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Los Angeles Kings Blogger •
Taking the ice this morning for a practice that lasted an hour and forty five minutes, Kings coach Terry Murray had changed up his lines once again. Dustin Brown skated on a line with Scott Parse and Jarret Stoll while Wayne Simmonds skated with Michal Handzus and Teddy Purcell.
Absent was Alexander Frolov who didn't record a shot last night and was relatively invisible for the 3rd period. When Dean Lombardi put in an early appearance, reporters waited for word... Come on, Dean, where's he going...? Chicago? Florida? KHL?
But there was none. Despite repeated rumors that Mike Cammalleri is trying to convince Bob Gainey to bring back his former linemate (because he's overpaid and can't score without guys named Iginla on his line), Montreal doesn't possess anything the Kings would need (sorry Habs fans, Lombardi is not a fan of either Kostitsyn). Might there be a 3-way brewing? Trade that is!
It was the first question Terry Murray was asked. He politely smiled and said, "Uh... he had a therapy day today" as Rich Hammond correctly predicted he would say. "He had a little bit of a sore hip flexor. Worse last night than it was today. I feel he's going to be on the ice tomorrow and ready to go."
Uh-huh.
While reports say that Lombardi has been speaking with Frolov's agent Don Meehan, who has been in Europe, about an extension, one can look back to past reports that had Lombardi having Rob Blake all but locked up only to have him ship off to San Jose when an offer was NOT apparently made.
Given Lombardi's long standing reluctance to hand out long term deals to free agents (Hossa, Gaborik, Drury, Briere, etc), retaining Frolov for 1-2 years seems unlikely, especially if Frolov is seeking what other 30+ goal scorers are receiving these days... even if they do tend to take games off.
Lombardi will wait until the RIGHT deal comes along, or go after the players that fits his style, system and most of all, character. In all likelihood, Alexander Frolov will not remain in a Kings uniform throughout the remainder of this season.
____________________________________________________
Teddy Purcell
Teddy Purcell began the season on the 2nd line with ample power play time. He scored two quick goals but his scoring disappeared faster than a Bernie Madoff investment. Last night he was dropped to the fourth line. "I think his confidence may be showing a little bit," said Murray. "There's times at games I'm seeing a player not making the same plays that he was showing us. I don't get after him right now. I did move him down to that line last night (4th), and now today he's back up. I go through a little bit of a message being sent by that and then if it builds from there and it doesn't improve from that point then we have to come in, take a look at what you're doing, talk about it, review, have meetings and hopefully there's a response to that. He understands how I operate."
When asked if he had any concerns about his play, Murray responded, "I'm concerned. I have some concern. It's not a big concern, but I always have concern. I'm seeing a skilled player that needs to play the game the right way. Execution, dig in, battle, dot to board play and that was a part of the game that I really liked in what he brought in the early part of the season and when it starts to slip then you have to react, and that's maybe why you're seeing less on the 5 on 5 minutes, back on the 4th line last night and that's where he need to understand what's going and why, pick it back up and when he gets the opportunity on the top lines, he needs to produce."
____________________________________________________
4th line (un)productivity
Jon Moncrief and I noticed that the 4th line of Peter Harrold, Brad Richardson and Raitis Ivanans had between them one whopping point and were a collective -10 in 14 games which is probably one of the worst offensive 4th lines in this league and many others. However, Terry Murray stopped me short of finishing my question.... (how rude!) "You know what...? Before you move on on that, I don't evaluate 4th line players by point production. I don't like to call them 4th line guys, I like to call them 'puck control guys'. Often they're out there against 1st and 2nd pair defense and if they can control the puck, make those guys work hard, spend some energy in their own d-zone, then they're doing a great job for the team. That spent energy can be productive for us in the 3rd period".
"Puck control guys" - I'm going to remember that one. "Hey, when Ivanans got into that fight..."
____________________________________________________
Scott Parse
"I certainly liked the way (Scott) Parse played in the game last night. He was the one player that throughout the 2nd period especially, was moving his feet, had the puck, was getting it in deep, trying to get some good play on the offensive part of it and generated a couple of scoring opportunities with plays from below the goal line."
Trevor Lewis, who?
____________________________________________________
Randy Jones
Finally had a chance to meet Randy Jones (seated next to Jack Johnson) and ask him how he's been adjusting to his new team, teammates and Terry Murray's style. "I'm still working on it," Jones began. "Everyone here is making it an easy adjustment. It's been great so far. Since day one they come up, introduce themselves and just make you feel like you've been here a while."
Having played with Terry Murray in Philadelphia, he was a bit familiar with Murray's style. "Most of the systems are pretty similar. I'm just getting the timing down."
For Kings fans that don't know his style, I asked him to explain. "I'm a mobile defenseman. I like to join the rush, I have an offensive side to me and I can play in all situations. PK or PP."
