Saturday night’s ceremony to honor former Kings captain Mattias Norstrom went well, and Norstrom was presented with a watch, a gourmet coffee maker and a framed No. 14 Kings jersey. Former teammates Luc Robitaille, Rob Blake, Ian Laperriere, Derek Armstrong, Nelson Emerson, Glen Murray, Mathieu Schneider and Jamie Storr also were part of the on-ice ceremony, and New Jersey assistant coach Larry Robinson, who was head coach of the Kings when Norstrom joined the club, also came out of the locker room to watch the ceremony.
Laperriere got a long, strong ovation from the crowd. Laperriere is still a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, but is unable to play because of post-concussion symptoms. During the game, Laperriere talked to reporters about Norstrom and about his condition…
It was great to see Lappy during the telecast. He filled the void after Luc left as my favorite King. He is still revered in my house for his tough play. Not bad for a French Canadian!
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USHA#17 Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@macdup,
I think Mr. Forsburg would agree.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
November 1st, 2010 at 8:50 am
@USHA#17, Smolinsky and Norstrom took his spleen…not Lappy.
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Great to see Lappy. Such a great guy all around.
Would have liked to hear fom Blake last night. Wonder if he’s been perusing the blog and realizing how much some people on here hate him.
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mash-ola Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@AZ King,
I doubt if he even knows this site exists, but really? He gets booed mercilessly every time he’s here, his wife Brandy would get verbally harassed at times by fans, he comments on the fan’s boos, and you don’t think he has some kind of inkling that maybe he’s not as endearing to fans as, say Lappy? I doubt very much he needs this blog to inform him about how some fans feel about him.
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I wonder if the gourmet coffee maker was a throw-in from TM. Maybe he figured it would be cheaper to buy one than buy IK coffee all the time if he signed.
I know Tm said he would love to have had IK on the team but my feeling is Norstrom was more his kind of player.
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DougS Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 6:53 pm
@Crown Royal,
And I suspect that Norstrom would have loved playing on this team, under TM’s system.
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Also it is amazing the Kings got both those guys in the same deal from the Rangers. Norstrom and Lappy are two players who are an example for all Kings in the future to follow. I think we have another in Clifford.
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puck73 Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 12:59 pm
@Crown Royal, We also got Ferraro in that deal, always liked Ferraro, a real gamer !
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Crown Royal Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
@puck73,
We also got Nathan LaFayette whose claim to fame was hitting the crossbar in the finals for Vancouver in game seven of the finals.
Ferraro was a good player but I was never a Ferraro fan. The deal was great one. We sent the Rangers Kurri, McSorley, and Churla. Both Kurri and McSorley were past their prime. It can be argued that Kurri was never as good after spending a year in Italy. Still, he was there when we made it to the finals in “93.
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Sebastian Reply:
November 1st, 2010 at 9:41 am
@puck73, i really like ferraro too..good player…great commentator. my favorite Ferraro moment was when a fan jumped the glass and ran onto the ice he was the one to skate up to him and grab him…gave him a few nice words. haha.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:38 pm
@Crown Royal, They were basically the cornerstone of Andy Murray’s coaching efforts.
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Crown Royal Reply:
November 1st, 2010 at 5:37 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
That is true.
I was never a fan of Andy Murray despite some success he enjoyed. He seemed to me one of those extreme system coaches who neglects what individual players can bring to a team. A case in point is Jason Blake. He needed a speedy winger on the fourth line so Blake was the guy. He did not see Blake’s offensive potential because he was blinded by his need to fit players into certain system niches. As a result the Kings ended up losing an asset in Blake.
My biggest fear about TM is he has tendencies in that direction. I don’t think he’s as bad as AM but I worry about the long term development of players like Simmonds who should be playing on one of the first two lines. I don’t think TM gets that.
I have been a huge DL supporter from day one and I know he has his chart or blueprint for the team. That’s okay as long as you understand certain players need to be used in certain line/defensive pairings combos that maximize their abilities as well as benefiting the team. There is so much parity in the league now you can’t lose or make mistakes about talent that you acquire.
