The Kings will never be able to take as big a jump as the Pittsburgh Penguins did in 2006-07, when they went from a 58-point team the previous season to an 105-point team. That’s a massive jump, and Sidney Crosby was asked about it today in relation to the King. Crosby was asked, in essence, how a team knows when it has arrived as an elite team…
CROSBY: “The biggest thing is, you just have to beat some good hockey teams, beat some teams that maybe, in the the past, you might go in thinking that you just want to find a way to survive and maybe squeak a win out. That changes when you start to beat some good hockey teams. You go out there with the mentality that you expect to win, and I’m sure that’s something that is creeping into their minds right now. They expect to win, and they’re playing solid hockey hockey. Kopitar is playing great. Everybody is playing great for them, but he’s really leading the way. So I would say, just beating good hockey teams builds confidence.”
Crosby was also asked how he thought Rob Scuderi, who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins last season, would help the Kings become winners…
CROSBY: “He’s a piece to the puzzle. He brings a lot of leadership. He’s a quiet guy, in terms of in the room and things, but he brings a lot of leadership out there on the ice. He will block a shot no matter how he has to do it. He’s been to two Stanley Cup Finals, he’s won a Stanley Cup. He has played in the league a long time too. People forget that he’s been around for a while. He leads in that way and he’s consistent. Every game, you know what you’re going to get out of him, so he’s a great addition for them. We had fun playing together, and he was a great guy here, but he’s really brought a lot to their team as well.”
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar.
CROSBY: “He’s a piece to the puzzle.”
I think he meant to say that Scuds is THE piece to the puzzle…
Did you ask him if he wants to join us?
I was hoping you’d ask him if he’d drop the gloves with JJ if he had to.
I’m wondering if Jack would knock Crosby on his rear end open ice if given the opportunity. That’s a good underlying story I’m looking forward to watching unfold.
I’m also wondering if it would make sense to have JJ always covering Crosby’s line since he knows him so well and we have the last change.
Pat beat me to it!
Is ther bad blood between JJ/Crosby?
Belexes> No I believe they are best friends
ahh, ty for the clairification
Shut up, Cindy. Hope you eat an 80mph puck
No, JJ & Cros are good friends. I’d just like to see them duke it out or how they would react if one checked the other.
I was also looking forward to the Simmonds/Malkin angle after Evgeni elbowed him last time we met. Guess that’s on hold.
Yeah, Cynic, wondered if anyone remembered that from last year…
Too bad, no Malkin.
What I want is to beat that 7 game road winning streak to start the season!
Out of curiosity,
Has there been some sort of memo distributed that turns off ALL the HD broadcasts on Direct TV and the Home Ice package on the internet?
I know that Syd and JJ went to high school together and have been friends ever since. I believe some people might think it would be good to have JJ out against Syd each time he hit the ice. Personally, I like what Murray did against San Jose when he put the Frolov-Handzus-Simmonds line against Joe Thorton’s line with OD and Greener on the D. Nice shut down five right there with nothing in mind but keeping the top line from scoring.
It is a shame that Malkin will not be out there because hockey players are like elephants, they do not forget the cheap shots by other teams.
I think there’s alot of unfinished business here…unfortunately Gino is out, but Simmer has some stuff to take care of with him…so do the Kings–they need to make a statement here: 1) Beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions; 2) Stop their record-tying road winning streak; and 3) Make the statement that NO VISITING TEAM IS GOING TO WIN IN OUR BUILDING! Where’s the swagger boys?
GO KINGS!
I would love to see Dustin Brown absolutely crush Cindy with an open ice hit.
Where’s the swagger boys?
My guess is that its in the Pens locker room. 7-0-0 on the road, thats just, wow…
You know that commercial on the NHL channel with Crosby… This is the Year? He’s shaking his head and saying:
-Naah-
I’d like a sequel with JJ, nodding his head with a smile:
-Yeah, it was!-
You know what is a shame? Malkin being out. I am sure Simmonds would like to say hi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPVO1p6Mttg
-Dave
Don Cherry’s thoughts on the Simmonds hit for those of you who did not see this last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cn_EllxBb0&NR=1
-Dave
He’s got a real good point about beating good teams, and believing you can do it. Beating Detroit would be a start in that direction. Once that happens, then the team will take an even bigger step towards being champions.
Watching the WTN-NJ game on Home Ice package…
Just had a first intermission poll: Who is the best Russian player in the NHL? Seven names, including the usual suspects: Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Gonchar, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Semin, Nabokov…
No Frolov?
Ahh, I take it back.
CAR-FLA in HD!
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Sheesh, everyone knows that Frolov is not getting any love because Terry Murray isn’t playing him right.
No, it’s because he’s involved in a giant Frospiracy to play poorly on purpose! Also he might hate kittens.
im not getting hd games either for direct tv weird
Frospiracy – LOL Man, I love this place! That word is FroTastic! Frokin-A!
Bako- Never had an issue with my HD on DirecTv. I’d like to see that 7 game streak end tomorrow night as well!
Mac- While reminicing with your link, I found this other one I had almost forgot about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAuZj2edHo
JJ and Malkin will be missed as well.
I called direct tv, talked to a rep… She was dumb as nails, then my cell went out and had to call back… Did the automated thing, and it worked! Just call let the robot help you, give the 721 code that come up on the screen, leave it on the channel that says it’s not purchased and 10 seconds later…. BAM it works. First time in history the automated machine worked
JMFJ and Sid are best buddies, from Shattuck St. Mary’s days. (Hello Andy Murray!) Neither of them would hesitate to pop each other in a game. But after the game, you can be sure they’ll be hanging out, ribbing each other about which one of them will be the next to win a Cup.
P.S. Every day, Sid pleads with the Pens GM to make a trade for Jack. Will it happen? I don’t think so.
P.P.S. Jack was once contemplating wearing no. 78 for the Kings.
Why does everyone “stroke” Crosby every chance they get….the kid drives me insane….we need to win cause i love watching him loose!!!! JMFM isn;t going to hit Crosby i mean he doesn’t hit anyone else so you really think he’s going to tag a friend come on!