--Are the Kings making progress? Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder. During the 2005-06 season, the year before Dean Lombardi took over as GM, the Kings had 89 points. That summer, Lombardi began a massive rebuilding project, with the belief that the Kings needed to do a better job of building from within. Since then, the Kings have gone from 68 points (14th in the Western Conference) to 71 points (15th) to 79 points (14th) this season. The Kings scored 207 goals and allowed 234, compared to 231 and 266 last season.
--The Kings had the youngest roster in the NHL for a major part of the season and got big contributions from rookies and second-year players. Rookie defenseman Drew Doughty led the Kings in ice time and rookie goalie Jonathan Quick led all Kings goalies in games (43), wins (20), goals-against average (2.46) and save percentage (.915). Rookie forward Wayne Simmonds had 21 points in 82 games and played an important defensive role on the third line, and second-year defenseman Kyle Quincey was second on the team with 34 assists.
QUOTE TO NOTE "We just need to play consistently. I think that was our biggest fault this year was that we would do things one game and get away from it the next. We just do things that prompt success and then the next time it wouldn't be there, so I think we just need that consistency and that comes with age and experience. That's what a summer will bring." -- Kings defenseman Matt Greene
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER The Kings anticipated that Drew Doughty, the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft, would make the team out of training camp. What they couldn't have anticipated is that Doughty would lead the team in average ice time, at almost 24 minutes per game, be a stalwart on the power play and penalty kill and show leadership qualities. It's hard not to think of Doughty as a future Norris Trophy candidate.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER The Kings thought Jack Johnson, in his second full NHL season, would be ready to take a huge step forward. He might have been, but in the second game of the season, Johnson tore the labrum in his left shoulder and needed surgery that caused him to miss half the season. When Johnson returned, he had a few strong games but was never the impact defenseman the Kings anticipated he would be.
FREE AGENT FOCUS None of the Kings' top five forwards (in terms of points) or top five defensemen (in terms of minutes played) will be free agents this summer. Winger Kyle Calder and defenseman Denis Gauthier are the Kings' two biggest unrestricted free agents. Forwards Brian Boyle and Teddy Purcell and defenseman Jack Johnson are the top restricted free agents.
PLAYER NEWS
--C Michal Handzus scored a goal in the season finale to complete a strong comeback season. Handzus played all 82 games for a second consecutive season, and this time he totaled 18 goals and 24 assists. Last season, in his first year back after ACL surgery, Handzus had seven goals and 14 assists. Handzus was also one of the Kings' top faceoff men this season.
--C Anze Kopitar led the Kings in assists (39) and points (66) this season, but there aren't a ton of bragging rights to go along with that. Kopitar was asked to play more of a defensive role this season, and his numbers dropped, from 45 points and 77 points last season. Kopitar's 66 points were the fewest by a Kings team leader since Luc Robitaille had 51 points in 2003-04.
--LW Alexander Frolov was one of the few Kings who had his scoring numbers improve this season. Frolov went from 23 goals in 2007-08 to a team-high 32 goals this season, although his point total fell from 67-59. Frolov is due to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2010, which might make him an attractive trade target this summer.
MEDICAL WATCH
--C Jarret Stoll missed the final eight games of the season with a groin injury but is not expected to require any offseason surgery.
--D Kyle Quincey missed the final seven games of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back and is expected to be back at full strength for the start of training camp.
LOS ANGELES - It doesn't often happen this way, but the LA Kings managed to simultaneously become both a much younger and a much smarter defensive hockey team this season.
Although the Kings will be outside the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, the team did make significant strides this year in restructuring its defense and goaltending in a manner that could provide a solid foundation for future success.
Emphasizing a commitment to defensive zone play under new coach Terry Murray while adding young defenseman and goaltending prospects, the Kings were among the NHL's top five teams in limiting opponents' shots this season.
Last year, the Kings yielded more goals (266) than all but two NHL clubs. This year they were generally among the top 10 stingiest teams in allowing opposition goals (234).
But the Kings' revamped defensive structure is now well ahead of the team's ability to score goals. LA had the NHL's worst five-on-five offense this season (214 goals) and the immediate focus of the offseason is likely to be on finding more offensive firepower.
"That's what you really kind of hope to address, the five-on-five scoring," said GM Dean Lombardi. "The goals against have come down, I start to see intangibles develop and even the special teams have been good, but five-on-five we were the worst in the league -- clearly."
Lombardi will be entering his fourth season of rebuilding the Kings, but unlike previous years in which he loaded up on draft picks with any eye toward adding as many prospects as possible, this summer he can aim to land more experienced talent.
"There's no way I could have even thought of trading my first-round pick the last couple of years. I can look at that now," Lombardi said. "The same thing with a (top) prospect -- I couldn't think of trading a (top) prospect. I can look at that now. We're in a position now where we can start making deals, if it is the right deal."
There is no doubt the Kings need to add offensive flair to their top forward lines. But they also need continued improvement from their current core group of forwards.
Center Anze Kopitar led the team in overall scoring (27 goals, 39 assists) for the second consecutive year but took a step back with five fewer goals and six fewer assists than he generated during the 2007-08 season.
