Another former Kings, Monarchs player signs in Europe

Several weeks back, Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi was visibly irritated when talking about a few of the team's prospects signing in Europe this summer.

Gone from the pipeline are center Corey Elkins, left wing Bud Holloway and forward Oscar Moller.

Today brings news that John Zeiler has joined the 'other side of the Atlantic' crew, having signed with the Augsburger Panther in Germany.

All four played in Manchester last season, the Kings top farm team.

While each situation is somewhat unique, it was eating at Lombardi that young players were willing to leave the development process and chase the money being offered in Europe.

An exception he seemed to sympathize with though was when older players, whom he described as "26-27 (years old) and they've kind of already been labeled as 'minor league players' and maybe a 'call-up' player" chose that route.

Zeiler, originally selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fifth round of the 2002 NHL Draft, would seem to fit that mold. He's 28 and has only played 90 games in the NHL - picking up one goal and adding four assists.

He was called up for four games last season and then actually was recalled again during the playoffs (because of Jarret Stoll's suspension). However, due to the timing of paperwork, flights, etc., he never actually saw any game action the second time around.

Zeiler was not offered a contract by the Kings this summer.

He'll be joining Gabe Gauthier, another one-time Kings prospect and member of the Monarchs (2006-10), who signed with Augsburger last month.

To read Lombardi's full comments on the European situation click here.

Rich Clune, another Monarch last season, weighed in with his thoughts on the overseas defections here.

Finally, in loosely connected news - over the weekend, former Monarchs and Kings forward Noah Clarke left Augsburger to join EHC München.

Clarke, the first California-born player to score a goal for the Kings, stopped by MayorsManor last summer to give a detailed account of his time in Manchester, Los Angeles and now over in Europe.  If nothing else, check it out for the prank he says George Parros played on him when they were teammates with the Monarchs. (link here)

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Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Holloway, Moller's European Vacation

Oscar Moller at Rookie Camp 2010

At the end of the regular season Kings prospect Bud Holloway stopped by MayorsManor to help preview the Manchester Monarchs first round playoff series with Binghamton.

One of the questions we touched on was did he expect to be called-up this past season, given he was the leading scorer in Manchester and the Kings apparent lack of depth on the left side. His response was 'It's always in the back of your head and obviously that's what you're building towards.'

What's going on in his head more recently is something GM Dean Lombardi would like to know. The always animated leader of the Kings organization had plenty to say last week when I asked him for some thoughts on several Monarchs signing to play in Europe next season...

"That's, (heavy sigh)...that's really frustrating," Lombardi started with. "This is another one of those things in the CBA where it was kind of predictable. Whenever you have a cap in the minors, so to speak, and also, we have a problem in our system...not only are we losing these guys, but they're still building equity towards free agency. It used to be that you had to get service, like in baseball. Now you have this thing where these kids can go over there, earn double the money and still move along the path of free agency."

Corey Elkins, a 6-foot-2 center who the Kings originally signed as a free agent out of college in 2009, is one of the trio of players heading to Europe. However, Lombardi focused most of his comments on a different two.

Rich Clune on Bud Holloway leaving Monarchs for Eurupe

Rich Clune in camp (photo: Cikiri)

During the Kings training camp last September, high-energy forward Rich Clune was starting to turn some heads.

Many thought he might even have a chance to crack the line-up in Los Angeles rather than spend a third season in Manchester (AHL).

Originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2005, Clune has since spent time in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. All the while, patiently waiting for his opportunity to remain in the big show.

Clune stayed with the Kings through Frozen Fury weekend in Las Vegas. However, ultimately, he lost out on an NHL roster spot - in part, due to the emergence of Kyle Clifford.

No problem, said Clune, when we spoke Friday night on the steps of the Dodger Dugout (several players were at the stadium to throw out the first pitch).

