Greene talks about Quick

That was a nice and very diplomatic response by Green. We all know Babs is going to Manchester.

Another goose egg against CLB would be great tonight.

Will be watching live from Norway at 430 AM-Go Kings!!!

Yeah right, you feel comfortable with any of the goalies in net. HA!

It wasn't posted by Rich yet but J. Quick was named the 3rd star of the week by the nhl.

Quick named 3rd star by NHL.com for week ending 12/28.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=400619

I think JLB's days may be numbered....

I still wonder if the Kings won't carry 3 goalies for a while.. if you send Barbs down, he has to clear thru waivers....If he clears, doesn't he have to clear again to return from Manchester?
I know what everyone's thinking...why would we care or who would claim him? but if our goalies got hurt or went south and Barbs was playing well in Manchester, I could see a team that's competing with us for a playoff spot claiming Barbs so we couldn't recall him. Just a way-out-there thought, but stranger things have happened.

nykingsfan, re the three goalies possibility:

If JLB stays, just to be a healthy scratch, it means someone else gets sent down. Over the next month (while Moller is at the WJC and, finally, before Johnson comes back), you might be able to keep JLB up without sacrificing anyone else, but eventually someone will have to go. When Johnson, Moller and Ersberg return (and if Boyle is recalled), you've got to lose three bodies. Presumably one defenseman (Preissing), one goalie (JLB) and one forward (Zeiler?). If JLB stays, that means a second forward has to go down.

Therefore, it's a choice between JLB, Purcell, Lewis, Ivanans and Calder. I really don't see DL valuing JLB over any of those guys.

And Bernier is playing well enough that I don't think DL would be shy about bringing him up in the event of an inj**y to Quick or Ersberg.

Actually, if DL was that worried about retaining JLB just in case of some kind of unforeseen event, he might decide to send Ersberg down for a "rehab" assignment.

But I just don't think they're worried about hanging on to JLB at this point. I think the decision has already been made. They were going to trade him anyway. They weren't going to sign him this summer when he's a UFA. Now he's just leaving a few months early, that's all. The cost to the Kings is just the draft pick DL would have been able to get for him had he not sucked.

Hey Nykingsfan....Happy Holidays!

Just a guess but my thinking is that DL will try to trade him, option 1.

Option 2 - Attempt to send him to Manchester via waivers and hope he gets claimed. I think that makes the Kings responsible for half of his salary; it wouldn't necessarily be a bad pick-up for another team, a back-up goaltender coming at a very low price.

Option 3 - If he doesn't get claimed, not necessarily bad, he just bumps Zatkoff back to Ontario and gives the Kings some insurance should Ersberg or Quick get hurt. My own thought is that Zatkoff is ready to play in the AHL, he was playing very well in the ECHL when he got called up. I think he's ready for the jump up. It would be unfortunate for Zatkoff but I'm thinking you're going to see Ersberg, Quick & Bernier competing for the No.1 spot next season with the Kings anyway when JLB goes UFA.

By sending him down now it clears up the sudden jogjam the Kings have at goalie, I can't even believe I'm saying that......

Happy Holidays Moondoggie

You both make total sense. I think the time has come that we are going to live or die with our young goalies. From what Quick and Ersberg have shown us, there's no need for barbs to be the safety net at this point...besides the net had a huge hole in it lately. LOL

I was thinking more in the short term before JJ and Moller return...but that's not far away at all.

nykingsfan -

Short term, it could happen, if DL is able to move Preissing now.

Nykingsfan...Agreed.

The Kings have some really good young goaltending talent in the pipeline now. I'm like you, I think its time to give them a test drive. These kids are good and who would have guessed that Ersberg would develop the way he has? Same for Quick. We were all concerned about not rushing Bernier and now even that's working out.

It's like we've all been saying...patience. Our perseverance is paying off, huge soon. We may actually make the playoffs this year, who would have thought?

Another good draft in 09 and then.....

Quisp

Moving Preissing and that contract is going to be difficult. If DL can pull that off, he is a miracle worker...Of course, he's the one who signed him to that ridiculous contract. This coming from an admitted DLKool-Aid drinker.
He's a great example of what a terrible stat +/- is. 2 years ago this guys +/- was +40. He couldn't have become this bad in 2 years.

