VIDEO: Jonathan Quick on the Kings 2-1 OT loss in NY

Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick tried to remain positive after the team's 2-1 overtime loss to the Islanders earlier today. Here's what he had to say back in the locker room...

Thoughts from coach Darryl Sutter and team captain Dustin Brown are up on the homepage right now.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

VIDEO: Kings Dustin Brown on team's 2-1 OT loss to the Isles

Kings captain Dustin Brown was obviously disappointed with his team's performance today vs. the Islanders. After, he spoke with the media - including sharing thoughts on goalie Jonathan Quick and rookie Jordan Nolan.

Post-game thoughts from coach Darryl Sutter and Quick are up on the homepage.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

VIDEO: Darryl Sutter post-game presser vs. NYI

Coach Darryl Sutter spoke with the media following the Kings 2-1 overtime loss to the Islanders today. The highlight of the pseudo presser had to be 'Would you like more scoring?' Yes, somebody asked this to the coach of the NHL's lowest scoring team.

Here's what he had to say...

Click here for Dustin Brown's post-game comments and here for goalie Jonathan Quick.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

What I've learned so far... by Kings forward Trent Hunter

Trent Hunter of the Kings (photo: M. Zampelli)

Of the 459 NHL games Trent Hunter had already played coming into this season, only six of them were against the Kings. So, to say there isn't a lot of familiarity there would be an understatement.

Earlier today we kicked off a special series where some of the new Kings can share their initial observations about particular teammates.

Ethan Moreau got things going in the first article and now we turn to Hunter, another veteran forward. Here's what he's learned about a few of the guys so far...

On Anze Kopitar - "I hadn't really had a chance to see him play much before. But, he's definitely one of the elite players in this league. He makes plays - you think he's going to go somewhere with the puck and he completely does something else that you don't even realize was there. He creates so much out there it's amazing."

On Drew Doughty - "Young guy, lots of energy and he likes to have fun. He's one of those guys who's fun to watch on the ice."

LA Kings def Rangers in OT, post-game notes and video

Many of the areas the Kings were hoping to improve over the summer were on display front and center in today's 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers.

Jack Johnson scored a power play goal with about a minute left in the extra session and then was mobbed by his teammates, in a scene that looked more like a playoff game winner than the first game of the season.

Anze Kopitar showed no signs of the injury he suffered last season, picking up the first goal of the game and assisting on the one that tied things up with about five minutes left to play in regulation.

Here are a few post-game notes, followed by the video highlights:

- Overall, LA now sits at 44-62-19 against New York and they won't see them again this season - unless they were to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is now 2-3-1 when playing the Kings and his counterpart, Jonathan Quick, is a perfect 2-0 against Broadway's Blueshirts.

- Richards vs. Richards lived up to the hype. Brad Richards played 18 minutes for the Rangers, went 9-for-11 in at faceoff dot and assisted on Marian Gaborik's third period goal. Mike Richards scored for the Kings and set up Johnson's game winner in 20-plus minutes ice time.

NHL Premiere: LA Kings vs NY Rangers pre-game notes, first goal contest

Hang on, relax. You only have less than an hour to go and you'll be just fine...hockey will be back!

To get you primed and ready to go, here are some quick tidbits on the Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers match-up. Also, be sure to take note of the details for today's 'first goal contest' listed at the end of this article.

- Kings all-time Record against the Rangers: 43-62-19. This is the only meeting between the two teams this season, as it was last year. When they squared off on February 17, 2011, the Rangers won in a shootout 4-3. Dustin Brown picked up two points that night and the Kings collected another point on their nearly-month-long road trip (post-game notes and highlights from that game can be accessed here).

- Rangers defeneman Marc Staal, one of their top defensemen, didn't make the trip to Europe due to lingering symptoms from the concussion he sustained in a game last year.

- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is from Sweden and earlier in his career played in the Frolunda HC system - the same organization that Kings' 2011 draft pick Michael Schumacher was part of last year (article).

- At least four former NHL players to suit up for both the Kings and Rangers will be in attendance - Luc Robitaille, Mattis Norstrom, Tomas Sandstrom and Bernie Nicholls.

- Richards vs. Richards: In 23 career games vs. the LA Kings, Brad Richards has 26 goals (seven goals, 19 assists). On the other side, Mike Richards has played 37 games against the New York Rangers, picking up 12 goals and 11 assists.

Kings' Richards, Doughty, Gagne on facing the NY Rangers

In just about two hours all the talk of the last five months will be washed away and the NHL season officially begins for the Los Angeles Kings.

