The Kings have called up forward Andrei Loktionov, after Dustin Penner went on injured reserve yesterday. Loktionov is leading the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs with 14 points in 17 games. The Kings are scheduled to practice at 10:30 a.m. today.
LATEST NEWS- Jim Fox Live Chat: Tuesday 12PM PT May 21, 2013
- WATCH: May 20th Practice Interviews May 20, 2013
- Dustin Brown Named Finalist For Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award May 20, 2013
- Kings Playoff Quiz – 2013 May 19, 2013
- WATCH: LA vs SJS Game 3 - Game Previews May 18, 2013
- Live Chat - Western Conference Semifinal: Game Three May 18, 2013
- Playoff Game Notes: Kings vs. Sharks: Game 3 May 18, 2013
- The Royal Half Preview: Kings vs. Sharks: Game 3 May 18, 2013
- Kings To Give Away Coolhaus Ice Cream; Road To Repeat Bus Back In Action May 18, 2013
- Loud and Proud May 17, 2013
RULES FOR BLOG COMMENTING
- No profanity, slurs or other offensive language. Replacing letters with symbols does not turn expletives into non-expletives.
- Personal attacks against other blog commenters, and/or blatant attempts to antagonize other commenters, are not tolerated. Respectful disagreement is encouraged. Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted.
- Comments that incite political, religious or similar debates will be deleted.
- Please do not discuss, or post links to, websites that illegally stream NHL games.
- Posting under multiple user names is not allowed. Do not type in all caps. All violations are subject to comment deletion and/or banning of commenters, per the discretion of the blog administrator.
SOCIAL MEDIA
LA Kings Insider LA Kings Official
Go get em Lokti
[Reply]
Donald_S Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:11 am
@Icecrown,
Next Season, Stoll out, Lokti in, Mitchell out, Voynov in. That’s a salary move as well as well earned promotions.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@Donald_S,
NO! Mitchell MUST stay. He is way too good on the back end.
I agree that VV needs to be up, but the Kings cannot afford to lose Mitchell.
[Reply]
TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:17 am
@Michael J., Oh come on Michael surely you don’t really believe that, Voynov is a tremendous defenseman, and Mitchell doesnt even come close
kngfan004 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:29 am
@Michael J., Mitchell is by far the most consisitent D-man we have… he is the core guy. He definitely needs to stay. Stoll has found his role on the third line and the Power play..VV probably replaces Green…
KC23 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@Michael J., Mitchell is the most important defenseman on the team. Period. There isn’t one defenseman on the team I would rather have. In a fair world Mitchell would be making 7 mil a year and DD about 4 mil a year.
#1faninVegas Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:27 am
@Donald_S,
COUGH COUGH COUGH… Why in the world would you want Mitchell out?
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:48 am
@#1faninVegas,
His contract is up, we are stacked on the blueline, no reason to give Mitchell 4+mil when Voynov is ready. Dont get me wrong Mitchell has been great but we can use that money up front unless he comes back at a discount.
Donald_S Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
@#1faninVegas,
I *never* even implied Mitchell was a bad player. I said ‘salary move and earned promotions’. Stoll and Mitchell represent $7 mil. in cap space. If Mitchell will sign for $1.5 mill. he’ll stay. But he won’t. As you point out, he’s too good a player. They can’t afford “everybody”. So figure that Slava and Lokti have earned their promotions and will replace Stoll and Mitchell next year.
RobSD Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@#1faninVegas,
That is probably what will happen. Is Greene’s contract up too after this year? I don’t think we resign Mitchell unfortunately.
#1faninVegas Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
@#1faninVegas,
I think if Voynov was to replace anyone, would be the roll that A-Mart has. Mitchell is a stay-at-home “D” and you can not have two offensive minded “D” on the same line. Therefore, I think A-Mart will be trade bait at the trade deadline or at the draft. Mitchell, Greener, stays. Stoll, I think Stoll will stay as well.
mrbrett7 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:52 am
@Donald_S, It’s going to be Martinez, not Mitchell.
Mitchell plays a different role than what Voynov plays.
[Reply]
/cheer!
what the lines guna be???
Richards/Loktionov/brown?!?!
[Reply]
Token Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:35 am
@lafan13, I like that allot!
Rick will be Rick no matter where he plays and can take the face-offs.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:43 am
@lafan13,
I have to believe he would go onto the 2nd line. Seems like a no-brainer to me. But then again, we’ve all seen some pretty kooky TM lines.
