The Kings learned who their Stanley Cup Finals opponent will be last night, and although the teams don’t play very often, there is a startling number of ties between the Kings and the New Jersey Devils. Here’s a rundown…
– Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell was drafted by New Jersey in the eighth round in 1996 and played parts of two seasons with the Devils.
– Kings defenseman Matt Greene and Devils forward Zach Parise were roommates and teammates at the University of North Dakota.
– Kings center Mike Richards played junior hockey for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and was coached by current Devils coach Peter DeBoer.
– Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson played three seasons with the Kings and was the Kings’ head coach for four seasons.
– Devils defenseman Peter Harrold and winger Alexei Ponikarovsky are former Kings.
– Kings defenseman Alec Martinez and Devils defenseman Andy Greene were teammates at Miami (Ohio) University.
– Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk rejected the Kings’ free-agent offer to re-sign with the Devils in 2010.
– Brent Sutter, brother of Kings coach Darryl Sutter, coached the Devils for two seasons.
– Kings general manager Dean Lombardi and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello are close, and Lamoriello served as something of a mentor to a young Lombardi. To read more about the kinship, click here to read a great story from NHL.com
Bring it on. Kings, keep it goin..
[Reply]
The passing of the torch from Brodeur to Quick shall take place!
[Reply]
Newf Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:02 am
@Newf, also, i won another bet off my friend. she’s not pleased. haha. i won every playoff bet we made this year.
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:11 am
@Newf, Was saying the same thing to a friend last night. Hes a big NJ fan, as am i, but not against my Kings.
[Reply]
FM3 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:23 am
@Newf, A fitting way for Brodeur to retire, lose to Hockeys best goalie in Jonathan Quick and know that he (JQ) is the new King of the nets. One shift at a time boys, keep doing it the same way you have the past 14 games.
[Reply]
exorsize exersize , come on everybody do the exersize..
[Reply]
You forgot a couple:
– Snookie was a Kings prospect when she played for the OHL’s Saskatchewan Smush-Smush…
– Paris stayed at a New Jersey Hilton for one night in 2006…
[Reply]
King Cobra Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:12 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Drum roll then cymbal hit!!!
[Reply]
Belexes Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:17 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Miss Turkey once tried the White House Sub Shop while in Atlantic City…
[Reply]
toemas_sandstrom Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:59 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I forgot about that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxKjga305cY
[Reply]
I wonder how many tears Rich shed when he found out he was going to Newark and not New York City.
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:15 am
@Zamboni, At least they are only tears of grossness and not tears of fear, like visiting Detroit.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:20 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Or that pleasant little arena on Long Island?
[Reply]
Rich Hammond Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Even if the Rangers had won the series, there were two chances of staying in Manhattan: slim and none.
[Reply]
For those that doubted DB’s worth during the season, he’s got a chance to be the playoff leader in hits, goals, assists, points and plus/minus by the end of this series. I doubt anybody has ever done that before. Should be good for the Conn Smythe over Quick if that should happen.
God I can’t wait to watch DD smother Kovy into oblivion this series….
[Reply]
Maybe Matt Greene can talk his old buddy Zach Parise into moving to southern California this summer. Not that we really need him if we can keep our line up in tact….
[Reply]
Belexes Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:20 am
@King Cobra,
a great idea, and yes we do need him.
[Reply]
FM3 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:30 am
@King Cobra, Can you imagine: DB, AZ, JW then DP, MR, JC then Zach Parise, JS, Gagne then KC, CF/TL, DK/JN. All guys are defensively sound, we have energy, scoring, grit and leadership. Our Defense is at the top of the league and we have the games best goalie. Wow.
[Reply]
King Cobra Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:36 am
@FM3, Yes that sounds amazing, but what about the salary cap?
[Reply]
FM3 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:43 am
@King Cobra, Oh….that…..well, uh….hmmmmmmm
Gmo Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:39 am
@FM3,
That is one crazy good line up , don’t know if you can have all those guys and be under the cap. One can dream anyways
[Reply]
CO Kings Fan Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:01 am
@FM3, Stoll, Penner, and Frasir will be free agents at the end of the year and we have some talentes youngster down in the minors. Like lotkianov (sp)
[Reply]
macss Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:06 am
@FM3, it’s a nice dream and I really would like to see how good this team could be with Gagné and Parise as well. But we can’t resign Penner and Stoll and also leave room for Quick’s new contract AND sign Parise too, Lombardi will have to choose one or the other.
Also, a line with Parise-Stoll-Gagné would have a lot of skill, but would not be very good in the forecheck and board play, you gotta throw King or Penner in, for balance.
