Forum answers I

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Question: What are your thoughts on next year? Do you think the Kings will actually make the playoffs finally, or do you think there are still many holes to fill?

Answer: The Kings should make the playoffs if they a) finally find a No. 1 goalie who can start at least 60 games a year and be consistent, and b) add at least one top-six forward who is a threat to score 30 goals. Those are two big ``ifs,'' but I think what we've seen this season is that the Kings aren't that far away. They're young and have room to improve, and clearly the next step is to at least make the playoffs.

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Question: Rich - during your sabbatical, I half jokingly said you should write a book about Luc. Many friends have mentioned an interest in reading such a book. Would you consider writing one if given the time (forced sabbaticals) and opportunity (Luc's cooperation)? Have any of the players committed to staying in LA for part of the summer to workout together?

Answers: 1) That's actually a really good point. Now that I think about it, has anyone ever written a book about Luc? The French translation would probably sell prety well as well. I hate to tip my hand here, but fellow scribe Graig Woodburn and I have been waiting to write ``Royal Ascent'' for about seven or eight years now. We're just waiting for the Kings to win the Cup. A few times, Dean Lombardi has told me things off the record and said, ``That's for your book.'' I plan on holding him to that if the opportunity ever comes up... 2) If you've ever hung out around the Toyota Sports Center in the summer, there's a thriving summer workout group consistently in place. It's not just Kings, since so many players now live in the Southern California area, so the Kings players wouldn't just be segregating themselves. They would be working out with other NHLers for the most part. I don't know, specifically, if any players who previously went back to their hometowns for the summer now plan on being in L.A., but a lot of them already spend at least part of their summers in L.A.

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Question: What is the record for number of comments on a topic and what was the topic? From Ersberg's perspective, why did he re-sign so (seemingly) easily? He appears to be the odd-man out both short- and long-term. With Frolov's groin issues, is he still playing for Russia this summer and why would management let him?

Answers: 1) Good question. I'd have to go back and look. Off the top of my head, I remember the Jason LaBarbera trade getting a ton of comments. The record for one day is 700, which was trade deadline day last month. 2) A couple things, I think. One, he really likes it here. When I talked to him after he signed, he expressed great relief at being able to call one place ``home.'' He talked about being on one-year contracts for the past few years and how he appreciated the stability to having a two-year deal. Two, with all respect to Ersberg's abilities, what else was he going to get? He's a 27-year-old goalie with 37 career NHL starts and a low profile league-wide. I'm not sure how much better of a deal he would have received from another team. 3) I don't think they have a problem with it. If the Kings were worried about Frolov's long-term health, he wouldn't be playing in these last few games that don't really mean anything. Frolov has a history of groin strains, but nothing more serious.

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Question: Rich, does a higher draft pick (in the top 8) something Dean keeps if it is the right player or leverage in a trade? What would you do?

Answer: I don't get the impression that where the Kings pick is going to determine whether or not they keep the pick. Now, if it's No. 1 or No. 2, I'll take that statement back, but I don't think it's a case of, they will trade No. 10 but they won't trade No. 6, or something like that. Most likely, a player who will be a major help in the short term is going to cost a high draft pick. If the Kings really like that player, they're going to be willing to give up that high draft pick. It just totally depends on who is available.

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Question: 1) What do you think of Trevor Lewis' play? Do you think he might crack the lineup next season and stay with the team for the long run? 2) Do you think DL will either go for a big name free agent (Gaborik, Hossa, Havlat) or trade for one (Kovalchuk or Heatley) 3) What's your take on the whole Jack Johnson situation (do you think he'll get re-signed or...?)

Answers: 1) I've only seen as much of Trevor Lewis as you have, which consisted of his six games with the Kings. Based on what I've seen, and what I've heard about his development, I'd say he has a better-than-average chance of earning a fourth-line center spot next season, depending on what position the Kings think Oscar Moller should play. 2) At this point, I'd say a trade is more likely. I'm not sure how many potential free agents really fit with what the Kings are looking for, plus it's expected that several teams are going to be willing to offer up high-salary, high-talent players in order to help their cap situation. 3) Jack Johnson is a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights this summer, so the only way he's not back with the Kings is if they decide they don't want him. Is it possible that he could be included in a trade? Sure, but it's hard to see Lombardi breaking up that defensive unit that he has spent so much time building.

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Question: What doyou see the biggest needs to fill next season? Based on what you have heard will the Kings be a better draw in terms of Free Agents?

Answer: There's only one big need to fill, and that's for at least one big-talent -- and, from what Lombardi has said, big-bodied -- winger. I guess theoretically, the Kings would be more attractive to free agents, but I think that whole thing is highly overrated. It's amazing how ``attractive'' a team can look when it puts a big contract in front of a player.

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Questions: 1) Obviously there is a lot that can happen between now and next season, but what do you think are realistic expectations for the Kings next year? 2) Do you think the Kings make any significant moves via trades/free agency or are they going to make low impact moves with the hope for continued development? 3) What are your odds on Frolov being signed vs. traded?

Answers: 1) Again, I say that if they can stabilize the goaltending situation and bring in at least one high-scoring winger, the Kings should make the playoffs next season. 2) They will try for the former, to bring in a big name. Lombardi knows this team has a big hole that needs to be filled, so he's going to be more aggressive than ever. It will be interesting to see if he can achieve his goal, and even more interesting to see if his move works. 3) I'd say, based on all the factors, that it's slighly more probable that he will be traded than to be re-signed. Just my opinion.

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Question: Any chance the Kings are able to bring Jan Marek in next year? And at what point do the Kings no longer own his NHL rights?

Answer: From what I understand, the Kings once tried to sign Marek but he wanted a guaranteed NHL contract and they weren't willing to go for it. So, on one hand, you're talking about a 29-year-old forward who has never played in North America. On the other hand, it's a guy who has 35 goals in the KHL this season. I wouldn't say it's likely that he will be with the King next season, but maybe they give it another go this summer.