TWO KINGS MAKE THN HOTLIST (MAY 8)
The Hockey News: When The Hot List began this year, the one rule that governed the selections was no player who had played a shift in the NHL was eligible. The concept was to follow these prospects until they ‘graduated’ to the big leagues. With the playoffs down to four teams and the summer on the horizon, it’s time to take stock of how the forecasting went. Some regular Hot Listers – such as Steven Stamkos and Steve Mason – are very likely going to graduate to the NHL next season, but for now, we count down the top 10 players who did make the jump from Hot List to living the dream.
THE BEST OVERTIME PLAYOFF GAMES IN NHL HISTORY (MAY 5)
ESPN.com: April 10, 1982: Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers: Even though this game took place in Los Angeles, you couldn't find a Hollywood writer who would dare write such a far-fetched script. The lowly Los Angeles Kings, who finished 48 points behind the mighty Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division, trailed 5-0 after two periods in Game 3 of the series. Led by Marcel Dionne and the Triple Crown Line, the Kings chipped away at Edmonton's lead and made it a one-goal game at 5-4 with just minutes left in the third. Then, with the Kings on the power play and their goalie on the bench, rookie Steve Bozek jumped on a loose puck and beat Grant Fuhr to tie it with five seconds left in regulation. Less than three minutes into overtime, another Kings rookie, Daryl Evans, scored the winner to cap the largest single-game playoff comeback in history. The Kings went on to eliminate Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers in five games, thanks to the "Miracle on Manchester."
MODEST FLYERS COACH HAS PAID HIS DUES (MAY 5)
CBC.ca: It’s been almost 25 years since Rob Blake was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Shortly after his selection, he got a phone call from someone he’d never met before. “It was John Stevens,” Blake said, referring to the current Philadelpia Flyers coach. “He asked me what I was doing to get ready to play at the next level. I said, ‘Not much.’ John told me to meet him at the gym.”
FOX ON NHL RADIO FOR WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS (May )
Check out Jim Fox on NHL Radio throughout the NHL Western Conference Finals (date, times TBA). Fox will serve as the color analyst alongside play-by-play man Dave Strader of the Phoenix Coyotes.
DREWISKI SIGNS WITH KINGS (APRIL 25)
Hudson Star: Half of Wisconsin’s senior class has signed professional hockey contracts as defenseman and Badger captain Davis Drewiske, as well as senior defenseman Josh Engel, have joined the ranks of professional hockey players. Both Drewiske and Engel were on the 2006 NCAA championship team. Drewiske, who finished second among Badger blue liners with 21 points and who shared the team lead among defensemen with five goals, signed a multi-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. He reported to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League for the playoffs.
MOELLER INKS BIG LEAGUE CONTRACT (APRIL 25)
chilliwacktimes: Chilliwack Bruin sensation Oscar Moller signed a three-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings earlier this week. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, however, entry level salaries vary between the league minimum of $450,000 and the entry level maximum of $850,000 per year. Despite only suiting up for two playoff games for AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs, his play impressed the Kings brass enough to offer a big league contract.
HEXTALL HEARS IT ALL (APRIL 22)
Edmontonsun.com: CAMROSE -- A creative fan made a sign that definitely got Brett Hextall's attention during the BCHL playoffs. "When we played Westside in the Interior Final, the guy made a sign: 'Hextall - Did your dad beat you when you were a kid' " relayed the captain of the Penticton Vees. Those close followers of Junior A hockey know Hextall's father is Ron Hextall, the former fiery Philadelphia Flyers goaltender. Nine years after retiring, Ron is still remembered as the goalie who slashed Kent Nilsson in the 1987 playoffs and scrapped with Chris Chelios in the 1989 playoffs -- being suspended for 12 games the following year.
READING WINS IN TWO OTS (APRIL 22)
Edmontonsun.com: CAMROSE Rob LaLonde got the puck off the faceoff and fired a shot from the left point that bounced off goalie Joel Martin and skidded into the slot, where it seemed to bounce around for an eternity. The first guy to it happened to be Kevin Saurette, an underrated mainstay for the Reading Royals the past three seasons. “I just grabbed it and threw it at the net,” Saurette said. “It went high, I watched it go right in, and the celebration was on.”
ALL THE KINGS GOALIES (APRIL 22)
Whig Standard: Danny Taylor only had to play a minute between the Los Angeles Kings' goalposts to etch his name into the NHL record book. On March 29, the former Kingston Frontenacs netminder and seventh-round draft pick of the Kings in 2004 was plucked off the Los Angeles bench and ordered between the pipes for the third period of the Kings game against the Dallas Stars. The Kings starter, Erik Ersberg, had allowed five goals on 25 shots in the first two frames, which prompted Kings head coach Marc Crawford to yank the beleaguered rookie Swede and replace him with Taylor, who had been called up from the Kings' American Hockey League team just days earlier. As soon as the puck dropped for the final period, Taylor became the seventh goaltender the Kings had used during the 2007-2008 season, tying an NHL record set by the 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques and the 2002-2003 St. Louis Blues.
FOX TO MAKE APPEARANCE AT LOCAL SCHOOLS (APRIL 14 and 17)
Jim Fox will be participating in hockey clinics at Parras Elementary in Redondo Beach on April 14 (Photo Gallery) and El Segundo Middle School on April 17. Bailey will make an appearance also. Jim and Bailey will be at the schools from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Members of the Kings Fan Development staff will be on hand from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to run clinics throughout the day.
LaBARBERA TO BREAKDOWN PLAYOFFS ON PUCK PODCAST (APRIL 9)
FoxSports.com: Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera will serve as a special playoff analyst for The Puck Podcast, an on-line hockey show available at PuckPodcast.com, FoxSports.com, iTunes and LAKings.com starting Monday, April 14. LaBarbera will be featured on the show throughout the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Puck Podcast is hosted by Doug Stolhand and Eddie Garcia.
HEIDI ANDROL TO WORK WITH NHL.com (APRIL 9)
NHL.com's Hockey Show: Los Angeles Kings Communications and Broadcasting Host Heidi Androl has today been named the features West Coast Correspondent for "The Hockey Show," a new show that is set to debut on NHL.com on April 9.
Androl will also continue in her current duties for the Kings and LAKings.com where serves as host of KingsVision.
"We are extremely proud of what Heidi has accomplished this year for KingsVision and LAKings.com and we are excited that she will be part of the NHL.com team," said Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille. "This is a great opportunity for her to continue to evolve her career and an opportunity for us to increase our distribution and exposure to the world of sports."
KingsVision launched this season and LAKings.com produced 80 original features throughout the 2007-08 season. The most viewed features were the All Star Voting Campaign piece; the Kings player action-figure piece; "Heidi's Fired spoof" piece; and a recap of the club's trip to Austria. To view these features and more, log onto LAKings.com/kingsvision.
KINGS FUTURE STARTS IN MANCHESTER (APRIL 7)
Union Leader: The future of the Los Angeles Kings arrived last night in Verizon Wireless Arena. Nineteen-year-old goaltender Jonathan Bernier started his first game for the Kings' AHL affiliate Monarchs. It is hoped that Bernier, who hails from Laval, Quebec, will one day soon carry the Kings to the Stanley Cup promised land. Quebec-bred goaltending talent has been a prize NHL possession since Patrick Roy led Montreal and then Colorado to Cups, and more recently New Jersey's Martin Brodeur has paved the way for the likes of Bernier.
BERNIER SHARP IN DEBUT WITH MONARCHS (APRIL 7)
Union Leader: Teddy Purcell scored twice and LA Kings rookie goaltender Jonathan Bernier made an inspiring debut in the AHL as the Monarchs chewed up the Worcester Sharks, 4-1 in front of the first capacity crowd of the season -- 9,932 -- in Verizon Wireless Arena.
BLAKE KINGS' KING CLANCY NOMINEE (APRIL 4)
Kings captain/defenseman Rob Blake is the Kings' 2007-08 King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee. The Kings players selected Blake to be the club's nominee for the award, which is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
BERNIER, MAINIACS BID ADIEU (APRIL 3)
NHL.com: Danick Paquette stood in the center of the food court at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Wednesday. His hat propped backwards across his wavy hair, he spoke - in English - to a television reporter. From a long line of tables, a piece of wadded up paper flew at Paquette, striking the 17-year-old Lewiston Maineiacs forward on the left cheek. He barely flinched. Paquette, as a rule, doesn't flinch much in any situation. He gathered with his teammates Wednesday for one last chance to say hello - or goodbye - to some of the most ardent hockey fans, who stood in line for well over two hours for a chance to get everything from cards to sticks to shirts signed. "It all starts from the fans," Maineiacs' coach Ed Harding said. "I couldn't have been more proud of the 2,200 who showed up for Game 5. It sounded like the building was full, and I know our guys fed off of that." Twenty-three of the 24 Maineiacs players attended Wednesday's event. They sat in a long line of tables, each with a stack of their own trading cards in boxes in front of them, waiting for each fan - more than 400 in all - to filter through. Jonathan Bernier, the team's franchise goaltender and Los Angeles Kings draft pick, was at the head of the line. He drew a larger crowd than most.
