-Lisa Dillman of the LA Times learns that Jeff Carter is a lot of things to a lot of different people. To Dean Lombardi, he’s Josey Wales. To Mike Richards, he’s Ronaldo. To Darryl Sutter, he’s “money”. To the NHL statistics page, he’s tied third in the league with 17 goals. Also in this story: interesting comments by Dustin Brown and Dustin Penner on Carter’s quick release.
LA Times – Kings’ Jeff Carter is quick on the draw
The Scott Burnside feature on Rich Clune has already been linked; you can join the discussion on that topic below.
-John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor caught up with Ray Whitney, who offered some real talk on the Coyotes’ distractions at the end of Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. “Coming out of [the Brown-Rozsival incident], we weren’t focused and prepared to move forward,” Whitney said. “The Kings just went about business as usual, and you could almost sense it. You knew what was gonna happen after. Something always happens after – whether it was a missed call, or I think it was just a non-call.”
Mayor’s Manor – Former Coyote saw lack of focus and composure in playoff loss to Kings
-Linked by Robert P. from Jewels of the Crown yesterday (and hosted on the JFTC site), this Eric T. / Broad Street Hockey feature coherently broke down several advanced stats and found that the Kings “Score-Adjusted Fenwick” formula places them in good company. A good read, this.
Broad Street Hockey – Los Angeles Kings: Masters of Puck Possession
-Speaking of Jewels from the Crown, Robert P. continues to analyze scoring chances for and against, and offers positives and negatives from his data at the half way point. Good things should happen if the team raises its save percentage.
Jewels from the Crown – Los Angeles Kings Midseason Review: Scoring Chances
-There are reports that Los Angeles and Buffalo are talking trade, which makes sense. Also making sense: Every team sniffing the playoffs talking trade with Buffalo, a team that has a short-term UFA-bound stay-at-home defenseman in Robyn Regehr, the snakebitten Drew Stafford (two goals in 27 games) – who carries a four million dollar cap hit through 2015 – and the less-likely-to-be-moved three expensive players who become UFAs in 2014 in Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Ryan Miller. Quisp links to several Sabres writers and offers his own analysis of moves that could make sense.
McSorley’s Stick – Which Sabres player would/should be coveted most by the Kings? And who would/should they give up to get him?
-KingsCast recaps the previous week of games and offers insight to what the Calgary Flames did on their day off between Saturday’s and Monday’s games. “The Flames had a team dinner at Spago, which, like the Flames, is old, barely relevant, and needs to be torn down.” KingsCast 1, Jay Feaster 0.
KingsCast – Episode 183: Jarome Iginla will not be an LA King
Jeff Carter is the King!
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Don’t look now but LOKTIONOV has 4 goals already in NJ!
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shiny Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 9:54 am
@KingsOfKomedy, don’t open that can of worms. Why can’t people just be happy for him? He’s a very talented kid who wasn’t going to crack the Kings’ lineup at any point in the near future and all he really wanted was to play. No one goes.pro in hopes of being a substitute-just-in-case.
I for one am happy for him and his success in NJ
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:04 am
@shiny, Very well said. People always tend to focus on players who leave the organization and their stats. What they dont get is how hard it is to put a group of players together to win a championship. Loktionov is a top 6 center. The problem was, he was not gonna take Kopitar or Richards spot…..not a chance
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Mars Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 9:59 am
@KingsOfKomedy, In the loosy goosy goalies in the east.
He wouldnt get one past JQ or JB.
And at the end of the day, I am glad he is finding his way.
And confident if we meet NJ in the finals again, we can take em.
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john Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:04 am
@Mars, LOL, Phoenix got 5 past Quicker
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Mars Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:11 am
@john, on a sleepy team on a back to back. soooo impressive.
john Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:23 am
@Mars, Excuses are for losers, and Quick got smoked
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:50 am
@john, The Kings got smoked. FTFY
Gustavo Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:04 am
@KingsOfKomedy,
In NJ, Lokti has 4 goals.
In most other eastern teams he’d be the goal scoring leader.