And there’s no way Parise is going to play in the 3rd line.
Honestly, I think that if Gagné is fully recovered there’s no point in bringing in Parise, considering the likely size of his contract…
[Reply]
DallasKingsFan Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:58 am
@King Cobra, I don’t think Zach is going to want to join the team that beat him in the Finals.
[Reply]
Ian Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@DallasKingsFan, Why not? Hossa did.
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:29 am
@Ian, And we saw how that turned out!
Jeff_R Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:25 am
@King Cobra, Didn’t know Greener and Parise were teammates and roommates at North Dakota, didn’t hit me. Between that and team USA teammates (Brown and Quick) lot of reasons for Parise to choose L.A. The Kings Cap situation has been managed by Dean and Mr Soloman to be able to absorb one big UFA. Once we lost out on Kovy I figured we would go after Parise, especially since the Kings feel they were used by Kovy. Parise is going to watch the Kings skate around the rink with the Cup and going to want to have that same feeling, a feeling that the Kings can provide for the next 5-10 years with the roster they have. The Kings have a great chance in getting Zach, probably the best they have ever had in signing a top UFA. They will be stacked for years to come with Parise in the lineup. I am hoping it works out, but won’t be upset if it doesn’t, BECAUSE IT’s the CUP.
[Reply]
I’m waiting for the obligitory wager between mayors of LA and Newark. What will they wager? If Kings win LA ships 25 million tons of smog to NJ; If Devils win Newark shipr 4,287 barges of trash to LA harbor?
[Reply]
Bonvivant Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:59 am
@Michael J., Cap and trade.
[Reply]
zdfun Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:18 am
@Michael J., how about take over the loser’s state debt?
[Reply]
Crowncity simtom Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
@Michael J., Good one!
[Reply]
anybody know when practice starts today?
[Reply]
I think it is pretty cool to have Zach Parise and Dustin Brown, both huge for USA Hockey as the captains and leaders of the teams that will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals. Add Quick to that mix and you have 3 very important players for Team USA’s chances of gold in the 2014 Olympics.
You will see a high level of respect between Captains but you will also see a really hard fought battle.
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:26 am
@Peter, And then afterwards Zach can join his two USA buddies before Soci and play together in L.A.
[Reply]
I have the Kings at 11-1 for 100bucks ,nj at 35-1 for $25. In the yearly hockey pool i run i took LA to beat NJ in the finals .My other pick was NY over Nash. Only one friend took the devils to win.$400 for first place 80 for second $40 for third. The other three LA picks have Pitt or Philly. $1500 if the Kings win , $980 if NJ wins. Losses are Nash at 35-1 for 25, TB at18-1 for 25, and Buff at 9-1 for 25. So come on boys lets win this thing. I lay the same 100 on the kings for three years now its a matter of time i think. I pick four teams for 25 too, but it always changes with the odds. should be able to afford a ticket to the finals, and a new jersey or two.
[Reply]
FdoFmFull Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:02 am
@rumpa#19, I picked the Kings over Rags in my office pool. No one else picked the Kings…
GkG!
[Reply]
After watching the entire Rangers-Devils series, it is clear that this will be a tough series. The Devils can score (that powerplay goal last night was a thing of beauty), their fourth line is playing exceptionally well, they are well-coached and led by a captain who pours his heart and soul into the team, and Brodeur looked solid if not spectacular. On the plus side from the Kings’ perspective, they give up some pretty soft goals, their defense is nowhere near as stout as the Rangers’ would have been, and they tend to have significant lapses mentally in every game. If the Kings can come out early in the series and demonstrate the same focus and intensity we saw against Vancouver, St. Louis, and Phoenix, I think we could be looking at the Kings winning the Cup at Staples in game 6.
[Reply]
petemagoop Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 9:54 am
@AJ, shutting down NJ in the 1st periode will help immensely
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:43 am
@AJ, I agree, there PP has looked good , Oats is better than i expected ,and of course there is none better than Larry as assistant running the PK & D. Should be a tough series, they are not to be taken lightly.
[Reply]
To be honest, I don’t think that you have anywhere near the number of ties as you do with say the Kings and Oilers or Kings and Flyers. But certainly more than I was ever aware of.
[Reply]
just a side note.. The only Goals scored against New Jersey this year was by Simone Gagne. Im ready for Jersey will there be a rendezvous like there was in phoenix? would love to connect with kings fans out there.
[Reply]
In all actuality the NHL community is a rather small community and there are lots of ties between teams and management. I think the Kovi snub is the most notable.