MILLER ON LOOSE CANNONS (APRIL 2)
Please note that the Bob Miller radio interview with the Loose Cannons scheduled for today at 1:35 p.m. has been re-scheduled for Friday, April 4 at 1:35 p.m. The Loose Cannons radio show airs Monday – Friday on AM 570 KLAC.
ERSBERG'S PARENTS (MARCH 29)
NHL.com: Putting On A Show -- Like other hockey parents, Erik Ersberg's mom and dad like to watch their son play -- even if it means flying from Sweden to Southern California, where their son is a rookie goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings. Ersberg is putting on a good show for his folks. He stopped 39 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss at Anaheim on Wednesday, and then made 38 saves Thursday in the Kings' 4-0 victory against Phoenix. “They came a couple of days ago, and it's great to have them here,” Ersberg said after his second NHL shutout. “They've always supported me. I owe them a lot.” Ersberg's parents are scheduled to return to Sweden on Sunday. Since he's played so well in front of them, might he try to get them to stay? “Who knows?” he said with a smile. “Things have gone pretty well since they got here. Maybe they'll stick around.”
GETTING TO KNOW MICHAEL CAMMALLERI (MARCH 28)
The Hockey News: BY MARK MALINOWSKI Los Angeles Kings center Height: 5-9 Weight: 185 DOB: June 8, 1982 In: Richmond Hill, Ont. Hockey Inspirations: "I would say Wayne Gretzky, the obvious one. Maybe Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure." Nicknames: "Cammy. It's been Cammy pretty much all along." Hobbies/Interests: "Golf and real estate." Favorite Movies: "Raging Bull, A Bronx Tale."
CRAWFORD ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA (MARCH 26)
Marc Crawford is scheduled to be a guest of Hockey Night in Canada Radio this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. This afternoon’s show is available on Sirius channel 122, with hosts Jeff Marek and Craig Simpson. 
Crawford on Hockey Night in Canada
PLAYOFF POINTS ARE MONARCHS' GOAL (MARCH 26)
UnionLeaders.com: The Manchester Monarchs look to cash in their game in hand for valuable points tonight in a 7:05 p.m. battle with Portland at Verizon Wireless Arena. Manchester (32-29-5-4, 73 points), courtesy of its 4-2 win Sunday against Springfield (31-30-5-5, 72 points), is clinging to the fourth and final playoff berth in the Atlantic Division by a point over the Falcons.
SI VAULT: THE COAST'S CRAZY DREAMERS (APRIL 8, 1969)
SI.com: Terry Sawchuk, the mercurial goaltender who has been known to shun reporters and friends even after his most triumphant games, talked freely and cheerfully with everyone who came near his locker in the Los Angeles Kings' dressing room. Coach Red Kelly ventured as close to profanity as he ever does, shouting, "You guys played a hang of a game." Owner Jack Kent Cooke rushed around the room congratulating his players and insisting, "I never doubted that my boys could do it."
SI VAULT: WOE CANADA (AUG. 1988)
SI.com: Wayne Gretzky, the newest member of Tinseltown's glitterati, was seated in the Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel last Friday morning and speaking on the phone to his new boss, Bruce McNall, owner of the Los Angeles Kings. "Who called?" Gretzky asked McNall, a roly-poly 37-year-old who some 72 hours earlier had pulled off the unthinkable and put the historically hapless, inconsequential Kings onto the front pages of newspapers across North America. "You're kidding," said Gretzky. "Well how old is he? [Pause] Thirty-four? [Pause] Why not? What do you have to lose?" Gretzky could not suppress a grin. At the end of a long—and at times grim—week, here was some news that tickled him. Guy Lafleur's agent had just contacted the team, saying that Lafleur, the former Montreal Canadiens great, wanted to come out of retirement and try out when the Kings' training camp opened in three weeks. So what if Lafleur is actually 36. The Great One skating side by side with the aging Flower in la-la land, which had suddenly become gaga land over hockey, was no less imaginable than the events that had transpired in the previous few days.
SI VAULT: KINGS AGAIN (NOV. 30 1992)
SI.com: By Los Angeles standards, Wayne Gretzky is not your typical hockey fan. He shows up early at the Forum, stays past the midpoint of the third period, pays attention to what's happening on the ice, rarely schmoozes with second-rate celebrities at rinkside and is never seen chattering into one of those obnoxious portable cellular phones. Hardly the type to lead cheers, he instead favors quiet observation from his seat in Los Angeles King owner Bruce McNall 's private box. Gretzky had been even more reserved than usual as, through last Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs , the Kings skated to a 14-6-2 record and into first place in the Smythe Division. It has been difficult, Gretzky admitted, for him to watch L.A. play great without the Great One. "I wish I could be part of it," he said. "It's disappointing to me that I haven't been part of it, because this team is really exciting."
KINGS COME CALLING, MANCHESTER ANSWERS (MARCH 22)
AHL.com: One of the thrilling aspects of watching the Manchester Monarchs compete is knowing they are one call away from realizing their National Hockey League dreams. One day they are skating in Manchester, the next day they could be suiting up for the Kings and playing in revered hockey cities like Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. This season, similar to years past, has been somewhat of a revolving door between Manchester and Los Angeles with players going up and down. With the parent club in a state of rebuilding, it has been an ideal time for the prospects to prove their worth. Goaltender Erik Ersberg, who has backstopped the Monarchs in 30 games this season, could play out the string as the No. 1 in Los Angeles following netminder Jason LaBarbera’s sports hernia surgery. Ersberg made his NHL debut on Feb. 23 in relief of Dan Cloutier, leading the Kings through a four-goal comeback until they eventually lost in overtime to Chicago.
QUICK INTRO FOR GOALIE (MARCH 21)
Courant.com: One week you're on a 10-hour bus ride to Greenville, S.C. The next you're cavorting around Los Angeles and taking flights to your first visits to Phoenix, Chicago and Dallas. "It's been a little bit of a journey," goaltender Jonathan Quick said. The smile lighting up Quick's face told you what an understatement that was because it has been that type of rookie season for the Hamden native and Avon Old Farms standout. Quick started the season with Redding of the ECHL, had a two-week stop in Manchester of the AHL in which he had a win, a loss and an overtime loss before suddenly finding himself in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings.
MOLLER WINS AWARD (MARCH 20)
The Province: For the Chilliwack Bruins, trying to knock off the defending Memorial Cup champion Vancouver Giants in the playoffs is going to feel like scaling Everest -- without an oxygen tank. But there have been miracles on ice before and, with that in mind, here are five things the Bruins absolutely need to do to make this a series. 1 Limit the quality chances. Everyone knows goaltending is paramount in the playoffs and rookie Mark Friesen (3.17 goals-against average, .901 save percentage) has been better of late and solid in his 99 minutes against the Giants this season (1.21, .964).
BERNIER EARNS PLAYER OF THE MONTH (MARCH 20)
Sun Journal: LEWISTON - The boos were few and far between. But they were there. Jonathan Bernier, the Lewiston Maineiacs' franchise goaltender who has a world junior gold medal and four games of NHL regular-season experience under his belt, heard them. He had just given up his seventh goal of the night against Acadie-Bathurst at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Since that day, Bernier has played in nine games. He's allowed just 15 goals, and his save percentage is around 95 percent. "Nobody's booing him now, are they?" Maineiacs' head coach Ed Harding said with a smile. "To be honest with you, I got on him a little bit, too. We had an understanding, he knew I was behind him, but everybody has a bad day at work. You have a bad day, I have a bad day, too."
NOMAD OF THE ICE (MARCH 20)
Sun Journal: LEWISTON - The boos were few and far between. But they were there. Jonathan Bernier, the Lewiston Maineiacs' franchise goaltender who has a world junior gold medal and four games of NHL regular-season experience under his belt, heard them. He had just given up his seventh goal of the night against Acadie-Bathurst at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Since that day, Bernier has played in nine games. He's allowed just 15 goals, and his save percentage is around 95 percent. "Nobody's booing him now, are they?" Maineiacs' head coach Ed Harding said with a smile. "To be honest with you, I got on him a little bit, too. We had an understanding, he knew I was behind him, but everybody has a bad day at work. You have a bad day, I have a bad day, too."
FAN OF THE PEOPLE (MARCH 19)
LA Magazine:LA has had it's share of obsessive fans. Meet Cameron Hughes.
