You gotta give Lokti a real shot. He's already asked for a trade. If he does well, maybe he sticks. It would at least up his trade value. Keep the Flyers together. They have chemistry and a healthy Gagne >>>>>>>>>> Penner. The only real question mark should be who gets to be the other 3rd line wing between Lewis and King. My guess is Lewis will get that spot since he's a more natural RW and has more experience. Then you have King, a natural LW, and allow Nolan to play the other wing and centered by Fras. D-pairings and goalies are clearly going to be pretty much the same - although I wouldn't mind Mitchie being back with Drew.
You gotta give Lokti a real shot. He's already asked for a trade. If he does well, maybe he sticks. It would at least up his trade value.
A like Loki too, but 'sticks' as what? He's far too skilled to be a 3rd liner and there is no future for him here 1st or 2nd line. He's given every indication that he does not like playing wing, his best hope to play where he is comfortable is via a trade to another team where he can be the 2nd line center. And I can't see him centering the top line, for what amounts to be 2 or 3 games. I wish he was more agreeable to switching to wing, because next year, there will be 2 openings.
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Keep the Flyers together. They have chemistry and a healthy Gagne >>>>>>>>>> Penner.
Absolutely, 100% and Sutter is a LOT smarter than Murray who made the HUGE mistake of waiting 24 games before letting Richards and Gagne (and all the years worth of chemistry and great sucess they had in Philly) skate their first shift together. Then 1 game later Richards gets the head injury.
Gagne is healthy for the first time in 3 years and very motivated. Keeping him on the 3rd line is a waste of his talent, Stoll does not have the skill to feed off Gagne's speed like Richards can, esp given Richards can find Gagne in his sleep.
The NHL and players association reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement early Sunday morning, ending the lockout that began Sept. 15.
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"It has not been a good day. I lost my glasses early this morning and I had to go buy a pair of 79 dollar reading glasses today. 79 bucks. You can literally get them at Costco, three-for-20." - Darryl Sutter's response to going up 2-0 in the series.
Quick is healthy from lockout back surgery (carrying teams is hard).
Martinez is healthy as well after a face injury.
Kopitar out 2-3 weeks with a knee injury.
We won't be calling anyone up from juniors.
As much as I want Loktionov in the top 6 while Kopi is out, I just have no confidence that he will be. Sadly, my guess on opening night rosters will be this:
We've actually got a bit of a problem when Kopi IS back. We'd have 15 forwards. That means we have really two options: send one of King/Nolan down for the year or use amnesty clause on Westy/Richardson. I hope they use the amnesty on Westy. We don't need an enforcer, especially one who isn't even that great at fighting. Plus, King and Nolan both deserve NHL time and AHL time for either of them would be a waste.
Also, you guys are forgetting the absolute BEST part about this upcoming season....
NO MORE JAMIE ****ING KOMPON!!!!!!!!
Time for a new powerplay that hopefully doesn't completely blow. Excited also to have Payne behind the bench.
Quick should be healthy by the start of the season and Kopitar should be back by February (at the latest).
Raise the Banner!
I wonder if Westgarth will be waived to make room for Loktionov to start the season? The Kings still have 24 players on their roster and have to get down to 23. Wonder what the waiver rules will be for this season?
We've actually got a bit of a problem when Kopi IS back. We'd have 15 forwards. That means we have really two options: send one of King/Nolan down for the year or use amnesty clause on Westy/Richardson. I hope they use the amnesty on Westy. We don't need an enforcer, especially one who isn't even that great at fighting. Plus, King and Nolan both deserve NHL time and AHL time for either of them would be a waste.
??? Amnesty buyouts don't happen until the off-season. They'll just waive Westgarth down to Manchester, he can replace Johnson down there, and they'll ditch him in the off-season (through the amnesty buyout/regular buyout/trade or waive him to Manchester again next season).
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2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS LA KINGS!!! GO JETS GO!
Only thing I've heard so far is the first overall restrictions have been changed in the draft. Now the 14 lowest teams are eligible for first overall. The odds remain the same, but any team that wins it of the bottom 14 can move right up to first.
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Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Draft lottery will change. All 14 teams fully eligible for 1st pick overall. Weighting system may remain, but 4-move restriction out.
DL is going to be a very busy boy over the next several days.
