The good folks at NHL Live, on SiriusXM radio and the NHL Network, got an easy 20 minutes of programming today by asking Dean Lombardi seven questions. Lombardi is now back from his East Coast scouting trip, and I still might have a couple follow-up questions for him the next time I see him, but this interview does a good job of covering the major issues of the moment involving the Kings. Here’s the transcript…
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Question: We get a lot of emails from Kings fans. Do you get that same level of response?
LOMBARDI: “I do get a lot of emails, and like I’ve said, when I first got here, I was actually shocked by the core of fans that are so passionate about this team. The real test of your fan base is when things aren’t going well. My first couple years, in the building process, we weren’t a very good team, but boy, we had Fan Appreciation Day after the last game of the season, and we’d be 30 points out of the playoffs and those people were going crazy, like we just won the Stanley Cup. Like I said, there’s a real passionate base. A lot of them have paid their dues, throughout the history of this franchise, and they really care. We started getting the building filled there last year, and they deserve it. It’s very underrated, the level of passion out here for this team.”
Question: What are your thoughts on what is going on with the team right now?
LOMBARDI: “Well, there’s a myriad of things that you could probably look at, but if I could capsulize it, I’ve been through this once before, in San Jose, through the building process. Fortunately, when you have experience you’re probably better able to deal with it emotionally, rationally and work your way through it. What I found in San Jose, when we were building, is that the second year is always the toughest. Your first year, as you’re going through the building process and you make the playoffs, you’ve got that kind of Cindarella fell. There’s no expectations. You’re able to sneak up on people. You really don’t have the respect of the opposition, and there’s no real price for failure. The second year, you come back and it’s a very different mindset. There’s expectations, and it’s just very different. In any walk of life, when you have expectations to get it done, it’s very different than when there aren’t any expectations. Like I said, the second year in San Jose was our toughest. You know, we went on that six-year run, with that foundation put in place, in terms of making the playoffs. But I always remember, looking back on that, getting them through the stage of dealing with expectations. The difference here, than when I went through it before, is the spiking. We come out 12-3, go 0-7. We regroup and go 9-3-1 and now you’ve got another 1-7 run. Usually, you don’t see that type of spike. The biggest thing, I think, overall, when your team is building its mental identity, is that dealing with success is something tougher than dealing with failure. When we had success there, at 12-3, and we looked like world-beaters, you can either become complacent and start thinking it’s easy, or to a degree you can get full of yourself, and you’ve got to learn from it. So it’s like I said. Sometimes dealing with success is a harder lesson than dealing with failure. And I think we’ve gone through a little bit of that, and now they’re going to have to figure their way out. Each individual has to figure out what to do in order to be the best they can. In the end, from the management all the way down, you’ve got to stick with it, and when you get through it, you’re going to be a lot stronger. I do have the faith in this group, that they’re capable. They’ve shown they’re capable, and most important, I know they care. But they’re going to have to figure out how to care in the right way.”
Answer: Do you see any possible moves coming, or are you more likely to stand pat?
LOMBARDI: “I really think, in today’s game, with the cap and the way things are, the overall structure of the league, trades are certainly important, but I really think that in a lot of cases, they’re a smaller part of the job, particularly when you’re trying to build an infrastructure and a culture. The management of what goes into the day-to-day, when you’re trying to put in a culture of doing things right and establishing an identity, the whole thing about moving pieces around isn’t always the answer. Secondly, as a practical matter it’s not the answer. I think we have a pretty fair handle on where we are, in terms of our physical ability, what we’re lacking overall in terms of becoming that contender that can control its destiny. But to think you can go out and get it, you don’t have that. When everybody is still in the playoffs, when everyone is all bunched together, it’s harder and harder, in a 30-team league, to make deals, because people don’t have the depth, where you can fill a hole and not create a hole. That’s the ideal thing about making a deal. You usually want another piece that goes into the hole you created, and solidify yourself in another area. But that’s not practical. Every GM does his job. You get to the 20-game mark, and everybody calls around and everybody sees what’s available. You just walk away, sometimes, thinking, `What was that exercise for?’ Other than having some nice conversations, or maybe laying some groundwork for the future. But as a practical matter, when everybody is still in it, the only way that you can find a trading partner is with a philosophical change. I did this three or four years ago, where I was trading veteran, proven players for draft picks. That’s a philosophical match. But to find players, to be able to go back and forth, it’s really not a practical option. Then, if you get in that mode, where, `I’ve got to do something, I’ve got to do something,’ 99 times out of 100, it’s stupid. You see all these trade rumors out there on the blogs and everything, and I’ve got to tell you. You talk to the GMs sometimes and you say, `Gee, did you hear that one?’ and we’re just going, `Where in the world did that come from?’ So, are you looking? Obviously you continue that part of the job, that you’re always surveying the landscape, but often times, it’s just not practical, because nothing is really there. Or, because of the cap, even if you find something, it has to fit, cap-wise. That cuts down on a lot of your ability to maneuver.”
Question: That experience you had, building in San Jose, how much does it help you now?
LOMBARDI: “No question. When you’re in this position, it’s about keeping your wits about you and keeping everybody focused. Emotion is a big part of this game, on and off the ice. It’s good to be emotional, but not to where it clouds your judgment. I was very fortunate when I was young. I was the youngest GM in the league for a long time, but I was very lucky to have guys like Bill Torrey, Harry Sinden, Cliff Fletcher, Lou Lamoriello. They would just give you that emotional uplift, to say, `Stick with it. You’re doing the right thing. You know how teams are built. Don’t let all the outside influences affect your judgment.’ So a lot of those men, I owe them a debt of gratitude. The other thing I learned, when I was working for Philadelphia, to be exposed to Bobby Clarke was just incredible. You talk about a winner and an athlete who established a culture in a franchise, not only as a player but carried over as a GM, his ability to focus and do the right thing was just incredible. So I’ve been very fortunate to have some great teachers.”
Question: Is this the most critical time of your years in L.A., or is it just part of roller coaster?
LOMBARDI: “To be honest with you, I think everything is critical. I know it might not make sense from the outside. Draft day is critical. Your development program is critical. I just spent two weeks in Manchester, seeing where our young players are at and how far away. Every guy in your franchise — it’s the Lou Lamoriello thing. It’s an orchestra, and everybody is critical to making the right tune. I do think, though, if you want to put some label on it, I do think we’re in some critical teaching moments right now. I do think our mettle is being tested. I think you’re going to find out about these kids learning mental toughness. That’s essentially what has gone on here. When you see this team, they’ve had some stretches, obviously, where they’ve shown what they’re capable of. But the mental side, the mental maturity of the group, that experience, you can’t define it. It’s like the judge said about obscenity. I know it when I see it, but I can’t define it. So, in that sense, it is critical, and that’s where, as management, as coaches, as trainers, everybody, you stay with it. You focus through it and you believe it and, yeah, some of them need to get their chest out and start believing in themselves. Others need a kick in the butt. But one thing I said about this group is, I know they care. Right now, they’re just not caring the right way. I would probably characterize it more as being a critical teaching moment, for us to get through as a team.”
Question: You got Jack Johnson locked up. Is there any update on Drew Doughty and contract talks?
