Interview w/ former Hobey Baker winner & Kings goalie Robb Stabuer

College hockey is alive and well people. Just look at the LA Kings roster - Jonathan Quick, Jack Johnson, Davis Drewiske, Peter Harrold, Matt Greene, Rob Scuderi, Scott Parse...they all played NCAA hockey prior to becoming NHL players.

There have been many more before the current group though, including an unheralded member of the Kings team that made a run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals...Robb Stauber.

Blueline, as he was affectionately known during his playing days, was the first goalie to ever win the Hobey Baker Award in 1988...as a sophomore! For those unfamiliar, that's hockey's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He also went to the Frozen Four three times as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. After wrapping up his pro career he returned to his alma mater and joined the coaching staff, where he helped guide the team to three more Frozen Four appearances.

Tonight in Detroit this year's college hockey championship will be decided when two of the premier programs in the country battle for the title, Wisconsin and Boston College.

To help get everybody ready for the season ending game we sat down with Robb for a conversation about college hockey - both as a player and as a coach.
Straight out of the net and racing towards the blueline, it's Robb Stauber...

Free tickets to the regular season finale at home!

The contest for a free pair of tickets to the Kings vs. Oilers game on April 10, 2010 is now closed. The winner has been selected, contacted and confirmed. Thank you for entering. Please continue to read MayorsManor for future contests.

The original posting can be viewed after the jump...

NCAA Frozen Four preview with Gary Shuchuk

The NCAA hockey championship will be decided over the next three days in Detroit, Michigan - with semi final action kicking off in just a few hours. One team vying for the crown is the Wisconsin Badgers, the former home of many NHL players - including Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske and Sharks sniper Dany Heatley.

And there's another former Badger on the loose out there...a guy who led the Badgers in goals and points in 1990...his team also won the NCAA hockey championship that season...none other than former Kings forward Gary Shuchuk.

We caught up with Gary to get some thoughts about his college days and to get a prediction on this year's tournament.  Here's part one of an exclusive MayorsManor interview with Shuchuk...

The next Frolov sits at #20

The Kings are getting ready to throw a party like Los Angeles and the NHL has never seen before. And no, I'm not talking about the playoffs. The NHL Entry Draft heads to SoCal for the first time ever this June. While this event is usually reserved almost exclusively for northeastern cities, the Kings staff convinced the NHL brass it was time to come west.

Earlier today the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau published its latest player rankings...with an interesting twist. They've now given us their comparisons to current and former stars.

Some People Just Don't Get It

It's called a cross town rival for a reason.  You're either a Rangers fan or an Islanders fan.  Jets fans and Giants fans don't bro out together.  Kings - Ducks...well...

Apparently some people didnt get the memo...

Right after this pic was snapped on Saturday night, Mr One-liner turns to me and says "You know the worst part about that jersey? (a million thoughts rushed to my brain)... If there's one of 'em, that means there is another one out there just like it!"

Why people?  Why?

The Mayor

www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Bernier named AHL Goalie of the Year

Over the last several years Kings GM Dean Lombardi has made numerous changes to the organization. He's done simple things behind the scenes, like upgrading the workout facilities in El Segundo. He's been an open book with fans and media alike.  Yet, when all is said and done, the most significant mark he may leave on the Kings outside of a championship could be his commitment to developing goaltenders.

Jonathan Bernier was drafted in the first round just months after Dean Lombardi was hired in April 2006.  From day one both Dean and Assistant GM Ron Hextall have been insistent on not rushing Bernier to the NHL. Nobody wants to see a repeat of what happened to the only other Kings goalie drafted in the first round, Jamie Storr. His NHL career never really materialized after basically winning every award there is to win for younger players.

While Jonathan Quick has been the main man in net for LA this year, Kings fans and players have been treated to a few brief glimpses of Bernier this season...and he looks to be the real deal.

Earlier today he was rewarded for his hard work in the minors as the AHL named him their Top Goalie for 2009-2010.

Negative Nancy Night at Staples Center

Saturday night's game was a sellout...and it brought out plenty of Negative Nancys.

Finding some positives in the game may be difficult, but let's give it a try:

* First off, I'll get the obligatory Easter reference out of the way...can somebody please find the egg holding the key to the Kings offense? It's probably hidden well though, so search behind all the bushes and around all corners.

* A long list of players and coaches have...um, "exchanged pleasantries" with the folks in Section 119 as they come and go from the ice. However, the one coach I never expected to break was Randy Carlyle of the Ducks. This guy is usually so calm and in control. Like a machine. Nothing seems to get to him. And the irony of it is, I never said anything to him last night during the game (unlike previous games). Apparently he missed my jabs though, as he practically came running into the tunnel to bump his gums when things were over last night. Keep it up Randy. We miss McToilet in Edmonton and need a new coach to befriend.

Tertiary Scoring Kicking In

Throughout the season you'll hear an NHL coach claim a myriad of things are the 'keys to winning' a particular game. Depending on the day of the week it might be the power play or the penalty kill. It could be shot mentality or goaltending. Another popular one is secondary scoring. But, tertiary scoring? That might be a new one.

Sticks and Stones Still Breaking Bones?

Two days later and the anger continues to rage over the loss on Saturday night to Dallas.

A completely embarrassing loss at home, coming off a loss in St Louis - one of the worst teams at home. Where is the team that played inspired hockey most of the season - the team that was out to prove the critics and doubters wrong?

Take a look at some comments from the Dallas Morning News -

He is known simply as "The Fan," and he was getting under the skin of the Stars...(it's the Mayor pal, get it right)

A longtime Kings fan who sits behind the opposition's bench, he yells barbs throughout the game in hopes of upsetting the players.

His main target clearly was Stars captain Brenden Morrow.

The fan rode Morrow, making a few choice comments about stealing the captain's "C" from Mike Modano. That appeared to fire up Morrow, who finished with a team-leading five hits and scored...

Morrow dialed up his game in the third period, throwing his body around, getting physical in the corners and scoring on a wrist shot from the slot with 4:58 remaining in regulation.

As for The Fan, Morrow handed him his stick while walking off the ice after the game.

"I actually love it, it gets you fired up," Matthew Barnaby said. "And there's nothing better than walking through that tunnel past him, knowing you got the last laugh."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh, by the way, those excerpts were taken from an article written in December 2006 (click here to read the full article).

So this loss wasn't my fault.

This one is on the Kings!

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Bob Miller Tattoo?

Just got back from Dodges Spring Training in Arizona. After three days in the sun I'm ready for some hockey tonight.

I'll have more articles up later. However, I had to get this one up right away. I'm standing in line yesterday and I run into a woman who has Vin Scully tattooed on her forearm (pictured)!

It got me wondering, do you think there's anybody out there with a Bob Miller tattoo? That's some serious dedication.




The Mayor

www.twitter.com/Mayor119