February 2008 Archives
He tells it like it is ...
``If you look at the game it wasn't a matter of them making great plays it was a matter of us making poor plays. They were able to capitalize on a lot of the mistakes we made in the second period. When you make that many mistakes it's tough to win games.''
It seemed like they were always chasing in this game after falling behind 47 seconds in. They did take a brief 2-1 lead after Patrick O'Sullivan's goal early in the second but then fell down 3-2, tied it, fell down 5-3, got within one and ran out of time. Two goals for Brown and one for Kopitar, giving each 28 on the season. Rob Blake did play and got more than 20 minutes on the ice. I couldn't tell you how he looked since I don't have Center Ice, but one of you who does give your impression. He was even but did lead the team with three giveaways.
With the trade deadline past, the Kings can concentrate on the final 18 games of the season. You'd think this might mean we're going to get a look at a lot of the younger players in the organization, but that's not the way the Kings have handled things so far. Teddy Purcell was sent down this week and 38-year-old Jon Klemm brought up. So if the point right now isn't to win games or to see the future, I'm not really sure why they are playing. But the Kings are going to be on the ice tonight in Edmonton anyway to start a four-game road trip. Unfortunately, it's not going to be televised on regular cable. So most of you won't be able to catch a glimpse of what prospects like Scott Thornton and Klemm look like for the future. One thing to watch, or listen for, is what goes on with the defensive pairings now that Stuart and Modry are gone. Crawford doesn't even seem to know what he's going to do. Assuming Blake is out, you can put the names of Johnson, Visnovsky, Preissing, Harrold, Dallman and Klemm in a hat, mix them up, pull them out two at a time and make as good a guess as I could. In fact, that might be the way Crawford decides it.
Edmonton is in a similar place as the Kings, in last place in the Northwest and without a real chance at the playoffs. The Oilers have won five in a row at home. The Kings are 2-0-1 against Edmonton this season and are trying to take the season series for the first time since 1998-99. Dan Cloutier is expected to get the start in goal for the Kings.
``I still have pain when I put my neck back. It’s improving but not really what I’m expecting. If it’s not going to get better in the next 2-3 weeks, then I’m going to have to think about surgery. I don’t want to have surgery. It’s the last option. But, if it’s not going to get better, then maybe I have to do it. If I have surgery, then it’s done (his season).''
He gives injury updates, talks about how the players handled the trade deadline, that defensive pairings will probably be fluid other than Blake-Johnson (once Blake returns) and the reasoning behind pairing Harrold with Visnovsky.
Short one ...
On the possibility of sticking with the Kings the rest of the season now that Stuart was traded: ``You hope so. This is where I want to be. Stuart’s a great guy and was very nice when I was here. It’s sad to see him go. But, at the same time, I have an opportunity here to prove myself so I’m going to take advantage of it.''
On Blake staying and the possibility of learning from him (he hasn't really been able to play with or watch Blake play much because of Blake's injury): ``Obviously he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. You try to learn as much as you can from him since he’s a wealth of knowledge. You try to watch him and do as he does. It’s really cool for a young kid to come in and get to learn from a guy like him.''
--Klemm was called up from Manchester.
--Nagy could be done for the season. He had a third shot and there was only little improvement. He's going to see another doctor to get a second opinion. He says if it's not better in 2-3 weeks, he will have surgery.
--Nagy, Armstrong and LaBarbera will not make the trip. Armstrong tried to skate today and there was still too much pain. It is officially a knee sprain for Armstrong.
--There no longer is a roster limit. However, the Kings still only have 21 active (22 once Blake comes off), and that includes LaBarbera.
--I'll have Crawford's interview as well as interviews with Harrold and Nagy coming up after I get home and transcribe them.
Lombardi certainly didn't do anything special at the trade deadline, but I liked the deals he did make. A second and a fourth for Stuart was as good as you can expect. That he got anything at all for Aubin was a minor miracle. You also have to include the recent Modry deal, which did well to net the Kings another third rounder. The deadline might be remembered more for the deals that weren't made but, when it comes to Blake and Thornton, Lombardi was handcuffed. Granted, he may have put the handcuffs on himself by giving them no-trade clauses in their contracts. However, as he said in his interview, no-trade clauses have been running all the rage in the NHL the past few years. You have to figure he could have gotten for Blake the deal Colorado gave for Adam Foote -- a conditional first-round pick. It's less than he wanted, but perhaps he should have taken it. Basically, to justify not making that deal, he has to re-sign Blake to a reasonable contract in the offseason. Lombardi also was handcuffed by injuries when it came to guys like Nagy and Armstrong. I think the Kings should move Cammalleri in a deal for a promising, young defenseman. But perhaps this wasn't the right time. There's no reason that trade can't wait until the offseason. For making solid deals for the future, though not nailing the big trade, I'd give Lombardi and the Kings a C+.
