KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
7-31-00 On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have reached contract agreements with defenseman Aki Berg, forward Brad Chartrand and goalie Marcel Cousineau. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed. Berg, 23, was signed to a one-year deal as was Cousineau, 27. Chartrand, 25, was signed to a multi-year contract. Berg played in 70 games last season, scoring three goals and adding thirteen assists for sixteen points. He also had 45 penalty minutes. Chartrand, a rookie last season, appeared in 50 games for the Kings, scoring six goals and adding six assists for 12 points. Cousineau recorded a 2.11 goals-against average and a 1-1-0 record in five games with the Kings last season. He spent the majority of last season with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL where he recorded a 3.18 GAA and a 9-5-1 record in 15 games.7-26-00 Despite their move to the West Coast Hockey League from the International Hockey League, the Long Beach Ice Dogs will remain as a minor league affiliate for the Los Angeles Kings. On Wednesday, the Kings announced that they have reached a secondary affiliation agreement with the Ice Dogs, who made the switch earlier this summer. The agreement for the upcoming 2000-2001 season is a non-exclusive player development agreement. The Kings will provide a yet-to-be-determined number of players to assist in completing the Ice Dogs' 2000-2001 roster. The Kings and Ice Dogs began their relationship in 1997 and the Kings have maintained their non-exclusive agreement to supply players the past three seasons. The Ice Dogs' being right down the freeway was obviously a key factor in this decision. "This agreement will support the long-term development plans for some of our future players and continue to promote the growth in popularity for hockey in Southern California," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "We have clearly established a solid working relationship with the Ice Dogs during their time in the International Hockey League and their close proximity and willingness to continue this relationship as they begin play in the WCHL, will allow us to closely monitor some of our younger prospects." When the Ice Dogs made their move to the WCHL looking to cut expenses by playing primarily on the West Coast, their relationship with the Kings was in serious doubt. But this agreement continues what appears to be a strong relationship. "Our organizations continue to be philosophically aligned in our desire to grow the sport of professional hockey in Southern California," said John Van Boxmeer, Vice President of Hockey Operations for Coachsports, the parent company of the Ice Dogs. "We are interested in supporting the Kings in their efforts to develop young players who could eventually play at the NHL level." 
7-14-00 Here's a change to the Los Angeles Kings' 2000-2001 schedule... The Kings' home opener on Wednesday, October 11, 2000, against the St. Louis Blues will now begin at 7:00 PM PST to accomodate ESPN2, who will be televising the game. 7-14-00 Late Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed defenseman Andreas Lilja to a contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lilja, 25, was drafted by the Kings in the second round (54th overall) in June's NHL Entry Draft. Lilja, who is 6-3 and weighs 215 pounds, played in 49 games for Malmo in the Swedish Elite League last season, scoring eight goals and adding eleven assists for 19 points while racking up 88 penalty minutes. He also appeared in six playoff games recording no points with eight penalty minutes. "Andreas is very mature coming from the Swedish Elite League," Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "He is a strong, physical defenseman and we look forward to his presence on our blue line." Earlier Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky and Rich Brennan to contracts. Financial terms were not disclosed. Visnovsky was the Kings' fourth-round (118th overall) in June's NHL entry draft. Visnovsky, 23, played for the champion Bratislava team in the Slovakian Elite League last season, scoring 21 goals and adding 24 assists fo 45 points while racking up 38 penalty minutes in 52 games. The 5-10, 180 pound Visnovsky also scored 3 goals and 5 assists for eight point in eight playoff games. Visnovsky also helped lead the Slovakian National Team to a silver medal in the 2000 World Championships in Russia. Brennan, 27, appeared in 67 last season for the Lowell Lock Monsters of the Kings' AHL affiliate. He scored 15 goals and added 30 assists for 45 points to go along with 110 penalty minutes. Brennan, who is 6-2 and weighs 200 pounds, also added a goal and five assists in seven playoff games. 