LOMBARDI: “We’ve had very general discussions with the agent, but I don’t think it’s as pressing. One thing about Jack that made us able to do it is, one, he is further along in terms of his age and where free agency kicks in. In that sense, he’s closer to the free-agency period than Drew is. Secondly, he was more than prepared to do a long-term deal. So that’s kind of unusual, with most of these young players. They like to take it up to free agency and then go for the big kick at the can. So when we saw the opportunity, and you’re gauging where Jack is going to be down the road, we thought it was a fair deal that we could move forward with. In Drew’s case, like I said, there has been very general discussion. But there’s no doubt that we’re going to get him signed. The issue is, too, whenever you’re doing a contract, you’re looking at 20 contracts now. You know how Solly [Jeff Solomon] works, in terms of fitting all these pieces together. You can’t do one contract in a vacuum. When you’re putting a core together, like we’re trying to do here, it’s like I’ve told the fans. `You’ve gone through three or four years of hell here. It’s not going to make sense to have it, and then all of a sudden, guys are walking because we can’t keep them.’ With some of these other kids, you might keep it short-term, see when these veterans come off. Then you can give them the big ticket, and keep it in place so they can stay together. The object of the game is, I don’t wan to concede this short-window period. This whole concept of , `We have a two-year window,’ maybe it’s the stubbornness, going back to those guys like Torrey, who put together franchises that just epitomized winning for a long time, but Detroit has shown they can do it. It doesn’t necessary have to be that way. When you have that culture in place, players want to stay there and you can get a reasonable price on your core, and then the fillers coming, it can be done. But we’re trying to do two things at once. One, you’re trying to get them together, so they can build a culture. Detroit already has the culture in place. In the cap era, there’s no caps on mental toughness and culture. There’s a cap on talent. But the process of putting that culture in place, that is invaluable, and nobody can take that away from you, regardless of how much you spend. In Drew’s case, like I said, I don’t see any way that he’s not going to be a King for a long time. It will eventually get done.”
Question: What about Brayden Schenn, and his development?
LOMBARDI: “I think that was a huge tournament for him, in the World Junior tournament. He needed to do what he did. He’s a top young player. He went on the world stage and, tying the record and winning every big award there, obviously other than the gold medal, the way they collapsed at the end, that’s the type of talent he is, and that’s where he needs to be. The idea of what he needs to do, and this is what we told him when we finally sent him back, is like a lot of junior players. They have to learn to play in their own end. That’s critical when you’re a center. It’s something that, when you’re a top junior player, your focus tends to be on points, and that tends to lag. So he’s in Saskatoon now. There’s enormous pressure on him, being in his hometown and on a Memorial Cup contender, but he’s got to learn to deal with it. So I think he’s in a great environment. in terms of learning some mental toughness. Then, when we get through this season, obviously you want him, in the summer, to start focusing on his defensive play. But with him, and one of our best other young prospects, Loktionov, the creativity that Loktionov and Schenn are capable of bringing is something that, when you look at our overall mix, is something we probably need. It’s coming in the pipeline, the connect-the-dots guys who make those little five-foot passes that allow you to keep possession. So, I think that’s coming, but we’ve got to do it at the right time. Nobody, again referring to Detroit, you see how long they’re able to leave an Ericsson in the minors, how they can bring along Helm. Even when they brought in Datsyuk, they didn’t put it all on him. They had Yzerman there, to cover him while he learned to be a top player. In the long run, if you can slow down the process and do it right, you’re better off, but it’s awfully difficult today. But in his case, we definitely thought another year of learning his trade would be best for him.”
Word cloud on Lombardi:
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3004931/Lombardi‘s_Rant…
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:00 am
try the link again…
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3004931/Lombardi‘s_Rant…
–There ya go.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:00 am
link won’t post fully because of the ‘.
Copy, then paste.
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HeyItsFred Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
No.
Dean, don’t you get it…..we need a new coaching staff. Everthing else is just blather
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henry Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
amen brother!
no playoff again this year. and it’s the coaching staffs fault. we need mark hardy back
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pr0cess Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
@henry, Chester isnt coming back so you might as well let it go.
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PK Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@henry, the coaching is fine. The players are paid professionals. They need to except responsibility and play better.
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Doc.B Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@PK, You can say that again!! TM is the Man!!
broncokings Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@PK, thank you for saying that, i personally am tired of the bashing
No Yankees?
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Matt George Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:04 am
@Matt George,
WUPS … spoke too soon
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spidey35 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:04 am
@Matt George,
True, no Yankees, but Red Wings references.
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Matt George Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:05 am
@spidey35,
He threw Torre in there … it was quick but he got it in!
DRINK !
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This is only the 2nd year? WTF?
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6 Sino Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:45 am
@Sancho, This is only the 2nd year since making the playoffs.
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very classy Dean, well done
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When I listen to Lomberdi, I’m starting to feel like I’m hearing Tommy Lasorda speak. There is definately some motivational speaking there and I’m starting to think maybe Dean needs to talk to the team. If Dean doesn’t maybe we can get Tommy to come in and talk to them.
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Buster Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
@spidey35,
Tommy once sent in a former bat boy to do a motivational speech for them. They won the World Series that year just to keep Don Rickles from making another speech.
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The Good News Report – Tyler Toffoli has 41 goals in 44 games…
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Zach Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:29 am
@VanKingsFan,
Does anyone know why teams passed on Toffoli in the first round? Also, does anyone know when he is projected to be NHL ready?
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:55 am
@Zach, They passed on him because “his skating was weak”. Sounds like another Luc Robitaille to me
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Quisp Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
@Zach,
Because they’re idiots. Yes, there was concern about skating ability, and effort.
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Daniel Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
@Zach, Also, he wasn’t in great shape. The Kings’ scouts said he had good bloodlines (i.e. Hockey family) and his antecedents were late-bloomers, physically. So, they saw the higher level of potential that others didn’t.
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jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Zach, I saw him at rookie camp and his skating was not that bad for his age. It is something that he needs to work on. His most notable attribute was the accuracy of his shot. When he told the puck to meet me at the bend, the puck listened.
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
@VanKingsFan, TM will manage to take Toffoli next year, and plant him along the boards on the 4th line with Westgarth. I’m sure he’ll break him of any scoring talent he has.
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LucLivesOn Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
@LW Anybody?, Yup you knew someone was going to take a positive like Tofulli lighting it up and turn it into something negative. Just curious but I am guessing your stand up act at the local comedy club needed some fine tuning right?
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@LucLivesOn, To be fair, Which of our homegrown offensive talents have flourished under TM? Moulson? Boyle? Purcell? I’m not seeing the best track record with offensive development under Murray. Is Schenn or Lokti playing with the big boys yet? Why not? Cause, they aren’t ready? Are YOU sure they’re not? Just another reason why I think TM maybe is not the right person for this team anymore.
THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@LW Anybody?, A perfect observation.
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Doc.B Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@LW Anybody?, The fastest King coach to 100 wins isn’t good enough for you?
