Some quick answers
Like I said in the post below, I'm working the Bertuzzi story so I won't have time to transcribe Lombardi for a while, but here's some quick answers to questions you might have:
-- He's really fond of Handzus, has been since his days in Philly and believes he's a hard-working impact player. No concerns about his knee being an issue.
-- Nagy got a one-year deal basically as a trial balloon. Dean pretty much said that now is the time for Nagy to put his issues behind him and go forward.
-- Having Visnovsky on the roster was a bonus in terms of signing Handzus and Nagy and, on the flip side, Lombardi believes having those two guys will help the Kings in terms of retaining Visnovsky.
-- They have started talking to Visnovsky about an extension and definitely want to keep him. They have not yet started talking to Cammalleri, but will now.
-- The stuff from yesterday...he was convinced early that Briere would stay East. As for Drury, he said playing for the Rangers was a big draw and that the whole house-in-L.A. thing was overblown. In relation to Gomez, he made a general statement about how he just wasn't willing to give out seven- or eight-year contracts. He talked about the Rangers' payroll and how it might leave them vulnerable to an offer sheet to Lundqvist. Foreshadowing, anyone?
-- Dean is essentially done on the FA market but said he might be looking at one more thing. It didn't sound as though it would be major.
Like I said, I'll transcribe later. I think those were the major points.
you are a busy man Rich......thanks for the insite.......So I take it Stuart is a NO.....
Thanks as always, Rich. Can you say why he hasn't been talking w/Cammy yet? Seems like, with all the FA craziness and salary inflation, we'll probably need to cough up another $1 mil/year to extend him than if he'd got it done prior to the FA signing period. Is he confident of getting a deal done and avoiding arbitration?
You da man, Rich!
In the "spare part with character" department, I will admit I am curious to see if Kostopolous and Weaver are gone baby goodbye.
Thanks Rich! Keep up the great work. You make it much easier on us Kings fans following the team. We finally have good coverage for the Kings.
Sounds like Deano was tipping his hand a bit, eh? Would be nice to offer Lundqvist and see if the Rangers would match. Doubtful seeing as though their payroll now exceeds NASA's annual budget.
2 builders, 1 bridge and 1 filler, time to renew season tickets.
"Lombardi believes having [Nagy and Handzus] will help the Kings in terms of retaining Visnovsky."
Like having Blake helped get Drury over here? I understand what Dean is saying, but I'm weary of this kind of thinking.
btw, your rock, Rich.
Alex,
Having a fellow countryman is quite different than having a friend on your team. It's no secret that Lubo likes to be surrounded by fellow Slovaks (see Pavol Demitra).
I love this. I'm a first time STH this coming season and seeing as how NYR is going to have trouble keeping RFAs Lundqvist, Prucha, Hossa, AND Avery considering they want to re-sign Shannahan.
"Like having Blake helped get Drury over here? I understand what Dean is saying, but I'm weary of this kind of thinking."
Or maybe more like having Demitra helped the Wild lock up Gaborik.
Rich,
Just stumbled across your blog today, and as I have read numerous times today from other bloggers - THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THIS FORUM!!
Quick thought to everyone else here: Could the "one more thing" Dean-O is refering to named Eddie Belfour or Robert Esche???
I hate to speculate, only because i get my hope sup really high, BUT, the Rangers payroll also makes it difficult for the Rangers to re-sign Shannahan. Hmmmm. Maybe Shannahan AND Lundqvist......?
Thank you, Rich, and thank Dean Lombardi for us. I can't say I like all the moves he has made, but at least he's very forthcoming about his thoughts. I've never learned this much about the behind-the-scenes workings of the GM before. Keep up the good work!
I was bent yesterday (could you tell?). I do want to give Dean his props today.
The explanations help. Speculating what the problems are drives us crazy. To hear they are reality makes it easier to accept. I really appreciate both Dean and Rich providing the honest insight. It's NECESSARY in order to keep this fanbase satisfied. You'll see that the more this is done, good news or not, the more it is appreciated and you will have our loyalty.
Fingolfin had a GREAT question regarding Sully. Will he get the shot at center? I'd like that answer as well if possible.
4 pretty quality guys at good terms and prices. Room to keep Lubo and Cammi (Hopefully they stay) and we should be in pretty good shape for an interesting season.
