Looking back at the Mike Richards trade for a moment, Brayden Schenn shared his thoughts about the deal — and his move to the Flyers — with the Philadelphia media. Incidentally, Schenn happened to be participating in Jarret Stoll’s charity gulf tournament in Saskatchewan at the time. It seems as though Wayne Simmonds has not yet been made available to Philadelphia reporters, but Schenn said, in part, “It’s a thrill, a little bit shocking to be here. … I’m thrilled to be part of the organization and history there. I’m going into a great organization that’s close to winning [the Stanley Cup] and that’s what I’m excited for.”
Schenn eager to work hard to make Flyers this year (Philadelphia Daily News)
Flyers’ trade acquisitions excited to join new club (CSNPhilly.com)
We weren’t a great organization that’s close to winning a cup?
[Reply]
Mike W Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@Bill M., Nope
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@Bill M., we have no history and we haven’t reach the WCF since 93
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Bill M., Schenn never said that. Honestly i feel we’re closer to the cup than Philly is. Especially if we unload Smyth and sign Brad Richards. After listening to Deans comments, he gives me the feeling that he’s going to do something really BIG in the next week or two. I’ve got a feeling.
[Reply]
lafan13 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@Bill M.,
before the trade… absolutely not.
[Reply]
Every kings player favorite fan Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
@Bill M., I always got the impression he wasn’t thrilled about being drafted by us he surely didn’t look it when it happened
[Reply]
alex101 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Every kings player favorite fan, We have Richards now..who is Schenn? He’s Luke Schenns brother. He isn’t that good. I can’t wait until he sucks next year and we win the cup. We’re not going to do it without signing a winger. nuff said
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 11:36 am
@Bill M., I think he knows he could have been traded to a cellar team. Why can’t he appreciate where he wound up?
[Reply]
Isn’t it really a wash for Schenn organization wise? Kings (Flyers West) or Flyers (East) he gets his shot to play and on a legit contender, maybe he’ll have a bit more pressure in Philly since he replaced a loved player but I don’t see a big difference for him.
[Reply]
Bluecoconuts Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@iansez, East is usually easier, so it’s probably nice for him. Plus there’s less travel.
[Reply]
I don’t like this deal.
I know Richards is a good player but I don’t like Philly and have never liked Richards.
Why rebuild as LA has if so many of the draft picks are going to be traded? The FA market was always there to acquire players.
SJ’s aquisition of Burns looks like the better deal to me.
DL talks about building from the back out, and is our defense set for the future? I think not.
An aging Scuderi and Mitchell, and a mediocre base outside of Doughty means we are NOT set at the back.
Schenn may be overhyped, but we lose out on a potential plum and lose Simmonds to boot.
I just do not like DL’s style.
Maybe I’ll eat my words but DL is doing exactly what he criticises other GM’s for doing – trading away prospects.
[Reply]
Cortex949 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 12:01 am
@Cristobal, I understand but regarding the schenn for Richards trade I look at it this way: schenn has a ton of potential to be great, maybe even one of the top centers in the league. But right now Richards IS one of the top centers in the league and still has a ton of years in him and is fairly priced. If we didnt make this trade the BEST that could happen is the schenn lives up to all his hype and ends up being something similar to the type of player Richards is. We don’t know if that will actually happen. We basically fast forwarded schenn 6 years to have a player he MIGHT become some day.
Simmonds was tough but declining in my mind. I still like it
[Reply]
phil Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 12:29 am
@Cristobal, I don’t agree that the Burns trade was better. Burns, while solid, is an unrestricted free agent next season and San Jose has no guarantee that he’ll resign. The Sharks also gave up a solid winger who is still young plus their top prospect.
The Kings defense is very good. While Scuderi and Mitchell are in their 30s, they have not looked out of place at all. In fact, Mitchell may have been the Kings best defensive defenseman this past season. The only one that has looked out of place at times is Greene. Perhaps that is another reason to acquire Richards – DL knows that Scuderi and Mitchell have maybe 2-3 years before they start to decline.
