Here’s a couple quick updates on some Kings players and prospects that folks have been wondering about…
The biggest mystery has been Ethan Moreau, who cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs on Dec. 10 but has not played in a game. Jeff Solomon, the Kings’ vice president of hockey operations and legal affairs, said in an email that Moreau “reported feeliing `off’ after a practice in Manchester. So we are treating him in accordance with concussion protocol.’’ To the best of my knowledge, Moreau did not have any issues at the time he was assigned to Manchester.
There is, unfortunately, no real update on Simon Gagne, who has been out since Dec. 26 because of a concussion. Gagne is regularly being evaluated by doctors but is not doing any type of hockey-related activity and is not with the team.
Finally, there was a scary moment with the Monarchs last night, when Kings prospect Robbie Czarnik had to be carted off the ice after a hit to the head from Portland’s Dean Arsene. Czarnik went to a local hospital for tests, but teammate Ray Kaunisto posted this morning on Twitter that Czarnik was home and feeling better.
Is there a Brendan Shanahan of the AHL?
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George Primmer Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
@Kings Win, Ducks Lose, There better be cause that was a straight shot to the head at the Verizon Wireless Arena last night. I sit in Section 104, about 150 feet from the hit and you could hear the thud from my seat. Robbie C is lucky to be home already. Can’t wait till February 7th in Manchester for the rematch. It is going to be ugly!
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Steve LaFave Reply:
January 29th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
@George Primmer, Right on, I was in our seats in 112 and heard the it too. Arsene is a veteran player who isn’t generally considered a dirty player, but it looked like he tageted the head with his shoulder. I imagine we will see some retaliation, maybe they were getting ready with Worcester last night, lol.
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Hope Gagne gets better, and that Czarnik is ok. The Moreau situation seems a little odd to me. Mabye he made a deal with the Kings in which he doesn’t have to play in Manchester, but he still gets paid his full salary.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@CB14,
Not accusing Moreau of anything, but maybe he’s “using” the concussion protocol to not have to play in Manchester.
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USHA#`7 Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
@Kingsfanone,
Play out his contract without having to report.
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Simarosa Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
@Kingsfanone,
Your comments run right along with several of ours in Manchester….the word concussion hasn’t been mentioned before now, but something doesn’t seem right here. Even Mark Morris was surprised a few weeks when he heard Moreau was out having tests done.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
@Simarosa,
I’ve seen people who know how to, or want to, use the “system” a lot more than others. Hell, I could’ve done a lot more “disability” had I wanted to. I didn’t. I have a friend that is on disability seemingly all the time.
rogiesbackup Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
I will bet Teemu Salami will be one of MANY over 40ish player in the NHL. I see many of them that are in the early-mid thirties and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. I hope Gagne will beat this issue and return for the long haul….he’s still has a lot of hockey in him.
Didn’t Justin Williams carried a tag of “injury prone” player as well. He REALLY looks solid these days. Seems he is a well rounded player now. He is the “Butch Goring” of the kings today the way he skates-shifty!!!
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Ethan Moreau, malinger?
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KC23 Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@fuzzerson, It’s called collecting a paycheck, but not wanting to play in the AHL. His career is done apparently.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@KC23,
And “Daddy” is gone.
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California Royalty Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@KC23, Haha that’s like getting worker’s comp without actually being hurt. It’s illegal. Plus his line of work is a little more public than more professions
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If Gagne hasn’t returned by now or not even skating count him out for the season.
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This is what I expected from Gagne this season. Very predictable
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USHA#`7 Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
@408kingsfan,
I don’t know about “predictable” but it sure looks like he’s done.
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AZ King Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
@408kingsfan,
I’m sorry this just sounds very callous and cold hearted to me. It’s not he wanted to he another concussion.
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
@AZ King, that he is known for being injury prone before we aquired him. That sounds cold and callous. You hear some things I say about Penner then.
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Gustavo Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@408kingsfan,
And how in the world were you able to “predict” Gagne was going to be out with a concussion?
Nonsense. Pure and simple. Gagne had a terrific playoff run last season. He was healthy and had a clean bill of health when he joined LA. THAT’s what gave DL and everyone else in the Kings organization hope that Gagne could have helped us.
This site is getting way too polluted with way too many “I knew this would happen” unqualified ‘know it all’ bloggers. There is no way you, me or the paperboy can predict an injury to any player on any team.
Wishing or expecting it to happen is malicious. Please jump off that wagon asap.
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Deke'r Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
@Gustavo, …f’n right….
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
@Gustavo, I would have to agree with 408 (even though I didnt know), but Rich pointed out his concussion history. It was a gamble to get him because he’s had multiple concussions prior to his play off run. We did know that.
Hope that clarifies.
