Thomas Hickey told Rich Hammond today, "I want to make this team really bad." I laughed out loud. Kids today, gotta love them. He of course meant he badly wants to make this team. The question I ask is this - if not now, when? Hickey was a 2007 draft pick. He is on the last season of his contract. While "defensemen take longer" (a cliché made for Hickey), at some point you have to decide if this … [Read more...]
Screw Dean & Don & Drew. I Care About LA Kings
September 16, 2011 By
Right now the LA Kings does not include Drew Doughty. As such, he can find himself a filthy little corner of my thoughts to rest in until he decides to wear the crown again. Until then, I will focus on people wearing the uniform I love. So more importantly than all this other garbage, who is going to the opening of training camp tomorrow? Bobby & I will be there for a good chunk of … [Read more...]
Surly & Scribe’s L.A. Kings Season Preview – The Defensemen
September 13, 2011 By
It’s September and the best part about September is that it is almost October. The 2011-2012 NHL season is on the horizon. I generally find season previews annoying, mostly because they all say the same thing. Here is how they go: This player performed ___ last season. This season, we expect ____ from him because of ____. If the writer wants to add a little credibility to the opinions, he or … [Read more...]
In Defense Of Drew Doughty
September 9, 2011 By
Drew Doughty has spent three seasons with the LA Kings. He made the team out of camp as a rookie, had a solid inaugural season and appeared poised to become one of the best young defensemen in the league. In season two, promise intersected with production and Doughty exceeded every level of expectation by playing like an experienced and perennial All-Star as evidenced by his Norris Trophy … [Read more...]
THE ROYAL REPORT CARD, PART I – THE GOALIES AND DEFENSE
May 2, 2011 By
Harry Halkidis is a knowledgeable LA Kings' and hockey fan, an excellent writer and an all around good guy. I have been courting him for nearly a year to join us at Surly & Scribe and he finally honored us with his puck wisdom and written words. Surly thinks of Harry as S&S's third jersey and we hope to see much more of him going forward. Here is part I of his Royal Report Card. First up, … [Read more...]
JONATHAN QUICK STEALS ONE FOR THE KINGS 3-1
April 23, 2011 By
My heart sank when we went up 3-0. I tried to keep my emotions in check. I chewed on my LA Kings' hat. I lost command of the English language. In the middle of the second, the wife asked me how the Kings were doing. I barked at her. It confused my dogs. By the middle of the third I was on the living room floor making saves to each of the San Jose Sharks' shots on goal. Four got past me. Quick … [Read more...]
KINGS, DUCKS, SWANS & INSANITY – AN LA/ANA GAME PREVIEW… SORT OF
February 23, 2011 By
So I just saw Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. Liked it. Been around the ballet for a while (blame my female), so the insane psychosis is not too shocking for me. Got me thinking. A duck is just a retarded swan. Malformed. Malnourished. Something went awry in the genetic line. It would be like an entire race of little people with half-brains evolving from humans. If such a thing … [Read more...]
HOPE, SHUFFLE & CLICK: THE MYSTICAL MURRAY
January 19, 2011 By
All of the following quotes are from Rich Hammond. Terry Murray on the buzz words “shooting mentality”: MURRAY: Especially at an important time in the game, in that second half. There were not enough pucks going to the net, not enough offensive-zone time in order to get wins on the road. We’re putting a number up there, every game, as a goal that we’ve agreed upon. That’s shots at … [Read more...]
TOP 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESS AND FRUSTRATION OF LOSING
January 19, 2011 By
Losing streaks wear on mind and body. They weaken our faculties and reinforce our negativity. Id overwhelms ego. If you let yourself fall victim to the torments of feeling your heart shatter game after game, one goal loss after one goal loss, you will soon find yourself to be no more than a sputtering engine, with flat tires... made of vegetables... drooling crude oil and crude remarks... … [Read more...]
THE TURNAROUND STARTS TOMORROW
January 12, 2011 By
Call me optimistic...or crazy...but my instincts tell me tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues, our season turns around. What? Why? Come on. I know, I can hear you. Hear me. Willie Mitchell is still getting his legs underneath him. He now has had two starts and several days of rest including the last two. A healthy Mitchell in the defensive fold is the glue that keeps our top four playing … [Read more...]
