KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
8-23-01 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that individual tickets for 2001 pre-season games will go on sale on Saturday, August 25, 2001, at the Staples Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, including www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through TicketMaster by calling (213) 480-3232. The Kings will host two pre-season games at Staples Center. On Saturday, September 15, the Kings will face the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and on Saturday, September 29, the Kings host the Colorado Avalanche. Tickets are priced at $105.50, $80.50, $58.50, $46.50, $29.50 and $21.00.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings made another move to add depth to their lineup, as they announced the signing of Jason Holland, a 6-3, 210=pound defenseman. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Holland, 26, was selected in the second-round (38th overall) of the 1994 NHL draft by the New York Islanders. In 63 games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL last season, Holland scored four goals and added nineteen assists for twenty-three points with forty-five penalty minutes. In four playoff games, Holland scored a goal, and had no penalty minutes. In twenty-four NHL games with the Islanders and Buffalo Sabres, Holland has a goal and two assists with twelve penalty minutes.
8-16-01 The Los Angeles Kings made another move to add depth to their roster, but not much by the way of talent... On Thursday, the Kings announced that they have signed unrestricted free agent right wing Rob Valicevic to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Valicevic, 30, has most of the last three seasons with the Nashville Predators. In the 1999-2000 season, he played in 80 games, setting career-highs in goals (14) and assists (11). He also led the team with four game-winning goals. In the 2000-01 season, the 6-1, 198-pound Valicevic scored eight goals and six assists for 14 points in sixty games. Valicevic also played in 19 games in the 1998-99 NHL season, scoring four goals and two assists. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the sixth round (114th overall) of the 1991 NHL entry draft. This is clearly another depth move by the Kings...adding a player like Valicevic is most likely a move to add a player who can fill roster spots if and when injuries hit the Kings.
8-14-01 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have accepted the NHL arbitrator's ruling and have signed defenseman Aaron Miller to a two-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Miller's arbitration hearing was held on Friday, August 10, in Toronto. Miller, 30, was acquired by the Kings on February 21, 2001, along with right wing Adam Deadmarsh, center Jared Aulin, a first-round pick in the 2001 NHL draft (David Steckel) and a first-round pick in the 2003 NHL draft, for defenseman Rob Blake and center Steven Reinprecht. Miller, who is 6-4 and weighs 200 pounds, quickly became one of the Kings' top defensemen. He played in thirty regular season games for the Kings last season, contributing five assists.
n.b. - According to the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Miller was signed to a two-year deal...$1.6 million the first year, $1.7 million the next. The TIMES also reported today that Bryan Smolinski's two-year deal with pay him $2.3 million next season and $2.4 million the following year.
8-13-01 On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed center Bryan Smolinski to a two-year contract, avoiding arbitration. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Smolinski, whose arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, August 15, in Toronto, had the second-best season of his career with the Kings in 2000-01, scoring 27 goals and adding 32 assists for 59 points in 78 games. Smolinski was third on the club in goals, points, game-winning goals, and shots. "We are happy to get this deal one with Bryan," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "He has been very valuable for us and very versatile."