ELLIS GOES IN FOR THE KILL (MARCH 19)
LA Daily News: Penalty killing has become increasingly important in the post-lockout, penalty-happy NHL, and the Kings' struggles in that area go a long way to explaining why they are the worst team in the league. The Kings entered Tuesday night's game against San Jose with the fifth-worst penalty-kill percentage in the league, but the little-heralded acquisition of winger Matt Ellis seems to be making a difference. Ellis, claimed off waivers from Detroit on Feb. 21, has been logging significant penalty-kill minutes, and since his arrival, the Kings have successfully killed 31 of 33 shorthanded situations. "I didn't get the chance to kill penalties in Detroit," Ellis said, "but I got the chance in practice all the time and I had a decent amount of success in the American (Hockey) League."
ERSBERG PROVING TO BE RELIABLE OPTION (MARCH 18)
LA Daily News: It took six tries, but it seems the Kings might finally have stumbled over a reliable goaltender. They went through Jonathan Bernier, who was strong but too young; Jason LaBarbera, who was solid but too fragile; and three others who did little to show that they could be trusted as No. 1 goalies. Then along came Erik Ersberg, the slightly built 26-year-old rookie from Sweden who has performed quite well in his first six NHL starts and given a much-needed dose of optimism to this last-place team. Ersberg has won only two of six starts, but can't shoulder much blame. He has allowed only 12 goals and has allowed more than two goals in a game just twice. The Kings totaled five goals in his four losses. "Things are going pretty well for me in the games that I've played. I really can't complain," Ersberg said.
MASTERTON NOMINEES (MARCH 18)
San Gabriel Valley Tribune: LOS ANGELES: Jaroslav Modry — Not only did Modry accomplish near-impossible, a defenseman on the last-place Kings with a plus rating (plus two in 61 games) but he served as a defacto mentor to the rapidly improving rookie, Jack Johnson. He performed with his usual professionalism and class and you would never have known he was playing under difficult personal circumstances. His father, also named Jaroslav, is dying of cancer and Modry briefly left the team early in the season to return home to the Czech Republic to make sure he could visit with him at least one last time.
PENALTY KILLING IMPROVES (MARCH 18)
Press Enterprise: After struggling to kill penalties for much of the past two seasons, the Kings recently have seen a significant improvement in their ability to shut down opposition power plays. The Kings have killed 31 of the past 32 opposition power-play chances dating back to the first period of their contest against Chicago on Feb. 23. Even with the improvements, the team still was ranked 26th in the league in penalty killing (79.8 percent) entering play Monday, but the current trend is encouraging. The nearly 10-game stretch of solid penalty killing coincided with the arrival of forward Matt Ellis, who was claimed off waivers from Detroit on Feb. 21.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR KINGS (MARCH 17)
Bleacherreports.com: Los Angeles Kings – Steven Stamkos, C, Sarnia Sting – The reason I say ‘realistic best-case scenario’ is that everyone’s actual best-case scenario is landing Stamkos, a do-it-all pivot with speed and skill. So this would be a very short blog if I did that. There have been rumblings GM Dean Lombardi may pass on Stamkos in favor of one of the top defensemen in the mix, such as Guelph’s Drew Doughty or Niagara’s Alex Pietrangelo. Here’s some advice, Dean: Take off your Michal Handzus/Ladislav Nagy-signing hat and go find your trade-for-Jack Johnson hat. Yeah, you’ve got a wealth of talent under the age of 25, but in case you didn’t notice, center Michael Cammalleri wasn’t exactly enthused about his arbitration result this past summer. He’s an unrestricted free agent after next season and you may not be his first choice. Go with the best player available.
FUTURE LOOKS POSITIVE FOR KINGS (MARCH 17)
Bleacherreports.com: The 2007-2008 season has given the Los Angeles Kings nothing to be happy about. With just 10 games left in the season, Los Angeles holds onto a 28-38-6 record. Although the Kings are headed to the off season earlier than 16 other teams, they can look foward to the future. This season, the younsters on the Kings roster have proven they can lead the team in the next decade. The top five leading scorers for the Kings consist of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Alexander Frolov, Patrick O'Sullivan, and Michael Cammalleri. On the positive side, these guys are all 25 years old or younger, meaning the Los Angeles Kings are in store for some good seasons to come. Not only did the young veterans contribute this season, but so have the rookies and top prospects. Signing as a free agent after last season, Teddy Purcell has proved to be a quality player scoring a 17-47-64 line in 53 games for the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. A bigger suprise thus far has been 6'7 250 lb foward Brian Boyle. Boyle, also coming out of the Kings farm club, scored 4 goals and added an assist in just 8 games this season. As for the AHL, Boyle recorded 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 57 games.
THE HOCKEY NEWS GOES MAD (MARCH 17)
The Hockey News: While March Madness takes over our little corner of the known world every year at this time, the L.A. Kings decided to mix things up a bit this year with their own "L.A. Kings Madness”. The way it works is simple—64 former Kings were chosen and placed into four brackets, just as with the NCAA basketball tournament. Fans get to vote and they go from 64-32-16-8-4-2-1. Fans can go to L.A. Kings.com and vote for their favorite in each individual matchup. It goes round-by-round until THE ultimate King has been crowned. The Madness kicked off on Saturday, March 15 at 9 a.m., with fans having 72 hours to vote as often as they like for their favorite Kings players. On Wednesday, March 19, at 9 a.m., after the votes from the first round has been tabulated and the brackets updated, the Second Round will begin and fans will once again have 72 hours to vote on each player match up as the field is cut to 32 players. Seventy two hours later, voting will come to a close and the field of 16 will be announced on Sunday, March 23 at 9 a.m., and fans will once again have 72 hours to vote on which player will advance to the fourth round. On Thursday, March 27 at 9 a.m., the fourth round of Kings Madness will kick off and fans will have the chance to vote on the final Eight.
WATER COOLER NOTES (MARCH 14)
NHL.com: Spoilers -- When you're desperate for points, the last thing you need to see is an also-ran that refuses to play like one. A team, for example, like the Los Angeles Kings, who cost Nashville two big points with a 4-1 victory at Sommet Center.The Kings are last in the overall standings, but they didn't look like a non-playoff team against Nashville, which blew a chance to tie Vancouver for eighth place in the West.''This is the playoffs for the Kings,'' Predators coach Barry Trotz said. ''We have been in their situation. There is not a better feeling for a team that is out of the running for the playoffs but to be able to anger or really disrupt a team that is still trying to make it. We knew they were going to come and play their hardest. The Kings deserved to win this game.''The Kings, who have some talented young forwards and have been getting solid goaltending from rookie Erik Ersberg, scored three times in the final 20 minutes.''We got a few breaks, but we earned them going to the net in the third period,'' Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford said.
KINGS/MINNESOTA GAME ON HDNET (MARCH 15)
HDNet will provide live EXCLUSIVE coverage of the Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild this Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. CT. This game will be available to HDNet subscribers within the Los Angeles Kings local broadcast territory, as the blackout restrictions for this game have been lifted. HDNet will be the only television carrier for this game.
Kings fans will have access to the “NHL on HDNet” broadcast which is shot exclusively for presentation in the highest-quality 1080i high-definition format, giving viewers all the benefits of a 16:9 aspect ratio and high resolution picture without compromising the image to serve a standard-definition, 4:3 broadcast audience.
KINGS MADNESS GETTING SOME LOVE (MARCH 11)
InsideSoCal.com: Your favorite King: Henry the Eighth ... or Luc the First? L.A. Kings Madness, that's what they're calling this online tournament intended to allow fans of the local NHL team to decide who's the bestest of all time. Over on the Kings' website, starting Saturday, the team has a March Madness tournament going on that pits 64 current and former players in a bracket-style competition.
MAINIACS TO RIDE BERNIER TO PLAYOFFS (MARCH 10)
SunJournal.com: The Lewiston Maineiacs are going to be in the playoffs in fewer than two weeks. You hadn't heard? You're not alone. Apparently, some of the players on the team haven't received the memo yet, either. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but if the Maineiacs can't find a consistent effort, and find a way to score a few more goals than they have been, this playoff year is going to be much shorter than the last. Much shorter.
BERNIER PLAYER OF THE WEEK (MARCH 10)
QMJHL.com: Voltigeurs forward Garrett Peters and Lewiston MAINEiacs goaltender Jonathan Bernier today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from March 3 to 9.
BERNIER CONTINUES TO BE HOT (MARCH 10)
MVN.com: Lewiston, Me- It was the last game of the season at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee and there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. It was a sell out as all 3,677 seats were filled. It was also the last regular season home game for the three 20 year old (Chris Tutalo, Stefano Giliati, and Marc-Andre Daneau). the Maineiacs redeemed their 2-1 loss on Friday night with a 3-1 win on Sunday.
JOHNSON ON BEFORE THE BIGS (MARCH 18)
A special episode of BEFORE THE BIGS with Kings rookie defenseman Jack Johnson will debut on FSN West following the Kings-San Jose Sharks game at STAPLES Center on Tuesday, March 18. The show lasts 30 minutes.
