KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
12/30/98 Jim Hodges reported in Wednesday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Doug Bodger is doubtful for tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks. Bodger, who was viciously hit from behind by Phoenix Coyotes forward Dallas Drake during Monday's game, suffered bruises on his right arm and neck that prevented him from lifting that arm above shoulder level on Tuesday.12/29/98 Here's more on the NHL's four-game suspension of Phoenix Coyotes' forward Dallas Drake, who hit Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Doug Bodger from behind during Monday's game at Phoenix. "The league views hits from behind as dangerous play," said Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations. Drake's major penalty for boarding and automatic game misconduct was upgraded to a match penalty, according to various reports. The NHL announced late Tuesday that Phoenix Coyotes forward Dallas Drake has been suspended for four games for his hit from behind on Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Doug Bodger late in the third period of Monday's game in Phoenix. Drake was assessed a major penalty for boarding and received an automatic game misconduct. Bodger left the game after the hit and did not return. He suffered neck and right shoulder injuries. Drake will lose $20,833.33 in salary. The Coyotes also lost center Keith Tkachuk for three weeks after he suffered a broken rib after being checked in front of the Kings' net by Kings' defenseman Mattias Norstrom. Norstrom received a cross-checking minor on the play. Phoenix also lost center Jeremy Roenick after Roenick hit the glass behind the Kings' net very hard in a play involving Bodger, who went into the board with Roenick, but clearly did not cause the injury. Roenick suffered a concussion and will be out for one week. 
12/28/98 The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have assigned left wing Josh Green to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. Injury Update... Jim Hodges reported in Monday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that forward Russ Courtnall is till at least three weeks away from returning to the lineup as he recovers from a broken ankle. Right wing Sandy Moger (back strain) has started skating and could return to the lineup on Saturday when the Kings host the Colorado Avalanche. Same goes for goalie Stephane Fiset (groin strain). Left wing Dan Bylsma did not make the trip to Phoenix on Monday as he attends to the birth of his child. Center Yanic Perreault returned to the Kings' lineup when they skated at Phoenix on Monday, but was used sparingly. Perreault had been scratched for the last three games. "I wasn't getting second effort or a guy who would fight for the puck," Robinson said about Perreault. "I tried putting him with more offensive players and when I still didn't get it, I moved him down in the lineup. He was playing well at penalty-killing and he was winning faceoffs, but he knows his game is scoring goals." "I'm considered an offensive player, so I need to pick up my offense," Perreault said. "The first game makes you see the game from a different angle," Perreault said about being scratched. "I don't think you need more than one game. The second game is harder. The third game is harder still." Another reason Perreault is sitting is because center Ray Ferraro has played well in recent games. 12/19/98 Jim Hodges reported in Saturday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Los Angeles Kings' goalie Stephane Fiset has been placed on injured reserve once again due to him aggravating his right groin injury. Here's more on the Kings' trade with the Buffalo Sabres that brought forward Donald Audette to the Kings. Audette talked about his conditioning since he has been a holdout so far this season. "I've been skating every day," Audette said. "I have pushed myself. I don't know about being in game-shape, but I'll play with a lot of heart." Audette is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Kings skate at St. Louis. 12/18/98 Late Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have acquired holdout right wing Donald Audette from the Buffalo Sabres for a second-round pick in the 1998 draft. Audette, 29, has not played for the Sabres this season due to a contract dispute. The Kings signed Audette to a $3.6 million deal for two years. Last season, Audette scored 24 goals and added 20 assists for 44 points in 75 games. He has scored 20 or more goals in five seasons. His career high was 31 in 1991-92. "It feels great," Audette about the trade. "I think [the Kings] a better team than they show." In eight seasons at Buffago, Audette scored 164 goals and added 125 assists for 289 points in 409 games. 