Further confirmation

Rich, you rule!

Now that Barbie is history, I wonder if DL is even considering signing Eric Ersberg to long term contract.
He had that chance last year, and he only managed to sign him to a 1 year contract.
After this season, Eric is an UFA.
Its very possible that the team may lose him to free agency and get nothing in return.

I can't believe that DL is stupid enough to let that happen. But he may very well be that dumb.
Imagine what his reputation would be if Ersberg puts up some hue numbers on another team.

C'mon DL, sign this gold mine before its too late.

Wow... That's incredible news. Thanks for being on top of it, Rich and Gann. It'll be interesting to see the developments of tomorrow... I think I'll have NHL Network on in the background.

sweet baby jesus, I'm excited.

anthony,

I definately think Ersberg is getting another contract.

DL has stated that he wants his goalies in the minors for atleast two seasons, and this is Bernier's first.

I see(hope) that DL signs Ersberg to a 3 year contract at a decent price.

Quick tandems with Ersberg next season and Bernier plays a full season as #1 in Manch. Then at the end of that season, DL re-evaluates Ersberg and Quick, and assuming Bernier is progressing as expected, one of those two gets packaged with someone or picks for one of those "final pieces" for either a playoff run next deadline, or to bolster the team in the off-season and make us a true competitor going in to 2010-2011.

Jason Labarbera simply played his way out of Los Angeles. The #1 job was his to run with and he kept coming up short. I must have heard Labarbera mention "confidence" a dozen times in the last two seasons.

Oh well, I mean, when you have two unproven minor league goaltenders out-play you in one season, the writing is really on the wall.

I can only imagine a marginal draft pick in return.

Rich if you had to make your best educated guess where do you see him going?

Who is going to even take JLB? I know he's cheap, but I don't see him being much of an upgrade for many teams.

What can we hope to get, a big bag of pucks? I hope he does something good for someone else some day but I'm glad it looks like he's going away.

Who would even want a Barbie on their team? maybe Tampa?

Apparently DiPietro is injured again.

Islanders? They need a shake-up, and need someone to sit on the bench while MacDonald plays and DiPietro recovers.

I agree that I can't understand any team wanting LaBarbara. I'm guessing this may be a package deal, sending out Labs, a pick or picks, and maybe a prospect or 2? Could there be a Gaborik or a Kovulchuk coming to help boost the Kings scoring? Just 100% speculation on my part, but it wouldn't shock me.

DiPietro is injured again with a groin injury... Maybe the Isle feel like they need another goalie? I can't figure out what they'd want to give us in return though... Future considerations or a draft pick is my best guess.

maybe Toronto, Ottawa, Islanders

If the Isles are REALLY that desperate...we'll GLADLY take their 1st round pick...

anthony,

Ersberg is a RFA, not Unrestricted after the season.

As long as massive unsupported speculation is the theme for the day...NYI's second round pick is practically a first round pick, 31-35 overall. All bottom-feeding picks are attractive for that reason, right? Swapping picks with the Islanders would be a good thing for us, moving up in a given round. I kind of expect something like that.

OMG no more LoLbarbera!!!11!!11!!!

Thank you...this is the best late X-mas gift I've received.

Lock in Ersberg and tandem w/Quick!!!

OMG. Best news EVER. I really really like Quick and Eresberg. Its an insanely good combo. Get rid of Lewis and Richardson. But what do I know.

I was in the Chairmans room last night after the game. When the guys left the locker room everyone was talking with each other and conversating except LaBarbera he was alone by himself like an outcast. TIFWIW

i might be out on a limb, but labs and ivanans going to toronto. toronto needs a bona fide tough guy and cujo isn't cutting it as a backup to toskala. pogge got a look, but not because he earned it...just because of an injury. his AHL stats are not impressive.

granted, toronto is also "rebuilding" but they seem less committed to it than DL. have no idea if we'd get a current player, prospect or draft pick.

thoughts?

Mike,

that kind of stuff saddens me to hear. I have already felt some guilt in my giddiness over labs being moved. As opposed to usual, I would actually really like to see him thrive on another team... an eastern conference team, but thrive nonetheless.

In a way he should be proud he made it to the highest level of play. In another way, I hope he had the sense to get a degree.

