For several years in the mid 90′s it seemed like the Kings were on a ‘Closing Down the Arena’ tour, as they made their final visits to old Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, the Capital Centre just outside Washington DC and several others.
However, it was their second-to-last skate around the ice [...]
Remembering Winnipeg and Gretzky’s last game with the LA Kings
December 29, 2011 By
Kings at Maple Leafs – notes on Melrose, Mitchell, mistakes
December 19, 2011 By
Tonight will be the end of an era on at least two fronts.
First, interim coach John Stevens will be coaching his last game for the Kings – as Darryl Sutter is expected to be officially announced as the team’s new bench boss tomorrow and resume game duties Thursday vs the Ducks.
Second, beginning next season, gone [...]
VIDEO: Las Vegas game highlights – a Frozen Fury primer
September 29, 2011 By
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the Kings made their Las Vegas debut.
They say the first time is always the most special. In this case, it rings even more true because it was the first time an NHL game had been played outdoors.
Caesar’s Palace, made famous by huge boxing matches in [...]
Without Their Top Player, Kings Down Sharks in Game One
April 14, 2011 By
It’s not the player you’re thinking of. And it’s a different game one.
On October 16, 1991 the Los Angeles Kings were about to play host to the NHL’s newest team, the San Jose Sharks.
Shortly after the morning skate early that day, Wayne Gretzky received a phone call that his father was in the hospital after [...]
Kings-Ducks: The First Time It Mattered This Much
February 23, 2011 By
It was 1993. December 2nd to be exact. The Kings were crashing hard, coming down from their high of going to the Stanley Cup Finals just seven months earlier. Now, they were near the bottom of the Western Conference and riding a six-game losing streak.
Across the ice were the Disney-owned Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, playing [...]
Gift Ideas For Jack Johnson, From His Teammates
January 13, 2011 By
A few Kings players have birthdays today – forward Kyle Clifford turns 20 and defenseman Jack Johnson is now 24. Meanwhile, former Kings goaltender Kelly Hrudey will be…well, he’s just having a birthday today.
Clifford’s not even legal yet, so you can’t take him out for a drink. And Johnson, he inked a seven-year, $30 million [...]
Kelly Hrudey on Jonathan Quick
December 22, 2010 By
Former Kings goaltender (and current Hockey Night in Canada analyst) Kelly Hrudey was on NHL Live radio yesterday. He talked quite a bit about Jonathan Quick, so I thought I’d pass on some of the quotes…
Billy Jaffe asked “If you could pick one goalie to start a team with right now, who would it be?”
Hrudey [...]
Bernier a perdu une bataille! Mais Bernier n’a pas perdu la guerre!
November 24, 2010 By
Just a slight twist on the more famous quote where Charles de Gaulle said France has lost the battle, but she has not lost the war.
Jonathan Bernier has yet to find his groove this season.
Further, for people expecting a goalie controversy in LA, it hasn’t materialized.
Yes, he was a first round draft pick. Yes, he [...]
Season Preview with Kelly Hrudey of HNIC
October 6, 2010 By
Continuing with our season previews this week, we visit with another returning guest from last year – former NHL goaltender and long time LA Kings fan favorite, Kelly Hrudey.
Fans here probably remember him best as the blue bandana wearing goalie from the ’93 Stanley Cup Finals. Yet, north of the border he’s been a [...]
Word Association with Tony Granato
Former Kings’ forward Tony Granato, now an assistant coach in Pittsburgh, joined us earlier this week in anticipation of tonight’s game versus the Penguins.
In the first part of the interview we discussed his impressions of Dean Lombardi when he was being recruited by the San Jose Sharks in the summer of 1996. He also offered [...]