News Clips 2-2-16 - Los Angeles Kings

News Clips
2-2-16
FROM LA KINGS INSIDER
January 2, 2016 6:45 PM
By: Darryl Sutter
February 1 Practice Quotes: Darryl Sutter
FROM MONDAY: Darryl Sutter met with
reporters before the team flew to Phoenix and
discussed the team’s performance to date and Kyle
Clifford nearing a return to the lineup:
On the All-Star weekend experience:
Yeah, it was a good event. I think the format
worked well. I think the fans and players enjoyed
that. [Reporter: It looked like Chris had a great
time.] Yeah, he got his fill.
On the team’s season to date:
I think your schedule always breaks into three major
portions: Where you are at Christmas, where you
are at All-Star Break, where you are at trade
deadline, because that influences where you’re at at
the end of the year, so that’s where we are.
[Reporter: So what have you liked up to the All-Star
Break?] We’re really consistent, I think. We’ve had
to move lots of guys around because of injuries –
Carter had to do a lot of forward switching there
around Christmas, and then with the trade with
Vinny and Luke, move it around again, so I think
our guys have adjusted well to that, so we’ll just see
where we go now. [Reporter: Is there anything you
haven’t liked up to now?] I think I’ve said it all
along. I think we’d still like to declare who actually
our partners are on the back end. It’s always easier
for those guys, and it’s still ongoing. I think that
you’re always going to have highs and lows in parts
of the game, but we still have a foundation. Stick to
the foundation.
On the challenges against Arizona through the
first three games:
We’ve played good games there. It hasn’t been that
hard. We won there after Christmas, and the last
time we played there we lost three-two. There’s not
much difference in the teams.
On keeping the “momentum going” as the
schedule begins again:
We just want to continue on. There’s no deep dark
new theme or change of the way we play or
anything like that. We play two this week. It’s not a
tough turnaround. It’s an hour flight today, and we
come home and play Anaheim and then we go on
the long trip, so we’ll try and get some work done
this week before you go on that long trip.
On Kyle Clifford’s impending return, and not
having had a fully healthy team:
You know what, if you’re just talking about Kyle,
it’s best for him to go play. He hasn’t played much
this year. He’s played 26 games, but if you add it up
in terms of minutes played, he’s played four games
this year if you added it all up. He’s in a
competition with five or six other guys to see what
our lineup is, and that’s the way I like it because if
you can be in a position where there’s 14 forwards,
that’s a good thing. So it keeps everybody
competitive and it should keep everybody sharp.
January 1, 2016 4:43 PM
By: Alex Kinkopf
February 1 Practice Quotes
Alec Martinez, on if there’s anything specific
he’s liked about the first half of the season:
I guess in terms of what I like, I think we did a good
job of bouncing back from our start that we had,
obviously the 0-3 start wasn’t what we wanted.
There’s ups and downs in a season and I think one
thing that we’ve got to work on is playing a full 60
minutes. In the past, before the break, the past
couple, two-three weeks before that we had leads in
games and we didn’t shut teams out. If you want to
play in the playoffs, and if you want to be
successful in the playoffs, you have to know how to
do that, so I think that’s definitely something that
we can work on.
Martinez, on what he thinks the team did to
bounce back after the early 0-3 start:
I think it’s a lot of things, I think we had some new
guys in the room too, and that took some time to
develop some chemistry; I think our attitude was a
lot better, and maybe that’s something that I feel
that’s different than even it was last year, we came
into this year with a chip on our shoulder. I guess
that’s a thing that I’ve liked for the most part this
season, is our attitude.
Martinez, on what overall changes need to be
made moving forward this season:
I just said it, you’ve got to close out teams when
you get leads in hockey games, you’ve got to keep
playing the way that you’ve been playing to give
you that lead, and we’ve let our foot off the gas
pedal and a lot of teams get back in the game.
Martinez, on what the team has learned in their
four previous match-ups against Arizona:
Well you know, obviously they’ve got a lot of
firepower up front, they have a lot of youth that
brings them a lot of energy, and obviously a good
back end and good goaltending. I think penalties
have gotten ourselves into trouble, not just with
them, but all year, so we need to do a little better of
a job of staying out of the box; they obviously have
a really good power play, that’s hurt us, so that’s
one of the things that we have to do going into
tomorrow.
Martinez, on his impressions of the All-Star
Game, new format:
Yeah I watched it, I liked it, I thought it was cool, I
think the league really wanted, needed a change
from years’ past. Obviously it’s a great story with
John Scott there, but I think it was exciting, it was
pretty good for the fans, and I haven’t talked to
Quickie and Dewy yet at length about it, but it
looked like they had a lot of fun too.
Tanner Pearson, on moving forward in return
from the All-Star break:
Yeah, that’s something that we’ll look at, you know
obviously coming from the All-Star break, I think
the guys sometimes need to regroup, get their mind
off of hockey and refresh the legs.
Pearson, on his impressions of Arizona so far
this season:
You know, obviously their power play has done a
number on us these few games, so I think the more
that we stay out of the box and limit their chances,
the better off we’re going to be.
future, and it’s going to be fun here next year for
sure.
January 1, 2016 3:20 PM
By: Jon Rosen
February 1 Practice Notes
Good afternoon, Insiders. Here’s a quick practice
update before I lose WiFi access for five hours or
so…
-The Kings returned to the Toyota Sports Center ice
for a practice that began shortly before 2:00 p.m.
Neither Drew Doughty nor Jonathan Quick took the
ice with the team after returning from Nashville last
night. Grouped by colors, the Kings aligned as such
(with a stick tap to Jim Fox and Alex Kinkopf for
the correspondence):
White: Lucic-Kopitar-Gaborik
Blue: Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Tellow: Brown-Lecavalier-Lewis
Purple: King-Shore-Nolan
Red: Clifford-Andreoff
-Today’s defensive pairings aren’t particularly
revealing because of Doughty’s absence, but they
were Martinez-Schenn, McNabb-McBain and
Muzzin-Ehrhoff. Don’t read a ton into the
incomplete D pairings until the entire team
reconvenes.
-As for Kyle Clifford, today’s alignment doesn’t
provide a firm indication that he’ll be in the lineup
tomorrow against Arizona. To the contrary, that he
was paired alongside Andy Andreoff as part of a
two-person line could indicate that he may need an
extra practice or two with the Kings before he
returns to game readiness. Of course, this could be
clarified by either Clifford or Darryl Sutter during
media availability later today. Should Sutter speak
in a media scrum, I’ll post the transcript later
tonight.
-As for Arizona…
Pearson, on the All-Star Game:
I only watched about one period of it; I thought It
was a good environment and a good way to do it,
and obviously created something good there for the
That’s Rieder-Hanzal-Duclair, Domi-VermetteBoedker, Martinook-Richardson-Doan and
Chipchura-Gordon-Tikhonov with defensive
pairings of Ekman-Larsson-Murphy, GrossmanStone, Dahlbeck-Michalek and Tinordi-Connauton.
