Quite a housecleaning in El Segundo today, as 23 names were trimmed from the training-camp roster. No huge surprises, other than that they were all done at once. The biggest surprise would probably be Corey Elkins, who had seemed to show improvement, but with the depth at center, including strong play by prospects Andrei Loktionov and Brayden Schenn, Elkins got caught in a numbers game. The Kings now have 37 players remaining in camp, although that includes four injured players (Cliche, Greene, Teubert and Voynov).
Assigned to Manchester:
Justin Azevedo, Robert Czarnik, Corey Elkins, Zach Harnden, Bud Holloway, Martin Jones, Dwight King, David Kolomatis, Brandon Kozun, David Meckler, Patrick Mullen, Jordan Nolan, Michael Pelech, Jeff Zatkoff.
Assigned to Ontario:
Garrett Zemlak.
Returned to junior teams:
Jean-Francois Berube, Nicolas Deslauriers, Tyler Toffoli, Jordan Weal, Linden Vey.
Released from tryout:
Riley Brace, Samuel Groulx, Dylan King.
i think they want the guys left to know they got a real chance so they will bust their behinds
[Reply]
1st comment. No surprises here.
[Reply]
Otto Ped Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@drew,
Nice try. Why the heck does it matter to you people who gets the 1st comment anyways? Does some Holy Grail drop from the sky when you leave the 1st comment, or does it just solidify your place in the computer geek hall of fame?
[Reply]
tcontreras Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@Otto Ped,
1st to say i agree!
[Reply]
Big Rob in Dallas Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 6:51 am
@tcontreras, LOL
I agree Rich, Ekins I thought would have made it to at least the second cut. O well, we still have 10 to 14 players to cut. Depending how many of the injured go on injured list. Should be interesting next three weeks. Go Kings. By the way Rich thank you for your fine work.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@gene, I really thought Elkins was going to center the 4th line but I wouldnt be surprised if he was called up sometime during the season.
[Reply]
Hopefully Schenn, Lokti and Moller make the cut.
Or at least 2 of 3.
[Reply]
deelo Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
@Deadmarsh,
Assuming Parse stays on line 2….line 4 will be Westgarth, Richie, and Clune IMO will be the guys dressed the majority.
Moller could use another year in AHL and probably Loktionov as well. I just don’t see a spot where they are going to regularly contribute.
They will be the 1st injury call-up, and if we have any serious injuries they could see alot of time.
Schenn is going to be the really hard decision. I think he will get the 9 games. If Parse isn’t up to snuff I wouldn’t be surprised to see Richardson or Ponikarovsky moved up to the 2nd line and Schenn could man the 4th line.
[Reply]
Roy Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
@Deadmarsh, I don’t know if I want Schenn to make the cut this year.
It might be a bit too early for that. Maybe put him on a two way so he could go to Manchester and see how he develops.
It would be a shame if a guy with talent like that loses his head by going too far too soon.
[Reply]
txkingsfan Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
@Roy, remember that Schenn structured his contract in a way that saves the team money up front if he makes the team – or something like that. Those with the specifics can fill us in
[Reply]
Iroqnroll Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
@Roy, Shenn is to youngto go to Manchester, it’s either NHL, or back to Jr’s, where he has nothing to prove, so tough call.
[Reply]
Sorry to the guys going down but I think this will help the guys that remain with the big club. Time for the competition for the few remaining spots to begin. I am still pulling for Oscar. How has he looked so far. Couldn’t get the game online on the North Slope in Alaska.
[Reply]
Steve Jensen Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
@Christian T,
Oscar looked good last night. He put on a bit of pounds and perhaps he might have grown an inch or so. At least he looked bigger (but not big in the general term) than last year.
Clifford, Muzzin and Franssen also looked good last night.
Schenn looked a bit out of place for the first half of the game. He settled down thereafter. His goal was mostly a great play by Brownie. Schenn just picked up the garbage on a second effort.
Finally, the new HD Scoreboard was SICK!!!!!!!!!! An unbelievable treat for those who attend the games at Staples this year.
[Reply]
Who is left?
[Reply]
Manchester is going to be loaded with talent this season
[Reply]
Im glad Lewis is still around… step one towards making this team. I am starting to look at him as more of a Brad Richardson type of player; although I think Lewis “Could” be an upgrade since he is faster and bigger.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 10:07 am
@VanKingsFan, Shhhhhh…I think Lombardi and management do as well.
[Reply]
ditto kevins question.
Could we please get a who is left plus your analysis of what positions are still open and who is in contention.
