Ryan Smyth on the almost-King, Ray Whitney

For the first time in...well, a really long time...the Kings were buyers at the NHL Trading Deadline last season - instead of the sellers the team had become the last five plus years.

Rather than trading away players for future assets, they acquired two rentals for a playoff push, Freddy Modin and Jeff Halpern. Neither were bad players, just not the player they coveted most. Ray Whitney, playing in Carolina at the time, was a key guy targeted by GM Dean Lombardi.

Fans in Los Angeles know him well, as he's spent much of his career in the Western Conference - having played in San Jose, Edmonton, Columbus and Detroit.

Tonight, the Kings will see Whitney's familiar face in Phoenix - where he signed a two year free-agent contract during the off-season. 

However, a few months before becoming a Coyote, there were many rumors floating around that a deal for Whitney was real close.

How close? Well, Kings forward Ryan Smyth played with him this summer on Team Canada's squad at the World Championships in Germany. Let's see what he heard...

MM: When you were with Whitney over in Europe, did the trade deadline rumors come up at all?

Kings lead the Atlanta Thrashers

Later tonight, head coach Terry Murray hopes his Kings are leading the Thrashers early and often.

Away from the scoreboard, the Kings have been leading the Thrashers from day one.

In their 11-year existence, Atlanta has had seven captains - including three former Kings.

At the time Kelly Buchberger was named their first captain, he had yet to play in LA.  However, he served as the Oilers captain for the prior four seasons and why they made him available in the expansion draft is a bit of a mystery. Nonetheless, his jersey included the 'C" when the Thrashers began play in 1999 and he rewarded the team by scoring the first goal in franchise history (against Bobby Holik's New Jersey Devils, more on that later).

Just 68 games into his career in hot-lanta he was traded to Los Angeles (along with Nelson Emerson) for Donald Audette and Frantisek Kaberle.

Adding Buchberger was a key piece to the Kings three year stretch of post-season play.  He was allowed to leave as a free agent in the summer of 2002 and until this past April, the Kings hadn't participated in the playoffs since.

Back to the Thrashers...Steve Staios wore the 'C' in Atlanta the following season and then it went to Ray Ferraro.

Jim Fox on NHL Live Radio

Earlier this morning Jim Fox joined NHL Live radio for a quick chat.  He talked Doughty, Modin, the playoffs and more.  Here are some highlights:

* Did the Kings let one slip away with the loss in game four?  He thinks part of that perception may be due to expectations.  The Kings really have approached this as the old cliche says 'One game at a time.' He says they didn't handle the 3rd period well the other night though - playing wide open hockey, when they needed to clamp it down.

* Foxy says Freddy Modin has emerged as a leader on the team.  He's a settle things down type player.  He's not overly dynamic or overly physical on the ice.  Great story - in game one there was a young player on the bench who was just trying to figure things out.  An assistant coach came over and was talking to him.  When the coach was done Modin said 'I'll take care of this. For the rest of the game I'll show him what's going on. I'll help him around, you dont have to worry about it.' The coaches loved the way he took ownership of the situation.

* Terry Murray has been talking up Johnson and Doughty playing well together now.  Was there friction between them?  Jim doesn't think so.  He thinks they were just two players trying to make a name for themselves.  Doughty is a hockey savant.  Jack is always working on his game.  Now they're supporting each other.  There was a competition between the two before.  Now they're working together.

* RE: Vancouver putting the Sedins on the penalty kill the other night.  Kopitar will now probably become a bigger element on the power play going forward, with the play down low picking up.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

.500 Days of Spring...or is it still Winter?

So yesterday we officially kicked off Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. I can't really confirm this 100%. However, that's what the internet says...and we all know by now - if it's on the internet, it must be true.

The Kings meanwhile have decided that .500 hockey is the trendy thing to do. I have yet to uncover why they think it's so cool yet...and yes, I've scoured the internet for the explanation.

After last night's 1-0 win over the surging (really?) New York Islanders a buddy turned to me and said 'That win was ugly as Thursday's loss.' Which I think is what tipped me off to this whole .500 trend the Kings are trying to prove is en vogue.

The shutout versus the Islanders at Staples Center Saturday night moved the Kings all-time record versus the 'other team' from New York to an even 41-41-12. A win to pull their overall record even was inevitable I guess.

Now, when you remove the extra point awarded for for overtime losses and just consider straight wins/losses, this is what you're left with...

