KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
10.24.99 The Los Angeles Kings and the Staples Center are apparently aware of the complaints from season seat holders in the lower bowl of the arena and they're looking into possible solutions, some of which involve the glass and boards. "What we're doing is taking a look at the whole design of the penalty box, we've ordered new dasher boards for the side of the penalty box and we're taking a look at the glass we have," said Lee Zeidman, Vice President of Building Operations for the Staples Center. "What we already did was cut down the size of the steel supports between the glass." Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ask Zeidman more questions.10.14.99 As everyone should know by now, traffic going to and from the Staples Center on game nights is going to be horrendous, especially on weeknights, where fans will have to contend with rush hour traffic as well. One way to beat the traffic will be to use public transportation. For Kings' fans who are not close enough to take a bus, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Rail lines are a great alternative. In fact, the Metro Blue Line has a stop at Pico Boulevard and Flower Street, just one block east of the Staples Center. The only problem is that their current schedule doesn't run late enough, especially if the Los Angeles Kings should make the playoffs and a game goes into overtime. But even for games that end in regulation, anyone needing to take the Blue Line northbound (for example, to transfer to the Metro Red Line heading to Hollywood or east to Union Station) is out of luck after 10:50 PM when the last train leaves. Southbound Blue Line trains run a bit later, leaving the Staples Center area at 11:30 PM. Those wishing to transfer to the Metro Green Line to head west to El Segundo (you can park and ride at almost every Green Line station) will need to be on a Green Line train no later than about 11:53 PM. Those wishing to head east on the Green Line towards Norwalk have a little more leeway. The last train leaves the transfer point with the Blue Line at about 12:50 AM. In any case, the MTA needs to get serious about providing alternative means of getting to and from the Staples Center on event nights in order to help alleviate traffic. They can encourage ridership by extending their operating hours and putting more cars on trains during the hours people will be traveling to and from Staples Center. To their credit, the MTA has been talking with Staples Center officials. But they have not made any committment to extending service. But you can help them reach a decision! I urge all of you to do one of the following reagardless of whether or not you plan on taking the Metro Rail lines to the Staples Center (remember, more people on trains means less traffic on the streets and freeways, so this affects us all): * Call the MTA's Customer Service line at (213) 922-6235. You'll probably wind up on hold for a bit, but when someone answers, tell them that you will be attending a lot of events at the Staples Center and you want the MTA to extend hours and the number of cars on their trains on event days. They will take your name and that will feedback will go to their decision-makers. * Send e-mail expressing your opinion to the MTA at: customerrelations@mta.net. I was amazed that when I sent them an e-mail, they replied very quickly. Either way, you'll be letting the MTA know that they need to act and act quickly. We CAN make a difference and I urge all Kings' fans to do so! For more information on the MTA's Metro Rail lines, including schedules, fare information, station locations, etc., point your web browser to http://www.mta.net. 
10.13.99 Turns out that the Los Angeles Kings, who assigned left wing Dan Bylsma and defenseman Jaroslav Modry to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL on Wednesday, will be recalling them on Thursday so that they will be with the big club in Calgary on Friday. Apparently, they just wanted to get the two players some ice time. Goaltender Jamie Storr, who suffered a minor groin strain last week, is healed up enough to be ready to play this weekend, if necessary. Earlier on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings had announced that they assigned defenseman Jaroslav Modry and left wing Dan Bylsma to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. Both players were healthy scratches for the team's first five games. 10.11.99 On Monday, the NHL announced that Los Angeles Kings' left wing Luc Robitaille was named NHL Player of the Week for the "week" of October 1-9, 1999. During that time, Robitaille led the Kings with six goals and two assists for eight points in four games. He recorded his 14th career hat trick at Tampa Bay on Thursday and scored the game-winning goal at St. Louis last Monday. Robitaille currently leads the NHL in goals with seven and in points with ten. He also leads the league in power play goals with four. Robitaille reportedly edged out San Jose's Owen Nolan for the player of the week honor. 10.6.99 The Los Angeles Kings announced on Wednesday that left wing Steve McKenna, who suffered a laceration below his left eye during Monday's game at St. Louis, returned to Los Angeles where he will have minor laser surgery to repair a small retinal tear in his left eye. There was no word on how long McKenna will be out of the lineup. 10.2.99 Jim Hodges reported in Saturday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that the deal defenseman Mattias Norstrom signed with the Los Angeles Kings late Thursday was worth $6.6 million over four years, averaging $1.65 million per season, just a tad less than the $1.7 million average he was seeking. Hodges reported that Norstrom will receive $1.2 million this season, $1.6 million next season, $1.8 million in 2001-2002 and $2 million in 2002-2003. The addition of the fourth year in the contract was the breakthrough in the negotiations. Hodges also reported that Norstrom had been skating last week with the Long Beach Ice Dogs, so he may be ready to jump into the Kings' lineup tonight at Nashville. For more, you can read Hodges' article on the web at: http://sports.latimes.com/news/19991002/hko/los/000088468.html Matt McHale of the LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM and the DAILY NEWS has a good article on the Kings' upcoming road trip and on Norstrom. You can find it at: http://www.press-telegram.com/archive/today/spo02.asp Earl Bloom of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER also previews the Kings' season opener: http://www.ocregister.com/sports/hockey/kings002w.shtml 10.1.99 It's official... On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have signed defenseman Mattias Norstrom to a four-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Norstrom, 27, played in 78 games last season, scoring two goals and adding five assists for seven points while racking up 36 penalty minutes. More importantly, he was among league leaders in hits and was named to the NHL All-Star Team for the game in Tampa. Norstrom was also named as the Kings' Outstanding Defenseman last season, the second time in three years he has won the award. He was also named the Unsung Hero for the second straight season and the Most Inspirational Player. "We are extremely pleased to have Mattias under contract with the Kings for the next four seasons," said Kings' Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "We view him as our number two defenseman and he brings tremendous leadership and character to that role." Norstrom joined the team today and will be available for the season opener at Nashville on Saturday. Reports indicate that he is not yet in game shape, so I don't expect to see him in the lineup until he gets a few practices under his belt. To make room on the Kings' 23-man roster, the team has designated defenseman Rich Brennan for assignment to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. He will have to clear waivers before reporting to Lowell. Jim Hodges reported in Friday's LOS ANGELES TIMES that the Los Angeles Kings have assigned defenseman Dion Darling to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL. Friday's DAILY BREEZE has a feature article on Kings' television play-by-play announcer Bob Miller. You can find it on the web at: http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bls/nmlee1.html Karen Crouse also has a feature article on the Kings in the DAILY NEWS. You can read this article on the web at: http://www.dailynewslosangeles.com/extra/sports/crouse.asp Joe Stevens reported in Friday's LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM that center Len Barrie, who was assigned by the Kings to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL was very unhappy about the decision. You can find this article at: http://www.presstelegram.com/archive/today/spo01.asp All I can say about Barrie, who really shot off his mouth, he needs to wake up and smell the coffee. If he thinks he's one of the Kings' top 4 centers, he is seriously overestimating his talent. link to last month's (September '99) notes
