KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
12.31.99 Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jamie Storr still isn't close to returning to the lineup as he recovers from post-concussion syndrome. But he's slowly working on getting back into the lineup. "I think right now, going hard on the bike is the best thing for me," Storr said. [But] we have to build up to that. Over the next couple of days, it's going to be a slow bike program to get me back into it." "If everything goes well in those three or four days then after that, being able to go hard on the bike will be determined by the doctors and by [Kings' trainer Peter Demers]," Storr explained. "If that's OK, as long as I have no symptoms after going hard on the bike, being on the ice soon after that is a possibility. But right now, we just want to get rid of all the symptoms." Storr continues to suffer from occasional fogginess and dizziness.12.30.99 Prior to Wednesday's game at Colorado, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have placed defenseman Aki Berg on injured reserve retroactive to December 23. Berg will be available to return to the lineup on Thursday when the Kings host the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings also recalled defenseman Jan Nemecek from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. This move was necessitated by defenseman Sean O'Donnell leaving the team to fly to Ottawa to deal with a family emergency. O'Donnell will be back for Monday's game at Dallas. The Kings also activated winger Brad Chartrand from injured reserve (groin strain) and he played at Colorado. Jim Hodges reported in Thursday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Los Angeles Kings' left Craig Johnson was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game at Colorado due to a shoulder injury. Hodges did not mention anything about shoulder surgery, so last night's box score certainly overstated the severity of Johnson's problem when it indicated he was scratched to to "shoulder surgery." I didn't think Johnson had undergone surgery. The Kings would have made an announcement about that if he had. 
12.28.99 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed unrestricted free agent center Bob Corkum to a contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Corkum, 32, is an eight-year NHL veteran. He played in 77 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring 9 goals and adding 10 assists for 19 points. He scored 30 goals and 30 assists for 60 points in 233 games with Phoenix over three seasons. In 525 NHL games, Corkum, who is 6-0 and weighs 222 pounds, has scored 82 goals and contributed 85 assists for 167 points and 225 penalty minutes. Corkum was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 1986 NHL draft (47th overall). He played parts of three seasons at Buffalo before being claimed by Anaheim in the 1993 expansion draft. He played two seasons at Anaheim before being traded to Philadelphia in 1996. He wa claimed off waivers by Phoenix on September 30, 1995. Corkum is expected to add depth to the Kings' lineup at the center position. My guess is that the Kings will soon waive center Len Barrie for the purpose of assigning him to Long Beach. 12.27.99 On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings assigned left wing Bill Huard to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. Huard, who was recalled from Lowell last week, appeared in one game for the Kings and had very limited ice time. 12.22.99 As expected, the Los Angeles Kings announced on Wednesday that center Jozef Stumpel has been cleared to play and has been activated for tonight's game at San Jose. Stumpel, who underwent abdominal surgery to repair a sports hernia, missed 18 games. To make room on the roster, the Kings assigned defenseman Jere Karalahti to Long Beach of the IHL. 12.21.99 On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings focused on ways to get them out of the funk they've been in, one that has them making one mistake after another with these results: * Three straight blowout losses * Being outscored 23-8 * Allowing 14 goals in the first period of those three games During their practice session, the Kings concentrated on drills that were designed to emphasize good defense and tight gaps, a huge problem for them over the last three games. They also worked on re-gaining their competitive edge. "We're not trusting each other," Kings' head coach Andy Murray said about his team's problems. "It's the way we've lost [the three games] that's been alarming for us. We think our system of play execution has been our first problem and trusting each other in that system of play. The second point is that our key players have to play well. It's difficult for our other players, who are role players, to be effective if our key players are not playing well." Kings' team captain Rob Blake agreed. "It's not the system that's letting us down, it's the players," Blake said. "Our game against San Jose [on