News Clips

12-15-17

FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: there when I was 15, though, and that’s when you start to get a little older, but I had a great experience growing up with all my friends, watching the December 14, 2017 NHL.” By: Jon Rosen Kempe, Iafallo Visit NHL Offices; Kehler Iafallo, from just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., regularly Scouting Reports; LA Kings Weekly Preview came down to New York to visit his cousins, who lived on Long Island. Tomorrow will be the first It was a quiet Thursday for the Kings, who held an time he’s ever set foot in Madison Square Garden, off-ice workout but didn’t practice one day after however, and it’s an experience he’s greatly looking they skated at Lasker Rink in Central Park. forward to.

While much of the team had the afternoon off, At the NHL Store, he modeled the Kings Christmas Adrian Kempe and Alex Iafallo visited the NHL sweaters and a festive beanie. Asked what his offices in Midtown Manhattan, where they met with favorite team jersey was – other than the Kings, of Commissioner Gary Bettman. It was the first time course – he said that he loved the old red and black Kempe had spoken with Commissioner Sabres jerseys from the Dominik Hasek era, as well Bettman since being welcomed to the podium after as some of the more established sweaters. being selected with the 29th pick at the 2014 NHL Draft. “I like the classics, the original six. Those logos are awesome,” he said. “And their colors are sweet, too.” The duo also took a tour of the facility, joined the NHL Network for a quick hit and spoke with the Several scouting reports on 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 social, digital and content teams of NHL.com and goaltender Cole Kehler (rhymes with Taylor), NHL International. signed by the Kings to an entry-level contract late last week. Virtually every single desk at the NHL offices is adorned with team paraphernalia: Kehler has proven to be a late bloomer and has emerged as a highly regarded goaltending prospect with the Portland Winterhawks over the past two And, if you look hard enough, you can even spot seasons. This year, he’s 18-6-1 with a 2.14 goals- some items that didn’t quite make it to retail: against average, a .931 save percentage and two shutouts for the first place club.

The past two days have been the first two days First, a scouting report from a source with expert Kempe has ever spent in New York. “Pretty big,” knowledge of the Winterhawks: he said. “It’s a good experience. Nice to get a couple days here. Heard good things about it.” “Big goalie, but moves well. No wasted motion, very much positional vs. reaction. Square to the A native of Kramfors in north-central Sweden, shooter with good rebound control. Cool, calm Kempe says he’s more of a big city type. He did demeanor, very focused. Off the ice, great kid, not say, though, that the level of interest in the NHL can your prototypical ‘weird’ goalie. Very grounded.” be quite high in the more remote areas of Sweden. Second, from a source within the LA Kings “Yeah, it’s probably even more up north because organization: there are a lot of good NHL players that are from up there,” he said. “Growing up, all my friends played “Huge tender. Having a breakout season. Incredible hockey, so I think actually the NHL thing was even stats. Was vetted by top amateur staff – huge bigger up north than it was in Stockholm. I moved upside. Exceptional patience in net. Some Martin

Jones traits at the same age. Fits our age distribution recapping his three-day stay in a Detroit hotel room nicely. Huge referral from [Portland coach, former with Alex Curry, Alex Faust sharing his game-day Pittsburgh coach and Los Angeles assistant coach] routine and preparation, Carrlyn Bathe examining Mike Johnston. Excellent character. Great young how game-used equipment gets from the ice into the project for Bill and Dusty. Their track record is hands of Kings fans, and much more. impeccable.”

After his signing, the CBC caught up with Jason December 14, 2017 Pilkington, the president of the Altona Minor By: Jon Rosen Hockey Association, where Kehler cut his teeth. This And That: Kyle Clifford, Jordan Subban, That’s not literal, but worth noting in a hockey blog. Matt Johnson, Video

Kehler’s drive and talent was clear to those Good afternoon from Midtown Manhattan, Insiders. in his home community, about 95 kilometres There are several notes and bits to pass along that southwest of Winnipeg, Pilkington said. weren’t originally posted at the time because of other reporting and broadcasting commitments, but “As I watched him as he was growing up, he just so they go in the Official LAKI Book, here they seemed like one of those kids that was are: always working hard, trying to get better and really wanted to pursue that next level KYLE CLIFFORD HAS BEEN hockey for himself,” he said. ACTIVATED. You know this, because you saw him play 9:22 against New Jersey two nights ago. “It’s not an easy road to even make it out of (Or, you saw him play 5:38 through two periods and a minor hockey system into a junior, let thought, “You know? I’ve probably had enough of alone the WHL and an NHL contract.” this game.”) “It was definitely good to be back, but … it’s not one we’re particularly proud of and I Winter life in rural communities often think this group just needs to have better starts and revolves around the rink, with kids and play that full 60,” he said Tuesday night. “We can’t parents gathering to play or support each get off to the starts we had.” Clifford has three goals other, Pilkington said. But it will mean even and seven points in 12 career regular season and more to kids in Altona to know that an NHL playoff games against the Rangers, whom the Kings player has skated on that ice too. face Friday.

