KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
6.26.99
On Saturday, the NHL Entry Draft was held in Boston and the Los Angeles
Kings, who traded their first round pick (eighth overall) to the New
York Islanders in the deal that brought Zigmund Palffy to the Kings,
basically had to settle for whomever was the best player available when
their turns came up.
The following are the Kings' draft selections, along with statistics
from the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau, profile information and
comments from Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor
(where available):
First Round - No Selection
Second Round - Andrei Shefer, Right Wing (43rd overall)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
Birthdate: July 26, 1981
CSB Rank: 16 (Overall European)
1998-99 Team: Cherepovets (Russia)
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
======================================================
1998-99 Cherepovets Rus. 2 82 31 18 49 --
Cherepovets Rus Sr. 8 1 0 1 4
hockeysfuture.com Profile: Played for Team Russia in European Junior
Championships in Feussen, Germany. Andrei uses his body very well to
control the puck and shake off forecheckers. Has the ability to score
goals as well as set-up his linemates. Rated best Russian forward in
Germany. Other Comments: A big question mark. Probable second or third
rounder. Nice skater, finesse player with good shot. Depends on how
he'll adjust to the smaller rinks here, but a possible third liner three
years down the road in NHL.
*NOTE: Check out http://www.hockeysfuture.com for great information
about junior hockey, the minor leagues and all the news about the draft.
Taylor talked about Shefer on Saturday.
"Andrei Shefer is a pretty good all-around player," Taylor said. "Very
strong, good skater, has a solid work ethic, very good on the defensive
side as well as on the offensive side. We think he's just a good
all-around player. We don't think he has any weaknesses to his game."
Third Round - Jason Crain, Defenseman (74th overall)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Shoots: Left
Birthdate: January 3, 1980
CSB Rank: 65 (overall North American)
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
===================================================
1998-99 Ohio State CCHA 37 3 13 16 16
(NCAA)
Crain, a freshman, played last season at Ohio State University and was
considered by Ohio State to be "one of the jewels of the 1998 recruiting
class who has the size and natural ability to make a big impact right
away."
Crain has a reputation for being an exceptional skater and a good passer
who moves the puck well and will join the offensive rush when the
opportunity presents itself. He was rated the 14th best player out of
the 450 available for the Major Junior Draft by the Ontario Hockey
League Scouting Bureau.
Other comments: Crain is a good skater with good straight-ahead speed,
likes to rush puck on PP, uses his backhand well, has a good wrist shot
and hard slapshot, likes the physical game, works in the corners and in
front, is very effective in blocking shots and pinches well. He is a
team player.
"[Crain is a] freshman at Ohio State this year," Taylor said. [He is a]
very mobile defenseman with excellent size."
Third Round (from Chicago for Doug Zmolek) - Frantisek Kaberle,
Defenseman (76th overall)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Birthdate: November 8, 1973
CSB Ranking: Not ranked
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
================================================================
1998-99 MoDo Sweden Elitserien 45 15 18 33 4
(Elite League)
MoDo (playoffs) 3 2 5 7 8
1998-99 Czech Republic World Championships 12 3 3 6 ??
As an older player (25) with some professional experience, the Kings
believe that Kaberle might be ready to contribute right away.
"He played last year for MoDo in Sweden," Taylor said. "He was voted
the most valuable defenseman in the Swedish Elite League last year and
he played with the Czech Republic World Championship team [which won the
gold medal]. This is a player we feel could step in and play for us
immediately. He's a very good skater and he moves the puck extremely
well."
Third Round (from Toronto for Yanic Perreault) - Cory Campbell,
Goaltender (92nd overall)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200
Glove Hand: Left
Birthdate: July 27, 1981
CSB Rank: 9 (overall North American goalies)
Year Team League GP MINS GA GAA SO SV%
==============================================================
1998-99 Belleville OHL 46 2679 156 3.49 1 .890
Won-Loss Record: 28-13-4
Campbell is reported to be a good, all-around goalie who is primarily a
stand-up goalie but also uses the butterfly on occasion. His positioning
is supposed to be good, he follows shooters well, is patient, with good
reactions and good focus.
hockeysfuture.com Profile: Cory backstopped the Belleville Bulls to an
OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Semi-Final. He was named the
Memorial Cup's Most Outstanding Goalie. He has good size and improved
all season long. He is probably the third or fourth best goalie in the
OHL at age 17. He is a very good athlete and shows a penchant for
acrobatics in net. He plays the angle well, as well. His stock has risen
all season.
"He's a pretty solid goaltender," Taylor said. "He led Belleville to
the OHL championship this year and was a finalist for the Memorial Cup.
He played on the same team as [Kings' prospect] Justin Papineau. He
started the season as a backup goaltender but earned the starting spot
by the end of the year and really was outstanding for them throughout
the playoffs."
Regarding the Kings' first four draft picks, Taylor said that while they
believe that Kaberle might contribute right away, the rest are not ready
to make the jump to the NHL.
"We would anticipate that Crain will stay in school. He's just a
freshman," Taylor said. "Hopefully, he'll stay in and graduates so
another three years. We'll obviously monitor his development. Campbell
has another two years of junior and Shefer plays over in Russia in the
second division."
Fourth Round - Brian McGratton, Right Wing (104th overall)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Shoots: Right
Team: Sudbury (OHL)
CSB Rank: 85 (Overall North American)
Year Team League GP G A Pts +/- PIM
========================================================
1998-99 Sudbury OHL 59 8 13 21 -14 168
McGratton saw limited ice time in his rookie year (1997-98) with the OHL
champion Guelph Storm. He is now starting to develop into a solid power
forward but does need a some work defensively. The experience that he is
gaining with the Wolves can only help him improve. McGratton uses his
big frame to drive to the net. His scoring touch is fair, but it needs
some improvement.
hockeysfuture.com Profile: Brian is a tough winger who likes to use the
body. He is a good scrapper and is always good at giving his team some
momentum with his aggressive play. He won an OHL championship in his
rookie season with the Guelph Storm.
Fourth Round (from New Jersey/NY Islanders in Palffy trade) - Daniel
Johansson, Center (125th overall)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 176
CSB Rank: 85 (Overall European)
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
================================================================
1998-99 MoDo Sweden Elitserien 43 10 19 29 ??
