Category Archives: L.A. Kings News

L.A.- The New Nash-Ville?

February 21, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , , , , , 24 Comments

I am of mixed feelings about the rumored, possibly auto-generated-for-TV-commentator-content regarding proposed trades for Sir Galahad/The Cavalry/Captain “Sully” Sullenberger/A Veteran Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer/Seal Team 6 Mission Commander/Rick Nash.  With a week to go Lombardi is already rumored to be up to Bernier, Loktionov, Johnson and a pick. It’s the Johnson part I don’t like.

Why is Scott Howson trying to grab our Johnson? Usually, them’s fightin’ words. Well, the balls are in his court; he’s got some and apparently our guy doesn’t. I don’t mean balls of nerve; I mean truck nuts. Brass balls, that everybody hears knocking like a Newton’s Cradle, that desk prop with the hanging ball bearings that you lift one so it hits and makes the other end bounce out like a croquet send.

The kind of brass balls you get when you are a master at something, that makes opponents fear your skill, that is just a part of the well-deserved bow-legged swagger of the vanquishing conqueror.

Our guy is not that guy. Continue reading →

Is Rick Nash Our Joe Thornton Trade?

February 20, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Rick Nash Trade Rumors Tags: , , , , 42 Comments

“I’d like to play like Joe Thornton does right now. I try to mold my game around his. If you say four years, three years down the road, if I could be where he is, then I’d be pretty happy.” – Rick Nash.

I remember the Joe Thornton trade well. 2005-2006 season. Both the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks were at or near the bottom of the league. It was Thornton, then as he is now, a premiere power forward in exchange for Wayne Primeau (center), Brad Stuart (defense) and our short-lived friend, Marco Sturm (left wing). I don’t recall if any picks went the other way but each of the three players that went to Boston were former first round picks and each of them were fairly young. Joe Thornton was entering his prime.

What I had to look up were the salary numbers. Big Joe was making $6.6 million at the time and was signed for a few years. The three players that went the other way were making a combined $5 million.

At the time, the Sharks were struggling and trying to find their identity. Their Dean Lombardi years were 2 + years behind them and they needed to make a statement trade to get the franchise back on track. Continue reading →

Reading Dean Lombardi’s Mind On The Rick Nash Offers

February 20, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Rick Nash Trade Rumors Tags: , , , , , , 68 Comments

Dean Lombardi doesn’t want to change the defense and the “backend”. He just wants to add offense. “But to trade for Rick Nash, he has to gut the backend, right?” He doesn’t see it that way. Let me explain Lombardi’s thought process:

The most recent word is the following package is in play for Rick Nash – Jonathan Bernier, Jack Johnson, Andrei Loktionov & “more.” Break it down:

1. Jonathan Bernier is a talent. He has all the potential in the world to be a star goalie in the NHL. But Dean Lombardi would tell you he already has one of those in Jonathan Quick and he has waiting in the wings one of Martin Jones, Jeff Zatkoff & Christopher Gibson. Dean is not going to rely yet on one of those kids to take the number 2 spot. He will trade for that or Curtis Sanford will come the other way. Regardless, he looks at Jonathan Bernier as a hole he can fill before the trade deadline while the younger goalies develop and ultimately one of them slips into the number two spot. If one of them does not, a back up goalie is easier to find than a starter. Continue reading →

Your Reaction & Poll Answers To The Following L.A. Kings For Rick Nash Possibilities…

February 20, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Rick Nash Trade Rumors Tags: , , , , , , , 42 Comments

Please provide your reaction to the following trade scenarios involving the L.A. Kings and Rick Nash. As a side note, Curtis Sanford is on IR with an upper body injury. I bring this up because some of the trade scenarios involve him.

Continue reading →

Wayne Gretzky – L.A. Kings General Manager. Fancy or Fantasy?

February 20, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Wayne Gretzky for L.A. Kings GM Tags: , , , , 51 Comments

I have been asked several times, including by Surly most recently, who I believe the next L.A. Kings G.M. should be. I haven’t answered the question directly. Instead, I offered my opinion on who I believe Tim Leiweke will want as Dean Lombardi’s successor. The answer is always the same – Wayne Gretzky – and with each passing day, I warm up to the idea.

The name still commands respect. It should. He is the greatest hockey player to play the game. No player of my generation had a more commanding presence on the ice. I hated him as an L.A. Kings fan in the 80′s, envious of that incredible skill-set the likes of which I have not seen since (the closest being Mario Lemieux), was shocked, literally unable to speak when I learned the Kings acquired him and I stood speech and motionless during the press conference when he put on a silver and black L.A. Kings sweater.

