News Clips

9-22-17

FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: teams, reducing the number of players in training camp to 66. September 22, 2017 Moverare, who is ticketed for World Junior By: Jon Rosen Championship play with Sweden this winter (and a Shanghai Photos, Video: Kings 5, Canucks 2 potential defensive pairing with uber-prospect Rasmus Dahlin), will be an interesting player to Friday was a travel day for the Kings, who flew to watch on a stacked Steelheads team that will open Beijing on a charter with the Canucks and league the year ranked fourth in the CHL’s preseason representatives and toured the Great Wall of China. rankings. Meanwhile, Friend and Phillips return to Photos from the once-in-a-lifetime experience will Owen Sound, which ranks second across the three be shared once they’re uploaded to Getty, but major junior leagues. before then, here are the game photos from the team’s 5-2 win over the Canucks More to come from the team’s Friday trip to the Thursday night at Mercedes-Benz Arena in the Great Wall of China… Pudong district of Shanghai. -Lead photo via Jon Bradley

September 21, 2017 . By: Jon Rosen Kings Assign Four To Juniors

One quick note before hitting the hay in advance of an early morning flight to Beijing:

With the Canadian Hockey League resuming play, three teams are getting key guys back.

The announced that forward Drake Rymsha (Sarnia) and defensemen Jacob Friend (Owen Sound), Markus Phillips (Owen Sound) and Jacob Moverare (Mississauga) have been assigned back to their Hockey League

FROM LAKINGS.COM

September 21, 2017 Four Players Assigned to Junior Teams, Training Camp Roster Down to 66

The LA Kings have announced the following player transactions. Assigned to Junior Teams: Jacob Friend - D (Owen Sound, OHL) Jacob Friend (born July 28, 1997) is a 6-1, 185-pound native of Bowmanville, ON. He tallied 12 points in 43 games while playing with the of the OHL last . Friend was selected by the Kings in the seventh round (202nd overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. Jacob Moverare - D (Mississauga, OHL) Jacob Moverare (born Aug. 31, 1998) is a 6-2, 198-pound native Ostersund, Sweden. He represented Sweden at the 2016 U18 World Junior Championships, tallying five points (1-4=5) in seven games en route to winning a silver medal. He was fourth-round (112th overall) selection of the Kings at the 2016 NHL Draft. He scored 32 points in 62 games while playing with the of the OHL last season. Markus Phillips - D (Owen Sound, OHL) The Kings used their second fourth round pick in 2017 to select defenseman Markus Phillips of , Ontario 118th overall. This pick was acquired from Dallas in exchange for the rights to . The 6-0, 202-pound defenseman recorded 43 points (13-30=43), a plus-41 rating and 44 minutes in 66 games with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. Among team-defensemen, he ranked first in goals, power play goals and plus/minus, and second in points and assists. During the 2017 playoffs, the 18-year old (born on March 21, 1999) posted five points (0-5=5) to help lead Owen Sound to the Western Conference Final, before falling to the eventual champion Erie Otters. Drake Rymsha - F (Sarnia, OHL) The Kings used the 2017 draft pick they acquired in the trade to acquire Ben Bishop from Tampa Bay to select forward Drake Rymsha of the of the OHL 138th overall. The 6-0, 187-pound native of Huntington Woods, Mich. appeared in 28 regular-season games with the Sting, posting 33 points (20-13=33) and 39 penalty minutes. He started the season with the Ottawa 67's, where the 18-year old (born Aug. 6, 1998) tallied 29 points (15-14=29) and 41 penalty minutes in 37 games. The Kings have 66 players remaining on their 2017 Training Camp roster.

FROM LATIMES.COM

September 21, 2017 By: Helene Elliott It's time now for major league teams to expand netting to protect fans as much as possible

The television is almost always on in baseball clubhouses, though players rarely do more than glance at the screen while they go about their pregame routines. But images on Wednesday from Yankee Stadium, where a young girl was hit in the face with a foul ball, disrupted the Angels’ routines and drew their fearful attention.

