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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Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Dan Bonar, who was born on September 23, 1956.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/jTCqp9ApxQ
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 23, 2020
Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Dixon Ward, who was born on September 23, 1968.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/ylNS2abpmI
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 23, 2020
Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Donald Audette, who was born […]
Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Carl Mokosak, who was born on September 22, 1962.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/rpKu3G85js
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 22, 2020
Happy birthday to former @LAKings defenseman Craig Redmond, who was born on September 22, 1965.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/DXBTA4zW2W
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 22, 2020
Happy birthday to former @LAKings forward Brandy Semchuk, who was born […]
Happy birthday to former @LAKings defenseman Petr Prajsler, who was born on September 21, 1965.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/XRApq9liVt
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 21, 2020
On September 21, 1992, Marcel Dionne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dionne's storied career includes an Art Ross Trophy, two Lady Byng Trophies and two Pearson Awards. Dionne still holds […]
In a previous article, we examined a player the Kings could be targeting for their second selection at the 2020 NHL Draft - meaning, after they take somebody in the No. 2 overall position. For context, MayorsManor editor … [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.