I think jason is going to Ottawa together with preissing and a prospect/zeiler/richardson. Ottawa is strugling big time, they have auld and gerber in goal, their defence is not scoring -and everyone knows that preissing put up good numbers when he was in ottawa. Both jason, zeiler and richardson are cheap players and Ottawa has room under the cap to fit in two of those and preissing.I have no problem if we gave away a d prospect also. The scenario is jason,richardson(I know he is injured but he more valuable in a trade than zeiler),preissing and a prospect for a 1st rounder. I do not want heatley or spezza in return or any other player just a first rounder. Then we have 2 first round pick to use when we pull of a big trade either at the deadline or in the summer.
And I think we all should be classy enough to wish jason and the other players we trade away the best in the future and thank them for their effort when they played for LA. Army is staying because of his leadership on and off the ice. U dont trade away that type of player who is well liked by the players and the staff.

Hmmm... do you think the Sabres would do Afinogenov for Labs+? He was a healthy scratch tonight against the Caps. Seems like the fans REALLY want to dump the guy ASAP.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/536078.html

Wow, big news. Good luck wherever he goes. He was a nice guy, but he wasn't one of our two best goalies, simple as that.

This is a gut feeling only, and has no merit of truth except in my mind. I have a gut feeling that a somewhat big deal will be done along the lines of say Fro, prospect, Calder-Zieler-Armstrong and JLB for someone like Kovalchuk or someone of his talents. I would really like to see Parise become a King. O.K. I'm back from daydreaming. All dreaming aside I feel a big trade coming and that being for a forward and not a goalie.

Was noticing all the LaBarbara jerseys at the team la store...just hanging there...still costing $380...never to be bought. What do they do with them all? Goodwill? Garbage can? Burn them?

Was at the game last night on the glass, watching Quick play up close all night. Simply blew me away at how fast he is and how well he moves. SO CALM...and small! He just blew Labs away and, in the end, sent him packing. It was fun watching Labs warm up for the last time in a Kings jersey. I think I saw a tear or two...

I am glad that Barbs is on his way out, but in response to the comment that no one would want him -- there have been some other goaltenders that did not work out for the Kings who did well elsewhere. For example -- Huet.

I wish Jason well.

argh. that Anonymous was me. anyway, now that i'm here, i'll add fuel to the fire...

Isles GM Garth Snow apparently wants to trade Doug Weight. and soon, according to Rotowire, according to NY Newsday, according to an "NHL Source." it also says he wants a draft pick or draft picks, so who knows whether that's a completely separate move... i think if this deal is with the Isles, he'll get picks for Weight and swing one to us for Labs. but that's pure speculation.

anyway, this is exciting!

Duckhunter

They can't trade Fro!!! They are giving away his Limited Edition Player Puck on Mar 5th!!!

Afinogenov a healthy scratch tonight, maybe Barbs and Preissing for him? Specualte everyone its good for the mind.

Rich can you or anyone else confirm is Barbs wasn't on the ice for practice?

For what it's worth Labs name is off the team section of the kings site...

MrMach5, good point. That would be pretty funny though. Do you suppose, they would hand out only three of the four collectible pucks if he was missing? PR emergency!

Andre Norway, totally agree. Kicking the guy in the head as he's walking out the door is classless. I too wish JLB well and hope he finds his game again.

I'd say that Labs name coming off the Kings site is actually very significant. He's gone.

I'd think Chicago would want a backup so that they can move Khabibulin and go with Huet if they feel comfortable with him as their starter for the playoffs.
I couldn't see them giving up much, though.
2nd Round Pick?
Though maybe they'd want Calder, too, though I don't know if they have the room.
I think Gaborik or Kovalchuk would be cancers on the team.
I think it's best to keep this low-risk, high-upside.
I'm always fond of a good prospect if they'll get to play now.

Well...it's done. Closer to the "bag of pucks" than the "part of a bigger deal" Labs to the Canucks for a 7th round pick.

At least he's gone...now we can move forward with Ersberg and Quick.

Nice move. Its about time he was playing terrible as of late. He had his chance. They need a goal scorer and maybe a solid number 1 goalie. Good Luck Labs. 7th rounder for him is not bad I thought they would just release him.

to the "anonymous" posting at 5:03pm...

ersberg signed a one-year rfa contract last summer. he is now a UFA on July 1, 2009.

get your facts straight...