Matt Greene had been off the ice for 10 days but was back in practice Sunday, and his return to game action appears to be on the horizon. Greene is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and, last week, got a foot infection because of a case of “lace bite” and missed a couple days to attend a funeral. Dean Lombardi said he expects Greene to be cleared for contact on Wednesday, so it’s not a stretch to think that Greene could return in the next 7-10 days, although nobody is setting a timetable just yet.
“I have no idea right now,” Greene said after practice today. “I feel pretty good. I was feeling pretty good before I was off the ice, and this is my first day back skating, so we’ll see how I feel tomorrow. I feel good right now, but I might be dying tonight. We’ll see what happens. I think it just depends on taking a hit, too. I haven’t really gotten a heavy bump yet, or any of that. The guys have been pretty nice to me, so that’s what it depends on right now.”
As for the “lace bite,” Greene said, “I guess I got an infection there. I don’t really know how it happened, but my foot kind of swelled up and I couldn’t really get it in a boot and I really couldn’t walk too well. It was kind of a freak thing. But that’s pretty much under control now.”
Murray said he hadn’t yet set a target date for Greene’s return, but the coach mentioned Greene getting in a couple days of game-like practices, meaning that a return is likely to take place during the five-game road trip that begins Thursday.
MURRAY: “As soon as I’m told that he’s ready to get going, I don’t think it’s going to be much longer after that. His conditioning is pretty good. He’s been involved in practice for the past couple weeks. We will just give him that push, to get the game conditioning going, and we’ll put him in.”
Who are they going to sit? Drewiske or Muzzin? It will be interesting.
[Reply]
John Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
@Donald S.,
Probably Drewiske, since he’s more of a stay-at-home, like Greene, than Muzzin. But yes, a very interesting decision ahead.
[Reply]
blk29 Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 2:05 am
@Donald S., Muzzin was paired with Greene during drills the week of practice prior to the season opener at Vancouver. Drewiske was with Harrold.
Is this a clue?
Rich, can we get some D parings at practice this week?
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 9:08 am
@blk29, this is a tough pick, they both played excellent against Vancouver last game. i think it will have a lot to do with the roster limits, Muzzin is eligible to go straight to Manchester….Drewiske would have to clear waivers. smart money is on Drewiske staying…he also has more experience.
[Reply]
Drink natural orange juice. Eat cantalope and pineapple. Get those natural sugars flowing again for energy!
[Reply]
I wonder when Parse will be back in the lineup from his groin injury. Those types of injuries do not heal quick unfortunately. I was really looking forward to seeing what he could do with his skill set this year. i hope when he does come back he is at 100% and we can see what he can really do. What line will he play on when he does come back? The 2nd and 3rd lines are just starting to develop good chemistry and are getting pretty good production. I don’t see him dropping all the way down to the 4th line. Maybe he will take Lokti’s spot on the top line with Kopi and Brownie? He has the skill set and if he picks up his work ethic and skating ability along with playing better on the defensive side of the game I think he could be a big point producer along with those boys.
[Reply]
Crown Royal Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
@number1fan,
Parse is already one of the better skating Kings. He would be potentially the best fit with Kopitar on the first line.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
@Crown Royal, Agreed, plus he is responsible defensively, hence his plus 13 last season in 59 games.
[Reply]
DougS Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@number1fan,
Unfortunately, the answer to your first question is contained in your second sentence: Because groin injuries are so pesky, who knows when Parse will be back? It’s really bad luck for the kid. But I hope the training staff stays on his case and doesn’t let him get away with saying that he’s fine when he’s not, because if he’s not 100% when starts playing again, a) he won’t be effective, and b) it will just stretch out his recovery time even longer.
[Reply]
DB6 Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
@DougS, I have a feeling it’s serious. A groin injury could very well be a hip too. Im not an expert by any means, but it’s been real quiet about parse lately, and that usually means second opinions or a cover of some sort Lets hope for the best, but I’m calling it right now that parse is out for most of the season,
[Reply]
8ball Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@number1fan, and all this time i thought it was
his toe.
