Kings vacancy

Having met Chad at the Kings Fantasy camps the past two years, I am bummed to hear that he is not going to be with the Kings. I thought he was great in the sessions we did with him. Good luck Chad.

Also interesting given DL's comment about Kopitar's conditioning.

I can confirm that they are interviewing candidates right now and looking for someone with an extensive hockey background. I know someone who interviewed with Jeff Solomon and they had a two hour conversation in regards to the position.

the workout room is still open and these guys can also afford a gym membership...no excuses for the players...they and the organization will have to find someone else to continue with the off-season plan...sorry to hear about his departure, though...

Who's the Strength and Conditioning coach for the Flyers? No doubt he will be the guy to fill the job.

LOL @ KingsCast! YES! right on the money

I heard Richard Simmons is looking for work.

I think it's pretty funny when people get all bent out of shape when DL hires former colleagues that he's worked with in the past. NEWS ALERT PEOPLE - IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN THE REAL WORLD TOO! Why would you think when someone is hiring for a position in their organization they wouldn't want to hire someone their familiar with? I would put money on it that at some point in your life, each and every one of you has gotten a job because of who you know, or didn't get a job because the boss already had a "guy" he wanted to hire...it's not earth shattering news people. When's the last time you saw someone get hired by the Canadiens who didn't play for the organization at one point or another? The Oilers? Two years ago he brought in an outside guy in Crawford, how did that work out for you? Oh ya you complained about that one too.......

You make a good point tantrum4. I don't mind bringing in people to the organization that DL has worked with before. When it comes to players you need to be more wary though.

tantrum4
I agree with your analysis. People do tend to go with those they've worked with in the past.
But DL takes it to another level.
When he needs a position filled, He looks at San Jose and PHilly. ESPECIALLY PHILLY. Its almost spooky how much he's obsessed with Philly.
And he'll hire that person based upon his prior employment, even though there are others more qualified.
Qualification is not a piority for DL.

Check this out - Scott Thornton, McCauley, Brad Stuart, Preissing, Calder, Gauthier, Handzus, Hextall, Justin Williams, T. Murray, those jokers on his scouting team.

How many of those players are gone.
How many will be gone after July.
Those who are still hanging around, who's really contributing. Not the Coach or Asst. GM, that's for sure.

Your absolutely right Tantrum4! This not only happens in the NHL, but in every major sport. Example: Phil Jackson, the Laker coach brought guys with him from his days with the Bulls. The Dodgers and Joe Torre's did the same. Joe Torre brought at least 3 or 4 coaches with him when he signed, and why ...because they know what there getting from the guys. The same goes with players that have played for them. Yet for some reason, when the Kings front office does this, people who post around here have a HUGE problem and scream conspiracy. Or maybe they are constant complainers who always need something to complaint about.I bet if they found out the locker room vending machine only has Coke instead of both Coke and Pepsi, they'd complain saying "I bet they went with Coke because Coke is made closer to Philly."

Those jokers on his scouting staff are the ones finding guys like Moeller,Simmonds, Martinez, Drewiski,Martin Jones,and a guy who is the second story on this blog Andrei Loktionov.

Wow, tantrum4, you certainly took a tongue and cheek remark and turned it into a little tirade, didn't you? Well done..

Look, I don't necessarily have a problem with DL using people he's worked with before but he does this A LOT. How many of those players have been impact players? Handzus...for one season.

At this point, I could care less who he hires as long as it's the right person. That said, if you were a betting man, that right person would come from Philly.

28 Kings
What about the ex-players?
Or soon to be ex-players as well?

TANTRUM...

i love it when you speak because i'm always guaranteed to be entertained, regardless if i agree w/you or not...and in this case...

i absolutely do...:)

it's enough already...this is just a by-product of human nature...it's probably not fair all the time and perhaps is illegal in some ways, depending on the instance, but, we have all dealt with this aspect of occupation, good or bad...

theorectically, this is no different than the musician/politician/gangster/businessman getting their friends and family members in on something...

i'm not justifying any kind of this type of behavior...but the league always looks into suspicious activity...and i don't think any of d.l.'s hiring decisions have crossed the line...again, i'm not privy to the actualities...

ultimately, nepotism and former allegiances and colleagues can only get you the pieces and the power...not bad things to have...but it doesn't necessarily mean that it will translate to positive results...

d.l....since he's the head honcho...will be the one to be held accountable for the results...

one thing i will say about AEG and leiweke...i don't think they feel they have any other obligation with d.l. and his management team...it's d.l.'s job to make "significant progress" every year...so, unlike dave taylor, who had a kings' legacy that AEG/lieweke was 'burden' with, if all this amounts to the opposite direction of whatever "significant progress" means, d.l. & co. will be out of a job...

i happen to be somewhat more favorable of d.l.'s performance and decision making skills...some are puzzling and hard to make of...a few are just flat-out poor...but, i'm just an armchair general like the rest of all y'all...

i think when you constantly judge a gm's overall performance, one has to consider the criteria being used and how realistic, non-biased/partisan it is...