(Elite League)
Fifth Round - Jean-Francois Nogues, Goaltender (133rd overall)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 154
Age: 18
CSB Rank: 12 (overall North American goalies)
Year Team League GP MINS GA GAA SO SV%
================================================================
1998-99 Victoriaville QMJHL 32 1555 108 4.17 ? .863
And yes, he is listed as weighing 154 pounds! He was 11-11-4 at
Victoriaville.
Sixth Round - No Selection
Seventh Round - Kevin Baker, Right Wing (193rd overall)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 206
Age: 20
CSB Rank: Not ranked
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
==================================================================
1997-98 Belleville Bulls OHL 63 21 21 42 62
1998-99 Belleville Bulls OHL 68 44 37 81 66
Belleville Bulls (playoffs) OHL 12 12 5 17 12
Eighth Round - George Parros, Right Wing (222nd overall)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210
Age: 19
CSB Rank: Not ranked
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
==================================================================
1998-99 Chicago NAHL 53 30 20 50 124
Ninth Round - Noah Clarke, Left Wing (250th overall)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Age: 20
CSB Rank: Not ranked
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM
==================================================================
1998-99 Des Moines USHL 52 31 32 63 47
6.25.99
On Friday, the NHL held its expansion draft to fill roster spots for the
Atlanta Thrashers, who will join the league in the 1999-2000 season.
Each team lost a player to the expansion draft and the Los Angeles Kings
lost left wing/enforcer Matt Johnson.
Atlanta's roster looks like this:
Kelly Buchberger RW Edmonton Oilers
Sylvain Cloutier C Chicago Blackhawks
Phil Crowe LW Ottawa Senators
Peter Ferraro C Boston Bruins
Johan Garpenlov LW Florida Panthers
Jody Hull RW Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Johnson LW Los Angeles Kings
Tomi Kallio LW Colorado Avalanche
Steve Staois RW Vancouver Canucks
Mike Stapleton C Phoenix Coyotes
Ed Ward RW Calgary Flames
Terry Yake RW St. Louis Blues
Alexei Yegorov RW San Jose Sharks
Petr Buzek D Dallas Stars
Brett Clark D Montreal Canadiens
Kevin Dean D New Jersey Devils
Maxim Galanov D Pittsburgh Penguins
David Harlock D New York Islanders
Jamie Pushor D Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Darryl Shannon D Buffalo Sabres
Chris Tamer D New York Rangers
Mark Tinordi D Washington Capitals
Yannick Tremblay D Toronto Maple Leafs
Trevor Kidd G Carolina Hurricanes
Norm Maracle G Detroit Red Wings
Corey Schwab G Tampa Bay Lightning
There isn't a whole lot of offensive talent on that roster, so it's
obvious that the Thrashers' front office knows that they'll need to be
tough and physical in order to compete on a nightly basis. Hence, the
selection of Johnson, probably the best enforcer available in the
expanion draft, especially if you consider age as a factor.
This leaves a void to fill in the Kings' lineup. Defenseman Sean
O'Donnell was surprisingly the Kings' best fighter last season, but he
is clearly not a heavyweight. Unless the Kings find another heavyweight
who can fight well, the Kings will start getting picked on quickly,
especially with players like Bryan Marchment (San Jose) and heavyweights
like Stu Grimson (Anaheim) in the same division.
The Kings need to upgrade their offense, to be sure. However, unless
they have someone who can protect their skilled players, Kings' forwards
are going to have a tough time. O'Donnell can't do this job and be an
effective, stay-at-home defenseman at the same time. At the very least,
being an enforcer should not be one of the primary roles he plays on
this team. The Kings need a true heavyweight with some real fighting
skills (unlike Mark Visheau) for that job.
Makes you wonder if the Kings will draft such a player on Saturday...
As was reported on Thursday, Jerry Buss has sold the Great Western Forum
to LA Arena Company, the partnership that owns the Staples Center.
The deal is rumored to be valued at $20 million to $30 million.
The Great Western Forum is expected to host 100 events a year.
"Taking advantage of the synergies that will exist between both of our
arenas, the Great Western Forum will be an asset to promoters as both a
scheduling and cost-effective alternative to other sites," said Tim
Leiweke, president of Staples Center and the Kings.
"We see it as an ideal building for our conflict dates and additional
events that wouldn't be in Staples due to the large number of events we
will have," Leiweke added.
Leiweke also said that another reason this move was made so that they
would not be competing with Jerry Buss.
"We have a lot of respect for Dr. Buss and Jeanie [Buss, Jerry's
daughter and president of the Forum]," Leiweke said. "They're our
partners, and we're bound and determined not to compete with our
partners."
As for Buss, he obviously has mixed feelings.
"I've spent hundreds of enjoyable hours here, rooting for the Lakers,
the Kings and the Sparks as well as attending fights and concerts and so
many other events," Buss said in a statement. "It has been a lot of fun
owning this great facility."
Both Busses said a relationship with another venue was crucial to
keeping The Forum busy with its two main tenants gone.
"It's a sad day for me," said Jeanie Buss, who has worked in The Forum
for 20 years. "I met my ex-husband here, I got mugged here, and I've met
Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan. It's my home."
One drawback is the effect this move will have on Great Western Forum
employees. It appears that some will be laid off.
"I feel like I've disappointed the employees," Jeanie Buss said. "But we
needed a strategic alliance, and this makes sense for the community and
Inglewood."
Sacha Terrill, beat writer covering the Kings for the DAILY BREEZE, has
a good article on Zigmund Palffy. It's no longer on their main web
page, but you can find it at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bls/nmziggyp24.html
As you all know, the NHL Entry Draft will be held on Saturday. I'll
have a report on the Kings' draft picks sometime on Saturday night or on
Sunday.
6.24.99
It's not directly related to the product on the ice, but this is some
pretty cool news from the Los Angeles Kings...
On Thursday, the Kings announced that beginning in October, they will be
hosting the first-ever Los Angeles Kings High School Hockey League for
both ice and in-line players.
Teams will play a ten-game regular season, one game per week. Games
will be played at the Kings' new training center in El Segundo, at
Iceoplex in North Hills and at the Staples Center.
All players will receive a ticket to a Kings' game per playing season
and participating teams will randomly be selected for a clinic to be
taught by Kings star winger Luc Robitaille.
