ll, like many Kings fans I ended the year nauseated by the foul smell called the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks reminds of a story I just invented:

Three dead Orcas, Kevin, Henrik and Daniel are sitting in a bar. A patron walked in and exclaims, "Wow, whats that smell?" Kevin turned and said "Its must be the Kings"

Kevin Bieksa, whiner...it was the ice...the ice was bad...

"Maybe a little bit sloppy but the ice obviously wasn't in the greatest of conditions. Power play is what hurts teams. We had an opportunity there and we didn't take capitalize."

Bieksa was asked about the Kings breaking out with four goals.

"We gave them lots of chances," he said. "We gave them lots of power plays....It wasn't so much them. I think it was a little bit more us.

Bieska on Vancouver Backing Down

We didn't get to game seven last year by backing down

USHA on Vancouver "not backing down"

Right Kevin, you lost game seven because Vancouver can't take as good as they give

USHA on Vancouver:

Spearing, high sticks, dangerous trips, pull downs from behind...even sucker punches to the kidneys of a player who is down on the ice, penned upon a pile of players. Nothing a few slap shots to the face won't cure.

Kovalchuk is like the Hindenburg, you can't look away as the thing goes up in flames.  While the fat lady has yet to sing fans in LA have had plenty of time to formulate their thoughts, opinions and conclusions.

Now that (Kings) readers have been able to step back from the situation I wonder what their overall consensus is.  I hope the choices are well enough delineated and varied to properly encompass your views.  If not please add your  specific viewpoint under "comments";  those agreeing can vote in the reply section. 

Now that LA has the benefit of 20/20 hindsight in respect to Kovalchuk as a King what is your opinion?

The simple act of adding Alexei Ponikarovsky to the Kings lineup carries more significance then some LA fans may realize; The Lombardi "Clean Sweep" can now be declared complete. .

Frolov's departure marks a milestone in Kings history.   With the exit of Alexander the final ghost of  "Kings' futility past" is banished, old habits are exercised and the era of new expectations is delivered whole.

It was not two 30+ goal seasons that made Frolov a standout in LA, rather it was his yearly presence as a skilled player on a sub par team that made him a favorite.  But, with plenty of sunshine, sand and empty training centers in LA who even bothered (other then perhaps Armstrong, Belanger or Laperriere)? 

LA developed a League reputation as a haven for the lazy, under performing player. It was culture, bad habits formed easy.  If a player longed for a Cup he had to leave this town...and then return for a rest.  Of  the lot only two proved to have the desire to be champions.

Meanwhile in LA old habits were hard to break.  Look at Alexander's last year wearing purple   He couldn't or wouldn't pass.  He wouldn't follow instructions.  Wouldn't amp up emotionally.  And, for the first sixty games he didn't give a whit about playing defense, either. Boy, does that sum up the LA Kings 2003-2008 or what?

By seasons end the best to be said for Alex came from two defensive plays against Vancouver .  Hail the new Alex, defensive monster, resurrected by a Miller and Fox struggling but finding little positive to say for him in the series.

Regardless of the spin Frolov & Co. tried to put on it, it not about the Kings or Murray.  Alex sealed his fate by not exercising his past.  The Kings are a new team with a new core, new values, new coach, new system and new attitude.  But it was the same Alex. 

His meter ran out in LA.  Time to park in a new spot.  Good move, timing is everything.

Good luck Alex  you've afforded yourself a chance to reinvent yourself;  but beware of redemption in the Garden, NY fans are more vocal and a heck of a lot more judgmental then LA fans...and they can be a touch inpatient.

Bye Alex.  Good Luck and Thanks for the Memories!

ts the gift that keeps giving.

An AP report indicates that the NHL rejected the 17-year, $102 million contract the Russian winger was offered to stay in Newark. Keep in mind this isn't quite "official" just yet, but it wouldn't be shocking if the deal upset many in the league offices. Here's more from that story.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because the NHL has not announced the decision to void the deal, the person tells The Associated Press on Tuesday night that Kovalchuk's contract is illegal because the years of low salary at the end of the contract were added for the sole purpose of lowering the cap hit.

The person added that no side believes Kovalchuk will play the final years of the deal at the low salary numbers that were agreed to in the deal. The star forward was slated to earn only $550,000 in each of the last five seasons of the contract.

Had enough, yet?

Thought it couldn't get any better?

Not enough time wasted, wives anger, children ignored?

Bets that Inside Kings Richie boy is cursing in his hotel room tonight.

League doesn't like the way deal is structured

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/

Update:  Oh Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Dean Lombardi said tonight that the Kings would remain interested in signing Kovalchuk should the opportunity present itself, but it’s likely that the union will get involved and seek to uphold the deal."  --Rich Hammond

But, guess what, read the fine print, penalties may apply.  Aw, now NJ may have some problems making room for resigning so key players   Could this prevent them resigning  Parise?  Wonder what DL is thinking.

 LA Times  "To interview him in person is to love (and proposition) him" --Lombardi (with certain liberties taken)

I'M A LITTLE PUT OUT THAT THE KINGS PASSED THE FREE AGENT MARKET TO SIGN THIS GUY.

ILYA HAS THE KINGS WHERE HE WANTS THEM;  SIGN HIM OR THE GROWTH CURVE THAT IS SO PRECIOUS TO THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH BE BADLY STUNTED AND A YEAR OF CORE PLAYER RETENTION WILL BE WASTED.   

PLAINLY THERE ARE LINE UP NEEDS THAT THE  CURRENT GROUP OF PROSPECTS CAN NOT FILL.  DARE I SAY FROLOV'S STOCK MAY SOAR?  IS THIS WHAT IT MAY COME TO?

EVER JUST WISH ILYA WOULD SIGN WITH CHERNOBYL?  HOW MANY TEAMS WILL SELL THEIR SOUL TO HOP IN BED WITH THE GUY?

AS KOVALCHUK MADNESS SPREADS ACROSS THE NHL LIKE A PLAGUE, FEEL FREE TO POST RUNNING COMMENTS  AND CHIME IN USING OUR EXCLUSIVE  "I AM SORRY, HE'S JUST USING YOU, DARLING" POLL...

VOTE BELOW:   WHO IS THAT POOR SOUL CAUGHT PICTURED IN THE MIDDLE?

WOULD ILYA BE THE BEST THING THAT HAPPEN FOR YOUR TEAM SINCE THEY RAISED THE PRICE OF A BEER OR  OR DOES FLIRTING WITH ILYA MAKE YOUR TEAM FEEL DIRTY?  GO AHEAD, GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST...COMMENTS WELCOME!

AND A BIG WELCOME TO OUR BROTHER FANS ON THE ISLAND, IN PHILLY, (add more clubs here) AND DENVER 

Not reaching the finals is like shooting a wad before reaching second base with the prom queen…

Who cares how many regular season points we rack up?

Why can’t we just win?   What's the problem?   Aw, come on guys!

Who thinks we can't win?  Them’s Fight’n Words!  And Dan Boyle has a message...

"This is a good time for us to...to kind of raise our middle finger and just do it together!" says Dano to the papers...

Opps!   Wrong finger.  Better have my agent call LA before they hear from Patrick. 

Whats wrong with this picture?  When will these guys learn that regular season points come a hell of a lot easier then playoff wins?