Rookie game: Coyotes 6, Kings 1

What happened to Martin Jones? 6G allowed? Young Kings need to get it going....we are way more talented than this.

What were your impressions of some of the big names? Hickey
Teubert
Voynov
Lokti
Schenn

The Coyotes just looked bigger, faster and better organized. The game wasn't even as close as the score. At least the Kings players "won" just about every fight (and there was a bunch of 'em) but the last one where Elkins turtled. The Kings couldn't even complete one decent pass and had little to offset the Coyotes speed on wing. Most of the Yotes goals were scored after a Kings turnovers as well. Jones looked like a good impression of a bad Felix Potvin. . .played the whole game from inside his own net. Schenn played like a bag of crap, tried to run around a little too much and got caught alot. Voynov turned the puck over a bunch and didn't look like a guy who just played a year of AHL. I'd say the Kings real scoring chances you could count on one hand. Way too much gap between the forwards and defense, and a total lack of organization and communication on the breakouts. Lots of penalties. 75% of the game was played in the Kings end. That's the bad.

The good. . .wasn't much tonight. Hickey did look to be the best player on the ice for either team, talent-wise. Pretty much the only player on the Kings side who could keep the puck with any real poise. Teubert gave and stood up to alot of hits and fought a guy that low-bridged Hickey early in the game. Fiesty but not much else. Loktionov has some good hands and was the best of the forwards, made some nice moves in the neutral zone but was never a real threat to score. Just didn't look to have the speed or acceleration you would hope to see. Deslauriers was a nice surprise for me. Kinda reminded me of Steve Duchesne. . .something about the way he looks on the ice. Has a nice way of getting the puck through on the PP, some nice escapes and hold ins. Again, slow skater though.

I dunno, kinda looked like an overall lack of skill and killer speed top to bottom. Anyway, it's only a stupid Rookie game and maybe it was just "one of those nights". It was still fun to have some hockey to watch!!

yikes...!!!

Teubert- Played physical, good fight, took an instigator but it he was sticking up for Hickey after he was run. Looked OK defensively, wasn't a liability.

Schenn - Had some bright spots, made a couple nice passes, but looked like he wasn't comfortable with his linemates yet. Got caught out of position a couple times because he went for a big hit....(The hits were nice at least)

Hickey - see's the ice well, looks good carrying the puck. He was one of the Better players on the ice.... He got pushed around quite a bit but also dished out a couple hits and won some battles in the corners.... Not the best I have seen him play, but nobody was really good tonite.

Voynov- I thought he looked horrendous, definitely not his best night, got burnt to the outside a couple times, turned the puck over etc.

Loktionov - This kid is going to be good, you can see the talent, very quick looks like he is not far from making it. It would be nice to see him play with linemates he is comfortable with... Again, I am sure it wasn't his best night.

Clifford- He is one mean SOB, I like his style, he is a pest. He was stirring the pot from the first face-off. He might have lost his focus towards the end and took to many runs, but hell it was 6 - 1.... He won both scraps he was in.

Surprises:
Kozun- Total playmaker, fast as hell........ Just small.... One of the better players tonite.

Deslauriers- Surprised me, pretty physical, competed hard and made some smart plays.

Nolan- Beat the crap out of the kid he fought.... great hockey fight.

I know it is a joke, but I have to throw it in...... Mikus is not worthy of any more posts.

Thanks Blu! ! !

Thanks for the 'caps fellas. These games mean little. I think most of our guys are already at training camp in their heads, as there are some open spots and a lot of competition in general. Perhaps PHX doesn't have that luxury, so their young guys are playing like this is their last camp before going back to juniors and the minors.

Anyhow, it could be 6-1 the other way tomorrow. I like that it sounds like we have a bunch of young studs willing to drop and muck it up at any time. I can see a pretty vicious team to play against in 2-3 years, if only the discipline follows suit.

What's this about Mikus? Does he suck? I was never on that silly bandwagon, but it did pique my interest.

The question I have for you people that watched the game is, do you feel any of these guys are NHL capable/ready? Hickey perhaps?

Thanks a ton 4th line ! ! !

4th- GREAT Commentary, thanks lots for that!

Regarding Mikus...He only looked ordinary to give the other guys a chance. His greatness is so quick, you must be in the same time continuum to notice.

By now...I hope people understand this Mikus thing is FUN! I like to have that once in a while. Keeps the brain from exploding. Sometimes silly is GOOD.

BLULINE77 & 4THLINE...

yes...thanks for the great reviews...!

Well, we do have a bad-ass bunch of rookies. Teubert fighting after the hit on Hickey was a highlight. Hickey impressed me alot. He's got alot of offensive strengths, yet he always managed to protect his zone.

Their poor play and disorganization was reminiscent of some of the early Kings games last year when the team was working to strengthen their defensive style. Perhaps they have been bombarded with this agenda in camp thus far and were trying to incorporate some new skills. Let's hope anyway.

Have to chime in with everyone about Deslaurier. He played a solid all round game. One of the few guys on D who I didn't see make a stupid mistake. Even Hickey made some careless passes, but Deslaurier was on top of it. Seemed to be the calmest of the defensemen. Didn't see much offense creativity, but he did have a hard shot from the point. I wasn't expecting him to be as solid defensively and willing to get involved physically as he was. Really really like him.

I'm also surprised no one really mentioned Holloway. I thought he played the best overall game for the Kings. Just really good on the puck and in the right places.

I do wonder what the hell Dean saw in Andrew Campbell. He was just really, really bad.

JDM,

Your comments about Campbell are opening the door for anthony to spout off his feelings for DL. With Terry Murray watching last night, I thought the Rookies were going to play a center ice trap and keep the shots to a minimum............... oh well, maybe today.

Hat Trick,

Well I'm certainly not about to condemn DL for I see as one bad draft pick. Luckily my opinion is meaningless and Campbell could turn into something good, I just doubt it. He has size but doesn't use it, was very soft, made poor decisions and was just very nervous and hesitant altogether. Quisp isn't kidding when he calls him goofy.