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@VanKingsFan, I saw your post. Sorry duder. Wasn’t trying to bum you out. I do hold out hope for Toffoli. Something good is happening there. Just bummed about DL’s response today. Once again, looks like we are standing pat. I was hoping there might be at least some hint of something being done(coaching preferably), but nothing will happen. I do have hope in this organization, just bitter about how long it is taking, and how it looks like maybe things aren’t really on track after all.
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Dean knows what he’s doing. I truly believe that. We’re still a very young team and the players need to be able to figure it all out. It’s all part of the process. Dean knows it’s not going to be an instant cup contender here. It’s pretty much still in the near future, but he knows what we have here and the process of how to get there so I’m sticking with Deano and his way of doing things. GKG
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nykingfan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:37 am
@Goring 19,
Exactly!
We stand together again!
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hockeysureshot Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:37 am
@Goring 19, I agree. Lot’s of ups and downs during an 82 game season. Would it surprise anyone if they won five out of the next six?
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vplaza Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:41 am
@hockeysureshot,
At the way they’ve played the last 10 games? Yes, it would definitely surprise me if they won five out of the next six.
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Pesus Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
@hockeysureshot,
Very suprised if they win 5 of 6. Have u looked at the schedule? I’ll be suprised if we win 3 of 6. Thats if TM is still coach. Im a season ticket holder and may of missed 10 games in the last 3 years. I have no intrest in going thursday. Tippet is gonna out coach us so bad it will be comical. Hopefully it will be TM’ last games with us.
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jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@Pesus, I do not think there is a move that would more physiologically harmful to a very young team. If you recall 3 years ago, we were discussing who we were going to draft by the end of January. We have come a long way, but still have a ways to go.
Oh, and if you are going to give away your tickets?
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@hockeysureshot, yes!
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Hockey101 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@Goring 19, San Jose still hasn’t won a cup. Maybe he should be talking to the Penguins GM to see how he did it so quickly without his team regressing so much in the 2nd season.
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Unamailer Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
@Hockey101, I believe the Penguins GM deliberately and shamefully had the team tank the season in order to get Crosby…
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
@Unamailer, Wait, you mean they chose offense first instead of defense and it worked? Nooo! That’s not what the cliche says works.
Michael J. Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@LW Anybody?,
No. Pittsburgh took the best player available. As have the Kings. Doughty = offense. Schenn = offense. Forbort, well not so much. But two of the last three have happened to be offensive minded players.
Ahhh! I needed that, the Kool Aid has now been refilled. I’m back to drinking. IN DEAN WE TRUST! GI KINGS!
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I remember when this blog use to be such a happy place.
I think I’ll change my screen name to Glen Goldup from now on.
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jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@Steve Jensen, don’t let the negators get to you.
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ringo Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@Steve Jensen, there is a couple of kings names you dont hear to often…kind of like kozack, harper and ruzkowski(wrong spelling iam sure…)
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Dutch Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
@ringo, Like Kannegeser sp?
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Ahhh! I needed that, the Kool Aid has now been refilled. I’m back to drinking. IN DEAN WE TRUST! GO KINGS!
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So I am very very confused, maybe somebody can shed some light here. When did the official re-build star? 4-5 years ago? Dean just said year two is always tough!
When is the rebuild going to be done and when is it considered a failure. If we are only in year two… The cups is ours in 2017!!!
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:36 am
@Jstin, i think DL breaks things down into re-build (phase 1), contend (phase 2) and maintain (phase 3). i haven’t heard that from him but i’m pretty sure that’s what he’s talking about.
they re-built and got a core in place (phase 1)
last year they began to contend and start to add pieces (phase 2) we are probably looking at one more year after this before we are fully in phase 2.
phase 3 would be the detroit kind of thing – contending every year, having that winning culture that players want to come to.
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:41 am
@Dave,
I think you are correct.
You can’t consider the first years anything more than tearing down the condemned house and clearing the landcape. When you bring in guys like Nagy, Willsie, etc you can’t seriously think that’s a building block. As DL said at the time, they are nothing more than cheap roster fillers.
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
@Dave, So I guess this means we have 8 more years till we actually have a chance to win under DL’s 5yr + 5yr + 5yr plan? Sweet.
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jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
@Dave, I agree with your 3 phases, but I also think DL is looking at positional rebuilding. The goalie position throughout the organization is starting to look fairly strong. The defence is coming along, still maybe a year or two away. The attackmen are a work in progress. While the third and forth lines are close, the top siz still need some work. We will probably start drafting top six forwards this year. Although, TT, Weal and Kits appear to be a good start. This is not a slight to King, Holloway, Vey, OM, the rest of the Monarch forwards. The future is still on an upswing.
[Reply]
Space_Shot Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:47 am
@Jstin,
He, even before the season started, has always referred to the second year after you make the playoffs. The first year you get it you can fly under the radar and steal game from teams. The second year you become a target, expectations are completely different, and it’s more about pushing through and becoming better as a team. So this is year 2 of becoming a contender, not year 2 of the rebuilding process.
[Reply]
kevin Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@Jstin, I agree with you, talking way too long to rebuild (lose). since when is ok to lose in professional sports? rebuilding is a excuse for losing. Maybe if we didn’t take late first round draft picks fourth overall(thomas hickey) it wouldn’t take so long to rebuild (lose). We have plenty of youth, we need a proven goal scorer. We’re losing too many 1 goal games. We’re not that far off and it’s not to late, pull the trigger DL don’t throw away the season
[Reply]
Mongo88 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@kevin, So I got to ask you…Who would you have taken?
[Reply]
kevin Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
@Mongo88,
sam gagner, logan couture or brandon sutter
Michael J. Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@kevin, Ahhhhh….. hindsight….
kevin Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@Mongo88,
Michael J.
not really, everybody had hickey picked late first round. huge surprise by this pick.
Its ok if he backs it up, but he hasn’t. not hindsight……..reality
Gary Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@Jstin, year 2 if being a playoff team, he hopes. Last year was year one, when there were not expectations, and other teams didn’t respect them. It was easier.
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What a real interview would’ve included…
When they do an interview in Canada, the questions aren’t as soft as Jonathan Quick’s second goal against last night. E.g., interview with Bryan Murray in Ottawa…
http://thehockeywriters.com/senators-gm-bryan-murray-meets-with-ottawa-media/
“With a five-day break between games this week, many hockey analysts in Ottawa expected a coaching change to occur. The break in the schedule provided some relief for fans — if you are not playing, you can’t lose another game. However, the break also amplified the speculation about head coach Cory Clouston’s job security (he is in the final year of his contract).
General Manager Bryan Murray returned from the World Junior Championship and addressed the Ottawa media today about his coach, his team and trade possibilities. (Audio via the Senators on Twitter)”
(Answer at link)
“When asked about his coach’s future and the growing speculation that roster moves are imminent, Murray tackled the situation head on but did not exactly give his coach a ringing endorsement.”
(Answer at link)
Why doesn’t DL get asked about his confidence in TM? Rich or Helene should do that, because the national media doesn’t care about the Kings enough to put the heat on.
[Reply]
6 Sino Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:54 am
@Naturallawyer,
One would have gotten the same answer as quoted below: This is a critical teaching moment, but he believes in everybody, and is sticking with the group.
