Mike Richards brought the Stanley Cup to his small hometown of Kenora — with a population of approximately 15,000 — in western Ontario yesterday. Shaun, a blog reader from Kenora, graciously passed along a few of the photos he took yesterday from the Cup celebration event…
Thanks for the pics Shaun, nice to see the Cup festivities rolling along!!!
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PalmSpringsKingsFan Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
desertking Desert king please give me a call as soon as possible. 17602502630
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My buddy from Philly still can’t comprehend that the previously non-threatening Kings actually WON The Cup this year and still only refers to them as Philly West.
I tell him to get a goalie as good as Quickie, a defense as good as ours, and a few more former Kings, and maybe Philly would have a chance too.
He said the Philly fans loved seeing Richards and Gagne win rings but not so much Carter.
I love our team coming back next year intact.
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Crash Davis Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:34 am
@The Gondor, it must have been very strange, yes, for Philly fans to see Richards, Gagne & Carter win the Cup.
The Flyers have no one to blame but themselves. Whatever happened behind-the-scenes a year ago that lead to both Richards & Carter to be traded on the same day created an odd ripple effect. (One that DL eventually took advantage of.) Flyers took a BIG gamble on Ilya Bryzgalov in goal. One that only got them to the second round in playoffs.
Yep – Philly West. And with a # of former Flyers players, coaches & management happy to see their names engraved onto the Stanley Cup.
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puck73 Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@Crash Davis, Good post, and totally agree. Also, lets add this too, there is now way Philly was getting too far without the size, reach, presence, and experience of Chris Pronger. Philly losing Pronger would be like The Kings losing Willie Mitchell….NO CUP.
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Crash Davis Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:50 am
@puck73, agreed. Pronger was huge in size, grit, experience & skill. Losing him was a key to the Flyers not going further in the Playoffs. He was irreplaceable.
A side note: In 1996 when we traded Gretzky to the Blues, Pronger could have been ours in the trade IF the GM Sam McMaster had dug in his heels. You want Gretzky? Pronger needs to be part of the return package.
This wasn’t/isn’t my opinion only. A very prominent hockey writer also stated in an email to me that McMaster could have had Pronger. But McMaster didn’t have the cojones. Of all the players in the bag of pucks (Vopat, Tardif, Johnson) that came back our way, only Johnson turned out to be anything serviceable…for awhile.
40YearKingsFan Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@puck73, Pronger. I can’t stand the guy but I totally agree with you.
puck73 Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:05 am
@Crash Davis, Agree with you about Mcmaster as well. Johnson was alot like Brad Richardson, tons of speed, and little finish.
Also, when McMaster made the deal in 1996, I cant remember if Anshutz and Roski had just bought the team, or if Sudikoff and Cohen still owned it. Anyway, it was a horrible deal for the Kings, and your right, he should have asked for Pronger and a #1 instead of the garbage The Blues gave him.
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Stuart Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:08 am
@puck73 & @C.D., imagine if we hadn’t got CJ??? we would’ve had less injuries and his roster spot might have been available to someone/anyone with .5 a set of hands… CJ was all wheels (and mostly out of control) and no handles… dark times those were!
Cry Baby Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:17 am
@puck73, Was that Jan or Roman that the Kings got. The Vopat’s were so powerful the Kings eventually needed both of them. Dark days indeed!
Steve W Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:49 am
@puck73, That’s how the Memphis Grizzlies felt after the Gasol trade, and how The Orlando Magic will feel after the Howard trade.(yes, this isn’t basketball).
jom Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
@Crash, I think the reports of Pronger coming to LA are serious over-statments just to bash McMaster. There really was NO WAY in hell the Blues were going to trade Pronger. It’s a myth.
Another note: AEG owned the Kings at the time.
kinginprague Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@The Gondor, Why this Carter-hate in Philly? I know he wasn’t so much presence in playoffs for them but still…when someone is able to fire him up (and looks like Sutter is the right man) he is an outstanding goalscorer. There are a very few of them in the league (Stamkos, Iginla, Gaborik, Ovi, Kovi)
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@kinginprague, Maybe they blame him for the Richards trade… ‘bad influence’ and all that.
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Deirdre Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), No, it’s not that. Carter got the reputation in Philly for being lazy. Fans felt he didn’t work hard enough, took shifts and games off, etc. What some fans perceive as him not trying, working or skating hard, others would see as he doesn’t have to skate hard because he’s a fluid skater. A friend of mine was and is a big Carter fan and would defend him by saying “how would you like playing the shift after Mike Richards?” And Iget what he meant. Richards busts his butt every shift and pushes his game to the limit. But he doesn’t have the natural skill Carter does so he has to work hard every shift. But to the guy in the stands who shelled out a lot of $$ for tickets, it doesn’t come off that way.
Some fans blamed him (and never forgave him, it’s still a sore subject when brought up) for the Flyers losing the Cup to the Hawks. Game 6 SCF , tied with 1 min left. Richards made a perfect pass from beside the net to Carter out front and he had the whole net, and the GWG on his stick. He shot right into the center of Niemi’s jersey.
To his credit, Carter has changed since he got to LA and I feel it is partially due to being traded from Philly (which he nver felt would hapepn given 7 mos earlier he signed what he felt was a lifetime contract) and Sutter. In the interim, I’m sure he thought about a lot of things, and maybe he did refocus, Because the Carter who wears 77 in black and white is not the same guy who wore 17 in black and orange. he’s a better player, a much more 200 foot player, he never purusued the puck as ferious as he does here, nor did he hit, forecheck that strong, or be such a complete player, pushing himself for a full shift, eveyr shift.
Something he said awhile back, in march maybe, about the conversation he had with DL when he arrived leads me to think he knows this is his second chance. He seemed to be very genuine and greteful for Dl ‘having such faith in me’.
Also, it’s very clear the players in the locker room to a man, like ,respect and accepted him, that made a BIG difference. He seems much more comfortable as King, better suited to wear the swearter. Bodes well for the Kings.
He’s clearly a better player now and has matured over this last year. I believe (CBA notwithstanding) he’ll have his best year as a pro next year.
wes Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@kinginprague, try looking beyond the fact that Carter is a good finisher (he is that) and see if you can find anything else to his game. [crickets . . . crickets . . . crickets]
Carter had the worst Corsi numbers on the Kings roster in the post season, was among the worst of the nearly 350 players that participated in the post season. I suspect he’s always got the worst Corsi numbers on his team. When Carter’s on the ice, most of the play is in his D zone. Just being real. Who’s cruising harmlessly somewhere out of position when opponents score 40% of the goals they do manage to get past Quick. A clueless, ‘just don’t ask me to do anything but shoot’ number 77, that’s who. Carter _always_ puts up far fewer assists than a big shot goal scorer should. He doesn’t defend, he doesn’t make plays, he’s a ‘just let me score goals’ Good Time Charlie. 99% of fans in Philadelphia and Columbus have Carter dialed in precisely. It baffles me that some fans in LA cannot recognize that for every goal this guy scores, he’s slept through opponents popping one into his own net. Carter is easily the greatest defensive liability on this squad. Hey, I’d like to see this guy turn into a well rounded play. Throughout his career so far, he certainly has not been that. They still call him Cancer Carter in PHI and CBS. There are reasons. Let’s hope Carter can become a complete player for LAK. To date he is not.
