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Los Angeles Kings Blogger •
I was going to do a recap of the game tonight, but driving home I was thinking about my first experience in the Kings locker room at Staples.
It was kind of weird.
I’m not a professional journalist (can you tell?), and there are writers who have degrees from colleges my parents couldn't have afforded to send me to who get paid to write about hockey. There's even a hall of famer from the Times and throw in Bob Miller for good measure and I felt like I was at my first day in Junior High School. My hair didn’t look right. I wasn’t wearing the right clothes while everyone else was sharply dressed. The guy in charge is nicknamed “Crusher” and as incredibly welcoming as he has been to me, he’s still intimidating. I don’t even know why they call him “Crusher”. I only have the vision of me being Jerry mouse and he being Tom the cat.
Jonathan Moncrief from the Examiner has taken me under his wing and is showing me the ropes. He does do this for a living and always seems to ask intelligent questions. The guy doesn’t even have a tape recorder. He writes everything in what can only be described as alien chicken scratch.
He showed me the press box, which is even higher than the upper level seats, and as weird as it sounds, having sat in the upper level seats during various times over the past decade Staples Center has been opened, the press box is a lot more enjoyable.
Following the game, I felt like a puppy dog following Moncrief and the other reporters to the bowels of Staples Center. Everyone complimented the “new look” of the hallway which was surrounded by cherry wood. Since I had never seen what was described as the “ugly hallway” I thought it was very tasteful.
We were then ushered into the Kings new locker room, and everyone bum rushed Brayden Schenn who had scored 2 goals and has already made an amazing impression. The players were politely ribbing him.
All I could think of was, “Don’t ask anything stupid. Don’t ask anything stupid”. Mind you, I’ve felt very comfortable at the practice sessions at Toyota Center and Thursday night in Ontario to ask many questions, but that first day in school feeling continued to wrack my body.
We talked to several other players who were incredibly cordial. I’m told this is how they usually are after a win. Not so much after a loss.
We then went to the Kings old locker room to meet with coach Terry Murray. Moncrief asked most of the questions, but then there was a lull. A lull that may have been no longer than five seconds but seemed like 2 minutes.
Then I felt it. The rumblings from the pit of my stomach making their way towards my throat. Here it comes! Please don’t come out as a stupid question!!! I asked a question regarding the goaltenders and if Erik Ersberg and Jeff Zatkoff would be seeing any more playing time in the last pre-season games. “You asked a stupid question, didn’t you” my brain thought. The only thing that would have been worse is if I had vomited on the carpet, which is what I actually felt like doing. I did sneak a peek to see if there were a trash can nearby.
Terry Murray, as always, politely answered the question, then we moved back to towards the locker room where Moncrief wanted to get a few words with the Kings newest member Rob Scuderi.
I just wanted to go home and crawl under my blanket.
Scuderi arrived and Moncrief asked all the questions. With “Crusher” standing behind us, there was no need for me to open my mouth.
As I'm sitting here writing this at nearly 2 in the morning, I'm glad my first day of school is over and now I'm looking forward to meeting new people, making friends, and staying away from the bully who wants to take my lunch money.
Now if I could only find out why they call him "crusher".
______________________________________________________________
Brayden Schenn has certainly been impressive. When asked following the game if he thought he could stay with the big club, “You just got to take it one day at a time,” a sentiment he often repeated.
Coach Murray was asked if Schenn would make the opening day roster. “That’s not really a question for me." he began. "He’s played well. The line again was good with Clifford. It’s pretty impressive that they’re 18 years old and showing composure and making plays and competing. I don’t know. I can’t answer that question.”
On Thomas Hickey, Murray praised, “That’s probably the best I’ve seen him play in the two training camps I’ve been around.” Murray then added, “He’s a better game player. He’s a good game player. He makes things happen. He competes hard, he takes hits, he finishes. He’s got great intelligence coming up the ice with our without the puck. When the game is there, he’s one of those guys you count on.”
_______________________________________________________
Jack Johnson has been playing with a lot of confidence so far, and the coaches have loosened the strings. What’s been the difference? “Having a lot of confidence and coming in healthy”, Johnson said with a smile. On the addition of Rob Scuderi, Johnson added, "He’s been great for me and great for this team”.
