LA KINGS NEWS CLIPS 9/10/10

Transcription

1 LA KINGS NEWS CLIPS 9/10/10

2 FROM LAKINGS.COM RICH HAMMOND ARTICLES ON LAKINGS.COM AND LA KINGS INSIDER Best wishes to Bob Posted by Rich Hammond on 9 September 2010, 5:16 pm Best wishes to Bob Miller, who is scheduled to undergo a non-emergency surgical procedure tomorrow, with the hope that he will be back and ready for the Kings season opener on Oct. 9. Incidentally, the home opener (Oct. 12) will be Bob s 72nd birthday. It s been said many times, but it can t be said enough. Bob is a treasure to the Kings and the broadcasting community, so I m sure everyone will join me in wishing him well. 89 Comments Schenn (sort of) update Posted by Rich Hammond on 9 September 2010, 1:27 pm Brayden Schenn did not have an MRI on his knee today, and is now scheduled to be evaluated by the medical staff tomorrow, so we won t have an update for another 24 hours or so. 34 Comments Hockey Fest streaming Posted by Rich Hammond on 9 September 2010, 11:39 am Those who aren t able to attend Saturday s Hockey Fest in El Segundo will still get a chance to check out some of the activities. The Kings announced today that they will stream, through Kings Vision on LAKings.com five of the events: the State of the Kings Q&A with Dean Lombardi, Terry Murray and management (9-10:30 a.m.); the Kids Press Conference, with Matt Greene, Brad Richardson, Jack Johnson and Wayne Simmonds (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.); the Life of a King panel, with Jay Wells, Marty McSorley and Luc Robitaille (1:30-2:30 p.m.); the Winning Ways panel, with Ryan Smyth, Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll and Rob Scuderi (3:30-4:30 p.m.); and the pep rally that will close the event by introducing players, coaches and staff (5-6 p.m.). 14 Comments Camp preview: defensemen Posted by Rich Hammond on 9 September 2010, 9:59 am Following yesterday s training-camp preview look at the Kings forwards, here s a breakdown of where things stand with the defense DEFENSE If the Kings could fast-forward through the first month of the season, they would probably be thrilled with their defense, which is shaping up to be the best unit of the Dean Lombardi era. There is, however, the pesky matter of Matt Greene s shoulder. The Kings have a clear top four in Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Rob Scuderi and Willie Mitchell. Those two pairings have the potential to eat up at least 46 minutes per game with some stellar two-way play, which would put less pressure on the third pairing (and the goalie). At the start of the season, however, that third pairing will feel some heat. Greene is expected to miss the first month after undergoing shoulder surgery in July. That, most likely, will leave the Kings in the situation of having a 5/6 defensive pair without a full season of NHL experience. Davis Drewiske and Peter Harrold are the two holdovers who could step in, but a long list of prospects will also get a look.

3 First, the sure things. Doughty was a Norris Trophy finalist at age 20 last season and still has room for improvement, a sobering prospect for opposing teams. An improvement in fitness, and a natural elevation of his game, with age and experience, will make Doughty a force this season. It s easy to forget that Johnson is only 23, an age at which many defensemen are just starting to figure out the NHL game. After an uneven first half of last season, Johnson was very strong after the Olympics, giving hope to the idea that he s ready for a major breakthrough. Scuderi was quietly excellent last season, and provided the kind of low-key support that allowed Doughty to shine. If, as is highly possible, the Kings pair Doughty with Mitchell this season, Scuderi could provide the same type of boost to Johnson. Mitchell is presumed to be ready to go, after missing half of last season with a concussion. A leader, a physical player and an underrated puck-mover, Mitchell could be a great fit with Doughty, although all eyes will be on Mitchell to see if he can stay healthy. Greene, when healthy, will be where the Kings want him: playing as a hard-nosed, responsible fifth defenseman. Who his partner will be, upon his return, will be one of the most compelling questions in training camp. So plentiful are the candidates for the sixth and seventh defensive spots that the Kings could practically do a Surivivor -style reality show. There are incumbents Drewiske and Harrold. There is European import Johan Fransson. There are last year s Manchester Monarchs and junior players, such as Jake Muzzin, David Kolomatis, Thomas Hickey, Alec Martinez, Viatcheslav Voynov, Colten Teubert and Andrew Campbell. For the first month, without Greene, the Kings will likely turn to at least one player with solid NHL experience. That s good news for Drewiske, who played 42 games last season but couldn t stick full-time because Murray wanted more consistency in Drewiske s physical play. Harrold, by virtue of his ability to play a utility, defense/forward role, might have the inside track on the seventh spot, leaving one spot open for at least the first month for a handful of rookies. All have questions. Can Hickey, Teubert and/or Voynov stay healthy? Is Muzzin, one of the OHL s top defensemen last season, ready for the jump? Would the transition from Sweden be too much for Fransson?