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wes Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 9:42 am
after thoughts, more of the same, etceteras, and what have you:
If Carter is ever going to be in a position to become a more complete player, it looks like it would be this coming season (whenever that turns out to commence). I always cringe when Sutter puts 77 out on the PK, or on ice late in a close game (he may be among league leaders in EN goals, but that just isn’t job #1 in that situation), but Sutter insists on rolling 4 lines if at all possible (and it seems, in all situations), and I think the coach is hell bent on building more structure and intensity and focus and discipline into Carter’s game. Maybe it could happen, Carter does have some physical gifts, no doubt . . .
I see that it’s been mentioned again, but I reject the suggestion that he’s just so fluid of movement that his passivity on defense is some kind of optical illusion. No matter how many goals he pumps in, he’s usually the worst +/- forward on his team and usually the worst Corsi stats (best indicator of which team is carrying the attack) guy on his team. Watch him floating high in the defensive end, not challenging opponents cruising into the slot with way too much room—that’s not just ‘fluidity.’ Thankfully, playing in front of Jonathan Quick is a fairly good way for a lazy forward to have most of his defensive sins forgiven . . sort of . . .
No matter how ‘fluid’ you make find his skating style, at some point the numbers don’t lie, even when viewed through rose colored lenses, and even with Quick bailing him out.
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@kinginprague,
Looking at your list Stamkos, Iginla, Gaborik, Ovi, Kovi, you have an incredibly high opinion of where you think Carter ranks (or possibly could rank) offensively compared to the rest of the league.
I personally think he’s a good player, but not even near the caliber of player you compare him too, and your in for some disappointment if you really believe he is that type of player.
Those are elites, who at onetime or another have been undisputed heavey weights in the league, and although Carter is a good player, he is not ranked in that category.
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kinginprague Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@Dominick (defrim65), OK, OK I give up! Next time I’ll check some other stats than his goals. I just like his wrister and goalscoring touch. Anyway, thanks for clarifying. It helps a lot undestanding the game.
King Cobra Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
@The Gondor,
Your buddy must have missed the game last season when our Kings beat the Flyers.
The Flyers are now the wanna be Kings east, nothing more…
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The Gondor Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
@King Cobra, They are so myopic in Philly a lot of their fans actually thought that Richards was gonna use his day with the Stanley Cup to take it down Broad Street.
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Bickleton Wigglesworth III Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 7:18 am
@The Gondor,
I LOL’d.
KingsGuy Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:27 pm
@The Gondor, My friend and long time Flyers fan from Philly absolutely hates the Kings, lol. He DOES not refer to them anything but the Flyers…
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That was around noon time with Mike arriving with his parents, his girlfriend and her father and other members of his family, it was the start of the Cup’s day and over 4000 people turned out at the pavaillion to welcome him and the Cup.
Atticle:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/08/18/richards-brings-cup-to-kenora
Video with Mke speaking and thanking Kenora for supporting him all these years. And he’s actually wearing an LA hat…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgz3X4HcESU
He also hosted a private party at sunset on the MS Kenora for 120 guests.
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Going this afternoon, finally back to Staples Center to see Summer Slam wrestling, and my Cup shirt is alreay on, it will be a bit wierd for sure, going back after June 11th. Things for sure are bit different now, after waiting 25 years for that silver cup, and getting to finally see our boys and men on ice with it.
June 11 2012 The Best Day Ever!
I am praying each day, for a Hockey Season, please owners please give us back Hockey this year please!,Yes I am begging, let me know what else?
Go Kings Go!
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That was around noon time with Mike arriving with his parents, his girlfriend and her father and other members of his family. That event was the start of the Cup’s day. Reporters tht covered it stated that over 4000 people turned out at the pavaillion to welcome him and the Cup.
There is a video with Mike speaking and thanking Kenora for supporting him all these years. And he’s actually wearing an LA hat. I posted the link but I guess that’s a no no, that message wasn’t allowed.
He also hosted a private party at sunset on the MS Kenora for 120 guests.
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puck73 Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:10 am
@Deirdre, Nice update, and thanx.
Too bad Richards didnt take it to Hollywood lie he told Darren Pang in the locker room. I would have loved to see him walk down Sunset and Hollywood blvd.
Maybe next time (hopefully next season)!
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KC23 Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@Deirdre,
Was surprized to see him wearing that LA cap. Usually, its a POS Giant’s hat or something his web site sells.
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Deirdre Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 11:55 am
@KC23, agree on the awful plaid hats from Rednex Rebellion. But that is not his website. It’s a local sporting good store in his hometown of Kenora that he suports, but he’s not affliated with it.
As for the Yankee, Giants and other hats, he likes the logos, that’s all. He used to get bad press (is there any other kind in PHilly ) here in Phila every time he wore the Yankees cap. Not only articles in the paper calling himi out but reporters post game or practice grillig him about it. I think you should support the home team , so he should were LA hats, but if he doesn’t, it not that (he went to a slew of Laker and Clippers games his winter and when he gets back in town, he’ll probably go to Dodgers games.) he’a not a fan of the local teams, he just likes the variety of logos.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
@Deirdre,
Here’s the video, along with stories and more photos…
http://kingsnewsdaily.com/kenoras-king/
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Kingsfanone Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Somehow, I just knew Paul would get video! The FIRST place I look if I’m jonesing for video or info. PERIOD.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@Kingsfanone, Thanks buddy!
King Cobra Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@Deirdre,
Deirdre, did you go to the party?
How was it?
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Deirdre Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@King Cobra, I wish I was in that inner circle of family and friends that he invited, I ‘m sure it was great. I live in PHilly and have been a huge fan of his since they drafted him. He came with that winning pedigree (Mem Cup and World Juniors) and that leadership was one of the reasons they drafted him. From the time I saw him play for the AHL Phantoms in 2005 when they won the Calder Cup, you could see he was something special.
I hope he enjoyed his party and good for all those close to him who celebrated with him, by all acounts (including his current teammates) he’s a great guy.
Maybe the nhl crew who films the short vidoes of the players with their day with the Cup will have some of it.
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Thats aMaZing.
Kyle clifford is bringing the cup to ayr ontario this week and its about 1 hour from my house in toronto.
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Alton Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 8:43 am
@Marco, You going??
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California Royalty Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@Marco, Another Toronto Kings fan! We should catch a game some time!
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Marco Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:44 am
@California Royalty, Yes i am planning on going. Should be pretty cool
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off-topic: NYR are offering to Del Zotto just 2,2-2,5 mil per season. That would be a daylight robbery for me. Delzo is an outstanding defenseman.
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From an article today on NHL.com today about Mike, was this gem:
Mike Richards now owns the distinction of being the only player in hockey history to win a Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup.
How cool is that? And add to that the World Junios Gold and Olympic gold and you got a smart hockey warrior that is pure champion…and he’s only 27.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@Deirdre, I saw that and was surprised. Good for him. It was reported yesterday by Lloyd Mack of the Kenora Daiy Miner & News. I guess Tal Pinchevsky of NHL.com didn’t want to give him credit (assuming he was the first).
