Comments on: Alexander Frolov Creates Dilemma For Dean Lombardi

By: Los Angeles Kings: Alexander Frolov Destined For KHL? « Frozen Royalty

Los Angeles Kings: Alexander Frolov Destined For KHL? « Frozen Royalty — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:24:01 +0000

[...] as a forty-goal scorer,” Lombardi said in a January 2010 interview with Frozen Royalty (see “Alexander Frolov Creates Dilemma For Dean Lombardi). “I’m not sure I can pay you as a thirty-goal scorer. I like you, even if you stay the [...]

By: Bikey1277

Bikey1277 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:34:37 +0000

kings4life, brilliant idea. Trade Kopitar, give Frolov 6 million a year, put him on the top line and see what happens. Are you really a Kings fan? Cause some of the things you’re writing don’t make much sense, looking from a Kings fan perspective. What Lombardi is saying, read between the lines, Frolov will not be a part of the organization much longer. And Kovalchuk would be great on this team.

By: Sergei Prozacutov

Sergei Prozacutov — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:56:16 +0000

Good article!

Also, it’s nice to see classy DL using such a great microphone as the Shure Beta 87A cardioid condenser (in the pic).

The Beta 87A is known for it’s crisp, detailed, and just slightly-compressed sound.

Not only is DL a smart GM & sharp-dresser–He SOUNDS
great too!

Now all he needs is an Avalon Mic preamp to go
with that fine mic he uses. Then, he’d
be the best-sounding GM in the entire NHL!!

By: miraclefan

miraclefan — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:31:07 +0000

Gann, thanks for giving me something I can sink my teeth into besides the token space the Times gives to hockey’s best writer, Helene Elliott.
Let me first say that I am not an FOF (fan of Frolov). Does he do a good job protecting the puck along the boards when he has possession? Yes. Does he make an occasional good pass in the middle on a potential scoring play? Yes. But even aside from his inconsistency with night-in, night-out effort, he’s certainly not a two-way player, nor can he be counted on as a true playmaker or creative scorer. What he is, is another grinder type player, of which the Kings have a preponderance. But this is where, in fact, he can help us. Huh?
That’s right. What the Kings have been missing since Gretzky left–even though at that point in his career he was not scoring a ton of goals–is a big, fast sniper. Obviously Cammy didn’t fill that void, as he was truly one-dimensional and anything but big (read easily checked off the puck). What I’m getting to is that we do need Kovalchuk, and he’d be worth every penny the richest owner in sports would have to pay him. He is big. He is powerful. He is creative. He is a team guy. And he simply fills the net with pucks. Atlanta would be glad to replace him with a less-expensive guy like Frolov as part of a multi-player deal. As long as we don’t have to break up our core of young, talented guys (e.g., Doughty, Johnson, Simmons, etc.), we have other grinder-types we can afford to give up for a game-breaking, difference-making player who would truly put and keep butts in seats at Staples.

By: Roger

Roger — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:55:18 +0000

This is a tough one !!! I really dont like telling the league about benching Fro in the last year of his contract, in case you want to trade him. I think you have to negotiate a contract NOW ! If he wants too much money or looks like he’s going to check out free agency then trade him. I also have questioned coach Murray’s decision not to play him on the top line. Finally I could see Frolov going to Detroit and haunting us for years.

By: kings4life

kings4life — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:32:18 +0000

Don’t get me wrong…I was never a Cami fan! I was just trying to show how much Frolov is worth by comparing people that we are familiar with.
First we have Kopitar, getting paid $6 mil to score around 30+ goals per year. Sluggish Kopitar that skates like he was pulling DL around, isn’t that great on D and doesn’t play that much on the PK.
Second we have Cami at $6 mil, too small to do anything but cherry-pick and score goals… 35+ of them.
Now… Frolov, when playing in the top two lines scores an average of 30 goals in the past 3 years, good two way player, plays the PP and PK and is great at protecting the puck. Does he do stupid things? Yeah.. they all do. But I rather see Frolov on the ice than Kopitar moping around trying to figure out what on earth he is suppose to be doing…look at the past 25 games! Oh.. and don’t even bring up the bad team good team thing again. If you ever played… you would know that goals come much easier on a good team!
Bottom line.. the thing that I dislike the most is DL going public and putting players down. On top of that, they play Frolov on the 3rd line and they go out and say… Well if he is that good he will find ways to score 30+ goals in the 3rd line. Come on! How many 3rd line players are in the league that have 30+ goals? If you are going public and saying that he hasn’t reached his potential… don’t go out there and put him in a situation that he is going to fail. How is it that Purcell is on the top line? Don’t tell me that he earn a spot in the top line because he has proven to be a goals score! If you want Frolov to reach his potential you put him on the top line so that he can succeed!
What’s next week story from DL about Frolov!
DL’s song and dance may work on most of you but not with me…

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:18:33 +0000

stop all the nonsense … cami is making 6 million on montreal …. hes too small and only a one dimensional player, worth only 4 million, tops …. unloading cammi and lubo when he did was a brillant move by lombardi

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:50:32 +0000

No, Cammalleri was demanding $6 million after one good season in the league…and on a bad team. He wasn’t worth that much at the time and after losing his arbitration, he was bitter and wasn’t going to sign with the Kings again anyway.

By: kings4life

kings4life — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:45:46 +0000

Isn’t it harder to score goals on a bad team? If it was easier… the team wouldn’t be that bad of a team. Frolov has been the most consistent player the Kings have had in the past five years. This year for the most part he has been playing in the 3rd line… How do you expect him to reach his potential on the 3rd line?
DL, name me a 3rd line player that has 30+ goals on a bad team. Name me a 3rd line player that has 30+ goals in a good team!?!
You want to talk about not performing. Ah… Kopitar comes to mind! 6 million per year and he is on pace to reach 31 goals!!! Lets talk about Mike Cammalleri, if you recall he wasn’t looking at 5 million per season when we had him… but that’s what his getting in Montreal and he is on pace to reach 36 goals… he’s not good at the defensive game nor can he protect the puck. So really… how much is Frolov really worth. DL please STOP while you’re ahead!