In LA he could not crack the lineup.
In any other western team, Lokti would be out with a series of concussions that could threaten his career and his overall health.
BTW, the LA Kings won he Cup without Lokti being the scorer he is for NJ.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:11 am
@Gustavo, Bingo, you win a cigar G !
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KingsOfComedy Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
@Gustavo, so the east coast is like the KHL. . That’s why he may get 30 goalsq
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@Gustavo, hey we got ellerby for lottki. Win win
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IN King Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:06 am
@KingsOfKomedy,
So what? Like @shiny said, I’m glad that he got a chance to play in the NHL somewhere, and that he’s finding success. It’s not like he didn’t have a chance to do something when he was here. Sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing for a player.
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jet Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:29 am
@KingsOfKomedy, Great for him, the team is 4 – 8 with him and 9 – 6 without him.
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Quisp Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
@jet,
Gosh, then they should send him down then.
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jet Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
@Quisp, no, play him 30 minutes and give Philly a chance to move up.
The puck possession is definitely a good read. It shows all the little things Kings do right which helps them win games.
Not sure if I like the idea of trading for Robyn Rheger. Is it worth it to fix a short term problem?
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jess Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:05 am
@shiny,
Yeah, -who would we give up for this temp. patch?
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shiny Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:10 am
@jess, nobody I can see at the moment… but I’m trusting DL to make the right decision here. I think we’ll be just fine and I’m optimistic that Greener can come back for the playoffs. I’ve given up hope on Mitchell, though…
DL has been in constant contact with the guys so I’m trusting, hoping, he makes the right decision.
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SLG1013 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:18 am
@shiny, I haven’t seen Regehr much this year, but he was a stud when he was played in Calgary; I believe it was his check that sidelined Williams before the playoffs two years ago. It wasn’t a dirty hit; he’s just a big, strong stay at home defenseman who is only 32 years old. If he could be had for a draft pick or prospect and assuming that he can still play like he did when he was in Calgary, I would think it would be a no-brainer. I’m not sure if we can count on Mitchell coming back this year or possibly even next year…
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
@SLG1013, reyger would be a good addition
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THe last lin on this article “Jarome Iginla will not be an LA King” Makes me happy………
I am tired of the trade talks, like we are doomed or something.
They boys havve stepped up, we have good rooks, and yes we are feeling the loss of Greene and Mitchell, we are not out of contention for a playoff spot. I am sick of the knee jerk reactions.
The pessimisim and doubt. We are that good and we can go all the way people! Root not bicker.
Yes we have cap space, yes we have a bunch of UFA’s coming up too. But what we would give up in a rental or trade may just hurt us in the long run. I trust DL and if a trade does break through the fine, I wont be misreable (Depending on the persons traded) But I am happy with what we have.
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Gustavo Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:07 am
@Mars,
It isn’t pessimism or knee jerk reactions.
It’s AMBITION. Ambition to improve the team so it can repeat as Cup repeat contenders.
Nothing wrong with that.
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Mars Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:13 am
@Gustavo, Looking from the positive side I see and respect that. Again, why I said if DL pulls the trigger cool. But I am happy, I like the development. And while our D is young, WM and MG are not going to be out forever and if so will be replaced accordingly.
I am not freaking out
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jess Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:17 am
@Gustavo,
Ambition without contemplation or integrity is a recipe for a styrofoam cup filled full of crap with an M-80 duct-taped to the side of it.
Next all that is left to do, is light the fuse and ring the doorbell.
If Dean Lombardi had acted on every trade you’ve so enthusiastically suggested since last summer, there would be almost no one left on the Kings with a cup ring.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:09 am
@Mars, Agreed. Besides, I think guys like you and I have total faith in Lombardi, Hextall, and Ferriera that they wont add anyone unless they think it fits the core. Also, yo know they wont make a deal if it leaves us thin in a certain area they deem important.
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
@Mars, can’t go wrong adding a solid stay at home d man
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Sabers GM confirmed that he would not be opposed to moving team’s core players such as Miller, Pominville, Regehr on the radio interview.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:13 am
@goldielocks, Thats interesting. In reference to how it affects The Kings? Like always, it depends what The Sabres are asking for.
