ANDREI LOKTIONOV 
This season: 1 game, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 penalty minutes, 11:52 ice time.
The good: Loktionov progressed enough, in his first full year after coming over from Russia — he was a fifth-round pick in 2008 — that he earned a call-up in late November when the Kings needed a center when Jarret Stoll was injured. Loktionov injured his shoulder in that game, but he seems to be adapting well to the North American game. People in the organization rave about his “hockey sense” and there’s a belief that he could project as a second-line center.
The bad: Loktionov is listed, probably quite generously, at 179 pounds. The play on which he was injured in Edmonton was a relatively benign incident in which there really wasn’t much contact. Loktionov’s ability to thrive at the NHL level is going to depend on his ability to improve his body control and strength.
Going forward: Over the next 12 months, the Kings would love to see either Loktionov or Brayden Schenn position himself as the second-line center of the future. Loktionov has a bit more flair to his game, and looks as though he could end up being a major fifth-round steal. He will get a long look during training camp, for certain, but is he physically ready?
What can one say about a player who played in only one game, and got hurt in it?
I gave him a C only because he seemed competent in that game and didn’t royally screw up. Perhaps because he never really got a chance to show what he could do. I hope that’s the case.
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Can I give him an incomplete?
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I’m not a doctor, but I do understand that it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of force to cause an injury if the right place is impacted. I expect he will improve physically as he gets older,(he’s only 19 isn’t he?). Simmonds looked like a gust of wind could blow him over when he first came to LA and look at him now.
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Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
@just my opinion, @richhammond
Rich, you make it sound like his shoulder got dislocated because he wasn’t “strong” or something. Shoulder dislocations can of course be caused by a violent collision, in which case his strength would be an issue, the ability to stand up to a check, etc.. But frequently shoulder dislocations/separations are freakish in nature and don’t have anything to do with strength per se, but are caused by the integrity of the socket (ligaments? I forget exactly). I know that some people have what are called “loose shoulders” in which the shoulder is just genetically more prone to popping out. This is supposed to be correctable by surgery to tighten things up, in which case the shoulder post-op is better than the shoulder he was born with. In theory.
He will of course grow into his body, like Moller also needs to do. There’s no reason to think he won’t look (physically) something like Datsyuk when he matures.
Schenn is more robust, obviously, and I think that means he will have a leg up in the fall. Loktionov, and Moller too, will probably get another year in Manchester with spot call-ups. I say this only because I don’t see where they’re going to play unless they beat out both Schenn and Clifford, and I would be surprised if that happened in 2010.
obviously you can’t give him a grade based on his play with the Kings. but as a point per game guy in the AHL, who scored a hattrick in his first pro game, despite being the youngest player in the league, I give him an A.
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Belexes Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@Quisp,
Agree with the “freakish nature” of these types of injuries. Also remember that this injury was complicated by the on-site doctors inability to ‘pop the shoulder back in. This created the long rehab for Loki.
Also agree that Schenn has the leg up for a roster spot, not only because of his development as a player, but also because of his high expectations as a #5 overall pick.
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Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@Belexes,
however, to disagree with myself a bit, Schenn still has juniors eligibility, so it’s either the Kings or Brandon, he can’t go to Manchester. Loktionov, on the other hand, can come and go as he (well, as Lombardi) pleases.
Derek Bargaehr Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
@Quisp,
Agree completely. I do have a loose shoulder (genetically) one my right side and it pops out frequently when I play. Also caused a torn labrum this summer, not from high impact, but because it was loose the ligaments and tissue were doing more than their fair share to support twists and turns rather than socket/muscle. It didn’t take much, just a wrong tweak when I hit the ice.
Although Lokti is pretty freakin’ small…
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holly Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
@Quisp,
Having seen Loktionov out of equipment in normal clothes… he’s frighteningly little. While I agree that his injury was more of the freak nature than due to his actual size, he’ll get crushed in the NHL.