“A few of us in here saw it and quickly said a prayer for her. That’s scary stuff,” pitcher Matt Shoemaker said Thursday. “I’m actually glad they didn’t cover it a lot on the news and show that stuff a lot. They showed it once, in passing.”

The girl, who has not been identified, was struck by a line drive off the bat of New York Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier and down the third-base line at an estimated 105 miles per hour. Frazier and his teammates were distraught while medical personnel tended to her and transported her to a local hospital; several members of the visiting Minnesota Twins also wore somber expressions when it became clear the girl was badly hurt.

“It’s a sad situation. I saw it on TV. It breaks my heart,” Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols said. “For me to have five kids, you think right away, ‘That could be my kid.’”

Reaction around baseball was swift and promising Thursday. The San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners announced plans to expand the netting at their stadiums for 2018 and Commissioner Rob Manfred, who called the incident “extremely upsetting for everyone in our game,” said that Major League Baseballwould redouble its efforts to expand the scope of netting in ballparks.

In 2015 MLB “encouraged” teams to extend netting to protect seats between the near ends of both dugouts and within 70 feet of home plate but did not mandate it. Some teams have extended the netting to the far edge of the dugouts, and the New York Mets at mid-season extended theirs beyond that. The Dodgers and Angels expanded their netting before the 2016 season, but the Angels' netting doesn't quite reach the near end of the dugouts.

Angels spokesman Tim Mead said the team has been compliant with MLB guidelines and said additional extension of the netting isn’t imminent “at this point.” The Dodgers did not respond to two inquiries regarding potentially expanding their netting. Netting commonly extends to the foul poles in Japanese baseball.

It’s time for every MLB team to lengthen the netting beyond the dugouts. No safety measure will safeguard every spectator, but if the technology exists to add a level of protection, it’s foolish not to use it. Some fans fumed when the NHL, reacting to the death of 13-year-old fan Brittanie Cecil two days after she was struck in the head by a deflected puck, ordered teams to install protective screens behind each . But the netting soon became an accepted part of the scenery. That can happen in baseball too. “I think they’ll get used to it, just like anything else,” Pujols said.

The Yankees, citing medical privacy laws, haven’t updated the girl’s status. Her injury wasn’t a matter of her not paying attention or, according to accounts, of a companion neglecting to protect her. “They’re projectiles, and even fans that are paying attention get, I think, surprised by the velocity of these balls and bats, unfortunately, that break, or you lose your handle,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday before his team’s 4-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

If professional athletes can’t elude a baseball flying at 100 mph — Shoemaker has a scar on the right side of his head from emergency brain surgery he required after being struck by a line drive last September — it’s unrealistic to expect fans to avoid a baseball hurtling toward them.

Adding netting makes sense. “I don’t think it would be something that’s too difficult to do,” Shoemaker said. “Logistically, I don’t know the reasons why we haven’t had it out there yet. It’s definitely better to be safe than

sorry. Maybe some fans complained about the line of sight, I would guess, as an argument. But people sit behind the plate all the time and it’s fine. If that’s the way to fix it, then maybe so be it.”

Pujols recalled being devastated when, while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals, a ball he hit foul struck a little boy in the head. Hitting a peer bothered him no less: He was so shaken after he hit Padres pitcher Chris Young in the face with a liner in 2008 that then-Cardinals manager Tony La Russa removed him from the game.

“Your head is not in the game anymore,” Pujols said. “I’m sure Todd was thinking about that the whole game.”

Shoemaker has two children, 2½ and almost 1. He makes sure they’re in the Angels’ family section, which is elevated and tucked beneath an overhang, or in the room reserved for players’ family members. He wants his kids — and every child — to love baseball as much he does, but he wants them to be safe.

MLB must help ensure that. “It’s a fun experience for them,” Shoemaker said, “but it scares me internally when I see little kids sitting right behind the dugout with no net. That’s scary. What happened was unfortunate but hopefully she’s OK.”

FROM DAILYNEWS.COM

September 21, 2017 By: Cam Fowler Kevin Gravel makes L.A. Kings’ roster decisions difficult

EL SEGUNDO — What does Kevin Gravel admire most about the Kings’ defenseman who comprise one of the NHL’s stingiest units?