Just found this quote from an agent when dealing with Lombardi. Maybe this explains a few things

And lastly, my personal favourite, a quote from abrasive player agent Art Breeze (Jason Smith's agent btw). This in the midst of contract negotiations between himself and Lombardi during Rathje's holdout several years ago:
Breeze said he had one brief conversation with the Sharks last week. "It was just more arrogant, kindergarten management rhetoric -- silly, veiled contract threats that are typical of management that's bankrupt of ideas," said Breeze. "It's like negotiating with a cloud."

lol since everyone is all hyped up about the Dean Philly connection, here is my take

What has Philly and San Jose done for me?

If Dean was recruiting Detroit guys then we'd have a successful formula!

The square block didn't fit in the circle hole over there, and it won't over here.

On top of that, its not like we are getting the creme of the crop when it comes to former philly and sharks players.

And to add to that, Murray got fired because he ruined star players potential...Now look at Fro and Jack as exhibit A.

So why transfer another teams problems over here because you "know" them. Makes no sense to me! Like I said if Dean was hooking us up with former Wings...then we would have some sort of successful formula. Look at just what he did this year with a former Wing and Duck...Thats 2 Stanley Cup winning teams and our two biggest impact D-men...Quiency and Odi...Look at the other addition with Edmonton FINAL team, Stoll and Greene...All of Deans successes have come from Dave Taylors draft and former winning teams players. This whole Philly and Sharks connection sets our team 2 steps back!

Fair enough?

".All of Deans successes have come from Dave Taylors draft and former winning teams players."

As were all of Brian Burke's when he inherited a stacked farm system from the previous GM and then won the cup with Ducks. Yet in Taylors 10 years drafting as our GM, what did our farm system look like? Where were our young defensemen (aside from Lubo) or future goalies? He had 10 years to find and develop these 2 important areas that Lombardi identified on day one, and FAILED WITH A BIG CAPITAL "F".10 YEARS MAN.

As for ruining Frolov, how long have we been waiting for his true star potential, what 8 years now. You don't get the name Froloaf or the invisible man for nothing. Murray is trying to get Frolov to play at a level he's capable of, not trying to ruin him.

28 Kings

The names Froloaf and all the others are propaganda that the Kings management has given. Have you ever noticed that Frolov through those "8 years" has been the Kings top scorer? Fun fact!

Burke didn't bring Vancouver to Anaheim! Fun Fact!

Dave had a ton of prospects with promise...thats all they are is prospect, you can name all of Deans defensive prospects and its meaningless because most will not pan out...you actually think Hickey will be effective in the NHL? hows Gleason doing in defense? Hows Quick doing in net? Again our SUCCESSFUL guys are Dave Taylor guys! Fun Fact!

The capital F has to go to Dean...WHAT has he done? Fill your mind with promise? Prospects? Got Jack Johnson and Sully...yet can't sign them? Deans 2 great moves were to get Jack and Sully...and he's failed at keeping them

Lest we forgot keeping Cammy, Lubo, soon Frolov, Cloutier, McCauley, Crawford, Murray (I know too soon), Aubin, Calder, Gauthier. This is what 3 years of Dean looks like...cluster mess!

Yet for some odd reason he's doing great?

How?

Lets see we finished 2nd last in the west his first year....last in the west 2nd year and back up to 2nd last in the west this year. Yet you support this guy? How? He gave up on soooo much promise because he has a "Don" mentality. He thinks he's always right and belittles everyone. ah well, keep the losing Flyers and Sharks coming!

WWAMD noted "...our two biggest impact D-men...Quiency and Odi"

You think Quincey and Odi are our two biggest impact D-men? Seriously? Do you even watch Kings games?

I'm not sad to see Chad Smith leave. During his time being with the Kings the team always seemed to look fatigued for the most part during the season. A close friend of mine during this past season was an assistant part-time trainer for the Kings, until they let him go around March due to he wasn't always there when they needed him. But to say though during my friends time being with the Kings training them part-time that when he mentioned about Chad Smith he didn't think much of Chad Smith being that great of a strength trainer. My friend got hired due to that he trains Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Simmonds, Ivanans, Brian Boyle on the side still, along with other NHL players that my friend works with after being with other NHL clubs like the Edmonton Oilers and SJ Sharks.

I just got my Diploma in Fitness and Nutrition. Maybe I should apply.

BARWIS!!!!

" think it's pretty funny when people get all bent out of shape when DL hires former colleagues that he's worked with in the past. NEWS ALERT PEOPLE - IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN THE REAL WORLD TOO! "

Who cares either way? Why make a big deal out of it? People bring it up because it's interesting to analyze and discuss.

You make it sound like the company cafetaria is no longer serving coffee.

A source associated with the Kings has mentioned the possibility that the company cafeteria is no longer serving coffee. So far, no denial is forthcoming from Kings management. Why the silence?

