Results tagged “Raitis Ivanans” from Inside the Kings
RAITIS IVANANS
This season: 73 games, 6 goals, 2 assists, minus-10 rating.
Positives: Scored six goals this season, only one fewer than $4-million-man Michal Handzus. Ivanans has a very defined role, and he has filled it to the coaches' satisfaction over the last two seasons. Enforcers can't afford to be one-dimensional in the post-lockout NHL, and Ivanans has displayed some skill, beyond the ability to fight.
Negatives: Even at his best, Ivanans will never be a skilled offensive player. He's 29 years old and unlikely to show significant improvement at this point in his career, so what you see is what you get.
Looking ahead: On a team that most followers agree lacked toughness, Ivanans was a notable exception. He returned relatively quickly from a painful broken cheekbone and resumed his physical style of play. Ivanans fills a crucial role and is not expected to contribute offense. As long as he skates strong and brings a physical element to the game, he's a valuable contributor.
Contract situation: Signed through 2009-10 (cap number of $600,000 next season).
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.
Recent Comments
Wrigleyville King on Player evaluation: Ivanans: Dude is a tank, straight up. Many of you nailed it, he does what he i ...
Jacob on Player evaluation: Ivanans: Rat boy rules. We're the least penalized team in the nhl (anthony), ...
Dan H. on Player evaluation: Ivanans: I like his toughness and he is pretty controlled for a tough guy for t ...
DellaNooch on Player evaluation: Ivanans: nykingfan pretty much nailed, he's no Marty McSorley, but he'll do for ...
nykingfan on Player evaluation: Ivanans: Every team needs a guy like him. He was the only intimidating player ...
Mike on Player evaluation: Ivanans: Rich, Never really commented before, but this is great, great sports ...
Z on Player evaluation: Ivanans: I absolutely love Ivanans and here's why: As kings fans, I feel like ...
NMKingsFan on Player evaluation: Ivanans: As far as I am concerned, he earned his pay when he took that Blake sl ...
anthony on Player evaluation: Ivanans: He's taken more minor penalties than any other enforcer I've seen (Ave ...