Kings after deadline: Notes and quotes about 5-2 win over Wild

Kings Coach Terry Murray on his 1,000th game:

"It doesn't really feel any different, anything special. It's a game that was very important for us to win."

Murray had more to say about his first game as a head coach in the NHL, when he replaced his brother Bryan as Washington's coach in 1990.

"Everything. I remember everything," Murray said. "It was like it happened two years ago. Time goes too fast, doesn't it? It was difficult because in the sense I was replacing my brother. That was hard. I was there as his assistant for six years. I was prepared for an opportunity.

"When I got the phone call, he (GM David Poile) said, 'I just want you to know that a change has been made already. It happened three hours ago. So here’s the deal: If you want to be the head coach, I want you to have the job. If you say no, somebody else is going to get the job.'

“He (Bryan) supported me 100 percent. He was totally on board with me being the person who was selected. I moved forward from there."

Center Colin Fraser, who scored his first goal as a King:

"It feels like a big weight off my shoulders. It was a huge relief. Scoring goals any time feels good. It’s especially good  because of the issues with my foot."

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--Lisa Dillman

Photo: Colin Fraser, right, celebrates his first goal as a member of the Kings on Saturday night. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Dustin Penner loses a point, Colin Fraser gains a roster spot

The more things change, the fewer points left wing Dustin Penner has.

The Kings announced Thursday that a video review of their third goal against Nashville on Tuesday showed that Penner should not have gotten an assist on the play and it was taken away from him, negating what appeared to be his first multi-point game as a King.

According to a statement released by the team, the review showed “that Penner lifted the stick of a Nashville player but never did touch the puck as the puck moved up the ice.” The assist he originally got was given to Willie Mitchell.

That doesn’t change the fact Penner played a solid game for the second successive night, after a strong effort at San Jose on Monday.

“He’s played better here the last three games. I really like his energy and I like the way he’s starting to move around the ice,” Kings Coach Terry Murray said before his team faced the defending West champion Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Staples Center.

“Much more confident, much more with authority. He’s in an athletic position. He’s got his knees bent and he’s playing both ways. And with that kind of work I think everything will get on track in the offensive part of it.”

Ducks road trip starts with milestone for Coach Randy Carlyle

Randy Carlyle said he didn't know Tuesday's game at the Chicago Blackhawks marked his 500th as Anaheim Ducks coach until an autograph-seeker at the team hotel congratulated him en route to the morning skate.

That's what two straight losses and Tuesday's start of a critical, seven-game trip can do. Along those lines of tunnel-vision focus, Carlyle met briefly with both the defensemen and forwards to review recent slippages in play before the Ducks took the United Center ice to prepare for the Blackhawks.

"We just went over some of the things that transpired over the last couple of games, some of the things that ail us as a hockey club," Carlyle said. "We won’t have a chance at success unless we correct them. It wasn’t pointing any fingers. I wasn’t hard on anybody other than the fact that this is what’s happening and what we see.

"You tell me any different. If I’m providing you something you disagree with, let’s talk about it. That’s what we did -- very short, seven or eight clips for the defense. There were 10 clips for the forwards. Just a refresher of what’s going on out there."

As is his custom, Carlyle wouldn't reveal whether Jonas Hiller or Dan Ellis would start in goal. He wouldn't say whether left wing Patrick Maroon, recalled from Syracuse on Monday, would see any ice time.

What Carlyle would acknowledge is that the Blackhawks pose a stiff test at the start of such a daunting trip.

"We always take the same approach: I know it’s a cliché but this is the most important one," Carlyle said. "We’re playing a very good hockey team. We know they will come with a four-man rush. We know they’ve moved their scoring around with the creation of [Patrick] Kane in the middle. They’ve found combinations they’re happy with. Their groupings on defense are solid. And they have their goalie back. There are a lot of things to like about their team. We have to be prepared to match their energy and skill set."

-- K.C. Johnson in Chicago

Photo: Randy Carlyle. Credit: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images

Drew Doughty injured, expected to miss at least seven to 10 days

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is expected to be out at least seven to 10 days after suffering an undisclosed upper-body injury Saturday, though General Manager Dean Lombardi said via email that the injury was not to the defenseman’s head.

