Jason LaBarbera traded

It looks as though the Kings are in no mood for goalie busts as they have traded 6'3'', 225 pound (give him credit, he lost weight over the summer) to the Vancouver Canucks for a seventh round draft pick in the 2009 NHL draft.

It looks as though Jonathan Quick impressed more than I thought. I was assuming that he would get a pat on the back as he was ushered back to Manchester while little Erik redeemed his place in net as Babs sat on the bench and sang along every time "Fuel" was played in Staples. However, the Kings were not so laissez-faire about the whole scenario. It seems to have gone a little more the route of: Jason is bad. Jonathan is good.

I am not disagreeing with the move, but I don't think that so much trust should have been put on Quick so soon. I would have like to see his work in the shootout. Hell, I would have at least like to see his work against a team that, I don't know, is good? I'd like to see him take a shootout against Detroit and then we will see who is in L.A. My guess is that Bernier will be here in less than 2 months*.
*Then again, that is probably when the Kings will be out of playoff contention and they are giving everyone NHL samples (see last year).

The bigger questions are in the rest of the trade agreement. The seventh round pick and Vancouver Canuck recipient threw me for a loop more than anything. Was the best offer management could get for Babs really just a seventh round pick? I would have said fourth; no better, no worse. On top of that, is Luongo's injury really so serious as to need another goaltender? With the only loss being the lowly draft pick, it couldn't hurt (unless they loss his 6 starts in a row; too personal?) but if I were a Vancouver fan (ew) I would be worried.

Kings 0, Blue Jackets 1

What kind of crap was that?

Wrapping up December

Today is the last game of December for L.A. and it is against the Columbus Blue Jackets. I am not going to assume a win because that is usually the kiss of the death for the team. So I will just see how they have done so far this month.

Things are in a bit of a hectic state for the team right now. They had to throw a couple of rookies into the mix with the World Juniors taking our little Oscar, Brad Richardson splitting stitches in practice and San Jose being 2 for 3 in taking out a player when they face the Kings. So far, things haven't gone completely to the birds.

The Kings are 5-6-3 this December with 2 of the 5 wins coming courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets themselves; not just wins, mind you, but shutouts. The questionable thing is how Columbus will come out tonight. It is a home game for the Kings, who seem to do significantly better there then on the road (10-7-6 at home, 5-8-0 on the road) but with these points being so significant to the team and assuming Columbus is tired of losing, one can only hope that L.A. doesn't play on their heels to a vengeful Columbus.

Me? I'm not worried. Columbus couldn't even beat Dan Cloutier last year. In a shoot out.

By the look of things, Jonathan Quick is going to be in net tonight. It would not be a surprise, seeing as he was the one to notch the shutout last against the Jackets. He also got the shutout against a streaking, Bryzgalov-laden Phoenix that had previously gone 6-0 versus the team. Plus, he was named one of the NHL's three stars of the week! The world is looking grim for Babs.

One of the saves that he was actually looking at.

It just goes to show you, though. A guy gets two shut outs in three games, lets in only 2 goals in the other and he still only gets to play third fiddle to Alex Ovechkin.

Decem-diagram: A Comparing and Contrasting of Decembers

It would have sounded better if I were talking about November, because then I could have said Novem-diagram and that sounds more similar to Venn diagram. Instead, it turned into a play on words that I had to explain and that's just stupid.

Just to fill you in, my computer apparently is a bear because it went into hibernation (I know that it's a setting, but it's ironic because it was just before the temperature really started dropping). So now I have missed an entire month of the highs and Lows (Angeles). Here is just a quick (not actually quick and not referring to the goalie situation) over view of this December and why Kings fans really shouldn't be too upset.

Any Kings fan who lived through last December still gets a chill that runs up their spines when it is mentioned. I wonder why it could have that effect? Let me take you back.

December can't get to you under there, Aubin

Let's go back to a time when Marc Crawford was coach and LaBarbera was heaven-sent. An innocent time when Frolov was sidelined by an injury and we saw lines like Cammallieri-Kopitar-Brown (granted Cammy had virtually stopped scoring at this point): this was December. It was when Calder and Preissing weren't looked upon because I was too busy disgusted with the likes of Willsie and Stuart.

