Two days ago on Mayor's Manor,
John Hoven posted a fairly extensive look into the happenings around the LA Kings current offseason. Do yourself a favor and check out the whole piece.
Without surprise, it sounds like the LA Kings management is not at all happy with several things that are happening/have happened. After missing the playoffs with a roster that was very clearly capable of doing so, that makes sense.
Aside from some of the more common knowledge things like the Kings having no idea what is going on with Voynov or how they will re-sign Sekera, there were some great nuggets in here.
First and foremost: Vegas.
Understandably that did not sit well. As Hoven put it, the Kings were disappointed/mad with Stoll, but more disappointed with the team being over missing the playoffs so quickly.
Let's go back a bit.
Jarret Stoll was arrested inn Las Vegas on April 17th for his involvement in some illegal activities at an MGM Grand pool party.
April 17th.
The Kings final game of the season was April 11th against the Sharks.
That is just six days. Six days for Stoll and several of his Kings teammates to get over the fact that they were not going to be challenging for the cup, and head to Vegas to unwind. Little quick don't you think? There are obviously two prevailing thoughts though. Some will be angered or disappointed by this, some will not care and will view the "partying" as a way of getting over it.
The LA Kings front office clearly took the mindset of the former, and rightfully so.
It would have been one thing if the Kings had done this closer to, say, right now, or over the summer. But six days is certainly a short time frame, and one that could only lead to some question of mental motivation of the team. In short, it probably was not smart to cut out to Vegas and display such a carefree attitude that shortly after your season ended and you ultimately failed. That is like getting fired from your job and showing up to the golf course later that week to play a few rounds. It does not come across very well.
Grieving was to be expected for a team that has "pride" and that was not the best example of it. Again, it is understandable why the front office was reportedly frustrated.
Another bit of frustrating news that Hoven touched on is Mike Richards.
The Kings are obviously in a world of contractual pain still. They have so little money, a few toxic contracts, and are currently trying to figure out ways to solve the issues. What is not helping the issue is Mike Richards going against what was asked of him. From the article on Mayor's Manor:
One person noted to us that Mike Richards was asked to stay in Los Angeles and train, but that he returned home instead after his exit meeting.
Oh boy.
Read into it what you will, but that does seem like a bit of a troubling transgression.
The Richards saga continues to baffle and bewilder. Was the talk out of Philly justified? Was Richards really a problem? Is he a problem here? Slow down before you start going too deep on this. However, on the surface, you have to admit that him going home after being asked to stay is pretty questionable. Especially after the difficult and disappointing 2014-15 season he had and all that came along with it. Maybe he had personal matters to attend to at home before getting started on training in Los Angeles. Who knows? Take it with a grain of salt.
The article talks about a buyout or trade of Richards as well. Although the trade seems like the most positive option, it is doubtful anyone is taking on that albatross of a contract from a player who has not shown too many signs of motivation over the past year and a half. If the Kings want to shed his salary, they will likely have to accept a buyout and the cap recapture penalties that come along with it.
The big thing you can take away from the article as well is that the Kings players feel that "Changes are coming." and that ultimately the management was not happy.
This you can read in two ways: an overreaction or the proper course of action.
It is hard not to compare current successful teams to that of the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings never seem satisfied with anything but the playoffs. If Detroit failed to make the post-season the Motor City as we know it would cease to exist for at least a few weeks.
The Kings have a very comparable roster to the 2012-13 cup winning team. They should have made the playoffs. The management team will accept nothing less than making the playoffs. Makes senses. On the other side of things, it was a season that had injuries and suspensions to key players, slumps, and a bit of bad fortune. Is being this upset and noting at hints of change an overreaction? Sports is a results driven world, and when you do not get the results, heads will roll. See; Toronto, St. Louis, San Jose, Edmonton, Pittsburgh etc. etc. Obviously the Kings are not quite on the level of culture change as the aforementioned squads, but the word "Pride" is something we hear frequently when it comes to the Kings. Some will take solace in knowing that the Kings are willing to cut into a close knit team in order to maintain that "Pride" and level of competition. All in all, the attitude of anger and frustration from up top is a positive one. Complacency and excuses result in nothing.
Winds of change may be blowing in Los Angeles. How strong remain to be seen, but a few warning gusts have already seemed to kicked up.
Follow me on twitter for news and notes about the Kings and the NHL
Also be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook!
++++I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR ADVERTISERS! If you, or anyone you know would be interested in placing an ad on the blog here at HockeyBuzz then send me a PM!+++++ 
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»