Tag Archives: Luke Schenn

LA Kings’ list of free agents (restricted and unrestricted)

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Free agency doesn’t begin until July 1, but the Kings (and every other NHL team) can give their own players contract extensions at any point between now and then. They’ve already done it with one unrestricted free agent, agreeing to terms with coach Darryl Sutter on a new deal that will kick in when his old one expires July 1.

Here are the Kings’ unrestricted free agents (eligible to sign with any team without the Kings able to match the offer), per generalfanager.com:

Forwards Milan Lucic, Kris Versteeg and Trevor Lewis.

Defensemen Jamie McBain and Luke Schenn.

Goalie Jhonas Enroth.

Here are the Kings’ restricted free agents (the Kings have the right to match offers from other teams):

Forward: Nic Dowd.

Defenseman:Brayden McNabb.

 

Game 4 report: Sharks 3, Kings 2

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Key play: Patrick Marleau scored the last of the Sharks’ three power-play goals and San Jose held on for a 3-2 victory Wednesday in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Kings at the SAP Center. Marleau backhanded a rebound into the net at 1:40 of the final period.

The series: The Sharks lead 3-1. Game 5 is Friday at Staples Center.

Pivotal performer: San Jose defenseman Brent Burns scored the Sharks’ first power-play goal, whistling a one-timed shot from the left faceoff circle past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. Burns also assists on Marleau’s goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.

Quote, unquote: “Our penalty-kill wasn’t near good enough,” said Kings defenseman Luke Schenn, who was on the ice for Burns’ goal “Special teams made a huge difference. Our special teams need to improve if we’re going to climb back in it.”

Status quo: Kings coach Darryl Sutter and San Jose counterpart Peter DeBoer stayed with the same lineups for Game 4 that they used in Game 3. DeBoer indicated dissatisfaction with his fourth line after Game 3, but stuck with Nick Spaling, Chris Tierney and Tommy Wingels for Game 4.

LA Kings defenseman Luke Schenn feeling at home after trade from Philadelphia Flyers

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Slowly but certainly, defenseman Luke Schenn is starting to feel at home in Southern California. He swapped the East Coast for the West when the Kings acquired him and center Vincent Lecavalier from the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 6, trading a cold winter for a warm one.

Schenn has since grown accustomed to seeing the Pacific Ocean now and then. He’s used to wearing T-shirts and shorts and flip flops to the Kings’ El Segundo practice facility. He’s learned to navigate the freeways, with Lecavalier acting as his carpool partner for trips to Staples Center.

Now if he could just find a good cheesesteak in Los Angeles, then he’ll be all set.

And if he has the time and the inclination, he’s up for a maiden voyage to In-N-Out Burger.

Most of all, Schenn is happy to be playing for the Pacific Division-leading Kings.

“It’s been a bit of an adjustment,” Schenn said Monday, one day before the Kings faced the Dallas Stars at Staples Center, his sixth game since the trade. “I’m just getting familiar with the guys on the team, the trainers, the coaches. I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s a great bunch of guys.

“The whole organization is unbelievable. The whole set up is second to none.”

 

Game report: Blues 2, Kings 1 (shootout)

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Key play: Troy Brouwer scored in the seventh round of a shootout and the St. Louis Blues rallied for a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Kings at Staples Center. Brouwer snapped a quick shot past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick to end the Blues’ five-game losing streak.

Pivotal performer: St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott kept the bruised, battered and road-weary Blues within striking distance with his steady play. The Blues couldn’t muster much of an offense and yet were deadlocked with the Kings 1-1 entering the third period.

Quote, unquote: “There’s no secrets,” Kings center Anze Kopitar said of facing the Blues. “Every time we play those guys it’s tight. The middle is clogged up. Saying that, we’ve got to find a way to get there and find chances and find the back of the net.”

Dropping the gloves: Kings defenseman Luke Schenn won a decision over the Blues’ Robert Bortuzzo after a spirited second-period scrap. Bortuzzo came to the defense of teammate Dmitrij Jaskin after Schenn leveled him with a check along the boards.