7-11-00 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that Bob Sanderman, NHL Governor for the Los Angeles Kings, is retiring from the Anschutz Corporation. A Kings' press release states that Sanderman, who played a key role in the acquisition of the Los Angeles Kings in 1995 by Philip F. Anschutz and Edward P. Roski, and who for the past five years has overseen Anschutz sports enterprises, initially served as the Kings' spokesman and was responsible for the overall management of the Kings until the appointment of Tim Leiweke as President in April, 1996. Sanderman also played a key role in Anschutz' entry into the NHL, Major League Soccer (MLS) and various European hockey ventures. "I have great respect for Bob and his many contributions to the Los Angeles Kings," said Kings' President Tim Leiweke. "His tireless efforts have been instrumental in our achievements over the past five years." "We thank Bob for his many accomplishments and wish him well in his retirement," said Anschutz Corporation President, Cy Harvey. With Sanderman retiring, the Anschutz Corporation announced that Leiweke, who is President of the Kings, STAPLES Center, and the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), will assume responsibility for all of Anschutz' arena, hockey and soccer operations. This will include major and minor league hockey teams in the United States, MLS teams, development of additional sports venues in the United States, and arena and hockey operations in four countries in Europe. Leiweke will also become the NHL Governor for the Kings. Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor and Kings' Assistant General Manager Kevin Gilmore, will provide additional management support for the Anschutz-owned franchises in North America and Europe. The Anschutz Corporation also announced that Detleff Kornett will be their Managing Director of European sports holdings, including the London Arena and five hockey teams in England, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Kornett previously served as General Manager/Director of Sales and Marketing for the National Football League in Europe. 7-6-00 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed unrestricted free agent left wing Stu Grimson to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Grimson, 35, played in 50 games for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim last season, scoring a goal and adding two assists for three points, while leading the team with 116 penalty minutes. He also missed a bunch of games with a broken wrist. Originally selected by Calgary in the seventh round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Grimson has played in the Stanley Cup Finals twice (1995 with Detroit and 1992 with Chicago). In 627 career games with Anaheim, Calgary, Chicago, Detroit and Hartford/Carolina, Grimson has scored thirteen goals and added nineteen assists for 32 points. His best year offensively was in 1997-98 when he scored three goals and tallied four assists for seven points for Carolina. Of course, Grimson is not known for his offense. Rather, he is known for being able to drop the gloves with anyone, as his 1,802 penalty minutes clearly indicates. In one season with Chicago, Grimson racked up 234 penalty minutes in 54 games (1992-93), a career-high. "Stu certainly brings grit, toughness and character to our team," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "He is a solid veteran and we are looking forward to his presence in our lineup." "I am excited and eager to get things going," Grimson said. "I'm looking forward to being a member of an organization I have respected for a long period of time and one that I feel is pointed forward in the right direction." He is expected to report to the Kings training camp in September. This is a pretty good signing by the Kings. Grimson comes cheap, no doubt, and he brings toughness and a reputation that that will make teams think twice about wanting to have to mix it up with him. Perhaps this will add a degree of protection for the Kings' top forwards. On Thursday, the NHL released the 2000-2001 regular season schedule and for the Los Angeles Kings, they will have it tough in the first month when they open the season with a three-game road trip and face their longest road trip of the season from October 28 to November 5 when they will play five games in eight days. In all, the Kings will play nine out of thirteen games on the road in October. The Kings open their 34th NHL season with a three-game road trip beginning on October 6 at Washington. Their home opener is on October 11 against the President's Trophy-winning St. Louis Blues. Towards the end of the season in March, the Kings will reap the rewards of their tough October when they play eleven out of fifteen games at home. They will also have an eight-game homestand from January 25 to February 12. With two new expansion teams joining the NHL this season (Columbus and Minnesota), the NHL will have a staggered schedule. This means that the Kings will play five times against divisional opponents, four times against teams in the other divisions of the Western Conference, with the exception of the Detroit Red Wings who will play the Kings three times. In addition, the Kings will play at least one game against each of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. *NOTE: The Kings have not yet announced their television schedule for the 2000-2001 season. LOS