Here’s what Terry Murray said today about the Kings’ signing of Alexei Ponikarovsky…
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Question: From your time in Philadelphia, what do you remember about Ponikarovsky and what type of game he plays?
MURRAY: “Ponikarovsky, he’s a hard-working guy. He’s going to play at both ends of the rink. He’s a big-bodied guy who can play in those tight spaces and protect the puck along the boards. He’s going to create from down low. He’s going to be a presence around the net and score goals. He has been a 20-goal scorer over the last few years, and I’d like to think that there’s always room for improvement on that side of it and that hopefully he can get those numbers up. i think, often times, when you look at a player, especially a European player, you wish that they would take advantage of more of the opportunities that they put themselves in, instead of looking for that one more option. He’s got a great shot. He’s just going to be a good complement to our hockey club. He will play in all situations. He’s a penalty-killer and a good power-play guy and he’s a good 5-on-5 player at both ends of the ice.”
Question: Going into training camp, is there the possibility that he might fill that left-wing role alongside Handzus and Simmonds?
MURRAY: “Well, this deal is something that just happened, so I haven’t really had any time to give it that much thought. But if I was to put it down on paper right this minute, as to where the fit would happen, that gives you three big men who pay attention to the checking part of the game and, at the same time, are going to have the puck and be able to create stuff in the offensive zone. So that’s probably our first look at it.”
I’m 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, and I know what my game is,” Ponikarovsky said. “I have to use my size and basically go hard to the net—take the puck there, protect the puck in the corners and finish my checks, all the basic stuff that a guy my size has to do, along with scoring some goals and helping my team win.”
3rd line poni-zeus-simmons
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I do like Poni’s size and his willingness to play in front of the net because with JMFJ, DD and Stoll blasting from the point on PP, we could conceivably be top-5, and that my friends spells success.
Also, crashing the net on 5-on-5 produces a lot of junk goals which would help in that regard, too.
I am beginning to see that TM wants crashers and bangers just as the east seems to have.
But IK as a sniper would still be a welcomed addition.
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luc20rules Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:03 pm
@miracle.on.manchester, I agree with all your points. I just hope Zues & Poni don’t check each other by accident getting to the front of the net.
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DL has someone in mind who can it be
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Tookie Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
@murf,
Who do you think the Flyers are willing to trade?
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murf Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
@Tookie, the only one i’d take is Richards but he’s too much cap and a center plus thall never get rid of him
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“Murray on Poni”…hee hee.
I like the thought of him with Handzus.
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Thank you DL… Let see Frolov signed 3 mill / 1 year with the rangers and the Kings signed Ponikarovsky for 3 mill / year.
As far as production Ponikarovsky has around 30-40 % less goals and assist…. Remembe last seasonr Frolov was in the dog house and had very limited time on ice, but still had produced limited offense. I am just saying if Kings had a chance to trade Frolov for Ponikarovsky, who would have a better deal? I do not think the King would of made that deal at all. But DL start feeling the pressure so he is just scrambling.. Hope the new guy will fit in well and try to live up to the hipe on the left wing…
So far the kings according to DL ahead of schedule, may be he is targeting 2020……
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Puckin-A Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@johnny, We have a winna!
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OneTimer Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
@johnny,
Please telephone Alexander Frolov at 1-800-SWEATER and ask him to validate his asking salary with LAK. Because I could have sworn … that your entire rant (which you are entitled to, as sophomoric as I found it to be) began with a rather blind assumption that Alex (and/or his agent <- don't forget him) was willing to ACCEPT $3MM/1 to stay.
Wait what? … oh. Didn't think so.
Carry on.
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johnny Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
@OneTimer, Don’t need to call him, I think none of this guys worth 3 mill / year, I am just stating the fact as soon as Frolov was gone DL signed a left wing with the same amount of money with less skills…..
Hope he will feet in well and start putting up at least as much offense as Frolov did….
By the way, stop argue among yourself……
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johnjuan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
@johnny,
Your spot on.
We are gonna miss Frolov. This looks like a trade disaster. Shoulda given Fro more money and kept looking for a big gun down the road.
OneTimer Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@johnny,
(lol- good one about the arguing with myself. Kudos to you, fellow fan.)
Truth is I agree with you – would have liked Fro to stay as he was talented and a top-5 puck poss guy in the NHL (but nothing we can do now) … and also am hoping/praying Poni makes this deal worth it?!
Time will tell. I’ll be watching Kings games regardless, as I have for the past 27 years.
