LA KINGS NEWS CLIPS 9/13/11

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1 LA KINGS NEWS CLIPS 9/13/11

2 FROM LAKINGS.COM `Legends Night games announced Posted by Rich Hammond on 12 September 2011, 11:12 am The Kings will wear their vintage purple-and-gold jerseys for three home games this season, as they once again honor former players. Bernie Nicholls will be honored on Dec. 10, when the Kings host Dallas. Daryl Evans will be honored Jan. 2, when the Kings host Colorado. Charlie Simmer will be honored Feb. 18, when the Kings host Calgary. Also, for those who might not have been following the blog on a Sunday afternoon, and who want a quick reference point to all the news and notes from yesterday s Hockey Fest, I ll link to all the items. I ll also post videos as they become available Lombardi update on Doughty Players talk about Doughty absence Mystery man Fraser appears in L.A. Kopitar healthy, ready to go `State of the franchise review On the road, with Dustin Penner Williams also healthy, ready to go Williams also healthy, ready to go Posted by Rich Hammond on 11 September 2011, 7:00 pm Given the serious nature of his leg injury, Anze Kopitar s summer recovery has obviously been a major topic of discussion, but Kopitar wasn t the only recovering King. Justin Williams underwent offseason surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder. Williams returned late in the season, wearing a highly restrictive shoulder harness, but had the surgery done once the Kings were eliminated from the playoffs and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of training camp next weekend. WILLIAMS: The shoulder feels great. I was able to get it out of the way quicker than actually I wanted. I wanted to be able to play a few (playoff) rounds before I got it fixed, but we lost in the first round and I got it done two weeks after that. It s been four months now, so there s no issue at all. Question: When you tried to come back and play at the end of last season, how bad was it? WILLIAMS: It wasn t great. [laughs] Sometimes you play through it. Everyone is injured at that time of the season. It seemed that my injury was just more publicly broadcast than all the other ones. It was fine. It s something that I had to deal with, and I did. Question: After Simon Gagne signed, he credited you as a guy who helped recruit him to come to the Kings WILLIAMS: I put my recruiting hat on, yeah. I heard we were somewhat interested, and I called him and asked him about it. He said yes. That day, for those guys, is pretty whirlwind, the first few days of free agency. You re probably getting a lot of phone calls and stuff, but I think the familiarity with myself and Gagne, playing my first four years in Philadelphia with him and kind of growing up together, probably helped him along. Now we both have two kids. We re older. We re two of the older forwards on the team, whereas before we were youngsters when we broke in. It s good to see him here.

3 Question: Looking at the roster, you ve played quite a bit with Kopitar but you also have the history with Gagne. Any thoughts on which line you might fit on? WILLIAMS: Interchangeable parts are pretty good up front. It s exciting to know that no teams are going to be abel to key on one line. When you can have that balanced scoring that we anticipate having here, not only from the top two lines but certainly our bottom two as well, you re going to have a good time. You re going to be a thorn in the opponents sides most nights. On the road, with Dustin Penner Posted by Rich Hammond on 11 September 2011, 5:40 pm Dustin Penner walked into the Staples Center press room wearing his new Kings road jersey, with the number 25 on the back and sleeves, but that was not the most-discussed number associated with Penner. Penner, whose fitness level came into public criticism late last season, declined to reveal his exact weight but said he had lost 10 pounds since early July and had lost fat while adding muscle. Penner had already, in July, appeared to drop some weight since the end of the season. Penner talked seriously about his fitness, then showed some of his trademark dry wit when asked about his decision to move to Hermosa Beach, closer to the Kings training facility. Question: How are you feeling these days? PENNER: Better than I ever have. I think I ve gained muscle mass, and that s probably from doing 2,000 yards of lunges every day in the summer. There s a lot more focus on strength and flexibility, as a combination, as opposed to just strength. I learned a lot. Question: Terry talked about your decision to move closer to the training facility PENNER: For the season. I still own the house (in Orange County). It s very stressful driving in the carpool lane without somebody in the passenger seat. Question: Has the California Highway Patrol taken note of this? PENNER: They have. [smiles] We had a nice conversation. You just pay the fine. There s no demerits. It s just a slap on the wrist. It s good for the state, right? There s a budget crisis.

4 Kings to Honor Bernie Nicholls, Daryl Evans and Charlie Simmer as part of this year's Legends Night Series Presented by McDonald's Sunday, / 12:10 PM / Press Releases LAKings.com LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Kings will honor former standouts Bernie Nicholls, Daryl Evans and Charlie Simmer as the Kings unveiled their Legends Night Series presented by McDonald s for this season. The Kings will wear their Vintage Jerseys as part of these special evenings at STAPLES Center, which will take place on December 10 when the Kings honor Nicholls; on January 2 when the Kings honor Evans; and on February 18 when the Kings honor Simmer. Said Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille: Our initial Legends Series last year was a tremendous success and we are very pleased to continue the tradition this year. The opportunity to recognize and honor individuals who helped establish a foothold for our franchise during our 45 years in Los Angeles is something we and our fans take great pride in. These will be three very special nights. Nicholls was selected in the fourth-round (73rd overall) in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft and went on to score 475 goals in the NHL. With the Kings, Nicholls scored a career-high 70 goals during the season. That 70-goal season represents a mark which still stands as a Kings season-high. He also led the Kings in overall scoring on two occasions. Nicholls also created his fan-favorite, famous Pumper-Nicholl goal celebration after each tally. Nicholls career ended during the season. Evans was originally selected by the Kings in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. The left wing played for the Kings, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs during his career, and he played in 11 career playoff games with the Kings and registered 13 points (all of those 13 points came with the Kings during the 1982 playoffs). However, no goal or no point was more memorable than the famed Miracle on Manchester tally at the Great Western Forum. Down 5-0 in the third period of that game on April 10, 1982, the Kings steadily chipped away at Edmonton s lead and tied the game with five seconds left in regulation. At 2:35 of the extra period, Evans, then a rookie, sent a shot over Grant Fuhr s shoulder to seal an improbable end to an incredible game. He is currently in his 13th season as the Kings radio color commentator. Simmer, who played left wing on the infamous Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor in the late 70s and early 80s, recorded back-to-back 56-goal and 100-plus point seasons with the Kings in and and he was named a first team NHL All-Star both seasons. Simmer also played in the 1981 NHL All- Star Game (hosted by Los Angeles) with Dionne and Taylor, and Kings goalie Mario Lessard. Simmer scored at least one goal in a team record 13 straight games from Nov. 24 Dec. 27, 1979, and he ranks seventh overall (and second among left wings) on the Kings all-time goals list (222 goals). A member of the Kings organization from , he also ranks ninth overall on the Kings all-time scoring list, collecting 466 points ( =466) in 384 career regular season games wearing the Crown. He remains involved with hockey today as he serves as a TV color commentator for Calgary. Last year the Kings recognized, Rogie Vachon, Bob Berry and Bob Pulford.

