Forum answers V

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Question: What is your guy feeling DL and company do this offseason? Mine is draft Brayden Schenn, trade our 2nd rounder from Philly's '10 pick to get a 2nd rounder this year and sign Gaborik? What are your thoughts?

Answer: Given that Lombardi has already publicly thrown around the idea of trading the first-round draft pick, you can bet that he's giving it some serious thought, and maybe even plans to do it, if the right opportunity comes along. I wouldn't get your heart set on Gaborik. As much as a large segment of fans seem to adore him, he doesn't seem to fit that Lombardi/Murray model.

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Question: 1.) Are the Kings hosting a draft party this year at the Nokia theater? I didn't go last June and I'm curious if there is a cover charge or ticket fee if I go this time around. 2.) If the Kings would have been in the playoff hunt we all know a lot of fans would have been angry at the inability to watch 3 of these last 4 games. Are there any plans you're aware of by FSW or the Kings organization to ensure that this doesn't happen again?

Answers: 1) They haven't announced anything yet, but last year's event seemed to go very well so I imagine they will do it again. If memory serves, last year it was free for season-ticket holders, but perhaps someone could correct me on that. 2) This was addressed in a previous question, but the problem is with games brodcast from Canada, although from looking at the schedule, it seems the Ducks had better luck in terms of getting games televised north of the border. I know there was a movement, among Kings management, to try to get these games added if the Kings were in the playoff hunt, but obviously that didn't work out.

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Question: - What are cap space is estimated to be ? - What our draft pick situation is over the next two years ?

Answers: 1) The Kings have already committed $41.88 million to 18 players who would be considered NHL caliber, plus the buyout salaries of Cloutier and McCauley. Not included are RFAs Jack Johnson and Teddy Purcell. 2) At this point, without looking up every round specifically, I believe the Kings have one pick in each of the first three rounds, three fourth-round picks, two fifth-round picks, two sixth-round picks and three seventh-round picks. If I start thinking about 2010 right now, my head will hurt.

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Question: What's the best way to get a date with an ice girl? :)

Answer: Let's put it this way. If I knew, do you think I'd be sharing that information publicly?

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Question: The Kings last game is this Saturday. Do you know if they will show up at the Toyota Sports Center on Sunday? Will there be a team meeting or does everyone get a time for an exit meeting? I would think the team would like to meet & say goodbye's & stuff.

Answer: There will be exit meetings, but I highly doubt they will be Sunday and there really isn't any final team get-together. I wouldn't expect anyone at the rink Sunday unless Lombardi scheduled a meeting with some guys, but I doubt it.

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Question: Do you think Terry will be fired?

Answer: No.

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Question: 1) Any inside perspective on DB's struggles as of late? nagging injury? His sons health? I hope he turns it around by next season...the Kings dont succeed without him producing offensively IMO. 2) I know the general feeling is Frolov will get traded, but I cant figure out why for the life of me..I know there has been mention of his inconsistent play, but to me every player has hot and cold streaks...he is responsible defensively, is a monster on the puck (but could shoot a bit more) and a great distibutor (just needs a finisher). I dont get it...what am I missing? If RH was GM, would YOU keep him? 3) Do you see Bernier with the big club next season? Boyle? Purcell?

Answers: 1) No, I really don't. I tend to not blow things like this out of proportion, because they tend to go in cycles. A player will go through a stretch in which he plays out-of-his-mind good, and then a stretch in which he looks completely awful. He's never quite as good, or as bad, as those extremes make him seem. If Brown is nursing an injury, he's doing a good job of hiding it, and at this point there would be no point in playing through a serious injury. I'm sure the situation with his son weighed on his mind, but that's a tough thing to measure. 2) Frolov is the Great Divider, in terms of opinion among fans. It seems that the majority would hate to see him go, but there are some who see things the way Lombardi and Murray do, and are often flummoxed by Frolov's up-and-down play. To be honest, Lombardi and Murray aren't the first people to consider Frolov to be an enigma. That said, he has the potential to be an elite player, and if he wants to stay in L.A., the Kings would be pretty silly to at least not explore re-signing him. 3) Lombardi has been pretty consistent about saying that young goalies should spend two years in the minors. Of course, he broke his own rule this year by calling up Quick, so certainly it's not out of the question that Bernier could earn a spot in training camp, but the odds are probably against it. Purcell has the best chance, out of the three you mentioned, of making the team. He's the only one I would ``expect'' to be there.

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Question: Doughty, Johnson, Quincey, O'Donnell, Greene, and... who? I'd assume Hickey, but Drewiske is seemingly playing his way into a spot on the big club. Any indications? If you could choose, who is our first line next season (using players we already have)? Comments on the NCAA Hockey Tournament? i haven't followed it in the past, but the number of dramatic finishes, shocking upsets, and last-second goals is unbelievable. And finally... in the movie about a diligent reporter named Rich Hammond whose tireless work and selflessness inspire fans and support a hockey team on the rise... who plays you, who plays Dean Lombardi, and who (just for kicks) plays Anze Kopitar?

Answers: 1) There will be quite a training-camp battle between guys such as Hickey, Voinov, Drewiske and Martinez for what could be one roster spot. I'm really excited to see how that plays out in September. 2) I think the first line the Kings have been going with, the Frolov-Kopitar-Williams line, has some potential, but I need to see more of Williams at full strength to draw a conclusion about what type of player he might thrive with. 3) The NCAA Tournament has been fantastic. I've watched more of it this year than I have in any other year, and with the upsets and the overtime games, it's great. You would think that BU is going to roll to the championship now, but would you really bet on it? 4) In a couple years, Mickey Rourke can play me, because I'm aging about two years for every month.

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Question: Is there any word about the condition of Kyle Quincey? I thought he was supposed to have surgery last week. I haven't seen anything. Was the surgery a success? Do you have any quotes from his doctor? Thanks.

Answer: Quincey had your standard surgery to repair a herniated disc. Barring any setbacks, he will be back on the ice for training camp. The only question might be his conditioning, since he probably won't be able to do his standard summer work.