KC23 Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 6:54 am
@johnny,
Look at their career plus/minus. It tells the whole story.
I’d take that trade in a heart beat and be very very happy. Fro didn’t do squat.
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johnny Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
@KC23, you can not just take their +/-, remember Frolov was more a puck control guy, and Poni a drive to the net guy and put “garbage” goals in, that is whay Frolov has more – in his carrrier….
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Better not take games off or you will feel the wraith of the fans. They aren’t very forgiving, and loved to blame Frolov for adapting to a defensive role for the Kings terrible 101 point season. Which his 50 points on a 3rd line and amazing puck possession didn’t contribute to at all. Good luck and hope you aren’t this seasons scapegoat.
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KC23 Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 6:55 am
@Puckin-A,
Defense my arse, horrible plus minus. Face it, Fro sucked bad. He was in the dog house because it sucked, he didn’t suck because he was in the dog house.
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This is a joke. I totally agree with johnny, DL had to do something reportable, so he pulls another Modin/Halpren. Man….where’s the beef. Why hasn’t he locked up the youngsters like he said he was going to do. Will they be another Cammy who he dissed in arbitration to the point where he became an issue Lombardi had to ship off. Did anyone see Cammy in the playoffs? Boy, we didn’t need him against Vancouver. Thanks for the third liner Dino. Lombardi is the new Elgin Baylor in L.A.
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Joe Dirt Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@Thomas Ponce,
It’s one thing about being critical of Lombardi. But, comeon give Poni a chance. The season hasn’t even started yet and you’re already lumping him in the same category as Halpern
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Thomas Ponce Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Joe Dirt, He’s another third line player….how does that help us get past Vancouver? How does DL justify coming back with essentially the same team that got bounced from the playoffs in the first round. our big improvement is a new Frolov. Poni can get another 20 goals, and we’re no more formidable then what we were with Frolov. The idea is to get better.
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Mike L Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
@Thomas Ponce,
Frolov said no to LA wanted a change of scenery maybe it’ll do him some good. Ponikarovsky is a good player and this deal isn’t bad its only a 1 year deal. Just because Doughty/Johnson haven’t signed yet isn’t anything. We as fans all had crazy dreams that it would be done on July 1st but it wouldn’t be. Doughty will get done and johnson and simmer don’t worry. It’s freaking July and your worrying why Doughty isn’t signed yet when he still has a WHOLE nother year left on his deal.
Don’t judge this deal until the end of the year……. geeezzzzzzzzz
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EJ Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
@Thomas Ponce said: “Did anyone see Cammy in the playoffs?”
The question is, did *you* see Cammy in the playoffs in his own zone. He was average at best, and against the Flyers, he had a number of poor shifts.
I will not argue that he had a fine playoff run and helped the Canadians overachieve. However, he is not a reliable two-way forward, and I would not want him on my team.
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Steve S. Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Can’t a week go by without someone mentioning Cammileri? These comments grow more ignorant every time. The guy was going to be an UFA and going to walk. Montreal was dumb enough to pay him 6 million a year and he’s not worth that, and you know it (and if you don’t, you should).
Enough. DL did the right thing here. Please come up with some new material !!!
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Thomas Ponce Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 10:28 am
@Steve S., The idea is, as a general manager, to improve the team. Remaining status quo isn’t acceptable when you’ve made the playoffs only once in your five year tenure. You people backing DL and his “on schedule” philosophy, you go right ahead. Getting another third line player will not get us back to, or further into the playoffs.
jet Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
@Thomas Ponce, Yep, in 5 games for the Flames he had one goal. That had 30 million dollar contract written all over it.
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it’s gonna be a competition between the both next season.
watching the numbers closely and whining and “i-told-you-so”-ing.
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So apparently Lombardi tried to acquire Poni at the trade deadline last year. If this would have been a move to replace Frolov on the third line, I wonder if there was another deal in the works that included Frolov to Thrashers for you know who. Pure speculation on my part.
As for Frolov, I am one of his critics. After 8+ years as a Kings, we never saw this player grow; great puck control, good in corners, but unable to drive the net, inconsistent from one night to the next – this has nothing to do with Lombardi or Murray folks, the guy was with the organization way before those guys came in – same M.O.
Murray and Lombardi drew the line, told him what was expected of him and he failed to deliver. Simple as that.
Bottom line: Is it better to have a player like Poni who knows his role (3rd liner) and is willing to play it, or a guy struggling to stay top 6 game after game? Frolov was given many chances over the years and for him and his agent to say the Kings ruined his career and chance at better money is petty and disingenuous.
