For several years in the mid 90's it seemed like the Kings were on a 'Closing Down the Arena' tour, as they made their final visits to old Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, the Capital Centre just outside Washington DC and several others.
However, it was their second-to-last skate around the ice at Winnipeg Arena in February 1996 that ended up meaning much more than what was originally intended. Coming at the end of a four game jaunt that went from Edmonton to Colorado then St. Louis, the Kings finally arrived in Manitoba on February 25th - having gone 0-2-1 on the trip. To say it was the worst of times wouldn't be much of a stretch, as the Kings had only won one game in 12 tries during the month of February.
Before we get to the events that unfolded in the next 48 hours though, let's take a quick look back at the beginning of the trip. I was on hand for the games in Canada and attended the Kings practices as well.
While the score in Edmonton was 7-2, these weren't the Oilers of old. Ryan Smyth was in his rookie season and goalie Bill Ranford had just been traded to the Boston Bruins the month prior.
The Oilers' seven goals that night came from seven different players - Zdeno Ciger, Mariusz Czerkawski, Greg de Vries, Donald Dufresne, Ralph Intranuovo, Todd Marchant and some guy named Doug Weight (one of the best American born players of his generation). On the receiving end of every one was Kings goalie Kelly Hrudey.
Down at the other end, Oilers netminder Curtis Joseph gave up goals to Vitali Yachmenev and, of course, Wayne Gretzky.
Showing posts with label Hrudey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hrudey. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Kings at Maple Leafs - notes on Melrose, Mitchell, mistakes
Tonight will be the end of an era on at least two fronts.
First, interim coach John Stevens will be coaching his last game for the Kings - as Darryl Sutter is expected to be officially announced as the team's new bench boss tomorrow and resume game duties Thursday vs the Ducks.
Second, beginning next season, gone will be the days of the Kings and Maple Leafs only playing on rare occasion - as the NHL will feature a new balanced schedule, where each team will play a home and road game against the other 29 clubs.
For now though, Kings v Leafs is still something special. Not only is Toronto the undeniable hockey capital, but these two teams put on one of the greatest seven-game series in playoff history back in 1993. More on that in a minute though. First up, some notes on tonight...
- Slava Voynov and Alec Martinez will sit out, while Willie Mitchell is expected to return to the line-up. Yesterday, he proclaimed there were no further setbacks in his recovery from a sore groin and he's looking to be on the Kings blueline come game time.
- The same can't be said for Mike Richards. Although he's been traveling with the team since Friday, he's still not ready for contact. A better status of his situation should come later this week when the team is back in LA and he has a chance to see the doctor again.
- Don't look now, but Dustin Penner quietly had his first multi-point game of the season on Saturday. Of course, it went largely unnoticed due to the team losing 8-2. However, it's yet another positive sign of his recent play.
- "Flat-out mistakes that cost us goals," that's what Rob Scuderi had to say about the debacle in Detroit over the weekend.
- Look for Drew Doughty to have his best game of the season tonight. He'll be playing in front of friends and family and the young defenseman tends to raise his level of play in 'big games.' For him personally, this is a big one.
Now, here's a look back at a pivotal point in time for each franchise...
First, interim coach John Stevens will be coaching his last game for the Kings - as Darryl Sutter is expected to be officially announced as the team's new bench boss tomorrow and resume game duties Thursday vs the Ducks.
Second, beginning next season, gone will be the days of the Kings and Maple Leafs only playing on rare occasion - as the NHL will feature a new balanced schedule, where each team will play a home and road game against the other 29 clubs.
For now though, Kings v Leafs is still something special. Not only is Toronto the undeniable hockey capital, but these two teams put on one of the greatest seven-game series in playoff history back in 1993. More on that in a minute though. First up, some notes on tonight...
- Slava Voynov and Alec Martinez will sit out, while Willie Mitchell is expected to return to the line-up. Yesterday, he proclaimed there were no further setbacks in his recovery from a sore groin and he's looking to be on the Kings blueline come game time.
- The same can't be said for Mike Richards. Although he's been traveling with the team since Friday, he's still not ready for contact. A better status of his situation should come later this week when the team is back in LA and he has a chance to see the doctor again.
- Don't look now, but Dustin Penner quietly had his first multi-point game of the season on Saturday. Of course, it went largely unnoticed due to the team losing 8-2. However, it's yet another positive sign of his recent play.
- "Flat-out mistakes that cost us goals," that's what Rob Scuderi had to say about the debacle in Detroit over the weekend.
- Look for Drew Doughty to have his best game of the season tonight. He'll be playing in front of friends and family and the young defenseman tends to raise his level of play in 'big games.' For him personally, this is a big one.
Now, here's a look back at a pivotal point in time for each franchise...
Thursday, September 29, 2011
VIDEO: Las Vegas game highlights - a Frozen Fury primer
It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since the Kings made their Las Vegas debut.
They say the first time is always the most special. In this case, it rings even more true because it was the first time an NHL game had been played outdoors.
Caesar's Palace, made famous by huge boxing matches in the 80's was the site for a game between the NY Rangers and the LA Kings back on September 27, 1991.
The blueshirts went up 2-0 and then...well, just watch the video...
They say the first time is always the most special. In this case, it rings even more true because it was the first time an NHL game had been played outdoors.
Caesar's Palace, made famous by huge boxing matches in the 80's was the site for a game between the NY Rangers and the LA Kings back on September 27, 1991.
The blueshirts went up 2-0 and then...well, just watch the video...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Without Their Top Player, Kings Down Sharks in Game One
On October 16, 1991 the Los Angeles Kings were about to play host to the NHL's newest team, the San Jose Sharks.
Shortly after the morning skate early that day, Wayne Gretzky received a phone call that his father was in the hospital after experiencing complications related to a brain aneurysm.
Then-owner Bruce McNall rushed the Great One home to Canada on a private jet to be by the side of his 53 year old father, Walter.
On the ice, coach Tom Webster had some shuffling to do. Obviously, when you're without your number one center, it wreaks havoc to your entire line-up.
Webster put Tony Granato up front, between Mike Donnelly and Jari Kurri. Luc Robitaille and Dave Taylor now had John McIntyre as their center on the second line. And Bob Kudelski centered a line featuring Tomas Sandstrom and Ilkka Sinisalo at wing.
Kings goalie Kelly Hrudey gave up five goals to Sharks named Perry Anderson, Link Gaetz, Brian Lawton and Brian Mullen (2).
But, those were the good ol' Smythe Division days when goals game in bunches.
The Kings matched their five with goals from Peter Ahola, Donnelly, Randy Gilhen and a pair from Luc Robitaille. However, the star of the night was that center playing with Sandstrom and Sinisalo...Kudelski scored a hat trick, giving the Kings an 8-5 victory in the first-ever game played between the two teams.
Now, nearly 20 years later, they'll meet later tonight for the first time in the playoffs.
Just like that fateful night in 1991 though, the Kings are again without their top center.
History was made that first night. Can the Kings do it again?
A few other notes to finish off this look back in time...
- Even though there were 13 total goals scored in that first game, Robitaille had the only power play goal of the night. Yes, twelve (!) even strength goals.
- Gretzky returned to the Kings once his father's condition stabilized (and ultimately improved). When the Sharks came back to the Forum on November 23, 1991 for their second game in LA, Gretzky greeted them with a hat trick of his own.
- The following year was one of the craziest Kings-Sharks games ever, when Robitaille, Kurri and Donnelly each picked up a hat trick. Their nine goals were part of an 11-4 win for the Kings, the most LA has ever scored against San Jose. It's also the only time in Kings history three LA players have had hat tricks in the same game.
The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:
Kings v Sharks Playoff Preview - Who will win and why
Interview with Luc Robitaille
Interview with Tony Granato
Interview with Kelly Hrudey
Interview with Sharks Captain Joe Thornton
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Kings-Ducks: The First Time It Mattered This Much
Across the ice were the Disney-owned Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, playing in their inaugural season. While an expansion team may not sound like much of a threat to the incumbent, the Kings had long struggled to carve out their own niche in a crowded market place. Adding a second hockey team in SoCal wasn't going to make it any easier.
Yet, so it began. With both teams tied in the standings at 20 points apiece, it was time for the first ever Kings-Ducks game.
Adding concern and worry for even the most die hard of Kings fans was the fact that coach Barry Melrose was starting Rick Knickle in goal, not Kelly Hrudey or Robb Stauber (the two guys that carried the team through the '93 playoffs). No, he was going with a guy who was playing for the San Diego Gulls the season prior. If you've never heard of Knickle or the Gulls, that tells you all you need to know.