64 of those goals came on the power play. In the playoffs, Audette has scored 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 48 games. A good trade for the Kings. They got Audette cheap enough. Let's hope he produces! The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have assigned forward Nathan Lafayette to Long Beach of the IHL and have recalled winger Dan Bylsma from Long Beach. Bylsma scored three goals and added four assists for seven points in 27 games at Long Beach. Lafayette scored two goals and two assists for four points in 25 games with the Kings. It was great to see Pavel Rosa finally in a Los Angeles Kings' uniform in an NHL game last night when he scored two goals in his NHL debut. Too bad it wasn't enough for the Kings to beat the New York Islanders. Rosa had a good training camp and was one of the best forwards in camp. But the coaching staff wanted Rosa to work on his physical and defensive game before he cracked the Kings' lineup. Rosa certainly isn't shying away from the physical play, despite his small stature. He showed that against the Isles, throwing a couple of good checks. It will be interesting to see how he does and if he can stay up with the big club for the rest of the season. Of course, if he keeps putting the puck in the net, he's with the Kings for good. Sacha Terrill, beat writer covering the Kings for the DAILY BREEZE, has a good article on the Kings and trade rumors. Point your web browser to: http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bls/nmrumors18.html 12/16/98 Late Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have recalled goalie Manny Legace and right wing Pavel Rosa from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. Legace was recalled after aggravating his right groin strain during Wednesday's practice. He is listed as day-to-day. Rosa will probably make his NHL debut on Thursday, when the Kings host the New York Islanders. He had four goals and nine assists for thirteen points in sixteen games for Long Beach. Left wing Eric Lacroix was placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 12. Lacroix suffered a fractured right clavicle during last Saturday's game against Vancouver. 12/14/98 Late Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have recalled goalie Manny Legace and right wing Pavel Rosa from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. Legace was recalled after aggravating his right groin strain during Wednesday's practice. He is listed as day-to-day. Rosa will probably make his NHL debut on Thursday, when the Kings host the New York Islanders. He had four goals and nine assists for thirteen points in sixteen games for Long Beach. Left wing Eric Lacroix was placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 12. Lacroix suffered a fractured right clavicle during last Saturday's game against Vancouver. 12/14/98 The Los Angeles Kings announced late Monday that defenseman Rob Blake has been suspended for three games and was fined $1,000 for his slash on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Harry York on Saturday night. Blake received a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct on the play. Blake, who has already served one game of that suspension, will miss the Kings' next two games. This is utterly ridiculous and unjust. Although I still believe that stick fouls and blows to the head are getting longer suspensions, NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell has blown it on this one. 12/13/98 The NHL announced on Sunday that Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Rob Blake has been suspended pending a hearing for slashing Vancouver Canucks' forward Harry York during the third period of Saturday's game. Blake will miss Saturday's game at Anaheim. A hearing will be held early this week. This wasn't anywhere close to a vicious slash. If Blake gets fined or is forced to miss more games, it will be a real injustice. More as I hear it... 12/10/98 Injury Update... Los Angeles Kings' head coach Larry Robinson told reporters in the locker room after Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals that defenseman Rob Blake, who has missed fifteen games with a broken right foot (placed on injured reserve on November 7), WILL return to action on Saturday when the Kings host the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings announced after the game that left wing Steve McKenna, who returned to the lineup in this game after missing fourteen games with an abdominal strain, aggravated that injury late in the third period when he got tangled up with a Washington Capitals' defenseman. McKenna will be examined on Thursday and his status will be updated after that. Going into Wednesday's game, the Kings had lost 114 man-games to injuries/illnesses through 26 games. Last season, the Kings lost just 35 man-games through the same number of games. The Kings also announced after the game that center Brandon Convery has been put on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. 