Wednesday] is magnified way, way more than if we would have won those three games. You have to be able to stop it. In the past we haven't stopped it, and that's what killed us during seasons. You work that hard for thirty games, you don't want to let that slip. We let it slip far enough in three games." "You can't let it slip anymore," Blake added. "That's why there's meetings and that's why there are practices." Monday's practice was clearly geared towards reinforcing their system. "A lot of the drills we did today we did in training camp," said Murray. "We did a lot of the 'battle' drills, trying to get the competitive spirit back." Kings' center Jozef Stumpel participated in all drills, with full contact. He centered Luc Robitaille and Ziggy Palffy. "He handles the puck really well and he's going to create that much more room for us," Robitaille said. "Sure, we need him. A guy like that, he's talented. We need him." And it's pretty much a sure-bet that he'll return to the lineup on Wednesday when the Kings play at San Jose. "We won't know until after practice [on Tuesday], but we're preparing [Stumpel] to play and he's preparing to play," Murray said. "But he must be pain-free." But if you talk to Stumpel, he'll tell you that he's ready to go. "I am 100%," Stumpel said. "I don't know [if success will come] right away. It's going to take a little while, but we'd like to do it right away. Hopefully, I can help us to stop our streak right now." But Stumpel admits that he's not quite in his best game-shape yet. "I feel maybe I need to get a little more in game shape, but the only way to do that is to play games," Stumpel said. "Maybe the first game I'll be great and then struggle for a couple." Murray said that he has spoken with Stumpel about what they expect of him when he returns. "We've gone over how we want him to play in that first game back," Murray said about Stumpel. "We have to get him in sometime. We know it's a big game and we're putting a guy in that hasn't played in a long time, but we have to get him in. We know it's a big game and we're putting a guy in who hasn't played in awhile. But we have to get him in some time. We don't have any games that we can say where we can have him go in gradually. He's got to play hard, but he's got play a basic game and play strong defensively." Murray also said that no one should expect Stumpel to single-handedly provide a huge lift. "I would hope our team will lift [Stumpel] up," Murray said. "I hope our team playing hard will make the game easier for him to play. If we're expecting him, in his first game, to give us a lift, then we're looking at it the wrong way. It should work the other way. Our team should play so well that it should be easier for him to become part of the game." Murray added that this has also been a problem with other players returning from injury. "That's been a bit of the problem with [Palffy and Robitaille] coming back," Murray said. "Our team hasn't played as well, so it's tougher for them to look good. A big part of that is their responsibility, too." But Murray did talk about what the team needs from Palffy, Robitaille and Stumpel, his first line. "We need all three of those guys to play at a high level for us to be successful," Murray said. "That's what they're paid to do." "We don't have any choice," Robitaille said about his line needing to provide a spark. "We need to get it going right away." But Robitaille is optimistic, especially since the players can return to their original roles. "We can go back to the roles we had coming out of training camp," Robitaille said. "When there are injuries, roles change, and it will be good to get back to the roles we had." Speaking of Palffy, Murray explained that Palffy did not participate in practice yesterday because they wanted to give him the day off. "When you have three days in a row and you have a guy with a back problem, if you have a chance to rest him for a day, you do that," Murray said. I guess that settles the question of whether Palffy is 100% or not... With the Kings' lineup looking pretty much like how they started the season now that injured players are mostly back in the lineup, Murray flatly denied the possibility that some players aren't playing as hard, thinking that with their top players back in the lineup, things will be easier. "It can't be that," Murray said. "Because even when we have those guys in the lineup, it's going to be a battle every night. Of the games we've won, we've had two games that were pretty clear going into the third period, but the rest were battles." Kings' defenseman Mattias Norstrom also talked his team's problems and what they need to do collectively to get out of their funk. "I wish it was just one problem and that we just have to correct that one thing," Norstrom said. "But always when things go wrong, it's a number of things. You look at the defensemen, if you allow the first shot, you have to make sure to clear the rebounds. For the forwards, they have to come back