News, Views and All Things Kings From a Longtime Fan.

Columbus winger Rick Nash could be a King if Dean Lombardi can discard his usual stinginess.

Game changers. There are not many of them in the NHL, and they’re rarely available at the trade deadline. When news of Rick Nash’s availability via trade broke earlier this week, the first thing that popped into my head was “We HAVE to do this. We NEED this guy”.

Nash is one of the NHL’s premiere wingers. He possesses an uncanny combination of size and pure skill that makes him special. He’s broken the 40 goal plane twice, and the 30 goal plane 4 times – his lowest goal scoring total since his rookie season was 27. And he’s done all this despite never playing with a legitimate playmaker type centerman.

Enter Kings center Anze Kopitar. Anze has been a 60+ point center in the NHL every season in his 5+ year career, without ever having the privilege of an elite, game-changing winger.

It’s a match made in heaven. Nash would likely break the 50 goal plateau playing on Kopitar’s wing. Kopitar would likely smash the 100 point plateau with a winger of that stature playing alongside him. It would make this Kings’ team much more than a potential contender. I believe it would put them over the top.

The Kings’ number one goaltender, Jonathan Quick, is giving up less than two goals a game (1.91 to be exact). He has given the team a chance to win in all but perhaps one of his 48 games played. The problem: His team is dead last in the league in scoring. Goal support at a withered clip of 2.10 per game makes Quick’s job the most difficult of any in the league. Even raising that average by .5 goals/game would give the Kings 12-14 more wins. That would give the Kings 89-93 points right now. They’d be the NHL’s top team by a very wide margin. Instead, scoring struggles have the Kings sitting at 65 points – good for 7th in the West, yet only 3 points out of first in the division behind a largely unimpressive San Jose team.

This year brought high expectations to the Kings. The acquisitions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne were supposed to improve scoring and make the Kings Pacific Division favorites. Right now, if not for the play of Quick, they’d be buried in the division cellar behind surging Anaheim. Having already made a coaching change (which I believe has generally been positive), the man who’s job is most at risk going forward is general manager Dean Lombardi.

Lombardi, when he was hired in the Summer of 2006, preached of a 5 year plan that would make the Kings legitimate Cup contenders. While he’s done a lot to build a winning culture, the obstacle between the Kings and a serious run at the Cup is but one: they lack a goal scoring winger with game changing capabilities. Guess what? One just became available.

Dean failed at getting us Hossa, Kovalchuk, and Brad Richards. While Zach Parise would look good in a  Kings uniform, I don’t see them making nearly a good enough offer to land perhaps the game’s best American born winger. But they can get Nash.

The biggest gripes about a potential deal for Nash I’ve heard from fans on social media is “it would cost too much”. Columbus needs a good young goalie and help on defense, something the Kings have in spades. For some, the idea of giving up Jonathan Bernier (who likely won’t ever be a number one in Los Angeles), Jack Johnson, a top 6 forward/top prospect/1st round pick seems preposterous. I think people stuck in that frame of mind are missing the big picture.

We already have an all-world goalie in Quick. True, he is a UFA after NEXT season, but I’m not worried about him walking. He’s a humble kid who got a big break with the Kings’ organization when he was off most other teams’ radar. The Kings gave him his shot in front of the highly touted Bernier back in 08-09, he took the reins and hasn’t let go. I believe Quick will be a King for life. He’s the organization’s best goalie since Vachon, and could easily be number 1 on that list as he continues to improve. The likelihood that Bernier ends up being even as good as Quick, much less better than, is very slim. And I like Bernier, but right now, there’s perhaps two goalies in the league better than Quick. You’re talking a few parts per million that Bernier eclipses that at any point. Yes, he’s a nice insurance policy but at less than 20 games a year, a capable veteran backup would more than suffice. That’s just the reality of it. Bernier is the team’s most valuable asset, and the time to use him to make the team better is NOW.

