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Q: What position is DL going to focus on via free agency, is he going to try to snub in another Goalie, pickup a big time defensemen, or just grab another forward who can fulfill the role of being a top 6 forward. Are we going to bulk up through free agency and if trading Cammalerri for a defensemen has any chance of happening, what is the reality of him trading Cammy for a contributing defensemen?

A: Definitely defense, Bringing Blake back, for one more year, looks like it's almost certain to happen. He wants to come back and, even talking to Kings folks privately, I think they're inclined to bring him back if the salary can be worked out. Still, they need at least one high-caliber defenseman, whether it's by trade or free agency. The possibility of trading Cammalleri for a defenseman? Fairly good, I'd have to say. Better than a 50-percent chance. But you never know what can happen when GMs start talking. I don't see another goalie coming and there are a couple holes to fill in the forward lineup. Manchester call-ups will fill one or two, but there will have to be at least one or two forward acquisitions, I'd have to think.

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Q: Any sense for which prospects may not be retained by the Kings organization? I am thinking of players like Petiot and Baier....?

A: Guys such as Petiot, Buckley and Giuliano are all unrestricted free agents this summer. Guys like Moulson, Harrold, Roussin, Gauthier and Piskula are restricted. As for who comes back, I think it depends a lot on who the Kings get in the draft, where they slot in and who moves up the Kings, etc. With the exception of Petr Kanko, I don't think there's anyone the Kings would just outright say, ``No thanks'' to, although the Roussin thing hasn't worked out too well either.

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Q: Since our defense is so thin and undersized, this off season do you see Mr. Lombardi bringing in a player to strengthen the blue line. If yes, does it come through free agency or trade. And who do you predict that D-Man will be.

Yes, as I said I definitely see one or two defensemen coming in. You're looking, next season, at Johnson, Visnovsky, Harrold, Preissing and probably Blake. Does Hickey step up? Maybe, but that's quite a step. So there's a hole there for at least one defenseman to step in. It's almost impossible, right now, to say if a trade or signing would be more likely. Things change so fast. My gut feeling would be that a trade is more likely, if only because the list of free-agent defensemen doesn't seem very deep and the Kings seem to have quite a few tradeable assets. But we'll see. It should get real interesting around July 1.

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Q: In your opinion, what position will the Kings need to finish in to consider it progress and a good season overall? Do they need to finish 10th or better in the west or is anything about 15th in the west progress?!? It has to be about challenging for a playoff spot, doesn't it?

A: Yes. I really believe that anything less than challenging for a playoff spot will be disaster for the Kings next season. It's a big jump, even to go from 15th in the conference to 10th, because the West is so deep, but there needs to be some progress made by the Kings, quickly. More players should start to emerge and more victories should come. Even a bad start to next season, I think, will put Marc Crawford in a very uncomfortable position. Dean Lombardi's leash is longer.

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Q: How much longer do you think ownership is giving DL to turn this franchise around to the point where we see lots of improvement on the ice? I've read quotes this year where Leiweke has stated "2 years we'll be a very good team", "we know coming in that we would be bad for 2 years and then get better, sometimes you have to cross the valley..." Do you think next year HAS to be a turnaround year for the Kings on the ice?

A: A similar question, but I guess it depends on what your definition of ``turnaround year'' is. Is making the playoffs a turnaround year? I don't think anyone is thinking Stanley Cup next season, but as I said, a poor start to next season will make people very uncomfortable. You have to take what Leiweke says with a grain of salt. You might remember his famous, ``This is the year we've been waiting for'' stuff after the lockout ended. Well, you saw how that went. Leiweke is a very good talker, I'll say that much. Lombardi certainly doesn't need to be nervous this summer. Next summer? We'll see.

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Q: What is going to happen with Danny Taylor? Who do you think the "4 to 5" prospects from the MAN will be, that he sees being on the Kings?

A: Taylor definitely has a tough road ahead of him. LaBarbera is there. Ersberg opened some eyes this season. The Kings are going to want to get good looks at Bernier and Quick. So where does that leave Taylor? Somewhere with Jon Quick, trying to prove himself and get attention really quickly. The trip to the NHL, albeit brief, should give Taylor some confidence, but there are quite a few bodies standing between him and the Kings' roster. As for the Monarchs coming up, I know people are taking the ``4 to 5 prospects'' quote as gospel, but Lombardi throws stuff like that out there sometimes. It doesn't mean he already has guys inked in for the Kings' roster. Obviously you look at Boyle and Purcell and think they're ready to make the jump. Cliche? Lewis? Westgarth? Those are guys who haven't yet cracked the NHL roster but might have a chance. Others have already bounced back and forth.

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Q: Most likely we will take a Dman with our first pick in the draft. Do you have any idea what DL will do with our 2nd 1st round pick from Dallas? Who are some of the prospects available or do you think he'll package it up for a proven NHL defenseman?

A: There seems to be an unspoken sense that the Kings will trade that second first-round pick. I tend to agree, although I don't have any concrete evidence that they will. Just seems to make sense, doesn't it? If they keep the pick, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them get another defenseman. I've seen two mock drafts (which are just speculation obvioulsy) that list Jake Gardiner and Vyacheslav Voinov. But I don't think anyone would put it past Lombardi to go way off the board, right?

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Q: Oh, and 1 more... At the trade deadline, how many teams were asking you about Ivanans? Any offers you can mention? Hints at what the return would be? Personally, I'm glad he's still a King. Thanks!

A: None that I know of. I think the Kings are pretty happy with Ivanans. He's the least of their problems right now! Well, maybe not the least, but close... The fact that they locked him up with a two-year extension -- at a good salary -- tells me that the last thing they want to do is get rid of him.

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Q: Any news from DL re: re-signing O'Sullivan?

A: Not yet. It's a little early in the game. I know people are concerned that somebody is going to pull a Dustin Penner and force the Kings into a big contract with O'Sullivan, but I don't see that coming. O'Sullivan had a strong year, but he's not there yet. I would expect the Kings to lock him up for a couple years.
A: