LOS ANGELES — Apparently, young center Gabe Vilardi has played his way back into the good graces of the Los Angeles Kings coaching staff. Head coach Todd McLellan indicated that Vilardi will return to the number two center position tonight (March 29), when the Kings skate against the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. “That... Continue Reading →
LA Kings: Reasons for Optimism and Concern Persist
LOS ANGELES — 26 games into the 2021 National Hockey League season, the Los Angeles Kings are an improved team over last year, but in an abbreviated season filled with games against division rivals—all four-point games—so far, that improvement has not been enough to get them into the top four in the standings—playoff contention. Frozen... Continue Reading →
LA Kings Rookie Center Rasmus Kupari Solid in NHL Debut
LOS ANGELES — He didn’t score a goal or contribute an assist, but Los Angeles Kings rookie center Rasmus Kupari put in a solid, if not spectacular, performance in his National Hockey League debut in a 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on March 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old... Continue Reading →
LA Kings: Reasons for Optimism and Concern
LOS ANGELES — Although it is too early in the 2021 National Hockey League season to draw a lot of conclusions about any team, after six games, there are reasons for optimism as well as cause for concern when it comes to the Los Angeles Kings. With a 2-2-2 record after six games, the Kings... Continue Reading →
LA Kings: Arthur Kaliyev Could Make The Jump From Juniors to the NHL…For Now
LOS ANGELES — Back in June 2019, the Los Angeles Kings selected a sniper, a pure goal scorer, in the second round of the 2019 National Hockey League Draft. That sniper was 6-2, 194-pound right wing Arthur Kaliyev, now 19 years old, who was selected in the second round, 33rd overall. The Kings were pretty... Continue Reading →
Gabe Vilardi Is Finally At Full Speed and Is Raring to Go for the LA Kings
LOS ANGELES — Although we’re only going to get 56 regular season games (post-season play notwithstanding) to watch the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 season, we will finally get to see forward prospect Gabe Vilardi at full speed. Indeed, Vilardi has put the issues related to his back injury and subsequent surgery in 2017... Continue Reading →
LA Kings D Mikey Anderson Is Right on the Cusp
LOS ANGELES — After making a very solid impression in a late-season, six-game stint with the Los Angeles Kings last year, rookie defenseman Mikey Anderson finds himself on the cusp of making the Kings 2020-21 opening night roster. “In my mind, Mikey has worked his way into our lineup, and again, at camp, it looks... Continue Reading →
Expectations for LA Kings’ Alex Iafallo Are On the Rise
LOS ANGELES — After a breakout 2019-20 season, Los Angeles Kings Alex Iafallo and head coach Todd McLellan have higher expectations for the left wing in the fast approaching COVID-19-abbreviated 2020-21 National Hockey League season. Indeed, after setting career highs in goals (17), assists (26) and points (43) last season, Iafallo has bigger skate boots... Continue Reading →
“Aggressive” Is the Key Word for LA Kings D Matt Roy
EL SEGUNDO, CA — It wasn’t all that long ago that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy was a virtual unknown, unless you followed college hockey very, very closely. Indeed, the 25-year-old, 6-1, 200-pound native of Detroit, Michigan, who was selected by the Kings in the seventh round (194th overall) of the 2015 National Hockey... Continue Reading →
Will LA Kings Sink or Swim On Upcoming Six-Game Road Swing?
EL SEGUNDO, CA — It is certainly no secret that a major factor in the Los Angeles Kings being 29th in the 31-team National Hockey League’s overall standings, besides the fact that they are in the midst of rebuilding their roster, is because they are the worst team in the league on the road (2-12-1).... Continue Reading →
LA Kings Adrian Kempe Is Looking Better On Left Wing
EL SEGUNDO, CA — It is easy to see why the Los Angeles Kings have put so much time and energy into trying to convert forward Adrian Kempe from left wing to center. Indeed, Kempe’s skating ability and speed, not to mention the fact that he has the rare gift of being able to skate... Continue Reading →
The LA Kings New System…Explained
EL SEGUNDO, CA — With new head coach Todd McLellan taking over behind the bench this season for the Los Angeles Kings, one of the things he was charged with was making his new team faster and more aggressive up the ice. That meant that the system they played would have to change, at least... Continue Reading →