With Wayne Simmonds out of the lineup for the next two games, Terry Murray said the Kings would not look to bring up a forward from the AHL, and would put Kevin Westgarth back into the lineup. The Kings practiced today with the same first line — Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams — and with lines of Jarret Stoll centering Marco Sturm and Dustin Brown, and Brad Richardson centering Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis. That would make for a fourth line of Michal Handzus centering Alexei Ponikarovsky and Westgarth.
MURRAY: “I’ll probably leave it the way it was in the practice here today. I liked what Zeus did. He didn’t play as many minutes, or as important a role as in other games, but I liked him. He had good jump, and he’s just going to battle his way through. He’s going to work at it and things are going to turn around for him. If it happens like that, in the next game, I’m not concerned. I’ll get him going with more of a workload.”
Terrible, Use Harrold on 4th line RW.
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Michael_J Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@John, Agreed.
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Colin Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
@Michael_J, I’d rather give Loktionov a call up, or Moller. I love Westgarth, but we need guys to put the puck in the net. Cliffy is willing to drop gloves for us if need be.
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K-Dog Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@Colin, I agree Cliffy can drop thew mitts, but I would rather have
Westgarth handle that role if needed. We all saw last night what can
happen in a scrum… Cliffy does us no good getting hurt in a scrap
54FIGHTING Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
@Colin,
First, yes call up Moller. Westy sucks and we don’t need him.
@K-Dog,
Exactly what would Westy have done last night on the bench after Doughty’s hit? He wouldn’t have been on the ice. It was Stoll’s line out there. Are you saying if Westy is in the lineup there won’t be any scrums? That is terrible thinking. Edmonton played their goon and he watched Hall get rocked and what did he do?
taylorskings Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@Colin,
Its like Parse all over again. What the hell did Moller do to get in TM’s dog house. He has a goal and 2 assist in 4 games.
K-Dog Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Colin, Sounds good, lets see if we can get more players hurt. You will be singing a different tune….
I really like these lines alot! I wish we had Simmonds though to play along side Poni and Zus, but it is just unfortunate. I think we need to make a call up from Manchester. Bring Moller back or someone to take the place of Westy when the other team doesn’t have a large enforcer. He is a liability when he is out on the ice and it makes it that much harder for Poni and Zus to do anything well because it’s as if they are playing by themselves. Westgarth is a good fighter and bless him for trying, but he is not a good skater and certainly not a good puck handler or decision maker. Call up a winger please. Leave the other lines as is and get the next two wins on the road!!
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kevin Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 9:10 am
@OCKingsFan, I dont think he is even a good fighter the only thing I have seen him be good at is taking a punch to the nose and then bleeding.
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Glad to see Westy back in. Now the Kings won’t get pushed around and sucker punched last night. Do it and Westy will be calling.
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MIckey Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@Hockey101, I hope that is sarcasm… Westy could not catch anyone on the Oil to fight.. he is too slow. And the role of the enforcer is wasted in today’s NHL, unless said enforcer can put up points and play a regular shift. Which he cannot.
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Chuck Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
@MIckey, Exactly Mickey. You said it. He definately won’t fill the void left by Simmonds. Westy can throw, but skating, creating scoring chances and scoring are not his strong points.
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Kenny44 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@Hockey101, The sucker punch by Hall on Doughty, you mean? Or Hemsky, the guy who pulled down Simmonds? Westie couldn’t get within 12 feet of either of those guys. So, let’s say Westie’s in the lineup. Do you want him going out to fight Big Mac (the guy who ruined Ivanans). What for? Just for S&G? That simply does not deter NHL players anymore. Deterrence only comes from the guys on the ice at the time, or guys who can play a regular shift so that there’s a good chance they’ll see you on the ice later.
The Kings, like any team, will get pushed around whenever they play soft as a team. Losing Simmonds poses a big challenge in that regard. But it’s nothing Westie could’ve prevented.
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ARealFan Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@Hockey101, West will be calling??? In what respect? He can’t skate, can’t fight nor can he contribute anything! I agree with John, use Harrold!
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Hockey101 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@Hockey101, who is Harrold going to intimidate? And if the Kings have toughness outside of Westy, why did nobody do anything about the sucker punch and the rest of the stuff that went on in that scrum that resulted in Simmonds getting hurt? Hockey is a rough sport and you have to have a tough guy on your team to keep the other team in check. This has always been the case and always will be.