For more information, please call Steve Bogoyevac, Kings Director of Fan
Development, at (310) 419-3830.
6.22.99
The NHL has released the protected/unprotected lists for Friday's
expansion draft. Here is the Kings' list:
PROTECTED
=========
Donald Audette
Craig Johnson
Ian Laperriere
Glen Murray
Zigmund Palffy
Luc Robitaille
Bryan Smolinski
Jozef Stumpel
Marko Tuomainen
Aki Berg **
Rob Blake
Jaroslav Modry
Mattias Norstrom
Sean O'Donnell
UNPROTECTED
===========
Dan Bylsma
Brandon Convery
Russ Courtnall
Andrew Dale
Ray Ferraro
Matt Johnson
Nathan Lafayette
Steve McKenna
Igor Melyakov
Sandy Moger
Jason Morgan
Jason Podollan
Sean Pronger
Chris Schmidt
Jukka Tiilikainen *
Vladimir Tsyplakov
Tomas Vlasak
Juha Vuorivirta *
Magnus Wernblom *
David Babych
Doug Bodger
Philippe Boucher
Garry Galley
Jan Nemecek
Martin Strebak *
Mark Visheau
* unsigned draft choice (Europe)
** restricted free agent
For an explanation of the expansion draft rules and procedures as well as
lists for all NHL teams, point your web browser to:
http://www.nhl.com/news/jun/062199lists.htm
6.21.99
9:00 pm PDT
Unfortunately, I got tied up at work and I missed much of the conference
call held by the Los Angeles Kings in which newly-acquired center Bryan
Smolinski talked with reporters. But here's what I did catch.
Smolinski, who was acquired by the Kings from the New York Islanders in
the trade that also brought Zigmund Palffy to the Kings, said that he's
happy to be heading to Los Angeles.
"I'm thrilled," he said about the trade. "I'm really excited to be
[with the Kings]. The Kings should expect a lot from Ziggy and I. It's
a great organization and they have high standards. I've had some stale
seasons, but I1ve scored thirty goals before and I want to get back to
that."
The Kings will apparently make a qualifying offer (equal to his current
salary) in order to retain their rights to him (otherwise, he'd become a
restricted free agent on July 1).
When asked what he brings to the Kings, Smolinski told reporters, "I
like to put as many shots on net as I can. You take whatever you get."
That's doesn't sound bad at all, considering that the Kings have more
players who pass up great shots than they have players who are willing
to shoot the puck.
Smolinski also talked about Palffy.
"He's an exciting player," Smolinski said. "He can take the puck from
one end of the ice to the other and put it top shelf. He's going to do
wonderful things here."
You'll see more of Smolinski's comments on Tuesday morning in the local
print media, I'm sure.
3:00 pm PDT
On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed
defenseman Jere Karalahti to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
Karalahti, 24, was selected by the Kings in the sixth round (146th
overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
He has played the last six years at IFK Helsinki in the Finnish Elite
League. In 229 career games, Karalahti has 36 goals and 64 assists for
100 points and 297 penalty minutes.
Last season, Karalahti, who is 6-2 and weighs 210 pounds, scored 11
goals and contributed 22 assists for 33 points while racking up 65
penalty minutes in 49 games.
Karalahti played for the silver-medal-winning Finnish National Team
in May at the 1999 World Championships in Norway, scoring five goals and
three assists for eight points and was named to the post-tournament
All-Star team.
"We're excited to have Jere on board with the Kings for next season,"
said Taylor. "He's a solid all-around defenseman, and for the past two
seasons has excelled in both the Finnish Elite League and in
international competition."
Here's the latest on the Palffy trade...
Los Angeles Kings' Vice President and General Manage Dave Taylor was
quite excited about bringing forward Zigmund Palffy to the Kings.
"We are absolutely thrilled with this deal," Taylor said. "Ziggy Palffy
is a proven NHL scorer and a true gamebreaker," said Taylor. "The
opportunity to acquire a player of this caliber, at this stage of his
young career, was something we just couldn't pass up. Ziggy's a marquee
player who generates excitement each time he touches the puck. This is
truly a great day for the organization and for our fans."
"Getting this deal done was a real team effort," Taylor added. "Our
owners have always been committed to this team, and they demonstrated
that by giving us the additional resources necessary to pull off a deal
of this magnitude."
Taylor also commented on the acquisition of center Bryan Smolinski in
the deal.
"Bryan was a key ingredient for us in this deal," Taylor said. "He has
consistently produced at the NHL level and combined with Palffy, they
will give us a significant offensive boost."
Rich Hammond reported in Monday's ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER that at the
very least, Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor knew
he had to get a decent center in the deal with the New York Islanders.
"In our minds, if Olli [Jokinen] was included in the deal, it was
important that [Bryan] Smolinski came to us," Taylor said. "We were
giving up a center, so we wanted to get a solid No. 2 center in return."
And Taylor is denying that the Kings have shifted their focus away from
youth.
"I don't think our philosophy has changed a whole lot," Taylor said.
"We're looking for a chance to improve our offense and Ziggy is in his
prime and is under contract for five years. We try to develop players
the best we can, and we still feel we have a good number of good, young,
talented players."
"We've added a very exciting player, as well as a solid No. 2 center
[Smolinski], and they could add fifty to sixty goals to our team next
season," Taylor said.
Roger Phillips reported in Monday's LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM that the
Kings are very excited about their offense for next season.
"Every time [Palffy] touches the puck, he does something clever with it,
especially from the blue line in," Taylor said. "I think he is as
exciting a player as there is to watch. He's very creative, very quick,
and he can score highlight-type goals."
But will he bring new fans to the Staples Center?
"I think he will be exciting to watch for the casual fan," Taylor said.
"It's the same as any hockey player: They probably don't know who Ziggy
Palffy is, but when they come to the Staples Center, they'll know."
Phillips also mentions that this year will be the 22nd time the Kings
have traded their first-round pick in their 33 year history, which is
really does call into question how serious they are about their "youth
movement."
Nevertheless, Taylor felt this deal had to be done.
"I think we've given up a significant package of young assets," Taylor
admitted. "But the opportunity to acquire Palffy and Smolinski and the
offense they can bring to the club, we were happy to do it."
Phillips also reported that in addition to the five-year, $26 million
contract that Palffy has, the Kings will also have a club option for a
sixth season at $7 million.
