EL SEGUNDO, CA — The 2009-10 season could not have gone much worse for Los Angeles Kings defenseman prospect Thomas Hickey.
After completing his career in Canadian junior hockey in 2008-09 with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, turning in his best season in the WHL with 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 57 games, the 5-10, 182-pound native of Calgary, Alberta graduated to the American Hockey League.
But once Hickey donned the sweater of the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL [the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate] this past season, his hockey career was put mostly on hold due to injury—a shoulder injury suffered in late November, 2009 that required surgery, keeping him off the ice until April 1, 2010, just four games before the Monarchs began their run in the AHL playoffs.
“I got into four [games] before the regular season was over,” said Hickey.
But Hickey’s bad luck was not yet over, as he wound up on the shelf once again just before the playoffs began.
“It was the day before the playoffs [began],” Hickey lamented. “It was sort of a freak high ankle sprain. It’s one of those aggravating things.”
Hickey would miss the first two rounds of the playoffs before returning to the lineup for the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It’s tough going down just before the playoffs, but I was thankful to get healthy just before we were finished in the last round when I got to play,” he said.
To say that Hickey’s 2009-10 season was somewhat of a lost season would be an understatement.
“It’s been really tough,” said Hickey. “It’s been frustrating more than anything. You’re anxious and you start to play good and then something happens.”
“It’s just been a series of [injuries] over the last two years,” added Hickey, who also suffered an ankle injury that required surgery after the 2008-09 season.
To be sure, the time lost this past season has delayed Hickey’s development. But the season was not a total loss.
“You could say that [it was a lost season] as far as developing hockey skills [is concerned], but there’s other things you learn as a player,” he explained. “Going through those injuries is probably the hardest thing I’ve had [to deal with] in my hockey career. I think it makes me a stronger person.”
“You have to learn to deal with those things when you’re not getting played much,” he elaborated. “You have to learn how to train and how to stay ready. The biggest thing for me is staying ready and knowing that when I do get the chance to come back in that I’m ready to contribute.”
Hickey firmly believes that he can make up for lost time.
“There’s no doubt that playing games and getting experience develops your hockey skills,” said Hickey. “You look at the [Kings 2010 Development Camp] we have here with forty prospects working on their hockey skills in the summer—that’s something we do every single day even when we’re not here.”
“There’s ways to get it back and ways to try to get ahead even though I’ve lost a lot of time,” added Hickey.
One look at Hickey, who was selected by the Kings in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and it becomes immediately apparent that he is small for a defenseman, especially in the National Hockey League. In fact, he is even small as NHL forwards go, which has many questioning whether or not he can withstand the pounding he will take from opposing team’s forwards.
Those who attended the Kings 2009 Rookie Tournament may remember that Hickey took a few big hits in one of the games against the Phoenix Coyotes rookie team, including one huge hit in the corner that had spectators cringing.
“I remember that [hit], absolutely,” Hickey recalled. “That’s one of those things—it was a clean hit. In a rookie camp, for every guy out there, you want to make an impact and you’re not so worried about your well-being as you are getting on the team.”
“I got hit a few times in that game,” Hickey noted. “I was putting myself out there and I was so anxious to make plays and show the parts of my game that I excel in, so I exposed myself to that. That’s the give and take.”
“As the season goes on, you can’t put yourself [into a vulnerable position] all the time. But in an evaluation process, you sort of have to step outside the boundaries a little bit.”
Moving up to the AHL level has given him a glimpse of what it will be like against the bigger, tougher, stronger players he will be facing in the future.
“Although I didn’t play a lot this past year, it helped to play against pros and bigger guys,” he said. “I learned from that—that was probably my biggest weakness last year, so I’ll be a step up when it comes to that. Those are the two main things that I have to work on the most.”
Hickey pointed out that adding bulk to his frame is just part of the solution.