More Yotes notes: Louis Domingue was named the
NHL’s Rookie of the Month after going 6-3-2 with
a .925 save percentage in 11 games.
January 1, 2016 1:01 PM
By: Jon Rosen
Quick Updates: Clifford, Tippett, USHL
Because I’ll be in transit for virtually the entire
afternoon, there will be intermittent coverage over
the remainder of the day. I’m hoping to check in
and get a quick practice update (the team is
scheduled to practice at 2:00 at Toyota Sports
Center), but most of today’s reporting will come in
the form of quotes, and should Darryl Sutter meet
with the media, a Sutter transcript once I arrive back
in Los Angeles.
With that in mind, here are several quick notes to
share while I was away on family leave:
-Kyle Clifford has been recalled by the Kings after
a two-game conditioning stint with AHL-Ontario
and will eligible to play Tuesday night against the
Arizona Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. In two games –
shutouts over the San Diego Gulls and Manitoba
Moose – Clifford took six shots on goal and was
whistled for a roughing minor in the win at San
Diego on Friday. Though he jumped straight from
the OHL to the NHL as a 19-year-old, Clifford now
holds the distinction of being the first player to have
played for the ECHL’s Reign, the AHL’s Reign and
the Kings. Because he joined AHL-Manchester for
the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, he has represented
all Los Angeles affiliates during that span. He has
missed the last 23 Kings games since he suffered an
upper-body injury when he was elbowed in the face
by Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman on December 6.
-Former Kings assistant coach Dave Tippett will
become the 24th coach in NHL history to coach
1,000 games when the Kings visit Glendale
tomorrow night. He ranks eighth among active
coaches in games coached and 20th on the NHL’s
all-time coaching wins list with 512. With 998
games coached heading into the post-All-Star Break
slate, Toronto’s Mike Babcock is fresh on Tippett’s
heels. Darryl Sutter will coach his 1,171st NHL
game against Arizona on Tuesday.
-The Kings and the United States Hockey League
will host the inaugural 2016 Pacific Region
Showcase from March 24-27 at Toyota Sports
Center. The camp features the region’s top 40
players in the 2000, 2001 and 2002 age
groups, according to a press release. The camp will
be “operated and coached” by NHL alumni and will
feature an informational session as well. This
wouldn’t have been a possibility 10-15 years ago,
but the growing scope of hockey in Southern
California has facilitated this arrangement. With no
Division I programs in the state, there is heated
competition for a growing talent pool between the
USHL (which often acts as a feeder to college
hockey programs) and the Western Hockey League.
-Sadly, Nick Nickson, the father of Kings radio
broadcaster Nick Nickson, Jr., passed away at the
age of 93 last week in Rochester, New York. A
fixture on Rochester airwaves, a 2013 inductee into
the Rochester Music Hall of Fame and a major
influence on his son’s Hall of Fame career, the elder
Nickson was memorialized with an obituary in the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on January 28.
-Keep Bob Miller in your thoughts and prayers,
Kings fans. He is scheduled to undergo heart bypass
surgery tomorrow.
January 1, 2016 11:09 AM
By: Jon Rosen
Suspended Bartosak Joins HC Vitkovice
Goaltending prospect Patrik Bartosak, who had
been suspended by the Kings following an alleged
violent altercation with his girlfriend in November
that resulted in 12 “domestic-related
charges,” according to this report in the New
Hampshire Union Leader, has joined HC Vitkovice
of the Czech Extraliga in what was deemed a
“hybrid”-type loan by a member of Los Angeles’
hockey operations department. Vitkovice has
confirmed Bartosak’s arrival on its website.
According to the source in the Kings’ hockey
operations, Vitkovice now formally takes over the
obligations of Bartosak’s standard player contract,
which expires after this season, at which point he
will become a restricted free agent. Because of
Bartosak’s ongoing and yet-to-be completed legal
proceedings, there is no resolution or imminent
conclusion on his status as it relates to whether he
will return to North America. Bartosak had asked
the Kings to be able to return to Europe to be able to
continue his playing career.
With Bartosak’s status and J.F. Berube having been
claimed off waivers prior to the start of the season,
the Kings’ goaltending depth has been depleted.
2014 fifth round draft pick Alec Dillon, the
remaining goaltending prospect in the pipeline,
suffered a hip injury in October and has since been
moved to the WHL’s long term injury list after
logging only seven games with the Edmonton Oil
Kings in his 19-year-old season. Peter Budaj is
having a fine season in the AHL but is 33 years old,
while 27-year-old Jhonas Enroth has put up strong
numbers as Jonathan Quick’s understudy but has
played only nine games this season.
More Bartosak coverage (Google Translate
recommended):
iSport.cz
sport.cz
moravskoslezsky.denik.cz
mini-contests would be played 4-on-4 for the first
half, and then 3-on-3 the rest of the way. The
Pacific Division went 1-2, winning its last game
against the Central, 6-4. Backman finished with a
goal and two assists in the three games. The Central
Division won the Challenge, defeating the Atlantic
Division 4-0.
Budaj stole the show in the first of the six games,
stopping all but one of the 16 shots he faced in a 1-0
loss to the North Division. The veteran netminder
was beat by the Toronto Marlies’ Josh Leivo high,
short side on a shot from inside the left circle with
just 26 seconds left to play but his impressive play
was noted on the telecast.
“I just like the way he prepares for a game,”
Stothers said of Budaj during an interview on the
broadcast. “His detail, his professionalism. He’s one
of the hardest-working guys in practice and, you
know what, you can see why he’s had a great NHL
career and why he’s a terrific pro. He’s been a great
influence on our young guys and he’s been solid
and terrific for us in net all season long.”
FROM REIGN INSIDER
In the Pacific Division’s second game Budaj was
out of the net, but Backman instead factored in for
the Reign with a slap shot goal from the right circle
past Lehigh Valley’s Anthony Stolarz (Atlantic). It
was the Pacific’s first goal and they went on to lose,
2-1. Ironically, Backman’s goal came while
LoVerde was partaking in a TV interview from the
bench.
February 1, 2016 7:31 PM
Lindsay Czarnecki
Reign’s All-Star Cast Factors In At Challenge
LoVerde was asked about winning last year’s
Calder Cup with the Monarchs before the Kings’
affiliate moved California.
Traveling almost the furthest out of all, players and
coaches alike, the Reign’s All-Star cast made a dent
in Monday’s All-Star Challenge in Syracuse, N.Y.,
despite the Pacific Division not advancing to the
final.
“It was an awesome experience to obviously win
with some of your best friends and your teammates,
support staff and coaching staff,” the Reign captain
said. “It was an unbelievable experience, it was a
great time.”
The Reign were represented by right wing Sean
Backman, goalie Peter Budaj, defenseman Vincent
LoVerde and head coach Mike Stothers.
The round robin was split into six games between
the four divisions (East’s Atlantic and North and
West’s Pacific and Central) where the 9-minute
“It’s going well,” LoVerde said when asked about
the team’s move out west. “Obviously can’t
complain about the weather. The travel’s a little
different but it’s been great. Ontario Reign fans
have welcomed us with open arms and it’s been
awesome.”