4 LAKINGS.com Aces Mark to Race on Sept. 11 in New York Thursday, / 12:58 PM / News Aces Mark will attempt to pick up his fifth victory in the 21st start of his career on Sept. 11, 2010 at beautiful Belmont Park. Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis, whose lives were cut short on a day when time stood still, will be remembered on the anniversary of their passing when their name sake will grace the grounds of the Big Sandy, in New York to race on 9/11 in their honor. John Velazquez, future Hall of Famer, will be on board in race 8, post time 4:43 PM EST. Lew Mongelluzzo, an Ottawa Senators scout, owns and operates the thoroughbred-racing stable, Team Power Play Racing, simply combined his two favorite interests to keep the spirit of both Bavis and Bailey alive. Mongelluzzo decided to purchase a New Yorkbred colt that he named Aces Mark in honor of his two peers. Garnet Ace Bailey, who was 53, was set to begin his 33rd season in the NHL as a player or scout. Bailey had enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in both capacities, with seven Stanley Cup rings as proof. Having spent seven years as the Kings director of pro scouting, Bailey spent the previous 13 years as a scout with Edmonton Oilers. Bailey s ability to evaluate NHL talent helped the Oilers to five Stanley Cups in the 1980s. During Edmonton s many great playoff runs, Bailey played the key role of advance scout, supplying detailed information on upcoming opponents. A veteran of 11 NHL seasons as a player (click here for his career stats), Bailey broke in with the Boston Bruins during the season and spent five years with the club. While with the Bruins, he was a member of Stanley Cup championship teams in and Bailey also spent parts of two seasons each with the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues, and three-plus years with the Washington Capitals. Bailey, who was originally from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, jumped to the World Hockey Association for the season and joined the Edmonton Oilers, where he was a linemate of teenage phenom Wayne Gretzky. Mark Bavis, who was 31, was entering his second season as an amateur scout for the Kings. Bavis, a native of the Boston-area, played his collegiate hockey at Boston University, where his brother, Michael, is currently an assistant coach, and prior to joining the Kings he worked as a coach with Chicago of the North American League and as an assistant coach with Harvard of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. Most recently, Bavis, who was drafted by the New York Rangers in the ninth round (181st overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, made his home in West Newton, Massachusetts. He was survived by his mother, Mary; his twin brother, Mike; two brothers, Pat and Johnny; and three sisters, Kelly, Mary Ellen and Kathy. Kings Vision to Stream Hockey Fest Speaker Series Thursday, / 1:14 PM / News LOS ANGELES Kings Vision, the signature online video network of LAKings.com, will stream all four Speaker Series and the event-concluding Pep Rally live at this Saturday s LA Kings Hockey Fest 10, the Kings announced Thursday. Below are the four Speaker Series and Pep Rally details: 9-10:30 a.m. State of the Kings with Dean Lombardi, Ron Hextall, Jeff Solomon and Terry Murray hosted by Daryl Evans 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - Kids Press Conference Matt Greene, Brad Richardson, Jack Johnson, Wayne Simmonds hosted by Heidi Androl 1:30 2:30 p.m. - The Life of a King Jay Wells, Marty McSorley, Luc Robitaille hosted by Jim Fox 3:30 4:30 p.m. Winning Ways Ryan Smyth, Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, Rob Scuderi hosted by Nick Nickson 5 6 p.m. LA Kings Pep Rally LA Kings, Rookies, Alumni, Staff and Ice Crew to be introduced hosted by Jim Fox LA Kings Hockey Fest 10 takes place on Saturday, September 11, at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Tickets for the one-day Hockey Fest event, which takes places from 9 a.m. 7 p.m., cost $15 for Kings Season Ticket members and for Partial Plan and Group Leaders by calling KINGS-LA ( ). Tickets for the general public cost $20 and be can purchased by