HEIDI TO APPEAR 'ON THE RECORD'(APRIL 1)
Kings Vison (LAKings.com) host Heidi Androl will be a featured guest of the popular "Off The Record" on TSN. The show, which is based in Toronto, airs on April 1.
FEATURE ON REFEREES (MARCH 7)
A special TV feature on NHL referees will run today, Friday, on KNBC-TV at 5:39 p.m. The story was put together during last night's Kings-Senators game at STAPLES Center.
BLAKE HAPPY TO STAY (MARCH 7)
Ottawa Sun: Rob Blake left the decision as to whether he would be dealt at the NHL trade deadline up to the Kings. The well-respected veteran blueliner wasn't going to hold the Kings hostage if they wanted him to waive his no-movement clause. Blake wanted to stay, but he was willing to let GM Dean Lombardi decide what was best. "I left it in their hands," Blake told the Sun yesterday. "It was up to them. I'm happy it worked out the way it did. Yes, going to a contender with a chance to win the Cup was an exciting possibility, but when I signed here two years ago, it was to help this team to improve and make the playoffs. I just wanted them to do whatever they felt was right. It hasn't quite worked out the way I wanted it to work when I signed here, but there's a lot of young talent here, a lot of young skilled players and we've just got to get some pieces in around them to help them improve." It's believed the Avalanche, Ducks, Sharks and Senators were among a group of team that called Lombardi about Blake. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he fully intends to sign a one-year extension with Los Angeles. Blake said he likes the club's talent level. "The young guys here just have to make the next step," said Blake. "Guys like (Alexander) Frolov, (Anze) Kopitar, (Jack) Johnson and (Mike) Cammalleri, these are the guys who get the minutes and they just need to take it to the next step with the right people around them." Lombardi said he'll discuss Blake's future with him in the off-season. "A lot of that is going to be up to (Blake)," said Lombardi.
LABARBERA GOES UNDER THE KNIFE (MARCH 7)
Prince George Citizen: Prince George minor hockey product Jason LaBarbera has had surgery that brings his NHL season to an end. The 27-year-old starting goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings had a sports hernia (abdominal) procedure Wednesday morning. Craig Smith of the Beach District Surgery Center in Redondo Beach performed the surgery. LaBarbera, who hadn't played since Feb. 18, said Thursday night he is bed-ridden while getting past the effects of the surgery, and hopes to start the rehabilitation process next week. Full recovery will take about eight weeks.
BIG NIGHT FOR ERSBERG, KINGS (MARCH 7)
LA Times: Not all goalie auditions are created equal. There are the ones of the April-playoff variety, and then you have the slightly longer-range ones, tryouts for October readiness. Call it one road for Ottawa and goalie Martin Gerber, making his fourth consecutive start, and the latter route traveled by the Kings, and in this case, rookie Erik Ersberg. Ersberg, making his third consecutive start, had a career breakthrough, winning his first NHL game as the Kings defeated the Senators, 2-0, Thursday night before 17,582 at Staples Center.
WATER COOLER NOTES: ERSBERG (MARCH 7)
NHL.com: Who you gonna call? -- You’ve just earned your first NHL victory, a 40-save shutout win over the League’s highest-scoring team. So Erik Ersberg, who gets the first phone call? “I don’t know,” he said after the Los Angeles Kings’ 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The problem for the 25-year-old rookie was a simple matter of logistics. “Everybody is asleep over there,” the native of Sala, Sweden, said after the game ended shortly after 10 p.m. in Los Angeles — the pre-dawn hours at home for Ersberg. “I guess it’s going to be someone over here.” Captain Rob Blake has been impressed with the first Swedish goaltender in Kings history. “I kind of relate it to being like a sponge,” Blake said. “Everything that hits him stays within him, and he covers it. He’s very sound. You know that if a shot gets through, he’s in position.”
ERSBERG ONE OF NHL'S THREE STARS (MARCH 7)
NHL.com: One could almost see Rob Blake grimace when talking about the shots that broke his foot. The Los Angeles Kings defenceman blocked a couple of Sheldon Souray's efforts in mid-January, which eventually led to his injury. "He hit me twice early in the game," Blake said.
FOX TO BROADCAST ANAHEIM-VANCOUVER (MAR. 11)
Kings television color analyst Jim Fox will be working with play-by-play broadcaster Ralph Strangis at the Vancouver – Anaheim game Tuesday (March 11) via NHL Radio on Westwood One. You can listen to the game in on XM Radio starting at 7:30 p.m.
KINGS BROADCASTERS A HIT (MAR. 3)
Tom Hoffarth, a columnist with the Los Angeles Daily News, recently wrote a four-part series, ‘ranking’ Southern California sports broadcasters. All four Kings broadcasters were mentioned in his articles.
Bob Miller was tied with the Dodgers’ Vin Scully as the best play-by-play broadcaster. Nick Nickson was ranked as the sixth-best play-by-play broadcaster...more
Jim Fox was ranked as the best game analyst. Daryl Evans was given an Honorable Mention in the game analyst category. ...more
Heidi Androl was featured in Tom Hoffarth’s Feb. 15 column. In the same article Tom Murray was ranked as the eighth-best L.A. TV Anchor/Reporter/Personality. ...more
Nick Nickson was given an Honorable Mention in the Sports-Talk Radio Personalities category for “Kings Talk.” ...more
BLAKE HAPPY TO STAY (FEB. 29)
Slam Canoe: One could almost see Rob Blake grimace when talking about the shots that broke his foot. The Los Angeles Kings defenceman blocked a couple of Sheldon Souray's efforts in mid-January, which eventually led to his injury. "He hit me twice early in the game," Blake said.
JOHNSON PLANS TO STEP UP HIS GAME (FEB. 29)
Edmonton Journal: In the world junior hockey championship at Vancouver two years ago, Jack Johnson creased Steve Downie with an elbow in the dying seconds of a USA-Canada game, and immediately became Public Enemy No. 1, even though it was obvious Downie milked the incident just a tad. "They love Downie in Canada, don't they?" asked Johnson, who now plays on the Los Angeles Kings defence.
LOMBARDI ON LOOSE CANNONS (FEB. 28)
Dean Lombardi was a guest on Thursday, at 1:35 p.m. on The Loose Cannons radio show, which is heard on 570 AM.
Lombardi on Loose Cannons
KINGS VETS KNOW THEY'RE SET (FEB. 28)
LA Times: Most of the Kings woke up in their own beds Wednesday, pulled out of their own driveways and parked in their familiar stalls at the team's El Segundo practice facility. A day earlier, that was no guarantee. The league's trade deadline arrived Tuesday with uncertainty swirling among a few veteran players. In the end, only one major transaction unfolded in Los Angeles -- defenseman Brad Stuart was sent to the Detroit Red Wings for two draft picks. "I don't think anybody was worried about being traded other than a few of us older guys," said 37-year-old forward Scott Thornton. "It's different. You're aware it might happen, so you talk to your kids, you let them know, so they're not shocked if it does happen."
KINGS HARROLD COULD GET MORE TIME (FEB. 28)
LA Daily News: Peter Harrold might benefit most from the aftermath of the NHL trade deadline. The Kings' prospect had been getting time with the club because of the injury to Rob Blake. With the trades of defensemen Brad Stuart and Jaroslav Modry, Harrold might have a spot with the Kings the rest of the season. "You hope so," Harrold said. "This is where I want to be. Stuart's a great guy and was very nice when I was here. It's sad to see him go. But, at the same time, I have an opportunity here to prove myself so I'm going to take advantage of it." Harrold, 24, scored his first NHL goal Saturday in his seventh game of the season and the 19th of his career. He spent the first fourmonths of the season playing for the Kings' minor league affiliate Manchester of the American Hockey League before getting called up in the middle of January. He didn't even get in a game that time, then got a five-game stint early in February before beginning this stretch.
TIP A KING THANK YOU (FEB. 28)
LA Times: Check out this full page thank you ad in the LA Times.
DIONNE ON KINGS TALK (FEB. 23)
Kings legend Marcel Dionne, who is in Los Angeles to take part in Sunday's Tip-A-King event, took part in Saturday's Kings-Chicago broadcasts on both radio and TV. Following the game, Marcel joined Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans on "Kings Talk," which is heard on KTLK 1150. He will also be on FSN West during the second intermission as part of a live TV interview.
Kings Talk Replay (Feb. 23)
FOX NAMED SO CAL'S TOP ANALYST (FEB. 22)
LA Daily News: TOP 10 1. JIM FOX, Kings TV (FSN) For the good of the team, find the plaid jacket and wear it often. Last year: No. 1. 2. MIKE MONTGOMERY, USC basketball TV (FSN) The former Stanford coach has more than court-cred. He quickly communicates matchup problems and strategy issues before they happen rather than acknowledging them afterward. And coaches around the Pac-10 trust him with insider information that he injects into the broadcast at opportune times. He's the surprise entrant in this year's poll, but no surprise if he moves onto a bigger job next season - in broadcasting or coaching. Last year: Not ranked.