“Whether they have a good game or a bad game, they move on and forget about it,” he said. “They always keep an even keel.”

The current circumstances for this young Kings defenseman are decidedly uneven. A roller coaster of emotions is likely a more apt description for Gravel’s training camp experience.

Gravel, 25, spent all but six games at the NHL level last season, a graduation of sorts for the versatile defenseman who previously had just five NHL games under his belt.

By the end of training camp, which began Sept. 13, he may find himself back with the Kings’ affiliate in Ontario, again. The most telling evidence of this possibility was Gravel’s absence from the Kings’ 26-man roster that traveled to China for a pair of preseason games.

His competition is stiff for the few open spots behind Drew Doughty and the other two-time champions who comprise a Kings defense that allowed the sixth-fewest goals in the NHL last season.

There is even a factor working against Gravel that has nothing to do with on-ice performance. He is waiver- exempt, meaning he can be moved in and out of the minor leagues more easily than his non waiver-exempt competition, young defensemen Christian Folin and Kurtis MacDermid.

“Certain things are out of your control, so as long as you leave it all out there and make the decision hard on them, there’s nothing you can hang your head about,” Gravel said. “It would be kind of a familiar feeling to start the

season in Ontario. Obviously that’s not what I want. I want to start the season here and be here for the whole year. But I’ve kind of been through it all now. It’s not all new.”

Gravel, isn’t skilled on the offensive end in the mold of an Alec Martinez and despite good size at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, isn’t a physical presence the likes of MacDermid.

But he might be the best of both worlds.

Gravel has the versatility to play either the left or right side, something only Martinez can duplicate among Kings defensemen. One of his greatest strengths is quickly moving the puck up ice after a turnover, an emphasis of the new coaching staff for an offensively starved Kings team in need of more opportunities on the rush. Where he will land on Oct. 5 when the Kings open the regular season against Philadelphia is anyone’s guess.

Ontario Reign coach Mike Stothers, who watched Gravel collect seven goals and 20 points in 55 games for the Reign two years ago, thinks he belongs on the Kings’ roster.

“There’s clearly a spot for (Gravel),” Stothers said. “He’s got a great stick. He’s big, mobile, got a heavy shot. He brings a lot to the table. It’s just a matter of time before you get that ice time, that opportunity and it’ll be up to Kevin to make the most of it to the point where the coaches have to decide, ‘How do we not play him?”

KINGS WIN CHINA OPENER The Kings defeated the , 5-2, on Thursday in the first NHL game in China.

The exhibition game began at 4:30 a.m. Pacific time at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena and the high-scoring affair with 17 combined power-play opportunities was well received by the crowd.

The Kings will face the Canucks in Beijing on Saturday (late Friday night PT) before returning to Los Angeles on Sunday.

Young Kings winger scored twice on Thursday, building on his two-assist performance in the Kings’ preseason opener, a 4-3 loss to the Canucks on Saturday at Staples Center. Alec Martinez and each had a goal and an assist.

FOUR ASSIGNED TO JUNIORS The Kings’ training camp roster is down to 66 players after four were assigned to the same junior teams where they played last season.

Defensemen Jacob Friend, 20, and Markus Phillips, 18, were assigned to Owen Sound. Forward Drake Rymsha, 19, was assigned to Sarnia and defenseman Jacob Moverare, 19, to Mississauga..

FROM NBCSPORTS.COM

September 21, 2017 By: AP Canucks, Kings ‘put on a show’ during first NHL preseason game in China

SHANGHAI (AP) A golden dragon was held aloft on poles by skaters. Kobe Bryant appeared on video. NHL mascots gave the crowd a primer on what this odd game is all about.

NHL preseason hockey made its debut in China – a 5-2 victory by the Los Angeles Kings over the Vancouver Canucks – in a step by the league to crack an immense market.

The fans in Shanghai got a fast and physical display Thursday – 17 power plays and 57 shots on goal, all met with loud cheers. Each hard check drew a collective “oooh” or “aaah.”