5 visiting LAKings.com/hockeyfest2010. Less than 200 tickets remain available for purchase. The second annual event will feature special Q&A and autograph sessions with Kings players, coaches, alumni and hockey dignitaries, in addition to Kings merchandise including merchandise discounted at 40 percent -- and hockey memorabilia being available. Also, with this year s Hockey Fest being held on September 11, the Kings Care Foundation and the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighters Fund will work together as six Los Angeles-area fire stations will be preparing and selling food to benefit the Fund. They will be set up in the outside festival-area portion of the Toyota Sports Center and all proceeds from their sales will benefit their organization. Kings Looking For Questions For Winning Ways at Hockey Fest Thursday, / 2:19 PM / News Kings Fans as you know, the Kings will host Winning Ways with Ryan Smyth, Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll and Rob Scuderi at Hockey Fest. While we are encouraging fans to attend in person, we would like to open up questions to followers on Facebook as well. Click here to leave a question on facebook. So if you have a question for Smyth, Williams, Stoll or Scuderi, leave it as a comment on the link above and some of them will be selected to be asked during the program. Nick Nickson will host the Q & A from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Also, feel free to leave a question for Dean Lombardi, Ron Hextall, Jeff Solomon and Terry Murray for the "State of the Kings" series or click here to leave a question for the "Life of a King" speaker series with Jay Wells, Marty McSorley and Luc Robitaille at Hockey Fest. LAKingsHockey 1. Today in #LAKings history: The Kings traded Daryl Evans to Washington in exchange for Glen Currie about 16 hours ago via HootSuite 2. #LAKings broadcaster Jim Fox is slated to be on There It Is on ESPN Bakersfield 1230 Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:45 p.m about 16 hours ago via HootSuite 3. The #LAKings will miss Bob Miller at Sat's Hockey Fest, he will miss the event due to a precautionary surgical procedure. Get well soon Bob! about 17 hours ago via HootSuite 4. #LAKings single game tickets are on sale now. Follow this link to secure your seats. about 18 hours ago via HootSuite 5. No update on Schenn...Timetable pushed back a day, he is slated to meet with #LAKings medical staff on Friday. about 19 hours ago via HootSuite 6. Kings Fans as you know, the Kings will host Winning Ways with Ryan Smyth, Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll and Rob... about 21 hours ago via Facebook

6 The Fabulous Forum Kings voice Bob Miller to undergo 'precautionary' surgery September 9, :35 pm Bob Miller, the Kings' play-by-play announcer since 1973 and a Hockey Hall of Fame media honoree, is scheduled to undergo what he called a precautionary surgical procedure on Friday and will miss the Kings' Fan Fest Saturday. However, Miller said in a phone conversation that he hopes to be ready for the Kings' upcoming season, which begins Oct. 9 and will be his 38th in the broadcast booth. The problem is not life-threatening, he said, but he didn't want to elaborate. Miller, who will be 72 next month, said he expects to spend a few days in the hospital. "It's the only time we could do it and still be OK for the start of the season," he said of the procedure. All the best to Miller, a walking encyclopedia of Kings history -- his Jack Kent Cooke stories and imitations are hilarious -- and one of the top broadcasters in hockey or any other sport. -- Helene Elliott Update on Kings center Brayden Schenn September 9, :22 pm An update to a previous post on Kings prospect Brayden Schenn: A Kings spokesman said Thursday afternoon that Schenn won't see the team's medical personnel until Friday and that there won't be an update on the condition of his knee until Friday afternoon. Rookie camp is scheduled to begin Saturday at the Kings' practice facility, the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. -- Helene Elliott Knee injury thought to be minor for Kings prospect Brayden Schenn September 9, :45 am-- Helene Elliott Kings fans who are nervously awaiting the results of an MRI on the injured knee of prospect Brayden Schenn might be able to take some heart from some excerpts of a story in the Brandon Sun, a Canadian paper that covers Schenn's junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings. The story was written by James Shewaga and forwarded by Matt McNish of the Sun: Brandon Wheat Kings centre Brayden Schenn is expected to undergo a precautionary MRI exam today in Los Angeles after suffering what is believed to be a minor knee injury in practice on Tuesday. While wild speculation ran rampant on Internet sites that Schenn may have suffered a major injury, Wheat Kings head coach/general manager Kelly McCrimmon said initial indications are it doesn't appear to be serious. "I think it's pretty minor, just tweaked his knee in practice (Tuesday) and didn't skate (Wednesday)," McCrimmon said. "And he was scheduled to fly to L.A. (today), so they will pick up on it there." While Schenn was unavailable for comment, his father Jeff confirmed via telephone from Saskatoon that an MRI is scheduled for today, but also described the injury as minor and doesn't believe any surgery will be required. Thanks, Matt and James. When the Kings provide an update, we'll pass it along -- and get confirmation on which knee Schenn injured.

