Sturm finally finds home with Kings

When he plays, Marco Sturm will become the second German-born player to play for the Kings. Bonus points, and blog bragging rights, to the person who can name the first German-born Kings player… Sturm practiced with his new teammates today, and stayed on the ice for some extra conditioning. It’s been a long road back for Sturm, who injured his knee on May 1, and it’s been a long week. The trade to the Kings was finalized on Saturday, Sturm flew from Boston to Los Angeles on Sunday for testing and then flew to St. Louis on Tuesday night.

Terry Murray said Sturm “has the green light to participate in every drill” and Murray said he’s looking at the Dec. 23 home game against Edmonton as the target date for Sturm’s Kings debut. Murray left open the possibility of Sturm playing on Dec. 21 at Colorado as well. But for the next few days, Sturm will skate with the fourth-line guys. I asked Murray when he would start to have Sturm practice with his new linemates, in order to build some familiarity.

MURRAY: “It might just happen the day we practice before the game. There might be only that one opportunity. I don’t want to mess anything up in the practice, as we get going through games right now. But the day before that game will probably be the only opportunities.”

As for Sturm, he seemed happy to simply be settled, after almost two weeks of trade talk and a couple days of medical testing…

Question: What were the last couple weeks like for you? It had to be difficult, being in limbo like that.

STURM: “It was not easy. It was always kind of up and down, but I knew that eventually it was going to get done. It was just the waiting part that’s been tough. Even the last two days, I’ve been (with the Kings), they had to do a lot of testing, so it’s been not easy, but I’m glad now that everything is over and I can focus on hockey again.”

Question: Was your past relationship with Dean Lombardi one of the reasons for waiving your no-trade clause?

STURM: “Yeah, that helps too, but I saw this team a few times and it’s a pretty exciting team, a young team. I like the way they play, and I think personally, it’s probably the best fit for me.”

Question: How are your knees? Any pain or swelling or anything like that?

STURM: “I’ve got no pain at all. It’s just the conditioning now, getting back to game shape. Hopefully I can get that pretty soon.”

Question: Terry said he was targeting maybe the 23rd…

STURM: “Yeah, I think that’s the plan and hopefully it’s going to work out. Hopefully I get a game in before Christmas, and I will be very happy about that.”

Question: How hard were you skating in Boston before the trade? Same as this?

STURM: “Yeah, it was the same way. Since the last week, I practiced with the team full-contact, but a week is not enough. I need a little more practice and hopefully I can get it here.”

Question: The fact that you went through the knee surgery once before, does that help you in a way, to know what to expect now?

STURM: “Yeah, it helps that way, like you said. I know what I’m up to. I know what hard work it is to come back like that, and I was not happy about that but I made it this far again. Hopefully this is it.”

Question: You know that this team has been looking for a left wing for a long time. How do you think you might fit in?

STURM: “Like I said, it’s a great that plays fast, and I like that. I’ve got to use my speed here, and I think that’s why I said I think it’s a good fit for me here, and hopefully I can help these guys out, to move forward.”

Question: Do you worry at all about the speed, coming back from the knee problems?

STURM: “After I came back from the first one, it didn’t bother me at all. I think I never lose my speed, so for me, it’s no reason to lose my speed. I need some time, but I should be back, 100 percent.”

Question: Seven seasons with 20 goals, that’s a pretty good number…

STURM: “I played with two great teams, and great players. That obviously helped my game out, and hopefully I can chip in here too and have another one. It’s going to be tough this year, but hopefully I can get another 20 goals in.”

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