Opening against a team as rich in history as the New York Rangers gives today's game a little something extra. Just ask the players. Prior to leaving for Europe, several of them shared some thoughts on today's game...

Willie Mitchell - "It's always fun to play them, they're an original six team. It doesn't matter how long you've played in the league - if you haven't played that long, you look forward to playing against the Rangers and guys that have been around, like me or Ethan Moreau, it's always a team that you look to have a lot of fun playing against because the tradition and history."

Drew Doughty - "I love playing the Rangers. They've been in the league a long time. This off season, they picked up Brad Richards and that's going to make them a much better team. I think it's going to be a great test for us to start the season. They're one of the better teams in the East and I definitely think we're one of the better teams in the West. So, it's going to be a real battle."

Anze Kopitar - "I'm sure it's going to be hyped up (in Stockholm) and I'm sure they might have a few more fans in the arena, because of their goaltender. But, it is what it is. We know that team and obviously we want to get off to a good start and then see what happens."

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...

Interview with pro wrestling legend Nick Bockwinkel

Marty O'Neill with Nick Bockwinkel
(photo: WrestlingClassics.com)

A sold out throng of fans packed Staples Center last night for the WWE's annual SummerSlam event. It was a glitzy affair, attended by many athletes and celebrities - including NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray sitting in the front row.

It wasn't that surprising really, as there's always been a loose link between hockey and wrestling - after all, they at the very least share the same arenas in most major markets.

One of the building's normal residents, the Los Angeles Kings, have their own ties to the squared circle as well. Ted Irvine, who helped set up the first goal in team history, is the father of former WWE champion Chris Jericho.

However, years before Jack Kent Cooke brought the NHL to Los Angeles - and a lifetime before AEG helped revitalize downtown - one of the hottest tickets in SoCal was for events held just a few blocks from the city's showpiece arena now located on Figueroa Street.

One man who helped make that much smaller venue an icon among sports buildings was Nick Bockwinkel. For those not familiar with the rich history of pro wrestling, he's a mulit-time world champion, Hall of Famer and had many classic matches with the fellow legends, such as Verne Gagne, Dick The Bruiser, Terry Funk, Larry Zbyszko, Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan.

"Before I came back to the Midwest, Los Angeles was where I first started wrestling and that's where my father wrestled for a number of years," said Bockwinkel. "A lot of my early matches were at the old Olympic Auditorium, back in 1955. The dressing room there was like a dungeon."

Lombardi and Robitaille on Kings pursuit of Brad Richards

When Kings GM Dean Lombardi speaks, he almost always makes sense.

People may not like what he has to say at times, but he pretty much tells it as it is.

Several years ago when some questioned his signing of Dan Cloutier to an extension before he was fully healthy, Lombardi explained that it was a calculated gamble. He looked ahead to the next summer's free agent goalie market and didn't like what he saw. So, he tried to lock up Cloutier at a discount. It backfired, sure. But, it's too easy to evaluate performance after the fact. Go back to the day he did the deal. His logic was correct.

When he once referred to some of his free agent signings as 'bridge' players, all but admitting they weren't that good - or were just good enough - and their primary purpose was to buy time for a few prospects to further develop, it might have sounded harsh. But, it was true.

So, you can imagine the raised eyebrows recently when he referred to the Kings failed attempt to sign unrestricted free agent Brad Richards as the organization's 'finest hour.'

Wait, what? Does the expression now have a new meaning? He clearly wasn't being sarcastic.

Here's what he said, in full, when asked what he would change about how the Kings approached the Richards pursuit - "We're getting there. As much as we're respected now, until it gets done here, we're not going to create that destination site, like the Lakers are. It's really hard - for the American kid, the baseball player or the basketball kid, the whole LA thing, it's very much a part of our culture. For so much of the hockey on the east coast and up north though, (LA) still seems like it's out in nowhere land. But, it's been proven that once you get it going here, you will be attractive. When Gretzky was here, every player wanted to play here. So, we're close. We're respected, where people will seriously consider us. But, to beat out those guys in the east, who have the tradition and everything else, we're going to have to get it done and then we're going to go to the top.

Luc Robitaille on why the LA Kings are going to Europe

A few weeks ago I joked that it must be contract week, as several Kings prospects and players were busy getting deals inked.

Well, today is 'address the cynics' day here at MayorsManor.

This morning I posted comments from Luc Robitaille, Kings President of Business Operations, explaining the how and why behind the team's jersey changes for next season.

In a summer filled with more positive vibes than any other in recent memory - from the trade for Mike Richards on down - we'd be remiss to at least not address one of the few news item that's caused a little bit of confusion.

