The NHL season is officially underway and although I do not watch the games often, I frequently check the scores around the league. My interest in the L.A. Kings started when I was young and my parents bought me Kings Flannel pajamas for Christmas. I am not sure why that particular sports team would even be on display in a New York children’s store, but it probably had something to do with Wayne Gretzky. The Great One skated for LA back then, and he was my favorite player. I became a N.J. Devils fan the year they won the Stanley Cup but have always allotted some attention to the Kings.
This years’ team appears to be an arrangement of amateurs. They won their first game against the Ducks in an efficient manner. Their next notch on the NHL belt presented a come from behind win against Carolina. Terry Murray is the new Head Coach and boasts about his team not allowing a power play goal so far this season. While I doubt the Kings will keep that statistic up, I do feel they have become a better, more disciplined unit than they were last year. They are in rebuilding mode and Murray is remaining patient with the team newcomers. Murray seems to be focused on improving L.A.’s defense. With the loss of Jack Johnson to injury, it will be tough going in the beginning. I would love to see L.A. become a defensive minded team though.
Jason LaBarbera is the number one goalie for the Kings. He is only three years my elder but plays the net like a veteran. Jason has emerged as somewhat of a team leader having played three seasons for an inexperienced L.A. team. LaBarbera is not a very mobile goalie but he does make the saves he needs to make. He adjusts adeptly and shows smoothness, but needs to concentrate on becoming a consistent professional goalie. It wasn’t long ago he spent time playing goalie in the AHL. Murray seems to want him as a fulltime netminder, but the Kings do have the unseasoned Swede, Erik Ersberg, as a second option. Despite his size and strength, Erik is a hard worker and smart player.
Michal Handuz is the surprise Kings’ leading scorer. He scored twice against Carolina and has scored four total. After signing as a free agent from Chicago last season, Handuz only scored 7 goals for the Kings in 2007. Maybe this is a sign of him stepping it up and becoming more aggressive on offense.
Dustin Brown also has two goals on the year. Right winger Brown plays a demanding defensive style game, pursuing the opposition with tacit command. Since he was drafted in 2003, his scoring and assists have been up and down and he’s been injured on and off. I like Brown because he is power forward who makes big hits. Ironically, the knock on the kid is his lack of strength.
Youngster, Wayne Simmonds, scored his first NHL goal in the win over the Ducks. He slowly is solidifying his superiority and could join Handuz and Alexander Frolov on defense. Right wing Wayne is only 20 years old so his flaws are going to be there until he becomes more familiar with the league. The second round draft pick certainly has the potential to score twenty goals this season.
Twenty three year old, Kyle Quincey, was added to the blue line. Quincey is a great puck handler and works well on the left side with Matt Greene. Brown, Anze Kopitar and Patrick O’Sullivan, along with winger, Matt Moulson add intrigue to this Kings team. Magnificent Moulson is my age and can get to the net quickly, make things happen, and has stellar skating ability. He seems to play with admirable ambition and an instinctive grace too.
Kopitar is a budding future star at center, garnering constant consideration. The youthful Yugoslavian has two assists and a goal and is the Kings’ best overall player. His record-breaking career year in 2007 was remarkable enough to earn him an extension. This year, I expect more of the same from his all-around awesome style of hockey.
O’Sullivan has the skills to really make a difference in the assist department. Patrick is practically proficient at all up front positions. If he can play stronger defense when Kopitar and Moulson have the puck, the Kings will succeed.
I don’t know too much about the rest of the squad but am looking forward to a Pacific pounding out west. These may not be Wayne’s Kings, but I will root for their success anyway.
Parting points: “You don’t know what love is, you just do as your told” –The White Stripes
This years’ team appears to be an arrangement of amateurs. They won their first game against the Ducks in an efficient manner. Their next notch on the NHL belt presented a come from behind win against Carolina. Terry Murray is the new Head Coach and boasts about his team not allowing a power play goal so far this season. While I doubt the Kings will keep that statistic up, I do feel they have become a better, more disciplined unit than they were last year. They are in rebuilding mode and Murray is remaining patient with the team newcomers. Murray seems to be focused on improving L.A.’s defense. With the loss of Jack Johnson to injury, it will be tough going in the beginning. I would love to see L.A. become a defensive minded team though.
Jason LaBarbera is the number one goalie for the Kings. He is only three years my elder but plays the net like a veteran. Jason has emerged as somewhat of a team leader having played three seasons for an inexperienced L.A. team. LaBarbera is not a very mobile goalie but he does make the saves he needs to make. He adjusts adeptly and shows smoothness, but needs to concentrate on becoming a consistent professional goalie. It wasn’t long ago he spent time playing goalie in the AHL. Murray seems to want him as a fulltime netminder, but the Kings do have the unseasoned Swede, Erik Ersberg, as a second option. Despite his size and strength, Erik is a hard worker and smart player.
Michal Handuz is the surprise Kings’ leading scorer. He scored twice against Carolina and has scored four total. After signing as a free agent from Chicago last season, Handuz only scored 7 goals for the Kings in 2007. Maybe this is a sign of him stepping it up and becoming more aggressive on offense.
Dustin Brown also has two goals on the year. Right winger Brown plays a demanding defensive style game, pursuing the opposition with tacit command. Since he was drafted in 2003, his scoring and assists have been up and down and he’s been injured on and off. I like Brown because he is power forward who makes big hits. Ironically, the knock on the kid is his lack of strength.
Youngster, Wayne Simmonds, scored his first NHL goal in the win over the Ducks. He slowly is solidifying his superiority and could join Handuz and Alexander Frolov on defense. Right wing Wayne is only 20 years old so his flaws are going to be there until he becomes more familiar with the league. The second round draft pick certainly has the potential to score twenty goals this season.
Twenty three year old, Kyle Quincey, was added to the blue line. Quincey is a great puck handler and works well on the left side with Matt Greene. Brown, Anze Kopitar and Patrick O’Sullivan, along with winger, Matt Moulson add intrigue to this Kings team. Magnificent Moulson is my age and can get to the net quickly, make things happen, and has stellar skating ability. He seems to play with admirable ambition and an instinctive grace too.
Kopitar is a budding future star at center, garnering constant consideration. The youthful Yugoslavian has two assists and a goal and is the Kings’ best overall player. His record-breaking career year in 2007 was remarkable enough to earn him an extension. This year, I expect more of the same from his all-around awesome style of hockey.
O’Sullivan has the skills to really make a difference in the assist department. Patrick is practically proficient at all up front positions. If he can play stronger defense when Kopitar and Moulson have the puck, the Kings will succeed.
I don’t know too much about the rest of the squad but am looking forward to a Pacific pounding out west. These may not be Wayne’s Kings, but I will root for their success anyway.
Parting points: “You don’t know what love is, you just do as your told” –The White Stripes
“All I wanna do is have some fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard”- Sheryl Crow
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