December 1, 2007
Colorado Avalanche 5, Los Angeles Kings 2


This game was the catalyst that turned that December into what it was. At the time, the management and fans were already rubbing their temples over Dan "good call Crawford" Cloutier (little did we know, we had only seen the tip of the iceberg*) and Jason LaBarbera had finally come to play for the Kings after having a superior season in the AHL. Remember? This was when we all thought Babs was so good that we couldn't risk going through the red tape of his contract and someone snagging him when we try to bring him up. Remember, he had record-setting success; there were no signs that he wouldn't be able to handle being a number one goaltender in the NHL. I guess in the AHL they don't have answers for his patented "fling and sprawl" move.
*Not intended to be a foreshadowing of Ersberg coming into the season and later replacing Jason LaBarbera.

He's so close to understanding butterfly goaltending

He has his weaknesses here and there, but when a player doesn't have dramatic flaws, they get overshadowed by the ones that do (and this team always has a player with a dramatic flaw). Even if he were as bad last year as he has been this year (which he probably was), the Kings would just try to stick with him because when it came down to it, the decision-making idea was "it's either this or Cloutier."

Entering the game, Ryan Smyth was in a bit of a scoring pickle because he had tallied one goal in all of 13 games. He was determined to change that in this game. How? He would take out the one thing that is in the way (Kings had horrible defense that year, so he didn't have to worry about them) and that was the goaltender. With 14:40 remaining in the game, Ryan Smyth stabbed Jason LaBarbera in the ribs (I was there and I am fairly confident that it was a switchblade, but I will have to re-check my sources) and he was replaced by J.S. Aubin. He was quoted after the game talking about what I can only assume is the stabbing of LaBarbera.

"I got my opportunities and took full advantage of it. I've been talking about trying to get to the net a little bit more, and it was just a matter of going out and doing it."

It seems he was planning this for quite some time. I have always hated Colorado, but the douchebaggery has really gotten out of hand. This was the eventual beginning of the end for the 2007-2008 Los Angeles Kings as they would eliminate themselves from playoff contention with a December record of 4-11-1, earning them 9 points out of a possible 32.

Notes

The next night, the Kings played Garon and the rest of the Oilers. It went to a shootout and the Kings lost, of course, because Garon has faced their shots more than anyone else in the league. He was quoted about wanted to leave L.A. because he had felt that he wasn't needed. Boy, was he off the mark on this one:

"I think it started the summer before last season when they got (Dan Cloutier. By that time, I knew I was not really part of the plan anymore. I think I had a good season last year, but I knew I was not their guy. Obviously, I didn't want to spend another season like that, and that's why I decided to take a different path."

The Kings had their ever-so-pleasant eight game losing streak in that month which lasted from December 12-26 in which they lost eight games in regulation to: Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado, Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, and San Jose.

On the 6th of that December, Jonathan Quick (there because of an injury to Aubin) celebrated his first NHL win in his NHL debut as the Kings beat the Sabres 8-2 in Staples Center. Goals came from Camalleri, Brown (2), Preissing (2), Modry, Handzus (SH) and Armstrong. In that game, 11 of the 18 Kings skaters earned a point.

By the end of December of last season, Anze Kopitar had 16 goals. In that month he had a six game point streak and carried over a stat 10 points in 11 games that started at the end of November. That would be 7 goals and 2 assists.

The L.A. Kings had 12 games in 21 days that month (16 total) and 4 back-to-back games with 7 of 8 being away games.

The Point

In the end, take from the comparison what you will. Celebration can be made that our December record this year doesn't look a little like: 4-11-1 or rioting can ensue on the grounds that while the Kings are clawing to the .500 mark, a healthy, "best shape of my life" Babs is doing similar damage as an injured Mr. Stay Puft '08. Ok, how about the fact that we are still in the playoff run? If anything than look at the December that the Islanders and Blues* are having (yikes!).
*Suck it Murray!
Now that we have come and gone from that lagoon of loss that is December 2007, let us look at all the beautiful and positive changes that have occurred in the time in between. Now let's try to figure out how Quick and Zeiler made it into both Decembers. I honestly have no idea why John Zeiler is still associated with this franchise.

Major congratulations are in hand for a Mr. Jon Quick. Here on an emergency call-up and he records 2 shutouts in 3 games. The NHL did not recognize him for his tremendous efforts, but Kings fans sure as hell do. He is the reason (not the sole reason*, but a huge one) that this team finally has beaten Phoenix when that damn Bryzgalov was in net.
*Another contributing factor, of course, being the fact that they were wearing their third jerseys.

