For those who want to catch up on yesterday’s news — or simply want to hear and see how things sounded and looked in El Segundo, here’s a series of videos from Darryl Sutter’s first day on the job…
Darryl Sutter and Dean Lombardi press conference
Darryl Sutter talks with Daryl Evans
Dean Lombardi talks with Daryl Evans
Rich, have you done any Christmas shopping yet? You must be writing this stuff while waiting in line at the mall
[Reply]
He’s a lot more soft spoken “in public”, than I expected, almost to the point of whispering.
[Reply]
I think we will see all of those hustlers like Richardson, Brown, Williams, of course Richards, and Clifford, getting a lot of ice time. I also think Sutter will get Cliffy back to last year’s form.
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:17 am
@Happy Lappy, They are all anixous for what is a new beginning for all players.
We witnessed Cliffy’s toughness in Detroit and Toronto recently and Kyle is a real competitive guy, he will continue improve and put his best skate forward all the time.
Go Cliffy Go…..however lets as a team get this ship going forward and get back to a solid playoff spot.
No question we have underachieved as a team and its time to prove the disbelievers wrong, go kings go…..
[Reply]
neil Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:18 am
@Happy Lappy, That was one of my problems with Murray…not getting Cliffy,Lewis,Richardson and etc to the next step.Those players dont have to score 30 goals but if we can get 10 to 15 out of them ,we would be that much stronger as a team…I think Sutter will help those players devlop..They have the skills…
[Reply]
ddc Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:20 am
@Happy Lappy,
it was funny, i was at yesterday’s practice, and towards the end during the shoot-about, cliffy and DS had a little side-bar conversation and DS playfully nudged cliffy in the stomach… i half expected DS to actually drop the gloves and walk thru a few pointers with him… he’s gonna be good for the boys, you could tell by the buzz on the ice.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:50 am
@ddc,
While I have not supported this move, I am glad to hear your views based on actually being there and they are making me feel better about it. Thanks
[Reply]
In reality the Kings are close….Goaltending and defense is good.We have talent up front.All we need to do is score a little bit more.All Sutter has to do is tweak the system/attitude and the Kings will win.Its not like Sutter has nothing to work with.Murray’s downfall is he is a defensive coach….period.Sutter will get the Kings to do both….
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:19 am
@neil, Neil well said, I like your optomistic approach and I’m sure the Kings will not disappoint and come back strong in the 2nd half and push into a playoff spot.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:50 am
@neil,
Very good post!
[Reply]
Merry X/Mas to you and all insiders who reside in the Vegas Area. The holidays in Vegas should be a blast… Accept when you lose your cash… Thought I saw Santa playing roulette… I suck at poems. Anyway here’s to a win vs Ducks. Hopefully we start this Sutter era right. Would be nice to pick up these two games right before X/Mas. It’s doable as long as everyone is on the same page. These are two big big games. Division games that mean a lot. To the casual fan it probably dosn’t look all that important, but to us Die Hards, this is big. It’s like playoff time in December. Really my gut is begainning to turn I always feel like going #2 and my wife is staying away from me. Work has stopped due to the hoildays ans my pockets are low. But yet I still move on. Go Kings Go!!!
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:55 am
@King Charles of Salt Lake, Classic! GKG
[Reply]
Anyone going to practice today let me know if the drills look different with more offensive concentration or are we still looking to protect our end constantly in the drills.
Many have said the 1st practice with Sutter was more upbeat, interesting to know what he works on for game day??
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:29 am
@Harty,
No practice on gamedays. A skate, yes, but no practice.
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:36 am
@wavesinair, thanks waves do you attend?
if so lets get these guys ready for tonight or perhaps the skate is up the freeway?
[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:51 am
@Harty,
I attend an occasional practice. LOL.
They cutout Sutter flashing the two peace signs. Lame.
[Reply]
King Charles of Salt Lake Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:30 am
@wavesinair, That was the best part!!! Peace to all man kind!!! I am not a crook!!
