Moller interview

Here’s my interview with Oscar Moller from after today’s practice. Moller is definitely making a strong impression. I asked a team official today if Moller was going to make the team, and he said of Moller, “He’s making it tough on us.” If you’re a young player fighting for a roster spot, that’s what you want to hear… For those who need updates on tonight’s game against Colorado, I’ll do my best to provide live updates throughout the game. It is available on 1150-AM, with the audio also streamed on the Kings’ site. Here’s Oscar…
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Clune interview

It’s a shame that Richard Clune is now out with a broken bone in his chest, as he was just starting to develop some positive buzz in training camp. From talking to people around camp, it didn’t seem to be a huge stretch to think that Clune might crack the NHL roster as that third- or fourth-line agitator/tough guy. I talked with Clune about the trade that brought him over from Dallas, and he also had some very interesting things to say about the somewhat-obvious comparisons to Sean Avery.

Clune, a third-round pick of Dallas in 2005, split time between the AHL and ECHL last season. In 38 games with Iowa of the AHL, Clune had three goals, five assists and 137 penalty minutes.

Plus, thanks to the wonder of YouTube, here are videos of Clune’s three preseason fights. The first one is from the first day of training camp, against Drew Bagnall. The other two are from Monday’s game against Phoenix, against Todd Fedoruk and Garth Murray.

Click after the videos to read the interview…


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Tonight’s roster

This, as far as I know, is the roster of available players for tonight’s game against Colorado. Obviously some of these guys won’t play, but that’s who is there.

FORWARDS: Derek Armstrong, Brian Boyle, Dustin Brown, Kyle Calder, Vladimir Dravecky, Matt Ellis, Gabe Gauthier, Michal Handzus, Raitis Ivanans, Dwight King, Anze Kopitar, Matt Moulson, Marty Murray, Ted Purcell, Brad Richardson, Wayne Simmonds, Jarret Stoll, Kevin Westgarth and John Zeiler.

DEFENSEMEN: Drew Doughty, Davis Drewiske, Matt Greene, Jack Johnson, Alec Martinez, Joe Piskula, Tom Preissing and Colten Teubert.

GOALIES: Erik Ersberg, Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff.

To answer an earlier question about Moller not being there, I think it’s just a numbers thing. They want certain guys to get in games, experience road trips, etc. Jason LaBarbera and Denis Gauthier are two veterans who didn’t make the trip.

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Injury update III

It’s been a rough week for the Kings. Now, Richard Clune is out with a broken bone in his chest. Sounds painful. Apparently it took place during the second period of Monday’s game after a hit along the boards. Clune, being a typical hockey player, played the rest of the game, but now he’s expected to be out for an extended period of time.

Almost all of the veterans are in Denver for tonight’s game, but I got interviews with Clune, Oscar Moller and Andrew Campbell.

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Injury update II

Alexander Frolov is off the ice with what is being described as lower-body soreness. I’m almost certain that it’s a mild groin strain, and frankly I’m really not sure what the point is of keeping injuries secret in training camp. But that’s a hockey-coach thing.

I’m out at camp right now, where it’s just the players who aren’t playing in Colorado tonight. A lot of the prospects, so I’ll grab some interviews. The entire NHL coaching staff is in Denver now.

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Postgame quotes

Here’s some of the quotes from last night’s game at Staples. Interesting note from the team…the Kings haven’t had a losing record in the preseason since 1988. What does that mean? Nothing, but it’s sort of bizarre to note. Here’s the quotes…

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Terry Murray, on his game thoughts…
“I take a lot of good things out of this game. There was a lot of good execution. We had our moments when it wasn’t quite where we’d like it to be, but with it being the first game, I thought it was good. The effort, the intensity, the compete was very good. I was very happy about that. There were a lot of people that were very good. I was very happy about that. There were a lot of people that were involved in the physical side of it and that brings the whole team in whenever you get big hits and a couple of fights in there. I like that part a lot.”

Murray, on his team’s defense…
“I thought there was a very conscious effort on the defensive part of the game and in all the zones. Our neutral zone, when it came down to crunch time, was excellent. I thought our positioning the whole lines were very good. Then right back into our own end, we had some good things happening with coming back into the home plate area. Pucks were on the outside of the dots and that’s something that we’ve talked about as far as being an OK play. Let it happen out there but make sure that the front of the net is protected.”

Oscar Moller, on the game…
“It was pretty exciting. I didn’t really know what to expect when I came out there, but I just started playing my game and it turned out pretty good.”

Moller, on playing in the NHL…
“Well, you’re playing against men now, not playing against boys and kids. So the speed is higher and they’re stronger, so I got to keep my head up and be strong out there.”

Moller, on training camp…
“Yeah, I’m satisfied with it. I guess it’s been going pretty good. We’re working hard and we’re working on the new system here with the new coaching staff and it feels pretty good.”

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Initial transactions

After last night’s games, the Kings returned forwards Bryan Cameron, Matt Fillier and Geordie Wudrick to their junior teams and released forward Olivier Legault from his tryout agreement. Cameron returns to Belleville of the OHL, Fillier to Montreal of the QMJHL and Wudrick to Swift Current of the WHL. That takes the Kings down to 56 players in camp, not including Patrick O’Sullivan, of course…

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Final…Kings 6, Coyotes 4

David Meckler capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with three seconds left for his second goal of the game, with assists to Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar…and it’s a final.

Three-point nights for Oscar Moller (goal, two assists) and Meckler, who also had an assist.

The Kings outshot the Coyotes 31-25. The Kings went 3 for 5 on the power play while the Coyotes went 2 for 5.

Jason LaBarbera played the first two periods and stopped 13 of 17 shots. Danny Taylor played the third period and stopped all eight shots he faced.

Two victories for the Kings in one night! Do you believe in…well, you get the idea…

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