[Reply]
Gokings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:54 am
@wavesinair, 2nd line for who Richardson? Richardson to third Clifford to fourth Lewis out? Only change I could understand.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:58 am
@Gokings,
Huh? Uh, the subject of this post… Andrei Loktionov.
Where’d you get Richardson?
FiG17 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:01 am
@Gokings,
I think he meant you’d have to take Richardson off the second line to allow for Lokti there, not that he thought you were talking about putting Richardson on the second line.
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Ah, thanks fig. I think you’re right…and yes, no question Ritchie drops.
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:03 am
@lafan13,
This is what i’d LOVE to see. TM puts that line together and i like Loktionov’s chances of staying up. If Penner ever gets going my favorite look down the road is this….
Penner- Kopi- Williams
Gagne- Loktionov- Richards
Clifford- Stoll- Brown
Lewis- Fraser- Richardson
[Reply]
Gokings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Jason4Kings, This is what we will get.
Gagne-kopi-williams
Brown-Richards-Loki
Richie-stoll-hunter
Cliffy-Fraser-Moreau
Like this…. Grit and skill
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:51 am
@Gokings and @Jason4Kings, Gentlemen, Lokti should not be playing wing, especially not RW. And Brown moves over to LW??? What is this, picking names out of hat. IMHO, Richie should’ve been given a chance to play LW with Rick and DB. I mean seriously, he can’t be any worse then Penner!
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@bmova,
I didn’t have Lokti at RW.
Andrew: the second coming Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:54 am
@Jason4Kings, If anything Richards would play on the left side.
[Reply]
Gokings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:59 am
@Andrew: the second coming, Loki WILL NOT center Richards and brown. He will be on the wing guaranteed! He doesn’t have the strength to work against NHL center ice-men.
Please keep him on the bench. After Saturdays game I can’t think of a single reason to change anything. Fraser and hunter brought good energy and physical play. First time all year we actually had 3 lines skating well…. Please TM just leave it alone!
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:40 am
@Gokings,
If nothing else, that game should squelch any idea that Lokti will be the 4th line center. Fraz clearly earned that spot for at least one more game. But more to the point, it showed the exact TYPE of player we need in that position.
[Reply]
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:06 am
@wavesinair, Totally agreed. We know Fraser scoring was a bonus…mainly he just looked poised, confident, strong, and energetic.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:28 am
@Jason4Kings, Agree.
Where is he going to play? Fraser looks good on that 4th line and Lokti seemed to struggle at wing, so…..?
[Reply]
To wing or not to wing? That is the question!
[Reply]
Keep him on the bench? Sit him for the likes of Fraser and Hunter? You have got to be nuts. This is the guy that can provide the much needed offense the kings have been needing. Don’t expect to get many goals from that Fraser line, if any more at all.
[Reply]
Gokings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:05 am
@Winger23, First game with both guys in the lineup and they get 5 how much more offense do we need?
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@Gokings,
I think Winger23 is just saying that correlation is not always causation of the goal outburst (granted Fraser scored one, so that one of course is directly linked to him)
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
@Gokings, And against the best defense in the league at the time.
[Reply]
Assuming Loktionov is called up to play as a center, it’ll be interesting to see who he displaces. I would be nervous if I were Stoll.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:44 am
@He Shoots, He Scores,
Lokti with Cliffy and Hunter? I just don’t see it. Those aren’t the wingers you’re looking for.
That 3rd line is a pretty rough and tumble bunch. I don’t see any other place Lokti could go other than the 2nd line.
[Reply]
He Shoots, He Scores Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:12 am
@wavesinair,
We’ll find out how they’re practicing – hopefully Lokti took a red eye and will be present so we’re not kept in agonizing suspense. With Stoll adding no offense right now, and Richards being the de facto “shut down” line, I wouldn’t mind an experiment with Stoll moving to right wing with Richardson on the left, centered by Lokti.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:15 am
@He Shoots, He Scores,
I wouldn’t hold your breath Lokti will be at practice today.
quisp Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:33 am
@wavesinair,
Loktionov – Richards – Brown
Stoll – Loktionov – Lewis
Clifford – Loktionov – Stoll
Loktionov – Richards – Lewis
[Reply]
quisp Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:35 am
@quisp,
Gagne – Loktionov – Willliams
(then)
Richards – Kopitar – Brown
?
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:38 am
@quisp,
Best post ever.
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:50 am
@quisp, LOL
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@quisp,
Yeah, but where does Loktionov play?
