In addition to today’s news of Anze Kopitar being named to the All-Star Game, two Kings prospects — goalie Martin Jones and defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov — have been named to the Eastern Conference squad for the American Hockey League All-Star Game, to be played Jan. 31 in Hershey, Penn.
Voynov (pictured), 21, also played in last year’s All-Star Game. This season, he leads the Monarchs in points (29), with eight goals and 21 assists in 37 games. Jones, 20, in his first year as a pro, leads the AHL in goals-against average (1.75), is second in save percentage (.943) and has a 14-3-0 record for the Monarchs, who are in first place in the Atlantic Division.
So, can someone tell me what’s holding back this Voynov kid from being in the Kings line-up? Was he just not good enough in training camp? I don’t remember the back story….
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Bill M. Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@bob, that about sums it up. Plus he had a little attitude about it, like he had paid his dues and if he didn’t get a break he was going to the KHL.
Given the nature of the teams current struggles, a prima-donna attitude problem is probably the last thing we need.
Let him stew until he figures out the meaning of “team”
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TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Bill M.,
What exactly are you basing that off of?
What attitude are you talking about, and where did you see it specifically and what does that have to do with how he plays?
When did he say anything about going to go play in the KHL or even hint at such a thing?
He’s been in the AHL long enough and he would help solve some of the Kings’ defensive struggles, regardless of his “little attitude”.
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Bill M. Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@TheAcaciaStrain, It was during the offseason, a couple reports from various sources reported that he had threatened to return to Russia if he didn’t get a break this year. I don’t remember exactly where I saw it, but I remember thinking that it was not a normally questionable source
Obviously, he has stayed this year despite not making the NHL roster, so either the reports were false, or he’s come around. As to the specific reason he did not make the roster, I believe that the reasons (I think it was covered in a TM/DL interview during camp) focused on weaknesses in his physical play.
Token Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
@Bill M., I don’t know where Bill M gets his intel, but Voinov was at training camp and was recovering from an injury. He did not skate. It had nothing to do with any kind of attitude, just an injury roadblock.
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Bill M. Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@Token, That is correct. The reports I saw were during camp, but reported on developments from the end of last year. they had little to do with why he didn’t break through this year – that was the injury, and questions from his physical play last year. The return to KHL comments, from what I read, predated that. As I said above, he obviously stayed in manchester, so either the comments were false or he had a change of mind.
holly Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@Bill M., Until we actually see him behaving with a chip on his shoulder or have credible reports to it, it’s a little unfair to slap him with the label. The one report of it came from the KHL, stating that if he wasn’t going to be in the NHL he’d be back in Russia. Historically we’ve seen that the KHL tries to push their players to stay in Russia and a statement to such from the KHL isn’t the same as a statement from someone inside the Kings organization saying that Voynov tried to force their hand.
As he’s clearly still in the AHL, playing well and receiving compliments on his play both from his teammates, coach and now from the league, I wouldn’t say that based on that one statement it’s fair to say he hasn’t made the Kings because of an attitude problem.
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TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@bob,
I’ve been hoping he would come up and play since mid november instead of Harrold. He’s a solid defense man and has a lot of speed and smart puck handling, he plays a lot like Lidstrom, N. does.
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Trade them both and a couple picks to Columbus for Rick Nash
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Bill M. Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@Seabass, Methinks it will take more than that.
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Seabass Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@Bill M., Yeah, probably.
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As I have not really followed the Monarchs this year, has Jones passed Zatcoff on the depth chart? Are they getting the same amount of starts? I watched alot of jones playing in juniors and didn’t think he had what it takes. ThAnks in advance
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jet Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@Ryan oliver, Jones has just been on fire. I may be off but my observation of him is that he does better against better competition. Zats is still a great goalie but you have to give Jones some time when he is playing lights out. This is another guy DL pulled out of no where to have an impact.
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Meman Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
@Ryan oliver, I’m not sure on them, but I am the same way with Reimer on Toronto. I watched a lot of him when he was in Red Deer and he was nothing special. Seems to be doing good so far though.
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holly Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
@Ryan oliver, Zats has been something of an all or nothing goalie this year. Either he’s terrific or he’s completely off his game. Jones on the other hand has been steady with impressive plays in high pressure situations.