About Johnson: I like Jack. He’s having a better year, he’s going to beat his career best mark in goals if he scores just one more; and he’s cut his minus rating at least in half at this point. Every time Doughty is out for any reason, Jack gives us a glimpse of what he was made to be: A number one defenseman. Part of me hates the idea of dealing him, he’s a great guy and made a big commitment to the club signing a 7 year extension last season. But, Johnson’s age (24), along with the length and reasonable cap hit of his current contract make him a very valuable asset. He’s never going to get a chance to fulfill his destiny as a number one guy in LA. Unless, we deal our current number one…

I’ll go on record as saying, I love Drew Doughty. He’s a fantastic kid, with a childlike love of the game you can’t help but like. I do think this season’s performance is an anomaly for him, he missed all of camp over that contract dispute (or rather, his agent held him out for a bigger payday because he has a personal grudge with Lombardi). Doughty is a rare talent that any team in the league would love to have. That said…If Columbus GM Scott Howson calls me and says “We’ll give you Rick Nash for Drew Doughty”, I make that deal without blinking. Nash is a game changer, exactly the type of player the Kings need to get to the next level. With Slava Voynov, who is better suited to a top 4 role than a 3rd pair spot, more than NHL ready; and the fact that Johnson steps up his play by orders of magnitude every time Doughty is out of the lineup, while fans might be disappointed, it would instantly make the Kings a better team.

The other name that’s been thrown around in rumors regarding Nash is Captain Dustin Brown, another fan favorite. I love Dustin and would like nothing more than to see him be the first King to touch the Cup. He’s an outstanding human being, his work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work, as well as his presence in the community make him an important cog in the machine. But, Brown has been playing with a tentativeness to his game for several weeks. I have often thought to myself  ”He looks like he knows he’s on the way out”, though I have no legitimate info that would make that more than a hunch. If we all take our fan glasses off for a minute, would you rather have a top line of Nash-Kopitar-Williams or Brown-Kopitar-Williams? We all love Brownie but Nash isn’t going to come cheap. The Jackets aren’t going to beg to take Penner or Stoll off our hands, they’re going to want a roster player with value.

Provided it isn’t gross overpayment, I don’t mind giving up a lot to get Nash. As I’ve stated many times, he’s a game changer. There are very few of those in the entire league, and they’re rarely available. If we’re talking getting a guy like Nash, I think absolutely NOBODY on the Kings’ roster except Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick should be untouchable.

Acquiring Nash could help boost scoring, and help the Kings reach the promised land, Lord Stanley’s Silver Cup, without Jon Quick needing to put on the greatest display of postseason goaltending in NHL history. I’d bet Quicker would appreciate it too.

Ultimately, I think either landing or not landing Nash will be what decides Dean Lombardi’s future as Kings’ GM. He’s whiffed on three game changers so far. This is his chance to silence his critics and make the Kings a team opponents fear. If he fails, the Kings could well be another first round casualty (unless Quick steals at least one series). It’s likely that AEG cleans out the front office if that happens. Lombardi knows this. My hope is that he realizes in time that lowball offers, just as with big name free agents, don’t work with big trades. This move could define the franchise.

Time to put up or shut up, Dean.

GO KINGS!

JS

The Kings have addressed perhaps their most glaring weaknesses via trade and free agency this off season, and while they’re considered favorites in the Pacific Division and among the favorites in the Western Conference, there are still questions to be answered.

Last season’s marquee trade deadline acquisition, Dustin Penner, was, to put it mildly a bit of a disappointment. GM Dean Lombardi criticized Penner’s conditioning and work ethic – even going so far as to say it was up to Penner to decide if he wanted to play in the NHL or for a beer league softball team (I’m paraphrasing the quote he gave to Rich Hammond). Kings’ fans got to see first hand why Penner’s relationship with the fans in Edmonton was one of love/hate proportions. No doubt the man has skill, but at times his effort seems to be lacking.

The buzz out of El Segundo this week from names well known among Kings’ fans on twitter – Mayor’s Manor, Frozen Royalty and Dennis Bernstein of The 4th Period – was that Penner has been training hard in Los Angeles and has slimmed down by at least ten pounds. The Mayor tweeted earlier today that Penner says he wasn’t offended by Lombardi’s softball comments and instead used it as kindling for his fire. It’s encouraging news to be sure, and the hope is that it translates to big on-ice results for him. A productive Penner alongside Anze Kopitar makes the Kings’ top line as dangerous as any in the West, especially when you factor in how good the second line will be with Gagne, Richards and likely Dustin Brown.

Speaking of Kopitar, Mayor’s Manor also stated via twitter today that Anze Kopitar has been cleared medically and will begin skating before the end of July.

Now, to contracts for a moment. The good news – Kings have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with forward brad Richardson. Richie has been a key role player on the Kings’ roster the past two seasons, and the Kings avoid arbitration by locking him up now.

