There was a positive step for Mike Richards, who has now been out for a week since he took a hit to the head in last Thursday’s game against Florida. At the end of practice today, Richards did some light skating for a few minutes. Richards is eligible to come off injured reserve at any time now, but there’s no indication as to when he might return. Richards hasn’t yet been medically cleared, and even when he is cleared, he will likely need to participate in a handful of full-team practices. Terry Murray said Richards got examined by a team doctor at Staples Center last night.
MURRAY: “The only thing I can say about him is that he’s been given the green light to do more. He’s on the ice today. He rode the bike harder today, and does the off-ice workouts. Once he gets through that part, the positive, seeing him on the ice, that’s a real positive to me. Because clearly now, the indication is that everything was good on the off-ice workout. So that’s the next step, and he will progress from there.’’
To be certain, the Kings miss Richards. Without him, they’ve scored a total of five goals in their last three games, and it’s probably not a coincidence that the Kings’ power play has gone 1-for-10 in three games without Richards.
MURRAY: “Mike Richards is a premier player. He brings so much to the game himself, as an individual. His puck play, his vision on the ice. He’s a very creative guy. He can score goals. He’s one of the better penalty-killers in the league. He’s always a threat on the penalty kill, to be able to get on the go and turn pucks over and score shorthanded goals. He’s a big hole in our lineup right now, but injuries happen. Loktionov, his game was better last night, and that’s the opportunity he gets because of Richards being out of there. We just move along. You don’t miss all of Mike Richards. You miss the difference between Richards and Loktionov. So that’s still considerable, but that’s the way it goes, and guys have to step up.’’
Willie Mitchell is set to return tomorrow, after missing three games with a groin injury, although it’s not yet known which defenseman will come out of the lineup.
I like Greener but ya gotta bench him at least once. Get well Mikey
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Laura Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
@TradedForADraftPick, why bench Greene? He is solid night in and night out!
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Eric Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Laura,
Matt Greene is too physical and plays with too much heart for Lombardi and Murray.
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KingFanatic08 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 12:00 am
@Eric, Isn’t that what they need? To play with heart and get physical? Ugh
fusion898 Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
@Eric,
Are you really trying to justify that having too much heart and physical fortitude is a bad thing. You do remember that the sport at hand is HOCKEY….one of the most physical sports out there. hmmmmmm
Todd Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
@TradedForADraftPick,
Agreed, Greene is the one to bench tomorrow. Definitely should be the one to get traded.
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linny Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Todd, RIIIIIIIIIGHT! It’s all Green’s fault that there’s no, scoring and I’m sure everything will be fine if they bemnch or trade him.
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Todd Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@linny,
Not sure where you thought I said it was Greene’s fault for us not scoring because I am not saying that. All I’m trying to say is that we got Johnson, Doughty, Voynov, Martinez, Scuderi, and Mitchell. Greene is the odd man out now. That’s why we should trade him. Get something that will help us out but we probably wouldn’t get much for Greene anyway. We got Muzzin and Hickey to call up if an injury were to unfortunately happen.
Jim Martin Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 10:31 am
@linny, Greene is a plus 1. The guy they should bench is Drew Doughty, he is a minus 4. And all you fans clamoring for Brad Richardson, he is a minus 5. Before you post something negative about somebody, look at the stats.
Stuart Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@TradedForADraftPick, I said that earlier…2 game-presser. Just to “relax” while things get figured out defensively. Maybe JB for those 2 just cause, too…
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TradedForADraftPick Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@Stuart,
Yeah, just take it as a maintenance stretch. It’s nothing too personal. The team needs offense. Worth a shot
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seabass Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@TradedForADraftPick,
Last night the team needed defense.
TradedForADraftPick Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 9:10 am
@seabass,
Last night was not Quick’s night. Once again the offense scored only twice, which does beat none, I’ll give you that. Quick tried to do to much, wound up with some bad breaks, and four got past him. Typically he is sharper. Defense allowing more than two goals is rare, while scoring two or less for the offense is seen as expected lately.
enmac Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:31 am
@TradedForADraftPick, bernier played, not quick
I have not posted for quite a while but felt the urge.