Doughty, who had a concussion early last season, was slammed hard on a rising, open-ice hit by Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo 20 seconds into the Kings’ game at Philadelphia. Doughty appeared dazed when he returned to the bench. According to the time-on-ice charts at the NHL’s website, the 21-year-old defenseman played one more shift before being held out of the game.

While sitting on the bench Doughty appeared to be favoring his shoulder. Lombardi would not say if that was where Doughty was injured but specified that the prized defenseman did not suffer a head injury.

Doughty missed most of training camp as a restricted free agent until signing an eight-year, $56-million contract before the Kings left for their season-opening trip to Europe.

It was not clear whether the league would impose any supplementary discipline against Rinaldo, who had three goals and 331 penalty minutes in 60 games last season with the Flyers’ American Hockey League farm team. Every play is reviewed in the NHL’s "War Room" in Toronto, and fines or suspensions can be imposed by executives of the hockey operations department if they feel sanctions are merited.

The Kings were scheduled to return to Southern California after Saturday's game and practice in El Segundo at noon Sunday. They will play their Staples Center opener on Tuesday against St. Louis.

-- Helene Elliott

Kings send Slava Voynov to Manchester, place Jake Muzzin on IR

The Kings made three roster moves in advance of Wednesday’s noon Pacific time deadline to set their roster for the season.

Defenseman Slava Voynov, who had an impressive training camp, was reassigned to Manchester of the American Hockey League. Defenseman Jake Muzzin was placed on injured reserve and center Colin Fraser’s status was designated as injured non-roster. That’s reserved for players who don’t pass the training camp physical.

Fraser didn’t pass his physical because he was still recovering from foot surgery he underwent this summer to repair an unhealed fracture. And no, there has not been a resolution of the Kings’ grievance against the Edmonton Oilers related to the trade that brought Fraser to Los Angeles. The Kings contend the Oilers misrepresented the extent of Fraser’s injury; both sides filed their positions with the NHL a while ago but the league has not yet ruled.

Also, Jeff Zatkoff will remain with the Kings for their first two games as their third goalie, an exemption given to teams that will open the season in Europe. They will face the New York Rangers on Friday in Stockholm, Sweden, and will face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in Berlin.

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--Helene Elliott 

Photo: Slava Voynov slams Colorado Avalanche right wing Chuck Kobasew to the ice during a preseason game Sept. 28. Credit: Barry Gutierrez / Associated Press

Kings, Drew Doughty agree on new contract [Updated]

The Kings and defenseman Drew Doughty verbally agreed on a new contract Thursday night, meaning the restricted free agent could join the team in time for its upcoming trip to Germany and Sweden for its final exhibition game and first two regular-season games.

Financial terms were not immediately available. However, after weeks of frustration and stalled negotiations, General Manager Dean Lombardi planned to sweeten the average annual value of the club's offer to exceed $6.8 million, the current team-leading average annual value of Anze Kopitar's contract.

[Updated, 8:30 p.m.: The deal Doughty agreed to is worth $56 million over eight years.]

Although Lombardi had said several times that he would not go above $6.8 million per year for Doughty, the stalemate and Doughty's apparent willingness to accept a long-term deal led Lombardi to bend.

It's not clear how long the deal will be for, but the Kings' last offers to Doughty gave him choices between a seven-year term and an eight-year term.

Doughty, 21, was a finalist for the Norris trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in his second season, 2009-10, but he struggled at times last season after suffering a concussion.

More coverage soon at latimes.com/sports

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-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire

Sean Avery allegedly called a homophobic slur by Wayne Simmonds

Sean Avery apparently confirmed to reporters what everyone thought they saw during the a preseason NHL game -- that Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds called the New York Rangers winger a homophobic slur.

TV cameras captured Simmonds appearing to utter the slur while the two players were arguing during the first period of the Flyers' 5-3 victory Monday. After the game, Avery was asked if Simmonds called him “what we think he called you.”