For Stothers’ record in the event, he had a goal by
Stockton’s Derek Grant to thank to not leave
winless as the Pacific coach. Grant scored with four
seconds left in regulation against the Central in a 64 win in the Pacific’s final round robin game (extra
empty-netter with one second to go by San Diego’s
Brandon Montour). Budaj played the second half of
the game, stopping two of five shots.
The Reign return to game action on Friday and
Saturday when they host the San Jose Barracuda at
7 and 6 p.m. respectively.
.
.
FROM LAKINGS.COM
February 1, 2016 10:52 AM
Kings To Host USHL Player Development Showcase
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings and United States Hockey League announced in a joint release the
inaugural 2016 Pacific Region Showcase for March 24-27. The showcase will feature the region’s top 40
players in the 2000, 2001 and 2002 age groups as determined by USHL scouts.
“This is a very important showcase for our league with the hard work of USA Hockey and the growth of hockey
in the Pacific Region,” said Director of Player Development and Recruitment Doug Christiansen. “The USHL
continues to grow and attract top talent because of players in this region. It’s important for us to have the
opportunity to educate young players about the USHL and the options it gives a player and his family.”
The showcase will be held at the Toyota Sports Center El Segundo. It will be operated and coached by NHL
alumni, and will give players the opportunity to played in games, skill sessions with a Q&A informational
session to learn more about the USHL.
The announcement comes one year after no junior league in the world had more NHL Draft picks. Nearly 20
California natives were named to opening day USHL rosters, including top 2017 NHL Draft prospect Brannon
McManus. California also had the third most invitees attend the USHL Combines last season behind only
Michigan and Illinois.
FROM LATIMES.COM
February 1, 2016 8:16 PM
By: Lisa Dillman
Kings Are Mixing Up Lines Ahead Of Matchup With Coyotes
When the Kings were in Arizona late last month, Coach Darryl Sutter talked about the line of Milan LucicAnze Kopitar-Tyler Toffoli.
He praised their chemistry and goal-scoring output since they were put together after center Jeff
Carter suffered an injury Dec. 26.
But there are two things to remember in the NHL:
• The landscape can shift significantly in the span of three games.
• It's a coach's prerogative to change his mind.
The Kings practiced in El Segundo on Monday, their first session together after the All-Star break.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick and defenseman Drew Doughty, the team's All-Star representatives, had the day
off.
The surprise was the reunion of "That '70s Line" — Tanner Pearson-Carter-Toffoli. The trio helped spark the
Kings during their 2014 run to the Stanley Cup. Last season, they combined for 14 goals and 30 points during a
6-0 homestand in October.
They've had turns together this season but not for lengthy periods. Sutter wants to sort out line combinations
before the Kings leave for a seven-game trip next week, using Tuesday night's game at Arizona and Thursday's
game against the Ducks to do so.
"You know what, Ty is pretty flexible. He's either going to play with Kopi or Jeff," Sutter said. "We'll see how
it goes. With Looch [Lucic] being suspended one game, and Looch, Kopi and Ty haven't been as sharp.
"Jeff is slowly getting back into form since his injury. If you look at the individual stats part, our record in
January was 6-5-1. A lot of it was related to a lot of our top guys didn't have great months. So we'll switch it
up."
Pearson, who has six goals and 21 points, knows he is being handed an opportunity with the stretch run
looming. The speediness of the line could help, especially against theCoyotes' quickness.
"I've got to start taking the puck to the net more," Pearson said. "Even when you take the puck to the net, you
may not score but you want to create something whether it's a rebound or whatnot or someone else can get a
goal."
Kopitar was centering Lucic and Marian Gaborik. Lucic was suspended for one game after he sucker-punched
Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton on Jan. 23, and sat out the Kings' come-from-behind victory the next
night at San Jose. The Kings lost three of their last four games before the All-Star break.
Kopitar had two assists in those four games, and Toffoli had one assist. Lucic didn't have any points in his last
three games before the break.
Kyle Clifford update
Left wing Kyle Clifford, who has been out since Dec. 6 because of concussion symptoms, returned from his
two-game conditioning assignment with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League and practiced with
the Kings.
"You can practice all you want but it's never going to replicate game situations," he said.
Said Sutter: "It's best for him to go play. He hasn't played much this year. He's played 26 games. But if you add
it up, in terms of minutes played, he's played four games this year. He's in a competition with five or six other
guys to see what our lineup is."
UP NEXT
KINGS AT ARIZONA COYOTES
When: Tuesday, 6 p.m. PST.
Where: Gila River Arena
On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 790.
Update: Coyotes Coach Dave Tippett, a former assistant with the Kings, will coach his 1,000th NHL game, the
24th man to accomplish that feat.
February 1, 2016 7:28 PM
By: Helene Elliott
After A Festive NHL All-Star Game It’s Back To Business, And Tampa Bay And Steven Stamkos Have
Lots To Talk About
Nashville gave the NHL's All-Stars a warm welcome, staging an enjoyable weekend that mixed hockey, lively
concerts and fan-friendly events within a compact downtown area. The new three-on-three tournament format
was a winner, too, and players said they hope it returns. No doubt they'd also like to see the return of the $1million prize for the winning team, which brought intensity to an event that had lost its relevance.
But the last plastic cup has been swept off Broadway, and John Scott is on his way back to the minor leagues
with great memories, a car, and the designation of being the NHL's first star of the week. The resumption of
play Tuesday signals the run-up to the Feb. 29 trade deadline, when teams must decide if they will be buyers for
a Stanley Cup run or sellers who will jostle for draft-lottery position during the final weeks of the season.
The biggest decision belongs to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which hasn't been able to agree on a contract
extension with franchise center Steven Stamkos.
General Manager Steve Yzerman could trade him or can continue negotiations at the risk of being unable to
make a deal and losing Stamkos as an unrestricted free agent. Yzerman's choice will influence the playoff
prospects of last season's East champions and cause ripples around the NHL.
Stamkos said during last week's All-Star media session he wants to stay with the Lightning, which won eight of
10 before the break.
"I've said this all along and I said it before the season started, I always envisioned winning a championship in
Tampa," he said. "Obviously, some of this stuff with the contract, that's going to play out and whatever
happens, happens.
"I'm the captain of this team and I have said from day one, I am the captain of this team and I want to win in
Tampa. I love it in Tampa. We've got a great organization, a great owner, a great young team that can be
competitive for a long time, and I want to be a part of that for sure."
He reportedly has been offered an eight-year deal worth $68 million, short of the eight-year, $80-million
extension the Kings gave to center Anze Kopitar.
The Carolina Hurricanes, 7-2-1 in their last 10 games before the break but still outside a playoff spot, face a
similar decision on Eric Staal, also potentially an unrestricted free agent. Do they keep him and hope he leads
them on a playoff run, or do they trade him and rebuild?
As players return Tuesday, all seven Canada-based franchises are out of playoff spots. The Washington
Capitals (35-8-4) comfortably lead the East and the Chicago Blackhawks (33-16-4) are tops in the West, helped
by the Dallas Stars' recent fade.