LB Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:07 am
@He Shoots, He Scores,
The Sharks currently have Thornton, Pavelski and Couture playign together on one line – all are centers. There’s no reason that Lokti and Richards can’t play on the same line or even Kopitar and Lokti.
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:55 am
@LB, TM tried Kopi and Lokti together last year; didn’t really work!
[Reply]
Yes! I’m sure he will play wing. Positive.
[Reply]
this makes me smile. (and laugh a little too…) Paging Cynic… Cynic, please pick up a white courtesy telephone
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:22 am
@Marc Nathan, Yes Marc, I did agree at the end of my post we would probably see the illogical. You called it. Your intuition is nothing less than fabulous.
Now where does he play o wise one? (I have a guess, but I’ll wait for greatness to speak first. I was wrong last time)
Oh, and while you’re at it, can you give me next weeks football winners and lottery numbers? I’m a little tight on cash.
[Reply]
Marc Nathan Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
@Cynic, dude, if I knew those, I’d be a rich man
Seriously, I think this sends a message to Terry Murray… Screw the “we like him better at center” nonsense. The kid has talent and he needs to get some ice time. Certainly the Ducks take enough stupid penalties that 5-6 of his minutes will be on the PP. The rest, we shall see. I do think Richards is smart enough to know how to work with Loktionov and give him the room he needs to possess the puck… Looking forward to Wednesday.
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@Marc Nathan, True…You wouldn’t share that info.
Yeah, It’s an interesting take, but Lombardi has always said he lets Terry Murray place the players and doesn’t tell him where to play them. Makes a nice, not so subtle hint though.
I think you have to play him with Richards. If anyone can get him to have success on the wing, it’s Rick. I just hope Lokti gets dirty in the corners with his small frame. I can almost see Lokti and Richards purposely switching positions in the attack triangle so Richards can go dig out pucks with Brownie and Lokti can sit in the slot to finish.
Hopefully the Ducks will comply with your penalty (ies) request. We’d have to see Lokti on one of the 2 PP teams.
Wednesday should be interesting if not good.
i don’t care where he plays so long as that bum Penner is out of the lineup. lol.
[Reply]
I agree with that nutt-job on hockybuzz…Penner is “the cooler” we had so much more life in the game against the wild. I am considering the outside chance that he just may be a goucher, ya know? I think that much like water seeks its own level, the universe simply won’t allow him to succeed in a Kings uniform because he is a part of the Ducks team that won the cup. I really hate the ducks man, and the bottom line is he is a Duck. I don’t know about any of you but it kills my soul to know that no matter how many cups we rack up… those Ducks fans are always gonna able to claim that they were first, just like the dimwitts who comment on a new thread here…. FIRST :-/
[Reply]
Nice. I’m thrilled about this one.
[Reply]
kinginsaltlake Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 4:32 am
@FromSwedenWithLove, Is that you …Bud!
[Reply]
AWESOME.
[Reply]
Christmas in November!
[Reply]
He will definitely start on Wednesday. TM always starts the players he brings up in the next game and generally gives them significant ice time and quality line assignments. I predict Lokti will be on second line but actually would hope TM would give him third line center and let Stoll try wing. Stoll has the experience and temperment to adapt to wing much easier than a rookie could, plus Stoll actually is a pretty good banger for his size. Put Richardson on the other side and I would like this line.
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:44 am
@bringbackbutchgoring,
I don’t like that line. Too soft. Both Richardson and Lokti are injury prone. And Stoll, tough as he is, does not have the size or muscle. Lokti is better off with Richards/Brown or even in the 4th line with Clifford/Moreau/Hunter/Fraser. Last season Lokti & Clifford did very well.
[Reply]
bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:54 am
@Gustavo, I’d say Stoll has a better chance to be an effective winger than Lokti. Richardson and Stoll are hardly soft. Stoll usually in top three in hits on our team playing center plus if he is tough enough to play on penalty kill, he’s tough enough to play wing on third line. Clifford/Hunter should go to fourth line, they are really doing much this year. Plus if you are worried about Lokti being injury prone, why would you want him playing wing rather than center?
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:32 am
@bringbackbutchgoring,
That Richardson/Lokti/Stoll line looks soft for lack of size and muscle, not individual effort. I did not say to play Lokti at wing. He needs to be a center.
I think if he centers Richards & Brown, we’ll see a goal fest and a good match up to the quacks 2nd line of Selanne & Koivu.
I wonder if he’ll play LW or C. The reason they sent him down last year was because they said they want him to concentrate on playing Center. So putting him at wing at this point would be contradicting what they said last year.
