Great report, riseandfall! Looking at that post, it's hard to believe that you're the same guy whose first post on this board was one run-on sentence without capitalization . We greatly appreciate the reports; keep them up!
If there's any knock that I'd give, though... hearing some of you say "Kopitar and O'Sullivan were what you expect, so there's really nothing more to say" is a bit of a let-down, at least for me. We want to hear more about those two. Details, details!
Ok. I can do that. Patrick O`Sullivan is almost exactly like Rick Nash. He lurks around the ice and when the puck is anywhere near the net he is like a Shark in the water with blood. He is so creative with what he does with the puck. And he doesnt just shoot the puck in the pad, hes always looking to aim. He did alot of fake the pass `n` roof it today. There is only about 2 knocks on O`Sullivan. #1 that hes definatly not good for PR because he is sort of like a jerk like Brendan Shanhan. And the fact that he lacks in size and thickness like Pushkarev.
Anze Kopitar. IS THE REAL DEAL BOYS. He is a totally diffrent player then O`Sullivan. Hes doesnt come off as being huge, he definatly doesnt look it. But he plays huge, he has no problem knocking people off the puck and he can really hang in there with some of the best skaters. He has good size and he has some of O`Sullivans scoreing touch. If i had to pick 1 out of the 2 to go to the NHL it would be Kopitar.
I also got to talk to Anze Kopitar and Ryan McGinnis for about 35 mins after there morning skate/2 hour break. We played a little soccer and after that I was there autograph pusher People were handing me jerseys to have them sign and what not. But back to the point! I asked them both who there favorite players were and who they wanted to mold there careers after. There answers were very diffrent and very interesting. Ryan McGinnis told me that he wants to mold his career after Jason Smith the captain of the Oilers. He said that he likes to use his body the same way that Smith does and he likes the fact that hes not up and down. He said if there is one thing he wanted to do in the NHL is that he wanted to be consistant. He rather have 80 solid games then 40 amazing games and 40 not so amazing games. I loved his answer and I cant wait until he comes to the NHL. Now Anze Kopitar told me that he likes so many players that he cant choose 1, but he later changed his answer to Joe Thornton. He said that he played against him at the Worlds in Austria and he really looks up to Thornton and wants to try and be as much like Joe Thornton but better he added. And he also told me that Joe Thornton took a penalty on him a tripping penalty. I also want to add that Kopitar is great for PR. Hes a really nice respectful kid and he smiles alot and hes not so much of a grouch as O`Sullivan. But either way I am happy to have them both.
you're not going to mention "The Goal," even though he was just picking on the struggling goalie
This is true Brian Boyle busted a pretty sick goal...Malik style between his legs. But it wasnt the best part of his performance today thats why I didnt really mention it
BTW....Ive been hearing alot of rumors out there about Lauri Tukonen.I wanted to give you guys the scoop on that also. A gentalmen by the name of Rich or Mitch Cunningham(had a hard time hearing his name because someone shot the puck at the bords as ryan told me his name.) who is the overseas player contact for the Kings. Was telling Al Murray that Lauri Tukonen turned his phone off. He went back to Finland with a sore shulder(He made it clear that it wasnt serious) and became very home sick and wanted to spend more time with his new fiance. Al Murray didnt seem worried. He said that he understands that Tukonen is a young kid away from his family and such and that he knows that he will be at the main camp with an explanation.
He went back to Finland with a sore shulder(He made it clear that it wasnt serious) and became very home sick and wanted to spend more time with his new fiance.
Shoulders tend to be sore for a while after surgery...
Shoulders tend to be sore for a while after surgery...
Yes...But he could come if he wanted to. They said he was pretty much ready. He also didnt take care of his Visa, and he spent a year here. Also show me where it says he had surgrey. Al Murray was in and out talking to us all day today. And NEVER once said that he had surgrey. All he said is Tukonen should have been there. Ill ask him more into depth tommarow, since the ease dropping on his conversations with Cunningham sucked.
Riseandfall: great to meet you too. It was good to get out there before I leave next week.
Dead on report about Pushkarev. He is to hotdogging what Avery is about taking stupid penalities. If they would both STRIVE to play disciplined hockey, it would get them farther.
Pushkarev can skate, has excellent puck skills, a decent shot and can finish. He can even compete, but he needs to get a personal trainer and seriously hit the weights...and knock off the extra dipsy doodling. He really does have ptoential, but it's going to come down to someone demanding the right things from him and Konstantine accepting it and doing the work that is necessary for him to make it. Someone needs to hold him accountable. Maybe he needs a veteran roommate and a coach pushing him.
I'd be more worried about his head....than his body.
Yes...But he could come if he wanted to. They said he was pretty much ready. He also didnt take care of his Visa, and he spent a year here.
What did you expect them to say? It typically takes athletes 3-4 months for their shoulder to fully heal from the procedure. They're not likely to give you a straight answer when it come to injuries...
From Tukonen's journal:
My shoulder surgery was while I was anesthetized. Like it’s customary here, I was sent home that same evening. Since I live alone, I had to get someone to take me home and watch over me the first 24 hours. The wife of one of our defensemen picked me up and looked after me. For a few days I was in a really bad shape. I couldn’t really do anything by myself, not even sleep.
They didn’t tell me specifically what was wrong with the shoulder. I know the bones are intact, but that there was something in the musculature that required repair. Apparently my injury is rare among hockey players, but much more common among baseball players. Somehow there had been a tear somewhere. I’ve been to rehabilitation every day. I’m not allowed to stress my arm on my own. This one guy moves it and makes sure that it doesn’t get stiff and that the range of motion remains.