Who's hot
The San Jose Sharks (8-0-2) are in a playoff position but the Ducks (10-3-1) are not, though they're only a few
points behind. The imminent return of defenseman Cam Fowler (knee) will give the Ducks assets to possibly
use in a trade for a scorer. Also, the Nashville Predators won their last four before the break and are battling for
a West wild-card spot.
Who's not
The Montreal Canadiens' slide continues, and goaltender Carey Price(lower-body injury) isn't ready to return.
They were 2-7-1 in their last 10 games before the break. The Minnesota Wild, in a 2-6-2 slump, has dropped out
of a West playoff spot. The Toronto Maple Leafs (1-7-2 before the break) are already looking forward to next
season and their 100th-anniversary celebrations.
Mark your calendar
Don't fret if you didn't get your fill when the NHL locked out its players in 1994, 2004 and 2012. There's a
chance another lockout will be imposed when the current collective bargaining agreement ends after the 202122 season. That deal contains an opt-out clause for each side that can be exercised in September 2019.
"In all the cap sports in all of recent history, there has always been a lockout. Always, always, always, always,
always," Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players' Assn., told the Chicago Tribune. "The reason why
is that the clubs look at it and say, 'We have nothing to lose. Fans aren't going anywhere so we lock them out.
The worst that happens is we end up with the same deal that changes a little bit, but maybe we get a big deal.'
The structure of the cap encourages labor strife. That's my experience."
Fehr was involved in several work stoppages while he headed the Major League Baseball Players Assn.
So there's that to look forward to.
Slap shots
• Calgary defenseman Dennis Widemanis scheduled to have a hearing Tuesday concerning his cross-check of
linesman Don Henderson last week. Wideman, apparently dazed after being hit into the boards by Nashville's
Miikka Salomaki, was skating to his bench but was blocked by Henderson and Wideman hit him hard across the
back. The unsuspecting Henderson was fortunate to escape injury. Even if Wideman was unaware of what he
was doing, the NHL must protect its officials. A 10-game suspension would be the right call.
• The NHL launched redesigned platforms for NHL.com, the NHL app and NHL.TV. The website is much
easier to navigate.
No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid, who broke his collarbone in early November, was recalled by Edmonton
from a minor league assignment that let him experience some contact. He could return to the Oilers' lineup this
week.
• Goaltender Semyon Varlamov won't start Colorado's game against Chicago on Tuesday because he's out of
game shape after testifying in Denver District Court in a civil suit filed by a former girlfriend.
February 1, 2016 7:02 PM
By: Helene Elliott
What We Learned This Past Week In The NHL
The All-Star break and Sunday's game in Nashville cut short last week's schedule, so here's what we learned in
Nashville about the midseason showcase and what players want to see next year, when the festivities will take
place at Staples Center:
• Ducks right wing Corey Perry said he'd like the Saturday skills contests to include more of the entertaining
moves players came up with last weekend. Among the best:Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban wore
a jersey and wig to impersonateJaromir Jagr, Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks wore a Chewbacca mask, and
Burns and teammate Joe Pavelski brought their sons onto the ice for a cute moment during the breakaway
challenge.
"I think the fans enjoy that kind of thing," Perry said. "I know the players really enjoyed it. We didn't know
what was going on and with the kids out there, it's all in good fun and great humor." Perry's also anticipating a
touch of glamour in the next All-Star Game. "L.A. is going to put on a great show and it's Hollywood so it's
going to be fun," he said.
• A star-struck All-Star, Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall, had one request for what he'd like to see next
year: "Lots of celebrities. I think that would be awesome, a warm place like L.A. where they can really let the
stars come out. I think that would be a lot of fun."
• Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has two requests: "Hollywood stars, the beach. That would be
it."
• Subban apparently is looking for romance in L.A. "I'm still trying to find that Miss Right," he said. "So
hopefully a nice Hollywood actress." On a serious note, Subban said social media use has changed the
relationship between fans and players by providing new ways to interact.
"I think it's almost safe to say now the new generation are more fans of individual players than they are the
logos on the front of the jersey," he said. "I know people like my dad who are fans, they're fans of the logo. But
our new fans, they're on social media now, they want to see what pictures you're tweeting, what you're doing,
where you're going. That's a big part of our fan base in professional sports now."
FROM DAILYNEWS.COM
February 1, 2016 1:21 PM
By: Elliott Teaford
LA Kings Emerge From All-Star Break Vs. Arizona Coyotes
KINGS AT COYOTES
Faceoff: 6 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSW / 790-AM
Update: The Pacific Division-leading Kings (30-16-3) begin the regular season’s stretch run with a seven-point
lead over the second-place San Jose Sharks and a 10-point advantage over the third-place Arizona Coyotes. It
might have been a more comfortable lead, but the Kings went 5-4-1 in their last 10 games before the All-Star
break and the Sharks went 8-0-2. Eight of the Kings’ next nine games are away from the cavernous confines of
Staples Center, including a seven-game trip that begins next week. All-Star goaltender Jonathan Quick has lost
three consecutive starts, including a 4-3 defeat Wednesday to the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings have lost
three of four to the Coyotes (24-20-5). Arizona goalieLouis Domingue was named the NHL’s Rookie of the
Month for January. He was 6-3-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in January.
FROM FOXSPORTSWEST.COM
February 1, 2016 3:20
By: Bill Bernardi
Kids With Life-Threatening Health Issues Meet NHL All-Stars
Ryan Smethurst brandished a big smile as the 16-year-old joined his family in making the lengthy trek to the
NHL All-Star Game in Nashville, Tenn.
The Calgary (Alberta) natives had no issue going the extra mile, considering the many they've traveled as Ryan
fights an ongoing battle after being born with a congenital heart defect. Although more surgery awaits,
Smethurst was able to celebrate a memorable weekend with Flames All-Stars Johnny Gaudreau and captain
Mark Giordano - courtesy of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.
Via CalgaryFlames.com:
"Because I really like the NHL, I was thinking about my family if I wanted to do a family trip. My mom said I
should do a trip I like, so I (chose this one because I) get to meet all the players."
Definitely a smart move as Smethurst spent time with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin among many other NHL All-Stars.
Smethurst was not alone as he joined 6-year-old Nevan Coburn of Vancouver, British Columbia, 11-year-old
Wyatt Morisette from Calgary, 14-year-old Jonathan Pitre of Ottawa as guests of The Children's Wish
Foundation of Canada, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. Jack Traxler, a 13-yearold from St. Paul, Minn., was a guest from Make-A-Wish America.
The five were able to meet the players and have their jerseys signed, as well as attend the skills competition on
Saturday and the All-Star Game itself the following day.
FROM SPORTSNET.COM
February 2, 2016 10:15 AM
By: Elliotte Friedman
30 Thoughts: All Eyes On Dennis Wideman Hearing
14. Three of the All-Star goalies (Dubnyk, Holtby and Jonathan Quick) played in the ECHL. Can’t imagine
that’s happened too often. Wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see more of this, now that teams rather a decent
prospect play in that league rather than back up in the AHL.