I’d like to see him play on one of the top two lines, that’s for sure. Center the 2nd line and move Richards over to wing? Let Richards take the faceoffs though because he’s been very good on draws.
Gagne-Kopi-Williams
Richards-Lokti-Brown
Richardson-Stoll-Hunter
Clifford-Fraser-Lewis
scratch Moreau and Westgarth
[Reply]
I think you have to put him with Richards and Brown. even if it’s on the wing, he’s got skill and that line can use a little creativity on the wing.
Another shot for Lotki. I hope he gives them no reason to send him back.
[Reply]
Raunq12 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:39 am
@nykingfan,
Another great thing about Lokti is that he’s not afraid to pull the trigger.
I can see it now: Richards to Lokti, shoots Scores! What a screen by Brownie! hahaha
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:48 am
@nykingfan,
No question. Considering the last game, it seems we have some serious synergy going. The only question is whether Richie, Lewey, or Westy will play on the 4th line. Assuming Lokti is up to speed in practice by Wednesday.
[Reply]
YES Hope Penners hand stays hurt, now we need Voynov…
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:52 am
@Chris Bond, WOW.
[Reply]
I am disappointed that all of the wingersin Manchester have squandered there chance… Lotki plays well at centre and his experiments at wing have proven that he does not belong there
[Reply]
I think they will try him on the LW with Richards & Brown. So the lines could look like:
Gagne – Kopi – Williams
Lokti – Richards – Brown
Clifford – Stoll – Richardson
Moreau – Fraser – Lewis
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 8:49 am
@outsider,
I think Hunter will continue to play.
[Reply]
Happy Lappy Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:31 am
@wavesinair, if Hunter stays in, who’s the odd man out? I liked everybody’s effort on Sat.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@Happy Lappy,
It may even be Richie and Lewie out…Westy in. Doesn’t he seem to always play against the Ducks?
Cynic Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:25 am
@outsider, It’s a shame, but I think Waves is right. Lewis will probably sit, although TM sat Richardson the game before last so who knows?
[Reply]
Can’t wait to see what the lines are going to be, love this depth!
[Reply]
rmartin1951 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:05 am
@Niko, What depth. Most of these players are interchangeable 5 to 10 goal scorers. None of them are average NHL wingers. We will continue to have scoring problems 5 on 5.
[Reply]
Niko Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@rmartin1951, What depth? Really? This is the deepest Kings team I can remember, although I’m only 28. Last season they called up Dwight King to play on Kopi’s line, he was the Kings answer to our #1 LW. So yes, I think we are much deeper now. Our wings maybe not as much as Center, D and Goal, but that’s partly due to Kitsyn and Moeller playing in the KHL.
Oh, btw, Hockey’s Future ranks the Kings as #1 in prospects.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/nhl_organisation_rankings/
If you don’t think that equates to depth, please tell me who has a deeper team in the west.
[Reply]
attta boy lokti
[Reply]
Making Loki play LW will be the worst move so far this season
Let him play C
And move Stoll to the wing (Stoll would make a great sniper if somone could set him up)
[Reply]
rick Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:47 am
@Paul G, Agreed
[Reply]
Daren Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:59 am
@Paul G, LOL…and I guess his shooting accuracy on the PP leads you to this conclusion?
[Reply]
Paul G Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@Daren, no those are one-timers from the blueline
I’m talking about wrist shots from the haskmarks (penalty shot style lol)
[Reply]
Lotki at center is the most logical move. Richards can play wing, and Brown on the other wing. I love Richards but, he isn’t a great faceoff guy, Lotki may be better.
[Reply]
Happy Lappy Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:12 am
@Happy Lappy, thought about it, it isn’t that logical, we need Richards at center for his defense, never mind.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@Happy Lappy,
LOL! I’m glad you came to your senses.
[Reply]
Happy Lappy Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:15 am
@wavesinair, I have to have a cup of coffee and come to my senses!
Some have been suggesting placing Lokti as the 2nd line center and moving Richards to the wing. Why would you take a center who would be a #1 center on most teams and move him to the wing so a center from the AHL can take his spot? Leave the lines as they are and have Lokti fill in for the missing time on a wing. Lokti’s time as a center will come (probably next year if he stays healthy and Stoll has a sub-par season and we need to make some cap space), so I don’t think you “have” to play him at center (even though he is more effective there than on the wing).
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:12 am
@DesertKing,
All good points. And just to solidify the point, Richards is flat out better than Loktionov by leaps and bounds so it makes no sense to move Richards period. I don’t see a scenario where that happens.
