Penner weighs in on the one-year anniversary of the trade

Pennermania, circa 2011

Happy Anniversary.

Those just might be the least honest words to ever appear on MayorsManor.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of what's turned out to be one of the most disappointing trades in LA Kings history.

After struggling for long stretches in the first half of last season the team went on a hot streak in the month of February and GM Dean Lombardi swung big at the trade deadline, picking up the most coveted name on the market - Dustin Penner.

While Lombardi paid a steep price - prospect Colten Teubert, a first round draft pick last year and a third rounder this year - conventional wisdom, at the time, was it was a good trade. The Kings added a proven goal scorer (he had averaged 25+ goals the prior four seasons) and they didn't have to move anybody off of their current roster.

The fan sentiment around Penner today is far different than it was a year ago though.

With a goal vs. Vancouver, in just his second contest wearing a Kings uniform, he began a career-best six-game point streak. Pennermania was truly running wild in Los Angeles.

Since then, he has five goals and thirteen points, and most of the cheers have turned to boos.

Preview: Fox Sports West feature on PennerCakes event

During the second intermission of tonight's Kings-Coyotes broadcast, Fox Sports West will run a special feature on this week's PennerCakes event at IHOP. The video highlights package includes some quotes from Dustin Penner, thoughts from a few several of the lucky raffle winners who attended, and there's even a small cameo in there from some guy I know. Here's a preview...

Also, fresh up on LAKings.com today is an article about the event by Deborah Lew (link).

Of course, if you somehow have never seen the original letter Penner provided exclusively to MayorsManor, it's posted here.

The Mayor

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VIDEO: Dustin Penner interviews his LA Kings teammates

Pennermania continues... Fresh off his recent run of all things pancakes - including his open letter to the fans and media - Dustin Penner is back in a fantastic video put together by the guys at Kings Vision. He interviews his LA Kings teammates on a variety of topics, with references to Tebowing, goaltending, signing autographs, hair loss, cologne and much more.

Linked below are several related articles for your reference. Be sure to check out a few of the gems we've provided, featuring notes and quotes from or about GM Dean Lombardi, .Corey Perry, Matt Greene and others.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Dustin Penner and PancakeGate

Lombardi apologizes to the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL over Ryan Smyth trade problems

Pennercakes featured on this week's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast

Dustin Brown adds a new name to the Dustin Penner vs Matt Greene feud

The good, the bad and the something with Matt Greene

Dustin Penner says Corey Perry was 'milking it' and talks Hockey Gods

order here --> MayorsManor Store

LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi on Penner and Pancakegate

Last night Dustin Penner offered an 'open letter' on MayorsManor to explain his side of what went down with his recent back injury and the surrounding media attention related to his eating of some 'delicious pancakes.'

That story has gone somewhat viral since, with references and links on the Edmonton Journal, Puck Daddy's Yahoo Sports blog, Canada's National Post  newspaper, Spector's Hockey, Grantland, BusinessInsider.com and many more.

So, what does Kings GM Dean Lombardi think about all this? Here's what he had to say when asked just that by Mark Spector on his Edmonton-based radio show earlier today...

"When you're in this position and trying to manage your team to (become) a winner, I guess maybe it's not only the young kids that you have to put out some fires - [Lombardi was smiling and holding back laughter] there's a perfect example of all the things that can happen as you try to keep your team focused and get to where you want to go. You never know where it's coming from. But, he's made a lot of progress here and - actually - he's played pretty darn well here recently."

Funny off the ice, playing better on it.  That's all well and good. Now, Penner is now looking to score some goals. Will he break through tonight? There's at least a good chance, as in the past he's told us that he gets up for playing the Stars - the team he made his NHL debut against back in 2005.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

More from Lombardi's radio interview today - apologizes to the Oilers, talks changes under Sutter

EXCLUSIVE - Open letter from Dustin Penner re: PancakeGate

Penner on the Ducks' Corey Perry 'milking it' and the Hockey Gods

ALL shirts 50% off until 2pm PST on Friday January 13, 2012 - offer code here

order here --> MayorsManor Store

Is Dustin Penner planning a heel turn?

In pro wrestling, one of the keys to any good heel turn is a slow simmering build. It's as if the audience knows it's coming like a storm from far off in the distance. They can see it. They're just never sure if or when it will reach land.

On January 23, 1984 Hulk Hogan won the WWF Championship in Madison Square Garden and he was riding high as the top babyface in the business for the better part of the next decade. Then, in 1994, he signed with rival WCW, based in Atlanta, GA. Two years later, after the fans had already begun to boo him, Hogan turned heel and formed the New Wold Order - more commonly known as the NWO.

In June 2007, Dustin Penner won the Stanley Cup. He was the toast of the town and the Oilers agreed - signing him to a big money, five-year contract to get him to jump ship and come play in Edmonton. Late last February he was traded to LA and PennerMania took off. Kings fans couldn't get enough of the team's new left wing.

When his production dried up late in the year though, some fans started to grumble. Throughout the summer he trained, ate his vitamins and said his prayers - and it looked like a new-and-improved #25 was about to emerge. However, injuries have slowed him down so far this season and the once small group of hardcore fans that had turned against him seem to be adding new members at an alarming rate.

Then, this...

During a casual conversation with Penner after practice yesterday, something interesting happened...

Two Goals, Two Points and Two Wins in Detroit

"We came out of the gates a little slow" - Anze Kopitar on the Kings getting just three shots on goal in the first period.

Post-game news and notes from LA's 2-1 win...

* With their second win in Detroit this season the Kings finished the season series 3-1-0 vs. the Red Wings. There wasn't any pattern to the four games - overtime, a shutout, a blowout and one goal game tonight.

* LA is now 8-1-3 in last 12 road games.

* The game marked Jarret Stoll's 500th NHL game (214th with LA).

* Kopitar had three shots on goal, matching his total from the last three games combined. His goal in the second period was his 21st of the year and gave him seven points vs. Detroit this season (4 goals, 3 assists).

* PennerMania continues - Dustin Penner assisted on Kopitar's goal and led LA with four shots in the game.  He now has a small three game point streak as a King (1 goal, 2 assists).

* Dustin Brown took the team goal lead back with his 22nd goal of the season at 14:43 of the second period.

* After losing to Dallas on Saturday (in overtime) for the first time all season when ahead after two periods, LA shut things down in the third period tonight to get back on track - they're now 20-0-1.

* Drew Doughty led all skaters in the game with 26:48 of ice time.

* Jonathan Quick gave up just one goal over the two games in Detroit this season, stopping 79 of 80 shots.

* Has anybody heard from Ryan Smyth lately? Ryan Smyth, please pick up the white courtesy phone. Smyth to the courtesy phone.

Dustin Penner Comments on PennerMania

One week ago today PennerMania was launched in Los Angeles.

On message boards and social media sites most Kings fans were over the moon about GM Dean Lombardi's acquisition of left winger Dustin Penner.

And by the time he made his debut on Thursday night vs. Phoenix it had nearly become an epidemic...even appearing as a trending topic on twitter for a few hours.

Then, when he scored his first goal as a King on Saturday afternoon it may have reached a new level too.

Yet, what about Penner? As coach Terry Murray said yesterday 'It's been a very intense probably month, maybe longer, for him' - so, does he even know what's going on? I asked him...

MM: Are you aware PennerMania is running wild in Los Angeles?

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The Mayor

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