NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10 - NHL.comkings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/08-18-10.pdf · 3. Happy bday...

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LA KINGS NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10

Transcript of NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10 - NHL.comkings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/08-18-10.pdf · 3. Happy bday...

Page 1: NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10 - NHL.comkings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/08-18-10.pdf · 3. Happy bday former #LAKings center & current Kings pro development guru Nelson Emerson, who was

LA KINGS

NEWS CLIPS

8/17-18/10

Page 2: NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10 - NHL.comkings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/08-18-10.pdf · 3. Happy bday former #LAKings center & current Kings pro development guru Nelson Emerson, who was

FROM LAKINGS.COM

RICH HAMMOND ARTICLES ON LAKINGS.COM AND LA KINGS INSIDER

A travesty

Posted by Rich Hammond on 17 August 2010, 3:14 pm

I’m really not sure how this happened, because I thought the issue had been settled, but it seems as though Five Guys has been named “best burger” by Zagat’s as part of its annual survey. In-N-Out finished second. I’m thinking of getting the results voided and calling Richard Bloch. Let’s hope this situation gets resolved next year, because while it’s perfectly reasonable to debate Tommy’s vs. In-N-Out, and Five Guys does have tremendous fries, this is not a just result. Perhaps it’s time for a Kings player “burger survey” in training camp?

Also, just so this sort of resembles a hockey post, NHL.com did a season preview of the Kings. It’s a little tough to start thinking about season previews, given that there’s still a very good chance that the Kings’ roster will have a different look in mid-September, but it’s almost that time…

Kings ready to become Cup contenders

108 Comments

Decision time?

Posted by Rich Hammond on 17 August 2010, 4:53 am

In their wide search for defensemen, the Kings have looked at 33-year-old Willie Mitchell, whose season (with Vancouver) was ended in January because of a concussion. Mitchell worked out for the Kings last week and, according to Sportsnet, is being pursued by a handful of other teams and might make his decision “by the end of the week.” Mitchell, a left shot, had four goals and eight assists in 48 games last season and has totaled 586 NHL games since his debut in 1999-2000.

118 Comments

Rookie/training camps

Posted by Rich Hammond on 16 August 2010, 6:52 pm

The Kings will hold their annual rookie camp, a precursor to regular training camp, from Sept. 10-13 at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Practice times (and rosters) are still to be determined, but already scheduled are two rookie games against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena. The Kings and Coyotes will play on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m.

Regular training camp will begin Saturday, Sept. 18, in El Segundo.

Page 3: NEWS CLIPS 8/17-18/10 - NHL.comkings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/08-18-10.pdf · 3. Happy bday former #LAKings center & current Kings pro development guru Nelson Emerson, who was

State of the Kings Featured at Hockey Fest

LOS ANGELES – A panel featuring executive members of the Los Angeles Kings Hockey Operations Department will lead a “State of the Kings” speaker series to help kick-off next month’s LA Kings Hockey Fest ’10, which takes place on Saturday, September 11, at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, Kings Vice President/Assistant General Manager Ron Hextall, Kings Vice President/Hockey Operations and Legal Affairs Jeff Solomon and Kings Head Coach Terry Murray will take part in the interactive “State of the Kings” as they take questions from fans from 9 – 10:30 a.m. “State of the Kings” is one of three speakers series set to take place at this year’s Hockey Fest event. “The Life of a King” speaker series will feature Bernie Nicholls, Luc Robitaille and Marty McSorley as they talk about their long and successful careers. Jim Fox will host (Noon – 1 p.m.). The third speaker series is entitled “Kids Press Conference” and will feature several current Kings players and children of all ages can ask their questions directly to the participating players. Heidi Androl will host (2:30 – 3:30 p.m.). The one-day Hockey Fest event, which takes places from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., will culminate with a special “Pep Rally” featuring the Kings players and all Hockey Fest participants at 5 p.m. on the (covered) NHL ice rink. Hockey Fest will be hosted by Kings/FS West television broadcasters/reporter Bob Miller, Fox and Androl. Tickets cost $15 for Kings Season Ticket members and for Partial Plan and Group Leaders by calling 1-888-KINGS-LA (1-888-54647-52). Tickets for the general public cost $20 and be can purchased by visiting LAKings.com/hockeyfest2010. Only 2,000 tickets total are available for purchase. The second annual event will feature special Q&A and autograph sessions with Kings players, coaches, alumni and hockey dignitaries, in addition to Kings merchandise – including merchandise discounted at 40 percent -- and hockey memorabilia being available. Also, with this year’s Hockey Fest being held on September 11, the Kings Care Foundation will be hosting special fundraising activities at the event to benefit local organizations affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. More details to come. The Kings will continue to announce additional LA Kings Hockey Fest ’10 details throughout the summer as they become finalized.