[Reply]
Scrimmage perhaps? http://t.co/0ngbTH9d
[Reply]
Wouldn’t that be something if Poni scored a series clinching goal in OT, assisted by Kovie? Maybe Parise signs with the winner of this series?
[Reply]
JOHN SHAW Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:21 am
@He Shoots He Scores, Sign (Parise) with KINGS’75% and up,right on…GKG…
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:36 am
@He Shoots He Scores, And set up by Harrold?
[Reply]
First game of the FINAL:You guys have to make your mine set that not just to win,is going for the NHL PLAYOFFS’ road win “RECORD” 2–3+2+3–+1+–>..GKG…
[Reply]
Kings indeed scrimmaging. Sutter drops the puck.. http://bit.ly/Kawq4e
[Reply]
Lets squash Kovalchuk like the bug he is!
[Reply]
As I stated before and voted in the poll, it didn’t matter who we ended up with. If we play our game like we have the whole playoff run, we will be victorious. I just don’t see the talent level in NJ’s team, and not nearly as much depth….and our D has been phenomenal…and add our MVP JQ? Having some huge confidence in this team going into the final…Go Kings Go….Go Kings Go….Go Kings Go
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 10:45 am
@TiredOfIt, Might want to watch NJ games this playoffs again if you have, this is no walk in the park.
[Reply]
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:01 am
@rumpa#19, Didn’t say it was…Seemed like NY was able to respond to everything NJ threw at them, And NY played 20 games. NJ got the bounce…NY didn’t. You may want to watch the KINGS games in their playoff run. Have you ever seen such spankage?
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
@TiredOfIt, Love the way we look, but i watched them play every min. of the philly series and i knew NY was not going to win. They were as beat up as philly looked series before. They got back Zajac , and henrque has stepped up more i thought a rookie would. 4 lines rolling , spread out offense, well coached D, world class goaltending, and great PP&PK coaching. Sounds alot like LA. Composure under pressure also..
Earth to Dunc…Earth to Dunc….over……. read some of the postings above and report back on your findings…intruder alert….intruder alert…..over
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:30 am
@TiredOfIt, He’s too busy trying to find some Horses to get his trailer to Newark.
[Reply]
In his interview, Kovalchk emphasized that he chose THE RIGHT TEAM when no one is asking about his selection of the team. I can sense fear in his voice.
[Reply]
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:03 am
@goldielocks, Heard that also…..He won’t be able to hear himself think once he gets here
[Reply]
Im hoping playing against Smith in the last series has us readier for the extra d man in net. Only Marty is better with the puck handling in the league, and is head and should better than anyone. Quick is getting better gradualy but is probably never going to match Marty. No matter its time to pass the torch, Quick is unbelievable!!!
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
@rumpa#19, He is also prone to some big brain farts in handling the puck.
[Reply]
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@Jeff_R, Exactly….
[Reply]
One game at a time this one will be a long one
Go Kings Go!
Because its the Cup!
[Reply]
Interesting items in there….am I the only one that can’t help but think of where we would be if we picked up Kovalchuk. Never could have picked up Carter & would have been stuck with a nasty contract for years to come. Dodged a bullet there, payback begins Wednesday..hoist the cup by game 6..continues into free agency when we sign Parise this summer.
[Reply]
To think the Kings could have mortgaged the farm and their future for Kovalchuk…. So glad that never went through. The organization showed laid out the red carpet for this guy and his wife when he visited in 2010. Now he’s definitely going to get a different kind of hospitality when he comes to Staples…
[Reply]
I have a feeling you could do a “6 degrees of Kevin Bacon” game linking any two NHL teams together through the Sutter bros.
[Reply]
Another connection…
Tony Soprano, a NJ resident and a devil (if there ever was one), was recently spotted at the last Kings game at Staples Center ( game 4 vs. Phoenix).
[Reply]
You could probably also add that Martin Brodeur would be more than happy to beat the snot out of Justin Williams, dating back to when Williams played for the Flyers. I’m sure the Hurricanes blowing out the Devils on Brodeur’s birthday in 2006 didn’t make him any more charitably disposed toward JW, either.
Suffice it to say Marty may not immediately put two and two together from a roster sheet, but once a certain flyweight right wing starts chirping at him again I think it’ll all come back to him.
(This is quite possibly the biggest reason I wished Justin Williams still played for an Eastern Conference team.)
[Reply]
Hey Rich,
Aren’t Steve and Jonathon Bernier brothers as well?
[Reply]