Things only got worse when at the 10:13 mark of the first period the Mighty Ducks scored their first ever goal against the Kings. Peter Douris - who? - scored a power play goal to put the Ducks up 1-0. What in the world was going on?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Word Association with Tony Granato
Former Kings forward Tony Granato, now an assistant coach in Pittsburgh, joined us earlier this week in anticipation of tonight's game versus the Penguins.
In the first part of the interview we discussed his impression of Kings GM Dean Lombardi when he was being recruited by the San Jose Sharks in the summer of 1996. He also offered some thoughts on this year's Kings team.
Below, we take on some more names from his past in one of the most popular segments here on MayorsManor - word association.
Here were his answers, plus a few bonus questions...
In the first part of the interview we discussed his impression of Kings GM Dean Lombardi when he was being recruited by the San Jose Sharks in the summer of 1996. He also offered some thoughts on this year's Kings team.
Below, we take on some more names from his past in one of the most popular segments here on MayorsManor - word association.
Here were his answers, plus a few bonus questions...
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gift Ideas For Jack Johnson, From His Teammates
Clifford's not even legal yet, so you can't take him out for a drink. And Johnson, he inked a seven-year, $30 million contract over the weekend - what do you get a guy who just signed that type of a deal?
I posed the question to a few of his teammates to see what they were thinking...
Matt Greene - You show up to his party and he better have a good gift bag. You don't get him anything. You just grace him with your presence. You can't buy him anything he can't get himself.
Ryan Smyth - I think he already got his present.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Kelly Hrudey on Jonathan Quick
Billy Jaffe asked "If you could pick one goalie to start a team with right now, who would it be?"
Hrudey responded with "For many reasons I can chose about five or ten guys. So, this may surprise you a little bit - but because of age, because of the way he's playing right now, I'd guess I'd go with Carey Price...but, I may go with Jonathan Quick."
He went on to say that Quick "really impressed" him last year and he's "20 percent better" this season, adding "there's just something about his mental make-up that makes him feel like he's a general back there. Like nothing is going to affect him. He is, in my opinion, in the top five right now."
Hrudey said even though Quick isn't "getting a lot of credit" right now and is "flying under the radar," that "because of his competitive nature" he likes him a lot.
High praise from a guy that knows a thing or two about the position.
For more comments from Hrudey about many of the top goaltenders in the Western Conference - including more on Quick/Bernier, plus Roberto Luongo, Marty Turco, Antti Niemi, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, Jaroslav Halak, etc. - be sure to check out his visit to MayorsManor from earlier this season. We covered it all in an interview linked here.
The Mayor
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Bernier a perdu une bataille! Mais Bernier n'a pas perdu la guerre!
Jonathan Bernier has yet to find his groove this season.
Further, for people expecting a goalie controversy in LA, it hasn't materialized.
Yes, he was a first round draft pick. Yes, he was the AHL Goaltender of the Year last season. And yes, he went 3-0 during his brief appearances with the Kings last year - including a shutout in Nashville.
However, Coach Terry Murray went out of his way over the summer to remind everybody Jonathan Quick was the starting netminder entering this season.
Just a few months ago, the thought of having two strong players available to fill the crease on any given night seemed a very real possibility though. Kelly Hrudey, the Kings' goalie when they faced off against the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 for the Stanley Cup, said "what a great scenario" when asked about the tandem.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Season Preview with Kelly Hrudey of HNIC
Fans here probably remember him best as the blue bandana wearing goalie from the '93 Stanley Cup Finals. Yet, north of the border he's been a member of the legendary Hockey Night in Canada crew for over a decade now, both on television and satellite radio. Thus, the man loves to talk about hockey!
In fact, Hrudey's plans for his post-NHL career were so well known towards the the end of his playing days, Dean Lombardi (then with the Sharks) once asked him "Why do I want to sign a 35-year old goalie who wants to be a broadcaster?"
In the interview below, we lean on his experience between he pipes to get some perspective on several goaltending related issues going on around the league, as well as some predictions for the Western and Eastern Conference standings.
MM: Roberto Luongo recently relinquished the captaincy in Vancouver. What do you think about goaltenders wearing the 'C'?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Throwback Thursdays - An Interview w/ Robb Stauber
Today, goaltending is a strength...with names like Quick, Bernier, Zatkoff, Jones and Berube set to man the nets next season for the Kings and their various affiliates.
However, the Kings had a shot at something similar at least once before. Case in point, in 1986 the team drafted Robb Stauber out of high school. Before arriving in LA he had a stellar college hockey career at the University of Minnesota - becoming the first goalie to ever win the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's player of the year (and he did it as a sophomore!). His teams also made it to the Frozen Four three straight years.
Then, after Robb spent a few more seasons developing in the minors, he began battling Kelly Hrudey for the starting job during the 1992-93 campaign, winning 15 games in 31 regular season appearances.
While Hrudey is fondly remembered as being the man during the Kings run to the Stanley Cup Finals that same year, he had plenty of praise for Stauber and his role on the team when I interviewed him last year - saying things like "Robb had played so strong he deserved the action he was getting too."
Specifically, on Stauber's performance in the opening round of the '93 playoffs versus Calgary, Hrudey added "We were down 2-1 in the series. Robb (came in and) played in game four and we won 2-1 to even the series. Barry (Melrose) stuck with Robb in games five and six...He won the series."
Just one year later, the Kings drafted Jamie Storr 7th overall at the 1994 NHL Draft - after he won a gold medal for Team Canada at the '94 World Junior Championships. He backed it up with another gold medal at the '95 WJC. Goaltending should have been set for years to come.
What happened? What went wrong?
We first posted an interview with Robb back in April, where he helped preview this year's NCAA Frozen Four Championship game and talked about his days playing college hockey.
This time around, we're talking more about his time with the Kings - from first joining the team to the multiple goalie controversies of '93, coach Barry Melrose, life in the minor leagues, Rogie Vachon, Jonathan Quick, Jamie Storr, Dominik Hasek, being known as "Blueline" and the real reason why he was traded...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tuesday Tidbits... the interviews
Luc Robitaille - The King of Kings stopped by MayorsManor a few days before his Hall of Fame induction...topics include Barry Melrose, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, the Stanley Cup, having a trophy named after him, why he signed with the Red Wings, Gary Bettman, hockey memorabilia, etc. To read 20 Questions with #20 click here.
Mike Modano - As the all-time leading goal scorer among American born players, he is a true hockey legend. The Mayor and the former Dallas Stars captain spoke about winning the Stanley Cup, the team's move from Minnesota, not playing in the All Star game, almost signing with the Boston Bruins, being dissed by the Predators, getting knocked out by Mark Messier and lots more - click here to read the full interview.
Andy Murray - He went from being a virtual unknown to the most successful coach in Kings history. After three trips to the playoffs and with the team above .500, despite being riddled with injuries, he was let go with just a handful of games remaining in the 2005-06 season. In his MayorsManor interview we talk getting hired and fired by the Kings and all things in between, plus his sons, his favorite players, the Kings player he'd most like to have on his NHL team and tons more. Click here to read.
Rob Blake - Love him or hate him, he's a big part of Kings history. The Mayor gets Rob's thoughts on being drafted by the Kings, going to the Finals in '93, the trade, resigning the Kings captaincy, coming back to LA and so much more. Click here to read it now.
Mike Modano - As the all-time leading goal scorer among American born players, he is a true hockey legend. The Mayor and the former Dallas Stars captain spoke about winning the Stanley Cup, the team's move from Minnesota, not playing in the All Star game, almost signing with the Boston Bruins, being dissed by the Predators, getting knocked out by Mark Messier and lots more - click here to read the full interview.
Andy Murray - He went from being a virtual unknown to the most successful coach in Kings history. After three trips to the playoffs and with the team above .500, despite being riddled with injuries, he was let go with just a handful of games remaining in the 2005-06 season. In his MayorsManor interview we talk getting hired and fired by the Kings and all things in between, plus his sons, his favorite players, the Kings player he'd most like to have on his NHL team and tons more. Click here to read.
Rob Blake - Love him or hate him, he's a big part of Kings history. The Mayor gets Rob's thoughts on being drafted by the Kings, going to the Finals in '93, the trade, resigning the Kings captaincy, coming back to LA and so much more. Click here to read it now.
