I can't begin to explain how happy I was to see any sort of Kings game, let alone one that ended in our favor. It wasn't the most thrilling game; I don't think I would have made it to the second period if it weren't off-season.....yeah, I know, if it weren't off-season this game wouldn't even be playing. I know, I know...I was just saying...
It was weird not really knowing who was who. I pretty much looked at the roster for all the names that could be on the Kings roster in the very near future and just kind of kept an eye out for them. I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised at how...surprising this game turned out to be. I know that everyone was watching Doughty (he being the most sure rookie of next season) to see how he would fair. I didn't really notice much. He had a couple of eye catching plays, but it didn't really look like they were planned out. Most of his noteworthy accomplishments looked as though he lucked into them. Most of the time is was setting up camp in the net, diving into it like it was home plate. He was either drawing penalties or taking them. I still don't have a very good opinion of what I think of him as a player but I will say that I know he wants it. From past interviews and the recent getting into shape, he seems like he has a rare breed of determination and really, you have that and there is no telling the type of player you can make. Plus, he seems like he is happy to be here. You can't get that, no matter how much you pay someone else.
I like how he looks like the happiest out of all of them........doesn't know what he's in for.
There are the three standouts that everyone will be talking about. Well, not really. Just Kings fans will be talking about it. Well, let's face it, probably only about 40% of Kings fans. In any case, the three standouts (as chosen by the media) are (in alphabetical order):
1. Bernier, Jonathan #45
He stopped all of the shots that he faced (17 in total) and everyone was in love with him to begin with. I never really saw the big deal with him, personally. I'm assuming that it is the fact that he is beautiful, looks like he smells nice, and has a habit of 'accidentally' not buttoning his top shirt button.
Naughty, naughty, Mr. Future Back Up Goalie
I know that there are plenty of arguments for Bernier, but what I think is most off-putting is that he is over-hyped. Last year, people would worry about when he would be in net more than they would LaBarbabra. Ron Hextall was interviewed halfway through the game and said, "Jason LaBarbara is the only sure thing and after that it's up for grabs." I know we all knew that, but most people are thinking that Mr. Burns is a sure thing as well. I'm just saying...don't count your French-Canadians before they hatch. I would personally feel comfortable with Babs as #1 and Ersberg in #2 (hey, he is not as over-hyped as Burns*). I do have to hand it to him though, there were 3 or 4 amazing saves; a particular favorite of mine is when he shot his leg out to stop it and choked it when the rebound was pinched into the air. He also took a bad penalty for trying to stop the puck with the toe of his skate and inadvertently tripping a Coyote. I like him, I'm just not in like with him.
*Most likely his new nickname.
2. Moller, Oscar #51
The next two really are lumped together as a kind of power duo. I don't have many notes on Oscar Moller except that he started the game and what a start it was; twenty-three seconds into the game, he took a shot that shattered a segment of glass behind the net and took five minutes to repair. I like it.
The goal that he was accredited for was really just his banking on Simmonds' beautiful puck placement. Again, I don't think that this was planned because if it were, Simmonds would definitely be on the team already; Simmonds put the puck on the net and when it was barely enough to time to be considered a rebound, Moller snapped it in. I liked the surprised/happy look on Moller's face after he made the shot. It looked as though he was just trained to hit the puck and that he did it without thinking. I like that because there are way too many times when the Kings just play with the puck, passing it back and forth. Someone just needs to put puck to net as many times as it takes.
3. Simmonds, Wayne #57
I am really excited about this guy. He was the big surprise that I had hoped for in this game. I have always liked this guy for some reason. I like how his build is like Rob Blake's and was just one of those 'admiration at first sight' type of things. This was the same feeling I had with Handzus, except Simmonds is doing something (if only against a couple of rooks). I am pretty sure it's the tall and lanky attribute that makes them look like an underdog no matter their talent level and I always love rooting for the underdog, especially when it's an underdog in disguise.
I had a few notes about Simmonds, notes of noticeable talent, well, some of them. One note was about his Blake-esk build. Another was on his play making skills, how he talks with other players on the ice and adjusts to situations well. I also like how he is valiant in blocking the puck, he is like a Giuliano that cares about his physical health; he will dive for the puck and put a body in front of it but a protected part or maybe a stick or something. As I said before, I liked the first goal, just how everything lined up. The shot by Simmonds toward the net, as if he knew that Moller was spring-loaded. It wasn't nearly that magical, but it looked pretty amazing, especially in comparison to no hockey for 4 months.
Pictured: (Left) Wayne Simmonds, (Right) Oscar Moller
Here's to hockey, and the King's 15th anniversary of rebuilding! Cheers!
