Department Of Player Safety Fines Kyle Clifford
The Department of Player Safety has been busy so far this year, and today handed out their latest punishment. Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford has been fined $4,301.08 for kneeing Jordan Greenway last night. That was the maximum allowable fine, but Clifford will avoid suspension altogether. Clifford stuck out his leg to trip Greenway in the middle of the ice and was penalized for it, and the fight that followed with Nick Seeler.
Though it won’t go down as a suspension, Clifford will be considered a repeat offender if anything else happens in the next 18 months. That means any supplementary discipline will end up costing him much more salary, and this fine will be taken into account for the rest of his career in any decisions from the Department of Player Safety. Really, it means that the Kings forward will need to avoid any suspect incidents or face increased punishment.
As for Greenway, he suffered no major injury on the play and was sent to the AHL for the next few games to get his play back on track. He’ll be back in Minnesota for their road trip next week.
Kings Hoping That Gabriel Vilardi Can Start Skating With The Team In The Near Future
- Kings center Gabriel Vilardi will be re-evaluated next week as he continues to work his way back from a back injury, notes Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. The 2017 first-round pick is currently on non-roster injured reserve but GM Rob Blake is hopeful that the 19-year-old can be integrated into practice with the team in the near future. Once he gets the green light to play, Vilardi can play in up to nine games without burning the first year of his entry-level contract. If the team decides to cut him, he has to be sent back to Kingston of the OHL as he’s not eligible to play in the AHL.
Alec Martinez Has Come Up In Trade Speculation
- In an appearance on Insider Trading (video link), TSN’s Darren Dreger noted that Kings defenseman Alec Martinez has come up in trade speculation lately. Los Angeles has not gotten off to a particularly strong start this season which has led to an expectation that a move involving a notable player or head coach John Stevens will be made. Martinez would certainly draw considerable interest around the league as a top-four player that can play the right side with a team-friendly cap hit of $4MM through the 2020-21 season. Through nine games this season, the 31-year-old has a pair of assists while logging 21:28 per night of ice time.
Los Angeles Kings Send Jaret Anderson-Dolan Back To Junior
The Los Angeles Kings have decided that burning a year of Jaret Anderson-Dolan‘s entry-level contract isn’t worth it at the moment, and have instead sent him back to the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL for the remainder of the season. Anderson-Dolan had played five games so far with the Kings, recording his first NHL point and getting a taste of what life is like in professional hockey. He’ll now return to the junior ranks and likely compete for a spot on Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championship. Los Angeles has recalled Sean Walker from the AHL to fill the roster spot.
Even though it may feel that way to him, this isn’t a critique of Anderson-Dolan’s play. The 19-year old forward was actually quite impressive in his short stint, limited as it was. The Kings have decided that averaging just over 11 minutes per night isn’t the optimal development strategy, and if they weren’t about to give him a boost in ice time, sending him back to Spokane was the only other option. Curtis Zupke of the Los Angeles Times tweets that Kings head coach John Stevens didn’t want Anderson-Dolan sticking around in a losing culture, and noted that he’ll be the leader for his WHL team. The Kings are 2-5-1 through their first eight games, and currently have the second worst goal differential in the entire league.
For Kings fans, it will be hard to see Anderson-Dolan leave in the midst of such a poor start to the season by the team, but there are brighter days on the horizon. The young forward is part of a prospect group that should be making a substantial impact before long, alongside names like Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Kale Clague and Akil Thomas. The World Juniors could be filled with Kings prospects this year, and give fans something to cheer for during what is looking like a down year.
Poll: What’s Next For The L.A. Kings?
The Los Angeles Kings entered the 2018-19 season with high expectations, at least in-house that is. After landing prized veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk and getting Jeff Carter and others back to full strength, the Kings and many of their fans and pundits felt that this was a team that could truly contend for the Stanley Cup.
Today, L.A. lost 5-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. On Thursday, they lost 7-2 to the New York Islanders. That’s a combined 12-3 result against two non-playoff teams from last season. The Kings are currently 2-5-1 and suffering through a four game losing streak with a combined score of 21-5. The team is 30th in goals per game and 27th in power play efficiency, continuing their scoring struggled from last season. Except now they are 23rd in goals against per game and 24th on the penalty kill, struggling to prevent goals for the first time in recent memory.
The problem is not anything short-term. Yes, Dustin Brown has yet to play this season and Jonathan Quick has missed time. Yes, Anze Kopitar, Tanner Pearson, and others will surely improve their production. However, these minor fixes are not solving the major problems.
Beat writer Jon Rosen reports that this has become increasingly clear to those in and around the organization early on this season. The team held a closed-door meeting after the game today, not long after defenseman Jake Muzzin told the press that the team plays without a passion to win and have “accepted being okay”. For his part, Rosen believes that the problems with the Kings may be more connected to what Muzzin stated, calling them “abstract issues” such as “identity and culture”.