Gretzky almost single-handedly brought the L.A. Kings out of hockey obscurity and took them as far as they have ever gone in the 1992-1993 season. To this day, my favorite hockey quote of all time belongs to Gretzky (which he acquired from his father), “a good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown could both take critical note. Continue reading →

Outside The Box Or Lunacy? Trade Nobody.

February 19, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , 61 Comments

Panic is a poor catalyst for decision.

Under most circumstances and almost without exception, it is a bad idea to sell a good stock when its value is low.

I was told yesterday that if you take the last four seasons in aggregate, the L.A. Kings are 30th in 5 on 5 goals per game. I have not verified it but if it is not 30th, it must be close. That isn’t coincidence and, contrary to urban legend, offense doesn’t come to L.A. to die.

You currently have Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Mike Richards, Jarret Stoll and Dustin Penner falling below their career averages in goals and points. Simon Gagne was headed there before his head got in the way and ended his season prematurely.

Can the team wide illness be fixed by excommunicating one or more players from the roster and replacing him or them with others?

What happens when you bring a healthy person into a sick room? Continue reading →

Prolonged Exposure: Lombotomy

February 19, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , , 14 Comments

[Meeting after the 1-0 loss to Calgary, the second consecutive game the Kings were shutout 1-0]

Sutter: “This isn’t gonna be a video breakdown today, boys. This is just a player’s meeting.”

Doughty: “Another meeting? Come on coach, we get it. It’s all Penner’s fault. How about we all play video games instead?”

Sutter: “Tits on a bull, Dougherty. I just got this message from some guy, must be a huge fan, because GM sent the message over…”

Doughty [leaning over to Richards]: “What does tits on a bull mean?”

Richards: [whispering to Drew] “He just called you an idiot.”

Doughty [shocked]: “Mother fu…”

Brown [to Kopi]: “Oooh, GM. Maybe we’re all getting a new car, like a Cadillac, what do you think?”

Kopi: “I think this is why I get paid more than twice what you do.”

Gagne: “Phone’s ringing.”

Sutter: “…it says here his name is Phil something. Weird last name…Ann…Ann Shits I think it’s pronounced. Huh. Must be Slovenian.”

[Everyone but Kopi laughs]

Continue reading →

L.A. Kings vs. Calgary Flames Post Game: Circle The Date, Mr. Lombardi

February 18, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , 84 Comments

From Dean Lombardi in November of 2010:

“I’ve been amazed at how many people have been behind (building through the draft) and a lot of people stuck it out. I’d heard L.A. was a bandwagon town, but a lot of people stuck by us when we weren’t that good. I’m happy for them, but we’ve got to give them a lot more. It’s been 44 years and they have haven’t won a championship. If any place deserves it, it’s this town.”

To Dean Lombardi, we write: This is your team. The one you wanted. The one you built. With your coaches. And an open checkbook from ownership. We have done our part. We have been patient. In April of this year, it will be 6 years of patience…with you. But I have another date for you. Circle it. March 19, 2012. It is the 9th anniversary of your termination as general manager of the San Jose Sharks.

Do you think you will make it to March 20 this season?

Do you think you deserve to?

Top 10 Things Lombardi Will Say At The Trade Deadline

February 18, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , , , 27 Comments

Dean Lombardi is pretty damn unpredictable, particularly when it comes to trades. More predictable is how we as fans will feel about his player management at the trade deadline. Aside from Fredrik Modin, he has yet to make a deadline deal that we have looked at either at the time or in retrospect with positivity. Needless to say I have little confidence other than the unyielding naive hope I carry with me as a permanent installation to the gallery of my passion for the Kings. That naiveté must at times give way to rationalization for my humanity to remain intact and in turn that rationality needs be tempered with humor so as to not be consumed by contempt.

So I wonder what will happen at the deadline. Not that I think anything Lombardi CAN do in terms of trades at this stage will be distilled into an effective panacea, I nonetheless find myself pondering the benefits of a major shake-up. Truly I have no idea what I think should happen, I only know what I want to happen and what I want is for the Kings to score more goals. As how to best achieve that goal, be it trade or stand pat and hope for the tides to turn, I can only shrug my shoulders, laugh and then cry.

So in speculating as to what may be Lombardi’s last words on the trade deadline as GM of the Kings, join me and mirror my smirks while we wade through our tears.

The Top 10 Things Lombardi Will Say At The Trade Deadline. Continue reading →

The Flyers Want To Trade James van Riemsdyk To L.A.? Color Me Curious

February 17, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, L.A. Kings trade rumors Tags: , , , , 33 Comments

James van Riemsdyk.

