As the 2012-13 season marks the 20th anniversary of the Kings’ 1992-93 run to the Stanley Cup Final, LAKings Insider will be catching up with members of that memorable Kings team as part of a “First Taste” series – a reader-suggested reference to the franchise’s “first taste” of Stanley Cup action. LAKI also spoke last week with Kelly Hrudey, who described the atmosphere in the locker room late in the Campbell Conference Final against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hrudey then shared his recollections (shared below) of rookie Warren Rychel, who turned in an unsung performance in the 1993 postseason that was part of a collective effort that lifted the Los Angeles Kings to series victories over Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.
A YouTube search of Rychel calls to attention one distinct aspect of the rugged forward who broke through with the Los Angeles Kings in his first full National Hockey League season in 1992-93.
Rychel didn’t shy away from the heavy lifting during his 406 regular season NHL games, and by a HockeyFights.com account, there were an eye-opening 57 altercations that he took part in during the two full seasons he spent in Los Angeles in an era when he regularly went toe-to-toe with noted combatants such as Bob Probert, Gino Odjick and Shane Churla.
While memorable, the most impactful aspect of Rychel’s NHL career was his ability to produce in the postseason and to do things that helped teams win hockey games. In addition to his playoff run with Los Angeles in 1993, he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche team that captured the 1996 Stanley Cup and also recorded four points in three playoff games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991 after spending the entire regular season with the IHL’s Indianapolis Ice.
Early in the 1993 postseason, Rychel was placed on a line with Wayne Gretzky and broke through with a 23-game, 13-point postseason that included six goals, a Los Angeles rookie playoff record. The 13 points tied Daryl Evans’ 1982 rookie record. For his performance, he was nicknamed “Connie” by his teammates, an allusion to the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Courtesy: Windsor Spitfires
Rychel is currently a part owner and the Vice President and General Manager of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, a position that he has held for seven seasons. Windsor won back-to-back Memorial Cups and OHL Championships in 2009 and 2010 and has produced burgeoning NHL stars in Taylor Hall, Cam Fowler, Adam Henrique and Ryan Ellis. Rychel captured the OHL Executive of the Year award in 2009.
Rychel’s son Kerby was ranked 18th amongst North American skaters in the 2013 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings. A left wing with the Spitfires, Kerby Rychel leads the club with 39 goals and 86 points in 65 games.
Kelly Hrudey on Warren Rychel:
“Warren was a unique guy. When I first met him, I was like, ‘Boy, this kid’s kind of cocky.’ That soon went away. You know what I really remember most about him, besides his fierce attitude on the ice? How he fit in in the dressing room. All of us veterans just fell in love with him quickly, because he was really quick witted. He had no problem in giving us the business, and he had no hesitation going after us. I’ll tell you what – most rookies are quite quiet, and he just fit in so well, because that was a pretty impressive group of players. I mean, you’re talking about Wayne and Jari and Marty and Pat Conacher, Charlie Huddy – a lot of guys. Tony Granato. Guys with pretty good resumes, and he just wanted to fit in so well, and he did.”
Warren Rychel, on joining a locker room with a handful of established NHL stars:
“Well, obviously I came there as a free agent. I wasn’t that young. I was 25. I had played five years in the minors, and I finally made my first NHL team full time. I just was myself. I just did the things I usually do – laughing and joking. I’m a pretty easy guy to get along with. Here and there were a lot of real heavy chirpers. McSorley and Kelly Hrudey and stuff like that – you have to back yourself up. You have to be heard early. You can’t get pushed around. I just remember chirping a lot with these guys and having a lot of fun. We really had a lot of fun on and off the ice.”
Rychel, on whether Marty McSorley offered him advice:
“Oh, for sure – just coming into games and opponents. One thing with Marty – he never really wanted me to fight the real big guys. It was good, because he was a heavyweight, and I was kind of a middleweight, and we kind of shared that role. It was good. We talked a lot about it, and I sat in there in the dressing room, and he let me know about guys, how they fought and different things like that. Just to work on your game, too – he’s always the guy that wanted to work on the game, and he helped me in that regard, too. I think it was a good one-two combination, for sure.”
Rychel, on skating on a line with Wayne Gretzky:
“In the playoffs, you see a little bit less of fighting, and Barry put me on his line in the first series against Calgary, and it just came to be pretty good. I just went out and hit, and I got him space, got him the puck with [Tomas] Sandstrom. Things seemed to work out. I was more relaxed, because I had an 80-game regular season under my belt. I just felt I went there and played. The motivation for me was obviously to win a Stanley Cup, and secondly, I was a free agent at the end of the year, too. I really wanted to play the best as I could. It was a dream ride, obviously, and every day you would just wake up and be thankful you were playing and trying to win a hockey game. We sure did have some exciting hockey games, that’s for sure.”