[Reply]
He came in, had a little meeting, threw his words around, it was nothing special. -Kopitar
Funny stuff. Kopi is so much more comfortable in interviews than Brown, Dustin can be tough to listen to. (That’s not a DB complaint, just an observation.)
[Reply]
scootty Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:03 am
@Jason4Kings, When Kopi said that, I was thinking about what Greene said about the room maybe being divided about being sad to see Murray gone and sour about Sutter. It came across as Kopi is one of those players.
[Reply]
pautna Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:17 am
@scootty, For the most part I concur. He seemed to downplay the significance of the whole situation.
[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:35 am
@scootty,
Of all the players on the team, I think TM had the biggest impact on Kopi. TM turned Kopi into a complete player who could be trusted to be out on the ice at any time. I’m sure during that time they formed a pretty strong bond, and Kopi may feel a lot of gratitude towards TM. That being said, Kopi is a professional and I think he will be fine.
[Reply]
Brown said something that I hope gets through to all players. “It may not come up on the score sheet, but everybody has to contribute”. Everybody has to put their stamp on the games we play. We saw that in Toronto. Rather it be a big hit, fight, killing off the PP. Making the right pass, getting in front of the net, I could go on and on. It’s the little things that matter. Also keeping the game simple. Go out there, skate, have fun and score some goals. Have Quicks back!! Play the shut down “D” we have seen throughout this era. 7 o’clock can’t get here fast enough. Good to have #10 back. Let us ride this train to the playoffs.
[Reply]
So you think Quick plays both games? Today/tomorrow?
[Reply]
Bernier tonight?
[Reply]
King Charles of Salt Lake Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:09 am
@California Royalty, I would!! We can’t have Quick buning himself out.
[Reply]
California Royalty Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:13 am
@King Charles of Salt Lake, exactly. Play Bernier against a weak team and Quick against a must win! Could be a tough call though, you know he wants to win his first game!
[Reply]
jess Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:16 am
@California Royalty, I’ll bet Boudreau really wants to win this one for a whole host of reasons. Should be a battle!
jason Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 11:11 am
@California Royalty, Quick will start and i have a feeling kings are going to roast some ducks tonight
everyone is going to be trying to show their best hockey for the new coach and this should make for the best game of the season…watch…. and what that will show more is our potential and how mental our losses have actually been
[Reply]
Did you guys read Helene Elliott’s story about Sutter? Some interesting quotes about Sutter, including that Scott Thorton “Hated him”, but played some of his best hockey for him.
[Reply]
Hopefully he doesn’t mumble behind the bench as much as he did in the interview…
[Reply]
jess Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:14 am
@California Royalty,
Sutter is known to be fairly animated behind the bench, and if this is the case it will be a welcome change to TM’s deer in the headlights approach.
[Reply]
If by chance the Kings are still struggling to score/win games further down the line, does Sutter make a pitch to DL to trade Brown with JJ/Bernier + for Iginla? I don’t think it’s that far off of a possibility. Calgary really needs to start a rebuild soon. Iginla and Kippy are getting to the ends of their careers, so the flames could be interested in something like this, and we would gain some valuable grit and scoring prowess. If anytime made sense for a trade like this, it would be the coming months, if it gets to that point for both clubs.
[Reply]
When Lombardi said Sutter went to Japan to play, I thought it was another baseball reference.. but nevermind.
[Reply]
Just a question, (I don’t recall seeing it anywhere) but how long of a deal did Sutter sign?
[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 11:07 am
@Kinger,
Multi-year. Generally the coach’s contracts are as long as the GM’s contract, which would be through next season (2012-2013)
[Reply]
when Kopi talks about Sutter being another defensive coach he sounds a little bummed out. But he also got a smile with the new lines. Seems like some concerns may stay the same but at least there are a few fresh things coming.
[Reply]
Interesting when Kopi said “But, It is what it is.” when referring to DS being more defensive minded like TM. Sounds like they may have been tired of that type of mindset…
[Reply]