News Clips

10-27-18

FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: been a part of the solution? He hasn’t yet. Apart from their challenges in generating speed in transition to set up their man advantage, they October 26, 2018 haven’t yet been able to find the right spot on the By: Jon Rosen ice for Kovalchuk to fire off that one-time blast WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: OCTOBER idealized over the summer. That finishing ability is 26 there, and perhaps Dustin Brown’s return sparks a rise in greasy goals and second and third-chance Two games, two more losses for an LA Kings team efforts from all who play around him, given his that had a closed-door meeting last Saturday and effective trenchwork. Right now, they’ve scored delivered a pair of road performances in which they one in five of their 10 games and Anze Kopitar sharpened their competitive level – as well as the is yet to record an assist despite very capable clarity that this is going to be one tough slog of a snipers to his right and left. year. In a game that didn’t see any real surplus of scoring chances either way – missed you, Kings- These next seven games at home are immensely Wild – Los Angeles got off to a solid start but important – obviously never something you want to wasn’t able to beat Devan Dubnyk in their three hear three weeks into the season – just as the past best chances of the game, all of which came three two road games were important, and the two home minutes in. Dubnyk’s stop on Pearson’s mini-break, games before them. If the Kings have any hope of and some slick Mikael Granlund stick work that making something out of this mess and turning their appeared to affect Ilya Kovalchuk’s release on the season around, they’re going to need to get rebound kept the game scoreless early and allowed Jonathan Quick going again. Given their scoring Minnesota the ability to settle in and eventually find challenges, there’s no happy endgame here in which their game. Right now, it’s almost farcical for the Quick struggles and cedes important starts to Jack Kings. This was a solid road period, but they Campbell, even if Campbell has been one of those allowed a first period goal for the sixth straight players who has been a part of the solution like game when a puck deflected in off Eric Fehr’s Alex Iafallo and maybe one or two others. While glove – but without being deliberately directed, they’d benefit from Quick stringing together a few unlike Jeff Carter’s waved-off goal in Dallas – and wins, anything short of an entire team effort will still haven’t led at any point since their win at result in an ugly and continued slog. It’s a term Montreal. Role players continued to put points on that’s sometimes derided on here, but that structured the scoreboard, and though the Kings were brought and detailed “team game” is going to have to flex its back into the game by Kyle Clifford, the depth muscles and buck up as opposed to the disparate scoring yield has heavily favored the opposition to parts that to this point have worked awkwardly in this point. And, familiarly, this was another night in concert. which they were essentially done in by a power play that’s now 3-for-34. In the second period, trailing 2- October 26, 2018 0 and with a chance to get back in the game, they By: Zach Dooley didn’t set their power play up until there were 12 SHELDON REMPAL ASSIGNED TO seconds remaining. They virtually spent six straight ONTARIO minutes on the man advantage in the third period, took four shots from an average distance of 46 and a The LA Kings announced this morning that they half feet, and per Natural Stat Trick, registered one have assigned forward Sheldon Rempal to Ontario. scoring chance in 6:22 of 5×4 time. These are As noted below, a move was needed in order for details that make it very difficult to win hockey Dustin Brown to be activated from injured reserve games. to the Kings roster to play on Sunday against New York. Ilya Kovalchuk has gotten around the ice well and largely hasn’t contributed to the team’s myriad of Brown has been skating and indicated that he would problems through the first 10 games, but has he have been able to play on the Kings most recent