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Deirdre Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Thanks for the tip about Mack’s articles, I just read 2 and the one of Friday was interesting too, speaking of the first Cup champs, the 1907 Kenora Thistles and the dispute over the eligibility of two Thistles players during the Cup finals had the manager of the Thistles threatening to throw the Cup into the Lake on the Woods (where Mike Richards spectacular waterfront house is).
You gotta love Stanley Cup folklore.
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Gmo Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
@Deirdre,
Not even the great one has accomplished that , AMAZING
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I’m sitting here watching my Stanley Cup Blu-Ray in my championship t-shirt…….
Got my Cup tattoo little over a month ago…….thanks House Of Ink!
It’s been a little over two months since 6/11/12…..my new holiday.
….and I’m still giddy like a school girl by the thought of the fact that we won….WE WON!!!!!
…are you all like me?
GKG in 2013!
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puckbobb Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@Louis Zypher, I have said THE LOS ANGELES KINGS ARE THE 2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS out loud AT LEASTonce a day since 6/11/12 (also my birthday!) it just sounds so good to say and hear out loud! I’m with ya all the way brother!! GKG
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puckbobb Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@puckbobb, not the little girl part tho
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BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@puckbobb, yeah that’s kinda gay lol
Kingsfanone Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@Louis Zypher,
It NEVER will get old for me too! For as long as I live!
And I still can’t believe our boys did it! Thank you, Kings! It means that much!
(too many !!!!!!s?)
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Michael J. Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
@Louis Zypher,
Still a bit surreal to me. But I love it!
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The only reason MR & JC were traded was to make room for Bryzgalov`s crazy contract. This crap about there lifestyle is a joke. If that was the real reason over half their team would have been traded including Pronger. Congrats to MR on his big day and long live the Kings.
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Mike Richards is a winner!
Mike Richards is a Stanley Cup Champion!
Mike Richards is a King!
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Here’s a cool video I found on youtube: Kenora residents watching game 4 of the SCF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JrXCy37tjQ&feature=plcp
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Gmo Reply:
August 19th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
@scarr77,
Great video !!!
Go kings Go
Go Kings Go
Go Kings Go
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Jon G Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@scarr77, Great video. Thanks for posting it.
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@keeperofthecup got some great shots of Mike Richards with the Cup over the weekend.
Mike paddleboarding with the Cup (and the cup has the only lifepreserver)
http://thrownofftheice.tumblr.com/image/29801356666
And this one of Mike with the Cup wearing his Gold Medal
http://twitter.com/keeperofthecup/status/237386188619644928/photo/1/large
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We won the cup!!!
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Only thing that could top this is a pic of his dog Arnold enjoying some ice cream out of the Cup! Hope Arnold recovered from his injury enough to enjoy the day w/ his human.
Congrats Mike Richards. I perplexed Flyers fans around me all season long with Kings merchandise among the sea of Flyers logos, predicting that Richards would win a Cup before the cynical and misguided Flyers did.
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Nice to see Mike finally wearing an LA hat.
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looks like Richards finally learned to wear the right hat. Brown must have bought him a new one after NHL:36 aired.
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Desert king please give me a call as soon as possible. 17602502630
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http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-season-derailed-bettman-ego-060226307.html
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Deke'r Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
@luc20rules, ….that about sums Bettman up….It’s not that he was consistantly picked last as a kid when choosing teams, he probably was never picked at all….
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KC23 Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
@luc20rules, I am completely behind the players this go round and that is very unlike me. Bettman is exactly what he seems to be. He is all about being the center of attraction and not just getting what he wants for the owners, but humiliating the players in the process.
I hope the players call their bluff this time, but I doubt they will.
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luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
@KC23, What I found and likely Fehr and the players did as well was. Bettman got the NHLPA offer that tried to formulate a solution for the struggling teams and he just ripped every item suggested. Like a 4 year old throwing a tantrum because his playmates didn’t do everything he wanted the exact way he wanted. The NHL must profit share or just allow teams to move from bad markets. You can’t complain that Phx is lossing money and block all potential owners that want to move it to a city where the team could prosper. Just how does Bettman look at the Atl to Wpg move as a problem. Its simple its works against his small minded and inflexible way of thinking.
Thanks, done ranting for now. Prepare for a 1000 page manifesto on Sept. 15th.
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August 19, 2012 at 9:33 pm
@keeperofthecup got some great shots of Mike Richards with the Cup over the weekend.
Mike paddleboarding with the Cup (and the cup has the only lifepreserver)
http://thrownofftheice.tumblr.com/image/29801356666
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And this one of Mike with the Cup wearing his Gold Medal. It’s such a cool thing that he’s done both and he’s only 27.
http://twitter.com/keeperofthecup/status/237386188619644928/photo/1/large
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KC23 Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
@Deirdre, Sweet picture. Ty.
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I am perversely pleased to read that people would steal an LA Kings banner. Between that and the cup, it’s like the Kings have finally made it: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=403497 And if there is a season-long lockout, at least we would get to lord Lord Stanley over everyone for that much longer…
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Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what all of us would have been blogging on here the last 4 months if Dallas didn’t do it’s annual year end choke and the Kings ended up missing the playoff by one point due to back to back losses to San Jose to close the season. We have the same players but no playoffs and no SC. I can guarantee you this (Nerd) that there would be nobody on here predicting a Kings dynasty in the next few years or calling on DL to keep the exact same players because we are so dang great. What? DL has been fired? Bahahahahhahahahaha how many of you besides Poorman would be calling for DL’s head if we had missed the playoffs? For Richards to be captain; lamenting the trade for Carter due to his cap hit; Penner & Stoll need to go? Quick choked during the last games because he wasn’t rested properly in November and December? DD messed up the season by holding out? Lets me honest, people, what would you have been saying?
I know I would have been screaming for the Kings to get Doan…Oh wait…
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jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
What if Martians landed @ Staples during game 6?
What if Terry Murray had a clue?
What if Doan shook Brown’s hand?
What if the world was flat?
What if @poorman ever escaped the nut house, would he stalk Bernier?
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HockeyNerd Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
@jess, 1) we still would have won.
2) I’d still have been wrong about him as a coach even if that clue was “Mr. Clowe at the players bench with a hockey stick”.
3) Then you wouldn’t be asking that question.
4) Then play would have been delayed in game 6 to locate a hockey puck that fell off the end of the earth.
5) Probably.
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jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Killer answers!
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, Why imagine? Many are screaming to sign Doan at 6mil/yr for 4 years. This will never happen. DL well I guess if we had another GM that would morgage the future? It is crazy to think signing Doan for any amount for more than 2 years is a good idea. Both Scuds & Mitchell go UFA in the next 2 years as well as Brown who arguably is the most underpaid veteran player in the NHL right now at 3.25mil/yr (Quick doesn’t count his already has an extention). I have been patent with DL, but your right 50% or more said he was gone if we were out before the 1st round. Without the playoff performance and Stanley Cup I can’t see Stoll or Penner signing home team contracts if they would have been offered at all. I have to say I supported Stoll more than Penner and likely would have wanted him gone. Brown is our captain and never liked the Richards for captain talk. The way things went in Philly IMHO he doesn’t even want it. I have said from the start Carter’s Cap Hit is low. How many guys are out there that are in their prime and scored multiple 40 G seasons that are getting 5.25/yr in a long term contract. His stats over his career are better than an 3 year older Kovi at 7mil/yr. Still not happy with DD’s off season conditioning and holdout, but he brought it when it counted most for that I am thankful. One day I hope DD learns its important to bring it all year long.
