For those who didn’t attend Hockey Fest this morning and missed the live stream on LAKings.com, I’ll do my best to recap some highlights of the “state of the franchise” question-and-answer session that kicked off the event. (For those who want to see the full video, it should be available via Kings Vision fairly shortly.)
The session, and day, started with emcee Bob Miller asking for a moment of silence in remembrance of the Sept. 11 victims (including Kings scouts Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis) as well as those who lost their lives in last week’s KHL plane crash. The Kings will honor Bailey and Bavis with on-ice logos behind the nets. Here’s a long-range photo, as well as a shot of the panel participants: Terry Murray (with Miller in the background), Jeff Solomon, Ron Hextall and a lurking, pacing Dean Lombardi.
Lombardi started the session with a statement, and joked that he would filibuster the event so that nobody could ask about Drew Doughty. Lombardi spoke about the team learning to recognize and thrive in “critical moments,” such as the failed power play near the end of Game 6 against San Jose, and how things such as that are the key to improvement.
The first question, not surprisingly, was regarding Doughty, and that topic has pretty much been covered in a previous post. The only point to add is Lombardi’s comparison of this situation to the one he faced in San Jose when players — most notably Evgeni Nabokov — held out at the start of training camp. Lombardi said he “couldn’t look the three of them in the eye,” because he knew that budget concerns prevented him from making fair offers in negotiations. Lombardi said he had no such qualms in talking to Doughty. Lombardi called the situation “just a bump in the road” and said there is “no question that ownership is committed to winning.”
Murray took a question about the fitness of Dustin Penner, who came under public criticism at the end of last season. Murray deadpanned that Penner “is a much better-looking person today than what he was at the end of the year.” Murray added that Penner looks “strong and ready” and noted that Penner, who owns a home in Orange County, had moved in order to be closer to the team’s training facility.
Murray was asked about improving the power play, and praised team management’s addition of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne while stressing the need for a better shooting mentality among the players. Lombardi had some fun with the questioner and turned the question back on him, asking what he thought needed to be done. The fan essentially agreed with Murray’s shot-mentality analysis, and Lombardi added that it must be accompanied by a net-presence attitude as well, in order for the shooting to be effective.
Murray was asked about a potential change in the Kings’ leadership group, with the addition of former Philadelphia captain Mike Richards, but said that no changes would be made and that Dustin Brown is the team captain.
Hextall fielded a question about the depth of defensemen in the Kings’ system, a question seemingly centered around a concern that there isn’t enough “room” on the Kings’ roster for upcoming prospects. Hextall said it’s a good situation to have, so that the Kings don’t need to force prospects into situations ahead of schedule. Hextall noted that he had “never seen a player over-prepared to play in the National Hockey League.”
Murray was asked about his goalie plan for the upcoming season and whether he would consider the competition open. Murray said, “Jonathan Quick is going into the start of the season as my No. 1 goalie,” but Murray also praised Jonathan Bernier and said Bernier’s level of play “skyrocketed” in the second half of last season.
The panel was asked about the need, on the part of the NHL and its teams, to better “protect” players in the aftermath of this summer’s player deaths. Solomon took the question, noting that before he joined the Kings, he worked as Wade Belak’s agent. Solomon said that the league and the players’ association are “trying to get a handle” on some of the issues involved and are committed to protecting the players.
A fan asked what the Kings hoped to get from playing the first game of the season in Europe. Solomon quickly deadpanned, “Two points,” before Murray said the trip was a way for the league to give something back to its fans in Europe.
The next question was about the development of some prospects. Lombardi praised the Kings’ development team of coaches Nelson Emerson, Mike O’Connell and Mike Donnelly and also singled out Linden Vey for his improvement. Lombardi noted that in his first camp, Vey was chastised for not being able to do a single pull-up, but Lombardi noted Vey’s drastic improvement in fitness. Hextall noted that players such as Jordan Weal and Brandon Kozun have been successful scorers in junior hockey but are now challenged to become better all-around players in the AHL.
