Former LA Kings Defensive Stalwart Mattias Norstrom Left The Game On His Own Terms

November 1, 2010 by 9 Comments

LOS ANGELES — On a night in which the Los Angeles Kings handed the once-vaunted New Jersey Devils a 3-1 defeat, shutting down the mighty $100 million superstar Ilya Kovalchuk in the process, the Kings took time to pay tribute to their past, and to one of their own.

Former LA Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom (center), was honored by the Kings
during a pre-game ceremony on October 30, 2010, when the Kings hosted
the New Jersey Devils at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Photo: Los Angeles Kings

Former Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom was back in Los Angeles on October 30, and was honored by the team during a pre-game ceremony.

“It is fun, it’s great being back,” said Norstrom, who played in 780 regular season games with the Kings over eleven seasons after being acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on March 14, 1996. “I haven’t been back here for two-and-a-half years. The last time I was back was with the [Dallas] Stars in the Spring of ’08.” Read more of this post

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Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Even With His Career In Jeopardy, Ian Laperriere’s Priorities Are Right On The Mark

November 1, 2010 by 4 Comments

LOS ANGELES — Prior to their game against the New Jersey Devils on October 30 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Kings honored former Kings defenseman and team captain Mattias Norstrom, who was a stalwart warrior on the Kings’ blue line for eleven seasons until he was traded to the Dallas Stars in a trade deadline deal on February 27, 2007.

Several of Norstrom’s former Kings teammates were present for the pre-game ceremony, including defensemen Rob Blake and Mathieu Schneider, forwards Derek Armstrong, Nelson Emerson, Glen Murray and Luc Robitaille, and goaltender Jamie Storr.

Another was forward Ian Laperriere, who was acquired by the Kings in the same deal with the New York Rangers that sent Norstrom to the Kings.

“[The ceremony was a] great thing for a great player, a great teammate,” said Laperriere, who was a fan favorite in Los Angeles and received a raucous ovation when he was introduced. “He’s been a friend for years. I’m just glad I was able to make it.”

Laperriere said that he played with very few players who could match Norstrom’s work ethic, dedication or intensity, and added that such players seem to be a dying breed. Read more of this post

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LA Kings Place Drew Doughty On Injured Reserve, Recall Jake Muzzin

October 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Prior to their game at Minnesota in October 25, the Los Angeles Kings placed defenseman Drew Doughty on injured reserve, retroactive to October 21.

Taking his place on the roster is rookie defenseman Jake Muzzin, who was recalled from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (their primary minor league affiliate), after being assigned there on October 23. Read more of this post

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LA Kings Gamble By Signing Defenseman Willie Mitchell, Hoping For Big Payoff

August 26, 2010 by 10 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — All summer long, fans of the Los Angeles Kings have been waiting with bated breath for their team to make off-season moves to improve the team, only to be let down in a big way, especially with superstar left wing Ilya Kovachuk all but a virtual lock to re-sign with the New Jersey Devils, even after his initial contract was rejected by the National Hockey League because it circumvented the league salary cap [the NHL’s decision was later affirmed by an arbirator].

Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi had his sights set squarely on signing Kovalchuk, but even though the Kings were a major player in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes, they lost out to the Devils during the early July free agent frenzy. Read more of this post

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New On KingsCast: Still Waiting For Kovalchuk

July 26, 2010 by

The Ilya Kovalchuk Saga is still not over, as the National Hockey League has voided his 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, and now the National Hockey League Players Association has filed a grievance against the league—they are now heading to arbitration. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Expected To Be Major Player For Ilya Kovalchuk

June 30, 2010 by 12 Comments

LOS ANGELES — With unrestricted free agency looming just a little over 24 hours from the time of this writing, it is no secret that the big prize in this year’s free agency frenzy is superstar left wing Ilya Kovalchuk.

Kovalchuk has averaged more than a point per game throughout his National Hockey League career, which began in the 2001-02 season after he was selected first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers.

That first season, the 6-2. 225-pound native of Tver, Russia scored 29 goals and added 22 assists for 51 points in 65 regular season games.

After scoring 38 goals and contributing 29 assists for 67 points in 81 games the next season, Kovalchuk’s NHL career really took off, as he scored at least 41 goals in each of the next six seasons, including 52 goals in the 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons. Read more of this post

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