The fourth set of “Open Forum” questions and answers…
—–
MK Ultra asked: When Wayne Gretzky or any other former “star” players attend a game at Staples, do they have to buy tickets? Are they given tickets by the Kings? What goes on here?
Answer: I don’t know for certain, but I’m relatively certain that someone such as Gretzky wouldn’t pay, unless he’s bringing a dozen guests with him. I have no idea what the policy is on such things, but I’m sure one exists.
—–
MK Ultra asked: If the Kings ever go deep in the playoffs, round 3 or 4, do you see Bob Miller joining Nick Nickson on the radio broadcast since he can’t do TV coverage at that point in the playoffs?
Answer: No, I don’t believe that would happen.
—–
drew asked: 1. Did you actually see Anschutz at the last game and if so, did you request an interview? If not, why not knowing how much of a lightning rod his absence and perceived indifference is for the many fans you represent? 2. Terry Murray suggested that the season was a successful one. I disagree. Back to back 1st round exits and no second round since 2000 does not seem positive to me. What are your thoughts? 3. Lombardi said Murray will remain and Murray said his system will not change. Even though a coach should alter his system to suit his players, that does not seem possible here. Why is Murray so inflexible? 4. Why should Jamie Kompon be retained as power play coach aside from his contract? 5. Dustin Penner said he hard time learning the Kings system after coming over from the Oilers. What exactly is the Kings’ system other than dump and not chase, and how complex could the Oilers’ system have been considering they were last in the league in almost every category?
Answers: 1) I did not personally see him, although several people did, sitting in the corner near the ice. Anschutz has not done an interview, about anything, since 1974. This is a documented fact. I don’t ask for an interview for the same reason I don’t walk onto an airplane and ask the pilot if I can fly it. Everyone already knows the answer. 2) You’re entitled to your perspective. Fans of the Detroit Red Wings wouldn’t call that success. Fans of the Florida Panthers would. Success is subjective. To me, in this NHL environment, if you put yourself in the playoffs, you put yourself in position to win the Stanley Cup. That’s the only measure of success. If Chicago had scored in overtime of Game 7 the other day, would Vancouver have had a “successful” season? 3) You’re asking me to analyze something you have asserted to be a fact, which is actually your subjective opinion. I’m not going to analyze your opinion as a fact. 4) Because the head coach wants him to remain on his staff. 5) Dustin Penner never gave me that quote, and I don’t remember reading it anywhere. Every NHL team has a system that is at least slightly different, so in general it would stand to reason that a player would require time to adjust to any new system.
—–
Dominick asked: 1) Should TM have called a time out in game 3? 2) Should TM have pulled his goalie on that 5 on 3 in game 4? 3) Best California burger, Has it changed? 4) Are you ever going to write a book? 5) Do you have other hockey pundits that you enjoy reading?
Answers: 1) If you’re asking me if I believe it would have had a significant impact on the result of the game, no. If he wanted to do something to make it look like he was doing something, sure, I suppose. 2) If you’re asking me if I believe it would have had a significant impact on the result of the game, no. If he wanted to do something to make it look like he was doing something, sure, I suppose. 3) You know, I actually don’t know if I’ve been on record with this. I cheat on In-n-Out with Tommy’s, and vice versa. They’re perfect in their own ways. 4) Not at this point. I can’t imagine it would be that interesting. 5) Yes, a lot actually, but it gets dangerous to list people, for fear of accidental omission. I’ll just throw four names out there for now (in alphabetical order): Craig Custance, Pierre LeBrun, Jim Matheson and Bob McKenzie.
—–
Alex asked: So what’s the exact deal with the uniforms next season? Has it been confirmed by the team that it’s the black alternate for the home primary next year, a white version of that for the road primary, and the current black crown home for the “new” alternate? I recall your post on it, just want to know if this is %100 the plan. And if so, any info on when they plan to reveal the new set? Thought they could have done a little better, especially for a big uniform change like this.
Answer: Nothing definitive yet. At the end of last year — the 2010 calendar year, I mean — teams had to notify the league that they intended to change their jerseys for the 2011-12 season. What I heard most recently is that the Kings would go to the black/white jerseys as the primary jerseys, then use the current home jersey as a “third” jersey and, also, would have the option to wear the purple-and-gold jerseys at home three or four times, just like this season. To the best of my knowledge, that plan has not changed.
