Willie Desjardins Archives - LA Kings Insider

Report: Desjardins returning to WHL-Medicine Hat

Jon RosenMay 30, 20190 Comments

Via tenured WHL reporter Gregg Drinnan: Taking Note has been told that Willie Desjardins will be returning to the Medicine Hat Tigers as GM/head coach.— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) May 30, 2019 Earlier Thursday, the Tigers parted ways with Shaun Clouston, an assistant who became Medicine... Full Story

What do Blake and the players want in a coach? What was up with practice habits?

Jon RosenApril 9, 20190 Comments

Coaching9 min read

There’s been quite a bit to digest from the team’s exit day media availability, but one story that continues to evolve and could ultimately reach a head relatively soon is that the Kings are in search of a head coach and are motivated to act quickly. They would prefer to hire a former NHL head coach... Full Story

Intangibles! Facilitating buy-in and accountability, eschewing entitlement

Jon RosenApril 8, 20190 Comments

Hockey OperationsMedia Availability9 min read

Several themes resonated in today’s media availability, and two abstracts – accountability and entitlement – were inherent in Rob Blake’s explanation of how the Kings reached this current point and the means in which he intends for his off-season plan to be executed. One important waypoint to an... Full Story

Team moves on from Desjardins; coaching searches draw focus

Jon RosenApril 7, 20190 Comments

CoachingHockey Operations4 min read

What had been known became club statement-official on Sunday. Via the Kings: LA Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake released the following statement today: “Today we thanked Willie Desjardins for his effort and dedication while serving as our interim head coach. We wish Willie ... Full Story

April 5 Rapid Reaction (feat. Curtis Zupke): Ducks 5, Kings 2

Jon RosenApril 5, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction7 min read

Rapid Reaction feat. Curtis Zupke of the LA Times Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on what the game meant to both teams: It’s always nice to win. It doesn’t matter what game it is, it’s nice to win. I’m sure Anaheim wanted one in the series. So, I don’t know how much it meant to both o... Full Story

April 2 Rapid Reaction (feat. Catherine Silverman): Kings 3, Coyotes 1

Jon RosenApril 2, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction7 min read

Rapid Reaction feat. Catherine Silverman Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on Kyle Clifford’s late second period goal serving as a pivotal moment: Yeah. That was a big goal for us. We hadn’t had a lot up ‘til that spot, and whenever you score really late in the period, I think it helps... Full Story

March 30 Rapid Reaction (feat. Dan Greenspan): Kings 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)

Jon RosenMarch 30, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction8 min read

Rapid Reaction, feat. Dan Greenspan of NHL.com Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on the team’s character in the comeback win: I thought all night it was kind of like we were battling. They had a lot of transition in the game, kind of had us on our heels. I think that’s your leadership i... Full Story

March 30 notes: Campbell; Kovalchuk; Wagner; MacDermid; Blackhawks; HNILA

Jon RosenMarch 30, 20190 Comments

Morning Skate Notes12 min read

INSIDERS. A good afternoon to you from Toyota Sports Center. After a recovery day, the LA Kings held a morning skate in advance of their Hockey Night in Los Angeles affair with the Chicago Blackhawks (7:30 p.m. / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports app / LA Kings Audio Network) and aligned as such: Iafa... Full Story

March 28 Rapid Reaction (feat. Hoover): Canucks 3, Kings 2 (SO)

Jon RosenMarch 28, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction9 min read

Rapid Reaction, feat. Hoover, Senior Producer at FOX Sports West Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on the shootout loss: I think both teams played hard. I liked the fact that we came back in the third and found a way to tie it up, but then you certainly wish you could’ve gotten alittle ... Full Story

March 26 Rapid Reaction (feat. Jim Fox): Oilers 8, Kings 4

Jon RosenMarch 26, 20190 Comments

Postgame videoPractice notesPractice QuotesRapid Reaction7 min read

Rapid Reaction, feat. Jim Fox Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on the loss: We had a pretty good start to the game. Quick made some big saves too, it wasn’t that he didn’t, he made two or three really good saves in the first period. But it seemed other things were going in on us. They ... Full Story

March 25 Rapid Reaction (feat. Ryan Leslie): Kings 3, Flames 0

Jon RosenMarch 25, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction9 min read

Rapid Reaction, feat. Ryan Leslie of Sportsnet Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on defending well and the overall performance: Well, I thought they got lots of chances. I thought we played well the first half of the first period. They didn’t have a lot. They didn’t have a lot. They got... Full Story

March 25: Kovalchuk stays home to practice; Doughty goes off on Tkachuk

Jon RosenMarch 25, 20190 Comments

AlumniMorning Skate NotesOpposition9 min read

INSIDERS. So, there was some news today. Let’s get started. The LA Kings skated at the Scotiabank Saddledome at 11:30 a.m. and aligned thusly: Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown Grundstrom-Kempe-Toffoli Clifford-Carter-Lewis Wagner-(Amadio)-Brodzinski Forbort-Doughty Martinez-Roy Phaneuf-Walker MacDe... Full Story

March 18 Rapid Reaction (feat. Brian Munz): Jets 3, Kings 2

Jon RosenMarch 18, 20190 Comments

Postgame notesPostgame quotesPostgame videoRapid Reaction8 min read

Rapid Reaction, feat. Brian Munz of TSN 1290 Winnipeg Post-game Quotes Willie Desjardins, on being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs: Well, that’s always disappointing. It’s never the way you start a year, it’s the one thing you never want to happen. That’s a tough thing today.... Full Story