Even though there’s a lot of Winnipeg Jets JORDAN SUBBAN IS NOT YET support, Pilkington said given Kehler’s AVAILABLE. Ontario has returned home after a 3- connection to Altona, he wouldn’t be 2-0 road trip through Tucson and the two Texas surprised if Kings jerseys start showing up teams but will still be without Jordan Subban, at the rink. acquired in the Nic Dowd trade, for the immediate future. (He has not yet played for the Reign.) Via “I could see some Kings fans showing up in correspondence with the team, Subban is out with the next few years for sure,” he said with a an upper-body injury, which had been sustained laugh. while he was playing for the . The team was aware of the injury when it traded for Kehler attended development camp with the him, and it was likely related to one particular Winnipeg Jets this past summer. incident.

A brand new LA Kings Weekly debuts at 10:00 There’s no firm timetable on his return, but a team p.m. tonight on FOX Sports West. Topics include a source indicated that it should be roughly two more holiday version of Him vs. Me, starring Kurtis weeks before he gets going again. Nothing I’ve MacDermid and Jonny Brodzinski, Torrey Mitchell

heard has given the indication that it’s anything from TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead particularly serious. and TSN Feature Producer Matt Cade about the former Los Angeles enforcer. In their road trip finale last night, Ontario defeated Texas, 4-2, on a game-winning power play from Kevin Gravel with 9:02 remaining. Matt Moulson assisted on all four Reign goals and now has seven assists and a plus-three rating in three games since joining the club. Michael Amadio had a goal and an assist and now has three goals and six points over a personal three-game point streak.

A HARROWING STORY ABOUT FORMER KINGS FORWARD MATT JOHNSON. One of the more sobering stories this season is this work

FROM LAKINGS.COM

December 14, 2017 LA Kings will Host Firefighter Appreciation Night In addition, a portion of the proceeds from that night's event will benefit local fire victims.

"Our community has really come together during this tough time and we feel it is very important to help those who have suffered tremendous loss due to these devastating fires," said Kings President and Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. "At the same time it is imperative we do our best to say 'thank you' to those who battled, and continue to battle, these fires so tirelessly." The Kings will host Firefighter Appreciation Night at STAPLES Center on Saturday, January 6, as part of the Kings-Nashville Predators game. Before and during the game, local firefighters will be recognized and honored for their service to our community. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from that night's event, including the Kings Care Foundation's 50-50 raffle and silent auction, will benefit local fire victims as well as the LAFD Foundation. Fans can purchase a special ticket donation package by visiting LAKings.com/firerelief. Any tickets purchased through these donation packages will be matched by the LA Kings for Los Angeles Area Firefighters. For donors wishing not to use their tickets the Kings will also donate those to Los Angeles Area Firefighters.

FROM LATIMES.COM

December 14, 2017 By: Curtis Zupke Marian Gaborik will play in 1,000th NHL game when Kings visit New York Rangers on Friday Nicknames are usually given to hockey players early on, and they are stamped with them the rest of their career.

Marian Gaborik has always been known as “Gabby,” but at this stage of his 17-year career, he’s lately been called “Ferrari,” to reflect his affinity for sports cars and perhaps his acclaimed turbo speed on skates.

Gaborik thinks former teammate Robyn Regehr gave him the name, and he almost shakes his head that it’s been resurrected. That’s because this “Ferrari” has undergone serious repairs over the years, mainly foot and chronic knee injuries that have prevented the winger from playing a full season each of the past five years. But by simply stepping on the ice Friday against the New York Rangers, Gaborik will play in his 1,000th game, high maintenance and all.

“It’s going to come to a point where some emotions will come, but it will be probably before the game,” Gaborik said. “I’m going to try and treat it like any other game ... but the emotion and everything, I’m sure, will be there.”

There was creeping doubt about how long it would take Gaborik to get there when his recovery from an offseason knee procedure extended into November. It was the second straight season that Gaborik missed the start of a season because of injury, lending further scrutiny to the seven-year, $34-million contract he signed in 2014. The extra time appears to have paid off. He has four goals in his first 10 games back, plus admiration from teammates.

“You’ve got to dedicate your life to the game, especially away from the rink, your preparation in the summer and throughout the season pretty much needs to be perfect to reach that threshold,” center Torrey Mitchell said. “It’s a testament to how well he’s prepared over his career.”

