Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Los Angeles Kings: Players Must Turn It Around On Their Own…For Now

Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — Having lost nine out of their last eleven games, the Los Angeles Kings are hurtling into an all-to-familiar abyss, one where they get an early summer vacation while the good teams continue on to the National Hockey League’s second season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Oh…by the way, the Kings have only been invited to the post-season party twice in the last decade, making it out of the first round in 2002. Read more of this post

Brown, Johnson, Quick Invited to US Olympic Camp, Other LA Kings News

LOS ANGELES — Here are some news tidbits from the Los Angeles Kings that have been sitting around, gathering dust, while I took a couple of days off from writing after a marathon of a week last week…

Brown, Johnson and Quick Invited To US Olympic Camp

On June 30, USA Hockey announced that 34 players representing 22 National Hockey League teams, have been invited to the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp from August 17-19, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Illinois. Read more of this post

Crawford Firing Not The Big Story

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On June 10, when the Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Marc Crawford, they clearly indicated a major course change in the direction of the franchise…

…that is, if you believe what many of the pundits and some fans are saying in the aftermath of the firing of the Kings’ 21st head coach.

But don’t you believe it, not for one minute.

Indeed, it seems far more likely that, if anything, the Kings are staying the course that President/General Manager Dean Lombardi set when he was hired more than two seasons ago. Read more of this post

Kings Fire Head Coach Marc Crawford

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On June 10, the Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Marc Crawford, who coached the team for the last two seasons. Read more of this post

Dustin Brown Puts It All Together

LOS ANGELES — Even though Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown is only 23 years old, he had already played three seasons in the National Hockey League going into the 2007-08 season. But during that time, his play raised plenty of questions and doubts about his future.

To be sure, Brown quickly established himself as a physical player, one who could deliver devastating body checks. But the offensive ability he showed at lower levels eluded him. Indeed, many doubted the first round (13th overall) selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft would ever meet the lofty expectations that the Kings and hockey pundits alike had of him. Read more of this post

Los Angeles Kings Are Looking Ahead

LOS ANGELES — With the Los Angeles Kings already hitting the golf courses after yet another year of failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the time has already come to start looking at their future.

Realistically speaking, that look at the future began in earnest back in mid-December when they were already out of playoff contention. But now, without the distraction having to endure watching the second-worst team in the National Hockey League struggle in most games, we can focus on what lies ahead. Read more of this post

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,105 other followers