As noted earlier, before long, training camp will be finished and it will be time for the Kings to fly to Europe. The Kings will leave for Germany immediately after the “Frozen Fury” game in Las Vegas on Oct. 1. Since the league started playing exhibition — and, later, regular-season — games in Europe in the early 1990s, there’s been plenty of debate about the best way to handle the travel. Some teams have gone over far in advance, while some choose to fly in as late as possible. Coming back, some teams — particularly West Coast teams — have decided to fly directly home, while others have preferred to “play their way” back home with road games in the East.
The Kings are choosing to arrive in Europe on Sunday evening (Oct. 2). They will play a preseason game in Hamburg on Tuesday night, then fly to Stockholm in advance of Friday’s game (and Saturday’s game in Berlin). Their first opponent, the New York Rangers, have chosen to arrive in Europe nearly a full week before the Kings. The Kings have been getting direction from a sleep consultant, who was in El Segundo today to talk to the team and give advice about the best way to deal, physically, with the travel. Based on those recommendations, for instance, Terry Murray will hold his practices at 5 p.m., rather than the morning practices he would normally have in Los Angeles.
MURRAY: “What he talked about in the summer time was actually trying to make the adjustment to go to the European time. So everything is later, with the practices. He wants you to stay up real late the night you arrive. Enjoy Oktoberfest, that kind of idea. `Oh, OK, we can do that.’ [laughs]”
Hopefully the sleep expert will help them even the playing field since the rangers will be already there waiting for them.
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tornado12 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@puck73, hopefully the Rangers have a good masseuse for after they get rolled by your Los Angeles Kings!
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gmo Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@tornado12,
lol nice
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USHA#17 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@tornado12,
…and have just a 5 hour lag as opposed to the Kings 8 hour lag. Big difference.
If the league is going to do this then teams from the same time zones should meet.
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Dominick Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 9:43 pm
@USHA#17, I agree. How is it we are on the other end of the continent, and we have to burn a home game on top of it?
Starlight Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:32 pm
@USHA#17, 6 and 9 actually.
tornado12 Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@Dom, Im sure it has to do with money. I believe those games in Europe are being played at AEG rinks, so the Kings owners are getting revenue as if it is a home game. anybody know if thats true?
Dominick Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@tornado12, That actually makes sense. Still seems lame though. AEG would still make the money even if it were considered a road game. Maybe this whole idea was AEG’s to begin with, and they packaged the idea that way to entice New York to play there, and the NHL approved.
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Bama Kings Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@tornado12, We had an issue in our LA Kings Insider (non-official) Fantasy Hockey League and may have a slot or two opening up. If you’re interested in getting on the waiting list, email me: john@frusterio.com
Thanks and GKG!
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Smart idea to try and adjust your daily routines, but that only works on the way there. It’s going to be a jolt coming back no matter what. The fact that they will “play their way” across the east on the way back should help limit that. Also, a good game plan going in should lead to a hot start of the regular season, and that will help with chemistry and confidence through the tough spots.
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I wonder if the Griswold’s will be on their European Vacation & can catch a game? Let’s show the Europeans how we do things in LA boys!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!!!
Have a safe trip and a safe return home!!!!
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gtflognfeldt Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@King Alex, If nothing else, I will make my way from Norway to the Stockholm game against the Rangers. After all, it’s only fair that if the Kings go all the way from LA and over to Stockholm, I can get from Lillehammer and there, right?
Will be only the third time I catch an NHL game in the arena, and the first time I see the Kings. Will be far from the last, though.
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King Alex Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 11:07 am
@gtflognfeldt, Have a great time & a safe trip!
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My sleep advice would be to watch all of the Kings Power Plays from last season, if that doesn’t put you to sleep I don’t know what will.
Either that or let Dean Lombardi explain the meaning of life and record it and play that back to you at night.
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lilsunshine Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@CB14, I like the DL idea. Maybe read the boys Goodnight Moon or Where The Wild Thing Are.
He’d stop every page or so to explain why Max put his suit on and what he’d have done to get him to be good.
