Sunday practice report
Rob Blake doesn't expect to be back on the ice before the Feb. 26 trade deadline, which could obviously affect his tradeability. He attempted to skate today and it didn't go well. He is going to have an MRI to check on the ankle's progress tomorrow and said he won't try to skate again until next week. I'll have more to come on his meeting with Dean Lombardi.
Brian Boyle has been sent down to Manchester and Lauri Tukonen is coming up. I guess four goals in eight games wasn't good enough for Boyle to stay.
The flu bug is going around the room. It's the reason Cloutier left after the second period. He had thrown up during the break, was feeling faint and LaBarbera said he was white as a ghost. Anze Kopitar missed practice today because of illness, as did Cloutier. Kyle Calder was feeling it last night but felt better this morning and did practice. Crawford is hoping Kopitar is ready tomorrow. This seems to be a quick, 24-hour illness. Michael Cammalleri missed Friday's game with it but was back Saturday.
Jack Johnson is bruised and sore after being hit by a shot in the third period last night but did practice and should be OK for Monday.
More detailed notes to come.
Figures.. When Blake is set to actually do something good for this organization, he fails.
Are you serious...they sent Boyle down? Now I'm pissed. What the hell could be the reason for this?
Matt, you have to find out why they would do this. This is totally unacceptable. I thought last night he was involved physically all night. It was great to see.
Lauri Tukonen has been playing well lately in the A. With the trade deadline approaching, one can't help but think this is a showcase. Either way, Tukonen is getting his chance and I wish him the best. He'll be a late bloomer, eventually be a solid top-6 forward in the future.
I also hope to see Tukonen do well. I hope he is more effective then last season and while I hate to see Boyle sent down, he needs to get tougher on the boards. A year in the minors never hurt Getzlaf and Perry.
I agree with nykingfan...why in the world would you send Boyle down? I you want to see how Lauri Tukonen will do, send down someone else!!!
Relax everybody...Manchester is flailing and needs Boyle to help them make the playoffs. Tukonen is in all likelihood being brought up as trade bait. Purcell will probably go back pretty soon as well. Manchester in the playoffs is important to all the kings prospects....
DL needs some counseling. Or a lesson on how to be a G.M.
Can anyone shed some light as to what reason you send down one of your hottest players. Is it a bad idea to keep Boyle here so he can learn a get some more experience in the NHL. To be better prepared for next season.
I thought Taylor was bad. But DL makes him look like a rocket scientist.
Yeah, I'm not happy about Boyle being sent down, but I do agree that this is good for Tukonen. He has the skillset to be a player in this league for years to come. If this is a move to showcase him for a trade, then I hope we get something VERY good for him.
I expect Boyle will be back up after all the trade shenanigans are finished.
I wonder if Boyle's return to Manchester has anything to do with nearly getting his face sliced in half (lengthwise) by Brownie's skate. That would've made the Zednik incident look like a scratch if it not for the shield Boyle wears. Eeesh.
There's six million reasons why nobody should care what Rob Blake wants. Seeing Boyle go down in depressing, frankly. It's great to give Tukonen the chance but there are others more important to showcase and rid the team of. I don't get the Boyle thing at all. Perhaps some more advanced hockey minds can explain it?
Can we send LaBarbera down to the minors now before we are forced to watch him blow another game? Please?
Isn't it amazing how Cloutier's goaltending actually made HIM sick instead of just everyone that has to watch him in nets?
Check out all the G.M.s! Who knew so many were Kings fans. Come on guys, we're trying to develop the kids. It's not all done in the NHL. They play here for a couple games, see where they're game is lacking & go down to work on it. It worked wonders for O'Sullivan. We're loaded on the farm so prepare yourself, it's going to happen the rest of the season. What else are we playing for?!
Check out all the G.M.s! Who knew so many were Kings fans. Come on guys, we're trying to develop the kids. It's not all done in the NHL. They play here for a couple games, see where they're game is lacking & go down to work on it. It worked wonders for O'Sullivan. We're loaded on the farm so prepare yourself, it's going to happen the rest of the season. What else are we playing for?!
I hear a lot of people saying send someone else down, but I don't see a lot of suggestions as to who to send down. If Boyle does not get sent down, the only other real option I see is Purcell.
Blake is a good player, albeit a little pricey for what he brings to the table.
we'll see boyle again.
i also think we'll see blake again, unfortunately. i hope not--not saying i hate him, but we need to get rid of the guy-- but that injury hurts our chances of a trade.
DL is a genius and if you don't believe it just ask him. He has brought a bunch of top notch free
agents to LA and he put
together a bunch of Cup
teams together in San Jose,
din't he?
Actually he has wasted a
crapload of $ on mediocre
FA's that basically no one else wanted and drafted a
d-man that no other GM would have taken at #4.
If it's to get Manchester into the playoffs they should say something. If it's to make sure that we send a hot hand down to keep us in the Stamkos sweepstakes, they can't say it.
For a list of OTHERS we can send down?
Armstrong (better lately but still relatively worthless)
Willsie (worthless)
Giuliano (good effort but no hands at all)
Thornton (worthless)
Play the kids.