Believe it or not, I actually didn’t forget about the “Open Forum” questions and answers. Some of them have been answered through the passage of time, but here’s the next set…
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jom asked: From what you can tell being around the players and having some insight into the league what reasons do you attribute the lack of ability for the Kings (or the Ducks, SJ or VAN for that matter) to attract “big time” UFA’s? It’s not as if I care all that much as I’ve found it over the years to be rather overrated in terms of making a winner. But still I’m curious. Thanks
Answer: Well, I think there are a couple different factors in play here. First, remember that there really aren’t a lot of “big-time’’ UFAs. One or two get attention every year, but this year, beyond Parise and Suter, how many were there? And those guys went to the same team, meaning that 29 teams missed out on a “big-time’’ UFA. Also, remember that not every team is interested in every free agent. The Kings didn’t have any real place for Ryan Suter, so their ability to land him would have been zero. Every team looks for different things. Now, all that said, it’s undeniable that the Kings have attempted to land players such as Kovalchuk, Richards and Parise and come up short. Part of it is just natural. Not every team can get a big UFA. Toronto is a massive team/market in the grand scheme of the NHL, but when is the last time the Leafs signed a “big-time’’ UFA? In the Kings’ case, there are a couple factors. The previous lack of success was a factor. Will that change now that the organization has a Cup? That will be interesting to see. Travel is a factor. West Coast teams definitely get the short end of that one. The Rangers’ travel is immensely easier than the Kings, Ducks, Sharks, etc. Also, there’s family. In many cases, we’re talking about Canadian players. In almost every case, we’re talking about players who have no inherent ties to California. So, if a player is looking at — for example — Los Angeles vs. New York — he will factor in the fact that his family is much closer to New York than Los Angeles. In any event, I think you make a great point when you say it’s overrated. When you look at how the Kings were built, drafting, development and trades are huge.
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Kings got the Cup asked: Is there going to be a Kings sale this year?
Answer: I’m not sure what you mean by sale.
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Mike J. asked: I’m curious on if the Kings plans are as far as jerseys this year. Will they keep the black and purple as their third or has that gone the way of the dodo birds, and will they have the Legends nights with the purples?
Answer: To the best of my knowledge, the plan is the same as last season. At one point, the Kings had planned to make the purple-and-gold jerseys merely a one-year shot, but the reaction to them was so positive that they decided to keep going with them on the “Legends Nights.’’ The only question is what will happen if/when they pick “legends’’ who didn’t wear those jerseys as players. I think they will still find a way to incorporate those vintage jerseys into the uniform scheme.
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Pili asked: Rich, all I can do is echo everybody’s thanks for all you do; above and beyond. I’m sitting here listening to Abbey Road with a great cigar; great time to thinking about life and all I can do is look forward to this season. Is there an unwanted cure for this? Also, I’m a long time Cards fan (since 1967), and if the Cards are hopelessly out of it, my heart goes to the Cubs. For the fans. You deserve it.
Answer: Great music, a great cigar and hockey. Sounds like a winning combination. Thanks for your kind words, and to everyone else who is always so kind and supportive, in comments, emails and when I meet you in person. Please know that I appreciate every word of your kindness.
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Leftys83 asked: Hey Rich do you think the Kings would ever consider a jersey/logo with Gold, black and silver but no purple?
Answer: At this point, given the number of uniform changes over the last two decades or so, it would be silly for me to say they would never consider changing, but at this point, I definitely don’t think they’re looking into any changes/additions. They took a long time to settle on the black/white shield look, so I think they’re sticking with it for a while. People such as Luc Robitaille and Dean Lombardi are big on having that identity and stability.
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GeezerKingsFan asked: My question is Do you see the Kings making any significant changes next year or will it be minor if any?
Answer: Minor, unless something should happen during the course of the season that would require significant attention/improvement.
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ice is nice: Rich, always appreciate the work that you put into the “insider” and my question is going to be about Dean Lombardi. We know that Dean pushed in the past seasons to raise the bar with the core players for improving on every aspect of the team. Simply put is winning the cup going to be Dean’s measuring stick now or does the bar get raised higher?
Answer: I’m not really sure how to answer that. I’m not sure how the bar gets raised higher than winning the Stanley Cup. That is the one and only measuring stick every season: last season, this coming season and five seasons from now, that’s what management, coaches and players will be pushing each other toward. Even though the Kings won the Cup this year, we all saw that there were plenty of peaks and valleys along the way. The micro challenge will be to become a strong team throughout the season, not just at the end. The macro challenge is the same as it is every season: to win the Stanley Cup.
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pr0cess asked: Rich do you still have no vested feelings for the Kings there fans or hockey?
Answer: I never once said I had no interest in hockey, or in Kings fans, and in fact that’s completely inaccurate. Beyond that, no, I’m not a Kings fans. I wasn’t 10 years ago, I wasn’t two months ago, not today, not tomorrow and not next month. Donald addressed the question very eloquently, but if people want to keep asking it over and over, I’ll keep giving the same honest answer.
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JQ is better than you asked: Rich, any news on when us regular non millionaire, non season ticket holding, die hard true fans get a chance to take a pic with the cup?
