The Hockey News posted a Q&A with Alexander Frolov. As far as Frolov goes, this was actually a fairly revealing interview, seeing as how the typical Frolov interview includes him staring off into the distance for no particular reason. Nice guy, truly tries to be helpful, but just a little…different. Not that “different” is necessarily bad. Anyway, you can give it a read…

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like to read. I like chess pretty good, but it’s hard to find a partner here.”

Getting To Know: Alexander Frolov

As part of the ongoing story about Jim Balsillie’s attempt to buy and move the Phoenix Coyotes, the Toronto Globe and Mail today wrote a piece about the process of buying a NHL team. The story, quoted in part below, talks about the 10-page application and the amount of information that must be submitted. Presumably, first and last month’s rent also have to be provided.

On a somewhat related note, Bruce McNall was spotted at a Woodland Hills mall over the weekend. From what I understand, it’s a popular McNall hangout!

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“The questions range from the mundane – name, date of birth, social insurance number – to more unusual queries such as the birth place of the applicant’s mother and father.

There are also questions about children, military service and requirement to list every residence for the past 10 years. Several questions involve business deals, including providing information about all real estate transactions.

Other questions are more pointed such as: Have you ever been arrested? Yes or No. If Yes, provide details about the charge, location and disposition. Another section is titled “litigation history” and starts by asking if the applicant has been a party to any litigation “including litigation alleging harassment or discrimination?” The application also requires applicants to provide all personal bank and brokerage account numbers as well as “personal references.”

How to apply to be an NHL owner

“We couldn’t be satisfied with 12-14,000 people every night and we couldn’t look at an 88-point season (in 2007-08), where we missed the playoffs, as, `Well, we improved 17 points, we’re getting there.’ None of those were acceptable. We put expectations on everyone in that organization, certainly including me. I’m pretty tough on myself. We needed to put expectations on it. There was some criticism of, `Well, you can’t put expectations on an organization that hasn’t made the playoffs in X number of years,’ and, `These are young kids and don’t put too much pressure on them.’ Well, I think when we play, or we get involved in any of this, ultimately your goal is to win. So why not say it? We expected sellouts. We had expectations to make the playoffs. So we’re pleased with the progress, but all of us feel we have a long way to go.”

— Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough, yesterday on ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago.

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I wonder if I would get the same type of quote out of Dean Lombardi? Then again, with all respect to McDonough, it’s a bit easier to tout your successes when you’re sitting in the Western Conference Finals. I’m not sure we would be reading that quote if the `Hawks had been swept out of the first round. Still, given the comparisons some have made between the Kings and Blackhawks, I thought it was an interesting quote.

Si.com compiled a list of the five best and five worst owners in each of the four major leagues. The entire story is here. How did the NHL turn out?

Five best:
1. Detroit
2. New Jersey
3. Pittsburgh
4. San Jose
5. Carolina

Five worst:
1. Toronto
2. Florida
3. NY Islanders
4. Atlanta
5. Nashville

I just had a quick phone chat with Drew Doughty about his experience playing for Canada in the World Championships, plus some other pertinent issues…

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Question: Even though I’m sure you would have liked one more victory, it seemed to be a great tournament for you all around. How did you feel things went?

DOUGHTY: “Overall it was a lot of fun. It was great to meet some of those world-class players and it was a great experience to be able to play with them. Obviously, playing with them made it a lot easier for me.”

Question: Obviously, you’ve had international experience at younger levels. Did this feel different, playing internationally against more established players?

DOUGHTY: “For sure. It’s a lot more difficult to play against guys like Frolov and Kovalchuk, like we did in the finals. I mean, I see Fro every day and practice against him, but you don’t realize how strong he is, especially down low, until you play against him like that.”

Question: As you said, you played a lot, and in a lot of situations. Did you have expectations for yourself going in?

DOUGHTY: “Going in, I didn’t expect too much. I was the youngest D-man on the team, so I knew I would have to do some work to get my spot in the lineup. Things worked out really well and I ended up playing a lot of minutes in all situations. Overall, I kind of exceeded my expectations.”

Question: Did you get some good feedback from your coaches, or from teammates?