“it is critical, and that’s where, as management, as coaches, as trainers, everybody, you stay with it. You focus through it and you believe it and, yeah, some of them need to get their chest out and start believing in themselves. Others need a kick in the butt. But one thing I said about this group is, I know they care. Right now, they’re just not caring the right way. I would probably characterize it more as being a critical teaching moment, for us to get through as a team.”
[Reply]
Dean realizes this season isn’t the end all – i do think he needs to make a coaching move as i think TM has taken this team as far as he can. but Dean knows next year with Schenn being a full-time player and having some cap room to work with, is the year this team really contends.
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gralx Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@Dave, So what you are saying is 45 years is the magic number? 46, 47…
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Sticking with Deano’s plan is all well and good. But he’s hardly above reproach. He’s made some serious blunders. And when he starts talking like this, he puts some of you fans in a trance. That sly little reference to it being the 2nd year is amazing. I actually think he believes that.
The fact is, these losing streaks are not “normal with new expectations” or “part of the plan” or “needed to help with mental toughness.” They indicate that there is a problem with the team. They have holes that aren’t filled and possibly leadership issues that are hardly transient. It means, Dean, that you haven’t done your job.
Here’s the hypnotic breakdown:
1st Question: Fan platitudes: made some of you feel good.
2nd Question: Psychology 101 BS: Mental, yes. Tough? Not so much.
3rd Question: Sure, he’ll make a trade but he’s not going to act like he needs to.
4th Question: “I’ve been fired before so it’s no the end of the world. I won’t panic.” FYI Deano, you’re not above it all, you’re in the THICK of it. Stop reminiscing about your mentors and start taking action.
5th Question: The obscenity line takes the cake. Vintage Lombardi talking complete nonsense. “Know it when you see it?” Wow. Yes, we do. FYI, the critical teaching moment took place during the playoffs last year. It amazes me how he won’t take any responsibility for getting a guy like Ponikarovsky or a oft injured Mitchell & Sturm. They are not the answers to the holes.
6th Question: Contracts. I started falling asleep here…
7th Question: Yes, we know you are trying to build a winning culture here. But with that, the excuses have to stop. This whole projection about mental toughness says more about Dean Lombardi than it does the Kings.
He talks as if the team is one person when mental toughness is actually very individual. When a team knows it can play with the best in the league (as the Kings do) and then goes through these ‘spikes’ it says more about leadership than it does this “Cinderella fall” crap.
Sure, a lot of us fans have to get over ourselves. On the other hand, so does DL. I know why he does it (because publicly he has to) but to talk like this downturn is expected and all part of the plan is no less than complete BS.
There is no correlation whatsoever to his supposed “on track” mumbo jumbo and what this year is shaping up to be. I remember distinctly before last season started, he had such low expectations. Playoffs were not on the radar and that the year was going to be really tough for them. They were going to “learn how to be a team.”
Of course, when they achieved success beyond expectation, now they are right on track again because they have to learn to struggle! Total crap, psychology 101 lameness.
Again, I know why he’s saying it. He must look strong and appease season ticket holders. But it doesn’t make what he’s saying true at all. It just makes him look like he’s dancing around some serious issues with this team.
Remember folks: Losing like were are is never part of any plan after 6 years as GM. That’s 6 years, not 2.
[Reply]
jofa6000 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:46 am
@wavesinair, i think he ment 1 year, 2nd year as in making the playoffs.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:53 am
@jofa6000,
The fact that everyone on here is guessing what he meant is my point. It’s sly. It’s ineffectual. It’s intended to appease you.
I know exactly what he meant. And if you read what I wrote, it still doesn’t make sense because last year he didn’t think we would make the playoffs!!! Get it?
So if that’s true, then wouldn’t this be the 1st year we make the playoffs? Look, it’s simple. Dean Lombardi did not come into this season thinking, “Gee, this is the year we fall backwards and learn mental toughness.” No, no, no! Just use simple logic and stop believe the hype.
Again, you might think I’m a DL hater, but you’d be mistaken. I love the overall plan. What I don’t love is when he acts like he knew all along what is going to happen when I know the truth. The truth is, he has made some serious mistakes and he needs to feel that pressure from fans to do better.
Right? It’s not too much to ask that he take responsibility for his blunders.
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:48 am
@wavesinair, DL is not interested in a Tampa Bay or Carolina kind of run to the Cup. that’s not his way. He is trying to build another Detroit. A team that competes for the Cup every year, that has a culture of winning. You can’t do that by going for it every year and emptying the cupboards. this team is not ready to make that run yet as much as we want it to be. personally, i don’t think TM is the guy to take the team there and there are still a couple of pieces missing.
with Schenn and Lokti ready for full-time duty next year and Williams and Handzus and Sturm and Poni coming off the books, DL can hopefully add the pieces he needs.
the defense is pretty much set with Doughty-Scuderi and Johnson-Mitchell and Greene. He needs to pick a #6 and #7 out of voynov, hickey, martinez, muzzin and a few others and everyone else can be used as bait.
there is a solid group of forwards in kopitar, brown, simmonds, lewis, clifford to add schenn and lokti to and has some role players like richardson and parse to work with.
he has jones playing lights out in Manchester and potentially will have 3 NHL ready goalies in camp next year all under the age of 25.
i don’t like looking at next year only half way through this year but DL has set this team up to be good for quite a while. now he needs to find his coach and the players need to preform.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:58 am
@Dave, Dude. Please. You’re telling me this? I’ve been been waiting for a true rebuild for over 20 years. I know the plan. I like the plan. I’m all in favor of the friggin plan. What I don’t like is the platitudes and bad acting on the part of our GM. He his totally aware that there is no way on earth he could have predicted last year or this year. No one can. So when he acts like it’s part of the plan, it needs to be pointed out as BS. I want some humility from the guy. I want some public acknowledgment that he is disappointed and not above it all and that it isn’t only the team, but HIM that has to do better.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
@wavesinair,
Waves…. here is my issue. I keep hearing them being referred to as a young team. When does that stop?! Simmer is in his third year. Ditto for JJ. Kopi is young but very experienced. Clifford, yes he’s young but that sort of player won’t determine at this point a team’s future. So is Martinez I think but all teams have rookies.
Drew D is young for sure and that’s a whole other issue, but there is a lot of veteran presence on this team: Greene, Smyth, JW, Stoll, Handzus, Scuds, Poni, Sturm and at this point even Brown.
This is my Constructive criticism. When you grow up playing a sport, there has to be a moment where you use your intelligence and make what TM calls the ‘right’ plays. Are you always going to make them? Of course not. You stop taking stupid penalties. Are you never going to take penalties? Of course that’s not the case…. but constant undisciplined penalties.
There has to be a point where you take responsibility for these things and a point where you show up for every 45 seconds of the shifts you take during the game. That doesn’t mean you’re gonna get it right all the time. No human being does. But when it’s a constant recurring issue, I’m not certain how much has to do with the other teams taking you more seriously. Just because they take you seriously doesn’t mean you take Three delay of game penalties over a period of two games… or needless hooking and elbowing penalties. The refs can be very severe with these things. Rather than saying ‘oh, that was a cheap call’ just KNOW that the refs are likely to call slashes and elbows and deal with it!!
