A couple interviews from the Kings’ universe today. First is a Q&A with Anze Kopitar, talking about his summer and his thoughts on the upcoming season. Then there’s Jim Fox today, on XM Home Ice, talking Kings. Finally, a podcast with former Kings defenseman Jay Wells, who will be appearing at Hockey Fest next week. (I’ll include links to the audio interviews, as well as embedded widgets that are supposed to be more iPhone friendly…)
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Any chance of landing that Mitchell video?
KINGS 1
Canucks 0
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Great widget ! Works perfect for the iPhone. Thanks rich keep using this for audio.
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Thanks Rich for the iPhone versions!!!
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Attaboy Rich.
Almost time boys, preseason here soon.
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If POS would’ve played up to his potential he would’ve have been a very good 2nd line center-men.
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Hockeymatt Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 10:50 am
@Who Knows?, I would actually like to see the Kings give Sully a second chance. He has high end offensive talent. I think in the right environment, he could turn out to be a valuable player. It wouldn’t be too risky to offer him the league min for one year.
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AZ King Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
@Hockeymatt,
The only reason I would consider taking a look at him is hopefully this whole fiasco has put is ego in check. If he comes in realizing he needs to be part of team, not the other way around he could end up filling a nice support role on the team.
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Dominick Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@AZ King, I would be surprised to see POS come back with his tail between his legs, but stranger things have happened. Maybe humility will ultimately win out, but I think he’ll just wait till a team desperate for scoring will do just about anything to win, will sign him. Maybe mid January.
USHA#17 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@AZ King, POS seems like a cross between Jimmy Carson and Dale McCourt with one small exception…POS never did anything in career except not accept responsibility for his actions
In life its rare to someone get their just due. This is one case where justice was served.
I’ve said before that I can imagine the laughter while the Edmonton and Phoenix GMs discussed and sealed O’Sullivan’s fate.
O’Sullivan forgot that every person he played with or against was a standout from their peewee days until the day they hit the big league.
AZ King Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@Dominick,
Yeah maybe it was wishful thinking on my part. You got to figure getting traded to a team just to be released would send a message, but I might be giving him too much credit.
USHA#17 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
@AZ King,
I think your right about the message. Even if a player is playing on a basement team there is still an expectation of professionalism.
With out that professionalism we could never had have a surprise team like last years Coyotes.
The reason I played hockey was because no one ever seemed to give up. Close game or blowout it was always about the next save and that next goal.
There is, in my opinion no place in this league for a player like O’Sullivan.
I’d sign Ivanians before I would waste a dime calling O’Sullivan. Ivanians always gave 100%
iPhone is very happy!! Great stuff Rich, thanks!
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Great post Rich! Enjoy the holiday weekend everybody!
Boats and hoe’s boats and hoe’s
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Thanx to blugator for the updates to this list….
according to my latest count, Kings have 47 players under contract….
Quick, Ersberg, Bernier, Zatkoff, M. Jones
Doughty, Johnson, Scuderi, Mitchell, Greene, Drewiske, Harrold, Martinez, Fransson, Muzzin, Hickey, Voynov, Teubert, Campbell, Mullen, Kolomatis
Kopitar, Smyth, Williams, Handzus, Simmonds, Ponikarovsky, Stoll, Parse, Brown, Moller, Schenn, Richardson, Clune, Loktionov, Clifford, Cliche, Lewis,
Zeiler, Westgarth, Holloway, Elkins, King, Kozun, Azevedo, Meckler, Kaunisto
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And, Android Friendly
which supports FULL Flash, that the IPhone doesn’t
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kings fans
terrible at math.
crosby +15
malkin -6
poni-6
help me out here.
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Dominick Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@8ball, Whenn you add them together you get a +3.tee hee hee
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8ball Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 12:41 am
@Dominick,
should have seen that one coming.
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puck73 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
@8ball, Dont worry about that stuff, Al Frolov was also a minus player for us last year as well so basically it was a lateral move. Besides, Willie Mitchell was a plus 13 last year and has been a plus player for basically his whole career so dont worry..everything will be fine.
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Thanks Rich! Good stuff…I always love Fox interviews for some reason.
Side note…TSN is reporting that Modin found a job in Atlanta. Wish him nothing but the best.
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Real 9 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
@Gislaw, good luck Freddy! a class guy & a winner
Swedish website Aftonbladet is reporting that Fredrik Modin has signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
The well-traveled Swedish forward had five goals and six assists in 44 games split between the Los Angeles Kings and the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He added three goals and one assist in six playoff games with Los Angeles.
The 35-year old has 225 goals and 227 assists in 858 career NHL games. He also helped Sweden capture Olympic gold in 2006.
A third round pick, 64th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Modin helped the Tampa Bay Lighting capture the lone Stanley Cup title in franchise history in 2004.
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puck73 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
@Real 9, Agreed, Thanx for a great effort down the stretch Freddy, your presence and class were a great help for this organization.