I assume it seems like it’s down to Hickey/Muzzin/Fransson for the 6th d spot. Westgarth broke a guy’s jaw in a fight, so I guess that locks him into the enforcer role especially considering he has no real competition. We’ve still got Lewis Schenn and I guess Richardson battling it out for the 4th line center spot ? How do you see the 4th line shaking out ? I don’t see where Richardson fits, either 4th line center or lw ? Do Lewis and Westgarth trade off as 4th line rw and healthy scratch each night ? Richardson-Schenn-Lewis sounds nice. But Clifford is still up. hmmmmmm
[Reply]
I guess I better get my Martin Jones monarchs shirt
[Reply]
Some surprises are still around, including Campbell, Kaunisto, and Zeiler.
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
@Purple Ghost,
Campbell is a horrible skater though i noticed at camp. But it was during the skating drills, so maybe he was super tired? But he looked like he needed alot of work in the department.
[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@Purple Ghost, Zeiler earned it in the game against Colorado from what I heard on the radio. Drew 6 penalties, took none and had a goal. With all the talk of Clifford, Clune, etc., Zeiler is reminding us that he’s still an option.
Good for him.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 10:08 am
@PRMan, If your job is to be a 4th line pest, Zeiler put on a clinic that night. Being there watching, I was laughing out loud at Foote, who seriously wanted to hurt Zeiler all night.
[Reply]
Next game will be big for the boys left…..and it’s against the Ducks and their revamped “D”!! WEEEHOOOO!!
[Reply]
Kopi-Smyth-Brown
Stoll-Williams-Parse
Handzus-Simmons-Poni
Richie-Clune-Westgarth (12)
DD-Mitchell
JJ-Scuderi
Drewiski-Hickey (6)
Quick-Bernier-EE (3)
Harrold-Lewis-Schenn (3)
9 more cuts
Franzen-Muzzin-Clifford
Moller-Lokti-Zeiler
Kaunisto-Campbell- (I’m missing one?)
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
September 24th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
@BluLiner,
Voynov.
[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@BluLiner, I think that’s highly likely at this point. I hate to say it, but someone typically gets injured in the preseason, so maybe Schenn plays and someone else gets a cup of coffee.
[Reply]
Despite certain areas of “not as much talent” as some other guys, Richie was our BEST forechecker last year and one of our hardest workers. Let alone being some of the powers that be’s most improved player. If Parse is handed LW2 then Richie is at LEAST C/LW4.
I thought Martin Jones would go to Ontario this season, get 75% of the starts there.
[Reply]
Quisp Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
@jayhay,
Why would you send Jones to Ontario when he can play in Manchester with Zatkoff?
Richardson is a decent bottom-six forward. This time last year, he was consistently undervalued. Now, the pendulum has swung. He’s not as bad as anyone thought, and he’s not as good as everyone thinks.
[Reply]
Richardson earned his place on the team. No one in that group comes close to displacing Richardson. I do admit he needs some serious improvement in the faceoff circle however.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 10:13 am
@KC23, I do agree, however, you must think 1 to 2 years down the road.
At his salary, are their younger guys who can do his job, with the same level of excecution, for 1.5 million less?
The answer is yes, and for players like Richardson, that is what happens. That is the way the CBA is structured. He will be in the NHL, just not on the Kings. The CBA is structured so that players like Richie, making around 1.5/year, don’t stick with the same teams long because rookies take over their roles in order to break into the NHL.
That is how you save money against your cap.
[Reply]
quisp Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
@mrbrett7,
Agreed completely. However, Richardson’s on a one-year $900K deal. Same as salary Parse, Muzzin and Kaunisto, as well as approx the same as the ELC guys (Moller, Bernier, Loktionov, etc.).
Earning $900K for one year after six years in the league is not exactly a ringing endorsement.
@kc23
If by “that group” you mean the players who were cut, I agree (although Elkins is closer than many of the others, and several will be better than Richardson a few years down the road).
“Earned” always rubs me the wrong way, though. I hear what you’re saying, and basically agree that Richardson had a great year and showed what he’s capable of doing. He has to keep doing it, obviously. Because Moller, Schenn, Clifford, Loktionov and Parse all have substantially more skill and upside and Richardson will be compared direct to those players, not to Holloway et al.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
@KC23,
Reading comments and analysis I’m left feeling Richardson will be packaged and shipped when Clubs go through a 1st quarter shakeout.
But don’t get me wrong. I liked how Richardson stepped up last season, enough in my estimation to garner the Kings at least 2 to 4 points last year.
[Reply]
Nice to see Michael “Prospect” Pelech get the upgrade to Manchester. He looked much better at the end of the ECHL season than the beginning of it. Congrats to MP!
Feel bad for Azevedo & Elkins. Hopefully both will get their eventual shot soon.
No surprises otherwise. Next year, Kozun makes the squad IMHO.
[Reply]
What about Kozun? People here were saying he’s incredibly skilled and playing great, etc.
[Reply]