trip, had he been eligible to. Because the Kings FROM REIGN INSIDER needed cap flexibility to be able to recall a goaltender when Jonathan Quick suffered a lowed body injury, Brown was placed on Long Term October 26, 2018 Injured Reserve in early October and thus was By: Zach Dooley required to remain off the active roster for a TUC 8, ONT 5 – POST-GAME RECAP & minimum of 10 games and 24 days. CLICK HERE REACTIONS for more details on Brown’s probable Sunday return. The played in another high-scoring affair but fell for the fourth time in a row at home, From the team’s official release – this in regulation, in an 8-5 defeat against the Tucson Roadrunners. LOS ANGELES – The have assigned forward Sheldon Rempal to the Ontario Ontario fell behind early into a three-goal deficit Reign of the , Kings Vice inside the game’s first six minutes that it was unable President and General Manager Rob Blake to recover from. The Reign pulled to within a pair announced today. of goals four times (3-1, 4-2, 5-3, 7-5) but were not able to get any closer, conceding each time after The 23-year-old Rempal (born Aug. 7, 1995) is a 5- moving within striking distance. 10, 165-pound native of Calgary, who has appeared in three games with this Kings this season Tucson forward Conor Garland paced the visitors (scoreless). He made his NHL debut on October 18 with five points (2-3-5), while forward Matteo when the Kings hosted the at Gennaro had a hat trick and forward Mario Kempe STAPLES Center. chipped in three assists. Forward Matt Luff paced Ontario with two goals and an assist, while Rempal has also played in four games this season defenseman Alex Lintuniemi and forwards Emerson for Ontario. At the time of his recall, Rempal had Etem and Zack Mitchell also found the back of the posted a team-high eight points (4-4=8), a plus-2 net. On the positive/cool side, Etem’s goal was a rating and two minutes as he led AHL beauty – spun around in the slot and whacked a rookies in points and goals. Among all AHL skaters moving puck out of mid-air in one motion into the he also then ranked tied for third among in points back of the net. and tied for second in goals. For the Reign, the loss is their sixth in a row, their Rempal got his feet wet with a three-game stint in fourth in a row at home. The regulation defeat also the NHL, which included time spent alongside Jeff snapped a three-game point streak at home, with the Carter and Ilya Kovalchuk. The Clarkson three prior losses coming in either overtime or the University product returns to the Reign tied for the shootout. team’s lead in both goals (4) and points (8), despite playing in just four AHL games. Rempal is also tied A bright spot in defeat was the Ontario penalty kill for second in the AHL in scoring amongst first-year – The Reign had previously conceded a power-play players, two points shy of the league lead. goal in each of its eight games, but was a perfect 7- of-7 tonight and the hosts also scored a shorthanded The move pushes the Reign to 22 rostered players – goal. The negative side of that stat is that the Reign Rempal skated with Ontario at morning skate today took seven penalties, as Mike Stothers addresses and is expected to play for the Reign tonight against below. Tucson as the team begins a three-game homestand at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Mike Stothers October 26, 2018 By: Zach Dooley On his team’s inability to pull closer than two GMEDAY – ONTARIO VS. TUCSON, 10/26 goals We teased ourselves with thinking that we were WHO: Ontario Reign (1-3-2-1) vs. Tucson coming back, and then, you know, we’d stumble Roadrunners (4-1-0-1) again and find a way to give Tucson an opportunity WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME that they capitalized on. You fall behind and you try WHEN: Friday, October 26, @ 7:00 PM to play catchup and it’s a slippery slope that you WHERE: Citizens Business Bank Arena – Ontario, don’t come up. Another tough lesson learned. CA HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO On the Reign’s slow starts to games – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & Well, it’s frustrating to continually do that, but @reigninsider you’ve got to look at it like we’ve got a project here. There’s a team to build and there’s guys that TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign are still feeling their way, so we knew it wasn’t host the Tucson Roadrunners tonight for the first going to be easy, but we’ve got to find a way to stop meeting of the season between the two teams. making it so hard on ourselves. It’s hard enough to Ontario enters tonight’s action on a five-game win in this league to begin with. It’s not like we losing streak overall, including 3 in overtime, but is mean to do that, it just happens and it’s a part of the also riding a three-game point streak at home, process. falling in overtime or the shootout in each of its three home games this season. On whether the slow starts are a physical or a mental problem WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Tonight’s matchup is It’s got to be mental. You’re responsible for making the first of eight games between the Reign and sure that you yourself is ready to do your job, your Roadrunners this season, with four to be held in assignments. We get caught napping or hesitant or Ontario. Tucson is the only team in the Pacific forgetful or whatever it is and it usually costs you. Division that Ontario is below the .500 mark against But that’s why they’re in this league, that’s what all time, with the Reign at 8-10-2-0 versus the they have to learn. In the NHL, you don’t get a Roadrunners. The Reign look to turnaround a slow second chance, you just get sent back down. So start to the season with three straight games at that’s what we’re dealing with and it’s a new thing home. Ontario has yet to lose in regulation at home for all of these guys. You get into it together and in the 2018-19 season and has traditionally been you get out of it together. strong on home ice, including a 21-11-1-1 record at Citizens Business Bank Arena a season ago. In net, On the success of the penalty kill tonight Cal Petersen was off first from today’s morning Well, yeah, you certainly want to find something to skate, while it appears that Jamie Devane and Boko use as a positive, and I guess there’s the fact that Imama will be tonight’s scratches up top. Zack they were 0-for-7, but the other side is that we took Mitchell skated and was off early today – As seven minors. That’s too many. Again, you talk reported yesterday, Mitchell is “highly likely” to earlier about flirting with disaster, you keep taking return to Ontario lineup this evening, his first game penalties and you’re going to get scored on. We since an injury on October 12. weren’t moving our feet, we weren’t skating so we deserved what we got tonight. BUILD FORD LUFF: Second-year winger Matt Luff, recently singled out by LA Kings GM Rob Blake, has collected six points (2-4-6) from six games played to start the season. Luff collected two assists in Saturday’s defeat in Colorado, his second multi-point effort of the season. Despite missing a game due to injury, Luff leads all Reign skaters

