NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor
Enjoy a free replay of “The Mayor” John Hoven, as he joined hosts Brett Winterble and George Wrighster on The Beast, AM 980 in Los Angles, to talk all the latest topics surrounding the Kings – including their playoff chances and what GM Dean Lombardi might do before the trade deadline.
You can listen to today’s segment using the player below or download any of our audio files for free on the MayorsManor iTunes page located here.
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On November 28, 1996, the @LAKings acquired Brad Smyth from the Florida Panthers for a third round draft pick. Smyth scored nine goals, 20 points, and recorded 78 penalty minutes in 53 games with the #LAKings.#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/LXxkRDZOqU
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) November 28, 2020
On November 28, 2000, Ziggy Palffy scored his first hat trick in an […]
Happy birthday to former @LAKings goaltender Al Jensen, who was born on November 27, 1958.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/aOB1Lz0I8n
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) November 27, 2020
On November 27, 1992, the @LAKings' All-American Line of Mike Donnelly, Tony Granato, and Corey Millen each scored three points in a 5-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Robb Stauber made 42 […]
Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Steve Bozek, who was born on November 26, 1960.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/jUEbdEHDJd
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) November 26, 2020
Happy birthday to former @LAKings goaltender Darren Eliot, who was born on November 26, 1961.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/hAxab5nkAg
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) November 26, 2020
On November 26, 2002, the @LAKings acquired Dmitry Yushkevich and a […]
It seems that nearly every year there is a debate among two players either at or near the top of the NHL Draft board. This year was no exception, with Quinton Byfield vs. Tim Stuetzle being a common theme among … [Read More...]
John,
In the interview you referred to Doughty as “the best defenseman in the NHL.” Thinking you’re going a bit overboard there. He is clearly the best Kings d-man and a top-ten defenseman league-wide but do you really believe he’s number 1 in the entire league?
He’s hardly in the class of a dominating defenseman at both ends of the ice like others before him, for example, Larry Robinson, Salming, Potvin, Chelios, Bourque, Lidstrom, Pronger or Chara.
DD is a good, but not great skater, a pretty good passer, has hard shot and has become a good, but not great, defender. Yes, he is a tremendous competitor and wants to win as much or more than anybody but does not dominate anywhere on the ice in any one zone. He is more effective when concentrating on defensive play first and playing offensively only selectively. He still runs around too much offensively, carries the puck too much and makes too many mistakes….Players like Ekman-Larson and Erik Karlson are light years better offensively. Weber is a bigger and better all-around defenseman. Chara, up to this season, has been the best all-around d-man in the league since Pronger’s skills started to decline. A case can be made for Duncan Keith being more effective than DD as well.
DD is the best defenseman on what has been the league’s best team two of the last three years. He’s had the NHL’s best goaltender back there making him look better for the past several seasons. This is not a knock against DD but I think to call him the league’s best, is an overly optimistic view of his performance up to now.