What we know so far about the 2016-17 Kings

Jake Muzzin, left, signed a five-season contract extension with the Kings that will keep him in uniform through the 2019-20 season. (Fil photo by Michael Owen Baker/Los Angeles Daily News)

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is sidelined by a serious groin injury for up to three months, one big reason for concern to start the season. (File photo/Los Angeles Daily News)

No team in NHL history has won the Stanley Cup championship in October, but plenty have squandered a chance to play for it in June. The injury-depleted Kings completed the season’s first month with a lackluster 4-5-0 record and sat in sixth place in the seven-team Pacific Division.

Jonathan Quick, their standout goaltender, was placed on long-term injured reserve because of a serious groin injury suffered in a season-opening loss Oct. 12 to the San Jose Sharks. He’s not expected to play until January at the earliest, and was placed on the longer of the NHL’s two injured reserve lists.

Left wing Marian Gaborik (broken right foot), defenseman Brayden McNabb (right shoulder) and goalie Jeff Zatkoff are on the shorter IR list, eligible to return to the lineup after one week. Gaborik is out until Thanksgiving and it’s uncertain when McNabb and Zatkoff might play again.

Compounding matters, Kings left wing Andy Andreoff was forced from a 3-0 loss Sunday to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period because of an unspecified upper-body injury. There was no immediate update on how long he might be sidelined.

It’s too soon to panic, but it’s not too soon to be concerned.

Here’s the link to the updated and edited story: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161031/injury-riddled-kings-start-troubling-but-its-early

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Report: Kings set to sign Anders Lindback to bolster goalie depth after injuries to Jonathan Quick, Jeff Zatkoff

The Kings will sign Anders Lindback in an attempt to add goaltending depth to the organization after Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff suffered groin injuries, according to a Swedish newspaper Tuesday. Quick could be sidelined for three months or more and Zatkoff is expected back on the ice within a week or so. Peter Budaj was expected to start for the Kings against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Lindback was in the New Jersey Devils’ training camp last month, but they cut him. He played 19 games last season for the Arizona Coyotes, going 5-7-1 with a 3.11 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. Lindback, a 28-year-old Swede, also has played with the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators, who drafted in him 207th overall in 2008.

The Stockholm-based newspaper Expressen reported on its website that Lindback was expected to sign a ‘short-term’ contract with the Kings and begin playing with their American Hockey League team in Ontario. Budaj and Jack Campbell were to be the Reign’s top goalies to start this season, but they were promoted to the Kings after Quick and Zatkoff were hurt. Jonah Imoo made his AHL debut Saturday, with his father, Dusty, as his backup. Dusty Imoo is the Reign’s goalie coach.

Lindback has a 45-58-8 record in 130 games in the NHL.

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Kings goalie Jeff Zatkoff says he’s unsure how long he’ll be sidelined by groin injury suffered in practice

Kings goaltender Jeff Zatkoff walked with a noticeable limp as he exited the dressing room after a 4-3 shootout victory Saturday night over the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center. He couldn’t say how long he would be sidelined by a groin injury suffered at the team’s morning skate in El Segundo earlier in the day. When asked if he would be OK, Zatkoff said he didn’t know.

“We’ll see,” he said.

The Kings placed him on injured reserve with what they called a lower-body injury. Kings coach Darryl Sutter said Zatkoff’s groin tightened up on him after making a save about midway through the 30-minute workout. Peter Budaj started in goal against the Canucks and Jack Campbell was summoned from Ontario of the AHL.

Jonathan Quick, the Kings’ No. 1 goalie, hurt his groin in the season-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12 and is expected to be out for about three months.

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Kings goalie Jeff Zatkoff suffers groin injury during the team’s morning skate

The hits keep coming for the Kings. Left wing Marian Gaborik went down and out first, suffering a broken right foot last month while playing for Team Europe in the World Cup. Goalie Jonathan Quick went next, hurting his groin in a season-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12.

Gaborik is expected to be out until Thanksgiving and Quick could be sidelined until January.

Goalie Jeff Zatkoff was the latest victim, suffering a groin  injury Saturday during the Kings’ morning skate. Zatkoff was termed questionable to play during the Kings’ game later in the evening against the undefeated Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center.

“He stopped a shot and his groin tightened up,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “I’ve seen it in a game. I’ve never seen it in a practice.”

Sutter said the team would know more about Zatkoff’s condition later Saturday.

The pregame workout is usually a time to work up a sweat for 30 minutes or so and prepare for the contest to follow. Zatkoff moved awkwardly after blocking a shot and slumped to the ice, according to teammate Tom Gilbert.

Zatkoff needed assistance from teammates and a member of the athletic training staff in order to get off the ice and into the adjacent locker room at the Kings’ training facility in El Segundo. He was not available for immediate comment.

The Kings were expected to recall Jack Campbell from their American Hockey League team in Ontario to serve as Peter Budaj for Saturday’s game against the Canucks. Budaj made 17 saves in the Kings’ 4-3 OT victory Thursday over the Dallas Stars, ending a three-game skid to start the season.