"It was a good year for me because I was able to get a lot more ice than I probably would have in LA," was Clune's view on his 66 games in Manchester last season. "It's a long road. There's a lot of young guys and we had a really talented team. It sucks we didn't go further (in the playoffs). I think we could have easily (won) that first series with Binghamton. What - five games in overtime? But, I had a lot of fun. Wherever I am, I like to have a good time."

Things haven't been quite as fun since arriving back in Los Angeles. He's been working out with Kings strength and conditioning coach Tim Adams, left wing Dustin Penner, etc. (more info on those grueling workouts can be found here)

"I came in for some training with the guys and just did a week with (that crew). My calves are sore," he complained - before joking "that's why I'm leaning up against this railing."

Manchester Monarchs: Gm1 Notes, Quotes, Schenn Update

Last night the Manchester Monarchs opened their 2011 AHL Playoff run with a 2-1 win over the Binghamton Senators.

They received goals from defenseman David Kolomatis and center Corey Elkins. Justin Azevedo, Jordan Nolan and Viatcheslav Voynov picked up assists. Jordan Weal was a healthy scratch and Tyler Toffoli managed just one shot in the game.

Game two is tonight, again in Manchester.

Prior to the series starting, several Monarchs made there way to MayorsManor - including defenseman Thomas Hickey, forward Bud Holloway and goalie Martin Jones.

Below are a few additional comments from afar. First, former Monarchs defenseman Alec Martinez, then Ontario Reign coach Karl Taylor, followed by an update on when to expect Brayden Schenn in a Monarchs uniform this post-season.

Martinez on staying in touch - "I talk to a few of the guys pretty consistently. I talk to (Jeff) Zatkoff a lot.  He and I were roommates in college and played together growing up. We go way back and have known each other for a long time. So, we chat a lot. Plus, the guys I lived with - like Mullen and Hickey and Kolomatis."

MM: I hear Hickey is quite the prankster. Did he pull any good ones on you?

Interview with Monarchs 'Man of the Year' Bud Holloway

Earlier this week, Bud Holloway scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season for the Manchester Monarchs.

While guys like Thomas Hickey (first round NHL draft pick), Viatcheslav Voynov (just announced as AHL Second Team All-Star) and Oscar Moller (currently up with the Kings) may get more press and attention, one things is clear...

Holloway has a special relationship with the back of the net.

Already a playoff hero from last year - when he tied an AHL record with six game-winning goals during the post-season - he's continued to produce on a regular basis.

The 6'0" left wing was selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2006 NHL Draft. He went on to play two more years with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, then split time between Ontario (ECHL) and Manchester during the 2008-09 season. After leading the Reign in playoff points that year, he's been in Manchester ever since.

He added to his resume last season, leading the Monarchs in assists (28) and points (47). And he's found a way to top that this season, already posting 56 points (26g, 30a) with a handful of games remaining.

A few days ago he was voted the 2011 Monarchs 'Man of the Year' for his involvement in the community and is now one of 30 finalists for the league award.

In the interview below we talk about several other Kings prospects, life in Manchester, good pranks, call-ups, the upcoming AHL playoffs and much more...

Kings Come Home With Questions, Not Answers

The Kings return home tonight to play the first of a home-and-home series with the Coyotes, a team that's already beaten them twice this season.

After losing both games on their road trip earlier this week the Kings are now 2-9 over the last 11 games, a stretch that began with an embarrassing 6-3 loss in Phoenix. Things were so bad in that game Jonathan Quick was pulled for the first time this season.

Several Kings players talked here about what it would take to snap the team out of the losing streak. However, that was after they lost five straight. They've gone 2-4 since then. So, it's far from fixed.

There just seems to be more questions than answers at this point...

Coach Terry Murray:

Did he forget how to coach in the last few months? Doubtful, he guided the team to 101 points last year and could have been a finalist for the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year). Have the players tuned him out? It's possible. But, why? He had the goods last year and it's not like he's a hard-nosed coach who rubs players the wrong way. Are they stifled in the system? Perhaps.

