Handzus to San Jose (this time, really)

Posted by Rich Hammond on 1 July 2011, 5:18 pm

Contrary to previously published reports, Michal Handzus will not be going to Philadelphia. In fact, he will be staying in the Pacific Division, as the San Jose Sharks signed him to a two-year contract worth $2.5 million per season, according to TSN’s Gord Miller. The Kings’ other significant unrestricted free agent, Alexei Ponikarovsky, signed a one-year, $1.5-million deal with Carolina today.

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387 Comments

SaveByCechmanek says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:19 pm

…and his journey to the dark side is complete. See you in the playoffs!

[Reply]
NoDoughty Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@SaveByCechmanek, LOL

[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:11 pm
@SaveByCechmanek, He is good for the kings style of Hockey, but we have richards and Zus is gonna slow the sharks down! LOL

[Reply]
kingCow Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@rogiesbackup,

At least he’s not a Duck.

[Reply]
you da man rich Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:14 am
@kingCow, amen brother! It still stings tho

Christian T Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:39 am
@SaveByCechmanek, Handzus was one of my favorite players with the Kings. Yes he was slow and didn’t score many goals but he worked hard and played great defensively. Hopefully he made an impression on the current Kings making them better players.
I wish him all the best except when comes to any game affecting the Kings.

[Reply]
dabronx says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:19 pm

darn, not a Pacific div. team!

[Reply]
pautna Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:41 pm
@dabronx, agreed, not cool…

[Reply]
PRMan says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:19 pm

Good for him. He was great for us, but we don’t need him anymore.

[Reply]
jonsey Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@PRMan, He was terrible for us. He cost 4 million dollars a year and could not even keep up with Westgarth.

[Reply]
Eric Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@jonsey,

Who cares about the money… It didn’t come out of your wallet.

[Reply]
You da man rich! Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:36 pm
@Eric, go cheer for the ducks man! Zus was a staple for us!

you da man rich Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:18 am
@Eric, oops that was directed at jonsey. Apologies

Choralone Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@jonsey, But since he never played out of position his speed wasn’t such an issue.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:59 pm
@jonsey, You have got to be kidding, Zus helped us win so many games! Stats don’t tell the whole story…

[Reply]
Seattle757 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@jonsey, He was terrible? Dude the puck must have hit you in the head!

[Reply]
tullskull Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@jonsey, I can’t wait to see what you are blabbering about when he is matched up against Kopitar in the playoffs.

We will certainly have to disagree about what it takes to build a solid heart and soul warrior worthy team. It seems like you would rather watch fast and flashy. I suggest you become a Rangers fan.

Zeus has done as much as ANY player on this team to measure our success by.

THIS SUCKS!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
@tullskull, I agree, we will see the effects on PK and 5-5 verse some of the leagues elite. Zues was the center on the defensive stopper line verse opponents best line. I know Kopi has come a long way on D, and TM started using Kopi straight up verse the other teams 1st line more and more, but I think we will miss Zues verse the Sedins and others.

Puckn-A Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@tullskull, Ahahaha surely you gest. Handzus against Kopitar um Mclellen isn’t TM dude.

5 4 Fighting Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@tullskull,
I agree. Zues was good for the Kings. You knew what to expect from him.

von_swine Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@jonsey, agreed,..he and that lame hairdo were a waste of $4mil…that was too much for a dude to win a few faceoffs and dunk a couple s/o goals. adios Handy…

[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:27 pm
@von_swine, That mustache he grew was worth 4 million by itself!

EJ Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@jonsey, you do not have a clue.

[Reply]
Lexigirl Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@jonsey, not exactly sure what games you watched, or exactly what you use to judge efficacy. I’ll just stop there, no use debating the issue.

[Reply]
Pelli Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:09 pm
@jonsey, Agreed, Thankfully the days of losing the one on one battles are over. Lets send the Sharks some flowers.

[Reply]
Phillip Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@jonsey, You’ve got to be kidding…right ?? He was a fantastic penalty killer. He knew how to use his size and strength along the boards in the offesive zone, always in the right place, never a bad pass, good solid decision maker.If he was so “terrible” a top tier team like San Jose wouldnt be grabbing him up on the first day. Going to miss you Zeus..and so will the coaching staff and managment i’m sure.

[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@jonsey, We’ll also miss him as one of the shootout persons.

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Christian T Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:43 am
@jonsey, The money didn’t matter because his contract never kept us from signing anyone else. There is a reason teams like a player like Handzus and it has nothing to do with speed. If speed was all that matter Edmonton would be a contender. Handzus did his job everyday so in this case you might be blaming him for a lack of team speed and skill.

[Reply]
Bluecoconuts says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:20 pm

Cool, good to see the Kings learned their lesson last year, and didn’t put all their eggs into a basket this free agency.

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Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@Bluecoconuts,

Sarcasm duly noted.

[Reply]
Tony Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@Bluecoconuts, +1

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jonsey Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@Bluecoconuts, They traded for Richards which was better than any free agent signing today.

[Reply]
therope Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@jonsey, This^

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5thLine Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@therope, This^^

Alen Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@jonsey, They traded Schenn And Simmonds for Richards. They also lost roster players Handzus/Smyth/Poni. Considering the fact that Schenn would of been a roster player it looks like we gave up 5 roster players so far in the offseason and got 1 back in return. I’d say DL is losing.

[Reply]
Arthur Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm
@Alen, Finally, someone else has seen the light!

the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:15 pm
@Alen, So we’re not a better team than last year?

KingDoughnuts Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@Bluecoconuts, Agreed, seems like DL is on his stationary bicycle as all the contenders are loaning up and rumbling down the street.

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:48 pm
@Bluecoconuts, Where are their eggs?

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Christian T Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:44 am
@Bluecoconuts, Would you have signed any of the players that are gone for the money they got? I hope not. They were good but not at that price. I rather take the leftovers at a decent price than pay Cole or Leino what they got.

[Reply]
Ravens says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:20 pm

wow, thats certainly is awkward

[Reply]
KingCobra says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

We blew it, we should have kept Zus on our team. He did the little things!

[Reply]
Michael Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@KingCobra, and where would he have played if we kept him? we basically replaced him with richards, thats a great replacement if you ask me

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KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@Michael, 4th line center or playing wing on 3rd – winning face-offs, winning games for us in the shoot out, shutting big guys down, reaching that stick into the lane deflecting that shot – the list of the little things could go on. Mark my words we are going to miss Zusssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
McDonalds Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@KingCobra,

Sorry, but i don’t like the idea of paying a 4th line center 2.5 million dollars.

And more imoprtantly, Zus doesn’t want to be a 4th line guy, which is why he’s now a shark

Thanks Zus. Good luck!

jess Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@KingCobra,

–The little things -like baby steps down the ice? Wonder where they’re gonna park him @ san hoser. Literally

[Reply]
408kingsfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

I hate to see Zues go to the team I hate most in life.

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@408kingsfan, what i dont hate them more than i hate the Ducks..If he would of gone to the Ducks i would been laguhing my butt off

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@408kingsfan, AMEN brother! ANY other team would have been preferable! This really stinks

[Reply]
Zeley Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@tornado12,

I prefer sharks over canucks

[Reply]
jess Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:28 pm
@408kingsfan, yeah I’m hating the nucks way more

[Reply]
chase4123 says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

If Richards ends up signing with New York, do the Kings have a back up plan because the list of free agents is getting thinner then it already was to start……!

[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:27 pm
@chase4123,
Trade for Booth

[Reply]
chase4123 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@Pesus, Who would we give up? Florida doesn’t need to trade him. Especially after all they have done today.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@Pesus,

Or Malone. Gagne’s still unsigned as well.

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Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:59 pm
@Pesus, I d take Booth before I d take Richards based on the money that Richards will command. I ll be relieved once DD is locked up first and formost

[Reply]
mooymoney Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:41 pm
@chase4123, I would say chris Drury, kinda like zues but I think better.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@mooymoney, Drury is sick! but the guy is fragile as a China doll now. If we can get him cheap do it!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@chase4123, Thats the risk of contending for the best player available.

[Reply]
the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:18 pm
@chase4123, Gagne would be a good fit. I think he knows he’s taking a pay cut this year, could be a good value.

[Reply]
KH says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

Gonna miss Zus. Sucks he had to go to the sharks!

[Reply]
NoDoughty Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@KH, YUP

[Reply]
The Batman says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:22 pm

Enough though i did not want to see zues go………i guess we can look at the bright side in that our 2 slowest skaters belong to different teams now?

[Reply]
Brownkingsfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@The Batman, Wait, Penner got traded too??? When did THIS happen?!