“One thing I’ve really learned is that it’s not so much muscle you have, especially with Tim Adams, the [Kings Strength and Conditioning] coach here,” said Hickey. “It’s about how stable you are, how stable your mid-section is.”
“If you go into an NHL dressing room, you’re not going to see guys who look like football players,” he added. “It’s not all about the bulk and the muscle. It’s about how tight they are in their core and how durable their body is.”
“I’m not so concerned about coming into camp weighing 200 pounds and being 5-11 or 6-0. I’m concerned about getting my body where it needs to be. I’m working on preventing [injuries], like everyone is here. I’m looking forward to that and playing a full, healthy season.”
In addition to his strength and conditioning work, Hickey is also rehabilitating his surgically repaired shoulder, which is not at one hundred percent despite the fact that he has been cleared to play.
“When you come off a big surgery like that you need time to rebuild your strength,” Hickey stressed. “You can be cleared to play, which I am, but then it’s about getting stronger and getting to the point that you’re stronger on that injured arm than you are the one that’s healthy.”
“I know I’m not there, but I’ve got two-and-a-half months to work on it,” Hickey added. “Like any athlete coming back from any injury, you’re not one hundred percent just because you’re cleared to play. You’ve still got a ways to go after that.”
“You can lift as many weights as you want, but there’s so many little muscles and little things I’ve been working on with the training staff they have here. So I’m fortunate to be working with them every day.”
Given that he is playing catch-up, Hickey is also working on his hockey skills this summer.
“I think my shooting needs to improve,” he noted. “That’s something I worked on a lot last summer. The shoulder was another setback, so it’s going through that all over again and making sure my shot’s ready.”
Despite having lost so much development time this past season, Hickey believes he has a strong chance to make the Kings’ 2010-11 roster.
“I think it’s perfectly realistic,” Hickey said of his chances to make the Kings roster out of training camp this fall. “I know I was close last year. It didn’t work out. There’s always numbers, there’s always guys ready to play. I know I was close, so if I come in and show what I learned from the last camp, I’ll be a step ahead of where I was then.”
“It’s all about playing good and being ready to go,” Hickey added. “If I can do that, I’ve got a very good chance of making [the Kings’ lineup].”
Perhaps, but only if he can stay healthy.
“[Injuries are] part of hockey and everyone’s going to go through injuries,” said Hickey. “I hope mine are over with.”
Indeed.
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It certainly would help the team if he or Voynov grows up in a hurry and makes the team this year.
All Hickey needs is *health* for an extended period.
He’ll do the rest.
If a good partner can be found for Jack Johnson, then when Hickey is ready to come up (maybe in Feb/March, after dominating the AHL for 4 months or so before that), Kings fans will be rooting for a team that has THREE great defense pairs for the 1st time in forever. Hickey could be a good fit with Greene, making all 3 pairs a threat on offense with breakaway threats in every pair (DD/JJ/TH).
Thoughts like that make me smile.
All I could wish for Hickey is HEALTH.
I’m sure things will fall into place after that.