Are they frustrated with the constant line changes? Maybe. However, I've asked more than half the forwards about it over the last few weeks and they all basically say it's a non-issue. At this level they expect to play with different players.

Any questions about Murray's immediate future behind the bench were put to rest yesterday when GM Dean Lombardi said "We're all in this together." Coaching isn't the issue.

Special Teams:

The penalty kill is ranked 23rd on the road and yet it's tied with Tampa Bay for the best in the league at home (88.6%). True to form, three of the four goals scored against the Kings on the road trip earlier this week were on the PK. Why such a varied discrepancy in the home/road stats?

They've also failed to score a power play goal in five consecutive games now.

Goaltending:

10 Tidbits on Alec Martinez

Alec Martinez won't subtly return to the NHL tonight. He'll be joining a Kings team that's lost four of their last five games.

He'll also be facing some small little club you may have heard of, the Montreal Canadiens. Outside of Toronto, it may just be the most hockey crazed market in North America.

Fortunately for him, with just four games of NHL experience, he'll probably go under the radar for most of the local media. Besides, their big story heading into the game is named Jonathan Bernier.

Using our popular 10 Tidbits format, here is some information to help you get to know the newest addition to the Kings blueline this season...

* First off, you'll be glad to know his nickname isn't 'Ally.' According to Corey Elkins, his teammate in Manchester (AHL), they call him 'Marty.' After it was announced Martinez would join the team this week I asked Elkins about his recent play with the Monarchs and he said "Marty has been awesome on the power play for us. He takes smart shots that get through traffic and moves the puck real well. Its fun to watch." Coach Terry Murray is probably hoping he'll be fun to watch for the Kings!

* He's spent the last two years with Manchester, sans his brief time in LA last season. His rookie year in the AHL (2008-09) he posted eight goals and added 15 assists in 72 games. Then, last season, he led all defenseman with 30 points (7g, 23a...while playing in only 55 games!). Prior to his call up yesterday he was a plus-four in 20 games and his 16 points (5g, 11a) were leading ALL players on the team.

LA-PHX Rookie Game #2 Preview with Corey Elkins

Game one is in the books, with the Kings picking up a 5-4 win in overtime.

A few hours from now the two-game series wraps up with a matinee affair in Glendale, AZ.

For some players this will be it, their final game in a Kings jersey. For many others, they'll be returned to their junior teams over the next week or so and won't be seen again until next summer's Developmental Camp. For Corey Elkins, rookie camp will just be the end of another chapter.

His hockey travels have taken him to the USHL, to a top college program, and last season to the Manchester Monarchs - where he led the team in goals and points, as a rookie.

This Saturday, he'll be one of just a handful of players at the Kings training camp with a legitimate shot at earning a place on the team for the upcoming season.

Today, he helps us get ready for the second and final game in the LA-Phoenix Rookie Series...

First off, the ankle - Muzzin hit you with a puck the first day of camp and you were pretty bruised up - how are you doing now?

2010 Camping Guide - Interview w/ Corey Elkins

After a long summer, we're just a few days away from something huge.

Since Dean Lombardi's arrival in Los Angeles in April 2006 he has been on a mission to stock the organization with high-end prospects.

This Saturday, 3,000 fans are expected to descend upon the Kings training facility in El Segundo, CA for the second annual HockeyFest - where fans can interact with alumni, get autographs and attend various speaker sessions.

Simultaneously, the fruits of Lombardi's labor will be on display, as the Kings Rookie Camp gets underway in the same building. Nearly every major prospect he's acquired in the last four years will be present - forwards Clifford, Kozun, Loktionov, Schenn, Toffoli and Weal; defenseman Deslauriers, Fransson, Hickey, Muzzin and Teubert; plus goalies Berube and Jones.

Corey Elkins will be there too.  The 6'3" center just completed his rookie season with Manchester, where he posted 21 goals (tops on the team) and 43 points (second on the team).  Both totals also placed him in the top-10 for rookie scoring in the AHL.

