The end is near

fro...

let's hope you will be still with us to ride that wave...!

Normally I'd say, "Lets go Kings", but at this point in our season I'm more inclined to say, "Lets go Dean".

Another long summer awaits us.
How many more before we see some post season games.
I feel for these players.
I'm especially concerned for Frolov.
When it comes down to extending his contract, he better be a good little boy.
If he disagrees with DL over $ or pisses him of once (just once), he'll suffer the same fate as Cammeleri and O'Sullivan. Look for a new address.
Id rather see DL change his address.

Anrthonyyyy-

Did you read Helene Elliott's article? She expressed the same concern about Dean's "health" with regards to players and their contracts.

I'm actually a little concerned myself, but not for the same reason(s). I'm more concerned that if Dean becomes emotional about a possible "Frolov" incident, he trades him for less than he could normally get just to get rid of him.

Lets hope that doesn't happen.

I don't think it's up to Frolov at all to be a good little boy. He's a proven 30 goal scorer and has a huge upside even at that. Williams has scored 30 goals a couple of times and they're HOPING he comes back from injury to do it again. It took the 5 on 3 force feeding him over and over to get his first with the Kings so we'll see how it goes.

30 goal scorers are hard to find so if Dean screws up Frolov will have a ton of offers waiting for him as he's still a young guy.

Dan H.
You'll never EVER see Justim Williams get anywhere near 30 goals again. Maybe 20 if you're lucky.

I saw the Oilers-Kings game. Although he did not score, Sully was playing great. He carried the puck, made great passes, and attacked the net (probably took some of your advices). He was all over the ice. And came close to scoring if it wasn't for Quick's outstanding play. Fans love him in Edm.
Williams on the other hand was invisible and played pathetically. And how do you do that when your linemates are Kopitar and Frolov.
I never noticed him on the ice.

It's easy to not notice someone if you're trying to ignore them, isn't it, Anthony?

Well, it looks like you're getting everyones attention again,. Anthony. Rather than hearing chants of "Turrcco, Turrcco" at Staples, it'll be "Anntthhonny, Anntthhonny". Some day that would be.

I'll be at the game in Vancouver tonight boys, first time this season I get to see the Kings live! I can't wait and ilm hoping we win so I can get out of GM Place alive in my signed Kopitar jersey! Go Kings Go!!

I know I'm not supposed to say this, because Helene Elliott is an institution and whatever, but I prefer Anthony. Elliott annoys me to no end. Maybe I'm overstating. But she annoys me.

Anthony -

I hope POS and Williams both work out. That would be a win-win. Right now, they're both struggling in very similar situations, on teams that are missing the playoffs.

As far as the Kings go, while I am disappointed they didn't hang in there until the bitter end (from a certain point about six weeks ago, when STL and LA were even, St Louis basically did what we needed to do, and we didn't), I have to say I am much happier with this team than last year's team. My only complaint would be that I wish they had gone even more in the youth direction, more Moller, Lewis, Azevedo, less Calder, Ivanans, etc. But I fully recognize that may just be an insane impractical fan point of view.

Cammalleri
Visnovsky
O'Sullivan
Conroy
Stuart
Avery
Sopel
Kostopoulos
Willsie
Blake
Norstrom
Modry
Miller
Thornton
Klemm
Dallman
Lundmark
Weaver
Heward
Pushkarev
Tverdovsky
Cowan
McAuley
Cloutier
Shay Stephenson
Tukonen
Fukufuji
Brust
Nagy
Aubin

instead:
Doughty
Quincey
Johnson
Greene
Stoll
Simmonds
Moller
Quick
Purcell
Ersberg
Williams
Handzus
SOD

Seven or eight of those guys are new this season. That's a lot to add, not to mention a new coach, new system, etc.. I look forward to the next two seasons and

Voynov
Hickey
Teubert
Loktionov
Lewis
Azevedo
Cliche (?)
Bernier
Zatkoff
2009 1st round pick?

FOur of those names might make it this fall, even. Not to mention, you know, Hossa. Hossa, Hossa.

I'd rather be a Kings fan than a Wings fan right now, knowing you have to win the cup or you suck and anyway it's all going to fall apart in the couple of years. As Ken Holland said, "I just hope we can stay a perennial playoff team." Yikes. I'm overstating, of course; it would be great to be the best and expect to make it to the finals. But i think of my relatives (from michigan) who are all wings fans but didn't really sign on until they were already great. where's the fun in that? where's the suffering??

Let's all enjoy Alex Frolov's last games as a King.

I'll call it now, Alex Frolov will sign with the Red Wings july 1st 2010.

It's been a pleasure.

JKAHITS--Is Frolov sitting out the 2009-2010 season?

Frolov doesn't get re-signed if we sign a guy like Hossa, Gaborik or Havlat, that's a guarantee. He'll just become way too expensive and we'll have guys like Trevor Lewis, Oscar Moller, Teddy Purcell that can take his spot.

RE-SIGN JACK JOHNSON!!!