The only question now is what will the Kings do with their right wingers
as at least one of them will probably need to switch over to the left
side. Palffy and Donald Audette can play either side.
"[The trade] will give Andy Murray a lot of choices," Taylor said. "He
can have six very strong offensive players on two lines or balance it
out through three lines."
Jim Hodges reported in Monday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Murray is pleased
with the acquisition of Palffy.
"I do know that Palffy is an exciting player," Murray said. "The thing
about Palffy is that, even though you're always aware of him while he's
on the ice, and you tell your players to be aware of him, he keeps
finding a way to get behind your defense. He must lead the league in
breakaway opportunities."
Taylor also admitted that the Kings' move into the new Staples Center
was a factor in the deal.
"It was an organizational decision, without question," Taylor said. "The
fact we were moving into Staples Center had impact... . There was no
problem selling this to ownership."
In a conference call on Monday afternoon, Palffy talked about the trade.
"Being traded was very tough for me, it was hard to deal with" Palffy
told reporters. "This last week was very frustrating. But I am a
professional athlete so I have to be ready for everything."
"It was real difficult [to be traded]," he added. "But we never made
the playoffs so "I'm really happy now and I can't wait to go play hockey
again. They are try to build a good team and I want to be part of it."
Palffy clearly preferred to focus more on his new team.
"I played four or five years without making the playoffs [with the
Islanders]," Palffy said. "I was playing hard but it's tough to play in
the 82nd game knowing that you're going home right after. I'm going to
do everything in my power to help the Kings [get into the playoffs]."
Palffy almost didn't get traded to the Kings. Earlier last week, it
looked like he was headed across town to the New York Rangers and he was
on an emotional roller coaster all week while the trade rumors flew all
around him.
"It's tough if you can't choose where you want to go, but I'm really
happy now and I can't wait to play hockey again," he said.
Palffy also commented on the Islanders and their financial woes.
"The owners here don't want spend money, so I was prepared to be
traded," he said. "I knew I was going to be first on the block [because
of the value of his contract]."
But Palffy said that his teammates played hard, even though they knew
the franchise had money problems.
"The Islanders are having a tough time right now," Palffy said. "It's
hard because everything is about money. Owners don't want to spend any
money on the hockey so they're going to trade players who make $1
million. I was ready for anything."
When asked if he was mad at the Islanders who signed him to a big
contract after he was a holdout for 32 games, only to trade him because
they couldn't afford him, Palffy replied, "I can't be mad because
something good [being traded to the Kings] happened to me."
Palffy also talked about what he brings to the Kings.
"I'd like to create a lot of offense and score goals and make a play for
other guys but hockey is now a two-way game, so I'll play however the
coaches want," Palffy said.
Palffy also talked about the pressure he feels coming to the Kings, who
are looking to him to provide a major offensive spark.
"I don't think I feel any pressure," he said. "There are twenty guys on
the team and I'm just one of them. I'm going to play my style of hockey
and do my best."
I'll have more on this trade later...the Kings will hold a conference
call for the media to talk with center Bryan Smolinski at 5:00 PM PDT.
7:00 am PDT
The New York media has their stories out on the trade that sent New York
Islanders' high-scoring winger Zigmund Palffy to the Los Angeles Kings
in a trade that just beat the trade freeze deadline on Sunday.
Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor had a few
interesting comments.
"[Isles' General Manager] Mike Milbury was straightforward with me,"
Taylor said. "His first option then was to sign Ziggy and get him in the
lineup. But the situation has changed with the Islanders now and they're
going with a youth movement."
"We were close to a resolution on a couple of occasions, but for some
reason weren't able to get it done," Taylor added. "I don't know exactly
what sprung the deal. It was an involved negotiation."
Could it be that Milbury was holding out for center Olli Jokinen, who he
coveted, according to published reports all last week?
Nevertheless, Taylor continued to point to the instant offense that
Palffy would provide.
"We may have added fifty or sixty goals to our lineup," Taylor said.
Yeah, whatever you say, Dave. Can you say "spin doctoring?" I knew
that you could!
Given the fact that Palffy's career high is 48 goals, fifty isn't out of
the question. Sixty is probably a pipe dream, though.
As for Palffy, he was reportedly sad that he was traded, but he was not
disappointed about where he was headed.
"It happened," Palffy said. "You can do nothing about it. You have to go
there, accept it. I'm happy to go there. It is a young team. There is a
good future over there, with a new arena. They want to make the
playoffs. They want to build a good team. I've never been traded before.
But now I'm a Los Angeles King. I'm going to play for them, try my
best."
Palffy also commented on the Islanders' situation.
"I know we were struggling with the money," Palffy said. "I was here
five years and the Islanders never made a signing of a big player. It's
real sad, because I thought beside me, I would play with good players.
We would have a good team. They never did that."
"It was frustrating that we never made the playoffs," Palffy added. "I
always liked to play for the Islanders. But everything changed. So I
have to turn another page. I think I'm happy, because things could have
happened worse. I guess I could always go to Tampa Bay."
With this trade, the Isles now have the fifth, eighth and tenth picks in
Saturday's entry draft.
6.20.99
Looks like the pressure to bring in a star to put butts in the seats at
the new Staples Center is very heavy...
Late Sunday, the Los Angeles Kings traded center Olli Jokinen, left wing
Josh Green, defenseman Mathieu Biron and their first round selection
(eighth overall) in Saturday's entry draft to the New York Islanders.
In return, the Islanders sent high-scoring right wing Zigmund Palffy,
center Bryan Smolinski, goaltender Marcel Cousineau and New Jersey's
fourth-round pick in the 1999 entry draft to the Kings.
Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor pointed to the
instant offense Palffy will provide to the offense-lacking Kings.
"We're very pleased to be able to add this kind of offense to the team,"
Taylor said. "I think LA is going to love him."
Palffy, 27, was the Islanders' leading scorer this past season with 22
goals and 28 assists in 50 games. He was a holdout for 32 games
(contract dispute).
In his first full season in the NHL (1995-96), Palffy scored 43 goals
and added 44 assists for 87 points in 81 games.
In 1996-97, Palffy improved his stats a bit, scoring 48 goals and 42
assists for 90 points in 80 games.
And in 1997-98, Palffy scored 45 goals and contributed 42 assists for 87
points in 82 games.
