Michael Futa, Kings Co-Director of Amateur Scouting, spoke with LA Kings Insider in Edmonton on Tuesday on the scouting staff’s preparations for the upcoming NHL draft and what he saw out of Curtis Lazar, a potential first round draft pick who led the Edmonton Oil Kings with two goals in a 6-0 win over the Prince George Cougars during a WHL matinee at Rexall Place on Monday.
LA Kings Insider: The Kings currently don’t have a first round draft pick at this year’s NHL Draft. Does that change the approach or the philosophy of preparing for the draft at all?
Michael Futa: No, nothing changes. Your list is always that important. In junior when you can’t move picks, it’s a little different, but here, we learned that last year because we didn’t have a pick last year until the pick before. Columbus made the decision five minutes before we picked. So you can never let your guard down, so to speak. The ability to move up, I remember the one year with Derek Forbort. We climbed the ladder to get Derek Forbort. Dean’s never been one to not be active at the draft if there’s a kid that we’re thrilled about. We find that this year’s draft, depending on what the team’s needs are – the big team, or whether its picks – our list is the same as it is when we had multiple early picks. Your attention to detail never changes.
LAKI: Evaluations of a draft are not as easy leading up to the draft as they are in the years following it, but do you have a sense of whether this year’s draft is deep? Top-heavy? How does it appear?
MF: From purely the job we do, I think there are some really good players up high…The media wants every year to have somebody they can name the draft after, whether it’s Hall versus Seguin…or the Tavares sweepstakes. But the bottom line from our standpoint – there are probably three or four guys right out of the get go that in their own right, depending on what you need, could go first overall. And they’re all exceptional hockey players that are going to be impact guys. And then there’s a crop of about another 15 right after that that all bring a lot special. And then you’ve got your list of guys that everybody’s going to have…maybe they’re a little weaker away from the puck, their skating. You do all your due diligence and try and fall together. But I would say, to answer your question, it is deep. It is deep in a sense that you’re probably going to get just as good of a player, just as good of a prospect, in the third round as you’re going to get in the high second round. So if you do your homework, get a little bit of luck and certainly, I think we’ve proven as a staff…with Dean, with Mark [Yannetti], myself, that we don’t take any shortcuts, and with regards to the use of meeting the kids and the video and stuff, you get a pretty good idea of what you’re going to get. Again, we’re thrilled about it. Last year, you certainly forget in a hurry – although it’s certainly nice to win a Stanley Cup – you move on in a hurry, and you’ve just got to keep stocking the shelves so you keep winning more.
LAKI: What of Curtis Lazar’s game did you like in the Edmonton Oil Kings’ win?
MF: In a game like that against an opponent that’s struggling, just in general – it’s nice that he had a couple of goals and stuff like that – but you like to see how motivated he is. He scored early. You can see he’s not a selfish player, because he’s the one who went to the ref [to give credit of the goal to his teammate]. He could’ve taken credit and had a hat trick, but he made sure that [Henrik] Samuelsson got credited with his points. What I liked about his game [Monday] or in general about a player like that, when you’re playing against a team that’s down, and clearly you’re more talented, he didn’t take any shortcuts. He was still back checking hard…it would have been an easy game for any player, if he’s got offensive numbers, to get really gritty and want to rack it up, and he really never lost his interest in his play away from the puck, so I thought that was pretty interesting.
LAKI: With 32 points and a plus-11 rating, is 2012 first round pick Tanner Pearson putting together the type of season as an AHL rookie that you would have expected?
MF: I think as a staff, he’s an older player. The thing that we liked about him was his ability to play. Johnny Stevens last year talked about the 200 foot game. He’s such a reliable guy. The toughness that he plays with, it’s frustrating. He’s got a really good stick. He creates a lot of turnovers with his smarts and getting under sticks, and playing with the other guys, it’s nice to see a line that young form that kind of chemistry…That’s really an ideal situation when you’ve got a great centerman like Linden Vey, and a guy that was a top scorer like Tyler [Toffoli] on the other side that can finish off what they create. They’re all goal scorers in their own right, but they seem to develop the chemistry. It’s such a tough league. It’s really a credit to them, the job they’ve done down there to produce on a regular basis.
I guess we didn’t need Brian Burke as bad as the Ducks did (thank goodness)? Good job by the Kings scouts in getting some great young talent into our farm system.
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Having the pleasure to speak to NHL scouts throughout the league, I can tell you that the LA Kings amateur scouting group is a really talented group. These guys not only know their hockey but they are very good at reading whether or not a player will also mature quickly enough into a good young man and not just a good young player. My hats off to them. They’re a fine group to work with.
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Shakes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:52 am
@EASportsMgt, your comment reminds me of how Deano said when he first came here that building a Kings system had as much to do with the scoting/minor league team as anything else, and that was one of the first things he worked through. Since we won the Cup we focus of course on how the big club is doing (rightfully so) but its continued success especially in a salary cap/budget constrained league will be generating younger kids constantly.
