It’s almost time for Kings hockey, and that’s the case whether you happen to live in the greater Los Angeles area, Phoenix, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Germany or Sweden. From late September — the start of preseason play — to mid-October, the team will definitely be the Kings of the road. The preseason starts with split-squad games on Sept. 21 against Phoenix — one here, one there — and also includes two games at Staples Center and one in Anaheim, plus the annual Frozen Fury game in Las Vegas against Colorado (Oct. 1) and a game against Pittsburgh at the Sprint Center in Kansas City (Sept. 27), plus a road game at Colorado. After the Vegas game, it’s off to Europe for a preseason game in Hamburg and regular-season games in Stockholm and Berlin.
Of course, not every player/coach will make every preseason trip, but if you were to hit every game — including the two post-Europe games in New Jersey and Philadelphia — you’d be flying a total of 16,870 miles in 26 days. Hopefully not in a middle seat.
Tickets are still on sale for the games in Las Vegas and Kansas City, but both are expected to sell out. That’s notable in terms of the Kansas City game, given that the Sprint Center holds 17,752 for hockey. The Kings played there in 2008 and drew 11,603, then again in 2009 and drew 9,972. The Sprint Center is owned by the city and operated by AEG, so the tie-in with the Kings is obvious. I spoke with Chris McGowan, the Kings’ chief operating officer, about the preseason games and the games in Europe, and why they take place…
Question: Over the years, the Vegas game seems to have evolved into a happening, instead of just a preseason game. What’s the importance of that game on your side of things?
MCGOWAN: “It’s viewed as important because it’s one of those unique events that we have on the calendar that we’ve been doing consistently. It’s an event that has become a tradition, and fans really look forward to going out to Las Vegas for a special weekend of Kings hockey. I think it’s just so unique. There’s really nothing like it around the NHL, where you go into a different market and play a preseason game every year like we do. So it has just been built into something that people put on their calendar every year and say, `I’m going to Vegas for the weekend and I’m going to enjoy a hockey game as well.’ Organizationally, it’s an important thing for us as well. For our business, it’s important for us to get a lot of Kings fans out in Las Vegas. There are a lot of Southern California natives who live out there who have grown to like hockey and like the Kings. There are a lot of people who drive to games from Vegas, or fly in and go to games. And they can get our games on TV out there, so it’s an important market to have a bunch of Kings fans there. We’ve been building in that market for 13, 14 years, and it’s a good market to build our brand.”
Question: Most fans understand why the Vegas game is done. Maybe fewer understand the Kansas City game. Is that more important to the AEG side of things? What’s the benefit on the Kings’ side?
MCGOWAN: “Clearly, there’s an importance on the AEG side of things. It’s an AEG building, and it’s good when us, as the Kings, can go and do something that helps AEG as a whole. AEG is a great owner for us, so we always like to repay them back, so to speak, and put another great event in the Sprint Center, which is another good hockey market. But I also think it’s good for the Kings as well. As your team gets better and has a wider appeal throughout the country, it’s good. I have no problem with having Kings fans in Kansas City who can go online, watch Center Ice or go on NHL.com and buy a jersey. As you’re building a brand, it’s just good to play in as many places as you can in the country. I also like going to Europe. Taking the Kings brand where it’s typically not, overall it’s just good for our organization.”
Question: And, if you sell out that game, it makes the market look stronger if there happens to be an NHL possibility…
MCGOWAN: “It’s definitely not a bad thing when you’re talking about a preseason game selling out, and when you’re talking about a potential market for a team to go there.”
Question: Then with Europe, that’s obviously a big investment in terms of time, resources, etc. What is the trade-off there, in terms of what you invest versus what you get out of it?
MCGOWAN: “As an organization, we just kind of all come together, from Dean and Ron, Tim on the AEG side and me and Luc on the business side, and just determine if it’s something that makes sense for our organization. We all kind of have a gut check, get in a room and sign off on it and then go for it. The same thing applies, playing in Hamburg, playing in Berlin, taking the Kings to different places is, I think, a good thing for the NHL but also for the Kings. I think it’s just a unique thing. The players, it’s tough on them because the travel requirements are a little extensive, but I think when they look back on their careers, to be able to say they played NHL games in Berlin and Stockholm, I think that’s something they’re going to look back on fondly. It’s going to be cool to see how many Anze Kopitar fans come to Berlin. For a lot of those people, that’s going to be their only chance to ever see him play a live game, and I think that’s really unique. When we went to London (in 2007) and we played in Austria, I was amazed at the amount of Kopitar fans who were there. I think that’s just a cool thing to be a part of. Then, financially, it all makes sense for us. The league does very well on it and it’s another way for us to help AEG, by playing in AEG buildings, so it makes sense all around.”
any Pre-Season games gonna be streamed online like last year? the two rookie games at TSC are being streamed right?
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Does AEG really need the help at the expense of all the extra miles it puts on the kings not to mention the loss of TWO home games… ugh
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Deke'r Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@Stuart, Agreed, heavy burden on the team, travel, timechanges etc.
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KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
@Stuart, I never bought off on the idea of highly trained athelets having any significant affects from travel, especially with the spacing of the games. No doubt it has some affect, but not anything that is going to make or break your season.
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Stuart Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@KC23, then I wonder why such a big deal is made when talk about restructuring comes up by teams like DET who don’t want to travel more than they already do, which is nothing compared to what the Kings and other teams in the west travel… and then you have teams in the east how can make it to all their games, home and away, virtually by driving their own cars… I’m not sure, but I’d be willing to be bet flying all those miles takes its toll.
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KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@Stuart, I’m sure they would rather not have to travel more given the choice, but come on setting in a first class seat in a airplane is not like doing 2,000 yards worth of sprints or anything like that.
Osaka Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
@Stuart, Big time.
Bill M. Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@Stuart, One long trip at beginning of a season is VERY different from constant extra travel throughout the season.
Osaka Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@Bill M, But the Kings do already have the toughest travel schedule throughout the season. Travel has been a reason certain UFA haven’t signed with us.
Osaka Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@KC23, Do you ever travel? 2 weeks ago I flew into LA from Japan and it took 4-5 days before I felt “right”. It isn’t just sitting in a seat, it is the time change. Players say they don’t feel right if they miss their half hour nap before a game, Europe is what 9-10 hours ahead of LA. It messes with you. I am amazed they can do it all season long.
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KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
@Osaka, Yeah, I’ve flown to Austrilia from LA and back. Fourteen hour flight.
Deke'r Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@KC23, Not so much physical as mental, messes with your internal clock.
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jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
@KC23, it is more the change of time zones. It takes me 2 days to get back to a normal sleep pattern when coming back from the east coast. Im not an athlete, but human is human
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CB14 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@Stuart, I believe it was Token who pointed out that the last 4(?) cup winners started the season overseas. That’s a good omen for us!
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CB14 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@CB14, And that’s why I should read all the posts on the page before I comment on something Riofan already pointed out.
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KingTrojan Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
@Stuart, It’s two games, guys. Two games.
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Osaka Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
@KingTrojan, If they played more games there it would make it easier. That is why travel in baseball isn’t bad, they play 4 or 5 games in each city. The more often you move to a different place the more difficult it is. Dean hired a sleep doctor to travel with the team so it is an issue. I think the Kings will be fine, the past several cup winners have started the season in Europe, but all the travel is a real issue. Not only for those games in Europe but weeks after. I think around Nov. we will see it affect their play a little. We have a lot of depth so I see the Kings being OK.
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Actually, besides the opening euro trip, the Kings have a pretty easy road schedule this year if you look at all 82 games. I don’t think there is one trip longer than five games.
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furrylats Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@PP Anybody?, totally disagree. Take a peak at Feb 3 through March 11. Fourteen of eighteen on the road. Two weeks home, and then 4 games in 6 days on the road against 3 teams that play us well in their own barn: Van, Cal, Edm, and Minn.
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jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
@furrylats, but they will all be teeing it up by then
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PP Anybody? Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@furrylats, So okay, one 6 game road trip, but then a two home, two away, one home, two away stretch. Still a lot better than the last few years, where they’ve had multiple trips of that length if not up to 8 games.
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As long as they never consider moving the Kings to KC, they can have a preseason game there every year for all I care. Hey, maybe the Devils can go there or the Panthers or one of the other struggling markets.
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@tornado12, I would love an Eastern conference team to move there. Detroit has been petitioning the league for years to move into the Eastern conference. The West is too log jammed with talented teams, and a switch like that would even out the balance of power so that you don’t have 2 Eastern teams with less points make the playoffs ahead of better Western conference teams who have more points, but can’t qualify.
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Player-X Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@Dominick, Anythhing that makes life easier for Detroit is automatically verboten in my book.
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@Player-X, If we can play them 3 times less a season, I’ll take it. Although the last playoff series we ever won would give me pause for reconsideration.
Osaka Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Dom, We play Detroit well, we need less game against St. Louis.
KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@Dominick, No longer feel like Detroit is the big bad bully on the block. I’d be very surprised if they ended up with a better record than the Kings this year. Their defense looks very suspect to me.
