Robitaille on Rogie and Roenick - Hall of Fame worthy?

Luc Robitaille was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 9, 2009.

That was about as 'no-brainer' of a selection as the committee has had in recent years. He finished his career with 668 goals and a Stanley Cup, just to name a few of his accomplishments.

Going back even further in Kings history though, this November will make it 40 years since the Kings added their best goaltender to date, Rogie Vachon.

A few nights after the anniversary of LA sending four players to Montreal for a 5-foot-7 goalie, this year's Hall of Fame class will be inducted and once again, Vachon will not be there - just like every other year since he was first eligible in 1987.

Why? How has this happened?

Sure, he played in Los Angeles during the '70s. To say it wasn't a hockey hotbed is an understatement of epic proportions. However, his stats say he should be in. With 355 wins (including 171 in LA, with a 2.82 goals against average), 51 shutouts, a Vezina trophy, three Stanley Cups and a gold medal at the 1976 Canada Cup (where he had two shutouts in seven games played and a 1.39 GAA)...how has nor received the call?

On the other hand, it's not that surprising. The first shot on goal the guy ever faced in the NHL was against some forward named Gordie Howe. It's been an uphill battle ever since!

Recently, I asked Robitaille, now the Kings' President of Business Operations, if it's something the team can get behind and help make a push for.

Clearing the Crease... with Jonathan Bernier

In the interview below goaltender Jonathan Bernier says "Sometimes it doesn't go your way."

For him personally and for the LA Kings, that's a quick synopsis of the season to date.

By this point the team was expected to be near the top of the Western Conference. On this homestand specifically, they were expected to create some breathing room from the teams below them - not trying to catch the teams above them.

And for Bernier, this year was supposed to be a coming out party. He had accomplished all there was to achieve in the minor leagues - including winning the AHL Goaltender of the Year last season while posting 30 wins, nine shutouts, a .937 save percentage (.937) and a 2.03 goals-against average.

After a brief call up last season that saw him go 3-0 in the NHL, some were ready to crown him this year's Rookie of the Year.

However, it hasn't quite worked out that way.  Instead, the Kings have lost seven out of eight and now sit in 10th place. 

Tonight, when the Kings will be honoring their greatest goaltender of the past (Rogie Vachon), coach Terry Murray is once again handing the keys to the supposed goalie of the future.  Bernier will be looking for a win against the Edmonton Oilers, desperately trying to secure another W for his 4-7 record.

It's been a tough year so far. What's his take on the situation...

Holiday Series - Gifts of Christmas Past

[Part one of a three part series]

In Charles Dickens' classic novel A Christmas Carol the reader is taken through a spiritual awakening of Ebenezer Scrooge, a process that includes visits from the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

That tale began on Christmas Eve, however we're going to begin a day earlier and with a slightly different twist.

For the enjoyment of you and the other hockey fans in your life this holiday season, we present an essential collection of Kings Gifts of Christmas Past...

Kings to Honor Three '70s-Era Legends

Did you like those vintage purple and gold jerseys the Kings wore on opening night?

Well, they'll be making their Staples Center debut on Saturday, January 15th when the Kings host the Edmonton Oilers for Rogie Vachon Night.

As noted in the press release - Vachon was the first player to have his number retired by the Kings and amassed several records while tending net for the team from 1971-78, including becoming the all-time leader in games played as a goalie (389), wins (171) and shutouts (32).  He also was named The Hockey News Player of the Year for the 1974-75 season, after posting a 27-14-13 record (including six shutouts) and a 2.24 goals-against-average. After retiring, he eventually served as the team's General Manager for eight-plus seasons.

On February 26th the jerseys will return for the second Legends Night, this time honoring Bob Berry. He spent seven seasons in LA, including the 1974-75 season when he played in all 80 Kings games while that club earned a record 105 points and 42 wins. Later, he coached the team for three seasons.

The final Legends Night will honor Bob Pulford at the March 19th game vs. the Anaheim Ducks.

Looking Back with Jonathan Bernier

By now, even casual Kings fans know who Jonathan Bernier is.

However, the goalie of the future is still waiting for his chance somewhat. Sure, he set the world on fire last year in the minors - becoming the AHL Goaltender of the Year. Yet, here in LA, Jonathan Quick was having his own strong season and isn't quite ready to give up his spot.

Still, Coach Murray has said the Kings are just as committed to giving Quick rest this season as they are Bernier starts. Thus, he isn't expected to get the Ersberg treatment and only ride the pine.

In fact, the coach says his plan is to play Bernier about once a week. Looking at the upcoming schedule, that means his most likely next start is either in Wednesday's home game against Carolina or the following night in Phoenix.

Before moving forward, we took a little trip backwards with Bernier and discussed the road that's brought him here...

MM:  When you were drafted by the Kings in June 2006 the team here was a in a bit of flux.  They had just hired a new GM in Dean Lombardi and were about to go through several changes.  Going back to draft weekend, what did you know about the Kings at the time?

Throwback Thursdays - An Interview w/ Robb Stauber

For an organization that five years ago had zero credibility when it came to developing goaltenders, the Kings have made quite the turn around under the direction of GM Dean Lombardi and Assistant GM Ron Hextall.

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...