with 33 shots on goal and is tied for second in Walker, who made his NHL debut and collected an points, one shy of team leader Brett Sutter. assist in that game on Tuesday in Dallas. Walker joins Sheldon Rempal, and Jaret THE SIXTH SENSE: Ontario forward Matt Anderson-Dolan as those Reign alums to reach the Moulson collected an assist on Saturday as he NHL in October 2018. Overall, Walker became the extended his scoring streak to six games. Moulson 27th player to play for both the Kings and Reign has collected a point in every game besides the over the 3+ seasons that the Reign have been the season opener and is tied for the team lead in AHL affiliate of the Kings. overall scoring with eight points (2-6-8) from seven games played. Moulson’s six-game point streak is I LOVE YOU, MAN-CH: Four players that have tied for the third longest scoring streak in the AHL been with the Reign this season are currently in the this season and his six-game assist streak is tied for ECHL with the Manchester Monarchs, including the longest streak leaguewide. forward Spencer Watson, who has three points (2-1- 3) from three games with Manchester this season. YOUNG SHELDON: The Reign received Defenseman Austin Strand made his pro debut last reinforcements from above just this morning as week, scoring his first goal on Saturday, while forward Sheldon Rempal was assigned to Ontario goaltender Cole Kehler made his pro debut on from Los Angeles. Rempal made his NHL debut on Wednesday with 29 saves in a 4-3 defeat to Maine. October 18 against the New York Islanders and was Defenseman Stepan Falkovsky scored his second scoreless through three games with the big club. goal of the season on Wednesday and is tied for the Rempal returns to Ontario tied for the Reign lead ECHL lead with a +7 rating this season. with four goals and eight points and despite playing in just four AHL games, is tied for second in the AHL in points by a first-year player.

CAL AROUND: Goaltender Cal Petersen posted a pair of strong outings over the weekend in Colorado. Petersen entered the game in relief on Friday and turned aside 20 of the 22 shots he faced in 40 minutes of action. Petersen started Friday’s game against the Eagles and stopped 39 of 43 shots in defeat, a season-high in both saves and shots faced, with the 43 shots faced one shy of a career high, which he most recently experienced on April 14 of last season against Bakersfield.

COUPLE OF KEMPES: The Roadrunners gained reinforcements earlier this week as forward Mario Kempe was re-assigned to Tucson by the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Kempe is the older brother of former Ontario and current Los Angeles forward Adrian Kempe, who played 101 games with the Reign from 2015 – 2017. The two brothers have yet to faceoff in a regular season game at the NHL or AHL level but did play against each other in NHL preseason action on September 28, 2017.