[Reply]
Hadley Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Brownkingsfan, excellent post

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Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@Brownkingsfan, +1

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the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@Brownkingsfan, LOL I got excited too!

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@Brownkingsfan, Good one ha ha

[Reply]
Crownme87 says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:23 pm

Im going to miss Zus! Disappointed he went to a division rival.

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KingCobra says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:24 pm

I wonder how many shoot out games we are going to lose to Handzus next season??

[Reply]
LittleRhody Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@KingCobra, Not many with JQ between the pipes.

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puck73 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@LittleRhody, Zinnng !

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Timbo from Canada Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:02 pm
@KingCobra, Won’t be in as many shootouts next year with the look of the new team. We will be winning games without as many shootouts

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@Timbo from Canada, We need top six wingers, who and where are they????

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:51 pm
@Timbo from Canada, yep !

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Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@KingCobra, 0, if Quick or Stoll have any say. We also have more fire power to make up the difference with M.Richards.

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Ravens says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:25 pm

on the bright side it appears TB is out of the running for Richards, at least that what scources say Steve Yzerman says

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some fan says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Awesome. Sharks just got a lot slower.

[Reply]
The Batman Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@some fan, right? haha

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Pesus Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@some fan,
Love Zues for what he did here but I was thinking the same thing. All we have to do is win the faceoff.

[Reply]
Jefreyryan says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Hey guys this wasn’t a complete failure.. I mean we got a Richards.. And we got… Well let’s see we got richards and umm… We made a cool movie..

[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:29 pm
@Jefreyryan,

And 2 guys who no ome can remember their names. Hate to see Zeus go but I won’t wish him good luck since he went to the Guppies.

[Reply]
Jefreyryan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@DesertKing, how can you call yourself a kings fan forgetting Rod Bordsons name?? I’m ashamed of you.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:36 pm
@Jefreyryan,

Right, we still have Smitty on the wing and DD locked up……errr…..

[Reply]
JackKent Cooke says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

His agent performed some amazing sleight-of-Handzus.

[Reply]
iansez Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@JackKent Cooke, clunk.

[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:32 pm
@JackKent Cooke,

[Reply]
KingMe20 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:42 pm
@JackKent Cooke,

Where’s David Caruso and his sunglasses when you need him?

[Reply]
Dave says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

I wish Handzus went to a different team but there was no place for him on this roster, especially at the price SJ paid. he is now in the circle of hate.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@Dave, 1.2 million per year for Handzus is a bargain….

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@KingCobra, ooppps my bad thought it was 2.5 for 2 years. Yes, it is border over pay for the level he has slowed to….

[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@KingCobra,
Its 2.5 a year, too much imo

[Reply]
deadite77 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@KingCobra, But 2.5M per season is not a bargin

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@deadite77,You are right, still will miss the little things he did…..

Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@KingCobra, yes, $1.25 would have been about right. $2.5 borders on lunacy.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@Dave,

This free agent season is lunacy. Lots of overpaying going on.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@KingCobra, its ok what did we pay? 4 million a year for him?

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@Timmy tim tim, He played a lot better than Pony and the Fro money he got. And we are talking now and not then.

I just want to win!!! GKG!!

John Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@Timmy tim tim,

Yes, but that was when NOBODY would come here. We totally got big time value out of that contract!

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@John, Still NOBODY! wants to come here…. who have we signed out of free agency lately? everyone we get is drafted or traded and if its a free agent signing theyre either too old and want to retire or we over pay them

Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@Timmy tim tim,

Funny, the big UFA we signed a couple of years ago didnt even want to retire here. In fact we got screwed trading him so he could retire somewhere else.

Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@Timmy tim tim, DL overpaid but got his money’s worth in seasons 2 and 3 of his contract. Zus three years ago and Zus now are totally different players.

KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Timmy tim tim, I agree with Timmy – I was going to say something, but did not want to be negative… Justin and Jack signed back up. Golden State can’t be that bad guys! Come and sign with us and take over the world with the KINGS!… GKG

John Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@Timmy tim tim,

Ryan Smyth waived his NTC to come here. Willie Mitchell turned down more money to come here. Mike Richards waived his NTC to come. I’m sorry, you’re wrong.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Zues is a great player dont get me wrong. But before he came to LA I believe he had around 80 points (I could be wrong) with Philly. I still believe that there was a lot more in him and he could have had a better career. His highest in points in the 3 seasons with the kings is 45? Kind of a drop off to go from a point per game to a point every other game.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@John, Im sorry but your wrong. Mike Richards no trade clause didnt start till I believe next year and Willie Mitchell didnt get offered for more than a year from Vancouver thats why he didnt sign with them. Even Matt Greene was asked about each player and when he was asked about what comes to mind first about willie mitchell he said “He’s always thinking about money” And Ryan Symth was traded like I said earlier Im not too sure he had an ntc though because he was traded from edmonton before. Which Im sure we all remember because he let it be known how pissed he was about it.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@Vplaza, Who are you talking about?

KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@Timmy tim tim, John – M. Richards did not have the “No trade” option. It was not to kick in until July 2012.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@KingCobra, thats what i was saying

John Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Timmy tim tim,

Ok cool, I stand corrected about Richards NTC. But please, Mitchell had several offers, not just from Vancouver & did take less money to come here & Smyth did waive his NTC. But just go ahead & stay in your “Woe is Me & My Kings/DL Sucks/Nobody Wants to Come Here” mode all you want, my friend. The fact is, we are on the rise!

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:58 pm
@John, Im a kings fan as well sorry for not thinking that the team I love the most has never made a mistake. I’m just going to be really bummed if DL does the same this year as he did last year where he shows all of his attention to one player and then that player doesnt sign. Also I think Boston showed the world about how depth wins championships in hockey. Especially with Flordia…. YES FLORDIA signing a lot of good players who are all saying they want to win. We have a solid core already I think those players would have paid attention if DL gave them attention.

Arthur Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@John, They have less talent up front then they did 2 years ago, no question.
zdfun says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

The playoff series between SJ and LAK earns him a contract.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@zdfun, Yea, with San Jose.

[Reply]
C-Note20 says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Sad to see you go Zues, I wish you well.

Well the Guppies just got faster !!

[Reply]
OnTheFly Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@C-Note20, Well one thing is for-sure…Their PK just got better..

[Reply]
C-Note20 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@OnTheFly, true that and face offs

[Reply]
KingsFanInPortland says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:26 pm

quick is one of the best shootout goalies in the league, so id say not much cobra.

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@KingsFanInPortland, I think Stoll also helps

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Ladies and gentlemen, Michal Handzus is trending on Twitter. Hell hath frosted over.

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:07 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, I tried to pick up his posts but my computer started to slow down as if had dial up!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:03 pm
@Ravens, LOL! that was the funniest thing I’ve read all day (and I’ve been crackin jokes all day long).

[Reply]
Cynic says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Good luck Zeus! When you retire, I hope you will consider coming back to the Kings as a coach or advisor of some sort. Your knowledge of the game would make us better.

Good luck in SJ. Keep your head up!

2.5M was too much for us to pay. 1.75M and we should keep him. Glad he got more somewhere else.

[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@Cynic, I wish him luck as a class act, but $2.5M per for his limited skills now is Exhibit A that hockey has lost its mind.

[Reply]
puck73 says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Thanx for everything Michael Hadzus, you did all the little things, the fine details so well, and you brought leadership to a young team , Good Luck except vs Kings ! lol

[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@puck73, Good post.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
@puck73,
Agreed. I also find it curious that most who thank him, also feel the need to justify why we didn’t keep him. Almost the exact same thing people did with Sean O’Donnell. San Jose, you guys just picked up a warrior. A veteran who was intellegent enough to be in the right place at the right time, and always gave 100%. Zues, you will be missed.

[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:39 pm
@puck73, After saying “Best Wishes” to my St. Louis friends, I’ve learned to offer “@nd Best Wishes” to departiong players!

[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
@puck73, good post. I feel the same way. Gonna miss the PK and shoot out. Indifferent about the face offs, but good luck Zeus (only to you not your new team)

[Reply]
broncokings says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

I’ll miss him but there’s some more money available

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@broncokings, Time to spend some it, before everyone is signed!!

[Reply]
Telos says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:33 pm

Completely deserved. Good like to Zeus.

[Reply]
colo king fan says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:35 pm

Was always a stalwart defender of the Zus… but now, well sorry buddy, but that sweater conjures up only disdain from me.

[Reply]
jennifer says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:35 pm

I will miss ZUES! He did so many things, a big piece to the puzzle and a great Veteran to lead the team Wish he could be here when we kiss the cup!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:12 pm
@jennifer, Nice!