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royalmonarch Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@Ryan oliver, Jones has overtaken Zats here in manchester and deservedly so , very consistent night in , night out and its clear his team mates have confidence and seem to take more chances in net when he is back there , knowing he will keep them in the game most nights .. pretty heady stuff for a just turned 21 yr old in his first pro season and was not called up from Ontario until Ersberg bolted for Europe.. not only has he played great but makes the AHL All Star Team .. hes played well at every level and kudos to the Kings for signing him as a free agent.. as for Zats he is fighting the puck a lil bit and his confidence is below the Mendoza Line right now , but he is young and still has time to get his act together . He tends to give up early goals that make you shake your head .. not all his fault for sure , but thats the perception and it just snowballs from there .. we are rooting for Zats to regain his form because we will need both to win the Calder Cup .
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How it would be great for Nash…but big trades are not really there any more
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puck73 Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@viciar to the king, Would rather have Eric Staal centering the 2nd line, but like Nash, that will cost a boat load.
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CB14 Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@puck73, How about both Nash and Stall. I know it will never happen but a guy can dream right?
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David Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
@CB14, The cap says hi.
I cannot wait until Voynov and Jones get a shot to show what they can do at the NHL level!
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What is all this NASH talk? Like Columbus is going to trade away the one good thing about the franchise? On top of that, didn’t the guy just sign a multi-year extension??
C’mon people….
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So when are we trading Voynov? I mean Barry said so and all and he is a REAL reporter right??? ;P
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No trading Voynov. He’s from the same town as my wife and I need him to play for the Kings.
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dont follow Manchester at all, but was wondering about the system and style they play down there. Is it pure skill or system aided that Bernier was awesome in MAN (and sucks now) and now Jones is exceeding all expectations with his awesome play there?
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holly Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
@brett butler, Manchester plays essentially the same exact system that LA does. Part of the plan for the organization is to make transitions between the two teams as seamless as possible. One thing Manchester has had that LA hasn’t this season is a group of guys who are pretty much consistently regarded as the top line. One of the benefits for Manchester this year has been the fact that Moller and Loktionov have been able to elevate their center to their level, regardless of whether he’s a true first line center or not.
One of the areas that we lack, that LA has strength is in that of true stay at home guys, but part of that is likely due to the youth of the team. Muzzin and Teubert both do look very promising in this area and since their addition (Muzzin from LA and Teubert from injury) have definitely improved that.
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JMFJ#3 Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 12:31 am
@holly,
i’m a little lost by your comment on Moller & Loktionov being able to elevate their center to their level, regardless of whether he’s a true first line center or not.
Aren’t they both “centers”…i know Moller plays wing a little more, but Loktionov is only a center right?
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holly Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 1:33 am
@JMFJ#3, They’ve been flanking Cliche most recently. On occasion they’ll play a shift or two will Holloway, at which point Lokti will slide into center. Moller has played RW almost exclusively this season.
All part of the grand experience that is the King’s prospect development. Play every position on ice and see which one sticks.
Voynov primarily plays with Hickey and both have been the primary PP and #1 defence unit. Hickey has also been getting quite a bit of PK time. Its too bad the AHL doesn’t relase TOI stats as it would be interesting to see what type of minutes theya re eating up. When muzzin gets back from injury they’ll be much stronger but the defence has kept them in a lot of games – as has the goaltending.
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@Bill M., you are very miss informed, sir. Sport express was the russian media outlet who leaked this story of voynov going to the khl if he ..blah blah blah.. No one takes it seriously because they tend to stretch the truth on a number of stories, ie the kovalev dramas in montreal.. or as recently as the dadonov story. Dadonov said when he arrived for training camp that he would go anywhere florida wanted him to go whether it be ahl or evn khl, he would go. The russian media outlet spun that into: “dadonov threatens to return to khl if he doesn’t make florida” dadnonv later cleaned up the mess himself discrediting the story….
Anyhow, I can’t see them not giving voynov a single call-up during his entire entry level contract -sorry, that’s just rude. Its one thing if he’s not deserving, its a whole different ball game when he’s a league all-star. The kings are stupid if they don’t give him a cup of coffee, if that’s the case i’d rather see him in the khl next season playin along side kuznetsov, shalunov, and who knows, maybe dadonov lol!
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