Ultimate Hockey Warrior

Dean Lombardi and Patrick O’Sullivan have come to a deal that will keep in a King’s jersey for at least 3 more years.  The King’s have been working hard to sign Patrick O’Sullivan to a long-term contract, however, it was intially reported that O’Sullivan was only interested in a short term deal.

O’Sullivan did not participate in training camp for the King’s while the two sides worked to create a deal that worked for both parties.  In the end, Patrick O’Sullivan has signed a 3 year contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth $2.925 million per season, with this year’s contract being frontloaded so the Kings would meet the salary floor of $40 million.

Expect O’Sullivan to be a little rusty coming into the season which starts on Saturday, but at least he will have a few days to skate with the team before they take on the Sharks on Saturday night.  He will probably be playing on the King’s top line with Kopitar and Dustin Brown.

Photo Credit:  NHL.com

• Leave a comment... (0)

Terry Murray will be named as the Los Angeles Kings new head coach.  Terry Murray was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers last year, and has been a head coach for Florida, Washington and Philadelphia.  Murray is replacing Marc Crawford as head coach and must be thinking to himself that there is nowhere to go but up for the Los Angeles Kings.  The Kings finished tied for last this past season, but they boast a very young and talented roster.  If the Kings can put it together and play consistently game in and game out, then they could be a playoff team this season.  Note:  Murray has not officially been named as coach, but an announcement is accepted shortly.

• Leave a comment... (0)

On the day before the NHL 2008 Entry Draft in Ottawa, the Lightning hold the #1 pick and GM Jay Feaster has made it clear that the Lightning will not be trading the pick for anybody. The Los Angeles Kings pick 2nd in the draft, and they have not ruled out a trade. Kings GM Dean Lombardi has reportedly had more than 100 phone calls regarding potential trades. One of the more popular trade rumors before the NHL draft is Jason Spezza + the Senators 1st round pick for Mike Cammaleri and the King’s 2nd overall pick. I personally dont think the Kings will budge from the 2nd pick and they will end up taking Drew Doughty, leaving other teams to talk trade on NHL Draft day 2008.  Check out Live Coverage of the draft.

• Leave a comment... (0)

The Los Angeles Kings lost the NHL draft lottery to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Finally something went right for the Kings this season.  Had the Kings won the 1st overall pick they would have been very tempted to draft Steve Stamkos, but the Kings don’t need help on the offensive front.  The Kings are stacked with young talent up front, including Kopitar, Brown, Camalleri, O’Sullivan, Frolov, plus they have more forwards waiting in the minors, inluding Brian Boyle, Ted Purcell and Trevor Lewis.

The Los Angeles Kings desperately need help defensively and in goal, although, potential star Jonathon Bernier will fill the role in the near future.  The Kings are small and weak on defense.  Jack Johnson and Lubomir Visnovsky are the only 2 players that currently fill the roster that are guaranteed to be around a while.  1st round draft pick from last year, Thomas Hickey, had a great year in Juniors this year, but is another smallish offensive defensman.  The Kings need a defenseman that is willing to stand up to opposing players in front of the net.  Something that Jack Johnson was getting better at towards the end of the season.

Now the Kings have the 2nd overall draft pick in the 2008 NHL draft and they will likely have a choice between 3 very good defensemen. Drew Doughty is an incredible skater and has a booming shot.  Doughty, who plays for the Guelph Storm averages about a point per game and will likely pan out to be a great player in the NHL.  Zach Bogosian plays for the Peterborough Petes and is a 6′2″ bruising defenseman that has also put up good numbers in juniors.  The final player is Alex Pietrangelo of the Niagara IceDogs.  Pietrangelo is 6′4″ and is a solid all around player.

If I were Dean Lombardi I would pick either Bogosian or Doughty.  I think both players will be solid NHL defensemen for years to come.  Your thoughts?

• Leave a comment... (0)

Dean Lombardi held the Los Angeles Kings State of the Franchise meeting with Kings season seat holders on Sunday at the Kings practice facility in El Segundo. Here are some of the main points from the Kings State of the Franchise:

Dean Lombardi discussed his strategy from last off-season when it came to signing free agents. He discussed his reasoning for not picking up Drury, Gomez or Briere. The reasoning certainly makes sense in that they are all small, over-priced and aren’t franchise players and not worth the money. Lombardi is much more interested in drafting players and building a winning team around young, home grown talent instead of a quick free agent fix.

Lombardi: “Until we start drafting and developing our own, we’re not gonna win. When we get ‘em in there NOW I’ll go use free agency. Establish your core with your own identity, your own players, THEN maybe you can add to your core, but if you think you can build your core through free agency you’re headed like the New York Yankees before Jeter. Now matter how much money you’ve got.”