Why are the Kings opening the season in Europe? Some point to the fact AEG owns the arenas. OK, fine. Are there any other reasons and even so, how does management feel about it?

Here's one man's opinion...

"We were asked by the league. We talked with them and they're (only) picking so many teams," Robitaille started out with. "To me, it wasn't a big deal. I kind of like the experience for the players. Yeah, for sure, you think you want to play your games at home. But, 15 years from now those players can say, 'Wow, I got to play a game in Berlin.' I think that's very special. Those are great memories for the players that they'll cherish later - like, someday when they retire."

Fine, that's years down the road. However, at least one thing on his mind that tied back to the upcoming campaign - "There was certainly something inside of me that (kept coming back to) the last three Stanley Cup winners started in Europe. So, once I heard we had a chance to go to Europe, I said I want to go!"

The Kings will open the NHL regular season with a game vs. the New York Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday, October 7.  They'll also play the following night in Berlin, Germany - taking on the Buffalo Sabres.

Once they return to the US, the Kings will play at New Jersey and Philadelphia.  Then, St. Louis will visit Staples Center for the Kings home opener on Tuesday, October 18.

Back to Richards for a quick moment... to see what the Kings new center - and former Flyers captain - had to say about that first game vs. the Rangers, be sure to click the link below.

[REMINDER - You can now add facebook comments DIRECTLY on MayorsManor - simply scroll down to the comments section below - it's super easy...have fun and please be respectful - no personal attacks, profanity, etc.]

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

Mike Richards looking forward to first game with Kings - talks 'hatred' for Rangers, fights with Dubinsky

Luc Robitaille on why the LA Kings changed jerseys

Kings 'most likely' opening next season in Europe

Don Mattingly says 2012 will be 'Year of LA Kings, Dodgers'

Dodgers' Don Mattingly at LA Kings game

Forget the fact that the Dodgers are about a dozen back with 50-something games remaining. Matt Kemp insisted to me on Friday night his club was still in the race.

They've gone 2-2 since then and to borrow a phrase Vin Scully has probably used, the season is slipping away like sand through an hour glass.

While Kemp's optimism may be a breath of fresh air in what's starting to look more and more like an otherwise forgettable baseball season in Los Angeles, manager Don Mattingly still has big plans...just not for this year.

Unlike Kemp, Mattingly claims he's a bit of a hockey fan. "I've kind of slowly paid attention to things," reflected Mattingly. He spends his winters back home in Indiana, where he claims "there's not a whole lot of hockey going on." So, you'll have to excuse him when he says, "I still have trouble with all the names and everything. But, I love watching it."

Pro athletes are always impressed with what hockey players do on a nightly basis.  Competing in a team sport is one thing, but doing it on skates adds a whole new level of complexity. "It's pretty amazing what they do on the ice," Mattingly expressed. "The toughness, I love. Those guys are so tough. Some of them never come out of a game."

It's not entirely surprising that Mattingly appreciates that aspect of hockey.  Nicknamed 'Donnie Baseball,' he probably would have made a great hockey player too, had he chose that route.  Simply put, he was a gamer and one of those 'character' guys Kings GM Dean Lombardi constantly seeks.

10 Key Dates for LA Kings, including 2011 training camp

Soon after the Stanley Cup parade takes place in some North American city, it happens.

Millions of fans everywhere began to experience hockey withdrawals, or 'summer' as it's more commonly referred to.

Fortunately, the early part of the off-season has a hat-trick of activities that can partially keep the fire stoked via the NHL Awards, NHL Draft and start of free agency.

Then, today comes. People flip the calender to August - well, those that still literally do things like that - and realize there's not one thing scheduled even partially resembling the sport they love.

Bare with us though. You can do it. Make it another 30 days and look what's on the other side...

10 KEY DATES for the LOS ANGELES KINGS

9/10 Rookie Camp opens at TSC in El Segundo, CA (runs through 9/13)

9/11 HockeyFest 2011 at Staples Center

9/13 Kings Charity Golf Tournament - Industry Hills, CA

* 9/14 Rookie game vs. Phoenix Coyotes 6pm - at TSC in El Segundo, CA

* 9/15 Rookie game vs. Phoenix Coyotes 2pm - at TSC in El Segundo, CA

9/16 Main Training Camp opens at TSC in El Segundo, CA (off-ice)

* 9/17 On-ice workouts begin for main camp roster

9/21 Pre-season game: Phoenix Coyotes at LA Kings (Staples Center)

9/25 Pre-season game: Anaheim Ducks at LA Kings (Staples Center)

9/30 Pre-season game: LA Kings at Anaheim Ducks (Honda Center)

10/1 Frozen Fury XIV: Colorado Avalanche vs LA Kings (Las Vegas, NV)

10/7 Opening Night: NY Rangers vs LA Kings (Stockholm, Sweden)

10/8 NHL Premiere, Game Two: Buffalo Sabres vs LA Kings (Berlin, Germany)

* denotes update, as of 8/18/2011

Hockey season is almost here.