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Michael J. Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:51 am
@goldielocks,
Of course he should, they need to rebuild.
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@Reuters AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke will be leaving the company 4min ago Hmmmm?
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LBlocal Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:06 am
http://sulia.com/channel/tennis/f/242e84ba-bc1c-41a1-b70b-892b728006a5/?source=twitter And down comes the hammer!
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Gustavo Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:10 am
@LBlocal,
Who said that winning the Stanley Cup gives you job security?
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shiny Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:19 am
@LBlocal, he’s probably getting out before things get ugly…
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:02 am
@shiny, Uh, he’s getting booted because things already GOT ugly.
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Mars Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:22 am
@LBlocal, Odd. Glad they are not selling, but bummed about Tim.
Wonder how that will affect us in the pending years.
Quick everyone grab $2670, if we pool up we can buy the team. Need 100k peeps though.
2670×100000 peeps 267mil, will that do it?
Team according to forbes is values ad 267M
http://www.forbes.com/teams/los-angeles-kings/
I know I could get about 200 peeps in on that action
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
@LBlocal, bye bye
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Who was the first goalie of the ice today ?
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Robbie Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
@john, doesn’t matter, Bernier could post 5 straight shutouts and Lombardi’s vindictive nature against Bernier and his agent won’t allow for Bernier to jump over Quick no matter how many 5-2 losses the Kings pile up with Quick’s erratic goaltending. See Marty McSorley’s rant on Lombardi for further insight.
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
@Robbie, poor man?
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chuckie Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
@Kings x, If Quick gets smoked for five again tonight what will Saturday’s rationale be for starting him, they want him to regain the confidence he showed against Calgary twice at home?
So… ‘ucks will now be in our division. Interesting… (not surprised, looking forward to the change, though). Super happy the Kings will face everyone at least once. The western conference only thing is starting to get a bit mundane
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:56 am
@shiny, I’m bummed. I really think there should be a “southwest” division. The Kings used to travel a boatload in the Smythe division, and this is the Smythe on steroids, as far as travel is concerned. Wish the Avs were in the mix, for one.
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Love the Robert P. article. I’ve been telling my good friend puck73 about the adjustment in fenwick ever since the numbers started improving but for the longest time he only cared about wins and losses. He still won’t let me fully explain the numbers to him but he’s starting to understand that there’s more to these possesion stats and how there connected to telling when a team is playing better than appearances suggest over a 10 game span. Next up PDO.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:15 am
@Dominick, Ladies and Gentleman….Mr. Dominick Fenwick!
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Neil Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:50 am
@puck73, Fenwick Park “and Ride”…
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On the 5th game last year in Arizona – It is really funny how the Coyotes acted like they even had a chance in hell of coming back to beat our Kings Juggernaut after going down 3-1. I was lucky enough to be at that game and it was shameless, disgusting and embarrassing how Smith and Doan acted with their delusional sense of entitlement to a pipe dream of the Coyotes moving past the Kings to the Finals.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 10:32 am
@King Cobra, I think that pretty much wraps it up. Very nicely stated, and totally concur.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:57 am
@King Cobra, +1
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KC23 Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
@King Cobra, +1
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Kings x Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@King Cobra, +2
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Cool article but it should have had the header of –
Los Angeles Kings: Masters of Stanly Cup Possession
P.S. STOP CALLING US FLYERS WEST!!!!
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 11:58 am
@King Cobra, Hmm…you’d think the team holding the cup (figuratively, now, I guess) would be the defining team in the relationship, making them The Kings East, except there’s that ECB thing.
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Don’t forget about D Jordan Leopold in Buffalo. He’s a UFA at the end of the season ($3 mil cap hit).
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To Flyers fans, Carter is a reminder that Philly’s GM moved them further from, not closer to, a Cup.
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chuckie Reply:
March 14th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
@PhoolishGM, A bigger reminder would be the young goalie they discarded who has been sensational between the pipes for the bluejackets.
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