Slava!

They had an respectable title defense, but now that the Los Angeles Kings have only next season to look forward to, what bright spots are there? How about a $25 million Russian blueliner?

Slava Voynov will be retained for the next six seasons at a manageable $4.16 million per year, after continuing the excellent play which made him a breakout star in last year's cup winning season. His six goals and 13 points, with a team high plus-minus rating +9 in 18 postseason games helped set team records for most goals scored by a defenseman in a playoff year and most game-winning goals scored in a playoff year. During the abbreviated 48 game regular season, he set career marks in points (25) and assists (19).

Given the league-wide quagmire with the salary cap dropping 9%, and the team facing some touch choices with their remaining free agents, it's good to see the rising star will be with the team through the end of the decade.

# Reverse Sweep

So yeah...the Kings came back from a 0-2 hole to win four games in a row and boot the St. Louis Blues out of the 1st round on Saturday night.

Rule #1 - Always Give Them A Fake Name (Brad Doty)

Citing insufficient evidence, Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file sexual assault charges against L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.  Now that's a plus for a player's stat!

Doughty was being investigated by police in connection with a sexual assault allegation from March 1, when a 25-year-old woman met him at a bar near the Hermosa Beach Pier. She turned down a proposition from Doughty in front of several teammates, police said. And then, oddly, they took a cab to her home, where she accused Doughty of raping her. The woman reported the incident to police the same day, but added the two had consensual sex a few months prior to the incident.

Detectives asked the woman to call the Doughty while they listened, but she refused, and they have called her “less than cooperative”.  Both the district attorney’s office and police have “found credibility problems” with her accusations, and therefore have decided not to pursue the issue.  I once had a restraining order against an ex, prompted by the need to have police come to my place to get her to leave three times in one night, so I can say with some confidence that some women do not leave the picture gracefully or without trying to cause trouble.

Not a bad year for the 22-year-old...Doughty signed an eight-year, $56-million deal, won the Stanley Cup, and is clear of rape charges.

The Quick And The Rich

They can't make the deal official until July 1, but the LA Kings - pardon me, the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings have agreed to contract terms with goaltender stud Jonathan Quick.  Fuck. Yes!

GM Machiavelli Dean Lombardi announced the 10 year contract extension today, which will kick in after the upcoming season, and will be a generous pay raise from the $1.8 he's currently making - reportedly worth $58 million.  Quick won the Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) this year, and basically carried the team to and through the playoffs.  Not bad for the 26-year-old who was the 72nd overall (third round) draft pick in 2005.  His 2011-2012 season was record setting for the team, and he dominated the NHL: a league leading 10 shutouts, second in goals-against average with 1.95 - or first among goalies who played more than 40 games, tied for fifth with 35 wins and a .929 save percentage (.929) - quite a feat for playing 69 games.

Quick was even better during the 2012 Playoffs - in 20 games Quick compiled 16 wins while leading all playoff goaltenders with a 1.41 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage (3rd best all-time for goalies with at least 10 games played), and a trio of shutouts.  After surviving the awful Cechmanek / Cloutier era, knowing Quick is locked up until 2023 is comforting.  This also means backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier is not long for this world team and will likely be tradebait as he too has a year left on his contract, though it is uncertain when he could be moved.

Now, enjoy the franchise records set by Quick:

ALL-TIME KINGS RECORDS:

• GAA (2.30)

• Save Percentage (.916)

• Win Streak (nine, Jan. 21-Feb. 6, 2010)

• Shutout Streak (three, Oct. 18-22, 2011)

• Scoreless Streak (202:11 third period Oct. 15, 2011 through first period Oct. 22, 2011)

SINGLE-SEASON KINGS RECORDS

• Games Played (72 in 2009-10)

• Wins (39 in 2009-10) GAA (1.95 in 2011-12)

• Save Percentage (.929 in 2011-12)

• Minutes Played (4,258 in 2009-10)

• Shutouts (10 in 2011-12)

• Home Shutouts (seven in 2011-12)

• Road Shutouts (four in 2008-09 and 2010-11)

• Rookie GAA (2.48 in 2008-09 – tied by Jonathan Bernier in 2010-11)

• Rookie Shutouts (four in 2008-09 – tied with Jamie Storr in 1998-99, Mario Lessard in 1978-79 and Gerry Desjardins in 1968-69)

• Shootout Wins (10 in 2010-11)

• Shootout Save Percentage (.818 in 2010-11)

• Shootout Win Percentage (1.000 in 2010-11: 10-0)

OTHER KINGS GOALTENDING RECORDS

• First with 30 wins three straight seasons (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)

• First with three road shutouts in one month (Dec. 2010)

• Most saves in a shutout (51, Dec. 13, 2010 at DET, 5-0 Win)

• Fastest to 20 wins in one season (36th team game in 2009-10)

• Fastest to 30 wins in one season (54th team game in 2009-10)

• Fastest to 100 wins (185th career game)

ALL-TIME KINGS PLAYOFF RECORDS:

• GAA (2.12)

• Save Percentage (.926)

• Shutouts (4)

• Win Streak (eight, April 22-May 17, 2012)

• Road Win Streak – cumulative (12, April 16, 2011 – June 2, 2012 – NHL record)

ALL-TIME KINGS PLAYOFF SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS

• Games Played (20 in 2012 – tied with Kelly Hrudey in 1993)

• Wins (16 in 2012) GAA (1.41 in 2012)

• Save Percentage (.946 in 2012 – tied NHL record for goalies with at least 10GP)

• Shutouts (3 in 2012)

• Road Wins (10 – tied NHL record)

• Home Win Streak (3, May 3-May 17, 2012 – tied club record)

• Road Win Streak – one year (10, April 11-June 2, 2012 – NHL record)

OTHER KINGS PLAYOFF GOALTENDING RECORDS:

• Most shots faced, regulation game (52, April 23, 2011 at SJ, 3-1 Win)

• Most saves, regulation game (51, April 23, 2011 at SJ, 3-1 Win)

• Most shots faced, one period (23, April 13, 2012 at VAN, 4-2 Win) Most saves, one period (22, Apr. 13, 2012 at VAN, 4-2 Win)

NHL AWARDS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 NHL

• Second-Team All-Star in 2012 NHL All-Star in 2012

• Vezina Trophy Finalist in 2012

• NHL Star of the Week (Eight Times: No. 1 three times, No. 2 two times, No. 3 three times)

KINGS AWARDS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Kings MVP (Bill Libby Memorial Award) in 2011-12

• Kings Best Defensive Player in 2011-12

• Kings Most Inspirational Player (Ace Bailey Memorial Award) in 2011-12

• Most Popular Player in 2011-12

Weekend Edition

Counting down the top 20 links we didn't cover during the week...

20 • Radiohead Drum Technician Killed In Stage Collapse - Say what you will about their music, but their stage show is really avant-garde.

19 • Microsoft Surface Is Hiding A Pressure-Sensitive Keyboard, Multitouch Trackpad And Kickstand - To be an iPad killer, you have to think different.

18 • Who Is Rodney King? Who Is Dick Clark? The Titanic Was Real? How Death, Major News Events Expose Twitter’s Generation Gap - Translation: stupid, uninformed kids know nothing of their history or culture.  140 characters is not a Twitter limit, but their mental processing cap.

17 • 13 Tech Sounds You Don’t Hear Anymore - Don't tell those Twitter kids, because they won't recognize these. 

16 • Feds Bust Russian Prostitution Ring In L.A. - It would have been higher if the story was they  helped open one.

15 • Jack Osbourne Says He Has Multiple Sclerosis - Karma couldn't tell the different between one television reality family and another?  Look out Kardashians...

14 •  It Takes A Hell Of A Lot More Water Than You Think To Make Jeans, Burgers, Pizza And Other Stuff - And surprisingly, the main ingredient in all those is not water.

13 • Roger Clemens Acquitted On All Charges - Justice really struck out at the plate this time.

12 • LA Kings Stanley Cup 2012 Celebration / Construction Of A Championship Team - Besides enjoying the awesome victory from last week from almost inside the celebration, the LA Kings Insider shows how the team that won the Stanley Cup came together.

11 • Infinite Schwarzenegger Gear Up Scene - When killing thousands, it takes a while to get ready...

10 • Sex Toy Fools Entire Chinese Village / Super Terrific Japanese Thing: Vagina Panties - Both of these are horrible...Asia should be ashamed.

09 • Headless Corpses Found In Paris Picnic Spot - Ahh, still a city of charm and romance!

08 • Students Left In ‘Mass Hypnosis’ After Demonstration Goes Awry - They made the mistake of not having them pay for next semester's tuition first before putting them in a trance.

07 • Lancaster Boy, 7, Found Hanging By Karate Belt In Backyard - Clearly, he did not pass his test and earn his belt.

06 • Gene Simmons Themed VW Bug For Sale On Craigslist - You may never want to drive it, but there's nothing wrong with looking at it.

05 • Man Goes On $1.5 Million Gambling Spree, After ATM Glitch Allows Him Unlimited Withdrawals - It should have been corrected to say $1.5 million losing spree.

04 • Displays Might One Day Be Made of Just Air And Water - Does that mean View Sonic may one day be bought by Evian?

03 • Baby Soaps And Shampoos Trigger Positive Marijuana Tests - That's what happens when you use Cheech & Chong rather than Johnson & Johnson.

02 • The 40 Worst Rob Liefeld Drawings / 40 More Of The Worst Rob Liefeld Drawings - If you're not convinced he's the worst artist of a generation after 80 drawings, you're either blind or Rob Liefeld.

01 • Burritobot: A 3-D Printer That Spits Out Burritos - Food and technology, together...perfectly.

45 Years In The Making

1, 2, 3, 4 = 6-0 On The Road

NHL, You're Welcome

So, there goes the number one seed in the Western Conference and the top finishing team in the league...at the hands of the lowly eighth seed.  It's just gravy that San Jose also got the boot this weekend.