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luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@luc20rules, Opps out before the 2nd round of playoffs.
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luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, I remember when DL flew out on the road to fire TM, and yelled at the team for the poor play that forced the decision. I would like to see what reporters and commentators would have to say now. 100% of them had a how dare you attitude ripping DL saying he should have put a better team on the ice, and if he had they wouldnt be in the situation, and he was the one to blame for the Kings record. In retrospect at this point he is as well as the players that stepped up to win the Stanley Cup Championship.
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jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@luc20rules,
Fearless Craig Button led the charge on that little gem.
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Jon G Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
@jess, Did he ever. He really went overboard with his critique of Lombardi, and then he followed it up a couple of weeks later with a pretty strong indictment of the Kings roster.
Although he directed his comments against my team, I like the fact that Button went out on a limb with his comments rather than saying something innocuous that can never be proven wrong.
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
@Jon G,
Yup, he totally corned himself on national television. Thing of beauty
KC23 Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@jess, For ever I will remember Button’s comment about how bad the Carter deal was for the Kings because of the lack of good defensemen on defense. That one comment put Button on the “Lazy and does not do his home work” list forever for me. He talks out is rear without checking facts just to fill air time.
Check out what Craig Button says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRw7n2CNAv8
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
@KC23,
Amazing, thanks for the share..
How anyone can / will ever take this guy seriously ever again is beyond me.
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@KC23 So what your saying is when Craig talks his Butt-on?
KC23 Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
I didn’t like getting Carter’s contract at the time, but by the end of the season it was obvious that he is what we need.
To this day I’m still not happy with Doughty’s hold out and I do believe Doughty was a large part of our regular season issues. He still is not even close to my favorite player on the Kings. His melt down against Phoenix underscores just how immature he is.
I absolutely would not of been asking for DL head.
IMHO this years playoffs was the first time Brown has risen to Captain status in his actions and accomplishments. Brown stats looked good from the trade deadline to the end of the season mostly because of Kopitar’s improved play imho. I went back and replayed the games after Carter came to the team and Brown was okay, but Kopitar was the one leading the way. In the playoffs however, Brown went to a whole different level than he has ever been before.
I would of wanted Penner and Stoll gone. Still not a Stoll fan at all and would of had no problem seeing him go even after this years playoffs.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
@KC23, I agree with your DD comment, but if that wasn’t the case and it stalled TM’s release or prevented it and the hiring of DS we would the Kings have won the Cup with TM at the helm?
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:19 am
@luc20rules, Ah, yes. Ty DD for keeping us bad enough to get TM fired so we would win the cup. Sad, but probably true.
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, Why do I even bother to post if you already know what I’m going to say? For the benefit of the rest of you of course I want to see the team get better, particularly picking up some speed and goal scoring. Doan at 6
Million ain’t exactly what I had in mind. I’m glad we kept Stoll, otherwise we’d have had to go after someone who does the little things he does. Losing Penner or Fraser would have been no biggie but I think Penner will have a much better year and someone with Fraser’s grit and solid unspectacular play will be useful. And I’d have wanted DL to go after Parise cup or no cup (which he did). Dynasty? Probably depends mostly on whether Quick plays like he did these last few months for the next 5 years and whether or not Doughty screws his head on and plays like HE did in the playoffs. If DL needs to make changes to get there, he will. But you stick with what went 16-4 until you see problems. It may break, it likely will break at some point, but it ain’t broken right now!
[Reply]
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
@HockeyNerd, Ah but the premise was what to do with the club if we had missed the playoffs by one point, which would have been conceivable if Dallas weren’t choking dogs. Then we would have been the choking dogs losing the last two games of the season. So you would be saying stick with the team that just choked in the last two games of the regular season? Or you would have calling for a bunch of new players since the old players only got us 9th place? Funny but I doubt that many of us would be cheering the team that got us 9th place and choked the last two games of the season…
[Reply]
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
WOW BRILLIANT!!!
-Compounded “what if” fantasy league -”WHAT IF the Kings Failed Scenarios.” -built upon further compounded what-if scenarios.
I tell ya, with this kind of creativety, the sky is the limit.
-Move over Wright Brothers, Nikola Tesla, Davinci and H. Ford.. -There are great minds at work!!
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, Fine. If we had lost all our games I would have said pay 10 million for Doan, 9 million for Parise and send everyone else packing except Bernier. There, you got it out of me and I’m not even @Poorman. Feel better?
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
@Jess, Please explain to me what his point is. I think somehow he is trying to argue that a team that went 16-4 in the playoffs should be overly concerned because they barely made them. Can you please explain to him that the team that started the year with Hunter, Moreau, JJ and TM as coach IS NOT AT ALL THE SAME TEAM i.e. DL saw changes that needed to be made and made them. Can you please explain that to him since he never listens to little old nerdy me? Oh, and sorry for screaming yet again.
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
@Jess, Dude. Thanks. Appreciate the support. Except my little hypothetical is not really that far-fetched because guess what? Ninth place is close to eight place. See the numbers follow each other, that’s how you can tell. I’ll slow down a little for you. Can you understand that if Quick didn’t personally steal at least five games for us during the regular season, we would not have made the playoffs and then all of your talk about the Kings being shoo-ins for the SC next season and a future dynasty would just be silly little nonsense. But of course, being brilliant, you wouldn’t have said that. You would have said, lets keep the exact same personnel and GM because we have the same personnel that got us 9th place last season….
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
@HockeyNerd,
I think I made my point loud and clear.
This kind of compounded F-Knot conjecture, is precisely the opposite of what engineers do to calculate space flight or even the most elementary civil tasks such as building a sidewalk for pedestrians.
So draw your own conclusion
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
@Nerd, I personally love this team and I put a significant amount of money on this team to win the SC when we were in 11th place and I was getting 25-1 and 30-1. Not to win the Conference but to win the SC. I saw this team was great as early as anybody but can also see the fact that WE COULD have finished in ninth place and just think it is interesting how the comments on this blog would have been so different even though (NERD) we have the same exact personnel that lost the final two games of the season to SJ. Do you guys understand what a hypothetical is? It’s a useful little tool…
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
Dude, guess what? It didn’t happen.
Furthermore, you’re not calculating the changes that took place during the reg season to effect the final result. You’re are basing all of your decisions as if it was a completely monolithic season. Plus, the regular season means very little regarding the end result. In your book, Vancouver would be stanley cup champs every year. Wrong.
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
@Jess, I guess you don’t know what a hypothetical is. Yes I know it didn’t happen, but since the Kings were the first 8th place team to win the SC, I guess playoff seeding is kinda important, no?
