Here’s the seventh set of “Open Forum” questions and answers…
———-
Leo4kings asked: Rich, I am a little concerned for our toughness in regards to having someone stand up to other teams tugs. I know we have size, but not necessarily a fighter on the line up as it is. Not suggesting to have to put westgarth like players on the line up for that purpose alone on regular basis, but I think something has to give in order for us to be able to match other teams tugs when push comes to shove. Any notes or ideas if DL is pursuing such type players as debth?
Answer: The use of the traditional “heavyweight’’ seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Beyond that, if you’d like to stand in front of Jordan Nolan or Kyle Clifford, you’re far braver than I am.
—–
Poppa K asked: Bob Miller call of game 6. I heard it will be coming available for sale on DVD etc…..is that true?
Answer: Yes, true. Last I heard, the Kings are still finalizing plans, but I believe it will be part of a package deal with another item sometime in the next two months.
—–
Treydoggie asked: any insight on why Quick is so fracking flexible? Thanks for your time.
Answer: As Dustin Penner might say, “genetics’’? Quick is, according to way the Kings measure such things, considered the best all-around athlete on the team.
—–
Rockkon asked: Do you think, as I do, that Mike richards put a stop to the phony castle cutout from which the team used to emerge? Do you think taking away the gimmicky, wrestling-type tomfoolery helped the team take themselves more seriously?
Answer: I happen to agree with you about the castle, but Mike Richards had nothing to do with it.
—–
TiredOfIt asked: Do you think that the local media will ever embrace the Kings like they deserve, especially now that they are champions?
Answer: It’s a good question. And it’s sort of a chicken/egg question. Does fan interest drive media attention, or does media attention drive fan interest? If you ask a newspaper editor or a TV news or talk-radio producer, they would probably tell you that the Kings get less attention than the Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, USC, UCLA because those teams/schools have larger fan bases. I’d argue about the Clippers, but in general, they’re correct. On the other hand, this is what I’ve told everyone who has ever asked me about the Kings’ fan base: The Kings don’t have the most fans in Southern California, but they have the most passionate fans. I think that counts for something, and I don’t think that most editors and producers understand and appreciate that. If, for instance, one sports radio station made a concerted effort to talk Kings hockey on a regular basis, I have to think that they would get tons of Kings fans listening/calling. Instead, all of them are prattling on about the Lakers in late July. The other part is, the Kings have to keep winning. By winning the Cup, they got the attention of a lot of people who hadn’t been paying attention before. If they can continue winning, and hold that attention, they will force people to give them increased coverage.
—–
LAKingsFan26 asked: When it comes to the schedule, who generally has first pick at Staples Center? Kings? Clippers? Lakers? I know traditionally the Lakers get the Friday night and Sunday games and the Clippers/Kings have to split Saturdays. Is there any formula or criteria they use in the home dates?
Answer: It’s complicated on a number of fronts. The Lakers are clearly the prime tenant at Staples Center, but even so, they don’t get every date they ask for. They don’t get it from Staples Center, and they certainly don’t get it from the NBA. I’m not certain as to exactly how they do it in the NBA, but in the NHL, the Kings will submit a list of available home dates to the league. The league will take that list of dates and assign 41 home games. The problem for the Kings is that their list of available dates is considerably shorter than most teams’ lists. The number of available dates at Rexall Place in Edmonton, for instance, is considerably higher than the number of available dates at Staples Center. So, the Kings are hurt not only because the Lakers and Clippers are in the building but because of concerts and other events. So, when the Kings get stuck with Saturday afternoons and Monday nights, the Black Keys share the blame with the Lakers. In general, though, to answer your question, there’s no “draft’’ for dates but the Lakers are clearly the big dog.
—–
Orphio asked: Now that DL has earned his ring with LA, does he feel he wants to complete the run with this core or bow out in the next year or two for his next project?
Answer: Unless there was some type of contract strife with AEG, I can’t imagine that Lombardi would leave what he has built. From his hiring, he has talked about the challenge of building a long-term winner. I can’t imagine what would make him abandon or change that philosophy.
—–
Utah Chris: Instead, tell us some anecdotes of your interactions with Kings spouses throughout the season. In particular, I’d like to know about Penner’s ex.
Answer: Zero, other than communicating with Nicole Brown a handful of times over the years about charity events.
—–
Doug asked: Hi, longtime Kings fan here, new to this site. I live in Washington DC and was wondering if the Kings will make themselves available this year when they come to town? I would really like to get my jersey signed and there is no way for me to get out to LA. My family and I will be attending the only game where they will play the Caps. Thank you for your time.
Answer: That depends entirely on practice schedule/time. Looking at that Washington game, it’s a weird one. It’s an afternoon game at the start of a road trip. I would think that the Kings would practice in the area the day before the game, but I’ve never seen a schedule quite like that one. As that road trip gets closer, I will have a much better idea of practice times.
—–
Crash Davis asked: Q: Climbing into Dean’s mind (there’s a task for you), what would you guess he’d say were his 3 big mistakes as Kings GM for the 2011-2012 season? I’d say: 1) Waiting too long to fire Terry Murray. 2) Expecting Trent Hunter & Ethan Moreau to still be serviceable NHL players. 3) Not bringing up King & Nolan sooner (as Ferreira suggested & pleaded for).