King o' Philly Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@wavesinair,
i’m with you on the DL hocus-pocus, man. dig this quote:
“What I found in San Jose, when we were building, is that the second year is always the toughest.”
ALWAYS? how many second years in row were there…?? he’s just basically saying the kings suck in their first year with legitimate expectations. because the team is young, and he’s made bad deals, and the coach is dull and dump-and chase is all we can really handle talent-wise. all true, but he REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY… OH, IT’S JUST YEAR 2 BLUES. what a joke.
he’s a bit of a flim-flam man
Irishlak Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@wavesinair, amen, thank you for that brother.
rmartin1951 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:54 am
@wavesinair, I agree. Admit the plan is a failure so far. Maybe players in Juniors will help in two or three years.Moller Loktionov and Voynov should now be tested at NHL level so you know if they can play. This team is too slow to ever
win more than one round in the playoffs. Handzus,Smyth, and Greene should all be offered at trade deadline than replaced with these younger players. If you cant play in the nhl after two or three season in Manchester you rarely make it. We than should move on to new players. We have a history of dumping good players without finding out that they can play. Boyle and Moulson are both better than half our forward players. Timmonen way better than most of our defense. Jared Smithson good enough to play for Nashville are a few recent examples. Jason Blake a name from the past who received the same treatment. Poni is worthless and should be placed on waivers now.
[Reply]
GreyPaws Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
@wavesinair,
We were early last year anyway, pop some chill pills and wait it out, we still look better than we did post lockout, that’s all I care about. My bro and I saved money for a few months to buy a 12 game pack during that season, we sat in section 219, I think we only saw 3 wins from our whole 12 game pack. I remember being up 4-1 in the second and hearing an opposing fan whine about how badly his team was doing, I told him to not worry, cause they were playing the Kings, we lost that game 6-4, the fan I told that to bought me and my bro a drink after the game. We finished 29th that year I think… Clutier was still with us, im getting over a cold so memory doesn’t serve me quite right.
[Reply]
scvking Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
@wavesinair,
I certainly get the frustrations, attitudes and “what the hell” moments a lot of the fans are having, nor am I immune to them at all times.
That being said, I honestly understand what DL is saying here. This team is not being built on a plan of lets get good in 2 years and try to win a cup. This team is being built for the 10-year serious competitor franchise. Part of that IS the mental toughness that DL feels the team is learning through the tough stretches.
DL has in no way ever said that the team is complete or without holes. We have shortcommings, and they will be addressed at some point. Do I wish they were already filled? Absolutely, but not in a way that creates other holes.
DL appears to feel that within the next few years, we will have the core of Kopi, Doughty, JJ, Simmonds and Brown who have figured out the way, and the followers with Schenn, Lokti, etc. and a group that is just as good on the way. That has been the “plan” for as long as DL has been here.
Is it happening as fast as we would like it to happen? Doubt many would think so. But, I absolutely think that learning to win is a developed mental part of being a winner.
Is DL “dancing around issues”? Hardly. I think he knows that this team had issues and is not entirely surprised that they have become apparent, although I suspect he is certainly disappointed that they have in such obvious fashion.
I am hardly a Polyanna fan here, but I have been around sports long enough and in various capacities that I actually think a lot of what DL is saying is pretty sensible.
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
@wavesinair,
There’s a lot there to digest, but most of it shows your distrust in DL…that’s fine, that’s your opinion…not all of us agree wtih you though.
I can ask the question..which GM during all of your years as a Kings fan has done a better job?
If you considered Nagy, Willsie, Calder, and the assortment of putrid goalies etc as part of the re-building plan, then you weren’t paying attention when he got hired and made those moves. If you were, you’d realize that he was building thru the draft and that would take time. He signed those bums to fill out the roster and get to the cap floor. He wasn’t going to stunt the growth of the draft picks by bringing them up when they weren’t ready.
As I mentioned above, you have to condemn the house, then clear the land before you can begin the re-building process. that wasn’t going to happen overnite.
You speak as if he has some diabolical plan to sabotage the Kings and their fans and enjoy making us suffer. I don’t know why you feel this way, but it seems somewhat misguided.
He has started something here that you haven’t witnessed since the Kings came into existence…a true rebuilding process that he plans to see thru to fruition..instead of the other pseudo rebuilds that were abandoned at the first sight of trouble or the availablitiy of over the hill guys like Rick Martin,Jerry Korab, etc….
Perhaps if the other GM’s would have stuck with Larry Murphy, Zhitnik, Daryl Sydor, etc there would have been no need for this purely evil man to come to LA and sabotage the franchise.
I just don’t know what you are looking for, or how you think he could have gotten us to a Stanley Cup or at least a contender any quicker with what we had.
I grew up watching Bill Torrey build the Islanders Franchise from nothing to a perennial Stanley Cup winner. It wasn’t done overnight. It took patience and a good hockey mind to accomplish it. The franchise was built thru the draft. DL doesn’t have the resume that a Toreey has, but he’s doing it the same way. Give him a chance to succeed. If it takes 5 more years, who cares? No matter who you bring in, it won’t get any better overnite. the only way it will is if you abandon the youth movement and try to be like the Rangers have been prior to this season…keep recycling the same old aged veterans and squeak into the 8th spot and a quick 1st round elimination. I’d rather give this a chance.
[Reply]
Crown Royal Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@nykingfan,
In fairness to wavesinair, I don’t think he’s complaining so much about DL’s rebuild but rather his statements covering the step backward we seem to have taken this year. He’s saying, I think, that DL is contending that he expected this step backward and isn’t buying that DL knew this was going to happen.
There has been no bigger DL supporter on this site from day one more than myself. I still believe in DL but agree that his recent rhetoric sounds like a cover for some the Kings recent problems.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@Crown Royal, Ahh! I was writing my comment below when you posted this. Thanks for the prop. Yep, fairness is all I’m asking. I’m happy to be disagreed with, just not completely misquoted.
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@nykingfan, I haven’t any idea where u get “diabolical plan to sabotage” when I directly said I like the plan. I can’t respond if u don’t even attempt fairness.
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@wavesinair,
ok then leave that part out lol
I just got the feeling that you think there’s something sinister behind what he says….If I’m wrong, it won’t be the 1st or last…more like the one millionth time (today)
I always respect your posts man..I may not always agree, but I do respect them….again, if I read it wrong, I apologize.
jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
@nykingfan, I agree with you 100%, but I retasted my lunch with the Korab reminder.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
@nykingfan, No worries and thanks. Yeah, you read into what I said waayy too much and didn’t consider that we’re basically saying the same thing. Taking out that conspiracy theory then, you said, “I just don’t know what you are looking for.”
I want Dean Lombardi to raise the bar of this team publicly. I want to hear him put his ass on the line.
The difference between us is that I believe in holding what the GM says (or doesn’t say) up to scrutiny. I certainly don’t think we should have won the cup by now, but I do believe this team should be expected to make the playoffs.
The fact is, this GM hasn’t said that publicly. He gives himself outs and lowers expectations and acts like he knew these ‘spikes’ were going to happen when, if you look at it objectively, was impossible to know.
You hear the argument that we were ahead of schedule last year. Ok then, are we on schedule this year? I mean really. How long before we as a franchise can say, “we expect to be in the post season?”
