Nobody needs to overreact. Gabe Vilardi has now played one professional hockey game.
Even so, ‘encouraging’ would be a vast understatement when describing the importance of seeing a 19-year-old forward make his AHL debut on Thursday.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft by Los Angeles, Vilardi has been one of the most […]
Gabe Vilardi Notebook: Pro Debut Thoughts, And Not Expected in LA Until 2019
November 30, 2018 By
Blake and Yannetti on Their Evolving Relationship, and the LA Kings 2018 Draft
June 19, 2018 By
At this time last year, fresh on the heels of taking over as LA Kings General Manager just two months prior, Rob Blake was pretty transparent heading into the 2017 NHL Draft – it was largely Mark Yannetti’s show to run. Fast forward one year, and I checked in with both guys to see how […]
Yannetti Talks LA Kings Outlook Heading Into 2018 NHL Draft
June 19, 2018 By
As astute readers of this website know, there are few people in the world of hockey we find more fascinating than Mark Yannetti. He has been an integral part of the LA Kings success at the NHL Draft for nearly a decade now and he’s one of the sport’s true deep thinkers. As he will […]
Understanding Kyle Clifford and the LA Kings Becoming One And the Same
February 25, 2018 By
His jersey will never be hanging from the rafters inside the arena, nor will he get a statue outside Staples Center. However, his contributions to the LA Kings organization are immeasurable, often unnoticed, and far greater than most people will ever realize.
Last month, Clifford played his 500th NHL game and Dustin Brown, who served as […]
Yannetti Evaluates Kings Selections from 2017 NHL Draft
June 26, 2017 By
Although the Los Angeles Kings have gone through significant upheaval in their management ranks over the past few months, the 2017 NHL Draft was largely business as usual. While GM Rob Blake was present at the draft table, the event was largely run by Mark Yannetti, Director of Amateur Scouting – just as it has […]
2017 NHL DRAFT PREVIEW: Blake and Yannetti on Kings Philosophy and Needs
June 22, 2017 By
Everything still has a feeling of newness surrounding the LA Kings organization. While their Vegas brethren have been dominating most of the headlines this week, that is likely to change quickly as the spotlight now turns toward the 2017 NHL Draft.
GM Rob Blake held a media call early Thursday to share a few thoughts about […]
Problem Identified: What the LA Kings Have Been Missing for Three Years
April 30, 2017 By
Since 2014, coming off a run that included two Stanley Cup parades in three years, the Los Angeles Kings have been plagued with constant questions surrounding what’s gone wrong. Theories have ranged from the loss of defenseman Slava Voynov to bad trades, from injuries to bad contracts, from a coach unwilling (or unable) to change […]
Rob Blake on How and Why John Stevens Was Promoted
April 24, 2017 By
Following today’s LA Kings press conference to announce John Stevens as the team’s new head coach, General Manager Rob Blake shared a plethora of additional insight into how and why the promotion occurred:
Blake on finding a head coach right away:
“Well, I think I’ve experienced it first hand, which goes a long way. Also, the experience […]
The Final Interview: Darryl Sutter on the How and Why of Being Fired, plus What Lies Ahead
April 15, 2017 By
When all was said and done, Darryl Sutter remained Darryl Sutter right up until the very end… and even beyond.
Just days removed from being fired in Los Angeles, he was back in a very familiar setting – about an hour outside of downtown, watching the Kings AHL affiliate in Ontario. Unlike previous visits, which provided […]
Anderson-Dolan and Eyssimont, Communication Over Chemistry
You just never know when two hockey players will fit well together on a line.
“Sometimes you just click with a guy – even when it’s just one game, you can feel it,” Jaret Anderson-Dolan said, when asked about playing with fellow LA Kings prospect Mikey Eyssimont in Game 1 of the 2018 Rookie Tournament. “Any […]