Christmas Wishes

Dear Santa,

I know that you probably would like to receive Christmas mail via postage, the way I've been contacting you up until now, but I figured that this would do just as well.

I don't want to waste your time because I know that you have a lot of business to take care of, especially so late in the year, so I will get to the point. All I want for Christmas this year is to beat Colorado tonight in regulation. It's not much, and I didn't want to go overboard and ask for playoff contention or to win the Freezeway Faceoff, even though it has crossed my mind many a-times.

I am not saying that I didn't like your previous gifts; that sweater was heaven and if it ever gets to be cold enough along California's coast, I will definitely wear it. It is just that this year, we have not been able to beat Colorado and there is really no reason for it; they truly are douche bags. So I figured that if they couldn't win on their own, maybe you could help them; if ever they needed it, this is the time. You see, Zeiler is rumored to be going back in and Ersberg is having trouble and it is in Denver and with the two points, we could leapfrog over them in the standings.

I am sorry for yelling at the Detroit fan that sat behind me, and questioning the parenting skills of that man with the little girl in the Ducks hat (I was kidding!), and saying that Kyle Calder is a waste of sperm and egg (I wasn't kidding!), and laughing at that older lady that fell off her motor chair when she went over a bump (she couldn't hear me). If you could find it in your heart to make my Christmas wish come true after all of the things that I just told you, I would be the happiest Kings fan in the whole world.

If on the other hand, you can't find a way to help me out (liar!), I will have to tell Mrs. Claus about what held you out late last year.

You don't need to know sources, give them a damn win!

Happy Birthday, Doughty!

Today is Drew Doughty's birthday. It is a day for celebrating and for Kings fans to appreciate having such an amazing person on the team, plus I don't have to feel like the team is breaking some sort of child labor laws having him play 25:00 per game.

I won't gush about him or anything (mostly because I have to save it for an extensive year-end review of this little gem) but I will say that it is not often that fans get to see such a respectable, charming, and talented player.

It is his first year in the NHL, fresh out of the 2008 NHL Draft and Wikipedia has already received word that he was the most important person born on December 8, 1989. Damn straight.

My present to you, Drew.

So here's to Drew Doughty and all of the hope that his presence brings.

December 3, Kings 0

I mean Kings 3, Columbus 0.

If anyone remembers the black hole that December proved to be last year, they remember the pain and anguish that it caused, pretty much removing the Kings from playoff contention. This is only one win so the curse of December is still in the air, but hell, I'm just glad that there is no eight game losing streak.

I'll give them praise for winning, but passes were subpar and had it been any other team, the Kings' mistakes would have been capitalized on. LaBarbera came up with a couple of big saves (because the goon didn't have to deal with one-on-one shots) but the real thanks was to the defensemen that quickly swept the puck out of the crease whenever Babs decided to pull his thrusting-kick-save move that he does (you know, the over dramatic move that makes him look like an idiot). Let's not forget though, the last time that the Kings had faced and beaten Columbus was when Cloutier was in net (and it went to the shootout, too). In the end, Babs got the shutout and Kings got the win, so I guess the bitching stops here.

That goal from Simmonds: Wow. Can I get a hell yeah?* I mostly like it because it came from Simmonds and I will root for him through suckness and in stealth (ZING!). It was just a good goal though, I mean he had the defenseman on his side and a small margin to shoot. It was the goal that Patty O was trying for all night. He would settle for an assist.
*hell yeah

As far as Kyle Calder goes, he still doesn't get any praise. If anyone played with Kopitar and Brown as much as he did, they would have much more goals. This goal is about 6 games late, so he doesn't get rewarded for finally doing what he is expected to. Douche bag.

Meanwhile, I don't see how anyone could say that Brown is playing anything but as well as he can. He is hitting only when he finds it appropriate to do so and shooting like Yosemite Sam. He is leading by example and there is not one bad thing that I have to say about him. Plus, on the Jumbotron, he was with some kids for this "hockey-players-have-hearts" spiel and just seeing the way that he interacts with the little guys makes me wish that he were my dad.