Surly has been slow with the uptake around the league but I think even he knows who van Riemsdyk is. Let’s recap.

2007 draft, 2nd overall. I remember that draft. Every Kings fan remembers that draft, the “Hickey draft.”

Turning 23 in May. Like it.

6’3″, 200 pounds. Dig it.

Left wing…let me double check that. Yes, left wing. Love it.

A $4.25 million dollar cap hit through 2017-2018. Not bad.

Flyer. Ugh. Ok, whatever.

Does not capitalize the v in Van. A little weird but I like the three name thing. It’s like having our very own Ryan Nugent Hopkins without the – Continue reading →

If Jack Johnson Is Traded, Lombardi Should Set His Hockey Soul Ablaze

February 17, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Rick Nash Trade Rumors Tags: , , 87 Comments

I’m still seeing red. I thought I would calm down but last night’s loss was personal. It felt like one of those moments where I was on the ice and no matter how hard I worked, I just could not put it together. You try to limit those days and work hard in practice and in the gym but there are days and nights you just don’t have it and when you’re done, you’re exhausted. The L.A. Kings have had an exhausting season. It’s been a near exhausting three under Terry Murray and the Darryl Sutter’s era appears headed down the same path. I have exhausted my patience with Dean Lombardi.

The irony of all this is that I don’t want Rick Nash for the ransom he will command and I have made that plain. I would not be so arrogant as to call the opposing view (those that want him) stupid (and then claim I wasn’t calling them that, not that I am), but I just don’t see how Lombardi, as exhausting as his stony style may be, could so boldly do something that creates another mouth at the exact location of his ass. Continue reading →

The Shit That Would Strike Shinola If The Sharks Landed Nash

February 17, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Rick Nash Trade Rumors Tags: , , , 20 Comments

I have never met Tim Leiweke. I have always wanted to. I imagine sitting down and talking puck with him over some damn good scotch (Macallan, 18 year, “neat”) would be fun.

How much more interesting would that discussion be if we talk about a moment in history when the San Jose Sharks, our North Cali rivals, landed Rick Nash.

If you haven’t heard (Hammond just found out), San Jose is on Rick Nash’s top 5 list. So are the Kings. If that isn’t an invitation for a couple of guys with maximum testosterone to one up each other and land the prom queen so one of them can stick a red leather ball in her mouth after the dance, you’re not reading between the sadomasochistic lines. I will help.

In the dark days, a certain Southern California team won the Cup. They did it after landing two of the best players in the league, namely Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. Without those two, not going to happen. Almost every season since San Jose fired Dean Lombardi as their G.M., the Sharks have been a Cup contender and each season, they have disappointed. They haven’t even made it to the show. Continue reading →

L.A. Kings, Down and Dirty: What’s A Mother To Do?

February 17, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

 

Vital Game. 4 Points. A familiar team, easy to game-plan against. A team the Kings have dominated so far this season at 3-0-1. Long rest, with a rare chance for 2 consecutive days of practice. Fight for the last playoff spot. Home Game.

No Goals.

We complain that Brown doesn’t fight; Brown fights.

We complain that Scuderi is a dead stick in the O-zone; Scuderi charges down below the goal line with a carry and gets a shot to the net for a potential scramble. In the 2nd period, Rob “Wheels” Scuderi leads a rush and carries it down to the circles before making a pass for a shot on goal.

We complain that both Drewiske, and alternatively his roster spot, are being wasted; Davis Drewiske dispels all rumours of his alien abduction and actually plays in a game. Continue reading →

No Kings Ransom For Rick Nash

February 15, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, L.A. Kings trade rumors Tags: , , , , 98 Comments

I don’t want Rick Nash on the L.A. Kings…

“What!!??”

…because he will cost too much.

If Jonathan Quick is injured, do you want to put our goaltending faith into some scrub? I don’t. Jonathan Bernier is valuable and should not be traded. Update: Since writing this article, some have questioned what is so valuable about Bernier. I thought I would make a list of why I don’t let Bernier go:

1. Quick hasn’t proved anything in the playoffs; 

2. As much as Quick has been our MVP,  I am not presumptuous enough to say Quick is better than Bernier and Quick is this team’s number 1 in the long term. How many examples have you seen of goalies playing out of their mind one season and falling on their faces another? Continue reading →

Advice For Dean Lombardi – Pass The Torch On Down

February 14, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, Los Angeles Kings Opinion articles by lakingsnews.com Tags: , , , , , 110 Comments

I’ve always wondered why people don’t just listen to me in the first place. I am certainly humble enough to admit when I’m wrong. It’s an easy thing to do when it’s an infrequent occurrence. The phrase “I told you so” has been tired and stale on my lips.