Helene Elliott of the LA Times gives a more tangible opinion of the team’s shortcomings, blaming management for relying too much on an aging core from the team’s 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup runs. Meanwhile, the pace of the game has passed up that core, as youth and speed now dominate and the Kings instead rely on experience, structure, and a more old-fashioned style. Even those old hallmarks have begun to crumble, as the team has failed to find suitable secondary scoring and locker room leadership to support their struggling core.
So what next? There’s no easy answer. If playing style and leadership is what the team truly feels is their biggest flaw, perhaps head coach John Stevens needs to be replaced. If the core that the team has trusted in for so long is no longer up to snuff, the Kings could take a look at the trade value for a Muzzin or a Carter. Maybe the biggest issue is simply a lack of secondary support. Could the team simply replace aging checkers like Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford with young scoring prospects or trade acquisitions? Could the team get a good return for Pearson, who is beginning to look like a player who needs a change of scenery? Or maybe this is a problem with an internal solution if, as Rosen believes and Muzzin all but confirmed, this team is in need of an attitude shift and a dose of reality. Is this scenario reconcilable without major change, though?
The Kings are built like a perennial contender, with several expensive long-term contracts and even role players with lengthy contracts. The only problem is that they are built to win in a game that has passed them by and their current roster looks far from contending any time soon. Something needs to change. So what will it be?
What's Next For The L.A. Kings?
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Major Trade 37% (317)
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Fire Head Coach John Stevens 34% (291)
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Internal Change - let the team work it out 19% (164)
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Minor Trade(s) 10% (85)
Total votes: 857
[Mobile users click here to vote]
Jordin Tootoo Announces Retirement
Long-time NHL grinder Jordin Tootoo is set to be honored tonight by his junior team, the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, and again by the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow. Well, the 35-year-old got the weekend’s festivities off to a hot start this evening by officially announcing his retirement from pro hockey. The veteran of 723 NHL games missed all of last season due to injury and had not signed with any team this off-season. He now sets his sights on a new venture.
Tootoo, a long-time Nashville Predator, was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NHL Draft. A two-way standout with the Wheat Kings and a member of Canada’s World Juniors team, Tootoo entered the league with high expectations. Although he never quite developed into a scoring threat at the NHL level, Tootoo made a living doing the dirty work: forechecking, winning battles along the boards, fighting for space in front of the net, and of course fighting. Tootoo’s hard work kept him in Nashville for eight years. In his final season with the team, his hard work earned him a career-high 13 minutes of ice time per night, which he turned into a career-best 30 points. That off-season, Tootoo signed with the Detroit Red Wings. He would suit up for two seasons apiece with Detroit and the New Jersey Devils before closing out his career in 2016-17 with the Chicago Blackhawks. In fact, Tootoo earned an extension from Chicago that would have played out last year, had it not been for an upper-body that kept him out all season. At the end of a 13-year NHL career, Tootoo totaled 65 goals, 96 assists, and over 1000 penalty minutes.
However, it is not Tootoo’s statistics that most will remember him for. It won’t even be his grit, his loyalty, or his work ethic. Instead, Tootoo will always be known for the impact he had on the indigenous populations of Canada. The first native Inuk to play in the NHL, Tootoo has devoted his career to advancing the game of hockey for indigenous peoples. It is an effort that has earned him respect and recognition across the league, even with a team he never played for – the Oilers – honoring his work. Tootoo will now turn his full attention to the mission that means so much to him. Tootoo has already done so much, but just as the hard-working veteran played on the ice, there is always more to do.
Edmonton Oilers Place Matt Benning On Injured Reserve
The Edmonton Oilers are set to make some changes on the back end, at least for the time being. The team announced today that they have placed defenseman Matt Benning on the injured reserve. The nature of Benning’s injury has not been disclosed and the team gave no timeline for a return, but the injury did occur in last night’s game against the Boston Bruins and his IR assignment means Benning will miss at least ten days and the Oilers’ next five games. In a corresponding move, Kevin Gravel has been recalled from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
Benning’s injury is somewhat ironic. The 24-year-old blue liner was actually the aggressor on a questionable hit up high on Boston forward David Backes early in Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime win for Edmonton (video). Benning received neither a penalty nor a second look from the league on the hit, which sent Backes to the locker room for the the remainder of the period. Backes returned later on, yet it was Bruins draft pick Benning ruled out not long after with an undisclosed injury. Now, Benning lands on the injured reserve even though he nearly landed a serious head shot on Backes. It is worth noting that Benning, teammate Ty Rattie, and Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller all left last night’s chippy contest.
