Frozen Four update
The NCAA Division I hockey tournament got underway Friday. Hockey junkies will note that Jon Quick, the goalie who made 33 saves in Massachusetts' 1-0 overtime victory over Clarkson, is a Kings prospect. And so is Jeff Zatkoff, who made 43 saves for Miami (Ohio) in a 2-1 victory over New Hampshire.
The future of young goalies is famously difficult to predict, but privately, Kings management is thrilled with Quick's progress. He was taken by the Kings in the third round of the 2005 draft, back when Dave Taylor and Al Murray were calling the shots, but the new management team likes what it sees. And Zatkoff, taken in the third round last year, has made huge strides this season as well. With Quick, Zatkoff and Jonathan Bernier in the fold, the Kings should have a bright future in goal...right?
Of particular interest to Kings fans will be tonight's game between Michigan and North Dakota. That's because as soon as Michigan is eliminated, Jack Johnson will be free to sign a NHL contract. Some hope remains that Johnson will be in a Kings uniform before the end of this season, but that will depend on two things: how soon Michigan is eliminated and how well contract negotiations go. There's a salary cap, of course, but there are bonuses that need to be negotiated.
The first round of the NCAA tournament wasn't kind to the Kings' communications staff. Stephanie Krauss (New Hampshire) and budding radio star Mike Kalinowski (St. Cloud State) watched their teams bow out in the first round.
Finally, there's a story in the Boston Globe about Kings prospect Brian Boyle, who has shifted to playing defense for Boston College.
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About Rich Hammond
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.
Well, Michigan lost to North Dakota on Saturday night, so Michigan's season is over. Based on everything I've seen and heard, Johnson will probably leave Michigan and sign with the Kings. But if he wants to play hardball with the Kings, he might end up staying for another season...who knows what'll happen.
Based on a report in the University of Michigan newspaper, Johnson did not accompany the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor and instead left Denver headed to LA. The paper also said that Johnson is all but signed, with just bonuses to be worked out.
Looks like he'll be in the Kings lineup at San Jose on Tuesday.