Credit to Deano…and one more reason this guy should be our GM as long as he wants it
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jet Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 10:52 pm
@Shakes, Absolutly correct.
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Really cool, thanks JR
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Love the unsung hero interviews. I know these guys have a thankless job most of the time and travel must be brutal after a while but who wouldn’t want to watch hockey for a living? I mean, most of you do already without the pay, right?
Here’s the KND prospect tracker for those who haven’t seen it yet. It lays out where all Kings prospects are plus stats and current player profiles.
http://kingsnewsdaily.com/prospects-tracker/
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luc20rules Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:21 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Thanks, Now I feel I have seen one of DL’s Depth spreadsheet.
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go Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:29 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Nice!
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I just realized that east coast hockey is like basketball, high scoring and no goaltending.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:47 pm
@jess,
I totally agree. Wathcing Boston score two vs. Tampa – like hitting the “Easy” button.
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jess Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:53 pm
@Michael J.,
Yeah I posted this after reading what you said on the last thread.
Why not just pull both goaltenders?
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Cav Pilot Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@jess, That was a pretty goal Stamkos scored.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:38 pm
@jess, Except that there isn’t a RULE that there’s no goaltending in Hockey, the East Coast just doesn’t have it.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:39 pm
@HockeyNerd, Oddly enough Bryzgalov and Vokoun had some pretty decent seasons out west…..
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luc20rules Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:25 am
@HockeyNerd, Playing for teams that had a very excellent defensive structure in Phx, and Nash. Heck LaBarbara looks almost good in net for Phx.
Cry Baby Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:11 am
@HockeyNerd, babs might look good in net but he still can’t save a ball!
The thing is every time I watch an Eastern Conference game it’s high scoring and the defense is terrible.
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JD Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@Michael J., maybe that’s why simmonds suddenly turned into a goal scorer
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IceGuy Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:52 am
@JD,
And why Ellerby has so much to (re)learn about playing good defense.
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I think the Kings need to light the fire under it´s europeian scouts a little bit more. There are only two europeian players on the Kings roster today. Most teams in the league have more and several have even more than five. There is talent over there to be discovered. Go Kings!
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Why when a player plus/minus is written like this….plus-11……. Shouldnt it be just +11 or just -11 .. I always get confused if its a plus or minus….anyone can help me understand how to write the plus/- Thanks
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Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 5:31 pm
@neil,
It must be that “new math” they’ve been talking about.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 5:43 pm
@neil, I write it the way you like it for the reason you like it.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:12 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Wasn’t that the way it was written way back when?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:30 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Didn’t know they had +/- in The Bible. That Pharaoh dude must have rrally been on the minus side.
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Did you ever here; ‘Jesus saves! But Gretzky scores on the rebound.’?
All kidding aside, I thought I read a Steve Duchesne stat the read +27 once, which leads me to agree with @neil’s original post.
neil Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:50 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, it was actually “Esposito Scores ” before the Great one…..
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:53 pm
@neil,
You’re not that old, are you?
So Bryz had given up 9 (nine) goals in less than 5 periods.
Is there anything they have that we could trade Bernier for?
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:04 pm
@Michael J., Sure. Simmonds and Schenn!
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puck73 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:11 pm
@HockeyNerd, LOL! Thats a good one!
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:14 pm
@puck73, I don’t know what we’d do with Schenn truthfully. But I’d love to have Simmonds back….
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@puck73, Bernier, Penner and Gagne for Simmonds and Schenn? But what would we do for a backup?
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:30 pm
@puck73, I’d be willing to part with Stoll too if we get Schenn back I guess. OK enough already. I’ll let DL be DL. But I’d *love* to have those 2 back….
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:47 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Penner, Gagne, Bernier and Stewart for the space cowboy(as back up only), Schenn and Simmonds. What you think?
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:57 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, I’d do that, I think Philly would be giving up quite a lot though.
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:09 pm
@HockeyNerd,
For Bernier, they’d have to.
JD Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:52 pm
@HockeyNerd, I’m sure they’d give up simmonds and Schenn for a bunch of our spare parts. Their man goal is to help us, right
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:00 pm
@JD, Yes, I freely admit I am fantasizing. The original question was what do they have that WE would want, not what they’d be willing to part with. OK, OK, I’ll fantasize about the SI swimsuit models instead…..
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:02 pm
@JD, Actually the original question was what COULD we trade Bernier for. OK, my fantasizing is out of line. Apologies.
JD Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:13 pm
@JD, I’m a fan of simmonds and Schenn too, but I would do that trade again, in a minute,, we wouldn’t have won the cup without Richards …….. I doubt simmonds or Schenn will ever lift the cup, at least with the Flyers
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:48 pm
@JD, And I just realized I have even less to offer an SI swimsuit model than Gagne and Penner could offer the flyers.