Honestly. Think about it. Establishing a winning culture requires a demand, at some point in time, that says, “We are a perennial playoff team.” When does it happen?
You said, “If it takes 5 more years, who cares?” Wow. I do. 5 more years until what exactly? The organizational playoff proclamation I indicated above? The Cup?
The rebuild is over. The pieces are all in place. The system is lined up now to draft and develop. I LOVE this. We may not be a Cup contender now, but we are certainly a playoff contender. So I’m asking all of us to demand our GM say this.
The Kings should be expected by all of us to make the playoffs.
[Reply]
RLane420 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@wavesinair, DL did Believe this team would make the playoffs for sure. Why else would they pre print the playoff tickets and pre put them in the season ticket pack. I have had season tickets for 6 years and have never gotten playoff tickets inside my ticket booklet. We were told just making the playoffs wasnt good enough. We were told the expectations were to win in the playoffs. I agree he should admit that this is a setback not part of the process. I love the rebuid myself but I am sorry this is a setback not part of the process.
nykingfan Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 6:49 am
@wavesinair,
so we pretty much do agree..for the most part.
What I meant by the 5 years was winning the cup….I think more luck than anything else goes into actually winning the cup..you need a lot of breaks along the way, including in the playoffs, but I do agree with you that this team should be a perennial playoff contender and perennial cup contender. As you said, we have the core in place for the run, but the pipeline needs to continue to feed the team with talent.
I do believe that last year we were well ahead of schedule. Expecting 100 pts last year was something none of us could have really expected. This year things are much more difficult, but certainly not insurmountable. The same pieces are in place, but they’re not performing to the expecations we all had for them at the beginning of the year. Most of that is due to where we finished last season in the standings. You’re always compared to what you did the previous season.
I think publicy DL is tempering the expectations for the team and I don’t have a problem with that..PROVIDED privately he’s holding all of them accountable and demanding success from each and every member including the coaching staff.
In the end, he’s going to be judged on whether his plan succeeds or not. I think it’s way too early in the process to think one way or the other on this point. But that doesn’t mean I don’t expect them to make the playoffs this season.
If none of what I said makes any sense, that’s becaue I haven’t had any coffee yet this morning..at least that’s the story I’m sticking with.:)
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
@wavesinair,
Wow. Love this thread!
Waves–You want to cut through the B.S.? Good! Here it is/my slant:
1): The Los Angeles Kings of 2010-2011 CANNOT SCORE TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. This is not news. As far back as two years ago, this core group of players lost a boatload of games 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, some in OT (remember that tortuous year?). That team quickly slipped below .500, had a long long early season homestand where they could not win games, then played a whole lot of road games that virtually eliminated them. They ended up 5th worst in the league…
2): As Jonathan Quick goes, so goes this team. At one point late last year, JQ was poised to BREAK MARTIN BRODEUR’S ALL TIME SINGLE SEASON WINS RECORD… Say that again quietly to yourself, and sigh. JQ DID break the Kings’ all time win record for one season. A lot of those games were low scoring one goal games (where are you Quispie, to back me up statistically?). As a result, it should not surprise anyone that when JQ falters (albeit not to a terrible degree), so does this team. My point is, the Kings finally have drafted and groomed a big-time goalie–this is just not his best year. JQ’s best years are yet to come…
3): Within the minors/juniors are at least two lines worth of potential top six forwards. I won’t list them all here, but that statement is held to be true by a whole lot of hockey people much smarter than myself. When looking at this team 3 years ago before the season, it became apparent that 2011-2012 would be the year we as fans would start to find out about all these players, including the D-men and goalies. NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THIS REGARD…
4): The Salary Cap and the name “Los Angeles Kings” are the top reasons why no top level free agent wears the Kings colors right at this moment. It is a question of viability over the long haul; the Kings have yet to prove a thing in this regard. It is likely the second biggest reason Ilya Kovalchuk turned down the reasonable Kings offer this summer. But that refusal–along with the abject failure of the respected New Jersey Devils this season–may ironically be the reason future free agents jump at the chance to be Kings Men in the future. This organization is playing for keeps, boys and girls, and financial sanity is part and parcel of the seriousness of the organization’s efforts…
5): I have serious reservations about the ability of Terry Murray to take the Kings to the next level–perpetual playoff competitiveness. This dovetails into #1–the Kings CANNOT SCORE! Despite all the efforts of the current staff, this team cannot seem to generate consistent scoring opportunities. Bobby Scribe has been doing a detailed breakdown of Kings entry chances the last week or so, and I think he is right. The Kings get trapped along the boards in the offensive zone, NO MATTER THE OPPONENT, and cannot get into central ice where the scoring chances are. Personally, I think it is a matter of player spacing, but who am I to know the answer? From what I see, the Kings do not maintain a certain distance between the three main attacking players near the puck, which would optimize passing and shot tipping. Spacing is important in basketball because the defenders need to be far enough apart so that one man cannot cover two players; I believe the same is true in hockey. If the puck is trapped along the boards, and two offensive players are tied up there with the puck and one defender, the second defender can cheat back towards the middle. If the scrum is won by the offense, a breakout or pass is needed to generate a shot on goal, and that would be essentially two or three Kings against five players, all cheating towards the middle to block a shot or a pass. The key–in watching the Red Wings beat this kind of defense–is to create a triangle which constantly moves together towards the net.
No matter what strategy will work, it is clear that TM’s strategy is not working offensively. Also, it is like DL says–it’s up to the players to get goals. They can’t just clump together to score–it just doesn’t work. A change of coaches may help in this regard. It’s not that TM is a bad coach, it simply may be he cannot take this team any farther along in the Quest for the Cup…
6): DL WILL NOT CHANGE COACHES UNTIL THE SEASON IS OVER. We–myself included–have got to get over ourselves. Stability is needed in this organization, and although there has been a certain plateau reached this season with increasing expectations from this team, these core players are not expected to win a Cup this season, bottom line.
So, there it is.
What happens this season is up to the current players in that dressing room.
May their efforts match the fans’ (that means OUR) passion!
Peace.
Out.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Good stuff Bako! Love the no BS. I agree with most of what you said. I do think people (including myself) tend to short change Murray’s ability to implement a more modern offensive system. I just think he is so stubborn sometimes that he can’t see the forest for the trees. I’m hoping that today’s practiced marked that change. I have to say that it was pretty amazing to see all the effort into changing up the offense, including the PP. As always, we need Quick to steal a few. Last night was the opposite. Man, what crummy timing for that to happen.
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@wavesinair, Gotta chime in here…
I get what Waves is saying here. I’m with him. DL’s plan is fine. The rebuild is fine. Just don’t do what you did to piss off all the fans in SJ by (as someone so eloquently put it) ‘Flim-Flamming’ us with doublegoodspeak when the forward progress of the rebuild is halted or starts to backslide. Just call a spade a spade and quit being so protective of personnel. Everyone makes mistakes. Just don’t try to sell those mistakes as ordinary or common to the situation.