5 latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-doughty ,0, story latimes.com Kings camp nears, and still no Drew Doughty GM Dean Lombardi says he maintains hope the restricted free agent defenseman will be present Friday for pre-training camp physicals. By Helene Elliott 7:17 PM PDT, September 11, 2011 AEG, the Kings' parent company, fast-tracked the construction of an NFL stadium in Los Angeles but so far has been unable to get restricted free agent Drew Doughty under contract. As expected, Doughty didn't attend the Kings' Hockey Fest on Sunday at Staples Center. General Manager Dean Lombardi said he would soon talk to his boss, Tim Leiweke, who will discuss with owner Philip Anschutz how far the Kings will go to secure the 21-year-old defenseman. Players are due in El Segundo on Friday for pre-training camp physicals and will take to the ice Saturday. "I still have hope he'll be here Friday. I don't know if I expect it but I have hope," Lombardi said after fielding questions from a crowd of about 3,000. "It's better than no hope." Lombardi said he spoke to Doughty's agent, Don Meehan, three times last week and agreed they won't comment publicly. But when asked what the problem is, Lombardi responded quickly. "You can figure out the problem. It's how much and length," he said. "That's the two issues. There's a couple of variables." He said they haven't discussed no-trade or no-move clauses. He also said he might speak to Doughty directly to convey his commitment to winning and willingness to pay Doughty fairly. A report last week by Nick Kypreos of Canada's Sportsnet network said Doughty rejected a nine-year, $61.2-million offer. However, that was proposed early in negotiations and is longer than Doughty wants. Team captain Dustin Brown said players returning to town "want to get him here as soon as possible." Brown added, "I have confidence that they'll figure it out. He's not going to not play for us." Etc. Center Anze Kopitar, who underwent surgery in late March after breaking his right fibula and tearing a ligament, said he has been skating a month without pain but feels discomfort because of swelling. He will try stretching his skate boot to alleviate that. "The doctor said it takes up to a year to get the swelling down and that's normal so I'm not concerned with that," he said. Center Colin Fraser, whose surgically repaired right ankle is the focus of a grievance filed by the Kings against the Edmonton Oilers, was freed from his protective boot about 10 days ago and might skate this week. He's not allowed to run or jump and is unlikely to fully participate in camp from the start. "It's coming," he said. "It doesn't feel 100% but it's getting close. I'm hoping to skate this week but that doesn't mean I can just jump right into scrimmages. I'm going to need a few skates to learn how to play hockey again. It's been six months since I've even looked at my skates." The Kings contend the Oilers misrepresented the extent of Fraser's injury before sending him to Los Angeles in the Ryan Smyth trade. Both teams have filed positions with the league. Jeff Solomon, the Kings' vice president of legal affairs, said the process is "in the home stretch. We hope to have some finality in the next few weeks." helene.elliott@latimes.com twitter.com/helenenothelen Copyright 2011, Los Angeles Times

6 The Fabulous Forum The who, what, where, when, why and why not of L.A. sports «Previous Post The Fabulous Forum Home Next Post» Kings' Westgarth saddened by deaths of fellow enforcers September 11, :23 pm Emptying the digital recorder after Sunday s Hockey Fest event held by the Kings at Staples Center... The deaths of enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak since May have stunned the NHL and resonated especially deeply with Kings forward Kevin Westgarth. Westgarth, who has three assists and 114 penalty minutes in 65 career NHL games, said he can empathize with the various struggles and the roller coaster it can be to be a tough guy and said he felt sorry for the families each player left behind. I ve been extremely lucky. It s just an incredible tragedy, he said Sunday. I m in essentially the same role as those guys. It s not hugely different. It kind of makes you look in the mirror. It s awful. And it does hit a little closer to home and it s just really confusing. Boogaard s death was attributed to an accidental and toxic mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone. His family donated his brain to a Boston University study on the effects of repeated brain trauma. Examining those brains and injuries that they ve had hopefully will yield some results and out of a tragedy some good will come, Westgarth said. Inevitably it is our choice and we all kind of know the deal. It s impossible to say what the causes were and how much every little piece means. It s just extremely sad. On a lighter note, left wing Dustin Penner said he feels better than he ever has after losing 10 pounds this summer. He wouldn t disclose his new weight but did say he will also shed his long commute. After the Kings acquired him from Edmonton last Feb. 28, Penner commuted to El Segundo from Orange County, where he had bought a house after falling in love with the area during his time with the Ducks. He will live closer to the Kings El Segundo practice facility this season though he said he will keep his O.C. residence. He won t miss the commute, but the folks who collect payments for traffic tickets might miss him. It s very stressful driving in the carpool lane without someone in the passenger seat, he said. That breach of the law, he said, was noted by the California Highway Patrol. We had a nice conversation, he said. You just pay the fine. There s no demerits. It s a slap on the wrist. And a windfall for financially strapped California. It s good for the state, right, because of the budget crisis, Penner said.

7 -- Fans came up with some interesting questions for Kings executives during the question-and-answer session that opened the Hockey Fest program. General Manager Dean Lombardi, legal guru Jeff Solomon, assistant GM Ron Hextall and Coach Terry Murray assured fans that Dustin Brown will remain the Kings captain despite the team s acquisition of former Flyers captain Mike Richards, Jonathan Quick will begin camp as the No. 1 goaltender, the Kings young players are developing nicely and the power play should improve with the addition of Richards and Simon Gagne. A fan who criticized the power play -- and justifiably -- was asked by Lombardi to analyze the problem. Predictable, the fan said, to a round of applause. Lombardi said the Kings collective priority will be to learn how to thrive under pressure and that he saw some signs of that last season but not consistently. The next step for this franchise is for those players to understand critical moments, he said. In the playoffs last spring -- a six-game loss to San Jose in the first round -- he said, There were critical moments and we didn t get it done. -- Center Colin Fraser said he tried his best to ignore the feud that developed between the Kings and Oilers after he was traded to Los Angeles and the Kings contended his unhealed ankle injury was worse than had been represented to them. That didn t bother him. What got to him was waiting while the teams sorted through medical opinions, a delay that might keep him from fully participating when training camp opens Saturday. To recap: According to the Kings, the Oilers said Fraser would be cleared to play within a week of being dealt to Los Angeles in the Ryan Smyth trade. But the Kings said their doctors found an unhealed fracture and other problems that would prevent Fraser from playing. Fraser sought an independent opinion through the NHL Players Assn. and was told to give the foot a few more weeks for the bone to knit. When tests showed it hadn t healed, he underwent surgery. It was very frustrating. Not frustrating that whatever is going on between the two teams, that s between them. The frustrating part is the injury, Fraser said. I broke it in March and here I am getting surgery at the end of July. Whoever s right and whoever s wrong, it doesn t matter. I just wish I could have gotten it done a heck of a lot earlier so I wouldn t be in this position of Are you or are you not going to be ready for camp? I could put it behind me and just be ready... Now, coming down to the wire, it s going to be tight. That s the way it goes. That s the way it went for me. ALSO: Kings camp nears, and still no Drew Doughty Last surviving member of Russian hockey team in plane crash dies -- Helene Elliott