AK47 -

I respectfully disagree. Frolov is under contract for next year, as we know. If DL commits $8MM to a big forward, that will work with our cap figures for next season. But all future contracts, including Frolov's and Johnson's obviously (since they're first up) would be affected by the Big Fish signing. Summer of 2010 you have Quincey, Quick, Lewis and Drewiske as RFAs, and no UFAs other than Frolov. Then in 2011, the big summer, Doughty, Moller, Simmonds, Williams and Handzus. Handzus will be let go, he has to be. Williams...we'll see, won't we? But there isn't a single left-winger among those names. I can easily see Frolov staying and someone else getting dealt to make room for the Quincey, Quick and Lewis contracts.

And let's not forget, DL can trade Quick and use Bernier, Zatkoff or Jones. This may well be part of the plan. Just when Quick is going to get the big money, in two years, he's shipped off.

The bottom line is, I don't see this summer's big UFA signing being a death knell for Frolov. It's the continuing development of the prospects that will be the death knell for someone...the weak link...who will that be?

I'll keep Quisp's list in case DL makes a questionable trade.

I'll take Eric's advice.

I'll hope tantrum does not eat a large dinner. He may need the speed.

I'll ask Johnny Kick a hole how much the cap will increase the next two years.

I'll commend AK47 on his observation, as it would take Lewis, OM and Purcell to replace Fro next year.

I was trying to think what the best think to happen with the Kings this year (not easy, it was a bountiful year) and looked over at thn and bam. Referee Don Koharski works final game following 32 NHL seasons.

In the late 70's and the 80's, the surest bet in sports was an NFL team not covering the spread on their 3rd consecutive road game. The second best was the Kings losing when Koharski reffed. He helped me buy my first new truck. So, I need to thank him, but at the same time I am glad he will not be assigned any Kings games again.

The best thing that happened to the Kings this season is the emergence & addition to the core of Quick, Doughty, Simmonds, Moller & Quincey. It's pretty AWESOME to add that many rookies in a single season!!!

Anthony,

Good to see you back.
I was concerned you'd been banned.
Hang in there, brother, there is always hope and miracles can happen.
I hope that Kopi, Brown, Fro, Quick, Doughty, and Johnson are here for the long haul and that Lomba and Murray will be moving on soon.

Have a great Holiday everyone.

So...even though Quick, Doughty & Johnson were acquired by Dean Lombarti and were molded into NHL players by Murray, both should be fired??? Aight, OK...sure. When we're a powerhouse in the NHL, it will be because Dean Lombardi created a hockey culture in LA (through Murray) by developing young players for the first time in Kings history.

lol I don't usually agree with people right away, but Quisp, you just changed my mind completely.. job well done mate

always respected a fella like you

Well I'm touched I was missed by the likes of Quisp, Ersberg, Cristobal, and everybody else.
But Quisp my friend, you forgot to mention Jason Ward. You know the player they got in return for Avery. Who only lasted a couple days on the roster - thanks to DL.
I have some hockey knowledge too, you know.

Anyways, just watched a scoreless 1st period against the canucks. Hope we win this on the road.

BTW, Justin Williams looks terrible out there. Playing just aweful.

1-0 Vancouver 2nd intermission.
Jonathan Quick and his legendary 5 hole.
That 5 hole is so huge, a canucks player can squeeze anything between those legs.

Avery to NYR for Cliche, Ward, Marek and a 3rd. Ward was dealt two weeks later to Tampa for a 5th. The third was subsequently packaged with a 4th to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's 3rd (thus, moving up to #74 from #81), in order to select Andrew Campbell. The fifth was used to select Josh Turnbull.

Therefore: Cliche, Andrew Campbell, Marek and Turnbull for Avery. Turnbull is far away (Sophomore in college, I think). Marek is in the KHL, doing well, I think. Campbell is a bit of a project, supposedly, but is another big "tree" defenseman. I believe he's been struggling in Manchester this year, but he's only 21, give him a couple of years.

Anthony, re Quick:

More than the 5 hole, it's the rebound. Quick leaves rebounds. Bernier does not. Of course, it's possible Bernier is no good. But I hang my hopes on him nonetheless.

Hey Anthony, don't forget about me, I missed you too...

XOXOXOXOXO

But then, now back to reality. Don't think it's a fair evaluation of a player who's been out the majority of the year to CHANGE TEAMS then play ONLY 10 GAMES, most of which are ON THE ROAD, limiting practice time with your new team. Oh, and one can see the beginnings of chemistry between Williams and the rest of the top two lines despite the fact that JW looks fat and slow.

Gotta reserve final opinion on that one, dear boy...

In fact, the worst thing about this game is watch how difficult it is for the Kings to play 5-on-5 in Canada, where the refs favor the home boys and the fans love it that way. The Kings have it hard enough as it is 5-on-5. At least they generated a few good scoring chances in the second period.

Guess we can expect a few more phantom holding calls on the Kings during the third period, in an effort to get a more seemly margin for the playoff-bound Canucks. Too bad the Habs got in; was great to see the Bruins sweep the season series (points in every game). I still resent the no-call interference penalty on the game-tying goal in the Kings loss up there earlier this year. Feel sorry for Florida.