Hammond may have the direct line to the players, but I own the one to their thoughts.

In reference to Nolan and King:

WILLIAMS: “It’s awesome. Their excitement, the other guys in the room feed off that. Youthful enthusiasm is kind of an intangible quality.

Now of course I peacock my feathers of insight in an overly robust manner, but I do so to help illuminate a deeper point. Yes, I have written numerous times that rookies infuse palpable energy throughout a lineup. Yes, I said Nolan should be called up ages ago because yes, I’ve had an eye for Jordan (as has Bobby) since his first training camp. Yes, I conspired with the entire Kings’ organization to confuse their verbs as nouns and adjectives, but that’s just the kind of intuit guy I am. Continue reading →

Dustin Brown: Does He Represent The L.A. Kings’ Intended Identity?

February 13, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, LA Kings Hockey Tags: , , , , , , , , 142 Comments

You can debate the importance of the captaincy in the NHL and hear persuasive arguments from each side. It is simply a question of perspective. Some place little importance in the C and proclaim it to be nothing more than a letter. Others believe the C has a limited place when the troops need rallying and leadership on the ice, especially in times of adversity. There are those who declare the captaincy to be representative of the heart and soul of the franchise. I come from another perspective – the C represents the team’s identity, what the team is or, for one still finding its place, what it wants to become. My perspective asks the following question – “when you think of the [insert team name here], what player exemplifies its identity?”

Let’s look at the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins and work backwards. Continue reading →

L.A. Kings Continue to Struggle: What I See, What I Don’t See

February 12, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , , , , 73 Comments

First off, let me quickly say that this is my first post as a new author here at Surly and Scribe. My intent is to spur discussion, learn a lot, maybe add to the knowledge base, and offer a sometimes-different perspective.

I look at blogging as a collaborative effort. An article lays the groundwork, a discussion ensues, things are learned, positions can be altered or refined, and disagreements over facts, and yes, even mistakes can be ironed out painlessly. Or not. I prefer the former. Civil discourse is more productive and far more gratifying for me, and hopefully for you, too. I try to remember that everything I write can be viewed as a sort of Rorschach test. The same is true with comments; they say as much about the writer, as the writer says about the subject matter.  So, it’s a fresh start, tabula rasa, let’s get to it! Continue reading →

AGHHHHHHH!!!

February 12, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News 26 Comments

(on finishing the trip with a win…)
SUTTER: “We played really well. The only time I had any issue was the first game of the trip, the first period against St. Louis. Other than that, I thought we played really well. You’ve kind of always got to separate it. We’ve struggled to score. That’s not a secret now. It’s not about our work or compete, I know that. Our kids play hard.’’

Fuck!

Fuck!

I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom to throw up my pancake breakfast, salad lunch, and turkey & provolone sandwich dinner.

Continue reading →

Win! Kings Win! Kings Fucking Beat The Stars 4-2…

February 12, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, LA Kings vs. Dallas Stars Tags: , , , , 18 Comments

Chuck Norris is proud.

He doesn’t smile often, but when he does, he means it. Tonight, Chuck Norris is smiling. Not because Andrei Loktionov scored his second goal in as many games (who didn’t love that Lokti smile and the point to his leg after the puck went in!), not because Dwight King got his first NHL goal and not even because Jordan Nolan got his first! No, Chuck is happy because the Kings won. They fucking won a game. A game where they were kind of outplayed, had a bit of luck on their side and bent, but never broke.

We were due. Continue reading →

Does Dean Lombardi Care About Winning Above All Else?

February 11, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , 28 Comments

Dean Lombardi loves the Yankees or at least he loves to talk about the Yankees.

How many times have we read or heard his quotes equating something hockey related to baseball and the Yankees. I got to thinking about that tonight. I got to thinking about the Yank of all Yankees, George Steinbrenner. George once said:

Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.

