Teddy Purcell Has Enough Teeth to Speak!

Training camp for the Los Angeles Kings began on Sunday, September 14th at the Toyota Sports Center and all the players are back and ready to go. Kings Vision has one-on-one interviews posted of Daryl Evans and Heidi Androl speaking with various players and management. I haven't actually watched any of these tidbits because I still hold the preconceived notion that athletes aren't the most articulate bunch. They mostly say the same things from game to game, such as:

• We need to communicate better on the ice
• Our passes weren't the greatest and we know that
• Coach-y or Coach-ie let us know what we need to focus on and that's what we're going to do
• That line felt really good ooot there tonight
  

You asleep yet?

The reason I bring this up is that KingsKoolAid informed me of a particular interview with Teddy Purcell that was worth watching. I was hesitant because of the countless minutes of my life that have been previously spent listening to Sidney Crosby or Roberto Luongo saying the same thing night in and night out. But I watched and was very impressed with Purcell! He actually had legitimate things to say and enunciated his words clearly enough to hold my attention.

You can check out his interview with Daryl Evans here. If Kings Vision doesn't load (as it usually doesn't for me), please inform the Kings because I don't have the time nor patience. Thank you.

Going back to player interviews, there are a few who I will actually listen to regardless of situation. Here are a few off the top of my head in no particular order:

• Jeremy Roenick (no surprise)
• Sean Avery (not impressive, just intriguing)
• Rob Blake
• Sean O'Donnell
• Kevin Weekes (strange, but trust me, boy is SMART)
• Daniel Briere

Who do YOU think is a great interview?

Read more...

Really? You Think So?

What in Zeus' name is going on here? Trade rumors are rumors because they are founded on the speculation of someone who people will listen to. The problem is, this sometimes leads to ridiculous proposals that don't go anywhere but down the drain. One such writer (Eric Duhatschek) is dreaming up something that would never ever happen. I hate trade rumors, and this one takes some kinda cake. I'll actually talk about this one a little but I'm not even going to address what this would do the Kings salary cap for next season; instead, let's just look at why this would never happen.

[Dany Heatly] as coach Cory Clouston so gently put it – isn’t great defensively; and still has a lot to learn about playing in all three zones. Nor is there much of a physical presence in his game.

Soooo... an established player who disappears in the playoffs and whose coach doesn't think too highly of him. And what are the Senators wanting in return? Assuming they don't want to take back too much salary, a defenseman and a forward who can step into the lineup next season, a prospect or two, and a few picks? So the Kings get one player who would be a top-6 forward while losing at least a different top-6 player and part of the farm? That's a big fat no from yours truly.

The article continues on to state that the Kings should ALSO look into acquiring a one Daniel Briere from the Philadelphia Flyers. Nothing is negatively stated towards Briere (except contract numbers, which we are not discussing), but what would the Kings have to give up for the guy? Briere actually shows up in the playoffs, so ... maybe two or three roster players, a few prospects, and at least two picks?

So the Kings would acquire two players and lose (potentially) 3-4 roster players, 3-4 prospects, and 4-6 picks. Let's just file this back into fantasy land, mmkay?


UPDATE [12:30 pm PST]: Hahahaha, move along.

Read more...

Top 10 Way Too Adorable

I realized that while I was compiling my list of Top 10 Hot Bitches that there were plenty of players who I thought were just too cute to be placed onto said list. So I've made another list of players who could never make their way onto the Hot Bitches list because it makes me feel dirty thinking about them in that manner. You can’t say, "Well, maybe they’ll get older and grow out of their baby faces." Seriously, Lubo is 31 and still cute as a button. So here it is.

10) Rick Nash (CBJ) – Adorable grizzly bear.
9) Mike Green (WAS) – Squishable cheeks with a fauxhawk to boot.
8) Vesa Toskala (TOR) – How can an ex-Shark be on this list? I dunno, but I’ll always have a soft spot for Vesa.
7) Zach Parise (NJD) – He was hotter before he got his front teeth knocked out.
6) Sidney Crosby (PIT) – Still got that baby fat on his face… if you can even call it baby fat anymore. It’s more like hockey gloriousness spewing forth from his tree trunk thighs and pouty lips.
5) Sam Gagner (EDM) – Hard working cutiepie. What’s not to love?
4) Jonathan Toews (CHI) – One could argue whether he belongs on this list or the Hot Bitches list.
3) Daniel Briere (PHI) – I heart him so much.
2) Lubomir Visnovsky (EDM) – Lubo Cookie!
1) Dustin Brown (LAK) – How can this baby face have led the NHL in hits last season?

(Courtesy KingsCast)

Ahhhhhh!!!

Read more...