—–
Mike J. asked: A couple player questions. With the skill set that Jack Johnson has, has there been any talk of moving him up to a wing? I know there was talk years ago about Phil Housley moving up to a forward and with the plethora of defensemen in they system, why not give it a shot? In keeping with his skill set, why did he “fall” from the top shooters in the shootout? Also, do you think that Alec Martinez will change his number from 53 to a more respectable number for a defenseman like #6?
Answers: 1) No thought to that at all, no. He’s a defenseman. And, basically, he “fell” from the top three because he stopped scoring in shootouts this season. I just think it’s as simple as that. 2) There’s probably a good chance of that, yes. The Kings seem to dislike those high numbers — expect for veterans who have worn them for a while — so given that Martinez seems to be a keeper, I wouldn’t surprised to see him change.
—-
408KingsFan asked: Rich, can you set something up for Frozen Fury similiar to suite night? Obviously there arent any suites at MGM but it would be cool if us fanatic bloggers (and you know who you are) could sit in the same section. Thanks
Answer: Honestly, I’m not the one who sets up the suite nights. That is all the creation of folks on the blog. I don’t have any special power to get a block of seats, but if someone contacted the arena and tried to make it work, they could certainly give it a shot.
—–
Rainman asked: Two questions…Do you think the Kings will win the Stanley Cup before Bob Miller turns 100? If anyone deserves to be front and center with the Cup it’s Bob. If they have a parade in LA, then Bob should definitely be in the car with the Cup! Secondly, I’d like to get your opinion on the subject of diving. I feel the NHL needs to take a much stronger stand on this issue and really penalize the Players who are guilty of diving.
Answers: 1) I thought about that, also, when I saw Bob after Game 6. I couldn’t agree with you more, in terms of wanting to see Bob enjoy a great moment after all his years of work. 2) I don’t like it either, but every sport has to deal with some type of deception like that, unfortunately. You get football players pretending they were held or interfered with. You get basketball players trying to draw a charge. You get baseball players pretending they were hit by a pitch, etc. So I’m all in favor of enforcement, but I don’t think you’ll ever eliminate stuff like that from sports.
—–
john asked: Here’s a “league question”… on the NHL Network, there is a special that I believe is called “Behind the Stripes”. I think it was a halfhour long, and it spent a few days behind the scenes with Nhl and Ahl refs. The refs were mic’d. We got to hear them explain penalties to players, scold players, and even apologize to players for missing a call. I think tshe show is awesome, and would love to see it more often. Who could I e-mail my request too? The show is way too good to be a one-time thing.
Answer: I really don’t have a contact person on that for you, because I don’t know anyone at the NHL Network. It’s likely that their website has some type of feedback email address, form or something of the like, so I would suggest notifying them that way.
—–
Kingsfanone asked: What were your expectations or thoughts about this blog before you got handed “the keys”, and did you expect such a response and/or following? What were your thoughts on the response to the Suite Games? What are your thoughts moving forward about this blog, say about expansion or tweaks you are thinking about?
Answers: 1) No, to be honest I did not expect such a large, and positive, response. I was relieved and excited by it, certainly, but I didn’t expect it. Through the coverage at the Daily News, I knew I had built up a certain audience, and my only hope was to maintain that. Clearly that has grown by a significant margin, and I’m extremely grateful for that. 2) The suite games were outstanding, from my perspective. I hope everyone who attended felt the same way. It was great to meet people, put faces with names and see everyone enjoying themselves. 3) I do have occasional ideas for different additions and tweaks, so we’ll see during the summer. Suggestions are always welcomed.
It sure is heartwarming to know that dignitaries such as Gretzky don’t have to pay for tickets. I’m sure they can’t afford it, like us working stiffs can.
This world & our culture are so bass ackwards…….
[Reply]
ten for instigating Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@dahack11, come on. You honestly cant believe a person who has their # in the rafters should pay for a ticket. Actually, no ex player should have to pay. Part of building a “kings” culture is having ex players around.
[Reply]
dahack11 Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
@ten for instigating, It replies like this, that support my last sentence….
And my response wasn’t just “ex-players”….
But, whatever, Gretzky’s got millions & millions in the bank…..that us fans paid BTW…..& he can’t spend money for a ticket???
It’s just how I also don’t get why people buy “dignitaries” drinks when they see them in bars….
[Reply]
puckbob Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
@dahack11, So, if you saw Gretzky in a bar you’d walk up and ask him to buy you a drink?
dahack11 Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@dahack11, ah, no smart guy. I’d leave him alone. He has a right to privacy & I’m secure enough w/ myself to not need to rub elbows w/ “dignitaries.”