The Kings? Yeah, they are for real.  One game, one round at a time, but this is HUGE.  A decade in the waiting. 

Playoff Hockey, Suspension Edition (aka The Shanabans, so far...)

Raffi Torres - 25 games (check out his rap sheet of dirty hits and suspensions)

Aaron Asham - 4 games

Carl Hagelan - 3 games

Andrew Shaw - 3 games

Byron Bitz - 2 games

Matt Carkner - 1 game

James Neal - 1 game

Nicklas Backstrom - 1 game

BONUS:

WTF...no call?

  Damn right that's a clean hit!

Murph Gets Shut Out

After some less-then-inspired play this weekend, and losing their fourth game in a row to drop the team to an unimpressive 13-12-4, the L.A. Kings ended the Terry Murray era.

Stuck at 499 career wins in slightly more than 1000 games coached, and 139 wins in 275 games to rate 3rd on team's records, Terry Murray could not get the under-performing squad which has $63 million committed to payroll yet ranks dead last with a 2.21 goals per game average to get the vital wins that would save his position.  Assistant John Stevens will be the interim coach until a replacement is found.

It's been eminent since early in the season as the Kings had already weathered a five game skid, and he is fifth coach to get the ax (Carolina, Columbus, Washington and Anaheim are the other casualties) so far this year. Murray's unchanging demeanor has been likened to a visual representation of his defense-oriented coaching style, and though it certainly made the team a top penalty killer in the league and created more complete, two-way players, it still takes goals to win games - and at least more than the opponents score.  There have been only five games this season that the Kings have scored more than thee goals, and multiple players are thus far having their lowest career point production.

GM Dean Lombardi has a history of defensive leanings for his team development, and it makes his next hire as coach all the more interesting.  Stevens, who not only goes back to Philadelphia with Murray, has a similar, stoic attitude and defensive coaching style, so his interim status is probably just that.  Many names have been suggested as a potential replacement, like former Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish, Mark Morris of the (L.A. Kings minor league affiliate) Manchester Monarchs and Pittsburgh Penguins assistant (and former Kings player) Tony Granato, but the one with the most buzz is Darryl Sutter.  He and Lombardi worked together in San Jose, but while louder and more brash, Sutter employs a similar system to Murray - and fans are already clamoring against those rumors the team is not really making a coaching replacement.

It's too bad that former Manchester Monarchs and recent Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau ended up in Anaheim just days prior.  Of the options available, I'd rather see MacTavish before Sutter, but as John at Mayor's Manor says, "In Dean we trust", and for now we have to hope this change makes the team perform as it should.

Realigned

Last night the NHL Board of Governors approved a new four-conference format beginning in the 2012-13 season...because with two conferences of seven teams and two conferences of eight teams is better than two conferences with 15?

Much of the impetus to change the league structure was based the move from Atlanta to Winnipeg by the Thrashers Jets, and compounded by the long suffering complaints from Midwestern / Southern teams about travel and losing out on television airings. What could have been a simple swap between Winnipeg and either Detroit or Columbus to keep some geographical semblance of order, has become far more complicated.

Gone are the Eastern and Western Conferences with their evenly divided five team groups, each playing their four division rivals 24 times in the season, and the rest of their conference in forty games, filling in the remainder with the opposing conference. Now, every team will play a home-and-home set, and if you are in one of the eight team conferences, you'll play your rivals an uneven amount of times.

Also, the playoff format is not decided, though it is expected the top four teams per conference facing each other in the first two rounds of play, and then the conference champs meeting to determine the Stanley Cup final. While that may eliminate the issue of the top division leader getting a playoff spot even if other teams in the conference have more points but are not atop their group, it gives a clear advantage the seven-team conferences have over the eights to get a playoff berth.

I'm not a fan of this because the Kings are in an eight team conference. Plus if that format would have been in place last year, Dallas would have made the post-season with 95 points, and the LA Kings would have missed it with 98. are not in a seven-team conference. Sites have a deeper look at the pros and cons, and have even taken a look at how things would shake out if the playoffs started today under the new system, and it's not pretty.

King Richard

On the eve of the NHL Draft, there's still big moves happening in the league...

The Philadelphia Flyers needed to clear cap space so they could add free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (whose rights were dealt the club by Phoenix several weeks back), and did so by dumping $110 million in combined salary through 2020 and 2022 in the form of Jeff Carter and captain Mike Richards. Congratulations, you solved the long standing problem in net that let to a second round playoff exit by getting rid of arguably your top two players who combined for 59 goals and 132 points this year!