The Kings end their 4-in-6 week with 3 points. They really should have won all of them or at least the first three. What can you do, right? They are resting up and head to Colorado to play the Avalanche on Tuesday; a team that the Kings should beat every time, but never seem to be able to do. At least the Oilers beat San Jose; since Lubo is on the team, it feel like the Kings had a part in beating San Jose, too. That's probably as close as they are going to get this season, too.

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

Edmonton stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

People care about John Zeiler?

There is an oddly provocative story about the hubbub over John Zeiler's hit to Adam Foote during the Kings' home game against Colorado on November 22, 2008. What was supposed to be a celebration of the Kings' third jersey and a new horizon for the franchise turned into the night of a million "John Zeiler" searches on Google, apparently. I didn't really think that it deserved as much attention as it got. If anything, Foote underestimated Zeiler by assuming that he wouldn't do something as stupid as hit him in the numbers. As Zeiler really is just the comic relief of the team, I had no problem with any of this. Others? Not so much.

"He could have been maimed!" "A hit that could have very well ended Foote's career."

I don't want to come across as cynical or joyful that Foote could have been badly injured, but it is clear that the people who are posting such comments really do not follow the Kings at all because I, for one, am just happy that Zeiler completed a check without falling down.

Sure, he could have gotten a 12 game suspension and Colorado fans (idiots) could rest easy at night knowing that John Zeiler and the L.A. Kings know not to play in such a fowl way. The reality is that Zeiler has the intelligence of a goldfish; they mean well, but can't see what is right in front of them and, to be honest, if their species were to become extinct the world would not be any worse off. In reality, no harm is done to the team or Zeiler. He will go out and pull boneheaded moves and the Kings will somehow learn to live without this destined fourth line winger.

I particularly like this picture of Zeiler that clearly is trying to have influence over the reader and could not describe him any less perfectly.

What isn't pictured is that he is actually blowing a kiss to Ersberg.

Any Kings fan that knows about Zeiler at all knows that picture is not an accurate portrayal of Zeiler and his style of play. A suggestion of a better photo choice?

There is the Zeiler we all know and....well, the one we know.

And when he is not directly involved in the play?

He's wondering who to check, no doubt.

In the end, I am sure that John Zeiler's career will be much shorter than Adam Foote's (Feet?) and if I were an Avalanche fan the comfort of knowing that would be enough to keep my mouth shut.

Holy Jokinen, we better win tonight

The Kings are scheduled to play four games in six days this week; two back-to-backs with a two days break in between (yea, I know). With the apparent scrimmage that the Kings sold tickets to, one would think that they are ready to....I don't know...put some effort forth.

I have mixed emotions about the "fight" (aggressive hugging) that Armstrong got into with Jeff Finger (haha) after he had knocked the wind out of Moller. I really liked that Armstrong was standing up for the littlest King, but it was a clean hit and Moller had his head down. It's nice to see a team sticking together, but maybe he should have just told Moller about making sure he is aware of his surroundings rather than acting sort of like a redneck mom. I am just really protective over Moller, so it tickled my heart to see Armstong stick up for him, but had it been anyone else, I wouldn't really have cared.

I cannot put into words just how upsetting that game was. There were Toronto fans everywhere, and we were supposed to have them make like a tree that they so oddly adore and leave (yes, Toronto, leave. You know, the plural form of "leaf." Oh. You don't know?). Near the 7 minute mark of the third, even Bailey seemed to give up hope. This marked the first loss that the team has had when leading after two periods. Neither team played all that well, but at least Toronto had a pep in their step whereas the Kings just seemed to be sort of laissiz faire. They had perfect scoring chances that they managed to screw up. I won't drop names, but in the third the Kings' #11 had a wide open net (I can't stress enough how wide open it was) and made a miraculous shot that went up and over it. I don't know what is going on with that kid but if Calder weren't on that line, I would be severely pissed off. Fortunately for Kopitar, I have bigger fish to fry.

Left: Kopitar Right: Preissing, Richardson, Calder

If anything is to be learned from this game, it is that maybe, just maybe someone should teach the players about offensive attack. It seems like they are just winging it and going off of what they already know rather than a coordinated team effort, it shows on any given power play.

So the Kings are in Pheonix and the game will be on FSN at 6:30 (Pacific Standard Time). I don't think that they will win, so if they do it will be nothing but positivity from my part. This is one of those teams that the Kings should really have no problem beating (like Toronto or Colorado) but just can't seem to snag to two points from. I just hope that, if anything, it's not in Rinkside View.