I think the Kings know exactly what type of player they want and Frolov did not live up to their requirements.
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Larry Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
@dMan, So, what makes everyone think that we will sign a scorer like a Kovi, and let him play his game? The ego side of DL is so overwhelming that it is purely his way or the highway. I would have liked to see how he and TM would have handled a Marcel Dionne…a Bernie Nichols…would they have shipped them out for not being defense minded enough?
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dMan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I think you’re generalizing. Are they handcuffing Kopitar, Smyth, Williams? They want their players to be defensively aware and responsible. This doesn’t prevent driving to the net and scoring goals.
Murray’s system is an up-tempo game, but he also has to have a game that takes into account the talent the club has to offer. If you have less talented players as a whole, you’ll be playing more defense. As more and more talented players find their way in the organization and team, Murray will adapt his system.
It’s not as black and white as what fans make it out to be.
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johnjuan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@dMan,
He was two time 30 + scorer and in fact has numbers that match up with the 6.5 mil dollar Smyth. He was one of our best players year after year.
All you anti- fro guys dont remember what this guy really brings to the team. Well your gonna find out very soon.
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KC23 Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 7:00 am
@johnjuan,
BS. Fro career plus minus tells the whole story. Fro sucks, and those good numbers were more a result of playing with Kobitar. You notice Kobitar actually got better once Fro was off his line and Fro went right into the dumpster in the most important year of his career. The turns around and blames the Kings. The guy is a loser.
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Garrett Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 11:13 am
@KC23, do you even watch the games? Kopitar and Frolov were NEVER regular linemates during their time together as teammates. They played in a few short streaks of ten games or so on a line together but they had no chemistry and it never lasted. They are both fine players, just didn’t work well together.
dMan Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@johnjuan, I’m not denying the guy has skills and that he was valuable to the team. What I am critical about is the fact that in 7-8 years he has not brought his game to the next level to increase his skillsets and he appears to have difficulty resolving the responsibilities asked of him. Compare that to Kopitar who has over the years, learned to play a much more rounded game and that makes him even more effective.
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Frolov needed a change of pace and was not getting it done in LA. He is a good player and can put up points on a bad team when he gets close to 20 minutes a game. Frolov’s best fit is on the defensive side but in the NHL during the playoffs you want guys who hit and can score. Ponikarovsky over his career averages about 4 minutes less again than Frolov. When you compare the points to minutes it is a close one. I think for this team to be good in the playoffs you would want Ponikavarovsky on your third line more than Frolov. From a skill point Frolov does win but that does not always equal a better fit for the team. We still need a truly talented goal scorer on the top 2 lines to help. Stoll is not the guy for that spot.
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Kyle Calder and Ladislav Nagy had a baby named Alexi Ponikarovsky????????
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Speking of Stoll, Frolov saved him from being the scapegoat, a one dimensional player who take half a season off but avoided TM’s doghouse because he won faceoffs. I guess keeping the puck down low is less important than winning it and turning it over.
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Rangers are in a boat load of trouble. I say DL puts down an offer sheet of 2.4 for Marc Staal. There is your answer to your top 6.
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Let’s not forget Frolov was offered an NHL deal yesterday, 26 days after the start of free-agency and only by one club; the Rangers. This speaks volumes about his perceived value in the league.
My guess is Lombardi was willing to wait until offers were made and counter. When it became clear Frolov wanted out of L.A., he wished him luck.
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Puckin-A Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@dMan, Maybe a public lashing from management helped???? Would of been smarter to keep things in the locker room and deal him at the deadline, but I guess they wanted to lose him for nothing. Also funny how we got a player who under achieved on the Pens first line, must be hard to finnish with that Crosby scrub at center.
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dMan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
yes, undoubtedly, that was the plan; Lombardi and Murray spent weeks concocting what they could do to make one of their players, a first round pick, less valuable to the team, the organization, the league and the world.
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KC23 Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 7:04 am
@dMan,
Amen bro. These pro Fro people crack me up. The guy is a loser and the rest of the league agrees. Even the Rangers wouldn’t dare invest more than a year in him.
guuny Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
@dMan, and that right there should be the end of the discussion
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i hope frolov scores forty with the rangers and a hat trick against the kings, that will show tm and dl that he don’t take “a night off”
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dMan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
@henry, yeah, boy will they spend some sleepless nights after that!