[Reply]
Happy Lappy Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@DesertKing, what he said.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:21 am
@Happy Lappy,
I hate coffee, so it is usually a diet coke for me in the morning and then I can actually remember my name and how to get to work
[Reply]
Happy Lappy Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:27 am
@DesertKing, coffee is an acquired taste, like hockey.
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:36 am
@DesertKing,
I used to hate coffee,then about ten years ago someone took me to Starbucks for the first time and force fed me a latte. It’s very comfortable,like melting down your pillow and drinking it in the morning. Now i spend 5 bucks a morning on it and everyone at SB knows my name. What i hated i have become.
Kaiser Soze Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:53 am
@DesertKing, That’s what cream and sugar are for. Just add more until it’s drinkable. Then you get a caffeine rush as well as a sugar rush (2 for the price of 1!)
Duckbasher Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:17 am
@DesertKing, Finally some sanity. Lokti plays wing and will get his chance at center in due time. And we all know he’s not a 4th line center.
[Reply]
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:18 am
@DesertKing,
You’re right. I can’t argue with anything you said. I would still do it though. Loktionov is creative, Richards is very creative. Richards, in my opinion, is probably good/smart enough to be just as brilliant on wing, he looks as good down low as he does F3. San Jose, Chicago, lots of good teams have star forwards bouncing around from center to wing and back. I would try it. But, you’re right.
[Reply]
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:45 am
@Jason4Kings, lets not forget richards can take the faceoff then he and lok can switch position’s on the ice so lok can be in the center spot. they are creative enough to do that kinda stuff. just like stoll taking faceoffs on the 2nd pp unit then switching to the point.
[Reply]
Eldoret Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:06 am
@DesertKing,
What he said
[Reply]
If Andrei Loktinov will like to join with the kings he can be with Mike Richards and Jerett Stoll and The LA Kings will like to Land Rick Nash because the Columbus Blue Jackets got a worst Franchise History for losing games and he can join with the LA Kings to help the Kings win more games and be the Stanley Cup Champions if the LA Kings will offer Rick Nash
[Reply]
King-C Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:27 am
@Adam M, Say what?
[Reply]
Howe 9 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:28 am
@Adam M,
????
[Reply]
kingszzz Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:31 am
@Adam M, kids, don’t do drugs
[Reply]
King John Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:52 am
@Adam M, kind advice: if you just add a few commas and periods, it would be more readable to others
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:53 am
@Adam M, I still remember in high school how are science teacher warned us about the effects of inhaling liquid paper in a bag….unfortunately some didnt listen.
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:11 am
@puck73, mobile huff kit?
[Reply]
Kaiser Soze Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@Adam M, Too much Starbucks??
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:07 am
@Adam M,
@Poorman it looks like another one escaped from your basement.
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@Adam M, Yeah, what he said!!!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:50 am
@Adam M,
All of you are evil (but very funny)
[Reply]
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@DesertKing, Mostly evil…
[Reply]
Brian Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@Adam M, Test
[Reply]
Does anybody know if Lotki was playing a center exclusively in Manchester?
[Reply]
Rich,
Could you please find out if and when the Kings are going to auction the warm-up jerseys they were wearing prior to Saturday’s game? They were outstanding and I would actually pay some money for one of them. Thanks!!
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:32 am
@DesertKing, i was in 300′s row 15 and forgot my binoculars…i did make out an American flag design on the numbers…was there anything else?
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:54 am
@Sebastian, an american flag patch on the shoulders
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@Sebastian,
They had flag patches on the shoulders. The numbers were done as flag colors complete with stars and bars.
[Reply]
Eldoret Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@DesertKing, They mentioned during the telecast that they would be auctioning them off. I believe they said auction.nhl.com or something to that effect.
DesertKing Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:52 am
@Eldoret
Thanks. I checked it this morning and they weren’t there but the jerseys from the Penguins Veterans Day game was already there and I was hoping Rich could get us an exact date from the King’s administration.
Lok will play top six. and prolly wing with richards and brown. kopi line will stay the same. then LOK RICH BROWN. moreau comes out for the spot.
[Reply]
Should be interesting having Lokti up. The left wing experiment didn’t go too well last year. As has been said before, he’s a natural center. If I remember correctly, last year when he played center he was dangerous to the opposing team. I’d like to see him at center but I’m not sure which line can/should be altered.
