Forum answers III
Here's the third set of answers from today's open forum...
----------
Question: how much does frolov love it when heidi calls him fro?
Answer: I'm not sure. Is Frolov even aware that he's being interviewed?
-----
Question: With Quincey, Johnson, Doughty, Greene set for next year and beyond, any thoughts on trading Voynov, Hickey, Teubert, Bagnall or
Piskula for some scoring? Is Loktoinov [sic] on the radar? Does Lombardi believe the Kings need to add an outside scorer, or is there
someone in the pipeline he sees coming up?
Answer: You'd have to anticipate that, at some point, at least a couple of these defensive prospects will be moved. It's only natural, given
the depth there and the relative lack of depth in terms of top-level offensive prospects. That's why this stage of development is so
important for Lombardi to watch, so that he can identify which of these prospects he absolutely doesn't want to lose. That process is
ongoing, and it's why Lombardi spends so much time traveling to watch players and talk to scouts. Loktionov is on the radar, but he's only
18 and he's obviously still in juniors. He's going to need more seasoning before he starts looking like a NHL prospect. Lombardi does
believe that the Kings need an outside scorer. It's not realistic to expect that one of these kids is going to step right into a top-six
role. The Kings need a veteran scorer, either on the wing or at center. A wing is probably more likely at this point. The question is, will
they find one via trade or via free agency?
-----
Question: What do you see as priessing's future with the kings. they are paying him alot of money to sit on the bench. Is he not playing
because he is just too much of a defensive liability? He has to be worth something to someone. Maybe the senators would like him back!
Answer: Yes, that would be the reason. As far as his value, well, if you know someone who is interested, you should give Lombardi a call.
-----
Question: As a season seat holder, I am miffed that my prices went up last summer and now with that recent promo folks were able to buy
lower bowl seats at a fraction of the price I paid to replace my fellow season seat holders who told the Kings to take a flying leap. So my
question is was it the Kings (Luc-no business experience/Chris McGowan-no marketing success) or AEG (Leiweke-no comment needed) who came up
with this promo and do the powers-that-be realize how upset season ticket holders are? Whatever happened to us paying less than any other
ticket buyer?
Answer: At this point, I'm sure the Kings are well aware of how their season-ticket holders feel about the $11.50 thing. I'm sure it will be
a topic of discussion at the next season-ticket holder's roundtable meeting.
-----
Question: For at least the 3rd time I will ask the unanswered question: who pays the salary of a Junior player during the first 10 games
they are on the roster of their NHL team? And what rate are they paid? Is it their junior team that is paying their salary (since they are
on a junior level contract) or the NHL team they are playing for on a "per game" rate? Obviously, once they hit the 10 game mark they are
now an NHL player and their standard entry rookie contract kicks in, i.e. whatever they negotiated along with bonuses. Finally, how does a
"tryout" contract work? Does that player get any stipend whatsoever on a per game basis? Is there a difference between an amateur (someone
in college) and a professional tryout (someone who has been a pro before)? Years back, at the end of a Kings season in the late 90s, Jason
Blake had an amateur tryout because his Univ. of North Dakota season had ended. He did well, and the Kings signed him to a pro contract
afterwards. So for an "amateur" tryout I would assume he makes only expenses...as any payment would nullify his collegiate elligibility.
Answer: 1) I'm pretty sure I answered this one on a previous forum, but I'm happy to give you the answer. During the nine-game ``tryout''
period, a player is paid his NHL salary on a per-game basis. So you'd look at the player's entry-level contract and do some basic division,
basically. The NHL team pays that salary, as long as they're playing for the NHL team. 2) I believe your breakdown of the tryout agreements
are correct. although I haven't studied the CBA on this issue. I would bet that you're correct though.
-----
Question: When Jack Johnson comes back, who will be leaving? Did DL tip his hand list night when he said the Defense was going to get
"younger" when JJ comes back. That seems to not bode well for Preissing or O'Donnell. More than likely Preissing. But of the 6 that dress
regularly who will not be playing?
