Looking back for a moment, Andrei Loktionov’s second trip to Edmonton was much better than his first. Loktionov made his NHL debut in Edmonton last season, on Nov. 25, 2009, but it ended abruptly and painfully when Loktionov separated his shoulder in the third period. It was a rough night. The Kings held up their departure from the arena for a while, but eventually had to leave Loktionov behind because doctors couldn’t get his shoulder back into place. Loktionov, whose English is improving but limited, had to go to a local hospital, and Loktionov didn’t return to action (in the AHL) until late March.
“It was a long night,” Loktionov said today. “I was in the dressing room, after the game, for like two hours. Then we go to the hospital. I was there for like two hours, and then we came back to the hotel and I couldn’t sleep. It was a long night.”
Loktionov got some help. Fellow Russian player Denis Grebeshkov, then a defenseman for the Oilers, gave Loktionov a helping hand that night.
“He helped me a lot,” Loktionov said. “He drove me after, back to the hotel.”
By contrast, last night’s game was a dream. Loktionov played nearly 15 minutes, mostly in a top-line role, and had two shots on goal.
Lokti looks much stronger this season. Hopefully Voy can strengthen up also.
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Scott Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 12:28 am
I was rolling around the Oilers blog and I came across:
“We’ve heard some quiet rumblings that Lombardi might deviate from his usual strategy of being patient and developing kids, and MIGHT considering moving a prospect like Schenn for a proven top-six forward.”
I really hope DL doesn’t trade either Loktionov or Schenn (And Thomas Hickey, but I’m just talking F right now). If they play like they did in the WJC in the NHL, they have the ability to be 30 goal scorer… just what LA needs down river.
Rich, does DL have a comment on the rumors of Ales Hemsky or Dustin Penner being traded to LA for some prospects?
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Playoffbound Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 8:45 am
@Scott, Hemsky or Penner, I think more so Penner will be a King by the deadline, each guy has a year left after this on their contract. Hemsky while talented, is often injured. Lombardi likes Penners size and skill. Hickey, Simmonds and a pick.
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Playoffbound Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 8:50 am
@Playoffbound, Kings also have Stephen Weiss on their radar from the Panthers. He is a young, solid goal scorer. Florida may want to much in return.
Scott Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 11:57 am
I don’t think Penner nor Hemsky are guys LA wants. LA NEEDS a pure goal scorer. Some one that is a guaranteed 40 goal guy.
What will be interesting is next year. Sturm, Ponikarovsky and Williams are FAs. Ideally for DL he will try to get a good top 6 F this year for the playoff push then resign Sturm and Williams at least for next year plus another top 6F so the goal would be find a way for Dustin Brown to return to the role that agrees with him the most as a third line allstar.
Nothing against DB, but think about it, who would you rather have: Brown or Sharp on the top line?
i like this kid… he can only get better.
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Where is Grebeshkov playing this year? KHL?
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mrbob25 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@Cup B4 I Die,
7/28/10 – Signed with the SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to a two-year contract.
http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.cgi?3141
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That’s cool to hear Grebeshkov helped Lokti last year. Shows the kind of class most hockey players display. They leave it on the ice and are ready to step in a help out a player on the opposing team if needed.
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Love this guy!! Hope your enjoying the show!!
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He should try a separated elbow, it’s waaaayyyy more fun. You get your right hand where your left hand would be if you kept your arms straight and crossed them at the elbows, then you stand up and walk around a little. Then, you take a knee and look down and ignore EVERYTHING.. After your gym teacher works your arm back close to straight, your socket is now next the the stub end of your upper arm, but not in joint, just inside the skin. After they blow up the air splint, it gets really cool, while you wait until your mom comes to drive you to the orthopedist. Ask me sometime about how they x-ray a dislocated elbow, and rotating that disjointed elbow into the three thumb positions. Good times…
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OneTimer Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:03 am
@Player-X,
That was an awesome post.
Painful … but awesome.