REIGNING IN LOS ANGELES: Four Ontario alums have already made their NHL debuts with the Kings this season, the latest being defenseman Sean

FROM LAKINGS.COM

October 26, 2018 By: LA Kings Kyle Clifford Fined by NHL Department of Player Safety for Kneeing

LA Kings forward Kyle Clifford has been fined $4,301.08, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for kneeing forward Jordan Greenway during last night's game, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.

The incident occurred at 9:54 of the first period. Clifford was assessed a minor penalty for tripping.

Per the NHL's CBA, players may be fined up to 50 percent of one day's average salary without exceeding $10,000 for the first fine and $15,000 for any subsequent fines within a 12 month calendar period.

The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

October 26, 2018 By: LA Kings LA Kings Assign Sheldon Rempal Assigned to Ontario Reign

The LA Kings have assigned forward Sheldon Rempal to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.

The 23-year-old Rempal (born Aug. 7, 1995) is a 5-10, 165-pound native of Calgary, who has appeared in three games with this Kings this season.

He made his NHL debut on October 18 when the Kings hosted the New York Islanders at STAPLES Center.

Rempal has also played in four games this season with the Reign.

At the time of his recall, Rempal had posted a team-high eight points (4-4=8), a plus-2 rating and two penalty minutes as he led AHL rookies in points and goals. Among all AHL skaters, he also then ranked tied for third among in points and tied for second in goals.

Rempal signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Kings in March.

The Kings begin a season-high seven-game homestand on Sunday when the club hosts the .

Game time at STAPLES Center is set for 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX Sports West, the FOX Sports App and the LA Kings Audio Network on iHeartRadio.

October 26, 2018 By: LA Kings Celebrate Halloween with the LA Kings This Sunday; Free Pumpkin Stencils!

It's the spookiest time of year!

L̶A̶ ̶K̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶

...oh sorry, we meant Halloween.

This year, join the LA Kings to celebrate Halloween early on Sunday, October 28. It'll be a day filled with trick- or-treating, a cauldron draw at the Kings Care Booth and more.

But before we get to the game specifics, we want to help you get into the Halloween spirit with these Kings- themed pumpkin stencils.

Go pick out your pumpkins, get your carving tools, and use one of these LA PumpKings stencils now.

Download Your Free Pumpkin Stencils Now! Now that you are all set to carve your best Kings pumpkin, we can give you all the details of the Halloween game this Sunday!

Bring your kids early and trick-or-treat throughout the concourse to kick off the Halloween week! Doors will open at 11am and DJ Fuze will be playing music in Star Plaza.

Plus, donate $20 to the Kings Care Foundation at their booth outside of Section 103 to pick a treat out of the cauldron! You could win player-signed pumpkins, team-signed jerseys, and more.

Bid on player-themed pumpkins for a chance to take your own Kings-themed pumpkin home by going to LAKings.com/Auctions.

50/50 Special: Receive 10 additional numbers when you purchase $20 in 50/50 tickets to celebrate. Don't miss out on all this Spooky Sunday fun! Puck drop is at 12:30pm.

Buy your tickets now!

FROM LATIMES.COM

October 26, 2018 By: Curtis Zupke Kings hope Dustin Brown's return can change their view on the season

The last time Dustin Brown missed this much time, he was 19 and the youngest of 42 players to play for the Kings in one season.

An ankle injury in November 2003 gave him a seat under the arena rafters, where space on the ice is distorted because of the steep view.

“I learned my lesson … that watching from the press box can be a dangerous thing,” Brown said. “I can’t remember who we were playing, but I’m like, ‘Why the hell did he not make that play?’ And then I realized it was Ziggy Palffy, who was definitely the best player on that team.”

The Kings could use Brown as their Palffy, so to speak. He has watched them struggle, either from ice level or television, and there’s no need to adjust the picture. At 2-7-1, they own the franchise’s worst 10-game start since the 1985-86 team began 2-8, and they sit on the verge of a shakeup following their sixth straight loss.

Brown’s return from a finger broken by Anze Kopitar’s shot in the preseason finale arrives as the Kings prepare for seven straight games at home. He is expected to make his season debut Sunday against the New York Rangers.