[Reply]
Danny Ingamells Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
@number1fan, I can remember when Rob Blake had to be put in a special chamber back in the nineties when he injured his groin- and the next season he was traded- he had missed a good chunk of the season due to it- and I too- have had a lingering episode of it in my playing days that never really went away. That injury involves little tiny tendons and muscles that are to support the larger trunk of the leg- and to me it’s one of God’s “screw ups” because it is so easy to injure- and once it is yanked out of whack good- what’s done is done. The only solution is rest- and the hope that the fibers that attach the trunk heal in such a way that the surronding, undamaged muscle/tendons have enough elasticity to compensate for the scar tissue in the injured area that heals SHORTER than the orginal fibers- which make it particually easy to re injure it- it all depends on the degree of the tear- and how much that the Kings are willing to discuss the extent to the press…I sure hope this helps you to see “the big picture”….
[Reply]
Scot Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 12:15 am
@Danny Ingamells,
…what he said. ^
[Reply]
Like the player, but except for a couple of plays we’re not really missing Greene yet.
After all the drafting of defensmen one wonders when we may want to parlay some prospects for an elite forward, or forward prospect.
I can’t see any elite wingers coming through our system currently.
[Reply]
jet Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
@Cristobal, au contraire mon frere, Greene’s slamming bodies to the ice is the one thing missing in our current defensive alignment.
Can you define what an elite winger would be like in the Kings system?
[Reply]
On Parse TM is already thinking that probably. I could see his speed help on the 1st line. A true winger also.On Green ,we will be as tough as any D and better in general i suspect.
[Reply]
Isn’t 7-10 days a little hasty? There’s a difference between being able to come back and being ready to come back. He’s going to need a little time to get his game footing back, and practice conditioning and timings aren’t quite enough for game conditioning and timing or we wouldn’t have a preseason.
Don’t get too excited. The Kings are playing well enough. They have the time to not rush Greene back, so use it. Ask Justin Williams how that works out when you rush.
No way Greene and Drewiske, AKA the slowest two skaters on the team, get paired together, which forces Murray’s hand.
[Reply]
Datacloud Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
@MindGeyser, I would submit that Smyth is the slowest skater on the team. It was really evident vs. VAN on Friday. Had he had his speed of ten years ago, he would have had a couple straight-up breakaways.
[Reply]
YoBro Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
@Datacloud, Smyth only had a pair of assists in a WIN. Not bad for an old, slow guy!
Go Kings
[Reply]
jet Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
@YoBro, The geezer line rules!
Dominick Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
@MindGeyser,
I was thinking the same thing with Greene. No need to rush it. 2 weeks would be the safe route, to make sure he’s in game shape, the injury isn’t nagging him, and get some of his timing back.
@Datacloud,
The last 10 years, Smyth has been quite productive. His game isn’t about speed, it’s about boardplay, and getting to the front of the net. 5ft from the goalie is where he makes his money, and there’s nobody in the buisiness who’s better.
Just because the team is young, doesn’t mean he can’t contribute. Leadership and being a mentor are other reasons why the Kings sought him out, and other than the injury last year, he’s been a fine pick up for the Kings.
[Reply]
Crown Royal Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
@MindGeyser,
The two slowest skaters on the team are Handzus and Westgarth. Drewiske is not a bad skater and Greene is O.K. going straight ahead. Actually his SPEED is not bad for his size and position. His problem is his mobility and terrible balance on his skates. That’s also why he can’t fight very well despite his strength.
Smyth is not a fast skater but better than some of the other Kings. Schenn and Loktionov are pretty average skaters who should and will get better.
[Reply]
the nine game limit is going to be on this upcoming road trip. Guys sweating bullets are probably going to be Schenn, Lotki, Harold, Muzzin. Green will probably be back for the next home stand.
So …..
Tough choices for DL. No news on Parse is in this case is bad news I think. I’m also thinking Harold goes down when Greener returns. DD2/Muzzin with Greener. Lotki goes down. Scheen stays. Moeller comes up ’til Parse is ready.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 9:12 am
@IceGuy, nothing about the kings last game tells me that Schenn is staying and Lokti is going down. Murray played Schenn only 7 minutes and Lokti played on the top line and on PP1. i hope that changes this upcoming game…really want to see more of Schenn, he should go back on that first power play so he can pick up more minutes.
[Reply]
Garry Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 10:09 am
@Sebastian, Schenn will stay and be a top six forward. You don’t pay $3m a year for him to play junior hockey. Harold is gone! Muzzin stay’s and Lotki goes down plus we STILL need a LW. I’m sure DL is working on it! You can’t live by “D” alone.
[Reply]