First, a note on this morning’s activity. Jim Fox reports that the only players on the ice were Davis Drewiske, Dustin Penner and Jonathan Bernier, so the natural assumption would be that Jonathan Quick will start and that the only possible lineup change might be the inclusion of Kevin Westgarth. We shall see. At any rate, it seems rookies Dwight King and Jordan Nolan will get another look.
The postgame stat sheet didn’t really do justice to Nolan. In his NHL debut, Nolan played 14 minutes, 18 seconds, and didn’t record a shot on goal. He had two hits and took a minor penalty. But Nolan did well. On a line with veteran center Mike Richards and King — who also asserted himself at times in the offensive zone — Nolan looked increasingly comfortable in the game, nearly scored a couple times and, perhaps most impressively, had a smart backcheck play to knock the puck away from the Islanders and thwart what appeared to be a dangerous developing scoring chance.
It was only one game, of course, and as Darryl Sutter noted after the game, “kids playing against kids’’ — a reference to the New York Islanders’ young lineup — but Nolan did well for himself. Nolan (and King) had nine third-period shifts, nearly as many as Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar (10), and Justin Williams (nine) Nolan is the son of former NHL player and head coach Ted Nolan, who is now the head coach of Latvia’s national team (and, incidentally, formerly coached the Islanders). So, Ted Nolan couldn’t be on hand to watch his son’s NHL debut, but Jordan Nolan did have other family support.
(on whether his dad watched in Europe…)
NOLAN: “My dad is in Latvia right now, so he couldn’t make it, but my mom and my brother were here, so I was excited to see them and I’m glad they came down to watch. My mom was in New York and my brother lives in Toronto so he flew here (Friday) night. … (My dad) watched on the computer somewhere. He was definitely watching and proud of me, so it’s good.’’
Must be one proud family. Here is to hoping Ted Nolan gets to see a lot of his son doing well in a King uniform. BTW, Ted … if you’re reading this great job with your son. He looked great yesterday.
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Kings Fan South Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 10:54 am
@KC23, Nolan played an awesome game. Couple of inches either way and he would have notched a couple of goals. Let’s hope the Kings can score some goals today and end the trip on a high note.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:05 am
@Kings Fan South, Yea I hope he keeps it up today and possibly for the rest of the season. As far as I know right now I never want to see Stoll and Penner playing with Richards again.
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neil Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:23 am
@Jeff_R, At this point of the season and knowing that Stoll and Penner are both gone at the end..I would keep playing Nolan and King….to give them experience and to see what they can do..Plus you wouldnt lose any drop off this year…
LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@Jeff_R, Agree + 1000
variable Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:50 am
@KC23,
i agree…
nolan looked sharp and prepared…he had so many good scoring chances that HE created…that’s a very good sign…
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Kids playing kids? So as much veterans the Kings have in their line up they lost to a bunch of kids.. Pathetic to say the least. Man I sure hope the Kings win today.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:03 am
@taomakingsfan, While the Kings do have some Veteran players they are still one of the youngest teams in the league.
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Nolan missed about three open nets, is this what this organization has come to, saying guys that miss a few great chances played well?
Mediocrity and nothing more
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:04 am
@SPOTON, It was his first game in the NHL EVER…Give the guy a break.
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gene Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:14 am
@SPOTON, Man give the kid a break. First game and you are ragging already. Unreal. Did a awesome job.
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pitty Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:25 am
@SPOTON, He created more chances than any vet on the team including Kopitar, Brown or Williams. I think it says more about the uninspired play of the regulars than anything else.
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hockeynerd Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
@pitty, Thanks to King and Richards
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kings king Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:33 am
@SPOTON, Dude that’s the point of hockey, how many other guys were in position to hit an open net? He was one of the best players last night.
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SPOTON Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
@kings king, One of our best players… but did not pick up a point. Let’s give him an A for effort huh?
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hockeynerd Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
@SPOTON, i do see where your coming from, i am a nolan fan but i am not going to act like he is the end all be all like a lot of new posters here are saying, if he doesn’t score tonight with as many chances as he got last night people are going to start the he sucks campaign.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@hockeynerd, Nobody is treating Nolan like the end all and be all to our problems. However it is his FIRST game. If he continues in the same vain after like 20-30 games then it can be said, that he has the disease that is affecting the Kings scoring. However unlike everybody else, it was Nolan’s FIRST game. Don’t know else to say that. Some people are nuts.
Both the new players played awesome. DL please keep them up for the rest of the year.
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Seals70-76 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@gene, Can’t wait to watch the BRUISE BROTHERS (King & Nolan) beat up on Dallas!
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gene Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@Seals70-76, Man that would be awesome. Go Kings. Are you listening Mr OTT.
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Jordan awesome outing, regardless of some might say with respect to not scoring, not getting on the game scoring sheet at all. It was your 1st NHL game, no doubt Teddy was watching regardless where he was.