From 1995-96 to 1997-98, Palffy averaged 45 goals, 43 assists and 88
points.
Talk about consistency!
In his NHL career, Palffy has scored 168 goals and 163 assists for 331
points in 331 games. A point-a-game player. Not bad!
"He's a marquee player, one of the most exciting players in the game,"
Taylor added. "Every time he touches the puck he does something
exciting. He's very creative."
Is Palffy REALLY a "marquee" player? It's hard for me to say because we
see so little of him here in the Western Conference and especially in
his "huge hockey town" here in the Los Angeles area.
Taylor also talked about Palffy's $6 million/year price tag.
"Management has given us a lot of support on this," Taylor said. "I
don't think there are many teams in the NHL that would be able to take
on an additional $6 million in annual salary."
While the Kings took on a ton in added salary, the Islanders clearly
made this move to cut their costs.
Last week, various reports had the Kings sending a much less expensive
package that included $2 million in cash. However, the NHL stepped in,
saying that any Islanders' trade involving cash or not involving a
player who had NHL experience would not be approved by the league.
This set the stage for what happened on Sunday.
"You never want to trade a player as special as Ziggy, but we are very
happy to get a collection of talented players and our third top-10 pick
in return," Islanders' general manager Mike Milbury said.
"We believe Jokinen will immediately become a fan favorite for his
talent, while we expect Green to be a solid player for us next season,"
Milbury added. "There's also no doubt Biron and the eighth overall pick
will emerge as important contributors to this franchise for years to
come."
Speaking of all those young players the Kings gave up...did anyone
notice that all of them are the Kings' first or second round picks from
the last three years?
Jokinen, who was untouchable until this weekend, was the Kings' first
round selection (third overall) in 1997.
Green was selected 30th overall (second round) in 1996 and Biron was
picked 21st overall (first round) in 1998.
And to top it off, the Isles get the Kings' first round pick (8th
overall) this year.
I don't know what that looks like to the Kings, but it sure doesn't look
like a youth movement. And with the Kings stating that Jokinen was
going to be in their plans for a long time and that he was going to be a
star in the NHL, it sure does seem like there is a ton of pressure from
ownership/management to get a star on the team who can sell tickets in
the new Staples Center.
If that's the case, I've got a message for the Kings' ownership: Palffy
isn't a household name here in the Los Angeles area. He will not have
the name recognition to sell seats all by himself. What will sell
tickets in the long-run is a winning team and although Palffy will help
the Kings' anemic offense, I wonder if this trade is a wise one for the
long haul? It certainly sends a message to the fans that the Kings may
not REALLY be in a youth movement/rebuilding mode.
Has the "win now at all costs" attitude returned to the Kings?
Considering what that attitude has gotten them since their inception in
1967, I certainly hope not.
In any case, the Kings have taken a big risk. This trade means that:
1) The Kings believe that Jozef Stumpel will return to form between Luc
Robitaille and Palffy and will make a huge comeback next season;
2) The Kings are hoping and praying that one of their young centers,
probably Jason Blake, will make the team and become their #2 or #3
center;
3) The Kings are a bit more likely to re-sign Ray Ferraro, who is an
unrestricted free agent on July 1; or that Bryan Smolinski will make a
comeback from the off-year he had in 1997-98.
While I believe that Palffy will help the Kings tremendously this
season, the addition of him alone isn't enough to make this team a
consistent winner. They still have players on the roster who don't have
the talent to play in the NHL or the mental toughness/commitment
(floaters). Add to that the loss of a player who will probably be a
very good player in the NHL in Jokinen, I'm not convinced that this was
a good trade for the Kings.
Only time will tell. More as I hear it during the day on Monday!
6.19.99
Here's the latest on the Zigmund Palffy situation...
Jim Hodges reported in Saturday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Kings' Vice
President and General Manager Dave Taylor talked with New York
Islanders' General Manager Mike Milbury on Friday. Hodges reported that
the Kings' offer is defenseman Mathieu Biron, center Scott Barney,
winger Josh Green, winger Jason Podollan and their first-round draft
choice. In return, the Isles would send Palffy, prospect Mike Watt,
center Bryan Smolinski and goalie Marcel Cousineau.
Hodges also reports that the two teams are working against time. If the
Dallas Stars win the Stanley Cup tonight, a freeze on trades goes into
effect at 2:00 PM PDT on Sunday and it remains in effect until Friday's
expansion draft. And of course, the deal would have to be done before
Saturday's amateur draft in order to make sense.
I was unable to find anything about the potential trade in the New York
media today or elsewhere in the Los Angeles media. Even Canadian media
sites, ESPN, USA Today, CBS Sportsline, etc...none had any mention of
this potential deal today, at least not that I was able to find.
6.18.99
According to various sources, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York
Islanders are continuing to work on a deal that would bring forward
Zigmund Palffy to the Kings.
And to the Kings credit, it appears that they are not willing to give up
too much in the deal.
John Dellapina reported in today's NEW YORK DAILY NEWS that the Kings
are not willing to trade center Olli Jokinen.
But the NHL nixed the proposed deal that has been reported in the media
in recent days. That deal would have sent Josh Green, Jason Podollan,
Scott Barney, Mathieu Biron and their first-round draft pick this year
and cash for Palffy, Mike Watt, the rights to Bryan Smolinski and
goaltender Marcel Cousineau.
The NHL wants to prevent the Isles from having a "fire sale" just to
save money so they will not approve any deal involving cash.
So...both teams were apparently back at the negotiating table, hashing
out a new deal. Perhaps they've come up with one.
Larry Brooks is reporting in today's edition of the NEW YORK POST that
the Kings are offering defenseman prospect Mathieu Biron, forward
prospects Scott Barney and Josh Green, and either defenseman Sean
O'Donnell or left wing Craig Johnson, along with the Kings first-round
pick in the June draft. The Isles would then send Watt, Smolinski,
Cousineau and Palffy to the Kings.
Brooks referred to both O'Donnell and Johnson as "marginal" players.
I DEFINITELY wouldn't mind seeing that trade happening!
6.15.99
The day after...
Among sportswriters and one NHL head coach, opinions regarding the Los
Angeles Kings' hiring of Andy Murray as their new head coach run the
entire spectrum.
