Getting back to the actual on-ice news for a bit, here’s a rundown of the Kings’ injured skates (and non-skaters), in terms of most likely to return. Alec Martinez is fully cleared and can play whenever the coaching staff deems it so. Justin Williams did not practice today, after taking a shot off the hand last night, and his status for tomorrow is not yet known. Willie Mitchell participated in a full practice, and his status for tomorrow’s game might be a morning decision (Murray did say that Martinez and Mitchell would not both return tomorrow). Mike Richards has not skated since taking a hit to the head last Thursday. Here’s the rundown, from Terry Murray, on each player…
(on Mitchell…)
MURRAY: “Mitchell, full practice. He looked really good, skated and participated in all the drills, looked comfortable. I’ll have a conversation with him here, after, to see where he’s at for tomorrow.’’
(on whether he expects Williams to play tomorrow…)
MURRAY: “Well, I do expect it. I don’t know that for absolute. He will get treatment today, come in tomorrow and give us a feel as to how he’s doing.’’
(on Richards…)
MURRAY: “Richards is progressing. That’s all I can say. That’s all I know, really. He’s in every day, riding the bike, getting more acclimated, getting exercise and a feel for his own self.’’
(on Martinez…)
MURRAY: “He’s been out there the last few days in practice, doing everything and feeling pretty comfortable. So it’s just a matter of getting everybody in here tomorrow and seeing how they’re doing.’’
Hope JW is in the line-up tomorrow. I know he hasn’t been tearing up the score sheet (who the hell is) but the Kings can’t afford to have another offensive producer out of the line-up especially since Richards is out too…
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Perro Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 7:22 am
@McFame, Before the start of the season I was looking at the line up and thinking at some point we are going to be without Gagne and Williams as they get hurt alot. I thought we had the depth to get through it, but now I a mreally concerned for when it happens.
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Richards getting a feel for his own self sounds like he might have been a little worse off than most thought.
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rontheking Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring,
I just hope at some point he realizes he’s Mike Richards…and remembers how good he is!
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Richards getting a feel for himself? that doesnt sound good. I hate concussions. I wonder how much os a role that second blow to the head played. does anyone know if he ever had one before?
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Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@tornado12,
I believe Richards had one in Kitchener and one in Philly. With how hard he plays the game, it’s not really surprising unfortunately.
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tornado12 Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, @Harry, thx guys
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Harry Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@tornado12,
Yep, he had one before when he was with Philly.
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Yeah, but what about Crosby? Wait, what? Nevermind.
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Blah
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So I think by what TM said, If Mitchell can play, he will, and if not they’ll likely put him on IR retroactively and take Martinez off IR. At least that’s what I take from it.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
@CB14,
Or there’s a move tomorrow. No word on Lokti sitting in the 3rd last night.
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CB14 Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@wavesinair, That’s possible. I noticed they only played 3 lines in the 3rd, Cliffy and Westy also sat the entire period. But they did move Fraser in Lokti’s place in between Hunter and Moreau, which kind of makes sense because Lokti’s best skills aren’t really being used with those 2 guys alongside of him.
I don’t really understand why they didn’t move Lokti into Richards spot instead of Stoll. Lokti’s skills are going to waste by playing with guys like Moreau, Hunter, Clifford, and Westy.
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centericeman Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 9:55 am
@wavesinair, I am as big a “lokti” fan as anyone, but quite frankly he hasn’t been the boost that I thought he would be. I think it is time to bring up Acevado and give him a try at center. He was very impressive in camp and with our offensive problems it sure couldn’t hurt.
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Jack Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Isnt it hard to ask a young player to boost a team that is struggling in most facets of the game? I see guys like Voynov and Loktionov trying, but there is such a level of discomobulation, its basically impossible.
I apologize if this has been presented too much already, but I try to stay off the blog if I am too angry for obvious reasons.
Why can’t TM just go with what he said he was going to do at the start of the season, and go with the hot goalie. This is twice now that Quick was the hotest goalie in the NHL and sat a game for rest vs a non-conference team and come back not so hot. I understand the rest must come, but lets fit it in when Quick is not on fire, or a back to back night schedule. When your in the Zone the worst thing is to not play a game for 3 days or more and cool off. What do you want to do to a QB thats on fire, you run the ball try for a long drive take time off the clock and hope that cools him off, right? It would be like the genious that tried to go after Pujols in the world series after he already hit 2 home runs that game.
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Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@luc20rules,
Terry Murray needs to follow the George Costanza method of doing exactly the opposite of whatever his instincts tell him right now, and he’ll be fine
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CB14 Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, Classic.
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,
Ever wonder what it would be like to have a Costanza type guy behind our bench? Classic line. Loved it!
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iansez Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 2:06 am
@Duckbasher, George is gettin angry!!
Ezra Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@luc20rules, You can’t expect Quick to let in 2 goals or less every game. The problem is offense. The Kings need to be able to score more than 2 goals if they want to win.
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Perro Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 7:36 am
@luc20rules, I think Starting Bernier was smart.
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i have a feeling if JW doesn’t play tomorrow we may need to add some more depth upfront. this could be DL’s wake up call stating that the kings don’t have enough death.
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Play2Win Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@jason k for kings, Really? Who died?
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@jason k for kings, You can’t just kill the players if they are not playing well….
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rontheking Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring,
But what really is enough death…? I think that’s the real question….
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jason k for kings Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
@rontheking, funny guys….sorry for the typeo i meant depth
Hurry back MR and JW. Scoring can’t improve without both of you on the ice and shooting.
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The Kings seriously need both JW and WM tomorrow. DD2 has been hanging in there, but he’s no WM for sure. Hope Richards can come back soon too.
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Dont rush richards back put him on IR if we have to but let him recover, we need him back healthy. Plus this will show whos willing to step up to the plate and be a leader because so far thete is none
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Rihards had a minor concussion in 2005 in his tookie year, out 1 week. So based on that , and that scale they use, I didn’t expect him back for minimum of 2. That said, the IR is for 1 week and until that’s lifted, he won’t skate and be revaluated, so TM wouldn’t know anything. TM did say yesterday that MR would be reevaluated ‘afte rthe next home game’ which would be I guess on Friday, and his 1 week IR would be done.
DL won’t let them rush him back, he’s far too valuable. I’m guessing he’ll be back sometime between 12/19 and 12/22
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Duckbasher Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
@Deirdre, He’s a top 3 franchise player because of how long he’s singed for. They aren’t going to risk anything when it comes to Mike Richards.
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I like the upside offensively of Martinez and given the fact that The Kings can’t score I feel I would rather see him in the lineup although he is definitely not one of our best defensive defensemen say that five times fast
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http://www.forecaster.ca/cbc/hockey/player.cgi?3483&showAllMoves=1
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Yea, if you look at the odds with our guys who are proven 20-30+ scorers… it’s just a matter of time for them to go on a torid scoring tear. If they don’t… then it has to be the dreaded “system” which falls upon Terry Murray’s karma (and paycheck).
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I really hope you get fired Murray and you dissapear from hockey, i hate you
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I think the Kings changed a lot. Even my wife can see the difference. Last year and previous year they had a dump and chase style the needed speed as a basic premise. They would win 80% of those battles in the corners and start from there. They don’t look very good now trying to control the puck thru the ice. I haven’t seen a King really camp in front of the net in some time.
There are no plays setup that allow them to score more…I think they are starting at least in my eyes to look like a lost team.
In all honesty, knowing that its early, but since DD signed, its been downhill, Dustin Brown isnt as secure. There is no way a team of this caliber should be giving xmas gifts in the form of defensive zone turnovers.
And last, I still think we are getting outcoached.
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