Likewise, winger Dustin Brown dropped from scoring a team-best 33 goals during 2007-08 to 24 goals this year, his first as the team captain. He knows the team needs to find scoring help, but also that he and his teammates have to be better.
"We made strides in the right direction," Brown said. "A big part of team success next year is on the shoulders of the players doing everything right this summer and coming into camp next year with the mentality we're not going to mess around."
There should be plenty of optimism regarding the Kings' future.
Doughty, the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, jumped in and led the team in ice time. He appears to be a star in waiting.
Rookie goalie Jonathan Quick started 41 of the Kings' final 52 games after being recalled from AHL Manchester on Dec. 16. He finished the season with a respectable 2.48 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage while demonstrating he could keep LA competitive most nights.
"Doughty is an impact player for our hockey club and he's going to be an impact player in this league," Murray said. "Quick has played tremendous for us -- every game he has given us the opportunity to win."
Rookie forwards Wayne Simmonds and Oscar Moeller also made a swift adjustment to playing in the NHL.
Collectively, the Kings were the NHL's third-youngest team this season. But they skated with a mix of pure rookies and young forwards who have been in the league for several seasons.
Alexander Frolov, who led the team in goal scoring (32), has now completed six NHL seasons, Brown has played five and Kopitar finished his third.
The Kings (34-37-11) are at a key juncture, where these players have to move from simply being young to being consistently effective.
"They're here quicker than I thought and they've shown they can play in the league, but they haven't shown they can win in the league," said Lombardi. "There's a huge difference. That's where they have to stay hungry."
As well as the young Kings played at times this season, they still have a lot to learn.
"I think that was our biggest fault this year was that we would do things one game and get away from it the next," Greene said. "We just do things that prompt success and then the next time it wouldn't be there, so I think we just need that consistency and that comes with age and experience."
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings hold the fifth selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft following today’s NHL Draft Lottery in New York. The New York Islanders hold the first overall selection in the 2009 Draft, which takes place June 26-27 in Montreal.
The Kings have never selected fifth overall. Click here for the Kings first round draft picks.
For a complete look at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including bios of the top-ranked players eligible for the draft, visit LAKings.com/draft09.
The Kings enter the 2009 NHL Entry Draft with 13 total selections over seven rounds:
2009 NHL Entry Draft: First-Round: one selection Second-Round: one selection Third-Round: one selection Fourth-Round: three selections Fifth-Round: two selections Sixth-Round: two selections Seventh-Round: three selections
The order of selection for the first 14 drafting positions in the first round, only, of the 2009 Entry Draft is as follows: 1. New York Islanders 2. Tampa Bay Lightning 3. Colorado Avalanche 4. Atlanta Thrashers 5. Los Angeles Kings 6. Phoenix Coyotes 7. Toronto Maple Leafs 8. Dallas Stars 9. Ottawa Senators 10. Edmonton Oilers 11. Nashville Predators 12. Minnesota Wild 13. Buffalo Sabres 14. Florida Panthers
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The first round takes place on Friday, June 26. The subsequent rounds (two through seven) take place on Saturday, June 27.
The NHL Entry Draft will be televised on VERSUS, TSN and RDS.
Selected By The Media Bill Libby Memorial Award (Most Valuable Player): Dustin Brown Mark Bavis Memorial Award (Best Newcomer): Drew Doughty Outstanding Defenseman: Drew Doughty Best Defensive Player: Michal Handzus
Selected By The Players Ace Bailey Memorial Award (Most Inspirational): Sean O’Donnell Unsung Hero: Michal Handzus
Selected By The Kings Care Foundation Community Service: Dustin Brown
Selected By The Kings Booster Club Most Popular Player: Dustin Brown
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with forward Dwight King, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Thursday. King was the club’s fourth-round selection (109th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
"Dwight King is a big power forward with lots of raw talent," said Ron Hextall, the Kings Vice President / Assistant General Manager.
King, 19, recently finished the 2008-09 season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he recorded 60 points (25-35=60), 51 penalty minutes and plus-9 rating in 64 regular season games. Of his 25 goals, four were scored short-handed (ranked first on the team) and eight were scored on the power-play (ranked second on the team). His 60 points ranked third on the club. The Hurricanes advanced to the 2009 WHL playoffs and in 11 postseason games, King, a 6-3, 218-pound native of Meadowlake, Saskatchewan, totaled eight points (1-7=8; ranked second on the team), two penalty minutes and plus-1 rating, with his seven playoff assists pacing the team.
King, the brother of St. Louis Blues prospect D.J. King, recorded 69 points (34-35=69), 56 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating in 72 regular season games with Lethbridge in 2007-08 while finishing third on the team in scoring. In addition, he tied for the team lead with 34 goals and 12 power-play goals while earning the title as Hurricanes Best Defensive Forward. During the 2008 WHL playoffs, King totaled 14 points (8-6=14), 12 penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating in 19 postseason games.