For those who compare him to Moller, it’s apples and oranges. Moller while short is broad and obviously muscular. He isn’t a huge guy, but he’s obviously strong. Loktionov on the other hand is just slight. I’m fairly certain that my shoulders are broader than his are. He isn’t even lanky looking, more like he hasn’t hit puberty.
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Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@holly,
i did some investigative reporting on the issue of AL’s size about a year ago:
http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2009/05/02/loktionov-is-apparently-only-three-feet-tall/
Thank you for the inside scoop on the comparative Loktionov/Moller musculature.
When puberty hits, he will be better than fine.
Gionta, Sullivan, Bouillon, Nichol, Cammalleri, Roy, Tootoo, Lebda, Bergeron all list at 5’9″ or smaller. Loktionov lists at 5’10″, which puts him even with Kane, Briere, Wellwood, Versteeg, Svatos, Liles, Draper, Savard, Rafalski, Recchi, Walker, Metropolit and Clune. Of course, I don’t know if we can trust the official numbers, since Moller is listed at 5’11″.
Holly, I’m counting on you to get out there with your tape measure. I’m only half kidding.
wavesinair Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
re: Moller’s strength
After he was pummeled by Bobby Ryan last year, Moller jumped up, punched him in the face and grabbed onto his collar for what seemed like forever. All the while, Ryan tried as hard as he possibly could to get Moller off him…to no avail. The dude is freakishly strong. I think he was made small on purpose to make it fair.
holly Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I’d say Moller’s height might be somewhat exaggerated. But I’ve never stood next to him, so it might just be an illusion because he’s so wide.
Loktionov being listed as 5’10 is probably about right. He’s about the same height as Voynov, but doesn’t have the same broadness. I can’t find anyone that I know their exact height (and can confirm that it isn’t exaggerated!) with Loktionov but just for an idea… http://tinyurl.com/2admo45 my friend is 5’9 and wearing heels that probably ended up giving her an extra inch and a half of height. Andrew Campbell is listed as 6’4, Voynov as 5’11.
That injury didn’t help him out here, and it’s the only reason I gave him a C+. If not for the injury, he would be a lot higher on the grading scale.
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Loktionov: incomplete.
But we’re two away from MURRAY……!!!
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Cant vote, only grade he deserves is incomplete, sorry.
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GER 2 : USA 1 .
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@vladimir,
HA!
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Incomplete. Need to see much more.
P.S. Rich, who ever posts your twitters (tweets?) keeps double clicking where only a single click is needed.
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Can’t grade, the jury is still out. If he can do what is said about him, woohoo!, bring him on!
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I agree with all of you, cant grade him yet after 1 game. His numbers in the minors, and Manchester have been very good. Will he be able to bring those numbers to the NHL? Time will tell.
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I love Lokti.
He was amazing in the one year he spent in the OHL. And even in the OHL he would constantly get injured. Every game, if he got hit, he’d act like he got hit by a semi. Now I figured he’d bulk up and hit the big league, but when I found out he was playing in the NHL already I thought “OH NO! he’s gonna get hurt real soon”. I didn’t think it would be in his first game, but it happened. I was counting on maybe 5 games before he got hurt. Anyways the kid got skills and is a great playmaker. But I don’t know if he has the physicality to cut it in the big leagues. Good Luck Lokti! I didn’t give u a grade but I hope to see you succeed as a King!
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Can’t issue a grade, his game was not even on TV.
I would be concerned about his size. He may be like Moller in that he is skilled but gets roughed up by larger players. Hope not.
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AL with the OT winner!
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holly Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
@Michael J.,
Wrong Russian.
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The injury problem makes it seem as though it would be hard for Loki to hold the 2nd Center spot. He may be the 13th Forward that gets rotated in when the O goes into a slump. But, I am not sure DL would just have a kid sit and not play much. He is likely going to get called up and sent down since he is young enough not to be exposed to waivers.
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Quisp Reply:
May 8th, 2010 at 8:35 am
@luc20rules,
I didn’t know he had an injury “problem.” You’re right that Lombardi won’t keep him in LA just to have him sit in the press box. He’s top-six and PP or he’s in Manchester, unless they want to do a 3rd line a la Millen/Donnelly. I’m sure he will eat up Manchester until he’s physically ready for the big club and then that’s where he’ll be.