DL is entering the oven now. He’s been heating it up for 4 years. Now, something has to begin to bake. What comes out BETTER be a Stanley Cup and not more doublespeak. Here’s a DL style euphimism: Building a franchise is like baking a souffle’. Too much heat, wrong mix, bad timing, that souffle’ falls and you gotta start from scratch. The oven is heated. We have some ingredients….where are we in the creative process?
Even I cringed at my previous paragraph after re-reading it.
Great post Waves. Nice analysis here. DL needs to be more forward in his decisiveness and (IMHO) less apologetic. If he learned anything from Bobby Clarke, it should be that. Just throw in some accountability while you’re at it DL.
[Reply]
LW Anybody? Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@Cynic, The worst part of this whole interview is that he is trying to convince us that it’s okay if we miss the playoffs again, which by the way would be the 5th out fo 6 years under his rule? Is that okay at this point? Really? I get the plan, and I know it takes time, but I don’t think his plan has been proven to work anywhere. He talks about Detroit, he talks about Chicago, but is he really following their winning formula? Not really.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@Cynic, I love the souffle analogy! Classic. Yeah, you get what I’m rambling about. Flim-flam man says it all. Sometimes Lombardi has to stop with the east coast/used car salesman/polyester suit wearing/grease ball salesman crap and just say it like it is. I really believe he has to learn to be better with his public speaking. I mean, does he know he’s kind of a laughing stalk when it comes to his tendency to ramble? I wonder how aware he is and how much it comes across as, well, flim-flammy.
[Reply]
pnm Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
@wavesinair, Great thread! I got more out of this than reading DL’s interview. My night is now complete… and my souffle came out excellent!
[Reply]
Barry's Mullet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
@wavesinair, Although I disagree with much of what you wrote, this is the best thread in a very long time!
@cynic said it best, DL has things in the oven now and his cake is baking, but it still has to bake….another words, its not done baking…not even close. Sorry for turning this into a cooking class but its a great metaphor for where the Kings are at…and don’t forget the frosting.
As GM, DL has to wear many hats, motivator, prognosticator, salesman, etc. so we all have to read through the rhetoric and most of the people on this thread are smart enough to do that.
I take issue with those who don’t have patience or haven’t been Kings fans long enough to remember what we have gone through the last 40 years. In the past, OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT had no patience and made so many horrible moves it makes me sick. One example that makes me the sickest and the saddest, is the Kings had the pick, they had the pick and could have drafted RAY BOURQUE…yes, maybe the best defenseman to play the game in the last 40+ years.
Knee jerk reactions and stupid trades have sunk this team almost every time. Trying to win it all in one season is not what I want. I want this team to complete every night and be a legit contender every year. This team is still lacking in experience….their record and play of late is a strong indicator. I don’t know who wrote that Simmer, Kopi, Brown and others who have been in the league for more than 3 years have enough experience…I couldn’t DISAGREE more. Playoffs = Experience. Game 7 of a playoff series = Experience. Losing in the playoffs = Experience. Going 12-3 and than losing 7 out of 8 shows their lack of experience.
Schenn, Lokti, DD, JJ, Simmer, Browne, Kopi, Clifford, and others are hopefully the core of players we will see similar to the Red Wings core of players we have watched over the last 10 years. How many years did Yzerman, Shannahan and Lidstrom suffer before they finally broke through…it takes time and we are closer than we have been in a long, long time…just relax and be patient my friends, have faith in DL and the team he is putting together. Maybe TM won’t be around to hoist that cup we all want, but he will have played a huge part in getting this young group ready for that day.
[Reply]
crashin' da net Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@wavesinair, you speak of confidence in the rebuild plan but disappointment in DL’s clear gobbledegook in reference to this second year (in playoff terms) being a bust. I’m with you. But what are your thoughts on the “system” relative to players and general efficacy in today’s NHL?
trying to still believe (I still do) but this rollercoaster year is a tough slog!!! Maybe spurts of brilliance is better than none? Our offense really sucks and I don’t think I’ve seen a worse PPP.
BTW, thanks for all of your insightful comments here.
[Reply]
The Zamboni mechanic Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 8:51 am
@wavesinair,
This is the best comment I read on the blog all year.
Dean Lombardi in spite of his psycho babble,lies and excuses must be fired.The buck starts and stops with him.
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Ducks suck fatties Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 8:16 am
@wavesinair, damn man! Please don’t ever break me down like u did deano. I thank you for removing the wool from my eyes! This nozzle is beginning to make sense to me. Cmon kings fans! WE deserve better than this!
[Reply]
Stay the course Dean. I have faith that THIS group of managers, coaches and players will turn it around.
[Reply]
SKF Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 11:47 am
@ADub87, Agreed. This team knows how to play, they need to learn how to bounce back from the 1-3 loss cycles that are inevitable. I never felt that they were the team that played early on, nor are they the team that is on a slide right now. Just like hitting in baseball, or shooting in basketball, it comes and goes and at times is very streaky both ways. I believe that defense has to be the constant, and what we’ve seen in the games recently, is that they are on the right track. GKG!
[Reply]
Your right the question should have been asked. When does there need to be a coaching change?
You know he will dance around it, but it needs to be said because that is what a lot of people are wondering.
And hello this is not year two, this is year four I believe, right?
I havent seen other teams rebuilding have such trouble with winning.
Chicago never had a slump, they just kept winning untill they won it all
EXCUSES
[Reply]
CJBKingsfan Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@StillKingly, actually Chicago had a 9 game losing streak last year. He is talking about year 2 since making the playoffs. If you read it again he said year 1 your like a Cinderella which is obviously the playoffs. He is not talking about the total rebuild process when saying yea 2. Actually most every team with a young core that is rebuilding has trouble like this, everyone seems to forget Pittsburgh made the playoffs first time with Crosby, Malkin and Fluery then the next season was in around 11th in the East and below 500 at this point and went on the make the playoffs and do quite well.
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RabidZiggy Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
@StillKingly, As others have pointed out, he did not mean this was year two of rebuilding, rather it is year two of contending. Last year no one expected us to be good, and we stole some games. This year there are actual expectations on us to win, and other teams take us seriously, thus it becomes harder to actually win games.
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number 6 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@RabidZiggy,
Here is part of a response I posted above as to other teams taking the Kings seriously…
There has to be a point where you take responsibility for these things and a point where you show up for every 45 seconds of the shifts you take during the game. That doesn’t mean you’re gonna get it right all the time. No human being does. But when it’s a constant recurring issue, I’m not certain how much has to do with the other teams taking you more seriously. Just because they take you seriously doesn’t mean you take Three delay of game penalties over a period of two games… or needless hooking and elbowing penalties. The refs can be very severe with these things. Rather than saying ‘oh, that was a cheap call’ just KNOW that the refs are likely to call slashes and elbows and deal with it!!
It’s also about the Kings being their own worst enemy, which is different from being beaten because the other teams have a different approach to what they had a year ago. THAT is what is so frustrating.
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RabidZiggy Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@number 6, Yeah I have to agree. I think the Kings thought it was going to be easier than it was, and as such aren’t focusing. I don’t think so much that it’s the teams being harder on us than it’s the response to that pressure by the Kings.
jet Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@Rabid, but that is exactly what young teams do.
Im sure when he means the second year he is talking about the 2nd “successful” year, considering they made the playoffs finally last year, and we all think/ hope now that they are going to make it this year. So 1st was last year and 2nd is this year. That’s what im assuming.