King, who won a gold medal as a member of Canada’s 2006 U-18 Junior World Cup team, recorded 44 points (12-32=44), 39 penalty minutes and a plus-8 rating in 68 regular season games with Lethbridge in 2006-07. The Hurricanes first-round selection in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft was also a member of Team Western at the 2006 and 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenges. <!-- 1ST TAB --><!-- 2ND TAB -->
Career Regular Season StatsSeasonTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPSHGWSS%<!-- link to teammates for this season if team is the same as site's team -->2004-2005Beardy's Blackhawks SMHL 44263056 16 <!-- link to teammates for this season if team is the same as site's team -->2004-2005Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 70003200 <!-- link to teammates for this season if team is the same as site's team -->2005-2006Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 688816-162220 <!-- link to teammates for this season if team is the same as site's team -->2006-2007Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 62123244839502 <!-- link to teammates for this season if team is the same as site's team -->2007-2008Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 723435692156121 2008-2009Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 64253560951844 <!--end isSkater@If --><!--end isGoalie@If --><!-- end tabularLayout -->
LOS ANGELES — With the Stanley Cup Finals in full swing, it has now been close to two months since the 2008-09 season ended for the Los Angeles Kings, who missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Over that period, Kings head coach Terry Murray has certainly had time to reflect on his first season with the team, especially their improved defensive play.
Indeed, when Murray took the reins of the Kings, one of the first things he said when he was introduced at a press conference in July, 2008 was that the Kings needed to cut down on goals against and it was clear from day one of training camp that defense and checking would be emphasized.
“That was the main focus coming into the first day of training camp when we met as a big group,” said Murray. “I talked to the players about the focus of the training camp and the priority was to cut back on scoring chances and cut back on goals against. The players gave tremendous focus and commitment to that.”
“In every practice and every exhibition game that was the number one priority and as you establish a solid foundation like that, everyone began to sense that success on the ice is based on playing well without the puck,” added Murray. “We used that as a rallying point to [create] a defense first attitude and it seemed to continue to build throughout the year.”
When the season was over, despite their poor 34-37-11 record, their last place finish in the Pacific Division and their 14th place finish in the fifteen-team Western Conference, the Kings had made huge strides on the defensive side of the puck, allowing 2.75 goals per game, ranking eleventh in the National Hockey League.
Penalty-killing was also vastly improved, with the Kings ending the season ranking seventh in the league with an 82.9% rating.
Those numbers showed significant improvement over those of the 2007-08 Kings who were absolutely horrid defensively, ranking 28th in goals against, allowing 3.21 goals per game. They were also ranked last in penalty-killing with a dreadful 78.0% rating.
Despite not making the playoffs, Murray spoke about the positives from the season.
“I was very pleased with how things went over the season,” said Murray. “We went into it knowing that there were going to be a lot of young players, a lot of new faces as a part of the LA Kings. As we got going early in the season, the chemistry, the locker room feel became very good quickly. I really sensed that the players liked each other, got along with each other and became a solid group.”
“It showed in our play from the beginning through Christmas,” added Murray. “As an example, I was very excited about how everything was coming together on the ice with team play and the way guys were playing hard for each other and competing every night. I know there were some games along that stretch where we wished we had a better end result, but the overall effort and commitment to each other was tremendous.”
Murray also said that despite their finish in the standings, the Kings are an improved team.
“I think it was a tremendous improvement,” he said. “When I look back to August, reading the predictions of where everybody was going to finish at the end of the year, the LA Kings were [ranked] 30th and a long way from being 29th. With the organizational decision to go with youth, to rebuild as we did last year to put some young players in the lineup—guys who were eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old and put them out there to play in critical situations, critical minutes—[for them] to develop and show us that they’re hungry for more at the beginning of next year, I think that’s a tremendous accomplishment.”
“If you take a look at, right up through the last ten, twelve games, we were right there, pounding on the door for playoff position,” he added. “So where we finished up, 14th in the conference, we wanted to be better, we wanted to be in the playoffs and that was something we talked about from the middle of the season. That was our goal—to make the playoffs. We were very close at the end of the day. I think our overall team play finished up being much better than what the position ended up being where we finished at 14th. I’m very pleased with the development and how things went overall.”
Even with the improved defense, the Kings still struggled at times, enough to obscure much of their improvement because they failed to qualify for post-season play.
“I thought our play up until Christmas was—in some games we played extremely well,” Murray noted. “If you remember, we were outshooting teams 40-20. As you get through those first 35-40 games of the year, [in a number of games], we were not coming away with more than a point and in some games, we weren’t getting a point out of it. We lost seven or eight big games going into the shootout, only getting a point out of it. That, in itself, is part of the reason [they failed to make the playoffs]. Our inexperience is certainly is a part of the reason.”
“Then you get into the last part of the year after the All-Star break when everything seems to tighten down on the checking side of it, that’s when the scoring became exposed, I believe,” Murray elaborated. “We probably were not able to capitalize on situations that were there. That’s the end result—we were not able to make the playoffs. Losing a couple of players due to injury right at the very end was also a part of it.”
“That sounds like excuses [but] they are reasons. We just have to continue to build and grow and stay energized. As we go through this thing next year going into training camp, I’m looking for good things to happen for us.”
Indeed, goal scoring was a problem for the 2008-09 Kings, who scored 2.46 goals per game, ranking 27th in the league. But Murray said that sacrifice on the offensive side of the puck was necessary for a young team that needed to improve by a country mile or two...or three...on defense.
