Game over. 2-0 Monarchs. Goals from Nolan and Lokti in that order. Lokti with the lone assist on the first one and Kolomatis and someone else assisting on Lokti's.
My thoughts:
Lokti was far and away the best player on the ice. Was there as the top line center even strength, played on the PP and PK. Really buzzing around the ice all night. Did a lot of good things.
Vey really seemed to try and make too much happen. It wasn't a terrible game but at times he seemed to force some passes and he had a terrible play to give the puck up and almost give away a breakaway.
Nolan was very good tonight as well. I think most of us know what to expect from him by now. Also showed some nice scoring touch to snipe the first goal top shelf as well as standing up for himself and fighting.
Hickey seemed to be incredibly aggressive and that led to good and bad plays. At least once he tried to pinch and keep the puck in, missed, and then had to rush to get back. Other times, he was making good pinches to keep the puck in deep. He was actually pretty physical as well. I thought he was the best Monarchs dman tonight.
Berube/Jones both looked good tonight to team up for a shutout. I was really happy with Berube. A few things in his game fundamentally that I'd like to see changed but he's pretty good positionally. Top of the crease and keeps his glove high, two things I love and do myself as a goalie. I was happy when we drafted him and I think this year will be good for him to finally step up in competition and hopefully stay healthy and learn from Jones.
Those were the only guys who really stuck out to me.
That is absolutely nothing to scoff at. I'd expect a really reasonable return for that if you toss in something like a 2nd.
Ryder, Halak, 2nd...
I would love to get a good return for Bernier and Loktionov but I'm not sure around the league they are valued as high as some of you here believe, especially considering the fact that they don't really have a proven NHL resume...
There was an Igor Larionov quote from a Russian reporter for NHL.com that Loktionov will ask for a trade once the lockout is finished.
This saddens me, but I'm not really surprised. He won't get much time here for a couple of years, and even then they might want Shore to be the 3rd line center or even Richards.
This saddens me, but I'm not really surprised. He won't get much time here for a couple of years, and even then they might want Shore to be the 3rd line center or even Richards.
Loktionov needs a chance to be in a scoring role. He has the offensive upside, but he just will not fit in in the system in LA, or on a 3rd line with Lewis types.
Honestly, a team like CGY should bring him in. Let him compete with Backlund and Cervenka for a role as a top 6 center, that is where he would be in his element. Has the offensive awareness and playmaking skills to be very effective setting up Iginla or Cammalleri. That is the type of role he will succeed in, but ala Purcell he will not get that chance here.
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2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS LA KINGS!!! GO JETS GO!
Loktionov needs a chance to be in a scoring role. He has the offensive upside, but he just will not fit in in the system in LA, or on a 3rd line with Lewis types.
Honestly, a team like CGY should bring him in. Let him compete with Backlund and Cervenka for a role as a top 6 center, that is where he would be in his element. Has the offensive awareness and playmaking skills to be very effective setting up Iginla or Cammalleri. That is the type of role he will succeed in, but ala Purcell he will not get that chance here.
Aliu still intrigues me as a prospect. But he's getting up there. Otherwise I don't see anything from Calgary that'd be appealing.
The Kings don't have to trade Loktionov (or Bernier) just because that is what they desire. They will still be RFAs when their contracts expire. Hold onto them until the right deal comes along.
Wow, nice preseason debut for Slava Voynov. Four points today.
Given the thread started about Granlund scoring 5 points in a preseason game, I was half tempted to start a thread about Voynov to mock it, but figure the potential infraction for trolling wasn't worth it