KOPITAR ON PETROS AND MONEY ON FRIDAY (FEB. 22)
Kings all-star forward Anze Kopitar was a guest on the Petros & Money Show at 6:25 pm on AM570 KLAC.
Kopitar on Loose Cannons
WATER COOLER NOTES (FEB. 22)
NHL.com: Don’t call us spoilers — The Los Angeles Kings won’t be going to the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they’ll roll over. The Kings looked like anything but the worst team in the NHL on Thursday, scoring four times in the second period on the way to a 5-1 victory over St. Louis, a loss that hurt the Blues’ postseason hopes. “We don’t want to be known as a spoiler or anything like that,” said center Patrick O’Sullivan, who led the way with a goal and four assists. “We want to play hard these last 19 games — that’s what we talked about before tonight.”
KINGS YOUTH BEATS BLUES (FEB. 22)
LA Times: Life as a veteran NHL player in Los Angeles isn't so grand these days. If the old hands aren't on the trading block, they're on the training table. Those scenarios forced the Kings to get even younger Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues and the result was more proof that their youth is blithe. Playing on the second line, Patrick O'Sullivan, Alexander Frolov and Michael Cammalleri combined for 11 points, leading the Kings to a 5-1 victory at Staples Center. O'Sullivan, a second-year center, had a goal and four assists, Frolov, a fifth-year forward, scored three goals for the third time in his career and Cammalleri, also a fifth-year forward, contributed three assists.
MODRY TRADE MAY NOT BE LAST ONE (FEB. 20)
LA Times: Kings defenseman Brad Stuart went to his usual place in the dressing room after practice in El Segundo on Wednesday. One problem. The nameplate above the stall said Peter Harrold. No, Stuart hadn't been traded. But he was headed elsewhere -- to a spot next to Kings defenseman Tom Preissing, a nice location close to the dressing room door. It was where defenseman Jaroslav Modry resided until he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a third-round draft pick in June. That is by no means the last move expected from the Kings before the NHL's trading deadline on Tuesday. "
JOHNSON MISSES MODRY (FEB. 20)
Daily News: Most veteran Kings players passed off Tuesday's trade of Jaroslav Modry to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the business of hockey. But fellow defenseman Jack Johnson admitted he was disappointed to see Modry go. The rookie had been paired with the 36-year-old Modry most of the season. "He was a great partner for me," Johnson said about Modry. "I really learned a lot from him. I admired his patience with the puck. He was always calm and never panicked. I think that was able to rub off a little bit on me when I played with him." Johnson played alongside Modry to start the season, then paired with Rob Blake before returning to Modry after Blake suffered a fracture in his lower left leg. Johnson could be losing all his mentors. Blake also could be moved by next Tuesday's trade deadline. "
AND THE WINNER IS...(FEB. 20)
NHL.com: Dean Lombardi -- The architect of San Jose's rise to Western Conference power, Lombardi is now aggressively trying to rebuild the Los Angeles Kings. It's a safe bet that he will succeed if you look at his tenure in San Jose. At the time, he was only the second GM in League history to preside over a team that improved its point total for six straight seasons. Bill Torrey of the New York Islanders is the other. A great drafter – he landed NHL regulars Evgeni Nabokov, Jonathan Cheechoo, Vesa Toskala, Ryane Clowe and Christian Ehrhoff in later rounds during his time with the Sharks – Lombardi is also a sound judge of veteran talent. It is that ability to locate and sign veteran talent while allowing his prospects to develop that has made Lombardi such a success."
HEY KINGS, OILERS, BLUES AND BLACKHAWKS' FANS, DON'T FRET (FEB. 20)
ESPN.com: What some fans don't comprehend is when you elect to build through a youth movement, you need to surround those players with veterans to help them get over the hump. So if the Kings signed a veteran or two that you don't necessarily care for, understand those players will, in all likelihood, be gone when the kids begin to hit their stride. Players such as Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov, Dustin Brown, Patrick O'Sullivan and Jack Johnson all have the potential to be impact performers for years to come. And when that day arrives, Lombardi will surely surround them with a higher quality of unrestricted free agent. "
CHANGE IS IN THE AIR (FEB. 20)
Hockey Biz: First, and perhaps most notable, the Kings were hockey’s version of a roller coaster—you never knew if they were going to be world beaters or your worst hockey-related nightmare, something that has happened so often that they found themselves way, way out of playoff contention in early December and are still in last place in the National Hockey League standings. The upside about a last place finish is that they are in the lead for the first pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft where center Steven Stamkos is being touted as the top prize. "
MOLLER TOPS TWO CATEGORIES (FEB. 20)
The Province: Chilliwack Bruins head coach Jim Hiller made a pre-emptive strike Wednesday at those who might accuse him of shifty measures. "I didn't stuff the ballot box," Hiller said in regards to this year's Best of the West poll. Hiller's star Swede Oscar Moller was in the running for more honours than Susan Lucci in the latest edition of the Tri-City Herald-run survey, but unlike the snakebitten soap star, the Bruins centreman stood atop the podium in a couple of categories."
PUCKISH BEHAVIOR (FEB. 20)
LA Confidential: All-Star Team Captain Rob Blake and president of business operations Luc Robitaille are bringing much-needed enthusiasm back to the Los Angeles Kings."
MODRY TRADED TO FLYERS FOR DRAFT PICK (FEB. 20)
LA Times: In the first of what probably will be a series of moves by the Kings before next week's NHL trading deadline, defenseman Jaroslav Modry was sent to Philadelphia on Tuesday in exchange for the Flyers' third-round draft pick in June. It's no secret the last-place Kings occupy a rare spot in the NHL -- as sellers, not buyers. The fact that the dressing room could look vastly different, and much younger, by the time the deadline passes Tuesday has not been lost on the players. "For the first time, I saw it last night," Kings Coach Marc Crawford said Tuesday."
MOLLER'S GOAL COMPLETES COMEBACK (FEB. 20)
Slam: Oscar Moller scored the game-winning goal as the Chilliwack Bruins came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-2 Tuesday in Western Hockey League action. Evan Pighin and Mark Santorelli also scored for the Bruins. Brenden Dowd and Brennan Sonne had given the Oil Kings a 2-0 lead with second-period goals. "
MCSORLEY ON LOOSE CANNONS (FEB. 20)
Former Kings great Marty McSorley was a guest on Loose Cannons radio show on Wednesday, February 20 at 1:35 p.m. Marty and the Loose Cannons talked about Tip-A-King 2008, scheduled for Sunday, February 24 at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Loose Cannons radio show airs Monday through Friday on AM 570, KLAC. Interview with Mary McSorley (Loose Cannons)
BLAKE WANTS TO STAY (FEB. 19)
Press Enterprise: Rob Blake has given the Kings a big vote of confidence. Blake confirmed Monday that he wants to return to play with the Kings next season and that he has not been asked to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal by next Tuesday's NHL trade deadline. With Blake's two-year contract set to expire at the end of the season, there had been speculation that the Kings would seek to trade him rather than lose him to free agency. But the 38-year-old defenseman made it clear during a meeting with General Manager Dean Lombardi that he likes what he sees in LA and wants to play at least one more year. "I went in and expressed my opinion about playing here, and it's the same as it was two years ago when I came here," said Blake, who currently is sidelined with a broken left ankle. "I'd love to play another year for sure."
BLAKE WANTS TO FINISH HIS CAREER IN LA (FEB. 18)
LATIMES: Defenseman and captain Rob Blake said Sunday that he has not been asked to waive his no-trade clause nor does he want to do so. "I want to stay here and remain a King," said the injured Blake, who was at the team's practice facility in El Segundo. "I stressed that with them and talked about the plans of the Kings and the future and a lot of different things. That was it." Blake, out with a broken left ankle, has been the subject of trade speculation with the NHL's trade deadline of Feb. 26 fast approaching. He made his strongest comments, of late, about wanting to finish his playing career in Los Angeles. And he clearly would like to remain in the organization after that point, possibly in a front-office position.
BLAKE MIGHT BE STAYING WITH THE KINGS (FEB. 18)
LA DAILY NEWS: Rob Blake might not be going anywhere after all. The Kings defenseman and captain said Sunday that he hopes to remain with the team for which he has played in 14 of his 18 NHL seasons. His injury could play a part in making that happen. Blake attempted to skate on the fracture in his lower left leg Sunday and couldn't do it. He's going to have an MRI to check on his progress today. "It's going to be a couple weeks yet still," Blake said. "I won't skate until next week some time." That means Blake wouldn't return to game action before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. He has missed eight games with the injury so far. Blake met with Kings general manager Dean Lombardi on Wednesday to discuss his future with the team amid trade rumors. "I expressed my feelings to stay here again and kind of do what I wanted to do when I came back here two years ago," Blake said.