I'm interested in your take with these two polls ...
Cliff notes: He's satisfied he did everything he could do. The Adam Foote deal with Colorado probably impacted what the Avalanche would offer for Blake. For Stuart, he did the same deal as what Brent Sopel brought last year. There was some contract talk with Stuart and the Kings decided based on that to move him. Thornton, who also had a no-trade clause, gave him a list of four teams to which he would accept a trade. They almost had a deal with one but it fell through because of a bigger deal the team pulled.
Lombardi said that Thornton, who also had a no-trade clause, gave him a list of four teams he would like to go to that he thought could win the Stanley Cup. The Kings almost had a deal with one of these teams but then that team went and did a large deal that ended up keeping that one from happening.
The Lombardi interview is coming up next ...
At first he said he wasn't going to do an interview today, that he was going to leave everything to Dean. But we stressed that there were game-related issues like how losing Stuart would affect the team that Dean wouldn't know about, so he obliged in the end. He talks about losing Stuart, how the defensive pairings will look, possible call-ups from Manchester, LaBarbera's health, today's practice and looking forward to the final five weeks of the season.
He refuses to get into specifics. His agent, Pat Brisson, said that Blake came to the Kings two years ago with the intention of retiring with the team. He said he would accept a trade to Colorado if they could get a good return since he had played there before and liked it there, but that he would prefer to remain a King.
Talked to Blake, Crawford and Thornton. Will have those interviews coming. Lombardi was not at the practice facility after practice. The beat writers are going to have a conference call with him at some point today. Blake said he probably will be ready to play by the weekend, but not Thursday. So expect the Kings to bring up a defenseman in the next 24 hours or so.
Brad Stuart to Detroit for 2008 second- and fourth-round picks. J-S Aubin to the Ducks for a seventh rounder. From what I hear, this is it for the Kings. Shocker -- Blake and Thornton are staying.
So it's past noon and the Kings haven't announced a move, as I'm sure you guys know. I don't expect a late flurry here, but I do hear there is something in the works that has yet to be finalized. I'm at the practice facility and will have more when I get it.
So the trading deadline is at noon Pacific. The Kings practice at 1 p.m. I'm going to bring my computer to Toyota Sports Center. Hopefully the temperamental wireless will be working and I'll be able to post some updates from there. There will be a period around 11 a.m. in which I will be in transit. At some point, I'll have interviews with Dean Lombardi, any key players traded and any key players obtained.
It's a little surprising that there hasn't been a move yet today. Here's my list of players in the organization most likely and least likely to be traded by tomorrow's noon deadline.
He talks about his first NHL goal and being an offensive-minded defenseman.
He talks about scoring his first goal since Dec. 21, confidence issues coming back from the injury and the trade deadline.
He talks about practice, Blake looking ready to play, Ellis' first game, the December struggles, the goalie problems and Tip-a-King.
--There was quite a large turnout for the optional practice. I guess a lot of players want to remain Kings after all. Actually, everyone showed up to at least work out. The players who didn't skate were Brown, Calder, Nagy, Preissing, Stuart, Visnovsky, Dallman, LaBarbera, Armstrong and Frolov.
--Blake said he still hadn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause. I asked if he had any sense on if he would be traded or not and he said he really didn't know, to ask him tomorrow. I asked if there were a limited number of teams he would say yes to. He said he ``hadn't really thought about it and couldn't really answer because it's all hypothetical.'' That seems like a bit of a copout but, putting yourself in his situation, I suppose there really is nothing good that can come out of publicly announcing what teams you would and wouldn't except a trade to.
--I hear the ``Ice Bike'' auctioned off at Tip-a-King last night went for $35,000.
I'll have some interviews coming up with Crawford, Harrold on his first NHL goal and Cammalleri on his slump-buster plus what he has to say on the trade rumors.
at Universal Studios. All Kings players will be there giving autographs and photos for tips, which will go to the Kings Care Foundation. I believe tickets to get in can be bought at the event. You can read more about it at the Kings site. There, you can see pictures of the personalized Kings motorcycle autographed by the players that will be auctioned off. It's pretty cool looking. It reminds me of the purple PT Cruiser with Kings decals that is often in the Toyota Sports Center parking lot. Does one of you own that car?
No practice today. The 10:30 practice Monday is optional.
Johnson was humble in calling his big play luck. Kopitar said he and Cammalleri had given up when they saw Johnson make the diving stop, and that sparked them back into it. Ersberg talks about his NHL debut. And I threw in a quote from Cloutier.
