Tagged: Los Angeles Kings

04Jan

Jeff Zatkoff(36) Manchester Monarchs

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One thing Los Angeles Kings have in their prospect system is great young netminders galore. Originally a 3rd round pick in 2006, Jeff Zatkoff(36) has earned the AHL Goalie Of The Month for December.

He was 5-2 with a 1.76 GAA and .946 SV% for Manchester Monarchs. In 17 appearances this season he has a 10-4 record.

This is the last season of his entry level deal, so given the fact that the Kings have a glut of goalies, it will be interesting to see what becomes of the 24-year old pro. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

 

 

15Nov

Andrei Loktionov(48) and Slava Voynov(76) Los Angeles Kings

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Did you hear the one about the two Russians?

Within a day of each other both Manchester Monarchs‘ center Andrei Loktionov(48) and defenseman Slava Voynov(76) were called out west by the parent club, Los Angeles Kings.

Voynov is headed back to the show after an impressive first 5 games (2 goals, 1 assist) last month.

Loktionov was first reassigned to Ontario Reign of the ECHL but that was purely a stopover before the team confirmed they would need him. He’s up for his first time this season. Last year he played in 19 games posting 4 goals and 3 assists.

05Nov

Danny Taylor(1) Springfield Falcons

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danny-taylor-1

By the numbers, 6th year pro goaltender Danny Taylor(1) is making an argument for Springfield Falcons to sign him to an American Hockey League standard player contract.

He is currently signed to a pto.

His 2.31 GAA puts him at #17 on the AHL goalie leaders and his .931 SV% ranks 6th.

As of October 7 he signed a contract with Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL but did not appear in a regular season game.

We’ve seen it: this former Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2004 draft (#221 overall) may have found his zone.

He has one game of NHL experience.

30Oct

Sean Avery(16) Connecticut Whale

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13 year veteran Sean Avery(16) was waived by New York Rangers and reassigned to their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale, where he suited up for just his second game on Saturday night vs. Worcester Sharks. It’s his second stint with the Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack. He played there briefly in 2008 under the assumption the Rangers would sign him after Dallas parted ways.

He is the final year of his 4-year contract that is split between the two teams at $4. million per season.

In his first game he scored the empty-netter insurance goal and last night he got the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout to give his team the 3-2 victory. All well and good and although it might be unlikely that he’ll get called up, he could potentially sign on with another team that has some salary cap room to play the agitator role that he’s one of the league’s best in the business at providing.

22Oct

Manny Legace(30) Springfield Falcons

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18-year veteran goaltender started the 2011/2012 season on a training camp tryout invite from Vancouver Canucks. They released him in mid-September and from there he signed a pto with San Antonio Rampage, which lasted through one game of the AHL season.

His playing career has come full circle as he signed another pto. This time with the team he started his pro career with, Springfield Falcons. On Friday night, he appeared in his first game with the team since 1997.

Just how long this renewed relationship will last is tough to say but I would expect it to be a short return visit. In the 3-0 loss vs. WBS Penguins he looked to be in the zone and shaky sometimes on the same play.

At 38 years old and having backstopped 365 NHL games, won a Stanley Cup with Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and played in 6 different leagues (4 North American, 2 oversesas) it may be time for him to hang up the goalie skates.

17Oct

Slava Voynov(76) Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles Kings‘ newly minted $6 million dollar defenseman Drew Doughty goes down with an upper body injury and 2008 2nd round draft pick (#32 overall), the now named-shortened Russian defenseman Slava Voynov(76) finally gets the call for his first NHL action.

He’s played 200+ games in the AHL with their affiliate Manchester Monarchs amassing over 100 points (33 goals, 72 assists) over three seasons without a call up. Now that’s grooming.

After an outstanding training camp, he was pegged to make the opening night roster…and then Doughty signed. He’s got offensive skills and is accountable in his own zone. I feel like he put on a bit more bulk in the offseason, because that was the main knock on him, intensity. He looks ready to bring it.

10/27: Voynov scores his 1st two NHL goals (including the game-winner) and added an assist to boot.

16Oct

Andrei Loktionov(48) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 2008 5th round draft pick (#123 overall) Russian-born center Andrei Loktionov(48) is definitely an NHL caliber player but due to a shoulder injury in his rookie season has been knocked off track a bit.

He made the team out of training camp last season but had trouble staying in the lineup and was assigned to their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs for a couple of stretches, where he put up roughly a point per game.

In the 2011/2012 season, he starts the season with the Monarchs but is out of the gate quickly with 1 goal and 4 assists in 5 games played. What he lacks in size (5’10” 180 lbs.) he makes up for in deft skating and stick handling skills on the ice.  In 19 NHL games he has 3 goals, 4 assists.

He won the Memorial Cup and OHL title in 2009 with Windsor Spitfires.

10Oct

Marc-Andre Cliche(22) Manchester Monarchs

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Manchester Monarchs‘ team captain, center Marc-Andre Cliche(22) makes an argument for an early season call-up to Los Angeles with a hat-trick in the AHL season opener.  Going into his 5th year pro, he’s only managed one NHL game with no points registered.

Originally New York Rangers‘ 2005 2nd round pick (#56 overall), he has played in the Kings‘ system since 2007 and been a character guy for Manchester each season. The biggest knock on him would be size. He’s listed at 6’0″ 203 lbs. but that’s as they say being generous.