Carter, ended up with the Columbus Blue Jackets (so now there will no longer just be Rick Nash wasting his talent there), and Richards, well, he'll need a nine year supply of sunscreen. Having planned on ending his career in Philly, Richards said he would have never signed his 12 year extension in 2007 if he knew he'd end up getting traded, but was excited about the opportunity:

"I was fortunate enough to go to L.A., where I’ve heard nothing but tremendous things, not only about the organization but about the city and how nice it is out there and how great the organization treats you. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit in, but I like the makeup of the team. They’ve got an extremely gritty team with a lot of skill. They have two great goaltenders, up to a defense that is skilled and play the game hard, and then you’ve got a lot of depth at the forward position too."

Of course, there was a price to pay - Wayne Simmonds and coveted prospect Brayden Schenn. The initial reaction was mixed in L.A., as Simmonds, though slumping last season, was still a fan favorite and a hard, young player with plenty of time to continue to grow. But as a restricted free agent (as of July 1), the clock was ticking if there were plans to deal him. Schenn, who came up from juniors to play nine games with the Kings this year, had been the object of trade inquiries from the day the team drafted him.

GM Dean Lombardi often said he would not give up the budding star, who many believe could become a "Mike Richards-type" player, "unless the timing has to be right and it has to be the right player". Well, I think getting the actual Mike Richards qualifies. And the 1-2 centers of Anze Kopitar and Richards make the team level with other heavyweight opponents. "You go into Vancouver and it’s Sedin and Kesler. You go into Detroit, it's Zetterberg and Datsyuk. You go to San Jose, it's Thornton, Pavelski, Couture. Those models of strength down the middle — Boston is another example — that still holds," said Lombardi.

Also surfacing this week has been the story of Ryan Smyth, who the Kings seem to be angling for a trade to Edmonton, where Smyth played for years and was reportedly seeking to return. While it would weaken the team at it's already weakest spot (LW), dealing the 35-year-old would free up close to $16 million, money which would be spent on a new long term deal for stud defenseman Drew Doughty (and other RFA's like Brad Richardson and Alec Martinez).

UPDATE 1: The Smyth trade to the Oilers, for the time being, has fallen apart. Apparently, the teams agreed on the trade, at issue is the health of Gilbert Brule, who the Kings would get in exchange for Smyth. By all indications, the Kings don’t intend to keep Brule, and the most-likely scenario would be a buyout, but that can’t happen if Brule is considered injured (he had concussion issues last season).

UPDATE 2: Mike Richards will wear No. 10. The three previous owners - Marco Sturm, Brayden Schenn and Alyn McCauley, lasted a combined total of 35 games with it. Let it not be cursed!

Around The Rink On Opening Weekend

The best story out of the 2010 NHL debut weekend is the come from behind win by the Kings against last year's playoff nemesis Vancouver Canucks.

Justin Williams tied the game on a power play with 4:05 left, and a shootout goal by Anze Kopitar - who came back after taking a stick to the face in the second period that required 18 stitches, sealed the win in season opener, 2-1. It was a great end to an evening that started with a lengthy pregame celebration of the Canucks’ 40th anniversary. The Canucks played their first NHL game against the Kings, and both teams wore vintage jerseys as a throwback to that game decades prior. In addition to the win, it was the first game for defenseman Willie Mitchell against his former team, who he last play with on January 16, where he sustained a season-ending concussion.

Next, I take a lot of joy in seeing that Dallas Stars forward Mike Ribeiro was arrested for misdemeanour public intoxication at a local restaurant Sunday night. Ribeiro scored the winning goal in a shootout against the New York Islanders, giving his team their first 2-0 start since 2006.  While talented, he's a cocky prick who runs his mouth during games, and it looks like karma got tired of hearing him carry on.  Being in our division, it's also good to see any troubles befall our rivals.  There won't be jail time, but any extra distraction to keep our opponents off their mark is helpful, and I'll enjoy heckling him when they come to town.

And finally, the price the New Jersey Devils paid for Ilya Kovalchuk has caught up with them!

Due to injuries (defenseman Anton Volchenkov's broken nose from and Brian Rolston's lower body injury) and suspensions (Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond with his automatic one-game rest for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of a game), the Devils are struggling to field a full squad on the ice and unable to replace those players due to the financial constraints of the salary cap. Tonight they'll have to play with only nine forwards, along with six defenseman and two goaltenders -and for a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  And it's probably not going to be the last time.

Coach John MacLean insisted his hands aren't tied with a reduced roster, but it appears to be the culmination of seasons of cap mismanagement catching up to GM Lou Lamoriello.  And the roster / cap issue will linger once players on the long-term injured reserve return, forcing a move to get the team under the cap.  The team, which didn't make any moves in the off-season due to the vigorous pursuit of Kovalchuk, will now reap what they have sown.  Kudos again to Kings GM Dean Lombardi for not putting one player before the team.

Big Up Your Willies*

With Matt Greene sidelined for close to half the season after shoulder surgery, venerable two-time King Sean O'Donnell signing elsewhere, and hit-or-miss waiver acquisition Randy Jones sent walking, there was a fair sized gap to fill on D...

Enter big Willie Mitchell.

The 6'3" , 210 pounder is a 10 year vet, most recently sporting Vancouver colors, but coming off a concussion shortened season. Vancouver's additions of Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis (and their cost) weakened his chances of returning, and the Kings were reportedly the only team to offer him more than a one-year deal. The move is risky - especially at $3.5 million a season for two years, but if he's healthy would prove an excellent addition. Other than Vancouver, the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals were also rumored to be in the mix for Mitchell.

The 33-year old Mitchell serve as mentor for Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, and overwhelmingly considered an upgrade over O'Donnell by the hockey media. Mitchell has been a plus player for seven straight seasons and has logged 20 minute on-ice averages over that time, and could be paired with either of those young bucks or create a powerful experienced blueline with Rob Scuderi. Having begun skating a month earlier than usual, Mitchell said earlier this week that he feels fine and has cleared numerous hurdles to prove his health, but like Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh, concussions are a spirited enemy to Kings players.

The Kings visit the Canucks on Saturday, October 9th, Vancouver's home opener, so Mitchell won't have too much time to be homesick.

*from the same named tune by Goblin Cock

LA's Red Wing

The LA Kings announced that they signed a Russian LW for the upcoming season...and it wasn't Ilya Kovalchuk. Or their UFA Alexander Frolov (he's now a New York Ranger*).

Enter Oleksiy Volodymyrovych "Alexei" Ponikarovsky (that's Олексій Володимирович Понікаровський to you), who landed a one year-$3 million deal after his recent camapign with Toronto and Pittsburgh, where he scored 21 goals and 50 points. Ponikarovsky has scored at least 20 goals in four of the past five seasons, and is hoping to stay in the same town come next season. “I hope it’s going to be a long-term relationship after one year,” he said. “This was the first time I ever experienced the free agency process, and so it was both exciting and tough. I’m happy it’s over, and that I know the team I’m going to be playing for next season. It’s a young team playing great hockey. I’ve followed the team, how they play and where they are at, so I know it’s going to be an exciting year.”

Ponikarovsky has been called a solid two-way forward, and handled a significant offensive role in Toronto despite their poor showing over the last few years. He scored a career-high 61 points in 2008-09, including 23 goals. And in 11 postseason games with the Penguins last spring, he scored five points. “I’m 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, and I know what my game is,” Ponikarovsky said. “I have to use my size and basically go hard to the net—take the puck there, protect the puck in the corners and finish my checks, all the basic stuff that a guy my size has to do, along with scoring some goals and helping my team win.” He's like late season filler Fredrik Modin, but a decade younger and healthy.

The deal for Ponikarovsky still leaves the LA roughly $10 million under the salary cap, though there's not much left in the free agent realm. There's still trades to be made, and there is a possibility that a top scorer or defenseman could be acquired before the season opener.

* One other Russian, Artem Anisimov, plays on the Rangers. Perhaps they will run a line with the threesome of Frolov - Anisimov - Gaborik...the FAG line?

It Never Ends

So yesterday, a small tear was shed about losing Ilya Kovalchuk in the roller coaster courting of free agency...but the saga WILL. NOT. END.

The NHL stepped in and voided the 17-year supercontract between Kovy and New Jersey, citing improprieties in the structure that deliberately created a lower salary cap hit. And why is that important? There's a great explanation by Rich Hammond about how salary and salary cap really factor into deals which clears up a lot, but there's also the glaring tilt in salary - here's how the payout would have been:

2010-11: $6 million
2011-12: $6 million
2012-13: $11.5 million
2013-14: $11.5 million
2014-15: $11.5 million
2015-16: $11.5 million
2016-17: $11.5 million
2017-18: $10.5 million
2018-19: $8.5 million
2019-20: $6.5 million
2020-21: $3.5 million
2021-22: $750,000
2022-23: $550,000
2023-24: $550,000
2024-25: $550,000
2025-26: $550,000
2026-27: $550,000

The contract represents a $6 million annual cap hit for the Devils. There is a no movement clause through the 2016-17 season and a no trade clause from 2018-19 through the deal's completion. Kovalchuk can be traded between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018.

Sure, you pay a player more when they're in their prime, but the deal has Kovy on ice when he's 44 years old...and he's no Chris Chelios in terms of stamina or Gordie Howe in longevity.

Kings-centric blog Jewels From The Crown immediately and clairvoyantly questioned the signing, and called for an investigation of the 17-year deal with the Devils:

If (Commissioner) Bettman isn't going to draw the line in the sand here, where is the line? Why not have it be 23 years, until Kovalchuk is 50? Thirty-three years, till he's 60? Obviously, Lamoriello (NJ's GM) has made the calculation and decided that 17 years is the farthest he can push the Bettman without forcing him to void the deal. But Chicago made that calculation on the Hossa deal and decided a deal that took Hossa to age 42 was as far as they could go, and they got themselves an investigation. I know that's meaningless, except to say that the Kovalchuk deal has at least earned itself that much.

And this was the one that broke the dam, as Yahoo! Sports NHL concisely points out here.