8 FROM THE DAILY NEWS J.P. HOORNSTRA KINGS NOTEBOOK: Fan fest goes on without a Doughty By J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer Posted: 09/11/ :27:42 PM PDT Updated: 09/11/ :37:49 PM PDT As the first of approximately 3,000 Kings fans filed into Staples Center on Sunday morning, Pastor Dean Lombardi was preaching to the choir about the importance of re-signing defenseman Drew Doughty. "He will be here for a long time," the Kings general manager said confidently. Of course, Doughty can't play without a contract, and Lombardi is still working on that little matter. Afterward, the GM told reporters that he's still making offers to Doughty's camp, albeit with little progress. Players report to training camp Friday. Doughty was the only player expected to be on the Kings' opening-day roster who didn't attend the team's annual September fan festival. At least his teammates think Doughty will end his holdout in time to join the opening-day roster. "He's a big part of our team," captain Dustin Brown said. "From a personal level, you miss him being around. Whether you're making fun of him, he's making fun of you, it's that camaraderie. The contract issue, players don't really worry about that. It's more about getting him here, around the guys, being part of the group, that we're worried about. "I have confidence that they'll figure it out. He's not going to not play for us. At least that's what I think." Center Anze Kopitar said he's exchanged text messages with Doughty recently, "but nothing major. It is what it is. I'm sure they'll work it out." Added goalie Jonathan Quick, "I think he'll be here at some point. We'll Fraser update Forward Colin Fraser is hoping to skate this week for the first time since suffering a broken bone in his right foot in March. Fraser, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the Ryan Smyth trade in June, shed some light on the injury that eventually led Lombardi to file a grievance with the NHL. Lombardi contended that the Oilers weren't forthcoming about the severity of Fraser's injury at the time of the trade. The 26-year-old center said that he expected to be healthy by then. "At first, it was, 'You don't need surgery, let it heal,' and it just wouldn't heal," Fraser said. "So then it came down to, 'OK, maybe surgery's the option.' If they did surgery every time somebody broke something - that's kind of how they explained it to me. Why didn't I get surgery in March? We don't do surgery every time somebody breaks a bone. I don't care who you are, nobody's predicting it's not going to heal. No one knows why it doesn't heal, but it just never got any better. It was still the same from Day 1 to the end of June." Fraser plans to take part in training camp, but isn't sure to what extent he'll be able to participate. "I need a few skates to feel 100 percent again," he said. "I've got to get my timing back and feeling good again." Notable Kopitar said his offseason preparation wasn't seriously affected by his season-ending leg fracture in March. He plans to make an adjustment to his right skate to accommodate the injury. - Left wing Dustin Penner, on why he moved to Hermosa Beach to be closer to the Kings' practice facility: "It's very stressful driving in the carpool lane without a passenger."

9 FROM DAILY NEWS BLOG J.P. HOORNSTRA A lot of talk about hockey deaths, and a little action. By J.P. Hoornstra on September 13, :43 AM Permalink Comments (0) ShareThis Sunday's Hockey Fest at Staples Center was announced as a sellout - 3,000 tickets sold. If all those Kings fans continue to show up at the turnstiles, it can be considered a success for the team's marketing department. In any other year that might be enough, but this time the event seemed to serve a greater purpose: It brought the focus back to hockey. Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, Wade Belak and the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team -- including former King Pavol Demitra -- all left Earth far too soon, their abrupt and unfortunate deaths overshadowing the usual summer headlines about trades and free agents and the like. "It was shocking," Kyle Clifford said. "It's always tough to see someone go. The hockey community is one big family. You know guys who know them, or you know them, and it's difficult. You have to pay your respects and move forward." But how? Air travel safety in Russia is beginning to get the attention it deserves in light of the Yaroslavl crash. But the deaths of the three enforcers are three separate incidents and must be treated as such, which makes a unified course of action elusive. The guardians of the game in North America, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, released this joint statement after Belak's death Aug. 31: While the circumstances of each case are unique, these tragic events cannot be ignored. We are committed to examining, in detail, the factors that may have contributed to these events, and to determining whether concrete steps can be taken to enhance player welfare and minimize the likelihood of such events taking place. Our organizations are committed to a thorough evaluation of our existing assistance programs and practices and will make immediate modifications and improvements to the extent they are deemed warranted. It is important to ensure that every reasonable step and precaution is taken to make NHL Players, and all members of the NHL family, aware of the vast resources available to them when they are in need of assistance. We want individuals to feel comfortable seeking help when they need help. NHL Clubs and our fans should know that every avenue will be explored and every option pursued in the furtherance of this objective. Matt Greene, the Kings' representative to the NHLPA, was at the association's most recent meeting in Chicago when Belak's death was discussed. Those "existing assistance programs" include the joint NHLPA/NHL Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Program, which is known to have an "educational component" aimed at prevention. Greene said awareness of the program among players is key. "As a member of the PA, all you can do is educate the players about the system," he said. "Just knowing that, I think for us, it's not having the system in place but it's knowing how to use it, how to get access to it. This job as

10 player's rep is to educate other players about it. It's theirs to seek it out. It's something we need to draw more attention to now." As far as taking real action, Greene said that changes to the joint Program have been discussed. "I don't think any change immediately right now, but it's definitely in the works," he said. "It was an issue before even before Belak." Belak's mother said in a recent interview with the CBC that her son suffered from depression. According to one report, Toronto police are considering his death a suicide. Rypien also suffered from depression and is believed to have taken his own life. Boogaard died from an accidental overdose of Oxycondone mixed with alcohol. The connection to Oxycondone, a powerful painkiller, raises questions about the physical toll of an enforcer's job, while the cases of Rypien and Belak have cast light on the mental toll. To that end, Scott Norton, the agent for Kings captain Dustin Brown, has taken some initiative. Norton launched a Twitter campaign last week to raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); he gained about 2,500 followers in the process. Before cutting a check, Norton said Friday that "whatever money is raised is minute compared to what is needed." "We raise or athletes and celebrities on a pedestal like Superman, which makes the fall even louder," he said. "My bigger issue is the way we deal with athletes, the situations, the pressures." Of course, not all enforcers have clinical depression and not all sustain concussions -- Westgarth, for one, said he's never had a concussion in his life. But for those who have, this summer taught us just how immense the toll can be in some cases. In July 2010, former NHL enforcer Bob Probert collapsed and died. Studies on his brain revealed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions. On Sunday, Probert's former roommate in Chicago, Bernie Nicholls, suggested a general course of action. "I think they (the NHL and the NHLPA) just have to do a lot of things with concussions, have a better handle on guys like that that do that for a living and if you have signs," the long-time Kings forward said. During his NHL playing career, from , Nicholls said there was "nothing" in the way of assistance for players suffering from concussions or mental illness. "Even when you got a concussion, you just thought it was a headache, and go back and play," he said. "I think they're doing the right things now. That's just part of the growth of the league and any sport. They know the effect that head injuries have taken on their athletes. I think they're doing the right thing with that."