[Reply]
OC Kings Fan Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 1:17 am
@Cristobal,
Originally i was not a big fan of the trade. However, Mike Richards is considered the ceiling for Schenn by many scouts. So, the Kings are basically getting a Schenn type player with 5 years of experience. The fact that Richards is young (26), still entering his prime, signed for another 9 years at a very reasonable cap hit (5.5 million or so) makes so much sense right now. Yes, the Kings gave up talent, but it is the right time. I don’t want the Kings just make the playoffs and bow out in the 1st round. We have been stockpiling talent for 4 years, so let’s use it to bring home the cup.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 1:50 am
@Cristobal, I guess it’s all a matter of perspective. If you don’t like Richards, it’s easy to find flaws with the trade.
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 7:36 am
@Cristobal, Finally someone that makes some sense. If DL is going to go after BRAD Richards, it would be better to have Schenn’s salary then Mike Richard’s salary at the 2nd line center position. Schenn will be a bargin for several years and in two he’ll be as good as M. Richards and in five years Mike Richards career will be winding down.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:04 am
@Cristobal, Richards is NOT a good player. He’s a great player by virtually any non-baised NHL savey observer. Simmonds types come a dime a dozen and Scheen is 100% unproven and has zero experience at the NHL level in PP, PK and playoffs. In my eyes this is the best trade the Kings have made in a long time.
[Reply]
On a personal level, I am going to miss you Schenn, but on a business standpoint, this was a fair trade. Hope your career in Philly is a great one!
[Reply]
Which Gulf Rich? Persian? Mexico? Alaska? …and how many barrels over par did Brayden spill?
Really though, Brayden should feel pretty good about the fact he was a key component to acquire a top guy like Mike Richards. He’s gonna do great in Philly and it’ll be fun to watch him play 6 games this season against his brother.
He’s held the Mikus Jersey as previously reported, so I’m positive he’ll be just fine…
[Reply]
jet Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@Cynic, curse that jersey
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
@jet, Easy now, Luc & Rich have both touched that jersey. So have Heidi, Jim Fox, The Ice Girls, Bailey and Peter Harrold. Let’s not curse it too quickly…
[Reply]
jet Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Cynic, djd harry resign?
Having gone to the training camp the last few years, I was so impressed with Schenn the first year he came to camp but less so this past year even though he played great in Manchester and Juniors. He seemed slower than everyone else in camp last year and just didn’t look ready to make the team.
I really looked forward to seeing him make the Kings though, so this is either Dean’s best or worst trade ever! We’ll wait to see as the year goes on. My feeling is that Schenn will end up being better appreciated in Philly than here and we will be sorry to see one more player (Boyle, Purcell, Moulson) do great for another team!
[Reply]
KindSir Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Kings4Me, this will not be like moulson, Boyle, or Purcell. This time we actually got a legit player in return.
[Reply]
mcdangles Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@Kings4Me, you seem to forget Schenn was injured during last years training camp. Watch how good he plays for the Flyers, they will at least give him the chance to show what he can do
[Reply]
Cannot ask for anything more from a kid. I still feel like I was mugged. but it does make sense for both squads. I hope we see you for 4 games at the end of next season.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@jet, “Mugged” just about sums it up. It was fair, but I’m still sad. Hopefully Richards makes it all better.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@Dominick, I don’t understand how King fans grow emotional attachment to prospects or minor league players. I can understand a guy who has player 10 years with the team or a guy who was instrumental in big victories, but Simmer or Schenn? “sad” or “mugged”? If it was a fair tade nobody was “mugged”. I can kind of understand being attached to a roster player who you cheer for every week, but minor leaguers or draft picks? I only care about the team. Does it help the team, I think so. I am not traying to sound brash or disrespectful, I apologise if I come off that way, I just can’t wrap my head around it.
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@Osaka,
It just may be because we get to see the players in person here that attachments get formed. As you are in Japan & don’t get to see the players in person, it can leave you with a more impersonal viewpoint.