Kelly Hrudey - The man forever linked with the Kings trip to the '93 Stanley Cup finals chatted with The Mayor about the playoffs, his relationship with Dean Lombardi, teams that gave the Kings fits back then, being drafted by the Islanders, his first training camp in New York, underrated players and Robb Stauber stealing his job - click here to read the full interview.
Ethan Moreau - A first round draft pick in 1994, he discussed his time with the Blackhawks, the trade that brought him to Edmonton, the pressure of being the Oilers captain, going to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006, Chris Pronger, the firing of Craig MacTavish and yes, we even talk about his semi-nude photo shoot for ESPN - click here to read the full interview.
John Buccigross - ESPN's guru of hockey talks with The Mayor and gives his take on all the teams in the Western Conference, the greatest hockey game he ever saw, his favorite arena, changes he'd make to the game if he was the NHL Commissioner and other quirky puck related tidbits - click here to read the full interview.
Colten Teubert - A first round draft pick from the 2008 draft, Mr. Nasty just finished up a stellar junior career. He also helped lead Team Canada at the World Junior Championships and played for the Kings ECHL minor league affiliate in Ontario. In his interview with The Mayor he talks about being drafted, being a prospect and his dreams of playing in Los Angeles. Click here to read Tuesdays with Teubert.
Gary Shuchuk - Prior to playing for the Kings in the early 90's this hard working grinder led Wisconsin in scoring and won the NCAA hockey championship. Two years later he won the AHL's Calder Cup. He stopped by Mayors Manor prior to the 2010 Frozen Four to talk about his time in college hockey - which included playing with Tony Granato, Curtis Joseph and Mike Richter to name a few. Read it here.
Others of note:
Bob Miller - legendary Kings announcer stops by for a preview of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs
2010 NHL Draft - several prospects stopped by MayorsManor in the week leading up to the draft in Los Angeles, including Cam Fowler (1st round pick of the Anaheim Ducks)
Agents to the stars - Kyle Dubas of Uptown Sports (reps several top prospects in the Kings organization) and Scott Norton (reps Dustin Brown)
Want more?
Coming up in the next few weeks - several players with ties to the U.S. hockey program...Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks and Team USA Olympian), Stephen Johns (World Jr team and recent draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks) and Nick Bjugstad (World Jr team and 1st round pick of the Florida Panthers).
Now if we could just get that guy from Slap Shot...
The Mayor
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Monday, June 7, 2010
Afternoon Reading
The Stanley Cup will be decided later this week.
Then it's time for the NHL schedule to be released, the NHL Awards, the Draft...and then free agency.
If you have some time to kill until then, here are links to some of the most popular interviews we did this season:
Luc Robitaille - The Kings all-time goals leader checked in just a few days before his Hall of Fame induction. It's a conversations that covers Luc's full career and the key players and moments that shaped it. Topics include Barry Melrose, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, the Stanley Cup, having a trophy named after him, why he signed with the Red Wings, Gary Bettman, hockey memorabilia, etc. To read 20 Questions with #20 click here.
Kelly Hrudey - The man that will forever be linked with the Kings trip to the '93 Stanley Cup finals stopped by to talk about the playoffs, his relationship with Dean Lombardi, teams that gave the Kings fits back then, being drafted by the Islanders, his first training camp in New York, underrated players and Robb Stauber stealing his job - click here to read the full interview.
After the jump you'll find links for Rob Blake, Andy Murray, Mike Modano, Ethan Moreau, Bob Miller, Colten Teubert and more.
Then it's time for the NHL schedule to be released, the NHL Awards, the Draft...and then free agency.
If you have some time to kill until then, here are links to some of the most popular interviews we did this season:
Luc Robitaille - The Kings all-time goals leader checked in just a few days before his Hall of Fame induction. It's a conversations that covers Luc's full career and the key players and moments that shaped it. Topics include Barry Melrose, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, the Stanley Cup, having a trophy named after him, why he signed with the Red Wings, Gary Bettman, hockey memorabilia, etc. To read 20 Questions with #20 click here.
Kelly Hrudey - The man that will forever be linked with the Kings trip to the '93 Stanley Cup finals stopped by to talk about the playoffs, his relationship with Dean Lombardi, teams that gave the Kings fits back then, being drafted by the Islanders, his first training camp in New York, underrated players and Robb Stauber stealing his job - click here to read the full interview.
After the jump you'll find links for Rob Blake, Andy Murray, Mike Modano, Ethan Moreau, Bob Miller, Colten Teubert and more.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Kings-Ducks: The Last Time it Mattered This Much
It was 1993. December 2nd to be exact. The Kings were crashing hard, coming down from their high of going to the Stanley Cup Finals just seven months earlier. Now they were near the bottom of the Western Conference and riding a six game losing streak.Staring them in the face was their worst nightmare - an expansion team. The Disney owned Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were in their inaugural season, which may not sound like much of a threat to the incumbent. However, the Kings - long struggling to carve out their niche in a city known for paying more attention to the Dodgers and Lakers - now faced a new worry. A second NHL team in SoCal.
And so it began. A rivalry of sorts. With both teams tied in the standings at 20 points apiece, it was time for the first ever Kings-Ducks game.
Adding concern and worry for even the most die hard Kings fan was the fact that coach Barry Melrose was starting Rick Knickle in goal, not Kelly Hrudey or Robb Stauber (the two guys that carried the team through the '93 playoffs). No, he was going with a guy that was playing for the San Diego Gulls the season prior. If you've never heard of Knickle or the Gulls, that tells you all you need to know.
Things only got worse when at the 10:13 mark of the first period the Mighty Ducks scored their first ever goal against the Kings. Peter Douris - who? - scored a power play goal to put the Ducks up 1-0. What it the world was going on?
How they were even on the power play is a mathematical marvel. Certainly it was a penalty filled period - one that resulted in the Mighty Ducks being short handed seven different times. On one of those power plays Luc Robitaille was able to score, tying up the game. It was at that precise moment you could hear the entire building exhale...briefly.
The second period wasn't nearly as exciting. The Kings were dominating the shot clock 33-10 after 40 minutes, but the game remained tied 1-1. Fans throughout the Fabulous Forum were on pins and needles as they headed to the concession stands and underground bathrooms for the second intermission.
Then Jari Kurri took over. He scored two goals in the first half of the third period, providing the Kings a little breathing room. His second came at 10:16. While the Kings were now up 3-1, that was a lot of time on the clock to kill.
Duck fans watching at home - they wouldn't dare go to the Forum back then, they weren't as obnoxious as they are now - probably thought there was plenty of time left for a Mighty comeback. Eventually, their confidence would increase. With just a few minutes left on the clock Robitaille went to the box for charging. Ducks coach Ron Wilson capitalized on the situation by pulling goalie Guy Hebert to give his team a two man advantage.
Shaun Van Allen scored for the Ducks and the hearts of 16,005 Kings fans in attendance nearly stopped pumping. We had a serious problem on our hands.
Wilson kept Hebert on the bench and the Ducks continued to pepper Knickle. Tick, tick, tick - time seemed to move so slowly. The final 82 seconds finally elapsed and the Kings had won the game 3-2.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. On that night the Kings let it be known, this was their town. "We had to win, let's be honest." said Kings captain Wayne Gretzky.
Well to be honest, the Ducks would eventually wrestle away bragging rights in the rivalry - making their own run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007 (note: in a cost cutting move the NHL canceled the Finals, thus no winner was ever crowned that year...trust me, what you think happened didn't happen...believe me...it's just your mind playing tricks on you).
Further truth - the rivalry has never really lived up to the hype. Sure, many of the games through the years have had some heat. Yet, the old adage is that a rivalry isn't really a rivalry until two teams meet in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened.
That said, let's be clear about something...tonight's game is the most meaningful Kings-Ducks game since that initial contest. The Kings have been slowly ascending the ranks of the Western Conference this season and are currently riding a seven game winning streak. The Ducks have also been playing better of late, climbing back into the playoff race themselves.
The Kings won the first meeting of the season 4-3 in Anaheim. They also won the rematch a few weeks ago in LA, a dominant 4-0 victory.
While the Ducks might need this game more for the standings in the West, the Kings need this more for their psyche. They need to show themselves and their fans that this is THEIR town!
The next time a Kings-Ducks game will mean this much is when the teams meet in the playoffs someday.
Until then, tonight's the night. Time for the dominance to begin.