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Kings to Host Rookie Camp

The Los Angeles Kings next month will host the 2010 Kings Rookie Camp before traveling to Arizona for their annual two-game Rookie Tournament against the Phoenix Coyotes. The 2010 Kings Rookie Camp will take place at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo from September 10-13. The 2010 Rookie Tournament will take place at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. The first Kings-Coyotes game will take place on Tuesday, September 14, at 6 p.m. while the second game will take place on Wednesday, September 15, at 2 p.m. The Camp/Tournament roster and practice times (for Rookie Camp) will be announced in early September. Ticket information for the games in Glendale will also be announced next month. The Kings Rookie Camp practice on Saturday, September 11, in El Segundo will also take place in conjunction with LA Kings Hockey Fest ’10. This is the third consecutive year that the Kings and Coyotes have met in this Tournament. The Kings hosted last year’s Tournament while Phoenix hosted the 2008 edition. The Kings’ 2010 Training Camp begins on the ice on Saturday, September 18, in El Segundo. Additional details will be released when they become available.

KINGS IN THE NEWS: Bob Miller will be the guest on ESPN Radio 710 on Saturday morning. Hear Bob on The LA Sports Experience with Mark Williard at 9:25 a.m.

LAKingsHockey

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4. FYI #LAKings fans and those following @ryansmyth94, the account is completely 100 percent fake and Smyth has no involvement in it at all. 12:39 PM Aug 16th via HootSuite

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FROM DAILY NEWS

Newscaster, former L.A. Kings analyst Dan Avey dies Daily News Wire Services Posted: 08/16/2010 02:59:54 PM PDT Updated: 08/16/2010 03:10:42 PM PDT Dan Avey, left, and Bob Miller, right, were teamed in the Kings broadcast booth from 1973-76. Avey passed away on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at the age of 69. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Kings) Funeral arrangements were pending today for longtime Los Angeles radio newscaster Dan Avey, who was also an analyst on Los Angeles Kings radio and television broadcasts.

Avery died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from complications of prostate cancer, his family announced. He was 69.

Avey received more than 30 major journalism awards, including 15 Golden Mikes, one for anchoring at KFWB-AM during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which he considered a career highlight.

"Things were breaking so fast on that day there was no chance to really write scripts for it," Avey told City News Service in a 2006 interview. "At KFWB, we had thrown out the commercials and basically I ad-libbed the story."

Avey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his 65th birthday.

Born April 26, 1941, Avery grew up in Whittier, where he graduated from California High School, then went to college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., where he began his radio career at KXLY during his freshman year.

Even though he had never seen a hockey game, his first job in Los Angeles was as the analyst on Kings broadcasts, a position he held from 1969- 75.

When team and Forum owner Jack Kent Cooke went to New York City for a year in the early 1970s to try to rescue the TelePrompTer Corp., he put Avey in charge of the Forum.

"He was my partner when I first got to Los Angeles and he was a lifesaver in the booth," said Bob Miller, the Kings' play-by-play announcer since 1973.

"We remained good friends over the years, and I was shocked to hear of his passing."

Avey joined KFWB as a newscaster in 1976, remaining with the station until 1986, when he moved to KFI-AM as a newscaster on a morning program featuring Gary Owens and Geoff Edwards.

Avey began a second stint at KFWB in 1989, which lasted until 2001, when he was hired at KABC-AM, initially to work on a morning show with Ken Minyard. Avey later delivered newscasts from noon to 6 p.m. on the station.

Avey also taught a sports public relations course at USC from 1981-95.

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Allan Muir>NHL POWER RANKINGS

Though arbitator Richard Bloch made Ilya Kovalchuk's ultimate destination a bit hazy as of this writing, it is possible to get a decent handle on where all 30 teams stand as summer glides toward September training camps.