Human nature thing. I’m just saying, it may be a reason.
jet Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
@Osaka, I do become attached to players as soon as I see them at rookie camp. Schenn is special because his growth rate the past 2 years is unbelievable. theefore, the keen interest in him and in his top end. We got a great player, it had to be done to get the players more playoff games, so I understand. It still hurts.
hockeygeoff247 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@Osaka, It’s because since Schenn was drafted we have heard from the top guys, “this kid is the future” and other stuff like that, which is why I was shocked at first (and still a little uneasy) to hear that he was traded. Simmer was just everyone’s favorite scrapper until Cliffy (which is really Simmer 2.0) came in last year. A lot of people were following Schenn through the farm systems and I even saw a few Schenn jerseys last season. Also on a more intangible aspect, it’s hard to see both go because they were two huge elements of the Kings success: The success of player development and the long-term future of the Kings. I think that once Richards shows up and demonstrates why he was the captain in Philly and loved by so many (which ironically enough is hard to do in the city of brotherly love) out there we will see that this trade was worth everything.
Osaka Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@All,
I’ve only been in Japan for 2 years so I am not that far removed. I used to go to Kings practices even back when they where in that dump rink in Carson if that dates me a little. I guess I also always had a favorite player but I never bought into the whole prospect hype. It is the same in every sport not just hockey. I guess it is big business, look at the NHL, NBA, and NFL drafts. They have become as big as the game itself. In hockey though when you look at the percentage of all the players that are drafted and play at least 200 games in the NHL it is low. I can only see these guys as possible assets. Schenn was a blue chip so I see how fans have been following him since the draft waiting for him to be on the big team and waiting for him to make an impact. Teams do pump the up and coming players, I guess to make you think great things are up around the corner so don’t stop following the team. Maybe I limit my enthusiasm to the core of the team. Anyways, everyone great answers!
Dominick Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
@Osaka,
It’s semantics. You say tomato, I say mugged. I have every right to feel that way, because Schenn wasn’t just any normal prospect, He was the top prospect in the entire NHL, highly regarded as a better than average skill set, and better than average leadership qualities, with a sky’s the limit ceiling, by unanimus independent sources. If you weren’t sold then cool. I was.
I like the Richards deal, but until he puts this team on his back, I’m gonna feel slighted. Now if Richards comes in and does what he did in Philly, I’ll consider it 100% fair, maybe even slighted in our favor, but for now I feel mugged.
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:09 am
@Osaka, I think its because the average King fan is so condictioned to giving away something that will be great for nothing they’ve lost sight of the fact that we actually got a big something very big back in exchange.
Dominick Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 9:29 am
@KC23,
Does that make me an average Kingsfan, Jeez you guys are amazing.
Just curious to get a pulse of the Kings fans on this one. Which of the following FA LWers would you rather have than Ryan Smyth?
Ville Leino
Jussi Jokinen
Erik Cole
Brooks Laich
Tomas Fleischmann
Vinny Prospal
Simon Gagne
Chris Higgins
Pascal Dupuis
Marco Sturm (HA!)
Mathieu Darche
Steve Sullivan
Tomas Kopecky
Ruslan Fedotenko
Sean Bergenheim
Raffi Torres
Andrew Brunette
Sergei Samsonov
Cory Stillman
Drew Miller
Alexander Frolov (double HA!)
Alexei Ponikarovski (triple HA!)
[Reply]
brymaster1 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@puddle, Jokinen, Cole, or Gagne. preferably Gagne.I don’t get why you would say HA! to Sturm though.
[Reply]
sloppy joe Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@brymaster1, if we get Jokinen we will be unstoppable in shootouts
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@brymaster1, I only say HA because I doubt he’d want to return after the way he was released. And he’s kinda old. But I do like Sturm.
[Reply]
Eric Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@puddle,
Laich would be my first choice, then Cole. The rest of them are either over the hill, soft, lazy, or pointless.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@Eric, My thoughts exactly. Although Brad Richhards would be my favorite, then Laich and Cole. Oops, I almost forgot Parise. He’s before Laich and Cole. While I like Parise more than Richards, he would cost us players and we’d still have to sign him long term, while Richards wouldn’t cost us players, just money. That’s why I want Richards over Parise.
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
@Eric, You think Smyth is better than everyone else on this list? I’m surprised, especially considering “over the hill” is one of the things that makes you not like some of these other guys.
