Down On The Farm With The Manchester Monarchs: Zatkoff Having An All-Star Season In Goal, While Jones Takes Small Step Backwards

Jeff Zatkoff (left) and Martin Jones (right), shown here during the
Los Angeles Kings 2011 Training Camp on September 23, 2011.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — Although Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is garnering more and more consideration as one of the National Hockey League’s best goaltenders—something that has been virtually unheard of when discussing Kings netminders over their 44-year history—and with Jonathan Bernier possessing the skills, if not the opportunity, to be a starting goalie in the NHL, as the old saying goes, a team can never have enough goaltending.

As such, the Kings have continued to draft and develop young goaltenders, and they have two young netminders having solid years with their primary minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. Read more of this post

Key To Unlocking The Los Angeles Kings’ Offense Is Getting Pucks, Bodies To The Net

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown spoke extensively with the media following practice on
January 11, 2012, at the Toyota Sports Center
in El Segundo, California.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — On January 9, the Los Angeles Kings, owners of the worst offense in the National Hockey League, averaging just 2.09 goals per game, miraculously scored five goals against the Alexander Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals, in a decisive 5-2 victory, shocking a sell-out crowd of 18,118 fans at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

That night, fans were so thoroughly shocked at the Kings’ offensive explosion that throughout the arena, they were pinching each other to make sure they weren’t dreaming. Some made appointments with psychiatrists, fearing that they were suffering from some sort of mental breakdown. Others were fearful that the end of the world was upon us, and began to get their affairs in order.

Seriously speaking, that massive offensive output from the Kings was a rarity this season. After all, they have only scored three goals or more (during regulation play) twelve times in 43 games this season (through games played on January 11). Read more of this post

Los Angeles Kings Aware Of Task At Hand To Start Second Half Of The Season

Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter (right) talks with
goaltender Jonathan Quick (left) during a recent practice at the
Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — The second half of the 2011-12 National Hockey League season begins this afternoon for the Los Angeles Kings, who are certainly not where they were expected to be in the standings at this point in the season.

Indeed, the Kings are supposed to be contenders for the Pacific Division title, and for the top spot in the Western Conference. But heading into action on January 7, the Kings are seventh in the conference, just one point away from falling out of playoff contention. Read more of this post

Los Angeles Kings: Despite Poor Effort Against New Jersey, The Sky Is Not Falling

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings put in a highly uninspired, sloppy performance (and that is putting it mildly) in an embarrassing 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils in front of a disappointed, and, in some cases, a bitter and angry crowd on October 25 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The embarrassing loss generated a perfect storm of sorts for some who claim that the sky is falling, and that head coach Terry Murray demonstrated gross incompetence and should be fired for giving Jonathan Bernier the start in goal, rather than the white hot Jonathan Quick, who was coming off his third straight shutout.

Yes, as unbelievable as it is, you read that right. Some are already calling for Murray’s head, despite the fact that the Kings are off to a solid 5-2-1 start.

Some are also placing the blame for loss to the Devils squarely on the shoulders of Bernier, saying that he played poorly. Read more of this post

Down On The Farm With The Manchester Monarchs: Can Jeff Zatkoff Reclaim Top Goalie Spot?

DOWN ON THE FARM: Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospects Martin Jones and Jeff Zatkoff are expected to improve upon solid 2010-11 seasons with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. But can Zatkoff, who got off to a bit of a slow start last season, and has likely been passed by Jones on the Kings depth chart, bounce back this season?


Goaltending prospect Jeff Zatkoff will likely need an outstanding
season to reclaim the number one goaltender position with
the Manchester Monarchs, which would also make him the
third-ranked goalie on the LA Kings’ depth chart.
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — As was reported in this space this past summer, with Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier giving the Los Angeles Kings a one-two punch in goal that, arguably, they have never had before, the Kings are set in goal for the foreseeable future.

But with two netminders who are good enough to be number one goaltenders, something will eventually have to give. Read more of this post

2011-12 Los Angeles Kings Could Contend For Pacific Division, Western Conference Titles

2011-12 LOS ANGELES KINGS PREVIEW: The 2011-12 National Hockey League season begins tonight with the first three games of the season. Even though the Los Angeles Kings have another day before they begin the new season, let’s take an in-depth look at the team and their outlook for 2011-12.


Logo courtesy LA Kings/NHL

EL SEGUNDO, CA — After a few seasons of rebuilding from scratch, followed by a couple of years of building upon that foundation, the Los Angeles Kings are at a unique point in their 44-year history, one in which they are on the verge of becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, not to mention a perennial winner.

In other words, after five seasons, the Kings are right where Dean Lombardi hoped they would be when he laid out his plan for the franchise after taking over as President/General Manager of the team in April 2006.

But that was five-and-a-half years ago, so let’s review, shall we? Read more of this post

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