Yes I recognize that we have different players and coach but Quick still stole us some games at the end of the season with the new players and coach. Okay, so you would have been happy with the final team HAD it (see this is going to be another hypothetical so pay attention) finished in ninth place and did not make the playoffs. You would of said after losing to SJ TWICE in the last two games “Geez we have a future dynasty here and we should not add any players because we are just so strong at every position. I love DL because he got us to the playoffs one year in the last five” BAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA doubt that.
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
@BringbackButchGoring,
Ok, I can’t help you in unicorn candy-cane land. It is your place, for you, your special place and no one can change that -ever! Just make sure Alice doesn’t get hurt ok?
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
@Jess, I guess when you can’t develop an argument, go for the childish insults. Bahahahahahaha learned that in third grade also.
jess Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:06 am
@BringbackButchGoring,
third grade argument?
Wake up and look at everything you are basing your zero rational thoughts off of.. (try re-reading all of your posts here)
Total fantasy Prozac SSRI rationalization /fantasy matrix stuff in every way, shape and form. Unbelievbable. Get off pharma dude, ain’t workin for ya.
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:24 am
@BringbackButchGoring, And your argument is exactly…. What now? It starts with 2 words “what if”. THERE’S NO END TO WHAT YOU CAN PUT AFTER THAT. Get it? What if Quick had the flu in game 6? What if DS had said “forget it, I want to finishy work on the farm”. What if Carter had been gone for the playoffs? What if DD held out the entire year? Who cares!!!!!!! Did you know if a meteor had been a fraction of a degree in a different trajectory none of us would be here? For some reason you think it’s useful to speculate on this stuff. IT ISN’T. I’ll tell you what I DO know — we went 16-4 in the most important 20 games of 2012 and THAT team– yes the one WITH Voynov and King and Nolan and Fraser and Sutter as coach and WITHOUT Johnson and Hunter and Moreau and Murray as coach has EVERY SINGLE PLAYER coming back. And why did THAT HAPPEN? Because Lombardi, yes our Dean Lombardi saw he needed to make changes and HE—not some random fluke event of nature–but HE who WAS ON CONTROL
OF THE ROSTER BECAUSE OF HIS DECISIONS made the changes. And those players WHO WERE IN CONTROL OF THEIR ACTIONS played their hearts out. And that SAME GM will be in control of the roster and those SAME players will be in control of how well they play. It’s not hypothetical!!!!!
Is it sinking in yet?
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:09 am
@Jess, ShotonGoal, Bahahahaha you two are the tough guys behind your computer? That’s almost beyond pathetic. Ok I reread the posts and I will summarize by saying that I brought up something that I thought was sort of interesting because lives (DL’s in particular) would have been completely polar opposites if we Had come in 9th place (not too far-fetched as I pointed out before) and Jess belittles the topic not once but twice with the immaturity and childish namecalling of a 3rd grade bully… Is that a fair summary? I guess from now on Jess with all of his pearls of wisdom will be the arbiter of what topics are worthy of discussion. Shotongoal you just sit in the background and act tough bahahahahahahhahahahahhahaha
No problem at all with Nerd. I actually respect his opinion and thought processes…
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
@HockeyNerd, I agree. The problem with grabbing a UFA is you over pay, and with the Cap its really not a realistic way to fix a team. I don’t think teams can win the cup unless they have a few value players that just come up thru the system. The Kings had Brown 3.25mil/yr, Quick 1.75mil/yr, King, Nolan, Clifford, Lewis, Martinez, Voynov, Westgarth, & Drewiski. Richardson 1.175 mil/yr & Fraser round out the 8 guys with contracts less then 1 mil/yr, but gave us solid play. Outside of Penner & Stoll its hard to say that anyone’s regular season was not up to there pay. Some will say DD, but after mid February he was as good as any D-man in the NHL.
[Reply]
BringbackButchGoring Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
@luc20rules, Yes, you tend to overpay because you don’t have to return a player or picks so it makes sense to overpay a little because those players or picks are valuable. That’s why it pays for a player to become a free agent. For instance, say we could acquire Stamkos in trade and take on his 8 million dollar salary but we would have to give up DD and Brown. Or we can get him in free agency for 10 million a year. What’s better for our team?
Osaka Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
@luc20rules, Overpaying for an UFA can be the least expensive alternative in some situations. Drafting and developing players isn’t free, time and money are needed. Trading for a player means giving up some assets of value plus the contract of the player you receive. If you can afford to give up a little cap space at the time it can make sense.
Shotongoal Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
@HockeyNerd, I don’t know why any of you post anything ButchGoring has to say, he’s the genius here, if you don’t believe him just ask him. Or, better yet, just read EVERYTHING he says, he’s “amazing!” The blog should be renamed after his geniusness, as a matter of fact, he should just start his own blog, then he could argue with himself, and never be wrong…….or right? Anyway, hypotheticals are for those who can’t deal with reality, or just have nothing better to do with their lives………..
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:28 am
@Shotongoal, But what if BringBackButchGoring was not on this thread? Who would I stay up at night arguing with?
jess Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:35 am
@Shotongoal, LOL
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:00 am
@Shotongoal, Wow, that was a harsh blast. I suddenly feel like…a pin cushion, a dart board, @poorman ?
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:07 am
@Shotongoal, @Stuart would be proud of this shred job ! The days of you and him going back and forth about Dustin Brown pales in comparison to this written verbal Bomb !
SLIM Reply:
August 23rd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
@Shotongoal,
Thank you for saying that….
I’ve stayed away because of this..[and other reasons...life]
There is a bully on here….
And it ain’t Jess….Never understood a “knowitall]..
So happy for Rickie. After all the stuff that was said in Philly, this proves the guy is a winner. Plain and simple.
In other news…does anyone else get frustrated when you hear the two sides in the CBA negotiations meet for an hour or two? It sounds like there is no negotiating going on at all in the meetings. I know there are phone calls, emails, etc. But really? If they really wanted to avoid a lockout, would they not take the big players for both sides and have them meet for 6-8 hours a day, 5 days a week until a deal is done? You know, like the rest of us do?
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@Mudfish4,
How about lock them in the room until the deal gets done?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@Michael J., Fehr vs Bettman THUNDER DOME style? 2 men enter 1 man leaves?
[Reply]
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@luc20rules,
I would pay to see that.
Deke'r Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
@luc20rules, …….that would be more like a cat fight….
Hartnell signed.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8287071/philadelphia-flyers-sign-scott-hartnell-multiyear-contract-extension
Last call for Doan. LOL, Don’t you do it DL not for more than 2 years.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
@luc20rules, Hartnell being from Philly had a real chance of being signed UFA by the Kings. I would have to think the contract length would have been the sticking point.
[Reply]
jess Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
@luc20rules, Doan get your hopes up.
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
@luc20rules, Just say no.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
August 20th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
@luc20rules, So Philly is looking to move Simmonds and Hartnell!
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:28 am
@Osaka, hehee … perhaps both Simmonds and Hartnell figured the best way to get out of Philly?
I really was starting to think Hartnell might want to end up a King after ready some of his tweets during the playoffs cheering on the Kings. Which brings up an interesting point. There were an aweful lot of people rooting for the Kings this year. Virtually all of Canada because we bounced Vancouver which they all hate and even Vancouver fans because it helped save face for their early exit. Then there was the Philly people rooting for the Kings and the Rangers who definately wanted to see NJ get bounced.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:09 am
@KC23, So the Kings are the hockey world’s guilty pleasure? I can see it. Only St. Louis and PHX fans (maybe SJ and Ducks) were hating.