Whether Gaborik was willing to be effective at 35 was why Kings coach John Stevens met with Gaborik over the summer. Gaborik was on crutches, and Stevens wanted to know if he was going to prepare and still had the passion to “pay a price to be a good player.”

“To me, those are the two elements with any player, but certainly with an older player who’s been a really good player in the league, you can’t live on your past laurels,” Stevens said. “You’ve got to make that deal with yourself and with your team. And he was pretty adamant about his answer. He wanted to do the work, wanted to get back, still felt like he had a lot to offer, and I think he does.”

Gaborik’s milestone arrives with some nostalgia. It’s almost 10 years to the day from his five-goal game against the Rangers, as a member of the Minnesota Wild. He also played parts of four seasons with the Rangers and still keeps a residence in the Tribeca neighborhood. The place is still dear to him.

“It’s one of the best places to play in the world,” Gaborik said. “It’s an amazing atmosphere, the vibe, the energy, the city itself and obviously the Garden — the most famous arena in the world. It’s definitely fun to play there.”

The Kings will host Fire Relief Night on Jan. 6. A portion of the proceeds from a raffle and silent auction will benefit local fire victims, and local firefighters will be recognized before and during the game.

AT N.Y. RANGERS

When: 4 p.m. PST, Friday.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 790.

Update: Pavel Buchnevich is second on the Rangers in scoring in his first full season in the NHL. The Rangers are the only NHL team with 14 players with at least 10 points. They outscored the Kings 6-2 in a two-game season-series sweep last season.

FROM NHL.COM

December 14, 2017 By: Lisa Dillman Gaborik ready for grand celebration in 1,000th NHL game Kings forward has been model of perseverance through 17 seasons in League

Marian Gaborik had already put his body through 989 NHL games over 16 seasons, and new coach John Stevens needed to know if the 35-year-old forward recovering from knee surgery in April wanted to add any more. "I remember one of the first guys I met with was [Gaborik] when I got hired, and we were in Manhattan Beach and he was on crutches," Stevens said of their meeting at a restaurant a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean.

"I said, 'I need to know: Do you still want to play? "'Are you willing to put the work in to be healthy, and do you have the passion to pay a price to be a good player?'" Gaborik answered yes to each question. "I told him I wanted to come back from the injury and be a productive guy and help this team get to where it wants to be," Gaborik said. "It was a long time before I started to play again. Quite frankly, I didn't expect it to be so long. I had a setback in training camp. I'm past that right now. I feel hungry again. I feel like I still have a lot to offer. I'm having fun again." Gaborik returned to the Kings lineup Nov. 24 at the , and will become the 314th player in NHL history to play 1,000 games when the Kings visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVA Sports, MSG, FS-W, NHL.TV). A relaxed and engaging Gaborik, in his 17th season in the League, is enjoying life with the Pacific Division- leading Kings (20-9-3), who have won eight of their past nine games. "He's been effective for us and helped us win a couple games," Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "We're happy to have him back." Gaborik has six points (four goals, two assists) in 10 games and hit the 400-goal and 800-point mark with two goals against one of his former teams, the Minnesota Wild, in a 5-2 win at Staples Center on Dec. 5. Gaborik, the No. 3 pick in the 2000 NHL Draft, spent eight seasons in Minnesota before signing as a free agent with the Rangers on July 1, 2009. "It was a special night, for sure, with hopefully many more to come," Gaborik said about his big game against Minnesota. He said playing his 1,000th game is "in the back of my mind obviously, but I'm trying not to focus on it until it really happens." At his best, Gaborik gives the Kings more options and flexibility. It wasn't so long ago -- the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs -- when he scored a League-leading 14 postseason goals to help the Kings win their second Stanley Cup championship. His teammates dubbed him "Ferrari," an ode to his love of the sports car. Kings forward Trevor Lewis joked Ferrari has had "a couple of dings, maybe some tire changes, but nothing too serious." Gaborik also missed the start of the 2016-17 season after he broke his foot playing for Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey 2016. There have been plenty of freakish injuries too. No sequence was unluckier than this one: With the Columbus Blue Jackets, Gaborik broke his collarbone on Dec. 21, 2013, in his first game back after missing 17 games with a sprained left knee. "Even with all the injuries and being an older player, he's an extremely proud guy that really puts a big value on fitness and training," Stevens said. "He works as hard as anybody to make sure his body is ready to play and perform. That, and his desire and passion to play the game, are the reasons he's been able to get to 1,000 games."