Speaking of Scuderi, how has the transition been after a week with his new club? “It’s good, but its different” he began. “It’s definitely going to take me some time to get used to the new systems… but that’s what training camp is for”.
_______________________________________________________
Cuts are due tomorrow morning and I guess Jeff Zatkoff will likely be among them. “He’s not in the picture here", Murray said pointedly. "He’s a player that needs to go and continue to play pro hockey at another level. Lets not fool around with any words. He’s kind of in the middle and it’s a very tough place for Zatkoff to speak about him for a second. We have three above him, he doesn’t get a look in the rookie camp because we want to see the two kids in Junior come up and play those games so he’s kind of stuck in between. He just needs to work hard at his game in the pro level at the AHL and get better and his time will come."
Ersberg will start one of the next few games.
__________________________________________________________
The Ducks were playing their 4th game in as many nights. It was great to see Saku Koivu which is rare for Kings fans. He scored a goal but was -3 but won 6 out of 6 faceoffs.
Evgeny Artyukhin, all 6 foot 5 of him skates remarkably well for a hockey player of that size.
The Parros/Westagrth brawl wasn’t much but Simmonds and McCarthy squared off and Simmonds caught him square with an uppercut sending him to his knees. McCarthy did return.
Wisniewski was very impressive and logged 18+ minutes of ice time. Highest for the Kings was Jack Johnson with 15+.
Kyle Calder didn’t disappoint. He skated very fast.
VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH KOIVU, LUPUL, CALDER (Courtesy KingsVision)
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=728&id=46832
___________________________________________________________
I didn’t see it but apparently there was a major brawl in the upper concourse between 10 Kings fans and 10 Ducks fans. Here’s hoping someone spills the beans.
___________________________________________________________
Frolov rumor du-jour: Frolov to Chicago for Versteeg and Cam Barker. What has been holding it up is Chicago wants one of the Kings young D-man, and whomever that D-man is, Lombardi doesn’t want to part with. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Post Game Interviews:
LAKINGS.COM
Twitter
HOCKEYBUZZBARRY
Great Kings Fans
LETSGOKINGS.COM
KINGSUNDERGROUND.COM
It was kind of weird.
I’m not a professional journalist (can you tell?), and there are writers who have degrees from colleges my parents couldn't have afforded to send me to who get paid to write about hockey. There's even a hall of famer from the Times and throw in Bob Miller for good measure and I felt like I was at my first day in Junior High School. My hair didn’t look right. I wasn’t wearing the right clothes while everyone else was sharply dressed. The guy in charge is nicknamed “Crusher” and as incredibly welcoming as he has been to me, he’s still intimidating. I don’t even know why they call him “Crusher”. I only have the vision of me being Jerry mouse and he being Tom the cat.
Jonathan Moncrief from the Examiner has taken me under his wing and is showing me the ropes. He does do this for a living and always seems to ask intelligent questions. The guy doesn’t even have a tape recorder. He writes everything in what can only be described as alien chicken scratch.
He showed me the press box, which is even higher than the upper level seats, and as weird as it sounds, having sat in the upper level seats during various times over the past decade Staples Center has been opened, the press box is a lot more enjoyable.
Following the game, I felt like a puppy dog following Moncrief and the other reporters to the bowels of Staples Center. Everyone complimented the “new look” of the hallway which was surrounded by cherry wood. Since I had never seen what was described as the “ugly hallway” I thought it was very tasteful.
We were then ushered into the Kings new locker room, and everyone bum rushed Brayden Schenn who had scored 2 goals and has already made an amazing impression. The players were politely ribbing him.
All I could think of was, “Don’t ask anything stupid. Don’t ask anything stupid”. Mind you, I’ve felt very comfortable at the practice sessions at Toyota Center and Thursday night in Ontario to ask many questions, but that first day in school feeling continued to wrack my body.
We talked to several other players who were incredibly cordial. I’m told this is how they usually are after a win. Not so much after a loss.
We then went to the Kings old locker room to meet with coach Terry Murray. Moncrief asked most of the questions, but then there was a lull. A lull that may have been no longer than five seconds but seemed like 2 minutes.
