Not everything is rosey
Jonathan Bernier has allowed eight goals in two games for Lewiston. Maybe a little residual effect from his time with the Kings. It can also be tough to stay motivated and focused heading down to juniors when you hoped to stay in the NHL. It's a long season so nothing to be worried about right now, but something to keep an eye on.
Looking at some of the players from training camp in Manchester, Dan Cloutier is 1-3 with 11 goals allowed in four games. Brady Murray has a goal and an assist in four games, both coming in the last two. Gabe Gauthier leads the team in points with 12 in eight games. Matt Moulson leads in goals with five.
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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 hope Bernier rebounds from this experience. I'm hoping he can pull a positive out of a negative.
I stiil think he's gonna be the next Martin Broduer or better.
I don't think Lombardi & Crawford are going to recover from this Cloutier debacle. It's gonna haunt them until they're fired.
According to the New York Times or Post, they're days are numbered.
Cloutier is done.
I bet that we will see Dan sign with a Russian/ European team by the beginning of next year and go the way of Teverdovsky and Chekmanek. His contract will then be off the books and he will just be a bad memory.
I think Larry Brook from the NY Post is full it. How can he say that DL and MC days in LA are numbered and that no one is happy them? Also that no one is confident in LaBarbera? I can tell you this, Barbs has giving me hope for this season. I know it's early and I know the Kings play everyone in the division next month, but if he and the Kings survive, something good could be brewing. Can't wait to see them again on wednesday. GO KINGS GO!!!!!
What's the deal with the NY Post reporting that the LA players are not happy with Crawford? Any truth to that? If so, why?
Don't forget to stop at Taco Bell before heading over to the spa.
It is also not the same Lewiston team this season. I believe they lost their two best players. Perron and Chiche.
You people realize that Larry Brooks is pretty much like Eklund, right? He just makes things up.
Lambardi isn't going anywhere considering he's done an amazing job so far and has really put this team in a great position to succeed for a long time with all the young talent in the organization (yeah, cloutier was a bad move, let it go).
And "Dora" or whoever made that up too, obviously.
In other news, Jamie Storr is making a comeback.
lets be clear... i don't think i will ever be happier being wrong in my life ... it's just the bowman toronto rumors have been circulating for years and he just continues to dig his heels in detroit...
You see this a lot with junior players that spend some time in the NHL and are sent back to their junior teams. The play is a a lot different in the NHL. Plays happen a lot faster, so he might be over committing. I wouldn't worry too much about Bernier.
anybody else think bernier might benefit from one more year in the minors after this one before coming to LA? i have faith in bernier, but with labarbera looking like a legit NHL starter, i say the more practice and time to mature, the better.
i think bernier rebounds, just might take a little longer than expected.
Why are we listening to anything said on the East Coast about our team? They are morons. Remember last year? The Ottawa Sun had us getting Alfredsson for Conroy straight up. Glorious for us, but profoundly stupid.
Bernier better work out, cuz Kiprusoff ain't coming.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3085979
Bernier will be fine. There is no need to rush him back to the NHL, particularly if Labs continues to thrive with the work he's getting. As for the GAA in Lewiston, I'll chalk that up to the quality of players around him, a difference in speed of the game (yes, slower can mess you up--just ask a major league batter who faces a 70mph junkballer after 90mph fastballs) and adjusting to yet another environment. He'll be fine and another year in the minors or juniors won't hurt him a bit. He's a first-rate kid and will be a first-rate NHL'er.
Gord,
Exactly! And thank you for bringing a reality check to the rumors here! The East Coast & Canadian media are the same folks that brought us the Mike Cammelleri for Andrew Raycroft rumors this past summer.
In regards to Eklund, I think Rich summed it up best when he said that the only "E3" us Los Angeles fans should worry about is when James Loney drops the ball at first base for the Dodgers...
It's silly to even talk about Bernier, Matt. Give the guy a month at least, to become acclimated to the huge difference in talent level. He's fantastic, he's proven that time & time again. . .now let's just wait for him. You can almost guarantee that he'll be atop the leaderboard at season's end.
Regarding the Crawford/Lombardi rumor: could it BE any more ridiculous? They JUST GOT HIRED. Does anyone honestly believe that those in charge (who is it, now, anyway? Luc? Tim? Rogie? my Aunt Asna?) would get rid of him, after such a brief and (seemingly) auspicious beginning? Not a chance. Hurts to even talk about it. For some reason, Brooks makes his way to HNIC on occasion. . .and makes me sick.
Oh, and Matt: it's "rosy", for cryin' out loud. Come on, man, you work as a writer!
Just goes to show you:
CHARACTER
Thanks Dean!
Too early to tell for Bernier. Let's see as the season rolls along. Yes, Lewiston is a different team from last year and he isn't getting the support from his teamates. Still, there is some cause for alarm. Did the lack of support from the Kings erode his confidence? Only time will tell. Hopefully not and I'm sure he will recover. Still, you can't help being concerned, what a great kid with unlimited potental....a visit from Ranford & Hextall probably wouldn't hurt.
Hmmmmmmmm what EX-King that never really gets along with ANY management OR authority for that matter might be talking to Larry Brooks ? Hmmmmm I know there's someone, it's on the tip of my tounge, wait a minute don't tell me, it's ummmm ... ohhhh you know THAT guy. ;-)
PuckU,
Does his name start with a "S" and end with an "ean Avery?"
Bingo 619! Since when does the NY press (or any east coast outlet) give a hoot about the Kings? They barely mention the Kings when the Rangers are out here.
Aside from that rumor nonsense, I'm really pleased that the next wave of young Kings forwards are off to a great start and continuing to develop.
Lewiston is just as good as they were last year. Cliche and Perron are both gone, but they have some very good players in Giliati and Daneau. Bernier just has not looked good. Aside from that, Peter Delmas, a youngster, who would have been the starter had Bernier not returned, has played great this season and may challenge Bernier for the starting role.
Come on, now!
Delmas is NOT the goaltender Bernier is and everyone knows it (including the team and staff). Bernier just needs to get back into the swing of things, and he'll be fine. If Delmas takes over for awhile, it surely won't last. He just won his first-ever game a month ago, didn't he? I agree that he looks pretty good this season, but I would bet the house on Bernier getting back into form and leading Lewiston to the Cup.
Don't be so sure. Delmas is playing very well. Word is that he is the next Bernier, and could be drafted very high if he keeps up his play. Don't be so sure, that's all I have to say
Haha
I meant "don't bet the house AGAINST Bernier..."
I do like Delmas. There are a few others in the CHL that I think will go before him; where is he ranked, among them, does anyone know? Preliminary, I mean. Just curious.
I'll take Bernier's style, personally. Plus, I'm a bit biased ; )
I followed Lewiston most of last year. No way this year's team is as good as last year- they've already lost half the games they lost all of last year and they're just getting to the quarter mark. Cliche and Perron were big time keys to the team's success. Delmas had a pretty good season as a 16 year old last year- best rookie goaltender as well. He deserves the playing time he's getting as he held his own when bernier was injured towards the end of the season. He'd make a good early-mid round choice in the near future.
It's rather lame that the CHL can make special exceptions to bring young players into the league to continue their development, but at the same time has an agreement/rule that preventing players from moving up into the AHL, even if it would be in the best interest of that player's development. Bernier should be in the AHL this year; there is not much he's going to get from playing a fourth year in juniors.