considering his size and his unbelievable injury history, this kid looks like a complete flop ….. what a waste ………………. i doubt he ever amounts to anything now after all these major injuries ……………………………………. nice informational story gann ……………. i was kinda thinking maybe he would make the team this year , but after reading that story – no way ………… he appears to be light years away from making the nhl on a good team ……… if hes traded to a bad team that is just going to play kids for a couple of years, then yeah, he might get a shot quicker ……. but as far as a good team like the kings goes, i cant see him making it with us anytime soon (and obviously im not talking about an odd game or two call up here and there – im talking about sticking ) …………………….. at the time most nhl observers thought hickey and teubert were big reaches by the kings (at their draft positions 4 and 12 i believe) , most thought they should have been drafted lower than their number, and it sure looks like those peeps are gonna be right ……………. yes, its still early, but if im a gambling man, i would bet they will never live up to being drafted that high …………… they may make the nhl one day, but will probably at best just be average joes ………. which of course dosent at all justify their draft position …………. so thats the definition of a flop to me ….. both of them …… but only time will tell …….. so we shall see ….. hope im wrong of course ……………………………………………………….. and lastly, if we indeed do sign kovulchuck, my reaction wont be to kiss lombardis ass like everyone else will be doing, my reaction would be …….. “its about time u finally did something right after 4 years” ………………………… u draft as high as we did for so many years, eventually u will hit on a player – doughty … so dont use that argument peeps ….. plus, doughty was a no brainer and the consensous number two choice after stamkos and begosian third ………………….. anyways, congrats lombardi , regarding kovi , u finally did something right ……. if we end up not signing him after all, and he slips threw our fingers, lombardi may as well resign – completely useless …………….. of course i think lombardi is useless even if we do sign him ………………. my feelings are this …………. i wont bore anybody with the reasons why – gann has heard enough of my rants about terry murray and dean lombardi, but lets just say, if the kings ever win the stanley cup during their tenure, i believe it will be in spite of them – not because of them
Clippers………………If the Kings ever win a cup…………………………………..It will be inspite of fans like you………………………Not because of them
I’ve watched Thomas develop in the juniors and one thing I can say about him is that he’s got a great head on his shoulders. This is a smart guy who knows how to play smart hockey. If he can steer clear of injuries from here on out, he’ll make you forget he’s 5’10/182 lbs.
yea dom ………. fans dont win cups, management and the players do …….. i never implied anything of the sort …………………………. anyways , on to the news of the day ………………….. let the spin doctoring begin regarding kovulchuk ……………… i hear the kings will be handing out free kool aid today at 3 o clock at staples today as a gift to the fans on such a hot day ………….. lol lol ……… its amazing and ironic how the 2 worst franchises in the history of pro sports both reside in the same building as the best …………………………………………… and lets put some other silly things to rest u wishful thinking kings fans ……… no, chicago is not going to trade patrick sharp ………. no, bobby ryan is not coming here either …………….. no, dean lombardi did not trade for joe thornton in san jose (sick of hearing people giving him credit for that ) .. ……… and lastly, no, new jersey didnt give kovi 150 million – i mean just how gullible are u kings fans ……… i mean, jesus, really??? …………………… lou lamorillo would never do that – he is a very smart gm, unlike ours
my advice dean ………… dont go after old savard ………….. go after spezza who is still in his prime and will be a 7 mil cap hit for the next 5 years ………….. thats reasonable considering thats probably right around the cap hit it would have taken to get kovi , but this way u only have it for 5 years ………. this way youll only have him in his prime years when hes at his best – like the rangers did with gabby ……….. of course gabby and kovulchuck are way better than spezza, but at least its a plan b, and we would have two good centers …………………… question is what would we have to give up ……………. obviously stoll would have to be part of it on our end, but theyd probably also want a guy like brown ……………. and lombardi seems against moving brown thinking hes valuable (i dont, but he does ) ……………….. but anyways, we shall see what deano comes up with as a plan b ………………………. heres a thought, what if dean actually does nothing big and resigns frolov or just signs someone like stempniak or afinginov and a journeymen defensemen , …………. if that happens, this offseason will be a total disaster ………………………………………………….. oh, and ps ………….. no, parise isnt coming here either – either this year or next …………………… u think lamorillo is stupid? ….. are u kidding? …. hes not letting parise walk or trade him ……….. no way ……………… remember, lamorillo is smart …………………. the kings are the ones proven to be not smart ….. 42 years and counting