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Harty Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 4:36 am
@Hockey101, this guy couldn’t find a number if he had to, com’on lets continue with the skaters and leave the goon act in LA
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I thnk King would be better, he’s a scoring big man with some speed
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Paul G Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@Ravens, he can’t score in the NHL and he’s too slow for the NHL but AHL he’s ok…kinda like Clune
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fan5 Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 5:40 am
@Paul G,
Clune had the fastest skating time in training camp…
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Westy may not be a skater, but the kid has drive. Ivanans played the same role, but when the puck some how landed on his stick, he seemed confused on what to do. Westy at least heads to the net and has taken a shot or two when there hasn’t been someone to set up for a play. I feel that sort of attitude and attempt makes him a good choice for the role he’s given.
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Guss Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
@Scarletcat, agreed
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kevin Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 9:30 am
@Scarletcat, When was the last time he fought? He cant fight skate check pass or shoot what is he good for.
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Personally, I’d rather have skill in the lineup. I’d like to see Oscar Moller brought up. He may not have the size, but he has the heart, the drive, and the skills.
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KH Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@Goring 19, Couldn’t agree more
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Belexes Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@KH,
Couldn’t disagree more
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Jason4Kings Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@Goring 19,
This year- 3 points, +1 in 4 games with the Kings. 28 points, +13 in 30 with Manchester.
Yeah, so what’s the problem? I agree with you.
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Dave Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
@Goring 19, i think we’ll see Moller if Simmonds is going to miss more than a couple of games. he played well when he was up and only got sent down because everyone got healthy.
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Harty Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 4:37 am
@Dave, yes this is what is needed skill not goons
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Paul G Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 4:55 am
@Goring 19, completely agree…if not Moller then at least put Harold or someone who can skate
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Yeah I might like to see some new faces in LA. You don’t need Clifford and Westgarth, and while everyone is in love with Clifford, he really isn’t adding much to the Kings lineup. Sure he fights, and works hard and brings energy, but he has a team worst +/- and does not score any points.
On the other hand, Westgarth is the exact same in those categories, plays fewer minutes and people are afraid to fight.
Choose one or the other -not both.
I like Moller for a week.
Maybe we should burn a year of Loktionov’s contract and let him finish out the year with the big club.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Jonsey, what are you talking about “burn a year of Loktionov’s contract” — he is not a junior player, his year is burnt
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Harty Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 4:40 am
@Jonsey, are you kidding me, are you watching……Clifford will be the heart of this team in two years when all your little dipsey doodle guys are in LA Hospital with fractured this and that……you cannot be serious I thought your earlier blogs were bad but this one is negative thoughts on the scale
are you sure your a kings fan or lame duck fan, likely a duck fan to stir things up so forget my message and watch some games
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I really like Stoll and Smyth together.
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I agree with John, put Harry on this line, at least it would be some speed. I understand not making a call up, if it is only going to be for two games.
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If you must dress Westgarth, sit his butt on the bench until actually needed. Just one shift per period, at most. Then let Harrold suit up and start on that line instead of Westgard, then Harrold can switch to defense if one of the D men gets hurt.
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I love enforcers in the game but Westy makes me cringe every time he’s on the ice. It’s like I’m waiting for him seriously hurt in a scrap. We haven’t had a legit enforcer in years.
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I like the line of Jarret Stoll centering Marco Sturm and Dustin Brown. I see some chemistry in that line.
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DominicK Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@Jay Go LA Kings, They had a great game playing together last game. I like the way that line was assertive everytime they were on the ice.
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Honestly, if Richardson is centering Lewis and Clifford and Handzus is centering Ponikarovsky and Westgarth, who is to say that one is the “third line,” and one is the “fourth line.” Really…
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simonsez Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
@Marc Nathan,
Easy. The 4th line is the one with Westgarth. I don’t care it’s Kopitar centering him.
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CB14 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@simonsez, Agreed !
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Terrible. Without Westgarth, we have the depth to roll 4 solid lines. Putting a guy like Westgarth in the lineup is a LUXURY that you have when you aren’t fighting for the 8th seed.