[Reply]
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:47 am
@Goring 19, Lok didnt do bad. just look at his numbers. the bigger issue is the current pro’s getting familiar enough with him to help get him involved. the same thing happened with voynov. he didnt get alot of open passes but once he showed who he was they started coming to him then the shots. then the goals. same with lok.
[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:49 am
@kingsfan2012, indeed. Now, if we can only find a way to bring Voynov up….
[Reply]
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:52 am
@Goring 19, voynov will get his shot. esp since next yr mitchell will most def not be brought back. plus he will prolly miss some time this yr along the way. i see scud moving up with dd and voynov being paired with jj.
puck73 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:57 am
@kingsfan2012, Not bringing Mitchell back would be a huge mistake on the Kings part. If anybody thinks any of our kids can do what Mitchell and Scuderi can do on a consistent basis, they are dreaming.
[Reply]
TYLER Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@puck73, AMEN!
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:02 am
@puck73, i would never suggest replaced scuderi. he is a much bigger part to the d than mitchell. i just dont see them bringing him back because we have someone like voynov whos got to play by next yr or we are gonna lose the kid to the khl. unless we deal greene. or pair him with greene and deal alec.
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:08 am
@puck73, precisely
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:13 am
@puck73,
And more to the point. Sadly, we don’t have any stay-at-home kids with any NHL experience.
Michael J. Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:33 am
@puck73,
Scuderi is a much needsd player in te overall scheme of things and would be sorely missed if he went down to injury of to another team. Mitchell is irreplacable at this point.
fsd1 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:04 am
@kingsfan2012, tell me you are not insinuating that players dont pass to a new kid cause he is new…….ridiculous!
[Reply]
If Getzlaf hits Loktionov and his shoulder separates we’re all gonna owe @Dominick a drink.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:15 am
@Jason4Kings,
Lokti has 2 repaired shoulders, reinforced with special Russian steel. It’s Getsalaugh’s face that will separate, not Lokti’s shoulder!
[Reply]
Let me begin by apologizing for my ignorance and hoping this isn’t an obviously dumb question – is Richards just as good on the wing as he is at center? Because we know Lokti needs to be at center, so (IMHO) either he centers the Richards line, or he centers the 3rd line. Loved the energy they showed on Saturday. I hope they can keep that going game in and game out.
[Reply]
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:51 am
@Kaiser Soze, its much easier to play wing. lok isnt lost at wing. TM just wants him at center for w/e reason. so many pro’s who are currently wingers were drafted as centers. center at the nhl is so much harder than at junior lvl. lok is fine at wing, its just TM’s excuse to send him back to manch because other guys are back.
[Reply]
Kaiser Soze Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@kingsfan2012, Can’t wait to see how it all pans out. Bottom line, we HAVE to beat the Ducks
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:02 am
@Kaiser Soze,
It doesn’t matter. Richards is the #1 center on most teams. He is a better player than Lokti by far. Richards is so locked up at C2, he makes Manson look like a jailbreak risk.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@wavesinair,
So, according to your logic does that make Penner look like Squeaky Fromme?
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:47 am
@Michael J.,
I think it makes him Andy Dufresne minus the bookkeeping skills.
Welcome back Lokti….score some goals and get some assists.
[Reply]
I really like the idea of Lotki in the line-up. But here we go switching things around dirctly after a great performance.
[Reply]
it’s about time
[Reply]
this link is for any argument that says we should send westgarth down or cut him .. skip to :32 seconds if you want to here Lucic response to ” what if that was your own goalie? http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=UQmuQATB9oU
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@Rudedogg, i could not believe he weak reaction from Buffalo to that cheep shot. if someone does something like that he should be crosschecked in the face. hope Lucic gets a nice suspension for that to wipe that smirk off his face.
on the other hand, i loved seeing Gagne step up and go after that guy that hit Kopitar Saturday night.
[Reply]
kingsfan2012 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:24 am
@Rudedogg, i think we have enough guys to stick up for someone if they wanted without westy. if we are gonna play westy then our freakin coach need to park him infront of the net much like chi did with big byf.
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@Rudedogg,
Agreed. There are multiple guys on the Kings that would have responded quite appropriately.
[Reply]
Rudedogg Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:16 am
@wavesinair, i doubt it, Clifford hasnt been the same since he became a punching bag towards the end of last season. one of his fights this year was agaisnt some guy who said no but he started throwing punches anyway. So i guess Simon Gagne would be the guy? he responded pretty well to kopitar being hit.
[Reply]
Rich, will Lokti be with the team for practice this AM? Thanks!