Rychel, on the Kings winning the Cup and Dwight King approach his rookie playoff record:
“Yeah, I saw that coming up, and he had a great playoff. He was a big part of the Stanley Cup championship. I forgot about that record a bit. It’s been a while. Records are meant to be broken. It’s not that huge of a record in the big picture, but he played very well and had some timely goals, and he reminded me of us – the third and fourth line guys that played so well in the 93 run.”
Great story JR, thanks!
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great reading as we wait for…:Waking Up with Toffoli’s” I want to hear an interview with the person who broke the news….TT’s girlfriend..How long has she been waiting??
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Real 7 Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:10 am
@Neil, isn’t that> T-Baby’s girlfriend
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Neil Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:21 am
@Real 7, Yes !!!!
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Jordan Nolan and Kyle Clifford reminds me of Warren Rychel.
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LA..Times mentioned that the NHL is looking at plans at having a outside game next season in L.A. …not on News Years Day..Dodger Stadium is a option…
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Neil Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:25 am
@Neil, http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott-nhl-20130311,0,7811283.column the link for the above story…
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jess Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:13 am
@Neil, Bring yer flippers
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Mars Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:16 am
@Neil, OMFG! *jumps up and down*
I have been DYING for this to happen.
I cannot wait, if they cannot make it happen, Bettman must die.
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Jeff Carter named one of NHL’s 3 Stars of the Week behind Crosby and Bobrovsky. In 539 career games, Carter has scored the GWG 48 times. Man en fuego
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:34 am
@shiny, 46*, not 48 sorry
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Mars Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:16 am
@shiny, Crystal ball?
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Heard on radio this morning then it’s maybe
Carter who will be out upper body?
Go Kings Go!
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:36 am
@Gailweb, Carts? That’s strange. He appears healthy and didn’t appear to get too.dinged.during a game. If it’s true, that makes me nervous…
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DesertKing Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:53 am
@shiny,
When Fraser scored that goal Carter was standing on the bench cheering and supporting him. He didn’t look hurt there.
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:03 am
@DesertKing, right and I saw him yesterday. I mean he *appeared* OK. Anyway, Mayor John Hoven tweeted all skaters accounted for so it doesn’t seem like anyone is going on IR, which makes this move all the more confusing unless he’s here to be rotated in since we have an ugly schedule (like everyone) for the next 5 weeks
Lake Forest Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:50 am
@Gailweb, and the plot thickens….
That is NO BUENO! Any injuries and we are basically screwed!
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DesertKing Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:55 am
@Gailweb,
Of course, you heard that on the radio, so depending on the show, that info would be suspect, since most of the radio guys confuse Carter and Richards and Kopitar and Fraser and Nolan and King and Stoll and Williams and Brown and King and………
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:07 am
@DesertKing, it’s funny because none of the guys look alike and the ones that get confused don’t have similar numbers
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jess Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:15 am
@DesertKing,
Yeah just like they mix up Iowa with Ohio and Idaho
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Michael J. Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:23 am
@jess,
There are three different states with those names? Wait… one of those is in Canada, right?
Michael J. Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:00 am
@Gailweb,
Just a silly rumor… I hope.
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gailweb Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
@Gailweb,Ok guys, saw Cart at morning skate now and he looked just fine, and so did Richards too, and yes there was a earthquake, when Dustin was skating on the ice at first all alone, shooting pucks by the way a thing of beauty, and as soon as he stepped on that why the earth shook in CA?, he’s the power man correct?
Go Kings Go!
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Just to confirm, Toffoli came to the “Los Angeles” Kings and didn’t end up in Suckramento? ooo, nice earthquake! Welcome to So Cal!
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Michael J. Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:04 am
@DesertKing,
5.1 southwest of Indio
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=33.4975,-116.4615(M5.1+-+Southern+California+-+2013+March+11+16:56:05+UTC)&t=h&z=7&iwloc=A
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:12 am
@DesertKing, shook my building pretty good here in Aliso.
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vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:35 am
@Lake Forest,
Interesting. Our building here in Mission Viejo didn’t indicate a quake at all. I’m on the first floor of a two story structure, so maybe the folks upstairs felt it more.
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@Michael J., that’s far from me. I didn’t feel a thing… then again, I’m in the conejo valley in a 2 story office building so I probably wouldn’t notice it anyways.
I like how 5.1 is considered “moderate” by Cali standards LOL. Anywhere else it’d be a big deal
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vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:17 am
@shiny,
Barely felt in in South OC but it was felt in north SD county for sure.