and help the defense, you can't have that many point shots. When you look at it, it's not just one problem. When things start to go bad, they tend to really get bad. You play team defense and you play team offense. Once we struggle like we have defensively, we all have to take responsibility." "Especially for myself, that's my job, to keep the puck out of the net," Norstrom added. "When you give up seven or eight goals, of course, you take it personally. I take pride in having a low goals-against. I take responsibility, I feel that I have to really step it up." The Kings also took players aside and showed them what they were doing wrong. "We used the computer and took a number of players' individual shifts off [of videotape]," Murray said. "The coaches sat down with the players and went over their own shifts in that game. We didn't show the game to our whole team, but we did show some players things they didn't do well." Murray also talked about the reasons the Kings called up winger Bill Huard, a tough guy, from Lowell in the AHL. "We didn't like being pushed around by Chicago," Murray said. "It's hard to tell how we matched up against Chicago because we never got a chance to get into the game. In the other games, we got them down and they were never able to get their [tough guys] into the game. We let them become a part of the game when they shouldn't have." "We've taken a lot of pride to be tough to play against," Murray added. "We're not being tough to play against right now." Huard is expected to push his teammates to play tougher, if not from the bench, certainly in the dressing room. "Bill Huard may never play a game for us, but this gives us another option," Murray said. In addition to their annual bringing gifts for kids in local hospitals (the gifts are collected from Kings' fans during some games in November/December), the Kings are participating in an "Adopt-A-Family" program with Para Los Ninos, a social service organization in Downtown Los Angeles that serves families who are less fortunate in the central city. Kings' players, coaches and even staff are all teaming up to adopt a number of families, buying holiday gifts along with various necessities (clothes, food, etc.) for their adopted family. Rob Blake talked about the importance of this program. "We're pretty fortunate in our position," Blake said. "We don't think twice about Christmas presents and things. For us to be able to help another family, I think it's a great idea. There's not one guy here who would say anything different." 12.20.99 The Los Angeles Kings announced late Monday that they have recalled defenseman Jere Karalahti from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL and that they have placed center Jason Blake on injured reserve (post-concussion syndrome). Karalahti was at the Kings' practice this morning at Staples Center. Jason Blake was not present. I'll have more from today's practice session in an article sometime tonight. The Los Angeles Kings have made room on their roster for the return of center Jozef Stumpel by placing right wing Dan Bylsma on waivers (which he cleared) and assigning him to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. They also placed defenseman Garry Galley on injured reserve due to post-concussion syndrome. Jason Blake is also suffering from post-concussion syndrome. Winger Brad Chartrade has a groin strain and, as I suspected, right wing Ziggy Palffy's back is still not at 100%. The Kings do think they have had a toughness problem of late, so they have recalled winger Bill Huard from the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. 12.17.99 Jim Hodges reported in Friday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jamie Storr has been put on injured reserve. Storr his his head on the crossbar during the game at Montreal, but stayed in the game and won, 4-2. But after that, he had two bad outings at New Jersey and the New York Rangers. Of course, the defense in front of him was primarily at fault. Nevertheless, Storr did say that he was having some problems. "I never felt comfortable during those two games," Storr told the LOS ANGELES TIMES. "He felt a little dizzy [in Montreal], but the doctor looked at him and said he was OK," Kings' head coach Andy Murray said. Storr will undergo medical tests today. The Kings will recall goalie Marcel Cousineau from the Long Beach Ice Dogs to backup Stephane Fiset. For more, including news on the Kings' meetings yesterday, point your web browser to: http://sports.latimes.com/news/19991217/hko/000115079.html 12.14.99 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have assigned defenseman Jere Karalahti and goalie Marcel Cousineau to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. This move is good news because it was made to make room on the 23-man roster for right wing Ziggy Palffy (sore back) and goalie Stephane Fiset (right hand contusion), who have been cleared to play and have been activated for tonight's game at New Jersey (4:30 PM PST). Also returning to the lineup tonight is defenseman Rob Blake (sore left groin). Palffy missed four games due to his injury and Fiset missed 14 games. Blake sat out for two games. Look for Jamie Storr to get the start in goal tonight and for Fiset to be in the nets on Wednesday at the New York Rangers. 