I better stay grounded in reality.
number 6 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:06 pm
@KIssmyblarneystones
What are you driving?? Clearly you’re just joking. When you talk about getting the space cowboy as a backup? I mean, you do realize there is a salary cap and that the Kings are barely getting in under it next year as they have to renew Brown and the cap is going to go down.
And just in case you’re not joking the Flyers absolutely adore Simmonds. And why in god’s name would they take Penner and Gagne? Oh, maybe because they’ll both be UFA’s and their total goals scored in 27 total games is zero?
Yeah, that’s a great idea.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:54 pm
@number 6,
What makes you so sure they have to re-sign Brown. That is far from a done deal. His name was shopped last year, and it will be shopped this year as well. Its not so far fetched to expect brown to go and have Richards take over the Captaincy.
Everything else I said is hypothetical BS.
Peace Bro!!
Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:00 pm
@HockeyNerd,
How about just Schenn?
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:52 pm
@Michael J., We need Simmonds more than we need Schenn. I’d love to have Schenn back but if he becomes a great center what then? How would you give him enough ice time with all the centers we have already? No, we got a gem in Richards and lets just leave it at that.
MickSorley Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:02 pm
@Michael J., Briere
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:27 pm
@MickSorley, they arent trading for a goalie .. they owe bryz too much money … and years
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:49 pm
@phil sykes, there goes your mind, blithely wandering to the nearest former duck …. briere is a forward with many years in the nhl ….. and a few goals to boot ……. and his name means … anatidae careerus in flemish
Kings x Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:31 am
@Michael J., either sign JB or get a solid D man back for him. Bring up martin jones as back up. Let the contracts on DP and SG expire. Sign brown and bring up developmental youth like Pearson and toffoli
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:47 am
@Michael J.,
I have been a long time “trade Bernier for something we need” guy but only because he’s so good so we could get something real good that we need and be able to watch them on a nightly basis.
However, we’ll be crying when he’s gone when Quick goes down for a month or more one day. Definetly a catch 22. The optimal would be to have Jones or Mannino show something so we wouldn’t have to sweat getting a journeyman backup all of the sudden. Hextall and Ranford can tell if that’s a possibility.
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I’m guessing very few of you will be at the poker tournament tonight. It’s a shame it’s so far for many of you because it’s a great location and event.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:03 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I like studying the game of poker, but I haven’t played it in years. I’m probably reasonably skilled at knowing what and when to bet but in person the entire table could take just one look at me and know exactly what cards I held. I’m sure It IS for a good cause though so if you or Jon or any of the bloggers here could post an address or website I can send some $$$ over.
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:46 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), we should get a insider event to one of those things…. It would be tough to do, but for $25 I could afford it.
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Ive said this to a couple of the insiders, but it bare’s repeating. In all the drafts I have watched since DL has been in charge I have never seen the scouts more excited as when they drafted Tanner Pearson. I honestly think this was the guy they targeted, and I also think theyt didnt think he would still be there by the time the 30th pick came around.
So far, in his first season as a pro, those scouts look genius.
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neil Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:52 pm
@puck73, Fans comment on DL drafts but so many other voices are involved !!!!
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goldielocks Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:52 pm
@puck73,
He is Craig Craig Button’s No.1 choice for the NHL ready prospect …
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:13 pm
@goldielocks, … who has an unfathomable wealth of scouting experience.
He has more knowledge in one button than you and I do in our whole cardigans!
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:37 pm
@Duncanz, love me , love me …. sayyyyy that u love me
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:02 pm
@phil sykes, if you’ll wear your pizza stained cardigan for the next 3 weeks without changing it ……………dont get alarmed peeps … its a proxy water conservation scheme conducted in areas that are aquatically challenged …. like say a dry pond …… lol lol ……..just kidding relevant peeps ……dont report me to rosen …. or hansen ….not jannik … the scary one ……lol lol lol
Kings x Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:32 am
@goldielocks, well in that case he’s right on the button!
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:52 pm
@puck73, I’m sure even a milligram of those smiles had to be from being congratulated 29 times for being the Cup Champs. But yeah, if they were all for Pearson then they were right on.
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late goal by columbus caps a 3 goal comeback against detroit …. jackets broke the tie with 24 seconds left in regulation ……. detroit 0 points …. love it wings …. turn about is fair play .. how does that feel ?
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mash-ola Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:35 pm
@phil sykes, In other news, Andrei Loktionov scores his first goal with the Devils in a NJ win over the Caps, Matt Moulson scored his 8th and 9th goals of the season, and Thomas Hickey scored his first NHL goal for the Isles as they came back to beat the Habs.
The Kings need goal scoring… why can’t they get guys like Loktionov, Mouson and Hickey…
(I know… sarcasm buton ON)
GO KINGS GO!
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LittleRhody Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:03 pm
@mash-ola, Please refer to the comment and reply I have pasted from above
Michael J. says:
February 21, 2013 at 4:52 pm
The thing is every time I watch an Eastern Conference game it’s high scoring and the defense is terrible.