11 ESPN.com: Los Angeles Hockey [Print without images] Monday, September 12, 2011 Kings: List of rookie camp invitees By Dan Arritt Rookie camp is underway for the Kings at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, with 23 players vying for a coveted roster spot. A year ago, 19-year-old forward Kyle Clifford was considered a long shot to survive training camp, but impressed management enough to make the opening-day roster. Clifford played a big role during the regular season and emerged as one of the most effective players during the playoffs. The highlight of rookie camp is expected to be scrimmages on Wednesday and Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes at Toyota Sports Center. Wednesday s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Thursday s at 2. The rest of the signed players will report Friday for physicals and Saturday for the opening day of training camp. Here s a list of the rookie camp participants, followed by their age, position, height, weight and clubs. FORWARDS Andy Andreoff (20), LW, 6-1, 205, Oshawa (OHL) Taylor Carnevale (20), C, 6-0, 190, Windsor & Barrie (OHL) Robbie Czarnik (21), C, 6-1, 178, Plymouth (OHL) Michael Kantor (19), RW, 6-0, 198, Sault Ste. Marie & Saginaw (OHL) Ray Kaunisto (24), LW, 6-4, 185, Manchester Brandon Kozun (21), RW, 5-9, 164, Manchester Bobby Mignardi (21), RW, 6-0, 186, Owen Sound (OHL) Jordan Nolan (22), C, 6-3, 216, Manchester (AHL) Michael Schumacher (18), LW, 6-3, 168, Frolunda (Swedish junior league) Tyler Toffoli (19), RW, 6-0, 181, Manchester & Ottawa (OHL) Linden Vey (20), RW, 5-11, 176, Medicine Hat (WHL) J.D. Watt (24), RW, 6-2, 196, San Antonio & Abbotsford (AHL) Jordan Weal (19), C, 5-8, 158, Manchester & Regina (WHL) DEFENSEMEN

12 Michal Cajkovsky (19), 6-3, 208, Kingston (OHL) Nicolas Deslauriers (20), 6-0, 205, Gatineau (QMJHL) Pierre Durepos (19), 5-11, 174, Saint John (QMJHL) Colin Miller (18), 6-1, 183, Sault Ste. Marie Jake Muzzin (22), 6-2, 216, Kings (NHL) & Manchester Alex Roach (18), 6-4, 227, Calgary (WHL) Tiegan Zahn (21), 6-3, 210, Saskatoon (WHL) GOALIES Chris Gibson (18), 6-1, 198, Chicoutimi (QMJHL) Martin Jones (22), 6-4, 187, Manchester Mike Morrison (18), 6-0, 175, Kitchener (OHL)

13 FROM FOXSPORTSWEST.COM JON ROSEN Kings rookie camp highlights keen drafting, signings It s three days into the Los Angeles Kings rookie camp, and there is not one former first-round draft pick on the ice at Toyota Sports Center. For an organization such as the Kings rated first league-wide by the online scouting panel Hockey s Future in their annual organizational rankings that determine the depth and talent in a team s prospect pool this is a ranking reflecting the Kings ability to scout, draft and develop talented hockey players once the elite crop of players names are off the board at the NHL Entry Draft. Granted, former first-round pick Brayden Schenn was traded to Philadelphia, and the current Hockey s Future rankings do not reflect his departure. Also, having traded their 2011 first round pick to Edmonton in the Dustin Penner trade, the Kings did not draft until 49th overall this year, when they selected the QMJHL s top-rated goalie, Christopher Gibson. But, by looking up and down the current roster that will take the ice against the Phoenix Coyotes rookies on Wednesday and Thursday, there exists an interesting and seemingly capable mix of skill, toughness and standout goaltending that will be competing for recognition and advancement in a crowded development pool. Two players currently outperforming their draft spot (or in one s case case, his lack of a draft spot) are current Manchester Monarchs Brandon Kozun and Martin Jones. Jones, a goaltender, went undrafted following a productive 17-year-old season as the veteran-heavy Calgary Hitmen s backup in A training camp invite in 2008, he was signed to a three-year contract after a standout camp before returning to Calgary, where he led his junior team to the WHL Championship in Last year, in his first professional season, he represented the Monarchs in the AHL All-Star Game without the ability to legally purchase a celebratory beverage. January s AHL Rookie of the Month, Jones finished his debut season with a record in 39 games with a 2.25 goals against average and.924 save percentage. His Hitmen teammate for four seasons, Kozun, a Los Angeles-born right wing who at one point played for the San Fernando Valley-based West Valley Wolves before moving to Calgary at the age of 10, enjoyed a dynamic season offensively in Manchester as the Monarch s third-leading goal scorer en route to a 48-point rookie campaign. It wasn t until the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft that the 5-9 Kozun heard his name called, while his effort through Monday drew the praise of Kings head coach Terry Murray. I like what I see in the training camp so far, Murray said of Kozun. In the practice he s got high energy, he s got separation speed, and that gives him an advantage to scoring goals. I see a very confident young guy, even more confidence than he had last year at this time. And that s going to be something I m going to watch very closely in the two rookie games coming up and then as we get in to the main camp. I have him penciled in for an exhibition game in the NHL, so I hope he can live up to my expectations. Younger skaters could learn from 2009 fourth-rounder Linden Vey, who returns for his third camp carrying the demeanor of a skilled veteran at one level, having led the WHL with 116 points last year and boasting 262 games of Major Junior experience, with the tenacity and hopefulness of a player looking to make the jump to the American Hockey League as a 20-year old rookie. If you want to play in the NHL, you ve got to be a two-way guy, but I definitely bring more of an offensive flair to the game, Vey said. "I think that if you want to make the pro ranks, you ve got to be able to play in every situation. I just want to be able to be a guy a coach can count on in every situation.

14 Around the rink there is even more evidence of the strong return Los Angeles has received from their drafting and signings. Signed by LA as a free agent midway through his 20-year old season with the OHL s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the 6-foot-4 Jake Muzzin earned playing time with the big club out of his first NHL training camp, appearing in 11 games early in the season before finishing up his first professional season as a versatile defenseman in Manchester, where he transferred his NHL experience to a plus-20 rating in 45 games. Defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, a third-round selection in 2009, led all defensemen in scoring with 20 points in 24 QMJHL playoffs last season, nearly leading the Gatineau Olympiques to the President s Cup before succumbing in six games to the eventual Memorial Cup-Champion Saint John Sea Dogs. His improved maturity and physical strength along with better testing in the grinding fitness and skating drills were acknowledged by Murray on Monday, who enunciated what he expects out of his players later this week. We re getting ready to win games. That s the most important thing, Murray said. And that s the meeting that we have the first day that they arrive, that the week in front of you is going to be about hard work and about structure and about LA Kings system play to get you ready to win two hockey games against the Phoenix rookies later this week. That s what it s all about. In saying that, that demands the players get themselves ready and be able to show us their best looks so that we can sort it out when we get in to main camp and see where they might fit. The Kings rookies face off against the Coyotes rookies at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Admission for each game is $10, with proceeds going to the Kings Care Foundation. Tickets for both games can be purchased at or at the Toyota Sports Center.