Terry Murray also said, "Jones is coming along real good. Had a couple of good skates. Had a good workout with Mark (Hardy) and Jamie (Kompon). Any time you come from the AHL you got to get a boost of energy and get it back to the NHL level."
Asked if he was going to get into any games soon or was he strictly a 7th D-man, Murray thought for a while before replying, "Right now he's our 7th guy. I like the way our 6 players have played. Randy now gives us the depth now with an NHL player we feel good if something happens, some kind of an injury or a decision by the coach, we now have him available"
I asked Jones what the waiver process was like from a players perspective. Being sent down, being recalled and being susceptible to recall waivers. "The only time you ever know if you're really going to be recalled is when they call you. They don't give you any warning. It's a business and a tough side of it. But I was more than happy to come to another team, especially to come to L.A.. I've heard nothing but great things."
Asked to explain what he had heard about the Kings, Jones replied, "I knew Hexy (Ron Hextall) and Lombardi and of course Murray. Its a young team that worked their butts off. They're on the uprise, full of piss and vinegar."
Piss and vinegar? Remind me not to order a salad when I have lunch with him :)
____________________________________________________
On the Extended Practice
"There hasn't been a lot of quality practice time in over the past month. We played 14 games in 27 games in October. I wanted to get the focus back on the details part of the game, the cycles, the one on one plays... it's not a physical drill its more of a read and react."
They practices so long, the ice melted. Seriously. By the end of the session, the ice had literally melted... of course one of the air conditioners broke, but that's another story.
____________________________________________________
Caliguri Gone?
Well, if AEG can shut down an USHER, they can certainly shut down a trainer. One of the best written bloggers was socaljoecal.com written by Kings trainer Joe Caliguri - He had some "technical difficulties" on his web site (i.e. maybe the brass said "shut up"?), then his twitter disappeared as well???
His website USED to say "Caligiuri's Old Corner, September 27, 2009 – November 1, 2009" indicating a) its deader than Anna Nicole Smith or b) he's launching something new and incredible, but even THAT has been removed.
Come on joe - send a brother an e-mail - -
TICKETS, VIDEOS & HOCKEYWOOD
lakings.com
TWITTER
hockeybuzzbarry
KINGS FAN BOARDS
letsgokings.com
kingsunderground.com
READ JON MONCRIEF
http://www.examiner.com/x-2690-Los-Angeles-Kings-Examiner
BLOG WORLD
lakingsnews.com
frozenroyalty.net
lakingsinsider.com
Absent was Alexander Frolov who didn't record a shot last night and was relatively invisible for the 3rd period. When Dean Lombardi put in an early appearance, reporters waited for word... Come on, Dean, where's he going...? Chicago? Florida? KHL?
But there was none. Despite repeated rumors that Mike Cammalleri is trying to convince Bob Gainey to bring back his former linemate (because he's overpaid and can't score without guys named Iginla on his line), Montreal doesn't possess anything the Kings would need (sorry Habs fans, Lombardi is not a fan of either Kostitsyn). Might there be a 3-way brewing? Trade that is!
It was the first question Terry Murray was asked. He politely smiled and said, "Uh... he had a therapy day today" as Rich Hammond correctly predicted he would say. "He had a little bit of a sore hip flexor. Worse last night than it was today. I feel he's going to be on the ice tomorrow and ready to go."
Uh-huh.
While reports say that Lombardi has been speaking with Frolov's agent Don Meehan, who has been in Europe, about an extension, one can look back to past reports that had Lombardi having Rob Blake all but locked up only to have him ship off to San Jose when an offer was NOT apparently made.
Given Lombardi's long standing reluctance to hand out long term deals to free agents (Hossa, Gaborik, Drury, Briere, etc), retaining Frolov for 1-2 years seems unlikely, especially if Frolov is seeking what other 30+ goal scorers are receiving these days... even if they do tend to take games off.
Lombardi will wait until the RIGHT deal comes along, or go after the players that fits his style, system and most of all, character. In all likelihood, Alexander Frolov will not remain in a Kings uniform throughout the remainder of this season.
____________________________________________________
Teddy Purcell
Teddy Purcell began the season on the 2nd line with ample power play time. He scored two quick goals but his scoring disappeared faster than a Bernie Madoff investment. Last night he was dropped to the fourth line. "I think his confidence may be showing a little bit," said Murray. "There's times at games I'm seeing a player not making the same plays that he was showing us. I don't get after him right now. I did move him down to that line last night (4th), and now today he's back up. I go through a little bit of a message being sent by that and then if it builds from there and it doesn't improve from that point then we have to come in, take a look at what you're doing, talk about it, review, have meetings and hopefully there's a response to that. He understands how I operate."