lol lol …… the spin is completely out of control ………………… “you know i didnt really want to add this type of free agent until next year” …………………… lol really??? …… so that would mean we are on the dean lombardi 10 year plan – unless he thinks the second he signs or trades for a great player that automatically guarantees us a cup that year , and u know he dosent think that , and so since next year is year 6 that would mean we are on an 8 to 10 year plan to win the cup …………….. oh please dean, spare me this spin …………. what a joke …………… ……………………………… brian burke has had great teams wherever hes been , hes just starting in toronto ………… brian burke quote …. ” i dont need no 5 year plan” ….. true dat my brother …….. you are a real gm with balls ……………………. lombardi on the other hand, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too conservative …………… and people love to say hes a good drafter? ….. really?? ….. lets see doughty – no brainer …. bernier – no brainer (we were in desperate need of a goalie and bernier was sitting their for us ) ………. and simmonds …… yes good job dean ……………………………………. but thats it ………………… where is everybody? ……… all those years drafting so high and trading cammy for another high pick ……… where is everybody?? ……….. im sorry but 2 no brainers and one good pick in simmonds in 4 years does not mean he can draft well …… in fact, it means exactly the opposite ………………………… i say again, …. where are they ???? ……… where is everybody????????? ………… oh please you kool aid sippers …… spare me …………. but hey, at least deano is good at spinning fans around in circles just to cover his own ass ………….. now trying to sell us an 8 year or 10 year plan …………………. of course, if he finally does grow a pair and trades for spezza or somebody then the spin will change again ….. stay tuned, the spin changes by the minute ……………………………………………………………………………………….. and how about this beauty from robitaille ……………………. ” we didnt think the new jersey 100 million dollar offer was real” ………………. sounds exactly like the kings, wanted him bad, and are now lamenting the fact that they didnt believe the devil offer was real ……………… yep luc, thats right, another failure for the organization ………………. any idiot can read between the lines there – that everybody in the kings organization is in lament mode and is completely depressed right now ………………….. but hey, you guys blow it every year so you should be more used to it by now i would think ……………………… gaborik is a better player and was signed to a great, reasonable contract by the rangers ………. where were u guys last year , oh thats right on the sidelines because year 4 is too early to go after a great player ………… will you people please get real ……. jesus ………………………………………………. well congrats folks , we have now graduated to the dean lombardi 8 – 10 year plan
and people please , im sick and tired of hearing ….”we are great , blah blah – we finished with 101 points which is one of the franchises best ever records and won a club record 9 in a row” ………………. …………………………………… people, people ………… the new overtime rule with shootouts and a guaranteed point for a loser and bonus point for a winner has inflated every teams record in the nhl ………………………………… if last season were 10 years ago, the kings would have had around 92 points and the nine game winning streak would not have existed because one win was in a shootout ……………………………………… point is ……….. every teams point total in the nhl is completely inflated because of the new overtime rules ……… so please leave that argument at the door …………………… comparing last years team to other teams of the past is not valid because if u are comparing it to teams of the past , then a 92 point season is basically what we had last year compared to those other teams …………………………… point is we finished 6th , right where we deserved to finish , dont get all caught up in the hype and bogus point totals and bogus records ………………….. i mean hell, remember ten years ago when u lost in overtime – u actually lost and got zero points ……. much harder to get points back then as opposed to now …………. and once the game ended in a tie, that was it …. no bullcrap bonus point …. why do i even have to explain this to people ……. jesus ………………..and now that i think about it, im forgetting the three or four overtime losses we had which gained us a point that we would not have gotten in the old days ……………. so lets say 3 ot losses and 9 shootout wins , which is what i believe the kings had last year , or something like that …… so anyways thats 12 points not 9 because i forgot the 3 ot losses ………………………….. so really it was like we had an 89 point season last year if your comparing last years kings team to kings teams of the past ………………… so hell, get off that argument people ……… we finished 6th in the west – right where we deserved to finish ……….. get off the point trip that you are all so focused on ………………… kings management right on down to bob miller love to play up the high point angle, but its just more spin to dupe fans who apparently dont know any better ………………………………………………………. and lol , heck , 30 years ago they didnt even have overtime and you didnt even have the opportunity to get a second point ……….. the games just ended in ties at the end of regulation – no overtime at all !!!!!!!!! ……. and there were fewer games in a season . ….. sheesh!!!