I tried to start rumors a couple of weeks ago Scuds was being traded for Hartnell, neither GM ran with my idea evidentially. I love Scuds but I offered him up since Philly is in need of defensemen.
Save, Hrudey! Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:41 am
@Osaka,
I see what you did there.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:10 am
@Save, Hrudey!, JVR, Carter, Richards……
OT: Canadian Herman Miller office chair ad. Would love to hear Bob and Jimmy call this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rDz9VPoJsg
She’s got a wicked backhand!
[Reply]
WHAT IF:
* The Bob Miller who played for the Kings in 84-85 had been the same Bob Miller who broadcasted and at the same time?
* Dionne had not been traded and Lafleur signed from camp in 1988-Gretzky’s first year?
* Bozek, Kozak, and Mokosak played at the same time on one line?
* Every team got 2 points for every game even if they lost (oh wait a minute here — just give Bettman time, it’s not hypothetical)
* The owners actually cared that we play Hockey in a month or two.
* Rich Hammond decided the words “what if” were forbidden in a post?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:04 am
@HockeyNerd, Gee, I wonder who you could possibly be referring to? Let me guess, does he wear #19?
[Reply]
Adirondack Phantoms Jersey on order….
On the back it says: TM, BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO!!! I will be wearing this kick-ass jersey to every kings game for the life of the org.
Cheers!!!
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:49 am
@jess, But WHAT IF DL had not fired TM and the Kings had won the Stanley cup anyway?
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:52 am
@jess, But WHAT IF it said “cheer cheer cheer” on the back?
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:52 am
@jess, But WHAT IF you ordered the wrong size?
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:55 am
@jess, But WHAT IF they misprinted it and it actually says “Boo Boo Boo?????????”
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:45 am
@jess, Wow, kicking TM while he is down?
Mind if I pile on?
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:43 am
@jess, Does TM get a day with the cup since he’ll get a ring and his name on it?
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:19 am
@FKA PakiFro, I was wondering the same thing! I wonder how the players, and Sutter would feel about that privately?
[Reply]
I stayed out of the “what if” series above because blog history shows it invariably leads to arguments about things that did not or could not happen. What did happen is no laughing matter, though. And it almost cost us the entrance to the playoff dance.
It’s nice and dandy for everyone now to praise the glories to everyone in the team and the organization for being the Cinderella #8 seed who won it all in records breaking fashion. But let’s not forget this team failed to put on a consistent regular season performance between October and the end of February. The reasons for that are well listed and argued at nauseum in here
1. Doughty holdout
2. Coach change too late
3. King / Nolan not brought up for training camp
4. Carter / Johnson trade
5. Penner & Stoll pathetic regular season performances
The magical SC 20 game playoff run between April and June is not enough to keep me from worrying about this team’s ability to sustain an 82 game regular season campaign. No matter how good DS has proven to be, I believe that will be a huge challenge for everyone.
Solution? New blood. But what type?
AHL rookies? They’re inexperienced and have much to learn before they become impact players. They’re in awe of the big boys who just won the Cup. They’re hungrier for a starting job than winning the Cup. And they have their whole career ahead of them.
Or…
A veteran with a history or durability, leadership, physical presence and loyalty to their teammates who wants to win the Cup, at least once and will not cost us more than salary cap cash.
That’s the main reason why I support bringing Doan over promoting someone from the AHL ranks. But if Doan is not coming here, there is no other UFA I’d like. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, Doan is a better fit for this team than Parise, Semin or Nash. And because he is UFA, he’d be less expensive than Bobby Ryan (unless the Quacks go totally bonkers and trade him for prospects). Using salary cap cash is less expensive than paying with players.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:02 am
@Gustavo, I am with you on Shane Doan. as long as he is willing to play here for whatever Dean is offering, I am fine with it. If not, lets see if their is anyone coming up that is good enough to beat out an established roster player.
last exhibition season, I thought Hickey was solid, and was kept til the last game before he was sent down. And, as it turned out, Hickey became an AHL all star…I think he is very close to being NHL ready, if he’s not already.
Oh, BTW, excellent post G !
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:31 am
@puck73,
Thank you. As a D man, I doubt Hickey will break into the big team unless someone gets hurt. The same could be said of Toffoli or Andreoff.
[Reply]
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@puck73, Doan sucks! and Hickey still has 3 years to become an NHL’er.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@Gustavo,
i share many of the same concerns that you do…
you’ve summed up the WHOLE year for the kings quite nicely…(!)
re: doan….
i go back and forth on this almost every time it’s discussed…would he be a great addition…?…no doubt…
i just don’t like the term and price he wants….i think it makes things a lot more difficult cap-wise for the team come 2013 and beyond…and we still are not sure where the salary cap will be at this point…plus, sept. 15th is gonna be here sooner than later, and as of right now, if i were an odds maker, i give the season starting on time a 10% chance at this point…
doan wants to stay in phoenix – from what i read…but there seems to be a sliver of a chance he bolts if phoenix can’t get their crap together – like solidifying ownership and a new arena…
if i were doan, i would be out of that fire asap…but he’s a community guy and the face of a franchise in arizona…he might just prefer to keep things status quo after all the dust settles….
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@variable,
Doan invested his entire career with one franchise and built his family in one community without having to move them around or leaving them behind due to trades. He has been fortunate, till now. Can’t blame him or his family for waiting till the very last minute to make a decision.
Staying in AZ would be best for his family, but not for his career. I doubt the Coyos make the WCF again. Coming to LA or another top contender would be the best career option, but what about his family? LA is only 1 hr away flight time from his ranch.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:12 pm
@Gustavo,
yeah, i know….
it’s a tough call for him and his family….
i think it’s a “selanne situation” for doan….
Here he is, Arnold (Richards) World’s coolest hockey dog drinking from the Stanley Cup
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m93hj5wFSu1roooo1o1_1280.jpg
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:44 am
@Deirdre, Sweet picture…Thanks!
[Reply]
Phoolish GM Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:02 am
@Deirdre, you made my day.
[Reply]
Just found this article on Yahoo….This guy is a Genius! I dont know why I didnt think to do this.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jersey-fouls-extra-greatest-foul-los-angeles-kings-141343221–nhl.html
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:01 am
after you watch the video youtube will load a series of other videos for viewing. In the upper left hand corner therte is a video titled “News Anchor FAIL compilation 2012″….you have to watch it….its a belly buster!
[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
I have seen this video and belly-laughed a few times…..
And I don’t BL very much..
[Reply]
I finally found the Kings Stanley Cup DVD (At Costco no less – why no Best Buy or Tartget?). Anyway I was a little dissapointed in the DVD. Maybe too many interviews & the action or goals scored are short clips. I don’t know, it just what I expected.
[Reply]
Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:50 pm
@Howe9,
Give it a few years! The memory is still fresh, and nothing can replace the rush we all felt while it was happening. Right now, nothing beats what we just witnessed a few months ago.
When the memory is all that is left, rememberence will mean much more, and that video will rock!
