On the eve of camp…

Happy autumn, Insiders. Training camp is upon us. There’s usually not a great deal of news on the day the Kings report – the first scheduled media availability follows tomorrow’s 10:00 a.m. on-ice session – but Helene Elliott penned a column in today’s LA Times that shares a few tidbits. She notes that Jonathan Quick will take some post-World Cup time off to be with family before returning “early next week,” and shares what LAKI has also suggested this summer — that Matt Greene, Rob Scuderi and Tom Gilbert are all, more or less, in the same boat. “We’re still looking at those three the same we’re looking at three or four young guys,” Darryl Sutter told Elliott. “We want them to have really good camps and we’ll give them lots of games.”

About a month ago, I got the sense that were there to be equal performances from all defensemen, Scuderi and Greene were a slightly preferred third pair, with Gilbert serving as a seventh defenseman. But, obviously, training camp doesn’t elicit equal performances, and injuries happen. Keep in mind that Greene played three games last year, Scuderi, like Greene, offers a valuable presence but isn’t fleet-of-skate, and Gilbert is coming off knee surgery; the trio will face stiff competition from less-tenured players including Kevin Gravel, Derek Forbort and Zach Trotman. Gravel appeared to have a tiny bit of a lead amongst the younger guys, based on off-season correspondence, but also is eligible to be returned to AHL-Ontario without having to clear waivers. Ultimately, those who perform well in training camp and the preseason will earn a spot on the team. Expect all to get into a bunch of games this preseason.

It’s an interesting preseason schedule for the team. After Sunday’s Kings vs Kings exhibition – more on that in a moment – there’s a heavy week of action. There’s a pair of split-squad games against Arizona on Monday (I’ll cover the road game, which is usually the one coached by Sutter), followed by a home game against Anaheim on Wednesday, and a trip to Denver and Vernon, B.C. for games against Colorado on Friday and Edmonton on Sunday, with the latter serving as a split-squad Kraft Hockeyville game complemented by the annual preseason affair against the Ducks at Honda Center. After that, the team doesn’t play until the Frozen Fury back-to-back against Dallas and Colorado. I have the sense that the coaching staff is fine with the lull in the schedule after a heavy week, which allows the team to receive players back from the World Cup, get healthy, and continue to implement systems shortly before the season opens.

Regarding the Kings versus Kings game, it seems as though the format provides the team an ability to participate in an elevated scrimmage and skills competition in preparation for the preseason schedule, which begins the following day. Via a Reign release, “Kings vs. Kings will feature 5-on-5 hockey, fast-paced 4-on-4 and edge-of-your-seat 3-on-3 skating. In addition, both teams will test their skills on special teams during highlighted time. During 5-on-5, 4-on-4 and 3-on-3, all penalties will be decided by a penalty shot! The contest wraps up with a shootout with the winning team netting the most goals throughout the afternoon.” So, there’s a modified competitive element to the game, which will take place at Citizens Business Bank Arena at 3:00 p.m. this Sunday. You can purchase tickets here, if you’re so inclined.

Today, the Kings take photos and physicals and go through fitness and baseline testing; tomorrow, the team will take the ice. I’ll re-post the camp schedule tomorrow morning along with a copy of the groups and the full camp roster. If you’re interested in attending at Toyota Sports Center, practices on Friday and Saturday will take place at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Photo Day favorite, @13KCliffy pic.twitter.com/nczsDlcxNA

— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) September 22, 2016