KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
3.29.99 Here's a sign that the Los Angeles Kings know that they won't make the playoffs... On Monday, the Kings recalled left wing Josh Green from the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. Green started the season with the Kings, playing in twenty-six games. He scored a goal and added three assists before being assigned to Springfield on December 28, 1998. At Springfield, Green scored 15 goals and added 13 assists for 28 points in thirty-seven games. Green will join the Kings for their game at Boston on Tuesday night. The Kings also announced that they have signed right wing prospect Scott Barney to a three-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Barney, 20, was the Kings' second round pick in the 1997 NHL entry draft (29th overall). Barney, who stands 6-4 and weighs 198 pounds, has scored 41 goals and contributed 26 assists for 67 points while racking up 80 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (Canadian Juniors). In five playoff games with Peterborough this season (against Oshawa), Barney has scored four goals and has added one assist for five points to go along with 14 penalty minutes. Injury Update... Right wing Glen Murray suffered a slight groin strain during Sunday's game at Colorado. There has been no word on whether or not he'll miss any action.3.26.99 On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have hired Kevin Gilmore as their new Assistant General Manager. Gilmore has served as President of Professional Sports Advisors Group (PSAG) for the past year. He will assist Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor with contract negotiations and in all facets of the Kings hockey operations department. Gilmore began his professional career in 1988 as an attorney with the law firm of Latham & Watkins, based in Los Angeles. In 1991, he joined the Walt Disney Company as corporate counsel and in 1993 he became of the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He later served as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for the Mighty Ducks and the Anaheim Angels. In 1998, he formed PSAG where he provided consulting services for a number of NHL teams, including the Kings and was a member of the NHL's Salary Arbitration Panel and Contract Negotiation Panel. "Kevin brings to the Kings' organization a wealth of experience, especially when it comes to negotiating contracts," Taylor said. "He is well-respected throughout the National Hockey League and his managing abilities and professionalism will be a tremendous asset to the Kings' organization." 
3.23.99 6:00 pm PST Los Angeles Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor held a telephone press conference at 3:30 PM PST and he shed more light on the Kings' rationale for the trades they made today. Regarding the trade that sent Yanic Perreault to Toronto for center Jason Podallon, Taylor said that the Kings have had their eye on him since he was with Florida early in his NHL career. "We've known about [Podallon] for awhile and we liked him," Taylor said. "We saw him in our development camp with Florida at Thunder Bay a few years ago." "He has the chance to develop into an NHL player," Taylor added. "He goes to the net and he can score on the power play. He has been improving every year. If his skating improves, then it's just a matter of working hard on a consistent basis." Taylor told reporters that Podallon will be assigned to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL, initially. "For now, we plan to send him to Long Beach," Taylor said. "But we'd like to get him into a few games with us." Podallon is expected to join the Ice Dogs on Wednesday, March 24, and be in the lineup for their game against Kansas City at 7:30 PM PST. As for Duchesne, Taylor certainly sounded disappointed regarding the entire situation. "This has been a difficult decision for us," Taylor said. "But even Steve will tell you that he hasn't played well this season. All season, we've been talking with Steve, working with him to get his game on track." But Taylor did reveal that team chemistry was one factor in the decision. "I think that [Duchesne's situation] had an effect on our club," Taylor said. "He wasn't even playing lately so at this point it was better for him to move on." This situation has also soured Taylor on free agency to a large degree. "This was a very expensive lesson for us," Taylor said. "Free agency costs you more money and more years than what the player is generally worth. You don't get fair return for your investment." "I don't know how active we'll be in free agency [in the upcoming off-season]," Taylor added. "When a player has a great year, he's looking for top dollar. And when he doesn't perform, the risk is still with the team." And Taylor implied that he isn't the only general manager thinking along these lines. "Teams, including the Kings, are going to look at the economy of every deal," Taylor said. "It's easy to get burdened with a contract for a player who doesn't perform." Taylor also stressed that the Kings aren't straying from their plan of building a winning team, one that doesn't win for just one or two seasons. "Our plan hasn't changed a lot," Taylor emphasized. "We want to build our team for the long-term so we can win for the long-term. We'll focus our efforts on scouting and drafting well. We don't want to give up our young players." But when asked if this means that the Kings will stay out of the free agent market in the upcoming off-season, Taylor said that the Kings will go after someone if they feel that player will improve the team. But Taylor did add one caveat: "I don't think we'll enter into three-to-five-year contracts with players, thirty [years of age] and over," he said. One reporter asked Taylor about a "31-year-old player," an intentionally badly disguised reference to Colorado's Theoren Fleury, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Taylor replied that exceptions could be made and that nothing was set in stone. The deal with the Flyers was completed just before the trade deadline at noon PST today. When asked about Duchesne's contract, Taylor said: "I've had talks in recent days with Philadelphia and Steve and his agent on settlement of his previous contract." This implies that the Kings bought out the remainder of their contract with Duchesne. And