Answer: Again...three weeks away, way too early to say. Hey, that rhymed. And I wouldn't read too much into what Lombardi said. First of
all, it's basically Murray's call, and second, Johnson is 21 years old (22 in a few days), so any way you slice it, the defense will get
younger when he comes back. Even Harrold is 25. But I can give you a pretty good assurance that nothing is set in stone in terms of what
happens to the defense in three weeks.
-----
Questions: 1) With Jack Johnson's injury causing him to miss half, if not most, of the year, how do you think Dean will handle his RFA
status ? A cheaper, short term contract so JJ can prove himself better and get a Kopi-sized contract ? Or base his contract on what he did
last year under a different system and whatever he can accomplish with his time in this year's system ?
2) Do you think Dean Lombardi can find any takers for guys like Kyle Calder or Tom Preissing ? Preissing is a constant scratch and Calder is
taking up a spot that someone like Moller can take up once he gets back from injury.
3) Given Moller's injury at the WJC and Lombardi's comments about how he was concerned that the Swedish team did not pick up on it, do you
think he will allow players to compete again next year ? It sounds like he holds the WJC in high regard so if he does allow them to go, do
you think he will send a Kings representative to monitor the Kings players closer ?
4) I see you write on the Kings for the Hockey News. Out of curiousity, how do you like working for them ? They provide some interesting
insight although I do not agree with all of their opinions. Do they hassle you to change stuff to fit their viewpoints ?
5) Can you provide some comments on Quick's statement that there is consistency btw the systems implemented in MAN and LA ? Do you sense
that even though Purcell and Boyle get sent up and down, they can jump in and play w/o too many adjustments ?
6) Do you get the impression that the players are getting frustrated with the line juggling ?
Answers: 1) Good question. It's something I have thought about as well. The irony is, Johnson's injury might cause the agent and GM to switch sides. Usually, it's the agent looking for a short-term contract for a young player, so that he can get the player a mega-bucks contract in his prime. I still think Lombardi would be inclined to lock up Johnson for as long as possible, but it's not as much of a slam-dunk decision as it was with Brown and Kopitar. 2) Well, it's certainly not as easy as some people think. As the playoffs get closer, that market for ``veterans who can play a steady few minutes'' gets a little bigger. A little. 3) Lombardi is a big believer in the value of tournaments such as the World Juniors, so it's hard to imagine he'd ever stand in the way of a guy such as Moller playing in that tournament, but after this incident, Lombardi might ask for a bit more communication. 4) The stuff I write for the Hockey News is pretty straightforward, mostly just news and notes, so I can't imagine that they need to change much. I only deal with the editors over there and I've never had any problems. 5) Yes, that's very consistent with what I understand, and that's the benefit of having Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall be the GM of the Monarchs. There's constant communication with the Manchester coaching staff and Bill Ranford is frequently back there working with the goalies. It makes it much easier for these young players to have some continuity. 6) No, not really. What coach doesn't juggle lines? Terry Murray does it more than some, maybe more than most, but remember also that this is his first year. He's still learning the capabilities of these players. The players are comfortable playing with pretty much anyone. If this type of frequent juggling is still happening next year, the arguments against it will have a lot more merit.
-----
Question: Do you think the Kings would consider Martin Havlat? He's kind of injury prone, but when he's playing, he's really quite good. He probably could be had for a reasonable price considering his impending UFA status. Just your thoughts, thanks. I'll take my answer off the line.
Answer: Thanks for the call. We'll put you in the running for the concert tickets. Havlat has skill, but as you alluded to, I honestly can't remember the last time he played a full season. As a complementary player, he wouldn't be the worst choice in the world, but wouldn't a spot like that be better filled by a younger player (if one is ready)? I'm not sure Havlat would be able to fill one of those top-six positions that the Kings need to fill, first and foremost.
19 Comments
Leave a comment
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.