[Reply]
This team just got stronger….a Sniper!!! Bet they move him to a wing even though he is a natural center…
[Reply]
I really hope Murray reconsiders his decision to only play Lokti at center. i would like to see him play LW with the 2nd line.
my lineup would be….
Gagne – Kopitar – Williams
Loktionov – Richards – Brown
Clifford – Stoll – Richardson
Moreau – Fraser – Lewis
Hunter
Westgarth
[Reply]
outsider Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:36 am
@Sebastian, so as mine… Written above!
[Reply]
Andrew: the second coming Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:52 am
@Sebastian, No he was inaffective on the wing. You could move rick to the wing.. He has played there before. Like last year with C.G.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:40 am
@Andrew: the second coming, you were saying…..
http://lakingsinsider.com/2011/11/14/monday-practice-update-19/
[Reply]
do i smell Richards-Loktionov-Brown cooking some duck???
[Reply]
If Lokti plays solid and they decide to keep him with the club, he needs to play in the top 6…this would be the best lineup the Kings could field….
Gagne – Kopi – Williams
Richards – Lokti – Brown
Penner – Stoll – Moreau
Clifford – Fraser – Richardson/Lewis
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:06 am
@Barry’s Mullet, what’s pens doing back in there?
[Reply]
Barry's Mullet Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
@jess, If we are ever going to get something for him, he needs to be in the lineup. Hopefully with his size and that little bit of grit we’ve seen he can at least not hurt the time playing on the 3rd line.
This guy is a solid NHL player. Who know’s why he game has vanished, but you know as soon as we trade him he will return to his old form. I’m just hoping by some chance he finds it before DL finds any takers.
[Reply]
CabbageAndKings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@Barry’s Mullet,
If you are going to imagine the best possible lineup, why not include Parse?
Gagne — Kopitar — Brown
Penner — Richards — Williams
Parse — Loktionov — Moreau
Clifford — Stoll — Richardson
[Reply]
So many of the lineups I’m seeing have Richards moving over to wing. Richards is a playmaking, two way center. It would be such a waste to move him over to a wing. The lineup I’m visualizing is this:
Gagne-Kopitar-Willians
Stoll-Richards-Brown
Clifford-Loktionov-Richardson
Lewis-Fraser-Hunter
[Reply]
Barry's Mullet Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@ValleyKingsFan, Loktionov is not a checking center and Stoll is! He is a small playmaking center and will only play on the first two lines. He also needs to feel comforable, so putting him at his natural position and moving Richards makes sense for now. If it works as well as we all hope…it will be another great problem to have.
[Reply]
ValleyKingsFan Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:00 am
@Barry’s Mullet, Our third line is not a checking line. As ice time shows, the second line is the one that is most often up against the opposing team’s first line. The third line so far this year has attempted to be a hybrid checking/scoring line. Clifford and Richardson are both good checking forwards with skill while Loktionov has playmaking ability and, these three together accomplish the goal of that line.
[Reply]
Gagne – Kopi – Williams
Richardson – Richards – Brown
Stoll – Lokti – Hunter
Who cares – Who cares – Who cares
[Reply]
Chucker Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@rick, Lokti won’t be able to do much of anything with Stoll and Hunter…gotta put him with Richards and Brown so he can have some space on the ice to operate.
[Reply]
Sweet I hope he sticks!
[Reply]
The problem we have is that we don’t have nearly enough depth at wing in the minors. We have a plethora of goaltenders, defensemen and centers, but when it comes to the wing we’re seriously lacking. That forces us into this predictment where TM has to call up lotki, a natural center, and screw around with the lines to try and find a place for him to fit. We can guess all we want, but there a serious implications to each of the line adjustments. Moving Lotki to 2nd line center is not the most ideal move. Why? Because the C position comes with a tremendous amount of defensive responsibility which I would argue Lotki is not prepared for. He plays in the AHL guys, it’s a completely different caliber of players. Always difficult to compare, but I don’t doubt his chances for success. Moving Stoll to a wing sounds appealing, but Lotki is not a checking center, he’s more of your “top-6″ center. Unfortunately for the Kings, we’re in no need for a top-6 center. I hesitate to say it, but I don’t think Lotki is going to make a measurable impact in the time we have penner out on injury. His playing style and naturalized position just doesn’t mesh well with the Kings new available spot. We lost a big body LW power’less’ forward, and we replace him with a smaller-sized russian sniper center? Not gonna work. Lotki success will only come by moving richards to a wing, and bearing the GAA that will be associated with such a move.