15 FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN Gagne - 'Mike Richards is the type of guy I want on my team' Most old sayings are still around because they're often true. In the case of 'familiarity breeds contempt' - it may make sense when applied to many other things, yet Simon Gagne sees his relationship with Mike Richards an entirely different way. "He's a really quiet guy and he's really shy. But, on the ice, he's definitely the type of guy you want to have on your team. He's going to take a check for you. If somebody gives you a cheap shot, he's going to be the first one to go and respond on that. I had a chance to play with him for five years in Philadelphia. Even we he got to the league, he was 20 years old, I think - you could tell though that he was going to be that type of player. That's the perfect model for the type of hockey I think we're going to play here in the West. He's a guy that I want to have on my team when the playoffs come. I'm glad that I'll be able to play with him again." I'll have more with Gagne up soon, including a TV show that he's been using to get tips on the LA lifestyle, some notes on a few of the 'firsts' he's already experienced as a member of the Kings and he he evaluates the team's training facility compared to those in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. For more on Richards though, check out the links below to read what others have had to say about him recently. FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN Terry Murray helps temper high expectations for this season You can call him the voice of reason. While some fans wanted to pull their hair out as Kings coach Terry Murray calmly stood behind the bench during two disastrous losing streaks last season - lost points that ended up costing the team home ice advantage in the playoffs, but more on that later...gm Dean Lombardi didn't share the same opinion. Once the season was over, Lombardi praised Murray's composure and calmness when reflecting on those tough times. If nothing else, Murray has at least been consistent in most areas since talking over as coach here in Los Angeles a few years ago. He drives his points home (defense-first, shot mentality, etc.) until they're heard and his demeanor is usually led by a large degree of patience. Meanwhile at Hockey Fest yesterday, many of the players were running around talking about the team being talented enough to win the Pacific Division or the Western Conference. Some sounded like they were on the verge of saying 'Stanley Cup or bust.' And it may very well be true that this year's roster has the depth and mix to win it all. However, Murray didn't want any part of that when we chatted for a few minutes following this morning's Rookie Camp drills. "We're looking to be a playoff team," Murray began, after I asked for his expectations. "In this league today, with 30 teams, and this Conference - which I think is the most competitive of the two - at the end of the day, on the last day of the season last year, you had Dallas out and Chicago in. The year before it took a shootout for the

16 Flyers to get in and they ended up going right through to the Stanley Cup Finals. It is that close, that competitive and that level of a playing field right now. So, our goal is to be a playoff team. We want to shoot for home ice advantage. We recognize the importance of it." He continued... "The nice thing though, is we've had two years of making the playoffs. So, now we know the path going into this year. We're comfortable, we're more mature and we've added some veteran players to help us get through that process. Now, we have to go walk that path and feel good about it every night. We want to be a contending team right through the whole season." When I pressed for an actual prediction, I should have known where he was going... "I said we know the importance of home ice advantage. That's something you ought to shoot for. Where you finish in the standings, if you can get into that home ice advantage area, that's a real good thing - you've had a good year and it's a great thing to take into the playoffs. I'm not going to be a guy who's going to stand here and guarantee anything because I can't do that. I never have and I never will. But, I know we have high expectations and that's exciting. We're a team that coming out of the (upcoming) training camp, we want to have good team confidence. When you have that, you can hit the ground running and have a great start to the year." As usual, his message was on point. Get home ice advantage first. That means he's looking for spots 1-4 in the West. Back to what I said earlier, isn't that pretty consistent with his message towards the end of last season? Hope the players were listening this time. FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN Matt Greene pulls no punches about Penner's conditioning This needs to be the final article on Dustin Penner's weight... Matt Greene loves to joke around. He's sarcastic, witty and has some of the best comebacks you'll ever hear. However, while on stage at HockeyFest yesterday, he became instantly serious about one topic - Kevin Westgarth's singing ability. Greene swears the Kings resident heavyweight does a mean 'Piano Man' at karaoke night. Westgarth told me it wasn't good enough to break out at his wedding last month - yet, teammates Kyle Clifford and Jonathan Quick back up Greene's claim. A few hours later, Greene went into serious mode again when Penner's name came up during a one-on-one conversation we had (which I'll post more of later). "I've known Pens for a long time and I've been working out with him too," Greene began to explain. "He's not out of shape. He's not fat. He's one of the biggest human beings I've ever seen in my life - when you're talking about things like bone structure. If you look at him, he has a barrel chest of a rib cage and shoulders that are twice the size of any other guy that's about his size. He's a big man, a big skeleton. He's in shape, he's been working hard and doing his job." As for the critics, Greene had this to add... "What are you going to do? How much can you debate it when he's not playing? It's pretty easy to talk negative about him when he's not playing in games. We haven't played a single game yet. So, wait until he starts playing and then they'll see it. I think they're going

17 to notice a difference. He's looked great on the ice and I think he's going to have a big year for us." The end. Time to turn the page. Those who want to keep the topic going are perhaps the same people still asking if Mike Richards will be the new captain, if Ryan Smyth is going to be 'returned' to LA and/or if Drew Doughty is about to get traded. So, the next time you read quotes from Greene on MayorsManor we'll be getting back to what he does best - make us laugh. Like in this article - Matt Greene tattoos his teammates... Penner's pretty funny himself, as evidenced in one of his visits here... And then recently, Ethan Moreau wanted to get in on the debate here, saying neither Greene nor Penner are very funny. We're going to have to settle this soon. Where's Jay Mohr when you need him? FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN Kyle Clifford is not convinced he has spot on the LA Kings If you think the Kings went though a lot of changes this summer, how about what Kyle Clifford experienced last year? A small town kid playing junior hockey knocks the socks off the management group of his NHL team, makes the big club, moves to Los Angeles...and starts getting into scraps with men - often much bigger than him - a couple times a week. Oh, and then he starts scoring big goals in the playoffs. No, this actually happened, we're not describing the plot of some new Disney movie. Although he's been completely embraced by the fan base and his teammates, Clifford says he's coming into this season with a degree of caution. "This summer my focus was that there isn't a legitimate spot that I have locked up. So, I want to continue working hard and just get ready for this season. I want to try and make an impact on this team this year." As with most players, in addition to training, he found time for a few extracurricular activities too. "Hanging out in small town areas, some people might not think it's exciting," Clifford began. "But, I just kind of kept it simple - bonfires with a lot of friends and family, things like that. I also made it out to a country concert. We took a little three-day camping trip to New York to see Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Jared Neiman. It was a lot of fun." Emphasising the important role friends play in Clifford's world, he made time to honor one with a tattoo on the inside of his right bicep last month. It's a few simple words in script lettering that will help him remember a close friend who passed away while Kyle was off in the NHL last season. Bringing it back to the present, yesterday at Hockey Fest, young fans were eager to know more about Clifford during the Kid's Press Conference. Given how quiet he was last year around most of the guys though, I asked if he was a little intimidated or concerned when he found out he'd be up on stage with the always colorful Matt Greene and Kevin Westgarth. "I was actually pretty excited, that's less talking for me. I don't really like to voice my opinion too much, unless it's needed. So, I was excited that they'd be up there to take over most of the talking." Truth be told, Clifford ended up doing plenty of talking, answering everything asked of him - including his Halloween costume, what karaoke song he likes to sing, the weirdest thing he's been asked to autograph and much more. For those that missed the Kings Presser, it was perhaps the highlight of Hockey Fest this year. I'll be sure to post video later this week when the guys over at Kings Vision make it available. We'll also have plenty more notes and quotes from Hockey Fest later today and throughout the week. In the meantime, be sure to check out some related articles below.