12.10.99 The Los Angeles Kings have recalled defenseman Jere Karalahti from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL as an insurance policy if defenseman Rob Blake's groin injury flares up. Karalahti is with the team in Detroit (Kings play there tonight, 4:30 PM PST), but has not been activated. Turns out that not only did the Los Angeles Kings recall defenseman Jere Karalahti from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL, but they also placed right wing Ziggy Palffy on injured reserve, retroactive to December 3. This was done to make room for Karalahti on the 23-man roster. Palffy, if healthy, can still return to the lineup for the Kings' game at New Jersey on Tuesday. Karalahti played in six games for Long Beach and contributed two assists. The Kings have announced that their game at Montreal on Saturday has been moved up to 4:00 PM PST. It was originally scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM PST. Matt McHale has a great article about the Kings and what they do on road trips. You can find it on the web at: http://www.dailynewslosangeles.com/extra/today/spo02.asp 12.9.99 The Los Angeles Kings announced after their game on Wednesday against the Atlanta Thrashers that right wing Ziggy Palffy, who was scratched on Wednesday with a sore back, will not accompany the team to Detroit and Montreal on Friday and Saturday. Kings' doctors have put Palffy on medication for the injury. "He won't play in Detroit or Montreal because he has a sore back," Kings' head coach Andy Murray told reporters after the game. "They're going to test him again on Friday. He's on medication and we'll know the effect of the medication by then." "We were hopeful that he would play on Friday night, but the doctors feel that we've come this far, we should let the medication do the total work," Murray added. Palffy is expected to join the team in time for their game on Tuesday at New Jersey. "He's going to fly to New Jersey on Sunday," Murray said, "and I told them to make sure they give him first class." Sounds like Palffy's going to fly in comfort, that's for sure. :-) 12.8.99 Matt McHale writes in Wednesday's DAILY NEWS that right wing Ziggy Palffy will miss his second straight game tonight when the Los Angeles Kings host the Atlanta Thrashers. Palffy is suffering from back spasms and has been undergoing treatment the past two days. He has not practiced during that time. Check out McHale's article for more information about a minor groin injury to Rob Blake, along with what the Kings plan to do without Palffy in the lineup. His article can be found on the web at: http://www.dailynewslosangeles.com/extra/today/spo06.asp 12.6.99 Important Announcement 12.3.99 Late Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor to a new, multi-year contract extension, which is believed to be a three-year deal. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Kings' President Tim Leiweke said that ownership and management is happy with the way the team is being built and developed by Taylor. "In looking at the progress our hockey team has made under Dave's leadership, there is a unanimous consensus among ownership and management that we're headed in the right direction," Leiweke said. "Dave has spent his entire career in the Kings organization and his consistency, integrity and loyalty give us great comfort that he is committed to taking us to a championship level." 12.2.99 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings made it official, announcing that left wing Luc Robitaille has been cleared by team doctors to return to the lineup. Robitaille, who has missed the last ten games due to a fractured left foot, will be in the lineup on Friday when the Kings play at Anaheim. 12.1.99 Mixed news on the injury front... The good news is that Los Angeles Kings' left wing Luc Robitaille participated in a full practice on Tuesday and did not experience any pain in his left foot. But the real test will be how the foot feels today. Robitaille has been out of the lineup since November 6 due to a fractured left foot. He is expected to return to the lineup on Friday at Anaheim. Center Jozef Stumpel, who has been out of the lineup since November 6 due to a sports hernia and subsequent abdominal surgery, has begun lifting weights and is doing some light skating. He is now projected to be out of the lineup for 10-12 weeks, which means he would be back in the lineup in late January or early February. Goaltender Stephane Fiset, who hasn't suited up for a game since November 9, has not responded well to treatment of contusion on his right hand. "It's frustrating," Fiset said. "It's just not getting any better." link to last month's (November '99) notes