I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING…
January 3, 2011 By
...and I feel your pain. But take a moment and reflect. The team before you is the same core as last season. It still lacks a sniper. Sturm? Come on. How many shots sailed high and over the net? How many went wide? It still misses a top four defenseman. It continues to struggle with inconsistent top two lines. It still misses the consistent necessary component on the left wing of the third. … [Read more...]
KINGS VS ANAHEIM DUCKS GAME PREVIEW: ‘TIS THE SEASON
December 26, 2010 By
If you haven't read it, read it now. If you have read it, read it again. Corey Perry, Joffrey Lupul & Wayne Simmonds' Revenge. Let us not forget that a mere 2 months ago, Corey Perry and Joffrey Lupul waltzed into a Kings fans' Halloween party, uninvited, and destroyed said Kings fans' Wayne Simmonds bobblehead in an act of immaturity and jealousy that will be refreshed violently … [Read more...]
WHERE IS OUR INJURY UPDATE ON MATT GREENE?
December 22, 2010 By
I've admittedly been a little out of the loop lately. I've had to speed through recordings of the last three games. I've barely been able to write a quick thought on the games, and my reading time has been drastically cut with what has become a much more busy than usual holiday season. So if my somewhat hostile query is moot, yell at me and then forgive me. What the hell is going on with … [Read more...]
CHANNELING RAGE – KINGS v. PREDATORS PREVIEW
December 18, 2010 By
Every smug face at the gym today looked like Steen...and forced me to turn away or risk imminent assault. At the gas station, a fifty something year old man with a St. Louis Rams hat walked to his truck...I suppressed the temptation of spraying him with the gas pump and launching a match. I must manage this anger at the 6-4 loss Thursday night. Medicine lies in tonight's game. The Predators. … [Read more...]
WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALEC?
December 6, 2010 By
Not the Baldwin. Martinez. He has been a hockey godsend. Willie will be back in about a week. Our top 4 will stabilize. That leaves Greene, Martinez, Whiskey and Harrold + a potential Muzzin but not likely with the already existing log jam for 5 and 6. Assuming Whiskey doesn't become a fixture as a fourth line left wing (I am only partially kidding because we all know there are no fixtures to … [Read more...]
SCOUTING THE DETROIT RED WINGS
December 3, 2010 By
GOOSE: "That's him. Iceman. It's the way he flies, ice cold, no mistakes. He wears you down, you get bored--frustrated--do something stupid and he's got ya." Transition. That’s the Wings’ game. They wait for you to make a turnover, make a mistake and immediately swarm to your net and then make you pay. By their position through the neutral zone, they are ready to expose the opposing … [Read more...]
LESSONS FROM A 2-1 LOSS
November 28, 2010 By
Per Rich Hammond, the players were locked into some grueling video sessions and critique of their game. There isn't one on the squad who didn't deserve it. Last night's game against the Blackhawks showed this writer a team that was out of sync for all but 10 minutes of the third. When you consider how many posts the Blackhawks hit, we could have easily lost this one 4 or 5 to 1. The only positives … [Read more...]
KINGS LOSE TO OTTAWA SENATORS AND ERIC FURLATT 3-2
November 22, 2010 By
Who is Eric Furlatt? Apparently, he is super human...and a magician. He is able to see at real-time speed what Toronto and multiple video angles could not determine after over 10 minutes of review. You can't call Eric Furlatt a retard. That wouldn't be very nice. You could say he sucks, but that wouldn't be very specific. You could say Eric Furlatt is an incompetent baboon. That would be closer … [Read more...]
KINGS @ OTTAWA SENATORS GAME PREVIEW
November 22, 2010 By
Here we go again with one of those must/should/better/will-win games. While not one of the teams stuck in the 2010 fall doldrums, the Ottawa Senators are a below .500 team with a record of 9-10-1 through 20 games. Any team under .500 is a team the Kings need to walk up to, bitch slap, and go home with their kickball and 2 points. They failed to do this against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, … [Read more...]
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