A reminder: These rankings are based on many factors, and not one is scientific. They're heavily influenced by taking into account expectations versus achievement and my uncannily intuitive gut calls on how each team stacks up against the rest of the Original 30. Please note that I, unlike some referees, do not have it in for your team and no homer glasses of any color were worn during the establishment of these rankings.

Want to send me a comment about the rankings or maybe a cool video clip that cries out to be shared? Scroll to the bottom of this page for my Mailbag. I read 'em all and if you're halfway civil -- or at least clever in your skewering of my decisions -- I'll try to get back to you.

Biggest climb: Flyers (25 to 4)

Biggest fall: Flames (14 to 23)

NHL Power Rankings

1

Last Week: 1

Washington Capitals (54-15-13) Possibly the most important offseason in club history has been little more than re-signing several young components (Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann and Jeff Schultz, etc.) and sweeping out the trash on the blueline to create real opportunities for John Carlson and Karl Alzner. But honestly, what else did George McPhee need to do? The Caps are loaded up and down the roster. Rather than make some regrettably overpriced free agent acquisition, he can fine tune the engine down the stretch. All things considered, it's the right approach.

2

Last Week: 6

Chicago Blackhawks (52-22-8) Tough not to rank the defending Cup champs at No. 1 until you consider that just 11 members of last season's squad will be on hand for the banner-raising ceremony. GM Stan Bowman saved the ship, but threw everything that wasn't nailed down overboard, including starting goalie Antti Niemi. To his credit, Bowman kept the defense intact, and that should make life easier for new stopper Marty

Turco. But with so many forwards wearing Hello, My Name Is tags, it could take time for the offense to gel.

3

Last Week: 10

Pittsburgh Penguins (47-28-7) No doubt some among the Pens' faithful are still stinging from the loss of Sergei Gonchar, but the savvy signings of free agents Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek give the team what should be a more effective top-four. GM Ray Shero is still shopping for a top-six winger (in other news, dogs make great pets!), but the Pens will hardly struggle to score without one. This looks like a very dangerous team.

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4

Last Week: 25

Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6) The Stanley Cup finalists will continue to face questions about goaltending, but from this vantage point they look like a more formidable unit thanks to a deeper blueline (Andrei Meszaros and Sean

O'Donnell make for a dangerous third pair) and a forwards corps that includes 15 legitimate NHL skaters. If Ville Leino keeps up his playoff pace and Nikolai Zherdev delivers on his talent, the Flyers are a strong bet to win the East.

5

Last Week: 5

San Jose Sharks (51-20-11) Despite all the positive spin suggesting that this year's playoff exit was a far cry from a choke job, the fact is the Sharks failed to advance out of the conference again. Someone had to pick up the tab for yet another disappointment, and Evgeni Nabokov got stuck with the check. For now, Antero Niittymaki and Thomas Greiss man the pipes. Despite strength advantages elsewhere on the roster, is anyone in San Jose really excited by that prospect?

6

Last Week: 4

Vancouver Canucks (49-28-5) GM Mike Gillis recognized that his blueline simply wasn't salty enough to man up against the best in the West. His bold response might have altered the balance of power in the conference. Signing free agent Dan Hamhuis and swapping for Keith Ballard should pay big dividends next spring. Both are reliable minute-munchers who'll help mitigate the loss of perpetually injured Sami Salo. They could still use some additional scoring punch, but the Canucks are in the mix.

7

Last Week: 12

Los Angeles Kings (46-27-9) An NHL exec described them to me earlier this summer as a bona fide contender. I politely disagreed. No doubt the pieces are in place for a run long-term, but the inability to address their most pressing need (no, Alexei Ponikarovsky is not a reliable top-six forward) or bring in a veteran blueliner suggests that, while they are trending up, the Kings are not quite in the same class as the big boys just yet.

8

Last Week: 9

New Jersey Devils (48-27-7) Tough to get an accurate read on this team until the Kovalchuk situation is settled, but it's been an eventful offseason even without taking that cap-flaunting contract into consideration. The Devils repatriated Jason Arnott from the Preds to solidify the middle, brought in Anton Volchenkov and Henrik Tallinder to replace the departed Paul Martin, and signed to maybe, possibly, hopefully, reduce some of the wear and tear on the aging Martin Brodeur. Kovy or not, it won't be smart to write off the Devils.