Having been through so many rebuilds….so many 5 year plans….so many preseason hopes, I can tell you right now in my never humble opinion,
Terry Murray has lost the room. He must go before this rebuild and multiyear plan passes the time when it can be effective with the eisting group of players and prospects.
It is Dean Lombardi’s plan and he needs to make a coaching change while there is still time to salvage what he has painstakingly begun. I believ in his accumulation of players, draft picks and most veterans. His choice of coach till now has been right but no longer is. A different, more modern approach to the game is needed.
Do it Dean…I really want to watch this team succeed. I am not alone among the Verteran in the stands.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@40yearfan,
Dean has done some fantastic things for this organization. But he does make mistakes.
Hiring Marc Crawford was one of them. Not firing Terry Murray yesterday is another.
There is something fundamentally wrong with this team’s focus and desire. It’s not about the scoring, which was proven by the very team we played last night.
Dean Lombardi is a very patient man. But sometimes I think he misses the boat and errors on the side of caution too often.
I agree, the room is lost. There are some fantastic team guys on this team, no one more so than JQ. It’s no wonder he’s starting to lose his shine the past few games. He can’t be a relatively young guy on the team and be expected to carry them.
If the rest of the guys played with as much intensity as guys like Quick and Richards, this who season would be so different right now. But the moment Murray benched JQ after 3 shutouts, he sealed his fate.
That was one of the worst coaches decisions I’ve ever seen and what has DL done about it? Not a GD thing. Oh wait, he sent down VV when he was hot and waived chopper.
For the love of all hockey gods, someone shake DL while this team still has a chance this year.
Then again, maybe he wants to make a change but he simply doesn’t have a better alternative. That is a realistic possibility. Not probably, but pretty possible.
Nice comment 40 year!
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Osaka Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@wavesinair, You know I think your right, I think the team really lost a lot of respect for Murray for benching Quick after 3 straight shutouts. They played some good hockey after that point but something was lost. I went on record saying it wasn’t such a big deal and who cares, but I think I was wrong. I think it meant more to the boys than I thought it would.
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Central Coast King Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
@Osaka, I agree, also if we look back we can see each time Quick began to win several games like his last stretch before the Montreal game TM felt the urge to start JB.Now before I get bashed, I also think JB has talent but I disagree stopping a goalie when he hits his stride just because it”s a Back to back situation or TM feels the other guy needs a shot. Both attempts @ this have failed and led to loosing streaks even when JB plays well the team has not supported him. So you continue with a hot Quick until he cools off himself, other coaches realize you don’t intentionally cool off your starting G-man Why can’t he see this.
Kenny44 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@Osaka, When that happened, my immediate thought was that Mike Richards must think he’s in Bizzaro World. The Flyers couldn’t find a steady goalie no matter where they turned, and that may have been the one reason they didn’t win the Cup while he was there. He’ll, that was the reason they traded him, their captain, to make room for a real goalie. Then Richards gets out here and has a goalie get three straight shutouts, only to have his maniacally tinkering coach decide that’s a good time to play the other guy. WTF is going on around here?
Steve W Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
@wavesinair, Someone posted on another thread something that I have been thinking, maybe he should of hired TM first, then Crawford.
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iansez Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
@Steve W, yeah it seems that way. Good ‘ol hindsight…
Kenny44 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
@Steve W, That was me. Sure it’s hindsight, but that type of coach rotation has produced success. Fundamentals guy to put the structure in place, then creative / motivator type to push the team higher. See Webster followed by Melrose, for example. Then rinse and repeat.
KingsFan79 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@wavesinair and @40year,one of the best genuine assessments I’ve heard. Couldn’t agree more.
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dahack11 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@40yearfan, The team plays like the coach looks….
lost….sleepy….
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Osaka Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@40yearfan, I agree with you. After the Montreal loss I knew it was time to part ways. Murray is not a bad coach, and he has done great things for the Kings. I don’t knock Murray’s system and I don’t question every move he makes. He is not responsible for taxes and high unemployment, BUT it is time to have a new skipper. NHL coaches just don’t have a long life. It is obvious he doesn’t have the same effect on the team he once had. It is time for the team to hear a new voice. You can’t fire 23 guys.