What did you expect them to say? It typically takes athletes 3-4 months for their shoulder to fully heal from the procedure. They're not likely to give you a straight answer when it come to injuries...
From Tukonen's journal:
My shoulder surgery was while I was anesthetized. Like it’s customary here, I was sent home that same evening. Since I live alone, I had to get someone to take me home and watch over me the first 24 hours. The wife of one of our defensemen picked me up and looked after me. For a few days I was in a really bad shape. I couldn’t really do anything by myself, not even sleep.
They didn’t tell me specifically what was wrong with the shoulder. I know the bones are intact, but that there was something in the musculature that required repair. Apparently my injury is rare among hockey players, but much more common among baseball players. Somehow there had been a tear somewhere. I’ve been to rehabilitation every day. I’m not allowed to stress my arm on my own. This one guy moves it and makes sure that it doesn’t get stiff and that the range of motion remains.
Dead on report about Pushkarev. He is to hotdogging what Avery is about taking stupid penalities. If they would both STRIVE to play disciplined hockey, it would get them farther.
Pushkarev can skate, has excellent puck skills, a decent shot and can finish. He can even compete, but he needs to get a personal trainer and seriously hit the weights...and knock off the extra dipsy doodling. He really does have ptoential, but it's going to come down to someone demanding the right things from him and Konstantine accepting it and doing the work that is necessary for him to make it. Someone needs to hold him accountable. Maybe he needs a veteran roommate and a coach pushing him.
This is what several of us from Manchester reported last season...
My shoulder surgery was while I was anesthetized. Like it’s customary here, I was sent home that same evening.
Notice where the comma is. It's not that it's customary here but not Finland to anesthetize the patient for shoulder surgery; it's customary here to have certain surgeries and get sent home the same day.
I believe Tukonen was talking about being sent home the same day. Ambulatory Surgery...
Right. I've got to start reading these posts instead of scanning.
On a side note...riseandfall said Tukonen was lonely....well his journal sure as hell coroborates that. It's a little bit of a downer...all that "I live alone...a local woman took pity on me and nursed me back to health."
They don't use anesthesia in Finland? And they say Euros are soft.
i'm pretty sure Tuk had surgery here in the states before he went home to Finland. at least that's what is sounded like to me, especially where he said he lived alone & needed a teammate's wife to tend to him for the first day post-op.
after my shoulder surgeries, i know i needed help for a couple of days.
Right. I've got to start reading these posts instead of scanning.
On a side note...riseandfall said Tukonen was lonely....well his journal sure as hell coroborates that. It's a little bit of a downer...all that "I live alone...a local woman took pity on me and nursed me back to health."
Hopefully the trip home does him some good.
No doubt that he was home sick. We talked about it one Sunday after the World Juniors. I asked him if he was going to stay and train in L.A. during the off-season and he had already decided to go home for the summer. This was just after Tambellini was traded but before the surgery...
I don't mind so much that O'Sullivan is a bit of a grouch. I blame his father for that. I would guess, though, that that's just a first impression and how he acts when he's uncomfortable. He's so used to people judging him because of his family situation that he may act a little stand-offish around new people. I would bet that he's rather nice once he gets to know you. In fact, it's actually the mentality of the perfect warrior, IMO, to be loved by your own teammates and hated by the opposition, so, if he's pissy around people who don't know him, that might actually make him an effective competitor.
No doubt that he was home sick. We talked about it one Sunday after the World Juniors. I asked him if he was going to stay and train in L.A. during the off-season and he had already decided to go home for the summer. This was just after Tambellini was traded but before the surgery...
I wonder if Tukonen would feel a bit more comfortable if he had a finnish teammate to relate with...
[QUOTE=riseandfall9;6004918]Back with my 3rd Report.
BRIAN BOYLE: Boyle played defense all day today. And when i first saw the guy play i thought he totally blew. But he has really impressed me these last 2 days at camp.
R&F,
Did you go to Monday's camp? I watched most of it and Boyle was awful. It sounds like he
has really stepped up his play. I have been ripped on the other Kings site, for even mentioning that he was slow. Thanks for the report
Thanks for the great report riseandfall , I also like to hear about Kopitar even if it is the stuff I already know about him .
Thanks a lot and I didnt know he wants to be like Joe Thorton , who is also one of my favourite centers .
. We greatly appreciate the reports; keep them up!
People were handing me jerseys to have them sign and what not. But back to the point! I asked them both who there favorite players were and who they wanted to mold there careers after. There answers were very diffrent and very interesting. Ryan McGinnis told me that he wants to mold his career after Jason Smith the captain of the Oilers. He said that he likes to use his body the same way that Smith does and he likes the fact that hes not up and down. He said if there is one thing he wanted to do in the NHL is that he wanted to be consistant. He rather have 80 solid games then 40 amazing games and 40 not so amazing games. I loved his answer and I cant wait until he comes to the NHL. Now Anze Kopitar told me that he likes so many players that he cant choose 1, but he later changed his answer to Joe Thornton. He said that he played against him at the Worlds in Austria and he really looks up to Thornton and wants to try and be as much like Joe Thornton but better he added. And he also told me that Joe Thornton took a penalty on him a tripping penalty. I also want to add that Kopitar is great for PR. Hes a really nice respectful kid and he smiles alot and hes not so much of a grouch as O`Sullivan. But either way I am happy to have them both. 
, I also like to hear about Kopitar even if it is the stuff I already know about him .