The next question brought out Lombardi’s traditional reference to Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees (at 9:56 a.m., for those scoring at home). Lombardi was asked about bringing in new player during the summer, and the risks that can accompany those moves, in terms of altering team chemistry. Lombardi referenced Mike Richards and said that there were only a handful of players he was willing to trade Brayden Schenn for, and Richards was one of them. Lombardi noted how longtime NHL general manager Bill Torrey classified players on a “chemistry chart,” designating them by personality types such as “surfers, swimmers and sunbathers” based on their personalities. Murray, who knew Richards and Gagne from their mutual times in Philadelphia, said he had “no concerns whatsoever” about adding the players to the Kings’ locker room.
Lombardi was asked about the fact that popular center Michal Handzus signed in San Jose instead of with the Kings. Lombardi acknowledged that the team’s pursuit of Brad Richards on July 1 took some attention away from Handzus but said he still believed that the Kings’ “strength down the middle is still one of the best” in the NHL.
Thanks a lot! I appreciate this tremendously…
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The Champ Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@Sancho, agreed
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I must admit it was great to hear the Q&A and watch the players tricle in
It made my heart feel proud and I actually chocked up at Kopitar..
Looking forward to the [hopefully] best year in a long time..
And Drew will be part of the wonderful ride.
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Someone needs to tell Terry Murray that the reason why his players didn’t have a shoot first mentality on the Power Play is because they had defenders standing directly in their way of the net because the defenders knew exactly what the Kings were going to do with the puck once they got it. Kopitar passes to Doughty, Doughty looks to shoot but has a defender right in front of him so he passes back to Kopitar, Kopitar has a defender directly in front of him so he passes back to Doughty, Doughty wants to shoot but he still has a defender directly in front of him so he passes to Stoll, Stoll has a defender right in front of him but shoots anyway because that’s what his Head Coach wants, and thus Stoll’s shot is either blocked by the d-man, or the shot goes 5 feet wide of the net. But keep shooting boys! Mabye the teams will forget how to defend our Power Play this year, or mabye they won’t, and our Power Play will continue to fail.
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
@CB14,
Sounds about right.
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DLB Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
@CB14, kudos. Remarkable how vivid flashbacks get when we’ve seen it 300 times!
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Jamesonafterawin Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
@DLB, LOL
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tuan jim Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
@CB14,
Yet our power play generally excelled in the playoffs — though it tanked when we needed it to succeed most, in the final regulation minutes of game six.
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jet Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
@CB14, uhh, can you tell me the name of the player who would stand in front of a Stoll slapper? and players from the Kings dont count
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CB14 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
@jet, Every Forward in the NHL who played on the Penalty Kill. Admittedly they were within 10 feet of Stoll so the puck would either hit their leg pads or go wide of the net.
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jet Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
@CB14, hmmm, I recall seeing a few flamingos out there
CB14 Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
@jet, Mabye a few. I like the analogy!
Southbayphil Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
@CB14, I do agree with the necessity of more shooting and net presence, but like you also see the PP as too predictable. The players each stake a place on the ice and there is little movement, except for the guy in front of the net. The potential shooter waits for him to get in place and then the opposing defense and goalie have plenty of time to adjust too. They have to take more one-timers and develop player and puck movement thru the seams, so they take shots when and from angles the goalie isn’t expecting them.
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Buster Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
@CB14,
You mean Stoll’s shot severely disables some poor hot dog vendor in the 300s.
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jess Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@CB14,
Hopefully the chemistry change of M Richards, Gagne and Moreau will help and hopefully Kopi will get his head on a swivel and be looking for those creative passes from Pens this year instead to just looking forward in the direction he is skating (I don’t know if I was the only one who noticed that). –And TM thinks outside of the box, we should be fine:)
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Roger Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@CB14, Murray’s idea is by the end of the third period the player standing in front of the point shot will have no legs because they will shot off by Doughty and Jack.
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Looks like the last few questions were left off. I asked about an update to the Mulletgate situation, specifically what it was the Kings were looking for in return, whether it be a late round pick or additional monetary compensation from the Oilers. Lombardi deferred to Solomon in fear of another fine, who merely said they expect a resolution soon.