We have a couple of kids contracts to work out (move or lose) and a couple of deals to get done as well as doing the most important thing that any Kings GM has ever done.
HOIST THE BANNER!!!!
Happy to see NHL hockey return.
Now I can go back to following prospects around in peace again.
??? Amnesty buyouts don't happen until the off-season. They'll just waive Westgarth down to Manchester, he can replace Johnson down there, and they'll ditch him in the off-season (through the amnesty buyout/regular buyout/trade or waive him to Manchester again next season).
LeBrun has gotten some information from a league source saying either January 15th or January 19th for a start of the season.
Staples Center is packed on those evenings, so I'm looking at January 16th evening, or January 19th day game if we fit it in early.
Our regularly scheduled home game was January 31st.
I have been totally ambiguous with my scheduling on January 19th. I have had a request for over 1 month and have waited until I heard about the season before answering. Now, I'm glad I had that foresight to wait.
Thank god finally. World juniors just ending was a nice way to watch some good hockey. Time for the big show. Any chance Loktionov starts the season if Kopi is out? It'd be around time he returned to games action in Mora let alone for the Kings
Kings need the season to start by the 15th if they want to raise the banner at a night game. Kings are going to have a lot of road games to start the season, Staples schedule is booked solid for January and early February (Grammy's).
Jan. 15 7:30 PM
L.A. Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Jan. 17 7:30 PM
L.A. Lakers vs. Miami Heat
Jan. 18 7:30 PM
WWE Raw World Tour
Jan. 19 7:30 PM
L.A. Clippers vs. Washington Wizards
Jan. 20 7:30 PM
Lady Gaga
Jan. 21 7:30 PM
Lady Gaga
Jan. 22 7:30 PM
L.A. Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jan. 23 7:00 PM
Muse
Sold Out
Jan. 24 7:00 PM
Muse
Sold Out
Jan. 25 7:30 PM
L.A. Lakers vs. Utah Jazz
Jan. 26 8:00 PM
Muse
Jan. 27 12:30 PM
L.A. Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jan. 27 6:30 PM
L.A. Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Jan. 29 7:30 PM
L.A. Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets
A lot of away games The schedule is going to be hell any way you slice it. Just have to make due... This will likely be a joke of a season anyway. Just gotta roll with it. As we've proven before, you just gotta make the playoffs...
I can almost guarantee it will be the 19th, their has been talk that they may shift the Clippers game to a day game.
My dad is good friends with one of the event coordinators, and this has been discussed for well over a week. Which explains my confidence that a deal would get done.
EDIT: Just re-read the e-mail I got, and the 1/19 start is contingent on a 48 game schedule, so if it's 50, we could see the 16th.
Last edited by KopitarFAN: 01-06-2013 at 11:02 AM.
Someone will have to fill that spot on the roster if Kopi can't go opening night.
I'd be willing to bet we'll see Richards and Carter be the 1 and 2 centers until Kopitar comes back. It just doesn't make sense to have Loktionov play a few games when you already have two established top line centers in the lineup.
I wouldn't be too worried about Kopitar. It sounded precautionary and he probably didn't want to risk it because of CBA negotiations. The NHL season doesn't start for another 1.5-2 weeks anyways. He should be ready to go on time. Maybe miss a game or two at the most.
I will always be a diehard Kings fan, but I almost feel like booing both teams when they hit the ice opening night.
What a joke this entire fiasco has been. Thank God we will never have to see Fehr's face around hockey again!!
I would most certainly have booed both teams but for the fact the Kings won the Cup; booing them just seems stupid after the incredible second half and playoffs they had last year.
I am thinking the poster above had it right in regard to the first home game being on the 19th. The season may start before then, with the Kings starting on the road.
The 15th? That's not going to happen. Lakers have a home game against Milwaukee, its a Tuesday and I've never heard of a game being shifted to the afternoon on a weekday that's not a holiday.
The 14th is open. That may be too soon for the NHL to start the season.
So we are looking at the 19th. Opening day for the entire league? I am not sure the NHL wants to see its defending Cup champion start on the road.
The schedule is going to be hell any way you slice it. Just have to make due... This will likely be a joke of a season anyway. Just gotta roll with it. As we've proven before, you just gotta make the playoffs...