[Reply]
well…
here’s a sad story that didn’t end up as well as drew’s incident…:
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d8gGy?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nhl
wow…(!!!)
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@variable, That is an unbelievable story! Here I am, almost 49, and just when I thought I had seen, and heard everything, then along comes this. WOW
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:41 pm
@puck73,
here’s the whole story in greater, gruesome detail….yuck…shower time…(!)
http://www.lvrj.com/news/former-las-vegas-wranglers-player-faces-charges-of-molesting-stepdaughter-166338236.html
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:40 pm
@variable, That’s some serious super creepiness not to mention disgusting criminal acts if true.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:44 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
in the new article i just posted claims that while in the hospital in oregon, recovering from a suicide attempt in which he consumed an excessive amount of pills, he confessed to the mother/wife…
super, super creepiness…(!!!)
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:00 pm
@variable,
Low branch over a fire ant hill. Hands tied overhead. Feet hanging barely touching the anthill. Cover feet with honey. Ants eat feet to the bone….Done slowly.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
@Gustavo,
or we can just drop him in the sea with the sharks….(if this is all true)
[Reply]
jess Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:08 pm
@variable,
Guy couldn’t even get the suicide thing right. What a loser.
Deke'r Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:35 pm
@variable, …..classy dude eh?…..
[Reply]
Here’s a recap of Jordan’s day with the ‘Indian’ Cup… http://kingsnewsdaily.com/the-indian-cup/
[Reply]
variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:50 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
that, i think, was he best one yet…
the cup being blessed by an indian chief….
that’s unreal…that’s probably never been done before in the cup’s history….
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:38 pm
@variable, I know Dwight brought it to his ‘tribe’ too. Not sure if they drank Peyo-tea out of the Cup or not…
[Reply]
And here’s Kevin’s thread for today… http://kingsnewsdaily.com/cup-day-kevin-westgarths-day-with-the-stanley-cup/
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:16 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), He isn’t even wearing a Kings jersey! He has on an “Amherstberg Kevin Westgarth Day” jersey. Really?!
[Reply]
Sid, Parse, Matt Duchene, Parros, Ryan Miller…. skating at Toyota Sports Center. Why did Crosby have Parse at his youth camp? Why is his camp in LA?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/sidney-crosby-gets-robbed-hockey-camp-no-thanks-130241491–nhl.html
I wonder if the Kings invited (or will invite) Parse to camp as a tryout, seems to make sense. If not LA what team gives Parse a camp invite?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@Osaka, The New York Islanders have been picking up Kings prospects that have worn out their welcome for years.
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:57 pm
@Osaka, Interesting. Thanks for the link. I know Crosby’s doctor is here so maybe that’s why the camp is here? Funny that Parse is wearing a Kings jersey, yet he’s not a King as of now. I wonder if Parse is even healthy enough for a camp…
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:34 pm
@Osaka,
tomas sholl might be a name in a few years….
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What If….you were a Cubs fan……… Sorry Rich!!!
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Bernie Nicholls wrote on Twitter earlier today that he’s coming back next season! I’m happy to hear it.
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:51 pm
@LB, great job
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Gailweb Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:10 pm
@LB, What season hope he can wait until next
one for sure we are at least going to miss a
few months of hockey again
Go Kings Go!
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Anyone know what Quick has for tattoos? I saw the pic of him on the beach with his shirt off ( the only one I could find ) and it looked like he has some sweet ink. I figured that someone here has been in the locker room post or pre game and may be able to enlighten….
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Last week, Bettman essentially rejected the union’s counterproposal by calling it incomplete and suggested the sides aren’t on the same page in addressing the league’s economic issues.
I just wish a reporter would just lay into Bettman corner him and make him admit that the system that he came up with and imposed on the players. I have never ever seen Bettman take accountability for anything. I think he has done a rather poor job as commissioner and always lets his ego dictate the direction and tone at the NHL offices. Its just sad and we as fans will miss some if not all of the NHL season, because of it. The answers are so obvious many were even proposed to him by the NHLPA, but he doesn’t want to see them.
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:26 pm
@luc20rules,
” …always lets his ego dictate the direction and tone at the NHL offices.”
yeppers….
bettman will never admit…:
- moving hartford was a mistake….
- putting detroit in the western conference is a mistake….
- keeping the islanders alive as they wait for…well…nothing at this point is a mistake…
- the phoenix situation is not only a mistake, but an overwhelming disaster…the only good to come out of there has been doan and tippett
- putting a two teams in florida and neither one plays in miami is a mistake…
- not letting the wangers go to vegas or oklahoma or hamilton is a mistake….
- not talking about contraction this cba is a huge mistake….
- being against the players participating in future olympic games is a mistake…
- coming out last week and speaking as he did – arrogant and condescending – was a mistake…
i know there’s a lot more…
anyone want to chime in here….?
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Gustavo Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:20 pm
@variable,
Being so short is also a mistake..but not his fault, lol.
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:29 pm
@Gustavo,
i want to blame him for that, but just can’t….so he wins that one…:)
jess Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 7:37 pm
@variable,
What’s next for Bettman, put Vandiver in the Eastern Conference?
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@jess,
really…what else can he mess up…?
he’s done some good – like the versus deal – that turned out to be the right thing to do….
KC23 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:46 pm
@variable, Being the spokes person for the owners is a huge mistake … for the owners. They are clearly looking like the bad guys and I don’t see that changing at all.
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:24 pm
@KC23,
he’s their spokesman because he’s the best lawyer they have – period…(!)
HockeyNerd Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:33 pm
@variable, Divisional alignments or what teams play where? Well yeah, I guess 30 teams is too many and some teams play in some strange cities. But far, far worse in my mind is that Bettman simply will not let certain teams be better than others because they are managed and run better. My God, between the shootout, the “sympathy point” for losing and the salary cap this clown won’t stop until every team finishes 41-0-41!!! What other sport gives you something for losing and worse yet SOMETHING EXTRA that the winner doesn’t get??? How can you give away a total of 2 points in some games and 3 in others? And we need a cap because owners can’t compete with and need protection from….themselves? If one team gets all the available free agents let the chips fall!!!! Ask the Rangers who did that year after year before the stoppage how well that worked for them…..
Oh and don’t even get me started on how serious this clown takes the rules of hockey or tried to stop violent incidents from
tarnishing the sports image. He doesnt!!!!! Period!!!!!! What did he do about Mike Smith? Ryan Clowe? I’ll take “NOTHING” for $100 Alex….. And there we have our winner!!!!
This man has RUINED the sport and the damage will continue to accrue until he is replaced. By …. absolutely ANYONE else.
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variable Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:44 pm
@HockeyNerd,
the point system is always a heated debate…i don’t like rewarding losing either…
this is the only sport, other than soccer, i think, that gives a point to a team that gets at least to ot….
re: gm’s…
bingo….
sorry to be redundant but here are some of my responses to bettman’s conference last week…
the following are posts made on aug. 15th….:
the thing that bothers me about bettman and his following response to the nhlpa proposal…:
“”Our hope is we can take care of business in the next month,” Bettman said. “That’s our goal.”
Bettman said the owners would carefully consider the latest proposal.
