61 Comments

1. Shakes says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:33 am

   It’s all coming together.

   [Reply]

   

   8ball Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 11:40 am

   @Shakes,
   no kidding. stop the presses.

   [Reply]

   

   Renbe Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:49 pm

   @Shakes, That DL sure pulled a fast one….

   [Reply]

   

   kiosku2 Reply:
   September 5th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

   @Shakes,

   You a U2 fan? Avatar seems to be a Zooropa era Bono photo…

   [Reply]
2. Kris says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:40 am

   Welcome to LA!

   [Reply]
3. hagi says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:43 am

   The final piece of the puzzle is now in place…someone please call the engraver and make sure he knows how to spell Kolomatis because it’s going on the cup in June!

   [Reply]
4. Anonymous says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:45 am

   Apparrently this is another guy we cant count out in training camp either. Facts are, he played in 76 games for Manchester and Dean has given him a 3 year deal so I for one will definately watch this guy a little closer in El Segundo in the next couple weeks.

   [Reply]

   

   LUC20RULES Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 8:33 pm

   @, I think he is sound, positional, player with a good shot. Its a good signing, but we will have to watch the 8+ D-man fight for the last(2 until Greene is back) spot on the roster. Since it seems TMs preference is a strong D first paired with a Offensive D-man I would guess Fransson, Desauliers, & Hickey may be the front runners.
   I’m bummed that SJ signed Niemi, I know we didn’t need him, but SJ was looking weak in goal with Nittymaki as the #1. Looks like SJ will be the team to beat too win the division.

   [Reply]
5. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:52 am

   In other player/personnel news:

   Kings dumping Patrick O’Sullivan last year for the win!

   http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Sullivan+still+looking/3471435/story.html

   [Reply]

   

   Sebastian Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:07 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I remember being upset with the Sully trade, in retrospect it was quite a seal for the Kings, Williams has much better character than POS. Can POS skate on the top line with Kopi? I dont think so, but Williams can if he is 100%

   [Reply]

   

   What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 pm

   @Sebastian,

   For what it’s worth, I don’t remember being that opinionated (at least until he dissed LA, and I don’t even live there any more), but it worked out fairly well.

   [Reply]

   

   JDizzle Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

   Where’s Anthony now? I thought this guy was the second coming of The Great One according to him…

   [Reply]

   

   What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:29 pm

   @JDizzle,

   This is WTFK 2.0, and I’m going to try really hard not to comment on Anthony or various other people who have posted things here which I thought were…not very smart.

   Rich reset me even though I was really nasty to him (sorry, man) about being put on a per-post basis last season, and I’m gonna try to spread the love.

   [Reply]

   

   tantrum4 Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

   You know what? I’ve been the biggest O’Sullivan hater on this site for three years, but for $500,000? Why not…

   [Reply]

   

   What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:24 pm

   @tantrum4,

   By most accounts, the guy was/is a cancer. I don’t think I’d buy cancer at minimum wage. I like how the Oilers got stuck with the contract and ended up buying him out to get him off their roster. There’s a strong message there.

   [Reply]

   

   puck73 Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I agree! If this guy is so good and has so much potential then why did the Kings,Oilers,and Coyotes drop this guy like a bad habit?

   

   5-Hole Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 1:04 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

   I think the article was wrong about that…didn’t the Oilers trade POS to Phoenix, and THEY bought him out the next day. I seem to remember that being the case, and the NHL Network shows PHX as his previous team. So they are the ones paying him. Regardless, he is getting the money and is available cheap.

   

   USHA#17 Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 2:30 pm

   @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

   The Coyotes wanted to buy out Vandermeer $795,600/year, 2 years).

   Instead Mallony got an inspiration.

   Send Vandermeer to Edmonton (where he will get ice time), take O’Sullivan in exchange
   and bought out O’Sullivan’s contract ($450,000/year 2 years) instead.

   Phoenix saved $691,000 in the process and helped Edmonton put the skate to O’Sullivan.

   I can just imagine the two GM laughing over drinks and cigars when they signed that deal.

