Crawford, on training camp
Below, I'll attach some quotes from a brief interview with Kings coach Marc Crawford regarding the start of training camp. Of particular interest will probably be his comments about the goaltending situation, both in terms of why he made the choice he did last year and what measures he will take to avoid making a mistake this year.
I'm excited for the start of camp tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be able to provide updates throughout the day. That will be determined by my ability to get on the Internet from El Segundo, but regardless, there will be full coverage -- written word and video -- from camp at some point, so stay tuned.
Here's the interview with Crawford...
Q: It seems like it's going to be a really compressed camp, with a game just three days into it...
A: I think maybe we make a little too much of it, as coaches. We like to have them here and implement our system, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it. They come in camp in great shape now. It's not a problem for them to be ready to play, but we know we've got a short time to prepare for the season. The other part is that we only have five exhibition games in North America, and then we're going to be pretty much down to our team.
Consequently, there's not going to be a lot of games for our prospects. So we're going to have to be select with those. We'll play probably two teams in the first two games and you'll see probably close to 40 players in those games. It will be a good chance for us to see what guys are like. We have to use the training camp as a real evaluation tool and there won't be a lot of exhibition games to evaluate them. We're going to let them know that.
We've got the (training-camp) tournament, the Rogie Cup, and it will take on -- I hope, for their sakes -- a lot more meaning. That's just the way it is for the Kings this year. With us going over to Europe early, we've got to make decisions maybe a little quicker than we normally would.
Q: One of those decisions will obviously be in goal. Exhibition is usually a time to get a good look at those guys...
A: The one thing we have though is, we don't have to make a decision on our goaltending until, really, October. That's the one position where they're allowing us to carry an extra guy, because we're going to Europe. So we're going to use that to our benefit. We're going to carry three (goalies) throughout, so we don't need to make a decision. I'm going to learn from my mistake last year. I'm not going to make a decision this year.
I think it's great. All three of the main guys -- Aubin, Cloutier and LaBarbera -- will get a really good opportunity. As players, that's all you can ask for, and then it's up to you. As far as our younger guys... Bernier, we'll have to see how he is and if he jumps into that mix and forces us to really take a long hard look at whether he's ready. Certainly, the two guys in (rookie camp), Quick and Ersberg, are quality pros and look like they're ready to really contribute. I would think that they'll start the year in Manchester, although we won't close the door on that one either.
Again, we want to learn from maybe the mistake that I made last year, when I just made the decision way before I had to. I know why I made it. I came from a market where I spent eight years, and the No. 1 goalie was a big subject and you wanted to get that out of the way. We won't make that mistake this year.
Q: Will you feel comfortable if, on Sept. 29, you're still not sure?
A: Absolutely. We don't need to make a decision right now. From the players' standpoint, their job is to go out and get ready. If they're even the least bit uncomfortable, that's neither here nor there. We have to get better in that better. We all know it. We think we're going to be better. Jason is going to get a great opportunity this year. Danny is healthier. We brought in Aubin and we've got those two other guys, plus we've got one of the best 19-year-old goaltenders that there is in all of hockey. So we're way ahead of where we were last year and we know that the only way to go is up.
Q: You and Dean both have experience taking teams overseas to play. What's going to be the key there?
A: Well, I think the best thing for us is that it is going to allow us to come together, hopefully, a lot quicker as a group. We'll be down to a regular team way before anyone else is. Basically, from the 20th of September we'll be down to a team and most teams will just be starting their exhibition schedule. That's the positive, and I think it's a privilege for us to be playing the first regular-season games in Europe.
It'll be neat to be in that building. I think that building, by all accounts, is just a beautiful facility and we get a chance to open the season against the Stanley Cup champions. It's a great rivalry here in Southern California and they're going to be sold-out games. It's going to be a terrific atmosphere and we're certainly looking at it as a terrific challenge, something that we're proud to be a part of.
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About the bloggers
J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.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.
Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
@dailynews.com.
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Cloutier is "healthier"? What exactly does that mean? There are still issues? I guess we'll wait and see.
Thanks Rich, for all the great coverage, as always. Thanks to your bosses, too, for letting you spend so much time with the Kings. Between Mr. Lombardi's comments, Mr. Crawford's, and all the player interviews, it's almost like I'm there. And for a Kings fan living in North Carolina, that's saying quite a bit. Keep it up, but get some rest, too. Can't wait for the season to start.
Hey Rich. Thanks for all the hard work you put into the site. We all really appreciate it.
I remember a while ago you said that your bosses might make you abandon the Kings and go work full-time for the Lakers (I think?). What's the status on that?
Thanks for all the hard work you put in...and if they take you away I'll be forced to order your paper just so I can cancel my subscription.
I must say, considering the monumental screw-up which was Cloutier, I like how the organization is admitting their mistake and trying to move on. This is a management team that is on the same page. They're candid and honest.
Deacon Blue, I know how you feel. Just try to get hockey coverage in....Hawaii??!! Rich's blog and commentary is awesome, even for someone as hockey starved as I am (the only sheet of ice in the state is in Honolulu). It is just like being there, thanx again Rich for all you do.
As far as the goaltending is concerned, it does seem like they've really learned from past mistakes. It's Jason's job to loose, plus there is a "chance" that Cloutier may finally earn the money he's being paid, doubtful but possible. Aubin is the insurance. In the wings, Bernier, Quick and Ersberg. Interesting view on Bernier, if he's ready to jump into the mix and force them to take a really hard look at him. He's probably a year away but they're keeping their options open; last year their options were Sean Burke when things really went south. Plus there will be Quick and Ersberg waiting in the wings at Manchester for their shot. All in all, very good planning. Certainly the future for the Kings is bright, look at our kids! Trevor Lewis has come such a long way in just a short time, Brady Murray may make the team and Manchester will be stocked with young, up and coming talent, ready to step in. Yes, the future is definitely bright. It takes time to rebuild a team from the ground up but look how far we've come in just a relatively short time. And now Marc has some truly great assistance on the bench in former King Dave Lewis. Marc and DL have really thought this through. My only wish is that I could be there for camp this year, not so much for the veterans, Fro, Anze, Cammy who we know will perform, but for all these young kids waiting for their chance, Boyle, Hickey, etc. Stand back everyone, the fun is about to begin! Thank you Rich, for bringing ice to an area where there is so little of it. Go Kings 07-08, and beyond!
As far as Crawford's comments regarding him giving Cloutier the number one status too soon last year, I would have to believe that it was HIM that had pushed Lombardi into giving him the extension prematurely. That being said, Dean IS still the one to give out contracts. However, I still would think Crawford was doing his best to chirp into Dean's ear and make sure his boy Dan got locked up for maore than the one year that was remaining on Cloutier's contract at the time.