Answer: Well, I’m not going to get too argumentative about this question, because I understand the question and the thought behind it, but the Kings won the Stanley Cup. Who is to say they were mistakes? Yes, the Kings turned things around under Darryl Sutter, but who’s to say they didn’t need to bottom out before they accepted that a coaching change was necessary? All I’m saying is, things don’t happen in a vacuum. At the time of Murray’s firing, things were at such a critical stage that the players, to a man, said, “We need this,’’ and they quickly bought in to what Sutter was preaching. Would that have happened in November, or would they have resisted the change, and resisted the idea that they were failing? I don’t know, so I can’t call that a mistake. I also don’t know that waiting to call up King and Nolan was a mistake. When they came up in February, they had zero expectations on their shoulders. They were able to have under-the-radar success. That’s not to say the timing was perfect. As you note, there did come a time when it was obvious that players such as King and Nolan were better options than players such as Hunter and Moreau. No question. I would say that Lombardi’s biggest mistake was, for the second consecutive year, taking a big swing at a big free agent in the summer, then missing and not having a solid “Plan B.’’ Just as he did the year before with Ilya Kovalchuk, Lombardi went hard after Brad Richards. When he failed, he ended up with Simon Gagne, Dustin Penner and Scott Parse at left wing, and prayed that at least two of them could be reliable top-six wingers. They all had major risks and they all burned him. He might have been better off signing a middle-of-the-road, reliable 20-goal scorer, because that lack of depth hurt the Kings, and it never got resolved until Dustin Brown moved to left wing, Dwight King moved to the third line after the trade for Jeff Carter, and Penner started playing well in the playoffs.
—–
ADub87 asked: I’m pretty sure I already know the answer to this but I’m curious if you have heard anything from inside the organization. Are the Kings going to be parting ways with Scott Parse this summer? Is he even healthy enough to be playing for someone next season?
Answer: Well, they effectively cut ties with him on July 1 when he became an unrestricted free agent. If I had to guess — and it’s just a guess — I would think they he will be a non-roster training-camp invitee for some team this fall, similar to how Trent Hunter joined the Kings last year.
just watched the Janssen interview and while they / he touched on some potentially controversial topics in a fairly vulgar way, I came away thinking – hey at least he is a real guy just shooting the breeze, being honest and himself during the interview rather than some scared, p.c. spouting cliche dropping robot. Everyone asks Rich about inside info as to whats really going on in the locker room or on a Sat. nite after a road game – well you just got a dose of that info.
[Reply]
Dl’s biggest mistake……not listening to the kings insiders!!!! Lol
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@neil,
DL is, indeed, a wise one, lol
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@neil, We’d like to take credit, but we are all over the place with coflicting ideas.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@neil,
Hi DL, we know you are reading this.
[Reply]
Howard Berger Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@neil, Always some L.A. in my blogs, Kingers… this time, from the ground and air… http://www.bergerbytes.ca/2012/07/burke-timetable-contentious/
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
@Howard Berger,
Wow. Great pics of the terrain from above.
[Reply]
wrt to local media coverage about hockey: I used to wish that they’d talk more of it, but after hearing what they had to say this last past PO run, I’d ask them to do us a favor and NOT talk hockey. They all have zero clue about the sport. It’s no wonder that the sport cant/wont grow like GB wants becasue for the casual, or non-fan, who gets their hockey from these ignoramous’, the sport seems silly or simply all about fighting and violence. I don’t have sirius, but I’ve heard a little of the hockey talk they have on there, and it seems legit.
Hartman and POB can take a long walk off a short bridge… and to think that Hartman got to go and “report” on the Kings in the SCF is a slap in the face to anyone with 0.5 a brain towards hockey.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:36 pm
@Stuart,
The Loose Cannons are the only local media who go to and broadcast from Frozen Fury. Of course, I think they just do it for the free trip to Vegas.
[Reply]
Rich, as much as it pains me to say it, it is one of those truths that sting.
If we had dumped Hunter or Moreau sooner or later, we might not have ended up where we are.
I do have a question. Does it bug you when fans referr to themselves as part of the team?
Such as we won. We have the cup, etc.
I know I do it, and I am not ashamed of it either.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@Mars, I consider myself part of 18,118-man roster!
[Reply]
KingsFan in OC Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@Mars, I am not ashamed of it either for two reasons: First is the monetary factor. With how much season tickets cost, I am perfectly okay referring to the team in terms of “we”. Secondly, and in my opinion most importantly, the fans play a very integral role. I have had many experiences at Staples where as fans we did not do our part to lift the team. Game 4 against Vancouver was one example I felt we were not loud enough at crucial parts of the game. On the flip side, I have been at games where the louder we got, the better the team seemed to play. The “Royal Rebound” game against Dallas a few yeats ago was one example. I really felt the louder the crowd got, the more the players fed off of it. Game 4 against St. Louis was another example where the crowd really did our part. A lot of games in the playoffs were excellent from a crowd perspective, but a few really stand out.
So, I have no problem referring to the team as “we” because I think we all play a part in the success and we certainly experience the pain as well.
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@Mars,
The ‘felling’ of ownership and participation belongs to anyone who spends time attending, watching, cheering, stressing over or defending the team. Nothing wrong with that.
Many of us have been doing all of that since long before the vast majority of these players were even a thought in their parent’s libido part of the brain, lol
So, yeah..it’s our team! We’re not asking for freebies (other than a t-shirt thrown at us once in a while or a random prize on fan appreciation day). We’re not asking for free tickets. We’re not asking for refunds. We’re not asking for free beer.
We ask only one thing….JUST WIN BABY. AND WIN BIG, AGAIN!!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Gustavo,
Raider fan?
