Big turnaround for Purcell

Three months ago, at the start of training camp, it was widely presumed that Teddy Purcell would start the season with the Kings. He didn't, after -- in the eyes of coaches and management -- a disappointing showing in camp, but after a slow start in Manchester he rose to lead the Monarchs in points this season. Now, tonight, he's in Los Angeles and playing on the Kings' top line, alongside Anze Kopitar and Patrick O'Sullivan. Here's what Purcell said today about his three-month journey...

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Question: Was there a lot of disappointment when you didn't make the team out of training camp?

PURCELL: ``After this summer, and with the year I had last year, I thought I was ready to make that next step and maybe stick around here at the beginning of the year, so obviously it was frustrating. Nobody wants to get sent down, because this is the best league possible, so of course it was upsetting but you have to go down with the right attitude. You can't sulk around or feel sorry for yourself, because no one else is going to. They basically just wanted me to work on my puck battles and my urgency to get to loose pucks, and give myself a better chance to do it, get in athletic position and just dig in that extra little bit and, at the same time, be consistent in doing it. Not just show flashes. I went down with the intention of doing that, and I think I've been pretty consistent. Fortunately enough, they have rewarded me with another chance up here.''

Question: It's a pretty good spot to go into...

PURCELL: ``I know. I came with no gear and I was a little bummed out about that, but then they tell me, `You're playing with Sully and Kopi.' So it can't really get much better than that. It's a great opportunity for me. I just have to get those guys the puck and get open, because they can both make plays. Hopefully I get some bounces and things go pretty good. ... I just have to do those little things. I have to get in the corners and help them with pucks. Sully is a shooter, and at the same time he can make plays too. So when he's in the spot, I just have to go to the front of the net, and hopefully we can find some early chemistry and get a good read off each other.''

Question: Did you play with Kopitar before this?

PURCELL: ``One game in training camp...and maybe a little bit on the power play last year. Any time you get a chance to play with a world-class player like that, it makes life a lot easier. I'm going to try to get him the puck and then make sure you get open for him, because he will find you.''

Question: You had quite a scoring burst there in Manchester. Was there something that clicked after the first few games?

PURCELL: ``Yeah. The first few games, I was probably holding the stick a little too tight. Then obviously with Moulson coming back and Boyle coming back a little bit, that helped quite a bit too. It's just one of those things were once you start shooting, it seemed like everything was going in for me. I was getting open shots and I was just on one of those streaks, so it was just nice to get on the board there and help turn some of those losses into wins.''