...I'm willing to award my Kings the Stanley Cup (if Krusty the Klown is through drinking out of it--and throwing up into it.) Roman Cechmanek has been strong in net (I know--just wait'll playoffs) and John Tripp, at wing, will make a name for himself this season. The first two lines are playing well & Luc Robitaille seems recharged. Alex Frolov is still good--and worth looking at & Ian Lapierrere is clearly just waiting for the real season to go full-force.

~Adam

no offense or anything, but the Kings will first have to make the playoffs

As for Tripp, he was a nice prospect who went to the memorial cup a few years back.. i was wondering what happened to him.

I'm expecting some nice plays between Ziggy and Stumpy this year, and a nice healthy Allison will help, oh, and even Roman will help you make the playoffs, but after that, you're done. You'll never win anything with Roman in nets.

Peake: don't burst my bubble of hope. Kings fans are the Cubs fans of hockey!!! As for Allison, he has yet to fully recover from the concussion--he still feels shaky/dizzy in crowds or when it's noisy. He has yet to take part in a full skate, but the team is hopeful that by season's start, he'll be good to go.

~Adam

Tripp has been in the New York Rangers system for the past season flipping back and forth between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolfpack. I actually saw him play a great game, and even score, against the Caps here in DC. I was thinking to myself, "This will be a nice young talent that I am sure the Rangers will trade away!". Lo and behold...

How long ago did he get the concussion? Did he suffer this last season or just since training camp started?

"Tripp has been in the New York Rangers system for the past season"

I just remember Tripp from his Oshawa Generals days.. and he went to the memorial cup tournament in 97 i think. He was a big forward, a decent prospect, unfortunately it never amounted to anything.

He's 26 now.. so it might be one of his last shots before being labeled a career minor leaguer.

He should have no problem playing in the Staples Center, then!

(Just kidding, I'm still a JA fan even though he's no longer a Bruin. )

Meanwhile, after just two exhibition games, Canadiens' captain Saku Koivu screwed up a knee and is out for 4-6 weeks. I hope this isn't a sign that it's gonna be another looooong season for Habs fans.

from joe in philly:

How long ago did he [Allison] get the concussion?

It was around the middle of last season that Allsion suffered his concussion, along with a knee injury that has fully healed, but he still has the aftereffects of the concussion. Scary stuff...

~Adam

Damn injuries..huh seph! Sheesh. Good luck to the Habs this year.

Seph,

Trust me, I think it will be a long season for the Habs.

Trevor

Does anybody know if any standings predictions are out yet for this next season? I haven't been able to find anything just yet.

Regarding Jason Allison's recovery from the concussion, he and Adam Deadmarsh (recuperating from concussion & groin injuries) continue to skate without contact; neither has been cleared to have contact but the coach, Andy Murray, hopes Deadmarsh will be able to play this coming Tuesday.

~Adam

Regarding Puckman's question about projected standings this season, I browsed through the most recent edition of 'The Hockey News' at a store on the weekend, and they predict the Ottawa Senators will win the East and Colorado Avalanche in the West. I didn't actually buy the magazine, so I don't remember the predictions for other teams, except to note that my Flames are expected to improve but will again miss the playoffs (sigh)...perhaps I should revise my naive, optimistic forecast on the NY Rangers thread?

My Kings' defenseman, Brad Norton, will miss approximately three months after suffering two torn tendons in his right forearm after being cut by a skate in a game against Phoenix. Though injuries are part of the game, those that occur during exhibition games always seem particularly off-putting.

~Adam

Adam Deadmarsh (out since last December with a concussion,) Jared Aulin (who will miss this season following shoulder surgery,) and Aaron Miller (broken bone in his wrist) are all on the injured list for my Kings. What do they have in common? They are the players acquired from Colorado in the (highly umpopular with Kings' fans) Rob Blake trade. Perhaps an exorcism would help... Instead of the curse of the Bambino, this is the curse of the Blakeman!

~Adam

Adam Deadmarsh & Jason Allison will not play as my Kings play their first home game this season. Deadmarsh has been on the injured list since last December when he suffered two concussions in a two-week period and Allison has been out since February after suffering three concussions over 10 days. Neither have yet to take part in full-contact practices, engaging only in early-morning skating workouts. Allison says that after these, he often feels dizzy and "slightly unaware of what's going on." Team president Tim Leiweke says publicly he's hoping they can both be back on the team by November, but privately, he's saying maybe by January. I'm beginning to wonder whether either Deadmarsh or Allison will ever again play in the NHL.

~Adam

It seems like it would be prudent of them to consider retirement...but then, Eric Lindros is still around...

Yes!! My Kings won the home opener 4-3 over the Senators. The ice was questionable--neither team was able to do a morning skate in Staples because of the ice quality (both used the Kings' training facility in El Segundo)--and the puck took a lot of odd hops. Of the seven goals, six were scored by special teams, so the penalty killers were not doing their jobs. As a personal bonus, the game-winner was scored by personal favorite Alex Frolov, who was demoted from the team's first line to its fourth. Victory!!

~Adam

I noticed that Alex scored that goal, Adam, and immediately thought of you!

Trevor

I would say that that was a pretty big early victory over the much touted Sens Adam.