Moondoggie
I can't believe it has come together this quickly. I thought for sure we would struggle big time...especially early..even though we had a lot of home games. I figured it would take time for everyone to gel..especially on the blueline.

I would think DL would be going big time for forwards with this draft. I don't think we have a prayer in hell to land Tavares though. Man, he looks really good.

After watching that USA/Czech Rep. game I'm left wanting more young americans here. I'm distressed that Mike Hoeffel, Eric Tangredi, and Shattenkirk are on New Jersey, ANAHEIM, and Colorado respectively. Also, the monster VanReimsdyk is on Philly.
I would love for DL to go after some more young guys with HUGE upside, especially Hoeffel and Tangredi.
I also think this Jordan Schroeder is unbelievable and, like JDM, think we need to make a serious bid to acquire him.
I think the smallish, smart, quick center (along the lines of Hemsky) may be the future in the NHL. Big wingers and a distributing center with an incredible wrist shot. In a sense Zetterberg is much this type of player. The one crucial ingredient is ultra-competitiveness. If we could get a Schroeder, or if we already have it in O'Sullivan, maybe Murray should think about moving Kopitar to the wing and letting O'Sullivan run the show from the middle.
There is a lot to think about, but I'd love it if Lombardi were able to acquire some of these really promising young guys who are playing the waiting game with their Parent clubs.

ETR...I believe Schroeder is undrafted. If he keeps playing like this, he will be a top 10 pick.

Van Riemsdyk needs to toughen up, BIG TIME, if he wants an NHL career. He's soft...real soft. He has no idea how strong he is. That said, he could be just like John Leclair...he could also be Jimmy Carson. World class shot, no balls. There is a reason why this is his 3rd tournemant.

I really like Wilson though...I would have liked to have got him, but I believe he is Nashville property now.

Shattenkirk wouldn't fit in, in LA...have you see how scatterbrained he is out there?

Did you watch the Canadian team? Hickey has been UNREAL. Teubert...eh, but Hickey has been stellar, one of the best on the ice. Tavares...damn, that kid can flat out play!

Does anyone think that Moller might actually be sent back to junior? I know DL said that was not the case but it seems like Purcell/Lewis might be making a case to stick around, that also leaves more of a possibility for a Boyle recall. Any thoughts?

I call B.S. here on Greenie's response. He is an assistant captain and will not say that they prefer one goalie over another. You just don't do that in public. But I can assure you that the D is NOT as comfortable with Labs as they are with Ersberg or Quick right now. It completely changes the way the D have to work both in front of the goalie and how they approach the play. Sure they have to be prepared for anything - long rebounds, tipped shots, players in the crease but knowing that you have a goalie that consistently out of position, is erratic behind the net, doesn't play the puck well and lets in soft shots repeatedly, you tend to be more risk averse and over compensate. It shows some class not to throw him under the bus but lets be real here.

Anonymous -
Yes, Schroeder will go in the '09 draft, but I wonder where?
Nobody knows what will happen, but I'd actually take Schroeder based on the 2 games I've seen with he and Tavares playing.

VanR didn't look too soft to me, maybe a little slower than you'd want, but he seemed willing and eager to throw his weight around. Granted, he is an elder out there right now.
He does need to learn to use his assets more, which is what I saw from Tangredi. Tangredi gets less ice time but he seemed really intent upon taking the puck right into the danger zone, and he's a monster in size. I looked up his Prospect page and his current coaches are trying to get him to realize how much potential he has.

Hoeffel was who I really thought has a ton of potential, though. Big, strong, competitive, and still learning.

I did see the Canada/Czech Rep. game, but thought the Rep. quit so it made for a poor game to judge anything by. I stopped paying real attention and didn't really see anything impressive from Hickey or Teubert. I'll agree that Shattenkirk is a bit all over the place, and maybe a bit high on himself/selfish, but he's got great potential and might be a Doughty-like player if he's got the right coaching. He seems to have the tools, but maybe not the brain.
I was impressed by Jon Blum, Cade Fairchild, and the overall style of the USA.
I think they dominated that game despite how close the score was, and that the Czech Rep. played 100 times better against US than against Canada.
By the way, what did you think of that Czech defender - #3 - Gulaz or something like that. I thought he had a great game. I didn't look up if he's drafted yet, or not, though.

cheers