Here is the third installment from Saturday’s Town Hall Meeting.
DO THE KINGS PLAN TO MISS THE PLAY-OFFS AGAIN?
Hextall repeated his earlier response that the rebuild will take as long as it takes. This regime has no interest in just contending for a play-off spot, hopefully win a game or two and call it a day. They are looking to build a Cup contender, rather than just a contender to get into the play-offs. (This apparently should not be interpreted as he prefers that the team be a play-off wallflower until they are contenders.)
There is now a big plan in place with projections for this team for several years, not just next year.
WHY BLAKE, WHY NOW, WHY EVER?
Since I am not a big Blake proponent, I admittedly enjoyed when another season ticket holder suggested that the game had left Blake behind and why does an over-the-hill player who plays passionless hockey take a roster space from essentially anyone else. (To be fair, the two people who most wanted Blake gone had vocal opposition who felt otherwise about #4.)
Hextall respectfully disagrees that Blake is a less than professional has-been player. He continued that Johnson would say otherwise as would the other younger contingent of players. Blake’s passion and work ethic is held in the highest regard by both Hextall and Lombardi. (My take: The most I can say is that Blake’s value and salary for this organization is just as much for what he does in the weight room, and as a mentor for what he also does on the ice.)
EFFECT OF ‘LOSING ENVIRONMENT’ ON OLDER PLAYERS:
Hextall answered that older players have a hard time losing and simultaneously being at the top of their game. (My take: I find this contention really difficult to accept. I have no doubt that there are older players that who so love the game and want to stay in the NHL that they would be doing anything their heart, body and mind would allow in their quest for winning and accepting nothing less. Think Stu Barnes, Mike Keane and go from there.)
KINGS’ CULTURE AND SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
I had unsuccessfully hoped to get Hextall to respond to something said by Robitaille at the first Town Hall Meeting. Luc explained that perhaps the reason the unrestricted bridge players fail to meet expectations is because they do not have defined roles. Thus, I asked the most reasonable question of what are the Kings planning to do to address this.
Hextall’s response was that because this team is ‘hard to coach’, and because no one wants to come here, the Kings will take no responsibility to establish a culture or define players’ roles. The short version is my question was never really answered. Hextall’s actual answer was to explain how the development of the youth over time will make this organization successful so that unrestricteds will want to come here then.
(My Take: Until that unknown time when the team starts winning, apparently we need to appreciate that the Kings are not on any players’ wish list and trying to help these UFAs become successful is not on the Kings’ “To Do List”.)
CRITERIA FOR NO TRADE CLAUSES AND NO MOVEMENT CLAUSES:
This was the second question I asked. None of me believes that whatever Thornton brought here could not have been found elsewhere and without a no trade clause. I said as much.
For unknown reasons, Hextall never said what the Kings’ criterion is for giving out these player controlled movement clauses. (My best speculation is that because Lombardi and Hextall don’t find free agents who want to come here that we need to cede control to bridge players for them to grace the Kings with their presence. Insert my complete disappointment that my question never got an actual response from Hextall.)
BLOGGER GETS CALLED OUT:
Before I asked my questions, Chris McGowan asked why I was taking notes for the entire Town Hall Meeting. I replied that as the Hockey Buzz Kings’ Blogger as well as letsgokings.com that I needed to take notes to draft an accurate blog on what was discussed. Mr. McGowan then warned Hextall to ‘be careful’ before responding to whatever I asked.
Saturday was the second time I asked Hextall a question that essentially went unanswered. Take that for what you will.
WHERE DOES THE ONTARIO REIGN FIT INTO THE KINGS’ ORGANIZATION?
The Reign and Royals will both be Kings’ affiliates. The details are being worked on as we speak. Hextall told season ticket holders at the last meeting that there was no restriction for the Kings to use two ECHL franchises. Both will be utilized.
HOW MUCH PATIENCE DO THE KINGS EXPECT FANS TO WAIT UNTIL PLAY-OFF HOCKEY COMES TO TOWN?
Hextall confirmed the organization appreciates fans’ patience. He then continued that trade offers were exchanged over the last two years that could have enabled the Kings to participate in the post-season. He followed by asking, “Is just getting in good enough?” Hextall finished by saying that no one in the Kings’ organization is happy either with the losing.
IS THERE A WAY TO COACH THE PLAYERS MORE EFFECTIVELY TO PLAY GRITTIER?
Hextall said that this team is hard to coach. No other response was given much less any obligation imputed on Crawford to coach more effectively to help execute grittier efforts on the ice.
WHAT CAN THE KINGS DO TO INCREASE PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE WITH THE TIMES?
Chris McGowan took this question. He said the Kings have an excellent relationship with the Los Angeles Times. When the on ice results change, then more coverage will follow. (My take: If the Kings gave access to media sources who were giving the Kings’ greater coverage than the occasional article from the Times, rather than merely waiting for the team to win, greater media coverage could exist far sooner, as in right now.)
MATINEE GAMES:
One fan shared my preference for night games and asked what could be done to decrease the afternoon contests. McGowan stated that Robitaille shares that preference and efforts are being spent to get the maximum number of evening games. With a three tenant facility, that is a challenging balancing act.
MY TAKE:
It is time for Hextall to ‘man up’. I find it a complete cop-out to say that veterans do not want to come here so the organization and its fans should not expect these players to play to their potential because there is no culture or defined roles for them. The notion that the Kings take no responsibility to help make this happen is offensive and a free pass for these filler players to mail their effort in.
The overall response with respect to media, unrestricteds and coaching was that this team as currently comprised is hard to coach, hard to be successful and once the team starts winning, (with nothing being done from the neck up other than developing the younger players) then and only then will there be a culture and defined roles for every player. Crawford got the same free pass other than Hextall saying that everyone could do their job better. After all, this is a hard team to coach. Huh?
I find it backwards to correlate Lombardi saying that the youth have to take responsibility for winning and Hextall saying that the organization, its coaches and its veteran players bears no similar responsibility for winning and success. Last I checked, this is a team game.
Carla Muller
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