18 FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN LA Kings Dustin Brown on off-ice value of Mike Richards A few weeks after the blockbuster trade that brought Flyers captain Mike Richards to the Kings, coach Terry Murray made one thing perfectly clear - Dustin Brown is his captain. Then, when Richards was introduced to the media soon thereafter, he let it be known - he didn't have any grandiose plans about taking on a letter in LA. Still, one of the many questions Murray and GM Dean Lombardi were asked at the team's Hockey Fest on Sunday was 'Is there a change coming to the Kings captaincy?' Of course, the answer was no. And the questions aren't bothering Brown either. When I had a chance to talk with him later in the afternoon, he explained how Richards can help... "I've known Richie since we were about 15 years old and we played against each other in the OHL. I think we kind of have that mutual respect for each other. Not to make a snap judgement on what he's done in Philly, but I think he's had to deal with a lot more - b.s., I guess - than I have as a captain. So, he's kind of been through that, having to dealing with stuff that isn't really hockey related. Thankfully, we don't have a lot of those issues here." However, along with the changes to the roster this summer, expectations have risen. Thus, the pressure may be increasing as well. Again, Brown isn't too concerned - thinking he'll adjust through the growing pains, partly by draw upon Richards' experience. "You're always learning as a leader. I could be having this conversation with you in 10 years and I'd still be learning. Having a guy like him come in really helps with - just the whole feel of the room. We have a lot of good leaders in there, including guys who have been captain, like Ethan Moreau. He's another good one. He's really good for the morale of the room and I think Richie brings a lot of that and more." GM Dean Lombardi made some bold moves this summer to improve his club. At least based upon what the players were saying Sunday, he should be applauded for bringing in exactly what many think the Kings needed. FROM MAYORS MANOR JOHN HOVEN LA Kings Dustin Brown - 'This year is a different feeling' As the captain of the Kings, Dustin Brown has seen things slowly evolve in Los Angeles - moving from a team full of prospects and role players into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. With the acquisitions of Mike Richards, Simon Gagne and Ethan Moreau, he says this year is "entirely different" than any other year up to this point. "We've been making steps and progress every year," explained Brown earlier today. "I remember three or four years ago though, everyone might have been saying 'I'm excited for the season' - but in their mind they knew there was no chance we were going to do anything here. This year, it's a different feeling. That's exciting and, in a sense, a lot more serious. For this team, in talking to some of the other players, we're excited but we have to be focused because this is our time." More later from Brown - including detailed thoughts about why the Kings had to add a guy like Moreau to their bottom-6 this season. Plus, comments from several other players who attended Hockey Fest today.

19 FROM LAIST.COM JIMMY BRAMLETT Dispatches from the Kings' Third Annual Hockey Fest Hockey fans really are a wonder. They have the first Sunday of the NFL season before them. They have overwrought commemorations of the 9/11 tragedy before them. Instead thousands of Kings fans descended upon STAPLES Center early Sunday morning to partake in the third annual Hockey Fest. That s not to say that hockey s offseason is one of celebration. Three non-natural deaths of enforcers, a plane crash that killed off all but one player of an entire Kontinental Hockey League team less than a week ago. And just to muddle the emotional quotient, the Kings did the second-best thing to acquiring free-agent Brad Richards. They acquired Mike Richards and Simon Gagne that instantly vaulted them to Stanley Cup talk despite still not re-signing 21-year old wunderkind defenseman and restricted free agent Drew Doughty. So there was no telling what to expect at the arena. Kings television announcer Bob Miller opened the proceedings with a succinct two-minute prologue about the plane crash in Russia and the 9/11 attacks that included a tribute to pro scout Ace Bailey and amateur scout Mark Bavis who were in the second plane that hit the World Trade Center. To honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks and in this week s plane crash, please at this moment observe a moment of silence, Miller ended. Mercifully there was no melodramatic presentation. No tears. No self-indulgent this-is-how-i-felt-this-is-where-i-was remembrances. No attempts to compensate for the lives lost by delving into an overdose of patriotism. It was just a statement of fact, a moment of silence and on we went. Around the grounds there weren t too many somber words to be heard. The only hint of remembrance was the ubiquitous red lapel ribbons given to fans upon entry to demonstrate that they won t forget, I guess. But other than that, STAPLES Center had become a shelter from 9/11, the NFL, the Angels, the Dodgers and whatever else. All that was being talked about was hockey, the upcoming Kings season and the anticipation for a potentially very special season. Unfortunately for me it was a complete losing situation from the very beginning. I suppose that s what happens when you wake up early Sunday morning to cover an all-day event that begins at 9:00 a.m. When I got myself situated I found that I left my notepad at home and the battery of my voice recorder depleted. I guess that s what happens when I haven t covered a live event in more than a week. But perhaps the most catastrophic of all of this was my body s detoxification process from caffeine. As my head pounded to the beat of every bump on the Harbor Freeway, it would take a Wrigley Field urinal trough sized contraption to get the requisite amount of caffeine to normalize the system. Thankfully they did have coffee readily available in the Chick Hearn Press Room. Unfortunately they only had these tiny disposable cups with which to inject into our system. As I made my way to the seats in the lower bowl of the arena, I found there was nothing left in my cup save for a couple of trickles. Just close your eyes and imagine the brewing terror starting to envelop my entire being. The one hour, 45 minute talk hadn t even started and there I was with everything empty. Thankfully Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times spared me several sheets from her notepad, so at least I wasn t trying to rely on my ever diminishing mental capacity to bring this dispatch. Things got going at 9:17 a.m. as the panel was introduced. Apparently the Kings head coach is now Ted Murray. For the next hourplus the fans lobbed questions at Murray, General Manager Dean Lombardi, Assistant General Manager Ron Hextall and legal affairs executive Jeff Solomon with moderation from Miller. There was talk about the Doughty contract, Dustin Penner s rocking bod, a fan thanking Lombardi for his hard work and an interesting exchange about the power-play where Lombardi turned the tables on the fan. The most disappointing thing about this session was that fans didn t get to experience the full wonders of talking with Lombardi. Okay, they might have gotten a hint of it when he tried to filibuster his way out of the Doughty question. But he didn t go on a 30- minute monologue that meandered from Los Angeles and ended up in Aunt Betty s apple pie. For an event that strives to give the fans as much access as possible, this was a severe letdown.

20 (The basics of Where We Stand With Doughty:. Lombardi spent about five minutes on this question alone and didn t answer it. Each player almost to a man just said, It is what it is, making me further hate these cheap sports clichés.) Another letdown for the fans was standing in a line that wrapped halfway around the STAPLES Center to get a tour of the Kings locker room. Okay so it may be a thrill for fans, and I am just being a cynical writer since I get to be there after every game. But yet again they don t get the full experience of it, the stench of a postgame locker room filled with skates to trip over and the scum of humanity trying to effort a workable quote for their articles. (I didn t go into the locker room, so I don t know whether anything was Febreze-ed.) I think I might have insulted a couple of fans when I pointed out the lack of stench to them. Oops. Surprisingly the entire event was confined to the insides of the STAPLES Center which did make things a tad claustrophobic especially during the question-and-answer sessions on the main concourse. And there were the typical sessions. The Meet the New Kings session. The tiny tiny people hockey match complete with a mom in a wheelchair shouting her encouragement 15 rows from the ice. The kid s session with the always entertaining Matt Greene whose tongue-in-cheek responses are more for the parent s benefit. E.g. What s your favorite television show? The Maury Povich Show. Later on in the session, a four-year old wanted to ask a question but was frightfully shy. Goalie Jonathan Quick went into the crowd to give the kid a hug and coax the question out of him. I forget what the question was, but that wasn t important. But standing there, the poignancy of the moment struck me. In other sports there is a separation between the fans and the athletes that never gets crossed. But hockey players are different. Whether it s the way they were brought up, the fact they know their sport is behind the eight-ball when it comes to the big R s (revenue and ratings) or the nature of the sport that causes them to have a gentler demeanor off the confines of the game. But hockey players are nice guys. Of course there s the occasional asshole mixed in, but in general they are nice guys. The day ended with another rehashing of the Miracle on Manchester and a surprisingly well-played charity game between two LAFD teams ended with the Backdraft team beating the Lightbacks 4-3. After all of this several things were learned. (1) I need to invest in a pair of earplugs. With the new sound system installed at the STAPLES Center, it is loud. And with the press box on the same level as the speakers, I can imagine many head pounding nights to be had. (2) This is more of something that is re-learned. It gets very cold at the arena during hockey games. I sometimes hoped for my feet to be amputated to get the chill out. (3) Never EVER leave the house uncaffeinated or else you wind up writing nearly 1,300 words of utter nonsense.