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JD Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@Michael J., maybe that’s why simmonds suddenly turned into a goal scorer
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:07 pm
@pay-ola, You forgot Purcell & Simmonds.
I thought it was funny in the highlights when the Caps commentator said, “His 4th season in Nth America, and for whatever reason in 3 games against Washington he now has 2 goals.”
This was followed immediately by Kathryn Tappen crediting “Lock-KEY-ton-ov” with the tying goal.
Nancy Anschutz wouldn’t have noticed a thing.
I say it again, poor Lokti ……
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:39 pm
@Duncanz, did you notice that all of these big ex-King goals came from the weak side post? Who taught these guys to go there?
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:06 pm
@Kenny44, ermmm, ….. TM? ……. Jamie Kompon? …………..Trevor Lewis?
Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:23 pm
@Duncanz,
Think, man! It had to be @Dominick, your friendly neighborhood back door man. What else has he been doing this season.
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:26 am
@Kenny44, Ah yes! Of course! It’s like Jim Morrison wrote that song specifically for @Dominuck! It’s his favorite default topic.
And yes, it would be nice to see him spending a little less time in the company of the elite ‘purist’ hockey blogs and a little more over here with us supposed ‘proles’ sharing his endless tactical expertise and trigonometrical postional analysis. I’m sure we deserve it as much as anyone …
Hey Beavis, I just said ‘anal-ysis’, huh huh, huh huh.
Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:22 pm
@mash-ola,
It’s a cavalcade of Kings’ castoffs!
Poor li’l Lokti still can’t buy any respect, though. Tappen butchered his name on the call:
“Lottati . . ., Longistko . . .Liktmi . . . I mean Andrei”
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:28 pm
@Kenny44, yeppers ….. just need anybody to score in the third in edmonton and its a perfect night
LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:30 am
@Kenny44, I might get a Canadian satellite setup. I am sick of NHL network.
Edward Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 11:43 am
@Kenny44, Isn’t it obvious by now that the reason the NHL Network hired Kathryn Tappen was just for her good looks, smile, charm and not her hockey knowledge in spite of being married to an ex hockey player??? Why do you think everyone on NHL Tonight gives her a nickname???? Yeah, eventually she will replace Deb Placey who’s wrinkled face is starting to show…..golly, I remember her ans the hot brunette that was on ESPN 2 when it first came on some 20 odd years ago. Yes, rather have the gang from TSN.
luc20rules Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:31 am
@mash-ola, I think we have plenty of guys that are just getting their first goal of the season on this team. As for Moulson he never made the defensive grade. Could we have used a good scorer that maybe +/- challenged, perhaps, but I am not sure we win the Stanley Cup with a weak link on the D.
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:47 pm
@phil sykes, I love to hear that!!!!!!!! Especially after what happened with ansiminov (sp) , I know it was an accident.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:18 pm
@Lake Forest, and vancouver beats dallas in regulation … thank you very much
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:24 pm
@phil sykes,
I enjoyed Kesler’s humiliating giveaway right in front of his own net, but I’m glad Dallas didn’t tie it.
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:43 pm
@phil sykes, and good minnesota just broke the tie in edmonton 12 minutes left to hold on …….. by the way in keeping with the theme of the night ….. ryan smyth has the oiler goal
Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:48 pm
@phil sykes,
I wonder if any of the Kings still has their mullet wig from that game they honored that hoser’s NHL longevity
Lokti!!
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i said bryz duncanz . as in bryzgalov .they were talking about philly hypothetically needing bernier ………… so i said … they wont cuz the owe bryz too much money …….. u really think i dont know who briere is ? …. come on dude
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:19 pm
@phil sykes, you made the freudian mistake of replying directly to the poster who had simply mentioned brieres name ….. so ………… anyway no big woop …. i believe most of what peeps here say …. even if a lot of its subliminal …… i guess my answer to your question is …. sure … if briere played for the winged wonders ….. lol…. but like i said …. no big woop ….. you ve proven yourself on the blog …… time and time again …… your cred is beyond question ….. lol …… did i already say no big woop …. i think i might ve …… so no big woop ….. lets all move on …… peanut m & m?
