Defenseman Alec Martinez has been activated from injured reserve and is eligible to play in tonight’s game in Vancouver. Defenseman Andrew Campbell has been reassigned to AHL-Manchester.
Martinez missed seven games with an upper body injury suffered early in the first period of a 4-1 win at St. Louis on February 11. Los Angeles was 6-1-0 in his absence, with the lone defeat a 3-2 setback in Chicago on February 17. He has one goal, two points and an even rating in 11 games this season.
Martinez is likely to take the ice for warmups, but it is unclear whether he will actually be in the lineup for tonight’s game. Darryl Sutter spoke on Martinez after today’s morning skate, saying “He’s no different than our other young defensemen. He’s a guy who plays 12 to 15 minutes. So he’s not getting in just for what he did. He’s got to beat somebody out. When that happens, it’s based on other guys’ performance. Not that big a deal.”
I doubt we’ll see Martinez. He was really babbying that shoulder during the last practise.
I thought Campbell had to clear wavers first? No?
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:39 pm
@KC23, I thought so too. I don’t believe he’s waiver exempt.
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xeropoint Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:20 pm
@KC23, Normally he would be, but he already passed once, when they sent down Hickey, Clune, etc. So he is no longer subject to them the rest of the season.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:30 pm
@xeropoint, That’s right. Unless he plays a certain number of games I believe. But I don’t even think he had to clear waivers the first time. I know there are little loopholes and I’ve read them like 1000 times but don’t seem to remember them. Really exciting stuff. Not.
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Token Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 6:01 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), He has to clear waivers because it has been more than 30 days since he last cleared, which was at the start if the season.
Gagne trade opened a roster spot so that none need be sent down. 8 D on the roster is the difference.
I thought after trading Gagne we didn’t have to send anyone down?
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@bradapiller, They don’t. But they needed a 7th d-man and Campbell was it. Now that the Kings have Martini back, Campbell can go play some games instead of just sit. It’s a shame he couldn’t get in a game but that’s the way it goes.
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bradapiller Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), that makes sense, do they bring up a young winger now since we have a extra spot?
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:12 pm
@bradapiller, Again, it’s one of those things where why bring up a guy so he can watch. Unless Lombardi has a plan to insert a guy like Toffoli right into the lineup, I don’t see a need to bring up anyone. Especially since Manchester is battling for a playoff spot AND they are seriously depleted with injuries. They have like 4 guys on PTO’s right now. I don’t know how common that is in the AHL but it seems pretty extreme to me.
I seem to remember something significant happening last time the Kings were in Vancouver…
Oh yeah- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMBuFAtJHJk
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:41 pm
@Michael J., What I remember most was fans insisting, no guaranteeing the canucks would ‘reverse-sweep’ thing Kings. I wonder if they’ll remember how wrong they were. Probably not.
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Michael J. Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
How can they be wrong since they win the cup every year?
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KC23 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@Michael J., As good as that shot was from Stoll, and it was a beauty … in my minds eye, the thing I’ll always remember is Lewis just doggedly hounding the puck carrier and squirting the puck loose for Stoll.
I also think of the late wrap around goal by Lewis in one of the early games in Vancouver. Because of those two plays I’ll always have a soft spot for Lewis no matter how few goals he scores in the regular season.
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Michael J. Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:14 pm
@KC23,
If you have read my comments regarding TL the past 2 1/2 years you probably know that I am one of his biggest fans. The guy is tops on the team at zone entries and I love how he skates the puck out of danger in the back end.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:20 pm
@Michael J. Lewis, And not only that, now he’s taken full charge on the 2nd (?) line,
‘The Lewie Line’ !
xeropoint Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:24 pm
@KC23, I have often said if only people would take their eyes off the stat sheet and watch the kid win battles everywhere on the ice, then they would have a better tool to estimate his value to the team.
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As soon as he is 100% he will be in the lineup, he only makes the team better IMO
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Jsauce23,
If you take experience and overall effectiveness into account, Martinez ranks above Ellerby, Drewiske and Muzzin IMO. It’s a no brainer he gets back in very soon assuming he’s physically capable.
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KC23 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:49 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), From what I’m seeing with Muzzin lately, I think he’ll be the last to be replaced, if ever.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:14 pm
@KC23, His shot is the hardest on the team but as far as skating and passing, he’s nowhere close to Martinez IMO. Muzz has a got a long way to go but I agree he’s got a bright future in the NHL if he can stay healthy.
@JonRosen
I’m VERY confused.
Does or did Campbell have to clear waivers?
Is he still on the 23 man roster even though he is playing at Manchester?
Are the Kings going to bring up another forward instead?
Or if the Kings bring up some other player would Campbell THEN have to clear waivers at that point?
And do we have essentially a 22 man Roster for now? And are there any plans to do otherwise?
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Michael J. Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:47 pm
@HockeyNerd,
I think Campbell is one of the players who got some sort of an exemption from waivers when they did the new CBA. I think it was because he was born between 3:00 and 5:00 in the morning.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
@Michael J M., Is this true?!?!? because I take everything you post for incontrovertible fact.
It saves me from doing the stupid research myself!
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Michael J. Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
@Duncanz,
Yes, it’s true. In fact, I just double checked with the Ontario hall of records showing that he was born at 2:46 Am, yet if we account for daylight savings time the make whole is 3:46 am!
Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:47 pm
@Michael J., This is wonderful news, then. I can now go happily to bed – without even watching the Kings!
GKG!
Save, Hrudey! Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:57 pm
@HockeyNerd,
All these questions and more on the next episode of LA KINGS Insider.
