At the end of the mile-long parade route, all the Kings players and staff members went back inside Staples Center to prepare for the rally, and a few players stopped to chat about the festivities. Dustin Penner previously won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, but that year the Ducks only had a rally, so Penner was able to experience a championship parade for the first time, and he shared some neat thoughts about the ride.
PENNER: “It’s one of those moments you want to relive over and over again. I think I took more pictures than a lot of fans did. … It was extremely loud. I think they were handing out free foghorns over at the gas station, maybe. It was amazing to see the support, and put a lot of faces to the cheers we’re heard all year.’’
At the start of the parade, the buses briefly got on the 110 freeway. Only in Los Angeles would a parade route include a freeway. All too fitting. Cars on both sides of the freeway recognized the moment and blared their horns in support. At least Penner hoped so.
PENNER: “I don’t know if they were honking because they were happy or because we were in the way. It is L.A., right?’’
Jonathan Quick and Anze Kopitar also talked about celebrating the championship…
QUICK: “You enjoy it. I’m a big believer in, even during the regular season, when you win a game you enjoy it. Just enjoy it for however long you can, before you have to prepare for the next one. … Obviously the win that we get to enjoy right now is better than any of the ones I’ve ever been a part of, and anyone on this team has ever been a part of. Being here and talking to all of you (media), it comes with being able to win that game, and you’ve got to enjoy it and have fun with it.’’
KOPITAR: “It was loud. It was really loud. It was a lot of people and it was amazing. … I didn’t know what to expect. You see pictures of the Lakers’ parade, and everything is packed. This was just as good, if not better.’’
Question: Have you heard from people in Slovenia, about what the celebration has been like?
KOPITAR: “I’ve gotten so many text messages. Pretty much, 80 percent I didn’t even have time to reply, because I haven’t had any time. The next couple days, I’m going to talk with my buddies. They know I’m busy and it’s a busy time and it’s a fun time. I’m sure, when it’s all said and done, they’re going to give me a quick recap.’’
Hope Penner is back next year. He’s funny.
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DEH Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
@yetiman_oc, he said he’s willing to take a hometown discount to return:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=634797&navid=DL|NHL|home
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KindSir Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@DEH, Im all for it then!
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rogiesbackup Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
@yetiman_oc, Him and Stoll were BIG in the playoffs!! Definitely need to keep stoll as third line center.
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Inglewoodkings Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
@yetiman_oc, for rEAL. he wasNT AS UP TO PAR DURING THE REGULAR season as he was expected to be=. But he killed it in the post season. He was awwsome sign him againg please the ONly ducK that I will ever acknowledger. but i wont becasue hes a KING. and yEAH he is hilarious. not to mention very well spoken unlike myself bring him back im drunk and have been allsince monday congrats boys – down with the new fans, but i have 23 years of bummers instantllly vanish
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tHAT’S AWESOME, pENCAKES…THAnks for coming through in the clutch…Is it too soon to ask the question of …now what? A lot of decision have to be made in not a lot of time…that is what I love about the run and the championship…only 9 or 10 weeks till training camp…regular season less than 3 months away!!! got to love it
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g smith86 Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@g smith86, sorry…math is not my strong point…..less than 4 months away
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Had a great time at the parade today people. Didn’t get to go to the rally at the end but got to see it over and over on FSW. I achieved my dream of attending a Stanley Cup Parade and seeing the gleaming Trophy go by with all my heroes. Nice to be there with all my Kings brethren albeit a few bandwagonners too but hey, it’s all good. I’ve had my #19 Butch Goring jersey with me that I’ve kept since ’77 Couldn’t wear it (hmmm too small now lol) but it was with me because I vowed if the Kings won the cup I was going to bring it and hold it up to the players. Got recognized by Coach Sutter when he went by and he saw the Goring jersey and he gave me the thumbs up. A moment of my life I’ve waited for and I’ll never forget. Hope to talk to you guys a lot over the summer. The Kings family of players, coaches, announcers and fans truly are Kings of the NHL. Peach out all!!!!!!
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
@Goring 19, LOLz. I’ve got two jerseys I can’t wear.
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Goring 19 Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, lol
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Now let’s sign Quick, Penner & Stoll and try to do this again next year.
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Optomistic Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
@mike in LA, Fraser,too. He made the 4th line beasts
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It looks like Pens want to return and is willing to take a home town discount to do so. What do we do now with our wingers if he is resigned? I don’t want to separate Brown Kopi and Williams. Gagne figures to be paired in with Richards and Carter or on the third line. I like Clifford in a third or fourth line role and King has been solid on the third line. If Penner returns we will have 2 1/2 top six left wingers 2 1/2 top 6 right wingers, 2 1/2 top 6 centers, and that is without accounting for prospects. I’m elated about winning the cup, but am just as excited about next year’s potential to be even better.
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Actualy, Gagne has hinted that this may be hia last season since he won the cup and has had such a string of injuries.
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Diego Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
@plywood,
He has fulfilled the dream. If does retire I wish him good luck.
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plywood Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
@Diego, Yep, I think he could leave the game a happy man. Penner addressed his re-signing by saying he was confident because Dean was good at math. Personally, I really hope they bring him back (Damn, made it through a whole post without a typo)
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Diego Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@plywood,
* he
PurpleRocks Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@plywood,
Really? Where did you hear that at?
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PW Reply:
June 15th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@plywood, I think you are right, I don’t think Gagne will return either. He got his cup and he needs to focus on his health. Kings play a grindnose style and with his history the odds are against him to stay healthy. I wish him the best and would like for him to stay but doesn’t seem realistic. I’d like to leave the spot open for someone to take in training camp. Plus the salary can be used for Quicky.