We all know Dean is putting in a Philly Cheese Steak stand in the cafeteria.

Dean obviously is hiring his guys. Some have said it here already it happens everyday in the world but in DL's case the people he's bringing in aren't synonymous with winning. How many Cups did these guys win together? If you want to start a culture of winning it doesn't begin and end in San Jose and Philly.

I agree Stang.
DL is filling LA with his guys who haven't accomplished jack sh_t. I hope he returns to Philly if he loves that org. so much.
I can't wait until this guy is out of LA. Really can't wait. After the POS and JJ trade, its been one F____ up after another.
If these were the old days, the minute he gets fired, to thank the Gods, I'm gonna sacrifice a sheep or cow or something.

"A source associated with the Kings has mentioned the possibility that the company cafeteria is no longer serving coffee. So far, no denial is forthcoming from Kings management. Why the silence?"

TSN is now confirming a deal in place involving the LA Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning. The deal ivolves LA sending Jack Johnson, the LA 5th overall pick, prospect Brian Boyle, and the LA 3rd round pick for Tampa Bay star center Vincent Lecalvier, the Tampa Bay cafeteria manager, and a new coffee maker.

Confirmation link: http://www.tsn.com/nhl/coffee-makes-the-NHL-go-around.html

That trade proposal seems doable and potentially realistic. However, why Vinny with Kopi evolving??. Does Kopi center the second line, play LW??

Where does that leave Loki, Moller who are potential second line play makers in 2 years?

I see us being solid at center, and in need of another power forward (franzen type or true sniper) unless of course Kopitar is going to be a 6.8mil second line center????Which does not make any sense to me.

Just as the Spezza rumors dont sit well with me.

JJ for hartnell or Malone etc and keep the 5th pick or trade down a notch for Kassian.

Very droll Quisp and Ersberg. I love it. I'd still prefer a 3-way trade so the Kings can get the cafeteria manager from Montreal, but I'm splitting hairs here.

src3,
I would love for the Kings to get Hartnell. Philly connection or not, he would be a fantastic addition to the Kings lineup. Imagine him lining up next to Stoll and Brown... what a great hitting line that would be.

Src-

"However, why Vinny with Kopi evolving??."

Other than my post being a joke, I have no idea, but Vinny would probably the #1 center. Since both of those guys have the potential to make the other players around them better, it would work, despite the cost.

PHI won't trade Hartnell, and I'm not sure Malone is good enough for what we need. Gagne might be an option, but I'm not certain Terry/Dean would want him in our line-up.

"Where does that leave Loki, Moller who are potential second line play makers in 2 years?" Traded?

Ersberg
I got the joke aspect of it, however, with all the other sites espn for example reporting JJ for Vinny-just thought I would throw 2 cents in.

Irish pat-unfortunately PHI wants J Bo and not another potentially good D man. Not to mention there Goalie needs. Hartnell is keepable due to the low hit, whereas Gagne is dumpable. Agree, dont want Gange either.

JJ could however be of interest to TB if they are going to draft Duch. nr. 2.

I would rather see DL give our 5th, JJ and maybe even Boyle for Hedman at nr. 2. Anyone else up for that.

I love how a topic of the Kings Vacancy regarding trainer Chad Smith ends up getting twisted into the usual DL bashing of draft picks and old roster players. I was just surprised it took until post #10 to get off topic.

Src-

I really don't see us going for another D-man with those pieces. We really need the offense. I'd rather us use the 5th to draft MPS or trade it for some proven talent.

Anthony...WHO CARES ABOUT THE EX PLAYERS.

Seriously...you really need to get off this tip.

You mentioned more qualified players available? Not really...you forgot to mention that none of those actually were willing to come to LA to play. It's a bit difficult to lure someone to play here when they don't want to.

Some of us believe in building from within and have the patience to wait for those drafted to develop and come into their own...those like yourself want instant gratification. Sorry bub...doesn't work, has never once worked in the NHL...not once.

"Have you ever noticed that Frolov through those "8 years" has been the Kings top scorer? Fun fact!"

Frolov has NEVER been the Kings Top scorer...fun fact
His best year was 2003-04 where he scored 71 points, and finished behind Luc .

"Burke didn't bring Vancouver to Anaheim! Fun Fact!"

Todd Bertuzzi...fun fact
Brendan Morrison...fun fact
and I'm sure a few others, including front office personnel when he took the job in Anaheim.

"Again our SUCCESSFUL guys are Dave Taylor guys! Fun Fact!"

It shouldn't have taken 10 years of drafting to see this success. Quick was draft in 2005.You'd think that in the 8 previous drafts we'd have hit on a least 1 goalie not named Jamie Storr.

Where do you expect a full rebuilding team to finish? Did you expect the Kings to win the division or the cup in year one? Sounds like your expectations are waaaay too high.

And to bring this back on topic, let's hope the guys they bring in didn't go to the Andy Murray school of conditioning, that causes injuries rather than prevents them.