7 Daily News Tickets for Kings home games go on sale today Daily News Wire Services Posted: 09/09/ :00:44 AM PDT Updated: 09/09/ :07:15 AM PDT Tickets for all 41 Los Angeles Kings home games will go sale at 10 a.m. today on the team's website, lakings.com, and by phone at 888-Kings LA. Games expected to draw the most interest from fans are those against Vancouver, which eliminated the Kings in the first round of last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, said Chris McGowan, the Kings senior vice president of business operations and chief marketing officer. The Kings are predicting record ticket sales for this season and their largest season ticket sales since beginning play at Staples Center in 1999, McGowan said. The Kings have had 97 percent of their season seats renewed from last season and some season ticket price ranges are sold out, McGowan said. McGowan credited the strong sales to the Kings' improved play they qualified for the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 "a good staff and a good sales plan." Making the playoffs "gives you the opportunity to capture this marketplace, but your staff and the organization have to be ready when those opportunities present themselves and be prepared for all the new people checking out your product," McGowan told City News Service.

8 NHL.com Toews-Kane EA NHL 11 duel? Toews wants rematch Toews wouldn't. He's an X-generation gamer just like No. 88, and he also created his likeness in the old EA NHL games. He would put himself on either the Winnipeg Jets or the L.A. Kings (he was a big Wayne Gretzky fan). Hockey's best players by the numbers they wore By John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist Luc Robitaille Talk about a star basically walking in off the street: The Kings took Robitaille in the ninth round in 1984 and saw him become the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history, with 668 goals. Robitaille scored 40 or more goals in his first eight seasons, surpassed 50 goals three times (and 60 once), and broke the 100-point barrier four times. Not bad for someone taken 171st -- well behind a future Hall of Famer in a different sport, Tom Glavine. Runner-up: Dino Ciccarelli Also in the mix: Evgeni Nabokov, Ed Belfour, Bob Pulford Billy Smith Little did the Los Angeles Kings know when they allowed a young goaltender named Billy Smith to go to the expansion New York Islanders in 1972 that they were letting a future Hall of Famer walk out the door. Smith took his lumps with the expansion Isles, but became one of the NHL's great money goaltenders while leading the club to four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. Runner-up: Grant Fuhr Also in the mix: Curtis Joseph, Pelle Lindbergh Wayne Gretzky There actually have been three other players (Wilf Paiement and Rick Dudley in the early 1980s, and Joe Lamb with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1930s) who also wore No. 99. But Gretzky, who idolized Gordie Howe but couldn't get No. 9 when he started playing junior hockey because a teammate had it, has turned No. 99 into the most recognizable number in hockey. No player in hockey, and maybe in any sport, is as identified with a number as Gretzky is with No and with his number retired throughout the League, The Great One and the NHL's last two-digit number figure to stay that way for a long time.

9 Press-Telegram Tickets for Kings home games go on sale today Daily News Wire Services Posted: 09/09/ :00:44 AM PDT Updated: 09/09/ :07:15 AM PDT Tickets for all 41 Los Angeles Kings home games will go sale at 10 a.m. today on the team's website, lakings.com, and by phone at 888-Kings LA. Games expected to draw the most interest from fans are those against Vancouver, which eliminated the Kings in the first round of last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, said Chris McGowan, the Kings senior vice president of business operations and chief marketing officer. The Kings are predicting record ticket sales for this season and their largest season ticket sales since beginning play at Staples Center in 1999, McGowan said. The Kings have had 97 percent of their season seats renewed from last season and some season ticket price ranges are sold out, McGowan said. McGowan credited the strong sales to the Kings' improved play they qualified for the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 "a good staff and a good sales plan." Making the playoffs "gives you the opportunity to capture this marketplace, but your staff and the organization have to be ready when those opportunities present themselves and be prepared for all the new people checking out your product," McGowan told City News Service.

10 Daily Breeze Tickets for Kings home games go on sale today Daily News Wire Services Posted: 09/09/ :00:44 AM PDT Updated: 09/09/ :07:15 AM PDT Tickets for all 41 Los Angeles Kings home games will go sale at 10 a.m. today on the team's website, lakings.com, and by phone at 888-Kings LA. Games expected to draw the most interest from fans are those against Vancouver, which eliminated the Kings in the first round of last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, said Chris McGowan, the Kings senior vice president of business operations and chief marketing officer. The Kings are predicting record ticket sales for this season and their largest season ticket sales since beginning play at Staples Center in 1999, McGowan said. The Kings have had 97 percent of their season seats renewed from last season and some season ticket price ranges are sold out, McGowan said. McGowan credited the strong sales to the Kings' improved play they qualified for the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 "a good staff and a good sales plan." Making the playoffs "gives you the opportunity to capture this marketplace, but your staff and the organization have to be ready when those opportunities present themselves and be prepared for all the new people checking out your product," McGowan told City News Service.