   

   deadcatbounce Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 6:59 pm

   @tantrum4, Dude has had a reputation as a head case ever since juniors. I know that some of it can be rightfully blamed on his upbringing and I do feel for the guy, but the apple usually doesn’t fall too far from the tree…

   [Reply]
6. VanKingsFan says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:53 am

   This guy ends up being pretty good in NHL10… and the fact that he was given a 3 year deal means the Kings MUST see something kinda special in him.

   [Reply]
7. EASportMgt says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:54 am

   Am I safe in assuming this guy is out of college or was he a late bloomer in Juniors. Considering he was drafted in 09 and played in Manchester last year he had to be too old for Juniors and or probably out of college. Anyone know anymore on his kid?

   [Reply]

   

   VanKingsFan Reply:
   September 3rd, 2010 at 3:02 pm

   @EASportMgt, He was drafted out of the OHL as an overage player, that is why he was able to jump straight into the AHL.

   I remember hearing at the time that we drafted him specifically for the Monarchs; there were so many rookie defensemen on the team that they wanted a slightly older guy who would be able to help the team compete.

   [Reply]
8. puck73 says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:56 am

   Apparrently this is another guy to keep an eye on in training camp. Facts are, he played in 76 games in Manchester last season so obviously they thought he was pretty good and to top it off Dean gave him a 3 year entry level deal so I will definately watch this guy a little closer when they open up camp. On a personal note, I just cannot believe how many defensemen are in this organization now thanx to Dean. Now, are they all gonna turn out great? NO, of course not, but even if they dont the Kings have a lot of bargaining chips in case they wanna go after somebody who they think really “Fits”. This organization may just be beginning to come into its own very shortly !

   [Reply]
9. Daniel says:

   September 3, 2010 at 11:59 am

   YES! YES! YES!

   [Reply]
10. Axel says:

    September 3, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Uhm…how about locking up Doughty and Simmonds long term? Just sayin’…

    [Reply]

    

    luc20rules Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    @Axel, It appears a few teams slipped a circumventing the salary cap contract by the NHL offices. As it appears the NHL will grandfather in existing contracts, BUT new rules have been written into the CBA. So DL now know what will be allowed by the league. I would suspect that negotiations will start to heat up.

    [Reply]

    

    luc20rules Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    @luc20rules, Avery had is waive stick in front of Broduer’s Mask Rule. Now Kovi has his Greed management rules added to the CBA. I think the NHL lost this one.
    1 mil/yr in multiple years in the same contract as 11+Mil/yr is just ridiculous.

    [Reply]
11. Fernando says:

    September 3, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Lets offer Parise an offer sheet next year! Shall We.

    [Reply]

    

    luc20rules Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    @Fernando, Not a bad thought, but DL appears to be dead set against offer sheets. He fears that he has too many young players that will be given offer sheets if he starts doing them. I don’t know if the integrity of the other GMs is that great, but I will say that there have been suprisingly few offer sheets made see link.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_who_have_signed_offer_sheets

    [Reply]
12. Real 9 says:

    September 3, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    David Kolomatis, born in New Jersey….drafted at the age of 20….hmmm, maybe a late bloomer, eh…

    http://kings.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8475099

    [Reply]
13. Barry's Mullet says:

    September 3, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    The kid has talent. One year at the league minimum, I would sign POS in a heartbeat. Nice insurance policy if Smyth or Williams go down and chances are one of them will at some point.

    I don’t want to sound like a bleeding heart here, but everyone deserves a second chance. We know his track record and the difficulties he had as a youngster. One would think he’s had a huge wake up call with the prospect of playing for the league minimum, or not even playing in the NHL. Maybe if DL does the kid this favor it will work out for everyone.

    [Reply]
14. USHA#17 says:

    September 3, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    @What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

    The Coyotes wanted to buy out Vandermeer $795,600/year, 2 years).

    Instead Mallony got an inspiration.