Hang in there. You can do it.

In the meantime, be sure to keep up to date this summer with all the news and inside information right here on MayorsManor. Just this weekend, we had an exclusive interview with Colin Fraser about his injuries, the Dodgers James Loney talked about his desire to play hockey at Staples Center and Rich Clune shared his thoughts on Bud Holloway leaving the Monarchs for Europe.

And there's lots more to come...

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

Mike Richards on LA Kings first game - 'hatred' for Rangers, ready to fight Brandon Dubinsky again

Richards v Dubinsky (Photo by Bob Fina)

Drafted 24th overall by Philadelphia in 2003, Canadian Mike Richards played two more years of junior hockey before making his NHL debut for the Flyers.

The night was October 5, 2005 and they were playing the New York Rangers.

In the second period of that game, Richards scored what was described as a 'hard-fought goal' - taking an outlet pass from Eric Desjardins, outmuscling defenseman Fedor Tyutin and lifting a shot over Kevin Weekes' left shoulder - to put the Flyers up 3-1.

It was his first NHL goal and it came against the team he went on to play 36 more times over the next six seasons.

He amassed 11 more goals against those Rangers - his second highest total against any team in the league.  And his 64 penalty minutes vs. Broadway's Blueshirts are 20 more than he's incurred against any other NHL club.

Now that he's a member of the Los Angeles Kings, a Western Conference team, that's all behind him, right?  Not so fast.

Life will come full circle on Friday, October 7th - when he makes his official debut as a member of the Kings in game one of the 2011-12 NHL season.

Their opponent? Yes, the New York Rangers.

He wasted no time jumping in with both feet when I asked him about the match-up earlier today - "Well, I didn't think I was going to have to fight (Brandon) Dubinsky anymore. I've already fought him five times. I can't get rid of this guy," Richards said.

"It's going to be interesting. We had a great rivalry over the past couple of years, a ton of great games against them. Like I said before, about LA and New York, there's always a buzz when you play the Rangers...whenever you play them it just sticks with you and there's a hatred there because guys compete so hard against each other. It's going to be a good start. It's not going to be hard to kinda get up for it. I know everybody on that team and how they play. So, I think it's going to make it easier."

Is it October yet?

Hockey already sounds so good.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorNHL

RELATED ARTICLES:

Flyers Ian Laperriere speaks out on Mike Richards vs. Chris Pronger

Exclusive - Jim Fox on the Kings' acquisition of Mike Richards

No June Gloom from Dustin Penner - talking trades and other roster moves

RECAP: LA Kings dman Rob Scuderi on NHL Live

Veteran Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi joined the guys on NHL Live radio earlier this morning.

Among the topics were trade rumors and the play of Jack Johnson. Below are the key highlights...

[as always, these are near quotes - some information has been paraphrased]

Q: Being from the greater New York area, how many tickets did you have to get for friends and family last week on the Kings road trip?

A: The Garden wasn't too bad, maybe seven or eight tickets. Around 30-35 for the game in Long Island. Fortunately, given the Islanders record, it's not too hard to get tickets at the Coliseum. Still, it beats the first time I played there when I needed around 75.

It's been an up and down year in LA. Where do you see things at this point?

I'm hoping, from my experience in Pittsburgh and seeing some of the same things, that we're over the hump as far as struggling goes. I think sometimes with a young team when you have a little success it's hard to repeat the next year - especially when everybody expects it. You forget all the hard work you put in the season before. We let it get go to our heads a bit and it showed and it was pretty obvious during some of our six or seven game slides earlier in the season.

Last year people were talking Drew Doughty a lot. This year it seems Jack Johnson is blossoming.

Ranking the Ponda and Other NHL Buildings

Occasionally when you come across something of interest you file it away in the back of your brain for later.

While preparing for the trip down to Anaheim tonight my thoughts were drawn back to a recent article from Rich Hammond of LAKingsInsider.com , where he ranked his favorite NHL cities.

Having been to 27 different NHL markets, including two that no longer exist, I started to line them up in my head to see how my list compared with his.

Before we begin, there are five buildings I haven't seen the Kings play in yet - Florida, Montreal, Nashville, Ottawa and St. Louis.

However, I have seen NHL games in over 35 arenas.

