Forum answers, Part 1

----------

``Thru your time interacting with the players thru interviews or being in the locker room... How do the guys get along?? What type of personalities do the young "core" players have? Of the young guys, which ones stand out to you as Captain Material??''

Yes, I did pretty much answer this question last time. As for the personalities of the young players, I think overall they're a pretty impressive group. Patrick O'Sullivan really bought in this year and took big strides. Kopitar, being the son of a coach, will never be a ``problem player.'' He's a hard worker. Same for Dustin Brown. On the subject of potential captains, I look to Jack Johnson. He will have to show that he deserves that, through his play, but he has a fiery personality and some healthy self-confidence. There were times this season that I sensed he wanted to say more than he did, but out of respect for the team's older leaders, kept quiet. We'll see how that develops in the next couple years.

----------

``Does anyone know if there is an email address to contact Bob Miller? I bought his book and want to have him sign it, but I don't live in the LA area. So I missed all his signing days. I am going to Sharks game on April 1st in SJ, and wanted to ask him if it was okay for me to come by the press box after the game to get his signature. Any information would help, thanks.''

I don't know if you'll get anyone to give you Bob's contact information. I would try to find out where the broadcast booths are located in San Jose -- they're not where the writers sit, and I can't picture where they are -- and hang around there before or after the game. I'm sure Bob would be happy to accommodate you.

----------

``With the Ontario team coming to the ECHL next year, can we expect to see more Kings prospects placed closer to home and in the ECHL than when the team supplied Reading with a smattering of marginal prospects. Granted the AHL is a far better developmental league, but to have a team so close in proximity to Los Angeles, you obviously think it would be beneficial to keep a closer eye on some players. It doesn't SEEM logical, but perhaps there'll be a method to said madness. (After all, when Manchester needs reinforcements, the trip from Ontario, CA to New Hampshire is far more costly than the ride from Reading...)''

It's definitely a question for Lombardi, but you're right, it wouldn't seem logical. I haven't seen much ECHL hockey but I have to imagine the level of play is considerably different. I think the biggest impact might be in those cases when they send a player back to Manchester for a weekend, just to get some games. With a team in Ontario, in that case they might choose to keep the player local. Long term, the hope is still to get an AHL (or AHL-level team) on the West Coast, but that doesn't seem likely anytime soon.

----------

``If you have the number one pick is there any way you DON'T pick the best player in the draft in Stamkos?''

I can't imagine, but then again, who thought we were going to hear the name Thomas Hickey last year?

----------

``I have been wondering, is Dean's philosophy to draft more for talent or more towards character? I've heard a few successful winning G.M.s say they think about character first.''

``Character'' means different things to different people, but yes, I definitely think Lombardi looks at more than just stats and videos. I haven't heard him talk about this, specifically, in terms of draft picks, but he certainly looks at a player's ``character'' when looking at free agents. It's one of the reasons he raved about Handzus at the time of that signing. Fortunately, in hockey the percentage of ``bad apples'' is pretty low.

----------

``My questions would be why did DL not address Cloutier accusations directly and why is Cloutier still in an
LA jersey taking away time from a promising young G who will soon be a FA. Finally since Manchester is
making a push why is Harrold not being sent down to help them since he was their best D-man. Does this say Harrold is up for good?''

As a reporter, I would love to hear Lombardi's thoughts about Cloutier. But I understand that it doesn't do him any good to get into a public sparring match with one of his players. It's counter-productive. Cloutier is there because there aren't any other healthy NHL-ready goalies. Quick proved he's not ready and neither is Taylor. And yes, I would say Harrold is up for good. They feel he can play at the NHL level now and that he's better served learning at this level. Obviously they don't feel the same about some other prospects.

----------

``Are there plans for an organized Draft viewing party and will non-season-ticket holders allowed to join in?''

I believe the thing at Hollywood and Highland last year was only for season-ticket holders, and I'm not aware of any plans to change that.

----------

``A question for you or for Dean. At the trading deadline, I was a little surprised and disappointed to see that The Kings didn't make a run at now Coyotes goalie Al Montoya. That seems to be a guy we would really could have benefited from acquiring the Coyotes did not seem to have to give up a lot to get him. To make matters worse he went to a division rival. Thoughts?''

There are a lot of these questions...``How come Lombardi didn't trade for (fill in goalie's name here)?'' They're all individual cases, but Lombardi's general philosophy is that he's not going to grab a goalie just for the sake of grabbing one. If a veteran came along, for the right price, I think he would go for it -- especially after he made the mistake of not grabbing Bryzgalov -- but look at the young/inexperienced goalies already in the system: Ersberg, Bernier, Quick, Zatkoff, Taylor... I don't really think there's a strong desire to add another ``prospect'' right now.