Tuesday, the Kings held a town hall type meeting for season ticket holders. This was the first of two, the second of which will be held on May 31, 2008. A summary of the questions and answers will follow over a few installments. What is on most of our minds would be player/personnel issues – I suspect. Thus, I will start there.
Before I get to some specifics, the climate of the room requires some discussion. The season ticket holders there came hostile and with considerable passion and pain while expressing their very real concerns. The evening bordered between a bully pulpit, a demand for action and accountability with ticket increases the least of the animus. Rather, issues regarding parking and beer costs weighed more on people’s minds. At one point, a fan asked why they should believe the current regime since the prior ones sold the same false lies and promises. Basically, a tough room all around….
Now to some questions and answers…
Goaltending:
• Lombardi and Hextall had their eyes on Kiprusoff two years ago until Sutter extended him. Essentially, there are perhaps five elite netminders and none of them are available unless we want to trade Bernier and Brown to get them. That is not happening or being considered.
• The lack of elite netminders who can be had are non-existent. It is for this reason the Kings’ emphasis is on developing their own. With Bernier, Zatkoff and Quick in the mix, the organization believes they are doing just that.
• Ersberg: He was up and down in Manchester before his call-up when he took off. He will definitely be in the mix next year. The Kings scouted him at the Worlds. There, he fronted Sweden against Russia when it was overwhelmingly believed Sweden had no chance. Undeterred, Ersberg stepped up and played solid there. The Kings now peg Ersberg as smallish, with considerable ability, mentally tough, unflappable and
unproven.
• Dan Taylor: He got stuck in limbo last year. Hextall looked for an ECHL club to place him so he would play. Hextall’s efforts failed so Taylor stayed in Manchester and practiced as hard as anyone could. When injuries hit, Taylor got the net, kept it and performed well. He played in the play-offs for the ECHL Reading team and played strong there.
• Cloutier: Officially, no decisions have been made. A buy-out has been discussed. The Kings will act (or not act) during the two week buy-out period this summer.
• Bernier: He will get a full opportunity to make the club. If he earns his spot, he will keep it. If there is any doubt, the Kings will air on the side of caution and send him to Manchester. No chances will be taken. The NHL has many examples of one hit wonders who were rushed. The Kings will not knowingly add to that statistic.
Forwards:
• AHL Monarch players projected to make the team are: Boyle, Purcell and Moulson.
• There are far less projected forward holes on the team this fall over last season.
• O’Sullivan: He exceeded even Hextall’s expectations for him. The defining moment when Hextall gave first pause then even greater praise is when O’Sullivan fractured his jaw at a home game this year. He got a face shield and I suspect some first-aid and came out and finished the game. No one thought an AHL All Star who was known for goal scoring and nothing else would become and develop into the player and human being O’Sullivan is now.
• Kopitar: As some know, he was slated for Manchester and blew everyone away in his first training camp. He earned his spot and never went backwards at the NHL level. Kopitar is more the exception than the rule for a rookie. The Kings are not allowed to re-sign him until July 1, 2008 or later. Hextall implied to a small group after the primary presentation that discussions would start July 1, 2008. (Promise.)
• Handzus: Fans will see why Handzus was signed when the Kings make the play-offs. When he is seen shutting down the stars of an opponent, everyone will then appreciate why Handzus is here. Lombardi and Hextall acknowledge Handzus had a bad year. They still believe that fans haven’t seen his best game yet. (The latter sentence is my speculation from the things said.) In the exchange, Hextall used as a comparable Jordan Staal of the Penguins. Pittsburgh doesn’t get where they are unless Staal shuts down the #1 line of their opposition in this year's play-offs.
• Cammalleri: The organization has a very good relationship with him. (Really.) Hextall said to a small group after the main event that the Kings would re-sign him right now for the right price. Someone challenged Hextall’s statement that the Kings and Cammalleri are on good terms. One example cited other than arbitration was when the Kings broke a promise to Cammalleri’s mother (who acted as her son’s agent) that if he left college, he would not be sent to Manchester. Hextall had no knowledge of this and questioned it since a parent (or in theory an agent) have the legal right per the CBA to make this type of oral commitment.
• The Manchester players who came up and performed well (Boyle and Purcell especially) were sent down for two reasons. First, the Kings do not want to give them a taste of the good life until they can truly both appreciate and earn the right to keep it. It is felt that if they ride on buses, eat sandwiches and earn the right to be a full-time NHLer that once they get here, they will continue to work/develop the right to stay here. Second, there is a bonding that happens between teammates by riding on buses, paying their dues that does not translate as effectively and as permanently at the NHL level.
Defense:
• Hextall told a few of us after the formal event that the Kings have 2-3 holes at the back end.
• The Kings are looking to trade for a young defenseman before the draft (translate this as under 30).
• The Kings are open to trading some of their 15 picks (outside of the first round) to trade up with the Dallas pick.
• If (get real, when) the Kings draft a defenseman with the #2 pick, that individual will get a fair shot to make the team; but, they will air on the side of caution and send them to Manchester when in doubt. Similar to Kopitar, this unnamed draft selection will have to earn the spot. Period.
• Johnson: One year of his entry level contract was spent in the five games he played a year ago. The Kings will begin negotiations when the CBA allows it after July 1, 2008 and the organization expects the contract to be expensive.
• Visnovsky: Hextall told some of us after the formal event that he is a special player who the organization has no concerns will rebound next year. Per Hextall, the losing got to him last year and affected his play as much as his pricey extension.
• Drew Bagnall: He is not NHL ready yet but he has a bit of Mattias Norstrom in him as to his toughness, and strength as a defensive defenseman.
Preview of Coming Attractions:
I will discuss the draft, more AHL players, Hickey, parking, concession discussions, in game experience, jumbotron issues; HD telecasts amongst other things in future installments. For now, have at it.
Carla Muller Carla.hockeygal@att.net
Carla Muller
Passionate Pained Fans -- Part One 
