The first practice session has wrapped up in El Segundo, with the other group just about to go on the ice.
First, to clarify the injury situation, off the ice are Marc-Andre Cliche (knee), Matt Greene (shoulder) and Colten Teubert (thumb). Slava Voynov skated this morning but, as thought, as not been cleared for contact. Everyone else should be good to go for camp.
Terry Murray said he intended to go with the lines that he put together this morning, meaning you should expect a first line of Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown for a while. As expected, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds are together, meaning that Jarret Stoll will center Scott Parse and Justin Williams. That will clearly be the line to watch, and Murray had high praise for Williams, saying he came to camp in excellent shape.
Murray said that with Greene out for approximately the first month of the season, he wouldn’t be afraid to put a rookie in the lineup. Murray had strong praise for Davis Drewiske, who clearly has a spot to lose entering training camp.
In goal, Murray reiterated that Jonathan Quick is his No. 1 goalie and that he would like to limit Quick to a maximum of 60 games. Beyond that, it’s an open competition between Jonathan Bernier and Erik Ersberg.
I have a ton of stuff to post, from interviews with several different players, so look for frequent updates throughout the weekend, starting in a few minutes with the lines/pairs from the second group.
I’ll gladly eat my words if Browpitar miraculously clicks….but those two never really have before. I just don’t understand why TeMu keeps trying the same things hoping for different results.
Last I checked, that was the definition of insanity.
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David Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds, I agree completely. Hopefully, they play well together, but as history has shown us.. it doesnt look likely.
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Peter32 Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds, Well they did a few years ago… Brown Scored more goals back then!
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David Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@Peter32, This is true, they did play well together in the 07-08 season.
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Reality Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds, I think it makes a huge difference when this line can spend the entire training camp together building chemistry as opposed to being thrown together mid-season
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KC23 Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
@lilwaynesimmonds,
Have to agree, but I think it is the coach’s way of telling Brown there is a lot more expected of him this season scoring wise. It also makes are 2nd and 3rd lines pretty interesting. The Poni line is going to be tough to play against. Those are some big boys with talent.
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Glad to get that vibe about Drewiske.I am of the opinion that he extremly well early last year.with no ijury skys the limit.I also beleive it sould be quicks job to keep or loose.
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KC23 Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@rumpa#19,
I agree. Quick earned it up to this point, but he’ll have to produce. I got a feeling Quick will be up for the task.
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Go DaviS!
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“In goal, Murray reiterated that Jonathan Quick is his No. 1 goalie and that he would like to limit Quick to a maximum of 60 games. Beyond that, it’s an open competition between Jonathan Bernier and Erik Ersberg.”
so it looks like Jeff Zatkoff is the designated #1 G at Manchester…..a full year’s experience should make him ready for the next level….he had a .915 save pct. in 22 games last year….
http://kings.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8473553
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I hope I’m wrong and apologize to Brown if I am, but I really don’t believe that he is a first line player. That line needs Williams
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I thought it was interesting that Dave Taylor was sitting in the crowd today. I thought he was a part of the St. Louis Blues front office now.
He looked like he was in serious work mode. Rich do you know anything about his presence at camp today?
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Rich Hammond Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Dave’s home is still in the L.A. area. In the past couple seasons, when he worked for Dallas, he was a regular at Staples Center.
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Larry Braverman Reply:
September 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Rich Hammond,
Thanks Rich. I wish he was still working for the Kings.
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DougS Reply:
September 18th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@Larry Braverman,
So that *was* Dave Taylor! I didn’t say hello in part because, as you say, he was in serious work mode. But also I could hardly believe my eyes. It’s hard to miss him, though; he does have very distinctive features.
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