I Hate Myself for Even Bringing It Up
Battle of California — Dean Lombardi said on Sunday at the GM's breakfast (fan-fucking-tastic coverage of the event, Rich) that he would still like to get a veteran defenseman to help out on the penalty kill.  As it stands now, the Kings have 4 guys that can play the penalty kill (Matt Greene, Sean O'Donnell, Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty) but I think they still want one other guy that can take some pressure off Johnson and Doughty, much like Gauthier did last year.  The Kings need someone primarily for special teams, with only a few minutes ...

Burke, Heatley, and the Power of Perception
Battle of California — ... , Alex Frolov and maybe Matt Greene.  They're all important parts of the team and in most cases would be untouchable because of either contract reasons or because they're awesome.  The only two guys that are really available are Alex Frolov and Jack Johnson.  The problem with Frolov is that he's the only left wing on the entire team.  Trading him for Dany Heatley is an upgrade, sure, but the Kings are still left with the same problem they had before they traded for Dany Heatley.  Johnson could probably be had, but is he a ...

Kings Sign Rob Scuderi, Goal Scoring Issue Solved
Battle of California — ... (assuming her majesty is OK moving to the right side) or team up with Matt Greene to form an ultimate defensive stopper unit.  The Kings were 11th in defense last year, but that doesn't mean they can't move up.  I see our defense looking like so next year: ...

Smyth headed to the Kings
From The Rink — ... either. Moving out Preissing is a big blessing for L.A., as he was potentially going to be bought out and only used in a depth role. (I'm not sure why the Avs saw value in him.) Quincey, however, should be a useful addition, even if he tops out as a potential No. 4. The Kings could be a much improved team even with the subtractions on the blueline, as Rob Scuderi joins an underrated top six that includes Sean O'Donnell, Jack Johnson (if signed), Drew Doughty, Matt Greene and Peter Harrold. L.A. could also potentially add another ...

Season Review: Kyle Quincey
Battle of California — ... Most Frequent Linemate: Matt Greene (even-strength), Jarrett Stoll (pp) Best Moment: Last Season: Well, that worked out pretty well.  The Kings get Kyle Quincey for free, use him to stabilize their 2nd power play unit for a year, then trade him and some scraps for the left winger we've needed for while.*  Kyle Quincey was found money.  He ...

Season Review: Matt Greene
Battle of California — ... 2008 - Matt Greene 82 2 12 14 1 111 0 0 0 0 76 2.6 Penalty Minute Breakdown: 33 minor penalties, ...

Season Review: Raitis Ivanans
Battle of California — ... Raitis Ivanans led the team in minor penalties.  He played 6:22 minutes a game.  That's unconscionable.  He had 35 minor penalties.  The runner-up?  Matt Greene, with 33, then ...

Anyone Else?
Battle of California — ... , Jack Melon Farmer Johnson, Sean O'Donnell, Rob Scuderi, and Matt Greene.  That's 2 guys that can play the power play and 5 that can roll on the penalty kill.  The Kings have a few options for the 6th spot, among them ...

Lets Make a Deal: Sabres' Possible Trading Partners
Die By The Blade — ... Los Angeles has a lot of young players that could make an impact on any team.  They would need to trade for a veteran presence in the lineup and Lydman would probably be the first player offered.  Frolov would be a good player and would come at the cheap, cap hit of $2,900,000.  Also another option for grit and toughness would be Matt Greene, defenseman signed until 2013-14 with a cap hit of $2,950,000.   ...

Season Review: Jack Johnson
Battle of California — ... it was kind of cool when Maverick told Slider, "You stink," I thought Johnson was pretty cool during the 07-08 season, when he was the only defenseman on the team who was really committed to playing defense.  What happened to that Jack Johnson?  Last season, Johnson prepared to be THE GUY on defense, but then he got injured; when he came back, he came back to a team that didn't really need him.  He was supplanted as THE GUY by Drew Doughty, Sean O'Donnell and Matt Greene were the defensive defensemen, and Kyle Quincey was the ...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Battle of California — ... sharing camp with Kopitar and can hopefully learn a little from the talented center.  Jack Johnson and Rob Scuderi are with one another, perhaps signalling that they might form a defensive pairing; or, alternatively, they might be paired with 3 young defensemen who have the best shot at making the team to see if those young men are ready to make the team. Peter Harrold is listed as a center.  What? Group B Notable Names: Jon Bernier, Jeff Zatkoff, Matt Greene, Davis Drewiskie, Oscar Moller, Jarret Stoll, ...

Kings vs. Coyotes Preseason Doubleheader Split Squad Preview
Five For Howling — ... GOALTENDERS Erik Ersberg Jeff Zatkoff DEFENSEMEN Davis Drewiskie Matt Greene Andrew Campbell Viatcheslov Voynov Drew Bagnall Alec Martinez FORWARDS Alexander Frolov Michael Handzus Wayne Simmonds Brad Richardson Gabe Gauthier Trevor Lewis Dwight King Justin Azevedo David Meckler Raitis Ivanans Marc-Andre Cliche John Zeiler ...

Kings Pre-Season Gameday: Feel the Excitement!
Battle of California — ... interesting thing to me is that this is the 2nd time Marc-Andre Cliche has centered the 4th line with Ivanans, giving me misguided hope that he has a shot at making the team.  Which led to this thought: if Marc-Andre Cliche and Marc-Edouard Vlasic go into the corner to fight for the puck, how do they decide who gets it?  I like to think they'll joust for it, with Cliche and Vlasic riding Ivanans and Shelley as their respective noble steeds. On defense, Matt Greene and Rob Scuderi get a break, while Quick will probably play ...