The Mayor
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Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Interviews: Midpoint Musings
The first half of the season has brought wins, losses, moments of heartbreak and euphoria. Along the way Mayor's Manor has hosted a wide range of hockey royalty, role players and reporters. As we turn the page to 2010 let's briefly look back at some of the conversations that have already made this season memorable.Based on emails and other feedback, below are the five interviews readers were most interested in. If you missed one of them the first time around, relive it today for the first time:
Luc Robitaille - The Kings all-time goals leader checked in just a few days before his Hall of Fame induction. It's a conversations that covers Luc's full career and the key players and moments that shaped it. Topics include Barry Melrose, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, the Stanley Cup, having a trophy named after him, why he signed with the Red Wings, Gary Bettman, hockey memorabilia, etc. To read 20 Questions with #20 click here.
Kelly Hrudey - The man that will forever be linked with the Kings trip to the '93 Stanley Cup finals stopped by to talk about the playoffs, his relationship with Dean Lombardi, teams that gave the Kings fits back then, being drafted by the Islanders, his first training camp in New York, underrated players and Robb Stauber stealing his job - click here to read the full interview.
Mike Modano - The all-time leading goal scorer among American born players is a true hockey legend. The former captain of the Dallas Stars chatted with the Mayor about the Stars winning the Stanley Cup, the team's move from Minnesota, what he'll do after hockey, not playing in the All Star game, almost signing with the Boston Bruins, being dissed by the Predators, getting knocked out by Mark Messier and lots more - click here to read the full interview.
Ethan Moreau - A first round draft pick in 1994, he discussed his time with the Blackhawks, the trade that brought him to Edmonton, the pressure of being the Oilers captain, going to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006, Chris Pronger, the firing of Craig MacTavish and yes, we even talk about his semi-nude photo shoot for ESPN - click here to read the full interview.
John Buccigross - For a different slant we caught up with ESPN's guru of hockey. He gives his take on all the teams in the Western Conference, the greatest hockey game he ever saw, his favorite arena, changes he'd make to the game if he was the NHL Commissioner and other quirky puck related tidbits - click here to read the full interview.
Enjoy!
We already have a handful of interviews lined up for January. So, stay tuned.
One19
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hugging the Post w/ Kelly Hrudey
Goaltending has historically been one of the weakest parts of the Los Angeles Kings. Current GM, Dean Lombardi, has often talked about the need to build a team from the net out. Hence, the organization's current focus on developing goaltenders.
After Rogie Vachon left the team in '78 it's been a revolving door of netminders for most of the past 30 years, with a few exceptions. Since the Gretzky trade in '88 Kelly Hrudey has been one of the lone bright spots in the crease. He's the guy that fans point to when asked about the last time the Kings had a great goalie.
Kelly played in LA for eight years, including the run to the Finals in '93. These days he keeps up with the NHL through his work at the CBC in Canada. We sat down with him recently to look back at his career and a few other hockey related topics...
You grew up in Edmonton and the Oilers came to town as part of the WHA when you were fairly young. Was that your team growing up?
I certainly was a fan of the Oilers. But I was a die hard fan of the Canadians and the Leafs. The NHL was the real game to me. Although the WHA was important, as it allowed me to see many games in person - I thought the real stars were the guys in the NHL.
The draft is always a special time in a player's career. Yet, the draft wasn't the big deal back then that it is now. What memories do you have?
Well we weren't a sports family, so we didn't know a lot about the draft. I was in my second year with Medicine Hat. I'd been told I might be drafted around the third round. Like you said, there was little fan fare associated with the draft. If you were a first rounder, maybe you would go. But, I was home in Edmonton, playing ball hockey downstairs with my brother when Jimmy Devellano (Islanders scout) called and said I was drafted by the Islanders in the second round. I had no idea what to expect from that point forward. It was a short call, I remember that. He had other things to do. So, when we hung up I went back downstairs and finished playing ball hockey.
I was lucky enough to go to training camp the following season. I even played in an exhibition game at old Chicago Stadium. That was certainly a thrill for me at that point. But, what I remember most was the flight home. We flew commercial and I sat in the middle, between Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier. I don't think I said one word the entire flight, I just listened.
Any other memories from that first camp?
I remember landing at LaGuardia the first time. a shuttle bus picked me up and it felt like we made 25 stops dropping other people off at their residences before I finally got to the Holiday Inn...I think it was in Hempstead. That night I was really intense, I knew I had to go take a physical for the Islanders the next day and didn't know exactly what to expect.
I also remember thinking very early on in training camp that I had a lot of work to do to make it to the NHL. There was one play, where Tom Lysiak came down the wing and scored on me. It was so easy for him he didn't even want to raise his hands and celebrate. It was more like he was embarrassed how easy it was. Things like that really showed me how far I had to go.
For Islander fans probably the greatest memory they have of you is the '87 playoff game with four overtime periods. That game, the Easter Epic, has been called by some the greatest game 7 of all time. What memories do you have of that night?
Well, in the locker room between periods we were pretty loose. There wasn't much talk about strategy. We were proud of the game we were playing and felt things were going well, even if the score was tied. We kept telling each other to relax, don't get too excited and be prepared for the first two minutes of the period and the last two minutes of the period. I remember after Pat scored I stood in the crease for what seemed like a few minutes in disbelief. I didn't want to mentally let down for fear they might say the goal was disallowed or something. It was a good 5 seconds or so until it finally set in. Then, when I went into the dressing room - you know the goaltenders weren't allowed to have water bottles back in '87 - so when I took my gear off my toes just curled under from dehydration.
Any other memories of your time on the Island?
My fondest memory is probably when Bill Torrey told me I had made the NHL. When I was a kid playing ball hockey, watching Hockey Night in Canada and all the NHL games, I never would have dreamed I had what it would take to make it the NHL.
The pivotal point in your career was the trade to LA. Can you talk about finding out you were headed to the West Coast?
Well, I have different feelings now than I did at the time, 20 years ago. I was disappointed to be traded to LA. I was like every player, I thought I was going to be drafted by a team, play there for 20 years, win championships and then retire...all with one team. Like Steve Yzerman did. It didn't work out that way for me.
But LA was exciting. It felt more like my team. In New York I had my good friend Billy Smith. In LA I felt like it was my team though. And the city was fantastic! I feel the biggest growth period of my life were the 10 years in LA. I just loved the people. Believe it or not, it reminded me a lot of western Canada where the people are so laid back. It was a great time for me on and off the ice.
The Kings won the Smythe Division in '91 with a very powerful team. How close was that group to going all the way?
I thought we were real close. We just didn't know how to win. The Oilers had so much experience and they just knew how to win. Every time we ran into those guys, it just seemed like we didn't have enough to beat them. Tom Webster coming on as our coach added a defensive element to our game. But, still, we just couldn't beat Edmonton. I really believed if we could just beat those guys we would have won a championship. We'll never know though.
In the first half of '93 Wayne was hurt, yet the team played well without him...
We knew it would be a real challenge without him. You can ask players to rise up in a situation like that, but fact is you're not as good of a team without Wayne. Everybody did pick up their game though and played to their highest level. That was very rewarding for the group. Unfortunately, soon after that was also when I went through the worst slump of my career.
You mentioned that at HockeyFest. How did you get though it?
It was late November, early December and I went on about a two month slide. It was the worst slump of my career. I made it through that dark period because of two people in my corner...and I tell them 'thank you' whenever I get a chance...Cap Raeder and Barry Melrose. I was able to play five more years in the league because of their support during that stretch.
Robb Stauber played pretty well that year. Was that adding pressure to what you were already going through?
Robb deserved to be in there. I remember when I knew I was going to be OK though. It was a game on January 28th. I played my best game in awhile. We lost to Calgary 2-1, but I felt like I was back. I had a few bad games down the stretch, but then there was a game where we beat Philly 3-1 in March. That's when I knew I was going to be OK. I wasn't 100%, but when we won I was real emotional in the locker room. I thanked all the guys for sticking with me because they could have easily given up on me.
But Robb had played so strong he deserved the action he was getting too.
When Stauber replaced you in the playoffs he won three in a row against Calgary. Did you start to worry, did it mess with your head at all after what you had been through that season?
Well we started the playoffs against Calgary. We were awesome in game one. Then, awful in game two. We lost game three, but neither team looked like world beaters. We were down 2-1 in the series. Robb played in game four and we won 2-1 to even the series. Barry stuck with Robb in games five and six; one them was like an 8-5 shootout. He won the series, so he got the start in game one against Vancouver...and rightfully so. We lost that first game. I think it was an afternoon game. Immediately following the game Barry called me into his office and told me I was going to start game two. Fortunately, we had a couple days off until game two so I had plenty of time to prepare for them.
