Do the LA Kings need help in scoring more goals? Does a bear…?

What are you willing to give up and part with in order for that to happen, really?  While I'm asking questions, why would anyone who has  the slightest bit of knowledge in Dean Lombardi's track record want him to make a move as significant as acquiring the likes of Zach Parise, Jeff Carter, Ales Hemsky, or Rick Nash? 

Let's take a look at Dean's trade deadline moves in recent years:

2011: Kings trade Ryan Smyth to Edmonton for Gilbert Brule… wait no, Colin Fraser

At first, the trade was supposed to bring Gilbert Brule to the Kings in exchange for Smyth, who wanted to be in Edmonton.  Given the situation, it's obvious that Dean was not going to get much in return.  However, the trade for Brule was canceled since he was injured.  Instead, they gave him Fraser… who also ended up being injured.  Since the trade, Fraser has been a decent fourth line grinder who is willing an okay penalty killer and a willing combatant when needed.  

2011: Kings trade Colton Teubert, 2011 1st round pick, and 3rd in 2012 to Edmonton for Dustin Penner Since the trade, Dustin Penner has been a disaster. Listing his point totals is not necessary. All anyone needs to know is that he has been a healthy scratch in favor of AHL players.

2010: Kings trade Teddy Purcell and a 3rd round pick to Tampa Bay for Jeff Halpern and a 3rd round pick. Halpern did absolutely nothing for the Kings for the rest of the season and the playoffs as an unrestricted free agent while Purcell became a decent scorer in Tampa Bay.

2009: Kings trade Brian Boyle to the New York Rangers for a 3rd round choice. Brian Boyle didn't seem to find his groove in LA and Dean shipped him off to New York where he, all of a sudden, became one of the key components of the Rangers.

2008: Kings trade Michael Cammalleri and a 2nd round pick to Calgary for 1st and 2nd round picks. 

Considering that the 1st round pick was used to acquire Colton Teubert, who then was traded for Dustin Penner… I'm calling this his worst trade yet.

Having knowledge of these disastrous trades, why would anyone want Dean to make another deal while he's still here in LA?  Acquiring a player like Rick Nash or Zach Parise would add quite a bit to this team… but, at what cost?  The Kings are struggling offensively and everyone knows that.  Dean would be forced to pull off a trade where he might have to overpay.  Are Kings fans willing to part with the likes of Johnson, Bernier, and Voynov?  I, for one, hope he doesn't make a move on any of the high profile players who are available for trade right now.  He has been average (at best) in this category, so why sacrifice the future now?  If the Kings do not make the playoffs AND win at least a round, Dean Lombardi is likely to be cut loose.  Let's make an Alec Martinez for Travis Moen type of deal, see what happens from now until the end of the season, and regroup during the summer.  After all, being a Kings fan is to say "there's always next season."

Mike Torosyan 
 @miketory79

LA Kings Going to Shake It Up

Who would have ever thought that at game 60, we would see a player like Jordan Nolan on the top line playing with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams?  Who would have ever thought that at game 60, the Kings would be ranked dead last in the NHL in goals scored?  Who would have ever thought that at game 60, the Kings would be on the outside looking in - tied with Calgary with 65 points in 9th place?  I can keep going, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to "catch my drift." 

I remember sitting glued in front of the television during the opening game of the NHL season and getting chills when Mike Modano and Marty Turco predicted the Kings to win the Stanley Cup.  I actually believed it this time.  I had just opened the packet received from the Kings which contained my tickets for the season.  I was ready to go!  What happened?  What went wrong?  Why, all of a sudden, the Kings just can't put the puck in the net?  In their previous game against Calgary, I kept mentioning to my friends that it doesn't appear to be a lack of effort. The chances were certainly there.  The effort seemed like it was there.  The puck just does not go in!