"At this point, I'm sure the Kings are well aware of how their season-ticket holders feel about the $11.50 thing. I'm sure it will be a topic of discussion at the next season-ticket holder's roundtable meeting."
it's not just season ticket holders that are upset, though they have the most right to be since they're out the most money. I luckily only bought 1/4 season this year at the list price (down from half, last season... wow what a mistake). still, $11.50 is roughly a third what I pay to "lock in" my seats in the nosebleeds!
so it's ridiculous the Kings "reward" their best customer by charging them 3-4x the price, and all they get is a stinkin' replica 3rd jersey (but ONLY if they buy the full season). at this point, they'd have to give season seat holders more than that to make up for it, and everyone else should get something pretty nice too for the price gouging.
last I checked the Lakers and Dodgers aren't raising prices in this economy, why did the Kings think they'd get away with it scot free when they're generally a harder sell????
I don't think that if a sniper comes he's going to be Euro. They don't typically fit in to the mold that it seems Lombardi likes. It would likely be someone DL and TM feel is on the cusp of becoming a sniper in the North American mold.
I honestly believe that DB could be a 50 goal guy and feel it'll be an underacheivment if he doesn't. To get there, we'll need more depth in order to get him the space - right now he and O'S are basically the only semi-snipers we have, so they get all the focus of the opposing team.
Just wondering,
Who would make this deal, who wouldn't?
Stoll/Handzus/Bernier/Preissy
FOR
Rick Nash.
brianguy,
I'd rather support the proof that lower cost tickets lead to better audiences than complain about others getting a lower priced ticket.
One thing I don't understand is, did those tickets go on sale for all games or only games during that price-window?
I'm not a ST holder and never go to games, but the only way I'm going back is if it's dirt-cheap (like 11.50) or I get really wealthy.
Hockey has no business charging even 20 for a ticket as the empty stadia prove (all over the league).
This is the price that owners in the NHL must pay for backing Bettman and playing hockey in deserts - and we thought the banking system was stupid.
All I can say is you shouldn't have bought the season ticket to begin with.
I hope you don't take that as an insult or that I'm trying to make you feel small, but AEG doesn't deserve to have anyone buy season seats but corporations - they charge too much for tickets and their concessions are at criminal rates.
"EAT THE RICH Author Profile Page said:
Just wondering,
Who would make this deal, who wouldn't?
Stoll/Handzus/Bernier/Preissy
FOR
Rick Nash."
Uh well the Blue Jackets wouldn't so it doesn't matter.
Johan Fanzen and Mike Commodore?
By the way, I think I've just come up with all of our answers. But I want adequate compensation for it.
I hereby say it first-
Dany Heatley is the sniper for Los Angeles.
Ottawa sucks and that experiment has failed.
Personally, I don't like the guy for his one LARGE F-up a few years back, but he's a sniper and a freaking great hockey player.
That's the one, but we should hold out for swapping No. 1's this draft as well.
Someone mentioned it earlier, but I am watching the "Voices" special NHL network did on Nick Nickson, and he is the one that is a Yankee fan. He is from New York so I guess he gets a free pass...... pretty good if you havent seen it.
It would be more like Frolov, Johnson and Bernier for Rick Nash. Preissing ain't sweetening the pot, either.
"At this point, I'm sure the Kings are well aware of how their season-ticket holders feel about the $11.50 thing. I'm sure it will be a topic of discussion at the next season-ticket holder's roundtable meeting."
God, I was so pissed about this. The face value for my season-ticket Section 332 UPPER CONCOURSE seats is $29. I'm not sure why, but we actually get a half-off discount. But still, we pay $14.50 per ticket (two tickets, $29 per game).
My family has had season-tickets since 1981, and there are hundreds that have been holders even longer. But why should season-ticket holders for 26 seasons have to pay more for upper concourse tickets than people who buy the lower bowl tickets the week before the game? Not to mention the fact that most of those people probably just go to the game to smoke and drink, anyway (I'm not trying to offend anybody who actually bought the tickets to watch the game, but this just really frustrates me). I think us season-ticket holders should be reimbursed somehow.
RE: 11.50 tickets
Something tells me the Radio station paid the difference on the ticket price and those ticket prices were only available to certain games in very very very limited quantity.