I felt that was really when we got on track. To me that was the best series we ever played. Personally I felt that Vancouver was on the cusp of something at the time. And I guess I was right, they went to the Stanley Cup finals the next year. But at the time, that was a real test for us. The Toronto series was different. The intensity was the same, but our level of play started to drop. I think the travel was starting to get to us.
It's easy for people to heap praise on Melrose now, but what were you thinking at the time he was announced as the new coach? Here was a team that was damn close the previous two years - including winning the Smythe - and they just hired a rookie head coach. Were you nervous about that hiring?
Well, I was established in LA by that point, so I wasn't too worried. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression on my new coach. But, I was lucky to have Cap Raeder. As time went on I think I endeared myself to Barry. The slump I mentioned took our relationship to the next level. I wish all players could have a guy like Barry around them. Like an Al Arbour. It's such a good feeling when you go home after practice or a game and that's your coach.
You've talked about the frank conversation Dean had with you during your time in San Jose. Talk about going to play for the Sharks.
I knew I was leaving LA that summer, but prior to July 1st I was unsure where I was going to end up. I hit it off with Dean right when I met him. I remember my agent calling me and saying the Sharks wanted to meet with me. The following Friday my wife Donna and I flew into SFO with our daughters. Dean and (assistant GM) Wayne Thomas were there at the airport when we landed. I knew at that moment I was signing with the Sharks. It was one thing that Dean was at the airport to pick us up. But more importantly, he had brought a bunch of Sharks memorabilia for my girls. To bring gifts for my kids, I knew that was the type of guy I wanted to play for.
The next day though when we actually had our meeting he asked me two questions that have always stayed with me. First question he asked was "Why do I want to sign a 35 year old goalie who wants to be a broadcaster?" Then he asked me "Why did the Kings trade for Grant Fuhr when they had you?" They weren't hurtful questions. He just spoke honestly and I had so much respect for him because of it.
That's why later it didn't bother me when he called me into his office and said "Kelly you look scared to play." He was right and I knew my career was about done.
Looking back on your career, you finished with 271 wins. Do you think about being so close to the magical 300 number?
No. Not at all. I don't live that way. I did as best as I could and I loved playing the game of hockey. I wasn't lackadaisical and got a ton out of my career. I approached every game the same way. I thought I was better than the other guy. That's what I told myself when I looked down at the other end of the ice.
Let's talk about the current team. Who is your favorite Kings player right now?
Dustin Brown. He's a pure hockey player and as fierce of a competitor as you'll ever find. Plus, I was real impressed with his speech at HockeyFest. At that age, to speak so clearly about that moment on the plane...and with no notes...very impressive.
From your perspective, who is the most underrated player in the game right now?
Duncan Keith in Chicago. Or coming into the season I might have said (Wojtek) Wolski of the Avs.
Here's what I look for - we're all memorized by talent...but, I look for elite thinkers. There are only five or six guys like this on each team. Kurri was like that on the Kings. He understood the game way more than most guys.
Then, how about when you were playing - who were some of the most underrated guys you played with?
Tim Watters, Charlie Huddey, Steve Konroyd, Pat Conacher, Todd Gill, Tony Granato. Those are guys that all competed every night and gave everything of their body. Todd Gill was a mediocre, skinny player but he was tough and communicated exceptionally well. Very underrated.
You mentioned valuing elite thinkers and then when listing underrated players most of those guys you rattled off have gone into coaching. Do you think there is a coincidence there?
Wow. I never thought about that. Hmm.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Kelly. Hope to see you back in LA for more Alumni events moving forward. Best of luck with the broadcasting.
Kelly Hrudey wore #32 while minding net for the Kings. Now, LA has another goalie wearing the same number - Jonathan Quick. Perhaps, the coincidences don't stop there.
The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES:
High / Low: Hrudey on Duty - get Kelly's thoughts on the other teams in the West, plus which players he would take if starting his own NHL franchise
Interview with Robb Stauber - the man who battled Hrudey in net during the Kings '92-93 season
Interview with Rob Blake - the most controversial player in Kings history stops by MayorsManor
20 Questions with #20 - Luc stops by MayorsManor a few days before entering the Hall of Fame
Interview with Gary Shuchuk - Kings playoff hero in 1993
Reflections of a Cup - Roy, Melrose and Blake comment on the Kings vs. Canadiens
IN DEAN WE TRUST - show your support for Kings GM Dean Lombardi
.
After Rogie Vachon left the team in '78 it's been a revolving door of netminders for most of the past 30 years, with a few exceptions. Since the Gretzky trade in '88 Kelly Hrudey has been one of the lone bright spots in the crease. He's the guy that fans point to when asked about the last time the Kings had a great goalie.
Kelly played in LA for eight years, including the run to the Finals in '93. These days he keeps up with the NHL through his work at the CBC in Canada. We sat down with him recently to look back at his career and a few other hockey related topics...
You grew up in Edmonton and the Oilers came to town as part of the WHA when you were fairly young. Was that your team growing up?I certainly was a fan of the Oilers. But I was a die hard fan of the Canadians and the Leafs. The NHL was the real game to me. Although the WHA was important, as it allowed me to see many games in person - I thought the real stars were the guys in the NHL.
The draft is always a special time in a player's career. Yet, the draft wasn't the big deal back then that it is now. What memories do you have?
Well we weren't a sports family, so we didn't know a lot about the draft. I was in my second year with Medicine Hat. I'd been told I might be drafted around the third round. Like you said, there was little fan fare associated with the draft. If you were a first rounder, maybe you would go. But, I was home in Edmonton, playing ball hockey downstairs with my brother when Jimmy Devellano (Islanders scout) called and said I was drafted by the Islanders in the second round. I had no idea what to expect from that point forward. It was a short call, I remember that. He had other things to do. So, when we hung up I went back downstairs and finished playing ball hockey.
I was lucky enough to go to training camp the following season. I even played in an exhibition game at old Chicago Stadium. That was certainly a thrill for me at that point. But, what I remember most was the flight home. We flew commercial and I sat in the middle, between Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier. I don't think I said one word the entire flight, I just listened.
Any other memories from that first camp?
I remember landing at LaGuardia the first time. a shuttle bus picked me up and it felt like we made 25 stops dropping other people off at their residences before I finally got to the Holiday Inn...I think it was in Hempstead. That night I was really intense, I knew I had to go take a physical for the Islanders the next day and didn't know exactly what to expect.
I also remember thinking very early on in training camp that I had a lot of work to do to make it to the NHL. There was one play, where Tom Lysiak came down the wing and scored on me. It was so easy for him he didn't even want to raise his hands and celebrate. It was more like he was embarrassed how easy it was. Things like that really showed me how far I had to go.
For Islander fans probably the greatest memory they have of you is the '87 playoff game with four overtime periods. That game, the Easter Epic, has been called by some the greatest game 7 of all time. What memories do you have of that night?
Well, in the locker room between periods we were pretty loose. There wasn't much talk about strategy. We were proud of the game we were playing and felt things were going well, even if the score was tied. We kept telling each other to relax, don't get too excited and be prepared for the first two minutes of the period and the last two minutes of the period. I remember after Pat scored I stood in the crease for what seemed like a few minutes in disbelief. I didn't want to mentally let down for fear they might say the goal was disallowed or something. It was a good 5 seconds or so until it finally set in. Then, when I went into the dressing room - you know the goaltenders weren't allowed to have water bottles back in '87 - so when I took my gear off my toes just curled under from dehydration.
Any other memories of your time on the Island?
My fondest memory is probably when Bill Torrey told me I had made the NHL. When I was a kid playing ball hockey, watching Hockey Night in Canada and all the NHL games, I never would have dreamed I had what it would take to make it the NHL.
The pivotal point in your career was the trade to LA. Can you talk about finding out you were headed to the West Coast?
Well, I have different feelings now than I did at the time, 20 years ago. I was disappointed to be traded to LA. I was like every player, I thought I was going to be drafted by a team, play there for 20 years, win championships and then retire...all with one team. Like Steve Yzerman did. It didn't work out that way for me.
But LA was exciting. It felt more like my team. In New York I had my good friend Billy Smith. In LA I felt like it was my team though. And the city was fantastic! I feel the biggest growth period of my life were the 10 years in LA. I just loved the people. Believe it or not, it reminded me a lot of western Canada where the people are so laid back. It was a great time for me on and off the ice.
The Kings won the Smythe Division in '91 with a very powerful team. How close was that group to going all the way?