    Send Vandermeer to Edmonton (where he will get ice time), take O’Sullivan in exchange
    and bought out O’Sullivan’s contract ($450,000/year 2 years) instead.

    Phoenix saved $691,000 in the process and helped Edmonton put the skate to O’Sullivan.

    Just imagine two GM laughing over drinks and cigars when they signed that deal.

    [Reply]

    

    USHA#17 Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    @USHA#17,
    Sorry about the double post.

    This site is not very good about posts.

    Some posts never make it to the board, other take a lot of time before posting and often the format shifts to web format and nothing works.

    With so many boards for so many sports clubs working perfectly and at a more sophisticated level whats stopping a team from a city the size Los Angeles from producing an equally slick product?

    [Reply]

    

    Dominick Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    @USHA#17, I’ve been wondering that myself. I am always checking out Hockey on other websites, and never run into the problems that I run into here. What’s even more puzzling to me is that this is my favorite site to go on.

    [Reply]

    

    Kingsfanone Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    @USHA#17,

    “With so many boards for so many sports clubs working perfectly and at a more sophisticated level whats stopping a team from a city the size Los Angeles from producing an equally slick product?”

    Basically, just a willingness to spend money, without the guarantee of getting it back.

    [Reply]

    

    USHA#17 Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    @Kingsfanone,

    Yeah the mantra of LA hockey.
15. fuzzerson says:

    September 3, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    Is this signing so Jack can move to left wing?

    [Reply]
16. Agame says:

    September 3, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Video interviev with Anže Kopitar. http://ow.ly/2zliq

    It’s in slovene, but you can see a little of his summer training on ice!

    [Reply]

    

    Agame Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    @Agame, He said that he believe this team can win Stanley Cup.

    And so do I!

    [Reply]
17. Real 9 says:

    September 3, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    according to my latest count, Kings have 47 players under contract….

    Quick, Ersberg, Bernier, Zatkoff, M. Jones, Berube

    Doughty, Johnson, Scuderi, Mitchell, Greene, Drewiske, Harrold, Martinez, Fransson, Muzzin, Hickey, Voynov, Teubert, Deslauriers, Campbell, Kolomatis

    Kopitar, Smyth, Williams, Handzus, Simmonds, Ponikarovsky, Stoll, Parse, Brown, Moller, Schenn, Richardson, Clune, Loktionov, Clifford, Cliche, Lewis,
    Westgarth, Holloway, Elkins, Kozun, Azevedo, Vey, Meckler, Kaunisto

    [Reply]

    

    blugator Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    @Real 9,

    I think that Deslauriers, Vey, and Berube are not signed yet.

    You left off Zeiler, Mullen, King, and Mikus. I’m not sure how going to Europe will affect Mikus’s contract.

    If Mikus is still valid, that makes 48 signed.

    [Reply]

    

    Real 9 Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    @blugator,
    Mikus signed with Moscow Spartak…
    I’ll check on the others…

    [Reply]

    

    luc20rules Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    @Real 9, UHHHHH! MIKUS, why have you forsaken me?
    Imagine Cartman in Africa or Sargent Ellias in Platoon on knees with arms extended toward the sky.
18. Deke'r says:

    September 3, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Is this a sign that indeed Willie isn’t ready to go?

    [Reply]

    

    puck73 Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    @Deke’r, You mean to tell me that you doubt Willie after all he went threw and the fact that he could have put himself out there on July 1st and been snapped up already ? Tell ya what, after listenining to what he said in the interviews with Rich, and some reporters on that conference call with Dean, I will never question this guys integrity, or resolve !

    [Reply]

    

    DougS Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    @Deke’r,
    I don’t see that at all. In any year, there will be a certain number of players signed to entry-level contracts, either because you really think they’re ready to make the jump to the next level right now. or because they’re not quite ready, but you think they will be and your exclusive right to sign them is about to expire.

    [Reply]
19. Strummer says:

    September 3, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    Lets not get to excited and start a big love fest over a guy who has never gotten a cup of coffee. John Zeiler got signed to a 3 or 4 year deal too, that doesnt mean he is going to be a productive NHL’er. He is still young and probably good for Manchester for a while.