So now, The NHL Players Association has five days to file a grievance and the contract would be considered dead until an arbitrator's decision is announced. If there's no response from the NHLPA, then after five days the contract is dead and it's back to the free market. Interestingly, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello openly admitted he was not a fan of the deal and that the NHL "shouldn't have these", and it's worth adding that New Jersey's VP of Hockey Ops, Steve Pellegrini, worked for the NHL as their "cap regulator", meaning that he understands everything there is to know about the collective bargaining agreement - so this should have cleared.

A source "familiar with NHL contracts and the CBA" told ESPN.com that they can't see how the NHL could win its case -- that the deal circumvents the collective bargaining agreement -- if it went to court. What's to stop a team from signing a player to a contract that takes him into his 40s, the source said. There is no language in the CBA to prohibit that, they pointed out. But this may be the crackdown from the league to close the loophole of recent deals tendered to players like Roberto Luongo, Chris Pronger, Marc Savard, Marian Hossa and others preceding Kovalchuk's deal. The result, if it works in the NHL's favor, would limit the length of contracts and solidify language governing the range of payments acceptable within a contract.

If the contract is killed, what happens next? Will teams return to the frenzy now that the league has officially chilled the long-term, front-loaded contract frenzy? And what team will take a run at Kovy knowing he'll want the max dollars allowable ($11.5 million) along with a long term?

Kovalchucked

The NBA made a huge issue of LeBron courting suitors for his services, going so far as to make a giant televised F-U Cleveland by airing his decision as a one hour special. But there was a bigger free agent story that didn't get the coverage...because it's hockey.

Since free agency began July 1st, the headline was based on where Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk would end up...and how much it would take to get him there. For those not aware of the particulars, Kovalchuk was basically the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable Atlanta teams. Drafted number one in 2001, he's averaged more than 40 goals a season, and at 27, has 642 career points in 621 career games. Looking for the longevity (and dollars) that fellow countryman Alexander Ovechkin (aka Sidney Crosby's nemesis) has carved out for himself, the word was Kovy wanted to hit the $100 million mark when he became an unrestricted free agent. When Atlanta gave him up to New Jersey before the trade deadline this year, the situation became more combustible.

Kovalchuk rejected Atlanta's bid to get him back at $101 million over 12 years, leaving two suitors in true contention - the New Jersey Devils and, yep, the Los Angeles Kings. What followed for more than two weeks was worse than a hostage crisis negotiation. There were rumors on both coasts about possible offers and rejections, and more back and forth than the saws at a tree mill. LA Kings Insider kept tabs and Yahoo! Sports NHL / Puck Daddy pulled together the various speculation (just look at the glut of posts tied into Kovalchuk alone). Things looked promising when Kovy made a visit to LA over the weekend, but no announcement was made...until late last night.

Kovalchuk agreed to a staggering 17-year, $102 million deal with New Jersey.

There was the obligatory press conference, and huge reaction to the deal around the interweb. The best out of the west was 15 years at $80 million, but not the zinger that Kovy was looking for. My beloved Kings, who have still not resigned (coming off a $4 million salary) the sometimes M.I.A.-during-games LW Alexander Frolov - and were obviously hoping to win the Kovy derby, lost out on Simon Gagne as an option later in the day. With two capable players for that spot and a thinning supply of free agent wings, will Frolov still have a place? Are there trades to be had later in the off-season?

Kovalchuk would have been one of those final pieces to make LA a serious playoff threat, like Pittsburgh and Chicago's prior team building moves that gelled for both and earned them Stanley Cups. But I credit Dean Lombardi for not giving away the farm to get Kovy, especially with the awesome Drew Doughty, Jack MF Johnson, Wayne Simmonds, and other youngsters about to enter contract year negotiations. It's far better to keep the talented core together then gamble on one player...even if that player would have made us that much better.

Not In My House!

There's no way to relay the atmosphere of a playoff game, unless you want to throw a toaster in the tub next time you take a bath.

Getting to playoffs after nearly a decade-long drought was the highlight of the season...until tonight. It was intense and exciting and stressful, but I can now say that the best thing this season was winning a home game during the playoffs. Yeah, there's still Game 4 here mid-week, and they'll be returning to Vancouver for a potentially series ending victory if their fortunes are realized. But even with the possibly upsetting possibility of a Game 6 back home that could be the decider as to who goes to the next round, nothing will tarnish this victory or the feeling from it.

Recaps
• Kings Chase Luongo, Take 2-1 Series Lead
• Kings Power Play Leads To Win

Video
• Kings Skate Past Canucks, 5-3
• Los Angeles 5, Vancouver 3

From The Teams
• Kopitar postgame quotes
• Johnson postgame quotes
• Doughty postgame quotes
• Smyth postgame quotes
• Handzus postgame quotes
• Murray postgame quotes
• Canucks postgame quotes

Playoff Hockey

The insanity begins tonight with half the contenders from each conference squaring off, and you can get lots of perspective from both ESPN and Yahoo! Sports on the overall picture...but most importantly, tomorrow night is Game 1 for the Kings in Vancouver.