[Reply]
SLIM says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:36 pm

Well it could of been the Dux I suppose…or Nux…
Wait till he scores on us while trying to make playoffs
in the last double header of the season…
Not happy about this team choice..Now he’s the enemy..

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:37 pm

oh wow LOL slow them down yes go Handzus

[Reply]
Vplaza says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Sharks fans seem pleased with his signing.

[Reply]
KFII says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Oh man gag me! I would of been happy for him if he went anywhere but there! Now I will not even be able to root for him. (It’s a family rival thing). Maybe they’ll trade him. I can only hope. I really have a lot of respect for him. Good bye Zues, thanks for all your hard work while with the Kings.

[Reply]
Dave says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:39 pm

now the Poni deal is one of the better signings i have seen. $1.5M would have been worth a shot – he knows the system and is a good penalty killer and he probably would have more chemistry with Stoll than he did with Handzus.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@Dave,

Agreed. Don’t see why so many here are so anti-Poni. He helped the PK, which was a liability the year before.

[Reply]
jonjon Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@Vplaza, because he cost 3.4 million and scored 4 goals, thats why everyone is anti-poni. team is better off without him.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@jonjon,

I would’ve liked to see him score more goals, but without him, the PK was average. IIRC, when he got injured, it wasn’t as good.

Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@jonjon,
No making anyone happy. We replaced Frolov, who scored 51 points, and now we get rid of Poni for not scoring enough (for the same money).

Next we should fire Poni’s replacement for skating too fast, so that the next year we can get a guy who’s too slow.

Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:55 pm
@jonjon, Thankyou

rontheking Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:59 pm
@Dave, I agree. I wonder if the Kings would have matched that…1.5 mill seems like a pretty good deal for Poni…or at least not a bad deal at all.

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@rontheking, considering the crazy money that was handed out today i think the Poni deal was a good one. Joel Ward got twice the money per year for 4 years and he scored 10 goals.

i am more and more convinced that DL has a simple plan.

1. try and sign Richards and deal with whatever consequences (salary dumps) if necessary
2. make a trade for an impact player with all the accumulated assets
3. Parse is definitely in the plans for next year either as LW2 or RW3.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@Dave, So glad this guy is gone, he was an empty jersey on the ice.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:07 pm
@Dave, Why would he chose to play under Terry Murray again? He got benched for not scoring enough goals immediatly after scoring a goal in the previous playoff game. Plus Clifford is ready to take his spot on the 3rd line LW.

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@CB14, i understand why they didn’t sign him – whether Poni didn’t want to come back or that DL thought there wasn’t room. i’m just saying the deal he signed wasn’t bad, especially compared to what similar 3rd/4th line guys got today.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:26 pm
@Dave, Yeah, his contract is nothing compared to what guys like Leino and Cole got. I don’t see DL going after Gagne if we don’t get Richards because he’ll probably command 5 years at 5 million plus per year.
KingsFanInPortland says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:39 pm

NYP_Brooksie Larry Brooks
Source: Kings enlisted Wayne Gretzky to help sell Richards on merits of playing in LA.

[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:07 pm
@KingsFanInPortland,

Free pair of skechers if he signs.

[Reply]
DLB Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@DesertKing, no LA Gear?!

[Reply]
the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:28 pm
@DesertKing, Lol. COMEBACK!!!

[Reply]
Scott in Temecula says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:41 pm

Zus is still a outstanding hockey player. He does what it takes to win each shift. He was on the ice for the start of every 3 on 5 the Kings had this year (with mostly Doughty and Scuderi) that says a lot of what he brought to the team. Sad to see him go to one of the two teams that make it diffiuclt to pull for him but I do wish him the best.

[Reply]
Choralone Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@Scott in Temecula, Zeus was and is a beast – probably my favorite King. At least he didn’t end up with Anaheim or Vancouver. Thanks, Zeus, for the heart and soul you left on the ice for the Kings every night.

[Reply]
Chris~ says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:43 pm

This sholud have been done sooner!

[Reply]
Chris~ Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@Chris~, *Should*

[Reply]
Stonewall says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:44 pm

Damn. Now I can’t even wish him Good Luck!

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Good news for us If we get rid of Handzus our team got alot faster and be like the Canucks what they did to the Shakrs on their series and they wont be able to catch up to us haahaha

Go Handzus Go!!! he still working for the Kings but undercover ahahahahaha

[Reply]
LuckyNumber20 says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:53 pm

All the Best Zeus! You were a workhorse for us these past 4 years, hope you play well in SJ and the other players regress badly.

[Reply]
Lilly says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:54 pm

So it’s July again and we’ve signed Mike Richards but lost Zus, Poni, Smyth, Simmonds and Schenn, haven’t signed any of our RFA’s, haven’t signed any UFA’s, got suckered into taking an injured 4th liner and are waiting (cue Jeopardy music) to see if the top UFA picks us. Sigh.

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@Lilly, yup sounds like a good plan i agree lol

[Reply]
punkgothdoc Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@Lilly,
I was just about to say the same thing.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Lilly,

But we got Bordson…..

[Reply]
Caleb C Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:02 pm
@Vplaza,

better than brule

[Reply]
LuckyNumber20 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Lilly, I know right, great day for us in free agency. No sarcasm intended.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@Lilly,
It’s not over. We’ve free’d up a lot of capspace, and only have 2 really pressing needs in the line up. Parse isn’t such a bad option if we have to go there, and the #2 line is stronger than last season (even with Parse). There is enough money to sign a 2nd line left wing, and a 3rd line right wing, and moving Stoll to the #3 center gives us a more stable 3rd line with speed. Even though we’re still looking for a couple of wingers, we’re not that far off. RFA’s will sign soon, and DD will be a King.

Your assessments seem to suggest panic, but lets see where we are at the end of the month, not the first day.

[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@Dominick, And didn’t we lock JJ up ahead of schedule for a few years?

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:53 pm
@mcsorleyfan,
Good to see you post. How is the recovery coming along. 100% yet?
Andy says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:57 pm

How serious can the Kings be about signing Brad Richards? After all, he never played for the Flyers.

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@Andy, I know, he wasn’t even brought up in the sharks system

[Reply]
jess Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:34 pm
@Andy, haha

[Reply]
Vplaza says:

July 1, 2011 at 5:59 pm

If they don’t sign BR, what’s plan b? Bring up the kids to fill roster spots and hope they do well enough? And if they don’t sign DD, what’s plan c?

[Reply]
punkgothdoc Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:01 pm
@Vplaza,

This what they did with Kovalchuck. Put all eggs in one basket while all the good signable players got eaten up…In the end we end up with nothing.

[Reply]
LuckyNumber20 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@punkgothdoc, If we got other player who were availible we wouldve ended up with nothing still, and broke too.

[Reply]
rabidhockeyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@punkgothdoc, I’m really starting to hate July 1st! Year after year I spend the day checking every site that I can think of to get some news! Every year I feel the same disappointment. But then the next year I come back with optimism that we’re going to do something that will help us to get the next step. Yes the Richards deal helps us, but now we have more holes! I just hope that we don’t have a summer like last year!

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@rabidhockeyfan,

Wait till DD goes to another team, then you’ll really hate July 1.
408kingsfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Now the Sharks can kill penalties this is bad!

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@408kingsfan, one guy doesnt really make it different really he a good PK but doesnt mean they going to be number 1 on PK

[Reply]
DLB Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@408kingsfan, they might go from 12th to 10th at PKing in the playoffs!

[Reply]
CB14 says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:02 pm

Stevie Y says Tampa’s out of the Richards race, leaving us as the only team that fits the criteria of having a chance to win the cup soon among the known Richards suitors, (Toronto, New York and LA are the 3 teams mentioned the most). Unless there is a mystery team we don’t know about. I like our chances of signing him if winning a cup is more important to Brad than just money.

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:12 pm
@CB14, I think any hockey expert could tell him LA gives him the best chance at his age to win a cup

[Reply]
TheRussianKing Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@Ravens, Calgary is a big player in the race. Read Bob McKenzie’s twitter. He’s on top of his game.

[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@TheRussianKing, Feh, Canadian press bias

CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@Ravens, I hope they are. I keep hearing reports that Calgary is in the mix too, but I hope Brad realizes how old their key players are. Iginla and Kiprusoff aren’t getting any younger. Plus they didn’t even make the playoffs, while we did, and we added Mike Richards too. Brad if you’re reading this, don’t go to Calgary.

[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@CB14, Good point dude!