12/9/98 If they left it up to him, Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Rob Blake would be in the lineup on Saturday, when the Kings host the Vancouver Canucks. Blake, who has missed fourteen games with a broken foot, skated in Tuesday's practice for twenty minutes, the limit set by team doctors. But Blake wants more. "They said six weeks, and it's six weeks Friday," Blake said. "I was ready to stay out there and play [tonight]. I'll play Saturday. It's fine." "It feels fine," Blake added about his foot. "When you're out for six weeks, the first week is OK. Then it starts to get to you. You have a routine during the season, and you miss the routine." And we all know how much the Kings could use their Norris Trophy winner back in the lineup. Even those outside of the Kings organization seem to agree. "With [Blake], they have one of the top two or three defenses in the league," San Jose Sharks' head coach Darryl Sutter said. "Without him, maybe the top fifteen." To illustrate, the Kings are 2-12 without Blake and are right on the edge of being out of playoff contention before the new year. "We're eleven games under .500," Blake said. "If we play .500 hockey from here on out, it's not good enough. Right now, between now and Christmas, it's a pretty important time to get something going. We've got to get on a roll and get back to .500." Nevertheless, the Kings' medical staff won't allow Blake to play until they're absolutely certain about his fitness to return to the lineup. He will be examined again on Friday. In other news, left wing Steve McKenna has been cleared to return to the lineup tonight after missing a month with an abdominal strain. 12/8/98 Jim Hodges reported in Tuesday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Rob Blake (broken foot) has been cleared to skate twenty minutes a day after undergoing an MRI on Monday. Blake, who suffered a broken foot on October 30, is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Left wing Steve McKenna (abdominal strain) should activated on Wednesday and could be in the lineup against Washington. Hodges also has a feature article on the Kings' woes in today's edition. Point your web browser to: http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/SPORTS/topstory.html This URL will only work until the Wednesday edition takes its place. 12/7/98 Los Angeles Kings' center Jozef Stumpel, who recorded two big assists in his team's strong second period against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night talked about regaining his top form after missing virtually all of training camp and much of the first two months of the season. "I feel pretty good now," he said. "I've just got to get in game shape. I can't think about getting injured any more." Stumpel's great pass to help set up Luc Robitaille's goal just might have been a sign that he has returned to form. Injury Update... Defenseman Rob Blake is hopeful that he'll be cleared to practice starting next week. "There hasn't been any pain since I stopped using crutches [three weeks ago]," Blake said. There has still been no update provided by the Kings' medical staff or the training staff on Blake's condition. Winger Russ Courtnall's broken ankle is more serious than originally thought. He still cannot put weight on the ankle and is expected to be out eight weeks. 12/2/98 Despite the Los Angeles Kings' plummet to near the bottom of the NHL in November, there was one bright spot... The NHL announced on Wednesday that center Olli Jokinen was named as the Rookie of the Month for November. Jokinen score four goals and added four assists for eight points in eleven games in November and earned a +4 rating. He was on the scoresheet in seven of those games. Jokinen is currently eighth in rookie scoring in the NHL and has the highest points-per-game average among rookies, .727 Also considered for the monthly honor were Pittsburgh Penguins' goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Vancouver Canucks' center Bill Muckalt. The Los Angeles Kings have Downtown Los Angeles on ice...literally. The Kings, along with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other public and private sponsors, are hosting "LA Kings Downtown on Ice," at Pershing Square, located between Grand Avenue and Olive Streets, across from the Biltmore Hotel (across Grand, to the west; I think it's bordered on the north by 5th Street and on the south by 6th Street). As you've probably guessed, they've installed an outdoor ice skating rink, which is available from December 1 through Sunday, January 3, 1999. Public skating is just $5.00 and skate rental is $2.00. Hours: Monday-Friday, 12 noon to 10:00 PM, Saturday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. There will also be "Holiday Concerts" there on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2:00 PM and on Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. In radio interview I heard last night, Kings' president Tim Leiweke said that the Kings hope to make this an annual tradition. Sounds like a great way for the Kings to establish a real presence and rapport in Downtown Los Angeles. For more information, including information about holiday parties or other special events, call (213) 847-4970. 12/1/98 For those of you who may not know, The DAILY BREEZE, a daily newspaper covering the South Bay area, is now on the web. Their top Sports stories can be found at: http://www.dailybreeze.com/index/breeze/sports.html Sacha Terrill, one of the better hockey writers in Southern California and the beat writer covering the Kings for the DAILY BREEZE, has a good feature article on Luc Robitaille in today's edition. Point your web browser to: http://www.dailybreeze.com/index/breeze/bls/nmrobitaille01.html