8-10-01 On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have hired Andy Nowicki as their goaltending consultant. Nowicki, who has worked with Kings' goaltending prospects the past two summers at their annual developmental camp, will be responsible for working with the Kings' goalies throughout their system, including those playing for the Kings and their minor league affiliates, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League and the Redding Royals of the East Coast Hockey League. He will also provide evaluation for drafting and future acquisitions. Nowicki was with the 2001 Memorial Cup Champion Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for nine years, starting in the inaugural season of 1992-93, serving most recently as Goaltending Coach. Nowicki also worked as the Goaltender Coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL during 1991-92 campaign, and as a consultant to the Red Deer College Kings (1990-99). He is also a partner with the Ranford family in the Sylvan Lake Goaltenders School (1986-2001). "We are looking forward to Andy joining our staff this season," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our club and we expect his influence to have a positive impact on both our current and future goaltenders." The Kings also announced that defenseman Jere Karalahti has been invited to participate in the 2001 Finnish Olympic Orientation Camp, to be held September 4-7, in Helsinki, Finland. Karalahti is one of 41 players selected to meet at the camp which will not include any skating. Karalahti has represented Finland in a number of international tournaments, including the 2000 World Championships in Russia (Bronze Medal); the 1999 World Championships in Norway (Silver Medal); and the 1998 World Championships in Switzerland (Silver Medal, first team all-star). 8-9-01 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that defensemen Mathieu Schneider and Aaron Miller, and forwards Bryan Smolinski and Adam Deadmarsh have been invited to participate in the 2001 US Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp, which will be held September 4-7, 2001, in Colorado Springs. So far, fourteen players have been named to the 2002 US Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. The XIX Olympic Winter Games will held February 8-24 in Salt Lake City. Deadmarsh, Smolinski, Miller and Schneider were among 37 National Hockey League players invited to the orientation, which will consist of on-and-off ice components designed to introduce players to team staff, provide information about subjects such as drug testing and Olympic-related procedures, and develop preliminary hockey strategy. All four players have experience in international competition. Deadmarsh, who was born in Trail, British Columbia, Canada, holds dual citizenship. He played on the 1998 US Olympic Team and the Gold Medal-winning 1996 US World Cup team, and has represented the US in three World Junior Championship tournaments. Smolinski, a native of Toledo, Ohio, earned a gold medal with the US at the 1996 World Cup. He also represented the US at the 1999 World Championships in Norway, the 1998 World Championships in Switzerland, and the 1990 World Juniors in Finland. Schneider, who is from New York City, played in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Japan. He also earned a gold medal at the 1996 World Cup, and in 1988, he was a member of the National Junior Team. Miller, who hails from Buffalo, represented his the US at the 1991 World Juniors. Here's something for the kids... The Kings are hosting their 12th annual Los Angeles Kings Youth Hockey Camp, beginning on Sunday, August 12 through Saturday, August 18 for children ranging in age from 4-16. The camp will be held at the HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo. Kings veterans Mathieu Schneider, Glen Murray, Nelson Emerson, Craig Johnson, Jamie Storr, and Jere Karalahti will be helping at the camp throughout the week. Former Kings' right wing and current Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor, along with former Kings' forwards (and current broadcasters) Jim Fox and Daryl Evans, and former Kings' defenseman (currently a Kings' assistant coach) Mark Hardy will also participate. All proceeds from the Kings Camp 2001 will benefit the Kings Care Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer. 8-1-01 On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced the signing of center Eric Belanger and defenseman Philippe Boucher to new contracts. Both were signed to one-year deals. Terms of their contracts were not disclosed. Belanger, 23, made quite a splash in his debut season last year, scoring nine goals and adding twelve assists in 62 regular season games, and quickly became the Kings' top face-off man. He led NHL rookies in face-off winning percentage with a 56.4% rating. Belanger also played in all thirteen playoff games last season, scoring a goal and two assists for three points. That goal was the overtime game-winner in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Detroit Red Wings at Staples Center. His goal completed a comeback from a 3-0 deficit after two periods. Belanger was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Boucher, 28, played in 22 regular season games for the Kings last season, scoring two goals and four assists for six points with twenty penalty minutes. In thirteen playoff games, Boucher recorded an assist. In 297 career NHL games with the Kings and Buffalo Sabres, Boucher has scored 32 goals and 70 assists for 102 points while racking up 206 penalty minutes. Boucher was acquired by the Kings on February 14, 1995, in the infamous trade with the Sabres that sent defensemen Alexei Zhitnik, and Charlie Huddy, along with goalie Robb Stauber to Buffalo. In return, Buffalo sent defenseman Denis Tsygurov and goalie Grant Fuhr to the Kings, along with Boucher. Boucher was drafted by Buffalo in the first round (13th overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
