As a journalist, I have to look at the team objectively and I’ve literally had to train myself to do so. Does that make me better than you? No. It only means that I am able to look at the team dispassionately while most fans do not. Many can’t do it at all.

That’s really all I was saying.

Let me take your comments point-by-point:

1) Lombardi bears the brunt of the responsibility for signing Cloutier, although Crawford certainly twisted Lombardi’s arm on that one. But regarding the unrestricted free agents he should’ve signed back then, please tell me who he should’ve signed and why. I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts on that because the fact is, it would have made no sense at all for him to sign better, high-priced free agents at the time because the team, from the minors to the big club, was horrid. It would’ve taken Wayne Gretzky and several others just to get them into the playoffs.

2) Jones cost the Kings nothing, although he ended up being awful. Modin and Halpern were playoff rentals. Again, who was available that Lombardi should’ve signed or traded for instead that wasn’t a total pipe dream?

3) As for Quick vs. Bernier, the evidence is becoming clear that you’re one of those fans who aren’t willing to let the Kings rebuild properly. Lord knows this team has suffered for years from the mistaken wrath of fans who think quick fixes are the answer. Especially in the NHL, they’re not. The plan was for Bernier to become an adult, to grow out of that pouty, immature young player who felt a sense of entitlement coming in. That was most important for the long haul. Yes, Bernier is already a better goaltender than Quick. But Quick has earned his spot and deserved to keep it, even if Bernier looked good in two NHL games. Next season, however, Quick is going to have to be on his game all the time or Bernier will take his job. Bringing him up for good was not the right thing to do this past season, however.

4) Regarding Gaborik: He finally stayed healthy for most of a season this past year, but he remains a big, big risk. It took $7.5 million/year for…I forget how many years. He’s worth that to the Rangers, who usually just throw money at free agents, hoping to return to glory. But for the Kings last season? No. His health issues were too big a factor and yes, he’s still too fragile. Besides, he wasn’t going to make the Kings a contender and Lombardi knew then that there would be an even bigger fish available this summer. Of course, as of this moment, he’s still unsigned, although the Kings are rumored to be back in the game.

5) If you’re harping on shootouts, you’re paying way too much attention to something that’s really not very important. And although Brown will never be a superstar, your opinion of him is quite a ways off-base. Just adds to my thinking that whatever has been bugging you about the Kings in the past is badly coloring what you’re seeing. More evidence of that is that you’d trade Brown for Spezza. Do you honestly believe the Senators would do that?

6) Murray should’ve planted Jones’ ass in the press box. Agreed. However, I suspect that Drewiske may have been more seriously injured than anyone let on.

7) Stoll has a big shot and is solid in the face-off circle. That said, he did not have the season he should have had. But a “hack?” Sorry. Wrong. Is he a second-line center? No. Someday, the Kings should be able to slide him into the third-line center position where he should be.

8) Regarding the power play…and then, as soon as the Canucks made some adjustments, the Kings’ power play fell right off the map again, so there goes that point that you tried to make. :-)

9) Modin for the league minimum would not be a bad idea. Anything more than that, no.

10) Smyth wasn’t brought in to be a huge point producer, even though he was thrust into that role because the Kings lack snipers. His biggest contribution was leadership and teaching the forwards the importance of going to the front of the net, something they improved on dramatically this past season. If you expected more, you weren’t seeing things clearly.

11) Do you have a source that can document the deal that Lombardi offered to Kovalchuk? As far as I know, no such verifiable details have been released. Therefore, what you’re stating is merely your opinion. It may wind up being correct, but the fact is, no one really knows for sure.

12) As for your statement about censorship, I resent that. What the hell do you think I do? Sit in front of a computer 24/7 monitoring for comments in my moderation queue?