9

Last Week: 2

Detroit Red Wings (44-24-14) Returning home to Motown might help Mike Modano find the desire that's been missing from his game the past couple seasons, but it's just as likely that Detroit's biggest off-season acquisition will quickly recognize how far he's beyond his best-by date. He won't be the only one, either. The Wings could dress as many as nine players who are least 35, and that seems like a roster that dips too far into the "early bird special" crowd. Mike Babcock will keep them competitive, but the graying of the Wings might finally catch up to them.

10

Last Week: 3

Phoenix Coyotes (50-25-7) Has Cinderella lost the other glass slipper? One year after emerging as the surprise story of the NHL, the Yotes appear positioned to take a big step back. While they added veteran scorer Ray Whitney to bolster the attack, they lost two of last season's most critical components: Zbynek Michalek and Matt

Lombardi. The plan is to give the kids a chance to step up (Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the blueline, Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker up front). Long term, it's the right approach. Short term, Phoenix will be hard pressed to build on last season's success.

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11

Last Week: 16

Boston Bruins (39-30-13) The league's lowest scoring team last season added instant impact in the hulking form of winger Nathan Horton, and long-term promise in second-overall pick Tyler Seguin, but beyond those fresh faces this was a summer of maintenance for Peter Chiarelli. Boston's GM spent his time dancing around the cap while re-signing Dennis Seidenberg, Mark Stuart, Blake Wheeler, Johnny

Boychuk, Dan Paille and Shawn Thornton. He still has some pruning to do -- Marco Sturm won't be on LTIR forever -- but this team should compete for the division title.

12

Last Week: 8

Buffalo Sabres (45-27-10) Is Ryan Miller still under contract? Then the Sabres are fine. Still, is there anything other than the presence of the world's best goalie to get the fans' blood pumping this season? Replacing Henrik

Tallinder and Toni Lydman on the blueline with Shaone Morrisonn and Jordan Leopold rates a massive meh, and while Rob Niedermayer will bring an honest effort, he's a diminishing resource. If you liked that first-round exit last season, get ready for more of the same.

13

Last Week: 7

Nashville Predators (47-29-6) They lost Jason Arnott and Dan Hamhuis and added Matt Lombardi, Ryan Parent and Sergei

Kostitsyn. A typical offseason for a team that is stuck in a rut. You know they'll show up with a hard hat and their lunch packed, but they haven't done anything that suggests they'll be more than a group of hard-working ham-and-eggers. At some point they'll start delivering something more, right? Right?

14

Last Week: 18

Colorado Avalanche (43-30-9) It was a stay-the-course summer for last season's most surprising club, with defensive forward Daniel

Winnik the only notable addition or subtraction. A solid strategy over the long haul, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the young nucleus -- or standout goaltender Craig Anderson -- stumbles while taking that next step forward. The return of David Jones should bolster an offense that only needs consistency to go along with its impressive potential.

15

Last Week: 23

Carolina Hurricanes (35-37-10) A solid second half proved the Canes weren't as brutal as they looked in October and November, but this is still a team deep in transition. Gone are vets Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney, meaning larger roles must be earned by Brandon Sutter, Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman. Joe Corvo and Anton Babchuk were brought back to bring some zip to a defense that was among the league's worst. If Cam Ward can avoid a recurrence of his back woes, the 'Canes could challenge for a playoff spot.

16

Last Week: 24

Atlanta Thrashers (35-34-13) Oh, to be a program vendor in Atlanta. Those guys will be able to retire on the proceeds as fans try to put faces to the names of a new GM (Rick Dudley), coach (highly-regarded Boston assistant Craig

Ramsay), and four former members of the Stanley Cup champions who now reside in Blueland. None of those ex-Hawks are named Kane or Toews, so we're not talking about an overnight reversal of fortunes, but the new-look Thrashers should be a considerably tougher out than in the past.

17

Last Week: 17

St. Louis Blues (40-32-10) There's a lot of frustration bubbling up in Blues fandom, but that's to be expected when a team preaches development from within...and actually sticks to the plan. Now that the old folks (Paul

Kariya, Keith Tkachuk) have moved on, this season will focus on the continued development of high-value prospects like Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo on the back end and David Perron and T.J. Oshie up front. Whether this team can contend for the playoffs, though, will come down to the play of Jaroslav Halak. If he looks anything like the guy who Rick rolled the Caps and Pens, the kids will be alright.

