Forum answers, Part 3
The next round...
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``Does management, coaching staff or players know about the blog?''
Yes, I've endured a moderate amount of ribbing from Dean Lombardi about being a blogger. The Kings' communications department includes our blog entries among its daily clips, so coaches and players at least have the possibility of being aware. I'm sure I've mentioned it to a player or two.
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``My question to Rich then is do you see the draft picks we've stocked this year and maybe a roster player being moved in a deal for a goalie? Do you think Cammy could be that roster guy?''
I know a lot of fans are hungry for the Kings to trade for an established, quality, No. 1 goalie, but my question to you is, ``Who?'' Which team, at this point, is just dying to trade its superstar goalie to the Kings? None that I can think of. I believe that Lombardi's philosophy will remain the same when it comes to trading for a goalie. If a great offer comes along, he will jump on it, but he's not going to panic and give up a first-round pick for just an above-average goalie. The Kings think they (finally) have the answer in Bernier. At this point, I don't think they're going to do anything ``bold'' in terms of goalies. I know that disappoints a lot of people.
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``What will bother me the most is if we retire (Rob Blake's) name and number up in the rafters with the other 5 King greats. Frankly, he isn't even in their league. Do you think the goal of the organization is to do this? What percent would you give it and would the organization realize that a ton of fans would be outraged by this?''
Yes, I absolutely expect the Kings to retire Rob Blake's number, unless there's (another) major falling out, just as I would expect the Lakers to retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey in a few years. I wrote a column for the newspaper on this subject a couple weeks ago. The Kings organization is absolutely aware that Blake isn't completely beloved by the fans, but I don't think that will impact their decision. But where is Butch Goring's number?
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``I'm curious as to ownership issues with AEG. They recently sold a large share of their Houston Dynamo soccer team. Have you heard any rumblings about their ownership of the Kings?''
No, and I don't except to. AEG is selling off soccer teams because at one point, it owned a ridiculous percentage of the MLS league. AEG's deal, owning the Kings and Staples Center, is too cushy to give up.
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``When (not if) Blake re-signs with us next year, what should the ceiling be set at? I was thinking 3 million max. Thoughts.''
Yes, I think somewhere in the $2.5-million range would be in line.
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``What's your take on the locker room chemistry? Do they all seem to get along? Is it old guys vs young guys? Point producers vs non point producers?''
Regardless of how it is now, it will never be as bad as it was with Sean Avery. I know most fans loved him, but he was a loud, divisive figure in the locker room. You'll never see a team with 20-some guys who all adore each other equally, but in general I think the Kings have pretty good chemistry. The younger guys, such as Cammalleri, Johnson and Kopitar, are showing leadership but are still respectful of the older players. It's a fairly low-key room, which contributes to good chemistry, but it's also a bit of a cause for concern, since I think the organization would like to see a little more ``fire'' in the room.
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``Since Reading is not going to be affiliated with the Kings next year, where does that leave Manchester?''
In the same place, at least for the time being. AEG still owns the Monarchs, and they're the Kings' top minor-league affiliate. The Kings would like to have an AHL team on the West Coast, but right now there are none. That's the goal, but until the AHL decides to come out West, Manchester will remain as the Kings' top affiliate.
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``Will we be seeing you at practices again? Will you be covering the Kings on a daily basis?''
This is something I'm trying to figure out at this very moment. I'm trying to put together a strong coalition of people who can contribute to the blog for the next month. They all have backgrounds in hockey and love the sport, so I'm excited about what they can contribute. During the summer, in terms of the draft and free agency, I plan to be doing the majority of the coverage on the blog.
Rich - you f***nig rock!
Don't ever leave us again!
Thank you for all that you do for us fans.
Go Kings!
Speaking of number retirements...why not reunite the triple crown line by getting Charlie Simmer up there?
Fantastic stuff Rich. You know that there were a few of us with less "cred" in the eyes of the fans that were aware of the horrible distraction that Avery was in the locker room, and it's great to finally have it said by someone who people believe and respect as having the answers.
Thanks for your insight Rich. You're the man!
Thanks Rich for all this information. It's nice to have you back we all missed you!
Thanks a ton for your time and expert insight Rich... I look forward to this blog every day! keep it up! go ersberg!
On the Blake hatred, I'm sure the team knows that some fans don't like the guy. I'm sure they also know he's the best defender we've ever had and only Norris winner, has played (and is still adding to) in excess of 100 more games for the team than a guy like Goring (who is no flake either), is a sure fire HoFer, was there for some of our greatest achievements as a team, and by all acounts is a wonderful person and teammate to anyone who actually knows the man and is honestly interested in helping this team win the Stanley Cup either as a player or in any other capacity.
I'm sure they are also aware that the fans that have so much hatred for the guy, which more than just occasionaly falls into some rather passionate, personal, and irrational areas, have never spend five minutes in person with him to know what kind of character the guy has despite their continual attacks on him based on that character.
Yes, the team knows how some fans feel. I also think they may have a better handle of the reality of the situation than those fans, and just maybe even a better idea of what kind of person Blake is/was as a member of this team over the years compared to the villianous cartoon character many of those fans make him out to be.
You know, I'm not even a huge fan of this guy, but the way some fans treat him is just ridiculous. He can't even get some credit for wanting to stay here, that selfish sob...
Relative to the question about online vs print and the need for print content to be of higher quality and in depth etc..
The problem is, people will always choose speed and convenience over quality and content.
If not, then digital music (I-pod and CD) would have died a quick death and we would all be listening to Vinyl.
I think for newspapers to succeed, they are going to need to figure out how to eliminate online classified advertizing and that is not going to happen, which is sad.
Thanks Rich and welcome back. Just going to throw this out there but how but the Kings make a pitch to Buffalo to land Ryan Miller? He's scheduled to be a UFA after next season and the Sabres have shown they don't throw large contracts out (lost Briere, Drury, Campbell) and you know Miller will be in line for some serious ca$h. Maybe package up Bernier, etc. and get our hands on Miller.
I think on the future of news item, the news industry is in a similar position to the music industry as mentioned. However, I think the bigger issue is with news becoming more a for profit venture than being seen as a public service.
Streamlining the business, fewer reporters, less cost, more reliance on AP, all this stuff is great in terms of profit buyt doesn't make for better information getting to the public.
Much like health care, when certain things are run for profit, they are more efficient driven by market forces. But that effeciency is on the cost/profit side, not on the quality side, and in news and health care the public good isn't neccesarily better served.
Big problem not only for sports reporting, but also with our democracy in general. Don't have an answer at all, but it's a more far reaching issue than just internet vs. paper content or whatever.
Rich you asked "who" are those superstar goalies that teams are dying to trade.
I hope I don't come on sounding like that guy Anthony but you forget there were a couple goalie trades this last deadline. Both Huet and Smith have better numbers that Babs. Second, there may not be superstars available but with the amount of goals the Kings can score we don't necessarily need a Roy or Brodeur.
Also, my other point was that after the playoffs some teams are going to be dissappointed w/ their performance. Atlanta, Ottawa and Colorado have two goalies each and could look to move or lose one to free agency.
The bigger point that was missed is if Dean will take advantage of these opportunites. Bernier is not the real deal for at least couple more years.
Thanks Rich, great information.
Please say Hi to Matt K. Hope he is doing well and his "vacation" is short. I'm sure he'll find a great opportunity soon.