• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorsManor.com

NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor

  • Radio Replay
  • Prospect Rankings
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / comments / Kozun vs Toffoli, round one – Kings Rookie Camp notes

Kozun vs Toffoli, round one – Kings Rookie Camp notes

September 10, 2011 By John Hoven

Following the morning skate that officially kicked off the LA Kings 2011 Rookie Camp, here are some comments from the two guys who are front and center…plus, a smidge of Ray Kaunisto.

“I’m feeling pretty good. It’s nice to be back out there and get into the hockey season a bit,” began Brandon Kozun. “It’s been a long summer and it’s nice to get back on the ice.”

He hasn’t felt much of a rivalry with Tyler Toffoli just yet though. “Everyone is coming into camp with one goal and that’s to make the team,” said Kozun. “So, you’re not competing with one guy – you’re competing with everyone. You want to go out there and show your stuff and you hope (the coaches and management) like what they see.”

If he finds his way onto the Kings’ roster this season, it would mean a little more than it normally might, because – in his words – “The Kings are a very good team and a Stanley Cup contender. It would be exciting to be part of something like that.”

Kozun said he felt comfortable in camp today, especially because Mark Morris (the head coach in Manchester) was running the drills.

However, fellow Monarch Kaunisto may have been the one thing he didn’t enjoy about today.

What was the most annoying thing Kaunisto has done so far at camp? “Just Kaunisto being Kaunisto, really,” quipped Kozun.

Kaunisto got his chirps in too, don’t worry – saying some of the 8-year olds who took to the ice following practice were taller than Kozun and many of them could skate better, as well.

Meanwhile, Toffoli had his game face on and was already looking ahead to the showdown with the Coyotes on Wednesday.

“It’s day one of practice and we’re trying to get all the guys going,” Toffoli explained. “It’s a competition, not just (with Kozun), but everybody here We need to pull together and play those two games against Phoenix next week. So, I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet (between the two of us). But, maybe we will as camp goes along.”

Having already been to LA for a few camps now has made things a little easier on Toffoli. Plus, going to Manchester for a few weeks at the end of last season helped too.

“It’s not jut knowing the coaches,” said Toffoli, when talking about his comfort level at camp. “It’s also knowing the players and all the boys. Knowing a lot of the guys makes me feel more comfortable. And the more comfortable somebody feels, the better they’re going to perform.”

Specifically, he says he’s probably bonded most with Jake Muzzin and Jordan Nolan – both are OHL guys he played against a couple of times. “We really get along well and when I went to Manch last year, they pulled me in and let me just play how I play.”

Does he have any expectations for camp? “I just want to do my best here. That’s all I can ask of myself. I feel like I’ve come here in 10-times better shape than last year. Obviously, there’s still a long way to go. But, I felt great out on the ice this morning. I just need to keep it up and hopefully I can play a few games and capitalize on my chances.”

He might have already figured out how to be a King too – he worked out this summer with Claude Giroux – a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.

On the ice though, he’s putting it all together. “I don’t just score goals. I feel that I work hard and I’m good with the puck…the type of game I play, sure I scored goals last year – but everyone on my like took turns back-checking, forechecking and working hard in the corners. I think I can mix in just about anything into my game.”

That’s part of why he’s ranked so highly among the prospects.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

Filed Under: comments, Interview, Kings, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, Prospect Tagged With: camp, comments, Kaunisto, Kozun, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, quote, rookie, Toffoli

About John Hoven

John Hoven is a member of the of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and co-hosts Kings of the Podcast. He is also the founder and editor of MayorsManor.com, which has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles by LA Weekly and Hockey Blog of the Year by Yahoo Sports. Click "ABOUT OUR TEAM" above for a full bio.

Primary Sidebar

Kings Of The Podcast

Kings Of The Podcast: S2, E6 with Warren Rychel

Warren Rychel was one of the most popular Kings in the early to mid-90s, especially coming off the team’s run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, where he posted six goals and 13 points to lead all NHL rookies in playoff scoring. A few years later, Rychel won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Game 4: Kings def. Avs – Todd McLellan Postgame Quotes
  • NHL RADIO REPLAY: Mayor’s Minutes – Hoven on LA Kings Season Start, Vilardi, and Anderson
  • FIRST GOAL CONTEST: Kings vs Avalanche – January 21 (Presented by Violent Gentlemen)
  • UPDATED: LA Kings Projected Lineup vs Avs, Plus McLellan Quotes
  • Kings Of The Podcast: S2, E6 with Warren Rychel
  • Kale Clague Looking for Ice Time, Fighting for Protection
  • Wednesday January 20 – LA Kings Practice Update: Andersson to Taxi
  • Game 3: Kings v Avs- Todd McLellan Postgame Quotes
  • Game 3: Kings v Avs – Cal Petersen Postgame Quotes
  • FIRST GOAL CONTEST: Kings vs Avalanche – January 19 (Presented by Violent Gentlemen)

Tweets by mayorNHL

Footer

Archives

Tags

AHL Bernier Blackhawks Brown camp Carter Clifford coach comments Doughty draft Ducks Greene hockey interview Kings Kopitar Lombardi Los Angeles Manchester Mayor MayorsManor Mitchell Monarchs Murray NHL Ontario Penner Playoffs Prospect Quick quote Radio Reign Richards Sharks Stanley Cup Stoll Sutter Toffoli trade video WCB West Coast Bias Williams

MayorsManor

  • About Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Store

© 2021 MayorsManor.com