“Obviously, you wanted to put on a show for the fans here and they got to see some goals, too,” said Vancouver forward Sven Baertschi, who scored the Canucks’ first goal.

An announcer came onto the ice to explain the finer points of the game as Fin (Vancouver’s killer whale) and Bailey (Los Angeles’ lion) acted out infractions such as charging, crosschecking, tripping and hooking.

A golden Chinese dragon came out next, hoisted on poles by seven skaters. A group of Chinese kids in hockey uniforms joined the NHL players during China’s national anthem.

With Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the NHL is showcasing two preseason games in a country unfamiliar with hockey. The Kings and Canucks play their second game in Beijing on Saturday.

Even if the rules remain somewhat of a mystery, the crowd appreciated the speed and collisions.

“To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know the crowd, the noise, the atmosphere,” Los Angeles coach John Stevens said. “I think the whole thing for me is we’re here to grow the game. It’s my hope that the more they see it, the more people like it.”

Tanner Pearson scored twice for the Kings and Alec Martinez and Jeff Carter each had a goal and an assist. made 31 saves.

Team allegiances were hard to find in the crowd, the most demonstrative fans being rowdy Canadians waving their country’s flag.

Spectator Inge Zhang was more appropriately attired for an NBA game, wearing a Miami Heat jersey with pink letters. A media manager for the Shanghai Sharks basketball team, she was excited because she heard a certain NBA great might be there.

“So we came here actually for Kobe Bryant,” she said while her friend laughed. “But I love this sport, too.”

Bryant, in fact, did show, although in a video message to support his hometown Kings.

“I see more foreigners here tonight than Chinese, but I think there are still a lot of hockey fans in China,” Zhang added. “I think the NHL should take this opportunity to grow the sport here.”

That’s the plan now that the NHL has signed a contract to bring two preseason games to China for six of the next eight years.

“The effort here really is to build from the grassroots up, to try to grow the appreciation for the sport, the understanding of the sport,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said before the game. “We’ve certainly made the Chinese Federation and the Chinese government aware that we’re willing to help any way we can as they gear up and prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.”

But this is the first step in a long process.

“It’s great for China itself to see the NHL live and in person, see the speed of the game, how good the players are,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “But whenever you’re bringing hockey to a new country, it’s going to take time. I think it’s great the NHL is committed to doing that.”

FROM THEPROVINCE.COM

September 21, 2017 By: Ed Willes Willes: Canucks fall to Kings in China's first NHL game

SHANGHAI, China — The first stick infraction in the NHL’s first-ever game in China went to the L.A. Kings’ at the 48-second mark of the first period.

The second came just over four minutes later, the third three minutes after that, the fourth … never mind, you get the picture.

The first roar for no apparent reason from the sparse but enthusiastic crowd of 10,088 came at the two-minute mark when Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom gloved an eye-high wrister from outside the blue-line. There would be almost as many of those this night as ticky tack stick penalties.

The first goal you ask? That came from the Kings’ at 7:06 of the first period and hands up if you had him in the pool.

Now, one day, knowing all this might win you a drink in a bar. As it is, the NHL’s great experiment got underway on Thursday night in this magnificent city and while the full impact of the NHL China Games won’t be known for another five years, it still felt like the start of something at the 18,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Arena.

“We know why we’re here,” said Canucks captain Henrik Sedin. “It’s more about the big picture and that’s something that’s been on our mind from the day we found out we were coming here.

“Hockey isn’t going to change starting tomorrow. It’s going to happen down the line. But I’m guessing this isn’t the last time we’re coming here as a league.”

Thursday night, at least it was Thursday night on this side of the international dateline, the Kings downed the Canucks 5-2 in a penalty-filled affair in the least significant development of this game.

As for the more important aspects, the two teams, the league and the NHL Players’ Association scored a qualified success with its first foray into the Asian giant, engaging a crowd which didn’t seem terribly educated on the game’s finer points but did seem willing to learn.

Especially about power plays.