He of course liked the competitiveness of the team to come back. He thought losing Brown for fighting was a big part of the second-period breakdown. He didn't even realize that it was Kopitar who knocked in the tying goal. He must have been fixated on the play by Jack Johnson to make the diving block of the shot on the empty net and control it to lead the final charge -- as we all were. And he talks about the NHL debut of Ersberg.
I think Dan Cloutier actually said it best in the locker room after the game -- this team is either great or terrible, and there's no in-between. The Kings were absolutely horrible during a four-minute stretch in the second period where they allowed four goals and then amazing in the final 11 minutes of the third period to come back from 5-1 down and force OT. There's no other team in the league that can be so bad and so good in the same game.
I'll have interviews coming up with Crawford, Kopitar, Johnson and Ersberg. Since I'm not on deadline -- and thank goodness with this game -- I should be able to get them up quickly.
which, obviously, can't be a good thing for the Kings. Cloutier is pulled with the Kings trailing 5-1 after allowing four goals in the first nine minutes of the second period. The Kings are allowing rush after rush right out of the faceoffs. Time to see what the kid can do.
To start the second period of a 1-1 game, Cammalleri was with Kopitar and Brown while Matt Ellis was given a chance with O'Sullivan and Frolov.
Thornton is back on the Kopitar-Brown line. Willsie is a healthy scratch. Here are the early lines ...
Thornton-Kopitar-Brown
Cammalleri-O’Sullivan-Frolov
Calder-Handzus-Purcell
Ellis-Giuliano-Ivanans
Johnson-Preissing
Stuart-Dallman
Visnovksy-Harrold
This could be your last time seeing a few of these guys in a Kings uniform ...
Despite having the worst record in the NHL, the Kings can tie last season's win total of 27 with a victory. Chicago is last in the Central Division but does have a winning record at 28-26-6. There's still a shot at the playoffs for the Blackhawks, but they are eight points back and need to get hot right away. There's no doubt the Blackhawks remember their last meeting with the Kings, a 9-2 romp on New Year's Day in one of those few occassions this season where everything went right for the Kings. With Jason LaBarbera injured, Dan Cloutier will make his fourth start of the season. Cloutier has won five starts in a row against Chicago, though the last was in 2005. Crawford said he will keep the line of Michael Cammalleri, Patrick O'Sullivan and Alexander Frolov together, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep the magic going from last game -- when they combined for 11 points. Who plays on the top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown will be something to watch. Scott Thornton got time there Thursday after O'Sullivan moved down when Derek Armstrong got injured. Armstrong will be out again today with a knee injury. Also look for the Kings debut of Matt Ellis, acquired off waivers from Detroit on Thursday.
A big reminder, 1 p.m. game today!
Daily News media columnist Tom Hoffarth's list of L.A.'s best and worst game analysts appeared in today's paper and Jim Fox got the top spot. Here's the full list, at the bottom. I have to say, out of all the teams I've covered, I've never seen a television announcer there in the trenches at practice doing research for the broadcast as much as Foxy.
When he arrived yesterday, he didn't have his equipment so he had to borrow LaBarbera's. He felt a lot more comfortable today with his own stuff. He talks about how being with the Kings can benefit him, even if he doesn't play, what kind of goalie he is and the situation battling for starts in Manchester.
With his three goals Thursday, Alexander Frolov has 54 points in 52 games. He could become the first King since Ziggy Palffy in 2002-03 to average more than a point a game in a minimum of 60 games played (Pavol Demitra had 62 points in 58 games two years ago). Frolov had a career-high 71 points in 82 games last season.
``If you’re a scorer, you always have to try to score as much as you can,’’ Frolov said. ``You try to improve every year. You try to be better than you were before.’’
Frolov missed 11 games in November and December with a groin injury. He says it still bothers him and will the rest of the season, but it's difficult to tell from his play. He has 15 points in the past nine games.
``You can kind of tell in certain situations that he’s hurting,’’ said Patrick O’Sullivan, who centered Frolov’s line on Thursday and assisted on all three of his goals. ``But it doesn’t seem to matter, does it? He’s an elite player in this league. He’s really smart and always in the right place. I think all three of his goals yesterday he was standing still, so that shows how smart he is.’’
He's excited to be with the Kings (even last place is better than the minors). He talks about his time in Detroit, what to expect from his game and his already-established relationship with several Kings. He played with Calder last year in Detroit and grew up a friend and teammate with Dallman.
He talks about Blake, the Cammalleri-O'Sullivan-Frolov line, Armstrong, Frolov (who now has 54 points in 52 games), December's struggles, tomorrow's game against Chicago (remember, it's a 1 p.m. start), Ellis, Ersberg and (once again) Harrold.