21 FROM TSN.CA 30 TEAMS IN 30 DAYS: LOS ANGELES KINGS Join TSN.ca in a 30 Teams In 30 Days tour of the NHL in preparation for the upcoming season. Today, we examine the campaign for the Los Angeles Kings. Get the lowdown on their off-season and the issues they face this season. And use the Your! Call feature to give us your take! After a second straight first-round playoff exit for the Kings, general manager Dean Lombardi shook up the very foundation of his team. The acquisitions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne are expected to provide the kind of spark that should allow this team to climb to the next level. The price for those players was high as it saw the departure of highly-touted prospect Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds - a player who had already established himself in the Kings' lineup. The Kings were in the midst of a solid campaign when the injury bug derailed their season. In the span of one short week they lost forward Justin Williams to a separated shoulder and leading scorer Anze Kopitar to a broken ankle. A deadline deal for Dustin Penner provided little to no help for the team offensively and despite Williams' return, they were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks in six games. Following the season, forward Ryan Smyth was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers at his own request in a deal that has left some bad blood between the teams due to the health of Colin Fraser - the player the Kings received in return. As it stands, defenceman Drew Doughty is still a restricted free agent and remains the top priority for the Kings to get signed and back into the lineup. If this situation turns into a contract dispute or another team is able to sign Doughty to an offer sheet, the Kings could be in danger of watching their season go off the rails before it ever had the chance to begin. Here's a look at what's in store for this season. Additions: C Mike Richards, LW Simon Gagne, C Colin Fraser Subtractions: LW Ryan Smyth, RW Wayne Simmonds, C Brayden Schenn, LW Alexei Ponikarovsky, C Michal Handzus, D Peter Harrold Prospect Report: Centre Andrei Loktionov played well during the season in his first real taste of NHL action. He made a one-game cameo for the Kings in the previous season but last season spent 19 games with the big club and produced seven points - including three goals. While playing for the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, the Moscow native had 31 points in 33 games to make a case about his readiness for the next level. If Loktionov can make the squad, he's a player that could be useful at both ends of the ice. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier, a gold medalist at the 2008 World Junior Championship and a first-round draft choice (11th overall), continues to bide his time waiting for a chance to prove himself at the NHL level. Firmly entrenched as the Kings' backup, Bernier had a solid season in , appearing in 25 games and posting an record. His 2.48 goals against average and solid.918 save percentage show that he's ready to step in between the pipes at any point this season if needed. Breakout Player To Watch: Jack Johnson. The third overall pick of the 2005 draft is finally poised to fulfill the level of expectation that was held for him when he was selected. The 24-year-old rearguard posted career highs with 37 assists and 42 points last season. He will be counted on that much more if the Kings can't come to terms with Doughty any time soon. Marquee Matchup: Oct. 15 at Philadelphia and Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton: From a players' perspective there's nothing like sticking it to your former team. And from a fan's perspective, nothing like booing a former member out of the building. With that in mind, Kings fans will have all of their revenge needs taken care of in these two contests. In the first, Mike Richards returns to Philadelphia to play the team that drafted him in the first round, made him captain and then traded him out of town amidst rumours that he and now-former teammate Jeff Carter were more interested in partying than in playing hockey.

22 In the second, Ryan Smyth, who demanded his way out of town, will make his return to L.A. once again as a member of the Edmonton Oilers and it will be interesting to see the reception he is given by his one-time hometown fan base. Other Dates To Watch: Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8: The Kings will open the season in Europe playing the New York Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden and the Buffalo Sabres in Berlin, Germany. Reason To Get Excited: The Kings are going to be an exciting team to watch with the kind of fire power that can light up the scoreboard on any given night. With the likes of Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, Dustin Penner and Drew Doughty (likely) in the lineup, the goal judges out west will be busy all season. On nights when the offence isn't firing on all cylinders, goaltender Jonathan Quick has shown an ability to shut the door or even steal a game when needed. It should all add up to make the Kings a force every time they take the ice. Home Hardware: Drew Doughty. Being an Olympic gold medalist and Norris Trophy finalist is impressive for any defencemen in the NHL but when you are 21 years old it is a sign of much bigger things in the future. Despite having what - for him - can be considered a down year in , Doughty will enter this season as one of the favourites to take home the award for best defenceman. Doughty slumped to 40 points last year, but was his team's leader among defencemen in plus/minus with a plus-13 rating. Newly-acquired Mike Richards is considered to be one of the top two-way forwards in the game. He was a finalist for the Selke at the 2009 NHL Awards where he lost to Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk. In with the Flyers, Richards had 66 points and was a plus-11 and will look to continue his strong play in all aspects of the game on the West Coast. On The Hot Seat: Dustin Penner. When the Kings made their deadline deal with the Edmonton Oilers for Dustin Penner last season (giving up first round pick Colten Teubert as well as a first round pick), they hoped to be gaining an experienced player who would slot in offensively and help them make a deep run into the playoffs. What they ended up getting instead was two goals and six points in 19 regular season games and just one goal in six playoff games before their first-round exit. Penner is a player that is running out of chances in the NHL to achieve a consistent level of play that he has shown flashes of during his career. Penner, with his $4.25 million ticket, is one of the highest-paid players on the Kings and is a free agent at the end of the season. He needs a big year if he's going to be paid anywhere near that well next year and beyond. It's Your! Call: Will the additions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne get the Kings over the first-round hump? In , the Kings broke a lengthy playoff drought by qualifying for the postseason but in the process began another streak of futility. They have been bounced in the opening round of the playoffs two years in a row heading into this year. Despite 101 and 98- point seasons the last two years, the Kings have not been able to capture a playoff round since eliminating the Detroit Red Wings in With the addition of two proven scorers to a lineup that already boasted a quality lamp lighter in Anze Kopitar as well as the experience gained by Doughty, Johnson, and Quick, is this finally the season the Kings are able to turn that corner? With all of the changes made in L.A., is this the year the Kings go deep into the playoffs?