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Playoffbound Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 8:48 am
@Player-X, LOL
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His size is going to have negative impact down the road. He may have quick moves, (like the other night in Minnesota) but he gets tossed off the puck so easily. He needs to pack on another 5-10 lbs of muscle, because these big D guys are going to out muscle him.
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THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@PlayoffBound, Kinda like Gaborik, Breyier, Cammilleri (excuse all spelling), Gretzky, and all the other smallish types who couldn’t make it in the NHL
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LomitaKingsFan Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S, Dont forget that Robataille guy! Sheesh, who would draft – let alone play him – in the NHL
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Dan H. Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S,
Agreed.
I think we should go with the 1994 LA Kings and get no speeed and all bulky knuckle draggers and see how that goes…again.
We don’t need not stinkin’ playmakers on this team!
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SplattDaddy Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S, Lotki doesn’t have that talent though, so he needs to bulk up. It is early for him though and I am a fan of his, but his size IS an issue without that outstanding talent to carry him.
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PlayoffBound Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S, horrible comparisons. Cami has done nothing with his career but move from city to city. Guy can barely stay healthy. Same with Gaborik, Danny Briere is often hurt. Loktionov is at best a 2nd line winger. Once we get someone at the deadline he will be disposed of, like Teddy P, two goals the other night, Brian Boyle, second on the Rangers in goals, and Matt Moulson a beast…..on a horrible team.
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@PlayoffBound, LOL sorry but if Lokti can have a career like Cammalleri, Briere, Gaborik I’ll take!! Really???
Michael_DD8 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@PlayoffBound,
Brian Gionata? Martin St Louis??
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:04 am
@PlayoffBound, Brian Gionta, Martin St. Louis, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Ray Whitney…should I go on?
Loktionov, of any player currently on the Kings roster, and in Manchester, is the best playmaker we have in this organization. Does he need to add weight? Maybe…does he need to get stronger? Yes, absolutely.
He’s played a total of about 5 or 6 games in the NHL…may take him a while to really figure things out. Guess what…takes most rookies a while to figure things out.
Luuuuuuuuuuc! Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@PlayoffBound,
Granato? Theo Fleury?
Ike Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@PlayoffBound, I totally agree. He is really soft on the puck and coughs it up really easy. If you look at Patrick Kane, he is very strong on the puck. Hopefully he can more of a Martin St Louis type.
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Off topic, but i i was looking through old posts, and this is what this gentleman had to say following up the loss to St Louis.
BMSTANG says:
January 18, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I’m a Kings fan for life. But I won’t be going to any further games as long as TM is still coach. If DL refuses to make a change as the games sellout, I’ll just keep my money where my heart is, and unhappily watch on television.
Mr. Lombardi, please do the right thing.
…. You guys think he stuck to his guns? Thought it was funny and pathetic how some people get.
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Blake Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:34 pm
@Michael_DD8, one word. tool
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Dan Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:12 pm
@Michael_DD8, I dont get it. Who cares?
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mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@Michael_DD8, That’s his right Michael. Me, personally, I think Terry needs to change a few things as well, but those changes (offensively) are dictatied by what the defense is playing against you.
For instance…when you approach the offensive blue line, and they are stacked 3-4 across, carrying the puck in is retarded and will get you nowhere. You MUST dump and chase…and guess what, ask anyone and they will tell you the same thing. You can’t skate through everyone, not at this level.
BUT, the offensive approach while in the zone is stale. I know exactly what their plan is when they enter the zone, so I’m fairly certain so does everyone else. The offense goes through the pointmen…we need to start changing that up and running it through the half-wall at times.
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The problem with Loki, and Moller for that matter, if a breeze comes along, they both get bumped off the puck way too easily at the NHL level.
I like DL’s drafting, but, from now on, I would stay away from players who weigh under 170 lbs.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@Dave, Good afternoon, my name is Theoron Fleury and I wholeheartedly disagree with you !