Mom in the stands with older brother must have felt great.
Keep it going kid, the entire family is cheering.
Go Nolan Go……
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Brown/Kopi/Williams
…../Richards/…..
Nolan/Lotki/King
Cliffy/Frasor/Lewis/Richardson
Could two wingers and a new direction make a difference???
3rd and 4th line..enough scoring potential???
If Gagne comes back then do we only need one really good winger???
Also any of the other forwards..will they be ready for next season??
The most interesting off season coming up….
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“kids playing against kids”. Exactly. The Islanders aren’t a very heavy roster. Dallas likes to try to throw us around, should be interesting to see how the kid does this game. I’d like to see some retaliation from the players though, the last 2 games against Dallas they intimidated us all game.
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 11:40 am
@kings king, Both King and especially Nolan are not going to get thrown around. I just know Ott and Nolan are going to go at it sooner or later.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@KC23, That would be fricken awesome. Ott needs to be taught a lesson. I would love for Nolan to be the one to teach him. Would really welcome him into the Kings fraternity.
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Was undoubtedly our best forward last night and quite possibly our best skater last night. Keep it up kid and the pucks will go in the net!
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All right. The kind showed a potential but only 1 game doesn’t prove anything against one of the bottom feeders. Tell me what’s the difference between Lewis shoots right into the crest and the kid misses the wide open net? They are still no goal no matter how close they were. Some of you guys praise the unproven so much and think it does good for the kid’s development? Being 2nd liner is already too much resposibility for the kid. But 1st liner? Playing with the big boys for the rest of the season? Wake me up when the kid proves he’s a Logan Couture caliber. Give the kid sometime to prove himself useful. Then we can say whatever like he’s a savior or a super hero. Until then he’s still a rookie, and think about how embarrassing having two rookies on the 2nd line.
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
@goldielocks, Difference is Lewis has been at it for two seasons. Nolan has been at it one game.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
@KC23,
Yea, I hear ya. Can’t believe he’s our 1st rounder over Giroux.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
@goldielocks, Or Chris Stewart. Al Murray sucked.
I watched the the second half of the NY telecast with Howie Rose & former King Butch Goring. Both were impressed with the Nolan, Richards and King line “buzzing around”. Goring said that Nolan has a bright future with his skill, size and physical play.
Goring repeatedly noticed and commented that the Kings are very chippy (physical team). One stat quoted was that there were more hits in that game than any Islanders game this year. In the post game interviews the Islanders players acted like it was a huge accomplishment to win that game.
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A possible JMFN in the works?
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I dont trust Quick…
Reason y He looks soo pissed off to his teammates….I dont blame him but i dont think he going to be on his game today
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IMO Nolan looked great. I wouldn’t be too hung up on points, if one’s looking at only one game. A player might play poorly but get a lucky goal, or even two. Seems to me that its important not to get too caught up in situations like that. Colin Fraser, one of the weakest forwards on a very bad Edmonton team, I recall had a goal in his first game as a King. People, including me, were pretty hopeful. But Fraser has not potted one since, he’s at the low end of NHL quickness and coordination, and when I bothered to look at his league history, well IMO Fraser’s a guy who plays his heart out but is below the NHL average player. (Not enough luck in the birth lottery).
I think Moller maybe had a similar story with the Kings: a few lucky goals in his first few games and off the strength of that stayed up with the Kings for quite awhile, during which time IMO Moller mostly struggled.
Nolan on the other hand seemed to me like he was generating good chances and has the NHL size needed to go straight to the net. Let’s see how he does today. I’d guess the Kings keep these kids up for 4-5 games then send them back to an undermanned Manchester once Stoll recovers enough to play.
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Simarosa Reply:
February 12th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@vicarious,
Undermanned Monarchs is an understatement….. Meckler is still out, Moreau is out for the season (no shocker there) and Cliche injured Friday night. With Nolan and King with the Kings, the Monarchs are so short for bodies that last night and this afternoon 2 defensemen have to play as forwards (the d-men are trying, but needless to say, that’s not working so well).
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What a chance King and Nolan are being given playing with Mike Richards. You can see Mike likes to teach and you can tell by his comments that the one thing that Mike demands of his line mates is hard work. You play hard and he’ll play just as hard if not harder and you will get points.
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I Didn’t get to see the debut game, but I’m looking forward to seeing this kid play. From what I heard, he did good! Good luck Nolan!
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I think he’s being shopped! What’s the difference between him and moulson or Purcell? Isn’t this the type of player that gets a couple of looks before DL trades him or just lets him go and he becomes a top 6 on another team?
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One Nolan (Owen) hangs em’ up, another Nolan (Jordan) plays his first NHL game…
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another Matt Moulson in the making? We’ll probably dumb him eventually and then he’ll score 40 goals for Philadelphia or Edmonton… just my thinking, hope it doesn’t happen though. Had a good feeling about this kid even before his first minutes in NHL.
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