“At the end of the day, when you look at the numbers you say, ‘we wish we would’ve scored more,’” said Murray. “But you have to start somewhere. There has to be a starting point whenever you have a new philosophy, trying to change the culture, trying to change the overall look of your hockey club. Last year, at the end of the season, there was a lot of player movement with veteran guys going out and a philosophical change was made within the organization.”
“You have to have a starting point,” added Murray. “[When] you look through the playoffs, you look though the end of the season, the teams that are able to shut things down and be a solid defensive team—you give yourself an opportunity to win games. I’m not losing sight that more goal scoring is needed. But that commitment to the structured play without the puck—there’s always going to be a sacrifice that has to be given in order to learn the complete game. If you get that defensive part and that checking part in place then it becomes a natural part of it.”
The question going forward is whether or not the Kings can be effective at both ends of the ice next season.
“I think the start point is the complete game,” Murray stressed. “We really gave a big push to the checking part of it. Everything we did in practice, all of the conversations, team meetings, reviews that we had, were all on the checking part of the game and that was critical to become an instinctive part of our game and that never goes away. You always have to bring the attitude that checking is the priority. That’s number one and with that, you’re going to have the puck and be able to counter and attack with more authority in the offensive zone.”
“We have instinctive players who are capable of putting up good numbers in the offensive side of the game and that’s been seen over the past couple of years with guys who have been in place,” Murray elaborated. “That’s now where we went to get back to—continue to play and have the focus on defense and checking and now add to the repertoire more complete flow of game where you’re playing that 200 feet of ice and that’ll come. That’s the next step we have to address and work at as we get into training camp next year.”
But a key to their success will be learning to get the puck to the net and get bodies in front of the opposition’s net on a consistent basis, two things the Kings often failed to do enough of this past season.
“I don’t want the team to lose sight of the amount of work that was committed to the checking and defensive part of the game last year,” Murray emphasized. “So don’t lose sight of what we built on and started last year and now we have to give a big push to the offensive part—more of a scoring/shooting mentality on a consistent basis.”
“When I look at our team as far as shots on goal [are concerned], we’re way down when compared to other teams,” Murray noted. “That, in itself, is an area we have to improve on. Get the puck to the net. [A] shot mentality with more traffic. Off the top of my head, those are two parts of the conversation that I really want to emphasize as we come into the camp and start getting on the ice. And that’s a hard thing. It’s not an instinctive part for a lot of players around the league. Even in the playoffs, watching all these series’ going on, these teams are high-end skill but they’re missing the opportunity to score because they [are not] getting to the net [to create] traffic, blocking out goaltenders’ sight lines is not being done consistently.”
“We were just not good enough in that area and that has to become more of a focus for us as we get going [next] year. As we got to the latter part of the season we started to see more consistent attacks but again, we still have to develop that shooting-scoring mentality. That is a bit of a process. We’ll keep pushing that. I believe we have some players who are pretty good offensive players—[Anze] Kopitar, [Alexander] Frolov, [Justin] Williams, [Dustin] Brown, just to name a handful of those guys.”
Depending on which way the wind blows -- or, more accurately, on the whims of general manager Dean Lombardi -- this could either be a very mundane summer for the Kings or one of the most exciting summers in franchise history.
The roster, as presently constructed, doesn't require many decisions. The two unrestricted free agents, Kyle Calder and Denis Gauthier, are essentially spare parts who could easily be replaced if they don't re-sign. Notable restricted free agents Jack Johnson, Brian Boyle and Teddy Purcell are likely to be retained.
The question for Lombardi then becomes: How bold does he want to be between now and mid-September?
Lombardi has publicly stated that the Kings need help on the wings, particularly in terms of acquiring a high-scoring left winger. Since the free agent market for wingers isn't deep, a trade is the most likely scenario.
Lombardi has the pieces, in terms of prospects and draft picks, to make a major trade but has hedged his bets by saying that he won't overpay. It's probably a 50-50 bet that Lombardi will either stand pat and wait until 2010 to acquire a top scorer or make a bold move around the time of the entry draft.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT The Kings were already fading from playoff contention on March 5, but they stirred the home fans with a comeback victory over Dallas. Michal Handzus scored with 3:18 remaining in the third period to close the Kings' deficit to 4-3, Anze Kopitar tied it with 14 seconds remaining and Handzus completed a hat trick when he scored 1:31 into overtime to give the Kings a 5-4 victory.
TURNING POINT The Kings returned home on Feb. 12, after an outstanding East Coast road trip in which they went 4-1 and moved a season-best three games over .500, and had one of their worst efforts of the season. A 2-0 loss to Calgary, in which they were outshot 36-20 and allowed three power-play goals, sent the Kings on a spiral. It was the start of an 11-game stretch in which the Kings went 2-7-2 and fell out of playoff contention.
"I'm going to be at work, so I'll be next to the phone," said Robitaille, who retired in April 2006 and is the Kings' president of business operations.
"I think it would be great, but it's not up to me. I can't control the situation. When you're a player, you can say, 'Next game, I've got to be better.' In this case, there's not much I can do."
His accomplishments over 19 NHL seasons -- 14 of them with the Kings -- state his case persuasively.
Chosen by the Kings 171st overall in the 1984 entry draft, he defied critics who said his skating and speed weren't good enough for him to succeed in the NHL.