He was expected to battle Brayden Schenn for a possible roster spot with the big club this season.  Now, with news coming out today about Schenn having a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for several months, you may start to hear more about Elkins.
Get ready for camp!  Here's the first in a series of exclusive interviews you'll find on MayorsManor in the days to come...

MM:  You signed with the Kings organization as a free agent coming out of college in the spring of 2009.  What made you want to sign in Los Angeles, especially considering the team hadn't made the playoffs in eight years at that point?

CE:  Well, when I was going the process it was crazy. It was almost like getting recruited for college all over again.  The opportunity just felt right with the Kings though. I liked Hex (Ron Hextall) and Jack (Johnson) and some of the guys that were coming out. I had some meetings with them and it all felt right. With me being a little older, it looked like I could have a quick learning curve in LA and get some good experience - whether it be in Manchester or with the Kings. It was also exciting to be part of such a young and up and coming team. You see the talent. If you go though the guys that are in the organization, you know it's just a matter of time.  So, I was excited to be part of that.

You're pretty familiar with the Kings future, having been to a few of the camps already.  How about the past?  Let's see how well you know your Kings history - can you name five players that wore the old purple and gold jerseys?

High / Low with Corey Elkins

Next weekend the Kings will be hosting HockeyFest at their training facility in El Segundo, CA. Things should get off to a raucous start when General Manager Dean Lombardi opens the second annual event as the featured speaker.

In recent years his 'State of the Franchise' sessions have been can't miss events. While much of the discussion this time around will probably focus on his efforts to acquire a certain big-time unrestricted free agent this summer, past topics have included building his reserve list via the draft. Rarely talked about has been another Lombardi special - acquiring young free agents who have yet to appear in the NHL.

Just in the last few years he's signed guys like WHL Goaltender of the Year Martin Jones and OHL Defenseman of the Year Jake Muzzin.

Another such signing was Corey Elkins of Ohio State University.  After leading the Buckeyes with 18 goals and 41 points his senior season he moved on to the AHL last year, where he led the Monarchs with 19 points (8g, 11a) through 30 games...leading to his first NHL call-up in December.

He was with the big club for three games, even scoring a goal in one of them.  However, he finished the year in Manchester as a major contributor to a team that went all way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the interview below Corey reflects on his rookie season there, talks about getting advice from Dustin Brown and plays word association with some of his teammates - including Jonathan Bernier, Thomas Hickey and Kevin Westgarth.

Manchester Mondays: All Star Edition

What are you looking for in this week's AHL prospects report - first round draft picks? all star notes? stats? We have it all.

The AHL - one of the top feeder systems to the NHL - will be holding its annual All Star Game tomorrow night in Portland, Maine. That's where the Pirates play, the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate.

In advance of tomorrow's game the AHL will put on a Skills Competition later this afternoon, featuring events such as the fastest skater, the hardest shot and accuracy shooting. The event will start at 5pm PST and can be seen on several of the Fox Sports stations carried on DirecTV.

As for the game itself - well, it's scheduled to start at 3pm PST Tuesday afternoon and can be seen on the NHL Network (DirecTV channel 215). The Kings AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, will be represented on a variety of levels. Monarchs head coach Mark Morris and assistant Scott Pellerin will head the PlanetUSA team (for those unfamiliar, the AHL uses a PlanetUSA vs. Team Canada format for the All Star Game) and two players made the rosters - goaltender Jonathan Bernier (Team Canada) and defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov (PlanetUSA - which is actually a mix of U.S. and non-North American players...I know, don't ask).

Bernier was the Kings first round draft pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He's played four games with the big club, including picking up a win versus Anaheim when the two teams opened in London a few years ago. For the last two seasons he's played in Manchester, where he currently leads the AHL in most of the goaltending stats.

Voynov was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He joined Manchester last year after winning two straight bronze medals for Russia at the World Junior Championships (2008 & 2009). This season he leads all Monarchs defenseman with 8 goals and 16 assists. His offensive outburst also has him tied for second in the race for the overall team points lead.

