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.

NCAA Coach Gary Shuchuk on LA Kings Draft Pick

The theme of the day must be 'full circle.'

Not only did Ryan Smyth return to Edmonton today, but we're joined by Gary Shuchuk.

In 1990 he led the the Wisconsin Badgers in goals and won the NCAA hockey championship. After playing for Barry Melrose in the AHL and with the Kings in Los Angeles, he's returned to his roots.

This season he was hired on as an Assistant Coach for the men's hockey team at his alma mater.

His connection to the Kings was strengthened yesterday too, when one of his players - Michael Mersch - was drafted by the team in the fourth round.

Afterwards, I spoke with him...

MM: What can you tell us about Mersch, he's a 6-foot-1 winger, right?

GS: He's a big kid and he's a very polite young man. Off ice he's the kind of guy who's very well mannered, but on the ice he's a different story. He plays the game hard. He's a big body. One of the things he's going to have to improve on, and he knows this, is his skating - which he has been. But, from the hash marks down below the dots, he's as best as I've seen. And he's going to better - controlling the puck, using his body, driving to the net, etc. He has an NHL shot right now, it's a quick release. Being a sophomore now in college, he has huge upside.

The kid just wants to learn, he's just a huge sponge. I've worked with him almost daily and he just wants to learn and get better and better. That's just the way this kid is. I think the Kings are very fortunate to get him. They're going to have, I really think, a diamond in the rough here. He came from the U.S. Development program, where he had one good year. He had like 20 goals and then the next year he had seven. So, some people kinda wrote him off. But, I think it was good for him. He really matured after that.

MM: When you say he needs to work on his skating, what has be been doing to improve in that area?

Rob Blake joining the NHL Front Office?

Following up on our Season Preview article that posted earlier today, Pierre LeBrun (of ESPN) had some additional news to share...

It looks like former Kings defenseman, Rob Blake, may soon be joining the NHL's front office.

All indications were pointing to him possibly taking a job with the San Jose Sharks now that he's retired. However, LeBrun says hold everything. Another offer may be in the works.

This position could even lead to him revamping one of the NHL's marquee events.

Intrigued? I was...

MM: You recently broke news that Rob Blake might be joining the NHL front office. What's the story there?

NHL Summer School with Ambroz and Nieto

When Brendan Shanahan was first hired as the NHL's new VP of Hockey and Business Development last December, many wondered exactly what his role would be. Sure, he was a three-time Stanley Cup champion and an Olympic Gold Medal winner. But, just how did the league plan on utilizing him in this new capacity?

If last week's Research, Development and Orientation camp was an early indication of what Shanny has been up to, the league is headed in the right direction. He organized an on-ice think tank, if you will. While most of the changes will not be implemented anytime soon, maybe even never, taking a proactive approach towards exploring ideas is what keeps many businesses successful over the long run.

Shanahan acknowledged such in his opening remarks to kick things off, "We're happy with the way the NHL game is. But you shouldn't wait until something is broken to examine it."

So, the NHL invited 33 top prospects (listed here) from the 2011 draft pool to an R&D camp in Toronto.  The group was divided into two teams, headed by former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock and current Phoenix Coyotes assistant Dave King.

Nearly every NHL team sent at least one representative to observe and comment on what they saw.  A full list of the rule changes tested and comments from General Managers like Brian Burke, Joe Nieuwendyk and Dale Tallon can be found on the NHL.com blog located here.

We decided to go a different route and hear from two of the players that were actually on the ice, experiencing the proposed ideas.  If you're a regular reader of MayorsManor, you're already familiar with Seth Ambroz from a feature piece we did on him last month.  He's currently projected as a top-five pick in the draft.  The 6'3" forward plays for the Omaha Lancers (USHL), a team partially owned by the Kings Luc Robitaille.

Our other guest is Matt Nieto, a southern California native who grew up as a die-hard Kings fan.  He's headed to Boston University this fall, one of the top college hockey programs in the country. 

Both also have ties to Team USA - Ambroz just returned from the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic, where the U.S. picked up the silver medal...Nieto is a two-time gold medal winner at the U-18 World Championships and he recently participated at the evaluation camp for the World Jr. team. 

MM:  There wasn't a lot of prep time at this camp, you guys hit the ice to start the testing soon after arriving.  Before we talk about the actual rule changes, which team were you on and who were some of the guys with you?

Hockey's Most Exclusive Club

Vancouver, BC - Most of the best hockey players on the planet have descended upon Vancouver this month. Most are here to play in the Olympics. Some are here to watch, having played before.

Twenty two of those players were honored earlier tonight for their accomplishments.

This wasn't just any group through and this wasn't your normal awards ceremony. These 22 were here because out of the more than 4,000 hockey players that have skated at the Olympics, these 22 have won the gold. Out of the more than 9,000 players that have tried to win the Stanley Cup, they've done that too. And although more than 15,000 players that have tried to win an IIHF gold medal, this group has one of those as well.

It's a small club. Just 22 members. Each of them having achieved the ultimate hat trick, putting them all into the Triple Gold Club.

With only 22 members it has to be the toughest team in hockey to be part of. The group reads like a who's who of every great game or series you can probably remember. Guys like Brendan Shanahan, Peter Forsberg and Nicholas Lidstrom. Igor Larionov, Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom are members too. Need more? How about - Henrik Zetterberg, Chris Pronger or Jaromir Jagr...they were all there too.

During the ceremony at Molson's Hockey House, in the shadows of the arena hosting this year's Olympic hockey action, each player received a customized Triple Gold Club jersey, a Tissot watch with his name engraved and a special membership pin.

According to the IIHF, there are 42 active players who have won two of the three titles.

Six of those 42 are here in Vancouver looking for a gold medal to complete their entry into hockey's most exclusive club - Eric Staal (Canada); Pavel Kubina and Josef Vasicek (Czech Republic); Jere Lehtinen (Finland) and Sergei Fedorov and Ilya Bryzgalov (Russia).

Guess we'll know by Sunday night if the club is expanding.

The Mayor
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