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kinginsaltlake Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@Osaka, Again the Man makes sense.
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veterans in the stands
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Forum gold Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@40yearfan, And at home in the Lazy-Boy. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Glad to see Richards doing better. Just take it one day at a time Mike.
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@TD, Trent Hunter needs to go on waivers when Rick comes back.
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TD Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@Sam, Okay…but you sit him down. Richardson – Stoll – Hunter is useless. It is basically a 2 man breakout cause Hunter can’t get into position, its a 2 man forecheck cause Hunter can’t support quickly enough, its a 2 man transistion game cause Hunter can’t out skate anyone, etc.
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IceGuy Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@TD,
You have just given three good reasons why Hunter should not be on the ice.
Murray has yet to give one as to why he SHOULD be on the ice.
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“You don’t miss all of Mike Richards”.
I’m pretty sure I miss everything about Richards, including his smile.
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tornado12 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@California Royalty, mancrush?
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California Royalty Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@tornado12, haha bigtime
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Diablito93 Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@tornado12, I have no problem admitting my Richards man crush. Guy is a solid hockey player!
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Laura Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@California Royalty, I know, what did that mean exactly?? I miss EVERYTHING about the guy!!!
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how about…
DD/RS
JJ/VV
WM/MG
i guess that leaves AM the odd man out, but you just dont sit anyone else. Sure is a tough decision there!
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DEH Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@tornado12, here’s a crazy idea,
DD/VV
JJ/WM
AM/RS
Each pair would have a offensive D man, VV might be able to push DD some.
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brian spain Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@tornado12, Voynov goes back down, He makes to many mistakes, and is getting a bad habit of trying to skate around with the puck instead of getting the puck to the net.
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this is verbatim what they fed us when deadmarsh was concussed X number of years ago….I always laugh when i hear “He rode the bike hard”
this season aint gettin any better any time soon. AHHHHH the life of a kings fan….
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on another note, SO glad that Penner is stepping up. I so didn’t want to give up on him last year..he is finally the guy that we were all hoping to get last year. So glad he’s healthy and in his pregame interview last night, he said that he’s got more to give..let’s see it Pens!!
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goldielocks Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@Laura,
He said he’s still not his best and can do more. Thrilling to hear it.
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NVkingsFan Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Laura, Don’t get ahead of yourself. Penner has 2 goals, can’t seem to stop hurting himself, and has taken a couple dumb penalties. While he did look like he was starting to hustle last night, he still needs to disprove 60 games of mediocrity.
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paige Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@Laura, I agree. I had given up on him, but I am glad to have been wrong and happy to cheer on a comeback.
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Either TM is gone or all kings members need to move out of Manhattan beach, stop playing volleyball and move to El Segundo & play Hockey????????
All in favor say,IIIIIIIIIIIIII….
Sorry repost hit the wrong section
KOPI AND MR should be great again soon….
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So PP doesn’t work without Richards. Then why do we even need a PP coach? Or saying “Listen to Richards” is his job?
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Osaka Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@goldielocks, Be like Mike.
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MR s impact has been made ever so clear by his absence… the Kings have now become a team with exactly one threat…shut Kopi down and you win…Kopi sees the best checkers and D pairs all night and no other lines on this team can make the opponents pay for that…when MR gets back to being MR and playing again…I might be able to stop grinding my teeth so much when I watch this team…Get well soon MR, the Kings need you back bad
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How much has Richards been missed?
The other night, Bob kept making a point that had Richards been in the game, the Kings might have had a few chances at short-handed goals. It goes without saying that he’s also been missed from just a scoring perspective, especially since he’d been on a 11-game 10-goal streak, or close to that.
However, the part of Richards that the Kings miss most is his leadership.
Despite this team’s obvious disfunctionality (others have documented this point ad naseum), I honestly think there might have been 2 or 3 point garnered from the last 3 games.