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@DesertKing,
Das right.
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@Gustavo
Just something awesome about being silver and black. Going to Oakland at least once pr.twice this season.
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:17 pm
@DesertKing,
I think being a Raider fan is terminal.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@DesertKing, @Gustavo
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!! LOL
Stuart Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@Michael J., as in terminal disease, right [laughs]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@MichaelJ
Terminal for the other teams
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:42 pm
@DesertKing, Stuart, Broke, & Gus,
I was diagnosed when I was four yeard old, in the bleachers at Oaklend Coliseum, tears welling up, as the crowd booed my hero – Daryle Lamonica.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Michael J., ahhhh…”the Mad Bomber”. I think you just gave away your age. Man do i love this southern california sun…the football team wasnt all that bad either.
scott groves Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 4:05 am
@Gustavo, Someone say FREE Beer?
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 6:37 pm
@Mars, I feel I deserve to say “we” because I help pay the players, coaches and everything else. That makes me part of the team imho.
[Reply]
Interesting point that Rich made “The Kings don’t have the most fans in Southern California, but they have the most passionate fans.”. We ain’t the most, but we’re not fair weather fans.
[Reply]
Gail Web Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@Donald_S, Agree been a fan for 25 years now almost, and cryed all day and night on this date: June 11th 2012
Just gave more money because I am a fan, for a special star in front of Staples too honor our boys, men Champs!
Go Kings Go!
[Reply]
Real 7 Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 8:34 am
@Donald_S, I agree, most loyal fans….it took 45 years to make us that way….
quick success makes for something less than “most loyal”…
and I say that as a Kings fan since since ’69….and former season-ticket holder
[Reply]
So it seems the Kings blueprint for success was so good that now other sports in the region are copying it. Los Angeles Dodgers deal with (who else) Philadelphia Phillies for Shane Victorino. Well, maybe this IS baseball.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@zeley, Phillies West?
[Reply]
I am sure the injury history made up the Kings mind, but its tough for Parse. I remember for the last 3 years he was hailed as the most skilled of the young prospects, and that was even when Schenn was here. That may have just been lip service to sell tickets, but it was put out there several times to many media members.
As for things not changing fast enough. If TM was fired in Nov or sooner maybe DS would have been unavailable with too many commitments on his farm. LOL, actually Rich did a good job as usual covering the player/coach dynamic.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@luc20rules,
Everyone knows that DL waited until birthin’ season was over to fire TM
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@luc20rules, ill pass that along…
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
Ding!
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, that was such a classic that even @puck73 wouldn’t boo that one!
[Reply]
In regards to the “enforcer on the ice” question, thank you Rich. I would like to take it a step further. Haven’t we learned a lesson yet? One of the big reasons we dominated during the playoffs is that, unlike Pittsburgh, we did not get pulled into these silly, juvenile fighting/”send a message” incidents. Thus we were on the power play and they on the penalty kill, the majority of shorthanded situations. Yes, that was Playoffs and not regular season, but we should learn from that–fisticuffs is more harmful than good. Does anyone honestly think that you can discourage agitating thugs like Steve Ott from doing their thing by intimating them? Come on! The best way to “send a message” to teams who employ that kind of thuggery is to back away, let them take the penalties, then thumb your nose at them when you skate off the ice with the two points. I remember two games late this year when our “sending a message” cost us significant points in the standings. The first was against Dallas after late in the third period with us leading by a goal, Brendan Morrow sent Kopitar pinwheeling with a legal but vicious hit. Immediately Mike Richards started a fight with Morrow which was basically a draw except that Richards got four extra minutes for a double minor related to instigating and Dallas subsequently tied up the game and we lost in overtime. So the result of that fight was a three-point switch at a time when we were fighting Dallas for position. A week or so later Clifford received a five minute major and game misconduct for a “send the message” hit against Phoenix. Once again, we had a one goal lead late in the game which we lost during the penalty kill. And once again, we lost it in, I believe, a shootout, making another 3-point switch which mathematically would have given us the Division Championship. This year that made no difference but I wouldn’t recommend us playing Russian Roulette that way down the road. Let’s grow up. This macho stuff doesn’t work anyway. Manhood is displayed with intelligent play, not acting like a gorilla.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:05 am
@Russ Dynda, it’s really weird because on one hand players get held accountable if they’re not standing up for teammates (see the excellent “61 thoughts” Rick Nash article written by their beat writer), but i agree with you… this is why Detroit doesn’t reeeaally need an enforcer: because they punish them on the ensuing powerplay.
I’m in your camp on not getting sidetracked as Pittsburgh did in their series. It seemed like the combination of having shoddy goaltending from Fleury and basically not playing their own Pens hockey style, totally flustered them. What’s weirder is that the Penguins did that for the WHOLE series. I can understand forgetting the game plan for a game (maybe 2), things like that can happen when you’re caught up in a moment, but for a whole series? bizarre-o.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:49 am
@Shakes, A truly great team doesn’t make so many adjustments to their opposition as forces the opposition to adjust to them.
The problem was that the way the played in that series WAS the gameplan, just a thoroughly revamped one from what the team was used to playing.
Bylsma seemed to make a fatal error in buying into the “stir” Laviolette and his team had worked up in the contentious meetings between the two sides during the regular season and the results were devastating.
And they semed to leave Fleury single-handedly in charge of keeping the puck out of the net at one end (he proved he’s no JQ) while figuring that they’d just completely open up the play and win it in an OK Corale style shootout.