“They’re very fresh in their hockey knowledge,” said the Canucks’ , who arrived at the rink sporting a magnificent red, dragon-festooned topcoat. “Sometimes they cheer for things they wouldn’t normally cheer for (in North America). But they were loud and they had a lot of fun.

“They took to the game really well. I’m hoping they had fun and appreciated what we had to offer.”

Well, they were able to appreciate special teams play, a lot of special teams play. With the NHL’s newest crackdown on stick fouls, both real and imagined, the two teams combined for 17 power plays with the Canucks

sporting a whopping 12. Alas, their power play conjured up nightmarish images of last season’s dumpster fire, counting one goal by Sven Baertschi and giving up a shorty to Tanner Pearson.

Markus Granlund also beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who stopped 31 of 33 shots but wasn’t in a celebratory mood after his performance.

“It kills the game,” Quick said of the penalty parade. “There’s no rhythm, no flow.”

“When there’s that many power plays and penalty kills and you’re trying to evaluate guys in their five-on-five play it’s hard,” said Canucks Travis Green. “The flow of the game isn’t what it normally is.”

The large, Olympic-sized sheet of ice also contributed to the disjointed quality of play, according to Henrik Sedin. The Canucks’ captain was asked big picture questions a couple of times in his post-game presser but seemed preoccupied with the impact of the bigger ice surface on the play.

“It becomes a whole different game out there,” he said. “You’re trying to play with pace and speed but it’s more about finding space away from the puck. You saw a lot of open ice but it didn’t lead to a lot of chances.”

Still, this event was about something much bigger than the size of the rink and power plays, something which has the power to change the game and the business of the game dramatically and permanently.

“When you put skates on at a young age you don’t really expect hockey’s going to bring you around the world like it has today,” said Gudbranson. “I think it’s an amazing experience. I’m glad it happened.”

FROM METRONEWS.COM

September 21, 2017 By: Hosea Cheung First NHL China game between Vancouver Canucks and L.A. Kings a hit with fans in Shanghai The spirited (but penalty riddled) exhibition tilt didn’t disappoint — with the crowd of 10,088 reacting to every hit and shot.

There Ian Feng sat Thursday night at Shanghai’s Mercedes Benz Arena, his eyes peeled to the white-and-blue- cladded only several rows down from him.

At age 12, the young goalie himself had only seen games online or, at times, on China Central Television’s Sports Channel, CCTV-5.

But this was different. This was in person. This was the first ever NHL game to be played in China — part of the league’s two-team, two-match preseason tour which will include a stop in Beijing on Saturday.

His mother, Lily Fan, knew there was no way her son was going to miss the showdown in Shanghai, one that saw the Los Angeles Kings prevail 5-2 over the Vancouver Canucks.

“He didn’t do his homework today because we just came to the rink after school,” she said with a laugh. “He is very excited.”

The spirited-but-penalty-riddled exhibition tilt didn’t disappoint — with the announced crowd of 10,088 reacting to just about every hit and every shot.

There was no obvious allegiance for the vast majority who made the trek to the popular entertainment venue not far from the heart of Shanghai. Rather, they waved towels, donned an array of hockey jerseys, and were finally able to watch professional ice hockey — one of the signature sports of the Winter Olympics, set to be hosted by Beijing in 2022.

“The interest that’s been generated and the buzz that exists around these games have all been very positive,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

Since the announcement of the NHL China Games, the league hosted seven clinics for youth players in China this summer while both teams, along with the NHL, have increased their Chinese social media presence with WeChat and Weibo accounts.

But this is not just a one-off venture by the NHL into China.

“We do have a plan that’s longer term,” Daly said. “We do expect to be back on a consistent basis.”

When Casey Westergaard heard that the Canucks and Kings were headed to China, the Ladysmith, B.C., native was “pumped.” He thought the event would be hastily thrown together but was thoroughly impressed by the atmosphere.

“This actually looks like an NHL event,” said the 31-year-old expat, who has lived in China for six years and competes in Shanghai’s amateur ice hockey league. Chinese people have much to learn about ice hockey, he added.

“It’s definitely grown and more locals seem to know about it. It has a long way to go though.”