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:24 pm
@Duncanz, yea come on dude …. i know all the players in the league … no worries …. yea i responded to whoever the last guy was because the topic was so long i just responded to the nearest guy who was implying maybe we could get briere for bernier ………. im like nah …. philly is stuck with bryz because of his contract …. so likely wont trade for bernier anyway … but anyways …. yes …. no big woop … ate my pizza and snatched my 2 bags of m and ms for tonight and tomorrow .. pizza again on saturday ……. every other day ………….. then repeat ……. ocd anyone ?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:42 pm
@phil sykes, ….. orange co. ducks? ……. seriously tho… like we both said …. no big woop ….. hey do you like di giornos italian chicken parmesan ….. i think they re new ….. might not be …… just seems like it ….. aaaaaanywayssss only 4.99 at smart and final this week peeps …… i know its not lil caesars ….. but who else is tho ….. right? …….. get em while they re hot …. even tho they re always frozen at s and f ….. lol lol ….. i just cracked a funny ….. enjoy peeps …… and ……… pizza out peeps ……. lol lol again
Lake Forest Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:28 pm
@Duncanz, subliminAL messaGOREs
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:35 pm
@Duncanz, oh yeah and u were talking about cardigans above … thats why i said love me love me …. it was song from 97 … band the cardigans …. i thought probably u wouldnt get that one …… even yoda has an off day
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:59 pm
lol @phil sykes ….. for some reason my ego told me it was a cry out for my love ….. could still have been i guess …… was nt that the year you said your last date was? ….. maybe it was 99 …… aaaaanywaysss no biggie …… i actually have heard of them …… cos daniel briere used to be a big fan …. lol …. no seriously … i think they re from europe … and since over here we all look down on what comes out of europe ….. well you know ……everything except kopis one remaining good peg …. lol …. dont lynch me peeps …. im not ready to go yet ….. not until i read your applause to my last random joke anyhow ….. also the avs are playing a big game in town on sunday ….. should have a few dried out crusts and trampled pieces of sausage that fell on the floor left over to get me thru that one ….. i really hope…. lol
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:52 pm
@Duncanz, lol duncanz i live right behind a smart and final …. thats where i get my m and ms
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:10 pm
@phil sykes, and duncanz we are all duck fans now or peeps on this blog should be cuz they can knockoff our closest competion …. unless they start losing and fall back to the pack …. but i dont expect that to happen with faust in goal
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:29 pm
@phil sykes, sure ….but we really don t need any qualification to the core statement … do we …. lol ….. but don t you think the pact they made with faust is kind of ….diabolical? …. i do …. if only because it suits my narrative …. lol
Oh, I love it when the leaf turns.
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well minnesota held on … so its a perfect night for the kings …… only minnesota improved their record ….. no 3 point games ….. well vancouver improved , but i think we all know they are going to make it …… so really just minnesota …….. as good as a night as their can possibly be on the scoreboard …. love it
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Thomas Hickey with the OT game winner in Montreal today for his first career NHL goal! Good for him.
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Gmo Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:37 pm
@LB,
U still don’t understand why if he wasn’t in the kings plans why we didn’t trade him. We gave away a 4th first round pick for nothing
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Gmo Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:37 pm
@Gmo,
Meant to say I still don’t understand
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McDonalds Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:49 pm
@LB, awesome awesome goal!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:05 pm
@McDonalds,
Weak side again too – just like all ex Kings are lethal at after leaving the club.
Just ask @Kenny44, I’m sure he’s noticed this also!
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Is Karlsson truly the best defenseman in the game? I haven’t seen much of Ottawa.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:10 pm
@Mikey J., Offensively, probably – which is what the J. Norris is always handed out for.
Pity really, because it effectively means that there’s no award for a truly great defensive Dman.
[Reply]
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:14 pm
@Duncanz, oh my god . speaking of which did u see scuds last night ………….. hes like this everynight …… but just singlehandedly shutting down the flames 2on 1 … no problem – just layout and take away the passing lane .. gonna shoot – no problem ill just deflect it with my sly lil poke of my stick ……. pass acrooss – i think nnot scuds deflects outta play or off to the side … dude was amazing last night …….. like every night
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:22 pm
@phil sykes, …. or as i like to call him …. king missile … lol …..how d you like that one phil sykes?
Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:33 pm
@phil sykes, You need to work on your proofreading. LOL awww…
Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:24 pm
@Duncanz, True meaning the guys that win championships.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:13 pm
@Mikey J., Like they say, Scuds is a stud – no two ways!
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:33 pm
@Duncanz, speaking of scud missiles …….. who was that guy reporter back in the 91 desert storm war who had like his 15 minutes of fame cuz he was so good looking – as told to us of course by late night jokesters and the like … regarding his looks …………. anyways what was that dudes name ….. ive sitin here trying to think of it
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:05 pm
@phil sykes, peter arnett … and you missed my obscure 80/90s band reference … oh well …… no big woop i guess …..
Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:12 pm
@Duncanz, Hey Duncanz, who’s your band right now?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:14 pm
@Mikey J., Asteroid #4 out of Philly, you know ‘em?
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:13 pm
@Duncanz, oh is king missile a band ? ……. i thought u were talking about scud missiles since we were talking about scuderi
are u sure its peter arnett … yur probably right …. but isnt peter arnett that really old guy who was fired by nbc during the 2003 war cuz he was so antiwar as we were invading or was that some body else . really old guy ………. but anyways . i thought the good looking guy was forrest something from 91 , but im probably wrong – maybe it was peter arnett …… i dunno
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:21 pm
@phil sykes, they of the awkeard alternative classic ‘detachable [member]‘ …. it’s quite a lil classic…
Arthur Kent, Charles Jaco?