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8ball Reply:
November 2nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm
@Crown Royal, hey andy,i broke my arm. is
that forgivable? how about a chance out in
right field?that’s what they told me.
I missed the game and the live broadcast of the Norstrom ceremony. Just wondering if Rob Blake got booed or not… Just curious.
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stickboy Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@mash-ola,
no he was not booed, he received an applause…weird though, he only nodded, as all the other players gave a wave.
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Matt George Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 2:22 pm
@stickboy,
Actually he was booed.. AND he was cheered.
The cheering out decibeled the boos but I could definitely here booing.
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Deadmarsh Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
@Matt George, actually…it was just the leftover chants of LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUC!
Buster Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@Matt George,
Was it that they were applauding the booing?
DougS Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 6:55 pm
@Matt George, Buster
I think we’re all just going to have to accept that Blake will always be a controversial figure among Kings fans. Some will love him for what he accomplished on the ice, and some will hate him for the way he left the organization. Just how it is.
Darrell Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 7:10 pm
@Matt George, At least some of the cheering was piped in over the loudspeakers. It was funny how Bob Miller made his introduction as short as possible and went straight to Lappy, who everyone knew would get big cheers. I’m guessing it was not pure coincidence how they were arranged on the ice.
Such a sad story, actually. All the accomplishments Norstrom was honored for pale in comparison to what Blake did for the franchise, and yet so many revile him.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
@Darrell
Really? I wonder how much he set back the Kings each time he bailed on them.
Darrell Reply:
November 1st, 2010 at 1:14 am
@WTF Kenneth, No, I agree.. Blake brought this upon himself. That’s why I think it’s sad.
I hope the Kings allow us fans to honor Lappy when he retires (it’s not “if” with him, just “when”). He’s a class act and in my 20 years of watching the Kings my #1 favorite player. It was great to see & hear the reception Lappy got last night, very special and a fitting testament to a true warrior.
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Steve Jensen Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@John Bryan,
The fans actually cheered Blake more than they booed him. There was a mix there, for sure. Lappy and Luc were actually laughing with him as it occurred. (Blake was between Luc and Lappy, no surprise.) Clearly, though, Lappy had the biggest ovation, even bigger than Luc’s.
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Such a great guy.
Miss you here Lappy … thanks for coming!
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Lappy is a greater man than he is a hockey player. Many could learn from his example both on and off the ice.
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Sancho Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 11:58 pm
@Belexes, Well said…
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For Blake, there started the usual boos but quickly the applause/cheers over came them. It really became more like a low note to the cheer.
During this summer, there was a thread about number retirements in which there wasn’t much support for retirement of Rob’s number 4. But, there were a few voices that said it is far too soon to think about Rob’s number being retired as it is still too recent history. The reaction from the fans last night certain support that. As time goes on, Blake will (most likely) have his number retired and he’ll be accepted by the fans again. You’re still going to have your fans that think that every word, gesture or action is personal against them and may never accept the reality of it. But it’s pretty obvious, the Kings organization and players accept him and his success as a player.
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RoyalPain Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 3:09 pm
@Scarletcat,
I think the negativity against Blake is way overblown, even though I admit I was there to boo him at his first game back in LA with the Avs. Time will tell if the good memories will prevail over the bad.
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KC23 Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I think the Blake hate is idiotic. I think it is the only thing that embarrasses me about fellow King’s fans. That hate should go towards the King’s management at the time not Blake.
You can tell none of King players who meant anything and played with him share your feelings on the man. Get over it.
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rontheking Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 10:21 pm
@KC23,
dude, i’m with you…the guy was great when he was here…but he started with the likes of gretzky and that team that made it to the finals…after that the ownership didn’t seem to care about putting together a championship team for how many years?
if you were a player and a competitor…after you spent all that time and the best years of your career…wouldn’t you want a chance to win the cup once in your life?
i don’t blame blake at all…the guy surfs and he loves living in LA still…and i bet he still cares about the kings or he wouldn’t have shown up. how many ex-kings didn’t even bother to show up…?