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Gustavo Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
@Lake Forest,
First thing tomorrow morning, I’m going to the local voodoo store to prepare joo joo potions to counteract all those injury prognosticators who wait for the opportunity to say “predictable” if something bad happens to:
1. Mitchell’s, Richards’ or Doughty’s heads.
2. Kopitar’s ankle.
3. Quick’s bloody nose.
4. Williams’ shoulder.
5. Fraser’s foot.
6. Penner’s hand or ‘pancake’ back.
Screw it, I’ll get joo joo potions for all the players, just in case. Coaches and management, as well. It might even help poor Scott Parse, may the hockey gods let him recover.
GKG!
Csaba Bhody Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 1:31 am
@Lake Forest, It doesn’t clarify anything! How would anyone have known, that he would have another concussion? There are lots of psychics here… Will we make the playoff or the first round? Someone might know that for sure too…
Lake Forest Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 8:33 am
@Csaba Bhody, I agreed with 408 following comment “that he is known for being injury prone before we aquired him”…not that predictable comment….I am not saying it was predictable, I am just saying we took a gamble getting him. If a player has a concussion, OR MULTIPLE in this case, you would think there is a good chance of him getting another one with a bad or illegal hit to the head right?
It was a gamble with him, we DID KNOW THAT!
EasyBob Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:27 am
@408kingsfan, We knew the problem, took a chancd and it looks like we lost. Worth a try as he knows how to put the puck in the net.
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OT Kings should sell t-shirts…”This aint Baseball” on the front….”Lakingsinsider” on the back!!!!!
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fuzzerson Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
@neil, I can put it with my “What Would Avery Do?” and “JMFJ” t-shirts.
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Too bad about Gagne. It looked like he was going to be a real contributor at the start of the season.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@DesertKing,
Agreed. But I was always leary he could make it thru a full season. But could we ever use him.
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Kings x Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
@DesertKing, Maybe he will be back come playoffs and He will be like an instance FA acquisition
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As much as i like Gagne it does not sound like hes coming back anytime soon if at all just put him on long term IR and go after someone since DL will have the cap room for it and do a trade or something even if it means losing Bernie since he will odds are be gone anyway soon since he wont want to be a back up forever
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KC23 Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@Kasey9, That is likely what will happen, but it makes more sense to set up the deal and make sure it’s gonna happen before commiting Gagne to long term IR.
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EasyBob Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:31 am
@Kasey9, Sounds like a plan. DL let’s do it. You got my blessing! Ha ha
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Get better Kopi! You need the rest!! Quick? well we need more, so no rest for the MVP!
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Ethan Moreau is an outstanding hockey player. He plays “thick” and “heavy” in the corners, he is always strong on his stick, and he has character and leadership that is 2nd to none. In fact, he anchored my 1st unit powerplay.
Respectfully Yours, Theodore “Terry” Murray.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
@puck73,
I thought I fired you.
Sincerely,
Dean Lombardi
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AZ King Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
@puck73, Wouldn’t it be awesome if TM was tolling the blog under a different name. Tm….are you out there?
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neil Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@AZ King, How about Jim Fox??? I thought that I heard one of the Kings minor league player use to read this blog…I bet some Kings players read this..they are human!!! Its just like all the players read the newspapers but now the internet is in…So to all the Kings players reading this….Beat the Nucks!!!
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wavesinair Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 8:34 am
@puck73,
Oh, I thought you were quoting Barry Melrose.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:50 am
@wavesinair,
Have you ever seen puck and Melrose at the same time?
I’m just sayin’
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Helvetica Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 10:37 am
@puck73, Ha, i was about to respond before i realized you were joking. On topic though, it’s interesting to me that a guy like Ethan was brought in specifically for his character and leadership and now it “appears” that he’s just cutting bait. The two profiles don’t jive.
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I am sorry, but I just lost all respect for E. M. He is wanting his $600,000 dollors and not wanting to play in Manchester. That is below him to have to play in the AHL. Please DL do not call him up. He would be a cancer for the Kings.
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Kings x Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
@gene, I heard he and Avery were spotted having drinks talking smack about the NHL in boston
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gene Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 8:32 am
@Kings x, Wow there is another player who should not be called up to the big house.
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Rich…Will we have a update(or interview)with the Manchester troops?? 6 game losing streak…wondering why? System?? Coaching?? Lack of skill players???…..Serious..who is playing well and who is underperforming??? Thanks
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I am hoping Gags comes back. He did last year. In coming back that means he’s healthy.
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Gustavo Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
@Lake Forest,
Let’s all hope for the same!!
He didn’t just come back. He blazed through the playoffs, as well.
Best wishes, Gags and Parse!
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Bring up some of the young players in the AHL when a player gets hurt.Give the Kings fans a chance to see some of the younger players in the Kings organization. Every other team in the NHL does it, why dont the Kings.
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Rich -or anyone who can answer this question-
To my knowledge, the only players who wear Mark Messier’s M-11 helmet are these who have had concussions in the past. But I can’t seem to remember any of these player getting a concussion while wearing the M-11. Can anyone name one?
Maybe Willie Mitchell has an extra one for Gagne…
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