Lombardi quotes on Smyth
Here on Dean Lombardi's comments on tonight's trade, in which the Kings acquired Ryan Smyth from Colorado for Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth-round draft pick in 2010.
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Question: Can you talk about how this came together?
LOMBARDI: ``Well it started back at the trade deadline. We thought, at that time, that the price was way too steep. That ended, but we kept in contact and we got in contact at the draft. We had this, certainly, in the back of our mind, when we went into free agency, that this would be a priority guy. We had him ranked higher than some of the free-agent guys we weren't willing to extend ourselves on. That's kind of the whole process. What brought it together from their side, I can't speak to that, but he's a guy we targeted at the trade deadline.''
Question: What is most attractive to you about the way he plays?
LOMBARDI: ``The position he plays, the role he plays -- as a top-six guy who plays left wing -- and most importantly, the way he plays. That was the most important thing in terms of why we were aggressive. We lack guys who are going to go to the blue (area in front of the net) and score hard goals and pay the price. He's not flashy, he doesn't make highlight films, but he wins hockey games. You've got a guy who is known as `Captain Canada.' As far as his character and his competitiveness, this is the type of player that we need.''
Question: It's an obvious question, but in drafting the way you did, and then signing a guy like Scuderi and trading for Smyth, is it safe to say you're trying to make a statement by bringing in hard-nosed guys?
LOMBARDI: ``No question. I've said it all along; the culture is not built with slogans. It's a process of building with the right people, over time, with your values. This is why this a key piece for us. Kopitar has to learn this. This is the type of guy who, hopefully can bestow values like that on a guy like Kopitar. You saw it at the draft. (Kyle) Clifford... Ironically, in the days leading up to this, teams know better than to ask me for (Brayden) Schenn, but I was pleasantly surprised about how many are asking for Clifford. It's those type of values that people want. That doesn't mean you don't need skill, but it's all about the compete. It's like Scuderi, the same type thing. Solid kid, always been a great teammate.''
Question: Any hesitation in giving up Quincey? He was solid last year. Was that tough?
LOMBARDI: ``No question. I said it from day one, that was a great job by our scouts. The kid did a fabulous job. If we didn't have the defensive depth in our minor-league system, I probably would have been much more hesitant to do this. You know how I feel about building the back end. It's been a huge emphasis, but I have said from the beginning that with all these defenseman, I probably wouldn't be able to keep them all. I thought we would have to move some of the younger ones, but we ended up moving one who was already on the way in. I don't do this unless I have that depth coming through the system.''
Question: With Preissing, do you have any theories about why that didn't work?
LOMBARDI: ``It's a bridge deal that did not work. He's a better player than what he showed here. He has to be put in a situation like he was in Ottawa, in the right mix, to really succeed. We couldn't provide that here. At the time, I think he was that bridge guy, a right-handed shot and a good puck mover. I didn't know we were going to get Drew Doughty and have him come in right away and essentially take that spot. It certainly didn't work but I wouldn't be surprised if he plays well in Colorado. He played well in Ottawa, which was a good team. It just wasn't a good fit for us and it didn't work. It clearly wasn't going to work for us next season.''
Question: If there's any hesitation with Smyth, it might be with the risk of him getting hurt because of the way he plays. Any concern there?
LOMBARDI: ``That's why this deal is contingent on physicals. And remember, there's the issue with Quincey and his back also. The hardest part was getting the language on the physicals. When he was asked to waive his (no-trade) clause today, it was no problem. That was a good sign. But to make sure that everything is in order physically, we have to be protected. Ryan reminds me a little of Mike Ricci. Guys like Ryan Smyth are not going to be totally healthy. They play hurt. I had a similar issue when I traded for Mike Ricci. These guys take such a beating, but if they train properly, they're OK. Ricci was great for me and I had no problems with him. When I got him, it was a concern. He would stand in front of the net, and the rules hadn't changed yet so you could really pound on him there. It's impossible for him to be a perfect specimen. Then again, if you're a perfect specimen at 33. you've probably been playing on the perimeter and you're not the kind of guy we want. Our doctors will check him out He's coming in Sunday so they will get him all checked out.''
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Something tells me when DL dreams about hockey, his first line is Ricci-Ricci-Ricci. Nevertheless, good trade. Keep it up.
you flat out rule rich, now take some time off and enjoy your holiday!
Ricci-Ricci-Ricci works for me!
As usual a brilliant job Rich, thank you.
As for you Dean, this might have been your masterstroke. I say might because if you top it off with Tanguay, I'll mail you the money for my playoff tickets today!!!
Told you (in hte previous section) that this was HUGE FOR KOPI!
I get DL, I really do.
I would write yet another long mail as to why signing Tanguay would be the stupidest move we could do, but Rich has not approved any of them for some odd reason.
Wonder if that means we are getting him and do not want to hurt his feelings.
Did I mention how much I love this guy yet....alright maybe I did, but here it goes again, I love this guy.
I'm suppose to be up at 3 tomorrow for travel, but I can't go to sleep, this is great. Congrats to all King fans!!
If nothing else happens this off season I am completely satisfied, anything else (Tanguay, Moen) is just icing on the cake.
Moen and then DONE!
Moen - Handzus - Simmonds
DAMN!!!!!
Like I said Dean, you are a WITCH!!! Enjoy your 4th, you've certainly earned it.
You 2 Rich....Thanks!
