Rookie camp/season preview

Thanks for the article Rich

Just goes to show how ignorance is rampant in the sports media world (not you Rich)
"The Kings need to go out and get the big name star"....who wrote this trash anyway?
Sounds like a guy who's been watching basketball and just found out about this sport called hockey. the only thing the fool forgot to realize was that basketball is a 1-2 man sport. Hockey is a true team sport. You don't need the big name superstar to win...you need a good team to win.
At least he's heard of Drew Doughty..somehow...

I dunno... I read this article earlier today and it made me ponder

Do the Kings fly so far under the radar that the hockey media in general don't see what's coming down the pipe?

To their credit they do say that we're on the verge but ..do we really NEED a big name at this point?

I feel the playoffs... because I'm more in tuned with the team or because I like the taste of the kool-aid.

hhhmmm

I still don't know why we didn't grab Tanguay for $2.5 million!!! This would have us in the playoffs for sure! A rent-a-player for only $2.5 million on a team that has the space?! I was very dissapointed about the NON-move on this one. Oh well, we ARE Kings fans anyways...always on the verge of winning...good luck Kings.

I think it's funny that one of the reasons he states for the Kings need of a superstar is so people in LA will look away from the Lakers, if only for moment. How many times do we have to hear this before some folks recognize that the Kings do have a following without having to sign Gretzky? Sure, the "fan" base grows with a big signing, but that's a bandwagon base. i haven't lived in Cali for over 10 years and still follow the Kings.
I sure hope that the addition of Smyth,Scuderi and a healthy Williams, a season of consistency between the pipes (no Labs), and another year under the youngsters' belts means a Kings team this year that makes the pundits eat Crow....er, crow.

Army Signs in St Louis.
Good Luck Army. You will be missed.. by most...

Army to the blues, one hell of a guy. Hate to see him go but wish him all the luck in the world.

Army to the Blues!

I actually thought this would happen sooner considering he was a favorite of Andy Murray's. Good luck Army!

Rich, would you answer one qustion for me about Thomas Hickey? Hopefully you have a chance to interview him tonight. When he was drafted he was listed at 5'10" or 5'11" depending on the source and 170 pounds. I remember many Kings fans were saying that he's way too small. Right now on the camp roster he's listed at 6'0" and 191 pounds. So the question is did he really grow an inch or two and gain 20 pounds during this time? Or is this all about fudging the numbers?

I remember watching him last pre-season skating with Voynov and they seemed to be the same size. Voynov is still listed at 5'11".
Thanks!

Good luck Army. A real pro's pro.

you can only have so many superstars, and while we don't have one currently, I believe Doughty and Kopitar will both become them. And who knows, one of our goalies could reach superstar status, too.

Not to say that DL won't trade or eventually sign a marquee guy in his prime from somewhere else, but I guess all I'm really saying is the 'superstar' factor doesn't bother me.

Shoot, I was hoping Army would taste some success with the Kings. Nothing but respect for you Mr. Armstrong. Wish you the best of luck. At least you'll be playing for someone who understands your game and personality....can't ask for more than that.

I am extremely pleased college football started to keep my mind and passions occupied until the season starts.

NY Kingfan/ Cricket

The TSN staff is credited with writing the article...and as I am sure you know they are the most credible source for hockey info excluding this site.

I agree that hockey is a team sport and a great team is better than having a few great players. But can you name one elite team that does not have a legit superstar, go to, game changer. I can't...

We need to find one? Perhaps Anze is the guy? Hopefully he is but if not, we need to find one. That will be the difference between barely making it into into the playoffs and going deep into the playoffs.

LB, re Hickey:

I have had my eyes peeled for chances to see Hickey standing next to others of "known height." There is a picture of him standing between Martinez and someone else (I forget who, but listed at 6'). Martinez is usually listed at 5'11". Hickey appeared in that picture to be the same size as both the others. He's clearly grown at least an inch from two years ago. I wouldn't be surprised though if he was actually 5'11.5". He's also definitely thicker. Less runty.

The bottom line, though, is that he's big enough, for his style of play. He'll add a little bit of weight, but 6'/195lb is ideal for him, I would think.

Cry Baby,

Well said. I cannot name an elite team without a superstar. Although, could you argue Carolina when they won the Cup? Ward the rookie goalie was on a hot streak, that was for sure.

I'd say if a superstar doesn't emerge, in Kopitar essentially, then that is something that must be addressed.

At this point, however, I'm content to see if the superstar we need comes, or rather grows, from within. (and I'm not implying that you disagree.)

I think Bob Miller once quoted Armstrong as saying, "when I retire, I'm going to eat everything."
I wish he were retiring a King, though.
I think we should have kept him this season. He leads by example and could still be an effective 4th line center if we played a more possession game.

Regarding rookies and big names; we could use a big named offensive defenseman, in my opinion. Although, I don't know where you'd find one right now. I can't agine the playoffs without much more help from the back lines.

