By Doug Ward • Special to LAKings.com • “Having a real culture means having expectations and dealing with it,” Lombardi said. “Not Cinderella stuff. The Yankees are a great example of it. What better example is there than the Lakers? If they don’t win a championship, they have failed.” [...] “We are still in the more » Read more
Stanley Cup Champion Andrei Loktionov wants out of LA
By Paul Armbruster • KingsNewsDaily.com • After strangely being left off the Stanley Cup, despite contributing more to the team than many whose names were engraved, Andrei Loktionov’s time with the Kings may soon be coming to an end. Not even considered for a spot in the Kings 2013 lineup, Loktionov has spent the year more » Read more
“No setback” for Mitchell says Kings GM Dean Lombardi
Editor’s note: Still no word why Willie Mitchell hasn’t skated in the past three days but as you’ll see below, he’s still medically cleared. By Helene Elliot • LA Times • Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, whose recovery from knee surgery was expected to take a few weeks but has lasted two months, underwent an MRI more » Read more
LeBrun: “Kings Scouring the trade market” looking for defenseman…
By Pierre LeBrun • ESPN.com • The Los Angeles Kings are winless in three games to open the season (0-2-1) and while I would suggest the performance of the top six forwards is the biggest reason for the slow start, you can’t discount the injuries on the blue line. You just don’t replace Willie Mitchell more » Read more
IS LOMBARDI LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT?
TURNING POINT
Jake Muzzin lost in the shuffle of Hickey’s departure
By John Hoven | MayorsManor.com The ongoing development of Muzzin was also one of the contributing factors that went into the decision (to waive Thomas Hickey). “We felt there was an edge, that’s why he’s here right now, said Lombardi. “Under normal circumstances they all three would have been here right now (Hickey, Muzzin and more » Read more
Man who hired Lombardi for first GM job dies…
By Lisa Dillman | LA Times Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi on Wednesday was recalling the man who took a leap of faith years ago in San Jose, putting his hockey franchise in the hands of a 38-year-old rookie GM. And Lombardi was a very young-looking 38. Still, George Gund III, then a Sharks co-owner, more » Read more
Pending sale of AEG delayed Sutter, Lombardi extensions…
By Helene Elliot | LA Times Leiweke said uncertainty over AEG owner Philip Anschutz’s sale of the company and Leiweke’s busy role in the process contributed to delaying Lombardi’s extension. “There were some distractions in the course of the conversation,” Leiweke said. “Dean’s very intense, and so I think there is always a healthy friction more » Read more
Kings, Galaxy expected to make White House visit — together
By Lisa Dillman | LA Times When the Kings and Galaxy visit the White House later this season, AEG’s Leiweke said, it will be quite a day. “No one has ever done that before,” he told The Times’ Helene Elliott. “We’re going to bring all of our guys back including [David] Beckham. “If it works more » Read more