LA Kings Make A Statement To End 2011 In 4-1 Victory Over Vancouver Canucks

January 1, 2012 2 Comments

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar ended a 17-game goal scoring drought during a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center
in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 2011.
Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images via the Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings have struggled through much of the final month of 2011, losing five straight games from December 3 – 13, and winning just twice from December 1 – December 17.

Indeed, things have looked pretty bleak with an anemic offense, the worst in the National Hockey League. But, somehow, the Kings never dropped out of the picture in the Western Conference standings, and after handing the high-powered Vancouver Canucks a 4-1 drubbing at Staples Center in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve, they not only ended the year on a high note, but…hold onto your party hats…they now find themselves in sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division and third place in the Western Conference. Read more of this post

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LA Kings Defenseman Willie Mitchell On Concussions: “I Get Into A Car Wreck Six Times A Night”

December 29, 2011 6 Comments

When it comes to concussions, Los Angeles Kings
defenseman Willie Mitchell speaks from experience.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — We’re not even at the halfway point of the 2011-12 National Hockey League season, but far too many players have already gone down due to concussions.

In no particular order, the NHL has lost stars like Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers, Milan Michalek of the Ottawa Senators, Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, all to concussions.

Most notably, the league has also lost Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, who is expected to miss the rest of the season, and Pittsburgh Penguins superstar forward Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely after a recurrence of post-concussion syndrome. Read more of this post

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LA Kings: Colin Fraser Solid In Debut; Drew Doughty May Be Catching Up

November 12, 2011 2 Comments

Center Colin Fraser was solid in his LA Kings debut on
November 10, 2011, when the Kings hosted the
Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings are struggling unexpectedly following their off-season moves to improve their team, earning a very poor 2-5-2 record over their last nine games.

A big reason for that in their most recent games has been undisciplined, and sometimes lazy play, where they get caught reaching instead of moving their feet, especially in the defensive zone.

Penalties were the big problem for the Kings in their 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on November 10 at Staples Center.

What got the Kings in trouble was a five-minute major penalty for elbowing levied against center Trevor Lewis.

Head coach Terry Murray questioned the call. Read more of this post

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

October 6, 2011 Leave a Comment

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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Los Angeles Kings’ 2011 Late-Round Draft Picks Working To Beat Long Odds

August 18, 2011 9 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The National Hockey League Entry Draft is one huge crapshoot in terms of teams landing prospects who will make it to the NHL level to stay, let alone big stars, even for those who are lucky enough to be first round picks.

Left wing prospect Joel Lowry spoke to the media
during the Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp
at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California,
July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

For those who end up being selected in later rounds, the odds of making it to the NHL are much, much longer. Nevertheless, every so often, they not only make it to the NHL, but they thrive there.

The most notable cases in point among Kings draft picks (not including active NHL players) would be:

  • Butch Goring, Center (fifth round, 51st overall, 1969)
  • Billy Smith, Goaltender (fifth round, 59th overall, 1970)
  • Dave Taylor, Right Wing (15th round, 210th overall, 1975)
  • Mark Hardy, Defenseman (second round, 30th overall, 1979)
  • Bernie Nicholls, Center (fourth round, 73rd overall, 1980)
  • Kevin Stevens, Left Wing (sixth round, 108th overall, 1983)
  • Luc Robitaille, Left Wing (ninth round, 171st overall, 1984)
  • Rob Blake, Defenseman (fourth round, 70th overall, 1987)
  • Alexei Zhitnik, Defenseman (fourth round, 81st overall, 1991) Read more of this post

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2010-11 Los Angeles Kings Were Reminiscent Of A Roller Coaster Ride

May 11, 2011 7 Comments

2010-11 YEAR IN REVIEW: The Los Angeles Kings took their fans, media, and anyone else paying attention, on a wild, bumpy ride this season.

LOS ANGELES — The Stanley Cup Conference semi-finals are almost over, with three of the four conference finalists decided, and with the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings heading into a seventh and deciding game at San Jose on May 12.

The Los Angeles Kings season ended on April 25, 2011, when the San Jose Sharks defeated the Kings, 4-3, in Game 6 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series, sending the Kings off to another long summer.
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images and the Los Angeles Kings

It has been a little over two weeks since the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in six games by the Sharks, and Frozen Royalty has been taking a break, catching its breath, so to speak, and taking some time to do other things.

But the time has come to look back on the 2010-11 season for the Kings, one that is filled with highs and lows, some expected, others not.

Those highs and lows typified their season, taking everyone on a season-long roller coaster ride. Read more of this post

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