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Goring 19 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@puck73, Good afternoon, my name is Butch Goring, and I definitely disagree with you. (Marcel Dionne is standing right behind me)
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Goring 19 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@Goring 19, actually directed at Dave, wrong reply puck73
Michael_DD8 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:32 pm
@Goring 19, Gionta? St louis?
DLB Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@Goring 19, applause.
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:31 am
@puck73, Not the greatest example…he did most of his damage during a time in which the bigger guys in the NHL couldn’t move. Same with Goring…
I do agree however that smaller guys can do just fine in the NHL. It’s a matter of those guys figuring out how to navigate through the trees.
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sstephen17 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@Dave, Loktionov is only 20 years old so I’m pretty sure he’ll probably put on a little more weight. He’s definitely got some skill and more importantly, hockey sense. Has shown a pretty decent shot as well. Very happy with him so far, especially considering he’s a 5th round pick.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:30 am
@Dave, There are pleny of smallish guys who have no problem playing in this league.
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Lokti played absolutely terrible last night..hence why he got dropped from the 1st line. He was getting pushed around and showed 0 effort. I can distinctly remember his one good play, b/c it was the only time he didn’t back down, and really all he did was step up and intercept a pass at center ice.
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MikeInTN Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings,
I have to disagree, when he was first forward in on the forecheck he made the oilers choose to pass within their own zone instead of passing straight into the neutral zone or to the players hanging out on the blue line. He didn’t do too great, but he wasn’t horrible either.
The Kings played a fairly good game thankfully. Granted he got bumped off the puck a few times but he took the puck a few times as well.
We got the two points. Now to get another two.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 3:19 am
@MikeInTN,
I think I’m probably being a little harsh on him, because he does have some great hockey sense and I think he has some extreme potential. As soon as possible though, probably this off season, he needs to pack on some pounds. Give him 8lbs muscle and 2lbs chub and he’ll really hold his own. I know he’s not afraid to hit, but right now he can’t follow through and it cost us a lot of possession time.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:32 am
@kingsxstevenxkings, Really, no effort? Okee dokee then…
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
@mrbrett7,
Backing off every hit, slow to get in position, giving up the puck easily..that’s no effort..He’s got great skill and potential but it doesn’t mean he didn’t play terrible last game
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he has the things you can’t teach. Hockey sense, and as biznasty would put it, silky mits. Look at simmonds now compared to 2 years ago. Kid will be fine.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 3:20 am
@typicaljs,
This guy is definitely a time remedy guy. Still a little too small and inexperienced, but the groundwork is there.
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Very cool that Grebeshkov stepped up, probably with language translation… wonder… where was Frolov?
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mrbrett7 Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:33 am
@OltimeKingsfan, On the plane with the team going to the next destination. Re-read it…they tried to wait for him, but ran out of time.
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Will forever be small and undersized like Moller. Lokti has the passing ability, Moller has the shooting ability.
Who will make it?
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Lokti, actually played pretty well. I think sometimes some of these fans like to sit back who haven’t played hockey and said he played a bad game or that every game he gets bumped off too easy. Considering he drove down the right wing and cut in with the put the game before last and had a big man on him i dont think that was so bad, he had pick pocketed people down in the offensive zone a number of times over the last five games. one of smyth’s goals from a week or so ago he would have never go it if Lokti didn’t box the other guy out. Oh yeah and about the drafting players around 170 pounds most of the guys are 170 pounds when drafted out of Jr. hockey. Simmonds was like 173 or something beginning of his first season and he learned to put on some wait. Lokti i think put on like 10 pounds from the year before. he will do fine so get over it all the people who dont actually play and see all the good stuff he is doing. and at 5’10 he has gone to the net fearlessly, i doubt most people saying he gets bumped off the puck easy would go to the net like he has
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 3:21 am
@JMFJ#3,
Personally played LOTS of hockey. He WAS getting bumped off A LOT. Not saying it’s a lost cause but it’s definitely a concern for now.
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