15. Quick gave me a few minutes to ask about something I’ve wondered for a couple of years. In the 2014
playoffs, when Los Angeles was destroyed 7-2 by San Jose in Game 2, he skated by all the players on the bench
late in the match. Word is he took all the blame, telling incredulous teammates who hung him out to dry “this
one’s on me,” and “I will be better.” He said he couldn’t specifically remember saying that.
“I was telling them it wasn’t over and that we’re all in this together,” he said Sunday. Did you take the blame
yourself? “I did want them to know that I felt part of the reason (we lost),” he offered, clearly trying to help me
write a better story. Quick is very serious, but he’s another guy whose commitment I’ve always admired. He let
his guard down this weekend and was pretty funny, pointing out whatever he said didn’t work.
“We lost Game 3 (to go down 3-0).” What did you say after that? He smiled. “We can’t afford to lose another
one.”
FROM MAYORSMANOR.COM
February 1, 2016
By: Brittany Patko
Kings Prospect Tracker: Report For Week Ending Jan. 31, 2016
MIKE AMADIO: Forward, North Bay Battalion (3rd round pick in 2014, OHL)
29 goals, 37 assists, plus-13, 30 PIM in 47 games played
North Bay won both their home and away game last week. Amadio contributed a goal and three assists.
ERIK CERNAK: Defenseman, Erie Otters (2nd round pick in 2015, OHL)
3 goals, 5 assists, plus-6, 14 PIM in 20 games played
The Otters won both their away game and their home game last week. Cernak returned to play after being out
since Dec. 5 due to playing in the World Juniors and a hand injury. He registered six penalty minutes.
ALEXANDER DERGACHYOV: Forward, St. Petersburg SKA (3rd round pick in 2015, KHL)
2 goals, 0 assists, minus-2, 4 PIM in 28 games played
SKA split their away games and lost their home game last week. Dergachyov played in one game but was a
non-factor on the score sheet.
ALEC DILLON: Goalie, Edmonton Oil Kings (5th round pick in 2014, WHL)
7 games played, 2-2-1 record, 3.81 GAA, .871 SV%
The Oil Kings won both of their home games last week. Dillon did not start for any of the games.
STEVEN JOHNSON: Defenseman, University of Minnesota (4th round pick in 2014)
2 goal, 7 assists, plus-1, 2 PIM in 21 games played
The Gophers played two games in the Third Annual North Star College Cup last week, losing both games.
Johnson was a non-factor on the score sheet.
MAXIM KITSYN: Forward, Manchester Monarchs (6th round pick in 2010, KHL)
15 goals, 18 assists, plus-24, 51 PIM in 45 games played
The Monarchs won all three of their away games last week. Kitsyn registered an assist each game.
PAUL LADUE: Defenseman, University of North Dakota (6th round pick in 2012)
2 goals, 9 assists, plus-20, 10 PIM in 27 games played
UND won both of their away games last week. LaDue registered an assist.
ALEX LINTUNIEMI: Defenseman, Manchester Monarchs (2nd round pick in 2014, OHL)
0 goals, 6 assists, minus-2, 0 PIM in 11 games played
Lintuniemi returned to play last week after being out since Nov. 10 due to wrist surgery. In the Monarchs’ three
games, he registered an assist.
JAKE MARCHMENT: Forward, Erie Otters (6th round pick in 2014, OHL)
16 goals, 14 assists, plus-19, 31 PIM in 38 games played
In the Otters’ two games last week, Marchment scored a goal in each game.
JACOB MIDDLETON: Defenseman, Ottawa 67’s (7th round pick in 2014, OHL)
4 goals, 17 assists, plus-12, 56 PIM in 48 games played
Ottawa split their home games last week. Middleton registered two assists.
MATT MISTELE: Forward, Sarnia Sting (6th round pick in 2014, OHL)
19 goals, 19 assists, minus-9, 35 PIM in 41 games played
Sarnia played two away and one home game last week, winning all three. Mistele contributed to the wins with a
goal and three assists.
NIKOLAI PROKHORKIN: Forward, Salavat Yulaev UFA (4th round pick in 2012, KHL)
17 goals, 16 assists, plus-8, 62 PIM in 49 games played
Salavat Yulaev UFA lost both of their home games and their away game last week. Prokhorkin played in two
games and registered an assist. On Jan. 27, he registered 27 penalty minutes, which included a game misconduct
for checking to the head. He was suspended for two games for the hit.
CHAZ REDDEKOPP: Defenseman, Victoria Royals (7th round pick in 2015, WHL)
4 goals, 17 assists, plus-7, 92 PIM in 49 games played
The Royals won both their home and away game last week. Reddekopp registered an assist.
ALEX ROACH: Defenseman, Manchester Monarchs (free agent signing)
3 goals, 16 assists, plus-12, 67 PIM in 40 games played
In the Monarchs’ three games last week, Roach registered an assist.
MATT ROY: Defenseman, Michigan Tech (7th round pick in 2015, WCHA)
3 goals, 8 assists, plus-11, 31 PIM in 25 games played
Michigan Tech played two away games last week, winning one and tying the other. Roy registered a goal and
an assist.
MATT SCHMALZ: Forward, Sudbury Wolves (5th round pick in 2015, OHL)
8 goals, 14 assists, minus-38, 28 PIM in 45 games played
The Wolves lost their away and home game this past week. Schmalz registered a goal.
DAMIR SHARIPZYANOV: Defensman, Owen Sound Attack (undrafted signing)
4 goals, 11 assists, plus-11, 16 PIM in 25 games
Owen Sound won both of their away games last week. Sharipzyanov registered a goal and two assists.
AUSTIN WAGNER: Forward, Regina Pats (4th round pick in 2015, WHL)
18 goals, 23 assists, plus-20, 58 PIM in 48 games
The Pats won their home game and lost their away game last week. Wagner registered a goal.
SPENCER WATSON: Forward, Kingston Frontenacs (7th round pick in 2014, OHL)
25 goals, 28 assists, plus-11, 20 PIM in 46 games played
The Frontenacs lost both their home and away game last week. Watson registered a goal each game, with his
goal on Jan. 29 being his 100th career OHL goal.
FROM FROZENROYALTY.COM
February 2, 2016
By: Gann Matsuda
LA Kings Looking For Improvement, Consistency After All-Star Break
LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — With the National Hockey League’s All-Star break behind us,
there is a bit of concern about the Los Angeles Kings as they enter February, a month in which they will play
nine out 13 games on the road, including their annual Grammy road trip, a grueling seven-game road swing this
time around.
Indeed, the team that led the Pacific Division by twelve points not so long ago has seen their lead drop to seven
at the All-Star break.
The Kings’ lead over their division rivals has shrunk as they’ve sputtered in recent games—they have lost three
out of their last five, and ended January winning just four of their last nine games.
A good example of what has ailed the Kings of late was their last game, a come-from-ahead 4-3 loss to
theColorado Avalanche on January 27 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“We stopped playing and started watching,” center Anze Kopitar said after the game.
