Martinez gets another look

As noted earlier, the Kings are expected to make one lineup change tomorrow, with Alec Martinez replacing Davis Drewiske on defense. Drewiske played the previous two games in place of Martinez, after Terry Murray expressed some concern about Martinez’s game and had strong praise of the recent practice efforts of Drewiske. Now, the Kings will go back to Martinez in a pairing with Matt Greene. Here’s what Murray said today about Drewiske and Martinez…

MURRAY: “I thought (Drewiske’s) game, it was good for him to get back in. Maybe I stayed away from him a little too long, because we’re going to need players, as we get through this. It’s nice for him, in my mind, that he gets back in and plays a couple games, to kind of get a view of his own game and where things are at, and keep up to the speed of the game. He showed he can do that, with all that hard work he’s been putting in off the ice. Overall, I was pleased with his game.

“I had a meeting with (Martinez) the other day. The ability that he has is something that I want to see at the top all the time. I think he can be a very good player. I think he can be a very good defenseman, in your top four someday. It’s a matter of pushing your own self to get to that pace every shift. When he does, he plays very well. When there’s a little bit of a step back, on that, then it needs to be brought to attention. So, a couple of games and some meetings and we’re looking for him to get right back in and start to play at a nice, high level again.”