He made the Kings in the 1986-87 season, scoring 45 goals and 84 points to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He was named to the first All-Star team five times, to the second team three times, and played in the midseason All-Star game eight times.
He had to leave the Kings, however, to get his name on the Stanley Cup, achieving that after he signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent in 2001 and contributed 30 goals and 50 points in the season leading up to their 2002 title. He returned to the Kings as a free agent in 2003, though his ice time and production dwindled.
Robitaille, 43, remains the NHL's career leader in goals and points by a left wing, with 668 and 1,394, respectively. He also holds the record for points by a left wing in one season with the 125 he scored in 1992-93 in leading the Kings to their lone Cup finals appearance.
He said he and his wife, Stacia, will have a nice dinner tonight no matter what happens.
"Maybe I'll just play it cool," he said. "For a player it's a heck of an honor. As a kid I didn't set out to be in the Hall of Fame. I just wanted to play."
Yzerman, captain of three Red Wings Cup winners and among the top 10 career point leaders with 1,755 over 22 seasons, is a lock for election. He became the prototype of a two-way forward and a respected leader.
Hull, son of Hall of Famer Bobby Hull and third on the career goal-scoring list with 741 over 20 seasons, also is a sure pick. He won the Cup with Dallas in 1999 and with Detroit in 2002 alongside Yzerman and Robitaille, and he scored 50 or more goals in five seasons. He holds the record of 86 goals by a right wing in one season, 1990-91.
Leetch also has solid credentials. A two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP when the New York Rangers ended a 54-year Cup drought in 1994.
Andreychuk also put up solid numbers -- 640 goals and 1,338 points over 23 seasons -- and Mogilny was a premier goal scorer in the early 1990s, with 473 goals in 990 games. But they might have to wait.
"There sure are some very good people eligible," Robitaille said. "It's amazing. Look at that group and what those guys did for the game."
Luc Robitaille, the highest scoring left wing in NHL history and the Kings' career leader in goals, was elected Tuesday to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Robitaille, now the Kings' president of business operations, joins Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and New Jersey Devils president Lou Lamoriello in the 2009 class that will be inducted Nov. 9.
"What I am feeling right now is very difficult to explain," Robitaille told the Kings' Web site. "I never set out to accomplish anything like this. When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing in the National Hockey League, and to now be alongside greats like Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur and Wayne Gretzky is not only indescribable, it is beyond anything I ever dreamed of.
"I also want to congratulate Steve, Brett and Brian, three players I was fortunate to have played with during my career."
Originally selected by the Kings in the ninth round (171st overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Robitaille received the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 1987. He went on to play in 1,431 career regular-season games with the Kings, Red Wings -- where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 alongside Yzerman and Hull -- Rangers and Penguins.
In his 19 seasons, Robitaille recorded 1,394 points and scored 668 goals, both records by an NHL left wing.
The maximum of four players was elected this year. Lamoriello was chosen in the builder category. All four players were eligible for the first time.
Yzerman ranks sixth in career points with 1,755. He played 22 seasons with Detroit and was the longest-serving captain in league history, holding the title from 1986 to 2006.
He won three Stanley Cups and a gold medal with Canada in the 2002 Olympics.
Yzerman's greatest accomplishment in captaining the Red Wings to the 2002 Stanley Cup might have been managing all the egos on that star-studded roster that featured Hull and Robitaille.
"I think the biggest thing for me of having a guy like Stevie as a leader was the way he handled stuff around us," Robitaille said on a conference call. "We've got literally 20 big egos in the room. Everybody played a role on their teams for years, and they had to understand their roles and the common goal. I take that into the rest of my career and whatever else I do."
Hull's 741 goals trail only Gretzky and Gordie Howe, and his 24 career playoff game-winning goals are tied with Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
He scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Dallas Stars in the third overtime of Game 6 of the 1999 finals.
He played 19 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Stars, Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes. Hull received the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1991.
His father, Bobby, is already in the Hall.
"It is hard to put into words what this means to me, especially since I'm joining my father in the Hockey Hall of Fame," Hull, who was traveling for his job in the Stars' front office during the announcement, said in a statement.
Hull, Leetch and Lamoriello have a history together, too. Leetch and Hull played on the gold medal-winning 1996 U.S. World Cup team for which Lamoriello was the general manager.
"For sure, Brett and I were part of a group that were old enough to remember 1980 and to be spurred on by that from a country standpoint," Leetch said.
Leetch became the first American-born player to earn the Conn Smythe Trophy after leading the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994. He also twice won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman.
He was driving Tuesday, receiving text messages from friends and family asking if he'd heard anything, when he saw a Toronto area code on an incoming call. Leetch's first reaction was relief. He pulled his car over to the side of the road and had to sit there for 15 minutes, letting the news sink in.
Lamoriello has served as the Devils' president since 1987 and has taken over twice as the team's coach, in 2005-06 and 2007. New Jersey has won the Stanley Cup three times under his leadership. He said he was stunned to receive a call from the Hall on Tuesday.
A player must be retired for three seasons before becoming eligible to enter the Hall. At least 14 of the Hall's 18-member selection committee must vote for a player for him to be elected.