There's no question the Kings have their work cut out for them, even though they clocked in with only three less points than the 3rd seeded Canucks. Rich Hammond assembled the tale of the tape in some of the most high-profile statistical categories this season, including the league ranking:

POINTS: Kings 101 (tie 9th); Canucks 103 (5th)

GOALS FOR: Kings 241 (7th); Canucks 272 (2nd)

GOALS AGAINST: Kings 219 (10th); Canucks 222 (11th)

SAVE PERCENTAGE: Kings .907 (18th); Canucks .910 (tie 14th)

POWER-PLAY %: Kings 20.8 (7th); Canucks 20.9 (6th)

PENALTY-KILL %: Kings 80.3 (20th); Canucks 81.6 (18th)

HOME-GAME POINTS: Kings 50 (tie 17th); Canucks 63 (2nd)

ROAD-GAME POINTS: Kings 51 (tie 2nd); Canucks 40 (17th)

PENALTY MIN./GAME: Kings 11.9 (tie 14th); Canucks 15.5 (26th)

MOST GOALS
Kings: Anze Kopitar, 34; Canucks: Alex Burrows, 35

MOST ASSISTS
Kings: Anze Kopitar, 47; Canucks: Henrik Sedin, 83

MOST POINTS
Kings: Anze Kopitar: 81; Canucks: Henrik Sedin, 112

GOALIE WINS AND GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE
Kings: Jonathan Quick, 39, 2.54; Canucks: Roberto Luongo, 40, 2.57

Some "experts" have the Kings going down in 5 to 7 games, which at least comforts me that none of them think it'll be a sweeping blowout. But giving Los Angeles some love are John Buccigross (in 7), Scott Burnside (in 7), Dmitry Chesnokov (in 7), Tom Murray (in 6) and Scott Pianowski (in 6). Clearly, the expectation is there will be a bigger battle for the Kings to get into the next round, but it's not an unheard of opinion.

Only in the most recent of four match ups did the Kings beat Vancouver, but it was a sound drubbing. Again Rich from LA Kings Insider has the data:

Oct. 29 at L.A.: Vancouver 2, Kings 1 (shootout)
Shots: Kings 31, Vancouver 15
Kings’ power play: 0-3
Kings’ penalty kill: 2-2
Goalies: Jonathan Quick, Andrew Raycroft
Goals: Scott Parse (LA), 11:27 first period; Mikael Samuelsson (VAN), 18:36 first period

Nov. 26 at Vancouver: Vancouver 4, Kings 1
Shots: Vancouver 34, Kings 32
Kings’ power play: 0-4
Kings’ penalty kill: 5-5
Goalies: Jonathan Quick, Roberto Luongo
Goals: Alex Burrows (VAN), 7:35 first period; Wayne Simmonds (LA), 19:17 second period; Henrik Sedin (VAN), 3:54 third period; Tanner Glass (VAN), 7:18 third period; Kyle Wellwood (VAN), 19:54 third period

Dec. 14 at Vancouver: Vancouver 3, Kings 1
Shots: Vancouver 28, Kings 25
Kings’ power play: 0-5
Kings’ penalty kill: 4-5
Goalies: Jonathan Quick, Roberto Luongo
Goals: Ryan Kesler (VAN), 1:04 first period; Sami Salo (VAN), 17:15 first period; Alexander Frolov (LA), 19:43 first period; Mason Raymond (VAN), 14:48 third period

April 1 at L.A.: Kings 8, Vancouver 3
Shots: Vancouver 30, Kings 29
Kings’ power play: 2-5
Kings’ penalty kill: 2-3
Goalies: Jonathan Bernier, Roberto Luongo
Goals: Alexander Frolov (LA), 5:26 first period; Anze Kopitar (LA), 14:01 first period; Dustin Brown (LA), 18:02 first period; Jarret Stoll (LA), 3:37 second period; Dustin Brown (LA), 9:20 second period; Kyle Wellwood (VAN), 12:43 second period; Ryan Kesler (VAN), 13:22 second period; Dustin Brown (LA), 3:31 third period; Kyle Wellwood (VAN), 4:49 third period; Justin Williams (LA), 6:38 third period; Michal Handzus (LA), 15:42 third period.

I'm looking forward to the first playoff series in close to a decade, and the season's already a success by virtue of the outcome of this year's campaign compared to years past. It's all gravy now, but that doesn't mean we're not hungry.

Same Rivalry, Next Year

Last night, the Kings made up for their OT loss to Anaheim from the weekend, with a season series closing statement that was basically, "have a nice summer". Down by three goals twice in the game, LA made an awesome rally to force overtime, before winning in the shootout. Only fighting for better playoff position, the Kings added the insulting stamp only a crosstown rival can by winning a game that would mark Anaheim's last gasp for a bottom post-season spot. Los Angeles cames out 4W-2L against those douchebags for the season.