But you go ahead & waste your money on a millionaire so you can play w/ yourself later…if that’s what does it for you. i GUARENTEE you, Gretzky won’t remember you one second after you buy him that drink….lol
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@ten for instigating, In the case of Wayne Gretzky since the guy basicly single handedly put the Kings and Hockey on the map as a far as LA or california are concerned and the billions of dollars his affiliation with org has produced i will say ok……Wayne gets to attend for free. No issues there. As far as any Ex player is concerned i agree with dahack11 on that one. These guys have millions and if they are attending games because they are fans and are there on the own accord and not requested to be there for some reason and want to watch the game live then they can pay just like every other fan has to IMO
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Then again if the powers that be say Wayne or whomever dont have to pay then who are we say differently. Its there team and there Staples center. I think they should pay though.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Im also broke and cant afford it to begin with so my opinion is biased.
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, And there are times that the teams ask their former players to come to the games so the fans can meet and greet them etc. Chicago and the New York Islanders tried for years to get Mikita and Bossy to come to the stadium and also Bobby Hull, but they were so ticked at the management that they wouldn’t do it. It was until maybe a couple of years ago that those HOF players finally went to their arenas to meet and greet. Things go on or have happened that we are just not privvy to so we shouldn’t be busting chops on what e really don’t know about. Also when a player comes back, (not a super star) they are usually up in the suite or will stand at the end promanade.
Bob Bobson Reply:
April 30th, 2011 at 8:42 am
@ten for instigating, Len Barrie was an ex player. Do you really want him around?
[Reply]
Hadley Reply:
April 30th, 2011 at 9:51 am
@ten for instigating, how about a luxury suite for every game where all former Kings get in free — fans could ask for autographs and photographs before or after each game. The healthy scratches for the night could sit in the same suite and pick up pointers from the old pros. Thus, on any given night, you would hopefully find Jack Johnson and Dustin Penner sitting with the likes of Doug Smith, Mark Hardy, Mathieu Schneider, Randy Jones, Paul Mulvey, Anson Carter and Roman Vopat. The Kings could install video machines for Smith to encourage his regular attendance.
[Reply]
Helvetica Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@dahack11, hahahahhaa, you guys are actually mad that Gretzky gets free hockey tickets to a Kings game?
[Reply]
dahack11 Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Helvetica, when a working stiff like me gets no free tickets, yeah. Gretzky or anyone else. The only people who should be let in free are people in the armed services. THEY…..are the real heroes, & I’d bet Gretzky would say the same thing.
[Reply]
Blake Reply:
April 30th, 2011 at 12:52 am
@dahack11, ya gretzky didnt work his ass off to be the best player in the world, maybe if you were the best person in the world at your job you’d have millions of dollars to go to hockey games for free
Rich, I was reading your answers and saw the one about the Kings not liking high player numbers. I’ve heard that before, and it makes no sense to me. Do you know why they don’t like high numbers? Is that a DL or TM policy?
[Reply]
Marc Nathan Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@Matt R, it’s more about the purity of the game from an old-time standpoint. for years most teams used 1 through about 22 and then the other goalie wore 30 and that was it. Then retired numbers pushed things higher. I remember when Mahovolich, wearing 27 seemed odd
I’m old.
[Reply]
Has anyone heard if the rumors are true about weather Gretzky is going to be part of the coaching staff next year?
[Reply]
Guss Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@KingsGuy, that would be awesome!!
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
@KingsGuy, No, but we could really get a good one going couldn’t we.
[Reply]
Re: Diving. They just have to call it more than they do, which is pretty much never. They should call the penalty, if it was committed, and they should call diving, if the guy went down on purpose. Sometimes, they both happen. It’s that simple. Most of the time the guy who dives is a high-profile player, so the trade (both going to the box) isn’t going to look too good after the first few times it happens, say, in a playoff series.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I agree with the need to call it more often. If they came out at the beginning of the season the way they do they’re “crack-downs on obstruction” or whatever the hot topic of penalties are, I’d bet a lot of folks would suddenly be a lot stronger on their skates by mid-season.
And, I don’t know if anyone saw the NAS 1rd series, but at some point in one of those games, Smithson (?) faked a high stick and got the call when in fact he wasn’t even touched by the stick AT ALL. Plays like that should be reviewed by TOR and suspensions should be doled out. He, on that play alone, ruined the integrity of the game and made the refs look TERRIBLY bad for calling a penalty on the reaction of a player rather than actually seeing the infraction happen. SAD
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@Stuart,
Totally agree, the game happens so fast its hard to call a dive but u can review it and suspension would be awsome. Wow, Van would be in alot of trouble if that happened.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@Stuart, I agree that diving should be a purview of the replay people if they catch it–in the case where there’s irrefutable visual evidence. They should be able to correct that kind of call.