[Reply]
king_stoner Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@puddle,
leino, Fleischmann, Laich and maybe Jokinen
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@puddle, Gagne for sure, but I wouldn’t rule Poni out at a reduced salary, he can make life hard on the opposition
[Reply]
jet Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Ravens, I like Poni also
[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
@jet, @Ravens
I’m a Poni whisperer also..We just might keep him..
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:11 am
@Ravens, I also like Poni. He plays hard when he is healthy and he sure won’t be much of a cap hit.
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@puddle, Leino or Gagne. I’d take Poni at 1.5M or less for one year if I have to. Like Ravens said, big body, 2-way player who can pound you on the boards when he decides to.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
@Cynic, But do you really want Poni on the 2nd line? I don’t.
[Reply]
MR King Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@puddle, Ville Leino, Brooks Laich or Jussi Jokinen. Both are still relatively young and consistent wingers.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:13 am
@MR King, Someone wrote that Leino has gotten a 3 year deal in Philly. Don’t know myself, but I think he is no longer available.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@puddle,
No way Lieno’s on the chopping block anymore. Philly already gave up 2 franchise centers.
[Reply]
lafan13 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Dominick,
not a chopping block… hes an UFA… he can sign where ever he wants too
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@lafan13,
LOL! I just realized that. Funny, I was the first one to start throwing his name out here a month ago. Completely slipped my mind.
Stuart Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@puddle, remove Cole and I like the other top three… in that order, too.
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@Stuart, Nice. I agree with you. I also think Fleischmann, because of his blood condition, could be had for a song, despite his age and talent. High risk, high reward.
[Reply]
Garrett Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
@puddle, Let me tell you, there solid guys in that list. So long as we get one of them. That said, if we did get a Gagne, or Cole or Laich, I wouldn’t mind Fedetenko to with. Kid was nothing but gold for Tampa in the playoffs when they won the cup. He’s a role player, but a solid one.
If i had to pick, I think Laich would be my first choice. Our kind of guy. Laich – Ricards – Brown!
[Reply]
Garrett Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
@puddle, I have to say it again, a lot of solid guys in that list. Sullivan if healthy makes us very fast. Laich is bound for a solid year, Cole (if healthy) could be a nice addition, Leino and Gagne both good.
I think we skip Brad Richards and get us some lefties.
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Garrett, I agree. Forget about Brad Richards. Fill a bigger need at a more reasonable price by getting a LW. Richards is out of our price range anyway.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:15 am
@Garrett, Also agree that we should forget Brad. We need a lefty big time.
[Reply]
PK Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
@puddle, Laich and Poni. I think Jokinen will want to play on the East Coast. Not to mention he’ll be coveted due to the lack of depth in free agency.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
@puddle,
Luuuuuuuuuccccccccc! Yea, I know he is retired and not a UFA, but I just read the “which left winger would you want?”
[Reply]
puddle Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@DesertKing, Haha, good call. You going to provide us with the time machine?
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@puddle,
If DL could find one for $6.5 mil it would be a done deal!
HockeyOnly Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@puddle, If I could list my top three, Bergenheim, jokinen and Leino in that order.
[Reply]
Simmonds still hanst talked to reporters? sounds like he is upset. cant blame him though.
[Reply]
king_stoner Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@brymaster1,
im still kinda bummed about him being gone. even though i love the fact we got richards
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@brymaster1, probably on his fifth party right now in Philly
[Reply]
jet Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
@Ravens, well he did play pretty well in the playoffs
[Reply]
Higgins or Gagne i think we need a fall back winger if penner doesn’t go up to par
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:17 am
@Jordan, If Penner doesn’t go up to par we need TWO Left Wingers.
[Reply]
1st – Brooks Laich
2nd – Sean Bergenheim
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
@Deedub, Bergenheim was the John Druce of this year’s playoffs.
[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
@Deedub,
They would be nuts to let Bergenheim go..
But I would take him in a heartbeat…
[Reply]
Given the fact that Gagne played for Philly, is there any doubt it’s going to be him? I mean we are the Flyers west.