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:26 pm
@Duncanz, oh okay .. yea i remember that song . hes talking about st marks place
yeah i think it was arthur kent maybe …….. who knows …. moving on
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:48 pm
@phil sykes, that’s the one! … think it was kent … he s an independent reporter now …reportedly …… won a lawsuit vs makers of charlie wilsons war for using some of his footage and got a nice little payday.
Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:29 pm
@Duncanz, That’s good stuff.
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:31 pm
@Duncanz, First time hearing them. Soulful.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:41 pm
@Mikey J., I forget if we’ve talked music before (maybe I linked a song during the SCFs?). Not sure what your preferences are.
Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:46 pm
@Duncanz, Just once before before. The video you sent was no joke in musical terms so I figured you know music well.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:50 pm
@Mikey J., Was that ‘Don’t Be Scared’ by A.R.E Weapons, by any chance?
Mikey J. Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:28 am
@Duncanz, I’ve been listening to the Stranglers. That’s kind of where I’ve been at lately.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:45 am
@Mikey J., That’s awesome! Cornwell/Brunel/Greenfield/Black.
Purchased Rattus Norvegicus the day it came out.
Haven’t looked back since!
Mikey J. Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:54 am
@Duncanz, That’s one heck of a debut album. Cheers!
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:08 am
Get a grip on yourself, @Mikey J.!
Kings x Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:34 am
@Duncanz, he’s like a better mike green
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:56 pm
@Mikey J., I believe so, it was dark, I was caught a little off guard.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:04 am
@Mikey J., Well if your preferences are like Carrie Underwood or ‘Gangnam Style’, sorry I don’t possess a lot of that type of stuff in my collection.
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:17 am
@Duncanz, No, the main stream I try to avoid. You know your tunes. Thanks for the insight. Like I said, that’s good stuff.
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:23 am
@Mikey J., Well, one man’s Carrie Underwood is another man’s crappy underwear, I guess.
Go on, the least you can do is throw me something reciprocally obscure to get my teeth into!
Robert R Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@Duncanz, I like “Gangbang Style”, or whatever it is.
I really like the Lewis carter Richards line.
Like I said a week or two ago, we are going to see that line pair with the other teams leading dmen paving the way for brown Williams a brownie to put up a lot of points.
While Williams has been under the radar he had some very smooth moves, passes throughout the game.
I know avs suck but they had our number, also it being an early game this is a good game to use as a measuring stick.
I’d leave the lines the same……
While ellerby played ok I’d still be surprised to see Campbell out there, but we will see.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:40 pm
@Lake Forest, nah . he wont change the defense … sutter dosent trust a rook who has never played
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 9:51 pm
@Lake Forest, That’s a fast line.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:16 pm
@Av Fannest, The only thing I’d change in your otherwise untouchable post is the ‘had’ as in ‘avs had our number’.
I would amend it to ‘have’.
GLFG & GKG !
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Glad to see Hickey get his first tonight. I wish him well. He will be a good player before too long.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 10:18 pm
@Michael J., With fans like yourself, he’s going to need a kevlar collar!
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:00 am
@Michael J.,
Yeah, good for TH. Not that the Islanders are deep but being on the ice in OT is a big deal in itself.
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To all the people that say DL can’t draft forwards, I give you Linden Vey, Tanner Pearson, and Tyler Toffoli.
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Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 5:54 pm
@Mik3ysfv, And Schenn, Simmonds, Clifford……
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speaking of curtis lazar . hows his father bob doing ?
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Taylor Hall went ugly.
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why dont the sabres give us vanek since they are hopelessly out of it , it appears …. or ott for some muscle / occasional scoring touch
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:11 pm
@phil sykes, his cap hit is like 7mil + or something tho’ … obly unattractive thing about him …. ufa after 13/14 season too ….. he wasn t much of a fan of lindy ruff was he …
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:16 pm
@Duncanz, yea i know hes expensive . but hes great .. big and skilled …… the way lombardi likes um …. theyd want a ton for him .. but im just dreaming
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:27 pm
@phil sykes, hes awesome but nigh on unattainable for kings …. catch 22 … we do well we won t unload … therefore no cap room to acquire big ticket items like vanek ….fail and kings are sellers, not buyers …. still never write off lord lombardi … he s performed barely creditable sourcery before … who knows how many more rabbits he can find up in there?
King Alex Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:27 pm
@Duncanz, if the Sabers wanted to rebuild we could trade Penner & Gagne, promote Toffoli & take on Vanek & his massive cap hit while cleaning some cap space for Buffalo when Penns & Gags contracts expire.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:36 pm
@King Alex, Sounds nice.
Now the only task is convincing Sabres those acquisitions would equate to rebuilding.
It would take more in the form of young prospects or some sort of decent inducement.
I mean, you look back to the Kings/Avs deadline deal where Blake went to Avs for Miller & Deadmarsh (and a pick as well each way, I think). At least the Kings got something juicy for their franchise guy.