Cry Baby,

Just thinking about the whole elite question, I can't say that many teams even made the playoffs without an elite player on their roster. (and some teams with an elite player, tampa anyone, missed the playoffs.)

Just naming one superstar from each team for drill, even though many have more than one:

San Jose: Thornton
Detroit: Zetterberg
Vancouver: Luongo
Chicago: Toews
Calgary: Iginla
St. Louis: Young talent, no superstars yet
Columbus: Nash
Dorks: Gets a Laugh

Boston: Savarrd put up over a pt. per game, but is he a superstar?

Washington: Ovechkin
New Jersey: Brodeur (Does Parise count?)
Pittsburgh: Crosby

Philidelphia: A very balanced scoring team, but do they have a superstar? Is Carter that good?

Carolina: Again, is anyone a superstar? Staal isn't quite there, I don't think.

New York Rangers: High salaries don't equate to superstars.

Montreal: Superstar? Who would it be?

So yeah, we definitely need a superstar (or 2 or 3) eventually if we're going to make some noise.

The Kings will never capture the Los Angeles sports market like the Lakers do, and it's futile to even try. We iced a competitive and entertaining team a few years ago, and the building was full every night.

I'm much more interested in having a winning team than having the players written up in TJ Simers' columns.

Cricket,

I think there is the possibility of Anze and Doughty emerging as superstars in this league. I also think there is an amazing supporting cast right now on this team. The question for this year is does Frolov come out and show the compete necessary for this team to go to the next level and if not what does DL do with him.

I like what you are eluding to; Cup worthy teams must have at least one superstar (when I say superstar, I mean game breaker) but chemistry is equally important as you can have a mediocre team with lots of superstars (The NY Rangers model).

I still say the Kings stay the course and add pieces as needed, i just hope at the trade deadline we are in the hunt to buy not sell.

What is everyone thinking about Fro????

A superstar is not going to fill the building, nor what the Kings need. The Kings had Dionne and Nichols and you could move down to 5 rows behind the goal judge any night of the week. Build a winner and the fans will come.

I am a big fan of Army, but half way though the rebuild, it is more important to let the kids get the games. St. Louis is loaded, but there is the Murray curse which should open a half dozen slots or so.

Cry Baby,
I agree...Fro has to come through this year or DL is gonna trade him at the deadline and get something for him. I really hope he performs like everyone expects him to! I am one of his greatest supporters, but even I'm thinking now that he to prove he is worth the big contract with consistency or this team will never move forward.

I took the article a little differently.
The way it came across to me was that since there aren't many household names on the Kings, the team becomes irrelevant.
The Kings have players who can make the jump to becoming superstars...guys like Kopitar/Brown/Doughty..
The writer seemed more interested in how to fill up the building instead of how to build a winner. I took exception to that take. It's the Rangers way of doing business..."Hey I've heard of that guy, he must be great. Let's get him!"
Take a look at Cricket's list of superstars on teams...the majority of them are homegrown products. In hockey that you need to develop your own superstars to be successful. The Rangers way of doing business gives you off season headlines, large payroll, and a quick trip home from the playoffs with no real shot to have long term success.
I'd rather do it the way DL and the Kings are going about it.

If you're counting Toews as a superstar, then you have to count Kopitar.

nykingfan,

I couldn't agree more. Home grown talent is the best way to build a long-term contender. However, there may come a time when there is one piece to the puzzle that you have to go out and get and I don't think the Kings should hold back at this point. If the right deal comes along I say use the assets and move forward.

In my opinion the team as it is now will compete at high level on a nightly basis. I hope they are ready to make the jump and go beyond the first round in the playoffs. In a few weeks we will see!!!!!!

nykingfan,

I couldn't agree more. Home grown talent is the best way to build a long-term contender. However, there may come a time when there is one piece to the puzzle that you have to go out and get and I don't think the Kings should hold back at this point. If the right deal comes along I say use the assets and move forward.

In my opinion the team as it is now will compete at high level on a nightly basis. I hope they are ready to make the jump and go beyond the first round in the playoffs. In a few weeks we will see!!!!!!

Cry Baby
I agree 100% As the season goes along, it will become clear what our needs will be and if we're on the cusp and bringing in a Kovalchuk could make the difference, by all means we need to get him. that's the whole idea behind saving available cap space and building assets.
To just go out and get a "big name star" before the the season even begins, is the typical solution by the un-informed..which this writer seems to be.
I realize that national writers don't have an intimate knowledge of the Kings franchise, but if you're going to try to come across as knowledgeable, you need to do your homework first.
It's like listening to Joe Morgan on Sunday night baseball talk about your favorite team...You know he clueless, but that doesn't stop him from trying to come across as an expert. I find it humerous and pathetic.

Nick,

Point taken. He did only get 3 more points than Kopitar last season, and he wasn't on a defense-first team. I was on the fence whether to count anyone from Chicago as a bonafide superstar yet, like the Blues and Kings. I think I'll put them in that category now, personally.

Hopefully this will be Kopi's first season as legit, dominating centerman!