There are so many teams is such bad cap shape, it was great that DL had cap space available to make this kind of one sided deal. It is also great to hear that he targeted Smyth and Hartnell. O'D did a terrific job mentoring the youth on the back end last year, I think Symth can do the same for the forwards this year.
Finally, it was good to hear why Scuds choose LA and have Smyth waive his NTC to come here. The times, they are a changing.
Rich -- I can not thank you enough. This has been a great week.
I like what I am hearing.
Side note - our most disliked professional blogger is being put to task by a rather rambunctious tweeter:
http://twitter.com/Pensblog
Can't complain about the work ethic of Dean Lombardi & his staff. Amazing deal!!! I like the tone and the level of expectation that he sets for the organization! Things are starting to come together here in LA. =)
Thank you very much for your hard work
Happy 4th !
Rich U ROCK! Thanks for the 411!
Amazing what a trade will do to change the tone of the comments on this website. Most of you claimed Lombardi was out golfing all day on July 1st, was going to do nothing this summer, and the team would be finishing out of the playoffs again next season.
I'm sure we'll see many apologies posted by all of you soon.
I agree with you sd! DL has always been clear about his plan and he's making it happen. I'm sad to see Quincey go, just as I was sad to see Sully go, but Q just had back surgury and Sully didn't even get invited to the US Olympic's camp so maybe there is more going on behind the scenes than the fans are aware of. I love that Smyth wants to be here and that he is impressed with Kopi, Doughty and Brown. Plus all of these young guys are maturing. I hope now, that Fro and JJ are off the bargaining table now. I think the Kings are going to take the league by storm next year.
lookin good...
SMYTH/KOPITAR/WILLIAMS
FROLOV/STOLL/BROWN
MOEN/ZEUS/SIMMMONDS
RICHARDSON/MOLLER/PURCELL
RES:IVANANS-HARROLD
DOUGHTY/SCUDERI
GREENE/JJ
SOD/DREWISKIE-VOINOV
Rich....You are the shniz. Thanks !!!
Frolov - Kopitar - Williams
Smyth - Stoll - Brown
Lewis - Handzus - Simmonds
Clune - Moller - Purcell
Doughty - Johnson
Greene - Scuderi
O'Donnell - Drewiskie/Hickey
Frolov - Kopitar - Williams
Smyth - Stoll - Purcell
Handzus - Moller - Brown
Clune - Lewis - Richardson
Doughty -Scuderi
Greene - Johnson
O'Donnell - Voinov
fantastic job DL. I have always had great faith in your rebuilding proccess and mastermind drafts and trades. Still miss cammy...But I understand
Regardless i'm ordering my season tickets! I want playoff priority!
It is funny - When he played for Edmonton & Colorado I hated Smyth. Now I guess the love affair begins.
Welcome to LA Ryan.
Happy 4th everyone. Hope to see you all at Hockeyfest.
Go! Kings Go!
Playoffs the Spring
oops, lost simmonds along the way:
Frolov - Kopitar - Williams
Smyth - Stoll - Purcell
Handzus - Moller - Brown
Richardson/Battleship - Lewis - Simmonds
Doughty -Scuderi
Greene - Johnson
O'Donnell - Voinov
I so hate to say it, but, great trade for Lombardi, great trade for the Kings. Gave up virtually nothing (and I was a big fan of Quincey, and also believed Preissing got the short straw in LA, but still... moveable parts) and got a legitimate NHL top-6 guy.
Now, about all this "Clune" stuff. Can I laugh out loud, please... the guy hasn't done ANYTHING to prove he belongs in the AHL, much less the NHL. Give him a healthy year in Manchester and let's see if he has the compete, the foot speed and the skill to last even 5 games at the NHL level before you pencil him in in front of (albeit marginal) players that have proven they have the aforementioned acumen to earn a spot with the big club.
Moen? Man, I'd love that.
Q was so consistent, but had to give up something. Scuderi, and a little more out of Doughty and maybe JJ should really help.
This trade works. It's not sexy - like signing Havlat, Hossa or Gaborik - but it's solid. Smyth is the real deal. 26 goals on a terrible Avs team is easily - barring bad health - transferrable to 30+ goals with Kings.
Notice, if you will, who DL DID NOT give up: Frolov and JJ. They are underachievers who will have a chance to prove their mettle this season. Preissing was surely expendable. Giving up Quincey hurt. But you can see why the Avs wanted him in the Smyth deal. Plenty of upside. Young, mobile defenseman. And still cheap.
Lastly, there might be a puzzle piece or two left to bring in. Perhaps a Moen or another solid (but, again, not sexy) D man who can be a stop gap while the kids who play D ripen in the minors.
Good job DL...and Kings staff!
For those questioning Dean's philosophy and the signing of Scuderi (which was the FOUNDATION for this deal), well, there must be crow being served somewhere!
don't take this the wrong way guys but I'm a hockey and a kings fan who feels like you all need a reality check. neither smyth nor scuderi are the answers to getting the kings back to the playoffs, not to mention actually in contention. smyth is an overpaid spare part in decline who is going to cost cap space for the next three years. how happy will you be to have his $6m plus on the books in 2011? the kings have not made a step forward with this deal.
Exactly right marc nathan.
Lets also laugh at putting Purcell on the 2nd line instead of Brown.
The 4th line needs a lot of work. Please do not put Westgarth in the lineup. He sucks.