ANGELES KINGS 2000-2001 SCHEDULE ------------------------------------ ALL TIMES PACIFIC HOME GAMES IN CAPITAL LETTERS Television Outlet Legend ------------------------ ABC - American Broadcasting Company (over-the-air) CBC - Canadian Broadcasting Company ESPN - Entertainment and Sports Network ESPN2 - Entertainment and Sports Network 2 FSW - Fox Sports Net West FSW2 - Fox Sports Net West 2 SUMMARY (regular season) ------------------------ ABC: ? games CBC: ? game ESPN: ? games ESPN2: ? games FSW/FSW2: ? games ----------------------------------------------------- Total: ?? regular season games televised September (Pre-Season) ---------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 9/14/00 Phoenix 7:00 PM Sat 9/16/00 Colorado 6:00 PM Sun 9/17/00 ANAHEIM 7:30 PM Fri 9/22/00 Anaheim 7:30 PM Sat 9/23/00 SAN JOSE 7:30 PM (at Bakersfield) Tues 9/26/00 Phoenix 7:30 PM Fri 9/29/00 San Jose 7:30 PM Sat 9/30/00 Colorado 7:30 PM (at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas) OCTOBER (REGULAR SEASON; 9 away, 4 home) ---------------------------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Fri 10/06/00 Washington 4:00 PM Sat 10/07/00 Buffalo 4:00 PM Mon 10/09/00 Columbus 4:00 PM Wed 10/11/00 ST. LOUIS 7:30 PM Fri 10/13/00 BOSTON 7:30 PM Sun 10/15/00 PHOENIX 7:30 PM Tue 10/17/00 Nashville 5:00 PM Thu 10/19/00 St. Louis 5:00 PM Sat 10/21/00 Dallas 5:00 PM Mon 10/23/00 Anaheim 7:30 PM Wed 10/25/00 ANAHEIM 7:30 PM Sat 10/28/00 Phoenix 7:00 PM Tue 10/31/00 Columbus 4:00 PM NOVEMBER (6 away, 6 home) ------------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 11/02/00 Atlanta 4:30 PM Sat 11/04/00 New Jersey 10:00 AM Sun 11/05/00 NY Islanders 10:00 AM Tue 11/07/00 PHOENIX 7:30 PM Thu 11/09/00 VANCOUVER 7:30 PM Sat 11/11/00 DETROIT 7:30 PM Thu 11/16/00 NY ISLANDERS 7:30 PM Sat 11/18/00 COLORADO 1:00 PM Thu 11/23/00 NEW JERSEY 5:30 PM Sat 11/25/00 Pittsburgh 4:30 PM Sun 11/26/00 Boston 4:00 PM Tue 11/28/00 NY Rangers 4:00 PM DECEMBER (8 away, 6 home) ------------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Sat 12/02/00 MINNESOTA 7:30 PM Sun 12/03/00 Anaheim 5:00 PM Thu 12/07/00 DALLAS 6:30 PM Sat 12/09/00 Edmonton 7:00 PM Sun 12/10/00 Vancouver 7:00 PM Thu 12/14/00 NY RANGERS 7:00 PM Sat 12/16/00 TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM Tue 12/19/00 ATLANTA 7:30 PM Thu 12/21/00 Colorado 6:00 PM Fri 12/22/00 Minnesota 5:00 PM Tue 12/26/00 SAN JOSE 7:30 PM Thu 12/28/00 St. Louis 4:30 PM Fri 12/29/00 Dallas 5:30 PM Sun 12/31/00 Detroit 4:00 PM JANUARY (5 away, 7 home) ------------------------ DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Tue 01/02/01 COLORADO 6:00 PM Thu 01/04/01 FLORIDA 7:30 PM Sat 01/06/01 CALGARY 7:00 PM Thu 01/11/01 BUFFALO 7:00 PM Sat 01/13/01 ST. LOUIS 6:30 PM Tue 01/16/01 Ottawa 4:00 PM Wed 01/17/01 Toronto 4:30 PM Sat 01/20/01 Carolina 10:30 AM Mon 01/22/01 Philadelphia 4:00 PM Thu 01/25/01 CALGARY 7:30 PM Sat 01/27/01 MINNESOTA 1:00 PM Tue 01/30/01 DALLAS 7:30 PM FEBRUARY (6 away, 6 home) ------------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 02/01/01 NASHVILLE 7:30 PM Tue 02/06/01 CHICAGO 7:30 PM Thu 02/08/01 CAROLINA 7:30 PM Sat 02/10/01 WASHINGTON 7:30 PM Mon 02/12/01 EDMONTON 7:30 PM Wed 02/14/01 Dallas 5:30 PM Fri 02/16/01 Minnesota 4:00 PM Sun 02/18/01 VANCOUVER 7:30 PM Tue 02/20/01 DETROIT 7:30 PM Thu 02/22/01 Calgary 6:00 PM Sat 02/24/01 COLUMBUS 1:00 PM Tue 02/27/01 Nashville 4:00 PM MARCH (4 away, 11 home) ----------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 03/01/01 Chicago 4:30 PM Sat 03/03/01 DETROIT 7:00 PM Sun 03/04/01 Anaheim 5:00 PM Tue 03/06/01 MINNESOTA 7:30 PM Thu 03/08/01 NASHVILLE 7:30 PM Sat 03/10/01 CHICAGO 7:30 PM Wed 03/14/01 San Jose 7:30 PM Sat 03/17/01 SAN JOSE 12:00 PM Mon 03/19/01 PHOENIX 7:30 PM Wed 03/21/01 EDMONTON 7:30 PM Sat 03/24/01 ANAHEIM 3:00 PM Mon 03/26/01 SAN JOSE 7:30 PM Tue 03/27/01 San Jose 7:30 PM Thu 03/29/01 COLUMBUS 7:30 PM Sat 03/31/01 COLORADO 12:00 PM APRIL (3 away, 1 home) ---------------------- DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME TV --------------------------------------------------------- Mon 04/02/01 VANCOUVER 7:30 PM Tue 04/03/01 Phoenix 7:30 PM Thu 04/05/01 Vancouver 7:00 PM Sat 04/07/01 Calgary 6:00 PM 7-5-00 On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have re-signed defenseman Jere Karalahti to a multi-year contract. Financial terms and conditions, as usual, were not disclosed. Karalahti, 25, was a restricted free agent after the 1999-2000 season, his rookie year. In 48 games, Karalahti scored six goals and added ten assists for 16 points, leading Kings' rookies in scoring. Karalahti, who is 6-2 and weighs 210 pounds, also recorded three assists and four penalty minutes in ten games with the Long Beach Ice Dogs, the Kings' former IHL affiliate. Karalahti, who was drafted in the sixth round (146th overall) by the Kings in 1993, originally signed with the Kings on June 21, 1999 after spending six years with IFK Helsinki in the Finnish Elite League. With IFK, he scored 33 goals and added 64 assists for 100 points while racking up 297 penalty minutes in 229 games.
