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LOS ANGELES KINGS COVERAGE

Since 2016, I have written about the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign for SBNation's Jewels from the Crown. My full post archive is available online.  

In addition to providing regular game previews (focusing on players to watch, notable news for both teams, and possible line combinations), I have provided live, on the ground coverage of events such as the NHL Draft and All-Star Game. I write with a special focus on prospects, and throughout the season have prepared player profiles for all players in the Kings' system. I also contribute breaking news stories, special features, and game recaps

Selected excerpts of my coverage are reproduced below.  All photos shown were taken by me. 

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WHO WANTS TO SIGN AN RFA?

Yesterday, we looked at NHL regulars (or almost-regulars; thanks, Jonny Brodzinski) who are restricted free agents waiting for their next contracts. Today, we’re looking at the players who spent the season with the Ontario Reign who are anticipating contract decisions.

These players have spent all, or almost all, of their professional careers in the AHL. It’s easy to imagine all of them being re-signed, simply to bolster depth in Ontario, but for the most part, the expectation that any of these players will see NHL time is low. It’s also easy to imagine the Kings deciding not to tender a qualifying offer to any of the below players. Any of them could probably benefit from a change in scenery, and if the chance arises to flip any of them for other prospects in similar spots, no one should object to trades.

Michael Mersch

2016-17: AHL: 48 GP, 16 G, 17 A (Playoffs: 5 GP, 0 G, 3 A)
Career: NHL: 17 GP, 1 G, 2 A; AHL: 183 GP, 64 G, 60 A (Playoffs: 40 GP, 15 G, 17 A) 
Last contract: 3 years (ELC), $925,000 AAV, arbitration eligible


Ah yes, the curious case of Michael Mersch. He got a brief look in the 2015-16 season but was derailed by injuries this season. Additionally, he’s been passed on the depth chart by players like Nic Dowd, Adrian Kempe, and Jonny Brodzinski, who all made the jump to the NHL in some capacity this year. If he’s fallen out of favor with the Kings organization, it would probably be more useful to trade his rights (or re-sign and flip) to another team that thinks it could use the big forward. More likely, he gets a short contract, a cut in pay, and a chance to prove himself out of training camp. If not, he’ll be getting even more familiar with Ontario.

Joel Lowry

2016-17: AHL: 40 GP, 1 G, 7 A (Playoffs: 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A)
Career: AHL: 81 GP, 6 G, 13 A (Playoffs: 16 GP, 4 G, 2 A); ECHL: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A
Last contract: 2 years (ELC), $925,000 AAV, arbitration eligible

Back in December, I wrote that Lowry was having a rough season, spending most of his time in the bottom six along with other players who weren’t expected to make any impact on the Kings’ roster. Lowry’s performance didn’t improve much from that point -- he had two assists in early December and added just six more total points over the remainder of the season. (Lowry, incidentally, is the son of Kings new assistant coach Dave Lowry.)

Patrick Bjorkstrand

2016-17: AHL: 42 GP, 8 G, 4 A (Playoffs: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A)
Last contract: 1 year (ELC), $925,000 AAV, arbitration eligible

This was Bjorkstrand’s first year playing pro in North America. The Danish forward previously spent three seasons playing in the KHL, as well as time at the pro level in Sweden and Denmark. He was a frequent healthy scratch and despite being brought on as a depth option, never really seemed to catch on. I could see giving him another contract to see if he adapts better to North American hockey, but he may never project any higher than a fourth line player, if he were ever to make it to the NHL.

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GAME DAY PREVIEW #78, ARIZONA COYOTES @ LOS ANGELES KINGS

(Originally posted April 2, 2017.) 

If this were a normal season, we’d be talking about how the Coyotes are doing what they always do: stumbling and flailing their way through the season only to show up at the tail end and mess with a bunch of teams’ records. They’ve only won three of their last ten, but those three wins had some playoffs implications. A 6-4 win over the Capitals delayed them from clinching best in the East, as well as their likely President’s Trophy. They also beat the Lightning, who are still fighting it out in the East for one of the remaining playoff spots.


And, of course, their third win in the last ten came against the Kings, in an incredibly frustrating shoot-out loss.


With the Predators’ loss earlier today, the Kings’ playoff hopes are mathematically still alive. The Kings would need to win out, and the Predators would need to lose every remaining game in regulation, in order for the Kings to sneak into the playoffs.


So, for tonight, at least, the Kings’ hopes of remaining technically relevant lie in their hands -- and also Mike Smith’s.


Smith seems to take particular delight in beating the Kings; he’s got a 14-8-1 career record against them and a save percentage of .929, his third best mark (right behind his records against the Sharks and Avalanche).


But it hasn’t mattered who’s been in net for the Coyotes, Smith or Louis Domingue, the Kings haven’t been able to get the goals -- or the wins -- they’ve needed against Arizona this year. It doesn’t matter who Arizona’s got on the ice, not even the post-trade deadline patchwork of rookies, AHL call-ups, and also Shane Doan. Arizona’s found the goals, gotten the wins, taken a bunch of points from the Kings that they could have used.


Same as it ever was.


In the waning days of the season, Darryl Sutter continues to subtly tinker with his lines, when he’s not busy throwing former backup Jeff Zatkoff under the bus. After scoring for the first time since mid-March, Tyler Toffoli’s won the “why can’t anyone do anything productive here” spot to Anze Kopitar’s right. Tanner Pearson moves back to skate with Jeff Carter, who has looked good in his limited time so far with Jarome Iginla.


Adrian Kempe looks to center the fourth line, in what’s certainly a completely miscast role for him. With Kyle Clifford and Jordan Nolan as the human bowling balls on his wings, I don’t know how anyone expects Kempe to excel there. But Sutter seems to be taking issue with Nic Dowd’s play as of late, so Fourth Line Center Adrian Kempe it is.


A win keeps those false hopes going for at least another few days. A loss lets the players finally be honest with themselves and with us; we can transition from hearing the cliches about playing hard and every point mattering, into hearing about how they just couldn’t get the job done, how they’ll still play their hearts out, come back hard and strong for next year.


Puck drops soon for the Kings’ last homestand of the season. What outcome are you hoping for?

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