WRONG ROAD, RIGHT DESTINATION (FEB. 17)
Inside Hockey: Almost nothing about Brian Boyle’s NHL career thus far has gone according to script. He was drafted out of Higham, MA as a center in 2003 and spent four years at Boston College. But this season, he was assigned to the Kings’ Manchester affiliate as a defenseman. He played forty-seven games there and was second amongst the league’s rookies with forty-three points (21-22-43). As you’ve likely gathered, he didn’t stay on defense that whole time. He finally got called up to the NHL a couple of weeks ago but couldn’t find a flight from New Hampshire to Newark, NJ and ended up hiring a driver to take him to the game (five hours away). He got there five minutes before the puck dropped and missed part of the first period. His dad, who lives not too far away, might have come to his debut, except that he had pneumonia.
WRONG ROAD, RIGHT DESTINATION (FEB. 16)
Inside Hockey: Almost nothing about Brian Boyle’s NHL career thus far has gone according to script. He was drafted out of Higham, MA as a center in 2003 and spent four years at Boston College. But this season, he was assigned to the Kings’ Manchester affiliate as a defenseman. He played forty-seven games there and was second amongst the league’s rookies with forty-three points (21-22-43). As you’ve likely gathered, he didn’t stay on defense that whole time. He finally got called up to the NHL a couple of weeks ago but couldn’t find a flight from New Hampshire to Newark, NJ and ended up hiring a driver to take him to the game (five hours away). He got there five minutes before the puck dropped and missed part of the first period. His dad, who lives not too far away, might have come to his debut, except that he had pneumonia.
HEIDI ON LOOSE CANONS (FEB. 15)
Heidi Androl, host of Kings Vision at LAKings.com, appeared as a guest of The Loose Cannons. The Loose Cannons radio show airs Monday through Friday on AM 570, KLAC.
Heidi Androl on Loose Cannons
KINGS PREISSING HAS THE WRITE STUFF (FEB. 15)
Vancouver Province: Chances are, Oprah and her book club won't come calling. Steven Spielberg isn't likely to adapt the work for the silver screen. Nor is it an enthralling time-killer at beaches and airports. But best-seller lists be damned, Los Angeles Kings defenceman Tom Preissing is an author. "Well, it's not like you could go to Borders or Chapters and just pick it up," Preissing said with a chuckle.
CLOUTIER JUST WANTS TO PLAY (FEB. 15)
LA Times: His smiling face in the Kings' media guide was about the only tangible evidence goaltender Dan Cloutier still had much of a link to Los Angeles. You know how that out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing works. That night, in Columbus, Ohio, Cloutier emerged from the wilderness -- well, as much a wilderness as Manchester, N.H., is -- and recorded his first victory of the season with the Kings. In a shootout, no less. That was one-sixth of the way to his win total of last season, six in 24 games played.
OFFENSIVE BLUELINE KING IN OFFING(FEB. 15)
Calgary Sun: Most NHL rookies treat the puck like a live grenade. Young players, not wanting to make a mistake, have a tendency to get rid of it at any opportunity. But not Los Angeles Kings freshman Jack Johnson. He wants to carry the puck. He wants to skate through the zones, create offence and make something happen. "It's not wanting to be a boring, shoot-it-off-the-glass defenceman," Johnson said. "The game's more fun when you can play both ends of the ice.
KINGS TO ANDROL: YOU'RE HIRED (FEB. 12)
The Hockey News: Heidi Androl wasn't victorious in her attempt to win a job with Donald Trump on The Apprentice last year. But the Michigan girl with hockey in her blood came out of her reality TV experience with a much better gig - covering the NHL for the L.A. Kings' revamped Web site. And as she settles into her role - officially, she is the team's special events host, although her job duties include far more than just appearing in front of the camera - Androl has become a significant part of the Kings' cutting edge approach to off-ice, online promotion.
AHL JOURNAL: SEWED UP (FEB. 12)
Hockey Journal: For the better part of this season, Manchester's Daniel Taylor was hockey's equivalent of a fifth wheel – a third goaltender. But a fortuitous set of circumstances gave the 21-year-old Taylor his shot. And to say he's made the most of it would be a massive understatement. Or to put it another way, the Monarchs wouldn't be within three points of the Springfield Falcons, who occupy the fourth and last playoff berth in the Atlantic Division, without him. Going into this week, Taylor was 8-4-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. His play in January knocked everybody out of their socks, as he was named Goalie of the Month after compiling a 5-0-0 record replete with a miniscule 0.87 GAA and a .972 save percentage. (His five-game winning streak was just the second in team history).
WESTGARTH IN TOUGH COMPANY (FEB. 11)
Windsor Star: Hockey Hall of Famer Frank Fredrickson, an original Detroit Cougar and at one time, the National Hockey League's highest-paid player, was also a trained concert violinist who took his skills in both of these arenas to Princeton University, where he coached the hockey team from 1933-35 and often shared afternoon walks and violin duets with another prominent member of the Princeton faculty, Albert Einstein. These days, Princeton hockey types are just as apt at trading punches as they are at trading ideas with the world's greatest minds. Last season, Anaheim Ducks right-winger George Parros, a Princeton grad, led the NHL with 18 fighting majors. Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly Font: This season, Los Angeles Kings prospect Kevin Westgarth of Amherstburg, another Princeton grad, is cutting a swath with his fists through the American Hockey League, opening eyes while closing them.
SCHNEIDER ON JOHNSON (FEB. 11)
NHL.com: "There are a lot of great players, like (Patrick) Kane in Chicago, who I think is going to be one of the top guys for years to come," Schneider said. "You've got Jack Johnson in L.A. Defensemen seem to mature a lot later, but the kid has all the tools -- big, strong, moves the puck really well. I think those two guys I really like right now."
TAYLOR WRITING A STORY HE HOPES HAS A HAPPY ENDING (FEB. 11)
NHL.com: When it comes to writing his own underdog story, Manchester Monarchs rookie goalie Danny Taylor prefers to go by the book. Not necessarily a textbook of his position, but something a little more personal. Monarchs coach Mark Morris recently walked by it on the floor of his team’s dressing room and stopped to move it out of the way. Morris noticed it was a journal. Taylor’s personal journal, to be more specific. Taylor has been keeping it for more than a season to sharpen his heart and mind for the game. “It’s just little reminders, stuff to work on. There’s so much stuff to work on,’’ Taylor said. “Sometimes you forget. You had a bad practice, you want to forget about it. But you have to remember it, go back and work on it.’’ Oh, there’s so much for Taylor to remember. Like how the Los Angeles had to tear apart and rebuild his goalie style last season. And how he then passed though three wildly different ECHL outposts last season. And how he could barely find ice time in Manchester at the start of this season as the third of three goalies in camp.
KINGS A TEAM WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON (FEB. 11)
NHL.com: It appears the Los Angeles Kings are beginning to find their skating legs. How else would you explain their sudden turnaround following a dreadful start to the season, which included 12 losses in the month of December? "The schedule-maker wasn’t kind to us,’’ said Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford, referring to his team’s 16-game slate in December. "If you’re fatigued and don’t get the necessary goaltending, you’re not going to win many games in this League. It’s not an excuse, but just the facts. Our team has competed at a good level lately and we just have to continue doing that.” The Kings, who entered the week with a League-low 51 points (24-31-3), will complete a season-long eight-game road trip, spanning 15 days, tomorrow in St. Louis. It was just the sixth time in their 41 seasons the Kings had a road trip of eight or more games.
POST GAZETTE (FEB. 9)
Post Gazette: Despite sitting last in the NHL with 49 points, the Los Angeles Kings are a team stocked with former first-round draft picks and buoyed by gifted young players. Sound familiar? It's reminiscent of the Penguins circa 2005-06. "We've been there," said Penguins coach Michel Therrien, whose team plays the Kings this afternoon. "They're rebuilding. They've got some good, young players." That starts with second-year center Anze Kopitar, who leads Los Angeles with 51 points. The list continues with winger Alexander Frolov, 25, who is second with 44 points and leads the team with five winning goals.
BOYLE AND PURCELL MAKE KINGS FUTURE EVEN BRIGHTER (FEB. 8)
The Hockey News: The Los Angeles Kings continue to toil in the Western cellar, but with up and coming stars such as Mike Cammalleri, Alexander Frolov, Anze Kopitar and Patrick O’Sullivan – not to mention a full cupboard of impressive prospects - there is plenty of excitement on the horizon. But that isn’t all Kings fans should be giddy about. The team has two former college players who have put up good numbers on the farm in Manchester and have had an impact in brief call-ups to the big club. Both look to be on the verge of becoming full-timers.
