Remembering Winnipeg and Wayne Gretzky's last game with the LA Kings

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.

Interview with WHL Scoring Champion Linden Vey

If you've been following along all season - of even half way paying attention - you know that many of the Kings prospects are having exceptional years.

Linden Vey, a fourth round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, would have to rank right up at the top of the list, having just won the WHL scoring race on Sunday.

His 116 points (46 goals, 70 assists) helped lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a third place finish in the WHL's Eastern Conference and they'll begin their 2011 playoffs this Friday night against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Here's a bit of a season recap and playoff preview with the newly crowned scoring champ...

MM: So - Linden Vey, WHL scoring champion - how does that sound?

LV: Obviously it's been a long year and I wouldn't have thought at the start of the year that this is something that would be happening right now. But, it's been a good season and I have to give credit to my team. I don't think I could have done it without my team. We have a good group and we've had a good year. We reached 100 points and we've all had a good year this year.

MM: You had 24 goals in each of the last two seasons and then nearly doubled that with 46 goals this season, why the big jump? What do you attribute that to?

No Hollywood Script for Brayden Schenn's Return

Five different teams and over 100 different teammates, yet when it was all said and done Brayden Schenn found himself back home again - in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The former NHL first round draft pick started the year in Los Angeles with the Kings. Since then, as has been well documented here on MayorsManor, he's played in the AHL, at the World Junior Championships and ultimately was traded.

On that day he was shipped from the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) to his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

As luck or scheduling would have it, the two teams were set to meet the very next day. However, due to a should injury, destiny would have to wait...until last night, when Schenn's new team traveled to Brandon to take on his former club.

The Blades were riding high, winners of 11 straight and undefeated with Schenn in the line-up. Meanwhile, the Wheat Kings were rebuilding after hosting the Memorial Cup last season.

OFFICIAL: Brayden Schenn Traded by WHL Team

Finally!

The longest running question this season - Where will Brayden Schenn be playing his next game? - has been answered.

As reported here yesterday, the Brandon Wheat Kings have officially traded him to the Saskatoon Blades.

Having already played with four different teams this season (the Kings, Manchester Monarchs, the Wheat Kings and Team Canada), Schenn now joins the top club in the WHL standings.

The Blades gave up two first round draft picks, one second rounder and a first round selection in the Import Draft to acquire Schenn, MVP of the recent World Junior Tournament. As if that wasn't enough, Brandon also received two top prospects (Ayrton Nikkel and Tim McGauley) as part of the deal.

Blades GM and head coach Lorne Molleken said "The Saskatoon Blades are extremely pleased to be able to acquire a player of Brayden Schenn’s caliber. It has been a long process. When you are making a deal of this magnitude there is a lot of time and deliberation put into it."

It has to be a somewhat bittersweet moment though, as Schenn was the captain of the Wheat Kings - yet, now gets to finish his junior career with his hometown team and a club in first place overall in the WHL.

This move also gives him a strong chance to play for the WHL Championship and perhaps the CHL's Memorial Cup.

REPORTS: Brayden Schenn Traded by His Junior Team

It's been talked about for weeks and it looks like it may have finally happened...

Unlike most NHL trade rumors - which usually don't end up coming to fruition- this speculation appears like it's about to see the light of day...

Reports say Brayden Schenn has just been traded by the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) to his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

The Kings first round draft pick in 2009 will be playing for his fifth team in the last six months. After starting the year in LA, he saw time in Manchester (AHL), with Brandon and then finally Team Canada at the World Junior Championship - where he just won the silver medal and came home with a separated shoulder that will sideline him for the next two weeks.

Brief notes at the center of the trade:

WHL Trade Rumors Update - Schenn and Weal

It looks as though a new team may possibly be in on the Brayden Schenn sweepstakes.

As reported here, there is strong speculation that Schenn will be traded by the Brandon Wheat Kings prior to Monday's WHL Trade Deadline - with the front runners believed to be the Portland Winterhawks and his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

Stories out of Saskatoon yesterday already had Blades' GM and head coach Lorne Molleken admitting that he had spoken to the Wheat Kings about possibly acquiring Schenn.

Now, according to an article in Regina's Leader Post, the Kootenay Ice are "among the suitors."

They're battling Saskatoon for the best overall record in the WHL and both teams have made it clear "they want to make a splash at the deadline."

The same article goes on to say the Regina Pats "have already received legitimate offers for star center Jordan Weal, but he's believed to be strictly off limits, unless of course a team literally offers the sun and the moon."