Part of that growth will come from exposure to the sport, like it did for Ian.

At age seven, his mother brought him to learn skating at a local rink, where he saw other kids practising hockey. He began trying out the new sport, and a few months after that, he decided to become a goaltender.

“For us, as long as he is interested in learning something, we will support,” Lily said. “Kids here may also have the NHL dream which is normal. For families here who have kids playing hockey, (Thursday’s night’s game) is extra special.”

FROM SPORTINGNEWS.COM

September 21, 2017 By: Evan Sporer Inside the 2017-18 Kings: Los Angeles hoping to reclaim NHL royalty

It was only three years ago the Kings were trading Stanley Cups with the , but that period in Los Angeles hockey seems very distant.

The Kings won the Cup in 2012 and 2014, sandwiched around a loss to the Blackhawks in the 2013 Western Conference finals. Those teams ruled the West, but it seems like Los Angeles' reign over the conference may be coming to an abrupt end.

A year after winning the Cup in 2014, the Kings failed to qualify for the 2015 postseason. The next year, Los Angeles was back in the playoffs but were bounced in the first round by the Sharks. And last year, once again, the Kings were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Still a possession juggernaut, the Kings — the top Corsi team in the NHL each of the past five seasons — have learned a bigger share of possession hasn't led to a bigger share of goal-scoring.

With the rest of the Pacific Division catching up, the Kings are very much at a fork in the road. They'll enter this season with the same core and largely the same roster that has produced one playoff victory over the past three seasons. If Los Angeles' current cast of characters can't once again plant their flag to the top of the NHL's kingdom, they might become serfs in .

Los Angeles Kings schedule 2017-18 The Kings begin with a relatively slow stretch of three games in nine days, starting with their first game and home opener Oct. 5 against the Flyers, where they'll likely see the No. 2 pick from the 2017 NHL Draft, Nolan Patrick. Two days later, Los Angeles renews its rivalry with the Sharks in San Jose, when key points in the Pacific will be up for grabs. After three days off, Los Angeles hits the Staples Center ice again for its second of two divisional matchups in the month of October.

After hosting the Flames, the Kings go on to play six straight games against Eastern Conference opponents, including part of a five-game road trip that takes them through the end of the month, wrapping up at St. Louis against the Blues Oct. 30.

That begins a difficult stretch, which continues against the Maple Leafs, the Predators, the Ducks, the Lightning, and the Sharks, an early litmus test for this Los Angeles team. The Kings make their first trip to T- Mobile Arena to take on the Nov. 19, and nine days later play their first game at Little Caesars Arena in .

Los Angeles gets its first date with the Blackhawks Dec. 3 amid another difficult stretch of games: at Washington, at St. Louis, at Chicago, and home against Minnesota.

The Kings get their bye week right at the start of the new year, off from Jan. 7-12. There will be no rest for the weary when Los Angeles returns to game action though: They come out of their time off playing the Ducks, Sharks, Penguins, Ducks again, Rangers, and then a back-to-back on the road against the Canucks and Flames.

Like many teams, Los Angeles schedule finishes up with a heavy helping of conference and division opponents. Each of the Kings final 10 games of the season are against Western teams, a chunk of the schedule that could go a long way in determining their playoff hopes. There are many opponents in there that project to be in the playoff race: the Wild (twice), Jets, Oilers, Flames, Ducks, and Stars each appear in Los Angeles' final 10.

Kings' key offseason additions Michael Cammalleri (free agent), Christian Folin (free agent), Darcy Kuemper (free agent)

Kings' key offseason departures Ben Bishop (free agent), Jarome Iginla (free agent), Brayden McNabb (expansion draft)

Kings' projected opening day lineup Forwards Michael Cammalleri - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown Tanner Pearson - Jeff Carter - Marian Gaborik - Nick Shore - Trevor Lewis - Andy Andreoff - Jordan Nolan

Defense Derek Forbort - Drew Doughty - Alec Martinez Kevin Gravel - Christian Folin

Goalies Jonathan Quick

FROM CHINA DAILY NEWS

September 21, 2017