LOS ANGELES TIMES columnist J.A. Adande (another hockey "expert" from
the TIMES), criticized the move in his column (see "This Move Makes No
Sense," Tuesday, June 15, 1999, Sports section).
Adande pointed to the fact that Los Angeles is a "star town" and that
the Kings aren't very exciting right now,
"Because this is star-crazy Los Angeles, because the Kings already have
to play catch-up in the attention game, that isn't enough," he wrote.
"Andy Murray is a name with no sizzle, no juice," added Adande. "You
could put his face on the side of bus and people would think it's a
picture of the driver, not the new coach in town.
He went on to criticize the Kings for not hiring a coach whose name
wasn't already on the Stanley Cup.
"That's the problem. This is one case where attention to detail wasn't
in order," he wrote. "The interview process should have started with:
Have you done anything noteworthy in the NHL? Is your name on the
Stanley Cup? If either question came back no, the candidates should have
been shown the door."
Who did Adande expect the Kings to hire? Scotty Bowman?
Although Adande makes some very good points about the Kings and what
they are and/or aren't doing in his column, he is way off-base on this
point.
You can read Adande's column for yourself at:
http://sports.latimes.com/news/19990615/lat/000053787.html
Helene Elliott, who is in Buffalo covering the Stanley Cup Finals for
the TIMES, talked with Dallas Stars' head coach Ken Hitchcock about
Murray and found out that Hitchcock really likes Murray as a coach (see
"Hitchcock Approves of Hire," LOS ANGELES TIMES, Tuesday, June 15, 1999,
Sports section).
Elliott reported that Hitchcock has known Murray for many years
"He's really a good coach and he's got the benefit of a lot of
experience," Hitchcock said. "He understands the game at a lot of
levels: international and obviously at the NHL level.
"He's always been a coach that had strong specialty teams, and that will
be a big challenge for the people coaching against him. He'll do a hell
of a job there. They'll be a hell of a team with the details because
he's one of the best in that regard."
Hitchcock also raved about Murray's communication skills.
"He motivates from an intellectual level," Hitchcock said. "He's very
smart that way. He's very intelligent at being able to read situations
and adjust accordingly. He's a teacher-coach first, but he's really in
tune with today's players, too. He likes practices and preparation, and
if you've got a feel for players and detail, that seems to be the way
the business is going. He'll do a hell of a job."
Can't get a much better endorsement than that, especially from someone
who is recognized as one of the best head coaches in the NHL.
Elliott also talked with former Chicago Blackhawks goalie and current
ESPN analyst Darren Pang who said, "By all accounts, Murray knows a lot
about the technical side of international hockey, and at the [Nagano]
Olympics, [Canada coach] Marc Crawford leaned on him heavily. He did a
good job."
Elliott's article can be found at:
http://sports.latimes.com/news/19990615/lat/000053801.html
TIMES columnist Randy Harvey took a few potshots at the Kings in his
tongue-in-cheek commentary about the Murray hiring (see "Having No
Expectations Is Great Move for Kings," LOS ANGELES TIMES, Tuesday, June
15, 1999, Sports section).
"The Kings' hiring of Andy Murray as their head coach was brilliant,"
wrote Harvey. "I realize that is a minority opinion, but you have to
look at it this way: The Dodgers hired Davey Johnson and people expected
them to be in the World Series. The Lakers haven't even hired Phil
Jackson yet and people expect them to be in the NBA finals."
"If Dave Taylor had hired Ted Nolan, the most successful former NHL head
coach among the candidates, or Dave Lewis, an assistant to Scotty Bowman
with Detroit's Stanley Cup championship teams, there might have been
high expectations for the Kings. [But] with Murray, there are no
expectations."
Harvey's article can be found at:
http://sports.latimes.com/news/19990615/lat/000053792.html
Although not a commentary piece, Jim Hodges, beat writer covering the
Kings for the TIMES, reported some encouraging items about the Kings'
new head coach (see "A Taylor-Made Coach for Kings," LOS ANGELES TIMES,
Tuesday, June 15, 1999, Sports section).
Hodges noted that one reason Murray was hired was his attention to
detail.
"Murray has a plan for virtually every minute from the time he said "I
do" to the Kings," Hodges wrote. "That plan includes meeting every
player, hopefully in a home situation, even if the home is in Finland;
hiring assistant coaches, at least one of them a former player; dealing
with every practice during training camp; exhibitions; the first long
trip; moving into the Staples Center and new practice facility in El
Segundo; and team building in any way he can imagine."
"Oh, and Brandy Blake, Stacia Robitaille, Terry Lynn Galley and the
other King wives can expect flowers September 4, when training camp
opens."
"It makes them realize how important they are to the success of the
organization," Murray said.
Not bad...
Hodges also reported that the Kings' players appear to be very happy
with the choice of Murray and that they like the fact that he will bring
discipline to the team.
"He has stressed that he expects discipline of his players," Kings'
captain Rob Blake said. "We need that on this team. You aren't going to
win without that."
"We weren't the hardest-working team in games last season and you have
to have that," Blake added. "You can't win on talent alone... .You have
to work."
"We've been to the playoffs once [in the last four years] without
[discipline]," Blake elaborated. "That structure, that much intensity
coming to the team, well, there are two ways to do things and the other
way didn't work. That's why I think this will."
"There is no such thing as an optional-effort practice, no such thing as
an optional-effort game," Murray said.
Hodges article can be read at:
http://sports.latimes.com/news/19990615/hko/los/19990615fdcczogy.html
Roger Phillips had more on Murray in his weekly report in THE SPORTING
NEWS (June 14, 1999).
Phillips spoke with Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School hockey director,
J.P. Parise, a former NHL star, about Murray.
"He's got it all. He knows all aspects of the game in terms of what it
takes to be a coach," Parise said. "He's familiar with off-ice
training, all that stuff, and as far as the technical aspects of the
game, he knows it all."
"He was always organized and well-prepared, and he's a great
disciplinarian at the same time," Parise added. "He says, 'When you're
coaching, you've got to be a coach twenty-four hours a day.' He's a
coach twenty-four hours a day. We're going to miss that terribly."
Phillips also asked Murray about his coaching style.
"I'm known as a demanding coach," Murray said. "I don't ever believe
that effort is optional. I believe you get from people what you expect
of them. Every player thrives on discipline. I think you have to be
clear on explaining what you want. Then, I think you have to be very
strong on the level of accountability, as well."