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At least TM doesn’t have to bury you on the 3rd line anymore.Good luck Fro.Playing with Gaboric,and a coach who is excited about using you in all situations.I see a big year offensively.
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Doc. Mark 1968 Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
@Dominick,
Fro will not play with Gabby; they are both left wingers.
Everyone else, get over it. The coach and GM were not happy with Fro.
Think for a minute, whose dog house would you rahter be in, TM’s or JT’s? Poni will have a better year than Fro, no doubt about it!!
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Dominick Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Doc. Mark 1968,I don’t know where you got your info from,but I got mine here.
http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/depthchart.cgi?NYR
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Dominick Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
@Doc. Mark 1968,Also check out Sathers comments.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b54Kk
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KC23 Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 7:09 am
@Dominick,
I noticed they forgot to mention Fro’s lifetime -75 in the plus/minus rating. Just Ranger hype.
Hole filled on the 3rd line good job,
Now lets get that D-Man if possible.
For the frolov fans he is gone,Have a few drinks enjoy a good cry and then move on the KINGS sure have.
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“He’s just going to be a good complement to our hockey club.” For 3.2 Million ???
Hey Terry, Your hair looks nice today. You really look great in that dress. Those are some good compliments, now tell Dean to toss a couple bucks my way.
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I think, in the end, both Frolov and the Kings have legitimate beefs with each other. I think it was wrong of the Kings to have been publicly critical of a veteran player, and he probably should have been given an opportunity to play more of an offensive role.
At the same time, Frolov hasn’t been the same player for awhile. He hadn’t been going to the net, he’d lost his touch on breakaways, and he just didn’t seem to care all that much about playing hockey for the Kings. He’s been said to be one of the last to get on the ice and one of the first to get off it when it’s practice time.
I think when both sides have this kind of disagreement, it’s time for a change.
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Steve S. Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Spot on brother. Mutually beneficial for him to walk.
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I hope the Kings still pursue Kovi even after this signing. This is just a scotch tape job by DL. We still need a sniper who can puts some goals in the net 5-5 and we also have someone else other than Handzus to keep pick up the trash around the net.
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Steve S. Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Hope springs eternal but I am not optimistic. Having said that, if he ends up with the Kings, DL will come out of this smelling like a rose and maybe some of his critics will be quiet, at least for a while.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/425246-nhl-free-agency-if-all-nhl-wags-were-free-agents-who-would-you-sign Here’s something to take your mind off todays signings
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
@Murf, Muff, oops sorry,thanks that was great,I’ll take them all.
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chuckrocks Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
@Murf, Ya, but Dean would only be able to sign one of the broken down tossed aside old ones for to much money, that nobody wants anymore.
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I have always been a Frolov fan. That being said, he was in a rut here and wanted to go. Goodbye and good luck, then. Frolov has a talent perhaps more suited to East Coast rather than West Coast hockey. I always enjoyed watching him, but truthfully the Kings don’t have to have Frolov in order to win a lot of hockey games.
Poni’s game is more suited to 3rd line LW than Frolov’s was, to be honest. A.P. is more of an energy player than Frolov, much more of a net crasher than Frolov. This move is fine and it is appropriate for the Kings going forward. A one-year contract is also sensible and gives him incentive to actually perform to earn a longer term.
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King John Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
@Pumpernicholl,
Well said. Wish you the best, Fro.
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I don’t like all this negativity. We all can see what’s on the surface, but we won’t ever know exactly what is going to happen once the season starts. Poni might be great for us, or he might not. Frolov might have a career year in New York, or he might not.
Simply, we have filled a gap, but Dean needs to do more, and apparently he has something in the works. I’m not a staunch supporter of the guy entirely, I’ll always be skeptical of just about anyone, but I doubt many of us fans have an insider view into what is going on. Let’s see what Lombardi does. This move wasn’t stupid. It wasn’t fantastic either, but it worked. Let’s hope that he can do something else just as sensible, but perhaps a little more impacting.
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He’ll fit in nicely with the Rangers as Terry Murray didn’t utilize him properly. I see him getting back to being a 30+ goal scorer.
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..this P.. move is Punick move. $3 is much for poni Fro was much better ,younger and more productive than this guy.I said before ,the only option now are trades
and only God knows how good this forced trade would be.Dl is forced now to show “the world’ that the improvment is alive….Btw ,Molson got more than $2 and our pure Rich only 900000…not fair at all.
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Fro was.used right which was a possession player.Sadly when he was doing his thing he forgot that there we two other guys out there with him, along with a net to take the puck to. But most likely he will do well with a change and play better for the Rangers. It was clear he did not get TM’s system or appreciate it.