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macdup Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:26 pm
@Scarletcat, I think a lot of the booing during his playing days was because he was now the opposition and that is what you are supposed to do. I think last night opens the door for LA to show how classy they can be. He was one of the greatest D men to wear an LA sweater. Let’s wait for his autobiography and hear his words.
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ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
@Scarletcat,
I do not disagrre that it takes time for fans to properly organize their feelings. But my main gripe with Blake came DURING the rookie camp in September. I was walking up the stairs from the ice at TSC, and I saw Blake walking in. I was a little indifferent at first, but I grew up watching #4, and was beyond thrilles when he rejoined the Kings. I said Hi, and let him go about his business when I saw the duffle bag he was carrying. It had a big ol’ SJ SHARKS logo on it. Really? He walked into TSC with that? How difficult is it for him to get a generic duffle?
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I still rock the #22 every so often. Great player, great attitude.
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@RoyalPain, Used to yell “money whore’ at Blake ,and ‘wife beater’ at Roy.Good times.Blake signing for 9mil. with Colo over 7mil. to stay was over blown tho.Looking back most fans realize it was more about winning a cup,And at the time Kings fans thought we were closer than we were.Look how Devils fans see there problems on there site, the finger pointing is way of base.
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I hope the fans remember that Blake refused to waive his no trade clause at a time the Kings were close to making a huge trade for Nabokov. Then he subsequently signed away in the off-season. Apparently he was also intrumental in attempting to recruit Willie Mitchell to SJ this past summer. Lastly, if he signed with LA in his final year or two to steward Drew and Jack, I could definitely see that being viewed as an investment and commitment to the team. He chose to sign another year in SJ however. His loyalty is clear to me.
Even when Luc played elsewhere, no one ever doubted his loyalty to the Kings organization. Similarly he would never go out of his way to recruit away from the Kings or harm the franchise in any way.
Why would the passage of time soften my view that he deserves recognition in LA? Let SJ or Colorado retire his jersey if they so wish.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:46 pm
@big bob, outstanding post. That pretty much sums up my attitude on why he should not have his jersey retired. When it came down to it, there was no loyalty to the organization. As for whether his number will be retired, I wouldn’t doubt the chances will go up with time, but I don’t expect them to go up with me. I expect them to go up with people forgetting the details.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Oh, and I wouldn’t boo him, but I can understand those who do. I even had to explain it to an Avs fan (I live in Colorado) who asked about it at a game against the Kings.
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It was great to see all of the guys. It is also great to have the rookies see the fans love for their former players. Luc is doing a perfect job with making the Kings a storied franchise. Now if we could just beat Boston in the playoffs this year.
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Glad to see Lappy willing to do an interview.
Sad that the injuries that he has are preventing him from playing. But it was a relief to see that he can actually maintain his balance on his skates. All the reports that I read on NHL.com were saying that he wasn’t even able to keep his balance on his skates to even take a stride.
Wish they would have stopped asking whether or not he missed playing. I think I heard him say a few times, that he missed it and would like to get back.
I seriously don’t think he will ever be the same if he even gets on the ice.
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DougS Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 7:02 pm
@Mesquite Smokie,
In the interview with Patrick O’Neal, he seemed to accept the likelihood that this was the end of the line for him as a player.
And honestly, given the nature and severity of his injury, it’s probably a good time to ease into retirement. Fearlessness was always such a big part of his game, but as it is now, you just don’t want him to get hit hard anymore. His personality and his sense of humor has always made him so endearing, you’d hate to see him end up punch-drunk.
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When the Kings retire the #11, make it a dual retirement so we can have the Triple Crown line there in full (I still miss seeing Simmer up there) as well as Kopitar’s for the new school.
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My all time favorite player is Lappy!
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 9:51 pm
@Chris Bond, Me too…
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8ball Reply:
November 2nd, 2010 at 6:12 pm
chris bond
ralph backstrom. montreal gave him to the kings
so they would finish ahead of the seals.here
comes guy lafleur. end of story. almost.
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