DOUGHTY: “It was pretty cool, with some of the other guys complementing my game. It doesn’t get to my head or anything, but to have guys like Heatley and Spezza and Doan say nice things…those some of the best players in the game, so that’s nice.”

Question: It’s been quite a year, from being drafted to playing a full season in the NHL to the World Championships. Have you had a chance to put it in some perspective yet?

DOUGHTY: “Not yet. I’ve just been going and going. It seems like the (Kings) season didn’t finish too long ago, and then it was off to the World Championships. It’s nice to be home and take a week off just to relax.”

Question: What is the plan for the near future? Back in L.A. at some point?

DOUGHTY: “For the next two weeks, I’ll just take a little break and get my legs back and get my body back to normal. After that, I’ll be going to the gym hard. I’m sure I’ll be in L.A. a couple times a month, and my main goal is to get in great shape and really have the right conditioning.”

Question: Going forward, what are your thoughts about the Kings’ defense and how you might be able to improve?

DOUGHTY: “I think we did have a good D core last year, and there is always room for improvement. I think it’s been good. We jelled together, and in order to be a good team, I think we know that starts with the defense. You have to have a good defense in order to make a winning team.”

Question: Have you heard the talk about your possible candidacy for the Olympic team?

DOUGHTY: “I’ve heard a few things. It’s going to be one of the hardest teams to make. Canada is going to be one of the better teams at the Olympics, with so many great players, unbelievable players. Even to be mentioned, or to be thought about for a tryout or something like that, is pretty overwhelming.”

Question: Most importantly, how hard will you be working on the ping-pong skills this summer?

DOUGHTY: “I already had one match yesterday. My friends told me they got better, that they were practicing, but I think I got a little better too because the results were the same.”

Question: You won?

DOUGHTY: “Yeah. I’m going to work hard. I have to take the title from Army (Derek Armstrong) for best player in the room.”

People.com reported today that actress/model Rachel Hunter will be getting married, in Northern California in mid-August, to Jarret Stole. Presumably, Kings forward Jarret Stoll knows about this… Hopefully, People won’t confuse Brian Boyle with Susan Boyle.

Kings prospect Andrei Loktionov and the OHL champion Windsor Spitfires have advanced to the Memorial Cup playoffs, so there’s still one more “Kings” player to follow.

The Memorial Cup will include Windsor, host Rimouski, WHL champion Kelowna and the QMJHL champion (Drummondville and Shawinigan play Game 7 tomorrow). The tournament begins Friday.

Loktionov, who turns 19 this month, is second on the Spitfires with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 20 playoff games. In the regular season, Loktionov had 66 points (24 goals, 42 assists) in 51 games.

Drew Doughty performed so well at the IIHF World Championships that he became a candidate — if not a favorite — to make Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics. What a momentous accomplishment that would be, especially considering that the Games will be played in Vancouver.

Do you think it will happen?

Certainly, Canada doesn’t lack for talented defensemen — or forwards or goalies, for that matter — and Doughty will be only 20 when the Games take place, but once again, Doughty proved himself in international competition. TSN’s Darren Dreger called Doughty a “strong candidate” to make the team.

I know there are a lot of close followers of international hockey out there. If you had to objectively pick Team Canada’s blue line, who would you select?

Alexander Frolov got a gold medal today, as Russia beat Canada 2-1 in the finals of the IIHF World Championships. Neither Frolov nor Canada’s Drew Doughty recorded a point, but Russia goalie Ilya Bryzgalov had quite a game, with 37 saves.

Sweden beat the United States 4-2 in the bronze-medal game. Jack Johnson scored to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead and the game was tied 2-2 but Sweden scored in the third period, then scored an empty-net goal to clinch the game.

Ilya Kovalchuk was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player. By a vote of coaches, Dustin Brown was selected as the second-best player on the U.S. team, behind Ron Hainsey.

My thanks to reader “-J” for finding this — you always find good stuff — an interview with longtime Kings scout Rob Laird about the IIHF World Championships. I had to laugh a little at his wording when he said the Kings hadn’t made the playoffs “in a couple of years” and found it interesting when he mentioned Jan Marek as one of the guys the Kings had there, even though Marek isn’t under contract. For the record, Marek played in five of the Czech Republic’s seven games and had two goals and one assist.

Anyway, the interview is a fairly quick read. You can check it out here.