Gaborik made his NHL debut for Minnesota on Oct. 6, 2000, at the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, about 30 miles away from the Kings' home arena, Staples Center. Gaborik scored in that game and is the only player left from that Minnesota team still playing in the NHL. He scored 42 goals for the Wild in 2007-08, and his NHL-high 86 points (42 goals, 44 points) came with the Rangers in 2009-10. Gaborik will turn 36 on Feb. 14, but he doesn't dwell on his age. "Times flies so fast -- it's unbelievable," he said. "Most of the time, I don't think about my age. I try to enjoy everything I can. Sometimes when I pinch myself, I still feel when I'm looking back, I'm like a young guy in this league. Sometimes I feel like time kind of stopped."

FROM SPORTSNET.COM

December 13, 2017 By: Luke Fox NHL Power Rankings: The Eminem Edition

He swears frequently, has been known to wear a mask in arenas, and always gives the proverbial 110 per cent when performing.

Yet Hockeytown’s Eminem is not a hockey player.

In anticipation of the rap god’s first major project in four years — new album Revival drops Friday — we’ve scoured Marshall Mathers’ back catalogue to compose our NHL Power Rankings: Eminem Edition.

As usual, all 31 teams are ranked top to bottom in order of current strength. As an added bonus, we’ve picked a song title from Slim Shady’s extensive body of work that embodies the state of each club. (Click on the linked tracks at your own NSFW risk.)

2. Los Angeles Kings

On a mission for the Pacific Division crown, the Kings won an incredible eight consecutive games prior to Tuesday’s loss to the Devils. Their plus-25 goal differential is the best in the West.

Appropriate Eminem song: “On Fire“

FROM CBSSPORTS.COM

December 14, 2017 By: STATS Kings aim to regain footing versus Rangers

The Los Angeles Kings arrived in New York earlier this week to face the Metropolitan area's three squads as the hottest team in the NHL.

A 5-1 thumping at the hands of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, however, ended the Kings' eight-game winning streak and left them out in the cold.

Well, the "out in the cold" part was planned.

The Kings used one of their two days before facing the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night to practice outside in Central Park on Wednesday. It was a chance to hit the reset the button before back-to-back games against the Rangers and Islanders on consecutive nights.

"I think you've got to be energized physically and mentally, and hopefully it does both," Kings coach John Stevens said to L.A. Kings Insider about skating outside. "It's a big trip for us, obviously. We've got two days to get regrouped here for a big weekend. Get the guys outside a little bit today, get some work done. A different experience here, but still get on the ice, get some touches. That's the intent, anyway."

The Kings (20-9-3) were held to 17 shots against the Devils, their lowest total since they had 15 in a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 13, 2015. Jonathan Quick allowed five goals, something he has done in just one other game this season. It was an emphatic end to an impressive winning streak.

"We didn't prepare properly, I don't think," defenseman Jake Muzzin said to L.A. Kings Insider. "We're not surprised at teams anymore coming in and we've got to be ready from the start and I think they had the upper hand early and we couldn't settle in and get into it. Couple mistakes in the back of the net and all of the sudden we're down two and then we're down four. So, that's the way it went."

The Rangers (16-12-3), meanwhile, are coming off arguably their most disappointing loss of the season, a 3-2 setback in Ottawa against the struggling Senators, who had lost five straight and 12 of 13. The Rangers had made headway in the standings after a poor start, but have now dropped three of four.

"Obviously we wanted to come in here and get a win against a team that has been struggling, on a back-to-back, all those things you want to take advantage of," defenseman Marc Staal said to the New York Post.

"It's frustrating not to be able to do that. We just kind of got ourselves in a hole and weren't able to dig ourselves out."

Only three teams have fallen behind 1-0 this season more often the Rangers -- the Kings, Islanders and Oilers. But while the Kings have the league's second-best winning percentage while allowing the first goal, the Rangers sit 15th with a 6-9-3 record in those situations.

If the Rangers fall behind again Friday, it may be their fourth loss in five games.

"I think it had more to do with execution than confidence," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said to the New York Post. "We gave up an early goal in the first, we gave up an early goal in the third. There are some plays in front of you that you have to make, the first two goals, we didn't make the plays through the neutral zone and they came back to make us pay."

Friday will be a special night for Kings forward and ex-Ranger Marian Gaborik, who will play his 1,000th career game.

Gaborik had 114 goals and 229 points in 255 games as a member of the Rangers between 2009 and 2013. He won a Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014 against the Rangers while posting 14 goals and 22 points that postseason.

Injuries have temporarily derailed Gaborik throughout his career, but he enters Friday's milestone game with 400 points and 400 assists.

"I think 1,000 games for anybody is a big deal," Stevens said to L.A. Kings Insider. "It's a hard league, it's a tough league, the schedule's demanding. To play 1,000 games is a great accomplishment, and to do it and get 800 points I think is a great accomplishment, and to his credit, he's a big part of a championship team."

FROM EL SEGUNDO HERALD

December 14, 2017