Life has a funny way of coming full-circle sometimes. Colin Fraser last dressed for an NHL game on March 29, as a member of the Edmonton Oilers against the Kings. Fraser suffered a broken foot, missed the rest of the season, got traded, became the focal point of a Kings-Oilers dispute and missed the first 15 games of this season as he recovered from foot surgery. Six-plus months later, Fraser will be back in the NHL tomorrow night, as he plays for the Kings against Vancouver.
FRASER: “It’s been a long road. If you date it back to when the injury first happened, last March, it feels like a really long time. But I’m really excited to maybe prove myself and prove what I’ve got, and hopefully I can stay in the lineup and bring some energy and bring something different to the team.’’
Question: You’ve just been skating and practicing, every day, since training camp. How hard has it been?
FRASER: “It’s been hard. With that being said, you’ve got to be a team guy. You can only carry 23 guys, and at the end of the day, we’ve got a good team here, a good group of guys. You never wish ill will upon anyone else, or anything selfish like that. But when you get your opportunity, you’ve got to take advantage of it and hopefully earn a job, a regular spot in the lineup.’’
Question: What should fans expect to see in your game?
FRASER: “I think a lot of energy. I’ll try to get in on the forecheck, and just good, quality minutes, doing little things. I’m not going to go out there and go end to end and go backhand top shelf or anything fancy like that, like Kopi or something. Very simple, not a lot of mistakes and just try to put in some quality minutes.’’
I’m rooting for you Fraser.
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OldKingsFan Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@cpmc29, I hope he brings some sandpaper to this team. We need someone to disrupt the opposing goaltender. Give him something to think about and I don’t mean tracking the puck.Get in the paint and hopefully get into his head. So when the big kids come out to play he is still a little disrupted by the rough treatment.
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Of course now I fully expect him to go end to end and backhand it top shelf
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pautna Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@KingsKnight, Exactly.
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vicarious Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
@KingsKnight, Yes. And hopefully not an own goal.
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Go get them damn Canucks, Colin! Let’s hope not too many Vancouver fans are there please!
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OldKingsFan Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@hockeysureshot, I want him to rattle BobbyLu. Give him some a ice bath. We take at least 1 goalie interference penalty by the other team per game. Poor Quick has to deal with a bunch of crap and we coddle the other team goalie. Fraser BobbyLo likes the rough stuff so give it to him. we are counting on you.
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Deke'r Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
@hockeysureshot, Wishful thinking.
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Seems A Good Fellow Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 12:24 am
@hockeysureshot, what would Kings fans rather watch? YouTube video…two girls one cup or the Sedin Sisters….two girls no cup? Please weigh in!
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OldKingsFan Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 4:29 am
@Seems A Good Fellow, two girls one cup
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Up goes Fraser!! Up goes Fraser!!!
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King Taco Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@DesertKing, Too soon
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Otto Ped Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@King Taco, Not at all. It took one to fall for another to rise
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King Taco Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Otto Ped, There can be only one.
I guess he’s worth a shot or two at least. If he’s not performing I see no reason in not bringing Loktionov up and playing him at that center position.
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Interesting! Again hoping for the best. Does anyone know if Luongo is playing?
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CB14 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Lake Forest, I hope so.
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brig33 Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 12:14 am
@CB14, haha me too!
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Perro Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 7:34 am
@brig33, I alos hope LAberts is playing. He was one of our top players when when played them two years ago in the first round.
Go Fraser, have some fun, play your game and kick some Canucks booty. Its your time to do your thing. Good luck.
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and in case you were wondering….he’s also a former flyer.
drafted in 2003 by philly.
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Duckbasher Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@jmsalsa, – A Flyer in a king’s jersey? Edmonton? Why does this sound familiar?
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Off topic, but watching the flyers – lightning game, and if I am not mistaken, Simmonds is no longer wearing a visor. So he was inspired by Prongers ability to take a stick to the eyeball? Or is he just that tough now that he plays for Philly?
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CB14 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
@PurpleBlacknGold, I noticed he wasn’t wearing it when they played the Kings.
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Blake Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@CB14, He hasn’t worn it all year, probably because he got a fighting instigator with a shield last year and other fighters didn’t regard him highly for that.
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Deke'r Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@Blake, True…they do have their code of conduct!
PurpleBlacknGold Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@CB14, Sometimes I am a little slow…lol. Don’t know why I didn’t notice it then…
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Off topic…But Bailey with the Stache last night!!!! Really cool!!!!!
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OldKingsFan Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@neil, Porn star in the making. Bailey a Lion of many talents.
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Speaking of Full Circle, anyone who took the shot that broke his foot? Rich says he was playing against us.
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wavesinair Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@Lake Forest,
I was wondering the same thing. Seems like a good subject for a post…anyone? …anyone?
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Lake Forest Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@wavesinair, I tried looking on youtube, but didnt find anythign aside from a few fights.
Which I will say, if he fights I would be VERY happy, if he doesn’t score any points, but gets a fight. SOmething to bring back the confidence quickly.
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I have no idea about this guy. Im sure he’s going to be noticed out there…
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Was there ever an outcome to the Edmonton issue?
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As you were saying, Lokti and Voynov remain in the minors.
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wavesinair Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@Poorman,
As well as 23 other guys dying to make the NHL.
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AZ King Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 6:39 am
@Poorman,
You are correct! Just where they should be.