HEXTALL FED OFF OF FANS DURING CAREER (FEB. 8)
Philly Burbs: PHILADELPHIA — Ron Hextall loved wearing the white hat at home. But what he really loved was wearing the black hat on the road. Hextall, who became the 19th member of the Flyers' Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, said his goaltending career was fueled by the passion of the fans, both friendly and unfriendly. The Philly folks gave him one more standing ovation as he stood on the ice to be honored and it evoked memories of the past — the 1987 finals, the two goals he scored, and especially the fiery passion he showed each and every night. When asked at a pre-game press briefing if the fans' energy had anything to do with his confrontational yet effective style of play, Hextall broke out in a grin.
LUCKY LUC LOOKING FOR FIRST MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE (FEB. 8)
NHL.com: Even though time has moved on and their playing days are behind them, some things haven't changed for Steve Yzerman and Luc Robitaille. The two future Hall of Famers got together Thursday to formulate a plan now that each has been named to Canada's management team for the upcoming IIHF World Hockey Championship in Quebec City and Halifax. Sitting around and talking hockey is nothing new for Yzerman and Robitaille. The former Detroit Red Wings teammates once had locker stalls next to one another in the dressing room at Joe Louis Arena and would spend hours together discussing the game. "We would talk a lot and share our experiences and talk about players and our vision," Robitaille told The Canadian Press from Detroit. "We always kind of agreed on everything.
WATERCOOLER NOTES (FEB. 8)
NHL.com: Crowned -- No one is perfect, not even the NHL’s best team. Detroit was 20 minutes away from its ninth-straight win, which would have tied a franchise record — but saw the visiting Los Angeles Kings, owners of the NHL’s worst record, score four unanswered goals for a 5-3 victory. Center Kris Draper didn’t know anything about the franchise record, but he was upset about the way they missed out on the opportunity. "I care because of the way we lost," Draper said. "Over the course of an 82-game schedule, things are going to happen, but when you're up 3-1 you have to find a way to bury hockey clubs. We didn't do that. We started making mistakes we hadn't for a majority of the year, taking untimely penalties and they capitalized." The Wings are running away with the overall points lead, Wings coach Mike Babcock could afford to look at the loss as a learning opportunity. "Every once in a while in life you need to be reminded,” he said. “We know you can't just come to the rink and put your jersey on. You've got to outwork the opposition."
PRESSURE'S ON ZATKOFF (FEB. 7)
Detroit Free Press: The pressure will be on Miami (Ohio) junior goalie Jeff Zatkoff this weekend when his No. 1-ranked RedHawks face No. 2 Michigan. Zatkoff, who grew up in Chesterfield and graduated from Mt. Clemens Chippewa Valley, will take on one of the top offensive teams in the nation. And he'll be playing in front of his future boss. L.A. Kings goaltending coach Bill Ranford will be among a sellout crowd in Oxford, Ohio. Zatkoff, 6-3, 170 pounds, was a third-round pick of the Kings in the 2006 NHL entry draft.
HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR HEXTALL (FEB. 7)
Philly.com: No Flyers goalie ever fed off the negative energy of a hostile road environment better than Ron Hextall. It was one of many reasons that Hextall was such an enormous NHL attraction during the 11 seasons he spent in orange and black. "I've been asked that about Philly," Hextall said last night at the Wachovia Center before to his induction into the Flyers Hall of Fame. "When you come and see 15,000 screaming people there, if you're not ready for the game, you get pumped up in a hurry.
PURCELL TEARING UP AHL (FEB. 7)
The Hockey News: For a player whose rise to the NHL came relatively quickly, Teddy Purcell spent a lot of time sitting in an airport waiting for that moment to actually arrive. The 22-year-old right winger from Newfoundland had just a half-season of American League experience with the Manchester Monarchs before the parent Los Angeles Kings summoned him to Edmonton Jan. 14th while the Monarchs were stationed in Chicago. A 12-hour airport wait in Chicago - followed by weather delays - finally landed Purcell, along with Monarchs teammate Peter Harrold, in Edmonton just hours before his first NHL morning skate and subsequent NHL debut that night at Rexall Place.
NHLERS DAZZLE CANMORE CROWD (FEB. 7)
Canmore Leader: Canmorites were treated to watching hockey at its highest level while the Los Angeles Kings were treated to the Rockies and a healthy dose of Canadian culture last week. Canadiana, it’s called. The NHL club passed through the Bow Valley to take advantage of a two-day break -- after downing the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 -- by going dog-sledding and curling in the mountains. “It was the first time for me doing both those things and it was pretty exciting,” Kings centre Anze Kopitar said. “We had a nice dinner last night, too. You just get to know guys a little bit better, about their personalities, just about themselves. You kind of relax…I personally feel better after that.”
FOX FACES OFF ON THIS WEEK IN THE NHL (FEB. 6)
Top Hockey Analysts Jim Fox (Kings TV Color Commentator) and Steve Coates (Philadelphia Flyers TV Analyst) Face-Off on this week’s NHL.com podcast of “This Week In The NHL.” The link to the podcast is listed below: nhl.com/podcasts
SIMMONDS FASTEST SKATER IN THE WEST (FEB. 6)
Sootoday.com: The Ontario Hockey League's best were in Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday to showcase their skills. Forty players hit the ice at the Steelback Centre in front of 4,061 fans for the OHL All-Star Skills Competition and a pair of Soo Greyhounds came close to earning league bragging rights.
WATER COOLER NOTES (FEB. 6)
NHL.com: ost teams would throw in the towel after coming up short as many times as the Los Angeles Kings did during the first half of the season. But Marc Crawford’s team wants to fight to the finish. Alexander Frolov and Anze Kopitar each had a goal and an assist Tuesday, leading the Kings to an impressive 4-2 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Los Angeles is now 7-3-1 in its last 11 games. ”Even when we were on an eight-game losing streak (Dec. 12-26), we were playing really good, but we lost a bunch of one-goal games,” Kopitar said. “Our record is not great, but the team is showing character and playing really hard now.” Crawford raved about his young stars after the Kings’ latest victory. ”These guys are very good,” Crawford said of Frolov, 25, and Kopitar, 20. “Their puck-protection skills are at a level of elite players. They protect the puck as well as Jaromir (Jagr) does. They may not have the offensive creativity yet as Jaromir, but they are still young, still developing. They've got tons of talent.”
HEXTALL TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE FLYERS HALL OF FAME (FEB. 5)
Courier Post: When he steps onto the Wachovia Center ice before Wednesday night's game against the Washington Capitals, his family by his side, Ron Hextall knows he will be awash with emotion. "This is going to be a tough night for me," Hextall acknowledged from his office in El Segundo, Calif., "for a lot of reasons." Known for his emotional outbursts during his 15-year playing career for the Flyers, Nordiques and Islanders, Hextall admits it will be difficult for him to keep a dry eye when he becomes the 19th member inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame. "It's hard to explain how much it means being part of the Flyers," said Hextall, now an assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Kings. "To be included with people like Bob Clarke and Bernie Parent and Dave Poulin, it really is an honor." Two years ago, it might have felt very natural for Hextall to take an elevator from the general manager's box to the Wachovia Center ice level. But he has not set foot in the Center since he and Dean Lombardi left Philadelphia for a chance to rebuild the Kings in June 2006.
EVENTFUL DEBUT FOR BOYLE (FEB. 5)
Press Enterprise: Kings center Brian Boyle had to quickly charge 267 miles to get to the net. But he did it well. After getting the call of a lifetime at 1 p.m. Saturday, telling him that he had been called up to the Kings from their minor league affiliate in Manchester, N. H., Boyle had just six hours to gather his equipment and travel to Newark, N. J. "I had no way to get down there," Boyle said by phone during Monday.
EVERY HOCKEY PLAYER WANTS TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP (FEB. 2-15)
On Saturday, Feb. 2, FSN WEST debuts “Kings Insider: Dustin Brown” at 6:30 p.m. immediately following “Kings Live” post-game coverage of the New Jersey Devils at the Kings. “Kings Insider: Dustin Brown” invites Kings fans into the home, and the life, of Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Dustin Brown. A four-year veteran of the league and just 23-years-old, Brown is already firmly rooted in Los Angeles: He recently signed an extension with the Kings through the 2013-14 season and is expecting his first child with wife, Nicole, this year. FSN WEST visits with the Browns at their Redondo Beach, Calif., home for “Kings Insider: Dustin Brown”. The program portrays a player in transition from the youngest guy on the ice to a man shouldering the responsibility of being a young leader on a young team. Following the Feb. 2 debut of “Kings Insider: Dustin Brown”, encore presentations of the original show air on FSN WEST as follows: Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 10 at 10 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb., 12 at 10 p.m.; and, Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m..
