Garon activated
The Kings activated goalie Mathieu Garon from the injured list today and sent goalie Yutaka Fukufuji to Reading.
With the Kings in last place, it doesn't matter a tremendous amount at this point, except in one area. Garon is an unrestricted free agent this summer, part of the group that GM Dean Lombardi said he will be open to trading. If Garon comes back strong, he could a) attract attention from other teams and net the Kings another coveted draft pick or two or b) impress the Kings enough that they try to resign him this summer. Yes, Dan Cloutier is under contract for $3.1 million next season, but if you were Lombardi, would you feel comfortable with that?
Speaking of Cloutier, he ambled through the dressing room last night using a brace on his arm to support himself as he walked on his surgically repaired hip. It hasn't been said officially, but I think it's more likely that you'll see Roman Cechmanek in a Kings uniform this season before you see Cloutier. And we all know the chances of that happening...
So, Fukufuji is gone, and I'm not sure what to make of that. He showed some good instincts at times but the guy is just plain small, and I'm not sure what can be done about that.
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Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Yeah, when they drafted him, he was 160 lbs. He's up to 180 now, but strength is going to be his biggest obstacle in him getting to the NHL to stay. I have to wonder if he'll ever build enough strength to be able to survive in an NHL crease game after game.
I will say this...he's a big guy for someone of Japanese ancestry (I have some first-hand experience with that). :-)