Basically, he skated on his own Wednesday then went out and tried to practice today. It went well and he lasted the whole way. He has a big pad in the skate. The foot wasn't that sore but the pad was uncomfortable and he hopes to get it smaller. He plans to practice a few more times and, barring any setbacks, he'll be ready to play by the middle of next week.
In a surprise, Rob Blake practiced fully. He will not play tomorrow but he said he thinks he'll be ready for Edmonton on Thursday, or where ever he is playing at that point. I'll post an interview with Blake soon.
Other happenings:
--They think Armstrong has a left knee sprain, though there hasn't been an official prognosis. He is out tomorrow and day-to-day after that.
--Matt Ellis arrived and practiced. He played on a line with Jeff Giuliano and Raitis Ivanans. He is likely to be on the ice tomorrow. I'll have an interview with him to come.
--Crawford said he plans to keep the line of Cammalleri, O'Sullivan and Frolov together. The first line could have some flux as to who plays left wing.
--If anyone ever wondered if Jack Johnson could play some forward, he said that in college he played right wing in the third period whenever the team was down by a goal.
Got quotes from O'Sullivan, Frolov and Cloutier. O'Sullivan had a career high with five points. Frolov had his third career hat trick and now has 15 points in the last nine games. Cloutier stopped 32 of 33 shots, narrowly missing his first NHL shutout in nearly four years.
He talks about the line change of moving O'Sullivan down to play with Frolov and Cammalleri, Armstrong's injury, LaBarbera's injury and the acquisition of Ellis.
I'm back from the locker room and will have quotes after I finish my article and transcribe them. No official word on the Armstrong injury but Crawford doesn't think it's serious. The injury ended up working out well for the Kings because it got the line of O'Sullivan, Cammalleri and Frolov together, and they dominated. Hat trick for Frolov, goal and four assists for O'Sullivan and three assists for Cammalleri. Ellis is expected to be at practice tomorrow, and he could end up playing right away depending on Armstrong's injury.
Calder is a scratch. Haven't gotten word yet if it's healthy, but it could be in order to get Thornton into the lineup. Cloutier is in net. Ellis and LaBarbera also are scratches.
The lines so far are looking like ...
Brown-Kopitar-O'Sullivan
Cammalleri-Armstrong-Frolov
Thornton-Handzus-Purcell
Ivanans-Giuliano-Willsie
Johnson-Preissing
Stuart-Dallman
Visnovsky-Harrold
Erik Ersberg was brought up from Manchester in an emergency recall because Jason LaBarbera is out with a groin injury. Apparently, the injury had been bothering LaBarbera for a couple weeks -- though he hadn't previously mentioned it to us -- and Crawford said it took a turn for the worse recently. Cloutier will get the start in net tonight.
Then the Kings claimed Matt Ellis off waivers from Detroit. Ellis, 27, had two goals and four assists in 35 game for the Red Wings this season. He is 6-foot and 207 pounds and has 51 career games in the NHL. He's been an energy-line guy. It looks like the Red Wings were trying to send him down to the minors, but he had to clear waivers first and the Kings swooped in. He will wear No. 8 on his Kings jersey. An addition: Ellis isn't expected to arrive for tonight's game.
Unfortunately, this means Lauri Tukonen is back down before getting to show what he can do. The Kings' 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft played 9:48 in one game.
Andy Murray returns to Staples Center again tonight as coach of the Blues. The former Kings coach has been taking vengeance for his firing with five consecutive victories over the Kings, including 5-3 and 4-2 wins this season. St. Louis is hot of late, going 4-0-1 in their last five games and coming off back-to-back 5-1 victories over Columbus and Chicago. But the Blues are still three points behind for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, what Crawford likes to call a desperate team. Blues goaltender Manny Legace has long had the Kings' number. He is 10-1 career against Los Angeles.
For the Kings, it will be a challenge to focus on playing with the trade deadline looming and a lot of rumors floating around.
Peter Harrold has been up and down from Manchester in short stints the past month. He could be around for the long run this time, though that will probably depend on what the team does in the next week. If Blake or another defenseman is traded, Harrold should stick.
``I hope so,'' Harrold said. ``That's what everybody wants is an opportunity to play and right now it looks like I have that at least until Blake comes back and maybe longer.''
On what he's worked on in Manchester after his stints with the Kings: ``Every time you go down there you have to make the best of it and work on the things you have to work on to get back here as soon as possible. I was working mostly on making direct plays with the puck in my own zone and playing good, solid defense in the zone. That’s the biggest thing you have to do at this level to earn the coach’s trust.''
And here what Lubomir Visnovsky, Harrold's defensive partner, has to say about him:
``I already played a couple gam