Since February 4th, the Kings have played .500 hockey...winning 7 games and equally losing 7 games.

Four games ago Justin Williams returned from that horrific leg injury he received the day after Christmas in Phoenix. In those games the Kings are...you guessed it...2-2, a perfect .500!

Either newly acquired Freddy Modin hasn't bonded enough with his teammates yet or isn't buying into this whole .500 craze. Since joining the team the Kings are 3-5 in those eight games. They'll need a few more wins this week to reach the Freddy Five Hundred line.

On the other hand, Jeff Halpern sat out the loss to Chicago on Thursday...so, with a win Monday against the Av's he'll reach the .500 mark with the Kings.

When the Kings have packed their bags and hit the road this month they've played .500 hockey. The schedule shows them playing two games on the road later this week. So, if you like to gamble...perhaps you should bet the opposite of the result of game one...because chances are they'll have a .500 roadtrip.

Monday's game vs. the Av's will wrap up this mini homestand. It's a big one for sure. The outcome will be a four point swing in the ultra tight Western Conference standings. Just as important...a win would bring the Kings to an even .500 since the Olympic break.

Over the last 10 games the Kings have played .500 hockey. While playing out the remaining 12 game stretch at that clip would give them an impressive 99 point season, is that the type of momentum Dean Lombardi and Terry Murray are looking for as the team (hopefully) heads into the playoffs?

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Modin on NHL Radio/TV - How the trade went down...

Kings newly acquired winger Freddy Modin was on the NHL Power Play earlier this afternoon and had the following to say:

* The transition to the Kings has been easy (3 goals in 6 games, what do you expect him to say?). Lots of good young kids.

* Anybody impress you or that's been better than you expected? Kopitar and Doughty. Playing with Wayne Simmonds has opened his eyes to how good he is too.

* Injuries have hampered him the last few years. He's feeling great right now and knock on wood he'll be in good shape for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

* The Kings were doing well before he got there. The team has several great leaders in the room, that's one area where the Kings aren't lacking. Come playoff time, he thinks he is one of the guys that some of his teammates will lean on (because of his experience).

* Some of the veterans that helped him in Toronto were Doug Gilmour, Larry Murphy, Wendel Clark, Kirk Muller, etc. Mats Sundin came in later and he learned a lot from him too.

* He had a no trade clause in Columbus, so how did the deal go down? Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson approached him saying he had some calls from some "peeps" (real quote) and Modin said he was willing to work with him. The deal with LA came up right at the last minute and he had to make a decision quickly. He said it was a "no brainer" to come to LA, even though he and his family only had a few minutes to think about it.

* They had a lot of expectations in Columbus this season after their success last season. He got off to a rough start and the coaching change was difficult. He still believes in goalie Steve Mason, who has struggled this season.

* How was your Olympic experience? It was a lot of fun, Vancouver did an amazing job with the games. It was an amazing atmosphere. Having Peter Forsberg back was fun and "I thought he played well for us."

* How important is it for LA to finish in 4th place in the West and get home ice in the first round of the playoffs? Its huge. That's what we're shooting for.

* When he was in Tampa Bay Phil Esposito was always on him to shoot the puck more. In fact, he still tells him every time they cross paths.

You can listen the full segment by clicking here.

Not the most in-depth interview ever...but, hey - at least the Kings are getting some national attention for a change.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Welcome to LA - Freddy Modin

Goodbye Teddy, hello Freddy!

Earlier today the Kings shipped Teddy Purcell and a 3rd round pick to Tampa Bay for center Jeff Halpern. Then, right at the deadline, the Kings acquired another former Lightning player - this time, left wing Fredrik Modin.

Like the Halpern deal, this was a depth move. Modin is a 6'4" winger who has won a Cup. Additionally, he is one of only 23 players ALL TIME to become a member of the Triple Gold Club - winning the Stanley Cup ('04), an Olympic Gold Medal ('06) and the World Championship gold medal ('98).

To read more about the Triple Gold Club click here for my report from Vancouver last week.

He was wearing an 'A' in Columbus, where he had six point in 24 games this season.

In 51 career playoff games he has 11 goals and 11 assists.

Dean Lombardi gave a conditional pick to Tampa for Modin, believed to be around a 7th round pick. Not a lot to give up for a player with Modin's experience.

The Mayor

www.twitter.com/Mayor119