Rudy Kelly of Battle Of Cali has a stiff shoulder for them to cry on:

So Ducks fans, this happened (you must watch this sweet game winning goal by Anze Kopitar)...and you probably felt bad about it. Your season is now lost, done in by key injuries, poor defensive play and Earl Sleek. I know what you're wondering: "What is up with Corey Perry's face?" You're also wondering, "What do we do now?" It's been a few years since you couldn't watch your boys in the playoffs and I'm sure you've forgotten what it's like; luckily for you, there is a fanbase intimately familiar with not making the playoffs right up the 5 to help you out. Believe me, the only people more familiar with brutal disappointment than Kings' fans are my ex-girlfriends. Here are a few helpful tips to get you through the summer.

Baseball
No one likes baseball.. Baseball has two redeeming qualities: Vin Scully, and the fact that it runs opposite to hockey. If you're anything like me you spend 166 hours a week watching, reading and thinking about hockey; you need something to fill that gaping void in your soul, and it's not like you have a girlfriend or anything. (Loser... wait, that's me too. Dammit.) You might as well follow a baseball team.

Now normally this is where I'd tell you all about the Dodgers and how great they are, but since the Kings have been good I haven't followed baseball or the Dodgers at all. (Vicente Padilla is still on the team? The fuck?) Since you're from Anaheim you're probably going to follow the Anaheim Angels anyway. Here is what you need to know about the Angels:

• They never sign any of their young homegrown players;

• Mike Scoscia is an idiot that plays shitty players over awesome ones;

• No one has heard of anyone on their team;

• They win every year.

I don't know how it works. They lost John Lackey and Chone Figgins this off-season and it won't matter one whit. Also, if you're going to cheer for the Angels I hope you like Hispanic position players and white pitchers.

If you're new to baseball and are not tied down by regional affiliation, I suggest cheering for one of the Angels' rivals: the Seattle Mariners. Why? This is why. They also have former Angel Chone Figgins, who is adorable. He's like Wayne Simmonds in Oscar Moller's body. Or like Oscar Moller in Wayne Simmonds' body. I'm not sure how it works but you're gonna want to pick him up and shake him.

Anyway, baseball is boring but what are you gonna do, have a life? Yeah, that's what I thought. Don't worry, I'll join your baseball watching party in like 2 weeks and we can complain about it together.

The Draft
When your current team sucks, often the only recourse is to turn your attention to your future team. Unfortunately, if you're the Ducks, your future team isn't that great either. I mean, your best forward prospect is Matt Beleskey. Oof. Not to worry, though; you still have Luca Sbisa, who is going to be awesome, and you have two first rounders in the upcoming draft. And two in the next draft. (Goddamn you, Philadelphia.) A few tips on how to scout players and decide which ones are best for your team... haha, just kidding, no one actually does that. Instead, what you need to do is read Bob McKenzie's article the week before the draft, find the player he picks in your draft slot, and then do one of two things when your team doesn't draft that player:

• Declare your GM a complete idiot that deserves to die. Since your GM will probably find you and throw a heavy object at you if you talk shit to him, I don't recommend this.

• Declare the pick a stroke of genius and call anyone who disagrees a cocksucker. Don't like Thomas Hickey? Fuck you!

It's fun. You never have to account for your opinions and it's not like anyone knows what they're talking about anyway, so just make shit up and go for a stroll. Besides, focusing on the future means you'll forget that Steve Eminger is on your current team. Oh, did I just remind you of that? Sorry.

Talk Shit
One of the best things about getting eliminated is that no one can hurt you anymore than your team already has, so you're pretty bulletproof. Someone can say, "Haha, your team got eliminated," but who cares? You've already processed that pain and drowned it in alcohol. Now you're free to talk shit on others while their pain is still fresh. Watch a Kings game and point out how Jonathan Bernier is in the AHL every time Jonathan Quick lets in a bad goal. Post pictures of people choking after every Sharks loss. Try to get banned from Fear the Fin AND Jewels from the Crown. (Don't worry about here, I don't know how to ban people.) Your team has broken your spirit; it's only fair that everyone is as miserable and depressed as you.

Free Agency
The playoffs are a great opportunity to get a preview of this season's free agent crop. First: accept that Selanne and Niedermayer aren't coming back. It'll be easier to be happily surprised if they do sign than crushed when they don't. If Niedermayer retires the Ducks will need a gritty defenseman in my opinion, someone that can clear the front of the net and man the penalty kill. I think the Ducks should go hard after Anton Volchenkov if he makes it to free agency. Sign him and you'll have a poor man's version of Niedermayer-Pronger, with Lubo in the Niedermayer role and Volchenkov in the Pronger role. It'll almost be the same except they'll wear tight pants and smoke thin cigarettes after games.

If Selanne retires the Ducks will need another winger. I think a good idea would be to find someone who is friends with Volchenkov and try to sign them as a package deal. He'll probably have to be Russian, and if he were a left winger that'd be great. Do you guys know any Russian left wingers that'll be avail... wait... no... no no no no no no!