23 FROM NHL.COM Photo 2 of 75 - ROYAL FLUSH The Los Angeles Kings' off-season additions, (L to R) Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Colin Fraser and Ethan Moreau, participate in a question and answer forum during LA Kings

24 FROM FROZENROYALTY.NET GANN MATSUDA LA Kings Dustin Penner Obliterates All Doubts About His Physical Conditioning September 13, 2011 by Gann Matsuda 3 Comments PRE-TRAINING CAMP COVERAGE: Frozen Royalty begins its pre-training camp coverage with stories based on interviews from the Los Angeles Kings HockeyFest 11 event, held on September 11, Starting things off is the real story on left wing Dustin Penner and his physical conditioning. For those of you who are still claiming that he is out of shape, guess again. LOS ANGELES Back in July, during the Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp for their young prospects, veteran and much-maligned left wing Dustin Penner emerged from the team s dressing/weight room area to take a break during a workout. Penner made his appearance on a day when the local media covering the team, including those representing two major newspapers in the area, the team s official web site, a web site operated by NBC Sports, and several other web sites known for having solid reputations and writers with real sources, were all gathered at the Kings practice facility to cover the Development Camp. As the target of frequent, heavy criticism for his poor play after he was traded to the Kings, Penner immediately became the big story, not the young prospects. Following the Kings first round exit from the playoffs in April, Penner was openly criticized by Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi and Kings head coach Terry Murray for his poor conditioning. But he did not take the criticism negatively. Instead, he used it as motivation, spending at least three days each week during the off-season working out. Indeed, when he came out of the dressing room area and spoke to the the throng of reporters that fateful day in July, Penner stood there in sweaty, workout clothing, looking trim, fit considerably leaner and meaner than he did at any time after he joined the Kings last season. At the time, Penner said that he had already lost about ten pounds. But just a little more than a month later, a photo of Penner was posted on Twitter that enraged a considerable number of fans, most of whom were already critical of him for his poor play with the Kings. The photo confirmed for them that Penner really was fat, lazy, good-for-nothing, and that his physical conditioning had not improved. Whether they intended to or not, fanning the flames were stories published in the Edmonton Journal and on Puck Daddy, among other media outlets, that included the photo (see Fan Snaps Unflattering Photo of Dustin Penner: Looked Kind Of Beer Belly-ish, and What We Learned: Enough With The Outdoor Hockey Games). What these readers did not take into account was that even though the Twitter user who posted the photo claimed to have taken it on August 28, 2011, that has not been independently confirmed. Even the photo s origin and authenticity have not been verified. As such, it would be foolish to consider it to be reliable information. Add to that the previously published reports on Penner s physical conditioning work all based on interviews with Penner and Murray, not to mention other reliable sources with first-hand knowledge of the situation, the photo s dubious nature is magnified that much more.

25 Further, just four days prior to the release of that photo, Murray confirmed in an exclusive interview with Frozen Royalty that Penner s conditioning work has continued at pace since the time he met with the media in July. I think his progress has been real good, said Murray. He s following through with all the commitments he made to us, in the off-ice part of it, throughout the summer. He s up here three or four times a week, and that s the way it s been all summer long, working with the off-ice program. He s definitely changed, added Murray. His conditioning is moving in the right direction. I m looking forward to seeing what the test results are on the first day of training camp. I need him to be a good player. I want to bring out the talent that he has, and the only way you can bring it out is to be ready to go the first day. Fast forward to the Los Angeles Kings HockeyFest 11 event on September 11 Penner completely blew away all doubts about his conditioning just by walking into a room. Indeed, following his appearance on the ice when the team was introduced to the fans, Penner met with the media, looking like he had added a great deal of muscle to his frame. He looked like he could defeat Goliath in a fight. [The amount of weight lost] stayed around [ten pounds], said Penner. With [former Kings strength and conditioning coach Tim Adams], it was more about body fat losing that. The weight has dropped, and I ve gained lean muscle mass. I feel better than I ever have, added Penner. I ve gained lean muscle mass that s probably from doing 2,000 yards of lunges every day in the summer. Back in July, Penner indicated that he was not used to the intensity of the workouts that he was doing this summer with the Kings, but he has since gotten accustomed to it. I was used to the type, but not the volume getting here at 8:00 AM, and leaving here at 2:00 PM, Penner explained. Usually, some workouts [with other teams] started at 9:30 AM. It s just a different mentality here. You get used to it. We re all creatures of habit. After the first month, it was fine. I ve learned a lot about how these guys work, and how they workout over the summer, Penner elaborated. There s a lot more focus on strength and flexibility as a combination, as opposed to just strength. Penner did indeed spend a lot of time in the weight room this summer. I lost a bit of my tan, Penner said with a grin, joking about the long hours. I had a pretty good one in June. After all that, one thing is clear: Penner has completely obliterated all doubts about his physical conditioning. Certainly, claims that he is still in poor physical condition are laughable, at best, as is the photo those claims are based on. To paraphrase an old saying, one should never believe everything they read, see or hear the credibility and reliability of the source, the writer, and the publisher must always be taken into account. That said, both the Edmonton Journal and Puck Daddy are fine publications, worthy of your time and attention, as are the authors of those stories, both credible professionals with real sources. But in this case, it appears that they did not look into the credibility and reliability of the photo, not to mention the photographer who claimed

26 to have taken it (the Edmonton Journal story did mention that the photo and/or the alleged photographer may not be credible, but they apparently did not look into the matter). Penner Goes Beach Hopping Penner, who owns a home in Newport Beach, California, was making the more than forty-mile trip (each way) to the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, the Kings practice facility, for his workouts. But he recently moved to Hermosa Beach, which is just a hop, skip and a jump away. It s very stressful, driving the carpool lane without someone in the passenger seat, Penner joked about his long commute. Playing along with the joke, Los Angeles Times sports columnist Helene Elliott asked if he had been caught by the California Highway Patrol for driving in a carpool lane illegally. We had a nice conversation, Penner replied. You just pay the fine. There s no demerits, your insurance doesn t go up. It s a slap on the wrist. But it s good for the state, right, because there s a budget crisis? Elliott continued to play the straight man role, saying, So you ve helped our state? Willingly, Penner responded with a grin. Looking back to last season, Penner indicated that had more difficulty adjusting to his new surroundings than he originally believed. There were a lot of things going on behind the scenes that, maybe, I didn t fully understand, he said. I ve been traded before, but not during a season. Getting my family down here, getting the kid in school, getting situated that was probably harder on me, subconsciously, than I realized, he added. But now, everything has settled down, and I m looking forward to it. It was a great summer. It was nice to be here, and to assimilate myself into the team, being at the rink [almost] every day, being around the trainers, and different players coming in throughout the summer. With training camp just days away, like his teammates, Penner is looking forward to getting things going, especially given the fact that the Kings are now expected to contend for the National Hockey League s Western Conference title after they added center Mike Richards and left wing Simon Gagne to their lineup. It just makes us that much better when you have two, number one centers, and a guy like Simon, who has scored thirty goals quite a few times in this league, Penner noted. On paper, we look like a great team. Now it s time for us to put the pieces together. Penner, who is in the final year of his contract, is one of the pieces the Kings are counting on to provide offense in the coming season. But playing for a new contract is not something he is concerned about. I don t really worry about the contract year stigma, he stressed. It s more about having a bounce back year, and having a year like I the one I had a couple of years ago in Edmonton, and exceeding those numbers.

27 FROM THE FISCHLER REPORT