Training camp
The Kings' first on-ice session for training camp will be held Monday, Sept. 10. I'm told that some sort of rookie camp will be held prior to that, although not the usual rookie tournament that has been held the last couple years. The specific training camp schedule should be released soon, and when it does I'll let everyone know.
I actually thought camp would open sooner, given the trip to Europe, but camp will start on the 10th and the first preseason game will be held just three days later in Anaheim. The North American portion of the preseason concludes with the Sept. 22 game in Las Vegas and then the Kings fly to Europe.
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About the bloggers
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.
I too expected training camp to begin earlier...I was thinking one week prior, because of that trip to Europe.
Rich: I'll probably see you at training camp, and maybe the rookie camp.
Any word on if, where, and when the Southwest Shootout will be held?
How much are preseason tickets?
I can't wait until Frozen Fury in Vegas!
If you're referring to the Pacific Division Shootout (rookie tournament), it won't be held this year since the Kings and Ducks are starting the season in Europe.
30 days and counting. Not expecting the moon but hoping for a competetive mix of vets and young guns on the ice this season. Wouldn't be suprised if they scraped the rookie tounament this year. Seems that at least one promising kid from each team would get injured and their season was over before it began. In any case, I'll be counting the days and spending them right here to catch all the development first hand from Rich.
i was the first to criticise DL for not getting a "marquee" player ... i was bitter ... and before the season begins ... i just want to say...
i think i was wrong...
im startin to get a good feelin bout this season boys...
Uhhh....I'm not sure about how good we'll be. If you look at all the top teams in league, they all have quality goaltenders...and our 3 tenders are unproven thus far...I am still concerned about the netminder problem and the lack of a "marquee" player.
We have a petty good blue line with a lot of mobility, plus we have gotten a little bigger in size and height, but unless Nagy scores 30, Cammy scores 40-45, Frolov scores 40, Kopitar nets 35 plus...and Calder at least 20, we're gonna have a heck of a time scoring. Also, I've said this before...If guys do not learn how to skate the puck into the zone and create offense on rushes, then we cannot play the game effectively and with control. Last year, one guy on our team could do this...Kopitar, but no one else did. Everyone praises Frolov's "amazing possession and control"...but he does not eer kate the puck into the zone. This is the job of the "marquee" player that the Kings do not have.
Right now...I place the Kings at the 10 spot...and not making the playoffs. Even if we made it to the first round...does anybody really believe we can beat the top for teams in the west? (Detroit, Dallas, Nashville, San Jose) I don't think the kings are even in the next four top teams...(Minnesota, Anaheim, Colorado, Calgary).
Now, don't get me wrong...I am a huge fan of the Kings and I would not follow any other team, but you have to face it...we're still rebuilding...the sharks were not built in one season...nor the canes...
I do not have a good feeling about these guys...sorry. I still love'em though. Go Kings go! "PLAY HARD"....you're gonna need it.
actually Kyle i think your right...
if you see the times on the posts ... i was a little buzzed...
sober now ... not so pumped...
(sigh)
I have read the above comments and IMO we are better all around (minus goaltending) then some are giving us credit for. I think we do have a chance to make the playoffs, is it a garantee...no. But we have improved, that's what matters. Scoring goals was not the problem last year defense was and that has been addressed.
As far as the goalie's go I am willing to wait and see what Labs can do before I write off the season. No one thought that the Oilers were going to make it out of the 1st round (let alone make the playoffs) and they went to the cup finals.
In closing all I am saying is we have improved. JL should win the #1 job and he is the key to us having a great year.
No offence Kyle B., MattGeorge but I hope to hell you both are wrong. I think the Kings are fighting for a playoff spot come May and April.
Matt,
Why did you change you mind so suddenly? Hopefully it was because of Kyle's comments. He has some good point but he also has Detroit, Dallas, Nashville and San Jose as the top four teams in the playoffs. Dallas and Nashville? Those are two teams on the way down. The Kings are on the way up. Plus, as DL noted last spring, the addition of Burke showed how much better THAT team became with average goalkeeping. This year's team is much better and Lab's in goal is an upgrade.
