| FEATURE OF THE WEEK December 28, 2006 - January 26, 2007 |
Kingshockey.com’s 2007 Wish List for the Los Angeles Kings
(in no particular order):
1. For winger Alexander Frolov: the willingness to get to the front of the net consistently, in every game.
2. Give center Derek Armstrong a bigger body for his engine. He gets the maximum out of what he has to work
with, but it’s like having a big, diesel engine in a Ford Pinto.
3. More anger management classes for Sean Avery—they appear to be working.
4. More devastating hip checks by defenseman Rob Blake and smaller waves at Manhattan Beach during
hockey season so he spends less time and energy surfing.
5. Fix the penalty-kill so we do not have to hide under our couches when the Kings are shorthanded.
6. An endorsement deal for winger Dustin Brown with United Parcel Service (UPS). After all, what can Brown do
for you?
7. Sign Kings prospect and University of Michigan defenseman Jack Johnson to an NHL entry-level contract at
the end of his 2006-07 NCAA season.
8. Clone Kings rookie sensation Anze Kopitar. Several times.
9. More Avery: Respect from National Hockey League referees and more controlled aggression.
10. Hope for a healthy 2007 (and beyond) for oft-injured Kings winger prospect Lauri Tukonen.
11. More games in net for the Kings for goaltending prospect Barry Brust to prove he has a future as a Kings
goalie.
12. Create some salary cap room by moving veterans such as center Craig Conroy and defenseman Aaron
Miller.
13. Greater size and strength for forward Michael Cammalleri so he doesn’t get rubbed out as easily along the
boards and more opportunities to participate in shootouts.
14. More goals and assists for Conroy so his trade value increases exponentially before the trade deadline.
15. Poise with the puck for defenseman Kevin Dallman and a more accurate shot.
16. More Frolov: make him carry enforcer Raitis Ivanans’ suitcase on road trips each time he passes the puck
instead of shooting when in the slot.
17. More dance partners for Ivanans.
18. For winger Tom Kostopoulos: a different last name that does not sound like Popcornopolis.
19. Have goaltender Dan Cloutier spend more time with his family and not in the Kings net.
20. For head coach Marc Crawford: the realization that Cloutier is not getting the job done, the patience to
address those questions from the media, and more confidence in the other goalies.
21. A new multi-year contract, and no more injuries for goaltender Mathieu Garon so Kings fans do not have to
suffer with a far-less-than-stellar Dan Cloutier.
22. A regular spot in the lineup for center Alyn McCauley so people stop mentioning him in the same sentence
as Valeri Bure.
23. For winger Brian Willsie: the ability to finish his checks and a better plus/minus rating.
24. The ability to stay healthy for Aaron Miller so he can be traded at the deadline.
25. For defenseman and team captain Mattias Norstrom: A blind-side, open-ice hip check on Nashville
Predators forward Jordin Tootoo.
26. For center Marty Murray: a different last name.
27. A Global Positioning System device (GPS) for defenseman Mike Weaver so he could find Staples Center ice.
28. More Kopitar: Improvement in the face-off circle.
29. A chance for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky to move back to the right defenseman position.
30. For defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky: A spell-checking program to prove that there is a “D” in “Tverdovsky,” who
is making for Kings defenseman Steven Finn look like a James Norris Memorial Trophy candidate.
31. No more injuries this season for defenseman Brent Sopel.
32. For President/General Manager Dean Lombardi: Teams willing to part with young prospects and/or high
draft choices at the trade deadline...or before.
33. Eat better. Whoops. That’s for another wish list.
34. Make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. Wait. Scratch that...this is a wish list, not a pipe dream list.
(in no particular order):
1. For winger Alexander Frolov: the willingness to get to the front of the net consistently, in every game.
2. Give center Derek Armstrong a bigger body for his engine. He gets the maximum out of what he has to work
with, but it’s like having a big, diesel engine in a Ford Pinto.
3. More anger management classes for Sean Avery—they appear to be working.
4. More devastating hip checks by defenseman Rob Blake and smaller waves at Manhattan Beach during
hockey season so he spends less time and energy surfing.
5. Fix the penalty-kill so we do not have to hide under our couches when the Kings are shorthanded.
6. An endorsement deal for winger Dustin Brown with United Parcel Service (UPS). After all, what can Brown do
for you?
7. Sign Kings prospect and University of Michigan defenseman Jack Johnson to an NHL entry-level contract at
the end of his 2006-07 NCAA season.
8. Clone Kings rookie sensation Anze Kopitar. Several times.
9. More Avery: Respect from National Hockey League referees and more controlled aggression.
10. Hope for a healthy 2007 (and beyond) for oft-injured Kings winger prospect Lauri Tukonen.
11. More games in net for the Kings for goaltending prospect Barry Brust to prove he has a future as a Kings
goalie.
12. Create some salary cap room by moving veterans such as center Craig Conroy and defenseman Aaron
Miller.
13. Greater size and strength for forward Michael Cammalleri so he doesn’t get rubbed out as easily along the
boards and more opportunities to participate in shootouts.
14. More goals and assists for Conroy so his trade value increases exponentially before the trade deadline.
15. Poise with the puck for defenseman Kevin Dallman and a more accurate shot.
16. More Frolov: make him carry enforcer Raitis Ivanans’ suitcase on road trips each time he passes the puck
instead of shooting when in the slot.
17. More dance partners for Ivanans.
18. For winger Tom Kostopoulos: a different last name that does not sound like Popcornopolis.
19. Have goaltender Dan Cloutier spend more time with his family and not in the Kings net.
20. For head coach Marc Crawford: the realization that Cloutier is not getting the job done, the patience to
address those questions from the media, and more confidence in the other goalies.
21. A new multi-year contract, and no more injuries for goaltender Mathieu Garon so Kings fans do not have to
suffer with a far-less-than-stellar Dan Cloutier.
22. A regular spot in the lineup for center Alyn McCauley so people stop mentioning him in the same sentence
as Valeri Bure.
23. For winger Brian Willsie: the ability to finish his checks and a better plus/minus rating.
24. The ability to stay healthy for Aaron Miller so he can be traded at the deadline.
25. For defenseman and team captain Mattias Norstrom: A blind-side, open-ice hip check on Nashville
Predators forward Jordin Tootoo.
26. For center Marty Murray: a different last name.
27. A Global Positioning System device (GPS) for defenseman Mike Weaver so he could find Staples Center ice.
28. More Kopitar: Improvement in the face-off circle.
29. A chance for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky to move back to the right defenseman position.
30. For defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky: A spell-checking program to prove that there is a “D” in “Tverdovsky,” who
is making for Kings defenseman Steven Finn look like a James Norris Memorial Trophy candidate.
31. No more injuries this season for defenseman Brent Sopel.
32. For President/General Manager Dean Lombardi: Teams willing to part with young prospects and/or high
draft choices at the trade deadline...or before.
33. Eat better. Whoops. That’s for another wish list.
34. Make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. Wait. Scratch that...this is a wish list, not a pipe dream list.