The Kings sent forward Brandon Kozun to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward Andrew Crescenzi in a swap of minor-league players Wednesday. Kozun is expected to go from the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL to the Toronto Marlies. Crescenzi is expected to go the other way. Kozun had 29 points in 43 games this season with Manchester. Crescenzi, 20, had two points in 32 games with Toronto.
The American Hockey League season is underway, and the Manchester (N.H.) Monarchs’ leading scorers in their first three games are a pair of forwards who impressed during the Kings’ training camp last month in El Segundo.
Continue reading “Prospect watch: Brandon Kozun and Jordan Weal” »
The Kings trimmed their training camp roster by two Sunday, and lost a third player to waivers. They loaned defenseman Andrew Campbell and right wing Brandon Kozun to the Manchester (N.H.) Monarchs of the American Hockey League. They also lost forward Marc-Andre Clche to the Colorado Avalanche, who claimed him off waivers. The roster stands at 31. It wasn’t immediately clear where Cliche might fit with the Avalanche. He must clear waivers if the Avs try to send him to the Lake Erie (Cleveland) Monsters of the AHL, according to the Denver Post. So, there’s that.
Another day, another move by Kings general manager Dean Lombardi to secure the franchise’s future. Lombardi re-signed minor-league forward Brandon Kozun to a one-season contract Wednesday, one day after coming to terms with defenseman Slava Voynov on a six-year extension worth $25 million. Kozun and Voynov are each 23.
Continue reading “Minor-league forward Brandon Kozun re-signs with Kings for one season” »
Christopher Gibson speaks English, Finnish and French, but has a Latin phrase etched into the back of his goalie mask: “Luctor et Emergo.” Literally, this means “I struggle and emerge.”
The Kings’ first selection in the 2011 Entry Draft, Gibson certainly struggled in his first game in a Kings uniform. Gibson allowed five goals in the third period as the Kings blew a 6-3 lead, losing 8-7 to the Phoenix Coyotes at Toyota Sports Center. The two teams will play again at 2 p.m. today at TSC, completing the two-game exhibition series between the teams.
Gibson wasn’t the only prospect who slipped on a Kings uniform for the first time Wednesday. That was a factor in 60 minutes of up-and-down hockey.
“There were a lot of nervous guys in that dressing room,” said forward Brandon Kozun, who scored two goals and added an assist on the eve of his third training camp with the Kings.
Continue reading “Kings rookies squander 6-3 lead, lose to Coyotes 8-7.” »
Manchester Monarchs forward Ray Kaunisto shared an interesting tidbit on his blog today. From raykaunisto.blogspot.com:
This week, starting Tuesday, the Kings let us come down to Detroit to workout and shoot with some of the development guys. It is just a two day camp that shows us how to properly shoot, stick handle, and other on ice skills, as well as helping us out with learning the kings workout.
The guys here are Kozun, Schenn, Toffoli, Dowd, Clifford, Czarnik, Weal, Nolan, and Muzzin. The days consist of two off ice sessions per day and two on ice sessions per day. Everything is pretty tough to do but it makes us better really quickly. A lot of good ideas for shooting and practicing are being passed on to us this week from some really good former NHLers. As always it’s an honor to be here and be around so many world class players and coaches.