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18

Last Week: 11

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10) They tabbed Carey Price as their goalie of the future, shipping Halak to the Blues for promising forward Lars Eller, but it's been an otherwise dreary summer in Montreal. Alex Auld is the new backup (yawn), Alexander Avtsin is the hot new prospect, and Andrei Markov became a Canadian citizen. Any other town and this team would be relegated to page eight of the sports section.

19

Last Week: 15

Anaheim Ducks (39-32-11) Teemu and Saku are back, the captain is gone, and Bobby Ryan still doesn't have a deal. Fair to say this summer has done little to raise expectations after the Ducks missed the playoffs last spring. Assuming Ryan eventually signs, Anaheim won't have trouble scoring, but that defense looks awfully soft. It'll be interesting to see if top pick Cam Fowler makes the club out of camp. He already has the NHL puck skills that would help replace some of what brought to the equation, but a return to Windsor seems like a more sensible management of his development.

20

Last Week: 29

Tampa Bay Lightning (34-36-12) They could be the must-watch team of 2010-11. The new attitude in Tampa started with owner Jeff

Vinik, who gave the team instant credibility when he lured Steve Yzerman from the Red Wings. The new GM quickly re-signed Martin St. Louis, traded for scoring (Simon Gagne), blueline (Brett

Clark, Pavel Kubina) and goaltending (Dan Ellis) depth, and created long-term cap space by dealing Andrei Meszaros and Matt Walker. Can't wait to see what he does after lunch or what this rejuvenated lineup can do under the guidance of new coach Guy Boucher.

21

Last Week: 13

Ottawa Senators (44-32-6) They made the most surprising splash of the summer when they signed Sergei Gonchar moments after the start of free agency, and he'll serve as the ideal mentor for outstanding young defender Erik

Karlson. But while that duo should help keep the puck moving, who's going to put the puck in the net? Roman Wick and Bobby Butler will get first crack at addressing that question, but don't expect either to be a real answer.

22

Last Week: 19

New York Rangers (38-33-11) If nothing else, the long-suffering Blueshirt faithful have to be thrilled that Glen Sather didn't spend his summer handing out goofy, unjustifiable contracts to aging, over-rated...oh, wait. Alright, the inexplicable Derek Boogaard deal aside, Slats actually won some points for nabbing intriguing free agent Mats Zuccarello-Aasen (top scorer in Sweden last season) and the low-risk contract he gave to Alex Frolov. Neither is a sure thing, but both bring hope of improvement. Adding Martin Biron to lighten Henrik Lundqvist's load was another solid move.

23

Last Week: 14

Calgary Flames (40-32-10) Look, I won't for one minute suggest that I know more about this game than Darryl Sutter, so I have to concede that his decision to bring back Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay could turn out to be a stroke of pure hockey genius. But we all know it won't be, right? I mean, high marks for hiring Jay

Feaster, but those deals paint a picture of a man who has simply run out of things to throw at the wall in the hope that something sticks. There's still enough talent that you can't write the Flames off, but this doesn't look like a club worth taking seriously.

24

Last Week: 28

Florida Panthers (32-37-13) Lost in all the LeBron-Bosh-Wade hype that dominates the Miami sports scene is the fact that new GM Dale Tallon -- you know, the guy who built the 2010 champion Blackhawks? -- scrapped together a pretty decent first summer in South Florida. Tallon dazzled at the draft, coming away with a trio of promising first-rounders, moved malcontent Nathan Horton, and added a couple of former first-rounders in Steve Bernier and Michael Grabner to his forward corps. The Panthers remain a work in progress, but they've got their feet moving and in the right direction for a change.

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25

Last Week: 20

New York Islanders (34-37-11) Here are the offseason acquisitions of a non-playoff team: Milan Jurcina, Pierre-Alexandre

Parenteau, Zenon Konopka and Mark Eaton. How'd you like to get up in the morning and face the prospect of selling season tickets with those names as your enticement? The Isles are drafting well and eventually the young talent will force its way to the top (Kirill Petrov could make the jump this year, as could 2010 first-rounder Nino Niederreiter). Until then, this team will battle the Leafs for the bottom rung on the Eastern ladder.