lol lol lol …… rejectoid lol lol lol ………. isnt this kovi saga great …….. its so entertaining ….. cant wait for the next chapter ……………………….of course he is still going to sign with the devils ……………….. i mean hes already made his choice ……… even had the press conference and everything …………………. so you know theres no way hes gonna back out on them now …………………….. as austin powers would say ……… “that train has sailed”
Chris…you’re going to have to stay on topic with your comments from this point forward. I’ve given you a lot of leeway until now, but you’re not even trying to limit your comments to the issues raised by the story you’re commenting on. Sorry. Thanks.
I hope he proves me wrong, but I don’t think Hickey will make the club this year. Voynov has had more seasoning at the pro level than Hickey, and Muzzin has the pro physique. It’s also important to note that Martinez and Drewiske have NHL experience and they’re also still in the mix.
Besides, a full season in Manchester will be good for Hickey’s development after losing a full season to injury. Just because he was a first rounder doesn’t mean there’s a rush to bring him up. He can still turn out to be a valuable NHL player if he’s handled right.
lol i hardly ever talk about the story at hand …. you are right about that ……………….. other than that , yeah, its the negativity …… people cant handle it ………… thats why i had to change my name from clippers of the nhl to chris , because they would just see the name and start insulting me like little 3rd graders …….. do i insult dean lombardi and everything kings practically? ….. call dean lombardi an idiot ? …. you better believe i do ……………… and i feel as a fan that is my right ……………………. however, i have never once insulted another poster individually, as they would do to me constantly over on hammonds site …. yet somehow he ended up chastizing me instead of them …….its the clippers name and the negativity – people just cant handle it ………………… as far as your concerned , your right, im never on topic ………….hammonds blog being on or off topic dosent even matter because everyone goes off topic , but yes, here i understand it should be different because you are doing specific long interviews on a certain specific subject ………………. so yeah, this would be one of the rare times we are in full agreement ……….. hockeywise actually, we probably agree more than either one of us would think ……… i mean for example, its a no brainer for us to agree that kopitar is practically a stud , drew doughty is already a stud, and jonathan bernier is going to be a stud ………………… but i say to myself, well i already know gann and i agree that doughty is a stud . ……………………… so there is no need to preach to the choir, because we already agree …………….. so i always look for things i hate about the team – things i want corrected to make us better ……. and its those things we totally disagree on ………………… but as far as the easy stuff goes ……. of course we both know kopi, doughty and bernier are studs …… scuderi, jack johnson , handzus are all really good etc…….. those are no brainers for us and most kings fans …………………….. but instead of extolling their virtues, i feel the need to always address what is wrong with the team, so that hopefully one day the problems, as i them, will be corrected ………………….. lol …….. u might respond, “chris do u actually think anybody in kings management would take some anonymous fans advice, or even listen to, or even know about your comments in the first place” ……… lol …. of course not ….. but im demented remember …………im a very competitive person and i absolutely hate to lose, so therefore, considering this kings odyssey i have been on my entire life, how in the world could a personality such as mine not be negative ………………………………….. but i digress …………. i will leave you now and never post a comment here , or on any other site forever more …… its just not worth the hassel, as people cant handle the negativity anyway, so whats the point …………………… so its best for everybody involved if i just split ……………………… ill still come here, and hammonds blog to check out your interviews and stuff , but just wont bother commenting , thats whats best for everybody involved ……………. so this is clippers of the nhl signing off ………………… keep up the good work gann ……………….. peace my brother ….. no hard feelings at all ………….. of course i stand by my feelings and opinions as to what is wrong with this team 100% ………………… late
If it was the negativity that I had a problem with, I would’ve stated that. No, it’s that you make no attempt to address the topic at hand. Instead, you use this site (and, apparently, Rich Hammond’s site, as you stated), as your personal platform. That’s not what this site is about. If you can remain on topic, please feel free to post (without personal attacks, please). Thanks.