When you’re fighting for a playoff spot, you’re basically playing playoff hockey and we all know that enforcers get benched in the playoffs. Westgarth needs to sit right now for the same reason.
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puck73 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@simonsez, Agreed.
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Crashin'da net Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:35 am
@simonsez, agreed
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he shouldve never been out of the lineup. sucks that this is how he gets to come back in.
simmonds gone is going to hurt. hes one of the VERY few guys who has been responsible on both ends this year.
“the sky is falling”
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For the last month Zues has seemed slow. Poni is just coming back from being out for an extended period. Moving both of them to the 4rth line and dramatically cutting their icetime makes sense. Westy doesn’t eat up alot of icetime so he might as well play on that line. It just seems like we’d get more bang for the buck by putting a puck handler, or some speed on that line as opposed to an enforcer who hasn’t learned how to start trouble and make himself a target yet. Westy does add a great deal of size to that line, but hasn’t quite learned how to play heavey like Zues and Poni.
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side note:
did u guys know that frolov had torn right ACL since january 9th of this year. He will be out for the remainder of the season.
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DominicK Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@gcheng, It’s been mentioned a few times. Wish him all the best in his recovery. Love him or not, he was a King.
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why not bring up one of our youngster from minors, i dotn think we need westie in the line up. we need guys who can score adn guys with skills he is not the answear.
lets make this roadtrip a remarkable one boys
go kings go
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IceGuy Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@gmo,
Westy did not win the last time he was in.
So what’s he doing in the lineup?
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soooo…..we lose a scorer and bring in a useless goon that couldn’t beat up a paper bag full of dog crap? lovely. good call!! good call!! /end sarcasm
we better win these 2 games, i got money on it
the only thing to look forward to i guess is slowgarth only getting about <5 mins of ice time and TM cycles some forwards on that line.
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Supposedly we have all this young talent and all we have to show is clifford and lewis. We have an injured player and we replace him with Westgarth? Where is Richardson? What the heck is going on with Kings Management? If Loktionov or Moeller are supposed to be able to make it with the Kings then give them the opportunity. Put one of them on the 3rd/4th line all year…we don’t need westgarth when clifford will drop the gloves.
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puck73 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@demob, Agree, I am sick and tired of Tm’s loyalty to westgarth and his utter disrespect of Harrold. This loyalty reminds me of Barry Melrose’s loyalty to Daryl Sydor and his utter disdain of Alex Zhinik…sometimes coaches have blind loyalty to a fault and it is on display for all with common sense to see. Please DL, for the love of god tell this coach that if his playing of Westgarth on this trip costs the Kings on Monday and Tuesday that he is fired !
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Bossy22 Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:17 am
@puck73,
Harrold only get’s used when TM is punishing someone, what a waste of an intelligent hockey player…I think TM uses Westgarth to punish us
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Bossy22 Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:14 am
@demob,
I Like King for this assignment, without Simmonds in the lineup, we need a guy that can drop em if we need him, then there’s no reason for Westie to bring us down.
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Westgarth? ahh crap.
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super.
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are we ganna see kozun in a kings uniform this year? or hell you got bud down there to, buds playing some great hockey right now!
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nooooooo!!! That’s all I have to say on the matter.
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Does anyone know the W-L record with westie in the lineup?
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Westy is brutal on the ice. He can’t do anything but fight. We might as well put Mike Tyson out there…
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JayMiller Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:17 am
@DY, I’d rather go with Tyson in the line up. That’s how much confidence I have in Westward.
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kevin Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 9:42 am
@DY, I say at least tyson can fight westy cant do anything.
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If Cliche was a winger, this might be his chance….3rd or 2nd line winger….bring up King, I mean he was brought up for the first line?? What’s the harm?? How about Meckler, he’s having a good season, maybe he’ll bring some magic with a first time call up?? Hollway is leading the Monarchs…we need some goals, how about sending a message to the fisrt place Monarchs, that the AHL is not a tomb!!! That the Kings may be where you end up??? Not NY, Tampa or Washington
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Minn, Chi, Ana wins. 2nd tier conf teams starting to move. Were need to keep up or we’re screwed.
Let’s take Dallas down!
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Check the back around of West. Must be the son in law of TM.
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