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(Video) Kings reactions to their loss to the Flyers in their home-opening game

Reactions to the Kings’ 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in their home-opening game Friday at Staples Center didn’t vary much. The consensus was the King must play better if they hope to win. Glaring errors cost them during the pivotal second period, according to Kings captain Anze Kopitar.

“We didn’t play the way we’re supposed to play,” Kopitar said. “A couple of bad line changes, a couple of missed coverages and they cashed in on it. We just can’t let that happen. You can’t expect to win when you let in four goals in one period. That second period was not good.”

Of playing for what could be an extended period without Quick, Kopitar added, “Yeah, he’s a big part of this team, and arguably the best goalie in the NHL, but we can’t do anything about it. A magic spell won’t bring him back. We’ve got to play with what we’ve got. We’ve got to play hard and, obviously, a lot better than we did tonight.”

(Thanks to Abbey Mastracco for the video)

 

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Kings recall goalie Peter Budaj from Ontario of the AHL

The Kings on Thursday recalled goaltender Peter Budaj from their American Hockey League team in Ontario to serve as Jeff Zatkoff’s backup, and perhaps to start a game or two, too, while Jonathan Quick is sidelined by an unspecified lower-body injury. Budaj led the AHL last season with 42 victories and nine shutouts.

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Jonathan Quick placed on injured reserve as Kings turn goalie duties over to Jeff Zatkoff on week-to-week basis

 

Goalie Jonathan Quick has started 12 consecutive games for the Kings. (Photo by John McCoy Daily News)

The Kings placed goaltender Jonathan Quick on injured reserve Thursday afternoon, one day after he was forced from their season-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks because of a lower-body injury. Quick’s status was described as week to week by a team spokesman.

Jeff Zatkoff will replace Quick in the Kings’ lineup for Friday’s home-opening game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Staples Center. Zatkoff took over for Quick to start the second period of the Kings’ 2-1 loss Wednesday to the Sharks in San Jose.

Quick stopped 14 of 15 shots.

Zatkoff stopped 15 of 16.

The Kings are expected to recall Peter Budaj from their AHL team in Ontario to serve as Zatkoff’s backup, and perhaps start, too, while Quick is sidelined.

“Jonathan is obviously a special player,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter. “You just don’t replace that. It’s not different than any other star player. You just don’t replace or expect somebody to play the same way and do the same things. We also know we’re quite capable at that position.”

Quick was the NHL’s most durable goalie last season, leading the league with 4,034 minutes played over 68 games. He won 40 games, had a 2.22 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with five shutouts and was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2015-16.

In addition, the 30-year-old Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 2012 playoffs, leading the Kings to the first of their two Stanley Cup championships in a three-season span. He had a 16-4 record, a 1.41 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage in the ’12 playoffs.

Zatkoff will assume the starter’s duties one game into his second stint with the Kings. He rejoined the team that selected him in the third round of the 2006 draft (74th overall), signing a two-year, $1.8-million free-agent contract last July 1.

“Don’t change anything,” Zatkoff said. “The message is the same. We want to win games and we want to play a certain way, and nothing changes. … My job is to come in and the team doesn’t miss a beat. … I’ve had situations to prepare me for this. It’s definitely a good opportunity.”

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Kings announce fill-in announcers when Bob Miller isn’t traveling this season

The Kings announced their list of replacement announcers when Hall of Fame play-by-play man Bob Miller isn’t working this season. Gary Thorne will work eight games, Chris Cuthbert and Ralph Strangis will work four apiece and Jiggs McDonald will work one game alongside analyst Jim Fox. McDonald was the Kings’ first broadcaster, starting in their inaugural 1967-68 season. Miller earlier announced plans to work a limited schedule after undergoing heart surgery last season.

Thorne will work games Nov. 8 at Toronto; Nov. 10 at Montreal; Nov. 11 at Ottawa, Nov. 13 at Winnipeg; Nov. 15 at Colorado; Dec. 13 at Buffalo, Dec. 15 at Detroit and Dec. 18 at Boston.

Strangis will work games Dec. 20 at Columbus; Dec. 22 at Nashville; Dec. 23 at Dallas and Dec. 26 at Carolina.

Cuthbert will work games Jan. 21 at the New York Islanders, Jan. 23 at the New York Rangers; Jan. 24 at New Jersey and Feb. 4 at Philadelphia.

McDonald will work the Feb. 9 game at Florida.

 

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LA Kings transactions (part 3)

In case you missed it, the Kings on Sunday assigned Peter Budaj to Ontario of the American Hockey League, ending a training camp battle with Jeff Zatkoff for backup goaltending duties. Zatkoff signed a two-year, $1.8-million free-agent contract last summer to be Jonathan Quick’s fill-in this season.

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LA Kings transactions (part 2)

There was no formal announcement of their assignment to Ontario of the AHL on Monday, but forwards Adrian Kempe and Michael Mersch and defensemen Paul LaDue and Kurtis MacDermid didn’t join the Kings for their practice and there were no longer locker stalls with their names on them in the dressing room.

So …

NHL opening-night rosters must be set by 2 p.m. Tuesday.

 

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