Kopitar’s statement could’ve easily described his team’s play in the previous four games.
“I just don’t think we’re playing [well] enough for 60 minutes,” he observed. “We’ve had spurts where we’ve
played really [well], but then there’s a little dip in our game. We’ve got to correct that.”
“I think we’re taking too many penalties, and we’re putting ourselves in the position to defend instead of going
after it,” he added.
Kopitar was not alone in that assessment.
“We’ve let games slip at certain times, and it’s cost us a bit, letting teams back into games that we were
dominating pretty good,” said left wing Tanner Pearson. “We’ve just got to get back to playing our way, and
it’ll work out for us.”
“One thing I think we’ve got to work on is playing a full 60 minutes,” said defenseman Alec Martinez. “Before
the break, a couple of weeks before that—two or three weeks—we had leads in games and we didn’t shut teams
[down]. If you want to play in the playoffs, if you want to be successful in the playoffs, you’ve got to know how
to do that. That’s definitely something we can work on.”
“You’ve got to close out teams,” added Martinez. “When you get leads in hockey games, you’ve got to keep
playing the way you’ve been playing to get that lead. We’ve let our foot off the gas pedal and let teams back
into games.”
Looking back to the start of the 2015-16 season, Martinez pointed to how the Kings bounced back from a
terrible start, and indicated that they can do that again.
“I think we did a good job of bouncing back from the start that we had,” he said. “Obviously, that 0-3 start
wasn’t what we wanted. There’s ups and downs in a season.”
What caused the Kings to start things off so poorly?
“I think it was a lot of things,” said Martinez. “I think we had some new guys in the room, too. It takes some
time to develop some chemistry. I [also] think our attitude was a lot better, something I feel that was different
from what it was last year—we came in with a chip on our shoulder. That’s another thing that I’ve liked this
season.”
As for specifics on what they need to do to improve, few were provided.
“With the All-Star break, most of the guys have had time to rest, regroup, get our minds away from hockey, rethink things and refresh the legs,” Pearson noted.
“We are in the position we want to be [in],” said Kopitar, referring to being atop the division standings. “Our
last five or six games were definitely not the best. We’ve got to make sure that, coming back on Monday and
playing on Tuesday, that we’re as sharp as we were before and get it going again.”
“We realize that this is not the way we have to play,” added Kopitar. “The ground that we gained on some
teams is going away quickly. We’ve got to make sure we keep on going.”
As he often does, when asked about what he liked and didn’t like about his team before the All-Star break, head
coach Darryl Sutter approached things from a different angle.
“We’ve been really consistent, I think,” he said. “We’ve had to move lots of guys around because of injuries.
With [Jeff Carter’s injury], we had a lot of forwards switching around at Christmas. Then, with the trade for
[Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn], we had to move it around again. I think our guys have adjusted well to
that, so we’ll see where we go now.”
“You’re always going to have highs and lows in parts of the game,” he added. “But we still have a foundation.
We’ll stick to the foundation.”
As for what he didn’t like before the break, Sutter pointed to being unable to set his defensive pairs in stone.
“I think I’ve said it all along, I’d still like to declare who, actually, our partners are on the back end,” he
lamented. “It’s always easier for those guys, but it’s still ongoing.”
FROM THE HOCKEYWRITERS.COM
February 1, 2016
By: Jordan Dix
How Was Your Favorite Team Built? – Pacific Division
I have always found it interesting how teams acquired the individual players that make up the team as a whole.
Did they draft and develop them? Did they get chosen in free agency? Did the general manager make a big
move to trade for them? Some teams are better at scouting players who would be a good trade option than
scouting draft picks. Successful teams don’t seem to have a mold when it comes to how they were built so it
really allows teams to be creative about making up their roster.
We’ve looked at the Central, Metropolitan and Atlantic divisions. Now it is time for the Pacific.
If you want see how teams in the Central were built, click here.
If you want to see how teams in the Metro were built, click here.
If you want to see how teams in the Atlantic were built, click here.
Goaltenders are included in the lists but are not factored in to the statistical analysis.
Another quick note, the Corsi-for-percentages are for even-strength and are only factored in for players who
have played at least 100 minutes this season.
Los Angeles Kings
Acquired via trade – Jeff Carter, Marian Gaborik, Vincent Lecavalier, Milan Lucic, Matt Greene, Brayden
McNabb, Luke Schenn
Acquired via free agency – Christian Ehrhoff, Jamie McBain, Jake Muzzin, Jhonas Enroth
Acquired via draft (round and year in parenthesis) – Andy Andreoff (3rd in 2011), Dustin Brown (1st in
2003), Kyle Clifford (2nd in 2009), Dwight King (4th in 2007), Anze Kopitar (1st in 2005), Trevor Lewis (1st
in 2006), Jordan Nolan (7th in 2009), Tanner Pearson (1st in 2012), Nick Shore (3rd in 2011), Tyler Toffoli
(2nd in 2010), Drew Doughty (1st in 2008), Alec Martinez (4th in 2007), Jonathan Quick (3rd in 2005)
Analysis
Players acquired by trade make up for 32% of goals and almost 29% of points scored by the above roster this
season.
Those players have an average corsi-for-% (CF%) of 53.49 and an average cap hit of about $2.94M.
Free agents make up for just over 7% of goals and just under 13% of points scored so far.
They have an average CF% of 56.01 and an average cap hit of $2.03M per season.
Draft picks of Los Angeles make up for almost 61% of goals and over 58% of points scored this year.
Those draftees have an average CF% of 55.19 and an average cap hit of $2.96M per season.
Los Angeles has drafted really well and it has helped them stay so good for so long. Most players have cap hits
that probably don’t match the value they would get if they ever hit free agency. The one thing that could kill the
Kings is the sheer amount of term they have locked in some of those “good right now” deals. They have seven
total contracts that last at least until 2020 on the books now. They are all worth the money now, but that could
get ugly down the road.
FROM YAHOOSPORTS.COM
February 2, 2016
By: Stephen Whyno (AP)
Doughty The Norris Favorite And Other Midseason Award Picks
Drew Doughty constantly thinks about winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman. If he keeps up
this pace, that will become a reality in less than five months.
Doughty doesn't blow away the competition statistically like Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators or John
Klingberg of the Dallas Stars, but the Los Angeles Kings star is dominant at both ends of the rink. He controls
the puck more than anyone at his position and raises his game in the biggest spots - the Stanley Cup playoffs
and the Olympics.
Maybe that's why Doughty has fallen short in Norris voting in the past - the regular season isn't his peak time to
shine. But Doughty has been on the ice for the highest percentage of shot attempts for his team of any
defenseman in the league, a good way of measuring just how much of an impact he has for the Pacific Divisionleading Kings.
Karlsson and Klingberg will warrant consideration, and so should the Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban.
Here are the midseason projections for the other major NHL trophies:
HART: If Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawkscontinues to lead the scoring race by double digits, he's the
MVP. Even with Jonathan Toews in the picture, Kane has been outstandingly terrific and productive all season.