When trying to beat Philly at their own game worked in Game 2 they thought this method was their ticket to the 2nd round but were ultimately undone by the lack of belief in what got them as far as they’d gotten, which was a lot more organization and discipline than they played with in that series.
Shocking to watch such a disposal of strategy and consequent utter meltdown from a Bylsma-coached outfit!
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:42 am
@Russ Dynda, I understand what you’re saying, but hockey is a very physical game and at times it’s almost necessary that someone stand up for a teammate, whether hit cleanly or not. It has more to do with “the room” then it does with scaring someone on the ice. I, for one, was ecstatic when MR jumped Morrow after he smashed Kopi. Yes, the hit was clean, but IIRC corretly, Morrow came from quite a ways and could’ve easily been called for a charge. Whatever happens in the ensuing PK is small fries compared to the feeling on the bench coupled with the knowledge that Kopi can now play knowing that if he gets caught with his head down, whoever gets that lick in will be taken to task by someone else on the ice… and as much as you feel it isn’t a deterrant, it is. Too many times that play would’ve gone unpunished (much like when MR was hit by Bergermeister), but not anymore. If anything it was a huge exercise in “team building” and creating a sense that it truly is a band of brothers…
wrt to the PO’s, I agree, it’s better to walk away and goad them into a penalty. And in the HNIC game 6 broadcast, one of the commentator said just that, that the Kings were really good in getting in early, pushing some buttons, instigating, and getting out so the retaliation was called… also something that had never been the case for the Kings. I guess the “macho stuff” has different goals then scaring someone into not making a big hit, I think it’s more about making them think about it and if they want to play the rest of the game looking over their shoulder… and that, in and of itself, can lead to turnovers later on down the road and other ramifications that aren’t apparently or immediately clear.
@Shakes, true, DET doesn’t have Probert anymore, but what happend to Weber in the game after he smashed Zetterburger into the turnbuckle? There was Bertuzzi in his face, and to Weber’s credit he didn’t back down either… I would be willing to be bet that leading into that game Weber thought about it more than once, who would step up and challenge him and how the fight would go…
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 10:59 am
@Stuart,
Funny you mention that incident in the game vs Stars in January because alternatively I remember being horrified when MR stepped in, and not because I had any idea he would get the extra 4 mins for instigating, and with a visor to boot.
The main reason was that MR had been clearly suffering still from the concussion incurred the month previous.
Not only that, but IIRC DB was also on the ice at the time but it was MR and not he that felt compelled to step up, so that’s another reason it shouldn’t have been MR that did so.
Neither team dressed a heavyweight enforcer for that game but guys like CF and KFC were playing 10+ Mins at the time.
That’s one case where the whole “sending a message” thing actually backfired and it was the pivotal moment where the game turned irredeemably against the Kings.
It’s definitely not that I don’t believe in the tactic.
But I’ll be quite happy, especially with the team being bigger and tougher now, if our key players like MR aren’t getting involved in any enforcement situations.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 11:07 am
@Duncanz, that situation needed to be addressed then and there. And for all the great things DB became since the trade deadline, I can’t recall him sticking up for a teammate like that, ever. Infact, I’d bet he was already skating away to bench or to line up for the faceoff.
Yes, I remember quite well, that MR was still “woozy” and also the fact that had he wanted to, Morrow really could’ve put a lick on MR just for good measure but instead it was quite a “measured” altercation. It was the show that got the applaud from me, not the fact that MR put up a great fight. And as I said, forging team solidarity is worth much more than the extra point. A season is long, and there are going to be more games to be won, but when these types of situations arise they (usually) need to be handled immediately.
IIRC KFC was on the ice when MR was wrung against FLA and he and EM “asked” to dance with the perp rather than just jumping him like MR did, and he declined their invites and continued skate.
just another case of 2 people seeing the same thing 2 completely different ways.
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 11:12 am
just to add:
“As a result, the Kings’ Mike Richards received penalties for instigating a fight, unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting and a 10-minute misconduct, while Morrow was sent off for fighting. Dallas then went on a 4-minute power play that led to Eriksson’s tying goal.
‘We’re a very tight team. Everybody is going to stick up for each other and that was really good on his part,” Justin Williams said of Richards. “It’s a shame we didn’t kill it off for him.’”
And I remember at the time thinking that the extra penalties were such a crock of [stuff]! Especially because I thought Morrow should’ve gotten one for a charge… but alas.
Duncanz Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@Stuart,
I’m not saying MR let the team down by going in to bat for Kopi, although it was a particularly bad mistake to forget the visor rule.
But Morrow’s was a totally clean and professional hit and there are always plenty of opportunities later to get your own back on the player involved or by shaking up a Jamie Benn, for example.
Ironically, the Bergenheim hit that messed up MR in the first place was quite likely a delayed retribution for MR’s (much more egregious) hit on David Booth when he was with Flyers the previous season.
Bergenheim played it smart to deny the scrappers advances and IIRC (phrase of the day) it was MR himself that took a(nother dumb) penalty in going after Bergenheim shortly after in an inappropriate way.
And you’re right, it is a long season. You have 76 games that are not against Dallas and you really can’t be risking losing guys of MR’s caliber due to extra-curricular activities. He’s the 2nd line center. Mucking it up can’t be his job on the team.
If Morrow didn’t hold back, as you mention, and MR had gotten himself badly injured in that fight the whole conclusion, including J Dub’s, might have been very, very different.