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:06:19 +0000

wont mention ……… oops!

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:58:25 +0000

gaborik is on pace for 50 goals and 50 assists …. 100 points ……….. man did lombardi blow it …. and only for 7.5 million for 5 years ….. makes all this kovulchuk talk look silly ……. kouluchuk wants more money and years and isnt even as good a player and not to mention all we had to do was sign him and not even worry about what players another team would want like atlanta etc….. god allmighty did he blow it … hes made some good moves … getting rid of the small cammi and lubo, getting jack johnson and ryan smyth for nothing basically …… but he has made just as many bad moves …. we all know what they are so i mention them all …. but gaborik takes the cake

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:23:24 +0000

only get sykora if he is going to take ivannis place in the lineup, otherwise, no way …… and since the kings love to weaken their team by playing ivannis every night, sykora does not look like an option ……. i dont want sykora anywhere near our top 3 lines

By: Shelle121

Shelle121 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:08:40 +0000

Thanks Gann for your work, most of us really appreciate it. Please keep us updated when you can. It’s good to get a grip of what Dean is trying to do. Thank you again.

By: 4ndr3y

4ndr3y — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:44:08 +0000

Thanks Gann, great read :)

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:33:26 +0000

dustin brown is the guy i want out of here – not frolov ….. brown has the worst hands i have ever seen on a top six forward

By: clippers of the nhl

clippers of the nhl — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:25:09 +0000

i agree with just about everybody on here even lombardi , the good team vs. bad team references are right on the money and just also agree that yes we all want him he is a great player ….. his board work is invaluable ….. and it will be a huge loss if we lose that … theres no one that can replace him in our organization or free agency ……. i think one way people or even lombardi maybe is getting confused, is that frolov IS AT HIS POTENTIAL …….. hes never scored 40 , so why would anyone expect him to now …….. yes this year there has been an offensive dip and he might get only 20 …. but that by no means indicates he is struggling …. just like lombardi said – we were a bad team before, so when players have free reign, they can put up better numbers ….. now were a much better team with a sound defensive structure so his numbers should naturally go down ……… but 20 to 25 goals is very valuable when u consider everything else he does along the boards …. if he didnt do such awesome board work then, no, he wouldnt be worth the money ….. but the fact is he does!!! a very good player and hard to replace , hes not a high skill guy – nobody on the kings is – so nobody should expect him to be ….. but hopefully lombardi realizes the importance of his combination of board play, slightly above average skill, and goal scoring ability ……… lol i know the redwings realize it and will pay him 5 million dollars per year

By: FroFan

FroFan — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:04:25 +0000

Great read, Gann! I actually consider Lombardi’s comments to be a sign of progress. He’s not going to throw out the baby with the bath-water. It’ll really come down to how much Frolov wants to be in LA.

My concern with letting him walk is that filling his role from inside the organization is going to result in a talent downgrade. I don’t see anyone who can do the things he does for the price on the free-agent market, either.

I just want to see the man play one playoff series. I think his puck-control game is well-suited to the playoffs, and want to see how he performs when there’s more emotion and more on the line. Hopefully we’ll get that chance this season…

By: Keith Korneluk

Keith Korneluk — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:06:04 +0000

I’m very interested to know what Frolov’s salary demands are. If he accepts what he’s worth, I think Lombardi might re-sign him.

That said, there are a few GM’s out there that would overpay Frolov. I hate to keep picking on the guy but Sather would probably pay him $5 million.

By: Lombardi expects difficulties in signing Frolov - Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:55:09 +0000

[...] about what his specific salary demands may be, said that he expects difficulties in signing him. Alexander Frolov Creates Dilemma For Dean Lombardi Frozen Royalty good article by Gann [...]

By: mrbrett7

mrbrett7 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:53:14 +0000

It’s pretty simple really…if you (Frolov) think your worth being paid what a 40 goal scorer in this league gets paid, then you will have to get that contract elsewhere. I like you, and I like what you do for this team, and I FEEL you have the ability to score 40+ goals, but you don’t.

By: Frozen Royalty: Alexander Frolov Creates Dilemma For Dean Lombardi @ LA Kings Hockey Club Podcast

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:48:28 +0000

[...] with Dean Lombardi, you’re in store for a very sizable interview. And Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty knows that better than most. Here is part three of his exclusive sit-down with LA Kings GM Dean [...]

By: Mark Llobrera

Mark Llobrera — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:54:32 +0000

I guess this is Lombardi’s roundabout way of saying, “I’ve come to terms with Frolov’s value, and I’m willing to let him walk if he doesn’t want to sign at that number.” I do like that Lombardi always qualifies good stats on bad teams – those are not as valuable as stats on a good, contending team.

By: Bob Bobson

Bob Bobson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:30:23 +0000

Frolov really is an interesting problem. He has the potential to be so much more but usually ends up performing based on whatever motivational streak he is on. Paying him what he is worth is even more problematic just because you do not even know what he is worth.

By: JacobPFT

JacobPFT — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:01:45 +0000

Good read!
Of course look at him for what he is and does, which is being a GREAT player.
Also it’s not only about the goals, but also the defense and the puck control (which is something I absolutely love him for).
I really want them to work out a nice contract together :-)

By: Tompa

Tompa — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:35:57 +0000

That’s a fascinating perspective on Frolov. All things considered I’d like to see him extended but just like Lombardi I would be very careful of committing too much salary to him.