Answer: There have already been at least four public events, throughout the greater Los Angeles area, that I can think of, and I’m sure there will be more. To this point, they have been well-publicized and I’m sure that will continue.
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mask0425x asked: Rich, have any players or coaches ever indicated to you – explicitly or implicitly – that they looked at or read anything on this blog? Do you personally ever feel that it’s professional/appropriate/comfortable to bring up any feelings from this blog talking to players, coaches or team execs?
Answer: Good question, and I’ve been trying to re-run conversations through my head in order to answer correctly. To the best of my memory, no coach has ever indicated that he had personally read it. There have been implicit indications from several players, but no direct references to any particular blog items or stories. The question about brings up feelings from the blog is also a very good one. I do feel it’s appropriate, and also very helpful to me, in many instances. Often times, reading through emails or comments will give me a different perspective on a situation, or a reader’s question will be something that I hadn’t thought of, or will lead me to a different type of thought process. There’s a certain amount of ranting that takes place here that sort of drifts away with the wind, but there are also many outstanding points and questions that come up, and I do incorporate those when it seems appropriate.
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Di asked: Do you get a day with the Cup?
Answer: No, I don’t think that would be appropriate and it hasn’t been discussed.
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Blaked4: Just curious as to your view on how the season ended. Since you’re impartial as to the out come, what, in your opinion would have been the better story line for you to write/comment about. The Kings finish out the way they did or they have a complete collapse and lose the series to the Devils in 7. Either way, the Kings still finish better than anyone could have imagined, but if they lose, it would be only the 4th time in NHL history a team came back from being down 0-3.
Answer: Really good question, from a journalism perspective. Because my job is to cover the Kings, solely, the best outcome was a Kings Stanley Cup victory. That’s a storyline that’s been 45 years in the making. It’s the biggest story in Kings franchise history and I got to be a part of it. Now, if I was a national hockey reporter, someone from ESPN.com or The Hockey News or a publication that covers the entire league, not just one team, I might feel differently. The uniqueness of a team rallying from a 3-0 deficit might be more compelling and “better’’ than a team simply cruising to the Cup. But for me, given my role, it’s not even really close. I cover the Kings and I work to serve the Kings’ fans, so again, it was a once-in-a-lifetime story for my readers, and that was a great experience.
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Dom asked: I work 12 hour days in the film industry and I get 100% of my updates between takes from your site, so that being said – you’re a life-saver.
Answer: Thanks, Dom. Don’t work so hard!
What type of “film industry” dom?
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Howard Berger Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
@Lake Forest, Hi again Kingers. Thought you might enjoy this re-post, which includes the earliest Kings jerseys… http://www.bergerbytes.ca/2012/07/vintage-hockey-jerseys-my-collection/
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
@Howard Berger,
Gimme another byte of Berger!
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rontheking Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@Howard Berger,
Fun to see, but I don’t know how anybody could think that is a great looking uniform in terms of style or color scheme….
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As to Uniforms:
I’ve got a Boy’s L/XL black jersey with the old crossed stix, sun-cown-lion shield logo. My grown daughter and I would love to send it to a good home for a budding Kings fan. If anyone is interested, please let me know.
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Jay805 Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@IceGuy,
I’ll be glad to take it off your hands.. I’m surrounded by under privileged kings fans that don’t have the luxury of being able to buy jerseys etc.. but would proudly sport it..
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IceGuy Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
@Jay805,
Jay, drop me a note: eaglepointepix@yahoo.com
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LuckyEleven Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
@IceGuy, I was gonna say my daughter would love a jersey but if it finds a good home for underprivileged kids, I’m all for it. If it doesn’t work out with him I’ll take it. mochrie71@yahoo.com
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So you are here to serve Kings fans? Hmmmmm, cooool……..
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
@DessertKing,
Unfortunately, I don’t think he meant southwestern style, corn-based fast food products.
But one can daydream.
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DesertKing Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Duncanz,
There is such a thing as gift certificates
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Stuart Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 12:37 pm
@DesertKing, is that like “How best to serve Man?”
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What, no questions on Moeller or Holloway?? C’mon Rich, you are holding back on us!!
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Gustavo Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@KHenry14,
He already answered those in earlier posts.
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Hey Rich, reading through these forum answer posts i wanted to say I really appreciate your willingness and ability to remain as impartial as possible when it comes to covering the Kings. I wanted to ask, if your still answering questions, whether you are doing all of this alone or if you have a small staff helping you out with coverage and the site and all that? How big of a job is this whole process for you? Can you elaborate on how much work is involved? Any people who help you out that we should thank as well?
Thanks.
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Do you see a delay in the start of the season as a benefit to the Kings and Devils? Or maybe not a benefit, but it at lease reduces the detriment of playing so deep into the season.
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Way waaaaaaaaaaay off topic here…These things confuse the hell out of me and this little tidbit has me wondering about the Ryan Smyth, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter no trade clauses. Smyth’s was already in effect when acquired so I guess this doesn’t apply? But Richards and Carter can be moved now with no trouble? Am I reading this right?