The Kings will take any positive developments in a season that has placed their flaws under fluorescent light. They’ve progressed some in the last two games but, with five points and minus-18 goal differential, it doesn’t seem like they can climb out of this the way the roster is constructed.

The remaining base that delivered two Stanley Cups hasn’t paved a road out of this and that so-called window for another playoff run almost seems like a pinhole. While the effort was lacking late against the New York Islanders last week, for the last three games they either haven’t conjured a proper offensive attack or converted when they do. It’s not for a lack of trying.

“I don’t think it’s a question of our work or anything like that,” goalie Jonathan Quick said.

General manager Rob Blake is believed to be lukewarm on the trade market, so again it’s up to those inside the dressing room. Ideally for the Kings, they can align with better depth with Brown back in the lineup.

“We underestimate how important Brownie is,” Blake said. “He’s a very important piece to this whole thing … I guess for balance and the look of team. It kind of puts guys in right spots again. Special teams aspect of that, too.”

Brown’s net presence is painfully missed on a power play that is three for 34. Ilya Kovalchuk was brought here specifically to ignite that. Not only has he not scored a power-play goal, his big-shot capability hasn’t really been on full display.

Under increased scrutiny, Kings coach John Stevens keeps trying different line combinations, none of which has lasted for an extended period outside of the recent top line of Alex Iafallo, Kopitar and . A new option is to put Brown back with Kopitar and Iafallo. The three played almost all of last season and combined for 72 goals. Iafallo, one of the few consistent forwards in the lineup, said he misses the vocal leadership of Brown.

“Especially on the bench, I feel like he’s more of a communicator, just giving me advice and telling me to make that next play and that I can make that next play,” Iafallo said. “It’s simple things like that go a long way and help me contribute to that line.”

Brown brought his career back to life last season with 28 goals and a career-best 61 points. He was particularly effective deflecting pucks in front of the net. All he was able to do recently is lead from the sideline. He has only missed 18 games since his first full season in 2005-06, and three of those were because of suspension.

“Everybody’s probably telling us what to do at this point outside of this room, but there’s something about being in it together that is different,” Brown said. “I try to give little things here and there to individual players. I’ve been a part of a few team meetings where I’ve said some stuff, but you’re just trying to help in any way.”

This is both new and familiar territory for Brown, a member of the 2011-12 team whose inertia grew to the point it tuned out coach Terry Murray. He was fired that December and replaced by Darryl Sutter. Thus began two Cup-winning runs in three years.

Hardly anyone is envisioning that with the way the Kings have looked. Many of their veterans are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, and their prospects either aren’t ready or could be affected

developmentally in a losing culture. With Brown expected to be activated, Sheldon Rempal was re-assigned Friday.

“This is the first time I’ve been out like this, so that’s hard in itself,” Brown said. “I think if we were [7-2-1] instead of [2-7-1], it’d be not easy, but manageable. When the team’s struggling, you want to get back and be a part of the solution.”

A sliver of coincidence is the backdrop. Last season, the Kings ended a six-game losing streak with a win at home against the Rangers. Only one thing seems certain Sunday: Brown will have a better view than from the press box.

Clifford fined

Kyle Clifford was fined $4301.08 for kneeing Minnesota’s Jordan Greenway on Thursday. Clifford was given a minor penalty for tripping on the play.

FROM DAILYNEWS.COM

October 26, 2018 By: Robert Morales Kings have been powerless to stop losing streak

As poor as the Kings’ power play has been, they outdid themselves in Thursday’s 4-1 loss at Minnesota. The Kings had virtually three consecutive power-play opportunities in the third period, the first of which began with roughly 7 1/2 minutes to play. They were down 2-1 at the time.

Jordan Greenway was called for cross-checking, then for interference when he played a puck while not fully out of the penalty box. The Wild killed all four minutes. A minute after killing the second of Greenway’s penalties, Minnesota’s Eric Staal was whistled for delay of game with 2:25 to play.

The Kings pulled goalie Jack Campbell, meaning they had a 6-on-4. They gave up one empty-net goal during the two minutes, and another just a second after Staal came out of the box.