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@Duncanz, The hit on Booth was irrelevant, unless MR was hit by someone that was at the very least on the team when Booth was… Berger was a Bolt when that hit went down and Booth was on a different team altogether at the time MR was hit, so IMO (not a phrase but an acronym
) to make that connection is a stretch.
It’s not his job to muck it up, it’s not even his job to stick up for his players, but he is MR and he has always played that way and always will. That’s also why he’s so highly respected by everyone (except Booth and a few others). At the end of the day, it is what it is, obviously.
Duncanz Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Splithairart, You think it’s a stretch?
Maybe.
But incidents like that Booth one don’t necessarily get forgotten about and if there was a lot of talk of leeriness for MR leading up to the game who better to step up and earn his stripes than the new guy who’s cut out for the part anyway?
Could have been either or, IMO – which I will call “cyber-slang” since the “nym” would suggest the phrase were a name.
Anyway for all the machismo MR exudes – and you’d have to concede he went through a bad patch of ill-timed penalties (NHL 36 was another eg) – I, for one, am really hoping he channels it into spending a little less time in the pit and a little more time directing the orchestra, next season.
Russ Dynda Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@Stuart, I hear what is being said here, but no one has addressed the fact that Richards’ penalties led to a 3 point turnaround in the standings. Are you saying that it was worth the 3 points for us to send some kind of a message to Morrow? Guys who act like thugs on the ice earn their pay by doing so. I can’t believe that any of them will be affected by “standing up” to them. For a million plus per year I think those guys are willing to get their lights punched out and come back for more. Let’s take the points and forget the macho swagger stuff.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:25 am
@Russ Dynda, So Morrow is a thug? I guess in the same vein that Doan is a thug. I’d consider him very tough, but not a thug. I’d save the thug moniker for the likes of Ott and Torres. And I do feel that the “3 point turnaround” was worth it.
I think what really needs to be addressed is the lack of any type of team toughness in the past for the organization. They’ve been soft, pushed around, and almost picked on because everyone skates away (of course some will point to Simmonds and now Clifford, but overall, they haven’t been tough)! The SC was won by a bunch that never backed down, not from VAN, not from STL (who did the best job of pounding the Kings), and certainly not from PHO. Acts like MR standing up for his teammates (which he did AT LEAST 3 times) cannot be measured in wins/losses, points, etc, because they do not have measurable value. But what they are is invaluable team-building which is worth more than the 3 points in the standings even if it had meant missing out on the PO’s this year, (which it didn’t luckily) because the core of this team is under contract for several years, and building this room the right way will have a long-lasting impact for those years to come. Sometimes the forest needs to be seen through the trees.
but we can at least agree to disagree.
yea~!Still got to tell everyone KINGS are the Stanley Cup Champions!!!!!
[Reply]
Kings won all playoff and final with 3-0,let see we can start the reg. season with 3-0 too.I cann’t wait!!…GKG…
[Reply]
Too bad about Scott Parse. I think he will be a top six somewhere if he can stay healthy and regain his confidence. He’s what 26 years old?
[Reply]
Hi Rich, every once and a while I hear that the league wants to make the game more offense orientated, do you know if this a topic that has come up in the labor talks? What are your thoughts on making the game more offense orientated? Personally I like tight defensive games, but according to the league I would be the minority. Any predicted changes such making the goal larger by a few inches or using a wider rink like the European game?
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:29 pm
@DEH, You might be surprised.
I think the league is always looking to expand its fanbase and there’s probably a vast lower denominator out there that they would target, i.e. those that would be attracted to the game if there were bagfuls of goals like other sports, and as there were in the hockey in the past when it was less strategic.
I would really hope and like to believe that the majority of actual hockey fans revere the sport pretty much the way it is now and wouldn’t want it to become a home run derby or hoops on ice!
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:57 pm
@Duncanz, I think the plan is to put a dollar size goal on each outer corner of the crossbar that will be worth 2 goals(Fake).
Just looking at some of the obsured ideas that come out of the GM meetings. 3 on 3 overtimes(Real), making the Goal Bigger(Real 6″ wider and 4″ wider), No touch icing (Real), and re-installing the 2 line pass infraction(real). I don’t think many get past the suggestion phase.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@luc20rules, 4″ “taller” not wider again.
wes Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:35 pm
@luc20rules,
no touch icing: yes already. it’ll put time on the clock. just go to the nearly inevitable face-off that’ll happen anyway (after several seconds have been wasted almost pointlessly chasing a puck to your own end boards). no touch icing puts more hockey in a hockey game. maybe a minute or two.
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:42 am
@Duncanz, I have complete faith that your uncle Fary (is in the kind that wear boots) will ruin this game in the name of generating 10 more fans before his time is done… ugh, someone get that pencilneck away from the controls!
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@Stuart, You War Pig!
brian spain Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:51 am
@DEH, The ice surface will not get bigger. They made the benches smaller to get two more seats for a high price ticket. They are not going to take out two rows of top dollar tickets so more goals can be scored you can be sure of that.
[Reply]
I’ve asked this several times. As a King’s fan I want to have a deeper understanding of the game. I’d like to see a special on the different kind strategies that teams use and the strenghts and weaknesses of each type. Same for the different type of PK/PP strategies.
For example what exactly did DS change on the forecheck … I think I know, but I’d love to see it graphically demostrated.
[Reply]
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:12 pm
@KC23,
If only I new someone who could work video!
I would love to go through each zone specifically breaking down system. Drives me nuts that so many Kingsfans think that the players just skate around and achieve whatever they achieve without a specific plan, and that coaching doesn’t dscide those things, the players do..