Buffalo would expect something that looked like it had some upside.
phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:36 pm
@King Alex, with all due respect ……… nobody wants penner or gagne ….. nobody
unless its a teams grasping for something at the deadline …. a why not kinda thing … give him a try …… but those guys do not fetch a semi-superstar …… not even close ………………. basically the only way it could be done would be to send brown back to his homeland pretty much straight up … thats an even fair trade … but since its a lateral move for both teams …. why do that ……it dosent improve a thing for either team basically ……….. they have miller so they dont want bernier …… so the only way it gets done is if we trade nolan and vey or toffoli and stuff like that – as if buffalo is going to tottaly rebuild – this scenerio is the only way it could happen ………. which it will not of course ……. i was just dreaming out loud
LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:07 am
@King Alex, Have to agree with @phil sykes hehe and @Duncanz here. Trading Penner or Gagne is a non-starter let alone something for rebuilding. D-men are what we need anyway. There’s a shortage of those. So finding a overstocked standup d-men team, that’s on the bubble, needing a temp forward is going to be real tough.
@Duncanz entering the GM chatter fray. Building on your game I see.
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:11 am
LA_1968, Well, it was a bit of a slow night musically, you know …. so hey, move over DL, I’ll take that over that red phone and plush corner office at Toyota Sports Center now!
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:15 am
@LA_1968, Were you ‘chuck’ling at @phil’s genius tagname or his genius (hockey) blogging?
Either way, it’s a no-lose, as far as I figure..
LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:23 am
@Duncanz, I was chuckling because I thought I was addressing the real Phil Sykes for a moment there. Not that I wasn’t.
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:28 am
@LA_1968, I’ll bet you remember seeing him play.
Do tell, was he much like his contemporary reincarnation at all?
LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:35 am
@Duncanz, How’s this? I saw him play at the Forum but don’t remember anything about it. So no.
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:39 am
@LA_1968,
a forgetable phil sykes …. who could ever conceive such a thing?! lol lol …. just kidding peeps …….. no biggie
@Duncanz & @ Phil Sykes, I know this would never gapped as I proposed above. I was just looking at the salary we would have to dump to take on another huge contract such as Vanek’s. I would love to see Vanek in a Kings sweater though!
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King Alex Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:41 pm
@King Alex, gapped???? Happen…..smartphones!
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:43 pm
@King Alex, yes agreed
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:18 am
@King Alex,
I heard two talk show guys on Oilers radio the other day saying how there’s talk around Edmonton about bringing back Penner. The hosts basically said don’t do it because there’s no way to motivate him and he gets out of shape. They were kind goofy though. Give him pancakes blah, blah…
I think only Coach Sutter knows how to make something out of Penner but it’s an ongoing battle.
[Reply]
phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:24 am
@LA_1968, this is his last year in the league .. maybe a different team takes a one year flyer on him next year – but thats it …. either this year or next will be his last
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:31 am
@phil sykes, pebble beach calls long and loud …
LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:39 am
@phil sykes, I am glad you said that. I am 99% sure no GM in the league can fool themselves into thinking they can get anything out of him… except Deal Lombardi because he has Coach Sutter. SO Penner stays put this year, then signs a one year deal with the Kings for $3M or something like that. Then we do the same thing as the last 2 years.
yeah duncanz … it was arthur kent im 99 percent sure now
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phil sykes Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 11:57 pm
@phil sykes, how old are you duncanz … just curious
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:07 am
@phil sykes, guess.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:09 am
@Duncanz, have no clue …….. i dunno …. 47
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:18 am
@Duncanz, nice try .. ps + 8
phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:22 am
@Duncanz, yea , the only blessing about aging is u get smarter ….. and i can tell yur a smart dude . so i knew u were older than me … just wasnt sure how much ..
then again there is hockey nerd to blow up my theory lol lol
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:35 am
@phil sykes, lol … he s something of a classic … and not just in age.
its that jess that keeps lying about her orientation that really gets me … i ve seen a photo … really quite good looking i don t mind telling you.
phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:40 am
@Duncanz, yea she tells me shes a guy . so thats a weird screenname for a guy .. but whatever – could be his girlfriends computer or wife .. i dunno . like shes a fan too so they both share the name on here and both talk ……. who knows
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:54 am
@phil, it s definitely irregular … but to each her own i say … we ve all got skeletons of either gender under the back patio and behind the false wall in the drawing room … at least i …..errr … know people who have anyway …. errr …. enuff said
phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:56 am
@Duncanz, yes , thats very transgenderesque of you duncanz
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:03 am
@phil, well just don t blow my cover …what little credibility i stiil cling onto tenuously i wouldn t want to lose
I would love to see Pearson/Vey/Toffoli Come up as an entire line. The first 2 lines match up with other teams first lines. So why not have an offensively gifted third line. Who could match up with them? Our first 2 lines are incredibly gifted two way lines. So why not have a third line that no one can match up against? Just sayin’.