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:21 am
@vplaza, perhaps my geography is wrong but I thought Indio was out near Palm Springs? I’ve never been to Indio so I don’t know exactly
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DesertKing Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:25 am
@shiny,
Indio is 30the miles east of Palm Springs. This quake was in Anza on the other side of the mountain, between Temecula and Hemet.
vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:28 am
@shiny,
Yeah, weird since it’s about 60 miles from Carlsbad, where it was felt pretty good, but it’s probably just about 70-80 miles from south OC, where I am, and it barely registered here.
I’m fairly sure the folks in the IE felt that one.
Toffoli is skating with the 3rd line. Taking Lews’ spot. Lewis is an extra skater. Nothing else has changed.
Lewis trade coming??
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jess Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:16 am
@hbjohn, no lewie is one of sutters fav’s and he’s been producing soooooo???
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:19 am
@jess, last indication was that they were rotating. Nothing set in stone yet
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Michael J. Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:20 am
@jess,
Kings need an extra forward on the roster because of back to backs. I’m not saying that TT won’t play, but I seriously doubt that DL would ship anyone from this team right now.
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jess Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:22 am
@Michael J.,
I agree, there’s no way 22 is going anywhere except to the net!
shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:25 am
@Michael J., I wonder if people are going to start rotating in and out of the roster then… since the schedule is going to be so grueling. Makes me wonder if that is the case, do your top guys sit and get an energy day or keep them in there and possibly run the risk of them not retaining enough energy to make it through playoffs?
Michael J. Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:18 am
@hbjohn,
No.
Why would the Kings consider trading him? For what? A fourth rounder? Mess with this chemistry for that?
Trust me, Toffoli is getting a look and nothing more.
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hbjohn Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:24 am
@hbjohn, I am just speculating here. But why is lewis an extra skater in todays morning skate? Lewis isn’t injured.. Right now this is the kings lines skating..
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Dustin Penner – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter
Dwight King – Jarret Stoll – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Colin Fraser – Jordan Nolan
Extra skaters: Davis Drewiske, Trevor Lewis and Brad Richardson
I just don’t understand why Lewis would be a healthy scratch??
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:28 am
@hbjohn, I’m not there but from what I gathered from JR’s tweets is that they were all rotating on the third line. Besides, Lewie is a LW. TT is a RW. Don’t think Lewie is a healthy scratch but I’m not there and I don’t know the coach
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harty Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:42 am
@hbjohn, I think its Stoll and Lewis goes in where Stoll comes out??
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Interesting… Toff practicing on 3rd line per JR
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Tofolli musta hit the ice, I could swear there was just an earthquake.
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jess Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:18 am
@Mars, I just heard on the news there were 3 of them. I didn’t feel anything.
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Mars Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:23 am
@jess, 3? LOL, I only felt one cause my co-workers mentioned it and it was very subtle.
The blinds here swayed a bit, not even enough to tap the window frame though.
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EXTRA! EXTRA!
Rosen reports that TT has been downgraded form gauranteed games #1 star to rotating in with Stoll-Lewis-King line.
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Mars Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:24 am
@Michael J., Good News MR is healthy (what I am taking from it)
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Hmmm … Toffoli on 3rd line is understandable but King over Lewis? King is natural LW but Lewis can also play LW. I don’t know about this move …
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Ok but how does Carter look? Earlier rumor here on the blog that he might be hurt?
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:30 am
@DesertKing, nothing indicated he was hurt. He left the ice first this morning so someone joked he was getting the start in goal
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And Quick will be a starter again.
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:31 am
@goldielocks, I expect to see him starting more games and possibly handling a few B2B, depending on his.performance
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vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:33 am
@goldielocks,
Pretty sure his performance on Saturday guarantees that.
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goldielocks Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:36 am
@vplaza,
Yup. Need to play more to get that swagger back.
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vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:39 am
@goldielocks,
For sure, he made the key saves he needed to make against Calgary on Saturday. Just need to keep it up.
According to Jon Hoven: “Toffoli has already seen shifts on a few different lines”
Therefore, using logic from above, we can assume that at least one player from each line will be traded today… There goes the neighborhood.
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Don’t look now, but here come the Blue Jackets. Only four points behind the Kings.
And Wild ahead of the Red Wings. What is this? Dogs and cats, living together?
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shiny Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:42 am
@vplaza, and Kings right in the middle of the hunt for a playoff spot instead of being on the bubble? I think the world is coming to an end!
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vplaza Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:43 am
@shiny,
Mass hysteria!
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Great read. Ty.
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