So, cheer up!
(P.S. I do agree Fro should not be allowed the puck in the neutral zone.)
Hey Rich, can you ask somebody in Kings management if they ever considered doing a Fan Fair pre-season thing to stir up some more excitement about the team? The Angels already do it and it's a huge success. Thanks and keep up your great work!
Thank you Alex for clarifying this issue up with complete absurdities (although Kiprusoff accross the blue line would get a lot of laughs!). Marquee players are those that you can advertise...hence, "marquee"...and we are in a transition period, as we've all come to understand. Now, would I market Armstrong, Brown, or even Frolov? No. I still am trying to figure out why lakings.com has Frolov's head on the main screen. I do not know too many people who go to Kings games saying, "Oh! Yes! I wonder what Willsie's going to do tonight...or how many times Frolov will play with the puck behind the net and then give it away without a shot?" Nobody will say these things. Kids, and adults alike, go to the Kings games to see their developing players contribute to the developing team. I love Army, Brown, and on occassions - Frolov, but they just are not marketable players. Kopitar, Cammalleri, Nagy, Lubo, Johnson, and LaBarbs are pretty much who I would be marketing..."the future of the Kings..." or what-not. Kids will love the style of Kopitar, Cammy, and Nagy, while the adults (who love anything good as well) will be watching the others as well. They will be saying things like, "Oh, wonder if Nagy's addition will help any player step up their game, or vice versa. Is LaBarbera playing tonight? He is soo solid!"
This is where the Marquee players come into play. The aforementioned are just examples...but let us take a look at other successful "Marquee" markets:
Shaq and Kobe -- Who cared what other players were around them
Sidney Crosby -- Crosby and the Penguins
Alexander Ovechkin -- Team is close to last...and fans and rest of league will watch, "Wonder what Ovechkin will do today!?"
Teemu Selanne -- He and seven other players...including the tender... was all that mattered.
David Beckham -- What's soccer? LA had a pro soccer team? Home Depot center? Isn't that where I get my lumber?
These few examples give the teams that extra boost and "marquee" that makes everything marketable. Not to mention...these marquee players play substantial roles in the teams' success (well, not sure about Beckham...one game and a loss? But that's what I mean...I would not give a rats' what the Galaxy did if he weren't marketed more than McDonald's New Angus Beef Burgers.) Don't we need more fans...and don't fans want a good team...and don't you get good teams that are fun to watch when you can have someone like Kopitar and...I don't know...Kovolchuk snipe beautiful goals and skate into the zone to create more offense and speed...which will attract the attention of new fans...and please the current ones? like us?
So please...since I explained myself...Alex, if you could please explain to me...what do you have against marquee players? Players that will consistantly please the fans and bring new ones in...Sounds good to me...on the business and fan side.
I think Alex was demonstrating that goaltending and overall team play is more important than ‘marquee’ players - which I agree with whole heartedly. Case in point – We had Gretzky for a number of years and failed to win the Cup. Arguably, there has never been a more ‘marquee’ player in the history of sports, outside of Jordan, Ali and Beckham. The Ducks had Niedermayer and Pronger, and they won the Cup. In Canada, it’s nice. In the US, it’s like having Brian Urlacher and Shawne Merriman. Nice, marketable names…but??? Marquee is relative. I think what we all would like to see is an overall higher skill level amongst our players as a team. We don’t need one marquee player to rush the puck from end to end if 10 other guys on the team can do the same thing. What we need is the best team play in the NHL. That will win us a Cup. And that is the ultimate goal. Right? Consistent success is the best marketing, in my opinion.
Thank you, Daniel. I want the team to be really good - with or with out a "marquee" player.
Thats just a meaningless designation for, like you said, selling tickets. The team could sign me and advertise me till I become more NOW than Tiger Woods. That doesn't mean that once I step on the ice, the Kings will be a better hockey team.
Though I don't get what marquee players have to do with rushing the puck into the zone.