For a team struggling so mightily – they have lost six consecutive games – the Kings can ill-afford to have moments like this.

“Three power plays in a row and we couldn’t cash in,” bemoaned team captain Anze Kopitar after the game. “Usually it comes down to special teams and it did tonight. I thought our PK (penalty kill) was really good, keeping the puck out of our net and we had a few opportunities late. But we just didn’t cash in on it.”

The Kings are now 3 for 34 on the power play, a percentage of just 8.8. Only Vegas (2 for 28) at 7.1 percent is worse.

Moreover, the Kings have been outscored 29-8 during this slide, meaning they are not playing well offensively or defensively. The team’s frame of mind is understandably of concern.

“The mood, as you can imagine, is not very great right now,” Kopitar said. “But I think we’re improving on parts of the game, we just need to pull it together for 60 minutes. I mean, that’s just bottom line.

“We can keep saying that we’re going to move in the right direction all we want, but it’s about winning games and that’s what we have to start doing.”

He’s hopeful the upcoming seven-game homestand that begins Sunday afternoon against the New York Rangers will be the Kings’ get-well remedy.

“We always want to be a good home team, so no better time to go home than right now and get things back on track,” Kopitar said.

Rempal sent down

Rookie forward Sheldon Rempal was sent down to Ontario on Friday. He made his NHL debut Oct. 18 against the New York Islanders, and played in a total of three games. He had no points and was a minus-1 while averaging 12:46 of time on ice.

This and that

The Kings will also host Philadelphia, Columbus, Anaheim, Minnestoa, Calgary and Toronto on this homestand. … Dustin Brown (broken finger) is expected to play his first regular-season game for the Kings on Sunday. … The Kings are averaging a league-low 1.80 goals and are allowing 3.60 per game, with only seven teams worse.

— Kings Insider Jon Rosen contributed to this report

FROM NHL.COM

October 26, 2018 By: NHL Public Relations Clifford fined for actions in Kings-Wild game

NEW YORK - Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford has been fined $4,301.08, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for kneeing Minnesota Wild forward Jordan Greenway during NHL Game No. 138 in Minnesota on Thursday, Oct. 25, the 's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 9:54 of the first period. Clifford was assessed a minor penalty for tripping.

The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

FROM SPORTSNET.CA

October 26, 2018 By: Mike Johnston Kings’ Clifford given maximum fine for kneeing Wild’s Greenway

Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford has been fined for kneeing Jordan Greenway of the Minnesota Wild, the NHL’s department of player safety announced Friday.

Clifford clipped Greenway near centre ice midway through the first period of Thursday’s 4-1 Wild victory.

Greenway avoided injury and was able to stay in the game as Clifford was assessed a minor penalty for tripping.

Clifford, who ended up scoring L.A.’s lone goal, also received five minutes for fighting after Greenway’s teammate Nick Seeler came to his defence and dropped the gloves with the Kings’ third-liner.

The play ending up costing Clifford $4,301.08, which is the maximum allowable fine under the collective bargaining agreement.

Greenway was assigned to the AHL’s Friday, but it had nothing to do with the play involving Clifford. Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters it’s a short-term move meant to provide Greenway with an opportunity to log some more ice time and gain confidence. The 21-year-old rookie has one assist in nine games and is averaging 11:22 per night.

FROM THEFOURTHPERIOD.COM

October 27, 2018 By: Dennis Bernstein KINGS TAKE A 10 COUNT

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Kings dragged themselves onto the plane in Minnesota Thursday evening as they concluded one of the worst 10-game stretches the franchise has played over the last decade.

They took a 10-count against the Wild to extend their losing streak to six regulation games, the longest since an eight-game losing streak in December 2007 when GM Rob Blake was Captain Rob Blake and patrolled the ice with the likes of Kevin Dallman and Peter Harrold.

It’s been that long.

The more painful part is that the Kings haven’t been pounded into submission by their opponents; they haven’t been overrun by new age offenses. When you are consistently on the losing end of pillow fights the optics are worse than being floored by a devastating right cross.

