Andrei Loktionov has been a lineup regular since the Kings called him up from the AHL in mid-November, but tonight he will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Trent Hunter rejoins the lineup as the third-line right winger and Trevor Lewis slides over to center. It’s been a bit of a tough go for Loktionov. Shortly after they called him up, the Kings moved Loktionov back to his natural position of center, but the production hasn’t followed. In second- and third line roles, Loktionov has zero goals and two assists in 14 games and has gone 10 consecutive games without a point.
STEVENS: “We like Lokti and we think he’s going to be a good player in the league. I think, in order to do that, he has to be an extremely competitive player that wins puck battles, that wants to hang onto the puck to make plays. As (with) any young player, he’s going to get better defensively. I just don’t think he’s been at that level that we expect from him, and I think it’s good for young players to step back and watch a game and learn from it. So that message has been communicated to him clearly. Again, we think the world of him, but when you have healthy players on the sidelines that are very hungry to play, it doesn’t matter if it’s Lokti or someone else, if you level drops off, I think it’s important to make a change.’’
The Kings aren’t expected to make any other lineup changes, meaning defenseman Slava Voynov will be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.
STEVENS: “Quite frankly, that’s because of numbers. I thought the six guys that played, played extremely well in the last game. I think when the guys come in and play that well as a group, it’s important to reward them with another opportunity to play. In Davis’ case, I don’t think we could ask any more of him than what we’ve asked of him, how hard he works. He’s such a strong kid mentally. We like him in the lineup because of that. It’s not surprising that, in a tough situation, he comes through for us. That’s the kind of kid he is.’’
Helene Elliott @helenenothelen
Darryl Sutter has been hired as the Kings’ next coach and will take over on Tuesday.
Tuesday or Thursday?
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fsd1 Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
@Harry, take over on Tuesday, next game after that is Thursday.
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Mitchell (via free agency)
Greene
Drewiske
Martinez
Who gets traded at the deadline to make room for Voynov next season?
share your thoughts
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Eric Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@Paul G, hopefully Johnson
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Seriously Now Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@Eric, More like hopefully Doughty, dollar for dollar, Johnson is twice the player Doughty is.
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MikeyB Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
@Paul G,
They struggle without Mitchell… 2 years in a row now. I almost have to say they need to bring him back. I think he’s more valuable to this team than many people know.
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Paul G Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
@MikeyB, Personally I would get rid of Matt Greene and his overpaid contract but most likely whats going to happen is Martinez gets traded at the deadline or Mitchell leaves via FA since he’s older and even more injury prone
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kings king Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@Paul G, Mitchell and Greene are guys you want to be around come playoff time. And Drewiske is the depth we need. Not flashy but he does compulsory figures and that’s what you want from a 3rd pair defensemen. Just keep the momentum up. Hard to say, Marty did just get the contract extension though.
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Drewiski and/or Greene
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Well, I hope Lokti can observe and learn a bit. He has been rather crummy lately, and we finally have a coach who sees a player throw up on himself and has the juevos to sit him for the next game. Oh well, we did, for 4 games. I reckon we’ll see what DS brings on Tue.
Go Kings
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Feel terrible for this guy, last year he came up when the team was in a slump and the same thing has happened this season. I think if he wants to stay up with the kings he has to keep his feet moving along the boards to win those battles. He needs to use his skating ability in all facets of his game, not just skating the puck out of danger.
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dont mess with a winning streak…..esp if its for Hunter….
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get hunter out…just dress 7 defenseman!!! its not illegal
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Just not a bright coaching move today. You need 12 flexible forwards against a team like Detroit. Putting Westgarth in, already having Clifford in, those are two guys who will play minimal minutes. At least with Loktionov in the lineup, you have options on your side.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@Marc Nathan,
agreed. although westie loo looks a lot better this year, he is just not a good fit against detroit. detroit doesn’t have any real heavyweights, so why put ours out there? could have swapped hunter for westie, and give lokti the start.. just an opinion..
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