[Reply]
bbb7 says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:02 pm

I cant believe the Rangers are the ‘frontrunners’. Looking at their signed roster, I dont see them contending for the cup anytime soon, which was supposed to be one of Richard’s conditions.

[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@bbb7,

From what others are saying it is all about the benjamins.

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@bbb7,

Why don’t you $ee the Ranger$ a$ frontrunner$? It $eem$ obviou$. The $tanley Cup i$ within hi$ reach if he join$ them.

[Reply]
KingsFanInPortland Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Vplaza, broken S key?

[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@Vplaza, LOL I’m getting some sort of $ubliminal me$$age from your post.

[Reply]
Jim S. Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:28 pm
@ Vplaza,

Great post! Made me laugh!

[Reply]
Lilly Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@bbb7, I wonder where Brad stood on Sean Avery’s days with the Stars

[Reply]
Caleb C says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:03 pm

I dont care guys. Ill hate the Sharks while we play them but if its not us against them then I like them over anyone else.

[Reply]
jonsey Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@Caleb C, I can’t. I always want SJS and VAN to lose. No matter what.

[Reply]
Caleb C Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@jonsey,

I have VAN. but its more of a proximity thing. and Im definitely not going to say go Ducks haha

[Reply]
Caleb C Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@jonsey,

Hate*

[Reply]
408kingsfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@Caleb C, I guess your entitled to your own opinion as bad as it is

[Reply]
Kingsfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:08 pm

WE lost 4 big bodies..that’s going to be hard to replace…

Wayne Simmonds
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 183

Ryan Smyth
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 189

Alexei Ponikarovsky
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 229

Michal Handzus
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 216

Replacement with:

Mike Richards
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195

Possibly………………..

Bred Richards
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 196

WE NEED SIZE …WE CAN’T COMPETE AGAINST BIG SAN JOSE TEAM IN PLAYOFFS………..

JUST TO STAY PHYSICAL ENOUGH TO HAVE A CHANCE.. in the West

WE NEED TO GET AT LEAST:

Ryan Malone from TAMPA BAY
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 220

for

Oscar Moller
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 186

Thomas Hickey
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 190

or something like that….

that’s my two cents

[Reply]
Vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@Kingsfan,

One could argue that three of those bodies were slow. Maybe he kings are going for speed?

[Reply]
Munchrat Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:12 pm
@Kingsfan, WRONG. Size is overrated. (just ask your wife)

What we really need more of is speed.

[Reply]
Kingsfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@Munchrat, JUST ASK “MONTREAL CANADIES” WHAT THEY NEED

…….SIZE……..

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
@Munchrat, Cool it rat

[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@Munchrat, overrated or overstated?

[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@Kingsfan,

Penner, Kopitar , Brown , Williams , Richards ( plays big ), are all big bodys. Not to mention Clifford and Westgarth. Were fine.

[Reply]
Gary Livingston Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:28 pm
@Kingsfan, Watch some of Mike Richards highlight hits. He isn’t small at all with the way he throws people around.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:32 pm
@Kingsfan, Funny, all the game winning goals the big Sharks scored came on end to end rushes in which our forwards weren’t fast enough to catch up to them. The only BIG players San Jose has are Thornton, who Kopi shuts down defensivly, and Ryan Clowe, who Clifford can handle. Everyone else on San Jose is fast, (Marleau, Couture, Heatley). Not to mention speed guys like Datsyuk, Sedin sisters, Toews, Kane, and Sharp. The way the Kings are situated is perfect, Kopi can handle the big centers like Getzlaf and Thornton, while Mike Richards takes the smaller faster centers like Logan Couture and Pavel Datsyuk. Kopi and M Richards are a perfect fit because they both are great defensivly, yet they both go about it different ways. Kopi uses his size and positions himself well to use his long reach, while Richards uses his speed and quickness along with his physical style of play to shut down other teams top centers. They will be great together.

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Kingsfan, Handzus was never physical. I never once saw Zeus flatten someone with a big hit or crush someone off a puck. Mike Richards on the other hand, flat out destroys people and he’s five inches smaller, so what does that say? I’ll take that trade off any day.

[Reply]
jess Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:38 pm
@PP Anybody?, nice

[Reply]
Peter90210 says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:09 pm

We’ll miss you Michael. For all the intangibles…. the amazing defense, the face off’s, the shootouts…. you were special and I’m glad you’re still able to play for a few more years. Anytime you’re in town, I’d be happy to buy you a drink.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@Peter90210, I would too, but only if it’s the night before you play the Kings, and the drink is Absenth.

[Reply]
Munchrat says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:10 pm

Zus was a good King but too old to bring it regularly.

Porno just plain sucked.

[Reply]
WinOrLoseKings4ever says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:15 pm

Really sad to see Zus go. He may not have been a Kopitar but he played his heart out every night. Even though he wasn’t some big goal scorer, her did a lot of small things for the team that in my opinion helped us out a lot. The worst part of it? He went to the Sharks. I would have rather had him go to Philly.

You will truly be missed in LA. Thanks for everything you did for us. Can’t wait to kick you team’s ass soon.

[Reply]
WinOrLoseKings4ever Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@WinOrLoseKings4ever,

BTW I will still chant ZUS everytime I see him on the ice. Love that guy. Really wish we could’ve kept him for another year.

[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@WinOrLoseKings4ever, +1 yeah me too…

[Reply]
crashin' da net says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Man!!!! Death of a thousand cuts here. Deano, you lost plans B thru M!!! Next stop – Gagne and we do NOT want that! Up the ante for Richards already!!!! We’re beginning to think you’re dog-n-poni (:)) offers are all for show and just increasing the bonuses. Stop fiddling around so we can enjoy the weekend!!!

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@crashin’ da net, Tuuuushhayyyyy

[Reply]
Gary Livingston says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm

I understand wanting Dean to do something today but, why does there need to be a back up plan?

Has Dean made the Kings a better team than we were last year? Yes.

What’s the problem some of you seem to have?

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@Gary Livingston, We got Mike Richards (Stoked! great player – amazing addition) We lost Zus, Simmer, Ryan Smyth. You actually think we are where we need to be at this moment???

[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@KingCobra, absolutely. That being said DL is trying to upgrade talent at a position, if he can’t through free agency it can be addressed through other options. It is obvious though there wasn’t anything else in the free agent pool that really spark much interest to him besides BR.

[Reply]
Gary Livingston Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@KingCobra, Parse takes the LW2 spot as planned last year (but didn’t happen due to injury) and that leaves the RW3 spot open with Simmonds going.

Zues is replaced by Stoll who is replaced by Mike Richards.

Then, Lewis and Richardson share their usual C4 duties.

The only spot we really don’t have filled in right now is RW3. But, that could be filled by a rookie or Richardson moves up to the third line and the rookie gets fourth line duties.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
@Gary Livingston, If, maybe, will see…..

Osaka Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@Gary Livingston, I will agree with you here. No need to add player that are no better than the ones we let walk. He is looking for an upgrade at a position not just a warm body.

[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@Gary Livingston,

How is it currently better than last year right now? DD is not signed. We got M. Richards but need to replace Simmonds, Smyth, Zeus, and Poni. We need to see what the alternative plan is before we can say they’re better.

[Reply]
Gary Livingston Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@vplaza, See above.

And, worrying about Drew is silly. Just like worrying about Stamkos is silly. What’s the rush? There is none. And, who would poach them, realistically?

[Reply]
Cortex949 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@Gary Livingston, I agree. If he signs mid level talent, everyone says “damn you! Stop playing around and go after the big talent we need to push us over the top!” and if he goes after the talent everyone says “everyone else is slipping away while you waste your time trying to land the big fish!”. You can’t have it both ways. And you certainly can’t sign these “backup plan” players and still go after the big fish. I fully support our effort for b-rich and if we don’t get him, so be it. We improved our offense a HUGE level with m-rich and we should all be impressed DL pulled that one out of his hat.

[Reply]
crashin' da net Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@Cortex949, The good mid-talent UFA’s are gone. We have the cash. My preference was to pay for 2 good mid-level talent guys. Instead we are chasing an extremely overpaid guy which I say (knowing Deano) we are not gonna get. When Brad goes somewhere else, I seriously hope Deano does not drop huge bucks on Gagne!

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
@Gary Livingston, Adding M. Richards was a bonus, but overall, this team has lost scoring depth, which is the one thing it desperately needs. Anyone thinking that Parse, Richardson, Clifford, or Lewis are going to suddenly score 20 plus goals a season is stretching their imagination. Is it possible if the stars align? Yes, but I wouldn’t bank on that as a team trying to contend this year, if that is the intention.

