Rob Scuderi returns to Staples Center

The Pittsburgh Penguins are Thursday’s opponent when the Kings return to Staples Center after their annual Grammys trip. It also will be defenseman Rob Scuderi’s first appearance in Los Angeles since leaving the Kings last summer to sign a four-year contract with the Penguins that pays him $3.375 million per season. Scuderi was a go-to guy in the Kings’ locker room for reporters because of his candor. He also was a very effective player during the Kings’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and to the Western Conference finals last season.

Scuderi certainly called it like he saw it earlier this week when a Pittsburgh reporter asked for his views of the Kings’ style of play under coach Darryl Sutter.

“During my time, we always had a lot of talent,” Scuderi said. “But the way the mentality was kind of drilled into us was to be more of a defensive group. Guys aren’t going to cheat for offense. They’re going to stay back. Thee are some guys there who could easily get 80 to 100 points, but in that type of system and that type of (defensive-minded) conference, it’s probably not going to happen.”

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email