11 Kings happy with last season's formula By MARK WHICKER COLUMNIST THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER EL SEGUNDO Not that this is a "Eureka!" moment, but winning teams need stars. There is no All-Role-Player Game, after all. But in Southern California, some fans and media types think there's nothing else in the sky. The Dodgers were at their most interesting with Manny or Piazza or Fernando or Gibson, guys who dimmed the rest of the lineup card. The Lakers, of course, always have had the only-one-name-needed guys: Shaq, Magic, Kobe, Kareem. The Angels' ensemble cast of 2002 knocked the star theory in the head, but the Ducks used three cinch Hall of Famers to fashion the Stanley Cup year of And the Kings never have been better or more relevant than in the Gretzky years, when the limos clogged Manchester Avenue, and the club came within an illegal stick of winning the 1993 Cup. Dean Lombardi, the Kings' meticulous general manager, spent his summer with his telescope focused on a free-agent nova named Ilya Kovalchuk. "We were over-reliant on our power play," Lombardi said Thursday, a couple of days before HockeyFest, the unofficial faceoff to a season of high ambition. The Kings tied a club record with 46 victories last season and added forward Alex Ponikarovsky and defenseman Willie Mitchell. "We were 18th in 5-on-5 scoring and that is not good enough," Lombardi said. "Historically teams that perform well 5 on 5 become the best playoff teams. Our skill level up front probably doesn't match up to the top teams. And Kovalchuk has the element to make something out of nothing, to score. Were we looking for that? Yes." Kovalchuk also can sell seats in the highest orbits of Staples Center. He has topped 50 goals twice and had 41 last season. But Lombardi is looking at solar systems here, not just stars. Don't ask him who the "face of the franchise" is. He already has an unquestioned star, Drew Doughty, but Doughty shines on the ice, not on billboards. Eventually Kovalchuk made Lombardi's decision easy by re-signing with New Jersey for $100 million over 15 years. Lombardi lost time over all this, since the deal was not approved until last week. He lost no sleep. "Everyone knows how I feel about team," he said. "You play for the jersey. These guys are not mercenaries. If you don't get the right contract, what's the use of going through what we've gone through here? What good is it if you have three top guys, getting all the money, and nothing else?" So it is back to defense and goaltending and young playmakers such as Anze Kopitar. The regular Kings fan, the one who puts on the Doughty sweater and can't say "Ducks" without making a rhyme, seemed quite happy with the formula last season, especially during a deafening but short playoff run, a six-game loss to Vancouver. That was a gift. Another one-and-done will not be forgiven as easily. "Any success we had is only useful if we learned why we failed," Lombardi said. "Really good teams have expectations and they need them. I liked the fact that we were No. 1 (in the West) for a while, we didn't come out of nowhere like Cinderella. I also liked that our young players took the responsibility for winning. We weren't carried by the veterans.

12 "This year we have bona fide expectations. But to get to the high-rent district is a lot harder. When Chicago plays San Jose that's a level of hockey you don't see." Mitchell, an ornery body-mover, augments a defense that already features Doughty, Jack Johnson, Rob Scuderi, Matt Greene, Peter Harrold and prospects Colten Teubert, Thomas Hickey and Jake Muzzin. Lombardi said quality defensemen "make five other guys better" and points out that the top defense pairs of last year's playoffs, Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook and Chris Pronger-Kimmo Timmonen, made the Cup finals. Like most years, the goaltending will draw the questions. Unlike any other year, the questions will be "Which one?" instead of "Who?" Rookie Jonathan Bernier was spectacular at times last year and Lombardi said it would be fine if he and U.S. Olympian Jonathan Quick split 82 games, like Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog once did. "If this is a problem I welcome it," he said, laughing. "I remember sitting there (four years ago) watching (Barry) Brust and (Yutaka) Fukufuji play goal for us. You think I'd rather have that situation, or two guys with a chance to be No. 1 goalies? "They'll push each other. Quick played 72 games last year. People said he was worn down. I'll take this problem. I just want to let it play itself out." Two goalies, four lines, a whole fishing village of defensemen. The Kings seem to know how many names you need to put on a Stanley Cup. That's why they're all the same size.