it has been rumored that Duchesne will be paid the $3.5 million he was supposed to receive for this season along with a $4.5 million buy-out of the remainder of his three-year contract. Further, rumor has it that Duchesne will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Taylor also stated that the Kings are paying a portion of Duchesne's salary as he plays for Philadelphia. Defenseman Dave Babych will travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday and will be available for Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. Babych, who is in the final year of his contract, will essentially be the Kings' seventh defenseman and from what I can tell, it appears that the Flyers dumped a problem on the Kings. After all, Babych will be 38 years old in May and has certainly seen his best years pass him by. "Babych will play for us until the end of the season," Taylor said, "and then we'll determine if we want to sign him." Apparently, the Kings took whatever they could get for Duchesne, cutting their losses. Regardless, it sure looks like the Kings got squat for Duchesne. In the deal with Toronto, Taylor felt that the develpment of Olli Jokinen has given the Kings the opportunity to trade Yanic Perreault. "With the play of Jokinen, we have an opportunity to make the playoffs," Taylor said, noting that Jokinen will get more ice time now. More ice time to a player who works his butt off on most every shift instead of giving it to a player who floats his way up and down the ice most of the time. Makes perfect sense to me. Taylor also emphasized the third round pick in the deal. "We felt we could move Yanic at this time because the third round pick we got in this trade should get us a good prospect," he said. Taylor also said the Kings are committed to trying to make the playoffs, today's trades notwithstanding. "We're very serious about making the playoffs," Taylor said. "We're six points out. But we probably have to win nine of our last twelve games to get in It's a steep hill to climb." Back to Perreault... Finally, when asked about how the Kings' players will react to the trades, Taylor said that he expects the players to work hard and that team chemistry will be enhanced. "I think the players will be committed to playing hard," Taylor said. "I don't think the moves will hurt the chemistry. In fact, I think it will be improved." That's the latest...3:00 pm PST It's official... This afternoon, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have traded defenseman Steve Duchesne to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Dave Babych and a fifth-round pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft. Terms of the agreement were not announced, but you can bet that the Kings bought out a portion of his contract and then traded him. The Kings are almost certainly paying a portion of Duchesne's contract as well. Duchesne, who has been a healthy scratch in the Kings' last six games, scored four goals and added nineteen assists for twenty-three points in sixty games this season. Unfortunately, Duchesne was brought in to revive the Kings' power play, but he simply has been unable to do that. Of course, this was probably unrealistic, given the fact that the Kings really don't have the talent needed to make Duchesne a more productive player. "This has not been an easy decision by any means," Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "It's unfortunate, but from the beginning we have remained patient and throughout this process we have done everything we can to come to a resolution with Steve." "This is clearly the best option for us at this time and we wish Steve and his family the best of luck in the future," Taylor added.1:00 pm PST TSN in Canada is reporting that the Los Angeles Kings have traded defenseman Steve Duchesne to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Dave Babych and a fifth round pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft. However, other reports state that the Kings traded Duchesne to Philadelphia only for "future considerations," making no mention of Babych. Babych, 37, has played in 32 games for the Flyers this season and has scored a goal and added four assists to go along with 29 penalty minutes. Babych was a first-round pick (second overall) by Winnipeg in the 1980 entry draft. He played for Winnipeg for five seasons before being traded to Hartford on November 21, 1985. Babych wound up in Vancouver (he was traded by Minnesota to Vancouver; Minnesota acquired his rights during the 1991 expansion draft; Babych signed with Vancouver as a free agent on July 1, 1997). Babych was traded to Philadelphia on March 24, 1998. His best years are certainly behind him at this point in his career, so it really makes me wonder if the TSN report is true. We'll find out soon enough...12:00 pm PST According to various reports, the Los Angeles Kings have traded center Yanic Perreault to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for center Jason Podollan and a 1999 third-round draft pick...a definite move with the Kings' future in mind. Podollan was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the second round in the 1994 NHL entry draft (31st overall). In Canadian juniors, his best season was in 1994-95 when he scored 43 goals and added 41 assists for 84 points in 72 games with 102 penalty minutes at Spokane of the Western Hockey League. He made his NHL debut with Florida in 1996-97, but played in just one game. He did score a goal and add an assist, however. Podollan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 18, 1997, for center Kirk Muller. In 33 career NHL games, Podollan has five points (1-4=5) and 10 penalty minutes. Podollan, 23, is currently playing for the St. John's Maple Leafs of the AHL. He has scored 42 goals and added 26 assists for 68 points in 68 games. He has also racked up 65 penalty minutes. Podollan, who stands 6-1 and weighs 192 pounds, is currently ranked 12th in scoring in the AHL. Last season, Podollan led St. John's in goals with thirty and finished second on the club in scoring with 61 points in 70 games. "Jason Podollan has a lot of skill and has shown the ability to score at a high level in the American Hockey League," Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "We feel he can bring these skills to the NHL level and be productive. He is young and has a bright future." Perreault wound up his career with the Kings scoring ten goals and adding seventeen assists for twenty-seven points in 64 games this season. "We appreciate Yanic's contributions to the Kings during his four years in Los Angeles," Taylor said. "We wish him the best of luck with the Maple Leafs." In the end, the Kings dumped a player who basically floated for most of his career with the Kings and got a player who apparently is developing in the AHL and has a future in the NHL...if he continues to develop, of course. A good trade for the Kings. And who knows...maybe playing back home in Canada will be just what the doctor ordered for Perreault.3.19.99 Here's more on the Los Angeles Kings placing defenseman Steve Duchesne on waivers, effective 9:00 AM PST on Wednesday... Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor wasn't happy about the situation. "We felt at this time, this was our best option," Taylor said at a press conference prior to Thursday's game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. "I don't think Steve has performed as well as he's capable of performing. Maybe a change of scenery would be best for Steve." "We paid a lot of money for a player who hasn't performed up to expectations," Taylor added. "We signed Steve Duchesne in the summer time thinking he was the right piece to add to the puzzle. We looked at the way our team performed last year, where we were on the power play, and we felt we needed a quarterback and a guy to help us offensively. From that point of view, I don't think it was a mistake." "This has been my decision and it's a difficult one," Taylor said. "What the resolution to all of this is going to be we'll know a little bit more about tomorrow. We'll take a look at what options there are then." When asked what the Kings would do if they lost a defenseman (the Kings now have only six defenseman with the big club), Taylor said, "We only have seven defensemen and if somebody gets hurt tonight, he would be in there on Saturday." Nevertheless, Taylor isn't saying that Duchesne is washed up. "Steve is viewed as a good hockey player around the league," Taylor said. "I'm not saying he can no longer play in the NHL." Kings' head coach Larry Robinson agreed. "There's always a place for a guy with his skills," Robinson said. "You don't just all of a sudden overnight become a liability. He does have great skill. It really comes down to finding his game and not trying to do too much." But when Duchesne struggled and failed to adapt to the Kings more physical, defense-oriented system, the Kings decided that it was time to cut their losses. An emotional Duchesne spoke to reporters following the press conference. "The team's giving up on me, I guess," a distraught Duchesne said. "The biggest disappointment is it's been just seven months. But I'm staying positive and I'm going to be ready for whatever happens. Right now I'm just going to work hard and help with whatever. I don't know really what's going to happen next whether they'll trade me or buy me out. Who knows what might happen?" But Duchesne is clearly a class act, through and through and he showed it. "I'm happy with what's going on right now [with the team]," he added. "The guys are winning and battling for a playoff spot and I wish I could be here for them. I wish I could battle with them. It would definitely be a better feeling than sitting and watching. But I'm going to stay positive for them. Why come here and be in a bad mood? I don't want anything to effect the boys; they're my teammates." As of this writing, it appears that no one claimed Duchesne from waivers. Staples Center Notes... According to various reports, the cost for the construction of the Staples Center has risen to $375 million. The construction work is on schedule and the new arena should receive its Certificate of Occupancy by September 30, 1999. Reports also state the Kings' season seat holders will be notified that season ticket prices will be the same or less than at the Great Western Forum this season. Injury Update... On Friday, the Kings announced that forward Sean Pronger suffered a tear in the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will be out four to six weeks. Pronger collided with a Mighty Ducks' player in the first period of Thursday's game (I don't have my notes with me; don't remember who the Mighty Ducks' player was). He was helped off the ice and did not return. 3.18.99 Sacha Terrill, beat writer covering the Los Angeles Kings for the DAILY BREEZE reported in Thursday's edition that the Kings have placed defenseman Steve Duchesne on waivers (see "Kings Cut Duchesne Loose," DAILY BREEZE, Thursday, March 17, 1999). Duchesne was signed as an unrestricted free agent during the off-season and was expected to breathe new life into the Kings' power play, which was awful last season. The only problem is that the power play has gotten worse this season and Duchesne hasn't come anywhere close to putting up the numbers that he has in the past. Duchesne has 48 hours to clear waivers, which is likely because of his $11.2 million contract. For more on this story, check out Terrill's article at: http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bls/nmduchesne19.html Oddly enough, there has been no mention of this story by any of the other beat writers covering the Kings, from any of the wire services or hockey news web sites. Even the Kings haven't released an official statement, although I would expect one at tonight's game against Anaheim. 3.2.98 Just got word from the Los Angeles Kings Media Relations department... Right wing Donald Audette participated in full practice on Tuesday and is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday night when the Kings skate at Anaheim. Ok...so my guess that Nathan Lafayette was recalled because Audette might be out of the lineup was incorrect...I wonder what their reasoning was... On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have recalled center Nathan Lafayette from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. Lafayette was assigned to Long Beach on December 18 and played in thirty games, scoring six goals and adding eleven assists for seventeen points. Although the Kings didn't announce anything, it would appear that right wing Donald Audette, who was slashed across the ankle by Dallas defenseman Richard Matvichuk, may miss some games.