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:41 pm
@Dominick (defrim65),
You mean, (gulp), there is a plan the players have to follow? A plan established by a coach? OMG, I can’t believe this. We have always been told it was the players’ fault….
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@Dominick (defrim65), I’ve watched so many excellent pieces on NFL offenses, defenses. Even special team stuff. Hockey plays explained in LA goes as about as deep as offsides and icing. It started bothering me a lot more since I started watching more Canada feeds of games where they treat the fans like the NFL does.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
@KC23,
Remember John Davidson dumbing down the broadcasts on any of the evleven networks he worked for?
luc20rules Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:04 pm
@KC23, One of the Kings Royal experiences is a chauk talk with a Kings assistant coach before the game. Although sometimes its a tv or radio guy like Jim Fox or Daryl Evans. They go over plays and strategies. I don’t know how detailed it is, but I think is like 30 minutes, 2 hours before home games. No idea how much it costs or how many other people are there. Maybe Rich can set something like that up for the next Insider Suite game. Although insider suite games maybe a thing of the past now that the popularity of the Kings as Champs will make suites hard to come by.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:22 pm
@luc20rules, sounds cool and expensive.
[Reply]
brian spain Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:56 am
@KC23, when you forcheck, if one guys fgfo in deep and gets thee puck loose, if he doesn’t have support it doesn’t work. You have to have proper spacing and coverage. Almost evrey game since Sutter took over the Kings had several scoring chances because they overwhelmed the defense with proper pressure and the Defense had nowhere to pass the puck, you take thee man with the puck and cover the guys for the outlet pass. Its actually very simple…but the players all have to be on the same page or else you end up with an odd man rush. The Kings sometimes get caught by this forcheck, they are much better with great puck handling defensemen, who can make a nice pass or skate out of trouble.
[Reply]
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 10:39 am
@brian spain,
Close, but that’s still oversimplifying it a little.
I think what KC is refering to is specific breakdowns like the Kings acitivating the defenseman along the boards when the puck is headed up the 1/2 walls. The defensemans no longer just chips the puck down deep anymore, but actively creates a misdirection by taking the puck the opposite direction from the puck carrier, and carrying it back down low themselves.
The F1 who is now free of the puck, circles into a defensive position to replace the pinching defenseman. The defensemans main job at that point is to look for a strait lane to fire the puck on net while the f2/f3 forwards crash the net (mid slot/in tight).
If there is no open lane to shoot, the defenseman holds the puck long enough for forwards to adjust, then gets a hard rim around to start the cicle from the other side from the other defenseman (sometimes at this point, if the opposing defense spreads out enough, the defenseman is then free to move laterally to get a shot on net), unless the Kings are going from behind the net out front.
Then the F2 cuts off the rim around down low, and sends it out front to a crashing F3, or the F1 skating in higher in the slot looking to shoot.
If possesion is comprimised, the nearest forward to the puck instantly cycles toward the puck carrier, not to directly take the puck away (although if he can he will), but to drive the opposing puck carrier towards a cutoff man who will take the body, stop his momentum, and allow the chaser to safely retrieve the puck back (sort of like a rolling pick in basketball, but used to regain the puck instead).
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 11:50 am
@Dominick (defrim65), I followed most of that, but it would sure be fun to see examples and highlights of the reads each step of the way.
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 10:53 am
@brian spain,
Should also add that if the opposing defense collapses down low to adjust, then the Kings original pinching defenseman is free to send the puck back up top to the points (low to high) for a shot on net.
When Kingsfans are watching a game, it is easy to see when the Kings are pressuring from the “1/2 walls”, “behind the net”, or “low to high”.
What I would like to see more next season: Wherever the other team leaves open lanes, the Kings should drive strait at the goalies to sell the opposing defenses on the need to collapse more and shrink the opposing teams coverage..
[Reply]
My gf wants to know if she takes a small dog for a walk every day around manhattan beach while wearing a swim suit what are her chances of bumping into brad Richardson?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:05 pm
@Cortex949, Women…They cant resist NHL players, can they? !!
[Reply]
Cortex949 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:37 pm
@puck73, I guess not. Thankfully I started playing again in my summer league so I’ve got a fighting chance
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:43 pm
@Cortex949,
Dump the dog, players can’t compete with chihuahuas and yorkies. And get a smaller swimsuit.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:18 pm
@Cortex949,
Not as good as her chances are bumping into Mike Richards.
[Reply]
Rich, trying not to beat a dead horse here so I will try to phrase my questions differently.
1. As you get to know the team better over time do you find it harder to not be a fan?
2. Would you find it more/less enjoyable, harder/easier to blog for your favorite team?
Thanks for all you do
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:43 pm
@Otto Ped,
Did someone mention Kompon?
[Reply]
Great article on Jamie Kompon. I didnt realize he worked for The St.Louis Blues before he came here in 2006. Its neat that he remembered the people who remembered him. Also that he didnt think anyone around where he lives here in So.Cal realized what he did for a living.
It seems we have gotten to know Kompon alot more recently AFTER The Kings won the cup, including several appearances on the new DVD Blue Ray Combo Pack.
He seems like a really good guy, makes me feel bad that we bagged on him so hard. He seems to have handled everything with class, even after Sutter decided to go in another direction.
Good luck in Chicago Jamie (Except against the Kings)!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:45 pm
@puck73,
You are killing me. Whats next, you going to join the Peace Corps? Apply for head cheese whiz at the United Nations?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:07 pm
@DesertKing, Now that the Kings won the Cup. Its a kinder gentler Puck73. Just kidding, I’m sure once the season starts we will see the fire and the hunger for another Cup!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@luc20rules,
Maybe he is on meds?
jess Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@DesertKing,
Wait till the kings lose a couple of reg season games, he’ll start rooting for the ducks
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:46 pm
@jess,
I feel safe in saying he would never root for the Sucks
Lake Forest Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:17 am
@jess, Mike, Jamie and Terry – The Three Amigos!
luc20rules Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:16 pm
@jess, Careful that is worse than calling him a “use your imagination”.
Did Sean Avery congradulate Dustin Brown or anyone else in the organization for winning the Cup?
[Reply]
Why did Dean Lombardi not be interviewed for the Kings Stanley Cup DVD?? Hextall spoke quite a few times (in areas that I would have assumed Dean would have spoke).
Just seems odd that the GM of a Stanley Cup winning team wouldn’t have any comments on their SC DVD?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@Golfnut, It maybe shows alot about DL’s character. I believe he wants to give the players the spotlight. He has spoken when the Kings were down and spoken about the direction the organization needs to go. He has reached a goal for himself the organization and to his credit he has always said its the players that need to do it on the ice, and all he does is try to collect the right players/coaches to allow them to be successful. They won the Stanley Cup the 1st in Kings History, and instead of jumping to the forefront and pounding his chest. He is letting the players bask in the glory that they acheived on the ice. DL also did not speak at the Rally after the Stanley Cup Parade. I believe he thinks this is the players moment.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@luc20rules, hadn’t really thought about it, but I think you’re spot on.
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:37 pm
@luc20rules,
I agree with you on most points about DL. But I was at the Cup rally at Staples. It was not our of humility that DL could not speak, lol…he looked like he could barely sit straight after partying all night.
Even Hextall said DL was not going to talk, otherwise we’d all still be there listening to him
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:10 pm
@Gustavo, So true, and so funny. Also, they said that DL lost his voice with all the interviews and whooping it up that he did!
tomm303 Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 8:40 pm
@luc20rules, thanks for the reply, I do think that he didn’t want to beat his own chest, but, Ron Hextall talked (in areas that the GM would have addressed) I just found it strange that Ron didn’t have any problem talking and Dean who loves to talk didn’t.
Think Ron H was just padding his resume for all those GM vacant jobs that might come up : )
[Reply]
Thank you for the answer Rich. I think you’re right on about winning. Maybe we need one more championship to “release the Kraken”. We do have to passion, we just need more numbers. And the “Lakers in July” comment is so true. I listen to several sports talk shows back and forth to work and here we are 6 weeks after a championship season and we hear NOTHING about the Kings. There should be at least a 5 minute segment on one of stations I would hope? Alas, no…Again, thank you. Never tired of it, always TiredOfIt…..GKG
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:04 am
@TiredOfIt,
The problem is, what would Steve Hartman have to say about hockey? Or the Kings? Do you think he has any idea who Toffoli, or Gibson, or Schenn, or Mikus is? Does he know the difference between Tackla and a pair of Tacks?
And don’t get me started on the bimbos on TV…
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:22 pm
@Michael J., Easy now I know a few that if you verbally attacked Heidi Androl or Amanda Tappen them would be fight’n words.
[Reply]
Leo4kings…The kings don’t need a tough guy to fight. The Red Wings won several cups without an enforcer. The heavyweight fighters are not needed, Scott from Chicago is not going to fight if there is nobody big enough to go with him. They have plenty of guys who can send a message. penner almost ripped the head off of a few guys in the playoffs. Thats more effective then a fight. You don’t lose him for 5 minutes. And having a 245 pound guy try to rip your head off will send a clear message.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:09 am
@brian spain, totally agree – wrote something similar above as well (i mentioned the Wings too)
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:46 am
@brian spain, Kocur, Lapointe, and McCarty might beg to differ with your views…
[Reply]
Russ Dynda Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:46 am
@Stuart, Couldn’t reply above so I’m doing it here. Yes we can agree to disagree. I would not classify either Morrow or Doan as thugs. However, I classify physical behavior which is designed purely to punish and intimidate as thuggish behavior which will never be discouraged by so-called “sending a message” through retaliating. You may consider it necessary in hockey–I don’t. I still believe that civilized behavior in sports is what we should strive for, not only because it’s good for our souls and a positive message to our kids, but because it will make us more successful on ice. But since the vast majority of those who enjoy playing and watching hockey prefer to see animal-like behavior I am willing to discuss it in a practical sense. Assuming we are playing the sport to win (which I believe is secondary to some fans who enjoy seeing people get beat up), I cannot see any justification for sacrificing three points to a competing team in order to “send a message” through fistfighting. (Morrow likely was elated to have Richards challenge him and take the penalties which allowed Dallas to turn the game around. We played into his hands.) In fact, I am amazed that any fan who wants to see their team advance to the Playoffs and beyond would advocate such a thing.
[Reply]
Russ Dynda Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:08 am
@Russ Dynda, One last thing. In terms of teams that have won the Cup. Since 2000, Detroit has won it twice. Colorado once. New Jersey once. Pittsburgh once. Chicago once. Tampa Bay once. Carolina once. I don’t see any of those teams having a major reputation for being overly tough. They won because of their skill levels. You might classify Anaheim and Boston as being “tough” during their Cup years, but I contend that they won with skill, not the ability to punish physically. And certainly, we won this year because we did not get involved in the extracurricular garbage. May I remind you that we won Game Six of the Finals largely because Jersey made a stupid play and illegally crushed Scuderi. I am simply astounded that any true fan could advocate giving up three points in the standings even, at their admission that it could have cost us the Playoffs, in order to build some kind of team camaraderie. I’ll take the team that is focused on winning as their priority and let the “band of losing brothers” languish on the beach starting April.