13 You ve Been Blinded Patrick Crawley Who s the King of Los Angeles? Posted on 10 September 2010 by Patrick Crawley Remember the concept of the King of New York? In the 90s it was a really big deal. Everybody wanted the title: Jay-Z, Biggie, even Christopher Walken. And those who didn t want it loved to talk about it. It was one of the best conversation starters in recent memory. Later, the idea spawned the biggest post-east Coast-West Coast rap feud, Jay-Z vs. Nas, and spilled over into sports, with Derek Jeter being the obvious choice to wear the crown. The King of New York crown was, and in some ways still is, a cultural hallmark, but for some reason the concept never crossed coasts. Nobody ever talks about the King of Los Angeles. Granted, it s the City of Angels, not the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, but L.A. is still a place where stars are made. (They re made every day it seems, whether we like it or not.) And it is home to nearly 4 million people. Doesn t it deserve a king too? I say yes. And, since it s my list, I say all of the nominees should be athletes as much as Hollywood defines L.A., we all know sports is the true lifeblood of the city. Why else would you see Dodger blue, Laker purple and gold and USC cardinal and gold every time you walk the streets? Here are the nominees for King of L.A., with my verdict at the end. Andre Ethier RF, Los Angeles Dodgers 28 years old Resume: 5 seasons, 95 HR, 343 R, 374 RBI,.290 BA,.850 OPS, 1 All-Star appearance There are many talented players on the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Broxton and Matt Kemp all come to mind but the biggest cheer in Dodger Stadium is always reserved for Andre Ethier. It s easy to see why. Not only is Ethier a sweet-swinging lefty with a canon for an arm and televnovela good looks, he s also a Mexican-American, endearing him even more to the largely Hispanic Dodger fanbase. Remember, this is a team that dedicated an entire section of the stadium to Manny Ramirez when he arrived in Never underestimate the relevance of Latino heritage in the city of L.A. If there s a knock against Ethier, it s that he has left the Dodgers high and dry in consecutive NLCS series losses to the Phillies. In 44 NLCS plate appearances, he s hitting just.244 with a homer and three RBI. In spite of his postseason shortcomings, it s impossible for fans not to like him. One look at his cherubic face and all is forgiven in Dodgertown. Anze Kopitar C, Los Angeles Kings 23 years old Resume: 4 seasons, 113 goals, 172 assists, 9 game-winning goals, 1 All-Star appearance Kopitar is the leader of a dynamic young Kings team that made it to the playoffs for the first time in eight years last season. Kopitar led the Kings in both goals (34) and assists (47) in 2009 and finished top 20 in the NHL in points (81, just one point behind Zach Parise). Little known fact: he s also the first Slovenian player ever to play in the NHL. Kopitar carries himself with about as much presence as Calista Flockhart in a buffet line, but he is the real deal on the ice. In his first NHL playoff series, he scored two goals and recorded three assists in L.A. s 4-2 series loss to Vancouver. With him, 20-year-old defenseman Drew Doughty and 25-year-old winger Dustin Brown in their ranks, the Kings will be a contender for years to come. Kobe Bryant SG, Los Angeles Lakers 32 years old