[Reply]
Heavy G Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Stuart, I totally agree. If a review catches a dive, they should hand down suspensions. Big time.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
Diving is rarely ever called unless there’s a call going the other way. Even rarer still is the diving call committed by itself. 90% of the time it is an even up call, because the ref doesn’t want to make a determination on the trip, so he calls it both ways. I have had guys hook me in the shoulder as I was planting my foot down in full stride, and lost an edge as I put my weight down on that foot. I’d go sliding belly first into the boards, and they’d get a hooking penalty. I see this all time in the NHL and I hear people say “that guy went down to easy” or “he tugged on his shoulder and the guy flopped like a fish”.
By NHL standards, both of us would go to the box. I see guys get a stick in the skates and go down and get accused of “selling it” allmost every single game. The majority of diving calls are absolutely bull. The only reason refs are calling it is because of a concerted effort to push an agenda. If their is a dive then call it. Don’t call a guy for tripping then say the other guy going down is trying to trick the refs into calling a penalty.
Pretty soon it won’t even be allowed to fall when someone trips you without an explenation to justify it.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
@Dominick, But when you see some guys get hooked and get knocked off kilter but keep battling and skating through it you say “dayam that guys going fo it” and he usually doesn’t get the call, whereas someone who gets that goes down gets the call. The NHL has brought this “diving” phenomenon upon itself. Too many times guys go down like they’ve been sniped from the rafters rather than try and play through it to get the call because it’s almost a bank if you go down and maybe not if you fight through it and keep trying to play hockey. Our very own DB does it but so do plenty of others out there.
All I’m saying is that players should spend more time playing the game than trying to trick the refs.
Also, I wonder how many dives were called this year? I can only think of one during a Kings game and it was called on DD IIRC. Happens too rarely for me to agree that they are mostly bs.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
@Stuart,
It doesn’t take much. I’ve seen a call on Avery once that looked like it should of went both ways, so I agree it happens. I like wtfK’s idea of video replay to check. I just think the dive call isn’t the case in most situations. If your trying to skate, and don’t expect it, and a guy hauls you down, how is it your fault? Just because sometimes you can get your footing and continue through it, the one time that you fall is a dive?
I used to hop curbes, and ride in empty pools with my skate board as a kid. Sometimes I’d hit a rock while skating on the sidewalk, and go flying. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t trying on the sidewalk.
Darrell Reply:
April 29th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Two things. One, I find it amusing how passionate the anti-diving sentiment is on this board, considering Dustin Brown is on our team (though to be fair, he had very little shenanigans in the Playoffs). Two – there are always accusations of blatant dives on sticks that “didn’t even touch” a player’s face. Let me take a stick and swing it hard, INCHES from your face and see if you don’t jerk your head back.
[Reply]
There are always a lot(group) of tickets reserved for Guests, Charity and Dignataries. If they are not filled they are given to the stand-ins on the waiting list
[Reply]
“You know, I actually don’t know if I’ve been on record with this. I cheat on In-n-Out with Tommy’s, and vice versa. They’re perfect in their own ways. ”
–A VERY BRAVE ADMISSION, Senor, on this website!
If the world can’t be viewed in Black and White, Yes and No, Better or Worse, Winner and Loser, In N Out…
What’s the World coming to?
[Reply]
Let’s not give #6 to anyone just yet… that’s Jake Muzzin’s number with the Kings and I’d like to believe he’ll be wearing it again soon
[Reply]
Drew’s question was priceless,,I love this blog
[Reply]
Rich, Do you think that the Kings inability to get past the 1st round in the playoffs will be a problem signing a top UFA this year? I know that there is a buzz around the league that the Kings are up and coming, but UFAs may be looking for a squad they view is one player away.
[Reply]
Rich what do you think of the NHL changing the rule that if you get a penalty in the overtime that runs through the end of the 5 minute overtime, that player isn’t allowed to participate in the shootout. Some players just beat the heck out of the opposing team it seems since ref’s are sometimes reluctant to call penalties in OT.
If we went to the SC finals Bob Miller would be sitting in his seats with his wife Judy as opposed to calling the game? How is that fair? Why should Doc Emerick or Pierre Maguire get lucky enough to call the LA Kings winning the Stanley Cup and not Bob Miller?
[Reply]
Geoff Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@TomM, There is no logical reason why Doc & Pierre *should* get to, but that’s just how the TV contract crumbles :-/
[Reply]