Also in the mix:Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtbyand Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn.
VEZINA: Holtby is automatic if he breaks Martin Brodeur's single-season wins record and remains among the
goals-against average and save percentage leaders as the Capitals cruise toward the Presidents' Trophy. Also in
the mix: Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils andRoberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers.
CALDER: Artemi Panarin of the Blackhawks is 24 and had six seasons of professional experience in Russia's
Kontinental Hockey League, but the best rookie is the best rookie. Panarin has 46 points in 53 games so far.
Also in the mix: Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne
Gostisbehere.
SELKE: This is usually a Toews/Patrice Bergeron contest, but Anze Kopitar of the Kings is actually the best
two-way forward this season. Kopitar's line dominates with the puck and rarely lets opponents touch it. Also in
the mix: Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Toews.
JACK ADAMS: Gerard Gallant isn't a household name, but the Florida Panthers' coach knows how to get the
most out of young and old talent alike. The Panthers have grown up under Gallant. Also in the mix: Barry Trotz
of the Capitals and Lindy Ruff of the Stars.
February 1, 2016
By: Taylor Bechtold (STATS)
Kings-Coyotes Preview
Though the surprising Arizona Coyotes took some knocks just before the All-Star break, they remain in position
to make a run at their first postseason appearance in four years.
With coach Dave Tippett joining select company in his 1,000th game, the host Coyotes try to take four of five
meetings from the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.
Arizona hasn't reached the playoffs since falling to Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals in 2011-12,
but the young squad appears on its way to returning after matching its win total from last season.
The Coyotes (24-20-5), third in the Pacific with 53 points, are 11-2-2 in the division. They're also 3-0-1 against
the Kings following a 3-2 win in their last home game Jan. 23.
Max Domi and Anthony Duclair rank fourth and fifth among rookies in points with 32 and 25. Louis
Dominque, the rookie of the month for January, made 26 saves against Los Angeles after stopping 29 shots in a
4-3 overtime home loss to them Dec. 26.
Dominque, however, has had some time to think about what went wrong after allowing a season-high goal total
on 25 shots in a 5-2 loss at Winnipeg last Tuesday, the club's final game before the All-Star break. The Coyotes
have gone 2-4-1 in their last seven.
"Our young players are helping grow this organization," Tippett told the team's official website. "There's lots of
learning to do yet but they're competitive in every game, and they want to do well and they want to learn, so it's
a step in the right direction."
Tippett is set to become the 24th coach to reach 1,000 games. The former Kings assistant ranks eighth among
active coaches and 20th on the all-time wins list with 512.
Some of his club's shortcomings have been at the offensive end as Arizona has totaled eight goals while going 1
for 23 on the power play in the last six games. The Coyotes, though, have scored 13 goals in four games against
Los Angeles and have gone 4 for 10 with the man advantage in the past two.
Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has totaled four goals while producing at least one point in each of the four
matchups, while winger Mikkel Boedker has four assists in the past two.
Los Angeles All-Star Jonathan Quick has a 2.19 goals-against average, but he's posted a 3.36 mark in dropping
his last three starts. He's also struggled in this series, going 1-3-0 with a 3.25 GAA.
The Kings (30-16-3) lost three of four before the break and will play eight of the next nine on the road, though
that could prove to be a positive. They've won six of eight there.
''We've got to make sure Tuesday we're as sharp as we were before and get it going again," center Anze
Kopitar said. "The ground that we gained on some teams is going away quick.''
Vincent Lecavalier has four goals over his last seven games, though he's failed to score in his past six matchups
with the Coyotes. Dustin Brown has scored in each of the past three against Arizona but his goal in last month's
meeting was his only tally in his last 13 games overall.
February 1, 2016
By: Josh Cooper (Puck Daddy)
AHL California Move Proves ‘What We Needed’ For Western NHL Teams
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Shea Theodore has been the most notable test case of how the AHL’s move to the
West Coast has helped NHL player development and team personnel movement.
From October through most of December, Theodore often found himself on a proverbial shuttle between the
AHL’s San Diego Gulls and Anaheim. If the Gulls didn’t have any games, Theodore would come to the Ducks,
take part in some NHL-level practices then get sent back down.
This gave Theodore a taste of the NHL, while still being able to develop in the minors.
When injuries hit the Ducks in late December with Cam Fowler hurting his knee, Theodore was ready to make
that jump. Since then he’s looked less like a raw junior and more like a professional in 13 games with Anaheim.
“At that time, we wanted to give Shea a chance to practice with the NHL guys and be around the team,”
Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. “That’s beneficial. And obviously we could have used him in a
game if an injury/illness had come up. But I’m glad he got that chance to practice, as it helped him when he
returned and got into our lineup.”
Theodore isn’t the only situation where a player from an NHL Pacific Division team has reaped the benefits of
the newly-formed AHL Pacific Division. From a player perspective, they can be more easily sent between
Anaheim and San Diego, the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign, theSan Jose Sharks and San Jose
Barracuda, the Calgary Flames and Stockton Heat and theEdmonton Oilers and Bakersfield Condors.
Management types have been able to get better access to watching their players. Instead of flying across North
America, they can quickly get to their AHL affiliates on closer flights or even drives.
“The ultimate goal here was to have the ultimate development league or division and that’s really what unfolded
here,” Oilers president Kevin Lowe said. “That’s why we have the American League. It’s the ultimate
development league for the NHL, and the less travel and more time to train and prepare for their NHL lives for
these young fellas is the best thing for the NHL teams.”
Around one year ago, the AHL announced that Anaheim’s affiliate would move from Norfolk, Virginia to San
Diego. Calgary’s would go from Glens Falls, New York to Stockton, Edmonton’s would moved from
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Bakersfield, LA’s would moved from Manchester, New Hampshire to Ontario
and San Jose’s would go from Worcester, Massachusetts to sharing the SAP Center with the Sharks.
At the time, the parent clubs had a vision and a strategy of how it would work out and so far it has played out
exactly as they foresaw it – with robust attendance, easier player movements, better visibility with management
and a generally happier player population.
“We’ve used the term ‘it’s not what we wanted, it’s what we needed,’” San Jose Sharks general manager Doug
Wilson said. “On a hockey front it has been everything we hoped it would be. To have the players know that
they’re right there and being seen every day, the travel, the ability to go up and down – we don’t want young
players sitting. We want them playing. The geography of it all, it’s worked out as well as we wanted.”
Last season the Manchester Monarchs played to an average 5,621 home attendance. The Worcester Sharks drew
3,847, the Adirondack Flames brought in 3,642 on average, the Oklahoma City Barons at 3,262 and the Norfolk
Admirals played to 4,752 on average
This season the Gulls rank second in average AHL attendance at 8,830 per-game. The Reign have brought in
8,147, the Condors at 5,147, the Heat at 4,754 and the Barracuda at 4,225.
If those numbers hold, the California teams will draw near 2,000 more fans per-game than last year’s affiliates.
This is important for the NHL parent clubs that reap the financial benefits of the teams.