Benning’s absence will allow free agent addition Gravel the chance to re-establish himself at the NHL level. A signing from the Los Angeles Kings, Gravel fully expected to have a role in Edmonton to begin this season. However, the emergence of rookie Evan Bouchard and a successful tryout from veteran Jason Garrison forced Gravel down to the AHL to begin the year. A physical, stay-at-home defender, Gravel has skated in 70 NHL games over the past three seasons and contributed 93 hits and 84 blocked shots as a gritty presence on the back end. The 26-year-old brings a different skill set from Benning, but should provide an edge and a solid game in his own end for the Oilers while he replaces his injured teammate. A strong showing could earn Gravel a long-term stay in Edmonton.
Dustin Brown Begins Taking Part In Team Drills
It doesn’t appear as if the Kings will be without Dustin Brown for too much longer. He’s currently on long-term injured reserve as he works his way back from a broken finger and isn’t eligible to be activated until October 28th at the earliest. While there was some concern he’d be out longer than that, Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider notes that the winger has begun taking part in team drills that don’t involve contact and that he could be activated for their game on the 28th. The 33-year-old is coming off a career year in 2017-18 that saw him collect 61 points and he could be a boon for a Los Angeles power play that has failed to score so far this season.
Minor Transactions: 10/18/18
Another big night in the NHL with nine games on the schedule including Sidney Crosby facing the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs, and a Metropolitan clash between the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. We’ll keep track of all the last minute moves right here as teams prepare for the night’s action:
- Danick Martel has been sent to the AHL on a conditioning stint by the Tampa Bay Lightning, after being claimed off waivers during training camp. Martel played four games for the Philadelphia Flyers last season but will try to carve out an even bigger role in the Tampa Bay organization. A minor league offensive weapon, the undrafted Martel is looking to follow the path set by Yanni Gourde for the Lightning and go from undersized QMJHL scoring phenom to contributing NHL winger.
- The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have assigned center Chase De Leo back to San Diego of the AHL. He was recalled back on Tuesday and did not get into a game with the big club. In four games with the Gulls in the minors, he has a goal and three assists.
- With Jonathan Quick set to return from injured reserve, the Los Angeles Kings have returned veteran goaltender Peter Budaj to Ontario of the AHL. He got into Saturday’s loss against Ottawa, allowing one goal on eleven shots in half of the game.
- After clearing waivers earlier in the week, the Vancouver Canucks have now assigned defenseman Alex Biega to Utica (AHL), via the AHL’s Transactions Page. Biega hasn’t spent much time in the minors lately, suiting up in just one game for the Comets since 2015-16. However, he’ll at least get some playing time, something that wouldn’t have been the case had he stayed in Vancouver.
- The New York Rangers have swapped backup goaltenders, loaning Alexandar Georgiev to AHL Hartford while recalling Marek Mazanec. Georgiev is just 22 and has only played once this season which isn’t ideal for a young prospect. He’ll get some extra playing time in with the Wolf Pack while Mazanec is no stranger to being a backup in the NHL having spent parts of three seasons in that role with Nashville.
Minor Transactions: 10/17/18
Lots of activity on the waiver wire today was followed by some minor moves, and we’ll keep track of all of them right here:
- The New York Islanders have sent Stephen Gionta back to the AHL now that Casey Cizikas is ready to return to action. Gionta recently cleared waivers after being signed by the Islanders, and will likely be a common call-up this season. The 35-year old forward played one game with New York, but will report to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to continue his professional career for now.
- Sheldon Rempal is on his way up to join the Los Angeles Kings after his outstanding start at the AHL level. The former Clarkson University forward has eight points through his first four professional games, and has impressed enough to be recalled to the NHL. The Kings have already had trouble scoring this season, and the 23-year old Rempal could add some offensive punch to the lineup if he can make it in.
- After being recalled yesterday to maximize the cap flexibility of placing Justin Schultz on long-term injured reserve, Jeff Taylor has been returned to the minor leagues by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The move was just a paper transaction to help the Penguins with their salary situation, and Taylor was never intended to play in the NHL at this point.
- Eamon McAdam has been returned to the minor leagues, indicating that Frederik Andersen is ready to get back on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Interestingly, McAdam has been sent to the AHL this time instead of the ECHL where he’d been playing, meaning Kasimir Kaskisuo is likely still out with the injury he suffered on the weekend. McAdam didn’t get into a game for the Maple Leafs, but was just a Garret Sparks injury away from making his NHL debut.
- Libor Sulak has been sent to the AHL by the Detroit Red Wings, despite the young defenseman playing relatively well in his first taste of NHL action. The Red Wings will activate Trevor Daley to take his spot, but there is a bright future for Sulak with the team.
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled veteran Matt Read from the AHL to replace Matt Hendricks, who is headed for injured reserve. Read, 32, was signed to a one-year two-way contract in the summer but failed to make the club out of training camp. He’ll try to stake a claim to a fourth line spot while Hendricks is out, and show that he can still be a valuable NHL player.