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MONTREAL – The Los Angeles Kings have selected center Brayden Schenn in the first round (fifth overall) of today's NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Kings have 12 more selections in rounds two through seven, which takes place tomorrow morning.
Schenn, 17, played the last two seasons for the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings. In 70 regular season games in 2008-09, he recorded 88 points (32-56=88) and 82 penalty minutes en route to being named a WHL Second-Team All-Star. His 88 points led Brandon and ranked seventh overall in the WHL. His 32 goals were tied for second on the team (tied for 23rd in the WHL) and his 56 assists were ninth in the WHL (second on the Wheat Kings). Schenn was also a plus-20 in the regular season (fifth on Brandon) with three short-handed goals (tied for second on the team). He was named WHL and CHL Player of the Week in January after recording seven points in two games (1-6=7). In January he was also awarded the H.L. (Krug) Crawford Memorial Medal for his athletic achievement in western Manitoba.
In 12 playoff games, Schenn recorded 18 points (8-10=18) and 12 penalty minutes as he helped the Wheat Kings reach the WHL's Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Calgary Hitmen. His 18 points was tied for first on Brandon (tied for ninth in the WHL), while his eight goals was third (tied for ninth in the WHL) and 10 assists ranked fourth on the team.
NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire said, "Brayden is of the power-forward ilk. He has learned a little about the NHL from his older brother Luke Schenn and he knows how to go to the net. He is a threat to score at all times on the ice and dishes the puck very effectively to his linemates in getting the amount of assists that he does. He takes the puck to the net with the kind of authority that a Jonathan Cheechoo does, yet has puck dishing capacities that maybe a Joe Thornton does. Both are tough players, both are tough to move out in front of the net and Brayden fits that ilk perfectly."
In 2007-08, the 6-0, 198-pound native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan led Brandon with 71 points and 43 assists (28-43=71) in 66 regular season games en route to being named the WHL Rookie of the Year. His 71 points ranked first among all WHL rookies, while he was second among league freshman in goals and assists. He became the first 16-year-old since 1971 to lead Brandon in scoring.
Internationally, Schenn has won two gold medals representing Team Canada in 2008, first at the 2008 Under-18 World Championships and the second as an alternate captain at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Schenn won a bronze medal for Canada West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He has been invited to Canada's 2009 World Junior selection camp, which takes place in December (along with current Kings prospect Martin Jones).
Brayden is the younger brother of defensemen Luke Schenn, who was the fifth overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Rounds two through seven of the draft are scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, in Montreal, with the Kings holding 12 more selections (one in the second round, one in the third round, three in the fourth round, two in the fifth round, two in the sixth round and three in the seventh round).
NHL Network is the exclusive home for Saturday's live coverage beginning at 7 a.m. PT. Fans can watch also view NHL Network's coverage live on NHL.com. <!-- end newsItemPageContent -->
LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Kings have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Jack Johnson.
The team announced the deal on Friday.
Johnson had six goals, five assists and 46 penalty minutes in 41 games last season. He missed the other 41 games with a shoulder injury that kept him out until January.
The NHL on Wednesday suspended Kings defenseman Sean O'Donnell for the team's final three exhibition games and first two regular-season games for cross-checking Matt Martin of the New York Islanders Tuesday at Kansas City, Mo.
O'Donnell got a match penalty at 16:37 of the second period of a fight-filled game. General Manager Dean Lombardi said O'Donnell was retaliating for runs the Islanders took at Drew Doughty and other young Kings players.
"Martin threw what we thought was a blatant elbow and O'Donnell basically said, 'Enough is enough,' " Lombardi said. "We thought the response was appropriate, but the issue came down to whether [O'Donnell] got him with his stick."
The Kings contended O'Donnell's stick struck Martin in the shoulder rather than the head, but Lombardi said there was no tape of the incident to support their version.
"Two years ago we had to sit back and watch the team not respond. That's not going to happen again," Lombardi said.
Also on Wednesday, the NHL suspended Phoenix forward Francis Lessard for the rest of the exhibition season and the Coyotes' first three regular-season games for a game misconduct penalty he committed against the Ducks' Ryan Donally on Friday. Lessard had received a major penalty for boarding. Donally was shaken up by the hit.
-- Helene Elliott Peter Harrold and Trevor Lewis scored goals, but the Kings dropped a 3-2 exhibition decision to the Colorado Avalanche at Denver. . . . Veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig, 39, is retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.
With their team in bankruptcy, a coach that's been on the job for less than two weeks and a franchise that may not be in Arizona much longer, the Phoenix Coyotes still have to take care of business on the ice.
Trying to put all the distractions that have dominated the offseason behind them, the Coyotes open their season Saturday night at Staples Center, where they'll take on a Los Angeles Kings team that's also targeting its first playoff berth since 2001-02.
"It's tough, almost like the rink is the guys' safe haven, to just go out there and play and not worry about the extra stuff going on," defenseman Ed Jovanovski said.
After Phoenix finished 36-39-7 in 2008-09 and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season, Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes placed the team in Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the hopes of selling it to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who would relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario.
The NHL strongly opposed this proposed sale, as did the city of Glendale, Ariz., and the league made a $140 million offer to buy the team to attempt to resell it.