“It’s clear to me that they didn’t put it together in an hour or two, and as a result we’re going to need to take a little bit of time to evaluate it, understand it,” Bettman said. “If we’re going to respond, we want to respond appropriately.”
the last part of what he says comes across as if he’s expecting to reject the offer…what do you mean “if we’re going to respond…”
is it that you don’t feel you have the obligation to respond…?
“need to take a little bit of time to evaluate it, understand it.”…?
maybe i’m leapfrogging a bit here, but it’s starting to seem like bettman wants it to drag out for leverage purposes….it seems like he’s predisposed to reject it.
obviously, many of the players spoke out and said that this is a fair deal…fehr presented his proposal via dollars and cents rather than revenue percentages….which, to me, seems reasonable to present a proposal that talks hard money, not soft approximations…
fehr said…:
“In essence, when you boil it all down, what we’re suggesting is that the players partner with the financially stronger owners to stabilize the industry,” Fehr said, “and assist the less financially strong ownership groups.
“The players want a new CBA,” Fehr said. “And they want it soon.”
to me, what fehr is saying promotes optimism, contrary to bettman’s skeptical, carefully worded retort….
obviously, i haven’t seen the whole proposal and all the caveats….but a palpable attitude of negativity is being felt by bettman & co….i hope the owners can display as much enthusiasm as the players and fehr had today….but by the sounds of bettman’s first response, i’m starting to believe that the owners want a lockout…there are so many other issues to hammer out that if they don’t work almost everyday between now and sept. 15, it may be impossible to get things signed, sealed and delivered on ice before then….
and this lil’ epic….:
it’s not looking good right now…bettman’s comments yesterday were obvious that he wasn’t taking the nhlpa offer seriously and today’s announcement quickly confirms that….bettman doesn’t mind looking bad, because he often comes across arrogant and patronizing even when times are good…and fans will boo him as long as he dares to stand behind a dais anyway, so he hasn’t minded before…and i’m guessing finishing first in a public popularity contest has never been a priority of his…..
“So the only way to please the small markets (give us money) and the big markets (don’t take our money) is to get the players to pay for it.”
that’s exactly what it’s looking like…the only leverage the nhlpa can muster from this situation is if those smaller market teams start to get impatient, (similar to the NBA lockout) and convince the larger markets to compromise – fat chance, of course….
actually, bettman probably has as much job security as any other north american sports commissioner, possibly even more….even if he risks a fourth lockout in the last 20 years, as long as he continues to get the larger markets and sponsors what they want and increases television revenue like he has, he will be commissioner as long as he wants…
among the other interesting changes that the owners are asking for is the lengthening of time a player endures in order to become a ufa….they want to switch it from it’s current 7 years of service to 10 years…further revenue sharing cuts than the original nhl proposal…and then there’s the luxury tax issue…and player safety issues….and then escrow…then the reconstruction of entry-level salaries, contract commitments and rfa player rights and team compensation….
all this to be accomplished within a month when bettman says “we are not on the same page”, while fehr says they presented almost their whole proposal….that little nugget got lost in fehr’s, and the players, preemptive optimism to suggest that they are the ones on the side of the angels and that they are doing everything possible to make a deal work…so much for full disclosure, huh?….
too bad curt flood has passed away….and maybe that’s what the nhlpa needs besides fehr’s cockeyed, yet appreciated, optimism and/or bettman’s proctor-like explanations and defensive posture – a player, or even an owner, to step up and get behind a logical solution, exposing the top-level owners greed and their attempts to monopolize free agency and revenue sharing…
the truth is that the league would be better off with 26 teams and a 70 to 74 game season…bettman’s crime, if you will, was to keep poorer markets alive despite all the signals that contraction needed to be done…of course, bettman is an alpha commissioner and it would probably take the greek gods of Ares and Athena for him to deliver any type of mea culpa or admit that it was a major mistake to keep teams like phoenix and florida alive…and he probably has taken too long in his attempts to make things better for the islanders and charles wang, a scenario that should have been settled years ago and,instead complicates things even more…and we haven’t even got to new jersey’s problems yet, either….
hard truths need to be realized by both the owners and the players…and whether these recent public displays of negotiations are attempts to draw battle lines in the sand from this point forward and try to sway public opinion, (which seems absolutely meaningless now), it only delays the inevitable – a compromise….
however, bettman did get one thing right….it definitely takes two….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCwe2WftI7Y
Deke'r Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:40 pm
@luc20rules, …..Bettmans motto…..”my way or the highway”……or better known as…..”I represent the lollipop guild”……
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It’s been 2 months and yeah……the kings f-ing (sorry rich) won the cup!!! Still brings a tear to my eye
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KC23 Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:22 am
@Hockeyguy24, I keep replaying game after game from the Carter trade on that we won including the play offs and I still have a hard time believing it all happened. After watching it all over and over there are a couple of things that surfaced for me as quite obvious.
The best player probably in the entire NHL from the trade deadline on was not Quick, but Kopitar. Quick had a few serious mistakes along the way where Kopitar was virtually flawless. Kopitar seems to have only 1 thing he is average at and that is the PP. Kopitar just can’t seem to be quick enough to shoot or pass on the PP half boards.
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Deirdre Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 9:25 am
@KC23, Kopitar is amazing. And really elevated his game since Sutter’s system and Carter came into play. Carter being on that 2ns line took a lot of pressure (something Kopi has said in interviews) off of him and he played that way. Sutter has had a great impact of the players (for me, the biggest difference in players b4 and after was Doughty. Trace that back to every time he came off the ice and Sutter was right there, laying hands on and speaking to him. ) and CBA notwithstanding, these team will be beastly this year.
I think Kopi will have his best year yet, not just putting up 90-100 points but continuing to play a great game positionally on both sides of the puck. Along with how big and strong he is, there is no reason to think he won’t emerge over the next few years as one of the top 3 (as Richards pointed out last winter that Kopi is all world) in the game.
Doughty- I think will have a monster year, Sutter really brought out the best in him.
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Who is more valuable Quick or Nash. Laughable I know, but that is the question. Place your vote here: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=9706.
Obviously the NY fan boys are weighing in heavily, but lets not leave anything to chance.
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Things that make you go “huh?” …
Martinez played 26 less games than Doughty yet had a just as many PP goals and a better plus/minus than Doughty in the regular season.
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Ashykon Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:42 am
@KC23, Quality of player he played against?
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KC23 Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
@Ashykon, No doubt, but he is often playing with our lower end players on the team and on the PP he isn’t facing against lesser players so much I wouldn’t think.
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Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@KC23,
His TOI/60 averages it out, and +/- doesn’t count in powerplay stats.
Martinez was also one of the best (on the team) at Corsi/fenwick shot differentials on a nightly basis (and often lead all players for either team in those categories), but DD was on the ice in far more criticle siuations, and had the harder qual/comp matchups.
DD is by far and away our best defensive puck mover, and should have been moved there long before Sutter became coach (although did TM try, he wasn’t consistent). For some reason JJ was always thrust into that role, but imagine if JJ was just taking the defensive zone starts VV takes now, and DD took all the hard defensive match ups. JJ wouldn’t have been a minus infinity by the time the Kings traded him.
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