In two-game road flop ahead of the longest home stand of the season, both victors played average hockey. A solid 120 minutes of execution and effort would have brought home four points but instead the Los Angeles is looking to avoid rolling an unlucky “7” on Sunday afternoon against another non-contending team, the New York Rangers.

So, who’s responsible for this mess? A month ago, I considered the Kings a solid 2/3 seed in the Pacific Division and with a few breaks they could snatch their first Pacific title in franchise history. The prospect of building on a 98-point season with a legitimate take – now fans are calling for a “Lose for Hughes” season. They now suggest tanking the season in deference to the next generational player, Jack Hughes who stands atop the June 2019 Draft Board.

I’ll let those fans stay in a dream state for the next seven months; I’ll stay in the moment and address the causes for this awful stumble.

It takes a village to underachieve to this level with the amount of proven talent on the roster. Blake sought more offense, thought he brought it in Ilya Kovalchuk, but the returning Russian Sniper has not re-acclimated to the

NHL in general and this team specifically. The defense has held down its end of the bargain by being structurally deficient and Jonathan Quick has contribution looks to be affected with his now-annual early-season injury. The collective has formed a deserving 2-7-1 record and the reactionary move would to be to give Coach John Stevens a leash the length of the 200-foot ice surface to turn it around.

I believe that a 10-game sample size doesn’t undo what he established in 86 games last season (and in fairness, some say the team’s decline start in last season’s second half) but the reality is that if the Kings produce a similar effort in the next 10 games as they did in the first 10, it will give Blake little choice given the results expected when the season started.

So, is it fair to say that Stevens is coaching for his job? Standings.

But the reality is that while Stevens may ultimately pay the price, he is not the major factor in the level of play delivered by the Kings. I have supported him throughout his tenure, but he is not immune from criticism. I don’t subscribe to the popular take that the team is old and slow, they are in the top third in average age but there is less than a year separating them form most rosters in the league. While they have enough speed to compete in the new age NHL, they do not PLAY fast and that the biggest coaching challenge for this team and one that Stevens owns.

In tandem with that, the players need to work harder to get open and the defense needs to move the puck when they do. The word “speed” inundates the hockey conversation, but I have yet to see a player who is faster than the puck and I feel the requisite speed need to win is present.

You can say that Blake didn’t assess properly what was needed to take the team to the next level, but with such a small sample size, it’s the equivalent of looking at the shell of the new football stadium being built in Inglewood and saying, “Yeah, that structure isn’t going to hold 70,000 people, bad architectural job.”

Dustin Brown’s return to the lineup on Sunday should solidify the forward wall, at the bare minimum it eliminates rookie Sheldon Rempal, now back in Ontario, from being including in the same sentence as “top six forward.”

For those screaming for a massive trade for a game changer like the still-unsigned William Nylander or the unwilling-to-return-to-Columbus Artemi Panarin make sure you look venture over to CapFriendly first and examine what Blake’s options are when Drew Doughty’s $11 million cap hit locks in.

Conversely, if things continue as they have in the opening games of the homestand, Blake must make a move of consequence to get his team’s attention. He waited until mid-November last season to effect roster change; he may not have the same luxury this one.

But the large body of work was signed, sealed and delivered by players who at times look disinterested and lack confidence to even the most casual of observers. You don’t have to be around this team every minute to see they aren’t very angry with this start even the most passionate of them all, Drew Doughty hasn’t bashed his stick on a crossbar or cursed out a referee from the penalty box. Others have a look of despair when the puck doesn’t bounce their way but the biggest difference is this team from last year’s model is a glaring one.

There is zero resilience, something that was so abundant last season when the team routinely battled from behind and had one of the best third period goal differentials in the league. When the opposition scored the first goal, it was routine, part of the winning script and shrugged off last season – this season, it’s been the game- deciding goal.

Except for Alex Iafallo, the youngsters have done nothing and two of the players I pointed at as pivotal to the Kings hopes (Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli) are not leading by example.

Toffoli has been the far better of the two, but is not the game changer the team needs now. Pearson’s game had regressed the furthest . . . . until this week when Adrian Kempe took the belt with stretch that would put him in Ontario if I was in Blake’s shoes.

