In the previous post, the likelihood of Slava Voynov rejoining the Kings was discussed. His buddy, and countryman, is already here. Andrei Loktionov skated in practice today as Dustin Penner’s replacement on the second line, alongside Mike Richards and Dustin Brown. It’s an interesting situation. Terry Murray has been on record as saying that Loktionov is a better center, but the current opening is for a winger and the Kings need Loktionov’s offensive ability in a top-six role, so for now, it’s a marriage of necessity. Loktionov spent part of last season as Anze Kopitar’s left winger, and in total he had four goals and three assists in 19 games. In Manchester this season, Loktionov is leading the Monarchs with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 17 games. Here’s what Murray said about his decision to put Loktionov in a second-line wing spot…
MURRAY: “With Penner going on I.R., we’ve talked about our scoring a lot here in the last couple years. We need to get our 5-on-5 scoring to have more depth, more balance. We feel with Loktionov, he’s a very creative guy, he’s a puck-possession player. He can, we’re hoping, make some good things happen on that line. I felt comfortable using him last year with Kopitar. He played five games and went back down to the minors and came up and played some more in that situation. So I feel that he’s got some games under his belt at that position, although I do still feel he is a center iceman. He fits there right now, again, because he’s a puck-possession player and he’s got a real good IQ on the ice. We’re looking to see if that can get some chemistry to start to get some scoring for us.”
Question: What do you want to see from that line, from Richards and Brown to help Loktionov out as a winger?
MURRAY: “Well, I’m looking for good chemistry from that line. We’re looking, obviously, for the offensive part of the game to take another step, to get to the next notch and to spread it out a little bit. I think we saw some of that happening in the Minnesota game. The D were involved. There were some pretty good puck-possession plays. There was good cycle play in the Minnesota game, and I think Loktionov adds to that kind of look, to what we want. Again, he played there last year, some games with Kopitar, and I think the experience was a real positive one for him. So the adjustment should be easier for him to go through this year.”
Incidentally, Penner was on the ice toward the end of practice, in a yellow no-contact jersey. Scott Parse, also on injured reserve, is not yet practicing.
We shall see.. This might be a good thing for Lotki and us fans
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MB Kings Fan Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 9:27 am
@408kingsfan, His point totals from last year are already…ummm..triple of Penner’s in his last 2-+ games. So it seems like he can’t be any worse. Plus he’ll try.
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Richards is so versatile and selfless, that he will make the necessary adjustments himself to accommodate lokti and maximize his strengths. Should work great.
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Alex Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
@jess, If Loktionov is much better at center why not try Richards on the wing. He is bigger, stronger, more physical and been around much longer.
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RogiesBackUp Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@Alex, Agreed!
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jess Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 12:24 am
@Alex, hey that may happen, you never know!
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So what you’re tell us is Loki has done better in an unnatural position than penner has in his natural position? How much are we paying Penner? Its a contract year and this is what he has to offer?
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VanKingsFan Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Mikey, I really don’t understand how he ended up with 30+ goals in Edmonton….
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RLane420 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@VanKingsFan, Alot easier to score on a all offense team. Its easier to hang around the net when you arent expected to hurry back to your own end.
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Jimmyo777 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@VanKingsFan, Why don’t you guys give it a rest on Penner already…Things will shake out over the next few months
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here we go again Loti on the wing………. …
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jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@Rudedogg, I bet his + / – smokes what pens was putting up in no time flat.
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Thats how it is going to be, players wont get a chance on this team untill they prove they can be defensemen first. Lokti has shown he can play in his own zone.
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IMO this line just went from a b- to an A+
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bmova Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@jess, Any line that Penner is taken off of automatically improves!
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In watching Loktionov in pre-season the one thing I noticed that improved the most over the previous season was his board play, strenght on the puck against the boards forechecking … that was his weakness last year playing wing. I got a feeling he’ll be improved over last year at the wing position.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@KC23, He definitely looked like he filled out some more and got a little stronger. Doesn’t quite look like a little kid anymore. Hopefully he can manage to get some flow into his game, even though TM will probably have him playing against the boards most of the time.
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bobknob Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@KC23,
yep, he looked quite strong on his skates.
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He may be able to play Centre on the 2nd PP unit.
Big week ahead! I will be praying for a Kings win on Saturday! Wednesday and Thursday too)
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Stackhouse Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@kevin from toronto, That’s what I’m looking forward to. I never liked the three wingers (Gagne, Williams, Penner) on the 2nd PP unit. Hopefully, Lokti can be the playmaking center that unit needs.
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CB14 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@Stackhouse, I don’t have a problem with that, I have a problem with Stoll shoots wide of the net back on the point.
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kevin from toronto Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
@CB14, Think Voynov and Stoll will man the point on the 2nd unit?
KC23 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
@CB14, Loktionov should replace Stoll on the 2nd PP unit … or even puck73, bailey or bob miller would be better.
CB14 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@kevin from toronto, Sadly, I think he will.
RogiesBackUp Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
@CB14, He intentionally does that to force a movement on the PP.
Bkrs-Bud Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 2:03 am
@CB14, +1
The only thing else this day needs to confirm that Dean Lombardi has been kidnapped by Poorman, is the announcement that Jonathan Bernier is now the Kings starting goaltender. Just Kidding.
Seriously though, he must be the happiest Kings fan there is right now.
I’m glad Lokti was called up, it makes the most sense IMO. Although if Lokti gets injured against Anaheim, forget this post was ever written.
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What, exactly is Parse’s ailment? Is it the dreaded ‘mid-lower-upper body injury’ again? It’s so hard to keep track these days…
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Chucker Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 11:53 am
@mash-ola, groin I believe.
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If he has to play wing why not put him with kopitar and williams? He has 19 games played with kopi.
That puts Gagne with Richards, that has proven in the past to work.
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Clearly exchanging Penner for Loktionov is a bonus. With any luck, they send Penner through waivers to the minors, and someone picks him up (wishful thinking). If I were coach, I would put Stoll with Richards. And I would let Loktionov center line 3. I know we would be losing faceoff potential, but Stoll is (supposed to be) a scoring center, which would be a better matchup with Richards. Loktionov and Richards are both passing centers. But that’s why they pay Murray the big bucks, to make those decisions.
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excited for wednesday…….
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kevin from toronto Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
@letswinthecup2012, Excited for Thursday & Saturday!
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I’m glad to see Slava get another chance, tho Martinez is a fine player. I havent yet seen enough from Loktionov to be all gaga over him like many here seem to be. He’s never even lit the AHL on fire, his shooting percentage is poor (always like 6-8%) and if his strength is in being a set-up man, how will that help a line with Richards already on it? Two guys trying to set up Brown, a winger with no real shooting prowess? I dont really see how he fits in the current lineup. But we’ll see.
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Jumblehead Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 7:22 am
@bbb7, 33,24,24,28. Captain Browns goal totals the last four years. Led the team in goals last year. There is some scoring potential there.
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Maybe lokti will help Richards put up big numbers goal scoring!
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Lokti is one of my favorite players and coolest skaters…I’m stoked he’s finally getting to play with the Kings this year.
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