Phillips' article can be found at:
http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/teams/kings/
Karen Crouse of the DAILY NEWS had one other tidbit regarding Murray and
discipline that the other media outlets didn't pick up on (see "Murray
Brings Fresh Perspective To Kings," DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, June 15, 1999).
Crouse asked Blake about things might change under their new head coach.
"We think we know how to prepare," Blake said with a laugh. "I'm
probably the worst at saying we don't need to watch video, let's just go
out and play the game. You won't get anyone cutting corners like that
with Andy. He'll install discipline."
"Players will question him at first," Blake added. "But I don't think
anybody's going to stray. If they do, there'll be consequences to pay."
To which Crouse commented, "To which we say, hallelujah, Lord have
mercy. It's about time somebody held the players accountable. If nothing
else, he brings to the job a fresh perspective. After years of the same
stale results, that's as welcome as a summer breeze."
There's an overview of the media reaction as well as the reaction of one
NHL head coach. Do with it what you will. :-)
6.14.99
7:00 pm PDT
Here's more from Monday's press conference where the Los Angeles Kings
named Andy Murray as their new head coach.
The Kings were apparently focusing most on strong leadership, intensity
and discipline from their new head coach, along with solid hockey
knowledge.
"Andy Murray has a wealth of hockey knowledge," said Kings' Vice
President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "He's coached at just about
every level you can imagine. He's a very bright individual, very
intense. He'll demand the utmost of our players, certainly earn their
respect."
"The fact that the team underachieved last season, this is a great time
to come to Los Angeles," Murray said. "The fact that I have worked with
players as a head coach at the international level will help me in this
situation."
Murray also gave reporters a glimpse into what he will do as head coach,
emphasizing improved defense and clearly-defined roles.
"I want our players when they don't have the puck to know exactly what
their responsibilities are," Murray said. "There won't be leeway.
Everybody will have to follow the same guidelines."
"When they have the puck, I want players to bring their individual
creativity on the ice because that's what the fans come to see," Murray
added.
Sounds pretty good to me!
The team's top two leaders also commented on their new head coach.
"He understands the players," Kings' captain Rob Blake said. "He touched
on a big thing about respect, demanding a lot out of each player--as
much as they can give--but also having that respect for them. He'll get
the most out of this team."
"We lacked intensity and the will to pay the price to win any game,
especially down the stretch," Kings' left wing Luc Robitaille said.
"That's what a guy like that with his intensity will bring."
"This guy deserves a chance," Robitaille added. "Everywhere he's been
going, he's won."
3:00 pm PDT
Here are some comments from the parties involved at today's press
conference where the Los Angeles Kings named Andy Murray as their new
head coach.
"It was a very detailed search; we went through a lot of candidates,"
Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "[He is]
"very hungry for the opportunity. He's a very bright individual, very
intense."
Taylor added he was impressed by Murray's ability to communicate with
players and to command respect from them.
"I'm very pleased to be here in Los Angeles. We expect to be a
disciplined, hard-working, energetic team," Murray said.
"When I started coaching twenty years ago I set two goals," Murray
added. "As a Canadian, I wanted to coach the Canadian national team and
did that a few years ago. My second goal was to become a head coach in
the NHL. With hard work, dedication and attention to detail, I believed
it would happen."
The press conference evidently had its lighter moments.
"This is a special day for me. Now Phil Jackson will be able to move to
the front page of the newspaper with this," Murray quipped.
But he also had a message for his critics.
"A lot of people would look and say we to this high school coach,"
Murray said. "But it might not be a bad idea for a coach at an elite
level to coach at the high school level and see the passion and
enthusiasm in the eyes of those youngsters."
12:00 pm PDT
It's official...
On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have hired Andy
Murray to be their new head coach.
Murray, 48, was signed to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
Murray, who is the Kings' 19th head coach, is a native of Gladstone,
Manitoba, Canada and has more than twenty-five years of coaching
experience.
He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets
(1993-95), the Minnesota North Stars (1990-92) and the Philadelphia
Flyers (1988-90). While at Minnesota, the North Stars reached the
Stanley Cup Finals (1991).
Murray was also head coach of the Canadian National Team, where he
compiled a 77-29-14 record and won the Gold Medal in the 1997 World
Hockey Championships with a team that featured Kings' Captain Rob Blake.
He was an assistant coach for Team Canada in 1996, where his team won
silver medals at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 1996 World Hockey
Championships. Murray was also served an associate coach for Team
Canada under Marc Crawford at the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan.
Murray was also the head coach for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup
Tournament (1995 and 1997), Canada Sweden Games (1997) and the Izvestia
International Tournament (1996).
Murray has also coached in Canadian Juniors, the AHL and in Europe.
"Andy brings to us a wealth of National Hockey League and international
coaching experience--the kind of traits that are an ideal fit for our
hockey club," said Dave Taylor, Vice President and General Manager of
the Kings. "He is a bright and intense individual, who will provide a
foundation of leadership and organization for the Kings. He was clearly
the best candidate to be our new head coach, and we jumped at the
opportunity to make him a key part of our organization."
More as I hear it...
9:00 am PDT
As has been reported, the Los Angeles Kings will name Andy Murray as
their new head coach at a noon press conference today (I was invited,
but can't attend).
Helene Elliott, NHL reporter/columnist for the LOS ANGELES TIMES, has a
commentary piece in today's edition (see "Kings Should Have Done
Better," LOS ANGELES TIMES, Monday, June 14, 1999, Section D).
In her column, Elliott is highly critical of Kings' Vice President and
General Manager Dave Taylor. She basically said that the Kings goofed
on the hiring of Murray and that they should have selected someone
better.
"Taylor chose Murray, who isn't a bad guy," Elliott wrote. "He may turn
out to be a decent teacher for the many youngsters the Kings plan to
have in their lineup next season. But the Kings could have--and should
have--done better."
Elliott pointed out that Murray has no head coaching experience in the
NHL and that he had been considered for other NHL coaching jobs but
wasn't hired.
Of course, that wasn't entirely correct. Murray was an assistant coach
for the Winnipeg Jets in 1994-95.
But where Elliott really goes astray is that she fails to offer solid
suggestions as to who would be a better choice, except for Detroit
assistant coach Dave Lewis.