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@KC23,
I have some reservations as well, and actually see us as better then them this season, but they are a power house franchise. Ian White, and Mike Commador were excellent signings for them, and I think their a team rooted and grounded with enough foundational players in their system to not even skip a beat in the standings. I do think we’ve taken it past the level that they are currently at, but only time will tell.
They could be on the decline (which would be nice), but they have some excellent players coming up through their pipeline, and where the Kings have concentrated on depth on defense, the Red Wings have concentrated on top end talent.
Their biggest need could be those bridge players, from veteran to rookies. Brendan Smith, Adam Alqvist, and Alexei Merchenko are all fine defensive prospects that you will see breaking into the league soon, and that’s not even talking about forward prospects.
Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
@KC23, Also would like to add that the most suspect for me, is their goaltending.
jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
@tornado12, Kovi BKd the Devils, no extra travel for 10 years.
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Do you know if Frozen FUry is sold out? Where do I find tickets? I would love to go to Vegas and watch the Kings?
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RedBear Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@PK, Tickets for FF are not sold out on TicketMaster. There are also plenty at reasonble prices on that other ticket resale site..
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I’ll be at the rookie game tomorrow and the pre-season game on the 25th against the Sucks. Wish I could go to frozen fury but it’s my moms 50th birthday and I can’t miss that. Not a bad apettizer though for the home opener against the Blues. Finally!!! some Kings hockey. I’ts been a loooong summer.
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puck73 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@Kopi Bryant, see ya tomorrow and the 25th !
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@puck73, Hope to see you Puck
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lvkingaholic Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
@puck73, howdy mike, i lost my phone……. big brainfart, amyways. will be seeing you and all the other fans soon. thanks again ron
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The last t3 Stanley Cup winners opened their seasons in Europe. Just saying…
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Shakes Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
@Riofan,
…and not that it’s always successfull but also the Boston Celtics won the championship a few years back when starting the season in Italy (and they were considered older and thus more exposed to too much travel… or so the theory goes). i think there’s a lot to be said about the team being able to bond on the road when things are done right. you add to the fact that we have a good road team and i think it could be pretty cool. plus playing the Rangers in Stockholm for essentially a home game for Henrik Lunqvist (even though it’s technically a Kings home game) will be a great early winnable test for them
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KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@Riofan, exactly. Travel affects is so over rated. These guys are so physically fit I can’t imagine spending several hours in a first class seat is going to make all that much difference one way or another.
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@Riofan,
Hate to say it, but there was also 10 teams who didn’t win that year.
Carolina
Minnestota
San Jose
Columbus
Pheonix
Montreal
Calgary
Washington
Los Angeles
Anahiem (they won the year before).
I might have missed 1, and hopefully it does turn out to be more than a fun fact. Token believes in it.
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Token Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@Dominick, Amen! Its the post lockout prophecy!
Now if only I could figure out the three seashells …
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KC23 Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 7:49 am
@Dominick, Only one team can win the cup so …
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@Riofan, Oh yea! the New York Rangers. See what happens when you start getting old. The first thing to go is your memory.
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Deke'r Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
@Dominick, If your lucky!
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Token Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@Deke’r, No, there’s Viagra for that …
Rich,
Have you been attending rookie camp? Can we expect any coverage of kid camp, interviews/evaluation? Personally I’m more interested in content regarding hockey players playing hockey than I am in Hockey Fest or AEG’s vast media empire. I’ve been going out of my head, feigning for some real Kings hockey news and having trouble finding it anywhere.
Thanks.
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jofa6000 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@uknojata, no news is good news.
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Gary Livingston Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@uknojata,
Uhm. Do you not see all the other blog posts before this one?
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Duckbasher Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@Gary Livingston – You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
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Helvetica Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@uknojata, It sort of comes with the territory for this part of the year. There isn’t much hockey news because… there isn’t much hockey. We’re almost there though, so hang in there kid.
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Token Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@uknojata, Check out The Mayor
http://www.mayorsmanor.com
or somesuch.
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KC23 Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 7:51 am
@Token, a lot of good stuff, thanks for the link.
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i cant believe we start the season already with a huge road trip like this! being a western conference trip that logs a lot of miles each year i think it would be better to start differently!
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I’m packing right now for my trip to Europe. Leaving LAX tomorrow night. Hoping to see some other LA-area Kings fans at the Berlin game!
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Shakes Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
@jp, see you in Berlin! (i won’t be in Stockholm, but will be in Germany)
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puck73 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@Shakes, Man, I wanna be a jetsetter as well ! You guys have fun.
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Can’t wait to see who takes Doughty’s plane seat on the trip across the pond.