    [Reply]

    

    DougS Reply:
    September 3rd, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    @Strummer,
    True dat. Certainly, upper management sees something in him, to give him a contract when there are so many other D prospects in the organization. But an ELC means that they’re willing to give you a shot. What you make of it is ultimately up to you.

    [Reply]
20. TVA333 says:

    September 3, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Always a great interview…

    Foxy on XM Home Ice

    [Reply]
21. paul from oxnard says:

    September 3, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Not sure if anyone noticed but there’s a new Kopitar interview on lakings.com (not the one in Slovene). Kuklaskorner.com also posted it.

    [Reply]
22. 408 KINGFAN says:

    September 3, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    I am very pleased with our defense depth. Now bring on Westgarth as a role player and grab sully back for basment bargain and we should hoist the cup

    [Reply]

    

    USHA#17 Reply:
    September 4th, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    @408 KINGFAN,

    Why “sully” the clubhouse? That guy is a rotten apple.

    The Kings, Edmonton and Phoenix know and since he was not picked up for a mire $450K I assume the rest of the league knows it, too.

    He’s poison, like that heron addict Karalahti who played for the Kings ten years back.

    [Reply]

    

    puck73 Reply:
    September 4th, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    @USHA#17, Agree about Sully, I think he is a poison pill like Avery and Cammalerri and thats why they are no longer a part of what Dean is trying to build here. I also believe the same thing about Kovi and his agent as well.

    [Reply]

    

    8ball Reply:
    September 4th, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    @USHA#17,
    maybe O’Sullivan is misunderstood to the
    point that he doesn’t even know.hard to say.down on himself by now i’d guess.others
    have matured to become useful.start him out in
    Reading. see how bad he wants it.speaking of
    that,i have a question.how did my state’s team
    {idaho steelheads) land in the ECHL? what gives.

    [Reply]

    

    USHA#17 Reply:
    September 5th, 2010 at 11:43 am

    @8ball,

    That may be his only option but that remains to be seen as teams are still signing.

    I think he would do well in the minors since he is an NHL caliber skater. The problem lays in his unwillingness to check, take a hit or skate to the hard parts of the ice.

    Rather then just be who he is (a soft player) he fantasizes that he is a star not being paid proper homage or rightful due. He then acts out and uses these delusions as justification for quitting on his teammates.

    He may have been a stand out since peewee days up but now he’s playing in a league who’s worst player was perhaps the best player for 100 miles around when growing up.

    

    USHA#17 Reply:
    September 5th, 2010 at 11:57 am

    @8ball,

    Let me add that like Cammalerri adon’t even care enough to look up the spelling) O’Sullivan is a poison pill for a team environment. We’ve seen others.

    Remember Vitali Yachmenev? I think he was Cammi’s and Pat’s role model.
23. 8ball says:

    September 5, 2010 at 1:32 am

    sure glad we got Kolamity or whatever the hell his
    name is.

    [Reply]
24. Kevin Y says:

    September 5, 2010 at 8:41 am

    Dominoes!!!

    [Reply]
25. timothy says:

    September 6, 2010 at 1:42 pm

    Kolomatis was solid this year in manch. It has been a blast to watch him. Sad to see him go, but thats how it it!!! GO Monarchs and GO KINGS

    [Reply]

    

    8ball Reply:
    September 7th, 2010 at 1:14 am

    @timothy,

    [Reply]

    

    DougS Reply:
    September 7th, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    @timothy,
    Well, all this means is that Kolomatis will have a shot to make the team (or maybe his eligibility with the team was almost up, I don’t know). It’s no guarantee that he will make the team out of camp. I predict that there will be one spot for a rookie on defense, and Muzzin, Hickey, Martinez and Fransson will also compete for it. He may well spend most of the year in Manchester after all.

    I’m glad to hear you were impressed with him. It’s always good for us in LA to get the opinions and observations of the folks who get to watch the guys in Manchester all the time!

    [Reply]