The concern is that we still need depth. We don’t need maybes this year, we need some people we can actually count on. This is starting to look like last year, when Deano passed on everything else while chasing after Kovi, and had no Plan B, C, or D. There wasn’t that much out there this year, but I’d still take an Upshall over a Parse anyday. I thought that was Dean’s plan anyway. They made it seemed that they made their big move, and they just needed to flush the rest of the line up out with some mid level guys, and I thought that was a solid plan. Now it’s not there, and frankly, LA doesn’t have a strong history of luring the big fish in the prime of their career so from the outside it doesn’t seem like a good decision to have gone all in on B. Richie. If we get him, than it all works out and everything’s great. We’ll have a real solid top 6 then. If not, well, then I guess we’ll just see if Parse can score 20 goals with Terry Murray leaning over his shoulder on the bench telling him if he doesn’t back check harder, then he won’t get any ice time…

[Reply]
crashin' da net Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:44 pm
@PP Anybody?, gospel.

[Reply]
tellmeY says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:23 pm

all i know is i love zeus. I was at the boston game in boston and when we went into sudden death shoot out and zeus came up the drunk boston fan next to me mouthing off was able to hear me say “it’s over now buddy”…and sure enought zeus to the rescue….:-(

[Reply]
Neal says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Guys, We will miss Zeus… all about character and great team play. All the best in SJ! I am not looking forward to seeing you in the playoffs

[Reply]
vindogla says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:24 pm

It looks like we’ll be seeing more of the kids playing next year.

LW? RW?

M Richards takes the place of Stoll and Stoll takes the place of Handzus pretty much except with more speed and scoring although the team will miss the intangible elements Zeus brought to the room and on the ice.

If, by some chance we sign B Richards then everything changes for Kings fans.

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@vindogla, Good Points..

[Reply]
SoCalHockey says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Way to go Zues. Prove to everyone you still got game.

[Reply]
Gmo says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Nothing from the Kings yet? Wow. This silence could be good or bad

[Reply]
Eric K says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Suddenly, McKenzie and Dreger won’t shut up about the Flames’ offer. McKenzie pegs their likelihood of landing Richards as second to NY’s. Ugh, Brad, just pick the best team. Seriously.

[Reply]
Klong Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@Eric K,

That’s just the bias of the Canadian press. The Kings would manhandle any Canadian team save the Canucks right now, as the King’s roster is currently constructed. Screw TSN, they are worse than ESPN is with its east coast bias.

If Richards is truly looking at which teams would allow him the chance to win now and into the future, the LA KINGS are his best shot out of the teams still left looking at him. That my friends, is FACT.

[Reply]
pesus Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:05 pm
@Klong,
Its hard to disagree with you. Didnt we say the same thing last year with kovalcrap?

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@pesus, Yeah, and look what was more important in the end.

Jamesonafterawin Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 11:13 pm
@Klong, I remember the Kings getting walluped by the Flames and the Habs last season. O wait, they also lost to Ottawa! And what, what did Vancouver do exactly! Peace.

Brad to NY.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Eric K, That is laughable. Calgary. Yeah, right.

[Reply]
Ravens says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

can’t play Loktionov next season, we can’t afford to put any smallish players out there, we have lost a lot of size and grit, if any Manchester’s make it up to the team it might need to be some of the bigger forwards like Holloway or King…I sure hope King works on his skating this off season

[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Ravens, Why wouldn’t the Kings be able to play Loktionov?

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@Ravens, sorry worded it wrong, I should have said shouldn’t, in my opinion, which don’t mean s*^t, not even in my house, we have gotten considerably smaller up front, when looking at the playoffs, recent and past, it’s much better to have more size to wear down the opposition over a long playoff series, we’re starting to get the speed and skill but have lost size, it would be nice to get it back from Manchester

[Reply]
rabidhockeyfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:41 pm

TSN’s Mckenzie is putting the Rangers and Calagary as the most likely choices for Richards over LA and Toronto. I know he isn’t on the inside, but I’m just worried that this is ground hog day all over again.

[Reply]
rabidhockeyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, Trying to stay optimistic though! Go Kings Go!!!

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, it will be ground hog day once we hear Gagne is gone…then we should get nervous. Seems like all the teams we would have traded Bernie for a good winger, have all shored up their GT’s, it’s getting thin, I hope DL has some inside knowledge on either Gagne or BR

[Reply]
rabidhockeyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:47 pm
@Ravens, I also hope management knows that first round and out is not acceptable for the Kings anymore! They must be aggressive to shore up our holes. Not stupid, but status quo is not enough and M Richards (deal that I love) only fixes some of the problems. Losing Simmer and Zues is going to be a problem without some replacements.

[Reply]
the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:38 pm
@Ravens, Couldn’t agree more. I hope the Kings are talking to Gagne at the time. If they put all focus on Richards, and lose them both, it will be a huge missed opportunity. Gagne would be a great fit in the 2nd LW spot. He would probably get a first line look if Penns doesn’t improve.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:47 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, Calgary … not buying that one.

[Reply]
rabidhockeyfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@KC23, I find it hard to believe too, by Mckenzie thinks it is a real good fit, and that there is a good relationship there between Richards and a key Calagary person in management (can’t remember the name).

[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, The fit might be okay but Calfgary is hard up against the cap. if they sign Staios and Babchuk for like $3M combiner per (to get up to 7 signed D) they only have about $3.3M of space and practically all their forwards have no-trade clauses. Not sure how they’d dump another $5M and still be able to have a full 23-man roster.

KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@rabidhockeyfan, I’d say Brad is using Calgary just like NJ used us last year going for Kolvabucks.

CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:59 pm
@KC23, The only reason for Brad Richards to go to Calgary is money. Iginla and Kipursoff are both 34, and guys like Tanguay, Jokinen, and Langkow aren’t exactly kids anymore. Then again, never underestimate the power of the almighty dollar.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:02 pm
@CB14, I can honestly say, if I was Brad I would go to the Kings. Plenty enough money and will likely be a winning team for the next several seasons in a row.

KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@CB14, Beach house in Malibu or the paradise destination Calgary. Tough choice……

CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@KC23, I agree with you that the Kings are where I would go as well. And like you I’m not saying that just because I’m a Kings fan.

@KingCobra, I’m with you man, but he could have some Ryan Smyth in him. Believe it or not but some of these guys prefer cold Canadian winters over sunny 75 degree LA winters. I don’t get it either. Lets hope that Brad wnats to continue living and playing in warm climates. I know he loves playing golf, and you can’t exactly do that in Toronto, New York, or Calgary in January. So we got that goin for us, which is nice.

Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@CB14,
The New York Islanders showed up un announced at the Kovalschmuck party, then made a hasty retreat. I suspect Calgary is doing the same. Just run it up the flag pole, and see who salutes it.
805kings says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

Calgary a contender for Richards according to tsn. GM Jay Feaster was with Tampa when Brad was there. On side note Gagne,Conolly, and a wild card in anti miettenen are still options. Miettenen had close to same points as Gagne and is good two way player from what I remember. We really need one top six,the bottom six are easy to fill with prospects.

?,Kopitar,Williams
Penner,Richards,Brown,

That still leaves us with Parse,Richardson,Stoll,Lewis,Clifford,Loktionov,Westgarth.Add in Clune,Cliche,Holloway among others and we are in pretty good shape.I can see why DL would go all in with Brad and wait and see what happens before anything else goes down.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@805kings, Yeah, especially when you consider how high those mid level FA have been going for. Just not worth it.

[Reply]
805kings Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@KC23, Exactly.Another option is Mike Richards on wing with Kopi and Williams. He’s done it before.

M.Richards,Kopi,Williams
Penner,Stoll,Brown

Thats still a pretty good top six.I really like the way DL has built up this team.I would rather wait then just throw a bunch of money at someone just for the sake of doing so.We need a big gun and thats first and foremost.I think Penner is a huge key this year,and even bigger key if we don’t land Richards.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@805kings, I think DL would rather try Parse at 2nd LW before moving M Richards over there. The whole reason he got Richards was to upgrade the Center position.

KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@805kings, Kings “go all in” I wish……

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:02 pm
@805kings, I would really like to see dustin brown as a 3rd line winger…. I know he wouldnt want to go down but it would give us a solid chance with depth and I dont think he would make a big fuss about it because he is a team player and Ive never heard him whine about anything really.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@Timmy tim tim, I’ve thought that for years, but he did impress me a lot last season with Kopitar. He stepped up.