Defense was raised as a the biggest concern by Dean Lombardi to Kings fans. He is worried about having a lack of defensemen that can keep the puck out of the back of the net. Lombardi said that in an ideal world, he would take 3 strong young defensemen over 3 young strong forwards any day. He also talked about the goaltending issue and about the possibility of signed a free agent goalie or making a trade, and in the end there wasn’t a good fit for the team without giving up too much in return. For a Vokoun trade they would have had to give up 1st round pick and Bernier, and for the Pronger deal they would have had to give up Kopitar.

Overall, as a King’s fan, I am very happy with what Lombardi has done for the Kings so far, and I like the direction they are headed in the future. I completely agree with Lombardi in that a successful team is built from the bottom up with home grown talent. Having the players train and play together for years, develop friendships, and learn how to win an battle as teammates will make the Kings a very strong team in the future.

• Leave a comment... (2)

I am sick of tsn.ca. They are constantly giving the Kings a hard time, whether it be calling them lowly, lousy or whatever other super creative jargon they can think of. I have one thing to say to you oh Mighty “Canada’s Leader in Sport’s” …. at least the Kings aren’t as bad as the pathetic Maple Leafs.

Everyone can make fun of the Kings as much as they want, but the Kings are in a rebuilding phase, and have been since Lombardi took over and made Crawford the new head coach. The Kings have a hell of a stockpile of young forwards, a great goalie, a couple of potentially dominant defenseman, and still there is no respect. Everyone says that if we don’t draft a defenseman this year, the Kings are screwed forever. All I say to those people are …. at least the Kings aren’t as bad as the Maple Leafs.

If you recall, just a couple of years ago, the Penguins were in a similar rebuilding phase, with many of the same pieces as the Kings. Now look where the Penguins are, sitting in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. Yes, the Kings are rebuilding, and yes they do have a history of not winning … but at least the Kings aren’t as bad as the Maple Leafs.

All right all of you hockey fans. When was the last time the Maple Leafs won a Stanley Cup? That’s right, in 1966-67, when there were only 6 teams in the NHL. Probably isn’t too difficult to win with a 1 in 6 shot, eh? The Kings came into the league the next year, and since 1967, neither the Kings nor the Maple Leafs have won a Stanley Cup. In fact if I recall correctly (by the way, I know I recall correctly) . . . have the Maple Leaf’s even made it to the Stanley Cup finals since 1967? Nope, that’s because the LA Kings beat the Maple Leafs in the 1992-93 playoffs to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Now fast forward to 2007-2008. The Kings are sitting in dead last place, mired in a rebuilding year, but also on the verge of making a splash next year as their players mature and learn to win, and play as a team. Now look at the Maple Leafs, an aging team, who have now missed the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row, not in a rebuilding phase until next year (maybe) … and people say the Kings are lowly …. but the Kings aren’t as pathetic as the Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs will act like they are trying, win a couple of games here an there, feign like the actually have heart, before they succumb to the fact that they are an overrated franchise with fans that are better than the team itself. So, in conclusion, Tsn.ca, go pick on the Maple Leafs instead of the Kings …. because at least the Kings aren’t as bad as the Maple Leafs.

• Leave a comment... (7)

The Los Angeles Kings are in dead last in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings are first overall in the NHL. That didn’t stop the Los Angeles Kings from marching into Joe Louis Arena and beating the Detroit Red Wings tonight.

The Kings trailed 3-1 after two periods of play and 2 goals from Henrik Zetterberg. The Kings stormed back in the 3rd period with 4 goals. O’Sullivan, Frolov, Stuart and Kopitar scored 3rd period goals and put the Kings on top in Detroit.

Alexander Frolov and Brad Stuart each had a goal and 2 assists in the game and Kyle Calder and Derek Armstrong each had 2 points as well. The Kings are in the midst of an 8 game road trip and are 3-1-1 so far and they will visit Pittsburgh on Saturday.

• Leave a comment... (0)

In an NHL Trade Rumor Update, Rob Blake is denying that he ever said that he would waive his no-trade-clause.  He says that he is comfortable with the Kings and would like to remain in Los Angeles.  When asked if he would be willing to waive his no-trade-clause he didn’t answer the question directly.  It makes me wonder if he wouldn’t waive the no-trade-clause if he was going to the right team with a legitimate cup contender if it would make the Kings stronger in the future.

The Rob Blake rumors will continue to fly up until the trade deadline.  He is a valuable commodity and has played much better since the start of the season.  At 38 years old I doubt he has much left in the tank and this could be his last year in the NHL.

• Leave a comment... (0)