A big part of the Kings’ summer is the recovery of Anze Kopitar from his ankle surgery, and according to Dean Lombardi, that recovery is going well. Lombardi also addressed a couple “minor” issues involving two other players. One note…the reference to Alexander Frolov below — as some might remember — is regarding the persistent groin-muscle injuries that Frolov had during parts of his time with the Kings.
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Question: Is there any concern that Kopitar’s recovery might take longer than expected, anything like that?
LOMBARDI: “No. He was way ahead of schedule when he left here (for Slovenia). When he left here, he was already walking.”
Question: So he’s on track for training camp then…
LOMBARDI: “Yeah. He’s way ahead. Every indication is, he’s (good). And it’s like the basketball player, Blake Griffin, when he got hurt he used that time and worked out. What I noticed (with Kopitar) is that he was using that time to work out in the gym, working on his upper body. So when he left here, he had more definition than he ever had. Even though he had the ankle problem, he was in here every day, sometimes three hours a day. Obviously he was doing the ankle rehab, but a lot of it also was working on the parts of his body that he could train. He left here looking better than he did in training camp.
“(Justin) Williams, he too is way ahead of schedule. So he’s right on track, knock on wood. Quicker [Jonathan Quick] was back here for a minor check on something (near his hip). We learned from some of the stuff that happened with (Alexander) Frolov. If a guy has anything that is bothering him, we’re not waiting. Willie Mitchell had a slight problem with his shoulder. Same thing. We learned our lesson a little bit with Fro, when Fro was here. We weren’t aggressive enough in making sure that players come back here if they have anything wrong. A lot of times, players don’t want to tell you or whatever, because they think it’s nothing, and/or they don’t want to see a doctor and come back. But after that, if anything is going on, we get those guys back here. So Quicker was back here and Willie Mitchell was back but that’s OK now.”
Hear, O Israel!
Let us make it through the season — and post-season — with no injuries!
C’mon, God. Give us a break, will you please?
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:02 pm
@tuan jim, lol tell me about it
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rontheking Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@tuan jim,
Don’t ever say break, damn you!
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Great outlook by DL on how to handle the injury situation and I feel realy good hearing about Kopi’s and JW’s continuing recovery. Could this be the indicator that DL needs to signal him to get another scorer?
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Here, this should toughen everyone up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e3ahKbeX5Q&feature=share
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RLane420 Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Mikey, Great video! I really miss that guy, and so has this team.
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IceGuy Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@RLane420,
Dean, find a place in this Kings Or-gan-i-zation for this guy.
He is the poster child for “the right kind of player”.
I miss him.
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Mikey Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@IceGuy, Yeah, Deano- I’m sure the Flyers would cut him loose at a decent price. You can replace Westy with Lappy and make all the fans happy.
Crown Royal Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@Mikey,
Lappy was a King among Kings!
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Mikey Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@Crown Royal, I am now changing my user name to BBLappy. (Bring Back Lappy)
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maz Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Mikey,
Maybe we can get Clifford to trade #’s with Lewis and then have Westgarth pound his nose sideways?
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gcheng Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@maz,
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Mark Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@Mikey, Love that guy, thanks for the link
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Rainman Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:23 pm
@Mikey, Why didn’t the Kings resign Lappy? What a heart and soul guy. Geez!
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DougS Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:22 pm
@Rainman,
Because Colorado offered him what was, at the time, a serious overpayment for a 3rd-line center. Lappy was valuable to the Kings, but looking at it objectively, he wasn’t worth the kind of money that Colorado threw at him.
That being said, he would certainly make a great addition to the Kings organization, if only for the PR value. Given the nature and seriousness of the injury that forced him to retire, though, I think Lappy’s first priority right now has to be his own health and making sure he’ll be okay over the long term.
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@Mikey, I love this guy! Everything you could ever ask for in a guy with limited skill, and a big heart.
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Player-X Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:47 pm
@Mikey, Lappy is done on the ice…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ah0_D.nZel8KA1I0ubH36t3ovrYF?slug=ap-flyers-laperriere
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jet Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@Player-X, crash test dummies never retire
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Riofan Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 7:47 am
@Player-X, Lappy is not quitter and as 35+ contract the Flyers would prefer him on the LTIR and retire after this season. He’s got $1.16M owed to him for the 11/12 season and I expect him to collect it.
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Changing the subject to DD for a second, word is that Stamkos is close to a contract. Makes one wonder then why it’s dragging on for DD. It is after all barely a week from July 1st. We’ll see where that all goes.
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cjms Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@number 6, Stammer’s a bona fide franchise player. He’s probably ready to sign because they’re probably giving him the farm. Not entirely certain about Doughty.
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scott Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@number 6, Changing the subject to SS for a second, word is that Doughty is close to a contract. Makes one wonder then why it’s dragging on for SS. It is after all barely a week from July 1st. We’ll see where that all goes.ps baseless speculation
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number 6 Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@scott,
Scott, one thing for sure. It’s not in my personal nature to post things that are baseless speculation. When I hear things and I’m even 93% certain I’ll qualify it. In this case A) they talked about it on nhl home ice, and if that wasn’t enough had an interview with Stamkos and he said essentially things were now close enough that one way or another they’d get it done. So that’s not my personal idea of baseless.
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kingskicka$$ Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@number 6,
DL has to give us some sort of good Kings news during Day 1/Round 1 of the draft… Since we don’t have a pick, I predict a DD contract announced then.