26

Last Week: 21

Toronto Maple Leafs (30-38-14) Youth didn't serve them particularly well last season, but that won't deter a plan to get even younger this year. Nazem Kadri and recent signee Jerry D'Amigo have a chance to contribute, but the pressure will be on newly-acquired wingers Kris Versteeg and Colby Armstrong to make a top-six impact. The forward group could acquire another significant piece if Tomas Kaberle is traded, as expected.

27

Last Week: 22

Dallas Stars (37-31-14) Parting ways with Modano and Turco was a bold step into the future, but that first stride might take the Stars right over the cliff. New starter Kari Lehtonen brings more questions than answers in goal and with no improvement to an overmatched blueline, he and new backup Andrew Raycroft could be ready for summer by Thanksgiving. Even in a best-case scenario (youngster Scott Glennie makes the jump and James Neal, Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn continue to develop into premier scoring forwards), the Stars look like a long shot to make the playoffs.

28

Last Week: 26

Minnesota Wild (38-36-8) They are the very picture of a team going nowhere. GM Chuck Fletcher was busy, signing franchise center Mikko Koivu to a possible retirement deal and adding useful pivot Matt Cullen through free agency. Still, this is a club that has too little pop up front and too little depth on the back end to be taken seriously. This looks like another long, frustrating year in the State of Hockey.

29

Last Week: 27

Columbus Blue Jackets (32-35-15) When the big offseason acquisition is Oilers castoff Ethan Moreau, it's a good bet that Nationwide Arena will have plenty of available dates come early April. Still, there's reason for hope in Columbus, starting with a revamped coaching staff that includes Scott Arniel, Bob Boughner and Bard Berry. It's a youth-oriented group that seems well suited to get the most out of the team's young talent. And if Steve Mason rebounds, and Nikita Filatov grows up, the Jackets could surprise.

30

Last Week: 30

Edmonton Oilers (27-47-8) A trio of high-end prospects -- Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Jordan Eberle -- will make the Oil worth watching this season and for many more to come, but Edmonton has the look of the league's punching bag yet again. The coaching carousel continued (here's the key to the executive offices, Pat Quinn), Nikolai Khabibulin's drunk driving issues have yet to be resolved, and the young nucleus (particularly Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano) must bounce back from disappointing seasons.

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FROM MYFOXLA.COM

Hockey Announcer Dan Avey Dies at 69

Avey died of prostate cancer complications

Updated: Monday, 16 Aug 2010, 12:58 PM PDT Published : Monday, 16 Aug 2010, 12:58 PM PDT

Los Angeles - Funeral arrangements were pending today for longtime Los Angeles radio newscaster Dan Avey, who was also an analyst on Los Angeles Kings radio and television broadcasts. Avery died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from complications of prostate cancer, his family announced. He was 69. Avey received more than 30 major journalism awards, including 15 Golden Mikes, one for anchoring at KFWB-AM during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which he considered a career highlight. "Things were breaking so fast on that day there was no chance to really write scripts for it," Avey told City News Service in a 2006 interview. "At KFWB we had thrown out the commercials and basically I ad-libbed the story." Avey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his 65th birthday. Born April 26, 1941, Avery grew up in Whittier, where he graduated from California High School, then went to college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., where he began his radio career at KXLY during his freshman year. Even though he had never seen a hockey game, his first job in Los Angeles was as the analyst on Kings broadcasts, a position he held from 1969-75. When team and Forum owner Jack Kent Cooke went to New York City for a year in the early 1970s to try to rescue the TelePrompTer Corp., he put Avey in charge of the Forum. "He was my partner when I first got to Los Angeles and he was a lifesaver in the booth," said Bob Miller, the Kings' play-by-play announcer since 1973. "We remained good friends over the years, and I was shocked to hear of his passing." Avey joined KFWB as a newscaster in 1976, remaining with the station until 1986, when he moved to KFI-AM as a newscaster on a morning program featuring Gary Owens and Geoff Edwards. Avey began a second stint at KFWB in 1989, which lasted until 2001, when he was hired at KABC-AM, initially to work on a morning show with Ken Minyard. Avey later delivered newscasts from noon to 6 p.m. on the station. Avey also taught a sports public relations course at USC from 1981-95.

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FROM SUS MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS