First, there will be a media conference call with Simon Gagne sometime today. in about an hour. Terry Murray, fresh off the golf course in Maine — he was pleased with the round — took a few minutes to talk about the Kings’ signing of Simon Gagne. Murray was an assistant coach with the Flyers for four of Gagne’s 10 seasons in Philadelphia.
MURRAY: “I’m very excited about Simon Gagne. I’ve known him from the time that he came in as a young player. He’s a very good player. You go back through the Canadian Olympic team and the World Championships, and he was one of the real good players on some of those teams, and certainly a real good player for the Flyers. So I’m excited about this one.”
Question: Clearly the question with Gagne recently has been his ability to stay healthy, but when he is healthy, what type of play can he bring?
MURRAY: “He had a couple of injuries, I know, that have set him back a couple times in his career, but the high-end skill that he brings is exciting. You always look for him to play with your top center icemen. He’s a great scorer. He’s got great hands. He comes through with timely plays, timely goals. You go back to the Flyers, the last time I was there, and thinking back to some of those playoff series, he’s the guy making the play, scoring the big goal, the winning goal in overtime. He has that knack to be at the right place at the right time, so it’s a great add for us.”
Question: Talking to Ron Hextall, he mentioned Gagne’s defense and penalty-killing being underrated as well…
MURRAY: “When you look at the early part of his career, when he was playing for Team Canada, that was what grabbed everyone’s attention, his play without the puck. He is a very good checking player, defensive player. Maybe because of his high-end offensive ability to score goals, that is overlooked, but heck, there are many situations and times that I remember when he matched up against the top lines of the opposition for checking purposes. He’s a very responsible player. And on the penalty-killing side of, he and Mike Richards, in the time I was with the Flyers, they were dynamic. They were probably the two best on that Flyers team, and paired together, they were tremendous. It’s a great matchup to look forward to.”
Question: With Mike Richards and Gagne on board, it would seem like you’ve got some interesting options for those top two lines. Is it a little exciting, as a coach, to think about how those lines might look?
MURRAY: “Yes, it is. That’s always exciting, when you sign these guys who have the potential to score a lot of goals. Penner, he’s a 30-, 35-goal scorer. Simon Gagne, he’s the same way, and he has put up even bigger numbers in the past. They play very well off of skill people. They find a way to get open. They become available. Simon is one of the best that I’ve seen at finding that open ice to receive a pass, a catch-and-release pass is what I call it. I’ll fly back (to Los Angeles) on the 4th, so I’ll have some time to put some lines to pencil and paper and just take a look at it and start thinking about it.”
Question: You mentioned Gagne and Richards. The fact that they were linemates in the past, do you take that into consideration?
MURRAY: “I will take it into account. It has worked. I’ve seen it work. There’s good chemistry there. They play off each other, read off each other very well. It’s just a knack. Those things are called chemistry. You wonder why chemistry works sometimes, and how it works and how it happens and why it happens, but that type of chemistry fell in place when they did play together, and they had good success together. That won’t be too far away from my mind when I’m putting down some lines and starting to put things together in my mind for training camp.”
go kings go!
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Harty Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@brian, This is good for the Kings with Gagne along with Richards.
Get rid of Penner he is a problem and he is a lazy player that will not fit in with Kopi.
Send him to Manchester now………
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Kenny44 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:01 pm
@Harty, Penner fit great with Kopi; did nothing without him. Penner is a complementary player. He doesn’t really create much on his own. He can finish plays, as we’ll hopefully see this year.
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Jeff Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@Harty, Penner will be fine, he will come into training camp in good shape, as it sounds like he is working hard. The problem he had is he developed quickly chemistry with Kopi and Willie. Unfortunately they both got hurt and that set him back. Penner isn’t a player that can score on his own or create his on his own, he needs other guys to do the work and he puts in the garbage. I am sure he will be much better starting in training camp, as he will be put back in with Kopi and Willie and go from there. Remember this is a contract year, so I expect big things from Penner.
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I think TM was salivating with delight while answering those questions…
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ike Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@SavebyCechmanek, He wasn’t the only one!!
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rontheking Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:42 am
@ike, TM sounds like he’s in shock at the embarrassment of riches!
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billanthony Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@SavebyCechmanek, I noticed Murray mentioned Gagne being a player you like to team up with your top center. He and Kopitar might mesh very well together. While Penner could benefit from having a player the likes of Mike Richards to push him towards his potential.
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SaveByCechmanek Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@billanthony,
Think you’re right. Makes absolute sense. I definitely think MR could push Penner and get him to really play a gritty game especially down low.
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Jeff Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:08 pm
@billanthony, With the way TM changes lines, I am sure all the guys will have played together throughout the season. Hopefully now that we have 3 scoring lines with speed and skill, it won’t take hard work to score garbage goals and be more skill and pretty goals, with some garbage in between. I expect a different looking system then we saw the past 2 years and since it seems we are keeping Kompon, I expect a better PP next season with the new players we got. Kompon will definately be fired if he can’t get this group to score on the PP, because I think my dead grandmother could get a 20%+ PP with what we have now.
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Slapshot Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@SavebyCechmanek, I had to put a bib on to read it.
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SaveByCechmanek Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@Slapshot,
No doubt! Plus I bet TM’s golf game went to pot when he heard of the signing
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Kenny44 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@SaveByCechmanek, TM has a shot mentality on the golf course. And he’s acutely aware that a very high percentage of birdies scored start with a shot from the tee box.
TM seems happy these days. For a guy I’ve never seen smile in my life.
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John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:41 pm
@Subby,
Hahaha can not blame the man! I think a lot of us are getting the same giggles thinking about the upcoming season
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@John, I know I am :] I’m so ready for Frozen! It will be my first one and I get to wear my new Burger King jersey with Gretzky on the back
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Kingsfanone Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@Subby,
You will have a good time guaranteed, but remember, MGM arena is TINY compared to Staples or even the Forum. But FF is definitely a good experience. The food lines are VERY SLOW, and leaving after the game is excruciatingly slow! Reminds me of leaving the Hollywood Bowl!
rumpa#19 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:02 pm
@Subby, He is not upset enough,but that shows calm control .Very even keil and gets crap for not over reacting.I like that he does’nt go total drama queen,like many in LA.
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This is a much better signing than having a 40 year old Richards making 6.66 against your cap. Thank God he went to NYR! Flexibility is key in this cap era. And 2 years = FLEXIBILITY!
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jet Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@Sammy, I spoke with my buddy the Sharks fan who follows contracts inside and out and he believes there is little chance the Rags contract gets through as it is.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@jet, I heard it was official already
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 4:58 am
@Subby, Nah, the league has a week I think to make it unofficial.
petemagoop Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@jet, ya, you gotta wonder***60M over 9 years–57M the 1st 6 and only a million per year for the last 3–I thought the league was trying to avoid contracts like that
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Cynic Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@jet, I was wondering about the 6Mil drop from year 5 to year 6 (I think it was). I thought those kind of drops got outlawed after Kovalgate. I’ll bet your friend is right…
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Ravens Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@Sammy, his cap hit is 666 ??? I like it
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rumpa#19 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:05 pm
@Sammy, If i was a Betman or should i say bettimg man? Add boos here.
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Jeff Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:14 pm
@Sammy, The problem with Kovy’s is it had like 6 extra yrs with under a million or a million and took him to age 44. Everybody knew that those extra years were bogus and he wouldn’t play them. Brad’s is different as it ends when he is 40 and most likely he will still be playing, as long as he remains relatively healthy. I don’t see them having a problem with this contract, even though there is a big dropoff from the last big year to the years at a million. Probably would of been better had NY structured it so there was a gradual drop instead of 1 big drop. Still I don’t see this one being rejected.
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This is the most exciting off season since 1988!!
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the_guv Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@Matt, Couldn’t agree more, so pumped! October can’t get here fast enough!
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Kings are solid…we’ll shake some teams up this season and then make a serious Cup run in 2012-13 w/a real chance to take it home….I think we did the best of ALL NHL teams in the ratio of not over spending but getting skilled players. now put Westy on the power play! Westgarth FTW! ~ T.Vonny.
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KC23 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@von_swine, I disagree. There is no reason what so ever we can’t make a cup run this reason AND next season.
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I love the fact that he knows our two new players already so he knows what they can do. I think with those two guys we will be very good next season
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people bash TM for trying different lines, but no one complained when he found the odd-teen line in the playoffs. Take us home Terry
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:00 am
@jet, True that. That Clifford line looked awesome in the playoffs.
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Penner – Kopitar – Williams
Gagne – Richards – Brown
Clifford – Stoll – Richardson
Parse – Loktionov – Westgarth
DD – Scud
JJ – Mitch
Greene – Alec
Now with 13.5 to spend and ? amount going to DD depending on your opinion why can’t we go more in depth? I think we need another RW and move Richardson down. OR if we wont do that why not get Kaberle to replace Alex. If we have the money and the player is available why no strengthen the position. If we had Smyth or Nightrain still I wouldn’t be questioning out forwards but we did and I feel they need to be replaced. Lash me if you’d like. Just saying.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@Subby, alec*
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@Subby, Answering my own question. Sign Jamie Langenbrunner. For the right price, I would be down with that.
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anonandonanon Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@Subby, 10-4 Elenor. Get some old stuff in the mix. A little more hard-headed German.
CB14 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:54 pm
@Subby, What about Lewis? I’d put him in over Parse, and certainly over Westy.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@CB14, AHA i knew I was missing someone! Out with westy, in with Lewis.
or are we putting in Lewis instead of Loki? In that case I still want another RW or LW.
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KC23 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@CB14, Lewis is definately someone we want to keep. He is outstanding on the PK and after losing Zues we need him even more than before.
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BringbackButchGoring Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Subby, Replace Martinez? That guy is a stud and is only going to get better. I hope we sign him to a long term deal while he is still cheap. Frankly, I’d take him over JJ in ever game situation imaginable
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, ok so if we leave D as is then what about Langenbrunner. Or should we just save the money for more pucks and sticks. I just see if you have the money why not use it. But I guess we can save it for the trade deadline? Pick up some player with a “stupid” contract lol
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jet Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:16 pm
@Subby, Does the 13.5 included DD, Lewis, marty, and Richie?
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@jet, It does not. ? dunno for them but I guestimate we have 4 mill after them?
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BringBackKingston Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:32 pm
@Subby, I calculate less. Lewis, richardson, and Martinez still need to be signed, and you still have to figure in the 2 forwards who sit each night. If the 3 RFAs get say a 15% increase and the 2 scratches make 1.5m combined, before this signing there was about 12.3m to play with. Now with gagne’s 4.5 , there is only about 7.8 left for DD and some cap cushion. Not enough for another signing without getting rid of someone else.
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JMFJ#3 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@BringBackKingston, If you give Doughty 5.5 mil then sign Lewis, Richie, and AMart all for 1.2 mil a year to to be on the safe side. Throw in Clune, Westy, Fraser as your rotating 4th line winger. while having whiskey as the 7th dman. we should end up with a cap opening of 2.-3mil depending on if doughty is a little hire than 5.5mil. Gagne is only 3.5 mil
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Muelch Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@Subby, No to Kaberle, but I do wouldn’t mind adding some size on the bottom six. Maybe Sjostrom from Toronto? As far as replacing Simmonds with a powerfoward, I don’t think that needs to be done until trade deadline time, because Richardson saves it all for the playoffs anyway
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kingCow Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@Subby,
I agree with you about getting another, maybe send and offer sheet to Ryan Callahan, of the NY Rangers, just to screw with them.
But we don’t need anymore D-men.
I also think that Dean doesn’t want to go all the way to the cap. To give him some wiggle room for a mid season addition.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@kingCow, what are they chances of him doing so though. Why wait till mid season when we can do it now? Without trading.
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Bama Kings Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:01 pm
@Subby, I agree. Move richie to fourth line and grab another winger.
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@Subby, I hope you’re keeping Trevor Lewis around; his PK is awesome, and his hands will catch up.
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lets see what we can do this seaosn comeing up cant wait
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I’m not surprised to hear him wondering how chemistry happens… Apparently the answer isn’t nightly line changes.
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CB14 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@Willie, LOL, so true, so true.
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PRMan Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:04 pm
But he said it’s trial and error, which explains everything. @Willie,
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Now lets replace Kompon and really make a play for the cup!
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Trust the system, as TM would say. Really happy that the Kings are rising up and are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season, our time has come!
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This is a great pickup for the Kings! Richards, Gagne and Brown will be an awesome offensive/defensive lineup for the Kings.
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http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370711
Now I have the giggles. Read these comments. SO much good from people. I never read comments on tsn because of the negative but people are saying we are scary good and top four and even cup favs. I love this positive feedback from the world, not just LA fans. I am so happy to be a King fan these days. I hope this lasts for years to come and if does you have DL to thank for that. He really ha done something here.
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CB14 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@Subby, Nice, I like Johnny71′s idea of a Kopitar – Gagne – Brown line. The KGB line. Although it would be better if one of them were Russian.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@CB14, lol yeah that would help lol
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cameron Reply:
July 4th, 2011 at 1:26 am
@Subby, you can easily lick out the canuck fans w/ negative comments because our team is probably giving them the night sweats.
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Gagne trending on twitter in Los Angeles
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Sammuch Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@Kings win, Ducks lose,
I think you should change your name to Kings win, shark loose… Sharks and Van saying WTF…
We just need Penner to come on board and TM to let the players play two-way hockey. Just get a little loose on the D TM? You have players to do it now…
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King John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@Sammuch, You’d better head for the shore if sharks are loose
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First 2 lines
Penner-Kopitar-Williams
Gagne-Richards-Brown
That’s insane
Go kings go
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vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@Jacob,
Yes, insane that Penner is in there at all. I hope he isn’t the same player we saw in a Kings uniform last season.
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IceGuy Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@vplaza,
July winners? The Kings in general.
Losers?
Penner: If he thought he was going to be under pressure to actually show up and perform before, he’s heading into Whoville on the Kings trade board.
Westgarth: In the real world, this fellow would be fighting to see any ice time with the new and improved Kings. In Murrayland, he’ll probably still be taking his 4 minute skate arounds and forcing other wingers to double-shift to cover him.
Murray: He’s going to need to complete a 12 step Change-aholic program. “Put down the pencil and step away from the lineup card.”
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OK, now that the B. Richards soap opera is over, let’s crunch some numbers…:)
Signing S. Gagne pretty much replaces (cap hit wise) the loss of Zeus, right?
With R. Smythe gone and D. Doughty petulantly still unwilling to sign, the Kings still have about $16 million in cap space to play with. Rich, correct me if I’m off by a few pennies or millions, OK?
Will D. Lombardi do the unthinkable and:
1. table an offer sheet to S. Stamkos for 1 or 2 yrs / $10/12 million each?
2. save the money for a mid season blockbuster?
3. Give D. Doughty ‘stupid money’?
4. Convince the NJ Devils to let go of Parise as soon as arbitration is over later this month?
5. Or..?
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Kingfish Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@Gustavo,
Im all for number 4. That would be a great move.
As far as #1 Ive heard DL say he doesnt believe in offer sheets. There is a code amongst most GMs that the offer sheet is something you just don’t use. As well Im sure DL has a ton of respect for Yzerman to do that even if he decided too. Lastly DL would never part with 4 1st round draft picks.
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CB14 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@Gustavo, The Kings are currently 12.5 million under the cap.
1. No
2. Possibly
3. Define “Stupid Money” he’ll likely get around a 5.5 million dollar cap hit, give or take a million.
4. Not now that they signed Gagne.
5. Hold on to the 3 million dollars in cap space he’ll have after signing DD, AM, TL, and BRson.
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puck73 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:16 pm
@Gustavo, Come on man, is this all you got ? I need my fix, I want you to let loose with a massive Drew Doughty blast ! I know your capable, I have seen it before !
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JDBiGC Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Gustavo,
Answers below:
1. No. Offersheets are taboo. Look how incendiary the Penner offersheet was, and he wasn’t a franchise player. Also, I’m not completely clear whey any team would spend that much on Stamkos. He’s been in the league 3 years and his first season was good but not great. Go back to about 2005-2006 and you’ll see the Cheechoo was also in I believe his third year in the league and had just scored over 50 goals. Where is Cheechoo now? Tampa should be careful.
2. I can’t see a mid-season blockbuster that we would need to make barring injury or somebody completely sucking. At best we’d make a depth move, but that doesn’t require cap space.
3. I’m not clear why you’d be down on Doughty for trying to get paid. Unless his demands are insane (and it doesn’t sound like they are), he has every right to try to get what he can. I’m hoping the Kings do with Doughty what they did with Jack Johnson: give him a 2 year deal about about $4.5M.
4. Parise is the guy I think the Kings should be all over. I’ve been saying for at least a year that we should flip Bernier to New Jersey for Parise (as the crux of the deal). I’m willing to give Penner a chance, but flipping him with Bernier for Parise is tempting.
5. The Kings really don’t need much else. There are no glaring holes. This team is as good as any now and there’s no reason to think they can’t compete for a cup.
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JMS Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@JDBiGC, Just wait till Marty retires then they got no goalie. Then trade bernier to NJD for Parise’s rights? wait… i dont think that made sense.
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It is what it is. Because players come and go in the normal course of business, I will grealy miss Zeus. As a fan since inception, Zeus was the only player I ever considered putting his name on one of my jerseys. Not that I didn’t adore Luc, Gretz, Marcel, Simmer, Taylor, McSorley to name just a few (even Tiger) but the urge to dedicate a jersey, (I have 12) just never occured to me due to “here today, gone tomorrow”. With that being said, I do think the moves recently made were solid improvements for my Kings. Really looking forward to this one, but I must caution myself, I said that prior to last season also.
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Scarletcat Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@old codger, I’m right there with you. ‘Zues more than Simmonds for me.
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Real 7 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@old codger, appreciate your HISTORIC perspective….I was among the few who shared beers or coffee with some of the players when I was a STH back when [think it cost about $340 in '74-'75
Gary Sargent, Dave Hutchison, Bob Murdoch, Gary Edwards & a few others....of course Real Lemieux was the most social/friendly guy ever on the KINGS....& Rogie would talk to you about goaltending....Ralph Backstrom was a heck of a guy too....Goring was a little stand-offish but a good guy [he didn't like L.A. fans much; thought they were...shall we say, lacking in hockey knowledge & appreciation of the finer points of the game] OH! & Luuuc; you had to love the guy in every way….
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petemagoop Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@old codger, – - good old Charlie Simmer, 1971 Kenora Muskie — Kenora, the home 40 years later of Mike Richards — hope the Kings don’t let you down either — they’re looking mighty fine so far
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Now that Gagne is on board with some additional cap room, how about signing one of the few guys out there like Drury, Langenbrunner, or Mietennen?
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805kings Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@Kryptonics Comets, I think Mietennen would be a very good pick up.Langenbrunner would be too.He would bring a little more attitude to go along with Clifford in the bottom 6.
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CB14 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@Kryptonics Comets, I like MiettInen. He’s a RW who scored 16 goals last year. He would be a nice replacement for Simmonds.
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Let’s just sign doughty first. I’ll feel much better once that’s done
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old codger Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:00 pm
@Jacob, Probably a good idea!!! As much as I want DD to sign, I can’t imagine the damage he can do to us if playing against. Especially if he would go to a division team.
By the way, the league has said they were going to re-organize before the 2012 season. Makes sense, what do you think about that?
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SG has put up some very nice numbers over his career….very dangerous man anywhere around the net or the slot area….he can put the biscuit in the basket…
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8467346
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Did zues have to go to San Jose?
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Anyone know if Lokti can still go to the minors next year without going through waivers.Looking at line combos and knowing that the Kings want to keep him at center I can’t imagine him being our 4th center.He needs to play more then 4th line minutes to continue to develop.
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Sydor25 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@805kings, Yes, Loktionov is waiver exempt.
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“Those things are called chemistry.”
Oh you mean what happens between players when you don’t constantly change thier linemates?
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Where the hell is @poorman ? ! He might be going thru a nervous breakdown after Dean did all he could to sign Brad Richards, and then struck quickly by signing Gagne today. Anyway. I hope he is ok and not in some sort of massive depression because we need him back on here so we can have fun taking shots at him ! lol
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Michael J. Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:59 pm
@puck73,
Ha!
So, do you like the deal? It works for me, and at a bargain compared to most other UFA’s.
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puck73 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:34 pm
@Michael J., Love this deal. Proven goal scorer, and familiarity with 2 of the coache’s and Richards…very happy.
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Looks like DL had a plan b after all.
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puck73 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:23 pm
@vplaza, Thats putting it lightly.
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vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@puck73,
My main concerns are:
1. DD isn’t signed yet.
2. Penner is on the first line.
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John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@vplaza,
1. He will be
2. Why? He, Kopitar & Williams had great chemistry together…until Kopie went down. And apparently Richards & Gagne already had great chemistry together in Philly.
vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:22 pm
@John,
Penner was an absolute ZERO after those first few games with Kopi. He showed absolutely NO HEART when the team needed him. So Kopi was gone, he could have at least tried. He was a non-factor. I hope you and the Kings are right and that he plays better this coming season.
But based on what he did last year, he’s a concern until he proves otherwise.
And I also hope you’re right about DD. The rumored money he’s asking for, if true, should be a concern as well.
John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@vplaza,
I’ve said it many times, MOST players have difficulty transitioning to a new team when traded. Let’s just hope we can chalk it up to that, he’ll work hard to get into shape this summer & learn the Kings system & be fine. He’s proven in his short career he can put the puck in the net.
I’m hearing a long term contract at about a $7.M cap hit. If true, in the “New NHL”, that’s pretty dang sweet!
vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@John,
I’ll agree that there are players who have difficulty with the transition. BUT, did you see him in the playoffs? What I saw wasn’t someone who was having transition problems. I saw someone who coasted, didn’t throw any checks, was lazy with the puck and his skating, and generally, went through the motions.
Maybe that’s how he shows his transition issues, but if he doesn’t come into camp dedicated, play pre-season with a purpose, and start the year playing hard….well, I’ll reserve my judgement until I see this.
Jacob Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@puck73, Plan B is better that plan Brad Richards
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vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@Jacob,
Gagne, a winger, made more sense than Richards, a center.
Next step would be package JJ and a few prospects for Parise. Move Penner down to 3rd line or preferably off the team….he’s always had the rep as unmotivated and lazy. That’s a cancer on any team.
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KingOfHockey Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:39 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
JMFJ is not going anywhere! He is part of DL’s plan and future of the franchise right there along with Daughty. TM has even said he plans on playing them together more and even pairing them as partners normally. Johnson is more of a team player and has gotten better every season. I also like the how JJ signed his deal asap and didn’t request a crazy big contract for the better of the teams future, classy move if you ask me. Shows how much he cares unlike some one else (cough) DD!!!!
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vplaza Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@KingOfHockey,
I’m with you. JJ is part of this team’s future and he’s locked up.
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Great job by DL and team. Dl needs a contract extension. Remember where this team and it’s prospect pool was when he took it over and look at it now. He has turned this franchise around. This is the best King’s team in a very long time and is setup to be a cup contender for years. After almost 20-years of season tickets, I think I’m about to be rewarded.
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Ok people Am I dreaming or what? The Kings are 4 real. Still going after that silver cup we call Stanley, is going to be tough. We have the horses now. All we have to do is be patience. It may take some time to find our identity, but good things will come. We all have waited a long time for this. It all starts in Vegas. I’m there!!!!!! Hope to see a lot of us at the game. Simon Gagne is has always been one of my favorite players. With him on my favorite team, life can’t get any better. Do any of you realize how close we really are? DL has to lock up DD#8… Get it done, NOW.
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Man I am looking forward to next season!!
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here is what we are getting,,when he’s healthy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lcBlB-MNPg
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Why all of a sudden do I feel sorry for the Jets?
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puck73 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@Buster, Randy Jones 1 year deal, thats why !
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Who Knows? Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@Buster, Randy Jones..
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Buster Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@Who Knows? AND @ puck73,
Hey you guys. Why do you insist adding that D to his first name? Everyone knows he doesn’t have D.
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Kings x Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:23 am
@Who Knows?, For every jones there’s a Kyle Quincey. Gotta give credit when something is made from nothing be being shrewed.
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edwood2 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Buster, Lets hope if he makes bonehead plays, they make him shovel the parking lot, by hand, in Feb.
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If DD is asking what is rummerd, then let him wait. looks like he want 7 mil cap. More then Kopi, DD you have not done what Kopi did and you need to go to 6.5 mil. Last DD wants to be loaded in the front end of the contract, I say thats cool but 6.5 mil cap stays.
The rummor is he want a 10 year contract with the first 4 at 10 mil a year. Dude take 9 mil and work your way down from there…
DD did not have a great season last year and out of shape for half the year. If you can prove you can play like the first 2 years, nice to be at 6.5, if you want more prove you can do better and sign a one year deal and prove you are ready for the big cash. Take 5 mil one year contract and play like Bobby Orr and prove and win the MVP for the D. Then you can get the big cash you want.
Come on DD dont be Lazy do the 6.5 and you are not the face of the LA Kings yet, Kopi is and he has 6.8 cap.
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So.with all this talent do you guys think jamie kompton is able to make our pp and offensive up side to its fully potential. Or do.we move on and find a new coach.
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Buster Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@ryanzlakings,
I vote for the latter. Our PP will vastly improve without his services.
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Mike Richards is interviewed on KLAC the day after the trade….@ about 14:00 minutes in…
http://www.am570radio.com/mediaplayer/?station=KLAC-AM&action=ondemand&item=21214474&feed_name=TonyBruno.xml
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John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm
@Real 7,
Sweet listen – thanks, Real 7!
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:25 am
@Real 7, Thanks for the heads up. Man, I wouldn’t want to be a flyer on the ice when M Richards steps in when the Kings play the flyers. Richards will be all business that night to be sure.
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This is going to be an awsome team next year. We now have 9 players that were former 1st round picks. There is so much talent on this team!!! LGK
Anze Kopitar
Justin Williams
Mike Richards
Simon Gagne
Dustin Brown
Trevor Lewis
Drew Doughty
Jack Jhonson
Jonathan Bernier
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whatever Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:22 pm
@king4life33, it just LA & Philly put together… yucky player… doesnt deserve 7 million!
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king4life33 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@whatever, that’s 3.5 a year. Considering that we paid 3 for Poni, I think the extra 500k is well spent
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@king4life33, ^^^^ Thumbs up
Kings made a steal of a signing! Gagne is a 2 time 40 goal scorer 3.5 mil, Leino who never cracked 20 signed for 4.5 mil! Sure Gagne has had injury problems but there is no denying his skill. He is injury prone like Justin Williams but higher upside. Not a bad guy to ink to a 2 year deal. Well worth the risk.
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the philly connection has got to stop…. not happy at all…
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@whatever, u never seem to be happy y is that???..
We got a ood team and u find the negatives to say ..
We Win a game u going to say we suck
When the Kings get boot in either round 2 or 3 u going to say i know they would cause they suck
When the Kings get someone else u going to say we still going to lose..
Next season the Kings wins the Stanley Cup u going to say the Kings got lucky
Y so negative??
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@whatever, youmaddbro?