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puck73 Reply:
May 8th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@Quisp, Hey Quisp, I am glad you havent forgotten Corey Millen. Fact is after he was moved after the 92-93 both Mike Donnelly and Tony Granato were never the same. That line had a special chemistry and Barry Melrose had him shipped outta here becauce in his opinion he was too small. Melrose then proceeded to bench players like Donnelly, Sandstrom, Robitaille, and Zhitnik and yet for some reason he was in love with Darryl Sydor, one of the worst and overrated d man we have had. Sydor used to get burnt like toast constantly. Melrose’s wet dream was to have a team filled with muckers and grinders and got rid of a lot of the skill that Nick Beverly and Roy Mlaker had put together. I was so glad when Rogie Vachon finally fired his ass !. Why people around here still revere Melrose just disgust’s me, thank god Tampa Bay sent him back to the ESPN studio where he belongs.
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C+….Sort of half & half mark, for what he’s done with the Kings, the Monarchs & the Spits. Did anyone watch Lokti in the Memorial Cup last year? This kid is for real….he is the deal. Not the biggest dude on the ice but he has the moves and a wickedly deceptive shot. He’ll look good in Kings black for a long time, just as soon as he can fill out the jersey…..
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Quisp Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
@Moondoggie,
Yeah, I saw every game. I still remember as clear as day a fake-shot/pass that literally made the crowd gasp. There was one game in the OHL playoffs that I was checking the box-score and as I was refreshing the screen his point tally kept going up. It was ridiculous.
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I don’t get any video from Manchester. No clue how great or how terrible Lokitionov is, all I know is that the AHL is mainly located on the East Coast which makes it easy for a re-call and A LOT easier for fans to see the players the organization drafts. I don’t watch the draft because I live in Southeren California and no one plays Hockey in San Diego. SDSU has a team, but it is played at a off campus arena. All I am saying is the Ducks won the cup, the Sharks are beating the Red Wings 3-1 in the series and the Kings have made a new team all through the draft, yet there is NO AHL team in California.. sure the Reign is a team, but I’m not going to drive to Ontario to see players that one day may make the Monarchs and if they’re good enough maybe make the Kings roster.
So when anyone ask how a guy like Lokitionov, Lewis, or anyone on the Monarchs is doing, or who will fill in that 4th line center role I have no clue. The only time I see a guy like Moller is when he is a King. When he gets sent down all I hear(if I’m lucky) is little articles like Moller gets a goal then if I really want to keep up with him I got to go on the Monarchs web site and they have no video replay or highlights. IT SUCKS for how ever much the Kings and the NHL make they make it pretty hard to keep up with the future stars unless you live in Ontario or in New Hampshire. I am guessing there I have no clue where Manchester is.
My point is can the Kings get one more Rich Hammond so the fans can hopefully watch highlights of the games or anything that can keep the fans updated with the future of the organization because if I had to give a “organization evaluation” it would be a low grade. With NO news at all about players in Europe and no or very little news about player in Manchester I would say the only way I can evaluate a player is when he was drafted(#1 pick, #5 pick) and that really doesn’t say a lot at all considering #1 draft pick Trevor Lewis SUCKS!!! and Simmonds and Moller both were 2nd round draft picks. Also Kozen 6th round had more points than #1 pick Schenn. Does this mean Kozen is better than Schenn?? Probably not, but how do I know??
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Also the JRgument is STUPID make JR go out to Manchester and do something productive!! I don’t care what JR thinks about anything!! I want to know the facts then I can make my own decision. Having some guy that SUCKED for the Kings doesn’t make me interested.. AT ALL I have no clue why anyone would hire him. Maybe the Kings hire someone that wasn’t 100% terrible for the Kings and I may listen like Matty Nordstrom, Trent Klatt, Adam Deadmarsh, or give Evans and/or Fox their own show just anyone that wasn’t a complete joke when he wore a Kings jersey would be fine.
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