In addition to Bernier, Team Canada's roster boasts five other NHL first-round draft picks - including Logan Couture and Tyler Ennis of the host Portland Pirates, the top two rookie scorers in the league. Meanwhile, the PlanetUSA roster features five former first-round NHL draft picks of its own - including John Carlson of the Hershey Bears, who was a big hero at the just completed World Junior Championships (read about it by clicking here).

Today's final note on the All Star Game is an interesting stat via an AHL press release: "Of the 492 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 94 percent have competed in the National Hockey League," including Dustin Brown, Dan Boyle, Zdeno Chara, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan, Patrick Sharp and Eric Staal.

Needless to say, there will be an overwhelming amount of future NHL stars - some even superstars - competing in the AHL All Star Game festivities today and tomorrow.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Other Manchester notes:

The Monarchs are still in first place, leading the Atlantic division with 57 points after 44 games played. However, they're just a few points ahead of the Worcester Sharks and the Lowell Devils.

The top two players on the team (statistically speaking) to not be selected to this year's All Star Game would be Corey Elkins and Bud Holloway. Elkins was signed by the Kings as a free agent in March '09, after playing four years at Ohio State University. He's played three games with the Kings this season and is currently leading the Monarchs in goals (13) and points (29).

Holloway split time last season between the Monarchs and the Ontario Reign (ECHL), where he led the team in points in the playoffs. Originally taken in the 3rd round of the 2006 NHL Draft, he was also a teammate of Thomas Hickey (Kings first round pick in 2007, Dean Lombardi's first draft with the team) when both played for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Bud is right behind Elkins in goals (12) and assists (24) after 40 games with the Monarchs this season.

Skills Competition Monday. All Star Game Tuesday. Then, the Monarchs return to action Friday night when they visit the Hartford Wolfpack.

One19
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EXTRA: There was a nice article on Jonathan Bernier that appeared this weekend on NESN.com. You can access it now by clicking here.

A Rubber Match, of sorts

The Kings and Flames have met twice already this season. And by some strange stoke of scheduling, the teams are playing each other three times this month in an 11 day period.

Will familiarity breed contempt?

Game one in November was a lopsided affair, Flames captain Jarome Iginla had a hat trick and Calgary downed LA 5-2.

With the way the Western Conference standings are starting to shake out these two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs. Thus, I prefer to think of this month as a three-game playoff preview.

The Kings took game one of the fictitious mini series, a tight 2-1 contest in LA on December 7th. Game two is tonight and the final match-up will be Dec 30th, also in Calgary.

Injuries have to be a big part of the pre-game story. The Kings have been playing without Ryan Smyth for quite some time already. Then more recently Wayne Simmonds, Jack Johnson, Jarret Stoll and Randy Jones have joined him on the sidelines.

Returning to the Kings line-up is defenseman Alec Martinez, he played one game earlier in the season (opening game of the season, where he was a -2 with 16 minutes of ice time). Corey Elkins will also play again, after making his NHL debut Tuesday night in Edmonton.

Over the past few years Miikka Kiprusoff has been one of the best goalies in the league, if not the world. Jonathan Quick will once again try to outplay him and prove to his doubters that he is for real and a netminder whose status is on the rise.

While Quick and his teammates have had a great month so far, the Flames have lost three straight entering tonight. Can the Kings keep rolling and hand Calgary their fourth straight loss?

It wont be easy. Not only is LA all banged up, putting the line combinations in disarray; they're also finishing up a horrific part of the schedule where they will have played six games in nine nights. Not to mention the fact that the Flames have beaten the Kings in their last seven trips to Calgary.

No worries says coach Terry Murray. It's just another game. One team will pick up two points. Coaches usually follow that with 'whichever team wants it more.'

After it's over the Kings will fly home to begin a much needed break for the holidays.

One19

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