Only four more periods to the off-season...

It's a long time till June...

Didn't it go in over his left pad just past his glove? Is that the 5 hole? Just say'n...

...and playing in your 43rd game, is anything about you legendary?

Wow, I just love the spin job both these guys are pulling...

The reality is that you didn't get it done on the ice and now we're supposed to feel better that you made some marginal improvements? No playoffs means no playoffs. Period.

And I guess playing spoiler is just like playing in the playoffs? Wow where have I been??

The excuse making is over boys. The fans deserve better. This goes for the Kings organization as well. No more freakin' excuses. No more moral victories and silver linings.

Well, there it was.

Boyle gets checked into Luongo with five minutes to go and it's a penalty... Earlier, a Canuck goes straight into Quick and gets nothing.

Typical.

...yet ANOTHER Kings shutout, 1-0.

one good note.........coyotes are helping our draft order and putting us into the 5th position.

Justin Williams is a pathetic player.
I don't know why this coach plays him on the point during a power play.
Even on a 6 on 4, during the final minute, he gave the puck away twice.
But, he's an ex-flyer, so that validates it for this coach - "cough cough".

sad, just sad. help is needed, but not Gaborik who'll play 20 -25 games a season. Ivanans, Calder, Harrold, and Army for Kovalchuk!

every shut out makes it more likely help is on its way. go sharks! go phoenix! go Dallas! No playoffs for Ducks, Kings pick 5th! (or 1st!)

enough exclamation points?

(!)

RICH. You've got to get the headline ready...
KINGS BROADEN THEIR FRANCHISE RECORD FOR BEING SHUTOUT TO 11--COULD SUNDAY BE #12?
THE BOSSES BLAME FROLOV-NEWS AT 11.

Bernie9,

Quick was drafted by Taylor--right quisp?
Doughty developed long before he was anywhere near TM or DL.
Johnson is a competitor, something TM and DL don't seem to value.
Williams is not a bad little player. I've got nothing against him. I think he looks like a smart player, too.
But, why is he automatically slotted in on the first line? For scoring 30 goals once upon a time (before the cap era, wasn't it?)?
Lomba and TM seem to think that getting 30 goals on good teams is the equivalent of doing it on a bad team (frolov/kings).
Put Frolov in a Wings jersey and he's lifting cups.

And Quisp, people like the Wings because the franchise doesn't ask it's players to suffer in failure. They've gotten their best players in the draft and keep them around.
All they demand is that there is a trophy every few years.
And Helene Elliot deserves respect.
She's been in a male dominated business speaking her mind for a long time.
She's not off the mark in highlighting the fact that Big Phil is in this for all the wrong reasons--money.

Brown sounds like a frustrated man and sounds too embarrassed to say that he's playing for pride-- it's hard to be proud of the jersey he's wearing, but he is. He's attempting to bring some integrity to this franchise. The problem is, he's battling his GM and his coach, who haven't a clue.

I too, pity Labarbara. He was the fall guy for these clowns.

Finally.
How about Dan Bylsma? The man is looking sharper than ever and he's making a name for himself as coach of the Penguins.
I haven't seen them since he took over but I'll have someone to root for in the playoffs, for sure.

--(so moller was supposed to fill in for williams until williams was healthy, but he can't get a game in? Why not center the 4th line and move Harrold on to D? Doughty/Drewiske = zero shots on goal, according to the boxscore. 5 total shots by defensemen and Johnson had 3.)--

Therefore: Cliche, Andrew Campbell, Marek and Turnbull for Avery.

Make that: 4 players that may-well never play an NHL game for Avery.

Cristobal,
I agree with everything you just stated, with one exception:
Justin Williams is not a smart player. Quite the opposite.

Ant'ny,

I haven't seen many games lately, so I guess I'll have to judge this one next season, unless he's traded on draft day. RIGHT!
If he's all DL and TM say he is he ought to fetch a fortune in talent.

Williams for Tavares!!!!

Cris,

Yeah right.
This GM can't even finish off a bag of popcorn.

Anthony & Cristobal,

are you guys secretly the same person? jeez.. can we keep this PG, please?

Are hockey fights PG?

cristobal said:

"Quick was drafted by Taylor"

True, ya got me - but you make my point better then I did. Do you really think that any GM from Taylor all the way back to '67 would've still had a goalie in the system that was taken 72nd overall almost 4 years ago? We've NEVER developed players & especially not goalies. (We did get lucky a couple of times with Taylor & Luc though)

"Doughty developed long before he was anywhere near TM or DL"

True, he had all of his hockey skills before he was a King. However, Dean Loambardi picked him, nobody else & Terry Murray coached him in his first hugely sucessfull NHL season, nobody else. They don't deserve any credit, none?

"Johnson is a competitor, something TM and DL don't seem to value"

Let's see. Brown, Handzus, Stoll, Greene, O'Donnell, Simmonds, Quick, Moller...Frolov benched, Boyle yo-yo'd between Manchester & LA...

"Williams is not a bad little player. I've got nothing against him. I think he looks like a smart player, too."

I couldn't have said it better myself