Hot Stove Discussion: A Few Questions on the Los Angeles Kings

by David Getz on Aug 21, 2009 3:00 PM EDT

As you may have noticed, we hockey bloggers at SBN have been paired up for some cross-conference Q&A in an effort to help fans get a little more knowledgeable about some of the teams they might not be devoting as much attention towards - and get SBN users to realize just how many great blogs there are on our network.

Japers' Rink drew the Los Angeles Kings, a team whose rebuild is almost complete, and hence should be interesting to follow in 2009-10. RudyKelly at Battle of California has already been so kind as to post our answers to his questions and we're going to return the favor (our questions, his answers) after the jump.

(1) The Kings haven't made the playoffs since 2002 and haven't had a winning season since 2005-06. The talent pool they've accumulated in their rebuild is impressive and there are certainly people out there who think the team can make a run at a postseason berth in 2009-10 - do you think that's realistic? Why or why not?

Realistic? Sure. If Anze Kopitar plays better and scores about 80 points, if Drew Doughty continues to be the greatest man in history, if the goaltending holds up, if the Kings continue to play good defense, if Ryan Smyth brings some sort of leadership to the team, if Justin Williams recovers from his injuries to play up to his early potential, the Kings can make the playoffs. All of those are realisitc. All of them happening in one season? Maybe not so realistic. The Kings should be in that 7-10 region this season.

(2) The Capitals have struggled to get mainstream press at times, owing largely to being situated in a market that has the most rabid fan base in professional football, the most successful American soccer team in history, NBA and MLB teams and is the political center of the world. Do the Kings suffer the same fate being in the center of the entertainment world and the same city as the Angels (sort of), Dodgers, Lakers, and University of Southern California? As a hardcore Kings fan, how do you feel about local media coverage?

Yeah, the Kings struggle to gain any sort of market share because they share money with all the sports teams in the area and also with Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, the Getty, and a thousand other awesome things to do in LA and Orange County. The Kings have been around long enough that most people know they're there, but people in LA don't pay attention to losers. When the Kings make the playoffs Staples is jumping, and they'll make some noise with the media when they get there soon.

We are lucky that we have probably the best local beat site in the country (Rich Hammond at the Los Angeles Daily News) and Kings fans tend to some of the more dedicated fans around. There are also some good blogs if you're interested, like A Queen Among Kings and The Royal Half among others. Overall, I'm fairly happy with our coverage because frankly I don't need the competition.

(3) How do Kings fans feel about the team's goaltending going in to next season? Is it realistic to expect Jonathan Quick to do as well or perhaps even improve? How close to being ready is Jonathan Bernier?

It's not so much that the Kings are confident in Jonathan Quick as they are confident that one of Quick/Bernier/Erik Ersberg will play well. Quick is the incumbent and played very well in his first taste at NHL action (2.48 GAA, .914 SV% in 44 games), while Ersberg is a fairly reliable back-up as long as he plays about 20 games or so.

Jonathan Bernier is the big question mark this season. He made the Kings out of camp 2 years ago as a 19 year-old but was sent back to Junior to save him from the Kings' porous defense. He has a bit of a track record of pouting when things don't work out for him; his play suffered after he lost out to Steve Mason at the World Juniors a couple years ago and he pouted last year after Bernier didn't make the Kings out of camp. The Kings are fairly lucky because Quick is probably good enough right now while Bernier should hopefully be great in the future. We'll see.

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I’ve always liked the Kings. I hope they make a push for the playoffs this year.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

I look forward to seeing more of Dustin Brown (especially with Team USA)….I get the feeling if he played in the East he’d be talked about a lot more. Probably Kopitar too.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 21, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I was surprised to see how many Kings were invited to Team USA Olympic training camp. They’ve got more solid talent than I thought.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, two studs (even if D-Brown’s hit totals are grossly inflated and Kopitar has racoon eyes).

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Very likely. I liked what I’ve seen of Kopitar during late nights on Center Ice.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Aug 21, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

They were cooler when they had the purple and gold color scheme.

by Sct112 on Aug 21, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

screams and tears out her eyeballs *

That’s … painful, dude.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Aug 21, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Say what you will. You have to be confident in the team you are fielding to put them in that sweater. I mean how else are you going to sell merchandise?

by Sct112 on Aug 21, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

True story. It’s still painful to look at.

Either that or pair it with a cane and a feather boa.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Aug 21, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Lucky was my first favorite non-Cap.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

You know he signed with the Lowell Devils for this year, right?

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Aug 21, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Dammit, made me look.