Of course, we know very little about Andy Murray. But what do we REALLY
know about the other candidates for job? John Van Boxmeer or Dave
Lewis? Neither has been a head coach in the NHL. And Ted Nolan was
fired from Buffalo because he could not work with the front office,
something the Kings can't afford now.
Do they REALLY sound like better choices? I don't know.
I'm not saying that Murray is the right choice. But I'm also not saying
that he's the wrong one. The fact is, we really don't know enough about
him and based on what we do know about the other candidates, I question
how people can condemn Murray and the Kings at this point, other than by
basing opinions on anger and skepticism rooted in their poor performance
this past season. Such condemnation appears to be a bit premature.
6.13.99
Roger Phillips reported in Sunday's LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM that the
Los Angeles Kings have hired Canadian National Team head coach Andy
Murray to be their new head coach.
This seems to be all but guaranteed now, as the Kings have officially
announced that a press conference will be held at noon on Monday to
announce who their new head coach will be.
Murray, currently a high school coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's in
Fairbault, Minnesota, is known to be good with young players and is a
disciplinarian. Both are qualities that the Kings need right now in
their head coach.
Murray guided Team Canada to a 77-29-14 record during his tenure. He
coached the team for two seasons, 1996 and 1997.
Murray was also an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers,
Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota North Stars.
For more information, Phillips' article can be found at:
http://www.ptconnect.com/sports/
6.4.99
On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that defenseman Garry Galley
underwent successful hernia surgery to repair two small tears in his
abdominal wall.
The surgery was performed at Centinela Hospital Medical Center by Dr.
Craig Smith.
Galley is expected to recover fully. He begins rehabilitation
immediately.
Evidently, soft tissue work didn't help Galley. Following the Kings'
final game of the regular season, Galley told me that this problem was
similar to an injury he suffered a few seasons ago while he was with the
Buffalo Sabres. It affected his hips and limited his effectiveness
greatly to the point where it finally became too painful to play.
Galley said that they were going to try soft tissue therapy first and if
that didn't work, surgery.
6.1.99
7:00 pm PDT
Late Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed
prospect Richard Seeley to a three-year contract.
The 6-2, 199-pound defenseman has spent the last two seasons at Prince
Albert in the Western Hockey League. Last season, Seeley scored ten
goals and added 48 assists for 58 points while racking up 110 penalty
minutes in 61 games.
In 14 playoff games, Seeley scored a goal and contributed 11 assists for
12 points and 14 penalty minutes.
In the 1997-98 season, Seeley scored 8 goals and tallied 21 assists for
29 points and had 114 penalty minutes in 65 games.
The 20-year-old Seeley was selected by the Kings in the sixth round of
the 1997 draft (137th overall).
Financial terms were not disclosed.
1:00 pm PDT
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced the signing of two free
agents, right wing Marko Tuomainen and left wing David Hymovitz.
Tuomainen, 27, is a 6-3, 205-pound native of Kuopio, Finland. He played
the last two seasons with IFK Helsinki in the Finnish Elite League,
scoring 24 goals and adding 26 assists good for 50 points in 94 games.
Tuomainen, who was signed to a one-year deal, also played for Finland in
the World Championships this year, scoring four goals and adding two
assists in 12 games.
Tuomainen was drafted in the ninth round (205th overall) by Edmonton in
the 1992 draft.
He played in four NHL games for Edmonton (no points) and spent time at
Cape Breton in the AHL (1995-96) and Hamilton (1996-97). In those two
seasons, Tuomainen scored 56 goals and added 56 assists for 112 points
while racking up 201 penalty minutes in 137 games.
Tuomainen also played for Clarkson University (Kings' Vice President and
General Manager Dave Taylor's alma mater), where he scored 82 goals and
contributed 109 assists for 191 points in 135 games.
Hymovitz, 25, was signed to a two-year contract. He was at Indianapolis
in the IHL this season and he led the team in scoring with 46 goals and
30 assists for 76 points in 78 games.
Hymovitz's 46 goals ranked him second in the IHL in goal-scoring. He
was also third in the IHL in power play goals (18) and led his team in
game-winning goals (5).
He also played for four seasons at Boston University where he scored 72
goals and contributed 57 assists for 129 points in 143 games.
Hymovitz, who is 5-11 and weighs in at 185 pounds, was originally
selected in the ninth round (209th overall) of the 1992 draft by
Chicago.
Financial terms for either deal were not disclosed.
There has been no word on Richard Seeley yet...
9:00 am PDT
I took the weekend off...didn't go anywhere near my computer...so this
is a bit late, but I did get more on the Los Angeles Kings' official
views on the Matt Zultek situation...
Mike Altieri, the Kings' Director of Media Relations and Team Services
basically corroborated everything that has already been reported in the
local media. But he did add a couple of new reasons for not signing
him...lack of physical play and that his skating hasn't improved.
"This year, [Zultek] did not develop," Altieri said. "We wanted a more
physical game and his skating has been a disappointment."
Altieri also indicated that money played a factor in their decision
because Zultek is asking for the league maximum for rookies. He pointed
to the situation in Calgary with Daniel Tkachuk, who is also asking for
the league maximum for rookies and was not signed by the Flames.
"These guys are asking for the maximum," Altieri said. "The league's
salary structure is out of whack.
Although he didn't say it specifically, Altieri hinted that there are a
lot of prospects throughout the NHL who are in the same boat as
Zultek...players who will not be signed by the teams who drafted them
because these prospects all want the league maximum for rookies. In
short, teams apparently don't want to pay that much for "unproven
talent."
When asked if the Kings were having problems with agent Larry Kelly, who
represents Zultek and defenseman Aki Berg (also unsigned), Altieri
denied that any problems exist.
"Kelly handles Olli Jokinen too and we signed him with no problems,"
Altieri said. "Kelly works on a case-by-case basis, so what happens in
one player's situation doesn't affect how he handles another. He's very
professional that way."
Although it still appears to me that the Kings have done a "180" on
Zultek, based on previous comments prior to the current off-season and
that the league's salary structure is indeed out of whack, I'll refrain
from comment on the rest of what Altieri told me and let you be the
judge.
Altieri also said that the Kings were very close to getting defenseman
prospect Richard Seeley signed and that they hope to interview a few
more candidates for their vacant head coaching position.