On Wednesday, though, U.S. bankruptcy judge Redfield T. Baum denied both bids, but agreed that the NHL has a right to choose its teams' owners and where its franchises play.
The league is still considering its options following this ruling, which could include a new offer to purchase the team.
If Phoenix's complicated bankruptcy wasn't enough of an offseason distraction, Wayne Gretzky resigned as coach Sept. 24. He was 143-161-24 in four seasons on the Coyotes' bench.
"The one thing I learned through this whole time is that absolutely nobody knows what is going on," said captain Shane Doan, beginning his 14th season with the organization.
General manager Don Maloney immediately replaced Gretzky with Dave Tippett, who was fired by Dallas in June.
"What we're going to do is concentrate on what we have to do on the ice to earn the right to be a playoff team and earn the right to compete for the Stanley Cup," Tippett said.
The Coyotes have some solid defensive players they're hoping will make them a competitive team.
In addition to Jovanovski and the recently re-signed Keith Yandle, Phoenix added veterans Jim Vandermeer and Adrian Aucoin from Calgary in the offseason to bolster a unit that allowed 3.04 goals per game last season, 24th in the NHL.
"Our goal is to be a top-10 defensive team," Maloney said. "We don't yet have that superstar who's going to get us 40 or 50 goals a season, so we're going to have to play better defense this year."
That includes Ilya Bryzgalov, who posted a career-worst 2.98 goals-against average in 2008-09.
Former King Jason LaBarbera will also see time in goal after inking a two-year deal with Phoenix in the offseason.
Los Angeles plays its first game Saturday after finishing last in the Pacific Division in each of the last two seasons.
The Kings, though, are looking for two playoff-tested acquisitions to help them reach the postseason.
Less than a month after helping Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup, defenseman Rob Scuderi signed a four-year deal with Los Angeles on July 2.
Scuderi, who should provide a strong veteran presence for 19-year-old Drew Doughty, Sean O'Donnell (suspended for first two games) and Jack Johnson on the Kings' blue line, had a career-high 16 points last season when he led the Penguins with 164 blocked shots.
Smyth has 25 goals and 27 assists in 81 playoff games.
"Ryan is the type of player who fits with our team," general manager Dean Lombardi said. "He fills an important need as he is a competitive, gritty scoring left winger and he fits with the overall identity we continue to build here."
Anze Kopitar, who had a team-high 66 points last season, is expected to be joined on the top line by Justin Williams and Smyth.
The Kings are hoping for a breakout season from Alexander Frolov, who begins the final year of his contract. The former first-round pick led the team with 32 goals last season, but he has reached 30 twice in six seasons.
Second-year coach Terry Murray looks for a bigger contribution from Jon Quick this season after the 23-year-old goaltender went 21-18-2 with a 2.48 GAA in 44 games in 2008-09.
"He's a very strong guy and I think he can handle a lot of work, but at the start of the year, I always think 60 games and then adjust accordingly from that point," Murray told the Kings' official Web site.
Los Angeles is 2-5-0 at home against Phoenix since the start of the 2007-08 season.
With veteran Sean O'Donnell back, having served his two-game suspension, the Kings went back to the defensive pairings they used for most of training camp. O'Donnell paired with Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson with Rob Scuderi and Matt Greene with Davis Drewiske. How did it work? The Kings allowed 29 shots on goal but only one even-strength goal.
--The Kings have scored 15 goals (and given up 13) through three games. That's the highest total for their first three games since 1995-96, when the Kings totaled 17 goals. Last season, the Kings didn't score their 15th goal until the sixth game of the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE "That line was as good as I've seen them since they've been together, throughout the training camp and the early part of the season. Hopefully they can keep building on that." -- Kings coach Terry Murray, on his first line of Anze Kopitar, Ryan Smyth and Justin Williams.
ST. LOUIS -- Jonathan Quick was appreciative of the Los Angeles Kings' special- team units. Because of their success, his workload was fairly light despite 30 shots.
Ryan Smyth scored the Kings' sixth power-play goal of the season and the penalty killer stopped St. Louis on five opportunities in a 2-1 victory Saturday night.
Former Blues player Michal Handzus also scored for the Kings, who won their third in a row after opening the season with a loss to Phoenix.
The Kings, who allowed four power play goals in a game earlier in the week, made it easy for their goalie, who stopped 29 shots on the night - 14 in the third period.
"We put an emphasis on our defensive zone, blocking shots and limiting their amount of scoring chances," Quick said. "Our PK did great tonight, which was good to see because we've been struggling the past couple of games."
The Kings' win completed a Los Angeles sweep of St. Louis after the Dodgers knocked out the Cardinals in the National League baseball playoffs earlier in the night.
Alex Steen scored a short-handed goal for the Blues, who dropped their second straight game at home after opening with a pair of wins over Detroit in Sweden.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -If five games is an indication, the Los Angeles Kings have found something special with their new-look No. 1 line.
With Ryan Smyth joining holdovers Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, the Kings are off to a quick start. Since an opening-night loss to Phoenix, Los Angeles has won four straight - the latest a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Monday.
"It's a great feeling, but we don't want to ride our highs too high and our lows too low," said Smyth, acquired from Colorado in an offseason trade. "We want to stay pretty even keel and enjoy our time."