Does Dean Lombardi agree with this? My initial answer was…I don’t know. You’ve probably seen our Quotable Lombardi page. It’s under Surly & Scribe features at the top of this site. It’s a collection of his quotes from April 2006 through the present day. We think we got most of them. He said this in December 2011:

You never see exactly what your coach sees, but for the most part, I think it’s safe to say that with the expectations this year, it becomes more result-orientated. I guess, again, this goes back to (a previous) question. Every situation is different, and the challenge for a coach, as well as players, when you have expectations it’s driven more to results. It’s harder, at times, to look for those victories within losses. That’s just the state of the franchise right now. You could look for more of those things three years ago, but we’re trying to push to the next level. And it isn’t easy. It’s a lot easier playing with the house’s money. So I think, to answer your question, you’re never going to see things exactly (the same) but I do think we’re at the stage of the franchise where you’re going to be judged on wins and losses and playoff rounds. And that’s where you strive to be. It’s a lot easier when there’s no expectations, and with every win you can get a parade. We’re not there right now, so it comes down to wins and losses. Continue reading →

Around The Media Globe, Talking L.A. Kings Hockey & Offense

February 11, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , 20 Comments

Here are some fresh articles around the media world that may be of interest:

The Edmonton Journal comparing the L.A. Kings rebuild and that of the Oilers

Sporting News, in a well written article, stating the Kings need more goals to reach their…goals (I see what you did there)

My favorite paragraph from this article was:

Yes, the game was fatality-free, but Sutter is either in denial or blind to the facts. Saturday was the 10th time in 56 games this season that Los Angeles lost 2-1. It was the Kings’ 11th overtime or shootout loss, and seventh since Sutter took the coaching reins. Including the defeats for which they have received a consolation point, a full two-thirds of the Kings’ losses this season have been by one goal.

Those goals are what separate Los Angeles from being an elite team, and even if Sutter wants to make the case that “probably 20” teams could use more scoring, there is no escaping the fact that his is one of them.

From earlier in the week, if you missed it, Helene Elliott preaching patience. Well, maybe not preaching.

The L.A. Kings Patience Ship Has Sailed

February 10, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News, LA Kings Hockey Tags: , , , , , , , 23 Comments

“I chose the Kings for a number of reasons.  First off, I’m a builder. And I see the foundation put in place by Dave Taylor. People sometimes come in and make things look as bad as possible to paint themselves as heroes. But, that’s not the case here…I want to know what happened this season. How can a team fall off the map like this? It’s easy to pin it on the coaches, but the players have to face responsibility, too. They brought in a different coach and that didn’t work.” (April 2006 after being hired by the Kings as President and General Manager)

I have previously analyzed Dean Lombardi’s tenure in an article called The Culture Of Winning. I am proud of that article because I was able to articulate with complete candor exactly how I felt at the time which, when I read it again, is precisely how I feel today. That article however was about looking back. This one is about looking forward.

In any employment context, whether the person is a CEO or a mail room clerk, a warning or two traditionally precedes a termination. I have wondered if hockey coaches and general managers are any different. Did Terry Murray know he was about to get fired? I don’t know. His words indicated surprise. Did Randy Carlyle? Don’t know but he seemed downright stunned. Has Dean Lombardi been warned? Has Tim Leiweke told Dean Lombardi if the mandate of making the playoffs and getting past the first round is not met, the changes will start at the top? I don’t know.

I do know this. For me (and I don’t speak for Surly as he may have a different opinion), the “patience” ship has sailed. Continue reading →

Dean Lombardi’s Big Deadline Move

February 10, 2012 By in L.A. Kings News Tags: , , , , , 36 Comments

A trade?! Not in the traditional sense. But a roster move has been made. Jarret Stoll has gone to the IR with a lower body injury, which can only mean his uterus is swollen. In his place comes Anze Kopitar’s favorite linemate, Dwight King and the guy I called for several moons ago, Jordan Nolan.

But before I get to those moves, let’s discuss how one injured forward necessitates replacement by two rookie forwards. Slava Voynov and his waiver exemptedness (I make up words when I’m upset) is AHL bound.

Carrying 8 defensemen, as the Kings have done for most of the season, is generally a silly thing to do, particularly when you don’t rotate your 6th defensemen regularly. Slava Voynov filled in admirably for Drew Doughty when wunderkind went down with a case of the contracts in preseason and then missed a chunk of games with a case of the dizzies a few weeks later.

That spot duty earned Slava the honor of usurping Alec Martinez’ role as 6th defensemen. Slava did so well in fact that he eventually earned himself Jack Johnson’s top 4 spot.

Oh how the times have changed.

I haven’t seen the last 4 games because of various circumstances, so I don’t really know what Voynov did to play himself off the roster. I can’t speak to how good Martinez has been since finally getting another chance to play after an extended forced sabbatical. What I do know is that during this time, Davis Drewiske, the home-grown boy who never complains, has played a whopping 7 games to Voynov’s 33 and Martinez’ 26. Amusingly, Davis has 2 goals in his 7 games, but come on, Scott Parse, who is as healthy as a tumor, has played more games this season than Davis, whose fiddle is quite fit. Is that dirty? It sounds dirty. Continue reading →

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