“You want to have the fan support because the fan support and winning and having a good environment for
success is part of player development as well,” Calgary assistant GM Brad Pascall said. “You take those things
into consideration for sure. And owning the team, you want your brand and your loyalty and your environment
to be a positive one. I think a product of that is growing the game and growing the game in the market we’re in
and the Pacific Division is only going to help the business model of things.”
There is some level of newness to the AHL in California that’s bound to wear off at some point. But it doesn’t
seem like a downturn is nearing. With teams like the Kings, Barracuda and Gulls, fans can see the future of
their favorite NHL teams one night and then the present the following night. The Condors and Heat have seen a
flux of fans from Canada who want to get out of the cold in the winter time and take a hockey trip to see
prospects in California. For example, they can go watch the Oilers one night in Los Angeles and then the
Condors the next evening in Bakersfield.
“They’re going to see guys in the Kings’ lineup. They’re going to flip on the TV at night and see them and
they’re also going to see them in the Ontario lineup,” Kings assistant general manager Rob Blake said. “I think
that similarity and growing the sport of hockey around here for the LA Kings brand has been terrific.”
Also, travel costs have been reduced for players, who don’t have to take a cross country flight for a divisional
game or a home game.
“It’s a short drive or a train,” Murray said. “So yes, travel cost is reduced. And that’s a plus, but just one of
many benefits of having the team there.”
Hockey players are conditioned to play at a certain level wherever they are. But being in California has at least
given them an outlet when they’re away from the rink. The cost of living is more expensive, but for a lot of
them it’s worth the extra money for less living space.
Before a recent game in Ontario, Reign players were kicking around a soccer ball outdoors in 65-degree
weather.
“It’s nice to just come to the rink every day in the sunlight,” Stockton Heat forward Hunter Smith said. “The
dog days, in December and January and February where it’s cold and snowy you have a different mindset
coming to the rink every day. It’s easy when you have bad days for the weather to pick you up like that. My
place has a nice sunset view. It kind of keeps me positive all the time when things aren’t going well.”
It also gives management an easier way to look at players. Recently the Sharks and Barracuda played a back-toback at SAP Center. When the Kings were hit with some issues earlier in the season, they had a better idea of if
defenseman Jamie McBain was ready for a recall, rather than just relying on word of coaches in Manchester.
“We went into San Jose with 16 (skaters) after morning skate. One of our D came down with the flu,” Blake
said. “We were able to get a defenseman in there to play that game. Never would have happened in
Manchester.”
There are still some kinks to work out. California Pacific Division teams play 68 games in comparison to the 76
for the rest of the league. Because of this, the AHL has gone to a points percentage system to determine how
teams qualify for the postseason. This hasn’t created an alarming amount of confusion, but it has taken some
getting used to.
“Our board of governors approved it,” AHL vice president of hockey operations Mike Murray said. “While it
may look funny in the traditional sense in that you don’t look at the standings online and see points standings
and it’s something different to get accustomed to, in terms of the competitive balance at the end of the day, the
deserving teams qualify for the playoffs deserve to whether it’s points percentage or regular points system.”
There’s also a difference of opinion on the game total – as to whether fewer games or more games help
development. It gives players more practice time with their team to work on skills, but less of an ability to
actually use those tools in game action.
“You want to have that right kind of balance for rest and training and also competition so they can get the
ultimate development model,” Lowe said. “The managers of the NHL parent clubs of the California division
AHL teams will get together and talk about the magic number for games.”
But it also lessens the wear and tear on a young player as they enter a professional league. California teams
have fewer ‘three games in three days’ scenarios like other AHL squads, something that no NHL player will
ever face in his career.
“We’ve only had one instance where we’ve had to play three games in three nights,” Blake said. “It’s very
unusual because in the NHL you never have that situation, You play three in four or four in six. Last year I
think we had 17 of them. That’s where the shorter schedule and less games comes in handy.”
There is also a sense of abandonment with those markets the AHL left. Losing a professional hockey team is
never a fun experience. But with the exception of Oklahoma City and Worcester, the ECHL has moved into all
places.
Also, the goal of the AHL is to produce players who will eventually make the NHL. If this makes their path
easier, then it truly makes the most sense.
“Most importantly our NHL partners have been happy,” Murray said. “This is something they’ve wanted for a
while and it’s nice it came to fruition for this season. They have their AHL affiliates where they want and it’s
worked from a partnership aspect as well as the five markets have been great additions.”
FROM DELTA SKY MAGAZINE
February 1, 2016
By: Jennifer Buege
Jeff Carter
MY BAG
JEFF CARTER
H O C K E Y P L AY E R
“YOU CAN
FIND LAY’S
KETCHUP
CHIPS IN
CANADA, AND
THEY TASTE
EXACTLY LIKE
HOW THEY
SOUND.”
1
2
4
7
3
5
8
6
9
1 IN-FLIGHT SNACK Lay’s ketchup chips. 2 TRAVEL OUTFIT “We wear suits on the plane. I get everything—my suit, shirts, tie and belt—from Hugo Boss.” 3 IN-FLIGHT TV
Suits, Ray Donovan and Sons of Anarchy. 4 MOST IMPRACTICAL ITEM EVER PACKED “Whenever the team goes to Florida for a game, I always pack a swimsuit, but we never have
time for swimming.” 5 FAVORITE AIRPORT Toronto Pearson International Airport, “because it has so many shops and restaurants.” 6 IN-FLIGHT DRINK Gatorade 7 FAVORITE
LUGGAGE “I carry a black Tumi duffel bag.” 8 IN-FLIGHT TUNES Country music. “It’s nice and relaxing.” 9 MOST RECENT SOUVENIR “My wife brings koozies home from wherever
she visits. We recently went to Atlantis in the Bahamas and came back with three from there.” ! TRAVEL ESSENTIAL “My Mac laptop. I download movies and TV shows to
help break up the long flights.” ! AIRPORT ACTIVITIES “I like to do a flyby of the gate to make sure everything is on time, but then I’ll go for a little cruise around the terminal.”
24 d e l t a s k y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
A N D R E W D . B E R N S T E I N / N H L I V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S /C O U R T E S Y O F T H E L A K I N G S (C A R T E R ) ; C O U R T E S Y A P P L E ( L A P TO P) ; M I C H A E L D E S M O N D/ S H O W T I M E ( R AY D O N OVA N ) ;
S AG I R / S H U T T E R S TO C K . C O M ( B AT H I N G S U I T ) ; R M N OA 3 5 7 / S H U T T E R S TO C K . C O M ( P E A R S O N A I R P O R T ) ; G S I C O M M E R C E ( T U M I D U F F E L )
Los Angeles isn’t the first place people think of when they imagine a hockey town, but
the Los Angeles Kings have brought the Stanley Cup to the city twice in the past four
years. The team’s center, Jeff Carter, a native Canadian, digs LA so much that he sticks
around in the off-season and enjoys the pleasures of living near the Pacific Ocean. “I’m
on the beach pretty much every day playing volleyball or surfing,” he says. “My wife and
I cruise around on our bikes. I love it.” — M A T T M c C U E