LA KINGS OUTSIDER 2.0

Jonathan Quick Has Struggled In January I‘m with every other Kings fan that’s frustrated with this team’s inconsistent play this season.  I decided to look at some monthly splits; hoping that the stats would shed some light on why the Kings have looked so terrible.  Instead, I found something a little more interesting: the team’s statistics through 46 games this season fall right in line with last season’s averages. The Kings had some expectations going into this season.  The next Chicago Blackhawks was repeated more than once by the so-called 'experts.'  DL failed to acquire an impact forward.  Instead, he made a couple lateral moves/slight improvements looking for ‘the right fit.’  He replaced Frolov with Ponikarovsky.  O’Donnell with Mitchell.  And proclaimed that Scott Parse was the next Kris Versteeg.  Nothing ground-breaking. He put it on the ‘core’ group to improve and take their games to the next-level.  It looks like they...

Mattias Norstrom: A Class Act The Kings really know how to throw a party.  Nothing says, "Thank you Matty!" like a Swiss Coffee Maker.  Did you know that Matty was a two-time All-Star?!?!  It was great to see fan favorites like Ian Laperriere and Rob Blake (I kid...I kid) back at Staples Center.  Ilya Kovalchuk haters filled the arena as he was booed every time he touched the puck.  Kovalchuk had his moments but the Kings took the game 3-1.

Teemu Selanne will be back at least one more season with the Ducks and he's still trying to lure Kariya to Anaheim .  Kariya doesn't owe anything to those fans in the O.C but I think the thought of reuniting with Teemu intrigues him especially after their disappointing reunion in Colorado.  I think Kariya is a Duck by the end of the week.  I think both guys stay healthy and terrorize the Kings.  Both Kariya and Selanne have been Kings Killers their entire careers (check out the career numbers versus L.A.). Kariya: 63 GP, 34G, 38A, 72 PTS, +13, 26 PPP, 5 GWG Selanne: 86 GP, 47G, 57A, 104 PTS, +26, 40 PPP, 9 GWG So the dream of having Kariya and Selanne reunite in Los Angeles is dead.  The dreams of Kariya finishing out his career in a Kings uni are most likely dead.  I'm clinging to Willie Mitchell right now.  The Selanne/Kariya story was a bigger deal to me than the arbitrator ruling in favor of the NHL in the Ilya Kovalchuk case but here's a quick...

Thanks For The Memories Fro   As we reach Day 14 of the Ilya Kovalchuk saga; I began to put together a list of possible alternatives in case Kovy decides to go elsewhere.  One of those options was obviously bringing back Alexander Frolov.  According to Dmitry Chesnokov, a regular contributor on Yahoo's PuckDaddy blog, Frolov doesn't have much interest in returning to Los Angeles. Frolov's agent: "We have a offers from a few NHL teams; 99% certainty Frolov won't stay in LA; Frolov will make a decision w/in 10 days."   Can't blame him really.  His asking price will have to come down for any team to sign him but the Kings pretty much walked him out the door.  Good luck to Fro wherever he goes.  I think the Kings are going to miss him alot more than they realize.  His puck-possession in the corners and constant wrap-around attempts frustrated fans but who else on the current team can do that?

The Kings Need Don King To Sell L.A. To Kovy Tomorrow So what's the latest on Kovalchuk?  He's coming to LA!...for a meeting ?  If he's coming to hear Kings executives pitch the organization and city again; I think the Kings are close.  I think we might hear something as soon as tomorrow.  Or maybe Deano will stand firm and watch Kovy skate back over to Jersey.  Or to Russia.  Or maybe he'll take another meeting with the Ducks!  Who knows! Congratulations to Spain on their World Cup Finals victory.  And congrats to Matt Greene and Germany for finishing third.  OK.  So that's German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger but I thought there was quite a resemblance...

Kovalchuk Looks Good In A Kings Jersey You can read Helen (Not Helene..ha) Elliot, Rich Hammond or any of the other NHL Insiders for up-to-the-minute coverage.  I just figured I better give my two cents on the entire situation in Sparknotes form.