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:39 pm
@KC23, I agree he did have a good year last year. I just think if hes a 2nd line winger he’ll play amazing with mike richards…. Them two forechecking would make coaches and scouts stay up late at night because they wont want their best players getting hit by them…. its just leaves us back to who else will play with them? I think Kyle Clifford. All year he played on the lower lines then got a chance to step up when kopi went down. Also the biggest thing is he’ll drop the gloves because mike richards will only do that a handful of times during the season and dbrown wont. Richards and brown will piss off a lot of people and they need a heavy wieght to play with them

colo king fan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@Timmy tim tim, Brown / M. Richards (see how I put the “M” there, that’s what we in the “wishful thinking business” call “wishful thinking”) / Penner is a beast line… thats a line you do not p*** off, there.

[Reply]
the_guv Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:43 pm
@colo king fan, No question. It sounds mean, and I like it a lot.

PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:41 pm
@805kings, You just mentioned every average, expendable player on the Kings. I would trade out any one of those guys for Leino, Cole, Upshall, Kennedy, Ward, or Jokinen.

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@PP Anybody?, except for Cliffy, he’s a keepr.

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim says:

July 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm

I believe theyre thinking that Brandon Kozun and Tyler Toffoli are going to get a few games in the show. Also does anyone else know if its true that DD is going to hold out because of his best friend/roommate being traded? If he holds out and doesnt resign then what could happen?

[Reply]
408kingsfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@Timmy tim tim, We let him go

[Reply]
KingCobra Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@Timmy tim tim, I hope Mike Richards setting DD up with a one timer slap shot goal will start the healing process. This is business, hope Drew knows that. We will miss the Simmer, but the trade was just what we needed. NOW SIGN the other Richards!!!!

[Reply]
Alen says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm

DL is a loser on July 1st once again(and the offeseason so far as a whole) unless he signs Brad Richards. Yes I know we got Mike Richards but think about it.

We lost Roster players
1.Simmonds
2. Smyth
3. Poni
4. Handzus
5. Schenn ( who would of been a roster player)

and we’ve earned
1. Mike Richards

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:45 pm
@Alen, I bet Loktionov and scott parse will be big contributors next year….when parse was playing with kopitar he was gettting at least a point a game and loki needs some game experience and he’ll be doing just fine on that team

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@Timmy tim tim, I don’t really see them being much of a factor next year.

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@Timmy tim tim, Loki needs to play center not wing it you could see that last season.

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:45 am
@Roger, why? First line kopi centering second line (mike) richards centering and third line stoll centering? Fourth lines arent really meant for putting up points. I honestly think and I meant get torn apart for saying this but I think in 2 years Loki’s going to be WAY better than Poni)…..Honestly any guy at that level can play forward if your talking third or fourth line caliber you can put them wherever all they need is time and theyll get it

crashin' da net Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:46 pm
@Alen, and cash leftover (for the new stadium).

[Reply]
Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:56 pm
@crashin’ da net, Why would we want a new stadium? For who the dodgers or the football team that we dont have?

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:17 pm
@Timmy tim tim, The Football team that AEG wants.

Timmy tim tim Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:50 am
@CB14, Yes they want is the keyword. the nfl wont give it to LA though…. They saw what happened with two teams (Rams and Raiders) and they know how everyone in LA is diverse already with their (NFL) teams and most importantly they dont want to see things happen like they saw with the dodgers fans beating up the giants fans….. No NFL in LA for awhile I’m sorry.

colo king fan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:30 pm
@Alen, I’d rather have Mike Richards, a shot at Brad Richards, and a ton of cap space than all 5 guys on that list (with the possible exception of Schenn but who the **** knows really, it’s all speculation til they start comparing him to 99). Would you have honestly rather seen him sign Leino to 27 over 6? Thank God you aren’t our GM. I find it hilarious you put Ponikarovsky on that list, LOL!

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm

From TweetVille:

Calgary is getting a lot of pub..for good reason, but NYR, LA and Toronto are still very much in the mix.
DarrenDreger 7 mins

[Reply]
Kluka68 says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

I can say only : Good bye our third line !

[Reply]
Who Knows? says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:08 pm

::Breaking News:: Doughty to sign tomorrow.

Source: My demented head.

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@Who Knows?, I have the same source…well I should say…sources!

[Reply]
Who Knows? says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:17 pm

I think offering Richards a life time supply of lobster might be a deal breaker here.

http://yfrog.com/kjepxuj
I got that from BR Twitter.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Who Knows?, We don’t exactly have a lot of Lobster off the LA coast. I’ve got it! I’m in for a hundread dollar gift certificate to Red Lobster, how about you guys? That would work, right?

[Reply]
PP Anybody? says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:17 pm

So with Leino gone, Fleischman gone, Upshall gone, Kennedy gone, Ward gone, Cole gone, Jokinen gone, where does that leave us if Gagne goes to Toronto and Richards signs in NY?

[Reply]
David V Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
@PP Anybody?, It leaves us with us, LA Kings fans As usual.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@David V, I got you Babe. LOL

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@PP Anybody?, if leaves us better than we were last year and with a ton of assets to make a trade if DL sees fit.

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@Dave, I disagree.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:39 pm
@PP Anybody?, Then again. Of all the teams that went out and got what we need … which one would you rather have. The Kings as they are now or that team?

[Reply]
Ravens says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:22 pm

has anyone seen the South Park episode where they go into the world of Warcraft video game and try to knock of the guys who is the champ? the one where they start eating hot pockets and start getting fat and full of zits from sitting at the computer too long?….well it’s like that, thank Richards-chuks

[Reply]
408kingsfan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@Ravens, Yeah I can actually hear myself getting fatter right now

[Reply]
Subby says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:23 pm

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/free-agent-brad-richards-declines-offer-to-return-to-tampa-bay-lightning/1178369

We show Kobe in a video? xD
Lightning is a no
We offered 6.5??
Gange may return to philly.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:36 pm
@Subby, But we don’t know how front-loaded the 6.5MM is. He could make 24MM in the first two years.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@Subby,
The article confirms my suspicions in a good way. If the Kings offer is close, money won’t be the deciding factor. The Tampa Bay offer was just too low, to bridge the gap. The Kings have painstakingly built the depth of this franchise to a high level. New York, has a fine team, with a longer history than ours, but their not only a player or 2 away from real contention. They might be able to buy their way (like they always have), but they can’t offer him a true team, ready to take that next step.

Yes! if the money is too far off, then he should sign with them, but if the money is close, then I think we’ve got him. I think the Kings are banking on this, and that is probably the way they approached it. Hope I’m right. Hope he signs here.

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@Subby, i am pretty sure the money will be comparable everywhere. i could be wrong but i don’t believe Richards will pull a Kovalbucks and try to squeeze every last penny. i think it’s really about where he wants to play.

in NY he will be familiar with the coach he won a Cup with – plus it’s NY. he’s the #1 guy and he plays with Gaborik.

in CGY he would be re-united with Feaster, he gets to play in Canada (he is Canadian) and he gets to play with Iginla

in LA there really is no connection. it would be for the winning and the weather/lifestyle. if DL can somehow sign both Richards and Doughty i have no hesitation in saying the Kings would be true Cup contenders for the foreseeable future.

my hope is that since Richards has played his entire career in warm weather that this is important to him. plus, i don’t get the sense that Richards has to be “the guy”. when he won in TB he wasn’t “the guy”, he shared the spotlight with Vinny and Marty. i lived there at the time and if there was a “guy” there is was Vinny.

but he could just as easily go with the big market in NY or head to CGY to play in Canada. but i really think the Kings have a shot. if DL doesn’t get him it won’t be for lack of effort – it will be a personal choice that Richards made.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:14 pm
@Dave,
Good post. I agree. I don’t think the motivation is to necessarily make the big bucks like Kovalpuke. The Kings made their best offer, and I hope he would feel comfortable with choosing LA. I hope he see’s the potential, and believes that LA would be a great team for him to join, and a perfect fit for his skill set.

Off topic: The only reason Kovi got me so mad is because he strung us along all summer, knowing that the Kings weren’t even close, just to get a better deal from New Jersey. Richards doesn’t strike me as that kind of guy.

[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:36 am
@Dominick, Last year I had the opposite take on Kovi. I always felt he would’ve rather come here. If you look back at it, do you really think at any time the Kings offer was more than New Jersey’s, and that he was just waiting to NJ to finally come up with more than the Kings? I doubt that highly. I think the Kings were always chasing. NJ probably always had a better offer on the table, and Kovi kept coming back and said “come on guys, just offer me something close to this”, which obviously in hindsight we were never really even close. I think that shows that Jersey HAD to drastically overpay to get him to not join the Kings. At least in this situation, i doubt that Richie’s deal will be nearly as astronomical, so we probably have a better chance. But hey, who knows!

Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@Dave, dont count out Buffalo they have a rich owner and are really making a push.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:23 pm
@Roger,
Not sure, but I think they only have 1.2 mill and some change, of capspace left, and need 2 players still? I think a defensemen, and a goalie. Wouldn’t count anyone out at this stage. Nothing wrong with making a bid.

scott Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@Roger, buffalo was out 4 hr ago

Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@Roger, i think the issue for Buffalo is cap space after the spending today on Leino and others.
CB14 says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Bob McKenzie saying Richards decision will probably come tomorrow. I’m not going to be able to sleep.

[Reply]
derek says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:46 pm

so when we play SJ this year are we going BOOO or ZUUUEES when he gets the puck?

[Reply]
Subby Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:03 pm
@derek, booooosee. That’s what I would say when he didn’t play well.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@derek, Depends on which side of the ice he’s on. Offensive, BOOOOOO, defensive, ZUUUUESSSS. Can’t hate him for doing what he does best, but if he scores, I hope Brown knocks him into the bench.

[Reply]
pat says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:52 pm

So say if we sign him… And Kopi moving to wing… The centers straight down could be Richards Richards Richardson. Sounds like a group! LOL

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@pat, Kopi is not moving to wing, not when he was a plus 25 at center..forget about it.

[Reply]
pat Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@puck73, yeah i hope not. i read from a previous post that it would be a possibility that kopi moves to wing if they sign brad richards… simon gagne is still avaiable since we are starting to have a flyers reunion.

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@pat, well, we moved one flyer out so I guess we need to add another one, we wouldn’t want to upset the balance of the universe, or anger the Phillaangeles gods
pat says:

July 1, 2011 at 7:59 pm

@Rich Hammond Hey Rich i hope you are having a good summer. I had three questions, can you explain to me when they say a team “trade the rights” of a player to a different team. And as of right now since we lost 5 players via trade and free agency and acquiring Mike Richards are we a better team then we are last season? What is Doughty waiting for to resign? I hope we get Brad Richards and have Kopitar move to wing.. wow that would be deadly.

[Reply]
Kingfletch Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@pat, The 2 way play Kopitar has shown me this last season, i would be keeping him at center and Brad Richards would be on the wing. Doughty needs to be signed before Richards imo, cause if the kings sign Richards i feel that someone will hit an offer to Doughty that the kings wont be able to match.

[Reply]
pat Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@Kingfletch, Imagine Rrad Richards Anze Kopitar Justin WIlliams.. in one line!! WOW..could be a reality. AEG and the KINGS met with Brad Richards for two hours the most out of all of the teams. I think the only real competitor is NY. We have to wait tomorrow!!!

[Reply]
Subby says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

What’s a honest fair contract to give BR?

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@Subby, sign for cheap or we line you up next season

[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:25 pm
@Subby, The rumor is 9 years 64mil. That is a cap hit of just over 7mil.

[Reply]
Subby Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:30 pm
@Osaka, is that worth doing?

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@Osaka, I have a feeling ours is 9 years 58.5 million. A 6.5 million dollar cap hit.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
@Subby,
It depends on the reasons. If he just wants the money, like “He who should not be named”, then 8 mill. If he would like to take a risk to win a cup with a team he believes could pull it off, like Hossa, Shanahan, or plenty of others have done in throughout history, before committing to a team long term, I see around 6 to 7 mill per, for a short term.

[Reply]
slapshot says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:02 pm

Shame on anyone who fat mouths Zus. Class act with heart of a lion. Ill miss him.

[Reply]
Subby Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@slapshot, of all teams though ;( the sharks? Wahhhh</3

[Reply]
TRuskowski says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Larry Brooks twittered no decision by Richards tonight. Kings enlisted Gretzky on video and something about DL criticizing Kovy last year when they met with him.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:11 pm
@TRuskowski, I cant wait til Kovalsshlep starts crying that the Devils cant put anyone around him because his cap hit is too high !

[Reply]
AmirA says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm

For only $2.5M per year and only 2 years they got a steal. I just don’t get why didn’t keep him. I don’t care if we have enough centers, this guy is a TRUE team player and is well worth the contract he got. Damn…

Even more lame is that those turds up north signed him. I’m going to barf seeing him in that crap-teal, nasty logoed lame NorCal jersey.

[Reply]
Subby says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:16 pm

Does anyone besides me want to see this video?

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@Subby, I’ll buy the popcorn.

[Reply]
Subby Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:24 pm
@Dominick, The Black Mamba and The Great One im one video? How did they it that in the budget? Haha

[Reply]
Ravens Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:24 pm
@Subby, I’ll give it two thumbs up

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Subby, Yep

[Reply]
DBking says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:22 pm

This Doughty situation is starting to get under my skin. The guy is totally thinking about himself and not at all about the benefit of the team. He was outstanding in 09-10.. What a year it was. But all he did that summer was eat cheetos and drink diet coke or whatever. He does not take his job seriously enough. He thinks he is gods gift to hockey and would be doing the kings a favor by signing for 7M per year. Kid needs to grow up.

[Reply]
Roger Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@DBking, agreed

[Reply]
Ravens says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:22 pm

I have a video for Richards, in it, I have two horses racing at Hollywood park fist and second race tomorrow, all he has to do is give me the 40 Ml or whatever we offered, ride it all on the daily double and he will have 400 Ml just like that. come on it’s a lock! do it Richards

[Reply]
YoBro Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:59 pm
@Ravens, Soooo, Who’s up? And are you sharing?;-)

[Reply]
ziggy33 says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:25 pm

For those not following @tsnbobmckenzie, he just tweeted the following (in this order, starting around 11:15pm Eastern time):

On Richards, my sense is NYR frontrunners. Offer may be for 9 years, around $63 to $65 million. Obviously front-loaded

CGY, LA, and TOR also receiving consideration. Hearing CGY deal is 9 years, $64 million. If last 3 years are “bogus” could really be 6 yr, $60+M deal

LAK offer likely comparable money. TOR, tho, may not be in position to do that type of deal. Leaf GM Burke on record as opposed to them.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@ziggy33,

Don’t think he’s going to Calgary…

[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@ziggy33,

Maybe Richards surprises everyone and says tomorrow that he’s taking his talents to LA.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:49 pm
@ziggy33, Kings have the best team and will have a good team for a long time it would seem. Guess we’re gonna see if Brad is all about the money or he really wants to win. He comes to the Kings and we will be pushing for a cup next season.

[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:55 pm
@KC23,

I’m guessing you meant best team that’s in the running for his talents.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:30 pm
@vplaza,
Was implied, since he was commenting directly to the poster that posted about the 4 teams involved.
king1jason says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:32 pm

Tampa bay is out of the richards sweepstakes!

[Reply]
jess says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:49 pm

Lot of action going down this summer, hope it pans out. Take care zues, thanks for the hard work and the great attitude.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:50 pm

More from TweetVillage:

RT @JSportsnet: Richards tells Sportsnet that decision will be done early Saturday…and confirms 4 teams still in the process.
helenenothelen 3 mins

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, was just going to post this….

NY, CGY, LA, TOR – that’s my guess.

[Reply]
DesertKing says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:50 pm

I am not going to stress if we don’t sign BR. We still have cap space without him and can go after a couple of chemistry guys with 1 year deals and set us up for Parise next year. We already have a lot of really good playerand if 1 or 2 of them have really good seasons then all will be good.I also think that following Shakes epic earlier post, we sh ould push for a plaid dinosaur day when we play against the Sucks.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:41 pm
@DesertKing,
That has always been my wish. The real reason the Kings have never landed the Big Dog, is because they’ve never had the most money free’d up, when it counts. 10 mill, free and clear, and no one could stand in our way of getting whoever the top FA is. Seems kind of unfair that New York has always thrown caution to the wind with FA’s, and yet, currently has the money free’d up to out bid us.

I wonder when Karma is gonna swing back around, and give us a go.

[Reply]
tuan jim says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:51 pm

Not only gone, but gone to The Enemy. It could only have been worse if he’d gone to Edmonton or the Ducks.

Does it occur to anyone that the Sharks have added two physical monsters — Burns and now Zus — to their squad?

Does it occur that nearly ALL our SIZE up front has gone elsewhere?

How do we stop Perry-Getzlaff-Ryan? How do we close down ANYBODY now? How do we pound out those third-period wins that gave us such a terrific late-season road record and got us into the playoffs? With scoring talent? How did the Oilers do with that? How did Dallas? The highest scoring team couldn’t play in Boston — in the playoffs or the regular season. Yet we kept the Bruins at bay for four games over two years — in Boston and out of it. Did we do that with scoring punch?