Avery replied, "Yeah, yeah."

He added that he had "no idea" why Simmonds would say something like that.

Simmonds did not confirm or deny making the remark.

“Honestly, we were going back and forth for a while there,” he said, without providing details. “I don't recall everything that I did say to him, but he said to me some things I didn't like. And maybe I said some things that he didn't like.

“I can't recall every single word I said.”

When asked what Avery had said to him, Simmonds answered, “I'm not going to rat him out."

Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette said nothing about the alleged slur, addressing only the heated nature of the match-up between the players. “It was a couple of guys battling out there,” he said.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella backed his player. “I didn't hear it. I don't think Sean Avery is lying,” he said. “I'll let the league handle it. I did not hear it, but I'm sure Sean Avery isn't going to lie about it.”

The incident was part of an ugly game that resulted in 77 combined penalty minutes for the Atlantic Division rivals.

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-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Sean Avery of the New York Rangers is hit by Wayne Simmonds  of the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL preseason game at Wells Fargo Center on Monday. Credit: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

More from Tim Leiweke on stalemate with Drew Doughty

Emptying out the digital notebook . . .

I have a few more tidbits from my interview today with Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ biggest fan and the chief executive officer of parent company AEG. I had requested the interview a few days ago and these were Leiweke’s first public comments on the stalled contract negotiations with defenseman Drew Doughty.

I referred to one of Leiweke’s comments in a tweet earlier today but didn’t get the full explanation into my earlier blog report or into the story that will appear in print. Here’s a complete recap, in more than 140 characters.

I asked Leiweke why the Kings don’t just raise their offer and end this dispute if the difference between their proposed $6.8 million average annual salary and Doughty’s demands is $200,000 or $300,000. He repeated that this is an allocation issue, meaning the Kings are willing to spend up to the salary-cap limit but want to leave room to add players at the trade deadline and budget for the future to retain key players. He also said General Manager Dean Lombardi has “the right to budge here,” and that he would support Lombardi’s decision on that.

“But here’s the funny thing that I don’t get in all of this,” Leiweke said. “I look at it and say, boy, there’s a complete miscommunication here. Drew Doughty can step in here tomorrow and from an endorsement standpoint, being a cornerstone and a nucleus of this franchise long term, he can make more money on endorsements than we’re fighting over for whatever he’s asking for and whatever we’ve offered. And the way you protect that is goodwill, being a guy that’s a team player.

“If he burns the bridges with everybody, then he loses that revenue. So what I’m mystified by is, his value to this marketplace is not just his salary, it’s what he’s going to earn being part of a team that has the potential of competing for the Stanley Cup every year now for long term. Instead of fighting over a little bit here and a little bit there, let us save that money to go after the final pieces. He’ll make more on endorsements than he ever would on what we’re fighting over. It makes no sense at all.”

Leiweke repeatedly said the Kings see Doughty as a long-term franchise player and they will not trade him.  Doughty has not signed an offer sheet with another team, probably because those teams are aware the Kings have deep pockets financially.

Kings, Ducks update: Moving day (for some)

Just call it Moving Day around Kings’ HQ.

The Kings were trying to get out of town –- fast -- before local roads and airspace became snarled by President Obama’s afternoon arrival in Los Angeles. They play Tuesday night against Pittsburgh at Kansas City and Wednesday at Colorado.

Several players were moved out, too. Four were sent off to the minors in Manchester, three others reassigned to their respective junior teams, and another released from his tryout agreement.

Kings Coach Terry Murray had another message, for floundering right wing Scott Parse, along the lines of moving. As in, move your feet. Or skates, if you will.

“I’m putting him in a situation with (Jarret) Stoll and (Kyle) Clifford, trying to give him an opportunity, giving him some time,” Murray said Monday. “With the understanding he missed (almost) the whole year last year.

“I’m trying to give him a little more time, a little more compassion, I guess, with what I’m looking at. At the same time, after a couple of games, I need more. I need more work. I need more skating. I need to see him moving his feet, just to show that it is starting to come."

