3 picks in top 50

that’s true as long as Philly doesn’t mount a comeback and bust into the 3rd round.

kings4queens Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
@Cynic,

I’m totally excited to see Clifford move to Manchester. I was the most excited about him and Schenn during prospect camp and exhibition games at the beginning of the season. And the two together on the same line where amazing and had really good chemistry.

Do you have any idea why Holloway didn’t come up during the season when we needed scorers?

[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:48 am
@kings4queens,

Schenn with Clifford would be pretty sick for Manch. I’d like to see that too.

Bud has been reported to still have issues with his defensive position on the ice. He’s improving, but that has to get better for him to hang in the NHL. If he could develop a backchecking mentality like a Richardson, Kopi, Simmer, etc, He’d be HUGE for us with his talent for offense. He has to develop that skill though.

I’d say this is the one skill Scott Parse had to learn and is currently learning. TM has said he want’s more aggression out of Parse and more on the defensive end as well. Towards the end of the season, I saw more of Parse in the d-zone, working for pucks. It would be better for the Kings to have Bud already possessing that skill, instead of learning it as he goes. We have enough prospects now that we can simply take who’s ready and let the guys who still need work, thrive in Manch.

Can’t wait ’till he’s ready though.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@Cynic, You hit it right on the screws with Parse. Parse has been in the minors for years and really had to work very hard to become the plus player he has become with both Manchester and the Kings. Thats why it puzzles me why TM had issues with this guy half the time. holloway will have to put work in defensively like Kopi, and Parse have are he wont get a sniff up here.

wavesinair Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:39 am
@Cynic, Speaking of Mikus, has he even played a post season game?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:43 am
To answer my own question: No

[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@wavesinair,

You don’t want to see playoff hockey from Juraj Mikus. It’s no contest. The AHL knows that and the rumor is, have paid the Manchester Monarchs a nice sum to keep him off the ice to make things fair.

Understand, the reason Gary Bettman was in LA during the playoffs was NOT to see the playoffs, but to speak to DL and ownership about the potential backlash from the other owners if the Kings were to bring up Mikus. It could devastate league revenues because GB KNOWS the power of Juraj Mikus. Games would become unwatchable as Juraj Mikus would DOMINATE teams one by one and literally win the Cup by himself for the Kings organ-eye-zation.

The commish was a fair play league. I say, is it fair the Kings haven’t won a cup in since they’ve been in the league 43 years now?

LET MIKUS PLAY!

Barry's Mullet Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 11:52 am
@Cynic,

A few of these guys will go bye bye as DL improves the team through trades. Still leaves a crap load of talent with only a few spots to fill.

One opening at Center (Halpern
One opening for a heavy weight (Ivans)
One opening at LW (Modin)

Hopefully we sign a big FA
Zeus will hopefully sign an extension this summer.
Stoll will hopefully get traded this summer
Williams has one year left and I doubt will be resigned.
Richardson will resign
Parse will either make it this next season or he’s done
Clune will get a chance this next season

Like I said, I don’t see too many spots.

[Reply]
The Kings Need to Get Tough and Drop the Gloves says:

May 6, 2010 at 7:52 pm

Clifford is my kind of player. I like the prospects of sporting Simmonds, Clifford, Clune, and Westgarth on the front line. If DL can somehow pry a Ryan Malone type of player to play alongside Kopitar, then they will be set up front.

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

May 6, 2010 at 8:29 pm

Clifford to Monachs?

The Monachs is a beautiful luxury villa in Scotland.
http://www.islayguesthouse.co.uk/

Have a great time on vacation Kyle!

[Reply]
Rich Hammond Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
@wavesinair, Barrie website calls them the “Marnochs.” Must be contagious.

[Reply]
Bobby Scribe Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
@Rich Hammond, and here I thought you were going for a New York accent…see if I give you the benefit of the doubt again.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:35 am
@Rich Hammond, Strangely, “Marnoch” is a county in northern Scotland! There’s a serious Scottish connection with these misspellings, in which case, it would be a Scottish accent…

[Reply]
KC23 says:

May 6, 2010 at 9:19 pm

Don’t know how good the Kings will end up next year, but the Monachs are sure gonna kick some butt.

