Adam,
I have been a Los Angeles Kings fan ever since I was introduced to hockey. This past season we did horrible; the closest we got to the post-season was the smell of popcorn wafting from the Honda Center (although, I was happy to see the Ducks get bounced in the first round), we paid Michal Handzus $4-million dollars for 21 points and our five-goalie rotation did not exactly work out for the better (I know, I'm being critical).
Moreover, instead of staying to mentor youngsters like Jack Johnson, Peter Harrold and Drew Doughty, Rob Blake jumped ship and swam north to greener pastures in San Jose.
I realize there are a lot of bright spots for the coming years, but waiting to see how low down in the standings your team will finish is trash. Dean Lombardi said he would not throw big money into the free agent pond this summer. After the Handzus, Kyle Calder and Dan Cloutier mishaps, who could blame him?
However, do you see him going after anyone this off-season besides just bringing in Jarret Stoll, Matt Greene and Denis Gauthier?
Thanks for an awesome column,
Hank, Apple Valley, Calif.
Hank,
As you noted, it’s hard to fault Lombardi for being somewhat reticent to hand over massive free agent contracts given his more recent experiences.
I think he and the Kings are going to stand pat – at least in the short term – and focus instead on re-signing restricted free agents Stoll and Patrick O’Sullivan to long-term contracts, while augmenting their young lineup with some short-term deals with veterans.
That doesn’t mean Lombardi will be content to stay quiet; many believe he and his abundance of cap space will swoop in and pick the bones of franchises that badly stumble early in the regular season.
But even if he can’t find a willing partner, there’s no doubt the talent he’s already amassed on the Kings bodes well for their future. As the poet laureate Axel Rose once said: just a little patience.
Ask Adam: Leaving on a jet plane (The Hockey News) 