I thought we were real close. We just didn't know how to win. The Oilers had so much experience and they just knew how to win. Every time we ran into those guys, it just seemed like we didn't have enough to beat them. Tom Webster coming on as our coach added a defensive element to our game. But, still, we just couldn't beat Edmonton. I really believed if we could just beat those guys we would have won a championship. We'll never know though.
In the first half of '93 Wayne was hurt, yet the team played well without him...
We knew it would be a real challenge without him. You can ask players to rise up in a situation like that, but fact is you're not as good of a team without Wayne. Everybody did pick up their game though and played to their highest level. That was very rewarding for the group. Unfortunately, soon after that was also when I went through the worst slump of my career.
You mentioned that at HockeyFest. How did you get though it?
It was late November, early December and I went on about a two month slide. It was the worst slump of my career. I made it through that dark period because of two people in my corner...and I tell them 'thank you' whenever I get a chance...Cap Raeder and Barry Melrose. I was able to play five more years in the league because of their support during that stretch.
Robb Stauber played pretty well that year. Was that adding pressure to what you were already going through?
Robb deserved to be in there. I remember when I knew I was going to be OK though. It was a game on January 28th. I played my best game in awhile. We lost to Calgary 2-1, but I felt like I was back. I had a few bad games down the stretch, but then there was a game where we beat Philly 3-1 in March. That's when I knew I was going to be OK. I wasn't 100%, but when we won I was real emotional in the locker room. I thanked all the guys for sticking with me because they could have easily given up on me.
But Robb had played so strong he deserved the action he was getting too.
When Stauber replaced you in the playoffs he won three in a row against Calgary. Did you start to worry, did it mess with your head at all after what you had been through that season?
Well we started the playoffs against Calgary. We were awesome in game one. Then, awful in game two. We lost game three, but neither team looked like world beaters. We were down 2-1 in the series. Robb played in game four and we won 2-1 to even the series. Barry stuck with Robb in games five and six; one them was like an 8-5 shootout. He won the series, so he got the start in game one against Vancouver...and rightfully so. We lost that first game. I think it was an afternoon game. Immediately following the game Barry called me into his office and told me I was going to start game two. Fortunately, we had a couple days off until game two so I had plenty of time to prepare for them.
I felt that was really when we got on track. To me that was the best series we ever played. Personally I felt that Vancouver was on the cusp of something at the time. And I guess I was right, they went to the Stanley Cup finals the next year. But at the time, that was a real test for us. The Toronto series was different. The intensity was the same, but our level of play started to drop. I think the travel was starting to get to us.
It's easy for people to heap praise on Melrose now, but what were you thinking at the time he was announced as the new coach? Here was a team that was damn close the previous two years - including winning the Smythe - and they just hired a rookie head coach. Were you nervous about that hiring?
Well, I was established in LA by that point, so I wasn't too worried. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression on my new coach. But, I was lucky to have Cap Raeder. As time went on I think I endeared myself to Barry. The slump I mentioned took our relationship to the next level. I wish all players could have a guy like Barry around them. Like an Al Arbour. It's such a good feeling when you go home after practice or a game and that's your coach.
You've talked about the frank conversation Dean had with you during your time in San Jose. Talk about going to play for the Sharks.
I knew I was leaving LA that summer, but prior to July 1st I was unsure where I was going to end up. I hit it off with Dean right when I met him. I remember my agent calling me and saying the Sharks wanted to meet with me. The following Friday my wife Donna and I flew into SFO with our daughters. Dean and (assistant GM) Wayne Thomas were there at the airport when we landed. I knew at that moment I was signing with the Sharks. It was one thing that Dean was at the airport to pick us up. But more importantly, he had brought a bunch of Sharks memorabilia for my girls. To bring gifts for my kids, I knew that was the type of guy I wanted to play for.
The next day though when we actually had our meeting he asked me two questions that have always stayed with me. First question he asked was "Why do I want to sign a 35 year old goalie who wants to be a broadcaster?" Then he asked me "Why did the Kings trade for Grant Fuhr when they had you?" They weren't hurtful questions. He just spoke honestly and I had so much respect for him because of it.
That's why later it didn't bother me when he called me into his office and said "Kelly you look scared to play." He was right and I knew my career was about done.
Looking back on your career, you finished with 271 wins. Do you think about being so close to the magical 300 number?
No. Not at all. I don't live that way. I did as best as I could and I loved playing the game of hockey. I wasn't lackadaisical and got a ton out of my career. I approached every game the same way. I thought I was better than the other guy. That's what I told myself when I looked down at the other end of the ice.
Let's talk about the current team. Who is your favorite Kings player right now?
Dustin Brown. He's a pure hockey player and as fierce of a competitor as you'll ever find. Plus, I was real impressed with his speech at HockeyFest. At that age, to speak so clearly about that moment on the plane...and with no notes...very impressive.
From your perspective, who is the most underrated player in the game right now?
Duncan Keith in Chicago. Or coming into the season I might have said (Wojtek) Wolski of the Avs.
Here's what I look for - we're all memorized by talent...but, I look for elite thinkers. There are only five or six guys like this on each team. Kurri was like that on the Kings. He understood the game way more than most guys.
Then, how about when you were playing - who were some of the most underrated guys you played with?
Tim Watters, Charlie Huddey, Steve Konroyd, Pat Conacher, Todd Gill, Tony Granato. Those are guys that all competed every night and gave everything of their body. Todd Gill was a mediocre, skinny player but he was tough and communicated exceptionally well. Very underrated.
You mentioned valuing elite thinkers and then when listing underrated players most of those guys you rattled off have gone into coaching. Do you think there is a coincidence there?
Wow. I never thought about that. Hmm.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Kelly. Hope to see you back in LA for more Alumni events moving forward. Best of luck with the broadcasting.
Kelly Hrudey wore #32 while minding net for the Kings. Now, LA has another goalie wearing the same number - Jonathan Quick. Perhaps, the coincidences don't stop there.
The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES:
High / Low: Hrudey on Duty - get Kelly's thoughts on the other teams in the West, plus which players he would take if starting his own NHL franchise
Interview with Robb Stauber - the man who battled Hrudey in net during the Kings '92-93 season
Interview with Rob Blake - the most controversial player in Kings history stops by MayorsManor
20 Questions with #20 - Luc stops by MayorsManor a few days before entering the Hall of Fame
Interview with Gary Shuchuk - Kings playoff hero in 1993
Reflections of a Cup - Roy, Melrose and Blake comment on the Kings vs. Canadiens
IN DEAN WE TRUST - show your support for Kings GM Dean Lombardi
.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Word Association with Robitaille - Luc on His Teammates
Each group of players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame has a uniqueness about it. Occasionally, guys that were rivals during their playing days are enshrined during the same year. However, rarely does a player going in share the stage exclusively with guys he called teammates during his career. Luc Robitaille is once again Lucky, as he has played with all three of the other members that make up the class of 2009.
Before heading to Toronto he shared a few thoughts with us on each of them...
Steve Yzerman - Along with Mark Messier, he was one of the best leaders I ever played with. Stevie is right up there. He had to lead a group of primadonnas when I was in Detroit. We were a bunch of superstars. But somehow, they way Stevie is, how hard he works, how humble he is...made it that we all excepted a role and played for one cause, which was winning. Certainly for me he is one of the players I have the most respect for that I ever played with. I think very, very highly of him.
Brett Hull - For me to play with him was the ultimate. I had always watched him throughout my career and wondered how he got so much of an opening on the ice. To see him day in and day out, to see how much he loved the game...how much he put into it. People don't realize how much he put into it because he always seemed to be that relaxed guy, so loosey goosey - but he worked hard at being really good at his game.
Brian Leetch - Obviously, he was one of the best defensemen to ever play the game. But what impressed me the most was in those days we didn't have time sheets. We didn't know how many minutes a guy was playing. If I were to guess, when I was there (in New York) he was playing 35 minutes a game and he never missed a practice. Never took a day off. One of the hardest workers I ever played with.
The greatness of those three guys is obvious, as all three are headed into the Hall this Monday. Additionally, Luc had the chance to play with other legends, like Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and Mark Messier during his career. Yet, I wondered if there was one guy that he didn't get to play with that when looking back over his career he really wished he could have...Luc wasted no time in answering:
Mario. When I went to Pittsburgh, Mario didn't play that year. When the lockout happened my first year there it changed my contract situation. They wanted me to come back and they kept trying to entice me with the thought of playing with Mario. Because of the lockout though my option year wasn't going to be a factor. My agent filed for arbitration like he was supposed to. Because of that, at the time I was the only player to have scored 40 goals eight straight seasons, so they knew we had a good case. When they figured out they weren't going to be able to resign me, that's when they traded me to New York. But if I had gotten to play with Mario it certainly would have been special.