Murray said that Parse has been “reluctant” to grab hold of a position on the third line, and that he would not play in the Kansas City game. The player indicated it was a mental thing more than a physical issue.

“There is something,” Murray said. “I want to talk to him here (today) before he gets away. There’s something going on and I just want to hear what he has to say. Those plays that are happening, that he is not finishing right now are things that he has been able to make with ease in the past.

“He’s a skilled player. He’s got good hands, good vision. He’s always able to make the nice little five-foot, six-foot pass. Right now it’s coming right back down into our zone.”

Staying behind in Los Angeles for treatment will be enforcer Kevin Westgarth and defenseman Jake Muzzin, who did not practice. Muzzin has been out with a stiff neck since last week and Westgarth took a punch to the head in his second-period scrap with Brian McGrattan of the Ducks on Sunday night.

“He (Westgarth) is not going to skate for a couple of days,” Murray said. “We’re going to hold him off the ice and let him settle down for couple of days before getting him going again.”

::

The Ducks had the day off but were in housekeeping mode too. They reduced their roster to 30, sending seven players to their minor-league team in Syracuse: Nick Bonino, Mat Clark, Nicolas Deschamps, Peter Holland, Kyle Palmieri, Dan Sexton and Sean Zimmerman.

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--Lisa Dillman

Former King Wayne Simmonds is target of racist gesture

You see the words, but you don't want to believe them.

Frank Seravalli, who writes about the Flyers for the Philadelphia Daily News, said via Twitter that he saw someone throw a banana at Wayne Simmonds as the former Kings winger was taking a shot during the  shootout in an exhibition game at London, Canada.

Simmonds ignored the distraction and scored; Seravalli said he would check with Simmonds -- one of the NHL's few black players -- when he got to the locker room.

Sad to say, it was true. And another fan who said he was at the game said another banana was launched toward Simmonds before that but landed short of the ice.

Simmonds reacted with class, downplaying the incident. But it's not the first time he has experienced racism in the rink and it would be idealistic to think it will be the last.

Kings update: New off-season approach helps Thomas Hickey

Keeping it simple, unfortunately, isn’t always so simple.

Just ask any young defenseman trying to make an NHL roster or navigating the league for the first time. Thomas Hickey, a first-round draft pick (fourth overall) in 2007, opted for a new approach to prepare for what could be a make-or-break Kings’ training camp.

He stayed home in Calgary and decompressed with family and friends, taking his skate off the all-hockey-all-the-time pedal.

“I was down here all last summer [in 2010]; the strength coach here is very good,” Hickey said after practice in El Segundo on Thursday. “He knows what he is doing. But, for me, I felt I needed to be home and refresh the mind. The work load was the same, but it’s just a different style of doing it.

“I love playing hockey and being at the rink. But to really appreciate it, you’ve got to take time away. Before too long, you’re hungry to get back to the rink and you wish training camp was a week away. I felt that way quite early in the summer.”

Kings after deadline: Power play moves, Voynov and Hickey earn praise

The Kings figured out something that almost anyone watching their power play most of last season could have told them:

When they stand around and become predictable, they’re not going to score.

They had more moving parts Wednesday and capitalized on a man advantage for their only goal in a 2-1 shootout loss in a split-squad game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Staples Center.

Mike Richards flicked the puck toward Dustin Brown in front, and the gritty right wing battled for it while it was at his feet. Defenseman Viatcheslav (Slava) Voynov had come deep into the zone and was able to poke it past goalie Justin Pogge at 5:53 of the second period.

“I think from the power play standpoint we need more of that,” Brown said.

He also said that while it’s tough to maintain movement on the power play it’s worth the effort because it confuses opponents’ penalty killers.

“When you have a moving power play with people at the net at the same time it’s pretty tough to defend. You can get mixed up in your assignments,” he said. “Tonight we had good movement. We weren’t stationary. I think looking back at last year we were too stationary. We had their half-wall guy, we had a low guy and we had a net-front guy. That was it.

“I prefer in front of the net but there were a couple of times I’m on the half-wall and just kind of slide out and give it to a guy and go to the net and that creates movement, which is tough for a [penalty killer].”

