Hersley on board
The Kings have signed defenseman Patrik Hersley to an entry-level deal. Hersley is one of the guys Lombardi mentioned as being part of the young core in Manchester next season, so this is something he has been working on getting done for a while. I'll attach the news release below.
Also, I'm trying to track down some information on Vladimir Dravecky, the winger the Kings plucked out of Slovakia. He had 23 points in 52 games for HC Kosice last season.
KINGS SIGN PROSPECT PATRIK HERSLEY
TO A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Patrik Hersley to a multi-year entry-level contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.
Hersley, 20, played in 28 games with the Malmo IF Redhawks of the Swedish Junior League this season and had two points (1-1=2) and 10 penalty minutes. In addition, the 6-3, 205-pound native of Malmo, Sweden, also played in two games with Sweden’s Division One IK Pantern this season and had two points (1-1=2) and eight penalty minutes.
Hersley also played with Malmo during the 2005-06 season, recording 13 points (5-8=13), a plus-26 rating and 32 penalty minutes in 34 regular season games. In addition, he recorded one goal and a plus-3 rating in seven playoff games with Malmo that year.
The Kings originally selected Hersley in the fifth-round (139th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

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 

Good signing, don't be shocked if he makes the team out of camp This season.
Talent analysis on Patrick Hersley from Hockeysfuture.com.
Hersley is a big and strong defenseman. He is quite reliable in his own end and handles the physical play very well. His slapshot from the blueline is hard and rather accurate and his passing game is good too. Furthermore he reads the game well and has good mobility.
He has a great shot from the point, soft hands and good hockey sense. Furthermore Hersley has good timing and power in his hits, but tends to overwork the puck in his own end at times. Overall he is a very capable defenseman who is entertaining to watch, not only while joining the rush in full speed, but also when laying out opponents with big hits.
Some info on Vladimir Dravecky can be found at http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=48326
Born 03.06.85
Height 180 cm / 5' 10"
Weight 84 kg / 185lbs / 13st 3lbs
Right Winger
Shoots left
For his career stats, look to the above website. It looks like he was effective in this year's playoffs.
JD
Hey Guys, As always, great work. You consistently provide the BEST Kings coverage.
Is it just me, or does it seem to anyone else that Alexander Frolov has been in the doghouse? Is he trade bait or something? How does a guy who scored 35 goals and 71 points get relegated to the third, fourth (and maybe 5th) lines? I think it really strange. I know it's early but it doesn't make sense. Anyway, the Blues game was even more painful that usual! Bernier looks great. Keepin the faith.