The bad news – although it’s safe to say not disconcerting at this point, is that Drew Doughty and the Kings have yet to agree to terms. Dean Lombardi told Rich Hammond today that both sides are still discussing money as well as contract length. I agree with what Bobby at Surly & Scribe has to say about it – Dean Lombardi will get it done. Drew Doughty is the cornerstone of the Kings’ franchise right now, and figures to be in any conversation about the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the next decade. Doughty wants to be an LA King, and he will be. Contract negotiations are a smorgasbord of speculation for media, both mainstream and bloggers alike. I’ve already seen Dean Lombardi called “stingy”, Drew and his agents called “greedy”, and seen speculation in the mainstream media that Doughty wants to be the highest paid King – all without any citation or shred of evidence. Articles get more reads and websites get more clicks based on speculation and fabricated drama, the “OH NOEZ WE CAN’T SIGN DREW NOW!” makes for more readers than it does to simply acknowledge the fact that there’s no pressure to get a deal done yesterday, as much as we fans would love it, and that negotiations will continue until the two sides reach an agreement.

Rest assured, Drew Doughty will be a Los Angeles King when camp opens in September, and for many more after that. He’s a key piece of the puzzle that Kings’ fans, coaches, players and management alike hope will get LA hockey’s ultimate prize – the Stanley Cup

Jon Quick played so hot in Dallas, he had to cool himself off! (Roland Martinez/Getty)

The Kings looked like a team playing it’s second game in as many nights for long stretches of the game in Dallas tonight, all except for one guy: Jon Quick. Kings’ coach Terry Murray’s plan to play Jonathan Bernier once a week and keep Quick well rested has thus far paid dividends – Quick has played very solid this season and is sitting at 6-1. Perhaps the most telling stat: Quick has been the first star in 4 of those games. Tonight was no exception – a good number of Quick’s saves were of the breathtaking, acrobatic variety. When he didn’t need to be acrobatic, he was positionally solid and focused. Oh, while I’m at it on those 6 wins, they’re also currently best in the NHL. In a season where many expected Quick to concede the starting job to Jonathan Bernier, he is instead establishing himself as one of the league’s elite goalies.

The Kings’ most dominant effort up front tonight came from the third line, the so-called “shutdown” line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. Ponikarovsky broke a 1-1 tie in the second period on a putback of a Simmonds shot from a steep angle. Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen made the initial save but the rebound was ripe for the picking and Ponikarovsky shoveled it in on the backhand. 9 seconds later, Simmonds would score after Handzus cleanly won the center ice faceoff back to Jack Johnson, who fed a breaking Simmonds. Simmonds went hard to the net with the puck and beat Lehtonen before running the net off it’s pegs. After a brief review it was determined that the puck entered the net before it came off it’s moorings, and it was 3-1 Kings, just like that.

It was at this point in the game that Quick did his best work to keep Dallas off the scoreboard, as he had a 14 save 2nd period. In the third period the Kings would get a shorthanded goal from Willie Mitchell of all people, who banked it off the skate of Dallas defender Phillip Larsen. The Stars would pull Lehtonen in favor of Andrew Raycroft. Dallas would make it 4-2 on a perfectly placed wraparound shot – upstairs over Quick – from former King Brandon Segal to make it 4-2. The Stars would pull Raycroft for the extra skater, but Justin Williams scored an empty netter – his second goal in as many nights – to seal the deal. Not that Dallas was going to beat Quick anyway.

The win puts the Kings first overall in the Pacific Division, first overall in the Western Conference, and first overall in the National Hockey League. I realize it’s only late October, but it’s nice to see this team coming together and winning. The good news is, they’re doing it without arguably the league’s best young defenseman, AND not all cylinders are firing yet. Kopitar hasn’t turned on the “score at will” switch yet. None of the puck-movers on the blue line have a goal yet, and aside from 5 on 3 situations, the power play hasn’t gotten near the level we know they’re capable of. The rest of the NHL should be on notice – this is one hell of a Kings’ team.

The bad news: Wayne Simmonds left the game with a lower body injury in the third period after just a shift. The extent of the injury isn’t known yet. One would expect he’d be evaluated in LA tomorrow and more info sh0uld then be available.

The Kings have a home game against New Jersey on Saturday, then don’t play again until the following Thursday – that time should allow Drew Doughty – and hopefully Simmonds and Scott Parse as well – to get healthy and return to the lineup.