Which one of the 4 is the guy with the most character in the room though? Michel is the 'Pro's Pro', but is he the 'ballbuster' when it comes to bringing a room together? We really lack that leadership, is he the guy?
One final thought: Let LaBarbara have the starting job. He's earned it with his patience. I think it's owed to him and I'll be he'll shine if given the chance. Any guy who likes old school Metallica and has the 'Master of Puppets' album cover on the back of his lid has an 'Intensity switch' that'll put some character, confidence and fire between the pipes.
Anyway, definitely a redemption day for DL and the front office. Thanks for the hard work. (Rich as well!)
"One more thing" sounds more like resigning Burke to a one-year deal than signing either Belfour or Esche. I'm glad Lombardi wasn't completely stagnant during the free agent period, but only time will tell whether not being more aggressive in the effort to sign Drury or Gomez was the right thing to do. Dean appears to be playing a conservative style of acquiring players, since most of the contracts were more or less at reasonable rates; the Rangers, on the other hand, should have some kind of fun in the next couple of years when cap restrictions prevent them from making any impact signings in the near future. As he's more or less done, I hope he follows up with his "we're not going to spin our wheels" explanation and use some money to lock up Cammy and Barbie.
That being said, it looks more and more like the 2007-08 off-season will be when the Kings will have the opportunity to become perennial contenders. The team has multiple first-round picks in a draft that is considered deep, the free agent market should have more marquee names available for the taking, and the prospects in Manchester should be better prepared to make the move to Los Angeles and contribute in the NHL. Here's hoping, anyway.
Deano is a bitter and frustrated man.Offer sheets?Does he really want to play that game?
The Rangers have the room to sign their remaining free agents
Do some research
Thanks again, Rich. At least we don't have to Pay to get info here :)
Thanks so much Rich! Please pass on my thanks also to Dean Lombardi. It's a great boost to have a GM that is so forthright and open about his plan in the long-term. I'd like to second Paincorp's point about letting LaBarbera be the front-runner for the starting goalie job. He's earned a shot on a re-building team. Is that a light I see at the end of the tunnel?
Rich, DL mentioned Nagy putting his "issues" aside and moving forward. Any incite to what his issues are? Was he referring to the arbitration he lost last season that some people think affected his play in PHX?
Never said that they didn't have the cap space. I mearly noted that it makes difficult for them to sign Shannahan, and retain Lundqvist if he's offered a sheet.
I'm all for giving LaBarbera the starting job too. I think he's gonna prove a lot of people wrong.
Paincorp, deacon blue
I think its better for LaBarberas confidence if he goes in and earns his no.1 job title. Dont just give him the job because we got no one else, and he's been patient. We have all been patient with the Kings, should the NHL just give us the cup because of that? You get what im sayin?
Does Calder fight?
I second CBGB's comment. Thanks Rich today was a good day.
Us Kings fans are happy and Transformers came out. (yes, go see it!!)
Hey Rich, the guys on TSN said Brad Stuart and the Kings are in its final stages of finalizing a deal.....You hear anything about this yet ? Or can you confirm it but by the looks of it Lombardi wasn't planning anymore big signings can this be ?
First thanks to you and your editors for allowing this space for us to track the offseason and all your extra work,you have a new devoted following here and I owe you a beer next season.Does DL stick to his guns or what,no panic,right or wrong you have to admire that.At both the draft and now he had very strong second days,nice signings and reasons why he did and didn't.....thanks again....GO KINGS GO
Thanks soooo much for all of your efforts to keep us informed. Kudos....
The only head scratching move is why Calder and why so much? He was MIA all of last year. If anyone has to prove himself next year, it is him not Nagy. (I vote for both but I noticed that DL only mentioned Nagy.) I look forward to hearing his thoughts on the Calder signing.
I am overall quite jazzed about today's turn of events. Also, totally agree that signing of Nagy and Zeus increase odds of keeping Lubo -- just like Demitra's trade got Gaborik to resign. Dave is dead-on this one IMO.
I was very upset after 7/1 but I have to give credit when it is due. I think Dean had a very good day yesterday.
Some questions surrounding all of these guys but if they pan out we could be in for a very good season next year. Very happy about Handzus. Love the fact that he is a good face off guy and penalty killer. Our PK was brutal last year and he will help.
Also if Nagy rebounds we could have another Ziggy. I just remember that this guy would always play welll against the kings