Then I felt it. The rumblings from the pit of my stomach making their way towards my throat. Here it comes! Please don’t come out as a stupid question!!! I asked a question regarding the goaltenders and if Erik Ersberg and Jeff Zatkoff would be seeing any more playing time in the last pre-season games. “You asked a stupid question, didn’t you” my brain thought. The only thing that would have been worse is if I had vomited on the carpet, which is what I actually felt like doing. I did sneak a peek to see if there were a trash can nearby.
Terry Murray, as always, politely answered the question, then we moved back to towards the locker room where Moncrief wanted to get a few words with the Kings newest member Rob Scuderi.
I just wanted to go home and crawl under my blanket.
Scuderi arrived and Moncrief asked all the questions. With “Crusher” standing behind us, there was no need for me to open my mouth.
As I'm sitting here writing this at nearly 2 in the morning, I'm glad my first day of school is over and now I'm looking forward to meeting new people, making friends, and staying away from the bully who wants to take my lunch money.
Now if I could only find out why they call him "crusher".
______________________________________________________________
Brayden Schenn has certainly been impressive. When asked following the game if he thought he could stay with the big club, “You just got to take it one day at a time,” a sentiment he often repeated.
Coach Murray was asked if Schenn would make the opening day roster. “That’s not really a question for me." he began. "He’s played well. The line again was good with Clifford. It’s pretty impressive that they’re 18 years old and showing composure and making plays and competing. I don’t know. I can’t answer that question.”
On Thomas Hickey, Murray praised, “That’s probably the best I’ve seen him play in the two training camps I’ve been around.” Murray then added, “He’s a better game player. He’s a good game player. He makes things happen. He competes hard, he takes hits, he finishes. He’s got great intelligence coming up the ice with our without the puck. When the game is there, he’s one of those guys you count on.”
_______________________________________________________
Jack Johnson has been playing with a lot of confidence so far, and the coaches have loosened the strings. What’s been the difference? “Having a lot of confidence and coming in healthy”, Johnson said with a smile. On the addition of Rob Scuderi, Johnson added, "He’s been great for me and great for this team”.
Speaking of Scuderi, how has the transition been after a week with his new club? “It’s good, but its different” he began. “It’s definitely going to take me some time to get used to the new systems… but that’s what training camp is for”.
_______________________________________________________
Cuts are due tomorrow morning and I guess Jeff Zatkoff will likely be among them. “He’s not in the picture here", Murray said pointedly. "He’s a player that needs to go and continue to play pro hockey at another level. Lets not fool around with any words. He’s kind of in the middle and it’s a very tough place for Zatkoff to speak about him for a second. We have three above him, he doesn’t get a look in the rookie camp because we want to see the two kids in Junior come up and play those games so he’s kind of stuck in between. He just needs to work hard at his game in the pro level at the AHL and get better and his time will come."
Ersberg will start one of the next few games.
__________________________________________________________
The Ducks were playing their 4th game in as many nights. It was great to see Saku Koivu which is rare for Kings fans. He scored a goal but was -3 but won 6 out of 6 faceoffs.
Evgeny Artyukhin, all 6 foot 5 of him skates remarkably well for a hockey player of that size.
The Parros/Westagrth brawl wasn’t much but Simmonds and McCarthy squared off and Simmonds caught him square with an uppercut sending him to his knees. McCarthy did return.
Wisniewski was very impressive and logged 18+ minutes of ice time. Highest for the Kings was Jack Johnson with 15+.
Kyle Calder didn’t disappoint. He skated very fast.
VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH KOIVU, LUPUL, CALDER (Courtesy KingsVision)
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=728&id=46832
___________________________________________________________
I didn’t see it but apparently there was a major brawl in the upper concourse between 10 Kings fans and 10 Ducks fans. Here’s hoping someone spills the beans.
___________________________________________________________
Frolov rumor du-jour: Frolov to Chicago for Versteeg and Cam Barker. What has been holding it up is Chicago wants one of the Kings young D-man, and whomever that D-man is, Lombardi doesn’t want to part with. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Post Game Interviews:
LAKINGS.COM
HOCKEYBUZZBARRY
Great Kings Fans
LETSGOKINGS.COM
KINGSUNDERGROUND.COM
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