Training Camp Battles: 6th Defenseman
Battle of California — ... and Rob Scuderi look like they will be a pairing, which should be good because Scuderi is positionally sound and should be able to cover up Johnson's mistakes.  That leaves Matt Greene without a partner.  Two men are fighting it out, and the winner will likely decide both the power play and penalty kill units.  ...

O'Donnell Suspended 5 Games for Being Awesome
Battle of California — ... , Hickey, and Matt Greene will split shifts by Doughty's side until O'Donnell returns.  This actually isn't really that bad; O'Donnell is old enough that playing in preseason can only hurt him, not help him, so him getting a chance to just skate and concentrate on preparing for the season will give him some rest before the grind of the season. ...

Kings Gameday- Ballistic: Sleek vs. Kelly
Battle of California — ... is my high school girlfriend. Wayne Simmonds is the meat train. Raitis Ivanans eats shoes. Brad Richardson is probably of Norwegian descent and is thus cool in my book. Trevor Lewis is a big mother fucker and will hopefully be a badass shutdown player in the future. Drew Doughty once made a mistake; he said he wasn't amazing when he was 7. Sean O'Donnell is an angry old goat who once kicked an ogre's ass. Matt Greene is a future angry old goat. Rob Scuderi is an ...

Coyotes Win Season Opener, Down Kings 6-3
Five For Howling — ... on a 2 on 1, but the puck went off of the stick of Matt Greene, who was sprawled on the ice trying to block it, and into the net. ...

Kings Gameday: The Sky is Falling
Battle of California — ... lose 10-0.  The Sharks had their own Game from Hell in their first game against the Avalanche but then rebounded nicely in a destruction of the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.  The Kings mixed up their defense a little bit to account for the Sharks' top line of Danny Heatley, Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi.  Alec Martinez (who was pretty terrible on Saturday) is out, Peter Harrold is in alongside Jack Johnson, and Matt Greene is partnered up with Rob Scuderi.  I imagine ...

Kings-Sharks: Exhale
Battle of California — ... -The Kings need Sean O'Donnell back.  He's a pretty important cog in the Kings defense, as he allows Matt Greene to play a smaller role and more importantly pushes ...

Minnesota Wild @ Los Angeles Kings: Game 3
Hockey Wilderness — ... Forwards Ryan Smyth - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams Teddy Purcell - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown Alexander Frolov - Michal Handzus - Wayne Simmonds Raitis Ivanans - Brad Richardson - Peter Harrold Defense Sean O'Donnell - Drew Doughty Jack Johnson - Matt Greene Davis Drewiske - Rob Scuderi ...

Texas Stars...Err...Dallas Stars Lose to Kings in Exhibition Game
Defending Big D — ... in the middle frame. Eight minutes later, the Smyth-Williams-Kopitar line put the Kings on top for good as Matt Greene spotted ...

Trade Alex Frolov
Battle of California — ... He's careless.  This one probably chaps my hide the most.  Terry Murray criticized Frolov for turnovers.  Really?  According to NHL.com, he has 2 giveaways this season.  Yeah, one of them was in the last game and it was pretty brutal, but Drew Doughty has 7 giveaways this season.  Davis Drewiske had an awful turnover against the Islanders that would have led to a goal if Jonathan Quick hadn't bailed him out.  Matt Greene has 2 or 3 hilarious turnovers a game.  Jack Johnson ...

Carkner's new deal: A savvy signing at a good time
Silver Seven — ... makes $3.75M, Matt Greene makes $2.95M. These guys have more NHL experience than Carkner, but they make a heck of a lot more than he does, too. ...

Kings Gameday: The Youth, the Youth, the Youth is on Fire
Battle of California — ... , Matt Greene and now Drewiske signed or under control for 3 more years.  That doesn't leave much room for Sasha Voynov, ...

Kings Gameday: Joe Thornton, Woolly Mammoth Enthusiast
Battle of California — ... and Matt Greene up against Joe Thornton at home, while the Sharks get to match up Thornton against Kopitar when they're at home.  They won that match-up consistently in the past, but Kopitar's been a different player this year.  It'll be interesting to watch how he handles Woolly Joe Thornton tonight. ...

Kings Gameday: Re-Por-Ting?
Battle of California — ... Isn't that amazing?  Thanks, Radim!  I think Radim's exactly right when he says that a lot people all over the world hold foreigners from another country to a higher standard than they do their own players.  It's easy to see Matt Greene is trying because he tells you during an interview, but that same sentiment may get lost when someone like ...

King Anze and Los Angeles take down Pittsburgh 5-2
PensBurgh — ... Tough night for Craig Adams too.  While he registered a game high 8 hits (including one on Matt Greene that dislodged the glass), Adams was a -3 and lost 9 of 12 faceoffs. ...

Kings Gameday: Cha-a-a-a-nge
Battle of California — ... (left) side, and it provided the Kings' two young defenders with players that matched their style.  Drew Doughty is positionally solid so pairing him with the positionally perfect Rob Scuderi gives the Kings a top defensive pair that will never be out of position; Jack Johnson is a great physical defenseman but is out of position occasionally, so giving him someone like Sean O'Donnell gives Johnson someone who can recognize this and cover for him.  And then there's Matt Greene and ...

Kings Gameday: Dreams, Crushed
Battle of California — ... Oh well, Meat Train Simmonds had a good game last night!  He scored on a... let's say charitable, that sounds right, goal allowed by local goof Jeffrey Deslauriers and he had an assist on the game-winning rocket by... Matt Greene?  Wait, that can't be right.  Let me look that up... well, what do you know?  Matt Greene, goal scorer. ...

Week in Review
Battle of California — ... , 3-1.  Goals are by Wayne Meat Train Simmonds (yea!), Matt Greene (wha?), and my main man ...