u deleted the last one which was a scathing review of lombardi ….. and i was like, ganns right ………… im way off topic and i never stay on topic … so yeah , ganns right ….. and he should delete that because hes had enough of off topic stuff …………….. so im writing u one last thing to say u were right and goodbye because its not worth it to me to be commenting and keep up the good work etc….. , but somehow that makes it thru when all iwas intending was for you to see it , figuring since its not about hickey it wouldnt be posted either ………. but yet to my surprise it went thru ………. funny how the scathing critque of lombardi, with facts and opinions, was deleted ………………….. see my point, i think the negativity does have alot to do with it because this last thing i wrote saying nothing about thomas hickey in it when i said goodbye to you was let thru …………………………………….. so anyways , it dosent really matter , gann there is no hard feelings ……………… i know its difficult when people dont agree on things so passionately …………… so anyways, my point is i dont need to be wasting my life commenting is all im saying, ive got better things to be spending my time on instead of this ………………. again , nothing to do with you …….. we are friends …………………….. its just that i have just recently come to this conclusion, about wasting time on a computer when i could be doing something more constrcutive in my life ……….. gann, its no biggie …….. we are friends , i respect you ….. and will continue to visit your site and read your articles …………………………………………… and you are 100 percent right , i never stay on topic (because i cant and dont want to), so therefore theres no point in me commenting anyway ………………. im too consumed and interested in talking about the team and management and rumors and stuff, not specific things like just one player or whatever your article happens to be about ……. its my problem, not yours ……….. you are 100 percent right ………………… im a nutjob man ….. i couldnt stay on topic if my life depended on it ……………………… i get way too emotional about this stupid team and all the decisions that i percieve to be wrong …………………… so i would just be on here blowing a gasket at some point anyway going totally off topic to say, “can u believe moron murray used dustin brown in the shootout over handzus” …………… its me man, not you …………………. im nuts ………………………. okay later gann ………………. and i dont expect or want you to post this, but if u do no biggie ………………… okay later dude
As I said, it was off-topic.That’s why it was deleted. Nothing more. As for you being a nutjob, well, as I’ve said before, you said it, not me. :-)
okay cool …… so maybe it was just coincidense ……… like u said u were giving me leeway and then finally enough was enough, regarding another off topic post ………….. so okay, maybe it was just a coincidense ………………………. okay, later days man ……………………….. peace
Hey Gann,
Joel mentioned Muzzin earlier. From what little I’ve seen of him, I was impressed. Can you do an article on him too, or did I miss that one?
Only if you ask, really, really nicely and shower me with gifts. :P Seriously, I did interview Muzzin during development camp. I’ll get to that one eventually. Have to spread out the stories to help relieve the boredom caused by this dreaded lull from right after the unrestricted free agent signings until training camps open up…
Look forward to reading it.
I really hope that the Kings’ coaching and development staff start doing a better job in developing and integrating the defensive prospects into the Kings’ lineup next season. While Murray and staff did a decent job with the goalies and forwards, they get a failing grade from me in how they handled the defensemen…particularly as it relates to how they handled Martinez and Drewiske.
Maybe there was a bit of a disconnect between Lombardi, Murray, Emerson, and Hardy that might change with a new defensive coach. But whatever the problem was, they certainly never reconciled it last season. There really is no excuse for having these kinds of problems with defensemen when you’re this loaded in depth at Manchester.
I liked the roster transactions in bringing up Parse, Loktionov, Moller, Schenn, Bernier, Elkins, Cliche and Clune when they did. I think they need to do the same thing with the defensemen next season. Mix and match until you get the right people to stick. There are possibly 6-8 defensemen in the system who may be ready to contribute right away.