If Ilya's too expensive... With Free Agency opening up in a few hours.  Here's my shopping list for the top FA's available.  It's a shallow class but let's take a look. PRIORITIES 1. Top-line goal scoring winger. 2. Two Top-four defenseman 3. Second-line center

Eight Is Great: Kings Win 6-2 What a game.  Kings were great.  Then bad.  Then great again.  Ivanans and Parros dropped the gloves early and then took their rightful spots at the end of the bench for the rest of the game.  Kopitar continues to roll with another two goals.  Petey took a scary header into the boards but got up like a champ.  Drew Doughty got some revenge on Bobby Ryan.  Quick was average.  And Jack Johnson had himself a career night.  Rich Hammond's Recap . Big news broke on the Kovalchuk front.  Don Waddell released a statement .  Bottom Line: The Thrashers offered more than $101 million over 12 years to Kovalchuk.  It became obvious that something was happening soon.  At about 4:30, the news broke that Kovalchuk had finally been traded to New Jersey.  Rich Hammond provided a final recap of the Kovalchuk/Kings Recap . Atlanta sniffed around Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson and Wayne Simmonds, at least...

Kovalchuk Trade Talk Heating Up? First off and most importantly, the Kings beat the Rangers 2-1.  Their seventh victory in a row. Kopi scored the game's first-goal short-handed.  The second-line played another solid game scoring the second.  Quick was solid and came up huge in the last minute of play.  And the Kings won a good close hockey game.  Rich Hammond's Recap . There were rumblings in the stands that the Kings were on the verge of acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk.  The rumor was reported on an SBNation blog; I have absolutely no idea how credible the site or their sources are so I won't be posting the link here.  With that said, Bob McKenzie did his best to put that rumor to sleep. Per McKenzie You know what I think of these rumors of the LAK on verge of getting Kovalchuk? Total BS. Some interest but fit isn't right at this point. Will spend more time on bogus reports than actual trades. It's the silly season. Amateur hour. Like New Year's Eve and ...

Imagine This 50 Times A Year With the second-line clicking; I can't help but imagine pairing Kopitar with a real sniper on his left wing.  If Atlanta allows teams to begin negotiating an extension with Kovalchuk; the Kings need to do everything they can to acquire him.  The Kings are in a position to be 'buyers' according to Dean Lombardi. Per Helene Elliot "I think I can safely say we are actively trying to improve this team. For the first time as a general manager you kind of get excited," Lombardi said. Kevin Allen provides a rundown of at what to look for and expect once the Kovalchuk Sweepstakes begins. Everyone's got their own ideas of what it will take to acquire Ilya.  ESPN's John Buccigross came up with 29 proposals. Per Buccigross Kovalchuk for Jonathan Bernier , Alexander Frolov, Oscar Moller and a first-round pick The Kings covet a star to put on billboards, plus they have some cap space, some good young prospects and Frolov, who clearl...

Kovalchuk a King? Not for that price  It's been speculated for weeks that the Kings are looking to acquire Ilya Kovalchuk. Now, THN's Ken Campbell is reporting it; he's also provided readers with a possible list of names that Thrashers GM Don Waddell is interested in.  Rich Hammond confirmed that the Kings have made an offer to Atlanta.  He's also provided a pretty complete round-up of everything Kovalchuk. Per Ken Campbell .   "There is speculation that the group of roster players includes the likes of defenseman Jack Johnson and/or Oscar Moller or Wayne Simmonds and the prospects include 2009 first-rounder Brayden Schenn, along with defenseman Colton Teubert, Brandon Kozun and Andrei Loktionov." If Atlanta thinks they're getting ONE of these players let alone a package of them for two months of Ilya;  I'll pass.  I'd rather offer up some picks for Ray Whitney or Paul Kariya and take my chances on signing Kovalchuk on July 1st. Per Rich Ha...