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@number 6, from what it sounds, Doughty is close to a deal. Stamkos and Doughty both have the same agent, as well as Parise, Richards, etc etc.. Point is he’s a busy man, but the fact that Lombardi has gone to see him in person twice is a pretty good indication that Drew is going to be a King for a long time. It’ll get done before he’s offered anything.
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number 6 Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@Bluecoconuts,
I do tend to think you’re right.
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HeyChief Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@number 6, according to TSN http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=369660 Stamkos expects to sign at the draft. I hope that since they share the same agent, that Doughty also inks his deal at the draft.
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@number 6,
Concern is understandable, but the Stamkos signing isn’t the deadline for unsigned RFA’s to get their contracts done. Contracts are different for every player, and I’m sure Meehan, and Morris are chomping at the bit to get their cut.
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Surprised he didn’t reference Greene’s shoulder last off season that cost him training camp and the first part of the season because they waited on the surgery.
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number 6 Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@Sydor25,
Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of.
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Shakes Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@Sydor25,
Totally spot on point…plus that seemed like a good example of a player who didn’t think anything of the injury before seeing that it was kinda serious. I blame Greene’s tolerance for pain versus just a pure delay in doing something he knew he had to do (aka Andrew Bynum last offseason)
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jet Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 9:21 pm
@Shakes, I went 4 months with a torn labrum before it got to the point I could not put on a pull over shirt. The first 3 months I thought I could exercise it back to full use.
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Sydor25,
It’s easier to blame Frolov, he’s not here anymore.
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DLB Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Dominick, you are so right.
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KC23 Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@Sydor25, First thing that crossed my mind as well. Probably didn’t want to rub it in to someone that might be sensitive on the issue.
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“ahead of schedule…already walking”.
I’d hate to see the schedule.
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dpars Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@JackKent Cooke, I had a similar injury playing hockey 4 years ago(SuperBowl Sunday ’07) and it took me 4 months to even gingerly walk. I didn’t walk with full pressure for at least 7 months.
These guys are pros though, and their commitment, especially Kopi’s is pretty evident. If he’s walking now, and doing full workouts in the gym, he’s one tough SOB. Very impressive.
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 7:11 pm
@dpars,
I too had a comparable injury many years ago playing basketball. For several months afterward,in the simple act of walking, if I happened to step on a small pebble or the like it caused excruciating pain. It was a year or so until I could perform anywhere near normal. Of course, athletes have access to all the bells and whistles of state-of-the-art rehab modalities as well as the assistance of skilled trainers. Kopi also can probably count on the massage skills of some Slavic goddess, but I digress….
I am in much doubt that Anze will be at peak performance status for the early part of the season and fear that this type of condition is very susceptible to re-injury.
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dpars Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 9:56 pm
@JackKent Cooke, It sure is hard to believe that he will be at %100, I agree. But it sounds like he is working hard to make it happen.
After my surgery, my doctor said my ankle will be stronger(because of all the hardware), but that may have been fancy doctor speak to ease my doubts.
Lets hope Kopi is truly ahead of schedule and is ready to go in September.
i hope the Ankle doesnt bother him for next season we need kopi and JW shoulder either we need them ..hope Mitchell doesnt get hurt next season we need him too.hope Quick doesnt get hurt either but then u got another great goaltender Bernier i just dont want anyone of them to get hurt. come on season start already Go Kings GO!!!
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what are the chances we go back to Russia in the second or third round? we have done fairly well finding the gems there, I’d love to get a guy like Maxim Shalunov
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kingshockeyguy Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@Ravens, I would stay away from Russian players. They are known for being soft and inconsistent. then there is always the threats they all make when things don’t go their way (Like they will go back to russia and Play).
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Marbles Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@kingshockeyguy,
Yeah that guy Ovechkin is a really soft player.
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kingshockeyguy Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@Marbles, Yeah since there are millions of Ovechkins in the NHL draft going in the second round. LOL
Let me restate that for you. The majority of Russian players!
Ravens Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@Marbles, yeah so was Strelkov Khimik
I want to congratulate former LA KING Ian Laperriere for winning the Masterton award!
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Marbles Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@#1faninvegas,
Yeah, he looked very emotional out there and it was pretty awesome that Robitaille gave him the trophy.
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Rainman Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@#1faninvegas, I’ll second that… Congratulations Lappy! You were a true warrior and teammate during your Kings career. It’s too bad that AEG let you go to free agency and did not retain your services. Here’s to your health and future in hockey. I think you’d make a great coach!
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@#1faninvegas,
Here here!
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Lol, Rich, we know who Frolov is, it hasn’t been THAT long!
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Congratulations Dustin Brown for winning the NHL Foundation Player Award!
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@#1faninvegas,
Here here! again.
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Brown just won the bill masterton award! way to go dustin
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blahblah Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@blahblah,
wait..not the masterton, i was thinking of lappy too while i was typing that. congrats to both of them!
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Lappy is one of my all time favorite Kings. Full of grit and heart! How cool was that; Lucky Luc presenting the award to Lappy, the Quebec connection, lol!
Now down to business, trade Smyth, re-sign Drew and add some depth like Leino or something. Brad Richards is too $$$, spend it on someone who can play 82 games, no more injuries please, my head will explode!!!!
WE WANT THE CUP!!!
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Ravens Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:20 pm
@Ochoniko, I like that post
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Dominick Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:21 pm
@Ochoniko,
That name is too funny! LOL
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Samo photos of golf tournament
http://www.siol.net/data/fotogalerije/sportal/2011/06/golf_kopitar.aspx
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