Same Kings channel. Same Kings time.
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xeropoint Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:26 pm
@HockeyNerd, He passed through waivers earlier in the season. He is no longer subject to them for the remainder of it.
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Martinez might not play tonight, but when he does I think it’ll be Ellerby who sits. Muzzin has been playing well with DD.
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KC23 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:52 pm
@CB14, Without question in my mind. Muzzin moved into a different level. If you get a chance, watch that late PP the Kings had against Detroit. Muzzin moved better than ANY of our defensemen of the PP in a long while, save maybe Voynov. Not to mention Muzzin has as good a shot from the point and the slot than any of our other point PP guys.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@CB14,
I would agree completely.
Muzz started off shaky, but has steadily improved overall.
Ellerby on the other hand, has not really shown much improvement.
Not that he’s terrible or anything, far from it.
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*OT
Lokti, 1 goal today vs Sabres on 1 shot, and right in the dirty area.
That’s 6 gms, 3 Gs + 2 As = 5 pts.
Hooray Lokti!
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CB14 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:12 pm
@Duncanz,
Lokti SUCKS.
He’s too small.
He’ll never make it in the NHL.
Getting a 5th round pick for a guy who’ll be a career minor leaguer is a STEAL.
Signed, 90% of the people on this blog.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:17 pm
@CB14, LOL. So many ready to toss this guy away without a thought when even people at the top of this organization said he’ll be an NHLer. He just had to find the right fit.
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Michael J. Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
I didn’t mind seeing him move on because he was NOT going to re-up with the Kings. I do wish that DL could have retrieved a bit more from Lou though. My guess is that Lou owes Deano a favor.
DL to Lou: “Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, consider this trade a gift on the day before we will be shut out by Nashville”.
Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@CB14, I would love to see a line with Loki and Frolov on it.
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Osaka Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:30 pm
@CB14, MUCH rather have Stoll or Lewis in the middle than Lokti.
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CB14 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 6:46 pm
@Osaka, Much rather have Lokti at 816,000 than Stoll at 3,250,000.
P90X Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:44 pm
@Duncanz, Let it go he’s gone, he didn’t work in our system maybe he’ll work in theirs. Hope he does and has a good career.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@P90X, Ok, I’ll let it go.
But while on the topic, did you know that Lokti is now a plus/minus +3 in 6 games in a very tough conference indeed?!!
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jet Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:36 pm
@Duncanz, did you know we got a guy who plays on our team, for a guy who played on our B team
Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:05 pm
@jet, Whatever gave you the idea I was lamenting the Loss of poor Lokti?
Can’t one sing the praises of this plucky, talented little 22 year old with a great attitude and plenty of upside without folks taking it as a criticism of the Kings questionable tactical and developmental policies?
Peeps here seem to be very uncomprehending of some other peeps motives.
Kenny44 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:40 pm
@Duncanz,
Yeah, second best conference in the world, right?
KC23 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 3:50 pm
@Duncanz, His style just isn’t a good fit for this team for whatever reason. Glad he is doing well after getting a fresh start.
PS … east conference defense is so fricken soft
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Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@KC23, he didn’t get the time needed and the right line combination. He is a 2nd line center. That’s okay though. He is succeeding where he is, the Kings are succeeding without him. It’s a win win for everyone involved.
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Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:10 pm
I love our power, speed and tenacity up the middle! As a matter of fact, we have it all over the ice!!! Go Kings!!!!!!!!
Neil Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:19 pm
@KC23, Doenst fit….well anyone who scores can be a fit…I like Lotki but he wasnt really lighting up the scorecard in the minors…..”Small Sample Size” so far….Plus if all the other GM’s thought Lotki was this good they wouldve been offering better then a 5th round pick…
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:09 pm
@Neil, Do you have to use the word ‘small’?
Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:02 pm
@Duncanz, Go Loki!!!
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Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:04 pm
@Duncanz, Thanks for posting that.
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Kingsfaninmonterey Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:04 pm
@Kingsfaninmonterey, I saw the stat on TSN and thought about posting something about it.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:37 pm
@Kingsfaninmonterey, Dude, in the fine spirit of perestroika, I post something positive about a (partially) beloved former King and look at the flak I get!
It’s enough to make a grown cossack cry …. but instead I’ll just don my no. 21 jersey and sip vodka the rest of the night and softly tend to my bleeding red heart.
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IceGuy Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:05 pm
@Duncanz,
Lokti is an Eastern style player – not the West.
He’ll do just fine back there.
Just as Gagne will do OK for the Flyers.
Best of luck to them both.
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Osaka Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:36 pm
@Duncanz, But the Kings are 7-3 since the trade.
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Gee, I was singing Lokti’s praises yesterday and almost everyone was after my butt. Now, another goal for him today. This one was Kopitar-like, faking the goalie out of position and stuffing it around him. Yes, he went to the net and it wasn’t a lucky, ugly goal. That tied the game late in the 3rd Period. Don’t know why he didn’t play in the overtime or take part in the shootout. Probably would have won the game for them.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:57 pm
@Russ Dynda, Agreed. We don’t know what we’ve lost.
Kings could have built a nice little line around the talents of this quality individual.
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PlayerXatHoldThePoint Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 6:01 pm
@Duncanz, Lokti can do as well as he wants to in New Jersey, I wish him well, but saying the Kings screwed up just because he scores some goals is like saying there’s no global warming because it got hot today.
In the real world, we won the Cup without him contributing at all in the playoffs. Nobody knows what might have happened if he stayed longer, but we do know what did happen.
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If Martinez is ready to Play he will play tomorrow Night
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