There is no reason to complain about it at all. You did not get ripped off.
It was a promotion meant to raise awareness to the radio station and also reach out to people a bit indecisive on going to their first hockey game with hopes of planting the seed that they would opt to spend their money on hockey with less hesitation in the future.
You, goofballs.
Wow.
$29 for 2 tickets in the nosebleeds and you are complaining.
The closest rink for me is Edmonton which is 4 hours away. The nosebleeds there are only $50 a seat. So for two to go it is a $100 for seats and gas to get there, a hotel room, and gas to get back.
I get to two games a year maybe. I see the prices you get for hockey and I wish I lived in LA. See the Kings live even 10 games a year would be amazing.
Sometimes you just don't know how good you have it.
As for trades, I still hope we do not go get a player, instead just get rid of some dead weight. Preissing, Calder and Armstrong can count the games till they are traded for more picks or youth.
Why would the BJ's want bernier, they have Mason who is clearly a step ahead of Bernier and the basically the same age?
Cry Baby, re Bernier:
You're right, of course. They wouldn't. My point was only about what you would have to give up to pry Nash away from them. I wasn't thinking about what CBJ needed at all. Make it Frolov, Johnson, Teubert and Loktionov.
For whatever reason, people think they're going to get some premium superstar for a large quantity of our cast-off spare parts. The quantity of mediocre players doesn't even things out.
But you're totally right about Mason. Just watched the highlights of tonight's shut-out. Amazing.
I am a season ticket holder & I was happy about the $10.50 promotion. It brought crowds to the game. It brought excitement & yelling & so many people got to experience how great a live hockey game is. That was so much better than an empty arena. If you are upset that some people got into the 6 games in January for a much better price than you, then you are just selfish. Think the King players minded a full house?
Mr.Hammond,I would like to know who is in charge of the music in the locker room and what type of music it is? My guess would be Matt Greene-System of a Down and TOOL.Thanks bro.
To be honest, the Kings players probably did enjoy a full house. But by the same reasoning, they first would have minded with equal emotion when AEG raised the prices last summer which is what started the dominoes falling.
I was at Thursday's game vs. the Ducks in the lower bowl, and I saw more loud, drunk Kings fans causing problems and being escorted out of the building by security than I have seen since the building opened.
Obviously not all fans who were able to buy the discount tix were drunk and unruly. But enough were to cause many of us to question the validity of the promo.
I get that it was meant to have people out to a game who otherwise might be unable to do so, but do you really think after paying $11.50 they will return when the same seats will cost much, much, much more the next time?
It's like when the NHL expects more fans every 4 years after the Winter Olympics hockey games get great ratings only to be disappointed when new fans soon realize that rough and tumble NHL hockey is not the same as the non-contact Olympics variety they enjoyed.
Shame on the Kings for pissing off their season seat holders in the first place last summer and then doing so again with this promo. Bring on the next roundtable meeting.
"All I can say is you shouldn't have bought the season ticket to begin with. "
I buy seats every season... I want to go to some games, but not necessarily a lot. in the grand scheme of things it's not a huge amount of money for me. but I don't feel like, as a loyal customer, they should be looking to rip me off either.
it should be noted that after, but ONLY after the Kings started offering $11.50 ticket offer for many games did they actually sell out more than a couple this year. for reference and FYI, the mid-priced tickets cost about 3 times that. if you think it's not worth $20 to go to a game, that's cool I say don't go. I think that's a fair price... I also think neither $11.50 (impossible to make money) or $33 (a bit high) is NOT a fair price for the modest view I have.
"God, I was so pissed about this. The face value for my season-ticket Section 332 UPPER CONCOURSE seats is $29. I'm not sure why, but we actually get a half-off discount. But still, we pay $14.50 per ticket (two tickets, $29 per game)."
your family has locked-in pricing, since they've had season tickets so long. people like me who buy a small ticket package every year get a small discount off the "face value". season ticket holders that bought before a certain time, IIRC this was prior to Staples Center opening, get the best discount (up to half)