Kings make first cuts of training camp

The Kings reduced the number of players in their training camp to 54 Wednesday with a series of moves.

Released from Professional Tryout Agreement were right wing J.D. Watt, defenseman Ray Macias and center C.J. Stretch.

Reassigned to their respective junior teams were left wing Michael Schumacher, center Jordan Weal, goaltenders Christopher Gibson and Michael Morrison, defenseman Pierre Durepos, center Taylor Carnevale and right wing Michael Kantor.

Defenseman Teigan Zahn was released from camp.

The Kings play split-squad games Wednesday against the Phoenix Coyotes, one at Staples Center and the other at Glendale, Ariz., and resume practicing Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

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Family of Kings scout Mark Bavis issues statement on 9/11 settlement

The family of Mark Bavis, one of two Kings scouts killed when United Flight 175 was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, issued a statement Wednesday on its decision to accept a settlement and agree to end its lawsuit against United and the airline's security contractor.

Bavis, 31, was traveling to Los Angeles with fellow scout Ace Bailey to attend the Kings' training camp when the planes were hijacked during the day's terrorist attacks.

Mike Bavis, Mark's twin, had been adamant about pursuing the suit and it was the last remaining 9/11 wrongful death suit. His public letter explains why the family changed course.

"After ten long years, our family has had a change in position regarding the litigation on behalf of our son and brother, Mark. Mark was a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 175 when it crashed into the World Trade Center. This change is the result of a recent ruling by the Honorable Judge Alvin Hellerstein. With the stroke of his pen, Judge Hellerstein very cleverly changed this lawsuit.

No news on Doughty; ailing Simon Gagne to miss exhibition opener

First, the obligatory Drew Doughty non-update update:

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said Tuesday he had not spoken to Don Meehan, who represents the unsigned restricted free agent. Lombardi also said that persistent rumors that he will trade Doughty are false. “There’s no way,” Lombardi said.

Some of those rumors appeared on Twitter on Monday from the account of someone impersonating Canadian Sportsnet personality Nick Kypreos, and Lombardi said he initially thought it was the real Kypreos coming up with those trade scenarios. Lombardi said he was irked until he was told the account didn’t belong to Kypreos.

The only other news Tuesday was that winger Simon Gagne was scratched from Wednesday’s split-squad game against Phoenix at Staples Center because of the flu. Gagne missed practice Tuesday and Coach Terry Murray said there was no reason to rush Gagne back.

Brad Richardson, who had been scheduled to travel to Glendale, Ariz., to play in the other split-squad game, instead stayed in Los Angeles and will play at Staples Center. Scott Parse skated alongside Mike Richards and Dustin Brown on Tuesday, with tryout player Cam Paddock on a line with Kyle Clifford and Jarret Stoll. However, Murray said he will have Parse with Stoll and Clifford on Wednesday and will put Richardson on the left side with Richards and Brown.

Family of Kings scout Mark Bavis settles Sept. 11 suit

The family of Mark Bavis, one of two Kings scouts killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, settled its lawsuit against United Airlines and the company in charge of security at Boston’s Logan Airport, where the Los Angeles-bound flight originated.

Bavis (pictured at right) and fellow scout Ace Bailey were traveling to the Kings' training camp aboard United Flight 175 when highjackers took control of the plane and crashed it into the World Trade Center. The suit was the last wrongful death suit filed in New York related to the attacks. It had been scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 7.

Bavis’ brother, Mike, had recently said the family was determined to see the suit through. However, the family’s lawyer, Donald Migliori, told the Associated Press that Bavis’ mother, Mary, decided to settle after learning there would be a three-week limit for the trial and the family would be facing other legal restrictions.

Huntleigh Security USA, a security contractor for United, had also been named in the suit.

--Helene Elliott

Photo credit: Associated Press

Drew Doughty is skating but not talking

Restricted free-agent defenseman Drew Doughty remained absent from the Kings’ training camp Monday, still unsigned and with no hint of an agreement on the horizon.