Wait a minute, you say...how can that be when it's a 30 team league?

Well, in addition to the current buildings housing the 30 teams, I can check off places like Winnipeg Arena, Hartford Civic Center, Met Center (Minnesota), Old Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Maple Leaf Gardens, Capital Centre (old Caps building), America West Arena (original home for Phoenix Coyotes), Arco Arena (LA/EDM when the NHL used to play two regular season games at neutral sites), San Diego Sports Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena (exhibition games) and of course, the Fabulous Forum.

With five cities to go, here's how I arranged things, largely based on four criteria (in no particular order) - vibe of the city, local food, passion/knowledge of the local fan base and the music scene (because you have to do something besides see hockey while you're there)...

Cruising the Mall with Simmonds and Doughty

What's the first thing Wayne Simmonds did upon returning to Los Angeles recently?

"I didn't do much. I pretty much slept all day (Sunday). When you're on a long road trip like that you don't always get the sleep that you want. So, when you come home and you get that day off you use it to sleep."

How about that off day last Friday? With the Kings based in Long Island, a few of the players chose to go into the city after practice.

Not everybody though...

"Some of the guys had friends and family in, so they were the ones that went back into the city. I didn't," explained Simmonds. "A couple of us just hung out and went to the mall and went for dinner there."

Drew Doughty added "It was about 3:00 after practice and we wouldn't have gotten into the city until about 4:00. So, we just decided to go shopping in Long Island."

How does that work out, a couple of hockey players just cruising the local mall?

"Actually, we got recognized a couple times," said Simmonds. "It was alright. I guess one of the salespersons helping us out recognized who we were and he just wished us good luck."

As for the play on the ice, several teammates have talked about the Kings finding ways to grab points on the trip even when the team wasn't playing its best at times (see below for links). Is that how they both see things?

First up, Doughty...

Shooting it Out with Jarret Stoll and Coach Murray

If the game goes to a shootout, take Jarret Stoll.

He's pretty much Mr. Automatic at this point.

"I don't know about that," he said after practice on Monday. "It's good to score some and try to help get two points. We just have to find a way to win those (shootouts) when we're in them and maybe not get to that point anyway. But, yeah, they're going in for me. I'm just trying not to change too much. Maybe it looks like I only have one option down there, but I have a couple options in my head."

MM: You never like to second guess the coach's decision, yet you had the game-winning-goal in the shootout vs. San Jose prior to the All Star break - so, were you surprised when the next game went to a shootout (vs. Minnesota) and your name wasn't called?

Willie Mitchell Not Sure What Went Wrong

As of Saturday morning the Kings were flying high, having picked up points in 11 straight games.

Later than night they were playing the Islanders - one of the worst teams in the league. Granted, it was being played in Long Island, not the comfy confines of Staples Center. Yet still, they should have been able to pick up another two points and come home with a 6-0-3 record through nine games of a season-high ten game road stretch.

Well, things don't always work out as planned.

And Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell still hadn't turned the page after practice on Monday...

"The trip was bittersweet with the (way it ended) in Long Island. We found ways during the trip to manufacture points when we didn't play our best hockey in some games too and that's what good teams do. But, the game in Long Island is a little disappointing. I thought from the top all the way through there wasn't the same focus that we had in other games. I don't know why that was."

MM: Sports cliches will say that when a team is playing well at home it's because of the local crowd and when they're winning on the road it's the players bonding. Was that part of the reason for the success on this trip?

End of the Road for Kings Point Streak (w/ video)

Prior to the game Kings Coach Terry Murray said the team needed a win over the Islanders to make a good road trip a great one.

So, 3-1-2 is going to have to be good enough.

Clearly, his players weren't ready to go when the puck first dropped. However, the same cant be said for the home team, who perhaps hadn't forgotten the 5-1 beat down they received in LA back in November.

That lone goal at Staples Center came from Rob Schremp, who played on the same line with Kings captain Dustin Brown back in his bantam hockey days (as explained here by his agent). Unfortunately, Brown couldn't match the marker on Saturday night.

Instead, another player with ties to the Kings scored twice for the Islanders. Matt Moulson, once a prospect in the LA system and the brother-in law of Jonathan Quick, posted tallies in the second and third periods.

Here it is in a nutshell though - Quick didn't look sharp at all, while the guy at the other end of the ice (Al Montoya, he of only four previous NHL starts - half of which were against the Kings) stopped all of LA's 35 shots.

So, after being shutout 3-0 the team is on their way back to Los Angeles. Sunday is an off day and practice will resume Monday at TSC in El Segundo.

Video highlights from the New York feed (after the jump)...