[Reply]
Just how long do we have to look at Mike Richards in a “Flyer” unifrom before we get to our site? Really! Great the PR department is thrilled but we are the LA Kings…. Air brush the wonderful new jersey on him just get that Flyer crap off “My team” website.
[Reply]
Jordan Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@Mark1967, Lol
[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@Mark1967, lol no kidding, my thoughts exactly. Break out the airbrush
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@Mark1967,
Need to change the openingheadline of “Kings Strike” also. I thought I had accidently hit an NFL or NBA website.
[Reply]
A few years back at one of the season ticket holder meetings, DL showed a chart of King’s history where they started trading draft picks and prospects early in a rebuild. Richards is a stud but I’m a bit concerned that’s what is happening once again. The NHL is close to parity but IMO DL and the brain trust are overoptimistic if they thought the Kings were a player or two away. I’d say not because the team as built relied heavily on Smythe, Williams and Mitchell all of whom play so hard they end up hurt quite often and they were sorely missed when out of the line up (or in Smythe’s case, while playing hurt). We’d need all of them healthy AND maybe two more studs. It’s sorta fun to watch the young kids come up through the ranks, into the NHL, and then turn into NHL quality players.
Well, hope for the best. Maybe one or two of of Toffoli, Vey, Holloway, Voynov, Hickey, or Muzzin can crack the NHL next season. Sad to lose Simmonds.
[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@vicarious, don’t forget Kitsyn, Kozun and somewhere down the road Moller
[Reply]
dMan Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
@vicarious, the difference is that the Kings have some good assets in the system which has never really been the case before.
The thing to remember is that the older core of players will be hitting their peak soon.
If you look down the road, say 3-5 years, the personnel to support this older core is either too old, too young or in some cases non-existent. Richards is 26 hitting his stride and has a long term contract. It would have take realistically Schenn at least 2 years to make it to the big club and a couple more years of maturity, I think what Lombardi is trying to do is get that group of core players and the support personnel within a 5-7 year range to maximize their use in athleticism, as well as emotional and mental maturity. Al the while, feeding the system with younger players in the pipeline, nurturing them, getting them to play the system at every level and then having the ability to slip them in as need be.
Lombardi is not selling the farm for one player, or mortgaging the future of the team. It’s a fine balancing act and so far so good. There will be ups and downs; Richards is an up, Smyth departing is a down, etc.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@dMan, a very redwing-esque plan… get a core together for a number of years and then as they age replace with fine young players who can learn what winning is all about while the franchise remains solid for 7-12 years…the whole time turning over the roster so that the first years of success are totally replaced by the group that finished out the decade run of titles.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@vicarious, but something that happens to almost every team that has a deep playoff run or takes the Stanley, is that there is inevitably some rookie that comes out of nowhere and has a killer break through season. I’m hoping that we can put one of our minor league LWers to play on our second line and they take the ball and run with it and never stop!!! Why not? Why does it seem that almost every team has some rookie that tears it up, but never us with all over out “stocked” cupboards??? This is the year. Some rook will step up, one other forward will have a career year, and viola we’re sipping from the chalice!!!
[Reply]
John Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
@Stuart,
Clifford and Lewis tore it up last season – maybe not on the scoreboard but they emerged as bonafide NHL players.
[Reply]
dMan Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@John, Don’t forget Martinez who did not look at all out of place.
Goring 19 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
@vicarious, I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t consider this “early in the rebuild” we’re beyond that stage. It’s sort of an ongoing process that Deano explained how it would take shape and I feel he’s kept his word. Building from the goalie on out, collecting assets to be able to be in a position to trade for a great player (Richards) with a bountiful supply still in the minors. I could go on and on, but Deano in my opinion is almost in the last stages of filling in the holes for the cup run and the team is built to last. GKG
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:23 am
@Goring 19, Well said as usual. DL is the best GM we’ve ever had and there are only a hand full of other GMs I would want over DL. DL has done exactly as he said he would. I’m very happy with the King’s progress overall.