Canada’s CTV caught up with him while he was practicing in his hometown with the London Knights of the junior-level Ontario Hockey League. However, Doughty wouldn’t speak on camera and apparently has been advised against talking to the media.

According to CTV he said his impasse with the Kings is not about the money, but wouldn’t say what it is about.

Here’s the brief report.

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Photo: Drew Doughty. Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig / US Presswire

Kings announce likely lineups for first exhibition games

The Kings on Monday announced the expected lineups for their first exhibition games, a pair of split-squad contests Wednesday against the Phoenix Coyotes. One game will be played in Glendale, Ariz., and the other at Staples Center.

Goaltenders Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones are scheduled to play at Staples Center, where Mike Richards is expected to make his first appearance in a Kings uniform. Defensemen Thomas Hickey and Viatcheslav Voynov are also scheduled to play in Los Angeles, giving local fans a chance to evaluate two of the prime candidates to get more playing time while Drew Doughty remains unsigned.

Here are the expected lineups for Wednesday, subject to change:

at Phoenix

Goalies
Jeff Zatkoff
Jonathan Bernier

Skaters
D Matt Greene
C Anze Kopitar
R Justin Williams
C Brad Richardson
L Ethan Moreau
R Kevin Westgarth
C Trevor Lewis
L Dustin Penner
D Alec Martinez
D Willie Mitchell
R Brandon Kozun
L Rich Clune
D Patrick Mullen
C Justin Azevedo
C Tyler Toffoli
L Dwight King
D Andrew Campbell
D David Kolomatis
 
at Los Angeles

Goalies
31 Martin Jones
32 Jonathan Quick

Skaters
D Jack Johnson
D Jake Muzzin
D Rob Scuderi
C Mike Richards
L Simon Gagne
L Kyle Clifford
L Scott Parse
R Dustin Brown
C Jarret Stoll
D Thomas Hickey
D Davis Drewiske
R Trent Hunter
C Andrei Loktionov
L David Meckler
C Marc-Andre Cliche
C Jordan Nolan
D Viatcheslav Voynov
L Ray Kaunisto

-- Helene Elliott 

Kings sign Kevin Westgarth to two-year extension

The Kings have signed enforcer Kevin Westgarth to a two-year contract extension. Westgarth, whose current contract expires after this season, will earn $700,000 in 2012-13 and $750,000 in 2013-14.

That's a raise from the $525,000 the 6-foot-4, 228-pound winger will earn this season.

Westgarth, 27, had no goals, three assists and 105 penalty minutes in 56 games with the Kings last season.

The new contract follows another happy event in his life: Last month, he married Meagan Cowher, daughter of former NFL coach Bill Cowher. She and Westgarth met while they were students at Princeton, where she was an outstanding basketball player.

-- Helene Elliott

Kings begin practices without unsigned Drew Doughty

The Kings took to the ice Saturday for their first training camp scrimmages minus restricted free agent defenseman Drew Doughty, who remains unsigned.

General Manager Dean Lombardi said he had not spoken Saturday with Doughty’s agent, Don Meehan.

On the ice, it was business as usual -- or as close to usual as you can get without a franchise-quality defenseman.

“The plans do not change at all,” Coach Terry Murray said. “We’re going to miss Doughty. I wish he was here to be a part of it. He’s a very important player, a big part of the locker room. He’s a fun guy to be around. He’s a great player for us but the plan does not change for the training camp. We have to get ready for the start of the year. We’ll go through the same plan as we had in the early part of August.”

Murray said he didn’t think he needed to caution players about not letting Doughty’s contract talks become a distraction.

“It’s not my area of concern,” Murray said. “I know I’m the coach of the team and I want Doughty here but that’s the business side of it that everybody is very aware of the way it is. It’s been like that for years.

“Players use the opportunity, I guess, to get as much money as they possibly can. I don’t begrudge anybody that. I’m not going to be upset at Doughty when it finally gets settled. I’m going to be very happy that he’s here and welcome him to the team and let’s get going.”

No one quite knows when that will be, of course. The Kings’ last offer was an average of $6.8 million for about seven years, but Doughty is believed to be seeking $7 million or slightly more.