Monday (11/26) practice
Just a couple quick notes, from the parking lot of the training facility...
-- Distributed to the players today was a paper titled ``Key Factors Late Game With Lead,'' which detailed some of the factors that the coaches believe the players need to improve. Crawford was not happy that the papers were still sitting around by the time the media came in to the locker room, and he didn't want to discuss the topic. I'm not sure how he thought we WEREN'T going to see them.
-- Jaroslav Modry has gone back to the Czech Republic to visit his father, who is seriously ill. The Kings will give Modry as much time as he needs.
-- In Modry's absence, Klemm went back to defense and Nagy skated with Handzus and Moulson for most of the practice. Afterward, Crawford indicated that Nagy will be back in the lineup tomorrow.
I'll have more updates later, as soon as I get someplace that has something better than a tenuous wireless connection!
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About Rich Hammond
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.
As much as people tend to dislike Modry's play, it will be missed. I think he's been doing a great job.
I'm neutral on Modry and he plays a lot better than he gets credit for. He's a big guy and people want him to hit but that's not his play style. He doesn't make many mistakes but he's not flashy either.
Best wishes to him and his family. I hope things work out. I lost my dad last year and it sucks.
Hey Rich or Matt,
Just wondering if you could get a comment from the Kings or Lombardi on the supposed GM Conference call today that Brian Burke organized. I wonder what Lombardi's take is on the trade market and whether it is nonexistant because teams can't move salary in a deal, which is what Burke is fighting for.
Rich, I didn't know that The Kings had a game tomorrow... Hmm!
Modry will be missed, he has been very good this season.
I can't believe he's a plus 7, the closest defenseman to him is Preissing at minus 2. You can tell how much even the defensemen don't stay paired other wise his defensive partner would at least be close in +/-.
The only other pluses on the team are Thorton and Nagy, both plus 2. Interesting...
Not his offensive play, thats for sure.
And modry was one of the better players right now, hope its all ok for his dad.
I have nothing against Jon Klemm, but what the hell does Kevin Dallman have to do to earn some playing time? If you don't care about the guy, ship him to Manchester and let him get claimed on waivers... If he's as bad as so many Kings fans think, he should clear.
So....what was on the paper? What are the "Key Factors"?
Nagy skated with Handzus and Moulson
Can I assume this will be the third line?
Taking a stabd at the top two:
Brown-Kopi-Sully
Calder-Amry-Cams
But then what happens at line 4?
Zeiler-Ivanans-...
Is Thornton back?
Dallman playing forward?
Frolov returning?
Jim Jones:
"But then what happens at line 4?
Zeiler-Ivanans-..."
Willsie perhaps?
Hopefully on the papers distributed was how to skate into the zone when you have a six on three advantage?
I think the players are just skating around without any purpose or design, and why on earth would you have to dump and chase when you are six on three?
-- Yes, the next game is WEDNESDAY, not tomorrow. I often have no idea what day it is, and this is one of those days...
-- I will ask Lombardi about Burke's plan the next time I see him. I have a lot of respect for Burke but I think he's off the deep end on this one...
-- Jim...you're missing Willsie there. And since Crawford had praise for Klemm's game, I would assume he stays in the lineup in place of Modry, which is bad news for Dallman...again.
Rich, what were the key factors on that handout?
in retrospect, what a great pickup Yanic Perreault would have been in the off season. This team has NO ONE who can win faceoffs consistently, and there's Perreault winning over TWO THIRDS of his draws. Not saying he'd be a "top 6" guy, but when you have a 6 on 3 with less than a minute to go, a guy like him could prove invaluable.
I didn't write down what was on the handout, as I would consider that borderline snooping, but it was very standard stuff, nothing that would stun you. Just stuff about puck protection and limiting chances. Basic stuff, for reenforcement.
Handzus has been doing very well in the faceoff circle. I don't know his stats but the whole team was off last night.
Up to then he was doing well.
Rich,
I'd like you to comment on Lubomir Visnovsky's play this year. It sure seems that it's been sub-par. Has he been playing through any injuries?
More to the point.....Last May, if I recall correctly, Lubo was quoted in a foreign paper as being highly critical of Marc Crawford. Do you think this could be negatively influencing his play? What can Kings Management do to calm the perceived troubled waters?
Lubo certainly looks like a shell of the player he was the past couple of years.
Dan H.:
Here are the FO%'s for the team thus far this year:
Patrick O'Sullivan 48.4%
Anze Kopitar 48.0%
Michal Handzus 46.6%
John Zeiler 40.0%
Brian Willsie 83.3%
Mike Cammalleri 59.4%
Dustin Brown 50.0%
Ladislav Nagy 55.2%
Scott Thornton 54.5%
Derek Armstrong 52.6%
Kyle Calder 33.3%
As you can see Zeus is the third best of all of our centers, and third from worst on the team. Our faceoff's from centermen are just another one of our problems as to why we keep losing!
Modry has been one of our most consistant players this season; too bad about his dad. Best wishes to him, his family and a speedy return. He'll be missed.