[Reply]
I’m feeling really good about a few of these players we drafted, I think we will be have another Quick in 3 years in our Goalie pic, and as far as the forawrds go Andreoff looks like the next Cliffy and Shore looks like our next Simmonds, it’s a good plan get deep with goalie’s first and d-men second, because they take the longest to mature hockey wise, more compicted, then you start developing Centers, and last wingers. As far as snipers, I think Vey, Tifolli, Kitsyn and Loktionov all have the abilty to fill those roles
[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
@Ravens, agreed. This Chris Gibson kid looks like a steal. I can’t believe he was available and he looks like a quality guy on and off the ice.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:27 am
@Goring 19, He was unbelievably articulate in his interview. He talked on the draft TV show set like he was talking to his parents in his living room. Unusally comfortable on the big stage for such a young kid. Most veterans I’ve seen on shows weren’t even close to as articulate.
[Reply]
PK Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:59 am
@KC23, Agreed. It takes a lot of mental strength and maturity to leave his country (Finland) at age 16 and move to a new continent. You know Hexy loves this kid.
The Kings got a KNOWN NHL player in Mike Richards. He’s an 80 point/season guy. All they had to give up was a minor leaguer in Brayden Schenn, who may or may not ever be a 80 point/season scorer, Wayne Simmonds, who I believe we already have that type of player in Kyle Clifford, and a draft pick.
In the past 6 months, the Kings have acquired a 60-70 point scorer in Penner and a 80-90 point guy in Richards and all they had to give up was 2 minor leaguers, 2 draft picks, and Wayne Simmonds. A nice piece of work, if you ask me!!!
[Reply]
gmo Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
@Steve,
agree with yoiu
[Reply]
edwood2 Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
@Steve, Well, yes and no. Richards played in the eastern conference, which is a whole different breed of cat. And Penner has yet to prove that he can show up every night. But based on statistics, you are correct.
[Reply]
#1faninvegas Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@Steve,
Well said! I agree! Like I mentioned, personal level, I am sad to see him go, but on a business standpoint, I am glad this trade happened. I read somewhere that Brayden Schenn was compared to Mike Richards. Well, we dont know that as of this time. So we got the next big thing. We got Richards on a healthy long contract. Love this trade!
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 7:48 am
@Steve, Now you’re just talking nonsense. M. Richards scored 80 points ONCE in his career three years ago. Never scored 90. Penner has averaged 47 points per year. Simmonds with Clifford on the 3rd line would have given the Kings the best 3rd line in the NHL.
[Reply]
Carlos Reply:
June 28th, 2011 at 11:57 am
@NOW IMPRESSED, Really? You mean better than the line (3rd, that is) Richard’s would have continued to play on in Philly? Come on, you guys are putting way too much stock in a guy’s potential. I tell you what, I’ll hand you an unscratched batch of 1,000 lottery tickets and you have me your winning one.
[Reply]
Simmonds was pretty useless last year.Sorry.DL made a good move dumping him.Kings are a far better team today then they were 3 days ago.Gibson is an interesting pick. One of our many goalies is gone soon. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Kings are Cup contenders as far as I’m concerned
[Reply]
@Dave, bull. The kings have quite a history. Just a history that doesn’t involve a cup, yet. But there’s more to having a good history and being a good club and winning the cup than just having a couple thirty year old banners on the wall. If winning a cup is all it really takes to make a “great organization” then I guess we’re a Mickey Mouse operation and the Quacks are world class?
Philly is NOT that good. They had a cinderella run at the finals, and they did it mostly by winning the key games during series where they were barely keeping up. Oh, and the clutch player who scored the goals that kept them alive on that run. Yeah. Schenn waved to him as their planes passed each other Thursday night.
We have Kopitar, who is arguably still 3-4 years away from his best seasons. We have Drew Doughty, who is so young that we can expect him to improve by leaps and bounds (which is insane). We’ve got top flight goaltending coming out our ears. Philly had to dump half their offense to get one goalie who is sort of on par with our current starter, except that bryzgalov is older and hasnt managed to do anything because he disappears in the playoffs.
We are far closer to a cup than Philly. Especially now that our second line center is ready today instead of four years from now.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 2:01 am
@Bill M., I totally agree with this, great post.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 6:41 am
@Bill M., Great post. You’re right about cups in the past don’t mean squat now (Oilers, Islanders). Vancouver, San Jose, Nashville and the Kings are four of the better organizations in the west right now and none of them have won a cup and half of them haven’t even been to the finals.