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Shuchuk Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 8:44 am
@lilsunshine, or “Go the F*** to Sleep”?
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Shuchuk Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 8:47 am
@lilsunshine, or “Go the F*** to Sleep”?
“yes mr quick, its your net to keep…pipe down, we got a transatlantic flight-go the f*** to sleep!”
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Sleep?
Reading a Chekov play always does it for me!
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LittleRhody Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:15 pm
@IceGuy, How could you possibly fall asleep reading a play about Star Trek? (j/k)
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IceGuy Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@LittleRhody,
It was directed by William Shatner – that’s why! hehehe
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Hey! I could be a sleep consultant! Where do I sign up for that? I’m a really great sleeper, I could coach others on sleeping, no problem….
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Adamic39 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@Sancho, Could you help me then? I HURT myself SLEEPING!!!! I’m on IR and have to take a week off. What am I doing wrong?
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They should hire the sleep merchant from
“Inception”..Then they could orchestrate a win each time…
Unless someone’s ex wife is in on it…
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Player-X Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@SLIM, Like any other child, he will run around in his pajamas until the sugar buzz wears off, then he will crash into sleep sideways on the bed with his feet against the wall.
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Wonder how Doughty will be sleeping? :/
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Player-X Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@KC23- Like any other child, he will run around in his pajamas until the sugar buzz wears off, then he will crash into sleep sideways on the bed with his feet against the wall
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Maybe Westie can beat up that racist fan. O well Europe is beautiful, but sucks considering all their talent comes to the USA. They can keep their over paid players in the KHL and we will take their super stars. USA! USA!
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You guys are focusing on all the wrong the things. The most important in this article is the advice to enjoy Oktoberfest.
If Doughty doesn’t sign in time to join his teammates in Munich for Oktoberfest, there is really no hope. I say the Kings pay for a whole day at Oktoberfest for Drew and the boys if he signs before the trip. If that isn’t the greatest signing bonus in sports….
Seriously, the Disneyland for adults with your whole team. Wow. Screw nutrition and conditioning for one day.
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@ziggy33, Just what I was gonna say… That might be the bargaining chip that gets Doughty signed… Ziggy zaggy ziggy zaggy oy oy oy!!!
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DD is holding out until the Kings come back…
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One minor issue with their sleep consultant. He obviously doesn’t know that Oktoberfest is celebrated (for the most part) in Munich and not Hamburg, where the Kings will be arriving. It’s about a 7 hour drive between the two locations.
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Bonvivant1 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@Skebo, The Great Beer Hall putsch. I can’t remember the name of the beer hall but it is certainly has a history. One of my fav cities in Germany.
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IceGuy Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@Bonvivant1,
Prost!
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“Enjoy Oktoberfest”. Last Octoberfest I went to was a beer soaked, debauched affair. Let’s hope that those German girls keep their hands to themselves.
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OK, so what time is training camp tomorrow??? I don’t want to be there in the morning for nothing.
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I can’t believe Doughty wants to miss the Euro Roadie…. hasn’t he heard how good the food is over there? I think they even have McDonalds over there
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crashin' da net Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 9:10 pm
@CTD, OUCH!!!
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CTD Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 8:50 am
@crashin’ da net, I couldn’t resist a cheap “doughty’s fat” blast
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“Enjoy Oktoberfest” just don’t enjoy it too much.
No beer
No hard alcohol
No strippers
No fighting
No getting arrested
No gambling
No eating glutinous foods
Basically don’t do anything you can do in Vegas.
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Extra travel
lose a home game
have the play the rangers the one game Gaborik is healthy
nothing to lose sleep over
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Hello…. Drew Doughty. Your team is going to Europe…I’m starting to get mad at you
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I’m still making my way around Europe in advance of the Berlin game and today I find myself in… Slovenia! Gonna head up to Jesenice tomorrow and take a pic with my jersey in honor of Kopi. Maybe if DD signs, I’ll consider stopping by London on the way back. Or the Dunkin’ Donuts at the airport.
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