[Reply]
David Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
@KC23,

Even without Bernier? I doubt that.

[Reply]
QUisp Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
@David,

Zatkoff and Jones don’t suck either.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
@QUisp, Zatkoff has really improved and played well at training camp. Jones on the other hand was not ready to play with grown men, maybe he will be better this September.

David Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
@QUisp,

This whole having to type in your email and name everytime I post is frustrating lol.

As I was saying, Yeah you bring up a good point, Zatkoff is pretty good himself, but Bernier carried MAN this season.

VanKingsFan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@QUisp,

Agreed David, probably why this appears to be a fake Quisp with the capital U… probably just having to type it in every time…
romy says:

May 6, 2010 at 9:50 pm

question for anyne who can answer this,maybe rich you can,me and my girlfriend want to come down from bakersfield to go to the draft but dont cant find out how to get tickets for it,any help on how to get tickets would be much appreciated

[Reply]
Ten For Instigating Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 7:45 am
@romy, Ticket sales are supposed to be announced soon. Someone mentioned you can become a Bailey’s Buddy and Sports Chalet and get a ticket also but, I haven’t tried that. It is a $20 fee to be a Buddy. You do get a bobble head though

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@romy,

Ever get to a Condors game?

[Reply]
jet says:

May 6, 2010 at 10:25 pm

How could the Colts possibly lose that series? I really wanted to see him go against Schenn.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:31 am
@jet, Because Windsor is STACKED again this year.

It will be sweet to see Schenn battle it out with Taylor Hall and co.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

May 7, 2010 at 9:35 am

Did anybody notice CAPTAIN CANADA retained the rights to his nickname by becoming Captain of Team Canada for the Worlds!!!

So the Kings have the captain of team USA, and Team Canada, if Frolov gets named captain of team Russia we have the big three!!

Oh wait… I just woke up.. I must have fell into Frolov’s dreamworld

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@VanKingsFan,

How is the paranoia and depression going in Canucks land? Are they still wearing tin foil hats? Did they find the green spandex guys? Do they still think that Bettman is the leader of a Secret Society dedicated to the concept that the Stanley Cup never return to a Canadian team?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

haha Yes pretty much all of the above. Still a lot of optimism but the hatred for the refs is rampant! I have to admit to that they were letting the Shitcago BlackCocks get away with quite a bit in front of Luongo last game. The 5th goal should not have counted in my opinion. But I just think Van needs to do the same thing to Niemi.

Tons of hate in town for Bettman still, guys are betting on Sports Action props (not sure if this is in the states) the over and under for amount of times the refs screw the Canucks is at 3.5 lol

Tonights game is HUGE! There is a 5% chance I will get to go… I think it will be an intense game tonight though, couple of scraps.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 10:51 am
@VanKingsFan,

GO! A once in a lifetime opportunity!

From now on, they’ll be grieving whilst the Kings are still playing in the playoffs…
Cynic says:

May 7, 2010 at 10:12 am

Dear Richard Hammond-

I hereby formally request an in-depth interview with Manchester Monarchs superstar Juraj Mikus. I believe this is what the fans here truly want and it could only do wonders for the site and your career. As you know, everything Juraj Mikus touches or involves himself in turns to platinum.

I believe you could ask Michael Handzus to translate for you in a three way conference call.

This has to happen eventually. It’s destiny. You were BORN to write this story Rich and shock the world with the power of Juraj Mikus. Have Luc get you some extra insurance as we don’t know how you’ll react to the power, and let’s get that done.

You knew this job was dangerous when you took it and this interview is the epitome of danger. Godspeed Rich Hammond. We look forward to your report.

[Reply]
Minnesota Kings Fan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Cynic,

Silly request…

However, I am curious to know if Mikus is aware if the (shall I give it a name?) “Mikus-Mania” that is a continuing thread on this blog, and if so, what he thinks of it.

[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
@Minnesota Kings Fan,

Maybe, but the only way to answer your question is to do the interview, right? I’m curious for the same reason, especially hearing that Kevin Westgarth has been known to come in here and read. It’s gotta get to him.

[Reply]