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As a long time Kings Fan, ( Since Jiggs McDonald called the games on KHJ-TV channel 9 in Los Angeles),Can someone please list the current players on the Kings roster who were drafted by Dean Lombardi, snd those drafted by Dave Taylor ?
Curious.
Thanks,
Jim
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Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what’s next? this trade was like the last minute announcement in a K-Mart store before they close the doors. I still don believe Lombardi is serious about wining the cup. I can’t believe that we going to need to force ourselves to think that this guys MAY FIT with the team I wait for the whole summer to happen ?? Maybe we should star thinking about trading Lombardi for a cheaper GM. and see how he feels! Is going to be another frustrating season again and again!!!
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madA Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Trade?
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I… Like… Alexei Ponikarovsky
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Yawn….burb!! Who…Ponzerelli? Wow nice job…zzzzz
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Yawn….burp!! who?? Ponzerelli????… wow good job….zzzzz
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I predict Frolov will start with a bang, then after 8-10 games will disappear for a long dry spell only to show up every 6-7 games resulting in a 22-24 goal and 60 or so point total.
Poni, on the other hand will play more consistently and end up with fewer goals, but more assists and slightly more points. However, Poni will force more turnovers and create more screens at the net.
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I think you guys are missing the forest for the trees. Frolov was supposed to be a top six forward; he never fit there. He couldn’t establish chemistry with Kopitar, and he never clicked with Stoll and Brown. Fro had marginal success with Zus and Simmer, and carved out a niche on the third line; however, that’s not what management or the coaching staff envisioned for him. In general, third line forwards get time on the PK. Honestly, I don’t remember Fro killing penalties. He very well may have, but I don’t remember.
Now, to the present… Our beloved Kings sign Poni who they immediately classify as a third line left wing who will fit perfectly with Zus and Simmer and play in all situations effectively. He also brings a physical edge to the game that Fro lacked. Poni brings a set of skills that Fro lacked for what TM envisions for that role.
Poni has been signed for what he brings to the table. He was not signed to “replace” Fro. Poni may not have Fro’s offensive upside, but I’ll take the other parts of his game that Fro lacked. The Kings bid adieu to Fro who was essentially pigeon-holed on the third line and welcome a player more suited to what the Kings need out of that position.
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dMan Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
@Good2bKings, yes, thank you!
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It’s simple: Frolov has top 6 skills and abilities, but he doesn’t have top 6 consistency – that’s what killed him. He has the inane talent, there is no debate about that, he just has not been able to put the package together and take that next step after 8 years in the league.
You’re Lombardi and faced with the idea of having a Frolov who is not making it in your top 6 and not quite making it as a third liner either. What do you do? You let the guy go and you aim for a top 6 guy AND a third line guy; but who are they going to be (in-house, FA or trade?) and at what cost?
To say the Kings purposefully derailed Frolov then went dumpster diving for Poni is ridiculous. Keep things in perspective.
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Steve S. Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
These comments are spot on too. Fro has always been a streaky player. You never knew what you were going to get one night from the next. Hard to have a winning team with inconsistency like that.
I don’t dislike the guy and I wish him well…
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I think the Kings are going for guys with cool names, not for players whom they need in the future, I do understand sometimes need a trade, and sure did looked like for Frolov he was heading on that road. That case the Kings should of get something for him, but it is done over, they have the new guys see what he can do on the left wing, now instead waiting for an other move and panic, DL should get a offensive D guy who could help on the PP .. BEGRERON !!
I know he was not the best against Philly, but hey.. He is far better what the Kings has right now on the blue line…
Or just sign blake again gave him the C and move back to the forum
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Fro’s gone (best of luck!)
We move on…
Poni’s here (let’s rock!!!)
Personally, after what they did last year together, I hate to see Simmonds & Richie separated, but the fact is we all know we’re in for another season of pulling our hair out at all TM’s different line combos………….
The player I’m thinking can really make this team very different depending on how he plays is Jake Muzzin… Time will tell…
Looking forward to DL’s next deal/trade… Somethings brewin’..!
GKG!!!
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‘Ponikarovsky will start on our bench, and when he gets his chance he’ll have to show he can score and be a strong presence in front of the net.’
Someone has said.
So who’s the starter?
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#1faninvegas Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
@Jamesonafterawin,
Good question! We will find out, I guess down the road!
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I kept waiting to read that TM said I like Poni he plays HEAVY.
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