Also got to watch Kings prospect Tyler Toffoli when the NHL channel aired a tape of the OHL game 5 playoff between Toffoli's Ottawa 67's and the Belleville Bulls....This was my first look at Toffoli, and he is pretty much as advertised: not big, (although not a Kozun-size smurf), but enough size get to where he wanted to go; very average skater; good hands and enough grit to win his share of puck battles; bit of an edge (nice hit on Belleville D Jordan Subban, just as noisy as his older brother); great instincts at finding the open spots in the offensive zone; and a quick release which he used to score the 67's fourth goal. This is not a Ovechkin-type player who will go end-to-end for the spectacular goal; but, paired with forwards who can get him the puck in scoring positions, he could well be a 30-goal scorer. Reminds me a little of Daniel Ryder, who you never even notice on the ice until he suddenly pops in a goal....

Just watched the prodigal sons in am OT loss to Ottawa on the NHL Channel; Flyers first goal scored when a Schenn shot hit Simmonds in the face and bounced into the net (he's okay). Simmonds has grown into a legitimate 2nd line winger; he's grown into his once-spindly frame, and I think the more intense atmosphere in Philly has kept his attitude strong. Schenn looks much better in the defensive zone than he did in his breif time in LA; however, Laviolette clearly prefers the younger Sean (son of Sylvain) Couturier for defensive purposes. In fact, while Schenn is coming along fine, he is probably not as good a player right now as Couturier or another Flyers rookie, Clayton Read; however, I notice that Laviolette tries to get Schenn some shifts with top 6 forwards such as Giroux, Hartnell, Briere etc.. Playing with this group has been a key for Simmonds as well; if Geno Malkin is not the best player in the league, Giroux is; you could put Trevor Lewis and Colin Fraser on his wings and mark them down for 20 goals minimum.

Just watched the WCHA Final Five Championship game with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (featuring D Derek Forbort) versus Denver University (featuring C Nick Shore). Denver was missing several key players, and North Dakota dominated throughout a 4-0 victory. Forbort, who I first saw in his brief World Juniors appearances, continues to improve in all aspects of his game - skating, puck handling, positioning, aggressiveness. He had a nice assist off the rush on the second Fighting Sioux goal, and later got into a little tiff with Denver's captain Dustin Jackson. Don't think he profiles into a future star, but has every chance to become a solid top 4 D - reminds me a bit of Willie Mitchell, and that's pretty good.

Nick Shore is a sophomore who skates on the same team as his older brother Drew, who was a 2nd round pick of the Florida Panthers. Drew is a talented offensive player, but Nick has the more well-rounded game, contributing at both ends of the ice. While I was impressed with his instincts and feel for the game, he doesn't appear to have above-average offensive skills or great quickness. He could easily settle into a 3-4 line slot for an NHL team or spend 10 years in the minors - just depends on what opportunities he gets or doesn't get. I just watched Mike Weaver and Marcel Goc play major minutes for Florida, so who knows ?

Just a few words for Dan Avey, the former Kings TV commentator who recently passed away at the age of 69....Dan was a welcome relief in the grim early days of NHL hockey in LA, providing enthusiasm during the rare good times and a dry sense of humor to soften the reality of the frequent bad times.....My favorite was one night when the Kings were in Oakland, and Dan innocently commented, "If Oakland had a player who stayed around in the locker room and helped the trainers & equipment men clean up...would he be known as the Good Housekeeping Seal ? ".....

In 1968, the Kings had a rookie goalie named Gerry Desjardins; a writer named Bill Libby actually wrote a book about Gerry ("Rookie Goalie !" ), but  he had a bad second year and was traded to the Black Hawks about the time the book came out. I was 13 at the time and fascinated with hockey and goaltenders in particular; and I wrote to Dan, asking how I could still get the book even though Desjardins was gone......Dan's response was to send me a new copy of the book, free of charge, with a nice note thanking me for my interest. Yeah, I know they probably had a hundred copies that they needed to get rid of somehow, but still the idea that he had taken the time to do that....I was then a hockey fan for life, and also got an early lesson in how "random acts of kindness" can make a difference in peoples lives...Thanks, Dan.... RIP