Injury updates: The Blues played without goalie Jake Allen (lower body), defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (upper body) and Paul Stastny (upper body). They were injured during a 4-3 shootout loss Friday to the Ducks at the Honda Center. Magnus Paajarvi left Saturday’s game in the third period, bloodied after the Kings’ Brayden McNabb checked him illegally.

Game report: Kings 2, Maple Leafs 1

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Key play: Defenseman Jake Muzzin whistled a shot through traffic and past Toronto goaltender James Reimer less than three minutes into the third period and the Kings went on to take a 2-1 victory from the Maple Leafs on Thursday at Staples Center.

Pivotal performer: Center Vincent Lecavalier made his Kings debut a memorable one with an assist on Muzzin’s goal. Lecavalier and defenseman Luke Schenn were acquired Wednesday from the Philadelphia Flyers and arrived Thursday morning in Los Angeles. Lecavalier played 9:26 in his first game with the Kings.

Quote, unquote: “It feels great,” Lecavalier said after his debut. “Honestly, it was just a good team effort tonight. The way they play, it’s just impressive. So, it was nice to be a part of today. Everybody worked really hard and it paid off. … Great bunch of guys. You can tell already. … Everything was on adrenaline tonight.”

Quote, unquote (part 2): “I just tried to soak a little bit in before the game and just tried to shake hands and get to know a few of the teammates,” Schenn said. “I’m not too familiar with a lot of the guys. It was kind of nice and you don’t over-think things. You just go out there and play.”

Welcome back: Kings center Jeff Carter returned to the lineup after sitting out for five games because of an upper-body injury and scored a third-period goal that made it 2-0. Carter was hurt on the opening faceoff of the Kings’ 4-3 overtime victory Dec. 26 over the Arizona Coyotes.

Game misconduct: Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak drew a five-minute boarding major and was ejected from the game after driving Kings winger Tyler Toffoli head-first into the boards at 19:26 of the first period. Toffoli was shaken up on the play, but returned to the game.

LA Kings acquire Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers

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Tomorrow’s story tonight …

The Kings were firmly entrenched in first place in the Pacific Division standings Wednesday, 10 points ahead of the second-place Arizona Coyotes, 12 ahead of the third-place Calgary Flames and 13 in front of the Ducks and Vancouver Canucks.

General manager Dean Lombardi wasn’t content, however.

Lombardi made a move to strengthen his team in the middle of the ice, and on the back end. He acquired veteran center Vincent Lecavalier and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick.

Lecavalier has played infrequently during the last two seasons with the Flyers and could get a chance to chase the Stanley Cup one final time in his career. He plans to end his career at season’s end, Lombardi confirmed during a conference call with reporters.

“There’s nothing better than to be on a team that’s been there,” Lecavalier said in an interview posted on the Kings’ website. “They’re obviously playing some great hockey. I know the Kings have high expectations for the players and I love that. … Just to be a part of that, it’s very exciting.”

Lecavalier, a 35-year-old who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1998, had zero goals and one assist in seven games for the Flyers this season, spending most of the team’s 38 games as a healthy scratch. He has scored 411 goals and 1,170 points during his stellar career.

Lombardi believes Lecavalier has more to give, and the Kings could use it.

“Vinny, at this stage of his career, it’s all about getting one last chance to win it all,” Lombardi said of Lecavalier, who was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning team that defeated the Darryl Sutter-coached Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup title in 2003-04.

“I think he’s hungry, and given his mindset, I think it’s a potentially great fit in his role.”

Lecavalier has two seasons remaining on his contract, which would have put any trade with the Kings into the not-happening category because of salary-cap concerns. The Kings have several core players who need new contracts at season’s end, including center Anze Kopitar.

The Flyers will play 50 percent of the salaries for Lecavalier and Schenn, Lombardi said.

“We could give him what he wanted, which is a serious shot at going out as a winner, but we could not make that commitment going forward,” Lombardi said of Lecavalier. “It kind of fit where he was with his career and his life.”

Schenn is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but he could be a valuable addition to the Kings’ defense corps. Lombardi said Matt Greene, a member of the Kings’ Stanley Cup championship teams in 2012 and ’14, is out for the season after having shoulder surgery.

Schenn, 26, has two goals and five points in 29 games this season.

Weal, 23, played only 10 games for the Kings and was scoreless.