When asked if he had any concerns about his play, Murray responded, "I'm concerned. I have some concern. It's not a big concern, but I always have concern. I'm seeing a skilled player that needs to play the game the right way. Execution, dig in, battle, dot to board play and that was a part of the game that I really liked in what he brought in the early part of the season and when it starts to slip then you have to react, and that's maybe why you're seeing less on the 5 on 5 minutes, back on the 4th line last night and that's where he need to understand what's going and why, pick it back up and when he gets the opportunity on the top lines, he needs to produce."
____________________________________________________
4th line (un)productivity
Jon Moncrief and I noticed that the 4th line of Peter Harrold, Brad Richardson and Raitis Ivanans had between them one whopping point and were a collective -10 in 14 games which is probably one of the worst offensive 4th lines in this league and many others. However, Terry Murray stopped me short of finishing my question.... (how rude!) "You know what...? Before you move on on that, I don't evaluate 4th line players by point production. I don't like to call them 4th line guys, I like to call them 'puck control guys'. Often they're out there against 1st and 2nd pair defense and if they can control the puck, make those guys work hard, spend some energy in their own d-zone, then they're doing a great job for the team. That spent energy can be productive for us in the 3rd period".
"Puck control guys" - I'm going to remember that one. "Hey, when Ivanans got into that fight..."
____________________________________________________
Scott Parse
"I certainly liked the way (Scott) Parse played in the game last night. He was the one player that throughout the 2nd period especially, was moving his feet, had the puck, was getting it in deep, trying to get some good play on the offensive part of it and generated a couple of scoring opportunities with plays from below the goal line."
Trevor Lewis, who?
____________________________________________________
Randy Jones
Finally had a chance to meet Randy Jones (seated next to Jack Johnson) and ask him how he's been adjusting to his new team, teammates and Terry Murray's style. "I'm still working on it," Jones began. "Everyone here is making it an easy adjustment. It's been great so far. Since day one they come up, introduce themselves and just make you feel like you've been here a while."
Having played with Terry Murray in Philadelphia, he was a bit familiar with Murray's style. "Most of the systems are pretty similar. I'm just getting the timing down."
For Kings fans that don't know his style, I asked him to explain. "I'm a mobile defenseman. I like to join the rush, I have an offensive side to me and I can play in all situations. PK or PP."
Terry Murray also said, "Jones is coming along real good. Had a couple of good skates. Had a good workout with Mark (Hardy) and Jamie (Kompon). Any time you come from the AHL you got to get a boost of energy and get it back to the NHL level."
Asked if he was going to get into any games soon or was he strictly a 7th D-man, Murray thought for a while before replying, "Right now he's our 7th guy. I like the way our 6 players have played. Randy now gives us the depth now with an NHL player we feel good if something happens, some kind of an injury or a decision by the coach, we now have him available"
I asked Jones what the waiver process was like from a players perspective. Being sent down, being recalled and being susceptible to recall waivers. "The only time you ever know if you're really going to be recalled is when they call you. They don't give you any warning. It's a business and a tough side of it. But I was more than happy to come to another team, especially to come to L.A.. I've heard nothing but great things."
Asked to explain what he had heard about the Kings, Jones replied, "I knew Hexy (Ron Hextall) and Lombardi and of course Murray. Its a young team that worked their butts off. They're on the uprise, full of piss and vinegar."
Piss and vinegar? Remind me not to order a salad when I have lunch with him :)
____________________________________________________
On the Extended Practice
"There hasn't been a lot of quality practice time in over the past month. We played 14 games in 27 games in October. I wanted to get the focus back on the details part of the game, the cycles, the one on one plays... it's not a physical drill its more of a read and react."
They practices so long, the ice melted. Seriously. By the end of the session, the ice had literally melted... of course one of the air conditioners broke, but that's another story.
____________________________________________________
Caliguri Gone?
Well, if AEG can shut down an USHER, they can certainly shut down a trainer. One of the best written bloggers was socaljoecal.com written by Kings trainer Joe Caliguri - He had some "technical difficulties" on his web site (i.e. maybe the brass said "shut up"?), then his twitter disappeared as well???
His website USED to say "Caligiuri's Old Corner, September 27, 2009 – November 1, 2009" indicating a) its deader than Anna Nicole Smith or b) he's launching something new and incredible, but even THAT has been removed.
Come on joe - send a brother an e-mail - -
TICKETS, VIDEOS & HOCKEYWOOD
lakings.com
hockeybuzzbarry
KINGS FAN BOARDS
letsgokings.com
kingsunderground.com
READ JON MONCRIEF
http://www.examiner.com/x-2690-Los-Angeles-Kings-Examiner
BLOG WORLD
lakingsnews.com
frozenroyalty.net
lakingsinsider.com
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