I remember thinking during each of them (Minnesota, Anaheim, and Montreal) that during the crucial juncture in those games, Richards would have both set the example as well as exhorted his team mantes. We’ll never know…
Just proves how this team totally lacks effective leadership.
No wonder the last few games have felt as hopeless as the times this team got in ruts before Richards came here.
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Cant wait ro get MR back on the ice so our goal production can increase from 1.25 to 1.5.
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…You don’t miss all of Mike Richards….
I do, and I think most Kings fans do too. What part of the game isn’t worse without him? PK-goes without saying PP- he’s the quarterback and as the smartest player on the team, the reason it works. DZ – as one of the best shutdown centers in the game, hell yeah he’s missed in the DZ and the biggest loss is leaderhip. Who hasn’t noticed that during the games when they show him on the bench, he’s not teaching/talking. And before facoffs when he directs action. He’s alwasy thinking and using that for the better of the team. This team just isn’t the same without him and it’s no coincidence that they are 0-3 without him. They miss his fire…that killer instinct and intensity.
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I think Manchester could use some vets to teach the rest. Enter Moreau and Hunter. Can they do that? They ought to. Manchester is empty.
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ATTENTION PANIC BRIGADE……….CALM DOWN.
First the calls for Coach Murrays head are an over reaction. We will get closer than we have in the recent past but we are still a couple of years out. Stay the course. As to last nights game, Quick was awful, no other way to describe it. Bad positioning and bad vision, sometime you have a game like that. If you want to call for someones head it should be the hold out, Doughty. He has sucked since he got back. Complete disappointment by anyones standards. Poor passing, taking too long to make decisions with the puck etc. Dustin Penner…a major under performer. I’m sure he is a great person but no way the Kings can afford to have a guy that size that can’t skate, can’t score and refused to use his body to hit while he corrects the rest of his game. If someone needs to roll, its him. Kings lack grit so they continue to get slapped around. There is such a void that Kopitar actually has to start pushing people around. Martinez instead of Greene? Madness!!! Love Martinez and in a couple of years he will be steady, what he will never be is a physical presence. Greene isn’t flashy and doesn’t score goals but you seldom find him out of position and never see him backing down. Watch the opposition and how they respond when Greene is there, then watch when Martinez is there. As to the coach, who comes in to coach when Murray leave, the Ducks old coach???? We can get Crawford back…it was amazing…NOT!!!
Having said all of this, we can’t panic, we should put the blame where it should be, with the players. Until they believe we have nothing.
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I feel for TM, but his head has to be on the chopping block if some consecutive wins do not get put together in a hurry! We have a TON of talent on the team and no coach! The starters ARE the problem. They have become too complacent, too much ego and no GRIT! I do not see the feistiness from the players on our team. We are gettin bullied and cleaned out by teams that we should be beating. I am such a die hard fan and I hate to say it, but I am close to writing off this season if TM is behind the bench for the rest of season. Of all the games so far to actually see the Kings play a FULL 60 min game I think has been 2. That aint gonna cut it in the NHL, and especially when we are supposed to be bringing home the Stanley Cup. TM has brought this team in a great positive direction, its just time for a change.
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ok. so rick is still out. but he may or may not be back within a few games. why waive moreau now? i mean the lineup is already shorthanded (so to speak). i think this kings team is going to really miss Zus in the long run. what should we do to replace moreau? trade him?…we’ll we can’t do that. ive said it before on these forums and i’ll say it again. we lack depth up front. we may have a solid lineup and top 6 but we need to get atleast one other solid checking line player because thats where we miss both Zus and simmonds. anyone else feel the same way?
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I hope we haven’t forgotten this when we face Florida on 2/9.
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MIke richards is Clearly the MOST important player to this team. without him they have no scoring considering kopis always against top lines. no defensive zone skill no physicality ano NO LEADERSHIP nothing against brown hes great but richards was born to be a leader and wherever he is he will be the captsin whether he has the c or not dontlose hope when hes back and the team gets motivated again they will go on a tear and become a VERY DANGEROUS teaam
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