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jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@DBking, I just hope when he comes back he doesnt need to switch his number to ate.
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Discussing the branding aspect of a hockey team is not something we normally are privy to but I find it interesting and necessary part of hockey operations, not just for selling tickets or jerseys, but to expand the name of the organization, the sport and its players across the world.
To develop, encourage and expand the Kings fan base in Europe or Kansas City is as important to the L.A. based fans. And as this team grows to SC contenders, the roar and support will be heard from across the globe!
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Duckbasher Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@dMan – There’s nothing that builds a fan base better or faster than WINNING!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Duckbasher,
Hence the 35 of 41 sellouts at Staples last season. Expect a full season of sellouts this year!
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The real question: how many miles will RICH endure?
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Token Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
@Kingsword, As long as he posts that am picture from his hotel room and talks about the local eatery, its like watching the travel channel.
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Ok, I will be the first to volunteer to share the roadtrip with the teams. I know, the charter plane and first class hotels will be rough, but I am willing to do it for the team. Europe is a rough place, but sharing the hardship is something we should all ne willing to accept. As soon as DL gives me the thumbs up, I will start packing with a sense of deep dread of making this tril. GKG!!
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tornado12 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@DesertKing, nice! some perspective is refreshing eh?
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KC23 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@DesertKing, hehee … yeah, I feel real sorry for these guys making millions that have to spend some extra hours in a first class seat on an jet airplane. Boo hoo.
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puck73 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
@KC23, I agree. Back in 06, Pati and I got bumped up to 1st class on the way back from Honolulu on a 767 and I will tell you what..MAN was that was relaxing ! I had always been dead tired when I flew coach home from New York or Europe. Anyway, the point is, these guys all have 1st class seats on that Air Canada jet they fly on so they should have the chance to sleep as much as they want.
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DesertKing Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
@DesertKing,
Still ready to go and still waiting for DL to call. I even packed my Dora the Explorer suitcase and LA Kings backpack with clean socks and some underwear.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@DesertKing,
With that suitcase, how can he not call you! Have fun!
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Now the Dallas Stars are going to file bankruptcy…… what the hell give DD 10 mil a season. Why does anyone care what these guys are paid right? We can print some more money.
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CB14 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@Osaka, I’m amazed that in the 6 years since the lockout, the salary cap has increased 25 MILLION Dollars. From 39 to 64.
TWENTY FIVE MILLION in 6 years. UNREAL.
If I were Drew Doughty, I would sign the 9 year 61.2 million dollar contract that he was offered months ago because I see the Salary Cap going down next year after the new CBA is ratified.
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KC23 Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 7:54 am
@CB14, It’s been projected by people in the know to go up about 5 million. We’ll see though.
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CB14 Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
@KC23, WOW, That would amaze me.
Kingsfanone Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@Osaka,
I agree with you. Is no one thinking of the bigger picture?
Oh what the hell. Give DD $15 Million a season. It’s all Monopoly money anyway, right?
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jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
@Osaka, as did New Jersey last week. There are 4 more teams in trouble. consolidation or lower the cap and floor? I would not give a deal over two years if I were a GM.
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Just no traveling in Russia.
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Deke'r Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@Dominick, Was wondering who was going to bring that up..
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Token Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
@Dominick, Darn, for a real polite guy you sure do have a dark side.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
@Token,
He’s Jedi. Not such a big mystery, really.
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DesertKing Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@Kingsfanone,
Actually I think he is a Sith.
Kingsfanone Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
@DesertKing,
Ah, hence, the dark side. Makes sense to me!
Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
@Kingsfanone,
I think you guys goof around more than I do. LMAO!
Kopi and Richards golfing today.
http://a.yfrog.com/img735/4056/6qrts.jpg
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KC23 Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 7:57 am
@Osaka, Is that not a plaid Resistance 3 (PS3 video game) hat on Richards?
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Nice to see that Teubert still can’t fight……http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXuCEkfYzFA&feature=player_embedded…… Enjoy the video and hope Penner does have the better year we are starting to believe he just might have.
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jet Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@Mark1967, but he does have the C, so he must be working or he went into camp in Kings shape
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Sorry didn’t copy right….. It’s on Hockeyfights .com under minor league.
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Dominick Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@Mark1967, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXuCEkfYzFA&feature=player_embedded
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tuan jim Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
@Dominick,
Nobody wins all his fights. Teubert learned a lot by getting that hard frask in punim.
He’s still a tough kid and will be tougher still.
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Can’t wait for the Stockholm game. As a Norwegian Kings fan, the opportunity to watch the team play over here in Europe doesn’t come too often…
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