PURCELL INTERVIEW WITH PHIL ESPOSITO ON XM RADIO (JAN. 31)
Ted Purcell made an appearance on XM Radio, check out his interview with Phil Esposito.
Ted Purcell on XM Radio
GET TO KNOW TO THESE ALL-STARS (JAN. 31)
The Hockey News: Anze Kopitar, Kings At 20 years old, Anze Kopitar has a whole lot of hockey and goals left in him. In his first NHL season, Kopitar lit up the opposition for 61 points in 72 games, becoming the first Kings' rookie to reach 60 points in a season since Luc Robitaille notched a franchise-record 84 points in 1986-87. His 20 goals and 41 assists ranked him third on the Kings in scoring and third among NHL rookies, and his 20:32 TOI average was tops in the NHL amongst all rookie forwards. This season, the former first-round pick (11th overall) of the 2005 Entry Draft was the Kings points, assists and power play points leader, registering 46 points, 27 helpers and 24 power play points in 51 games. Also at the break, Kopitar was ranked second on L.A. in goals (19), power play assists (15), shorthanders (2) and power play goals (9). Before heading off to Atlanta, Kopitar led the Kings to a win over the Ducks, netting one goal in the team's a 3-1 victory over Anaheim. His lone tally gave him eight points in his last 10 games (3G, 5A), 28 points in the last 31 games (11G, 17A) and 32 points in the last 36 games (14G, 18A).
MODRY'S BLOG (JAN. 31)
Fox Sports: Jaroslav Modry has played for five teams in his NHL career (New Jersey, Ottawa, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Dallas) and is in his second stint with the Kings. He has been traded at the deadline twice – he was acquired by the Kings both times – including last season when he was obtained from the Stars. Being traded at the deadline is really a shock. Even though you can see it coming sometimes, you feel like the team you’ve been working with just kind of gave up on you. But on the other hand, you have to look at it in a positive way: The other team really wants me, they want to upgrade themselves and I’m part of it.
Q AND A WITH JACK JOHNSON (JAN. 30)
USA Today: When U.S.-born defenseman Jack Johnson, 21, was selected No. 3 overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005 draft, scouts were impressed by his blend of passion, grit and skill. But Carolina traded the former University of Michigan player before he played a game for the 'Canes. He's now with the Los Angeles Kings and playing his first full NHL season. The Indiana native is viewed as one of the best young American players in the game. USA TODAY's Kevin Allen talked to him during All-Star weekend about his transition to the NHL: Has the transition to full-time NHL player been more challenging than you thought it would be? Johnson: My role on the team is different from what I'm used to. I'm more a defensive player, a shutdown guy. I think it's just part of the learning curve. But it's certainly different for me. Instead of playing against guys in my age group, I'm playing against San Jose with Joe Thornton or Anaheim with Ryan Getzlaf. So it's been a good experience. I'm out there with Rob Blake, so it can't get much better.
NOTEBOOK: KOPITAR WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS (JAN. 29)
NHL.com: The youngest player in Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta kept his eyes wide-open, and made it a point to take plenty of notes over the weekend. “It always helps to be around great players,” Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar said. “You never know when you’re going to see a couple of moves or plays that you can copy.” Kopitar is only 20, but he already has moves of his own that some of the League’s elite players can note. Kopitar did not pick up any points in the All-Star Game, but he displayed one of his best moves Sunday in Atlanta, making a stunning pass from behind the net that somehow ended up on the tape of linemate Mike Ribeiro, who did not score. No matter. The NHL’s first player from Slovenia made it clear he belongs with the League’s elite.
A FRIENDLY NIGHT FOR KINGS AND DUCKS (JAN. 28)
LA Times: Until this weekend, Kings forward Anze Kopitar thought of Ducks forwards Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf as enemies. After sitting beside them in the West All-Stars' locker room this weekend, Kopitar gained a new appreciation for his rivals. "We actually became good friends," he said Sunday. "It doesn't really matter if we're Kings and Ducks. They're good guys off the ice. On the ice that's the job and we kind of have to maybe hate each other, but now we can respect each other." The five players who represented the Kings and Ducks acquitted themselves well in the East's 8-7 victory over the West.
KOPITAR A KING IN HIS HOMELAND (JAN. 27)
LA Daily News: Thousands of people in Slovenia might have a hard time getting up for work Monday. Anze Kopitar is to blame. The Kings forward will become the first Slovenian player in any sport to participate in an All-Star Game in the United States today. The game in Atlanta starts at 3 p.m. on the West Coast but the nine-hour time difference means it won't be over until around 3a.m. in Kopitar's homeland. "It's pretty crazy how they keep up with me, despite the time difference," Kopitar said. "I hope nobody gets fired to watch me." Of course, many in Slovenia are used to much worse. Some people, including Kopitar's grandfather, plan their schedule around watching Kings games that can go until 7 a.m.
ALYSSA MILANO BLOGS FOR NHL.COM (JAN. 26)
NHL.com: So first of all, I have to say that I’m happy and excited to be here at the NHL All-Star game. I got my start in hockey a long time ago, I’m one member of a lifelong sports and hockey family, but believe it or not, this is my very first NHL All-Star game. Originally, Tony Danza used to have season tickets for the Los Angeles Kings, back in the day. And I used to go when he didn’t. But then, I wound up getting my own season tickets, and I have a brother who is 10 years younger than I am so he would come with me to some of the games. He was big into all the players. I think some of the first games he ever attended, it was the year of Luc Robataille’s rookie season. And the Kings had Steve Duschene as well, and all these young guys eventually became his idols.
LASORDA DROPS PUCK, INSPIRES KINGS (JAN. 25)
LADodgers.com: There is a phenomenon in the world of sports known as the Lasorda Magic. Some have been fortunate to experience it, some have just witnessed it, and some have only heard about it in stories told around ballparks, arenas, gyms, and sporting venues of all kinds. It is a transfer of energy, a shot of enthusiasm. It is a demand for determination, and a test on your desire. It calls you out on your guts. In short, it is a motivational speech given by Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda.
COMEBACK FOR CLOUTIER (JAN. 25)
Union Leader: It's hard to find another NHL goaltender with more detractors and naysayers than Dan Cloutier, who was farmed to the Monarchs by the Los Angeles Kings in September after there were no takers for him on the waiver wire. Earning $3.1 million this season and slated to make the same next season with the Kings, Cloutier returned to the Verizon Wireless Arena ice last night after missing 23 games when it appeared he may have reinjured his hip.
KINGS VISION HOST HEIDI ANDROL HOSTS SHOW ON NHL.COM (JAN. 27)
Kings Vision personality Heidi Androl hosted the Cisco 2008 All-Star All Access show om Sunday on nhl.com. The program preceded the 2008 National Hockey League All-Star Game and will give fans a behind the scenes look at happenings on the scene surrounding this premier sporting event from Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. Click here to watch the video now.
FOR ONCE, YOUTHFUL KINGS HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE (JAN. 25)
LA Times: This was the Kings' Stanley Cup, their moment of glory in a season filled with regrettable events that greased their descent into last place in the NHL. Their 3-1 victory over the defending champion Ducks at Staples Center on Thursday sprang from emotion and great energy, a performance that hinted at what they might achieve should this youth movement finally be the one that delivers the franchise from 40 years of Cup envy. For now, defeating the Ducks will have to be consolation enough for the Kings, who will not win anything this season besides a prime position in the June entry draft.
PURCELL HAS BEEN A REAL FIND (JAN. 25)
LA Times: Ted Purcell has been with the Kings for a little more than a week but there are some in the organization who believe they've unearthed a gem. Purcell has yet to score a goal in his four games with the parent club, but the University of Maine product led the American Hockey League in scoring with 53 points before his call-up from the Kings' affiliate in Manchester, N.H. "He's a good player," Kings Coach Marc Crawford said. "And I think he's a very wise choice for our team to pick up as a free agent. He looks like he's going to be an extremely capable player."
MOULSON HOPES TO STICK AROUND (JAN. 25)
LA Daily News: Matt Moulson was the most successful minor-league call-up for the Kings this season, scoring three goals in 12 games. But the performance wasn't enough for him to stay with the club. He's back up for what is expected to be a short stay, again hoping to prove he belongs. "He played well last time," Kings coach Marc Crawford said of Moulson. "(Management) made the decision here to go with the people we've got. All anybody can do is go out there and not worry about things out of your control. "He's got very good hand-eye coordination. He's very strong on the puck, doesn't need much of an opportunity to get chances away and his strength will continue to get better as he keeps going." Moulson played on the second scoring line for the first time Thursday against the Ducks, playing alongside Alexander Frolov and Derek Armstrong. He assisted on Frolov's goal midway through the second period in the Kings' 3-1 victory over their rival at Staples Center. "
SO FAR FROM HERE (JAN. 24)
Inside Hockey: There are perhaps only a few North American-born players in the NHL further from h