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John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@whatever,
WHY does it have to stop??? Williams, Richards & Gagne are really GOOD players – who freaking cares WHERE one gets really good players?!!
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Osaka Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@whatever, That is just 3 players. We had Green, Stoll, Penner, and Smyth last season from Edmonton. Even that doesn’t compare to the real Edmonton South days: Gretzky, Kurri, McSorley, Huddy, Coffee, Krushelnyski.
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jet Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@whatever, guess poorman’s spot did not stay empty for long
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Sorry, realisticly Kings are still 6th or 7th in the confrence. They need a pure scorer that can create with the puck and they just have not unearthed that. 1st or 2nd round the best we can expect.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@brian, realistic we are a 4th place team
only reason why we were 7th Kopi was injured and JW
so we area 4th spot team could get to first with one more player than we will be 1st for sure in our division..
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@KingsFanFTW, with Kopitar we wouldve done damage in the playoffs. I don’t wanna hear that we wouldn’t. With Richards and Gagne we are fer sure a top 4 team. We aren’t the Kings we used to be. I know it might seem weird to think of ourselves as hmm maybe GOOD but fact is we are. Embrace it.
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Subby Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@brian ***
KingsFanFTW Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@Subby, i know maybe Kopi or a healthy JW wouldn’t do much but am saying about the spot our team was at we went to 4th to 7th close to 8th in couple days without or to top scorers..
This year will be different alot different.Maybe we be the underdog team to the Sharks, Detroit or Canucks but the other teams like Preds and coyotes and them we will be the top dog..Am not making any excuses just saying the reality of it.
John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@brian,
OK Nostradamus, sure..
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KingsFanInPortland Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:25 pm
@brian, Uh… Gagne? Have you ever seen his stats? Wow.. lol. He’s a sniper, will score 30-40 goals when healthy, and will be playing with Richards, who he played with on the same line for 3 years+.
What do you want? Ovechkin?
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Osaka Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@brian, You mean like Boston had? Oh wait, they didn’t have one did they.
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Kings x Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:27 am
@brian, With our improvements and the loss of bryzgalov in PHO we should at least be assured home ice in playoffs. Detroit is hurting on D and that could even pop us to third position. If you have home ice in the playoffs you have the odds in your side for cup victory. That was also TM point about the next step to take.
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:27 am
@brian, You are so wrong.
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:29 am
@brian, Name the 6 teams that will end up ahead of the Kings.
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the team is set as far as i’m concerned. now go get Doughty, Lewis and Richie signed and decide what you are going to do with Martinez and let’s get to camp.
i’d be fine to give Doughty a long-term deal in the neighborhood of $6.5 cap hit and go into the season at around $60-$61M which gives DL a little wiggle room if a deal comes up.
here is hoping that once the RFAs are signed that it is a quiet summer until camp.
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Another quality player, and quality person added to our roster. Check out this nice tribute the Flyers and their fans gave him his first game back in Philly after being traded to Tampa…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z42eYm45pg&feature=related
Good comments by the fans after the vid, especially given most Philly fans tendency to badmouth players after they leave the Flyers.
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LAPD Line Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@LAPD Line,
Here is a better quality version of that tribute game..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmGhFDz3z1c&feature=fvwrel
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Here how how many goals each player could get this year…
Kpoi 45 hes freed up and now teams will have a hard time shuting him down…
JW 32
MR 35
SG 30
JP 25
JB 28
DD 20
JS 18
Koti 17
KC 17
JJ 15
Scary to think we have that many guys that can get 30 goals, if they are all healthy.
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KingsFanInPortland Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@Sammuch, Well… I think you are overvaluing a lot of the players… but we will score a lot more I suspect.
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Quicker Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:19 am
@Sammuch, Dp and Db
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KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:32 am
@Sammuch, Kopi coming off major surgery. He’s not getting anywhere near 45 goals.
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Wouldn’t it be nice if these acquisitions — Richards and Gagne — were like the Islanders trading us Harris and Lewis for Butch Goring, with us being the islanders?
Goring was regarded as the final link in driving the Islanders to the Cup.
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