Player evaluation: Klemm
JON KLEMM
This season: 22 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-5 rating.
Positives: Klemm has made a career out of being a grinder. He will never end up with many points, but does what is asked of him, which is to work hard, fill a handful of different roles and be a mentor for the younger players. Klemm did his most important work this season while serving as team captain for the Manchester Monarchs.
Negatives: In an ideal world, Klemm wouldn't even have played as much as he did for the Kings this season. There's definitely value in having a grinder, but Klemm is 38 years old and already had reached the point in which he was a marginal NHL defenseman. There isn't any real speed or offense in Klemm's game.
Looking ahead: It might be the end of the road for Klemm, unless both sides see value in bringing him back in a minor-league leadership role. Klemm basically did what was asked of him, although not much more.
Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
A questions unrelated to the evaluation blogs...
If the Sens buy out goaltender Ray Emery as expected, making him a 25 year old UFA with decent regular season/playoff records and a tarnished personal reputation, do the Kings make him an offer? His troubles of this past season could make him available for a short term contract well under 2 million per, ready to make a fresh start (bounce back if you will) in a new city. Is he worth the risk?
2007-08
GP 31 W 12 L 13 T 4
2006-07
GP 58 W 33 L 16 T 6
2005-06
GP 39 W 23 L 11 T 4
Jimmy Crack Corn... No
Maybe he can teach Jack Johnson how to play the PK. Jhonsons positioning needs some work. And watching Klemm play in the last 10 games of the season showed why. He was the best D on our club that was great at intersepting those killer cross ice passes that killed this team.
Roger
I'm torn here. He hasn't been spectacular, but hasnt completely sucked either. I guess keep him around as a spare dman that can give minutes and not make alot of mistakes.
JCC,
No chance - he is under contract for a few years at $3 million plus. Ottawa will try and trade him. If they have no luck they will give him a buy out.
If he is bought out someone might take a chance on him because they could get him on a 1 year deal at a low ($1 million to $1.5 million) salary.
I am not sure what team would want him in the locker room right now but he has talent - no question.
Part of going young is getting rid of the old.
He did what he was asked. Thank you and good luck.
We might take lumps but we've all been saying to play the youth. Bring them in and see what they can do and let them learn with the big boys.
And no way are we signing another goalie with the 30 we have in the system.
I have no real comment about Klemmm in LA. I thought Klemm was just about useless in Manchester. Wouldn't know he was a "vet", didn't play any better than the rookies. Per Morris, he was very quiet in the locker room. Not what I'm looking for in a captain. Whatever he does next year, I hope it doesn't include a trip to Manchester.