Stuart Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 10:03 am
@Russ Dynda, obviously we have two diametrically opposed philosophical outlooks on the same sport. Civilized behavior in a game that allows fighting? I think the game is very civilized, except of course when things like McSorley’s two-hand axe job on Brashear, and other similar situations, but overall, it is a very civilized game. Nowhere else do players line-up after being eliminated and shake the oppositions hands. There are multi-layered dynamics that are going down on the ice in split seconds… and to call it “animal-like” is very derogatory, IMO. just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean that you should denigrate it. If you can’t stomach the physical aspect, and the messages that it entails, than I don’t know what brought you to the sport in the first place. It’s beautiful blend of skill and toughness is what makes it the awesome sport that it is. If you like the finesse aspect only, then watch all-star games, or Olympics, or Euro leagues, or College hockey (which is brutal but doesn’t condone the fisticuffs)… I wonder what DL has meant all this time when he talks about “character” guys?? maybe he meant guys that SIMPLY want to win or guys that are great teammates, great in the locker room, great leadership abilities? Or maybe those things mean nothing and he wants guys that simply want to fill the net, keep theirs empty and win (which never happens that way). As we found out this year, a little more is required to be successful otherwise TM would’ve been the guy, but he couldn’t create an identity for this team, something that everyone can buy into and play for…
I’m simply astounded at the under-valuation you’ve put on team camaraderie/togetherness/solidarity. your hyperbole is a little astounding as well, from someone preaching “practical sense”. but I digress.
Let’s take a look at your list of SC winners and see if they’ve all been ice-capades with sticks:
2000 – NJ – Holik/Lemiux/Arnott/Steven/Daneyko/White – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2001 – COL – probably the most skilles/least tough – Dingman/Hinote/Foote – and even Forsberg laid the body
2002 – DET – Draper/Matlby/McCarty/Shanahan/Chelios – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2003 – NJ – Friessen/Langenbruner/Rupp/Marshall as well as the Dmen from 200 – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2004 – another more skill than tough – Dingman stands out, but Lecavalier and the forwards had plenty of bang to counter CAL
2006 – CAR – Brind’Amour/Staal/Ladd/Commodore/Babchuk/Ward/Hedican – all finished their checks and were tough to play against
2007 – ANA (that hurts to write) – I thought they had a really lucky run, but they had several bangers on that team which never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2008 – DET – Draper/Helm/MaCarty/Cleary/Maltby/Stuart/Kronwall – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2009 – Talbot/Kunitz/Cooke/Orpick/Letang – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2010 – CHI – Bolland/Ladd/Byfuglien/Burrish/Eager – all pretty tough customers that never saw a check they didn’t finish hard and with ill intent
2011 – BOS – it’s well known how physical they were
2012 – LAK – it’s no wonder talking heads were complaring them to the previous champs in their physical, dominating style. big, big, and BIG!
So please don’t tell me none of the past SC winners weren’t tough or didn’t have an element of toughness to their game. They truly did.
You are right. We do have diametrically opposed views. I would not allow fighting in the NHL. It’s ridiculous. Vigilante law? We don’t need it in society or in any sporting event. I do like the game a lot I agree with you that much of it is admirable. I don’t mind the physical aspect as long as it’s not with the intent to injure and intimidate. That’s barbaric. I don’t denigrate the sport at all. It’s the only one I follow. But I do denigrate barbarism. Hard checking in playing the puck is one thing; seeking to physically punish and intimidate is something else. It’s not only ridiulous, it’s hypocritical, considering the recent effort by the NHL under Shanahan to address the head injury problems which have become so rampant. I want to see the talented players in our league playing, not laid out by some thug. One can display toughness in other ways than getting into fistfights and making hits with intent to punish.Football players crash into each other on every play of the game and the sport doesn’t allow fighting. I don’t think anyone would declare that football players lack toughness. The reason fighting and other brutal hits are allowed in North American hockey is a sadistic streak in those who play and follow it. Character is displayed by those who can withstand punishment and score goals, just as much as by those who inflict punishment. You claim that Murray didn’t instill character. It would seem that when Sutter took over he made minimum use of his “enforcer” and the team prospered under his approach. The last several years the Kings have always had an enforcer but it was only this year, when we let the other teams get overly physical during the Playoffs that we were successful. We had Ivanans, Ken Belanger, George Parros, etc. What did they do for us? You mention the Cup winners above. I still maintain that they won because of their skill. That doesn’t mean they weren’t tough. But their primary goal was to outscore the opponent, not prove they were tougher. Your previous message seemed to say you think the latter has priority.
[Reply]
Another comment on this. Everyone who plays in the NHL regularly faces pucks flying at clost to 100mph, flashing razor-sharp skates, swinging sticks and vicious blind side body checks. Can anyone honestly accuse any NHL player of lacking toughness or courage just because he doesn’t get into fistfights? Fistfighting is far less dangerous than these other dangers. I believe that a player who is willing to drop down to block a 100mph slapshot gets far more respect from teammates and is far more inspirational than one who is inclined to duke it out. I think we have our values mixed up here.
[Reply]