Counting down the hours

We’re now just a bit over 24 hours from the season opener… I have written a season-preview overview for the Kings, which I will link below. For the record, my preseason Western Conference predictions have the Kings finishing fifth. I’m projecting that Detroit, Vancouver and San Jose will win the divisions (in that order) and that Chicago will finish fourth, followed by the Kings, followed by Phoenix, St. Louis and Nashville. I see Detroit and Vancouver as the class of the conference, and I think Chicago is still strong enough to be a contender. There is a lot of talk about the Kings surpassing San Jose, and I certainly think it’s possible, but I don’t think the Sharks have fallen off much at all, and I’m not sure whether the Kings have enough to overcome the 12-point difference that existed between them and the Sharks last season. Is it possible? Certainly. I really wouldn’t be surprised if any of those top five teams finished in any order…

Kings 2010-11 season preview

Also, there’s been a lot of talk about the situation between Fox and Dish Network and, as it relates to the L.A. market, the inability of fans to watch Kings games on FSN. The Kings have released a statement on the matter, which can be read by clicking here.

Finally, the Manchester Monarchs have released their 2010-11 roster, which includes both Erik Ersberg and Johan Fransson. As with Ersberg, there had been some discussion about Fransson returning to Europe after he did not make the Kings’ roster. The Monarchs’ season-opening roster, with bios, can be found by clicking here.