Our defensive system is not based on what we had at the blue line and in the net. It relies — heavily — on our forwards. Forwards with the SIZE to do what’s necessary.

Now that size is gone.

I’ve got to believe that DL knows what he’s doing, but right now all I can see is that for every game we win with added scoring, we lose one for lost physicality.

Not to mention that the whole face of the team is changed. I’m tired of hearing “it’s a business”. It’s not a business for me. It’s a crazy, visceral high where I have a connection to certain guys on the ice. What’s the good of winning if all those guys are gone?

The season hasn’t begun yet and already my heart is broken.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:55 pm
@tuan jim, And yet we got bounced in the first round two years in a row.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@KC23,

That first series was ours to take. We didn’t lose it because our offense was weak, but because our 5-on-5 defense went south.

I admit that the failure to score a PP goal in game six sealed our doom.

But Zus made play after play to keep us alive.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 8:56 pm
@tuan jim,

Not yet.
There is some size from some of the minors players…

It’s not all gone.

I like the reasoning process, though.

[Reply]
Dave Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@tuan jim, we do have size up the middle still with Kopitar and Richards plus size on defense with Mitchell, Johnson and Greene. that’s how you stop a high scoring line – not with size up front but with a strong two-way center (we have two of them now) and strong d-man play.

on most nights TM will dress both Clifford and Westgarth so there is plenty on the wings as well.

i think you will be OK when you see Mike Richards play every night. if you liked Simmonds you will love Richards. and if somehow DL can pull Brad Richards out of his hat i believe the Kings will be the clear favorite in the Pacific and maybe even the West.

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 11:51 pm
@Dave,

It’s the SIZE of lumbering giants like Poni and Zus that matters. Even a Lidstrom — and especially a Rafalski — gets tired with a gorilla on his back, leaning on him, pushing him to the boards. Come that third period in a close game the finest defenseman — aside from I-love-to-hit baboons like Pronger — wanna take a shift or two off.

With a wave of monsters coming at them, line after line, they just can’t take that shift off. Our SIZE was one of the not-so-secret secrets to our success. Not size in our zone, but size in theirs. Size among our FORWARDS. Now it’s gone. Poof. Unless we can somehow transform Penner into something he’s never been or import a mighty oaf from the farm or in a trade, we’re going to feel the absence of every inch of height and every ounce of weight that we gave up in the last coupla weeks.

I hope and pray that’s not true. But I fear and suspect that it is.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:09 pm
@tuan jim,

Jewels From The Crown:

“Stoll could be dealt but that would leave us with Andrei Loktionov and either Brad Richardson or Trevor Lewis centering the bottom six, and that’s possibly a little light on experience. Loktionov and Lewis could do this in 2012, but I’m not sure about 2011.
Also: Mike Richards is the new and improved Handzus. He can be the stopper line and still outscore opponents, though probably it will be split between him and Kopitar. That leaves easier comp for the bottom 6 centers, and I think Lewis/Richardson can handle it.

Then again, Lokti has to get acclimated some time…

In Dinglebarn We Trust — JftC
by Niesy on Jul 1, 2011 8:32 PM PDT”

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:40 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Not Stoll. Trade Staples Center.

But not Stoll.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

I’m fully confident Lewis can handle that 3 pivot if need be!

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@John,

Can Lewis win us extra points in shootouts? Does Lewis play PP minutes? How many PK minutes does he give us? Can he win face-offs? Is he a high-teen- or 20-goal scorer?

I like Lewis and I think he’ll be a fine asset. But he’s no Stoll.
SVIK says:

July 1, 2011 at 8:59 pm

how does richards even fit? we already have a phenomenal 1-2 punch at center and stoll is very nice in the 3 hole. why spend money on another center. does he have any experience at wing? thanks

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@SVIK,

Yes…
Many centers play wing, when they have to.
It’s a wing playing center that rarely happens.

[Reply]
Roy Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:31 pm
@SVIK, He won the Conn Smythe as a LW a few years back in Tampa, so I think he’ll suffice.

[Reply]
mcsorleyfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:09 pm

Calkgary: Too Old. Toronto: Not Close Enough to a Cup. New York: Would have to play with Sean Avery.

SIGN WITH THE KINGS ALREADY!!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@mcsorleyfan,
Playing with Avery might be a good thing. Everybody would leave him alone, because they’d be too busy trying to kill Avery, to care. LOL

[Reply]
LBlocal says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Ladies and gentlemen.. Your newest Calgary Flame… Joe Peskula.

gKg!

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:20 pm
No wait.. It’s Joe PIskula. Please forgive me…

[Reply]
KingsOfComedy says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:22 pm

Handzus was too slow. Sure he was always in position but he added to the other teams momentum. ( Sharks circling the victims) Too many times i have seen opponents skate around him and keep the pressure in the kings zone. Puck possession time is important and he was not able to out skate the other team players

[Reply]
pat says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Two more signing and we would be set!!!

[Reply]
jess says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:26 pm

So we gonna have the richie-rich line or what

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Klong says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:27 pm

I have to admit, I thought there was no chance in hell the Kings would even make an offer to Brad, and quasi lambasted those of you who kept saying what the Kings should do is sign Brad Richards. In this case, I am 100% happy to be dead wrong.

If Mr. Richards is indeed intent of making going to a winning team as a priority, the Kings are the obvious best choice among the remaining four in the hunt. The fact that the Kings brass are making this effort makes me honestly proud to be a Kings fan, regardless on where he ends up.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:30 pm
@Klong, I’m pretty sure the Kings made an offer already.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@Who Knows?, Whoops, fail on my behalf. I should try reading the whole post first.

[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@Klong, Apology accepted. I was one of the guys saying sign Richards.

[Reply]
408kingsfan says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Now we need Boyle back from NY and Maybe Frolov on a Penner trade

[Reply]
jess Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:36 pm
@408kingsfan, yeah it’s a wait n see on what pens puts up this year

[Reply]
pat says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:36 pm

We need another uniform!!!! The LA logo jersey are so disgusting!!! I like the purple and black uniforms but make it Black and white colors!!!

[Reply]
king lopez says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:41 pm

Gagne, who reportedly is talking to the Flyers?

[Reply]
OCkingsFAN says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:42 pm

So, B-rad richards lives in toronto?
that means we get the happy news that he lands in LA 3 hours early??
wow im setting my alarm clock to 7am! ….on a saturday.

[Reply]
Hockey Jesus says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Just throwing this out there. If Brad Richards doesn’t sign with the Kings, what other options via trade or FA could be had? Why not Loui Eriksson out of Dallas? 79GP-27G-46A: 73PTS. makes 4.26m until 2015-16. Thoughts? Dallas’ ownership situation is in limbo right now. If the right package was offered it can be had especially if they shipped out James Neal last year. One can dream.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@Hockey Jesus,
Off hand, I’d say that would be an incredible trade if DL could pull it off. The cost going back would create a hole somewhere else though. He does play left wing, and knows how to score. Very sound defensively also.

[Reply]
Roger says:

July 1, 2011 at 10:12 pm

If we miss out on the BR fiasco it’s ok. Teams are paying too much for so so players. This will let us be the big traders come the trade deadline.

[Reply]
Dominick says:

July 1, 2011 at 11:01 pm

Congratulations to some Former Kings (not guys I can’t stand, like Garon) on new contracts.
Sean O’Donnell- Chicago, for 1 more year at $850,000.00
Jeff Halpern-Washington, for 1 more year at $825,000.00
Alex Ponikarovski-Carolina, for 1 more year at $1.5 mill
Marco Sturm-Vancouver, for 1 more year (starting to become a theme here) at $2.25 mill
Mathiew Garon-Tampa Bay(OK I don’t hate him that much), for 2 more years at $1.3 mill per
Eric Belange-Edmonton, for 3 years at $1.75 mill per
Micheal Handzues(my personal favorite)-San Jose, for 2 more years at $2.5 mill per
Andreas Lilja-Philadelphia (details not anounced yet)

[Reply]
johnjuan says:

July 2, 2011 at 10:23 pm

We overpaid for Zus for years. The first two he was one legged and the next two all he did was help out in certain areas on the ice . Made us way too slow I will miss him in shootouts but we dont have the speed to keep a player like Zus. I wish him well but we never should have paid him more than 2 a year.

[Reply]
ToughD says:

July 16, 2011 at 9:52 am

Farewell mighty Zeus.

[Reply]