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Anyone think that Dean Lombardi might be on the phone Monday morning (if not sooner) with Lou Lamoriello telling him “now that you finally got Kovy, you need to clear salary. We can help you do that. We’ll take Elias off your hands”? Or substitute “Zubrus” for “Elias” if you prefer.
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puck73 Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
@Paul From Oxnard, You never know, one of those players might work if the price is right. Tell you what though, I am so glad we dont have that selfish Kovalspank and Grossman clogging up our salary cap. I think a lot of people who have posted here recently were right when they wrote…This selfish pud never wanted to play here in the first place, he was just using us to get a better deal with New Jersey…Good riddance Kovalsdweeb !
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USHA#17 Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
@puck73,
Well, things at least:
Upchuk did not get what he wanted
Upchuk never intended to jump to the KHL
I took a poll (nonscientific for those who voted twice) and so far the results have been surprising. Fans are fairly evenly split on this matter:
31% Wanted Upchuk regardless of circumstance
31% Did not want Upchuk, period
36% Felt good or bad, due to cap issues he would have disrupted the building process required to develop a perennially wining team.
.
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USHA#17 Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@USHA#17,
Poll update. The signing has seen a shift in voting. Its now edging toward “glad he is not here”
Dominick Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
@Paul From Oxnard, Parise>Kovalschmuck.
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 9:25 am
@Paul From Oxnard, I think that Dean will rather make a trade for Marco Sturm of Boston. Boston has stated that they will not trade Savard. Trading Sturm’s and his salary would put them under the cap. And Dean is the one who picked Marco in the first round while with San Jose, so he’s familiar with him.
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DougS Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
@Paul From Oxnard,
Possible. But Elias has an NMC and a $6 mil cap hit, so I think Salvador is a more likely candidate for a salary dump.
The thing is, how badly do the Kings need either Zubrus or Salvador? Before the Mitchell signing, I would have said that Salvador might be useful at his $3 mil cap hit. But not now. Zubrus? I don’t think he’s a top 6 guy, AFAIK. I think Poni fills the role that he would fill. In theory, I like the idea of taking some excess salary off of NJ’s hands, but in practice, I don’t know if it will work out.
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It’s great to hear from Jay Wells. He’s still one of my all-time favorite Kings.
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198. Alexei Ponikarovsky, LW, LOS Will be a top-six forward for Kings, but much of his value will depend on how much PP time he sees.
On my fantasy draft kit. Funny what his description is.
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Found this surfing around:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34526-VIDEO-Urban-Legends-Indepth-interview-with-Wayne-Simmonds-and-Chris-Stewart.html
Cool teaser interview with Wayne Simmonds and Chris Stewart (of the Avs) for a THN article on the hardships they endured waiting to make it to the NHL. Haven’t read/seen the full article yet. Looks like this has been out a while, but I haven’t seen it before, so I thought I’d post it for anyone else who might have missed it. Sorry if it was posted before, but like I said, I missed it.
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Cynic Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 12:06 am
@Cynic,
You can d/l the article from this blog:
http://www.blogtopsites.com/outpost/3508c2be00cd201d39ff1167d1db30e4
Right click under “download via” to aviod the pop-ups.
RICH – If this is violating any rules, I’ll apologize now, take it down. Because this edition of THN is considered a ‘Past Issue’, I’m not sure if it’s public domain at this point or not. If not, do what you need to. Your blog, your call of course.
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Just getting in the mood today and thought I’d link this all time classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsA4tTXgNuU&feature=related
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What I want to know is….WHERE IN THE HELL DID ALL THESE PATRICK OSULLIVAN SUPPORTERS COME FROM? I mean REALLY! Hasnt that ship already sailed with Avery and Cammeleri on board ? AND NOO! I dont want this guy back even at a “Bargain” price! . Look, we have too many good character players on this team now and I dont wanna see it brought down with a player that doesnt have the same thought process. If you have lingering doubts then just go back and read the Willie Mitchell interviews and you feel much better again about where Dean is trying to take this organization.
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USHA#17 Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
@puck73,
No worries, just wishful or should I say forgetful thinking on someone’s part.
Perhaps after wondering for 40 years in the desert O’Sullivan will become an honest player and get what he deserves, a spot in the Italian Hockey League.
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DougS Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
@puck73,
I agree absolutely that the good ship Patrick O’Sullivan has already sailed and that there is no point to taking him back, even at a bargain price. Even if his cap hit is (literally) minimal, you’re still using a roster space and possibly blocking the progress of a legit (i.e., someone who hasn’t already had the chance that POS blew).
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Buster Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
@puck73,
I hate to say with a POS signing is closer to the term “you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t”. We need to see IF POS can actually mature with the system, and this is the ONLY reason I would want to see him in camp other than the fact that he can also play left wing.
The only thing would be that this is scraping the very bottom of the barrel for a solution, a last resort, and I actually hope that it really doesn’t come to this.
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We should have never gave away matt moulson…watch out for that kid
Kings all the way babbyyyy
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