Today, coach Sutter decided to shake things up… again.  The following lines were reported to be skating in practice this morning:

Nolan / Kopitar / Williams
King / Richards / Brown
Clifford / Loktionov / Lewis
Penner / Fraser / Richardson
(Westgarth, Stoll)

Sutter also expressed his displeasure in the play and effort of his top players in Kopitar and Brown.  He was quoted saying: 

"Neither one has done much for six weeks. These guys talk too much about the team. They should talk more about more about themselves, what they bring to the table. … Kopi and Brownie have been stale, from my standpoint, for a little while together. In terms of producing opportunities, if it’s working backwards, in terms of who you perceive as your fourth line, to your first, then it’s not really a team thing.’’

That is a statement we have never heard directed towards those two players as Kings fans.  In the past, Terry Murray scapegoated players like Frolov when things went south.  It is very refreshing to see a coach who is not afraid to criticize his "star" players when deserved.  Whether or not this will light a fire under them, is yet to be seen.  The Kings are set to face the Coyotes in Phoenix tomorrow night for the most important game of the season thus far.  The outcome of the game could very well decide their fate in the season.  I'm never a fan of math when it comes to sports.  The Kings could drop tomorrow's game and still have plenty of games to make up for it, but hockey is based on momentum, heart, and belief… just ask the Anaheim Ducks.  You want to talk about a must win?  Tomorrow night is it.

What I think should happen is the following:  Dustin Penner, Dwight King, and Jordan Nolan need to get their bodies in front of the net.  This is how the Kings scored goals last season.  Of course, we had willing players like Smyth and Handzus who made a living doing that… but you've got to do these things in order to score. This is the main reason why the scoring has been down (understatement) this season.  No player is willing to get banged up in front of the net to score those ugly goals.  A big guy like Penner has no business coasting around during a power play when the team is struggling to score.

Interesting facts:

Since the old Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix and became the Coyotes in 1996, the Kings record against them has been 35-41-6T-4OTL-2SOL.  While playing in Phoenix, the record is 14-23-2T-3OTL-1SOL. Phoenix, in their last 10 games has gone 8-1-1 gaining 17 out of 20 points.  The Kings have gone 4-5-1 with a terrible 9 out of 20.  The last game the two teams played recorded a total of 4 fighting majors for each team and 62 penalty minutes altogether.  

-Mike Torosyan   @miketory79

PLAYOFF REFLECTIONS: DAY 7

THE GAME I WISH I SAW

To wake up this morning in utter shock after watching the playoff highlights is an understatement. Living in the Eastern timezone makes watching the games on the west coast a little difficult every weeknight. Last night’s Sharks/Kings game in Los Angeles is one I wish I could have made it through. Part of what put me to sleep was the abysmal effort of the Sharks, and the especially horrid play of Anti Niemi. After the first period the Sharks were down 3-0 on only 9 shots against. Niemi had no chance on the third goal, but in the playoffs you have to be ready from the start. Not only was he not ready from the start of the game, he wasn’t ready for the start of the 2^nd period.  Niemi allowed the first shot he faced in the second period after losing his stick. Coach Todd McLellan had enough of this performance and pulled Niemi, down 4-0, 0:44 into the second period, inserting Antero Nittymaki.

At 4-0, I decided it was time to shut it down for the night. The Sharks are not a team known for their heart, so there was no point in delaying the obvious.  Getting sleep on this lousy night of playoff action, will benefit me for the next night of playoff action with 5 games on tap.  The Sharks proved me, and almost everyone else wrong. Not only did they fight back to win the game, but they tied the game 5-5 before the end of the 2^nd period! The game went to overtime after a scoreless 3^rd period, where the Sharks would win for the second time this series.  This is one of those examples of what makes the NHL playoffs, the best action in sports. The loss will prove deflating for the Kings and an incredible boost for the Sharks. I never leave games early, just because you never know what might happen. Maybe I should apply this to watching games as well! Sleep is overrated any way!

Here is the schedule for today’s games.

Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay  7:00pm

Washington @ NY Rangers  7:00pm

Philadelphia @ Buffalo  7:30

Anaheim @ Nashville  8:30pm

Detroit @ Phoenix  10:30pm

Catch my tweets tonight on the Flyers/Sabres and commentary about the other games  at twitter.com @getrealhockey.

Follow my articles and tweets on twitter @Chyz1.

-Mark Chyz