Finally, for a little fun, we played word association using current and former Kings. Here were Luc's answers:
Jim Fox - he's quick, like a fox
Marcel Dionne - like a father figure to me
Tiger Williams - I was scared of him
Steve Duchesne - good friend
Kelly Hrudey - great goalie under pressure
Tomas Sandstrom - what a competitor
Tony Granato - great person
Robb Stauber - crazy goalie, couldn't believe the way he would run at guys
Marty McSorley - worked hard, put everything into being a better player
Dustin Brown - a pure power forward
Ian Laperriere - one of the greatest teammates you could have
Matty Norstrom - a really great roommate
Rob Blake - one of the greatest people I know, good leader
Adam Deadmarsh - played the game the right way
Sean Avery - my little puppy (he laughs)
Jeremy Roenick - great player, amazing guy in the locker room
Anze Kopitar - great future with the Kings
Alexander Frolov - underrated, a pure goal scorer
We'll have more on Luc leading up to the Hall of Fame ceremonies on Monday.
The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES
20 Questions with #20 - an interview with Luc Robitaille
Interview with Rob Blake
Interview with Kelly Hrudey
Interview with Marcel Dionne
High / Low with Luc
.
Before heading to Toronto he shared a few thoughts with us on each of them...
Steve Yzerman - Along with Mark Messier, he was one of the best leaders I ever played with. Stevie is right up there. He had to lead a group of primadonnas when I was in Detroit. We were a bunch of superstars. But somehow, they way Stevie is, how hard he works, how humble he is...made it that we all excepted a role and played for one cause, which was winning. Certainly for me he is one of the players I have the most respect for that I ever played with. I think very, very highly of him.Brett Hull - For me to play with him was the ultimate. I had always watched him throughout my career and wondered how he got so much of an opening on the ice. To see him day in and day out, to see how much he loved the game...how much he put into it. People don't realize how much he put into it because he always seemed to be that relaxed guy, so loosey goosey - but he worked hard at being really good at his game.
Brian Leetch - Obviously, he was one of the best defensemen to ever play the game. But what impressed me the most was in those days we didn't have time sheets. We didn't know how many minutes a guy was playing. If I were to guess, when I was there (in New York) he was playing 35 minutes a game and he never missed a practice. Never took a day off. One of the hardest workers I ever played with.
The greatness of those three guys is obvious, as all three are headed into the Hall this Monday. Additionally, Luc had the chance to play with other legends, like Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and Mark Messier during his career. Yet, I wondered if there was one guy that he didn't get to play with that when looking back over his career he really wished he could have...Luc wasted no time in answering:
Mario. When I went to Pittsburgh, Mario didn't play that year. When the lockout happened my first year there it changed my contract situation. They wanted me to come back and they kept trying to entice me with the thought of playing with Mario. Because of the lockout though my option year wasn't going to be a factor. My agent filed for arbitration like he was supposed to. Because of that, at the time I was the only player to have scored 40 goals eight straight seasons, so they knew we had a good case. When they figured out they weren't going to be able to resign me, that's when they traded me to New York. But if I had gotten to play with Mario it certainly would have been special.
Finally, for a little fun, we played word association using current and former Kings. Here were Luc's answers:
Jim Fox - he's quick, like a fox
Marcel Dionne - like a father figure to me
Tiger Williams - I was scared of him
Steve Duchesne - good friend
Kelly Hrudey - great goalie under pressure
Tomas Sandstrom - what a competitor
Tony Granato - great person
Robb Stauber - crazy goalie, couldn't believe the way he would run at guys
Marty McSorley - worked hard, put everything into being a better player
Dustin Brown - a pure power forward
Ian Laperriere - one of the greatest teammates you could have
Matty Norstrom - a really great roommate
Rob Blake - one of the greatest people I know, good leader
Adam Deadmarsh - played the game the right way
Sean Avery - my little puppy (he laughs)
Jeremy Roenick - great player, amazing guy in the locker room
Anze Kopitar - great future with the Kings
Alexander Frolov - underrated, a pure goal scorer
We'll have more on Luc leading up to the Hall of Fame ceremonies on Monday.
The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
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RELATED ARTICLES
20 Questions with #20 - an interview with Luc Robitaille
Interview with Rob Blake
Interview with Kelly Hrudey
Interview with Marcel Dionne
High / Low with Luc
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Friday, October 30, 2009
HIGH / LOW: Kelly Hrudey on Duty
If you've been following the High/Low series here on MayorsManor you know we've had guests like Jim Fox, Mark Hardy and even ESPN's John Buccigross stop by already this season.
Well it's time to dip into the Kings past once again to call upon a former player turned broadcaster, Kelly Hrudey.
Kelly played for eight years in Los Angeles, minding net for the team during one of its real glory periods - including the famous 1992-93 season when they went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. He now works for the CBC in Canada and still watches plenty of hockey. With October about to end we thought it was the perfect time to get Kelly's take on the first month of the season. Here's what he had to say:
HIGHS
Anaheim Ducks - gritty
Calgary Flames - interesting
Chicago Blackhawks - exciting
Colorado Avalanche - surprising
Columbus Blue Jackets - unsure
Dallas Stars - work in progress
Detroit Red Wings - respect
Edmonton Oilers - building
Los Angeles Kings - underrated
Minnesota Wild - feel sorry for
Nashville Predators - model of consistency
Phoenix Coyotes - pretty good actually
San Jose Sharks - love them
St Louis Blues - should be better
Vancouver Canucks - love them too
To wrap up this part of the interview I asked Kelly if he were a GM of a new team given the ability to pluck six guys off of the 30 NHL rosters (3 fwds, 2 dmen, 1 goalie), who would he take:
Forwards - Malkin / Crosby / Ovechkin
Defenseman - Nicklas Lidstrom ("Not sure how many more seasons he could give me, but I'd have to take him.") and Shea Webber ("Tough bugger...very hard to play against.")
Goaltender - "Brodeur is the obvious pick, but I would need a guy for the future. I really like Ryan Miller and Luongo. But, I'd have to go with Marc-Andre Fleury. I just love him. He's a big game goalie and I'm not as critical of him as others are. Last year he played exceptionally well. He'd be my guy."
Kelly provided many more opinions about the current game, as well as the guys he played with and against. We went all the way back to him growing up in Edmonton, being drafted by the Islanders and later being traded to the Kings. The full interview should be posted by the end of the weekend. Keep an eye out for it.
UPDATE: the full interview with Hrudey has been posted - click here to read
The Mayorwww.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES
Interview with Robb Stauber - the man who battled Hrudey in net during the Kings '92-93 season
Interview with Rob Blake - the most controversial player in Kings history stops by MayorsManor
20 Questions with #20 - Luc stops by MayorsManor a few days before entering the Hall of Fame
Interview with Gary Shuchuk - Kings playoff here in 1993
Reflections of a Cup - Roy, Melrose and Blake comment on the Kings vs. Canadiens
.
photo courtesy of bestsportsphotos.com
Well it's time to dip into the Kings past once again to call upon a former player turned broadcaster, Kelly Hrudey.
Kelly played for eight years in Los Angeles, minding net for the team during one of its real glory periods - including the famous 1992-93 season when they went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. He now works for the CBC in Canada and still watches plenty of hockey. With October about to end we thought it was the perfect time to get Kelly's take on the first month of the season. Here's what he had to say:HIGHS
- Colorado Avalanche - off to an unbelievable start
- Craig Anderson - ditto (a fellow goalie...but of course!)
- LA Kings - no pandering here, you have to respect them
- Minnesota Wild - thought they'd be better
- Florida Panthers - surely thought they'd be better too
- Toronto Maple Leafs - hoped they'd be better
Anaheim Ducks - gritty
Calgary Flames - interesting
Chicago Blackhawks - exciting
Colorado Avalanche - surprising
Columbus Blue Jackets - unsure
Dallas Stars - work in progress
Detroit Red Wings - respect
Edmonton Oilers - building
Los Angeles Kings - underrated
Minnesota Wild - feel sorry for
Nashville Predators - model of consistency
Phoenix Coyotes - pretty good actually
San Jose Sharks - love them
St Louis Blues - should be better
Vancouver Canucks - love them too
To wrap up this part of the interview I asked Kelly if he were a GM of a new team given the ability to pluck six guys off of the 30 NHL rosters (3 fwds, 2 dmen, 1 goalie), who would he take:
Forwards - Malkin / Crosby / Ovechkin
Defenseman - Nicklas Lidstrom ("Not sure how many more seasons he could give me, but I'd have to take him.") and Shea Webber ("Tough bugger...very hard to play against.")