Anyone else looking forward to booing Ilya Kovalchuk on Saturday. I guess that all depends on whether or not he’s a healthy scratch again. New Jersey is a mess right now, and I guarantee you everyone in that Kings’ locker room, everyone in the front office, and even the janitor who cleans the toilets at Staples Center would love to see the Kings absolutely hammer the Devils as a “Hey Ilya, how’s New Jersey again?” sort of message. He’s stuck there for 15 years, and an interview with former teammate Bobby Holik on Hockey Night in Canada Radio this week revealed that Kovalchuk might not be the best teammate and may be a big part of the team’s troubles. One thing is for sure, the entire Kings’ organization and at least the majority of the fans are glad Dean Lombardi didn’t risk blowing up the core to give Kovalchuk the money he wanted.

Saturday night at Staples should be interesting indeed. As well as the Kovalcircus coming to town, it’s Mattias Norstrom night, and the Kings’ will honor the former captain with a ceremony before the game. On hand will be former Kings including Ian Lapperiere, Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake. Should’ve told Blake to stay home and suck a nugget pouch. Matty is one of the class guys and one of THE warriors in Kings’ history, and it’s awesome to see the organization honoring him like this.

Kings and Devils – Norstrom Night – Saturday at Staples. See you there.

GO KINGS!

-JS

The Los Angeles Kings largely dominated the Colorado Avalanche at Staples Center Monday night, but it was two costly mistakes (and a big save or two) that were the difference in this contest.

A Michal Handzus giveaway to Milan Hejduk and a Tom Preissing giveaway the led to a goal by the Avs’ David Jones in the second period, both on attempted passes up the middle of the ice, sunk the Kings ship. Colorado got two goals from Ryan Smyth (who is quite the King Killer) and the previously mentioned goals from Hejduk and Jones to take a 4-2 lead over the Kings, who initially led 1-0 on Oscar Moller’s first NHL goal; and 2-1 on a nifty blind backhand goal by Patrick O’Sullivan.

As they have in both of their wins this season, the Kings battled the the third period and closed the gap to 1 on Drew Doughty’s first career NHL goal. The Kings would come up just short in the end, falling to the Avalanche 4-3.

Doughty continues to impress. You kind of knew that he was going to score sooner than later the way he’s been playing. He did get undressed by Smyth on his second goal, but that play was not without Smyth catching lucky bounces (the puck hitting Doughty’s skate and ending up on Smyth’s stick again). Drew looks more and more comfortable every game. With Stamkos being virtually invisible in Tampa thus far (and talk about the hapless Lightning returning him to junior), DD has to be considered the frontrunner for the Calder trophy. Hell, even if Stamkos stays in Tampa Doughty may win it.

Moller’s goal was also opportune, throwing it off a pass from Frolov at the net where it snuck through the pads of Colorado goalie Peter Budaj.

O’Sullivan was, along with Doughty, the best Kings player on the ice tonight. Every time he takes a shift I am exponentially grateful to have him back.

Let’s be completely honest here – while the two giveaways the Kings had in the second period don’t create an ideal defensive situation for a goaltender, both Hejduk and Jones’ goals should’ve been routine saves for Jason LaBarbera, who was not good tonight. If Labarbera makes a save on either of those chances it’s a different game. As much as LaBarbera has been good enough to win, he laid a royal egg tonight that cost the Kings two points in a game where they really outplayed Colorado soundly for the majority of the game. By comparison, Peter Budaj (who I happen to think might be the worst goalie in the NHL right now) did NOT give up a goal on any of the 9 giveaways by Colorado. For as much as Jason HAS improved some facets of his game, he has looked rather shaky in situations this year. I like the guy and I want to see him succeed but too many games like tonight will have us on the wrong side of the street more often than not. Murray’s decision to pull LaBarbera in favor of Ersberg surprised me but it was the right thing to do. It’s time to give Ersberg a start. Unfortunately, Terry Murray hasn’t given any kind of indication that he won’t go right back to LaBarbera in St.Louis Friday night. With back to back weekend games though, we should see Ersberg at least once.

The Kings have road games upcoming at St. Louis Friday and Nashville Saturday. Both of these are teams the Kings should beat the way they have been playing. We will see how the team fares away from home for the weekend. Coming home without at least 2 points would be a huge dissapointment.

-JS