Regina, currently tenth is their conference, is expected to make some moves. The question is, are they buyers or sellers?

More to come as information becomes available.

The Mayor
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(h/t to Neate Seager for the Leader Post link referenced above)

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The Complete Story on Brayden Schenn

Everybody has that friend or family member who just always seems to find drama. No matter what they do, every time they seem to turn the corner, there's another perplexing situation sitting there waiting for them.

Brayden Schenn may be that guy for the LA Kings.

Simply take a stroll through his 18-month relationship with the Kings to get a taste of what I'm talking about.

The Draft... It probably all started right from the official beginning at the 2009 NHL Draft. Toronto GM Brian Burke was openly lobbying all teams to make a deal with him. The Leafs already had Luke Schenn and were desperate to add his little brother too. Instead, Kings GM Dean Lombardi took Brayden with the fifth overall pick and a picture (now somewhat infamous) of an extremely irritated Burke instantly started circulating online.

The Game... Within a few weeks most had forgotten all about Schenn, he was still years away. The organization and their fans became focused on acquiring the players necessary to return to the playoffs. However, to the surprise of nearly everybody, the Kings thrust his name back into the current consciousness just 26 games into the following season when they signed him to a one-day contract. He went from playing for Team Canada in the Super Series (a top junior hockey tournament) to suiting up for LA against the Vancouver Canucks. For one day. In, out and gone back to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Knee... Over the past summer, some were saying he had a strong chance to make the Kings this year (a notion I disagreed with many times here on MayorsManor, as there just wasn't room for another center without a trade). Then, on the eve of Rookie Camp opening word got out that he had sustained a knee injury while training in Canada. Speculation starting running rampant that he could be out for several months. Nobody could get a straight answer on the severity of things, even after he was brought to LA for an MRI. However, once main camp opened, there he was, part of Group B and everything was fine.

Would, Could, Should and Schenn

While the topic du jour right now in LA hockey circles is what to do about the Kings recent losing streak, there is still another little matter brewing in the background...what to do with Brayden Schenn.

On Monday he was recalled from a two week conditioning assignment with the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings AHL affiliate. However, he didn't play in the game that night vs. the Ducks.

Following practice today, Coach Terry Murray - after first saying "I haven't made a decision on that yet" - eventually said he doesn't plan to play Schenn tomorrow night vs. the visiting Florida Panthers.

So, just what is the broader plan for the young center?  Here are some additional comments from Murray...

MM: There was a report yesterday on HNIC radio that the Kings are hesitant to send Schenn back to juniors as long he would be returning to a poor team (Brandon Wheat Kings). So, would the Kings be more interested in sending him down if he was traded to another WHL club first?

TM: I don't plan on putting Brayden in tomorrow. It's always easier, maybe, given the way we started the first 15 games of the year. We were off to a great start, and you could put a young player in and there’s good momentum. You're rolling, things are happening. (Instead) you're trying to get it turned around right now. You're looking to veteran players and to put your best players on a line, or lines, together and let those guys make the difference in the game. So, I don't want to throw that responsibility on his shoulders right now. I don't think it's the right thing to do. The fact that he went down and played, and played well, in the American Hockey League is a good thing. I know he had some success there and played a lot of minutes. You can only do it for two weeks though. So, we have to make a decision on what we're going to do. (That report) is somebody talking about it, speculating or maybe they know more that I do because I don't know all that stuff.

MM: Does that mean you're not looking at the quality of the team he would be going back to as a factor in the decision?

Brayden Schenn on Impending Roster Decision

We're clearly getting down to crunch time.

Earlier we looked at Prop 13 (Keep Clifford or send him back to juniors?). Now let's get into Prop 10, the Brayden Schenn question.

Coach Terry Murray isn't expected to announce his full line-up for tomorrow's game against Tampa Bay until the morning. It may or may not include Schenn on the fourth line. As previously noted, the Kings need to make a decision on Clifford (Barrie Colts / OHL) and Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) quickly because the all important ninth game for each is coming up. To date, Schenn has already played eight games and Clifford seven.

Once they take the ice for a 10th game, the first year of their entry-level contracts will be activated. If either player isn't going to significantly contribute this season, the team may want to hold off on burning a year of inexpensive talent. In the salary cap era, those contracts can prove valuable down the road - both in being able to plug in a player with a small contract and in prolonging a player's arbitration / restricted free agency period.

Here are some comments from Schenn about the situation...

MM: Any thoughts with the big decision looming?