14 Resume: 14 seasons; 25,790 points; 5,410 rebounds; 4,766 assists; 12 AS app; 1 MVP; 2 Finals MVPs; 5 championships; 2008 Olympic gold medal What can you say about Kobe Bryant that hasn t already been said by legions of car flagging, mouth-frothing, MVP-chanting Lakers fans? 14 seasons into his career, he s a Laker legend, an unmatched competitor and one of the most reliable late-game performers the league has ever seen. He s so good it s scary. He ll rip your heart out, then smile for the cameras after he s done. When teamed with Shaquille O Neal in the early 2000s, Kobe was a force of nature who was forced to bend to the whims of his elders. The duo combined for three championships, but you could tell Kobe was never really happy. Now he s the elder, capturing two straight NBA titles and setting his sights on Michael Jordan s once-ironclad legacy, and he s never been happier. Sure, he s had more rough patches than Robert Downey Jr. in the 90s, but Lakers fans always seem to forgive him. He s one of the most revered athletes in the history of L.A. sports. Matt Barkley QB, University of Southern California 20 years old Resume: 2 seasons; 2,992 passing yards; 20 TD; 14 INT; 60.5% completion; 1 bowl victory As a true freshman last season, Barkley beat out Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain for the starting quarterback job (making him the first true freshman ever to start a Trojans opener). He went on to throw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns, lead USC to an Emerald Bowl victory over Boston College, and win the hearts of thousands of screaming teenage girls. This season, Barkley is again the starter for Southern California s most high profile football team (sorry, Chargers fans), and he s off to a great start. In spite of numerous offseason distractions (chief among them the NCAA sanctions), he threw for 257 yards and a record-tying five touchdown passes last week in a win over Hawai i. The Trojans are ineligible for the postseason this year, but L.A. is still expecting great things from its baby-faced assassin. Torii Hunter CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 35 years old Resume: 3 seasons, 64 HR, 229 R, 242 RBI,.289 BA,.850 OPS, 2 AS app, 2 Golden Gloves When the Angels signed Hunter to a five-year, $90 million in 2007, it was a move met with shaking heads and condescending smiles. You re going to pay that guy $90 million? Good luck keeping him motivated. But three years later, Hunter is one of the most productive Angels on the field and one of L.A. s (make that Anaheim s) most gregarious athletes off it. You d be hard pressed to find a more well-liked player among fans and sportswriters than Torii Hunter. Not only has Hunter made two straight All-Star appearances and picked up consecutive Gold Gloves, this season marks his third straight with over 20 home runs, 70 runs and 70 RBIs. And he brings it in the postseason as well; career playoff averages:.305 BA,.370 OBP,.858 OPS. Not bad for a guy everybody thought would be a Christina Hendricks-sized bust. Final Verdict: Kobe Bryant If you didn t see this one coming, you need to visit LensCrafters immediately. This was the most obvious ruling since the Phil Spector murder trial. There are few athletes in the world who are as famous as Kobe, let alone in Los Angeles. It s not that Andre Ethier, Anze Kopitar, Matt Barkley and Torii Hunter aren t good at what they do. They are, and their respective fanbases love them for it. But Kobe is great (make that legendary), and his fans don t just love him, they adore him to the point of lunacy even this horrendous photoshoot couldn t derail him. There s no bridge they won t cross for him, no chant they won t scream. Kobe is to L.A. what Derek Jeter is to New York, Michael Jordan was to Chicago and Larry Bird was to Boston. (Sorry, Lakers fans, you had to know I was going to slip a Celtics reference in there somewhere.) He s not a cult figure. He s larger than life. And soon after he retires, he ll have the statue outside the arena to prove it. If any man deserves to be King of L.A., it s Kobe Bryant. Now if you ll excuse me, I ve got a Christopher Walken movie to watch. Patrick Crawley is the sports editor for Neon Tommy and the managing editor of Basketball Fiend.

15 CBS Sports.com Wes Goldstein Pacific camp preview: Are Sharks finally title ready? One of the NHL's marketing campaigns coming out of the lookout had ads featuring several star players wondering if the coming season was going to be their team's year. Funny thing about that question is that the San Jose Sharks have been asking it of themselves for much of the last decade. So naturally it will be front and center as the season approaches and the NHL's most disappointing team once looks for a way to get over the playoff hump that has perennially ruined solid regular seasons. San Jose did seem to make some strides last spring after it added sniper Dany Heatley in a preseason trade and slotted him with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to create one of the league's most dangerous lines. The Sharks finished atop the Western Conference and then ousted powerhouse Detroit in the second round. But instead of that being a major stepping stone, the impressive series turned out to be a prelude to more frustration when the Sharks were swept out of the conference finals by eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago. The conventional wisdom at the time was that San Jose's latest setback provided the perfect opportunity for general manager Doug Wilson to change directions and overhaul his roster. But Wilson has resisted the temptation for the most part this offseason, largely because his group finished in the league's top five in offense and special teams and had the NHL's eighth-best defense. In fact, Wilson opted to make only one major change by signing free-agent goalies Antero Nittymaki and Antti Niemi while letting veteran Evgeni Nabokov go to Russia. San Jose lost future Hall of Famer Rob Blake and grinder Manny Malhotra to free agency as well, but the Sharks used some of the savings to sign Marleau and another key forward, Joe Pavelski, to four-year contract extensions, in essence keeping together the guts of a lineup that always seems on the verge of a breakthrough -- one that Wilson apparently believes is imminent. "The players know they left it all on the ice and that's a big difference," the GM said after the loss to Chicago. "Last year, I don't know if they felt that way and that's a big step." Maybe, although a couple of traditional Pacific Division bottom feeders last season could probably say the same thing because both the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes were among the league's best stories for vastly different reasons. The Kings in many ways resembled teams like the Blackhawks, Penguins and Capitals of a few years ago, made up mainly of young talents drafted and developed by the organization that showed the initial signs of developing into a potential powerhouse. That could happen this season. Center Anze Kopitar is coming off an offensive breakthrough, 20-year-old Drew Doughty has blossomed into one of the league's best defensemen and the Kings have the kind of quality goaltender in Jonathan Quick they have been lacking since the mid-1990s. Los Angeles can still use a little more firepower up front, which is the reason the Kings were in on the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes for much of the summer. But in the meantime, they have solidified the back end by adding rugged stay-at-home defenseman Willie Mitchell. Meanwhile the Coyotes, expected to contend for the lottery draft pick, head into the new season as something of a wild card, one that is unlikely to catch teams by surprise the way they did last season. Phoenix stunned the hockey world with the best season in franchise history thanks to Vezina-quality goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov, a stingy defensive system created by coach Dave Tippett and a remarkable success rate in shootouts. But the ownership issues have not been settled and the franchise's future in Phoenix still remains in question as training camp approaches, a situation that limited the team's activity during the offseason. Even so Phoenix added veteran Ray Whitney and managed to bring back Lee Stempniak after he tested the open market, while losing defenseman Zbynek Michalek and speedy forward Matthew Lombardi to free agency. Those moves should be enough to keep the Coyotes in playoff contention, particularly since division rivals Anaheim and Dallas are essentially in rebuilding mode. The Ducks will be entering the post-scott Niedermayer era this season with the future Hall of Famer retiring and leaving a gaping hole along what was once a dominant blue line. The arrival of defenseman Toni Lydman will help and the return of Teemu Selanne boosts