[Reply]
This is coming to you from the Great Salt Lake City. A place where life is a bit slower and our wives are many. Good to see us Bloggers are still alive and kicking during this off season. Noticed some new names on the site. New Kings Bloggers are great, but let us all keep our words clean. I do understand how some of you guys and gals don’t like the trade. That’s OK. When we lose a player like Simmonds, who by the way is a fan favorite, its only natural to hurt a little. He was a strong and proven player. He will be missed As far as the young kid goes, we don’t know how he’s going to turn out. He didn’t show much in the 9 games he played in last year. By the looks of his Jr career this kid will be good. In all sports young players come and go. Many of them fall by the way side. The kid hasn’t proven anything at either the AAA level or pro. He was picked top prospect. Key word being, Prospect. I do NOT think that we made a bad deal, but deal we did. Having a 30 goal scorer on a team who clearly needed more scoring last year is also the key here. Last year we had so many one goal games. It made for some great games to watch, but damn I was almost ready to kill over during the Madness of last year. If, and I mean IF, Penner can live up to his capabilities, Kopi recovers well, we continue to get great goal-tending, DD#8 plays the way he did during the playoffs, and our veteran core{Brown, Mitchell, Scuds, Greene, Williams, etc…} this trade for Richards will without a doubt make us a team to believe in. This is as close as we have been in a long time. We have the makings of a great team. We all should be excited about 2011-12. Tickets are hard to get in Lost Wages, oh Vegas. Hope to see many of you throughout the season Times are looking up for us. Hopefully we are on our way to not just looking up, but to lifting up The Cup. See all you fools At the MGM on Oct 1. Only 90+ days away!!!!!!!
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 6:55 am
@kinginsaltlake, Good post. Simmonds type players are a dime a dozen, very easy to replace. Scheen is an unknown quanity and I’d say the odds are less than 50/50 that he ends up being a player anywhere near what Mike Richards has already become. Then there is experience and what that is worth. Richards doesn’t just have playoff experience he’s got Stanly Cup playoff experience … as a captain.
We need PP skill. Scheen showed very little with his drink of coffee last year, Simmonds never plays on the PP. Richards is a flat out sniper on the PP. The Simmonds rarely plays on the PK and Scheen is unproven. Richards holds the NHL all time record for 3 on 5 shorthanded goals and he’s likely not even half way through his career. Regarded as one of the better PK in the league.
There is a small chance this could be a better deal for the Flyers in the long run, but don’t bet your life on it.
[Reply]
Bodoe Reply:
June 26th, 2011 at 8:11 am
@kinginsaltlake, Penner started to look more and more comfortable with Kopi as they kept playing with eachother. Like many have said before, Kopi is the type of player that makes others look good (remember his hail mary pass to brown?) and there is no reason (other than a lack of drive) that Penner can’t look good with Kopi. I’m convinced TM will loosen the reigns a little since a lot of our guys have become accustomed to responsible 2-way play and we will start seeing that puck in the net a lot more. Also, I liked the part of your post “…and our wives are many.” Good stuff
[Reply]
so sad that we lost simmer and schenn but i do think this is a trade were both teams won. we won right now and philly gets some future help
[Reply]
5 Days to re-sign Doughty… Let’s go Dean. Forget about Ryan Smyth for a few days.
[Reply]
This was not an ‘even’ trade. The Kings totally owned Philly here. I understand being amped about a guy’s potential, but I’ve never seen any young player that deserves the label “A Potential Mike Richards”. You can’t glean what Richards brings to the ice, because it’s a rare thing and nothing suggests it. If Schenn were a Richards, then he would be it now; otherwise, it’s all fantasy talk.
It’s tough to see Richards leave Philly, but, really, he’s gotta go to a team whose fans can’t appreciate what they got? I’m not talking about all of you, because a lot of your obviously get it, but some of your are delusional. This guy is hands down the best player you have now. You think Kopitar is a good? Wait till you watch the definition of a two-way player.
[Reply]