Goaltender - "Brodeur is the obvious pick, but I would need a guy for the future. I really like Ryan Miller and Luongo. But, I'd have to go with Marc-Andre Fleury. I just love him. He's a big game goalie and I'm not as critical of him as others are. Last year he played exceptionally well. He'd be my guy."
Kelly provided many more opinions about the current game, as well as the guys he played with and against. We went all the way back to him growing up in Edmonton, being drafted by the Islanders and later being traded to the Kings. The full interview should be posted by the end of the weekend. Keep an eye out for it.
UPDATE: the full interview with Hrudey has been posted - click here to read
The Mayorwww.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES
Interview with Robb Stauber - the man who battled Hrudey in net during the Kings '92-93 season
Interview with Rob Blake - the most controversial player in Kings history stops by MayorsManor
20 Questions with #20 - Luc stops by MayorsManor a few days before entering the Hall of Fame
Interview with Gary Shuchuk - Kings playoff here in 1993
Reflections of a Cup - Roy, Melrose and Blake comment on the Kings vs. Canadiens
.
photo courtesy of bestsportsphotos.com
Saturday, August 29, 2009
LA Kings HockeyFest 2009: Day Two - Where Art Thou?
People, people, people...
What is going on?
Kings fans are known for turning out in droves for just about any reason to get together. Minus a few thousand I've seen this weekend, most of you are missing the best event the Kings have done in the 20 years I've been following the team.
This isn't hype. Father I cannot tell a lie. I call it like I see it. I've bitched about plenty of bad decisions made by various people in the organization (both on and off the ice). This is real. Like Dustin Brown last night, I'm speaking from the heart...
HOCKEY FEST is AMAZING!
Sure there were lots of autograph opportunities with current and former players. However, let's review what has easily turned out to be the shinning stars of the weekend - the various guest speaker sessions...
The first event today was for kids. I missed it. Heard it had several funny moments. Cool enough.
My rankings for the other three sessions and some recap notes:
Number Three - The Enforcers with (the lawyer) Stu Grimson and Brad Norton
Like pluggers and grinders as players, this session was solid. This wasn't your top scoring line, yet they brought it. To be fair, this session was missing that something special or somebody special, like say Marty McSorley.
Nick Nickson did a fine job as host and navigated through the fun, yet predictable, questions of does fighting belong in the league, how has the game changed, who hit you the hardest, what was your best fight, etc. It was ok, no complaints, just clearly the third best of the day. I can only imagine that if McSorley had been there the dynamic - and the stories - would have been so different. It surely would have pressed the other two sessions harder for top ranking.
Number Two - The Triple Crown Line (no explanation needed)
This was the session I was most looking forward to. It didn't disappoint. In fact, probably the only element that kept it from earning my top billing would be time. There was just too much to cover in the time allotted. They could have easily gone another hour...and still had plenty left in the tank. Minor issue and I'm sure things like this will be evaluated and tweaked as we head into dos HF next summer.
Marcel was the star of the show...I know, big surprise...and he could have gone two hours solo. He had some great stories - like the one where he tells kids he remembers every goal he ever scored in the NHL - including the one he scored off his nose. Later he provided some insight into a not so light-hearted event that took place in Pittsburgh back in January 1979 - a phone call that shook him up after the guy threatening to shoot him dead if he scored a goal. The not so fun side of being a pro athlete or celebrity...even in 1979!
There was a funny story about Luc getting into a fight on the first day of his second training camp. Seems he didn't make the team after his first camp, as most young players don't. Management told him to toughen up that year. So, he came back in year two, got into a fight on the first day of camp. Three punches later and he was done. Didn't make the team that year either. Was told to work on his skating. Camp three was the trick. Made the team and...well, you know how that story ends. HOF here he comes!
For the pen pal inclined, Marcel encourages Kings fans to send him emails and interact with him directly at http://www.marceldionne.com/
Finally, the captain. Dave Taylor is the embodiment of a King - it's so weird to hear him say "we" when talking about the Dallas Stars now. I doubt I'll ever get used to him saying those words.
Number One with a bullet - NHL Experts Panel with Jim Fox, Ray Ferraro and Kelly Hrudey
Fox is Fox. I knew what to expect going in.
Ferraro, aka The Big Ball of Hate, is solid. Was expecting funny stories and he delivered.
The intangible for me coming in, Kelly Hrudey.
I've never been a Hrudey fan. Not a hater either. It's just about honesty. He was not an elite goalie in the league. Red Light Hrudey was just the best the Kings had seen in many years and he was surrounded by a high powered offense while in LA. The real rub for me has been how history has been rewritten - as it often is - and people give him too much credit for the Kings run in 92-93. As Hrudey admitted today, he was flat awful for about two months that season. Robb Stauber is sadly overlooked as a key contributor that season, including against Calgary in the playoffs. Want me to tell you how I really feel?
That is all water under the bridge now. I'm willing to let it go. He was so brilliant today, words can't describe it. Former athletes - hell, current athletes - can sometimes be a bore to listen to when asked certain questions. They give canned answers, politically correct answers and the like. Granted, this usually isn't the case in hockey. So, perhaps my expectations were just low based on my rant in the previous paragraph.
For me, he was the star of the show. So honest, so articulate, so smart, genuine and spoke from the heart. He was real. And the fact that he was equally impressed with Brownie's speech the night before gave me chills all over again. He believes in Dean and he believes in the Kings. FINE - all is forgiven. We can be friends.
Ray-ray had several funnies to share, including a story about Jeff Odgers and Andrew Brunette when they all played together during Atlanta's inaugural season. Odgers ran over Brunette's car with his truck in a story that you simply have to hear from Ray. Too damn funny. He also told his version of the story Luc has mentioned several times about what Luc had to do to reacquire his #20 (now worn by Ray) when Luc came back to the Kings from the Rangers.
And in a little known fact, Ray claims to have gone 1-1-12 in his NHL fights. All 12 draws were by him holding on for dear life.
More on the '93 Finals - I guess all players in the NHL use illegal sticks, most for periods one and two. Supposedly, you can roll a tennis ball under Kovalchuk's stick. When one fan asked about Hrudey's take on stickgate '93 he shared a story I had never heard before - and here I thought that whole stick debacle had been explored from all angles. Apparently, the rumor was they were going to call Hrudey for an illegal stick. However, a scout watching the Toronto series (best series ever, see yesterday's blog) noted the curve on Marty's stick. So, late in game two, it was Marty that Montreal went after. Hrudey remembers went they went into the locker room after three periods in that game, he knew they were emotionally spent. He wasn't conceding the series, just thought they'd be going home 1-1. They did.
As for Foxy, well, looks like he is still looking to acquire a game used jersey from his days in purple in gold. Looks like he kept just one and it donated to a sports museum his friend owns in Newport Beech. Admission is free, so I guess I'm going to have to go down there and check this place out. Jim says he came across one of his jerseys for sale recently, but the seller wanted $1400, so he passed. Let me do some research. Perhaps I can start a "Get Jimmy his Jersey" donation box here on the blog.
That's day two people.
All the alumni seem so blessed and honored to be there. All the fans seem to be having a great time. Smiles all around!
The air conditioned 'autograph and interactive tent' was an added bonus. News of this fest is going to spread like wild fire throughout the season and V2 next August will probably draw a jam packed crowd. The Kings are already talking about how to make next year's event even better. Under discussion is making it a two-day event by moving the Friday night festivities to Saturday evening. Sounds good.
At the Kings Care Foundation booth...I cant believe the game used Frolov jersey went for $500. Wow. Steal of the day. For you curious types, Doughty went for $2250. These were game used and autographed.
This is the BEST event the Kings have hosted in the last 20 years. I can't give enough praise to McChris and his entire staff. Truly a crowning achievement. And we still have one more day to go.
Get off the couch and come down to LA Live on Sunday. Dean and Hex are hosting a session. There is Bob Miller's one man show - not to be missed. Plus, Growing up a King with Bernie Nicholls and Luc Robitaille.
All Kings fans need to be there in person.
Or at the very least, watch it online. Free stream here.
The Mayor
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