I thought Randy Jones and Sean O’Donnell were in the lineup way too much when they probably needed someone to spell them and give them time in the press box. Hopefully with their departures that will change next season.
maybe injuries at the forward positions forced them to only carry 6 defensemen.It’s funny that we’ve concentrated on defenseman at the draft for a few years now,but have yet to see the Kings take advantage of it,as far as call ups.
I agree totally that OD and Jonesy should have got more pressbox time,but by the time TM realized it,we were in a dog fight to secure a playoff spot.Same thing happened with the Goaltending.EE wasted an entire year on the bench,and Quick got burned out.
You know, I just realized…I already used the material I got from my interview with Muzzin…it was a brief interview…
LA Kings Work Young Prospects Hard At 2010 Development Camp
Thanks Gann. Awsome article.
Hickey/Teubert taken in the 1st round. This obscession with the WHL and defense has crippled the Kings. Sure DL has stocked up on defense, and given the Kings great depth in net but at a significant cost.
This blind loyalty to the WHL, and almost going to the well once too many times has really hurt the Kings.
The loyalty with Philadelphia and Flyers rejects including coaches has become a problem with DL.
TM never won a cup while he was there, and he might be a good coach, but he has a history which keeps repeating, he burns players out, or plays musical lines every game which messes up the chemistry. He plays mind games with his players which result in them not contributing, as they have in the past.
Someone needs to stop this from continuing, otherwise it will be a long season for Kings fans.
You get excited, you can see improvements, your team makes the playoffs, your areas of improvement are clearly exposed, yet you don’t do anything to make improvements.
Letting Jones/OD/Frolov walk is perfectly fine. You have talked now for 2 years on being buyers, and needing a bonifide sniper. You target a specific player and your offer isn’t good enough to lure a player to LA vs NJ, even though it’s very clear who is the team on the rise, and where a player can raise a family, and live in SoCal rather then NJ in some landfill.
No plan B, getting out played in terms of UFA signings, taking players who are overpaid and under achieving Stoll/Williams and Smyth who’s just overpaid at 6+ million, and now the reject from Toronto and Pittsburgh who has a history of issues with work ethic and poor attitude.
Drafting a kid who could be the next Brian Boyle or if lucky Chris Pronger, problem is it’s going to be 4 years before we know. Good thing you picked Tofolli, otherwise this draft would have been a bust also.
Brayden Schenn is not going to be an impact this season, and he is miles away in terms of skill from Seguin or Hall. Hall made Schenn look like the same slow white kid at the WJC just like in the Memorial Cup. Kozun 5ft 8in on a shoebox, lit the WHL up, but that is the WHL not the NHL.
Loktionov one hit wonder, literally. He looked good when he played with Windsor, but that was Windsor, not Manchester or LA.
Time is ticking and the UFA pool is slim on impact, and because there was no plan B, your plan C better be trading your plethora of prospects for a player or players who can help the Kings now.
The Kings don’t need Savard.
Washington has guys buried in Hershey the team that beat Manchester and the rest in the AHL, like Alzner, Carlson. While CAP strapped teams like Chicago have Campbell or Seabrook, and Philly who seemed to sign every single good UFA that didn’t sign with NJ or Pittsburgh or Vancouver.
Go out and sign a good 3rd line center who isn’t going to cost a lot, but will be a mentor to Clifford and Schenn and Simmonds, Belanger.
The time for talk is over and 2 years now and DL was unable to get anyone to sign here as a UFA, so that worries Kings fans. Why is it difficult to get guys to play here? Young up and coming team, with a bright future, yet there seems to be some negative cloud floating over this franchise which says stay away.
STOP drafting defensive players from the WHL and start focusing on the CHL as a whole and look to Sweden and Slovakia, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia.
It worked in the past, but this Captain Queege living in the past redundancy is no longer effective today.
9+ in available salary, and the same excuse of we need to sign our core is getting frustrating. Sign the core and stop using that as an excuse for not being able to offer a player fair market value for their skill set.