No. 33 = Nash’s no-trade clause DOES go with his contract from the Blue Jackets to the Rangers. You’ll recall that Jeff Carter’s no-trade clause did not travel with him from the Flyers to the Jackets last summer. Here’s how it’s been explained to me: Carter was traded to the Jackets roughly one week before his no-trade was to kick-in with the Flyers, and since he hadn’t been engaged – signed by both clubs on that date – it was up to Columbus and Carter to write a new one. They never did get around to it … not that it would have mattered much. Nash’s no-movement clause, however, was in place before Monday’s trade occurred, so it’s part of the deal.
http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2012/07/61-thoughts.html
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
Another interesting part of the article
No. 55 = Been asked a few times if Jeff Carter’s desire to leave Columbus helped plant a seed in Nash’s head, if it didn’t convince him once and for all that this is franchise is isn’t close to winning. Honestly, I don’t believe that’s the case. Nash said repeatedly that this decision was made by him, nobody else. Further, I don’t think Carter and Nash were all that close. Nash tried to play the role of diplomat, taking Carter to Ohio State games, having him over for dinner, etc. But I don’t think the two ever became buddies. By the end of Carter’s run in Columbus, I don’t think too many guys in the dressing room cared for him.
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xeropoint Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Maybe this will slightly help. Explained very simply here:
http://www.capgeek.com/faq/what-s-the-difference-between-a-NTC-and-NMC.php
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
Did anyone read #1 and a sudden vision of a Kings player
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
contd …. 53 numbers lower and his role and possibilities in the far off future come to mind?
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Does anyone know what’s going on with Maxim Kitsyn?? Is he still under contract, is he planning on coming back to North America to play in the AHL, is he still obligated to play in the KHL? Any answers would be much appreciated.
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Quisp Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@Puckn-A,
Not under contract. Well, except to his KHL team. I think he’s got one more year with them. Since he’s an unsigned draft pick playing in Europe, I’m pretty sure the Kings hold his North American rights indefinitely.
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Puckn-A Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@Quisp, Cool, thanks. I hope they sign him, he looked like a great puck handler & passer on the LW.
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Quisp Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
@Puckn-A,
And probably not done growing yet.
Osaka Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
@Puckn-A, He had a horrendous season in the KHL last year, maybe he was in a little over his head.
Puckn-A Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 5:21 pm
@Puckn-A, @ Osaka, yeah, I noticed that as well, I still think he’s a great prospect though. He dominated the offensive zone in the Memorial Cup game, unfortunately his team didn’t help much that game.
Anybody else NOT getting tired of seeing all the Kings clips on the NBC promos during the olympic coverage?
So Sweet!!
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Thanks for the answer rich, But as a follow up. who is your team? If you like hockey, who do you cheer for?
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Mike Emrick, showing tons of ECB , doing a heavily one-sided job on the OOOOO water polo commentary.
How can this guy continue to be perceived as perfectly neutral when our very own Rich Hammond is frequently mistaken for a closet Kings fan?!
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Sebastian Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@Duncanz, ha, i gotta see that. “A DRiiiiVVVE”. “knifed on back”
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pr0cess Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
@Duncanz, this isnt baseball
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plywood Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
@Duncanz, I can hardly wait to see one of the water polo players “swagger” into the offensive zone.
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@Sebastian Coe, @pr0gresso, @psychward,
Although being partially satisfied by a generous distribution of “cages” and a Docquillion references to time elapsed/remaining in the period/game, I am so far a tad disappointed at failing to hear my favorite ear-shuddering call in all of sports;
(((((((((((((( OFF THE PIPE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! )))))))))))))))
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pr0cess Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@DuncanDounutz, You would need a pipe for you to hear that one…
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I know we all admire Rich and all the work he does for us die hard kings fans, but I’ll admit I was a little shocked when I found out Rich was a Kings fan. But putting everything into consideration, I think it’s great having someone follow the Kings for us who isn’t biased and punches his couch excessively when the Kings get scored on.
Really keeps the material rich and full of facts/content, and not emotions like a lot of us will reflect, especially when the Kings aren’t on top of their game.
Keep it up Rich, appreciate everything you do for us.
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DesertKing Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Cruiznblue,
Since when is Rich a Kings fan? The only team he has ever mentioned being a fan of is the (gulp) Cubs.
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Duncanz Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@DessertKing,
I think he meant the “was” to read, “wasn’t”.
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Cruiznblue Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@Duncanz,
Doh…
Cruiznblue Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@DesertKing,
Sorry about that…typo…happens when you only get 3 hours of sleep :/
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Rich Hammond Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
No problem…glad you clarified!
pr0cess Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Cruiznblue, makes him cooler i guess? I just think at this point, with knowing the team as well as he does, Anyone would grow some kind of feelings for the “people”. But rich is a super machine that is devoid of human emotion. And from now on will be known as “data”
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Maybe when he asked about the, “Kings sale,” he was asking about the used equipment sale?
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Rich,
Who do you think will be the next xFlyer to come to the Kings? Also, do you at all enjoy Black Metal? My favorite band is Burzum. You should check it out. Thanks for the great blog. I know deep inside you’re a Kings fan no matter what you say
Stanley Cup 2013!
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