When I heard this news yesterday I knew the lockout was over.
There is just no way the lockout would end and the banner would be raised without out some sort of dark cloud hanging over our heads.
It just wouldn't be Los Angeles Kings hockey if that didn't happen.
Dean Lombardi said images of Kopitar's injured right knee were not clear enough to tell much but from what was visible it looked like
Initial diagnosis of Grade 2 MCL sprain was accurate. Technically, Kings can suspend Kopitar and Willie Mitchell (knee) for (more)
Getting hurt during lockout and not being ready to play. Lombardi said he would ask higher-ups about it. I got feeling he won't suspend them
You know I've always been accurate when it comes to the medical side of the Kings...
Kopitar will miss at least 4 weeks, possibly as many as 6
It is NOT 2-3.
And this is based on what, exactly?
You know I've always been accurate when it comes to the medical side of the Kings...
And this is based on what, exactly?
Now would be a good time to buck that disturbing trend.
How so? The Kings still have a ton of depth. They'll be able to roll lines that are some combination of the this:If Kopi is out 4-6 weeks here we come 8th seed. I really thought the Kings would push Vancouver/St.Louis for the #1 seed this year but if he misses a few weeks in an already shortened season I see the kings still making the playoffs, but barely again like last year.
How so? The Kings still have a ton of depth. They'll be able to roll lines that are some combination of the this:
Brown-Carter-Williams
Gagne-Richards-Penner
Kings-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Fraser-Nolan
That's an incredibly deep lineup, and I would have no problem throwing those top 2 lines against any other top 2 lines in the West.
I think Kopi's strong skating is a downfall as well, He puts too much pressure and sometimes he doesn't know when to fall to prevent damage. Im not blaming him, but he should try to fall to avoid sprains and such.
Just a thought. Could the Kings suspend him without pay? Because if they dont he counts against the cap. I know that is not a worry now but at the deadline they may want some extra space to maybe get somebodies cast off( in prep for next years cap)
I dont think they can put him on LTIR because he was hurt playing elsewhere.
Kind of a jerk move but they could do it ( i think)