Kopitar and Smyth, who assisted on Kopitar's second-period, power-play goal that broke a scoreless tie, have at least one point in all five games. With Williams, the trio has combined for nine goals and 14 assists.
"We were put together right off the bat in training camp," Kopitar said. "Ryan is experienced enough and Justin is experienced enough that they know what it takes to get the chemistry going.
"It's just a good mixture on the line. We're clicking pretty good and hopefully we can keep it going."
Add in good young defenseman Drew Doughty, who pushed the lead to 2-0 in the third, and emerging goalie Jon Quick, the Kings seem to be building for a bright future.
DALLAS - The Los Angeles Kings should have been ripe for a lackluster showing at the close of a long trip.
Instead, the Kings responded with one of their most spirited efforts of the season.
Ryan Smyth had a power-play goal and two assists, Justin Williams added a goal and an assist, and the Kings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night.
Los Angeles coach Terry Murray gave his team the day off Sunday to rest about a dozen players recovering from cases of the flu picked up during the nine-day trip that included stops along the East Coast and through the Midwest.
"We turned the corner (Sunday) with all the flu," Murray said. "... We looked a little road-weary in the last 10 minutes of the first period, then we had a very good second period."
The Kings (5-4) scored three straight goals in the second period while outshooting the Stars 18-4 after managing two goals or less in the first five games of the trip.
Los Angeles began the road swing with wins against St. Louis and the New York Islanders before losing the three straight.
"I thought we started out on a really good road trip, then we went into a little funk," said Smyth, one of the players who experienced flu-like symptoms. "To end it off like this gives us some confidence going back home."
The Stars, who have been outscored 7-1 in their last two home games, were playing their third game in four nights. But there were no excuses from the Dallas locker room.
"There was a lack of desperation," Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. "LA came out fighting in the second period and we had a lackluster effort."
Benn notched his second NHL goal at 17:18 of the opening period. He set up in front of the net and converted Morrow's backhand, no-look centering pass.
In the first 3 minutes of the second period, the Kings were frustrated when Dustin Brown's shot hit a goal post and Williams had an attempt glance off the crossbar.
Dallas had killed most of Los Angeles' 5-on-3 power play before Smyth's deflection with 7 seconds left on the one-man advantage tied it at 1 at 5:17 of the second period. That turned the momentum in the Kings' favor.
Williams' tip-in at 13:26 of the second put the Kings in front 2-1.
"I thought just that we needed one goal to break through," Williams said. "They were up 1-0 and being stingy and we had not much going on. But we got one goal, and then two more."
Kopitar gave Los Angeles a two-goal lead from the slot 2:33 later off Williams' setup.
Quick kept the two-goal advantage intact by stopping all 15 shots he faced in the third period, and Simmonds' empty-netter with 1:37 left clinched the win.
"We had 10 minutes in the second period when we lost our focus and it cost us the game," Stars coach Marc Crawford said.
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Surprising starts aided by timely goals have helped make the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets early contenders in the Western Conference.
Both clubs will try to continue their solid play Sunday night when they meet for the second time in just over a week.
The Kings (7-4-0) finished last season tied with Phoenix at the bottom of the Pacific Division, failing to reach the playoffs for a sixth consecutive time, while the Blue Jackets (6-3-0) made their postseason debut only to be swept by eventual West finalist Detroit in the opening round.
This season, both clubs appear to making positive strides. Los Angeles holds a share of first with Dallas in the Pacific, while Columbus is one point behind Central-leading Chicago.
Lack of scoring last season was a key to the Kings' struggles as they had just 207 goals to rank third from the bottom in the NHL. Now, they're among the league leaders with 38 goals.
Los Angeles continued its scoring surge Saturday, when it had three third-period goals in a 5-3 victory over the Coyotes. Jarret Stoll scored his first two goals and Dustin Brown added two to give the Kings a three-game winning streak after they fell 4-1 at Columbus on Oct. 17.
The Kings have scored 14 goals in the last three games after managing five during a three-game slide.
"Very timely goals," Stoll said Saturday. "That was the story of the game."
The Kings have also had a strong power-play unit early this season, scoring a season high-tying three in seven chances Saturday. They've been held without a man-advantage goal in just two games this season, losing both.
"I really like the way our team adjusted in several different areas of our game," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "It was an attitude to want the puck, to want to make plays and to hold on to the puck. We started doing that more the middle of last season but started getting away from it a little bit."
The Blue Jackets are off to their best start in franchise history and looking to finish a four-game road trip at .500 after beating Anaheim 6-4 on Saturday. Fedor Tyutin's first goal of the season with 3:22 to play snapped a 4-4 tie.
"That's the difference about our team this year," said left wing Rick Nash, who had two goals and an assist. "A couple years ago, we'd get down a goal on the road and fold our cards. But now we don't let it discourage us. We stick with it."
Nash has been a big reason for the Jackets' early success with six goals and eight assists. However, he's been outstanding on the road with five goals and six assists while being held off the scoresheet only once.
A four-time All-Star, Nash netted a short-handed goal against in the last meeting with the Kings, giving him two goals and three assists in the last three matchups - all Columbus wins.
He has six goals and four assists in 11 career games at Staples Center, where the Blue Jackets have taken three of the last four after losing five straight.
