LA Kings Trade For Defenseman Brayden McNabb Likely More Important Than Gaborik Deal

March 6, 2014 by 7 Comments


Defenseman Brayden McNabb was acquired by
the Los Angeles Kings from the Buffalo Sabres
on March 5, 2014.
(click above to view larger image)

EL SEGUNDO, CA — While everyone was ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the Los Angeles Kings acquiring sniper Marian Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade deadline deal on March 5 (see LA Kings Trade For Marian Gaborik Is A Good One, But… for details and analysis), they may have overlooked another deadline day trade by the Kings that could have a longer and deeper impact on the franchise.

In that deal, the Kings acquired defenseman Brayden McNabb, right wing Jonathan Parker, and second round picks in the 2014 and 2015 NHL Drafts from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward/defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers and right wing Hudson Fasching.

Lombardi noted the difficulty he had in giving up highly-touted prospects in this deal.

“Very hard,” said Lombardi. “That’s one of those deals where neither GM really likes it.”

“We gave up two very good prospects with size, but it was one of those things where you say, you know what? You’ve got to give to get,” added Lombardi. “This was interesting too, because there is a new GM there. He was very decisive and sometimes you’re not sure, but he’s had a tremendous amount of background in personnel. He recognized the same thing. He won’t like giving up McNabb, but we both had a surplus and it made sense for both of us.”

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LA Kings Trade For Marian Gaborik Is A Good One, But…

March 6, 2014 by 1 Comment

NEWS/ANALYSIS: The Los Angeles Kings made quite the splash on Trade Deadline Day 2014, with the acquisition of high-powered sniper Marian Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Was this a good trade for the Kings? A bad one? Does it push them ahead of the pack of legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? For answers to these questions, and for comments on the deal from Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, read on…


Newly-acquired winger Marian Gaborik made his
Los Angeles Kings debut during a 3-1 win at
Winnipeg on March 6, 2014.
(click above to view larger image)

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Now former Los Angeles Kings right wing Matt Frattin was skating during the Kings’ March 5 practice when the news broke that he had been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with a 2014 or 2015 second round draft pick (obtained from Toronto in the June 23, 2013 trade that sent goaltender Jonathan Bernier to Toronto, in exchange for Frattin, and goaltender Ben Scrivens; Toronto has the option on the year), and a conditional third round draft pick, in exchange for oft-injured sniper Marian Gaborik.

Frattin stayed on the ice for some extra work after practice had ended. But as players began to head to the dressing room, head coach Darryl Sutter emerged—a highly unusual sight after practice—to deliver the news the moment Frattin stepped off the ice.

“It’s a business, and that’s what happens,” said the 26-year-old, 6-0, 205-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta. “It’s going to be tough leaving this group of guys, but hopefully, I’ll get more ice time there. It’s a fresh start, and they’re a good team that’s in the playoff hunt.”

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Are The LA Kings On The Right Track For 20-Game Sprint To The Finish?

March 3, 2014 by Leave a comment

AUDIO: Includes audio interviews with Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Willie Mitchell, Jake Muzzin, Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams.

LA Kings right wing Justin Williams: “This time of year is when we play our best hockey. These last twenty games is playoff time.
It’s time to show up.”
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — Even though the Los Angeles Kings have won all three of their games since the National Hockey League returned to the ice following the Olympic break—they have won four straight games overall—they know their game is not yet where it needs to be. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that they have picked up their game since the break ended.

“We wanted to have a good start coming out of the break,” said defenseman Alec Martinez. “It’s no secret that we weren’t happy with our game before the break started.”

“We’re scoring goals, and we’ve been playing our game, the last three games,” added Martinez. “That’s certainly a good sign, but we’ve got twenty more to go. We’ve got to keep it going.”

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LA Kings Anze Kopitar Talks Olympics, Sprint To The Finish

February 25, 2014 by Leave a comment

LA Kings center Anze Kopitar
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Well before the Los Angeles Kings hit the ice on February 24, an unusually large throng of local media had already gathered at their practice facility, the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California. In fact, with all the television and radio news media present, it looked like we had skipped over the final 23 games of the regular season for the Kings and moved right into the playoffs, which is when the local broadcast media start to show up at practices.

But on this day, center Anze Kopitar returned to the Kings’ practice ice for the first time since the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia ended, and he did so as an Olympic hero, of sorts. After all, even though he did not win a medal, he led Slovenia to a nearly miraculous 3-1 win over Slovakia in the preliminary round. Slovenia also shutout Austria in the Qualification Round, 4-0, to reach the Quarterfinals.

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