MATT GREENE
This season: 82 games, 2 goals, 12 assists, 111 penalty minutes, 19:44 average ice time.
The good: In a moment that was an odd high point of the season, Greene went down to the ice to block a shot and ended up taking a puck off the side of his face at the end of a March 9 victory over Vancouver. It’s probably not something Greene wants to duplicate very often, but it represents the type of play he brings to the Kings. Greene’s body is practically a roadmap of scars, bruises and cuts, and in many ways he brings the same “warrior” mentality that Mattias Norstrom used to bring. On top of all that, he’s a steady defenseman.
The bad: Greene’s biggest negative is his tendency to take penalties, although coaches don’t always mind those penalties if they’re taken in the correct situations. Greene’s offensive potential is limited, and he’s not a great puck-mover, but that’s not exactly what the Kings were looking for when they acquired him.
Going forward: Greene’s toughness, leadership ability and age (he turns 26 next month), coupled with the contract extension he signed last year, should make him a valued member of the team for years to come. Other defensemen have more pure skill, but Greene has a certain intangible quality, one that Terry Murray recognized when he made Greene an alternate captain before the season.