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Meh. About what you’d expect him to say.
I might feel a bit better about everything if there were 4 or 5 OTL’s mixed in during this losing streak. Then you might think, “okay, the team is close to breaking out or it and is at least scrapping for points.” I think the fact that this team looks so very far away from turning it around is what’s so disturbing. As a fan, that “panic” button is starting to look awfully tempting to mash right now. Hopefully management doesn’t go the full panic route, but something should be done. Does Lombardi truly believe that dropping from 4th to 12th in a little over two weeks (for the second time in a season)is expected and not worth picking the phone up over because it’s just too hard to deal? My gut, and the fact that Murray wasn’t fired this morning tells me DL is going to ride this thing into the ground. Buckle-up Kings fans.
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Dominick Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@BluLine77,
I agree. I’m drinking the DL’s kool aid as far as trades, future, and so on and so forth. What he didn’t adress is what’s going to be done on the ice right now to stop this losing streak. I too would feel better if those 1 goal losses were even close to being competetive, and I normally have a ton of patience, but it seems fairly obvious that the Kings gameplan has been rendered impotent. I haven’t seen anything encouraging about trying something different or changing tactics so I find myself questioning things more than I normally would. I’m trying to stay positive, but “buckle up” just about sums it up. For better or worse I think we’re all going to have to ride it out.
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Next year’s canned response:
“When you hit that third year, after making the playoff’s in the first, falling into the abyss in the second, the third year is where we really start to see the culture come together and start that movement towards the top, like the New York Yankees……………”
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BluLine77 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@Barrie G,
Sticky this somewhere, because this will be a DL quote verbatim next season right around the Kings annual late December-early January swoon. Either that, or at this years draft right before picking up another middle-of-the-road project defenseman with the 8th overall pick. But hey, he’s “thick” and plays “heavy”.
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In other words Deano….SOS, huh?
I guarantee you we will be hearing this same tired speech in 5 years….Oh, & BTW Deano, before you came on board, this was LIEweke’s speech too.
But the sheep continue to buy it & you & your employer still get 17,000 butts in the seats, so what do you guys care???
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@VanKingsFan, Sory duder. Didn’t hear anything I wanted to hear or already knew. I actually do believe in most of the players we have here, but I think it is time for a coaching change. Just as players need to grow, coaches need to adjust to that growth. To me it seems as if TM is like a good grade school teacher. Well, now it’s time for a professor.
I also think DL could still make a move to help. I don’t see not making the playoffs as growing pains. I see it as a painful miscalculation in judgement by management if that happens.
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how long do we wait?even the quacks are better than us.if you can’t beat the other team ,at lease beat them up.give me soething to look for.it’s the same thing every year.newer teams come into the nhl,and in few years,are better.wait till next year, is all i ever hear.i say this, as a long time KINGS fan .go kings
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Overall, I appreciate what Dean Lombardi has done for this franchise but find that I oftentimes need a roadmap to follow his train of thought and his digressions. Nowadays, be it the 2nd year, or 4th year, or whatever year, when I find myself blindly accepting the harsh pill he is sugar-coating and force-feeding Kings fans, and STH in particular, I step back and remember that this is the same person who signed Dan Cloutier to a 2-year extension (worth approx 3 mil/per) WITHOUT Cloutier having played a single game for the Kings. And what now appears to be serious foreshadowing, Cloutier was signed after having only played 13 games with the Canucks in the previous season due to ACL injury. I don’t have the exact numbers, but I seem to remember that his GAA & save % in those 13 games were pretty bad. This, of course, was after he signed Marc Crawford, who I believe set this team’s progess back significantly, or stifled it at best. In a nutshell, I take everything Dean Lombardi has to say with a grain of salt.
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Rene Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
@kingswings, Funny how Crawford gets the blame all of the time. Look at the Stars and look at the Kings. Let’s not forget how bad the Kings were the first year under TM. TM taught them how to be play defense but they could not score. The Kings would be a lot further along with Crawford (the Stars version) as compared to TM. Maybe Crawford made some fatal mistakes to get him fired in L.A. by the way he treated the players but I think DL made a great decision to hire him at the time.
The Kings need to play .640 (23-13) hockey the rest of the way to hit 95 points. Definitely possible.
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kingswings Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@Rene, But we didn’t have the “kinder, gentler” Stars version of Marc Crawford (who reportedly acknowledges he was probably too harsh while in LA). We had the screaming, angry Marc Crawford who didn’t have a clue how to treat young, developing players. So yes, not surprising at all that he gets the blame. And .640 hockey? Possible, sure. Probable? This disgruntled Kings fan very sadly doubts it.
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RLane420 Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
@Rene, I dont think 95 points are going to get them into the playyoffs, atleast not in the Western Conf.
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So, according to Dean, this is the second year of ‘expectations’. With that said, IF the Kings fail to make the playoffs this season, what will the expectations be in year three??
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Some people aren’t happy with what he’s saying. Let me ask you this: is it better to come out and say “I don’t believe in any of these players at all, we are doomed to failure, I’m desperate now, I’m trading them all immediately”?
How would the team respond? How would the GMs in the rest of the league?
I get frustration, but I don’t know that the alternatives would be better.
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carol vadnais Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
@DLB, No — he can say: “I’m completely frustrated with where we are right now. We are 8-2 against the elite teams in the league, which proves our capability, and for us to be in 12th place is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it. Players are playing for their jobs right now and they better realize it. They are being paid to perform and have shown the ability to perform nad if they do not perform, they will not be here. It’s that simple.”
That is what I’d like to hear from Deano — instead of his bull about we are in the 2nd year when he has been here 5 years already…
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pnm Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
@carol vadnais, Nicely put.
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Well, we just found out Schenn is not coming back up and that a trade is unlikely. And DL told LA TIMES H. Elliot that TM is safe, so that leaves us with the status quo.
I loved how DL talked about how we are in Year 2!!! No, Dean, it’s Year 5!
I’m not sure what he can do — except for getting Doughty to stop partying til the morning hours(multiple sources) and have someone tear a new hole into the team. 12th place is not acceptable!
This whole “right way” philosophy is great if you are building a Detroit type foundation. Currently, it feels more like a Phoenix-type foundation.
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please don’t tell me we have another theo fleury on our hands…………
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I take exception to the statement that we only started filling our Barn last year. We’ve been supporting this team, and putting up great attendence numbers, for years.
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Sometimes you have to learn how to lose. To lose ugly, and lose as a team. Before you can win.
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Bobby Scribe Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 1:16 am
@roxo, Lose before you win. Be really bad before you’re really good. Tear down to build. Come on.
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After reading this BS answers from Dean. It became obvious to me that He needs to get the hell out of here. He keeps bringing up Sharks, but Sharks never won anything and always choked in the playoffs.
Faster he is out of here (along with his buddy TM0 the better it will be for us.
IMO, Luc should be more than capable in being New Kings GM.
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I like Dean but I have grown a bit tired of his mentor references. For one thing, they are inaccurate and the accolades are misdirected. Read if you are so inclined: http://lakingsnews.com/2011/01/20/lombardis-interview-mentors/
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