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 21, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t worry, I’m confident Brandon Sugden will have a warm and smiling welcome for him when he next comes to the Giant Center.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Aug 21, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Here’s an unrelated question. Can you delete comments? I posted one I thought I saw but don’t see any more. Wasn’t sure if I imagined it or if I have stepped on some sort of toes or something.

by Sct112 on Aug 21, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I can. And did (it wasn’t heading anywhere good, imo).

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough. Just to be clear, it was a joke.

by Sct112 on Aug 21, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I know it was – I’m just not sure it would’ve been taken as such, so I cut it off.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Gold and purple

Those are outstanding. So much better than grey on black.

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 21, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

The gray on black is just for their third jerseys. Their main home sweaters are a MUCH more cheerful dark purple on black.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Ehh, too Lakers for me.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I miss those jerseys. I’ll always think Purple/gold with LA Kings.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Aug 21, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s horrific. Didn’t they have a jersey that was all-purple at one point? I kind of liked that one.

by LSF76 on Aug 21, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Not all purple, but from 1999 through 2007, they had a purple alternate that used black as a secondary color. They actually flipflopped logos on it at one point (replacing the original crown with the shield logo). With either logo, it was a nice jersey, and I’d wish they bring it back as their normal color one.

by Forsch31 on Aug 22, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Will there be an equivalent interview with the Rink at another SBN hockey blog? I don’t see one at Battle of California.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

Whom do I thank for the subtle DCU nod?

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 21, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Getzy.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Aug 21, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

A shout-out in the rink, and vanquishing an overrated Brit player follows!

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 21, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn’t he suspended for a red card last week? Or was that two weeks ago?

by David Getz on Aug 21, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

He got the red, but sat out Wednesday. Him, Landycakes and his mild swine flu should be in the lineup tomorrow.

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 21, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

ouch to the repeated use of “japer’s rink” in the BOC write-up.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 21, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

That picture of Quick is hilariously goofy. He’s all contorted and his eyes are shut wincing from the pain of letting in a goal.

by zephyr on Aug 21, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

gotsparkly, I see you’ve been infiltrating Battle of California’s comments section.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

As a Caps fan in L.A., Thanx

But I still don’t see the Kings contending as long as Anshutz and is an owner. Sure, they get a lot of talent as a result of years of high draft picks, but they never seem to spend the money to either retain them or augment through free agency. They are a perennially young, somewhat exciting team that is always a few players away from contending. Same goes for this year. Maybe they sneak in this year if everything breaks right.

Your favorite meme is dead

by Edanger6 on Aug 21, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

People have said the same thing about a group of people who just paid bank on some pitcher from San Diego or something.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Aug 21, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know – they’ve locked up Brown and Kopitar and added ten million in salary between Smyth and Scuderi.

by David Getz on Aug 21, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Quick will be the answer to their goaltending woes, though. Who knows? They go through goalies quicker than the Redskins go through quarterbacks.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Aug 21, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn’t they also give that Japanese guy a start?

by red army line on Aug 22, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey, one of my best friends from college (who is Japanese) went out and bought a Yutaka Fukufuji jersey based on that one start.

I’m all for more internationals in hockey. That’s one of my absolute favorite parts of the game, the fact that it can be embraced by so many cultures. That’s how I learned so much about so many countries, was growing up watching a game where so many countries were represented. (It’s one of my favorite parts about soccer too).

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Aug 22, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I feel like I’m the only person who likes the silver-black deal. I thought the Kings looked much better in that era than they ever did wearing Lakers colors.

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by winterion on Aug 21, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

I do actually think their current third jersey is sort of cool. Very minimalist. And it makes for some badass goalie mask possibilities. Their masks certainly spank Theo’s and Varly’s.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 21, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve never been much into the Kings. The first thing that comes to mind when I think about them (after Gretzky) is that famous blooper that was played on a thousand different video tapes is that time when someone threw a live chicken on the ice during a game.

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 22, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

Here’s my question for LA bloggers:

Do you think Sean O’Donnell is one of the most underrated players in hockey? Do you think he is fully recognized in LA?

Atta dinnin stick a who!

by Gould Old Days on Aug 22, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Great question

I think O’Donnell is pretty underrated throughout the NHL due to his age, but Kings fans definitely appreciated him last season. He has been the rock for Drew Doughty, a young kid in need of developing and mentoring. He’ll start this season being paired with Doughty again as the top defensive pair.

by Connie Kim on Sep 8, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

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Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	50	24	15	11	59
Washington Japers' Rink	51	27	20	4	58
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	53	24	23	6	54
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	50	22	23	5	49
Carolina Canes Country	53	19	25	9	47