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the Los Angeles Kings are in position to make a move this year….no question we have to sign Doughty.
as always I have renewed vigor for the start of the season…but this year is different. we really have something to look forward to right now.
LA and DL have put the pieces together for a serious run….I dream about the feeling I had during the ’93 Cup run (feel the tingle!!!)
“state-of-the-franchise” has never been better
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Someone asked about Handzus? He was our worst center last year (save the games where Moller and Zeiler played center)
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Spidey35 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@Paul G, Tell that to San Jose. The reason that they signed him was because he killed them on their power play in the playoffs.
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BlueStang Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:41 am
@Paul G, I agree. I don’t miss Handzus. Though a lot of you like him I feel he had slowed down and was out of position to much.
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Roger Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:01 am
@BlueStang, Are you sure it was possible for him to get slower?
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I, the questioner of the Power Play, talked about net presence before DL so he in all actually with me. It was a good time though.
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matthew Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@matthew, and for all of you attending or watching, the tone was intentional.
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“Lombardi acknowledged that the team’s pursuit of Brad Richards on July 1 took some attention away from Handzus…”
That is a copout to me. I seem to remember a statement like that last year regardingto Frolov. If you felt it was better for the team to let him move on just say it. Otherwise, get the extension done or offer ready before July 1.
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jofa6000 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
@justmyopinion, agreed.
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jet Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
@justmyopinion, are you saying Handzus will score more than Frolovs 7 goals?
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justmyopinion Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 10:49 am
@jet, Nowhere was the comment related to player production.
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jet Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
@justmyopinion, Nor mine. I was implying DL was just trying to be polite in responding to players who are no longer productive
Michael J. Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:27 am
@justmyopinion,
Maybe he was just being nice. It’s kind of hard to say to a player who has given so much to a franchise that there is no longer any room for him. If the Kings had kept Handzus they would have an additional $2.5 million cap hit, and then have to decide whom to let go – Richardson? Lewis? A teaam can carry only so many centers.
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justmyopinion Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 11:01 am
@Michael J., Nice would be to not state publically that the player would, possibly, have been an option when the player(s) they really wanted turned them down. Just say his contributions to the team were appreciated but resigning him didn’t fit with the projected financial or team structure.
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Michael J. Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@justmyopinion,
I think that is what I was trying to say. I just hope he doesn’t save his best games for when he plays the Kings.
Roger Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:04 am
@Michael J., I would rather have Richardson or Lewis than SlowJuice.
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BlueStang Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 8:58 am
@justmyopinion, Guys Handzus had 12g 18a in 82 games. To score only 12g you have to have at least 25-35a to go along with them. We need scoring, were getting soring. Close the book on Handzus.
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KC23 Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@BlueStang, And Zues had a -5 plus minus which only looks good if your standing next to JJ.
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I have to make it out to Hockey Fest one of these years…Don’t know why I haven’t yet. Feels like a missed home opener or something! From allt he comments it sounds like everyone had a pretty good time!! GKG
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KC23 Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@Chris, Highlights for me … meeting Justin Williams and getting into the locker room. Very cool.
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Thanks alot Mr. Hammond for the follow-up of EVERYTHING!
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Did anyone else catch it when our ‘brilliant, genius’ of a coach, said he didn’t know what day it was? Really Murray? You aren’t sure of the date? 10 minutes after we honor Ace, Mark, and all the others who lost their lives on SEPTEMBER 11th, you, in all your wisdom, can’t remember the date? Someone get him a helmet please….still pulling for Kompon and Murray to get canned…..Kompon first
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ValleyKingsFan Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@kingsfan77, I was under the impression that he was talking about the day of the week. It was in response to when a player got in and I don’t think he was thinking of the date, but rather just trying to count backwards from Sunday. Hear what you want to hear I guess…
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Lnden Vey couldnt do a pull up? I about fell out of my chair when i read that. It strikes me as seriously odd that a guy competing to be a professional athlete cant do a pull up. Im no slouch nor am i he-man but i can pump out at least 10 and I sit at a desk for 40 hours a week. Just sayin…
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