The Kings got some good news today, when first-line winger Simon Gagne returned to practice. Gagne didn’t practice Friday, then missed the two weekend games with what Terry Murray described only as a “middle-body injury.’’ Gagne returned to his first-line role with center Anze Kopitar and right winger Justin Williams and is expected to play Thursday against Edmonton. Gagne had three goals and four assists in his first five games but now has played four consecutive games without recording a point.
MURRAY: “Gagne got through the practice. He felt good coming in this morning. I’ll check in before he gets away here today, but I hope everything was fine and he is back on the ice to get ready for the game against Edmonton.’’
I wonder if the Kings would ever consider bringing back Barry Melrose as coach? I feel like he could really energize this team.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@Tyler, Barry Melrose is a Bafoon ! He was fired after only 11 games in Tampa Bay, gee, I cant imagine why. I also cant imagine why someone else wont hire him?
Trust me on this Tyler, Dean Lombardi will not be hiring Melrose anytime soon, nor should he! Or Melrose would start benching Kopitar, williams, gagne, and any other player who was not a mucker and grinder!
[Reply]
zulov Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:07 pm
@puck73, LOL – TM is so good peoplpe are starting to wish for Melrose!
[Reply]
Helvetica Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@puck73, Then can we AT LEAST convince Terry to grow out a mullet? This team needs a little life behind the bench.
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:13 am
@puck73, this other Tyler….i swear dude…
[Reply]
McDonalds Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:48 pm
@puck73,
Melrose was fired in Tampa because he wasn’t giving top-line minutes to rookie Stamkos, who frankly was doing nothing to deserve such minutes back then. He got screwed over…
[Reply]
jet Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 8:25 pm
@Tyler, Are you the Ducks Tyler? BTW, Hiller looked great tonight
[Reply]
CabbagesAndKings Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:09 am
@Tyler, Lets bring in Yzermen as coach. That guy bleeds winning. (not that I’m advocating firing TM — I don’t know enough about coaching to say that. But I am still mad about him benching Quicker.)
[Reply]
alright sounds positive and hopefully it makes a difference on thursday!
[Reply]
well, without him the Kings didn’t do too well the last 2 games….. GKG!
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:58 am
@Dom, I wouldn’t overstate it, but I think it’s the sniper thing. Gagne has been such a nice addition because he can put the puck in the net. The Kings need all that they can get.
[Reply]
Duckbasher Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:34 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Gagne is probably the purest scoring winger in the system. Great two-way player. I was stoked when I found out we signed him. If healthy all season, and if he plays next to Kopi, he’s capable of leading the team in scoring because he gets his shots on net, and lots of rebounds for Kopi and Willy to poke in. Too bad he’s injury prone though (said as i crossed my fingers)
[Reply]
Big relief to have him back. Filter Penner down to the 3rd line!
Interesting tilt here…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGj4WNXncoI
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@kevin from toronto, the comments below are whats really entertaining
[Reply]
Penner on the first line is a big mistake, might as well make Richards line the first line. Thank God Simon is back….Simmmmmmmmmon
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@Sako, Richards line is a stopper line used to shut down the other teams top offensive players, and try to score on them. Parse is doing a fine job working his way back to game shape, and Penner is doing fine on the 3rd line. With Gagne back the Kings have 3 solid top 9 lines again.
[Reply]
outsider Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@Dominick, even the fourth with Cliffy – Lewis – Moreau is not bad at all!
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@outsider, I agree. That 4rth line has been real good in providing solid play for the minutes they recieve for at least the last 4 or 5 games.
sometimes 4 hours turn to two games….mid body injuries are too much to handle sometimes…LOL…
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@neil, Midbody? maybe he twisted a nipple.
[Reply]
Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:32 pm
@Dominick, hate it when that happens
sometimes i cant make it through the day
[Reply]
Good long (and fun) practice today in El Segundo with Terry Murray fired up more than usual, which is to say at all. Lots of video including… Murray raising his voice…more than once, Quick making an incredible stop on JW, Whiskey schooling Bernier and some good 3rd vs. 4th line scrimmage…followed by some pics of the 7 million dollar mustache. Enjoy! I know I did.
Practice video from today: http://deepinsidethekings.com/
[Reply]
prosmar Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@wavesinair, thanks for the videos!
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@wavesinair, Have you seen the tall traffic dividers with the tires areound them before? I’ve seen the tires before, and the traffic dividers, but never the dividers with the tires around them. Seems like TM is changing things up. Perhaps Penner’s fitness still isn’t what it needs to be considering he looked like the only one gassed in that last pic. Thanks for the video and pictures. Good stuff.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@CB14,
I think they’ve been using those cones with the tires for a while if I remember correctly. I guess it’s just easy to throw the old zamboni tires on the traffic cones…easy to move around.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@wavesinair, I would like to see Doughty go for a retro Larry robinson or Bryan Trottier Stache !
[Reply]
Duckbasher Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:37 am
@puck73, Or Lanny McDonald?
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
@wavesinair,
It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to see murph get a little bit more stern and the boys will respect that. The idea is it’s realistically a cup year and it’s time to get the game face on. This is a good sign to me.
[Reply]
PP Anybody? Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@wavesinair, What is that first drill exactly? Practice shooting from the wing and not use the center for anything?
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@PP Anybody?,
I think he wants the F1 and F2 to drive to the net more from the middle as opposed from outside the dots with the F3 getting the shot off in the high slot so there’s more rebound chances. At least that’s how I read it…
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:36 pm
@wavesinair, Really fun stuff. Excellent job posting so much for us to watch.
[Reply]
Andrew: the second coming Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:59 pm
@wavesinair, I mustache you a question… nevermind i’ll shave it for later.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:38 pm
@wavesinair, excellent job on the videos, ty.
[Reply]
KingsFan1971 Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:05 pm
@wavesinair, thank you so much for the videos TM did get a bit loud, nice to see him have some emotion!
[Reply]
Central Coast King Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@wavesinair, Thanks for the evening movie. Love watching practice.
[Reply]
Thanks waves…Really enjoy your site and the
great stuff you continually post for us…keep up the good work…
[Reply]