[Reply]
phil sykes was a third or fourth line guy who was a penalty killer and one who would also drop the gloves if need be ….. hardly ever scored – so in that respect we are identical twins
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:54 am
@phil sykes, I remember him more like this… He, or you, was a classic King from the “Miracle” “Era”.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:02 am
@LA_1968, yea but he wasnt on team during miracle year ………. he came a year or two later
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Long day getting home from Alberta. I’m sitting at home in Guadalajara, Mexico with my snow boots on. I guess it’s time for bed. I am wearing a t-shirt tomorrow.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:53 am
@LA_1968, mail me home a latina please
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:56 am
@phil sykes, Ok! The chick’s in the mail.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:58 am
@LA_1968, hope it’s not a …. rubber chick..
Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:56 am
@LA_1968, Brownas noches, compadre!
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Chip Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 2:24 am
@LA_1968, Try some pants with that t-shirt, compadre.
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So, to sum up what’s been brought up above , an interesting night for the unwanted ex-Kings:
Hickey – GWG
Moulson – 2G
Loktionov – GTG
Purcell – 2A
Boyle – team high 5 hits
What are the odds!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:01 am
@mask0425x, Honorable mentions also to:
Simmonds 1A
Schenn +1
Ponikarovsky +1
Corvo 2 PIMs
Quincey +2, & a top notch karate blow
JMFJ 1A, -1
Belanger 1A
Smyth 1G
[Reply]
Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:29 am
@mask0425x, Congratulations to all! That is nice to see.
[Reply]
Munchrat Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:40 am
@Kingsfaninmonterey, Kings = Stanley Cup Champoins
[Reply]
Munchrat Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:40 am
@Munchrat, *Champions*
Shakes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:24 am
@mask0425x, yeah the one i really will always like is Simmonds, he was a good King and I can’t wait for when he returns to Staples…hoepfully the faithful will give him a nice applause. He’s the only Flyer i root for.
As for the others i generally think that what we got in return makes up for what we gave, but the one i feel we just didn’t get right was Moulson. I know he had some time and games, but that one stinks.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:17 am
@Shakes,
Loved Simmonds. One of the best memories ever was seeing him get in a fight at Staples and punching the other guy so hard it knocked the guy’s gum out of his mouth and stuck on the glass. It was “Gummerknocker.” Simmonds leaves it all on the ice, is fast, and not afraid to do the dirty work, kinda like Richards, only not as much “hockey sense.”
[Reply]
mask0425x Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:26 am
@Shakes,
That’s EXACTLY how I feel… Moulson never got his chance under TM. Will also root for Simmonds but he definitely wasn’t unwanted here as we got a nice return for him.
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Mars Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 10:33 am
@Shakes, Yeah, Simmer was a bummer to see go, but yeah, what we got in return was good.
Hopefully one day we can get him back.
I also loved Zeus, but the fact her went sharts, I am no longer sure I want him back.
Had he gone out of division, I would welcome him back. No ill will, but I dont want him back now.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 5:57 pm
@mask0425x, The odds are very good. We are the Stanley Cup chaps, obviously we have talent, depth, and a good development system.
[Reply]
It used to bother me, at least in some regard, to see former Kings do well elsewhere.
Not that I had ill will towards them, (save for Rob Blake) but because of the ‘what if we had not gotten rid of that guy’ factor.
winning the Cup has changed all of that!
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:16 am
@Munchrat, So you actually harbor ill will towards Rob Blake? Like what? Would you like to see him in a car crash or get cancer?
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:25 am
@NOW IMPRESSED, or maybe just a really really bad hair cut.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:32 am
@Shakes,
Right on! The only way I’d enjoy seeing his jersey go up in the rafters is if he is still wearing it.
Mars Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 10:03 am
@Munchrat, I agree, Blake can suck it. He owes sme $125 for the jersey I purchased.
Quote of mine from a week ago
I love his tenure with the Kings in the 90′s.
I was pumped when he came back in 06-08 only to see he was back at reduced capacity.
I wasnt mad then, but when he went to the Sharts and performed better there.
Also that he retired a shart and did his announcement on a Kings telecast.
http://lakingsinsider.com/2013/02/06/february-6-practice-quotes-andrew-campbell/
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Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:03 pm
@Munchrat, Blake has always and will always be one of my favorite Kings. Hockey is his career, he didn’t want to play in LA. Do you understand the dynamics of it? At that stage in his career he didn’t want to play on a team that was going to do a rebuild. He wasn’t under contract with LA so why would he owe us anything?
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Felt like I was ears dropping after reading all the above comments !!!! Good Stuff….Having the Cup changes how I feel about seeing ex.Kings score.Kinda like you dont worry what your ex wife is hitting if you are hitting a 10 !!!!!! Know what I mean??? P.S. Not talking about me…Been married for 25years !!!!
[Reply]
Neil Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:57 am
@Neil, For our Female side…just flip flop the sexes….
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vplaza Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 11:49 am
@Neil, Now that was funny.
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JR. can you ask about Bailey? He seems to be on a good trajectory adn may be there at 50
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