LA KINGS OUTSIDER 2.0

Dean Lombardi was hired as General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings on April 21, 2006. Six years later, the Kings hosted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.  The former GM of the Sharks certainly didn’t hit on every trade, draft pick, or free agent signing he made during his tenure in Los Angeles.  But after a few short years in Los Angeles; he brought a sense of direction and an identity that the franchise had severely lacked for over a decade.    The 2016-17 season was an absolute disappointment.  With that said, I never understood how a GM who brought the franchise such success didn’t get the chance to breakdown the team he constructed and rebuild it.  The Kings were only a year removed from a 102-point season when Lombardi was relieved of his GM duties.  LOMBARDI 2.0?  I was surprised when the Kings promoted Rob Blake as general manager.  After all, he was hired as assistant GM by Lombardi for the 2013-14 season....

I'm sad Smytty's gone No tearful farewell .  Just a bunch of rumors .  A denial .  Some awkward negotiations .  And finally, #94 was gone . Smytty put DL and the Kings in a tough spot.  Demanding a trade is hard enough for a GM.  Requesting a trade to only one team is nearly impossible.  Give DL credit for accommodating Smyth and his family.  Hopefully, players around the league take notice that the Kings organization does have some class after all. Everyone was all smiles a couple years ago I was ecstatic when the Kings acquired Ryan Smyth two years ago from Colorado.  I knew on July 3, 2009 that the Kings were beginning to transition from rebuilding to contending.  The fact, that DL was willing to absorb a $6.25 million cap hit for the next three seasons said alot.  Sure enough, Smyth was as-advertised if not better.  His veteran leadership and presence in front of the net was something that the Kings sorely needed....

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...

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...

I would recap the Breakfast with Dean Lombardi earlier this morning but there was really nothing to report.  Read Hammer's recap for full details . Day old bagels and danishes.  Bottled juices and coffee.  A slight step-up from the pre-packaged danishes they served at the last one. The event was packed.  Got there around 10 and there was no parking to be found. Dean gave his usual ten-minute answers to every question and handed off the tough ones to Assistant GM Ron Hextall. The highlight of the event was hearing Dean speak about changing the culture.  And he pulled up a slide of what he expected from his players.  What it mean to be a King.  What it took to be a good teammate and so forth.  He spoke with such passion and fire.  I almost felt like I was a prospect at the Kings Development Camp minus the talent and multi-million dollar contract. Anyways, I appreciate that the leadership team provides this platform for dialogue between the...