16 an offense led by the big three of Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. But unless goaltender Jonas Hiller stands on his head all season, the Ducks might be a team challenged to reach the.500 mark this season. For their part, the Dallas Stars would probably be thrilled to get close to that kind of record this season. The Stars have been going through major changes in the last year with owner Tom Hicks trying to sell off the team and sophomore GM Joe Nieuwendyk trying to keep the team relevant in its market while working with a shoestring budget. Dallas does have some big-time talent up front with Brad Richards, Loui Eriksson, James Neal and Brenden Morrow, but the group along the blue line leaves much to be desired and goalie Kari Lehtonen has yet to live up to his hype. Nieuwendyk's inability to spend money kept him from adding any impact players this summer, but what Dallas fans will notice most about the team this season will be the absence of franchise icon Mike Modano and veteran goalie Marty Turco, both of whom were allowed to leave via free agency.

17 Rosebud Magazine L.A. Kings: Hockey Rebirth in Southern California Written by Happy Kreter Wednesday, 08 September :58 Drew Doughty is one of the NHL's best defenseman and a key to the improvement of the LA KingsThe long-suffering Los Angeles Kings look like they re finally ready to bump one of hockey s longest slumps. The Southern California NHL team has a crop of hungry and talented young players including Anze Kopitar, Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, and Wayne Simmonds, along with stalwart veterans like Dustin Brown and Ryan Smyth. That crew helped them make the playoffs in for the first time in seven years, and they plan to improve on that output in The Kings entered the NHL in In their entire history, they ve only made it past the second round of the playoffs once. In , led by Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles played for the Stanley Cup. They lost that best-of-seven series in five games to the Montreal Canadiens, and missed the playoffs the following year. In the 16 seasons since that run to the Stanley Cup finals, the Kings have made the playoffs just five times. On only one of those occasions did they win a series - in the season but they were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in the second round. After finishing poorly for so many years, the Kings have had their share of high draft picks. But only now are those prospects starting to blossom. Outstanding defenseman Drew Doughty was a first round pick by the Kings in The 20-year-old is already a central part of the Kings improving play, and was their best blueliner in last season s playoff appearance. Anze Kopitar was another Kings first-rounder, taken 11th overall in But that wasn t the only shrewd move L.A. made that year. They also traded to acquire Jack Johnson, the year s third overall pick, who was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes. Now both Kopitar and Johnson are indispensable components in the Kings line up. Having high draft picks turn into solid contributors is perhaps expected, but it s far from a sure thing. Most top 10 NHL picks never turn into league regulars. So the Kings deserve credit for drafting well, but even more so for second-round pick Wayne Simmonds, who was the 61st player taken in the 2007 draft. Simmonds has been a depth player for the Kings, but a consistent part of their line up all the same. The 2010 playoffs, however, were his coming out party. Simmonds was a huge part of both the scoring and grit that gave the Vancouver Canucks a stiff test in round one. Now, that core of young, talented, and still developing players on the Los Angeles Kings is prepared to take the NHL by storm. Dustin Brown will wear the captain s C this year, and lead the likes of Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, and Wayne Simmonds into battle. The recent acquisition of veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell and forward Alex Ponikarovsky will help along the way as well. Based on the trajectory of the team, will be a disappointment if the Kings don t win at least one playoff round.