Go West, Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup reached its westernmost point on its summer tour yesterday when it visited Willie Mitchell in Port McNeil, B.C. Mitchell made it memorable, with an early-morning fishing trip and a helicopter ride. (Fun fact about the Cup tour: the trophy must wear a “life jacket” when it is on water. Hopefully it never needs CPR.) Mitchell’s day came after Matt Greene had the Cup in Grand Ledge, Mich., and after Dean Lombardi had it in Massachusetts. So, if nothing else, it’s good to know that the Cup survived its trip to the El Cid Lounge. I talked to Lombardi the next day and he sounded tired. Here’s a few links about the Cup’s recent travels…

Kings’ Matt Greene brings Stanley Cup to Grand Ledge

For Lombardi, day with Cup all about giving back

Mitchell takes Stanley on the water

After tumultuous season, Cup defense already in sight

As to the final link, Lombardi and Ron Hextall were able to offer no predictions this week as to if training camp might start on time. It seems as though the players and owners are starting the process of digging in their heels, preparing for a potential lockout on Sept. 15. The Kings, though, are going about their business. As he indicated in the article above, Lombardi said Darryl Sutter is keeping close tabs on the players’ conditioning this summer and is pleased, which Lombardi feels would mitigate the dreaded “Stanley Cup hangover.” Lombardi didn’t offer anything new on Jonathan Quick, but only echoed what Ron Hextall had said a day earlier. The hope remains that Quick will be ready for the (presumed) start of camp, but that depends on his body’s ability to heal. In any event, it doesn’t sound as though anything at all has changed with Jonathan Bernier’s status. While the Kings have had their ears perked for months, listening to potential offers, they haven’t yet found one they like. He won’t be traded simply for the sake of a trade.

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