Kovalchuk has played hard, no one can question his commitment, but the lack of structure in his game makes it essential that either Anze Kopitar or Jeff Carter figure out a way to play with him and get him chances in goal scoring areas.

As I understand, Stevens has been tough at times, more caring at others with his emotionally frail team as the losing streak lengthens, but above all he has been honest with his assessment of individual’s play. Any assertion that this team has quit on him is not factual and if I suggest another less obvious overarching factor, this team has become too comfortable.

The criticism that motivation is the coach’s responsibility can be answered in this way – these players make crazy guaranteed money to play a game, and in general there is nothing a GM or coach can do to motivate the player, it must come from within. The rare player may be lifted by a coach’s venom (think Brown/Darryl Sutter at trade deadline in 2012), but by and large it’s on the player to change his mindset and be better. There is not a single player on this team playing for a significant contract, the core is settled in and making millions of guaranteed money playing hockey by the beach. They must be the change agents, not Blake or Stevens.

I’ve advocated since Opening Night that Brown’s absence from the lineup was a major loss and with each game it becomes more abundant. His emotional presence is as needed as his as net front presence, but lest you think he will enter Staples Center Sunday afternoon riding on a white stallion to rescue the Kings’ season, he can’t do it without the buy-in from the other 21 players on the roster. The abyss the team has plummeted into is too deep for one man to lift it out of, no matter how big his shoulders are and how strong his resolve is.

But it sure can’t hurt.

If you believe in silver linings, there is a very slight one to hold out hope on. The Pacific Division refuses to throw dirt on the grave the Kings have dug for themselves. On the same evening the Kings delivered mediocrity in the State of Hockey, the Flames surrendered nine goals to Sidney and Co., and the Ducks seem determine to have a 1 and 1A SoCal entry in the First Coach Fired Derby by getting run out of another visiting building in Chicago.

The slightest of winning streaks would conceivably put the Kings back in the pack, as unrealistic as it seems, but it must start Sunday.

FROM DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

October 26, 2018 By: Reuters Kings' Clifford fined more than $4K for hit

Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford was fined more than $4,000 by the NHL on Friday for kneeing an opponent earlier this week.

Clifford drew a two-minute penalty for tripping on the play, in which he kneed Minnesota Wild forward Jordan Greenway. Clifford stuck out his left leg as the pair crossed center ice. The knee-to-knee hit sent Greenway tumbling to the ice as he lost control of the puck.

The NHL's fine of $4,301.08 was the maximum allowable under the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement. All of the money will go toward the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Clifford, 27, has one goal and 14 penalty minutes in eight games this season. He has 44 goals, 51 assists and 692 penalty minutes in 543 career games.

--Field Level Media

FROM SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY

Friday, October 26, 2018 Contact: Kings Communications

LA KINGS ASSIGN SHELDON REMPAL TO ONTARIO (AHL)

LAKings.com Link: https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/la-kings-assign-sheldon-rempal-assigned-to-ontario- reign/c-301312984

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have assigned forward Sheldon Rempal to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.

The 23-year-old Rempal (born Aug. 7, 1995) is a 5-10, 165-pound native of Calgary, who has appeared in three games with this Kings this season (scoreless). He made his NHL debut on October 18 when the Kings hosted the New York Islanders at STAPLES Center.

Rempal has also played in four games this season for Ontario. At the time of his recall, Rempal had posted a team-high eight points (4-4=8), a plus-2 rating and two penalty minutes as he led AHL rookies in points and goals. Among all AHL skaters he also then ranked tied for third among in points and tied for second in goals.

The Kings begin a season-high seven-game homestand on Sunday when the club hosts the New York Rangers. Game time at STAPLES Center is set for 12:30 p.m. and the Kings-New York contest will be broadcast on FOX Sports West and the LA Kings Audio Network (iHeartRadio).

Follow the Kings Communications Department on Twitter (@LAKingsPR)

Senior Director: Jeff Moeller-310.535.4544 Director: Mike Kalinowski-310.535.4515 Manager: Eddie Fischermann-310.535.4433