[Reply]
off topic, i just found this quote by Islanders GM Garth Snow and the ensuing comment by a NY Times blogger to be pretty funny this morn:
“When we put 60 minutes together, we’ve shown we can beat anybody in this league,” General Manager Garth Snow told Newsday over the weekend. It’s hard to argue with his point, because the same can be said for any team playing well for a complete game.
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/
[Reply]
jess Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:13 am
@Shakes, So long island fans have to suffer similar platitudes like we do?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:16 am
@Shakes, That is funny. I will tell you what is sad though IMO. How many people on this site think the Kings should dominate an opponet for 60 minutes. I wonder how many people realize how difficult that is to do ? On Saturday, the Kings dominated the Wild for 2 periods and then watched the Wild activate their defense to try and get back into the game. The problem for the Wild of course was they were already down 5-0 by the time they made an adjustment….Way too late!
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@puck73, dominating for two periods is enough if you have a 5 goal lead like they did against MINN. Then you don’t have to dominate that third period, just compete, and that’s what they did. I laughed at some who said the Kings should had played better in the third period.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@puck73,
yeah, i was going to say that having the Kings NOT be able dominate for 60 minutes isn’t always negative for our team but rather a complement to the other team.
Teams are just too good to be completely outplayed for a full game. Plus in the 3rd with the defense activated, it’s sorta like the games the ol’ Thrashers played…sure you can score goals but you’ll give up a ton too. In the Wild’s case they got 1 5 on 5 goal (and a PP goal…and hit the pipe on one)
[Reply]
We had such a small sample size of Loktionov on LW. It makes the most sense out of any of these moves to put Loktionov on second line LW with Richards and Brown. Or with Kopitar and Williams and move Gagne with Rachards and Brown.
I don’t believe “Loktionov can only be effective at C”, we simply haven’t seen enough to make that statement
[Reply]
Mikey Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:12 am
@VanKingsFan, Considering that he’s a natural center, and that he’s still wet behind the ears in the NHL, it would be wise to play him where he feels most comfortable. The NHL isn’t the best place for him to learn/adapt to a different position..
But it would be awesome if he could be an all around player like Richardson. meh, wuddya gonna do?
[Reply]
Lokti on the ice right now with Brown and Richards. He’s practicing as a RW with Brown on the left.
[Reply]
Why aren’t they shifting this guy at wing in Manchester? Wouldn’t that be everyone’s best interest to give him some practice at the position he has now been called up twice to play?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:24 am
@370455vinSD, I gotta admit that has crossed my mind as well.
[Reply]
GOOD NEWS FOR HOCKEY ICE !!!
NBA lockout negotiations have broken down. The season is all but lost at this point. As much as some of us will miss the games, I am happy that Staples ice will not be affected by the Lakers and Clippers schedules.
[Reply]
Lokti!!! Finally!! Gotta put him on the 2nd line with Richards and Brown.
[Reply]
As someone once said, a forward is a forward and thus should be able to play all forward positions. We have enough team D and enough skill the kid should be able to find a place. He also knows this is another opportunity to get with the big club. Time to suck it up and make things happen.
[Reply]
I think that a comments are not nice to me at all about the LA Kings try to get Rick Nash was really good and some of the comments will Apologize to me right now about using that word to me that LA Kings will get Rick Nash since the Columbus Blue Jackets got a worst Franchise record if Rick Nash will agreed with the LA Kings
[Reply]
Jason4Kings Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@Adam M,
Say whatever you want my friend! You’re right, Rick Nash is great. Don’t worry about people not being nice, it’s a jungle in here.
[Reply]
kinginsaltlake Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 4:52 am
@Adam M, Let me be the guy who steps up. Sometimes on this blog site it gets a bit crazy. SORRY if any of the people were a bit shallow in their thinking. Some of us stuggle with grammer and spelling. I use the spell check more then anyone around here. Please FRIEND keep posting your thoughts. This blog site is for ALL of us.
[Reply]
Lotki is small, he will stuggle, I said this last year and again this year. You can be small and play big however this isn’t his make up, he will stuggle.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@Harty,
Napoleon was small. The only thing he struggled with was invading Russia. Which is ironic since Lotki is Russian
[Reply]
LittleRhody Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@Harty, Small may be a good thing here. Penner is huge and struggles with most things
[Reply]
kinginsaltlake Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 4:53 am
@LittleRhody, Where in the HELL have you been?
[Reply]
I’d put him on 3rd line center and demote Stoll to 4th line or put Stoll on a wing, but I know it won’t go down that way.
[Reply]