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Well……I’m realisticly expecting him to be invisible for 3 or 4 games, with a couple of bonehead mistakes, before he starts to shake off the rust from sitting for 6 months, just like Parse when he sat for an extended period. He’s working his way back, and he won’t be Gretzky even when he does get his timing back.
I just hope Kingsfans show more patience then they did with Parse. It took a whole 2 games in Camp for fans to scream “waive him”.
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kyle Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@Dominick, fair point indeed. Drills and practices for someone who has been on the shelf for as long as Fraser won’t equate to game pressures and speed. He deserves our patience. Although…an end to end rush capped by a backhand top shelf would be ok too. Cheers.
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CB14 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@Dominick, I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Parse had high expectations. I forget if it was TM or DL, but one of them said Parse was one of the top 3 skilled players on the team. No one should have as high of expectations for Fraser. As long as he doesn’t take the bad penalties like Parse did, I’ll be happy.
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wavesinair Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@Dominick,
Consider too that he, along with Parse before he came back and Hunter were the 5th line for quite a few practices. Coupled with the extensive ice time during practice and quality linemates during those drills, he certainly has put in the time. Add that to his decent amount of experience, including winning a fricken Stanley Cup (you know, the thing we ALL covet) I actually expect him to be quite effective right out of the gate. At the very least, play responsible and make life hell for the opposing line.
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Dominick Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
@wavesinair, I really would love to see that, and I am with you. I just want people to be prepared if it doesn’t happen right out the gate, and start cryin about how DL screwed up.
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Deke'r Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
@Dominick, We don’t have time for that touchy feely stuff….off with his head!!
Lake Forest Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
@Dominick, WE ARE 15 games into the season and he hasn’t score one point. What the hell? TRADE HIM
haha, i kid i kid
KC23 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@Dominick, I doubt he’ll get to 3 or 4 games as a King before he’s waved or traded.
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KC23 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 1:17 pm
@KC23, Then again he could score first goal in the Standly cup next year.
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Parse on IR – Rear end is sore from being chewed on by the coaching staff. Had to go to the dentist to get the teeth pulled out of his rump. He may have skilled and he is soft as a marshmellow and he gets burned too.
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I’m excited to see him in the lineup…good luck dude!
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So whose getting bumped?
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wavesinair Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
@USHA#17, Gotta be Lewis me thinks.
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Make the Oilers pissed that they gave up on you and made part of a deal that was shady. I do feel bad that he was involved in such a bad trade.
Be the spark that we need.
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He is a King player so I’ll be rooting for you Fraser. Have a great game
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Good luck Colin, punish the Sedin sisters and the rest of the Nuck whiners.
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Deke'r Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
@Goring 19, All of which play for Vanhoover..
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Kenny44 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Deke’r, Love it! I brought a “Vanhoover Sucks” sign to the Gretzky 802 game. I went with a group from my college dorm and nobody got it. I finally feel like I’ve found a home here. Sniff!
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I was able to spend some quality time with the team recently, and I can tell you that I was very impressed with Colin. He’s a great stand up, professional, quality person. There are plenty of other players that are glued to their phones, texting away after the games, not speaking with anyone (you all on this site could name them!) while Colin is having conversations with many of us. OK, hockey isn’t all about these traits, and he needs some talent also, but I can tell you that this guy WANTS IT, and he’s worked hard. He’s been ready to play for longer than anyone will admit (they couldn’t take him off IR without having to move a body), and I expect to see the guy throw everything at it tomorrow. What we don’t factor in is that he also has a little baby girl at home, and a recently purchased house in Red Deer. He needs to make it happen! Good luck Colin, make it happen out there. We’re in your corner!
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Gmo Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@?, Colin is from red deer?
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Did the dispute with oilers ever get settled?
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KC23 Reply:
November 9th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
@Mark, Nope. It was postponed till the next GM meetings or something of that nature. Basically, the NHL can’t be bothered and are only doing it because they have to under their own rules. I expect nothing to come of it.
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Perro Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 7:37 am
@KC23, I expect a conditional 6th or 7th pick
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I HOPE Colin Fraser made a full 100% recovery and that he continues to be who he is on the ice by being nothing else different than that all because of an injury that could hold you back. I HOPE C. Fraser makes the team with Kings, but it be tough because of T. Lewis, B. Richardson, Westgarth, and etc…
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I think putting Parse on the 3rd line was a mistake.
He was basically playing where Hunter was … and the role of that line and position means that Parse would get smashed.
He is a skill player … Not a checker or a 3rd line shut down. Not surprised he got hurt.
It would have been better to bench him. Plus, he can’t play RW … Bad move
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Anyone knows what # uniform C Frazer will be wearing?
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Zeley Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 8:30 am
@Gustavo,
I was told 24 yesterday. Thanks, wavesinair
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Gustavo Reply:
November 10th, 2011 at 8:56 am
@Zeley, thank you.
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Fraser Hat Trick … comin’ up.
Book it.
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Sounds like a rich clune type. Happy to see him get a chance and if he fails Loki is healthy and a phone call away. I like this a lot! The player we got for smyth, who is a doo doo head, will play his 1st game. Hope he is a heavy checker and brings something tonight!
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C’mon Colin.. we need SOMEbody to go end-to-end and backhand top shelf.. why not you?
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