Are The Phoenix Coyotes Grasping At Straws Facing 3-0 Series Deficit Against The LA Kings?

May 19, 2012 by Leave a comment

Logo courtesy National Hockey League

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — After his team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 of the best-of-seven 2012 Western Conference Finals, now finding themselves trailing the Kings in the series, 3-0, Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett began grasping at straws.

“Personally, I’ve talked about this in a lot of meetings with Don [Maloney], our general manager, that the game is turning a little dishonest and it’s embellishment by players,” Tippett fumed. “When it’s done well, it’s very hard for the referees, very hard, because if you fall down near the boards, or you drop your stick, or you throw your head back, you’re putting the referee in a very tough situation.”

“You know, [it’s] not just our game tonight, you see it all through,” Tippett added. “The referees have a hard job. What it does, it makes the game dishonest. In actual fact, to make it work to your favor, you’ve got to do it more. You’ve got to do it. If everybody else is doing it, you better do it, too.” Read more of this post

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Ryan Smyth Gets His Wish: Los Angeles Kings And Edmonton Oilers Finally Agree On A Deal

June 27, 2011 by 6 Comments

SMYTH FINALLY RETURNS HOME: Veteran left wing Ryan Smyth is finally back home after the Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers were finally able to agree on a trade. Story includes details on the trade, along with commentary on the reaction to the deai. Did Smyth handle things the right way, or does he deserve to be criticized, or worse?

Veteran left wing Ryan Smyth (right), shown here parked in his usual spot in front
of the net, was finally traded to the Edmonton Oilers on June 26.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — After more than 24 hours of going back and forth between having a deal in place, and then not having one, again and again, veteran left wing Ryan Smyth, is, officially and finally, back with the Edmonton Oilers.

On June 26, the Kings sent the 35-year-old native of Banff, Alberta back to where he began his National Hockey League career in 1995-96, playing eleven seasons in an Oilers jersey. Read more of this post

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Ryan Smyth Is Still With The Los Angeles Kings…For Now, Anyway

June 25, 2011 by 1 Comment

LOS ANGELES — Contrary to reports on June 24 that a deal had been completed, veteran left wing Ryan Smyth is still a member of the Los Angeles Kings, and it appears that no deal will happen for the next few days, at least.

Gilbert Brule
Photo: National Hockey League

“Without getting into the details, no, I don’t think we’re closer,” Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi told reporters following Day 2 of the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 25.

The reported deal had Smyth going to the Edmonton Oilers, where he began his NHL career in 1995-96, playing eleven seasons in an Oilers jersey. In exchange, the Kings would receive a fourth or a fifth round draft pick, and forward Gilbert Brule.

Brule, 24, has one year left in a $1.85 million contract, but that’s $1.85 million more than the Kings are willing to carry on their books for him.

In other words, the addition of Brule in the deal is simply to move his salary off the Oilers’ books. Likewise, the Kings would not have retained his services, either, opting to apply that $1.85 million towards the acquisition of a top six left winger. Read more of this post

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