Oh really?

We dont call him LIE WEEKLY for nothing. Any one who knows anything about sports knows this is a terrible idea for the players and nothing but an AEG marketing ploy. All we can hope for is that this extended road trip causes some serious team building bringing the guys even closer together.. Good on you Rich for calling it as most (if not all) of us see it

Yeah Lieweekly, A great idea. Lets take the one hockey rivalry in So Cal, and play two of those games in LONDON, so all socal fans can ENJOY that rivalry. Brilliant...

I am sure that everyone is thrilled about adding more travel hours/miles to one of the worst travel schedules in the NHL.

Ugh...I liked him better when he (TL) wasn't speaking to the press.

Typical NHL-great idea with poor execution. London games are great in theory but why schedule the two teams geographically farthest from London? No different then the outdoor game scheduled for this year-its a great idea but why schedule on January 1st when most of North America is going to be watching College Football Bowl Games?

Rich...agreed...I know for a fact that not every Kings player is "thrilled" about the London trip. Hell, even Lombardi isn't.

Reading that made me feel dirty.

It's a press release - get over yourselves. It might be annoying for 3-4 days of two team's training schedule, but the bigger picture could mean increased international exposure for the NHL - which is a *good* thing.

I am sure most of the Kings staff are not looking forward to the travel schedule. And the tone of both Kings and Ducks responses can be summed up in Burke's response - when the League says 'Go', you say 'Yes.'

But the larger point some fans are missing here is that this marketing 'ploy' should have positive residual returns for the future. For all AEG's missteps with the King's, they are interested in not only building a profitable organization, but a winning one as well. They know those two objectives should go hand-in-hand. They know that the revenues from playing two games in England will not make the Kings. But the exposure of the few weeks in Europe may lead to growth of a global development network and fan-base. How many people in LA know of Manchester United, and how many in the UK know of the LA Kings? Hopefully someday that ratio with change.

Look at what the Dodgers have done in Asia and Latin America. Not a bad model to emulate. Where some see grumpy players with jet-lag, others see an 11-year old who aspires to be the next Anze Kopitar and dreams of playing for the Kings.

Hey, I'm absolutely THRILLED at paying more for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in years.

I'm excited to be paying more for beer.

I'm overwhelmed with emotion at having to park 2 miles away from Staples instead of a block or two.

I'm tickled that I got a scarf this year instead of a signed Robitaille jersey

I'm basking with delight at going into the season with these wonderfully skilled goaltenders! There is no doubt in my mind that between the tree or four of them, they WILL get us to the Stanley Cup Finals!!!

I'm sure the Kings' owners are thrilled about the big bucks they must be pulling down for this debacle. Hope it's worth it when the team stumbles out of the gate.

i hate my scarf too !

what are they thinking !

just sayin'

Darren: LOL!!

Hey JayH: Is that really you, Lie Weekly? Get over ourselves? Who the (expletive) are you? Yep, genius. Great exposure in that hockey hotbed of London. Pure coincidence that AEG is opening a new arena and needed some of the paid help to participate in the dog and pony show.

JayH: Are you serious. This goes far deeper than 3-4 days of training camp. A trip like that could adversely effect the team for weeks at the start of the season.... Just sayin

International exposure may be a "good" thing, but national exposure would be a GREAT thing. Unfortunately, this is a concept the NHL fails to grasp.

Well, as a long time UK Kings fan (about 18 years now) I'm really excited about the games next week. As a netminder myself I'm hoping to see Bernier play, but just to see my team play live has made my year. Remember these games sold out in a short time, whereas the NBA games in the O2 a couple of weeks later still have tickets available. There is a good following for hockey in the UK, we're just not that great at producing our own players...

Pat, (PSP?) I'm a fan, just like you. I see an attempt by the NHL to increase it's brand in Europe - which I find to be good for the league. I didn't say it wouldn't be bumpy for the Kings. I see it as a small hit for the future health of the NHL. How is this bad?

And yes, "over yourselves". It's a press release. They are written of only the most positive elements. That's the way the world works.

The NHL takes a lot of heat for their current level of poularity. Well, here they are trying to implement a damn good idea in a fertile market and a couple of snarky posters take a silly shot at Leiweke's quote.

@Rob. I agree with you. I just see a larger reason to go through with it. It could also speed up the team bonding process and help the new free agents come together. Classic glass half full/half emtpy prespective, I suppose...