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Bring Pens back… He made me laugh when the season looked the darkest!! Pens made me not worry about the Kings it would come together one of these years. Thanks for everything Penner your up-beated attitude helped me not quite after 40 years of ups and downs. Have a great off season hope to see ya next season.
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Great to see Pens play so well these playoffs. That threaded pass through traffic he made to Voynov in the 1st period of game 1 against the Blues was a thing of beauty.
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still awe struck. If Brown is the heart of the team then Penner is definitely the Soul! From lackluster to Stanley Cup silver just like the Kings
)
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
@richardsisgod, I thought you were going to say he’s the gizzard.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
@richardsisgod, Fans are the feet that support the team.
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Missing our Kings up in Boise, ID!!! We still <3 L.A.! GO KINGS GO and thank you! Let's not wait another 45 years!
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Penner is a walking landmass. Seeing him in street clothes today put it in perspective for me. He is huge.
Now that being said, the guy compliments Richards and Carter perfectly. Big body that clears space is easy enough to find. Slide King in there and he can open up space too, but where Penner stands out is his touch. He is crafty with his passes and he has a laser wrister that hits the net. Those things are hard to find and even harder to find in a 6’4″ 242 frame. In basketball they say you can’t teach height. In hockey, size rarely comes with that much skill.
The knock on him has been his effort. I think it is fair to say that Sutter knows how to get him to hussle. He is a Manitoba kid if I’m not mistaken so maybe our farmer coach knows how to speak to him and get through.
He has played well enough to earn a contract. How much he signs for may be determined by the market. Say what you want but the guy has a huge upside to him that will not be easy to replace if he walks. Ask the Ducks and Oilers who hey found to fill his role effectively since he left. Hope we aren’t the next on that list.
Bottom line: too big, too skilled, higher ceiling than anyone else available or ready right now. Sign him.
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DEH Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
@pk, Penner + Richard + Carter + Chemistry = happy kings fans!
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rogiesbackup Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
@pk, Exactly PK!! I think we need to keep him on the lineup just because his size is something to deal with and oh yah, he assist and scores timely goals too.
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Rich,
Any way we can see the video with “Welcome to the black parade” that was shown today at the beginning of the rally inside the Staples Center. That theme is great and really fit the Kings and their history.
Great Day to be King!!!
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I was sort of surprised at the rally that nobody mentioned Terry Murray. Jack Johnson I can understand, but somebody should have said something about TM.
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Lake Forest Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
@Howe9, i thought when Brownie ran back for the mic that he was going to mention him then, but only gave praise to miller
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
@Howe9, Yeah, I think Sutter’s been complimentary before. I was kinda surprised he didn’t say something. Also surprised nobody really gave a “real speech.” Guess they all thought Deano would. In fact, I think that’s why it “ended early.”
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was at the parade and rally. didnt meet up with anyone except for a few friends.
It was awesome getting into staples center and hearing Jim fox and bob miller call game 6.
my 2 year old had a blast
cant wait to do this again next year!!!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
(even with everything, I’m bummed the season is over, however this offseason will be THE SHORTEST ONE EVER!!!!)
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Goring 19 Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
@Lake Forest, we won the last game of the season….
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Is Gretzky a legitimate “face” in Kings hockey?? Where was he today??!!!
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Deke'r Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
@rogiesbackup, …heard on the news he wanted the celebration to be about the team, not about him…
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Cav Pilot Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
@Deke’r, If that’s true, I’m totally surprised. The few times I’ve meet him, he has been friendly and humble.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
@Deke’r, How can he assume that it WILL be about him if he was to attend??
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SouthernJ Reply:
June 15th, 2012 at 4:00 am
@rogiesbackup,
Because the media is the media. It would have overshadowed everything good the Kings have done (winning). I think it was a great show of respect to the team that brought the Cup home. Media loves to sound byte and drive up ratings and the rally/parade was for the team now. They all remember and honor the former players, but this was the current team’s victory.
Go Kings Go!
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I was at the parade today. It was pretty cool to be with so many Kings fans new, longsuffering or otherwise. However, The most emotional point of the day for me was when after I got home and to watch the DVR of today’s festivities and saw Foxy shedding tears about what this meant to him. I have to admit that I was crying right along with him. All told, I shed tears three times today. I’m still not over how great this has been.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
June 14th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
@Cav Pilot, Yah, foxy’s a stud! Never thought about myself as a “suffering” fan. Always enjoyed watching / cheering for Kings hockey regardless of outcome.
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Stuart Reply:
June 15th, 2012 at 9:15 am
@Cav Pilot, I got home late and watched it too, and I cried along with Foxy. He was good until he said Dustin Brown handed me the cup and then he lost it and I lost it too!!
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i wonder, when players start taking hometown discounts just to come play for the KINGS to win STANLEY CUPS, are we going to be called DETROIT WEST?
GO KINGS GO
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This whole experience has been amazing, awesome, choking back tears exciting. To see these guys with their families after the cup was transferred from player to player, the love they showed toward those responsible with who they have become today, was truly touching. Kopitar with his Dad, Mitchell with his Dad and wife, all the players with their kids, Clifford bouncing off the boards just to show his excitement…what an awe-inspiring experience for us all. I saw the Kings in year one, I was 15, and didn’t understand what true suffering for your team was going to be. After this, it just feels worth it. Cried a bunch yesterday…sent my son and his friends with my tickets to the parade and rally, and watched on TV. Pretty magical time.
On the player front, sign them all! Penner deserves to be back, so does Stoll, so does Fraser. And they need to sign King, and Quick. This team loves each other, and is selfless…management should let it ride…although the players have to realize that money will become a factor if they’re too selfish. If Penner, Stoll and Fraser will play here for shorter terms, and less money, to keep this thing going…sign them!!
Love this team!!!!!!!!!!!
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